Thoughts on these vehicles?
 

This is what I eventually talked my father into getting. (You don't even what to know what I had to talk him out of.) Almost every person who's ridden with him has left saying it will be their next car, including me. Of course, with FWD it will never be taken seriously in the lux-sport category, but you get a hell of a lot for $33K. If Honda finally joins its peers in moving its >250hp engines into RWD or some AWD platform, it will have a killer for the <$35K market.

Thoughts on these vehicles?
 

I had the option to buy a Lexus or a BMW a few years back. Bought the BMW. Kicking myself since. I like the BMW and all, but its a high maintenance vehicle. A Lexus goes forever, with minimal mtnce costs.

Is there a more overpriced Ford on the road than that mid-sized Jag? That is a such a Taurus.

I'm also sick of that Chrysler Pimp-Limo. It was interesting at first, but now that I'm used to it, it looks more and more like a kit-car Chevy modified to look like a Bentley.

The hands down ugliest car on the road, however, is that full sized Infiniti/Nissan truck. Its like the designer said "lets do round lines on half the car, then go angular." It looks like the sort of SUV you'd get by crossing a Pacer with Volvo. Uglier than that Mitsubishi SUV with the rounded tire wells, and that this was fucking ugly...

Bitchin' Camaro! Bitchin' Camaro!
 

With the unveiling of the "new" Mustang not long ago, could this really have been far behind.

Camaro "Concept" unveiled at NAIAS.

http://fp.images.autos.msn.com/meris...concept_02.jpg

Bilmore's already thinking about trading in his "Goat".

Bitchin' Camaro! Bitchin' Camaro!
 

Burt Reynolds, circa 1975, would look totally sweet in that ride.

Bitchin' Camaro! Bitchin' Camaro!
 

Dear. God.

Don't get me started on Burt Reynolds today.

Call me a glutton for punishment
 

but I love this one:

http://www.roadfly.com/gallery2/d/10870-4/IMG_2986.JPG

Call me a glutton for punishment
 

Hey, I think it looks terrific, and with the right drivetrain (think 3.2l v6, with 6-speed DSG) it will be a terrific performer.

Call me a glutton for punishment
 

...for your 16 year old daughter.

From the people who brought you the Rube Goldberg Accord ad...
 

A new ad from Honda UK.

Very cool.

AdL

Hey Alex, I'll go if you go
 

Ferrari driving school coming to North America
Mt. Tremblant, an open race track, a F430 coupe -- oh, and $8,200!

TORONTO - It’s not just a Ferrari driving school, it’s a Ferrari experience.

That’s how Ferrari is pitching its first factory-backed driving school outside of Italy, located at the Mt. Tremblant race track, or officially Le Circuit de Mt. Tremblant, about 90 miles north of Montreal, Quebec. The school will give participants access to 12 factory-owned Ferrari F430 coupes for 2.5 days and an open race track — which just may be about as inspiring an automotive opportunity as there is for true tifosi, the rabid fans of the brand that always dominate the crowd at Formula One races.

But Ferrari is promising more than just fast cars on a nice race track, said Marco Mattiacci, Ferrari North America’s vice president of marketing.

"The driver’s school is to really get to know the history, technology and how to learn to drive these amazing products,” said Mattiacci at the 2006 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto. “The common line throughout the experience is exclusivity."

The fact that the driving school costs U.S. $8,200 is enough to make it exclusive on its own and doesn’t cover the cost of getting to the Montreal or Mt. Tremblant airport or heliport. Adding to the exclusivity factor is that the school is officially meant for Ferrari owners only, of which there are 18,000 in North America, said Mattiacci. Still, when pressed, Mattiacci conceded there might be a small window of opportunity for non-owners as well, but only those contemplating Ferrari ownership. “We would consider a serious prospect."

The school will employ ex-Formula One drivers and local racers for instructors, although none have yet been publicly named. Ferrari officials insist the course is not a racing school, but a driving school that is meant to help owners enjoy their vehicle’s considerable sporting capabilities on the street by improving their driving skills on the race track."

Most of the school’s customers are expected to come from the United States, where more than 90 percent of Ferrari’s North American sales are located. So why not locate its first school outside Italy in the United States? That decision came down to providing the best overall Ferrari experience, said company officials.

"There’s a culture of racing and love for Ferrari in Canada,” said Mattiacci. “We have a popular Formula One race in Montreal and I think the market is ready to grow seriously."

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Co...2p.hmedium.jpg

Hey Alex, I'll go if you go
 

Awesome. Simply awesome. Fuck Bob Bondurant and Skip Barber, this is the school to attend.

SLK 350
 

So I drove an SLK 350 on Saturday. First impressions, not as much of a chick car as it used to be. Still sort of gives off a chick vibe though. Only in automatic. Mercedes is afraid that the rich guys won't buy them unless they're automatic. So, not really a sports car in that sense. That said, much better than the old 320 tranny. Much. Still felt a little underpowered, but maybe because I had driven a Carrera 2S the week before. The Mercedes, for a convertible is very very quiet on the road, with only a little tire noise. Fully loaded, the car I drove was $61k. That included nav, which I would never buy. It also had the sport package and the AMG package.

The car on the showroom floor had a thing called a neck-warmer, which is this ridiculous vent in the headrest that blows warm air on your neck. Again, what was Mercedes thinking? This vent thing hit me right in the back of the head. And unless everyone's mistress is over 5' 7" it will hit most women in the back of the head. Fortunately, it's an option. The seats were comfortable, but no lumbar support, so in that sense, not really a long distance car. Good headroom and legroom - even for someone 6' tall. No trunk, but the coolest automatic top in the business.

Cornering was great, took it on a 360 onramp with little or no lean. It had push-button shifting (soft of like paddle shifting) which I didn't try because I didn't know it was there until too late. Overall, not a bad car, but not really what I'd consider to be a daily driver. The SLK 55 is probably more my speed, but they didn't have any in stock.

Next up, Cayman, the german alligator.

Good. God.
 

Paris Hilton bought a MB SLR
 

convertibles for parents (xpost w/ post on parents board)
 

Hi!

I am thinking of getting a convertible (BMW 325 or 330 or Saab 9-3, the make/model is not necessarily relevant to the question). I have two relatively young children (btw 3-9). My partner and I have another car that is definitely the familymobile (SUV). Is getting a new convertible, with the attendant safety features, a bad idea? Is it too dangerous to have the kids in? Is it irresponsible/selfish? Do any of you all have one with kids? Thoughts.....comments.... appreciated.

anon because I don't want to be known as a bad/irresponsible parent.