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Post by jabberwocky on Aug 3, 2016 9:26:20 GMT -5
Sitting at corner bar in Envigado the other night, 4 way ( actually 3) intersection at about 6pm having a beer with family - was watching the cars and motos go by , disorganized chaos is how best describe it, but I would say the typical car that pasdt was a newer Mazda 3, 5 years ago it would have been a gray Twingo . There used to be lots of very old cars on the road, not so much anymore, cars are newer and more cost!y than when I lived here, and a lot more of them. We were across the streert from our apartment. A typical middle class section. Traffic sucks and I assume getting worse
Riding through Poblado yesterday, at a stop light , a woman in a new high end Mercedes backed into me on my moto, no harm done but I could see her pop up her backup camera screen in the dashboard and start backing up without her ever turning her head to look back
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Post by sedelen on Aug 3, 2016 10:10:28 GMT -5
A lot of Mazda's here, that's for sure. The 2, 3, and CX-5's seem to be very popular Not many 6's. I like the looks of the 3, but it has this long hood, and no trunk. Still, much better than the one it replaced as far as style. Thing is they are fairly expensive here, as are Toyota Corolla's and other cars in the same category. Surprised you didn't notice the Renault Sandero, or Logan, built in Envigado, a lot cheaper than the Hyundai's, Toyota's, Mazda's etc. Probably because they are not subject to the 35% import tax which I believe applies to them. I like the Renault Duster, but decided it was too big for me to navigate well in the traffic here, so I decided to take a chance and opted for a used Renault Sandero Stepway with most of the gadgets. I have a friend that has had two Renaults, and the automatic transmissions failed in them, so I got a manual. So far it has worked out well. But I'm not comfortable driving here. Day before yesterday I almost took out a moto, I was getting ready to turn left, had my signal on and checked the mirrors, and just as I started turning when a moto passed me on the drivers side doing about 45mph. And so it is, making a turn you got to be very careful not to turn into an moto coming up behind you. Their small, nimble, and quick, and come up behind very fast, not a problem as long as you're not turning.
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Post by redriver on Aug 3, 2016 10:44:29 GMT -5
The Renault trucks look great but don't know how well they will perform? I bought a moto and i have been taking my wife to work. Saves on gas, parking costas and road wear on her Renault car. So we'll be good for another few years before we need to buy another.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 11:57:41 GMT -5
Most of the old cars that used to ply the streets have disappeared. I hate driving in Medellin, or being in any car in the city period. That's the reason we moved out of Sabaneta and to El Oriente. The air is much cleaner and fresher up here than down in the valley... but it's only a matter of time before the burbs up here get crowded, too. I will enjoy it up here for now.
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Post by dandl93 on Aug 3, 2016 12:04:58 GMT -5
Installing a 360 deg camera in your car is a great idea. You will have proof when you do run over a moto it is not your fault.
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Post by sedelen on Aug 3, 2016 12:17:47 GMT -5
Installing a 360 deg camera in your car is a great idea. You will have proof when you do run over a moto it is not your fault. Mount one on the roof! If you drive cautious down here, like slow down for someone that you don't know what their going to do, you end up losing the right of way. Aggressive driving here. If you look like you're going to plow into them, they respect that and don't cut you off. But there's just so many little kids here, never know when one will dart out from behind a parked car. I can relax as long as someone else is driving, no matter how badly. But when it comes time for me to drive, I dread it. I guess I'm just wrapped too tight for that. I hold my own outside the city. It's almost normal driving and not too many speed bumps. The new Renault trucks look great, but don't know about the durability. As far as trucks go the Toyota Hilux gets my vote. Bulletproof as far as reliability, but oh, what cost!
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Post by gallito on Aug 3, 2016 12:31:39 GMT -5
Buy a wreck they always have the right of way
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Post by dandl93 on Aug 3, 2016 12:40:23 GMT -5
sedelen I have many friends in Chia and Bogota that have camera systems installed front,back and sides always recording. The police will always blame the car against a moto accident with out proof.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 13:23:19 GMT -5
Having had my Colombian driving cherry popped in Bogota, Medellin is a driving paradise.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2016 18:44:40 GMT -5
Dual dashcams are great tools for people driving a lot. But these cams can get a bit pricey. amzn.com/B00V03D9KY
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Post by papitohead on Aug 4, 2016 11:55:01 GMT -5
Huh, same cameras but a real good clone for about $40 USD. Even can be found on eBay.
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Post by dandl93 on Aug 4, 2016 17:02:14 GMT -5
Huh, same cameras but a real good clone for about $40 USD. Even can be found on eBay. Clone cameras are very bad advice even in a joking matter, especialy in Colombia.
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Post by papitohead on Aug 5, 2016 8:49:09 GMT -5
I have a friend who has three of these cameras. He uses them on his drones. A reason I know of them. He often crashes them and have never had to repair a camera, just the drone. If I was to be using a camera around Colombia, I rather use a clone in case someone wants it from me with a gun on his hand.
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Post by dandl93 on Aug 5, 2016 9:22:29 GMT -5
PH my response was about Car cameras to this car thread.What has clone cameras have todo with helping a car owner against accident scams and motos hitting you from passing you on the wrong side. When the police show up it is always the cars fault EXCEPT when you show a video from your car cam you just saved your self alot of money.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2016 12:29:42 GMT -5
Drove to Envigado today with plans of continuing on to Pricesmart Medellin. Forget about it, the roads in the city are gridlocked because of the Feria. I turned around and went home.
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Post by sedelen on Aug 5, 2016 15:00:50 GMT -5
Drove to Envigado today with plans of continuing on to Pricesmart Medellin. Forget about it, the roads in the city are gridlocked because of the Feria. I turned around and went home. Probably a very smart move. Traffic wasn't too heavy yesterday, but today, the weekend frenzy is already here.
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Post by billforce on Aug 5, 2016 17:40:13 GMT -5
The Renault trucks look great but don't know how well they will perform? I bought a moto and i have been taking my wife to work. Saves on gas, parking costas and road wear on her Renault car. So we'll be good for another few years before we need to buy another. I know this is bizarre but you can't get a regular Moto in the back of the new Duster Pickup, tiny little useless bed. My nephew races dirt bikes and he laughed when we looked at the new pickup. No plywood, moto's, or anything over a meter long. I don't understand why an auto manufacture would make a vehicle that's almost useless?
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Post by sedelen on Aug 5, 2016 19:13:50 GMT -5
The Renault trucks look great but don't know how well they will perform? I bought a moto and i have been taking my wife to work. Saves on gas, parking costas and road wear on her Renault car. So we'll be good for another few years before we need to buy another. I know this is bizarre but you can't get a regular Moto in the back of the new Duster Pickup, tiny little useless bed. My nephew races dirt bikes and he laughed when we looked at the new pickup. No plywood, moto's, or anything over a meter long. I don't understand why an auto manufacture would make a vehicle that's almost useless? Indeed the bed is short, a big limiting factor for a utility vehicle in my opinion. But I've seen a few on the road. www.motor.com.co/actualidad/lanzamientos/primera-pick-up-renault-empezo-vender-colombia/25685
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Post by dandl93 on Aug 5, 2016 19:59:58 GMT -5
Most pickup buyers anymore even in the USA. They dont want a real truck but to proud to use a wheelbarrow.
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Post by sedelen on Aug 6, 2016 7:59:13 GMT -5
Installing a 360 deg camera in your car is a great idea. You will have proof when you do run over a moto it is not your fault. The camera thing can get somewhat expensive I would think if I plastered them all over the car to cover views from all sides. I was thinking more perhaps about sticking "Student Driver" signs on the vehicle, perhaps they would give me more berth, and try to avoid being around me. I know I always try to stay clear of them when I see them out on the road. One moto I'll be on the look our for, a little AKT 180 dirt bike, jabberwocky!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2016 8:09:49 GMT -5
The Renault trucks look great but don't know how well they will perform? I bought a moto and i have been taking my wife to work. Saves on gas, parking costas and road wear on her Renault car. So we'll be good for another few years before we need to buy another. I know this is bizarre but you can't get a regular Moto in the back of the new Duster Pickup, tiny little useless bed. My nephew races dirt bikes and he laughed when we looked at the new pickup. No plywood, moto's, or anything over a meter long. I don't understand why an auto manufacture would make a vehicle that's almost useless? I agree. Seems pretty useless to me too. I saw some FIAT compact pickups too. Same problem.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2016 8:22:13 GMT -5
Installing a 360 deg camera in your car is a great idea. You will have proof when you do run over a moto it is not your fault. The camera thing can get somewhat expensive I would think if I plastered them all over the car to cover views from all sides. I was thinking more perhaps about sticking "Student Driver" signs on the vehicle, perhaps they would give me more berth, and try to avoid being around me. I know I always try to stay clear of them when I see them out on the road. With back and front cameras, you're already very well covered. Most of the problems come from vehicles (mostly motorbikes...) who are coming from behind and are passing you meanwhile you're giving a turn or changing lane. They seem to ignore the use, and the significance of turn signals. But getting their hand out of the side window and shaking it, yes, this is something they know. And it seems to have more effect than using your turn signal. Typical behavior I noticed around "Enzeñanza" cars (driving school cars) is that others drivers are taking advantage of them. They cut they way, try to pass them as soon as possible, will do anything to be in front of them at the traffic light if the driving school car is first in line... Complete asshole 80% of the time. This is Colombia. Me first mentality. So I think that a student driver sign (something I haven't seen in Colombia, are they having a probing period?) would make things even more complicated.
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Post by dandl93 on Aug 6, 2016 8:48:49 GMT -5
Plastering cameras all over the car? There is Car Camera system just like the backup sensor that many cars in Colombia already have or atleast should.
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Post by papitohead on Aug 6, 2016 10:28:57 GMT -5
I have always had a pick up truck as a second vehicle. Once I got my first one (a 1959 Chevy) I just could not live without one. I am the type that is always tinkering with things and when I buy something, I want it when I pay for it. The problem is that you can find them but hard to do find one you like and has an automatic transmission. I have surgery in both legs and can't do too good with standards. If you are from Wyoming, you know that pickup trucks and cars are 50/50. How about the ultimate? Here is the 2017 Tesla electric pickup. Price tag would be $100K to $150K.
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Post by dandl93 on Aug 6, 2016 10:48:28 GMT -5
I have always had a pick up truck as a second vehicle. Once I got my first one (a 1959 Chevy) I just could not live without one. I am the type that is always tinkering with things and when I buy something, I want it when I pay for it. The problem is that you can find them but hard to do find one you like and has an automatic transmission. I have surgery in both legs and can't do too good with standards. If you are from Wyoming, you know that pickup trucks and cars are 50/50. How about the ultimate? Here is the 2017 Tesla electric pickup. Price tag would be $100K to $150K. jajajajajajaja I just started laughing thinking of a Colombian mechanic pulling out his vise grips and hammer to work on this truck.
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Post by sedelen on Aug 6, 2016 10:55:04 GMT -5
I have always had a pick up truck as a second vehicle. Once I got my first one (a 1959 Chevy) I just could not live without one. I am the type that is always tinkering with things and when I buy something, I want it when I pay for it. The problem is that you can find them but hard to do find one you like and has an automatic transmission. I have surgery in both legs and can't do too good with standards. If you are from Wyoming, you know that pickup trucks and cars are 50/50. How about the ultimate? Here is the 2017 Tesla electric pickup. Price tag would be $100K to $150K. jajajajajajaja I just started laughing thinking of a Colombian mechanic pulling out his vise grips and hammer to work on this truck. I use my Swiss Champ army knife for most things! Whatever it takes! Left all my tools in the States, damn how I miss them at times.
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Post by sedelen on Aug 6, 2016 14:39:11 GMT -5
In addition to moto's you have wild skateboarders and bicyclists. Here are two videos, one a group of bicyclists hauling ass down the very neighborhood I stay in Buenos Aires, when they hit the streets they fly.
Here's one of my favorite roads to get out on, Las Palmas, and here you have a gang of skateboarders heading into Medellin at night, passing up cars and motos along the way. Imagine getting passed up by a skateboarder, or here they call themselves longboarders.
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Post by scumbuster on Aug 6, 2016 15:11:35 GMT -5
What a pain in the ass going home when your finished.
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Post by sedelen on Aug 6, 2016 15:27:21 GMT -5
What a pain in the ass going home when your finished. Where there's a will, there's a way, and for most of these guys, they just grab the back of a truck or bus on the return trip up and make their way back. It's all very normal for them to do that here, as I've witnessed it all too many times.
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Post by livinginmedellin on Aug 6, 2016 18:48:23 GMT -5
Drove to Envigado today with plans of continuing on to Pricesmart Medellin. Forget about it, the roads in the city are gridlocked because of the Feria. I turned around and went home. Probably a very smart move. Traffic wasn't too heavy yesterday, but today, the weekend frenzy is already here. This weekend will be bad to get around with the main events of La Feria de Las Flores. Today was Classic Car Parade with an estimated 1 million+ viewing it. The route was much longer than usual this year so many roads were blocked off and it was hard to get around. Tonight is the Metro Feria de Las Flores Concert being held at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot sports stadium in Estadio headlined by Marc Anthony. So around the stadium in Estadio should be a mess at night. Tomorrow is Desfile de Silleteros (the Flower Parade) with a short route this year on the Guayabal Avenue corridor around the Olaya Herrera airport so not as many roads blocked off.
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