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I stopped in to Acura of Seattle last week as I was out shopping for a RELIABLE Japanese economy car to replace my high maintenance BMW. I was planning to get a Honda Civic Si, but all of the local...
I stopped in to Acura of Seattle last week as I was out shopping for a RELIABLE Japanese economy car to replace my high maintenance BMW. I was planning to get a Honda Civic Si, but all of the local dealers in Seattle were out of stock and not willing to budge an inch on the $25,999.00 price tag. Ouch. Quite a bit for a Honda. ...so I checked Honda's luxury line, Acura.
I spotted a few Acura RSX's left on the lot. Turns out Acura will quit making the RSX after 2006 and what was on the lot was all that was left! To my surprise 3 of them were Type-S cars. This is the higher-end equivalent of the Civic Si. AND they had SILVER, my first color choice. :-)
The deal came together quickly, and I was pleased with the trade-in allowance this dealer gave me for the BMW. It was a few THOUSAND dollars more than the Honda dealers would give me. While they didn't budge from the asking price for the car (they had the last ones left in the state of Washington apparently), the trade allowance made the car about the same price as the Civic Si - and loaded with more features!
Now, for the patience part... Most everyone I spoke with at the Dealership was a new employee. Not sure why, but they were all on a learning curve, and this resulted in LONG waits and a couple of screw-ups on their part. Nothing too major, but I would suggest keeping a close tab on how the process is moving along as a buyer.
The sales agent was GREAT - you have to ask for Clyde when you stop by. No pressure, always smiling and laughing (even at MY jokes!), and anything but a "used car salesman" personality. A couple of observations: The Sales Manager while at first friendly, became very standoffish once the deal was sealed. Maybe he's just a busy guy, but I expected better from Acura. Also, watch out for the after-purchase "options" that will come flying your way when you sign the loan docs. I did opt for the Lojack and Gap insurance, but if I would have taken it all my price would have been over $7,000.00 more! Just know what you want, and what you don't before you go in.
The receptionists, while young and attractive, are also young and clueless. But, with a little persistence they did ask the Sales Manager what should be done next, and semi-quickly resolved the delays.
I love my new Acura, and the Dealership will get good ratings from me on their survey. I'm sure the kinks in the processes will work themselves out as the staff is on board longer. :-)
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If real estate is all about location, location, location then I believe my real estate agent better be all about action, action, action. And that's exactly what you will get working with Team...
If real estate is all about location, location, location then I believe my real estate agent better be all about action, action, action. And that's exactly what you will get working with Team Reba!!
If I had to elaborate, I would say that experience, trust, and connections are pretty important as well. And this is where Team Reba really delivers. They are so experienced that they actually teach classes on real estate investing! And I can't think of anyone better-connected. Or more dedicated. I get fast answers to any real estate question (no matter how silly - or complex, for that matter) and have never received any "pushy real estate agent" stuff. Ever.
I have purchased quite a few houses over the years, and each time I found myself quite frustrated with my agent(s) as I had to track everything and push everyone along to make the deal happen. (What was I paying that commission for again?). With Team Reba you can focus on the property - not the process.
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This group of talented people are addressing a topic that is so painful and pervasive in our world today - yet most people don't even know how to talk about it.
Sexual violence. Rape. Sexual...
This group of talented people are addressing a topic that is so painful and pervasive in our world today - yet most people don't even know how to talk about it.
Sexual violence. Rape. Sexual assault. These are not pleasant words to consider, but for millions of people they aren't just words. Burried pain, needless shame, and psychological trauma capable of crippling an entire life. Chances are good that you know someone, or of someone, who has been traumatized by sexual violence. While physical scars soon heal, it can take years and decades for innocent victims to recover and begin again to lead the healthy, positive life that they deserve.
They say you can judge the worthiness of an effort by how impossible their goals appear to be. For the FEAR Project, it involves changing our very culture from silenced fear to one of an open dialog that fosters a climate of trust and support. Now that's huge.
The work this amazing group has done so far is brilliant... and it has only just begun. If you are courageous as well, and enjoy working with great people on incredibly challenging issues, consider contacting the FEAR Project to learn what you can do.
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I purchased my Rx-8 from Doug's Mazda and the entire experience was top-notch. I got the best price (in fact, I still haven't seen one sold for what I got mine for - and I read all the online boards...
I purchased my Rx-8 from Doug's Mazda and the entire experience was top-notch. I got the best price (in fact, I still haven't seen one sold for what I got mine for - and I read all the online boards for Rx-8 owners!). The dealership manager is a smart, competent, and sincere person. I always get the sense that I will be taken care of here. He takes the time to chat with me whenever I stop by, and I have come to know him a personal friend. (Now how many car dealership people can you say *that* about?) :-)
Post-sale service has been outstanding. Quick, free loaner car, and every technician I've seen has taken what seems like a "personal interest" in my vehicle. Now that's impressive.
I haven't bought a Hyundai or Hummer from them - but I would guess you can expect the same level of service and professionalism. Happy car buying!
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As gyms go, they could be worse than Epicenter.
I joined as a "founding member", meaning I paid a full year of fees in advance, before they even opened. They made lots of promises to us Founding...
As gyms go, they could be worse than Epicenter.
I joined as a "founding member", meaning I paid a full year of fees in advance, before they even opened. They made lots of promises to us Founding Members, and most of them have stuck. Although when I decided not to pay the full year renewal in advance, my monthly rate went from a "guarenteed" $19/mo to over $27. ouch. Stll not sure how that happened - but who has time to ask?
Epicenter has been good, but it could be better. The locker rooms are over-crowded with "reserved" lockers - in fact there is not a single full-size locker left to use most days. I end up using the half-size ones that wrinkle my clothes. And, I'm lucky if I can find one of those open! Most machines have personal TVs with cable that mostly works. Although if you want to watch the main TVs you'll have to guess at the audio because there is no broadcast of it and they generally don't have closed caption on either. Bring your own DVD or music.
The personal trainers are friendly but the training that they provide must be purchased seperately. As well as the tanning booths, towel service, locker reservations, and some classes.
On the plus-side, everything is new, well maintained, and clean. Facilities stay in good shape and repairs are responded to quickly. It's not a pick-up joint so you can actually focus on your workout.
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Located conveniently off Lake City Way/Bothell Way north of 145th, this is a well-run shop with a very trustworthy owner. Milan does most of the work himself, and he's always good. Never fixes more...
Located conveniently off Lake City Way/Bothell Way north of 145th, this is a well-run shop with a very trustworthy owner. Milan does most of the work himself, and he's always good. Never fixes more than I need, and his prices are sometimes HALF what the dealerships quote me!! No kidding, my Land Rover had a repair quote of over $3,500 and Milan did the same exact work for $1,650. I just brought the dealer quote in, and he gave his quote back.
I also bring my BMW 540i and my Porsche 911 to Milan at Continental Motors. Trust me, the BMW provides plenty of opportunity for repairs - and Milan always takes good care of her. The Porsche is very reliable, but I all on Milan for the tune-ups and oil changes. Again, at a fraction of the cost.
Warning: He can be very busy - SO CALL AHEAD for an appointment.
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In general, this is a cool place to hang out. Great location, after all.
I love the Salmon sandwich for Happy Hour, and the corn dog bites with mustard are great filler food. :-)
However, I...
In general, this is a cool place to hang out. Great location, after all.
I love the Salmon sandwich for Happy Hour, and the corn dog bites with mustard are great filler food. :-)
However, I recommend sticking with the beer on tap, or house wine during happy hour. When we ventured to order cocktails, they came out very weak. Like water. Ugh. Lesson learned.
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I tore out the carpet in my condo in favor of hardwood floors. They are so much easier to clean, and with allergy season on the way, I had to get rid of the carpet!
I shopped around local stores,...
I tore out the carpet in my condo in favor of hardwood floors. They are so much easier to clean, and with allergy season on the way, I had to get rid of the carpet!
I shopped around local stores, Home Depot, etc. but when I called Empire (you know the jingle!) they came to my house and brought all the samples with them. No pressure from the sales rep, but I decided to have the floors installed the next day. Yep, that's right. I ordered in at 9pm on Wed, and by 7pm on Thursday my new floors were in, the place was cleaned up, and I was re-arranging furniture!
I'm not sure how the full-service quote compared to other places, but I can tell you this: it's the best money I've spent on floors out of any of my properties! Doing these things on my own is time consuming, frustrating and messy. One call really does it all! :-)
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I bought my Porsche 911 from Park Place Motors in 2001. While the sales staff can come off a bit snobby, they are very helpful once they realize you are a serious shopper. (I imagine they get a lot...
I bought my Porsche 911 from Park Place Motors in 2001. While the sales staff can come off a bit snobby, they are very helpful once they realize you are a serious shopper. (I imagine they get a lot of people gawking at the cars... which is no excuse but probably the reason).
They do have the largest selection of Porsches in the Northwest, and with a little negotiation (Or a lot!) you can get a pretty decent deal. I paid about $1,500 over private sale value for mine, which considering the service, detailing, and buyers assurance was a good deal. Plus, they were the only place that had enough 911s the vintage I wanted to find a great one. I searched for more than 12 months, spending LOTS of time test driving cars all over the northwest before I found Park Place.
Definitely worth a visit.
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Daniel's has some of the best steak in town - no doubt. But I really enjoy their Happy Hour (4-6pm M-F) where you can enjoy succulent steak strips that are so tender they practically melt in your...
Daniel's has some of the best steak in town - no doubt. But I really enjoy their Happy Hour (4-6pm M-F) where you can enjoy succulent steak strips that are so tender they practically melt in your mouth. Of course, Mac & Jack on tap, and some EXCELLENT red wines as well. All this for bargain prices (compared to the regular menu). :-)
Be warned Happy Hour can be extremely PACKED in the lounge. I have to "hover" for a table on occasion, but it's still worth the wait! Speaking of which, the wait staff is SUPERB!!
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