tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8254600022096504472024-02-11T15:44:30.059-08:00Acceleration"auto info for all"Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-8144827639788983992013-12-17T14:41:00.000-08:002013-12-19T17:58:54.978-08:002015 Subaru WRX: Fantastic or Fugly?<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<a href="http://i0.wp.com/hypebeast.com/image/2013/11/2015-subaru-wrx-22222.jpg?w=1410" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i0.wp.com/hypebeast.com/image/2013/11/2015-subaru-wrx-22222.jpg?w=1410" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The recent release of the 2015 Subaru WRX has created an
immense amount of hype in the automotive world, especially for those who are
devoted to the Subaru way of life. It’s easy to understand why too with the vast
amount of changes the new model has undergone. From its looks to its suspension
and even </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">the engine the new </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">WRX is a very different beast than the last. Subaru
focused most of their efforts on the new WRX's handling. With stiffer
springs, a more rigid body, bigger brakes and now standard Active Torque
Vectoring to help with understeer first reviews confirm increased handling <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>abilities over the last model. Power is up as
well with 268 hp and 258 torques although the 0-60 time has dropped some. So on
paper it sounds as though the new WRX will be fantastic. But what about the way
it looks? From the front it resembles the Legacy GT of old and from the side
the rear of the car almost has a BMW look to it. When most anticipated a more
aggressive “in your face” type styling Subaru decided to soften things up a bit.
So what do you think? Do its looks resemble an AWD monster that can thrash any
surface you throw at it, or is it something your Grandma could take to K-mart
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Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-28875027989804648312013-01-22T22:53:00.000-08:002013-01-22T23:03:55.704-08:00Famous Mustaches and the Cars Behind Them<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The iconic mustache. A symbol of strength, determination, and ruggedness. No other strip of hair has one, let alone two entire months devoted to it (Mustache March and Movember). Though it may come in many different shapes and sizes the men who bear this great symbol all have one thing in common, they mean business. But what really sets America's greatest mustaches apart from the rest are the incredible cars behind them. While it might not be March or November I believe it's still appropriate to pay tribute to some of the greatest Mustaches ever grown, and the cars that supported them all along the way. Hit the jump for todays epic car and the mustache behind the wheel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mustache. Who's the first person that comes to mind when you simply read the word? Yep, Tom Selleck. And when you think of Tom Selleck what's the first show that comes to mind? That's right, Magnum PI. And when you think of Magnum PI it's impossible not to think of the true star of the show, the Ferrari 308 GTS.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every single episode involved Magnum burning rubber in the iconic Italian sports car. And who can blame him? With a testerone pumping mustache like his I'm surprised he was able to get any investigating done at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The original 308 was called the GT4 and was introduced in the 1975 Paris Motor Show as a replacement for the Dino 246. The GT4 was the last Ferrari to bear the "Dino" badge which indicated it's powerplant was not a V12. By the time the GTB was introduced a few years later it came out of production wearing a proper Ferrari badge. With Pininfarina styling and a more powerful 3.0 liter V8 coupled to a 5 speed gearbox the 308 GTB was a fresh and exciting addition to the Ferrari lineup. The original GTB was given DOHC and 4 Weber carbeurators which produced a solid 240 HP. By the late 70's that number plummeted to 205 due to the U.S.'s suffocating emissions standards. In 1980 Ferrari replaced the Weber carbs with fuel injection but the 3.0 liter remained at 205 HP. </span></div>
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="196" id="il_fi" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/1984_Ferrari_308_GTB_qv.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></span><span style="font-size: large;">In 1982 the Quatrovalvole, or QV model featured 4 valves per cylinder and a higher compression ratio which bumped power back up to 230 HP. The famous GTS, or GT Spyder version featured in Magnum PI had the removable center roof piece which made chasing bad guys along hawaiian coastline roads even more exciting. The independant front and rear suspension, hydraulic shocks and ventilated disc brakes also helped the chase. All in all the 308 was a great car that got better every year it was produced. The best part about all of this is that so many of these cars were produced that you don't have to have a perfectly groomed mustache and the last name of Selleck to get your hands on one. Although it probably wouldn't hurt your chances. Check back for more epic cars and the famous mustaches driving them. </span></div>
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<br />Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-51705262410227628662012-06-16T10:08:00.001-07:002012-06-16T10:21:22.464-07:0093 Mazda Miata<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I took the plunge. Last week I went against my instinct and I bought a 1993 Mazda Miata. But why did I hand over my man card and buy this "girls car", you might ask? Well I'll tell you why. I bought it because I'm monumentally sick of driving "compact cars" like my wife's Elantra and the 3 previous Corollas I've owned. I'm sick of driving to work and school and to the grocery store in a car that's so boring I feel like I'm watching re-runs of 60 minutes. But you see this created a huge dilemma because while I'm sick of suffering from car depression I also don’t have a fat wallet that enables me to drop big bills on the new Mustang Shelby GT500 I’ve been lusting after. And while I could have purchased an old 5.0 or even a 300ZX I drive a lot so I need a car that’s not going to break down every other Tuesday. So there you have it. And while I’ve taken a lifetime’s worth of crap for buying this car in the past week alone, I still don’t regret it. Hit the jump for more...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I saw the car on ksl.com and was instantly curious. I had been looking at 5.0’s and Miata’s the past week or so but didn’t see anything too promising until this one. It looked beautiful in the pictures but I’ve purchased enough cars from online ads to know that pictures are about as reliable as a Land Rover. So I took a break from work and called the guy to ask some more questions. An older man answered the phone which was a very good sign. As I asked him more detailed questions about the car it just kept getting better and better. A 1993 Mazda Miata with 59000 miles, never wrecked, completely original body panels and even stereo which is further proof that this car had never been rallied by a younger owner. He also informed me that it had a couple upgrades including cold air intake and cat back exhaust. I couldn’t resist, I had to at least go look at it in real life. I got home from work and informed my wife that we needed to go look at a car that we might end up buying. My wife trusts me a lot and we’ve been married long enough that she believes me when I say things like that, so she got ready and we headed out. When we arrived at the seller’s house I was happy to see that it was a larger house in a nice neighborhood. Older gentleman with money = properly taken care of car. I introduced my wife and myself to the seller and he proceeded to take us through his house down into the garage. When we walked into the garage my eyes instantly became attached to the spotless little red Miata before me. I examined every square inch of it like a forensic scientist examining a murder scene, almost in disbelief at the condition of this 19 year old car. Aside from some tiny chips in the paint on the hood it was completely perfect. He handed me the keys and my wife and I proceeded to take the dwarf sized car on a test drive. We got out of the neighborhood and headed straight for the freeway. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Obviously the freeway isn’t the best place for a car that’s known for its superb handling but when buying a used car it’s necessary to make sure it drives ok at higher speeds. As we hit the onramp I opened it up and was more impressed than I thought I’d be. Stock the first generation Miata had 116 HP which isn’t anything to brag about but the cold air intake and exhaust provided the extra 15-20 hp necessary to make it a little more fun. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything checked out at 80 mph so I took the next exit. When getting off the freeway I decided to put the car’s reputation to the test. As the road in front of me curved to the right rather than slow down like the sign cautioned me to do, I maintained speed and turned into the corner. The pint sized Miata hugged the corner like a mother who hasn’t seen her child in 10 years. I looked at my wife with a huge smile and she knew that we had just purchased a 1993 Mazda Miata. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve owned the car for 2 weeks now and put over 1000 miles on it, many of which have been on twisty back roads in the beautiful desert of Southern Utah. I still don’t deny that the Miata looks more like a girls car than a guys, but for under $5k I can’t think of a more fun and reliable car than a used Mazda Miata. So haters can hate but I'll willingly admit that I love my little 93 Miata.</span></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-43811026815794361522012-05-10T14:32:00.001-07:002012-05-10T14:34:09.064-07:00The Sad Life of many Sports Cars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">This is a 2008 BMW M3. This 4 year old car may look friendly and sociable, but lurking beneath its calm and collected exterior is a monster trying to break free. With a 4.0 liter V8 that generates 414 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque this deceiving sedan begs to be driven like a bat out of hell. The sport tuned suspension, oversized brakes and a sticker price of over $60k, back in 2008, are further proof that this is no ordinary family car. So only a diehard M fan with gasoline surging through his veins would dish out more than most peoples’ annual salary on a car like this, right? Well, sadly, no. Hit the jump for more!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">As a full time college student I’m always looking for a little extra mula to cover my ridiculous tuition and textbook costs. So to come up with some more cash I started doing window cleaning door to door last summer. Most people that are willing to pay someone else to clean their stuff have enough money to feed a large village for a lifetime, so I tend to stick to the wealthier neighborhoods when knocking on doors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Because I’m in these “high roller” neighborhoods I come across a lot of people with some pretty pricey cars. Such was the case yesterday when I came across a family that lived in a very nice 3 story house and the husband had a pristine 2008 BMW M3 parked in the garage. When I noticed the car I saw a good opportunity to take a break from cleaning and have a quick car chat with what I assumed to be a fellow car enthusiast. When I asked the guy if he liked his M3 he responded with a quiet and unenthusiastic “ya”. Surprised by his response I decided to dig a little deeper. “It’s got the 4.0 V8 in it right?” This time his answer changed to “Yep” but there still wasn’t the slightest trace of enthusiasm in his voice. What was wrong with this guy? Every single day he got in a car that so many people, including myself, would do a lot of stupid things to drive and yet he responded to my questions with the same amount of pride as when someone asks me if I’ve seen the movie Twilight. It honestly breaks my heart knowing that there are countless sports cars out there owned by men who never utilize them as the adrenaline pumping track destroying machines they were designed to be. I understand that the M3 is supposed to be a civilized sedan AND an exhilarating sports car but I think sometimes people buy cars like this and forget about the whole “sports car” part. I think dealerships should ask a series of questions before a selling a car like this which include; have you ever had a speeding ticket?, have you ever gone over 100 mph?, will you ever spin the tires in this car? If the buyer answers yes to all of these questions then they’re allowed to buy the car. If they answer no to any of them then they can buy a Toyota Corolla instead. What do you guys think? </span></div>
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<ul></ul>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-62924439062226788032012-05-08T21:13:00.001-07:002012-05-08T21:13:17.454-07:00Retro Corrado Commercial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Volkswagen has produced some pretty interesting commercials throughout the years. In this retro advertisement they sacrifice a Beetle with the intent of proving how fast the G60 Corrado is. With a supercharged 1.8 liter churning out 158 HP the "Rado" was a pretty quick V-dub back in it's day. Pay attention to that rear spoiler too. Only the finest Supercars have similar spoilers nowadays. Check it out! </span></div>
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<br />Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-9683592510538998402012-05-03T10:52:00.002-07:002012-05-04T07:34:46.709-07:002013 Ford Focus ST<span style="font-size: large;"><img height="387" id="il_fi" src="http://hyundaigenesisblog.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/d02f6_2012_ford_focus_st_action_images_main.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="640" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back in highschool one of my buddies parents' drove a first generation Ford Focus. Occasionally my friend and I would borrow the car for school or football practice, etc. and I specifically remember thinking how horrible the car was. The inside was cheaper than a coupon shopper and the ride was horrendous. Maybe I'm exagerrating a little but I honestly felt like the car was going to break down every time we drove it. Then about 6 months ago my wife and I flew to Wisconsin and ended up renting a 2011 Focus while we were there. This time around though, I was blown away. The car was spectacular. It was sportier and more aggressive. The trend continued inside the car with it's sleek lines and high quality materials. The ride was also monumentally better than what I remembered in my buddies Focus. It drove great and the steering was quick and responsive for a compact. I was very impressed to say the least. When the time came to return the car I was a little bummed that I'd be back driving my wife's 2007 Elantra at the end of the day. My point in all this is that the Ford Focus has made leaps and bounds of progress since it was introduced in 98'. Well now Ford's about to take their success with the Focus another step further with the introduction of the ST. Hit the jump for more!</span><br />
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<a href="http://images.automodifiedesign.com/2011/04/2012-Ford-Focus-ST-Front-View-3-600x398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" id="il_fi" src="http://images.automodifiedesign.com/2011/04/2012-Ford-Focus-ST-Front-View-3-600x398.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The new Ford Focus ST will go on sale this month with a starting price of $24,495. That's about $300 less than a Speed3 or a GTI. But Ford's going to need more than a 3 bill price advantage to get it's fair share of the hot hatch market. So to up the ante they've given the ST a 2.0 liter turbocharged 4 cylinder that's good for 252 hp and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. Those numbers blow the GTI out of the water and will definitely give the Speed3 a run for it's money. There's even a magic function called "overboost" which temporarily provides an additional 15 torques when you smash the pedal to the floor and hold it there. Thanks are in order to the man who came up with that. Since the ST is fwd torque steer is a certain but Ford has minimized it's effects with a system that compensates for it when detected. This, coupled with the electronic power assist steering, will provide for easy maneuvering in the parking lots and crisp handling at the track. The 6-speed manual gearbox should provide plenty of rowing fun for the driver too. Other features include high performance brakes, a sport tuned suspension, 18 inch wheels, RECARO seats, Ford's MyTouch system, and a Symposer box which funnels the beautiful growl of the engine into the cab for all to hear. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Aside from the powertrain and all the gadgets and gizmos the ST is a serious looker. With it's black honeycomb grill that takes up almost the entire front end the car resembles a large predatorial fish with it's mouth wide open about to devour it's poor unsuspecting prey. It honestly looks like a creature from the deep abyss with it's tail lights that extend forward almost touching the rear doors. But even so, I absolutely love it. Like mentioned before I use to strongly dislike the Focus, then about 6 months ago I began to like it, and now with the addition of the ST I may end up loving the Focus. A little while ago I went and test drove a GTI with the intent of comparing it to the Speed3. While I wasn't able to test drive the Speed3 due to a mandatory credit check before they would hand over the keys (which seemed ridiculous for a car at this price) I was extremely impressed with the GTI. It was quiet and smooth but when the muscles in my foot took over and put the pedal down the GTI responded with quick and linear power. But it still didn't provide quite enough grunt. And after looking at the Speed3 for about 10 minutes at the lot I decided it was pretty ugly, and the inside was cheap compared to the GTI. So with the GTI being slightly underpowered and the Speed3 being cheap and ugly, the stellar looking ST could definitely take the reigns as the "gotta have" hot hatch. But what do you think? Will the American market be kind to one of it's own with the ST or will it remain in the shadows of it's foreign counterparts?</span></div>
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<img height="438" id="il_fi" src="http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2012/05/2013-Ford-Focus-ST-cockpit-1024x640.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="701" /></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-8596642322957285122012-05-03T07:11:00.000-07:002012-05-03T07:11:24.668-07:00Neil Armstrong's 1967 Corvette<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAyNFgxNTQ1/$(KGrHqV,!nkE9c7Esr2eBPn,zfu5eg~~60_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chevrolet:Corvette" border="0" height="265" id="i_vv4-42" src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAyNFgxNTQ1/$(KGrHqV,!nkE9c7Esr2eBPn,zfu5eg~~60_3.JPG" style="height: 530px; width: 800px;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Do you want to be friends with Neil Armstrong? If so you should probably find another dream because it's most likely not going to happen. But if you want to feel like you and Neil are best buds without going golfing together on the weekends then you could always buy his 1967 Stingray Corvette that's for sell on Ebay right now. It may not be in the former astronauts hands anymore but it was given to him by Chevrolet to drive for a year after he conquered the moon back in 69'. After he had his fun in it he turned it back into the dealership who then sold it to another NASA employee who drove it for awhile and then parked it in his garage where it's been sitting for the last 31 years. The seller purchased this gem from the NASA employee this February and is now hoping that the car's rich history will bring him an even richer bank account. His claim to the car's authenticity is the Protect-O-Plate which is a piece of metal that Chevy installed which was stamped with Armstrong's data. But even if it was this American hero's car would you pay the current bid of $245k for it? </span><span style="font-size: large;">Check out the <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem=&item=251051174912+&viewitem=#v4-43" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Ebay ad</span></a> for more pics!</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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Via <a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/neil-armstrong-67-corvette-sting-ray-sale-ultimate-144950838.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Yahoo Motors</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-28863833155038364812012-05-02T06:51:00.001-07:002012-05-02T06:53:21.615-07:002013 Ford Taurus SHO<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 16.2pt;">
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I was 9 years old my dad traded in our 1995 Ford Taurus for a 1993 Ford Taurus SHO. At the time I thought he was crazy for trading in his recently purchased car for what I thought was the same exact thing aside from the white paint and wheels, leather interior, and weird SHO logos plastered all over it. But after driving in the car for a couple days I realized that the SHO had more than mere cosmetic differences from its cheaper counterpart. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My dad explained to me that SHO stood for Super High Output and that his new baby was actually a sports car disguised as a family sedan. What an awesome idea. A sports car disguised as an everyday driver. I thought my dad was a pretty cool guy after that. Well that was 15 years ago and a lot has changed since then. GM had to be bailed out by the Government, Toyota proved to be mortal and Hyundai became a top competitor in the auto industry. One thing has remained the same through the years though and that is the niche of drivers that demand a high performance sports sedan. It’s that group of driving enthusiasts who refuse to conform to the hot hatch world that we now live in and instead yearn for the practicality of a full size sedan with the heart and soul of a Mustang. Ford understands this group of people which is why they recently resurrected the SHO. But the new SHO is nothing like the one I grew up with. In fact it’s a completely new beast. Hit the jump for more!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The all new 2013 Ford Taurus SHO has received some much needed upgrades from last years’ model. One of the biggest complaints Ford received about their resurrected four door brawler was that it simply wasn’t appealing enough. People claimed it lacked the attitude that a sports sedan deserved. In response to this Ford gave the 2013 model a new face. With a new hood, black honeycomb grill, and more aggressive headlights the new SHO is definitely better looking than the last. Ford left the rest of the body pretty much unaltered. Under the hood the SHO has been given the same twin turbo 3.5 liter Ecoboost V6 that’s good for a solid 365 hp and 360 lb.-ft. of torque. When that power meets the pavement through the all wheel drive system the SHO launches to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Considering how burly this thing is (4343 lbs) I’d say that’s a very respectable time. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/d/534263-2/2013-Ford-Taurus-SHO-blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" id="il_fi" src="http://www.autoguide.com/gallery/d/534263-2/2013-Ford-Taurus-SHO-blue.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Probably the biggest complaint with the 2010-2012 SHO was the brakes. From all the test drives I read it sounded like a death wish was required in order to approach a corner at moderate to high speeds and really feel like everything was going to be ok. To comfort those who value their lives Ford upgraded the brakes with a larger master cylinder and beefed up discs in the front and rear. It sounds like this upgrade alone has made a world of difference in the overall performance of the car. The interior also received some attention with more soft touch materials and a large touchscreen interface that houses the MyFord Touch system. The seats were reworked with upgraded foam and a nice mixture of suede and leather but even with these upgrades it sounds like they don’t provide the support and stability that good bucket seats should. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.roadandtrack.com/var/ezflow_site/storage_RT_NEW/storage/images/media/images/2013-ford-taurus-sho-interior/2407882-3-eng-US/2013-ford-taurus-sho-interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" id="il_fi" src="http://www.roadandtrack.com/var/ezflow_site/storage_RT_NEW/storage/images/media/images/2013-ford-taurus-sho-interior/2407882-3-eng-US/2013-ford-taurus-sho-interior.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yet another downer is that the SHO is only available in a 6-speed automatic. I have to admit that’s somewhat disappointing considering the 5-speed I grew up with was awesome to drive. Even without complete control though Ford claims the SHO will shine at the track. With a sport tuned suspension the mighty 2 ton sedan digs into corners surprisingly well. But if it’s still not quite sporty enough they do offer a performance package which includes springs and dampers with specific tuning rates, an upgraded cooling system, better steering, 20 inch wheels wrapped in summer rubber, and the ability to completely disable the traction control system. That last one’s my favorite. For those who find the base SHO enough to satisfy their hunger for driving they’ll be looking at a starting price of about $40000. But if you have a “go big or go home” personality that requires all the gadgets and gizmos be prepared to drop somewhere between $45k and $50k. Now that may sound like a monumental price for a Ford Taurus that goes fast, but it’s really not. When you consider the SHO’s closest competitors; Audi A6, Mercedes E550 4matic, and BMW 550i xDrive, the SHO is actually quite the bargain. The A6 has the closest starting price to the SHO of the three but when I say closest it’s still $10000 more. And the BMW starts at close to $25000 more. That may not be a lot of money when you’re shopping for a supercar, but when you’re looking for a sport sedan those numbers are huge. But what do you think? Is a mere price difference really enough for people to choose the blue oval over BMW or Audi? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Volkswagen. What do all of these car companies have in common? Any auto enthusiast would instantly recognize that they're all German. The Germans are no strangers to the automotive industry. Some might even say they're the best car makers in the world. But how are they at making hotels? I have no idea. What if it was a car themed hotel though? That's more up their alley. Well that's exactly the idea behind the V8 Hotel located on what used to be the site of an airport in Stuttgart Germany. This home away from home features themed rooms which are loaded with all kinds of incredible car memorabilia that reflects the rich history of the automobile industry. For example, if you've ever wanted to sleep under the stars in a Cadillac at the drive-in theater, they've got a room for that. Or maybe your more of a Lindsey Lohan and Herbie the Love Bug fan. If so they've got just the room for you, minus Lindsey Lohan, it's not that kind of hotel. They even have a Route 66 themed room for us Americans which is probably my favorite. The hotel includes 34 rooms total, 10 of which are car themed. So next time you take that dream trip to Germany where you buy a 911 straight from the factory just to open it up on the autobahn, make sure you get your snooze on at the V8 Hotel in Stuttgart. Even if you don't have enough cash to drop on a 911 staying here should provide some pretty awesome dreams instead. Hit the jump for more pics!</span><br />
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<br />Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-50522715614112750562012-04-28T10:09:00.002-07:002012-04-28T15:45:25.921-07:00Caterham SP/300.R<span style="font-size: large;">So it turns out Caterham doesn't just make 15 versions of the same car that require you to wear goggles and a leather hat to look appropriate. Now they also make this. It's called the SP/300.R and it's an LMP (Le Mans Prototype) style track car. Dyson racing here in the U.S. will be the proud recipients of the first one and will use it as an attention getter for their new racer. Caterham believes their new creation will compete well against Radical who also builds LMP cars. I just think it's great they've decided to build a car for someone other than Indiana Jones. Hit the jump for more pics!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Via <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/28/caterham-delivers-first-production-sp-300-r-to-the-u-s-w-video/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Autoblog</span></a></span><br />
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<img height="425" id="il_fi" src="http://www.thesupercars.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011-Caterham-Lola-SP300R-Side-Profile.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="640" /><br />
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<img height="425" id="il_fi" src="http://www.carenthusiast.co.uk/caterham/caterham-lola__sp300r__2011__012.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="640" />Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-23448728764816969112012-04-27T14:44:00.002-07:002012-04-27T14:47:14.419-07:00Living like a Sultan- The Viano Vision Diamond Van<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Remember being a kid and day dreaming about how awesome it would be to have a tv in the car during those long boring drives? I sure do. I remember first learning about power converters and how genius I felt when I hauled my little ten inch tv and playstation out to our Suburban and hooked them up to keep my brothers and I company during the long yearly trip from Southern Utah to Northern Utah. We played Madden the entire time and before we knew it we were at Grandma and Grandpa's. We might not live in a world of flying cars and robot servants yet but things have definitely changed in the last 15 years. Now most people haulers, whether it be a van or an SUV, come stock with entertainment systems that include T.V.'s, DVD players, aux hookups for your xbox, etc. But some companies don't believe in just satisifying their customers, they'd rather blow their minds.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbB-zBHOLY4eaBYtdcEnKAnxAlTnLZNhCdgdEHDxD-fC33N7IpDG1B1lpGbFFl0i0X2Hl1g-pAzgivvMM9Ho1yUIZeggPCIII-3ThDB2mYVA6VzAEe8JQ3rQ-jfjSuCyCsbAvZFT0qy8/s1600/viano+vision+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbB-zBHOLY4eaBYtdcEnKAnxAlTnLZNhCdgdEHDxD-fC33N7IpDG1B1lpGbFFl0i0X2Hl1g-pAzgivvMM9Ho1yUIZeggPCIII-3ThDB2mYVA6VzAEe8JQ3rQ-jfjSuCyCsbAvZFT0qy8/s400/viano+vision+inside.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Such is the case with the new Viano Vision Diamond van that Mercedes Benz revealed at the Beijing Auto Show this week. Hop inside this Maybach styled carrier and you'll instantly feel like the Sultan of Zanzibar. Amenities inside this traveling palace include reclining, temperature-controlled massage chairs wrapped in beautiful nappa leather, a champagne cooler (flutes included), lighting, and a tv big enough to make you feel like your right there in the action with Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">40 inches of tv to be exact with all the explosions and gunshots being provided by a Bang and Olufsen sound system. It's even got wireless internet if you'd rather watch senseless Youtube videos. So if the 10 inch screen offered in most minivan's nowadays isn't big enough to keep your kids entertained, maybe you should get a Viano Vision van instead.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sYw53s-iGKeeheG8M50vcQ2hsEkPsc2BP0xBBTM-ddgY8pg3_P3d-I_Boylpqp3049ZaHH_0BWr3m3I-k_IyuDmWbpC44LJutKZKGBmgua3nT0Bm1XUnIZWVcVzA5x7pfin-w2FYTjs/s1600/viano+vision+inside+tv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sYw53s-iGKeeheG8M50vcQ2hsEkPsc2BP0xBBTM-ddgY8pg3_P3d-I_Boylpqp3049ZaHH_0BWr3m3I-k_IyuDmWbpC44LJutKZKGBmgua3nT0Bm1XUnIZWVcVzA5x7pfin-w2FYTjs/s640/viano+vision+inside+tv.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-4694565195012263562012-04-26T14:00:00.000-07:002012-04-26T14:00:04.178-07:00Pic of the Day<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not necessarily a diehard Mopar fan but this is still one beautiful 69' Dodge Charger.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7Absal02jzxq_Olk6Ikuk22EBnRhKYva0OJW8PEj7OxllucTAFN02jupaHcDJciyGHl-YgNVgftzs2eRyb3ah4mUTMioavNMtE21U6I0p3gieigQDHZ1jrNs7D4N2DDeNmwq8BfLeeA/s1600/1969-Dodge-Charger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7Absal02jzxq_Olk6Ikuk22EBnRhKYva0OJW8PEj7OxllucTAFN02jupaHcDJciyGHl-YgNVgftzs2eRyb3ah4mUTMioavNMtE21U6I0p3gieigQDHZ1jrNs7D4N2DDeNmwq8BfLeeA/s640/1969-Dodge-Charger.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-62941820447963628862012-04-26T06:43:00.004-07:002012-04-26T07:38:04.918-07:00Caterham Supersport<span style="font-size: large;"> This is the Caterham Supersport. Richard Hammond thinks you have to be a total doofus to drive one of these. I agree it may not be quite as slick as a Lambo or Ferrari, or maybe even a Sonata, but it's a purpose built car so it doesn't need to be. The 1.6 liter in the Supersport produces 140 hp which may sound pathetic, but when it's powering something that weighs about as much as an empty soup can, it's actually quite a lot. In fact, it's enough to launch the car to 60 mph in under 5 seconds. The track built suspension provides superb handling for this little go kart too. And last but not least is the price tag which is just under 35k. So as far as numbers go, this thing has all the right ones. But what do you think? Can you maintain your swagger and drive a Caterham at the same time, or was Richard Hammond right? <br />
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<img height="405" id="il_fi" src="http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2011/04/12/caterham-supersport_LMQXS_58.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="640" /><br />
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<br /></span>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-17793360446945986192012-04-24T09:45:00.002-07:002012-04-24T09:45:53.250-07:00AMG World<span style="font-size: large;">If Mercedes Benz were a person with a split personality, then AMG would be the lunatic version of that person. Basically, AMG takes what's generally already a quite powerful, well performing car and they inject it with steroids. Not just a small amount either, enough so that whatever that AMG badge is attached to remains in a contstant state of roid rage. For example the SL 65 AMG that was shown last month at the New York Auto Show has a V12 which produces 621 hp and 738 lb.-ft. of torque. So if you ever got sick of taking this car to the track you could always take it to the forest and use it to pull Redwood stumps out of the ground. The uncontrollable power and thunder like noise that these cars produce is exactly why so many people have fallen in love with them. So imagine then, what one of these crazy AMG owners would do if there were a place that sold only AMG Mercedes. They would be like a kid in a candy store. A very wealthy kid..in a candy store that sold candy wrapped in gold. Well that "candy store" now exists. Mercedes-Benz recently opened an AMG dealership in Beijing. Typically AMG's are sold in a separate section of an already existing Mercedes-Benz dealership, but this dealership will sell only the very loud, very brutal AMG cars. So if you've been searching for a dealership that carries strictly testosterone pumping, fire-breathing AMG's, then maybe you can put off your Yellowstone trip till next Summer and instead head to China. </span><br />
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<img height="396" id="il_fi" src="http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/wp-content/uploads//2012/04/AMG-Performance-Center-1.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="646" />Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-48082267585965079262012-04-22T22:23:00.001-07:002012-04-22T22:23:33.533-07:00Disappearing Door<span style="font-size: large;">Do you hate your car doors? Then you'll love this video. It was posted on YouTube a few years ago but I just saw it for the first time a couple days ago. Seems a little sketchy to remove the B-pillar and what happens when the motor that controls the door dies? At least when your window motor poops out you can still open the door. Other than those couple concerns this is actually pretty cool and would be awesome for most coupes. What do you guys think? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-30973812381640793382012-04-20T11:14:00.001-07:002012-04-20T13:42:13.351-07:00Awesome Advertising<span style="font-size: large;">Where I live every single transit bus is plastered with giant advertisements for either Gold's Gym or Vivint Alarm Systems. It's honestly pretty annoying. With driving billboards as their canvas you'd think advertisers would be a little more creative. Well these few companies have taken advantage and you'd either have to be really distracted or straight up blind to miss these awesome ads. Check out more of em' after the jump!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which ones your favorite??</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Via </span><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><a href="http://autoden.org/20-cool-and-inspiring-bus-ads-141322.html" target="_blank">Autoden</a></span></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-16527791639958477412012-04-19T10:20:00.001-07:002012-04-19T10:20:50.686-07:00Lamborghini's Super SUV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Lamborghini is under heavy pressure from parent company Volkswagen to start bringing in more benjamins and turn their losses into gains. In order to keep their parents happy Lamborghini will be introducing an SUV to diversify their lineup. A lambo SUV? It’s a little hard to imagine what this “super” utility vehicle will look like but this isn’t the first time a supercar company has branched out into other markets. Ferrari recently introduced the FF which is geared more towards the family man. And Porsche has been producing the Cayenne SUV for 10 years now. Rumors say the new family sized bull will have the same V10 engine as the Gallardo which produces 575 hp. That’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">couple </i>more than a Mazda CX-9 or Hyundai Santa Fe. Rumor also has it that Lamborghini has named their new beast the Urus which is based off the larger ancestor of today’s cattle. While all this gossip is exciting, look for the actual truth to be revealed at the Beijing Motor Show next week. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.inautonews.com/wp-content/plugins/yet-another-photoblog/cache/lamborghini_suv_urus_beijing.aiuyw5l108w04wwcgww40c000.a5fuq7lrqzkgc0ccw4ss08gso.th.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lamborghini SUV to be named the Urus – going to Beijing Motor Show" border="0" class="yapb-image" height="319" src="http://www.inautonews.com/wp-content/plugins/yet-another-photoblog/cache/lamborghini_suv_urus_beijing.aiuyw5l108w04wwcgww40c000.a5fuq7lrqzkgc0ccw4ss08gso.th.jpeg" title="Lamborghini SUV to be named the Urus – going to Beijing Motor Show" width="520" /></a></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-25660114953337823892012-04-17T20:19:00.000-07:002012-04-17T20:55:58.596-07:00Life Size Hot Wheels Jump<span style="font-size: large;">Remember being a kid and building hot wheels ramps so high you had to stand on a chair to reach the top, and then releasing your toughest hot wheels at the peak and watching them soar into oblivion? I sure do. I always wondered what it would be like to be inside one of those little cars as it launched. Well this hot wheels team driver doesn't have to wonder because his hot wheel is life sized and he actually has flown through the air. Check it out! </span><br />
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<br />Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-24405109382862245212012-04-16T11:36:00.002-07:002012-04-19T09:29:17.700-07:00Best car ever?<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Best. What a powerful word. When attached to something, that thing instantly becomes special. It becomes something that people want and need. It's better than good, it's better than better, it's...well it’s best. This word can also be very dangerous though. When someone claims something to be the "best" it instantly comes under extreme scrutiny and people begin searching for reasons to discredit the superb product. Last week Top Gear’s Richard Hammond took on both the role of claiming and scrutinizing when he reviewed the all new 3 series from BMW. After having an extremely difficult time finding fault with the new Bimmer, Hammond concluded that the new 3 series could be “the best car ever”. Whoa hang on a second though. Best <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">car</i> ever? He didn’t just say best BMW ever, or even best sports car ever, he said best <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">car </i>ever. That’s a pretty broad statement. So why don’t we take a look at the new 3 series so we can come to our own conclusion as to whether or not this new “driving machine” is worthy of that statement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The 2012 3 series, aka the F30, has gone through a growth spurt which added 3.7 inches to the overall length of the car. It’s also a tad bit wider, but even with the added measurements BMW managed to shed some pounds from the car (88 of them to be exact). The F30 has a more stern face than its predecessor too with headlights that reach inward and touch the grill and a lower intake that’s been split in two and now spans the entire lower bumper. All right, so far so good. But what about the really important things like the powertrain? Well that’s where things get more interesting. The new 3 series is available in 3 engine options which include a 2.0 turbo four which puts out 240 horses and 260 torques, a 3.0 liter turbo six that’s good for 300 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque, and last but absolutely not least, a hybrid. The hybrid consists of the turbo six paired with a 55 hp electric motor which when combined bust out 335 hp and 300 lb.-ft. of torque. Transmission’s come in either a 6 speed manual or an 8 speed auto. BMW is even offering different “lines” of the 3 series which include Sport, Modern, and Luxury; each with their own color combinations and other perks. The all-electric steering system is standard on the F30 but it sounds like it’s been tweaked to provide better feel for the driver and the suspension remains the same from the previous generation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So as far as I can tell the new BMW 3 series doesn’t fly, doesn’t have machine guns that pop out of the front grill, heck it doesn’t even go 200 mph. So what in the world was Richard Hammond talking about? Well I think that’s just it, the new 3 series isn’t anything monumental or groundbreaking, but it is and has long been a spectacular car for the driving enthusiast. I haven’t driven thousands of cars like Richard Hammond has so I don’t believe I have the right to say whether he’s right or wrong, but I do see where he’s coming from. How about you?</span></div>
</div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-41919633070507131632012-04-13T14:50:00.004-07:002012-04-13T14:51:50.826-07:00General Lee Drift<span style="font-size: large;">Ken Block is the master of throwing his rally car around an endless amount of living and inanimate objects. But his rally machine, whether it be his Ford Focus or the new Dodge Dart he'll be driving, is built for this kind of extreme driving. So when you think of crazy drifts inches away from certain destruction you probably don't expect the driver to be behind the wheel of the one and only General Lee. Jumping over a giant ravine is one thing, but drifting a 2 ton, 17 foot long barge around a jam packed city corner with the precision and skill of a brain surgeon is another. Check it out!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/oSQ0YrJnVac?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-57902800994760238132012-04-13T08:12:00.000-07:002012-04-13T09:08:39.454-07:00Preposterous Garages<span style="font-size: large;">Sometime within the next year or so my wife and I plan to purchase our first home. And while she has a list of requirements for the house such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms, a backyard, two stories, etc., my list consists of only one requirement. A two car garage. The house could be 300 sq ft and made of tin as long as I have my garage. My paradise, my safe haven, where all that matters are my tools, my truck, and my motorcycle. I'm not saying that my garage and my love for automobiles is more important than my family, but I'm still pretty stoked about it. I'm not alone in my quest for a stellar garage either. There's tons of people out there that have absurd car sanctuaries. My Uncle Gary happens to be one of those people. When building his dream home a few years back he decided that he was going to dedicate most of the space to his two story, 8 car garage. So what he ended up with is a 10000 sq. ft. home which consists of 4000 sq. ft. of living space and 6000 sq. ft. of garage. Complete with it's own full bathroom, a lift, and every tool you could ever imagine, his garage is probably my favorite place to be in the entire Salt Lake area. But other people out there have even more ridiculous garages than my Uncle Gary. Check out more of these fantastic fortresses of solitude after the jump!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maserati guy maybe?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 10000 sq. ft. garage wasn't enough so he had to add a rotating platform too</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">why not have 2 koenigsegg's if you can</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">battle of the brutes</td></tr>
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Via <a href="http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2011/12/11/The-Ultimate-Garages-for-Exotic-Cars-7706267/" target="_blank">Carbuzz</a>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-32497183967018877632012-04-12T10:35:00.005-07:002012-04-12T11:26:04.041-07:00Picture of the Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not a huge hot rodder but when I see a picture like this I get pretty excited. I mean come on, that's not just a flame coming out of those tailpipes, that's a good size explosion coming out of those things. Notice the polished steel look of the car too and the shag door panel. The owner looks right at home in his monster rod too with his dark shades and slick hair. Like I said i'm not a huge hot rod guy but this is one awesome picture. </span><br />
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<a href="http://boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/6136574090_446450c0ed_o-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/6136574090_446450c0ed_o-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-90628530743791850932012-04-11T07:20:00.005-07:002012-04-11T07:20:36.700-07:00Porsche Cayenne GTS<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-porsche-cayenne-gts/" s_oid="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-porsche-cayenne-gts/" s_oidt="0" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS blurring the countryside" class="post_top_img" height="230" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/2013-porsche-cayenne-gts.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 4px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">If the turbo Dodge Caravan in my last post wasn’t a fast enough “family hauler” for you then maybe this will be. This is the 2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS and it’ll get your family, your dog, and all your gear from here to the campground quicker than a fat kid making the rounds at Golden Corral. Porsche has bumped the power from 400 to 420 hp in the 2013 version which is good for a 5.4 second 0-60 and a top speed of 162 mph. That’s a little faster than a Hyundai Santa Fe. They’ve also lowered it 20 mm to help with aerodynamics and added a lower final drive for increased gas mileage. The only downer to this mental SUV is that it only comes with Porsche’s 8-speed Tiptronic S flappy paddle gearbox whereas the last one had an available 6 speed manual. For this to even be a problem though you first need to make about $85k magically appear in your wallet to cover the purchase price. To be honest I’ve never quite understood these kinds of SUV’s. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.gtspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2013-porsche-cayenne-gts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" id="il_fi" src="http://www.gtspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2013-porsche-cayenne-gts.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">If I were to buy an SUV I’d want it to have 4wd and be able to haul a boat or a camper. But all bias aside this thing is still pretty freaking cool. The thought of beating an STI in a light to light race in an SUV just makes me smile. If I had money to spare like some people do I can’t say I wouldn’t buy one just for kicks. As of now though I don’t have 85k to spare so I think I’ll just enjoy the pics and this <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/porsche-debuts-420-hp-2013-cayenne-gts-w-video/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">autoblog video</span></a> instead. Feel free to do the same. </span></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-79892725921423038892012-04-09T21:20:00.000-07:002012-04-09T21:20:29.549-07:00Crazy Turbo Minivan Burnout<span style="font-size: large;">Need to get Jimmy to soccer practice, Sarah to dance, and pick up little Joe from Preschool all within 15 minutes? Then this turbo Dodge Caravan is the perfect ride. Seriously though this turbo minivan pulls off a burnout that Tony Stewart would be proud of. Check it out! </span><div>
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<br /></div>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825460002209650447.post-30701296555843833342012-04-09T10:44:00.001-07:002012-04-09T10:54:05.440-07:00Mini Cooper Vs. Fiat 500<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By: Skylar Bennett and Gregan Pace</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Mini cooper has long been the reigning king of the “small and fun to drive” car market in the U.S. Having the DNA of a BMW without the gut busting price tag has made the Mini the perfect car for the driving enthusiast who enjoys small cars but lacks the “mula” for something more extreme. But wait….what’s this? A competitor? That’s right, the Mini Cooper may finally have something to be afraid of. The Fiat 500. Fiat recently dropped a dealership in our little home town of Salt Lake City so we decided it was time to see what the fuss is all about. We decided we’d go test drive a Mini Cooper and a Fiat 500 to see if the car that took over Europe really has what it takes to knock the Mini off of its very high, and thus far very stable, pedestal. Check out the jump for the results. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s start with the newcomer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This car has been a top seller in Europe since its debut in 2005. It is hailed by Top Gear as possibly the best car on the market, combining drivability and value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But will it survive in the land of trucks and SUV’s? Then again with the current gas price crisis this could be the perfect time. With an estimated 30/38 mpg, they are definitely going to attract those tree-huggin’ city folk that refuse to drive a Powerstroke. But gas mileage isn’t the reason we decided to do these test drives. We have very high hopes for this little car that’s been hailed by car enthusiasts alike for its excitement and ability to give James May that little tickling feeling in his privates that few cars have. Let’s start with looks. With seemingly endless options, you can get an extremely personalized car. There are 4 (Soon to be 5 with the Abarth) different models with subtle identifying trim pieces, 14 different colors, and numerous badges, striping, and wheels, all factory options. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">When they asked us what we wanted to drive, we went for the Sport model, manual, with a sunroof. It looked pretty sharp. But immediately as I sat in the car, there seemed to be something wrong with the seat. If Richard Hammond can pack over 10 people in this car, surely my 6’3” frame should fit. It didn’t. I had to crouch a little to avoid my head rubbing on the ceiling. Strike number one. We were told the non-sunroof cars did have more headroom and we were able to confirm it later, but I still felt that I was at least 6 inches too tall for the car. </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The interior was nicely done with leather, electronic climate control, standard Bluetooth, and a Bose sound system. And right above the climate control, there is a nifty little Sport button. This stiffens the suspension, tightens the steering, and adds a little zip to the acceleration. You only need to remember this button once though, and that's to turn it on. And not for the James May Privates meter to go off, but out of sheer necessity. We had heard that the 1.4L engine had a good balance of power and felt fairly quick, but without the Sport mode engaged we were crawling on our way to freeway speed. Everything else performance related was also awful without sport mode engaged. Strike number 2. But in its defense, pushing that button seemed to take us from a Prius to an M3. Well… on second thought, let’s just change that to a moderately priced 6-cylinder. But the steering was tight, the suspension properly stiff, and I guess there was a little zip. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">So while there was no strike 3 against the Fiat we didn’t stick around at the dealership very long after the drive. We took a couple pictures and were on our way, hopefully to something better.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">We arrived at the mini dealership excited to see why these little british matchbox cars had become so popular. As tempted as we were to test a Cooper S we had to bridle our desires and ask for a base model. The one we ended up driving was a 6-speed manual with burnt orange paint and black 16 inch wheels. It looked good, very good. The interior wasn’t too shabby either. The seats may have not been leather but they felt tighter and more supportive than the Fiat’s. In fact the entire interior felt more sporty than the Fiat’s. The only peculiar part was the large speedo in the center of the dash but then I was comforted by the digital readout directly in front of me. From the second we pulled out of the dealership I realized there was no need for a “sport mode” in the Mini. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">This thing was designed to perform well and you could instantly tell. The steering was tight and responsive, the suspension was stiff but not back breaking. The Mini has a few pounds on the Fiat but with a 1.6 liter and an additional 20 hp (120 hp vs. 100 hp) you’d expect them to have about the same acceleration. But they don’t. The mini had way more “pep” to it and I didn’t have to mash the pedal to the floor to get up to speed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best part of the whole drive happened as we were approaching a right turn. The road merged with the one perpendicular to it so while most people slowed for the turn there was no need to stop. Then I heard some very magical words flow from the salesman’s mouth; “go ahead and floor it around this corner” he said. Without further ado I shifted down into 2<sup>nd</sup> and put the pedal down. I took the sharp bend at about 50 mph and the car clung to the corner like a 2 year old clings to his mother’s leg when he’s scared. Literally the car felt like it had found its natural environment as I took that corner. I felt as though I had found mine too and I began to experience that tingly feeling that James May had felt in the Fiat. But this wasn’t the Fiat. It was the Mini. And neither of us had felt anything near that tingly feeling in the Fiat. It was then and there that we both came to the conclusion that the Mini was the much better car. The Fiat 500 may be somewhat cheaper, and it may be all the craze in Europe, but as a “small and fun to drive car” it just doesn’t work. It’s too small and it’s not very fun to drive. So if you’re looking for a small car that will give you that nice tingly feeling when you take a corner, spend the extra $3k and get a Mini. You won’t be disappointed. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"></span>Caraddict34http://www.blogger.com/profile/09049803887941270170noreply@blogger.com4