Having driven on both the street in the article (my grandma lives in Silver Lake) and the one you posted a picture of from San Francisco, I can tell you that Baxter is much steeper in person and steeper than any street I’ve seen in SF. Baxter, at 32% grade, is actually steeper than *any* street in SF, which is nuts.

Yes, this. I really only take taxis in cities I’m visiting, and I want as much window as possible to see it all. Though I understand for frequent users, privacy is also valuable. Still, the windows make it feel less cramped either way.

It seems the corner panels, grill, and headlight lenses are easily replaceable, which is very valuable on a car where time in the shop = money lost. Think about how many Crown Vic or Prius taxis you’ve seen with dinged corners. I imagine the taxi depot could just have piles of these parts sitting around for quick…

Probably more than we realize. Crashes like that happen all the time when people try to swerve out of the way but can’t do it fast enough, thus clipping the front corner. However counterintuitive, if you can’t avoid the impact, you’re often more protected if you just smash the whole front of your car head on,…

I grew up riding in a white ‘93 Camry LE. I bought a new BMW, and that Camry is still somehow my favorite car. Those 90s velour seats - so. comfy.

Oh my god yes. Maybe the “design” element he had the designer draw was a 7th, centrally located headlamp.

That uptick in the rocker panel and the drooooopy taillight make me physically ill. God I hate it.

Drove a brand new Chevy Impala rental out into a rocky deserts somewhere near Monument Valley. A thousand miles later the car called it kaput, so I gave it back and traded it for an Avalon for the rest of the trip. Fun stuff.

I know, I know, but the car was basically brand new. Even with normal rental car thrashing, it’s unlikely major body panels like the hood would have warped so much they visible didn’t fit from 10' away after only a thousand miles.

In terms of things like panel gaps, interior fit & finish, and absolute reliability, GM still does not make good cars. But if we’re talking purely sex appeal and driving dynamics, GM has been churning out terrific machines. I was so disappointed when I rented a Cadillac to find that the hood didn’t fit and the…

Aw man I love Albertson’s, especially their fresh chocolate chip cookies in a purple bag. The most depressing grocery store might be Food4Less. When they existed, I think Fresh & Easy was even sadder, because they were so clinical and empty.

I don’t know if this is a very California™ thing, but the past 3 San Diego apartments I’ve lived in have had charging stations in the garages. Not enough for everyone to have an EV, of course, but maybe 10-15 chargers, with at least one usually empty. Apartments more than a few years ago didn’t have them,…

It is a tad gimmicky, but stop and go traffic is one of the least enjoyable parts of driving, and perhaps the one I would like most to be taken over by my car. It sounds pretty useful, especially for people with arduous daily commutes of 2+ hours each way.

I don’t hate start/stop systems. I DO hate the start/stop system in my car. I have a 2013 BMW X1, and I think it may have the worst start/stop system I have EVER experienced. The entire car shudders (so badly a passenger once asked if we had been in a fender bender), the headlights dim, and the car lurches as you try…

Is the metallic-looking surround on each of them just painted plastic? I’m concerned about the durability of the finish on something that gets banged around with my keys. My Tile Mate is covered in little dings and scratches, but since it’s just white plastic it looks fine.

Is the metallic-looking surround on each of them just painted plastic? I’m concerned about the durability of the…

Newer (post-refresh) PI Explorers often have the same LED headlamps as civilian models. My local police department just got a bunch of them.

I just use my elbow and the b-pillar window frame usually. Elbow isn’t oily enough to leave a mark.

I had never noticed the tops of the rear doors before. You’ve ruined that car for me. Thanks.

Those gouges do not look like they’re gonna buff out. I had similar damage to my car last year. Two replaced doors later, good as new. Don’t think my insurance company likes me though.

Do you live in San Diego? Car2Go just left here, and I’m 90% sure it had to do with the fact they ONLY offered Smart ElectricDrives, and ones with ugly bright blue+white paint jobs, too. It made Car2Go significantly less attractive than ZipCar. I don’t know why it took them so long to figure out that people don’t want…