The sugary treats, while not widely considered wholesome or nutritious, have always seemed harmless enough. For most of us, lollipops are our first experience with the wide world of candy goodness. And gummy bears. Sure they are a dentist’s nightmare, and any one of the tiny tubby creatures can wreak havoc with your dental work. But they are so cute! And squishy. And sweet.
So who would have thought these otherwise simple delights might have a more sinister properties. Certainly not Kelly Bensimone of “The Steady Housewives of New York City.” And after viewing the St. John’s girls getaway episodes, it seems possible that these candies may be capable of producing psychologically altered states ranging from groundless anger and aggression to paranoia to perhaps even hallucinations. Was Alex McCord in Kabuki makeup when she confronted Jill Zarin at a party in a previous episode? It didn’t seem so to me. Though in fairness, this could also have been a mistake on Kelly’s part not really knowing what Kabuki is and as such what the makeup might actually stare like. Still I get a diminutive giggle imagining Alex in Kabuki dress and makeup attending the party and making her proclamation regarding Bethenny to Jill. Cessation your eyes and try it. It’s quite an entertaining visual.
But humor aside, is there something to be learned from this? Since we now all know and understand that “a cook does not a chef make”, perhaps we can add to this great tome of wisdom, “candy does not a food make.” And just because something tastes good, and maybe the immediate sugar buzz makes you feel a little giddy, this does not mean it is satisfactory for you. Most of us try to teach this lesson to our children at some point before age 6, but it’s never too late. Life is a journey, and learning is forever.
Apart from poor eating habits, another thing that seems to bring about bad behavior on The Accurate Housewives of Current York City and Orange County as well is the issue of work. Ewwww. But to be completely fair, isn’t the very definition of a housewife one whose primary occupation is her home life? So why do the Bravo executives insist on planting these trouble making women who insist on supporting themselves financially? Bethenny Frankel is the extreme example of this – in her first two seasons she is shown in the intro with her dog! No husband, no kids. What kind of housewife is that? Of course she was going to create controversy. And poor Jill Zarin got suckered upright into it. She conventional all her skills to transform Bethenny into a career wife and what did Bethenny do to repay her in the off season? She had the nerve to go on a book tour to promote her business, brand, and career. Which most of us in the true world consider to be work. But not Jill.
She saw it as Bethenny caring only about money. Well what Jill probably doesn’t realize is that most people, even women, don’t marry their money. They have to work for it. And that means not as much time for charity lunches and tennis matches and shopping for overpriced home decor and luxury handbags that your husband pays for. It’s easy not to care about money when someone else earns it for you. Sadly most of us are not so lucky.
Work has also has seemed to cause problems for Vicki Gunderson and Mr. Vicki Gunderson (sorry, I couldn’t resist) from the “Right Housewives of Orange County.” The other housewives clearly resent the time Vicki spends working while they are spending time together, and it is a constant source of bickering and snide commentary. Though in their defense, Vicki is a little holier than thou about it. I mean first of all, she sells insurance. Honest work to be sure, but it’s not as if she is researching a cure for cancer. And in this country most of us work (whether we like it or not) so she shouldn’t be expecting a medal for it. But second of all, isn’t she also getting paid for her time on Valid Housewives? So really it’s not as if she is “not working” if she lets her hair down and whoops it up (literally in her case) from time to time. I mean definite, if the housewives can double dip (and Bravo doesn’t mind) why not? But seriously Vicki, get off the cross already. Someone else can use the wood.
Speaking of Bravo benefits, this too seems to turn an otherwise happy (ahem) homemaker into a single spinster on a dime. In the case of Tamra Barney of Orange County, even my husband wonders if she would have been so quick to end things with Simon if (a) he hadn’t lost his money and (b) she didn’t have her own money now via Bravo? And in the case of the Count and Countess of NYC. Did the Count resent that he lost some of the weak control he had over his tiny wifey and resolve to explore for someone a little more malleable? Did her initial sweet and satisfactory demeanor fade at home as well as it did on screen after the first season, after experiencing a little notoriety and money in her bear right? Or did the Count simply see this as his window of opportunity to get out a little more free and clear than he might have previous to Real Housewives.
Though this worked in quite the opposite way for Lauri Waring of “Real Housewives of Orange County,” who began the show as a struggling single mom and left it in nothing short of a fairy tale wedding replete with her quite handsome and seemingly mega wealthy new husband. Maybe the same will be true for Bethenny Frankel, though it appears Jason’s wallet didn’t figure as much into the equation in this relationship. (Which we secretly like, btw.) It will be interesting to discover them both in more depth in her Bravo spin off “Bethenny’s Getting Married” premiering June 10.
Back to the Real Housewives, while we anxiously await the snubbing of Jill in St. John, the ultimate finale and subsequent reunion, let’s all take a moment to hope that sweet and sexy Sonja Morgan, NYC’s newest housewife, will never ever bitten by the mean outmoded nasty housewife bug. A word to the wise, Sonja. Whatever else you do while on the show, just say no to the Gummi Bears!
Filed under Edmunds Insurance by on Jan 24th, 2011. Comment. 
Toyota has sold over a million copies of its hybrid Prius and in doing so has revolutionized the auto industry. While even Toyota admits that hybrid drive technology (a gas engine and electric battery working together to optimize fuel economy) isn’t the final answer to the “green” ask, most every automaker is now working on some sort of competing hybrid concept.
2009 has been an auspicious year in the Prius story what with the introduction of the more powerful yet more fuel efficient 2010 Prius. While the 2010 Prius adds some bonuses like a more luxurious interior and a solar roof panel to power the air conditioning when you are parked it is still generally the same mechanical concept. As for new competition like the Honda Insight—this model honestly doesn’t better the 2004-2009 Prius so it is definitely no match for the 2010 model.
In light of the stellar reliability history of the 2004-2009 Prius (also known as model NHW20), it really does make sense to have a look at a used model—even in light of possible battery replacement costs. This used guide intends to help you make the best decision as to model year, mileage and condition when searching for the best Prius your money can buy.
An Owner’s Story—Sometimes referred to as the “Toyota Pious” due to its unfortunate association with Al Gore and his “Inconvenient/Inaccurate Truths,” most Prius owners are normal people just looking for a fuel efficient vehicle with low running costs. And on that count, the Prius delivers. If you are looking for a vehicle that will help you save the earth might I recommend you buy a conventional ten-speed bicycle off of EBay? Preferably in banana yellow.
Kelly Scott lives in Southern California and travels epic mileages as part of her job as a real estate appraiser. Kelly says she usually averages around 45-48 miles per gallon according to the on board computer in her Prius. Her mileage lows of around 40 miles per gallon usually only happen on hot days when the air conditioning is set to high and she is carrying heavy loads of passengers and cargo.
Speaking of passengers, Kelly finds many of the hi-tech features on the Prius invaluable in helping out with her duties as “mommy” to her 1 and a half year old son Luke. “The smart key is to die for when schlepping Luke around. I can fair leave my keys in my pocket and stand next to the front door or trunk and it unlocks. No more digging in my purse. Sometimes I wish our front door to the house was like that too!”
There is one optional extra available on the novel model that Kelly wishes she could have on her older Prius, “Another feature I would fancy now that I have a kid is an auto-start to get the AC running on hot days. That new solar powered cabin fan on the new Prius sounds like it would really help. As Luke’s car seat is rear facing it can take a while for the cool air to arrive the rear seat. So I usually have to earn in and turn on the car to secure the AC going before I start loading groceries or start to strap Luke into his car seat. It’s kind of a hassle.”
On the other hand, Kelly does like that there are three LATCH child seat connectors attached to the rear bench seat as often times there are only two. And even with Luke’s massive child seat installed there is still room in the back seat for two more passengers if you do squeeze in. So what other features rate highly in Kelly Scott’s mind?
“It has tons of storage in unexpected places – 2 glove boxes, cup holders, huge center console with a drawer underneath that I didn’t even find for the first 5 months! I like the AUX jack for my iPod but would Appreciate a central docking station. I still haven’t space up the voice allege features and probably won’t – an unnecessary bell/whistle I can live without. The backup camera is really handy for parallel parking but not something I couldn’t live without.”
Although her Prius came very well equipped with hi-tech features, Kelly Scott has found that in over 30,000 miles that she has rarely keep them to much use. “The navigation system was actually kind of difficult to figure out. It’s not very user suitable and I had to actually read the manual to learn how to operate it. It’s also DVD based, so instead of being updated periodically like the Garmin GPS my husband Lee uses you have to go rob an updated disk if you are missing too many new streets. That has only happened for me a few times in new construction areas. And the nav system won’t let you input an address or find POI (Point of Interest) while the vehicle is in motion. Even with a passenger in the front seat! It does, however, have a pretty qualified POI database which has come in very handy when I want to win a Starbucks or a park where Luke can buy a speedy play break.”
But what is Kelly’s biggest electronic pet peeve regarding her Toyota Prius? Let’s just say it has something to do with how difficult it is to access the automatic temperature AC controls. “To lower the temperature you have to press the electronic screen and then have the down arrow until it gets to the lawful page. I would considerable rather have a knob to turn or button to press on the glide, especially if you are trying to follow directions on the GPS at the same time.
To optimize her time as a Prius owner Kelly has often times called on the experience of other Prius owners on Prius specific internet message boards. “It used to beep INSIDE the car while it was in reverse but I found a “cheat code” on the internet to make that cessation. It was seriously annoying.” It is hard to imagine a Chevy Cobalt owner putting in this much anxiety to understand exactly how his or her vehicle operates. And the fact that Kelly actually referred to her owner’s manual when she had a question puts her among the 5% of the population that is smart enough to actually do so.
But it was Kelly’s first bit of internet research that really paid serious dividends during her time with the Toyota Prius she nicknamed “Penny Prius,” “You can really adjust your driving style to maximize mileage. I read up a little on it when I first got Penny and found that it’s actually better to hurry rapidly and then maintain a “cruising hurry”. The computer shows you what your current MPG is and if it’s using the gas or battery (but I can feel it now). I actually get the best MPG when in traffic on the freeway around 30-35 MPH. I can objective use the battery power and flee when necessary. I usually leave a nice big space between me and the next car to maintain the stop/start system from turning on the gas engine.”
Maintenance costs haven’t been much higher than they were for Kelly’s last car—a Honda Civic EX coupe. Kelly has had nothing break and has suffered no mechanical breakdowns. She services her Prius every 5K miles or every 6 months at her local Toyota dealer and pays about $169 for minor oil change/oil filter/air filter/inspection services and recently forked over $325 for the “major service” at 30K miles. Those are very reasonable prices especially in light of the fact that they come from a dealership service department.
So would Kelly consume another Toyota Prius? While she would love to upgrade to the new 2010 Prius she wonders if she might be better served by something with a bit more room. “I got the Prius before I had Luke and to be just he and all his “stuff” takes up most of the available room. So I would probably want to look at something at least a diminutive bit bigger.” Did you hear that Toyota?
What to Look For—All Prius models come with a 8 year/ 100,000 mile warranty on the battery so they will replace it if it runs out of juice or stops functioning before then. New replacements at a Toyota dealer usually speed about $2500 but they should give you a $400 salvaging rebate for your old unit. Slightly used battery packs from totaled cars are on sites like EBay at prices ranging from $400-$1400 but you are really taking your chances going that route. No one is sure exactly how long Prius batteries last but most owners say they go at least 150,000 miles before showing any noticeable power degradation. So you might need to worry more about the doors falling off before the battery ever fails you.
As many owners use their Prius as high mileage commuters or as company vehicles be sure that the car you are looking at isn’t a salvage unit (meaning it was “totaled” by an Insurance company) and that the mileage is true. A CARFAX report should tell you everything you need to know.
Used prices for the Prius can vary month to month based on gas prices. When gas prices were at their peak a while ago many used Priuses were selling for close to their original MSRP. Many “green” environmentalists also squawk on shunning used examples with the leather option as the methane gas emitted by herds of cattle is allegedly the leading cause “global warming.” This is one of the few times when buying the “fully loaded” version of a new car can really hurt your resale value in the long speed.
Most passe buyers are looking for Prius models equipped with navigation, cloth seats, keyless entry, back-up camera and the enhanced JBL audio system. Although most buyers aren’t aware of the benefits the Touring models do come with an anti-skid system—very helpful if you live in a rainy or snowy climate.
Toyota has a specific Hybrid Certified Pre-Owned program which gives buyers access to Toyota Motor Finance new car rates. Each Certified Pre-Owned Prius also benefits from a 174-point inspection, 3 month/3,000 mile comprehensive warranty and 7 year/100,000 mile power utter warranty in addition to the 8 year/100,000 mile battery coverage. Certified Pre-Owned Prius models always cost more but many used buyers indulge in the peace of mind the extra coverage affords them.
Used Prius Sample Internet Prices-
2007 Prius—(59K Miles)—(dealership)—($17,988)—certified, navigation, cloth
2007 Prius—(29K Miles—(dealership)–$21,995)—certified, navigation, leather, JBL audio
2008 Prius—(8K Miles)—(dealership)—($21995)—certified, base model.
2005 Prius—(58K Miles)—(dealership)—($17,995)—certified, cloth, navigation, JBL audio
2008 Prius—(6K Miles)—(dealership)—($26,995)—cloth, navigation, keyless entry, JBL audio
2008 Prius—(21K Miles)—(Private Owner)—($21,000)—leather, navigation, loaded
2004 Prius—(56K Miles)—(Private Owner)—($16,900)—navigation
2006 Prius—(88K Miles)—(Private Owner)—($15,700)—Extended Warranty until 100K, fully loaded
Recalls, Jam Areas and Maintenance Requirements—Aside from the aforementioned possibility of needing to replace the batteries, Prius owners have very reasonable maintenance costs. Do keep in mind that if you are buying a used Prius with a questionable CVT automatic transmission that replacement units currently cost a whopping $9,350. These CVT automatics can make groaning noises under load when going uphill but other than that they should perform seamlessly. If the operation of the transmission gives you the slightest pause don’t travel away—run away.
Parts prices, while generally higher than average, aren’t necessarily worse than with other new cars. The only other parts that seem kind of expensive are the alternator at $1,305 and the air conditioning compressor at $1,800. But seeing as this is a Toyota, these parts will likely never need replacing. Just do be aware that if they do break their replacements can get pricey. So be sure to confirm that the air conditioning blows cold air before you buy any used Prius.
1. Service bulletins are minimal especially considering the complexity built into every Prius. Most of the service bulletins are for 2004-2005 units.
2. Brake lights may stay illuminated and to fix you may need to replace the entire pedal assembly—(2005-2006 models)
3. Check engine light may reach on due to sticking coolant control valve—(2004-2006)
4. A coolant leak may develop in a converter assembly but this is covered by an extended 96 month/100,000 mile warranty—(2004-2006)
5. Use of the putrid engine oil viscosity may trigger “engine will not start” light on dash—(2004-2005)
6. Fuel gauge may be mistaken requiring replacement of gas tank and filler neck—(2004)
7. Brake pedal may squeak and if brake fluid bleeding does not back an actuator may need to be replaced—(2004-2006)
There were reports of “unintended acceleration” from some Prius owners but it turns out that it was just improperly installed floormats getting jammed against the accelerator pedal that caused the “scrape.” This is the only Prius “choose” for this model and beautiful much just entails your Toyota dealer checking to make sure your floormats are securely installed.
The Prius needs servicing either every 6 months or 5,000 miles. This usually entails oil change, oil filter change, air filter change, inspection and tire rotation. At 30K miles Toyota recommends a cabin air filter change, brake fluid bleed and a service on the rear brakes. Many owners don’t realize the complexity of their brake regeneration system and try to skip this service. That is not highly recommended and can void your warranty with the manufacturer. With a car this complex it makes sense to follow manufacturer’s service recommendations as closely as possible.
Competition—If you don’t drive that many miles a Honda Civic is a less expensive proposition to consider. If you do love to have the latest high mileage car do check out the VW Jetta TDI, Honda Insight and the brand new 2010 Prius. But if you can’t quite swing the payment on a brand new Prius, a ancient model really does make a whole lot of sense.
Sources:
Toyota.com
Filed under Edmunds Insurance by on Dec 18th, 2010. Comment.
Insurance packages can be a confusing thing for plenty of persons to realize There is a whole lot of incorrect facts and misconceptions about van insurance plans that can trigger you to lose a ton of funds Right here are five well-known misconceptions that as a licensed policy professional I generally clarify with my consumers Read these ahead of it is too late and you acquire the hit in your wallet
Your individual products in your car are lined by your auto health care insurance Erroneous If your purse is stolen out of your automobile your car or truck an insurance policy will not cowl it Most insurance plans organizations will only cowl objects that are connected, or can be connected to the automotive For instance, if your cell phone was in your purse when it was stolen it almost certainly won’t be protected by your insurance coverage service Having said that, if it was on a charger that was connected to your auto then it might be coated Right here is an additional instance If you additional a sub woofer to your automotive and it was not bolted down it would not be protected, but if it was connected to the family car it should really be insured This assumes that your insurer addresses customized elements and gear, which leads me to the next misconception.An insurance policy will pay for for theft or damage to any upgrades you have made to your automobile.Flawed If you have tricked out your motor vehicle and have additional very nice rims, chrome elements or even a $20,000 paint job and are in an incident your insurer will not pay out to replace those things Your insurance protection specialist will only compensate if you have additional customized areas and gear protection to your automobile and then only for whatever dollar sum you specified when you bought the coverage If you really don’t have the cover they will pay out the fair market value for your family car as it came from the manufacturer Consistently maintain your receipts for any modifications and it is a wonderful notion to acquire a picture of the car or truck with the extra components.You can use van rental insurance plan even though your van is becoming repaired due to a mechanical break down.Inaccurate Vehicle rental cover will cowl a rental vehicle if you have an insurable declare This is only if you opted to pay up for that insurance plan when you bought your vehicle insurance policy Of course there are limits on the dollar total and how lengthy it is insured Can you rent a Ferrari although your Toyota is becoming repaired Confident but know your insurance protection corporation will only pay back a set dollar sum and you will have to pay out the distinction Maintain in mind that even if the repairs acquire longer than you expected, your protection does have a limit on how countless days it will take care of Regardless of the restrictions this is a decent protection to get considering that it is pretty inexpensive to add It will conserve you a good deal of capital if you do have to have it Plus it will conserve you time mainly because your an insurance policy specialist can typically get you a rental proper away, regardless of who is at fault If it is the other guys fault it could possibly acquire a whereas to get a rental auto from his policies service.You can inform your an insurance plan corporation when to pay up a declare and when to not pay back.Improper If you are driving a friend’s vehicle and get into an at fault incident, his policy ought to spend for the incident Insurance plans stays with the family car You can not inform your health care insurance service provider to shell out for it since it was your fault Your buddy will not be happy to discover that his insurance cover has to compensate for it and his deductible applies Also if there isn’t sufficient policy insurance plan you and your pal can both be sued for damages.Your Bodily Damage Liability protection will cowl your healthcare bills if you are in an incident.Mistaken Bodily Harm liability protects the individual you hit It can have a per particular person/per incident limit or it can be a set total per incident If your state has individual harm protection then that protection will pay for for your health-related bills In some states you can get uninsured/underinsured cover Uninsured addresses you if a person hits you when they are at fault and they do not have insurance cover Underinsured addresses you if they do have policy but it isn’t adequate to cowl your healthcare costs Prior to purchasing policies go more than your coverage with your agent If you have any questions or concerns ask now earlier than you have a declare Really don’t acquire policies in a hurry due to the fact that you may miss some vital important information that you very will need to know Once you get a copy of your coverage look it more than carefully to make positive it addresses what you want and be positive to note what is excluded or not insured What you don’t know can price you a great deal of hard earned cash .
Filed under Edmunds Insurance by on Nov 10th, 2010. Comment.
