Car WTFs
The Dashboard Carpet Conundrum Continues
I’m having an increasingly difficult time understanding why so many automakers are obsessed with trying to get drivers to sport carpet on their dashboard. The random and seemingly useless patch of shag carpet in the Nissan Cube is undoubtedly senseless, but it’s not nearly as bad as the terrible looking carpet dashboard covers that are available on an outrageous number of websites.
The one thing that the dashboard covers have going for them is that unlike the shag in the Cube, there is purpose for their existence. The reasoning is extremely weak, but at least the manufacturers attempt to provide an explanation. According to one of the websites, the carpet covers “protect your dashboard and add a stylish accessory simultaneously.”
First of all, having a dashboard that resembles the exterior Mutt Cutts van from “Dumb and Dumber” could possibly be the furthest thing from stylish, and secondly why does the dashboard need protecting? Save for the occasional parking pass, dust is typically the only thing that ever touches the dashboard. I’m pretty sure that it’s more than capable of taking care of itself.
The websites also claim that carpet covers “cut glare and interior heat,” but if added visibility and a comfortable cabin can only be achieved by purchasing a carpet dashboard cover, I think I’ll stick to the sweaty Stevie Wonder look.
Just check out the carpet cover pictured above. Who is really going to pay $40 for that? You could get the same result by picking up a couple of sample squares at any carpet store and hot gluing them to your dash. Granted, the dash cover pictured is an older model, but there really haven’t been any ground-breaking upgrades to the current covers that I’m aware of.
I think it’s best to just keep the carpet on the floor where it belongs.
Car WTFs
The Most Interesting Aspects of the Dodge Demon
Many of us thought that the Dodge Challenger Hellcat was about as intimidating as a car could get. After all, people couldn’t hardly get them off the lot without crashing them when they first came out. Then Dodge upped the ante with the new Demon. But aside from the raw power, there are some other interesting aspects of the new Demon.
Check out the video below for a full rundown of just how unique this car is.
Car WTFs
Mercedes Names May Be Getting More Confusing
Think you finally have your Mercedes names mastered? Well, a new challenge appears to be coming, friend.
How to now identify Mercedes models by name
Some moves in the northwoods of Canada by the brand appear to signal a change in the naming conventions that will be used for Mercedes and AMG models. Candian trademarks have been filed for A 40, CLA 40, SLC 40, SLC 50 and GLE 50 in addition to CLA 53, G73 and S73.
If this proves true in the states, it would signal an end to the rule of two digits for Mercedes, three-digits for AMG counterparts. The new world would be two digits, ending in a “0” for Mercedes, and two digits ending in a “3” for AMG. This supports rumors of an AMG ‘73’ model with a hybrid powertrain.
While this change isn’t terribly difficult to comprehend, it certainly makes things interesting when comparing legacy and upcoming Mercedes models. There are a lot of numbers to keep straight, and a lot of explaining to do. And the letter and number combos leave something to be desired in terms of cachet.
It makes one appreciate the simplicity of giving each vehicle an actual name, like the domestic manufacturers do. Sure, that’s how we ended up with the Chevy Nova, but what are you going to do? There are only so many names, surely one for an automobile would end up meaning “no go” in some language, right?…
Car WTFs
What’s with Toyota’s weird shifter pattern?
I like my car. It’s a 2011 Toyota toaster, I mean Camry. If you made a list of everything a car has to do, the Camry would check all the boxes. It gets me from point A to point B with the consistency a learning golfer would envy. It’s a toaster. You put in the bread, choose your level of toastiness, push down the thingy and then wait for it to pop up. But there is one interesting thing about my car. The shifter. That’s it up there. That is definitely not conventional at all. So, what’s with Toyota’s weird shifter pattern? (more…)
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