iPhone GPS Round-Up

Apple fan-boy site Appcast has done a thorough round up of all of the major GPS applications available for the iPhone. Check it out and tell Matt which one to get.

[PODCAST]Car Brands in Jeopardy

GM's deal with Saab breaks down, Buick Regal goes sporty, Volt past 40 miles, Car and Driver 10 best, Beamer placements, safe travels this holiday and Company Cars for 200.

GetThisShowOnTheRoad Nov, 25, 2009.mp3

- No, David was not podcasting from a helium filled room, just a bad internet connection between the two coasts.  We apologize for the technical glitch and are working to correct for future podcasts.

Watch Your Spare

Toyota has extended a recall of Tundra trucks.

Certain 2000 through 2003 model year Tundra vehicles operated in cold climate areas with high road salt use, may exhibit excessive corrosion on the frame rear cross-member. In the worst case, the spare tire stowed under the truck bed may become separated from the rear cross-member. Spare tire separation will create a road hazard for following vehicles and increase the likelihood of a crash.

Watch out you Northern Tundra drivers.

[PODCAST] Podcasting into the wind!!!!

Ford rises, GM slows the fall, safe car list down, David's auto show pics up and more PSA's from the boys


Other topics mentioned include - Nissan Cube, Mazda, minivans and Danica


GetThisShowOnTheRoad Nov 19, 2009.mp3

The new generation of Ford buyers?

You always have to be a little skeptical when the company itself tells you something but Ford is claiming that buyers of their ecoboost engine tend to be 10 years younger than those that buy the base models of similar vehicle.

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 13, 2009 – EcoBoost™ engine technology is driving younger, more affluent customers to Ford showrooms. And many of these buyers are hot to trade in their competitive-make vehicles to get their hands on one equipped with the fuel-efficient direct-injection turbocharged EcoBoost engine.


"EcoBoost technology is helping bring in a new customer to Ford dealer showrooms," said Amy Marentic, Ford group marketing manager. "This customer is younger, more affluent, and more often trades in competitive products."


Living proof is the all-new Ford Taurus SHO, with EcoBoost as standard. The average SHO buyer is 54 years old – 10-plus years younger than the base-model Taurus customer – and second youngest in its segment. The median household income of the SHO buyer is $20,000 more than the base Taurus customer. And as for conquests, nearly 55 percent of buyers are trading in Toyota Avalons, Nissan Altimas and Chevy Monte Carlos, among other competitive products, to drive away in a Taurus SHO. That's the second-highest conquest rate in the segment.

Between this claim and the Ford Sync, made for the young suburbanite and their neat smartphone, Ford has a winning combo to be the leading detroit auto maker.

Don't forget, as AutoblogGreen points out, ecoboost is coming to the F-150 soon.  That could mean future generations of important high profit truck buyers in the future too.


[Source Autobloggreen.com]

Hyundai Elantra Touring - Seattle Auto Show

 
Yes, those are my kids in the Hyundai Elantra Touring at the Seattle Auto Show.
I liked the Touring, but can't say its radically different than my 2003 Mazda Protege5 that I'm considering replacing.
After reading this article on winter tires in Car & Driver I'm starting to be more inclined to all-wheel-drive because of the wet roads in our area. Winter tires won't help because it doesn't get cold enough.

Kia Soul Special Edition - Seattle Auto Show

 

They had this Kia Soul Special Edition with this hot orange paint scheme that my son loved. The inside was less impressive compared with the sport model which has a nice contrasting colored dash. I wanted to love the Soul but it wasn't as perfect as I expected. The cargo space was small and the design not as unique inside.
Still, USB and ipod connections are standard. Why isn't that the case with every model these days?

Seattle Auto Show

 
This is the first time I went to a smaller show. Still had everything I wanted to see.
Enjoyed looking at all the hatchbacks; particularly the Honda Fit, Kia Soul, Hyundai Elantra Touring, VW Golf and Subaru Outback Impreza.
I was particularly impressed with the Nissan cube. It was more stylish than I expected and still a good bargain.

Honda had a huge space and I got to see the CrossTour, which was less ugly in person.

Road Trains May Be Reality in Europe

'Road trains' -- multiple individual cars that are linked together through wireless electronic systems and GPS -- could soon be on the road in Europe according to the BBC.

I can totally see Matt signing up for this.

Ford Plans a New Police Interceptor for 2011

Autoblog reports that Ford will build all-new Police Interceptor for 2011.
So long old Crown Vic. It's been a nice long run.

Expose: Cash for Clunkers Kills Demolition Derby

Thanks to The Daily Show for this excellent report on the effects of the Cash for Clunkers on the demolition derby industry. I may never get the chance to see one myself.

Crash for Clunkers

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

[PODCAST] Easier than navigating through the DMV!

A view into Volvo's future. David gears up to shop at the auto show. Why does DMV do badly? A lost VW is found and should be returned. Flying this holiday season, free wifi is everywhere. And driving from your iPhone, remotely

GetThisShowOnTheRoad Nov 13, 2009.mp3

Around and Around in an Awesome Subaru

A post from one of my favorite sites of all time I-Am-Bored.com

22 Incredible Bizzare Modes of Transport [Pics] An odd little collection of cars, trucks, vans and other odd contraptions that some might call transportation.

Graceful Interchanges as Civic Sculpture

I've always been captivated by the mammoth interchanges that we used to call "spaghetti bowls." It's nice to see that they are being considered art.
There are some awesome ones here in Seattle, but I think the best are on the East Coast.

Can you really argue with them?

It may be one of the most influential cars of the last 50 years but it is ugly!!!!!!!

BusinessWeek: Prius one of the 50 Ugliest Cars of the Past 50 Years — Autoblog Green

[PODCAST] Matt Is a Brandist

Toyota leaves F1 but gets into the gardening business, vehicle sales go green along with Ford's profitability and GM decides to keep Opel

GetThisShowOnTheRoad Nov 4, 2009.mp3

Here's Chrysler's New Logo which won't sway Mathew's opinion on the company's possible future.

Real Time Race Aims to Let You Race Against Pros

Real Time Race promises to let you race against the pros, in real time using some Google Street View-like technology to create a virtual reproduction of an actual race track, and pair it with some real-time data as the race is happening to let anyone that wants to take part in the race from the comfort of their home.