Well, the big factor there is I wouldn’t want to hand over the keys to a 16yo just knowing it had 300hp, but let’s put that aside.
I wouldn’t mind a teen driver out in the snow in a RWD with snow tires. Provided it has stability and traction control, otherwise not many teens know about oversteer. But I wouldn’t fault someone for wanting AWD.
If there is a blizzard, the 16 year old isn’t driving anywhere.
I think it comes down to what you think of when you hear “cars”.
AWD is on the majority of vehicles sold. The data I found (2024 EPA auto trend data covering 2023) put AWD in 83% of new “trucks” (minivans, “truck” SUVs, and pickups), but only 25% of new “cars” (“car” SUVs and sedan/wagons). Since “trucks” are the majority of sales (~62%), you end up with a clear AWD majority.
So if you only think of a sedan when someone says “car” – yeah, most of those are not AWD. But if your concept of “car” includes beefier vehicles, then yes, most are AWD. (E.g., Ford sells a lot of AWD pickups.)
We got 36” of snow over a day or two back in 2000 and the city was shut down for a week to 10 days.
We had 15 inches of snow in Monday, the town shutdown for a day, I had 4-5 ft piles of snow across my driveway from the snow plows. They stacked up 10-12 ft of snow just past my driveway when they widened the road after the initial snow clearing.
TL;DR 36” is a dumb use case. 10” of snow messes things up enough on its own.
For no particular reason, I like the idea of a car with quad captain’s chairs and no center console, so that you can get up and “walk” to the middle of the car without getting out. Minivans might be the only way to have that though. (I’ve always liked minivans. Jaspess has never liked them, though.)
I’d like three across, so my first officer is on my right and my car counselor is on my left.
This type of tech is not needed for a toaster or a refrigerator, which is what most vehicles these days are akin to.
So, my son has a Prius and WFH and doesn’t drive around as he has a second Prius that he and his wife drive around. Well, this has happened before when it sat idle: the 12V battery went dead. Since he lives in an apartment in a sketchy area, I drove to him with a charger. Since there was no outlet nearby, we chose to take out the battery, which is in the trunk, which is not accessible unless the battery has enough charge to open it (can’t from the outside, electric lock from the inside). So, before getting to it, had to jump-start (it has a positive node under the hood, which is mechanical-open).
Once there , it required the unscrewing of seven screws in the trunk area, under several layers – carpet, floor, AND a tray of tire tools. It was also under a cooling vent for the main batteries.
Took the battery to his apartment and charged it for 3 hours.
Note that if the battery isn’t charged, a jump-and-drive won’t recharge it, cuz Prius, cuz the engine will stop when the engineer decided it will. And when the engine stops, the charging of the battery stops.
I had a cracked taillight lens housing on my Rav4. A Toyota dealer quoted me nealy $500 to replace it. I thought I was so clever finding an aftermarket replacement for like $140. But getting to the screws that hold the lens in required taking almost all the trim out of the back area, including the interior side panels inside the back area. No thanks. I ended up taking the part to a local mechanic and had him install it, but that cost about $220. So the total was a little less than the dealer, but way more that I thought was reasonable.
I have a left taillight housing that has lost its redness – cracked, so water gets in. Plus sun exposure. Not planning to replace at the moment. I could just get a red sharpie.
Bump:
(Can translate to English, in the upper right hand corner)
By the way, does driving a manual car really help prevent dementia? In fact, research by Professor Ryuta Kawashima of Tohoku University, a leading expert in “brain training,” has demonstrated that it does.
To quote, here’s why driving a manual transmission (MT) car is good for your brain:
- Driving an MT car activates the prefrontal cortex of the brain by requiring simultaneous clutch operation, gear shifting, accelerator control, and awareness of the surroundings.
- Moderate tension and judgment: Because you have to judge and select the optimal gear according to the situation, it puts a better load on the brain’s cognitive functions than a passive automatic transmission (AT) car. -
Bump:
Old car broke its timing chain last week. Happened at my off ramp. Got a slight nudge from some passersby, and cruised it downhill a mile or so to home. Getting it towed to my local shop guy now.
Shop guy says there is oil in the radiator and water in the oil pan. Need a new engine. Too much to save.
In lieu of gifts…
Picked your next vehicle yet?
It will be primarily for my wife (I will drive it when it is available, cuz cheap actuary), as I’ll take over her car, but either the BZ or the C-HR. The latter is shorter, so that is higher on the extremely small list. When can I get one, around here? No idea. There was one up in Concord, for $31K. BUT, you have to lease it AND you have to trade in your other EV (must be from their list). Otherwise, it’s $40K.
Going through Costco.
Condolences.
Thank you.
I remember the good times, not the bad times.
Car is back home.
Will call that terrible jingle company.
You know the one.
And now you cannot unhear it in your brain.
