I don't think it really needed that FP-45, or no more than its ATS system. But today that FP-45 would sure need it, or some other hostler, to get around.
I can't help you with the fumbling (my hands were never all that great when I was young). I will suggest that the first time your optometrist suggests that you may be a candidate for cataract surgery, go for it!!! Everybody will get cataracts if they live long enough. The surgery replaces your crappy, cloudy, wrong prescription natural lens with a brand new, crystal clear implanted lens that gives you close to (if not better) than 20/20 distance vision without glasses. Slap on some 3.25 reading glasses and you'll see fine print on rolling stock that you never saw before. How many people know that there is printing on the rear of the Kato E5s?
I'm an automotive enthusiast, and still enjoy rowing a manual gearbox and doing my own vehicle maintenance. It might sound strange then for me to say that when the time comes that I can no longer drive safely, I'll welcome the freedom of a self-driving car. I don't want to be the dottering old fool behind the wheel, creating a hazard. Perhaps I'll be able to live longer with independence, being able to buy groceries on my own, get to Doctor's appointments and be mentally healthier, being able to get away from the house and all. Hopefully this scenario is many years away.
When self driving cars become a reality, (I know some are already available) I'm going to ride in the back seat just to watch the expression on everyone's faces. I've never been a car guy, but that doesn't mean I don't like the looks of some of the classic muscle cars of the 60's and early 70's. But one thing I did enjoy was driving trucks, floating through the gears. It was fun, all the other BS that goes with that job was not fun and that is why after 22 years I had enough and got out of the trucking industry. I agree, some of these new inventions on cars that make things safer on the road are a plus in my opinion. Some car manufacturers now have cars that will brake for you, if they see something you don't or keep you in the center of your lane. Safety advancements are always a good thing in my book and who knows what the future holds?
I turned 76 earlier this week!! That smiley face is how I feel..... Happy to be alive.... Proud of my age.... If I can't do something that I used to be able to do.... I will ask some younger person for assistance... haven't had to do that yet. If it takes me longer to do some things, so be it!! We all have to play the hand we were dealt! We can enjoy it, or not..... depends on us! If life gives you lemons....make lemonade. I try to enjoy every day I have!! I have a saying that I use quite often,"If you complain about the weather... It'll just get worse!" I apply that to most of the stuff that happens..... And what ever I don't like doesn't bother me as much! Sorry this is so long.... Each of us can be happy, but it takes a little work! "I had no shoes and complained til I met a man with no feet!" Have a good one, Stay Safe! Jim
I used to love working on cars, too. Back in the days of my '59 Chevy (early-to-mid seventies), I almost waited for something to either go wrong or need maintenance just so I could work on it. There probably weren't many screws or bolts I didn't spin on that car. Nowadays, my physical limitations make me a bit less enthused for that stuff although it was only about three years ago I had to remove the intake manifold from my '94 Chevy pickup because the heater hose connection, which was made from a zinc alloy (great idea, GM) and had fallen apart, needed to be replaced and it was too difficult to reach with the manifold on the engine. It was a fairly extensive procedure with many steps before the actual manifold removal and replacement of the connector, now made of steel. It's still a great feeling when everything's all back together and working. I had to do without heat in the truck for a couple of years as I had just plugged up the opening (JB Weld putty) for the hose. Doug
I used to do all sorts of work on our aging cars (head gaskets, timing belts, water pumps, struts, etc.). It saved us a lot of money and kept our vehicles on the road much much longer than they'd have survived otherwise. Nowadays, I've stepped back to doing only easier preventative maintenance like oil changes, spark plugs and tire rotations. I'm less inclined to tackle bigger jobs now and instead spend my time with model trains.
Yup, same here. My same truck is leaking transmission fluid up near the front so it has to do with the cooler connections at the radiator or the hoses/other connections, themselves. I could at least take a wrench and check to see if all the connections are tight but I have put it off for about three weeks, now. In younger years, I would have been right out there at it. I am leaning toward just taking it to a local place to have them do it (they replaced the radiator and rusted gas lines on it at very reasonable prices before) because it's hot outside every day. Doug
I quit working on my new 1988 Dakota. Still did it all with the '65 Skylark and '84 GoldWing. But the Dodge was just too much unexplained.
Actually someone has done that with a Tesla already. I think you can find videos on YouTube. The story made it across the internet. The guy was eventually pulled over by the cops. They were not amused. The guy hung a small weight on the steering wheel to simulate a human hand holding the wheel to trick the detection system.
Was it a metallic mint green '65 Skylark with Positraction or didn't GM offer that color and option in 1965? Doug
You guys have my respect, but I don't even wash my own car anymore (we sold the house, so I have an excuse.....). I just drive new/newer Toyotas and don't worry about anything. I used to drive GM products, where it was "prudent" to worry about everything. Life is now better.
Easily one of my top 5 sequences in one of my top five hilarious movies of all time! And Marisa Tomei delivering the hilarious lines doesn't hurt! I never get tired of watching it. Doug
I'd heard about that, but not the part about the weight on the steering wheel. I wonder if it had a long enough string for the weight to swing, which helped fool the detector (not a straight down force, but one that swings side to side with car and wheel.) What foolish, creative minds can accomplish (besides a traffic ticket)...