Bankrate.com bashes domestic cars

Bankrate.com bashes domestic cars 

published January 12, 2013

Bankrate.com recently published a slideshow of seven new domestic cars with “Outdated Fuel Economy”. For comparison purposes, author Chris Persaud stated that 40 years ago, the average fuel economy for a 1973 model car was 18.5mpg at 55mph. What that doesn’t take into account is emissions, vehicle weight and something called technology. And my guess the average horsepower was around 150? Perhaps even less.. 

This was a very misleading piece with errors of omission with a clear anti-domestic slant. The first example is the Chevrolet Camaro listed at 12mpg city, 18mpg highway. What isn’t disclosed is this is the most powerful, heaviest and sophisticated Camaro in history. The ZL-1 model with 580hp has this EPA rating. Not bad for two-tons of tire shredding fun. 

The V-6 models with over 300hp are rated as high as 19/30 but that isn’t mentioned. The Cadillac CTS is bashed with a 12/18 rating as well. What is omitted is this is the V-series with an omitted MSRP of approximately $64,000 and it produces 556hp. The base model CTS also is rated at 18/27 and produces 318hp.

Ford’s Mustang is severely smeared with an “outdated” EPA rating of 15/23. What is listed is the 5.4L V-8 engine size. What isn’t listed is the actual MSRP of approximately $48,000. Oh one other thing too. This is a 550hp monster and for 2013 it is rated at 662hp and 15 mpg city and 24 mpg highway! 

The Dodge Charger AWD and Chrysler 300 AWD have the same power train, rated at 15/23mpg. But remember these are 372hp and all wheel drive with a weight of over 4,400lbs. No mention of more fuel efficient models rated at 18/27. Actually pretty impressive for huge sedans 2-ton sedans .

Of course the 2 door version, the Dodge Challenger R/T is also included with a rating of 15/23. Sure this one seems a tad low since it’s not AWD, but what about the 470hp SRT-8? Or the more fuel efficient V-6 model rated at 18/27 with an admittedly outdated 5speed automatic?

And for the final and grand example, the Chevrolet Corvette has an “outdated” EPA rating of 14/21. Never mind this is the most powerful Corvette ever with 638hp, and for 2012 was the most powerful domestic car ever produced. Of course, the “base” model is rated at16/26 but no mention of that with a measly 430hp.

No mention of the 530hp Nissan GT-R, a technologically amazing car with an “outdated” EPA rating of 16/23. Another omission was the Porsche Panamera 4S with an EPA rating of 16/24.

It is a good idea to do some research and full disclosure, especially when singling out the domestic offerings. And when picking on vehicles that get poor mileage, it’s best not to choose among the most powerful, that at 55mph would easily exceed 18.5mpg .

Finally, these fuel “hogs” are not only far more powerful, but safer and more efficient and cleaner burning than those from 40 years ago.

Ferrari versus McLaren from an owners perspective

There has been a lot written about the McLaren MP4-12C vs. the Ferrari 458. What better way to learn about them from someone who has owned both? Tony Gaples, a 10 year veteran of the Pirelli World Challenge race series who finished the 2012 season 8th overall has owned a 458 Italia, the MP4-12C and now a 458 Spyder. Tony races a C6 Corvette and is no stranger to the podium. He knows what he’s talking about when evaluating cars from a performance perspective. And having spent more time in either as a day-to-day owner rather than a journalist, prepare for some interesting insights and answers.

Why did you buy the:

McLaren: Because they touted it as a direct competitor or better than the 458.
Ferrari: I have been a long time rear engine Ferrari owner and it was the next one in line.

What do you like the best about the:

McLaren – The power. It’s faster than the Ferrari 458.

Ferrari - The way it lays down the power when sliding around a curve. It defies physics the way car chews forward instead of the back end kicking out further.
SJCE: What is interesting about Tony’s answer is the Ferrari has the E-Diff, the electronic differential limited slip differential that varies the torque to each wheel. The McLaren doesn’t have a limited slip differential.

What do I like least:

McLaren: After spending 30 seconds with a many step process to turn off traction control I learned the reason why this is so hard to do. The car has horrible torque steer. The back end kicks out to a point where if you are not a professional you are going to ball up the car if you get into it from a stop or around a curve.

Ferrari: An amazing unit as a whole there is not much to fault it on. If I had to pick something I would say the ceramic brakes need to be heated up before they are going to perform at their maximum efficiency.

What was the quirkiest thing about the:

McLaren: Which to choose..... We'll go with the doors. You have to slide your hand against the paint to open them from the outside, in turn scratching the paint each time you do it. Then when inside, the doors don't close unless you really muscle them. Even a hard closing will not get them closed.

Ferrari: At first I would have said dash layout, but that became just about perfect after time in the car. The quirkiest thing about the 458 is when you turn the car off it doesn't always let you remove the key right away.

What was the coolest thing about the:

McLaren: Its looks. The MP4-12C is very much Lamborghini-like where it looks great and are fast, but not much else.

Ferrari: This is a hard one because there are too many cool things. I'm torn with how they get all that horsepower out that small displacement (engine), how they get the engine so low in the chassis and with how fast the car shifts. It shifts faster than you can snap your fingers, as if it were one continuous gear.

Biggest surprise for the:

McLaren: That the car wasn't what it was billed as. Such a disappointment. I was ready to sell it after a week. The dealer convinced me to hold onto it another 2 weeks before I let it go. Attributes of that disappointment were the brakes which were way too touchy preventing you from coming to a complete stop smoothly at times. At first they wouldn't even give me the instructions to turn off traction control. Heat/AC controls in the doors. I could go on with complaints but you get the idea. One more, FM radio couldn't pick up local stations without static and the radio reset or locked with every restart.

Ferrari: The traction it gets when getting sideways or should I say chewing forward. I wasn't expecting that at all.

Did you notice or discover the McLaren did not have a limited slip differential?

The car is a nightmare without traction control on. Nightmare! If you're putting a high horsepower car with a turbo on the street, it needs limited slip.

Thoughts on the dual clutch transmission of both, around town, etc:

McLaren: The paddles on the McLaren are the same as the ones on my rotax go-kart. Cheap and not paddles at all, but one solid piece of plastic that goes behind the steering wheel. The software would get lost at times coming into a corner downshifting. Not as refined, slower and more clunky.

Ferrari: It’s the pinnacle of double clutch transmissions. Shifts "NOW" even when not flat out which keeps the car charging forward even at half throttle.

Your thoughts on mid-engine layout vs. front engine? Have you owned a mid-engine car before?

Both cars can be made to handle well. You get more pendulum swing on the back end with front engine cars. Fun for the street and familiar when at the racetrack. Rear mounted mid-engine is the way to go for a performance car. It balances the weight better so the car will work properly under braking and cornering. In the old day you had to worry that if you got the back end out more than 30 degrees the car was going to spin. Which still maybe the case for most of them, but not the 458. Ferrari also believes optimal weight distribution is 44/56 front to rear. I suspect this is why the car chews forward instead of sliding further out when the car gets sideways.

How many miles did you drive the:

McLaren: Almost 2000 miles in the car and each drive started out by the car pissing me off one way or another.

Ferrari: I have about 6000 miles on them. (458 coupe and now a 458 Spyder)

How was the dealer experience for the:

Dealer experience was exemplary. I bought both from Lake Forest Sports cars who has always treated me well.

Would you buy an evolution of the same model again?
McLaren: I'll drive the next MP first before I ever decide to give them money, but currently they have achieved Lamborghini status in my head: Great looking, but not functional. I don't see myself ever buying each of those two again.

Ferrari: Yes no brainer. It is by far the best sports car on the road.

Which do you feel or know would be faster around the track and which would you prefer?

McLaren: With traction control on the MP in theory should be faster. Better brakes, faster straight line speed. But with traction control off when you go beyond the limit you'll be going for quite a ride. With it off it is very difficult to keep the car at the limit because it prefers to go beyond, such as, what is the turbo going to do this time when I feed the gas? Is it going to kick me in the ass or is it going to be smooth. Power application around corners is not the McLarens strong suit.

Ferrari is the car I would prefer. It is the complete package. It is fast, great brakes (once heated up), handles amazing and has power delivery that defies
physics.

Did you drag race the McLaren or Ferrari?

McLaren: Never took the MP to the strip, but it should have been faster assuming I left traction control on. Then again the traction control might have held it back too much?

SJCE: Car & Driver ran a 10.7 @ 134mph.

Ferrari: SJCE: Tony supplied a timeslip (see slideshow) showing an 11.746 sec @ 125.76 mph with a 2.129 60ft. i.e. “the launch.” As quick as the Ferrari is, it’s certainly capable of a 1.8x 60ft. A 3-tenth drop in the 60ft time would translate to a 6-tenth drop in the E.T. A low 11-second ET has been documented with multiple magazines. Fast cars!

How was your selling experience of the cars?

McLaren: Even though I had it for sale within a month to a month and half of it being released I took a big hit in selling it.

Ferrari: Nothing resells as well as a Ferrari!!

Final thoughts?

McLaren: It needs help to be a true performance car. They have plenty of knowledge over there to make that happen. Will they?

 SJCE: As I wrote before, the lack of an LSD is a handicap. One could speculate the transmission characteristics and power delivery could be changed via software.

Ferrari: The Ferrari 458 has dramatically raised the bar for sports cars. The closest thing to it I have driven is the Porsche GT3 RS and that is about a half step behind the 458 due to the lack of a dual clutch transmission. Other than that GT3 RS There is nothing even close to the full package that the 458 is. Ferrari and BMW are the best manufactures in the world in my opinion for how they seem to do everything correctly starting with sports then infusing luxury and making their cars a complete functioning unit that work in fantastic harmony.

The San Francisco 55th International Auto Show delivers the goods

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LEISURE / AUTOS & MOTORCYCLES / CAR & TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS
This was my first time attending the SF Auto show, and it delivers in the tradition of the larger shows with lots of floor space and multiple
models from many of the manufacturers. If you’re curious, shopping or an enthusiast, it’s a great opportunity to compare, contrast, climb
in and out, peer under the hoods and really get an eyeful of what is for sale today. If you find you really enjoy checking out all the
varieties, allow at least 3 hours, including eating to take it all in.
See also: san francisco auto show
The San Francisco 55th International Auto Show delivers the
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November 22, 2012
12:39 PM MST
San Francisco Internation Auto Show
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Various sights from the auto show.
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First some facts and a couple of tips:
When: Thursday 11/22 – Monday 11/26
Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 10am – 10pm, Monday 10am – 8pm
Where: Moscone Convention Center, 747 Howard St, between 3rd and 4th, North & South Halls
Cost: $9, children 12 and younger free with an adult. Oddly, tickets can only be purchased at the door.
Driving there: From the south bay, I prefer 280N to the 6th Street Exit, turn right on either Brannan, Bryant or Folsom, left on 3rd street. A
parking garage will be on your right side, very close to Folsom St.
Parking: Preferring this garage during past trade shows, try driving all the way up if crowded and work your way down. Likely you’ll find a
spot.
Food: If the convention center food is not to your liking, there is an excellent Mediterranean restaurant that handles crowds well at the
corner of Howard & 4th Street. If you walk north on 4th Street, the Westfield Metreon is right there with a good variety as well.
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Leaving the show: Turn right out of the garage and immediately get in the left lane, then turn left on Howard Street which runs between
the two main halls. Turn left on 4th Street. Now as of last night, on 4th Street stay to your LEFT of the fork due to construction, then make
a right-hand turn onto the Freeway. If you’re on the right, it’s a sharp right-hand turn onto Harrison. Be careful here.
Parents: Please respect attendees and the vehicles by not letting your kids walk and stand on the seats while we patiently wait to sit
where their shoes have been while contemplating our $20k-$100k purchase.
All the players are here except for one very conspicuously absent award winner. The manufacturers who are really on their game
displayed their cars with the wheel center caps perfectly horizontal. Trunks are propped open to highlight storage. The trucks, due to
their utility may be the most fun to check out with interior and exterior features. Besides 2013 production cars, there are lots of other
things to see. What you won’t see is Tesla. While it would be a nice gesture, it’s probably the first time the Motor Trend Car of the Year
wasn’t on display at a major car show, especially one close to corporate. The North American Car of the Year, the 2012 Hyundai Elantra
was there and I assume with Land Rover being there, the Evoque with its Truck of the Year title.
There is a very impressive classic car collection from the Academy of Art, the now ubiquitous Alternative Fuel vehicle displays, a Ferrari
458 Spyder with the Ferrari Club, some beautiful Hot Rods from the Dominator Street Rods and Aftermarket Alley with some of the more
impressive customized cars, both foreign and domestic along with multiple race cars. There are Ride & Drives, Geico autograph
sessions as well as a Paul Jr. Designs motorcycle.
Audi has all their cars in white except for an RS5 and an R8 V10 Spyder. You tell me who has the best interior, Audi or BMW? These cars
are stunning.
BMW has their stunners with perhaps the best variety in colors on display. Many others have too many earth tones. The M6 convertible
is striking and the 650i could be show stealer.
Cadillac has the V family and an ATS among others.
Chevrolet has two Corvettes including the 427ci convertible. The new Impala looks vastly improved over the previous rental-car fodder.
A ZL1 convertible finally justifies the Camaro.
The Dodge Dart probably has the best interior in its class. Sharp little car. The Longhorn Edition Dodge Ram Dually with 800+ ftlbs of
torque is a big, bad truck.
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Ford Fusion is an impressive Jaguar/Tesla Model S looking car while the Taurus has laughable rear leg room for a giant sedan. One of
the better displays overall, by why does the $65,000 GT500 Mustang have a hood prop rod? And why is the best Mustang ever, the
Boss 302 being discontinued.
Hondas has interesting separate audio and navigation screens. The Civic and Accord are always popular. However their modified
aftermarket Accord looked horrendous. And plastic brake caliper covers are an abomination.
Hyundai and Kia continue to impress. The Optima finally getting decent wheels from this decade and their interiors must be seen by
anyone shopping for a mid-size sedan.
Infiniti’s new news is their SUVs, the JX with lots of safety features. Now having a rear back-up camera and sensors so you can identify
the hazard(s) that are getting audible warnings.
Jaguar’s display is highlighted by the sinister XK-RS convertible
Lamborghini and Lotus has a corral, no Aventador but when you see what is there, you won’t complain.
Lexus has a stunning F-sport LS with aftermarket treatment.
Mini may have the best display showing a bit of everything despite a rather narrow line-up. But $40,000 for a JCW GP model? Really?
Mitsubishi was also absent. Odd for one of the few pure electric vehicle manufacturers.
Nissan offers a big variety, not only sports, sedans, trucks, SUVs and pure electric, but now a van! A big van!
Porsche was present due to dealer participation by Livermore Porsche and the new 911 may be perfect. The Boxter however, now that it
is all grown up, needs a 50-100hp shot, and it would be perfect. Some say, it's perfect already. They may be right.
SRT – A no show. No Charger, 300, Challenger (SRT versions) and most importantly, the Viper were not to be seen. The biggest
disappointment of the show.
Subaru and Scion are right next to each other, showing their excellent, rear drive sports cars, the Subaru BRZ and the Scion FR-S, also
next to each other. As if they don’t care which one you buy, just buy one of them!
Toyota has everything there, the Camry is very nice but the new Avalon should suddenly have everyone paying attention to its
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thoroughly re-invented image.
Volkswagen – an excellent display with a fun, interactive virtual, “Paint your car” station. The CC is extremely under appreciated. The
Passat, while very vanilla seems superb with quite a few reporting 40mpg from the diesel model. The perfect sedan perhaps.
Others include Aston (no Vanquish), Bentley with a GTC, Rolls Royce and others.
The 55th San Francisco Auto Show presented by AutoTrader.com truly a worthwhile show to see, much easier than hitting the dealer lots
hoping for a model to be in stock. No matter what your target interest is, take some time this break and enjoy the show, it is highly
recommended.
_____
Have a question about cars you would like answered? Want to know about performance, racing, modifying, shopping, makes, models,
events, etc. Reach me here: askrobaboutcars@gmailcom and I'll do my best to answer your question and publish it here on
Examiner.com!
Robert Eckaus
San Jose Cars Examiner
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The future of the Automotive Dashboard

7/3/2016 The future of the Automotive Dashboard | Examiner.com
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LEISURE / AUTOS & MOTORCYCLES / CAR & TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS
See also: dashboard
The future of the Automotive Dashboard
November 11, 2012
10:56 PM MST
I have seen the automotive dashboard of the future, and it’s beautiful. Remember when the mobile phone was a boring device with
limited function? Now mobile phones are offer a stunning display with wonderful features. The cluster of gauges and navigation system
Screenshots of the Kanzi UI software.
Rightware
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in front of you is changing forever because that tablet/phone graphic capability is going into your car.
Rightware, founded by CEO Tero Sarkkinen just three years ago, offers an incredible 3D design tool called Kanzi UI. With 10x the design
speed vs. the competition and a 60 frame per second refresh rate, say goodbye to mechanical gauges, clumsy menus, fixed display
options and navigation systems that offer too much or too little detail. The Audi A3 is the first production car in the US offering their
technology. That is only the beginning.
No more wash-out from direct sunlight or wearing polarized glasses. A light sensor can be utilized to allow a gradual automatic change
in the brightness instead of a day or night setting
Like having a tablet imbedded in front of the driver and passenger, information conveyed can be more legible, comprehended more
quickly and more pertinent. For instance, facial recognition from your contact’s pictures are recognized more quickly than the displayed
name when searching for a number to dial or an address for the navigation system. If the information is displayed by briefly displacing
the gauges directly in front of the driver, it is a quicker and safer acquisition of that data versus off to the side.
Imagine this: Putting the car in reverse and the display changes to the back-up camera view. Or a taillight is out and the instructions from
the owner’s manual on how to access the change the bulb are displayed and sent to your smart phone. Different views via pixel
alignment can be selected for the driver and passenger. Gesture control can be utilized for selecting options versus just touching the
screen. The map can be in 3D with recognizable building or landmark shapes for immediate recognition versus too much or too little
detail.
Rightware
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Is this Munich taking over Detroit? Or at Rightware, they like to say, “The End of Buttons." And for you and me, it offers so much. A
dedicated driver information display for the gauges you want to see and pop-ups for those whose readouts go out of the normal range.
A graphic carousel display that can be used to choose entertainment options, vehicle safety information, navigation and for us
enthusiasts…telemetry!
A manufacturer can offer a telemetry option that an owner or dealership can enable or activate. Then all the information can be fully
integrated into the car, the GPS, and stream to a smart phone, tablet or a USB port. This can be done with far greater detail and graphics
than what is currently in select vehicles now or even in the aftermarket.
Soon all the information you want will be in front of you, no longer partially blocked by the steering wheel or will be on a heads-up
display. No longer will it be just various LED colors for ambient lighting, or missing coolant temperature and oil pressure gauges. Soon
you can have gauges in front of you that expand with priority and contract when secondary.
Rightware is bringing the technology of the present and future to the automobile and it’s going to sweep across the industry worldwide.
It’s only a matter of time before it is utilized in motorcycles, airplanes, boats and many other applications.
I want to personally thank Tero Sarkkinen, CEO; Roy Taylor, CSO; Derek Perez, Marketing Representative; and Arto Ruotsalainen, Vice
President, Programs for the opportunity to present Kanzi UI and it’s benefits to my audience.
Click here for more information including a trail request:
http://www.rightware.com/kanzi-ui-solutions/automotive/
Sponsored Content
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This is the ultimate car performance challenge.
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Robert Eckaus
San Jose Cars Examiner
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Levels of magnificence at the AMG Driving Academy

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LEISURE / AUTOS & MOTORCYCLES / CAR & TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS
One could say hot laps around Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca in an exotic $190,000, gull winged Mercedes AMG SLS with 563hp is
worth the price of admission. Others might say the insane 664 ft lbs of torque in an SL63 with the AMG Performance (P30) package is
the dream ride. What everyone can agree on is the total experience is a must-do for any automotive enthusiast or fan of magnificent
vehicles.
Held at the finest racetracks around the world, the academy offers three levels of courses, Basic, Advanced & Pro featuring superb
organization and driving instruction by accomplished current and former race car drivers. Open to the paying public or AMG owners who
have purchased within 12 months prior, I had the opportunity to experience the one day Basic session.
For the public, the $1,595 fee also included lots of interaction and instruction by celebrity guest instructor and champion race car driver
Tommy Kendall. TK shared great stories and chalk talk in between instruction duties while tasty breakfast, lunch and end of day snacks
and beverages were provided. Water was encouraged and snacks provided when we weren’t going full throttle, full braking or going
sideways in lurid, wet powerslides.
More important than free meals, provided to the participants was a large fleet of the AMG cars to drive with up to 2 students per car with
See also: amg, mercedes, sls
Levels of magnificence at the AMG Driving Academy
October 21, 2012
10:53 PM MST
AMG Driving Academy
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frequent switching of driving duties. Besides the two monsters listed, also included were
CLS63s, E63s, C63s and CLK63 Black Series from 2008. One of the CLKs had 30,000 miles on
it, all from track duty!
The exotic AMG SLS is a snarling, crackling, refined exotic. The now lighter SL63 a superbly
powerful, fast and wonderful GT car with a great interior design only rivaled by the CLS63.
After time in the C63, I realized it’s a near-perfect, do-everything performance car with an
extremely well designed interior and space. It rivals the M3 overall and felt great on the track.
The first half of the day was a series of fun exercises that included a drag racing and braking
competition followed with a slalom exercise, a full brake and steer exercise, AMG SLS time
dedicated for the corkscrew to learn the correct line and technique, and wet powerslide
control. Besides getting familiar with the gorgeous interiors of some of these cars, the slowest
exercise produced the most laugh-out-loud moments. 20mph powerslides in water are so
much fun!
After lunch, it was high-speed fun on the big track. Supplying head socks and ¾ Snell 2010
safety helmets for a high speed follow-the-leader laps with narration by the instructor in the
lead car. Learning the braking zones, turn in points, apexes, and the racing line provided
valuable instruction on a world-class track. Even when it started to rain, it was valuable
instruction on finding the dry line. The final time is then filmed with telemetry and outward & incabin
views.
The big ride came as a passenger in an SLS driven by one of the professional race car driver
instructors. It’s an extreme car driven near the limit and what was oddly the most memorable,
was the insanely sudden and hard braking that tossed the head forward each time. After that, it
would be the SL63 and it's great torque and acceleration down the straights.
Unfortunately the rain negated the autocross for most of us where the timed competition would
be held for prizes (which were still given away and were fabulous) but the experience was
unforgettable. The vehicles, instruction and accommodations were simply world class. See if it fits in your schedule here:
http://www.amgacademy.com/schedule
AMG Driving Academy except where noted
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Robert Eckaus
San Jose Cars Examiner

End of season rants and raves in the automotive worlds part 2

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LEISURE / AUTOS & MOTORCYCLES / CAR & TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS
See also: nissan gt-r, corvette
End of season rants and raves in the automotive world part 2
October 17, 2012
10:06 PM MST
Continuing with Part 2 of my Rants and Raves, some more silliness and observations about cars and what has been reported about them
this past year.
Is the lack of a limited slip differential
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Top Gear America did a fun segment about who can go the furthest on a tank of gas, how about sharing what mpg was recognized? And
by the way, I want to see an episode where Tanner Foust doest NOT attempt to drift a vehicle.
Fox News, vehicles have brakes, not “breaks”.
Motor Trend has the excellent Best Drivers Car comparison test takes place at Laguna Seca. Lap times by champion racer Randy Pobst
are compared along with driving impressions. But this time, MT left out the ZR1 despite different gearing, PS Cup tires and 3rd generation
magnetic shocks. Hairy at the limit or not, show us the improved lap time!
Ranting on Motor Trend: If you’re going to declare that there must be a winner in a comparison in your magazine, stick to your words and
pick the better cop car, okay Motor Trend? And please explain nearly $32k in options on the Porsche.
More rants and a rave for Motor Trend: Who believes a missed shift going from 5th to 6th shift and hitting 2nd for the Passat TDI? I sure
don’t. Better ban that driver from manual transmission cars!
Regarding the Nissan GT-R, better to save $400+ on non-Oem, non-runflat tires and do a proper write-up on the alignment change.
William Walker, great data on the ’12 Civic Si. . But Angus, all the info on the A8 4.2 accident and you left out the repair estimate?
Why do trucks and SUVs come to a stop as close as possible to your rear bumper at stoplights? Is there a contest us car drivers don’t
know about?
The NBC Today show was punked badly. When someone claims their SUV was a “runaway” and the brakes (not breaks!) wouldn’t work,
please do a little homework before publishing what amounted to an alien-baby-tabloid-worthy story.
American LeMans and GrandAm prototype/sports car road racing series are merging! Hooray! Now let’s see some serious manufacturer
competition and decent television coverage. One or two week tape delays or internet coverage doesn’t cut it, at all.
Is the lack of a limited slip an actual handicap for the McLaren MP4-12C or only in non-ideal conditions?
Volvo S60 Polestar needs to be made available to the public through Volvo dealers now. Right now! Wouldn’t that stimulate much
needed sales in Europe?
Will the C7 Corvette finally get decent seats for high lateral g-forces? How about a dual clutch transmission? How about a navigation
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system with graphics that wouldn’t be considered poor 6 years ago?
Will the extreme horsepower levels of modern cars dictate aspects of new racetrack design? Does it already with street cars now
making over 600hp?
If the published acceleration test result is the slowest published for a model, shouldn’t there be an explanation?
Even with the pure consistency of a dual clutch transmission, published ¼ mile trap speeds for a Ferrari 458 varies from 125mph to
132.5mph. Is this fodder for a conspiracy theory worthy of the Nissan GT-R and it Nurburgring lap times?
Latest news from GM & Ford is development of 9 and 10 speed transmissions. When will this level out? Is it better than a Continuously
Variable Transmission? When does this end? Is there a weight penalty? Maintenance interval? What is the challenge going from 5
forward gears to 8 and now 9 and 10?
Are there silly or crazy things you’ve noticed and would like to contribute regarding cars and trucks? Follow me on Twitter for more
observations and share some of your own!
Robert Eckaus
San Jose Cars Examiner
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End of Season Rants and Raves in the Automotive World Part 1

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LEISURE / AUTOS & MOTORCYCLES / CAR & TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS
See also: automotive, chevrolet, audi r8, ford, camaro
End of Season Rants and Raves in the Automotive World Part
1
October 14, 2012
12:23 AM MST
Now that the crazy car summer and fall has wound down it’s time to point out the great, the ridiculous, the untrue, the missing and
I don't know if it will, but I certainly want one anyway!
San Jose Cars Examiner
7/3/2016 End of Season Rants and Raves in the Automotive World Part 1 | Examiner.com
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downright wrong. There are some real zingers, read on…
A letter stated that the Mercedes-Benz SL550 can hit 130mph in 10 seconds. That would make it one of the quickest production cars
made. And that was a published letter stating it was a waste of 429hp! Too funny.
The Ford GT500 does not, will not, cannot do 135mph in the quarter mile. A stock Corvette ZR1 won’t even do that. And by the way, will
any media outlet ever get one up to 200mph, ever? Anyone?
From an Audi R8 model comparison: Let’s say you’re in a race, and on the straightaway the car next to you has a higher peak speed of
10mph. This is not “a hair slower”, this is a lifetime. But most importantly, be sure not to leave out the race car is rear drive only and the
production car is only all wheel drive, okay?
If you’re going to compare sub-models of the same car with the same engine and the acceleration times are significantly different, you
better have an explanation. Or let’s say a BMW coupe weighing nearly 300lbs less than the convertible was tested as being slower. Why
exactly was this?
Ford, friends don’t ask friends to borrow their new car. And why in the world was the F-250 diesel braking distance 42ft, Forty-two!! feet
longer than the Dodge and Chevrolet? Should the NHTSA investigate?
Car & Driver and Motor Trend with identical covers for June 2012 issues. What happened? Didn’t you learn from AutoWeek and Road &
Track last year?
Anyone with a “Baby on Board” sign in a 500hp car deserves to have it (the car) confiscated. Hell, make that 400hp.
When I’m pumping gas, if I want to listen to a commercial, I’ll turn on my own radio, thank you very much.
The worst choice for a rental car: Chevrolet Camaro. Can’t fit luggage in it, can’t see out of it.
Why is the Chevrolet Volt at 4 passenger car while the Tesla Model S is a 7 passenger? What’s wrong with that picture?
It’s time the big 5 magazines realize grass roots drag racing is immensely popular on tracks around the country. Compare drag radial
tires, drivetrain layouts and start publishing 60ft times if they want to acquire new readers.
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SUGGESTED LINKS
 End of Summer Musings in the Automotive Industry
The Chevrolet commercial with the dysfunctional truck buyer with the ugly, drooling dog in a new truck at the dealership. Are they trying
to discourage female buyers or attract more hopeless males?
When something accelerates to 60mph in 10 seconds is referred to as powerful, like the Nissan did for the leaf. What adjectives are they
leaving for the 2.8 second Nissan GT-R?
If you’re going to compare various tires on a Scion FR-S, don’t you think a braking distance test is one of the most key measurements?
Robert Eckaus
San Jose Cars Examiner
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The inexplicable EPA mileage ratings for the BMW 3 and 5 series

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LEISURE / AUTOS & MOTORCYCLES / CAR & TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS
The inexplicable EPA mileage ratings for the BMW 3 and 5-
series
September 29, 2012
6:54 PM MST
An interesting discovery shows the BMW 3-series sedans, with three distinctly different engine choices all have virtually the same EPA
the EPA must be consistent when publishing mileage ratings
BMW USA
7/3/2016 The inexplicable EPA mileage ratings for the BMW 3 and 5series
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mileage ratings: 23mpg city and 33mpg highway. What’s up with that?
In summary on the EPA website, the 3-series models are 4-door automatics with the 8-speed transmission
BMW 328i, 4 cylinder turbo, 240hp, 23 city / 33 highway
BMW 335i, 6 cylinder turbo, 300hp, 23 city / 33 highway
BMW ActiveHybrid 3 (6 cylinder turbo + electric motor assist) 330hp, 25 city / 33 highway
It’s very strange that the same car with two more cylinders and 60hp hp has the same highway rating. Then add electric assist and just a
300lb weight penalty and the rating doesn’t change. Even more strange is the larger and 400lb heavier 528i has a better EPA rating of
24/34 and the ActiveHybrid 5 at 23/30. This makes no sense whatsoever.
Not only do the hybrids offer more horsepower and torque, it also features different overall gear ratios to save fuel as well.
Unfortunately, according to the EPA, all that is gained is 2mpg in the city cycle or in the case of the 528i, a 1mpg penalty. This is
laughable.
Granted the 328i could probably realize better mileage, but 33mpg highway is pretty nice for a world-class sedan.
Regarding the 335i, there was no significant change to the 335i except the 8speed automatic. Jumping from 19 city and 28 highway to
23/33 isn’t done easily. Besides gearing, the transition to a single turbo wouldn’t do it. What possibly could? An error from the past is
now being corrected? Unlikely based on owner reports. Will BMW bring back the 335d diesel considering it had the best rating of
23/36?
If ridiculous 50+mpg mandates are going to be shoved down our throats with hybrid incentives and safety standards translate to weight
increases in the hundreds of pounds, I suggest the EPA start providing accurate numbers or explanations in the future.
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Robert Eckaus
San Jose Cars Examiner

The Pebble Beach Concours D'elegance defines greatness

The Grand Finale of the Monterey Automotive Weekend is the Pebble Beach Concours D’elegance. It was a great show with superb variety, seemingly even better than last year. This year it featured 220 vehicles from 33 states and 15 countries while raising over one million dollars for charity. Better placement and groupings of the cars and some motorcycles made it seem less crowded and better
photo opportunities.

Arriving later worked great but still meant parking closer to the ocean side and taking a shuttle bus. Unfortunately there was some confusion where we parked despite three busses being staged. However, upon arrival, the obligated walk through the RetroAuto vendor building proved far more interesting than past years. There are numerous other displays to see on the way to the show.

There was a vintage motorcycle auction and Porsche had a displayed seemed more for selling their standard models than showcasing their ultra-performance models. Infiniti brought their entire fleet for test drives along with concept and race car displays. Cadillac, Lexus, Hyundai, SRT/Dodge and BMW also had displays of production and other cars in very inviting buildings set up for the show. Coinciding with these were test drives available.

Another one of the favorite displays before entering the lodge is Ferrari featuring the F12 Berlinetta and just outside The Lodge  featured the concept and new models display. Some standouts were McLaren MP4-12C Spider, Bentley’s concept SUV and a Hennessey Venom GT. Others
included Mercedes, BMW, Lamborghini, Lexus, and others that all deserve a feature article unto themselves.

Once in the show the automotive art of paintings and sculptures with it's own temporal building is a must see. Worth noting for spending hours in one place and for those who love food, the portions were generous and there are now three restaurants to dine after the show at The Lodge.

But the real purpose was the Concours D’elegance and it delivered. The field had great variety including long-overdue American Custom Sports. Other classes included Maharaja Cars (Rolls Royce), Mercer, Fiat, Mercedes SLs, German Motorcycles and Shelby Cobras. The Best of Show winner is a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Saoutchik Torpedo owned by Paul and Judy Andrews of White Settlement, Texas.

The $200 price of admission, which contributes to the United Way charity, is well worth the once per year event which is considered by many, one of the finest in the world.
For the list of winners visit:

http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/pages/5070/Pebble_Beach_Concours_dElegance_Complete_List_of_Winners.htm?
utm_source=62nd+Pebble+Beach+Concours+d%27Elegance+Names+1928+Mercedes-
Benz+%22Best+of+Show%22&utm_campaign=winners+announced&utm_medium=email

For further information visit: http://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/

The Down Low on the Street Low Car Show

Evergreen college parking lots tucked in the foothills of east San Jose was the host of the Street Low 2012 Car Show on Sunday, August 12th.

There was a great variety of low riders and dub cars of various vintages, with the classics really
standing out. The artistry was stunning in some cases and some really cool and clean
engineering. A big contrast to the little tire and wheel low riders was the Dub cars with enormous
wheels, some were 28”! Although probably more useless than the little ones, it’s a striking
visual impact. Never mind function over form, this is about a particular style.

There were plenty of vendors for food, drink, accessories and lifestyle wares. Of course the
girls stood out highlighting the event and picture opportunities with them drew the biggest
crowd outside of the entertainment stage.

Tattoos were the norm at this laid back event. There were cars, motorcycles and some really
cool custom bicycles. The bicycles are custom built from the ground-up which really says a lot about the ingenuity of the builders.

Although regarded as a cultural tradition or representation, there is no reason not to expect a special class for Low Riders at the Pebble Beach Concours D’elegance in a decade or two. But don’t wait, its worth seeing before that.