I've owned two of those cars (not the exact ones shown).
And keep your Lambo out of the daisies. 

And yep Car Talk wanted the tire valve.
Makes one wonder why standardiztion didn't go further.

Last edited by Diaphone Jim (7/14/2021 12:03 pm)

They came in at least two sizes.

If you have that and want that you better have this. 


But you can't deny there are some strange people, or at least with strange priorities, out there..



 

Define tailgater, how close do they have to be for you to call them that?
Of course it depends on speed, I'd expect them to be close when we're crawling along at 8 mph but more space at 88 mph. 
I've seen 1 car length for each 10 mph so two car lengths at 20 mph.
20 mph is got to be in traffic and leave 2 car lengths 3 cars will try to get in.
Leave 6 car lengths at 60 mph and 7 cars will try to squeeze in.
I've also seen 3 seconds but 3 seconds on a left turn light will get you cursed and maybe shot.
3 seconds in traffic is inviting lane hoppers.
3 seconds on the highway is OK except it won't urge the left lane bandit in front of you to move over.

Two Short Planks wrote:

There used to be (maybe still is?) a mantra here - 'Only-a-fool-would-break-the-two-second-rule' - the idea being that it should take two seconds to repeat the phrase in your head as you follow the car in front. Of course, it still doesn't stop any of the arseholes cutting into the safe space you leave.

The original public information film...




It dates from the late 1970s and does look dated but the safety message is as relevant as ever.

 

I don't drive all that much these days so tend to avoid many of these hazards, but I do have memories of driving through rural Shropshire and being stuck behind a car at a steady 45mph in a 60mph limit..
I eventually passed it only to find when I slowed to 30mph at the next village he came past me at... you've guessed it... 45mph.
Why would anyone drive at 45mph everywhere regardless?

Experimental roads put marker on the road.  If you did not see both markers, then one was too close.  It works quite well - when one is driven by logic and not by his emotions.

A cop explained this.  SUVs, being so high, judge distance by how much an 'in front vehicle' fills his windshield.  They are especially aggressive tailgaters with cars.  Again, emotions.

Simply keep changing speeds.  Take a foot off the accelerator.  Then as he gets too close and starts to brake, restore speed.  For most tailgaters, this message is understood by a second or third time.  Since braking is so more emotionally undesirable.  Target his emotions.  Since tailgaters are not thinking logically.The emotional do not like constantly braking.  Eventually they back off.

It also works because tailgaters also and often cannot just the speed of and distance to vehicles in front - until forced to brake.


 

tw wrote:

Experimental roads put marker on the road.  If you did not see both markers, then one was too close.  It works quite well - when one is driven by logic and not by his emotions.

A cop explained this.  SUVs, being so high, judge distance by how much an 'in front vehicle' fills his windshield.  They are especially aggressive tailgaters with cars.  Again, emotions.

Simply keep changing speeds.  Take a foot off the accelerator.  Then as he gets too close and starts to brake, restore speed.  For most tailgaters, this message is understood by a second or third time.  Since braking is so more emotionally undesirable.  Target his emotions.  Since tailgaters are not thinking logically.The emotional do not like constantly braking.  Eventually they back off.

It also works because tailgaters also and often cannot just the speed of and distance to vehicles in front - until forced to brake.


 

And if tailgated by an electric car, is the driver letting his e-Motion get the better of him?

I think we should be told.
 

Carruthers wrote:

And if tailgated by an electric car, is the driver letting his e-Motion get the better of him?
I think we should be told.  

Charlie Smith built this Vettester 1/8th scale model cutting down a Corvette(model) to an open wheel roadster while retaining the crumple zones, catalytic converters, and all the federal and state mandated equipment  to make it legal to sell as a new car. He knew Sam Foose and showed it to his boy Chip when he was in his second year of design school. He says Chip was intrigued and they talked about how cool it would be for an automaker to make them for a niche market like they do with some other models. Two years later as a senior Chip was tapped for his senior project sponsored by Chrysler to design something for one of the niche markets. Chip decided he would created a new niche and his design was massaged by Chrysler(adding ugly bumpers) into the Prowler. There is nothing more than Charlies tale, no evidence, but it is possible. The workmanship on this is incredible.


 

Have to use Chrome to see pics (Bruce's anyway), have to stay here to post.  WTF, I have time.
Louvers in trunk:  Paying off the louver press machine or transporting hostages? 

Diaphone Jim wrote:

Have to use Chrome to see pics (Bruce's anyway), have to stay here to post.  WTF, I have time.
Louvers in trunk:  Paying off the louver press machine or transporting hostages? 

Just my pictures? I'm using the monkey because that site UT came up with kept shrinking mine so you couldn't read the text. That got old real quick.
The louvers? Let the trapped air out during competition on the salt flats, or any high speed movement for that matter..

in a glamour shot of the Dubai PD hot pursuit vehicles