Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

jmonroe

driver100 said:

jmonroe
FWIW, I never throw away my old blades because I don't want to get caught with my pants down like what happened to our poster buddy @laurasdada . I throw the old sets in the trunk for just that type of an emergency but maybe I over do it.

Do yah think? It is called OCD....Obsessive compulsive disorder.

What are the odds you will ever need to pull out a pair of old wipers like Laura's Dad had to do? Has anyone else in the world ever had to replace a wiper and couldn't get to a new one? Do you keep the gas tank 3/4s full in case of a national emergency or a power outage. Do you keep bottles of water in your trunk just in case you break down on an old country road? How about blankets and candles? You can't be prepared in case of any possible situation....and now your son is doing it too.........
Speaking of pants....why not carry an extra pair in the trunk in case you spill beat juice on them when you go out to eat one night?

Like I said wiper blades don't take up a lot of room so why not carry a spare they are not going to help you sitting on a shelf in the garage when you are on the road. Not picking on you @stickguy but what I said is true, right? OK, maybe not as many as I have in my trunk but it wouldn't hurt to have one old spare set.

As for how many times I needed a spare wiper blade, fortunately I never had to use one of my spares but I know a couple of people that did but I'll only tell a story about one of them. It was a secretary I knew back in the late 70's. We had a bad snow so when we came out of work we all had to clear the snow off our cars. Well, she turned on her wipers before breaking them lose from the windshield and tore both wiper blades. I'm clearing off my trunk and she is in the same row across from me and she said, "I just did something stupid so I'll be driving home without my wipers". I told her she might me in luck since I saw she was driving a Chevy and I was driving my '75 Grand Prix at the time. I open up my trunk and start rummaging through my spare parts box. Yes, I always had a box of parts in my trunk back then. She is now at my trunk and is in disbelief of what I had in that box. She said, "I've heard about you but I always thought the stories I heard had to be made up". I know, that was a left handed compliment but I took it. I finally came across some old wiper blade refills. They fit but they were too long. I said, "hold on I can fix that as I headed across the aisle to my car". She said, "don't tell me you have a hack saw in that tool box I saw". I did but I didn't need that. I got a pair of side cutters out of my tool box and cut off the excess length. She said, "thanks a lot, I'm going to have a good story to tell about this tomorrow morning". I took that as a compliment too.

I'm sure you'll laugh about this but I don't care. My fellow workers always said, "lets walk out with @jmonroe, if we have a problem he'll have a spare but you have to have a GM car". My spare parts box included, but was not limited to, old wiper blade refills, old fan and alternator belts, a set or two of my old spark plugs, a couple sets of points (they are very small), old radiator hoses (top and bottom), radiator cap, a quart of 10W30, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, anti freeze, gallon of water, wire, etc. etc. All of this neatly packed into a nice size cardboard box. And of course my tool box. That thing had to weigh at least 25 pounds. Done laughing yet?

I'm not very sloppy when I eat so I'm not too worried about beet juice on my pants but if I got a bourbon stain, I'd rather try to explain that away than be sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck when I could have easily fit a small spare part in a box in my trunk.

jmonroe

tjc78

I keep nothing in either car except my kid’s strollers. I don’t travel anywhere desolate and have roadside assistance for both cars. If I get a flat both cars have factory spares and jacks. I feel pretty safe.

Years ago when I drove a beater 79 Continental I kept tools and a box of spares, so I understand where @jmonroe is coming from.

One time traveling with a company car I had the same thing happen as @laurasdada , luckily there was an auto parts store an exit up and I fixed the wipers there.

oldfarmer50

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe
FWIW, I never throw away my old blades because I don't want to get caught with my pants down like what happened to our poster buddy @laurasdada . I throw the old sets in the trunk for just that type of an emergency but maybe I over do it.

Do yah think? It is called OCD....Obsessive compulsive disorder.

What are the odds you will ever need to pull out a pair of old wipers like Laura's Dad had to do? Has anyone else in the world ever had to replace a wiper and couldn't get to a new one? Do you keep the gas tank 3/4s full in case of a national emergency or a power outage. Do you keep bottles of water in your trunk just in case you break down on an old country road? How about blankets and candles? You can't be prepared in case of any possible situation....and now your son is doing it too.........
Speaking of pants....why not carry an extra pair in the trunk in case you spill beat juice on them when you go out to eat one night?

Like I said wiper blades don't take up a lot of room so why not carry a spare they are not going to help you sitting on a shelf in the garage when you are on the road. Not picking on you @stickguy but what I said is true, right? OK, maybe not as many as I have in my trunk but it wouldn't hurt to have one old spare set.

As for how many times I needed a spare wiper blade, fortunately I never had to use one of my spares but I know a couple of people that did but I'll only tell a story about one of them. It was a secretary I knew back in the late 70's. We had a bad snow so when we came out of work we all had to clear the snow off our cars. Well, she turned on her wipers before breaking them lose from the windshield and tore both wiper blades. I'm clearing off my trunk and she is in the same row across from me and she said, "I just did something stupid so I'll be driving home without my wipers". I told her she might me in luck since I saw she was driving a Chevy and I was driving my '75 Grand Prix at the time. I open up my trunk and start rummaging through my spare parts box. Yes, I always had a box of parts in my trunk back then. She is now at my trunk and is in disbelief of what I had in that box. She said, "I've heard about you but I always thought the stories I heard had to be made up". I know, that was a left handed compliment but I took it. I finally came across some old wiper blade refills. They fit but they were too long. I said, "hold on I can fix that as I headed across the aisle to my car". She said, "don't tell me you have a hack saw in that tool box I saw". I did but I didn't need that. I got a pair of side cutters out of my tool box and cut off the excess length. She said, "thanks a lot, I'm going to have a good story to tell about this tomorrow morning". I took that as a compliment too.

I'm sure you'll laugh about this but I don't care. My fellow workers always said, "lets walk out with @jmonroe, if we have a problem he'll have a spare but you have to have a GM car". My spare parts box included, but was not limited to, old wiper blade refills, old fan and alternator belts, a set or two of my old spark plugs, a couple sets of points (they are very small), old radiator hoses (top and bottom), radiator cap, a quart of 10W30, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, anti freeze, gallon of water, wire, etc. etc. All of this neatly packed into a nice size cardboard box. And of course my tool box. That thing had to weigh at least 25 pounds. Done laughing yet?

I'm not very sloppy when I eat so I'm not too worried about beet juice on my pants but if I got a bourbon stain, I'd rather try to explain that away than be sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck when I could have easily fit a small spare part in a box in my trunk.

jmonroe

Wow, I've driven cars that I wasn't certain had all their wheels attached and usually never even bring an ice scraper. Where's your sense of adventure?

You haven't lived until you've scaled a fence into an industrial park at 5:00am because your hooptie went bust and you don't own a cell phone.

driver100

You can't carry every part with you in the trunk, and the thing that will break will be the one thing you didn't have. And, if it was the thing you do have with you there will be so much junk in your trunk you won't find the thing you are looking for anyway.

Best to simplify your life........live on the edge, if your car loses a wiper, a one in 500000 chance, figure out how to get a replacement at that time...you will probably survive.

Of course, it may ruin your chances with a stranded young lady who may have lost her blade and yours just may happen to fit.

bwia

Some food for thought.

Yes, The Super Bowl the annual winter ritual has a slight wrinkle this year. For marketing and bragging rights it could be marketed as the "Commonwealth Games." The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Too geeky? I thought so.

ab348

jmonroe said:

I'm clearing off my trunk and she is in the same row across from me and she said, "I just did something stupid so I'll be driving home without my wipers". I told her she might me in luck since I saw she was driving a Chevy and I was driving my '75 Grand Prix at the time. I open up my trunk and start rummaging through my spare parts box. Yes, I always had a box of parts in my trunk back then. She is now at my trunk and is in disbelief of what I had in that box. She said, "I've heard about you but I always thought the stories I heard had to be made up". I know, that was a left handed compliment but I took it. I finally came across some old wiper blade refills. They fit but they were too long. I said, "hold on I can fix that as I headed across the aisle to my car". She said, "don't tell me you have a hack saw in that tool box I saw". I did but I didn't need that. I got a pair of side cutters out of my tool box and cut off the excess length. She said, "thanks a lot, I'm going to have a good story to tell about this tomorrow morning". I took that as a compliment too.

jmonroe

Love it!

bwia

School bus sliding on ice, @oldfarmer50 I hope you were not the driver.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTySDzqPlKU

oldfarmer50

bwia said:

School bus sliding on ice, @oldfarmer50 I hope you were not the driver.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTySDzqPlKU

Been there, done that.

Only when it happened to me I was on a hill headed towards the river.

suydam

tjc78 said:

I keep nothing in either car except my kid’s strollers. I don’t travel anywhere desolate and have roadside assistance for both cars. If I get a flat both cars have factory spares and jacks. I feel pretty safe.

Years ago when I drove a beater 79 Continental I kept tools and a box of spares, so I understand where @jmonroe is coming from.

One time traveling with a company car I had the same thing happen as @laurasdada , luckily there was an auto parts store an exit up and I fixed the wipers there.

+1. I have many memories of driving beaters that could have any part fail at any time. That’s why I have an AAA membership.

stickguy

That’s why I am paying the lease on a new car instead of having my daughter drive 450 miles each way, alone, on I95 through DC, in an old Volvo with 120k+ miles on it.

houdini1

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe
FWIW, I never throw away my old blades because I don't want to get caught with my pants down like what happened to our poster buddy @laurasdada . I throw the old sets in the trunk for just that type of an emergency but maybe I over do it.

Do yah think? It is called OCD....Obsessive compulsive disorder.

What are the odds you will ever need to pull out a pair of old wipers like Laura's Dad had to do? Has anyone else in the world ever had to replace a wiper and couldn't get to a new one? Do you keep the gas tank 3/4s full in case of a national emergency or a power outage. Do you keep bottles of water in your trunk just in case you break down on an old country road? How about blankets and candles? You can't be prepared in case of any possible situation....and now your son is doing it too.........
Speaking of pants....why not carry an extra pair in the trunk in case you spill beat juice on them when you go out to eat one night?

Like I said wiper blades don't take up a lot of room so why not carry a spare they are not going to help you sitting on a shelf in the garage when you are on the road. Not picking on you @stickguy but what I said is true, right? OK, maybe not as many as I have in my trunk but it wouldn't hurt to have one old spare set.

As for how many times I needed a spare wiper blade, fortunately I never had to use one of my spares but I know a couple of people that did but I'll only tell a story about one of them. It was a secretary I knew back in the late 70's. We had a bad snow so when we came out of work we all had to clear the snow off our cars. Well, she turned on her wipers before breaking them lose from the windshield and tore both wiper blades. I'm clearing off my trunk and she is in the same row across from me and she said, "I just did something stupid so I'll be driving home without my wipers". I told her she might me in luck since I saw she was driving a Chevy and I was driving my '75 Grand Prix at the time. I open up my trunk and start rummaging through my spare parts box. Yes, I always had a box of parts in my trunk back then. She is now at my trunk and is in disbelief of what I had in that box. She said, "I've heard about you but I always thought the stories I heard had to be made up". I know, that was a left handed compliment but I took it. I finally came across some old wiper blade refills. They fit but they were too long. I said, "hold on I can fix that as I headed across the aisle to my car". She said, "don't tell me you have a hack saw in that tool box I saw". I did but I didn't need that. I got a pair of side cutters out of my tool box and cut off the excess length. She said, "thanks a lot, I'm going to have a good story to tell about this tomorrow morning". I took that as a compliment too.

I'm sure you'll laugh about this but I don't care. My fellow workers always said, "lets walk out with @jmonroe, if we have a problem he'll have a spare but you have to have a GM car". My spare parts box included, but was not limited to, old wiper blade refills, old fan and alternator belts, a set or two of my old spark plugs, a couple sets of points (they are very small), old radiator hoses (top and bottom), radiator cap, a quart of 10W30, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, anti freeze, gallon of water, wire, etc. etc. All of this neatly packed into a nice size cardboard box. And of course my tool box. That thing had to weigh at least 25 pounds. Done laughing yet?

I'm not very sloppy when I eat so I'm not too worried about beet juice on my pants but if I got a bourbon stain, I'd rather try to explain that away than be sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck when I could have easily fit a small spare part in a box in my trunk.

jmonroe

What I want to know is if that pick up ploy actually worked !

laurasdada

fintail said:

A pair of Bosch blades shouldn't be more than around $50. OEM Valeos are around the same, and can easily be found online. If someone is paying $200 at MB and not getting wiper arms or something insane, there's something shady going on.

The pair of Bosch Icons (22" and 19") at Autozone were $49 (not on sale), but I found a $5 coupon online, so $44 pretax for the pair. I was a bit of a beggar, usually if it ain't on sale, I ain't buyin!

Had them install, since it was raining!

And, JMonroe, I did indeed keep the "good" driver's side blade, now in my trunk. Just in case...

I could have spent less on blades, of course, but an important safety component, so I spent the few extra $. Unusual for a cheapie like me...

jmonroe

houdini1 said:

jmonroe said:

driver100 said:

jmonroe
FWIW, I never throw away my old blades because I don't want to get caught with my pants down like what happened to our poster buddy @laurasdada . I throw the old sets in the trunk for just that type of an emergency but maybe I over do it.

Do yah think? It is called OCD....Obsessive compulsive disorder.

What are the odds you will ever need to pull out a pair of old wipers like Laura's Dad had to do? Has anyone else in the world ever had to replace a wiper and couldn't get to a new one? Do you keep the gas tank 3/4s full in case of a national emergency or a power outage. Do you keep bottles of water in your trunk just in case you break down on an old country road? How about blankets and candles? You can't be prepared in case of any possible situation....and now your son is doing it too.........
Speaking of pants....why not carry an extra pair in the trunk in case you spill beat juice on them when you go out to eat one night?

Like I said wiper blades don't take up a lot of room so why not carry a spare they are not going to help you sitting on a shelf in the garage when you are on the road. Not picking on you @stickguy but what I said is true, right? OK, maybe not as many as I have in my trunk but it wouldn't hurt to have one old spare set.

As for how many times I needed a spare wiper blade, fortunately I never had to use one of my spares but I know a couple of people that did but I'll only tell a story about one of them. It was a secretary I knew back in the late 70's. We had a bad snow so when we came out of work we all had to clear the snow off our cars. Well, she turned on her wipers before breaking them lose from the windshield and tore both wiper blades. I'm clearing off my trunk and she is in the same row across from me and she said, "I just did something stupid so I'll be driving home without my wipers". I told her she might me in luck since I saw she was driving a Chevy and I was driving my '75 Grand Prix at the time. I open up my trunk and start rummaging through my spare parts box. Yes, I always had a box of parts in my trunk back then. She is now at my trunk and is in disbelief of what I had in that box. She said, "I've heard about you but I always thought the stories I heard had to be made up". I know, that was a left handed compliment but I took it. I finally came across some old wiper blade refills. They fit but they were too long. I said, "hold on I can fix that as I headed across the aisle to my car". She said, "don't tell me you have a hack saw in that tool box I saw". I did but I didn't need that. I got a pair of side cutters out of my tool box and cut off the excess length. She said, "thanks a lot, I'm going to have a good story to tell about this tomorrow morning". I took that as a compliment too.

I'm sure you'll laugh about this but I don't care. My fellow workers always said, "lets walk out with @jmonroe, if we have a problem he'll have a spare but you have to have a GM car". My spare parts box included, but was not limited to, old wiper blade refills, old fan and alternator belts, a set or two of my old spark plugs, a couple sets of points (they are very small), old radiator hoses (top and bottom), radiator cap, a quart of 10W30, windshield washer fluid, brake fluid, anti freeze, gallon of water, wire, etc. etc. All of this neatly packed into a nice size cardboard box. And of course my tool box. That thing had to weigh at least 25 pounds. Done laughing yet?

I'm not very sloppy when I eat so I'm not too worried about beet juice on my pants but if I got a bourbon stain, I'd rather try to explain that away than be sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck when I could have easily fit a small spare part in a box in my trunk.

jmonroe

What I want to know is if that pick up ploy actually worked !

Well, I didn't even try. She worked in the same dept. that I was in but she was not our group secretary but I met her husband a few times at company dinner dances during the holiday season. He was a good looking guy according to Mrs. j and was pretty darn big too, according to me, so I knew better than that. I'm not all that bright but I ain't all that dumb, either.

jmonroe

Michaell

I put new wipers onto the Jetta a month or so back. I also spent about $40-50 on them, given the wide variety of weather we get here in Colorado.

Looks like I'll have to do the Outback, next.

oldfarmer50

My CL scam of the week. This guy is a regular, identified because he is too lazy to change the RAV4 label from his previous scam posts. Didn't even bother to provide a phony photo. Seems his space bar is broken too. Times are tough in the third world.

For Sale from Original Owner - '98 Dodge Dakota sport - Amazing Condit - $13750

2008 Toyota RAV4
fuel: gas
title status: clean
transmission: automatic
Superbqualityinside and out. 98 Dakota sport 6CYL turboelectric motorwith only 97X00 originalmileage!

Seconduser, automatic car transmission, coldair conditioning unit, jetblacknatural leatherdecor, sunroof, warmed upchairs, supremescreens, factory Monsoon audio, gripswitch, factoryairintakefoilthat goestop to bottomatvariedspeedsforair induction (prettyusefuloption).

New 17"powertires, spotlessdocumentation, allDakota sportrecallcampaignshandled. I latelyadjustedan air induction hosewith a crispDakota sportoemreplacementand alsoa current catalytic converterand02sensors. Recentlyperformedemission testtoday, allauthenticatedowner'shandbooksandlegaldocuments.

Pricelesscar, operatesgreatwith lots ofenergy,impressivefuel mileagetoo.

Ireckonyou willbe troubledto search for afiner, lowmilescar.

driver100

Hard to top a deal like that oldfarmer....I am not even sure what half of it meant.

Mr_Shiftright

fintail said:

A pair of Bosch blades shouldn't be more than around $50. OEM Valeos are around the same, and can easily be found online. If someone is paying $200 at MB and not getting wiper arms or something insane, there's something shady going on.

No, no, the wipers for $129 were discounted. Mike is right. Now to be fair, those were for S class cars.

Mr_Shiftright

bwia said:

Some food for thought.

Yes, The Super Bowl the annual winter ritual has a slight wrinkle this year. For marketing and bragging rights it could be marketed as the "Commonwealth Games." The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Too geeky? I thought so.

I think they are hoping to de-politicize the Patriots, so localize it more.

venture

A little building on the edge of town they are converting from a Dairy Queen to some other ice cream place:



In case you couldn't read the sign out front:

laurasdada

venture said:

A little building on the edge of town they are converting from a Dairy Queen to some other ice cream place:



In case you couldn't read the sign out front:

Well, that'll save the new owners from a slew of lawsuits!

fintail

Must be something to do with the heated fluid system. The price you pay for complex tech.

Mr_Shiftright said:

No, no, the wipers for $129 were discounted. Mike is right. Now to be fair, those were for S class cars.

sda

venture said:

A little building on the edge of town they are converting from a Dairy Queen to some other ice cream place:



In case you couldn't read the sign out front:

Is that near Cheswick, Pa? It looks just like an old DQ down the hill from a friend's property.

venture

Is that near Cheswick, Pa? It looks just like an old DQ down the hill from a friend's property.

It's way east of Cheswick. Near Altoona.

imidazol97

Corn storage tank collapses and spills corn over highway at edge of small town. Imagine having corn sweep over your car as you drive by. You'd need really good windshield wipers to keep that off your windshield.








http://www.whio.com/news/local/report-crews-called-explosion-grain-bin-new-carlisle/sYqZ34YSwkhNDwCr1kt1cI/

graphicguy

imidazol97 said:

Corn storage tank collapses and spills corn over highway at edge of small town. Imagine having corn sweep over your car as you drive by. You'd need really good windshield wipers to keep that off your windshield.








http://www.whio.com/news/local/report-crews-called-explosion-grain-bin-new-carlisle/sYqZ34YSwkhNDwCr1kt1cI/

Wasn’t driving near this, but I was relatively close today. No reason to be anywhere near here, but would like to see that much corn strewn all over the place.

oldfarmer50

That headline is misleading. Silo collapse is one thing but a grain dust explosion is a magnitude bigger disaster.

andres3

Big car news day today:

1) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gm-enterprise-rent-car-targets-211900071.html

2) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ex-fiat-chrysler-exec-pleads-211437633.html

3) http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-42801772?yptr=yahoo

4) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-model-autopilot-crashes-fire-221212123.html

Those last two are about the same Tesla crashing in CA; yes, it was in autopilot mode.

Mr_Shiftright

Well, semi-autopilot. The driver is supposed to intervene. If he was in the back seat texting, then he's at least 5-10 years ahead of his time.

andres3

Mr_Shiftright said:

Well, semi-autopilot. The driver is supposed to intervene. If he was in the back seat texting, then he's at least 5-10 years ahead of his time.

Well someone is suing GM for their version of "Semi-Auto-Pilot" in the Volt or Bolt. Of course, GM, rightfully, will say the system is designed to be controlled by the driver, not the other way around.

What is wrong with people? And then these same idiots get sue-happy.

explorerx4

Back 4-5 years ago, I got info from inside the boardroom, not anymore.

explorerx4

@jmonroe,
You are catching some flak for over preparing your plan B, but you should be congratulated for your willingness to 'pay it forward' to help someone in need. You make the world a better place.

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WyEPJDDfvk8

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wlRKSmHgzdE

tbirdmarco

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iO3vFt8T5ao

jmonroe

explorerx4 said:

@jmonroe,
You are catching some flak for over preparing your plan B, but you should be congratulated for your willingness to 'pay it forward' to help someone in need. You make the world a better place.

You call this "flak"? The guys in here are a bunch of rookies when it comes to "flack". I've gotten some real "flack" over the years and that includes Mrs. j and that is still ongoing. What goes on in here doesn't even make me duck.

As for me making the world a better place, you are giving me way way too much credit. My Boy Scout approach to being prepared was done for my own selfish reasons. If others benefit from fallout from that, then good for them.

But I thank you just the same.

jmonroe

28firefighter

jmonroe said:

explorerx4 said:

@jmonroe,
You are catching some flak for over preparing your plan B, but you should be congratulated for your willingness to 'pay it forward' to help someone in need. You make the world a better place.

You call this "flak"? The guys in here are a bunch of rookies when it comes to "flack". I've gotten some real "flack" over the years and that includes Mrs. j and that is still ongoing. What goes on in here doesn't even make me duck.

As for me making the world a better place, you are giving me way way too much credit. My Boy Scout approach to being prepared was done for my own selfish reasons. If others benefit from fallout from that, then good for them.

But I thank you just the same.

jmonroe

I miss Pittsburgh.

explorerx4

#jmonroe,
I meant to ask you if you were a Boy Scout and you confirmed that.
A better place, not a smowflake'ier place, I know you have an image to uphold.

fintail

Tesla, watch out. They may be high tech and innovative, but don't seem to attract people who are not into driving nor always "with it".

andres3 said:

Big car news day today:

1) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gm-enterprise-rent-car-targets-211900071.html

2) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ex-fiat-chrysler-exec-pleads-211437633.html

3) http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-42801772?yptr=yahoo

4) https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-model-autopilot-crashes-fire-221212123.html

Those last two are about the same Tesla crashing in CA; yes, it was in autopilot mode.

stickguy

I am not even comfortable using cruise control. No way I am ever turning on auto pilot and letting the car just do it's own thing.

imidazol97

I can see using a cruise control that automatically adjusts for cars ahead, but that's the limit for me.
I like being in control of the car. That's half the fun.

driver100

I could have got the automatic lane change option on the E400 - you put on your signal and when there is a space, the car will move over into the next lane. Mike must have that on his new MB.

I didn't get that option and I can't imagine I would ever use it......makes me nervous thinking about it.

fintail

Most S-class have driver's assistance package, with a number of semi-autonomous features. Distronic plus is really something, but I'd only use it in a dense slow commuting grind (which is traffic around here most of the time). For the wide open road, simple old cruise control is enough.

My car, now the prior gen E-class, has the automated parallel parking feature. I've never used it, and don't really have 100% faith in it. Not to mention, that's a skill people should keep - this stuff dumbs down a bit, and many don't have much left to dumb down.

andres3

fintail said:

Most S-class have driver's assistance package, with a number of semi-autonomous features. Distronic plus is really something, but I'd only use it in a dense slow commuting grind (which is traffic around here most of the time). For the wide open road, simple old cruise control is enough.

My car, now the prior gen E-class, has the automated parallel parking feature. I've never used it, and don't really have 100% faith in it. Not to mention, that's a skill people should keep - this stuff dumbs down a bit, and many don't have much left to dumb down.

Yes, being dumbed down really does happen from habit and laziness.

I'm so used to my dual clutch transmissions automatically shifting that if I'm putting it in manual mode, I need a constant reminder that I need to shift or else I'll hit the rev limiter upshift or engine stall downshift low limiter within 5 minutes, guaranteed. Need a constant reminder; something like a voice saying "You are in manual mode" over and over, every 60 seconds.

andres3

fintail said:

Most S-class have driver's assistance package, with a number of semi-autonomous features. Distronic plus is really something, but I'd only use it in a dense slow commuting grind (which is traffic around here most of the time). For the wide open road, simple old cruise control is enough.

My car, now the prior gen E-class, has the automated parallel parking feature. I've never used it, and don't really have 100% faith in it. Not to mention, that's a skill people should keep - this stuff dumbs down a bit, and many don't have much left to dumb down.

Yes, being dumbed down really does happen from habit and laziness.

I'm so used to my dual clutch transmissions automatically shifting that if I'm putting it in manual mode, I need a constant reminder that I need to shift or else I'll hit the rev limiter upshift or engine stall downshift low limiter within 5 minutes, guaranteed. Need a constant reminder; something like a voice saying "You are in manual mode" over and over, every 60 seconds.

stickguy

I get used to the BLIS to the extent that when I drive the car without it, it is disconcerting (and annoying of course). Today I had to drive during rush hour to the Philly airport, which requires a few nasty roads to navigate. Including merging onto 1 that is at least 6 lanes wide where you have to get from far right to far left in a short distance. with people cutting in and out like crazy. In that situation, I want all the info and extra set of "eyes" I can get. People are mostly insane out there on the roads these day it seems.

Michaell

stickguy said:

I get used to the BLIS to the extent that when I drive the car without it, it is disconcerting (and annoying of course). Today I had to drive during rush hour to the Philly airport, which requires a few nasty roads to navigate. Including merging onto 1 that is at least 6 lanes wide where you have to get from far right to far left in a short distance. with people cutting in and out like crazy. In that situation, I want all the info and extra set of "eyes" I can get. People are mostly insane out there on the roads these day it seems.

I never liked going into or out of the airport there. Appreciated the relative "calmness" of I-95.

28firefighter

stickguy said:

I get used to the BLIS to the extent that when I drive the car without it, it is disconcerting (and annoying of course). Today I had to drive during rush hour to the Philly airport, which requires a few nasty roads to navigate. Including merging onto 1 that is at least 6 lanes wide where you have to get from far right to far left in a short distance. with people cutting in and out like crazy. In that situation, I want all the info and extra set of "eyes" I can get. People are mostly insane out there on the roads these day it seems.

My new car has BLIS and while I still don’t trust it enough to use, I can see it coming in handy. 

I do not envy the drive from S. Jersey to PHL....I’m pretty sure I know where you’re talking and that is no joke. 

Other death defying Philly area driving? South Street on ramp to the left lane of the Schuylkill westbound. 

Michaell

28firefighter said:

stickguy said:

I get used to the BLIS to the extent that when I drive the car without it, it is disconcerting (and annoying of course). Today I had to drive during rush hour to the Philly airport, which requires a few nasty roads to navigate. Including merging onto 1 that is at least 6 lanes wide where you have to get from far right to far left in a short distance. with people cutting in and out like crazy. In that situation, I want all the info and extra set of "eyes" I can get. People are mostly insane out there on the roads these day it seems.

My new car has BLIS and while I still don’t trust it enough to use, I can see it coming in handy. 

I do not envy the drive from S. Jersey to PHL....I’m pretty sure I know where you’re talking and that is no joke. 

Other death defying Philly area driving? South Street on ramp to the left lane of the Schuylkill westbound. 

Once you get used to it, BLIS is a great feature.

Same with adaptive cruise, on long trips.

tjc78

28firefighter said:

stickguy said:

I get used to the BLIS to the extent that when I drive the car without it, it is disconcerting (and annoying of course). Today I had to drive during rush hour to the Philly airport, which requires a few nasty roads to navigate. Including merging onto 1 that is at least 6 lanes wide where you have to get from far right to far left in a short distance. with people cutting in and out like crazy. In that situation, I want all the info and extra set of "eyes" I can get. People are mostly insane out there on the roads these day it seems.

My new car has BLIS and while I still don’t trust it enough to use, I can see it coming in handy. 

I do not envy the drive from S. Jersey to PHL....I’m pretty sure I know where you’re talking and that is no joke. 

Other death defying Philly area driving? South Street on ramp to the left lane of the Schuylkill westbound. 

Yes!!! That is pure craziness 

Another fun one is coming of the Vine Street Expressway and having to get off at Girard.  3 lanes of who knows what speed traffic around a curve to a ramp that on Saturdays when most people are going to the zoo is backed up!

I had a new hire I had to take to a location just past King Of Prussia so had to do the whole length of the Surekill to 422.   She said how does anyone do this everyday... I said I did a long time ago and never again!!

nyccarguy

I'm thrilled with the Pilot's Adaptive Cruise.  I dig Lane Watch as well.  

The only mildly annoying thing thing about Lane Watch is that it cuts every other function off.  So if I'm trying to call someone or enter an address in the navigation by voice prompt and put my right blinker on, I've got to start the command all over again.