So I have a ball pit in my car now:
http://www.staugustinepics.com/uncategorized/put-ball-pit-car/

After 342,000 faithful miles last November I replaced my Mazda 3 (too small for four people plus stuff on road trips) with a used (23k) Tesla Model S 85. And Sunday I put 400 balls in the front trunk for the kids. They love it. And I love the randomness of it.

Truthfully it should probably have 200 more but that would just be me being a perfectionist.

Used Model S's can be had that cheap now? Kind of surprising.

It was a bit of a step up from where I was. But I've had that Mazda since '05 and been saving for when it died...never would have guessed it would just keep going and I'd get married and have two kids, ha ha.

not 23k miles

I completely miswrote that.

$43k for those playing along at home. Still a healthy chunk of change but probably about the same the Mazda has cost me when adding in oil changes, rental cars for road trips, gas etc. Or so I told myself.

I know I could google it....but I find first hand info from OKPs more reliable.
Dope idea btw!


"Get ready....for your blessing....."

They sell about 100-150 cars a day that they buy at auction, typically after a lease ends. They just churn through them. They didn't really know anything about Tesla, priced it wrong based on options it had, (but I'm sure got whatever % over their auction cost) and the car had been in a minor accident (fixed, no airbag deployed.) They had only had two days when I got it, and someone else was checking it out while I was there. Had 23k miles.

I had reserved a Model 3 nearly two years ago but when the tax bill was going through one of the versions was going to kill the electric car credit...which got me thinking I could get a used S for the same price and have more space, free supercharging and more luxury for the same price.

Given the distance she now has to drive to work, my wife could replace the Focus for something like, say, a Bolt (or Electric Focus, though I'm not sure what the battery arrangement is with that) and be fine. Not ready for those upfront costs though (and couldn't turn it into a ball pit. Though for an 8 and 16 year old that may not be much missed).

the new joint is nice and has more range and the one next year is supposed to go even further
www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

after the tax credit. They were trying to get through them for the new models with longer range. I was trying to talk the wife into one since we use my car for long trips anyways.

Though I probably should

I sat in it at the auto show, haven't driven it though.

the bolt is ok but it's still kinda pricey for what it is.

www.engadgethd.com - the other stuff i'm looking at

It really is the upfront cost that make it tough. There's really no maintenance (tires, washer fluid) and electricity works out to be about a third of the price of gas. We just got solar so even that's been paid up front and I can charge for free at any of Tesla's superchargers.

That said I'm kinda of amazed how quickly other companies are diving in the next couple years. Didn't know they made an electric Focus, I heard there will be an electric Mustang which almost seems like blasphemy. Right now long road trips don't seem possible in anything but Tesla, hopefully that will change soon. Either way electric is awesome for daily drivers.

I can't imagine my kids being 8 or 16 even though I'm sure it's around the corner. Flies by right?

I have a 2008 Lexus RX350. I just had swapped out the factory stereo for a Sony with Apple Carplay (the XAV-AX100).

I love the interface of the receiver, and LOVE Carplay, but now the system doesn't sound as good as the factory system did. There is a ton of distortion at moderately high volumes, and way less thump coming out of the system. The stock factory system has an amp driving 6 speakers, and no sub. The guy at the shop that did the install said they are running the audio out of the new receiver to the factory amp. I'm wondering of there are differences in crossover points or something causing the problem.

The tech recommended a complete overhaul - replace the amp, replace all the speakers, add a sub. He said the factory amp wouldn't be able to drive replacement speakers because they aren't matched. I'm down to get some stuff replaced, but I'm wondering - if I get new speakers couldn't I just drive them from the new head unit instead of getting a new separate amp? If I get a sub what's the best placement for a crossover SUV?

How convenient for them that they could just sell you a whole new system!

I don't see how just replacing a head unit would suddenly make the whole thing sound like shit. It should be the opposite. They either don't know what they're doing, or if they can't fix it, they should have a legit reason why.

agree with this. if anything, the new unit should be way better than the factory one.

is the amp on the speakers or is the amp separate? what brand is the factory unit?

attitude like "you have a stock system in a 10 year old car, of course it doesn't sound good." He just didn't believe me when I was telling him how good it sounded before swapping the head unit. Needless to say I'm not going back there.

The stock amplifier is separate from the speakers. Both the amp and speakers are the upgraded Mark Levinson system.

had no idea Meineke was so cheap.

I got the cat online from Advance Auto for 165. then went to Meineke. they put it on for 230.

they spent a good 6 hours on it since it had to be cut off.