trinacriabob

MECHANICAL PHOTOS What's different here? It may not be apparent. Once you start opening the hood, there is no need to manually place the prop rod to keep the hood open. This is to be expected for a more premium car line, whereas VW-SEAT-Skoda tend to have prop rods that you slot into place. This is a transverse view of the engine bay where there are 4 cylinders at work under the hood, and which are assisted by a turbocharger as the plumbing would indicate. - - - - - END OF PHOTOS

INTERIOR PHOTOS This is the view upon getting into the driver's seat; the leather steering wheel is nicely stitched and finished This is the view from the passenger front door From a driver's seat that has been adjusted upward, the view over the cowl is good (the best is probably that of the last-gen Chevy Malibu); not the way the infotainment screen is slightly recessed and how circular air ducts figure prominently Instrumentation is very simple (less is more?) and the insertion of temperature and fuel gauges is an interesting presentation; the info box is between the tachometer and the speedometer, with it being set to show vehicle speed when in "drive." Also, the odometer (re)setting is right at the base of this photo Controlling the infotainment screen is done by that circular dial. It's probably a more practical way and helps the longevity of what would have been a touch screen, but there is learning curve This shows the seating and space available to rear seat passengers This shows the visibility given the real sail panel, and also shows how the front bucket seats are finished

EXTERIOR PHOTOS This is the front of the slightly angled vehicle which sports the typical Audi grille vocabulary The side of the vehicle shows a tall beltline and the rear sail panel appears to be thick, but, once inside, it's more manageable than it looks from the outside This is the rear of the vehicle, and one can see the cover that is over the cargo area

They have had some incredible fares. If needing 2 bags, plus a carry-on and a backpack, it made those fares shine. If you check in when the period opens, you usually get group A or B, so it's not a bad seat. They announced assigned seating a while back ... that doesn't bother me so much. There won't be much to differentiate them, except for maybe a few point to point treks that they do well. It'll just push me over back to the legacy cariers.

It happened ... ... there will be no more free bags* on Southwest Airlines. I'm saddened by this. * for flights booked on or after May 28th

This vehicle was an upgrade, although that situation didn’t go smoothly. There was a fair bit of obfuscation that led to an upcharge for this Audi Q2. I actually wanted a smaller sedan with an automatic, so somewhat of a downgrade, but they didn’t have vehicles in that category. The other vehicles were larger and I turned down a newer Citroen DS 7 SUV. As I was being presented with choices, all with automatic transmissions, I would be checking their retail prices on my phone. I didn’t want that expensive of a car. For being an Audi, this is “somewhat” lower priced, but, per reading reviews and comments, this a vehicle where the sticker can climb if optioned up. As I got into the Audi Q2, it didn’t seem much different in content and feel from the VW family of brands cars like it. The dashboard was very functional and the seats were upholstered in fabric. The dashboard had a central cluster with 2 large dials: the tachometer and the speedometer, with temperature and fuel gauges inset within their curvature. In between them was a squarish digital display with many clearly shown items of information such as time, temperature, odometer, and, if set up as such, a digital display of the vehicle’s speed. The trip odometer allows for resetting it through a button underneath the cluster rather than through a stalk. The infotainment center is upright, but recessed into a small “swale” at the top of the center stack. Center vents and side vents are round, and the opening is adjustable by clasping and turning the slight extension at their center … almost like a design going back to Cutlass Supreme colonnades and even some AMC products; however, here, the affect is Germanic and the build quality appears to be higher. The seating has fabric in its insets, which feel sturdier and tweed-like to the touch, with some nicely done non-contrasting stitching inside strong bolsters. One is not hemmed in, but, rather, supported. The seats are comfortable over long distances. I set things up in the Audi’s infotainment system, with the Bluetooth set up not as easy as I would have hoped. (In some rentals, it’s fairly easy.) I also needed help upon returning it to detach my information. I delete all other phones on vehicles rather soon, mostly because the list irritates me! While it has a tall trademark Audi grille, the other parts of the sheet metal are nondescript and the rear sail panel, with its appliques, is thick. The beltline seems a little high, such that the car actually looks a little thick throughout, a look that is accentuated by sheet metal that lacks sculpting and “character lines.” As I pulled out, the Q2’s personality immediately came through as nimble. That means that it was not as taut as, say, the VW Polo I’ve become accustomed to. However, it didn’t take that long to get used to it. The handling was very easy and the ride was serene, with some wind noise. There was not much in the way of tire thum. The engine was a 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine. The model badging 35 TSFI refers to its specific engine, which makes about 150 hp. Additionally, it was surprisingly efficient in how it used fuel, and reviews point this out. Per the display of the gears on the dash, the numbers shown went from 1 through 7. Automatic transmissions in Europe, especially by German companies, are smooth and reliable units. The early shifts (1 to 2 and 2 to 3) were very clean and later ones were imperceptible. If not fully up to highway speed, gear 5 or 6 was retained. In any case, rarely did the tachometer exceed 2,000 rpms, and this probably contributed to its commendable fuel economy. Again, I had told myself that with this nimble handling and softer ride, the control might not be as good as in a VW, a SEAT, or a Skoda. This simply wasn’t true. It handled just as well on winding highways and in cloverleafs. It’s obvious that, since this is a more premium brand, the higher price commands that sort of nimble, at times almost detached, flipping of the steering wheel while always maintaining a tight grip on the road. That said, the Audi Q2 feels a little contradictory in that it holds the road yet the steering wheel spins so effortlessly and the ride can be a little soft. Either I am used to more communication from the steering wheel or I’ve come to prefer cars with more road feel. It is, however, a pleasant and controlled vehicle at all times. This is the second car I’ve gotten to drive where the infotainment system is not a touch screen. A dial between the gear selector and the console is turned to highlight/illuminate the selections on the touch screen and then, on taps (downward) on it. Most likely, it's that touch screens, with their size and complex graphics, are costlier to repair. A large dial, as a solid-state piece, might be less work and less expense to replace if it were to fail at some point in the future. However, the learning curve is a little long for rotating the dial to get it to do what you want it to do instead of manually selecting an item on the touch screen. If you like the Audi brand and want to be in this niche or something of a similar price point, like a BMW, then the Audi Q2 could be your vehicle. It’s one of the lower priced Audis, and a little more than an A1. However, if the perceived prestige is not mandatory, there are other vehicles that deliver most of the same features at a slightly lower price, with many of them powered by 3-cylinder engines. - - - - - PHOTOS FORTHCOMING

I am quoting myself, so to speak. I was speaking with this friend today and, while overall views haven't changed, there was "defense" of Musk because (and I'm only citing the items he mentioned): 1) he was thrown under the bus in favor of Mary Barra at a speech at GM, and 2) regarding the failed SpaceX rocket launch on 1/16/25, mistakes happen and people and organizations learn from them. I don't recall item 1), so I looked up the YouTube and the comments were mixed, with a few people mentioning that this was on GM property and, for that matter, neither Ford nor Stellantis were given props, from what I listened to, and 2) completely oblivious to the launch event, I was there on 1/16/25 and thought, "Everyone has closed shop and checked out, so I might as well watch the launch." I made a 1 minute video of it on my phone. Later that evening, I learned of the aftermath and thought that, with this now being routine, that shouldn't have happened and it also posed air traffic control issues as well as danger to people and property depending on where the debris* fell. *We Americans pronounce it "duh-bree," while I once heard a VIP in the UK refer to is as "deh-bris" ... never forgot that So there's that update.

How time flies. The S.S. United States made the trip, being towed by tugs down the Atlantic and around the entirety of Florida. They have pulled it in to Mobile Bay, ahead of schedule. If I find myself in Pensacola in the very near future, I will go over and look at it, if that's possible. I've never seen it and I've always wanted to. Big kudos for every report I've seen on this: they just refer to its destination as "the Gulf" ... period. I noticed that. I approve.

Yo, good morning ... ... the days when "big hair" seemed like a contest.

Today, March 6th, would have been Michelangelo's birthday. At a time when most men in Renaissance Italy lived about 45 to 55 years, he lived to be 89 years old.

TECH question ... Now that I have your attention ... - - - - - On an Android phone, is it possible to pull an app from the Settings>Apps onto the home screen or one of the home screens without getting it from the Google Store? (This is because it's no longer available on the Google Store and it's for its "sentimental value." I just want it back on one of my screens.) So, to take it from Apps to screen(s) ... Thanks.

MECHANICAL PHOTO The plumbing and intakes show that it is both turbocharged and that the air cleaner assembly is large and reachable. The manifold count shows 3 cylinders which, under one cylinder head, is considered dynamically balanced for NHV. Service points for fluids and the location of the battery are identifiable and accessible. - - - - - END OF PHOTOS

INTERIOR PHOTOS This is the overall view of the front of the cabin and dashboard upon opening the driver's door and it has a pleasing and balanced feel. This is the central instrument cluster for the driver, with a digital speedometer inside the tachometer. On the 4 corners are the time, exterior temperature, range, and odometer, with the gear slightly above that. Coolant temperature and fuel levels are shown in linear form. This is the touch screen, which is fairly easy to use, and is housed under the cowl, hence no "laptop left open" look, which I tend to dislike. This is the entirety of the center stack, with air vents below the touch screen, a sensible climate control panel, a storage and USB cubby, and some driving control buttons on the console to the left of the gear selector, which is nicely finished and feels good to the touch when moving through the gear selections. The USB ports are of the C-cable variety, with the opportunity to use the older style by plugging it into a cigarette lighter in or near the console box. Steering wheel controls are somewhat easy to use, with volume and track selector on the silver buttons symmetrically placed on each side. Clearly, the preferred position is "A" for automatic, and it's an easy thing to overlook if not your daily driver. The rear seating area seems to be sufficient for this type of vehicle. Visibility over the shoulder and toward the rear is fairly good. This is the available storage space with the rear seat up and, as you can see, there is the cover that comes down over the exposed space, which is something that is almost necessary.

EXTERIOR PHOTOS Side view - driver's side - on roadway up to Monte Santa Luzia in Viana do Castelo, PT Side view - passenger side - on roadway adjacent to river and port in Viana do Castelo, PT Angled front view - on roadway down from Monte Santa Luzia in Viana do Castelo, PT How does one open the rear hatch or trunk? Like this.

I'm way less planted than you are, and I won't be buying for a while. It used to be, "Which GM sedan or coupe do I buy?" "Have they successfully been using that same powertrain for a while?" Now there are so many more variables, even if just considering purchases in the U.S. A babied, low mileage reputable older sedan from Mabel in Missouri might be a good option.

I don't know. That would deplete some Catholics in the Modern Old World ... sell that to that French, the Spaniards, the Irish, the Canadians, etc. .... no bueno. I'm already sort of lapsed. I wouldn't handle that well. Asia's significant Catholic community is in the Philippines, where they are the majority religion. They are growing some in India, Korea, etc. But their identities and cultures don't have much in common. Add to that growth in Africa. At any rate, I do like Pope Francis on a gut level and hope for his best. This post, and my first one, is about recognizing his relative higher level of kindness, humility, and wanting to connect with a broader range of humankind.

This vehicle, the VW Polo, deserves a shout out for being so competent in so many areas. I was once assigned one that was a slight upgrade within the automatic category overseas. Then, I was assigned one two more times, and it matched the icon I’d be renting. I should have written this up several months ago; however, the product remains largely unchanged. The Polo’s immediate strength is its taut road manners. Handling is addressed and so is smoothness. Sound control is good, too. The engine is a turbocharged 3-cylinder that is shared by the VW family of companies and also makes its way into Seat and Skoda products. One would never think this is the powerplant, especially if from North America, most likely thinking it has a larger 4-cylinder engine under the hood. The transmission is also the VW family umbrella’s 7 speed DSG and it is now very refined … and probably reliable, too, if not mistreated and properly maintained. Shifts from 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 are smooth, heard, seen on the tach, but not really felt. Pushing down on the accelerator can change that. Subsequent shifts go by unnoticed. Again, downshifts are also understood, and that’s about it. It’s a composed unit. The Polo’s interior is nicely trimmed out. More than a Seat or a Skoda equivalent, the simple dashboard with some subtle cants is both pleasing to the eye and easy to use and live with. As for the dashboard’s main instrument cluster, it’s clean and simple, though one thing stood out to me. I’m used to two large central gauges, usually the speedometer and the tachometer. In this car, the tachometer is the one big gauge in the middle, with a digital speed readout slotted into the middle of it. This can also depend on the dash settings you select. It worked well and doesn’t take long to get used to. At each of the 4 corners of this big gauge are important pieces of information such as gear, time, and other of the most critical pieces of information. To each side of this tachometer is a linear bar graph type fuel gauge and temperature gauge. When a temperature gauge is included, I’m a “happy camper.” Space utilization is good. To me, this is a 5-door hatchback. This may have looked quirky to North Americans a while back, almost whisking them back to Chey products such as the Malibu Maxx, or even back to the dowdy Citation. However, this compactly packaged 5-door is more of a sedan with a squared off back in my mind. I personally prefer it to the VW Golf, with its larger rear sail panel. It’s also a very common typology in Europe and other international locations at this time. Visibility all around the Polo from inside the cabin is mostly good. For its price point, the VW Polo is close to perfect on limited access tollways, really at home on winding 2 lane roads, and easy to live with in most tight spaces. It’s also not too difficult to park. It is especially confident, nimble, and hushed enough at 100 to 120 kmh (~62 to 74 mph) on the more important and smoothly paved major tolled highways, achieving better than average fuel economy compared to its peers from my stops at the fuel pumps. The relationship between price point and quality is not always linear and ratable. What I mean is that you get closer to the roadability of a BMW 2 series sedan … not quite all the way up and, though not as much of a bank vault on highways and as planted on 2 lane roads, it definitely inspires confidence … without having to spend the rest of the sticker to get up to the price tag of that entry level BMW. If you have sensible motoring needs that mix up roadability, reliability, space, economy, and an attractive enough package with good build quality, the VW Polo is a vehicle to consider. I have always been happy to be assigned one as a rental and have looked forward to take it out daily to experience different types of road demands. Their good Android Auto cluster for maps and music make this even more fun and achievable. They are seen everywhere and there must be a good reason for that. - - - - - PHOTOS FORTHCOMING

I'm a little down given what's going on with Pope Francis's health. I know that there isn't a lot of religiosity on C&G, that I know of, but it is the religion I was raised in and the one I identify with, even though we "casual Catholics," especially with roots in warm weather places, have an irreverent and cheeky approach to most things in life. Blame it on the palm trees. I didn't realize he was 88. He turned 88 in December. I believe he's been Pope between 10 and 15 years. He was a much needed antidote to Pope Benedict, the tightly wound and legalistic predecessor and German Pope, and it seemed to have worked out well. He comes from Italian lineage, but is from Argentina, which has been a good thing for connectedness between the RC church and Latin America. Comparatively speaking, he has been a humble Pope who has a handle on the fact that people are fallible and not fire and brimstone robots. With this being local news here, I'm fairly up to date on what's going on. Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and, clearly, he was not able to participate in the publicly held religious observation. Even though he's resting okay, it doesn't look good as he's had a lot of setbacks. I'm holding good thoughts.

Sitting here wondering what, when, and how regarding the accumulated earnings on my GM card. I always passed on the junk mail, ignoring that it offered changing from a rolling clock accumulation to an accumulation that doesn't expire. I then did it. Had I done it sooner, there would be more money in the piggy bank. Right now, with the auto industry and the overall American landscape changing so much, I haven't a clue.

ATC - one very important job

I think you might like SPI. It's way the hell down there. (SW is your friend.) Brush up on your Spanish.

Politics aside, I really like SPI. I think this January was my 4th visit there. I'd have to look at past archived photos. It's on a barrier island, like Miami Beach, but the exact opposite ... no hype, no pretense, and, with that, the sort of crowd that might come with that and a hopping Whataburger. People have asked me why it's not uptown. Well, it's not across from a critical port of entry and mecca like Miami. Texas border towns like Brownsville, Harlingen, and McAllen don't have the intellectual base and cachet to stimulate what's across at that barrier island. It's almost too relaxed down there and food is cheap, plentiful, and mostly good. South Padre Island across the Queen Isabella Causeway with Port Isabel in the foreground

Add to that "The Immigrant Song."

Good morning. I think it would be funny to go into a biker bar, locate the jukebox, select "McArthur Park,""More, More, More," and "I Love the Nightlife," and GTFO.

I wonder how Tesla owners who are "progressive" reconcile their ownership with having bought one. A college friend has 2 Teslas in the garage. He raves about them. He has a cheaper one (3, ?) and the S, which is their only "attractive" vehicle, IMO. He had to stomp on it to show me how fast it is. I have yet to ask him to weigh in on Musk and how it might affect his ownership trajectory.