Preffered Parking

[Joe Handley]

i drive a 95 chevy suburban.... 3/4 ton.... 454 motor... and 4 wheel drive.... i turn off my motor in long dirve thru lines, walk in, or drive past....

what gets me is a full to the max parking lot... except the compact stalls.... they should tag the small cars for not using them

not a bad idea........................................

[Peter Lombardo]

Who would have thought that a relatively “weird†sign would bring such a varied set of responses? Maybe it is real, maybe not I just think it’s about time, we as a society begin to reel in and question many of the restrictions that are being placed on us. Zoom, you are exactly right about the stop lights. The town planners have them timed so that they interrupt traffic flow and keep the speed down. That was one thing with cheap gas, but today with gas more expensive than a bottle of fine wine, that needs to be revisited. As for drive thru’s, come on people, if there is more than two of three cars ahead of me, I park and go inside. Besides, at my advancing age, I should not be going to fast food restaurants anymore. As a side note, I used to say, as a joke, I wanted to sue Burger King over the use of the term “Whopper†for their big burger. Being from Italian decent, isn’t the term “Whopper†a derogatory smear on my heritage? Do you know the origin of the term “WOP� When immigrants came into this country at the turn of the last century, at Ellis Island they were broken into groups (there were many) but two of the larger classifications were with or without identification papers. Those who didn’t have papers had the classification W O P or “WithOut Papers†attached to them. I always thought that was interesting. Anyway…..

The PC Police have begun to take over our life….Can I sue the dairy farmers because they contribute milk and cream to the ice cream producers, and I like ice cream and it makes me fat and leads to Heart Disease? If I am working on a model and cut my finger can I sue E-xacto for my incompetence? If I eat Fried Chicken at KFC and have Cholesterol build up in my arteries, are they culpable? If I drive a Ferrari or a Porsche too fast, have an accident and break my back, can I sue Enzo or Ferry?

We are and rightly should be responsible for our actions. I know right from wrong and I am sure you guy’s know right from wrong. I do not need a government, run amuck, to tell me what I can do when it comes to personal choice.

All I ask of government is to keep me safe, keep the roads “in†repair, provide an elementary school for my children (my wife and I will make sure the kids use it properly), don’t interfere too much with the economy and please collect the garbage on the days you say you will. Beyond that, please stay out of my life.

I am 59, when I was a kid there was no ADS or ADD or any of that ######. Kids were kids. Some had it together early on, and some like me, took a little longer to figure it out. Point is we did not medicate the ###### out of the kids, they worked through it and adapted. I think kids are over medicated today, which will have serious consequences later in their lives.

I truly long for the innocent days of my youth where the only worry was when is AMT going to come out with the new years annual kits and how can I save the $1.49 to get one.

[MrObsessive]

Kids were kids. Some had it together early on, and some like me, took a little longer to figure it out. Point is we did not medicate the ###### out of the kids, they worked through it and adapted. I think kids are over medicated today, which will have serious consequences later in their lives.

I truly long for the innocent days of my youth where the only worry was when is AMT going to come out with the new years annual kits and how can I save the $1.49 to get one.

All of the teachers I had in elementary school in the '60's had a sure fire cure for ADD/ADS........................it was a paddle with holes in it!

Some only needed it once and for all................others you could set your watch by 'cuz the teacher was about fed up for the day!

Joe mentioned about getting rid of the safety regs to reduce weight...............Yeah how 'bout getting rid of the side impact standards and roof crush regs, so I can have my beloved hardtop body style again!!

I can't understand a government which will allow convertibles to be built which are inherently unsafe by their nature (But fun as heck!) but won't allow a steel roof car to be built without a B pillar without the car companies jumping through hoops??

Ahhh yes! To buy brand new model kits for $2.50 again.............I nearly froze in place when I saw the nearly $19.00(!!) for the new Nova kit at my LHS! That $2.50 price BTW was what kits cost when i started building in 1978.

[Harry P.]

The PC Police have begun to take over our life….Can I sue the dairy farmers because they contribute milk and cream to the ice cream producers, and I like ice cream and it makes me fat and leads to Heart Disease? If I am working on a model and cut my finger can I sue E-xacto for my incompetence? If I eat Fried Chicken at KFC and have Cholesterol build up in my arteries, are they culpable? If I drive a Ferrari or a Porsche too fast, have an accident and break my back, can I sue Enzo or Ferry?

Unfortunately, in our litigation-happy society, YES YOU CAN! People sue for stupid reasons all the time. The problem is the moron judges and juries that award these people damages!

Remember the old lady who sued McDonalds when she spilled hot coffee on herself? She WON!

[CAL]

Unfortunately, in our litigation-happy society, YES YOU CAN! People sue for stupid reasons all the time. The problem is the moron judges and juries that award these people damages!

Remember the old lady who sued McDonalds when she spilled hot coffee on herself? She WON!

You can, but .... the hot coffee case IIRC was later overturned. One of those big high profile cases was overturned and the plaintiff lost in the end.

I am not sure you can sue the dead. Since Enzo and Ferry are no longer with us I don't thing you're going to sue either one of them.

And they are introducing legislature to make in harder and more costly for the plaintiff to start frivolous lawsuits that are choking the courts.

How much more plan can it be that our society wants to blame everyone one else for there stupidity. Nobody wants to take responsibility for themselves, and there is a growing trend towards socialism where they expect the government to take care of them becuase too many haven't a clue how to do it themself.

Edited July 18, 2008 by CAL

[Peter Lombardo]

Hey Cal, I know that Enzo and Ferry have passed into the “great racetrack in the skyâ€, I was just trying to make a point (I am sure you realize that). Anyway the problem with the frivolous law suits is that the Trial Lawyers Association gives many millions of dollars to the re-election campaigns to their, former lawyer buddies (read that as current politicians) so that they will stifle the legislation to slow down the wasteful law suits. These @#%&%$# (gotta’ keep it clean) want their lawyer buddies to make plenty of money. They always find a way to pad their pockets at our expense.

There was a proposal to have the loser pay the entire legal costs, court and lawyers ,on these frivolous suits as a method of slowing down the craziness. That got shot down because it was felt that only the very wealthy would bring these suits and risk the penalty if they lost. So, the insanity may continue on.

It is amazing to me how our current culture has gotten so out of whack. There is a commercial currently running on the New York area radio stations, and I am sure it is in other markets as well, that basically speaks to people who are in debt. Now there are those who are in “controlled debtâ€, normal mortgage, car payment and under control credit cards, and then there are those who are in “out of controlled debt†which is where the credit cards are run up out of control, the house was way over their means (today we have learned of all of the banks and lending institutions’ who are writing off billions in bad loans) and the BMW and Land Rover payments rival the GDP of some small countries. So, this guy in the commercial is speaking to the latter of the two groups, and says if you have dept, you are a victim. A VICTIM??? Of what??..... their own greed….their own stupidity? This guy is pushing his debt counseling and reduction service, but to come right out there and suggest that the moron who “Over did the debt thing†is not at fault and that he has been victimized by the piranhas in the business world is just crazy. We are responsible for our actions. Period.

Growing up, my Dad made that very clear to me. He taught me that I would be judged by and held responsible for everything I did. If I was with friends and one of them did something wrong ,that even involved the police, even if I was innocent, I was guilty of the decision to be there, with these guys so I was guilty in his eyes. I learned early on to think about what the potential consequences’ of my action, even the first action in a series, could be and was I ready to deal with the outcome. I think more people today should think that way rather than the way they do.

[CAL]

Hey Cal, I know that Enzo and Ferry have passed into the “great racetrack in the skyâ€, I was just trying to make a point (I am sure you realize that). Anyway the problem with the frivolous law suits is that the Trial Lawyers Association gives many millions of dollars to the re-election campaigns to their, former lawyer buddies (read that as current politicians) so that they will stifle the legislation to slow down the wasteful law suits. These @#%&%$# (gotta’ keep it clean) want their lawyer buddies to make plenty of money. They always find a way to pad their pockets at our expense.

There was a proposal to have the loser pay the entire legal costs, court and lawyers ,on these frivolous suits as a method of slowing down the craziness. That got shot down because it was felt that only the very wealthy would bring these suits and risk the penalty if they lost. So, the insanity may continue on.

It is amazing to me how our current culture has gotten so out of whack. There is a commercial currently running on the New York area radio stations, and I am sure it is in other markets as well, that basically speaks to people who are in debt. Now there are those who are in “controlled debtâ€, normal mortgage, car payment and under control credit cards, and then there are those who are in “out of controlled debt†which is where the credit cards are run up out of control, the house was way over their means (today we have learned of all of the banks and lending institutions’ who are writing off billions in bad loans) and the BMW and Land Rover payments rival the GDP of some small countries. So, this guy in the commercial is speaking to the latter of the two groups, and says if you have dept, you are a victim. A VICTIM??? Of what??..... their own greed….their own stupidity? This guy is pushing his debt counseling and reduction service, but to come right out there and suggest that the moron who “Over did the debt thing†is not at fault and that he has been victimized by the piranhas in the business world is just crazy. We are responsible for our actions. Period.

Growing up, my Dad made that very clear to me. He taught me that I would be judged by and held responsible for everything I did. If I was with friends and one of them did something wrong ,that even involved the police, even if I was innocent, I was guilty of the decision to be there, with these guys so I was guilty in his eyes. I learned early on to think about what the potential consequences’ of my action, even the first action in a series, could be and was I ready to deal with the outcome. I think more people today should think that way rather than the way they do.

I was just giving you a hard time

I know it got shot down but they keep pushing it and eventually maybe sanity will prevail.

I understand what you are saying and I agree. However, I still think the banking industry particularly CC companies are evil and ruthless, at least a lot of them. Some are set up so you do get screwed even when you are trying to do the right thing, and I know of one in particular that has lost 5 (five!) class action suits and are still in business and worse yet are doing the same ole thing.

[Harry P.]

There is a commercial currently running on the New York area radio stations, and I am sure it is in other markets as well, that basically speaks to people who are in debt.... So, this guy in the commercial... says if you have dept, you are a victim. A VICTIM??? Of what??..... their own greed….their own stupidity?

We have similar ads here in Chicago. The "debt consolidation" lawyers are having a field day. And how do they advertise to the knuckleheads that got themselves in debt? By telling them "It's not your fault", and making the credit card companies look like the villian for having the nerve to want you to pay the money that you owe them!

Crazy society, isn't it?

[Peter Lombardo]

Of course. You know, in life I find that the truth is rarely black or white, it is most often in shades of gray. Sure many of the lending institutions are very aggressive in getting people into loans that they should not have. But, as that old saying goes, “let the buyer bewareâ€. If the deal looked to good, there is usually a problem with it.

I know a number of “former automobile salesman†who jumped into the mortgage business in the 1990’s and 2000’s because there was a ton of money to be made. These guys brought their “aggressive auto sales mentality†into that business and “wham bam thank you mam†they were off and running. But as the consumer, we must be careful and not get taken to the cleaners by these vicious sales predators’. Remember…if it looks like a duck, it walks like a duck, it sounds like a duck, it is most likely, a duck. If the deal is too good, if the adjustable mortgage payment is too low now and too high after the adjustment, stay away…you will get crushed in the end and you are not a victim…you are a fool, and I think it was R.H. Whitaker who said, “a fool and his money will partâ€.

[Nick F40]

All of the teachers I had in elementary school in the '60's had a sure fire cure for ADD/ADS........................it was a paddle with holes in it!

Some only needed it once and for all................others you could set your watch by 'cuz the teacher was about fed up for the day!

Joe mentioned about getting rid of the safety regs to reduce weight...............Yeah how 'bout getting rid of the side impact standards and roof crush regs, so I can have my beloved hardtop body style again!!

I can't understand a government which will allow convertibles to be built which are inherently unsafe by their nature (But fun as heck!) but won't allow a steel roof car to be built without a B pillar without the car companies jumping through hoops??

Ahhh yes! To buy brand new model kits for $2.50 again.............I nearly froze in place when I saw the nearly $19.00(!!) for the new Nova kit at my LHS! That $2.50 price BTW was what kits cost when i started building in 1978.

I fully support what you said Bill, I think that they should still beat the kids when they are out of line. But GOD FORBID a teacher smack, paddles, or ruler over the wrist anymore, they'll sue you and consider it child abuse, what a joke. Your not allowed to discipline/punishment or teach a lesson anymore....that;s why the kids are the way they are nowadays..ignorant and helpless They need to bring paddles back my grandparents have one and used it!

Unfortunately, in our litigation-happy society, YES YOU CAN! People sue for stupid reasons all the time. The problem is the moron judges and juries that award these people damages!

Remember the old lady who sued McDonalds when she spilled hot coffee on herself? She WON!

oh, eeerrgh don't get me started..... That is the most brainless thing I ever heard.....how can you have no common sense AT ALL on that????? How frickin stupid do you have to buy, der der derrr, yeah spill coffee on myself and coffee has been hot ever since it's been around, wow if I spill it on myself it will be hot and hurt, so maybe I better watch it! Maybe I'll wear a helmet when I say that or maybe I'll get her one.

No Chris, not ENZO!!!!!! No suing

[Frank Steffens]

An interesting read:

Coffee Lawsuit

As for the picture, I think its fake. Its probably nothing more than a rudimentary photoshop job. But even if it is real, it says in the original post that the signs were placed by the owners of the strip mall. If that's the case, then frankly, they can put whatever signs they choose. They could put signs that say Preferred Parking for Brunettes and really, the only recourse is to not shop there.

I own a hybrid, and I don't preach the good news about it to anyone, nor do I think I should get preffered [sic] parking because of it. I have however been yelled at by people who say I was crazy to buy it because:

1. Firefighters will refuse to cut me out of it in a bad accident for fear of being electrocuted. (a myth)

2. It will cost $5,000.00 to dispose of the hybrid battery. (a myth)

3. I have to plug it in every night. (a myth)

4. The hybrid battery will explode, or even better, liquify the passengers in the event I'm rear ended. (um, yeah, a myth)

5. The hybrid battery will explode, with the same results as above, for no particular reason at all. (sense a pattern here?)

I wouldn't get too worked up about the political correctness of posting such a sign, like all things, we'll either get used to it, or find out two months from now on snopes.com that it was a hoax.

Edited July 19, 2008 by Frank Steffens

[The Modeling Hermit]

This is great; a dedicated parking place for my bicycle. Seriously, I get a kick out of all the fuss over fuel efficient vehicles (not actually a bad thing), yet those who walk or use non fuel type transportation, still get shoved aside. One might ask the management of that complex, where all the bike racks are. I think it's time for some changes, but shoving "green" down peoples throats is not the answer. Changes and education should have been started 35 years ago, when we were first warned about our fuel vulnerability.

[Dragon7665]

Whats next? A hybrid only lane on the turnpike?

I take it your State doesn't offer perks for owning a Hybrid??? Cali gives Hybrid owners a sticker for their Rear Windows that allows a Single driver to use the HOV Bus/2 or More Passenger Carpool Lane.... My Great State of Washington has been looking into doing that as well, while me(Sorry I don't have the option to Carpool & our Great OverPriced Transit System is far from reliable, especially with my schedule! Besides I spent a good 18yrs doing the Green Thing, now it's my turn ) and other single driver commuters will see a fine like this if we try to use it- 1st time offense $1068.50,-2nd offense fine is doubled,-3rd it is tripled,-4th your license is suspended for a year! (they don't play around!)

[Dragon7665]

1. Firefighters will refuse to cut me out of it in a bad accident for fear of being electrocuted. (a myth)

2. It will cost $5,000.00 to dispose of the hybrid battery. (a myth)

3. I have to plug it in every night. (a myth)

4. The hybrid battery will explode, or even better, liquify the passengers in the event I'm rear ended. (um, yeah, a myth)

5. The hybrid battery will explode, with the same results as above, for no particular reason at all. (sense a pattern here?)

Funny I was going through Auto Collision Repair Cert Training when the First Honda EV's(They had to be Plugged in nightly btw, along other EV Test Mules at the time!) were introduced, and #1 was actually a Reality at the time..... Quite a few of the Local Fire Fighters were worried that they could get electrocuted if they had to cut someone out of one.....

Number 2 is mis-worded, New Replacement Batteries will cost $5,000 a piece for Toyota Prius Replacements(Toyota was Quoted as saying that they were only meant to have a 5yr lifespan, give or take), but there are more than just one! Other Hybrid Replacement cost will depend on the Car.....

A Hybrid Battery is no different than any other Battery, so it can or will explode given the right circumstances(Yes the Right type of Impact to the Car can make this happen).... Yes they can seriously Injury you when it happens, and Personally I wouldn't want any type of Acid to come into contact with me.....

BTW, I Know afew FireFighters Locally, In Seattle,South Seattle, and Etc that still will refuse to cut anyone out of a Hybrid within reason

[CAL]

Funny I was going through Auto Collision Repair Cert Training when the First Honda EV's(They had to be Plugged in nightly btw, along other EV Test Mules at the time!) were introduced, and #1 was actually a Reality at the time..... Quite a few of the Local Fire Fighters were worried that they could get electrocuted if they had to cut someone out of one.....

Number 2 is mis-worded, New Replacement Batteries will cost $5,000 a piece for Toyota Prius Replacements(Toyota was Quoted as saying that they were only meant to have a 5yr lifespan, give or take), but there are more than just one! Other Hybrid Replacement cost will depend on the Car.....

A Hybrid Battery is no different than any other Battery, so it can or will explode given the right circumstances(Yes the Right type of Impact to the Car can make this happen).... Yes they can seriously Injury you when it happens, and Personally I wouldn't want any type of Acid to come into contact with me.....

BTW, I Know afew FireFighters Locally, In Seattle,South Seattle, and Etc that still will refuse to cut anyone out of a Hybrid within reason

more truths...

Most Hybrids use Nickel Metal Hydride batteries.

They can explode or catch fire if they are shorted overcharged or the case is damaged.

Honda themself said that a battery fire or explosion is about the same risk as a gasoline car. We have 3-5 car fires a day during rush hour. So the potential is there.

There is a potentially deadly high voltage line that is live if the car is on. i.e. the key turned on but not necessarily running.

Chances are low that a firefighter would be electrocuted cutting someone out of a Hybrid car. The main cable is highly visible in an Orange case and now where near the pillars, roof or doors. They usually run along the underside of the car. The only real way to be sure you're not going to get zapped is pulling the main fuse or disconnecting the main lead.

There is a life span of unknown length for a NiMH, but estimated life if 5-6 years, and $6000.00 to replace. Some of the newer vehicles carry 10 year warr on those systems. There will probably be some sort of disposal fee, nevertheless. And battery manufacturing creates more toxic waste than just about any industry around. Not to mention already dumping 40,000-70,000 metric tons of lead alone in landfills. Nobody knows the true cost of ownership of these cars yet because they haven't been around long enough for things to start failing on them. At the rate peolpe take car of cars generally (they dont), there may be a bunch of rolling bombs driving around in 10-15 years.

What we do know is you have to drive it for 11 years and 120,000 (which is proably longer now because in most cases the Hybrid owners are not getting the mileage that was promised or if it is financed - that just makes even less finacial sense) miles or so to pay for the difference in original cost of the vehicle compared to a similar non-Hybrid, which only like less then 1% of all people keep cars for that long. If you don't keep it that long you loose. You loose on the depreciation on a vehicle about 30% more expensive so it actually costed more than an like non-Hybrid.

I think the jury is still out on Hybrids and time will tell if it was such a good idea or not in about ten years or so. What I do know for a fact is it just doesn't make sense to purchase a new Hybrid unless you pay cash for it and drive the ###### out of it for a long long time. And that is just the math.

Plus, I drove a Prius, the are not very fun to drive.

LiPO Lithium Ion Polymer batteries are probably in the future for Hybrids. They can weigh a lot less than NiMH, and deliver a lot more power in a smaller space, however, they are not stable and are VERY explosive when overcharged.

[Nick F40]

more truths...

Most Hybrids use Nickel Metal Hydride batteries.

They can explode or catch fire if they are shorted overcharged or the case is damaged.

LiPO Lithium Ion Polymer batteries are probably in the future for Hybrids. They can weigh a lot less than NiMH, and deliver a lot more power in a smaller space, however, they are not stable and are VERY explosive when overcharged.

That is why I don't see anything in interest in Hybrids...

LiPo are already big, in the RC world and they are proven to be lighter, more powerful, and higher capacity, but also the reason you gave deters me away. If you don't charge/discharge right and use properly.....yeah...watch out.

[Frank Steffens]

Plus, I drove a Prius, the are not very fun to drive.

I totally agree...my Escape is no sports car and it sure ain't fun. At stop signs, you have to be sure you'll make it, because it is NOT fast off the line. On the whole, the car has worked for me (so far). I owned a V6 Escape before this one, and the savings in gas has made it worth it for me on my 100 mile a day round trip commute. The poor thing is less than 3 years old and already has 80,000 miles on it. If I behave and do 55mph, I can get an average of 32-33 mpg. If I do around 65-70 mph, its around 28-29 mpg, which isn't too bad for a small AWD SUV (the V6 Escape got around 16 to 18, or almost a half tank a day). Coupled with the 2500 dollar tax credit I got on my income taxes the year after I bought it, I broke even on the added expense of the hybrid system after the first year and a half or so. Would I recommend it? Just like CAL said, if you're paying cash, and you like Ford Escapes and have a choice between a regular Escape and a Hybrid and they both have similar options, and you have a long commute and only will own one car in your family, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

[Nick F40]

My uncle says a Subaru 360 has more torque..............................................

Well, the price you pay for some, you can buy a regular car and use that extra to pay for gas..I know plenty of V8's and other engines that get over 25 mpg, so don't give me that high mpg ######...

[Joe Handley]

That is why I don't see anything in interest in Hybrids...

LiPo are already big, in the RC world and they are proven to be lighter, more powerful, and higher capacity, but also the reason you gave deters me away. If you don't charge/discharge right and use properly.....yeah...watch out.

Don;t forget Nick, even the newer and/or bigger Ni-MH Sub-C cells have been known to explode like a firecracker (had it happen to me with a 7 cell 100mAh 2/3 A pack a few years ago) and injure people. Some people on RCCrawler have started thinking Li-Po's might be a safer compared to the newer Ni-MH's Somebody else on their said that the crawling club he's affiliated with is considering mandating Li-Po sacks for Ni-MH cells at their GTG's and comps after a pack let loose in a local park while charging during a comp on somebody's car!

[Joe Handley]

Joe mentioned about getting rid of the safety regs to reduce weight...............Yeah how 'bout getting rid of the side impact standards and roof crush regs, so I can have my beloved hardtop body style again!!

I can't understand a government which will allow convertibles to be built which are inherently unsafe by their nature (But fun as heck!) but won't allow a steel roof car to be built without a B pillar without the car companies jumping through hoops??

Actually I was talking about things like ABS, Traction Control, Stability Control, Tire Pressure Monitors, Air Bags, Post OBD1 emissions controls, ect. Now leave most of that stuff as options for those that are willing to take the cost, weight, and complexity penaltys can have them while those like myself who don't have much interest in them, or like smaller stature folks that can be injured by airbags can opt out of them. It's funny., I saw somewhere the other day that the insurance industry was going to be increasing premiums because people were costing more to take care of post wreck and cars were begining to cost more to repair and/or replace after a wreck, yet some of the problems with the greater cost is some of the stuff I mentioned above again like airbags that are one use only and cost a small forture to replace and repair damage from:blink:

[MrObsessive]

Actually I was talking about things like ABS, Traction Control, Stability Control, Tire Pressure Monitors, Air Bags, Post OBD1 emissions controls, ect. Now leave most of that stuff as options for those that are willing to take the cost, weight, and complexity penaltys can have them while those like myself who don't have much interest in them, or like smaller stature folks that can be injured by airbags can opt out of them. It's funny., I saw somewhere the other day that the insurance industry was going to be increasing premiums because people were costing more to take care of post wreck and cars were begining to cost more to repair and/or replace after a wreck, yet some of the problems with the greater cost is some of the stuff I mentioned above again like airbags that are one use only and cost a small forture to replace and repair damage from

Agreed! The insurance companies have no one but themselves to blame for the increasing complexity of cars. They screamed for years about the "high health costs" of auto injuries and browbeat the government into passing regs to the auto industry for "safety".

I'd like to see that stuff become options if it'll knock several thousand bucks off the final price of the car!

......................And guess what? Folks will have to actually drive their vehicle instead of relying on the safety equipment to save 'em.

I dunno.................it's like looking forward to your next accident or something with all the safety junk on cars.

[Nick F40]

......................And guess what? Folks will have to actually drive their vehicle instead of relying on the safety equipment to save 'em.

I dunno.................it's like looking forward to your next accident or something with all the safety junk on cars.

see THAT is what I am saying and something that people don't know how to do.

Oh and I agree with you on the hardtop!

[Harry P.]

Cars these days are out of control with all the "safety" features. Now they even have a camera so you can see what you're backing into by watching the screen on your dash!

Uh....have we lost the ability to TURN AROUND and LOOK WHERE WE'RE GOING when we back up???

[CAL]

Cars these days are out of control with all the "safety" features. Now they even have a camera so you can see what you're backing into by watching the screen on your dash!

Uh....have we lost the ability to TURN AROUND and LOOK WHERE WE'RE GOING when we back up???

Literally... out of control with safty features.

RX-8s have an inherent problem with their DSC. There has been dozens of similar accidents that have all come back to an over-reactive DSC if you are drive the vehicle aggressively with the DSC turned on.

[Zoom Zoom]

Cars these days are out of control with all the "safety" features. Now they even have a camera so you can see what you're backing into by watching the screen on your dash!

Uh....have we lost the ability to TURN AROUND and LOOK WHERE WE'RE GOING when we back up???

While I agree with that sentiment, have you actually tried to do that in some of today's vehicles? It's damned near impossible to see out the back of most of them! Thick pillars and massive blind spots are a lot more prevalent today than a few years ago. Cameras are quite useful if can't see out the back. You can turn around and crane your neck all you want; you won't see much back there. My 20 year old sedan has amazing visibility. Most new sedans have terrible visibility by comparison; thicker pillars, raked glass, impossible to see the corners of the car. Sports cars and many SUV's are horrifically hard to see out of. I drove a 2nd generation Dodge Intrepid one time that was awful for changing lanes, the visibility was so bad that even when I turned to look when making a lane change from left to right I couldn't see if there was a car there or not...I had to rely on the mirror for something I usually rely on my own eyes for!