BestCarEver

Former NHTSA administrator highlights agency challenges before Congress

BestCarEver — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:30:13 +0000

In the fourth Congressional hearing this year to examine unintended acceleration, current and former administrators of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration laid out the challenges the agency faces in investigating and regulating modern cars. Ami Gadhia, Policy Counsel for Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports also presented our organization’s testimony.

As his agency comes up for a budget reauthorization, current NHTSA administrator David Strickland told the…

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IIHS study shows newest air bags have not improved driver protection

BestCarEver — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:30:13 +0000

2009 Honda Fit illustrationPhoto: Honda

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that new frontal air bags designed to meet the latest federal standards have not improved occupant protection and may have actually reduced protection for belted drivers compared with earlier-generation air bags. The results raise questions regarding the tests and how manufacturers have addressed the changes. While there are elements to be investigated further, it is key that passengers r…

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Hemmings Find of the Day – Dodge Power Wagon

BestCarEver — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:30:12 +0000

Yes, another Power Wagon, but this one’s a little different. Where the previous one used a civilian Power Wagon body atop a military Dodge chassis, this Dodge Power Wagon advertised on Hemmings.com goes the other way around, placing a military Power Wagon body on a civilian Dodge chassis. Barrett-Jackson plans to auction it off at their Las Vegas event in September. From Barrett-Jackson’s description:
A one-of-a-kind, World War II Dodge Power Wagon sitting on a late model Dodge truck drivet…

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Tales of unintended acceleration, feat. one Chevrolet Nova

BestCarEver — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:30:11 +0000

I don’t know why I’ve yet to think of this, but I once suffered from a case of unintended acceleration – in my old 1971 Chevrolet Nova.
I bought the Nova in college with my dad, partly because it was such a good deal – $1,900 and not rusted out like every other pre-1990 vehicle in Ohio – partly as a fun car for the both of us. The body was straight, it had a mint interior, and its 250-cu.in. six-cylinder ran strong. It also had a three-on-the-tree, which I thought was rathe…

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HKS Takes on Honda’s CR-Z Coupe: Anyone Else Gonna Take a Shot?

BestCarEver — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:30:02 +0000

It’s no surprise that tuners are coming out of the woodwork to modify the all-new CR-Z. A mere 3 days after Spoon’s announcement to tune Honda’s latest hybrid, famed Japanese tuner HKS has dropped hints (a.k.a. a whole bunch of photos) that it’ll be offering upgrades to the car’s looks, suspension and exhaust system; standard fare.

Here’s what…

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Mopar at Moab: 2010 Rock Crawlers

BestCarEver — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:30:01 +0000

While Chrysler’s on-lot product seems to be significantly lacking in the appeal department, the company’s Mopar tuning division continues to impress. Being showcased during the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah (is there any way to say that WITHOUT sounding like a PR executive?) between March 27th and April 4th) will be some of Mopar’s more…

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Novitec Tunes Ferrari’s California and Creates a Sleeper, if That’s Even Possible

BestCarEver — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:30:00 +0000

Novitec’s take on Ferrari’s California goes something like this: one 4.3 liter V8 boosted by a supercharger system that ends up pumping output to 606 horsepower. That’s a 166 horsepower increase thanks to a boost pressure of 0.4 bar, making the Novitec California good for a 60 mph sprint in 3.8 seconds.

Top speed comes in at 325 km/h or 202 mph,…

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Chrysler Group’s Sales Numbers are More Confident than they Should Be

BestCarEver — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:29:59 +0000

Despite all the negative publicity, it seems that Americans would still rather be driving a Toyota than a Chrysler product. According to Edmunds, Chrysler’s consumer sales are down a HUGE 44% this year, versus Toyota’s 14% drop.

Anyone quoting a 3% drop by Chrysler is factoring in fleet sales, and that isn’t exactly fair. However, a Chrysler…

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Orange County D.A. Sues Toyota to Prevent the Company from "Selling Cars that Endanger the Public"

BestCarEver — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:29:59 +0000

And the show goes on. Today, prosecutors in Southern California’s Orange County announced that they have filed a civil lawsuit against Toyota over safety concerns with the Japanese automaker’s vehicles. The OCDA is the first District Attorney’s Office in the U.S. to bring a consumer protection lawsuit against Toyota after the ‘unintended…

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BestCarEver

More questions raised on Toyota Prius sudden acceleration cases

Former NHTSA administrator highlights agency challenges before Congress

IIHS study shows newest air bags have not improved driver protection

Hemmings Find of the Day – Dodge Power Wagon

Tales of unintended acceleration, feat. one Chevrolet Nova

HKS Takes on Honda’s CR-Z Coupe: Anyone Else Gonna Take a Shot?

Mopar at Moab: 2010 Rock Crawlers

Novitec Tunes Ferrari’s California and Creates a Sleeper, if That’s Even Possible

Chrysler Group’s Sales Numbers are More Confident than they Should Be

Orange County D.A. Sues Toyota to Prevent the Company from "Selling Cars that Endanger the Public"