Do you drive? What do you drive? What are your experiences?
_________________
My Science blog, Science Over a Cuppa - http://insolemexumbra.wordpress.com/
My partner's autism science blog, Cortical Chauvinism - http://corticalchauvinism.wordpress.com/
fiat uno, old bugger, but goes like a go-ey thing.
i should definitely not be allowed behind the wheel of a car like a fiat - you HAVE to drive in a vroomy way in a fiat.
however, the smaller the car, the better - i don't like having a car, as i'm a bit of an eco bod. but then, i'd never get anywhere, as i find public transport difficult, and often can't go on foot, in case i have a bit of a freak (this has happened - meltdown about 10 mins walk from my house. it was a nightmare). and i seem not to be able to get it together to ride a bike. sigh. i shall now wander off and beat myself to a pulp for polluting the planet...
/me just wants a lovely 2006 Mustang to own and look at.
_________________
My Science blog, Science Over a Cuppa - http://insolemexumbra.wordpress.com/
My partner's autism science blog, Cortical Chauvinism - http://corticalchauvinism.wordpress.com/
I love driving and cars are my thing. I have a 1990 Olsmobile 98 that I drive daily when I am at home and between my dad and me we have 3 cars that are for restoration and or sale. A cherryish 1987 Dodge van with a 360 and low oil pressure(for sale). a nice but non-running 89 GMC S-15 Jimmy and my project for now a 76 Buick Century. My dad drives a beat to heck Suzuki Sidekick. Sorry for the classified ad but these things need to go so they can be replaced.
A bit of an update:
Well, I've kept practicing driving... and I'm practically ready to give up now.
Even with the tinted lenses, I still make incredibly stupid mistakes, and still get so visually overloaded trying to process everything that's going on around me that I miss important things like stop signs and intersections. How do people notice all this stuff just automatically?!
I am not a huge fan of driving but I did get my license (about a year and a quarter past my 16th birthday.) And only driven twice since. And as for doing stupid things in drivers ed I nearly hit a car but the instructor let off the brake too (it was just past a stop sign) so he didnt think it was there either (basically I tried going after Car A past me but it was hiding a Car B which I and him almost didnt see) so he couldnt really be mad lol. And I hated one of my drivers ed instructors (I drove with like 3 people) she always paniced me so much and the cars were so crappy (like a Daewoo and stuff) an she would yell every time I got 3 miles over the speed limit and even took control of the steering wheel once.
I love the T/A man!! !! finally, another car enthusiast on WP! I too am a car enthusiast. I drive an old volvo. 1989 740 turbo. Like yours, not a single bolt has been left untouched . Anyway, I think cars and driving may be one of my obsessions. I love turbos. Without further ado, here are my specs...not as extensive as yours, but I'm getting there.
Engine Mods
Ported, Polished Re-ground 531 head.
9.5:1 Compression
60/63 Ported t3 Turbo @ 20psi
Intercooler Alcohol Spritz
Megasquirt N Spark
550CC Injectors
4.0 Bar FPR
3" Exhaust
Gauges
Saab APC Boost Controller
Cheapie AZ intake
MSD Coil
"A" Camshaft
Drivetrain Mods
Honda tranny fluid (only place you can find dexron 1)
Volvo "big" driveshaft and bushings
4:10 rear end (for track runs)
Internal Mods
3 10" MTX Subwoofers
1400w Amp
240w Headunit
Infiniti 60w Midrange Speakers
3" Infiniti Tweeters
Trunk Mounted MP3 PC With 30gb of Music
I'm thinking about spraying like you as well. Its obvious you've got a built block there, so 250shot....Well thats alot! I only want to spray a 150 shot at most. Anyway, spectacular ride man!
I like those cars! They make great sleepers; nobody expects to have their doors blown off by a Volvo.
I used to have an '88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with a 2.3l 4-banger. Stock it put out 190hp/240tq, I just had a better intake and bumped the boost up an extra 3 psi (15->18 ). It was a fun car, especially with the stick shift.
Ironically it had all kinds of lower midrange power (it'd easily burn thru first gear and break the tires loose if I punched it in second), but not much top end. On the other hand my current car ('93 Lincoln Mark VIII, 4.6 DOHC V8, 280hp, 285tq) is a complete dog off the line, but hauls ass past 30 mph and pulls hardest from 4000-6000 rpm. It feels more like a turbocharged engine than my actual turbo engine did!
jeremy
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: 28 Aug 2004
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Posts: 60
Location: Melbourne, Australia
You're supposed to take in the whole road scene anyway, i.e. so if a pedestrian is about to walk out onto the road, you can hopefully predict it as it happens and slow down. It's not entirely easy to do as most people aren't so observant of their entire surroundings naturally in the way that's needed. But a good thing to try and get in the habit of doing.
As for me, I'm not overly keen on driving either. I got my Ls pretty much straight after my 16th birthday. I pretty much just read the book once, memorised all the rules and got every question right on the test. I got driving lessons soon after though my parents weren't too impressed with my steering; it was a little uncoordinated. I found the whole driving experience pretty terrifying at first and avoided changing lanes when possible. I probably still do avoid changing lanes and when I do, I try to change well in advanced (i.e. if I'm in the left lane, I pretty much change as soon as I see a parked car).
While most of my friends rushed out to get their license straight after they turned 18, I was in no hurry. I did, however, get my license within about 3 months of turning 18. Now, I still don't own a car, I just drive my mums. It won't be long until I'm finally off my Ps either.
I'm pretty relaxed about driving now, though I still prefer to take public transport. If I can help it, I think I'd always choose to live near train/tram services and I'd go for jobs that are accessible by public transport. It's just easy to sit on a train and not have to worry about the traffic. I also spend a lot of my spare time doing volunteer work with a local NGO, advocating for better public transport in Melbourne.
I don't know much about cars, though ours is a Holden Astra (cheap European export; I think it's known as an Opal overseas or it's rebadged). It's not the sexiest looking car but the fuel economy is good. I don't know what kind of car I'd choose if I had to buy one, probably a combination of what looks good and what doesn't guzzle too much fuel.