Book Review: “Shop Class as Soulcraft” by Matthew Crawford

By Stephan Wilkinson
October 18, 2009 Matthew Crawford is a practicing motorcycle mechanic out of Richmond,Virginia. He’s also an excellent writer who holds a philosophy degree from the prestigious University of Chicago. This unusual trifecta informs “Shop Class as Soulcraft: an Inquiry Into the Value of Work.” Anyone who’s changed their oil or timed a distributor (remember them?) will appreciate the [...]

Book Review: “Shop Class as Soulcraft” by Matthew Crawford

Posted in Books | Product Reviews | 41 comments

Review: BlackBerry VM-605 Speakerphone

By Sajeev Mehta
October 8, 2009 The latest advancements in communication imply a great future for the automobile. And yet, like my former manager in Corporate America once said, “I can’t wait to go to a place where my BlackBerry doesn’t work.”  Like most BlackBerry addicts, I doubt she really meant it. Mostly because these handheld email magnets are legalized crack, [...]

Review: BlackBerry VM-605 Speakerphone

Posted in Gizmos | Product Reviews | 9 comments

Review: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)

By David Holzman
September 26, 2009 It’s not that people are unpredictable. They are predictable. But they frequently behave counterintuitively, a phenomenon that has given rise to the field of behavioral economics. Like economists, engineers have traditionally ignored psychology. Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us), is a 300-odd page romp into what scientists [...]

Review: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)

Posted in Books | Product Reviews | 86 comments

Review: Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

By James Gribbon
September 22, 2009 Today marks the fourth anniversary of Russ Meyer’s death. Meyer, nicknamed “King Leer,” was a natural born freak from Oakland who worked as a cameraman in the European theater during WWII, became one of the earliest Playboy photographers, and created Mudhoney, Motor Psycho and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, along with 24 other bizarre [...]

Review: Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Posted in Movies | Product Reviews | 17 comments

“I’m gonna get you sucka!” Product Review: Mityvac 7201 Fluid Evacuator Plus

By Chuck Goolsbee
September 18, 2009 I’m not a very good mechanic, but I enjoy working on my cars. Part of it is because I’m cheap and don’t like spending money on things I can do myself. Additionally, every time I have any interaction with any part of a car dealership I walk away feeling like a rape victim. Silkwood showers. [...]

“I’m gonna get you sucka!” Product Review: Mityvac 7201 Fluid Evacuator Plus

earned a 4 star rating from TTAC

Posted in Maintenance/Repair | Product Reviews | 41 comments

Product Review: Turtle Wax Ice Clay Bar and Turtle Wax Black Box

By Sajeev Mehta
September 6, 2009

Oversimplification and furious, anti-Audi-like scorn notwithstanding, automotive paint protection and women’s cosmetic products are one in the same. But wanting your skin/sheetmetal looking good isn’t a crime, so let’s examine two of Turtle Wax’s premium offerings: the ICE clay bar and wax kit, and the Black Box treatment system. Because I hate reading product reviews that regurgitate the manufacturer’s instructions, I’ll assume you can read a box. More to the point, here’s why you should.

Product Review: Turtle Wax Ice Clay Bar and Turtle Wax Black Box

Posted in Cosmetics | Product Reviews | 22 comments

Product Review: Peak Wireless Back-Up Camera System

By Frank Williams
July 28, 2009

Rear view cameras are becoming commonplace on SUVs, CUVs and luxury cars. But only as part of very expensive option packages. If you prefer spending your money on things like groceries and house payments, or have an older vehicle, you’re pretty much out of luck. But not entirely. Peak (yes, the antifreeze people) offer the Peak Wireless Back-up Camera System. To see if it passes muster, I installed one on my 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe.

Product Review: Peak Wireless Back-Up Camera System

Posted in Accessories | Gizmos | Product Reviews | 13 comments

Product Review: SCT Dyno Tuner

By Sajeev Mehta
July 21, 2009

Before the days of anti-smog legislation and catalytic converters, anyone looking for more power in their ride needed a few tools, access to a drag strip and intimate knowledge of their carburetor. This concept lives on today, but the names and faces changed: Hot-Rodders are now Tuners. Here's an idea: let’s see how much power is left on the table after a Tuner gets their hands on a fuel-injected, late-model performance machine. But first a word from our hacker . . .

Product Review: SCT Dyno Tuner

Posted in Engine mods | Product Reviews | 27 comments

Product Review: Microsoft Zune

By Sajeev Mehta
June 22, 2009 The Microsoft Zune prides itself in being the only significant alternative to Apple’s wildly popular iPod and iTunes duo. But there’s a problem: Zune distances itself from the industry standard software and hardware systems. Considering Microsoft’s dominance stemming from the personal computer revolution, the Zune’s unique value proposition is less like the corporate mothership and [...]

Product Review: Microsoft Zune

Microsoft Zune earned a 2 star rating from TTAC

Posted in Gizmos | Product Reviews | 34 comments

Review: Porsche “Essence” Fragrance

By Samir Syed
June 3, 2009 When I entered Copley Place, the last thing I ever expected to find was a TTAC review. My trip to New England already having yielded material, the trip was already a success on that front. Yet, as I roamed the halls, ignoring designer label after designer label, destiny was slowly creeping up on me. At [...]

Review: Porsche “Essence” Fragrance

Posted in Cosmetics | Product Reviews | 17 comments