Recent Comments:
Shakira goes barefootin' with SEAT {Autoblog}
Jan 29th 2007 3:39PM SEATs exist in Mexico so that one in OR could have been someone driving through the US from Mexico. I owned an Ibiza a while back and it was pretty reliable. A very affordable car. I like the new Leon and the new Ibiza.
Detroit Auto Show: Ford Sync {Autoblog}
Jan 8th 2007 7:04PM "Good ad, but the voice over sounds like the guy that does all the work for the spoof movies. Fire him and get Kiefer Sutherland back"
I hate that guy. I agree he should be fired.
Volvo wagons rated highest for making whoopee {Autoblog}
Oct 5th 2006 8:26PM An Audi TT and a Porsche Carrera would definitely be uncomfortable. I know a Mazda 3 HB will do just fine so I can see a how a Ford Focus would be also good.
Car Buyers would like return option {Autoblog}
Sep 27th 2006 1:58PM I think it's funny that even though this is not something that dealers do, people still expect them to do it. You can find signs all over the sales offices in CA saying there is no cool off period and that once you sign on the dotted line you cannot return the car.
Like many others I agree that impulse buying is a huge problem. In other countries it's not that easy to buy a car, you can't usually walk into a dealer and drive out the same day. Paperwork, loans, banks and all that make it harder and it's also different because they usually have to bring the car in.
My first car buying experience was in Mexico. I bought a Seat Ibiza that I researched intensively. I test drove it shortly but did my research. When it came down to buying the car I didn't get much color choices but I ended up buying one in the trim I was looking for and for the right price. Never regretted that purchase. The second car was an Opel/Chevy Corsa that I test drove shortly as well and did some research on. This was the best car for the price that I could afford at the moment so I ended up buying it. I did get it in the color and trim that I wanted and I had to wait for it to come in. This car is still in the family and it has been pretty reliable so far. The only problem it had was a weak A/C that can probably be fixed but it is driven in places where heat is not an issue and it works fine the way it is. For both of these cars I had to wait for weeks to take delivery of the vehicle due to financing.
When I bought my Mazda 3 I did intensive research as well. I test drove two different ones (sedan and hatchback) and even though I wanted a sedan I could not find one in the trim I wanted and I was running out of time. I ended up getting a HB in a decent color (I wanted lava orange but it was the end of the model year and there were no more available anywhere) with the options I wanted plus a few extra ones for a good price and 1 year 30,000 miles later I still look back and think this is the best car I've owned. Of course now I'm thinking I want the Speed 3 so maybe I can take it back and say I didn't like my current one.
California sues 6 carmakers over greenhouse gases {Autoblog}
Sep 20th 2006 6:15PM They should have not killed the electric car. This too won't last, it will be withdrawn but someone had a stupid idea to try to get some attention.
Honda launches countdown on Red H minisite {Autoblog}
Aug 30th 2006 5:49PM Element Type-R!!
Sorry, wanted to try and get the first post.
Awww... how cute - Daihatsu Trevis charms Europe {Autoblog}
Aug 23rd 2006 6:19PM A lot of european cars (if not all) have a rear fog light so I'm guessing that's what that is.
VW recalls Brazilian cars {Autoblog}
Aug 21st 2006 6:29PM Gol, Fox, CrossFox, SpaceFox, Polo, Polo Sedan, Golf, Parati, Bora, Jetta, New Beetle, Passat, Variant, Touareg, Kombi, Saveiro.
A lot of Fox names but they still have their share of weird names.
I don't think the US gets Golfs made in Brazil, besides, the Golf was just reintroduced here so they are probably not affected.
MazdaSpeed3 starting at $22,800 {Autoblog}
Jul 28th 2006 8:52PM Lee... All other 250 hp FWD have failed, but according to the first Australian drive of the car, this one doesn't.
"The real triumph of the 3 MPS is its grace under pressure. In the case of the 3 MPS you can forget the horror tales you've heard of hi-po front drivers. In the mainly dry conditions we experienced there was no appreciable torque steer in a straight line nor in the twisties and the car could be hustled along very quickly.
From a standing start there's very little of the hunting for traction that other high-output front drivers exhibit -- leave the electronics to do their stuff, grab second quickly (to avoid the soft revlimiter) and they won’t see you for dust (not tyre smoke!)."
You can check the review here:
http://www.carpoint.com.au/car-review/1893377.aspx
The things they didn't like are not deal breakers and can be fixed.
DirecTV Titanium: the ultimate couch potato package {Engadget}
Jun 26th 2006 4:39PM I don't see why they would have to be able to prove how much it costs seeing as how DirecTV is not pirateable at the moment. Ever since the P3 stream was shut down everyone moved to Dish and stopped tinkering with Dave. Maybe Charlie is working hard with Nagra to find another flaw in the NDS security to get into the card again and leak it like they did before. Or was it the other way around? Don't know. Maybe the NDS expert here can tell us.
