Dealers weren’t dealing on my 1st choice, the Jetta Sportwagen TDI, so I went for my backup plan. Over the years I’ve had several BMWs, lots of VWs, a Mercedes and a Porsche, but I’ve given up the corporate rat race and the six-figure incomes that go along with it and am living a much more modest life these days, and…

Some people, like my mother, don’t even know they have these systems. She called me one day asking about this yellow triangle that popped up in her instrument cluster whilst on a cloverleaf onramp. In California. During the day. In dry weather.

Even in my relatively low-powered vehicle I leave it on so I don't have a warning light shining in my face. Dark cockpit all the way.

It was on the lot, and was the dealer’s loss-leader, advertised for nearly $4k under list. It would bring people in the door but then they'd scoff at the lack of leather, auto trans, flashy wheels and body kit like on the higher trim models. However, it was exactly what I wanted and I have never once regretted the…

Whilst researching police bikes the other day (an episode of CHiPs had just played) I found that the CHP was actually buying more Harleys based on price. They didn't come from the factory as police bikes but we're actually conversions done by a dealer in Oakland. In another article there were discussions of problems…

Exactly - this is why my Mazda5 has a manual. Just because I want a practical vehicle doesn't mean I'm no longer an enthusiast.

Lafesta Zuckerberg, but only if she's adopted.

I found one that improves the build quality and appearance:

I loved how the salesman had to manually pull the hatch up on the wagon and slam it with both hands to close it -that just reeks of quality.

There are just not enough green interiors in this world

Not limited enough...

As i recall, there were issues with too many rivets on some of the first models. Lots of seared skin after the car had been sitting in the sun for a bit - ouch.

For the longest time, 2002 was the security code I used on the internal computer to activate the security system in my 525i. Simple to enter, BMW-related, and a daily reminder of the goal for my next car purchase.

I loved those big bumpers on my E21 320i. In one particularly typical LA freeway excursion I actually used them to out-crazy some crazies on the 91 that flew across 3 lanes, cut me off, and then did the repeated brake-check maneuver when I dared express my displeasure to their idiocy by so recklessly and dangerously…

On a number of cars they turn on automatically after airbag deployment.

How large of a power increase is detectable by the ol’ fashion seat-of-the-pants dyno? I put a Dinan chip in my M20-powered E34, and it was designed to provide an increase from 168 to 183 HP, which is a difference of less than 9%. I didn’t have access to a dyno so I can’t compare before and after, but to be honest, I…

Any FWD vehicle with a transverse V6 - that configuration, whilst practical from an engineering standpoint, is the spawn of Satan himself in the eyes of backyard mechanics. I had an absolute base model Ford Windstar (wind up windows, manual mirrors and locks, no A/C or rear defroster, etc. - it was free) and I thought…

You would think that all of the oil that probably leaked out would have prevented rust.

And batteries.

When I worked the airport ramp, the unofficial motto was “Fragile - it’s not a warning, it’s a challenge”...