Yaris in a fatal accident

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY

I'd definitely steer clear of Nissan. They aren't what they once were. And I left Toyota for Honda. Bought 2 Fits, and an Element. Had problems with both the Fit and the Element. Went back to Toyota. A Toyota is more solid in almost every regard. Good luck to your future choices. Consumer Reports is your best friend. It's the Bible in my home. Specifically the yearly model with all of the scientific data from all the consumers. A lot of real world info there. I don't usually follow their car reviews, as that is subjective to each person. But real world reliability statistics do not lie. And a Honda is not nearly reliable as a Toyota. And Nissan hahahaha

My uncle used to have a classic Mercedes 250 C Coupe. He got rear ended at a freeway off ramp stoplight. His insurance company didn't give him what he felt it was worth. He bought a big, new Chrysler sedan after that. It was decent...no major problems in the 165k + miles of ownership. They traded that in on another big, new Chrysler sedan. When that second Chrysler had about 65k on it, the engine went out while they were at a place in Sisters, Oregon that they rent for a few weeks a year. No warranty. My uncle paid for the new engine, and the minute they got back he traded it in for a brand new ES Lexus sedan. They love it! When my aunt's Acura started to get a bit long in the tooth, my uncle bought her an RX SUV. When my uncle's two daughters saw how satisfied they were, their husbands bought G series for them, one the SUV, and one the sedan. Even more Lexus purchases happened after that. Other family members have BMWs, Audis, and Volvos, but I wonder if they will eventually follow to Lexus. I may be the only one with a non Lexus Toyota . One family member went from a Mazda Tribute (engine failed at about the same mileage my uncle's Chrysler did ) to a Subie and couldn't be happier. I'm more likely to compliment my silver Yaris in the future with a Subie than anything else. Another household in the family has a Sentra and a big Saturn SUV. The Sentra hasn't been as reliable as my blue Yaris (my silver Yaris = not enough miles to be a test of reliability)

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

My uncle used to have a classic Mercedes 250 C Coupe. He got rear ended at a freeway off ramp stoplight. His insurance company didn't give him what he felt it was worth. He bought a big, new Chrysler sedan after that. It was decent...no major problems in the 165k + miles of ownership. They traded that in on another big, new Chrysler sedan. When that second Chrysler had about 65k on it, the engine went out while they were at a place in Sisters, Oregon that they rent for a few weeks a year. No warranty. My uncle paid for the new engine, and the minute they got back he traded it in for a brand new ES Lexus sedan. They love it! When my aunt's Acura started to get a bit long in the tooth, my uncle bought her an RX SUV. When my uncle's two daughters saw how satisfied they were, their husbands bought G series for them, one the SUV, and one the sedan. Even more Lexus purchases happened after that. Other family members have BMWs, Audis, and Volvos, but I wonder if they will eventually follow to Lexus. I may be the only one with a non Lexus Toyota . One family member went from a Mazda Tribute (engine failed at about the same mileage my uncle's Chrysler did ) to a Subie and couldn't be happier. I'm more likely to compliment my silver Yaris in the future with a Subie than anything else. Another household in the family has a Sentra and a big Saturn SUV. The Sentra hasn't been as reliable as my blue Yaris (my silver Yaris = not enough miles to be a test of reliability)

I drive a 13 Avalon Limited. Pretty much the same components and car as an entry level Lexus. Beautiful inside and out, but it's never given me the excitement of a manual Yaris, or a manual Tacoma. I'm pushing 40 and I have a few more decades that I want to continue to drive a manual. It is so damn boring to drive an automatic. That is the biggest reason I am getting rid of my Avalon. BORING. And I love the 4-Runner,but you can't get that in a manual. I need to keep my hands busy. So pretty much having the Lexus experience would I do it again? Probably not. Too expensive and not my style. I don't care what people think of me and what I drive. They don't pay my bills, so their opinion is null. If a $18k dollar car makes me happy, that's what I'm going to drive, even when I can afford more.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY

I drive a 13 Avalon Limited. Pretty much the same components and car as an entry level Lexus. Beautiful inside and out, but it's never given me the excitement of a manual Yaris, or a manual Tacoma. I'm pushing 40 and I have a few more decades that I want to continue to drive a manual. It is so damn boring to drive an automatic. That is the biggest reason I am getting rid of my Avalon. BORING. And I love the 4-Runner,but you can't get that in a manual. I need to keep my hands busy. So pretty much having the Lexus experience would I do it again? Probably not. Too expensive and not my style. I don't care what people think of me and what I drive. They don't pay my bills, so their opinion is null. If a $18k dollar car makes me happy, that's what I'm going to drive, even when I can afford more.

My uncle caring about perceived status is probably somewhere in the middle. If he really cared that much, he would never have purchased two Chryslers in a row . The point of my story wasn't the 'contagiousness of prestige', it was 'the contagiousness of reliability' . I certainly agree with you re manual transmissions . Are any of the Lexus models even available with a manual? Any of the F sport models? . One thing that makes me shy away from buying a significantly more expensive vehicle is the number of people who don't give a flying f about being careful not to open their car doors into another car in parking lots . In the NE, I've seen cars with thick pads that can be put/hung on doors to counteract such actions, but I've never seen such pads in Texas.

[bgkz25]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

.... the number of people who don't give a flying f about being careful not to open their car doors into another car in parking lots.

This is true. I usually pick a parking spot at the outer edge of a parking lot so that I would have to worry about just one side of the car and try to stay close at the edge as much as possible which leaves an enormous amount of space at the other side. The only problem here is that some drivers don't pay attention with lines and use your car as a reference.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Originally Posted by bgkz25

This is true. I usually pick a parking spot at the outer edge of a parking lot so that I would have to worry about just one side of the car and try to stay close at the edge as much as possible which leaves an enormous amount of space at the other side. The only problem here is that some drivers don't pay attention with lines and use your car as a reference.

I do the same thing. My dad taught me that.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bgkz25

This is true. I usually pick a parking spot at the outer edge of a parking lot so that I would have to worry about just one side of the car and try to stay close at the edge as much as possible which leaves an enormous amount of space at the other side. The only problem here is that some drivers don't pay attention with lines and use your car as a reference.

Me as well. I thought I was the only one in the world who did that . I guess there are at least three of us .

[bgkz25]

Having that ideal spot which I mentioned is already a bit of a peace of mind. It would be a bonus if the car parked right beside your car on the other side is a new bmw or an audi or a merc or any other luxury car or a well looked after car for that matter which you know that the owner is quite careful enough when it comes to opening their door. ☺

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[MadMax]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Last week I pulled into a McDonalds parking lot to use the wifi to look up a phone number I got the number and dialed the number. It was ringing as I was holding the phone and driving through what appeared to be an empty parking lot, and then noticed a cop around a corner. I hung up the phone, pulled into a space, shut the engine off, and redialed. In Texas, the ban is only in school zones but, IIRC, California must now be hands free while driving. This was the first time I'd driven while holding a phone in years and I was only doing it re that particular situation.

San Antonio passed an ordinance that went into effect on 1 Jan 2015 that prohibited the use of a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. That includes calling, texting, GPS and not only while moving but also sitting at stop lights, etc. At first there was wide compliance, but since not a lot of citations have been written it appears people are beginning to ignore it. We need greater enforcement and even a state-wide ban!

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MadMax

San Antonio passed an ordinance that went into effect on 1 Jan 2015 that prohibited the use of a mobile device while operating a motor vehicle. That includes calling, texting, GPS and not only while moving but also sitting at stop lights, etc. At first there was wide compliance, but since not a lot of citations have been written it appears people are beginning to ignore it. We need greater enforcement and even a state-wide ban!

Just out of curiosity, is there a specific definition of 'operating' that pertains just to that statute? Someone might be pulled into a parking space, have the emergency brake on, and just want to make some calls re their business. In another state, at this time of year, one might be able to comfortably do that without having to do anything else. In most of Texas, at this time of year, that same scenario would pretty much require one to also have the engine running to enable use of the A/C. Would that 'parked in a space scenario' technically be considered 'operating' just because engine needed to be engaged re the A/C?

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Just out of curiosity, is there a specific definition of 'operating' that pertains just to that statute? Someone might be pulled into a parking space, have the emergency brake on, and just want to make some calls re their business. In another state, at this time of year, one might be able to comfortably do that without having to do anything else. In most of Texas, at this time of year, that same scenario would pretty much require one to also have the engine running to enable use of the A/C. Would that 'parked in a space scenario' technically be considered 'operating' just because engine needed to be engaged re the A/C?

Here's the ordinance...

https://www.sanantonio.gov/portals/0...nance-2015.pdf

To be honest, I doubt anyone would be ticketed for using a cell phone while parked in a spot. However, while on public roads they would be fair game. However, there are a few exceptions for reporting emergencies...

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Here's the ordinance...

https://www.sanantonio.gov/portals/0...nance-2015.pdf

To be honest, I doubt anyone would be ticketed for using a cell phone while parked in a spot. However, while on public roads they would be fair game. However, there are a few exceptions for reporting emergencies...

Thanks for the link . Sounds pretty reasonable overall, and it seems as though the scenario I outlined in my question wouldn't cause a violation. Some people might argue that.....since, by design, the violation doesn't go on your driving record and does generate revenue.....it is incorrect to say the point is safety rather than revenue generation.

I got one of these tickets mailed to me a few years ago (with video link) re a left turn from a left turn lane at an intersection in The Woodlands that I had never been through before (had a virtually non existent yellow light ). I paid $75.00 after learning that it was a 'no record' ticket, but that (IIRC) not paying it would just tack the amount onto my car registration. I don't know if that intersection in The Woodlands still has that same setup. There used to be a similar setup at the corner of West Loop South (the 610 Loop feeder road) and Westheimer Road (about a block from the main part of the Houston Galleria Shopping Center), but so many people complained re tickets that the camera was deactivated re that purpose.

[MadMax]

Sorry, the fact that a citation doesn't go on your driving record doesn't negate the offense being a safety issue. For one, the state has laws concerning revenue generated by such ordinances; but most importantly there is clear and documented evidence that using a mobile phone while driving is equivalent to driving under the influence. Given that drivers are pretty bad here in the first place, adding the distraction of a cell phone significantly increases the danger to themselves and others. I only wish it was more rigorously enforced!

[Yaristeve]

Originally Posted by bgkz25

This is true. I usually pick a parking spot at the outer edge of a parking lot so that I would have to worry about just one side of the car and try to stay close at the edge as much as possible which leaves an enormous amount of space at the other side. The only problem here is that some drivers don't pay attention with lines and use your car as a reference.

You should go to a Las Vegas casino parking lot. You will see entire rows of cars parked "relative" to the car next to it, regardless of the painted lines. It drives my GF crazy when we go to Vegas whenever I pass up parking spaces just so I can find an end spot one...

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Sorry, the fact that a citation doesn't go on your driving record doesn't negate the offense being a safety issue. For one, the state has laws concerning revenue generated by such ordinances; but most importantly there is clear and documented evidence that using a mobile phone while driving is equivalent to driving under the influence. Given that drivers are pretty bad here in the first place, adding the distraction of a cell phone significantly increases the danger to themselves and others. I only wish it was more rigorously enforced!

By getting one of 'those tickets' I meant one that had a fine but no 'points', not specifically getting a cell phone use ticket (mine = not making it through the shortest yellow light I've ever seen in my life....and there was a car ahead of me and one behind me).

I agree with you that the 'record/points' issue doesn't negate the safety factor , I just think it is inconsistent to only have the monetary form of punishment and not the points.

As time goes on, all drivers can reasonably do is read and know the law. They wouldn't be as clued in as they could be re any debate/whys and wherefores before a vote on any ordinance unless they read the 'record/council minutes'. IMO, many people learning that there is a fine, but no points, would lead many of those people to think that lawmakers were looking at revenue generation first and not safety first. Perhaps I am too cynical, but that is just my opinion.

The 'Galleria camera' in Houston was re turning right on a red (IIRC, changing 'okay to turn right after stopping' to 'no turn at all on red (busy intersection) without any study precluding the change' and was changed back to 'okay to turn right after stopping' after the camera was removed/turned off). The one in The Woodlands = for a signal for a left turn only lane....so neither = re cell phone use.

I also agree with you re stringent enforcement of the ordinance you mention re your area . I just wonder how many people would care.....some people don't care about cost...they'd only care about potentially losing a privilege (driving). I also think that people would feel more (for lack of a better term) 'moral authority' being asserted if the punishment also included points on one's driving record in addition to the fine.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Yaristeve

You should go to a Las Vegas casino parking lot. You will see entire rows of cars parked "relative" to the car next to it, regardless of the painted lines. It drives my GF crazy when we go to Vegas whenever I pass up parking spaces just so I can find an end spot one...

I have had that experience a number of times in Vegas.....and I also hunt for the end spaces in those lots .