gdp's Comments

National Motorists Association Blog : Lying Black Boxes And The Truths They Tell

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:57:07 +0000

So, why can't we sue the Lt Governor for exceeding the speed limit, or at least get the police to send him a speeding ticket? All the evidence is there, and a regular citizen would get such treatment, so why not force the issue here?

National Motorists Association Blog : How Often Should I Change My Oil?

Mon, 9 Jan 2012 20:45:03 +0000

The only "true" way is to perform UOA (Used Oil Analysis)... of course, such efforts are rather overkill for most people since it costs time and money to do that. I perform these on my car because I drive it rather hard and it's turbocharged. However, since I use synthetic, I seem to be fine to carry it on for over 7500 miles without issue (mfg suggests 3750). That being said, most modern cars can go 6000 miles without any issues, even on regular oil. If you really want to dig into it, BITOG is a great resource, and the forums there can get yourself REALLY anal about the process: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ In my experience, even on my older car (non turbo)... I was going 6000 miles without issue, and with good UOA results. I recommend at least 6000 miles on most cars these days, because I haven't seen a single one which required less. For example, from BITOG we see good results from: 1) ~14k miles on the factory fill from a 2011 Chevy Cruz http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.p... 2) ~7000 miles on Citgo cheap synthetic-blend oil on a 2000 Bonneville http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.p... 3) ~6000 miles on the factory oil for a 2011 Accord http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.p... and that's just trying to find people using standard oils (non-synth, even though #2 is a blend). The point is, standard oils are pretty darn good these days... on a modern car, it's not even worth looking at until 6k miles, in my opinion. Of course, don't go taking my advice blindly. Ideally, you should check YOUR car. And you should be aware of any warranty issues with doing this. I voided my warranty with modifications about 2 months after I bought it, so I knew I didn't need to keep to the crazy-short oil change schedule. In the end, don't come crying to me if your car breaks down. >> I << have had no issues with 6k oil changes...

National Motorists Association Blog : Just How Safe Are Aftermarket Upgrades For Your Car?

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:30:55 +0000

A few further comments: 1) Blue light bulbs are not brighter than stock "yellow" ones. Yes they "look" like HID, but everyone knows what they really are. And they are less safe than "yellow" bulbs... remember "BluBlocker" sunglasses? They are effective because our eyes have more trouble seeing blue-lit objects (which appear hazier). 2) Bigger brakes don't always increase stopping power. If you can already lock the wheels or trigger the ABS, you already have enough braking power. Bigger brakes will just get you to lock wheels sooner, which is pointless... because you haven't increased stopping power. Big brakes can help improve pedal feel and reduce brake fade, but these aren't problems faced by most owners (except those who autocross or race, for example). 3) Drilled/slotted rotors don't help braking either (see above). It's not a performance upgrade, and may even be a downgrade. Better brake pads are the key to better brakes, not whiz-bang/bling-bling items like holes and slots. Drilled rotors can actually be a hazard, as most are made poorly and can lead to cracking and breaking.

National Motorists Association Blog : How To Drive In Snow

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:31:56 +0000

Excellent advice. One more things to keep handy: Cellphone charger (so that you're not left without it, in case you get stuck AND without a charge). Beyond that, another good thing is to practice driving and skidding YOUR car in an empty parking lot, to see what it does and how to manage it. This helps reduce your fear of skidding (it's an unnerving feeling) and what your car will do (ABS pulsing, noises, spin speed, etc) and shows you the real traction limits of your car/setup, and can help you learn what to do and what NOT to do when you first encounter a skid. If you can start a skid and stop it without losing control (and without stopping completely) then you are better prepared for when you NEED to make this happen. It doesn't guarantee a skid-free solution, but it's always better to be prepared, just in case.

National Motorists Association Blog : US Should Beware Of Average Speed Check Cameras

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:35:17 +0000

I'm not sure if you get the idea of what is being presented here. They aren't determining speed of the vehicle by any continuous measurement. They simply see that you travelled X feet in Y seconds, and therefore speed = X/Y. So, yes it's not a continuous speed measurement, but it is a valid speed reading (assuming the calcs are done right, which is another issue.) Furthermore, if the average speed is above the limit, then the instantaneous speed must have been at or above the average as well, during the distance measured. Granted, you still aren't being caught AT the point of the infraction, but I imagine the kangaroo courts we have won't see it that way anyway, so you will be found responsible. The key will be the measurement of distance, accuracy of reading the plates, etc. I think the only initial defense would be for the equipment to prove (with pictures and data) that the distance was setup right, and that the same car was caught both times. This SHOULD be the way it is enforced, but I imagine they will shortcut this and screw the defense anyway. Thankfully, these are fixed cameras, so they are easy to eliminate or identify... which is better than nothing. As for

National Motorists Association Blog : Answers To Some Frequently Asked Car Questions

Tue, 6 Dec 2011 13:19:33 +0000

One more note - Automatics require more maintenance than manuals... and from what I have seen, they tend to fail after about 100k miles. If you don't keep the car that long, then it's a non-issue... but I have rarely seen an automatic last without issue beyond that. On the other hand, I have owned many relatively powerful manuals, and none of them have ever failed in any way. On the other hand, in the USA, autos are easier to sell too... if you need to SELL it (ie, not trade it in). As for the hydraulic fluid clutches, I have never heard of a problem from those failing due to lack of maintenance. Yes, you are supposed to change them like brake fluid, but I've never seen an unmaintained one "fail" either.

National Motorists Association Blog : The Safety & Pleasure Of Driving On Winter Tires

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:56:07 +0000

It's amazing how many people skimp on tires, and then go off and buy AWD/4WD vehicles thinking this will magically solve the problem. The simple fact is, good tires are the best way to go... AWD/4WD is only needed for those who still have problems after getting good tires (speaking only of winter-driving issues... there are other reasons for AWD/4WD of course).

National Motorists Association Blog : A Practical Guide For Dealing With Traffic Stops

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:30:30 +0000

"Make a recording". While I agree with this sentiment, you must be careful because some states have crazy/idiotic laws aganst this. Massachusetts, for example, prohibits sound records of two parties unless BOTH consent or unless the recording is done in public)... this would make any such recording POTENTIALLY illegal. (Hell, there was a case in NH where a homeowner who was being harassed by the local police had signs and posters up about video cameras, yet they threw him in jail (at first) for recording the police. WTF?! And this in the "Live Free or Die" state!?) The potential-issue is whether the side of a highway is considered public or not. IANAL, so I can't answer that, but I would love to hear from an MA lawyer what they think here. That being said, there is nothing illegal about writing down notes and taking pictures with your camera phone (no sound in that!)...

National Motorists Association Blog : Old Car End Run

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 21:10:37 +0000

One thing to keep in mind, a TBI system (throttle body injection) can certainly replace the carb, but it's not as efficient as port-injection (fuel injection near the valves, like most modern cars). The latter costs more and requires a new intake manifold, sensors, etc, bringing the total to much higher than "$1500". Still, the TBI setup is likely far better than a carb, so it's a good place to start. Also note, any of these would require welding on a bung for the O2 sensor. So, it's not as easy as a "water pump"... but it's not too bad if you can find an exhaust shop to do that part for you (and if you can get the exhaust piping off at all!) I'd definitely say the better upgrade is the overdrive, as posted in the example above... FI is a good second step.

National Motorists Association Blog : Justice, Injustice, Or Payback?

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 20:17:59 +0000

Frankly, as a citizen, I fear our government more than criminals. The system has way too much corruption, and breaks the very rules they are supposed to uphold. We see this all the time in basic traffic cases. If "trivial" cases like these are screwed up, what hope do we have when more important cases are brought to trial?

National Motorists Association Blog : When Is Your Vehicle Not Worth Fixing?

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:37:27 +0000

I don't know if it's accurate or not, but http://www.automd.com/ seems to have some good information about repairs and costs all around the USA. I used this to help my cousin with his repair considerations, to estimate the cost of a tuneup quote he had received. I know the quote he got was ridiculous, and the AutoMD system's "estimate cost" seemed to agree with me and my own research. I figure others may find this valuable as well...

National Motorists Association Blog : The Drive It Forever Car

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:12:41 +0000

Speaking of vehicles that are intentionally difficult to repair, I encourage readers to join the Right to Repair movement: http://www.righttorepair.org/main/default.aspx

National Motorists Association Blog : What Do You Mean, I Look Fast?

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:10:19 +0000

I think you meant to say "No officer ought to be able to issue a speeding ticket of any kind *IF* he is moving with the flow of traffic *AND/OR* observes a driving behaving recklessly." Assuming that's true, I certainly am in full agreement. The fact is, the science and engineering says "with the flow of traffic" is safest... but I know I'm probably preaching that to the choir here!

National Motorists Association Blog : Justice in Massachusetts: Get It Now With One Easy Payment Of $75.00!

Wed, 5 Oct 2011 12:47:05 +0000

From what I read on Atty Sullivan's last post, he is not planning to appeal this any further. Is there any way for the NMA to ask him (or potentially pay him) to continue this further? It seems wrong to let it go now, after coming so far? Alternatively, I recently had a speeding ticket that I won, but I paid the initial $25 court fee for the Magistrate's visit (I won that, so I didn't have to pay the other $50 on appeal... the police department "supposedly" did.) So, would it make sense for the NMA to use my recent case to make this argument?

National Motorists Association Blog : The World's Most Expensive Speeding Tickets

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:24:17 +0000

"Slow drivers get tickets too"... unfortunately, not often enough.

National Motorists Association Blog : Right On Red?

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:49:00 +0000

So painfully true. I believe the root of the problem is that contrary to the statements of "driving is not a right, but a priveledge", totally incompetent people are being given licenses, simply because they don't crash or do something COMPLETELY stupid while traveling around the block at 20mph. In other words, our drivers license is a joke, and the skills expected of a typical driver are set so low that anyone can pass. What's more, with the advent of technology, we are making drivers dumber and dumber all the time. Stability control, AWD, lane departure warnings, sleepy-driver monitors, etc... all of these are making it "okay" for the driver to be even MORE incompetent... all under the guise of "safety". We need a better driving test and training, plain and simple... but that will never happen because driving is not really a privilege, but a right/necessity by enough incompetent drivers.

National Motorists Association Blog : The Principle Of Vehicle Safety Inspections

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:02:20 +0000

Agreed - inspections are pointless. I live in MA, where we have them... and near NH where they don't. NH cars aren't any less safe than MA cars... and up here, we see many NH vehicles. Fact is, I see plenty of MA cars spewing smoke, tail lights out, illegal tinted windows, etc... and they have brand new inspection stickers to show for it. In other words, the system is broken, and doesn't actually accomplish anything other than annoying those who have minor issues while at the shop. It boggles my mind that I get harassed because my tires are "near" bald at the wear bars, while I see many cars in the parking lot with completely ruined tires running around with new inspection stickers. Unless the system is 100% fair, it's worthless. People need to be held responsible for their own vehicles. I pay attention to mine, why can't everyone else? Besides which, the "testing" done here doesn't take into account braking performance in any way. If the brakes wobble, or the shocks are blown, the inspection shop doesn't see this... they only check that the lights work... who cares if the lights work when the car isn't stopping properly?! What's the purpose of this nonsense? It's even worse on Motorcycles. I got harassed for having "non DOT" turn signals on my motorcycle (which passed their inspection for 2 years prior to that, at the VERY SAME SHOP). Yet, I see brand new "choppers" rolling around every year, with illegal turn signals and "ape hangers" (which are illegal in this state)... why is it that they get let go when I don't? The reason is simple - the system is broken and unfair... but more importantly, in the end, these missed vehicles are proof that they system doesn't improve safety.

National Motorists Association Blog : Federal Gas Tax Expires On September 30th

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:54:28 +0000

Agreed a thousand times over. Put in another way, such activities to keep more fuel efficient cars on the roads is simply a waste of money. Look at cash for clunkers. What did that accomplish? Aside from giving money to boneheads who bought inefficient vehicles in the first place, people like myself, who drive regular cars, get screwed out of the cash-grab from these very same morons. In other words, I (and other taxpayers) paid stupid people to get out of their stupid purchases of inefficient trucks. In other words, we are REWARDING STUPIDITY while people with basic sense are given nothing. Less bureaucracy is good for everyone. We don't need Washington to funnel money for the states... they can do that just fine on their own. However, I do have to ask, where does the money for interstates come from? Wasn't that DC? And what about the TRB and other somewhat-sensible research organizations who tell us what the NMA is preaching... I'd hate to see that disappear.

National Motorists Association Blog : Do You Know How They Set Speed Limits?

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 15:38:07 +0000

It's nice to see SOME people get the concept right! I'm going to have to save this video for future reference!

National Motorists Association Blog : Life in the Slow Fast Lane

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:40:39 +0000

Personal responsibility... haha... funny! That's been gone for a while now... and just keeps getting worse. These days, backup cameras, lane departure warning systems, and even stability control are taking the "driving" out of driving. Soon we will just have people blaming these systems for causing accidents... rather than their own incompetence. As for the comment about the 2 year old... it reminds me of the signs in towns about how "we love our kids... please drive slowly". If you really love your kids, why are they out playing on a busy street, huh?