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In a single generation, the old BMW buyer’s mantra of ‘petrol and manual, petrol and manual, petrol and manual’ has been turned on its head. This is the best new-generation 3-Series Coupe so far – and it’s a diesel with an auto box. The petrols are very good, better in many ways than any earlier ones. But the diesels have leapfrogged them and the 335d has leapfrogged all the other diesels. And although there’s nothing at all wrong with BMW’s current six-speed manual gearbox, this auto is excellent. It’s unbelievably smooth and quick – to the extent that you sometimes don’t believe it can possibly have made that change already. – 4Car

When your tires were new, they had 10 to 11/32 of an inch of rubber on them.

To pass state safety inspection you are required only to have 2/32s. That’s only 18-20% of what you started with.

Here’s the thing – testing shows that you’d have to have a deathwish to drive with less than 4/32” (just over a third of the original) in the rain or 6/32” (just over half original depth) in the snow.

Most mechanics still follow the state minimum but given that tires are typically cheaper than insurance deductibles as the wet and slippery weather approaches I hope you’ll consider replacing yours a bit too soon rather that a bit too late.

If you’ve got a few minutes to kill, click here...

Once on the move, the turbo wakes up and delivers blister-ing pace right up to the 6,800rpm red line. The sensation of limitless acceleration is outstanding – you feel as if you are only keeping pace with the car is by retaining a tight grip on the bulky steering wheel! The only trouble is getting traction. With all that torque on offer, the front wheels are prone to spinning, even in second gear if you’re too heavy-footed. As a result, the ESP stability control has to work overtime – AutoExpress

The old Cooper struck a shockingly artful balance between the rawness of the original and the refinement of a BMW - even the supercharger’s whine mimicked the gear whine of the original.

In remaking the new Cooper, MINI had to do something and the new car will no doubt be an advance in many areas (particularly in having a lighter, aluminum blocked engine). But from a design and intent standpoint, certain things make it more pre to trend than its rather timeless predecessor. They are: Read the rest of this entry »

I was fortunate enough to sample BMW’s twin turbo engine and the new 3 series coupe today, and the outcome was nothing like I expected. Read the rest of this entry »

I commend Ford for taking this step but given that the technology’s been around since the late 90s should it really be taking so long for manufacturers to at least make it an option on every car?

Now that the mass media is catching on, consumers are too and are starting to demand it. That’s the only way the manufacturers ever listen – when we speak by spending dollars elsewhere.

Some people think driving with your lights on in the daytime looks silly, but when you dig a little deeper driving with them off seems downright stupid.

Every study I’ve seen lists a double digit percent reduction in accidents for cars equipped with daytime running lights, while this page from a British website lists 3-5%.

Lights on at all times isn’t about seeing, it’s about being seen, especially in low contrast times (e.g. dusk, bleak winter days) or during sunset when drivers are overcome by glare as they head west.

It only takes a moment to turn ‘em on and there are other benefits too: people are quicker to get out of your way as you come up behind them in the fast lane and the laser guns police use are literally blinded by the light.

I’ve been driving with mine on since the mid 90s, when I found out a rental car company saw a 2000 percent drop in insurance claims after wiring their cars so the lights were on when the car was in drive. (No that’s not a typo).

Given the writing in evo magazine, I’d pay ten dollars an issue even if it had no pictures at all and yet their photography is some of the best in the business.

Now you can order prints of images from the magazine here...

Click here for a look at how the Super AYC (similar to Acura’s SH-AWD) turns a car that can be chucked into a corner and pull itself out of trouble into a car that points itself through turns under power…