Scobleizer - Latest Comments in 2007 Scoblecars

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Simon G — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 14:23:22 -0000

OK, I've owned 7 saturns and all of them suffered from extreme road noisyness... how quiet is the Aura? And which model did you purchase?

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Robert Scoble — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:02:46 -0000

Adam: the dealer experience was the same -- both were really good and I had no complaints. Yeah, found the AUX input.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Adam — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:46:25 -0000

Yes, I work for GM, but I like to consider myself open-minded and objective. Glad to see you hopped on board the Saturn express, so I thought I'd offer a few tips and tricks...
1. You can get remote start on the Saturn as an option (and I suspect it works just like the Toyota). BMW, to my knowledge, doesn't do that particular trick (yet).
2. Your AUX input for your Zune/iPod should be on the lower right corner of your radio faceplate.

I'd also be interested to hear a comparison of your dealer/shopping experiences, given that's one of the things Saturn gets a lot of press about.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Nik Cubrilovic — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 12:12:41 -0000

"my brother reminded me that the Toyota lets you start the car from outside the car, without even inserting the key, so the Toyota wins the coolest key award"

Perfect for clearing out all those car-bombs..

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

T Man — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 11:42:39 -0000

Well, this is really a comparison of three different cars. The new Camry is nice, but a total bore. The hybrid system is a plus, but as some have mentioned, doesn't live up to the hype, yet. Word is the next Prius will use lithium-ion/polymer batteries instead of the current nickel based batts. Expect more cost, but also a lot more performance and fuel economy.

What you're forgetting about the BMW is the handling. You mentioned it as the best, but it really goes beyond that. The handling of the BMW is so far superior to those other cars, and with the sports package, is probably far superior to the majority of cars on the road today. It is just effortless. And don't forget that there is more to safety than airbags. The handling of the BMW can contribute to you AVOIDING an accident, and will take better care of its occupants if you do get in to one.

The gas-filled lights are called HID, or high intensity discharge, sometimes also called Xenon. With the curve sensing features, they really are highly superior to halogen. Just compare driving in the rain with HID's and you will see the difference. There is some argumentation about the blinding of other drivers, but it isn't that the lights are really that much brighter. Rather, it is the harsh cutoff that the lights produce. Whereas a halogen light will gradually fade off, the HID will abruptly transition from dark to light, causing the eye to detect it as brighter, when it actually is not.

My 2006 MB ML has the curve sensing HIDs, and also has cornering foglamps. During low speed turns, the foglamp on the side of the car that you are turning in to will light, giving you that much more light where you need it most. When I get a loaner for service, I'm constantly checking to see whether the lights are on, since the halogens just don't cut it.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Robert Scoble — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 23:45:34 -0000

Doug: on the Saturn it's right next to the button that says "Aux." Heheh.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Doug — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 23:43:55 -0000

The Aux input on the Camry (at least for the non-hybrid model) is in the bottom right corner of the flip up compartment beneath the AC controls. Once it detects something is plugged in there, then you can switch the radio to the Aux input.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Matt Kelly, PodTech News — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 11:57:14 -0000

Tim-great links! I'll use them in future podcasts I do on the Prius or Camry for The Next Gear--thanks!

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Tim Cooper — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 11:32:15 -0000

Robert,

Your father might be interested in visiting my brother's websites on Hybrid cards. The most information about the hybrids can be found at http://priuschat.com and he also runs a smaller http://camrychat.com . Both are forum sites that have lots of information about the cars, and PriusChat is loaded with members that know more about the cars than most of the salespeople!

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Robin Capper — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 01:46:40 -0000

Interesting you think Hybrids are better? They may be eventually but with the current generation you are just using two compromised technologies and getting about the worst aspects of each.

http://rcd.typepad.com/pers...

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

getsheila — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 23:41:40 -0000

Did you find the Aux input yet? On my Prius, it is way down at the bottom of the inside front of the center console/armrest. Maybe yours is in some off-the-wall place like that, too.

I do love plugging in my Zen and listening to audio books on my commute. Now if I could just figure out how to get free podcasts and videos loaded I would be set. :)

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

gwhiz — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 23:34:13 -0000

Mr. Scoble... Ya know... that hybrid is worth $10K off your dad's taxes. That's probably worth the lack of trunk space. 'Course he probably doesn't have to lug a gob of recording gear around.

Congrats on the purchase and especially the birthday. Happy 42 bud!

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Peter — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:06:34 -0000

Robert,

You said:

Car I’ll probably get laughed at most when driving into Silicon Valley country club? Saturn.

I say:

So what? If people judge you by the car you drive, they should be flogged as shallow-minded losers. If you let it bother you, you're not a man confortable with himself. If you are comfortable with yourself as a man, then driving up in Fred Sanford's truck shouldn't bother you. People that feel the need to drive expensive cars have issues. Period.

The smartest people I know drive the cheapest cars. The reverse is almost never true in my experience.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

SlashChick — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 14:45:49 -0000

Ben says: "Second hand cars are a crap shoot in my experience. You don’t know the history, typically have next to no warranty and they certainly have no sexiness about them."

I beg to differ! I bought a Miata in 2000 (1999 model) with 9000 miles on it. It had the remainder of the factory warranty. I paid $17,300 for the car with little negotiating (hey, I was a teenager -- I didn't realize how far most used car dealers will negotiate.) That same car new was going for $24,000, so I saved $7000 by waiting a year and getting a car with 9K miles on it that still smelled new.

I still drive that car on a daily basis and my Miata now has 130,000 miles on it. It's been paid off since 2004; I put $12,000 down on it so I never had that much of a payment anyway. I'm very happy to not have a payment and I plan to buy my next car with mostly cash as well. I'd rather make money in the market than be paying money to others any day. :)

-Erica

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Nick Fitzsimons — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 13:58:07 -0000

I'm still getting along very nicely with my 18-year-old Mark II Ford Orion 1.6i - cost £250 five years ago, averages about £250 a year in repairs and servicing, and goes like stink. That makes £1250 keeping it running, and I've covered 50,000 miles in that time for an average £25 per thousand miles (not counting other costs like insurance and fuel - it does about 40mpg on the motorway).

Best if all, there's no depreciation: it's still worth £250 :-)

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Robert Scoble — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:46:07 -0000

Oh, oh, another "HDTV is sharper" style argument is breaking out.

Heheh, how to piss off a new car owner? Walk up and say "I can't see the difference between those funky Xenon headlamps and those on cheaper cars."

Seriously, though. If there's one thing that separates the BMW from the Saturn, it's the headlamps. BWM's rock. They turn as you turn, which GREATLY helps out going around turns (which I do a lot, since I live in Half Moon Bay and the only roads out of here are twisty, dark, ones).

David: they help 100% of the time you drive at night. Also, signs are a lot easier to read with Xenon lamps (they reflect better).

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Simon Brocklehurst — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:24:39 -0000

@24. The current generation of xenon lights don't cause any significant problems (distraction, dazzle etc.) for either oncoming traffic, or traffic the car is following.

However, for the driver of the car with xenon lights, they offer significant advantages in most night-driving conditions. The benefits of these kind of lights are not in any sense "theoretical".

The reason all cars don't have these kind of lights is cost. It's not that they don't offer genuine benefits, as you seem to be suggesting.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Robert Scoble — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:01:44 -0000

Ben: Devil's Slide is fixed. In fact, it was the first 10 miles I drove in my new car! Lots of fun, too.

Marc: the BMW is better, but the Saturn is a lot better than you might expect. Particularly for a car that costs $15,000 less.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Ben — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 11:34:11 -0000

Yeah I am talking about the yellow car ;)

My commute can take 10 minutes or 30 depending on the traffic, but the weather could be anything from 30 to 90 degrees in Seattle. Another factor I forgot to mention is that the more you pay for a car the better the climate control will tend to be.

Robert - is that road that collapsed near Half Moon Bay fixed yet or is it still out of action? That looked like part of a fun (but scary) drive.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Marc Orchant — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 10:09:14 -0000

Couple of thoughts:

Matt - Chrysler is now part of Daimler, not the other way around. The Germans bailed the American company out by coming in an throwing awesome prodct knowledge and technology at a company that had lost its way.

I drive a late-model 325i (2003 that I bought this year with only 38K on it in pristine shape). Cost-wise, my payments are about the same as if I'd bought the Saturn Robert's driving. No question in my mind which I'm happier with (even without the backseat radio).

Robert, if you seriously aren't sure which of the three Scoble cars handles best, we'll take a drive on PCH next time I'm in the Bay area and I'll show you in about 30 seconds why Maryam's car is in a completely different class from the other two. No contest.

David - have you ever driven down to Half Moon Bay where Robert lives? Depending on the route, it can get pretty dark/ Have you driven a car with zeon lamps? I live in the high mountain desert of New Mexico where it is pitch black once you're out of the city and I will never drive a car without blue lamps again.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

David Smith — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 09:11:50 -0000

"...bluer in color and brighter, too." So, oncoming traffic is distracted by that odd thing coming at them, and very possibly dazzled, too. And that's a good thing?

Behind the "theoretically better illumination", ask yourself how much of the time are you driving in a situation where more conventional lighting is really inadequate?

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Simon Brocklehurst — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 06:42:20 -0000

Actually, public transport in London (and the UK as a whole) is not a great experience at all. Pretty unreliable, and often dirty and dangerously overcrowded. And, if you want to go anywhere after midnight, you can pretty much forget it - cos the public transport system just about shuts down.

Oh, and aside from being unreliable, and not running when you want it to, it's *really* expensive. I drive a Porsche 911. Trust me - that is an expensive car to run. And it's cheaper to drive a Porsche 911 somewhere than it is to go by train (taking all costs into account). And that's with one person in the car. With two people in the car, the savings over using the train are significant.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

JoeC — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 06:28:45 -0000

Better than a built-in nav system is a Garmin nuvi. I did not get the upgrade on my Toyota Prius for the nav system and I don't regret it. The nuvi is much less expensive and you can take it in any car you own and on foot - a big plus in NYC. We're spending January in Florida this year, and the nuvi has been indispensable for getting us around.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Robert Scoble — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 04:05:55 -0000

Tim: if I lived near London I probably wouldn't own a car either. You totally nailed it. EUrope has much better public transportation systems. Here we have NONE at all. I can't get to work using public transport.

Yeah, I'm driving a LOT more than I used to at Microsoft.

Re: 2007 Scoblecars

Tim — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 03:44:26 -0000

Interesting - I was wondering how much extra driving you did for the Podtech interviews (now you're not limited to the MS campus :-)), and if that was a factor. The drive to Petaluma is also a big factor, I guess.

My perspective is skewed somewhat, because I live just outside London, and the travel links to central London are pretty good, and I don't often need to go anywhere but London for business. And driving into London is both pretty stupid and pretty selfish.

That said, I do have a car, but I only use it to drive to friends' houses or to visit my parents. I could use the train to visit my parents, but that tends to add about 1.5 hours to the journey, and if I want to carry much, then forget it. My car is an old Mazda, and every so often I think about getting a newer one, but I can never get past [a] the expense, and [b] the fact that I'd be (however small) creating a demand for a new car at the top of the chain, with all its associated environmental factors. Plus, these damn Japanese cars seem to keep going for ever.

I could just be being hypocritical though, and if I had the money, I'd buy a nice car. It just seems different people have different ways of assessing how much money they have for a new car. For instance, I'd have to be earning a *lot* more than I do now to consider getting a BMW.

Your driving habits along with the US' general pedestrian unfriendliness* are probably a good argument - although the "I might die soon" argument is an intriguing one :-).

"You probably know this already–don’t store your BMW keys side-by-side. Close proximity for hours on end will flatten their charges to a point that they won’t recharge in the ignition."

Ah, that must be the legendary German engineering quality that BMW owners end up paying for ;-)

(* My experience of US cities is limited to Seattle, Atlanta, and SF. Having a car seemed to be a pre-requisite for life in all 3 cities. In Atlanta, I was with 2 other Brits, and we wanted to go to a store near the hotel. We saw the mall as soon as we left the hotel, and we were all like, "Hey! Let's walk!" *BIG* mistake :-) I think all the people in cars thought we were homeless.)

Oh, and as for people who give you funny looks when they get in your car - screw 'em. If they can't see past the car you drive they're often not worth knowing (except in a cynical sense).