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CARNIVAL OF CARS: A Drive Around the Auto Blog Block for Saturday, August 9, 2008

Is the Smart Car ugly? The Auto Prophet thinks so, having spent some time walking around one and spying mis-aligned seams, ill-fitting plastic panels and such. Good for urbanites only was my conclusion after the first five minutes of a week-long test.

This would be funny if it weren't so gruesomely tragic. Njection has details on a guy who lost his head with his Aston.Note that's "with," not over.

Remember the TV sitcom "Then Came Bronson," on NBC long, long ago? Steve Parker, Motoring Journalist, does. Check out his report from Sturgis for the details, including a history of that epic event and info on the new V-Rod.

And here's another quick trip down memory lane - Gary Grant at The Garage Blog has a shot of a 70s vintage sports racer outbraking a Spridget into a corner at Lakeland Raceway in Florida. What is that contraption behind the windscreen?

Speaking of contraptions, you'll find lots of them at Auto Motto . Start with the Deco Liner &  Deco Scoot.

How ya doin'? Bob Hoover of the blog by the same name reports the pain is fading, the radiation treatment is done and the chemo is about to commence.  It's good to hear good news from you, Bob.

I've never understood why automotive applications of Heads-Up Display technology hasn't caught on it a major way here. Top Speed's Myles Kornblatt reports on a new application that might change things for the better.

Eric Peters at EPA points to his nominees for the five worst traffic laws.  Here's the sixth - the Slower Traffic Keep Right statute that never gets enforced!

You could win a Corvette ZR1 - Corvette Blog has the details. And it's for a great cause.

Barack Obama has been talking about a $4 billion aid program for Detroit, but Dan Riehl of The Fast Report says the industry's lobbysts are talking up a $40 billion - yes, as in $40 billion - in tax dollars  for survival.

Ever feel like you're stuck behind the eight-ball? My Texas buddy Kay Bell at Don't Mess With Taxes has more info on Eight Obsessions than you probably ever dreamed could exist. The auto link? The V-8?

07.mini.clubman.r34.500.jpg
What I'm Driving This Week: Mini Cooper Clubman
If ultra-space utilization efficiency and driving fun are priorities, the extended length Mini Clubman makes a lot of sense. The cabin is big enough to be comfortable for most folks and the exterior is small enough to allow using parking spaces that are off-limits to Corollas, Cobalts, etc.  The S is quicker but the standard-issue Clubman is still fun to run hard and mileage stays in the 25 mpg+ range. One critique - the instrumentation can be maddening without a lengthy orientation session in the multiple manuals.

That's it for this week. Don't miss your apexes!


 
 




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1 Comment

ateixeira says:

09:48 AM, 08/11/08

25mpg ain't bad but it does use premium fuel (why?).

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