No, this isn’t another rant about how the media and advertisers are leaving out Christmas from their respective vernacular (heavily, and quite offensively handled by last night’s episode of Community)- its that time of year where I point you back to:

How not to end up in a ditch

As a bonus tip, avoid the ever-relevant “You have received a Hallmark e-Card from ‘A Friend’”, which invariably contains a link to an executable file which promptly installs itself and compromises your computer, AKA Bad news.

Merry Christmas and happy driving!

For the past couple months, I’ve been developing a project in my mind. It all started with a conversation I was having with a coworker about computer desks. I decided that I’d like one similar to this: the V1 Chair. Since they were silly enough to post practically blueprints on their website, I thought it’d be great to build. I did some research and the price for the metal would have been around $200 for steel, $300 for aluminum. I wanted the steel so that I’d have an excuse to play with the welder, but other opportunities arose.

About 2 months or so ago, I was having a look at some of the IT bathroom reading material and happened upon this article in Popular Science. I instantly knew what I wanted from then on. Instead of a Battlestar Galactica theme, I wanted a car theme.

For the sake of knowing the context of my forthcoming decision-making, I should let you know that recently my family bought a Grand Prix. Its the last body style and I absolutely love the interior.

Continuing on- I found a website that specializes in selling parts from late model, totaled vehicles. The company was called P@m’s @ut0 (no, there aren’t really symbols in the name, but I will not write out their name nor link to their site because the tremendous amount of hassle they gave me, the inaccuracy of their site, and the low level of competancy exhibited). Through that site, I gained more of an idea of how I was going to bring this project about: I needed a seat and a dashboard.

I struggled mentally with the disbelief that I’d actually follow through with this and that even if I did build this .. computing center, it would turn out horribly.

Through some of my brother’s contacts and with a mild investment, I took the leap of faith.

The Dashboard via totaled Grand Prix

As this is the first step to prove to myself that I’m serious, I hope to bring you updates as I progress. Perhaps I’ll even get a spot on Pop Sci

Next Steps? Get the seat and start rigging a frame for the dash.

If you’re from an area that regularly receives snow (such as NY) and you actually go outside to experience said frozen water crystals, then you know that getting snow rubbed in your face is probably the least favored thing to have happen to you- except maybe sliding off the road and ending up face first in a ditch.

I thought I’d share some of my tips on winter-weather driving. Forget what the DMV says about winter driving, listen to me instead (I’m kidding, pay attention y’all- that’s why I included the link).

Windshield

• Keep it defrosted! Start your defroster when you start your car and give it some time to heat up the windshield. The last thing you want is to be just pulling out of a driveway and suddenly you can’t see a thing (breath + cold windshield = fog).
• Get all the ice and snow off the outside of the windows. Leaving frozen precip will guarantee foggy windows.
• Don’t scrape the car itself. Besides leaving scratches, the ice breaking free from your car might take paint chips with it.
• Top off the washer fluid reservoir frequently. With the amount of salt used on the roads, its just a matter of time before its on your car.
• Winter wipers are a good investment and are usually pretty cheap (~$10 each).
• Don’t forget the rear window and defroster.
• Clear off your lights.

Gas

• Always make sure you have plenty of gas. This ensures that you’ll live longer if you get stranded.
• Keep the tank at least 50% full. Water/snow has a tendency to get into the tank and freeze in the gas lines. This will make it impossible to start your car. Keeping the tank mostly full will lower the risk of this happening.
• You’ll notice that during the winter your mpg’s will go down. This is because air is denser when it is cold and the car will compensate, adding in more fuel to the mixture. Simple physics tells you that this allows for increased horsepower as well. Add in “spirited” parking lot driving and a 5 mpg hit can been noticed.

Engine

• Make sure your car isn’t running straight water for coolant. Use 50/50 or as recommended to avoid the block freezing.
• Make sure to change your oil every 3000 miles or as instructed to make sure your engine is a happy engine. Water in the oil is not a good sign, as this can freeze in the lines.
• Check your brake, power steering, and transmission fluid levels as well. This is the lifeblood of your car!

Tires

• Make sure your tires have adequate tread depth and are not “sport” or “GT” or anything like that.
• Science says that when it gets colder out, the air pressure in your tires goes down. I’ve had 2 flats already because of this. Make sure to keep the tires at the recommended pressure. Over-inflating tires might save a little gas and under-inflated tires might increase dry-surface traction, but so much as a 5 psi variance either way from the recommended pressure has drastic abnormal tire-wear implications.

Driving Habits

• Allow plenty of time. Rushing is never a good idea. It easily takes a good 5 minutes to warm up the car.
• If the weather is really bad, stay at home.
• Don’t pull out in front of people. Besides the lowered braking ability if the roads are slippery, chances are you’ll spin the tires pulling out in front of them.
• Don’t go fast. There’s just no reason to. If the snow/ice doesn’t get you, the salt will. Salty roads don’t offer much traction.
• Don’t go extremely slowly. Even in the worst circumstances, 25 mph should be the absolute minimum. If visibility is good but traction is limited, 35 mph on a state road (55mph limit) is decent. Driving excessively slowly puts you at risk of getting hit from behind or, in an attempt to slow down or pass, puts the other car in a ditch.
• Avoid roads that haven’t been plowed. Just. Don’t. Even. Try.
• If, for some reason, your car becomes disabled and you have to leave it by the side of the road, get as far over and put on the blinkers! It doesn’t matter how bright and sunny it is out, night falls eventually and snow happens, and if your car is in the way and people can’t see it…
• If you get stuck, make sure any straps you get towed by are attached securely to the frame.
• Lastly, don’t forget some granola bars, blankets, and cell phone when you leave the house. They just may save your life.

Disclaimer: Always use caution and common sense while driving. Obey all traffic and safety laws. Buckle up! Remember that this post is not the final word and may not necessarily be true in all circumstances. While we try to be a helpful outlet to you, we are not responsible for how you drive and the resultant effects. In other words, don’t come crying to us when you wrap your car around a light pole doing crazy donuts in a parking lot just because you heeded our (my) advice to keep your tires at the correct pressure.