Car rant

[Mad Mike]

I don't really miss three on the tree now that I have 5 on the floor.

My first Toyota was 3-on-the-tree, after that, I had a D100 pickup with the same. They were OK by me other than the fact they only had 3 gears.

My only problem was the lousy linkage used by Dodge, the linkage would get stuck between R&2 if you didn't force it hard over. I'd have to pop the hood and tap the linkage back to neutral once and a while.

 

[Hardwrkr13]

I can't get inside the head of someone who misses CD changers and physical equalizer controls. Or a column shifted manual

Dials and buttons, absolutely. Non-automatic climate controls... I mean, ACC still isn't standard in a lot of cars, right? I like ACC but there are definitely people in the world who would be happier without it, I can appreciate that. The three knob arrangement was still semi common, I though. Mechanical climate controls that were strictly operated with vacuum motors and 15 cables can stay dead FOREVER, that **** was garbage.

A vehicle I consider nearly the pinnacle of good cabin design is a 2009 Silverado (no, I'm serious). Simple yet functional audio & climate controls, full physical instrumentation... fantastic visibility, the best headlights I've ever experienced on a passenger vehicle (and they're automatic!). Easily the worst part is the switch for the automatic interior lights. Good luck finding it if you've never encountered it before lol.

I would put full size spares on the list. Given how often I see people driving with compact spares on the highway it's incredible that they're even legal

I think 2010 was the best ratio for tech in cars. Mostly all v6 with reliability and decent fuel mileage, heated seats and cruise were mostly standard. Styling was good and interiors had gotten nice.
Now there’s tons of tech to go wrong and overstressed turbo everything just waiting to explode. Driving my 2008 until it dies.

 

[GreyGhost]

I think 2010 was the best ratio for tech in cars. Mostly all v6 with reliability and decent fuel mileage, heated seats and cruise were mostly standard. Styling was good and interiors had gotten nice.
Now there’s tons of tech to go wrong and overstressed turbo everything just waiting to explode. Driving my 2008 until it dies.

Bluetooth in 2010 was not universal. That is a valuable addition for me. I paid $850 as an option on a 2013. Next vehicle added android auto included and that makes a huge positive benefit imo. Still have dials/buttons/manual climate. All of my daily drivers have had turbos and I have never had a turbo issue.

Styling/interiors are a little better but since 2000 or so, they have been ok for me.

 

[Freddy F]

Thats another one…run flats can’t be repaired as far as I recall. A nail in the tire could cost you $300-600/tire.

None of my cars will ever have run flats.

Wow. 4 times over the last 3 years, I have put a plug into a tire to fix a leak caused by a nail...actually in the last case, there was no leak, until I pulled the nail out. (sorry, it was a self tapping screw) (and last year it was a weird sharp piece of plastic)

 

[Freddy F]

So much wrong about that article.

Climate Control:
I would NEVER want to go back to manual climate control. Even my.......

Agreed that setting the temperature at, say 22 degrees with a rotary knob is nice. Not with some sliding scale thing on a display 4 menus in.
I do like to vary the fan speed manually as needed, lots of situations where that is needed.
My gripe with modern stuff is that it seems 5-10% of the GTA drivers don't know that they should simply be using the AUTO setting on their headlight switch! Blows my mind how many people here in the city drive with no headlights at night. Female acquaintance down the street, I physically set her switch to Auto recently, and 2-3 weeks later she was back to driving with no headlights.

 

[TK4]

Blows my mind how many people here in the city drive with no headlights at night.

Or tail lights ?

 

[mimico_polak]

Wow. 4 times over the last 3 years, I have put a plug into a tire to fix a leak caused by a nail...actually in the last case, there was no leak, until I pulled the nail out. (sorry, it was a self tapping screw) (and last year it was a weird sharp piece of plastic)

My mechanic was sure someone was putting screws into my tires as I kept going back every few weeks for a time. Each time it was thankfully a slow leak, as I don't have the spare.

Top up air, go home, top up, go to mechanic. One time it was close enough to the sidewall one shop refused to do it. So I found another shop.

 

[killvino]

So much wrong about that article.

Climate Control:
I would NEVER want to go back to manual climate control...

Column shift:
Seating has nothing to do with where the shifter is located. I've driven a few Mercedes with column-shift, but still no middle seat. My Odyssey also had column shift but never offered a middle front seat even though there was room.

Not even worth talking about the rest.

Yup, agreed. All these new car reviews complaining about touch or lack of physical controls for HVAC all seem to miss the point. AUTO Climate. Yes, heated seats/steering wheel buttons should be physical, but any car with a good auto climate you shouldn't need to mess around.

I miss bench seats. Wish more cars/suvs had them. Right now you can only get it in trucks and the new LR Defender on some trims.
I do understand why, you can't really put an airbag in your infotainment screen.

 

[Gary]

Honda didn't see the need for an audio control button in the ridgeline. Touch on the screen, and steering wheel, but no knob.
They've since added one. Maybe I'll trade mine in.

 

[timtune]

My first Toyota was 3-on-the-tree, after that, I had a D100 pickup with the same. They were OK by me other than the fact they only had 3 gears.

My only problem was the lousy linkage used by Dodge, the linkage would get stuck between R&2 if you didn't force it hard over. I'd have to pop the hood and tap the linkage back to neutral once and a while.

Exactly. Didn't mind the location just the quantity.

 

[timtune]

Just for grins now and then when I'm parked right I'll bump start the car.

 

[Relax]

I love the tire carts. Wouldn’t mind those for my normal tires.

I can vouch for the Princess Auto 2-tier carts (I have 2) - holds 2 sets of car/truck tires and a couple of motorcycle tires, depending on your tire sizes. I have 4 x 245, 2 x 255, and a pair of 120's. They're not always in stock, and they were a bit cheaper when I got them pre-pandemic (maybe closer to $120):

https://www.princessauto.com/en/1600-lb-2-tier-mobile-tire-rack/product/PA0008704678

 

[mimico_polak]

I can vouch for the Princess Auto 2-tier carts (I have 2) - holds 2 sets of car/truck tires and a couple of motorcycle tires, depending on your tire sizes. I have 4 x 245, 2 x 255, and a pair of 120's. They're not always in stock, and they were a bit cheaper when I got them pre-pandemic (maybe closer to $120):

https://www.princessauto.com/en/1600-lb-2-tier-mobile-tire-rack/product/PA0008704678

View attachment 54278

That's actually pretty slick. I'm currently just stacking them vertically on top of one another. 8 tires high.

 

[GreyGhost]

I can vouch for the Princess Auto 2-tier carts (I have 2) - holds 2 sets of car/truck tires and a couple of motorcycle tires, depending on your tire sizes. I have 4 x 245, 2 x 255, and a pair of 120's. They're not always in stock, and they were a bit cheaper when I got them pre-pandemic (maybe closer to $120):

https://www.princessauto.com/en/1600-lb-2-tier-mobile-tire-rack/product/PA0008704678

View attachment 54278

I fight a constant war to get everything possible off the floor. Off season tires go up on a shelf about head height. Pain in the ass to get them up there but it's only twice a year

 

[SunnY S]

Thats another one…run flats can’t be repaired as far as I recall. A nail in the tire could cost you $300-600/tire.

None of my cars will ever have run flats.

havent bought new in a while,

Im shopping for a vehicle, just today I found out one model I'm looking at, has "self sealing" tires. in lieu of a spare. if it gets a nail or puncture 5mm or less, you are apparently golden.

Tire news and advices

Looking for tire industry news and advices

blog.blackcircles.ca

 

[nobbie48]

My first Toyota was 3-on-the-tree, after that, I had a D100 pickup with the same. They were OK by me other than the fact they only had 3 gears.

My only problem was the lousy linkage used by Dodge, the linkage would get stuck between R&2 if you didn't force it hard over. I'd have to pop the hood and tap the linkage back to neutral once and a while.

A friend went along with a buddy of his his filling the corner Globe & Mail boxes early in the morning back before the internet. They were using a three on the tree, generation one, Econoline and the shift linkage jammed. That meant crawling under the van to pry things into the right spot.

His buddy was under the van and asked what the hissing noise was. Then the street washer drove by.

 

[Relax]

havent bought new in a while,

Im shopping for a vehicle, just today I found out one model I'm looking at, has "self sealing" tires. in lieu of a spare. if it gets a nail or puncture 5mm or less, you are apparently golden.

Tire news and advices

Looking for tire industry news and advices

blog.blackcircles.ca

"How it works is that inside the tire there is a very sticky, thick rubbery liquid that moves quickly to seal any puncture 5mm or less in your tire tread the moment it happens. When the sticky sealant fills the punctured tread area, you can continue to drive as you normally do, without any noticeable loss of tire pressure or control, until you are able to reach your destination and have the tire repaired."

So you still need to repair the tire. But how do you know if you got a puncture in the first place?

 

[Relax]

I fight a constant war to get everything possible off the floor. Off season tires go up on a shelf about head height. Pain in the ass to get them up there but it's only twice a year

I used to have tire racks on the wall near the ceiling at one end of the garage, the only place I could put them. It was great for floor space, but too much of a safety issue to bring them down and put them up without potentially falling off the ladder. I bought the cart with the idea that I would be putting them in the shed I will hopefully build in the back yard, so I can cart the wheels out to the driveway, change them over, then cart the stored tires all at once instead of rolling one at a time 150 ft. For now I can just roll the cart around my garage if I need, but haven't had to.

 

[GreyGhost]

I used to have tire racks on the wall near the ceiling at one end of the garage, the only place I could put them. It was great for floor space, but too much of a safety issue to bring them down and put them up without potentially falling off the ladder. I bought the cart with the idea that I would be putting them in the shed I will hopefully build in the back yard, so I can cart the wheels out to the driveway, change them over, then cart the stored tires all at once instead of rolling one at a time 150 ft. For now I can just roll the cart around my garage if I need, but haven't had to.

Off a ladder would suck. I have to go up three stairs and then I have a landing I can stand on while tossing tires up. Its work but it's safe. If I get too annoyed, There is a pneumatic counterbalance that I could hang that could reduce effective weight (for instance set it to 30 lbs of lift and I have to pull down with 30 lbs, hook tire and then lift with 20 lbs to raise wheel). A lot faster than a winch.

 

[hdsomeday]

I have up to five sets of tires at a time stored in the garage. It was a pain to have them stacked as I never knew which kid was coming to change tires first. Ended up with a tire rack from Uline. Holds six sets. Heaviest at the bottom and lightest at the top. I'm using the poor man's rope and pulley to get them on the top shelf.

Tire Rack - 60 x 18 x 84

Stock the tires you want, save the space you need. Essential for tire shops, car dealerships and wholesale clubs. Boltless assembly. Shelves snap into place and adjust at 1 1/2" increments. 14-gauge steel posts. Tough, powder-coat finish. Single sided - Vertical storage that mounts to the wall...

www.uline.ca