Cars I want to Buy: 2013 Chrysler 300 Glacier Edition

Hey folks!  For my third instalment of Cars I want to Buy I'm featuring the super cool (no pun intended... well, ok, maybe a little) Chrysler 300 Glacier Edition.  This may be one of the best limited edition cars that you can get.  It's subtly different from every other 300 on the market but still absolutely unmistakable when you see it (as long as you know what you're looking at).

Cars I want to Buy, Episode 2 - 1999 Mercedes C230 Kompressor!

Hey folks!  New episode of Cars I want to Buy is out on the YouTubes for your viewing pleasure (and also embedded in this blog post for your convenience!).  Today I explore one of my all time favs, the turn of the century entry level Merc, the C230.

Awesome Ambition Episode 1 - Another Video Series!

Hi folks!   Thanks for all the support on the last post.  In tandem with the 'Cars I want to Buy' video series I'm also starting a series called 'Awesome Ambition'.  The two series sort of occupy two sides of my car purchasing passion.  On the one side there are the cars that I want that I would happily pay the asking price for (or at least close to it) and there are cars that I want but have an asking price so high, I can only assume the seller is under some sort of pharmaceutical influence.  This series shines a spotlight on the latter.  

Cars I want to buy video series - Ep. 1 - 1983 Dodge Mirada

Hey folks!  Trying a new thing today where I actually post to my super dormant blog. Things are a little different though... I've started making videos! That's right.  From now on, most of my blog post content is going to be video driven.  There will still be text, but it will mostly be additional commentary to the content included in the video.  Together it will be one big smash of a multimedia experience... or at least that's the idea anyway!

Small Block Chevy in a Ford

The hot-rodding scene has traditionally been dominated by the small block Chevy (SBC).  Not to be relegated to duty only among old GM models, it is also a popular engine swap in almost every pre-war make.  Some of this is due to the engines ubiquitous nature – millions of these motors exist and due to the massive aftermarket industry supporting them, they are relatively easy and inexpensive to get big power out of.  This is one of the reasons why the Fords of the 1930s that forego their flatheads are almost always seen wearing a Chevrolet bowtie under the bonnet. 

Pay Cash and Save!

Canada’s auto finance market is worth $120Billion annually.  That means there are a lot of us that, for one reason or another, cannot afford to pay cash for a car purchase.  Cost of living being what it is, it can be quite difficult to save up $30,000+ required to buy a new car outright.  For a good late model used vehicle it can be the same story, with a total cost in excess of $20,000.  Not many of us have that kind of cake just lying around and if we did, we probably would find better things to invest it in other than a new car (or at least I hope we would). 

Diesel engines, Tesla supercars and going the distance in today's link fest!

Hey, Folks!

Seems every time I do a post, I apologize for not posting. Well, I'm sorry again. Life can get pretty crazy sometimes and things like this can take a seat on the back shelf. Well, I'm going to giver a go again. I'm working on some new ideas, though, with a focus on creating some video content. So this blog will essentially stick to format where I share links that I think are pretty cool and hope others will like too. I may insert some commentary here or there on occasion.

My videos, if all goes according to plan, will consist of my opinions and views on the car industry and general automotive related content (reviews, car tours, top ten lists, etc.). Since videos will be more time consuming, I'm aiming to eventually be doing one a week when I get on my feet. For now though, I'm just going to try and do regular updates here on the blog.

A little Saturday poetry Jam

Liz Howard, a treasured old friend - that is to say we became friends about half a lifetime ago, not that she is old - is a Canadian poet (and scientist).  And a very good one at that.  She recently made the Canadian short list for the Griffin Poetry prize.  I looked it up and it is a major award. 

Oh, she was also a finalist for a Governor General's Award last fall.  Another major award.  That's right, Liz is a serious force in the poetry world. 

In honour of Liz and her accomplishments, I have written a poem (hopefully this is not a dubious honour).  Since this is a car blog, it is about my car.  Make sense? 

And while I can't even pretend to have any talent in this field, I can probably safely say that it is likely the best poem you will ever read about a 1985 Ford Crown Victoria.  But, maybe have a few drinks before you read it just to be safe.   

Tesla Model 3... It's here and it looks mostly finished! All right!

Tesla unveiled its much ballyhooed Model 3 to an invite only crowd and via live stream this past Thursday.  Looks like it will be a winner because as much as I want to hate it, I really want to drive one.  And that’s right, I said ballyhooed! 

The Ford Durango - The Mysterious Truck/Car That Barely Was

Durango.  The word brings to mind a large SUV packed with a family of 12, camping gear for six years and 25 hunting dogs that never fail to track your prey and retrieve your fresh kill - the ultimate tool for conquering all you survey.  These are the remnants of the guts and glory left behind by RAM when it split off to become its own brand.  In fact, it is the only vehicle left standing that represents the quintessential utilitarian side of Dodge.  So it may come as a surprise that the name Durango is not exclusively synonymous with Dodge.  In fact, before Durango was a Dodge, it was a Ford. 

Why You Should Choose The Canadian International Auto Show

This most recent Saturday (Valentine's Day) I had the fortune of visiting the CIAS in Toronto.  As per usual, it was a busy day with lots to see and do.  I was also in Detroit for the North American International Auto Show back in January.  If you've ever gone to Detroit but never to Toronto, here's a few reasons why you might want to consider the Canadian show over the American one. 

Finalists for the 2015 European Car of the Year

Holy strudel and baguettes!  It's the 2015 European Car of the Year Finalists!

The latest Hoonigan video! Ken Block takes on L.A. with a Monster of a vintage Mustang!

Just cruising around the net today and I happened across the latest Hoonigan production: Gymkhana Seven.  This time everyone's favourite driving ace, Ken Block, is running a (heavily) modified 1965 Ford Mustang throughout the streets of Los Angeles. 

Lincoln gets a cash injection and my new obsession with the Silverado.

So I’ve been quite the lazy blogger.  I’m hoping I can turn this around soon, but I’ve been pretty busy with a million things going on... also I’ve become addicted to the Panther Forum I’ve joined (grandmarq.net).  I’ve had a good time meeting a bunch of folks online who share my (newly developed) obsession with full-sized 1980’s Fords.  For a primer as to why this has happened, check out my last post.  However, my car world still extends beyond 30 year old blue ovals.  Let’s see what’s caught my eye today...

The Big Blue Boat!

It’s been a long time since the last post.  Things have just seemed really busy the last couple of months and I just haven’t been able to get around to writing.  I have been involved in some car stuff though... I just haven’t been able to write about it.

Unusual and Desirable for Cheap

So you're in the market for a car.  But not your daily driver; you want something fun.  Fun and inexpensive. There are lots of obvious choices out there: Mustangs, Miatas, Corvettes, M3's, etc., etc., etc.  But what about the cars that may not be on your radar?  Today, we are going to try to expand our horizons as we review a few of the cars less purchased. 

Surrounded by Generations of the Chevrolet Camaro

Sometimes in life, regardless of how well we have it or how entrenched in habit we have become, we find ourselves with wandering eyes and a yearning to try new things.  As many of you know, I have always been (and will likely always be) a Mustang man.  The first car I noticed as budding adolescent was the 1967 Mustang G.T.500 in a comic book I read – well before the car was featured in the movie Gone in 60 Seconds and the world went crazy for Eleanor.  If I ever get the privilege of owning one of these classic cars, I will not hesitate to correct with extreme prejudice anyone who dares call my lady “Eleanor”.  So why all of a sudden am I so obsessed with Camaros?

From Hyundai to Tatra: today's slice of the atuomotive world!

Well my initial intention was to do a bit of an in-depth analysis of Fiat-Chrysler's new long-term plan, but so many automotive journalists have already weighed in that I didn't really think it was worth my time.  Probably the most important thing to remember is tat the company that makes your Caravan (which is slated for the chopping block) also makes Ferrari.  Which means, this new Dodge Challenger Hellcat should be AMAZING (although also not long for a world where fossil fuel preservation is a key issue). 

Spotted in the wild: A new CTS Vsport!

Hey there to all of my (likely) few remaining faithful readers!  The play I was in is all over, things are back on track at work and I'm ready to get back to a life of cars... so for now, I'm back from my little hiatus.  There isn't much to this post, other than I was inspired today by a lovely little Cadillac that passed me on the 403 today.

I bought a new car!

So what's the most exciting smell in the world?  Before any of you take this in a terrible direction, I'll just stop you and say it's new car smell.  And that's the very smell I've been enjoying since last Thursday, when I traded in my 2009 Pontiac G5 for a brand new 2014 Kia Optima LX.  Let's get down to brass tacks and go through the process of how I ended up buying Korean.