ethanol burning. ford has had several (flex fuel ) models available for years that burn any combination of ethanol and petroleum (regular unleaded fuel ). they burn either one. the benifits are huge … including … money for local farmers /local economy instead of going to foriegn corporations. stopping the depletion of top soil ( no dust bowls) reduce the the hormones required to bring beef to market ( healthier cows who don’t eat so much starch will cost less )and if you get stuck waiting for a tow truck you can get drunk off what’s in your fuel tank (if you filled up with ethanol. ) plus less carbon monoxide. and cars will all sound like hot rods. and ethanol costs 20 to 50cents less a gallon.
Works for me. Somewhere between my $5.00 headlight for Chen C10 and $350.00 to swap out a bunch of useless crap on a '92 Subaru there exists a far better reality.
I like the log book idea. Writing major stuff with mileage under the hood is useful.
Use big perma-ink marker. Timing chain, wheel bearings, etc.
While I think some of that goes on, in Japan, where manufacturers own most of the showrooms (which aren’t exactly what you or I think of when we think “dealership” alloy wheels are at least as common as they are here.
Oh, and I don’t know if it’s true, but I read that power windows are actually lighter than manual ones.
Make ABS work only when you’ve got the pedal all the way down, and you’ve got the best of both worlds.
really excellent. And might I add, USB port would allow you to plug your flash drive music into the car radio so you don’t need to carry CDs around.
I think all cars should come with headlights that automatically turn off when you turn off the car like my new Subaru and an old 1989 Volvo my parents had.
Backup cameras, and sensors on the front of the car that DOPE-SLAPS the driver when he/she follows too close.
Horns on all new cars should be wired to electrodes in the drivers seat designed to shock the driver whenever the horn is used. This would ensure that the horn would only be used in emergency situations. Of course the voltage would have to be adjusted by the dealer to account for age, pacemakers,temperament etc. The roads would be a quieter place for all.
Hmmm, making the driver a bit more accountable for attitude and actions,interesting-Kevin
Daytime Running Lights are not for the benefit of the driver of the vehicle equipped with them, but for the benefit if oncoming drivers, especially on late summer/early fall mornings when the trees have all their leaves, and it takes a while for the defroster to burn off the dew that condenses on the windshield en route.
Since I am not the first to open up the Pandora’s box of reliability improvements to car features, I have the following comments about power windows.
I would like each power window motor to be wired with a Schottky diode or a stress actuated cutoff switch (as in garage door openers), so that they won’t burn out from excessive current when overloaded, especially when the windows are closed tight.
I once had a car in which I and other drivers closed the windows tight. After a few years, one of the windows opened fully the moment I turned the ignition key. I didn’t even use the window switch. On my following car, I resolved to never close the power windows tight. Instead, at the end of each day, I close the windows incrementally until I can just stick my thumbnail between each window and its molding. This practice enables the windows to keep out the rain without stressing the motors. Schottky diodes or stress cutoff switches could save me this time consuming rigmarole, and give me peace of mind when others use my car.
Actually, the stress cutoff switch is better, because it may prevent kids’ deaths that result from inadvertently leaning on the window switches.
Now, about A/C compressors being engaged with the defroster/defogger on, there are two reasons this is supposed to happen:
1)Cooling air condenses moisture before reheating, making it more effective at clearing the insides of car windows.
2)Periodic cycling of the compressor keeps the A/C internal lubricant evenly distributed, preventing the seals from drying out, which maximizes the life of the A/C system.
A place to put a trash bag, and standardize the bloody seatbelt releases and doorlocks
They especially need this in India.
When the 17 yr. old Lumina died I bought a Honda as I live out in the country and have to drive some distance even for gas or groceries. When I was leaving the car lot I asked to have the beeper disconnected. On my farm I often check fences and make repairs or do other work while listening to the radio (your show). The dealership said they could not disconnect this %&#$ device as the car would not function. I suspected this was not true as all my other cars have been “devocalized.” Over time I learned how to defeat it. I moved to the quiet of the country and live behind three sets of gates that must be opened and shut to get to the road. I even named my farm Peaceful Pastures - quiet is important to me! Opening the door on the Honda was driving me crazy! So I want to see a opt out button STANDARD - at the very least an optional feature. I am willing to take full responsibility for - say running the battery down by leaving the lights on or the key in the switch but it should be my choice! Sincerely, Barbara Schaefer, Shiloh, GA
My beef was with the crazy seatbelt dinger,I can tolerate a few seconds of it,but no more then that.Dont always want to fasten my seatbelt when creeping through the field or covered with mud or grease-Kevin(There ought to be a easy defeat button for stuff like that and the power door locks)
Lighted cruise control controls. Don’t manufacturers realize that the cruise control can be used at night, particularly on the interstate, and that doing it by Braille may not be the safest way to go?
Another feature I would like to see incorporated into the cruise control is a speed limiter that would allow normal varied speed driving but that would prevent going above a preset speed. That would be very useful in situations where cruise control shouldn’t be used but one still wants to avoid Smokey and his citation book.
Another good one-Kevin
Yes thats sort of ludicrous,but dont you think the manufacturers need a little more income because the rest of the car is fairly durable now?-Kevin
Sorry Gesch, but what you not understand? If a person has a problem seeing, hat person should not be driving. And the hours for which you speak of, that is a 1/2 hour in morning and a 1/2 hour at night. Why in the heck do we need them the rest of the day other than to add distraction to those who can see? I am starting to lean toward CDL( commercial drivers license) requirements for all drivers. The requirements include Mandatory phyical every 2 years( or less pending health condition), random vehicle inspections, background checks( hazmat - which also requires retesting every 4 years), and pretrip of vehicle before use everyday.
And why the heck have lighting companies stop producing amber fog lamps? I have tried the white driving lights in fog, and the lights reflect. The amber lights cut thru the fog. I got rid of the white lights n found amber ones. oh yeah, you DO NOT need driving lights on all the time! Driving lights should treated as highbeams.