CAR SIGHTINGS: PRIUS PICKUP!

F-350s don't have anything on me.

F-350s don’t have anything on me.

I don’t know why I didn’t think of this first! I mean, c’mon, why wouldn’t anyone want to take a Prius, cut out the rear hatch and turn it into a pickup truck? It’s a Prius, so we all know it gets great gas mileage. And now it’s a truck! I hate to guesstimate, but this thing should have a payload capacity of at least 50 – 80 lbs. You should be able to lug around at least six or more FULLY stocked grocery bags.

And towing? I’m sure it could tow at least half a jet ski. I mean, we all know that a trailer of any size would automatically exceed this car’s towing capacity, but hey, why let that stop someone from the time, cost and energy to do this to a Prius?

Honestly, you have to give this guy props for his handy work (minus the rear quarter panel), because this definitely took some determination. I just wonder if the batteries get wet when it rains…

CAR SIGHTINGS: SOMETHING’S A BIT OFF

Yes, this happened.

I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s different about this car…

OK, so I was on my way to work one day and I saw this car. From a distance, I thought there had been an accident and a car flipped over. But then I noticed the car started moving. As I got closer I realized this car hadn’t been in an accident, but was actually purposely built this way.

I really wanted to stop this guy and ask him a bunch of questions, but quite honestly, I was so dumbfounded that I did what everyone on the street was doing: staring in disbelief. I have to hand it to these guys, their idea to catch people’s attention really worked. Now, if we could just see how this car would do on the track…

PICKING UP SPEED: MY FIRST TRACK DAY

Breaking in my new baby

Breaking in myS4 at Thunderhill Raceway 2015

Few things are more fun than driving a car on a track. And let’s face it, a lot of us drive our cars like we’re on one anyway. But since many of you reading this post haven’t officially tracked your car, I thought I’d share my recent experience at Thunderhill Raceway, located a couple hours north of San Francisco.

Although I’ve driven on tracks many times working for various manufacturers, this experience is special since it marks a lot of firsts. It was my first time at Thunderhill Raceway, my first time with Audi Club North America and my first time to have instructed track time at a HPDE (High Performance Driving Education) event. [Read more…]

TURBOCHARGERS: THEORY VS. REALITY

Garrett-turbo

ALL CHARGED UP

It seems that just about every car manufacturer is jumping on the turbocharging bandwagon these days. Even Honda — which has typically resisted turbocharging — is launching its first turbocharged Civic for the 2016 model year.

And why not? Turbocharged engines have been touted as being the Holy Grail of power and efficiency. We constantly hear car companies promising that their turbocharged 4-cylinder engines can provide the power of a V-6 — while still delivering the fuel efficiency of a 4-cylinder.

[Read more…]