en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/544565 Comments by LordByrone http://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/02/21/avoidable-contact-31-automotive-journalism-is-a-joke-and-it-needs-a-punchline/#IDComment57967849 Of the mainstream brands, I can think of two manufacturers who subscribe to this theory at least in part: Mazda and General Motors. "Zoom-Zoom Live" was a hit with owners and their friends. GM had a similar program, but both have been mothballed due to financial constraints. Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:04:36 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/02/21/avoidable-contact-31-automotive-journalism-is-a-joke-and-it-needs-a-punchline/#IDComment57967849 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/02/13/chicago-2010-and-the-brands-played-on/#IDComment56729741 "If you want dreams and tofu, try Los Angeles." What? No rape? Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:36:15 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/02/13/chicago-2010-and-the-brands-played-on/#IDComment56729741 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/01/28/avoidable-contact-30-prius-is-very-ipad-prius-is-real-luxury-hs250h-is-more-like-a-sears-tele-games-youll-buy-anything/#IDComment54204259 The FB status update made me chuckle. I saw that yesterday, too. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:17:21 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/01/28/avoidable-contact-30-prius-is-very-ipad-prius-is-real-luxury-hs250h-is-more-like-a-sears-tele-games-youll-buy-anything/#IDComment54204259 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/01/11/naias-2010-shhh-were-building-cars/#IDComment52055437 Sure, but there are truly cheap cars available in that segment, such as the Versa, Accent and Aveo. When you can actually find a $10k model on a lot somewhere, that pretty much defines cheap. That's a nearly 50% premium for the Ford. Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:22:59 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/01/11/naias-2010-shhh-were-building-cars/#IDComment52055437 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/01/05/2010-naias-preview-2011-cadillac-cts-v-coupe/#IDComment50470019 Yes, please. Tue, 5 Jan 2010 15:51:31 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2010/01/05/2010-naias-preview-2011-cadillac-cts-v-coupe/#IDComment50470019 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/21/speedsportlife-speed-read-the-2009-nissan-370z-touring/#IDComment50279331 The cupholder bit was a nod to Paul (first commenter). He found it amusing that Nissan saw fit to advertise four cupholders on the window sticker of a two-seat sports car. Consider it my Carol Burnett. Mon, 4 Jan 2010 02:21:03 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/21/speedsportlife-speed-read-the-2009-nissan-370z-touring/#IDComment50279331 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/21/avoidable-contact-29-lexus-killed-saab-but-gm-let-saab-die/#IDComment49659494 Bingo. Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:30:53 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/21/avoidable-contact-29-lexus-killed-saab-but-gm-let-saab-die/#IDComment49659494 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/28/2010-naias-preview-2011-ford-mustang-gt-the-5-0-is-back-2/#IDComment49319088 Y'know, Nicole really likes the 2+2 practicality of the RX-8. I think a 2011 GT is the next logical step. Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:16:08 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/28/2010-naias-preview-2011-ford-mustang-gt-the-5-0-is-back-2/#IDComment49319088 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/21/speedsportlife-speed-read-the-2009-nissan-370z-touring/#IDComment49205421 I didn't exactly drive all 650 miles in the parking lot. And I'm a novice drifter, but far from a novice in the realm of general high-performance driving. Sun, 27 Dec 2009 08:41:47 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/21/speedsportlife-speed-read-the-2009-nissan-370z-touring/#IDComment49205421 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/07/lord-byron-plus-size-frugality-the-2010-mazda-cx-7-i-sport/#IDComment47268502 I think the I4 may also be too little, too late. By this point, shoppers may have irrevocably associated the CX-7 with poor mileage. I love that 3.0L V6, but it's getting a bit long in the tooth. Why they waited so long to bump the power up is beyond me, especially when Honda was making ~245hp from their 3.0L and still managing better mileage than the old Mazda6 (and perhaps the Fusion, too). The 3.5L that spent a model year in the CX-9 may actually be a better candidate. It has enough grunt down low to keep drivers off the throttle unless they really need it. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:12:39 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/07/lord-byron-plus-size-frugality-the-2010-mazda-cx-7-i-sport/#IDComment47268502 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/13/rational-bohemian-4-on-the-rails/#IDComment47161352 I'm moving away from the D.C. Metro and switching to a commuter bus starting in a couple of weeks. I must say I'm looking forward to it. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:57:09 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/13/rational-bohemian-4-on-the-rails/#IDComment47161352 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/07/lord-byron-plus-size-frugality-the-2010-mazda-cx-7-i-sport/#IDComment47126130 Eeeeeasy there. =P Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:27:38 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/07/lord-byron-plus-size-frugality-the-2010-mazda-cx-7-i-sport/#IDComment47126130 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/07/lord-byron-plus-size-frugality-the-2010-mazda-cx-7-i-sport/#IDComment46260703 I drove it there too. Compared to everything else they had on offer (especially since this was pre-CX-9 and the Tribute was MIA) it felt like the Titanic. Taken out of the context of an auto-x though, it's far more impressive. We also both agreed that the interior was nicer than our neighbor's new Forrester XT, though the Mazda doesn't feel quite as big. The Forrester's more truck-like inside while the CX-7 has more of an executive car style layout. The biggest problem with the -7 is just the lack of practicality for anything we'd want a truck/trucklet for. Honestly, we need 4WD and serious towing capacity if we get a large vehicle (horse and car trailers) and there ain't a cute 'ute out there that fits that particular bill. Tue, 8 Dec 2009 14:41:17 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/07/lord-byron-plus-size-frugality-the-2010-mazda-cx-7-i-sport/#IDComment46260703 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/07/lord-byron-plus-size-frugality-the-2010-mazda-cx-7-i-sport/#IDComment46208173 Truth. Even the old 5-Doors could haul quite a bit of stuff. I had a 3.0L 5-Door 5-Speed as my first car out of college and loved it. It probably got about the same highway mileage as the CX-7 and had ~60 more horsepower. Tue, 8 Dec 2009 01:08:49 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/07/lord-byron-plus-size-frugality-the-2010-mazda-cx-7-i-sport/#IDComment46208173 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/01/2011-audi-a8-revealed-at-design-miami-2009/#IDComment45404666 I like it in profile, but the headlights look awkward set against the rest of the car. The car's too conservatively styled and the lamps are a mismatch. Tue, 1 Dec 2009 15:42:35 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/12/01/2011-audi-a8-revealed-at-design-miami-2009/#IDComment45404666 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/11/30/2011-mustang-v-6-performance-package-the-camaro-isnt-the-only-competitor-who-should-worry/#IDComment45306011 This is one serious secretarymobile. I approve. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:27:54 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/11/30/2011-mustang-v-6-performance-package-the-camaro-isnt-the-only-competitor-who-should-worry/#IDComment45306011 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/11/07/a-tale-of-two-race-cars-part-2-never-on-sunday/#IDComment42715348 Garage photo #1 depicts a female. Clearly a shop. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:05:00 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/11/07/a-tale-of-two-race-cars-part-2-never-on-sunday/#IDComment42715348 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/10/21/wednesday-wallpaper-lexus-lf-a/#IDComment40279329 You can absolutely see the MkIV Supra influence. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:42:54 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/10/21/wednesday-wallpaper-lexus-lf-a/#IDComment40279329 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/10/14/collecting-tracks-talk-about-yours/#IDComment38818315 I haven't been anywhere you haven't been, but here are my thoughts: Mid-Ohio Pro -- My favorite so far. And for such a modernized facility, it's also a beautiful track. Nurburgring Nordschleife -- Unforgettable. You're right. No video game can ever prepare you for the immense scale of it. Beautiful scenery all around, too. Summit Point Main -- My first four-wheels-off experience. A fun course, but insanely unpredictable. Summit Point Jefferson -- Needs more run-off (and more track, for that matter). A novelty, really. Summit Point Shenandoah -- Technical, fun and terrifying all at the same time. 10/10ths here requires balls, plain and simple. A near-miss will send you into the pits with palpitations. VIRginia International Raceway Full Course -- Fast! The climbing esses will scare the crap out of you. It will be a long time before I'm consistently fast at VIR. VIRginia International Raceway Patriot Course -- Evil. I hate this course with all of my being. The camber changes alone will give you hives. Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:55:15 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/10/14/collecting-tracks-talk-about-yours/#IDComment38818315 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/10/08/truth-in-four-and-fifty-four/#IDComment38000998 Carl. Fri, 9 Oct 2009 16:16:07 +0000 http://www.speedsportlife.com/2009/10/08/truth-in-four-and-fifty-four/#IDComment38000998