Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

ab348

Speaking of floor mats, I found an unusually-shaped box (tall and skinny) in the basement the other day. Opened it up and found a NOS set of GM factory carpet front floor mats for my long-departed 2011 Regal, cocoa brown in color. I vaguely remember buying them via ebay when I thought I might keep it long term. I suspect the current market for a one-year-only set of such mats in brown (they changed the mounting post positions when production for 2012 moved to Oshawa from Germany) is pretty small.

jmonroe

explorerx4 said:

@jmonroe,
Thanks, between you and stickguy, I finally figured it out.

But I said it first. :@

jmonroe

jmonroe

explorerx4 said:

Hope I don't forget how to do it when i get my net vehicle.

We're I'm here to help.

jmonroe

snakeweasel

stickguy said:

well, with so many people switching to CUVs, becomes a moot point. I have my own way of dealing with it. I never valet.

The only time I use a valet is when we go into the downtown Chicago for dinner. Let them find parking. If we are doing dinner and a show we will find our own overpriced parking.

Then one time as a joke I tried to get my motorcycle valet parked, they refused.

jmonroe

stickguy said:

well, with so many people switching to CUVs, becomes a moot point. I have my own way of dealing with it. I never valet.

But isn't that because you're cheap? Nobody is going to steal an old car that only Mrs. @stickguy likes.

jmonroe

cdnpinhead

" I never valet."

Well, that makes two of us, but I'm betting that it's easier in AZ than where you are.

stickguy

jmonroe said:

explorerx4 said:

@jmonroe,
Thanks, between you and stickguy, I finally figured it out.

But I said it first. :@

jmonroe

Age before beauty.

driver100

stickguy said:

well, with so many people switching to CUVs, becomes a moot point. I have my own way of dealing with it. I never valet.

Didn't realize there were all those locks, to protect from valets. Sometimes it is hard to avoid valet service. I have never noticed a lock in any of the MBs, maybe MB owners insist on parking their own cars.

stickguy

Valet in Chicago? didn't you ever watch Ferris Beuller? I know what happens there!

and JM, yes, I am also too cheap. but it is mostly because I don't want them driving my car. If I do go into the city I use a park and lock garage.

I so recall driving into Albany once with family (I got stuck driving since we had the Odyssey at the time). the restaurant had a lot across the street but they did it by valet (of course I did not know this in advance). So I had to turn over the keys. And watch the valet dude rip out at high speed in reverse, whip across the street without slowing, and up to the top of the other lot, all backing up. At high speed. I just about had a stroke. and that was just a minivan.

driver100

jmonroe said:

explorerx4 said:

Hope I don't forget how to do it when i get my net vehicle.

We're I'm here to help.

jmonroe

He finally actually helps someone and now we will never hear the end of it
......and wants most of the credit.

driver100

stickguy said:

. I so recall driving into Albany once with family (I got stuck driving since we had the Odyssey at the time).

Speaking of Odysseys, there were 6 of us going to dinner the other evening...we went in our friends 2018 Odyssey. Is that thing ever huge. Built as solid as a rock....nice ride, fairly comfortable seats. You sure need a backup camera...huge distance to the trunk and pretty hard to see through everything. Also, seats are very low, dash high, hood hidden......I wouldn't want to be driving it.......I would feel like I was driving a bus.

stickguy

they were easy to drive. I like the short, sloped hood. Much better than high prows like on PU trucks today.

jmonroe

cdnpinhead said:

" I never valet."

Well, that makes two of us, but I'm betting that it's easier in AZ than where you are.

To be honest, I try not to valet park either but sometimes it's unavoidable especially if you go to some of the nicer restaurants in the Burgh. Which we will be going to next Saturday. But it won't be on my dime. Son #1 decided to celebrate selling the flip and he will be footing the bill. When his mother heard about it she felt reluctant about it because it is on the high side. I don't feel the least bit reluctant, not after all the work he got out of me. When I say on the high side it is also on the high side of the city. Up on Mt. Washington to be exact. It's the famous rip off fish place. I don't want to mention their name and give them a plug but a few of the guys in here from the Burgh know the place. Has a great view of the Burgh but no one has ever been able to eat the view but that has never stopped them from charging as if you could. Anyway, I ain't paying so who am I to complain?

jmonroe

snakeweasel

stickguy said:

Valet in Chicago? didn't you ever watch Ferris Beuller? I know what happens there!

and JM, yes, I am also too cheap. but it is mostly because I don't want them driving my car. If I do go into the city I use a park and lock garage.

I so recall driving into Albany once with family (I got stuck driving since we had the Odyssey at the time). the restaurant had a lot across the street but they did it by valet (of course I did not know this in advance). So I had to turn over the keys. And watch the valet dude rip out at high speed in reverse, whip across the street without slowing, and up to the top of the other lot, all backing up. At high speed. I just about had a stroke. and that was just a minivan.

In the downtown area of Chicago parking is rather scarce so why not let them do it. At times it is less expensive than finding your own. But since that is at least an hours drive away we rarely go down for dinner alone, usually dinner and a play. When we do that we park it ourselves.

Here in the burbs we usually park ourselves.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

Valet in Chicago? didn't you ever watch Ferris Beuller? I know what happens there!

and JM, yes, I am also too cheap. but it is mostly because I don't want them driving my car. If I do go into the city I use a park and lock garage.

I so recall driving into Albany once with family (I got stuck driving since we had the Odyssey at the time). the restaurant had a lot across the street but they did it by valet (of course I did not know this in advance). So I had to turn over the keys. And watch the valet dude rip out at high speed in reverse, whip across the street without slowing, and up to the top of the other lot, all backing up. At high speed. I just about had a stroke. and that was just a minivan.

Was this the guy?

https://youtu.be/MnrI8ad8tuY

pensfan83

jmonroe said:

cdnpinhead said:

" I never valet."

Well, that makes two of us, but I'm betting that it's easier in AZ than where you are.

To be honest, I try not to valet park either but sometimes it's unavoidable especially if you go to some of the nicer restaurants in the Burgh. Which we will be going to next Saturday. But it won't be on my dime. Son #1 decided to celebrate selling the flip and he will be footing the bill. When his mother heard about it she felt reluctant about it because it is on the high side. I don't feel the least bit reluctant, not after all the work he got out of me. When I say on the high side it is also on the high side of the city. Up on Mt. Washington to be exact. It's the famous rip off fish place. I don't want to mention their name and give them a plug but a few of the guys in here from the Burgh know the place. Has a great view of the Burgh but no one has ever been able to eat the view but that has never stopped them from charging as if you could. Anyway, I ain't paying so who am I to complain?

jmonroe

Monterey Bay? Great food and ambiance but I agree the cost can make one's eyes water.

jmonroe

pensfan83 said:

jmonroe said:

cdnpinhead said:

" I never valet."

Well, that makes two of us, but I'm betting that it's easier in AZ than where you are.

To be honest, I try not to valet park either but sometimes it's unavoidable especially if you go to some of the nicer restaurants in the Burgh. Which we will be going to next Saturday. But it won't be on my dime. Son #1 decided to celebrate selling the flip and he will be footing the bill. When his mother heard about it she felt reluctant about it because it is on the high side. I don't feel the least bit reluctant, not after all the work he got out of me. When I say on the high side it is also on the high side of the city. Up on Mt. Washington to be exact. It's the famous rip off fish place. I don't want to mention their name and give them a plug but a few of the guys in here from the Burgh know the place. Has a great view of the Burgh but no one has ever been able to eat the view but that has never stopped them from charging as if you could. Anyway, I ain't paying so who am I to complain?

jmonroe

Monterey Bay? Great food and ambiance but I agree the cost can make one's eyes water.

Yes, but why did you have to give them a plug? I've found them to be hit or miss with the food. The last 2 times have been a miss for us. Like you said, the prices are high. They never miss on that or the view.

jmonroe

stickguy

we rarely go into the city (Philly) and when we do, we usually take the train in (the one that Mrs. TJC uses to commute). very convenient, especially since we are only a mile from the station. and cheaper, no worries about the car or parking, etc.

there is actually a nice steak house near me, that we got a gift certificate to for Christmas (well, at their prices, 1/2 of it!). not in a busy area, but they still valet. But, there are spots on the edges or right next door that they don't cone off. Guess where I will be parking?

jmonroe

stickguy said:

we rarely go into the city (Philly) and when we do, we usually take the train in (the one that Mrs. TJC uses to commute). very convenient, especially since we are only a mile from the station. and cheaper, no worries about the car or parking, etc.

there is actually a nice steak house near me, that we got a gift certificate to for Christmas (well, at their prices, 1/2 of it!). not in a busy area, but they still valet. But, there are spots on the edges or right next door that they don't cone off. Guess where I will be parking?

On top of a cone that you drove over.

jmonroe

stickguy

nah. I will make the wife get out and move it.

jmonroe

stickguy said:

nah. I will make the wife get out and move it.

Yeah...right. It's hard to enjoy a nice steak dinner with a couple lose or missing teeth.

jmonroe

houdini1

Chiefs 35 Titans 24 ......49ers will be tough.

houdini1

I just read an article that kids born today would likely never drive a car. In 20 years everyone would just summon a self driver when you needed one. Houses would not have a garage. But who knows, in 20 years everyone may be riding a horse or walking.

stickguy

should be an entertaining SB the way these 2 teams are playing. fair fight too.

stickguy

houdini1 said:

I just read an article that kids born today would likely never drive a car. In 20 years everyone would just summon a self driver when you needed one. Houses would not have a garage. But who knows, in 20 years everyone may be riding a horse or walking.

well, at the pace I am going with moving, my house will still be this one, so have a garage!

that is a nice fantasy vision. but never, ever happening in that timeframe. Maybe in select large metro areas. but way too many people live in areas that could never support it. You would also need the government to require coverage (like with cable or phone monopolies) otherwise more rural or poorer areas will never be serviced. There are also plenty of places where I doubt an autonomous car could function, and weather conditions shutting them down.

I also kind quite conceive of some self driving car showing up on christmas eve, that will fit all my wifes stuff, and drive us 5 hours to the boondocks beyond oldfarmerville. It just is not happening.

snakeweasel

houdini1 said:

I just read an article that kids born today would likely never drive a car. In 20 years everyone would just summon a self driver when you needed one. Houses would not have a garage. But who knows, in 20 years everyone may be riding a horse or walking.

Likely true, look at all the flying cars we have.

driver100

I don't disagree with you stick, but, it would be interesting to go back to about 1910 and here what people were saying about the early cars. Some people would be saying one day everyone is going to be driving their own cars.....and others would be saying we will never give up the horse and buggy for one of those things.

Maybe self driving cars.....but, only in the downtown core.Maybe a taxi type service, summon one when you need a ride.

sda

And some populations still rely on the horse and buggy. It will be interesting to see how transportation evolves. I still like driving with little automated intervention. I enjoy driving. Our cars have automatic transmissions, alas.

snakeweasel

sda said:

And some populations still rely on the horse and buggy. It will be interesting to see how transportation evolves. I still like driving with little automated intervention. I enjoy driving. Our cars have automatic transmissions, alas.

Mackinac Island in Michigan relies on the horse and buggy.

driver100

snakeweasel said:

sda said:

And some populations still rely on the horse and buggy. It will be interesting to see how transportation evolves. I still like driving with little automated intervention. I enjoy driving. Our cars have automatic transmissions, alas.

Mackinac Island in Michigan relies on the horse and buggy.

I didn't know about that. I looked it up,
Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, with the exception of snowmobiles during winter, emergency vehicles, and service vehicles. Travel on the island is either by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage.
Mackinac Island (pop. 492)

So, what are you saying snake, some people were right, the car will never replace the horse and buggy?

snakeweasel

We discussed this a while back but I finally found this at the Weathertech factory store today:

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

sda said:

And some populations still rely on the horse and buggy. It will be interesting to see how transportation evolves. I still like driving with little automated intervention. I enjoy driving. Our cars have automatic transmissions, alas.

Mackinac Island in Michigan relies on the horse and buggy.

I didn't know about that. I looked it up,
Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, with the exception of snowmobiles during winter, emergency vehicles, and service vehicles. Travel on the island is either by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage.
Mackinac Island (pop. 492)

So, what are you saying snake, some people were right, the car will never replace the horse and buggy?

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

sda said:

And some populations still rely on the horse and buggy. It will be interesting to see how transportation evolves. I still like driving with little automated intervention. I enjoy driving. Our cars have automatic transmissions, alas.

Mackinac Island in Michigan relies on the horse and buggy.

I didn't know about that. I looked it up,
Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, with the exception of snowmobiles during winter, emergency vehicles, and service vehicles. Travel on the island is either by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage.
Mackinac Island (pop. 492)

So, what are you saying snake, some people were right, the car will never replace the horse and buggy?

I tell you you haven't lived until you sat on your hotels front porch and watch the horse drawn wagon come up to deliver your luggage.

roadburner

snakeweasel said:

We discussed this a while back but I finally found this at the Weathertech factory store today:

I almost bid on a Lamborghini crawler, but shipping costs nixed the deal:

explorerx4

On Mackinac Island there is one of those old WW2 landing craft, that has the ramp in the front that drops down.
If you got there, watch out for the horse poop, if biking or walking.

stickguy

you get out to romp on a GTS yet?

driver100

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

sda said:

And some populations still rely on the horse and buggy. It will be interesting to see how transportation evolves. I still like driving with little automated intervention. I enjoy driving. Our cars have automatic transmissions, alas.

Mackinac Island in Michigan relies on the horse and buggy.

I didn't know about that. I looked it up,
Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, with the exception of snowmobiles during winter, emergency vehicles, and service vehicles. Travel on the island is either by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage.
Mackinac Island (pop. 492)

So, what are you saying snake, some people were right, the car will never replace the horse and buggy?

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

sda said:

And some populations still rely on the horse and buggy. It will be interesting to see how transportation evolves. I still like driving with little automated intervention. I enjoy driving. Our cars have automatic transmissions, alas.

Mackinac Island in Michigan relies on the horse and buggy.

I didn't know about that. I looked it up,
Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, with the exception of snowmobiles during winter, emergency vehicles, and service vehicles. Travel on the island is either by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage.
Mackinac Island (pop. 492)

So, what are you saying snake, some people were right, the car will never replace the horse and buggy?

I tell you you haven't lived until you sat on your hotels front porch and watch the horse drawn wagon come up to deliver your luggage.

We see Mennonites with horse and buggy not too far away:

...and some use cars;

driver100

explorerx4 said:

On Mackinac Island there is one of those old WW2 landing craft, that has the ramp in the front that drops down.
If you got there, watch out for the horse poop, if biking or walking.

Thanks for the heads up....errr, heads down I guess.

suydam

Many Mennonites use cars. By and large the Amish do not.

snakeweasel

explorerx4 said:

On Mackinac Island there is one of those old WW2 landing craft, that has the ramp in the front that drops down.
If you got there, watch out for the horse poop, if biking or walking.

And the puddles if it hasn't rained in a while. And yes that was a warning given out on a tour we took.

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

sda said:

And some populations still rely on the horse and buggy. It will be interesting to see how transportation evolves. I still like driving with little automated intervention. I enjoy driving. Our cars have automatic transmissions, alas.

Mackinac Island in Michigan relies on the horse and buggy.

I didn't know about that. I looked it up,
Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, with the exception of snowmobiles during winter, emergency vehicles, and service vehicles. Travel on the island is either by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage.
Mackinac Island (pop. 492)

So, what are you saying snake, some people were right, the car will never replace the horse and buggy?

driver100 said:

snakeweasel said:

sda said:

And some populations still rely on the horse and buggy. It will be interesting to see how transportation evolves. I still like driving with little automated intervention. I enjoy driving. Our cars have automatic transmissions, alas.

Mackinac Island in Michigan relies on the horse and buggy.

I didn't know about that. I looked it up,
Motorized vehicles have been prohibited on the island since 1898, with the exception of snowmobiles during winter, emergency vehicles, and service vehicles. Travel on the island is either by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage.
Mackinac Island (pop. 492)

So, what are you saying snake, some people were right, the car will never replace the horse and buggy?

I tell you you haven't lived until you sat on your hotels front porch and watch the horse drawn wagon come up to deliver your luggage.

We see Mennonites with horse and buggy not too far away:

...and some use cars;

Where we had breakfast on a long weekend trip to Little Egypt last spring. It's an amish owned and run restaurant. The food want to good I only went back for more three times. Here is their parking lot.

oldfarmer50

stickguy said:

houdini1 said:

I just read an article that kids born today would likely never drive a car. In 20 years everyone would just summon a self driver when you needed one. Houses would not have a garage. But who knows, in 20 years everyone may be riding a horse or walking.

well, at the pace I am going with moving, my house will still be this one, so have a garage!

that is a nice fantasy vision. but never, ever happening in that timeframe. Maybe in select large metro areas. but way too many people live in areas that could never support it. You would also need the government to require coverage (like with cable or phone monopolies) otherwise more rural or poorer areas will never be serviced. There are also plenty of places where I doubt an autonomous car could function, and weather conditions shutting them down.

I also kind quite conceive of some self driving car showing up on christmas eve, that will fit all my wifes stuff, and drive us 5 hours to the boondocks beyond oldfarmerville. It just is not happening.

Don’t self drivers navigate by satellite? Why would it care if it was in the boondocks? Unless the collision avoidance system stops for dead raccoons and becomes paralyzed.

imidazol97

ab348 said:

Speaking of floor mats, I found an unusually-shaped box (tall and skinny) in the basement the other day. Opened it up and found a NOS set of GM factory carpet front floor mats for my long-departed 2011 Regal, cocoa brown in color. I vaguely remember buying them via ebay when I thought I might keep it long term. I suspect the current market for a one-year-only set of such mats in brown (they changed the mounting post positions when production for 2012 moved to Oshawa from Germany) is pretty small.

I'd suggest advertising them on Ebay or on a site catering to Regal owners, especially classic car oriented sites. I have a couple of factory service manuals I'd like to advertise, but I'm not ready to hassle with Ebay.

roadburner

stickguy said:

you get out to romp on a GTS yet?

Nope, my wife fell and hurt her back(nothing serious, fortunately), that entailed a visit to the doctor on the precise day that I had scheduled a half day off to look at the GTS. I hate to look at/test drive cars on Saturday because it's usually busy. It's a 90 minute drive to the honest dealer so I'm just hoping I can open up some free time in a few days.

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

houdini1 said:

I just read an article that kids born today would likely never drive a car. In 20 years everyone would just summon a self driver when you needed one. Houses would not have a garage. But who knows, in 20 years everyone may be riding a horse or walking.

well, at the pace I am going with moving, my house will still be this one, so have a garage!

that is a nice fantasy vision. but never, ever happening in that timeframe. Maybe in select large metro areas. but way too many people live in areas that could never support it. You would also need the government to require coverage (like with cable or phone monopolies) otherwise more rural or poorer areas will never be serviced. There are also plenty of places where I doubt an autonomous car could function, and weather conditions shutting them down.

I also kind quite conceive of some self driving car showing up on christmas eve, that will fit all my wifes stuff, and drive us 5 hours to the boondocks beyond oldfarmerville. It just is not happening.

Don’t self drivers navigate by satellite? Why would it care if it was in the boondocks? Unless the collision avoidance system stops for dead raccoons and becomes paralyzed.

I would think that the problem would be finding a return fare back towards its home base.

Also in a case like that who fills up the tank when the self driving car needs gas? Especially if it runs out halfway home after dropping off Stickguy.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

houdini1 said:

I just read an article that kids born today would likely never drive a car. In 20 years everyone would just summon a self driver when you needed one. Houses would not have a garage. But who knows, in 20 years everyone may be riding a horse or walking.

well, at the pace I am going with moving, my house will still be this one, so have a garage!

that is a nice fantasy vision. but never, ever happening in that timeframe. Maybe in select large metro areas. but way too many people live in areas that could never support it. You would also need the government to require coverage (like with cable or phone monopolies) otherwise more rural or poorer areas will never be serviced. There are also plenty of places where I doubt an autonomous car could function, and weather conditions shutting them down.

I also kind quite conceive of some self driving car showing up on christmas eve, that will fit all my wifes stuff, and drive us 5 hours to the boondocks beyond oldfarmerville. It just is not happening.

Don’t self drivers navigate by satellite? Why would it care if it was in the boondocks? Unless the collision avoidance system stops for dead raccoons and becomes paralyzed.

Self driving car can work in boonies....just not very efficient for a car to go all that distance empty to pick up a passenger way out in a rural area, pick them up, take them back.....probably ride back empty. More efficient in urban areas....at first anyway.

driver100

roadburner said:

stickguy said:

you get out to romp on a GTS yet?

Nope, my wife fell and hurt her back(nothing serious, fortunately), that entailed a visit to the doctor on the precise day that I had scheduled a half day off to look at the GTS. I hate to look at/test drive cars on Saturday because it's usually busy. It's a 90 minute drive to the honest dealer so I'm just hoping I can open up some free time in a few days.

I'd go to the closer dishonest dealer for a test drive. Then if you turn them down, you won't feel bad. Also, you can haggle a bit....go really low, and find out what deal they would make before going to the honest dealer....consider it a free learning experience.

stickguy

they need to really improve the self drive technology though. sats are not precise enough without being able to see curbs, lines, etc. You get out in the country on some of those dark roads, without any lines but major ditches on the sides, and it is tricky. Never mind potholes to avoid.

the business model is a whole nother story on why this is not happening soon, but that can't even start until the functional aspect is pretty well bulletproof. Maybe running around a defined city grid can happen sooner.

stickguy

I am with Driver. Hit the local guy first. Who knows, maybe it was just a bad fit with the first salesdude when you ran into him. Maybe someone else, or go right to the SM, and it will be a totally different experience. If not, you get your test drive, and if you want one, can just shop from home!

oldfarmer50

snakeweasel said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

houdini1 said:

I just read an article that kids born today would likely never drive a car. In 20 years everyone would just summon a self driver when you needed one. Houses would not have a garage. But who knows, in 20 years everyone may be riding a horse or walking.

well, at the pace I am going with moving, my house will still be this one, so have a garage!

that is a nice fantasy vision. but never, ever happening in that timeframe. Maybe in select large metro areas. but way too many people live in areas that could never support it. You would also need the government to require coverage (like with cable or phone monopolies) otherwise more rural or poorer areas will never be serviced. There are also plenty of places where I doubt an autonomous car could function, and weather conditions shutting them down.

I also kind quite conceive of some self driving car showing up on christmas eve, that will fit all my wifes stuff, and drive us 5 hours to the boondocks beyond oldfarmerville. It just is not happening.

Don’t self drivers navigate by satellite? Why would it care if it was in the boondocks? Unless the collision avoidance system stops for dead raccoons and becomes paralyzed.

I would think that the problem would be finding a return fare back towards its home base.

Also in a case like that who fills up the tank when the self driving car needs gas? Especially if it runs out halfway home after dropping off Stickguy.

No different than what an Uber driver goes through now.

I always wonder about fueling too. They might have to reintroduce full service gas stations like in New Jersey.

But my concern about self drivers still is what I like to call the “mischief factor”.

What happens if a misbehaving human stands in front of a SD and refuses to let it move while his buddies steal the wheels? What if somebody drops a pumpkin off an overpass? What if a SD is subject to any one off a hundred bits of evil that humans are capable of when they think they’re anonymous?

No matter how flawless you make the self driving car you’ll never get humans to behave perfectly.

snakeweasel

oldfarmer50 said:

snakeweasel said:

oldfarmer50 said:

stickguy said:

houdini1 said:

I just read an article that kids born today would likely never drive a car. In 20 years everyone would just summon a self driver when you needed one. Houses would not have a garage. But who knows, in 20 years everyone may be riding a horse or walking.

well, at the pace I am going with moving, my house will still be this one, so have a garage!

that is a nice fantasy vision. but never, ever happening in that timeframe. Maybe in select large metro areas. but way too many people live in areas that could never support it. You would also need the government to require coverage (like with cable or phone monopolies) otherwise more rural or poorer areas will never be serviced. There are also plenty of places where I doubt an autonomous car could function, and weather conditions shutting them down.

I also kind quite conceive of some self driving car showing up on christmas eve, that will fit all my wifes stuff, and drive us 5 hours to the boondocks beyond oldfarmerville. It just is not happening.

Don’t self drivers navigate by satellite? Why would it care if it was in the boondocks? Unless the collision avoidance system stops for dead raccoons and becomes paralyzed.

I would think that the problem would be finding a return fare back towards its home base.

Also in a case like that who fills up the tank when the self driving car needs gas? Especially if it runs out halfway home after dropping off Stickguy.

No different than what an Uber driver goes through now.

I always wonder about fueling too. They might have to reintroduce full service gas stations like in New Jersey.

But my concern about self drivers still is what I like to call the “mischief factor”.

What happens if a misbehaving human stands in front of a SD and refuses to let it move while his buddies steal the wheels? What if somebody drops a pumpkin off an overpass? What if a SD is subject to any one off a hundred bits of evil that humans are capable of when they think they’re anonymous?

No matter how flawless you make the self driving car you’ll never get humans to behave perfectly.

Oh now I want to block a self driving car while friends use jacks to get the drive wheels off the ground then watch it as it tries to drive away.