Why the Camry Hybrid in one picture

When I shop for a vehicle, I shop for different things that it must have when there are different drivers and thus different expectations.

Mine can have lots of "gotta learn" controls, for example. Hers none. One of them must carry cargo. Mine has bags and bags of trash waiting to go to the dump tomorrow. Mine should be higher off the ground, hers has to be capable of lower yourself into the seat entry. Mine could be an EV, hers not a chance. Etc.

There is a right tool for the job. And no one tool is right for everyone. And even my/our next choice may turn out to be wrong.

 

my head hurts

 

Having rented many Camrys, I’d always agree- that’s a much nicer car for many circumstances.

But regarding the Yaris you rented- was it a 2020? This new model is a heck of a lot nicer than the previous generation. It’s still no Camry, but it’s come up well...

 

Those old ones weren't real nice - the absolute worst clutch I've ever used for a start.

The new one just announced should be good.

 

Why? Was that yellow light too short?

I never gun a yellow light in any vehicle. The timings are supposed to allow for reasonable non-panic stops.

 

Pennsylvania's seem to be half the length of other states.

 

around here its hit or miss. i hate slamming my brakes, almost as much as i hate getting slammed

 

Lights that are shorter than federal requirements or US-DOT guidelines should be challenged in court. Numerous cities have been forced to refund tickets from automated traffic light cameras after victims found the yellow light timing to be shortened for profit reasons, or shorter than nearby unmonitored lights, or even shorter than legal minimums.

Yellow light timing should allow at least 1 second of response time plus a braking rate of 10 ft/sec^2, or about one-third of a 'g'. This rate is certainly firm braking, but not the hard panic braking that can be (nearly) 1 'g' with good rubber on good dry pavement. Some guidelines suggest a bit more time than this.

And in 'restrictive yellow' states, where drivers must be out of the intersection before the light turns red, the timing should also include enough time to clear the intersection without 'gunning it'. This extra adder doesn't apply to 'permissive yellow' states, where drivers cannot enter on yellow but are not required to be clear of the intersection before the red.

Drivers should never be put in a 'dilemma zone' where they can neither safely and reasonably stop in time, nor legally go through without gunning it. When offending intersections are found, they should be challenged.