1976 Ford Pinto, didn't blow up on me, but I was never rear-ended 1976 Honda CVCC--my friends called this a beer can. Because it looked like one to them. Could reach over and roll down the window on the passenger side while driving, without leaning over. Small! 1988 Pontiac LeMans-the car they brought back from the 60s only uglier and less durable. The first car I ever ever bought. 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse-At this time, Mitsubishi, Dodge, and Eagle (remember them?!) were in collusion, I mean had agreements, in place and Eagle made the Talon. Daddy liked my Eclipse so much he bought a Talon. 1990 Mazda Miata--you know how I feel about that one!!!! 2011-1990=21 years old. Still running strong. After bankruptcy, foreclosure, and divorce... AND it got flooded, there is no A/C (I don't care), no heater (I don't care), the driver's window doesn't crank up or down, I can pull it instead, and the radio just went out. I might fix that. I did just get a brand new convertible top and it'll likely work another three or so years. My parents owned, during my lifetime, and I rode in: '67 Jaguar XKE (CHECK THIS CAR OUT!!!!) Late 70s Grand Torino Ford, Pinto (the same one) A really huge and old Oldsmobile that I learned to drive on. Ugh. Cars my boyfriends/husbands have owned, and I drove/owned: 196? VW Bug (two of them) 198? Honda CRX (two of them) 1986 1/2 yes, a half year??? Toyota Celica, Supra (two of them) Oldsmobile Cutlass Nissan pickup Mazda 626 Mazda Protege Isuzu Rodeo The weird thing is, the two bugs, two Hondas, and the two Supras are the same two guys. Both guys onwed all those cars in succession. Where they deviate? After I broke up with boyfriend of eight years, he bought a Nissan Pathfinder. The one I married and stayed married to for 11 years, owned an ordinary Nissan pickup. Weird!!!!!

I can only imagine the rose market in the UK is very different because there are no bargains to be had in these supermarket outlets. That is not to say it is not possible to buy cheap plants but really, they are complete rubbish. Wouldn't have them for free. Ratty dessicated petunias. Other outlets are the garden centres, a kind of horticultural supermarket we imported from the US back in the late 60's. The prices in these places are higher than from nurseries because they only offer potted roses, usually only in bloom season and they are selling to the impulse buyers. Course, they come in a shiny pink pot with a big old label....and they all sell the same 50 or so hybrid teas and floribundas, all the bloody austins, of course, at a really high price and a tiny handful of 'classics'. Partly, the habit of buying bare root roses directly from specialist nurseries is still very strong amongst rose lovers, but also, the cost, as well as the quality, remains competitive - after all, there are not a million middlemen and no ludicrously huge premises. And before the usual response that it gives someone a job, then you really need to take a look at how this operates in the UK - basically, we pay a sort of supplement to workers (tax credits) which enables businesses to employ people for less than a living wage (the really crappy aspect of a welfare state) - well if you thing this system is a fair and reasonable one, then try working at Asda or Walmart yourself for a few years before bleating how great it is that they are actually getting rich from sheer exploitation rather than offering a fair wage for a fair days work. Even more to the point (unless you are poltically engaged), there are no old roses to be bought from major shopping outlets (although you might find the odd Fantin Latour or Compte de Chambord and never see a species rose) so unless you want to lose any semblance of choice, it is no use whining when those places which do offer variety have gone and you are left with the dictates of the market to the detriment of all else. But hey, principles are principles, not some cheap clothing you can toss away when they are worn out.

"...It's possible to make a car that does not break. Period..." Really? Even LEXUS owners have problems with their cars! And my old boss bought a new S class Mercedes. (S500) And it was eventually declared a "LEMON" and was replaced. Automobiles are still assembled by humans. And those huumans can have bad days and miss something on the line. It happens. And yes, not too long ago all American automakers built crap. But the quality has improved a great deal. So a Buick that's over 10 years old is not even in the same league as a Buick that's 2 years old as far as engineering goes. As a matter of fact, in 1999 we rented a brand new Park Avenue while on vacation. My wife called it a piece of garbage compared to our '88 Volvo. The power seat controls came off in her hand! Yeah, garbage! But I'll guarantee that the Lucerne is light years ahead of that Park Ave! In both quality and engineering.

An update: I need some more advice I did go ahead and buy the 3T RUUD unit last year as guided. It has worked very well and I got the tax credit too. A/C worked well last summer however this past winter we had a reasonably cold February here in Houston. The HP did have to "work" long cycles to get the area somewhat warm. I am concerned about the unit having to really work long cycles and produce not really warm air. Is running a lot - to warm the space... The performance seemed to be much better when the temperature went to 40F during the day when the units would kick on. During the coldest part of the snap it struggled to get adequate heat into the space. The last heat strip units ran 25 years and did a good job, however much more expensively. Going forward I is trying being as efficient as I can be. I have a second unit to replace...I nursed that old 2nd Lennox HS unit thru this past year and don't believe it will last at all this season. I recognize that I have another unit to buy and the HP did save $$ on the heat and A/C side this year. Markedly... Besides Texas still have funds left for rebates on efficient units. Want to get that B 4 it runs out. So I need to act. Since I am all electric (NO Natural Gas), I am looking for another unit at 2.5T for this other side of the home. Manual J says 2.5T is needed. The rooms in this living area are the sleeping quarters, bathrooms, master BR and showers along with the den. I need to make sure that the heating aspect will provide more heat than what I experienced with the 3T heat pump in the main room this past winter.... I need to feel warm in the winter in this other space since there is a risk of catching cold / other by stepping out of the shower. if the heat is not present in qty. AND another consideration - when we get up to go to work its usually in the early AM, when the temps are most likely to be at the lowest part of the day and the HP will probably be the least efficient that is when the heat is needed. I need to address this aspect in the choice I make today... Contractor who did the last install did a good job... I have no issue on getting another RUUD and using him He is quoting another RUUD 2.5T HP similar setup as last year's 3T HP UPQL-030JEZ AH RHKL-HM3617JA 7.5KW HS 15.5 SEER / 13 EER New supply and return Plenums 5" Pleated Filter System New Copper Lineset Crane for roof Top Mounting $7,000 installed to code If I look at the RUUD website, the unit is not rated as an energy credit qualifying unit. In addition the warranty that is published ion that unit is only 5 years as the warranty on the other units is 10years. The last units I had that were HS Lenox units lasted 25 years. I want to make a wise investment so the unit I will buy is a solid sturdy unit that can last a very long stretch.. 5 yr stated warranty seems light to me.. Can you give me some insight on the unit quoted..?and some suggestions on what other Ruud units might be "A Step Up" and sturdier and a "value". Manufacturers update lines all the time. Maybe further improvements were made on some Ruud units ..AND - Maybe he is quoting a good solid workhorse unit and that's fine.. A good solid unit is what I want. Increase HS capacity to what level? Can the other unit be retrofitted w additional heat capacity? Vertical Vs Horizontal AHRI Data will be a great help on your suggestions. Thank you in advance...