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A Vancouver airport valet who wrecked a 2005 Mercedes SL65 AMG during a Ferris Bueller re-enactment has been ordered to pay a California vintner $20,600 in damages, mostly depreciation. (H/T to Emir and Jon!) [CTV] More »
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Cars are growing too complex, and we're not the first to complain about it. We probably can't stop the rise of the self-driving car, but we need to stop and remember why we first climbed behind the wheel. More »
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Most people who love to drive and have something sportier than a Ford Taurus love to make a point of switching off the electronic nanny, whether in the guise of old-fashioned ESC or the form of some other acronym. And, while this may be appropriate if you're about to do a burnout or you're in the middle of a spin-out contest, there's an argument to be made as to whether or not you're better or worse than the system itself. There's much visceral appeal to seeing the "ESC OFF" button light up on the dash, but are you actually going to drive better with it off? More »
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Luddite Week soldiers on — in a rickshaw! OK, OK, OK. Every true pistonhead with 20W-50 weight blood hates the "nanny" and immediately turns it off, puts electrical tape over the idiot light and hoons it down to 7-11 for Red Bull and Marlboroughs sideways. We get that. However, I very clearly remember making a 90 degree right hander on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway's infield track in a 997, having a 7" strip of rubber come off the tire and thinking to myself, "Well Jonny, you've had a good run" as the back end started to come around. But then, I felt all the brake calipers grabbing wildly and saw the little yellow light flickering even more wildly and despite my best efforts, I was still pointed straight ahead. More »
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As some of you know, the NHTSA has mandated that all new cars sold in 2012 have stability control as standard equipment. And trust us, during the Mayan apocalypse, you're going to need it. However, it turns out that stability control is just the beginning. Newer regulations will begin mandating technology like always-on adaptive cruise control. Or cars that steer for you in order to prevent a collision. The NHTSA's current leader, Nicole Nason, explains "automakers may have a hard time selling cars that automatically detect a dangerous situation and override the driver's commands." They may have a hard time? Gee, you think? The future looks bleak, my pistonhead brothers and sisters. Remember what O'Brian said to Winston towards the end of 1984, "If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – forever." Or in this case, a boot stamping on your brake pedal - forever. – Jonny Lieberman More »
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