KeriBlog

Cars, Security & a Peek into my Life

The Problem with Chinese Motorized Vehicles

They’re often cheaper, and come equipped with more features, like the below ATV that has disc brakes.

Sounds pretty great right?

Finding parts and repairing them is the problem.

Once it breaks, often the only solution is to replace the entire vehicle because finding Chinese replacement parts is difficult.

In the example above, that’s a broken axle, and the solution is either to weld it (won’t work) or drill, thread then bolt it (the torque will knock it loose right away.) So the owner is stuck.

My ATV is a hand-me-down from China, and same thing – the tires are bald, and finding new ones is like an Olympic event.

 

 

Last Chance to Summer Road Trip is Now

Road trips are guaranteed fun, adventure, and consistently yield one of _those_ stories… “hey remember that time we went to Wherever HAHA the best memories yup.”

Meet Michael Palmer, the “CEO of Family Travel.” The Calgarian has road tripped over 900,000 km, part of which is detailed his upcoming book, No Tranquilizers! 17,000 kms, 63 Days, 3 Kids, 1 Van 

He teamed up with Canadian Tire, so we had a good laugh on the phone, talked cars, and here’s his list…

Michael’s Top 3 Road Trip Tips

1 – Safety First

Have it serviced, check and inflate the tires, you know the drill.

2 – Find a Rhythm

Arriving at 11pm one night, then 6pm the next, that will tire you quickly. Be consistent, find a rhythm. Michael drove those 17,000 km in 6-hour per day increments.

3 – Keep it Clean

“Things can get out hand real quick, ” Michael says.  He points out food is always coming in and out of the vehicle, and you don’t want a rotting-grapes incident like he experienced, “organization is critical.”

Plus, if you have to brake hard and suddenly, you don’t want stuff taking flight.

Canadian Tire introduced Glovebox, a new line of auto storage solutions. I attended the media launch in January, there’s a good weight and handle to the fabric.

Or do a 24-hour trip, they’re great, here’s one I blogged.

We live in the best country in the world,
go explore it!

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No money was exchanged for this post.

Canadian Tire introduced me, he’s a fun guy and I like his list so I blogged it. This post has been a beta test of my latest idea.

 

 

I Quit the Newspaper

2015 Jaguar XJ Animated

No big fight happened, there’s no dramatic tale I’m not telling… last Wednesday afternoon I’d been plotting the upcoming Monday, had an overwhelming feeling of “I don’t want to do that routine another week” and that was it.

I wrote for the next 20 hours, now all deadlines are done, called my editor on Friday at 11 am, we had a good laugh and it couldn’t have been a nicer ending. My last column just published, read it here.

Auto for life, to be clear, just not auto at this outlet.

I mark big events in my calendar and set them to repeat annually, so went to document this, opened the app and woah… that’s 3 years to the day.

And a new moon at that. You know I feel strongly about the planets.

What I’m walking away from:

A reasonable amount:

1 – search Google for the paper -theautonet – and there’s me 2nd result. Search with a space, and that’s my column
2 – that’s my reach, 2nd in the country
3 – been a Featured Author for years

Last times to upload to Fatwire, or name 35 car photos – 2016 Nissan Maxima – Exterior 3/4 Rear 2.jpg. Built the last Fact File (won’t miss those for one second.)

Friday night celebration pizza party.

What about the paycheque I just gave up?

I’m great at bootstrapping, so my company’s account is ready for such an eventuatlity, and can carry me for four months while I piece it together.

What will I do going forward?

It’s a rare moment in my very organized life that I have no master plan.

– Daydream, drift around in my imagination

– Drive more cars

– become more specialized in auto security 

– Renovate this blog (I know it’s 2009 around here guys I’m sorry)

– my ‘Keri on Driving’ column continues; find it a great new home.

– Get fit. PRIORITY. Too old now to get away with not. There’s a provincial-level gymnast in here somewhere, just have to find her

– Learn to cook. Okay more realism > learn to feed myself not powerbars for dinner

– Okay fiiine, I’ll make a proper LinkedIn, clean up my social media accounts, and make an About page

– do more sewing, make a quilt for my main room

– learn Metasploit. I don’t want to hack the planet, just try some social experiments I dreamed up, like leave USB keys around downtown, that when inserted, phone home to me – message pops up ARE you kidding me, terrible idea, please never no, instead try help protect the company’s network you almost just tanked

As of writing it’s been 4 days, and I’m a bit dazed from the missing routine of the last 3 years. I didn’t write the news yesterday, it was weird. But overall I feel lighter, good sign.

No risk, no reward.

xo Keri

Let’s work.

 

 

My Dream Fleet

I have 2 – small and large.

Send me yours, let’s debate! Tweet, Facebook or email.

Specifically in my fleet – no convertibles, manual transmission when possible, black interiors and grey or black exterior with heavily tinted windows, and all are the highest trim but de-badged.

Small Fleet

Jaguar F-TYPE R

Audi RS 4 Avant

Large Fleet

Small Fleet plus:

Chevy Tahoe

Dodge Grand Caravan

Ford F-150

Jeep Wrangler

McLaren 650S

Mercedes E 63 AMG

Porsche Cayman S

Range Rover Sport

Subaru WRX STI

VW GTI

Plus the only old car I like – a 2006 BMW M3

And when I must be chauffeured, it’s a Security-trimmed Audi RS 7, or Jaguar XJL.

 

 

The ‘Goodbye to the Newspaper’ Column

Tough to write, but think it came out pretty good.

It’s a 2015 Jaguar XJ AWD.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

All of it. Writing ‘Keri on Driving’ was the best part of my week.

Here’s the link to my Dream Fleet, send me yours, let’s talk about it.

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