Prat's Auto Blog

First Car Memories

2011-11-27T15:16:00.000-05:00

Happy holidays everyone! I hope everyone made it to and from Thanksgiving destinations safely and enjoyed time with families and friends.

Well, it's been 17 months since my last post, but today I was inspired and figured I'd get my thoughts down on a subject that's close to heart. Currently, Chevrolet is running an ad campaign entitled "Chevy Runs Deep," where they're showing scenarios where people are choosing to save or recalling their old Chevys as fond memories of their childhood or first adult car.

Their latest commercial is a story of two brothers who search for and find their father's 1965 Impala SS, a car he had sold to finance his sons' education. For five years, Jared and Derek Younger searched for their father's Impala across the country, always one or two steps behind it changing hands and being sold and relocated.

Their final US contact, an older man in Maine, informed them that he had sold the car a month beforehand to someone based in Canada, and they had brought it across the border. In a last-ditch effort, Jared searched online and found the car for sale in Montreal. The outcome is depicted below, the 1-minute TV commercial.

I would be remiss if I didn't admit the wave of emotion that hits me every time I watch this commercial. Watching the father's reaction to seeing his car for the first time in 30 years is enough to bring any grown person to fighting back the inevitable tears. It hits home for me because I think about conversations I've had with my brother about restoring my father's 66 Corvair in the past.

The 5-minute full documentary type film tells the story behind the motivation for the search. In short, both brothers grew up to be successful because of the sacrifices their parents had made to put them through school. They wanted to give him something to repay their father, and what better way than to return the prized car that he had given up for them. This is my motivation behind the Corvair restoration. My father has held onto it since his days at SU. It is the only car he held onto through his college career, as he constantly rebuilt and sold cars to pay tuition.

The amount that my father (and mother) did to put us through college and now help us post-college is incredible, and a level of support I hope to give my children one day.

What this commercial also does is bring up the question - what is it about a first car that is so memorable? Is it the initial freedom that it brings? Is it the right of passage that a license and car represents? The memories I have of my first car are so vivid that I wonder why I ever sold it. I also think about my second and now third car, and I don't have nearly as many memories in those. I remember bringing my Blazer home like it was yesterday. My first big road trip was to Rochester for a recruiting trip at SUNY Brockport. I had my first kiss leaned up against it. I can still remember how easy it was to do oil changes and all of the "upgrades" I put on it.

Now I can still remember working on my first Jeep, and some of the trips made in that, but no where near as many as that first Blazer. I guess there are many reasons to remember the first car, but there will always the next one as well. All that we can hope is that the memories made in the new ones are as good as the memories made in the first.

Driven: 2009 Chevrolet Suburban

2010-06-23T23:55:00.000-04:00

I forget each year how much I really enjoy Summer time. Warm temps, plaid shorts, and Camp Winaukee are things that I look forward to as much as I look forward to the snow in the Winter. I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to work at a Summer camp in NH each year. Not only am I out in the sun, coaching the game I love, but I am around true friends and live on an amazing lake for almost 3 months.

Each year we have a few rental vehicles: a couple 15 passenger vans, and a couple smaller vehicles for short trips around the lakes region. This year we were lucky enough to be given a steel blue Suburban LT, which sits on the same platform as my dream vehicle, the Avalanche. I have been looking forward to getting behind the wheel of one of these for a while, and last week I had the opportunity to drive to Manchester for a pick-up.

My first reaction after climbing into the Sub was the realization of how big these trucks really are. This is the first vehicle that wasn't lifted that I've had to climb up into. I have driven mid-size SUVs my whole life, so I'm not used to the big step up.

After I familiarized myself with the interior, I threw some CDs into the 6-disc changer and headed on down the road. The instrument panel is laid out very well, and everything is very easy to reach from the driver's seat. The steering wheel controls were very simple, so taking my eyes off the road for anything was vastly reduced. The gauges were very easy to read, with a white backlight lighting up the cluster. The sound system was very good, even though it wasn't the Bose package available on the LTZ. Leather was soft and the seats were supportive.

It took me quite a while to get used to the drive-by-wire system utilized on the accelerator. There was a lot of travel in the pedal before you got to any serious accelerating power. The 5.3 felt underpowered for that size vehicle, especially in the hills that I have to drive to get out of camp. The longer wheelbase and increased weight of the Suburban are to blame for this, though. I have ridden in a Tahoe before and didn't feel that it needed any more. With a rear axle ratio of 3.08, it would probably benefit from a 3.55 ratio or the 6.0 engine..

I was very impressed with the way the Sub handled in the twisties. I never felt out of control, and body roll was nowhere near what I expected. I took the access road at the same speed I would have in my Jeep, and I would say that the Sub felt more substantial and better planted. I never noticed the extra length or size that I had around me.

I stopped to gas up, because the last guy to take it was inconsiderate enough to leave it on E. The 35 gallon tank was a shocker to me, and the $75 price tag for a tank of gas was a bit sobering. I haven't seen that kind of gas bill since the price for a gallon was around $4.

On the highway, the Suburban truly shined. 70mph felt like it was nothing, and the body-on-frame platform absorbed the road bumps very well. Road noise was minimal, and once I got a hang of the accelerator, finding that sweet spot for the passing gear was effortless and smooth. It had decent power coming out of a toll booth, but again, still felt a bit underpowered.

I was very impressed with gas mileage. With the Cylinder Deactivation System, I saw about 19mpg on the trip. On flat stretches of highway, the V4 symbol came on pretty often, but the extra 4 were needed more than not.

Overall, the new GMT900 platform is incredibly solid, and the product that Chevrolet is putting out is great. Interiors are nicely appointed, even for an LT, and final fit and finish is high quality. The drivetrain is good, especially with a tried and true 5.3 V8. It seemed a bit underpowered for this application, but you can't argue with 19mpg out of a 3 ton SUV.

Starting price for the LS Suburban is around $40,000, LTZ models start around $55,000. The price tags are a bit hard to swallow, but for the product you receive, it is right on course with others in its class.

I am very excited to get my butt in the seat of an Avalanche after driving its big brother for a day. Kudos to GM for finally putting out a product to be proud of.

2010 Chevrolet Suburban

5.3L V8

320hp/335lb-ft torque

3.08 Rear Axle ratio

Pros:

- Plenty of room for all your stuff

- Great road manners

- Interior fit and finish

- Controls are easy to reach/read/use

- Incredibly comfortable

Cons:

- 35 gallon gas tank: hope you have a big wallet

- Drive by wire has a lot of dead travel

- Underpowered

- Sticker shock

Hurricane in Baltimore

2010-06-02T13:55:00.001-04:00

Memorial Day means quite a few things for me. First of all, it serves as a memory to all those that have served and lost their lives for this country. I also shout out to my family and friends who are currently in the military, serving without question. I thank you all for everything you do for this country and the freedoms you protect.

I also get excited for Memorial Day weekend because it marks the end of the lacrosse season. Each year, my family and I make the pilgrimage to the stadium hosting the National Championship Weekend, which was held in Baltimore, MD this year. A weekend of great lacrosse, great friends, and spotty memories was just what the doctor ordered after the non-stop schedule I have been living for the last couple months.

Five of us piled into my father's Jeep for the trip down, which we decided to take because of the amount of room we would all have. The back seat is a little cramped, but with the amount of stuff that we have to shlep down there, it was the best choice. We all split driving time, and the trip took us a total of about 7 hours. We decided that it would be best to avoid I-95 like the plague, especially with an ETA of about 4pm in Baltimore.

The weekend is basically a huge tailgate party. Tens of thousands of people buy parking passes and every single one stops at at least one party on their way through. Most popular game that I saw was probably Ladder Ball or Polish Horseshoes. Both easily packed into your trunk for a couple hours of fun.

The thing that makes lacrosse so different than other sports is that there is a camaraderie between all laxers. No matter who you played for or how old or young you are, everyone is equal. It's about the sport, it's about the experience. I could have walked up to any tailgate this weekend and introduced myself and I would have been offered a beer. I have never experienced a tailgating atmosphere like I have at a lacrosse event.

Notre Dame ended up losing the Championship to Duke, but a record setting game and the crowning of a first-time National Champion made the game special in its own right. Congratulations to the Blue Devils and Coach Danowski on completing a stellar season. Tufts University won their first D3 Championship as well, as CW Post repeated as the D2 Champions.

After three days of good lacrosse and a seemingly endless flow of beer, it was time to head home. Unfortunately, this year they decided to push the National Championship game back to 3:30, so we didn't get out of Baltimore until 6:30. As I passed the entrance to I-95, I breathed a sigh of relief that I wouldn't be on that road. The line to get on was at least a mile long. We headed up I-83 and bumped across PA on I-78. If you are traveling on any holiday to Baltimore, I strongly suggest this route. Not a lot of traffic, and it only took us 5 1/2 hours to get home.

As I pulled into the driveway, I was thankful to be home. I was also thankful to be a part of something as unique as the sport of lacrosse. I truly believe that this sport will grow exponentially over the next decade, and will be a primetime sport very soon. The "Fastest game on two feet" will take this country by storm.

Police Brutality? Nope, just another day on the job...

2010-05-17T20:28:00.000-04:00

I saw this clip a few hours ago and still cannot wrap my mind around it. About a year ago, a man was shot and paralyzed in what seemed to be a standard traffic stop. The police officer claimed that he felt that the man "had a gun," but no weapon was found on his body. I have provided a link to the dash cam video of the incident

Video

You tell me, at what point during the situation did the man on the bike pose any threat? He watched his friend huck his bike over a curb, turned to see what the cop was doing, and took a bullet in the spine. I didn't hear the officer shout any warnings or any directions, and there is audio accompanying the vid. After shooting, the officer screamed at the victim to get his hands up.

Gee, officer, I would really like to put my hands above my head, but the hunk of lead you planted in my spinal column has different ideas. Guess he forgot he doesn't live in the Old West, where the adage "shoot first, ask questions later" was the first chapter in the deputy's handbook.

The officer is facing 2-8 years in prison if he is convicted of felonious assault. The jury must decide if the officer was justified in shooting the 24-year old. I must now ask, what jury would find in favor of the officer after seeing that video?? That officer has a snowball's chance in hell of getting off of that rap.

It is completely embarrassing to see that these are the people that we allow to be police officers. Now, I understand that traffic stops are dangerous, but there also has to be a bit of restraint shown on the part of the officer during one of them. And where did the other police car come from? Did he call for backup because he was chasing down two guys for a jackrabbit start?

It sickens me that officers like this are under our noses. I'm not one to scream about "The Man" coming down on me, as I have had multiple positive encounters with police officers. It worries me that it's only a matter of time until one of these bad eggs comes down on me or someone I know. Wait, I know of someone like that....

A few months ago, my father was pulled over at the end of my road by a state trooper. Now I will be the first to admit that I don't live in the bumbling metropolis or even suburbia. I live in the boonies. To even see a trooper in our neck of the woods (yes, pun intended) is an event in it of itself.

The officer performed multiple sobriety tests on him, such repeating certain words and following the flashlight, and finally demanded that he take a breathalizer test. My father had informed him multiple times that he hadn't touched any alcohol that night, but the officer insisted that he was lying. Dad agreed to the breathalizer, and informed the cop that it wasn't necessary, because it would come up .00. Lo and behold, the machine beeped and showed .00.

Instead of calmly walking away and telling my father to have a nice night, the officer decided to rip the mouthpiece off of the machine and chuck it into the grass. He then proceeded to berate my father for "touching the yellow line" and having a tail light out. My father stood there and took it, and once the officer threatened with both tickets he retreated to his car. Five minutes later, he came back out and told my father to "get home, you're lucky tonight."

These are the types that are patrolling our highways? How can anyone take them seriously anymore? I have respect for authority, but at what point do you say "fuck you, dude!"

Thankfully, not all police officers are like this. I will say that the police friends that I do have are good guys and wouldn't be the subjects of these stories.

My advice to people is that if an officer is mistreating you or their power over you, get a name, badge number, and report them. A complaint to the department goes a long way.

Grinding Gears

2010-05-10T23:07:00.009-04:00

This Grinding Gears segment is taking a bit of a step back from the car world, and going a bit political. I try to keep my head out of the political realm, but this one really chapped my ass.

Last week, 5 high school students in CA were sent home from school for wearing "inappropriate" t-shirts to school. The assistant principal felt that the shirts, which bore the AMERICAN FLAG, were inappropriate because it was May 5, and that they "could offend other students."

These kids were asked to leave around noon, and no complaints had been placed to the principal's office against them at that point.

Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy throwing back a tequila or two on Cinco de Drinko, but to say that they can't wear a shirt with the american flag on it because it is a Mexican holiday?? We're in the United States of America, if you don't like patriotism, then get out.

The kicker is that Cinco de Mayo isn't a holiday that is recognized in all regions of Mexico! It signifies the day that the Mexican militia defeated the French Army in the Battle of Puebla. The capital city of the Mexican state Puebla celebrates this day, and it is somewhat recognized in other parts.

Mexico's independence day is September 16.

The level of "political correctness" has gone way too far in this country. Now we're infringing on our own basic rights to speech and expression for the sake of hurting someone's feelings.

Now, some argue that if this should be allowed, then kids should be able to wear whatever they want to school based on the same principle. There is an easily discernible line between what is and isn't appropriate. I don't think that a kid should be able to wear a shirt that has foul language or images of death/sex to school. It's not the place for them.

Plus, there has been a softening of rules that I have seen in recent years, and the effect of this hasn't been positive. Kids are rude, brash, brazen, and don't have any respect for authority. Everything they ask for is given to them, and the sense of entitlement is out of this world. No one wants to work for anything, they just want it all handed to them on a platter.

What better reason to give these kids for rebelling but to persecute them for being patriotic? Can you say, 1776?

The parents of these kids are considering suing the school district. I say, bravo! Kick them where it hurts, and make a statement for the rest of this country that there should be no punishment for being patriotic.

Hopefully someday soon we will start to realize that this country is getting further and further out of our control.

Saturn Sky

2010-04-06T00:37:00.004-04:00

This past weekend was Easter, and I was lucky enough to spend it with my family. We had a great time, as always, with many laughs and stories going around of what everyone is doing. My younger cousins were incredibly entertained by my older brother, so I had the opportunity to nurse my hangover behind a pair of shades and a couple dozen glasses of water.

I ventured out in front of the house quickly to watch the shenanigans my cousins were putting my brother through, and noticed a gorgeous silver (I believe the name they give it is "Sly") Saturn Sky RedLine sitting in the driveway, which belongs to my Aunt's new boyfriend. I have always liked how they looked, but I have never had the opportunity to get a good, close look at one.

I must say, what an impressive car. Strong fender lines and an aggressive front fascia really make this thing look mean. Hood intake openings a-la 67Chevelle SS give a little retro flare. It has much more character than it's Solstice brother. Simple rear tail lights and a trunk mounted lip spoiler pull the rear end together, and the chrome tail pipe peeking out from under the rear diffuser is awesome.

The interior is very similar to the Solstice, with moderately bolstered seats and a nice dash configuration. I must say I was very pleased to see it was a 5 speed, because no sports car should have an auto.

Thats right. Sports car.

If this car isn't the definition of a sports car, then I don't know what is. A 260hp turbo 4 turns this little guy into a silver missile, and with the upgraded suspension package it does pretty well in the twisties.

Even though I didn't have a chance to drive it, Len raved about how it drove. He compared it to an old Triumph TR-6, a fun, sporty 2 seater that will keep up with just about anything on the road. Well, maybe not EVERYTHING, but you get my point. Knock on wood, he hasn't gotten into trouble with it. Yet.

I had said in an earlier post that the Solstice GXP was a dream car of mine. I take it back. Put my ass in a Sky RedLine, and my smile will go from ear to ear.

Spring is in the air!

2010-03-22T20:53:00.003-04:00

Ah, another solid 3 months of no posts from KP. I sometimes forget about my little love-child down here. I need to start keeping up to date with this.

Well, just as we have seen almost every year, now that the mercury is rising so are gas prices. It's amazing how quickly prices jump when crude oil prices go up. I mean it's almost like each gas station has an in-house stock ticker and there is widespread panic when crude jumps a penny.

Of course, when crude drops, we see no change in gasoline prices. With prices around $80/barrel, the gasoline companies are turning a pretty penny right now. The last time crude was this low, gas prices were around $1.50/gallon. I would expect to start seeing the "Record profit for Exxon this Quarter" headlines in the paper pretty soon. Unless, of course, they just stop running those completely.

Gotta keep Americans (dumb) happy!

Nothing overly exciting in the car market right now. Few new hybrids, few new models, same old stuff. MORE POWER, LESS FUEL! We have a 90% electric car! Well, WE have a 92% electric car!

There's a rant point. I find it interesting that so many people buy hybrids and fail to see the actual environmental impact of the car. Each car, when it dies, must be disposed of. The problem that hybrids pose is that their battery cells are highly toxic, so you can't just toss an old hybrid in a junkyard and say "Toodles!" Each NiCad or Li cell battery must be removed by a specialized mechanic and these batteries must be disposed of in an environmentally safe fashion.

That disposal process requires the burning of a lot of crude fuel sources: coal, fuel oil, etc. So while you are driving around in your hybrid claiming that you're "saving" the world, get a clue. You are only delaying the inevitable carbon output.

And one other thing on hybrid drivers: stop acting all high and mighty toward us lowly fuel burning creatures. Yes, you feel that you're doing your part. It's like any other lifestyle choice: good for you, but keep it to yourself.

I once saw a Prius with a license plate that read "MYPART." It took all my inner will power not to key the thing.

I still can't believe the Pontiac division of GM is gone. It's unfortunate that once they started producing cars that people would enjoy, they don't give them a chance to flourish once again. The G8 and Solstice only got a couple years run, but hopefully I'll be able to pick one of the two up in the future. Pontiac finally got back to a driver's car.

I'm holding off on a health reform act rant until I learn more about what the bill actually does. Going to be interesting for a while, I think.

Happy New Year

2010-01-03T15:32:00.003-05:00

Happy new year to the blogger world. Hope everyone was safe and happy this New Years Eve.

I spent my NYE in New York City, feverishly trying not to look like a tourist. It is amazing to me how much different the city is to the rural living I have at home. There would be numerous accidents daily if people drove like that up here. People switch lanes, crowd lanes, double park, honk, beep, curse, yell, and countless of other things that would be considered reckless up here.

I have mixed feelings on cabbies. I would say that in 50% of the cab rides I took this weekend, the cabbie complained about the tip I left. I understand that they're trying to make a living, but damn, I was throwing out between 25 and 30% each ride. The last guy who dropped me off at Penn Station looked at me and said, "That's it?" I told him to go love himself, but using a few different choice words. That's pretty nervy if you ask me. You don't see waitresses, bartenders, and others in the service business begging for tips. It's considered poor practice to do that.

People are going to tip what they're going to tip. Bottom line. If you don't like it, maybe you should find a different line of work.

Big news recently from Chrysler: The Dodge Viper is here to stay! That's right, previous plans to drop the model from the Dodge lineup have been stopped! It will continue to use the Chrysler-developed 8.4L V10, and will go through some minor changes for 2011. The biggest changes will be to the interior, updating the drab instrumentation and harsh environment. Expect to see the fourth (fifth?) generation for 2012 or 2013.

The 2011 Grand Cherokee is growing on me. Although, the rear liftgate almost looks like a BMW X5. It's not really "Jeepy" anymore.

It sucks a little bit that they're dropping the 4.7L V8, but all in the name of innovation. The 3.6 Pentastar engine should be a solid replacement, and EPA estimates to see 23mpg on the highway. Updates to the HEMI include VVT and a bump in HP, expect to see 19mpg highway.

They have taken a page out of Range Rover's books and introduced Quadra-Lift and Selec-Terrain. Push a button and clearance height increases to 9.6 or 11.1" from the standard 8.1". It also has Aero mode where the vehicle lowers about 0.6" to increase aerodynamics and gas mileage. We'll see how long this option will stick around. It will probably add between $2000 and $3000 to the overall price. The interior is GORGEOUS. Jeep has definitely stepped up their game for this model.

Long Time

2009-05-27T00:14:00.005-04:00

It has been a long time since I've posted here, and a lot has happened in our world since then.

The biggest event, and probably most important: In November, we witnessed our nation vote in their first black president, Barack Obama. He took office January 20th.

Now, I can't remember who I voted for, but at the time I felt that Obama was actually the breath of fresh air that this country needed. If only I could have seen what was coming in the future.

In my last post, I said that the gas prices and patterns we were exhibiting were going to drive us into a recession. Well, here we are, smack dab in the middle. (Notice I didn't say the bottom...) Gas prices have plummeted since then, but seem to be creeping their way back up. I saw 2.49 in New York today. Pitiful.

Now, all that aside, Obama has recently proposed new legislation over the previous CAFE standards set in 2007 that car companies must average 35.5mpg over their fleet by the year 2016. The previous standard of 27.5mpg by 2020 wasn't good enough, I guess.

35.5 is not a typo.

Now, lets put this into some type of monetary perspective. Car companies have been, the past few years, scrambling to develop new highly efficient engines. Chrysler, for example, has just released the "Pentastar" V6 engine. They spent hundreds of millions of dollars in research, engineering, and development of the engine alone. They spent 2 Billion dollars on new plants to build this engine and components of this engine.

Was it all in vain?

This engine was built with the current CAFE standards in mind, in which fleet average would have to bump to 27.5mpg by 2020. Respectable goal, very attainable. The Pentastar engine will make it's debut in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and soon afterwards in the 2011 Chrysler 300.

We are very close to seeing the 2010 model year cars come out. In fact, 2010 Mustangs, Fusions, and a few others are already starting to come into dealerships. Realistically, car companies have 6 years to get their shit in check. 6 years to research, engineer, develop, troubleshoot, and produce a completely new engine design that will help meet this new excessive standard. And pay for it.

What was Obama thinking? Doesn't he know that he owns Chrysler and GM now?? We've given these companies billions of dollars and they were actually doing things correctly, and now they have to spend MORE money to reach these new standards. And WHY are they expected to be able to do this? Do you not know what this does to them financially??

Now, what does this mean for the general public?

One of the major impacts this could have is that car companies will have to seriously revamp their fleet to meet these standards. I know that was repetitive, but let me explain. For each vehicle that gets 20mpg average, they have to have a certain number of cars that make up for that lower average to meet the 35.5 standard.

This translates into more cars into production and less trucks and SUV's. Even though a major portion of most American auto company's sales are Trucks and SUV's, they will be reduced dramatically. Model lines will be dropped. Lines that have been around for years will be obsolete. Trucks will get smaller in both stature and engine size. Their towing and payload capacities will be dramatically reduced. And finally, their price will skyrocket. That $30,000 SUV you bought today could potentially be $50-70,000 once that happens. Boy that $9,000 car looks mighty good.

I heard a rumor that there will be a discount on a Truck/SUV purchase in the future. To meet the standards for the discount, you must own a business where it is deemed necessary to own one.

Land of the Free my ass.

I honestly feel like our government is trying their best to keep us in this recession. They spend and give away money effortlessly, they make new policies that restrict certain aspects of our lives, and they create a few more government jobs and give their employees comfy pensions.

Our tax dollars hard at work... or is it hardly working?

Newsflash, Barack: In a couple years, you'll need to hang another post on your key hook to make space for Ford's keys. You'll own them too.

More on gas prices

2008-06-18T16:12:00.002-04:00

Well, it's happened. $4+/gallon for gasoline is officially here. I filled up a work vehicle today, and it cost a staggering $85. Good for business? I think not, but we need the gasoline to get to each jobsite.

It's not just the private sector that's feeling the monetary crunch of the price of gasoline. The United States Postal Service, a federally controlled entity, increased postage rates once again. On May 12, the cost for sending an envelope from point A to point B increased by $0.01. That may not seem like a huge increase, but think about how many letters are sent daily. Pennies add up.

The pennies also add up on the other side. For each $0.01 price increase in gasoline, it costs the USPS $8 Million per year. Projections for this summer show that gas will increase in price by almost $0.50 from current rates. Let's get the USPS a calculator and some Prozac. $400 Million dollars this Summer alone! Now, let me ask you a question. Where are they going to make up that kind of money???

George Bush recently "proposed" off-shore drilling to help ease the burden. Thanks for the newsflash, Walter Cronchite....Economists have been pleading for new sources of crude oil for years. These same economists have been saying, FOR YEARS, that this would help our supply and help lower prices. Now, I do not blame George Bush for the lack of action on this. No, believe it or not, he's not to blame in this situation.

The blame rests on these hippie douschebags who think that oil drilling technology is still in 1885. They think that drilling automatically equals spills and ecological disasters. Spills on oil rigs have been drastically decreasing in rate over the last 20 years, and have almost been eliminated. If these people would just pick up a newspaper other than to wipe their ass with, they would realize that this is a credible solution.

It's sad that, as one of the "greatest nations" in the world, we are so easily driven into a recession by our own actions. The US is the only oil producing country in the world that doesn't practice off-shore drilling. Statistically, our demand for crude oil is the highest in the world, yet we produce the least. Scientists predict that the oil field below the Gulf of Mexico could produce enough oil to match our current yearly production for the next 10 years. One area could double our production for the next 10 years.

Let's wake up here. Even though offshore drilling would only slightly ease our current gas price woes, it is a step in the right direction to reducing our dependency on foreign oil The sooner we accomplish this, the sooner we get back to $1 per gallon.

Gas prices rant

2008-05-12T20:50:00.008-04:00

OK. Gasoline will be $4 per gallon by the summer. I filled up today at $3.73 in Mass, and it was a whopping $65 affair. You know what? Fine. I drive a Jeep with a V8. I accept the fact that I don't get 30mpg. I love my Jeep and wouldn't trade my daily driver for anything else.

My problem with the price hikes is that the government is tricking us into thinking that there's a gas shortage. Recently there was a press conference in which George W. Bush, our nation's illustrious President said, "It should be obvious to you all that the [gasoline] demand is outstripping supply, which causes prices to go up." — Associated Press, Mar. 5, 2008

2 Words for you, Mr. Bush: BULL SHIT

Ed Wallace wrote in a recent BusinessWeek article: "Gasoline reserves on hand are at the highest levels since the early 1990s, which is remarkable considering the nation's refineries have been cutting back on the production of gasoline because their margins have declined. In fact, average gasoline reserves on hand have risen since this past October, while oil reserves in this country have gone up virtually every week this year—and only fog in the Houston Ship Channel that kept oil tankers from unloading their crude one week kept it from being every week." Apr. 1, 2008

Mr Wallace's exposee aparrently hasn't been seen by all of America, as we are still lining up at the pumps to pay outrageous prices for our gas. In California, people are already paying $4 per gallon or more. In upstate New York this past weekend, I saw $3.93 per gallon for regular unleaded.

The thing that bothers me is that our government, oil companies, and ethanol companies are all in on this scam. It disgusts me that Bush's people are giving him information that supports this massive lie. Our Constitution gives the people the power to make decisions in this country. I say a rebellion is far past due. Our government has intentionally fooled us for far too long.

Demand is down. Prices still increase. According to basic economics, once price starts having a negative effect on demand, the price should be reduced until the demand increases. The gas companies will still make the same stupid profits, but our wallets won't feel the ache as much. That also means that people will have more money to put back into the economy, thus reversing the current recession we are experiencing.

The number of boats, PWCs, RVs, and other toys I have seen for sale is just stupid. People are resorting to buying bicycles to save gas, because prices are that astronomical. As I said before, let's stop wasting our congressmen's time with steriod use in baseball and force our oil companies to reduce their profits by a few Billion dollars....

Two new exciting Pontiac previews

2008-04-06T19:42:00.008-04:00

At the recent Detroit Auto Show, Pontiac unveiled two new models for the 2010 model year lineup: the Solstice Targa, and the G8 Sport Truck.

As from a previous post, the Solstice is my favorite car in the Pontiac linup right now. Sporty lines, good bang-for-your-buck power and performance, and a small price tag make this a very desirable car.

Now, they have added another option for it, offering a removable hard-top in coupe form. Taking the lines from the original coupe concept, it does well in sharing the convertible's sporty curves. I think it is a much better layout, especially with the added structual rigidity that comes with a hard top. The weight sacrifice? A mere 20 pounds.

The rear has a bit of a Volvo C30 vibe to it, but looks good in its application.

This is the first photo of the car with the top removed. Pontiac has done a good job continuing the lines from the windshield. This rear cargo area is much greater in size than the convertible version, as well. Wind noise reduction should be substantial.

The interior looks the same, only the rear roof overhangs the seats.

Price should be similar to the Convertible version. Pontiac claims the GXP coupe will start at $28,000, which is a couple grand less than it's topless counterpart. Early reports from Saturn are that there will not be a coupe version of the Sky. I think this is the right thing to do, I'm not sure how aesthetically pleasing the rear canopy design would be on the Saturn.

The G8 sport truck is bringing back the el Camino in true fashion. Fashioned after the G8 and riding on the same platform, Pontiac cut off the trunk and rear seats of the G8 and added a 6'2" pickup bed. It is available with a soft tonneau cover, although a hard tonneau could be in production.

The interior looks the same as the G8 sedan, just with a window right behind the front row of seating. With the popularity of pickup trucks, and the huge concentration on gas mileage, this could be a home run for Pontiac. The only issue I forsee is towing capacity, which can't be anyhting over 2000 pounds with a car's frame and driveline.

No figures have been released about pricing, although I would assume something in the $25,000 to $30,000 range.

It's nice to see these designs coming from American auto makers. They're starting to think outside the box, and even bring back some retro designs into today's marketplace.

Massachusetts roads

2008-03-05T01:24:00.005-05:00

I came to the realization about 4 years ago, when I started attending school in Western Mass, that they do not care for their roads. Potholes, rutting, frost heaves and the like litter the roads all over MA. Every time I bring my Jeep into my mechanic, he says that I need an alignment. Half the time he's joking to get my heartrate to skyrocket, as he normally does. The other half, he's serious. He won't believe me that I don't drive the thing like a Corvette.

Case in point: This evening, I was driving to return a couple movies just down the road. I turned onto Broadway in Chicopee, and BAM! I hit a pothole so big, it should be classified as a ditch. Both front tires dipped and I was jarred against the solid edge on the other side. It was deep enough and wide enough that my whole tire was able to dip down in. I swear, my mechanic is going to shoot me the next time he sees the Jeep.

In 4 years, I have only seen one road in the area being repaved or repaired after the harsh New England winters that we encounter. Roads are put to the ultimate test in the Winter, being scraped by 5-ton plows, having road salt dumped on them, and constant temperature fluxuations. A small crack is caused by the base layer under the pavement "heaving" from a good frost. If water accumulates in the crack and freezes, the crack expands and eventually you have a pot hole. If the pot hole goes untreated, it can get to the size of a small pond in a matter of months. Every few years (about 7-10, depending on the material used) the roads need to be resurfaced. When I moved out here, I thought I just caught it towards the later stages of the life span, but as I traveled more, it became apparent that it's a state-wide problem.

My best example: on the highway near my apartment, like most highways, there are catch basins for storm water drainage. The problem: They're not sunk into the pavement. They're exposed and they sit about 4" above the level of the pavement. And how do they "fix" them? Road cones. On top of the catch basin. Thanks. Now I can see what's slicing the sidewall of my tire at 65mph.

New York has one of the best road care programs in the country. Why can't other states learn from us? Are New Yorkers really that evil?

So I've been thinking about this for most of the night, and I've made a couple conclusions:
- Roads in Massachusetts suck. Well, tonight wasn't the first night that I've realized that....
- Mechanics in MA must make a KILLING off of alignments and blowouts (low profile tires can't take hitting a pot hole - the rim severs the tire....)
- Road crews in MA don't exist, other than on the Mass Pike
- The construction you do see: Fake. They're not really doing anything except enabling cops to make time and a half to "supervise"

The Final conclusion, and most importantly:
- All money allocated to road repair in MA has gone into the Big Dig for the last 15-20 years.

That's right! The largest engineering nightmare in the country went 10.6 BILLION DOLLARS (About the 2007 4th QUARTER profit for ExxonMobil) over budget. No wonder the rest of the state is littered with pot holes and exposed bridge expansion joints. Basically all of the state's money has been dumped into the largest and most dangerous construction projects in US history. Granted the project employed almost 5000 people at one point, and created jobs for many, but the lives lost far outweigh the lives saved.

The other problem is that whenever a project like this is proposed (one as simple as repaving a degraded road), the public outcry is immense! It's so controversial to close one lane for a week! I'll be late for work! Well guess what? LEAVE EARLY!

Anyway, back on point. I think it's sad that I have to save memory space in my mind so I can remember the perfect line to take around pot holes on my way to school. Road construction isn't that hard. All it takes is some time, a good engineer, and some money.

My final conclusion: I will never live in MA. Mainly for these reasons. I already dump enough money into my Jeep, I don't need to spend more on alignments and new bushings every 6 months.

It's heeerrreeeee!!

2008-02-28T21:03:00.003-05:00

That's right. The 2008 Challenger was released 2/18 at the Chicago Auto Show. As I said in the earlier post, the production model is very similar to the concept. The tail lights are a more conventional setup with standard bulbs instead of the LED panel on the back.

The front is again more conventional, with standard housings rather than the dual projectors. The low beam HIDs have projectors, you can see them on the pic if you look close. The grille is also modified a bit with mesh blackout and a little less chrome.

Creme de la creme. 6.1L V8 making 425hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. 2008 models will only be SRT8s with automatic transmissions. 2009 models begin build in April, which is when the standard and mid-level models will be released.

The interior on the production model is where you see the most changes. No more digital gauges or accelerometer. I doubt we'll see either in the production model. I can't wait to see the pictures of the newer version of the pistol-grip shifter on the 6-speed. Heavily bolstered seats with the SRT logo are the same ones you see on the Magnum and Charger SRT models.

Pricing for the current SRT8 is around $40,000. Add the few options that are available, and you'll hit about $45,000. Pricing for the 2009 models will be released with the new model in April.

Let's talk about global warming......

2008-02-24T22:20:00.013-05:00

Alright, all this talk about "global warming" and "reducing our carbon footprint" has got me spewing steam. Let's elaborate a little bit.

According to these so-called experts studying our climate, our carbon emissions have created a warming effect that is slowly increasing the average yearly temperature across the globe. This is all well and good, but show me some concrete evidence. All I've seen so far is that temperatures are slightly rising, and we're getting less snow in the Northeast. The scientific information I have seen hasn't shown that the increase in CO2 has actually had an effect on average global temperature.

And where does Al "I invented the internet" Gore get off spouting all of this propoganda about Global Warming? If you watch his documentary, he is cruising around the country in his nice, comfy, Lincoln Towncar. The Towncar is statistically the most polluting sedan on the market. Mr. Gore, don't you think if you're making a documentary on global warming, shouldn't you be driving around in something a little less polluting? Let's say, maybe, a Prius? Or some other hybrid? Way to help the cause, asshole.

Anyway, let's get some specifics. At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the level of carbon dioxide in the air was 0.28%. In the 200 years since, the level of carbon dioxide has increased to 0.36%. That's a 0.08% increase, which is much less than the government and Mr. Gore will have you believe. People think that this is a substantial problem, but in reality, the levels of CO2 aren't "drastically" increasing. Sure, we're contributing, but it really doesn't seem to be a dire situation.

I will agree that the climate is getting milder, and that the ice caps are melting, and all the rest of the information that has been released. However, this is part of NATURAL climate change. Everyone is just unhappy because it's the first time it's happened to us. We have been tracking weather for about 200 years, so this is the first time that we have actually recorded it. Approximately 1000 years ago, the same thing happened as well. This is about the time that the Vikings and Nordic people inhabited Greenland and Iceland. What happened next? A smaller-scale ice age. This climatic rotation has been happening for millions of years. The earth will warm and cool as it pleases, and there is nothing that humans can do.

The point is, people will always have a necessity for fossil fuels. We love our toys: snowmobiles, boats, jet skis, dirt bikes, etc. We will always have a need for SUVs and trucks that consume a large amount of gasoline. Do I agree with creating hybrids and engines that consume less? Absolutely. Anything to help slow the deterioration of our fuel supply. No matter what, people will buy gasoline, whether it's $1/gallon or $5/gallon. (Of course, why do we need hybrids when Chevy produces a 430hp V8 that gets 28mpg on the highway? Small tolerances and high compression ratios.....)

Maybe we should have our congressmen spend their time on something to help the cause, like investigating why it's OK for ExxonMobil to have a $13.5 Billion QUARTERLY profit and still charge $3+ for a gallon of gas here and over $7/gallon in Europe. Why are we wasting their time with steriods in the MLB? Their steroid use has such an insignificant effect on the greater people compared to these skyrocketing gas prices!

Oh well. I guess I'll just drive my Jeep and GTO, tow my snowmobile and boat, and pay $3 per gallon for gas, and take it until the day something is done. Perfect. :)

2005-Current Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK)

2008-02-05T18:28:00.000-05:00

The newest variation of Jeep's iconic Grand Cherokee is a true winner.

Introduced in 2004, the newest Grand sports an independent front suspension and 2 new engines for 2005. The 3.7L V6 has been used in the Liberty since it's induction, and DC brought over the 5.7L HEMI V8, most commonly seen in Dodge's Ram pickup.

Three different 4wd systems are available: The no-frills Quadra-Trac I, with a full-time 4wd transfercase and no 4Low option, it is truly an on-road biased system. The NV-147 transfercase is the brains behind the system. It uses a hydraulic gerator pump to transfer torque from the rear axle to front axle. The BTCS is equipped on these as well.

Quadra-Trac II is the next step up, a full-time 4wd system with the 4Low option. It utilizes the NV-247 transfercase, which uses a similar gerator pump as the 147. However, along with the 4Low option, it comes with BTCS or Brake-controlled Traction Control System. This system modulates brake pressure to a slipping wheel to maximize traction. The system can modulate traction to a single side up to about 70%

Quadra-Drive II is the creme de la creme of 4wd systems. It has the same NV-247 transfercase, but to modulate traction from side to side, it uses electronically controlled Limited Slip Differentials. This system can transfer 100% of torque to a single wheel. It is the most advanced 4wd system that Jeep offers.

On-road capabilities on this Jeep are hands-down the best ever for a Jeep. Having driven one, I can attest to this fact. I wouldn't want to take a long trip in any other vehicle. The suspension absorbs bumps and body roll is quaffed by some beefy anti-sway bars. Through the twisties, this is definitely an SUV at heart, and handles as such. On the highway, though, this is one smooth ride.

During the search for my father's new vehicle, I drove the Honda Pilot and Ridgeline, GMC Yukon, and Toyota 4Runner. The Jeep was, by far, the best SUV on the market.

Off-road capabilities are limited now due to lack of aftermarket support and that dang Independent Front Suspension. Here's a pic of a lifted Commander (same platform) flexing on a rock.

The rock is about 15" tall. If you look, you can see that the passenger side tire is off the ground. Any other vehicle with a solid front axle would have that tire planted firmly on the ground. Even though these Jeeps are good off-road, they are not as good as previous Grand Cherokees.

Here's a couple pics of the 2008 upgrades. The front fascia has been modified a little bit, along with the headlights. New options include HID headlights, the new MyGig multimedia system, and updated seats and interior amenities have made this a much cushier ride.

Overall, I give the new Grand Cherokee a B+, mainly because of the plastic-like interior components and some other small amenity issues, as well as the decreased off-road capabilities. This is still truly a Jeep, though.

Superbowl commercials

2008-02-05T17:55:00.000-05:00

Audi's comeback to the Superbowl commercial stage made a huge impact on many car guys all over. The use of the famous "Godfather" scene had me curious from the beginning, and laughing my ass off when it was the front end of a car (Mercedes, maybe?)

But when that drool-inspiring R8 came into view, everyone in the room went quiet, and the awesome tones of the exhaust was all you could hear. It was truly a great commercial, especially for the first Superbowl commercial for Audi in 20 years.

However, I believe the greatest commercial to come out of last weekend has to be the new Porsche Cayenne GTS commercial. If you haven't seen it, here it is.

Truly the perfect car commercial. I have no words to describe the thoughts and feelings that come through me when this airs. Every car buff in the world can relate, along with anyone who has the slightest interest in cars. This commercial could have shown any car with any type of following or history and rang true for that company.

The absolutely perfect commercial to portray Porsche's committment to their vehicles and storied history in racing and road cars.

"Wow" is right.

2007-12-06T11:32:00.000-05:00

Two affordable, fast, two-seat roadsters.....From GM????

That's right, the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky are GM's new entry-level sports roadsters. Stiff, agile, and quick, these cars are slated to run neck-in-neck with the Mazda Miata and Honda S2000.

The base models are equipped with a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that produces 177hp. 0-60 times are average for the class, around 7.5 seconds. The standard 5-speed manual transmission has short throws and close ratios, making for a spirited drive, even in base form.

The optional performance models, the GXP and Red Line models, are really where these cars shine. They are equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder, producing 260hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. These pocket rockets fly to 60mph under 5.5 seconds.

With more power than the Porsche Boxster, and a base price under $30,000 for GXP and Red Line model, this is one of the best bang-for-your-buck sports cars on the market. Throw in a few goodies like power windows and locks, and the boy-racer suspension and cat-back exhaust, you have a nice little rocket for your weekend ride.

Afraid of fitting? Don't be. At 6'1" and 200lbs, the front buckets were a perfect fit for me, with some room to move. Good shifter placement and radio controls make the interior a nice place to be for a drive.

Lord knows there will be one in my garage. Keep it around for a few more years, please.

Oh, and the pic of the Pontiac is of the '09 model. Looks muuuch sweeter.

Grindin' Gears (week 1)

2007-11-28T23:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, it's about that time for the first installment of Grindin' Gears. This is where I write about things that I've noticed recently while driving. Since I do a lot of driving, I'll have a ton of material.

This is what's Grindin my Gears this week:

1. The utter lack of use of turn signals
- I don't know if people are just that zoned out when driving, or if they just don't know they're there, but the lack of turn signal use is disturbing to me. People, it is ILLEGAL to make turns, change lanes, or parallel park on the road without the use of a turn signal. I can't count the number of times I have been cut off by a person not signaling, or come up on someone stopped in the middle of the road with no signal of what they're doin. I wouldn't be as upset if they used their signal, but to cut someone off without warning, or be a sitting duck in the middle of any road is dangerous.

2. No one uses their side mirrors
- 3 times this week I have almost been sideswiped by someone that didn't use their mirrors before changing lanes. Cars aren't equipped with side mirrors so you can check your friggin makeup. They're there for safety. It's not too hard to take your attention off the text message or newspaper you're reading for a 1/2 second to see if anyone is next to you. I drive a big blue Jeep, I'm not too hard to miss.

3. Ridiculously short following distances
- I don't think it's covered in Driver's Education anymore. At 65mph, you should have a following distance of 6 car lengths. This, of course, is best case scenario. But when you're in some traffic, is it too much to ask for 2-3? I feel that should be the minimum in all situations. The worst part is, when I have that comfortable 2-3, someone cuts in and takes it away. And if they do that when I'm braking, I (or anyone else) have to brake hard, and the person tailgating me might not have enough room to stop.

The sad part: They're all enforcable traffic violations.
1: Failure to signal, Changing lanes without signal, etc.
2: Dangerous lane change, reckless driving, etc.
3: Tailgating, Following too close, etc.

The worst part: They're not enforced!
With the amount of cops I see on the road, I would think I would see more people pulled over. If I was a traffic cop, I'd be pullin people over all day. If cops gave two shits about these smaller traffic problems, the roads would be much safer for everyone.

'Til next week...

Continuing with the recalls

2007-11-28T15:16:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd throw this one in. In June 2006, Toyota recalled 160,000 Tundra pickups, because the pickups were fitted with a passenger side airbag cut-off swtich, but without a front seat LATCH system.

The NHTSA states that vehicles fitted with a shut-off switch must also be fitted with a LATCH system. This regulation was passed in 2002!

Toyota's solution: Remove the switch! This makes the front seat an even more dangerous place to have your young child ride!

Granted that Toyota had no other solution to the problem (it would have cost millions to fit all the seats with the LATCH system), but it just shows the lack of focus on little details that is happening with this company. It probably would have cost Toyota approx. $100 per vehicle to add the LATCH system while on the production line.

Weird stuff.

Japanese recalls getting out of hand

2007-11-28T14:30:00.000-05:00

Recently, Nissan Motors announced that they were recalling 686,500 Altimas and Sentras, due to a faulty crankshaft position sensors. This fault makes the car stop running, at any point during operation. The sensor overheats and fails, which causes the spark timing to stop.

This is just the latest flurry of Japanese recalls in the last 2 years. In 2006, Toyota Motor Corp (Toy, Lexus, Scion) recalled 2.2 million cars and trucks for different faults including seat belt and brake system failures. Basically, your brakes would fail, you get in a crash, and your seatbelt fails on you in the process, causing you great harm. The car slaps you across the face, then kicks you in the nuts in one foul swoop.

This year, Toyota is already up to 800,000 recalls. That's 3 million in 2 years (and counting...remember, 2007 isn't over). The latest one: a poorly designed driver's side floor mat catches the accelerator pedal - causing it to stick! 34,400 lucky LEXUS owners can expect some mail from Toyota regarding this issue.

What happened to Japanese reliability? It seems as if there has been a great shift over from Japan to the US automakers in reliability ratings. Chevrolet and Ford are skyrocketing, while Toyota and Nissan are drowning in their wake. In prior years, one publication would give an automatic recommendation to any Toyota model they reviewed. They stopped this practice in 2006, due to the immense rate of recalls.

One reason that this could be happening is that US automakers have lured quality control managers from Japanese companies to work in their plants. They have made their production "Japanese-like" in efforts to catch back up to the Japanese producers. They have reduced costs, while reducing the number of defects at the same time. Production lines are streamlined, and the cars being produced are of greater quality.

So what does this mean? Hopefully there will be another great shift in the auto industry back to American-made cars. Our economy needs a boost, and if the Big Three make money, it can only help out the overall well-being of this country.

Go USA! Go GM, Ford, and Chrylser! You have finally figured it out.

Pontiac G8

2007-11-27T16:44:00.000-05:00

Where was this car when they were screwing up the new GTO?

Once again, GM's Pontiac division went to Australian automaker Holden for their next car platform. This time, they got it right. The G8 is based on the Holden Commodore, which rides on GM's Zeta platform. It is a rear wheel drive, full size sedan: Pontiac's first since the 1986 Bonneville and Parisienne.

The sedan will replace the outgoing Grand Prix, with a final production of 2008. One year of overlap will help transition the new model into the Pontiac product line.

Two trim levels will be offered: Base and GT. The base model will receive GMs 3.6L VVT V6, which produces 261hp, mated to a 5 speed automatic transmission.

The GT is the personification of Pontiac's racing image. The L76 6.0L V8 produces 362hp and 385 lb/ft of torque. The only transmission offering is a 6-speed automatic with Driver Shift Control and Sport Mode. A 6-speed manual is a possibility, but not in the 2008 models. The GT will go from 0-60 in just over 5 seconds. The rear axle has 2.92 gears and limited slip.

Pontiac has neither confirmed nor denied a GXP version of the G8. Talks of using the Corvette's LS2 V8, which produces 414hp, are being circulated. Another option is the Corvette Z06's LS7 V8, which produces 500hp. Either way, it'll be a pretty hot sedan, putting it in the same arena as the BMW M5 or Audi S6.

Look for the G8 arriving soon in Pontiac dealers. MSRP for the Base model is around $27,500, and for the GT, around $29,995

Things are looking up at GM. The G8 is a step in a good direction. This along with the new Malibu shows that they're starting to realize how much the market has changed.

Let's hope that GM keeps pumping out cars like this.

A Chrysler Supercar????

2007-11-27T10:25:00.001-05:00

Wow. This car belongs on everyone's Christmas list. What happened to this prototype??? A rear engined, RWD, 12cyl, QUAD-Turbo (Bugatti, anyone?) 850hp MONSTER! Can you say, Ferrari Killer?

I'll tell you what happened. Dieter Zetsche couldn't be outdone by a mere American car, now could he? Mercedes Benz had spent Millions of dollars and multiple years developing their SLR McLaren. Chrysler waltzes in, uses an AMG developed engine, builds their car in about one year, and did it all for millions less. Mercedes dropped the project to concentrate on the SLR.

We have all seen how well that worked out for them...

With the recent sale of the Chrysler Corp to Cerebrus, they have brought back Wolfgang Bernhard. He was the head of Mercedes when the ME412 was developed by Chrysler engineers, and was "deselected" from his position. However, he owned rights to the body design. This means:

1. This car could still be built
2. If it's built, the price tag would be less than half of the SLR McLaren
3. Chrysler will have a sweet-ass Supercar. (other than the out-dated Viper)

Here's some numbers from when this was a prototype:

0-60mph - 2.9 seconds
0-100mph - 6.2 seconds
1/4 Mile - 10.6 seconds @ 136mph
Top speed - 240 mph

2.9 seconds to 60mph is faster than the Ferrari Enzo. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 goes from 0-60 in 2.46 seconds. But with a price tag of well over $1 million, only the uber-rich can afford it.

The beauty of it all? Every component was off Chrysler shelves, except for the engine. You're probably thinking, 'Well, isn't that a problem?' I think Chrysler can figure something out with their SRT division. They already have a 600hp, naturally aspirated V10. An 850hp turbo-charged V12 shouldn't be too difficult.

Right now this is a wait and see type project. Hopefully it gets resurrected with Cerebrus.

In the meantime, I'll just sit here and drool over the pictures some more.

Just a side note

2007-11-27T10:19:00.000-05:00

This blog is just for my enjoyment, so I can keep current on the auto industry. I'll be writing some weekly based "articles"

- Grindin Gears: An article where I birtch about certain problems on the road. Mainly about OTHER drivers
- Weekly Tech talk: An overview of an innovative addition to the industry
- Weekly review: I review a car that I've driven.

Hope people enjoy

Dodge's Demonic Miata eater.

2007-11-27T01:59:00.000-05:00

Dodge released their Demon concept on the world in 2007, and Mopar fans are frothing at the mouth. This near-production version of the Demon was built for just that purpose: to be as close to a production car as they could get it.

Fully functional windows, convertible top, engine, transmission, (and basically everything else) allow you to propel this 2-seater up to a solid 115mph. Most concepts never make it over 25mph, and even at that speed you fear for your life.

The Demon utilizes Chrysler's 2.4L 4cyl "World" engine, a six-speed transmission, and RWD for the drivetrain. All of the DT components can be found on current production cars all through the Chrysler lineup.

Chrysler hasn't released any plans for production, yet. Mopar fans are begging for this to be built. It's been a very long time since Chrysler has built an affordable 2-seat convertible. Target price is around $20,000.

In my opinion, this could do for Chrysler what the Miata did for Mazda, which is kept them alive during times of economic hardship.

If this is the car on the road to hell, save me a seat! Preferrably driver's. :)

This has me way too excited....

2007-11-27T01:41:00.000-05:00

Behold, the 2009 Dodge Challenger. Dodge is claiming that you won't be able to tell the difference between the concept and production car. One can only hope :)

They have also released the 2009 MY production models:

SXT: 3.7L V6, auto transmission (42RLE VLP) No manual trans option.

R/t: 5.7L HEMI V8, option of 5sp auto transmission (W5A580 with Autostick) or a 6sp Tremec Manual. Manual transmission gets a 3.73 rear axle with Limited Slip, Hill Start Assist, and what Dodge is calling the Trak Pak. (Dodge's fancy name for the engine, trans, and axle combo)

SRT: 6.1L HEMI V8, same trans options. Manual trans gets a 3.96 rear axle with limited slip, HSA, and the TP.

The 5.7L will be the newly redesigned Variable Cam Timing (they skipped VVT, which is unheard of) version of the engine, and will retain the Multiple Displacement System (MDS), as found on all other 5.7s you see today. This engine is in the latter stages of production, which is the cause for the delay. Production for 2009 MY Challengers begins in July '08. The full model line will be offered for the 09 MY.

The Price? A cool $31,000, or so they claim at Dodge. Production starts in March or April of '08, and only the SRT automatic model will be offered, in HEMI Orange. These will be produced as 2008 MY cars.

My piggy bank's legs are shaking...

Jeep Grand Cherokee: 1993-1995

2007-11-27T00:54:00.000-05:00

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of the most popular SUVs on the road today. Introduced in 1992, the 93 Model Year (MY) Grand Cherokee was brought in to replace the outdated, full size, Grand Wagoneer. Four trim levels were offered in 1993: Base, Laredo, Limited, and Wagoneer. Jeep faithful refer to it as the ZJ, which was the model designation from Chrysler.

The Base entry-level Grand, coming from the factory with cloth seats, and full instrumentation and the iconic 4.0L Inline 6 engine. The Laredo added power windows and locks, cruise control, body cladding, and aluminum wheels.

The Limited model was a luxury model, with leather seats, CD player, power seats, and the V8 option.

The Wagoneer model was a Limited with wood panels on the exterior. This model was designed to help transition from the Grand Wagoneer to the Grand Cherokee.

The 1993 and 1994 MY Grand Cherokees were the only ones to offer a 5-speed manual transmission. These are pretty rare.

The I6 is an AMC-designed engine, first introduced in the early 70s. Tried and true, many of these engines have been documented to well over 300,000 miles. It was rated at 185hp and 220 lb/ft torque in Grand Cherokee applications

The other engine offered was the Chrysler 5.2L V8 engine. Not as proven as the I6, the 5.2 proved to be as strong as an engine. These have also been documented to well over 300,000 miles. It was rated at 230hp and 300 lb/ft torque.

Three transfer cases were offered in 1993. The 242, or Selec-Trac, was a multiple speed transfercase. 5 settings gave the operator a full amount of options for their 4wd needs. The 2wd setting was used for every-day use, with 100% of the power going to the rear wheels. 4wd Part-Time was for off-road use, it locked the center differential between the front and rear axles, and a 50/50 power split between the front and rear axles. 4wd Full-Time allows the driver to use 4wd on all road conditions. The center differential was not locked, so the wheels could spin at different speeds, which allowed for use on dry pavement. The 4wd would react to changing road conditions. Neutral is just as it sounds. The wheels spin freely. Finally, 4wd-Low was used for extreme off-road conditions. The 2.72:1 gear ratio allowed the Jeep to get it's full amount of torque to the wheels. Only to be used at low speeds,

The 231, or Command-Trac, was another multiple speed transfercase. This transfercase offered all of what the 242 did, without the 4wd Full-Time option. This was considered the heavy-duty transfercase.

The 249, or Quadra-Trac, was a "single speed" transfercase. It was an all-wheel-drive system that transferred power automatically between the front and rear axles. Drivers didn't have to think about changing their TC setting for varying road conditions.

For 1994, the Base and Wagoneer model were dropped, leaving only the Limited and Laredo models. The 231 transfercase was also dropped, leaving only the 242 and 249. The same engines were offered.

1995 brought about a new model: The Orvis Edition. Orvis is an outdoor gear outfitter, catering quite a bit to fly-fishermen. This model featured two-tone leather seats, red pinstriping, and a Forest Green paint job. The wheels were also trimmed in dark green. It also featured the Up-Country Suspension Group, which gave the Jeep about 0.75" lift over stock.

1993-1995 Grand Cherokees claimed MANY industry firsts for SUVs:

- Standard Front driver-side airbag

- Standard Anti-lock brakes

- Standard rear wiper/washer

- First unibody SUV

The Grand Cherokee also boasted the most powerful engine in it's class, even in 4.0L form. It was also the lightest SUV in it's class, and had the most hip and shoulder interior room.

The Grand Cherokee became the benchmark for SUVs in it's class.

Some pics:

Introduction

2007-11-27T00:49:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Prat's Auto Blog. I am a college student with a love for all cars, whether it's old, new or concept. I'm going to post on vehicles past and present, and go through the ins and outs to the best of my knowledge.

I currently own a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. 4.7L V8, Quadradrive, Flowmaster exhaust. It's mostly stock, for now :)

I also own a 1967 Pontiac GTO hardtop. 400ci V8, Custom dual exhaust, 3.55 10-bolt posi rear, M21 4-speed transmission, Hurst shifter.

In the works is a 1966 Chevrolet Impala covertible. 289ci V8 (with a 396 on the shelf) Auto transmission, red with white top. Found in a barn close to home, 99% complete. Threw some gas in it and drove it home.

Thanks for comin out, looking forward to keeping up with this Blog :)