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    4. If you had to buy a car today, what would you buy?

      Ask (recommendations)
      Lots of details I've been driving a 2006 Honda Ridgeline for the last 13 years. The engine is still reliable, just change the oil and keep fluids topped up, but there is rust in the frame that...
      Lots of details

      I've been driving a 2006 Honda Ridgeline for the last 13 years. The engine is still reliable, just change the oil and keep fluids topped up, but there is rust in the frame that won't pass inspection. I'm going to take it in to get it looked at this week, but I am afraid it won't be worth repairing. If I have doubt that it can be safely repaired (I'm fairly risk averse), I would rather replace it.

      This model Ridgeline is basically a Honda Pilot with a bed. I've often said it's the perfect amount of truck for a software engineer. I do think I'd like to have another truck, but I'd consider other options, like a smaller SUV or a larger hatchback.

      The truck has been our go-to travel car for road trips. We tend to bring a ton of stuff, so the bed has been nice, but having interior cargo space might also be useful. We don't do as many big hauling / years things as we used to, so the truck bed is probably optional.

      I was hoping that by the time I wore out the Ridgeline, there would be more plugin electric or real hybrid options, but it seems like there aren't many options. I wouldn't buy a Rivian or Tesla (not been around long enough). But I'd definitely be interested in peoples thoughts about hybrid options out there. If I'm looking at used hybrids, what kind of things should I worry about with the battery?

      The conventional wisdom when I was growing up was that a used car lost half its value when you drove it off the lot, so it was better to buy used. But in recent years, I've been seeing something more like linear depreciation. Helping my dad buy a new truck last year, it seemed like the year-old or two-year-old used options were just a few thousand less than new.

      Bottom line: I live in Western Pennsylvania in the US. I may shortly need to replace my aging Honda Ridgeline. I need a mid-sized truck/van/SUV that can be a good "road trip" car for a family of three that chronically overpacks.

      What car do you like? What car buying or car selling wisdom do you have in the post-pandemic car market?

      36 votes

    5. Are gas stations beginning to shut down yet, as part of the broader shift to EVs?

      Ask
      I feel like this was forecasted for a few years, and I'm not sure if places are following through with it yet. I looked it up, and found some articles, which I haven't vetted at all:...

      I feel like this was forecasted for a few years, and I'm not sure if places are following through with it yet.

      I looked it up, and found some articles, which I haven't vetted at all:

      I don't know if the political situation in the US has slowed down the gas station closures, but I'm really not interested in turning this topic into politics talk, so please save that for another topic. I'm also definitely curious what's happening outside the US, I want to hear the facts and numbers, out of curiosity for how quickly this is happening, or not happening.

      12 votes

    45. Installing an aftermarket radio in a old car

      Ask (advice)
      My partner has a old 2003 Ford Focus and I want to change the radio from stock to something that has bluetooth. Here's my understanding on aftermarket radio: Every car is different, depends on the...

      My partner has a old 2003 Ford Focus and I want to change the radio from stock to something that has bluetooth.
      Here's my understanding on aftermarket radio:

      • Every car is different, depends on the dashboard and the radio harness thing
      • Finding out what what radio to buy/how to fit it is usually done by finding old YouTube videos from someone with 100 followers from 2008
      • Sometimes it can be really easy and sometimes it can be really annoying to fit

      Is my understanding correct?
      I've tried this before with another car I had (a 2009 Mitsubishu Lancer) and it was such a nightmare I gave up. So I want to double check with any car nerds that I'm not missing anything obvious or there's no source of truth or something to go checkout/learn.

      Any help would be appreciated, otherwise I'm going to go and find some 180p videos from 2008 to watch.

      Edit @smithsonian, @Weldawadyathink, @scottc
      Thabks for your replies, the site looks great for what I'm looking for. I'm not US but they do ship internationally. Plus it will at least help me work out what parts I might need!
      Glad something like this exists, thank god.

      10 votes