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The “fifth wheel” parallel parking tool that never hit it big (2018)

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Re: The “fifth wheel” parallel parking tool that never hit it big (2018)

#81

Post by mattlondon »

n4r9 wrote: post #77
mattlondon wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the UK this would be deeply frowned upon. Front + Rear dashcams would be used to claim on insurance and report a "hit and run" accident to the police. I don't put it down to people trying to "make space", more down to incompetence IMO. At least in the UK cars will generally be parked with the handbrake ("emergency brake" in the US AIUI) engaged, meaning that the back wheels will not move, so "nudging" a car will o…

It's not normal in the UK to ever touch another car with your own. However I have heard that it happens in some towns/cities on the continent. I'm guessing they park on flat roads and leave the handbrake off. No idea how a car is supposed to escape if it's wedged between two others though. As for dashcams, don't these normally switch off while the car is parked?

Most dash cams have a "parking mode" that records a clip if someone hits your car while it is parked.

Re: The “fifth wheel” parallel parking tool that never hit it big (2018)

#82

Post by grandchild »

kwhitefoot wrote: post #61
grandchild wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if this is true or not, but I beg you, don't post comments like this. It's a question, and you could've spent the extra minute of research to _actually find out_ and post that. This way we are left with negative value: We don't know any better, and instead are mentally burdened with speculation, that we have to actively work to not muddle up with what we know later on. You can do better!

It would be a poor discussion that never had any questions in it.

True, but this was only a question in the grammatical sense. A discussion with only "questions" like these would be very poor indeed.

Re: The “fifth wheel” parallel parking tool that never hit it big (2018)

#83

Post by Animats »

naravara wrote: post #60
Animats wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The GM Hummer EV has that.[1] It can crab-walk. That vehicle is a remarkable technical achievement. It weighs 9,000 pounds, has 1000 horsepower, costs around US$100,000, and goes from 0 to 60 MPH in 3 seconds. It handles well, using an active suspension system to hide some of the problems of moving so much mass around. The stopping distance is rather long, though. CNN calls it "a brilliant execution of a terrible ide…

I had hoped an electric vehicle future would have meant a lot less road noise but if everything is clocking in curb weights in excess of 5,000 lbs I guess it won’t be as serene as I dreamed. Sad.

Weight is a problem for EVs, but it's not as bad for car-sized vehicles.

- Chevy Malibu (IC powered): 3,456 pounds.

- Chevy Bolt: 3,589 pounds.

- Tesla Model 3: 3,550 pounds.

But for trucks:

- Ford F-150, IC-powered: 5,684 pounds

- Ford F-150 Lightning: 6,590 pounds

- Hummer H1 (IC, discontinued): 8,114 pounds.

- Hummer EV: 9,000 pounds.

So, for a car, it's maybe 150 pounds extra for an electric, but for a truck, about 900 extra pounds.

Re: The “fifth wheel” parallel parking tool that never hit it big (2018)

#84

Post by namibj »

pandaman wrote: post #79
kuschku wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quality depends heavily on how corrupt your government is — in Germany, these strict tests are actually that strict and work well. But obviously not everyone can get a license due to this. (e.g., I opted not to spend the 2000€ that a license would cost).

Is it the license fee or a "driving school" tuition?

More the latter. There are mandatory hours of training in specific conditions before being allowed to take the actual exam. Driving hours with the instructor aren't cheap.

Re: The “fifth wheel” parallel parking tool that never hit it big (2018)

#85

Post by Cockbrand »

kwhitefoot wrote: post #55
Cockbrand wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's in fact one of my least favorite things about living in Germany (not the pristine-ness, but the holiness GP mentioned). Cars are absolutely holy, many drivers absolutely freak out when you dare touching their car or take up precious road space with your unworthy bicycle. Traffic rules for cars are often mere recommendations, and breaking them goes unsanctioned. Prioritizing motorized traffic is a borderline reli…

Which part of Germany do you live in? It's really not a homogeneous place.

I'm in the north, but I've been to lots of places in all parts of Germany. In this aspect, the country seems fairly homogenous to me.

Re: The “fifth wheel” parallel parking tool that never hit it big (2018)

#86

Post by [deleted] »

whyenot wrote: post #30
aidenn0 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The advantages of four wheel steering at driving speeds are largely (completely?) negated by active traction control (supplying power and breaking to each wheel independently). You're not going to see a car turn its wheels 90 degrees because of both the large space needed (the cavity for the wheel to turn in) plus the complexity of linkages that can handle that amount of turning. This idea might make more sense today…

Toyota also offers four wheel steering on the LC500 and of course GM will/does have it as a standard feature on the electric Hummer ('crab walk').

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