The Other Winner of the Super Bowl

For marketing people like me, The Super Bowl truly is a big game of another sorts. Its the time to see the best and brightest of the advertising world (who have the budget) show off their creativity on a global stage. There's a ton of articles out there about best and worst big game ads, with winners and losers. But to me, there was clearly only one winner this year, and it was this commercial by Audi for the R8 V10 Plus.

This ad had it all...it tugs on the heartstrings, instills patriotic pride and flaunts the new R8 both visually and delights the ears with a ripping exhaust note...all with gorgeous cinematography.

Watch it below.

Get Better Photographing Cars

As a photo industry person, I find the worlds of cars and camera collides very often. Some of my fondest memories are trackside, and I really do have to get around to doing my ride's 100K portrait for posterity.

Photographer Joe Farace has a great article on his blog today about shooting your own car for practice and fun.

Check it out here:
http://joefaraceblogs.com/photographing-your-own-car/

Two SUV’s, Two Very Different Designs: The New 4Runner and Pathfinder

Sometimes I give Toyota crap for having no soul, making immensely popular cars that get about as exciting as tying my shoes in a double knot. Conversely, as a Nissan enthusiast I typically find their designs refreshing and performance engaging. With the domestic market heating up, these two auto giants from the land of the rising sun are going to be doing battle for market share in a very vital segment, the flagship SUV. But their tactics this time around couldn't be more different, and when the smoke clears, it will be interesting to see what resonates with consumers. 

This weekend, Toyota unveiled the new 4Runner at the Stagecoach Music Festival, and it’s a stunner.  Fat tires, a cowl for the SR5, gunmetal rims, running boards, gorgeous headlights, and a front end that’s aggressive as hell. The 4Runner is something of an SUV icon; it’s been around forever, and has legendary reliability and durability. In fact, if the apocalypse were to happen tomorrow, this might just be the car I would choose. But that's a story for another day. With off road chops and an aggressive demeanor, this new truck doesn’t hide its Hilux roots, and looks like it’s ready for a foreign paramilitary group to throw a .50 cal on the roof and call it a day. 

The brand-spanking new 2014 Toyota 4Runner announced this weekend

I applaud Toyota for the eight-page press release and innovative product announcement at a mainstream country music festival in LA.It is also great to see that they didn't follow in the footsteps of many other automakers, and make their SUV a uni-body grocery-getter in the interest of driving sales. It started with the Ford Explorer, and many other automakers have followed suit in pursuit of marketshare. 

Looks like Toyota is starting to get its soul back.

Which brings me to next point. Nissan, what did you do to the Pathfinder? I used to make it a habit to rent Pathfinders when I went on business. highly capable, and the Armada version has crazy cargo room. The style was boxy and mean, and like most Nissans, a face only a mother could love. 

 

The new Pathfinder

But I hope this is a good move, and we should all wish Nissan the best of luck in gaining traction in a highly competitive market. From a business prospective  its easy to understand why. First, the core consumer for these SUV's doesn't go off road, and this is a much more approachable design. Secondly, the redesign allows it to share sheet metal with the Inifiti JX, where the J stands for "Jacked up minivan". 

How to conserve fuel in the gas line

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

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.

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.

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:

• 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.

 

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.

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]

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.

 

 

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.

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.

Do you know how to Zipper while driving?

Do you know what the zipper technique is while driving? Many Euroeans have perfected it, and its actually taught as rules of the road in many countries.

The theory behind it is that when merging onto a road, you wait until you reach the very end of the lane and then alternate in between flowing traffic with the car in front of you. Supposedly, the drivers already moving in the right lane are also aware of this, and adjust their driving accordingly. When done correctly, alternating cars merge in, and it looks like a zipper.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="(C) Leo Reynolds, from Flickr"][/caption]

The result is less congested traffic, easier merges and less road rage.  Merges flow nicely, and its great for everyone.

But lets face it, this will never work in America. As much as we try to make it happen, the second you try to let the guy in front of you in, someone else is going to try to push their way into your lane, usually because the guy behind you is too riding your bumper  and doesn't want to let anyone in. I think this says a lot about most american motorists attitude, as it is most likely due to our inherent nature to defend whats ours, as well as over all impatience.

 

So try this next time you are coming off an on-ramp, or you are in the right lane with others merging in. It really does make more sense.

A distraction from your crappy holiday commute

This post almost turned into a rant about crappy drivers, traffic, and how awesome Top Gear is. But I held it back.

The roads are going to suck this week. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but Thanksgiving week is when the family packs into the minivan, and proceeds to Grandmas house, always in the left lane and way under the reasonable speed limit. This is when the travelers come out to do battle with the commuters.

How can you tell if you are stuck behind one of these people? A surefire way to know is if they slam on their brakes in the EZ pass lane, or you see someone blindly following their GPS into oncoming traffic. Do your best not to get behind ay minivan with stenciled stickers of the whole family plus the dog.

But I thought I was smart. This week, I did everything I could to avoid the roads. I had meetings scheduled in NYC on Monday and out on the Island on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then my Tuesday got moved, and now I’m stuck driving to Jersey today. It took me 2 hours to get in, but that’s probably nothing compared to what thwe ride home is going to be.  But at least its better then Wednesday.  I guess that’s karma teaching me not to meddle with my business schedule just to avoid driving.

But the post today is actually to distract me from all of this with some auto-erotica. I don’t understand the Nissan Juke, although I have been dying to drive one. A sporty, well handling compact car seems like a no brainer for commuting, assuming the MPG is up to snuff. But then the boys over at Nissan UK decided to stuff a 3.8 liter V6 from a GT-R into it. The result is pure beauty. Autoblog has been covering the build from day 1, and they have now posted some videos from Nissan on it. We can expect this will never be more than a project car, but its good to know that they care. Check out the video below of the complete build firing up, anturn up your volume around the 1:00 minute mark to hear some Christmas music come early.

Via Nissan via Autoblog.

Video courtesy Nissan

 

Apparently, I missed the memo that it was random shit in the road week in Metro NY.

Commuting this week in Metro NY

I missed the memo, that its “random shit in the road” week. Had I known, I would have been more cautious. Usually I can avoid obstacles, with a high speed straddle, but not the chunk of drywall that flew up and hit me on the Queensboro Bridge, and not the shredded tractor trailer tire that got me on 287. But yesterday I got hit by a bumper, from what appeared to be a Scion TC. BUT I WASN’T EVEN MOVING. Seriously, the thing just flew from the oncoming lane into the front of my car while I was sitting in traffic.

 

But it’s a crazy week out there, and I don’t know what’s going on. Traffic has been brutal on every road, and drivers are insane this week. I watched numerous times as people are fighting on high speed merges, while at least twice a day someone drifts into my lane at high speeds.  A tanker truck accident also has part of the NJ turnpike Western spur closed down, as they have to repave it, because it melted.



Even though today will be lighter because its electioin day, there is some crazy construction to note right now and watch out for:

-GWB, lower level, inbound – they are working on the right hand side, Deegan bound of the GWB lower level. They cut part of a lane out of the hard left merge, which is snarling traffic, as people don’t really understand how to take a tight turn. Expect the upper level to be better.

-Throgs Neck Bridge South - take the Whitestone Queensbound. For the next two weeks, this is going to a be nightmare getting into the tolls, as they have all but 2 lanes closed and split due to construction. The problem is further compounded by only having two cash lanes on either side.

'Tis the Season for TPMS

I am seeing a lot of web searches coming in for "dashboard Exclamation point", so I decided to re-post this classic article that i wrote a few years ago on TPMS.

So now that it is starting to get cold here in the Northeast, a lot of motorists are now noticing a new symbol which may have appeared in their dash over the holiday weekend. It looks a little something like this...

[caption id="attachment_17" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="courtesy Safecar.gov"][/caption]

That huge exclamation point makes you feel like your engine is about to explode if you don't go to a shop right now, but relax, this is just your cars Tire Pressure Monitoring System, (or TPMS) kicking in. When is gets colder, air contracts and reduces tire pressure slightly. Usually not enough to be dangerous, but certainly enough to trip the sensor.

How do you fix this problem? Go check your tires recommended PSI, (usually inside driver-side door) fill it up, and wait for the sensor to eventually turn itself off (This could be when you restart your car, or could take a week).

How to tell if someone really has high beams on

It happens all the time: Someone is driving towards you in the opposite lane, or perhaps its on the other side of an intersection. Their headlights are so glaringly bright that it's blinding you, and you think they must have their high beams on. You want to flash them back or throw up a finger, but you aren't totally positive their high beams are on.  How can you really tell?

Here's 2 ways to tell: 
First way: Most modern cars have two low beams and high beams both located in the headlight housing on each side of the car. Low beams are always on the outside edge of the light housing, and high beams are always on the inside edge, creating a narrower, more concentrated and higher beam.
If it's bright, You shouldn't look at the headlight at night, but if you do, you will immediately notice the difference in placement on every car.  The high beams are closer to the inner edge of the headlight housings, (closer to the cars grill) and the low beams are always on the outside.


The other way to tell: Fog lights. Most cars with fog lights automatically disable them when the high beams are on. Unless you take the time to rewire it specifically, if a car has manufacturers fog lights on, the high beams / brights on likely not on.

"high beams" on Google image search bought back
 some rather unexpected results, so there is no photo.

What to do if someone has their high beams on and is driving toward you? A quick flick of your own high-beams should let the person know they are blinding everyone, but don't prolong using them.

 I have also always found that looking at the line on the shoulder is an effective way to avoid being blinded.

Black Air - Vimeo feature respects the GNX

Today's post has little to do with commuting and more about car love. Saw this on Autoblog this morning and had to share it. Few cars in history have the raw appeal of the Buick Grand National. It was the defining muscle car of the 80's and seeing one tugs at the heartsrings of every gearhead. Now there is a documentary on Vimeo chronicling this piece of automotive history. Worth a look.

 

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/27452222]

Afterthoughts on Irene

Afterthoughts on Irene
Years from now, we will be telling our kids about that one week in August when we survived the great earthquake of oh-eleven and a hurricane in the same week.
But we really dodged a bullet this week, and a lot of people take this fact for granted. I was lucky. The storm hit us dead center on the south shore of Long Island. There were some downed trees and power outages, but nothing serious. I wish I could say the same for everyone. A lot of people had massive tree and auto damage, and some people even got hurt. People will be without power for days, and for some people it’s going to take weeks for them to drain their basements.
I hear a lot of people saying that it was all hype. They are angry at the media for making such a big deal out of it, a storm that wound up being not as serious as they made it out to be. That’s like being mad at someone because they suggested you move off of the railroad tracks, because a train would probably be coming soon. This storm could have been, and was supposed to be a lot worse. The extra time spent preparing is a gamble, but its one where the odds of winning are much better, and the stakes are so much higher.
NY’ers are an easily jaded people, and I’m afraid that’s what is going to happen now. The next time a hurricane warning comes along, people are going to take it with a grain of salt, and probably not take proper precautions.
For now, mass transit is slowly coming back on line. Many, many roads are still closed, and of course jumped the normal 25 cents a gallon. Westchester’s traffic report is a sea of exclamation points for incidents and closed roads, and New Jersey is still going to have to deal with massive flooding.

Also, a thanks to the readers. The article on “how to prepare your car for a hurricane was the most viewed article ever on the site. Hopefully I don’t have to write a similar article anytime soon.

How to prepare your car for a hurricane

I Have never felt more insignificant than I have this week. Nature is reminding us who is in charge as she rocks the East coast with an earthquake and a hurricane only a few days apart. Based on the current projected trajectory of Irene, I picked a really crappy time to be a resident of the South Shore of Long Island. As a native upstate NY’er, I have never had to worry about a hurricane, but now with the storm barreling down on us, we all should take some time to research how to prepare. A little bit of preparation can make a total disaster a lot better then it could have been, Even though she might not even hit us. But that’s a big gamble that I am going to make the safe bet on.

While your first priority needs to be the safety of you and your family, you need to think secondary about the safety and integrity of your house and automobile. In high winds with flying debris, possible storm swells, extreme rain and flooding, there are a lot of risks posed to automobiles. Below is some information I have collected on the topic that will be useful for anyone in the northeast:

• First and foremost, keep your gas tank full. Gas pumps can get knocked out of commission by flooding and power loss. Be ready.


• Know the height of your cars air intake. This is the weakest point for a car when it comes to flooding. The car will run in a foot or two of water, but once water gets sucked into the motor via the intake, the motor will seize and you will be SOL.


• It seems obvious, but try and garage your car. While it won’t help in extreme flooding or if a tree falls on your garage, it will help protect the finish from the debris.


• DON'T elevate your car on jacks or jackstands. Hurricane force winds have the ability to blow a car off this minimal support, causing extreme damage. the extra few inches isn't worth it.


• Be wary of you can see water - don't park near streams or lakes that will rise.


• You also might need to reinforce your garage door. Because they are wider and lighter, they are susceptible to high winds and can blow inward. A couple of 2x4’s on the weak points should do the trick.


• If you don’t have a garage, try and relocate your car to higher ground, and definitely away from trees, power lines, etc.  Google a Topographic map of your area to find highground.


• Secure all of your cars important paperwork to somewhere safe, not the glove box


• Keep an emergency kit in your car


• Flooding happens and deep puddles happen. Don’t drive through them.


• If you have multiple cars, try and get one to an elevated parking garage. They are solid structures that rarely flood on the upper levels


• If you need to park on a hill, face the front of the car upwards, and turns your wheels toward the curb.


• Make sure you have insurance coverage.


• Avoid downed power lines


• 4 wheel drive won’t help you unless you are climbing over objects. When selecting a vehicle for moving to a safer location, ground clearance should be the deciding factor.

It’s easy to brush off a storm like this and not be ready for it. Long Island hasn’t been hit by a major storm since Gloria in 85, which did a lot of damage. A little preparedness goes a long way.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="568" caption="Your car cannot go faster than this."][/caption]