September 20, 2012 zoomvroom Book reviews and good reading

Do You Ever Get Tired of the Car You Drive?

I don’t know if I’ll get tired of the car that I’ll be driving, but chances are extremely likely that I will. Of course, the thrill of driving a new car, or a newly acquired used car will wear off over time. Even if you drove a Porsche 911 every day, you’d eventually pine for something newer and more different to drive. Do you have dreams of the isolation of a Cadillac Deville? Do you wish for a big boy’s car like a Chevy Camaro ZL1? Or, are you okay with what you drive? It IS okay to drive whatever you drive, but have dreams of driving a Pagani Huayra through Argentina? Tell me what your dream car is!

Guess what my dream car is. It’s been featured on my blog.

September 15, 2012 zoomvroom Car Culture

Out N’ About

Sonoma County has a thriving community of people who like classic cars. Here’s some lovely old iron:

I’m not sure what year the F250 is, but it looks like it still earns it’s keep. The Plymouth Business Coupe sits there and collects stares.

Every Friday, I will put up Out N’ About pictures for you to gawk at. I think this will be a fun series.

September 12, 2012 zoomvroom Car Culture, Car Reviews, Humor

Ten Vehicles That You Should Find When the Apocalypse Happens

1: 2007 VW Touareg V10 TDI. It may not be in production, but it IS still strong enough to pull a 747 out of the way! That means it shouldn’t be TOO hard to tow that huge tank of diesel fuel back to your compound.

2: 1959 Daimler “Ferret” Armored Car. It’s list of “amenities” is kind of short: A Brown “dummy” machine gun, smoke grenade launchers, periscopes, tents, canteens, and a 4.3 liter six-cylinder engine shared with various Rolls-Royce and Bentleys. That should make your search for parts about as easy as finding a diamond in a pig trough! Daimler Ferret Mk1 Liaison

3: 2007 Cool Amphibious Manufacturers Terra Wind RV. Noah would be jealous of this monster. At 43 feet long, parking this behemoth in the compound should be a bit more than exciting. It also weighs almost 16 tons. A massive 330 horsepower Caterpillar engine drives the rear two axles or the twin 19-inch bronze propellors. You can catch fish from the roof, and eat in front of the 42 inch plasma TV while watching “Die Hard.”

4: 2007 Hummer H2. Though it may weigh 6500 pounds and be clad in plastic, GM got the off-road formula pretty much perfect (for once). If your compound happens to have a Chevron station and/or an oil well, you’ll be covered.

5: 2012 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG. The Gendelwagen is basically a gussied-up German Army scout vehicle. Though it may have a leather interior, that doesn’t stop it from scaling hills up to 40 degrees. That means you can scale the Great Pyramid…

6: 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser. This is the last model year for the FJ, and the best year to get one. Why? A sturdy 258 horsepower 4.0 liter V6 will get better fuel economy than that G55 of yours, but will climb angles of up to 45 degrees. Perfect for climbing over that Corolla in your way… Toyota FJ CRUISER Review-4

7: E.V.A Track 800 CDi. This is one AWESOME motorcycle. It has a diesel engine borrowed from a Smart car. While other post-apocalyptic survivors are killing each other over the Earth’s oil reserves, you can fill up from any McDonald’s. With 20,000 (and counting) McDonald’s locations in North America, filling up shouldn’t be too hard. Plus, you can achieve up to 100 mpg.

8: DAF 95 Turbotwin X1. This truck is just about the scariest truck to ever race the Paris-Dakar rally. With two turbocharged 11.6 liter engines EACh producing 1200 horsepower and 3466 lb-ft of torque. Add that together and you’ll have 2400 horsepower and nearly 7000 lb-ft of torque. Plus, the body is a simple aluminum/carbon fiber spaceframe. That will take you all the way to 150 mph. I recommend going that fast when you are being chased by another survivor…This truck is about as diabolical a truck as you’ll ever see.

9: 1990 Bentley Turbo R (Armored, of course). I know that when you start out, you’ll be speeding along over the decaying bodies of the former owner of your compound. But, when you have your own Barterville, you will probably be known as “Machete the Terrible.” You will need a car to take care of your opponents. The Bentley Turbo R (armored version) will take care of most mines, light firearms, shotguns, grenades, and the like. This means that you can be comforted in white Connolly leather, while mowing down your opponents.

a photo of this vehicle

10: 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (four door). Nobody can crawl over rocks like a Jeep. Nobody. The Jeep Rubicon has Chrysler’s new Pentastar V6 that cranks out 290 horsepower. Since there are four doors in this monster, the Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited is perfect for a little “shopping run.” Plus, it hasn’t changed very much since 1944. That should be very helpful when scavenging for parts.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2011-6

I know that I promised to only blab on about ten vehicles, but the Oshkosh MRAP is the perfect post-apocalyptic survival vehicle. Grenade launchers and machine guns can be attached.

MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). Photo: Oshkosh Corporation

Also, the Critter Gitter is pretty nice for puttering around the compound. With it’s massive 8.1 liter Vortec engine pumping out 300 horsepower, it’s more like FLYING around the compound…

September 8, 2012 zoomvroom Car Reviews

For Those Who Don’t Want A Jeep…

The new Subaru Impreza XV Crosstrek is a very good car. It has utility, looks, and a bit of power to match. This car isn’t normal. But then again, Subaru’s aren’t. This Subie is no exception to the Subaru formula.

The XV stands out. How? The blacked-out 17-inch aluminum wheels look like the car just came out of an aftermarket wheel/tire shop. The 8.7 inches of ground clearance scream “Don’t follow me!” The glass is tinted a dark gray (screaming I just came out of a cheap aftermarket shop!), and the standard roof rack is a finishing touch. This car is telling you that it is a fashion statement in the automotive world, and it REALLY loves dirt! When you park it next to it’s barely older sibling, it makes its sibling look almost bland. Even though they have the same transmission (a five-speed manual or a CVT) and the same engine (a 148 horsepower, 145 lb-ft 2.0 liter Boxer four cylinder), they are wholly different cars.

The XV isn’t all looks – it’s got capability to match. Incline Start Assist is standard (for those of you who stop on hills), and Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive is also standard. With Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive, the viscous-coupling locking center differential helps put the ponies in the right place. One should know that getting everything out of the car does require you driving the car like you stole it. Why? The smallish Boxer engine barely gets the job done in the heavier XV, with a 0-60 time of 8.8 seconds (six ticks faster than the lighter Impreza 2.0i Premium). Stopping from 60-0 mph takes a fair 122 feet (the 2.0i Premium does it in 120 feet). Also, a larger 15.9 gallon gas tank helps take the car up to 350 miles before a fill up). But, fuel economy drops down a bit to 23/30 city/highway.

Driving on paved areas yields a firm, yet extremely controllable ride. It’s not at all uncomfortable though. Even though the lifted independent suspension looks like the car would ride like a Jeep, bumps are soaked up surprisingly well. However, don’t be surprised when going into a corner with some zoom – controllable body roll will happen!

Plus, the Subaru Impreza XV Crosstrek is cheap – it is a mere $22, 790.

September 5, 2012 zoomvroom Car Culture

The Best Advertisement on Paper!

I don’t know if you’ve heard of Scott Devon and his small company that made a few custom-built Dodge Vipers back in 2010. Too bad if you didn’t hear of them. They were awesome, truly. They don’t custom-build Vipers anymore, but they DO have a small store in Beverly Hills where they sell: Devon leather jackets, jeans, eyewear, watches, scents, and other Devon apparel. A motorcycle is out, but costs well above $100,000. But, I wanted to share with you the advertisement from 2010 of the Devon GTX. Enjoy:

The Devon GTX: The Art of Speed

Behold the 2010 Devon GTX: boasting world-class performance prowess, it is an illustrious super car for the ages, an iconic modern classic in the making. With a stiff, lightweight body utilizing a carbon fiber-based structure; the Devon GTX is where ultimate form meets ultimate function – a study in achieving power and prestige.

Conceived by the visionaries at Devon Motorworks, the GTX encapsulates the clarity and elegance of a Mies van der Rhoe architectural creation and the provocative lines of a Henry Moore sculpture-bodies of work that have profoundly influenced company founder and namesake Scott Devon. “It’s a car everybody put talent and emotion behind to create – a modern classic that will stand the test of time,” says Devon. An able-bodied automobile defined by an unparalleled aesthetic has come to fruition in a record time – in a record time – in a mere 24 months of development, the next American supercar has evolved from concept to reality.

The Power of Precision

The numbers scream of the Devon GTX’s deft ability, further validated by its production car lap record at America’s Famed Laguna Seca Raceway. With a V-10 engine that produces 650 horsepower at 6100 RPM, performance is ultimately enhanced by optimally refined airflow, exhaust and headers, massive 380-mm front and 355-mm rear rotors. The GTX’s six-speed manual transmission engages prompt respons from the deep-skirted, 10-cylinder aluminum engine block. The perfectly pitched exhaust note is low and smooth, symphonic music to the driver’s ear.

Design of Distinction

In form, the GTX is breathtaking – a balanced blend of sweeping architecture and seamless structure. Each vehicle is coach-built to specification with meticulous attention to detail. Superior materials define the content- the highest quality carbon fiber, chrome inlays and fine leather. Yet, the strategic placement of metals is strictly guided by minimalist principles. In the artistic tradition of Mondrian, what abounds is an efficient and exquisite balance of taste and sparse line work. The front and rear overhangs subtly cling to the body. Tactile elements represent a wholehearted strength that resonates with emotion. Two-tone wheels speak visual volumes about the machine’s agility and are fitted against Michelin Sport Cup (R) tires.

A dual center rear exit chrome exhaust is a controlled study in perfect design and engineering application. Sloping lines cue the romantic heritage of American motor sports. The GTX interior, a continuum of the exterior’s design lexicon, is framed by a jewel inspired dashboard and accentuated by the capable technology of McIntosh displays and surround-sound speakers, ampmeter and sub-woofers. A white shifter knob reflects against the piano-black surface of the finished gearbox. Carbon fiber-reinforced racing seats are lined with chrome trim, with the option of six-point racing harnesses, and are outfitted with stiff performance durometer seats and bolsters. Dual-grained leather surfacing throughout and a leather-wrapped steering wheel create distinctive style ofest by polished aluminum parts.

Southern California, with its historical relevance to the golden years of American car culture, provides the perfect setting for Devon’s growing business. Only 36 limited edition bespoke vehicles will be produced each year, making the GTX a truly unique collector’s item. The company plans to introduce more cars, motorcycles, watches, and other enthusiast-related products that span across the spectrum of the elite to the accessible. The GTX is the blueprint, establishing a benchmark for the Devon Motorworks brand.

And another startup pretty much bites the dust. Just 30 Devon GTX’s were actually made, because the Dodge Viper took a two year nap. What a lot of advertising noise.

Editorial Note: The writer of this blog (okay, Candler) had an entry ready for posting on Saturday. Unfortunately, the top manager and editor (okay, mom) neglected her duties in proofreading. Unfortunately, proofreading in a timely manner seems to be a skill she needs to address (along with sending birthday cards in a timely manner). My humble and sincere apologies.

September 1, 2012 zoomvroom Uncategorized

I Haven’t Forgotten About You…

Dear Loyal Readers,

I have NOT forgotten about you. Tune back in tomorrow for an interesting post.

August 29, 2012 zoomvroom Recall Alert!, World News

Slow CODA Sales AND a recall?

Slow sales is never a good thing. Unless the product is a niche product. With CODA, the tiny start-up electric car company based out of Los Angeles, CA, sales have been slow. Horribly slow.

CODA’s been mum about sales figures since March (when the cars started showing up in the showrooms). But, NHTSA recently recalled ALL CODA vehicles. CODA won’t tell how many that is, but it seems that CODA has only sold about 78 (if that much) units since March. The recall will fix a side-airbag problem: The airbags may or may not deploy in the event of a crash. Why? Because they were not installed properly in Benicia, CA. Oops. This could mean life or death for CODA. Here’s to hoping there’s no more problems with the car.

August 25, 2012 zoomvroom The History of Autos, World News

One of the World’s Oldest Luxury Automobile Makers is 110 (and two days)!

Happy Birthday to you, Cadillac! 110 years and two days ago, Cadillac was formed by Henry Leland. Henry Leland took the remnants of the Henry Ford Company, and started Cadillac. 110 years and two days later, Cadillac is still very much a part of the luxury automobile industry. In honor of the 110th anniversary of Caddy, here is a list of the top five coolest Cadillacs from Motor Trend. After that, I will add about one or two to the list. Feel free to comment with your favorite Caddy. I can’t wait to see what your favorites are!

1937 Cadillac Phaeton model 5859 — Look up classic beauty in the dictionary, and you’ll see an image of the custom-built 1937 Cadillac Fleetwood V-16 shown here. The Phaeton model 5859 was built by coachbuilder Fran Roxas who relied on the original blueprints of Cadillac designer John Hampshire. The original sketches of the powerful V-16 car served as inspiration for the Ciel concept car.

1937 Cadillac Phaeton model 5859

1949 Cadillac— The 1949 Cadillac was a major step forward for the company, as the outgoing car’s ancient L-head V-8 was replaced by a flathead V-8 that put out 10 more horsepower (160 versus 150). The new engine was about 200 pounds lighter, revved higher, and got better fuel mileage. The Cadillac was also named as Motor Trend’s very first Car of the Year!

1949 Cadillac Series 62 Club Coupe

1959 Cadillac Eldorado — This beauty incorporated new styling, with sharp and massive tailfins that have gone down in automotive history. Its twin-bullet taillights, and jewel-like grille added to its appeal, and let’s not forget its name translates to “the golden one” in Spanish.

1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible

Cadillac Ciel concept — The Cadillac Ciel is just a concept, but it’s still one of the most gorgeous cars we’ve ever seen wearing the brand’s logo.

The Ciel concept stunned spectators at Pebble Beach last year with its effortless combination of strong retro themes with Cadillac’s current design language. The four-door convertible wears rear-hinged “suicide” doors, and is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6 liter V-6 mated to a hybrid all-wheel-drive drivetrain producing an estimated 425 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque.

Cadillac CTS-V (second generation) — Where do we even begin? The CTS-V is fast, has a wonderfully composed chassis, and looks like a million bucks on the road. How do we know? We had a CTS-V in our garage for a year, and nearly everyone who got seat time with the beast fell in love.

2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Here’s my list of MY favorite Cadillacs:

2003 Cadillac CTS: The 2003 Caddy CTS was a game-changer for Cadillac. This was one of Cadillac’s darkest days, and the CTS is really what saved Cadillac from becoming limos. It was the first sporty Cadillac since the mid-50’s. This is a beautiful car that deserves a lot of recognition. Over 300,000 were sold before production ended for the first generation in 2008.

2003 Cadillac CTS

Cadillac Escalade: All three generations. The Cadillac Escalade was introduced for the 1999 model year in response to the Lincoln Navigator, the Mercedes-Benz ML320/350/500, and the Lexus RX300. The first generation didn’t sell well. The second generation sold very well. Money was looser than it is now. People bought Escalades because they could. The third generation is currently the best-selling Cadillac of the 21st Century. According to the National Highway Loss Administration, the Cadillac Escalade is the most-stolen vehicle in the U.S.

1999 Cadillac Escalade

P.S. Google Images is always a good place to find nice pictures of a Caddy that you want to attach for the comment.

August 23, 2012 zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info, World News

The Ferocious New Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Attacks Yet Again!

Ford and Carroll Shelby both shared one awesome wish: to build a production Mustang that would reach at least 200 mph, yet be tame enough to drive around town. Their wish finally came true, and Carroll Shelby lived to see it happen!

The all-new, epic-cool Mustang GT500 weighs almost 3850 pounds (down by almost 50 from last year’s model), can do burnouts 24/7, reach 205 mph in 5th gear (as Ford claims), have almost as much torque as a Dodge Ram 2500 with the optional Cummins Turbodiesel, and get 18 mpg. That’s gonna be kinda hard for Chevy and Dodge to beat. It has more horsepower than the 638-horsepower Chevy Corvette ZR1, and makes ten MORE horsepower than the new Dodge Viper! Plus, it gets pretty much the same gas mileage as a Challenger R/T.

To handle all that ludicrous power, Ford had to beef up the Tremec TR60 transmission to a 3.31:1 final drive ratio. Because of all that power pounding the ground, Ford has HUGE brakes that have a 14 INCH diameter on the front. The brakes are Brembo vented disc brakes with a six-piston caliper. The back is almost as scary, with 11.8 inch vented discs with one piston calipers. That’s what you’ll need when you need to stop from 205 mph on the Interstate 5…

The massive supercharged 5.8 liter engine was first fired up in late December. It took almost two months of constant tuning to get the engine power consistent in power delivery. The supercharger is the same one that GM uses on their blown LS9 Corvette engine. That supercharger is an Eaton TVS Series 2300 supercharger. Ford’s SVT (Special Vehicle Team) engineers went a bit crazy (in a very, very good way!) by cross-drilling the block and heads. The camshaft profiles were updated, along with many other changes including making the block all-aluminum and carbon fiber. They also added a larger cooling fan, a higher-flowing intercooler pump, and a much larger intercooler heat exchanger. All of this contributes to the 200+ mph top speed (UNGOVERNED) of the GT500!

Ford states that the new GT500’s engine is the most powerful production V8 in the world. Of course, the ridiculously fast Koenigsegg Agera R and SSC Aero TT both best 650 horsepower, delivering well over 1000 horsepower EACH! But, if you define production as mass production, Ford’s strong statement DOES ring true. The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is faster, lighter, seats two, has only 638 horsepower, yet 604 lb-ft of torque (four more than the GT500).

Just about anybody who has driven the previous GT500 will tell you that it had WAY too much power for the tranny to put down at one time. Ford apparently realized this large problem and ditched the ancient 3.55:1 final drive ratio in favor of a better 3.31:1 final drive ratio. The 0-60 times of the old GT500 were often electronically limited, and were not much faster than the less powerful GT. SVT also optimized every gear except fourth to get maximum power down to the ground as quickly as possible. To keep the transmission from burning out too quickly, SVT added a dual-disc clutch and a carbon-fiber driveshaft.

For those interested in beating a Camaro ZL1 on a road course should get the optional Performance Package, which adds a Torsen limited-slip differential, and an SVT-designed Bilstein suspension system. The suspension has electronically adjustable dampers with two driver-selectable modes: Normal and Sport. Normal will allow more comfort on the underfunded roads of the U.S., while Sport tightens up the suspension, basically eliminating body roll in corners at track days.

The Track Package is also available when you click the Performance Package option. The Track Package further adds onto the Performance Package by adding an: external engine cooler, rear differential cooler, and a transmission cooler to fight heat soak at track days. The seemingly chubby 3850 pound GT500 rides on second Generation Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar tires that are positioned on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear forged aluminum wheels.

Because of an all-new Mustang coming out for the Mustang’s 50th anniversary in 2015, this will most likely be the last major update for this amazingly successful pony. Here’s to hoping that there will be an AMAZING 2018 Mustang GT500 (as 2018 will be the 50th birthday of the GT500)! See ya suckas! VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Here’s the link to the Ford website (which does have the Mustang GT500).

http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/

August 19, 2012 zoomvroom Car Reviews, The History of Autos

The Two Italian Space Ships from the 80s Face Off Again!

I’m sorry that I didn’t post on Friday. I’ve been fighting an ear infection, and I had high school orientation. I hope this post garners forgiveness from your kind and sympathetic hearts… Match of the 80’s, Lamborghini versus Ferrari. Let’s all take take a nostalgic trip.

Drawn in 1970 by the infamous designer, Marcello Gandini, the man who penned the now-infamous Lamborghini Muira and Lancia Stratos, the Lamborghini Countach was a radical departure from what Ferruccio Lamborghini would have imagined.

First shown to the world at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, the Countach wowed the breath out of just about everybody there. The Countach’s design still takes one’s breath away, when lucky enough to view one. It’s amazing how far the borders of reality are. The Countach pushes them until you remember it’s a car, not a ride to space.

Of course, I’ll have to start somewhere on the Countach. How about the name? The name is actually a quite vulgar Piedmontese expression when a man sees an attractive woman. Countach is actually pronounced coontash. It quite literally means “What a piece of a@%!” Some rumors say that Nuccio Bertone of the design studio walked in and said, “Countach!”

Let’s see what we’ve reviewed. We’ve reviewed the unearthly design, the right-out-of-South Park-name,and now we’ll move on to Satan’s orchestra of an engine and exhaust. If you own a Countach, you could quite possibly put up posters throughout town, and charge a good deal of money to let various strangers listen to you start the Countach from a cold start. All it takes is a simple twist of the key, and then that massive 5.2 liter V12 bangs, rumbles, roars, sets off car alarms, and does other destructive-sounding sounds as it gets all the way up to 3000 rpm in less than two minutes.

The Countach is as much fun to drive as it is to admire. But, beware of the clutch that will requires at least 50 pounds of pressure to move, and the steering is almost as hard to navigate, requiring just about 35 pounds of pressure to manhandle the steering wheel to the left or the right.

On the other hand, the Ferrari Testarossa is a much more civilized car that will keep pace with the much louder Countach (if you lose the Countach while in the Testarossa, you’ll definitely hear it!). Motor Trend’s Senior Editor, Jonny Lieberman found the 1993 512 Testarossa to be a much more fun car than the larger-than-life Countach. Why? Because the Ferrari is faster, it shifted better, it rode better, it turned into corners better, and in just about every way that a car can separate itself from it’s competitors, the prancing horse pranced away from the bellowing, rumbling, raging bull. Don’t put Lamborghini down. The Countach is certainly a good car. It’s just not a great car to drive. The monstrously extroverted Countach feels primitive and much older than the Testarossa. It’s amazing how much two supercars can feel so different. That’s what five years will do to you.

For Jonny and those of you who had posters of the Countach, it’s a score for you. But, for my generation (and any other generation), it’s a score for both of the cars. I’d take either of them. Just throw me the keys, a driver’s license, insurance papers, and anything else needed, and you won’t see me for a while.

P.S. the Countach and Testarossa are MUCH safer than a Morgan!