Coruscation

My family has owned four Civics over the last 20 years. Every month I pay $347.66 on my daily driver, a Civic Si sedan I bought new back in 2008. With this new, indifferent Civic, alongside the hulking second-generation Pilot sport utility; the Insight, a cut-rate Prius clone; and virtually all of the current Acura models, Honda seems intent on eradicating its own distinctiveness.

Where is the Honda that built the sophisticated Prelude sporty coupe, the intuitive S2000 roadster, the overachieving Integra Type R and the world-beating NSX supercar? The Honda where keeping things simple also meant better quality, thoughtful detailing, exquisite engineering and delightful mechanical operation?

I want that Honda back.

Continue reading "Honda losing its way" »

Posted by at 3:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

famous Prius owners just like driving a 50 m.p.g. hybrid even if they could commute via yacht and helipad. And even for many middle-class converts, the Prius's $26,000 median price is hardly a burden: Toyota figures the average Prius household pulls in nearly $83,000 a year, which is rather high for an economy car.

Those figures help to illuminate Toyota's logic behind the 2011 Lexus CT 200h. Is this deluxe hybrid hatchback a better car than the Prius? You bet. Is it really worth an extra $7,000 or $8,000? For a bargain hunter, no. But for a certain well-heeled, light-footed buyer, the Lexus should be a painless stretch.

The CT 200h won't quite match the Prius's mileage, but at a robust 44 miles per gallon in my own combined city and highway driving, it's close enough. And despite its pokey Prius-based hybrid system, the Lexus gives people good reasons to move up.

The CT is more luxurious, more quiet and feels more solidly put together. And its distinctive design, inside and out, may attract two types of customers: bored Prius owners who want something new, and people who crave high mileage but wouldn't be caught dead in a Prius, for either its econobox vibe or its granola image.

Continue reading "Middle class economy car: make less than $85k, drive an economy car" »

Posted by at 5:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Choosing a favorite Hamptons beach is not unlike choosing a favorite child. Still, two beaches were among the top 10 named this year by Stephen P. Leatherman, director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University. Coopers Beach (in Southampton) captured the No. 1 spot, beating out beaches in Florida and California. And Main Beach (in East Hampton) took fifth place. Both are wide and clean and -- very important -- sell food. Many beaches require seasonal parking permits, though visitors can park at Coopers Beach for $40 a day. Parking at Main Beach is $20 a day, but weekdays only; on weekends visitors must walk or ride bikes. (Details the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau's Web site, discoverlongisland.com.)

Posted by at 7:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Navx is a €1m a year French company whose business is speed radar location databases. In France, it is illegal to sell or use selling radar detectors, devices that pick the microwave or laser radiation emitted by speed guns and automated cameras. But providing speed trap location data is lawful. In fact, the French Interior Ministry maintains a public database for fixed radars. And companies such as Navx, or various GPS makers supply location information for mobile radars.

-- Frédéric Filloux

Posted by at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We've all heard that driving and texting is dangerous, but Dr. Milteer (Dr. Regina M. Milteer, a pediatrician in Fairfax, Va., and member of the Academy of American Pediatrics council on communication and media) warned that pedestrian accidents have occurred because children were texting as they crossed the street and were not aware of their surroundings. And even though it may not be as hazardous to use cellphones while sitting at the dinner table or mingling with friends, it is just plain rude.

Continue reading "Texting while walking: dangerous at any age" »

Posted by at 8:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On the drive home, a state trooper on the Pennsylvania Turnpike pulled (former President) Truman over for careless driving. He had been blocking traffic in the left lane, cruising along at 55 miles per hour with a line of cars behind him.

Continue reading "55 and careless" »

Posted by at 7:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Twitter

Google Maps

Flicker Set; example; DuctTape.

Motoring File

Mini2

Continue reading "Radisson 2009: tour du nord 2009" »

Posted by at 8:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Vodcars reports:

So where does that leave us? With the Ford GTs, the FXXs, the Pagani Zondas, the Carrera GTs, and of course, with the true historic classics like the E-Type Jag. These are the real exotics, and guess what--they had better be driven hard. Anyone who has ever met me knows that when it comes to cars, I have lost a few nuts and bolts in my head. I love to drive, even if it's in an aging Nissan 240, a car that somehow got me from NY-SF in 39 hours last month. Cars are meant to be driven. They should have rock-chips and bugs splattered across their front hoods. Seeing an exotic in this fashion gives me pride; it shows that the car is living up to its name and the owner knows how to treat her (Or him if it's named the Bismarck). So obviously, these cars will tend to break more, even crash more.

crash exotics

Continue reading "Crashed exotic cars ?" »

Posted by at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Fast Lane Daily portal of driving and automotive blogs.

Posted by at 8:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

MINI Arctic drive 2007: Labrador.

More pictures:
NHRef, CZMini.

Movies:
CZ MINI, NHRef.

Posted by at 3:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Nain reports CBC’s Tony Dawson had some video of the cars
zooming and zipping around Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
The clips were shown on Here & Now.

Posted by at 8:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Comment on the joy of all wheel drive.

Posted by at 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Road Conditions, see Hwy 500:

Quebec Border to Wabush
Wabush to Churchill Falls
Churchill Falls to Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Posted by at 12:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

MINI Arctic Expedition 2007 planning.

I was not speeding: traffic lawyers and ticket fixers in NY and NJ:

The National Motorists' Association NY referrals.
--------
Frank Desousa at ticketproblems.com
516-505-7715
also
--------
NotSpeeding.com
fax (877) 742-2268
ph (877)965-3237
Fax them your ticket, they phone back with a free consultation.
--------
NYTraffic Lawyer
A former NYC Traffic Court Judge
NYC speeding tickets a specialty
--------
traffic-summons.com aka Michael Spevack
recommended at SQC
---------

Speedlaw.net
Casey W. Raskob: has personally lobbied for the 65 mph limit in Albany
and at numerous Traffic Safety Conferences in New York State and
elsewhere. With the National Motorist’s Association he has testified
before the New Jersey State Senate and NY/NJ Port Authority on
motorist’s issues. Self-description; recommended on NE Mini.

Posted by at 8:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

northamericanpylon gossip about autocross competition.

Posted by at 7:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NY BMW CCA's forums and latest news.

The New York BMW Car Club of America.

Posted by at 6:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).
criminal charges ?

Attorney fees or driver's wages ?
A lawyer or a cab.

A wonder that people of means drive themselves.
Latest example: Pete Coors.

Continue reading "DUI, DWI: attorney or driver ?" »

Posted by at 2:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

L.I.E aka I-495, the Long Island Expressway conditions.
Queens, Nassau, Suffolk to Riverhead.

Posted by at 2:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

STL BMW CCA aka STL BMW Club gave a great technical event: Gateway Tech.

Posted by at 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A new exit from I-64 in Saint Charles County, MO.
Click on picture for full size photo pop-up.
GoogleMap of area.

I-64 westbound, Chesterfield, MO.

Missouri River bridge, from Saint Louis County northwest into Saint Charles County.

Continue reading " I-64 exit 11 (MO)" »

Posted by at 3:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)