MetaFilter posts tagged with autos

In Defense of Jaywalking

aerotive — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:32:05 -0800

Interesting article at Slate, In Defense of Jaywalking, where the author describes how the media and others often slant coverage of pedestrian vs auto accidents--examples include San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe , and New York Post columns. Police, who are typically car-bound, are often biased in favor of other drivers. Not unexpectedly the Federal Highway Administration has curious language regarding walkers--"Still, almost no one can avoid occasional pedestrian status". Even the term jaywalking is commonly misused. Solutions? More money towards safer walking (including a reversal of funding policies that favor cars), better places to walk, pedestrian-friendly engineering, lower urban speed limits, harsher penalties for drivers that violate pedestrian's rights, and critical reading of the often selective and sensationalized media coverage of traffic crashes.

The cars of tomorrow

fixedgear — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:32:47 -0800

The cars of tomorrow, today. Link goes to NYT, you may need to use BugeMeNot. Slide show. Futurliner previously on MeFi.

But Officer ...

netbros — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:02:12 -0800

The Unofficial Guide to the DMV ― This web site was created to provide easy-to-access information and resources for all your Department of Motor Vehicles needs for all 50 states. Details about driver’s licenses, driving records and ID cards, as well as vehicle registrations, title transfers, bills of sale and smog checks are available here. DMV.ORG also offers information you wouldn't think of getting from the Department of Motor Vehicles. You’ll find guides to buying a new car, ways to order a vehicle history report, and links to auto insurance. Got a traffic ticket? DMV.ORG teaches you about online traffic schools, as well as driver's ed courses for new drivers. You can also use DMV.ORG for information about lemon laws and important updates on safety recalls. It isn't all legalese, forms and publications though. Don't miss the fun stuff section that includes several links to interesting license plates and cop jokes for example. This is one content rich, useful site. Sorry, U.S. only.

Lee press-on car

XMLicious — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:16:25 -0800

The Tata Nano (pic) is a car that costs less new than the amount I've spent on gas during single car trips, recently announced to the auto market in India. The Chery QQ ^, successful , wide ly ex por ted, and recognized as the Hostage Taker's Vehicle of Choice by China Car Times, is the runner-up for the world's cheapest car but is still approximately twice as expensive. Yes indeed, the price of gas is not going to come back down. So much for my coast-to-coast road trips. Forbes magazine's The World's Cheapest Cars (javascript slideshow)

Action painting

ardgedee — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:18:19 -0800

How to Paint a Picture With a Car (Bandwidth-saving Youtube version) Transcript. Selected works of other car-painters. Explanatory nomenclature. Other works.

From a better vanished time?

Wolfdog — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 08:38:36 -0800

Classic Car Restorations - I was particularly taken by the Model A and the parade ground car of Stalin.

Now those are some bodacious Tatas.

Afroblanco — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 21:57:47 -0800

For years, MDI has been developing a car that runs on compressed air. Last month, they signed an agreement with Tata Motors to produce the MiniCat - a zero-emissions vehicle that will travel up to 180 miles on $3 worth of fuel. See it in action here. (youtube)

New MG sports cars to be built in Oklahoma

punkfloyd — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 07:25:21 -0800

Is this the best way to revive the legendary British marque?

bumper stickers

robbyrobs — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 04:40:10 -0800

What is on your bumper? Are bumper stickers a relic of the past? Are they more/less prevalent by region/country?

The Greatest Car Ever Built

jamsterdam — Thu, 18 Dec 2003 12:57:23 -0800

The Greatest Car Ever Built O mighty Slant-6 engine, most magnificent creation of the coal-steel industrial heart of America at the zenith of her manufacturing genius! (NY Times, req required).

Ford to sell hybrid Escape SUV at a loss.

wondergirl — Thu, 06 Mar 2003 10:46:09 -0800

Ford will sell hybrid Escape at a loss. In order to get technology out to the public, and get feedback from customers, Ford is going to release it's hybrid version of the Escape SUV, and take a loss with it.

With today's economy, who knows what that will mean in the end for an already struggling Ford.

kcmoryan — Fri, 23 Nov 2001 09:56:05 -0800

Does an appearance in the 1997 Disney flop "Flubber" make a classic T-bird worth more? Or less?

o2b — Sat, 01 Sep 2001 12:55:58 -0800

Mini cars making it big. As an owner of a vintage scooter, I can appreciate the affection these folks have for their cars.

I also wanted to link this as a nice example of how MSNBC has been using flash presentations in their stories.