Parking in America’s cities can be a total nightmare. If you aren’t paying way too much money to take up temporary space in a garage, you’re getting hit by people parking by braille, or finding spaces taken by semi-tractors. And if you’re really unlucky, maybe your vehicle will be hauled off by a tow company running a scam. All of these are bad enough, but then comes parking enforcement. Tickets piling up on windshields and metal wheel boots used to be marks of shame, but cities have been employing a new tactic: A “barnacle” device that blocks the view of the driver.
New York City started using barnacles last week and I’m not surprised to see that our readers aren’t jazzed by them. Turbotictac got me with this one:
Time to buy a Willys Jeep and become ungovernable
JurassicComanche25 knows the best way to roll. The city can’t barnacle you if you don’t have windows!
Solution: remove all windows, no barnacle.
Earlier today, Lewin wrote about the “Super locking” or “deadlock” features found in a variety of cars from BMW to Subaru. The idea here is that you could lock your car in a manner that prevents it from being opened from the inside. So, if you wanted to turn your car into a prison, you could. Lewin’s been talking about this for a while and some of us in the Autopian virtual offices couldn’t believe it. Apparently, the idea is to stop thieves from entering your vehicle after they’ve broken your window. I’m not sure how effective that is, but you can accidentally kill someone with this feature.
Mike Harrell isn’t amused with this method of car-based killing:
My cars already have plenty of ways of killing me at their disposal but this just seems unsportsmanlike.
Have a great evening, everyone.
(Top Image: H&H Classics)
I don’t have a Jeep, and my phoneless self is very afraid right now.
Put your wipers up when you leave
Could you swab vaseline all over the window?
Deadlocking is how the AI self driving cars are actually going to take over.
Good COTDs (CsOTD?). As someone with anxiety who is pretty claustrophobic (along with other -phobics) the “super locking” thing freaks me out.
I really hope that no one engages with the political troll in the comments. The rest of the internet is a cesspool. Let us have this one nice thing.
Works on the 73-74 Volkswagen Thing too.
Inflatable windshield for the win!
https://www.theautopian.com/inflatable-windshields-and-sporty-fire-trucks-were-once-a-thing/
Boot that suckas!
I leave my truck unlocked and with the windows open in good weather, because I don’t leave anything of value in it, plus it’s got a manual transmission.
No point in locking the Jeep when the soft top is on. Anybody who could operate a zipper, of has a knife can get in. The 3 pedals and rust prevent it from being a theft target.
Yes, the clear and present risk of contracting tetanus just from brushing against it is a potent deterrent…
Exactly. The rust is defensive! At one point, I had a beater and bees decided to set up shop in the door.
Why subject yourself to the trials and tribulations of finding a good running Willys? You can drop the windshield on every “Jeep” jeep right up to the current gen wrangler.
How many actual cars can drop their windshield, anyway? Its gotta be a low number.
CJs? Yes! TJs? Absolutely. JKs? You betcha. That brand new 2024 jl? 4 bolts and down she goes.
And jeeps dont discriminate when it comes to locality or even economic background. If you have $2500 and a ride to the dmv, theres a rusted-out-but-running-YJ on marketplace calling your name. , you too can experience the joys (and tragedies) of Jeep ownership. Foiling the government is just a bonus.
Those don’t send the same message. It’s ALL about sending a message.