Recent Comments:
The Lingenfelter 455 T/A Concept really is badass {Autoblog}
Nov 2nd 2009 1:33AM I actually think Lingenfelter copied one of Kevin Morgan's designs. Here's a link to one of Kevin Morgan's designs from the picture gallery from the Autoblog post on Phoenix Trans Am
http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/phoenix-trans-am/#30
I'd have preferred one designed after a '77-'81 (yes I'm aware the front and rear ends of the '77-'78 are different from the '79-'81) because I'm a huge fan of the Trans Ams used in Smokey & The Bandit I and II.
REPORT: NY cracking down on cabbies using cell phones - only took 10 years {Autoblog}
Oct 19th 2009 1:56PM Almost anyone who takes yellow cabs on a regular basis in NYC knows that taxi drivers are CONSTANTLY on their cell phones. It's a joke when they say they need to use it for emergencies.
I'd love take 10 random taxi drivers and cross reference their shift schedule with their cell phone bills and see how much time they're actually on the phone during their shifts. Then I'd like them to explain how all the time on the phone qualifies as an "emergency".
I've personally had 3 of my cars hit by cabs, twice by yellow cabs and once by a town car and all the times my car was stopped, either in traffic or at a red light. One of those times my ex was driving my car and the yellow cab did a hit and run. She couldn't get his medallion number before he got away. So I don't feel sorry for them at all. A NYC police officer once told me that they call them the "yellow menaces" because of the way they drive.
Fail: Defect reportedly causing NYC car registration stickers to unstick {Autoblog}
Oct 18th 2009 6:50PM I agree with Sean. I'm not paranoid or a conspiracy theorist. I just think that NY state and NYC will use any means possible to generate revenue. As much as I like Bloomberg as Mayor, he's definitely using parking and moving violations to generate revenue for the city.
Across from my apartment, you can park on the entire block except for one car length at the end of the block. There's a "no standing" sign just for that one parking spot and that was only put there after Bloomberg became mayor. Several times a week I see cars parked there with tickets on them because people don't look at the sign. They see cars parked the entire length of the block so they assume they car park there too. Yes it's their own fault for getting a ticket, however I think that's a sneaky way for the city to generate to generate revenue. And for the skeptics who think "how much money can the city possibly generate from one illegal parking spot?", let's do some simple math. Let's say you write just one $115 ticket per day in that "no standing" spot and it could easily be more because I've seen more than one car parked there on a given day. That's $115 per day x 365 days per year = $41975 for just one illegal parking spot. Now imagine how much revenue NYC can generate by putting "no standing" parking spots all over the city.
Back to the topic. My NYS inspection sticker was defective too and wouldn't stick to my windshield. I had to tape mine as soon as I got it back in April.
REPORT: "Lesser luxury" is the new black {Autoblog}
Oct 14th 2009 5:52PM I agree with you John. The new Acura TL is as big as the RL, Mercedes E Class, BMW 5 Series, Lexus GS and Infiniti M but it's supposed to be compete with the entry level luxury sedans from all those car companies.
REPORT: "Lesser luxury" is the new black {Autoblog}
Oct 14th 2009 5:50PM I guess I'm one of these people that the article is referring to. I downsized from a 2006 Infiniti M45 Sport to a 2009 Infiniti G37xS. I wanted to spend less and I get almost the same power (328hp in the G37 versus 335hp in the M45) in a much lighter car. Plus I also wanted AWD after getting stuck in the snow a few times with the RWD M45 and it's summer tires. I know I could have gotten an M35x or M45x but I didn't want to spend the money and I also didn't want to get another M knowing that the redesigned one was coming out next year.
REPORT: Acura considering TSX wagon for the U.S. {Autoblog}
Aug 11th 2009 1:57PM Jeff, I ended up leasing an Infinit G37xS sedan. I thought about leasing the A4 Avant wagon but leasing a loaded one (with the prestige, navigation and s line packages) seemed to be very expensive.
Tourian, I agree and I wish styling was the only issue. The main issue seems to be American's negative opinions of wagons in general. Subaru seems to be the only exception.
REPORT: Acura considering TSX wagon for the U.S. {Autoblog}
Aug 11th 2009 12:39AM Yes, we need more wagons here especially from the Japanese automakers. I'm tired of Americans being anti wagon. I got into a debate with my friends about why they're so down on wagons but not SUVs or crossovers. SUVs and crossovers are basically wagons that are higher off the ground so why are SUVs and crossovers cool but wagons are not? I hate the way SUVs handle so I doubt I'd ever get one. If you want the handling of car with the trunk space of an SUV then a wagon is the perfect option. I think that's why sports wagons are so popular in Europe. A few months back when I was car shopping I wanted to buy a luxury Japanese (i.e. Acura, Infiniti, Lexus) wagon but there are non available so I considered waiting for the CTS sports wagon or getting an Audi wagon. Acura should definitely build this. If wagons were marketed correctly, I think sales would improve.
REPORT: GM to resume leasing luxury vehicles on Aug. 1 {Autoblog}
Aug 2nd 2009 7:22PM In order to compete in the luxury car market you need to lease. In certain parts of the country leasing is a very important part of the business. I recently leased a 2009 Infiniti G37x and I would have considered leasing the Cadillac CTS except Cadillac wasn't leasing through GMAC so I didn't even bother going to test drive it.
REPORT: NHTSA withheld results of studies on cell phone use while driving because of Congress {Autoblog}
Jul 26th 2009 1:05AM I'll admit that talking on a cell phone is distracting but I think it's more distracting talking to a passenger in the car. Why do I say that? Because when someone is talking to a passenger in their car, they have a tendency to turn and look at the person they're talking to but when someone is talking on a cell phone, they can't look at the person they're talking to and you don't look at your phone when you're talking on it. Of course I think any activity that involves looking at the cell phone (i.e. dialing, texting, etc) while driving is much more distracting than actually talking on the phone.
Acura X6-fighter officially named ZDX {Autoblog}
Mar 31st 2009 9:54AM I agree with you Mike. It gives the utility of an SUV but handles more like a car. But I do wish the Japanese automakers would make more sport wagons like BMW and Audi. They sell so well in Europe but do horrible here because of the stigma of owning a wagon even though an SUV is basically a wagon that has higher ground clearance. I hate the way SUVs handle so I doubt I will ever get one myself but I'd consider something like the ZDX.
