About 17 hours left to vote. So far it's 1 for the 1996 Honda Accord V6 and 1 for the 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.
-DK
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Spotlight of the week
I'm starting up a new section that should be updated on a weekly basis. In general, it's going to delve into some of the cars currently on the road and some classics. In these spotlights, I'll look at the specs, an overview of the design of both the exterior and interior. Plus I'll discuss the technology that was found on these cars and how much they cost then and now. Along with the basic discussion of the car, I'll throw in my two cents on my general impression of the vehicle so that you can see where I'm coming from.
I'll post my view on the cars, but I'm also looking for your insight on some of the cars I'm discussing and possible ideas for future. Post your comments in the comment box below and check out the poll for your input on what car I'll discuss the coming week.
-DK
I'll post my view on the cars, but I'm also looking for your insight on some of the cars I'm discussing and possible ideas for future. Post your comments in the comment box below and check out the poll for your input on what car I'll discuss the coming week.
-DK
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
How did we get to where we are today?
I read a article over on jalopnik about Beige Bites Back: Is Toyota Paying The Price For Building Dull Cars?. In there they talk about how things that use to be called quirks are now considered huge issues. Ex: Prius abs issue. This kinda got me thinking, consumers have been driving cars for over 100+ years. Why is it seem now that people are helpless when it comes to driving without things like ABS, Traction Control, and Stability Control systems. Whatever happened to the dynamic driver? Is adjusting driving styles for changing weather conditions a thing of the past?
I honestly hope not!
Technology as useful as it can be isn't perfect and at some point will fail. That's when the driver must know what to do or how to react. Grant it ABS, Traction control, and Stability Control have done wonders at reducing the number of accidents on the roadways when the conditions are slippery. At the same time they aren't essential to driving in adverse weather and should only be a backup if equipped. We didn't always have these car technologies. Some have been around since the 1970's while others are fairly new with the incorporation of more sensors built into cars nowadays. To most people in this current day and age a RWD car without ABS or other traction systems installed would be almost taboo to use in winter. I would argue the opposite view. Having experience in both technologically stripped cars and technologically advanced cars, my preference seems to drift to the one with less technology. That said, there are numerous benefits to technologically advanced cars, but at the same time there seems to be a disconnect between the driver, the car, and the road. The systems that control the cars response to a situation does provide some feedback to the driver (dashboard light, rumbling pedal etc...), but in a sense all these systems do is covers up the drivers mistake. Drivers that understand how to be dynamic can enter in adverse weather conditions and effectively make choices, since they understand the limitations of their car, that will get them though safely. Drivers that believe the car will take care of everything and all they need to push the pedals and steer will be the ones in the ditch or in a accident.
It takes time to learn how to become a dynamic driver and overtime will make you more aware of your situation and overall a better driver.
-DK
I honestly hope not!
Technology as useful as it can be isn't perfect and at some point will fail. That's when the driver must know what to do or how to react. Grant it ABS, Traction control, and Stability Control have done wonders at reducing the number of accidents on the roadways when the conditions are slippery. At the same time they aren't essential to driving in adverse weather and should only be a backup if equipped. We didn't always have these car technologies. Some have been around since the 1970's while others are fairly new with the incorporation of more sensors built into cars nowadays. To most people in this current day and age a RWD car without ABS or other traction systems installed would be almost taboo to use in winter. I would argue the opposite view. Having experience in both technologically stripped cars and technologically advanced cars, my preference seems to drift to the one with less technology. That said, there are numerous benefits to technologically advanced cars, but at the same time there seems to be a disconnect between the driver, the car, and the road. The systems that control the cars response to a situation does provide some feedback to the driver (dashboard light, rumbling pedal etc...), but in a sense all these systems do is covers up the drivers mistake. Drivers that understand how to be dynamic can enter in adverse weather conditions and effectively make choices, since they understand the limitations of their car, that will get them though safely. Drivers that believe the car will take care of everything and all they need to push the pedals and steer will be the ones in the ditch or in a accident.
It takes time to learn how to become a dynamic driver and overtime will make you more aware of your situation and overall a better driver.
-DK
Friday, February 5, 2010
Happy National Weatherman's Day!!! To all my fellow meteorologists!
It's February 5 and for most people they found out 3 days earlier that they're in for 6 more months of winter compliments of a groundhog. For Meteorologists though it's National Weatherman's Day. In short, this day honors weathermen and women who are diligently forecasting the changing weather so that the average person knows what to expect today and the next 4-5 days.
This a day isn't just for the forecasters, but also the researchers making breakthroughs in this field through Numerical Weather Prediction, Boundary layer, Meso and Synoptic scale along with Surface Transportation Weather just to name a few.
This day commemorates the birth of John Jeffries, considered one of America's first weathermen. John was born on Feb 5, 1744. He kept weather records for 42 years starting in 1774 and he was one of the first to use balloons for weather measurements.
-DK
This a day isn't just for the forecasters, but also the researchers making breakthroughs in this field through Numerical Weather Prediction, Boundary layer, Meso and Synoptic scale along with Surface Transportation Weather just to name a few.
This day commemorates the birth of John Jeffries, considered one of America's first weathermen. John was born on Feb 5, 1744. He kept weather records for 42 years starting in 1774 and he was one of the first to use balloons for weather measurements.
-DK
Monday, February 1, 2010
Step out of reality for a bit
I talk quite frequently about the technology in cars and future technology coming to them to my readers on here and many of my friends. When you think about it, it's kinda mind-numbing with all the technology we are immersed in on a daily occurrence. I'm going to pick on gamers for a while, more specifically racing simulation gamers. I'll admit I fall into this category of gamer over any other gaming genres. The question I pose is, "Does playing simulation (sim) racing games in turn adjust driving behavior in the real world?" In addition, does it make a driver more situationally aware of their surroundings?
In my personal experience I would say it does have a impact and it does produce a more defensive driver. My hypothesis goes with the "condition", if you want to call it that, that they are using the racing sim for improving driving skills. The games lately that have been labeled as sim racing games include GTR (PC), Race On (PC), rFactor (PC), Forza (xbox 360), GT5 (PS3) and Dirt 2 (cross platform). All of these games allow a driver to attach a steering wheel and pedals to make it more life like. Along with the true to life physics makes the cars feel life like as they go around the digital track. I'm just barely scratching the surface about these games, but I want you to chime in. Do think sim racing games do have any benefit to a real life commuter or is this some digital smoke and mirrors.
-DK
In my personal experience I would say it does have a impact and it does produce a more defensive driver. My hypothesis goes with the "condition", if you want to call it that, that they are using the racing sim for improving driving skills. The games lately that have been labeled as sim racing games include GTR (PC), Race On (PC), rFactor (PC), Forza (xbox 360), GT5 (PS3) and Dirt 2 (cross platform). All of these games allow a driver to attach a steering wheel and pedals to make it more life like. Along with the true to life physics makes the cars feel life like as they go around the digital track. I'm just barely scratching the surface about these games, but I want you to chime in. Do think sim racing games do have any benefit to a real life commuter or is this some digital smoke and mirrors.
-DK
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