It’s Funny Because It’s True

If People Were Horses…

VW’s Banned and UnBanned Sense of Humour

I’ve been growing increasingly tired of the current ad campaign that focuses around the whole “like a Golf” idea. I’ve been around a lot of car guys and I’ve not once heard anyone say that. I’ve also bought many a car and not once have I been attracted to any because they’re “like a Golf.”

So I was wondering if Volkswagen had lost their humour. You may now be asking “did they ever have one?” Yes they did, but it was banned:

Volvo Go For An Ad With Bite…

..but lose my interest.

Sorry Volvo. I was once a massive advocate of yours. I’ve owned and driven your cars and was really impressed with your recent styling emphasis, especially with the new C30. However, one of the many things that irritates me lately is so many people’s obsession with Twilight and all things associated with it which now, unfortunately, includes your Volvo C30:

Ford Gettting Their Designs From Toys?

Everybody in the UK – I’m sure – remembers the Ford Capri. If only for the infamous Capri Ghia as owned by Del Boy Trotter. Ford’s attempt at the affordable sports car – possibly looking to replicate the Stateside success of the original Mustang – for the discerning British motorist that never quite was and often ended as the butt of jokes instead….

Well, this:

Well, there’s been many a rumour lately that the Blue Oval is going to be gracing a new version of the Capri soon and a variet of “official” leaks have dribbled out.

Such as this:

Now it’s all very edgy and funky but I can’t help thinking I’ve seen this new Ford in Sussex before…. oh yeah: on my mate’s Hot Wheels Power Loop set !

Granted I wouldn’t mind getting behind the wheel of the new Ford Capri if it looks like that…. I’ll just be checking over my shoulder to make sure there’s no launch button about to propel me out of the garage at high speed.

Virtual Driving Lessons?

Now I’ll admit, I was a little mislead and suitable disappointed by this video. I’m a huge fan of the whole augmented reality thing and have been since seeing it for the first time at an expo last year so the idea of augmented driving lessons really appealed. However….

The idea of taking driving lessons again disturbs me. It’s been well over ten years since I passed my test and I know I’ve picked up some real bad habbits – like muscling along on the speed, driving with my knees, not using the handbrake 100% of the time I should be…. – and might not pass so easily. However, if I were to choose between taking driving lessons in Kent or driving lessons sat at my iMac and using the webcam…. I can readily leave my car keys at home.

That being said there may be a couple of problems. You wouldn’t necessarily learn anything except theory and procedures. Perhaps you could learn braking distances but… you wouldn’t learn the all important pyhisical elements like handling the car itself, changing gears (though this is American and half the time I don’t think they learn either over there).

Should this technology really take off though I can see a real practical use for this – put the code on the back of the highway code and away you go. Visual, 3-d representation of breaking distances, turning procedures etc. I reckon it’d be a whole lot more tangible for learners than the pictures and diagrams in the book. You could even incorporate the roadsigns in there and how they should be reacted to.

How To Scare A Driving Instructor

This started off a bit slow and “meh”  but once this guy whips out his mobile….

From what I remember of my driving lessons in Kent, it’s pretty rare to get a lesson in anything other than a driving school’s car and it’s clear looking at this why they want those duel controls so much.

I guess they’re a little more relaxed about the whole thing in the states. Which is odd considering how much of a rage these three fly into. Surely at some point they’d suss out that this dude’s driving pretty confidently for a learner… but then the Yanks are prone to a bit of self-importance and I’m sure an American driving instructor imagines people incapable of mastering a motor vehicle before their arrival.

Quite a Trolley Full

I suppose it’s one way to get shoppers’ attention:

The idea – as the text says – is to show how easy it is to pick up a MiTo. I’m not about to head down to an Alfa Romeo dealer with a trolley though. It may fit but how would you get it in?  I’m impressed with the bravery of the guy examining it real close… I’d be worried it’d fall out.

World’s Best Snowman

Say hello to my little friend

All The More Reason To Want One

The more I see of this little rocket, the more I want one:

I have no idea what’s being said in this clip – I only know the Led Zep song playing. All I know is that everything I see about the Abarth 500 makes me want one of these little super-go-karts more.

0-62mph in less than 8 seconds, a max speed of close too 130mph… it might not sound like supercar performance but when you factor in how light the body is, how small this little car is and how practical it is too… there’s plenty of reasons to want one.

Problem is, in order to get an Abarth 500 in Kent I’d have to join the waiting list that I think now stretches to the end of the year.