My Fellow Americans: 5 Automotive Things We Need To Change About America

"Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
07/04/2018 at 14:55 • Filed to: america, July 4th

Happy Independence Day, America. There’s a lot to love about the country that has brought the world muscle cars, the Ford GT, and mass production of automobiles. But there are quite a few things worth changing. Comment below with anything you’d like to change!

5) Bring Back The Manual Rental Car

When I went to rent a car from Budget last week, I was shocked to see that they listed a car with a manual transmission on the website. I’ll be even more shocked (actually, I may pass out), if it turns out to be true when I pick it up tomorrow. Rental car agencies in the US simply don’t have manual transmission cars. My fellow Americans, when did we as a nation begin to accept this “lowest common denominator” approach to rental cars? It’s time to change.

I know people will shout “TURO!”, but I’ll reserve a post for another day about how you should never rely on Turo (The Unhappy Rental Operation) with some of my horror stories.

4) Invent A New Form of Transportation

Self driving cars are coming and that’s a start but “flying cars” (okay, electric people-carrying drones) are probably the future of transportation in places like San Francisco or maybe it’s underground car tunnels like Elon Musk’s Boring Company has proposed in LA. Either way, we need something new. In the Bay Area, it’s almost impossible to keep up with potholes due to the amount of traffic and the faster we get people who don’t want to be on the road off of it, the better. America, let’s get on this.

3) Modernize Driver’s Education & Our License System

The amount of distracted driving out there is pretty incredible. Sure, we could legislate that everyone drive a manual (which makes it incredibly hard to text and drive), but education & stricter rules is probably the path to better drivers. Anyone who has ever driven in Germany knows what driving bliss is like where the left lane isn’t hogged by some 22 year old in a broken SUV who is texting about a sale on vape pens.

Nay! It’s time to change this, my fair Americans! It’s time to rise up and bring a two tier license system! Class B is for the cheeto-breath Americans who care more about texting than driving. The left hand lane is reserved for those in Class A who have taken a course in advanced driving and are deemed experts in the art of the pass! Then we can think about raising speed limits!

2) Move the car shows from 7am to 11am

Admittedly, this probably isn’t just America but how are we supposed to get more young people into car culture when cars and coffee is over by the time they wake up? Let’s take the Radwood approach and start at 11am - like real humans.

1) Repeal The 25 Year Import Rule

President Trump wants to hurt Germany. That’s fine, but lets not deprive ourselves of German cars in the process. Instead lets repeal that bit of Mercedes-sponsored legislation referred to as the “25 Year Import Rule” so that we can import as many grey market AMGs as they can fit on the ships. Take that, Merkel!

DISCUSSION (19)

Variance > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 15:04

#2 is overwhelmingly relevant to me; I’m almost 30, but have only attended a grand total of TWO cars and coffee events, because I never wake up early enough on the weekends to do so.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 15:07

I only agree with #3 and #1.

Make driver’s education more difficult to pass (harder than requiring a 5th grade education) , and invoke retesting every 3-5 years if you’re older than 70. Make retesting immediate if you’re caught texting while driving or suffer a 3-month suspension with a fine equivalent to the cost of the phone you’re using.

#1 doesn’t affect me much but many others would appreciate it so yeah.

If C&C starts at 11am, then I won’t have time to attend before work on Saturdays. If lazies can’t wake up that’s not my problem.

dogisbadob > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 15:15

We could also just sign on to the UNECE standards, which would also make the 25-year rule mo ot.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 15:17

I don't mind early morning meets. The people who really show up early, the people who fuck around at them show up later.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 15:19

David Obuchowski rented what he was told was a manual here in BC. It was not

Nick Has an Exocet > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
07/04/2018 at 15:33

I can understand both, but damn, it’s hard to get up earlier than work to go to a car show.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 15:36

I fine it easier to get up car related activities, it's a thing I look forward too.

Nick Has an Exocet > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
07/04/2018 at 16:03

Yeah, I don’t know. I often find that if I’m going to get up early, I’m going to stay in pajamas and hang out in the garage to work on the Exo.

fintail > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 16:25

You aint gettin no manual.

I pity the fool who’d be in charge of clutch-related paperwork on a US rental fleet manual pool, as that won’t be under warranty.

I’d also like more of a car social scene in the PNW, where’s a virtual absence of legit c&c events, other than meets that are dick swinging/money spending contests for tech bros/luckyboomers/eb5 devilspawn.

duurtlang > dogisbadob
07/04/2018 at 16:32

That seems like the easiest and most sensible thing to do.

Finally a dopt the metric system as well, while you're at it.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 16:35

#2 No because those 11 am meets go to 5 and ruin the whole day.

SmugAardvark > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 16:37

I know people will shout “TURO!”, but I’ll reserve a post for another day about how you should never rely on Turo (The Unhappy Rental Operation) with some of my horror stories.

My immediate thought: “Nick must live in the Bay Area”

And then...

In the Bay Area, it’s almost impossible to keep up with potholes due to the amount of traffic and the faster we get people who don’t want to be on the road off of it, the better.

A-Ha! Glad I’m not the only one that hates Turo.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 16:59

No, no, sure, no, make it 10.

Nick Has an Exocet > SmugAardvark
07/04/2018 at 17:06

Haha, yep. I actually tried to use Turo for a reservation starting tomorrow in Boston. The short version (leaving out 99% of the detail): car’s owner had a mechanical issue with it and Turo’s answer was “here, rent this car that is $800+ more for 5 days”.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 17:25

Turo customer support is completely useless. Both times I've run into "mechanical issues" canceling my turo, I've rented from the owner directly for cash. It's truly the only way to rent an affordable manual car in the US though. So I'll keep using it despite the troubles.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 17:34

Getting a cheap rental excites me so much more in Europe than any shit rental in the US. Man if we had manual rentals in the US I would be SOOOO much happier to go on travel for work. Driving really shitty cars is incredibly fun with a proper manual and just plain shitty with a CVT.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
07/04/2018 at 17:54

Totally agree on making driver’s ed more comprehensive and testing more strict. Retesting should also be required, as should a continuing driver’s e ducation course taken every five years or so.

I wi say driving stick does not make texting and driving hard though. Harder than an auto, but not impossible.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > Nick Has an Exocet
07/04/2018 at 21:21

OK, on your points:

5. Manual Rental Cars - Agreed, give me a manual every time!

4. New form of transportation - Eh, ok I guess. I could use some actual public transit that works.

3. Modernize Driver’s education & Licensing System - Absolutely. The toughest part of this would be enforcement once in place. With so many people who already have licenses who think that “I’ve been driving for 5 years, I must be good at it” they won’t vacate the left lane, even when they’re supposed to.

2. Move car shows from 7am to 11am - I could tell from this that you’re not in Texas. at 7am it’s a balmy 85 degrees, by 11am it’s 100+. So no. The other alternative is to hold them at 8pm, when the evening temperatures are going down.

1. Repeal the 25 year import rule! - Amen Brother!

Nick Has an Exocet > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang
07/04/2018 at 23:33

The reason for #4 is that I don’t think we can get out of our own way on public transit. The only fix there is pretty nuclear.

On #3, a plate tag could do it pretty easily. Yeah, there would be counterfeits, but what would be the point? Would probably cost more than just taking the test.

On #2, lol - Okay, car shows in Texas stay at 7am. Hahahaha.

:D Let’s crush that import rule.