The Cirrus pilot deployed the plane’s Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) to come to a gentle crash landing

She was the learner girlfriend.

I have one of these too. It’s nice when you can get the right access.

I was at my local MINI dealer yesterday. Wow. The showroom was 1/2 empty. 23 new cars in stock. 27 used. Ouch. Less than 1/2 of normal is my best guess. Honestly surprised they didn’t approach me about buying my wife’s 10k mile ‘19 S vert.

A friend of mine has a Tiguan.  I was surprised to see it has a MAF.  Any idea why that would be when the GTI and Alltrack/Sportwagen do not?

Compared to a GTI: smaller turbo and simpler cylinder head. The GTI has variable intake and exhaust. The Tiguan only has variable intake IIRC. The Alltrack/Sportwagen have the same issue but 0.2L less displacement as well.

Interesting. I just filled my wife’s MINI in NJ (central/shore area, which was hit pretty hard by Sandy) and didn’t even have to wait for a pump.

What’s the word on the newest MINIs? My wife has a ‘19 S vert and not one single thing has gone wrong with it. Of course, it leads the easiest life ever. <10k miles in 2 years. Garaged at home and work (when she actually went to work).

I’m taking away that your dad owns a plane and rental properties. Not to get into his business but does the $5 or $10k bump over what it ‘should’ be worth really move the needle for him? 

That’s awesome!

I think building equity is a big deal for a lot of people. If you don’t save/invest, home ownership offers some gradual accumulation of wealth, even if it doesn’t return much.

Not just kits - there’s an angle making spare parts. IIRC from my Elise-owning friends, front clams are NLA, for example.

That’s a good question.  You may be right - he was wowed on the test drive.  I haven’t had a chance to chat with him about it, just got a text.

A friend of mine ordered a Y recently with FSD (he didn’t ask my opinion!). I suggested he drop it off the order but he’s convinced it’s the greatest thing ever.

NM

Do you think I would have repeated the story if the placard was legit? It was for his MOM and he didn’t need it. I would have thought “sorry about that” would be a tip-off. Or maybe the fact that his reply wasn’t “yeah, I have <this debilitating problem>“ rather than “I have a tag”.

Around 1994, I sold my ex-race ‘91 CBR600F2 to an exporter (repped by a friend). I was told it was going to Japan. I wonder what they thought about the safety wire holes drilled all over it...

Years ago, some fit looking guy showed up for his first day of work and parked in the handicap spot. “Dude, that’s a handicap spot.” “It’s OK, I have a tag.” “Maybe you have a tag but the polio survivor who works here would prefer if he could use that spot.” “Um, sorry about that.”

To your first point, I think it’s unlikely that anyone who’s in the position to make a rational decision to not pay cash (“I’d have to pay capital gains tax”) also requires Tom’s advice on how to get a loan on an old car. 

You just talked us out of nearly any late 90s - early 2000s Porsche.  :).