Non Upgradeable OnStar? Hack It
Popular Science has a suggestion for owners of non upgradeable, analog OnStar systems: salvage the GPS module. What ensues is a lot of hacking to basically get an onboard GPS system. With serviceable portable GPS units like the TomTom One on sale for $200 or so, it's a tough argument to justify this operation. However, for some the challenge is half the reward.
Read all about it here.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Driving the smart fortwo
As the "street smart" show rolled through the Bay Area I had a chance to take a spin behind the wheel of a fortwo. I'll warn you--the drive was brief, but at least it was on public streets and not some coned off parking lot.
We are working with a small amount of power, 71hp, and yet the economy of somewhere around 40mpg is nothing to write home about. However, I really don't think that power, economy or ultimate practicality are going to play that much of a factor here. Bottom line is that the first couple years of sales are going to be folks who fell in love with the fortwo based on its perky, unmistakable profile.
Going back to the test drive. The car is as spacious as you've read about: no worries about claustrophobia. The transmission does take its time in between shifts when in automatic mode, with a noticeable pause as it changes things up. With such a quick time behind the wheel I didn't get a chance to play around with the controls very much. I will say that everything I did touch inside the car fell easily into hand and I was off to the races relatively quickly.
So, how much is this little put-put going to set you back? Introductory pricing places the entry level fortwo pure at $11,600, passion coupe at $13,600 and passion cabrio at $16,600 before delivery costs. There will be options such as leather, heated seats, power steering plus those funky pod like clock and tachometer gauges.
I wish that my drive time in the car had been longer. However, as I said above I doubt that the throngs of folks lining up to check out the fortwo really cared much about how it drove as much as how they looked in it.
It's an appealing car and certainly looks like nothing else on our roads. I hope that the turbo model will come along to make things a bit more interesting!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Keyless Entry? How About Any Key Entry?
It's hard to find a car that doesn't have a remote fob to open its doors. Now researchers in researchers in Israel and Belgium have found a shortcut that would allow a thief to almost immediately decipher a key fob's transmission and create a master key. This is all possible because most keyless entry systems use an encryption system developed in the 1980s: back when we had Commodore 64s in our homes. The system, called KeeLoq doesn't prevent brute force attacks, so an attacker could spend a few days attacking security systems (only about 30 minutes of access per system is needed) to build up a repertoire of known master keys. Then it's off to the shopping mall, where the thief armed with a master key could park a car with listening devices and eavesdrop on every car as a driver parks, walks away, and pushes their key to lock the doors. Within seconds, the transmission could be intercepted, analyzed, paired with information about a known master key and used to pop the locks. Although your car wouldn't necessarily be stolen, it would be picked clean of GPS units, radar detectors, iPods, purses, etc.
Full "Red Tape Chronicles" article here.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Nissan Rogue: A Badger?
Reading the early reviews of the Nissan Rogue one gets the impression that Nissan has fielded a competent entry, but little more than that. In the Rogue's uniqueness corner is the fact that it has a CVT and a perky four cylinder with 170hp and 175lb/ft torque and a starting price below $20k. In the negative column would have to be exterior styling, with that front grill a the top of the list. Not that any of the Rogue's competitors are going to win beauty contests. Gaining back some of that equity is an interior made of handsome materials with lots of storage cubbies sprinkled throughout.
What got a real chuckle out of me was the ending line in Edmund's review that stated "We just don't think it's a rogue, a rebel, an upstart. At this point, the Rogue is really more of a ferret, or a badger." I immediately thought of the famous, animated ditty that you see above. The more I thought about it, the more appropriate this analogy seemed. Everybody is fielding an entry in this category, so if you replace the badgers in the video with small crossovers it's pretty close to reality.Click here for Edmund's review. Click here for Cars.com review. Click here for Motortrend.com review.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Bay Area Gets First Open-Road Tolling
With the opening of the new Benicia-Martinez Bridge, FasTrak pass holders won't even have to slow down to pay their toll. Unlike the existing system that uses laser light curtains the new system will read the transponders and if the system doesn't recognize the vehicle it will use license plate photographs for identification.
It all sounds good to me! Full article here.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Cash or Credit?
There an interesting article on cash vs. credit at the fuel pump. Fees can vary significantly, but one gas station cited in the article pays 10 cents plus 2% for each customer filling up. The article goes on to mention Visa attempting to strong arm a station into using the term "regular" or "standard" to differentiate the higher "credit" price from the cash cost, state regulators got involved and Visa backed off.
We pay for the convenience, about 4.2 cents a gallon, but how many people are going to pay with cash? Sure there are some budget conscious folks, but especially if you're getting 5 cents a gallon rebate from your credit card, there is no incentive.
Full article here.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Bill Murray Drunk in a Golf Cart? In Sweden?
Bill Murray was spotted by Stockholm police officers who noticed when they pulled him over that he smelled of alcohol. Murray said no to a breath test, so they stuck a needle in him. The test results will be back in 14 days.
More than likely Murray will face a fine and nothing else.
In case you're wondering, drunk golf cart drivers aren't that common in Stockholm traffic. Said one officer, "I have done this since '68 and I've never experienced anything like this."
source: cnn
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
2008 Honda Odyssey
Odyssey (all)
Exterior and interior design enhancements
MP3/Auxiliary input jack
MP3/Windows Media® Audio (WMA) playback capability
Active head restraints
Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
Odyssey EX
2nd-Row PlusOne Seat™ with storage bin
Tri-zone automatic climate control
Odyssey EX-L
Next generation of Honda’s VCM® engine technology
Rearview mirror with monitor (and backup camera)
XM® Satellite Radio
Power adjustable passenger seat
2nd-Row PlusOne Seat™ with storage bin
Tri-zone automatic climate control
Odyssey EX-L RES
Next generation of Honda’s VCM® engine technology
Rearview mirror with monitor (and backup camera)
115-volt power outlet
XM® Satellite Radio
2nd-Row PlusOne Seat™ with storage bin
Tri-zone automatic climate control
Odyssey EX-L Navi/RES
Next generation of Honda’s VCM® engine technology
Rearview mirror with monitor (and backup camera)
115-volt power outlet
2nd-Row PlusOne Seat™ with storage bin
Tri-zone automatic climate control
Odyssey Touring Navi/RES
(08M TOURING now available in only Navi/Res trim with a PAX tire option)
Next generation of Honda’s VCM® engine technology
2nd-Row PlusOne Seat™ with storage bin
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®
Memory Linked Door Mirrors with Reverse Tilt
Monday, August 20, 2007
Hungry Driver Helped By Heimlich
Steven Earp was piloting his Honda and chowing down on a "fast-food sandwich" when he suddenly began to choke. The situation become nearly fatal when Earp blacked out and his car continued to roll. The Honda hit a parked car and Earp regained consciousness. Paramedics credit a possible Honda Heimlich administered by the seat belt as the cause of Earp regaining consciousness.
source: yahoo news
Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Bay Bridge's New Eastern Span
Sure there have been a lot of reports filed on the construction of the Bay Bridge's new eastern span. What sets this photo essay apart is that it's part of a 25 day, 4,891 mile road trip by CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman. You can check out the report on the Bay Bridge here and take a look at all of this Road Trip 2007 entries here.
The above picture is a rendering of what the final product should look like. What a great visage! So much better than what could have been (see alternative 6 above). It's hard to believe that it's going to be 2013 before it's ready to go.
You can find out more by visiting NewBayBridge.org
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Saturn's Rethink Campaign. Was Anyone Thinking?
I have yet to be bowled over by Saturn's "Rethink" campaign and the new crop of Vue commercials have me rethinking just how lousy the whole series has been.
Now it is true that Saturn was allowed to slip to perilously low levels. Remember the Ion's leopard print roof rails? Now the brand finally has a tremendously overhauled lineup. I love the Opel influence and I positively think it's the way to go. However, the advertising is not getting the message across.
The most offensive Vue commercial is the one that states that excessive spending is going out of style. They show a gold plated toilet, bejeweled cell phone and other supposed signs of tacky decadence. Next they show a young woman driving a Vue and braking for a clueless shopper: Rethink Excess, Rethink American.
You mean to tell me that Saturn has a great new vehicle and the best they can do is pitch it as an anti-gold plated toilet bowl? C'mon people!!! Let's talk features, Euro design, great cabin quality. Let's stack it up against the competition (we'll leave out the fact that it's over weight) and let's knock 'em down. Other than a few profile shots, that's all we see of the Vue. Cut the holier than thou crap and just glorify the product. Let's not oversell excess either because the Vue is in my opinion priced on the higher side of the fence and that's okay because it is a premium Euro product. Why take a very competent, technical piece and cheapen it with some of the worst things that money can buy?
And another thing: Americans don't like to be scolded about over spending. Remember that Sun America series where they'd show a Rolex or something and say instead of this watch today you could save the money and have eight billion dollars in fifty years. Whatever. Don't ruin my high, people. I'm not poo-pooing moderation, but I don't want to feel like I have my high school finance teacher (who I hear recently bounced a check) is looking over my shoulder.
It just makes me sick. We all know that the Aura, for all its rave reviews, isn't selling as well as hoped. If things keep up this way, I don't see the Vue getting a huge boost from its ad dollars.
All of this has me worried for my pet project, the Astra. I can't wait to see how it will be marketed.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Congestion Charge Could Increase to $50 For Some
Yet another change for the congestion charge that drivers to the central zone of London pay on a daily basis. Currently the fee is a pricey $16 (8 British pounds) but London Mayor Ken Livingston would like to change to ratchet those fees up to $50 for drivers of "Chelsea Tractors" AKA SUVs that emit the most CO2 emissions.
Cities around the world all have their eyes on London and its congestion charge and I think Livingston revels in it. It remains to be seen whether or not he can push this massive increase upon the public.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Win One of 15 Chrysler Products (8/15/2007)
Your chance to take home a new Chrysler by visiting a participating dealership on Wednesday, August 15. The only bit I can find on Chrysler's new corporate site, chryslerllc.com, is that the event runs from 6PM to 9PM. Now I presume that the 3 hour time frame is for each time zone.
Here are some of the high points of the rules:
- This Sweepstakes begins at 6:00 p.m. and ends at 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 15, 2007.
- To enter, visit any participating Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep Dealer and complete an Official Entry Form by printing your complete name, address including ZIP code, home telephone number and e-mail address (if available) and the name of the dealership and deposit the completed entry into the special display at participating Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep Dealers by 9:00 p.m. on August 15, 2007.
- There will be a total of eight (8) Regional Random Drawings and one (1) National Random Drawing. All eligible entries will be sorted into eight (8) geographic regions based on the city of the participating dealership and one (1) Grand Prize Winner will be selected in each of the eight (8) Regional Random Drawings for a total of eight (8) Regional Grand Prize Winners. Once all eight (8) Regional Random Drawings have been conducted, all non-winning eligible entries from each of the eight (8) regions will be combined and one (1) National Random Drawing will take place to select seven (7) National Grand Prize Winners. A total of fifteen (15) Grand Prize Winners will be selected among the eight (8) Regional Random Drawings and one (1) National Random Drawing.
- Each Grand Prize consists of one (1) Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep vehicle designated as follows: Model Year 2007 Jeep Liberty 4x4, 29F, approximate retail value $27,405; Model Year 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4, 28X, approximate retail value $36,100; Model Year 2007 Chrysler Crossfire Coupe Limited, 21P, approximate retail value $30,435; Model Year 2008 Chrysler Aspen 4x4, Limited, 26E, approximate retail value $35,625; Model Year 2008 Chrysler 300C Limited, 29R, approximate retail value $36,070; Model Year 2008 Chrysler Pacifica Touring, 29S, approximate retail value $36,070; Model Year 2008 Jeep Compass 4x4, Sport, 26E, approximate retail value $22,010; Model Year 2008 Jeep Commander 4x4, Sport, 28U, approximate retail value $37,645; Model Year 2008 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 1500, approximate retail value $37,600; Model Year 2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4, SLT, 24F, approximate retail value $26,525; Model Year 2008 Dodge Durango 4x4, SLT, 26E, approximate retail value $33,810; Model Year 2008 Dodge Dakota Crew Cab 4x4, SXT, 22C approximate retail value $28,370; Model Year 2008 Dodge Magnum, SXT, 26H, approximate retail value $30,275; Model Year 2008 Dodge Charger, SXT, 26H, approximate retail value $28,735; or a Model Year 2008 Dodge Caliber SXT, Sport, 24E, approximate retail value $18,770. Total Approximate Value of all Grand Prizes: $465,445.
Full rules are posted here. Best of luck!
Naturmobil? Enter Fleet Horse
Yes, you are seeing correctly. This is a horse powered vehicle. The creator of the concept envisions primary uses being tourism and advertising. Looking through the website also brings some giggles with misspellings "What if the horse gets tiered?" and strange proclamations such as "AWAKENING OF THE WORLD, FOR OUR TELLINGS"
source: auto express
Bush: No Increased Gas Tax For Bridges
The Bush administration has flat out dismissed a proposal by the Democratic House Transportation Committee Chairman to increase the 18.3 cent federal gasoline tax by 5 cents to cover bridge repairs.
"The way it seems to have worked is that each member on that (Transportation) committee gets to set his or her own priorities first," Bush said. "That's not the right way to prioritize the people's money. Before we raise taxes, which could affect economic growth, I would strongly urge the Congress to examine how they set priorities."
The Feds contribute about 45 percent of the funds for all infrastructure spending, so a 5 cent bump would considerably increase available funds. I've long advocated an increase in gasoline taxes as a way to drive consumer preference and spur innovation. In my mind those funds would be used for things such as improved infrastructure and public transportation. I envision a one cent per gallon, per year increase that would slowly raise the tax as opposed to an immediate jump of 5 or 10 cents. The Federal gasoline tax has not changed in 14 years.
source: cnn and mercury news
GPS Jammer: A Sign of Things to Come?
Okay, so GPS is pretty handy: it can help you find your way, locate your stolen car and potentially reduce your insurance bill. There are also schemes in the works for paying road tax based on mileage, location and time of day as opposed to a gasoline tax. However, this little device puts an end to all of that. It emits a frequency that blocks the signal from global positioning satellites. The jammer unit also sports a mobile phone blocker so none of your in-car devices could phone home to mommy.
It's pretty clear that most jurisdictions would ban this kind of device, but if the benefits outweigh the risks these little buggers could be as popular as "chipped" cable/satellite boxes of yore.
source: auto express
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Buick Dealers Want an Encore for the Enclave
Right now Buick has an enviable situation on its hands: buyers are clamouring for the Enclave. The stylish crossover has all the makings of a break out hit for the company. But there is some trouble in Buick-land, there aren't that many Enclaves to be had out there and some dealers are grumping. In the most recent Automotive News, one dealer from Chicago wonders out loud "When will Buick wake up?" There are conspiracy theories that Buick is trying to starve stand alone dealers into the Buick-GMC-Pontiac channel. GM's line is that it has been ramping up production, but it doesn't want to overproduce and therefore reduce profits and resale values. I'm sure they'd love to have the MINI situation where the constrained supply has protected sticker prices and resale values since hitting our shores.
While this protected strategy may be best in the long run, I'm sure it is very difficult dealers who have dealt with lackluster sales for years. Finally a product that hits the market at the right time and happens to be a looker to boot and they can't keep them in stock. Some folks might liken this strategy to "prevent defense" in football where Buick is protecting long term sales at the expense of short term volume. Will it prevent Buick from winning?
My take? Buick doesn't have the luxury of being exclusive just quite yet. Cutting back on fleet sales is like picking the low hanging fruit but constricting the stream of vehicles for retail sales at full MSRP is another. It needs to mend its dealer network and get them in fighting shape to take on CSI champs Lexus. Buick dealers have to have cash to improve facilities and that comes with sales. Certainly the channel strategy where each brand doesn't overlap the other will lead to a more robust showroom and encouraging dealers to channelize isn't a bad thing, but the right motivations need to be put into place. Starving dealers of product to weaken them and then whacking them at the knees with a cheap buyout isn't the way to go--not that GM is necessarily doing that, but some dealers feel that this is the case. Going forward if Buick can bring back the Park Avenue in the 40-50k range and a stylish coupe as a halo vehicle then certainly the brand holds promise. There's a lot of "old fogey" in the Buick brand, but with an onslaught of fresh product and capable, healthy dealers perceptions can be changed.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
All New Mazda6 Picture Debuts
Taking an a new familial design, the new Mazda6 looks to have bolder body work than the outgoing model. Of course all we can see right now is the front, but it already looks better to me. Let's hope the rest of the car looks as sharp. Not long now until the Frankfurt show!
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Rolls-Royce and an Elephant?
Automotive News has an interesting tidbit about the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe's optional teak cover for the convertible top. Yes it does look gorgeous, but apparently it took some trouble to make it that way. Up until reading the article I had presumed that Rolls had simply called up a lumber supplier and asked for teak. But apparently there is teak and then there is teak.
After being cut down, the teak used on the coupe has been transported by elephants. Why? Well most teak is transported by floating it down a river, but that will give it a green tint--a big no-no as far as Rolls is concerned.
A Rolls rep confided to AN that he was worried the Elephant disclosure might rain down the fire of animal activists. But I would think more folks would be concerned if that is old-growth teak or plantation teak.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Mercedes C Drive Event
I attended the Mercedes C Drive event today in San Francisco. Valet parking was offered at the door and registration was quick and easy with a badge/key card on a lanyard and a wrist band. The test drive line looked troublingly long, but there was a huge fleet of cars on hand so it moved reasonably quickly.
The game plan was simple, follow the leader with a radio in the map pocket where they relayed directions. Unfortunately the drive was just around a few city blocks. They pulled over halfway and allowed drivers to switch. Ride sharing was encouraged, but a "No thanks, I'll drive alone" was honored.
Most of the models on hand were of the sport variety. The new C is sharp looking car, but the tiny lip spoiler on the sport sedan just is appealing to me. Certainly its better than the huge trunk tails of yore, but the luxury sedan's trunk looks better.
The interior of the sport sedan had grippy seats that were easily adjusted. In my brief time in the car the interior looked up to snuff. It was certainly all black in there and a little somber. The new CTS seems to be a cheerier place to work. The navigation system was improved from my last Mercedes experience but compared to units like Garmin and TomTom it still lacks some polish. Of course all of this is based on 10 minutes in the car, hardly a fair shake.
I was in a C350 and I have to say that power under foot was a little less than I would have hoped. I'm sure that those cars had been ridden hard and put away wet, but still the C was no rocket ship. I really couldn't get a feel for the handling side of things as we never got up to speed.
Overall compared to the last C this car has certainly been improved. However, the new CTS has me very curious. It may be lacking some brand cache, but I think that GM has really hit a home run. I'm not sure how many Mercedes buyers are going to cross shop a domestic brand, but I'd certainly recommend it.
The parting gift bag included a lot of hair products which for me is as good as worthless. I was hoping for a hat or t-shirt. Oh well.
You might be able to catch this event yourself. To find out more visit http://www.themercedescdrive.com/
Friday, August 03, 2007
Motorcycle Tow Truck? You Betcha!
Let's say it's rush hour and there's a breakdown/accident/whatever jamming the lanes ahead. Once traffic is backed up for miles, it pretty much rules out a tow truck arriving from the same direction to clear up the mess. Either that or a massive delay while the truck loafs along in the same syrupy mess you've found yourself in.
Now, enter The Retriever, a motorcycle tow truck cable of lane splitting glory and a speedy recovery of the offending vehicle. A Swedish company called Coming Through modifies a Honda Gold Wing into a vehicle capable of towing 5,500 pounds at a max speed of 20MPH.
Looks like a rockin idea to me
http://www.comingthrough.se/
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Garmin Publishes MapSource City Navigator North America NT Map Update 2008 (version 9)
New maps are always good. It seems that whenever I travel there always is massive road construction. The new 2008 maps product is worth the cost ($70, but you can get it for less (source)) according to GPS Magazine (source).
GPS Magazine states in their article that there are no free upgrades, but that has not been my experience. The cut off is 60 days, so if you just picked up a new Garmin recently you should be able to qualify. I'll save you a lot of steps and give you a shortcut to file your upgrade claim with Garmin.
- Register you unit in the "My Garmin" section of garmin.com. Print out the registration when done.
- Fax the registration along with the store receipt for your Garmin purchase and fax to 1-913-397-8282 Attn: Cody R
- On the fax cover page be sure to put down all your contact info and why your contacting them. I usually pour a some honey on these letters with lots of please and thank yous.
You should hear back within a day or two via e-mail.
Paris Orders a Hummer (wait for it) Hybrid
Ms. Hilton is at it again, this time claiming that she has ordered the non-existent Hummer Hybrid (source). Certainly she wouldn't be referring to the H2H experimental hydrogen Hummer. Hard to say what she was thinking or why I am even reporting on it.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Freeway Breakdowns, What to Do?
This morning a 60 year old man was killed on a Bay Area freeway while laying down flares in the fast lane (source). His car had spun out and hit the center divider and was placing flares behind the car. According to the CHP officer the broken down car was completely out of the fast lane and the driver should have stayed with his car.
It’s interesting advice but one that conflicts with other advice police officers and safety advocates who say ”Even if it’s cold or rainy, get out of the vehicle – it is dangerous to wait inside as you are at risk of being hit from the rear at high speed by passing cars. Put your coat on and get out while you still can.” (source).
AAA's magazine (source) says that if you are on a roadway w/ no shoulder you should: “use your turn signal to warn other drivers that you are changing lanes, and move to a side lane--preferably the right-hand lane. Then, immediately turn on your hazard lights.” On a bridge “set your brake, and get out of your car on the side away from traffic. Keep your eyes on traffic as you set up your emergency warning devices. Use the nearest call box, then stand approximately 150 feet in front of your vehicle on the catwalk area.”
Given that the deceased driver was in the center and not off to the side I think the advice to stay in the car is sound. It’s pretty crazy to try and cross lanes of traffic. As for trying to lay out flares, that’s a tough call. Certainly flares do call attention to your vehicle, but with bleary eyed commuters flying by it’s too easy to be hit while placing the flares on the roadway (that's 20/20 hindsight, though, isn't it).
As for staying/going there are a number of questions that I would ask myself:
What are the traffic and weather conditions like? How fast is traffic moving?
How far off the road can I get my car (without sliding into the ditch on a soft shoulder or otherwise making matters worse)?
Can I leave the car from the passenger side and onto the shoulder?
If I leave the car, can I scramble up an embankment or something where I can get some real distance from the roadway?
If you do stay in the car with the flashers on, you should also have your seatbelt on as well. On a level roadway, experts also advise that the car be in neutral with the e-brake off. Obviously if the car starts to roll you can’t do this, but if the car stays in place then you are protecting yourself a little bit if you should get hit from behind. Just don’t forget to put it in park once help arrives and you exit the car!
One thing all sources agree on is that pets should stay in the car.
So much of what you should do depends on the conditions you find yourself in. It’s really difficult to think of all the scenarios, but giving some thought to this situation before it ever happens means that you’re a step ahead.
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