Wouldn’t have these issues with a manual. Any stick driver would know what to do.
Yeh stick....that would apply to about 4% of the cars on the road in the USA.
Easy solution: Ban automatic transmissions! Going forward, you have autonomous/public transit and private manual transmission cars. A straight up utopia, that would be!
Ban automatic transmissions? Try it and you will get a lot of crap from disabled rights people.
What's new? We'll just add it to the pile....
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
@oldfarmer, Pretty hard to fill a gas vehicle with diesel unless the supplier put the wrong fuel in the underground tanks. Just happened near here the other day.
My mom filled up her car one day and found out real quick that she had a tank full of water. Seems like the underground tank got a leak and filled up with ground water after a rain. The real bad thing was that there was less than 5K miles on the car at the time.
Ouch! I'm guessing that was one dead engine after hydro-lock?
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I know was cool to watch explore you or one of these my brother had a not back probably 13 years ago regrets selling it you took it off the fuel injection and put Incorporated set up with electric fuel pump went to some horror shows had a nice sounding exhaust on it was red
Was trying to say in the message above you do own one of these now explore or in the past I think I like the first generation mustang and this generation to the best
Yes. And in my calculations, the increased risk of going faster pales in comparison to the decreased risk of less time-exposure to morons and acts of God on the roadway.
Actually the few minutes less you're on the road doesn't make up for he greater risk at driving faster.
There is a diminishing return though, as shown by the Solomon curve. You can only go a little bit faster than average traffic in order to minimize risks. Once you get away from the median speed in either direction (up or down) you start adding risk.
There are issues with the solomon curve, maily the fact that they did not take into account of stopped and turning traffic.
The other benefits of less time on the roadway (reduced risk) include:
1) Less fatigue (drowsiness has been shown to be up there with drunk driving in causing collisions)
2) More % of driving time spent on high-alert.
3) More attention to driving when you can drive, whereas when you are escorted in a line moving 2 MPH you are not really driving, you are just following and mimicking the cars in front of you.
4) Not for everyone, but for me, less stress. For some people, going faster is stressful. Going slower is stressful to me.
5) And of course, more time to enjoy your destination.
Well #1 and #2 tend to cancel each other out.
Driving slower does tend to create less stress. Just think of how much less stress in your life if you didn't have to deal with your tickets. But beyond that there is a zen to driving, taking a slow relaxing drive is much less stressful than trying to get places faster.
There is no greater risk to driving faster though, where conditions permit. It is so neglibible we can safely call it zero.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I could live with a Mustang of that vintage as a toy/spare car now. I remember test driving one back in the mid 80's somewhere (an LX 5.0 hatch. Stick shift of course!). Man was that fun (I believe I had my 68 HP Colt at the time). Did not end up purchasing. Not sure if it was a money issue, or realizing it was probably not a practical primary family car (though this was before kids).
One of the variables involved with speeding (10+ mph over the speed limit on an interstate or highway) is the unpredictability of what the drivers in front of you or to your left or right will do. What I mean by “will do” is how they will steer their cars or suddenly brake or change lanes without signaling. Those drivers are traveling at or very near the speed limit. The speeder is traveling at 10-20 mph faster than they are going which increases the chances or probability a collision will occur.
I usually drive the speed limit or 5 mph over. Frequently when driving on I-95 or the turnpike, I will experience a car coming up toward me at 10-20 mph faster than I am traveling and weaving in and out of lanes. That situation is unnerving to me as well as a majority of drivers. Often that speeding car weaves right in front of me missing my right or left front end by only several feet. I hit my brakes causing those cars behind me to brake - a cause of many highway accidents while the speeder who caused the chain reaction speeds away.
My point is this - I don’t care what happens to speeders but I do care about the danger they present to innocent drivers traveling at or near the speed limit.
I'm with you.
I was actually thinking that if I could talk Mrs. j into letting go of her beloved 2012 Legacy (just turned 31K miles) that maybe just maybe we should get a CUV type, say a Forrester, almost in self defense since there are so many CUV types on the road nowadays. And it would save me from having to get either of my Sons van or SUV to haul even a lawnmower or something that size which will not fit in either my Genny or her Legacy. With a small non-turo 4 cyl. engine as standard on the 2019 Forrester it might have a hard time getting that home.
I have almost resigned myself that getting a grocery getter of any type will put me in a CVT vehicle but that along with a standard 4 cyl. job is too much to take all at once.
jmonroe
(hand-wringing): Yes.....YES!!!!....talk to Mrs.J about selling the Legacy. My strategy is paying off. Good ole Jipster can wait as long as it takes. I'll continue to lurk...here in the forum shadows...waiting....waiting.....wa-...zzzz...zzzzzz...zzzzz
I could live with a Mustang of that vintage as a toy/spare car now. I remember test driving one back in the mid 80's somewhere (an LX 5.0 hatch. Stick shift of course!). Man was that fun (I believe I had my 68 HP Colt at the time). Did not end up purchasing. Not sure if it was a money issue, or realizing it was probably not a practical primary family car (though this was before kids).
In 1992 I seriously considered a LX 5.0 convertible. I drove an automatic and it really didn’t feel any faster than my wife’s 740 Turbo. I tried to find a manual but they were thin on the ground. A month later I found a 1988 M6.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Oh last one out the Jeep grand Cherokee or Cherichi she likes the smaller jeep below the Cherokee but my aunt and cousin both have one I told her not to be the third one but the same car too much of the same Ha ha ha I think my aunts lease is up in a couple of months will see if she gets another one goes with another jeep we shall see
Seems your aunt is set on an SUV. They are all good choices, let us know what she ends up with. Cherokee seems pretty good, I don't think the Patriots and Rebels get great reviews.
Yes, we have no idea what it is like when in a stressful situation. Often cops will shoot a guy they really think was armed, and they continue to pump bullets into him...happened in Toronto as well as other places. Some experts say they can't help it...it is the stress of the situation and they lose it. (Just saying it happens, not discussing the right or wrong of it).
If you want an eye opener try taking a "Shoot don't shoot" training sometime. A lot of stuff happens and you have to make instant decisions as things unfold. It's very hard to understand police shootings without experiencing that training.
One of the variables involved with speeding (10+ mph over the speed limit on an interstate or highway) is the unpredictability of what the drivers in front of you or to your left or right will do. My point is this - I don’t care what happens to speeders but I do care about the danger they present to innocent drivers traveling at or near the speed limit.
Exactly....and usually the moron who thinks he is a NASCAR driver has no idea of the affect his driving has on the people driving around him. He thinks that because he can zig zag his way through traffic and wedge his car into another lane is being skilled, but it is being reckless with other peoples lives. He might get their 5 minutes faster - though usually you see him at the next light - but, he thinks he is the next Clint Boyer (NASCAR winner 2018).
Has anyone referred to these Musk companies and Tesla as government motors because of the huge amounts of tax money has gone to subsidize his cars made somewhere else? Add on the tax rebate for buying an electric vehicle...
Explorer very nice you still on your 1991 mustang and spank to this day you get to drive it much post a picture if you can how many miles on yours almost bought a white early 90s one number of years ago with under 50,000 miles from an older gentleman on eBay but didn’t do it was white maybe would one of those cords to the collection eventually and 87 to 93 prefer
A friend of mine had an early 90's GT hatchback automatic when we were in HS. Same color combo as @explorerx4 convertible. Some fun times were had in that car. Last time I talked with him, which was probably at least 6 years ago, he still had it though he was now storing it over winter.
1997 Honda Prelude Base - 2022 Acura MDX Type S Advance - 2021 Honda Passport Sport - 2006 BMW 330Ci ZHP
How do car salesmen make money in an age of vehicles selling at or below invoice?
According to an unnamed salesman, the traditional compensation formula was $200 per week salary plus 20% on the gross profit on each car sold. Gross profit is measured as the difference between MSRP and invoice price. He went on to say in the absence of a so-called gross profit, dealers pay $150 to $200 per car sold, plus a 3% commission on back-end gross profit from F&I, for accessories, warranties, etc. In the end that works out to be around $35k to $50k annual compensation. Not much, but it is a living.
So this begs the question, since the sales associate is basically an order taker, why would they waste their time haggling over pricing? It would appear the better strategy is sales volume and by extension performance incentive bonuses and Spiffs. Don't know what percentage of total sales are internet sales but that cannot be good for the salesman.
I was actually thinking that if I could talk Mrs. j into letting go of her beloved 2012 Legacy (just turned 31K miles) that maybe just maybe we should get a CUV type, say a Forrester, almost in self defense since there are so many CUV types on the road nowadays. And it would save me from having to get either of my Sons van or SUV to haul even a lawnmower or something that size which will not fit in either my Genny or her Legacy. With a small non-turo 4 cyl. engine as standard on the 2019 Forrester it might have a hard time getting that home.
I have almost resigned myself that getting a grocery getter of any type will put me in a CVT vehicle but that along with a standard 4 cyl. job is too much to take all at once.
jmonroe
(hand-wringing): Yes.....YES!!!!....talk to Mrs.J about selling the Legacy. My strategy is paying off. Good ole Jipster can wait as long as it takes. I'll continue to lurk...here in the forum shadows...waiting....waiting.....wa-...zzzz...zzzzzz...zzzzz
I'll keep trying but I think you're going to be on permanent zzzzz's by the time Mrs. j decides to let go of her 2012 Legacy. It won't do you much good by then.
Like I said, it just cracked 31K miles the other day. PA has state safety and emissions inspection every year. If your car was driven less than 5K miles since the last inspection, you are emissions exempt. Therefore, her Subie has never had the emission probe put in the tail pipe and that saves me the fee for that test. Maybe 25 or 30 bucks but I'm not sure because I haven't had to pay it yet. In any case, I still have to pay about 5 bucks for the emissions exempt windshield sticker. That's good ole PA for you.
In a way I'm surprised PA hasn't enacted a once every 5 years emissions test regardless of the miles driven between the yearly inspection. WHOA, did I just say that? I hope we don't have any Penndot officials lurking in here. Oh well, what's done is done. If they do enact that requirement, maybe they'll give me credit and call it the "jmonroe PA Emissions Regulation".
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Marco.....thanks for the video for the ACURA RDX. Really like the new one. Not in the market for an SUV. But, if some of that trickles into a new TLX S-Type I would be very interested.
How do car salesmen make money in an age of vehicles selling at or below invoice?
According to an unnamed salesman, the traditional compensation formula was $200 per week salary plus 20% on the gross profit on each car sold. Gross profit is measured as the difference between MSRP and invoice price. He went on to say in the absence of a so-called gross profit, dealers pay $150 to $200 per car sold, plus a 3% commission on back-end gross profit from F&I, for accessories, warranties, etc. In the end that works out to be around $35k to $50k annual compensation. Not much, but it is a living.
So this begs the question, since the sales associate is basically an order taker, why would they waste their time haggling over pricing? It would appear the better strategy is sales volume and by extension performance incentive bonuses and Spiffs. Don't know what percentage of total sales are internet sales but that cannot be good for the salesman.
I found a salesperson forum one day recently and many claim far more income than that. Also, of course, largely depends on the brand you work.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
First decent comprehensive article about FIU Bridge collapse in mainstream media. Not completely free of errors, but informative and written in language that is understandable to a general public, but precise enough. One error is the authors correctly state that many (most) collapses happen during construction and they correctly say why (contractors not accounting correctly for temporary conditions), then give an incorrect example - Kansas City Hyatt gallery, which collapsed after completion, when the buidling was in service.
Pretty sure his cars (some with panel gaps that would make a 90s Saturn blush) are made in California. That might be somewhere else to the good folks in flyover land, but for the time being anyway, it is still the same country.
The tax rebates given to those who can afford to lay down 100K for a toy grids my gears the most - but that kind of stuff is on par for the tax policy of the newly filled swamp. It'll all trickle down yeah.
Has anyone referred to these Musk companies and Tesla as government motors because of the huge amounts of tax money has gone to subsidize his cars made somewhere else? Add on the tax rebate for buying an electric vehicle...
So this begs the question, since the sales associate is basically an order taker, why would they waste their time haggling over pricing? It would appear the better strategy is sales volume and by extension performance incentive bonuses and Spiffs.
Possible reasons: 1. Old habits die hard: "We do it because it's always has been this way". 2. Lottery mindset: "There is a sucker born every day, perhaps one of them will come through this door today and I hit a jackpot". 3. Hope (variation on item 2): "Maybe not a jackpot, but if I don't ask, I will surely not get" 4. Greed (variation on item 2): "They told me during training I could be making 120 grand a year, if only sell 100 cars a week, each at 5 grand gross profit. There must be a way". 5. False (manipulative) promises from the store owners, bonuses after reaching some impossible goals, inducing salespeople irrational behavior due to their emotional manipulation. 6. Good old pressure from the boss.
I'm with you.
I was actually thinking that if I could talk Mrs. j into letting go of her beloved 2012 Legacy (just turned 31K miles) that maybe just maybe we should get a CUV type, say a Forrester, almost in self defense since there are so many CUV types on the road nowadays. And it would save me from having to get either of my Sons van or SUV to haul even a lawnmower or something that size which will not fit in either my Genny or her Legacy. With a small non-turo 4 cyl. engine as standard on the 2019 Forrester it might have a hard time getting that home.
I have almost resigned myself that getting a grocery getter of any type will put me in a CVT vehicle but that along with a standard 4 cyl. job is too much to take all at once.
jmonroe
(hand-wringing): Yes.....YES!!!!....talk to Mrs.J about selling the Legacy. My strategy is paying off. Good ole Jipster can wait as long as it takes. I'll continue to lurk...here in the forum shadows...waiting....waiting.....wa-...zzzz...zzzzzz...zzzzz
I'll keep trying but I think you're going to be on permanent zzzzz's by the time Mrs. j decides to let go of her 2012 Legacy. It won't do you much good by then.
Like I said, it just cracked 31K miles the other day. PA has state safety and emissions inspection every year. If your car was driven less than 5K miles since the last inspection, you are emissions exempt. Therefore, her Subie has never had the emission probe put in the tail pipe and that saves me the fee for that test. Maybe 25 or 30 bucks but I'm not sure because I haven't had to pay it yet. In any case, I still have to pay about 5 bucks for the emissions exempt windshield sticker. That's good ole PA for you.
In a way I'm surprised PA hasn't enacted a once every 5 years emissions test regardless of the miles driven between the yearly inspection. WHOA, did I just say that? I hope we don't have any Penndot officials lurking in here. Oh well, what's done is done. If they do enact that requirement, maybe they'll give me credit and call it the "jmonroe PA Emissions Regulation".
jmonroe
I'm with you.
I was actually thinking that if I could talk Mrs. j into letting go of her beloved 2012 Legacy (just turned 31K miles) that maybe just maybe we should get a CUV type, say a Forrester, almost in self defense since there are so many CUV types on the road nowadays. And it would save me from having to get either of my Sons van or SUV to haul even a lawnmower or something that size which will not fit in either my Genny or her Legacy. With a small non-turo 4 cyl. engine as standard on the 2019 Forrester it might have a hard time getting that home.
I have almost resigned myself that getting a grocery getter of any type will put me in a CVT vehicle but that along with a standard 4 cyl. job is too much to take all at once.
jmonroe
(hand-wringing): Yes.....YES!!!!....talk to Mrs.J about selling the Legacy. My strategy is paying off. Good ole Jipster can wait as long as it takes. I'll continue to lurk...here in the forum shadows...waiting....waiting.....wa-...zzzz...zzzzzz...zzzzz
I'll keep trying but I think you're going to be on permanent zzzzz's by the time Mrs. j decides to let go of her 2012 Legacy. It won't do you much good by then.
Like I said, it just cracked 31K miles the other day. PA has state safety and emissions inspection every year. If your car was driven less than 5K miles since the last inspection, you are emissions exempt. Therefore, her Subie has never had the emission probe put in the tail pipe and that saves me the fee for that test. Maybe 25 or 30 bucks but I'm not sure because I haven't had to pay it yet. In any case, I still have to pay about 5 bucks for the emissions exempt windshield sticker. That's good ole PA for you.
In a way I'm surprised PA hasn't enacted a once every 5 years emissions test regardless of the miles driven between the yearly inspection. WHOA, did I just say that? I hope we don't have any Penndot officials lurking in here. Oh well, what's done is done. If they do enact that requirement, maybe they'll give me credit and call it the "jmonroe PA Emissions Regulation".
jmonroe
Yeah, that extremely low mileage is likely to cost ole Jip and extra grand or two come negotiation time. Think you could take Mrs. J on a cross country trip for a year or two?
Louisville voted out emissions testing about 20 years ago. Our reward is reformulated gasoline. :-(
How do car salesmen make money in an age of vehicles selling at or below invoice?
According to an unnamed salesman, the traditional compensation formula was $200 per week salary plus 20% on the gross profit on each car sold. Gross profit is measured as the difference between MSRP and invoice price. He went on to say in the absence of a so-called gross profit, dealers pay $150 to $200 per car sold, plus a 3% commission on back-end gross profit from F&I, for accessories, warranties, etc. In the end that works out to be around $35k to $50k annual compensation. Not much, but it is a living.
So this begs the question, since the sales associate is basically an order taker, why would they waste their time haggling over pricing? It would appear the better strategy is sales volume and by extension performance incentive bonuses and Spiffs. Don't know what percentage of total sales are internet sales but that cannot be good for the salesman.
Don't leave out the car the salesperson gets to drive. I don't know how that is accounted for at tax time.
While it may make sense to the individual salesperson to go low and move cars in volume, that may not sit well with their boss the sales manager and his bosses, ultimately the franchise owner. The accountants and consultants likely set some targets that optimize profit, that may well require a certain amount of margin per unit.
Yes. And in my calculations, the increased risk of going faster pales in comparison to the decreased risk of less time-exposure to morons and acts of God on the roadway.
Actually the few minutes less you're on the road doesn't make up for he greater risk at driving faster.
There is a diminishing return though, as shown by the Solomon curve. You can only go a little bit faster than average traffic in order to minimize risks. Once you get away from the median speed in either direction (up or down) you start adding risk.
There are issues with the solomon curve, maily the fact that they did not take into account of stopped and turning traffic.
The other benefits of less time on the roadway (reduced risk) include:
1) Less fatigue (drowsiness has been shown to be up there with drunk driving in causing collisions)
2) More % of driving time spent on high-alert.
3) More attention to driving when you can drive, whereas when you are escorted in a line moving 2 MPH you are not really driving, you are just following and mimicking the cars in front of you.
4) Not for everyone, but for me, less stress. For some people, going faster is stressful. Going slower is stressful to me.
5) And of course, more time to enjoy your destination.
Well #1 and #2 tend to cancel each other out.
Driving slower does tend to create less stress. Just think of how much less stress in your life if you didn't have to deal with your tickets. But beyond that there is a zen to driving, taking a slow relaxing drive is much less stressful than trying to get places faster.
There is no greater risk to driving faster though, where conditions permit. It is so neglibible we can safely call it zero.
Driving slower than necessary is idiotic, in the great words of George Carlin.
However, I disagree with Carlin on faster drivers, they are not maniacs, I just view them as people that have someplace to be.
Even when I drive slow I have to deal with tickets, unfortunately.
As to a few minutes, those arguments have been debunked. I like thinking in hours, you can either go 60 miles in an hour, or go 85 or 90 miles in an hour. I prefer being productive.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
One of the variables involved with speeding (10+ mph over the speed limit on an interstate or highway) is the unpredictability of what the drivers in front of you or to your left or right will do. What I mean by “will do” is how they will steer their cars or suddenly brake or change lanes without signaling. Those drivers are traveling at or very near the speed limit. The speeder is traveling at 10-20 mph faster than they are going which increases the chances or probability a collision will occur.
I usually drive the speed limit or 5 mph over. Frequently when driving on I-95 or the turnpike, I will experience a car coming up toward me at 10-20 mph faster than I am traveling and weaving in and out of lanes. That situation is unnerving to me as well as a majority of drivers. Often that speeding car weaves right in front of me missing my right or left front end by only several feet. I hit my brakes causing those cars behind me to brake - a cause of many highway accidents while the speeder who caused the chain reaction speeds away.
My point is this - I don’t care what happens to speeders but I do care about the danger they present to innocent drivers traveling at or near the speed limit.
I clearly think your gripe is with the imbeciles in the left passing lanes illegally impeding traffic (including the speeder as he is traffic too) causing them to weave in and around other innocent drivers in the middle and right lanes minding their own business at the speed limit.
This is why I am so vehemently against left lane campers, as they are the true root cause of almost all the danger on our highways. Not to mention all of the reduced traffic flow and inefficiencies.
Also, if you are worried about people making lane changes without looking, I'd never want to pass them with a speed delta of 1-5 MPH. I'd want to pass them in a flash, at speeds +15 to +20 MPH so that if they decide to change lanes at the wrong moment, I'll already have completed my pass. By passing them slowly your just giving them more opportunity to hit you.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
While I generally agree with you, @andres3, I will note that there is a significant difference between performing a passing maneuver at a 15-20 mph delta, and cruising at that delta. For the purposes of cruising, anything greater than a 10 mph average difference ramps up your risk significantly. It takes a lot longer to shed that delta (both in reaction time and braking) than you might think.
Granted, as you mentioned, traffic conditions count for a lot. In my experience, though, people who make a habit of large speed differentials, well, make a habit of it (i.e., they don't necessarily appreciate the risk conditions present).
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I may "camp" on the left lane for a while, if the right lane's pavement is visibly damaged, or is densely occupied by slower trucks. Then I don't really care that the guy behind me wants to go 100 mph. I'll move to the right when it's convenient, not just because the jackass wants to go 30 mph faster than the speed limit (especially if I'm already going say 75-80 mph). But I think you don't belong to the left lane going 10-20 mph under the limit, if the road is not busy.
I may "camp" on the left lane for a while, if the right lane's pavement is visibly damaged, or is densely occupied by slower trucks. Then I don't really care that the guy behind me wants to go 100 mph. I'll move to the right when it's convenient, not just because the jackass wants to go 30 mph faster than the speed limit (especially if I'm already going say 75-80 mph). But I think you don't belong to the left lane if going 10-20 mph under the limit, if the road is not busy.
Well, as you mentioned, sometimes the right lane is hell to use (I90 through Minnesota springs to mind), so, in those cases, if traffic is light then LLC all you want! I know I do, and I am not being inconsiderate at all unless I'm holding someone up.
Even if I have to slow, I patiently wait (e.g., match speed and don't tailgate) for someone ahead of me until they have had a reasonable opportunity to move right and fail to do so. Then, I'll happily pass them on the right, cut them off, etc., and their well-being doesn't bother me one bit. If they didn't want the stress, then they should have been considerate.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
While I generally agree with you, @andres3, I will note that there is a significant difference between performing a passing maneuver at a 15-20 mph delta, and cruising at that delta. For the purposes of cruising, anything greater than a 10 mph average difference ramps up your risk significantly. It takes a lot longer to shed that delta (both in reaction time and braking) than you might think.
Granted, as you mentioned, traffic conditions count for a lot. In my experience, though, people who make a habit of large speed differentials, well, make a habit of it (i.e., they don't necessarily appreciate the risk conditions present).
I think passing on 2-lane highway (one lane each direction) requires large speed differential and it is clear that art is long forgotten due to presence of multilane highways. When passing fast on those, it's not necessary to go crazy with the speed differential, but those "American-style" 10 mile-long passes at 0.5 mph differential are extreme cases of stupidity and selfishness, in my opinion. It's this lack of consideration to others, visible everywhere else, like stopping in the middle of a busy airport hallway with your big carry on, to block half of traffic, because you need to look at a monitor, or not turning your lights at dusk, cause you can still see.
First decent comprehensive article about FIU Bridge collapse in mainstream media. Not completely free of errors, but informative and written in language that is understandable to a general public, but precise enough. One error is the authors correctly state that many (most) collapses happen during construction and they correctly say why (contractors not accounting correctly for temporary conditions), then give an incorrect example - Kansas City Hyatt gallery, which collapsed after completion, when the buidling was in service.
Thanks dino, interesting reading. They mention the collapse of a walkway at a Hyatt hotel, killing 114 people. Seems that changes made at the last minute to correct a problem can contribute to such an accident. Nothing for sure but lots of very good theories.
Comments
Some great Fox Body porn.
Mine still looks pretty good.
Bought it new in 1991 and we still have it.
Too cold to think about driving it yet, though.
Driving slower does tend to create less stress. Just think of how much less stress in your life if you didn't have to deal with your tickets. But beyond that there is a zen to driving, taking a slow relaxing drive is much less stressful than trying to get places faster.
There is no greater risk to driving faster though, where conditions permit. It is so neglibible we can safely call it zero.
On lincolns I'd rather have a Mark VIII
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
One of the variables involved with speeding (10+ mph over the speed limit on an interstate or highway) is the unpredictability of what the drivers in front of you or to your left or right will do. What I mean by “will do” is how they will steer their cars or suddenly brake or change lanes without signaling. Those drivers are traveling at or very near the speed limit. The speeder is traveling at 10-20 mph faster than they are going which increases the chances or probability a collision will occur.
I usually drive the speed limit or 5 mph over. Frequently when driving on I-95 or the turnpike, I will experience a car coming up toward me at 10-20 mph faster than I am traveling and weaving in and out of lanes. That situation is unnerving to me as well as a majority of drivers. Often that speeding car weaves right in front of me missing my right or left front end by only several feet. I hit my brakes causing those cars behind me to brake - a cause of many highway accidents while the speeder who caused the chain reaction speeds away.
My point is this - I don’t care what happens to speeders but I do care about the danger they present to innocent drivers traveling at or near the speed limit.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
(Don't know if you can get past the paywall on this link--lemme know)
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I came across this picture of Japan and a road with 10 METERS of snow.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
According to an unnamed salesman, the traditional compensation formula was $200 per week salary plus 20% on the gross profit on each car sold. Gross profit is measured as the difference between MSRP and invoice price. He went on to say in the absence of a so-called gross profit, dealers pay $150 to $200 per car sold, plus a 3% commission on back-end gross profit from F&I, for accessories, warranties, etc. In the end that works out to be around $35k to $50k annual compensation. Not much, but it is a living.
So this begs the question, since the sales associate is basically an order taker, why would they waste their time haggling over pricing? It would appear the better strategy is sales volume and by extension performance incentive bonuses and Spiffs. Don't know what percentage of total sales are internet sales but that cannot be good for the salesman.
I'm with you.
I was actually thinking that if I could talk Mrs. j into letting go of her beloved 2012 Legacy (just turned 31K miles) that maybe just maybe we should get a CUV type, say a Forrester, almost in self defense since there are so many CUV types on the road nowadays. And it would save me from having to get either of my Sons van or SUV to haul even a lawnmower or something that size which will not fit in either my Genny or her Legacy. With a small non-turo 4 cyl. engine as standard on the 2019 Forrester it might have a hard time getting that home.
I have almost resigned myself that getting a grocery getter of any type will put me in a CVT vehicle but that along with a standard 4 cyl. job is too much to take all at once.
jmonroe
(hand-wringing): Yes.....YES!!!!....talk to Mrs.J about selling the Legacy. My strategy is paying off. Good ole Jipster can wait as long as it takes. I'll continue to lurk...here in the forum shadows...waiting....waiting.....wa-...zzzz...zzzzzz...zzzzz
I'll keep trying but I think you're going to be on permanent zzzzz's by the time Mrs. j decides to let go of her 2012 Legacy. It won't do you much good by then.
Like I said, it just cracked 31K miles the other day. PA has state safety and emissions inspection every year. If your car was driven less than 5K miles since the last inspection, you are emissions exempt. Therefore, her Subie has never had the emission probe put in the tail pipe and that saves me the fee for that test. Maybe 25 or 30 bucks but I'm not sure because I haven't had to pay it yet. In any case, I still have to pay about 5 bucks for the emissions exempt windshield sticker. That's good ole PA for you.
In a way I'm surprised PA hasn't enacted a once every 5 years emissions test regardless of the miles driven between the yearly inspection. WHOA, did I just say that? I hope we don't have any Penndot officials lurking in here. Oh well, what's done is done. If they do enact that requirement, maybe they'll give me credit and call it the "jmonroe PA Emissions Regulation".
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/west-miami-dade/article207358659.html
2018 430i Gran Coupe
The tax rebates given to those who can afford to lay down 100K for a toy grids my gears the most - but that kind of stuff is on par for the tax policy of the newly filled swamp. It'll all trickle down yeah.
1. Old habits die hard: "We do it because it's always has been this way".
2. Lottery mindset: "There is a sucker born every day, perhaps one of them will come through this door today and I hit a jackpot".
3. Hope (variation on item 2): "Maybe not a jackpot, but if I don't ask, I will surely not get"
4. Greed (variation on item 2): "They told me during training I could be making 120 grand a year, if only sell 100 cars a week, each at 5 grand gross profit. There must be a way".
5. False (manipulative) promises from the store owners, bonuses after reaching some impossible goals, inducing salespeople irrational behavior due to their emotional manipulation.
6. Good old pressure from the boss.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Louisville voted out emissions testing about 20 years ago. Our reward is reformulated gasoline. :-(
While it may make sense to the individual salesperson to go low and move cars in volume, that may not sit well with their boss the sales manager and his bosses, ultimately the franchise owner. The accountants and consultants likely set some targets that optimize profit, that may well require a certain amount of margin per unit.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
EDIT: oh, I see now. Its the turbo+manual that has been missing.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Driving slower than necessary is idiotic, in the great words of George Carlin.
However, I disagree with Carlin on faster drivers, they are not maniacs, I just view them as people that have someplace to be.
Even when I drive slow I have to deal with tickets, unfortunately.
As to a few minutes, those arguments have been debunked. I like thinking in hours, you can either go 60 miles in an hour, or go 85 or 90 miles in an hour. I prefer being productive.
This is why I am so vehemently against left lane campers, as they are the true root cause of almost all the danger on our highways. Not to mention all of the reduced traffic flow and inefficiencies.
Also, if you are worried about people making lane changes without looking, I'd never want to pass them with a speed delta of 1-5 MPH. I'd want to pass them in a flash, at speeds +15 to +20 MPH so that if they decide to change lanes at the wrong moment, I'll already have completed my pass. By passing them slowly your just giving them more opportunity to hit you.
Granted, as you mentioned, traffic conditions count for a lot. In my experience, though, people who make a habit of large speed differentials, well, make a habit of it (i.e., they don't necessarily appreciate the risk conditions present).
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Even if I have to slow, I patiently wait (e.g., match speed and don't tailgate) for someone ahead of me until they have had a reasonable opportunity to move right and fail to do so. Then, I'll happily pass them on the right, cut them off, etc., and their well-being doesn't bother me one bit. If they didn't want the stress, then they should have been considerate.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250