Stereodude
Not really a
Color is worse IMHO. Presumably they're as bright.
Now that we have white lasers, the laser headlights should get much better/cheaper.
Blue laser on a yellow phosphor produces uncollimated light. It's very similar to a white LED, just marginally more efficient.I thought lasers tended to product collimated light, whereas normal beams are fairly wide. Perhaps lasers are better for high beams.
I'm guessing that the vehicles with lasers are out of my price range.
Blue laser on a yellow phosphor produces uncollimated light. It's very similar to a white LED, just marginally more efficient.
That sucks Merc. Have you considered buying the car back from insurance and having the repairs done? With the rest of the car in such good shape, the value might be there.
The funny/good news is that my auto insurance has had the same coverage level since I got the damned thing (which, yes, means I've probably been massively overpaying for insurance on it. It was auto-billed and I never bothered to change it). So I have ridiculously good coverage. The phone rep said it MIGHT be OK'd for repair. I'm not holding out hope but it was offered.
It turns out that Elements are pretty unusual cars to find on used lots. I'm probably not going to be able to find anything within the time frame of "as soon as someone tells me what is going to happen."
Maybe a Subaru Outback? I think I'd be fine with a 2WD but they're supposedly be insanely practical vehicles; their resale value seems insanely high.
First, I'm glad you're ok.Anyone have a suggestion as to what I might look for? I'm not particularly enthusiastic about having a car payment again so whatever it is will probably be used rather than new.
The Chevy Captiva Sport was a fleet only vehicle in the US/Canada. It's the refreshed Saturn Vue with Chevy badging on it. It was made in Mexico.Also note, the Captiva is made by Daewoo, and here in Australia have earned the nick-name Crap-tiva due to the poor build quality...
Wikpedia said:In late 2011 for the 2012 model year, the Mexico-built Chevrolet Captiva Sport was imported into the United States for fleet buyers. This decision was made to fill the void for compact crossovers as Chevrolet phased out the HHR. The 2012 model was available with a 2.4-litre inline-four (LS trim) or 3.0-litre V6 (LT and LTZ) with both engines mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is optional on LTZ. The V6 and optional all-wheel drive were dropped for 2013. The Captiva Sport was discontinued in the US in August 2014
Get another Element (used) from the last model year they sold them (2011?).suggestion as to what I might look for? I'm not particularly enthusiastic about having a car payment again so whatever it is will probably be used rather than new.
I realize you wanted to know that the new airbags were good and didn't have the flying shrapnel issue, but this probably wasn't the right way to determine that.Driving home from having my Honda airbag recall done, a bee or something flew in my window and landed on my cheek, inside of my glasses. This caused me to freak right the fuck out and drive in to the only streetlight within a solid quarter mile.
Both of my half-hour-old airbags immediately did their job and went off, jamming my tongue tongue up in to my teeth and causing me to wonder what happened.
The Chevy Captiva Sport was a fleet only vehicle in the US/Canada. It's the refreshed Saturn Vue with Chevy badging on it. It was made in Mexico.
I live in Suburbs/Exburbs, jtr. I have to drive multiple places that are only a few miles apart but not close enough to walk between every single day. Further, as close to the lake as I am, I occasionally get extreme weather such that forgoing an automobile would be impractical no matter how much I'd like to. I actually have it better than most, as almost all my driving is within a 10 mile radius of home, but having just filled my rental car with the traveling circus of spare parts and media I need to keep on hand I can also say I'd have a real problem trying to haul all that around in a taxi.
I believe they're all ultimately the same Theta platform. Wikipedia says it was developed by both Opel and Daewoo.Thanks, wasn't aware of that.. seems to be two separate vehicles with the same name...
Having coped with a shitty car for at least five years, I can tell you that I agree with that. Or you could rent a new car. The payments are lesser and you won't bust the allowed mileage. Driving a miserable vehicle is a seed for having a miserable life.Considering that you are gainfully employed, interest rates are low, and you don't drive many miles, I think you should just buy a new vehicle and drive it 10+ years.
Cargo bike?I live in Suburbs/Exburbs, jtr. I have to drive multiple places that are only a few miles apart but not close enough to walk between every single day. Further, as close to the lake as I am, I occasionally get extreme weather such that forgoing an automobile would be impractical no matter how much I'd like to. I actually have it better than most, as almost all my driving is within a 10 mile radius of home, but having just filled my rental car with the traveling circus of spare parts and media I need to keep on hand I can also say I'd have a real problem trying to haul all that around in a taxi.
I've heard this elsewhere. It's moot even if true because the "refill" time for oil fields if the theory is sound would be on the order of millenia. That's not even accounting for the pollution or global warming issues of continuing to use oil. We're better off transitioning to a non-fossil fuel based economy. We're also better off in the long run changing settlement patterns to reduce car dependency. Electric cars are better than gas cars, but they still have all the other issues of cars.Abiotic Oil. It's in US News and World Report magazine so it must be true. I read about it on the interwebnets.
How much can it cost to replace the airbags? If the car its sound otherwise.
I might also suggest in the long run you seriously consider a move to a place you don't need to drive since it seems to me driving/car ownership isn't very high on the list of things you love. That's really the best answer.
The idea of living in a big city would be to dispense with a car altogether, meaning limited parking wouldn't be a concern. A car is hands down the worst way to get around in a big city anyway. Average car travel speeds in Manhattan are something like 7 mph. I average more than twice that speed on my bike.I don't like cars either, and the process of choosing and buying one is an unpleasant hassle.
However, living in a crowded city with mass populations everywhere and limited parking is far worse.
Merc is not the big city guy either.
FWIW, I would not survive very long after reaching the point where I could not drive. I'm OK with that at this stage of life. Most suburbanites have friends or family to help out.
The idea of living in a big city would be to dispense with a car altogether, meaning limited parking wouldn't be a concern. A car is hands down the worst way to get around in a big city anyway. Average car travel speeds in Manhattan are something like 7 mph. I average more than twice that speed on my bike.
The big problem with car dependency besides the few extra hundred thousand it costs over a lifetime, and the chance of dying on the roads, is eventually you would reach the point you can't drive. I personally would have reached that point already. That would leave me dependent upon family or friends to get around. I much prefer retaining my independence living in a place I don't need a car or a driver's license.
If a person doesn't like big cities then the way to go is live off grid in the country. Grow your own food, generate your own power, basically avoid the need to travel much further from your home than animal power can get you. Modern suburban living isn't remotely sustainable, either economically or environmentally.
The majority of people who have gone car free say it's a liberating experience. They just don't realize how much time and money their vehicle costs them until they get rid of it. Whenever a vehicle is no longer serviceable it should be seen as a potential opportunity to not buy another one. It may not work for everyone, but it often does if someone makes half an effort. Lots of people have gone car free even in American suburbs.
I've heard this elsewhere. It's moot even if true because the "refill" time for oil fields if the theory is sound would be on the order of millenia. That's not even accounting for the pollution or global warming issues of continuing to use oil. We're better off transitioning to a non-fossil fuel based economy. We're also better off in the long run changing settlement patterns to reduce car dependency. Electric cars are better than gas cars, but they still have all the other issues of cars.