October 12th.

Why is Columbus Day a holiday?

I prefer Leif Erikson Day....

Winamp

I think the stream dropped. Still, 95 hours is a long time.

TOPS.

Expanding on the topic that “I’m weirder than you” and my well documented obsession with everything automotive comes….


TOPS. (No, really, I couldn’t think of a better title.)

Given the volatile climate the current US car market, I thought I’d explain and question some of the things I have noticed. How the top vehicles I would love to own, only half are available to Americans and all come at a significant price increase compared to their European counterparts.


1) Vauxhall Astra VXR

Even though similar to my Astra, this certified lunatic model has more gears, larger wheels, MOAR POWA, and looks just sick.

Model: Vauxhall Astra VXR
POWA!: 255Bhp
Top Speed: 155MPH
Engine/Trans: 2.0L/6 Speed
Cost : $28,000

Model: Saturn Astra XR
POWA!: 138Bhp
Top Speed: 129MPH
Engine/Trans: 1.8L/5 Speed
Cost: $21,000


And to think GM LOST $4,000 when I got mine.




2) BMW Z3 Coupe

If you even remotely consider yourself a “car person” and you don’t like the Z3 coupe… Then I suggest you GTFO right now. This is the most attractive car BMW has made in quite sometime. Thanks to Chris Bangle and the “Bangle butt” on all current BMW’s, the previous design is much better looking.




3) Lotus Elise

I’m AMAIZED that these can be purchased here. Granted they have about $10,000 in federally mandated safety equipment that the euro car lacks… I’m one to believe that crash avoidance is a much greater feature. To be able to out maneuver, brake, and accelerate an obstacle is a much greater safety feature than the post-crash airbags.




4) Lotus Esprit

This was one of three cars I remember having as a poster on my bedroom wall. The other two are just as insane. I’m not usually a fan of “supercars” but this one car has severely bent the way I think about and what I want in current cars.




5) TVR Cerbera

I love TVRs. Everything about them is just pure. Sure they were not reliable, expensive to maintain, and a dumb Russian millionaire ran the company into the ground, but what’s not to love? The license plate frame has more presence and style than any car built buy a Japanese or American manufacture in the last 15 years. The car is so unique and attractive it is even able to pull off that color. I mean, seriously, picture that color on anything else…




6) Lotus Caterham 7

Make simple and add lightness; that was Colin Chapman’s philosophy. After more than 40 years this concept still holds true for the 7. The standard cars 130Bhp and 1600Lbs curb weight translate into one incredible machine. The R400 (pictured) has 200Bhp+ and weighs less than a wet dog. Even the R500 has greater power per ton than the Bugatti Veyron with its massive 500Bhp for every 1000Lbs that the car has to rocket around. It will DESTROY the Veyron right up until the car kills you.

Cash For Clunkers

I was going through all the videos depicting this atrocity on youtube. I ran across the video above. The only Volvo I could find on fueleconomy.gov that would "qualify" is any of the early '00s R series... And judging by all the tubes running acorss that engine I'd say this is one of the rare few.















I hope that ruined your week like it has mine.





UPDATE: 08/17/09







This made me cry.




Fuck.

M&P

Motivation

Meh.

Reloading

I've been debating something lately. Should I keep buying the caliber(s) I have for around $0.55 a round or should I take up reloading? I know there is an initial investment in dies, presses, and other materials for reloading, but isn't that about the same as a single 500rd order of .45 right now? (ammoman has wolf 45acp for $199 for 500rds)

Unless I'm missing something, it isn't that huge of an investment.

What do I need if I want to load up .45ACP and .223?

12:34:56 7/8/09

Piston Heads

Automobiles, for the petrolhead and even to some of the uninitiated, are so much more than just objects. I've delved into the psyche before when comparing the love and fondness for certain cars over others to the love and fondness for certain women over others.

It's true that cars are, in the strictest sense, mere objects. They are inanimate unless coaxed into motion by a human. They are transportation appliances unless their bodies are sculpted and engines cast to not be merely a device to get you from point A to point B.

They are a waste of money since they rarely gain in value and those that do cost their owners more in maintenance than they can generally make back during a sale. But we still lust for them.

Against all logic. Against everything you learn in even the most basic of economics classes. Against any semblance of sanity. We lust for them.

We want to be the one that turns the key and presses the accelerator to make the inanimate animate. We want to be the one that sees the form over the function and to feel the energy from a perfectly tuned, raucous engine unfit for "daily driver" duty. We want to be the one who goes poor so that he (or she) can own that perfect specimen of an automobile.

That perfect specimen is different for each of us. But, when someone tells you he (or she) bought their dream car -- no matter what it is -- we can understand. And we are jealous of them, even if we disagree with their choice of dreams.


-- Engineered

Billy Mays

Is 50 the new 70?

Sheesh...