Automotive Blogger

Halloween may not be til Wednesday, but this is Halloween weekend. What better time to rent a stack of cheesy auto-related horror movies, light a fire, and curl up on the sofa with popcorn? Need some suggestions? Here are five horror movies involving cars or trucks. (Vampires on motorcycles, we saved for another occasion.)

1. 
   The Car: “There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, no way to stop… THE CAR.” Released in 1977, and starring James Brolin, this is about a possessed car that stalks and kills its victims.
2. 
   Christine: “How do you kill something that can’t possibly be alive?” Released in 1983, directed by John Carpenter, based on the novel by Stephen King, and the classic car-related horror film
3. 
   Duel: “A duel is about to begin between a man, a truck, and an open road. Where a simple battle of wits is now a matter of life and death.” Steven Spielberg’s first directorial outing - years before Jaws, and way more scary. Released in 1971.
4. 
   The Hitcher: “Never pick up strangers.” Originally released in 1986, remade in January 2007, and scary either way. The truck in this movie isn’t so much a character as an instrument of torture. Twilight Zone-esque plot twists, and much gore.
5. 
   Maximum Overdrive: “Who Made Who?” Released in 1986, and based on Stephen King’s short story, “Trucks,” this is a movie about a group of trucks that come to life and become homicidal.

Drive a car long enough and you’ll see the odometer creep toward that 100,000 mile mark, which means two things: first, by this time your car loan is long since paid off, and a paid-for car is a beautiful car, and two, there are going to be a whole lot of issues that even the best insurance doesn’t cover, because it’s normal wear and tear. Here are five common complaints for cars nearing the 100,000 milestone:

1. Catalytic Converter will fail: This happens on many models, especially Subaru, but the good news is that even though a “check engine” warning will be triggered, it’s not an issue that makes driving the car particularly hazardous. Do get it fixed. Don’t stress if you can’t afford the roughly $1000 repair bill right away. However, remember that it must be fixed before you have an emissions inspection.
2. Ignition Lock gets sticky: A known issue on some versions of the Ford Focus, as the car ages, the ignition lock on the steering wheel gets stubborn. The good news is that a good locksmith can fix it, generally for under $500.
3. Transmission slipping: On Honda Accords from the late 90’s, down-shifting will start to get rough, and it may feel like the transmission is slipping. It’s common as the car ages - have it looked at by a transmission specialist.
4. Interior lights and displays stop working: You may be driving along and suddenly realize that the clock is dark, or the map lights no longer work. These little annoyances aren’t serious, but they will start to happen more and more frequently.
5. Head gaskets: The most serious complaint, occurring with many cars with serious mileage is that the head gaskets go bad. While repairing this isn’t difficult, it is time consuming. Expect a good ten hours of labor on your mechanics bill.

Remember, unless there are major drivetrain issues, modern cars should last well past 100,000 miles, but you need to be vigilant about regular tune-ups, and fixing problems as they occur.

As a member of Gen X, I am part of the television generation, which means that as much as I want to associate cars with engine type and how much cargo space or towing capacity they might have, sometimes I’m distracted by something completely irrelevant: the ad slogans.

And yet, how irrelevant are they? Does BMW have the same cachet to the casual observer, since dropping the phrase “The Ultimate Driving Machine” in favor of “A Company of Ideas” a year ago? And would Mazda be as kicky without the words “Zoom, zoom?” Advertising slogans are as much a part of a cars image as the color of the paint, or the shape of the hood. So for this week’s Friday Five, I’m sharing my five favorite auto ad slogans of all time.

• Bold moves…they happen every day. Ford, 2006.
• Drivers wanted. Volkswagen, 1995.
• The more you look, the more you like. Mazda, 1980s
• Why live in one dimension? Lexus, 2006.
• You asked for it. You got it. Toyota. Toyota, 1970s.

Your turn: What are your favorite slogans? Which ones do you completely hate?

It’s becoming more necessary than innovative or trendy for car makers to release hybrid vehicles of their top sellers, and in the next few years, it’s likely that even more hybrid models will be available. Even BMW uses some hybrid technology, though they don’t call it that, or market it as such.

So what are the top five hybrids currently available?

Here’s our list:

1. Toyota Prius - it accounts for half of all hybrids sold, even though it wasn’t first on the market (Honda has that honor). It’s also the most aerodynamic of all the hybrids, with only a 0.26 drag co-efficient. Fuel efficiency: 55 mpg (combined).
2. Honda Civic Hybrid - the Prius’s closest runner up, the Honda is smaller, and not as comfortable inside, or as aerodynamically designed. Still, it averages 50 mpg.
3. Nissan Altima Hybrid - its only available in eight states right now, which is too bad because not only does it get a respectable 39 mpg, it’s also got a 20-gallon gas tank, making it possible to go about 700 miles between fuel stops.
4. Toyota Camry Hybrid - it’s ironic that the Camry ranks below the Altima in terms of emissions control, because they both use a Toyota engine, but it’s true. What’s also true is that, like the Altima it gets about 39 mpg, and unlike the Prius it’s shaped like a normal car, and not a compact car either.
5. Ford Escape Hybrid - yes, it’s an SUV. Yes, it’s a hybrid as well. The FWD version gets 34 mpg, while the 4WD model gets a still-impressive (for an SUV) 31 mpg. It’s also been re-designed for the 2008 model year, to be quieter inside. Never a bad thing.

Those are my top five. What are yours? Would you buy a hybrid? Why or why not?

With the Transformers movie having come out earlier this summer, fictional cars are very much on my brain. But what fictional cars would you include in the top five? And should you limit them to cars that have appeared in movies, or are cars from books okay? For this week’s Friday Five, I offer Fictional Cars.

1. The Batmobile: It’s evolved over the years, of course, from the comic books through the television series to the current version - did you know the first one in the comics was actually RED? - which has been described as a Lamborghini crossed with Hummer. Still, with its introduction in 1940, it’s probably the longest-lived fictional car.
2. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: This car was featured in a children’s book written by none other than Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, before it made it to the big screen as a cheesy musical. If you have kids, and haven’t introduced them to this story, you should, because it’s a timeless combination of gadgets and good times.
3. Christine: Leave it to Stephen King to give us a 1958 Plymouth Fury with a soul and a taste for murder. But then, it shouldn’t be surprising - after all, this is the same man who turned a clown into a representation of evil, incarnate.
4. The General Lee: With it’s horn rigged to play Dixie and its drivers two of the best known “good ol’ boys” ever to grace the airwaves, who can forget this car from The Dukes of Hazzard, a Dodge Charger with a controversial Confederate flag painted on it? I’m betting as many boys tuned in just to see the car scenes as they did to catch a glimpse of Daisy Duke.
5. KITT: Let’s be honest, it is not David Hasselhoff’s performance that got anyone hooked on Knight Rider; it was KITT, the sleek black Pontiac Trans Am that could navigate around any obstacle, help capture the bad guys, and then pause to steal the show with a snappy punchline or snarky retort.

Your turn: These are five of my favorite fictional cars. What are yours? Are you a fan of Herbie, or should the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo, have been in this list? Would Optimus Prime or the Bumblebee, or even Lightning McQueen from Cars make your list? Tell me in comments.

While researching an article about heated cup holders, I came across an interesting list that I thought I’d share here. Apparently, even though they’re not officially tracked by insurance companies, there are a significant number of accidents cause by eating while driving.

This week, then, I give you five of the most dangerous non-alcoholic foods (and beverages) that people consume while driving.

1. Coffee: This should surprise no one. It’s hot, it’s liquid, and even those sip-through lids don’t keep every drop inside the cup where it belongs.
2. Soup/Chili: Personally I’ve never eaten soup while driving, or chili for that matter, but, like coffee it can easily splash. Because chili and some soups can be greasy, there’s also the problem of permanent staining to the upholstery, as well as your clothing.
3. Hamburgers: Like chili, there’s a grease factor, like coffee, there’s a heat factor. Add to that the fact that you can’t set a burger in the cup holder, so you end up driving one-handed.
4. Filled doughnuts: Sticky jelly and cream coat your hands, and the steering wheel, as well as forcing one-handed driving.
5. Chocolate: See above. It not only melts, but it’s also got enough grease to leave permanent evidence behind.

Your turn: Have you ever been involved in a DWE (driving while eating) accident? What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten in a car?

I have fond memories of the ancient 8-track player in my uncle’s beat up old Ford pick-up truck. It wasn’t an original part of the truck; he added it, but summer memories are all tied up in trips to the beach with that thing cranking out tunes.

These days, of course, we’re all more likely to plug in an mp3 player or a cd, than any kind of tape (I recently reviewed a new car that had a cassette deck in it, and had to pause and shake my head. Who even owns tapes any more?), and many of us are listening to HD radio, if not satellite, when we do resort to getting our motoring music via airwaves.

So I’ve been thinking tonight about music and cars lately, and I’ve come up with five songs ABOUT cars to share with you today.

1. Fun Fun Fun, The Beach Boys
   

   Well she got her daddy’s car
   And she cruised through the hamburger stand now
   Seems she forgot all about the library
   Like she told her old man now
   And with the radio blasting
   Goes cruising just as fast as she can now

   And she’ll have fun fun fun
   til her daddy takes the t-bird away
   (fun fun fun til her daddy takes the t-bird away)

2. Paradise by the Dashboard Light, Meat Loaf
   

   I remember every little thing
   As if it happened only yesterday
   Parking by the lake
   And there was not another car in sight
   And I never had a girl
   Looking any better than you did
   And all the kids at school
   They were wishing they were me that night

   And now our bodies are oh so close and tight
   It never felt so good, it never felt so right
   And we’re glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife
   C’mon! Hold on tight!
   C’mon! Hold on tight!

   Though it’s cold and lonely in the deep dark night
   I can see paradise by the dashboard light

3. Little Red Corvette, Prince
   

   I guess I should’ve known by the way U parked your car sideways
   That it wouldn’t last
   See, U’re the kinda person that believes in makin’ out once
   Love ‘em and leave ‘em fast
   I guess I must be dumb cuz U had a pocket full of horses
   Trojan and some of them used
   But it was Saturday night, I guess that makes it all right
   And U say - “What have I got 2 lose?”

   And honey, I say Little Red Corvette
   Baby, U’re much 2 fast (Oh)
   Little Red Corvette
   U need a love that’s gonna last

4. Mustang Sally, Wilson Pickett
   

   Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down.
   Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down.
   You been running all over the town now.
   Oh! I guess I’ll have to put your flat feet on the ground.

   All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
   All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
   All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.

5. Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Billy Ocean
   

   Who’s that lady
   Coming down the road
   Who’s that lady
   Who’s that woman
   Walking through my door
   What’s the score
   I’ll be the sun
   Shining on you
   Hey Cinderella
   Step in your shoe
   I’ll be your non-stop lover
   Get it while you can
   Your non-stop miracle
   I’m your man

   Get outta my dreams
   Get in to my car
   Get outta my dream
   Get in to the back seat baby
   Get in to my car
   Beep Beep, yeah
   Get outta my mind
   Get in to my life
   Ooooooh
   Oh I said hey (Hey) you (You)
   Get in to my car

6. Pink Cadillac, Bruce Springsteen
   

   You may think Im fooling
   For the foolish things I do
   You may wonder how come I love you
   When you get on my nerves like you do
   Well baby, you know you bug me
   There aint no secret about that
   Well come on over here and hug me
   And, baby, Ill spill the facts
   Well, honey it aint your money
   Cause baby I got plenty of that

   I love you for your pink cadillac
   Crushed velvet seats
   Riding in the back, oozing down the street
   Waving to the girls
   Feeling out of sight
   Spending all my money on a saturday night
   Honey, I just wonder what you do there in back of your pink cadillac
   Pink cadillac

Your Turn: What are your favorite car songs? For that matter, which ones do you completely hate?

Ah, August. Here are the days of unending heat, without any three-day weekends to break up the monotony before school begins once more - or, if you’re among the child-free - before September 1st, and the push for Christmas-ready marketing. Either way, what better way to get around in summer than in a convertible. Hard top or ragtop, these cars ARE summer.

In May, 2007, James Raia offered his top five cars of summer in this article. His list, which included the 2007 model year only:

1. Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
2. Pontiac Solstice
3. Saturn Sky
4. Volkswagen Eos
5. Volvo C70 T5

Great cars, all, especially if a new vehicle is the only one you’ll consider.

As for me? My top five is a bit more eclectic, and not linked to specific model years.

1. Chrysler Sebring: for its smooth ride, and spacious interior
2. Dodge Viper: for feeling like you’re in a race car.
3. Ford Mustang: because no convertible is cooler.
4. Mazda Miata: so tiny they’re more an outfit than a car, but zippy, even so.
5. MG B: retro style and personal sentimentality - it was the first car I ever drove.

Your Turn: When you think convertible do you think of modern cars, or retro ragtops. What are your top five?