Category Archives: Automotive

Automotive

2024 VW Jetta 10K Update

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10,000 miles has rolled by. At 5K, I got the oil changed. VW insists that it only needs the services done every 10K, but that was making me feel itchy. So I went ahead and got that done. And now I’m itching to do it again. But that’s neither here nor there. Really so far, the car has not given me a lick of trouble. I hit something in the road and had a huge hole cookie cuttered out of a tire, but that’s not VW’s fault… The car its self is pretty solid. And getting 38 miles to the gallon is awesome. And if I drive like I was civilized or something, I can get 40 to 42. I especially appreciate I’m getting that on Regular Unleaded and not the Premium my Audi A4 Avant requires.

If I have any complaint about the Jetta, it’s the seats. They are stiff and to be honest, hurts my boney butt. And I need my windows tinted, due to my eye’s light sensitivity. Still, I adore this little car. Since I got it, I’ve found that it has a Sport Mode, which makes the car very lively to drive. I didn’t realize it had that. I also learned that the 8 speed transmission was built for VW by Toyota, so it’s very solid gear box that I do not anticipate problems from. Okay, one last item I’d love to get fixed… the Auto Start/Stop system. MAN I hate that. But that’s remedied by a Start Up procedure that has me pressing the Deactivate Button for that. But if I forget, it reminds me when I come to a red light. Gah! I wish there was something I could do that would permanently deactivate that system. VW should include an under the dash Switch or a Fuse that could be pulled so that system stops bothering me.

Speaking of the Audi, I still have it. In fact, it’s doing great. My son who is the VW Tech is currently driving it as the transmission in the GTI totally grenaded. He’ll get his GTI fixed in due time. In the meanwhile, he’s been fixing some things in the Audi. Such as the Coolant Leak. And he’s replaced all the shocks and struts. So the car drives like it should again, without leaving puddles. That Audi is nearing 200,000 miles and it’s still running strong.

I’m currently thinking that after the GTI is fixed, I might sell the Audi to acquire a solid used pickup truck. Because we NEED a pickup truck like crazy. I’ve got a Garage filled with junk and nothing to cart it off with. And for the quoted price of having someone come do that for me… Well, you can understand.

Automotive

2024 VW Jetta SE

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Last Thursday I acquired a new Car. A 2024 Jetta SE. My 2007 Audi A4 Avant Quattro has become rather long in the tooth and needs a great deal of replacement parts and repairs… So much so that it’s going to have to be sidelined for awhile. And that saddens me, but I do look forward to the car’s final and ultimate form. In the mean time… this Jetta now my Daily Driver. I’ve always respected the Jetta, but never really personally liked them very much. But the new body style is just too good looking. I love the new grill and headlights. I had other options of course, and I test rode all of them. But none of them felt nearly as good as the Jetta. Just getting in and shutting the door told me that unlike the other cars, this was a real German Sedan. It’s almost as big as the discontinued Passat, and you’re not paying big Audi dollars… but it looks like you did.

It’s powered by a 1.5 Liter Turbo that I was anticipating to be woefully lacking in everything. But paired with the 8 speed Tiptronic transmission… With Gear ratios properly sorted out… the car is both smooth and fast. And since the engine is displacing less than a Harley V-Twin, the fuel consumption is Very Conservative. And by that I mean, I’ve never had a car before that sipped gasoline so delicately. 40 miles per gallon if I drive within the bounds of the law. Cruising at 70, with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated, I was still getting 38.5 MPG’s. And that’s a lot of MPG’s compared to what I’m used to. My A4’s consumption can not match at only about 22 MPG’s for the same trip, and while burning Premium.

Android Auto, Apple Car Play, Dual Zone Climate, Defrosting Mirrors with Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane holding assist… it has all the technology I could ever want. I’m not even used to all this. I love the blacked out wheels, dark platinum paint… It just looks fantastic.
Inside the car, there’s actually more space than the A4. And the trunk is pretty much just as big as the Avant’s Wagon rear cargo area, though not as tall. It’s very usable. You could camp in the trunk.
I do think I need to get this car’s Windows tinted, just to complete the look. If you are in the market for an affordable and economical car that’s not just an Eco-Shit Box… The new Jetta is well worth a test ride.

Automotive

Top 10 for 2019

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My Top Ten New Vehicles for 2019. Based on personal driving experience, this is my top 10 vehicles that I would spend my own money on. SUV’s: Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota 4Runner, Audi Q5. Sedans: Dodge Charger, Genesis G80 Sport. Coupes: Audi S5, Porsche Cayman. Hatch Back: Golf R. Pickup Truck: For the Full Size, Dodge RAM. Midsize, Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro.

Audi Q5. Avoid the versions with the 2.0T engine. Although they are “just fine” the Supercharged 3.0 V6 engine is just so bloody good. Torque like crazy, they handle great and feel properly quick for an SUV. Very comfortable. Not cheap though. Not by any means. Just worth every penny.
VW Golf R. This is what the GTI should have been. Over 300 horses and 300 torques being thrown to the ground via All Wheel Drive. This isn’t just a Hot Hatch, it’s the Hottest of the Hatches.
Porsche Cayman It’s a better car than their 911. Period.
Audi S5 Audi’s best looking car in the history of the brand. And it drives just as good as it looks, with their fantastic Quattro all wheel drive system… Unstoppable speed.
Genesis G80 Sport. Sport and Luxury combined perfectly, giving you far more car for your money than any Euro brand can offer.
RAM 1500. Fan. I’m just a huge fan. And they are great looking trucks too. Ford and Chevy and trying to look like Electric Razors, and RAM is trying to actually look like a truck.
Taco Pro. Rugged, Reliable, with proven off-road chops. It’s the truck that all other midsized trucks are judged by.
4Runner TRD Pro. The only reasonable SUV that’s still body on frame and can actually still go off roading, not just Dirty Roading.
Dodge Charger. There’s a reason it’s the king of cop cars. But in civilian trim, it’s actually really nice inside, well appointed, and comfortable. And it looks the business.
Jeep Grand Cherokee. Jeep’s best vehicle, period. So many options it can be anything you want it to be. And it looks mean as hell. It’s just not as good in the Rough as a 4Runner for gnarly off-roading. But you can’t get a 4Runner with a Hemi.

Automotive

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

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Driving the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is an experience that any true Car Guy needs to check off the bucket list. Sitting in the car, you find that you are both very comfortable, and held into place thanks to what are the most perfect sport sedan seats I’ve ever felt.
Once adjusted and mirrors positioned, you buckle up and hit the start button located on the steering wheel. The button’s position is to remind you of just what it is you are getting yourself into. Things pop into mind like “Ferrari” and “Racing Car”, and those things are not far from the truth. The engine truly is derived from Enzo’s passion. That’s no joke. But this is a Sedan that is meant to be used as a car, just like any other… That’s why there are the A and N settings on the now famous Alfa Romeo DNA dial.  Continue reading Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio →

Automotive

Vanderhall Venice: Constructive Criticism.

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When I first saw the Vanderhall Venice, I was really smitten.  I was thinking it was the coolest thing ever.  And they are cool.  Don’t get me wrong, they are cool and they are fun to drive.    The problem I have with them is that they are 30 Grand.   For that much money, you can buy some pretty nice cars that are also fun to drive but also offer some practicality.  The Venice has no practicality to it.  At all.   The other cars out there that you could get also have a certain level of Build Quality.  And that’s my main problem with the Venice.  Vanderhall is almost there with it, but every car seems like it’s still a prototype. 
The Venice has a vibe of a 60’s era Formula 1 car.  Like something James Garner drove in “Grand Prix”.  But they missed that mark in cosmetics and other styling points.  They also missed the mark on the “Modern Morgan 3 Wheeler” they were shooting at.

Let’s look at the details.  The grill just flat out looks cheap as hell.  It looks like an old-fashioned Ice Tray insert.  That’s a detail that bugged me from the very first instant when I saw it.  I like that the headlights are tucked in, but overall the impression is that the entire front end was just phoned in.  Also, the area below the grill being flat faced when it could have been more like a Formula 1 cowling.  It was a missed opportunity for greatness. Continue reading Vanderhall Venice: Constructive Criticism. →

Automotive, Motorcycles

Ducati Multistrada 1200S

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Ducati is one motorcycle company that is pretty much batting a thousand when it comes to building exciting motorcycles that stir the soul.  Also, they don’t know how to make anything that isn’t fast. The Multistrada keeps up with that tradition big time.  It’s Ducati’s Adventure Bike.  And being Ducati to the core, the formula is simple.  Take the engine out of one of their super bikes, and put on a tall suspension.    If you don’t know anything else about the Multistrada, that’s all you really need to know.  Let’s look at the specs:
527 Pounds Wet.
5.3 Gallons of Fuel.
1198 CC V-Twin (Ducati calls it an “L” twin)
160 Horses of Power.
87 Foot Pounds of Torque.
6 Speed transmission.
33″ Seat Hight.
This is a big bike… It’s a heavy bike.  But it really doesn’t feel big or heavy once your in the saddle.  Unless you are short legged… then it’s going to feel pretty tall.  The Enduro version is even taller by a couple inches.

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The Multistrada though, is more than just a butch superbike…  Thanks to the DTC and Skyhook technologies (Traction Control and Active Suspension) the Multistrada becomes a very road-worthy bike that can devour the miles on pretty much any road surface you would care to travel on… and even when there is little to no roads.   You could easily take it on long trips .  The bike shown in the photos is a used bike that I borrowed to check out.  It’s sporting factory hard cases, and an aftermarket windshield, which sets this bike up nicely for some serious distance touring.  The Multistrada is very comfortable, and after an hour in the saddle, I really felt like I just wanted to keep going.

Pitching the Multistrada into the curves is pure joy.  The bike is flickable like a Switch Blade.  It really thinks it’s a sport bike.  Cutting the apex and gassing it, you can feel the bike wants to play.  20161027_112004-1

The Engine is what makes this bike rather special… Typical full bore Ducati Twin feeling, it’s happiest when you are keeping the RPMs above 5000.

My first impression on this bike was that it was “Naughty”.  It wanted to misbehave.  It didn’t like to be lugged… it didn’t like to go slow… It wanted to RUN!  It wanted to buck like an excited wild horse.  It would lift the front wheel on a whim, and would exceed the posted speed limits at moments notice if I didn’t keep it in check!   In short – This is a FUN motorcycle that you could spend a lot of time on.

I can’t speak to the offroad prowess… As I didn’t take it over anything more challenging than some damp leaves on the ground… But the Multistrada 1200S isn’t really meant for Off Road.  There’s another version for that.  The Multistrada Enduro… But dirt roads wouldn’t be a problem at all for the 1200S, thanks to the onboard avionics.  The bike is filled with tech… gyros that measure Pitch and Yaw and bank, as well as throttle position and tire slip… it’s basically the flight control systems out of an F-16.  The computers take all that information and adjusts the suspension and the power to the wheels and brakes to keep you on two wheels…. at pretty much any speed.  And all done seamlessly and transparently.   It makes you feel like a much better rider.  It gives you confidence.   It urges you to ride a little harder… It’s a naughty bike for sure!

If you think Adventure Bikes are boring… Friend… You need to try a Multistrada.

Automotive, Motorcycles

BMW S1000XR

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20161102_183310The BMW S1000XR. Lucifer’s own Bike, right here. The Ducati Multistrada is a naughty bike… This? This bike is straight up EVIL.
Satan, Darth Maul, and Handsome Jack all ride one of these.
See, the Ducati and BMW both claim 160 horse power. In actual dyno testing, the Duck gave out something like 135… and the XR put down a smoking 153, if I remember correctly. That might not sound like a whole lotta difference… But it’s the way they put down the power.

20161102_183253The Duck feels more like a truck by comparison… and this… This feels like a freaking F-22 Raptor. And the RPM range doesn’t stop climbing and the thrust doesn’t relent. This bike is epic fast. And better yet, you can flick this bike like it was a butterfly knife.

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Okay, now give it the same ergonomic geometry of a GS Adventure Bike, and a comfortable seat. So yes, you can sit tall in the saddle, with one hand on the reigns, relaxed like Napoleon on his horse, while doing Warp Factor 10 like a Sir.

20161102_183351This is The Most Amazing Bike… (Clarkson Pause) In The World. You ride this bike – You WILL have to call your Doctor after 4 hours.

20161102_183337BMW calls this an ADV bike.  You can luggage it out with BMW’s excellent hard cases… But really, this is a Sport Touring Bike for those that want to sit up more.   Whatever you want to call it, the title probably fits this machine in one aspect or another.

Last word on this bike:  Dynamic Mode is the Hot Sauce.   Work your way up to it.

Also – This is what every Motorcycle Police in the USA should be riding.   This is THE COP BIKE.

Automotive

Triumph Rocket III Roadster

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The British love to find humor in playing with the line between social norms and absurdity.  The Triumph Rocket III Roadster is very British in this regard.  This bike is huge.  This bike is heavy.  This bike has a crazy 2.3L triple coffee can sized engine.   This bike is a Hawker Typhoon on two wheels.    Everything else on the bike is also huge.  The extra wide bars, the extra wide levers… It’s just an awesomely large bike.
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At the same time… The bike is dang good looking.  It’s not out of proportion in any part.  It’s that tall dark and handsome thing.  Muscular, not fat.  Rugged, not girly.    It has a good sound too.  It’s a mellow, low rumble and not that loud burbling of certain American twins.   Because this bike doesn’t need to be overly and artificially loud.  It has nothing to prove to anyone.   It’s a fact that it’s the biggest production motorcycle engine in the world.  20161029_123656

Riding this thing for the first time, a certain specific song popped into my head.   Sitting on the bike, I felt just like what that song is like.   The upside, is that this thing was super smooth and strong in the brake department.  The bike is very stable.  But that engine… MAN!  This engine is right out of a Hot Rod.  It feels like a hot rod, it shifts like a hot rod… and when you get on the gas… it’s a total hot rod.  And that’s the whole point of the Rocket III.  It is a two wheeled Hot Rod and it makes no apologies for that.

A lot of guys look at the Rocket III, grin at it, and wish.  Because it’s just awesome…  Some shake their heads.  It’s not for everyone.  Hot Rods are not for everyone.  The Rocket is not for the timid.  It’s a ride apart… And that’s what makes this bike so great.


Could I own a Rocket III?  Yes.  Yes I could.  It couldn’t be my One and Only bike… but yeah, I could have a Rocket.  See, I’m glad that we have gonzo bikes like this, just because they are excessive to the point they border on being absurd.  This is why we have Dodge Power Wagon trucks, and Animal Style Burgers at In and Out, and music by AC/DC.    Because we can.  And I respect that.

Automotive

Getting Started in Motorcycling.

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triumphstreetwin1A great question came in:

I’ve been wanting to get in to motorcycle riding for a while now and considering your recent shift , I thought this would be a perfect time to ask. Where do I get started? How do I choose a bike? What should I consider before going full bore in to this? If you feel like this is too much to respond to in line.    Thanks! – Snallygaster

Continue reading Getting Started in Motorcycling. →