The Truth About Cars » Precast

Podcast: Lieberman’s Got Edge

Robert Farago — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 01:11:19 +0000

So Jonny tells me that he's returned from a first class junket to The City by the Bay and by the way his new best bud ace auto scribe Dan Neil's coming over to his for a poker night. Suddenly I'm feeling like I'm on the outside of the carniverse looking in. Then Andrew Dederer submits a rant condemning The Big Two Point Five for insularity that makes Rhode Island seem like it won the genetic sweepstakes– instead of earning itself the ancient and not-so-venerable nickname "Toad Island." I suppose commentator Humourless is more than a little right: the internet subordinates physical geography to psychological geography. But that does not make me feel 100% clued-in, nor does it excuse The Big Two Point Five for their bunkering. Ever, since I began the GM Death Watch, I've tried to get The General to write a rebuttal. To say my requests have fallen on deaf ears is like saying that TTAC's scribes won't get access to the GM press fleet until cold fusion (the nuclear event, not the Nebraska-based Ford sedan) becomes a practicable proposition. Surely by now there's someone with power within The Big Two Point Five who reads our stuff, who wants to "set the record straight" (a.k.a. spin the company line like an F5 tornado). Yes but– if a domestic mover and shaker took on his or her critics in this e-venue, they would face The Wrath of Khan: the humorless bastards within their organizations who brook no breach of corporate omerta. Well guess what? The new media will win. The truth will out. And when it does, I'll be the first to say I told you so. of course, none of my neighbors will give a damn. Which is exactly how it should be.

Precast: Occam’s Edge, Two-for-One Pagitude, Hoons R Us, Eleanor Rows So Svelte, OTT $$?

Robert Farago — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 23:55:48 +0000

I'm of two minds on this whole hoonage business. One one hand, it's entirely possible to hoon about in a high speed car at significant velocities without endangering anyone save yourself and/or your insurance premiums. I'm thinking here of hormone-crazed kids burning rubber in parking lots, or more mature pistonheads practicing a little tail out action on a familiar and appropriately deserted stretch of road. But there are limits, even if they're not posted. As someone who's been fortunate enough to mash the gas on an Enzo, Zonda and Carrera GT, I can tell you there's a moment in the accelerative process when anyone other than a professional race driver is just hanging on. It's a kick-ass Zen sort of thing, and it accounts for the war whoop issued by the pilot of Heffner's twin-turbo Lamborghini Gallardo . But it's not what I would call safe. In short bursts, maybe. Through traffic, no. While I'm reasonably sure the Heffner folk know the limits of car and driver, common sense suggests no one in their right mind would capture 100mph++ balls-out sprints down a public road on videotape– especially if it shows the driver's face. That's what we call evidence. In fact, the tape pretty much proves that the hoons involved forfeit the benefit of the doubt. I rest my case. Now, where are my Boxster S keys?

Precast: Audis on Parade, VIP vs. Bling

Robert Farago — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 01:13:32 +0000

For many years, US President Abraham Lincoln thought that deporting slaves was the only workable solution to an intractable political issue. In 1861, a “colony” was established off the coast of Haiti for this purpose. Black families with no common language suddenly found themselves living together. The former slaves created their own language, complete with unwritten (but rigid) rules of grammar, tense, appellation, the lot. Semanticists have used this example to suggest that our brains are hard-wired to create shared linguistic constructs. I would suggest that the same genetic predisposition applies to tuner cars. Something new and wacky appears on the automotive scene, like low-riders, donks or VIP style. The next thing you know, a growing number of participants exert their collective unconscious on the movement, creating unwritten (but rigid) rules for what’s acceptable, what unacceptable and what’s da bomb. Strangely enough, the same process applies to vehicles that haven’t been tuned. After all, who decided what makes a Merc a Merc? Maybe that’s why I like my cars bone stock: I figure it’s the purest expression of the manufacturer’s aesthetic. Either that or I’m boring. But then I have owned Ferraris. As discerning rappers will agree, why would you want to mess with that?

Precast: Ferrari Four Wheelin’, i and i, Steering Clear of the M6, Bangle RIP?

Robert Farago — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:18:24 +0000

A four wheel-drive Ferrari? On one hand, it sounds like a bald-faced betrayal of Ferrari's brand proposition: extreme rear wheel-drive performance cars prone to lurid oversteer slides into solid objects and/or mid-engined marvels that snap into gyroscopic spins that scrub off a bit of speed before sliding into a solid object. Ferrari claims their new system won't detract from their products' traditional balls-out driving dynamics. But one wonders if Ferrari buyers will soon be talking about "the good old days," when you had to be a "real man" to drive a Ferrari at speed. Remember: it took Porschehiles years to get over the fact that their ass-engined 911's were no longer magnetically attracted to the scenery. Still, as I pointed out to Mr. Spinelli in today's talkfest, it's in Ferrari's best interest to keep their customers alive. Besides, Vee Dub's Bugatti Veyron proved that putting power to all four wheels is an excellent way to make a 1000hp car go in the direction its driver intends. Does this mean the new four wheel-drive system will help Fezza make an even more monstrous car than the Enzo or, maybe, the big Bug? Count on it.

Precast: Do Mitsubishi’s Dream of Electric Sheep?, Volvo’s Manic Depressive Designer, AMG PC

Robert Farago — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 01:57:22 +0000

My first car was a golf cart, courtesy of The Ocean Reef Club. Actually, props to the parental units. They handed me the key to the open-sided electric conveyance, slipped me a charge-worthy room card and gave me the run of the joint. The cart was surprisingly peppy and the freedom it imparted almost got me laid by a startlingly attractive college girl– an astounding piece of happenstance given that the average Club member was older than cuneiform. And as I returned to our bungalow after this almost getting laid experience, Homone-Crazed Endorphin Boy over-cooked it in a corner and crashed. Neither cart nor driver were damaged, but the accident taught me a valuable lesson: avoid vehicles with three wheels. Of course, the new Mitsubishi electric car is likely to have four wheels, reasonable acceleration, respectable range and some airbags. How great is that? Maybe not as great as a gas-sucking AMG monster, but in certain circles, well, you'd be in like Flynn. Life's funny that way.

Precast: Death Proof Digression, Video Games, Mercury Falling, Ring Ring

Robert Farago — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 00:45:57 +0000

My first ever dream car was the Batmobile, and yes, I'm talking about George Barris' Lincoln Futura riff. Looking back, it's funny how I totally missed the TV show's camp humor. Like the cut from the flames jetting out the back of the Batmobile to a Dynamic Duo crotch shot (celebrated by safety campaigners for showing Batman and Robin buckling-up their bulges). Well, not totally. I remember an episode where Catwoman (Julie Newmar? Eartha Kitt? Dianna Rigg? Tera Patrick?) trapped The Caped Crusader in the proverbial room with the concertina-ing walls. Via a video link, Catwoman asks Batman if he'd like to rule Gotham City or, um, die. His response? "What about Robin?" WTF? Even a pre-pubescent boy knew that Robin was OK, but Catwoman was rrrrrrr. Anyway, I like movie cars. They sound better and go faster than their real world counterparts. I look forward to seeing what Quentin Tarantino can do with the killer car thing, but a new Viper would've been a more logical choice than an old Camaro for his new flick. If ever there was a death car– from either the driver or pedestrian's POV– the Viper is it. It's hotter 'n Hell too. Yeah, the Viper deserves a super violent movie. How about Snakes on a High Plains Drifter?

Podcast: Maybach Jr., Aston’s Alphanumerological Excess, Midas Muffler, Alpha Ferrari, DCT Uber Alles

Robert Farago — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:39:20 +0000

It’s been a while since my description of the Subaru B9 Tribeca’s front end as a “flying vagina” got TTAC banned from… BMW’s press fleet. At the time, the German company’s PR flack promised/threatened to monitor the site and “get back in touch;” you know, when he’d decided that we’d been good little boys. Yeah right. There’s a higher likelihood that Godot will hang with Vladimir and Estragon than a Bimmer flackling calling TTAC to welcome us back into the fold. Still, we’ve managed to end run the embargo. And we’ve shown no animus or (Godot forbid) favoritism in our reviews of their products (e.g. Jay Shoemaker recently declared the 335i one of the millennia’s best motors). So I can once again state without fear or favor that BMW’s SMG gearbox is the worst gearbox on planet earth, by a large margin. Now, thanks to a generous reader, we’ve learned that BMW has bought Borg Warner’s dual clutch transmission (DCT) technology. The world’s best gearbox (known as DSG in Volkswagen/Audi world) will appear in BMW products as early as next year. So who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Speak, ~~Rover~~ BMW, speak!

Precast: Paris Not Hilton, MINI and Diesel Redux, The Hannitization of GM

Robert Farago — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:21:06 +0000

When I moved back to the US from the UK, I was delighted to discover right wing media commentators. After living in a country with a media dominated by anti-American, government intervention in all things left wingers, it was a relief to see that another perspective still existed. Fifteen minutes later, I realized that Bill, Rush, Savage and Sean are such egomaniacal asses that their politics don't really matter. GM's decision to hire Sean Hannity to host a flag-waving national radio promotion doesn't really matter either– except to the people for whom it does. Surfing the left-leaning blogs, it's clear they are one whole Hell of a lot less than happy about GM's choice. Hiring such a contentious commentator certainly seems like a bone-headed idea. The General needs all the friends it can get– from either side of the political divide. Still, it's bound to please the red state "heartland," who could well be GM's last redoubt. Has it really come to this, then, or am I just being overly politically sensitive? Listen and discuss.

Precast: Medusa S-Type, PAG Knock-offs, Hammond Better, DP

Robert Farago — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 20:56:12 +0000

Jaguar is one heck of a brand. The company took the automotive world by storm, not once, but twice. The first revelation arrived just after WWII. England entered the conflict with an Empire and emerged an impoverished island nation in the North Sea with a few colonies and an Indian subcontinent to its name. Straight into Britannia's shell-shocked and austere enconomy came the Jaguar XK120. Jag's suprisingly inexpensive supercar looked like sin (and a German BMW) and went like Hell (out-performing Aston). The company's– and the nation's– future suddenly had a spring in its step. And then, eh. Until the sixties swung, and out popped another gestalt-capturing blockbuster: the E-type. Yeah baby! For those of us looking for a four-wheeled Hail Mary pass to save Ford's damaged brand, it's worth noting that both of these machines were sexier-than-Jill-Wagner-in-lingerie sports cars powered by superb six cylinder engines. And they were both reasonably affordable. What I'm trying to say is that a new Jaguar sedan ain't gonna cut it, no matter how beautiful, fast or keenly priced it may be. The forthcoming S-Type sedan sure ain't no oil spill– I mean, oil painting. Jag might've made most of its money in "saloons," but it's heart has always been in honest-to-God sports cars.

Precast: Hammond Injured, Veracruz Taillight, Crossover and Out or Justin Time?

Robert Farago — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 00:35:35 +0000

You may have noticed that I haven't posted a precast in a couple of days. Truth to tell, TTAC contributor and former Car and Driver editor Stephan Wilkinson knocked the wind out of my sails with an email that asked why in God's name anyone would want to listen to a couple of "car dorks." As someone who's never had trouble getting laid (current status: happily married), I've never really thought of myself as a dork. Strange, sure. Over-educated, definitely. But dorky? I don't think so. At least I didn't think so until Wilkinson sent his email. Now I'm left wondering if my single-minded dedication to all things automotive, and the thousands of hours spent tapping the plastic in my e-garret about same, has rendered me a car nerd. (Webster's on-line dictionary makes no distinction between dork and nerd.) For sure, I know too much about some pretty obscure car-related things. But I console myself that you gentle reader know equally as much, and, in most cases, far more than I in this field. And I celebrate your knowledge. I respect it, admire it and defer to it. So, if I love your passion, I guess I should love mine– no matter how juvenile or "dorky" it sounds. In that spirit, I resume this audio feature. If it grates, so be it. But if you're dorky and you know it, click right here.

Precast: Limo Love, Gord, Toyota Brands Earth, Miatamino, Endo

Robert Farago — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 22:03:38 +0000

Limos blow. They're unsightly, often comical beasts that exchange comfort for size (well, length) and offer all the tactile pleasure of a mid-market motel (pleather chairs, paper napkins, five pound champagne glasses, etc.). I've yet to ride in a limo that didn't assault my olfactory organ with a whiff of amonia. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. In fact, I reckon more than a few of you took my opening sentence at face value (so to speak) and pornoed the second. That's limos for you. In fact, if rock stars had never snorted coke and screwed groupies in the back of their limo, you wouldn't have high school boys crowding into them on prom night wishing, hoping, dreaming of doing the same. Nor would observers crane their necks to see what's going on inside these bizarre vehicles or whether or not the person emerging will fall down. I'd rather ride in the back of a comfortable sedan with a fresh newspaper and an old cigar. Home James.

Postcast: Killer B, Karmann Resurrected, Sports Customs, Nanny This, Racing Line

Robert Farago — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 14:59:34 +0000

The American automotive media is just as obsessed with the thrill of the new as the industry itself. Even though websites like this one (OK, not exactly like this one) have transformed two month lead times into two minute lead times, all the buff books still tout the latest hot machine. The industry colludes in this effort, withholding new vehicles from their US press fleets until the car mags hit the stands. Perhaps because we started at the bottom of the press car food chain (and worked our way downwards from there), TTAC isn't fixated on getting ahold of the latest and greatest. In fact, we consider the dearth of established models in the carmakers' press fleets (e.g. Nissan 350Z) a major disappointment that reflects the automakers' limited attention spans. There is a lot to be learned from well-established bread-and-butter vehicles. To wit: Jonny Lieberman is reviewing a Mazda B-Series pickup and Sajeev Mehta's Lincoln Town Car review just crossed the transom. These reviews will tell us more about why Ford is in such dire straits– missed opportunities– than any financial statement or ride in the new Em Kay Ex Lincoln. Of course, as the Brits put it, we wouldn't say no…

Precast: Bugatti Puh-lease, Cellular Mitosis, Breath a Lie Sir, China Uber Alles, Forever Ford?

Robert Farago — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 23:43:14 +0000

Yes, yes, the next installment of the Ford Death Watch is coming. Who'd a thunk I'd write 90 episodes of the GM Death Watch only to watch Billy's Blue Oval Boys hit the buffers first, and in such spectacular fashion? Maybe I should combine the two DW's and call it Death Race 2006. But then if The General and FoMoCo manage to limp through the year I'd have to change the name, which would fan the flames of the flamers who believe that just because something hasn't happened yet means it won't happen at all. In fact, I have a message for those stalwart loyalists who snigger at my ongoing insistence that The Big Two Point Five's sky is falling. Their sky is falling. And just be grateful I didn't start blogging in 1973, when Detroit's fate was sealed. I'll be here chronicling this story to the bitter end, and beyond. And I won't say I told you so once. On a more positive note, this is a fine Rioja, with tremendous body and a clean finish. Which is what I wish for both GM and Ford. May they rise Phoenix-like from the ashes to make gotta have cars that TTAC can review with our usual candor, passion and sarcastic flippancy; without having to borrow one from a dealer.

Precast: Maybach’s Pearl Jam, Alfa Redux Redux, Porsche Mule

Robert Farago — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 23:56:50 +0000

As the son of a Holocaust survivor, the Maybach brand gives me the heebie-jeebies. Which is kind of strange. I've got no beef with Mercedes, a brand whose products provided Herr Hitler with his most photogenic platforms. Nor do I get any bad vibes from VW, a company that used Jewish slave labor during WWII. And my favorite brand is Porsche, whose namesake helped run VW when those slave laborers were busy starving to death on VW's behalf. Perhaps that's because so many Jewish people in my community adored Mercedes, BMW's and Volkswagens. If they were willing to let bygone begone… But there's a certain, I dunno, soullessness to Maybach products that creeps me out. While their cars are faultless in design, construction and materials, and the performance is just plain crazy, the Maybach's exterior and cabin possess all the charisma of a nuclear powerplant's containment dome. Which is why I LOVE the fully functional Maybach Exellero concept car. That bad boy is bonkers. And evil. If I owned one I'd have WWSD (What Would Satan Drive) tatooed on my shoulder. I reckon it's best to stay true to your roots, even if they're slightly poisonous.

Precast: Wiesmann, CL63 AMG, HEMI Slowdown?

Robert Farago — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 01:57:19 +0000

Whatever you can (or cannot) say about BMW, the company makes some damn fine engines. Jay Shoemaker's review of the 335i hailed their direct injected twin turbo six pot as one of the finest powerplants ever to grace an engine bay, while Bimmer's Euro diesels eliminate any and all possible objections to the technology (smoke, vibration, cold start-up, etc.). No wonder low volume manufacturers of low weight sports cars hanker after powerplants made by the propeller people. The Ascari KZ1 rips through the time – space continuum with the previous gen M5's 4.0-liter BMW V8, Morgan's Aero 8 blurs your vision the X5's 4.4-liter V8, and Wiesmann's products get along rather nicely with either a 3.0-liter inline six or 4.8-liter BMW V8 (fitted to the GT pictured here). But the thing that really makes these cars fly is… design. You could call the Weismann's pastiche of Jaguar C-Type, Austin Healey and God Knows What slightly ungainly, but then I'd have to kill you. Besides, what would you rather have: a Go Like Hell But Look Like Everyone Else CL63 AMG Mercedes tank for $160k-ish or a WTF is That BMW-powered German thingie for the same wedge? The Mercedes obviously, but there are enough patrons of quirk to justify bringing the German roadster stateside. God bless capitalism.

Precast: Hydrogen Hype (Still), Panda Laid Bare, I Sing the Auto Electric

Robert Farago — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:52:49 +0000

As you will hear in today's precast, my first forray into Ferrari ownership brought me face-to-face with the studied indifference that is England's erstwhile service culture. Not only did the dealership treat me with all the contempt of a deranged six-year-old frying worms with a magnifying glass, but they charged me huge, towering heaps of money for the privilege. And gave me a FIAT Panda loaner car. Frequently. In fact, Maranello's mean machine was a constant source of mechanical malfunction and bodywork gone bad (including rust on the flying butresses)– to the point where I started calling myself a Ferrari "visitor" rather than a Ferrari "owner." The moral of the story? Be careful what you wish for. Or is that "the engine mapping program is not the territory"?

Precast: V12 Diesel Audi, Hornet no VeeDub, Baby Junketeers

Robert Farago — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 18:42:37 +0000

I suppose I should get myself into a lather about the fact that GM has lured collegiate journalists to Las Vegas for some major junket action. As listeners to this podcast will discover, I just can't get it up, self-righteous indignation-wise. First, my main beef with junkets is non-disclosure (e.g. The Car Connection's report on the new Jeep Wrangler from Zambia arriving without a tip-of-the-hat to DCX PR). Second, there's no blanket ban on junketeering hereabouts. Third, who says college kids can be co-opted so easily? Biz class airline seats, a nice room on The Strip, free booze, a stake at the tables, a spin on Autotainment-- Entourage-watching gen Zeta will take it all in their post-modern stride. Besides, when you don't have a job to protect or a family to support, why not bite the hand that feeds? In fact, if one of these college car hacks would like to describe their GM-sponsored Vegas vacation, I'd be delighted to provide the e-space, subject to the usual editing process and length restrictions. Which reminds me: I'm almost ready to announce the next TTAC writing contest. The last one was The Truth About Muscle Cars . The next one will be... watch this space (and no, that's not the title of the essay).

[NB: A transcript will be available when we find a sponsor.]

Precast: Hydrogen-Powered 7-Series, Drop-Top 300C, New G35, Fiero Redux?

Robert Farago — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 16:02:09 +0000

So, BMW develops a flex fuel gas/hydrogen powered vehicle and we're supposed to give them tree-hugging props? I don't think so. I give them far more credit for perfecting and selling the diesel engines in their European sedans; cars that are are clean-running, quiet, efficient and powerful. While pistonheads are generally considered selfish bastards whose love of speed, comfort and style is a luxury our country– indeed the entire world– can no longer afford, I say bollocks to that. There is no reason why this country can't develop its own sources of energy– so we can burn it as we will in our choice of automobile. Anyway, that's my warm-up for my September 11th column on America's national energy policy as it relates to your car or cars. If you have any thoughts on the matter, you can help me out by dropping them here. Meanwhile, enjoy the pre-rant precast.

Mike Spinelli: …ok…

Robert Farago: I swear we can do this. Are you ready?

MS: Yep.

MS: OK.

RF: What take is this?

MS: I don’t even remember it. Six I think.

RF: Geez… We’re way ahead there. OK…

RF: Good morning Mr. Spinelli.

MS: Good morning Mr. Farago.

RF: How are you today sir?

MS: Boy, am I excellent how are you?

RF: I’m still well.

MS: That’s fantastic.

RF: How are things at www.jalopnik.com?

MS: They’re great. And how are things at thetruthaboutcars.com?

RF: Wow! Are they hot.

MS: Ah. Fantastic.

RF: All right. Now BMW is making (laughter)… is making… (laughter) … a hydrogen powered car. What can we say about that…

MS: Hydrogen!

RF: …we haven’t said before?

MS: Well, it’s interesting because Autoexpress has the spy shots today of the production version of the 7 Series clean energy hydrogen car. The thing is, it’s not fuel cell.

RF: Oh?

MS: It’s combustion… it’s a hydrogen combustion engine.

RF: A flex fuel?

MS: Flex fuel. Right. Along with… in other words it’ll have two tanks. One with gasoline and one for the hydrogen.

RF: And never shall the two mix.

MS: Hopefully, for, yeah, for those involved it’ll ….. yeah… not as.. yeah.

RF: How, how, just out of curiosity… I mean, I know we really shouldn’t perhaps go down this road, but you know, that’s, that’s what we do.

MS: Yeah.

RF: How bad would hydrogen blow up if, you know, if it did blow up?

MS: Ah…

RF: I mean, I know gasoline is actually more combustible than hydrogen … more explosive.

IMS: It’s interesting. I don’t know exactly the volatility factor … it’s pretty volatile though. I know hydrogen is…

RF: I think those guys over at Top Gear should try and blow one of those suckers up.

MS: Hey, that would be an excellent idea,

RF: Yeah. Just to show that it can be done.

MS: Right, through the mushroom cloud that ends up, uh, over Birmingham or wherever they are.

RF: Yeah. That would be…

MS: They would have to account for that.

RF: Proof positive, though, that maybe it’s not the best idea. Actually I’m sure it’s safe cause you know…

MS: I’m sure…no, it’s safe… it’s safe because they’ve been coming up with these these tanks that make it safe.

RF: Right. OK and I… don’t they run trains into them just to show that they’re safe, or is that nuclear carriers?

MS: Yeah, I don’t know that that is… running rains into stuff…

RF: Anyway….

MS: Sounds fun, but, uh, yeah…

RF: Anyway, so if you think it’s hard to find an E-85 station, you just try and look for a hydrogen station.

MS: Exactly. Well, well… BMW earlier this year said this car is coming out in two years, but of course not to John Q. Public. It’s coming out, uh, fleet sales.

RF: Well, who would want to run a fleet of 7 Series?

MS: Um. I don’t know. I think there must be some…

RF: There’s got to be a bank in Germany

MS: Exactly I mean…

RF: Zey are running zee hydrogen powered car…

MS: Ja, ja.

RF: For all our executives.

MS: For every single one of our executives.

RF: Has hydrogen power. I can’t, I can’t understand this.

MS: What fleet, I mean, I don’t think it’s…

RF: I thought this…

MS: …the Los Angeles cab company, I mean, I don’t… who knows?

RF: Well, it’s really weird because, you know, all this alternative energy stuff tends to be on the sort of, you know, the economy, clean air, tree hugging, you know, lefty side of the…

MS: Yeah, you had to throw that in didn’t you…

RF: Well, but what I’m saying is, that, you know, the 7 Series is the plutocrat’s express.

MS: It’s, it’s funny… right… exactly… really seems…

RF: Not quite the image for this

MS: It’s a little bit counterintuitive, but, but, then again, you know. Ford has the hydrogen combustion engine in an airport bus. So, I mean, that actually makes a bit more sense from a fleet standpoint.

RF: Yeah, well you just circuit, you’re only what, what two miles away from your gas station?

MS: Yeah, you’re driving around and around in circles. Right, you’re never, right, you’re never, you’re never really more than what, a quarter mile from a gas…uh… hydrogen fuel station?

RF: Yeah.

MS: But, but, you know, don’t forget, California’s working on this, uh, hydrogen highway, right?

RF: Yeah, where they’re going to have hydrogen stations positioned every what, twenty miles?

MS: I’m not sure how many miles…

RF: What’s the range of a hydrogen car?

MS: I’m not sure exactly, I think it’s more like, you know, hundreds of miles, or something, a hundred miles…

RF: Well the other thing we need to point out is that hydrogen, uh, takes energy to… you have to spend energy to create hydrogen.

MS: Yeah, that’s true…

RF: So…

MS: …you got to crack it.

RF: Right. So although the cars are going to have zero emissions at the tailpipe, there’s still going to be carbon, uh, by-product somewhere in the chain.

MS: Well, yeah, unless, you know, a lot of scientists feel that in order for the hydrogen economy to work you need, you need nuclear, you need some nuclear reactors to more, you know, economically… of course, then you end up with the, uh, you know, brown water you gotta deal with

RF: Yeah, exactly…

MS: … uh, not brown water… heavy, heavy water.

RF: Heavy water.

MS: Yeah. Brown water is something…

RF: Totally.

MS: Totally Different.

RF: You get those spent rods as well.

MS: Spent rods uh.. yeah.

RF: Which has nothing to do with the web site I was on 10 minutes ago.

MS: He’ll be here all week.

RF: Ok, but the important point about it is this, that hydrogen is not the solution to our energy needs.

MS: Um.. it’s, it’s interesting, I mean, you know, it’s not THE solution. That’s kind of a, you know, uh, I mean it could be. It’s not like it’s not…

RF: Well the only thing that could make it work is if you had very small micro refineries using all kinds of alternative energy spread throughout the country.

MS: Well, you see now you read, uh… I don’t know… Wired Magazine in, what, 1993, they were talking about doing that. But of course, the, the… it’s a little bit prohibitive, I think, at this point. But, yeah, I mean, in the future…

RF: But then you’re asking the big oil companies to surrender production.

MS: Right.

RF: So…

MS: So that’s another problem.

RF: You know, that’s, that’s… I don’t know… the hydrogen economy I think is a bit of a ruse. I don’t really think it’s gonna be… it’s gonna be something we’re gonna see in our lifetime.

MS: Well… well yeah, I mean it, it’s gonna take a lot of, of changes and, and, uh, you know…

RF: Well, who’s gonna do it? I mean, you know, unless you have a national initiative to, uh, you know, unless we have something called, I dunno… what, an energy policy?

MS: Right.

RF: You know.

MS: Exactly right.

RF: Until they can decide what we should be doing and how we should be doing it, it’s not going to happen.

MS: Yeah, well there’s, you know, there’s too many… too many interests involved at this point so, you know, of course nothing is going to get done, and, uh… well I guess we need a dictator to say, OK this is the energy we’re using

RF: Yeah. Right. That’s what we need. A dictator. Good answer.

MS: Thanks.

RF: Thank you.

MS: But anyway…

RF: The first web site’s that’s going to be shut down by that dictator is yours.

MS: But anywhooo…

RF: Yes, we have the Chrysler.

MS: We have a Chrysler that might… we might see. Uh prob…

RF: 300C.

MS: Uh. 300C drop top which we may see before we see a 7 Series hydrogen.

RF: I think a lot better. Certainly more desirable.

MS: Ah… yeah.

RF: Well for me.

MS: Well, I… I mean, yeah, but you’re right though, the drop top looks spectacular.

RF: It is an amazing car but you… you tell me that it’s no longer going… the original concept was made by ASC Inc.

MS: Yeah.

RF: And now they’re diverting to Magna-Steyr.

MS: Well, the latest we’ve heard is that,uh,yeah, that…that… that, uh, Chrysler is going to Magna-Steyr a supplier that they use to build Jeeps and other cars, um, in Austria. Of course they’re a Canadian-Austrian firm. Um… and yeah, according to this latest report they’ll have a Karmann-style, you know, like a retractable folding steel roof like Volkswagen has for the Eos you know. I guess GM has with the um G6 now.

RF: Well, listen, they build it for the right price and they’ll sell them all day long.

MS: Ah, of course. I mean, and when was the last time you saw a 4 door, a 4 door convertible? What? I mean on Entourage you see the, uh, Lincoln from what, ‘68 or whatever it was, you know, with that crane shot you pointed out, uh, whenever that was.

RF: That was in take 2.

MS: Well, it was either take two or…

RF: This is take 12.

MS: You also said it l, I think in an earlier podcast.

RF: OK Well, there you go. So yeah, I think it’ll be a huge hit.

MS: In 2010 you can might, you may see that.

RF: Oh Yeah? That’s, that’s pretty close.

MS: Yeah.

RF: And speaking of cars of the future, what about the Infiniti G35, the next one?

MS: Well, yeah, the uh the you know Infiniti senior VP uh Shiro Nakamuro, you know, says that it’s going to look like the, uh, coupe concept we saw in Detroit so there’s something. I wish it…

RF: Well it’s certainly a good looking car and I think Infiniti is set to take off.

MS: Yeah, it’s interesting ‘cause, you know, they, they really want to break into uh, into the European and, um, and even into their own Japanese market. Don’t forget the Japanese have been buying, you know, Mercedes and BMWs as luxury cars for so long that you know their own luxury brands have a lot of work to do, you know, to get in there.

RF: That’s often the case though, that the domestic brand doesn’t have the cache of the import.

MS: Right exactly. They have the same problem that, say, Cadillac has here.

RF: Yeah. Well, ok. But I do think this is a good looking car and somebody has got to knock the 3 Series off its perch.

MS: That’s true and, and this, this could be the car to do it. I mean, we’ll see

RF: They don’t have to but it’s worth trying to.

MS: But it should. I mean the 3 Series coupe at least, now that the 3 Series 5i, you know, it needs some completion. This could be pretty potent competition.

RF: I don’t think BMW executives would agree with you on that.

MS: That they need competition? No, competition is good, I mean, didn’t, well, I mean, they probably don’t agree that they quite need it, but they do need it.

RF: OK. Well then, whether they agree with it or not there it is.

MS: Maybe they do agree with it.

RF: Well the Pontiac Fiero coming back.

MS: Well, that’s interesting. You know, uh, you know, our friends over at the, uh, Left Lane News sort of went trolling around in the, uh, the, uh, Patent, US Patent stuff yesterday and they, yeah, they came up with this.

RF: Do you think they were actually trolling around or do you think someone sent them a heads up?

MS: No, they said they were, he said, I was talking with Nick from over there yesterday, and he said, uh, that it was a boring news day so he was sort of messing around in there. I mean, it could have been a tip, but who knows? But…

RF: Ok. Well, we believe…

MS: But it’s easy enough to look around…

RF: …Nick is as honest as the day is long.

MS: Yeah. But it’s easy enough to look around in the US Patent thing, just to look for key words and stuff, and it’s, you know, but it’s kind of fun.

RF: But the Fiero as you pointed out in your post, uh, was actually just about coming right when they killed it.

MS: Yeah, you know, and, and this is just part of it cause he also found a couple of other things I’ll just mention quickly. Eight speed transmission for GM and, uh, Firebird is also being re-opted as a trademark. But, anyway, but yeah, the Fiero was uh yeah. They were just getting it cause it sucked so badly in the beginning.

RF: But they did bring it, right, and we’d like to see a small MR-2 style car.

MS: It would be neat, I mean, I don’t, I don’t expect that, that something like that is coming back eminently, but uh, hey you never know.

RF: And we are coming back eminently on Monday.

MS: Yes. We’ll do that.

RF: Thank you for your time

MS: OK

Precast: Super TT, Paris DUI, RS60 Replica, GM Warranty, CLS Wagon, Renault Show Car

Robert Farago — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 18:06:16 +0000

It's one of those happy, clappy news days when pistonheads have a surfeit of stories to investigate from the privacy of their cubicle. I sometimes wonder what creates this compulsive fascination with four-wheeled transportation. The standard take on the subject is that the automobile represents freedom. Supposedly, congestion, high gas prices and environmental responsibility have destroyed this traditional romantic association between the car and the proverbial "open road." (Personally, I think National Lampoon's Summer Vacation had a lot to do with it.) But this perceived wisdom fail to realize that the car isn't just about going towards something new and exciting, it's about moving away from stuff that drives you nuts: Mom, Dad, the Boss, Wife/Husband, kids, etc. A large part of TTAC's mission is to help aid this process of escape– if only for ten minutes and three seconds. If you haven't tried this precast thing, go for it. The only thing you have to lose is the stress of not being behind the wheel.

Precast: Nissan Qashqai, Mulally Doolally?

Robert Farago — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:40:09 +0000

Car names are a happy hunting ground for motoscribes and headline writers. Nissan Armada? Please. Versa? Vice springs immediately to mind (and not because of any other websites I may or may not have visited recently). I'm not sure if Nissan was trying to flummox the press when they settled on Qashqai as a name for their new "cute ute," but I reckon it's a big mistake. First, naming a vehicle after an obscure ethnic tribe is a bit too me-too, what with the Toureg already twisting tongues at VW dealerships worldwide. Second, the Qashqai are a semi-nomadic, Farsi-speaking Shia Muslim tribe based in southern Iran. Nuff said? Third, it's unpronounceable. I've scoured the web, and still can't find a phonetic spelling. (Little help?) And fourth, capitalizing on a tribe's identity without paying them for the privilege ain't exactly what I'd call PC. Meanwhile, Spinelli and I kick around Mr. Mulally's appointment at Ford. Figuratively speaking.