My Car's: December 2008

12.31.2008

This might be the funniest episode of Top Gear

season 9 episode 3
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Top-Gear-American-Holiday_191659.htm

Thanks Mick!

A moment to review the price of going green, and the EPA making it the price too high

The Pickens Plan is a great idea, but if you try to convert your vehicle to run on natural gas without going through the Environmental Protection Agency testing process, the EPA can fine you up to $5,000 a day for tampering with the fuel and emissions systems.

How much does it cost to go through the EPA process? According to CNGPrices.com “these strict test requirements and the expense of getting a CNG conversion kit certified, there are very few EPA and/or CARB approved CNG conversions, and the conversions are relatively expensive, costing from $8,000 to $16,000.”

That’s an average of $12,000 to convert your vehicle to run on natural gas and at even $5 a gallon for gasoline that’s 2,400 gallons of fuel or about 48,000 miles at 20 miles per gallon. At 20 miles per gallon for an average vehicle, 2400 gallons of fuel is four years of driving running on petrol for most people. http://www.coolcarguy.com/2008/07/the-real-problem-facing-the-pickens-plan-for-getting-off-our-addiction-to-oil/

Via: http://www.coolcarguy.com/ which isn't very cool by the way. It's a guy trying to make money selling cars. Yeah, somebody has to do it, but it ain't making as many people happier about cars and their day as what I do, in my opinion.

Seriously....? This guy is so far off the normal thought process that he lists these as his only "Cool links"... doofus.
Best Cars and Trucks - US NEWS & World Report
Buying Guide Category - Cars.com
Check Current Inventory - JFR
Gas Buddy.com
Get Pre-Approved - Download A Credit Application
Go Green - Alternative Fuels Data Center
Go Green - National Biodiesel Board
Government Vehicle Recalls
Hybrid Cars
MyRide.com
OAGResources.com
The Cool Car Guy Movie Reviews
The Tango
Vehicle Reliability Rating
Yahoo! Autos
Yahoo’s Top 100 Green List

I love a good rant! (one against raising funds for the government by charging to drive on roads, raise fuel costs, etc)

http://justgofaster.com/Default.aspx?tabid=179 for a great rant, the rest, is seperate and equally amusing

We refuse to be blamed, castigated, inconvenienced, and more importantly, taxed as a result of the natural cycles of our planetary climate.
So, Messrs Brown and Darling, along with all your ecomentalist cronies, to borrow a phrase from our fine Irish friends, "up your hole with a big jam roll".

What the politicians don’t seem to grasp (or choose to ride roughshod over) as they chant their ‘consensus’ mantra, presumably on the principle that if you repeat a lie often enough then people will believe it, is that if consensus is king in science then nobody these days would have heard of Darwin, Gallileo, Copernicus or Einstein…

The great crash compilation video for 2008, just awesome!

http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2008/12/hits-of-2008.html

"King of the 'Ring" Automobile Magazine, Jan 2009, page 46 sidebar

Formula 1 driver Toshio Suzuki took the GT-R to 7:29 which takes the 911 turbo and the 911 GT2 to the sidelines.

"Nissan's chest thumping over this feat aggravated Porsche enought that the company conducted it's own test of the GT-R. After failing to get with 25 seconds of Suzuki's time, Porsche accused Nissan of using slicks on the Nordschliefe. Nissan responded by posting in-car video of it's record lap and photos of it's street tires.

And in a master stroke of passive-aggressive trash talking, it also offered Porsche free driver training."

And that is why my subscription to Automobile magazine got renewed to May of 2013.

Side by side commentary and comparison video of the Nissan GTR vs the Porsche GT2 at the ring

http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2008/12/great-video-clip.html video from http://www.drivers-republic.com/

the best way to avoid wrecking in a racing go cart: watch the video, and resolve not to strap into one

http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2008/12/you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me.html

"Singing Roads" a new innovative advertising method, grooving the highways so it vibrates at speed like a tune

Nostalgia racing decals and stickers

http://www.nostalgicracingdecals.com/

A sticker collection was found in a garage, and posted to Chevelles.com

Notice the lower left "Tek" turtle? Look familiar? It's a copy of the 1968 Mopar Scat Pack bee, just like the Super Roo of the Australian Ford logo. http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2006/11/aussie-ford-division-falcon-gt-xa.html

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252582&highlight=stickers

Go hug your Chevelle today. "This one was lost, let it be remembered by saving others"

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254133

A barrel of oil: $38 dollars. A quart of oil: $3.99 Whats that about?

So, it must not be my imagination. The price of a barrel, the price OPEC sells it at, has nothing to do with the price of a retail quart by any company selling oil for the engine in your car.

When oil was 150 a barrel, the quart was 3.99, now that oil is 38 a barrel, it hasn't made the oil for my oil changes any cheaper.

Is there something I'm missing about this concept?

Video & Photos: Roewe 550 Receives 5 Stars in Chinese-NCAP Crash Tests

Here you can see video of the Roewe 550 being tested in front of journalists and photographers. Within one minute and 14 seconds, you see the Roewe 550 smashed up in three different tests, with a normal speed and slow-motion shot of each impact.

The SAIC Roewe 550 has received a five-star crash rating from the Chinese arm of the European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP). C-NCAP, in conjunction with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center in Tianjin, China, gave the rating on six-star scale.

This ties the mark for the safest rated Chinese car. The Chinese-made Chery A3 and a car by Hongqi have also been awarded the ranking. Foreign autos Mercedes-Benz C200, produced by a joint venture called Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler Automotive, and the FAW-Volkswagen Bora have also received rankings at that level, according to an English-language newspaper in China.

Such dramatic increases leads one to speculate on the integrity of the tests. Still, over thirty percent of models tested in 2008 got two- or three-star rankings, according to the China Daily. The China Daily is a state-run newspaper in the People's Republic of China.

C-NCAP tested 28 cars this year, in four batches of seven models. The safety rankings have drastically improved over the last two years, with 46 percent of vehicles receiving a five-star rating in 2008. That is an increase of 10 percent on 2007 figures, and a 38 percent increase over 2006.

The Roewe 550 is based on the Rover 75, using a chassis with reduced length.
via:World Car Fans

SHO-time for 2010 Ford Taurus Spy

Could it be? Right in the midst of my own personal search for a mint Gen 1 (1989-1991) Taurus SHO comes pictoral proof that Ford may be resurrecting the Super High Output model. What we have here is one of many images published by Jalopnik showing the "SHO" moniker in its traditional font on the passenger side dash of a 2010 Ford Taurus.
Read All Article

Other article:
Ford Taurus ST First Shots Spy
2008 Ford Taurus
Bootleg Image of 2010 Ford Taurus Leaks onto Web
Ford Taurus X Unveiled at Chicago

Branew_ Nissan 370Z Tuning Package

At the upcoming 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon that runs from January 9 to 11, Japanese tuning firm Branew will launch a complete performance package for the freshly revealed Nissan 370Z.

Branew's tasty exterior kit that will also be available in carbon-fiber, consists of a front spoiler, side steps, rear spoiler and a rear wing. The sport coupe's looks are complemented by a set of multispoke alloys that will be offered in various sizes.

Performance-wise, Branew has developed a new sports exhaust system and reprogrammed the 3.7-liter V6's ECU. In terms of handling, the Japanese tuner has upgraded the 370Z's brake system and added a new sport suspension kit. Further details will be released with the car's debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January.
Source: carscoop

Other article:
Nismo S-tune 370Z more Official Pictures and details
2009 Nissan 370Z revealed
First Official Image of the NISMO 370Z
2009 Nissan 370 Z 'Need for Speed Undercover' Video
Nissan 370Z Shows Up in Video Game Teaser
Spy Photos: New Nissan 370Z
2009 Nissan 370Z Spied
Image Leaked: Nissan 370Z

12.30.2008

Suction cup tires from 95 years ago advertisments

several of these are from http://stores.ebay.com/Cindys-Corner where I came across the first one that had me curious about this unique forgotten car tire... I can't recall.

My sympathy to all classic car lovers, and classic Porsche fans especially, who are hurt by these photos

A car carrier with at least 4 classic Porsches high centered on railroad tracks, and was t-boned by a later oncoming train Nov 10, 2008, near Ventura California. These 3 photos say it all. Via: http://993c4s.com/posche-news/porsche-speedsters-in-train-wreck/

The stunning beauty of design, yes? Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Aerodinamica Spider

A lot has happened in between the car’s construction and its acquisition by the current owner, of course.

Jano was fired from Alfa in 1937 but fortunately the car was pretty much finished, although any prospect of slotting in the new V12 vanished along with Jano.

The Jankovits brothers retained the Aerospider and registered it for street use – the original Fiume licence plates are still with the car. They added a large and hideously inappropriate windscreen, bumpers and turn signals, which ruined the looks but did at least make it acceptable as a road car.

In 1941, however, it was stored away for the duration of the war.
After the war, the Jankovits found themselves under a new Communist regime, their town rechristened Rijeka in the newly formed state of Yugoslavia. Realizing that they were about to lose everything, the brothers dug the car out of storage on Christmas Day 1946 and the same night made a dash through the border and into Italy.

Caught by surprise, the border guards fired after the speeding Alfa – and the bullets left dents in the bodywork that would be rediscovered 60 years later during its restoration.

http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/features/octane_features/233224/alfa_romeo_aerodinamica_spider.html

Via: http://www.motor-klassik.de/medien/foto-shows/auto/mpsfshw_show_505743_14700.hbs?ext_index=0

For another gallery of this car: http://lord-k.livejournal.com/619800.html#cutid1

Emile Claveau, a designer of innovative cars..

this is the 1932

this is the 1956.

For a short bio, and full story: http://www.tbauto.org/claveau/ from the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum in Pinellas Park, Florida website.

For a online gallery of the vehicles at the Tampa Bay Auto Museum: http://flickr.com/photos/forwardlookguy/sets/72157601481866394/

I stumbled across this from http://www.kitfoster.com/archive/2007_04_01_archive.html

Alain Cerf is a man with a mission. Designer of packaging equipment made by his company Polypack, Inc., in Pinellas Park, Florida, he is understandably interested in innovative machinery. As a collector of automobiles he favors those with distinctive engineering: front-wheel drive, rear engines, unusual engines and suspensions. A native of France, he has a particular fascination with his countryman Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot.
Alain has ensconced his collection of cars at his Tampa Bay Automobile Museum, an eclectic assembly of engineering masterpieces. Not surprisingly, many of them are French, including the groundbreaking Citroën 2CV, a Peugeot Darl'Mat, Voisin C7, Amilcar Compound and the last car of Emile Claveau.

Yo! East Side posted up!

Click on this especially, for full size, it's the best red white and blue car photo I've seen!

For more superb photography, and East Coast car shows click over to (Yo East Side!) 's website:

http://backstreetwheels.blogspot.com/ In explanation? I'm "Yo! West Side!" for my So Cal choice of home... and perfect weather, and he... is cold!

Safety tip, from the T-bird forum

When driving on wet or icy roads, never use your Cruise Control. If the car hydro-planes or slides the cruise control will think the car slowing down and accellerate the engine making maters even worse.

http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23310

12.29.2008

Spied: New 2011 Porsche Cayenne Interior

Looking at the spy shot of the interior one can see a major update coming within the interior with simililarities to its bigger brother car the Panamera which means lots more buttons and a shift lifter positioned higher for better driving comfort.

To see a picture of the Porsche Panamera interior and the similarities click here. The Cayenne itself does not appear to have as much as a slope in with the new control unit as the Panamera does.

The exterior of the Cayenne was refreshed not too long ago and from these camouflaged photos it appears that the next Cayenne will receive new integrated LED lights below the current positioning of the headlights units. LED lighting is already found on the new Porsche 911. Overall this upgraded Cayenne is shaping up to be a more exciting model from Porsche and it is giving drivers more features that they want such as the LED lights and the more efficient layout of interior controls just to name a few.

Surrounding the shift lifter on both sides are a plethora of buttons for the driver, which should include window controls, lock controls, and controls for the navigation unit just to name a few. Controls for the dual climate buttons appear to be positioned underneath the navigation unit. Above the shift lever there appears to be a MMI like control knob although we cannot confirm this addition. It would though seem likely since the Audi Q7 features this piece of technology already. Overall the positioning of the controls gives the interior a more sexy, sporty, and streamlined look.
Source: luxvelocity.typepad.

Other article:
Spy photos: New 2011 Porsche Cayenne latest close-up
Rendered Speculation: 2011 Porsche Cayenne
Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia Special Edition
Porsche Cayenne Spied
Porsche Cayenne Diesel in 2009
Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Displayed
Porsche Cayenne Hybrid First Details

2009 Honda Insight Leaked Brochure Includes Sporty Modulo Version

2009 Honda Insight Hybrid Sedan The brochure that was uploaded on the Honda enthusiast site called Temple of Vtec also reveals a picture of the Insight Modulo. For those wondering, Modulo is the name Honda gives to jazzed-up versions of factory-designed cars. The accessorized Insight pictured above features a sporty bodykit with a front spoiler that incorporates an extra set of (fog?) lights, side skirts, a rear apron and larger alloy wheels. Finally, we also learn from the leaked brochure that the JDM Insight will be offered in three trim levels, G, L and LS.

Despite Honda's attempts to keep a tight lid on any information concerning the new Insight hybrid sedan, a set of scans from the official Japanese market model (JDM) brochure have been leaked online, two weeks before the car's worldwide premiere at the Detroit auto show on January 11. Honda had released a three-quarter front shot of the production version but the brochure scans give us our first glimpse of the 2009 Insight's more conservatively styled rear-end along with the hybrid's interior which remains for the most part unchanged compared to the Paris Show Insight Concept.

Another site called 'Insightman' posted a more detailed article with plenty of data sourced from an unnamed Japanese car magazine that supposedly gathered the information from a product preview meeting for Honda dealers in Japan. We've included the 'spec-sheet' of the JDM Insight below, but since it's unofficial info from an unnamed source, we wouldn't take it too seriously.

As for the information that Honda has verified up until now, the production Insight will be equipped with a mild hybrid powertrain developed from the one found in the Civic IMA, combining an electric motor with a small displacement petrol engine and a CVT gearbox. The Insight will go on sale worldwide in the spring of 2009 with U.S. prices said to start from around $18,000 to $19,000.