A Decision

[SARGE]

I am trying to decide on whether to get a safer to vehicle to drive. I have had the Bug for over 20 years surely and will not get rid of it. I could easily sell it for more than what I paid if I had to but want to keep it as a classic. However, I am limited in where I go because am so paranoid toward the other folks on the road. Perhaps it's because I was rear-ended last October while making a right-turn, but now am so observant of others who zoom up behind me as though I'm not there, and this is on residential streets with 3 lanes going each way, 35-40mph speed limits. I've even begun waving my arm out the window for them to slow down, which they then do. There is absolutely no way I would get on a highway now. I rented a car recently to take a 200 mile trek and couldn't believe how aggressive folks were. Tailgating each other at excessive speeds in the left lane as though they were in NASCAR. Where in the world did they think they were going and how much faster did they think they would get there, at risk of their own life and others???

I don't want my own world to get even smaller than it is, and want to get out and go places so I therefore believe I have to defend myself with an armored car, which isn't practical of course, but I shouldn't feel the need to even do that, right? Folks driving a few thousand pounds of steel down the road unsafely is to me worse than someone waving a gun at a crowd.

Is this the way the world is now, or has it been this way all along and I just now started paying attention? I can very easily afford a "bigger" vehicle but am resentful that I should have to fork out so much money just to feel "safer" amongst all the idiots who threaten everyone else.

[glc]

Get yourself a good used pickup truck like I did. It sits up high with great visibility and it's very handy when you go shopping. It will also be right at home with all the pickups and SUV's you have down there in Texas.

Drivers have always sucked - it's just there are so many more of them now.

[shadowpr]

i remember the other day i made a comment about how bad people drove....and i was in a parking lot.

maybe i've just been away too long.

[Negeva]

Originally Posted by glc Get yourself a good used pickup truck like I did. It sits up high with great visibility and it's very handy when you go shopping. It will also be right at home with all the pickups and SUV's you have down there in Texas. Drivers have always sucked - it's just there are so many more of them now.

Not too sure about that comment; yes there has always been idiots on the roads but I'm starting to believe that all this modern technology in cars makes ppl think they're invincible whilst driving.

When I learnt to drive over a decade ago there was no ABS brakes or traction control or any of these other fancy gadgets that modern drivers have; to stop a car from locking under heavy braking you had to 'pump' the brakes. All the techniques some of us older drivers we're taught, such as the aforementioned 'pumping' of brakes or engine braking due to brakes over-heating aren't taught nowadays as technology and better materials have come into production.

Because of all these 'advancements' in automobile technologies some drivers push the limits of both the technology and their experience - often to the detriment of themselves and others.

[Floppyman]

Originally Posted by Negeva Not too sure about that comment; yes there has always been idiots on the roads but I'm starting to believe that all this modern technology in cars makes ppl think they're invincible whilst driving. When I learnt to drive over a decade ago there was no ABS brakes or traction control or any of these other fancy gadgets that modern drivers have; to stop a car from locking under heavy braking you had to 'pump' the brakes. All the techniques some of us older drivers we're taught, such as the aforementioned 'pumping' of brakes or engine braking due to brakes over-heating aren't taught nowadays as technology and better materials have come into production. Because of all these 'advancements' in automobile technologies some drivers push the limits of both the technology and their experience - often to the detriment of themselves and others.

Throw in talking on the cellphone while driving and you potentially have a recipe for disaster.

[juppy]

I think there's always been bad drivers, but I DO think we have more of them nowadays. IMO, it's not how bad they drive, it's how distracted they are. Cell phones, stereo systems, noisy brat in the back seat, whatever....they all distract the driver from watching what's going on around them as much as they should. Plus, the one thing I've always done is not only drive my own car, but I make sure to watch what others are doing as well. Just little things, like looking both ways before taking off from a stop light.....just because your light turns green doesn't mean everyone is going to stop coming from the other way. There's always some doofus that when you least expect it, runs the red light and just about takes the nose off of your car. You have to learn to expect that and basically drive for the other people on the road too, because sometimes they're not doing a good job of just driving for themselves. This driving style has so far kept me out of wrecks and I haven't even been pulled over for speeding......34 years old now too.

[David M]

Sarge...get a used Volvo. You may have to spend a few hours scraping the left leaning bumper stickers off the back but they are pretty safe cars for the money.

[HAL9000]

Originally Posted by juppy I think there's always been bad drivers, but I DO think we have more of them nowadays. IMO, it's not how bad they drive, it's how distracted they are. Cell phones, stereo systems, noisy brat in the back seat, whatever....they all distract the driver from watching what's going on around them as much as they should. Plus, the one thing I've always done is not only drive my own car, but I make sure to watch what others are doing as well. Just little things, like looking both ways before taking off from a stop light.....just because your light turns green doesn't mean everyone is going to stop coming from the other way. There's always some doofus that when you least expect it, runs the red light and just about takes the nose off of your car. You have to learn to expect that and basically drive for the other people on the road too, because sometimes they're not doing a good job of just driving for themselves. This driving style has so far kept me out of wrecks and I haven't even been pulled over for speeding......34 years old now too.

That's what I've always been taught Jup... you're not driving one car, you're driving five!... the one you're in, the one in front, the one behind and the ones to the left and right of you.

[Jester]

You think drivers here are bad? Try Kabul Afghanistan. EEESH!!!

[EzyStvy]

Did your paranoia go away while driving the rent car?
If not, odds are getting another car probably isn't going to help.

If you want to get over the "other" bad driver issue - drive down to Galveston and back. If you make it through Houston both direction you'll either be cured or never drive again

[TimPoet]

I remember driving an old hulking Suburban. Man, did it feel good to be so high up and with the size of it everyone could see me and get out of my way.

[glc]

Why do you think they call a Suburban a Cowboy Cadillac?

[TimPoet]

Yeah, I love Cadillacs. Been wondering if the Escalade is a worthy one.

[glc]

An Escalade is a dressed up Tahoe/Yukon - a decent truck. You can get essentially the same thing at less cost with a Denali.

[TimPoet]

Ooohhh, ur full sage advice. Now I gotta catch up on the Denali.

Now, if you had an extra $20,000 a year for like 15 years, how would you invest it? I'm thinking local real estate, homes go like crazy in Vegas.

[glc]

I would not invest in real estate right now - the bubble is bound to burst one of these days. I'd find a good financial advisor.

[Chris in U.K.]

Hi Sarge,

A late add-on from me.

I second David M's Volvo suggestion - pretty safe and also very reliable. In mileage terms, mine has been to the Moon and is on the way back, still with original engine & gearbox.

We're not very big on bumper stickers over here, but I do like the one that says "If you can read this, you're too close"

Take it easy,

Chris.

[doubledragon5]

Two things I learned since moving to TEXAS. One they don't know what a trun single is. When it doesn work, the freak out and have to rush to the repair shop to make it stop working again.. Two TEXAS has the highest death rate on the roads, because of drunk drivers.. Sarge I see this all day long cause I drive all day long as part of my job.. Just the other day while heading home a car rolled over multiple times off the 635 to I35 ramp because of excess speed...

[doubledragon5]

Originally Posted by TimPoet Yeah, I love Cadillacs. Been wondering if the Escalade is a worthy one.

Only if you have the money for the high insurance, because it is one of the top stolen vehicles in the nation..

[Chris in U.K.]

Hi Dragon,

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a 'trun single' ??

Thanks,

Chris

[blue60007]

Maybe a "turn signal"?

[EzyStvy]

Originally Posted by Chris in U.K. Hi Dragon, Pardon my ignorance, but what is a 'trun single' ??

Ditto. Have live in Texas my whole life and don't know what a trun single is.....

Originally Posted by blue60007 Maybe a "turn signal"?

Party poooooooper

[David M]

Trun signals are supposed to be used when trunning a corner.

[tigstah]

i feel ya sarge, here on the east coast we have Interstate 95. within the richmond va area, there is at least 2 accidents everyday on that stretch of highway. the speeding has gone down because of the new laws. but its scary. young folks in these really small cars taking chances like you wouldnt believe. recently we have had a few cases where some has been standing on an overpass and throwing rocks at cars. why have no idea.

[David M]

Originally Posted by TimPoet Ooohhh, ur full sage advice. Now I gotta catch up on the Denali. Now, if you had an extra $20,000 a year for like 15 years, how would you invest it? I'm thinking local real estate, homes go like crazy in Vegas.

The answer is you do not place all your eggs into any one sector.

I would stay out of real estate markets that have been going like gangbusters....specifically California and Nevada. The sub-prime mortgage bust has put an end to the speculation. A couple dozen sub-prime lenders have gone belly up. The easier it is to get a loan then the more homes appreciate. Sub-prime loans are almost impossible to get now which is a bad thing for land appreciation

There are sectors in the stock market that are very depressed now, such as home builders and the financial sectors. They may not have bottomed yet, but you can be sure that banks, mortgage companies, home builders, building suppliers etc that are in decent financial condition now are not going out of business. This "crisis" will blow over. I would just watch these sectors and wait until they appear to be making a turnaround...and then weight them a little heavier in your portfolio but please don't put all your eggs into any one of them. You can be almost certain that these sectors will be worth a lot more in five years than now. Wall Street does not think five years ahead of time.

Buying into companies in distressed sectors and waiting for them to turn around is exactly how people like Warren Buffet become billionaires. It is believed he is going to take a stake in Countrywide.

Here is a neat little website that show these sectors. Home builders and building suppliers is under Consumer Cyclicals. The rest is under Financial.
http://www.smartmoney.com/marketmap/

[doubledragon5]

Originally Posted by tigstah i feel ya sarge, here on the east coast we have Interstate 95. within the richmond va area, there is at least 2 accidents everyday on that stretch of highway.

boy working as a State Trooper must be boaring.. Here in the Dallas FT Worth metroplex, there is at least 20 aday and that is on I-35 alone LOL!!!...

[SARGE]

I just don't understand where in the Hell these folks are trying to get to, at the risk of their own lives and others. Geez folks, slow down and smell the roses, stay off my rear bumper and carry your daily problems somewhere else. I give the idiots the highways, but the side streets, come on... There is nothing in their day so pressing and urgent to risk my life for. I will take action to protect myself.

[backithink]

so doing 120 in a 35 is dangerous...... no wonder the cop was pissed

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by backithink so doing 120 in a 35 is dangerous...... no wonder the cop was pissed

should have told him that there was only 15 minutes left for happy hour....he would understand...lol

[backithink]