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  1. R

    Need a car for freeway driving (79 mph, 100 mi/day)

    I wonder if the OP is still participating in this thread, but here goes: I drive 46 miles each way: .25 miles north, ~45 miles east, .25 miles north to work, and the opposite to home. OH St Rt 511 to US224 to I-76/US224/US277 to the Akron Airdock exit, for those who are interested in the...
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    Gaming rig: ~$1K budget, 6-year upgrade cycle

    This is the smart move, but my brother-in-law won't go for it. I shake my head, too, but that doesn't change things. Is the monitor on sale at Dell or somewhere else? The SSD caching, is that pretty much automagic, e.g. total of one visible partition? Brother-in-law isn't tech savvy...
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    Gaming rig: ~$1K budget, 6-year upgrade cycle

    1. PC will be used for gaming, especially Bioshock Infinite. Don't know what other games will be played (this is for my wife's brother - he is also a fan of Half Life 2 series and Doom 3 and command & conquer). His current rig has lasted him nearly 6 years and would probably expect the same of...
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    Skyrim or Far Cry 3

    I preordered Skyrim for PS3, played a bit, and left it alone until xmas vacation this year. Probably have approaching 200 hrs in now. Story is pretty good (I am not a serious gamer but would say that with some very surprising gameplay twists ("Blood on the ice") I can make the claim that...
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    No grease on caliper slide pins?

    I asked the wife about parking brake use and how she releases the brakes. I am not certain how to interpret her response (we're feuding over something stupid), but there was no complaint of a stuck brake today. I agree that if it is a stuck caliper that Ford should pick up the bill with no...
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    No grease on caliper slide pins?

    So I just watched a youtube vid showing how to work on Honda rear disc brake with what appeared to be an integrated PB; I didn't notice anything special about the PB other than just that the piston must be rotated as it is retracted, and finally rotated so that the groove is centered before...
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    No grease on caliper slide pins?

    AFAIK the wife rarely uses the parking brake, but just for S&G I just went out and set and reset the parking brake twice. For those who are unfamiliar, the PB is on a ratcheting pedal which operates against a spring (that is my guess anyway) and is released by pushing the pedal in quite far and...
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    No grease on caliper slide pins?

    2011 Ford Flex Ecoboost, 25K miles, driven by wife, 20/80 city/hwy driving profile in North Central Ohio for just shy of 2 years since bought new. Mostly she stays out of the boost and treats the brake pedal normally; if anything she doesn't anticipate stops as I do and tends to be on the gas...
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    The 2012 Formula One Thread

    RE: Magnum ice cream - I just bought some (mint, regular size, and almond minis). Expensive, not worth $6 or $7 regular price per box. Not bad, but not exceptional. I found them at IGA in Lodi OH (on sale for $4 per box to promote new products) Oh well, I think of Kimi when I eat them, and...
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    Ken Rockwell's blog

    KR's advice has been good for me. I appreciate his point that pretty much any DSLR will yield much better photos than lesser cameras, and that generally similarly-priced DSLRs have similar specs and features, so ease of use in terms of hardware and software can be a key discriminator. Of...
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    2011 Subaru Forester 2.5L NA oil consumption

    around 103,500 or so. I wouldn't say the car decided to eat the follower; I am pretty certain that VW has stated that the follower had been hardened improperly. The TSB applies to all BPY (for VW-badged cars, this is 2.0T FSI) engines which were in the 2006-2007 (maybe some 2008? IDK) EOS...
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    2011 Subaru Forester 2.5L NA oil consumption

    The service manager told me that the Forester had been sold. I think you are absolutely correct: the car had one elderly owner (the owner of the dealership).
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    2011 Subaru Forester 2.5L NA oil consumption

    I returned the Forester and stated my concerns about its condition. The service manager checked the service record and stated that it had never been serviced. So, I had minor snow on one occasion during nearly a month of having an AWD loaner with newish tires, and now with my FWD car back it's...
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    rounded out my lens collection

    Oh, if only I had it in the time (new baby) and fiscal budget to afford a D7000. I love the D5100 but as far as I know only Nikon AF-S lenses will work with the AF on the body. Am I mistaken? Do other mfrs offer lenses which are compatible with the Nikon AF-S system? (googles a bit...)...
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    2011 Subaru Forester 2.5L NA oil consumption

    Sorry, this is poorly expressed. I meant to state that there exists an oil temperature warning lamp, but it has yet to be illuminated. I am keeping revs low and the weather is very favorable for heat rejection. It may be a bit sludged for using more viscous oil, but the dealership has...
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    Canon VIXIA HF R200, im not sure i like it

    I have a Vixia HF11 with the same complaints. Data transfer from the onboard flash memory is so slow that I hate to use it, so I try to limit recordings to a 16GB SD card which I can remove and use a simple reader for much faster transfer (on a per bit basis, of course). Next, the .m2ts format...
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    What does ATG think about the Mazda CX-9?

    I am getting 23-25 mpg (all highway miles, stops at .25 miles, 5 miles, 23 miles, and destination at 46 miles) with a NA 2.5L 2011 Forester loaner. I would be very impressed to see 29 mpg from a CX-9; that said, the NA FWD Flex is rated at 27mpg (highway).
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    2011 Subaru Forester 2.5L NA oil consumption

    Called the dealership and spoke with my service advisor; he appreciated my adding oil and surmised the car is simply very overdue for service. I didn't offer to perform a full oil change as I was told my car would likely be ready on Friday. As for those suggesting I do nothing at all about the...
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    What does ATG think about the Mazda CX-9?

    2011 Limited with EB and Vista Roof was a bit more than $6K discounted from MSRP (about $42K out the door); I imagine similar deals may be had on the 2012 models. I am not familiar with the current Sienna lineup; when I was car shopping it was true that AWD was available only on the priciest...
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    What does ATG think about the Mazda CX-9?

    If you want a minivan with AWD, but are considering the CX-9, then you really need to check out the Ford Flex. If adjustable pedals are important to the primary driver, (e.g. my wife is 5'0") then the Flex has few if any peers. Add the Ecoboost engine and you have a classy, comfy ride, with a...
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    2011 Subaru Forester 2.5L NA oil consumption

    No obvious signs of leakage, e.g. puddle under the engine bay. No smell of burning oil. Almost certainly a matter of consumption and poor attention to oil. Remember this vehicle is a loaner, driven by those who take their cars to a dealership for service, including oil changes. My particular...
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    2011 Subaru Forester 2.5L NA oil consumption

    I think this horse has left the barn. They gave me a working vehicle and a generous agreement and I intend to return it in good condition. There was no discussion of service history or near-term service events. I did make it clear and register the service manager's understanding of my unusual...
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    2011 Subaru Forester 2.5L NA oil consumption

    It is probably more convenient for me to change oil & filter myself than go to the dealership approx 45 miles distant from home, and 50 miles distant from work, which is also 46 miles from home. I would in some odd way enjoy working on a new-to-me car for something so simple. I would much...
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    2011 Subaru Forester 2.5L NA oil consumption

    So, I am borrowing a Subaru from a dealership while my car is being repaired and noted that the dipstick was dry. Bone dry. At a bit less than 16K on the odometer. No warning lights are illuminated on the dashboard; there is no obvious sign of a deficit of oil. If anything the car has a...
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    In need of Jeep Wrangler guidance

    M-I-L has her menopause crisis Wrangler, 1998 with I6. Not once, ever, in about 10 years (bought used) has she taken it off road. Or taken the top or doors off. Or made a habit of locking hubs and engaging 4WD mode. She lets the revs drop to idle at every shift, making the already awful ride...
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    Gaming marathon ideas?

    Wife and daughters visited family the Friday after T-day. I steam-cleaned the living room carpet (was in dire need) and did the whitest thing I can imagine: cranked up Metallica's Kill em All album and played guitar along with it. I had intended to play Skyrim all day but spent a long time...
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    Looking for a nice mp3 player, any recommendations?

    ipod touch through aux. input. Take your touch with you as a pocket computer. Use genius playlist generator so you don't have to fool with the device. If you do, the iPod interface is easy enough to use while driving (be careful). I prefer it to Ford Sync's screen controls (don't know about...
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    Butch!

    Me: B6 Passat 2.0T 6M; 11 year active duty linguist, now electrical engineer for the largest aerospace corporation. Manual transmission or it is not right. Willing to give DSG a try as it still qualifies as a clutch transmission. Wife: 2011 Flex Ecoboost; 4 year active duty linguist and combat...
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    Smart Charger

    Cheaper than finding a new charger: mark your batteries with unique numbers, connect them one at a time to a flashlight bulb, and see which ones last the longest. Or, if you want to be more detailed, find what is the minimum voltage threshold for common digital devices (cameras, video game...
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    Tell me what you think about this used MB

    Sorry, you are going to have to provide something to back this up. I have the VAG 2.0T FSI with over 100K miles on it (original owner) and my butt dynamometer tells me it performs same as new (broke 100mph passing some fools on the way home from work today), as do my weekly fuel economy checks...
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    Man, these new HP laptops look really familiar...

    Wow, that is a huge size increase for the trackpad compared to the "Elitebook" I just received from my employer. The hardware design on the elitebook is a joke. The keyboard has almost no resistance so it is fat-finger city for me. The trackpad is no better than the Dell D630's which was my...
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    what does it take for night sky pictures?

    I took this with an old lens my wife bought used maybe 12 years ago. It isn't in great shape and you can get one for about $100. Camera is a D5100, and I was just messing around learning the controls when I took this photo. There were some wispy clouds passing in front of the moon which...
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    Just dropped $262 on a knife. Hope I don't regret it.

    I have this exact same knife. It is my only nice knife and has seen light use since 2008. I hope you enjoy yours as I do mine - it is a scalpel among butterknives in my kitchen and as such is kept fairly hidden on a bookshelf so no one else here may abuse it. I read the story behind the KF...
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    2012 Passat TDI

    My dad bought a 2008 CC after riding with me in my 07 Passat to Mid-Ohio on a weekend which included the TDI cup event. He saw a CC at the VW display which happened to be right near where we always park. No doubt the CC is a sleek car. As for B6 exterior vs B5 / B5.5 I think that the B5.5 has...
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    Skyrim: PS3 or PC.

    Wives can be strange like that. Mine for example, is too intimidated by what appears to be too many buttons on the controller to try any games. Except for the Lego Harry Potter and Indiana Jones games. Basically anything that requires careful timing or pretty much any jumping in a 3D game...
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    2012 Passat TDI

    I really like the look of the B5 and B5.5 but would really miss the 2.0T in my B6.
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    Anyone here with a DSLR also using a P&S super zoom

    No need to crop if you carry mealworms: it is like bacon, but for birds! 16 megapixel version available here D5100, 35mm f/1.8, SB-400, Nikon UV filter, batteries, strap, and lens cap: 1050g or 1# 5oz. Total DSLR noob, learning every day.
  38. R

    AnandTech iPhone 4S Review?

    I approve and encourage taking the time to do a good job. I wouldn't go to AT every workday if were otherwise here.
  39. R

    Skyrim: PS3 or PC.

    I expect that the PC version will provide the most complete experience for pc gamers, but I voted PS3. I tried to get into Morrowind in 2002 or 2003 on my PC. I was married but unaccompanied on my second tour in Korea with my own apartment waaay away from my friends and coworkers, so I had...