Front license plates have their uses. It makes it easier for law enforcement
officers to identify vehicles from the front – no need to do a u-turn and
follow behind to identify a plate. It is great for targeting speed laser
equipment as the reflective surface provides a great surface area for this,
therefore it helps a municipality’s revenue stream.

However, I hate front license plates for one reason: the look of my 1990
Mazda Miata is ruined by this ugly rectangle on the front of it.

Kevin Richard
Winnipeg, Mb

It’s seems drivers in Toronto are finally catching on and it’s probably the same story in other cities. The top news on local radio stations  today was that traffic lights for the most part are not synchronized, causing headaches, congestion and unnecessary idling, this from a city hall packed with greenie weenies. Instead of keeping traffic moving and polluting less, they would have you stop every block and also sit and wait behind streetcars who’s day have passed. Now in New York City you may have noticed that despite the best subway system in North America, the streets are jammed with vehicles. BUT the city does what it can to keep traffic flowing, slowly but still moving. On an New York episode of Motoring we showed you how all street and avenue traffic lights are perfectly synchronized. Some in Toronto smell a conspiracy ,hmmm

You may remember when I got a ticket in Toronto for flashing my headlights back in 2008. Google my name and flashing lights you’ll get the whole story. Bottom line we proved the charge of “flashing head beams” is not in contravention of the HTA, section 169. Yet I keep getting calls and meeting people who are still being charged. One lady was kept waiting for 40 minutes on the side of the road while her infant baby cried in the back seat, while the officer wrote up the phony $110 ticket. The police know its not against the law but they continue to defraud law abiding citizens, and you can bet it’s happening across the country. It’s disgraceful !

The city of Toronto and mayor David Milktoast go on and on about the big bad car and pollution but as usual they continue to demonstrate their stupidity in dealing with it. The city is about to spend 1.3 billion dollars on new street cars, not a new subway but streetcars the biggest cause of traffic congestion. Vehicles sit behind the cars idling getting 0 mpg. We also have a non idling law, but the city is full of drive thru donut shops and people too lazy to get out of their car even when it’s quicker than a drive thru. We also have bike lanes that are causing more congestion since car lanes are reduced. We have a bike line outside our office that is one way against a one way traffic street??  Where is the vision, new subway lines, including one to the airport. Thank you I’ll take the car with all its frustrations. Oh and about the current garbage strike Don’t get me started! 

The other night I drove past a propane re fueling lot and out of the corner of my eye sat this old rusted gem just waiting for my lens.  Frail and looking for a grave someone has saved the old beater giving it life in it’s senior years.  A 1939 GMC Truck. Wow.  A seventy year old truck still intact looking like it was plucked from the deck of the Titanic.  What a relic.  During my shoot an old timer pulled up to refuel some barbecue tanks and as our eyes met I said ” real beauty eh ?”   He shook his head.  I asked if he might know the year it was made and mentioned that there was a 1955 Saskatchewan plate attached.  He shook his head again and said ” that’s probably why there’s still a body on the chassis.  I remember this truck.  It was a piece of shit then and it’s a piece of shit now.  To ride in a truck like that for a period of time was painful. The horse was better.  I don’t know why people put up such a fuss for this old junk. I never did.”   With that he walked over to his late 2000 year model Dodge extended cab pick-up (with topper on bed)  opened his door, looked back and said… “you know they weren’t the good ol’ days !!”  His door slammed, eight cylinders powered up a few hundred horses and as the tires crunched the gravel lot his truck crept away.

Danny B

Dave again, hoping everyone enjoyed the Car of The Year Show. And while I’ll agree that the Honda Fit is an excellent all round practical car, for me it’s all about the Nissan GT-R.

But I digress. The real topic this time, the 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera.

This year the Porsche line-up has been updated with an all new PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) transmission. I’m sorry, what? Well it’s Porsche’s new double clutch system. Actually 2 transmissions (one for odd gears, one for even) mashed together into one housing, it provides ridiculously smooth, blindingly quick shifts. The car we had was outfitted with the manumatic version. You don’t even have to drive this car anywhere near fast to appreciate the silkiness of the gear changes. At low speeds, you hear the RPM’s change, but you don’t actually feel anything. Amazing.

When you do feel rambunctious, matt the gas, and the lightning quick gear box drops the cogs and you’re off in a heart beat, howling down the blacktop like a bat-outta-you-know-where.

Porsches have always been at or near the top of the list in my opinion, and this car proves the point. There is really so very little to dislike about this car, it’s almost pointless to mention any quibbles. Ah what the heck. No power tilt and telescopic steering? Really? Still have to turn a KEY? Seriously?

But rather meaningless issues really, when you’re driving such a civilized road shredder.

=D

Editor Dave again. We’re just a few weeks away from the annual Motoring 1-hour Car of the Year Special. Good thing I’ve started work on it. The COTY show is, as many of you know, very different from the regular series episodes. Not only is it an hour long, but there are all the nomination categories, and different elements, that aren’t normally in an episode. For example this year, watch out for a Blooper reel from the past year.

Suppose I should get back at it. I’ve got dozens of tapes to go through, and hours of edit time ahead of me. But, as every year, it will be worth it.

Danny B here again. Unlike Dave W. I feel cars are totally utilitarian. Hop in turn the key and get from point A to B . Wash it ? Never. That’s what Mother Nature is for. If anyone out there knows what “rat bikes” are then you’ll understand my theory of transportation. For some the ultimate annual automotive event may be the Indianapolis 500 but for me it’s the “Gopher Dunes MudBog.” This is an event that takes place every year in the spring and autumn in southern Ontario and is like no other event on the planet. Locals gather with their “mudders” and spend the afternoon playing in the black gold that is usually several feet deep and can swallow you up faster than a wild pig at lunch time. This is motoring. A celebration of some of the strangest machines you’ll ever see on four wheels. A place where everyone can be a “redneck” for the day. No doubt this is one of the greatest secrets this area presents. No shiny chrome low riders here. Just pure horsepower surrounded by metal and driven by people who know how to have fun with their machines.

Your invitation to witness the event starts on our next show and if you need some grit to get you in the mood you can check out my slide show from the event this past spring.

I recently had a chance to drive Audi’s supercar, the R8. There is nothing quite like getting behind the wheel of such an exotic machine. The seats grab you and hold you in and, as you mash the throttle, the engine plays it’s symphony. A stunning design, (I swear this thing loves the attention) this car does not slip by unnoticed. A sleeper it ain’t. All in all a breathtaking blast to drive, and a new icon in design.

Two quibbles tho: you have to use the key fob to unlock the door AND you have to put the key in the ignition and actually TURN it to start the car. All other Audi’s I have driven, and I have driven nearly the entire 09 line-up, have a keyless go system. Perhaps it’s an option, but at $160,000, should there really be any options? And I’m not a huge fan of the shifter. Sure it looks really cool, all brushed stainless steel, but I found it a tad clunky compared to the shifters in, say, the S5 or S6.

Minor things really, on a car that can make you forget about all those other cars. You know, the ones that start with a ‘P’ or an ‘F’.

=D

Danny B here. I’m one of several videographers here in the garage that help make those four dudes look good week after week. I know it’s a tough job and I DO know someone has to do it.

Lots of great stories and test drives coming up this next weekend with the premiere of “Motoring 2009.” Did I say ” 2009 ?” Whoa ! It’s amazing how fast time has gone.

Some of the highlights for me that will be coming up in the next few shows will be our introduction to the new Dodge Challenger and the “redneck” styled antics of the participants we witnessed out at the Gopher Dunes and their annual ” MudFest.”

I just recently returned from one of the craziest races I have ever witnessed down in Mexico. The 2008 La Carrera Panamericana is a 3000 KM road race like no other on the planet. If you’d like to see some of the
photos you can check out my slideshow.

Anyway…. don’t forget to vote for your selection for the “Car of the Year” and your chance to pick up some of the sweet “schwag” the show has up for grabs.