The Difference between a 2003 Allroad an a 2012 Focus

"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus)
11/29/2016 at 07:49 • Filed to: None

In the Focus when you pass a train, you think ‘Hey there’s a train’. In the Allroad you think ‘holy shit what just broke’

DISCUSSION (19)

S65 > OPPOsaurus WRX
11/29/2016 at 07:56

Kinja'd!!!

hey look a train

Honeybunchesofgoats > OPPOsaurus WRX
11/29/2016 at 08:04

“What’s that chirping? What’s broken on my Jag? Is it the trim making noises? No, it disappears when I roll up the windows. Oh god, the suspension? No. it’s there when I’m stopped. Oh man, it’s an engine noise? Wait... oh. It’s crickets.”

facw > OPPOsaurus WRX
11/29/2016 at 08:36

Meanwhile when I see one of those trains, I wonder how they can pay a guy to sit in this little red house and man these crossing gates, which surely must be automatic right?

Kinja'd!!!

OPPOsaurus WRX > facw
11/29/2016 at 08:47

wtf where is that?

facw > OPPOsaurus WRX
11/29/2016 at 08:52

It’s just south of the West Medford station. There’s always been a gate operator there for some reason when I’ve gone by. The only thing I can think of is that since the station platform is immediately north of the crossing, fully automated gates would block traffic while the train was waiting at the platform, but seems like there must be a better way.

TheRealBicycleBuck > facw
11/29/2016 at 08:54

He’s not manning the gate. It’s a mini office, usually found in spots where they stop for crew changes. I lived near one for a while. The train would stop and they would either change crews or the current crew would make a run over to the nearby Quick Stop for lunch. I always hated the early morning stops because the rumbling of the idling engines would rattle my whole house. It was fine if they were passing through, but they would sit there for half an hour or more.

facw > TheRealBicycleBuck
11/29/2016 at 08:58

Hmm, I don’t know, seems to always be out when the trains are coming through, but you may well be right.

Regardless MBTA commuter rail always seems like such a mess. Even the Governors Report on MBTA basically skipped over it entirely, not wanting to open that can of worms. http://www.mass.gov/governor/docs/news/mbta-panel-report-04-08-2015.pdf

Andrew Pascarella > OPPOsaurus WRX
11/29/2016 at 09:05

The MBTA is damn shitty and overpriced. I rode it for two years to get into Boston. The Commuter pass from Zone 3 and parking charges combined, my Fiancee and I were spending nearly $500 between the two of us just to arrive late constantly at work. Last December we said screw it and started driving. We’ve only had a few really long commutes, Boston traffic is far more consistent than the Trains ever are.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Andrew Pascarella
11/29/2016 at 09:32

I took it for a year or so, but I walked to the station so that cut a huge amount of the cost for me. Parking was $$$$. and yea, I’d be dating the entire Victoria Secret’s model line up before we arrived on time 2 days in a row.

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Andrew Pascarella
11/29/2016 at 09:44

I’m lucky enough to live close enough that I take the red line, but the delays are still dicey. The bicycle is usually quicker (and always quicker than the car).

Aaron M - MasoFiST > facw
11/29/2016 at 09:46

I lived in that part of Medford for a while, and little red office or not, that entire crossing area is nonsense, especially if you’re coming from Harvard Ave like I had to.

S65 > OPPOsaurus WRX
11/29/2016 at 10:06

Kinja'd!!!