LOL

Todays post is more anecdotal - Today some guy in a Prius tried to race me out of the gates on the CBX. I had already beat him by about 4 car lengths before i even realized he was trying to race me. Thats all.

Broken down - 98 Nissan Altima, 93 Nissan Sentra, 93 Ford Explorer, ~2001 Mazda 6, 92 Camry, 94 Taurus

New Brakes!

So its an exciting day for me, because my car actually stops now. Stop and go traffic is absolute murder on any brake system, and my rotors were so warped it felt like I was operating a 30mm machine gun every time I hit the pedal above 35 MPH, with a Ratt-ta-tat-tat shimmy thats so wicked it threatens to shear my axles.

I didn't quite feel like spending $900 or more to get a complete brake overhaul, so instead went online and bought a full new set of rotors and ceramic pads. I went through Ebay and picked up a set of RotorPros. I opted to get blacked out, zinc coated drilled rotors. They sent me slotted and drilled, but whatever. They look damn good, especially after blacking out the calipers.  I spent about $250 on the complete set, and called my buddy Ryan up for some install help. We completed all 4 in about 3 hours.

My new Rotors!

 

 

But here is why I went drilled. Stop and Go traffic heats up Rotors to such excessive heats, warping occurs very easily, and thats what happened to my stock Nissan rotors. Drilled rotors dissipate heat much more effectively, prolonging rotor life and resisting brake fade. they also provide enhanced stopping power, as they bite the pad more effectively than blanks.

But whats the cons to rotors? Drilled rotors are more prone to cracking, especially if they are cheap. Slotted rotors increase stopping power by wiping the pad clean on every pass, but they also eat brake pads. Additionally,  another drawback I'm finding after three days is that the brake dust is excessive. My stock rims are still on, so it is a very subtle addition to the car that no one will notice, which is good for me.

Broken down - 94 Ford Taurus, 95 4-Runner

The Empire Gold has Arrived

Then other day I saw a plate (AKA “tag” to the southerners out there) I didn’t recognize. It was yellow and blue, and not that attractive. It was a NY plate, and I had never seen one, so I assumed it was an official vehicle or a custom job.

And then I start seeing a few more. Now I have seen like 5 or 6 of them. So a search this morning reveals that NY is indeed getting new license plates, and they look something like this:



New plate and old plate, image courtesy NYDMV

The new plate is called the “Empire Gold” and it reminds me of those mid-80’s plates for NYS before the lady liberty white plate came into commission. But there is an interesting story behind this plate.

Initially, NYS was going to make it mandatory for all drivers to get a new set of plates at a cost of $25, which is $10 more than the old price once drivers’ registration expired. It was also another $20 to keep your old plate numbers.  But, in a rarely seen bout of common sense by bureaucracy, this plan has thus been cancelled, and now the DMV is issuing these tags as of April 1^st for new registrations, or if people request them when renewing registrations. The tags will only be available in DMV offices at first.

After May 17^th, 2010 you can order the plates when you do DMV transactions online such as renewing registration, etc.

View the press release here:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/press/pr040110.htm

Useful FAQ’s here:
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/empgold/faq.htm

How do I feel about this? I think it will look good with my black and yellow scheme, so I am optimistic.  But NY, when will you get with the program and abandon the front plate?

Broken Down: 96 Civic, 99 Explorer, 96 Chevy Astro, 93 Camry, early gen Windstar,

Yellow fogs and my sad PIAA story (updated)

About this time last year, I did something stupid. I spent a lot of money on light bulbs. But not just any bulbs, these were super bright, 110 volt Plasma Ion Crystal Yellow Ion PIAA H11 fogs. You know these bulbs when you see them on the road - they are very bright, very yellow, and don't look like anything else out there. They draw attention, but in classy way, yet retain their functionality. I loved the way they looked, and the only other cars with them were F1 and ALMS race cars. I felt unique. I felt cool. They looked really good with a black car and HID's, and they made me very visible to other cars on the road, which made me feel safer.



In the last year, I have also started to get pretty annoyed with the amount of ricers seen rocking the yellow fog set up on their Civics and Corollas. It is like the yellow lights are becoming something of a new trend. I guess since Lexus started putting them as OEM's, they are migrating to the masses. While it’s a classy addition, it pains me to see it on something with a primed body kit and huge wing.

But all of that came crashing down this morning, as I looked at my car and saw that my driver side had burned out. My heart skipped a beat. Will I have to replace one of the bulbs with an off brand and have two different intensities? What’s more white trash, rocking two different bulb brands, or having one side burned out? I searched my mind for answers:  Now I know I didn't mishandle them, because I wore latex gloves when I installed. They aren't installed wrong, because they are in the OEM housings. What could have gone wrong?

Will PIAA honor their warranty? Can I have it submitted before the year deadline is up? Tune in next week for the exciting conclusion.

UPDATE: Wow. In a refreshing bout of effortless customer service, I called PIAA to ask about how to get the warranty process underway, expecting mounds of paperwork and long wait time. The friendly guy on the line just said fax the receipt and they'll send a replacement. I am floored to see customer service of this high caliber in this day and age.   Guess I'll continue to buy PIAA's and recommend them to everyone.

Screw the rain, lets talk cars.

Screw this, I’m riding the rails today. In this rain, the lowlands that surround the East River crossings are highly susceptible to flooding. Like, and not little flooding either, like flooding on the CIP and Clearview that will shut down the road and sweep cars away.

Here’s a commuter tip for you. In a Gestapo type move, the fuzz always try to block the entrance to Penn station when its pouring and the tunnels start flooding. Don’t get caught in this. Go into MSG, and use the entrance through to bypass it all and get home.

But I Digress.

So there were a lot of hits on my last post about AAA’s top commuter cars, and with my recommendations. To that end, I would like to talk about what should be sought after in a perfect commuter car, and add to the list from last week. Here are some key things to look for:

• Power – I am assuming if you are reading this you are a bit of a gear head. Slow cars are not only boring, they are depressing, and sometimes unsafe.


• In-cabin – You have to keep yourself safely entertained while driving. In Cabin Bluetooth and Aux jacks / MP3 capability are probably the 2 best things to happen in cars in years. It’s easy to dismiss these features until you try them, but once you do, you never go back.


• AWD or Front wheel drive – Yes, I kno0w RWD is better for handling and for enthusiasts. But try making it up a snowy or wet incline in traffic or pull emergency maneuvers ina  RWD car and you will understand the benefits to being pulled rather than pushed. AWD is even better, and offers excellent grip and confidence, but typically at the cost of weight and fuel economy. Just don’t be one of those people that think they are invincible with it.


• Size – This is debatable. Too big and you can’t see what’s going on around you, and if it’s too small, you can’t be aggressive enough to drive in NY. Gypsy cabs are going to laugh at you if you try to muscle in to their lane at 20 mph in a Miata. 4 doors are also just more practical, but that’s IMHO.


• Fuel economy – its very important especially considering gas prices will rise again, and soon.

So now I want to explain my choices, and unveil 107 Mile’ top 11 commuter cars for this month. Why 11? Because that’s how we roll.

1. Infiniti G35X – it’s like the Altimas less girly big brother. The AWD comes at the cost of gas mileage, but it’s fun to drive, and the exhaust note is so sweet you can just turn off the radio. My biggest problem with this car though is the big, annoying analog clock in the middle of the dash.


2. Suby Legacy GT – what it lacks in the interior, it makes up in pure fun. This little 2.5 four banger roars, and its fun when the turbo kicks in. it lacks any resemblance to me-too styling, andf the hood scoop is an extremely aggressive addition.


3. BMW X5 Diesel – Only SUV on here and for good reason. It has insane torque, amazing handling, great features and is comfy.


4. Nissan Maxima – It’s a very well balanced car with unique styling and attitude. The VQ35 is powerful and torque, yet bulletproof. Gas mileage is good, and CVT beats an automatic any day for city driving.


5. New Ford Taurus SHO – I know, I can’t believe I am actually suggesting a Taurus, but have you seen this thing? The interior is full of goodies, the exterior is edgy enough to be cool, and who doesn’t love a turbo’d V6?


6. Caddy CTS – Drive one. Its fun, its styling is out of this world, and it hauls ass.


7. V6 Accord Crosstour – it is the reliability and practicality of an accord, with unique styling and a buttery smooth motor.


8. Bigfoot – Because we have all wanted to just roll over everyone at some point or another


9. Camry V6 – Its sensible and it has some cojones. And you know you can have one for a steal right now.


10. Lexus GS – AWD, solid style styling if you don’t mind all the wood grain.


11. Audi A4 / Jetta – You got either AWD or diesel take your pick to what’s more important. Audi worked out its electrical bugs a few years ago, and they are now quite reliable.

Broken Down: ’94 Civiv, 95 Grand Marquis, 96 Cherokee,  92 Taurus,

AAA's 10 best commuter cars

I just read a great article on Autoblog – Apparently, the AAA has listed their 10 best cars for commuters.

The cars were judged on practicality, safety, comfort, fuel efficiency and affordability. Of course, if I were judging, I would have had to put “fun to drive” in there in addition to in-cabin amenities. Spend enough time in your car and you start to realize the benefits of a car with some pick up as well as Bluetooth mobile.

But the winners are…

1. Honda Insight – It’s small, good on gas, and decent interior room, with legendary Honda reliability. It’s a great alternative to the hybrid.


2. Ford Fusion – It is no secret that Ford has been kicking ass and taking names in the auto market lately. The fusion is decent styling, decent power, and offers the SYNC system for entertainment


3. Volkswagen Jetta TDI: This Vdub has great gas mileage and a motor that captures the heart of torque lovers.


4. Hyundai Elantra – Huge warranty, little price makes for a great combination and peace of mind.


5. Subaru Legacy/Outback – In any weather, both of these cars are phenomenal. I prefer the Legacy, it’s just a bit more refined, yet still bad-ass in its GT iteration. Super


6. Honda Civic – I drove one of these once. Despite a great interior, it felt like an economy car. But amazing gas mileage.


7. Chevrolet Malibu – I have had more of these for rentals than I can count. Average in every way shape and form.


8. Honda Accord – My 89 accord died on me due to a timing belt when it had 350,000 miles on it. Accords are a hallmark of reliability, and the 6 has some real get-up-and-go.


9. Mazda3 – unique styling and handles like it’s on rails. Awesome interiors make you feel like you are in the game.

Here is what the 10 best should really be…

1. Infiniti G35X


2. Suby Legacy GT


3. BMW X5 Diesel


4. Nissan Maxima


5. New Ford Taurus SHO


6. Caddy CTS


7. V6 Accord Crosstour


8. Bigfoot


9. Jaguar XF


10. Camry V6

Care to debate me?

Click here for the article on Autoblog
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/24/aaa-lists-top-picks-for-commuters/

Austin Vs. NY

Well I'm back from SXSW. I was out there on shooting assignment for the week, and had a great time. Of all of the auto manufacturers, Chevy by far dominated the social media space. They had a slowly building production Volt Display, a lounge and a showroom ready Cruz. But the best part is the rides that they were offering to show attendees in a Camaro SS or new Corvette. They also are totally rocking augmented reality into their advertising campaigns, which is going to be big in the future.

But what about driving in Austin? For this little excursion, we got ourselves a Chrysler Town and Country Mininvan. Not my first choice, but hey, it carried everyone and my gear, so I cannot complain. But my conclusion is this - Austin drivers are the most similar to NY drivers I have ever seen, but they have an extreme lack of awareness.

I think the oddest thing about Austin drivers is that a majority do not use turn signals. more than one time, i had a car next to me on the highway that was inching over, and when i didn't alter my speed to let them in, they got visibly angry. I didn't know they wanted to lane change. If I saw a turn signal, I would have let them over.

But getting there is half the fun right? As a hardcore commuter, I frequently find myself on planes. And I have a rule - I know I sound like s snob, but I always fly direct. It’s not that I’m impatient, or don’t like connections. It's just that every single time I take a connection; my bags never make it with me. Of course, this happened again, as the Delta flight From JFK to ATL to Austin was lacking my luggage for the week. But no worries, I carried my camera gear in my carry-on.

Anyways, see the gallery for my really terrible shots of some of the car stuff at SXSW 2010

[gallery]

Upcoming – I am actually working on a really good article, as a PR guy’s perspective of Toyota’s current crisis.

Broken down: 90’s Crown Vic, 94 Maxima, 97 Corrola, a couple of vans