OH NOES!

I am so angry and sad.

For those of you who don't know what that is, it's the dreaded, infamous, hellish, stupid "red ring of death." Think "Blue Screen of Death" on steroids. My X-Box is broken, and if I'm lucky I'll be able to have it repaired for free (plus shipping), but I'm not sure yet. I don't have the original receipt and I can't remember if I've had it for over three years, which is how long the warranty is good for. Even if it is under warranty, I'm going to be minus an X-Box for two months. Dammit! "Race Pro" is coming out on the 27th of January. *sigh* I guess I just have to play board games or something until it's fixed. Or maybe I'll use my (hopefully) Christmas bonus to get a PS3 so I can play GT5. I dunno though, I hate the PS3, the only good games on it are GT5 and Little Big Planet. And that's only good when you play on-line, but I don't have an internet connection at my house. *bleh* I'm running out of steam. I just realised that I'm crying over a video game system.

Anywho, 'nother topic! I went test driving last weekend. I do that from time to time just to see what's available, and this time I drove a couple of great cars. One of the was a 2001 BMW 330ci convertible with 47k miles on it for 18 grand. It wasn't bad, but I was expecting more. The clutch was far too light, I couldn't really tell when it was "biting." The steering, while precise, didn't give enough feedback; It was just too light. Finally, the gear change was simply too vague. The throw was almost 10 inches from first to second, and it just didn't slot well into place. It didn't give me the confidence that I was in the gear I wanted. It was a good car, it seems like I'm being really down on this car, but I had this grand image in my brain of "The Ultimate Driving Machine" and it just wasn't. I'd like to drive a hard top version because they're apparently more sporty... I don't think I'll get my hopes up for that one though.

The other car I drove though blew all my expectations away; and Derek, you're on crack.


This is a Nissan 350Z and it is fantastic! Derek didn't like this car, hence the crack remark. I can understand why someone would choose, say a Mazda RX8, over this car, but not because this is a bad car. Those two extra seats in the RX8 make it very appealing. But that brutal 3.5L V6 is fantastic! In addition to that, the clutch and gearbox are magical! Derek said that this car had too hard a ride, but I disagree. I took it for a long test drive over some pretty sketchy roads and it handled them well. Not only that, but I was able to drive it on the freeway and it was fine there too. The only problems I had with it were seats that were a little bit too small, and the visibility wasn't the best. But it's a sports car! Visibility is supposed to be terrible. I think that this might be my next car. Unless, I'm wearing my "Grown-Up Pants" when I buy my next car, then I'll get a Golf GTi. The practicality of the 350Z is crap. Two seats, and even though there's a fairly large space in the back for luggage, it's full of rear strut bar so only duffel bags can fit.
See what I mean?

Still, I think all the downfalls are worth the upsides. There's a very real possibility that I'm going to buy on of these. Rebecca has her work cut out for her to talk me out of it. Oh, and just in case you all are worried that I'm going to buy this car, like tomorrow, then fear not, it's still a couple of years off. I don't ever want two car payments.

The quote was from "The Thomas Crown Affair." It's a pretty fun movie with Pierce Brosnan. It comes recommended.

"Nirvana is coming! The mystic portal awaits!"

New Quote

I realize that the last quote was rather obscure, and from an obscure movie, so I'll give you an obvious quote from that obscure movie.

"Monet's unknown masterpiece, 'Dogs At Cards'."

I'll try to get in on the weekend to give you all a proper entry.

Bleck... sorry.

I know I asked you guys for advice as to what I should write... then promptly ignored your advice and did nothing (heh, reminds me of a quote). Well, right after (I mean within 60 seconds of hitting publish post) I've been super busy with work. I might get around to writing about the auto show, but not yet.

Anywho... yes Mark, it was Kung Fu Panda. That was a surprisingly good movie.

And the Diesel engine was originally designed to run on peanut oil.

The quote I thought of:
"She will beg you for advice. Your reply will be concise. She'll listen very nicely then go out and do precisely what she wants."

And a bit harder quote:
"The doors welded, just throw a leg over."
(This is a bit obscure... I don't know if either of you has seen it.)

Hey everyone.

I need some feedback... I went to the Sacramento International Auto Show and took a ton of crappy photos (I mean they're all sorts of fuzzy and dark). Do you guys want to see my crappy pics and read my long winded thoughts about the different cars there (seriously, I could easily write 1,000 words on every car there) or would you rather let me leave it at "It was rad"?

Also, here's a trivia question:
The first Diesel engine was designed to be fueled by what?

and here is a quote:
"Legend tells of a legendary warrior whose kung fu skills were the stuff of legend"

Been a while 'eh?

So, the person I voted for didn't become president.


Keep at it dude! The law of averages has got to catch up with you some time.

Anyway, that's really not what I wanted to write about. Far too many words have been wasted in politics.

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I'm proud of myself. I've thought for a long time that I would hate all of those documentaries that are basically propaganda. For example "An Inconvenient Truth" or "Who Killed the Electric Car." I've actually been secretly terrified that if someone made one of these documentaries about a topic that I agree with, I'd give it high praise just like all of the other sheep that love the others. This is not the case. Last night I watched "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" and it was gut wrenchingly terrible. It's presented by Ben Stein ("Anyone? Anyone?") who I admire a great deal, and it was dealing with intelligent design, which I do agree with. I saw Ben Stein on The Late Late show with Craig Ferguson several weeks back and it showed the only part in the film that showed the complexities of a cell to which point one must ask his/herself "Seriously, how can all that happened by accident?" and I was rather excited by it. That kind of documentary I would love. But sadly it was not the case. Maybe I should have just read the title of the movie and analyzed it. It's called "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," which should tell me that it's only about people in academics who either publish or teach stuff about ID and get fired for it. The whole film was a goddamn rant. Nearly the entire was about how Darwinists are so dumb... and evil. I mean, the Nazi's were Darwinists. Yep. He brought up the point that Hitler's Reich was partly brought about by the ideas of Darwin. He certainly threw in a couple of (and I'm paraphrasing here) "Now I'm not saying that people who believe strictly in evolution are Nazi's, but..." and it was all I could do to not scream obscenities to the Television. Not only that, but he makes the metaphor of the split between people who don't believe in ID and the people who do is like the Berlin Wall. Near the end of his film, he's giving a speech to a theater half filled with students and it was being cut into with parts of Regan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech. I actually tasted bile watching that.

Boy, I've really worked myself into a frenzy by writing about this. Anyway, instead of making you read even more of my tedious ranting about a film I don't even like, I'll wrap this up. So, my fear that I would succumb to propaganda if it fit my views is in fact unwarranted. Phew! Now I don't have to worry about having to eat my words any more.

Take it easy everyone.

"You found Jesus yet?"
"I didn't know I was s'posed to be lookin' for him, sir."

Part 2 of the Paris Motor Show.

The boring part.

Well, when I say "boring" I just mean they're not super cars with 200+ mph capabilities. These are cars you might actually see on the road.

First off is the Mini Cooper Crossover. I don't even know where to begin with this one. The pure contradiction of terms of "Mini" and "SUV" makes me want to harm someone. But on the other hand, I think they did an alright job of it. Here's a photo:


It doesn't much look like a mini, but more of a BMW X3 with Mini parts bolted on. I really want to hate this car, because I pretty much hate all "Soft-Roaders." In my mind, those small SUV's or Crossovers are completely pointless; they can't do the off road bit, and a station wagon (like the BMW M5 touring that's on my top 10 garage) do just as good a job at the rest of the stuff. There are a few off roaders that I like though. The one that comes to mind is the Toyota FJ Cruiser. It has a funky design that just pets me in the right way. And y'know, this Mini Crossover does the same thing. I'd never dream of thinking about considering buying one, but it looks pretty good. Soon enough however, the roads with filled with these things and perhaps then I'll start to hate them like I want to.
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The next car is quite probably the next car I buy, and the first one I'll buy new. It's the Mark VI VW Golf GTi. Another obligatory photo.

If you can tell the difference between this Mark VI and the previous Mark V, then you've got a keen eye and an unhealthy love of cars on par with mine. The front grill has been slightly altered so it looks a bit more "squinty" and angry. The wheels have been move slightly closer to the corners of the car, and the intake has been widened to improve aerodynamics. At the back, the tail pipes have been moved further to the outside to give it a wider and lower appearance, and as for aesthetics, that's about it. So why on earth would I buy a Mark VI instead of a Mark V. I think you all know that I don't necessarily need the newest thing to get my jollies. Well, it's because of the engine and suspension. That's where the most changes have happened. The suspension has been redesigned from the ground up and is now electronically controlled. This is not new technology (hit a button get stiffer suspension, hit it again get a more supple ride), Mercedes has been doing that for some fifty years, but this is the first time in a small hatchback like this Golf. And then there's the re-mapping of the engine. 35%. That's how much more powerful the Mark VI is than it's predecessor. A staggering 270 bHp from a 2.oL inline 4 cylinder engine. I cannot wait to get in one of these for a test drive. The craziest thing is that it's only going to cost 2% more money. It's absolutely fantastic and I've fallen in love with the Golf for the 3rd time now.
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Anyway, this was my last post about the Paris Motor Show. I know it has been simply thrilling, but alas, I have run out of things to say. I could ramble, or blather, but I would actually say anything about the other cars. Perhaps, if the next motor show (which I believe is the Geneva Motor Show) has some really cool cars I'll write about them.

So until my next post,

"Eddie, if I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now."

Paris Motor Show.

There was some really neat cars to be shown at the recent Paris Motor Show.

The first car that I mention completely stole the show. It's the most anticipated and I think the most controversial car there. It's the new Lamborghini Estoque. Well, it's a front engined, four door sedan, and a Lamborghini. Go figure! I guess it's for the super rich who want a Lambo, but also have kids or something. Anyway, here's a picture.

I dunno. Lambo's have always supposed to be super over the top and "Woweeie!" more than anything else, but this one seems a little sedate don't you think? Power train details for now include their 5.2L V10 that produces a little over 550 bHp. But, there are rumors that their 6.2L V12 can fit in the engine bay and that produces a little over 630 bHp. Those both would go great in this car. There is however, one more rumor about the power train, and this is the controversial part: a 4L V8 with an electric motor. That's right, Lamborghini is thinking about going Hybrid with this car. This is stunning to me because if it's one thing that Lambo isn't, it's "green." They've always been about turning heads and going fast no matter the cost. Proof of this point is the Gas Consumption of their Murcielago LP640; it get 8 mpg in the city and 13 on the highway. These are worse consumption numbers than even the Bugatti Veyron when has a larger engine, more cylinders, and 4 turbos... oh, and 1,001 horse power. That's freaking nuts. So, I think that if Lamborghini of all manufactures is thinking that the environment is more important than going fast, then I think we've hit the peak of automotive design. In a very short amount of time, I think the car that can drive in excess of 200 mph will be extinct. Well, that's me on a soap box, and I truly hope I'm wrong.
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The next car that I'll write about is a new Citroen: the Citroen GT Concept. Here's a picture (well, a couple of them so you can get a sense of the insanity.)
So this car will never be made. Everyone understands that and truth be told I'm glad of that, I think it's uglier than sin. This car cannot even move under it's own power for it has none. They haven't specified what kind of engine it could possibly have... or even where the engine would go. It could fit up front, but it does look like it would be a mid engined car. Hell, it might have 2 engines who knows? But the reason for building it is what intrigues me the most. The badge on the car looks like this:

Mark might know what this is, but for those of you who aren't a fan of video games, that's the logo for the "Gran Turismo" video game/driving simulator that's available on the Playstation 3. This car was designed specifically to be in this game. I find that very interesting. Car manufactures know that the people who play video games are now growing up and they're the people who are buying cars now. Now instead of Polyphony (the developer of the Gran Turismo) having to spend millions of dollars to licence all of the cars for their video games like they had to got GT1, now some car manufactures are paying Polyphony to get their cars into their game. Frankly, I think that's awesome. Even though the Citroen GT Concept will never be made, millions of Americans will now know the Citroen name which could possibly conjure up enough demand for the French company to sell cars here in America, and it could certainly sell more cars in Europe.
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Well, tune in next week when I look at another two cars from the Paris Motor Show. Those cars won't be as exciting as these, but you are certainly more likely to see these cars on the road in the near future.