Automobiles

[rec head]

Teslas in Chicago are a dime a dozen, they're everywhere. Judging by how people drive them I thought it would be a much more boring test drive than it was. I'm not going to over-hype the drive but it was fun. I bet most of the drivers would be scared shitless doing a 0-60 launch.

And speaking of launch mode:

[echappist]

You are correct about this. Parasitic drag increases exponentially. That said, I don’t know what the most efficient speed would be in my car. I’m guessing like 50-55 MPH. Given that Chicago traffic speed laws are essentially unenforced I go as fast as I want, or better said, I go with the traffic flow. I’m not trying to hypermile the vehicle. People who do that are hyper annoying and a borderline road hazard. When I cruise on a road trip I’ll usually do the speed limit up to speed limit + 5-8 MPH, depending on conditions.

I have found that dropping speed down from the 75-80 MPH range down to 70 +/- 2.5 MPH to help in a somewhat significant manner. Of course, there is drafting effect going on when moving with traffic, so it's not as consuming as 75-80 MPH solo. I personally don't mind moving with traffic at ~75 (usually staying 2.5 seconds behind), but I will "let a gap open" if someone decides to go at 80 for prolonged periods.

And yes, outside air temperature definitely affects things. The cooler temps also bring in higher winds, which doesn't necessarily average some times, even for round trips.

[htwoopup]

When the tesla model S came out I saw all those videos about people drag racing them and using that ludicrous mode button and I was kind of afraid we would see idiots driving them stupidly everywhere. Power only increased over the generations, I think the latest Model Y can deliver 1000HP or something in the right conditions.

It turns out that nearly all Tesla I see are driven 10kph below the speed limit while the idiots are usually the turbo diesel cars drivers. I guess that EV range anxiety quickly take over and it gets old quit quickly to hammer and launch yourself into space at every traffic light + complaints from your passengers.

In the area where I am in Quebec, they are EVERYWHERE. And, they are the new entitled morons driving way way too fast and without regard for anyone else driving or cycling or pedestrians. They are the ones to watch out for by a long shot. Even more so than the BMW lunatics up here that were the previous leaders of the pack in jerk factor. And, at least you could hear the Bimmer guys coming.

[72gmc]

Many automobiles today, it seems to me, suffer from one of two maladies...

1) They sacrifice all comfort in the name of economy. Or,
2) They take their role of symbolization too seriously and they wear it too prominently (i.e. they're overly masculine, overly luxurious, overly expensive).

As my old car heads north of 300,000 miles, I've been giving the topic of vehicles a bit more thought lately.

The question might be: what is the vehicle for a young American fellow that's neither incapable nor a compensatory mechanism; not conspicuous consumption but also not cheap; avoids killing the earth with fossil fuel consumption without giving off the air of being greener-than-thou? What is the vehicle for a man of the modern age?

Now that we know that celebrities in private jets are the actual fossil fuel problem … could the well-adjusted modern fellow be well served by the well-preserved ‘69 Ford Country Squire?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...ntry-squire-2/

[Too Tall]

Now that we know that celebrities in private jets are the actual fossil fuel problem … could the well-adjusted modern fellow be well served by the well-preserved ‘69 Ford Country Squire?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...ntry-squire-2/

Yes, yes you can.

[Too Tall]

Now that we know that celebrities in private jets are the actual fossil fuel problem … could the well-adjusted modern fellow be well served by the well-preserved ‘69 Ford Country Squire?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...ntry-squire-2/

Yes, yes you can.

[j44ke]

Now that we know that celebrities in private jets are the actual fossil fuel problem … could the well-adjusted modern fellow be well served by the well-preserved ‘69 Ford Country Squire?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...ntry-squire-2/

I'd go for a '68 Vista Cruiser. Fond memories of riding around in my aunt's VC with my cousins. Miles of glass. All us kids in the "way back" hopped up on grape flavored bubble gum and Dr. Pepper while my bleached-blonde aunt drove and sang along with Helen Reddy. My aunt was how I visited America while growing up in the socialist-intellectual-elitist science-believing-subversive wing of our family. Not that there is anything wrong with that. America has always been a nice place to visit.



That is not my aunt on the top of the car but it easily could have been.

[Marvinlungwitz]

Untitled by Marvin Lungwitz, on Flickr

Untitled by Marvin Lungwitz, on Flickr

I love a wagon with wood panels. I’m going to get faux wood panels for my new little wagon.

My wife thinks I’m nuts. She is correct, but that won’t stop me.

[72gmc]

I'd go for a '68 Vista Cruiser. Fond memories of riding around in my aunt's VC with my cousins. Miles of glass. All us kids in the "way back" hopped up on grape flavored bubble gum and Dr. Pepper while my bleached-blonde aunt drove and sang along with Helen Reddy. My aunt was how I visited America while growing up in the socialist-intellectual-elitist science-believing-subversive wing of our family. Not that there is anything wrong with that. America has always been a nice place to visit.



That is not my aunt on the top of the car but it easily could have been.

I’d tell people that IS my aunt. Sort of like keeping the stock photo in the picture frame you buy … who’s to say that isn’t your college flame?

(I don’t do this but I do endorse creative storytelling)

[robin3mj]

Untitled by Marvin Lungwitz, on Flickr

Untitled by Marvin Lungwitz, on Flickr

I love a wagon with wood panels. I’m going to get faux wood panels for my new little wagon.

My wife thinks I’m nuts. She is correct, but that won’t stop me.

There’s a group doing faux wood stickers for the new Wagoneer. If they did them for the Grand Cherokee too I’d probably consider it.

[htwoopup]

Every weekend that I am here and on my way back to the sand from the snack bar for the ride back to home, this one is parked in Field 5. I always wonder if he comes in on a weekday when it is free and how he gets away with parking past dusk. Both things are, I believe, totally doable given how the Park Rangers would eye the choice of vehicle.

[j44ke]

This is on auction at Copake - where the classic bike auction is each spring (or is it fall?) The Withnail in me made me stop and have a look. Barn find and I think I know the barn. In my dreams, I would restore everything except the paint and drive it like a maniac.

1957 MG-A Roadster

[TonyP]

I guess this can go here.

https://road.cc/content/news/hero-dr...yclists-303499

[darkmother]

The Withnail in me made me stop and have a look.

1957 MG-A Roadster

That was a Jaguar. This will be much cheaper to refurbish.

[j44ke]

That was a Jaguar. This will be much cheaper to refurbish.

I want one of those especially - particularly after that movie - but you are correct, this one would be cheaper. But looking at it I am not sure how they got it here without breaking it in half. Must be a strong frame member somewhere that isn’t eaten through with rust.

[j44ke]

I guess this can go here.

https://road.cc/content/news/hero-dr...yclists-303499

Nice work. I hope the insurance company doesn’t view it differently.

[jclay]

This is on auction at Copake - where the classic bike auction is each spring (or is it fall?) The Withnail in me made me stop and have a look. Barn find and I think I know the barn. In my dreams, I would restore everything except the paint and drive it like a maniac.

1957 MG-A Roadster

Oh my. Got Whitworth spanners (not really for an A...or did it require a few)? Like leather oil seals, drying out distributor caps and sticking an incandescent drop-light under the intake manifold so it'll start in (Florida) winter? Man, having grown up with similar they'd be in my nightmares.

You can probably find a support group to help; you want to keep'em in your dreams; they're a lot prettier there and a lot less oily and troublesome.

Now....hmmmmm....do I want go get another Volvo 245 and drop a force-fed Cosworth into it? Quick, water on face, wake up...NO....it'll be ok. And my boring GC is vastly superior in every way possible.

[Scott G.]

Now that we know that celebrities in private jets are the actual fossil fuel problem … could the well-adjusted modern fellow be well served by the well-preserved ‘69 Ford Country Squire?

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...ntry-squire-2/

I'm pretty sure a Cessna Citation Mustang burns less fuel,
but can't achieve the roll angles in a turn that a Country Squire can.

[72gmc]

Oh, Jorn …

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cts6R...ZjMTM2ODFkZg==

[Marvinlungwitz]

I guess this can go here.

https://road.cc/content/news/hero-dr...yclists-303499

Yikes.