DaPCWiz's blog

usb key fobs

2009-10-20T13:55:00.001-05:00

I'm being lazy -

just check this article out:

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/20/porsche-panamera-owners-rewarded-with-usb-drive-shaped-like-p/

Top 10 reasons why real men drive stick

2009-09-19T12:18:00.002-05:00

Everyone knows that real men drive stick. Finally someone has decided to compile the top ten reasons why. Although not 100% correct, I believe AskMen.com has created a pretty good list.

Click here to see the complete list

That punk toad!!

2009-09-04T14:33:00.000-05:00

mario soda display ftw

2009-09-04T12:45:00.001-05:00

coupes carrying load

2009-09-04T08:53:00.002-05:00

So the other day I'm going down hamburg turnpike and I see this:

(you probably want to click on it to zoom in to see more detail)

so then I did this:

LOLs

One Gear No Idea

2009-08-26T21:14:00.001-05:00

some fixie fun:

One gear No idea from chris akrigg on Vimeo.

Simplified: how LSDs work

2009-08-11T20:12:00.001-05:00

Reason #6,342 why manual transmissions are better than automatics

2009-08-07T13:33:00.002-05:00

Ha ha ha! Look, what kind of carjacker are you if you can't drive a stick? The only one that pops to mind is Vincent Gallo's character in Buffalo 66 when he tried to unsuccessfully steal Christina Ricci's car, "I'm used to luxury cars. Have you ever heard of a luxury? That's what I drive. I drive cars that shift themselves." And that's essentially what happened when a very bad criminal tried to car-jack a nice nurse in Reno, NV.

Armed with a B.B. Gun, 23-year-old Kent Howard Boedicker allegedly attempted to jack a 57-year-old RN's Hyundai. After forcing the lady out of the car and climbing inside, Boedicker then got out and handed her the keys back stating, "I don't need these anymore." Thanks to his non-existent driving skills, Reno police were able to apprehend Boedicker in a Save-Mart parking lot.

[source: autoblog]

Fixie 101

2009-08-03T20:25:00.001-05:00

one of these days... I will build one

Bunny Brawl

2009-08-01T12:53:00.001-05:00

We usually think of rabbits as cute, furry, docile animals that sit around and eat carrots and whatnot. Someone tell that to these guys... This video is filled with all kinds of awesome.

Driving like a jerk reportedly helps to reduce traffic jams

2009-08-01T12:36:00.003-05:00

Drive like a sheep, and you get stuck. Break some rules here and there for the good of traffic flow, and everyone benefits. A new traffic study by physicists at Sweden's Umea University found that while we're all taught to obey the traffic rules no matter what, doing so just makes for bottlenecks. Mix in some maverick drivers, however, and suddenly, logjams begin to ease as the percentage of drivers willing to pass on the right or zip past a pack of trundling cars on a two-lane actually help to keep the traffic flowing smoothly.

While you might take the findings as an endorsement of behind-the-wheel jerkdom, chill out there for a second, Rat Fink. Tailgating, a behavior many impatient motorists exhibit, creates rolling platoons of cars without enough following distance to effectively brake if need be. In other words, while it's occasionally beneficial to sidestep the letter of the law, following too closely creates potential pile-ups. The ideal ratio seems to be 60-percent lemmings, 40-percent speed-addled free thinkers. That sounds like research we can put into practice pretty much immediately, though it's going to be a flimsy argument in traffic court.

[Source: Autoblog]

Rhys Millen's Pike's Peak Time Attack

2009-07-30T14:08:00.003-05:00

Fantastic!

end of the world

2009-06-16T08:53:00.002-05:00

Soooo I've been getting pretty irregular on this blog lately. I need to stop that. I will start posting more regularly soon... hopefully.

In the meantime here is a throwback to like... 1999? 2000? something like that.

Viva La Revolucion!

2009-06-02T22:01:00.000-05:00

(10:56:19 PM) dapcwiz: I've converted mad people
(10:56:20 PM) dapcwiz: to linux
(10:56:55 PM) kirinpoopy: stay away from me
(10:56:56 PM) kirinpoopy: ull infect me
(10:57:02 PM) dapcwiz: it is ineventiable
(10:57:10 PM) dapcwiz: linux is the way of the future
(10:57:12 PM) dapcwiz: freedom!
(10:57:14 PM) dapcwiz: open source!
(10:57:21 PM) kirinpoopy: open source
(10:57:24 PM) dapcwiz: viva la revolucion!
(10:57:24 PM) kirinpoopy: pushahahaha
(10:57:29 PM) kirinpoopy: communist
(10:57:39 PM) dapcwiz: open source is the opposite of communism!
(10:57:45 PM) dapcwiz: windows is communist
(10:57:49 PM) dapcwiz: all users are equal
(10:57:53 PM) dapcwiz: some are just more equal than others
(10:58:00 PM) dapcwiz: apple is even worse
(10:58:12 PM) dapcwiz: linux is the way for true freedom
(10:58:27 PM) dapcwiz: there are over 500 distributions of linux to choose from
(10:58:34 PM) dapcwiz: there is one distro of windows
(10:58:38 PM) dapcwiz: controlled by one company
(10:58:43 PM) dapcwiz: how is that not communism?
(10:58:51 PM) kirinpoopy: that is a compelling argument
(10:58:55 PM) kirinpoopy: im impressed
(10:58:57 PM) kirinpoopy: genuinely
(10:59:00 PM) dapcwiz: :)
(10:59:05 PM) kirinpoopy: viva la revolucion!!!

Check your wiring folks

2009-05-24T21:29:00.002-05:00

Had the S14 overheat on me yesterday :(

went to check why the cooling fans weren't firing up... and looked in the fuse box to find this:

apparently, running 1 30 amp fuse for 2 altima cooling fans wasn't a good idea. Now each fan is on its own circuit... and I'm running 2x 30 amp fuses. Hopefully this won't be an issue again. :-X

nj is officially the worst state in the US to drive in...

2009-05-21T23:54:00.001-05:00

With the first major driving holiday of the summer season approaching, we have analyzed the laws across the country to determine the best and the worst states when it comes to exploiting the motoring public.

These state rankings were calculated using seventeen criteria related to specific traffic laws, enforcement practices, and the treatment of traffic ticket defendants. The rankings are designed to provide guidance to travelers who do not want their vacation ruined by speed traps, arcane laws or “kangaroo” traffic courts.

[source: http://www.motorists.org/rankings/]

Fast and Furious Skyline stolen!

2009-05-17T14:04:00.003-05:00

It took two years to build it in reality, ten seconds of montage to put it together on screen, and about ten minutes to steal it. In a rare automotive example of life imitating art imitating life, the Nissan Skyline that Paul Walker drove in the latest Fast & Furious movie was stolen from its storage facility in Los Angeles.

Although dressed up to look like a full-on R34 GT-R for the movie, the car underneath was actually a lower-spec GT-S. Reports indicate that thieves, evidently knowing the car was inside, broke through a metal door and ripped off that specific car, leaving the rest but sideswiping a Studebaker and a Porsche Boxster on the way out. And to make matters worse, the car, valued at around $75,000, wasn't even insured. Considering the movie grossed $72.5 million in opening-weekend box office sales alone, we doubt the seventy-five grand will be terribly missed.

[Source: Autoblog]

UK entrepreneurs open Pit Start, the country's first self-service garage

2009-05-11T09:28:00.004-05:00

If you're a London gearhead and want to work on your car but have no place to do it, you'll want to check out Pit Start, a new self-service garage. It is exactly what it sounds like – a communal pay-by-the-hour workspace. Would-be tinkerers can pre-book a space or drop in, and upon arrival, a Pit Start employee will assign you one of the twenty repair bays depending on the kind of work you'll be doing.

Bays can be rented for a minimum of hour, and it's £10 for bays without lifts (a little over $15 USD) or £20 (roughly $30 USD) for one of the six bays that come with a four-ton hoist. Pit Start provides an array of common tools for free, sells oil and basic fluids, has a directory of nearby mechanics, and can arrange to have parts delivered for you within the hour. The only things you can't do are tasks that involve welding or paint spraying. This month, bay rental is 50% off, and the garage is open 24/7 in case you get the urge to install a turbo at 3 a.m. They even provide shop manuals.

Now we just need something like this in the US... specifically in north jersey :D

[source: autoblog]

Steampunk Laptop

2009-05-05T11:19:00.002-05:00

Random internet browsing has brought me this:

[Source: Technovelgy]

Never forget.... 3Dfx

2009-05-01T08:58:00.004-05:00

To all you nVidia fan boys out there. This a reminder of a time when a real video card company existed. A company that revolutionized the 3D gaming industry and brought it from nothing to unbelievable greatness. A company that cared about the needs of gamers, and not only their profits. A company that's drive was only exceeded by their products... until the end.

Here is a tribute video for the once great 3Dfx.

Its time to switch

2009-04-27T13:58:00.002-05:00

After some inspiration from Geno, I've decided to do a full switch over to 'nix. Enough with windows - its time for a chance. I've gotten it running pretty nicely on my laptop and all I can say is that I am blown away by how fast it runs on my 6 year old laptop. I have Compiz running with full effects and its super fast, no lag or speed issues at all!

For those of you who aren't familiar with what linux looks like these days:

Drift Bible in LFS

2009-04-23T11:00:00.002-05:00

Someone redid Keichi Tsuchiya's drift bible using LFS. Genius!

and another cool LFS video I came across. "Why I play..."

Live for Speed Drift

2009-04-23T08:28:00.000-05:00

Since the s14 is down and I can't have fun in real life... I've been playing with my simulator again to keep me entertained. Also been lurking around the LFS community for updates. While doing that, I found this kick ass video:

2009 Track Season schedule

2009-04-19T21:41:00.005-05:00

I have prepared a 2009 track season schedule relative to events I will be trying to attend this year.

It is available here for public viewing: Google Docs - 2009 Track Schedule

if you are interested in attending or participating in any of these events, please let me know.

Report from the NY Auto Show

2009-04-19T01:42:00.002-05:00

So today I went to the auto show. I did not take a plethora of pictures, although maybe I should have. I made the following observations:

(1) The Nissan Cube is AWESOME. It looks every bit as awesome in person as I thought it would and then some.

(2) The Nissan GT-R is AWESOME - but enough has been said about it already.

(3) The 370Z Nismo / Normal / Coupe are all awesome. Sat in the normal 370Z. Layout is really nice, but the clutch feel is kinda wierd. Floor mounted gas pedal is slightly wierd... and the R placement is not what I like, but after driving the spec V I can get used to it.

(4) Ford Fiesta... nice overall exterior design and build quality.... but it seems pretty cramped inside... meh.

(5) Kia Soul.... actually pretty nice. Plastic interior seems half cheap... but not terrible... esp considering the price and specs. Kia badges would be difficult, but possible to delete.

(6) Hyundai Genesis is awesome. nuff said.

(7) New Subaru legacy looks better in person that it does in pics (wasn't too fond of it in pics)

(8) New (latest model anyway) Honda Fit has a 1000x better interior than Gen1. I HATED the gen1 interior... gen2 is actually pretty nice.... maybe its back on the list of cars I may buy...

(9) New Mazda 3 doesn't look nearly as bad in person as it does in pictures... but its still kinda meh.

(10) Fisker cars look pretty hot.

(11) Acura ZDX concept looks pretty cool... but there is a ton of stuff on it that won't make it to production.

(12) Show overall lacked the variety of awesome new things that you usually see at the NYIAS, but I guess that's economically related... sadly.

Hyundai Congradulates Ford on 45 years of the mustang

2009-04-17T16:16:00.003-05:00

[source: autoblog]

Blingy chassis

2009-04-17T10:27:00.002-05:00

made a quick adjustment while my downpipe is out to help alleviate the infamous 240sx hot foot problem, where tranny / exhaust heat seems into the foot well of the driver and after 45-1 hour of summer driving it becomes quite unbearable...

Turbo teardown

2009-04-17T07:50:00.005-05:00

This is what happens when u rely on someone else's work. The major failure was due to the usage of incorrect nuts and cheapo studs on the turbo to manifold joint. This was all assembled by the guy I bought it from. Although to be truthful, I guess I didn't know any better either. Oh well, its going in with all the right parts now.

I can attribute the total failure to the following:
(1) usage of poor nuts/studs
(2) lack of locking tabs
(3) exhaust too stiff due to poly exhaust hangers
(4) not using the tranny exhaust brace.

After the teardown, I found the following damage:

1 stud on the manifold tweaked, which stripped the manifold on the way out (retapping the manifold, however, was easy)
2 lost nuts / washers for the manifold
1 blown out gasket at the manifold (pictured above)
1 lost nut / washer for the elbow

1 lost nut for the exhaust

What's going in to replace it is:

new studs

new nuts

oem turbine locking tabs

SNAKES ON A PLANE! (IRL!)

2009-04-16T11:21:00.002-05:00

MELBOURNE, Australia – Four baby pythons escaped from a container aboard a passenger plane in Australia, leading to a search that forced the cancellation of two flights, the airline said Thursday.

Full Article

[source: kirinpoopy]

Blame the dolphins for snow in April...

2009-04-14T20:14:00.006-05:00

Strip from one of the web comics I regularly read that I found particularly funny:

(click to enlarge)

The dark side of Dubai

2009-04-14T11:31:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine recently sent me this article, which gives a fully encompassing view of how Dubai's economy works. There seems to be a HUGE separation between the rich class and the "slave" class... but perhaps this is the way in any place that can grow from nothing to a super city in just a couple decades. Looking back into history, this pattern can be seen at the start of many major countries that exist in the world today. Whether Dubai has a viable, sustainable, socioeconomic structure however, it quite definately up for debate.

Article Link

[source: kirinpoopy]

"It takes 1000's of bolts to hold a car together. But only 1 to scatter it all over the highway"

2009-04-13T19:58:00.004-05:00

If I had this, my car would still be working right now. epic fail :(

Kyoko... right before I broke her... bleh

2009-04-12T18:55:00.001-05:00

Quick compilation of random video clips from my runs. And then the car broke. Some turbo related issue... will have to diagnose it later this week.

More kyoko updates...

2009-04-10T19:02:00.002-05:00

Car now idles stoich, but still loopy on load. Perhaps bad alternator? or a vacuum leak? still looking into it..

few pics:

Sorry to disappoint, I had to get rid of the gatorade bottle to eliminate possible sources of problems in the setup... Ghetto--

Epic Save!

2009-04-06T19:13:00.000-05:00

[source: autoblog]

Kyoko updates..

2009-04-04T08:21:00.002-05:00

random camera phone shots...

Funny bumper stickers

2009-04-04T00:18:00.005-05:00

While driving around, I occasionally see a funny bumper sticker. Whenever possible, I try to take pictures of the really funny ones.

Here are a couple I was able to take pictures of:

"Dog is my copilot"

"my drinking team has a racing problem"

Death Proof Angry Duck

2009-04-02T11:19:00.003-05:00

I want one... why is it $192... :(

Been looking at it for a while.. I think I will eventually get it. Someone wanna buy it for me? lol.

[ebay link]

If you think UPS is efficient now...

2009-04-01T20:07:00.001-05:00

imagine what they could do with a fleet of these!

kyoko is getting closer to drivable...

2009-03-31T20:25:00.002-05:00

some teaser shots for now...

"a modern-day reincarnation of the Nissan 240SX"

2009-03-31T13:47:00.003-05:00

An excellent review of the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe by autoblog showed up today, a car which by Hyundai's own words is "a modern-day reincarnation of the Nissan 240SX".

Link:
First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

rusted out r35

2009-03-30T21:57:00.003-05:00

another sick photoshop by the same guy who did the z34..

widebody z34

2009-03-30T21:46:00.002-05:00

deeemz. Teh hotness. too bad its a photochop...

FOLLOW UP: CARB says "Just kidding about banning black paint..."

2009-03-29T21:38:00.002-05:00

To be completely fair, the California Air Resources Board never intended to ban black paint -- or any color of paint, for that matter. When devising ways to implement the Cool Cars Initiative, CARB couldn't find any dark paints that passed the 20% solar reflectivity test, which others took to mean that CARB would be banning them. Not so, says a CARB spokesman: "We are by no means interested in banning or restricting car colors." For now, CARB is sticking with the reflective glass portion of the initiative, which would add a reflective clear coat to windows and $31-$50 to the price of a new car, and is taking public comments on the proposed new rules. Thanks for the tip, Jason

[Source: Autoblog]

I feel accoplished today.

2009-03-27T23:47:00.005-05:00

Actually got a decent amount of stuff done today. Got ahead on my projects at work, and my coworkers seemed very pleased. Also moved forward with the car a decent amount. I blame the weather, lol. (It was like 65* today :-D - FINALLY a sign of sping!)

Significantly reduced the wiring down my center console to only the radio harness (I could've trimmed that down as well, but I currently don't have the patience to rebuild a wiring harness that runs across my car)

Car PC Location Finalized, and case reassembled, with mounting brackets. Many of the wires for the PC have been run. PC needs to be bolted down and wired up.

New toy for use with the carpc :)

Battery box installed and battery mounted in trunk... still need to finalize the battery cable routing and fusing.

Very positive Tata Nano review by AutoCar

2009-03-25T22:46:00.001-05:00

California to reduce carbon emissions by... banning black cars?!

2009-03-25T14:24:00.003-05:00

In a move that will likely get California's consumers in a huff, impending legislation may soon restrict the paint color options for Golden State residents looking for their next new vehicle. The specific colors that are currently on the chopping block are all dark hues, with the worst offender seemingly the most innocuous color you could think of: Black. What could California possibly have against these colors, you ask? Apparently, the California Air Resources Board figures that the climate control systems of dark colored cars need to work harder than their lighter siblings – especially after sitting in the sun for a few hours. Anyone living in a hot, sunny climate will tell you that this assumption is accurate, of course. In fact, legislation already exists for buildings that has proven successful at reducing the energy consumption of skyscrapers.

So, what's the crux of the problem... can't paint suppliers just come up with new, less heat-absorbent dark paints? According to Ward's, suppliers have reportedly been testing their pigments and processes to see if it's possible to meet CARB's proposed mandate of 20% solar reflectivity by 2016 with a phase-in period starting in 2012, and things aren't looking good. Apparently, when the proper pigments and chemicals are added to black paint, the resulting color is currently being referred to as "mud-puddle brown." That doesn't sound very attractive, now does it? Windshields, backlights and sunroofs are also slated to get reflective coatings starting in 2012.

I can think of at least a few people that would be upset by this one...

source: autoblog

Today's progress

2009-03-24T19:41:00.002-05:00

Find of the day: Road Mice!

2009-03-23T19:49:00.002-05:00

How cool is that?!

more info here

edit: And here is another...

R.F.O.A.I.O.T.D.

2009-03-17T21:22:00.001-05:00

Random picture of a car I found while on Zilvia. Such a hot picture, I had to make it the umm.. R.F.O.A.I.O.T.D. =P

nub drivers

2009-03-16T21:41:00.003-05:00

Another example of some dude with too much money and no driving skill. Totally understeers the GT-R in ever corner and takes terrible unstable lines... *sigh* poor GT-R.

actually on a second watch the first couple corners are acceptable lines... but it looks like the driver didn't know the road at all and kept getting surprised by the turns.... pushing it like you are going straight into a corner is a bad idea...

HD Sneak Peak of the S14!

2009-03-16T11:30:00.001-05:00

Quick fly by video of the 14 running :)

You wanted more video? you got more video =)

2009-03-14T15:09:00.003-05:00

Looks like she's running well now. Just needed to get things settled, adjusted, and fine tuned.

Yes I know I spelled distributor wrong... ooops, lol.

Kyoko is ALIVE!

2009-03-14T14:18:00.000-05:00

The 240 runs! Will post more details soon!

Best faux Nissan commercial ever

2009-03-13T20:15:00.001-05:00

I literally LOL'd this one

Started the 240, semi fail

2009-03-12T21:32:00.004-05:00

Started the 240.... its running... but not well... troubleshooting to be done.

bung is fixed :)

2009-03-12T08:19:00.002-05:00

shop did good. I think they retapped the bung, and rethreaded (redie'd?) the o2 sensor. Fits perfectly now. Did it right away in like 20 minutes and didn't charge me. sweet!

240 running tonight hopefully!

R.F.O.A.I.O.T.D.

2009-03-11T23:17:00.002-05:00

Based on the image of being the king of tetris I made this, lol...

you ask why? Its what happens when I'm feeling sleepless. =P

Curses! Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. :(

2009-03-11T19:51:00.003-05:00

I got everything ready to go in the engine bay, hooked up the gauges, bolted up the exhaust, calibrated the o2 sensor. Only thing left was to install the O2 sensor into the exhaust and then start the car. Easy right? no. O2 sensor doesn't fit. After trying for maybe a half hour, I get irritated and just droped the entire exhaust system from the car.

I think the bung is warped. UGH. wtf. I'm going to the shop tomorrow and someone better take some accountability for this.

turbo updates from last night

2009-03-11T07:02:00.004-05:00

(1) downpipe half way bolted up
(2) coolant temp sensor wired up (may still redo ground wire)
(3) wideband wiring complete
(4) boost / oil pressure gauge wiring almost complete
(5) undercoating repaired at contact point from old header

One step closer to running

2009-03-09T21:07:00.002-05:00

Now i need a coolant overflow tank

I am the king of tetris

2009-03-08T22:49:00.002-05:00

All packed up to leave digital overload

Digital Overload

2009-03-05T09:10:00.000-05:00

Yay! We leave today. Can't wait for this mini-vacation :)

R.F.O.A.I.O.T.D.

2009-03-04T19:21:00.008-05:00

Today, I will be adding a new section to my blog. The Random Funny Or Awesome Image Of The Day. Could called it R.F.O.A.I.O.T.D. for short.... or R.F.A.I.D.? Or maybe just Image of the Day. Time will tell.

Anyway... today we have two:

A n00b pole vault man who just didn't know when to let go!

An old woot.com t-shirt design that's pretty funny. Mmmmm. sushi. Reminds me of a "finding nemo" photoshop someone did a while... I'll see if I can find it one of these days.

My new bluetooth adapter

2009-03-02T00:08:00.002-05:00

So small! Win!

Hyundai Genesis Coupe V6 beats out Infiniti G37 in first comparison test

2009-02-28T00:52:00.000-05:00

While we're working on our own shoot-out between the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and a yet-to-be-named contender, the crew at Inside Line put Hyundai's new rear-wheel-drive two-door against one of its strongest opponents: the Infiniti G37.

IL's 3.8-liter V6 Genesis Coupe tester came equipped with the Track pack, which includes a stiffer suspension, limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes and 19-inch wheels, along with the standard six-speed manual. The sticker? $30,375, or $6,625 less than a base model Infiniti G37. For the extra scratch, the Infiniti is a more luxurious package and carries a bit of badge snobbery, but performance and driver engagement are the metrics we're interested in and the Hyundai proved to be a serious contender.

The G is packing more power from less displacement (330 vs. 306 hp), a bit more torque (270 vs. 266 lb-ft) and revs higher (7,600 vs. 6,800 rpm). But it's also packing the pounds. The Infiniti tips the scales at 3,709 pounds, while the Genesis Coupe comes in just under 3,500 pounds.

IL performed its usual battery of tests, along with a dyno run, and deemed the G37 a better vehicle on the road from both a driving and livability standpoint, but gave props to the Genesis for its competence on the track and predictable handling characteristics. Both cars were remarkably close in the performance department, with the Hyundai taking the win on the skid-pad, while falling short on the sprint to 60, quarter-mile time and slalom run.

IL's conclusion: For two-thirds the cost of the Infiniti G37, the Genesis Coupe 3.8 gives you more bang for the buck and deserves a place on any enthusiast's short-list.

Source: Autoblog

Cube Options (more calculations)

2009-02-27T09:00:00.007-05:00

After looking at the option sheets.... If I give up rear sonar and intelligent key - I can maybe spec a 1.8S aftermarket to what I want for cheaper than getting everything factory. I don't want the rear sonar anyway... the intelligent key is a nice to have, but not a deal breaker. Also means giving up a nicely integrated factory sound system and hoping i can setup a nicely integrated aftermarket one. ugh.

Here are my rough notes:

1.8 SL = $16790
1.8 S 6 Speed = $14690

$2100 difference

extras in 1.8 SL:

(x means don't want @ means want)

CVT - x
16" alloys - @
V rated tires (vs H rated) - x
Automatic on/off headlights - x
seat back map pocket - @
6 speaker / rds / speed sensitive volume / mp3 playback / etc - @
ATC - x

rockford fosgate OPTION - @
steering wheel audio controls OPTION - x
xm OPTION - x
bluetooth OPTION - X
Intelligent Key OPTION - @

Prefferred Package OPTION (SL Only)
Intelligent Key, steering wheel controls, leather wrapped wheel, fog lights, bluetooth, rear sonar, xm, 6 speaker, rockford system - $1600

Aftermarket -

Alloys and Tires - ~$900
System - ~$600
Fog lights - ~$200
Leather Wrap Wheel - $200 (no idea what aftermarket upholstery costs these days...)

1.8 SL w/ Preferred package = $18390
1.8 S w/ aftermarket upgrades = $16590

Cube Options = FAIL CITY

2009-02-26T23:10:00.000-05:00

read the options list and my rant here.

cube pricing announced!

2009-02-24T17:23:00.001-05:00

"As noted earlier, the Cube will start at $13,990 for a base 1.8-liter model with a six-speed manual transmission. The midline 1.8 S model will command $14,690 in manual and $15,690 in Xtronic CVT configuration, while the uplevel SL (available only with the Xtronic) will command $16,790. The top-shelf Krom, also an automatic-only proposition, is pegged at $19,370. All of the aforementioned prices do not include destination charges, so be sure to tack on an additional $695 in your calculations. For comparison's sake, Scion's larger xB will set you back a minimum of $16,420 (including destination), versus $14,685 in-your-garage for a Base Cube S."

more details @ autoblog

looks like 1.8 and 1.8 S have available 6 speed, while 1.8 SL and Krom are CVT only. Looks like I'll be eyeing up a 1.8 S w/ options.

bulldog with sunglasses

2009-02-17T14:25:00.002-05:00

I can't take this credit for the discovery, as I saw someone post the suggestion on a forum... but it appears that the whole "bulldog with sunglasses" lighting concept isn't new to nissan.

kinda interesting, lol...

ka-t install update

2009-02-14T18:17:00.003-05:00

Finished i/c ducting today.... I think I'll have to remove the driver's side fog light for any events / track time.

Got a mushroom filter, but I still gotta shorten the intake a tiny bit more... still doesn't fit in the car, lol.

And here is the rest of the i/c piping... still gotta figure out if I'm doing it right. (I sure hope so!)

DETAILS ON CUBE REVEALED!

2009-02-10T23:04:00.003-05:00

Nissan has finally put a price tag on the 2009 Cube: $13,990. That's what the 1.8 model equipped with a manual transmission will set you back when sales begin in early May.

Four versions of the Cube will be offered: the 1.8, 1.8 S, 1.8 SL and the model you see above, the 1.8 Krom. The limited-edition model is based off the 1.8 S variant and features a three-bar chrome grille, two-bar chrome front bumper, unique fascias, side sills and spoiler, along with exclusive 16-inch aluminum wheels. Inside the factory customized model you'll find a leather-wrapped steering wheel, iPod interface, Bluetooth integration, titanium trim, illuminated lighting system, automatic temperature control, aluminum pedals and an upgraded audio system with six speakers and a Rockford Fosgate subwoofer.

Buyers that opt for one of the standard models can choose from over 40 individual accessories, including a 20-color interior illumination kit, wheels and a "shag carpeting" instrument panel.

more @ autoblog

I'M SO GETTING ONE

Black Stig lives!

2009-02-06T08:49:00.001-05:00

Can it be true?!

[Source: Autoblog]

So JDM tyte it hurts

2009-02-05T21:39:00.001-05:00

Thanks to my boy vig. Werd.

Brake your wrist with BRM's cuff links

2009-02-01T15:42:00.001-05:00

Some people like to keep their interests to themselves, while others wear their hearts on their sleeve. If you're a gearhead falling into the latter category, you'll probably get a kick out of these.

The cuff links are designed to look like cross-drilled brake discs, only in 18-karat rose gold. They're made by Bernard Richards Manufacture (B.R.M.), a highly-coveted French watch manufacturer that makes mechanical timepieces with movements inspired by racing engines and cases to match. BRM's cuff links should do a fine job of stopping your sleeves from coming undone, but at $2,050, try not to like them too much, because you could get your hands on a real set of Brembos for that kind of scratch. Check out BRM's website for a trick Le Mans flash animation and more info.

If anyone has waaaay too much money and wants to spend it on me for some reason - u know where to shop ;)
[Source: Autoblog]
[BRM's Website]

Top Gear test track in rFactor

2009-01-26T00:54:00.002-05:00

Found an accurate reproduction of the top gear test track in rFactor! Camera angles on replay are setup to match the camera angles in top gear too!

Here is a video of me ripping it around the course in a biturbo porsche 911 gt2

If I get some time, I think I'm going to try and edit in some clarkson commentary

Go Baby Go

2009-01-21T13:38:00.003-05:00

Remember this button from gone in 60 seconds?

How awesome was that?!? I want one for something in my car, lol.

I just found out that this guy sells em:
GO Baby GO!

hmmmm! lol.

Saaaved by Zero Kills

2009-01-15T19:09:00.001-05:00

Remember that ad campaign by Toyota last year?

lol...

What do you get when you cross a GT-R w/ a Suzuki K-car?

2009-01-14T09:33:00.003-05:00

a GT-K!

ummm... yeah.. wierd, lol

More at: http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nats-gt-k/1286163/

Nissan GT-R Spec V comes in a gorgeous black

2009-01-09T09:00:00.002-05:00

"Ultimate Opal Black"

more details here

Euro Spec Mazda 6 is now available!

2009-01-07T13:52:00.003-05:00

Very interesting differences between the US spec and Euro spec. Gotta say I'm really digging the euro spec headlights. Both cars are absolutely gorgeous.

Euro Spec:
US Spec:

How to: Make a 2 piece rim from your stock rims

2008-12-28T22:49:00.006-05:00

Always wanted some ballllllin two piece rims, but can't afford it? No worries, with this simple guide, you can get create two piece rims using your stock alloys!

step 1: get in '02 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V w/ 17" alloys

step 2: load car up with 3 of your friends (4 people total)

step 3: drive 45-50 mph down dark pothole ridden road

step 4: rail hidden pothole

(results may vary)

example of result:

pics w/ tire removed:

Turbo installed

2008-12-28T22:42:00.003-05:00

Oil lines and sensor too. :)

What a day..

2008-12-27T02:11:00.003-05:00

Wake up, work from home (yay!). Pretty much get to chill all day, except wrap up a few end of year odds and ends that needed to be taken care of before I take the last few days of the year off. Easy day.

Drove around for some errands... decided to try my hand at some hypermiling tricks... they are fun, but I need to learn more before I really benefit.

Then I work on my car, get the intercooler in... have a bitch of a time with the BOV, but get it lined up reasonably well. Work out plans with my friends to go to Mitsuwa.

Go out to drive to pickup people, and lots of confusion ensues. I was just totally off my game today for some reason, and everything was overwhelming and confusing.

Make plans for dinner, head out with excitment in the air. On the road not even a minute and BOOM. I hit a crazy pothole that I totally didn't see. dunno where the hell it came from. Had to pull over and try to check the tire which appeared to have gone flat. Bad place to pull over, traffic dodging us.

Roll on flat tire up about 1/4 mile up the road, proceed to change tire. Found rim torn in half! Police show up actually when you need them! I showed the officer my damaged rim, and she documented the situation for me. Hopefully I can file some sort of complaint and try to get reimbursed for repair expenses from the state/local govt. Lets see.

Put the donut on... car has LSD... not good to drive with an uneven tire setup & lsd. Decide to ditch the car at home, and take my mom's accord. Head out with the accord and realize I left my wallet in the spec V. Head back to get wallet.

Finally get to mitsuwa and I don't even want to go over the 40 minute ordeal I had to (along with my buddy Won who had it worse) endure just in order to order desert. But at least we got it in the end.

Came home, chilled in my room w/ nothing to do, and then watched the family guy movie.

Good game. Tomorrow gotta take the car to the shop, look for a new rim, check for suspension damage. bleh.

pics of the rim tommorow.

VIDEO: Petter Solberg gets a Subaru boo boo

2008-12-25T23:03:00.003-05:00

We all have our embarrassing moments. Most, however, aren't quite as public as Petter Solberg's mishap last week at the Bettega Memorial Rallysprint in Bologna, Italy. The 2003 WRC champion was taking some parade laps and waving to the crowd when he decided it was a good idea to get on the roof of his car. He managed the task with relative ease, but quickly found that getting back into the car posed much more of a problem. With Subaru pulling out of WRC in 2009, let's hope this isn't our last memory of Solberg piloting a rally car.

LOL! At least it stalled out gracefully.

[source: autoblog]

interesting take on toy story

2008-12-25T22:57:00.000-05:00

[source: autoblog]

Turbo update

2008-12-25T16:18:00.001-05:00

Smic cut out complete

Europe's fastest street-legal car is... a 252 MPH Pontiac Trans-Am?!

2008-12-23T08:34:00.002-05:00

Jump to autoblog for more details...

Awesome plate

2008-12-20T16:40:00.001-05:00

Would be good for geno, lol

Say it ain't so...

2008-12-14T02:42:00.003-05:00

Money doesn't buy taste...

"Florida . Please Step Back From The GT-R"

"I don't know exactly what these guys are thinking, but its very Florida. Its very Fast and Furious 2. It wasn't cool when that movie came out, now in 2008 its not cool either. Unpainted splitter, carbon canards, Green vinyl wrap with blue flames, chrome wheels. Nasty.

Racing team Freedom Autosports has campaigned various cars in the Grand Am KONI Challenge racing series before and this colour scheme has worked well for them. They’ve now covered their Nissan GT-R in Porsche Signal Green vinyl wrap with vinyl graphics to compliment it.

Someone go take the keys off these guys."

[Source: 2009GTR.com]

Jgs vacuum block

2008-12-12T17:16:00.001-05:00

One step closer to boost

Good quote

2008-12-12T10:31:00.001-05:00

"Oversteer is when the passenger is scared. Understeer is when the driver is scared."

Lady in Shanghai tows the tow trunk

2008-12-10T22:57:00.004-05:00

LOL!

That's fantastic.

Talk about crazy. Wouldn't work with rwd/awd... bet she didn't know that before she tried... that could've been nasty, haha.

[source: autoblog]

Orb.com

2008-12-10T14:47:00.002-05:00

So I found this service called orb.com... it lets you stream media from your computer to any device with internet. Even better it lets you email it new media and it will put it on your computer for you. Here is a video I'm sharing.... I think it will only stream if my computer is on though -

I have it setup to stream media to my cell phone... SO SICK! =D

I'm back!

2008-12-08T21:57:00.002-05:00

1 click blogging is back! Just unbranded my new phone and converted it from a W760a to a W760i. W760a can't one click blog... but the W760i can. w3rd. I'm back =)

Rant: What really grinds my gears

2008-11-23T23:12:00.010-05:00

In today's day of "sport utility crossovers", "recreational activity vehicles", and "four door coupes" the lines between what type of car is called what are getting blurrier and blurrier. Consumers these days have to deal with a plethora or meaningless and oxymoronic names. "two door sedan", "grand touring/GT", "roadster", "suv", "van", "sports car", and "crossover utility vehicle" are all terms that have simply evolved to become misused across the industry. If this trend continues, all these labels will become meaningless (if they haven't already).

For the benefit of the ENTIRE auto industry, I am going to define vehicle categories as they should be strictly adhered to:

- SEDAN - 4 doors, no exceptions; standard or slightly raised ride height; seats 4-6 adults (upto 3 front / 3 rear); traditional trunk; engine placement and drivetrain does not matter
EXAMPLES: Honda Accord, Mercedes C-class, Infiniti G35

- SPORTS SEDAN - fits all the above descriptions of the above sedan, but contains significant power and handling advantages over a normal sedan
EXAMPLES: Lexus IS-F, Audi S4

- WAGON - fits all the above descriptions of a sedan, but has a rear hatch instead of a standard trunk
EXAMPLE: Subaru WRX Wagon, Lexus IS-F Sportback

- COUPE/SPORTS COUPE - 2 doors, no exceptions; seats 2-4 adults; traditional trunk; engine placement and drivetrain does not matter; hardtop (not covertible)
EXAMPLES: Nissan 240sx, Nissan 370Z, Honda Accord Coupe

- GT/GRAND TOURING/GRAND TOURER - 2 doors, no exceptions; seats 4 adults, no exceptions, high performance, high handling, comfortable & luxury ride quality. RWD or AWD, traditionally FR layout. Traditionally contains a large gas tank for high speed long distance traveling. No Hyundai, no matter how much you want it to, or how you badge it - the Accent GT is not and will NEVER be a GT car...
EXAMPLES: Nissan GT-R, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Maserati GranTurismo

- HATCHBACK - fits all the above descriptions of a coupe, but has a rear hatch instead of a standard trunk. Traditionally seats 4-5 adults.
EXAMPLE: VW GTI, Honda Civic Si (certain years)

- CONVERTIBLE - fits all the above descriptions of the above coupe, but contains a top that can be lowered or removed, either electronically or manually.

- ROADSTER - 2 doors, no exceptions; seats 2 adults; convertible - likely softtop, but not required; generally lightweight, FR layout (Front Engine, Rear wheel drive), nimble handling, small frame, general no excessive power.
Special note: higher power rwd/awd vehicles may also be considered roadsters in some cases
EXAMPLES: Honda S2000, Saturn Sky, Mazda Miata

- SMALL SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE - 2 or 4 doors, more commonly 4; seats 2-5 adults, traditional "suv" body, which includes a hatch back style trunk; most commonly on car chassis, may use truck chassis; significantly raised ride height; engine placement and drivetrain does not matter; SOME offroad capability
EXAMPLES: KIA Sportage, Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4

- SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE - 4 doors, seats 5-7 adults; traditional "suv" body which includes a hatchback style trunk; more commonly on a truck chassis, but may use car chassis; significantly raised ride height; larger than "small suv"; engine placement and drivetrain does not matter, although commonly front engine RWD or AWD; more offroad capability then small suv
EXAMPLE: Nissan Pathfinder, Ford Explorer, Subaru B9 Tribeca

- LARGE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE - 4 doors, seats 5-8 adults in relatively high comfort; ridiculously large body not usually suitable for European or Japanese roads; Commonly on truck chassic; significantly raised ride height; engine placement and drivetrain does not matter; offroad capable; stupid stupidly big
EXAMPLE: Nissan Armada, Caddilac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Ford Excursion

- VAN - 2-4 side doors, 2 rear doors, seats how many ever seats are installed; Classic Van body; commonly used to carry cargo; Generally crude vehicle used for transporting goods or large amounts of people
EXAMPLE: Ford Econoline

- MINIVAN - 2 standard doors, 1-2 sliding doors, rear hatch; smaller than a van with a much more rounded body; much better build quality and comfort than a van. Seats 6-8 adults. Often contains adjustable seat configuration and entertainment accessories for children (not required).
EXAMPLE: Ford Windstar, Nissan Quest

to be continued...

Gingerbread garage

2008-11-23T21:25:00.001-05:00

What what

Guess what is being built here?

2008-11-21T21:27:00.001-05:00

Thats right you saw it here first. Stay tuned.

"Symmetry is soooo last year"

2008-11-19T17:22:00.003-05:00

I want a cuuuuuube. USDM cube revealed today. I wannnnt!

122 hp/127 tq 1.8L
6MT or CVT
Rockford Fosgate system
no mention of e4wd - stay tuned for updates on this one...

official site

autoblog picture gallery

HIDs :)

2008-11-15T01:52:00.001-05:00

Install almost 100%... just need some fine tuning this weekend. W3rd.