RideLust

It feels as though it’s been far too long since we’ve seen Jerry Seinfeld being funny. In fact, ever since “Seinfeld” ended back in 1998, it seems as though America’s favorite comedian has seemingly vanished. Now however it seems Mr. Jerry is back shilling for Acura and their upcoming NSX super car, which is actually quite amazing since he’s so closely associated with Porsche (he owns like 50 of them). Regardless though it’s just nice to see Jerry back in action doing what he does best – making people laugh.

Source: Youtube.com

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*This AMX was powered by a Chevy LS-engine that looks as though it was made to be there – simply stunning conversion!

A few weeks ago I was walking around the SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV oogling the thousands of amazing show cars. The entire show is one gigantic aftermarket spectacle that must be seen to be believed, as it showcases just about every trend the automotive spectrum has to offer. One such trend that caught my eye was the crossbreeding of parts (power plants in particular) from one manufacturer to another. For instance, it seemed as though every hot-rod, rat-rod and pro-touring car out there had some type of GM LS motor under the bonnet. Now granted it makes sense, because in the scheme of things, who wouldn’t want a stout 600 hp, aluminum small block under the hood.

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Ever since I moved out to the West Coast I’ve been noticing a trend amongst those who drive hybrids and electric cars. For one, they’re generally more aggressive behind the wheel and two, they seem to feel that because they drive an economy car that this gives them the right to act like complete assholes on the open road. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve been known to fracture an occasional traffic law from time to time, but these hybrid drivers, especially those who pilot the Toyota Prius, are in a class by themselves. On the highway for instance it’s more often than not that I see Prius drivers motoring at 80-85 mph through traffic. I’ve been flashed by them, tailgated by them and even flicked off by a few. I’ve also been chastised by owners while getting coffee for driving what they consider to be gas guzzling automobiles.

Back in NYC the Prius driver used these cars as they were intended – to get great economy. They drove them in a normal fashion and simply enjoyed their little hybrids. Out here in California though it’s almost as if owners used them as a way to be passive aggressive on the open road – “Yes of course I’m speeding and driving erratically, but I drive a Prius, so it’s ok…” Now I suppose I could be imagining this, but I highly doubt it. What I’m curious to know is, has anyone out there experienced a similar occurrence or am I the only one?

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster. Image: Hyundai Motor America

I’m heading off to St. Petersburg (Florida, not Russia) later this week to drive the new Hyundai Veloster. Hyundai has a lot riding on it’s funky-fresh hatchback, which features a third door on the passenger side for easy and safe passenger off-loading, Unless you live in a right-hand drive country, in which case the third door may well be for population control. Read More…

Giving people advice about automobiles comes with the territory when you’re an automotive journalist. We get questions that range from make, model and performance, to how many cup holders a vehicle has. Personally, I love to throw my thoughts in the ring when applicable and am touched that people trust me for reliable information. There are times however when giving advice can be a double-edged sword. For instance, some people ask questions simply to reaffirm what they “think” they already know. However if my advice differs from what they want to hear, well then, all hell breaks loose. This happened yesterday when an acquaintance asked me about a recommendation for a good SUV/crossover for their growing family. The gentleman has two small children and was looking to go up in size. He also wanted something big enough that he could hang onto for a while in case child #3 decided to make a showing.
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When it comes to car buying, consumers tend to fall in one of two camps: the first buys whatever product has the best pricing, the best performance or the best fuel economy, while the second camp buys products from the same manufacturer time and time again. Automakers love brand-loyal customers, since it ensures them repeat business.

For years, it seemed like Honda and Toyota had a lock on customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. Both companies ran ads showing families who owned nothing but their cars, and both manufacturers earned a well-deserved reputation for quality. When you’re number one, however, there’s always a target on your back, and both Honda and Toyota seem to be learning this the hard way. Read More…

In the vast uncharted wilderness of Austria lives an automotive Dr. Moreau, a mad genius who splices cars together to create breathtaking beasts like this unholy union of a ’73 VW Bug and 2000 Porsche Boxster S: The Bugster. The man behind this beauty is Siegfried Rudolf. His shop, CarMaxx, specializes in tuning and restoring VWs and Porsches. Apparently he got the idea for the Bugster after he parked his tuned ’73 Bug next to his wife’s Boxster and noticed the two cars shared a remarkably similar wheelbase.
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*Photo Credit: GoMediaNetwork.com

It’s no secret that car manufacturers are always trying to get us to buy their products. They offer us incentives, rebates and love to shower us with statistics on fuel economy, performance and safety. Media outlets like Facebook and Twitter are used to silently inform us of new product revelations that have come out of their R&D departments in the hopes that we will be enticed to enter their showrooms. However as consumers I sometimes wonder if automakers are truly hitting the nail on the head when it comes to marketing. Most of us out there are brand loyal in one way or another. Some of us like Ford’s, others Honda’s or Audi’s. I’m more curious though as to the factors that influenced your purchasing decision and why, at the end of the day, you bought what you bought.
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There was disco, bell-bottoms, butterfly collars and Saturday Night Fever. It was an age of tacky excess and gaudy design. The 1970′s was a decade whereby society threw caution to the wind and in turn, came up with some pretty abdominal creations. For the auto industry, it was a dark period that was met government mandated smog regulations and dismal horsepower numbers. Because of this automotive stylists relied more on a cars design and features than sheer performance numbers to boost sales numbers. Cushy monotone interiors, power windows, air-conditioning, eight-track tape decks help push cars off showroom floors and into garages across the United States. Automakers were selling image more than quality and no place was this more evident in then in this promotional ad for the 1978 Dodge Magnum XE. A car that, according to Dodge, if purchased, could change your life. Read More…

When I first saw this video of Poison front man Bret Michaels getting hot and heavy with the new 2011 Ford Explorer and its MyFord Touch system, I began to wonder if Ford was hitting their target audience. Then, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that they were dead-on. You see the Ford Explorer has a definite appeal to families with young children. The parents in these families are most likely in their mid-to-late 30′s (like me) which means that back in the 1980′s they were rockin’ out to Poison. Sure it’s kind of a goofy move for Ford to go down this road, but at the end of the day, those of us that grew up in the days of the Hair Bands can relate to Mr. Michaels.
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