Jump to content
Create New...

trinacriabob

Members
  • Posts

    10,984
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    113

Everything posted by trinacriabob

  1. That's right. To Amish folks, those of apparent European descent who are not part of their religious group would be "the English." That's funny to me, since I don't have any ancestry north of the English Channel, let alone the Alps.
  2. Please go. No one is stopping you. There's daily nonstop service from PHL by their own Lufthansa and some American carriers as well. Since you are seeming slightly anti-American at this juncture, I recommend Lufthansa. And, since you've never shown much of a penchant for foreign languages on here over the years, you will have one hell of a time learning to communicate in German.
  3. Full brick ranch (rambler, to some) homes resonate with me. They don't build them like they used to (literally and figuratively)!
  4. @Drew Dowdell Good one and its timing with your birthday! And, since I've only had one dog and it was a "velcro dog" breed, I'd be a little perplexed if my dog wasn't my shadow. It became sort of a baseline with me.
  5. Holy smokes. I just saw that and got beaten to creating the thread. Happy birthday, Drew!
  6. PHOTO GALLERY EXTERIOR The silhouette of the 2020 Kia Rio S sedan Rear 3/4 view of the car View of the front lights, grille, and more pronounced bumper strip than in the related Hyundai Accent Even with the one-up S model, metal wheel covers are what comes with this car, as do Continental brand tires, and alloy wheels are not available INTERIOR General view of the front part of the passenger cabin and steering wheel with controls ... note the armrest and storage bin between the seats The main instrument pod has two main bezels, both a fuel gauge and a temperature gauge, and a logical square info center with the most important things - gear selected, mph, temperature, odometer, and range/mpg (this was upon picking it up, but mileage I got was far higher than 27.4 mpg shown here) Infotainment center screen - mostly engaged with the dash (protrudes slightly at the top) (sidebar: is that a Karen Pence-alike, seen above the dashboard?) Simple and easy to use climate controls, with ports and a lighter behind the flap that says 12 V Front seats were more supportive than most for this economy compact segment, but larger cars obviously offer more comfortable seats for longer trips Rear seat leg room depends on the seat adjustment of the front seats, but it is sufficient for average sized passengers The visibility toward the rear is very good The center gear shift lever is straightforward. There are economy and sport modes for the car that are selected by buttons on this pod. Kudos for easy to pull release tabs for the trunk and the fuel door MECHANICAL This is the 1.6 4 cylinder that Kia (and Hyundai) use(s) a lot; that beige rubber gromeet appears to buffer the top of the engine from the hood Things are logically laid out and accessible: windshield washer fluid, oil dipstick, brake master cylinder, battery, and fuse box (from front to back of this sideways photo); the air filter looks like it might be easy to replace up by that snorkel The engine is a 16 valve DOHC unit with VVT and, most likely, GDI (that does not mean G-d Damn Independent, or Gamma Delta Iota to some, meaning you did not partake in the collegiate Greek system, though, upon looking it up, it is an actual Greek organization founded in 1974 at Purdue University) - - - - - END OF PHOTOS
  7. For some reason, an older thread querying members as to whether or not fins on cars - a previous Cadillac signature - would return was seeking attention. I feel a little more strongly that opera windows, in one form or another, are more likely to return.
  8. I needed a small car for a few days and the rate at a suburban location for a small car was excellent in these times of not so great rates for rental cars. I didn't know whether I'd get an upgrade one or two categories upward, as I sometimes do. I did not. I was given three cars to choose from. I chose a blue Kia Rio S sedan. The Kia Rio is the fraternal twin of the Hyundai Accent. There aren't many differences, and one certainly sees that in the switches, knobs, and readouts on the dashboard, for one. The difference is that, through the roofline, pillars, and even possibly the slope of the rear back lite, the Kia Rio looks like more of a notchback sedan while the Hyundai Accent looks more like a fastback sedan. I have previously reviewed a Hyundai Accent. The 1.6 DOHC 4 cylinder is a Hyundia/Kia staple and has VVT (variable valve timing) and, most likely, GDI (gasoline direction injection) since I did not see spark plug wires under the hood. While it may not be peppy on paper, it is lively enough for what it has to do on the road, be it urban or interstate driving. I did not know what the transmission might be, but the owner's manual indicated that it was a CVT. I wondered if, somehow, the 6 speed automatic got carried over for another year, and it did not. While I like the way the 6-speed automatic shifted in Hyundais I've driven, the CVT in Kia's entry level car was surprisingly well behaved and easy to live with. The first CVT I drove was in a rented Nissan Altima and the CVT transmission in this Kia Rio, some two categories down, seemed to function better - without big swings in rpms. That said, four years have passed since that rental and CVT technology has obviously improved. For its size and weight, the ride and handling on the interstate are more than acceptable. For its price point, some wind and tire noise come into the cabin, but it is not an annoyance. Clearly, like most cars, it likes interstates with fresh asphalt and the road imperfections come through a little more harshly than they would in related Hyundai Elantras and Sonatas I've driven. (I have not ever driven a Kia Forte or Optima.) The Kia Rio is adept in urban conditions, meaning it is zippy and nimble, in sprinting away from stop lights, getting into parking spots, and working its way through traffic. The build quality is surprisingly good for its price point. However, the materials are not uptown, which is to be expected. One of its strong suits is the instrument panel. The bezels in the instrument cluster, with the square "box" in between with information about how and what the car is doing, are incredibly straightforward when other cars' instrument panels are getting fussier and fussier. Similarly, the infotainment screen and climate controls were also easy to work with. One difference between the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent is that the infotainment system screen protrudes upward, but most of it is "engaged" with the dashboard (as is done on the Chevy Malibu). In my opinion, it's a nicer design than one that stands in a "disengaged" manner and protrudes vertically. On the Hyundai Accent, both the smaller and larger screens are flush and under the cowl of the dashboard and I prefer that design. A driving package with extra electronic assists is optional for more secure driving. Power steering and brakes are standard fare these days. This car also features standard power windows and power door locks. However, a power seat is not an option. No car in this segment has seats that will make for a happy camper for a handful of hours of continuous driving. However, the shape, support, and comfort of the seats is better than that in some of its competitors. Being that this was Kia Rio S, there is an actual console with a small armrest and storage cubby between the seats. In entry level Rios and Accents, the armrest is not there and I would not like that, since it's nice to actually rest one's arm on it at times. Kudos to this small car for having a remote tab for the fuel door. It is on the floor near the driver. Additional kudos are in order for the airy feel of the cabin, and for the commendable visibility behind the driver, which helps to make maneuvers in urban traffic and while parking. The trunk is sensibly shaped and roomy for this size of car. Again, I need to bring up some differences between the Kia Rio and the Hyundai Accent in how it can be equipped. While the Rio has two trim levels, the Accent has three. With the Hyundais midline and upper trim levels, 15" and 17" alloy wheels are standard, respectively. In both the base Rio and the S trim level, only wheel covers are available. It's too bad that they didn't differentiate the S trim level by just putting alloy wheels on it. It's just that Hyundai and Kia are probably not investing much in this segment, seeing that the Sonatas/Fortes and Elantras have been refreshed and are so popular. The most remarkable thing about this car is its fuel economy. The Kia Rio is rated at 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. Without even sticking to 65 mph, using cruise control, and driving on flat terrain, the mileage it returned for me was higher than the highway rating, coming in at about 43 or 44 mpg. I believe that the slightly better fuel efficiency rating for this car is Kia's transition from a geared automatic transmission to a CVT. However, I'd take 2 less mpg any day or the week and twice on Sundays to have the "old school" 6 speed automatic transmission. It shifted very well in Hyundais I've rented and driven. The compact and economical Kia Rio makes a lot of sense for certain types of budget minded buyers. The overarching characteristic is that it would appeal to people who seek value for their dollar. Students, retirees, people with long commutes in environments that are not harsh, and people who don't want to spend a lot and get a car that lasts a long time, with a strong warranty to back that up, are good candidates for this car. - - - - - Photos forthcoming
  9. Didn't realize it was tequila until I read your captions. It looked like a trendy and expensive bottle of cologne or perfume. For that matter, the name Elon Musk sounds like a brand of men's cologne in and of itself.
  10. @Robert Hall Look at you ... 30,000 posts ... I just noticed! - - - - - I have to get outside - to stores, restaurants, coffee, and the great outdoors. In indoor spaces for the general public, I obviously mask up. In the great outdoors, I do not do so where people are keeping their distance from each other.
  11. Not trying to be self serving here, but I hope the Quebecois, and all of Canada, control it and get over it so that I and others who want to visit can get to Quebec and Canada again. I am not there yet. Even before this became a big deal, I have washed my hands a lot and always used hand sanitizer wherever it was offered at the entries of places of business. However, it is more difficult than people think to keep one's hands away from their faces. It's reflexive. I'm sorry to hear that ... wicked sick, as in flu-like symptoms magnified ... or other/additional symptoms that were also very hard on them?
  12. It's somewhat of a relief that not many people are talking about coronavirus these days ... - - - - - @A Horse With No Name In terms of random one hit wonder-ness, I immediately think of this one. It might be the "king" of one hit wonders of its era ... by King Harvest, no less ...
  13. Yep, this YouTuber has this interesting collection of videos he does. He's really knowledgeable. The A-380 photographs well from some angles ... and poorly from others. I've seen some of this guy's videos, made unique by his Australian accent. As for the person who always speaks at the beginning of his videos (most likely in the tower), I need a translator.
  14. Pan Am, TWA, United, and American all had 747s going daily from LAX to New York back in the day. I don't know if that meant fewer flights per day. There was also 747 service from LAX to Chicago, Honolulu, and Miami. It was National that flew to Miami and the airline was absorbed by Pan Am, so they got the route. Some Honolulu bound 747s marketed that they had lounges for coach/economy in the back. Continental - absorbed by United - was one such airline. First class definitely had a lounge, and it was upstairs. They then turned to using the hump for additional seating and "suites" that produced revenue. This National 747 was the -100 series, the first ones. You can see this one is named Linda (near the second level's 3 windows). They had one named Patricia. You can see their Florida themed sunburst logo on the tail. Their marketing went along the lines of "fly Linda" or "fly Patricia." Back then, it would have been considered different and humorous. Today, some snively, uptight individual would come forth and say it's sexist and be offended.
  15. I was having this discussion with the curator of a small aviation museum. I loved the Airbus 340. The 330 is basically the same fuselage, with 2-4-2 economy inside, but has 2 larger engines. In addition to saving fuel, he said that there are much fewer work hours spent on engine maintenance for the 2 engine Airbus 330. They are the norm for many European carriers for transatlantic flights. I am just thankful to have grown up "alongside" the Boeing 747, and being able to ride my bike to LAX, alone or with friends, to look at them from the observation tower or view areas surrounding the airport.
  16. Beautiful. I love the Hudson River Valley. And driving along I-87 between Montreal and NYC. I stopped in Plattsburgh, where SUNY is located just south of the Canadian border, and got a fantastic gyro meal. And, a long time ago, I met up with "razoredge" in Albany, his general area, and that was a hoot. If you ever fly into Newark or LaGuardia airports and you diagonally go over the Hudson River Valley, it's amazing that so much pristine, wooded land is that close to NYC. The same would apply to the eastern ~2/3 of Long Island. The middle of it is very rural once you go way east.
  17. That's a comment about me. I'm talking about comments about current conditions and situations. It seems people who get upset about stereotyping are usually defensive or ridiculously progressive. Stereotypes exist because people observe them. Companies and organizations need to stereotype so they can focus on where to put their marketing dollars. Automakers know exactly who their demographic is, which is stereotyping. And it's all validated by social psychology and marketing research studies. Before I embark on travel, I read travel books. These bohemian a.f. travel writers stereotype away, telling you how the people will be, the dynamics to expect, scams and typical prey, and all that. And, having traveled on 4 continents, it was mostly all true. Get out of Amish country more. The Boeing thing has been disturbing. So has their stock price (BA). The stock price kept rocketing upward despite previous problems with 787 batteries and then the lengthy 737 Max grounding. I think reality finally caught up with the whole situation. The Europeans seem to be more loyal to Airbus, for obvious reasons. Airbus has shelved the entire 380 program. For as grandiose as it was/is, the program was not very long lived. But their volume for short-range and mid-range aircraft is healthy, it seems. I only like their Airbus 340, which has lost favor because of its fuel consumption. OTOH, I like every other Boeing airplane more than the Airbus equivalent. Once flew on one of these Iberia Airbus 340-600s (^) from Chicago-O'Hare to Madrid and it's an incredible machine.
  18. Transplant
  19. Exactly. Not helped much by celebrities who are more accessible through the media and pitch their points of view, which stupid people buy, yet these celebrities are in no way qualified to opine professionally on much of anything other than their occupations. And, as usual, I get a downvote on my comment ... which would be fine if it was accompanied by a cogent argument. It never is. Instead, it's a lob and run.
  20. Cool photo. AZ was relatively late in being admitted to the Union ... 1912, IIRC. L.A. also has streets where palm trees are laid out on the "lawn strips," as they are called out West, so they would resemble a colonnade. I obviously like the word colonnade. - - - - - This would definitely be contrary to democracy. It could be useful if they tested people for their critical thinking skills and then "weighed" votes accordingly. Just a random thought that has gone through my head when I see things that make me SMH.
  21. Thank you! I had forgotten that nickname ... a "Dustbuster." Perfect. (Probably one of those things that didn't resonate with GM's marketing department)
  22. I don't see many of these anymore. Most are in the car graveyard in the sky somewhere. Or, hopefully, recycled. This is an Olds Silhouette minivan from GM's first whack at minivans ... the ones with the long snout. In reviews I've read of these, it said driving one seemed like you were driving them from the back seat! I'm guessing early '90s. It's in incredible condition - the body, the hardware, an original paint color, and it's badged to have a 3800, probably a Series I. No wonder it has been around for so long. Of the GM minivans, I'd give the nod to the Olds Silhouette, followed by the Pontiac Trans Sport, and then the Chevy Venture/Lumina.
  23. What I meant is that it hearkens to a British detective taking a respite from his sleuthing.
  24. The trim on the Century helps ... somewhat. They put so many of these cars by the beach in California or on mountain roads up above Los Angeles and rely on that a little bit for appeal. As for the LeSabre, I didn't like how these looked with the very angular lines of the greenhouse. Ditto for the Catalina. It was a little nicer as an 88. When the Riviera shared the platform with the LeSabre, the Riviera made a much better impression with how they handled the greenhouse. However, it's obvious that the visibility in this car was a strong point. That's because there isn't any. I like the mid '70s ('74, I believe) burgundy Camaro and the fact that Jimmy John's sponsored one of the vintage cars. I can almost always use a Jimmy John's sandwich.
  25. U.K. ... or U.S.A.?
×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search