Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

Mr_Shiftright · March 2019

I had rain sensors on my Mini--they worked okay but would occasionally just go to sleep.

fintail · March 2019

They are too sensitive on my E for the generally light rain seen hhere, but wipers kind of bug me in general sometimes. I usually just press the button and swipe it manually.

Mr_Shiftright · March 2019

What's next? "Alexa, turn on my wipers"?

qbrozen · March 2019

snakeweasel said:

qbrozen said:

Well, the author thinks paddle shifters control a manual transmission, sooo .... And totally wrong about adaptive headlights. Author obviously has no clue how/why they function, nor has lived in an area with zero ambient light and streetlights. These days, when I'm driving a vehicle without adaptive headlights, I definitely notice the difference. Did we get along without them for decades? Sure. Can I now avoid crawling around turns to be careful of all the crazy deer around here? Yes.

Well most (all?) of the cars I have seen with paddle shifters were dual clutch which are basically manual transmissions with automated clutches. Since he mentioned paddle shifters for manual transmissions built for racing he is definitely talking about DCT's. Sooo.....

No. Trust me, DCTs are relatively rare, while paddle shifters are found just about everywhere these days, even on some CVTs, of all things.

dino001 · March 2019

I've had rain sensing wiper on my both BMW's - work really well. I sometimes (very seldom) need to "help" them to turn in very small intermittent rain, either by turning them manually or changing their sensitivity threshold, so if the rain is at low intensity and the drops annoyingly stay on the windshield for too long, I move the threshold lower and now the frequency of wipes increases.

BTW, they never turned unexpectedly.

dino001 · March 2019

snakeweasel said:

Well most (all?) of the cars I have seen with paddle shifters were dual clutch which are basically manual transmissions with automated clutches. Since he mentioned paddle shifters for manual transmissions built for racing he is definitely talking about DCT's. Sooo.....

Incorrect. There are very few dual clutch transmission models: some VW, Audi models (fewer than you may think, actually), BMW M3, some exotics and I think it was also Focus and something else. Plenty of paddle shifter models around with regular automatic transmission. Majority, in fact. Some even have CVT and paddles (simulated gears).

snakeweasel · March 2019

dino001 said:

Well most (all?) of the cars I have seen with paddle shifters were dual clutch which are basically manual transmissions with automated clutches. Since he mentioned paddle shifters for manual transmissions built for racing he is definitely talking about DCT's. Sooo.....
Incorrect. There are very few dual clutch transmission models: some VW, Audi models (fewer than you may think, actually), BMW M3, some exotics and I think it was also Focus and something else. Plenty of paddle shifter models around with regular automatic transmission. Majority, in fact. Some even have CVT and paddles (simulated gears).

Actually it is a correct statement as I said the cars I have seen with paddle shifters have been mostly DCT's.

Now I have seen a lot of automatics that are shiftable but are shifted by the gear shift not paddles.

stickguy · March 2019

my car has auto wipers, but I think it is just something that works when set to intermittent (adjusts how much they swipe). I don't think they automatically go on if it rains though. Maybe I should check though!

I hate wipers usually. Drives my wife nuts because I wait until no choice before putting them on. can't stand when they are swiping and there is not enough water on the window.

driver100 · March 2019

houdini2 said:

driver100 said:

houdini2 said:

driver100 said:

stickguy said:
I believe the scam is to get insurance, register the car, then cancel the policy but you still have the insurance card until it runs out.
Good answer and is probably accurate.
As to the minimum requirements Mike stated:
Florida’s minimum insurance requirements include $10,000 PIP (Personal Injury Protection), $10,000 property damage and $20,000 liability coverage.
Those are laughable......................$20,000 liability, that takes care of one day in the hospital.
All those illegal immigrants from Canada?
lol, but actually in Canada:
While driving without insurance is not an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada, it is a serious provincial offence. The penalties for driving with no insurance in Ontario are as follows: a fine of between $5,000 and $25,000 on a first conviction.
I don't think it is much of a penalty in Florida.
Also most Canadians have $1 million liability insurance....I have $3 million which is becoming more common.
If you injure people seriously or kill them, medical or death can easily surpass $300,000. If those 26.7% of people were paying for their insurance......then maybe eeryone who pays insurance would get a reduction.
So you don't get free auto insurance in Canada? Bummer.

That would be a good platform to run on. Free auto insurance and free medical care for pets.

driver100 · March 2019

ruking1 said:
That’s because they have socialized medical care🤑😉 What they need are a lot of Americans using their systems 🤑😎😱 Evidently they need a crisis?😱

So it seems like the best things to do; retire in Mexico, use their socialize medicine except for Canada when you need more complex care. 👍😎 car insurance covers driving in CN. & certain mileage in Mexico. HmmmIt almost sounds like a plan, Life is good.

Quite a few Candadians do go to Mexico for the winter....relatively cheap way to spend a warm winter. Not sure how medical system works, but if you go to Costa Rica you can stay in a beautiful home in the mountains for less than $2000 a month, and medical treatment is about 1/3 what it would be in the US.

driver100 · March 2019

dino001 said:
I've had rain sensing wiper on my both BMW's - work really well. I sometimes (very seldom) need to "help" them to turn in very small intermittent rain, either by turning them manually or changing their sensitivity threshold, so if the rain is at low intensity and the drops annoyingly stay on the windshield for too long, I move the threshold lower and now the frequency of wipes increases.

BTW, they never turned unexpectedly.

I agree....I like my rain sensing wipers, even in the 2014 C250 they are excellent, if a little sensitive.

ruking1 · March 2019

driver100 said:

ruking1 said:
That’s because they have socialized medical care🤑😉 What they need are a lot of Americans using their systems 🤑😎😱 Evidently they need a crisis?😱

So it seems like the best things to do; retire in Mexico, use their socialize medicine except for Canada when you need more complex care. 👍😎 car insurance covers driving in CN. & certain mileage in Mexico. HmmmIt almost sounds like a plan, Life is good.
Quite a few Candadians do go to Mexico for the winter....relatively cheap way to spend a warm winter. Not sure how medical system works, but if you go to Costa Rica you can stay in a beautiful home in the mountains for less than $2000 a month, and medical treatment is about 1/3 what it would be in the US.

Because of CN relatives, we used to send the kids to CN for most if not all of summer vacations. We have other friends that spend any of anywhere from one week to three months of the year in South America. We’ve a standing invitation.

qbrozen · March 2019

snakeweasel said:

Actually it is a correct statement as I said the cars I have seen with paddle shifters have been mostly DCT's.

Now I have seen a lot of automatics that are shiftable but are shifted by the gear shift not paddles.

I'm guessing you THINK they are DCTs, but they are not. Unless your personal experiences are extraordinarily skewed toward select German makes and models. From my own vehicle ownership, I have had 6 vehicles with paddle shifters that I can remember off the top of my head, and only 1 of those had a dual gearbox.

stickguy · March 2019

my current car has one, and so did the one it replaced!

fintail · March 2019

All 3 of my most recent E-class have had paddle shifters (which don't seem to match the personality of the car), all have had the usual 7-speed autobox.

explorerx4 · March 2019

@Mr_Shifty,
Years ago, I had a nice little Focus. Really great little car to drive.
Same as you, got tired of people trying to push me out of the way or like one time, had someone in a Camry look me right in the eye and pull out in front of me from a side street, so I had to slam on the brakes to not hit them.
That was one of the most cold blooded incidents but there were others.
Decided mid size was as small as I was going to go after that.

oldfarmer50 · March 2019

ruking1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

ruking1 said:
By CA traffic laws, the Honda has the right of way on the Jeep’s right lane merging/disappearing. But on secondary considerations, fault (academically ) is 30-50% the Jeep’s. Normally it would be the Jeep’s fault.
NY law says the same but what’s the point if you get wrecked or killed? Maybe Florida has to say no one has right of way because of all the insurance fraud.
Actually there are a lot of points. But the video does not/seems not to even approach the fear level in the question. In CA ( I suspect FL also) fully 25% of drivers are either not or under insured.

Having said that, if one plans to drive in AZ, NM, TX, LA, FL, etc. familiarization with each/the states laws are prudent.

All the more reason to drive VERY defensively. Many who drive without insurance do so because they have few or no assets. Even if you try to garnish their min. wage paycheck they just quit and get another low level job.

oldfarmer50 · March 2019

driver100 said:

dino001 said:

sda said:
In Florida, if you drop insurance or sell a car and do not transfer a tag, are you required to turn it in?
No, you can keep the tag, which later you can use for another vehicle. However, if you drive without registration, or registration without insurance in it, you’ll have your license suspended.p and be subject to fines.
Everyday they catch people here who are driving without a license and that means without insurance. They get a DUI, get license suspended, and then they find a car and start driving. The guy that hit the 19 year old kid in the Audi that flipped several times doesn't have a license....doesn't have insurance.

I didn’t know that they caught the guy.

stickguy · March 2019

just want to say, this lousy winter has way overstayed it's welcome. Spring training is underway, and I should not be freezing to death going out during the daytime walking the dog (forget about after dark like now!)

all you "I would rather it be cold than hot" people, come collect my cold. I don't want it any longer.

berri · March 2019

March is always like a bad psychology experiment. Slaps you down, then brings you up and instills hope before it slaps you down again.

explorerx4 · March 2019

The local wildlife is definitely ready for Spring.
A couple of young deer in a group of 8 were chasing each other around my neighbor's yard.
He called to let me know they were there and we enjoyed watching them play.

Just found this on a local news station site. Perfect!
https://www.wfsb.com/news/mercedes-suv-driver-issued-citation-after--vehicle-crash-in/article_ad57a41e-4017-11e9-a587-6b83bfb94895.html

oldfarmer50 · March 2019

stickguy said:
just want to say, this lousy winter has way overstayed it's welcome. Spring training is underway, and I should not be freezing to death going out during the daytime walking the dog (forget about after dark like now!)

all you "I would rather it be cold than hot" people, come collect my cold. I don't want it any longer.

Ditto.

oldfarmer50 · March 2019

berri said:
March is always like a bad psychology experiment. Slaps you down, then brings you up and instills hope before it slaps you down again.

I just want the salt off the road so I can drive without cringing again.

snakeweasel · March 2019

qbrozen said:

snakeweasel said:

Actually it is a correct statement as I said the cars I have seen with paddle shifters have been mostly DCT's.

Now I have seen a lot of automatics that are shiftable but are shifted by the gear shift not paddles.
I'm guessing you THINK they are DCTs, but they are not. Unless your personal experiences are extraordinarily skewed toward select German makes and models. From my own vehicle ownership, I have had 6 vehicles with paddle shifters that I can remember off the top of my head, and only 1 of those had a dual gearbox.

Keep guessing, I'm not saying I have seen a lot with paddle shifters just the ones I have seen have been mostly DCT's. Yes there have been some high end high performance one but I do know someone with the high performance VW Golf (is that it?) that sports the DCT. The turbo Hyundai Veloster has it as well as Hyundai's new hybrid the Ioniq of which I have had the opportunity to check out recently.

Not to mention my bike has a DCT but that's a different discussion.

snakeweasel · March 2019

stickguy said:
just want to say, this lousy winter has way overstayed it's welcome. Spring training is underway, and I should not be freezing to death going out during the daytime walking the dog (forget about after dark like now!)

all you "I would rather it be cold than hot" people, come collect my cold. I don't want it any longer.

Total agreement here. No reason to be 10 degrees out just two weeks before spring.

ab348 · March 2019

My ATS has an 8-speed automatic and has paddle shifters, which I have used once, I believe.

jmonroe1 · March 2019

berri said:
March is always like a bad psychology experiment. Slaps you down, then brings you up and instills hope before it slaps you down again.

ab348 said:
My ATS has an 8-speed automatic and has paddle shifters, which I have used once, I believe.

I agree and I have said that many, many times. Even April can be a fuller. They don't call April 1st, April Fools day for nothing and my experience shows that it extends the whole month. Mrs. j says I'm a pessimist but I'm actually a realist.

jmonroe

ruking1 · March 2019

Loving winter locally! Hope ski season lasts till mid June as a minimum.

abacomike · March 2019

ab348 said:

My ATS has an 8-speed automatic and has paddle shifters, which I have used once, I believe.

I have a 9-speed transmission with paddle shifters - I have used them several times and found them to be easier to use than using a gear selector to drop gears.

abacomike · March 2019

Well, the sunroof on my car has once again refused to operate. I took it in to the service department at their request to try a quick fix but to no avail. They are having me bring it in on Monday - they are giving me an E400 to use as a loaner. Let’s hope it doesn’t take another week to fix.

driver100 · March 2019

Take this test to check your "driving reaction time":

https://www.justpark.com/creative/reaction-time-test/

driver100 · March 2019

fintail said:
All 3 of my most recent E-class have had paddle shifters (which don't seem to match the personality of the car), all have had the usual 7-speed autobox.

I've had them for over 8 years....used them about 4 times....absolutely no use for them.

driver100 · March 2019

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

dino001 said:

sda said:
In Florida, if you drop insurance or sell a car and do not transfer a tag, are you required to turn it in?
No, you can keep the tag, which later you can use for another vehicle. However, if you drive without registration, or registration without insurance in it, you’ll have your license suspended.p and be subject to fines.
Everyday they catch people here who are driving without a license and that means without insurance. They get a DUI, get license suspended, and then they find a car and start driving. The guy that hit the 19 year old kid in the Audi that flipped several times doesn't have a license....doesn't have insurance.

I didn’t know that they caught the guy.

The driver who caused a horrific hit-and-run in Sarasota that sent a car tumbling through a parking lot and left its 19-year-old driver in critical condition has been identified, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Zachari Brock, 24, was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving a serious injury and driving with no valid driver's license involving a serious injury, authorities said
Tampa Bay Times

qbrozen · March 2019

In past vehicles, I used my paddles constantly. Not so much in the 330.

@snakeweasel, regardless of what you have seen, however, those are still automatic transmissions since they can be left to their own devices, hence the term automatic.

stickguy · March 2019

I think I tried out the paddles in the RDX once, just to see how they worked. No point in using them otherwise. have not tried the TLX yet, because I am not sure how to put it in manual mode!

I did try the Elantra a few times, and my son used them when he drove it. But also no point in that car.

stickguy · March 2019

driver100 said:
Take this test to check your "driving reaction time":

https://www.justpark.com/creative/reaction-time-test/

either I need to go to the drag strip, or that needs some calibration, because I started at 40, then dropped to 24, then 22.

snakeweasel · March 2019

qbrozen said:
In past vehicles, I used my paddles constantly. Not so much in the 330.

@snakeweasel, regardless of what you have seen, however, those are still automatic transmissions since they can be left to their own devices, hence the term automatic.

Actually since they don't have a torque converter but do have a traditional clutch that manuals have they are not automatic but are considered automated manuals. On level ground after you stop you can take your foot off the brake and you wont creep forward like you would in an automatic. So driving one, especially at very low speeds, is different than an automatic.

snakeweasel · March 2019

stickguy said:

driver100 said:
Take this test to check your "driving reaction time":

https://www.justpark.com/creative/reaction-time-test/
either I need to go to the drag strip, or that needs some calibration, because I started at 40, then dropped to 24, then 22.

I did a constant 44 for 4 or 5 times then started to get increasingly lower numbers so it might need some tweaking.

driver100 · March 2019

stickguy said:

driver100 said:
Take this test to check your "driving reaction time":

https://www.justpark.com/creative/reaction-time-test/
either I need to go to the drag strip, or that needs some calibration, because I started at 40, then dropped to 24, then 22.

At least it made you feel young again!

driver100 · March 2019

snakeweasel said:

stickguy said:

driver100 said:
Take this test to check your "driving reaction time":

https://www.justpark.com/creative/reaction-time-test/
either I need to go to the drag strip, or that needs some calibration, because I started at 40, then dropped to 24, then 22.
I did a constant 44 for 4 or 5 times then started to get increasingly lower numbers so it might need some tweaking.

It could be fairly accurate. What it is saying is you have the reaction time of a 44 year old...which is possible, and everyone gets better at it the more you do it.

I think it is a fairly good guide....if you got say 94, you may want to get a self driver.

roadburner · March 2019

dino001 said:
I've had rain sensing wiper on my both BMW's - work really well. I sometimes (very seldom) need to "help" them to turn in very small intermittent rain, either by turning them manually or changing their sensitivity threshold, so if the rain is at low intensity and the drops annoyingly stay on the windshield for too long, I move the threshold lower and now the frequency of wipes increases.

BTW, they never turned unexpectedly.

Same here.

qbrozen · March 2019

snakeweasel said:

In past vehicles, I used my paddles constantly. Not so much in the 330.

@snakeweasel, regardless of what you have seen, however, those are still automatic transmissions since they can be left to their own devices, hence the term automatic.
Actually since they don't have a torque converter but do have a traditional clutch that manuals have they are not automatic but are considered automated manuals. On level ground after you stop you can take your foot off the brake and you wont creep forward like you would in an automatic. So driving one, especially at very low speeds, is different than an automatic.

They still can shift themselves AUTOMATICALLY. Nothing manual about it.

Automated manuals are a different beast entirely. They require your input.

imidazol97 · March 2019

For those who can't drive 55

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvV3nn_de2k

And where else but it TEXAS. AND one is a Ford 150! One was 95 over the limit.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/news/2019/03/06/86-mph-limit-just-one-the10-fastest-speeding-tickets-dallas-fort-worth

imidazol97 · March 2019

I miss the rain sensing wipers on my leSabre. They worked well and could be left on all the time if I wanted. Only downside was that the headlights stayed on rather than the DRL's if I had the sensing switch on.

I miss them on my Malibu '14. It's an option I would have paid for if it had been available.

tjc78 · March 2019

An F150 will run at 150MPH? I don't have time to look that up, but would there even be appropriate tires in the size required that are Z rated?

tjc78 · March 2019

imidazol97 said:
I miss the rain sensing wipers on my leSabre. They worked well and could be left on all the time if I wanted. Only downside was that the headlights stayed on rather than the DRL's if I had the sensing switch on.

I miss them on my Malibu '14. It's an option I would have paid for if it had been available.

I only had them on one car (2009 Genesis) and loved them. None of our Buicks (2012 Lacrosse, 15 and 17 Enclaves) offered them as an option.

stickguy · March 2019

I would hate having my wipers come on at random times, by their own volition.

snakeweasel · March 2019

qbrozen said:

snakeweasel said:

In past vehicles, I used my paddles constantly. Not so much in the 330.

@snakeweasel, regardless of what you have seen, however, those are still automatic transmissions since they can be left to their own devices, hence the term automatic.
Actually since they don't have a torque converter but do have a traditional clutch that manuals have they are not automatic but are considered automated manuals. On level ground after you stop you can take your foot off the brake and you wont creep forward like you would in an automatic. So driving one, especially at very low speeds, is different than an automatic.

They still can shift themselves AUTOMATICALLY. Nothing manual about it.

Automated manuals are a different beast entirely. They require your input.

DCT's are automated manuals and can either be in an automatic or a manual mode.

snakeweasel · March 2019

tjc78 said:

An F150 will run at 150MPH? I don't have time to look that up, but would there even be appropriate tires in the size required that are Z rated?

A stock F150 will top out at about 110 IIRC. I do believe that there is a governor limiting it to that speed. Without the governor and modifications it might do it. But I would think it would be totally unsafe.

bwia · March 2019

Now that’s ingenuity. It took this guy three years to rebuild a submerged Tesla Model S.

He bought, at auction, a water-logged Model S for $14,000 and proceeded to bring it back to life. Just one problem though, Tesla refused to sell him parts nor provide technical assistance and dealers would not touch him with a ten-foot pole. Still, that did not deter him though. He proceeded to dismantle the rusted car and ran into roadblocks each step of the way. He eventually bought another salvaged Model S for parts and sold unused parts which eventually brought down the net cost of his rebuild to only $6,500.

Not quite sure how Tesla was able to skirt around Massachusetts’s Right to Repair Law. That act compels manufacturers to provide vehicle owners and independent repair facilities in Massachusetts to have access to the same vehicle diagnostic and repair information made available to the manufacturers' Massachusetts dealers and authorized repair facilities.

Oh, well, despite Tesla’s hardball the guy has a fully functioning Model S that past road and safety inspection.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/03/04/the-backyard-mechanic-who-taking-tesla/Sv1l8q2sxpQvTFMp13VFwM/story.html

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