2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Mechanic warns drivers to avoid buying popular SUV despite No 1 spot on ‘best list’ – owners were hoping for a ‘maybe’
A MECHANIC has warned drivers against buying a popular SUV model despite it topping a recent “best list”.
Judges described the model as “one of the most well-rounded” available, but one expert didn’t feel it was suited to all occasions.
Tiktok/royaltyautoserviceMechanic Sherwood Cooke Jr ran the rule over a recent ranking of SUVs[/caption]
He suggested that the top picked VW Taos wasn’t actually the best optionVW
Car whizzes from automotive sales platform Edmunds recently created a list ranking the best SUVs on the market for 2024.
Models were broken down into size categories and rated based on price, amenities and safety.
The VW Taos claimed the crown in the extra small SUV division with an “Edmunds rating” of 8.1/10.
The experts praised its modern setup and easy driving style for a very reasonable $25,420 retail price.
In their review, the experts said: “Volkswagen’s smallest SUV is a big deal.
“The Taos packs plenty of modern tech and safety features into a tidy package. It also has excellent passenger and cargo space.
“Overall it’s one of the most well-rounded and family-friendly offerings in the class.”
However, Sherwood Cooke Jr of Royalty Auto Service in Georgia was less convinced.
In a TikTok video reviewing the list, which has amassed more than 4,000 likes, he explained which of Edmunds’ picks he would buy himself.
Asked about the Taos, he suggested it wouldn’t be in his garage any time soon.
He said: “I’m going to say maybe.
“Just depends on the situation.
“How are they ranking these?
“How much you have to spend in the first 30 minutes of ownership?”
Sherwood also wasn’t a fan of the second-place Chevrolet Trailblazer despite its 8/10 rating.
What makes a car a lemon?
Each law has different parameters on what defines a lemon, but generally, a car is lemon when it's in the shop for longer than it's on the road.
Progressive Auto Insurance describes a lemon as a car with “a significant defect or malfunction that makes it unsafe to drive,” though exact parameters vary by state. All 50 states have lemon laws covering new vehicles, but only seven have lemon laws to protect used car buyers.
Federally, however, consumers are protected under U.S. Code Chapter 50 covering consumer product warranties. In layman’s terms, the law dictates that consumers be compensated by the manufacturer when “multiple attempts to repair a vehicle under warranty fail.”
What to do if you think you bought a lemon:
Research your state’s lemon laws and their exact parameters.
Contact the dealership, especially if it’s still under factory warranty.
If the dealership refuses to repair the issue, contact the Automotive Consumer Action Program or the National Automobile Dealers Association.
Send a certified letter to the manufacturer with an explanation of the issue, with documentation and proof that you’ve contacted a dealership.
Depending on the outcome, you can report the dealership to the DMV for selling a car that needs immediate repairs.
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Watch hilarious moment Gerwyn Price ‘casually practises double tops’ in middle of crunch leg leaving fans in stitches
GERWYN PRICE hilariously practised hitting double tops during the deciding set of his World Grand Prix win over Danny Noppert.
The Welshman, 39, took the first set 3-1 before Dutchman Noppert, 33, sent the match to a third.
Sky SportsGerwyn Price hit three double 20s at the start of the deciding set[/caption]
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Heartstopping moment storm chasers are battered by Hurricane Milton as they fly into 160mph swell heading for Florida
THIS is the heartstopping moment storm chasers are battered by extreme turbulence as they fly into the eye of Hurricane Milton.
The tempest is set to smash Florida within hours bringing with it 160mph wind, 15ft storm surges, and has already forced millions to evacuate.
NOAA/Nick UnderwoodBoffin Nick Underwood recorded part of the flight through Hurricane Milton[/caption]
NOAA/Nick UnderwoodOne shot out of the window can’t see the end of the win[/caption]
NOAA/Nick UnderwoodUnderwood puts his hand up to stop his head hitting the roof in strong turbulence[/caption]
NOAA/Nick UnderwoodMiss Piggy carries high-tech equipment for the boffins to measure the storm[/caption]
NOAA/Nick UnderwoodThe flight becomes calm once they reach the eye of the storm[/caption]
Milton’s expected path
Scary footage shows scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) being thrown around the flight.
The aircraft named “Miss Piggy” was collecting data on the hurricane heading towards Tampa on Tuesday morning when the footage was captured.
The fearless boffins bump around the cabin and documents are thrown around as the men are forced to hang on.
When one huge jolt shakes the plane the man recording, Nick Underwood, puts his hand straight up to stop his head hitting the cabin.
Underwood drops his phone and wallet with them sliding across the cabin to his coworker who picks them up.
But that boffin is not able to pass them back as he has to use his hands to hold on to his seat.
The pair are surrounded by high-tech computers and sensors with other workers also working further down the plane.
The jolts are so strong that floorboards come up and important senors break.
Underwood laughs at their situation, remarking: “Well, damn.
“Good God… gotta keep these pockets zipped.”
The wind and rain is so thick that when the camera points out the window the end of the wing can’t be seen.
But once they pass through the clouds and reach the eye of Hurricane Milton, the turbulence stops.
The wing, sea, and sky can be seen again as Miss Piggy has reached the serene spot at the centre of the chaos.
Underwood took to X and posted about the flight after the footage was posted by NOAA.
It comes as…
Hurricane Milton with 160mph winds & 15ft storm surge waves to make direct hit on Florida
He said: “Pardon my Appalachian hoots and hollers but this is right up there with the Ian flight from two years ago. Floor panels came up. Dropsondes broke. A mess in the cabin.
“All that turbulence and we still get the dropsonde out to collect data.
“This is the job. Important work.”
Milton’s reached 180mph on Tuesday, but have since dropped back down to 160mph.
TwitterThere are other boffins also working on the plane[/caption]
TwitterThe end of the wing can be seen once the flight reaches the eye of the storm[/caption]
Miss Piggy is a a Lockheed WP-3D four-engine turboprop that flies into storms to measure wind speed, temperature, pressure, and humidity.
That data is important for forecasters and public officials as they need to try and predict where and how strong the storm will hit.
The storm is set to be the worst to impact the Tampa area in more than 100 years if it stays on the current track, according to the National Weather Service.
Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando are set to close in preparation for the storm.
Sick passengers have been evacuated from one cruise ship after it became stranded off the coast of Florida.
Airlines including TUI, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have cancelled flights into the state as most of the airports are already closed.
Orlando Airport have stopped all operations, effective from 8am today.
The airport is yet to confirm when they will reopen.
Tampa Airport said on social media: “We will suspend flight operations at 9 a.m. Tuesday and reopen when safe to do so.”
Melbourne Orlando Airport, which TUI currently flies to, has also closed.
They said in a statement: “MLB will close to commercial flight operations at 2PM on Wednesday and will reopen at 9AM on Friday.”
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson asked passengers to “check the status of their flights” before travelling.
A British Airways spokesperson said they were “adjusting flight schedules” and offering flight rebooking options or full refunds.
TUI has already cancelled a flight today, with more being ‘watched’ although are also likely to be cancelled, including:
A spokesperson said they were contacting customers directly who are affected.
US President Joe Biden said those staying in their homes were facing “a matter of life and death”.
He said: “This could be the worst storm to hit Florida in over a century, and God willing, it won’t be, but that’s what it’s looking like right now.”
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the area affected by winds could double in size by the time it makes landfall.
They said: “It will be an extremely dangerous hurricane when it reaches shore”.
What is a hurricane and how do they form?
A HURRICANE is another name for a tropical cyclone – a powerful storm that forms over warm ocean waters near the equator.
Those arising in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific are called hurricanes, while those in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean are dubbed typhoons or cyclones.
North of the equator they spin anticlockwise because of the rotation of the Earth, however, they turn the opposite way in the southern hemisphere.
Cyclones are like giant weather engines fuelled by water vapor as it evaporates from the sea.
Warm, moist air rises away from the surface, creating a low-pressure system that sucks in air from surrounding areas – which in turn is warmed by the ocean.
As the vapour rises it cools and condenses into swirling bands of cumulonimbus storm clouds.
The system grows and spins faster, sucking in more air and feeding off the energy in seawater that has been warmed by the sun.
At the center, a calm “eye” of the storm is created where cooled air sinks towards the ultra-low pressure zone below, surrounded by spiraling winds of warm air rising.
The faster the wind, the lower the air pressure at the center, and the storm grows stronger and stronger.
Tropical cyclones usually weaken when they hit land as they are no longer fed by evaporation from the warm sea.
But they often move far inland – dumping vast amounts of rain and causing devastating wind damage – before the “fuel” runs out and the storm peters out.
Hurricanes can also cause storm surges when the low air pressure sucks the sea level higher than normal, swamping low-lying coasts.
ReutersTropicana Field has set up shelter and beds for residents who need help as the storm hits[/caption]
RexMilton can be seen from the International Space Station[/caption]
FDOTTraffic cams caught the gridlock as people tried to flee coastal areas in Florida[/caption]
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Thai tunes set for world domination with PUSH & PULL strategy
Thailand is turning up the volume on the global stage. The Creative Economy Agency (CEA) joined forces with the National Soft Power Strategy Committee to launch its bold PUSH & PULL strategy, aiming to make Thai music a global sensation. With plans to send local artists to top international festivals and attract music industry bigwigs …
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Similan Islands reopen with fresh upgrades for high season
Tourist hotspots in the Andaman Sea, including the famous Mu Ko Similan National Park on Similan Islands, will reopen next Tuesday, October 15, just in time for the high season. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) has given the green light for visitors until May 15 next year. Among the standout …
2 weeks agoUSA UpdateComments Off on Thai woman accuses renowned lawyer of stealing 1.8 million baht
A Thai woman came forward to expose a renowned lawyer who tricked her into signing a power of attorney document, stealing 1.8 million baht from her in the process. The 47 year old victim, identified only as Ple, sought help from non-profit organisation Saimai Survive to retrieve the 1.8 million baht from the well-known lawyer, …
