Tim's Yarn Art Car makes into "Street View" Google Maps Club

My friend Tim and his Yarn Art Car recently made into the "Street View" Google Maps Club along with some other art cars who also are part of this elite club. The only requirements is that you have an art car that has been captured on Google Street View.

VeggieStreamer art-RV by Jay Hamburger - FOR SALE

The most amazing painted classic 1975 Land Yacht 25' Airstream travel trailer came across my email tonight and its for sale on craigslist right now. Its totally restored, updated and tricked-out in the most charming style......new awnings on both sides + new front tinted glass window protector/ sunshade, and new screens on all windows. A/C, heat, new 3000 watt generator and safest security hitch with sway bar control. Full frame-off restoration, completely refurbished....leaving classic elements to display the era of production. Less than 2000 miles since restoration and a veteran of several Houston Art Car Parades. Completely rebuilt full size bed + lounge couch which makes into another full sized bed....with storage beneath......wine rack and wine glass hanger. ALL NEW brakes, tires, refrigerator - A/C + LP gas, stove with cook top + oven, microwave/convection oven, toaster oven, battery, power converter, porcelain toilet, sink, shower, beds, lounge, tables, lights, draperies, fans, high-power audiophile sound system throughout the cabin.....with satellite radio and Viper paging alarm system with 1/4 mile range.....ALL NEW. Completely equipped with gear....new pots, pans, dishes, silverware, utensils, folding camping chairs tables and MANY other items. Local cash sale only.....after full payment will deliver up to 100 miles or arrange your own transport. Only sold complete.

My Solution To WikiLeaks

If I was POTUS, the guy who runs WikiLeaks would be snatched, tried before a military tribunal as a material supporter of terrorists, and then sent to prison.

And if I couldn't snatch him, I would cause him to have a tragic accident.

Espionage is an act of war, and leaking military documents could actually cost the lives of our soldiers or our allies.  

More Volt Math

The comments to my previous post, Some Volt Math, had some very astute observations.  Obviously my little calculation was based on lots of assumptions, and there are many ways to make the economics worse for the Volt.

For example, if you add the cost of a 240V home charger, professionally installed, it could add thousands to the cost.  On the other hand, it may be partly offset with tax credits.

Sales tax on the difference can be significant, 7% of $8,500 is $600, or 9 months of cost advantage gone.

12c/kWh electricity may be a rosy assumption for some, such as Californians.  What if you had to pay 15c/kWh, or in Hawaii, 27c/kWh?

On the plus side, the alternative to the Volt might not be a 30mpg vehicle, it could be a 25mpg vehicle.  But then again, it could cost $20,000 instead of $25,000, adding another $5,000 to the payoff barrier!

I have also read stories on forums that some Chevrolet dealers are planning on charging thousands over MSRP.  This won't last long, they are just going to make extra money on the early adopters, and will have to make deals when demand collapses at those prices.

I think I need to make a spreadsheet.

2010 saleen mustang interior images

Interior Styling
The first glance tells you that the refined interior will make getting behind the wheel of the 2010 Mustang more exciting than ever. The carefully crafted details behind the redesign include:
• One-piece, soft-touch instrument panel
• Full 360-degree cluster rings with heritage conical lenses
• New aluminum instrument panel trim and steering wheel badge
• Bright chrome accents
• Push/flip cup holder door
• Flow-through center floor console – featuring lockable storage bin
• Unique seat sew styles with coordinating door inserts
• Ambient interior lighting and MyColo

2010 saleen mustang interior
2010 saleen mustang interior
2010 saleen mustang interior
saleen mustang interior
2010 saleen mustang interior

Nissan Z Art Car Invades The Streets - By Ted Mikulski

This hand drawn Nissan Z was created by artist Ted Mikulski using paint pens that took 160 hours or 11 days to bring to life. This art car was a reflection of an idea he had that art should not only be designated for areas like galleries and studios, but taken to the streets. The artwork has several themes including Pac-Man, Where's Waldo, Space Invaders (my all time favorite video game growing up), Tetris, Mario and others, all weaved together in a comprehensive abstraction. The car was then clear coated to permanently seal in the art work and was unveiled at the New Britain Museum of American Art in July of 2010. It is no longer a car, its an art car, nice work Ted.

"Sponsored Post" WTF?

Over at LeftLane News, I read a glowing review of Toyota safety features.  I wondered why they were basically repeating Toyota's new marketing campaign, until I saw the tag "Sponsored Post".

Guys, write your own stuff.  It is bad enough that readers have to wade through banner ads, side panels, and on some sites, popup ads.  If they have to learn to ignore parts of your main feed, they'll get annoyed and start to tune out.

I don't have massive readership, but for the few readers I do have, I can promise this: any posts you read on here were written by me, with some thought.  There will be no sponsored posts.  No ghostwriting.  

Some Volt Math

Today's big news is that GM will charge $41,000 MSRP for the Volt. (Question for GM: how will you keep dealers from adding a "market adjustment"?)

Assume you can get the $7,500 tax rebate, so your actual price is $35,000, plus applicable local taxes. And suppose that a comparably equipped vehicle of similar size, in a non-hybrid flavor, can be had for $25,000 (a premium compact like a VW Jetta, Volvo C30, or a Subaru Impreza).

For $8,500 premium, you get a 40mile all electric range. That represents 80% of the 16KWh battery, or about 13kWh. At 12c/kWh, if you can drive all electric, 15,000mi/year will cost you about $585. Very nice.

If your premium compact gas car gets an average of just 30mpg, 15,000mi at $3.00/gal will cost you $1,500.

Under these assumptions, best case (all electric Volt miles), you save $915/year driving the Volt. To gain back your $10,000 price premium, you will have to drive the Volt for 9.3 years, 1.3 year longer than the battery warranty.

Now suppose you can't run your Volt 100% electric, but you need to rely on the gas generator engine for just 33% of your mileage. 10,000 miles electric will cost you $390, and 5,000 miles at 40mpg (assume) will cost you $375. Running a Volt 66/33 electric/gas will cost you $765. The payback time for your $10,000 premium is now over 11.1 years, 3 years longer than the battery warranty.

My point here is that at $41,000 MSRP, the Volt is not a great deal, except for people who are passionate about not using much gasoline. In order to even come close to making sense for the average consumer, the Volt needs to be priced for a payback of about 5 years, or about $29,000 out-the-door, or $36,500 MSRP, with the $7,500 tax credit.

Update: fixed my math error.

2011 Explorer Reveal

So yesterday was National Explorer Reveal Day.  I won't re-write what you have no doubt already read from many other source.

Here is a nice slide show of the reveal in Dearborn, from the Examiner.  Apparently, worried that people would get the idea that the new Explorer is an on-road machine only, Ford constructed a 30 foot high dirt hill (very well groomed) which they used to unveil the new Explorer.  

I think the vehicle looks great, inside and out, but it is a definite departure for Ford.  It is no longer PC to sell a truck which over-capable, primarily targeted at suburban families, who won't really ever drive it on off-road trails or tow anything heavier than a jet-ski trailer or pop up camper.   Ford looked at who was buying the old Explorer, and made a vehicle that appeals to a majority of those customers.  This will however alienate the few people who actually used the old Explorer as a heavy tow vehicle, or benefited from a real locking 4x4 system.   

Bloodhound SSC Project images

The BLOODHOUND Project is the World Land Speed Record attempt designed to motivate young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM subjects).

1. Education: 2,410 schools sign up to the BLOODHOUND Education programmed; independent research confirms BLOODHOUND SSC is having a mini "Apollo" effect

2. Car design finalized: BLOODHOUND SSC has gone through ten design evolutions. The design is now set with the EJ200 jet engine from a Euro fighter Typhoon positioned above the prototype hybrid rocket - the largest ever designed in the UK

3. Launch of new BLOODHOUND HQ: New BLOODHOUND Headquarters and build site opens in Bristol Docklands

4. Record attempt: Runs to commence in 2011 on the Hakskeen Pan, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

5. Sponsors: Major sponsors supporting the Project include STP, Lockheed Martin and IT partner Intel

6. Supporters' club: raised over £137,000 in its first year


1. The BLOODHOUND Education Programmer
The Project has over 2,410 primary and secondary schools, 176 further education colleges and 33 universities signed up and using the BLOODHOUND Education resources in their lessons. We have reached our target of 10% of the 25,000 schools in the England and Wales in the first year alone - the Project has even had its first nursery school join this week.

An independent study by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) concluded that the BLOODHOUND Education Programmer provides a genuine hook to get children interested in science and engineering.

Siobain Barns from Harwood Meadows Primary School in Bolton, who uses the resources in her classroom, said: "Our pupils are blown away to be involved in such an exciting project and enthusiasm is equally high from girls as well as boys" she continued: "They're enjoying maths without realizing they're learning."

Bloodhound SSC Project
Bloodhound SSC Project
Bloodhound
Bloodhound SSC

Bloodhound SProject

2011 Ford Explorer Aside

Old Henry was not known as being particularly friendly to the Jews.

Today, Ford is showing off a major redesign of one it its signature products, the Explorer.

In this video, project manager Julie Levine shows Mark Fields some of the new features of the 2011 Explorer.

They're both Jewish.  

new ferrari 458 italia cars interior

ferrari 458 italia interior
ferrari 458 italia speedmetor
ferrari 458 italia interior
ferrari 458 italia interior parts
ferrari 458 italia interior image

It’s two decades since Ferrari first introduced a paddle-shift semi-automatic gearbox on its F1 car – the 640 raced by Nigel Mansell in 1989.

Now Ferrari has phased out manual gearboxes entirely in the 458 Italia – its replacement for the F430. Has the onward march of technology needlessly sacrificed the joy of swapping cogs with your own hands and feet?

In a word, no.

The automated manual geabox in the Ferrari 458 Italia gives you the option of fully automatic gear changes or doing the work yourself by pulling the paddles behind the steering wheels.

Ultra-purists of a Jeremy Clarkson persuasion will lament losing the opportunity to shift the gears and work the clutch themselves. But the demand for manual gearboxes simply isn’t there. Ferrari say just 1% of F430s were ordered with manual transmission.

In sports cars at least, it seems the age of the manual gearbox is coming to a close and those who lament its passing are fewer and farther between.

dubai chrome cars showroom

dubai chrome image
dubai chrome car pic
dubai car
dubai chrome car
dubai chrome

Ford's Explorer Tease Campaign

Ford is running a teaser campaign on Facebook for its new unibody Explorer.  You can see spy shots here.  I have been following it to see the teasers.  The official reveal will be Monday.  Since they met their goal of 30,000 friends, they will be giving away a new Explorer.

I am amazed at all the people who say basically "if it isn't a truck, I don't want it!"  The days of the body on frame, rear wheel drive, V8 powered SUV are long over.  All the big players have basically left the market except for Toyota, which sells the 4Runner, and of course Jeep.   Oh, and you can't get a V8 4runner.  And Xterra doesn't have 3 rows. GM's Trailblazer and Hummer H3?  Dead.  Even the Jeep Commander, which was unibody, is rumored to be going out of production.

From Edmund's, here is the list of top 5 selling mid-sized SUVs:

2010 Ford Edge

2010 Toyota RAV4

2010 Chevrolet Traverse

2010 Jeep Wrangler

2011 Honda Pilot

Only the Wrangler is a body on frame rear driver.

Aside from niche vehicles like the Wrangler, Xterra, and FJ Cruiser, the mass market is moving towards lighter, more fuel efficient "crossover" type SUVs.  People want a little bit of offroad capability, but they also want good fuel economy and handling.  The sweet spot here is clearly mid-sized unibody designs like the Chevrolet Traverse.  

Painted Mercedes Getting Stumped in New Zealand

This Painted Mercedes got stumped in New Zealand and was captured by John Geek while driving from Rotorua to Auckland. Its also seen on Google street view here. It's one way to the keep the tree from growing back, stump control.