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Detroit, 4:52 AM
Thu Dec 10
26 posts in the last 24 hours
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11/16/09
I'm surprised remote door locks aren't on the list. I haven't seen anyone without one that isn't driving a rental car in years. #cartech
11/14/09
11/14/09
1) tires (two)
2) engine: V4, 12k redline, oodles of torque, gear driven cams
3) transmission: manual 6-speed, sequential shift
4) chassis: aluminum, bombproof
5) brakes: unassisted, independent front/rear control
6) suspension: tried and true, with single sided swingarm in rear for the hell of it
7) custom leather saddle that fits la derrière parfaitement
8) removable lockable luggage for trips
9) helmet
10) leathers and/or Aerostitch
You don't need anything else, and probably could be happy with even less. #cartech
11/14/09
11/24/09
11/14/09
11/14/09
11/14/09
There are still cars on which AC is optional nowadays? #cartech
11/15/09
Air conditioning is only necessary since they stop making those triangle vent wings. With those wings, you don't need A/C even in the tropics.
Also, manufacture save a few dollars by not putting insulation in the firewall. You get warm air coming thru the vent.
All this makes A/C a must have in modern cars. #cartech
11/15/09
11/16/09
11/16/09
FWIW, the hand-cranked windows in our Corolla go completely down in three and a half cranks. It's not like you're depriving yourself of anything by going with the base car. #cartech
11/16/09
11/19/09
Insulating blanket on the firewall make a big difference.
Grand Pa's 80's Cadillac with tons of insulation and broken AC even after 2 fixing. You can drive that in summer time because air coming out of the vent is actually cool and not warm.
11/13/09
So what does the "divide by zero" button do? #cartech
11/14/09
However, it should be noted that, in testing, the resulting infinite improbability sometimes turned the driver into a peach. But, BMW's technicians are aware of the issue and are working to resolve it as soon as possible. #cartech
11/14/09
The possibilities are infinite...
/math nerd #cartech
11/14/09
11/14/09
11/15/09
Well, okay, I took some asymptotic poetic license... ;-) #cartech
11/16/09
11/13/09
Oh, and why can't people knee drive with a stick shift? Pfffttt, rookies! #cartech
11/13/09
DVD? Leather? F-that, it's gonna get screwed up anyways!
And automatics? Ich... #cartech
11/13/09
God DAMN I can see why Americans are getting fat lazy and stupid the GODDAM DVD PLAYERIS RIGHT THE FUCKT THELRE;\
GETTING PISSED CANT TIPE. #cartech
11/13/09
11/14/09
11/14/09
You're overlooking the fact that many TV and DVD functions can ONLY be accessed via the remote(s). #cartech
11/13/09
Back-up camera.
And not those damn sensors, either. I want real visual feedback, so I can see the child on a Big Wheel I'm about to back into. #cartech
11/13/09
An electrically, not vacuum, actuated cruise. It's bitchin', even though it's 15 years old, and I've used it more in the 9 months I've had this car than in all the cars previous, all of which had vacuum cruise, combined.
Leather seats. Kinda requires A/C in most climates, but nice. I likes early-80's GM velour benches, but only if I'm feeling like captain of said yacht.
Sunroof...mine now requires a hand to help it close, or tilt up, and I'm fine with that. Wish it were glass, not metal, but hey, it's a sub-$3K car...it works, I'm happy.
Automatic...kinda required for my screwed up left leg, so.... At least mine is sans lockup converter, so one less piece to fail.
In-car nav?! Nice, but my Garmin is easily updated, and when new features appear, I'm not stuck in 2002 (like with my wife's RX300). This kinda makes me 5/10, but it's not attached.
I wish for "air conditioned" leather seats in my next ride.
Wife's car is 7/10, which is fine by me. Don't know anyone who'd use DVD in the rear seat, don't know enough people, period, to have a third row, and I didn't want that ride to have a trailer hitch.
One last thing...while I have interval wipers, and the OEM 86% coverage single wiper blade, Mercedes engineers, rain intensity is variable and interval speed should be, too.
11/13/09
The most important feature unfortunately car mfs don't offer is this. For all the people that annoy me in my car. #cartech
11/13/09
11/13/09
Cruise control was invented for three reasons - Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.
If you've never had your kid get car sick and barf up an Arby's Chicken Bacon & Ranch sandwich, you will never appreciate a leather interior. #cartech
11/13/09
11/13/09
11/13/09
Thanks, Ben! #cartech
11/13/09
But you're cheating with that automatic-transmission picture. What you see there isn't just an boring old slushy shifter, but a fully-integrated Hybrid Synergy Drive ™ control lever. By which I mean you can pull on that shifter in the "B" direction and get regenerative braking, which is awesome. #cartech
11/13/09
AWD can be nice, but it's generally not necessary particularly if you have a FWD car. Most people who think they need it almost never use it. And I've seen people who've managed to get stuck even with AWD.
Most people don't need trailer hitches or third row seats. It's like overbuying at Costco. People think they need all that excess but in reality they end up taking advantage of it once, maybe twice a year.
Automatics are convenient, plain and simple. Especially for Americans who seem to consider their cars extensions of their living rooms. Hence the need for the entertainment systems. But then, automatics are becoming increasingly popular in Europe as well. They generally avoided them because they were a pricey option, but that's not so much the case anymore. And then there's the ego to factor into the equation. But I do like a good manual transmission myself.
I was never a fan of sunroofs, especially the gigantic, heavy, glass canopies becoming popular.
As for in-car navigation systems, while the integrated functionality is very nice, I tend to find them quite lacking compared to standalone GPS devices. And I can't stand the clutter those systems add to the dashboard, all the extra buttons and this big, distracting screen constantly demanding the drivers attention.
Well, automotive technology seems to be heading in one direction, towards cars that drive themselves. And at that point cars really will be an extension of your home. #cartech
11/13/09
On an interesting note, when I was living in Taiwan I encountered taxi drivers with in car televisions on a regular basis. And on a fairly regular basis they'd enjoy a movie while driving around in heavy traffic. I remember this one time this guy was really into U-571; I was just waiting for him to rear-end someone. #cartech
11/13/09