CasterOil commented on Why Is Hurling A Car Off A Cliff More Fun With Kiwis?

"@Kelly: You are quite correct - the Telstar is a mid-80's clone of the Mazda 626, brought out by Ford."

CasterOil commented on The Top Ten Worst Car Names

"You have no idea how embarassing the Nissan Cedric was when released in Australia in the mid 1960's. This car caused a motoring journalist to ask one of the smiling Japanese executives at the launch: Journo: "Why on Earth did you call it the Cedric?"Exec: "What's wrong with Cedric?"Journo:"Well, it's a poofter's name, that's why!"Exec: "What is this "poofter" you mention - I do not understand?"Journo: "Well, it's um, you know, a homosexual..."Exec: "Ah, so."

CasterOil commented on The Lotus Omnivore: A Piston Engine That'll Eat Anything

"Saab did an experimenal variable compression engine four or five years ago from memory."

CasterOil commented on Self-Abusing, Kangaroo-Blasting, Dope-Running Holden Driver Hassled By The Man In Australia

"LandOf, you are just so, so, so ......."

CasterOil commented on Self-Abusing, Kangaroo-Blasting, Dope-Running Holden Driver Hassled By The Man In Australia

"This is a true Aussie driving legend."

CasterOil commented on GM Says Challenge X Is The Future, We Say We Want It Now

". Daga, all good points, except for the inevitable Black Swan event. Future product planning (along the lines you have suggested) is always based upon a continuation of the status quo, and the larger the decision-making hierarchy, the slower to turn the Titanic away from disaster. Just imagine the product planners at GM only three short years ago: * Their most profitable product were trucks;* The most in-demand trucks were the biggest;* Fuel cost one-half of what it does today;* No-one but geeks and envirotards bought a Prius; and* Not even geeks or envirotards bought a Honda Insight (remember those?) It would have taken a very brave or stupidly inexperienced junior product-planner to have fronted up to the GM suits, and say: * In 3 years' time, you won't be able to sell even 10% of your gigantic trucks, because no-one will want them; * Fuel will cost double what it does today; and * Seriously, we need to get a Prius competitor off the ground and in the showrooms in 3 years, otherwise this entire company is going to be toast! Yes, the planners are going out 5, 10 and 20 years, but in the turn-around time-frame where the rubber meets the road to cope with a quantum shift in consumer sentiment, that's where the problems occur. As an aside, just consider how little crash research there is with respect to two hybrids or full electrics colliding - huge considerations with respect to the safety of both occupants and rescue personnel. As I'm sure you have seen, a mere 12V lead-acid battery can cause significant arcing and damage in an accident."

CasterOil commented on PCH, European Pain Edition: Borgward Hansa Wagon or Peugeot 304?

"The only Borgward that I can remember in Australia was the Borgward Isabella coupe of about 1960/1961, a fairly nice looking 2-door with nascent fins and lots of chrome. No idea of the price, market, or anything."

CasterOil commented on BlueTouch Adds A Bluetooth Dialpad To Your Vehicle

"@ Bo. Damn cheap mobile phone!"

CasterOil commented on BlueTouch Adds A Bluetooth Dialpad To Your Vehicle

"@racerx - Bluetooth only does what your phone does."

CasterOil commented on Aussies Rack Up $5 Million In Cellphone Driving Fines

"@wild zero: You are dead right!"