On Sun, 24 May 2009 20:43:38 -0400, D K
wrote:

jps wrote:
On Sun, 24 May 2009 13:53:05 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:

On Sun, 24 May 2009 11:06:53 -0700, jps wrote:


I'm not convinced that US manufacturers have the hybrid down but I'm
open to it. I'd like to support a US manufacturer if I can find a
quality product.
I've never had that problem.
"Quality" means different things to different people.
Foreign-car buyers are what they are.
They'll always find something wrong with the "American" product.
Nature of the beast.
You want to divorce your wife, there's always an excuse.
She cuts the bologna too thick. That'll do.
Just my observation.
But since I never put much money in a car, and never bought
a new one, I'm sure as hell not going to tell anybody else how to
spend their money.

--Vic

Cars have always been a thing for me. First car was a '61 VW with a
blown engine. $100. Rebuilt the engine for a couple hundred more in
parts and had a car. Ended up working on cars for a living for a few
years between stints at college.

I've been through 20 cars in 35 years. I have an appreciation for
well-built vehicles and a distain for poor engineering/execution. My
weakness for badly executed vehilcles were the MGs and Austins.

Still do all our maintenance (for what's not factory covered). It's
the same bliss I feel working on a boat.

"Cruising is working on your boat in exotic locations" fits perfectly.

"A" boat or "your" boat? Do you even own a boat?

SOLD but kept the BW dink for the next acquisition. 40' Tolly
Sundeck. That's how I met Chuck Gould. He was a broker at the time
but I ended up finding the vessel I wanted in British Columbia. I'd
like to move to a 44' but cannot justify the expense now, too many
other priorities on the plate. Once I'm in the clear with kids
college and retirement, I intend to take the plunge if fuel hasn't
risen to the stock price of GE. Moorage, insurance and maintenance
costs are enough without having to pour $1500 into the fuel tanks each
cruise. I may end up chartering or go in partners or invest in a time
share or maybe a small Taiwanese single-screw trawler if the dream
boat remains to expensive for our budget.