Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

murphydog

houdini1 said:

murphydog said:

driver100 said:

.

Most of the places I frequent have "pull thru" parking spaces. You can pull thru one, and then be facing out in the opposite one. I always do this when possible, even if it means walking a few extra steps. Wife insists on this ever since I backed her car into a light pole 10 years ago. She still brings it up up every time I have to back up.

I try to take advantage of those type of spots too, and it is always funny how the significant other will remember that one little mistake from many years ago! Lucky for me it was my wife who backed into something, not me!

houdini1

Yep, an elephant can't hold a candle to an irritated wife !

jmonroe

murphydog said:

houdini1 said:

murphydog said:

driver100 said:

.

Most of the places I frequent have "pull thru" parking spaces. You can pull thru one, and then be facing out in the opposite one. I always do this when possible, even if it means walking a few extra steps. Wife insists on this ever since I backed her car into a light pole 10 years ago. She still brings it up up every time I have to back up.

I try to take advantage of those type of spots too, and it is always funny how the significant other will remember that one little mistake from many years ago! Lucky for me it was my wife who backed into something, not me!

It sounds like you remember too but know better than to bring it up.

Just getting back in here after vacation last week and have a few things to say but I have to look up one of them.

jmonroe

berri

Personally, I think this whole 401K thing in place of pensions is going to blow up a few decades down the road, as well as the habit in Congress of using social security and medicare deductions for other things. Look for a new version of the great depression "new deal" when it happens.

thebean

berri said:

Personally, I think this whole 401K thing in place of pensions is going to blow up a few decades down the road, as well as the habit in Congress of using social security and medicare deductions for other things. Look for a new version of the great depression "new deal" when it happens.

I agree, but I hope it is delayed by 20-25 years (your few decades will be fine) and then I will care not.

dino001

berri said:

Personally, I think this whole 401K thing in place of pensions is going to blow up a few decades down the road, as well as the habit in Congress of using social security and medicare deductions for other things. Look for a new version of the great depression "new deal" when it happens.

Should we get gold and guns now or can we wait couple of years?

driver100

PF_Flyer said:

driver100 said:

fintail said:

We were at 92% here. It got dim, shadows looked funny, felt a little cold. Pretty cool. Pic taken with my phone through a solar viewer card:

iluvmysephia1 said:

The Mrs. and I just saw the total eclipse of the sun in Kansas City. We drove north into the city and stopped and parked in Country Club Plaza. Kinda cool - the Mrs. and I took turns looking up at the sun through the "safe" eclipse shielders. Things got eerily dark. Those glasses really block out the sun...you barely see the blocked sun through them. But I wouldn't want the alternative!

Thanks, that is the only view I had of the eclipse today. I chipped a tooth and was in the dentists chair while it was going on. There was a window, but, it didn't get dark.

One of our tennis guys went to Nashville to see it. That is dedication.

A front moved in about 1PM here and I was ready to be frustrated, but the clouds started to have gaps so I got some shots using the clouds as a filter

Did something happen to the moon yesterday?

nyccarguy

It's amazing stuff like this STILL goes on in 2017. My best friend owns a restaurant. Many of his employees are from various Spanish speaking countries in Central & South America. The majority of them work hard and pay their taxes. He proudly pays NOBODY off the books. Many of them buy cheap used car after cheap used car and just junk them after pouring money into them. Sometimes they ask for advice which he is happy to give out.

"Boss. I need you help. I try to lease a new Highlander for my wife."

"Ok. What do you need help with?"

"I go to the dealer and tell them the car I want. They no have and tell me I pay money for them to get."

"How much money did you give them? How long ago?"

"Five Thousand Dollars on credit card. 3 weeks ago."

"What? You gave them $5,000 3 weeks ago? So what happened?"

"They no call."

So my friend calls up the dealership with his worker to try and find out the 411. He firmly, but ever so politely demands his worker's money back. Then asks (knowing they aren't going to buy the car there anyway), "How much is it?"

"You'll have to come down here. We don't quote prices over the phone."

He hangs up, calls another dealer. Starts talking to a salesman. Gets a price of $525 plus tax per month with just the basics due at signing. Salesman says he can do better if he and his worker would just come down there. "Forget it. Thanks for your time."

"Wait! Hold on. Let me put the dealership's GM on the phone."

GM of the dealership picks up the phone. Recaps the conversation my friend had with the salesman, then says: "You seem very direct and annoyed sir. Is there something either me or my salesman said to you that was offensive."

So my friend proceeds to tell the GM about his experience at their competitor. How the " one on down ... line drives him nuts" and if you give me the right price, I'll send my guy down there this afternoon after work.

The GM says to my friend: "$480 including tax."

They make the deal, the worker goes down to the dealership, picks up his new Highlander and everybody is Happy.

berri

Should we get gold and guns now or can we wait couple of years?

You know the good thing about bad situations is that it often brings people together. Maybe it will get rid of the extreme partisan polemics that have dominated Washington for awhile now and stuff will actually get done intelligently .

driver100

stickguy said:

Driver, not sure why a big firm would want your case. You are not suing for anything now, right? This is just to be on record, in case of future issues? Though maybe they would take that if just a basic filing, they put your file away. A normal attorney would likely do same thing but charge you up front (1-800 guts are usually contingent, but don't take on cases they don't think will have a quick or large payout).

Stick, I think your common sense answer is a good one. We have to file within 2 years, in case some problem occurs from the accident, and it doesn't show up for years. But, the 1-800 CALL SLIMY are really interested in the quick and big money cases. Unless I can show it is really causing major problems to my tennis game, I won't be able to claim much.

driver100

houdini1 said:

As I said, just expressing my opinion. Your money your choice.

We get universities asking for donations. I don't like what goes on in universities these days.....so I would never give to any universities....and that is just my humble opinion. It is nice if people want to, I have nothing against it, just not for me.

qbrozen

nyccarguy said:

It's amazing stuff like this STILL goes on in 2017. My best friend owns a restaurant. Many of his employees are from various Spanish speaking countries in Central & South America. The majority of them work hard and pay their taxes. He proudly pays NOBODY off the books. Many of them buy cheap used car after cheap used car and just junk them after pouring money into them. Sometimes they ask for advice which he is happy to give out.

"Boss. I need you help. I try to lease a new Highlander for my wife."

"Ok. What do you need help with?"

"I go to the dealer and tell them the car I want. They no have and tell me I pay money for them to get."

"How much money did you give them? How long ago?"

"Five Thousand Dollars on credit card. 3 weeks ago."

"What? You gave them $5,000 3 weeks ago? So what happened?"

"They no call."

So my friend calls up the dealership with his worker to try and find out the 411. He firmly, but ever so politely demands his worker's money back. Then asks (knowing they aren't going to buy the car there anyway), "How much is it?"

"You'll have to come down here. We don't quote prices over the phone."

He hangs up, calls another dealer. Starts talking to a salesman. Gets a price of $525 plus tax per month with just the basics due at signing. Salesman says he can do better if he and his worker would just come down there. "Forget it. Thanks for your time."

"Wait! Hold on. Let me put the dealership's GM on the phone."

GM of the dealership picks up the phone. Recaps the conversation my friend had with the salesman, then says: "You seem very direct and annoyed sir. Is there something either me or my salesman said to you that was offensive."

So my friend proceeds to tell the GM about his experience at their competitor. How the " one on down ... line drives him nuts" and if you give me the right price, I'll send my guy down there this afternoon after work.

The GM says to my friend: "$480 including tax."

They make the deal, the worker goes down to the dealership, picks up his new Highlander and everybody is Happy.

Did he get the $5k back??

berri

I suggest before you file a personal injury lawsuit you check into a couple of things besides the lawyer cut. Sometimes settlements can be taxed. Also sometimes your insurance policy (health or auto) has a clause that allows them to collect any of their payouts from a legal settlement like that. You want a handle on potential "net" versus the hassle and stress of litigation.

houdini1

Not to mention never being able to play pickleball again, or being seen in public without a neck brace.

oldfarmer50

nyccarguy said:

It's amazing stuff like this STILL goes on in 2017. My best friend owns a restaurant. Many of his employees are from various Spanish speaking countries in Central & South America. The majority of them work hard and pay their taxes. He proudly pays NOBODY off the books. Many of them buy cheap used car after cheap used car and just junk them after pouring money into them. Sometimes they ask for advice which he is happy to give out.

"Boss. I need you help. I try to lease a new Highlander for my wife."

"Ok. What do you need help with?"

"I go to the dealer and tell them the car I want. They no have and tell me I pay money for them to get."

"How much money did you give them? How long ago?"

"Five Thousand Dollars on credit card. 3 weeks ago."

"What? You gave them $5,000 3 weeks ago? So what happened?"

"They no call."

So my friend calls up the dealership with his worker to try and find out the 411. He firmly, but ever so politely demands his worker's money back. Then asks (knowing they aren't going to buy the car there anyway), "How much is it?"

"You'll have to come down here. We don't quote prices over the phone."

He hangs up, calls another dealer. Starts talking to a salesman. Gets a price of $525 plus tax per month with just the basics due at signing. Salesman says he can do better if he and his worker would just come down there. "Forget it. Thanks for your time."

"Wait! Hold on. Let me put the dealership's GM on the phone."

GM of the dealership picks up the phone. Recaps the conversation my friend had with the salesman, then says: "You seem very direct and annoyed sir. Is there something either me or my salesman said to you that was offensive."

So my friend proceeds to tell the GM about his experience at their competitor. How the " one on down ... line drives him nuts" and if you give me the right price, I'll send my guy down there this afternoon after work.

The GM says to my friend: "$480 including tax."

They make the deal, the worker goes down to the dealership, picks up his new Highlander and everybody is Happy.

I hope that's the monthly payment and not the price of the car.

That swindle reminds me of one pulled on my dad after he had dementia by a wheelchair salesman.

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

Driver, not sure why a big firm would want your case. You are not suing for anything now, right? This is just to be on record, in case of future issues? Though maybe they would take that if just a basic filing, they put your file away. A normal attorney would likely do same thing but charge you up front (1-800 guts are usually contingent, but don't take on cases they don't think will have a quick or large payout).

Stick, I think your common sense answer is a good one. We have to file within 2 years, in case some problem occurs from the accident, and it doesn't show up for years. But, the 1-800 CALL SLIMY are really interested in the quick and big money cases. Unless I can show it is really causing major problems to my tennis game, I won't be able to claim much.

In my state I think it's called notice of claim. It doesn't mean you WILL sue it just protects your right to sue.

nyccarguy

@qbrozen - yes, the guy got his $5K back.

driver100

berri said:

I suggest before you file a personal injury lawsuit you check into a couple of things besides the lawyer cut. Sometimes settlements can be taxed. Also sometimes your insurance policy (health or auto) has a clause that allows them to collect any of their payouts from a legal settlement like that. You want a handle on potential "net" versus the hassle and stress of litigation.

Thanx, appreciate the info.

driver100

houdini1 said:

Not to mention never being able to play pickleball again, or being seen in public without a neck brace.

I think the accident actually improved my pickleball game....guess I shouldn't mention that. It did make my neck a bit sore....but, I think my sore arm is feeling better since the accident.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:

Driver, not sure why a big firm would want your case. You are not suing for anything now, right? This is just to be on record, in case of future issues? Though maybe they would take that if just a basic filing, they put your file away. A normal attorney would likely do same thing but charge you up front (1-800 guts are usually contingent, but don't take on cases they don't think will have a quick or large payout).

Stick, I think your common sense answer is a good one. We have to file within 2 years, in case some problem occurs from the accident, and it doesn't show up for years. But, the 1-800 CALL SLIMY are really interested in the quick and big money cases. Unless I can show it is really causing major problems to my tennis game, I won't be able to claim much.

In my state I think it's called notice of claim. It doesn't mean you WILL sue it just protects your right to sue.

Exactly!
And the will lawyer said often problems don;t develop for 3 or more years after an accident.

jmonroe

While I was on vacation the subject of paddle shifters came up.

I have a paddle shifter story myself and I told this story a while back.

I told this part of the story when I did the test drive before signing on the line for Mrs. j’s 2012 Subie Legacy Limited 6 cylinder in November 2011. Son #1 went with us to Columbus where we got the car:

Mrs. j: What are those silver things on the steering wheel?

Son #1: Don’t worry about those. They’re for when Dad and I drive the car. You just put it in Drive like any other car you’ve had and you’ll be just fine.

Mrs. j : Just curious, but they must be there for a reason.

That’s the part I told when we got her car back in November of 2011.

Now fast forward to after she drove the car for a week or two when Son #1 came over to the house with his family for dinner one Sunday (this is also a repeat of my paddle story):

Mrs. j: OK, I ask this before, maybe I can get an answer this time. What do those silver things do that are on the steering wheel of my car?

Son #1: I guess it is better to show you rather than try to explain it. Get your coat and we’ll go for a ride. Dad can come along if he wants to.

We get to the car in the driveway and my son says, “I’ll drive. You get in the passenger’s seat and Dad will sit in the back”. When we are in the car, he says, “see the + sign on this paddle, that’s for up-shifting. You probably won’t use this paddle very much because of the way the transmission operates in this car. See the – sign on this paddle, that’s for down-shifting. Down-shifting is for when you want the car to go into a lower gear, like when you’re passing someone. It does the same thing as when you step down on the gas pedal a little harder for when you want the car to get up to speed quicker. When you use this paddle you don’t have to push on the gas pedal, you just pull on the paddle. Let’s go and I’ll show you. It’s very simple”.

We get out on a clear road and he goes through the demonstration mode several times. Then he says:

Son #1: See, that’s all there is to it.

Mrs. j: And you expect me to play with those things when I’m driving? I’ll just leave it in Drive like you said before. That’s the way I have always driven, so I’m not going to change how I drive a car now. You guys can play with them all you want. Let’s go home so I can get dinner ready.

Both my Son and I got this HUH look on our faces and she said again, “did you really think I was going to use those things”? More HUH looks and we went home for dinner.

Now that was a wasted test drive.

That is the full repeat story.

Every now and then I use the paddles on both my Genny and her Subie just to see if they still work and when I want to play around. I'm not into getting the car ready to take a curve but I can understand how those that like this sort of thing can appreciate paddles. Years ago you could not do this with the older automatic tranny's (at least not down-shifting to a few lower gears without killing the tranny).

Today if you have an automatic transmission that has the shift-tronic feature you can do it that way too but the paddles can be easier and it allows you to keep both hands on the wheel.

FWIW, the Subie does not have a shift-tronic transmission it only has paddles but my Genny has both. So in the Subie I have to use the paddles whereas in the Genny I can do it either way. But like I said, that is only when I want to play around.

I guess you can say today that you don't have to mash the peddle to increase your speed. It can all be done with some simple finger-flicking now.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50

Just got my Ford back from the dealer where they repainted the front edge of the hood for Aluminium corrosion. They did a good job as far as I can tell, even buffed out a light parking lot scratch on the cowl that I discovered weeks ago .they did a full detail too, even put Shinola on the tires. Said they sealed the seams so I'll never have that problem again (we'll see).

In chit chatting with the staff I found out that my old Eclipse was purchased by one of the body shop guys who banged it up, had it fixed in his own shop and then parked it outside where someone opened a truck door into it. He must have felt jinxed because he traded it in on a Chevy Cruise. The car was sold again almost immediately.

Maybe that's the answer andes3 was looking for.

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5s5V6wkEcHE

andres3

fintail said:

How much does a camera system cost in 2017 vs benefit? Weight is moot.

Airbag numbers also increased because of more research and tech, rather than actually being used. There were cars with side airbags over 20 years ago.

andres3 said:

I have not caught up on reading, but it is a false equivalency. Seat belts will help you and benefit you in any wreck. The back up camera may only prevent a specific type of accident under specific types of circumstances. It is why early cars didn't have 25 air bags, but only 2. The 2 most likely to ever be used. There are two negatives to more safety equipment, extra cost, and extra weight. I'm not saying those aren't outweighed by the benefits, but they are two negative aspects to rear view cameras.

And the cars that had side air bags 20 years ago tended to both cost more and weigh more. How safe do you want your house to be built? For the 10 year storm and 10 year Earthquake, or the 100 year version? It'll cost ya!

suydam

My '01 Maxima had side airbags. It was a very nice car, but not a luxury car by any means.

ab348

driver100 said:

And the will lawyer said often problems don;t develop for 3 or more years after an accident.

Isn't that called just getting old?

cdnpinhead

The Mrs. and I just saw the total eclipse of the sun in Kansas City.

I took a drive up to rural eastern Wyoming to see my first eclipse. Quite an experience -- glad I went. However, it took me four hours to drive up there from Denver and almost 10 hours to get back -- that I could have done without.

stickguy

interesting about the paddles. last week, was driving the RDX, and doing something that had my hand near the downshift (left) one, and I accidentally bumped it and dropped a gear when not expecting to. Somewhat annoying, by no harm done. Just thought it was funny that it happened right after all the discussion here.

fintail

I think the Volvo 850 got them around that time, along with several mainstream MBs. Not cheap cars, but not exotics.

I'd want a house built for at much more than 10 year specs - low quality construction is a very American ideal when it comes to first world housing.

andres3 said:

And the cars that had side air bags 20 years ago tended to both cost more and weigh more. How safe do you want your house to be built? For the 10 year storm and 10 year Earthquake, or the 100 year version? It'll cost ya!

fintail

Regarding paddles, they are a cliche now. Even my diesel MB has them, which is pretty comical - I have never been tempted.

My E55 had a tiptronic floor shift automatic, I would downshift in it a bit to listen to the exhaust note.

driver100

ab348 said:

driver100 said:

And the will lawyer said often problems don;t develop for 3 or more years after an accident.

Isn't that called just getting old?

driver100 said:

And the will lawyer said often problems don;t develop for 3 or more years after an accident.

Not if insurance will pay for it!

driver100

stickguy said:

interesting about the paddles. last week, was driving the RDX, and doing something that had my hand near the downshift (left) one, and I accidentally bumped it and dropped a gear when not expecting to. Somewhat annoying, by no harm done. Just thought it was funny that it happened right after all the discussion here.

I don't drive my wife's GLK very often, but one day I did. I reached for the wipers and hit the paddle....went down about 3 gears. Quite a bit of engine racing until I figured out what went wrong. I could live very nicely.....without paddle shifters.

oldfarmer50

jmonroe said:

While I was on vacation the subject of paddle shifters came up.

I have a paddle shifter story myself and I told this story a while back.

I told this part of the story when I did the test drive before signing on the line for Mrs. j’s 2012 Subie Legacy Limited 6 cylinder in November 2011. Son #1 went with us to Columbus where we got the car:

Mrs. j: What are those silver things on the steering wheel?

Son #1: Don’t worry about those. They’re for when Dad and I drive the car. You just put it in Drive like any other car you’ve had and you’ll be just fine.

Mrs. j : Just curious, but they must be there for a reason.

That’s the part I told when we got her car back in November of 2011.

Now fast forward to after she drove the car for a week or two when Son #1 came over to the house with his family for dinner one Sunday (this is also a repeat of my paddle story):

Mrs. j: OK, I ask this before, maybe I can get an answer this time. What do those silver things do that are on the steering wheel of my car?

Son #1: I guess it is better to show you rather than try to explain it. Get your coat and we’ll go for a ride. Dad can come along if he wants to.

We get to the car in the driveway and my son says, “I’ll drive. You get in the passenger’s seat and Dad will sit in the back”. When we are in the car, he says, “see the + sign on this paddle, that’s for up-shifting. You probably won’t use this paddle very much because of the way the transmission operates in this car. See the – sign on this paddle, that’s for down-shifting. Down-shifting is for when you want the car to go into a lower gear, like when you’re passing someone. It does the same thing as when you step down on the gas pedal a little harder for when you want the car to get up to speed quicker. When you use this paddle you don’t have to push on the gas pedal, you just pull on the paddle. Let’s go and I’ll show you. It’s very simple”.

We get out on a clear road and he goes through the demonstration mode several times. Then he says:

Son #1: See, that’s all there is to it.

Mrs. j: And you expect me to play with those things when I’m driving? I’ll just leave it in Drive like you said before. That’s the way I have always driven, so I’m not going to change how I drive a car now. You guys can play with them all you want. Let’s go home so I can get dinner ready.

Both my Son and I got this HUH look on our faces and she said again, “did you really think I was going to use those things”? More HUH looks and we went home for dinner.

Now that was a wasted test drive.

That is the full repeat story.

Every now and then I use the paddles on both my Genny and her Subie just to see if they still work and when I want to play around. I'm not into getting the car ready to take a curve but I can understand how those that like this sort of thing can appreciate paddles. Years ago you could not do this with the older automatic tranny's (at least not down-shifting to a few lower gears without killing the tranny).

Today if you have an automatic transmission that has the shift-tronic feature you can do it that way too but the paddles can be easier and it allows you to keep both hands on the wheel.

FWIW, the Subie does not have a shift-tronic transmission it only has paddles but my Genny has both. So in the Subie I have to use the paddles whereas in the Genny I can do it either way. But like I said, that is only when I want to play around.

I guess you can say today that you don't have to mash the peddle to increase your speed. It can all be done with some simple finger-flicking now.

jmonroe

My old Eclipse had the manumatic shifter and I used it a lot more than the paddles on the Mustang. Maybe it was because it gave you the feeling of rowing the gears. I miss that car, if only it had 100-200 more horsepower.

While I was a the dealer today I stumbled upon a Mustang GT 350 R. 5.2L flat plane crank 526hp. $68k+. About twice what mine cost but boy did that get my fantasies going.

Michaell

cdnpinhead said:

The Mrs. and I just saw the total eclipse of the sun in Kansas City.

I took a drive up to rural eastern Wyoming to see my first eclipse. Quite an experience -- glad I went. However, it took me four hours to drive up there from Denver and almost 10 hours to get back -- that I could have done without.

I read it was up to 14 hours from Casper to Denver.

In. Sane.

fordfool

driver100 said:

Does anyone have ideas on getting a good "personal injury lawyer"? This is regarding our accident, that was one year ago.

Be aware of the large personal injury law suit firms (the ones that advertise heavily). They can be quick to settle a case getting one-third of the settlement in return for writing a letter. A more equitable method is a one-third contingency fee only if the case goes to trial with lesser amounts for lesser amounts of work.

driver100

Fordfool......really good point. Will definitely keep that in mind.

iluvmysephia1

Michaell and cdnpinhead - apparently there's a lot of eclipse-curious Denver-ites. That is nuts!

iluvmysephia1

Have you guys seen the article(s) out about VW putting out the new world order microbus starting in 2022?



http://autoweek.com/article/green-cars/confirmed-volkswagen-id-buzz-van-coming-2022

Michaell

iluvmysephia1 said:

Michaell and cdnpinhead - apparently there's a lot of eclipse-curious Denver-ites. That is nuts!

And New Mexicans and Texans.

qbrozen

iluvmysephia1 said:

Have you guys seen the article(s) out about VW putting out the new world order microbus starting in 2022? http://autoweek.com/article/green-cars/confirmed-volkswagen-id-buzz-van-coming-2022

I will believe it when I see it. They have shown various takes on the bus for many years now and never put one into production.

fintail

I was going to say the same thing. We were promised a 21st century microbus 15-20 years ago. Instead, we got some CUVs/SUVs and dieselgate.

qbrozen said:

I will believe it when I see it. They have shown various takes on the bus for many years now and never put one into production.

ab348

If it does go into production I hope they find a way to incorporate a driver's door. I don't see one.

qbrozen

The handle is missing, but there is a very faint line there. Can see it better in this rendering.

iluvmysephia1

Huh - ya know guys, I don't like the new bus over the 60's bus.

driver100

Stick, Did you get my message about Hop on Hop Off Bus? I got acknowledgement Edmunds received it but don't know if you did.

roadburner

oldfarmer50 said:

jmonroe said:

While I was on vacation the subject of paddle shifters came up.

I have a paddle shifter story myself and I told this story a while back.

I told this part of the story when I did the test drive before signing on the line for Mrs. j’s 2012 Subie Legacy Limited 6 cylinder in November 2011. Son #1 went with us to Columbus where we got the car:

Mrs. j: What are those silver things on the steering wheel?

Son #1: Don’t worry about those. They’re for when Dad and I drive the car. You just put it in Drive like any other car you’ve had and you’ll be just fine.

Mrs. j : Just curious, but they must be there for a reason.

That’s the part I told when we got her car back in November of 2011.

Now fast forward to after she drove the car for a week or two when Son #1 came over to the house with his family for dinner one Sunday (this is also a repeat of my paddle story):

Mrs. j: OK, I ask this before, maybe I can get an answer this time. What do those silver things do that are on the steering wheel of my car?

Son #1: I guess it is better to show you rather than try to explain it. Get your coat and we’ll go for a ride. Dad can come along if he wants to.

We get to the car in the driveway and my son says, “I’ll drive. You get in the passenger’s seat and Dad will sit in the back”. When we are in the car, he says, “see the + sign on this paddle, that’s for up-shifting. You probably won’t use this paddle very much because of the way the transmission operates in this car. See the – sign on this paddle, that’s for down-shifting. Down-shifting is for when you want the car to go into a lower gear, like when you’re passing someone. It does the same thing as when you step down on the gas pedal a little harder for when you want the car to get up to speed quicker. When you use this paddle you don’t have to push on the gas pedal, you just pull on the paddle. Let’s go and I’ll show you. It’s very simple”.

We get out on a clear road and he goes through the demonstration mode several times. Then he says:

Son #1: See, that’s all there is to it.

Mrs. j: And you expect me to play with those things when I’m driving? I’ll just leave it in Drive like you said before. That’s the way I have always driven, so I’m not going to change how I drive a car now. You guys can play with them all you want. Let’s go home so I can get dinner ready.

Both my Son and I got this HUH look on our faces and she said again, “did you really think I was going to use those things”? More HUH looks and we went home for dinner.

Now that was a wasted test drive.

That is the full repeat story.

Every now and then I use the paddles on both my Genny and her Subie just to see if they still work and when I want to play around. I'm not into getting the car ready to take a curve but I can understand how those that like this sort of thing can appreciate paddles. Years ago you could not do this with the older automatic tranny's (at least not down-shifting to a few lower gears without killing the tranny).

Today if you have an automatic transmission that has the shift-tronic feature you can do it that way too but the paddles can be easier and it allows you to keep both hands on the wheel.

FWIW, the Subie does not have a shift-tronic transmission it only has paddles but my Genny has both. So in the Subie I have to use the paddles whereas in the Genny I can do it either way. But like I said, that is only when I want to play around.

I guess you can say today that you don't have to mash the peddle to increase your speed. It can all be done with some simple finger-flicking now.

jmonroe

My old Eclipse had the manumatic shifter and I used it a lot more than the paddles on the Mustang. Maybe it was because it gave you the feeling of rowing the gears. I miss that car, if only it had 100-200 more horsepower.

While I was a the dealer today I stumbled upon a Mustang GT 350 R. 5.2L flat plane crank 526hp. $68k+. About twice what mine cost but boy did that get my fantasies going.

I have to admit that if I was in the market-and had the disposable income -I would be VERY hard pressed to decide between a GT350R and a M2...

oldfarmer50

qbrozen said:

iluvmysephia1 said:

Have you guys seen the article(s) out about VW putting out the new world order microbus starting in 2022?



http://autoweek.com/article/green-cars/confirmed-volkswagen-id-buzz-van-coming-2022

I will believe it when I see it. They have shown various takes on the bus for many years now and never put one into production.

That might make the minivan cool again. The story I saw on the news said a few hundred mile range and an 80% recharge in 30 minutes. That takes a good deal of anxiety out of electric.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

If it does go into production I hope they find a way to incorporate a driver's door. I don't see one.

Maybe it's driverless.

oldfarmer50

roadburner said:

oldfarmer50 said:

jmonroe said:

While I was on vacation the subject of paddle shifters came up.

I have a paddle shifter story myself and I told this story a while back.

I told this part of the story when I did the test drive before signing on the line for Mrs. j’s 2012 Subie Legacy Limited 6 cylinder in November 2011. Son #1 went with us to Columbus where we got the car:

Mrs. j: What are those silver things on the steering wheel?

Son #1: Don’t worry about those. They’re for when Dad and I drive the car. You just put it in Drive like any other car you’ve had and you’ll be just fine.

Mrs. j : Just curious, but they must be there for a reason.

That’s the part I told when we got her car back in November of 2011.

Now fast forward to after she drove the car for a week or two when Son #1 came over to the house with his family for dinner one Sunday (this is also a repeat of my paddle story):

Mrs. j: OK, I ask this before, maybe I can get an answer this time. What do those silver things do that are on the steering wheel of my car?

Son #1: I guess it is better to show you rather than try to explain it. Get your coat and we’ll go for a ride. Dad can come along if he wants to.

We get to the car in the driveway and my son says, “I’ll drive. You get in the passenger’s seat and Dad will sit in the back”. When we are in the car, he says, “see the + sign on this paddle, that’s for up-shifting. You probably won’t use this paddle very much because of the way the transmission operates in this car. See the – sign on this paddle, that’s for down-shifting. Down-shifting is for when you want the car to go into a lower gear, like when you’re passing someone. It does the same thing as when you step down on the gas pedal a little harder for when you want the car to get up to speed quicker. When you use this paddle you don’t have to push on the gas pedal, you just pull on the paddle. Let’s go and I’ll show you. It’s very simple”.

We get out on a clear road and he goes through the demonstration mode several times. Then he says:

Son #1: See, that’s all there is to it.

Mrs. j: And you expect me to play with those things when I’m driving? I’ll just leave it in Drive like you said before. That’s the way I have always driven, so I’m not going to change how I drive a car now. You guys can play with them all you want. Let’s go home so I can get dinner ready.

Both my Son and I got this HUH look on our faces and she said again, “did you really think I was going to use those things”? More HUH looks and we went home for dinner.

Now that was a wasted test drive.

That is the full repeat story.

Every now and then I use the paddles on both my Genny and her Subie just to see if they still work and when I want to play around. I'm not into getting the car ready to take a curve but I can understand how those that like this sort of thing can appreciate paddles. Years ago you could not do this with the older automatic tranny's (at least not down-shifting to a few lower gears without killing the tranny).

Today if you have an automatic transmission that has the shift-tronic feature you can do it that way too but the paddles can be easier and it allows you to keep both hands on the wheel.

FWIW, the Subie does not have a shift-tronic transmission it only has paddles but my Genny has both. So in the Subie I have to use the paddles whereas in the Genny I can do it either way. But like I said, that is only when I want to play around.

I guess you can say today that you don't have to mash the peddle to increase your speed. It can all be done with some simple finger-flicking now.

jmonroe

My old Eclipse had the manumatic shifter and I used it a lot more than the paddles on the Mustang. Maybe it was because it gave you the feeling of rowing the gears. I miss that car, if only it had 100-200 more horsepower.

While I was a the dealer today I stumbled upon a Mustang GT 350 R. 5.2L flat plane crank 526hp. $68k+. About twice what mine cost but boy did that get my fantasies going.

I have to admit that if I was in the market-and had the disposable income -I would be VERY hard pressed to decide between a GT350R and a M2...

And I bet at least half of those sold get locked up in a garage and hardly ever get driven let alone tracked.

andres3

suydam said:

My '01 Maxima had side airbags. It was a very nice car, but not a luxury car by any means.

Yeah, but that's only 16 years ago, he said 20 years

Did a '97 Maxima have side airbags standard?