Comments on: Cost Is No Object When It’s For Our Own Good http://blog.motorists.org/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/ News For Drivers Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:16:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Fleet Admiral http://blog.motorists.org/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-14164 Fleet Admiral Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:26:31 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/technology/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/#comment-14164 Luckily, there are those of us Euro car owners in the know who swap the US version of things they put on German cars, for the German spec parts. Such as those convex mirrors, ECODE xenon or halogen headlights(which are legal in some states because they REALIZE their superiority in glare reduction and side angle lighting-and some have 5w "city lights" what you call DRL, not the blinding crap they put on US cars) and the amber turn signal housings for the rear. The only reason most are illegal is because the Euros do away with the idiotic side reflector/illuminated side marker. But hey, if Europe can get by without them and avoid cataclysmic accidents, then who needs it. Some euro cars even have rear driver side foglights. Oldsmobile used dual(aurora) which is annoying, if you ever wondered what was wrong with that guys car that he has 2 perm on brake lights in his bumper. As for the tire pressure monitoring, it's a mixed blessing. Most malfunction and are more of an annoyance always needing repairs. But it is logical since most wouldn't realize their tires are low just by looking at them. You should realize that by the time the tire has lost too much pressure, is when it looks flat or bulged, which by that time you've probably been running at 15-20psi which is dangerous. For airbags, Audi has had 6 standard for decades now, with 8 as an option, and the A8 has 9. Oh, and the ESP, that also is a German invention, Mercedes. And came equipped on Euro models as long ago as 1998, but the US models didn't get them until '01. Luckily mine doesn't have it and I don't need it. I know how to work all 6 shift points to my advantage in power/steering to keep the car in control. And who needs a backup camera? My Audi has sonic sensors that work just as well. Better on newer models which have graphics for distance of object each sensor is registering. Luckily, there are those of us Euro car owners in the know who swap the US version of things they put on German cars, for the German spec parts. Such as those convex mirrors, ECODE xenon or halogen headlights(which are legal in some states because they REALIZE their superiority in glare reduction and side angle lighting-and some have 5w “city lights” what you call DRL, not the blinding crap they put on US cars) and the amber turn signal housings for the rear. The only reason most are illegal is because the Euros do away with the idiotic side reflector/illuminated side marker. But hey, if Europe can get by without them and avoid cataclysmic accidents, then who needs it.

Some euro cars even have rear driver side foglights. Oldsmobile used dual(aurora) which is annoying, if you ever wondered what was wrong with that guys car that he has 2 perm on brake lights in his bumper.

As for the tire pressure monitoring, it’s a mixed blessing. Most malfunction and are more of an annoyance always needing repairs. But it is logical since most wouldn’t realize their tires are low just by looking at them. You should realize that by the time the tire has lost too much pressure, is when it looks flat or bulged, which by that time you’ve probably been running at 15-20psi which is dangerous.

For airbags, Audi has had 6 standard for decades now, with 8 as an option, and the A8 has 9.

Oh, and the ESP, that also is a German invention, Mercedes. And came equipped on Euro models as long ago as 1998, but the US models didn’t get them until ‘01. Luckily mine doesn’t have it and I don’t need it. I know how to work all 6 shift points to my advantage in power/steering to keep the car in control.

And who needs a backup camera? My Audi has sonic sensors that work just as well. Better on newer models which have graphics for distance of object each sensor is registering.

]]> By: PR http://blog.motorists.org/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-1308 PR Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:20:42 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/technology/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/#comment-1308 Douglas, My car already tells you if you need to check your tires. Of course, that's for people who can't notice their pressure is low..... Douglas,

My car already tells you if you need to check your tires. Of course, that’s for people who can’t notice their pressure is low…..

]]> By: Douglas Guerra http://blog.motorists.org/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-654 Douglas Guerra Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:38:01 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/technology/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/#comment-654 In all of the money spent and freedom (of choice) lost, US Safety Standards still do not require amber rear and side turn signals, white side (parking) lights in the front or a rear fog light. Instead, vehicles must have amber and red side reflectors which do nothing but make them look like Christmas trees. Audi offers an optional "Blind Spot" camera in the US because the Government does not allow convex mirrors on the driver's side. Cars are required to have warning stickers, bells, buzzers and labels telling drivers they are too stupid to know how a mirror refects or they have forgotten their keys. Soon, drivers won't even have to check their tire pressure. Too bad there are so many drivers and government officials who look at the automobile as nothing more than an appliance. In all of the money spent and freedom (of choice) lost, US Safety Standards still do not require amber rear and side turn signals, white side (parking) lights in the front or a rear fog light. Instead, vehicles must have amber and red side reflectors which do nothing but make them look like Christmas trees.
Audi offers an optional “Blind Spot” camera in the US because the Government does not allow convex mirrors on the driver’s side.
Cars are required to have warning stickers, bells, buzzers and labels telling drivers they are too stupid to know how a mirror refects or they have forgotten their keys. Soon, drivers won’t even have to check their tire pressure.
Too bad there are so many drivers and government officials who look at the automobile as nothing more than an appliance.

]]> By: al http://blog.motorists.org/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-564 al Sat, 24 Nov 2007 17:51:39 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/technology/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/#comment-564 The money I send to insurance could be sent to NMA instead. I always thought Ford was good insurance because it was out of Wisconsin (MADDs least favorite state), but it's the same as the other rip offs. Than we need a third party to fight the two Highway Patrol parties, but the insurance companies steal that too. Than, what if you boycott the interstate and play dodge ball with the gestoppo? Shouldn't your rates go down as well? No, it doesn't The money I send to insurance could be sent to NMA instead. I always thought Ford was good insurance because it was out of Wisconsin (MADDs least favorite state), but it’s the same as the other rip offs.

Than we need a third party to fight the two Highway Patrol parties, but the insurance companies steal that too.

Than, what if you boycott the interstate and play dodge ball with the gestoppo? Shouldn’t your rates go down as well?

No, it doesn’t

]]> By: Hubcap http://blog.motorists.org/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-504 Hubcap Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:23:26 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/technology/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/#comment-504 The whole idea behind the airbags in the first place was the prevented deaths and reduced injuries would offset the cost and (then a miracle occurs) our insurance rates would go down. But we've reached a point now where it is less about crashworthiness and simply about making the vehicle idiot-proof. And of course basic evolutionary science dictates that will do nothing more than produce an enhanced idiot. The whole idea behind the airbags in the first place was the prevented deaths and reduced injuries would offset the cost and (then a miracle occurs) our insurance rates would go down.

But we’ve reached a point now where it is less about crashworthiness and simply about making the vehicle idiot-proof. And of course basic evolutionary science dictates that will do nothing more than produce an enhanced idiot.

]]> By: Sue http://blog.motorists.org/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/comment-page-1/#comment-503 Sue Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:03:38 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/technology/cost-is-no-object-when-its-for-our-own-good/#comment-503 Of course, if an air bag saves your life - or prevents a major injury - you won't be worried much about the costs involved. However, most of us do not have unlimited means - and at some point, cost has to be taken into account - "reduced risk" notwithstanding. Of course, if an air bag saves your life – or prevents a major injury – you won’t be worried much about the costs involved. However, most of us do not have unlimited means – and at some point, cost has to be taken into account – “reduced risk” notwithstanding.

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