Automotive Christmas list

Most people do not receive a new car with a giant bow on it for Christmas. Of course, the advertising agencies return to this theme every year, so there may be something to it. Therefore, in the spirit of the industry’s annual salute to this season’s shopping, I hereby submit my Automotive Christmas List. (By the way: the industry is enjoying a pretty fine gift themselves, as November sales were very strong. Chrysler’s increase over last year’s November was phenomenal.)

1. I love sensible pick up trucks. I still pine away at times for “Truck 87,” which I lost to frame rust four years ago. In line with the realities of 2012 and beyond, I would like a full-sized truck. It should be configured as a regular extended cab (not a full crew cab). I need an eight-foot box, to close the gate against those sheets of plywood which are flat on the load floor. A nice cap, quick remove and quick install, is just the ticket for wintertime use.

It needs to be equipped with a full hybrid drive train. My dream truck should be capable of 40 mph on electric power, so that it can tool around Norway and Paris main streets without starting its gasoline engine up. As for the engine, it should be a small, super efficient, high compression ratio, turbocharged unit. Today’s generation of turbochargers spool up instantly and seamlessly for smooth and instant power delivery. These latest power plants are currently coming into vogue as super efficient, but not on pickups yet in combination with hybrid components.

Rear wheel drive is fine since I don’t plow. Truck 87 always got through with its deep tread snow tires with studs. A limited slip differential is pretty important here in Maine. Today’s trucks pretty much all have anti-lock brakes, which solved a constant "early rear wheel lock up” problem in panic stop situations with lightly loaded beds. My dream truck would certainly top 30 miles per gallon in real use. That efficiency is a gift that keeps on giving.

2. I wish every driver on the road would use courtesy and think of “the other guy” while driving. There is no need of rudeness on the road or in parking lots. At the store where I work, occasionally someone will drive close by the door at a speed which is truly foolhardy. If an exuberant young person was bursting out the store door at that moment, tragedy would be the likely result. Other times people park on the no parking strip and even out into the travel lane, or simply in the travel lane, just to save 10 seconds of walking. Most of the time these are the truly able bodied who do these selfish things. A great automotive Christmas gift for our whole region would be real considerate driving, both on the road and in the lots of stores.

'Till next week, happy motoring to all!