Yep. My '97 uses a dry belt and the change interval is something like 7 years or 100k. I've heard of Ford engines dying at 40k because the wet belt lost teeth, and it bent valves or punched holes in pistons or both.

If they're gonna use a wet belt, they could at least put it in a non-interference engine so it just runs like crap or shuts off when it skips time.

But how else would they sell you a new car every 4 years?

One thing about cars made in the last 15 or so years that really bugs me: plastic valve covers.

As many times as an engine heat cycles, there's no way you're gonna keep one intact as soon as it has any kind of real age on it. Does it truly cost that much money to make an iron or aluminum valve cover?

What in the everliving fuck...

AH THE FUCK IS ALIVE KILL IT!

Sorry about that. I didn't mean to come across aggressively. I get a little fired up at the thought of crossing a huge, fast road, and it doesn't help that cars are way bigger and drivers seem way worse these days.

No question bikes are the best way to get around in a densely populated area. My wife and I stayed in a condo in a building that housed a Target (Newmark Tower) when we vacationed in Seattle a couple months ago. If I could afford it, I'd buy that condo and live that way. We rented a car while we were there, but we barely drove it. It was genuinely liberating not needing it. We rode the monorail. We took the bus from time to time. We climbed a stupidly steep hill to get dinner one night. It was awesome.

But man, I live about a mile and a half from the grocery store and I refuse to bike there for the simple fact that there are way too many fast, wide roads to have to cross to get there, and there are zero bike lanes along the way. Unless you're on the college campus, everything here is built for the convenience of the car at the detriment of literally everyone else.

And if OP also lives in the burbs, I reckon their situation is pretty similar.

Again, sorry that I came across aggressively. I didn't intend to get so riled up about it.

~~Big talk~~ Unfortunately, that's a huge ask if you've never crossed a six lane stroad on foot. The American transit system is often downright hostile to anyone not in a car. It can be goddamn terrifying. Adding: If OP can get around safely and feasibly on a bike, this is great advice.

Otherwise, there are ways to cut down on car costs if you need one. What car you own matters. Get something extremely common that never breaks. A 1998 Camry or Corolla are probably two of the most solid cars money can buy and junkyards are full of them. Parts are cheap and available.

Learning to do your own basic maintenance will also save you lots of money.

• A dealer might charge sixty bucks to swap a cabin air filter. It takes one minute and a replacement for my Honda Civic is eight dollars on Amazon. Same story with the engine air filter.
• Check your oil and transmission dipsticks every once in a while for level and condition.
• Check your brake fluid level and clarity.
• Tire pressures are on the inside of the driver door jamb. Learn how to properly inflate your tires, including the spare.
• If your car came with a scissor jack, a tire iron, and a compact spare, you can rotate your own tires in 30 minutes without buying any tools.
• On an inline four cylinder engine, spark plugs are often on the top of the head, below a cover, and are insanely easy to replace. Just be aware of torque specs, especially on an aluminum head. A torque wrench can be yours for ten bucks at Harbor Freight.
• Check your lights and blinkers every once in a while and learn how to replace bulbs. This is important on older cars that use halogen and incandescent lamps. A tail light is a few bucks, takes 15 minutes to replace, and will probably save you from a ticket.

Learning how to replace some parts is also a big plus and parts stores will often lend you small tools for some jobs free of charge.

Many states also offer discounted rates on yearly registration for older cars. In Oklahoma, it costs me $26 a year to tag my '97 Honda.

Finally, get a dash cam and the cheapest insurance you can, and drive like you're on probation and on thin ice with your parole officer.

My granddad won't set it any lower than 78°F.

It doesn't snow much in Oklahoma lmao

The short days are the worst part of winter. That, and stupid daylight savings takes an hour away from us in the evening. So I get off work, and there's maybe 45 minutes of daylight to take my dogs to the park.

And I say that as a winter enjoyer. I love the cold weather. I wear shorts when it's freezing. It's 17.5°C in my house right now. You'd be lucky to catch me setting the heat past 20.

Am I the only one who has to do like 12 of these in a row before my humanity is recognized? Beyond mildly inconvenient, it's downright annoying now.

Edit: I use Mullvad + Firefox + Betterfox + uBO. I don't think my setup is that sophisticated lmao

Hell, even "are you down..." isn't bad. Suggested finishers:

• ...to get coffee?
• ...for a movie night?
• ...for lunch/dinner?
• ...to hang out and chat at the park?
• ...to meet at the library for a quick game of Cones of Dunshire?

Basically anything but that.

No problem with that. I think the meme is referring to people who spent 100k on outlandishly large and glitzy trucks to spend 100% of their lives on paved suburban streets.

By that logic, we should then remove all barriers to run. If a convicted criminal can run, there's no reason a 28 year old with no criminal background can't.