1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1:56:06.337
2 Timo Glock Toyota 9.634
3 Fernando Alonso Renault 16.624
4 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 20.261
5 Jenson Button Brawn 30.015
6 Rubens Barrichello Brawn 31.858
7 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren 36.157
8 Robert Kubica BMW 55.054
Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 2785 Location: Lawwwng Guy-islind, Nu Yawk Country:
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:12 am Post subject:
Not sure if this is the correct thread for this info. It is about cars, but not gibberish.
Toyota to recall 3.8M vehicles over floor mat problems, largest US recall in company's history
* By Ken Thomas, Associated Press Writer
* On Tuesday September 29, 2009, 5:40 pm EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Toyota says it will recall 3.8 million vehicles in the United States to address problems with a removable floor mat that could interfere with the vehicle's accelerator and cause a crash. The company says it will be the largest recall in its history. Owners could learn about the safety campaign as early as next week.
Toyota and the government warned owners of Toyota and Lexus vehicles about safety problems tied to the removable floor mats. They say the mats could interfere with the vehicle's accelerator and cause a crash.
The recall will affect 2007-2010 model year Toyota Camry, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and 2006-2010 Lexus IS250 and IS350.
Owners should take out the floor mats on the driver's side and not replace them.
Toyota's previously largest recall was about 900,000 vehicles in 2005 to fix a steering issue.
10. Pontiac Aztek 2001-2005
The Aztek was criticized for the duration of its life for its ghastly styling. Design is subjective, so what do you think of the Aztek shown here? Were the critics wrong? Yeah, we didn't think so.
9. Daewoo Anything 1999-2002
We had just tested a Suzuki Esteem and marveled at how competent even the cheapest little econoboxes had become when a leather-lined Leganza midsize sedan showed up �\ the best Daewoo had to offer. We mused over which would kill us first: the toxic gases from the cheap interior or the recalcitrant transmission and inconsistent acceleration. Three days into the loan, the first Daewoo crash tests in U.S. history came out, and we called Daewoo and told them to come pick up the car. We'd never done that before, and we haven't since.
8. Isuzu VehiCROSS 1999-2002
The outrageous Isuzu VehiCROSS two-door SUV, whose extreme styling drew varied reactions, lasted from 1999 to 2001, and even that's surprising. The fanglike grille uprights made it look like it would eat you, which was scary mainly because inside the VehiCROSS was a place no one wanted to be. Headroom was minimal, and the low roof blocked even shorter drivers' view. If the noisy cabin didn't get to you, the punishing ride would. Isuzu deserved credit for taking a chance then on a design likely to find more admirers now, and it deserved scorn for a 2001 sticker price that would be just as preposterous in the current market. The VehiCROSS cost $30,350 by the time it fired up its interplanetary drive and went back where it belonged.
7. Jaguar X-Type 2002-2008
In the early 2000s, the class of entry-level luxury cars was growing. Most were sporty and started at $30,000 or less. Wanting in, Jaguar came out with the X-Type. From the get-go, critics warned that a cheap Jag would be bad for the brand and that Ford �\ which bought the company in 1989 �\ would probably cut corners and sacrifice quality. That was before they saw the product. Sharing its front-drive platform with a European Ford Mondeo, the X-Type was a too-small, not-so-sporty sedan with all-wheel drive that was hamstrung by some of the forewarned quality issues. The trap was clearly visible from miles away, and Ford walked right into it. A 2002 Jaguar X-Type can be had for up to $8,500. A 2002 Honda Civic goes for up to $9,275.
6. Pontiac Sunfire 1995-2005
The Sunfire managed the rare feat of having a worse interior than its GM twin, the Chevy Cavalier. Cheap interior plastics run amok, a coarse four-cylinder engine and horrendous crash-test ratings sealed its fate. On the flip side, the Sunburn was probably responsible for untold thousands of rental-car upgrades: "Honey, remember Fort Lauderdale last summer? Trust me, we want the Grand Am."
5. Cadillac Catera 1997-2001
To think that Germany's Opel is now the source of many of GM's strongest new models...
In the late '90s, the Opel Omega begat a Cadillac that was sporty in theory but soft and underpowered in practice, rear-wheel-drive in design but front-wheel-drive in feel. And that's just the car. Cadillac didn't help its case with advertising that included the tagline "The Caddy That Zigs," supermodel Cindy Crawford, an animated duck, and the suggestion to "lease a Catera" with the response, "Who's Lisa Catera?" The geniuses responsible for the Catera should have been exiled, but we suspect they went on to develop something called the Pontiac Aztek. Upgrades and deep discounts in 2001 couldn't save the Catera; it went to the duck blind in the sky in 2002.
4. Toyota Echo 2000-2005
The Echo subcompact's high seating position and center-mounted instrument panel were two well-intentioned features that were summarily rejected by consumers (though they would find their proponents in later years and other models). Call the Echo ahead of its time if you must; mainly it just wasn't a very good car. In taking over for the Tercel �\ a boring but popular choice against offerings from Suzuki, Geo and pre- renaissance Kia and Hyundai �\ the Echo proved that sometimes bland is better than bold. The problem wasn't that the youth-targeted Echo appealed more to older buyers than to younger ones, it was that there weren't enough of either.
3. Jeep Compass 2007-present
We could have easily chosen the Dodge Caliber for this list �\ a compact hatchback with unremarkable gas mileage, refinement and crash-test scores �\ but the hapless Compass edged it out. Why? Besides the fact that you shouldn't spread lackluster product around to more than one division (the Compass is related to the Caliber), it doesn't belong in the Jeep lineup, a brand known and respected for its off-road ability. The Compass is a soft-roading poseur, and not a good one at that.
2. Chrysler Sebring 1995-present
The previous-generation Sebring wasn't a bad car in its day, but Chrysler dropped the ball with the redesigned 2007 model. With a weak base powertrain, uncomfortable front seats, poor interior quality and haphazard styling, it never had a chance in the highly competitive midsize-sedan segment.
1. Smart ForTwo 2008-present
We don't have a problem with small cars in general (we're big fans of the Mini Cooper), just with ones that don't deliver on the benefits of going small. The pint-sized ForTwo sacrifices a lot of passenger space for a relatively unimpressive 41 mpg on the highway, has an SUV-like propensity to roll over, and is equipped with an aggravating sequential manual transmission. Sure, the ForTwo looks cute, but after you drive it you won't be smiling anymore.
Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12121 Location: It was fun while it lasted. Country:
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:01 pm Post subject:
Grand Prix of Japan was last weekend, Vettel still has a chance, but it's slim.
Japanese Grand Prix Results
1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:28:20.443
2 Jarno Trulli Toyota 4.877
3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 6.472
4 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 7.940
5 Nico Rosberg Williams 8.793
6 Nick Heidfeld BMW 9.509
7 Rubens Barrichello Brawn 10.641
8 Jenson Button Brawn 11.474
Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 295 Location: OC Country:
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 3:40 am Post subject:
bmwracer wrote:
Yow, a 20+ year old CRX??
Not sure where to look for something that old... Why a CRX?
my parents have a e30 and 36 haha..
well its paid off, but just want to do other things (business opportunities) with the money instead. I'm into vintage things and cars. I'm lookin at 1st gen CRXs ('84-'87), but if I can't find any then I can settle for 2nd gen. CRXs are great cars and 1st gen is very nostalgic. It gets great gas mileage and would serve as a fantastic beater. Plus they are super cheap, under $3k. Also, I'm looking into the Honda super hawks (motorcycles) of the '60s
I've driven four E30s previously... And totaled them all.
Quote:
well its paid off, but just want to do other things (business opportunities) with the money instead. I'm into vintage things and cars. I'm lookin at 1st gen CRXs ('84-'87), but if I can't find any then I can settle for 2nd gen. CRXs are great cars and 1st gen is very nostalgic. It gets great gas mileage and would serve as a fantastic beater. Plus they are super cheap, under $3k. Also, I'm looking into the Honda super hawks (motorcycles) of the '60s
Bad timing: my neighbor had a 1985 Chrysler LeBaron Turbo he was trying to sell.
They're all about classic/vintage/used/used up motorcycles. They also have a monthly magazine, but you'll have to dig for it, it's not sold everywhere.
They're all about classic/vintage/used/used up motorcycles. They also have a monthly magazine, but you'll have to dig for it, it's not sold everywhere.
Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1969 Location: Newbury Park, CA Country:
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:34 am Post subject:
bmwracer wrote:
Or maybe ginko biloba?
On topic.. there's a guy down the street works for Audi's test center down in Camarillo and there're always fun cars in his driveway. He's got a new R8 (with the beefy V10) sitting in his driveway tonight. Couldn't help but walk by and have a little drool. _________________
"Actually, I don't have bones. I'm supported
by a system of fluid-filled bladders"
On topic.. there's a guy down the street works for Audi's test center down in Camarillo and there're always fun cars in his driveway. He's got a new R8 (with the beefy V10) sitting in his driveway tonight. Couldn't help but walk by and have a little drool.
Sweet.
I saw an R8 on the 5 in Orange County a ways back... Really nice exhaust note.
Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1969 Location: Newbury Park, CA Country:
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:39 am Post subject:
bmwracer wrote:
Sweet.
I saw an R8 on the 5 in Orange County a ways back... Really nice exhaust note.
I'm not the biggest fan of how they look, but every time I read the car magazine reviews, you can tell those guys absolutely love driving them. And they do sound great!
And speaking of BMWs, I've become much more a fan of my car's (E46?) sound. I really like it - sounds best in 3rd gear at about 4200. _________________
"Actually, I don't have bones. I'm supported
by a system of fluid-filled bladders"
I'm not the biggest fan of how they look, but every time I read the car magazine reviews, you can tell those guys absolutely love driving them. And they do sound great!
The only real visual turn off of the R8 is that contrasting stripe over it's midsection... Rather garish for such an otherwise conservative design.
Quote:
And speaking of BMWs, I've become much more a fan of my car's (E46?) sound. I really like it - sounds best in 3rd gear at about 4200.
That must the be BMW's sweet spot: I like my car in 3rd gear as well.
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