Guitar Hero mini-review

post from If it's got an engine . . . on 19 January 2007 09:06:09 PM. © If it's got an engine . . .

Warning: not automotive related.

Executive Summary:

Best. Game. Ever.

Review:

If you've never seen Guitar Hero I or II, you owe it to yourself to find a Wal Mart or Best Buy that has a demo unit so you can check it out.

Even if you don't own a Playstation 2, it's worth purchasing the console and the game. It's that good.

The first Guitar Hero, which was released in November of 2005, sold over 1 million copies. For a game costing $60.00 and released only for a console (the PS2) which was five years old, that's impressive.

When you play it, you will understand.

If you want to read more, check out the reviews on Metacritic.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.ifitsgotanengine.com/2007/01/guitar-hero-mini-review.html

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Mazda: Complete the Excellence

post from The Car Blog on 19 January 2007 08:07:00 PM. © The Car Blog

Okay, I'm going to preface this blog post in the interest of journalistic integrity (if such a thing even exists anymore) by disclosing that I am a proud and happy Mazda owner and, if I had the budget or means, would definitely be a repeat buyer.

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheCarBlog/~3/78219907/mazda_complete_the_excellen
ce.php

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CU Effs Up, Schooled By NHTSA

post from The Auto Prophet on 19 January 2007 07:06:04 PM. © The Auto Prophet

When Consumer's Union (Consumer Reports) reported that the majority of infant seats they tested failed a side impact crash test, NHTSA was horrified and sprang into action. They couldn't duplicate CU's results, and deduced that CU had tested an equivalent of a 70mph side impact, not a 38mph side impact.

?Our initial review of the Consumer Reports testing procedures showed a significant error in the manner in which it conducted and reported on its side-impact tests. The organization?s data show its side-impact tests were actually conducted under conditions that would represent being struck in excess of 70 mph, twice as fast as the group claimed. When NHTSA tested the same child seats in conditions representing the 38.5 mph conditions claimed by Consumer Reports, the seats stayed in their bases as they should, instead of failing dramatically.?

I have always been suspicious of Consumer Reports "scientific" methods--they don't reveal details of their testing, use tiny sample sizes, and inject (mostly liberal) politics into their conclusions. For example, CU apparently gives the same weight to a burnt out lightbulb on a new car as a non functioning ABS system--both are "problems". Obviously, one is major and one is not.

CU has retracted their report, but the damage has already been done to the car seat makers, who were pilloried by the local nightly news ("Your kids at risk! News at 11:00!"). Even worse,they may have convinced some people that their car seats are unsafe. I hope they get sued.

Here's a video of a re-test that NHTSA did of one of the "failed" car seats, at the actual speed of 38mph:

video details and more

Here's a video of an unrestrained infant dummy:

video details and more

(Please, don't be a dummy!)

Read The Full Article:
http://theautoprophet.blogspot.com/2007/01/cu-effs-up-schooled-by-nhtsa.html

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Drive This to the Shopping Mall. It's Legal!

post from Classical Drive on 19 January 2007 05:06:27 PM. © Classical Drive

Martin Stock Car If you ever wanted to drive a NASCAR stocker on the highway, here's your chance, provided you can get to the Russo & Steele auction in Scottsdale on time. The owner actually did everything required to make it street legal: yes, those are real headlights, in contrast to the painted-on types of NASCAR track racers! It began life as a Roush Racing test car, then was driven in the Busch Series by Mark Martin. Note the Viagra decals! However the race engine is gone, replaced by a "very reliable" 350 Chevrolet engine with a 4-speed transmission. Let's see now... it's supposedly a Ford but has a Chevy engine, is titled as a 1978 Thunderbird, and wears graphics from the 2003 season. Not exactly pur sang. You'd have to be a dedicated NASCAR fan to drive this thing on the road and with the noise and lack of creature comforts you wouldn't want to travel far. A sure way to get attention, though.

Read The Full Article:
http://classicaldrive.com/blog1/2007/01/drive_this_to_the_shopping_mal.html

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Be It Ever So Humble

post from Classical Drive on 19 January 2007 05:06:27 PM. © Classical Drive

Surrounded by acres of costly classic and muscle cars I often find myself drawn to the most humble of automobiles, in this case a 1968 Rambler American. Here's a car I could probably afford even as I outbid the competition, for Rambler Americans have little interest to the collector car world, and sedans with straight-six engines are well down the pecking order. Shown at the Russo & Steele's auction, the car arrived with very little information on its sticker except that it has 48,541 miles, has been totally restored, is fitted with air and rides on new tires. Frankly I'd be proud to drive this car down my town's main street, recalling that I test drove a similar example for Track & Traffic magazine when it was new. Written on the tag by the owner were the words "This is Not a Clone!" Not a clone? Who on earth would want to clone a Rambler American?

Read The Full Article:
http://classicaldrive.com/blog1/2007/01/be_it_ever_so_humble.html

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Art Deco Revived at Russo & Steele

post from Classical Drive on 19 January 2007 05:06:27 PM. © Classical Drive

Art Deco Rod As the move to Creative Weblogging is taking longer than expected due to technical difficulties and as I don't want to disappoint our viewers, I'll start posting Scottsdale auction material again. Today's photos were taken at the Russo & Steeles event. Considerably smaller than Barrett-Jackson and more relaxed, Russo & Steele features mostly muscle cars and other Detroit products, with a smattering of others to add variety. Hard to qualify this one, though. The parts and hot rod flavour are definitely American but the designer's a New Zealander, one of that country's top custom body builders. He calls it an "Art Deco Rod," having successfully used several Art Deco-flavoured styling hints. It features a 1940 Ford drivetrain with a much-modified 1953 Mercury flathead V-8; the paint is a DeBeers 2-stage finish by renowned painter Will Jackstone. Pretty enough to have won several awards in both New Zealand and the US.

Read The Full Article:
http://classicaldrive.com/blog1/2007/01/art_deco_revived_at_russo_stee.html

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Hemmings Find of The Day > Dieu et Mon Droit

post from 4 Drivers Only on 19 January 2007 02:38:35 PM. © 4 Drivers Only

Driving any Rolls is like maneuvering a wall of ornamentalism through everyday traffic. On this wall painted richly for the whole of the world to see is a big and beautiful, over-the-top testament to just how rich, rich can...

Continue.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.4driversonly.com/50226711/hemmings_find_of_the_day_dieu_et_mon_droit.p
hp

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CU Effed Up, Schooled By NHTSA

When Consumer's Union (Consumer Reports) reported that the majority of infant seats they tested failed a side impact crash test, NHTSA was horrified and sprang into action. They tested samples of the same car seats that CU was claiming failed--and they couldn't duplicate CU's results. NHTSA deduced that CU had tested an equivalent of a 70mph side impact, not a 38mph side impact.

?Our initial review of the Consumer Reports testing procedures showed a significant error in the manner in which it conducted and reported on its side-impact tests. The organization?s data show its side-impact tests were actually conducted under conditions that would represent being struck in excess of 70 mph, twice as fast as the group claimed. When NHTSA tested the same child seats in conditions representing the 38.5 mph conditions claimed by Consumer Reports, the seats stayed in their bases as they should, instead of failing dramatically.?

I have always been suspicious of Consumer Reports "scientific" methods--they don't reveal details of their testing, use tiny sample sizes, and inject (mostly liberal) politics into their conclusions. For example, CU apparently gives the same weight to a burnt out lightbulb on a new car as a non functioning ABS system--both are "problems". Obviously, one is major and one is not.

CU has retracted their report, but the damage has already been done to the car seat makers, who were pilloried by the local nightly news ("Your kids at risk! News at 11:00!"). Even worse,they may have convinced some people that their car seats are unsafe. I hope they get sued.

Here's a video of a re-test that NHTSA did of one of the "failed" car seats, at the actual speed of 38mph:

video details and more

Here's a video of an unrestrained infant dummy:

video details and more

(Please, don't be a dummy!)

Read The Full Article:
http://theautoprophet.blogspot.com/2007/01/cu-effs-up-schooled-by-nhtsa.html

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Next BMW M3 To Pack 400 Horse Punch

((PhotoShopped) Image Source > CAR) This year, the successor to the (E46) BMW M3 is going to be more powerful and more expensive than ever before according to Automotive News. Duh. What did they honestly expect - less? In...

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Read The Full Article:
http://www.4driversonly.com/50226711/next_bmw_m3_to_pack_400_horse_punch.php