What were they thinking? Custom Convertible Edition
We almost let this week slide by without getting in our weekly “What were they thinking?” section. You caption it! I have no clue…
What were they thinking? NYC Edition
This series highlights some of the best driving ideas on the road. If you have your own great WWTT picture please send them to wwtt@usedautoblog.com. We will post the best user submissions each week.
This week: Moving a Couch – NYC Edition
I especially like how they removed the front of the top to make room for the legs. Ingenious or Ridiculous?
- Dustin
What were they thinking? Spoiler Tie-down Edition
This is our inaugural ”What were they thinking?” post. This series highlights some of the best driving ideas on the road. If you have your own great WWTT picture please send them to wwtt@usedautoblog.com. We will post the best user submissions each week.
This week: Spoiler Tie-down Edition
Is it a tail? Broken tow strap? Let us know your best ideas or captions in the comments!
- Dustin
Review: 2004 Toyota Prius
This 2004 Prius is another in my current stable of available transportation. Please overlook the fact that it now has a significant dent in the hood and substantial hail damage. My wife and I will both claim that neither of these are technically our fault. Despite the damage, it is still well-loved.
Background: 2004 was the first year of the second generation Prius. It was made from 2004 through 2010, although there was a minor refresh in 2006. The first generation started in 2001, but isn’t immediately recognizable as a Prius, looking more like the Echo than the 2nd and 3rd generation Prii.
My Experience: I purchased this car in 2007, amidst rising gas prices (approaching $3!!!) and for the price of $12k. It had 128k miles on it already, but was in otherwise excellent condition.
Exterior: Designed by SCIENCE!
The 2013 Audi allroad and why new cars aren’t for everyone
I know what you are thinking. USED Auto Blog… 2013 isn’t even the present, it is the future. Bear with me for a minute, I do have a point.
I’ll start off by saying that I love the new 2013 Audi A4 allroad. I was fortunate enough to win an Audi sponsored photo contest in January that awarded me with a trip on Audi’s dime to drive the all new allroad. The rules to the contest were simple. 1. Own an allroad, 2. Photograph aforementioned allroad doing something awesome. Given that I am an allroad owner and a photographer this seemed like a great fit. There were 9 other winners and their +1s at the event. I was very impressed with the new allroad and we even got to drive an R8 while we were there. This trip, however, was more about the group of 20 (10 winners and our +1s) than it was about the new car.
Where is the American Automotive Love Affair Heading?
I have a deep sinking feeling in my stomach as I type this. Today’s youth are hopeless when it comes to automotive enjoyment it seems, the reason I say this is because I just got through reading a thread (9 pages long) on an internet automotive forum I belong to that was just about cruising. The first post reads:
“I first saw signs forbidding “cruising” in Hollywood a few years back. I took a split second to think of what the sign was exactly forbidding, and it was explained to me that it involved driving up and down the same street. I couldn’t for the life of me understand why this appealed to anyone. It seems monumentally anticlimactic and boring. Perhaps it is something people did before my generation (I’m 25)? Can someone who has done this explain the appeal?”
What is cruising you ask? If you must ask that question you ARE NOT at the right URL, but I digress. Tthe definition of cruising is to travel without destination or purpose; to go about the streets at random but on the lookout for possible developments. Ok so now we have a basic understanding of what cruising is. What? You still don’t get it? Let me break it down into regular car guy terms.
Video How-To: Fixing Yellowed Headlights
Here is a short video on how to clear up those ugly headlights.
Here is a link to the products used in this video: Meguiar’s PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner and Polish -10 oz.
Personal Ownership – Reviews By Experience – Dustin
© TriArctic Designs & Photography
I have mostly been the silent photographer and webmaster here at usedAutoBlog.com but I guess it is my time to speak up. My ownership history is considerably shorter than Aaron’s. I didn’t become a “car guy” until Aaron bought a house next to mine and started flaunting a string of stylish Audis in his driveway. At the time I started the downward (and expensive) spiral of automotive enthusiasm I was driving a 2004 Jeep Liberty Limited. It is the most un-car guy thing you could possibly be driving. More on that one in a future review though.
So here goes, my short list of cars.
Driving Public Service Announcement #2: Merging
You know how a zipper works, right? Same thing. Step one: when you’re approaching a highway from the onramp side, use your eyes and look at traffic. It’s your responsibility to yield. If you’re not familiar with the term, it means that your position is secondary to those already using the highway. A good example of yielding is when you walk into a bathroom, and somebody else is already using the urinal, you have to wait for them to finish. Driving is the same – but with less urine. OK, so back to the on-ramp. Your car has two options – speed up, or slow down. You’ll have to decide between either of these at some point BEFORE you’ve reached the end of the onramp. A good tip is to look for traffic early, then gauge your speed against theirs. If they’re going slower than you.. try to get in front of them. If they’re going by fast, then hold back and wait, pulling in behind them.
Photo by TriArctic Designs & Photography (http://www.triarctic.com)
Video How-To: Simple Methods to Keep Wind Noise Down
Here is a short video explaining how to help keep wind noise at a minimum in your car.
Here is the link to the spray silicone: Gunk M914/6 Liquid Wrench Heavy Duty Silicone Spray Lubricant – 11 oz.
