Its starting to look like “Massapequa Beyond Thunderdome” out there. While all of us in the Northeast are subject to long lines at the pump, we have to wonder how much gas we are burning sitting in the long lines at the pump. Here are the ways to maximize fuel efficiency while sitting in long lines.
But since there is so much variation in fuel saving tech in cars, my recommendation is you try different things, between being in gear and in park to see where the car idles at the lowest speed, based on looking at the Tachometer.
Don’t be on the brake and in Drive (D) -For most cars, when the drive gears are engaged, gas is being fed to the motor to propel the car forward. Keeping your foot on the brake wastes this into braking energy, which consumers more gas.Try it: let go of the brake, don’t touch the gas, and the car moves forward, using fuel.
You should be in Park (P) - This consumes the least amount of gas while driving the alternator and necessary systems.
Don’t be in Neutral - Most cars automatically detect when a car is idling and shut down the fuel injectors. This is unless the car in Neutral (N), and then the car will rev at a constant rate, as shifting the car into neutral disables the auto fuel cut-off. Additionally, when you are in Neutral, you stand the risk of rolling.
Shut it down: if you plan to sit for more than 3- 5 minutes at a time, shut down the motor. It is true that this does cause stress to the starter, but it’s a myth that it takes more gas to start a car. At this point the wear and tear might be worth the gas savings, but if you hear your starter making funny sounds like whirring or buzzing, avoid doing this.
Avoid running auxiliary systems, especially A/C - keep using the heat to a minimum, and make sure your A/C is off - most modern defoggers automatically turn on the A/C, which eats gas, so make sure you check this. running things like radio and hazards lights are fine, but try and keep the heat blower to a minimum.
Start/Stop systems - If you drive a newer car, odds are you might have a start/stop system in the car, which automatically stops the drive motor when sitting to save fuel. Check your vehicles documentation to see if your car has this system enabled. If this is the case, keep it in gear, and stay on the brake.
Tire pressure: Cold contracts air, reducing the amount of air pressure in your tires. For maximum fuel efficiency, have your tires filled to the recommended PSI, located inside your driver’s side door well.
Air Filter - Have a clean one.
Source: Car and Driver magazine, http://goo.gl/QZpxl
Making the Hell of Commuting More Like Commuting Purgatory
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Monday, November 5, 2012
Commuting with Sandy
It’s been a long time since I have written anything. Just too busy with work, doing the daily grind. But then along came Hurricane Sandy, and turned all of our worlds upside down in the Northeast. After seeing the devastation on the rest of the South Shore of LI, I feel that my family and I were lucky with minimal property damage and no injuries. A little preparation went a long way. Having no power was a slight inconvenience considering what others have gone through.
But now we are trying to bring our lives back to normal, which includes getting to work. The rest of the world has n0t stopped, so getting to and from the job and navigating Metro NY has challenges we need to be aware of.
Gas
First and foremost is the gas situation. Its bad, but we all saw it coming. The lines are a good 1-3 miles long in Nassau County, and from what I hear its getting bad in other places too. My friend in Dutchess County tells me they are now getting short on gas because all the Westchester people are flocking there for fuel. The best advice right now is to wait. People’s hoarder mentality takes over, so if you can restrict driving, do it. That gas is better served in someone generator keeping a family warm or for someone who doesn’t have the ability to telecommute. The situation should remedy itself in a few more days, but until then, sit tight. Take mass transit, car pool, and work from home.
But what if it doesn’t get better and the world gets all Mad Max on us? At that point, people are going to be looking to siphon gas, if they haven’t already, and you may have to defend. Most modern cars are secondary targets because the gas tank needs to be pried open. The best targets for stealing gas will also be SUV’s because of their larger thanks and higher ground clearance makes it easy to puncture a tank. So what can you do for defense?
To avoid being siphoned, it’s a team effort. You and someone you park near should park tank to tank, with not enough room to fit in between. For example, in a driveway, one car goes in forward, and the other backs in parallel within inches of the first car. Rear wheel to rear wheel, this should block any access to both tanks. One of you will likely have to crawl in your passenger side, but its better then being stuck on E. while of course this will not stop a determined thief, it will likely make them move on to easier targets.
Mass Transit
You know those images that come out of Japan, when trains are so full, they actually hire guys to get a running start and push people in to the cars? Well the LIRR will likely be looking to hire them soon. This morning, I took a 5:25 am LIRR train from Massapequa to Penn station. By the time the train hit the next stop, all of the cars were full. The conductor, who ironically sounded A LOT like Samuel L Jackson was telling people at every stop the train was full and no more passengers were being admitted. Of course, no one listened, and this makes the train late. Even with limited service, Mass transit is still likely the best option for commuting if you can swing it. The lines are terrible, as are the crowds, but most of the trains are running. The Ferrys into Manhattan are also running, and Metro North is doing well.
But the best advice is to leave early, and travel off peak until the tunnels are pumped out and gas becomes available again.
Bridges and tunnels
If you need to commute, the bridges may be your only option as most of the lower tunnels are still flooded out. Listen to traffic reports for recent closures and maintenance.
Good luck out there, and e smart, and be courteous.
But now we are trying to bring our lives back to normal, which includes getting to work. The rest of the world has n0t stopped, so getting to and from the job and navigating Metro NY has challenges we need to be aware of.
Gas
First and foremost is the gas situation. Its bad, but we all saw it coming. The lines are a good 1-3 miles long in Nassau County, and from what I hear its getting bad in other places too. My friend in Dutchess County tells me they are now getting short on gas because all the Westchester people are flocking there for fuel. The best advice right now is to wait. People’s hoarder mentality takes over, so if you can restrict driving, do it. That gas is better served in someone generator keeping a family warm or for someone who doesn’t have the ability to telecommute. The situation should remedy itself in a few more days, but until then, sit tight. Take mass transit, car pool, and work from home.
But what if it doesn’t get better and the world gets all Mad Max on us? At that point, people are going to be looking to siphon gas, if they haven’t already, and you may have to defend. Most modern cars are secondary targets because the gas tank needs to be pried open. The best targets for stealing gas will also be SUV’s because of their larger thanks and higher ground clearance makes it easy to puncture a tank. So what can you do for defense?
To avoid being siphoned, it’s a team effort. You and someone you park near should park tank to tank, with not enough room to fit in between. For example, in a driveway, one car goes in forward, and the other backs in parallel within inches of the first car. Rear wheel to rear wheel, this should block any access to both tanks. One of you will likely have to crawl in your passenger side, but its better then being stuck on E. while of course this will not stop a determined thief, it will likely make them move on to easier targets.
Mass Transit
You know those images that come out of Japan, when trains are so full, they actually hire guys to get a running start and push people in to the cars? Well the LIRR will likely be looking to hire them soon. This morning, I took a 5:25 am LIRR train from Massapequa to Penn station. By the time the train hit the next stop, all of the cars were full. The conductor, who ironically sounded A LOT like Samuel L Jackson was telling people at every stop the train was full and no more passengers were being admitted. Of course, no one listened, and this makes the train late. Even with limited service, Mass transit is still likely the best option for commuting if you can swing it. The lines are terrible, as are the crowds, but most of the trains are running. The Ferrys into Manhattan are also running, and Metro North is doing well.
But the best advice is to leave early, and travel off peak until the tunnels are pumped out and gas becomes available again.
Bridges and tunnels
If you need to commute, the bridges may be your only option as most of the lower tunnels are still flooded out. Listen to traffic reports for recent closures and maintenance.
Good luck out there, and e smart, and be courteous.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Why the GWB Carmegeddon isn't as bad as we thought it would be...
Last night I decided to take the lower level of the GWB inbound. This was not an error, rather a carefully calculated decision based on upper level toll plaza traffic and CBX traffic on the other side. I decided that the 25 minute trek downstairs was favorable to about 40 minutes upstairs. I would have followed the traffic indicator sign on the 95 approach which listed approximate wait times, but shocker, it wasn’t working.
We have all been warned to avoid the GWB. Everyone says its complete anarchy as 3 lanes are reduced to one, creating an absolute bottleneck and gumming up the full approach. This is actually not true.
[caption id="attachment_579" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
this is the three lanes that are on the GWB lower level. the left is the HRD exit, the right is the Deegan exit and in the middle is the CBX approach.[/caption]
In reality, the traffic pattern is not all that different. The 3 lanes in question encompass the Harlem River Drive left exit, the 95 through traffic lane, and the Deegan lane to the left. The Harlem River Drive exits as normally, and about 50 yards later, the other two lanes go into a slow merge. And when I say exit as normally, I mean the left lane moves more rapidly than the 2 right lanes. The middle lane is not for the weary, requiring constant concentration to keep within 6 inches off the bumper of the car in front of you, to prevent the asshats that are too important to wait from cutting in.
I think these pricks are actually thee root cause of most of the traffic down there, both on the span and in the Harlem River Drive approach. People stop in the middle of the left lane to cut off traffic, which causes that lane to stop moving, in addition to the middle lane. After this it’s 2 lanes merging slowly, which are then expanded out from one lane to two, which actually is an improvement over the cluster that was the previous traffic pattern -Remember that? Lower level and upper level all merging into four lanes, with all of the Deegan bound trucks desperately trying to jockey all the way to right from the other side of the road, through traffic? Yeah, im kind of glad that’s gone.
So in conclusion, the lower level of the GWB right now is not that bad for the weekday commuter, but always add about 10 minutes to drive time. But still consider it off-limits between Thursday night and Sunday night, when all the travelers are on their way to their destination. For now it is an option, but when September hits, I still think its going to be utter chaos.
We have all been warned to avoid the GWB. Everyone says its complete anarchy as 3 lanes are reduced to one, creating an absolute bottleneck and gumming up the full approach. This is actually not true.
[caption id="attachment_579" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
this is the three lanes that are on the GWB lower level. the left is the HRD exit, the right is the Deegan exit and in the middle is the CBX approach.[/caption]In reality, the traffic pattern is not all that different. The 3 lanes in question encompass the Harlem River Drive left exit, the 95 through traffic lane, and the Deegan lane to the left. The Harlem River Drive exits as normally, and about 50 yards later, the other two lanes go into a slow merge. And when I say exit as normally, I mean the left lane moves more rapidly than the 2 right lanes. The middle lane is not for the weary, requiring constant concentration to keep within 6 inches off the bumper of the car in front of you, to prevent the asshats that are too important to wait from cutting in.
I think these pricks are actually thee root cause of most of the traffic down there, both on the span and in the Harlem River Drive approach. People stop in the middle of the left lane to cut off traffic, which causes that lane to stop moving, in addition to the middle lane. After this it’s 2 lanes merging slowly, which are then expanded out from one lane to two, which actually is an improvement over the cluster that was the previous traffic pattern -Remember that? Lower level and upper level all merging into four lanes, with all of the Deegan bound trucks desperately trying to jockey all the way to right from the other side of the road, through traffic? Yeah, im kind of glad that’s gone.
So in conclusion, the lower level of the GWB right now is not that bad for the weekday commuter, but always add about 10 minutes to drive time. But still consider it off-limits between Thursday night and Sunday night, when all the travelers are on their way to their destination. For now it is an option, but when September hits, I still think its going to be utter chaos.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I got 99 Problems and the TVB is one.
I'm driving on the Clearview Southbound the other day. I'm keeping pace with traffic, and take position behind a rapidly moving black A4 from the middle lane to pass a slow moving VW. It was a gorgeous day. The sunroof is open, the radio is blasting, and I feel great.
That is until I see the unmarked black NYPD Charger bust out from my left from his hiding spot.
He accelerates with such fury that his ass actually kicks out as he pulls out from the dirt underneath the overpass to the tarmac. Im not worried. I see him coming, and I slide to the right. The Audi in front of me was hauling ass, so I almost feel bad for him.
Then he moves right with me and gets right behind me, cherries ablaze. Crap. This is gonna suck. I know im about to get pulled over, so my first move is to roll down all my windows and avoid the illegal tint ticket.
At this point I'm contemplating that I got two choices, yall- pull over the car or bounce on the double put the pedal to the floor. Now a high speed chase is the wrong move, as I can’t outrun an Interceptor package V8 charger.
Plus I got a few dollars I can fight the case. So....I pull over to the side of the road, and I heard "Son do you know why I'm stopping you for?"
"Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hat's real low" I said; this was not received well. At this point I realize my PBA and officers Union stickers won’t be of help.
"Well you was doing 74 in a fifty (four)".
So I got a ticket. Its OK, I'm not mad about it. I have the "don't do the crime if you cant do the time" mentality, and my respect for police officers reminds me he is out there doing his job. I was speeding, I got a ticket, I deserved it, lets pay the fine and move on. But this is where things went south.
Apparently, in NYC, Buffalo and Rochester only, traffic and vehicular infractions are handled by an Organization called the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) which is actually the militant arm of the DMV. This is different than the rest of the state where you get a ticket, and you can plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead the latter, you got to court, where the cop will likely knock it down. Not the TVB. If you dare to plead not guilty, the ticket actually warns you that there will likely be additional fees. They also warn that there is no reduction - you are either guilty or the ticket is dismissed. You better lawyer up if you want to fight because the tickets don’t get dismissed. In fact, it has even been reported that cops get in trouble if tickets are dismissed. Even on the ticket, it basically tells you don’t even attempt to fight this ticket.
In big letters, it tells me i have 15 days to respond, or my automotive world will end due to license suspension, they will kidnap my dog, and write mean things about me on yelp.
As you might know, there is now a fantastic world wide web out there of information sharing that we can all use to computerize our lives and make things easier. The TVB has also embraced this with an “E-plead” function of their website. When you log on using the ticket information, you are able to pay for your ticket and put it behind you. Sounds great in theory. So I logged on a few days after I got the ticket, and it says it is not in their database yet. I signed up to get the email, and they will send me a generated notification of when it becomes available. Great. So I researched this matter, and I found they actually never really post the tickets online in a timely fashion. I also asked one of my friends who works for the NYS DMV about this delay. She was unaware of the TVB’s practices, further contributing to their image as a rogue shadow splinter cell that exists within the states bureaucracy.
I got the email today. Today. I got the ticket nearly 20 days ago. I’m no mathematician, but that seems to be more than the threatening 15 day minimum. Foreseeing this delay, I thankfully dusted off my checkbook, and paid this by snail mail. Now let’s just hope they recognize it, as I always worry about the efficiency of blindly sending something and trusting the post office to deliver it.
But there is one more nagging thing that I have to deal with, and that’s the points. this infractions carries a 6 point penalty, which is very harsh. In NY, if you get 11 points within an 18 month period, you get an automatic suspension. So you better believe that im going to be taking a defensive driving course to lose 4 of those points, and help with any insurance issues that arise.
But I also learned something today. I don’t have to drive that fast. I was never a douche on the road; I never was a tailgater, or made unsafe lane changes. I let people merge in front of me, and I try to be courteous. But I do certainly prefer the left lane and have a lead foot. I think this is a good example of the system doing its job as I constantly remind myself to slow down to a reasonable speed, or risk losing my right to drive. But I am also saving gas, and being safer, which are also benefits. Did I just grow up? I think so.
That is until I see the unmarked black NYPD Charger bust out from my left from his hiding spot.
He accelerates with such fury that his ass actually kicks out as he pulls out from the dirt underneath the overpass to the tarmac. Im not worried. I see him coming, and I slide to the right. The Audi in front of me was hauling ass, so I almost feel bad for him.
Then he moves right with me and gets right behind me, cherries ablaze. Crap. This is gonna suck. I know im about to get pulled over, so my first move is to roll down all my windows and avoid the illegal tint ticket.
At this point I'm contemplating that I got two choices, yall- pull over the car or bounce on the double put the pedal to the floor. Now a high speed chase is the wrong move, as I can’t outrun an Interceptor package V8 charger.
Plus I got a few dollars I can fight the case. So....I pull over to the side of the road, and I heard "Son do you know why I'm stopping you for?"
"Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hat's real low" I said; this was not received well. At this point I realize my PBA and officers Union stickers won’t be of help.
"Well you was doing 74 in a fifty (four)".
So I got a ticket. Its OK, I'm not mad about it. I have the "don't do the crime if you cant do the time" mentality, and my respect for police officers reminds me he is out there doing his job. I was speeding, I got a ticket, I deserved it, lets pay the fine and move on. But this is where things went south.
Apparently, in NYC, Buffalo and Rochester only, traffic and vehicular infractions are handled by an Organization called the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) which is actually the militant arm of the DMV. This is different than the rest of the state where you get a ticket, and you can plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead the latter, you got to court, where the cop will likely knock it down. Not the TVB. If you dare to plead not guilty, the ticket actually warns you that there will likely be additional fees. They also warn that there is no reduction - you are either guilty or the ticket is dismissed. You better lawyer up if you want to fight because the tickets don’t get dismissed. In fact, it has even been reported that cops get in trouble if tickets are dismissed. Even on the ticket, it basically tells you don’t even attempt to fight this ticket.
In big letters, it tells me i have 15 days to respond, or my automotive world will end due to license suspension, they will kidnap my dog, and write mean things about me on yelp.
As you might know, there is now a fantastic world wide web out there of information sharing that we can all use to computerize our lives and make things easier. The TVB has also embraced this with an “E-plead” function of their website. When you log on using the ticket information, you are able to pay for your ticket and put it behind you. Sounds great in theory. So I logged on a few days after I got the ticket, and it says it is not in their database yet. I signed up to get the email, and they will send me a generated notification of when it becomes available. Great. So I researched this matter, and I found they actually never really post the tickets online in a timely fashion. I also asked one of my friends who works for the NYS DMV about this delay. She was unaware of the TVB’s practices, further contributing to their image as a rogue shadow splinter cell that exists within the states bureaucracy.
I got the email today. Today. I got the ticket nearly 20 days ago. I’m no mathematician, but that seems to be more than the threatening 15 day minimum. Foreseeing this delay, I thankfully dusted off my checkbook, and paid this by snail mail. Now let’s just hope they recognize it, as I always worry about the efficiency of blindly sending something and trusting the post office to deliver it.
But there is one more nagging thing that I have to deal with, and that’s the points. this infractions carries a 6 point penalty, which is very harsh. In NY, if you get 11 points within an 18 month period, you get an automatic suspension. So you better believe that im going to be taking a defensive driving course to lose 4 of those points, and help with any insurance issues that arise.
But I also learned something today. I don’t have to drive that fast. I was never a douche on the road; I never was a tailgater, or made unsafe lane changes. I let people merge in front of me, and I try to be courteous. But I do certainly prefer the left lane and have a lead foot. I think this is a good example of the system doing its job as I constantly remind myself to slow down to a reasonable speed, or risk losing my right to drive. But I am also saving gas, and being safer, which are also benefits. Did I just grow up? I think so.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Carmageddon, NY style and how to avoid it
This is it. Over the weekend, construction began on the inbound (east, into Bronx) side of the lower level of the George Washington Bridge (GWB). This construction is a Port Authority overhauling the half-Century old Alexander Hamilton Bridge, which was basically a bottleneck since it was built, and is the source of many a commuter headaches. This traffic is affecting the Cross Bronx (CBX) East, also known as 95 North. The westbound lanes will continue to crawl as before.
The $407 Million dollar construction project is expected to last three months, but as any Metro NY’er goes, this will likely go into the holidays. At any rate, when traffic significantly picks up again in September, it’s going to be a bigger mess. apparently shoulders are being added, so now if you have to change a tire or stall out, your chances of being run down by a gypsy cab are slightly less.
So it’s commuting day one of the construction, and so far reports are promising as the congestion is light inbound this morning. The upper level is apparently moving smoothly, and the lower level is crawling as it minimized down to one lane. I braved the ride in today, and im preparing for the worst on my ride home today. This morning, I kissed my wife and Children goodbye, said I didn't know when i would be home, and prepared for the worst. I am ready for a three hour ride home tonight. Its going to be hot, sticky, and full of road rage, but I wont know unless I try.
So what’s my next option? If this is as bad I think it’s going to be tonight, I am going to have to consider working from my company’s NY headquarters for the next few months, and embracing the LIRR. But here is some advice to how I think you can avoid the delays, which beat sleeping at the office. These apply mostly for commuters, but they can also work for those silly enough to try and cross the Hudson for weekend travel plans.
How to avoid the delays:
Good luck, and Godspeed.
The $407 Million dollar construction project is expected to last three months, but as any Metro NY’er goes, this will likely go into the holidays. At any rate, when traffic significantly picks up again in September, it’s going to be a bigger mess. apparently shoulders are being added, so now if you have to change a tire or stall out, your chances of being run down by a gypsy cab are slightly less.
So it’s commuting day one of the construction, and so far reports are promising as the congestion is light inbound this morning. The upper level is apparently moving smoothly, and the lower level is crawling as it minimized down to one lane. I braved the ride in today, and im preparing for the worst on my ride home today. This morning, I kissed my wife and Children goodbye, said I didn't know when i would be home, and prepared for the worst. I am ready for a three hour ride home tonight. Its going to be hot, sticky, and full of road rage, but I wont know unless I try.
So what’s my next option? If this is as bad I think it’s going to be tonight, I am going to have to consider working from my company’s NY headquarters for the next few months, and embracing the LIRR. But here is some advice to how I think you can avoid the delays, which beat sleeping at the office. These apply mostly for commuters, but they can also work for those silly enough to try and cross the Hudson for weekend travel plans.
How to avoid the delays:
- Mass Transit - NJ Transit, Path and LIRR all connect within Penn station. It’s actually quite easy to hop a LIRR train, arrive in the station, walk into the NJ transit terminal in Penn, and grab a North East corridor train to your destination, where you can hop on a shuttle, and reverse. Beware though, Secaucus Junction has no parking, and the NJT journey through the Amtrak controlled tunnels coming into Penn can have you sitting for up to 30 minutes as trains are shuffled. Also, keep in mind, NJT trains inbound to Penn average 20 minutes late, so plan your schedule as if trains will be late. And then be pleasantly surprised when they are on time.
- ALWAYS TAKE THE UPPER LEVEL. While the wait at the tolls will be longer, the ride across the span and onto the CBX will be lighter overall.
- From 95, try the lower level local approach, and then hop off into the upper level tolls at the last chance exit
- Keep an eye on the Deegan – When the Deegan overflows, the lower level becomes more congested than the upper level. Pay special attention to not travel during Yankee games, as this will be gridlock.
- Alternate Routes:
- Routes 9&46 off of 95 is one of my favorites, and it drops you right on the ramp to the upper level. Access it through 95 express lane. Don’t be discouraged by the building traffic on the on-ramp to the road, this is normal, and thins out quickly. Just stay in the left lane the whole way to the upper level.
- Lincoln Tunnel / Holland Tunnel - this is actually a pretty good option for most Jersey commuters, assuming you can drive in Manhattan. Certainly expect an uptick in traffic, and pay attention to street closures. Also, don’t assume your GPS will work in the city, where it doesn’t always have line of sight to the satellites. Plan your route out ahead of time. But during weekends, this is likely your best option. Then take the FDR if you have to go North, or hit the Mid\tTown Tunnel for Long Island.
- The Tappan Zee - this might be tempting, but don’t do it unless it’s a weekend and you have to go North of the city.. The traffic really sucks.
- Goethals / Verrazano – (Exit 13) if you are coming from South Jersey, this is a good option for you. Just beware the Belt parkway, one of the most notorious traffic roads in the Northeast.
- Don’t go near the bridge on Thursday night and Fridays - We know about the delays because it’s in the news. Consider the family from Virginia all packed into a minivan blindly following their GPS to the bridge, who go slowly as they try to figure what lane to be in, and accidently go into the EZ Pass lane when they have cash, etc... and multiply this by 10,000 cars. We all know Friday Afternoons are brutal on the bridges because of the weekenders. Call in Sick, work from home, telecommute from Starbucks, I don’t care, but you cant pay me enough to take this ride on a Thursday and Friday, as it will be minivans and cute-utes as far as the eye can see, with more road rage and breakdowns than you have ever seen.
Good luck, and Godspeed.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Summer commuting woes, tips
One of my most favorite advancements in technology is those new signs that tell you average travel time to a destination. They even put one up on the Throgs Neck Bridge that tells you the time you will be sitting on the CBX if you go to the GWB. Brilliant.
But they also let you know when you are screwed. This morning, my commute on on the Northern State took me past the sign that tells you approximate travel times for the LIE (495) and the Northern state to the CIP. You know its bad news when instead of a minute value, it's just "dashes" indicating nothing but trouble.
So two hours into my ride this morning the realization hit me: It's officially summer. Why are still so many cars on the road right now? Typically this time of year the traffic volume is significantly reduced, especially in the morning. I don't know when releief will come, but I am looking forward to it.
Here are also some general tips for metro commutes this month:
Whats going on: A lot of good stuff in the hopper. I'm working on an articles of how to spot the new NYPD unmarked Taurus Interceptors, translating FM traffic data, and also installing a hard-mount radar detector.
Sine the most popular article3s by far on this site are the how-to posts on preparing your car for a hurricane and TPMS, expect to see more like that.
But they also let you know when you are screwed. This morning, my commute on on the Northern State took me past the sign that tells you approximate travel times for the LIE (495) and the Northern state to the CIP. You know its bad news when instead of a minute value, it's just "dashes" indicating nothing but trouble.
So two hours into my ride this morning the realization hit me: It's officially summer. Why are still so many cars on the road right now? Typically this time of year the traffic volume is significantly reduced, especially in the morning. I don't know when releief will come, but I am looking forward to it.
Here are also some general tips for metro commutes this month:
- Whitestone Queens bound: Always stick to the left. After the toll, the lanes split and the right goes into a slow crawling two lanes while the left is a single fast moving lane
- Throgs Neck: Weekend work on the bridge should make you think twice about the Clearview vs. the CIP
- Deegan Northbound : construction continues on GWB ramp, making this almost never a good option
Whats going on: A lot of good stuff in the hopper. I'm working on an articles of how to spot the new NYPD unmarked Taurus Interceptors, translating FM traffic data, and also installing a hard-mount radar detector.
Sine the most popular article3s by far on this site are the how-to posts on preparing your car for a hurricane and TPMS, expect to see more like that.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Why your car loses power when you turn on the AC
Last night I walked out of my office and was blasted with hot air, like someone was aiming 40 hair dryers at me, and today is going to be even worse. Seeking refuge, I got into my car, and promptly turned on the A/C and set the climate control to 60. As the dash thermometer crept past 102 degrees, I was perfectly comfortable. Technology FTW.
Some might notice it, but when you turn on the air conditioner, your car can lose up to 20 HP. If you are cruising and engage the air conditioning, its more evident than going from a stop, but there is usually a performance loss no matter what type of vehicle you drive.
But why? There is nothing wrong with your car, this is the way your serpentine belt is routed on your motor. You see, the belt is turned by the engine, and drives thing like your power steering pump, alternator and water pump. Typically the belt routing also drives the A/C compressor.
When you hit the button to turn on the air conditioning, a clutch is engaged that adds resistance to the belt, because the belt is now working harder to turn more items then before. This is also why some people might notice a drop in gas mileage. if you need a little bit more power when merging or when you know you will have to accelerate, you can always stop the system and then restart it.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
This is a typical layout of a serpentine belt that drives your engines functions[/caption]
People have also asked me why their car leaks water when the AC is on - this is also something that shoud nto be a concern. The AC condenser drips water as it cools the air it sucks in, and this is normal. n fact, you should only be concerned if your car is not dripping water when the air conditioner is on, as this typically indicates a blockage in the line or malfunctioning condenser unit.
Some might notice it, but when you turn on the air conditioner, your car can lose up to 20 HP. If you are cruising and engage the air conditioning, its more evident than going from a stop, but there is usually a performance loss no matter what type of vehicle you drive.
But why? There is nothing wrong with your car, this is the way your serpentine belt is routed on your motor. You see, the belt is turned by the engine, and drives thing like your power steering pump, alternator and water pump. Typically the belt routing also drives the A/C compressor.
When you hit the button to turn on the air conditioning, a clutch is engaged that adds resistance to the belt, because the belt is now working harder to turn more items then before. This is also why some people might notice a drop in gas mileage. if you need a little bit more power when merging or when you know you will have to accelerate, you can always stop the system and then restart it.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"]
This is a typical layout of a serpentine belt that drives your engines functions[/caption]People have also asked me why their car leaks water when the AC is on - this is also something that shoud nto be a concern. The AC condenser drips water as it cools the air it sucks in, and this is normal. n fact, you should only be concerned if your car is not dripping water when the air conditioner is on, as this typically indicates a blockage in the line or malfunctioning condenser unit.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
About the Deegan, and why you need to re-evaluate your decision to drive anywhere tomorrow
What’s the worst road in all of Metro NY? There are a lot of opinions about this, but my second choice for the absolute worst road in the tri state area is the route to the northbound RFK / Triborough including the Major Deegan. (the first choice remains the belt). It’s in a constant state of disrepair, the lanes are way too tight, the volume is overwhelming, and there are just too many damn gypsy cabs and car service drivers who just don’t care about things like turn signals, doing 30 in the left lane or running you off the road as they answer their phone.
1010 AM told me this morning that the outbound GWB was clogged, and the resulting traffic in the CBX was going to be bad. In my personal experience, when the radio says the Cross Bronx is going to be bad it’s an understatement and it usually indicates about a 3 hour delay. So after I narrowly escaped being sideswiped by the old lady in her Corolla who just had to curl her eyelashes on the Wantagh, I checked the traffic data on my GPS, and I decided that taking the Grand Central to the Deegan and over the RFK would be a better option. I don’t think I made the right call.
This morning I thought I was going to be smart and take the Deegan to get into the GWB, and now I know this was a mistake. I followed signs for RFK. I followed signs for the Triborough. I followed the signs that told me that the Triborough was now renamed the RFK. I had lots of time to sit there and ponder this as I sat in a dead standstill for hours.
There are two major bottlenecks in the Deegan approach. The first is actually in the Grand Central, and its right outside LaGuardia airport, but this is usually only active during rush hour. But the worst by far is around the never ending construction on the on-ramp to get onto the GWB three exiting lanes for two different exits (7N and 7S) are reduced to one lane. Plus, there is a heavy merge with a stop sign (really?!) coming from the left. This is further hindered by the merge onto the CBX which moves at a snails pace as tractor trailers have approximately 100 yards to move over three lanes of bumper to bumper traffic. This is a recipe for gridlock, and I don’t think ill be taking it again. I think next time it will be faster to take the Midtown tunnel and go through Manhattan. I do have a question though
Lets do the math - the CBX backs up, but you know it cannot be more than 6 miles of traffic. The Deegan GCP combo on the other hand can be up to 20 miles of traffic, and you know the end is that massive bottleneck. This is compared to the CBX, which usually thins out by Third Ave. My advice is to stick with the CBX.
But let’s be clear, it’s the week before Memorial Day, and driving anywhere is a mistake as the roads are clogged with travelers going to their vacations. I made it a point to work from Manhattan tomorrow and take the LIRR in, as I know Thursday and Friday is going to be one of the worst traffic days of the year.
[caption id="attachment_559" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
the bottlenecks on the Deegan are seen on the approach to the GWB ramp.[/caption]
1010 AM told me this morning that the outbound GWB was clogged, and the resulting traffic in the CBX was going to be bad. In my personal experience, when the radio says the Cross Bronx is going to be bad it’s an understatement and it usually indicates about a 3 hour delay. So after I narrowly escaped being sideswiped by the old lady in her Corolla who just had to curl her eyelashes on the Wantagh, I checked the traffic data on my GPS, and I decided that taking the Grand Central to the Deegan and over the RFK would be a better option. I don’t think I made the right call.
This morning I thought I was going to be smart and take the Deegan to get into the GWB, and now I know this was a mistake. I followed signs for RFK. I followed signs for the Triborough. I followed the signs that told me that the Triborough was now renamed the RFK. I had lots of time to sit there and ponder this as I sat in a dead standstill for hours.
There are two major bottlenecks in the Deegan approach. The first is actually in the Grand Central, and its right outside LaGuardia airport, but this is usually only active during rush hour. But the worst by far is around the never ending construction on the on-ramp to get onto the GWB three exiting lanes for two different exits (7N and 7S) are reduced to one lane. Plus, there is a heavy merge with a stop sign (really?!) coming from the left. This is further hindered by the merge onto the CBX which moves at a snails pace as tractor trailers have approximately 100 yards to move over three lanes of bumper to bumper traffic. This is a recipe for gridlock, and I don’t think ill be taking it again. I think next time it will be faster to take the Midtown tunnel and go through Manhattan. I do have a question though
Lets do the math - the CBX backs up, but you know it cannot be more than 6 miles of traffic. The Deegan GCP combo on the other hand can be up to 20 miles of traffic, and you know the end is that massive bottleneck. This is compared to the CBX, which usually thins out by Third Ave. My advice is to stick with the CBX.
But let’s be clear, it’s the week before Memorial Day, and driving anywhere is a mistake as the roads are clogged with travelers going to their vacations. I made it a point to work from Manhattan tomorrow and take the LIRR in, as I know Thursday and Friday is going to be one of the worst traffic days of the year.
[caption id="attachment_559" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
the bottlenecks on the Deegan are seen on the approach to the GWB ramp.[/caption]
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
New baby, new shoes, and some new help for commuters
Really? Over a month since my last post? But it isn't for lack of trying. The good news is that I took three weeks off to unplug and to welcome a baby daughter, so there was no commuting. There was also no sleeping or relaxing, but that's par for the course.
Yesterday I had to miss work also had to go get new tires put on and a rim straightened. why? Because on Friday i was cruising through Bethpage Park at about 50 mph when a lady blew a stop sign directly in front of me. She stopped in the middle, so i had to dive left to avoid hitting her and the car behind her. So I pull a full-on power slide, and nail a curb with my driver side and come to a stop. Luckily it wasn't a true curb, one of those gradual concrete risers. So now I have a puncture wound in my Potenza RE960 and a bent rim with some major rash. I spent the weekend trying to find a set of 245/45/18's that were under $300 bucks a piece. she drives fine now, but the wheel points true north at about 12:30, and the alignment is way off. so that's another thing i have to get fixed.
But a lot has been happening since i have been out, mostly thanks to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-13-NY) and their push of the commuter protection act. Not many people know that Port Authority is actually privately held and one of the aims of the bill is to put tolls back under government control. It also pushes for accountability and transparency. As you probably know, GWB and other PA crossing have had a major toll hike and will be even more in the next few years. These tolls are funding other PA projects that create income through rent yet don't go back into infrastructure or to commuters. Check out the Senator's bill here and give support.
http://grimm.house.gov/press-release/rep-grimm-senator-lautenberg-introduce-commuter-protection-act-return-oversight-unjust
Yesterday I had to miss work also had to go get new tires put on and a rim straightened. why? Because on Friday i was cruising through Bethpage Park at about 50 mph when a lady blew a stop sign directly in front of me. She stopped in the middle, so i had to dive left to avoid hitting her and the car behind her. So I pull a full-on power slide, and nail a curb with my driver side and come to a stop. Luckily it wasn't a true curb, one of those gradual concrete risers. So now I have a puncture wound in my Potenza RE960 and a bent rim with some major rash. I spent the weekend trying to find a set of 245/45/18's that were under $300 bucks a piece. she drives fine now, but the wheel points true north at about 12:30, and the alignment is way off. so that's another thing i have to get fixed.
But a lot has been happening since i have been out, mostly thanks to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-13-NY) and their push of the commuter protection act. Not many people know that Port Authority is actually privately held and one of the aims of the bill is to put tolls back under government control. It also pushes for accountability and transparency. As you probably know, GWB and other PA crossing have had a major toll hike and will be even more in the next few years. These tolls are funding other PA projects that create income through rent yet don't go back into infrastructure or to commuters. Check out the Senator's bill here and give support.
http://grimm.house.gov/press-release/rep-grimm-senator-lautenberg-introduce-commuter-protection-act-return-oversight-unjust
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Even Bloomberg feels the sting of metro NY potholes
Spring has officially sprung. The birds are chirping, the weathers wet and it’s slightly warmer outside. The slow creep of water combined with the temperature swings wreak havoc on pavement and can mean only one thing: It’s pothole season. I’m sure there are a few people who rejoice in this time of year, including alloy wheel repair shops, tire dealers and cold patch manufacturers. The rest of us have to deal with bent rims, blown tires, screwed up alignments and traffic jams as sinkholes get filled by road crews. Ever had a rock fly from broken pavement and go through your windshield at 50 MPH? It sucks. So does sitting in traffic behind a crew blocking two lanes for a repair.
Mayor Bloomberg’s office just announced exciting news in that they will be testing a new machine called the Python, which is made by Python Manufacturing in Saskatchewan, Canada. The new Python is an all-encompassing pothole fixing machine, utilizing only a one man operating crew, and taking up only a single lane of traffic to repair a hole in the pavement. The machine carries its own load of hot asphalt, and fills and tamps the pothole in a matter of minutes.
I haven’t seen one of these out on the road yet, but it’s only a matter of time as the roads start their inevitable seasonal decay. They should probably have one unit solely designated to the Cross Bronx.
See below for Release from Bloomberg’s press office.
Mayor Bloombergs website posted a press release talking about new technology
MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER SADIK-KHAN UNVEIL NEW POTHOLE FILLING MACHINE AND BEGIN ROAD PAVING SEASON
Mar 19, 2012 | NYC.gov
Mayor Bloomberg and Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan today unveiled a new pothole filing machine and launched the start of road paving season, a months-long, dedicated campaign to resurface streets citywide to maintain them in a state of good repair. The new pothole machine is currently being tested and is designed to fill potholes with fewer crew members and only block one lane of traffic while making road repairs.
Last fiscal year, Department of Transportation crews filled a record 418,000 potholes citywide following extreme winter weather and crews have filled nearly 164,000 potholes so far this fiscal year. The mild temperatures in the past few months enabled crews to extend paving operations through the winter in streets in all five boroughs through targeted resurfacing, strip-paving and wear-and-tear projects that address larger surfaces along key corridors. The department has resurfaced nearly 650 lane miles across the city this fiscal year. The City also is deploying new environmentally friendly treatments such as green asphalt and Aquaphalt Water Curable Cold Patch. The Mayor and Commissioner Sadik-Khan made the announcement in Flushing, Queens today, where they joined a roadway repair crew.
“Keeping our streets in good condition is essential to our economy and to our quality of life – and that’s why we are always looking for ways to do the job more efficiently,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We’re debuting new technology to repair city streets faster, while closing less lanes to traffic. We also took advantage of the mild winter this year and resurfaced additional key corridors to get a jump on repaving season, and we are on track to repave 1,000 lane miles of city streets this year.”
“While DOT crews work to repair streets across the city, we’re testing new technology that can help achieve smoother streets in faster, more efficient ways,” said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. “By applying innovative techniques to street repairs, we are stepping up our efforts to make sure our roadways continue to be in a state of good repair.”
The new Python pothole filling machine uses a telescoping arm to place and compact the material used in pothole repairs. It is operated by a single crew member, and allows potholes to be filled from inside the vehicle, maximizing efficiency and safety. The self-contained unit has an arm that can apply the asphalt patch and features a one-ton roller that increase the durability of the repair. Additionally, the Python carries its own hot-asphalt for repairs, eliminating the need for a trailer for materials and other construction equipment. The Department of Transportation will test the Python for several weeks, and observe and monitor the results of its repairs over the coming months.
The Department of Transportation continues to invest in technology and research and development to improve street conditions. The agency introduced Green Asphalt into its operations this year for pothole repairs. It is composed of 100 percent recycled asphalt product from New York City’s streets. The agency also is testing a Rosco, another all-in-one pothole repair machine, and a Falcon Asphalt Trailer, which more heats asphalt more evenly to further optimize its pothole repairs. The department now uses electric screeds in resurfacing operations, as well as cold patch, temporary pothole-repair material made from plant-based materials. It also is testing new roadway treatments such as porous asphalt material that provides more traction during inclement weather and Aquaphalt Water Curable Cold Patch, a plant-based, water activated quick-curing pothole filler.
Earlier this year, the City introduced the new street ratings map that allows New Yorkers to see a particular street’s rating and when it was last repaved. This builds on the agency’s ongoing efforts to share information about the important work to restore streets and roadways across all five boroughs. The Department of Transportation also continues to chronicle its roadway repair and maintenance work on “The Daily Pothole” blog. The site tracks the agency's pothole-filling efforts with photos of crews making repairs. The number of potholes filled and lane miles resurfaced are updated regularly, and it allows the public to report potholes easily.
Mayor Bloomberg’s office just announced exciting news in that they will be testing a new machine called the Python, which is made by Python Manufacturing in Saskatchewan, Canada. The new Python is an all-encompassing pothole fixing machine, utilizing only a one man operating crew, and taking up only a single lane of traffic to repair a hole in the pavement. The machine carries its own load of hot asphalt, and fills and tamps the pothole in a matter of minutes.
I haven’t seen one of these out on the road yet, but it’s only a matter of time as the roads start their inevitable seasonal decay. They should probably have one unit solely designated to the Cross Bronx.
See below for Release from Bloomberg’s press office.
Mayor Bloombergs website posted a press release talking about new technology
MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER SADIK-KHAN UNVEIL NEW POTHOLE FILLING MACHINE AND BEGIN ROAD PAVING SEASON
Mar 19, 2012 | NYC.gov
Mayor Bloomberg and Department of Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan today unveiled a new pothole filing machine and launched the start of road paving season, a months-long, dedicated campaign to resurface streets citywide to maintain them in a state of good repair. The new pothole machine is currently being tested and is designed to fill potholes with fewer crew members and only block one lane of traffic while making road repairs.
Last fiscal year, Department of Transportation crews filled a record 418,000 potholes citywide following extreme winter weather and crews have filled nearly 164,000 potholes so far this fiscal year. The mild temperatures in the past few months enabled crews to extend paving operations through the winter in streets in all five boroughs through targeted resurfacing, strip-paving and wear-and-tear projects that address larger surfaces along key corridors. The department has resurfaced nearly 650 lane miles across the city this fiscal year. The City also is deploying new environmentally friendly treatments such as green asphalt and Aquaphalt Water Curable Cold Patch. The Mayor and Commissioner Sadik-Khan made the announcement in Flushing, Queens today, where they joined a roadway repair crew.
“Keeping our streets in good condition is essential to our economy and to our quality of life – and that’s why we are always looking for ways to do the job more efficiently,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We’re debuting new technology to repair city streets faster, while closing less lanes to traffic. We also took advantage of the mild winter this year and resurfaced additional key corridors to get a jump on repaving season, and we are on track to repave 1,000 lane miles of city streets this year.”
“While DOT crews work to repair streets across the city, we’re testing new technology that can help achieve smoother streets in faster, more efficient ways,” said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. “By applying innovative techniques to street repairs, we are stepping up our efforts to make sure our roadways continue to be in a state of good repair.”
The new Python pothole filling machine uses a telescoping arm to place and compact the material used in pothole repairs. It is operated by a single crew member, and allows potholes to be filled from inside the vehicle, maximizing efficiency and safety. The self-contained unit has an arm that can apply the asphalt patch and features a one-ton roller that increase the durability of the repair. Additionally, the Python carries its own hot-asphalt for repairs, eliminating the need for a trailer for materials and other construction equipment. The Department of Transportation will test the Python for several weeks, and observe and monitor the results of its repairs over the coming months.
The Department of Transportation continues to invest in technology and research and development to improve street conditions. The agency introduced Green Asphalt into its operations this year for pothole repairs. It is composed of 100 percent recycled asphalt product from New York City’s streets. The agency also is testing a Rosco, another all-in-one pothole repair machine, and a Falcon Asphalt Trailer, which more heats asphalt more evenly to further optimize its pothole repairs. The department now uses electric screeds in resurfacing operations, as well as cold patch, temporary pothole-repair material made from plant-based materials. It also is testing new roadway treatments such as porous asphalt material that provides more traction during inclement weather and Aquaphalt Water Curable Cold Patch, a plant-based, water activated quick-curing pothole filler.
Earlier this year, the City introduced the new street ratings map that allows New Yorkers to see a particular street’s rating and when it was last repaved. This builds on the agency’s ongoing efforts to share information about the important work to restore streets and roadways across all five boroughs. The Department of Transportation also continues to chronicle its roadway repair and maintenance work on “The Daily Pothole” blog. The site tracks the agency's pothole-filling efforts with photos of crews making repairs. The number of potholes filled and lane miles resurfaced are updated regularly, and it allows the public to report potholes easily.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Something Shady is going down with the payphones on the parkway
This is something that has been bothering me for years. It’s more then likely the result of too many Spike TV CSI marathons, but has anyone ever noticed the payphones on the side of Long Island parkways? To clarify, not necessarily the payphones, but the people that use them?
At any point in the day or night, these alcoves are filled with people on the phone from their cars, but that’s not what piques my interest: it’s the cars themselves. Casually chilling out will always be multiple Bimmers, Benzes and Lexus sedans. So here is what I am wondering; In this day and age of cell phones, why do these people feel the need to use a payphone on the side of a parkway? While I know stereotyping is wrong, lets face it, the average E class driver is certainly more likely to have access to a cell phone than your average Dodge Stratus aficionado.
As the years go on and the concept of a payphone dies a slow death, there are certainly less of these out there now. But if law enforcement were to tap these phones, do you think they would find the kind of shady backroom dealings that require an untraceable line? Whether is narcotics dealers, extramarital affairs, or black market business dealings, it’s a safe assumption that something is going down.
Now every time you pass one of these payphone alcoves on the side of a parkway, I hope you notice this.
At any point in the day or night, these alcoves are filled with people on the phone from their cars, but that’s not what piques my interest: it’s the cars themselves. Casually chilling out will always be multiple Bimmers, Benzes and Lexus sedans. So here is what I am wondering; In this day and age of cell phones, why do these people feel the need to use a payphone on the side of a parkway? While I know stereotyping is wrong, lets face it, the average E class driver is certainly more likely to have access to a cell phone than your average Dodge Stratus aficionado.
As the years go on and the concept of a payphone dies a slow death, there are certainly less of these out there now. But if law enforcement were to tap these phones, do you think they would find the kind of shady backroom dealings that require an untraceable line? Whether is narcotics dealers, extramarital affairs, or black market business dealings, it’s a safe assumption that something is going down.
Now every time you pass one of these payphone alcoves on the side of a parkway, I hope you notice this.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Quick takes of the Dodge Challenger and Ford Fusion
Recently, I went on the road. Again. My first stop was Seattle, which are typically wet roads and lots of hills. I landed and went to the rental car counter. I asked the guy what they had in stock - He said “you can have this nice Mazda 3, a Nissan Versa, a new Challenge-“
“Yes!” I exclaimed, without even letting him finish his sentence. I was excited to get behind the wheel of this neo-masculine piece of sheetmetal art. It’s got gorgeous lines, an aggressive demeanor, and I was looking forward to getting behind the wheel. Never mind the fact I forgot that we were going to have a passenger for the too-small backseat, and we could barely get into it in the rental lot because the doors were too wide. Rather as I signed the paperwork, I had daydreams of power sliding Bullitt-style through the slightly damp Seattle streets with a massive Hemi and a loose rear end.
Soon though, my grin subsided. This thing was a boat. Trying to maneuver out of the tight space proved difficult and required 4 gear changes to maintain safe clearance. This is where I ran into my sight line problem for the first time. I just could see anything above the massive, flaring hood and wide arches of the body. But those arches, oh those arches, and flares are what make this car so damn sexy. Every thing about this car from the headlights to taillights was built for appearance and to turn heads. The original Challenger never looked so good to me, but this one had me at ‘hello’.
The model we had was the base SXT model built for fleets. It came in a silver color, and had a 3.6 liter V6 Pentastar motor good for 305 ponies. Due to massive curb weight of this car, and adding in myself and my co-worker, the engine just wasn’t enough to have fun. At one point I had the opportunity to make a U-turn from the left turning lane on a wide, empty road. Having no fear, I waited for the green turn arrow, cut wheel and gunned it. Nothing. Not even a little slip of the rear, just a perfect U-turn. Between the obviously persistent and advanced traction control and weight, the cart stayed glued to the road.
Other than the lack of hoonage ability, the car drove like you would expect from a typical muscle car, nervous in the corners with body roll, but surgical in a straight line. Grip was overly exceptional likely due to the massive 18 inch tires, while acceleration was about adequate for a car of this size.
Of course there were some issues. The biggest complaint by far was the sight lines. This car should be called the “Challenging”, and that means to see out of. While going up a hill, literally 95% of your view of the road is blocked by the massive hood, leaving your progress to nothing short of a hail mary. Another issue we ran into was the intelligent key. Even though the car only had about 7K miles on it, the key fob was starting to die on me, and would unlock the car, and sometimes wouldn’t start the car. At the very end of the journey, I managed to get the car started, but then the car lost recognition of they key, and the dash told me the fob wasn’t in range. It was 4 am and we were on our way to the airport, so of course I was worried it would employ some sort of engine cut off as a theft deterrent. Luckily, we made it to the airport, and I left the car running at the returns desk and wanted the attendant that if he shut it off, he would not be able to start it again.
So after all my bitching, I still wouldn’t call it a negative experience. The car was fun to drive at times, and I felt cool getting out of it. Will I rent another one? Not likely. Would I buy one with 2 kids and a long commute? Not a chance. But if I wanted a weekend toy, had a short commute, in addition to a minivan, I would probably snatch one of these up. The styling, handling and minimalist interior signify a day that’s long forgotten of muscle car love. It signifies a time long past when all you needed was a steering wheel, a straight line and a lead foot to have a great time. This car is about turning heads, and it does so with a vengeance.
Next stop was my old friend Los Angeles. This time, I knew I need something small and practical to deal with LA’s tiny parking spots, little parking garages and insane traffic. I opted for a Ford Fusion. This particular fleet car had seen some better days, but had aged gracefully with about 25K on the odometer.
I liked this car. Not for what it was, but what it wasn’t. Nothing was over the top. The power and handling were adequate. The interior was nicely finished and felt very generic. Somehow I knew where everything was by tactile exploring. It felt solid, and reminded me much of the late 90’s Japanese sedans - you know, the golden age of accords and Camry, at a time when build quality and ergonomics took center stage to provide transportation that people just wanted to rely on.
It had a 4 cylinder, but it moved fine, and was never frustrating. It stopped on a dime. This car was one of many that really renews my faith in Ford as a solid competitor in a cut-throat market, and provides a car that is a notch above basic transportation.
The car also had a few pleasant surprises. The base Sync system had Aux inputs, and the gas mileage was insanely great. We didn’t even bother to fill the tank despite the fact we drove about 50 miles.
Other than the lack of hoonage ability, the car drove like you would expect from a typical muscle car, nervous in the corners with body roll, but surgical in a straight line. Grip was overly exceptional likely due to the massive 18 inch tires, while acceleration was about adequate for a car of this size.
Of course there were some issues. The biggest complaint by far was the sight lines. This car should be called the “Challenging”, and that means to see out of. While going up a hill, literally 95% of your view of the road is blocked by the massive hood, leaving your progress to nothing short of a hail mary. Another issue we ran into was the intelligent key. Even though the car only had about 7K miles on it, the key fob was starting to die on me, and would unlock the car, and sometimes wouldn’t start the car. At the very end of the journey, I managed to get the car started, but then the car lost recognition of they key, and the dash told me the fob wasn’t in range. It was 4 am and we were on our way to the airport, so of course I was worried it would employ some sort of engine cut off as a theft deterrent. Luckily, we made it to the airport, and I left the car running at the returns desk and wanted the attendant that if he shut it off, he would not be able to start it again.
So after all my bitching, I still wouldn’t call it a negative experience. The car was fun to drive at times, and I felt cool getting out of it. Will I rent another one? Not likely. Would I buy one with 2 kids and a long commute? Not a chance. But if I wanted a weekend toy, had a short commute, in addition to a minivan, I would probably snatch one of these up. The styling, handling and minimalist interior signify a day that’s long forgotten of muscle car love. It signifies a time long past when all you needed was a steering wheel, a straight line and a lead foot to have a great time. This car is about turning heads, and it does so with a vengeance.
Next stop was my old friend Los Angeles. This time, I knew I need something small and practical to deal with LA’s tiny parking spots, little parking garages and insane traffic. I opted for a Ford Fusion. This particular fleet car had seen some better days, but had aged gracefully with about 25K on the odometer.
I liked this car. Not for what it was, but what it wasn’t. Nothing was over the top. The power and handling were adequate. The interior was nicely finished and felt very generic. Somehow I knew where everything was by tactile exploring. It felt solid, and reminded me much of the late 90’s Japanese sedans - you know, the golden age of accords and Camry, at a time when build quality and ergonomics took center stage to provide transportation that people just wanted to rely on.
It had a 4 cylinder, but it moved fine, and was never frustrating. It stopped on a dime. This car was one of many that really renews my faith in Ford as a solid competitor in a cut-throat market, and provides a car that is a notch above basic transportation.
The car also had a few pleasant surprises. The base Sync system had Aux inputs, and the gas mileage was insanely great. We didn’t even bother to fill the tank despite the fact we drove about 50 miles.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Ambulance chaser – Don’t be that guy.
Last night, I’m sitting on the Cross Bronx which is at a standstill. I assume there’s an accident up ahead, even tough the radio and my GPS have no info. About a quarter mile back, I see an ambulance light up the cherries in my rearview. I’m in the left lane (of course), and is squeezing by on the narrow shoulder. Since its bumper-to-bumper as only the Cross Bronx can do, there isn’t room for me or any other car to fully move over for the ambulance, we can just straddle the middle lane with enough room to let the ambulance by on the tiny shoulder. This is when it happens.
Whoosh. The ambulance sails by. And then before I even have time to blink, a silver 3-series is right on his ass. I mean I have never seen masterful tailgating like this before, as this little Bimmer was following this ambulance at about 20 MPH with less than 6 inches of clearance between bumpers. Keep in mind, I am still half in the right lane when all of the other cars are barreling at me, following the BMW’s lead. A blue A4 nearly clips me as I try to move over, and a Durango manages to squeeze by, but not before honking his horn, like I was the jackass in this scenario.
So here is my conclusion. These people are douchebags. Seriously, how impatient and in a rush are you that you have to risk rear-ending an ambulance just to save a few minutes. The ambulance is on its way to possibly save a life, and this is why it cuts through traffic. From what I could tell about these drivers, these cars were on their way to their mistresses / nail appointments / awkward family dinner when the kids know a divorce is imminent. Hardly the emergency that grants the type of privileges that let someone cut through traffic. Oh yeah, and its also really illegal to do this.
So here’s the lesson for today. Don’t be that guy.
But I also owe you a site update. Sorry I haven’t posted anything in like two months. First it was the holidays, and then it was CES, then it was a lot of business travel. But I got a lot of content out of it, including hands-on reviews of the 2012 Challenger, Ford Fusion, and a ton of images of the real stars of CES, the cars.
Whoosh. The ambulance sails by. And then before I even have time to blink, a silver 3-series is right on his ass. I mean I have never seen masterful tailgating like this before, as this little Bimmer was following this ambulance at about 20 MPH with less than 6 inches of clearance between bumpers. Keep in mind, I am still half in the right lane when all of the other cars are barreling at me, following the BMW’s lead. A blue A4 nearly clips me as I try to move over, and a Durango manages to squeeze by, but not before honking his horn, like I was the jackass in this scenario.
So here is my conclusion. These people are douchebags. Seriously, how impatient and in a rush are you that you have to risk rear-ending an ambulance just to save a few minutes. The ambulance is on its way to possibly save a life, and this is why it cuts through traffic. From what I could tell about these drivers, these cars were on their way to their mistresses / nail appointments / awkward family dinner when the kids know a divorce is imminent. Hardly the emergency that grants the type of privileges that let someone cut through traffic. Oh yeah, and its also really illegal to do this.
So here’s the lesson for today. Don’t be that guy.
But I also owe you a site update. Sorry I haven’t posted anything in like two months. First it was the holidays, and then it was CES, then it was a lot of business travel. But I got a lot of content out of it, including hands-on reviews of the 2012 Challenger, Ford Fusion, and a ton of images of the real stars of CES, the cars.
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