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tgriffith

Should V8 Engines Get Outlawed?


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2010 Cadillac SRX
Someday the era of gasoline-powered vehicles will come to an end.

While no one really knows what technology will come forward to take over the top spot from fossil fuels, we all know the cars on the road in 50 years will be very different from the ones we’re buying now.

In the short term, carmakers obviously need to become more fuel efficient (which is the topic of major controversy recently) to maximize every drop of remaining oil. The biggest change I think will be the demise of the V8 engine, especially as higher performance V6 engines and diesels become more popular.

Take a look at the 2010 Cadillac SRX and you won’t see the fire-breathing Northstar V8 as an option, but instead a duo of V6 options. The outgoing V8 put out 320 horsepower with a 4.6-liter engine, while a new turbocharged V6 is reported to put out 300 horsepower from a 2.8-liter.

2010 MINI Crossman concept
2010 MINI Crossover concept

That, my friends, is the kind of progress we can expect to see in the coming years. I’d even go so far as to say V8 engines should be completely outlawed. With new technology like the SRX’s V6 and the clean diesel technology from companies like Mercedes-Benz, traditional V8 engines might be better suited for museums than street use.

While families who need the space of an SUV will still be able to buy them, other options such as the 2010 MINI Crossover Concept will spring up for those who need a moderate amount of space, all-wheel-drive, and the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder engine.

With options like high-performance V6 engines, clean diesels, and practical, moderately sized 4-cylinder crossovers, who needs V8 engines? Should they eventually get outlawed?

-tgriffith

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What’s the best movie ever about cars?


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We all know that a great movie usually has at least one great car in it. But what about great movies that are ABOUT cars? I’m talking about the best movies that revolve around car culture, rather than just featuring a sweet ride in a couple of scenes.

We want to know what your favorites are! While you’re thinking about it, here are my top 5 movies about cars:

Cars

cars-lightning-mcqueen

The story of a cocky rookie race car realizing what’s important in life is as heartwarming as it is exciting. Yeah, it’s an animated “kids” movie, but adults can be entertained and learn from it just as much. We can even learn a thing or two about driving (turn right to go left!?).

Days of Thunder

days_of_thunder

Another hot-shot rookie race car driver (this time in human form) gets his shot at the racing big time. Fast cars, intense racing, true love… what else do you need? How about “the need… the need for speed!”

Talladega Nights

talladega_nights

“Shake” and “Bake,” baby! The top two NASCAR drivers always finish 1st and 2nd. But uh-oh… here comes a French Formula One driver ready to take over NASCAR! As funny as Will Ferrell is, Sacha Baron Cohen makes this movie. Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. even make appearances!

Speed Racer

Maybe it’s just because I have a 7-year-old son, but I’ve seen this movie twice and loved it even more the second time. This movie lacks real cars, is partly computer generated and has completely unrealistic race scenes. Still, the race scenes are as fun as they are furious. This isn’t just a movie about racing; it’s a movie about saving the world of racing.

The Fast and the Furious

The underworld of LA street racing: fast cars, beautiful women… so tempting even an undercover cop isn’t sure he wants to give it up!

Did I miss one of your favorites?

-tgriffith

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2009 Ford F-150 vs Ram 1500


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Both the F-150 and Ram 1500 are being introduced for 2009 with major overhauls, and both Ford and Dodge are airing TV commercials saying they have the tougher truck.

The market for these trucks has been cut in half during the last 4 years, with nearly 3 million pickups selling in 2004 and a projected 1.6 million this year. Which pickup is truly the toughest and most deserving of your cash?

I’m going to get to the bottom of this and tell you.

First, the 2009 Ford F-150:

The 2009 F-150 borrows it’s looks from last year’s Super Duty truck and creates one massive and intimidating front end, with a body to match. It’s offered in a near-endless array of trims with prices beginning around $20K and sailing all the way across the $40K barrier. The big news here is that all trim levels have a base 4.6L V8 engine. No more V6’s for the ol’ F-150!

Step up to the 5.4 V8 though and get slightly better fuel economy, to the tune of 15/20. Not bad for a mighty truck!

Innovation in the F-150 includes a trailer towing package that monitors your trailer and adjusts itself if it senses sway, giving you a level of trailer control never seen before. Speaking of trailers: the F-150 can tow up to 11,300 pounds and offers a payload capacity of 3,030 pounds.

Ride quality though is where the tradeoffs may come, as Ford continues to rely on the traditional rear leaf spring system. Why not though, since no self-respecting truck company would ever build a truck with sissy coil springs. Right?

Enter the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500:

It’s true; they broke the cardinal rule of truck-dom and are using coil springs on the rear. Albeit massive coil springs, but still…

Well not to worry! Dodge took a risk and it looks like everything’s going to work out just fine, though at the cost of not matching Ford’s tow numbers. 

Ram is offered with a 3.7L V6, probably for under $20K. Prices and trim levels of course multiply from there, ending upwards of $40K for the top of the line version. Dodge’s 390 horsepower 5.7L V8 Hemi will tow a max of 9,100 pounds and achieve gas mileage of 13/18.

But those coil springs will provide a ride quality never before felt in a pickup.

So which truck should you buy? Well OK, I’ll let you tell me:

Better MPG and higher tow rating of the F-150, or a smoother ride and decent tow capacity with the Ram 1500?

 -tgriffith

The $20 fill up that changes everything


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Not long ago, in this very space, I said: “Americans could very easily get used to 3 dollar gas.” Well. Silly me. I would have never guessed that within a month I’d see 2 dollar gas!

I live in a state with relatively high gas taxes, and my local station is selling regular unleaded for about $2.25. That’s incredible, considering last summer that same station was selling fuel for $4.25. I could very easily spend my time here delving into the reasons for such a dramatic drop, but that’s not nearly as exciting as thinking about the consequences of the price drop.

The little Suzuki I drive has an 11 gallon gas tank and was costing just over $40 to fill up, which for such a small car was quickly becoming infuriating. I was ready to trade it in for a Vespa and seriously adjust my driving habits even with that. I was prepared to do whatever I had to so America could cut it’s use of foreign oil and usher in the era of hydrogen to power the next generation of cars.

Then I watched prices on the digital sign at my local gas station plummet, and I filled up Friday night for just over $20. It’s the 20 dollar fill up that is changing my outlook on our country’s gas situation.

Now I’m considering trading in my Suzuki again… only this time a Tundra sounds kind of attractive. Or maybe the practicality of a Pilot. Heck, if I can fill one of those up for 40 or 50 bucks, I’ll be one happy consumer of oil; wherever in the world it comes from.

How low will prices go before they are no longer an issue?

-tgriffith

Is Ford alienating youth with newest feature?


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MyKey, as Ford is calling it, will allow parents to limit the top speed of the car, sound a continuous alarm if the seat belt is not buckled and even limit the volume of the stereo system.

The feature will be standard on some 2010 Ford models, beginning with the Focus.

I can see Ford’s strategy here of giving concerned parents a way to control the driving habits of their teens. And I agree with the fact that teens are notoriously bad drivers and probably shouldn’t be allowed behind the wheel until they are 17 or 18.

Considering all that, you might think that I’d sing the praises for MyKey, but in fact I despise the idea for one simple reason: trust.

The fact is, America’s legal driving age is 16. Whether I like that or not it’s the law. As legal drivers, we need to trust teens to make the right choices behind the wheel just as much as we trust every other legal driver.

I wonder if Ford has considered this little fact: teens are fickle.

Especially the group of teens known as Generation Y. If these teens feel a lack of trust from a corporation now, they’re less likely to give that corporation their business a couple years down the road.

When it’s time for the teens of today to make their first vehicle purchase, do you think there’s any chance that they’ll buy a Ford? The same company that didn’t even trust them with the radio controls?

This is potentially a huge alienation of the next group of auto buyers, and a real opportunity for brands like Scion to step up and embrace teens with a very simple message: We trust you.

What do you think of MyKey?

-tgriffith