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Stalliongrad

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  1. Stalliongrad
    Recently I decided to ditch my restaurant job (which is why I haven't been on the fourms as much) and pursue a real career in professional driving.
     
    Driving Buses and Trucks can pay handsomely if you know the industry and know how to play the game well. My experience has been fulfilling and id thought I share it with you.
     
    Firstly, some of you may not even have your regular drivers license yet, and that's fine. Work on getting behind the wheel and be safe.
     
    There is a different license that you must obtain to drive large vehicles called a, Commercial Driver's License. (Commonly called a CDL)
     
    Let me first explain why I have chosen this career path and why I think its something you should look into as well.
     
    People are always going to have to go somewhere. And not everyone can afford a car. Bus driving is very fun. If you are like me and you cant stand to be in the same place everyday this is something you will like. You get to be outside and meet new people every day.
     
    Look to your left, look to your right, everything you can touch was brought to you by a truck. You like to going to the store don't you? Did you ever wonder how all of that stuff you need and want got there. It was by truck.
     
    The job outlook for Bus and Truck Drivers is very good. Expected to grow at least 22% over the next 4 years. Look in your area. Are new shopping malls being built? You can bet there will be a bus that goes there. And trucks needed to bring the supplies and goods that people will purchase.
     
    The thing is if you pursue this you have to be dedicated. We often think of the job of a driver as being easy. I have learned that that is far from the truth. Drivers have to be knowledgeable of Federal Regulations (Which change all the time), State and Local Driving laws (Height and Weight Restrictions) and any new or changing company regulations. All of that plus the added stress of driving makes this job difficult but rewarding at the same time.
     
    Steps to get your CDL:
     
    1. Be 21. Unfortunately it is a Federal requirement that if you operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle (Truck or bus weighing more than 26,001 pounds or designed to carry 16 or more passengers) you must be at least 21. The way you prepare yourself for this type of careers while you are young is to keep your driving record clean. Don't drive recklessly, don't get tickets, avoid accidents etc. When you turn 21 it will be a breeze.
     
    2. Get A DOT Card. In order to drive a bus or truck the government has decided that you must be physically fit to drive one. This means you have to go to a doctor trained to give special physicals. Once the doctor certifies you are safe to drive they will issue you a Department of Transportation Card, Sometimes called a Medical Examiners Certificate. This is a card that is just as equally important as your license and as such you should keep them together all the time. Its good for two years.
     
    3. Get a CDL Permit. Just like when you learn how to drive a car, you are required to go down to your local DMV and take a test in order to obtain your permit. Your State DMV has a Commercial Drivers License Manual available for free that you should study before taking the test. This book will inform you of general knowledge on driving Buses and Trucks. How long you need to stop, Certain Restrictions that Large Vehicles have. Knowledge of Endorsements (I will get into those later) and the rules about driving large vehicles. This test is General Knowledge and not that hard to pass. You just need to study it and getting your permit will be easy. The next part is tricky.
     
    4. Find a Job or CDL School. When you learn to drive a car, your state requires you to go to a driving school that will teach you basic vehicle controls and the rules of the road. Generally these classes are about $250-600 and last about 2-3 Weeks. Learning to drive a bus or truck is a bit trickier. When you have obtained the CDL Permit of the Appropriate Class (ill get into that later) you have essentially two options. You can find a company to work for that will train you to get your full CDL license or find a CDL Driving School. The benefit of finding a company to work for is that the training is free, but they require you to work for them for a period of 6 Months to a Year. Not bad if you were looking for a job anyway. CDL driving schools are expensive... Tuition for CDL School can be anywhere from $2,000- 8,000 and it lasts for at least a month or two. The private CDL schools are more expensive. The best way to do this option is to find a local community college that offers CDL Training as a non credit course option.
     
     
    License Classes and Endorsements:
     
    CDL Licenses are broken into 3 classes which determine what type of vehicle you are permitted to drive.
     
    Class A CDL - Allows you to drive big 18-Wheeler Semi Trucks. A vehicle that ways 26,000 pounds and is designed to tow a trailer weighing 10,000 pounds.
     
    Class A Drivers typically Have 3 options with how they work. Some drivers go across the country where ever their company tells them to go. This is called Over The Road (OTR) driving and drivers can spend months away from home living and sleeping in their trucks.
     
    Other Class A Drivers may drive Regionally. The company they work for may only send them within a certain area of the country. If I live in New York and my company give me regional runs I may only go as far south as Virginia for example. Regional drivers are away for only a few weeks.
     
    The last type of Class A driving is called Team Driving. There are Federal Rules governing how long you can drive. But your company needs to deliver freight across the country every week. In Team Driving, You are paired with a co-worker who shares and lives in the truck with you. When your hours of driving are up, your co-driver takes over and finishes the trip. Team Drivers typically make a bit more money because they get more miles between the both of them. If we live in Maryland and we have to get to California every week I may drive halfway then my co-driver takes over and finishes.
     
    Class B CDL - Allows you to drive large medium sized trucks and buses. These are the box trucks (also called Straight Trucks) that you see in the cities making deliveries. Buses include City Transit Buses (My favorite), Intercity Coach and tour buses (Like Greyhound, Bolt Bus Megabus) and School Buses. Limousines also fit into this category.
     
    The biggest advantage of Class B driving is that you get to go home everyday. Intercity Charter bus drivers may be away from home for a few days. There is a set schedule you work everyday and the benefits are typically very good, it depends on who you work for.
     
    Class C CDL - Is not very common and typically is for people who use cars in a commercial capacity. Taxicab drivers in some areas are required to have a CDL. Limo drivers for the most part take up the majority of this category.
     
    Endorsements are "Add-ons" to your license and they permit you to drive more specialized types of vehicles. You must pass a test in order to receive them. A few examples are:
     
    P - Passenger Endorsement - Allows you to drive vehicles designed to carry passengers. You must be aware of the special rules for carrying passengers.
     
    S - School Bus Endorsement - Permits you to drive School Buses. There are special things you need to know about transporting children. School Buses are required to do certain things when they approach railroad crossings. Drivers must also know what to do in Emergencies.
     
    C - Combination Endorsement - Is primarily for people seeking to obtain a Class A license. Tractor-Trailers are "Combination" vehicles and there are certain things that you must know when pulling a trailer. Trucks handle very differently when they are fully loaded at 80,000 pounds. You must know how to maneuver your trailer thru traffic. You must know the rules about how to secure your cargo safely.
     
    D - Doubles and Triples Endorsement - This is for Class A drivers who wish to pull more than one trailer at a time. These are sometimes called "Road Trains". There are even more things you need to know when pulling 2 or 3 trailers at once. Doubles and Triples are subject to what is called "The crack the whip effect" Any sharp or abrupt move of the steering wheel can cause the last trailer in the train to rollover and cause an accident.
     
    T - Tanker Endorsement - This Endorsement is for people who need to drive vehicles that are designed to transport Liquids or Gases. Things transported by tanker range from Milk to Gasoline. Tanker trucks can be Class A or Class B. Liquids cause trucks to handle differently as well. Take a half empty water bottle and shake it quickly and put it on a table. Notice how the liquid continues to rush back and forward in the bottle. This same thing happens in a tanker truck. It could push the truck forward even though you have your brakes on fully.
     
    HAZMAT - Hazardous Materials Endorsement - This is a very important endorsement for drivers who want or need to transport hazardous materials. HAZMAT includes things like Gasoline, White Phosphorus, Kerosene, Nuclear Waste etc. Ever since September 11, 2001 drivers of HAZMAT trucks are required to undergo a background check clearance frequently. You may be asking why would anyone want to drive a truck loaded with dangerous materials. Quite simply because they pay a lot more. If a regular truck driver makes $40,000 a year, A HAZMAT driver will make close to $65,000-70,000. Because of the risk and the responsibility the pay is much greater.
     
     
    The best way to determine which type of license and endorsements you will need, pick what you wanna drive! You don't need to obtain all of the endorsements just the ones required for the type of vehicle you drive. The way you decide this is to pick a company to work for. Bigger shipping companies like FEDEX, UPS and the United States Postal Service operate both Class A and B vehicles. Some companies haul only HAZMAT like Shell and Exxon Mobil. A few companies to look into.
     
    FedEx and United Parcel Service (UPS)
     

     

    FedEx and UPS Drivers (from my understanding) start out around $12-16/hr and typically work 6-8 hour shifts. They report into work which is usually a big shipping warehouse ( I live near one) and oversee the loading of all of the boxes onto their truck. Sometimes you will have to load your own truck. Once you have loaded all your boxes you will drive to each location all day until the truck is unloaded. I know for a fact that UPS Drivers typically weren't hired as drivers as first. They used to have to start off working in the warehouse before being promoted to driver. But I know that that policy has changed. The most important thing to note when working for a company like UPS and FedEx is that you MUST be physically fit. You will not just drive the truck. You will have to unload and load the truck all day and that means you will be lifting heavy boxes all day long.
     
    Swift Transportation, J.B. Hunt and Werner Enterprises
     

     

     
    These are the biggest trucking companies around and they offer all types of Class A Driving. They have contracts with the big box stores like Target and Wal-Mart. This is the Regional Class A driving I was talking about. This type of driving typically involves set routes and times. You will typically go to Wal-Mart or Target's Main Distribution facilities and deliver freight to the stores in the area. Seems like a really fun Class A job. Truckers are typically paid by how many miles they drive. With Regional dedicated runs you may earn a set salary.
     
    Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines
     

     

    Greyhound and Peter Pan are two of the biggest Coach Bus operators in the country. They provide an alternative to planes for traveling between cities. New York City and Philadelphia aren't that far apart its more practical to take a bus. This is a good job for people who like to travel between big cities. For the Longer bus routes the Trip may take a few days. Chicago to Florida for example. After a day of driving the company tells the driver what motel/hotel to stop at. The driver gets a free room and food on every stop. For Charter operations drivers can typically make tips for the tour group they drive around. The only down side is these companies typically want at least 2 years experience but they pay well. It is a goal to shoot for in your driving career.
     
    Megabus Stagecoach Group (Coach USA Coach Canada)
     

     
    "Coach USA is written under the drivers window"
     

    "Note the Coach Canada markings on the bumper"
     
    Megabus is a "Brand" owned by the UK Based Stagecoach Group. They have moved operations to the United States and Canada by contract with Coach USA and Coach Canada. As a result Megabus operates in the US and Canada. Megabus offers low cost intercity bus transportation cheaper than even Greyhound can offer. As a result they have become very popular and are expanding their operations to even more cities like Atlanta. They are also one of the few operators of Double-Decker buses in a Transit capacity (not just tourism). Drivers typically go between cities twice a day and are home every night with maybe only one night away from home.
     
    Coca-Cola and PepsiCo
     

     

     
    If you happen to live in a town with a bottling plant (check you might live near one) you could get a job with a Coke or Pepsi Distributor. These drivers typically deliver the soda and drinks to Restaurants, Bars, Liquor Stores etc. They too must be in good physical condition as they spend most of their time unloading the truck instead of driving. But its a stable job that pays well.
     
    Your Local Transit Authority
     

    Washington DC
     

    New York City
     

    Los Angeles
     
    Chances are if you live in a city or even the suburbs your local government operates (or sub-contracts) public transportation services and bus drivers are always needed. Working for your local transit agency comes with many benefits. You will find yourself learning new ways around a city you have lived in for you entire life. You will meet people who live near and work near you. The pay is very good and raises are common. The Benefits package for bus drivers at this level in my opinion are the best. As the population increases more people will get to the point when they no longer want cars because its too difficult and stressful to drive. Transit authorities and companies are always hiring new drivers.
     
     
    Your Local School District.
     

     
    Not to be funny but people will always be having children. Your school district either operates its own transportation division or hires a company to do it for them. School Bus Drivers typically wake up around 6 AM Drive the kids to school until about 10 AM and then they are on paid break until 1PM when school ends. Having a few hours off every day sounds cool huh? It really does work that way. School bus drivers only work on days that school is open which means you get weekends off every week. They also don't work if school is closed for bad weather. The only trade off is they are typically out of work all summer. Summer school runs and field trips are reserved for the drivers that have the most seniority. But this is good if you want to do something else every summer and come back in the spring and still have a job.
     
    If you are at a point where you don't know what you would like to do for a career, consider a career in driving!
  2. Stalliongrad
    Often referred to as "Dragon Buses" or simply "Chinatown Buses are services offered by companies founded by Chinese American or Chinese Canadians which offer low cost no frills transportation from a Chinatown District in one city to another. (Boston Chinatown <---> NYC Chinatown <----> Washington DC Gallery Place Chinatown)
     
    Despite the efforts of larger companies like Greyhound (Bolt Bus) and Coach USA-Stagecoach Group (Megabus) to capture some of this market Chinatown buses remain a fixture of any major city on the East Coast. Here are the major players:
     

    Vacances Sinorama/Autocars Gaudreault MCI J4500
     
    Vacances Sinorama: Perhaps the most organized and professional of all the Chinatown bus services Sinorama Bus operates out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Operating both charter service and 3 day guided tours Sinorama Bus caters largely to Canadians and Americans of Chinese descent by offering Tours of major East Coast Cities in Mandarin, French and English. Unique among this type of service, Sinorama Bus does not own its fleet but partners with established Coach and Charter Companies to provide the vehicles. A unique partnership that gives both companies steady business.
     
      
     

    Lucky Star Setra S13
     
    Lucky Star Bus: Focusing on the Boston <-----> NYC Hub Lucky Star was a major player in the Chinatown bus scene until being ordered to halt operations after major safety defects were discovered among its fleet. In one instance a manhole cover was found to be wedged between the Chassis and body frame, that could only be missed due to a lack of a maintenance schedule. Its fleet was taken out of service by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration until it was brought up to standards. Lucky Star was recently given the All Clear by the FMCSA to begin operating again after passing inspection.
     

     

     
    Safeway Tours Prevost H3-45
     
    Safeway Tours:  Operating out of Canada, Another service on the more Professional side, Safeway Tours offers charter service in areas with high populations of Chinese descent. Its focus is primarily on the Casino Market. As Gambling laws in major Eastern Cities in both Canada and the United States become more relaxed buses are needed to take passengers back and forth to the new Casinos and Hotels that have been established following the trend. Safeway Tours operates a fleet with newer safer buses and caters to a higher clientele.
     

    Fung Wah Bus Van Hool C2045
     
    Fung Wah Bus Transportation: Nearly everyone who has ever used a Chinatown Bus out of NYC has heard of Fung Wah (Chinese for Magnificent Wind).  Fung Wah Bus was one of the first Chinatown bus companies to take off capturing a market which was largely ignored by Greyhound. The Boston Chinatown to NYC Chinatown business started with Fung Wah Bus and after its success prompted others to follow suit and imitate its clever business model. Fung Wah Bus sold tickets in Kiosks on the side walk in both Chinatown districts lowering overhead costs by not having much real estate. Buses did not use terminals which cost money but picked passengers up on the side walk. The business was very profitable however Fung Wah ignored all Federal and State (Massachusetts and New York) regulations with regard to bus travel and maintenance. It's fleet consisted of older model Van Hool coaches which if maintained properly would not have been an issue. Fung Wah Buses routinely broke down while on their route and there were several instances of the buses catching fire due to a lack of maintenance. Fung Wah Bus also had notoriously terrible safety record with accidents including serious roll overs on the highway and buses crashing into buildings and store fronts. Drivers at Fung Wah rarely spoke English and according to passengers would run red lights and drive very fast to get passengers to the destination early, disregarding traffic laws. Fung Wah was ordered to shut down by the FMCSA pending a review of its fleet. Fung Wah was given a deadline to get all of its buses up to proper inspection before being allowed to operate. Fung Wah Bus has since been permanently shut down by the FMCSA. It is rumored its buses have returned to service under a different Alias. 

     

    YO! Bus MCI J4500
     
    YO! Bus: Yo! Bus was an attempt by Greyhound to capture some of the Chinatown bus business after the smaller private companies had become successful. Greyhound took its oldest buses operating in the east coast and rebranded them with YO! Bus livery and began to offer a service similar to the other Chinatown bus companies. The company was projected to be successful as Greyhound's fleet of buses were well maintained and safety is a big concern to riders of Chinatown buses. YO! Bus offered trips to Philadelphia as well. However Greyhound was not able to lower prices enough to be competitive with the smaller companies. YO! Bus was replaced with Greyhound's BoltBus service and competes with both the Chinatown Buses and with Megabus for the NYC market. 
     

     
    Apex Bus Van Hool C2045
     
    Apex Bus: Starting a bit further south, Apex Bus Links Norfolk, Virginia with Washington DC and then from DC to either Philadelphia or NYC. Apex Bus much like Lucky Star was shut down due to maintenance concerns. The company temporarily rebranded itself while shut down by the FMCSA to stay in business. Its fleet was brought up to inspection but the company was fined for skirting regulations.
     

    Eastern Shuttle Van Hool C2045
     
    Eastern Shuttle: Just before the Feds started their east coast bus inspection purge, Greyhound had been attempting to buy into one of the Chinatown operators to avoid spending money using its own fleet. This perked the interest of Coach USA as well and Coach USA invested in Eastern Shuttle taking the smaller company to a higher level with increasing business. Coach USA has since withdrawn from Eastern Shuttle and retained control over one of its two routes while retaining similar branding. Coach USA buses operating under the Eastern branding have pictures of Pandas painted on them and are much newer.  
     
    Would you use a Chinatown Bus?
     
     
    Lucky Star and Eastern 
     
     
     
     
  3. Stalliongrad
    Nearly 400,000 people rely on Metro Transit in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area as its the largest transit network in the State of Minnesota.
     
     

     
    Metro Transit Gillig Advantage 
     
    Type: Public
     
    Union Representation: Metro Transit employees are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005
     
    Fleet Size: 679 Low Floor Transit Buses, 169 Articulated Buses, 60 Highway Coaches, 86 Light Rail Vehicles, 6 Heavy Locomotives paired with 18 Rail Coaches
     
    Routes: 132 Bus Routes, 2 Light Rail Lines, 1 BRT Express Route, 1 Commuter Rail Line
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: The bulk of Metro Transit's fleet consists of the Gillig Advantage and older Gillig Phantom models. Metro Transit awarded a new contract to Gillig for its newer Gillig BRT units which will be used for Express bus service. High Volume routes demand use of articulated buses and Metro Transit makes use of the New Flyer D60LFR and New Flyer XD60 in those situations. The Fleet is mixed with older units being diesel powered and all new vehicles being ordered with Hybrid technologies. Metro Transit also placed an order with New Flyer for several New Flyer Xcelsior XDE units to replace the oldest buses in the fleet. Metro Transit purchased the Siemens S70 and Bombardier Flexity Swift Light Rail Vehicles to service its two lines.
     
     

     
    Metro Transit Bombardier Flexity Swift Light Rail Vehicle
     

     
    Metro Transit Go-To Card and Reader
     
    Fare Collection: The Contactless Card Payment System in the Twin Cities is known as Go-To Card. Metro Transit initially wanted the card payment system to be ready in 2003 after hiring Cubic Transportation Systems to install the network. Metro Transit suspended its contract with Cubic after delays forced the project to be put behind schedule. The Cards and readers were not made available until 2007 after many software issues. The System uses technology from Phillips and has variants for Students and Seniors.
     
     

     
    Metro Transit Gillig BRT
    Livery and Registration: In The 2000s the previous livery was the tradtional white backdrop and line pattern. The Bus and Light Rail Fleet have received an updated look with colorful patterns of Yellow, Red and White on a Blue backdrop. Light Rail Vehicles use Gray instead of White. Metro Transit Buses are issued license plates from the State of Minnesota however do not wear them for identification, a function served by the vehicle's fleet number. Metro Transit does sell the sides and front for advertising space.
     

     
    Metro Transit Gillig BRT
     
    Innovations: Despite harsh winter conditions faced yearly Metro Transit's safety record is nearly 5 times higher than the national average making it one of the safest systems in the Country. Metro Transit also uses the "T" symbol found on other Transportation systems in the Country and in Europe. The MBTA in Massachusetts and the Metro in Stockholm also use the "T" Symbol. The symbol was created to help people quickly identify public transit in dense urban downtown areas. During heavy traffic buses are allowed to use "Bus Only Shoulders" which allows them to bypass congestion however their speed is limited to 15 MPH in this situation. The system houses 28 major hubs to better distribute service across the area.
     
    Metro Transit On The Move
     
     
     
     
     
  4. Stalliongrad
    For over 20 Years rain or shine the LLV has kept the Mail moving and become a staple of American Suburbia
     

     
    USPS Grumman LLV 
     
     

     
     
    Manufacturer Quick Facts: 
     
    Founded: 1929 (Merged with Northrup in 1994 to form Northrup Grumman Corporation)
    Headquarters: Bethpage, New York
    Industry: Aerospace, Airplane Manufacturing, Electrical Equipment, Delivery Vehicles
    Notable Product: Apollo Lunar Module, Grumman F4F WIldcat, Grumman F6F Hellcat, Grumman F-14 Tomcat, LLV, Grumman Olsen UPS Package Car
     

     
    USPS Grumman LLV beginning a shift
     
    Model Quick Facts: 
     
    Vehicle Length: 175.5 Inches
    Vehicle Width: 75 Inches
    Vehicle Height: 85 Inches 
    Engine Options: General Motors Inline 4 Engine
    Transmission Options: 3 Speed Turbo-Hydromatic 180 Automatic Transmission
    Assembly: Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States
    Production: 140,000 Units Produced
     

     
    Canada Post Grumman LLV
     
    Overview: In the 1980s the United States Postal Service began to look for a replacement for its aging fleet of Jeep Dispatcher (AM General Jeep DJ) mail delivery vehicles. At the end of WWII the large inventory of unused Military Jeeps became useful as mail delivery vehicles and AM General developed an newer model designed to expand on this new role. The Jeeps were manufactured with Right Hand Drive so that the Mail Carrier could deliver mail to the mail boxes without having to exit the truck, making delivery faster. By the 1980s these Jeeps had finally reached the end of their usable service life and the USPS began a search for its replacement. The Jeep Dispatcher however set the benchmark that the Post Office required the next mail truck to meet or exceed. The Post Office created a list of required features and opened up a bidding competition to any companies that could build a truck that would meet or exceed those demands. 
     
    Three vehicles made it to the final round and were taken to Laredo, Texas where they were put through difficult testing trials. These trials were meant to replicate the conditions most postal carrier vehicles drive every day. The Trials Were:
    Drive 5,760 Miles on a Closed 5-Mile Loop paved road at 50-55 MPH Drive 11,520 Miles on a Gravel Road at 30-45 MPH Drive 2,880 Miles on a road with a shoulder, Stopping every 250 Feet and accelerating to 15 MPH in between each stop Drive 960 Miles over Cobblestones 3-4 Inches high at 10-14 MPH Drive 960 Miles over Potholes at 10-14 MPH Haul a 1 Ton Load during half of the road test Haul a man and a 400 pound load during half of the road test Drive over potholes ensuring each wheel hits a pothole 35,000 times  Make 100 Consecutive stops from 15 MPH Other requirements for the vehicle were that it must be constructed from weather tight aluminum alloy. The Body of the vehicle had to be easy to enter and exit for letter carriers ranging from 4'11 to 6'2. The vehicles were also required to run at least 20 hours a day 7 days a week for an entire year as well as have a tight turning radius. At the end of the testing session the Grumman LLV (Long Life Vehicle) won the contract from USPS.
     

     
    The First LLV on display at the Smithsonian Postal Museum
     
    After over 20 years of service the "truck that lasts 20 years" is finally being replaced. The post office has since been replacing LLVs with standard cargo versions of minivans until a new replacement can be found. For its years of service and excellent design it seems fitting that the LLV makes it into the Hall of Transit Greats as well.
     
     
    LLV Testing Trials
     
     
     
     
     
  5. Stalliongrad
    Providing Transportation for the Mexican State of Baja California
     

     
    Transportes de Baja California Flxible Metro B
     
     
    Type: Public
     
    Union Representation: Not Unionized
     
    Fleet Size: Unknown, Approximately 250-300
     
    Routes: Unknown, Service adapts as demand changes
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: The State of Baja California acquires used American transit buses and school buses to be used in its bus fleet as purchasing used vehicles is more cost effective than buying new units and as such the organization does not have much say in the vehicles engine or fuel types. The entire fleet consists of Diesel powered units from manufacturers ranging from the now defunct Flxible to GM, New Flyer and Orion. Domestically procured units come from the Mexican truck and bus manufacturer DINA.
     
     
     

    Transportes de Baja California Flxible Metro B
     
    Fare Collection: Fares are paid in cash and fluctuate with the rush hour traffic often found in cities such as Tijuana. There is no contactless card payment system in place in Baja California. One is planned to be implemented with the construction of a new BRT system in Tijuana and the purchase of new buses for the first time.
     

    Transportes de Baja California Flxible Metro B (35 Foot Variant)
     
    Livery and Registration: Buses in Tijuana are often referred to as "Azul Y Blancos" meaning Blue and Whites after their distinctive paint scheme. After the system acquires a new vehicle and its mechanically sound the buses are given a fresh blue and white paint scheme along with a fleet number which festoons the front and sides. Interestingly the tires are also given a whitewall paint job as well. The destinations of each bus are written on the windows due to the destination sign's computer software being uncommon and unsupported in Mexico. The Buses carry license plates issued by the State of Baja California. Azul Y Blancos do sell the sides for advertising space.
     

    Transportes de Baja California GM Fishbowl in service in the late 1990s
     
    Innovations: Despite infrequent service and a notably older fleet Transportes de Baja Calfornia is one of the more organized transit systems in Mexico outside of Mexico City which has the greatest amount of funding. The system will be receiving a $70 Million update to purchase newer buses and create a BRT system in the city of Tijuana which will link the smaller routes to the U.S. Border Crossing. Tijuana is popular destination for American bus fans because of the older fleet. Buses that are nearly 30-40 years out of date can still be found roaring down the streets picking up people as transit buses.
     
    Buses at work in Tijuana 
     
     
     
     
  6. Stalliongrad
    Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Bus Driver? Lets Find Out!
     
     
    NYCT/MTA New Flyer D60
     

    Overview: Many people in the job market will come across job postings for the position of bus driver and consider doing it for a career. However most people are very unaware of the challenges this career path brings. I am always asked by my friends, family and even my passengers what the best way to get started is. I will get into that as well as what this job is actually like in great detail. After 3 years experience as a Fixed Route Transit Bus Driver in Washington DC I feel I can share what this job is actually like.
     

    Why You Should Consider It:  Transportation is one of the few industries that is never going away. In the shortest explanation possible, Job Security. Year after year reports have proven younger people are not buying cars anymore, on top of that they have no interest in owning one as the costs of car ownership continue to rise. Millions of people require public transportation to get places and despite the rise of ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft, that isn't going to change for the foreseeable future. Before I obtained my Commercial Drivers License I was working what I dub "High School" jobs. I worked in restaurants and retail for minimum wage. I had already bankrupted myself attempting to go to school once and had no interest in trying again. Getting a CDL is a way to a new wage bracket. When I was 19 I remember reading on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website that Bus Drivers make around $40,000 to $60,000 a year. In Washington DC for a very long time it was not uncommon for bus drivers with 5 years at WMATA to make upwards of $100,000. People always need to get places and if the demand is there (which it always is) the overtime will always be there. Driving is a skill, not many people are capable of doing it well, bus driving will make you a master at driving before you know it. It can be a very enjoyable job, interacting with the public is not always daunting, you get to be outside instead of stuck in an office. Many people in the transportation industry are hitting the retirement age and positions are opening up in all types of driving jobs.
     

    Why It May Not Be For You: If you have a short fuse (and you know if you do) this is not the job for you. If I were to sum up what this job takes to do in one word, that word would be "patience". Patience to deal with the traffic, patience to deal with the public, patience to deal with Federal Regulations, Patience is something all bus drivers must have. At nearly every Transit Agency one of the first tests given is a behavioral assessment. This test is a very long series of questions which ask how you would react in any given situation, driving or otherwise. Road Rage kills people but road rage in a 40 foot 37,000 pound bus kills a lot of people. If you know you hate traffic, you hate when people cut you off this isn't for you. If you cant take random strangers calling you names this isn't for you. If you don't like sitting for long hours each and every day this isn't for you. You ever notice how when a bus driver does something unprofessional it makes front page news and becomes a viral internet sensation? (just google Bus Driver Uppercut) The reason why is because bus drivers are always assumed to have great vast amounts of patience. Those videos online of bus drivers losing their cool could be you if you cant check your anger.
     
    I have always had a strong interest in driving and vehicles in general, I love driving. But the fact is, driving is a chore, its something a lot of people don't want to do and don't like to do. If you hate driving why would you become a bus driver? If you are not a people person, perhaps a job where you have to interact with strangers everyday isn't the job for you. The public can be your greatest source of stress with this job. Being asked the same questions 900 times a day can make you snap. Getting into arguments with passengers or denying them service is a big no no with this field. One of my coworkers was just fired because it was discovered she was not allowing passengers with service animals ride, an obvious violation of the ADA Federal Law. Now my company is facing a lawsuit.
     

    Strongly consider how patient you are before taking the steps to be a bus driver, avoid wasting your time.
     
    Consider the lifestyle changes the job requires you to make. If you like to drink be aware that you will have to cut back your alcohol consumption greatly. If you enjoy marijuana this is not the job for you. Even if you live somewhere where Marijuana is legal, you have to remember it is still illegal at the Federal level and the Federal government has supreme authority in the matter. People enter this career all the time unaware that their personal lives and work lives fuse with this job. You cannot be a bus driver and an alcoholic. Random drug tests are an industry standard and required by Federal Law.
     
    This job will consume a great amount of your time. You will miss some holidays and birthdays. Every company is different but mine is perhaps the worst. The only calendar day of the year where we don't have to work is Christmas. The upside is we get paid extra to work Federal Holidays. If you are not familiar with a 10 hour work day then prepare yourself for them, because they are an industry standard. (some places have you work 10 hour days for 4 days with 3 days off). If you have children or plan to have them make long term arrangements for childcare well ahead of time.
     
     
     
    Your Office Awaits
     
    How To Get Started: If the above comments weren't enough to scare you away, congrats you are much closer to the drivers seat than you realize. Much of this job is having the right attitude. Here is how to get started. If you want to drive a bus you will need a Commercial Driver's License or CDL. If you are not 21 you can start by keeping your current driving record flawless. No Accidents, No DUI, No Tickets, No Points. Having a clean driving record is one of the most important parts of the interview process, the only thing that can be overlooked are non moving violations like Parking Tickets. But even they will come under scrutiny. Your driving record is not just a reflection of your ability to drive but of how responsible you are.
     
    Community College Path: Nearly all of the larger community colleges offer CDL Training as part of their Non Credit/Workforce Development courses. They offer training for both Class B and Class A licensure. They will spend anywhere between 3-6 weeks preparing you to pass the CDL Test which will be given to you by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The class will normally be taught by someone who is retired and has been in the field for a long time and is a certified instructor who knows the test in and out. The school will give you training in both the classroom and on the driving range. Most community colleges use old school buses meaning you will also receive training to receive your school bus endorsement. This is the most expensive way to get a CDL but it is often the most stress free. The classes can cost around $2000 or $3000 but the school will take care of everything required as far as scheduling your test date and the training is very slow paced allowing you the most time to learn.
     
     
    Employer Sponsored Path: Some companies will assist you with getting your CDL if you do not have one in exchange for signing a contract. The contract usually requires you to remain employed with the company for a pre determined amount of time usually 6 months to a year. The reason for this is that some companies which offer free CDL training have employees who leave after completing training. The training process costs the company money and by signing a contract they can ensure return on that investment.
     
    Professional Driving School Path: Large privately owned Driving Schools exist which teach all classes of CDL licensure from Class A Tractor Trailer Driving to Class C Limo Driving. These schools are located on large driving ranges often found in the south or midwest and can be expensive. The school will also have a dorm or a hotel where students who are training can stay because they are far away from home.
     
     

     
    NYCT/MTA New Flyer Xcelsior XD40
     
    Why You May Love This Job: If you get satisfaction in helping others then you will love being a bus driver. You will see the same faces everyday as you take people to work, home or play. After seeing the same faces everyday you will make new friends fast. People will look up to you as a pillar of the community, especially in the big cities where people do not own cars and do not like using Taxi's or Uber. 
     
    You will love being a bus driver if you enjoy doing the same thing everyday. Some people don't like the unexpected at work, for the most part being a bus driver you will perform the same tasks everyday and it can be rewarding because it does not take very long to get the hang of things. You will also enjoy performing detail oriented work, following rules etc. 
     
    Some of us just simply enjoy driving and you will love this about this career. Not being crammed in a cubicle on the 15th floor of an office building everyday, you get to be down on the streets where the action is.
     
    If you want to make money then transportation is the industry for you. After 3 years of hard work i have made my way to earning $21/hr which is pretty nice over the minimum wage of only $7. People often wrongly assume bus drivers do not make much. If you live in rural areas of the country where the cost of living is lower it may be true, but in the big cities Bus Drivers make at least $12/hr starting out. Private companies sometimes pay less or more than working for the Government but offer less work benefits such as healthcare and time off.
     
    Get behind the wheel and become a public servant the people look up too.
     
     
  7. Stalliongrad
    A traditional right of passage for nearly every bus driver who must enter New York City, The Lincoln Tunnel is the Gateway to the Big Apple
     
     

     
    The Lincoln Tunnel
     
    Type: Tunnel
     
    Management: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
     
    Construction-Completion-Cost: 1934-1937, Project cost $85 Million ($1.52 Billion 2017 Inflation Adjustment)
     
    Termini: Weehawken, New Jersey <-----> Manhattan, New York City
     
    Traverse: Hudson River
     
    Access: NJ Route 495 (Weehawken Helix), NY 495
     
    Length: 8,000 ft
     
    Toll: $15.00 Cash, $12.00 E-Z Pass
     
    Driving Complexity: Medium
     
     
     

     
    Artist's Depiction of the Lincoln Tunnel
     
    Overview: Nearly every interstate bus driver in Northeast will eventually enter NYC and this usually means entering one of the most notorious landmarks on the east coast, the Lincoln Tunnel. The tunnel itself was completed in the Late 1930's with 2 additional tunnels completed in the 40's and 50's. The sheer age of the tunnel is what makes this landmark a point of great fear for new bus drivers and drivers who have never entered it. It was not constructed with 10 feet wide motorcoaches in mind. The first thing they usually notice is that the lanes are very narrow and the clearance is not very high. Most Motorcoaches stand at around 11 to 12 feet tall. The Clearance in the Lincoln Tunnel is 13 feet. For reference the tallest vehicles allowed to enter belong to Megabus, Its VanHool TD925 Double Deckers are exactly 13 feet tall, and feature air suspensions which can be lowered when nearing the tunnel. 
     

     
    Lincoln Tunnel Toll Plaza
     
    Toll Plaza: The Lincoln Tunnel houses one of the most complex Toll Plaza arrangements on the east coast and drivers must pay very close attention on approach. Missing a turn or being in the incorrect lane can lead the wrong way. Buses and Trucks are forced to use only one of the three tubes after the toll. One sigh of relief for Interstate bus drivers at the toll plaza is the Port Authority Police. Drivers of intercity motorcoaches must supervise in 55 to 70 people alone for hours on end, and attacks on drivers are common. If any passengers on the bus become disruptive the driver can alert the Port Authority Police who will remove disruptive passengers and deal with any security threats. Security at the toll plaza has been increased since 9/11 and most crime entering and leaving NYC is often intercepted at the tunnel.
     

    Port Authority of NY and NJ Chevrolet Caprice PPV
     
    Driving Dynamics: Driving in the Lincoln Tunnel for the first time is intimidating because the lanes are not very wide and the clearance is low, however this is made easier due to the Tunnel's low speed limit of 35MPH maximum. Lane Changing is also forbidden after entering the Tunnel. The tunnel is has a fair amount of distance at a mile and a half long. It is recommended to switch drivers if one of the co drivers has a phobia of driving in tunnels or claustrophobia in general. One of the tunnels more interesting aspects is the XBL or Express Bus Lane. Buses entering NYC from New Jersey use a dedicated lane which takes buses from the tunnel straight to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC. Drivers should be aware of other vehicles who do not obey the speed limit as high speed is the most common cause of accidents in the tunnel.
     
    Lincoln Tunnel Trip with Megabus
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1YFWzNBfZ4
     
     
  8. Stalliongrad
    One of the most successful privately owned bus enterprises, Peter Pan has been in the industry for 75 years 
     

     
    Peter Pan Bus Lines MCI J4500
     
    Type: Private
     
    Union Representation: Peter Pan Bus Drivers are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1512
     
    Fleet Size: 132 Highway Motorcoaches in both Long and Medium Distance configurations
     
    Routes: 10 routes linking major cities in the Northeastern Corridor such as Boston, NYC, Washington DC and Baltimore
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: Peter Pan procures its fleet primarily from MCI and use traditional diesel power plants in both the MCI J4500 and D4500 models. Peter Pan has promised to replace its oldest vehicles with newer hybrid fuel efficient models as they become available for Motorcoaches. Peter Pan previously operated GMC RTS transit buses after acquiring a Coach USA affiliate in Massachusetts, those units have since been retired. 
     
    Alliance: Formerly Trailways, ended affiliation in 2005. Currently in alliance with Greyhound for NYC bound routes
     
    USDOT Number: 55327
     
     

     
    Peter Pan Bus Lines MCI J4500
     
     
    Fare Collection: Peter Pan Bus Lines like most other interstate bus carriers now allow passengers to purchase tickets online instead of waiting until they arrive at the bus stop. Peter Pan also has its own App where passengers can buy tickets and make charter reservations making the boarding process for getting on the bus much faster with out the need to validate each passengers ticket. After purchasing the ticket online or via the app the passenger receives a confirmation number which allows them to board.
     

     
    Peter Pan Bus Lines App 
     
     
    Livery and Registration: Peter Pan's Buses are known for their smart green and sliver paint schemes which are a likeness to the fairytale character Peter Pan. Older Liveries included themes of the fictional Neverland as well. As the company is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, Peter Pan's fleet carry Massachusetts license plates.
     
     
     

     
    Peter Pan Bus Lines MCI J4500

    Innovations: Peter Pan Bus Lines was formed by the break up of 3 smaller independent New England based companies which combined assets to form Peter Pan Bus Lines. In the 1990's Peter Pan expanded its service area to include much of the Northeastern Corridor while in alliance with Trailways. At one point Peter Pan planned expansion as far south as Ocean City, Maryland but hasn't due to Greyhound's dominance of that market. After ending its alliance with Trailways, Peter Pan entered into an agreement with Greyhound to share the large In and Out of NYC bus travel market. Now some Greyhound bus terminals also sell Peter Pan tickets as well, sharing business with its biggest competitor. Peter Pan is also one of the few privately owned interstate bus companies which operate its own terminals.
     
     
    Peter Pan on the Move
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzffHBPFVho
     
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg_i46ODCEw
     
     
     
     
     
     
  9. Stalliongrad
    ​Serving the bustling Fairfax County, Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. The Fairfax Connector was one of first of the smaller transit agencies in Suburban Washington to grow into a much larger operation.
     




     

    Fairfax Connector New Fyler XD40


     
     
     
    ​Type: ​Public/Private, Service privately operated by Transdev
     
    Union Representation:​ All Fairfax Connector Bus Operators are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1764
     
    ​Fleet Size: ​210
     
    ​Routes: ​90
     
    ​Manufacturer and Powerplant:​ Fairfax Connector recently completed fleet modernization with the bulk of its fleet now consisting of the New Flyer Xcelsior. Older Orion and New Flyer units are still in service on less crowded routes. Interestingly Fairfax County decided to continue to use Diesel as its source of propulsion.
     



     

    Fairfax Connector New Flyer Xcelsior XD40


     

    Fare Collection: ​The Contactless Card Payment System in Fairfax County is Smartrip. Because Fairfax County, Virginia rests just outside of Washington DC and many WMATA Metro Stations are in Northern Virginia Fairfax Connector uses WMATA's fare structure and accepts WMATA's Smartrip Card.
     



     

    WMATA Smartrip Card and Reader


     

    Livery: ​Fairfax Connector buses are notable for their paint scheme which has Yellow as its dominant color. Fairfax Connector buses feature Yellow, White and Red paint work in a contrasting "C" pattern. Older Livery hosted the same colors on a white backdrop in a traditional stripe format.
     



     

    ​Fairfax Connector Orion V 35 Foot Variant


     

    Innovations: ​Fairfax County, Virginia houses many of the Professionals, Students, Workers and Government Employees who work in Washington DC. As a result Northern Virginia traffic is notoriously terrible. Fairfax Connector is known regionally for its initiatives to get people out of their cars and on the bus by making transit seem more attractive. Adding more routes and building more park and ride lots which also house bus stations make it easier for people to access the bus. People can simply drive to the bus location and park their car and ride the bus into the City rather than driving. Helping reduce traffic and emissions. Fairfax Connector is also pushing for dedicated bus lanes to make special express routes.
     


    ​Fairfax Connector at Work


     





     
     
     




  10. Stalliongrad
    The oldest and most prestigious motorcycle race in the world, only the best race at the Isle of Man.


     

    First Organized: ​1907
     
    ​​Type: ​Time Trials, GP Race
     
    ​Course: Snaefell Mountain Course
     
    ​Class: ​Tourist Trophy
     
     
     
    ​The Isle of Man is a small island located in the Irish Sea surrounded by Northern Ireland and England. Every year in May and June motorcyclists descend on this island for one of the most challenging races in the world.
     



     

    Racers at the 2015 Isle of Man TT


     
     
     
    Overview:​ The Snaefell Mountain Course uses closed public roads for high speed motorcycle racing during the event. The course is very challenging even for expert riders, at 37 miles long it hosts over 200 turns and drastic increases and decreases in elevation. The course is situated around the main roads linking towns and villages to island's capital, Douglas. At its highest point the course is nearly 1,400 feet above sea level.
     



     
    Snaefell Mountain Course Waypoint Sheets are drafted by competing teams to better help riders memorize the course. However because course takes place on closed public roads instead of a racetrack it can be difficult to remember. The best riders on this course are often of Manx, Irish, Scottish or English background due to being able to ride on the course year round.
     
     
     



     

    ​Riders can get very close to stone walls, fences and other road hazards at high speeds


     

    The Isle of Man TT is also a time where Motorcycle Manufacturers and Equipment Manufacturers show off new products. Honda Powersports and Dunlop Tires are among the most successful. The Honda CBR 1000 RR is one of the most popular motorcycles at the TT. Others such as BMW, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Ducati also have a presence. Privateer teams receive support from the manufacturers to compete.
     



     

    Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha R1 at the Isle of Man TT


     
     
     
     
     


    ​The Absolute Best of the 2016 Isle of Man TT


     





     
     
     

    Subaru WRX STI Isle of Man Challenge Car


     





  11. Stalliongrad
    A Nascar Icon with a storied career Jeff Gordon has left a lasting impact on the organization paving the way for the current generation of drivers.


     
     
     



     
     
     

    Jeff Gordon


     
     
     

    Driver Quick Facts:


     
     
     

    Name: Jeffrey Michael Gordon



    Birthday: August 4, 1971



    Hometown: Vallejo, California, United States



    Series: Nascar



    Team: Hendrick Motorsports #24 Chevrolet



    Sponsorship: Dupont Paints (Renamed Axalta), Pepsi, AARP, 3M, Chevrolet, Panasonic



    Victories: 93 Wins (3 Daytona 500 Wins, 4 Time Sprint Cup Champion)



    NASCAR Sprint Cup Career: 797 Races spanning 24 Years


     
     
     



     
     
     

    Jeff Gordon takes a victory lap after a win at Martinsville


     

    Overview: To many not familiar with the sport of Nascar, Jeff Gordon's iconic status is often confusing to some. To understand why Jeff Gordon was so popular with his fans during his long career, one must look at Nascar before Jeff Gordon began racing. He began his career with Hendrick Motorsports in 1993. At the time Nascar had long been dominated by older men from the the Southern United States. He shifted the balance of power in Nascar by being a young man from California. He became the youngest person to win a Daytona 500 Qualifying race and finished 5th in his first Daytona 500. Many criticized his ability to win because of his tendency to push his cars too hard and crash. Darrell Waltrip once remarked "he'll hit everything but the Pace Car".
     




     
     
     

    Jeff Gordon with Formula One Champion Lewis Hamilton


     

    Jeff Gordon was also notable for his personality which differed greatly from other Nascar drivers. Jeff Gordon had his share of fights but not as many as other big Nascar racers of the early 2000's. Gordon would often congratulate his rivals on their wins even though he lost. Jeff Gordon's passion for racing transcended even the confines of Nascar. He had an early interest in competing in Indycar but was unable to raise money to race. He is also a fan of Formula One having attended races in the Nascar off season.
     




     
     
     

    Hendrick Motorsports Panasonic Toughbook #24 Chevrolet SS racing in Atlanta


     

    Jeff Gordon announced 2015 would be his last season and came very close to winning a championship before his last season ended. Most drivers in Nascar today are younger men from a much more diverse background and this has increased the popularity of Nascar and opened the door for future generations to compete.
     




     
     
     

    Jeff Gordon 2014 Nascar Portrait


     
     
     

    Jeff Gordon shows his humorous side by pranking a Used Car Dealer while test driving a Camaro in disguise.


     
     
     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5mHPo2yDG8

     
     
     

    Top 5 Jeff Gordon Victories


     
     
     




     
     
     

    .


  12. Stalliongrad
    The brand which had a lot going for it, but never really went anywhere has been cancelled after a noble 13 year production run.


     
     
     
     
     



     

    "What Moves You?"


     

    ​Project Genesis:​ In 1999 Toyota assembled a taskforce of senior executives at its Toyota USA branch to attempt to capture sales of younger first time car buyers. The team began Toyota's "Project Genesis" an initiative launched by Toyota USA to do just that. The 3 vehicles which started this project were The Toyota Echo, Toyota MR2 Spyder and the Toyota Celica. These vehicles at the time did not have much demand, and with this new initiative, Toyota HQ in Japan ordered its USA affiliate to push as many of those three vehicles as possible by marketing them as "Youthful" and "Hip". The Toyota Echo sold well with young buyers at first but eventually most sales were to older individuals. The Echo was sold internationally as the Toyota Yaris and it was eventually renamed to reflect this. The MR2 did not sell well at all because it was a 2 seater convertible which was highly impractical for younger buyers. The majority of sales were to those in the Tuner community. (This is partially why MR2s are so valuable now). The Celica was Toyota's first car which sold extremely well with younger people. Toyota sold 65,000 in the first year of Celica production in 2000, most of them to younger buyers. The project was eventually cancelled with data collected and a lesson learned Toyota decided to move on with this new information.
     



     

    ​Scion Xb Advertisment (2nd Gen)


     
    ​Project Exodus: ​Using the information gathered from Project Genesis, Toyota decided to launch "a brand within a brand" by introducing the Scion marque. Scion vehicles were built by Toyota but marketed toward younger buyers who had never purchased a car, never owned a Toyota or needed a car cheap. Scion's vehicles were available for sale at Toyota dealerships and could also be serviced there. Scion officially launched in 2001.
     




     

    Scion xB and Scion xA


     
    Launch:​ In 2004 Scion revealed the xB and xA at the auto show in Los Angeles as initially the brand was only available in California but slowly spread to dealers in the South and East later on. By 2005 all Toyota Dealers in the US were selling Scion vehicles as well. Not much after the Scion tC was revealed as well as the second generation xB. Scion expanded into Canada by 2010.
     
    ​Reception: ​Scion was a bold move for Toyota, The xB was a major crap shoot in that it was not a car designed for the U.S. Market rather, a Japanese car made U.S. legal. It was very boxy and that is what made it popular. Because it was different it did attract younger buyers however the magic did end as the Xb was not a comfortable car to drive and was not large enough to carry the many things millennials transport. The second generation Xb was meant to fix this however sales were consistently low and most sales were actually to seniors who were attracted by its practicality and low price.
     
    The Scion xA was not a notable car other than that it was very boring and not much different from a standard Corolla other than the hatchback design. It was replaced with the extremely similar and equally boring xD.
     
    The Scion tC was the best selling car for the brand and 2007 was the best year, selling over 63,852 Scion tC's that year. Scion would never go on to sell more cars than that in a year. The tC was based on a European platform and solved the ride and handling problems the boxier models suffered from. This was also the model that allowed Scion's vison to be realized. The car had many aftermarket parts available and was very popular with younger buyers for this reason. However the tC even in its second and third generations the tC was not well equipped inside. Even newer models had very bland plastic covered interior which generally only came in one color,,,, black.
     
    The only true sports car sold on the brand was the Scion FR-S which debuted in 2012. It was a rebadged version of the Jointly produced Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ. U.S. buyers of the car were forced to buy the Scion version or the more expensive premium feeling BRZ. Scion FR-S was only offered with the lowest possible options in order to keep the price low. This meant putting the Scion next to the Subaru, while looking the same were very different.
     



     

    ​Scion tC Series 10 (Final Release)


     
    ​Scion throughout its entire history has struggled with sales and has never had a car which completely filled its niche well. The tC is perhaps the closest, filling the small 2 door coupe bracket which is only served by rivals such as the Kia Forte Koupe, Honda Civic and Hyundai Genesis.
     

    End of an Era: ​Toyota announced the end of the Scion Brand at the beginning of 2016 with Scion closing down in August. The final 2 Scion models would continue on production with Toyota badging and features along with the FR-S which finally carries the Toyota badge and its known as the Toyota 86 (which is a very important number for diehard Toyota fans). The Scion models are the Scion iM and Scion iA.
     



     

    The Final Hurrah: The Scion iM (Hatchback) and Scion iA (Sedan)


     
    ​The last new Scion models are the 2016 Scion iM and iA. The iM is essentially the Toyota Auris, a small Toyota hatchback which rides on a modified Toyota Corolla platform and is sold internationally but sells best in Europe.
     
    The iM has an Independent rear suspension which gives an amazing ride and an interior similar to the Toyota Corolla but comes with extras as standard. Such as dual zone climate control as standard, Push button fold in mirrors, LED DRLs, Halogen Projector Headlamps, and the Scion BeSpoke touchscreen infotainment system made by Pioneer. Navigation can be added to the system for $900. 17 inch wheels standard etc. It is one of the best equipped vehicles sold for under $20,000.
     

    The iA is actually not a Toyota. The Scion iA is actually a rebadged Mazda Demio/Mazda2. The Mazda2 is assembled in Mexico and Toyota sells the car as a slightly upscale version of the Yaris. Small cheap car sales have always been a strong selling point of the Toyota brand and the iA is part of cooperation with Mazda. The iA is also well equipped for its under $20,000 price point. It is the first and only Scion badged vehicle that is a four door sedan.
     

    The Scion iM and iA will continue production as the Toyota Corolla iM and Toyota Yaris iA and the Scion FR-S will become the Toyota 86 for the 2017 model year. 2016 will be the last production year for the Scion tC.
     




     
     
     
    Lessons Learned: ​Scion used sales and marketing techniques which were different and made the brand interesting such as the advertisements which could be found in non traditional places for car adverts such as movie theaters and video game shops. Scion models were only offered in 1 trim level. This allowed the cars to be sold at a lower price and allowed for easy buying. The only factory options Scion vehicles came with were the color and transmission. All other options could be added later or aftermarket. Toyota's average customer age was 52 while Scion's was 39 (an industry low). However it was a soulless brand. One of the first modifications made to most Scion FR-S models was a badge swap. Owners would replace the Scion badge with a Toyota badge quickly making the point the no one wanted Scion around. Its concept was unique and different and Toyota certainly gets credit for trying.
     
     
     


    Scion Adverts


     





     





  13. Stalliongrad
    Many people live in the big city and will for a long time, manufacturers have begun to update their offerings of compact and microcars. Fun and Fuel Efficient small cars are selling well as tax incentives have been explored for those who buy fuel efficient and smaller vehicles.


     



     

    2015 Smart Fortwo


     

    Mercedes Benz: Smart which stands for Swatch Mercedes ART was started when the CEO of Swatch had an idea for a fun, stylish city car. He began the project under his own company and with the help of Mercedes created a prototype known as the "eco-Sprinter" which was designed by the Mercedes Benz art department in California. Ever since its debut in 1998 the Smart Fortwo has been king of the small car market. Its high price in its first year of US sales did not stop people from flocking to the dealers to buy them. Now the price has come down as more trim levels have been made available starting at $15,000.
     




     

    2016 Fiat 500


     

    Fiat: One of the most highly anticipated cars to come to North America in 2010, the Fiat 500 finally came stateside after Fiat's acquisition of Chrysler. Fiat 500 sales have also been consistently high and are a common sight in any major city now. Owners have praised the chic interior styling, good fuel economy and the way the car "zips" around their cities. Fiat have begun to offer slightly larger crossover variants to cater to people who may have larger families or need cargo space. Its retro styling pays homage to the original model from the 50's and it is largely considered one of the very first city cars. Tuners often prefer the more powerful Abarth version.
     



     

    2017 MINI Cooper S


     

    MINI: Coming onto the scene in 2000 the Mini Cooper has been a popular choice for those who want a smaller car but don't want to sacrifice fun. The Cooper and the supercharged Cooper S which both come in convertible form and offer superb handling. The MINI brand in the U.S. is possibly the most diverse offering city cars. Mini offers 2 door, 4 door, hardtop, convertable, wagon and crossover versions of the Mini Cooper solidifying its place among the small car greats.
     




     


    2016 Chevrolet Spark


     
    Chevrolet: One area where Chevy beats out its American rivals is in the small city car market. Ford nor Dodge offer as large an array of small city cars and this is a growing sector in which GM is leading. The Chevy Spark is one of the cheapest cars on the market now selling in its cheapest form at around $13,000 and gets to around $15,000 fully loaded. Developed by GM Korea as the Daewoo Matiz, the Spark found its way to North America after high sales in Mexico and South America. Its larger cousin the Chevy Sonic also based on a GM Korea Daewoo design has also sold well. The Sonic replaced the Aveo and comes in both Sedan and Hatchback form.
     




     

    2014 Ford Fiesta ST


     

    Ford: Previously offering many small cars, Ford has only one offering in this segment the Fiesta. The Fiesta also comes in Hatchback and Sedan form. Perhaps the most popular form of the Fiesta is the highest trim level ST Version which offers a stiffer suspension, racing tuned 1.6L engine which could propel this car to 136 mph. It is often praised as a fun car so much so it won Top Gear's Car of the Year award for 2013. It is rumored Ford has noticed this gap and plans to offer an even cheaper car to slot lower than the Fiesta.
     



     

    2014 Scion IQ


     

    Toyota: The Scion brand was created to target younger, first time, car buyers and Toyota decided to launch its IQ under Scion branding in the US. Scion has called the IQ a "good lesson" in that many people were curious and interested in the car, and wanted the excellent 36 MPG but were not willing to pay the rather high price of $17,000. In Europe that would be a fair price, but in the US buyers looking for a car in this bracket could get a Fiat 500 for that price or a Smart car for even cheaper. Toyota decided to pull the IQ with 2015 being the last year available. This has led to the car being available used for under $5,000 on used car lots. Toyota sells the cheaper Yaris in higher numbers which is slightly larger and is offered as both sedan and hatchback.
     




     

    2017 Honda Fit


     

    Honda: The origin behind the Honda Fit is the platform at Honda called "Honda Global Small Car" which outlines a vehicle which can be sold internationally without many changes. The result was the Honda Fit or Honda Jazz as it is known in Europe, Oceania the Middle East and Africa. It won the Japanese Car of the Year the same year it debuted in 2001. The Fit differs from other small cars in the sense that it has a "monospace". The interior of a Honda Fit feels like one space, i.e no front or rear. The backseats fold up off of the floor offering increased luggage carrying capacity. It remains one of the most popular cars sold in Japan selling over 100,000 every year while U.S. sales are consistent with about 50,000 annually.
     




     

    2016 Nissan Versa Note SR


     

    Nissan: The outgoing Versa Hatchback was replaced with the Nissan Note which was sold internationally but not in the U.S. Rebranded as the Nissan Versa Note it is a more versitile but similarly priced version of the Nissan Versa. It has become a popular choice due to the good fuel economy from its small 1.6L 4 Cyl engine which is often paired with a CVT4-Speed Transmission which makes Fuel Economy even better. The Versa Note comes in 5 Trim Levels with the top of the line SR model added in 2015 due to good sales.
     




     

    2016 Hyundai Accent Sedan and Hatchback


     
    Hyundai: Recent improvements at Hyundai have boosted sales as build quality was previously one of the biggest reasons for low sales at Hyundai. Beginning in 2013 Hyundai hired former design artists from Audi to give their lineup a fresh new look and experts from BMW to assist with improving build quality and the results have paid off with the Hyundai Accent one of the most popular models sold to first time car buyers. The accent is a very easy car to drive and gets 9/10 from Kelly Blue Book on Build Quality and Reliability. The very affordable price of $14,000 combined with 38 MPG has made the Accent one of the most popular small cars on the market. It sales consistently well with its Kia Rio twin which sells for a similar price.
     



     

    2015 Mitsubishi Mirage


     
    Mitsubishi: Starting at $12,000 the Mirage is the pinnacle of affordability. The Mirage returned to the US in 2013 after it was discontinued in 2003. Even the older model was well known to be a well built A to B basic transportation vehicle. Its 1.0L engine only produces 78 horsepower which is adequate for city driving and has enough power to keep up on the highway. Getting an excellent fuel economy of 43 MPG it is certainly a car for those who want to save on gas. The car scored a good 9.5/10 from Kelley Blue Book on Build Quality, Reliability and Fuel Economy.
     
     
     
    Which would you purchase for the driving in the big city?
  14. Stalliongrad
    The primary bus system of the State of Connecticut, CT Transit is one of the larger transit networks in New England with an operating budget over $100 Million.


     



     

    CT Transit New Flyer D40LF


     

    Type: Public/Private, Service privately operated by HNS Managment, First Transit and other contractors
     

    Union Representation: All CT Transit Bus Operators are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 281
     

    Fleet Size: 430 Low-Floor, Articulated and Motorcoach Transit Buses
     

    Routes: 93 Local, 12 Express
     

    Manufacturer and Powerplant: CT Transit procures from New Flyer, MCI, NovaBus and Gillig and nearly all of its fleet utilize diesel electric engines. Making extensive use of the Cummins ISB and ISX engines as well as the Detroit Diesel Series 40, 50 and 60 engines. CT Transit installed a unit from PureCell at their headquarters for powering the building. PureCell is a phosphoric acid fuel cell designed to lower the carbon footprint of buildings.
     



     

    CT Transit New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40


     
     
     
    Fare Collection: There is no Contactless Card Payment System for use on CT Transit. Fares are paid with cash to purchase tickets which are valid for different periods of time, from 2 hours to 5 days to a month. CT Transit operates a true BRT system known as CT Fastrak. Because CT Fastrak is a BRT system, payment must be made before boarding the bus to make the boarding process as fast as possible.
     



     

    CT Transit Ticket


     

    Livery: CT Transit buses host many different liveries, standard livery hosts Blue and White, CT Fastrak buses are Green and Gray, and the free CT Transit "Dash" bus which provides a circulator/shuttle service in Downtown Hartford are painted bright orange.
     




     

    CT Transit/Hartford Transit "DASH" New Flyer Xcelsior XDE35


     
     
     
    Innovations: CT Fastrak is a BRT system which connects Union Station in Hartford and New Britain Station in New Britain, Connecticut. It is a 9.4 mile long stretch of abandoned railroad wich was converted into a dedicated busway. It took 15 years of planning and 3 years to build. 8 local routes and 4 express routes use this bus only road way and is served by 50 dedicated buses. The busway houses 10 stations and has become a very important part of the infrastructure in Connecticut. It is planned to be extended using HOV lanes to serve communities east of Hartford.
     



     

    CT Fastrak New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40


     


    CT Transit at work


     





     





  15. Stalliongrad
    Small Business is on the rise in the United States! Manufacturers have finally begun to fill a gap in vehicle offerings where some companies need a large or medium sized van but could only afford a small pickup truck. New, refreshed and innovative commercial van designs have finally made it into production and are serving small business well.
     




     
     
     
     
     

    2017 Ford Transit Lineup


     

    Ford: Part of the reason for this boom in commercial van sales is due to the fall of the famed E-Series vans produced by Ford. E-Series vans were well built and known to last a very long time. Ford has finally retired the E-Series van line and replaced it with the Ford Transit. Already sold in Europe the Transit builds on the success of the E-Series and currently holds 57% of the commercial van market share.
     




     
     
     
     
     

    Mercedes Benz Sprinter


     

    Mercedes Benz: https://mlpforums.com/blog/677/entry-14292-for-the-logistics-fans-equipment-profile-mercedes-benz-sprinter/
     
    During the Era when Mercedes and Chrysler were merged as DaimlerChrysler Mercedes Benz decided to export its Sprinter van series to the United States to be sold alongside Ram pick up trucks. Sold initially as the Dodge Sprinter (And Freightliner Sprinter) the van sold well in the United States despite having a higher cost than its competition. Ever since the fall of DaimlerChrysler Mercedes Benz has had to put its own branding on the van which they were initially reluctant to do fearing it would damage sales of its luxury vehicles. Quite the opposite has happened with sprinter van sales consistently high. To supplement this new slice of market share Mercedes Benz also began to sell a minivan for the first time. The Mercedes Benz Metris van like its Sprinter cousin comes in both passenger and cargo models.
     




     
     
     
     
     

    Nissan NV Passenger


     

    Nissan: In 2008 Nissan gave its American operations the green light to commence independent of medium duty trucks to compete with its rivals for a part of the market share. Nissan trucks are developed in the United States and are sold only for the U.S. and Canadian market much like Toyota does. While Toyota builds its trucks in Indiana and Kentucky, Nissan chose Mississippi for its domestic truck operation. The NV passenger van has been highly praised for its refined styling and comfortable seating for 12. Its twin the NV cargo is also popular with business owners who also own a Nissan Titan or Armada. Its smaller cousin is also sold in the United States but by a rival manufacturer under a special agreement.
     




     
     
     
     
     

    Ram Promaster 3500


     

    Chrysler: Chrysler's new owner Fiat decided to enter the van market by exporting the Fiat Ducato to the United States. The Ducato is a very common van in Europe and extremely popular choice for camper van conversions. Fiat decided to add the Promaster to its Ram lineup of commerical trucks where it is sold along side Ram Pickup trucks and its smaller twin the Promaster City. The van is a badge engineered vehicle looking exactly like its Italian counterpart.
     




     
     
     
     
     

    Chevy City Express


     

    Chevrolet: The Chevy City Express is an update to the Chevy Express/GMC Savana series of vans. The City Express is actually a badge engineered vehicle. Internationally the van is known as the Nissan NV200 and is sold in the United States by Chevrolet. These vans have the smallest engines around 1.5 or 1.6L engines coupled to a 5 or 6 speed CVT transmission. The vans are assembled for the North American Market in Mexico.
     
     
     




     
     
     
     
     

    Hyundai H350


     

    Hyundai: Expressing interest in competing in different markets in the United States it is rumored Hyundai may enter the Commercial Vehicle sector in North America. Hyundai has experience building heavy vehicles and has dominance in emerging markets. They do build buses and semi trucks but in the United States Hyundai builds shipping containers and semi trailers for trucking companies. Hyundai's new venture into luxury vehicles shows the company is open to new vehicle segments and has begun selling the H350 in Europe.
     
     
     
    Which Van Has a Place With Your Small Business?
  16. Stalliongrad
    The primary public transportation service in the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska. People Mover serves Alaska's largest city of over 300,000.


     




     

    People Mover New Flyer D40LFR


     

    Type: Public
     
    Union Representation: Not Unionized
     
    Fleet Size: 52 Low Floor Buses
     
    Routes: 14
     
    Manufacturer And Powerplant: All of the buses in the People Mover fleet come from New Flyer with 5 D40LF units and the remaining units D40LFR's. All units are powered by diesel engines as the People Mover is not a large operation and diesel tends to have lower running costs and is the most practical fuel source for low temperatures.
     



     

    People Mover New Flyer D40LF


     
    Fare Collection: There Is No Contactless Card Payment System in Anchorage. The system is not large enough to justify the cost of creating and maintaining one so all fares are collected with cash or student fare card. The standard fare is $2 for adults, $1 for Children and Seniors and free to college students.
     



     

    People Mover New Flyer D40LFR


     
    Livery: People Mover buses have are unpainted and have a white base coat and feature Blue and Green coast guard style racing stripes on the sides. The city phone number and company emblem also adorn the bus as well as slots for advertising space.
     



     

    People Mover New Flyer D40LFR


     

    Innovations: People Mover is the biggest and most developed transit network in Alaska. It provides service in Anchorage as well as the suburbs of Birchwood and Eagle River. It does provide paratransit services to disabled citizens and has one part time route which travels further out during the rush hour.
     
     
     

    People Mover


     





     
     
     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpdxdoFvf9A

  17. Stalliongrad
    (Happy 4th of July!, and a Happy Canada Day to my friends up north, thoughts and prayers for the families of those Canadian officers killed in the plane crash)


     




    Hope everyone has a great 4th of July and stays safe over the weekend (Save a burger for me at the cookout) Ill be away for a bit so I thought this would be a great time to give an update on my project car.
     
    Selection and Purchase: This first stage of beginning a project car is perhaps the hardest because if you love cars as much as me, narrowing a field of hundreds of cars down to a dozen or so can be difficult. And mulled over the various cars i was interested in for about a month and a half.
     
    I saved $3000 and weighed my options between the JDM, American and Euro cars i was interested in and ultimately decided i was going JDM. (I am half Japanese after all lol)
     
     
     



    Toyota Aristo/Lexus GS400 Vertex: I have always found the GS400 to be ascetically pleasing to look at. It was almost the first car i purchased when i was younger but i didn't have the money to buy one. Now that they have gotten older and more popular there are more aftermarket parts available for them.The 1998 Lexus GS400 i looked at was in fairly good shape but as with all vehicles you buy off of Craigslist some issues did arise. The owner took care of it but gave the car to his daughter who scratched it up a bit. The main issue with the car was that it needed a new wiring harness. A wiring harness could largely be compared to the human nervous system. All electrical systems rely on the harness for power, the car would start but none of the power functions worked because it needed a new harness. I looked at the price of a new one on Ebay and then the cost of installing it and it seemed liked a pretty fair deal but i ultimately decided i wanted my second car to be a two door. I also knew that i would be able to service the car at my local Toyota dealer.
     
     
     



    Honda CRX/DelSol/Civic/Prelude: "The Original Pocket Rocket" The best thing about the small Honda's is there are tons of them around and they are extremely cheap. They are also super inexpensive to insure, tons of parts are lying around and they are very easy to work on. I've been searching for a decent Honda CRX for a long time and still would like to purchase one. The only one's i've come across have needed extensive renovation and welding work due to rust or have been gutted and are only rolling shells and need a new engine.
     
     
     



    Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS/WRX/WRX STI: The Impreza 2.5 RS is widely regarded as one of the best Subaru models ever built. It has one of the more interesting designs and the first that introduced rallying inspired features to the average car buyer. Aftermarket support is perhaps strongest among the rallying models. Not to mention one of the most attractive sounds to come out of any JDM vehicle is the renowned rumble from a Subaru Flat 6 or 4 Boxer engine. It is however a rare sight to find one and many owners are reluctant to sell. The WRX has the same problem in that many people who own one are usually not motivated to sell and a well maintained WRX holds its value pretty well with models as old as 2003 still fetching upwards of $5000.
     
     
     



    Mazda RX8/RX7/Miata MX5: I've usually not been interested in rotaries before but the main reason why is also the reason i've considered buying one. Rotary engines are very maintenance intensive, many people who have purchased an RX8 do not realize this and many RX8s for sale have bad engines and need them replaced. This drives the price for an otherwise good car down. The RX8 i went to see needed a complete new engine but the owner was willing to sell the car for only $2000. Putting in a new engine would ease any tensions i would have about buying a used car but the other thing about Rotaries is that they are not cheap to maintain. Most work on them must be done buy a Mazda dealer. The closest Mazda dealer to me is not far but not close either. I did come across a few RX7 FDs but they can fetch almost $14,000 because of their rarity. I've looked at the Miata and they are almost as plentiful as the Civic however they are a tad bit small for me however i think a rotary swap for a Miata would definitely be fun project.
     
     
     




    Nissan 350z/300zx Fairlady: At last the 350z has started to depreciate enough for me to finally get close to buying one. The Z has always held its value for a long time because its one of the few cars that are entirely driver focused. They still command at minimum $5000 but its well worth the investment, roadsters oddly go for a lot less. Finding a good 300zx however is a difficult task because its nearly impossible to find one that hasn't been modified already.
     
     
     



    Toyota Soarer/Lexus SC 300: Perhaps one of the cheapest cars to buy to begin a drift tune the SC 300 is also a common project car. Engine swaps with larger Toyota models of similar years is common and they can be purchased at a fair price. The SC 300 is slightly larger than a car i would like to buy but it certainly made my list. The biggest draw back is that many of them have horrible interiors because they were used as daily drivers and a 20 year old Lexus interior isn't easy to replace.
     

    Whew, that was alot wasn't it? So which did i pick? I am actively searching for a well maintained CRX or a Civic, specifically the Civic EG or 5th Gen Civic Model. Admittedly I was not a huge fan of Honda but if you are building on a budget there is no better place to start than with a Honda.
     
     
     



     


    Civic EG Coupe


    The Civic EG came in 3 forms like most Civic models a Sedan, Coupe and a Hatch. One plan i do have if i find one is to use parts from an Acura Integra to boost power. This is perhaps one of the most easy cars to begin working on, if you break something you don't need to worry because there are millions of replacement parts.
     
     
     



     


    CRX Si


    I've ultimately decided on continuing to save up money and acquire more tools before buying something. I have actually contacted someone in a neighboring state about purchasing his CRX which is in fair condition. Until then I'll keep ya updated for now enjoy the only anime that ever caught my attention (better than maybe Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh/Last Airbender if it qualifies)
     
     
     

    Initial D (Stage 1) Episode 2 (English Subtitles)


     





     


    Episode 3 (English Subtitles)


     





  18. Stalliongrad
    Driving Alexandria Safely Home or DASH is the public transportation service provided to the residents of Alexandria, Virginia.


     
     
     



     
     
     

    DASH Orion V being cleaned and refueled


     
     
     

    Type: Public
     
    Union Representation: Not Unionized
     
    Fleet Size: 110 Low Floor Transit Buses
     
    Routes: 12
     
    Manufacturer And Powerplant: Because of the medium sized nature of the service, DASH procures medium and light duty transit buses at a lower cost instead of buying more expensive models with too many features. In addition, the City of Alexandria is old and has many tight narrow one way streets which require DASH to use smaller buses typically 35 feet long instead of the traditional 40. Historically most buses were procured from Orion. DASH purchased the Orion V from 1999 to 2007 when the contract was given to Gillig which specializes in Medium Duty Transit Vehicles. With the beginning of the contract with Gillig, all new DASH buses are Diesel Electric Hybrids.
     




     
     
     

    DASH Gillig Advantage Low Floor HEV (40 Foot Variant)


     

    Fare Collection: The Contactless Card Payment System in Alexandria is known as SmarTrip. Because Alexandria is also serviced by WMATA, DASH elected to join WMATA's Fare Structure and as such uses the SmarTrip Card for Fare Collection. It is used by various Transit Agencies in the DC, Maryland and Virginia area.
     




     
     
     

    WMATA SmarTrip Card


     

    Livery: DASH vehicles are quickly identified by their smart Blue, White and Yellow paint schemes which on older Orion V models hosted a layered strip effect. On newer Gillig models, swooshes and swirling themes are found. DASH operates a service known as the King Street Trolley which travels on the street after which it is named. King Street is the "Main Street" of Alexandria and King Street Trolleys are painted in a traditional Red and Gold theme. The King Street Trolley is also a free service. On the celebration of its 40th Anniversary, a DASH Orion V was stripped of its livery and given a white base coat. Children were invited to come and finger paint the bus and celebrate at a party hosted by DASH.
     




     
     
     

    DASH Gillig Phantom (35 Foot Variant) Painted by Local Children


     
     
     

    Innovations: Uniquely DASH began service in the mid 1980's after the City of Alexandria had a terrible spate of drunk driving accidents which prompted the city to offer a bus service and brought on the unique name for the agency. DASH has grown larger than the original 18 bus fleet that first served the city. Also unique is the way the agency is operated. Many cities contract their bus service to a private operator. DASH is operated by a Non-Profit organization called the Alexandria Transit Company which is wholly owned by the city, keeping the service within the public option.
     
     
     


    DASH Orion V and Gillig


     
     
     




     
     
     




  19. Stalliongrad
    A staple of American Motorsports, NASCAR creates a unique competition which is a blend of Speed, Endurance and Skill.


     




     

    NASCAR at Night


     

    Series Overview: The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing or NASCAR has its roots in the 1930's during the prohibition era when alcohol was illegal in the United States. Bootleggers who took Moonshine and Whiskey made in the Appalachian Mountains would modify their cars to escape the police chasing them over state lines. Bootleggers and Rum Runners would create secret compartments in their cars usually Ford or Chevrolet Coupes and tune the engines to be as fast as possible. Others modified their suspensions to be faster on winding back country roads. After Alcohol became legal again, the Bootleggers continued to modify their cars and eventually began to race each other for fun and pride in having the best car. In 1936, the future founder of NASCAR Bill France and 26 other drivers turned up at Daytona Beach, Florida to participate in a 250 mile race and this became the basis for what is now known as the Daytona 500. The rag tag group of drivers were eventually unified in to NASCAR by Bill France a few years later.
     
    Teams: 36 (Some Teams Field More Than One Car)
     
    First Season: 1948
     
    Next Season: 2017
     



     

    2016 Ford Fusion and Sprint Cup Car Demonstrator


     
    NASCAR Sprint Cup Car: Sticking true to its roots as Stock Car Racing, Cars competing in NASCAR races must be based on cars which can be driven "stock" on public roads. Current NASCAR rules imply the vehicles stock version must be offered with a V8 engine to compete. Most manufacturers which compete are American. Ford and Chevrolet are longtime NASCAR rivals. Dodge formerly completed in NASCAR but withdrew following financial restructuring at Chrysler. FIAT Group, the new Italian Owners of Chrysler have made it clear they will not pursue a NASCAR Return. Toyota is the only foreign brand competing although many consider Toyota to be a big part of America as many of its cars and trucks are built in Kentucky and designed in California by Americans with American Parts and Labor.
     



     

    2015 Toyota Camry NASCAR Sprint Cup Car Demonstrator


     
     
     


    Venues: NASCAR is notorious use of Oval Racetracks which use high banked corners and long straights allowing the cars to achieve their top speed. There is much criticism surrounding the decision compete primarily on Oval Racetracks only as the cars can race on other types but races are not frequently held on tracks that are not ovals. Some racetracks such as the former Infineon Raceway hosted "Road Races" on courses which featured winding turns and sharp corners.


     



     

    Not All Oval Tracks are Banked But Some Have Extreme Deep Banking Corners


     




     

    Wider Racetracks Allow for Cars to Race "3 Wide" for Up Close and Personal Style Racing


     



    Pit Stops: Perhaps one of the most famous moments of a NASCAR race is the moment the cars must pit for new tires and fuel. Because the cars move so fast and the potential for being lapped is very high during a NASCAR race pit crews have worked the pit stop down to a science. NASCAR also has very specific rules regarding pitting. Pit Crews usually have 6 men. 2 people carry the tires to the car, 2 change the tires on the car, 1 man jacks the car off of the ground and another carries the fuel can to refuel the car. If in the event cars are being lapped, a 7th man is allowed and he usually clears the windshield of dirt and debris as well as clearing the air intakes from any debris. When a yellow flag or caution is presented pit road is closed until the pace car controls the speed of the field. After the pace car has the cars speed under control a flagman and a light will signal Pit Road as open allowing drivers to enter. Pit Road has a speed limit and Cup Cars do not have speedometers, drivers must gauge how fast they are going based on their RPM tachometer reading.


     




     

    NASCAR Pit Stop During The Daytona 500


     
     
     



     



    Points System: NASCAR's point system is known as the Chase for the Sprint Cup which is essentially NASCAR's version of the NFL Postseason or the NBA Finals. 16 Drivers who win races over the course of the regular season are eligible for the 10 race "Chase". These 16 drivers compete against each other as well as the regular field of 40 cars. Drivers eligible for the chase have special yellow markings on their cars while they are still in the chase. The Chase is a Formula One style knockout system with 4 drivers knocked out after the 3rd race. The drivers eligible of the chase become more competitive and as the drivers are knocked out eligible drivers become fewer. Winning a Race while eligible guarantees a spot for the next race.


     


    Crashes and Close Calls


     


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmEWZAhRKRY

     
     
     


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOUTnoXBvsE

  20. Stalliongrad
    The Nassau Inter-County Express or NICE serves Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York State as well as portions of Queens in New York City.


     



     

    NICE New Flyer Xcelsior XN40


     

    Type: Public/Private, Service privately operated by Transdev
     
    Union Representation: All NICE Bus Operators are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181
     
    Fleet Size: 308 Low Floor Buses, 122 Paratransit Vehicles
     
    Routes: 38
     
    Manufacturer and Powerplant: NICE is unique in that all of its buses are entirely powered by Compressed Natural Gas. NICE acquired its oldest Orion V units from Foothill Transit in California and operated approximately 70 in total many of them formerly in service with NYCT/MTA in New York City. NICE began to update the fleet again in 2015 with an order of 52 Xcelsior XN40 buses from New Flyer. Funding has been approved for 70 more to completely phase out the remaining Orion V units.
     




     

    NICE New Flyer Xcelsior XN40


     

    Fare Collection: There is currently no Contactless Card Payment System in Nassau County. Because of its proximity to New York City and the history of the service, NICE falls under the NYCT/MTA sphere of influence and as such uses MetroCard for fare collection. Transfers are still issued with coins.
     



     

    NYCT/MTA MetroCard


     

    Livery: The previous NICE livery hosted blue and orange stripes on a white backdrop but with the purchase of new vehicles the livery was updated to have orange and white the dominant colors and have blue coast guard style racing stripes on the side fairings
     


    .


    NICE Orion V


     

    Innovations: In the 1970s the NYCT/MTA expanded to provide service into Nassau County by purchasing 11 private bus companies and merged them into one entity. In the 1980s the service was reorganized into MTA Long Island Bus and operated until 2010. In 2010 Nassau County and the NYCT/MTA had began a funding dispute with the MTA asking Nassau County to increase its contribution to the service by over $17 Million. Nassau County had provided the MTA with $9 Million and accused the MTA of wasting money and providing inefficient service. By 2012 Nassau County ousted the MTA as its transit provider and chose a private contractor in the form of Veolia Transportation (now called Transdev). Nassau County and Veolia Transportation re-branded the network as NICE and repainted the fleet making NICE one of the youngest bus networks on the East Coast. By opting for a private contractor Nassau County estimates it saves $32 Million a year despite the cuts Transdev has had to make to adjust for a lower operating budget. NICE Buses are equipped with Talking bus features when turning to improve safety.
     




     

    NICE New Flyer Xcelsior XN40


     
     
     

    NICE at Work


     




     
     
     




  21. Stalliongrad
    Public Transit is a need for millions of citizens everyday, and because it provides an essential service the day to day execution of that service must be as consistent as possible. However sometimes corporate greed and profits and overshadow customer service and safety.
     




     
     
     

    West Vancouver Transit New Flyer Xcelsior XDE 40


     
     
     

    Overview: The day to day operation of any transit service is an expensive undertaking, and this is where the issue begins. Most transit services are funded with taxpayer money, the transit workers are government employees and the vehicles used are owned by the government as well. This is called the Public Option. Most major cities operate their transit networks this way because it means they have full control of the system and decisions are made directly by the government. However some governments do not have enough money to effectively run their transit agencies (or wish to spend money on other things) and hire a private contractor. These are private companies which specialize in operating public transportation networks for an annual fee. This is the Private Option. The Workers are not government employees, The taxpayer money is given to the private company to operate the system, and sometimes the vehicles are not owned by the government.
     
    Both have pros and cons but it is widely accepted that the public option is better for the workers who run the system and the riders who depend on it every day.
     
     
     
    Private Operators:
     
     
     





    Founded: 1999 (after acquisition of Laidlaw)



    Main Office: Cincinnati, Ohio



    Corporate Offices: Aberdeen, Scotland



    Industry: Fixed Route, Paratransit, School Bus, Shuttle Bus Operations, Vehicle Management Services


     

    First Transit is the American Subsidiary of British Multinational transportation conglomerate First Group. First Group acquired several American private transportation firms and merged them into one of the largest private operators in the United States. First Transit handles public transportation services while its twin company First Student operates private school bus operations for school districts.
     




     
     
     

    Founded: 2011



    Main Office: Paris, France



    Services: Fixed Route, Paratransit


     

    Formerly called Veolia Transportation, Transdev is a French transportation company operating transit networks all over the world. It sees most of its business in the Francophone countries. Transdev's U.S. operations have grown to service over 10 major U.S. cities and many smaller municipalities.
     




     
     
     

    Founded: 1975



    Main Office: Dallas, Texas



    Services: Fixed Route, Paratransit


     

    MV Transportation is the largest private transit operator in the United States. It operates over 190 contracts in 28 states, Canada and Saudi Arabia.
     
     
     
    Benefits of Private Option: Because the day to day operations of the transit system are run by the private contractor, it is often the cheaper option to choose for local governments. Private Contractors are paid by the Government with Taxpayer money to operate the service but the fares collected always go back to the Government. The Government doesn't have to worry about planning routes, setting fares or maintenance of vehicles because this is all handled by the contractor. The Government often appoints a liaison to oversee the contractor to ensure standards are adhered to.
     

    Consequences of Private Option: When public transit services are privatized, the contractor has an incentive to keep as much of the money given to them by the government. The Contractor will often keep money meant to operate the service, and this leads to problems. Contractors will refuse to spend money on Bus maintenance leading to unsafe buses. Paying lower wages creates higher turnover rates. Not paying bus drivers enough money leads to less talented drivers behind the wheel, thus that transit system will have a far higher accident rate. Because the workers of the transit system are not government employees, they are often paid less and do not receive benefits. Transit workers are are sometimes denied their legal right to unionize because the contractor will threaten to fire them.
     




     

    Montgomery County (Maryland) Transit Ride On Gillig Low Floor


     

    In Montgomery County, Maryland the County Government hired First Transit as a contractor to operate its Ride On Bus service. Montgomery County, Maryland is one of two counties in the state which border Washington DC and many of the commuters rely on public transport to get to their jobs in the government. First Transit began to slack in service and buses did not arrive on time, driver and mechanic wages were cut and the company asked for more money to operate the service. The county eventually restored the public option and service has improved so much they have expanded and added more buses and routes because ridership is so high.
     
    Look into your local transit agency and see if your network is public or privately operated.
  22. Stalliongrad
    Pickup Trucks are as American as Baseball and Apple Pie, but ever since the great recession Americans have found themselves downsizing while still needing the utility of the Pickup. Just as well, flagship pickup trucks from all manufacturers have gotten larger, more luxurious and more expensive taking them out of the reach of the "working man".
     
    To solve this manufacturers have stepped up competition in the midsize pickup market. Midsize pickups tend to be toned down versions of the flagship model available at a more reasonable price. They often share a platform with a midsize or compact SUV to minimize cost.
     




     

    Chevrolet Colorado Z71


     
    General Motors: GM jumped into the midsize pickup market in 2004 when it replaced its even smaller Chevrolet S-10 with a larger vehicle, the Chevrolet Colorado and its GMC Twin the GMC Canyon. Ever since its introduction the "Coloryanon" has sold in very high numbers consistently showcasing that there is indeed heavy demand for a stable, reliable vehicle in this sector. GM sold this vehicle internationally using its alliance with Isuzu Trucks to sell to customers in Asia where it was branded as the Isuzu D-Max. The Chevrolet Colorado has been so successful it has been Motor Trend's Truck of the Year for both 2015 and 2016. Most of its success is attributed to its extremely fair price starting at only $20,000 for regular cab and gets as high as $24,000 for the extended cab. Far cheaper than its larger cousin the Chevrolet Silverado.
     



     

    Toyota Tacoma TRD 4WD


     
    Toyota: Toyota has very little to prove with its Tacoma pickup truck as they have been known to run well over 20 years and as proven by the hosts of Top Gear its nearly impossible to kill one. The Tacoma has earned a strong reputation since its introduction in 1995 being widely known as a capable and reliable vehicle. Toyota Trucks are among the last of a dying breed refusing to bend to modern norms of CVT transmissions and Trucks based off of a Crossover SUV platform. Like its brother the Toyota 4Runner, Toyota has refused to compromise true off-road 4WD capability for fuel economy and customers like this. The new Tacoma is slightly larger than the previous model but it is still dwarfed by the Toyota Tundra. Toyota Tacoma sales skyrocketed in 2015 when the new model was revealed in Detroit. Internationally the vehicle is known as the Toyota Hilux. Despite the Toyota being a Japanese brand, Americans embrace Toyota as one of their own as the Tacoma is largely assembled in the U.S. with American Parts and Labor in San Antonio, Texas as well as a plant in Tijuana, Mexico. The Tacoma starts well equipped at $24,000 and can be upgraded to a luxury package at $26,000. Consistently selling nearly 200,000 trucks every year the Tacoma won Truck of the Year in 2004.
     
     
     



     


    2012 Jeep Gladiator Concept


     
    Chrysler: With the departure of the Dodge Dakota, Chrysler no longer produces a mid-sized pickup but has expressed interest in returning to the sector with a Jeep Wrangler based pickup truck. When Chrysler was purchased by the Italian Automotive giant, Fiat Group, a restructuring of the companies at Chrysler have been taking shape. Fiat wants Dodge to be the "Performance" Marque of the Chrysler group. Producing fast and exciting cars that urge you to red line (hence Dodge's new logo). Chrysler remains the "Luxury" Marque producing cars that make you think twice about spending too much on a comparable German sedan and Jeep is to be the "Utilitarian" marque producing trucks that are not afraid to get dirty off road. However the early attempts at this formula have proven to have roadblocks. Fiat attempted to eliminate the entire line of Dodge Ram pickup trucks because they are not in line with the direction of the "Dodge" line up. This was protested by all North American executives at Chrysler and Fiat was forced to admit it was in unfamiliar waters. Fiat compromised by removing Dodge Ram pickups from the Dodge lineup and created a new brand simply called "Ram". Ram pickups are the same trucks sold by Dodge but now have no Dodge branding on them. Because of the storied history of these trucks North American Chrysler executives have protested Fiat's attempts to stop their production as they would then fall behind both Ford and Chevrolet in the pickup truck market. Fiat has expressed interest in producing a line of pickup trucks under the Jeep brand to resolve this issue however it has been seen as a risky move as Dodge has intense fans of their pickup truck line who may not be receptive to a Jeep change over. The Jeep Gladiator is rumored to begin production in 2017 its price may be comparable to a standard Jeep Wrangler which starts at about $24,000.
     




     


    Ford Ranger Wildtrak (Spring 2017 US Release)


     
    Ford: Ford left the midsize pickup truck market in 2011 largely because most of the pickups it sells are of the bigger flagship model the famed F-150. However in recent years the F-150 has become even larger and more luxurious raising its starting price to nearly $30,000. Even though the F-150 is still one of the best pickup trucks ever produced it now means that people who were likely to buy a Ford pickup will look elsewhere because they are too expensive. Ford has also noticed high sales of the Toyota Tacoma and Chevrolet Colorado and have no vehicle to compete in this sector. To compensate, Ford recently announced it would be bringing the international Version of the Ford Ranger to the United States, sold mostly in South America, Australia and Southeast Asia to the United States after it was given a Ford Edge inspired exterior redesign. Ford has also seemed to realize that it no longer produces a truck aimed for primarily 4WD off-roading. Vehicles in the 4WD sector have also been selling very well such as the Jeep Wrangler which has nearly no competition because all manufacturers have turned their 4WD SUV's into crossover vehicles. The Ford Explorer is now a crossover meant for city driving. The Larger Expedition is too expensive to compete and its not intended to be a true off roader. Ford announced it would also be bringing back the loved Ford Bronco which will share a platform with the new Ranger. The new Bronco will be aimed at competing with the Jeep Wrangler for the 4WD SUV market.
     
     
     



     

    2016 Nissan Frontier


     
    Nissan: The only other Japanese manufacturer selling in this segment (The Honda Ridgeline did not make this list because it is far larger and more expensive) Nissan is at an unusual crossroads with the Frontier in the North American market. Nissan sells many different types of trucks which are not available in the US and Canada but are sold in Asia and the Middle East such as the Nissan Patrol and Nissan X-Trail. The international version of the Nissan Frontier, known as the Nissan Navara has already received an update and looks similar to the newer Nissan Pathfinder and Murano models however, Nissan is attempting to permanently cement its name in the American pickup truck battle for good. Recently Nissan entered into an alliance with Cummins, producer of extremely durable diesel engines which are also offered in Dodge Ram pickups. Nissan updated its flagship pickup truck model the Nissan Titan and it is currently offered with a Cummins Diesel. The Newer Nissan Titan is now on par with all of its competitors in the flagship pickup segment coming in slightly larger than the Toyota Tundra. However the Frontier has looked exactly the same since 2004 and fans of the truck are itching for an update. Nissan North American executives have already released a statement claiming the International version will not be coming to the US and Canada leaving many puzzled as to what the future of this truck will be.
     



     

    2016 Nissan Navara (International Release Only)


     
     
     
    Pickup Trucks can be as polarizing as politics or religion in America. Which is your favorite?
  23. Stalliongrad
    Among one of the first bus designs utilizing the newly mandated "Low-Floor" designs the Orion VI has an interesting history in the Hall of Transit Greats.


     
     
     



     
     
     

    WMATA Orion VI


     
     
     
     
     



     
     
     

    Manufacturer Quick Facts:


     
     
     

    Founded: 1975



    Ceased Operations: 2013



    Main Office: Mississauga, Ontario



    Industry: Transit Buses



    Notable Product: Orion II, Orion V, Orion VI, Orion VII


     
     
     



     
     
     

    TTC Orion VI


     
     
     

    Model Quick Facts:


     
     
     

    Vehicle Length: 40 ft



    Vehicle Width: 102 Inches



    Engine Options: Detroit Diesel Series 50 Diesel Engines, CNG Retrofits



    Transmission Options: Allison Transmissions



    Assembly: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada



    Oriskany, New York, United States


     
     
     



     
     
     

    NYCT/MTA Orion VI


     

    Overview: In the early 1990's the United States and Canadian Governments both began to pass legislation requiring buildings and public areas to be more accessible to the disabled and mobility impaired. This legislation eventually found its way to the realm of public transportation which until previously only required buses to have wheelchair ramps. However, wheelchair ramps on a bus with a "High-Floor" design (buses with steps on the entrance door) are complex and often impractical. Because they have a higher floor design the ramps must lift passengers in wheelchairs up off of the ground at an unsafe height making passengers uncomfortable. Bus manufacturers responded by designing buses with "Low-Floors" and eliminating the steps completely. The historic Orion V which used a high floor was succeeded by the Orion VI which had a lower floor. The Orion VI begins the era of the low floor design along with its competitors such as the Gillig Low Floor and New Flyer's D and C Model Ranges.
     




     
     
     

    LAMTA Orion VI


     

    However, like any new first generation product the Orion VI was plagued with design flaws and complications due to its drastic design changes. First, the Orion VI came with an notoriously awkward seating layout which was not ideal for larger transit networks because the bus did not have many seats nor enough standing room.
     




     
     
     

    Orion VI Interior Seating Layout


     

    Most of this was due to the engine compartment being inside of the passenger compartment (note in the right rear of the picture). The engine being inside of the passenger area consumed approximately 5 seats. Directly next to the engine was a bench of 3 seats and in front of the engine was a row of single seats which is extremely impractical. The first row of three seats on either side could be folded for any passengers in a wheelchair. This awkward design is one of the many reasons transit operators sought to replace their fleet of Orion VI's as quickly as possible. There were two main differences in layout between the Canadian and American versions of the Orion VI, With Canadian models using two doors at the front and rear of the bus while American models used two doors at the front and center of the bus. The Canadian variant offered two extra rows of seating.
     




     
     
     

    OC Transpo Orion VI (Note the Door Placement of the Canadian variant)


     

    Next the Orion VI was also among the first generation of of transit buses to implement hybrid technologies which at the time were notoriously unreliable. Many transit companies opted to keep their fleet of Orion VI's as Diesel only because of these complications.
     
    Finally, the last and perhaps most serious complication of the Orion VI is the fact that these units were known to catch fire fairly often leading many of the larger transit networks such as WMATA in Washington DC and NYCT/MTA in New York to replace them far earlier than their full service life. Fires were caused by both the engine and braking systems after an Orion investigation. After this inquiry Orion retrofitted all Orion VI's and the fire problem still persisted.
     




     
     
     

    WMATA Orion VI destroyed by spontaneous engine fire


     

    All 96 of the Orion VI's in service with WMATA were pulled from service due to this unusual defect and replaced them with older Orion V and Flxible Metro B units until the debut of the New Flyer Xcelsior which was still in development at the time. NYCTA/MTA in New York City followed suit as well auctioning off their Orion VI's to private companies who were willing to by them.
     


    WMATA Press Release on Orion VI fires (2007)


     
     
     

    http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=1521

     

    Because of these difficulties, finding an intact Orion VI is actually somewhat difficult making this one of the rarest transit buses of the modern era. Many Orion VI buses (especially in the New York area) have been refurbished and converted into double decker buses for tourist and sightseeing applications. The Orion VI was cancelled by Orion which used the lessons learned from the Orion VI and put them into a newer Orion V which continued production after the Orion VI was shelved putting the Orion VI in an unusual position of being succeeded by its predecessor.
     


    The Orion VI may not deserve a place in the hall of the transit greats, but due to its interesting history certainly deserves an honorable mention.


     
     
     

    WMATA Orion VI


     
     
     




     
     
     

    LAMTA Orion VI


     
     
     




  24. Stalliongrad
    Started by former Police Officers and their financial backers, Carbon Motors set out to build the very first purpose built police car but met a sad end due to heavy lobbying against their product.
     



     

    Carbon Motors E7 Patrol Car Factory Demonstrator


     




     

    Manufacturer Quick Facts:


     

    Founded: 2003



    Ceased Operations: 2013



    Main Office: Connersville, Indiana



    Notable Product: E7, TX7


     



     

    Carbon Motors E7 Patrol Car Factory Demonstrator


     

    Overview: Carbon Motors was founded by a Former Police Officer and a Former Executive of the Ford Motor Company. The Company aimed to produce purpose built police cars only available to police departments and the Government. The car was a result of surveys done which recorded what features police officers would like to see in future vehicles that would make their jobs easier. Officers spend a great deal of time in their "office on wheels" and Carbon Motors sought to improve police vehicle design.
     



     

    Carbon Motors E7 Patrol Car Factory Demonstrator


     
    The E7 was built with a long list of features that police officers claimed would make their job much easier. One of the biggest was the suicide rear opening doors. Officers claim it can be difficult to put unruly suspects into the rear of a vehicle with conventional doors because it obstructs the officers while trying to put a seat belt onto the suspect. The E7 had a rear seat with moldings for the arms of handcuffed individuals to make this easier. The rear was also made of entirely plastic materials to make cleaning the vehicle easier. The floor had a drain plug which meant that officers would be able to wash the back of the vehicle of bodily fluids often left behind by detained individuals such as vomit and urine.
    Up front the E7 hosted much larger front seats than any other police car. one of the main complaints Officers had about traditional patrol cars is that the seats were never designed to complement them when they were wearing a patrol belt. Officers patrol belts are full of tools they need for their job and must be worn the entire duration of their shift. The E7 had larger front seats to solve this problem.
     



     

    Carbon Motors E7 Patrol Car Factory Demonstrator


     
    Police Officers are taught in the police academy that in the event of a shootout, the front doors of the patrol car should be used as a shield from oncoming fire. The E7 used this innovative training technique and made it even safer by placing thick sheets of armor inside the front doors giving officers more confidence in high risk situations. Among other features the E7 featured Red White and Blue LED lighting all around the vehicle to make it brighter when making traffic stops and arriving on scene. One of the most common causes of officer death is being struck while at the road side. Every corner of the E7 was covered in LED lighting to make the vehicle more conspicuous. There was however no Roof Mounted Light Bar. Carbon Motors Integrated the roof lighting inside of the roof instead claiming roof mounted light bars reduced drag and required holes to be drilled into the roof. Spot Lamps were mounted into the rear of the side view mirrors and the front mounted push bar often used for the PIT maneuver were also integrated into the body. The car was also equipped with sensors which could detect the presence of dangerous materials such as WMD's and infrared cameras in case of chemical attacks. The interior of the car could be air tight and sealed. The E7 was marketed as a vehicle for both police work and homeland security.
     



     

    Carbon Motors E7 Patrol Car Factory Demonstrator Interior


     
    Because Police Cars are normal cars equipped for police duty they are retrofitted with often very bulky control panels and boxes which activate sirens, lights and the police laptop computer. The E7 eliminated this by integrating all of these into a touchscreen dashboard computer and console mounted controls. Under the hood the E7 used a BMW 6 Cylinder Diesel Engine capable of delivering similar performance to other police cars but having the added benefit of being eco friendly and lasting a lot longer.
     
    The E7 received several orders from many police departments but none were ever filled due to the end of the project.
     
    Carbon Motors requested several loans from the Federal Government nearly all of them were denied due to "financial instability of the company". Carbon Motors and the E7 were always fighting an uphill battle and eventually lost.
     
    Police cars require many parts from several different manufacturers and all of them would have lost business if the E7 had become a reality.
     
    Federal Signal and Whelen which both manufacture emergency vehicle lighting and sirens protested the E7 as the vehicle would have a strong negative impact on the industry if the E7 came to fruition.
     
    Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet all of which jointly share the market for police vehicles also protested as a purpose built police car would destroy all competition in this sector. All of these companies lobbied to destroy the E7 and won.
     
    Carbon Motors was eventually forced to admit defeat and closed its doors before completing any orders.
     

    Carbon Motors E7


     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV-NujtBKdQ

     


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2vHDMhIfvE

  25. Stalliongrad
    I've been taking a break from the forums for a bit to work a fair amount of overtime at my job in order to start a new hobby.
     



     

    Team Hoonigan Ford Fiesta ST


     
    Being part of the car culture is a fun and exciting way to express oneself and can be a great hobby. Building a project car involves purchasing a used car at a relatively low price and making it unique and personal.
     
    Purchasing A Project Car: The first question one must ask is Japan, USA or Europe? Buying a project car means buying a cheap car that can be easily and quickly modified (although some projects take longer than others) and personalized.
     
    JDM: Japanese project cars are by far the easiest to purchase and modify because of the secondhand price value and easiest to modify because many Japanese cars have vast amounts of aftermarket supplies and parts to choose from.
     



     

    Honda Civic Project


     
    By far the most common Japanese project is the Honda Civic, for many reasons. Firstly, Civics can be found almost everywhere and used can be bought for a little as $800. The Honda Civic is a basic A to B vehicle that is intensely reliable which also contributes to the fact that so many of them are still on the road today. The Honda Civic is also cheap to insure, Adding a vehicle to your insurance plan can be expensive depending on the model but Honda Civics are among the cheapest vehicles to insure. Aftermarket and spare parts and even engines for the Honda Civic are very easy to find which is big factor for a project car.
     



     

    Acura Integra Type R Project


     
    The Integra shares most of its project car status with the Civic because they are similar. Honda produced the Integra as a sporty two door in the 90's and its status in the car culture is solidified. The Integra is a Civic with a much better engine and those who are modifying for power should chose the Integra over the Civic. Integra enthusiasts often try to find the rare Integra Type R which comes with a more powerful Honda VTEC engine.
     



     

    Toyota Supra Project


     
    The Toyota Supra is highly coveted by JDM car enthusiasts because of its overall form factor. The Supra was one of the last Toyota sports cars that provided a true driver focused experience. Its 2JZ Engine is legendary as well as its interior. The Supra had a dashboard which completely faces and surrounds the driver making anyone feel like a true race car driver. The Supra however is perhaps one of the most expensive projects to purchase. A 1993 Toyota Supra can cost anyway between $34,000 and $40,000 because of their demand and rarity. A few have been imported from Japan taking advantage of the US Import law saying vehicles can be imported to the United States after they reach 20 years old. Right Hand Drive Supra's have also made it state side.
     
    Honorable JDM Mentions would include: Nissan 240sx, Nissan 300zx, Subaru WRX/Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Acura RSX, Toyota Celica, Scion TC/XB, Honda Civic Del Sol, Mazda Miata, Lexus SC/GS/LS, Infiniti G35
     
    The Stars And Stripes: American cars can be primed for a project at relatively low cost as well and some models can have just as many aftermarket parts as their Japanese counterparts. However with American cars the overall tune and mod list is usually different. American cars are often bigger and have larger V8 engines which can sometimes make some American cars expensive to personalize.
     



     

    Ford Mustang Meeting


     
    Ford Mustang: The Mustang is perhaps the most deserving to be at the top of the American portion of this list with over 50 years of production the Mustang is as arguably common as the Civic. The Mustang is often modded for both looks and power and depending on the year can be done within budget. Older Mustangs from the 60s should be avoided unless the project budget is higher as parts for older mustangs can be difficult to find. Newer mustangs also should be avoided for awhile as the 2015+ models haven't had time to depreciate in value or have enough aftermarket support at good cost. The Best mustangs are in the middle ground from the "Foxbody" from the 80s all the way up to about the 05 model
     



     

    Chevrolet Camaro SS Project


     
    Chevrolet Camaro: The Camaro is equally on par with the Mustang with ease of customization and modding. The Camaro became more popular to mod after its appearance in the Transformers franchise. Most Chevy fans opting for a Camaro often search for the more powerful SS variant as its a better base to start from when modding for power. Aftermarket supplies and equipment for the Camaro are also plentiful. Like the Mustang the Camaro can be found in great numbers and the newer models have now had enough time to decrease in value making finding one all the more easier.
     




     

    Ford Crown Victoria Project


     
    Ford Crown Victoria: After serving and protecting, some Crown Vic's have managed to find a new life as part of the modding community. Old Police Cruisers can be purchased for as little as $1000 when police departments auction off their old vehicles. The CVPI or Crown Victoria Police Interceptor was equipped with a powerful V8 engine a stiffer suspension and body on frame construction to better help police officers during pursuits. All of the extra features of the Police Package make the Crown Vic a top pick for American modders. Ford has replaced the Crown Vic with a new police interceptor and now the last Crown Vic's built are finally ready to retire from police service and be auctioned off.
     
    American Honorable Mentions: Chevrolet Impala SS, Dodge Charger, Dodge Neon SRT, Dodge Challenger (Expensive To Modify), Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Caprice, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Pontiac Grand Prix, Pontiac Trans Am,
     
     
     
    Euro Tune: European Cars have always touted themselves as being the best of the best, however starting a European project can be difficult and expensive because of their complex nature. European cars often have engines that only certain mechanics understand and in the US aftermarket support for European cars often ranks last. This means that aftermarket parts are more difficult to find and expensive. Older European cars are often able to escape this stigma however a project car should be simple enough that even the most basic shade tree mechanic with a simple ratchet set would be able to get under the hood.
     



     

    Mercedes Benz S55 AMG Project


     

    Mercedes Benz S Class: Few vehicles in the world exude the word "power" better than a Mercedes S Class. Most people modding an S class will opt for the W220 or W140 Models which have the most aftermarket support for both visual and engine mods. The S class being the Flagship Mercedes Benz model was always the first to have new technologies fitted. The W220 also came with a V8 which is known to be fairly reliable. These models however suffer from transmission issues and should be replaced after purchase. Like most German cars the best aftermarket materials come from German manufacturers and must be shipped to the US such as Meisterschaft exhaust systems for Mercedes and BMW models.
     



     

    Volkswagen Jetta Project


     
    Volkswagen Jetta: The Jetta is essentially the German Civic. It can be found in large numbers and it can be purchased for a very low price aftermarket. The Jetta has a very strong cultural following and thus has tons of aftermarket support. Older models in good condition can fetch higher asking prices. Its VR6 Engines give the Jetta a distinctive exhaust note VW fans enjoy. The Jetta is also intensely reliable and its older models are basic enough that beginners can work on them and feel comfortable and not overwhelmed.
     



     

    BMW M5 Project


     
    BMW M5/5Series: The BMW 5 Series is one the more popular Euro projects to start in the US as they are fairly common but their owners are often very much aware of their value and will not let them go for cheap. Most BMW 5 Fans search for the BMW M5's older variant which was equipped with BMW's V10 engine and was later retired. BMW switched back to a V8 in the newer model making the old one desirable. BMW's are often a headache for beginner mechanics and should be avoided unless you have a dedicated specialist mechanic on hand.
     
    Euro Tune Honorable Mentions: Audi S4/A4/A8/TT BMW 7 Series (2002-2006), Volkswagen Beetle, Volkswagen Golf, Mercedes Benz SL/300/190E/Diesel, Jaguar S-Type (Expensive)
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