Draco-REX

Ehh, close enough for government work.

Ahh, some actual real-world numbers, nice.

1.4MB/s from a 12Mb/s line is very good. In fact it's slightly above.

Automotive Appearance Pros did my STI. It works great. I had the whole nose done up to 1/3 the way up the hood, headlights, and mirrors for about $800. It was a bit pricey, but compared to a respray it's cheap.

I have Roadrunner also and it works great for me. The problem with cable internet is that you're sharing bandwidth with your neighborhood. Granted, if the line TO the neighborhood is big enough, this isn't an issue. But if it isn't big enough for demand, then you'll start seeing bad connections and slow downloads. If your cable internet is slow, then likely you have a couple people near you sucking down the bandwidth and the cable company didn't lay out enough bandwidth for the demand.

This is the key. For this car to really become revolutionary, it needs to be accessible to the average family. I don't know many average families that can afford a $40k daily. Unfortunately, GM also needs this car to 'save' them and justify their bailout. So they can't sell it at a loss. I don't know if they changed the battery pack or not, but the initial battery pack they designed for the Volt cost GM around $16K to make. Once you add in computers, motors, the gas engine, driveline, etc, there's no way it could go for a reasonable price..

If your useage is under the 40 (25?) mile capacity of the batteries for the day, they you can charge the car overnight. No waiting there. As for charges, it's possible that electricity rates will go up if this type of car sees a wide acceptance. However, more likely the electric companies will be ecstatic about off-peak useage going up. Power plants do not shut off at night. They have to run 24/7/365 without fail. So they are ALWAYS generating power. As it stands now, a lot of the elctricity generated at night is wasted because there's not enough demand for the supply. Adding off-peak power useage will actually make life easier for the electric companies.

When the Volt was first announced with the 40 mile range and battery capacities they listed, someone here figured that at AEP rates, a 12000 mile year where you didn't touch a drop of fuel would cost you about $186. Now the battery is different, so It's tough to say. But likely you'll be looking in the same neighborhood. For comparison's sake, a 12000 mile year at a Prius-like 40mpg average at $2.50/gal is $750/yr. A good SUV average at 19mpg is $1578.95/yr. So even if the above estimate is off by as much as 200%, you're still getting a savings.

My vote is for the Leggy, of course. I don't have experience with the Acuras or Volvo, but while the Fusion is nearly the same in exterior dimensions to the Leggy, the Leggy has more interior room. I can set the driver's set for my 6'4" frame and then sit in the seat behind without hitting my knees in the Leggy. When I tried that in the Fusion, I had to straddle the seat as if I was in the back of an Impreza. I don't know about the regular Fusion or the others, but the Legacy has an overabundance of fuel efficiency gauges. It's annoying at first, but it did actually let me get a 23mpg average from driving to work and back on regular streets with about 4 stops in each direction. I haven't driven it to the coast yet, so I don't have any mileage data for long highway trips. But I'm expecting good things (considering it's a 3500lb full-time AWD car.) The Legacy also has a lot of surprising "luxury" touches also. I was very surprised, since I expected it to just be a slightly larger Impreza. I'd highly recommend taking one for a spin.

If Wheel Medic is willing to cut a rim in half and weld in a band of metal to widen it, or cut more to narrow it, I don't see why they wouldn't want to do what you're looking for. The only hurdle I see is having a mill large enough for a whole rim.

I was expecting it to be a plug-in hybrid all the time, so that's not a surprise to me. You can't have ## miles of electric-only range without charging the batteries somehow. My interest in the Volt was the ability for it to be a short-distance car (to work and back, to the store and back, etc.) that doesn't use gas at all. That's where people use a lot of gas, and often get the worst mileage. As long as it fills that role, it could be a great step forward. However, as said above, nothing is sure now until it actually hits the streets. Well now they're saying 25. Granted it fits my conditions, but it still might run the engine. We'll see. The Volt is Automatic, FWD, and a GM; three things that I just don't like. But the idea of having a work car that I never need to fill up is very tempting.

As long as it can go 10mi to work and 10mi back without burning a drop of fuel, then it's still ok. If it HAS to have the engine running when it's on, then it's just another dumb hybrid.

Win.

People will race ANYTHING. It doesn't matter what's available in their country. SOMEWHERE two guys were sitting around, probably drinking beers, when one guy probably mentioned that his lawnmower was faster than the other guy's. And Lawnmower racing was born. Yes, even in the UK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BeGJRw4tBM "Fuck that shit.. I bet my lawnmower could beat yours in the 1/4." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZiLxU0-7s4 "My bass boat is the fastest thing on the lake." "Screw that, my BATHTUB could beat your boat." If it moves, someone will race it.

I'm pretty sure that road in the first shot is part of the Formula 1 track. Which is held at NIGHT. I'd give my left nut to be there for a F1 race. Interesting fact: Littering is a HUGE offense in Singapore. Drop a cig butt and you will be fined $1000 and get a "Community Work Order" to pick up trash in public. If you don't do the work order, you'll be fined an additional $5000. In order to hold a F1 race in Singapore, The FIA had to get special permission from the Singapore government to allow the drivers to toss their tear-offs out of the car during the race.

Half of Detroit is a ghost town with shitty roads. Nobody cares if they hit anything. The cops probably think the problem will solve itself.

I have to drive a Colorado with an automatic for work. Worst transmission ever! I'd much rather have a manual. If you're going to automate something, it better work better than I could do it myself, or it's just an annoyance. Mind-numbingly boring. I used to commute through Boston during rush-hour with a manual and NEVER wished I had an Automatic. I don't see why people like them so much.

Makes my life seem so tame... I REALLY want to try one of those squirrel suits. (#2)

In.

One does wonder if it would have gotten so out of shape with two hands on the wheel.. I've seen tons of in-car video of drag racers trying to save the car with one hand on the wheel and the other holding onto the shifter...

I think he needs to work on his suspension setup. That thing's trying to go every way but straight.

That thing is a beast!

LOL.. I have no idea why that was so funny, but I'm in pain from laughing so hard.

Worst thing about that is I'm sure that car would sell. I really think one reason why most people don't like driving, and can't understand people who do, is because they've been driving crappy cars all their life.

Bah, seat that kid in style. Get a Recaro baby seat! http://www.recarochildseat.com/home.jsp