KeriBlog

Cars, Security & a Peek into my Life

Finally Got to Shift a Jaguar F-TYPE, Kind’ve

At a recent Jaguar Land Rover event I spotted it above. There it was, in real life – one of my favourite cars is now available in manual.

Available on the 2016 model year F-TYPE and F-TYPE S, the 3.0 L V6 Supercharged engine can be paired to a 6-speed manual transmission.

Been waiting for this moment since its debut at last year’s LA Auto Show.

I was so excited I declared it one of my Top 5 Favourite Things about the show.

Of course the car’s computer can shift better than me, that’s not the point.

Happiness is the point #SaveTheManual

Hello new friend.

The car was display-only, so I just sat quietly doing this for 10 minutes and well, imagining.

Jaguar F-TYPE manual

Shifting gears makes you a better driver.

See my column, How to Shift Gears.

Keep your fingers crossed the snow holds off, because I’m on the schedule to get this car in 2 weeks.

Listen for superfluous revving, that’ll be me.

 

 

So You’re Connecting your Car to the Internet…

Friendly reminder that connecting your car to the internet comes with responsibility.

Make installing updates a priority, even though it’ll be a pain and requires going to the dealership to pickup a USB.

Also:

  • never connect your car to public WiFi
  • only use WPA2 security
  • if plugging in a USB key into the car, make sure it’s clean and virus-free
  • and you’re legally responsible for Hotspot users

 

 

Learned to Drive a Stock Car

It’s a Pro Challenge car at Toronto Motorsports Park, aka, Cayuga Speedway.

Non-car nerds: there’s no driving aids, no traction control, no power brakes or steering… it’s all muscle. That also means there’s no protective mechanisms in the engine, so, rev it too high and it blows up.

It’s a sequential shift.  Which I hadn’t used for years, so made myself a little instruction sheet. Blip when downshifting.

I’m too little to reach the pedals.

So that’s a go-kart seat inside the real seat.

Few laps of the parking lot to get accustomed.

The track is covered in wet patches uhhhh, I’m on slicks.

Okay here I go.

Hit 270 km/h on this straightaway.  That’s my fastest ever.

Best lap was a 1:29.

A video posted by Keri Blog (@keriblog) on

Never stalled it, my lines weren’t great, my shifting was smooth, and by the end my left arm was completely numb.

And apparently I kept hitting the chip too often.

Me: I don’t know what it means when you’re waving your arms at me?
Owner: it means get OFF THE CHIP KERI. Shift sooner.

Requisite race car driver pose.

Jokes asisde, I was pretty proud of myself.

Like my driving shoes?

Did this all in my combat boots.

 

 

The Only Unlimited Mileage Warranty in Canada

Mazda is the only automaker in Canada that offers unlimited mileage on a 3-year new vehicle warranty.

Called Mazda Unlimited, it comes standard on all 2015 model year vehicles, and newer.

A typical new car warranty is:
3 years or 60,000 km, whichever comes first.

Averaged out: 20,000 km / year, or 1,667 km / month, or 416 km / week.

Not much, especially if you’re a commuter.

Learn more at Mazda.ca