[quote=bearishgurl][quote=walterwhite]Speaking ofjimmy Carter I had an urge to buy a Carter era 1978 honda civic.[/quote]

scaredy, I hope you’re using that for a moped around your property and not letting your kids take it on the road. I saw an entire family of four perish in front of my eyes in one of those after being broadsided by a Ford F-150 pickup when they were making an (unwise) left turn. Those cars were “tin cans” in that era.[/quote]

Right you are, BG. I had a ’79 Civic – it was my first brand-new car, and I loved it. But I hit the right rear bumper of a similar-era full-size Ford Bronco – a real behemoth – with the left front of my car. He was stopped, and I was moving at 10 to 15 mph, and it still crumpled up my quarter panel like an accordion. Not a dent on his.

Didn’t stop him from suing for $100 grand for “grievous injuries” to his head, neck, back, legs, abdomen, blah, blah, plus serious mental distress. In fact, that lawsuit took its place on the docket beside 3 others he had going at the same time, and countless others he had “settled” in the prior five years. Poor guy just had the *worst* luck when he was out driving…..But I digress….

I’m not sure that there are many compact, or even mid-size, sedans or hatchbacks that would fare well after being t-boned by the full-size pickups that are so prevalent in suburbs and cities these days. I am an extremely defensive driver when out in mine. But, also being a motorcyclist, I am well-acquainted with boneheads who make ill-advised left turns in front of me at the last-minute. The ability to perceive depth and distance is one of those handy driving skills that seem to have been swapped for facility at dialing voicemail or texting.