If you can't hold a lower fixed ratio, how do you get engine braking? Trust me on this one. I've drive one of these daily, and actually like the CVT.

You obviously haven't driven a CVT Subaru. Holding a lower specific gear (ok, gear ratio) is very useful for engine braking on long downhill grades. Granted, it's the only time the paddle shifters are useful at all, but they do serve an important purpose.

They are useful to hold the tranny in lower gear when going down a long grade. Do they need paddle shifters to do this? Probably not, but since they are simple electrical switches the could be anywhere. Putting them on the steering wheel is pretty logical.

Cheap gas probably can't last forever. How long do you think we've got?

Very anger. Much grimace.

Doesn't Clarkson write a weekly column for the Times?

Did the Bittorrent thing this morning, will watch and report later today. The first part was pretty good, but you had to have watched a lot of Top Gear to get the jokes, level bridge for instance.

Well, I guess they showed us...

Oh, I'm chill. If it were legal here (and my using it would not threaten my livelihood) I'd partake every now and then. I spent too many years in the 80's and 90's having to be randomly tested either by my employer or by customers in order to be able to work at their facilities to risk it. Getting arrested in Memphis…

They actually did battery swaps in Israel. The cars were all dreadful Renault Fluence sedans and there were battery swap stations spread all over the country. The company behind the idea went bankrupt late last year.

Give me 250-300 mile range and 5 minute recharges, I'm OK with this.

I wrecked it in 1982, so any pictures are any a shoebox somewhere.

Pot free since July 4, 1984. The visit to the apothecary was very interesting and informative though.

Flying out of Denver earlier this summer, I was glad I didn't indulge in the ability to buy pot products there because when I was leaving baggage claim at my destination, there was a drug-sniffing dog making his rounds.

Dayum. That makes me wish I'd never wrecked my '71.

I figure my first car purchase after winning the lottery would be an F-150....


....which would tide me over until I can get my hands on a GT350.

I mean't AREN'T Jalops.

I know some CNN folks, but they are Jalops...

That's some mighty fine flat-pickin'.

That's true starting with 737 Next Generation (600-700-800). Older 737's and 757's have 18" wide seats. Both planes have the same cabin width. This makes for a slightly narrower aisle, but a great deal more passenger comfort.