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I see Lamborghinis where I live often enough that it isn't even a big deal. I get more excited when I see a GT-R around than I do with a Lamborghini or a Ferrari.

Our areas are very similar, It's not uncommon to see exotics on the beltway here, but we also have all of our exotic dealerships in just about one area, lotus, mercedes, aston martin, porsche and lambo all have dealerships literally next to each other and then the ferrari dealership is a rock throw from my house, my friend's mom is the manager at that ferrari dealer. The neighbor across from me bought a Panamera and the neighbor a few homes down owns a GT3, Porsche's here are undoubtedly the most common sports car on the road, GT-R's are definitely a rare but welcome sight.

The flagship Lambo hasn't been relevant for me in a long time, even the Reventon looked like a mess of disjointed angles, the only modern lambo i've liked is the Gallardo and now the Aventador, too bad i'll never be able to afford one, but i'll no doubt see one on the road shortly (lambo dealer close to home).

The FR-S is supposed to be turbocharged FR platform, so as long as that remains true, it should be competition directly aimed at the Genesis. Now if only Nissan would bring back the Silvia then we'd have a real fight on our hands.

I was never a fan of the Murcielago but the Aventador strikes me in a good way, something about the hexagonal theme is really pleasing to the eye.

I've read that it's hard to spread evenly, and its easy to apply too much, which then makes it a PITA to remove, so i guess it's a little of both. I'm sure if you use the stuff religiously it'll become easier to apply a thin even coat which would then make it easy to remove so i guess YMMV. With claybar, i have big hands so using a small piece makes it hard for me to hold on to so i end up using the whole bar. I've read the same thing as you about wasting it if you drop it, but they don't cost that much to begin with anyway and i've never had one slip out of my hands, so i guess i'm not worried about it. If it's really a problem there are clay discs for polishing handles that you can use to attach the clay to so you're not handling it with your bare hands. Here's an example of one: http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-polishing-clay.html

I've seen some tests with Collinite, it seems to have excellent beading performance and is extremely durable, but like you said it can be a PITA to apply. I think everyone is going to have their favorites and unfortunately there's no way for any consumer test to be scientifically perfect, but it'd be nice if there were a high end lab test that could be conducted to prove what products are best at what.

On that note---anyone have a suggestion for longevity? I'm the kind of person who doesn't clay/polish very often but when I do I go all-out with a day-long session of many steps/products---clay once a year or so, wax two or three if the car's lucky---so I tend to use the longest-lasting sealant (not true wax) I can find. AFAIK Nxt is among the easiest-to-apply-longest-lasting sealants out there. I've heard about Klasse All-in-One a lot, but never actually tried it---plus so many people say it's a b*tch to apply and remove.

That's the thing, everyone gets conflicting results, which i think may be due to incorrect application. I'd have to look through my bookmarks, but i went with Zaino after seeing a side by side with six other products, and while Zaino didn't always finish first (in fact i think it only finished first in longevity/durability) it was always in the top 3 of several categories. I can say first hand after using it that it has depth but not shine, you're not going to get that strong glossy shine out of it like i've seen with NXT, but i've seen tests where NXT doesn't hold the same longevity. The trade off then becomes price, Zaino is pricey, NXT isn't, and Zaino is proprietary, so you can't mix and match products in order to get the optimal result. Economically NXT is a superior product, but for me personally, i don't mind spending the extra money since i know i won't have the time to reapply the sealant very often. I think once i run out, i'll give NXT a run, then use all of that up and pick the product that i see is better first hand.

I've been using Zaino since 1999.

I noticed it doesn't really give a strong mirror finish like most waxes, but it's been a couple of weeks and you can still feel that the polish hasn't rubbed off. I'm finding that it's extremely durable and i'm not the kind of person who has time to wash and wax their car religiously every week like some people do. I'll probably end up reapplying z-2 polish before the fall, but just continue to wash and use the z-6 finishing spray through the summer.

I have three kids, so they can eat dry foods (crackers, cereal, etc.) in my car, only water for drinks but kids are kids and they will always find a way to make a mess. It's unrealistic for me to never have children in my car, but i don't own pets and when we did own a dog he was hypoallergenic. Even without anyone making a mess, interiors still get dusty and the sun still causes discoloration, so i use 303 for the UV protection and simple green to wipe up the dust.

Mostly Meguiar's Nxt having tried most of the other "non-premium but new" stuff. Especially their car wash/shampoo---it's the ONLY stuff that'll suds up well in our uber-insanely-hard water. I haven't been able to find it for many months, I may be screwed when I run out, as shipping costs are twice what the MSRP is due to weight. And that whole line smells better/less than most.

PS---Meguiar's "Deep Crystal" car wash is not it. That stuff is everywhere and more of a deep pink. Nxt car wash is blue-purple and much thicker.

The Zaino car wash is blue and extremely thick and was overly sudsy to the point where i couldn't even get my bucket full of the correct amount of water, i had to tone down the amount of concentrate below whats recommended. The wax/polish (it technically isn't a wax) has depth but not as much shine as i was expecting. I heard after the next wash/rain it's more vibrant but we'll see. I use Meguiar's clay bar, and i'm using a few of their products for my interior like the mirror glaze polish and cleaner. I'm using diluted simple green and 303 aerospace to clean and protect the interior trim. What are you guys using for the carpet and upholstery? I have some scotch guard stuff sitting around, but want to see if there's a general consensus of people using something that stands out for cleaning and protecting the floor mats and the carpet.

Finally got a chance to wash and wax the car, I decided to use Zaino products this time around and i'm pretty satisfied with the results. Washed in Dawn Liquid soap, then Zaino wash liquid, clay barred the car, polished with zaino z-2 twice then used a finishing spray (z-6). What products are you all using for washing/waxing your cars?

Talk about complete insanity. Built on a modified Lotus Exige platform, the 2011 Hennessey Venom GT is powered by a modified version of the Corvette ZR1's 6.2 liter LS9 V8. A single turbo version makes 725 bhp, but a twin turbo will give you up to 1,200 bhp @ 6,500 RPM. Despite all that power and a hefty V8, the car weighs in at an impressively light 2,685 lbs. Hennessey claims a 0-60 acceleration time of 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 272 mph.

I think you meant super charged or twin turbocharged, the press release doesn't mention a single turbo setup, probably because a single turbo setup would have some interesting exhaust plumbing compared to the twin turbo setup.

New BMWs get uglier than ever, even after Chris Bangle retired from the design team.

(Click at your own risk!)

I don't understand the bunny ear side view mirrors, and the front end looks like a german camaro, but it's also in the test car tape so have to reserve judgement

is this Carlsson based on an existing manufacturer's model? or a ground-up design? I agree that the exterior is too busy; trying to blend straight lines & sharp corners (particularly the rocker panels, rear fascia/exhaust) with the overall curvy lines of the body makes it look muddled. I dunno, maybe it's the lighting? Clean up some of that superfluous sh*t on the exterior (too many creases & grooves & oversized openings/ducts), put it on a serious diet (3400-3600 lbs would be great) and you'll have a damned sexy GT car.

If i had to guess strictly based on the motor and drivetrain, i'd say it's stealing Mercedes equipment, if they built a 6.0L twin turbo V12 from scratch then color me impressed.

Edit:

I clicked the link, it is built on Mercedes equipment, if you look at the car it looks like an SL so probably uses its underpinnings as well.

Too bad none of you guys live near me, one of my friends is the sales manager for tires at Goodyear. Just got four high end tires for my 02 Explorer mounted with an alignment for $480.

For those with practical needs (pshuh, right), like family hauling (a$$) duties, the Aussies have taken the Coyote motor, put a huffer on it, and wedged it into their 4-door RWD Falcon platform to make a hot sedan that'll go toe to toe with Holden's HSV cars.

And what does Ford offer us here in the US? The Taurus SHO? *meh*

Methinks that the new Taurus SHO was something of a shot-in-the-dark by Ford. They really should have just gone with new badging for the model, as it is unlikely to sell in any significant numbers. While it's performance numbers seem pretty impressive, the price range and brand imaging associated with Ford's long-time rental-fleet mainstay are going to effectively make it a red-headed step child.

Traditional Taurus buyers are going to look at it and go: you want me to pay $39,000+ for a Taurus? While the target buyers they may have been aiming at (what, 300C; Cadillac; maybe prospective entry-level BMW/Benz buyers?) are going to look at it and go: you want me to pay $39,000+ for a Taurus?

I completely agree, when i saw the motor/drivetrain and the numbers produced by the SHO they should've immediately gone with a different branding. They could've brought back a retired name (retired in the US not AUS) like Falcon and i'm sure sales would've been considerably different. "Taurus" is not the name that comes to mind when you hear V6 turbo AWD, the only thing i wish they did with this car (which is the one thing that made the original SHO special) was give it a manual gear box.

We got the Galant VR-4s here (also transverse V6 twin-turbo) and no nightmare reliability stories.

We didn't get them in the US, only the sixth gen ones with the 4g63 motor (2.0l turbo AWD) they weren't a part of the ones built by the DSM plant, and to be honest i'm not sure of their reliability, i just know first hand that the VR4 3000GT's weren't well known for having a lot of time on the road. I had several opportunities to own a 3000GT VR-4, (the last one i had cash in hand and was about to sign paperwork), but every time i pop the hood and see the layout then drive it and remember how huge the car is (yet how small the interior is) i remember why i don't want one. It's crossed my mind to buy a 300zx and do a motor swap, but i know i don't have the time for it between my work and kids.

I didn't even know the SC430 was still being sold, that car is way out of date. The only reason i can think of that would keep the tape deck around in that car was just the expense of sending a redesign to R&D.

In some regard Mike is right that purchasing out of the box can be cheaper but it also depends on how patient you are (is time a factor). Four months ago I built my friend a computer (of course he had no clue what he wanted) so i decided to go middle of the road with everything (HTPC with light gaming in mind). The parts break down was something like

HTPC case w/550PSU $25

Motherboard w/Phenom II X2 $100

Dell U2311h 23" eIPS $200

Radeon HD 5670 $60

1TB HDD $50

4GB DDR3 1600 $35

Blu-Ray Combo Drive $80

______________________________

Total $550

That's including a high end eIPS monitor, i have a subscription so OS was free and i get free peripherals from work (we throw away crates of them a day). Also to get more bang for the buck, i unlocked the other two cores on the Phenom X2 to make it an X4 and then overclocked it to 3.6ghz. His budget was $550 and the most expensive part was the Monitor, and that was only expensive because i decided to go with an eIPS panel instead of a TN panel since i had excess money left in his budget. If you decide to build it yourself, go to Micro Center for the Processor, no one is cheaper than Micro Center for processors, often times they'll have motherboard combos that are great too (like in my case). If time is not a factor get everything else by checking on slickdeals, amazon and newegg for the best price on the parts you're looking for. I also mention time not being a factor because usually the best prices are found by waiting for rebates, sucks i know, but ultimately you make out in the end.

Just wondering, when did Mitsubishi cars start to have problems - before or after their association with Chrysler?

The joint venture with Chrysler, better known as Diamond Star Motors is the most notable. They were responsible for the Talon/Laser/Eclipse which in its basic form was pretty reliable and harmless but if you got a GST or GSX you were in for a world of hurt (especially with the GSX). Poor build quality was just the start, but IMO design flaws in their AWD system for the GSX was also to blame. Similarly, with the Stealth/3000GT the transfer cases would leak and you would also hear of severe cases of crank walk. If you do searches for demotivational posters regarding DSM you'll find your fair share that should tell the story all on its own. It seemed to really be exclusive to Mitsubishi's highest trim model, if you got a basic trim Eclipse or 3000GT they were mostly reliable (slow, but reliable).

I'm jaded by the 3000GT after working on my friends VR-4, it seemed like no matter how much effort and time you put into fixing it and getting it back on the road it somehow always ended up back in your garage. I think a good example of how poor the build quality is for the 3000GT is just go do a parts search at autozone. You can buy a transmission rebuild kit for the 3000GT, i don't know of any other car that i can walk down to my local auto parts store and purchase a full transmission rebuild kit (for a good price to boot!). In fact, i went and found it on their website http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Atc-Pro-King-Manual-Transmission-Rebuild-Kit/1995-Mitsubishi-3000GT/_/N-j1m96Z6o2tw?counter=1&itemIdentifier=438637_14444_5207_31130 $266 and you can have a rebuilt transmission, that will almost certainly rip itself apart 20,000 miles later.

On the subject of Mitsubishi, back when I first got my licence, the car I lusted after was a Colt Starion Turbo (nothing to do with Jackie Chan and the Cannonball run movie though, I just liked the Turbo RWD).

And some time later, there was this beautiful car called the 3000 GTO.

As for Subaru, I hate the fact that they had to nerf all their export engines. I really wish my Legacy GT had a bit more compression ratio because the boost takes really long to come on and without boost, the low compression block is a real sluggard.

But the 3000GT (GTO in Japan) got the axe in 99 so we got the last gen facelift for only one year, plus they were riddled with drivetrain failures (crank walk, blown transfer cases, transmissions falling apart) and were a pretty poor design in general (there's just no efficient way to setup a transverse mounted v6 turbo). We never got the FTO which would've been a hot sell, i'd be looking for one right now if we got them stateside. The point is, Mitsu needs to start making their lineup more attractive or their doomed, i don't think they're going to accomplish that by getting rid of the EVO. As it stands, the EVO is the only thing that brings the younger market in the door to sell them a Lancer.

All-wheel drive, traction control, and actually having a back seat make it a more practical choice than, say, a Mazda Miata.

And yeah, the Evo isn't Mitsubishi's biggest seller. If my local dealer is indicative of Mitsubishi in general, their biggest sellers are the non-Evo Lancers and the Outlanders. But it's that motorsport-inspired design that's made the current generation Lancer so popular... there's not a lot of cosmetic difference between the Lancer GTS and the Evo X.

In killing the Evo, Mitsubishi isn't just saying that they're killing off a $45,000 rally car that gets 18mpg, they're also saying that the Evo doesn't fit image the company wants. And judging by their stated goals and their recently unveiled e-Compact, good-looking, fun-to-drive cars are out, hippie-green pods are in. And that's what'll actually kill them. They could make hybrid versions of every car in their fleet, including the Evo, if they wanted to. They just don't want to. Popularity of the Prius aside (a popularity that's been waning, I might add), people don't want pods.

I think just in general Mitsubishi has no idea what they're doing. In Japan, they have everything done right, but in the US i dunno where the disconnect is, but it's like they're purposely making poor decisions. I guess what i'm getting at has more to do with their lineup, their lineup is fine with the exception of the fact that their motors and drivetrains all suck unless you own an EVO. In Japan, their 2.0L turbo and AWD are at least available options for just about every model, they took a more Subaru approach to things (look at Subaru's current lineup to see what i mean), but in the US they settle for the mundane. It wouldn't take much for Mitsubishi to be relevant again, but to me the only car that seems to sell for them is the lancer. The Galant and Eclipse look like hell and are both the most boring cars on the road. Why not bring the Galant up to compete with the Legacy, or give the Eclipse AWD, something that makes them relevant to the consumer. It seems to me that Mitsu has just given up on the US market, we never saw a lot of the cars that were released overseas and i just tried to "build" a galant on their website and i only get one motor and drivetrain option (or rather lack there of), that's bull crap.

Noisy, smelly, heard to maintain vehicles that get 12mpg when gas is $4.00+ for regular are AWESOME.

On that note, I wrecked my Audi last week (sigh) and my co-worker has given me an offer i couldn't refuse on his 2005 Mazda RX-8 with 29,700 miles ($9k, clean title, never been in an accident, just put new tires on it). So i'm now the owner of a Noisy (spins up to 9k rpm) smelly (i presume any car that's not electric is smelly) vehicle that gets 20mpg (not 12 but pretty close) is absolutely impractical and even IMO looks awkward (and i'm the owner) but IS AWESOME. Sorry, maybe it's because i'm still young, but you only live once, and i'm of the camp of people who feels that driving a car should be a treat not a chore.

Just to add, no virus program, adware/malware program, or security tools gets 100% of everything out there. Much of it requires you to be careful. Be sure that your anti-virus or anti-malware program is updated with the latest updates. Be sure to patch your OS. Be sure the programs you use are updated. Be sure your firewall is running and is only allowing what you want it to allow. Limit the number of processes/services running. Use blockers (ad and/or script blockers) available for some browsers. Use hosts files to block certain sites. And the list goes on....

These days, you can't just rely on security tools to keep you safe. The other part requires you to be mindful of your own actions.

I'd say your last sentence is your computers biggest vulnerability. I work in Information Assurance (just recently got my CISSP hooray!) and can tell you that no matter how complex our security stack is, we will never be able to remove the human element from wreaking havoc. In fact, i can say with absolute certainty, that since i've been employed at my current job, all unscheduled downtimes have been caused by human error not by hardware/software failure or external or internal vulnerability.

with all of the new angled panel lines on the lambo, it's almost starting to look like it was designed by Japanese Mecha designers.

Your tach shows 65mph, mine shows 65mph

yet I'm overtaking you

How?

I'm on the outside lane, you're on the inside on a bell curve, but divergence is more a technicality than the answer to a riddle.