Infiniti's First Convertible, the M30

When you want to be entertained on the net, you read blogs. When you want hard facts on the net, you go to a legitimate news site like sfgate.com. Or do you? Today's Top Down section has a piece on Infiniti's convertible, the 2010 G37.

So what's the big deal? Well, the staffer spends the first two paragraphs excitedly pointing out that this will be Infiniti's first convertible, ever. Specifically,:

"Infiniti is rolling out its first convertible, the 2010 G37.

The luxury division of Japan's Nissan has been around since the early '90s and has fielded a varied lineup of cars, SUVs and crossovers, including some of the most fun and sportiest sedans on the market, but until now never had offered consumers a drop-top option."

Do these journalists ever think about fact checking? Shouldn't the guy in charge of writing articles about cars have some memory of the 1991-92 M30? Tsk tsk.

Found On EBay: 1992 Citroen XM In New York

I have never been more tempted to buy a car on eBay. This 1992 Citroen XM out of New York is in fantastic shape cosmetically. It's currently at $7,665 after 12 bids, with the reserve not yet met. My guesstimate is that the reserve is around $18,000.

I've written about the XM in America before. The few that came here were federalized by CXA. This is one of only 18 in the States. The amazing thing is that it has less than 25,000 miles, only one owner, and was garage kept. For any car buff with a little extra cash and a very understanding spouse, this is a great buy.

Notice early 1990s passive shoulder belt buckle

Speedo and odo in MPH

Don't believe my obsession with the XM?

• die cast XM cabrio
• XM limo by Heuliez
• XM ad (scroll to bottom)
  

Ramzan Kadyrov's Cars

As a rule of thumb, world leaders with large car collections are corrupt and/or ruthless. We saw an African example recently. Today, we look at the young leader of Chechnya, 32 year old President Ramzan Kadyrov.

The bearded car lover is in the news this week because of the kidnapping and assassination of human rights activist Natalya Estemirova. Kadyrov's taste in cars is impressive and expensive. Among the dozens of cars in his collection, there are:

an oft-used armored Porsche Cayenne Turbo,

a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, and

a rare Lamborghini Reventon.

Chechen presidential convoy (can you tell he likes Cayennes?)

Astronauts, Cosmonauts, Taikonauts, And Their Rides

Aside from ruthless dictators, only feted space travelers get to ride in glorious convertible sedans.

Yuri Gagarin in London in a Rolls-Royce.

Alan Shepard in a Lincoln Continental.

Taikonaut in a Chery Eastar

Mercedes W140 Coupe

With some W140 coupes (500SEC, 600SEC, CL500, CL600) hovering around $10,000, they are quite affordable. Every time I see one, I'm reminded of my strong belief that it is the ugliest Mercedes ever made.
It looks big (in a bad way), unruly, and blunt. There is zero sophistication.

What I dislike most about the W140 coupe is the thick black gap that separates the trunk lid from the rest of the rear end. It looks crude.

Which class is classier?

What Is A Mexican Jumping Bean?

Here's your answer:

Confusing An Alfa for A Datsun

This morning, I was stopped at a light behind an Alfa Romeo GTV. For a few seconds, I thought it was a Nissan 280ZX. Do I need to get my eyes checked?

Gambling In Turkmenistan

F1 Outsider recently sent me a news link discussing Turkmenistan's plan to open a Las Vegas/Dubai-esque casino beach resort near the port town of Turkmenbashi. Coincidentally, Putin just shut down all Russian casinos and banished them to The Sticks, i.e. Kaliningrad, Azov, Altai, and the North Korean border.


Turkmenistan is a closed and charmingly repressive society. Entry for foreigners is almost impossible. A 2005 film, put out by Journeyman Pictures, fantastically captures the late ruler of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov. The narcissism and sycophancy are beyond belief.

International Ramifications of Han-Uyghur Fighting

If you think the recent violence in Xinjiang is a local, domestic issue, think again. First, Turkey is strengthening its ethnic and geopolitical ties with its Central Asian Turkic brothers by calling the recent violence genocide and royally pissing off the Chinese by granting exiled Uyghur leader Rebiya Kadeer a visa to visit Turkey.

Moreover, Uyghurs in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are keeping a low profile. They are afraid that if their protests are too loud, the Kazakh and Kyrgyz governments will crack down on them in order to win favor from the Chinese government.

In what may be the most terrifying development, Al Qaeda in Algeria has announced that it will target Chinese workers in North Africa.

There is no question that independence for Xinjiang is out of the question. What the Uyghurs and Chinese central government need to do is sit down like adults and work out a compromise in which China continues to have territorial sovereignty over the region; the Uyghurs are given a lot more autonomy; and Han migration is greatly curtailed, if not reversed.

Photo courtesy Jeffrey Hays

Concours d'LeMons

Tired of seeing a dozen Lamborghini 350GTs in pristine condition lined up in a row?

Rather see a UAZ 452 than a Lamborghini LM002?

Confused about which Concorso Italiano is the real deal?

Sick of one of the Concorso Italianos spamming you every day with updates like "Ferrari Club of Southwestern Idaho Officially Endorses Us As the 'Real' Concorso Italiano"?

Then you should go to Concours d'Lemons.


This write-up on their home page says it all:

"Brought to you by the same miscreants behind the 24 Hours of LeMons and Billetproof, Concours d'LeMons lowers the tone for the Monterey Weekend. Tired of paying $150 to see 150 identical Ferraris? Concours d'LeMons costs 20 bucks and has 20 Pacers and Pintos. Bored with the same old collector-car canon? Our Warsaw Pact Class should be shot from a cannon.

From mint-condition shag vans to Honey Bees, Bricklins, Skodas, and Edsels, Concours d'LeMons is all about stuff that you haven't seen every damn August! The fact that we actually know our cars suck is just gravy. Lots of free parking means no shuttles out to East Jabib. Optional "Small-Wiener Corral" so your Maybach won't have to sit near a Yugo. Easy back-road directions to bypass Laguna's grand Cluster-F.

Monterey County-Mandated Warning: No wine, cheese, straw boaters, silicone-augmented cougars, or watercolors of pre-war Grand Prix races are sold at this venue.