Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

houdini1

andres3 said:

explorerx4 said:

Back from Germany.
The main reason was to spread my mother's ashes on the Baltic sea.
It's pretty common over there, so it was very professional and respectful.
We stayed in the Hamburg area. The city has 2500 bridges.
Sticking to the vehicle topic, my all black F150 would be a rock star over there.
Got to drive on the autobahn, biggest adjustment was keeping my eyes on the rear view mirror to get out of the way of the fast movers.
Overall, it was a life changing trip. I'm not kidding about that, still trying to absorb it all.

Thanks for attempting to drive correctly by moving right to let faster traffic pass on the left. Perhaps those lessons learned can be translated and taught here in the US as well, although maybe you are a "fast" driver here and don't get passed much?

In my neck of the woods you can get a ticket for prolonged driving in the left lane. Generally, you are supposed to use it for passing only.

ab348

driver100 said:

I have been in cabs in London, Paris, Beijing, Shanghai, and a few other crazy places....many are just weird, like China they have stoplights but they aren't mandatory, in fact few people obey them. Traffic can go both ways on either side of the road, and cars are mixed in with bikes and motorcycles.

I remember some years ago taking a cab in Boston and the cabbie decided the best way to get where we needed to go was to go the wrong way up a one-way multi-lane ramp of some sort - it way have been an entry ramp onto the Mass Pike, I don't recall. A few horns honked but most of the other drivers seemed to take it in stride, while myself and the other hayseed from the Great White North who was with me were freaking out in the back seat.

sda

stickguy said:

I would probably do that, but am leery of him going at it. doesn't have any tools, and no experience outside of basic wax. but certainly won't hurt to go to the store and find something designed for it. and I know he doesn't have a buffer!

A dab of toothpaste on a soft damp cloth might work. I have had good success with that and it didn't leave any buff marks. Just make sure the surface is clean before applying.

driver100

houdini1 said:

andres3 said:

explorerx4 said:

Back from Germany.
The main reason was to spread my mother's ashes on the Baltic sea.
It's pretty common over there, so it was very professional and respectful.
We stayed in the Hamburg area. The city has 2500 bridges.
Sticking to the vehicle topic, my all black F150 would be a rock star over there.
Got to drive on the autobahn, biggest adjustment was keeping my eyes on the rear view mirror to get out of the way of the fast movers.
Overall, it was a life changing trip. I'm not kidding about that, still trying to absorb it all.

Thanks for attempting to drive correctly by moving right to let faster traffic pass on the left. Perhaps those lessons learned can be translated and taught here in the US as well, although maybe you are a "fast" driver here and don't get passed much?

In my neck of the woods you can get a ticket for prolonged driving in the left lane. Generally, you are supposed to use it for passing only.

I rarely see someone stopped for driving in the left lane. Two years ago on our way to Florida, on I-75 in Georgia, there were 3 lanes going South, it was about 8:30 a.m., there was a little old lady going about 60 mph in the left lane, and me passing her going a little over the 70 mph limit in the right lane.....I passed her, saw a flashing light in my rearview mirror, saw the cop pull up beside her and wave her onto the median......yes, there is justice!

graphicguy

Michaell said:

ab348 said:

Michaell said:

I remember how nervous I was to drive in Boston the first time I went on business. Growing up in SoCal, it was suburbs and freeways for the most part.

Ha! I remember my first solo trip to Boston around '84 or so. I was somewhere near Fenway and realized I had to make a left turn on a street with railway tracks separating the two travel lanes. I was waiting for traffic to clear to complete my turn while sitting in the middle of the median when I hear a train whistle. Looked to my right to see a MBTA electric train bearing down on me. I hustled out of there! Scared me half to death, you don't get things like that happening in Nova Scotia very often.

I learned that lane discipline in Boston is more advisory than mandatory.

Michaell...used to spend quite a bit of time on Boston when the tech corridor was buzzing. Would fly into Logan and then make my way through the "big dig" on my way to Acton, Marlborough, etc to visit DEC, NEC, Wang, Parametric Technologies, etc.

Driver...that video reminds me a whole lot of driving in Rome....just crazy!

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

Have driven in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Mexico City, London, Paris and Rome. Not sure I'd do any of it again. Huge cities with huge traffic problems. Might be my typical American impatience, or my lack of nerve, but driving in those places had me constantly on edge, and probably more prone to having an accident given my slow, indecisive driving in those geographic areas. Something you'd get used to, I suppose

I have been in cabs in London, Paris, Beijing, Shanghai, and a few other crazy places....many are just weird, like China they have stoplights but they aren't mandatory, in fact few people obey them. Traffic can go both ways on either side of the road, and cars are mixed in with bikes and motorcycles. An intersection can be very entertaining to watch.

https://youtu.be/P3iXh9EqLh4

Of the more westernized countries, Rome seemed to be the hardest to navigate. Our limo driver goes at full speed and slips from one lane into another, and I am sure it is just the air stream between cars that keeps us apart.

Don't worry, once the government realizes the revenue potential in traffic tickets they'll make those folks sorry they ever got behind the wheel.

Isn't it funny that it's a totalitarian country that allows the most freedom.

jmonroe

sda said:

stickguy said:

I would probably do that, but am leery of him going at it. doesn't have any tools, and no experience outside of basic wax. but certainly won't hurt to go to the store and find something designed for it. and I know he doesn't have a buffer!

A dab of toothpaste on a soft damp cloth might work. I have had good success with that and it didn't leave any buff marks. Just make sure the surface is clean before applying.

Does that mean if the surface isn't clean the fender will get a cavity before the next wax job?

jmonroe

stever

Just be glad flossing is no longer recommended. I'm still going to do it though - have a dealer decal on the back of the van I keep forgetting to saw off with the stuff....

Michaell

graphicguy said:

Michaell said:

ab348 said:

Michaell said:

I remember how nervous I was to drive in Boston the first time I went on business. Growing up in SoCal, it was suburbs and freeways for the most part.

Ha! I remember my first solo trip to Boston around '84 or so. I was somewhere near Fenway and realized I had to make a left turn on a street with railway tracks separating the two travel lanes. I was waiting for traffic to clear to complete my turn while sitting in the middle of the median when I hear a train whistle. Looked to my right to see a MBTA electric train bearing down on me. I hustled out of there! Scared me half to death, you don't get things like that happening in Nova Scotia very often.

I learned that lane discipline in Boston is more advisory than mandatory.

Michaell...used to spend quite a bit of time on Boston when the tech corridor was buzzing. Would fly into Logan and then make my way through the "big dig" on my way to Acton, Marlborough, etc to visit DEC, NEC, Wang, Parametric Technologies, etc.

Driver...that video reminds me a whole lot of driving in Rome....just crazy!

Back in the late 90's, my company merged with another company whose HQ were in Westboro (Rte 9 and 495). Went out there a number of times to teach. And yes, I dealt with "Big Dig" traffic as well.

Only got to Boston once or twice after the Big Dig was complete ... much better.

sda

jmonroe said:

sda said:

stickguy said:

I would probably do that, but am leery of him going at it. doesn't have any tools, and no experience outside of basic wax. but certainly won't hurt to go to the store and find something designed for it. and I know he doesn't have a buffer!

A dab of toothpaste on a soft damp cloth might work. I have had good success with that and it didn't leave any buff marks. Just make sure the surface is clean before applying.

Does that mean if the surface isn't clean the fender will get a cavity before the next wax job?

jmonroe

If not flossed..

fordfool

Spotted a couple of amusing vanity plates on the drive home:

BMW X5 This was on a Lexus. Perhaps the owner switched
the plates from a previous car.

JAG OFF This was on a Jaguar, but how did that get past the plate censor?

oldfarmer50

Did one of you have access to car data based on VIN? I have a possible candidate to replace my son's old beater and I want to see if it was a flood car or wrecked.

If not then I'll just pay for a CarFax.

driver100

jmonroe said:

sda said:

stickguy said:

I would probably do that, but am leery of him going at it. doesn't have any tools, and no experience outside of basic wax. but certainly won't hurt to go to the store and find something designed for it. and I know he doesn't have a buffer!

A dab of toothpaste on a soft damp cloth might work. I have had good success with that and it didn't leave any buff marks. Just make sure the surface is clean before applying.

Does that mean if the surface isn't clean the fender will get a cavity before the next wax job?

jmonroe

Now they are saying flossing is of no value too, I should sue for all the time and money wasted!

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

Did one of you have access to car data based on VIN? I have a possible candidate to replace my son's old beater and I want to see if it was a flood car or wrecked.

If not then I'll just pay for a CarFax.

BTW...can someone find out where GGs old Caddie is these days? We should keep track...Geocashe it!

snakeweasel

nelsonf said:

snakeweasel said:

driver100 said:

cdnpinhead said:

explorerx4 said:

Got to drive on the autobahn, biggest adjustment was keeping my eyes on the rear view mirror to get out of the way of the fast movers. Overall, it was a life changing trip. I'm not kidding about that, still trying to absorb it all.

A journey like that can truly be a major event, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I had a similar awakening in 2001. The lane discipline and other high-class driving capabilities that I saw demonstrated every day on the Autobahn (and later on British motorways) left me in awe that the people in this country can even survive, driving as they do.

The good news is that the worst of them don't. The bad news is that they take innocents with them.

In any event, driving among people who know how to is a good thing, a really, really good thing.

I would agree. People in Europe have a lot more skill than most drivers in North America. They can drive cars and buses in heavy traffic and narrow lanes. I love watching the traffic in a city like London.

To be fair you have to be better at driving in heavy traffic and narrow lanes in Europe. Europe is far more densely populated than North America (Western Europe has nearly 100 million more people than the U.S. on about 1/4th the land) with much older towns and cities that always had more narrow roads. North America tends to be more open and spacious with wider roads less population density and straighter roads.

Getting a license in Europe is more expensive and requires a lot more driver education than here. I think that's a big factor too.

That is a big factor but you cannot beat experience.

henryn

oldfarmer50 said:

Did one of you have access to car data based on VIN? I have a possible candidate to replace my son's old beater and I want to see if it was a flood car or wrecked.

If not then I'll just pay for a CarFax.

Reach out to @breld . He had purchased a bundle, and had some left over. I asked a couple of weeks ago, and he was kind enough to run a carfax for me.

qbrozen

I have been keeping an eye out for my own caddy, but it has yet to surface.

28firefighter

qbrozen said:

I have been keeping an eye out for my own caddy, but it has yet to surface.

Think they sent it straight to auction?  It's a high dollar car for a Toyota dealer. 

stickguy

that Toyota dealer I think is part of a bigger network, so entirely possible they shipped it to a different store. Or sold it already!

qbrozen

I have been searching cars.com amd autotrader nationwide and keeping an eye on manheim. Although they could still be waiting on the title, I suppose. 

qbrozen

It is possible they sold it before I started watching.

graphicguy

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Did one of you have access to car data based on VIN? I have a possible candidate to replace my son's old beater and I want to see if it was a flood car or wrecked.

If not then I'll just pay for a CarFax.

BTW...can someone find out where GGs old Caddie is these days? We should keep track...Geocashe it!

Last place I think Q found it was somewhere in WI, with a "Lemon" title attached. I doubt a Caddy dealership would touch it. Too new and expensive for a BHPH lot. I always thought it would be perfect for a trip to the Middle East, where it would be in demand, and it's probably easier to to do a slight of hand on the title.

bwia

Pink Noise

Mercedes Benz boasts that the 2017 E300 is equipped with pink noise technology. They say that in the event of a crash pink noise will reduce the decibel level by up to 40%. Not sure if this a safety feature but it sounds interesting. Any thoughts?

oldfarmer50

henryn said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Did one of you have access to car data based on VIN? I have a possible candidate to replace my son's old beater and I want to see if it was a flood car or wrecked.

If not then I'll just pay for a CarFax.

Reach out to @breld . He had purchased a bundle, and had some left over. I asked a couple of weeks ago, and he was kind enough to run a carfax for me.

Well if he's lurking: 1g1zu54874f206176

oldfarmer50

bwia said:

Pink Noise

Mercedes Benz boasts that the 2017 E300 is equipped with pink noise technology. They say that in the event of a crash pink noise will reduce the decibel level by up to 40%. Not sure if this a safety feature but it sounds interesting. Any thoughts?

It makes crashing less noisy? That seem like unnecessary technology. If I crash I don't think I would be any less upset by a lower noise level. I'd be searching for all my body parts.

jmonroe

oldfarmer50 said:

bwia said:

Pink Noise

Mercedes Benz boasts that the 2017 E300 is equipped with pink noise technology. They say that in the event of a crash pink noise will reduce the decibel level by up to 40%. Not sure if this a safety feature but it sounds interesting. Any thoughts?

It makes crashing less noisy? That seem like unnecessary technology. If I crash I don't think I would be any less upset by a lower noise level. I'd be searching for all my body parts.

I'm with you. If I ever have an accident especially on a twisty lonesome road at night, the more noise the better as far as I'm concerned.

Now, if a car maker were to have an option package for loud bells and whistles and shooting off flares, I might be interested?

jmonroe

jmonroe

oldfarmer50 said:

henryn said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Did one of you have access to car data based on VIN? I have a possible candidate to replace my son's old beater and I want to see if it was a flood car or wrecked.

If not then I'll just pay for a CarFax.

Reach out to @breld . He had purchased a bundle, and had some left over. I asked a couple of weeks ago, and he was kind enough to run a carfax for me.

Well if he's lurking: 1g1zu54874f206176

He doesn't hang out in here but I'm pretty sure you can find him over in Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous.

jmonroe

PF_Flyer

Yea, this sort of feels like "because we can" rather than filling a need. Sometimes I'm pretty sure I've gone through some magnetic storm that opened a portal to a parallel universe where things don't quite make the same sense that they did "back home"

stever

I did a quick scan for hearing loss from airbag deployment. Only a few cases found in the last decade or more. I think the idea of pink noise though is to protect the passengers, not the hearing of the onlookers on the sidewalk.

fordfool

bwia said:

Mercedes Benz boasts that the 2017 E300 is equipped with pink noise technology. They say that in the event of a crash pink noise will reduce the decibel level by up to 40%. Not sure if this a safety feature but it sounds interesting. Any thoughts?

I believe that the pink noise technology is meant to trigger the acoustic reflex which protects the inner ear from sustained loud noise, but the reflex is too slow to protect the ear from a sudden sound such as an auto crash or a gun shot. The reflex takes about one-half of a second to fully activate.

However, if the car could anticipate an accident through brake sensors or radar, then the system could be helpful.

oldfarmer50

Do I dare?

http://blog.caranddriver.com/up-to-472-hp-ford-performance-unveils-power-packs-for-2015-2017-mustang-gt/?mag=cdb&list=nl_dvr_news&src=nl&date=080116

snakeweasel

I am sitting at the airport waiting to board my flight and I have to ask why is it every time I fly my gate is the last one in the concourse?

PF_Flyer

snakeweasel said:

I am sitting at the airport waiting to board my flight and I have to ask why is it every time I fly my gate is the last one in the concourse?

It's the same thing that allows you to bet on 3 horses in a 6 horse race and have them finish 4-5-6 (assuming all three of them finish)

explorerx4

@oldfarmer,
Power Pack 1 seems the best bang for the buck.
3 is a track only upgrade.

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

@oldfarmer,
Power Pack 1 seems the best bang for the buck.
3 is a track only upgrade.

That's what I thought too. To be continued....

imidazol97

The car most likely to be stolen in Ohio is a Dodge Caravan 2003.

jmonroe

imidazol97 said:

The car most likely to be stolen in Ohio is a Dodge Caravan 2003.

Lot's of people in Ohio need fixed.

jmonroe

nyccarguy

oldfarmer50 said:

Do I dare?

http://blog.caranddriver.com/up-to-472-hp-ford-performance-unveils-power-packs-for-2015-2017-mustang-gt/?mag=cdb&list=nl_dvr_news&src=nl&date=080116

Do you really NEED to ask this bunch?

nyccarguy

snakeweasel said:

I am sitting at the airport waiting to board my flight and I have to ask why is it every time I fly my gate is the last one in the concourse?

I think that's the only one they ever use

driver100

Pink Noise! I had to print it all to explain....it is incredible!

PRE-SAFE® Sound: playing 'pink noise' in the split second before impact.

PRE-SAFE® Sound works by triggering a protective physical reflex in the milliseconds prior to a collision. And so for the first time the vehicle occupants themselves become an integral part of safety technology.

It takes just a split second for a car accident to completely change a person’s life. Mercedes-Benz PRE-SAFE® can help to minimize the damage. Once the vehicle’s sensors have detected that a collision is unavoidable, a comprehensive system of safety features are activated within the short time that remains before the impact occurs. It takes just 150 milliseconds to deploy the reversible seat belt tensioners, for example. To put that into context, the duration of a human blink is 100 milliseconds.

“PRE-SAFE® was first introduced at Mercedes-Benz in 2002,” says Rodolfo Schöneburg, Head of Vehicle Safety, Durability and Corrosion Protection at Mercedes-Benz Cars. “It kicks in before the collision occurs, preparing the vehicle and its occupants. PRE-SAFE is therefore one of our systems that is based on what actually happens in real-life accidents and helps to save people’s lives.”

Harnessing the stapedius muscle reflex in the ear

Mercedes-Benz is now extending its PRE-SAFE® technology with PRE-SAFE® Sound. It will be debuted in the new E-Class, model series 213, available from 2016. The system is the first to harness a natural reflex to condition the ear – when a collision is imminent – for the loud noise that is anticipated from the impact. If an impending collision is detected that would be expected to produce a loud crash, the vehicle’s sound system plays a short interference signal. This causes the stapedius muscle in the ears to contract, which for a split second changes the link between the eardrum and the inner ear and so better protects it against high acoustic pressures. Most importantly, the reflex reduces the damage to hearing.

stever

imidazol97 said:

The car most likely to be stolen in Ohio is a Dodge Caravan 2003.

So happy mine lives in a garage in the Southwest.

bwia

Thanks for the disertation and science lesson. Based upon the above explanation, it would appear that the pink noise technology works on a similar principle as active noise control developed by Bose and used in GM'S high end vehicles.

oldfarmer50

imidazol97 said:

The car most likely to be stolen in Ohio is a Dodge Caravan 2003.

Desperate scoccer moms?

driver100

stever said:

imidazol97 said:

The car most likely to be stolen in Ohio is a Dodge Caravan 2003.

So happy mine lives in a garage in the Southwest.

Looks like your 2003 Caravan is in high demand!

driver100

bwia said:

Thanks for the disertation and science lesson. Based upon the above explanation, it would appear that the pink noise technology works on a similar principle as active noise control developed by Bose and used in GM'S high end vehicles.

But being used for safety reasons...not just comfort

toomanyfumes

Older Caravans are among the top stolen in the Milwaukee area also. I think it's easy to pop the ignition and start them with a screwdriver. Just saw on the news that in Houston there's a car theft ring that's stealing late model Jeeps and other Fiat Chrysler products. They enter an unlocked vehicle, plug a laptop into the service port, and somehow start the vehicle. Apparently they take them down to Mexico.

graphicguy

oldfarmer50 said:

Do I dare?

http://blog.caranddriver.com/up-to-472-hp-ford-performance-unveils-power-packs-for-2015-2017-mustang-gt/?mag=cdb&list=nl_dvr_news&src=nl&date=080116

You're asking us? Of course you should!

driver100

graphicguy said:

oldfarmer50 said:

Do I dare?

http://blog.caranddriver.com/up-to-472-hp-ford-performance-unveils-power-packs-for-2015-2017-mustang-gt/?mag=cdb&list=nl_dvr_news&src=nl&date=080116

You're asking us? Of course you should!

+1

btw...Canadian Dental Association endorses flossing, head of CDA says flossing does help remove plaque which combines with sugar and causes cavities. He says people who floss have fewer cavities, better teeth.

ab348

toomanyfumes said:

Older Caravans are among the top stolen in the Milwaukee area also. I think it's easy to pop the ignition and start them with a screwdriver. Just saw on the news that in Houston there's a car theft ring that's stealing late model Jeeps and other Fiat Chrysler products. They enter an unlocked vehicle, plug a laptop into the service port, and somehow start the vehicle. Apparently they take them down to Mexico.

I remember that in the 1990s Chrysler products were notoriously easy to steal thanks to an ignition lock that could be defeated with judicious use of a flat-blade screwdriver. I thought I remembered reading that Chrysler beefed that up - perhaps they really did not.

oldfarmer50

ab348 said:

toomanyfumes said:

Older Caravans are among the top stolen in the Milwaukee area also. I think it's easy to pop the ignition and start them with a screwdriver. Just saw on the news that in Houston there's a car theft ring that's stealing late model Jeeps and other Fiat Chrysler products. They enter an unlocked vehicle, plug a laptop into the service port, and somehow start the vehicle. Apparently they take them down to Mexico.

I remember that in the 1990s Chrysler products were notoriously easy to steal thanks to an ignition lock that could be defeated with judicious use of a flat-blade screwdriver. I thought I remembered reading that Chrysler beefed that up - perhaps they really did not.

My son lost the keys to his old 1988 K car. His friend popped the ignition lock out with a screwdriver bought a new one and off they went.

I hear 90s Hondas were similar.