Rear traffic alert helps you know if a car is coming when you're backing out of a parking spot. It uses sensors to watch for cars and warns you if something is coming close.
Pedestrian alert helps drivers know if there are people nearby, especially when the car is moving slowly. It can warn you if someone is close to your vehicle so you can avoid hitting them.
The Porsche 911 is a fancy sports car that many people love because it's fast and looks great. It's been around for a long time and is known for being fun to drive while still being comfortable enough for daily use.
The Mercedes-Benz CLS is a stylish car that looks like a coupe but has four doors, making it both beautiful and practical. However, it can be expensive to fix and maintain, which is something to think about if you're considering buying one.
Air suspension is a system that uses air instead of springs to support the car's weight. It makes for a comfortable ride, but if it breaks, it can be very costly to fix.
The Fisker Karma is a fancy car that runs on both electricity and gas. It's designed to be better for the environment, but some people found it didn't work as well as they hoped.
A recall happens when a car company finds a problem with their cars that could be dangerous. They ask owners to bring their cars in to fix the issue for free.
The Alfa Romeo 4C is a small, sporty car from Italy that looks really cool and is fun to drive. It's designed to be lightweight, which helps it go fast, but some owners have had issues with it.
Reliability quirks are strange little problems that some cars have that can make them less dependable. They might not stop the car from working, but they can be annoying for the owner.
The Tesla Roadster is an electric sports car that was the first car made by Tesla. It was known for being fast and innovative, but it also had some issues with quality and reliability.
The BMW i8 is a hybrid sports car that uses both gas and electric power. It has a futuristic look and is designed to be eco-friendly while still providing a fun driving experience.
A hybrid supercar is a very fast car that uses both a gas engine and electric power to go faster and be more efficient. It tries to be better for the environment while still being exciting to drive.
Efficiency in cars means how well they use fuel or energy to go a certain distance. A more efficient car uses less fuel or electricity to travel the same distance as a less efficient one.
British electronics means the electrical parts used in cars made in the UK. These parts have sometimes been known to have problems, making them less reliable.
Paint protection film is a clear layer that you can put on your car's paint to keep it safe from scratches and chips. It helps your car look good for a longer time.
Ceramic coating is a special liquid that you put on a car's surface to protect it and make it shiny. It helps keep the car clean and safe from dirt and scratches.
Nano ceramic window tint is a special film you can put on your car windows to keep the heat out and protect you from the sun. It helps keep the inside of your car cooler without blocking your view.
Gulf Coast Auto Shield is a business in Houston that helps people take care of their cars. They offer services to make your car look new and protect it from damage.
A radar detector is a device that helps you know when police are using radar to check your speed. It can warn you so you can slow down and avoid getting a ticket.
LIVE
Welcome to another in-wheel-time podcast, a 30-minute mini-version of the in-wheel-time car show that airs live every Saturday morning, 8 to 11 a.m. settle.
The bus is on the other side. You don't have, if you're on the other side, you don't have to stop. But if you are on that side where the bus is, yes, you do have to stop. It's not real rocket science, just to use your head.
There is new technology, and I did not realize this. I just read it yesterday, that there is a difference in car sensors being able to see oncoming traffic, like the rear traffic alert that we have on cars these days. So you're backing out of a parking spot at beep sat you and you know that the car is coming up from your right or your left or whatever the case may be. It's not the same sensor in front.
One, and number two is the new sensors can detect pedestrians, but mainly it's traffic, and they miss the pedestrians. It's a movement.
And so there is that. So if you're driving a brand brand new car, it probably has probably has a pedestrian alert built in. But most of the earlier models of cars that have front-end detection only recognize automobiles, big metal objects, not human beings. So that's something else to keep in mind.
I mean, at the end of the day, all cars, most cars have mirrors, so check them as well as relying on your sensors.
And I guess the biggest thing, the biggest takeaway here this morning is the fact that if there are pedestrians and you're in a pedestrian area, man, I've always got my foot right ready to hit that break because I remember my oldest daughter when she was a little girl.
We taught her not to go in the street. Well, she was small under five, and she saw her friend across the street, dashed across the street, and as fast as we could react, she was already in the street.
So when there are children around, all bets are off. You know, just got to be extra careful.
Especially if you're driving a big car like a pickup truck or one of those super high-mounted jeeps or SUVs that you can't really see children from your driver's seat, you need to be very careful, especially in residential areas.
Let's talk about car insurance and pedestrian accidents and the five things to know. It's your report. I'll let you do that.
Absolutely. So here's the thing to keep in mind. There are significant legal and financial headaches that come with hitting a pedestrian. So as far as possible, you don't want to hit one, but just in case you hit a pedestrian.
The first thing you need to do is call the authorities because, you know, injuries that may not be visible to you may have had.
As far as you just cut her off, whatever you did there, you meet her. Sorry, Divya. I can go again.
There you go. The first thing you want to do if you hit a pedestrian is call the authorities. Let the cops know, call 911 in case the person needs an ambulance or, you know, the cops need to take a report. So that's the first thing you want to do.
The second thing you should be doing is documenting everything. So make, you know, write down everything that happened as you remember it. If you have dash cam footage, just keep it in hand.
You don't want to be saying anything to the cops like admitting fault, because at that point, you may not have the full information you need.
Just document everything. And the third thing you want to do is file a claim in a timely manner. So because this could be a liability claim, you need to notify your insurance company as quickly as possible.
And the one thing that stuck out to me was watch your words. Watch what you say and how you say them.
Be forthright and honest, but don't give up too much information or assume things that you're really not too sure of.
100% you have to watch your word because I'll be honest in that situation, we're extremely stressed out and we may have missed important things.
One thing you want to avoid is admitting that you are at fault or you may have done something that contributed to it. It's just best to remain silent as far as possible.
Take in everything you can and let the cops handle it.
Absolutely.
I was going to say one of the things I want to go back to the street crossing that what percentage does this reflect with people using their phone and you see people walking down the street and bumping in the poles or falling into manhole covers.
Is that part of this where people using their phones crossing the street? Is that part of the research didn't track what pedestrians were doing at the time when they got into accidents.
I think generally it's really good advice to not be distracted while you're crossing a busy roadway or when you're driving. It's really, really good advice and by distractions, it's not just looking at your phone right.
If you're behind the wheel, you don't want to be turning around and yelling at your kids for making too much noise. You don't want to be fiddling with the radio.
You don't want to be eating a sandwich like every little thing that could help you take your eyes off the road is something we want to avoid.
We love talking to you. You look great. I hope things are going well for you there up on the East Coast. Are they?
They are amazing. Thank you so much and thank you for the compliment.
Yes.
We are headed out today shortly to have an amazing feast. So I guess I'll have to take some pictures and send it to you.
Please, sir.
And if you're going to be a pedestrian beyond the outlook. There you go.
Yes.
All right.
Devia, thank you so much. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for having me.
Yep, you bet.
Lending tree and pedestrian deaths today we talk about. Great way to start off the show.
You know, I like talking about death.
I had a near death experience this morning when I left the purple ditty bag here.
Hey, hey, you can't say that.
Leave the bag at home that had all the stuff in it.
A ditty bag. You know what a ditty bag is?
It's the one you left.
That's for sure.
Know that.
Just ahead.
God help us all.
Just car culture.
Six dream cars owners regret buying.
Can't wait for that.
And Mars has ridden the rails in Texas.
I guess the real story there is how you get to the rails.
Hobo Mike.
All that more coming up right after this break here on the Inwheel Time Car Talk Show.
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We thank you for being with us today.
Thought he was going to throw some water on us.
Time to slow you down there a little bit.
Time now for Jeff's car culture, six dream cars, odors regret buying.
There you go, so dream cars, we've all fallen for that dream car at some point.
The glossy ad, the jaw-dropping design, promises of speed and status.
But sometimes once you've been handed the keys, reality hits hard.
Breakdowns, repairs, endless bills, turn these beauties into burdens.
So here we go, first one is Mercedes-Benz CLS shooting break.
It seemed cool and adventurous but if you all knew, you quickly realized that it really meant endless repairs and repair bills.
Air suspension failures, expensive parts, tech that didn't work more than it did.
Bad roofline.
All combined in the wagon as a money pit, but you know what, I drive that.
I would, I would.
At least to the mechanical shop, there you go.
And the next one we have is a Fisker Karma who hadn't heard of one of them.
It's an eco-friendly vehicle, promises kept.
No, not really.
People who bought it thought they were helping the earth.
A smile of the Joker on the front.
There you go.
The car had battery failures, electrical issues, recalls upon recalls.
I thought it was afforded first.
Turns out owners weren't just saving the earth but they also saved mechanics businesses.
So people got rich off of that car and it wasn't the owner.
The next one we have, Michael, is an Alpha Romero 4C.
It's a lightweight, exotic looks, Italian passion.
What could go wrong?
Well you see it's in the shop already.
A lot.
Owners first discovered the brutal ride, cheap feeling interior, never-ending reliability quirks.
It was like dating a gorgeous supermodel who shows up late, complains constantly, and eats all your money.
So there you go.
And eats onion rings.
There you go.
There you go.
Okay.
The next one, Mike, is a Tesla roaster.
It's the first generation, not the second.
This was Tesla's first attempt at revolutionizing cars while it broke ground and also broke down.
Based on a Lotus, at least it had charging issues, poor build quality, and repairs that took months to get it running.
It's not a bad look.
I've never seen one before.
It's the first gen.
I did not know that.
I haven't seen one on the road either, but that is a good car.
It's a reason for that.
Well, you put an LS in it.
That's what you need.
There you go.
Okay, Michael.
The BMW i8.
The i8 looked like a spaceship and promised hybrid supercar thrills.
But it wasn't that fast.
It wasn't that efficient.
Was it unpainted on the nose?
No.
It's just reflection.
Oh, reflection.
It wasn't efficient.
It wasn't even practical.
Owners loved showing it off until the repair cost came in.
And it was worth more than their mortgage in some cases.
Was that a BMW?
Yeah.
BMW i8 turns out.
You know, BMW stands for it.
Well, it's a British motorworks.
Break my wallet.
Okay.
Turns out that the i8 was more flash than substance.
But it's a good looking car.
It really is.
Mike, and the last one we got here is a Lotus' spree.
Made famous by James Bond.
This car was cool.
But owners quickly discovered that British electronics were questionable.
Build quality was poor.
And repair costs were of a secret agent's budget.
It looked pretty cool.
But having one meant becoming very close with friends of your mechanic.
So there you go.
Pretty much.
And then we got a bonus shot.
I believe.
There's a bonus shot.
That car's gorgeous.
Look at that, David.
And Jeff spent all day finding that location so he could take a picture of his car.
And you betcha.
That's not in front of your new place.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's the county jail.
Oh, boy.
There you go.
There you go.
Perfect.
Yeah.
I didn't want to mention to everybody that if our background looks a little bit different today,
it looks like we're at a remote.
Well, we are kind of.
We're at the Hemi Hideout in the cool back room here as you can tell by our background.
And we're in the midst of doing something new and different on the show.
That hopefully we will debut in another couple of weeks.
We're working on it.
But in the meantime, we're out here.
John Hobus and Shelley Gates have been very generous and allowed us to come out here.
There's nothing going on here today.
No.
So we've kind of stashed away back here in the back closet.
And it's a big back closet, too, by the way.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So we're very gracious and thankful that we've got John Hobus to depend on to help us continue to do the show.
Why we do the show, we're still trying to figure that out after a little.
Because it's so much fun.
Yeah.
And the stress level isn't high at all.
Yeah.
We should thank Massey Harris, the better built farm equipment company behind us here.
We should thank them.
Massey Harris.
Yeah.
Better built farm equipment.
Yeah.
I just thanked him.
Thank you.
Uh-huh.
Well, that anyway.
So thank them for us from us.
All right.
Time now for Mars driving destinations riding the rail.
So is this a story about going to get to the train?
Nope.
Because this is not a train show.
Well, I understand it's not a train show.
And as I was putting the pictures together, I got really excited talking about the trains.
You get excited about things like that.
This is what happens in your old age.
And dementia.
I remember when I was a kid that I got to ride on a train there in my, you know, in New Zealand.
You went into the drug store and you bought your train ticket.
And whenever the train stopped across the highway, you walked across the highway and you got on the train.
Well, we just had a segment of walking across highways.
Exactly.
Well, he did it safely.
You're still, you're still with us.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
But that was good ahead.
The train stopped at everybody's stop.
Did you have that little stick and all your clothes and that little bag when you walked across the whole bowl?
No, they wouldn't let you take the stick on the train.
Oh.
But put your eye out or something.
Because they use it for the fire.
So there was an actual passenger train that went through there.
Yeah.
Yeah.
East to West.
Well, they went from Port Arthur.
And it was kind of more north south because Port Arthur is in the line.
I mean, you're in the Gulf of Mexico when you get to there.
Okay.
I mean, the chip channel.
Well, so please carry on.
So there are.
And you see things every once in a while in the news about these heritage runs,
the people and all these trains running around.
So I thought, well, Texas got a lot of trains.
For example, the Texas State Railroad, which is often called the Lone Star or the Eastern Railroad,
it's a 25-mile heritage railroad between Rusk and Palestine.
Now, this was built by...
By the Palestinians.
Palestine, Palestine, depends on how far north you live.
Oh, it depends on where you're from.
Exactly what I said.
But this was built by the inmates.
And it was started in 1883 because they wanted to haul raw materials to the smelter at the prison at Rusk.
So they did that up until 1921.
Then they leased it out to a bunch of private companies.
Anyway, it ended up through the Parks and Wildlife Department.
And it has turned over to the newly created Texas State Railroad.
So now, it's just a scenic tourist line.
And you can get on it on limited schedule.
And they've got five steam locomotives.
And you can take the around trip on it.
If you want to go take your kids for a round.
You've done that.
David's done that.
There you go.
Now there's another one up in that part of the world called grapevine vintage railroad.
Now this goes from grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyard.
Now this is a purpose built railroad that's strictly for a tourist thing.
It didn't start out as anything else other than...
Is it a steam locomotive or is it a...
They have steam and diesel.
Okay.
Apparently looking through some of these things.
If a steam engine goes down, it takes a couple of three years to get it built and back up.
Oh boy.
So some of them, they've got diesels for backups.
But it started using the training surgeons.
They use 1896 steam locomotive as their prime one.
And then they've got some 1920s era Victoria coaches that people can ride in.
They get on and get in grapevine at the Main Street Station.
And you take 21 mile route over to Fort Worth to these stockyards.
And then you get on it and you come back.
One of the special things that they do since it's a strictly tourist,
they have several special events day out with Thomas.
Remember Thomas the Train?
I do.
Thomas the Tank Engine.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
So it's a 25 to 30 minute trip and once one week into year,
they rebuild the Thomas the Tank Engine.
It kind of comes to grapevine and it goes back and forth on this short train over and back.
So the train looks like Thomas?
Yeah.
Just one day, one week into year.
So the kids can get there.
You can take pictures.
They have a lot of activities on both ends, magic shows,
live performance, storytellings, all kinds of things for the kids for Thomas the Train.
Now, for your older people, they've also have Kiss Me.
I'm Irish Express.
Now, this is another round that's offered one Saturday in March.
You've got to be 21 and over to ride the Kiss Me on Irish.
You get Irish.
You get two free glasses of beer and an Irish style desserts on this train.
Is the beer used as a chaser for something else?
The dessert.
I'm not talking.
So they also have a jazz wine train for people that are more into wine and jazz.
Or if you need to act like you're that way to make your wife happy.
Then this happens in mid-March.
Again, you've got to be 21 or older.
Why would you say that?
Do you have some experience in that regard?
I've been married long enough to know that you got it once in a while.
Give her some wine and once in a while.
Yes.
Like a lot.
If you're lucky.
Often.
If you're lucky, you can get away with a lot.
I ain't seen anything.
21 and older, they have live jazz music in each coach.
You get meals, wine tastings, and all kinds of things going on.
Then you have around the holidays Thanksgiving they have which is brew train.
Again, 21.
Halloween, themed food, and entertainment.
You've got two free glasses of craft beer, souvenir, style.
Costumes are highly encouraged as well as pants, but they're not required.
And then they also have several trick-or-treat trains for the kids.
I like the pants free train.
Exactly, exactly.
Austin steam train association, that's a train that runs up through the hill country.
It makes different stops.
It uses a 1912 steam engine to pull it.
Amtrak, Texas Eagle, this is more modern.
You can go from Chicago to San Antonio to Los Angeles by train.
Don't ever do that.
No, because it stops and down.
Oh my God, what does it take you five days to get there?
When I was a kid, we took vacation to California.
We took a train out of Detroit, went to Southern route to LA.
And then a week later, we took to San Francisco and took a train back from San Francisco to Detroit.
And you had a good time on that?
Well, I was a little kid, so yeah, you have a good time.
You got a lot of good time to train.
I was probably nine years old.
I like those when you're parked in some train yard for five hours at a time,
just sitting there waiting for the next diesel to come along and fuck up.
No, it was nothing like that.
These are a little more timely than that.
They have to be.
But the other one I wanted to mention, just real quick, Amtrak run,
Senset runs across Texas.
You can go from New Orleans to Houston, El Paso.
And if you've ever been out here, state 10 and way off in the distance,
you see a train out in the middle of nowhere.
That's this train.
And if you want to see a different part of Texas, that'd be a way to go.
There's more.
Just look up trains in Texas if you're looking for a train to ride.
Thank you so much.
And well time car talk continues after this quick break.
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It's in-wheeltime.com. Join us.
That's it for this podcast episode of the in-wheel time car show.
I'm Don Armstrong. Inviting you to join us for our live show every Saturday morning
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About this episode
A deep dive into road safety, focusing on school buses, pedestrians, and the technology in modern vehicles. The hosts discuss the importance of being vigilant around pedestrian areas, especially with children, and highlight the limitations of car sensors that often miss detecting pedestrians. They also cover essential steps to take if involved in a pedestrian accident, including legal advice and the significance of documentation. The episode wraps up with a light-hearted segment on dream cars that owners regret buying, featuring a mix of luxury and quirky vehicles.
Road safety takes center stage in this eye-opening episode where we tackle the often misunderstood rules of school bus safety. When those yellow lights start flashing, too many drivers make potentially deadly mistakes. We break down exactly what you need to do when approaching a school bus on various road types and why following these rules is absolutely critical for protecting our children.
We uncover a concerning reality about vehicle safety technology that many drivers don't realize—while your car's sensors might detect other vehicles, older models often completely miss pedestrians. This technological blind spot creates serious risks, especially in residential areas where children may dart into the street unexpectedly. Our discussion provides practical advice for staying vigilant behind the wheel, particularly for drivers of larger vehicles with limited visibility.
The episode shifts gears to explore dream cars that became nightmares for their owners. From the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake with its endless repair bills to the eco-friendly Fisker Karma that kept mechanics in business, we reveal six prestigious vehicles that left their owners with serious buyer's remorse. Whether it's the beautiful but problematic Alfa Romeo 4C or the space-age BMW i8 that cost more to maintain than some mortgages, these cautionary tales might make you think twice before pursuing that automotive fantasy.
For those seeking unique travel experiences, our "Riding the Rails" segment showcases Texas's diverse heritage railroads. From the historic Texas State Railroad to themed excursions on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad (including adults-only wine trains!), these rail journeys offer a refreshing alternative to traditional road trips. Discover the rich history and scenic beauty of Texas from a different perspective—all without worrying about traffic or navigation.
What driving safety tips have saved you from disaster? Share your experiences and join our live broadcast every Saturday morning from 8-11am Central. Find our podcasts wherever you listen—Apple, Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Amazon Music.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
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