Snow Clearing on the Island

So I recently got 18 inches of snow, or as I like to call it, "a dusting". Who in the tri-state area Isn't complaining about the ability to clear snow right now? I recently moved to Massapequa, and i am floored with the snow removal, which is by far the best I have seen on Long Island to date. I mean, I know that isn't saying much, but props to the town of oyster bay for that one.

Also, I want to give props to the LIRR, who actually got me into work on time today, as i was working in Manhattan. Our feud is far from over, but I see that you are working to extend the olive branch of peace in my direction, and its a good first start.

Random post

My god, if I get behind one more person doing 30 in the fast lane, with no one ahead of them and their brights on, i might just run them off the road. I actually witnessed two people backing out of EZ Pass lanes today. Screw this, i am working from home tomorrow.

It's like a battlefield out there

I hate it when my articles come to fruition. The evening and morning commutes are nothing short of warfare out there this week. Really. I would love to record the insane acts of terrible driving I am witnessing, but that would require my attention to lapse for more than a mere second, which could be deadly. On the CBX this morning, I passed three consecutive rear-endings in the left lane within a mile of each other. Sideswipes are happening everywhere. No one knows where their exit is, and the EZ Pass lanes are nightmarish.

Possibly the one thing that makes me the most sad this time of year is seeing how angry and rude people get out on the road. There is no kindness, only anger, horn honking and aggressive driving.

But be safe out there. Be smart, give everyone some distance for error, and realize a lot of those out there driving this holiday season don't drive these highways often enough, and are typically nervous and ill prepared for the amount of traffic. They rely solely on GPS for Navigation, so their attention is elsewhere, and this must be anticipated.

I am probably taking a break for a bit. I am off for the holidays, and then immediately heading to Vegas for CES, where I am then going to visit a friend out in AZ. should be a great fun rise through the desert.

Drive safe and happy holidays!

AWD=All Wheel Slide and the Importance of Hoonage

I grew up on a really big hill. I mean, Sanita Hill was the kind of hill in upstate NY that when we had a bad storm, people would just park their cars at the bottom and walk it. The winter was a dreaded time for driving, because before you hit the hill, you would down-shift, goose it, and see if you could make it up.

If not, you would start spinning at the top and fall backwards. I can vividly remember one time in my old Accord, being in 5th gear, the speedometer reading 80 MPH, and creeping along at a walking pace, as a school bus with chains on the tires crept up behind me.  Then there was the time I didn't make it up the hill, when i rolled backward into the woods. But don't worry, the tree stopped me before I rolled into the ditch.

Thats the benefit of living in a  rural area. From the Dutchess county town I grew up in to the years  spent crawling through lake effect snows on the NY Thruway while living in Utica, the ability to drive in the snow is a badge i wear proudly in metro NY.  This conversation was spurred today by this awesome video i just saw on Jalopnik.com of some NorPac drivers doing it wrong. The AWD's are slipping and sliding, while the Ford Fusion comes through with Snowtires and precise braking and steering control to avoid the pileup.



But here is the bottom line. I learned how to drive in the snow and ice through trial and error, and more anything, good solid Hoonage. Seriously. Parents, friends, spouses, I implore you to take yourselves and your loves one out when it snows to the local parking lot. Find a big empty space and start throwing the car around.  Learn what makes a car slide, learn what difference is between as a gas and a brake when you are sideways and learn how to get out of a spin. learn what it means to have a safe stopping distance, and instill confidence so drivers don't freak out when the car oversteers one ice.

Have you ever pulled a reverse whip in a front wheel drive car? Seriously, its more fun than a barrel full of monkeys when done correctly, and is an amazing technique when done correctly.  I can vividy recall my old cars, and what was awesome in the snow. My 90 Cavalier? 5 speeds of death and no heater. That thing never had any traction, so it was great to learn on. the 89 Accord? that thing loved to slide through the corners, but always corrected. The 94 Intrepid with a 3000GT powertrain? that thing was a more than 2 tons, unstoppable monster that never once slid on me. That car plowed through more lake effect snows than any I could remember and asked for more. The Maximas? not so much. my 2K was such a torquey monster, and the 18" TSW's with Nankings didn't help matters in the least. And now I have this thing called traction control on my 2007,  paired with Potenza RE960's all weathers. Now I have to really try to break traction in this thing.

 

The battle for the highways begins.

The war started as it normally does every year. Quietly, without warning. It was two days before Thanksgiving, and they snuck onto the left lane and weren’t noticed at first. There were Toyota Siennas. Honda Odysseys. Even a couple of Volvo XC70’s.
It isn’t clear who fired the first shot. Some witnesses say it was the SUV with the soccer ball vinyl in the window that stayed in the EZ Pass lane until the last second, and then realized they didn’t know what EZ pass actually was. Others say it was the road rage exhibited from a commuter stuck behind a family actually travelling the speed limit in the left lane.
But that’s a moot point now, because the battle is here, now, and on our doorsteps. Fellow commuters know what I’m talking about, its the annual war that rages between commuters and travelers in the holiday season.
See, the thing is that commuters, we know how to drive. We know the roads. We know what lanes to be in, and we always know what the guy ahead of us, beside and behind us is going to do. We know how to drive alongside the 18 wheelers without being a hazard, and we know not how to time toll gates so we don’t actually have to stop or really even low down. We know what an actual safe following distance is. We know where our blindspots are, and we know what a safe speed is for the roads we travel, and how to handle a car. We know our cars, and we don’t typically break down. We know where the bad potholes are and avoid those lanes.
But then there are the travelers; They are on their way to Grandmas, to the in-laws or to a family friend. They heard that the airports are sexually assaulting people, so they will drive even further this year than last. In fact, a recent study by Telenav suggested 73% of people will be driving to their destinations this holiday season. Here’s how to spot them so you can stay safe this holiday season.

Top 10 ways to spot the difference between a commuter and a traveler:
1. They slam on their brakes in the Express EZ pass lane, causing a multi car pileup
2. Hang out in your blind spot
3. Drive with their brights on, even in the middle of the day
4. Have no idea what lane to be in
5. Follow pointless traffic signals, like “EZ Pass only this lane” like lemmings
6. Always within 5 mph of the speed limit, totally unaware of the line of cars building behind them
7. Will say parallel with the car in the next lane creating an impassable blockade
8. Ice + AWD inflated confidence= ditch
9. Piloting anything with a Connecticut plate that isn’t a BMW Sedan.
10. Driving at full speed, about to miss an exit their Mapquest directions or GPS failed to notify them well in advance of, cut over three lanes of traffic without looking just so they don’t have to go make a U-turn, because that would be the end of the world.

The summary is this. We have to deal with them. They will be on the road until January 2nd, so we have to learn ho to avoid them until then. We have to outsmart them. Don’t drive on weekends. Know the backroads that GPS units wont recommend, like Rt 46. Take the truck lanes. Leave some space at EZ Pass, and always watch 2-3 vehicles ahead for sudden stops, because you know they aren’t. Also, recognize the sever amount of intoxicated drivers on the road early in the night and be especially wary.
We win every year. They go away and the roads are ours once again. Sure they will come back every once in a while, like Memorial day and 4th of July holidays, but for now we have to outsmart them and outdrive them.

Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet

there are two facts that I should mention before this post. First, I am a Nissan Junkie, but you probably know that. Secondly, adding the term "Cabriolet" to anything automatically dismisses any cool factor. While I would never buy this, I am very anxious to see it in person. Nissan has always been on the forefront of design, just think of the space-age maximas, Z's and the Juke.

Nissan decided to use Facebook as a launch platform for the new cute ute,  bypassing traditional media. while we know nothing of powertrain, clearance, etc, we can safely assume it will ride on the shared PM platform with its roofed brother and Altima. It also seems to have lost two doors in the conversion.

The new crossover will be debuted later this week at the LA auto show.

Thanks to Autoblog for the news



 

 

Moved!

Well now i decided to get me a bigger house, and a bit closer to work. I moved from the Ghetto of West Babylon out Massapequa. My commute in like 102 miles, but i already own the domain name, so thats what we are going to stick with. Today was my first adventure with the Massapequa LIRR Rail station. What an adventure. But more on that later.

Rules of the Road #266

I am not here to deny, confirm or debate the existence of a higher power in any way. But, if there is a God, than "Spinners" are certainly a little joke he played upon the masses.

Sharkskin Paint FTW

Dear BMW. I love the new Matte / Sharkskin paint Jobs. Keep it up.  BMW has had a long history of developing trends that make their way into the mainstream while starting on ricer imports, such as Halo lights and the uniwiper. Lets hope this new paint scheme starts to make it into other manufacturers.

http://jalopnik.com/5652275/meet-the-matte-black-bmw-m3

Traffic. FML

I am pretty sure roughly 10,000 people moved into the NY metro area over the summer and they all decided to get on the road at once. Seriously, what happened? usually when school goes back into session there is a noticeable gain in traffic, but this is insanity. it has taken me an average of three hours to get to work every morning, and the worst culprit is long island. Even at 6 am the Southern State and Northern State is backed up. The sign on the Wantagh this morning said delays to NSP West to Exit 13. That means that there were delays deep into Queens. If this continues, the train is going to start looking real good, real soon.

Broken Down - 2001 Altima, 97 Caravan,

How to Beat Red Light Cameras

Here's the secret the government doesn't want you to know.

I discovered a mathematical pattern in the red light traffic cameras in NY, and have developed a fool-proof system to never get busted by one. You see, the programmers rely on an antiquated color coded algorithm to determine signal phases and changes.   Here are the steps to beating the system. with a little practice, this is a guarantee to never get a ticket from a red light camera.

1. On approach, note the color of the light. if it is green, we can call that stale green, and you should be prepared for a change to yellow.

2. The secret is in the yellow lights- You see, they try to trick you, because every light is timed differently. This is where you will need to balance math with driving skill to time it just perfectly. Based on your cars current velocity, divide this by the distance from the intersection that you are approaching to figure out an approximate stopping distance or if acceleration must be applied.

of course I am being sarcastic. Red light cameras are revenue generators because they bust people who blow red lights. Don't do the crime if you cant handle the fine. Now stop bitching about government conspiracies, and stop at a red light like everyone else.

Rules of the Road #1

I am starting a new series today. I call it "Rules of the Road". These are suggestions that everyday people can follow to avoid automotive embarrassment or not be complete jerk-offs to other drivers. I was inspired to write this series due to all of the annoyances and automotive atrocities I see everyday on the road -  there are just so many to list in one post, so here goes with #1.

Rule of the Road #1

"Under no circumstances it is acceptable to put rims on a minivan. I don't care if they are 15's or Dubs, only stock wheels are acceptable."

Broken down: 96 Altima, 92 Civic

C&D Mag Crusades to Save the Manuals

let me hit you with 2 facts. 1. only 6% of cars out there have a manual transmission in America. 2. once you drive a stick, its hard to go to an automatic.

Sticks are for enthusiasts, and those who want control. Even the lowest HP Civic feels like it has some cojones with a 5 speed. But th bottom line is, they are a lot of fun. Execxtuing a perfect down-shift and then accelerating in apex using 2 hands and both feet is an exhilarating feeling, and is what turns a vehicle operator into a "driver". But there are other benefits too - the improved MPG, the fact that you have to pay attention to the road, lower repair costs, and I am sure there are more. I  have owned one slushbox in my life, but in my defense, my leftcalf was roughly twice the size of my right after working the clutch in CBX traffic everyday. Also, the car I wanted didn't have an optional transmission. just CVT or nothing. Now i am stuck with a tranny that wants to fake gears when I slap it into manual mode, but does a pretty piss poor job matching revs. Mark my words, i will never buy another auto again.

But we have to give a shout-out to Car and Driver Magazine. they are now forming a campaign to save the manual transmission and hopefully get the attention of automakers.  It is worth checking out and supporting, become a facebook friend, and add some comments. whether you support the bowtie or the blue oval, 4 rings or a roundel, this is something we can all agree on.



http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q3/save_the_manuals!-car_and_driver

New Tires

I guess you would call my driving style "spirited." I have a lot of issues finding Tires. While i like to drive fast and need something that handles, summer tires are not an option because of the extreme northeast weather. one minute its sunny, than snowing, than downpour.

I have finally found a great tire that keeps up with my driving style and provides all season traction wet or dry. After reading some reviews, I put a set of Bridgestone Potenza RE960 Pole Position tires on to replace my aging Goodyear Eagle F1's. As of so far, I haven't chirped the front wheels despite my cars torque, but then again I haven't tried either. Wet traction has been solid, and the tires grip with no squeal even as I press in and out of the off ramps. The only drawback has been the price, but you will find this is an ongoing issue with all lower-profile performance tires. As stock rims get bigger and bigger, sidewalls decrease and tire prices skyrocket. I paid $220 a price for 245/45/R18's at my local Firestone dealer.  Also, they have an aggressive directional tread pattern which looks pretty good with stock rims.



Check them out, worth a ride.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE960AS+Pole+Position

LIRR's dirty secret

About once a week, I work in NYC. I take the train into the city because I hate driving in Manhattan. Each time I occupy the platform, I notice something is off, something isn't quite right, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it until now.

It's the clocks. There are none. In any LIRR train station. Anywhere. Or on the trains.

Now I am no conspiracy theorist, but why would you have no clocks on somewhere that is so heavily dependandant on time?

Unless of course you didn't want all of the riders to notice how late all of your trains were. LIRR prides itself on its On Time Performance (OTP) which is a completely randomly generated number thats 100% BS. How is it they can be hitting 90-something percent OTP, when 90 percent of the trains I have ever been on are late.

Additionally, have you ever read the fine print? OTP is defined as less that 6:59 late. I don't know about you, but I would call that a pretty signifigant amount of time. Maybe we need to let more MTA workers falsely collect disability and get paid massive pensions, so we can raise the fare even more.

Wired's top worst commutes

Think you have it bad? Wired has a great article on the worst commutes in the world, with Beijing and Mexico Cty topping out the commuter pain index formulated by IBM.

Here it is by the Numbers. NY is 17th worst in world.

Image from WIRED

Check it out here at WIRED

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/06/you-only-think-your-commute-sucks/

Car Crush: Audi RS6 Avant

I have mentioned before that wagons can be pretty badass. Besides hauling groceries, kids and pets, the wagon provides utility with a lower center of gravity and more even weight distribution. The result is the usefullness of an SUV, with the performance of a sport sedan.

There are some great wagons out there -The Outback XT, Magnum HEMI, The BMW 5 Series wagons, Stagea, etc. But there is an undisputed king of the wagon segment, and that is the Audi RS6 Avant. The specs alone are amazing - twin turbo V10, nearly 600 BHP, and of course AWD. Just too bad you will never be able to get one. The current iteration of the car was released in January 2007 at the Frankfurt autoshow, but we can expect that it will never see American shores. (but theres a good chance the sedan will one day show up).  So for now this uberwagon based on VDub's C6 platform will have to stay over in Europe on the Autobahn it rightfully deserves. But for what its worth, I could have totally used a car that could get me and all my groceries home from Stop and Shop in under 2 minutes.



Image from Jalopnik.com

Broken Down: 94 Explorer, 98 mountaineer, 94 maxima, 95 camry, ~95 grand marquis, a couple of vans, that tractor trailer in the middle of the CBX, 2K Focus, copule of mid 90's corollas, 93 Jetta

Counting the days

When I was younger, I eagerly anticipated summer. Summer meant the end of school, and the beginning of summer vacation. My freinds and I would live by the lake for three months, and then start with a clean slate for the next school year. Now that arrival of summer is equally exciting to me, as it signals the end of horrific traffic.

Seriously, I love the summer. its like there is about 30% fewer cars on the road, and getting to work in the morning is a breeze. The only problems are of course Thursday and Friday nights, when everyone is going on vacation.

Off to LA, but ran into some lunch meat

So off we go again, and taking to the skies instead of the road. I’m going on another shooting assignment, and this one should be a lot of fun. But getting there is half the fun and I swear the following story is true.

So I am in the security line at JFK’s Delta Terminal. I like to consider myself a pro at this after logging close to half a million miles professionally. I take off my shoes, watch, sunglasses, and any other metal. Take out my laptop, my Ziploc bag full of minis and wait to pass through the metal detector, boarding pass and ID in hand. I am waved through, and then I await the arrival of my personal effects through the X-ray machine. Suddenly, a TSA agent whisked away my main carry on bag. I wasn’t surprised, random checks happen all the time. I would have figured they would have gone after my tech laden camera bag, but that’s neither here nor there. I bend down to put my shoes back on quickly, and walk over to where the young agent is opening my bag.

At first, I am shocked to see what she is doing. She has my bag opened, and forcefully stuffing in large containers of spices and what appears to be the dirty looking laundry of the traveler next to her. And then comes the SPAM.

I kid you not. She stuffed probably five full cans of SPAM into my bag. To which prompted me to ask “Excuse me, why are you putting SPAM in my bag?” my first question goes ignored, most likely not heard. I approach again, and try to intervene in this situation before it gets out of hand, and things get meaty. This is when she tells me it isn’t my bag… And the guy next to her nods in agreement. At this point, he thinks he is getting a nice free bag to hold all of his SPAM. Not if I can help it.

So eventually, I talk them down and show them that it is indeed my bag, and the agent apologizes, and assures me, we have the exact same bag.  Then another agent comes over, and I will admit the bags have similarities –they both have zippers, compartments for holding things and straps. Other than that, totally different.

So here I am now, on my flight to LA. I have the following questions.

1. Who carries that much SPAM through an International terminal?


2. Why SPAM? I still don’t get it.


3. Why would you not let the agent know she is filling another passengers bag with delicious lunch meat and spices?


4. Will I get bed bugs / lice from this guys clothes being on top of mine? Seriously, he looked like he arrived to JFK directly from underneath the GWB lower level. You all know what I’m talking about.

In retrospect, it’s more funny than annoying, and I had to share it with everyone.

Mercury's Dropping

The latest rumors on the auto industry front is from Jalopnik, and it says there are rumors that Ford is considering terminating the Mercury brand. This would make sense, as the brand is targeted toward women, a gap which Fords new prego-and-estrogen heavy advertising and media blitz fills nicely. With no market segment, no distinct styling and no excitement, the graveyard would seem like an appropriate place for the brand that fills space in dealers that could be room for more profitable Lincolns.

But on the flip side, this could be wrong, who knows, maybe the Grand Marquis is a sleeping giant for sales that solidifies the brand for consumers while on the underpinnings of the super profitable Crown Vic platform.  it would be like making money without even trying.

What will you miss? Will it be the Sable? the Tracer? the Villager, which was touted to hanlde not like a minivan? I think most people will agree that the two things we will miss the most from Mercury will be the 2003 Marauder, and Jill Wagner.



photo courtesy of Edmunds.com

via Jalopnik

http://jalopnik.com/5549458/report-ford-to-kill-mercury

Top 10 List for Metro NY Commuters

I am so freakin’ excited because summer is almost here. I actually hate the heat, and could care less about the beach, but summer means that all little rug rats are out of school and traffic decreases significantly. However, there is one more hurdle to pass, and that is today. The Memorial Day Holiday.

This Thursday is by far one of the most unpredictable traffic days of the year. We just don’t know if everyone is going to be taking Friday off to get a jump on their weekend plans. We don’t know how much extra construction there will be, because crews earn time and a half for working on the holiday. We don’t know how many non-commuters will get into accidents and cause major delays for the rest of us. But I can tell you the tolls will likely be hellish.

Nevertheless, I thought of something the other day. Everyone likes top 10 lists, so I put together a list of the top ways you know you are a hardcore commuter for the NY Metro Area.

1. You can straddle a pothole at 60 mph without breaking a sweat


2. You follow the person with their convertible top down on the CBX, and squeal with delight on the inside when they get the mystery water substance dumped on them that falls from the underpasses


3. 1010Wins and NewsRadio88 are your first two presets


4. Most other places in the world would consider our safe following distance to be tailgating


5. Don’t worry about that NYPD cop, I’m only doing 65 MPH in a 50 zone


6. You know that the word “express” usually means slower. For example, “express” lanes for NJ turnpike, Long Island “Express”way, etc


7. You have a deep appreciation for Jewish holidays, no matter what your faith is


8. You have a favorite toll lane


9. You know the Clearview is where it’s at


10. And finally, you get really annoyed on Fridays when all the slow, non commuters invade your way home.

Broken down:

99 Corolla, 96 BMW 3 series, 2000 Maxima, 96 Grand Marquis, 94 Grand Marquis

Little tiny cars don't belong on the road

In mans quest for improved MPG and cheap transportation, we find ourselves sharing the road with ever smaller automobiles. We usually discover these automobiles accidently during a close call while engaging in a lane change manuever, because they are nigh invisible on the road.

According to Autoblog and the IIHS, some of these cars, most notably of the golf-cart-on-steroids variety are a huge safety hazard even at low speeds. The IIHS did some crash testing against these cars and mini trucks, and discovered catastrophic consequences, which would most likely lead to fatalities in T-bone or sideswipe type collisions. But this makes perfect sense, given the weight differences and small visibility footprint of these cars.

Right now, this doesn't include SMART cars or Mini Coopers, but I can tell you I wouldn't drive one for the benefits of gas savings. They are just too small and you aren't seen. It's like riding a motorcycle without all the benefits. A good example is a friend of mine who drives a mini cooper. One day a pickup truck backed into him and kept going, because the pickup driver never even saw the car.

So one day, when we all are driving these little mini cars on our rides to work, and the LIE looks like downtown New Delhi, then I'll consider buying one.

Broken down: 92 Corolla, 94ish Sable, 90's Grand Marquis, 95 Explorer

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

Coming soon

Right now I am out in Austin shooting SXSW. Chevy has a dominance here from can manufacturers, as they display the Cruze, Volt and offer rides in the Camaro SS. Of course i have pics I'll upload later.

But I'll be updating soon. not being home for nearly 3 weeks make it hard to update my blog. But rest assured, whenIi come back, the focus will be on Austin,and its comparison to NYC drivers.

Potholes and other roadblocks

The pothole situation is insane right now. I have been straddling obstructions like the Russian chick from Goldeneye every day on the road. At least once every 5 miles on all roads, I see someone pulled over with a flat tire due to potholes. I wont even take the upper level of the GW inbound right now because its so bad. The surface streets are even worse.

Its all because when the heavy rains and freezing temperatures mix, we get cracks that form and expand into potholes. combine this with drastically cut local budgets, we get roads that look like they were recently came under mortar attack that we will be lucky if they get fixed by Autumn.

But let me tell you why there hasnt been any posting. I have been really busy at my real job as a PR guy. I just got back from California, and I am shipping out to Vegas this weekend, and then to Austin for a week.

While i was in SoCal, they gave me a 2009 full size Suburban of all things to drive. the thing was a boat. i had to cut the turns wide, and had to make sure all of the kids were clear of the front of the vehicle before taking off anywhere. I also drove it clear across the greater LA area for a trip up to Valencia. I also learned on this trip that California drivers are a lot nicer than NY drivers. turn signals actually serve a purpose out here besides confusing fellow motorists.

Anyway, thats my rant for now. I'll be back in a week or so.

Schools out this week...

Schools out this week, and that means less traffic. Of course, it didn't stop me from sitting in the 45 minutes of stopped traffic on the CBX this morning for the 4 car pileup. The car in front seemed to demonstrate why you don't slam on your brakes when the car behind you is doing 60 mph. Expect it to be light all week.

I'll be out west for about the next two weeks or so, making the LA freeways my home for a little while. But I rented a really big Chevy Tahoe, one of my personal favorite cars. Really, I love this thing. I try to always get one when I travel, because you can fit everyone and everything. It isn't too big to park, yet its big enough I can muscle my way though midtown Manhattan traffic. The ride is nice, and the gas really isn't that bad. If i had a ton of money laying around, which I don't, I would totally pick one of these things up. It also has a monster V8 that delivers adequate power for something this big. I once accidentally smoked em'  in reverse with this thing because of the torque needed to move this mass. Since I'll get a 2010, I'll write a review on it.

Snowplowing and snow driving are not rocket surgery

I find myself ranting yet again. This time about snow, and Long Island. I grew up in the great white north, where winter driving was a necessity, and if you didn’t know how to do it, you were stuck in your house for 4 months out of the year.  While drivers outside of Long Island have the knowledge to drive in the snow and the patience, it is also worth noting that they, and everywhere else in the world does a better job at snow clearing than Nassau and Suffolk County. I am pretty sure that the nations that compromise the Sahara desert do a better job of clearing snow.

So here’s the deal with Long island. You have many, many side streets, all interested by a grid of parkways and the LIE. Going East West, you got the LIE, Northern State and Southern State. North to South, you got the Meadowbrook, Wantagh, Bethpage, 135, etc... All you need to do is throw three parallel plows out every 2 hours to swipe the length of the road. That’s it. It’s not rocket science. Now, I would love to say that these plows are busy elsewhere, but where is that elsewhere? Everything else is snowed in too. The frightening part is it’s not a lot of snow. It was like five inches. I call that a dusting. Down here, they call that the Great Blizzard of 2010.

So one might assume that resources would be dedicated to these main thoroughfares to ease congestion.  Not so much.   Yesterday, the streets were impassible, and today there were still some trouble spots. The Southern state had insane icing in the middle lane, with big patches of black ice. The car in front of me lost it’s ass, and then I realized what I was riding on. The Wantagh was fine for the most part, except for the shoulders. Oh, but there was an accident in the southbound lane, which all of the E-Signs on the Southern State decided to embrace the singularity early, and label this as Northbound.

Northern State though was a different story, this road was a mess throughout Nassau. The middle lane had a few inches of packed snow up until about the Queens line. Spinouts everywhere and a few really good ones.

Clearview, CBX, Jersey? Perfectly fine.

But the drivers… This is the view from part of the northern State.  Please note the asshole with a foot of snow on top of his car cruising in the left lane.



People, driving in snow and ice is not that hard. Here are my tips for you.

1. Get off my ass. Stopping distances are decreased. This is why you spin out when you tap your brakes.


2. Clean off your damn car, and watch out for people that don’t.


3. AWD and 4WD are really useless here unless you need to get out of a snow bank. Here is the fact that might startle some people – THERE ARE NO DAMN HILLS IN LONG ISLAND. YOUR AWD IS USELESS. When your car decides to slide, and it will, AWD is only nominally better in recovering this slide, but recovery still requires space (which based on the excessive speed you’re probably doing, will not be enough to avoid the snow bank or another car). So ditch the confidence, and drive within the limits of your vehicle and your ability.


4. Know your tires. Summer tires do two things well in the snow: Jack and shit.


5. Anything that throws off your centrifugal force is going to pose a hazard, including, steering, passing, ramps, and even a heavy downshift.


6. Snow accumulates between lanes. Avoid lane changes until clear.


7. Find a parking lot, have fun sliding and learn recovery techniques and your limits.

Electronic signs and the impatient commuter

Isn’t technology wonderful? It seems just a few years ago, we actually had to guess how long it would take us to go from point A to point B, and now we have these nifty electronic signs to tell us the approximate time to our destination – and sometimes they even work.

This entry is inspired by a road sign that I have been eagerly anticipating - the “average travel time to the Throgs Neck Bridge” (TNB) sign on the Grand Central parkway. This sign finally came on line at the beginning of this week, and to tell you the truth, I have mixed emotions.

On one hand, I am happy to have this reference just in case the Clearview (295) is totally backed up /flooded/on fire/closed/f. Everyone knows the Cross Island Parkway typically sucks, especially since the TNB caught on fire and the lanes were reduced, causing a daily clusterfuck of traffic for about 2 miles before the on ramp.

But then, I am angry that this sign is sharing my secret. The Clearview is an excellent road, and it’s typically the fastest way to the bridge because no one really wants to take it. Also, the CIP is about a mile beforehand, and drivers will typically encounter a wall of traffic between the two. But after seeing the sign, I think more drivers will move over to the Clearview because it’s shorter. I don’t want more cars on this road, and I hope they stay on the CIP. Here’s a sign I really would like to see.

I also found out an interesting thing today – this sign is accurate, and it is calculating distance from the sign, not from the start of the Clearview. So this sign actually takes into account the traffic beforehand. In order to do this though, it is important to note how these signs work- They respond to EZ pass tags or drivers, and then take an average. I am also pretty sure they have a minimum setting to confirm to speed limits. These “average travel time to…” signs are much more accurate than the old style of “traffic moving well to…” signs, that I have found myself sitting under at a complete stop more than one times.

But, like the red headed step child of New York it is, Jersey has to come out and screw it all up. They have one important sign. Just one – and that’s the one that says the average travel times for the different levels of the GWB. I have seen this sign working maybe twice in the past 8 months. And I know it works, so why isn’t it on? I mean, it was grossly inaccurate by at least 20 minutes in rush hour, but at least it was a good indicator of where you could waster more of your life sitting on that bridge.

Lots o’cars Broken Down since last post:  2001 Dodge Caravan, 2001 Nissan Altima, ~1997 Nissan Sentra, ~1997 Toyota Tacoma, 1999 ford Focus, 1994 Accord, mid 90’s Buick LeSabre

Wish I had a Camera on me...

Here's the lesson I learned today - Always carry a camera with me. If I had one on me, I would be sharing images of the Landau-top RX-7 with custom plates from this morning's drive. Thats right.

Laundau top. RX-7. Let that sink in.

On a totally separate note, I spent a good chunk of Sunday under the hood of my wife's Honda. Not because the maintenance tasks were difficult, but I am pretty sure that Honda only employs technicians to work on their cars who have hands the size of toddlers. Seriously, who has hands that small to fit into this engine bay?

Get a New View

So according to the news, the great blizzard of the century was once again upon the tri-state area, and I braced for a horrible commute. Of course, with all the schools on a two hour delay, I made it into work with an hour to spare. Let us hope for the same luck on the way home. But I actually wanted to share a very useful article I just read…

I tried something new today which went against everything I was taught when learning how to drive. I read in the latest Car & Driver that the NHTSA or one of those Government agencies has new guidelines for side view mirror placement. Apparently, what I had been taught about being able to see the edges of my rear flanks was wrong. The side view mirrors should be extended outward so that the view just slightly overlaps what you see in the center rearview. This is actually a pretty major adjustment to your viewing angle.

I tried it on this morning’s snowy commute, and I must say it is quite effective, but it does take some getting used to. Try it, and it eliminates the need for a blind spot mirror in most instances.

Broken Down since last post…

2001 Chevy Blazer, 1994 Toyota Camry, early 00’s Lincoln Town Car, 1999 Honda Accord

A Post that's not about the iPad.

I think the happiest people in the world to see all the media hype over the iPad launch yesterday was not Mac. It was Toyota, because for a day the spotlight was not shining on the clusterfuck that is their massive recall and legally implemented sales halt. I feel bad for them, really I do. If you haven't been following the story,  Toyota calls it "pedal entrapment problems caused by floormats". This means the pedal was slightly too long, and floormat cut slightly too generously. If you have one of the 4.2 million cars affected by this problem, you should immeditately do the following complex process to ensure the safety of you and your family:

1. Pull out the floormat.

But then there is that other recall, the one where the accelerator pedals actually are sticking due to worn components. This is a bit of a problem for the 1.7 million owners of recent models, and to the dealers who have them on the lot. Luckily, Scion and Lexus models are not affected. But, it does include the Pontiac Vibe, which is basically a Matrix with the General's badge.

The following models are affected by the recall

• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

But this is also a bigger blow to Toyota - it's not like the company can rely on its edgy styling, sporty performance or individualistic appeal. Toyota's sell well because they are solid, reliable transportation, and this is no doubt going to tarnish the image in the mind of many consumers.

But, if you find yourself in the horrifying situation where your accelerator sticks, remember the following advanced driving techniques that could save your life:

1. Hit the brakes, idiot. If that doesn't work, shift into neutral.

Heres a link to the press release with some FAQ's:

http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/toyota-consumer-safety-advisory-102572.aspx

Broken Down- early 90's Mistubishi Eclipse, 97 Mercury Grand Marquis

Quota Time - How to Spot an NYPD Unmarked Charger

Last night, I counted no less than 10 cops on my way home patrolling for speeders. This includes NJ State Troopers, NYPD, NY Staties and a Nassau Sheriff. So apparently, its quota time.* Mostly, they are using the newer Dodge Chargers to replace aging Crown Vic interceptors. The Dodges have the 5.7 liter V8 that’s pretty badass, but with a governor.

Before we go any further, let me say to always obey local speed laws and respect law enforcement, because they are just out there making the roads safer, getting idiots off the roads, and putting money in the municipal coffer. Speeding or any unsafe driving is not safe, and is not condoned.

But you should probably know what you're up against out there.

This is what the Police package Dodge Charger Interceptor is packing:
• Zero to 60 mph: 6.0 sec
• Zero to 100 mph: 15.4 sec
• Zero to 130 mph: 32.4 sec
• Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.4 sec
• Standing ¼-mile: 14.6 sec @ 97 mph
• Top speed (governor limited): 148 mph
• Braking, 70-0 mph: 179 ft
• Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.82 g

That being said, here’s how to spot an unmarked Charger. See the below photos, but here’s where not to look:
• Exhausts – Dual exhausts used to mean unmarked. Now, even the V6 chargers have the dual exhaust.
• Light package – If you are close enough to spot hidden lights in the grill, its already too late
• Headlights – They are the same, but never HID or projector
• License plates – there no discernable special codes for law enforcement on unmarked’s
• Suspension –even though its beefed up, it’s not a discernible difference by glance

Note: taxi companies and liveries often buy used police cars for use as Taxi's. In NY, if it has an orange reflector in the back, its always a taxi.

This is what to notice: (numbers correspond to photos)
1. Rims – usually police departments use cheaper and easier to maintain black steelies with center caps
2. Antenna array – most will have 3 stubby antennas or a center mounted CB antenna
3. Spotlight on the river side is a dead giveaway. some taxi cabs leave them on
4. Brushguard / Pushbar
5. It’s what is missing here- the trim designation badge
6. Fog lights. Cop cars won’t have them, as they are always an optional accessory
7. License plate frame - only civilian vehicles from dealerships will have this
8.  Grills - typically, the body painted grill is on the SRT-8 and other higher end packages for the charger, so its pretty rare. you can bet that if the grill is not plastic chrome, it might be the fuzz.

 charger"][/caption]

Creative common license, photo by AEMoreira042281

http://www.flickr.com/photos/av8pix/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

- photo from www.autoblog.com"

The civilian model– images from www.autoblog.com


[/caption]

[gallery]

* disclaimer - According to Police, quotas do not exist.

Broken Down - 2001 Mitsubishi Galant

So let me get this straight - Pontiac dies, but Saab lives?

Where is the justice in this world?

But I digress. Most people my age have no soft spot for Pontiac. the late 90's gave us a deluge of poorly sheet-metaled POS's powered by the Quad Four, arguably the worst motor in history. They had poor styling, C-grade interiors, and an exhaust note that just sounded like it was about to die. But then a drove the newer GTO. Whoa. Sure, it was a Holden. Sure it looked like a Dodge Neon. But damn that thing moved, and it was a great ride. The G8 was posed to be the renaissance of the car maker, as GM gets back on it's feet with a slew of good platforms.

Anyway, todays story comes to us via Jalopnik and the WSJ.

Spyker, makers of such fine motors as the C8 Cab has rescued Saab from the inevitable doom. The Dutch car maker will receive a majority of the right to the company while GM reserves a 1% voting stake. Personally, I hate Saabs, and I always have. The windshields make them feel like driving with the visibility of Kanye West sunglasses. But its really their styling and image that irks me - I have no real driving background in them. I think the only high point in the entire automakers history was the short lived "Saabaru" hybrid monstrosities that were understated and badass, yet still pretentious.

Why do I feel guilty about liking the Accord Crosstour?

Lets face it, the wagon is cool again. Some of us need the practicality, combined with the versatility that only a wagon can offer, yet do not want the footprint or gas guzzling-ness of an SUV. Need more convincing? Suby Outback Turbo, Audi S4 Avant, Stagea, and the Hemi powered Magnum. OK, the latter is debatable, but you catch my drift. Even though there was about 20 years there between 1980 and 2000 where the wagon had no love, automakers and buyers alike are now beginning to discover what they were missing. It got so bad for a time, automakers even came up with new names. Who would buy a Toyota Matrix if it was badged a "Corolla Wagon"? And then a funny thing happened to the segment - The crossover.
The term crossover is used very loosely, from everything to CRV's, to the Crosstour, which is basically an Accord thats a hatchback and jacked up. But the bottom line is, I'm diggin' this thing. First the styling - It screams form and function, but in a good way. The front says aggressive, but the rear says utility, with a little bit of attitude. Keep in mind though; I am totally judging all of this from the photos. The lines on the car are aggressive, and thoughtfully arranged. This car was not just throwing a hatch on the back of a sedan, which was a plan that worked well for so many years for Japanese automakers. The wheels are aggressive, but aren’t big enough to dampen ride quality, and the black trimmed projector headlights let you know that this is a modern car. The ass is nicely done with dual exhaust pipes, but I think some LED tails will be a nice touch. The interior is also the epitome of ergonomics in typical Honda fashion. Reviewers complain of too many buttons in the Accord sedan. Screw you, I like buttons.
But now let’s talk about the motor. I was surprised to see thing thing equipped with a peppy V6, which is a great move on Honda’s behalf. This move keeps the CR-V relevant while appealing to a new crowd. The marketing materials claim enhanced suspension, which I am sure, is a bit tighter than a stock Accord. The 3.5 V6 sounds good on paper - 271 horsepower, but bolted only to a 5 speed slush box. Not even a CVT option. This is still very commendable performance, and should be well suited to the daily driver enthusiast no doubt. But with available AWD, it becomes a lot more utility and foul-weather friendly.
Pricing is between $27K and 37K depending on how you load it up. EPA #’s are 17/25, making this a decent commuter car that gets typical gas mileage, good performance and excellent utility.
But we do know one thing about this car – its success will certainly be a measure of many things to come. For example, if successful, we will certainly see the return of the Camry wagon, and perhaps an Altima variant of a different namesake. We could also expect to see a hybrid option for this car in the near future if sales are good, because hippies love them some wagon. There are also talksof a TSX wagon variant, which we all know as the Euro Accord.
Check out some pictures. All from Honda. I eagerly await the review from
[gallery]

A bit about tradeshows...

I am no stranger to trade shows. On Friday I'll be shooting the IMS show at Javitts in NYC. For those of you aren't familiar with IMS, its a motorcycle show, put on by Cycle World Magazine. Now before you think I'm going to get all preachy on you about the joys of motorcycles, I just wanted to bring up a point about trade shows in general, and point you toward an awesome blog making the rounds on the interwebs.

Booths have spokes models, and a constant source of entertainment is to watch the advances of show attendees who actually think they have a shot with the woman. Typically these women can be models, PR reps, or marketing execs. But I found through Jalopnik the other day this blog started by one of these spokeswomen called "Do you come with the car".

It is priceless, and worth a few minutes to read.
http://doyoucomewiththecar.blogspot.com/


Oh, and broken down today: First gen Ford Focus, 95 Toyota Avalon

LIRR

So I have been doing some work in the city this week, and sometimes you just can't beat the LIRR. Except of course, when I want to park somewhere where my car doesn't get hit, but thats a story for another day.

But heres what I love about the LIRR - if you are awake all night with a teething baby like me, you can appreciate the fact that you can just sleep the hour and 20 minutes all the way into Penn station.

As I am dozed off though on the 6:42 out of Babylon, I woke up to realize, I think I was snoring. and loudly. I kinda felt bad for the other morning commuters around me, but most of them had headphones on.

So my question is, what is the etiquette for a situation like this? Say your the one reading your paper on your way into the city, when some ass in front of you is sounding like a chainsaw. Do you kick the back of their seat? Accidentally drop your briefcase on top of them? Move? If you know the answer, please let me know. Personally, I will just put on a pair of headphones and ignore them.

But here's the point. If you were sitting next to me, yeah, i was that guy. I'm sorry.

Rumors of new Infiniti 2.5

Heres the thing about the cars we will talk about here - they need to have some sort of practicality. No one is going to drive a corvette or a GT-R to work everyday, and we need to focus on whats actually going to be used by commuters.

So I want to talk about a new rumor (via Autoblog) concerning a new infinity platform. But first, heres a little disclaimer. I am a total Nissan nut. I love their products, and the VQ motor is absolutely bulletproof. I came very close to buying a G35x because it was a phenomenal ride, but didn't pull the trigger because of gas mileage.

The reports say that the 2011 G series will be available with a turbo 2.5 V6, which is the same motor found in the Japanese Skyline coupe (not GT-R). I am predicting something different.

Anyone remember the Infiniti G20t? It sold well and was very cost effective for Nissan to build an Infiniti on the Altima platform / motor. I think we will be seeing a G25 and G25s variant very soon, but without the turbo. I think it will use the same motor as the current Altima to achieve maximum efficiency, (2.5 four-banger) and ride on a slightly tweaked Altima body. This was the exact same strategy for the G20t.

This is a safe play on Infiniti's part. With Audi and BMW bringing smaller, more fuel efficient luxury cars to the states, Nissan's luxury division will need something to compete, and the answer is a platform variant that costs a minimum to produce, but could possibly be a best seller in the entry luxury category.

[caption id="attachment_102" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="96 Inifiniti G20T (Image from Consumer Guide Auto)"][/caption]

Broken down today: '01 VW Beetle and a 92 Honda Civic coupe

From CES 2010 - The Cars

Here i am, sitting in McCarren airport three hours early waiting for my flight. I expected security to be a nightmare, but apparently everyone is leaving tomorrow instead. Between all of the tech industry trade shows, me and the D terminal of this airport have spent many, many hours together.

Bit I digress. Today I finally was able to walk the north hall, where all of the car exhibitions were, and will post some photos. This year there was no one dominant model that companies tricked out. In years passed, it was 300C's as far as the eye could see, but this year, the range was all makes and models. And did i see the GT-R I was searching for? you bet. See you in a few months, Vegas.

Apologies for the point and shoot images, I couldn't lug my big camera out here.

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Out west for the week

This week, I am braving the traffic of a different city, Las Vegas, NV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). This is my seventh year at CES, and it seems to be more congested every year.

Traffic wise, Vegas is a very interesting place. I speak to a lot to the cabbies who know the town and its odd traffic patterns. Its a town full of one ways and confusing hotel back lots, and cabbies blame 90% of the accidents on out of towners renting cars. I saw this first hand today when an erratic Sebring seemed to take every turn, change their mind back into traffic, and even stop a few times and hold up traffic.

But anyways, tomorrow I'm going to the North hall to check out the rides, and report on whats hot, whats next, and what looks really useless.