[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by NGT2

I could take the $2,600 and buy a small riding mower and better backpack blower and maybe cut my yard time in half and keep doing it myself.

I thought the same when I got my house but said fuck it after a couple years. I at least "made my money back" and then some by diy but week after week it got annoying. by the time I pulled everything out and get showered back on the couch (or doing whatever) it was like 2-3 hours. If i were you, go around and get some quotes and see how his price stacks up. If there's room in the difference of your current price say I can pay you xxx dollars more but you need to hit this checklist every time and see what he says. Unless he's a complete, unsalvageable, dolt I usually tell people what they're doing wrong and give them a chance. if need be I toss a few more bucks their way to get it done the way I like.

[MCL_24]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Not quite the muscle of some of your toys, but it's my classic baby. I'll spare you the picture of my QX60 and Tiguan.

Oh my god I love the e39. So badass. And those wheels

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Yep...I did exactly what you're thinking. Rather than just limiting yourself to spend one year of savings, think 3 years savings @ $7800 and buy some worthwhile equipment.

I had some Home Depot John Deere piece of crap for $2300 back in the day. It would choke on grass that wasn't even tall, discharge clumps of shit all over my lawn and the deck would rise on one end causing an uneven cut. That right there would drive an OCD guy like myself nuts.

I bought a SCAG Freedom Z zero turn 48" cut. 26 hp (made in USA, not China). I think I paid $6700 10 years ago. Well worth it. Last I looked, they were the same price for a better mower now. Never any clumps, I can cut down a forest with that thing and it won't choke. If my back would allow me to, I can cut my lawn at 9mph...if the blades are sharp, it does a precision job at that speed. Cutting the lawn with solid equipment makes it enjoyable.

I bought an echo backpack blower, echo extended hedge trimmer, Stihl standard hedge trimmer and weed wacker. I even got the Stihl commercial pole trimmers going on over here. Having the right equipment makes the job so much easier and it's actually therapy.

I went through years of working with the standard stuff and most of the time doing the simple stuff was a pain....I just built up my arsenal with all commercial equipment over the years. It took a while, but now I'm golden.

You don't have to buy new stuff. Find a used SCAG with low hours. They're out there and half the price. These things are bullet proof.

.

Solid advice Mental, NGT2 If you're going to commit might as well go balls out if you can.

Mental, do I see stairs in your shed that Paul Bunyan built? Looks like the shed could withstand a F5 tornado.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

I thought the same when I got my house but said fuck it after a couple years. I at least "made my money back" and then some by diy but week after week it got annoying. by the time I pulled everything out and get showered back on the couch (or doing whatever) it was like 2-3 hours. If i were you, go around and get some quotes and see how his price stacks up. If there's room in the difference of your current price say I can pay you xxx dollars more but you need to hit this checklist every time and see what he says. Unless he's a complete, unsalvageable, dolt I usually tell people what they're doing wrong and give them a chance. if need be I toss a few more bucks their way to get it done the way I like.

I'm the guy that buys all that shit when I get a new house thinking, yeah, I can do this myself, and a few months later I hire a landscaper. I am pretty OCD about my yard too, but I ain't doing no edging, mulching or leave clean-up. It's definitely a luxury I am happy I can afford.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I'm the guy that buys all that shit when I get a new house thinking, yeah, I can do this myself, and a few months later I hire a landscaper. I am pretty OCD about my yard too, but I ain't doing no edging, mulching or leave clean-up. It's definitely a luxury I am happy I can afford.

Here, here Pastor. Sometime I get all worked up like I'm Rambo then i take a step back and ask will I really keep this up? I bought a golf simulator for two years ago during coivd. Used the hell out of it until I was able to play outside and maybe used it 2-3 times since.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

Here, here Pastor. Sometime I get all worked up like I'm Rambo then i take a step back and ask will I really keep this up? I bought a golf simulator for two years ago during coivd. Used the hell out of it until I was able to play outside and maybe used it 2-3 times since.

Yep, unfortunately, I am not honest with myself enough in terms of my patience and capabilities. My girlfriend does have fun with it at my expense. I tried to repair a few trex boards on my deck a few weeks ago. Went to Lowes, bought some boards, bought a sweet Dewault kit full of saws and drills. Got home, looked at the job at hand and then called my carpenter.

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Yep, unfortunately, I am not honest with myself enough in terms of my patience and capabilities. My girlfriend does have fun with it at my expense. I tried to repair a few trex boards on my deck a few weeks ago. Went to Lowes, bought some boards, bought a sweet Dewault kit full of saws and drills. Got home, looked at the job at hand and then called my carpenter.

:You can sit back on the nice deck and say "boy that saw I bought looks pretty good on that shelf."

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

Yep...I did exactly what you're thinking. Rather than just limiting yourself to spend one year of savings, think 3 years savings @ $7800 and buy some worthwhile equipment.

I had some Home Depot John Deere piece of crap for $2300 back in the day. It would choke on grass that wasn't even tall, discharge clumps of shit all over my lawn and the deck would rise on one end causing an uneven cut. That right there would drive an OCD guy like myself nuts.

I bought a SCAG Freedom Z zero turn 48" cut. 26 hp (made in USA, not China). I think I paid $6700 10 years ago. Well worth it. Last I looked, they were the same price for a better mower now. Never any clumps, I can cut down a forest with that thing and it won't choke. If my back would allow me to, I can cut my lawn at 9mph...if the blades are sharp, it does a precision job at that speed. Cutting the lawn with solid equipment makes it enjoyable.

I bought an echo backpack blower, echo extended hedge trimmer, Stihl standard hedge trimmer and weed wacker. I even got the Stihl commercial pole trimmers going on over here. Having the right equipment makes the job so much easier and it's actually therapy.

I went through years of working with the standard stuff and most of the time doing the simple stuff was a pain....I just built up my arsenal with all commercial equipment over the years. It took a while, but now I'm golden.

You don't have to buy new stuff. Find a used SCAG with low hours. They're out there and half the price. These things are bullet proof.

.

This is definitely one option. If I were to do it, I think I'd find a shed and equip myself with items that I can "grow into" if/when we move and have more yard, instead of limiting to the items (mower) I can squeeze into the garage, as is. Added benefit would be more space in the garage for a more proper work space (especially the golf club repair/building stuff).

The more I think about it, the more I think my idea to sit in a holding pattern is best until early spring.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

:You can sit back on the nice deck and say "boy that saw I bought looks pretty good on that shelf."

Ha, I rationalized the purchase by telling myself, hell, I don't need to borrow a sawz-all anymore. I can definitely use one of these because the times I have used it was for demolition. I am good at that.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

Solid advice Mental, NGT2 If you're going to commit might as well go balls out if you can.

Mental, do I see stairs in your shed that Paul Bunyan built? Looks like the shed could withstand a F5 tornado.

I'm torn whether I should call you TubeSteak or TMS (The Mad Shitter). No stairs, but there is a loft. I could live in that thing if I had too.


.

[Mandingo9]

You'll be torn when you get the tube steak then I'll be calling you the mad shitter. I'm
assuming you built that since you build (and destroy) things? Wish I had some carpentry skills. I can maintain the household but raw materials is a no go for me, I cannot comprehend.

[admranger]

Yard work: $50 is peanuts. I paid double that for a 1/3 acre yard in Vegas. Problem with the mow, blow, and go guys is you get everyone else's weeds. Mowers don't discriminate what they drop where.

Hire a guy for spring and fall cleanup and do the rest yourself.

[Mosaud1998]

Check out this very low mileage E92 335. I wonder how much this will go for

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/9WW...bmw-335i-coupe

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

Check out this very low mileage E92 335. I wonder how much this will go for

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/9WW...bmw-335i-coupe

Same spec I had except burl wood was gray poplar. I have an erection thinking about this car.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

Same spec I had except burl wood was gray poplar. I have an erection thinking about this car.

Trust me, same here

If I had the money for a 2nd car, I'd be all over this one. Unfortunately, another car wouldn't be a smart investment right now since I am saving up for a townhouse.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

Trust me, same here

If I had the money for a 2nd car, I'd be all over this one. Unfortunately, another car wouldn't be a smart investment right now since I am saving up for a townhouse.

Trust me, a second car that is a classic BMW is a money pit. I've put over $10,000 into my E39 over the last nine months. Something you need to factor in. Get the townhouse, it will be cheaper.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Trust me, a second car that is a classic BMW is a money pit. I've put over $10,000 into my E39 over the last nine months. Something you need to factor in. Get the townhouse, it will be cheaper.

With 9k miles, I bet the gaskets are all worn out. Tires are from 2006

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

With 9k miles, I bet the gaskets are all worn out. Tires are from 2006

Plus side is this motor will have forged internals. This car has a $12k price tag but it's really $50k after all the shit i do to it.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

Plus side is this motor will have forged internals. This car has a $12k price tag but it's really $50k after all the shit i do to it.

I think it'll sell cost too $30k

[Mandingo9]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

I think it'll sell cost too $30k

Very interested to see. Is there a back story on it? Super lows miles

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by Mandingo9

Very interested to see. Is there a back story on it? Super lows miles

Nope, nothing in the description yet. 1 owner car though

[Mandingo9]

Anyone use a pre wash "snow foam" then use a separate wash soap after? I'm trying not to put a mitt to the car during the summer. Looking at "car pro lift snow foam" to see if it will still clean the stubborn areas with no touch. I'll probably need a two step solution anyhow (with a mitt) for the salt.