http://carcounsel.com/hid finding the signal in an industry filled with noise Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:33:26 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en bq. it’s hard to think of a car that’s so easy to exploit so fully so soon after taking the wheel. And that, depending on what you’re looking for from your convertible, could be the [Audi] TTS’s downfall. With no subtleties to explore and learn over time, you have to ... http://carcounsel.com/hid/index.php/2008/10/01/iso-ltr/ Nearly two decades ago the Honda/Acura NSX shook up the performance car scene. This year, the Nissan GT-R is said to be doing the same. But could the two cars be any more different? Looking at this picture I stumbled across on the web - is the NSX is too much ... http://carcounsel.com/hid/index.php/2008/09/29/my-how-youve-grown/ When car companies want to increase fuel economy one of the first places they look is the wheel and tire setup; the less rotational inertia and frontal area the better so the narrowest, smallest tire that will effectively carry and redirect the car's mass is best. Would you notice? Some ... http://carcounsel.com/hid/index.php/2008/09/29/2-steps-forward/ When I started blogging I was hellbent on two things: that I not accept advertising dollars and that the blog be text only (to ensure that readers were here to learn not to skim as so many armchair experts do). Well, I've changed my tune. From now on you'll be ... http://carcounsel.com/hid/index.php/2008/09/28/by-popular-demand/ Admission: I've never followed racing very closely because I'm more interested in road cars or track cars based on road cars. Fact: Regardless of your enthusiasm for racing or Formula 1, you'll probably have a newfound appreciation for the factoids listed in this article... http://carcounsel.com/hid/index.php/2008/09/26/did-you-know/ Do you like your cars analogue or digital? With an inherently low CG and body weight or with a lot of technology to compensate for a high CG and a more portly whole? As Peter Tomalin points out in this month's evo... bq. Yes it still rolls a bit, certainly more ... http://carcounsel.com/hid/index.php/2008/09/22/the-choice-between-evo-and-sti-comes-down-to-this/ bq. Up to now, I'd thought there were five basic types of stare. The Truly Gobsmacked (Veyron, Zonda, Koenigsegg), the Knowing Nod (Audi R8, Nissan GT-R, Merc CLK Black), the Cute As Hell Grin (new Fiat 500, old Fiat 500), the Call That A Car Smirk (Vauxhall Tigra, Toyota Prius, ... http://carcounsel.com/hid/index.php/2008/09/18/on-the-mini-clubman-and-the-new-cooper-vs-the-old/ bq. The problem is that the Ralliart is a heavy machine, what with all that transmission, and the SST transmission has an annoyingly tardy getaway. All would be forgiven were the Ralliart a rousing drive, but for all its claimed power the engine never really lets rip. You find ... http://carcounsel.com/hid/index.php/2008/09/17/proof-that-an-evos-neutrality-is-based-largely-on-its-trick-differentials-and-that-the-ralliart-is-no-wrx-killer/ bq. Although the [Ridgeline's] entire engine is carryover, the all-aluminum 3.5L V-6 does have a new Magnesium dual-stage intake manifold that bumps the horsepower and torque up by three and two, respectively. Additionally, Honda keeps the current five-speed automatic, but does offer slightly different gear ratios, in some cases changed ... http://carcounsel.com/hid/index.php/2008/08/08/another-example-of-why-hardware-and-specifications-matter-less-than-software-and-subjective-feel/ Over 3 years ago, I posted on the benefits of using your spare tire before it aged... Recently ABC picked up on the same story, as you can see here. Ordinarily I take pride in being ahead of the curve, but this time I'm just despondent at the number of people who ... http://carcounsel.com/hid/index.php/2008/08/01/get-your-fresh-tires-here/