OPINIONS

 What is your favorite vehicle you have owned?

Hi Dan,

Great question. I’ve loved a lot of them, including the current Tesla Model Y, the ’74 Porsche 914, the ’92 Toyota Previa minivan, the ’62 VW microbus, the ’01 Smartcar convertible, the ’17 Ford C-Max plug-in hybrid and the ’71 VW Golf convertible. (There were a bunch of other less interesting and modest but good cars.)  But I think the “best car I’ve ever owned” is the “82 Toyota minivan. It was the original minivan, 7-passenger, mid-engine, with a little refrigerator in front of the center console that would just hold a six-pack.  There were so many great road trips when the kids were little -- skiing, camping, fishing resorts, reunions and on and on. It was nothing special for performance or handling, but the styling was distinctively modern in a “moonrover” kind of way.  It was also cozy and had a sun roof that allowed one to stand up inside to change clothes. It also seemed – and was – such a good practical solution to the transportation needs of us at that time: room for a group but still a small car.

You’d have to go a long way to beat your XKE. I’ll never forget that. And the T-Bird was fun.

Tom

Thomas P. Solheim

428 S. Blount St.

Madison, WI 53703

608-516-1790

What skill did you/would you teach you grandchildren, nephews, and nieces?

Turn to the right to tighten and turn to the left to loosen. Your youngster will remember your advice each time he or she must deal with a screw, bolt, lid, or valve. It will be particularly useful when the novice plumber is sprawled on the kitchen floor attempting to tighten the leaky pipe fitting under the sink.

Some specialty items do not follow this Rule which activates the second Rule: No Rule is Absolute.    

Dan Bell

 My father taught me when tightening lug nuts on a car to always tighten across from the one you just did. Never side by side. And not always super tight the first time around. You should do at least 2 rotations of tightening 

Terry Acome

terry.acome@gmail.com

JULY QUESTION

WHAT IS THE RECIPE  FOR GRILLING YOUR FAVORITE DISH?