Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with automobiles

On your bumper and accelerating

quin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:35:23 -0800

Why to people tailgate on the interstate? Specifically, why do people drive at unsafe distances from other people's cars? It's not uncommon for me to see a line of more than a dozen automobiles all driving within a car length of one another at 65+ miles per hour. What's even more odd to me, is that I will frequently see cars race up to a line of people doing this, and take their spot at the back of the pack for no apparent reason.

My first thought was that it was an aggression: "I'm on your bumper so move over" thing, but when confronted with a dozen or so cars (and sometimes semis) in front of you, that doesn't make sense. I also thought it might be an effort to draft to improve gas efficiency, but considering how many of them are driving otherwise, that seems unlikely as well.

What's worse is that if one person hits their brakes, the entire line is forced to rapidly slow down, which inevitably leads to traffic congestion as people jump into a different lane, making everyone behind them slow down as well, and when traffic resumes, these cars inevitably go right back to driving with very little space in front of them.

Is it just that people are inattentive and don't realize how close they are, or is there some kind of other mechanism at work here that I am not understanding.

Do women sing about cars?

GrammarMoses — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 09:23:23 -0800

Do women sing about cars? Just now I heard Margo Thunder's cover of "Expressway to Your Heart" and it made me realize that I almost never hear women singing automobile-themed songs. I have easily heard hundreds of car songs during my life - of which two were performed by women. (The other one: Lucinda Williams' "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.") I think there's an essay in this, maybe, if the thesis holds up. So I'm asking you for additional examples: If I get lots, the theory goes out the window; if indeed there are very few, that'll help me prove my point.

Would it be absolutely ludicrous to look into buying a car that takes premium fuel in this day and age?

decrescendo — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:02:56 -0800

Would it be absolutely ludicrous to look into buying a car that takes premium fuel in this day and age? I am a 23 year-old aerospace engineer, one year out of college, and making a decent and average starting salary with the job I've been in since graduating. It has come the time to buy a new car since I'm driving a 2004 Cavalier that feels like it's going to fall apart when it approaches 60 mph.

I'd love to buy a used BMW 3-series, Audi A4, Infiniti G-coupe, or maybe even a Mercedes-Benz C-Class. All take premium fuel. The only regular-guzzling car I really would like is a Mazda 3.

Am I out of my mind to consider these more-expensive ones considering the state of the economy and fuel prices?

I keep bouncing back and forth and I'd love to get some advice from you fine people.

How to cross an ocean

Galen — Sat, 17 May 2008 05:25:43 -0800

I want to travel from Wroclaw, Poland to my family in Seattle, with less than 1000USD, without flying, within five weeks. I'm studying in Wroclaw, Poland, almost half way around the world from my home (I remember as a kid looking at the globe and Ukraine is exactly on the other side of the northern Hemisphere from Seattle).

I'm finished June 23. I intended to stay away from the US for as long as possible, but that whole human heart and loving friends thing urges me to return. That being, I didn't buy a return plane ticket.

My only obligation after June 23 is to see my cousin and uncle in Brighton for a week or so. After that it's time to go.

Perhaps the first question is, "Which direction: East or West?"

The criteria for this choice, in order to provide some constraints are:
1. I have less than 1000USD so the cheaper the better.
2. The five week time frame: the point is to return to my loved ones, so I don't want to be on the road for a year.
3. I've flown probably 200 times in my life and I'm over the airports, the turbulence and the rapid descents at the end. So we've ships, trains, autos, horses, bikes and my feet to work with.

And that's where all the questions I browsed on metafilter haven't answered my question, and why I'm asking you now:

I know how to buy a plane ticket, and I'm accustomed to train travel and I've hitchhiked a few hundred miles before (so the continental portion of travel doesn't bother me) but how do I cross the oceans?

I've researched tramp steamers a bit but the interactive map doesn't show any available ships!

Does anyone have experience hitching rides on ships? Are there other ways to cross oceans (crew on a yacht, tall ship or canoe?)

Is the Bering straight potentially crossable? I'm aware the north pole is melting so that's not really transgressable.

What's the least expensive way to [not fly across] an ocean? And which ocean should I cross?

A slightly larger, small used car for $15k or less

codger — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:57:23 -0800

Buying a slightly larger, small used car for $15k or less, big enough for a growing family. We live in suburban Ohio, driving a 1998 Mitsubishi Galant that just turned 100k miles. This is also the year that the air conditioning decided to crap out.

While the lack of A/C is annoying, that's not the reason we're looking for another car. We've got an 18-month-old, and hauling her around (or even just having her car seat in the back) seems to have shrunk the backseat significantly.

We're not thinking SUV or mini-van yet, nor are we intending to add any other children to the family at the moment. However that said, we'll likely still be driving any car we buy now when we do have additional children (well, maybe one, I say) in the next 2-5 years.

Safety considerations may figure into this, but we haven't specifically discussed those yet.

So here's what I want: a 4-door sedan or wagon (though I won't rule out the Fit and its ilk until I've actually driven one) that's bigger, mainly in the backseat, than what I've got, for around $15,000. I've even gone as far as starting a spreadsheet with all of the specified numbers for the cars we're looking at, which unfortunately would rule out the Honda Civic which is smaller in every dimension but front head room. I realize that actually sitting in the cars will likely give me more feel for the size than just numbers alone, but it's a start.

I would also love to get better mileage - I've been hovering around the very low 20s in the city and know I can do better. To do so I think I need to stick with a 4-cylinder engine, but that's not set in stone. For me and my wife to both drive it, we're looking at an automatic transmission.

I prefer to drive cars until they die, and moreover would like cars that die later, so this does tend to rule out most American makes. If I'm wrong, please, let me know! I'm thinking that I'm going to look around 2-4 years old, with 20-40k miles on it.

Back to size, though, since not that many people have probably sat in a Galant, that Civic is probably a fine baseline.

If it matters, I'm 6' and broad-shouldered, and my wife is average height and build. Right now our (3' tall) daughter can kick the back of the passenger seat sitting in her car seat.

So, what can I find that's bigger than a Honda Civic with comfortable room for a child seat + assorted stuff reachable from the front seats, with good mileage, reliability and longevity, for under $15,000?

Why replace a cracked windshield immediately?

sacre_bleu — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:01:03 -0800

Please help me decide whether a cracked auto windshield ought to be replaced quickly, and not simply endured. I have a 2000 Honda Accord whose windshield I've replaced twice because of cracks from pebbles spit up by trucks on the highway.
The latest pebble pit took six months to strerch from side to side across the top quarter of the windshield. (Impact crater near center.)

I have the money to replace it, but I'm dawdling. Part of me hesitates because I had a new winshield for less than a month between cracks last time. The cracked windshield currently in the car has withstood a couple of half-inch pebble assaults, so it's not super-fragile.

How far, or how long, have you driven with a cracked windshield without incident? Or, what happened to your cracked windshield that made you wish you'd swapped it out sooner?

Please contribute experiences or insights to help me decide whether I'm being a stingy fool.

Why aren't there more pink cars?

ThePinkSuperhero — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:03:34 -0800

Why don't car manufacturers make pink cars? They make cars in lots of other colors (ROYGBIV, brown, black, gray, beige). And pink is an awfully popular color for gadgets these days- pink mp3 players, pink phones, pink laptops. So why aren't there more pink cars? I don't know that I've ever seen a pink car that wasn't custom painted. Is this simply an issue of there not being a market for pink cars, or are there other factors involved?

Help me remember the name of this movie about a new breed of carmaker who was shut down by the Big Three

J Parker — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:29:14 -0800

Someone told me about a movie that tells the story of someone who starts making really different and cool cars. He starts a small company with the intention of selling them on a small scale. However, the "Big 3" learn about his company and set out to shut him down. I can't for the life of me remember what the name of that movie is. Does anyone know?

Can you convince me NOT to buy a hybrid?

kyleg — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:39:24 -0800

What are the downsides to owning a hybrid? In the market for a new car, and wondering about the cost/benefit ratio, among other things. Hoping that hybrid owners can help out here. Concerns are mostly economic. Are there unexpected or hidden costs that pop up that you wouldn't have with the standard model? For someone with a fairly short daily commute in highway traffic, is the gas savings lessened? Is the initial cost premium worth it?

What about consumer choice? Is there a difference in the benefits provided by hybrid models when comparing sedans vs. SUVs? Does it make sense to restrict yourself to looking for hybrid models rather than all available automobiles, in terms of available features? Are there safety concerns not associated with standard models?

If you have answers, or any other valid concerns about hybrid ownership that should be considered, please post them here. Alternately, if you would like to make the argument that buying a hybrid is always the best option, feel free to state your case.

where can cars be sold parts only

srrh — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:12:09 -0800

Is there a place on the internet with a list of every state and whether not it is legal to sell cars there as "Parts Only" (i.e., without a title)? If not, does anyone happen to know this information off-hand?

Tips on driving standard?

patr1ck — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:18:44 -0800

I've recently purchased a standard because I used to drive one and loved it, but I've never really been properly trained in how to drive one. The car I bought is much more powerful than the one I've learned on, and I'd appreciate some answers to a few questions and any general tips you've got to help me get the most of out my new clutch (and car). Here are the extra questions:

Are any of the following considered bad practice? (Bonus points for why)
1. Skipping a gear when down shifting. If I'm in 4th and start slowing down, but slow down quick enough it makes more sense to shift into 2nd than 3rd.
2. When in 1st, I sometimes never totally let the clutch out before pressing it back in and shifting to second (to avoid a jerky shift).
3. When slowing down, not downshifting at all and just putting the car in neutral and using only the brakes/wind resistance to slow down.
4. When at a stop on a reverse slope (where there would be roll-back if you weren't holding the brake), giving a little bit of gas and letting the clutch out just a little, to hold the cars position without using the brake.

Thanks!

What Unmarked Black Helicopter Pilots drive on their days off?

univac — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:57:15 -0800

The unmarked black cars cars: why is their existence a secret? A couple weeks ago I was at a gas station in Flagstaff & noticed about six cars that were completely covered with some sort of black material. At first glance, the cars (sort of Scion-shaped, I guess) looked like they were painted black, but they were actually covered with a bunch of panels of black stuff that was criss-crossed with some sort of black tape. The black material stuck out over the edges of the doors to form "flaps" of about six inches. There were no other markings, period. Oh, except for the plates. They all had Kentucky dealer plates. The drivers were men of varied ages & ethnicities. Some of them carried 3-ring binders. I approached one of the drivers & asked him why all the cars were wrapped up like that, & he refused to say. Wikipedia tells me that there's a Toyota plant in Kentucky, so I'm thinking this was some sort of top-secret long-distance driving test of some sort of car of the (near) future.

Just curious if anyone knows what was going on here.

Help a hick drive out of the sticks.

barchan — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:01:59 -0800

What are your best tips and techniques for driving in a big city? I'm moving to Houston from a very rural area. Everything I know about driving is geared toward rural conditions. While I have been in lots of cities, I've only driven through them rarely and mostly at odd hours. I've heard lots about the driving conditions in Houston and I'm a tad anxious.

While there are lots of sites on the internet about driving in a city, most of them deal with choosing an automatic, staying in one lane, know your navigation, etc., things that seem like common sense. I also found this AskMe thread.

However, what I'm looking for are tips on how to merge, should I go the speed limit or follow the flow of traffic, etc, the kind of things that tend to be instinctive to people who drive in heavy or *any* traffic all the time. Tips on Houston driving would be a bonus.

FWIW, I am a very defensive driver (probably too defensive), and pretty good at dealing with all types of weather. I also understand that I'm not the greatest driver ever.

My baby (car) has a secret (compartment)

xo — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:47:36 -0800

My hatchback car (Honda Fit) doesn't have a separately-locking trunk or glovebox. Can I add a lock-box or secret compartment somewhere inside the car for stashing a few items, for those times I must turn over my keys (parking garage, valet)? Ideally I'd only be securing/concealing 3 deck-of-cards-sized items: iPod, GPS, EZPass. There are no official Honda accessories that do this, nor can I find any Fit-fanatic mods that have addressed it.

I have a car! But it smells funny. How can I fix it?

MadamM — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 22:19:18 -0800

How can I make my car smell better? I have recently been passed partial stewardship of a family car and I want to fix it up. It's a good car, but recently it's had some window issues that have, in turn, led to some smell issues. Basically the windows wouldn't stay up, so a certain amount of water would get inside it when it rained (especially because we park it outside, uncovered, sometimes). Not a lot of water, because the windows were never stuck more than an inch or two open, but over the course of a few months I think it's made the car smell sort of... funny. Add to that the fact that my father smoked in it when he was the primary driver, and you get a car that smells somewhat unpleasant- not awful, but it definitely has a musty funk that I would like to keep from getting any worse. The windows are fixed now, which should help, but I'm worried about mildew.

I'm going to have access to the car this week because my brother, the other driver of the car, will be out of town. I have plenty of time and effort to devote to this project, but unfortunately not much money or other resources (including any knowledge of cars or how they're made). I can maybe spend/convince my mom to spend about 30 bucks on supplies beyond what we already possess, but not much beyond that. I want to make this thing smell good. What do I need to do? What parts can I easily clean without having to dismantle the car beyond what I'm comfortable with? I want to do the best job I can.

(I did search for and find other questions about wet cars, but they didn't really apply to this situation because most of them dealt with soaked cars. This is more a matter of dampness.)

Wheels on 1963 Ranchero

drleary — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:29:56 -0800

What was the original size wheels/tires that came on the 1963 Ford Ranchero? Thanks in advance!

What happened with my brakes?

skallas — Mon, 15 May 2006 15:57:46 -0800

What happened to my brakes? I got new front pads and rotors a little while ago and after about three weeks of normal use they started squeeling extremely loudly. It was almost defeaning if I was driving next to a barricade or a tall curb. They were still under warranty so I took the car in and was told the "rear brakes needed cleaning." Is this common? The guy was hesitant to answer some of my questions and I was in a hurry to get my car back. Now the brakes don't make any noise but I feel a noticable grind when braking. Does this situation sound fishy? Is a grinding "feeling" normal?

Cars sold in US?

The Confessor — Tue, 09 May 2006 17:10:02 -0800

Looking for car *brands* currently sold at dealerships in the United States. I've got a 40+ member list (after the jump) that strikes me as fairly exhaustive but I also have this nagging feeling that I'm missing one or more "niche" brands. Acura
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Buick
Cadillac
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ford
GMC
Honda
Hummer
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar
Jeep
Kia
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Mazda
Mercedes-Benz
Mercury
Nissan
Pontiac
Porsche
SAAB
Saturn
Scion
Toyota
Volkswagon
Volvo

Help us find a car! Please don't recommend the (ugly) HHR!

richardhay — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 12:25:49 -0800

So, my wife and I are ready to buy a car, and we need some suggestions... Over the past few days, we've been driving around to several dealerships in the area looking at various new and used cars. So far, we've found three that we really like:

Chrysler P.T. Cruiser
Chrysler P.T. Cruiser Convertible
Scion xB

As you can probably tell from the list above, we're looking for something like a small (really small) suv that has some styling to it. We want to spend between $14,000 and $17,500 and are willing to consider both used and new cars.

The requirements are:

1. Reasonable amount of space for two adults and files/a few boxes, suitcases, etc.

2. The driver and passanger should sit more upright than they do in a traditional sedan (like the Taurus, etc.).

3. The vehicle should have space on its side back windows for a logo.

4. The vehicle should get reasonably good gas mileage, as it will be used for both daily in-town driving, and longer business and personal trips.

5. Its got to look nice. We love the Cruiser, but hate the HHR, if that helps. (and, yes, I know the xB is ugly and looks like a box, but for some reason, we still like it!)

So, does anyone have any suggestions of other vehicles that we should look at? Any help or advice is appreciated!

What is the origin and significance of furry dice?

goodnewsfortheinsane — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 12:18:52 -0800

What is the origin and significance of furry dice (or fuzzy dice), which some motorists hang from their rear-view mirror?

What's a 1967 Camaro worth?

Neiltupper — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 21:19:12 -0800

A friend wants to sell a 1967 Camaro RS, but has no idea what it's worth. Can anyone recommend online (or other) resources that would provide a value range for such a car?

When to replace an old car

gottabefunky — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 11:02:49 -0800

At what point is it not worth putting any more money into keeping an old car running, and just going out and getting a new one? What's the equation? I'm driving a '91 Volvo 240 wagon, and as my mechanic tells me, this Swedish battlewagon will probably still run fine the day they tow it off to the junkyard because all the rest of it - body, etc - has slowly fallen to pieces. I'm wondering - especially with gas getting so pricey (I get 20 mpg) - when it'll be worth it to just spring for a new (actually, used) car that gets better mileage and doesn't require $500-1000/year in repairs and upkeep.

Getting a car from A to B

jonathanbell — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 13:36:34 -0800

International auto shipping recommendations wanted... I'd be hugely grateful if anyone could share recommendations for international auto shippers. I've just sold a car via Ebay and my buyer wants to find a good firm that'll send an old Peugeot from London, England to Portland, CA. Many thanks!

Why can't car shopping be simple?

synecdoche — Fri, 15 Jul 2005 19:37:38 -0800

How do the taxes work when buying used (but fairly new) cars? I'm hoping to buy a new car in a couple of weeks. I've been doing my research, and have test drove a few, and found one I like. I'm going to do the buy in a different city (same province) since there is no dealership for the car I want here.

Something is puzzling me though. The car I want, new, carries an MSRP of $17795. Now, I was browsing the stock for a dealership I want to look at, and they have the same car, a year older, but with the exact same accessories, for $17795. Huh? The year old car has 18000 kilometers on it. Doesn't that mean anything?

I am just puzzled about how the pricing for things like lease returns (which this used car is) works.

Also, do you generally (in BC, if that matters) pay the same freight and such on a used car as a new one? The 2004 would be fine for me, but if I can get a brand new car for the same price, why buy the 2005?

I just don't want to get screwed by a dealer adding phantom charges on, so if anyone can give me a decent idea of how used car pricing works at a lot, I'd appreciate it. I've found lots of sites with great tips for new cars, but not so much for used (or newish) cars.

Question number 15081

Fupped Duck — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 08:51:41 -0800

AccountingFilter:
I purchase a car for 10,000. with a $1000 rebate
The state levies a 5% sales tax of $500 . Am I not entitled to to a tax refund of $100 ?
My good buddy Google is uncharacteristically mum about this query.