| The Truth About Cars

Product Review: RallyCam 3000

By Michael Posner
November 2, 2008 -

When my esteemed editor suggested I review the RallyCam, I envisioned a simple one camera with a small recording device. Instead. the edgecameras.com people sent me their RallyCam 3000, a three-camera system with a sophisticated control unit integrated with a multi-use video recording device. The devices came packed tightly in their container. I was quickly overwhelmed by cables, clamps, remotes and plastic bags. The numerous instruction sheets were not very helpful. But TTAC's Best and Brightest are persistent bastards, as are their legally-trained representatives. So away we go...

RallyCam 3000 »

RallyCam 3000 earned a 4 star rating from TTAC

Posted in Gizmos | Product Reviews | 15 comments

Product Review: Forza Motorsport 2 for Xbox360

By Samir Syed
October 23, 2008 -

One day, we’ll look back fondly on the rivalry between Xbox and Playstation. Inevitably, we’ll discuss the competing pairs of game that these consoles offered, genre by genre, sequel by sequel. We’ll debate Final Fantasy vs. Oblivion, Halo vs. Resistance, and ,of course, Gran Turismo (“GT”) vs. Forza Motorsport. And everyone will pick the Playstation(s)’s GT series. That said, Xbox owners need not lament as the Xbox’s own flagship racer is a solid game indeed and one of the most intuitive, purest racing games available today.

Posted in Product Reviews | Videogames | 21 comments

WeatherTech®, Audi OEM Floor Mats Review

By Michael Posner
February 5, 2008 -

Given half a chance, most car guys would spend big bucks pimping their wheels. Needless to say, their better half ain’t buying it. So neither are they. While aerodynamic addenda and wikkid wheels are [ultimately] a less costly ego enhancement than regular spa treatments, all car mods tend to appear fairly low on the list of financial priorities known as the family budget. But guys, it’s time to go to the mat. Literally.

WeatherTech® »

WeatherTech® earned a 5 star rating from TTAC

Posted in Cosmetics | Editorials | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | 26 comments

NITTO Invo Ultra-High Performance Tire Review

By Michael Posner
January 31, 2008 -

If you’re a pistonhead, you have people. You know, Nick the mechanic or Joe the dyno. I got a tire guy: Ernie Bello. Bello tires is a performance car hangout, with all the right equipment for mondo mods and a lounge, decorated with a map of the Nürburgring, stocked with car mags, ice cream and kick-ass Cuban coffee. When my sports car needed new tires I clicked on Tire Rack for price and advice. I then went to Ernie. Hey Ernie! Whaddayathinkin here?

Nitto Invo »

Nitto Invo earned a 4 star rating from TTAC

Posted in Editorials | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | Tires | 11 comments

Redline WaterWetter® Review

By Michael Posner
January 29, 2008 -

Inexpensive products that promise significant improvements to your car’s performance are almost always fool’s gold. This is especially true for engine additives (*cough* STP *cough*). However, there’s one company with a sterling reputation for delivering on its promises: Redline Synthetic. Since 1979, the Benicia, California company has been selling coolants, fuel additives and lubricants to the automotive, motorcycle, marine and industrial markets. As part of their range, Redline offer a product called WaterWetter®. They claim their potion can reduce car coolant temperatures by as much as 30ºF. That’s hot! I mean, not.

Redline WaterWetter® »

Redline WaterWetter® earned a 3 star rating from TTAC

Posted in Editorials | Fluids | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | 18 comments

Spike-Spider Winter Traction Package Review

By Michael Posner
January 22, 2008 -

I learned to drive in Philly in the winter. Although we were always warned to watch out for the dreaded black ice, the roads where I lived were plowed, salted and gently hilled. So there was little winter drama. The only slip sliding away in my ‘hood: Paul Simon’s doleful tune and the snow-covered mall parking lot where we went for late-night donuts. Flash forward to the winter of ‘07: a family vacation to the mountains of North Carolina in our rear drive Cadillac SRX. Before embarking, I glimpsed a warning on our cabin rental website: “four wheel-drive is a must.” Ch-ch-chains. Chains for fools. Or not.

Spike-Spiders »

Spike-Spiders earned a 3 star rating from TTAC

Posted in Editorials | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | Tires | 11 comments

NEXTAR Snap3 3.5″ Navigation System Review

By Michael Posner
January 11, 2008 -

Looking at last year’s Black Friday ads made it clear that a portable GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) satellite navigation device was the season’s most popular loss leader. Even department stores like Macys were offering a GPS device on the cheap. This strategy continues; last week our local Walgreen’s had a Nextar GPS device at the front counter for under $200, right there next to mints and quit smoking gum. I wanted to see if a cheap GPS unit could compete with the big boys. So I contacted Nextar, and they provided us with a Snap3.

NEXTAR Snap3 3.5" Navigation System »

NEXTAR Snap3 3.5" Navigation System earned a 2 star rating from TTAC

Posted in Editorials | Gizmos | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | 8 comments

Motorola HS820 Bluetooth Headset

By Michael Posner
January 8, 2008 -

I know it's not PC to say so, but I hate a lot of things. For example, I hate people walking around with those stupid cell phone earpieces looking like Lt. Uhura from Star Trek. They wear them like some sort of fashion jewelry, even when they're not asking John to phone Sally to tell Jorge he needs to phone Mary. For my sake, they should put their headsets away when not in use. Meanwhile, to find out what these people see in these devices and whether they have any practical use, I tested the suddenly very cheap Motorola HS820, a small Bluetooth, wireless headset.

Motorola HS820 Bluetooth Headset »

Motorola HS820 Bluetooth Headset earned a 4 star rating from TTAC

Posted in Editorials | Gizmos | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | 10 comments

Sears DieHard 10/2/50 amp Automatic Battery Charger Review

By Michael Posner
January 3, 2008 -

Like most middle aged men, I had a car crisis. So, after convincing my wife that an Imola Red BMW M Roadster isn’t “chick magnet red,” I bought my dream car. Of course, the dream is never the reality. I rarely drove the M. Summers were too wet and hot (real men don’t drive a convertible with the top up and the a/c on). Fall was too wet. Ah, winter in Florida! It’s the best ‘vert weather but… I just got a new daily driver. So Emily became a garage queen. And died.

Sears DieHard 10/2/50 amp Automatic Battery Charger »

Poorboy’s Spray & Rinse Wheel Cleaner Review

By Michael Posner
December 27, 2007 -

Go into any parts store and you’ll see rows of products that claim to clean wheels. Just spray and rinse! After buying, spraying and rinsing, you end-up with half clean wheels that beg you to take out the scrub brush and clean them the old fashioned way. And here’s the really horrible bit: OCD pistonheads keep after the cleanliness is next to godliness spray ‘n wash wheel cleaning Holy Grail until their garages are littered-- OK, carefully arranged with half empty bottles of wheel cleaner. So, is there a genuine no-brush wheel cleaning solution?