Dollywood QR Code Drink Cups

YoshiFan:

The thing I don’t like about having a limit that amount of oz the cup has is that those machines can sometimes have problems.

Yeah, that was the first thing I thought of when reading about this system, both the ounce limit and the time limit. I'm trying to remember the last time I went to Cedar Point and the first ice dispenser I tried actually worked. And there definitely have been times when an entire machine has no carbonation and you have to wait to use another one.

CP Chris:

it seems like an unnecessary inconvenience in order for them to make sure you don't get a single drop more than you paid for, on a product that everyone knows costs them basically nothing

Quoted for emphasis. I mean, presumably someone had to do the math to determine it was a savings for the park, right? Is it worth the trade-off of a ****tier customer experience? Is the 0.00003 cents savings from having to pour out my uncarbonated Mountain Dew helping pay for a new rollie coaster?

GoBucks89:

I haven't figured a way to disable lane assist (or auto engine shutoff at idle) beyond current driving cycle...

This is by design for start-stop. To achieve the higher fuel economy numbers that start-stop provides, the vehicle must always reset start-stop to be on by default when switched off. Otherwise, the fuel economy numbers are averaged between start-stop engaged and disengaged. So the incentive for manufacturers is to have the system default to on when you start your car.

However, the counter to start-stop is that so many things under the hood have to be heavier duty versions - reinforced starter, higher capacity and/or multiple batteries, cooling systems, additional sensors, etc. - that it's difficult to see how start-stop provides an improvement when considering a vehicle's carbon footprint holistically, despite the "MPG" numbers being higher on the window sticker.

Classic example of regulation doing the exact opposite of what it was intended to do.

I'll have to check, but I think there's a way to permanently disable it on my wife's VW Tiguan. If I recall, you can set up driver profiles and I want to say I created one for me and did disable auto-start/stop. I rarely drive it though so I forget to activate the profile when I do. My wife likes it for some reason and leaves it on.

I've never owned a car (solo, not joint with my wife) newer than 2012, but I've been driving a lot of rentals lately due to totaling two of my daily drivers in the last two months. The deer population around here is absolutely off the charts, and I'm inadvertently doing what I can to keep it down I guess, at the benevolent expense of my insurance company. All the rentals, including the yawn-fest Nissan Altima I'm driving now, have lane assist. I find it more distracting than helpful. I haven't found a way to disable it yet, but I did in the last two I had (Mazda and Audi).

Once you go electric, you'll never go back.

Luckily we don't have to scan a QR code to drive.

"You have 30 minutes/15 miles. Good luck!"

Honestly, all the nanny devices are a decent part of the reason I was so pissed I might not get my car back after I got nailed on Xmas eve. The only thing it does is start beeping way too late if I'm getting too close to backing into something. It doesn't even bother me about the seatbelt. (smile)

Re: QR Cups

Yeah, I stand by my original post - stupid and ugly. Not something I'd expect to see at Dollywood at all. I can't think of a way to put more friction in front of the guest for no benefit (and arguable detriment) to the guest experience. There is no scenario I can think of where this is the preferrable option to any alternative.

(People gotta drink!)

Jeff:

Once you go electric, you'll never go back.

Even as someone not vehemently opposed to electric vehicles like a lot of car guys I know, I highly doubt that's true for me. Hell, a friend of mine has had multiple Teslas and loves them, but still owns two 911s.

I mean, I never want to spend more for gas, oil changes, brakes and other maintenance. And we're finally to the point where there are so many (better) choices beyond Tesla.

And most of us can't afford 911's anyway. 🙂

Jeff:

Once you go 6-speed manual, you'll never go back.

FIFY

(But I dearly miss my remote start.)

Jeff:

I mean, I never want to spend more for gas, oil changes, brakes and other maintenance.

If that argument worked, we'd have been past this discussion a long time ago.

Electric is the obvious endgame, but at the current adoption rates/cost trends (in the US), it's likely I (and the majority reading this - especially if you're roughly our age) go my entire life without ever owning an electric vehicle.

No idea how accurate these are, but it's related...and charts are fun...and I have no reason to believe they're not accurate.

If I was concerned about gas mileage, I would at the very least stop buying vehicles that require 91 octane at minimum. Two of the three vehicles I own require 91, and the third is carbureted. Also, cars are more than just A-to-B appliances for many of us. Far more.

I won't say I'll never own an EV (I learned never to say "never" years ago), but the likelihood is pretty low.

Recently, I could see me owning an EV. My affinity for 3 pedals being extensively noted, there will come a day quite soon where there's nothing of interest in that category for me. Miata too small, Jeep/Bronco too unrefined, BMW M and Porsche too expensive. What else we got? The new Integra has potential, maybe the forthcoming Celica? I really can't think of anything else off the top of my head. I really hate to do it but I don't feel that I have any more options.

So once the manual is out of the picture, what's the most fun or best for performance/off the line speed? It's electric. Next year at this time check back. I'm either sticking with the 11 year old Audi, or I'll have an Integra, Celica or BMW i4. Bonus: I can still say I've never purchased a car with an automatic transmission.

I still do road trips where I’ll go >700 miles in a day. That’s also 10 hours of straight driving, and usually 12-13 hours start to finish with stops. Assuming I start with a full tank, that’s 2 gas station stops, 5-10 min. If I were to go electric I would not only have to stop more frequently but those stops would be 20-30 min which would quickly make said trip not possible in one day. I want a EE, but I want to be able to still do those trips, fix fast charging and I’ll get it. I’m sure I’ll own a hybrid or a gas assisted car long before a pure EV.