Just for grins...
 

On Fri, 1 Apr 2016 21:33:19 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 4/1/2016 8:04 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 01 Apr 2016 18:37:10 -0500, Califbill
wrote:

wrote:
On Fri, 1 Apr 2016 14:45:33 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:



The Altima has a nice feature .... maybe all cars have them now ... I
don't know. It has sensors in the outside rear view mirrors that
detect if another car is pulling up along side you on the right or left.
There are small lights inside the car near the mirrors that light up if
a car is detected. If you put your blinker on while a car is detected
on the side that you intend to make a lane change, a chime goes off as
well as the light to warn you. The rear facing camera is pretty cool
also. When backing and turning the steering wheel, an outline of where
you are backing moves with the steering wheel movements. There's also
an alternate view that gives you a wider screen shot.

I have rented several cars with backup cameras and I never find myself
looking at it. I learned with mirrors and that works fine with me. I
suppose if you have kids running around it might be handy. I just have
a hard time making myself drive on TV.
I am OK with a warning buzzer but I definitely DO NOT want my car
deciding when to hit the brakes or stop me from turning the wheel.
There have been a few times in my life where doing something the
computer might think was unsafe was the only way to avoid getting
killed. It only takes one.


I like the backup cameras. See if a cart or short people behind the car or
truck. My Chevy 2500 does have a blind spot behind the tailgate. Camera
is nice for that.

I guess I drove a truck with nothing but mirrors. It just looks like
something else to break, providing very little for someone who looks
around.
Maybe it is good for hitting a trailer hitch or something but that is
not that big a deal for me. A truck tag should have a few dents in it
;-)



I've always used the mirrors for backing with the truck and it's a must
for backing the van/mini bus I drive. However, the design and shape of
many of the new cars today make a back up camera very nice to have. The
old method of putting your arm up on the front passenger's seat back and
craning your neck around to look out the back is difficult due to the
high seat backs and head rests on both the front and rear seats, plus
the camera gives you a view right up to the rear bumper that you can't
see with mirrors or by turning around to look backwards. The image on
the newer cameras is excellent and the display in the Altima is 7 inches.

Then again, I can understand your reluctance to embrace them. I
wouldn't expect someone who still uses Win 98 to accept something
as radical as backing up a car using a camera. :-)


Im an old trucker, I just use the mirrors, no "craning my neck" ...
and I only have one W/98 machine. ;-)

It is still running, doing the job assigned to it, why change? It has
not crashed and it runs unattended for years between reboots.

Just for grins...
 

On Sat, 2 Apr 2016 01:53:22 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

True, I went through a phase of having some high performance cars but
they aren't very practical unless you have a race track in your back
yard. I am also at least 10 years older now and don't have the need
for speed or neck snapping acceleration.


I know what you mean, I got that put of my system in the Nixon
administration. (a competitive "street stock" drag racer, then a
Corvette) I still like zippy little cars but my old Honda Prelude is
plenty for me and it is good on gas.

Just for grins...
 

On 4/2/2016 5:43 AM, wrote:
On Fri, 1 Apr 2016 21:33:19 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 4/1/2016 8:04 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 01 Apr 2016 18:37:10 -0500, Califbill
wrote:

wrote:
On Fri, 1 Apr 2016 14:45:33 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:



The Altima has a nice feature .... maybe all cars have them now ... I
don't know. It has sensors in the outside rear view mirrors that
detect if another car is pulling up along side you on the right or left.
There are small lights inside the car near the mirrors that light up if
a car is detected. If you put your blinker on while a car is detected
on the side that you intend to make a lane change, a chime goes off as
well as the light to warn you. The rear facing camera is pretty cool
also. When backing and turning the steering wheel, an outline of where
you are backing moves with the steering wheel movements. There's also
an alternate view that gives you a wider screen shot.

I have rented several cars with backup cameras and I never find myself
looking at it. I learned with mirrors and that works fine with me. I
suppose if you have kids running around it might be handy. I just have
a hard time making myself drive on TV.
I am OK with a warning buzzer but I definitely DO NOT want my car
deciding when to hit the brakes or stop me from turning the wheel.
There have been a few times in my life where doing something the
computer might think was unsafe was the only way to avoid getting
killed. It only takes one.


I like the backup cameras. See if a cart or short people behind the car or
truck. My Chevy 2500 does have a blind spot behind the tailgate. Camera
is nice for that.

I guess I drove a truck with nothing but mirrors. It just looks like
something else to break, providing very little for someone who looks
around.
Maybe it is good for hitting a trailer hitch or something but that is
not that big a deal for me. A truck tag should have a few dents in it
;-)



I've always used the mirrors for backing with the truck and it's a must
for backing the van/mini bus I drive. However, the design and shape of
many of the new cars today make a back up camera very nice to have. The
old method of putting your arm up on the front passenger's seat back and
craning your neck around to look out the back is difficult due to the
high seat backs and head rests on both the front and rear seats, plus
the camera gives you a view right up to the rear bumper that you can't
see with mirrors or by turning around to look backwards. The image on
the newer cameras is excellent and the display in the Altima is 7 inches.

Then again, I can understand your reluctance to embrace them. I
wouldn't expect someone who still uses Win 98 to accept something
as radical as backing up a car using a camera. :-)


Im an old trucker, I just use the mirrors, no "craning my neck" ...
and I only have one W/98 machine. ;-)

It is still running, doing the job assigned to it, why change? It has
not crashed and it runs unattended for years between reboots.



I can understand that. If it has a dedicated use and the software the
use requires runs ok, there's no reason to change. My guitar building
friend still uses a Win 98 laptop to run a small CNC machine that he
uses to make inlays and rosettes for guitars. Otherwise, he's a Mac guy.

Just for grins...
 

On 4/2/16 1:50 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 4/1/2016 9:33 PM, Alex wrote:
Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 4/1/2016 8:23 AM, Keyser Söze wrote:

...while waiting for routine service to be completed on my wife's
car, I
test drove a 2016 Toyota Tacoma truck. What a sweet ride...made even
sweeter by the presence of its six speed manual transmission. The last
time I drove a pickup truck with a stick shift, it was back in the late
1950's, at my dad's boat store. I think it was a four speed, but you
started in second because first was there only to get the truck rolling
if you were pulling something really heavy.


I just bought a new ride. I've been thinking of getting a more
comfortable vehicle for a while and tried out several of the
"mid-sized" offerings. Ended up with a Nissan Altima SL. It's the
four-banger with the continuously variable transmission. Nissan also
offers a 3.5L six but I don't know why anyone would need the extra
horsepower. The 2.5L four moves the car along surprisingly well.
After almost two weeks of driving a mix of highway and around town it
is averaging between 32 and 33 mpg. Far cry from the 12 to 13 mpg
with the
Ford Superduty. Gonna hold onto the truck though, at least for a while.
Sometimes only a truck will do.




This must be an April Fools joke. You've moved to cars from a different
continent and you bought the "slow" one to save money on gas? You are
the same guy that had that M5 and 911, right?


I grew up.



You probably don't own 47 firearms, either.

Just for grins...
 

On Fri, 1 Apr 2016 22:47:40 -0400, Alex wrote:

True North wrote:
Mr. Luddite
- show quoted text -
"I've always used the mirrors for backing with the truck and it's a must
for backing the van/mini bus I drive. However, the design and shape of
many of the new cars today make a back up camera very nice to have. The
old method of putting your arm up on the front passenger's seat back and
craning your neck around to look out the back is difficult due to the
high seat backs and head rests on both the front and rear seats, plus
the camera gives you a view right up to the rear bumper that you can't
see with mirrors or by turning around to look backwards. The image on
the newer cameras is excellent and the display in the Altima is 7 inches.

Then again, I can understand your reluctance to embrace them. I
wouldn't expect someone who still uses Win 98 to accept something
as radical as backing up a car using a camera. :-)"


My first back up camera came with my 2013 Highlander. Now I won't be without one. It's a basic model without the helpful, guide lines and the screen is fairly small vs the higher end versions on the more expensive Highlander.


Yet you still can't back up a trailer?

They do not help backing up a trailer, other than to ensure the trailer is still
there!
--

Ban liars, tax cheats, juvenile name-callers, and narcissists...not guns!

Just for grins...
 

On Fri, 1 Apr 2016 22:46:37 -0400, Alex wrote:

True North wrote:
Ditzy Dan Kruger blathers...
- show quoted text -
"This must be an April Fools joke. You've moved to cars from a different
continent and you bought the "slow" one to save money on gas? You are
the same guy that had that M5 and 911, right?"

Some people are more concerned about the environment than looking like a big shot.

Are you attacking me or Luddite? He has had some very nice cars that
were much better than my Z4 and ML550.

If someone gave me a Z3, I'd take it. But I'm not wild about the styling of the Z4.
Maybe I'm just a 'softy'.
--

Ban liars, tax cheats, juvenile name-callers, and narcissists...not guns!

Just for grins...
 

On Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 1:50:19 AM UTC-4, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 4/1/2016 9:33 PM, Alex wrote:
Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 4/1/2016 8:23 AM, Keyser Söze wrote:

...while waiting for routine service to be completed on my wife's car, I
test drove a 2016 Toyota Tacoma truck. What a sweet ride...made even
sweeter by the presence of its six speed manual transmission. The last
time I drove a pickup truck with a stick shift, it was back in the late
1950's, at my dad's boat store. I think it was a four speed, but you
started in second because first was there only to get the truck rolling
if you were pulling something really heavy.


I just bought a new ride. I've been thinking of getting a more
comfortable vehicle for a while and tried out several of the
"mid-sized" offerings. Ended up with a Nissan Altima SL. It's the
four-banger with the continuously variable transmission. Nissan also
offers a 3.5L six but I don't know why anyone would need the extra
horsepower. The 2.5L four moves the car along surprisingly well.
After almost two weeks of driving a mix of highway and around town it
is averaging between 32 and 33 mpg. Far cry from the 12 to 13 mpg
with the
Ford Superduty. Gonna hold onto the truck though, at least for a while.
Sometimes only a truck will do.




This must be an April Fools joke. You've moved to cars from a different
continent and you bought the "slow" one to save money on gas? You are
the same guy that had that M5 and 911, right?


I grew up.

Nah, you got old. ;-)

Just for grins...
 

On Sat, 2 Apr 2016 07:10:02 -0400, Keyser Söze wrote:

On 4/2/16 1:50 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 4/1/2016 9:33 PM, Alex wrote:
Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 4/1/2016 8:23 AM, Keyser Söze wrote:

...while waiting for routine service to be completed on my wife's
car, I
test drove a 2016 Toyota Tacoma truck. What a sweet ride...made even
sweeter by the presence of its six speed manual transmission. The last
time I drove a pickup truck with a stick shift, it was back in the late
1950's, at my dad's boat store. I think it was a four speed, but you
started in second because first was there only to get the truck rolling
if you were pulling something really heavy.


I just bought a new ride. I've been thinking of getting a more
comfortable vehicle for a while and tried out several of the
"mid-sized" offerings. Ended up with a Nissan Altima SL. It's the
four-banger with the continuously variable transmission. Nissan also
offers a 3.5L six but I don't know why anyone would need the extra
horsepower. The 2.5L four moves the car along surprisingly well.
After almost two weeks of driving a mix of highway and around town it
is averaging between 32 and 33 mpg. Far cry from the 12 to 13 mpg
with the
Ford Superduty. Gonna hold onto the truck though, at least for a while.
Sometimes only a truck will do.




This must be an April Fools joke. You've moved to cars from a different
continent and you bought the "slow" one to save money on gas? You are
the same guy that had that M5 and 911, right?


I grew up.



You probably don't own 47 firearms, either.

I'll bet he doesn't take and post pictures of his ammo either!
--

Ban liars, tax cheats, juvenile name-callers, and narcissists...not guns!

Just for grins...
 

John H.
- show quoted text -
"They do not help backing up a trailer, other than to ensure the trailer is still
there!"


Bingo! Maybe Ditzy thinks the cameras have an X-ray option to look through the boat and see what's behind the trailer.

Just for grins...
 

On the other hand, a wifi camera positioned temporarily on the boat's stern and with the receiver screen on the dash might make backing into a narrow area enjoyable. Maybe I can get the wider boat after all.