[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Nammu

My car doesn’t get much of a work out. I don’t go anywhere. I go days without starting it. It’s unsexy but a good egg.

Me either. Just like humans, cars need "exercise" or to be driven. I've noticed a drop in MPG since I don't drive and the garage said I need to drive more. I do start it every few days and let it idle 10 minutes to be sure it works. One time it didn't start and part of the reason was a dying battery (it lasted 8 years!) as well as sitting a lot.

My car is one of the few things that haven't let me down in life. It's a good car and has been more reliable than people. Hence, I love my car.

Since the new battery it starts easily even though it sits. I have no where to go, and I've gotten more anxious about driving anyway, even short trips. It's because people seem to be more reckless now, such as running lights, tailgating, or speeding.

[Travelinglady]

I know what you mean. My battery will run down, too, if I don't drive the car for awhile. My husband and I get out in it sometimes. But right now I'm not driving at all until I get new glasses after my recent cataract surgeries. When I do, it will be just a little to close by places. My doc tells me my insurance won't likely pay if I have a wreck when taking all the opiates I do.

[Nammu]

That’s strange I was on opiates years ago for my back and my insurance paid just fine, in fact my insurance rate went down after the accident! I had a very nice Buick. It was older but very well taken care of. I bought the oil that was specifically for older cars. The guy insurance guy who inspected my car was impressed with that oil. At the time I thought it rather odd that he’d checked the oil but I was paid the full replacement value of my Buick.

I was driving from Texas to Minnesota for Christmas and hit black ice patch and spun out. My car was totaled and at the time I was on fentanyl patches plus some strong pills. It was never an issue. Boy do I miss that car. It was a boat but a nice comfortable smooth riding boat. I went down a ravine and that Buick kept me safe.

[Skeezyks]

Our SUV is a 2008. It has less than 50,000 miles on it. We don't expect to ever buy another car, barring something unexpected. We keep it in good condition (except we do need new tires.) We also don't drive it much, mostly just short trips to the grocery store. But we're fortunate to have a nice garage for the car to rest in between trips.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

I know what you mean. My battery will run down, too, if I don't drive the car for awhile. My husband and I get out in it sometimes. But right now I'm not driving at all until I get new glasses after my recent cataract surgeries. When I do, it will be just a little to close by places. My doc tells me my insurance won't likely pay if I have a wreck when taking all the opiates I do.

I was told not to let the car sit unused more than 2 weeks, even with a good battery I guess. So I start it every few days, and while it idles I dust it off since a car that sits collects more dust than one that's driven. That's cause the breeze blows a lot of it off.

My next door neighbor goes away every year during Christmas to New Year's, he's gone at least 2 weeks then. I never see anyone start his car, maybe he disconnects the cables while he's gone. I heard something about disconnecting some kind of doodad to avoid having a dead battery when coming home.

If you leave your lights on, the battery will die. That happened to me as teenager. Now the car will beep if I open the door and the lights are still on.

Speaking of glasses, I would never drive at night. I feel I have poor night vision, and it wouldn't be safe anyway. Night seems more ominous than daytime....And late model cars have such BRIGHT, blinding lights esp. SUV's since they are up higher. Hate those things, they also block my view when backing out, turning left, or parking. (Sorry Skeezyks)

I'm very near-sighted and people like me usually have poor night vision. I do have these clip-ons in the car for some emergency of having to drive at night, but I can't think of any reason why I'd have to. I hunker down at night. It's too scary even during the day, as this area is deteriorating.

Why didn't they think of how blinding they are to ONCOMING cars? The driver can see just fine but they blind ME. And what's this about driving with lights on sunny days? I don't see the point of that.

[nonightowl]

Today at the grocery store a customer ahead of me had trouble with the digital coupons. The cashier said it's a stupid idea that's hard for both them and the customers, as people don't know how to use it. I've never tried it as it's too much technology for me, plus I don't want/need another username/password.

Sadly it's way more complicated than that she said, and also she wishes they'd get rid of it. Even though I have a smartphone now, it looks like too much hassle. I doubt if I'm saving THAT much, and they don't have many "digital" sales anyway.

I know I miss the old rewards program where I got points for things I buy ANYWAY, but then they replaced it with stupid gas points. I hardly ever fill up my tank, the discount is measly, and I have to go to specific gas stations.

[Nammu]

I haven’t had a problem with the digital coupons. My sister has though. But she just took her recite in showed it to them and got a refund. I use the gas points all the time but a minor problem is that they are only good for a month and like owl I don’t drive much. A bigger problem for me is that when gas went way up you now have to pay first, unless you have the full sized store card. So I never get all the gas, I have to guess how much to get.

[Skeezyks]

We have the gas thingy at the grocery store too and it's for the gas station we frequent. But we never use the points. I don't even know if there's an expiration date on the points. Now the grocery store we shop at most frequently has a thing where you collect stamps of some sort and they're good on dishes the store carries. (We don't collect the stamps.) If you get in a check-out line where someone is cashing in their stamps, prepare to wait a l-o-n-g time!

We still don't have a smart phone... just an old dumb phone. Smart phones are too much technology for us. That's another reason I doubt we'll ever buy another car. Too much technology. Even our 2008 SUV has stuff on it we've never used. Is it even possible to buy just a normal vehicle anymore? I don't know. But I doubt it...

[Nammu]

Oh I know. I have just a basic car but it a 2016 so it has stuff I’ll never use. Like the radio. It’s a radio that you pay for monthly. But I didn’t respond to any of the stuff they sent me after I bought the car. …and still they are sending me stuff to sign up. It would be lovely to have the commercial free radio where I could listen to jazz and rock only but I’m not in the car long enough to justify paying extra for it. I googled local rock and jazz radio stations but I have to change it by hand. I can’t figure out how to reset the programmed stations. But that’s fine. I’m never in the car for that long.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by Nammu

Oh I know. I have just a basic car but it a 2016 so it has stuff I’ll never use. Like the radio. It’s a radio that you pay for monthly. But I didn’t respond to any of the stuff they sent me after I bought the car. …and still they are sending me stuff to sign up. It would be lovely to have the commercial free radio where I could listen to jazz and rock only but I’m not in the car long enough to justify paying extra for it. I googled local rock and jazz radio stations but I have to change it by hand. I can’t figure out how to reset the programmed stations. But that’s fine. I’m never in the car for that long.

Are you taking about XM (Sirius) radio? You know you can now stream it on other devices like your phone or computer (not a second car). I don’t do it. But I know that there is an option for it. I do pay for xm because I commute two hours a day so I can justify it. I pay for a year, then i don’t think about it. My husband doesn’t have it because he only drives 15 minutes to work. Not worth it.

[divine1966]

I used to drive cars until they die natural death so to speak. I was in constant stress about it. Plus it’s costly with constant repairs. I’ve been leasing for the past few years. It’s mostly stress free. Sadly the one I drive now will be discontinued by my next exchange. So l’ll have to think of something else.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by nonightowl

I was told not to let the car sit unused more than 2 weeks, even with a good battery I guess. So I start it every few days, and while it idles I dust it off since a car that sits collects more dust than one that's driven. That's cause the breeze blows a lot of it off.

My next door neighbor goes away every year during Christmas to New Year's, he's gone at least 2 weeks then. I never see anyone start his car, maybe he disconnects the cables while he's gone. I heard something about disconnecting some kind of doodad to avoid having a dead battery when coming home.

If you leave your lights on, the battery will die. That happened to me as teenager. Now the car will beep if I open the door and the lights are still on.

Speaking of glasses, I would never drive at night. I feel I have poor night vision, and it wouldn't be safe anyway. Night seems more ominous than daytime....And late model cars have such BRIGHT, blinding lights esp. SUV's since they are up higher. Hate those things, they also block my view when backing out, turning left, or parking. (Sorry Skeezyks)

I'm very near-sighted and people like me usually have poor night vision. I do have these clip-ons in the car for some emergency of having to drive at night, but I can't think of any reason why I'd have to. I hunker down at night. It's too scary even during the day, as this area is deteriorating.

Why didn't they think of how blinding they are to ONCOMING cars? The driver can see just fine but they blind ME. And what's this about driving with lights on sunny days? I don't see the point of that.

I think the new cars they make now do not need to be started every few days to make sure they run. They make better batteries now I think. We’ve been gone for weeks many times and our cars ran just fine when we were back. I’ve read somewhere that newer cars could sit 4-8 weeks and nothing happens. Well I wouldn’t want it to sit that long but a few weeks seems to be fine

[Nammu]

Originally Posted by divine1966

Are you taking about XM (Sirius) radio? You know you can now stream it on other devices like your phone or computer (not a second car). I don’t do it. But I know that there is an option for it. I do pay for xm because I commute two hours a day so I can justify it. I pay for a year, then i don’t think about it. My husband doesn’t have it because he only drives 15 minutes to work. Not worth it.

Yes! That’s it. Yeah they sent me that info too, but I don’t listen to a radio at other times. Only in a car. So yeah, I can’t justify it. If I was commuting 2 hours a day I’d do it. But at most I spend ten. Minutes in the car.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

We have the gas thingy at the grocery store too and it's for the gas station we frequent. But we never use the points. I don't even know if there's an expiration date on the points. Now the grocery store we shop at most frequently has a thing where you collect stamps of some sort and they're good on dishes the store carries. (We don't collect the stamps.) If you get in a check-out line where someone is cashing in their stamps, prepare to wait a l-o-n-g time!

We still don't have a smart phone... just an old dumb phone. Smart phones are too much technology for us. That's another reason I doubt we'll ever buy another car. Too much technology. Even our 2008 SUV has stuff on it we've never used. Is it even possible to buy just a normal vehicle anymore? I don't know. But I doubt it...

I like your word, "thingy". My gas points do have expiration dates and the highest number is redeemed at the pump. I think each month is stand alone, they don't roll over. This time the details didn't print on my receipt for some reason but last I recall, it was 10 cents a gallon off. If you get 10 gallons you just save $1. Not worth going to a certain gas station which is out of my way.

I was reluctant to get a smartphone and am still intimidated at times. But after the trauma of being cut off from the world in 2020 (they closed all the libraries where I used to go to get online), I got one in 2021. I decided it was more practical to get a phone which fits in my purse or pocket. I don't have much to do online but at least I can GET online. 2020 was BRUTAL. I couldn't do email, couldn't book a COVID test appointment since it was only done ONLINE, couldn't get on here and talk to you guys.

I even tried to go to FedEx Office where they have public Internet. Even with gloves and a mask they wouldn't let me in. Only people shipping packages were allowed in and just a few at a time. Before the library finally opened and when they started letting people in for other things, I used part of my stimulus money to get on their computer. It's expensive but I HAD to do it. And if it wasn't for an acquaintance who let me use her computer, I wouldn't have GOTTEN the stimulus since you had to go eff-ing ONLINE.

So I had to eat crow and get one. People just expect me to have one, which I think is presumptuous but that's our culture. I was never going to trust the government again, not with just Internet access but anything. They are SO out of touch. If they expect everyone to have computers or smartphones, WHY have computers at the libraries at all?? Why not save all that precious money? Why have printers or copiers if we all have this at home? (Or even HAVE a home vs. a tent) STUPID goverment. One of my libraries got all new computers after reopening in 2021. Geez, if we have them at home why do that? (Sarcasm)

Recently I had to get a new hairdryer which was still under warranty. The rep told me to "just take a picture of the receipt and dryer with the cord cut and email it to us." See how she assumed I have one?!! I take bad pictures but I guess it was enough since I got a new dryer in a few days. If I couldn't do that, I'd have to pack the cord/dryer into a box, make a copy of the receipt someplace, and go stand in line at the post office to ship it. Time and postage money.

Tech in cars is too much for me. I saw on the news how they have these SCREENS on the dashboard now which some car safety groups say is too distracting. People look at their phones, NOW they can look at their dashboard too! I think the backup camera is a good thing, as if anyone or anything is below the height of your trunk, you CAN'T see it! But I have an old car which has none of that stuff.

That would include toddlers, dogs, someone in a wheelchair.....SUV's are especially high and have a real blind spot, more than cars.

And speaking of tech in cars, I'd never trust a self-driving car. These things are going to take jobs from people who drive for a living: Truck drivers, limo drivers, taxis, Uber/Lfyt. It's like from some science fiction movie.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Nammu

Yes! That’s it. Yeah they sent me that info too, but I don’t listen to a radio at other times. Only in a car. So yeah, I can’t justify it. If I was commuting 2 hours a day I’d do it. But at most I spend ten. Minutes in the car.

I have the radio on at home most of the time, and I listen in the car too. But like you it's mostly short trips.

[Travelinglady]

I'm with you folks who don't like modern technology. I basically had to get rid of my flip phone and get a smart phone. It's mainly used for calls, though. I don't sit around playing with it in doctors' offices, etc.

I also just like cars that are cars. I don't like features, even, like automatic light dimming. And I agree about all those bright lights on cars. Too bright!

[Mendingmysoul]

In the doctor's office,my smart phone stays in my purse.I would rather flip through the magazines they keep there.I use my smart phone only for texts,calls and WhatsApp. When in a group setting I like to interact with people and minimize my phone usage.

[Mendingmysoul]

Oops. Didn't realize it was a seniors lounge. Hope you guys didn't mind me posting here.I am not a senior.

[Nammu]

No problem!

I also don’t interface with my phone when I’m in any waiting room or place with people. I don’t do much on my phone. It’s old but I think it still works because I’ve not cluttered it up with apps. But it is starting to stutter. I really do need to buy a new one but,…geez. Getting used to a new one again!

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Nammu

No problem!

I also don’t interface with my phone when I’m in any waiting room or place with people. I don’t do much on my phone. It’s old but I think it still works because I’ve not cluttered it up with apps. But it is starting to stutter. I really do need to buy a new one but,…geez. Getting used to a new one again!

I don't do much either, mainly because the battery isn't as robust as I expected it to be, for all that it does. I use it for specific tasks such as looking up something or email. I definitely don't look at it all day long like so many people do, even while walking/driving! I'll never get that but I didn't grow up with the tech and don't get the addiction.

If I'm somewhere I end up waiting a long time, I do have a couple of books on my phone to read. That way I ALWAYS have reading material, but I have to be sure it's charged enough before I leave. Since my car is old I can't charge it in there and not carrying the charger in my purse. I'd need a place to charge it anyway.

Only apps I have are ones I use, even if only once in awhile. I deleted some stuff I don't want that came pre-loaded. Every update seems to include more bells and whistles I don't need. Amazing how they think everyone has that much of a life. And sometimes the updates mess up something on my phone. I hate doing them for that reason, and since I don't have WiFi at home I probably missed some updates. They usually include "security updates" which is all I need. But it's all or nothing on the updates.

I'm trying to preserve battery life as much as I can, as afraid to have to get a new battery. Probably not cheap either and I don't know where to go for it. I doubt if I can change it myself, someone told me it's not like a TV remote.

Originally Posted by Mendingmysoul

In the doctor's office,my smart phone stays in my purse.I would rather flip through the magazines they keep there.I use my smart phone only for texts,calls and WhatsApp. When in a group setting I like to interact with people and minimize my phone usage.

I prefer printed stuff too, but sometimes I forget the book I'm reading or it's too heavy/large to fit in my bag. Plus it seems places like that don't have the good magazines they used to. Probably expect everyone to look at their phones.

I don't know WHAT WhatsApp is. Heard of it though.

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

I'm with you folks who don't like modern technology. I basically had to get rid of my flip phone and get a smart phone. It's mainly used for calls, though. I don't sit around playing with it in doctors' offices, etc.

I also just like cars that are cars. I don't like features, even, like automatic light dimming. And I agree about all those bright lights on cars. Too bright!

I think it's hard to buy anything that's simple now. Or just one of something. Things are packaged in pairs now, whether it's batteries or eyebrow pencil. I have to buy TWO.

Games on a phone could be fun but since they drain the battery worse than other stuff (I heard), I still play games on my old Alcatel. And I like the reminder feature on there better, as it has better and louder sounds for the reminders. More user friendly too.

D a m n bright lights are good for the DRIVER of that car, but not OTHER drivers nearby. Even the old headlights were too bright for me. One reason I'd never drive at night.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Mendingmysoul

Oops. Didn't realize it was a seniors lounge. Hope you guys didn't mind me posting here.I am not a senior.

More the merrier, I say. I'm sure they don't enforce that and besides how do they know how old somebody really is?

Besides I've seen some of your posts, you're a good soul, even while you mend it.

[nonightowl]

Just got a text allegedly from "Wells Fargo" about some kind of "case" and a message "ID" both of which are links. And not even a real phone number: 1410100013.

Though I bank with WF, I know it's a scam and I've gotten many texts in the past from scammers posing as banks. Sigh....

[Nammu]

The first time I got a scam from Wells Fargo, my spidey since was tingling and I drove to a WF bank and asked about it. Showed him the email. He said it wasn’t them and showed me how to click on the address to see where it’s from. He was rather perturbed because it did look real. Congratulated me for not clicking on it. Got several from the same address then they stopped, maybe because I didn’t fall for them

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Nammu

The first time I got a scam from Wells Fargo, my spidey since was tingling and I drove to a WF bank and asked about it. Showed him the email. He said it wasn’t them and showed me how to click on the address to see where it’s from. He was rather perturbed because it did look real. Congratulated me for not clicking on it. Got several from the same address then they stopped, maybe because I didn’t fall for them

Years ago I got them on my previous "dumb" phone (still have it to play games) but the links weren't active anyway since it didn't have an Internet connection. So even if I accidentally clicked on it, it wouldn't do anything. I have to be way more careful with a "smart" phone, ironically...... Yeah viewing the source will show it's not actually from a legit company, meaning the link can say "WF customer support" but the address itself is some kind of gibberish usually.

WF said they'd text under a certain code, not from a phone number. BUT scammers can still spoof legit numbers! So I never respond to anything. My auto garage sent something apparently, and I called and asked did they send that. Turned out they did.

The texts always started with 14101000xx, with the last 2 digits varying.

[Mendingmysoul]

There was a period in my life I was scared to drive a car.So I decided not to own one anyways.I got calls regarding car insurance,warranty,other vehicle related offers.I would listen to them blabbering on then say I don't even own a car.Complete silence on the other side ,then click. Lol.