Harry P. Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 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. And that speaks volumes about the design of many of today's cars. If a car needs a rear-view camera because of giant blind spots, there's something inherently wrong with the basic design of the car. A well-designed, user-friendly car shouldn't NEED gimmicks like rear-view cameras to make up for poor design.
Brian Fishburn Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 I like how vague they are, too. I think 20 mpg city is pretty efficient for a full size truck with V8, Automatic and 4 wheel drive. I'd have no problem parking there
Nick F40 Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 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. EXACTLY!!!!!!! No thinking in design I like how vague they are, too. I think 20 mpg city is pretty efficient for a full size truck with V8, Automatic and 4 wheel drive. I'd have no problem parking there yeah me to but people think that's horrible....
Zoom Zoom Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 And that speaks volumes about the design of many of today's cars. If a car needs a rear-view camera because of giant blind spots, there's something inherently wrong with the basic design of the car. A well-designed, user-friendly car shouldn't NEED gimmicks like rear-view cameras to make up for poor design. It's a double-edged sword; I doubt many would like what a modern car looked like if it did have the same visibility that older more upright cars with thin pillars would allow. Combine the fact that bodies are a lot stronger than before, much safer in accidents/much stiffer body allowing for much better suspension tuning and quieter ride, and trying to make cars/SUV's as aerodynamic as possible without looking like a charicature of a cinder block, well...suffice to say nobody has solved it, from any company, without electronic gizmos.
Guest Davkin Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 My full size 4400 lb Crown Victoria gets 24mpg, I consider that pretty darned efficient. However, my Caprice made 46 more HP (very noticible difference!) and got 20 mpg, not bad either consider all other factors were similar. I'd say they have about the same efficiency however the Crown Vic is definately more economical. David
Harry P. Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 It's a double-edged sword; I doubt many would like what a modern car looked like if it did have the same visibility that older more upright cars with thin pillars would allow. Combine the fact that bodies are a lot stronger than before, much safer in accidents/much stiffer body allowing for much better suspension tuning and quieter ride, and trying to make cars/SUV's as aerodynamic as possible without looking like a charicature of a cinder block, well...suffice to say nobody has solved it, from any company, without electronic gizmos. I don't agree that huge blind spots or other design flaws are an unavoidable result of meeting safety standards. Here's a modern car that I think most would agree looks pretty good...a car that looks to me to offer excellent visibility, with quite thin C pillars. And I'm sure it meets or exceeds all current safety standards. A well designed car doesn't need gizmos and gadgets to overcome any shortcomings. And if M-B can do it, so can the rest of them. But American consumers eat up the gizmos and gadgets...they love stuff like that. That's why cars now come with coolers in the glove box, heated/cooled seats, nav systems, self-parking (!!!), auto-on wipers, keyless entry, remote start...and on and on. It's amazing how much "help" today's drivers need from gizmos and gadgets.
MrObsessive Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 How I would love to have one of those! They're just too rich for my blood! Sad thing is, pillarless hardtops were as common as houseflies once upon a time. In fact for several model years, (Late '50's into the '60's) all you could get was a hardtop style in some models (Cadillac comes to mind). I also wish they'd stop teasing us with concept cars that are very close to production looks with no B pillar only to have one when the car comes out. (New Camaro or Challenger anyone?) I'd gladly give up some of thos gizmos I'd never use to have a little more style and uniqueness in a car-------and gain some MPG's to boot I'm sure.
The Modeling Hermit Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 No matter how much safety is built into a vehicle, it all comes down to the nut behind the wheel. I guess that I'd probably be one of the worst. When I was driving stock car, my car owner told me that I knew just enough to get my fool self killed.
Harry P. Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 Sad thing is, pillarless hardtops were as common as houseflies once upon a time. . Right! I remember them being very common when I was a kid. I LOVED the look when all the windows were rolled down and you had that huge expanse of "open" front to back. As a little kid I drooled over those babies!
Joe Handley Posted July 21, 2008 Author Posted July 21, 2008 (edited) Wait a minute....you guys agree with me Last time I said something like that I was all but called a retard by the fireman and mortician who were mods on the forum Edited July 21, 2008 by Joe Handley
Harry P. Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 Wait am minute....you guys agree with me Last time I said something like that I was all but called a retard by the fireman and mortician who were mods on the forum The fireman and the mortician??? Did I miss something?
Joe Handley Posted July 21, 2008 Author Posted July 21, 2008 The fireman and the mortician??? Did I miss something? No, these guys were people I actually knew from work and are mods on www.ChitownRC.com .
Harry P. Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 oh, ok. I thought maybe I was asleep at the wheel!
Nick F40 Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 I'd gladly give up some of thos gizmos I'd never use to have a little more style and uniqueness in a car-------and gain some MPG's to boot I'm sure. Nice C-Class! I totally agree Bill, me too. Those self parking commercials make me laugh this is probably my favorite tv commercial, love how they literally but secretly make fun of Lexus. If you are THAT pathetic................. that is my kind of commercial and my kind of car, you self indulgent wieners! With too much money than sense!
Joe Handley Posted July 21, 2008 Author Posted July 21, 2008 I love that Audi commercial, it always gets a laugh from me and Dad!
Joe Handley Posted July 21, 2008 Author Posted July 21, 2008 oh, ok. I thought maybe I was asleep at the wheel! Nope, probably should have gone further with my description though.
Zoom Zoom Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 Nice C-Class! I totally agree Bill, me too. Those self parking commercials make me laugh this is probably my favorite tv commercial, love how they literally but secretly make fun of Lexus. If you are THAT pathetic................. that is my kind of commercial and my kind of car, you self indulgent wieners! With too much money than sense! Guess I was asleep at the wheel; that's the first time I noticed the intentional jab at Lexus, seeing that there's an LS460 in the spot ahead of the Audi I saw one of the Lexus sedans doing it's parking trick at a car show (over and over and over); it was almost painfully slow to get into a parking spot. I might parallel park once or twice a year, if that...but I can certainly do it much faster and more accurately than the gizmo mobile.
Nick F40 Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 Guess I was asleep at the wheel; that's the first time I noticed the intentional jab at Lexus, seeing that there's an LS460 in the spot ahead of the Audi I saw one of the Lexus sedans doing it's parking trick at a car show (over and over and over); it was almost painfully slow to get into a parking spot. I might parallel park once or twice a year, if that...but I can certainly do it much faster and more accurately than the gizmo mobile. nice one Bob! yeah, now you see what I mean, you can do it faster and more accurately than that parking nazi. I know, painfully slower than an electric car 0-50 and thick moleasses.
Joe Handley Posted July 21, 2008 Author Posted July 21, 2008 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. I remember working with a kid who had a second 300ZX-TT with the Hi-Cas 4WS, it actually caused him to slide off the road on more than one occasion when he'd get the car sideways and it would steer the back end funny causing him to spin out into a ditch!
chinga Posted September 6, 2010 Posted September 6, 2010 1. Firefighters will refuse to cut me out of it in a bad accident for fear of being electrocuted. 2. It will cost $5,000.00 to dispose of the hybrid battery. 3. I have to plug it in every night. ) 4. The hybrid battery will explode, or even better, liquify the passengers in the event I'm rear ended. 5. The hybrid battery will explode, with the same results as above, <i>for no particular reason at all</i>. First off, these are all facts. We as EMTs will NOT approach a hybrid unless an all clear from teh fire dept is given. We have had someone electrocuted, Hybrids not only do that but also have battery explosions as well. It costs a near FORTUNE to not only dispose of the hybrid batteries after 25,000 miles but about 12,000 bucks to replace them. Also if you are dumb enough to be using a leftist "rumor" site like snopes, it stands to reason you would be dumb enough to drive a hybrid. Lastly unless its a cripple spot (Which I DETEST as they are not needed) I will park in it. Screw the PC crowd.
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