What the hell were they thinking about???

Can you imagine Sean Connery driving around in THIS?

There have been a lot of motoring misfits over the last years, but the one I am here to talk about should get an award for its complete lack of use and hypocrisis. Do you know what I'm talking about? Bah! Stop looking at the picture. That's right... the Aston Martin Cygnet. The british manufacturer's so called "city car" is based off the clever, innovative iQ, and was fitted with all the clutter that makes Aston Martins what they are: fancy materials and decorations and the Stalin-ish moustache grill (oops. Bad description.). But the differences end there. It packs the same bodywork, the same structural components and - sarcastic drumroll please - the SAME ENGINE! That's right! It's the slowest Aston Martin ever made! Alright, it's sure it is also the most eco-friendly Aston too, but who in the world cares? It's supposed to be the supercar for the city! Plus: they are only selling it to Aston Martin clients. And I don't think they'll sell much. I mean, it costs over 40 K. No joke. I'm serious! And the though truth is you can get an iQ for a third of the price of its classy twin. What the hell were you thinking about, Aston???

Memories: Pop-Up Headlights

The Ferrari F40. The Mazda RX-7. The Lotus Espirit. All these cars have something in common. Can you guess what it is? That's right - pop-up headlights. These iconic adorns were first used in 1936, although they were manually operated. Powered units came with the mythical Y-Job, the godfather of all concepts, and gained popularity as time went on. They were fitted into some of the greatest cars ever made - the already mentioned F40, the Dodge Charger, the Countach - but have not lasted until our age. Pop-up headlights were extinct as of 2004, when the last fifth-generation Chevrolet Corvette came out of the production line. Manufacturers stopped fitting them into their cars due to simple reasons: safety, aerodynamics and ultimately eco-friendliness. Although it's clear that these issues should always come first, I miss the charisma of pop-up headlamps - and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Memories: The Skoda Felicia Fun

"So what do you drive?" "Yellow"

This is the first edition of "Memories", a series of posts that shall depict cars from my infancy (and from the infancy of others...) and strictly evaluate them, comparing my opinion towards them now to my ancient thoughts. And the first car in this first edition may be a little below your expectations.

It is a yellow, yellow car. In fact, it was so damn yellow that perhaps that's the only reason I loved it - I literally worshiped yellow as a kid. It was born in the same year I was (1995) and it was far from the stylish car everyone should adore: it was a Skoda pick-up, packing some garish features that would paralise whoever stared at it for too long - I wasn't exaggerating when I said it was yellow. Yellow paintjob, yellow rims, yellow steering wheel, yellow seat finish, yellow gearbox knob... and the list goes on. But the thing is I really liked the car, and nowadays I still find the superfluous use of yellow interesting. But it's really a blast from the past that belongs to my childhood... leaving a bright, yellow trail behind.

Car Clashes: Renault Mégane RS vs Volkswagen Golf GTI

Car Clashes is my definition of "comparison". By putting two or more cars against each other, I will have an opportunity to bring their ins and outs to the light and consequently select a winner. To properly open this first edition, I shall compare the agile Renault Mégane RS to the legendary Volkswagen Golf GTI, since their prices and performances are more or less similar.

Space and Confort: both competitors are sporty hatchbacks that are quite a lunge away from their common versions. Whereas the Mégane RS is a variation of the 3-door Mégane Coupé, the Golf GTI can also have a 5-door configuration; this gives the latter an advantage in interior space, since the Renault's back seats and boot space are rather limited when compared to its opponent. The rear visibility of the Volkswagen is also better, due to the Mégane's sleek lines. The build quality of the Golf matches that of the Renault, but while some plastics in the latter may look cheap, the interior looks is light-years away from the outdated tablier of the Volkswagen.

Ride and Performance: the 2.0 gasoline engines produce a healthy dose of power for their size: 250 in the RS and 210 in the GTI, both delivering a beautiful engine note (they're not Maseratis, but still...). And here's where the Volkswagen starts swallowing its pride: it can do around 6.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and attain a reasonable top speed of 240 km/h. Sounds good to you? To the Mégane, it doesn't. This french warrior can reach 100 km/h in a mere 6.1 seconds and fight to a maximum of 250 km/h. "So what's the big difference?" you ask. I'll tell you what's the big difference: when you thought the mythical GTI would outrun its opponent by speeding through every corner like a rolling thunder, you were wrong. Once again, the Renault is better - it feels better when cornering than its german pal.
And it's not over yet.

Economy and Pricing: this is where the Mégane ends its finishing blow. You can afford the RS from around 37.800 € (portuguese price. You may pay a lot less since our country is deep in debts), but the GTI's price starts around 41 K - for the 3-door version. Plus, both cars spend similar quantities of fuel in the same distance (8.2 l/100 km - 28.7 mpg for the Mégane and 7.3 l/100 km - 32.2 mpg for the Golf.)

Master's Choice: GTI fans, I'm sorry to announce your favorite hot hatchback has failed in a battle against the mighty Mégane RS. You might argue that there is still the R version... which costs around 15 K more than its french opponent. With that amount of cash, you could turn the RS into a wannabe racing machine - modifying the electronic central unit (ECU) costs less than 1000 euros, so think what 15 times that money would do to your 250 cv ride...

Renault Mégane RS: 15/20
Volkswagen Golf GTI: 14/20

To buy or not to buy

Buying the right car has always been a core question among drivers worldwide. Knowing what you're doing when you choose from the humongous variety of rides available is essential to keep you from purchasing a rather useless vehicle. To (at least try to) aid you in your quest for the suitable car, here are some helpful tips.





1) Focus on your needs. You should always plan your purchases according to what you need. Do you have a big family? Search the market for vans and MPVs, as well as multiple-seat configurations. Are you a town driver? Pick from the numerous city cars that are for sale. It's the car that must adapt to you, not the reverse. Don't make a choice that would force you to radically change your lifestyle.

2) Respect your wallet. Choosing a car which you can hardly afford is a ridiculous choice, to say the least. Getting stuck with credit and endless debts is not a good idea - and the infamous credit is exaclty what led us to the recession we are swimming on right now. Pick a car you can safely buy with your monthly earnings, instead of going for a high-price, useless premium rig that might actually lead you to economical purgatory. Just because your banker friends wallow around with their shiny Audi A4's, it doesn't mean you have to have one too. Buy what you like, not what others like.

3) Mind your taste. Although saving money and trying to suit only your needs may sound enough for a set of main rules, there is still the mighty influence of the taste - there are many choices in the market: after setting a price limit and choosing from a type of vehicle - sportscar, state wagon, convertible, city car - you will always pick the one which fits your style the most. For example, you might prefer Volkswagen over Ford, or even prefer certain components and options over others in the same car. It's your choice.

And the prize goes to...

Just look how tiny and pretty it is!

What is, in your opinion, the most beautiful automobile ever built to date? Which car should be have the "Best Design Ever Award" on its paint? Many reviewers and critics have given their point of view, and it's pretty obvious that this is a personal matter. While some, for example, adore the bizarre looks of a Pagani Zonda, you might just find out your neighbour has a weird fetish with the Opel Corsa. The opinion always varies, but here are some of my nominees: the insanely elegant Jaguar E-Type, the out-of-this-world Lamborghini Miura, packing one of the best ever love-it or hate-it designs, the recent Alfa Romeo 8 Competizione, the cute little Lancia Fulvia and - oddly - the Bugatti Royale. Yes, it might be an economical white elephant and weight as much as one, but the sheer impact of its image is stunning.

So, what do you think? What are your favorite cars? Do you have a crush on the ole Mini Cooper? Or do you prefer the vibrant, eye-shredding looks of a Dodge Viper? It's your call. Leave your opinion!

Gone Electric

Although the electric car issue has been exaustively covered by various car reviewers and critics worldwide, I decided to make a reflection of my own. And here's my main idea: the electric car's time hasn't come yet. There is still much work to be done in order to craft the ideal transport. Many options have been designed, built and sold, taking the example of the fuel-assisted Chevrolet Volt/Opel Ampera duo and the PSA group I-Miev twins, but all of them are far from the ecological car they were supposed to be. First of all, there is the price problem: the battery is not very cheap, and that leads to cost issues that reflect on sales figures. The autonomy is also something to be worked on; the successful electric car would require an autonomy that can be compared to modern, gasoline-guzzling vehicles. And while the Volt tries to eliminate this irritating thorn by adding a conventional piston engine, other electric 4-wheelers trust in its "pure" feature and name themselves city cars.

The Nissan Leaf, an important
milestone for its make.

As you can see, the future might be electric, but there is still much more to work on. Alternatives such as hydrogen cells could also be considered, and clean energy sources should be used more and more to ensure the eco-friendliness of our electric vehicles.

I want a Stratos!

I want two with icing and chocolate filling, please.

Nope, I'm not talking about the mythical Lancia Stratos that dominated the WRC multiple times and turned many heads around with its bizarre yet epic design (and weird cockpit configuration). I speak of Chris Hrabalek's New Stratos, based on the Fenomenon concept and built from a F430 Scuderia. And why would I want a rehased version of something that had its best moments a few decades ago? Because there is only one in the world. Yup. The New Stratos is still a one-off, but a limited production run is rumored. Plus, Hrabalek has also revealed a (scale) GT2 version of the car that's likely to morph into a functional Le Mans competitor. But why won't they make something for the masses? Why would they design something that will probably cost over half a million euros and build only around 25 units? Yes, I understand that the exclusive factor is important for an epic ressurection of an epic car, and that Stoschek (the guy who financed the whole thing) would prefer to see his money invested in something that will only be available for the world's racing legends and millionaire collectors. But here's the final point: I WANT A STRATOS!

The Ugly Duckling's Far Cry: My opinion on the 1-Series

That's not pretty, that's a BMW 5GT with the charisma of a rock.

There's a sad, sad story in the world of premium manufacturers. A sad story that speaks of a sad demise. It is the story of the BMW 1-Series: and it starts like Andersen's Ugly Duckling. But the worst part is it doesn't quite end like the lovely fable. Whereas the poor ugly duckling turns out to be a beautiful swan, the 1-Series morphed into something that's more likely to ever appear in a horror movie: a bulbous, appaling design which I would compare to a rehased Austin Allegro. Seriously. I'm sure most of you would find my opinion quite violent and unjustified, as I base almost all my criticism upon the car's styling. But here's another point of view: the boot and the rear space are rather limited (I'd say puny) for a car of its class, the performance of the base models leaves an old lady bored (What?? A 1.6 pumping out 130 BHP? I can fetch you a 1.4 Renault for 6 K less and you'd get the same power.) and the price/equipment ratio is not very good either. So, here's my final point: you have two choices - picking the Coupe (go for the M1, please), which solves the styling problem, or buying a Kia Cee'd for much, much less. Or a Golf. Or a Focus. Or anything else. Just don't go whisper on BMW's ears what I've been rambling here...

Time to get to work...

After hundreds and hundreds of years reading and investigating about all kinds of four-wheeled vehicles, I have finally decided to create my own space about mankind's transport messiah: the almighty car. From old timers to brand new supercars, I shall discuss, criticise and compliment everything that ever meets the eye... or not. Mixing ironic critics with serious texts about the world's most (and less) wanted, I hope this blog becomes exactly what I want it to become - a safehouse to ramble and endlessly talk about cars and whatever relates to them.