So Into this Car – 2015 Subaru BRZ

2015 Subaru BRZ

Subaru’s only rear-wheel drive car (the rest are all-wheel)

2.0L 4-cylinder Boxer engine, 6-spd manual transmission

200 hp and 151 lb.ft

Starting at $27,395
This one $31,395

This is the the Aozora Edition, the highest trim available.

It comes only in manual, and adds an under spoiler (which really enhances the look), red callipers and 17″ black alloys, fancier seats and stitching, push start and a frameless rear view mirror (1st time I’ve ever seen that option.)

Notice what’s missing?

No steering wheel controls and buttons, it’s a plain steering wheel! That alone made me love it immediately.

Why I love this BRZ:

It’s good looking; an appropriate amount of power; it’s just my size and fits me physically (which is rare); I like the boxer growl; and the interior is so refreshingly simple.

Plus there’s practically no driving aids (like Lane Keep Assist, and the Sucks The Fun Away Aid.)

It’s got hard buttons and dials *, all the analog stuff I love.

The infotainment system is a bit of a disaster, but I never use them anyway so it’s okay.

Subaru BRZ Animated

All starting at $27k. Hey!

So much superfluous revving happened this week.

 

Maybe the most I’ve liked a car in 1.5 years.

 

 

Top 5 Favourite Things – 2014 LA Auto Show

Wrote it for the paper, click here to read.

Top 5 List from the 2014 LA Auto Show

1 – Language used during the reveal presentations
2 – Jaguar F-TYPE now available in manual
3 – Chatting with the head designer of Ford & Lincoln
4 – Choking on that new-car-smell
5 – Chrysler’s all-new 300 Sedan

It’s 850+ words, which is rare, my stuff’s usually 400 words and rarely longer than 600. It was a great show.

Here’s more photos from the show. Click more to see.

>>> MORE <<< [Read more…]

Delete your Phone from a Car

Unpair your phone from rental, friend’s and relative’s cars, because until you do, your contacts database is driving around.

Would anything bad actually come from leaving it?  Probably not. In the same way, if you left a copy of your contacts on a USB key * at your friend’s house, it’d probably be fine too. But why do that.

Some infotainment systems can save more than one phone. This one saves 4.

Alena is clearly the most popular.

Don’t name your phone your name. Here’s why.

 

 (* if you say, ‘I use FB for my contacts list’, please leave my blog)