Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

ab348 · June 2020

I find roundabouts generally scary because you have to rely on other drivers to actually follow the rules. Plus a lot of them seem to be built according to local rules and have quirks.

snakeweasel · June 2020

Enjoy,

https://youtu.be/DIQvaBOuvAs

omarman · June 2020

Playback speed at 1.25 = very enjoyable

oldfarmer50 · June 2020

jmonroe1 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

explorerx4 said:
The fuel mileage on those pickups is listed @20/23. That would make them the V6 models, so stripper trucks.

Here’s the fuel mileages for all engines and those figures don’t match any of them.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&path=7&year=2020&make=Chevrolet&model=Silverado 4WD&srchtyp=ymm

I would think a 4x4 would come with an 8 in a big truck like that but guess not. Not a lot of detail in that Hertz ad.
They are V8’s. The second page says they are both 5.3L V8’s.

jmonroe

That would make them not strippers. As far as trim levels go, Enterprise at least bought a lot of high end stuff. On the F-150s we had a lot of upscale $70k trims. The interiors were gorgeous. It was like riding in a luxury car.

We had fewer Chevys but I’m guessing it was the same there. If a car manufacturer gave the company a good deal they would buy everything from top to bottom.

stickguy · June 2020

You can still get the V8 in a lower option trim though.

explorerx4 · June 2020

I found a new 2019 full crew cab locally with a 4.3 V6 for 32,500. The 2019 V8's I found were All Star Editions, around 38k. These are as listed after discount and incentives.

dino001 · June 2020

ab348 said:
I find roundabouts generally scary because you have to rely on other drivers to actually follow the rules. Plus a lot of them seem to be built according to local rules and have quirks.

Roundabouts are safest types of intersection, especially in urban settings. They can be really annoying when placed every half mile in the countryside, which is the case in rural France, but only because you have to slow down on a straight road that is "main".

Perhaps large multilane roundabouts with signalization and streets coming in a spoke-like setup (things you see in Paris or large Italian cities) can be sometimes unnerving for a newbie, as you have to change lanes while moving in a circle, but it's not rocket science to master. In this case, just make another circle, don't force it and you'll be fine.

Some countries have bizarre rules regarding use of indicator signals, like using right indicator in the UK (counterclockwise traffic) at the entrance if you intent to take a lane that is shown as a "right turn" (third, fourth exits). It makes no sense to me, but I apparently that's a rule. Most other countries treat entering the interchange as as "going straight" regardless which lane you use and using indicators only upon the exit.

driver100 · June 2020

ab348 said:
I find roundabouts generally scary because you have to rely on other drivers to actually follow the rules. Plus a lot of them seem to be built according to local rules and have quirks.

I drove in Spain because it was left hand steering wheel. You have to take roundabouts at full speed or they start honking.....just keep moving and fit into the flowing traffic. Here it is almost the opposite, can't count on the guy in front fitting in...he might hesitate or stop.

snakeweasel · June 2020

dino001 said:

ab348 said:
I find roundabouts generally scary because you have to rely on other drivers to actually follow the rules. Plus a lot of them seem to be built according to local rules and have quirks.
Roundabouts are safest types of intersection, especially in urban settings. They can be really annoying when placed every half mile in the countryside, which is the case in rural France, but only because you have to slow down on a straight road that is "main".

Perhaps large multilane roundabouts with signalization and streets coming in a spoke-like setup (things you see in Paris or large Italian cities) can be sometimes unnerving for a newbie, as you have to change lanes while moving in a circle, but it's not rocket science to master. In this case, just make another circle, don't force it and you'll be fine.

Some countries have bizarre rules regarding use of indicator signals, like using right indicator in the UK (counterclockwise traffic) at the entrance if you intent to take a lane that is shown as a "right turn" (third, fourth exits). It makes no sense to me, but I apparently that's a rule. Most other countries treat entering the interchange as as "going straight" regardless which lane you use and using indicators only upon the exit.

You have to have your turn signal on for 100 feet before you turn. Does this mean before you turn out from a traffic circle you have to drive around a few times with your blinker on to satisfy the 100 foot rule?

andres3 · June 2020

I look at Empty round-a-bouts as a "bus stop" type turn to use a track term. I bet there are many tracks that call one of their turns a "bus stop".

fintail · June 2020

I love that one, hope that isn't a typical fintail driver.

Roundabouts are fine, it's the other drivers who concern me, especially given some of the semi-sentient "motorists" here. Many roundabouts have popped up in some WA areas in the past few years, especially in second tier cities and growing suburbs. Many "drivers" don't seem to grasp how they work - stopping before entering, not yielding, etc. One hand on the horn is how I proceed, and I try to not be alongside another car, same as in a dual turn lane, which people also constantly mess up. So close to the first world, so so close.

Driving on the continent is also fun, Germany especially, as you are expected to be attentive. I don't the typical driver here could handle it.

Any roundabout discussion needs this all-time classic:

https://youtu.be/iAgX6qlJEMc

omarman said:
It's been posted before and now I always think of this insurance commercial when the topic turns to roundabouts and right hand drive vehicles.

stickguy · June 2020

Plus, you get a real good look at Big Ben and Parliament.

kyfdx · June 2020

Every roundabout I run into in the US has a different configuration and/or rules. It’s no wonder that drivers unfamiliar with a particular roundabout have problems. For locals, the learning curve is short.

Hilton Head used to have a roundabout that had an inside lane that went nowhere. Along with an outer lane that didn’t require you to exit anywhere (but you could). If you got in the inside lane, you might never get out. It was a major backup on Saturdays, when the condos turned over. Eventually, they re-built it properly, and cut the backups in half. Only took 20+ years.

stickguy · June 2020

There is also IIRC a technical difference between a round about, and a traffic circle.

ab348 · June 2020

stickguy said:
There is also IIRC a technical difference between a round about, and a traffic circle.

Don't forget a rotary. We had one of those and nobody knew what the rules were. It eventually defaulted to the dreaded one-on-one, which at rush hour meant nobody got anywhere.

dino001 · June 2020

This one seems insane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OGvj7GZSIo

dino001 · June 2020

Talking French driving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2RCPpdmSVg

isellhondas · June 2020

My first roundabout experience was as a new driver in my dads 1962 VW Beetle. It was in Long Beach California. On the miserable Traffic Circle that has been there since the 1930's. It has been redesigned and modified a couple of times but it still a nightmare and the scene of many accidents. About four or five major streets dump into it and it has two or three lanes...cant remember now. I got overwhelmed and ended up driving around and around several times until traffic allowed me to merge over and get out of it! About a year later at night in the same VW as I was approaching the Traffic Circle a MAJOR fog bank rolled in! I could NOT see the cars in front of me nor the cars along side of me. We all blow our horns to hopefully alert the nearby drivers. A 6 Volt VW horn emits a sad bleeting sound. It think it took me five minutes to pry my fingers one by one off the steering wheel once I got out. To this day, I don't like Roundabouts and they have become quite popular around here!

snakeweasel · June 2020

On a related note what do you guys think about divergent diamond interchanges?

kyfdx · June 2020

snakeweasel said:
On a related note what do you guys think about divergent diamond interchanges?

Is that where the lanes crossing the freeway swap sides?

snakeweasel · June 2020

kyfdx said:

snakeweasel said:
On a related note what do you guys think about divergent diamond interchanges?
Is that where the lanes crossing the freeway swap sides?

Yes it is, it's like we ceded the bridge to the UK.

kyfdx · June 2020

snakeweasel said:

kyfdx said:

snakeweasel said:
On a related note what do you guys think about divergent diamond interchanges?
Is that where the lanes crossing the freeway swap sides?
Yes it is, it's like we ceded the bridge to the UK.

It seems to work better... but, it's a lot like a roundabout. If you aren't a local, the first couple of times are intimidating. There are a few of these in the Fort Wayne area.

Michaell · June 2020

kyfdx said:

snakeweasel said:

kyfdx said:

snakeweasel said:
On a related note what do you guys think about divergent diamond interchanges?
Is that where the lanes crossing the freeway swap sides?
Yes it is, it's like we ceded the bridge to the UK.
It seems to work better... but, it's a lot like a roundabout. If you aren't a local, the first couple of times are intimidating. There are a few of these in the Fort Wayne area.

We have one of those DDI here in Denver. It makes total sense, once you understand why you switch to the other side of the road. but I suspect a majority of drivers would have their brain lock up.

graphicguy · June 2020

Made the mistake of renting a car a few times while working in Mexico City. Traveling the roundabout "El Angel" was a BIG mistake. Never should have been driving around Mexico City in the first place. You can get very lost in a very bad neighborhood very quickly. Lesson learned.

qbrozen · June 2020

dino001 said:
Talking French driving
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2RCPpdmSVg

That's just alot of bad drivers all in one place.

tjc78 · June 2020

I look back on the traveling I’ve done and realize I did a lot of questionable things I wouldn’t do now.

qbrozen · June 2020

tjc78 said:
I look back on the traveling I’ve done and realize I did a lot of questionable things I wouldn’t do now.

haha. I was a menace in Spain last summer. Wife kept worrying about cops, but I don't think I ever even saw one during our ... I think it was 1200 miles or so.

sda · June 2020

kyfdx said:
Every roundabout I run into in the US has a different configuration and/or rules. It’s no wonder that drivers unfamiliar with a particular roundabout have problems. For locals, the learning curve is short.

Hilton Head used to have a roundabout that had an inside lane that went nowhere. Along with an outer lane that didn’t require you to exit anywhere (but you could). If you got in the inside lane, you might never get out. It was a major backup on Saturdays, when the condos turned over. Eventually, they re-built it properly, and cut the backups in half. Only took 20+ years.

I remember that one. HH one of my favorite places.

oldfarmer50 · June 2020

stickguy said:
You can still get the V8 in a lower option trim though.

I think the ad said they were LT trim levels. If they use the same designations as with their cars like the Malibu, an LT trim is at least mid level. LS would be more of a stripper.

I think GG should make inquires to settle all this.

jmonroe1 · June 2020

kyfdx said:
Every roundabout I run into in the US has a different configuration and/or rules. It’s no wonder that drivers unfamiliar with a particular roundabout have problems. For locals, the learning curve is short.

Hilton Head used to have a roundabout that had an inside lane that went nowhere. Along with an outer lane that didn’t require you to exit anywhere (but you could). If you got in the inside lane, you might never get out. It was a major backup on Saturdays, when the condos turned over. Eventually, they re-built it properly, and cut the backups in half. Only took 20+ years.

We lived in SC for 5 years in the early to mid 90’s and we went to Hilton Head more times than I can count. Are you talking about Coligny Circle? The last time I was there was the Summer of ‘96. Probably went about 4 or 5 times that year alone. I didn’t think it was as bad as some I’ve seen but I don’t like any of them.

jmonroe

kyfdx · June 2020

jmonroe1 said:

kyfdx said:
Every roundabout I run into in the US has a different configuration and/or rules. It’s no wonder that drivers unfamiliar with a particular roundabout have problems. For locals, the learning curve is short.

Hilton Head used to have a roundabout that had an inside lane that went nowhere. Along with an outer lane that didn’t require you to exit anywhere (but you could). If you got in the inside lane, you might never get out. It was a major backup on Saturdays, when the condos turned over. Eventually, they re-built it properly, and cut the backups in half. Only took 20+ years.
We lived in SC for 5 years in the early to mid 90’s and we went to Hilton Head more times than I can count. Are you talking about Coligny Circle? The last time I was there was the Summer of ‘96. Probably went about 4 or 5 times that year alone. I didn’t think it was as bad as some I’ve seen but I don’t like any of them.

jmonroe

Yes... first, they built the bypass bridge, so there was more than one way in/out to the South end of the island, then they fixed the circle.

ab348 · June 2020

snakeweasel said:
On a related note what do you guys think about divergent diamond interchanges?

We don’t have those here, which leads me to conclude that they must move traffic quite efficiently.

driver100 · June 2020

snakeweasel said:
On a related note what do you guys think about divergent diamond interchanges?

I didn't like the one in Sarasota the first time we used it....but, it really does make sense and is very clever. If you don't know what it is watch for 30 or 40 seconds;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NBGAS1enDc

kyfdx · June 2020

It's much easier to see, if you pick an interchange where the divergent lanes are on top, and the freeway underneath.

dino001 · June 2020

ab348 said:

snakeweasel said:
On a related note what do you guys think about divergent diamond interchanges?
We don’t have those here, which leads me to conclude that they must move traffic quite efficiently.

Diverging diamond is just a newest rage today for new interchanges. Before it was SPUI (single point urban interchange), before that we have classic clover leaves and diamonds. Sometimes looks like going through some fashion trends. Each of those interchanges works within some parameters, then once traffic crosses its capacity, it gets bad no matter the type. Also, some interchanges will require much more right-of-way than others, also bridge spans get longer with some than others. SPUI uses much less space, but produces very long spans, especially on a skew - it also allows you to clear the interchange in a single light cycle. Can get a little spooky, if you see it first time, as once you enter, you go long distance across without seeing any signalization, making you wonder if anybody is just about to hit you from the side, but if you get used to it, it can be quite pleasant - unless there is another busy instersection a few hundred feet away, stopping the traffic - then it all blows up into a jungle, as you see green, but vehicle from previous cycle didn't clear, so you stand there, then it turns red.

kyfdx · June 2020

Yeah... the one above is huge.

explorerx4 · June 2020

A lot of our roads still follow the paths made by the Pilgrim's cows.

fintail · June 2020

Speaking of traffic circles and FL, I remember this one in Hollywood - unfortunately, heavily regulated with lights, as Florida drivers would turn this into a demolition derby if given free rein (and I think it is still an unpopular feature):

dino001 · June 2020

tjc78 said:
I look back on the traveling I’ve done and realize I did a lot of questionable things I wouldn’t do now.

C'mon, we are all above average drivers, aren't we? No faults, no errors, courteous all the way. Agility of a cat, reflexes of a humming bird.

roadburner · June 2020

I’ve been reading about the new Mustang Mach 1. Ford finally decided to make a Mustang other than the Shelbys track capable- plus you get the Tremec gearbox instead of the problematic Chinese Getrag.
I hope prices crater like they have for the Bullitt- I’ve seen new ones for $9.5k off MSRP which means a decently equipped(Electronics Package and Magneride suspension) is under $45k.

ab348 · June 2020

kyfdx said:
It's much easier to see, if you pick an interchange where the divergent lanes are on top, and the freeway underneath.

Hmmm. Given all the traffic signals involved, it really don’t see either the point, or the advantage of this. What does it do that other designs cannot? I don’t get it.

driver100 · June 2020

ab348 said:

kyfdx said:
It's much easier to see, if you pick an interchange where the divergent lanes are on top, and the freeway underneath.
Hmmm. Given all the traffic signals involved, it really don’t see either the point, or the advantage of this. What does it do that other designs cannot? I don’t get it.

Lets say you have heavy traffic going East on University Avenue, but most of the traffic is going to go on the on ramp to go North on I-75....which requires making a left turn onto the on ramp. That means lots of cars are going to make a left turn and hold up heavy traffic going West on University. This allows the heavy traffic to move to the other side of the road so traffic going East can easily get on the on ramp without tying up oncoming traffic. There are 2 lanes turning left onto I-75, sometimes about 25 or 30 cars in each lane....that would take a very long green arrow advanced green light!

jwm40517 · June 2020

With the crossovers a left turn is same as a right turn .

ab348 · June 2020

But that heavy traffic has to stop and wait for a traffic light. Wouldn’t a left turn arrow serve the same purpose and give a similar result? It seems to me that it isn’t an interchange at all, more like a signalized intersection.

ab348 · June 2020

Anyway, on to other things. Excavation finished, footings went in this morning. Wall construction starts tomorrow.

stickguy · June 2020

good start!

sda · June 2020

We are getting ready for this. Not looking forward to all the noise and two unhappy dogs as we don't have any where to take them. Insurance claim, thankfully.

sda · June 2020

This was very peaceful and beautiful about a week ago. Heavy rain, thunder and lightening minutes before.

oldfarmer50 · June 2020

explorerx4 said:
A lot of our roads still follow the paths made by the Pilgrim's cows.

My street follows the path of an old Native American canoe portage.

explorerx4 · June 2020

@sda,
Those are very popular shingles here too.
A bunch of houses are getting re roofed in the neighborhood due to age.

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