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Automotive Blogs (377)

Here is a list of Automotive Blogs. A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you've learned. Post an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Update your blog on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with others. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about others. Click here to post a blog.

chatilliononline today!

Keyfob aka the lump in my pocket...

My car is equipped with a keyless entry system. To make it work, I have to have the keyfob remote entry transmitter with me. I approach my locked car, put my hand in the door handle and it unlocks the car. It's programmable that only the driver's door unlocks or I can specify the other doors also unlock.
This keyfob is 4 times larger than the one on my previous vehicle, probably because it has more technology packed inside. If I want to leave the car running and run into the store for something... forgetaboutit, the car begins to beep letting me know that the keyfob is out of range. Actually, it beeps if I step out to open the hatchback. That feature is on my list of annoying safety features.
I always keep my keys with me as I learned from a coworker's trouble many years ago. He had a habit of leaving his keys everywhere but his pocket. Assigned to a project where he could leave his tools overnight. The keys were on the top of his rolling toolbox. He and his helper were the last out of the building that evening. The door locked behind them and no way of reentry. Realizing the keys were inside, he panicked. They had to go to a pay phone to call me and I was lucky enough to get security to unlock the building for him to retrieve his keys.
I'm not liking the lump as all my keys are on it, but I haven't figured an alternate way around it.
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JimNastics

OK, automotive options have gotten just a bit excessive

This is real, not a joke;



I can see this leading to - "Honest honey, it wasn't me. I paid extra for that option."

laugh

What's next various puking sounds ? Different whistles for the construction worker crowd ?
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chatilliononline today!

It's been a week...

It's been a week and I've lots more to do.
The car has more than 1,000 miles on it... not new now. Synthetic oil is standard and rated for 10,000 miles between changes. I'll get my first oil change next week and most likely change every 5,000 miles.

Four more years, four more years...
I caught pieces of both conventions and while I turned down the sound on Trump, I did read some of his captions. I lost count of the partly true or completely untrue statements. What I think doesn't count. It's what happens on election day... or in the case of mail-in, what the tally of the votes are.

Saturday and I'm headed to the showroom. Not my favorite duty but I'm up this weekend.

More reading on the car manual as time permits, I'm part-way through some switches and buttons. There's a switch for sport mode and the speedometer changes color to red. I need to verify if I can change the mode when the car is moving.
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chatilliononline today!

Family...

I bought a car last month and the salesman sent an email to welcome me to their family. The dealer did the same. I'm also 'in the family' of the car manufacturer and getting requests to join the family of the satellite radio service.
Part of 'being family' is some of them want me to install apps to my phone and divulge (more) personal information so that they have instant access to me and my communication devices.
I've been listening to the satellite radio introductory broadcasts knowing they are free only for a few months. They know I'm listening and I received an email from them to confirm it's really me. I'm sure requests for more information will follow and I'm sure to ignore them.
Every time I start my car there's a disclosure statement. I've got stickers on the header explaining my information is being transmitted to a remote source. Under the dash is a wireless phone charger and I'm reminded (on the screen) that my phone is not connected to the car. Thanks, but no thanks. I have no intentions of installing apps and connecting my phone to the car.
Time permitting, I'll have to get back to reading the owner's manual. Maybe there is a chapter on becoming an orphan without any family!
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chatilliononline today!

That new car smell...

Unfortunately, that new car smell comes with payments.
My previous car died and I had to make a quick decision or pay for extended rental.
While everyone said buy something 2-3 years old, I know I'd have have repairs right around the corner. Tires, brakes, battery come up at that interval.
Should there be unseen issues, shocks, struts, transmission, a/c would be on the list.


sigh
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chatilliononline today!

MINI... Cooper that is

Before I had a drivers license, I fell in love with the Mini. Made in England by various manufacturers in the 1960's, there were several different styles and models. I recall names like Austin Mini, Morris Mini and the Mini Cooper S.

Weekend activities in Miami always had something interesting and when a parent volunteered to drive kids to see car races... there were more kids than room in the car and usually the older kids got first choice to go. On my first trip to see a race, they had the mini-class and a handful of Mini Coopers were on the track. Small, low and fast. If you have seen any British spy movies, a mini was usually the getaway car of choice!

I wanted a Mimi and every weekend I'd scan the Sunday newspaper looking for a used one. Typically, they were already sold before I could get there to make an offer.

One problem with Mini's were emission controls... they didn't have any!
Imported to America prior to regulations, the older cars were exempt from having add-on devices to pass the pollution standards of the newer vehicles. As far as I know, no new Minis were coming to America. If you had the money and connections, you could import a used one under the 'grey market' and get around some of those regulations.

As a touring musician, I was 'star-struck' when I traveled to Canada and saw Minis everywhere. By then, emission control standards were getting difficult so It wasn't practical to bring one to America. Life changed for me and I purchased a Honda. :-(

One of the amazing things about Minis is their engineering. Up until that time, car engines were inline... the cylinders were arranged front-to-back. When you revved the motor, the car often shook sideways from the torque. The Mini engine was transversely mounted (as in sideways) so the torque pulled forward and the side tilting was eliminated.

Mini production halted more than a generation ago and only in the last decade did BMW bring a redesigned Mini to market. While it shares the name and some visuals, we all know it's not the same car.

My car is in the repair shop this week and the rental company offered me a Mini. It's the Countryman, a longer hatchback model. While I've only put 20 miles on the car Wednesday, I've got 3 outside appointments today and expect to have the car for the weekend.

What do I think so far?
Solid, quiet interior, lots of gadgets. All wheel drive so I wasn't able to screech tires on the takeoff!

laugh

My immediate dislike are the small rearview mirrors. Fashion over function. I consider them a safety liability as the view is limited. Also, the short doors make getting in and out a time consuming squeeze.
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Philipsenonline today!

The single most BOSS thing - EVER!

On this 4th of July, what better way to celebrate the US independence with something that just screams "AMERICA!"

Embedded image from another site

Meet the Hennessey Goliath 6X6. A badass truck from Texan tuner Hennessey Performance. Based on a 2019 / 2020 Chevrolet Silverado truck, the GOLIATH 6X6 takes the already very capable Chevy 4X4 truck and elevates its off-road capabilities to another level. (Hennessey's words, not mine). But what makes this truck so boss? Here are the upgrade list:

6X6 Conversion with additional axle, wheels, tires and brakes
All new rear suspension system
Eight-inch lift kit
Custom 6X6 truck bed
Hennessey 20-inch wheels
BFG 37-inch off-road tires
GOLIATH 6X6 & HENNESSEY graphics
Rollbar upgrade
LED lights
Hennessey front and rear bumpers
450 bhp engine upgrade (cold air intake and stainless steel exhaust upgrade)
3 year / 36,000 mile warranty

Upgrades are available, if you didn't think this was mad enough. The upgrades are: stroker motor upgrade, Brembo brake system upgrade and custom interior upgrade. Sadly, the production is/was limited to just 24 trucks, so there is a good chance all of them would have been sold already.

In total, this badass boss of a truck packs 800 horsepower, and it's just the single most awesome and BOSS thing ever! The price? Oh, well.. It's $375K, but that includes the truck. I guess you could buy the upgrade kit and make it the biggest DIY job ever, but.. You need access to highly trained specialists, since you need to fit an entire axle on the truck, so it is best to leave it to the pros on this one.

But come on - you cannot deny that this truck is seriously BOSS!
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pedro27online today!

the blog in my nose

it's disscusting , its a hardy one...........blog on.......snotty..........beam me upwave
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