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Click here. (We’re speechless).

At 2860 pounds, the Si weighs 500 pounds less than the VW and nearly 200 pounds less than the next lightest Cobalt SS. And although it was the featherweight, the Honda felt the most solid and the most planted. It also boasts wonderful brakes and the tightest steering ratio of the bunch, but the electric steering system is overboosted, lacks on-center feel, doesn’t provide nearly enough feedback, and becomes annoying in real driving conditions, where it requires constant attention. source: Automobile

Reading this sidebar in the Jan ‘06 issue of Car & Driver, we found ourselves disagreeing on two points…

1) Even if it is purely aesthetic, we think the optimum number of steering wheel spokes is 3, and
2) You have to spend more than $20K to get a car that has the dynamics that are not saddled by front wheel drive family car roots.

(How many of their ‘10 Best’ we disagree with is another story altogether…)

For Americans, bigger is always better. Europeans generally understand that a dirty great engine pumping out sufficient power to light a small town doesn’t necessarily make a good sports car. But not our friends from over the Atlantic, hence the 8.3-litre Dodge Viper. source: AutoExpress

We have very little patience for a car that understeers, if only because we prefer the car tighten its line with a lift of the throttle immediately (not a few seconds later, once it has scrubbed off speed).

Then it struck us – oversteer is what we grew up trying to invoke. (Is it any wonder the kid in us all relishes in the thrill of a four wheel drift?)

For those of you reading this from work with your headphones on we presemt these two clips. The difference between a V8 and V10 (e.g. previous vs. current M5) is a lot more obvious at 5.000 than 15,000 rpm, but an interesting comparison nontheless…

We recently evaluated the IS250 with optional all wheel drive and were surprised at how much the system detracted from the overall driving experience; we expected the acceleration to be slower but what really suffered was ride quality.

While looking over the specs for the new 3 series’ xDrive all wheel drive option, we noticed the following disadvantages beyond the expected increase in weight:

– the turning circle is 2 feet larger – the front suspension is made of steel rather than aluminum – the transmission itself is heavier

Given that all wheel drive only helps when your foot is on the gas (e.g. when climbing hills or when accelerating from a stoplight) and hinders braking and turning, we strongly suggest you consider spending your money on tires optimized for inclement weather (which help you get going AND avoid an accident) instead of all-wheel drive.

(One exception – if the choice is between front wheel drive and an optional all wheel drive we’re tempted: better weight distribution, less torque steer and sometimes even a more advanced rear suspension are the benefits. In these cases we’d get the tires AND all wheel drive).

People often ask me what makes me able to correct most mechanics, salespeople, journalists and even engineers. The only answer I can offer is that I’ve been obsessively collecting information for nearly 30 years (since before I could read, really) and am very careful about who I get my information from. Spending 50+ hours a week explaining and processing said information doesn’t hurt either.

I recently had a chance to thank Metric Mechanic’s Jim Rowe in person for the knowledge I found on his website some 10+ years ago.

Once you read Jim’s thoughts on horsepower and torque ratings and explanation of why final drive ratios have more effect on acceleration than horsepower figures it shoud be obvious how clueless most automotive ‘experts’ truly are.

Thank you, Jim, for sharing what you know with the world, free of charge. Yours is a great example to follow.

...GL class, essentially a stretched version of the M class with 3rd row seating. It’s a familiar DaimlerChrysler trick in a world increasingly bent on platform sharing – after all the Grand Cherokee Commander is a stretched Grand Cherokee with 3rd row seating.

(Autoweek has posted the Mercedes Benz PR photos here; the squashed roof proportions reminded us of the Mitsubishi Montero Sport).

To increase profitability, the Alabama-built R, ML and GL class cars not only share their platforms suspensions and engines but their dashboard, instruments, steering wheel, switchgear, seats and trims as well. Translation: as when wearing a mall-bought shirt, you might not remember what you’re in unless you double-check the label.

Given the number of accidents or blowouts are caused by underinflated tires, we can’t wait for Michelin’s ‘Tweel’ ito hit the streets… (Production versions would have sidewalls, giving them the appearance of a regular tire).

Michelin has… found that it can tune Tweel performances independently of each other, which is a significant change from conventional tires. This means that vertical stiffness (which primarily affects ride comfort) and lateral stiffness (which affects handling and cornering) can both be optimized, pushing the performance envelope in these applications and enabling new performances not possible for current inflated tires… Michelin has increased the lateral stiffness by a factor of five, making the prototype unusually responsive in its handling.