What Not

H/T Autoblog

2000 Land Rover Discovery II

Some people like to own and drive something different. The Land Rover vehicles definitely fall into that category. The shape is different than anything else on the road. Just look at the shape of this SUV/Jeep/4×4. Maybe it’s just me, but the way the roof line goes up in the back is just wierd. Why did they do that? And yet, I find that this odd looking vehicle somehow appeals to me … in a wierd sort of way.

I’ve heard that Land Rover is a status symbol of sorts akin to a Jaguar. People feel that driving one makes them a better person somehow. Unfortunately, Land Rover vehicles haven’t done much to repay that favor. The few that we’ve taken in on trade have all had reliability issues. That reputation seems to be an earned reputation according to one Land Rover owner.

Little things always go wrong, it will be in and out of the shop. You have to really like these trucks enough to deal with their quirks. I’ve never spoken to or heard of a Rover owner who didn’t have to visit the shop at least a couple of times per year (assuming you fix very little things). … My father, in the car business for 30 years can’t stand Rovers, he won’t touch them with a 10 foot pole! A guy I know is on his 8th rover. … He says after his 2nd Rover he learned to just always trade them in when they’re out of warranty.

That’s a pretty sad testimonial for the brand. Consumer Guide Auto ranked the 2003-09 models a 59/100 for reliability. And according to Wikipedia, J. D. Powers has ranked Land Rover at the bottom of the Reliability chart for quite a few years. Read the laundry list of problems and you’ll begin to wonder why the brand still has a following. Why would someone buy a Land Rover knowing full well that it will be an unreliable and expensive vehicle to own? That’s a question only a Land Rover owner could answer. But don’t expect a rational answer. Some people just like their cars despite the problems.

2007 MINI Cooper S

If you worked at a dealership, and could take any used car out for lunch, which one would you choose? We have Buick, SAAB, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and lots more. Today, I volunteered to pick up our lunch at Chipotle’s and took a car that you’ve probably seen a lot of. It’s one of those iconic, sporty, little cars that you’ve always wondered what it would be like to drive: a 2007 MINI Cooper S with a 172 hp turbo charged engine and 6 speed manual transmission. After picking up our order, I had to pull out of the driveway quickly and actually chirped the tires through the snow!

But there’s something else interesting about this car. Sure, it’s too small for a family like mine. But I kinda like it. It’s zippy and really does handle like a go-cart. My body wouldn’t handle the stiff suspension for very long, but when I remember the MINI Cooper’s key, all that is quickly forgiven. I’m not a “cool” person but this key is. It actually looks like the Starship Enterprise. And to start the car, you have to make the saucer part dock with the dashboard. There’s just something “cool” about a key that looks like that.

I like that.

H/T Autoblog
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Apparently, ABC news had already done a report on the situation, showing that floormats are not the real problem. Take a look at the following AOL video which explains how the problem also affects Lexus cars.

H/T Jim Vanek
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If you haven’t heard, Volvo is offering incentives for switching over to a new Volvo from Toyota or Lexus.

Is it really so difficult to pull over for a minute?

I remember working for a courier company which sent texts to my phone regarding the next pick up or drop off. It certainly was easier to read it while I was driving — especially when on the open road with few other cars around. But when you think of the recent deaths caused by truck drivers who were texting, it puts everything into better perspective. Safety is much more important than finishing a job a few minutes earlier.

Pull over. We’ll all feel better.

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I also heard from Pete Japiske of the ODE’s Pupil Transportation Office. He noted that another tragedy took place when a vehicle ran the red flashing lights of a bus.

Tragedy has again occurred within our transportation community. On Thursday, January 21, a high school student in Northwest Ohio was struck and killed by a passing motorist as she crossed the street to board her school bus. The bus was stopped, red lights flashing, and stop sign deployed. While the details of this case will most certainly continue to investigated, and undoubtedly will be reported and debated for years to come, it is again a case where we are reminded of the challenges in our profession. With all of the processes that we follow-including route planning, student stop assignment, student safety training, driver safety training, public awareness campaigns, and all of the vehicular equipment we use, including flashing red lights and stop signs, the inescapable fact remains that not everything is within our control.

He proposed several good ideas about transportation safety that should be considered by all drivers:

1. “The next time you report to work, complete your vehicle pretrip and then pause and take a moment to collect your thoughts, focus your energy and attention, and prepare to devote your best concentration on both operating your vehicle defensively and watching over your children.”

2. “Consider every vehicle on the roadway a potential risk – continually use the ‘what if … ‘ tactic of evaluating potential risks. Never assume that another motorist around your bus will do what they are supposed to, or that they see your big yellow bus and all of its flashing lights.”

3. “Follow the guidance of Ohio law with regard to turning in motorists who violate your school bus red lights. While your attention is most certainly focused on the children outside the bus, have bus helpers support you in obtaining license numbers and vehicle descriptions of motorists who choose not to stop for a stopped school bus, as required by law. This means that you should report these motorists.”

As a former bus driver, I have had vehicles run my lights and later complain about me turning them in. But when you consider the possibility of injury or even death of those under your care, it’s vitally important that drivers be held accountable for their actions. In the end, let’s all drive carefully for the safety of all!

SaabsUnited.com mentioned this car back in November of 2009.  At the time, “COYS Auctions [was] having a ‘True Great’ auction and one of the cars on the block [was] a 2005 Koenigsegg CCR, which is estimated to go for £175,000-250,000.”

The 2005 model had a whopping 806 hp, and could achieve 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds.  That would be quite the experience … but I’m afraid it would achieve speeding tickets left and right as well. Nice wheels … nice price … unbelievable performance.

We owned two bicycle trikes when I was a boy. They weren’t very fast, but they were very unique. While everybody else was riding a banana seat bike, we had a three wheeler! From Autoblog’s report, it seems that somebody has “one-upped” my younger years with a camper bike.

I just hope they have low gearing and good brakes on that thing!