Josh First's Blog

Racing fast to the next red light: where not to buy used cars

New York City would be the last place on earth I’d want to buy a used car, because drivers there universally rip from one red light to the next. Stragglers like me drift up behind them or up next to them in the adjoining lane about fifteen seconds later. Same red light, but they got there first.  What they got out of arriving at a red light first, before anyone else, it’s closely held knowledge.  I don’t understand it.

Call me Grandma, whatever; the need to accelerate my vehicle in that environment seems unnecessary.  It’s not like I am going to get somewhere faster by going faster and arriving at one red light after another before most other drivers.  The lights are timed to turn red in a row.  Unless a driver can do 0-60 in half a second, by the time he arrives at the next light, he’s pretty much guaranteed it’ll be red.

Ultimately, aggressively accelerating just burns more gas and stresses the engine more than driving slowly and deliberately.
Perhaps it’s a mindset thing.  Beating everyone to the next light gives the impression of being ahead, even if you’re all even.  Well, that’s weird.

New Yorkers apparently have it in for their vehicles, because they beat the heck out of them with this intense driving business.  A New York car may look shiny on the outside, but under the hood, look out. It’s gonna be an ugly mess.

I’d rather buy a vehicle from Amish country.
Josh