What Would You Buy If You Won The Lottery?

With all the talk of the recent huge Mega Millions Lottery drawing ($355 Million), I’ve been fantasizing about what cars I’d actually buy if I won such a huge amount of money.  I figured I’d try to come up with a list.

Now, I’m a pretty stingy (aka cheap) person normally and I don’t really think that would change much particularly when it comes to cars.  Sure, I’d buy a nice house, or two, and take awesome vacations and maybe buy a boat, but when it comes to cars, I’d probably avoid buying new for a number of reasons.  First, many of the cars I really want aren’t in production anymore so I’d have no choice.  Second, I just can’t see spending $250,000 - $300,000 for a new Ferrari 458 or Lamborghini Gallardo even if I have all that money in the bank.  I could settle for a nice Ferrari 360 or 430 and save a ton of money.  Heck, I call build a pretty nice collection of several cars for $300,000 total.  Third, let someone else take the depreciation hit.  Finally, I want to drive the cars, not be afraid to move them out of the garage because a bird may take a crap on them and ruin my investment.

With that said, here is my list of some of the cars that I would look to buy if I won a huge amount of money.

1)      Ferrari 355 GTS – My favorite V8 Ferrari of all time.  Last Ferrari I really loved.

2)      Porsche 964 Turbo – Preferably the 1994 3.6 Turbo.  Last single turbo 911T, last rwd only 911T and very few made.

3)      Porsche 993 Turbo – The best generation 911 ever.  Last of the air cooled wonders.

4)      Lamborghini Gallardo – Early Gallardos, 2004 – 2005, can be had for under $100K

5)      Acura NSX – Truly amazing car.  Always had a soft spot for them with or without the pop up headlights.

6)      Ferrari 550/575 – Sweet V12 Ferrari goodness.  550s can be had for under $80K.

7)      Ferrari 512 TR – More sweet V12 Ferrari goodness.  Evolution of the Testarossa with better styling and more power.  Channel my inner Sonny Crockett.

8)      BMW E46 M3 – Last great M3.  Last one I have any interest in.  Good for a daily driver.

9)      Porsche 996 C4S – Porsche purists show no love for the 996 but that just makes them more affordable.  Another daily driver possibility.

10)  Lotus Elise/Exige – Need a track car.

11)  Mazda Miata V8 – Love the Miata.  Would find a nice one and send it to Flyin Miata for a V8 conversion.  Brand new GM LS3, T56, and Getrag rear.  Turnkey and ready to roll for about $40K.  Modern Shelby Cobra.

12)  Factory 5 Cobra – Speaking of Cobras, I really like these kits.

I’m sure I can think of more but that’s a good start.  Best of all, with some smart shopping, that list above can be had for well under $1million.  Would you rather have all that sweet variety above, or one Veyron?  You know my answer.

What would your list look like?  Feel free to let me know.

Say It Ain't So Lotus!

I just read an article on Autocar that outlines Lotus' planned new direction for their upcoming models.  They apparently have decided to abandon founder Colin Chapman's philosophy of lighter is better in order to move their cars more upmarket and take on Porsche, Ferrari, and Aston Martin.  Apparently they can't do that with stripped out plastic bodied track toys.

This is hugely disappointing as Lotus was the only manufacturer carrying the torch of less is more.  Less weight aids in handling, acceleration, and mileage.  Many manufacturers have promised to trim weight from upcoming vehicles but Lotus was the only company with that as their core philosophy.  Unfortunately, less weight achieved through less features or via a stripped out track only toy, does result in a car that is not very comfortable to drive every day.  Sure there are some masochists who do it but ask any normal Elise or Exige owner about daily driving their car and they would say you're crazy.

I guess if Lotus truly wants to go after the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, and Aston they will need to add features to their cars to appease their potential buyers and justify their price.  I just hope they keep building some lightweight track toys for the real enthusiasts.

Click here to read the depressing article.

And so it begins

A couple of years ago, back when I started this blog, I wrote in my post DSG Is the Future, that the manual transmission as we know if would soon cease to exist and that newer dual clutch type transmissions would take their place.

Well, it seems like this is starting to actually happen.  Two of the world's most prominent exotic sports car manufacturers, Ferrari and Lamborghini, have both recently announced that they will be phasing out the traditional manual transmission in future models.  Instead, they will concentrate on paddle shifted (dual clutch and automated manual) gearboxes for all their models.

With manufacturers being faced with more and more regulations regarding efficiency and emissions, and with Ferrari and Lambo's sales of real manual transmission equipped cars dwindling, you could see this decision coming a mile away.  The newer computer controlled transmissions are much more efficient than the traditional driver controlled three pedal setup and they are faster on the track as well. However, they do take away a lot of the soul and enjoyment of a true sports car.

I wonder if Enzo and Ferruccio would be proud.

Either way, it's a sad day for enthusiasts.

Ahhh Road Rage

Well this morning was interesting.  On my way to work I was involved in a pretty intense road rage incident.  Now, this isn't my first and won't be my last since I'm living in the NY/NJ area which has got to be road rage central.  Over the course of my life I've been witness to numerous events like this.

One particular time that sticks in my memory was many years ago and I was a passenger in my friend's Taurus SHO when some moron was tailgating a little too close.  So my friend did what any reasonable instigator would do and give a little brake tap.  That obviously didn't go over well and the moron was so determined to show us how cool he was he immediately sped up and flew by in the right lane and attempting to cut us off.  Unfortunately for him his maneuver was so violent that he completely lost control of his car and wound up spinning out in front of us at highway speeds ending up on the grass center median facing the wrong way.  Brilliant!  I've also seen the insanity of someone cutting another car off and pulling the handbrake, again at highway speeds, to make some kind of statement to the car behind him.  You gotta love it.

But this morning's one was particularly scary and humorous at the same time.  The local road I take from home that leads to the NJ Turnpike is really two lanes at an intersection controlled by a traffic light.  There is no straight so both lanes are to turn left which leads to the toll booths.  This is marked by signs that are easily visible.  There is a short right turn lane at the light but it does not go back more than a hundred feet from the light.  The leftmost lane goes to a regular tollbooth to get a ticket and the right lane goes left to an EZ PAss lane.  Anyway, having lived here for over 10 years, I've seen it happen many times where someone doesn't realize both lanes are for left turns and is in the leftmost lane but wants to get to the EZ Pass booth.  So they make the turn and attempt to go wide to the right and see that the person next to them has also turned left so they honk, or worse, thinking this person has made an illegal left from the right lane.....wrong!

Well, that's what happened this morning.  This guy in a BMW (breaking those douchebag in a BMW stereotypes) does this and honks at me.  No biggie, but then he flings his car over into my lane right on my ass.  What can I do?  You guessed it, I give him a brake tap as he's on my bumper yelling at the back of my head (quite funny in the rear view mirror).  Well that sets him off....I mean off the deep end.  He then swings out to the right and goes through the next tollbooth over.  I go through mine before him so he swings back left three lanes and attempts to beat me to the entrance ramp (three lanes to one merge).  I, of course, don't let him in since he's being a major dick.  That makes him even angrier and he then swings back right and passes me and the person ahead of me on the shoulder.

That's that....right?  Wrong.  It get's better.  He's now two cars ahead of me and he merges onto the highway before the merge lane ends, across the white lines, because he's that kind of asshat.  There he does something surprising.  He slams on the brakes and waits for me.  Now it's getting interesting.  As I merge onto the highway he again slams on the brakes directly ahead of me causing me to stop short.  Hand gestures start flying back and forth  and he keeps blocking me as I change lanes.  Finally he lets me get along side of him and then he starts pacing me.  I try to ignore him but out of curiosity I finally look over and he's got his window down and he's yelling something.  So I oblige and roll my window down enough to hear him yelling "WHAT"S YOUR PROBLEM!".  My problem?  OK.  So I simply yell back - "ASSHOLE THAT WAS TWO LEFT TURN LANES BACK THERE".  His response with a confused look on his face is "No".  Then he speeds off to spread his assholeness to others.  The scary thing was that I could swear that he had one of those shield plaques in his windshield.  You know, like off duty police offices have in their personal cars.  God I hope for everyone's sake he's not a cop.  He didn't seem like the most stable person.

So that was my excitement for the day.  Sad.

Thoughts on the GM bankruptcy

I've always been a fan of GM. More than any of the other US auto manufacturers, I've always gravitated toward their products more than Ford or Chrysler. That's not to say I wouldn't kill for a nice Mustang, Ford GT, or Viper though. I am a car nut after all. That being said, it is very sad that it had to come to this with GM having to choose which brands and models have to go. I really think that they were building some of the best cars in their entire history. Among these models the Cadillac CTS, Pontiac G8, Chevy Malibu, and Pontiac Solstice / Saturn Sky could all hold their own in comparison to any competition, foreign or domestic.

Lots of things contributed to the downfall of GM. Everything from the economy to poor management to the horrendous models they put out from the mid 70s through the 80s. I'll admit it, I've never bought a new car from any American manufacturer mainly because of that lingering bad reputation they all established in the 70s and 80s for shoddily engineered crapboxes. They got complacent, thinking they'd be on top forever and they didn't really need to try to build good cars. Of course, at this point, that reputation is more of a myth than anything and they looked to be turning it around until the economy put that last nail in the coffin. I just hope they can get it together and emerge a better company that produces better products. Especially since we are all paying for it. We may as well get our money's worth.

BMW M car murdered by stupid teen.

A while back there was a story of a spoiled teen whose parents bought him a new BMW M5 and he subsequently went out and crashed it, killing himself and a few friends in an incredibly stupid fashion. I commented on it here. Well, now we have another case. Jalopnik reported that another offspring of wealthy parents with more money than sense has led a BMW M car to it's death.

This time, luckily for the parents and the teen, no one was killed except the car, a 2008 BMW M3. Apparently it was a gift to the 19 year old who proceeded to pick up a couple of friends and be stupid, as teens are known to do. He just felt like opening up the 420HP beast in a residential neighborhood and hit a hill where he lost control, hitting a curb and becoming airborne. The car wound up landing in a front yard and hitting a house. Brilliant move on the driver's part and his parents.

I wonder what they will replace it with? The poor boy needs something to drive. Why not get him a loaded pistol and tell him to go have fun with it outside? That may actually be safer.

A fool and his money are soon parted

We all know that most car dealers are scum. It's just a simple fact of life. We've all heard the stories of them adding to the MSRP of cars in high demand or special limited editions, calling it "market adjustment" or some other BS. Let's just call it what it is, price gouging. Most manufacturers strongly discourage it but they have no control over the dealers.

The latest example comes in the form of the upcoming Corvette ZR1. The base MSRP is to be $103,000, already a substantial figure. Some stories are surfacing today, just as GM announced that only a select handful of dealerships will even be getting an allotment of the car, that some dealers are expecting people to pay up to four times the MSRP if they want to get their hands on one. That would be roughly $400,000 ... for a Corvette! Are they insane? Even more insane would be anyone who would even consider paying this amount. The dealers should just rob you at gunpoint. It would make more sense that way.

Don't get me wrong, I love the ZR1 and I think that it is going to be an amazing vehicle. It represents an incredible performance bargain even at over $100,000. Now when you start talking about paying $400,000 for one it just gets silly. If I were uber rich, I would absolutely try to get my hands on a ZR1, for around MSRP. If I had the money to pay $400K for a car, I wouldn't be considering a Corvette, I can tell you that.

Some can argue that it's very limited production numbers will make it an instant collectible and that it may actually be the pinnacle of a dying breed of cars given the environmental issues and the incredibly ridiculous rise in gas and oil prices. Even with that, I don't see it being worth that kind of money. Maybe the first and last production models will someday approach that value in the distant future but not now. A Corvette priced at $400K is way out of it's league.

This isn't the first car to suffer this and it won't be the last. I've read about dealers charging twice the MSRP for Nissan GTRs and E92 BMW M3s as well. Hell, the Honda dealer near where I live has had a Mugen Civic Si sitting in the showroom and advertised on line for over $40,000. Who is paying these amounts just to be the only one on the block? I don't know. If only I had these kinds of problems.

S2000s at the Tail of the Dragon / Deal's Gap

Here is a cool video of some Honda S2000s having some fun at the Tail of the Dragon. I'm always searching Google video for new videos of cars, mostly S2000s or MX5/Miatas since I'm obsessed with these cool little roadsters. Some time soon I'll have one of them for myself. I'd prefer the S2000 but they are a bit pricier than the Miata. You can get an early model Miata for only a few grand and have tons of fun.

Anyway I thought the video was cool for a couple of reasons. First it's just some real nice, safe driving. These guys aren't doing anything crazy but they are having a good time. Sure they are technically exceeding the speed limit but they are never out of control or putting anyone at risk. They never cross the double yellow and never tailgate slower vehicles they encounter. Most of the time the slower vehicle moves over when it can and these guys give them a wave and a beep as thanks. I also love the teamwork they show in keeping an eye open for the Fuzz.

I've tried a couple of times to plan a detour to the Dragon but plans have fallen through. Some day I'll get to take a ride on this wonderful road myself.

Happy Earth Day

Woo Hoo, it's Earth Day. Let's go save the planet. Honestly, I don't think the planet is in much danger. It's been here much longer than us and it's been through much more than a little pollution and global warming. The Earth will continue to exist long after we have made ourselves extinct. If it gets too bad, this planet will shake us off like a bad case of fleas. What we're really concerned with is saving our own asses. It's kind of pompous to think that we could destroy an entire planet. We can ruin it for our type of life, but the planet will still be here and it will recover.

For some reason the task of saving the planet as well as the blame for the problems seems to be increasingly focused on car owners. The focus had increased exponentially with the recent ridiculous spikes in gas prices over the last few years. Sure, a lot can be done to make cars better but how about we start with public and commercial transportation. Government funded public transportation like bus services should be mandated to use alternative fuel sources like natural gas, electricity, etc. Taxis as well should all be mandated to be alternatively fueled or at least hybrid powered. These changes alone would result in huge improvements in air quality as well as national fuel consumption. Have you even been behind a diesel bus in a major city and seen the amount of crap that spews out of the exhaust? Sure some places have adopted clean power sources, but not enough. After that, we can focus on these developing countries like China that are just now going through their industrial revolution. China burns tons of coal and produces more pollution than probably all the cars sold in this country over the last 5 years combined.

While I'm on the topic of saving the planet, I'd like to express my opinions on the whole global warming "theory". That is all it is at this point. Sure, I'll agree that there is evidence that the planet is getting warmer, but the "theory" part of it is what exactly the root cause of the temperature increase is. Could we have something to do with it? Maybe. Could it be a natural occurrence? That's a possibility as well. The thing is, we just don't know. I don't care what Al Gore and the rest of the "sky is falling" paranoia bunch say. The Earth has gone through hot and cold phases throughout its history so this may indeed be natural. We have so little accurate information to go on regarding the Earth's climate that the cause of global warming will never be proven. Humans have been on this planet for the equivalent of a blink of an eye in the Earth's history. On top of that we have what, a hundred years of accurate climate information at best. That's out of about 4 billion years of Earth history. That is such a small sample it's like taking one grain of sand and telling someone what the entire planet looks like based on just that. It's impossible. It will always be "theory".

While I'm on the subject of fantasy and paranoia, any of you remember the hole in the ozone that was discovered about 20 - 25 years ago? What happened to that? There was hysteria about that back in the day. It was going to get bigger and bigger allowing all kinds of radiation into the atmosphere. It would make us all look like beef jerky and then we'd die of skin cancer. And we were the cause of it all. Where did it go? Was it a natural occurrence or man made? No one cares anymore because it's gone, magically. There is still a whole lot about our planet that we do not understand completely.

Wouldn't it be funny if by trying to solve the global warming problem, we make it worse? What if we trigger a new ice age? That would be ironic. Then we'd all have to cut off our catalytic converters and stand outside and disperse all the aerosol cans we could get our hands on.

Whatever the cause and solution are, I'm absolutely in favor of finding different energy and fuel sources. As long as it doesn't affect my driving enjoyment, I don't care if my car runs on sewage. I'm just not down with the whole scare tactic, paranoia thing. Just my opinions, I could be completely wrong.

Getting Ready For The Big Show

The New York International Auto Show is right around the corner. It's the biggest local show in my part of the woods and I'll be there. I can still remember the first time I went to the show in Manhattan. I was in my teens and my father and I made the trek into the city to check it out. It was 1989 and it just so happened to be the year that Dodge unveiled the original Viper Concept. That car blew me away. I must have taken an entire roll of film (remember that stuff?) of just the Viper. It was great. I think I still have the pictures somewhere. I'll have to take a look for them and scan a few to post up here.

I've been going to the show pretty regularly since then. This year will be my 7th in a row and now I get to bring my son and my wife with me. This year the show is kind of early, running from March 21 - 30 at the Jacob Javits Center. It's usually a pretty good show with at least a few manufacturers unveiling new production or concept models. I'll be there on Monday March 24 as it has become much more enjoyable to take a week day off from work as to avoid the ridiculous crowds on the weekends. I'll make sure to get plenty of pictures.

More info on the NY International Auto Show here: http://www.autoshowny.com/

Adding Lightness

Mazda Miata

What a difference a few months make. Not too long ago I gushed over the horsepower wars currently going on in the auto industry. Fast forward to today and there is already talk of some serious changes. It seems like we're going through the same thing that happened in the late 60s and into the 70s. Back then cars were getting bigger and bigger and more and more powerful until the first energy crisis hit and led to the dark days of the mid 70s through the 80s. Days when "performance" cars, choked by emissions regulations and more fuel efficient engines were producing horsepower numbers between 150 and 200hp. Less than a decade earlier, you could get cars with around 500hp. This led to the rise of the Japanese manufacturers with their smaller, more fuel efficient models. It also led to the rise of the evil that is Front Wheel Drive.

Today, it's much the same. We are in another energy crisis. We have artificially inflated gas prices, (don't get me started on the oil company profits over the last few years), global warming paranoia and a war going on. Again there is talk that the days of big, high horsepower cars are over. New Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards are calling for manufacturers to increase fuel efficiency in their models to an average of 35MPG within the next 10 years. This time around, the Japanese are players in the small car segment but so is Korea, India and China. They all stand to benefit from the impending trend toward smaller cars.

Already GM has cancelled some models under development such as a new rear wheel drive platform and a new DOHC V8 due to the new standards. Ford has begun development of new turbocharged 6 cylinder engines that they feel will replace the thirstier V8s. Insurance companies are also jumping on the bandwagon saying that the higher horsepower cars result in more accidents and more insurance claims, thus higher premiums. It appears that the end is near. Cars like the new 620HP Corvette ZR-1 may become endangered species very soon. What can be done?

It's inevitable that cars are going to be featuring smaller more fuel efficient engines. The only solution then, to maintain performance, will have to be smaller and/or lighter cars. The sports car market is going to go more in the direction of cars like the Lotus Elise and the Mazda MX5 Miata. Both are great pure sports cars and they don't need to have 500HP. It's all about power to weight ratio and handling. Even Ferrari has stated that future developments will be lighter, smaller cars with less powerful engines. V8 muscle cars, unfortunately, are going to go bye bye once again. That sucks, they were just making a comeback. I just hope the current trend toward more rear wheel drive cars isn't reversed.

Spoiled kids, alcohol, and a 500HP BMW M5 don't mix.

Lots of people have been following this story involving 5 Ocala, FL teens who were killed when they were travelling in a 2008 BMW M5 being raced down an active private airstrip in the middle of the night. The driver apparently misjudged the runway length and the car hit an embankment at the end of the runway, launching the car into the air and into a tree where it broke into multiple pieces, killing all on board. The Florida Highway Patrol initially suggested that alcohol may have played a part in the accident based on some information from friends of the kids in the car.

I've read additional follow ups to the story which seem to indicate that the 2008 M5 belonged to the 19 year old driver even though it was registered to his father. The driver, just days prior to the accident had joined an M5 forum asking how to make the car faster and inquiring about a clunk that the car made while shifting at wide open throttle in excess of 140mph. The people on the forum expressed disbelief at the fact that this 19 yr old owned the car and cautioned him regarding his inexperience in driving in general, let alone in a 500HP super sedan.

Various different forums I check in on are discussing this in length and the majority of the sentiment is that of no sympathy toward the kids in the car or their families. I have to agree. I find it hard to understand parents just throwing a kid the keys to a new M5. How can you expect a 19yr old to respect or control a car like that. At 19 most people have a total of what, a couple of years of driving experience. I've been driving for about 20 years and I'd be scared shitless to explore the limits of an M5 and I'd certainly be smart enough not to try it anywhere but on a track. I also wouldn't attempt it after drinking. Unfortunately these are decisions based on experience and maturity, things this kid did not have. At least he was smart enough not to try it on public roads.

This accident is as much the fault of the parents of the driver as it is the driver's himself. Not only did they give him this car capable of almost 200 mph and let him loose on the streets to potentially kill innocent people but they did it after this kid had racked up more than a few moving violations in his very short driving career. As a matter of fact, I think every kid in the car had more than one violation on their record. Sure, the passengers aren't responsible for the accident and I don't know the circumstances surrounding what happened in the car. For all I know they were begging him to slow down. Having been a teenager once, I think it was more likely that they were egging him on. They should have been smart enough to not get in the car if the driver had been drinking.

I'm not a huge fan of spoiled kids, having grown up in an area full of them. Parents that overly indulge their kids as a substitute for good parenting disgust me as well. Have you ever seen the show "My Super Sweet Sixteen" on MTV? I've seen it once and I was about to put my foot through the TV. It's amazing seeing parents surprise their spoiled brats with $50,000 + cars and then the kid throwing tantrums because it wasn't the color or the car they wanted.

Even if I was ridiculously wealthy and could afford to get my son an $80,000 car, I wouldn't. Not until he had some more driving experience and not until he proved he could be responsible enough to take care of it and drive it properly. He would have to show me that he can save money toward a first car and I would make sure it was a car he could handle. If I ever did get him a car with reasonable performance, I'd take an active role in teaching him how to properly drive it. I'd send him to a performance driving school, hell, I'd go myself. We all could use some additional driver training. Then I'd point him toward a safe way to experience the performance and limits of the car. Something like autocross or track days.

Yes, this kid probably would have done something stupid and dangerous even if he was driving a 100HP Honda Civic. Still, an M5 can hit triple digit speeds in the time it takes a Civic to hit 50mph which makes any stunt that more dangerous and deadly if you don't respect or control that power.

Finally, I would not be the least bit surprised if someone related to this finds some way to try to sue BMW or even the airstrip. Why not, no one in this country is responsible for their own actions anymore.

Jay Leno's Garage

Jay Leno seems like a real cool guy. Not only is he funny and talented, but he is also an absolute car fanatic. For those that don't know, Jay has a very impressive car collection and his own garage and staff that does all the maintenance and restoration/fabrication on his cars. The garage is called the Big Dog Garage.

I recently found out that he has a website dedicated to the garage at www.jaylenosgarage.com. What a great site! It has photos and histories of all the cars, motorcycles and other items in the collection. It also has a video collection, most with Jay himself giving some info on each car and usually a test drive. Really cool stuff.

I've never met the man but everything I have read seems to indicate that even though he is hugely famous, he is a really down to earth guy. I've read stories from people who have bumped into him in various places and they all say that he is just a regular guy with a passion for cars and the means to have a very impressive and unique collection. He apparently is always showing up at various car gatherings in California, not as a publicized star appearance, but rather as just a guy with a one of his cars who'll just stand around and talk to anyone who shares his interest in cars.

I really admire his passion and knowledge of cars and their history. When you see the videos on his site you immediately understand that he is genuinely excited about each car he owns. He's like kid with a new toy. Entertaining is his job, but I think that his collection is what he is really all about. I'd love to see that collection and garage first hand. It must be like Disneyland for guys like me.

Now before anyone gets the wrong idea that I have some sort of affiliation with the site or Jay, or that I'm some kind of super Jay Leno fan, let me just say that none of that is true. I can honestly say that I've never watched the Tonight Show since he took over and I was actually upset that Letterman didn't get the gig. I do think Jay is a funny and talented guy but I am most impressed by his cars and love of them. Sure other celebrities have collections like Jerry Seinfeld with his Porsches. But I doubt that Jerry gets his hands dirty and has the passion that Jay does. Maybe I'm wrong, but either way, I admire Jay and I'm jealous as hell.

Anyway, check out the site, it's pretty cool.

Can It Be?....A New Racing Network Coming To TV !

As if on cue after my anti NASCAR rant, I find out about this new racing network that is trying to get off the ground. The Racing Network is currently taking a poll on their website to gauge the interest in a non-NASCAR dedicated network. Like Speed Channel used to be before they became the NASCAR network. I think it's a great idea and I hope they go forward with it.

Fantasy Worlds

I'm 35 and I love video games. I can't help it. Can you blame me though. My generation grew up with them. I've had them all - Atari, Intellivision, Vectrex (look it up), Nintendo, Sega, PS1, PS2, XBOX, and XBOX360. I think modern games are great. Many are better than a lot of hollywood movies and much more involving since you have control of the action. Lots of people though don't get it and think they are just for kids. I mostly play 3 types of games - shooters, sports games and car games.

The car games are probably my favorite though. Lately, I've been addicted to Forza Motorsport 2 for the XBOX360. I spent about 10 hours playing just this weekend. It's a standard racing game but the amount of detail and customization in the game is great. Realistic damage and physics add to the realism of the game. Hundreds of cars are available and customizable with everything from paint, decals, rims, tires, body add-ons and various speed equipment. It's really amazing. There is racing against game generated opponents and there is also on-line play. There is also an on-line auction area where you can buy and sell your cars.

Another great driving game that I love on the XBOX360 is Test Drive Unlimited. This game isn't just racing, its a whole alternate reality. The game takes place on the island of Hawaii. The creators of the game have mapped all of the roadways on the island and you can "free roam" anywhere you want. The game starts with you arriving at the airport with some money for a house and a car. You grab a rental and head out to make your purchases. As you progress through the game you come across races and challenges that help you earn money to buy more houses, cars, motorcycles and clothes. The best part is the on-line aspect where players from all over the world are all just cruising around on the roads at the same time going about their business. You can challenge each other to races, formal or just a spontaneous drag race or game of highway tag, you can just sit and chat or form a car club. It's great fun and really a complete fantasy world. Right now in the game I've got about 20 houses, hundreds of cars and over $1million in the bank. If it were only real!

I just like the escapism that these games provide. I love playing after a day at work. It helps me relax and forget about whatever has been bugging me for a few hours a day. My wife doesn't get it but it's something I just really love. Plus it helps me bond with my son and that's the best part.

I Hate NASCAR

Yes I said it. I know some people may accuse me of being un-American after such a statement but, am I the only one who thinks that NASCAR is now the Professional Wrestling of motorsports? I used to be a fan, but I haven't watched a full race since Dale Earnhardt Sr. died. Even back then, I had already lost most of my interest in NASCAR.

Part of it had to do with the fact that there is only so much time you can spend watching cars go around in circles. Toward the end, I just watched to see if there were any good wrecks. Once I discovered road racing and rally racing, it was all over. Then there are the cars. I'm pretty sure the word "stock" is still in the NASCAR title somewhere but those cars are anything but. Up until about the mid 90's they were based on production cars. They looked like and basically were modified street cars. I liked that, I related to that. Now they are all purpose built from scratch with some plastic body made to loosely resemble a street car on top. I guess that's why I like other forms of racing now like Touring Car, GT, LeMans, and World Rally. That and the fact that they also turn right. They all feature cars that look just like modified street cars. Cars that I can see everyday. Cars that I can actually buy. You know the phrase "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday". Now, I'm sure it was a combination of reasons that NASCAR changed from "stock" cars to purpose built. I'm sure there were safety concerns, but also the fact that Detroit was transitioning pretty much everything to Front Wheel Drive, made the decision necessary, I guess. Sad because I really dig the old NASCAR cars.

NASCAR today is such a huge business and so popular it's like a three ring circus. It's way over exposed, over hyped, over televised, and over commercialized. Most sports are. More and more, I find myself watching amateur or semi-pro racing when I can find it, between all the NASCAR broadcasts.

DSG Is The Future

The advent of new DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) transmissions like the one available on VW/Audi products has led me to ask a question. Is this the end of the conventional manual transmission? In my opinion, it may be. I'll go even further and say that they will also replace conventional automatic transmissions as well. I'm sure many will disagree with me especially regarding the manual transmission. Yes, they have been predicting the demise of the manual for years and it hasn't happened yet. But I think that was because there were no decent options to replace it. At least not until now.

So far I have not had the opportunity to test drive a car with a DSG type of transmission, but all of the reviews I have read about them seem to suggest that they are the best thing since sliced bread. Now before I go further, lets discuss the operation of the DSG transmission compared to other types of transmissions. It is much more like a manual transmission in that it uses clutches that directly connect the transmission to the engine. A computer and solenoids are used to engage and disengage the clutches and to shift gears. Automatic transmissions use fluid pressure and clutch packs within the transmission to change gears and they have no direct physical connection to the engine. Instead they use a torque converter which has fluid in it and two turbines facing each other.

An example of how the torque converter operates would be to position two fans facing one another and switch one on. The air blowing from one fan will start the other turning even though it is switched off. The on fan represents the engine side and the off fan is the transmission side. The only transmission that really compares to the DSG type is what I'll refer to an SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) type. SMG was actually the name of the BMW version of this gearbox. Other companies have their own names such as Lamborghini's E-Gear and Ferrari's F1 gearbox. The SMG type is basically a conventional manual gearbox that uses a computer and solenoids to shift the gears and operate the clutch. The big difference between the SMG type and the DSG type is that the DSG uses a dual clutch setup instead of a single clutch like a traditional manual or SMG. This allows the DSG to be much smoother and quicker in upshifts because one clutch is for the even gears and one is for the odd ones. Therefore, during acceleration, the DSG has one clutch engaged for the current gear while the second clutch has already engaged the next gear up ready to switch over when told to by the computer. This happens lightning quick and very smoothly. It seems pretty neat. You can read up more on the DSG type of transmission here.

Presently the only DSG type of transmission available on a production car is the VW/Audi version. Just about every manufacturer is working on one of their own though and it's only a matter of time before we see lots more of them. From what I've read Nissan will introduce a version with the upcoming GTR, Honda is developing a DSG type for the Acura NSX replacement, Toyota is developing one for the upcoming Lexus LF-A supercar, BMW has one in development to replace their heavily criticized SMG tranny, Mitsubishi will introduce one in the Lancer Evolution X, and Porsche is also developing one presumably to replace their somewhat outdated Tiptronic automatic. I'm pretty sure most of the American manufacturers are also at work but I have nothing specific on their development so far.

I think it's a matter of time before these transmissions become the only choice in most vehicles. Everything I have read suggests that the DSG tranny is just as good as, if not better, in manual mode than the SMG type. The DSG also appears to completely blow away the SMG type when it comes to automatic mode where most of the SMG types have been criticized for being clunky and very jerky. Now where automatic transmissions are concerned, the DSG seems to be about as good and smooth as an automatic in full auto mode. In manual mode it's no contest as the DSG clearly blows away any automatic tranny in manual mode. I see no reason for the auto and manual trannies to stick around after the DSG takes hold. The only other choice of trans in the future will probably be the CVT (Continually Variable Transmission) for economy and mileage.

I really hope I'm wrong since I'm an avid manual transmission enthusiast. Or as my wife puts it, I'm a "manual snob". I can't stand automatics and I feel they have no place in any car with even a hint of sporty intentions. Forget about an automatic in a sports car. To me that is a sacrilege and it actually makes me angry when I see one. I look down upon those who can't or won't drive a manual. Unfortunately, here in the U.S., most people would rather sit back and let the car do most of the work. They want to be able to drive with one hand while eating, drinking, making a cell call and texting at the same time. I think driving a manual is quickly becoming a lost art form that a shrinking minority of us actually still enjoy. Even the automated manuals can't deliver the same driving satisfaction and connection to what the car is doing that a true old fashioned stick shift with a clutch pedal can.

Are these the best of times?

You can argue that this is the best time to be alive if you're a car nut. Sure there are those who yearn for the "good old days" when cars were simpler. Old cars are great but we seem to be in an automotive renaissance. Modern cars are safer, faster, more reliable, more comfortable and more efficient than ever.

We are also in the middle of a new "horsepower war" among the manufacturers. Twenty years ago you couldn't find a street car with 500HP. Today that's nothing. There are 4 door sedans with that much power. Exotics are pushing well over 600HP safely, relatively reliably and street legal. It's a great time to be into cars.

The only issue with the current state of automotive design is the complexity of the cars being produced. There is so much technology and safety designed into modern cars that they are becoming more and more expensive and gaining more and more weight. Back in the old days sports cars weighed around 2000lbs and today a 3000lb car is considered light. I guess that's why we need so much horsepower.

A lot of this extra stuff is convenience related. Things like air conditioning, power windows, power seats, 20 speaker stereos, and power locks weren't standard or even necessities in cars years ago. Then there is all the extra safety systems built into modern cars.

Now, I'm all for safer cars but the amount of stuff being packed into cars is getting ridiculous. Multiple airbags, ABS, traction control, stability control, tire pressure monitoring, active safety, passive safety, radar cruise control.......you get the idea. All of this is making cars bigger and heavier and, in my opinion, less fun to drive. But then again, I don't think there are that many people left in this country who care about the fun or the experience of driving. For most people, driving a car is like using an appliance. It's just a tool to get them where they are going. I could go on with that subject for a while, but I'll save it for another day. In the meantime I have an idea. Instead of the making all these safety features standard or mandatory, how about we train the drivers a little better in this country. Then everyone will be better, safer drivers and those who want a rolling cocoon of safety can buy one and I can have my simple but modern, lightweight, fun to drive car.