26 things I've learned over the past 26 years of driving
MANILA, Philippines - Plus 1 wish...
1. You can never have enough cupholders.
2. Express up driver’s side windows are NOT universal. But they should be.
3. A stick shift is still a lot of fun.
4. Not all automatics are worth the option.
5. Cheap gas is just that. Always get the best.
6. If you want it to rain, have your car washed.
7. There really is a replacement for displacement: valvetrain wizardry.
8. A diesel engine may have more torque, but it will never sound awesome. Unless you’re talking an Audi Le Mans racer.
9. It is pointless to harp about traffic. It will never be solved.
10. It is pointless to call out the people who have a say at managing traffic. They really don’t get it.
11. And it is pointless to tell people to stop turning on their hazard lights at the first sign of rain. Maybe they just like the damn blinkers.
12. Knowing how to parallel park is a sign of good driving skills.
13. So is the lost art of the double-clutch downshift.
14. Electronic E-brakes take the fun out of J-turns. Not that you would ever have to do one in real life.
15. In a Filipino movie, stunt cars will always be decades-old junkers.
16. In a Hollywood movie, the stunt car will depend on who is the sponsor.
17. Texting while driving is a dangerous bad habit. But chances are you’ll do it anyway.
18. Jeepneys and tricycles will probably be with us for another century. Unless Congress finally bans them outright. So write your Congressman.
19. If you want to appreciate your car more, wash it yourself at least once a month.
20. 26 years ago the most exciting car was the “box-type” Lancer. Today, the Lancer is just one of dozens of bewilderingly good products to choose from.
21. 26 years ago an automatic was a rare option. Today it is the default choice of thousands of buyers.
22. But I still love stick shifts.
23. 26 years ago the seatbelt was rarely used. Today everybody buckles up as a matter of course.
24. 26 years ago there was a high probability the stereo of your car would chew up your cassettes. Today, we take USB and Bluetooth connectivity for granted.
25. Just when you’re beginning to enjoy low fuel prices, along will come another price increase.
26. 26 years from today, electric cars will be as common as… cupholders!
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