I'm doing a mileage run to LA tomorrow afternoon and coming back at night after dinner with friends because I need 2 more takeoffs and landings. Not front of the plane but having had free Economy Plus for a few years now it's hard to go back.
I didn't think I was close to keeping Gold, but after purchasing a ticket to Paris for work in a couple of weeks and having my flight to Taiwan, I was surprisingly close.
Anything that I'm going to get a ton of usage from over many years. Headphones. My bike (I just bought a new one a couple months ago for the first time since 2009). Office chair for my home office (I'm looking to replace mine by the end of the year. I've had this one since I started grad school.)
A good truck. Or a good major-system doctor. Good bad-conditions gear. Some things are worth making sure of, and any shortcomings or corner cutting WILL ultimately cost WAY more in the long run, and let you down at the worst possible time.
I didn't have better than average Goretex outdoor gear on my bingo card, but I understand where you come from. It can be a lifesaver in certain situations.
For my TSX I get the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. They're an ultra high performance all-season rated for excellent for wet and dry and good for winter/snow. They're good Ca tires for some trips to Tahoe. Still need chains if it's snowing but that's fine.
The other ones that I've heard are good but never used personally are the Continental ExtremeContact ones. I believe they're also supposed to be excellent for the rain and good for snow. I've read that there are lots of Miata drivers that drive in the winter in some snow that swear by them.
My Miata has limited selection because of the wheel size so I just look for ultra summer tires since I don't drive it much in the rain.
Mrs Bk97 runs those Continentals as summer tires for her Mini. I can't remember the last time I drove her car, but I do recall that they're pretty good in a variety of conditions.
I run Michelin's Pilot Sport 4S in the summer and their Pilot Alpin PA4 in the winter. Both are fantastic. Incredible grip in all conditions and the PA4's are remarkably good in deep snow. Both sets seem to last forever too. I have around 30k miles on the summers and 20k on the winters they still have a ton of life.
Luckily I don't have to worry about winter tires. I think you can't go wrong with Michelins for the most part. They're my tire of choice if they have the size I need.
Something that you’re willing to pay a good premium
A seat in the front of the plane.
I'm doing a mileage run to LA tomorrow afternoon and coming back at night after dinner with friends because I need 2 more takeoffs and landings. Not front of the plane but having had free Economy Plus for a few years now it's hard to go back.
I didn't think I was close to keeping Gold, but after purchasing a ticket to Paris for work in a couple of weeks and having my flight to Taiwan, I was surprisingly close.
Anything that I'm going to get a ton of usage from over many years. Headphones. My bike (I just bought a new one a couple months ago for the first time since 2009). Office chair for my home office (I'm looking to replace mine by the end of the year. I've had this one since I started grad school.)
A good truck. Or a good major-system doctor. Good bad-conditions gear. Some things are worth making sure of, and any shortcomings or corner cutting WILL ultimately cost WAY more in the long run, and let you down at the worst possible time.
A drink ... Sometimes an over priced Bud light at a baseball game on a warm summer day is the best thing you can splurge on.
Agree though I would prefer a well made cocktail by someone with a lot of tattoos and maybe an ironic mustache.
I think going forward, people will be increasingly willing to pay for human curation like that
Better than average Gore tex outdoor gear
I didn't have better than average Goretex outdoor gear on my bingo card, but I understand where you come from. It can be a lifesaver in certain situations.
Tires. Always. The most important part for keeping your car on the road.
Sometimes keeping your car on the road is a literal description.
Any specific recommendations?
For my TSX I get the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. They're an ultra high performance all-season rated for excellent for wet and dry and good for winter/snow. They're good Ca tires for some trips to Tahoe. Still need chains if it's snowing but that's fine.
The other ones that I've heard are good but never used personally are the Continental ExtremeContact ones. I believe they're also supposed to be excellent for the rain and good for snow. I've read that there are lots of Miata drivers that drive in the winter in some snow that swear by them.
My Miata has limited selection because of the wheel size so I just look for ultra summer tires since I don't drive it much in the rain.
Mrs Bk97 runs those Continentals as summer tires for her Mini. I can't remember the last time I drove her car, but I do recall that they're pretty good in a variety of conditions.
I run Michelin's Pilot Sport 4S in the summer and their Pilot Alpin PA4 in the winter. Both are fantastic. Incredible grip in all conditions and the PA4's are remarkably good in deep snow. Both sets seem to last forever too. I have around 30k miles on the summers and 20k on the winters they still have a ton of life.
Luckily I don't have to worry about winter tires. I think you can't go wrong with Michelins for the most part. They're my tire of choice if they have the size I need.