Mercedes is giving my friend with the new C class the same runaround as GG is getting. Basically, it's "we don't know what's wrong so we're sharing info with the factory"......a not-so comforting response on a dead car with 2600 miles on it, I must say.
At least they have a loaner while they take the time to figure it out? or no? That's the key. Who's dime are you on while stalling. When my body shop incorrectly reattached the coolant hose it cost them a 25 mile tow, the car for another couple of days, and associated rental car for those days.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Mercedes is giving my friend with the new C class the same runaround as GG is getting. Basically, it's "we don't know what's wrong so we're sharing info with the factory"......a not-so comforting response on a dead car with 2600 miles on it, I must say.
At least they have a loaner while they take the time to figure it out? or no? That's the key. Who's dime are you on while stalling. When my body shop incorrectly reattached the coolant hose it cost them a 25 mile tow, the car for another couple of days, and associated rental car for those days.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Mercedes is giving my friend with the new C class the same runaround as GG is getting. Basically, it's "we don't know what's wrong so we're sharing info with the factory"......a not-so comforting response on a dead car with 2600 miles on it, I must say.
At least they have a loaner while they take the time to figure it out? or no? That's the key. Who's dime are you on while stalling. When my body shop incorrectly reattached the coolant hose it cost them a 25 mile tow, the car for another couple of days, and associated rental car for those days.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
regular interest rates are so low, it really doesn't make that much difference. going from 2% to 1% on a 5 year/20K low is $9/mo. in the big scheme of things, a rounding error.
I bet that there are a lot of people that pass up a rebate and take low rate financing instead, and screw themselves out of money. Always have to figure the payments both ways.
regular interest rates are so low, it really doesn't make that much difference. going from 2% to 1% on a 5 year/20K low is $9/mo. in the big scheme of things, a rounding error.
I bet that there are a lot of people that pass up a rebate and take low rate financing instead, and screw themselves out of money. Always have to figure the payments both ways.
There's something about 0% that hooks people. I don't get it, as I'm a numbers guy, and rebates can easily beat 0% with today's low interest rates. My parents got a Prius instead of an Accord in large part due to Toyota's willingness to offer 0% for 5 years versus Honda that just won't do that kind of shenanigan.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Locally, I saw a new car with a large picture of a lemon, no text, displayed prominently in the window parked in close proximity to the dealership, but not on their property. Obviously the owner was experiencing lots of issues.....very tempting approach....
What kind of car?
I believe a Chrysler 200.
You could probably throw 30 or 40 lemons signs up at a Chrysler dealer and be accurate.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Got a call from Cadillac Customer Service again yesterday. Not sure why. They didn't seem to know what was going on with my car as I had to repeat the entire chain of events (non-events?) for the nice lady. She didn't say she could help. She didn't even seem to really care much that I can't/won't drive the car. She just said "thanks". I don't know if anyone is supposed to get back to me. I don't know if anything is going to be done.....EVER!
Staying the course.
Locally, I saw a new car with a large picture of a lemon, no text, displayed prominently in the window parked in close proximity to the dealership, but not on their property. Obviously the owner was experiencing lots of issues.....very tempting approach....
What kind of car?
I believe a Chrysler 200.
That is a new model...and the reviews have been good. Probably a case of not working all the bugs out of a new design.
Locally, I saw a new car with a large picture of a lemon, no text, displayed prominently in the window parked in close proximity to the dealership, but not on their property. Obviously the owner was experiencing lots of issues.....very tempting approach....
What kind of car?
I believe a Chrysler 200.
You could probably throw 30 or 40 lemons signs up at a Chrysler dealer and be accurate.
Here we go again...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
GF (at the time) back in college had a pristine VW THING. Not sure the year, nor if it had any sort of engine upgrade. But, I do remember us taking a trip to Gatlinburg TN in it. And, going up into the Appalachian Mountains in it, I worried about it making it up the side of the Mountains. It certainly made a lot of noise in climbing the mountain, but ever decreasing forward momentum was where we had issues.
Weird vehicle....but that sort of endeared me to her (the girl, not the VW) as she was a bit quirky, too.
, I do remember us taking a trip to Gatlinburg TN in it. And, going up into the Appalachian Mountains in it, I worried about it making it up the side of the Mountains.
"Antilock brake systems (ABS) have been introduced on many passenger car and light truck make/models in recent years. Brake experts anticipated that the introduction of ABS on passenger vehicles would reduce the number and severity of accidents. A number of statistical analyses of accident databases have been performed during the last three years. These analyses suggest that the introduction of ABS does not seem to have reduced the number of automobile accidents where they were expected to be effective. Kahane stated that involvements in multi-vehicle crashes on wet roads were significantly reduced by 24 percent, and nonfatal crashes by 14 percent (with ABS). However, these reductions were offset by a statistically significant increase in the frequency of single-vehicle, run-off-road crashes (rollovers or impacts with fixed objects), as compared to cars without ABS. Fatal run-off-road crashes were up by 28 percent and nonfatal crashes by 19 percent. It is unknown to what extent, if any, this increase is due to ABS or other causes. It is also unknown to what extent, if any, this increase is due to drivers incorrect usage of ABS or incorrect responses by drivers to their ABS."
ABS can't be a cause of an increase in accidents of any type in my view. It has to be driver error (to include incorrect use of ABS). Maybe driver overconfidence that ABS will save the day and so they risk too much.
Also, it seems our driver's testing standards are being dumbed down. Increased speed limits in recent years has helped to reduce fatalities and accidents. Cars have become safer as well. Without those two factors, I'm afraid today's drivers would look terrible compared to previous generations.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
One really can't say much from this data but it does seem logical that ABS might not perform as well as expected in some situations. You know, in the same way that RWD or FWD can outperform AWD in some situations.
The speculation that driver confidence causes more accidents or that drivers don't use ABS correctly is very hard to pin down.
I suspect if you removed ABS from all cars but kept all the other safety features that you wouldn't see a significant spike in accident rates. Accidents are too complex to be defeated by one single technology.
I still run across students(adults as well as teens) who are extremely hesitant to apply the brakes fully. Many of them jump off the pedal when ABS kicks in. I've even been asked, "Won't the airbags go off if I hit the brakes too hard?"
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Maybe it's a cold weather thing. I'm with @driver100 - several times I've had the ABS kick in when I was concerned about sliding into an icy intersection. Been driving quite a bit of gravel roads here but haven't noticed them kicking in.
ABS can't be a cause of an increase in accidents of any type in my view. It has to be driver error (to include incorrect use of ABS). Maybe driver overconfidence that ABS will save the day and so they risk too much.
Also, it seems our driver's testing standards are being dumbed down. Increased speed limits in recent years has helped to reduce fatalities and accidents. Cars have become safer as well. Without those two factors, I'm afraid today's drivers would look terrible compared to previous generations.
Actually, ABS can make a vehicle less safe - when shocks are worn out. The system gets so confused by a bouncy car response that it increases the braking distance very significantly (may even double). So, be weary of older vehicles that are not properly maintained, but are equipped with ABS.
Overconfidence is a big factor. Cars "feel" so safe behind the wheel that early warnings can be easily discounted by bad driver. The general isolation from the road feel doesn't help either. Fat tires, sound deadening materials, quiet engines and transmissions, all the electronics makes us feel we drive slowly, but 70 mph is not so slow. I generally agree that higher speed limits help reduce the overall fatalities by reducing the traveling time on long distance trips. It may increase severity of the effects of an accident, should it happen, but that is offset by both safety features and lower driver fatigue. The issue is a threshold - when one slows down from 70-80 mph to exit or a traffic, they may feel like they're stationary, but they still go say 40 or 50 mph. Many accidents happen close to home, at the beginning, or end of a trip, when the attention is in transition mode.
BTW, there are limits to efficacy of increased speed limits. I have driven on a German autobahn (they have no limits), got the car up to 135+ mph for a short amount of time and it was one very exhausting experience. It is around 95-100 mph (which is typical cruising speed in Germany on a non-congested autobahn, i.e. you better keep up or get relegated to a truck lane by disgusted drivers who would not be shy to show you don't belong in the middle or left lane), when my driving position changed from a relaxed cruising to tight, very taxing, upright, which would result in a quick fatigue. Fortunately for Germans, typical traveling distances are not comparable to those in America, so they can go fast for couple of hours. I wouldn't mind our authorities increasing the daylight speed to something like 80-85 mph (which as I understand is present in some places, just not around me in Florida), but anything more is where I lose that "relaxed" driving feel.
I read long time ago (tongue in cheek) that the best way to ensure total safety is to build cars with driver's cabin totally unprotected, so any significant speed increase would have catastrophic results for the driver in case of a crash. Obviously, this would results in immediate increase of fatalities short term as those who dare would have to literally die down. Long term results would probably bear that as natural selection of risk takers would take care of them (they'd likely die before they could have a chance to have children). This is of course all academic exercise in social science, but I find it interesting. Overconfidence of drivers in their safe vehicles combined with generally declining skills (new cars' forgiving nature is not conducive to self-improvement of drivers) and increased access to vehicles (more people than ever are legally allowed to drive) must weigh on this, too. The roads themselves are designed much safer today (I'm in civil engineering, so I actually know that), with roadway cross-sections, interchanges, traffic rails, even luminaries designed and positioned more forgiving than ever.
But see the follow up NHSTB studies done after ABS became widely available. "But some types of run-off-road crashes significantly increased with ABS.83 A clearer picture emerged from NHTSA’s follow-up evaluation in 2009, based on GES data from 1995 to 2007 for a larger list of make-models. ABS reduced culpable involvements in multivehicle crashes by a statistically sig- nificant 17 percent, whereas the effect in run-off-road crashes had become negligible (1% in- crease). The following table shows how these involvements decreased, relative to the control group, for a list of make-models that switched from no ABS or from a low percentage optional installations to standard ABS or to a high percentage of optional installations.84"
In other words once the technology became standard and people actually knew how to use it, it's safety became apparent. Also ABS is very important in preventing crashes in the first place.
This comic strip is how I feel this week. Nothing interesting to read on the web except for the missives on this thread. I guess it's probably time to start my long overdue summer vacation.
I posted that sometime last year and thought I would post it again considering GG's plight with his CTS.
Can you return a new vehicle?
I would think not, but here is what Prime Auto says about its return policy. Sales gimmick or honest desire to please the customer?
"Every car at Prime comes with Prime Peace of Mind; a guarantee that if you weren’t satisfied with your purchase you can return the vehicle within 48 hours and get your money back without a hassle. And on used vehicles sold at a Prime dealership, you can return your vehicle within 30 days or 750 miles and exchange it for a different vehicle of the same or greater value." http://www.driveprime.com/prime-peace-of-mind.
And here is what a finance manager says about unwinding a sale: "It's an accounting nightmare," Eleazer wrote. "Commissions need to be charged back, even if the month has already closed and everyone has been paid. Your manufacturer's statement of origin must be retrieved from the DMV. Affidavits must be executed to retain the vehicle's new-car status; if you don't, you've got a huge depreciation on your hands. And, finally, if a trade-in was involved, the payoff must be refunded by the bank and the title received on that trade returned."
I once bought a mattress with a return policy but there were so many conditions tacked on it that it was not worth the bother.
And here is what a finance manager says about unwinding a sale: "It's an accounting nightmare," Eleazer wrote. "Commissions need to be charged back, even if the month has already closed and everyone has been paid. Your manufacturer's statement of origin must be retrieved from the DMV. Affidavits must be executed to retain the vehicle's new-car status; if you don't, you've got a huge depreciation on your hands.
I can't help but wonder if one of GG's two vehicles was a car with a history. If it were me, I'd want to see the full printout of GM's record on the car such as the service department can print out. And maybe there are other sources as well. However, I understand not showing any interest in records because now GG is focused on returning the vehicle since the service department and store haven't been effective at diagnosing. Asking about records would open the door to other solutions for MacConnell and GM.
I think there's also a history of the story with GM company in terms of costs of diagnosing problems that don't show a a trouble code or don't work right if operated by the computer system they use. Perhaps the store got punished for spending on customer-oriented diagnosis when no trouble codes were showing to assist in a cheaper diagnosis.
Increased speed limits in recent years has helped to reduce fatalities and accidents. .
That is wrong.
Have any data or studies to back up your assertion? I have evidence from several States such as Utah that have experimented with higher first world speed limits.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
And here is what a finance manager says about unwinding a sale: "It's an accounting nightmare," Eleazer wrote. "Commissions need to be charged back, even if the month has already closed and everyone has been paid. Your manufacturer's statement of origin must be retrieved from the DMV. Affidavits must be executed to retain the vehicle's new-car status; if you don't, you've got a huge depreciation on your hands.
I can't help but wonder if one of GG's two vehicles was a car with a history. If it were me, I'd want to see the full printout of GM's record on the car such as the service department can print out. And maybe there are other sources as well. However, I understand not showing any interest in records because now GG is focused on returning the vehicle since the service department and store haven't been effective at diagnosing. Asking about records would open the door to other solutions for MacConnell and GM.
I think there's also a history of the story with GM company in terms of costs of diagnosing problems that don't show a a trouble code or don't work right if operated by the computer system they use. Perhaps the store got punished for spending on customer-oriented diagnosis when no trouble codes were showing to assist in a cheaper diagnosis.
imid....good suggestion. I'd like to see the service history, too....especially before I became the owner. It had 170 miles on the odo, so at least someone had driven it, even for a little while. Plus, the issues with my Mother's Caddy and the suspension problems on the first one i had, it does make me wonder what the heck the same dealership does to these cars before the customers buy them.
At this juncture, it really doesn't matter to me, though. I'll just wait until this thing plays out. Sharing the wife's Accord isn't as big of a deal as we thought it was going to be. We're just a little more studious in what we need to do, when we need to do it, and where we need to go to get it done.
Makes me appreciate how good Hondas really are. They don't break. They are well put together. They get good MPG. They handle well, for a 4 door family sedan. They're comfortable. I won't win any stop light wars with it, but it's not a slug, either. Biggest complaint is my wife has to reset the mirrors after I've been driving it. She has a tendency to leave the gas gage perilously close to empty when she knows I'll be driving it next.
Can't remember where I first saw the Volvo V8 conversion, but I think it may have been on the Seinfield WEB show where Seinfeld takes people out for coffee. I think it was Letterman's Volvo they used when he did the episode with Letterman.
Interesting conversion. Can't imagine the cost involved. But, you sure would be unique.
TOTALLY off topic (not that we ever do that here), I noticed that my posts have had lots of misspellings in the past several months. I used to be pretty good about things like that as I spend a lot of time wriing business briefs. Still, the misspellings seemed to be increasing.
Now I know why (or I think I know why). Went to the eye doctor yesterday and found out my left eye could be declared legally blind. I thought i had to practically get on top of the screen while typing.
Seems I also have a cataract in that eye. I thought cataracts only happened to old people.
Anyway, surgery is on the horizon next month.
Another off topic note....I received my Apple Watch yesterday. Pretty darned cool. Not sure I want to know every time I get an email (I have one business and two personal email accounts). But, I actually made a call with it (works great). Go my workout routine tracked on it. Got a pair of bluetooth headphones and used the watch to play music over the headphones.
It has a GPS, apple maps (screen is too small but voice directions are good). I get IMs on it.
It will do a bunch of stuff that I don't even know about. Problem is, I got the cheapest one (about $400). As such, although like most things Apple, it's made extremely well, the wrist strap is uncomfortable. I know I can buy a more expensive one, but I questioned my sanity for spending $400 for the Apple watch to begin with. It's really light, but not sure I'll keep it.
"Another off topic note....I received my Apple Watch yesterday."
GG, I have had more difficulty trying to justify buying an Apple Watch than buying a Mercedes-Benz! I think the one I looked at was the same as you bought - around $450-$500.
I've anguished over this for about a month now. Just can't seem to justify buying a watch I can hardly see let alone use effectively. I have an iPhone 6 that provides me with all the same features as the watch and I can see what I'm doing.
Would appreciate a periodic report from you as to its utility, function an ease of operation. It would help me (and perhaps others here) build more of a rationale to make a decision. As Hamlet said: "...to buy or not to buy - that is the question...!"
The only Apple watch that I'd even look at is stainless steel case+ link bracelet, going around $1000, which is to say - I won't buy it, ever (or at least in considerable future). I'd buy an Omega or Breitling first, even if paid four over four or five times as much - which is to say, I'm not buying those any time soon, either.
I will probably be proven totally wrong on this, but something tells me that once the initial land rush is over, and all the trendies and new-gilded-age buyers are satisfied, the Apple watch may prove to be one of the few Apple products that flops.
Seems I also have a cataract in that eye. I thought cataracts only happened to old people.
I am one of those old people LOL. About two years earlier doctor commented he could make out cataracts just barely showing. Then it went downhill fast. Over 6 months I knew I had to do something. I had been using corticosteroids in nose sprays (Nasonex) for allergies for years, and those cause steroids on the back of the lens as mine were. And they grow fast. Removal sooner is better if that's the case. The cataract is hard to remove from the capsule. Also, the capsule tends to cloud after the removal requiring YAG laser to blast the capsule it away to clear the vision again after the plastic lens is in place. Good luck.
I have tried Sirius Channel 17 every once in awhile and it seems to have become the James Taylor channel. Now, I like James Taylor almost as much as anyone can, but JT 24/7 makes no sense to me. In fact, if all I wanted to listen to was JT I would just buy his album. Do companies care or think about what they are doing anymore?
I could have told McDonalds 3 years ago that they better fix up their menu. Find some more healthy and interesting alternatives. People are becoming more particular, and there are places that offer much better food for slightly more dollars.
TOTALLY off topic (not that we ever do that here), I noticed that my posts have had lots of misspellings in the past several months. I used to be pretty good about things like that as I spend a lot of time wriing business briefs. Still, the misspellings seemed to be increasing.
Now I know why (or I think I know why). Went to the eye doctor yesterday and found out my left eye could be declared legally blind. I thought i had to practically get on top of the screen while typing.
Seems I also have a cataract in that eye. I thought cataracts only happened to old people.
Anyway, surgery is on the horizon next month.
Well, I am having the same problem too and especially with poor night vision. The eye specialist said that I show early signs of cataracts in my left eye and early signs of glaucoma in my right. I got a second opinion and before you know it that new doc (an eye surgeon) had scheduled surgery for both eyes.
After discussing it with my nurse practitioner she said perhaps I should wait and reevaluate the consequences of such drastic surgery. As a result I cancelled the surgery and will wait it out for a while anyway. What concerned me most is that the surgery would improve night driving but I would lose my near sight and would need reading glasses for the rest of my life.
And totally off topic--how are the Cavalier fans holding up this morning? A little too much Curry for their planned victory celebrations on June 20th?
basic sport Apple Watch (they all operate the same regardless of the amount you paid for it) goes for $349 for the 38mm model and $399 for the 42mm model (the one I have). It's an aluminum case and rubber band with gorilla glass. The more expensive ones have either stainless steel cases (and one is in solid gold, I think) with better bands and a saphire crystal.
Stainless Steel scratches more easily than aluminum does. plus it's heavier. All of my mechanical watches have sapphier crystals. They are pretty scratch proof.
I tied it to my work email account (Exchange) so I get notified when I have a new email and see the first few lines of the email. Kind of useful for time critical emails. But, you still have to respond with your tablet or computer.
Voice commands are pretty cool. I can say "Hey Siri...call ABACOMIKE", and it will dial the number. The speaker phone portion isn't as good as on my iPhone, but it's very easy to hear and understand. The microphone must work well as those I've called haven't noticed a difference. NOw, I'm not sure I want everyone around me hearing my conversation through my watch, but I can see the convenience if I'm alone or want to share the phone call with someone near me. Just rest your arm with the watch near your head and carry one with a phone call. Just one point of order, those who insist on carrying on loud conversations in public with their mobile phones on speaker look and sound......well....bone headed. That's why I don't do it.
I tied it via bluetooth to the car. So, via voice commands I can say..Hey Siri...gibve me directions to the nearest ATM, and while you'll get a "mini-map" on the watch, voice function will play through the car's stereo to get you there.
It also monitors my pulse, my heart rate, the steps I've taken, and I'm sure a bunch of other things I don't even know about. It reminds me of appointments I put in my calendar with a little haptic vibration and a screen notification.
Oh yeah....it keeps really good time, too...as well as shows you the moon phase.
It uses a magnetic disk hooked to a USB and/or power plug to charge it. Just touch the disk to the back of the watch and it adheres to it the proper way to charge it. I'm betting that all those who have Apple lightning cables or the wide charging cables will soon be obsolete. I see future iPhones being charged in this manner next version out.
I'm getting about two days on a charge, but will probably just charge it every night when I go to bed.
I've just scratched the surface. IF I keep it, I am going to need a new band, though. 3rd party bands are just around the corner from what I have read.
I can justify about anything. Knowing that, if you look at all that the Apple Watch can do, $400 isn't a bad deal....not at all.
Thanks, GG. Excellent review of the Apple Watch. I'm still not sold on it, but I'll keep up with the reviews and use your experiences in order to "take it or leave it!"
Comments
I bet that there are a lot of people that pass up a rebate and take low rate financing instead, and screw themselves out of money. Always have to figure the payments both ways.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Locally, I saw a new car with a large picture of a lemon, no text, displayed prominently in the window parked in close proximity to the dealership, but not on their property. Obviously the owner was experiencing lots of issues.....very tempting approach....
What kind of car?
I believe a Chrysler 200.
You could probably throw 30 or 40 lemons signs up at a Chrysler dealer and be accurate.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
What kind of car?
I believe a Chrysler 200.
You could probably throw 30 or 40 lemons signs up at a Chrysler dealer and be accurate.
Here we go again...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
so make it a turbo version instead. that can be made to move OK
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Weird vehicle....but that sort of endeared me to her (the girl, not the VW) as she was a bit quirky, too.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
This from the NHTSA:
"Antilock brake systems (ABS) have been introduced on many passenger car and light truck make/models in recent years. Brake experts anticipated that the introduction of ABS on passenger vehicles would reduce the number and severity of accidents. A number of statistical analyses of accident databases have been performed during the last three years. These analyses suggest that the introduction of ABS does not seem to have reduced the number of automobile accidents where they were expected to be effective. Kahane stated that involvements in multi-vehicle crashes on wet roads were significantly reduced by 24 percent, and nonfatal crashes by 14 percent (with ABS). However, these reductions were offset by a statistically significant increase in the frequency of single-vehicle, run-off-road crashes (rollovers or impacts with fixed objects), as compared to cars without ABS. Fatal run-off-road crashes were up by 28 percent and nonfatal crashes by 19 percent. It is unknown to what extent, if any, this increase is due to ABS or other causes. It is also unknown to what extent, if any, this increase is due to drivers incorrect usage of ABS or incorrect responses by drivers to their ABS."
Also, it seems our driver's testing standards are being dumbed down. Increased speed limits in recent years has helped to reduce fatalities and accidents. Cars have become safer as well. Without those two factors, I'm afraid today's drivers would look terrible compared to previous generations.
The speculation that driver confidence causes more accidents or that drivers don't use ABS correctly is very hard to pin down.
I suspect if you removed ABS from all cars but kept all the other safety features that you wouldn't see a significant spike in accident rates. Accidents are too complex to be defeated by one single technology.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Overconfidence is a big factor. Cars "feel" so safe behind the wheel that early warnings can be easily discounted by bad driver. The general isolation from the road feel doesn't help either. Fat tires, sound deadening materials, quiet engines and transmissions, all the electronics makes us feel we drive slowly, but 70 mph is not so slow. I generally agree that higher speed limits help reduce the overall fatalities by reducing the traveling time on long distance trips. It may increase severity of the effects of an accident, should it happen, but that is offset by both safety features and lower driver fatigue. The issue is a threshold - when one slows down from 70-80 mph to exit or a traffic, they may feel like they're stationary, but they still go say 40 or 50 mph. Many accidents happen close to home, at the beginning, or end of a trip, when the attention is in transition mode.
BTW, there are limits to efficacy of increased speed limits. I have driven on a German autobahn (they have no limits), got the car up to 135+ mph for a short amount of time and it was one very exhausting experience. It is around 95-100 mph (which is typical cruising speed in Germany on a non-congested autobahn, i.e. you better keep up or get relegated to a truck lane by disgusted drivers who would not be shy to show you don't belong in the middle or left lane), when my driving position changed from a relaxed cruising to tight, very taxing, upright, which would result in a quick fatigue. Fortunately for Germans, typical traveling distances are not comparable to those in America, so they can go fast for couple of hours. I wouldn't mind our authorities increasing the daylight speed to something like 80-85 mph (which as I understand is present in some places, just not around me in Florida), but anything more is where I lose that "relaxed" driving feel.
I read long time ago (tongue in cheek) that the best way to ensure total safety is to build cars with driver's cabin totally unprotected, so any significant speed increase would have catastrophic results for the driver in case of a crash. Obviously, this would results in immediate increase of fatalities short term as those who dare would have to literally die down. Long term results would probably bear that as natural selection of risk takers would take care of them (they'd likely die before they could have a chance to have children). This is of course all academic exercise in social science, but I find it interesting. Overconfidence of drivers in their safe vehicles combined with generally declining skills (new cars' forgiving nature is not conducive to self-improvement of drivers) and increased access to vehicles (more people than ever are legally allowed to drive) must weigh on this, too. The roads themselves are designed much safer today (I'm in civil engineering, so I actually know that), with roadway cross-sections, interchanges, traffic rails, even luminaries designed and positioned more forgiving than ever.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
"But some types of run-off-road crashes significantly increased with ABS.83 A clearer picture emerged from NHTSA’s follow-up evaluation in 2009, based on GES data from 1995 to 2007 for a larger list of make-models. ABS reduced culpable involvements in multivehicle crashes by a statistically sig- nificant 17 percent, whereas the effect in run-off-road crashes had become negligible (1% in- crease). The following table shows how these involvements decreased, relative to the control group, for a list of make-models that switched from no ABS or from a low percentage optional installations to standard ABS or to a high percentage of optional installations.84"
In other words once the technology became standard and people actually knew how to use it, it's safety became apparent. Also ABS is very important in preventing crashes in the first place.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Can you return a new vehicle?
I would think not, but here is what Prime Auto says about its return policy. Sales gimmick or honest desire to please the customer?
"Every car at Prime comes with Prime Peace of Mind; a guarantee that if you weren’t satisfied with your purchase you can return the vehicle within 48 hours and get your money back without a hassle. And on used vehicles sold at a Prime dealership, you can return your vehicle within 30 days or 750 miles and exchange it for a different vehicle of the same or greater value." http://www.driveprime.com/prime-peace-of-mind.
And here is what a finance manager says about unwinding a sale:
"It's an accounting nightmare," Eleazer wrote. "Commissions need to be charged back, even if the month has already closed and everyone has been paid. Your manufacturer's statement of origin must be retrieved from the DMV. Affidavits must be executed to retain the vehicle's new-car status; if you don't, you've got a huge depreciation on your hands. And, finally, if a trade-in was involved, the payoff must be refunded by the bank and the title received on that trade returned."
I once bought a mattress with a return policy but there were so many conditions tacked on it that it was not worth the bother.
Used car is easier. I assume they just treat it as a trade in on a different car.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I think there's also a history of the story with GM company in terms of costs of diagnosing problems that don't show a a trouble code or don't work right if operated by the computer system they use. Perhaps the store got punished for spending on customer-oriented diagnosis when no trouble codes were showing to assist in a cheaper diagnosis.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
My 20s Car
Thanks!
http://jalopnik.com/5540957/the-ford-powered-volvo-wagon-paul-newman-built
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
At this juncture, it really doesn't matter to me, though. I'll just wait until this thing plays out. Sharing the wife's Accord isn't as big of a deal as we thought it was going to be. We're just a little more studious in what we need to do, when we need to do it, and where we need to go to get it done.
Makes me appreciate how good Hondas really are. They don't break. They are well put together. They get good MPG. They handle well, for a 4 door family sedan. They're comfortable. I won't win any stop light wars with it, but it's not a slug, either. Biggest complaint is my wife has to reset the mirrors after I've been driving it. She has a tendency to leave the gas gage perilously close to empty when she knows I'll be driving it next.
Interesting conversion. Can't imagine the cost involved. But, you sure would be unique.
TOTALLY off topic (not that we ever do that here), I noticed that my posts have had lots of misspellings in the past several months. I used to be pretty good about things like that as I spend a lot of time wriing business briefs. Still, the misspellings seemed to be increasing.
Now I know why (or I think I know why). Went to the eye doctor yesterday and found out my left eye could be declared legally blind. I thought i had to practically get on top of the screen while typing.
Seems I also have a cataract in that eye. I thought cataracts only happened to old people.
Anyway, surgery is on the horizon next month.
Another off topic note....I received my Apple Watch yesterday. Pretty darned cool. Not sure I want to know every time I get an email (I have one business and two personal email accounts). But, I actually made a call with it (works great). Go my workout routine tracked on it. Got a pair of bluetooth headphones and used the watch to play music over the headphones.
It has a GPS, apple maps (screen is too small but voice directions are good). I get IMs on it.
It will do a bunch of stuff that I don't even know about. Problem is, I got the cheapest one (about $400). As such, although like most things Apple, it's made extremely well, the wrist strap is uncomfortable. I know I can buy a more expensive one, but I questioned my sanity for spending $400 for the Apple watch to begin with. It's really light, but not sure I'll keep it.
"Another off topic note....I received my Apple Watch yesterday."
GG, I have had more difficulty trying to justify buying an Apple Watch than buying a Mercedes-Benz! I think the one I looked at was the same as you bought - around $450-$500.
I've anguished over this for about a month now. Just can't seem to justify buying a watch I can hardly see let alone use effectively. I have an iPhone 6 that provides me with all the same features as the watch and I can see what I'm doing.
Would appreciate a periodic report from you as to its utility, function an ease of operation. It would help me (and perhaps others here) build more of a rationale to make a decision. As Hamlet said: "...to buy or not to buy - that is the question...!"
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Either that or it was formaldehyde outgassing from all the carpets and vinyl and wiring in all those new cars I had over the years.
I could have told McDonalds 3 years ago that they better fix up their menu. Find some more healthy and interesting alternatives. People are becoming more particular, and there are places that offer much better food for slightly more dollars.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
After discussing it with my nurse practitioner she said perhaps I should wait and reevaluate the consequences of such drastic surgery. As a result I cancelled the surgery and will wait it out for a while anyway. What concerned me most is that the surgery would improve night driving but I would lose my near sight and would need reading glasses for the rest of my life.
And totally off topic--how are the Cavalier fans holding up this morning? A little too much Curry for their planned victory celebrations on June 20th?
Stainless Steel scratches more easily than aluminum does. plus it's heavier. All of my mechanical watches have sapphier crystals. They are pretty scratch proof.
I tied it to my work email account (Exchange) so I get notified when I have a new email and see the first few lines of the email. Kind of useful for time critical emails. But, you still have to respond with your tablet or computer.
Voice commands are pretty cool. I can say "Hey Siri...call ABACOMIKE", and it will dial the number. The speaker phone portion isn't as good as on my iPhone, but it's very easy to hear and understand. The microphone must work well as those I've called haven't noticed a difference. NOw, I'm not sure I want everyone around me hearing my conversation through my watch, but I can see the convenience if I'm alone or want to share the phone call with someone near me. Just rest your arm with the watch near your head and carry one with a phone call. Just one point of order, those who insist on carrying on loud conversations in public with their mobile phones on speaker look and sound......well....bone headed. That's why I don't do it.
I tied it via bluetooth to the car. So, via voice commands I can say..Hey Siri...gibve me directions to the nearest ATM, and while you'll get a "mini-map" on the watch, voice function will play through the car's stereo to get you there.
It also monitors my pulse, my heart rate, the steps I've taken, and I'm sure a bunch of other things I don't even know about. It reminds me of appointments I put in my calendar with a little haptic vibration and a screen notification.
Oh yeah....it keeps really good time, too...as well as shows you the moon phase.
It uses a magnetic disk hooked to a USB and/or power plug to charge it. Just touch the disk to the back of the watch and it adheres to it the proper way to charge it. I'm betting that all those who have Apple lightning cables or the wide charging cables will soon be obsolete. I see future iPhones being charged in this manner next version out.
I'm getting about two days on a charge, but will probably just charge it every night when I go to bed.
I've just scratched the surface. IF I keep it, I am going to need a new band, though. 3rd party bands are just around the corner from what I have read.
I can justify about anything. Knowing that, if you look at all that the Apple Watch can do, $400 isn't a bad deal....not at all.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger