Car Chat

[Laconian]

If you can find one, a good new Mini 1st gen S is an absolute hoot.

I thought the 2nd gen S was a total ball, too.

I prefer the stickshift and clutch of my Miata though, by a longshot. I think the Minis are cursed with that BMW clutch delay valve.

[FoMoJo]

Now your car is spying on you ...Your car knows secrets about you. Here's how to protect yourself

[giant_mtb]

Not terribly surprised. People want anything and everything to be "connected" and online.

I mean, people have been putting those State Farm/other car insurance company electronic dongles in their cars for a time now, too.

[Soup DeVille]

Now your car is spying on you ...Your car knows secrets about you. Here's how to protect yourself

And people say I'm paranoid for driving old cars and using three different burner phones...

[FoMoJo]

And people say I'm paranoid for driving old cars and using three different burner phones...

You got that many secrets?

[Soup DeVille]

You got that many secrets?

No.

[giant_mtb]

One does not have to have secrets to appreciate privacy. Such a fallacy.

[FoMoJo]

One does not have to have secrets to appreciate privacy. Such a fallacy.

True, I will try to contain my waggish remarks.

[Laconian]

Always fun to climb into a rental car that's pre-paired with "Kaylee's IPhone", populated with her address list, and has subject lines for 20 of her last text messages.

[giant_mtb]

True, I will try to contain my waggish remarks.

No, no. I knew you were being facetious. I was more just kind of saying that to...the universe.

[AutobahnSHO]

Always fun to climb into a rental car that's pre-paired with "Kaylee's IPhone", populated with her address list, and has subject lines for 20 of her last text messages.

[FoMoJo]

No, no. I knew you were being facetious. I was more just kind of saying that to...the universe.

Just amusing myself.  I mean no slight to anyone...well, maybe just Trump.

[Raza]

I thought the 2nd gen S was a total ball, too.

I prefer the stickshift and clutch of my Miata though, by a longshot. I think the Minis are cursed with that BMW clutch delay valve.

Easy enough to remove. I had mine taken out years ago.

[Raza]

And people say I'm paranoid for driving old cars and using three different burner phones...

"I am so completely off the god-damn grid it's not a question of addressing me, it's 'what do these symbols under the dresser mean'."

[Soup DeVille]

"I am so completely off the god-damn grid it's not a question of addressing me, it's 'what do these symbols under the dresser mean'."

Oh no, you can't go off-grid. That'll getcha red flagged immediately.

[cawimmer430]

Drove my dad's B-Class today for the first time. He's only got 800 km on it so there was no hard driving until the engine etc. are properly broken in.

It's based on the same platform as my A-Class, but it drives and feels totally different. For one the suspension is very soft and comfortable and the steering feedback is rather light, not vague, but light. Totally comfort-oriented.

The engine is a gem. It's the 1.33-l turbo 4-cylinder with 163-horsepower and it feels eager and torquey. Very smooth (even when cold), very quiet and economical (I managed 5.5 L / 100 km). The Start-Stop system is smoother here than in my A250 with the engine restarting very smooth (my A250 has a little noticeable "jolt" when the engine restarts).

Handling is probably the "weak spot" of this car if you drive fast around hard corners because you can feel the higher center of gravity. Despite this "flaw", the car feels incredibly RELAXING to drive. It's very, very comfortable and quiet and it puts you at ease.

It's basically a car for senior citizens or anyone who wants something comfortable in a compact premium car. My dad is very happy with it, especially because of the good fuel economy he's getting (best result so far was 4.5 L / 100 km (52 mpg)).

Interior layout and operation is 99.9% similar to my A-Class, though his MBUX system is more advanced and I am jealous that he's got another digital tachometer option called "Progressive" (Which my car does not have). Also, I love the interior cockpit lighting and the various different color and multi-color options you can select. I kinda regret not having ticked that option for my car, but then again I probably would get bored of it quickly and never use it much anyway.

Once again, same platform as my A-Class (and the new CLA, GLA and GLB), but feels and drives like a completely different car. It's a relaxing car to drive, not really fun like my car, but very relaxing. It's like a comfortable sofa you sit yourself on, sink in, and never want to leave. 

[r0tor]

Always fun to climb into a rental car that's pre-paired with "Kaylee's IPhone", populated with her address list, and has subject lines for 20 of her last text messages.

More fun to leave in the system a pairing with some creative name..

[Laconian]

More fun to leave in the system a pairing with some creative name..

My phone name looks like something Cthulu would say. I like testing headunits' ability to render extended Unicode.

[Soup DeVille]

My phone name looks like something Cthulu would say. I like testing headunits' ability to render extended Unicode.

Wouldn't that be just a series of four number codes beginning with 00?

[Laconian]

Usually the failure mode is displaying boxes, which means UTF-8 was decoded but the font lacks a glyph for the character.

But sometimes you get a lazy developer who assumes US-ASCII. Then it's just a bunch of garbage, since the UTF-8 multibyte sequences aren't meant to be printable one by one.

[veeman]

Drove my dad's B-Class today for the first time. He's only got 800 km on it so there was no hard driving until the engine etc. are properly broken in.

It's based on the same platform as my A-Class, but it drives and feels totally different. For one the suspension is very soft and comfortable and the steering feedback is rather light, not vague, but light. Totally comfort-oriented.

The engine is a gem. It's the 1.33-l turbo 4-cylinder with 163-horsepower and it feels eager and torquey. Very smooth (even when cold), very quiet and economical (I managed 5.5 L / 100 km). The Start-Stop system is smoother here than in my A250 with the engine restarting very smooth (my A250 has a little noticeable "jolt" when the engine restarts).

Handling is probably the "weak spot" of this car if you drive fast around hard corners because you can feel the higher center of gravity. Despite this "flaw", the car feels incredibly RELAXING to drive. It's very, very comfortable and quiet and it puts you at ease.

It's basically a car for senior citizens or anyone who wants something comfortable in a compact premium car. My dad is very happy with it, especially because of the good fuel economy he's getting (best result so far was 4.5 L / 100 km (52 mpg)).

Interior layout and operation is 99.9% similar to my A-Class, though his MBUX system is more advanced and I am jealous that he's got another digital tachometer option called "Progressive" (Which my car does not have). Also, I love the interior cockpit lighting and the various different color and multi-color options you can select. I kinda regret not having ticked that option for my car, but then again I probably would get bored of it quickly and never use it much anyway.

Once again, same platform as my A-Class (and the new CLA, GLA and GLB), but feels and drives like a completely different car. It's a relaxing car to drive, not really fun like my car, but very relaxing. It's like a comfortable sofa you sit yourself on, sink in, and never want to leave. 

I'm glad your father and you are happy with the purchase and it looks like the car suits your father very well.  These types of cars are a hard sell in the U.S. because they're more expensive than mainstream brand alternatives.  There's no mainstream brand alternative for a Mercedes E class but there are a lot for these smaller FWD architecture cars/hatches. 

My Dad would love driving your Dad's new car.  It's soft and roomy but with a small footprint making it easy to maneuver and drive.   

[AutobahnSHO]

I'm glad your father and you are happy with the purchase and it looks like the car suits your father very well.  These types of cars are a hard sell in the U.S. because they're more expensive than mainstream brand alternatives.  There's no mainstream brand alternative for a Mercedes E class but there are a lot for these smaller FWD architecture cars/hatches. 

My Dad would love driving your Dad's new car.  It's soft and roomy but with a small footprint making it easy to maneuver and drive.   

I find it hilarious that BMW & Mercedes are so "upscale" here but run of the mill there. Not that ALL of the German cars are run of the mill- but they sell cheaper versions there that wouldn't sell here.

[MX793]

I find it hilarious that BMW & Mercedes are so "upscale" here but run of the mill there. Not that ALL of the German cars are run of the mill- but they sell cheaper versions there that wouldn't sell here.

Same reason Toyota, Nissan, and Honda had to create new brands to sell their more premium models in the US.

[veeman]

Yeah but even the cheap versions of Mercedes, Audi, and BMW they sell in Europe are more expensive than equivalently sized FWD architecture mainstreamer brand cars/hatches.  I'm sure they're better to drive and sit in than the mainstreamer brands but mainstreamer brands have really upped their game in the US in the last two decades. 

[dazzleman]

Not terribly surprised. People want anything and everything to be "connected" and online.

I mean, people have been putting those State Farm/other car insurance company electronic dongles in their cars for a time now, too.

State Farm.has never offered me one of those trackers, but if they did, I would refuse it.

[2o6]

I find it hilarious that BMW & Mercedes are so "upscale" here but run of the mill there. Not that ALL of the German cars are run of the mill- but they sell cheaper versions there that wouldn't sell here.

I have to agree with Veeman, BMW and MB are still premium brands. Even the "base" models from BMW and MB and Audi are more expensive than the Ford, VW, Opel, and other brands.

[Laconian]

State Farm.has never offered me one of those trackers, but if they did, I would refuse it.

They promote them during football games etc.

[2o6]

"Insurance startup", Root Insurance is based here in Columbus OH, and they create your premium based upon you using that device for 30 days.


I've also heard that premiums with that company skyrocket after one year, too.

[AutobahnSHO]

Yeah but even the cheap versions of Mercedes, Audi, and BMW they sell in Europe are more expensive than equivalently sized FWD architecture mainstreamer brand cars/hatches.  I'm sure they're better to drive and sit in than the mainstreamer brands but mainstreamer brands have really upped their game in the US in the last two decades. 

Here they are.

In Germany they are taxis and police cars.

[Laconian]

Here they are.

In Germany they are taxis and police cars.

...and executive cars, and supercars...