Normal Car Thursdays! 2011 Ford Transit Connect

Hello! James from The Digital Garage here and I hope your New Year is starting off well. I wanted the first post of 2013 to be a Normal Car Thursday and here it is! This week we are looking at a company vehicle.

 

Year Make and Model: 2011 Ford Transit Connect

 

Basic detail of the vehicle: The 2011 Ford Transit Connect is only available in the United States as a 2.0L 4 cylinder gasoline engine. I believe it is available as 1.8L diesel in Europe.  It is a 4 speed automatic overdrive.

Take note of the Ford Symbol. You lift it out of the way for a keyhole to open the hood. There is no method for opening it otherwise.

 

The Transit Connect is for a company or private owner who does not need a full sized van but still needs something to carry cargo or people.

 

 

Mileage: This vehicle has 26K miles on it

 

 

Why did you get this vehicle?: The company this van belongs to have a fleet of Ford Econoline Vans. They have the Transit Connect for light duty applications.

 

 

The van is used for parts mostly and at most will only carry 2 people. There is good leg room here.

 

As you can see for its size and engine you can fit plenty of parts or other cargo in here. The Transit Connect does a good job for its overall size and engine.

This button above is on the rear doors which let them swing out past 90 degrees. This is a great feature for a parts transportation vehicle as it allows you to get a better angel for troublesome parts.

I like this part of the vehicle. There is a little overhead area to hold things. It warns not to put heavy or hard objects up there. But it is a good place to put miscellaneous items.

 

Modifications (if any): There are no modifications to this vehicle

Anything you want to do to the vehicle?: There is nothing the owners want to do to this vehicle.

How do you like driving it?:

The mirrors are nice even on a smaller van like this. The top right corner helps reveal the blind spot which I personally think is helpful to have in general for driving.

When it comes to driving it the driver complains about the engine. The 4 cylinder engine is fine for getting the van around but having been a passenger in it you can definitely feel the engine is taxed. However at the end of the day it gets the job done and it is not meant to be a race car.

Any other thoughts on the vehicle?:

 

The gas cover is locked and while a more of a luxury vehicle would have it locked with a button to open it there are some advantages to this method. Firstly the obvious lock means that would be gas thieves can plainly see it is locked and that will keep prying hands away. Secondly this forces you to kill the engine as you need the key to open the cover and that means a safer fueling experience as the vehicle is off.

 

So this is the key. I am showing it because it is not your normal looking key. It is an electronic key like those you see in a higher end vehicle.

Aside from those 2 points you have to keep in mind the type of vehicle this is. It is not a high end luxury tourer and it is not a heavy load hauling vehicle. This is a small van that can get around more nimbly then its bigger Econoline brother and is suited to light duty where a bigger vehicle may not be the most economical option. That being said I would prefer to see a bigger engine in here. I think a 6 cylinder could solve some problems in the grunt that is a common complaint. I would like to see the diesel option come to the states as I think that would also help as it is not top end speed that is being looked for.

And that is it! Hope you enjoyed a look at a company vehicle in this week's Normal Car Thursdays! Again feel free to Share your Ride!

See you on the road.

 

Normal Car Thursdays! 1987 Nissan Sentra GXE

Hello James from The Digital Garage here. It is time for another Normal Car Thursdays! I was a little hesitant on doing this vehicle because of its model year, however it still qualifies as a normal car.

 

Year Make and Model: 1987 Nissan Sentra GXE

 

 

Basic detail of the vehicle: The GXE is the "top" model for the sedan version of the Sentra. It is powered by a 4 cylinder engine.

This particular car is an automatic. This is considered the second generation of the Sentra and it was offered in different forms. This particular one is a sedan.

 

Mileage: With around 97K miles this vehicle at 25 years old actually has low mileage.

 

Why did you get this vehicle?: Well the owner was given the car as the original owner was a close family friend and could not make use of the vehicle anymore. The car was kept in good condition and drives well for the age. You can't really argue against free car. As a sedan of this size it has decent cabin room.

 

It also has nice trunk space for the size of the car.

Modifications (if any): A modern CD player was added to the car.

I believe the owner still has the original radio stored away. Another "mod" was done to the hubcaps. They were sprayed black to replace the faded paint and keep the metal hubcaps safe from weather.

And as you saw in previous pictures the windows were tinted to preserve the cloth interior

Anything you want to do to the vehicle?: There is nothing further the owner wants to do to the vehicle.

How do you like driving it? Driving a 2 year old 4 cylinder makes you appreciate the modern 4 cylinder vehicles even more. You have to keep in mind the technology differences in that 20+ year gap. I have driven this car and it is not bad considering there are no modern upgrades on the car. It can keep up with traffic just fine and has pretty responsive steering.

Any other thoughts on the vehicle?:

In looking at the vehicle you have to keep in mind it is 25 years old and throughout its life it was basically a daily driver. The body is in good shape and the lights are all original and in good shape as well. While this Sentra is from 1987 you can still get a new Sentra from Nissan.

And that is it for this installment of Normal Car Thursdays! Hope you have enjoyed and check out the Share Your Ride! post for how you can send us your vehicle for Normal Car Thursdays! Or if its too special for that then just to share your ride!

 

See you on the Road.

Christmas Tree!

Hello James from The Digital Garage here. I figured with the holidays happening that this would be a good time to talk about the Christmas Tree. If you are in to motorsports you know what I am talking about.

Image taken from the web

 

If this is the christmas tree you think of first when the words christmas tree is uttered then you are probably addicted to drag racing. And indeed Drag racing be it pro or for fun is what most people will associate with the christmas tree light system. Aside from the quarter mile drag strip this light system is used in other racing. The Christmas tree is for races in which two drivers (typically) are going from the start line at a dead stop to the finish line. It has also been used in more traditional mud drag racing (those which are not a course, are not a bog and do not have launch hills), and Monster Truck Racing (mostly in the Penda Points Series of the 90's).

 

The christmas tree is used not just for a green light but is also utilized to stage the racers for the race. And for starting the race it is an equalizer, bringing the race down to who gets a better start at the green. Let's look at the image above and break down the christmas tree a little bit.

 

First up are the pre-stage and stage indicators. Pre-staging lights are for getting the racer close to the starting light. pre-staging basically get the vehicle ready for the start line and hopefully the racers are lined up the way they want and are ready to move up to the starting line. The pre-stage and staging lights are activated when a beam is broken by the front tires of the vehicle. When the beam is broken the appropriate lights will illuminate. Now once the driver is ready they will break the staging light's beam which will light up the stage indicator lights. In doing so the vehicle is right at the starting line and the driver is focusing on the christmas tree ready to race. This is where mind games come into place in this style of racing. Who is going to pre-stage and stage first? How long will they sit before fully staging, or before the officials step in? This can lead to team disputes and overall there is a strategy to staging that is beyond the scope of this topic. However once both racers are fully staged (both the pre-stage and stage indicator lights are lit) the actual start is up to the starting official.

 

This brings us to the Amber lights just before the green light. These lights are set to flash at a specific time depending on the racing. All three flash at once when the tree is set up as a "pro" tree. They flash quickly followed by the green light. This is what the professional drag racers use, it is also what is utilized by Monster Truck racing and is mostly what is utilized by mud drag racing. However the tree can be programmed to be a full type tree in which each amber light flashes on its own from top to bottom and then the green light goes on. This is most likely what you would encounter if you went to the drag strip to race for fun. In either set up the starting official is the person who makes it happen. In either scenario the driver always wants to cut a good light. This means going as soon as the green light is lit.

 

This bring us to the green and red lights. Cutting a good light basically means having a good reaction time. The object of this is to get your vehicle off the starting line as soon as is possible for a legal pass. This means almost jumping the light and reacting quick enough to get your vehicle off the line as soon as the light is green. If you do this quicker then your opponent you have a "holeshot" which basically means you got moving before your opponent did. The holeshot is a huge advantage to win but is no guarantee. Now if you cut "too good of a light" you foul up and have a red light. When you red light you lose. This happens when your vehicle moves off the line prior to the green light and is monitored electronically. This is an automatic disqualification for the driver that red lights.

 

And that is basically the essence of a christmas tree. These have been in use for a while and it still in my opinion is a very good way to stage and launch racers from a dead stop. And for the holidays all you need is a few ornaments for this christmas tree as it already has the lights.

 

See you on the road.

So What's the Purpose?

Hello James from the Digital Garage here. So with a few posts now under the belt of The Digital Garage I felt it a good time to go over in more detail the purpose of The Digital Garage.

So there are plenty of Automotive blogs and sites out there. What The Digital Garage is trying to do is keep it casual and keep it in terms that any person interested in this sort of thing can digest. The idea being that The Digital Garage is for the "common" person interested in vehicles and automotive technologies.

That is what we are all about really. We do not want it to read like a textbook and we do not want you to feel lost within the compression ratios and gear ratios and things like that. Vehicles are very popular across all modern cultures and within the enthusiasts you have a diverse group. People who are very in depth and knowledgeable and those who just enjoy it. We do not feel those just getting into being an automotive enthusiast should be penalized for being new or just having a light interest in it.

So that is where we come in. Now this doesn't mean we will not go in depth when such a thing is necessary. Sometimes you have to go into the details in order to get points across but in such cases we will strive to also break it down so anyone will get the point being made.

Now I will not lie to you all there will be some bias. Everyone has an opinion or feeling in life on topics. The Automotive world is no different. We here at The Digital Garage will have our own biases for things. But with that being said we will not let it blind us while we talk about whatever the topic is.

So once again: Welcome! We hope you enjoy yout stay.

See you on the road.

Normal Car Thursdays! 2002 Chevrolet Tracker Zr-2

Hello James from The Digital Garage here. Welcome to another edition of Normal Car Thursdays! Normal Car Thursdays shines the spotlight on vehicles that may otherwise be overlooked for the more fancy or high performance vehicles out there. So Let us take a look!

Year Make and Model: 2002 Chevrolet Tracker Zr-2

The Chevrolet Tracker was basically a re-badged Geo. It has much the same look and feel but under the bow tie instead. It did not sell well as a Chevrolet but is a fun little vehicle. I do not own this vehicle but I have driven it a bunch so I can speak for certain parts of this questionnaire if you will.

Basic detail of the vehicle: The Zr-2 Tracker is actually the "sport" version of the tracker series.

This particular model has the 2.5L V6 engine which is an optional upgrade over the 4 cylinder. While the Tracker was lacking in power, the V6 upgrade for a vehicle of this size gives it a bit more muscle. The Tracker line is a 4x4 and there is a skid plate under the vehicle. As you probably noticed in one of the above pictures it has a trailer hitch for pulling. Now it is a small vehicle with a V6 so don't expect to pull a house down.

As you can see as a 4 door you have easy access to the interior. It can seat 4 comfortably even though it is on the smaller side of a vehicle. The rear seats fold down, as you see above, which allow for increased cargo space.

Mileage:

There is a little over 76,000 miles on the vehicle. As stated in the Crown Vic edition that mileage is not bad for a 10 year old vehicle. Notice the basic instrument cluster.

Why did you get this vehicle? Well the owners of this vehicle are the first owners and it was purchased has a small vehicle that can handle weather such has rain and snow.

Notice behind the gear selector is another nob. That is to go from 2WD to 4WD low or high. This capability and its more all terrain function then a family van makes it a useful vehicle in snow. Why not just go with a Jeep you may be wondering? Well not everyone likes Jeeps is the answer.

Also it can hold a decent amount of stuff for its size. It is almost like having a small pickup like the S10 only it is enclosed. This is a good and bad thing. It is bad because it is not just like a truck bed being that its an interior space and therefore you would not want to put something dirty or dripping oil or grease in it. It is good because you can carry more delicate or weather sensitive items in it without needing a bed cap.

Modifications (if any): The vehicle has no modifications made to it.

Anything you want to do to the vehicle? The owners do not want to do anything to it. Aside from maybe a newer skid plate there is nothing the owners feel they need to do to it to just  get around.

How do you like driving it?

I can speak from personal experience with this question. The owners like it just fine and find the V6 gives the tracker enough power to contend with traffic on a highway and to go on trips. And this is all true. I find that the tracker Zr-2 has adequate power in it with the V6 but you have to keep in mind it is not a racing vehicle. In snow driving it is fun because it does handle itself well. There are people who go trail driving with these so it does hold up pretty well. Overall the driving experience is pretty nice in it.

 Any other thoughts on the vehicle? Look this is another case of knowing what you are getting into with a vehicle like this. It can handle itself for daily driving for all 4 seasons and can do the occasional dirt trail. In its class the Tracker was described at being in the lower end  but from experience I can say it gets along just fine. I think that unless your really an enthusiast for this or any type of vehicle you are not looking at much more then price comfort and nowadays efficiency. The Chevrolet Tracker line is no longer produced but you can still find them here and there on used car lots. I personally would only go for the V6 version if I were to buy one myself. Overall though it can be a fun little vehicle to drive and Parking it is simple.
 And that is it, the 2002 Chevrolet Tracker Zr-2. The closest modern Chevrolet counterpart would probably be the Equinox. Hope you enjoyed this installment of Normal Car Thursdays!

See you on the road.

Share your Ride!

Welcome! James from The Digital Garage here. With the start of our Normal Car Thursdays we thought it would be fun to have your involvement! Not only with vehicles for Normal Car Thursdays but with any vehicle you own. Normal Cars, Semi Trucks, Race Cars, Classic Cars, Project Car, Mud bogger, Custom Cars and so on.

If you wish to send pictures of your vehicles feel free to print out the picture at the top of this entry to cover up your license plates. And on top of that be sure the answer this list of questions about the vehicle:

Year Make and Model:

Basic detail of the vehicle:

Mileage:

Why did you get this vehicle?:

Modifications (if any):

Anything you want to do to the vehicle?:

How do you like driving it?:

Any other thoughts on the vehicle?:

Yes these are the same questions that Normal Car Thursdays utilizes. Depending on the vehicle you want to send in you may have to modify the questions to fit.

If you want to send the pictures and questions to us then please email: thedigitalgarageblog@gmail.com and include your first name and the state or country in which you live.

We look forward to hearing from you and sharing the vehicles of other automotive enthusiasts.

See you on the road.

Normal Car Thursdays! 2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX



Note the angled sign over the front bumper. Wind at work

 

 

Hello! James from the Digital Garage here. Welcome to the start of a new segment here at The Digital Garage! It is time for NORMAL CAR THURSDAYS!! This is where we go over some form of normal car. No sleek and sexy super cars here. No tricked out custom rides. Just vehicles the common driver would be seen in. They are still great vehicles regardless of the stature as a "normal vehicle". I felt to kick it off I would start with my car. This is done following a format which I will explain in a following post later on.

 

 

Year Make and Model: 2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX

 

The Ford Crown Victoria 2002. This is a very iconic car for normal car Thursdays. The Crown Victoria is a staple of many a police force. Many drivers see a Crown Vic. in there rear view and instinctively straighten up in there seat.

Basic detail of the vehicle: The Crown Victoria is a rear wheel drive full size sedan. Powered by a 4.6L modular V8 the LX model has a little bump in power compared to the base Crown Victoria.

Not to be confused with the LX Sport which has a center console and gear shifter (that being said the LX Sport is a fantastic car). The LX has the steering column shifter.

Mileage:

As you can see my Crown Victoria LX has a little over 70,000 miles on it. Now for a 10 year old car approaching 11 years that is not bad at all. Most of these cars that are being sold used are above 100,000 miles on them. Note the Digital Dash has no display for a tachometer.

Why did you get this vehicle?

Well firstly I am a Ford fan and when I was looking into a vehicle I naturally looked at Ford. I am also a fan of 4 door vehicles.

I find it makes the back seat more usable and the bigger sedans I find to be more comfortable. Some people call the Crown Victoria an old person's car but I like the look of the car. It is a comfortable ride and the V8 will get me nice highway mileage as well as give this car plenty of pep in it's step.

In need of trunk space? The Trunk on this car is huge. Even with the full size spare in the trunk there is still plenty of room for luggage or whatever you may need to bring with you. This with the large cabin space makes for a very practical car for anyone really. Going on a trip or moving the Crown Victoria will get you there in comfort with plenty of room for passengers or cargo or a mix of both.
It is also Iconic due to its widespread use by police forces (and taxi cabs as well) and a such it is a well known car by people who pay no attention to vehicles.

Modifications (if any):

I have done nothing to this car. It is stock as you can see from the entertainment area.

Anything you want to do to the vehicle?

To be honest not really. I would like a CD player but I do not need one. If anything I would replace this Crown Victoria LX with a LX Sport but only because I do like its center console. The Crown Victoria LX does not need much really. I have a portable GPS for it. The one thing I would consider doing is adding a back up camera but I get by fine without it.

How do you like driving it?

I really enjoy driving it. Rear wheel drive vehicles are not scary and they are not unreliable if you have the basic understanding of handling one. The 4.6L V8 is a very reliable engine and there is a lot of untapped power there if you were so inclined to modify the engine with forced induction or a chip. Even stock as my car is the horsepower and torque is good. When not in overdrive you can feel the pep in this car's step. There is a reason police forces had the Crown Victoria as a main part of the fleets. Being a V8 if you do not beat on it it will get you nice mileage on a long trip if you accelerate reasonably and keep the RPM's down (which is pretty easy to do). I will say that it is not the most nimble of vehicles. But with heads up driving you will not have any real problems with it. But you need to keep the kind of vehicle this is in perspective if your trying to autocross it.


 Any other thoughts on the vehicle?

You have to keep in mind the type of car this is. It is not a high performance muscle or sports car. It is not an economy car with high miles per gallon city and highway. It is a full sized sedan that is great for a family and great for legging it through the long miles of a trip. It is a luxury car that has pep, it can get out of its own way and has some power in reserve should you have need in an emergency. The Crown Victoria LX is a vehicle that you cannot outgrow really. Ford no longer makes this car so all you will find are lot leftovers and used versions.

And there you have it! The 2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX. First in The Digital Garage for Normal Car Thursdays! We will do out best to have a new car every Thursday. And as you can see our goal is to showcase a daily driver type of car that is "seeing action" on the roads. We hope you enjoyed!

See you on the road.