Dear Car Talk:
This is not a car question as much as it is a husband question. My husband insists that it’s safe to drive, even on highways at highway speed, with just one index finger curled around the steering wheel. Driving with him can be positively scary. Can you please set him straight? Thank you! — Annie
“One-finger driving” works fine. Until it doesn’t. With one finger, on most cars, you can hold the steering wheel in its current position, and keep the car going straight. The problem comes when you suddenly need to do something other than go straight. For instance, when a 40-ton semi carrying pig iron suddenly changes lanes into yours, not realizing you’re there. Can you swerve out of the way and avoid an accident with one finger? No.
Or let’s say someone stops short in front of you, and you can’t stop in time. Can you steer off to the side of the road with one finger to avoid bashing into the guy? No. If you hit a huge pothole and your wheels pull toward the other lane of traffic, are you going to be able to bring those wheels back with one finger? No.
So you’re right to be scared, Annie. While what he’s doing will be fine 99 percent of the time, your husband is endangering you, and other people on the road, by not being ready for the unexpected. And that’s the real key to driving safely.
So try to convince him to shape up, Annie. Ask him if he’d be comfortable riding in a bus with a driver who had one finger on the wheel. Or flying in a plane with a pilot who lands his 737 with one finger on the controls. Or eating in a restaurant where an employee didn’t wash both hands, but just washed one finger.
I hope he’s willing to change his behavior, Annie. If not, write back with his license plate number and we’ll encourage everyone who drives by him to remind him of this advice by saluting him — with just one finger.
The 2019 Hyundai Veloster marks the sports-oriented compact’s secondgeneration debut, and it remains a one-of-a-kind hatchback.
A sharper-edged new exterior design is immediately appealing. But the symmetrical configuration is still a signature feature, with one longer driver’s side door and two shorter front and rear passenger doors. The threedoor scheme is not available on any other vehicle.
The three-door approach may seem awkward at first. The passenger side rear door rests high and the handle is positioned high and flush on the frame. It’s easy to miss. But the extra entry option means no difficulty for rear seat passengers to enter or exit. The one rear door is also convenient for non-human cargo.
Much else is also new for the Veloster, including a 2.0-liter inline-four base engine and a revised suspension for improved handling. All of the five versions now have forward collision mitigation with automatic braking, lane keeping assist and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The smartphone connectivity is the best in the segment.
Cruise control, Bluetooth and 7.0-inch touchscreen display are also standard. Additional safety features include six airbags, high-beam assist (with the optional LED headlights) and driver attention warning.
New optional features for 2019 on higher-priced trims include an Infinity eight-speaker audio system, wireless charging pad, automatic climate control and an 8-inch infotainment system.
The 1.6-liter, 201 horsepower turbo ultimate trim combines the features of other models and gives the Veloster a peppy personality with its seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and paddle shifters. The Veloster has three driving modes — Normal, Sport and Smart. The Sport mode is the most responsive and is absent of the turbo lag in the normal driving mode. The modes alter shift timing, throttle progression and steering heft.
Gas mileage averages are 28 miles per gallon in city driving, 34 miles