TIRE SAFETY: Don’t Drive Bare

Now that we have survived our first genuine snowstorm of the season, everyone has driven their own road test of sorts. The first storm always exposes imperfections and shortcomings in our vehicles, that once addressed, take us safely through to spring. Our recent storm’s blend of ice, snow and rain tested everyone’s resolve, as well as the condition of their transportation. While it wasn’t particularly cold, a friend of mine’s car already had to be jump started. His winter will start with a new battery. Another friend learned that he needed to add new wipers to his truck, after he could barely see his way home. My purchase for this winter season was new tires.

Tires are often neglected and taken for granted, but nothing is more critical to the safety and performance of any, and all, vehicles. Environmentalists are constantly stressing the importance of proper tire inflation, in order to optimize fuel economy. Ford lost millions in the Explorer rollover debacle. The blame was finally placed on over zealous drivers, combined with improperly inflated tires. As a result, new vehicles now have tire inflation monitoring systems. Owners can brag all they want about their 4 wheel or all-wheel drive, but without tires that are up to the job, the rest is just macho posturing.

In the case of my 2005 Scion TC, I was driving close to the edge. My 5 year old car had 45,000 miles on its 17”, Bridgestone Potenza, Z rated, performance tires. I could tell even last winter that they were feeling their age. There were several storms that, even though I was driving slowly, I could feel the tires float on top of the slush and snow. I had little traction, and it felt dangerous. Performance tires are not made for a Maine winter anyway. They are too wide to bite through the snow, and the rubber is too brittle in the cold winter temperatures to adhere to cold surfaces. My 215/45ZR17 Potenzas were made to grip around a corner during a hot summer day, not to climb the hills and valleys of the Portland Peninsula during a Northeaster.

Summer came and my aging tires continued onward. An occasional rain storm was not a problem. If there was a hint of hydroplaning, just slow down, right? After all, the wear bars were not showing. My attitude changed though, recently. Driving along innocently, I took a corner at regular speed, on dry pavement, and I could feel the Scion lose traction. If I was having trouble navigating a simple turn now, I was going to be in for a long, dangerous winter. So it was time to bite the bullet, and spend some money.

The search for THE right tire for my vehicle could have been a pain staking, time consuming process, or as simple as picking up the phone and buying whatever the local tire shop might have available. I chose somewhere in between the two. First step? I decided that I did not want to hassle with changing in and out of snow tires each time the seasons changed, so I compromised by deciding on all season radials. I wanted a name brand that would deliver reliability and safety, but I did not want to bankrupt myself in the process.

Research and shopping for tires is actually easy, thanks to the Internet. Through various Web sites, all you have to do is enter your vehicle and model, your preferred criteria and price range, then a variety of recommendations are magically laid before you. I did my initial research across every site that I could imagine, including tirerack.com, Sears and Sam’s Club, just to name a few. There are many more available. Regardless of which you surf, most sites are comprehensive, and will steer you in the right direction, based on driving style, usage, and most importantly, price. An added benefit with some, are the user reviews; comments and criticisms from those that are already driving your potential tire of choice.

In my case, there seemed to be hundreds of choices. I had to do something to narrow the field. Since I was impressed with the look and feel of the BF Goodrich tires that we had on our Windstar van, I thought that I would look at their choices. I know, that’s comparing apples to oranges, but I did not want to return to the factory Bridgestone Potenzas, and I didn’t want to pay the top price for Michelins. Research came up with the highly recommended BFGoodrich G-Force™ Super Sport All Season radials. At $125 each, they were right in my price ceiling of $500, and the owner reviews were favorable.

The purchase was made. For nearly $600 (tax and mounting), I now have four new tires, free roadside assistance, along with lifetime tire rotation and balancing. Man, what a difference! These tires are fearless. I can feel them aggressively grab every type of road surface, under any driving condition. Dry or wet, they confidently handle anything Mother Nature has to offer. While they are not snow tires, they do provide a genuine feeling of confidence when the snow flies. No longer am I tip-toeing to the next stop sign. I can now drive with the, “Power of the G-Force” under me.

So, while wear bars are a guide to tire wear, and the Maine State Inspection is the final gatekeeper for tire safety, don’t wait too long. I was almost guilty of driving bare this winter. While it cost me money for four new tires, the cost of an accident would certainly have been more. Like the saying goes, “The life you save may be you own.”

Holiday Safety

If you have any doubts of the impact of distracted driving or driving under the influence, the following video summary will change your mind.

Have a happy holiday. Drive safely!



VIDEO: Australian Transport Accident Commission celebrates 20 years of disturbing commercials — Autoblog

DISTRACTED DRIVING: DON’T DO IT!!!

This blog was initially posted on May 6, 2008. Distracted driving continues in the news on a regular basis. With that in mind, I am reposting it for your review.

Susan Kimball visited the mother of this victim recently. Check out her report at:

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=111215&catid=2

“State Police say a young woman talking on her cell phone is the likely cause of last month's fatal crash on Interstate 295 in Cumberland.”

This was the opening line of the press release from the Maine State Police following their investigation into the cause of a horrific accident that occurred mid-morning on a beautiful, clear spring day here in Maine. This was the crash where a Toyota Corolla crossed the median on the interstate at a high rate of speed, driving into the opposing lane and striking a NEWS CENTER live truck. The driver of the car was killed, two of our coworkers were injured and both vehicles were totaled.

The details of the police investigation confirmed my suspicions from the moment the accident happened, an opinion that I shared with many coworkers and family members. The accident was not caused by a mechanical failure, another driver cutting her off, or the driver dodging wild turkeys, as some had speculated. It was caused by the driver using her cell phone while she was driving. She was a distracted driver.

The victim, Heather Bouchard, made the unfortunate decision to multitask while driving. The cell phone record confirms it. She was talking to a client on her phone. At the time of the crash, Ms. Bouchard was not wearing her seat belt, something her family said that she always wore. This, combined with other evidence, leads police to believe that Ms. Bouchard dropped her phone, released her seat belt to retrieve it and lost control of her vehicle, a decision that ultimately took her life.

We all have our own stories of observing, or even participating as distracted drivers. Basic acts of drinking coffee, tuning the radio, changing a CD, disciplining children, eating a sandwich, applying make-up, texting, and my favorite, knitting while driving. All simple tasks, all potentially deadly. A recent study conducted by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that, “…almost 80% of crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds of the event.” The most common distraction was cell phone use. It only takes once. DON’T DO IT!

Many states now ban cell phone use while driving and require hands-free calling devices. In my opinion, this is still distracted driving and should not be encouraged. This opinion is shared by Ralph Nader’s Center for Auto Safety (CAS), to the point of recently filing a petition with the NHTSA asking the agency, “…to write rules prohibiting the use of interactive systems that allow drivers to have wireless access to e-mails and phone calls.” I agree! Anything that diverts a driver’s attention as he or she pilots a 2,000 pound machine driving 65 mph is potentially deadly. DON’T DO IT!

A landmark case occurred in Rochester, New York where a teenager was texting while driving. Phone records proved it. All five in the car were killed. The New York law was changed. Maybe Maine lawmakers need to consider a similar move. It seems so obvious. Distracted driving, no matter how brief, no matter how innocent, can kill. DON’T DO IT!

RAVE FOR THE RAV4

Nothing bonds a driver to his or her car better than a good old fashioned road trip. Living romance and intrigue, just as the song says:

“Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure…”

You know the rest.

My family and I finally had a chance to put our brand new RAV4 through the paces on its first road trip, during a recent 600 mile visit to Connecticut and back. A genuine road trip provided us the chance to test the car's performance, its cabin’s comfort, and its ability to serve our family’s needs. It was also a chance to verify, did we make the right choice with our purchase?

Now, of course, this review will be somewhat slanted. After all, it is our car, but the facts and observations are all true, or at least in our opinion. Before the trip, we already had a grasp of the RAV around town. Its zippy performance and handling has provided us much more agility and fun than our lumbering Ford Windstar van that it replaced. The RAV’s smaller size has made it much easier to park, not to mention the immediate dollar savings from the improved gas mileage. Thank you Cash for Clunkers.

Although we are all still getting used to a few things here and there, from the beginning we have been impressed with Toyota’s intelligent engineering and solid construction. The dash switches and other interior components are convenient and logically placed. They feel good to the touch, and work the way they should. From the handy auxiliary input for our various i-Pods, to the neat flip-up storage shelf above the traditional glove compartment, everything in the RAV4 makes sense. Sure, we occasionally still find ourselves searching for the clock, which is lower and out of the line of site from the other instrumentation. We are also still trying to figure out the rear wiper, but these are little things that are part of the learning curve for new drivers, in a new vehicle.

Inside and out, the fit and finish for the RAV4 is the best that I have seen. The doors and windows are solid and tight. The design lines of both the interior and the exterior flow nicely, and the vehicle is attractive to the eye, from whatever point of view. The tailgate door takes some getting used to; it swings out instead of flipping up a la the Windstar, but we find the cargo bay much larger than the van, with a low lift over.
Our after market molded cargo liner does a great job protecting the carpet and keeping the luggage under control. There is also plenty of space for the driver and the passengers. Leg room is spacious, headroom is not an issue, and the cabin a just a nice place to be. Throughout the trip, my teenage sons had plenty of room as rear passengers to stay out of each other’s hair. The arm rest/cup holder/divider between the back seats helps to clearly define their turf.

We chose the 4 cylinder engine, and at 179 hp, I have yet to see the need to have spent the extra money for the 6 cylinder, sacrificing fuel economy. The 4 cylinder responds immediately when asked to accelerate, up the ramp, and on to the interstate. It moves quickly up to speed with a pleasing growl of the engine, and then levels off nicely as we engage the cruise control. With four of us, including two sturdy teenagers and a full load of luggage, there was rarely a time that we needed more power. Even climbing steep grades to pass, the RAV4 safely delivered what was needed. At highway speed, there is actually less road and wind noise than I expected for a vehicle of this size, even with its wide 16” tires. Wind buffeting on bridges was never an issue.

No machine is perfect, and neither is the RAV4. On my Base model, there is no illumination for the door mounted controls. When operating at night, the driver must stave around in the dark to find the door lock or window switches on the driver’s armrest. A small pin light for each control would assist the driver to safely access these functions. My Scion TC (also Toyota) has them, why not the RAV4?

As is the case with most small SUVs, rear visibility in the RAV4 is a challenge. The RAV has a small rear window. When backing up, the driver must rely heavily on the two side mirrors to complement the narrow rear view mirror. Further adding to the tunnel vision is the rear mounted full size spare, which obscures the lower edge of the rear window. Also while backing, the driver always wonders about the clearance, as the full size spare protrudes well beyond the tailgate. It’s a luxury that I choose not to afford, but the available back-up camera would be helpful with the RAV.

Buying a new car is a major family event. In our case, everyone was part of the process, from the initial research, to the final delivery. With three drivers, and a fourth soon to follow, we look forward to years of fun and quality service with this well designed and executed vehicle. Regardless of the few quirks here and there, around town and on the highway, the RAV4 is the right choice for our family. Our next test, how will the RAV4’s 4 wheel drive handle the Maine winter?

“Get your motor runnin'…”

I SURVIVED CASH FOR CLUNKERS

Well I did it, and I’m proud of it. I jumped into the fray, and survived the chaos of Cash for Clunkers. On the heels of my previous blog of 7/17/09, IT’S TIME FOR ME TO BUY,

http://maineautomall.blogspot.com/2009/07/its-time-for-me-to-buy.html,

the time was here. My mind was made up, I just needed to make a decision as to what, when, where, how. The why was clear, take advantage of the $3500 or $4500 government rebate now, or keep my 2002 Windstar van for a few more years until it died.

The Windstar was in no way a clunker. It was in perfect condition, with only 92,000, mostly highway miles on it. Its functionality was still valid, proving repeatedly how handy it could be with hockey bags, soccer gear, and too many suitcases for the long family road trips.

(see http://maineautomall.blogspot.com/2008/07/minivan-dead-or-alive.html.)

Toting various battles scars from parking lots around town, the Windstar looked “used”, but it was mechanically flawless. Its tarnished façade provided a perfect vehicle for my 15 year old son to exercise his learner’s permit, as well as provide comfort to his parents knowing that he could do little harm. We did not have to replace it, but $4500 is a lot of money, and the C4Cs program could not to be ignored.

When the criteria of the Cash for Clunkers program was announced in late July, I casually checked our eligibility. The Ford Windstar just qualified with a combined mileage of 18 mpg, so the process began. A car guy like me is always researching his next purchase, whether it’s fantasy or reality years in the future. Our goal was to improve fuel economy (and qualify for the full $4500), without sacrificing the needs of our family. The talent pool was quickly narrowed down to the Toyota RAV 4 and the Ford Edge.

The Edge was eliminated because its mileage rating only qualified for the rebate of $3500. In addition, the purchase price would be $2000 more than the RAV 4, not to mention that the cost of operation for the life of the vehicle would be more. A no brainer, it was all about money. After considering its size, cost, reliability, and glowing reviews from friends who owned the RAV, we made a confident decision that the RAV 4 was best for us.

It was now time for the fun to begin. I was off to my favorite Toyota dealer. Our family was going on a two week vacation, so we would not make a purchase until our return. I still went to the dealer to lay the ground work; to establish a relationship; in preparation for what I hoped would be a real deal, sweetened with 4500 free dollars. But nothing comes easy. The first snag in this grand plan hit as our vacation began, the Cash for Clunkers program was already concluding, as it was nearly out of its initial $1 billion allocation. With no C4Cs, there would be no new car. The deal was off. We enjoyed our vacation with the RAV4 as a distant memory.

Surprise! Upon our return, thanks to the miracle workers in Washington, Cash for Clunkers was still alive and well, reborn with a new lease on life. While we were away, an additional $2 billion had been magically infused into the program. The pursuit of the RAV4 was on again. A test drive of the RAV4 confirmed that our family had made the right choice. Now, it was just a simple matter of closing the deal, and drive away a happy owner. Wrong!

From the beginning, we wanted a new 2009 Base, FWD RAV4; any color as long as it was red. The one and only in the area fitting our criteria had just arrived by truck. After negotiating a fair price, I was ready to close the deal, but then the phone rang. Apparently, the one and only, had just been damaged upon delivery, and was in the body shop being repaired. Damaged? No thank you. The deal was off, again! Encouraged by a friend to consider 4 wheel drive, I was able to negotiate, for a few dollars more, a 4 wheel drive RAV. Deal on, again!

Meanwhile, Phase 2 of the Cash for Clunkers program was a raging success. The additional $2 billion dollars was already nearly gone. Dealers were in fear that they would not be paid by the government for deals already made. It was on a Thursday, and my dealer announced that they would cease participation in the program at 8:00 PM that evening. Coincidentally, we had just come to terms on price, so I informed my sales associate that I would stop by the dealership that evening after work to close the deal.

I arrived at the specified time, only to find total chaos on the sales floor. It was mobbed with frantic buyers. There was not a seat in the room, or a sales person available. My associate was busy with another client. Too busy to even a hello. After waiting way too long, with kids home alone and my frustration mounting, I left the dealership. Regardless of their self-imposed Cash for Clunkers deadline of that evening, I walked. The deal was off, AGAIN!

That was it, the final straw, time to move on. With the RAV4 once again out of my mind, I went about my business the next day, only to receive word that the dealership had extended their participation in C4Cs. Not surprisingly, no dealer is going to pass on a sure sale. Tired of the game of ping pong, with me as the ball, I made it clear that the only way I would close would be if I could be the very first in the showroom as they opened that Saturday. No more waiting for me.

With dew on the grass, and my still sleepy family in tow, the deal was finally closed early that Saturday morning. We all shed a tear for the Windstar, left behind to be scrapped. Years of memories coldly abandoned, but replaced with a shiny new RAV4. A whole new set of memories underway, the most vivid for me, will be the chaos of Cash for Clunkers. The best part of the deal? As we left the dealership in our new RAV, there was a steady, bumper-to-bumper line of cars and trucks heading into the chaos of Cash for Clunkers. We escaped comparatively unscathed, just in time.

IT’S TIME FOR ME TO BUY

It’s time for me to buy. The auto collapse has begun to stabilize, there is the “Cash for Clunkers” incentive of $3500 or $4500, and the stars have aligned properly, so it’s time for me to make my move. But what should I buy? There are hundreds of choices of all shapes and sizes. It has to be the right decision, since we will live with our choice for the next ten years. We need a mid-sized vehicle. We need something that enjoys fuel economy, but can still tote hockey and soccer bags, along with a few players, or family members. But on the other hand, we take long road trips, and we need something that is comfortable and fuel efficient on the highway. Does this mean an SUV, crossover, or a sedan?

We are coming from years of quality service from our 2002 Ford Windstar van. Nothing matches the versatility and flexibility offered by the mini-van
(http://maineautomall.blogspot.com/2008/07/minivan-dead-or-alive.html), but we are ready for something new and little more exciting on the road. On the other hand, we don’t want to step backwards, or lose the utility that we have relied on for years. What to buy?

Since it’s best to start at the top, and then work down, I did just that on a recent vacation. It was a “guy thing”. Five guys in our family of all ages, shapes and sizes, paid a visit to a New York Bentley/Lamborghini/Aston Martin dealership. It was a car guy’s Disney World. Model names like Arnage, Gallardo and Vanquish seemed exotic, but oh so comfortable. When the salesman asked, “Can I help you with anything today, sir?” I responded, “I guess I am just dreaming.” He knew what to say, “Is there anyway that I can turn your dream into reality?” I paused for a second, as I tried to imagine in every conceivable way how I might fit a hockey bag into a nice, new Lamborghini. A nice fantasy, but my search to replace our mini-van was not in this showroom. Besides, nothing on the lot would qualify for the “Cash for Clunkers” program.

So, what should I buy? I am curious of the hype associated with the launch of the new, redesigned Ford Taurus. It’s to be a large, near luxury sedan with decent mileage numbers. Most importantly, it’s to be affordable. The Taurus would be perfect for our long road trips, but cumbersome around town. Yet to be released and site unseen, it too is a fantasy. Also in the Ford stable is the crossover Edge, interesting but probably too expensive. One of the mini-SUVs is a possibility. The Nissan Rogue has an interesting design, but is it too small? A test drive will answer that question. Same with the Ford Escape, the Honda CRV and the Toyota RAV4.

It’s time for me to buy. The incentives will disappear, once the recovery really takes hold. The “Cash for Clunkers” program expires in the fall, or when the allocated funds are used up. The time to move is now, or I will regret the lost savings for years to come. The search goes on…what do you recommend??? It’s time for me to buy.

87.7: GOOD-BYE OLD FRIEND

Along with the auto industry, television is also going through changes. Change is good, or at least that’s what they keep telling me. Change leads to progress, and progress is good. That’s what they say. The changes that are now working their way through the auto industry will make both domestic and foreign manufacturers leaner and meaner, ultimately leading to better cars, sustained profitability and happy customers, or so they say. They say that the revised union contracts, the elimination of product lines and the closing of plants are all changes that will improve the auto industry. Meanwhile, with change comes sacrifice. With these auto changes comes the loss of thousands of jobs, leaving whole communities devastated. These are necessary evils to accomplish change, or so they say.

The television industry is also going through change with its biggest technological shift since the transition from black and white to color. That is, the recent change from analog transmission, to digital. This change is good, or at least that’s what they say. The viewer will benefit with an improved picture and sound, new multiple sub-channels, while the FCC gains valuable frequencies to use for other applications. As with the auto industry though, there is sacrifice. While improved in quality, the digital signal is now either on or off, there is no fuzzy reception somewhere in between. With inadequate signal strength or physical barriers, some viewers will no longer receive off-air the station(s) that they have enjoyed for decades. This change is progress, or so they say.

Another sacrifice of this new digital transmission is the loss of a benefit that we in Portland have enjoyed since cars first introduced FM radios as an option. That is, the ability to listen to Channel 6 in your car. This is change, but not exactly for the better. The audio of analog television was an FM signal. The frequency of 87.7 was the frequency of Channel 6’s sound. As an anomaly of the FM band, this television audio was able to be heard in some markets because it was on the fringe of the FM radio spectrum, and if there were no radio stations transmitting that low to compete with the audio of Channel 6, the listener could hear the television sound. This was the case in Portland, along with some other markets in the US. Auto manufacturers were aware of this benefit to certain customers, sensitive to the point of some modifying their FM tuners to tune lower, to ensure the reception of the television sound.

Throughout the country, drivers in television markets with a Channel 6 have now lost the ability to listen to their favorite television shows for FREE on their vehicle’s FM radio. No longer can we listen as we drive to work, trying to figure out “Where in the World is Matt Lauer”. Fans can no longer grieve over “Days of Our Lives” as they drive to the Mall at lunchtime. Tired workers can no longer catch up with NBC’s Nightly News on their drive home. Gone forever is smiling to Jay Leno, or Conan, as night owls make they way home. No longer will I be able to listen to “The Price Is Right”, as I drive through Albany, NY on the New York State Thruway.

As is the case with several other stations, Channel 6 in Portland anticipated this sacrifice and succeeded in negotiating a contract with two local radio stations to continue the transmission of some of its newscasts on AM radio. The frequencies of 870 and 1470 now air the Morning Report, 5:00 AM-7:00 AM, along with the evening block of newscasts from 5:00 PM-6:30 PM. Contract and copyright restrictions prevent any NBC, or additional content from airing. Not as good as good as 87.7, but it’s better than nothing.

They say that change is good, but it certainly does not come without sacrifice. We have sacrificed an old friend with the loss of 87.7, all in the name of progress. So in the spirit of change, Pontiac is now gone forever, thousands of jobs are lost, along with our ability to listen to television sound on our FM radios. Change is good, they say, but I miss my old friend 87.7.

HOW MANY HORSES DOES IT TAKE?

It’s springtime and it’s the season of the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby delivered a shocking upset with “Mine That Bird” coming from behind at 50-1 odds, winning an exciting race. At this writing, the Preakness Stakes has just been run with another exciting finish. “Rachel Alexandra” made history as the first filly in 85 years to win that race. The Belmont Stakes is soon to follow with more horses, and more excitement. But being a car guy, my idea of winning horses is more in line with another spring tradition, the Indianapolis 500. Now that’s exciting horse power.

This poses the question, if it only takes one horse to generate so much excitement at a Triple Crown race, how many horses does it take to make a car exciting? How much horsepower is too much, and how much is not enough? My initial response is, there is no such thing as too much horsepower. The shock and awe of a Ferrari is a result of its 400+ horsepower, but when combined with a purchase price of well over $200,000, that takes it out of even the range of fantasy. So that’s probably too much horsepower. On the other hand, the SMART car’s 70 hp and 68 foot pounds of torque is definitely too little. Traveling 0-60 mph in over 13 seconds is not my idea of fun. Mileage of 33 mpg city and 41 highway sounds good on paper, but if you take forever to get there, or if a tractor trailer pastes you to its bumper like a mosquito, that’s too little. So what is the right amount of horsepower?

A friend of mine says that you only need enough to get over a hill. Maybe, but as a guy that thoroughly enjoys driving, surely I need more than that. For me, the bare minimum is to get over a hill. I need more. I need to be able to pass a slow moving truck on a hill, and get out of his way before he careens past me on his way down the other side. I need to have enough horsepower to safely merge into traffic on the interstate, and to zip safely past that erratic driver in front of me. I want enough horsepower so that I can drive on a 500 mile interstate road trip and not have my teeth chattering the whole way because I’m under powered.

Other considerations come to mind when deciding horsepower. Are you towing and need extra oomph (No)? Are you willing to support awful mileage of 10 mpg just for the thrill of driving (No)? Are you willing to sacrifice all driving fun, in order to be green and not feel guilty (well, I do want to be environmentally responsible, but No)? Somewhere in the middle of all of these arguments is the optimum horsepower.

The solution may be in the recent proliferation of the 300 hp engines that actually do come in with decent mileage figures, while retaining impressive performance. The Mustang GT’s 300 hp engine averages 23 mpg highway, along with 0-60 mph in a brisk 4.9 seconds. Even better, the new 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 Camaro delivers 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds, while retaining mileage of 29 mpg. Working undercover with a more conservative façade, but delivering equal excitement, is the new Hyundai Genesis. Save money and fuel with its 3.8-liter, 290-horsepower V6, and take home 0-60 in 6.3 seconds, along with 27 mpg highway. That’s the best of both worlds: fuel economy with performance and the police will never notice you.

With today’s space age engine designs and computer management systems, performance no longer has to be stifled for the sake of fuel economy. Today’s engines optimize fuel use, delivering more power with less consumption. Add on even more technology with the new, weight saving quality plastics and composite materials that are increasingly the norm. Now a driver can enjoy the road without feeling guilty about it.

So back to the original question, how much horsepower is enough? Well, for a Triple Crown race, it takes one good horse. But for me, it still takes as many as I can afford.

I GOT THE FEVER

The same thing happened just about this time last year. The feeling was so strong that I had to vent by writing, GOING TOPLESS.

http://maineautomall.blogspot.com/2008/04/going-topless.html

Sure, it’s a year later, but nothing has changed. Oh, the economy is worse, everyone seems depressed, there is a different president, and there is a new landscape developing in the auto industry. Despite it all, the fever hit again this year. When it hits, it’s strong. The fever makes me want to drive. It’s spring fever!

The fever hit today at lunchtime. Like a penned dog, I had to run out the door and into my car. As soon as I heard the rumble of the engine turning over, I felt a little better. But, it wasn’t until I cranked open the sunroof and accelerated, wind blowing and engine revving, did the fever calm. On a nice warm day like this, there is so much to see. They stay bundled up through the winter, but on this first warm day, they all come out to play.

Everywhere I looked, they were beautiful. I saw the first one just as I turned the corner. It was a Mazda Miata with its top down. Down the hill and through the light, it was a shiny new Lexus LS. It was time for discipline. Focus on the road, and be safe. No good! There, right in front of me was a glistening new Cadillac STS. The fever was everywhere, and in everyone, all ages and sizes.The best was yet to come. Chugging casually along the boulevard, it was a beautiful vintage Buick Roadmaster, out of mothballs to celebrate. Everyone shared the fever.

Despite all of the distractions, I made it back safely to my parking lot. With the fever now somewhat under control, I was able to absorb with polite reserve the new talent in our parking lot: a Scion XA, a Toyota Versa, a Mazda MX-5, a Scion TC, the Hyundai Santa Fe, and a Honda Civic, all of them special in their own way. All of them would be fun to drive. All of them could quell the fever.

I love to drive, especially this time of year. I live vicariously through every car of interest that passes. It’s springtime, and when the fever hits, it makes me want to test drive a BMW Z4, or see if I am up to the challenge of a Dodge Viper. Actually, almost any vehicle will do. I just want to drive. I got the fever!

I Love My Volvo?

They were as common as fleas on a dog here in Maine back in the go-go 80’s. Herds of sturdy, businesslike, sensible shoes, 240 series Volvo sedans and their even boxier wagon siblings. At the time it seemed almost plausible to believe that these 240 wagons had actually been shipped direct from the factory in Sweden with a matched pair of slobbering black labs onboard as standard equipment. It was rare indeed to spot one of these rolling boxes without a pair of pooches and of course the obligatory I (heart) My Volvo bumper sticker prominently displayed out back.
I Love My Volvo? Yes sir. This generation of Volvos inspired a level of devotion, dedication and commitment that eclipsed mere owner loyalty. Even today just ask any dyed in the wool Volvophile about these beasts and you’d better be prepared for a long impassioned soliloquy. “Best car I ever owned!” “300,000 miles and still runs like a top!” “Safest car on the planet”…and words to that effect. Well that last bit was probably at least close to true. The 240 series Volvos were notably safe for their era with deep-dish steering wheels, crumple zones; three point belts and even those wacky ladder-style headrests (was the idea not to block the rearward view from the eyes in the back of your head?). So I’ll admit that they were safe. And I’ll also agree that the occasional 300,000 mile 240 is not unheard of. But that’s where the story begins to unravel a bit.
If you accept the proffered 300K-mile number at face value it’s darned impressive. But, being the car curious fellow I am, I’ve pressed a few of these Volvo-heads for more details than they’re comfortable revealing. I tend to ask unwanted follow-up questions like, “How many transmissions have you gone through in those 300,000 miles?” answer: “I’m not sure if it’s five or six…but IT’S A GREAT CAR!” What about the brakes? Turns out they’ve needed to be replaced about every third oil change or so. Oh yeah, and the headliner has been sagging like that since about 75,000 miles and the sunroof leaks when it rains but THIS IS THE BEST CAR I EVER HAD! Electronic gremlins? Plenty! Oil leaks? You bet. Engine rebuilds? That has to be expected on fine cars like these. By now you get the idea. It’s fascinating when you think about it. By any objective measure these Volvos were mediocre at best and a good case can be made for the fact that they tended to break down and fall apart at an alarming rate. So whence this the fierce owner loyalty? Where does the love in “I Love My Volvo” come from?
As “exhibit A” in this mystery I offer the human mind, which where love is concerned, seems to be hardwired with a “don’t confuse me with the facts” software package. These Volvo Lovers are not interested in frequency of repair statistics or any of your other worthless technical details. They’re minds and hearts are set. They’ve simply decided that their car is the best darned four wheeled conveyance ever built and it will take a lot more than an endless stream of blown head gaskets, loose tie rods, squealing brake pads, dead batteries and clouds of black smoke spewing from the tailpipe to change their minds! Love is blind! Pass the Bondo! I love my Volvo! Makes sense to me. Hey I think the original Dick Teague designed AMC Pacer is a great looking car!


Keep the sticky side down,

Tim Sample

THE HEALING HAS BEGUN

I may eat my words, but the healing has begun. Spring is here, and so is the rebirth of nature, along with traditionally, the auto industry. After a long, hard winter, everyone is ready to hear the birds sing, see the flowers bloom, and experience the thrill of driving a new car. This year is different though. Everyone knows that the auto industry is facing the biggest challenge of its history, especially the domestic manufacturers. But as the crocuses win the battle over winter, so is the auto industry recovering, ever so slowly, but surely.

People are buying cars, or at least they are in Maine. My unscientific survey shows that at least seven people that I know have bought cars just in the past several weeks. Others, including me, are seriously thinking about it. Beyond Maine there is movement too. According to Autodata, March sales of new vehicles were down substantially from a year ago, but were up nearly a million more vehicles in March than in February of this year. Spring fever always brings more sales, but Autodata reports that this year’s February to March increase was up 24.5%, the largest rate increase in seven years. While the March sales drops for most foreign and domestic manufacturers were large as compared to last year, the drops were actually less severe than expected, and Wall Street began to respond with perceived optimism.

There will never be a better time to buy. I wrote of some of the reasons in my earlier blog, LET’S MAKE A DEAL.

http://maineautomall.blogspot.com/2008/07/lets-make-deal.html

But now the timing is even better. Inventories are still bloated. Money is available to lend, and at record low rates. There are some interesting new choices available from virtually every manufacturer, but you and I need to move soon. The healing has begun. As sales begin to blossom, inventories will decrease. When the recovery takes hold, there will be only token rebates, no good deals, and there will be waiting lines for all of the best models, all priced at a premium. The healing has begun. Don’t miss the party.

BLACK LIMOUSINE

Lim•ou•sine (l m -z n , l m -z n )
n.

1. Any of various large passenger vehicles, especially a luxurious automobile usually driven by a chauffeur and sometimes having a partition separating the passenger compartment from the driver's seat.

2. A van or small bus used to carry passengers on a regular route, as between an airport and a downtown area.


I have always been intrigued by the physics of a limousine’s construction: taking a factory vehicle, inserting a large mid-section, and magically fusing it all together creating a lounge on wheels. Anything can be turned into a limousine. From the traditional Cadillac or Lincoln Town Car, to the non-traditional Hummer or Dodge Charger, anything can be converted. Regardless of the form, nothing displays opulence more than arriving at a destination in a long, black stretch limo. It signifies importance, wealth and influence, as well as decadence, senior proms and weddings. None of this applies to my modest, conservative family.

My family recently needed to travel from suburban New York to Manhattan for a family business meeting. We were faced with the dilemma of how to transport 12 family members, reliably and safely, from Point A to Point B, and back again. Since the tight schedule and convenience were essential, public transportation was discussed and vetoed. Rather than having several vehicles navigate the challenges of New York City traffic, along with the parking hassles and expense, we decided to rent a limousine.

When my two boys heard the word “limousine,” their ears and interest piqued immediately. They envisioned a new experience, a taste of the good life, to live (and drive) like a sports or rock star. They misunderstood. A stretch could only hold 10 passengers, Definition Number 1. You can imagine their disappointment when Definition Number 2 arrived.

I have fantasized of being a limousine driver; of how exciting it would be to meet so many different, successful people, and the interesting experiences and places they would take you (or you take them). I always thought there could be a book in it. But the more I think about it, the more the negatives surface. Is driving a limo actually no more than being a glorified taxi driver? Is it the driver’s problem when there is a mechanical failure, or you get lost despite your GPS, or you are late and your client misses their plane? Of course it is. Most importantly, as a driver, are you responsible for the safety of the party in the back? With lots of sharp objects flying, no seat belts, and who knows what illegal activity is going on out back, is the driver responsible for it all? Of course he is. A look at this video makes me pause:



After barreling down Interstate 95 at 80 mph with the driver speaking some exotic foreign language on his cell phone the whole way, my two boys survived the dictionary Definition Number 2 for limousine. Maybe Definition Number 1 will happen for them some day. My fantasy of being a limo driver comes and goes. Maybe when I retire, I might look into being a limousine driver and write that book. In the meantime, my family and I will continue to be happily modest and conservative, without our black limousine.

"We used to ride, ride, ride, ride
In a long black limousine
Those dreams are gone baby
Locked away and never seen."

Rolling Stones, “Black Limousine”

I Just Love a “Q-Ship”.

As noted in my last posting, my lifelong love affair with cars is rooted in my earliest childhood memories. In that installment I listed a few of the cars which lit the spark of car lust in my youthful heart. On that list there’s one vehicle, which is not like the others. The Ford Country Squire station wagon stands out in sharp contrast to sporty rides like the T-bird and the Jag. At first glance the Ford would seem a mundane choice indeed. Ah, but that’s where the fun starts. That family hauler was in fact my introduction to the notion of a four-wheeled Q-ship.
“Q-ship”? The term is a military reference. In Navy parlance circa WW II, a Q-ship was a retrofitted merchant ship, a freighter or other cargo carrier, which steamed innocently alongside dozens of other similar looking ships in a convoy carrying troops and supplies to war zones in Europe and Asia. To the unsuspecting eyes of Axis sub captains and other baddies of the high seas, the Q-ship looked like an easy target, just another unarmed transport ship. But, as they soon discovered, looks can be deceiving.
Lulled into a false sense of security, the enemy approached the seemingly defenseless convoy for a close-up direct attack. At that point the Q-ships navy crew would shift the false cloth and plywood bulkheads on deck revealing a massive array of firepower and with any luck blow the startled attackers out of the water. Mission accomplished!
The only hint that our Ford wagon was a Q-ship was a small sticker on the glove compartment door, which read “McCullough Supercharger”. That’s right. The wagon, which came from the factory equipped with a V8 and three-on-the-tree manual, had been modified by the addition of a fire breathing supercharger which boosted factory horsepower output by maybe 35-40%. As a result, this bland family hauler could really haul! I’m sure my dad enjoyed blowing the doors off unsuspecting hot rodders at the local “stop light Grand Prix”.
So a Q-ship car is one, which while outwardly appearing bland and uninteresting, is in fact bristling with a whole hidden arsenal of go-fast artillery. Car nut Jay Leno is very hip to the Q-ship idea and has several great examples in his massive collection. These include a rock-stock appearing first generation Olds Toronado coupe ( one of Bill Mitchell’s best designs ) with enough high tech wizardry hidden in the engine bay, drive train and chassis to embarrass the gold-chained Ferrari crowd up and down the P.C.H.
That’s a great car but, in my opinion, not his best Q-ship. That honor should be reserved for the grandma-blue, bland as butter, ’55 Buick sedan, which served as Leno’s home, office and daily transportation when he first arrived in L.A. all those years ago. Leno still has the car and it still looks like even grandma might get bored driving it. But, while outwardly it may look like Clark Kent on a bad hair day, on the serpentine blacktop of Mulholland drive it magically morph’s into Superman on steroids. Just take a look at those four old Buick hubcaps. No, look again, a little closer this time. What appear to be hubcaps are in fact custom built, light alloy billet wheels styled to perfectly mimic the original stock chrome wheel covers. The engine and running gear are highly modified, late model Corvette pieces which all add up to a 500 + hp Q-ship that would leave the “Little Old Lady from Pasadena” choking in its dust.
My dad had more than one of these beasts over the years and I’ll discuss them in more detail in future posts. I’ve also had a few myself. The original Taurus SHO was a fine example of the genre. I had a couple of these sleepers which in the early model years looked pretty much like a million other garden variety Tauri jamming the highways and byways. There was little evidence (mostly a few badges and model specific alloy wheels) to hint that this family sedan had the hot Yamaha sourced 24 valve V6, manual tranny and beefed up suspension and brakes. That was a great car which was more than capable of running with (and even ahead of) the latest German hi-buck sports sedans of the day.
My top Q-ship pick for the 2009 model year is an easy one. Everybody already has a heads up on the Mazda speed 3 hatchback and any one of the various boosted Subies on the road. But how about that nerdy looking, bottom feeder, four door Chevy Cobalt over there? Must be a low-end rental, eh? Um, well no, not really. As it happens that particular boring compact is in fact the SS model which means it’s hood conceals a breathed-on 4 banger eagerly pumping out 260 horses. The Brembos up front will easily haul you down to double digit speeds as you approach Houlton and with the right rubber the tricked out suspension is up to any back road task you can throw at it. I know money is tight but this one has all the right stuff for around $24K. I have to believe that the average Chevy salesperson these days is what the real estate ads refer to as a “highly motivated seller”. If you can remember to point out the four doors and decent gas mileage (and if you can manage to keep your foot out of it on the test drive) your wife may actually believe that you’ve grown up. Good luck! Let me know how you make out.

Tim Sample

CARS ON THE RUN

Everyone enjoys a good movie: a chance to live vicariously through the adventure and romance of a leading character, to experience exotic locales, to be a super hero, or to drive a car in a way that only Hollywood can realize. What is more exciting than gripping the edge of your seat; widescreen visuals fueled by the thunderous sound of roaring engines and screeching tires, taking you on a thrill ride that you could never live on your own. It’s the thrill of the movie car chase. It’s living the thrill of cars.



There is a long history of car chase scenes in film, more than I realized until I started to really think about them. Everyone has their favorites, but at the top of my list, Bond leads the chase. The signature of any (and all) James Bond film(s) is the car chase. They all are exciting and they all take you where no man has gone before, or at least in reality. Since there are too many to critique, it’s better to just sit back, follow the link and enjoy the ride.

JAMES BOND
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=bond+car+chase&aq=1&oq=BOND+CAR




When it comes to movie car chases, the 1968 classic, BULLIT is a must see. Steve McQueen and stunt driver Bud Ekins traverse the hills of San Francisco high revving McQueen’s Mustang in hot pursuit of the Dodge Charger. From the moment you see the menacing grill of the Ford in the Dodge’s rear view mirror; you know what’s coming. The final tip off is the close-up of the seat belt being buckled by the driver of the Charger. Roll ‘em, and action! The rest is history. Topping speeds of over 100 mph, careening up, over and down the hills of San Francisco, the chase takes the viewer on the ultimate thrill ride.

So successful was this 9 minute scene, it overshadowed the rest of the film and it firmly established the Mustang as an icon of Americana. The Mustang’s excitement in this film has led Ford to successfully market limited edition “Bullit” versions of the car for sale to the general public. A dream becomes a reality, thanks to Hollywood.

BULLIT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMc2RdFuOxI


Making of Bullitt


Close on BULLIT’s heels came the ultimate car chase in 1971’s, THE FRENCH CONNECTION. Gene Hackman’s Pontiac zig-zagging through Brooklyn, chasing the elevated train, still thrills to this day. THE FRENCH CONNECTION's director, William Friedkin, successfully captured the essence of New York City traffic; turning fantasy into reality, as to how best to conquer the streets of Brooklyn, and how to live to tell the story. Wouldn’t it be great if you too could tackle rush hour the way he did?

THE FRENCH CONNECTION
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu3GmRQ-U9k&feature=PlayList&p=078491C026D4FF96&playnext=1&index=35#




Roy Scheider (who played Gene Hackman’s partner in FC) returned to try to capitalize on the successful formula of the French Connection with a similar chase in the 1973 film, THE SEVEN UPS. While imitation is flattery, the scene does not quite measure up to the thrill of Friedkin’s work. An entertaining ride, but one you’ve taken many times before and since.

THE SEVEN UPS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vACWV5sRcY




A car chase has proven to be compelling enough to carry an entire film, as well as launch the career of the unknown director, Steven Spielberg. The 1971 made for TV thriller, DUEL, pitted Dennis Weaver against a faceless trucker for the entire film. One of the few chases of truck vs. car, and the car wins.

DUEL
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1003em-pDM8&feature=related


Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7TixHbC3rw




The George Lucas 1973 classic, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, captures the automobile as a signature of California dreamin’, along with the nostalgia of a bygone era, but as far as chase scenes? It only provides a short, disappointing street drag with an unknown actor (Harrison Ford) at the wheel.

AMERICAN GRAFFITI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFgTMYEaWlc




By 1977, car chase films progressed to the point of dominating the entire plot of a full length feature film in the form of Hal Needham’s, SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT. Needham, as a former Hollywood stuntman, turned a full length movie into one long chase scene, crash after crash. The formula worked. Many Smokey sequels and clones (CANNONBALL RUN) followed.

SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnRwQjTYfGI&feature=related




Many other films come to mind, some good, and some bad:

CORVETTE SUMMER, 1978
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U5NBCRdPFw&feature=related


THE BLUES BROS., 1980
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1636761881/

THE BLUES BROS. 2000, 1998
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1471873305/

THE FAST & FURIOUS, 2001
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2508980505/



The list of car chase films is endless. While my favorites are the Bond films, BULLIT and THE FRENCH CONNECTION, your list may start with the more contemporary FAST & FURIOUS, and grow from there. Regardless of the price of gas, or the state of the economy, car chases in film will continue. It will be fun to see what Hollywood delivers next. Get some popcorn, fasten your seat belt, and let’s ride.

A Maine Car Guy is Born

If you’re reading this you can thank my wife and my brother-in-law Charlie for making it happen. For years they’ve been telling me, “You should have a ( fill in the blank ) “show”, “column” “blog” about cars.” A few years back my wife claimed that for my next birthday she was getting me a couple of rolls of those ubiquitous bright colored triangle flags which flutter across the “front line” at used car lots across America. It would have looked perfectly appropriate given the half dozen vehicles, which at any particular moment call our driveway “home”.
I can’t help it. It’s just the way I was raised. Some of my earliest and fondest memories of my childhood in the 1950’s are of cars. My dad was a “car guy” and my older sisters had obviously followed in his tire tracks. Here’s a partial list of vehicles parked in our driveway when I was 7 years old in 1958. A green ’57 Ford Country Squire station wagon complete with acres of plastic wood, a silver 1957 Thunderbird (with the porthole removable hard top), a Jaguar XK 120 Roadster, a British Racing Green 1953 TD MG and a 1940-something Singer roadster.
I fell in love with cars that summer and I’ve never fallen back out.
I remember when my sister Sue was a teenager her first car was a massive burgundy red Buick convertible. I’m not certain of the year, ’54? ’55? But, man that was a car! The grill, a gaping chromium maw, looked as if it could easily swallow a VW or two on the way back from the drive-in. Huge chrome “venti-ports” adorned the front quarter panels and the seats were overstuffed leather lounge chairs. Here’s what I remember most vividly about that Buick. My sister let me sit in the driver’s seat and pretend to drive. As I settled in behind the wheel I noticed that the entire interior was slathered in big chrome badges indicating the great features available to the lucky motorist (That’s me!). The family pizza sized steering wheel itself screamed POWER STEERING in big shiny block letters, a brace of chrome Chiclets on the armrest proudly announced POWER WINDOWS and nestled on the red carpeted floor a few inches beyond the reach of my scrawny little kid legs lay a brick of shiny metal with soft rubber inlays promising a young speed demon the immense security of POWER BRAKES. Who wouldn’t be hooked?
The years flew by and the carousel of great cars continued to turn. By the time I entered adolescence I was reading every car magazine I could get my hands on. I wasn’t picky as long as the topic was cars. I read “Uncle Tom McCahill’s colorful reviews in Popular mechanics, learned about Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s latest creation in Car Craft and Hot Rod and breathlessly followed a young Richard Petty and his faithful blue #43 Plymouth as he battled Fred Lorenzen’s 427 Ford around Darlington and Daytona Speedways.
So I’m the right guy for a car guy blog, I figure. If you check in regularly I’ll give you my two cents worth on the great and not so great cars of the past, present and future. If you’re wondering about the car in the photo accompanying this blog, that’s the first car I ever owned. Pop bought it for me when I graduated from Boothbay Region High School in 1969. It’s a 1956 Chevy Bel Air “Sport Sedan” which was what they called the 4 door without the B-pillar that year. Equipped with a stock 265 small block and two speed power glide transmission it was no drag strip demon but, WOW, what a fantastic first car. If you want to know the true story behind how it came to be painted like an American flag (and what happened after that) it’s on my 1999 CD, Aint Life Grand available on my website, timsample.com. Meanwhile, thanks a whole lot for stopping by. Leave a comment and check in when you can. This is gonna be fun!

Keep the sticky side down,

Tim Sample

BUY IT ON e-bay?

It was just an experiment. I had no intention of buying. But so many of my friends and relatives had preached the gospel according to e-bay, I thought that I would give it a try. Think of the possibilities: buy a car at a bargain basement price, no hassling with a salesman, just pay your money and leave with the car. Common sense says, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” But common sense rarely plays a role in the passion of an auction.

I had been passing the lot of a local dealer for months, where prominently displayed out front were two beautiful, late model Mustang GTs. Each had low mileage, both were in great shape. As summer lead to fall, then lead to early winter, they still sat there unclaimed. By total coincidence, I came across them both listed for sale on e-bay Motors. For a starting bid of $500, they could be mine (or at least the process could begin). Surely the dealer would be anxious to get them off of the lot before snow. Everything was in my court. Winter was coming, the wounds of high gas prices were still in everyone’s mind, and a new, redesigned Mustang was about to launch. No one would want either one of these cars, and the dealer would want to sell.

I registered on e-bay and began bidding. The adrenalin rush was exciting. Others joined the process. My self-imposed ceiling was $10,000. The bidding continued, but no one met the dealer imposed Reserve Price (the minimum they would accept). As my emotional involvement accelerated, so did that of the other participants. My ceiling came and went, and the bidding continued. I bid more than I wanted to pay. Finally, like a fatigued poker player, I was worn down, and I was out. The other bidders continued, but the cars were not sold, at least on e-bay.

There were no deals to be had, and my money was still safely in my pocket. Even so, I felt empty, with a feeling of failure. I wanted one of the cars, but I didn’t want to pay enough for them. It was an interesting experiment which taught me the value of working with a dealer. For such a substantial purchase as a car, I realized that the dealer’s sales associate does perform a valuable function for the buyer. With an auction, while there are all of the details from the car’s listing information, photos and CarFax reports, there is no sensory gratification; there is no touching, feeling, smelling, and test driving. While I enjoyed the freedom of no pressure from a salesman, there was also a feeling of loneliness and vulnerability. There was no ally representing me in the deal.

I was surprised to learn that I prefer working with a dealer; to work with the resources and talents the dealer can offer. I need the comfort and security of knowing the product by it being visually in front of me, along with meeting and greeting the people that will back the car after the sale. Before bidding in the auction, I had done the same research that I would have done if I was buying the car the traditional dealer way. But there was no feeling of comfort, and no deal to be made. Buy it on e-bay if you want, but it’s not for me.