Isuzu Impulse dash and audio system

Just like I remembered it. Thanks m4ff3w!

That paddle is the turn signal. My NA Impulse never got past 80 mph on the 405.

That knob sticking out of the side of that instrument pod is the front monowiper controller. You twisted the knob to set the speed; you pushed it in to activate the washer. The two buttons above it are for the rear wiper and washer.

I loved that equalizer. At night, they all lit up in green.

Alas, mine did not have "Handling by Lotus".

2CV kicking ass around a track

Via Motoring Con Brio.

m4ff3w bought an Impulse!

It just needs a starter. No rust, straight body. He promises to share pictures of the awesome gauge cluster and center console soon.

Reviewing new cars

I will be writing a deeper, more insightful, post about this topic, but I want to throw the idea out there to see what your thoughts are.

Thanks to Hooniverse and Carenvy/Bitcoin Pete, I will soon begin reviewing new cars. Driving cars-- whether big or small, fast or slow, ugly or gorgeous-- makes me happy. I am really looking forward to the opportunity, not only because it will be fun to try different cars, but because I'll be able to write about them as well.

And that's the challenge. I am mindful of two things. One, I want my reviews to be interesting and different. We have all read thousands of car reviews over our lifetimes and 98% of them are formulaic. How can I describe my impressions without it sounding like a dull Consumer Reports/Edmunds.com spewing of safety and reliability data? Or worse, how can I describe my impressions without it sounding like a florid and bullshit-ridden press release?

The second issue I am mindful of is related to the press release. There's always that conflict of interest that few automotive journalists/bloggers mention (other than the folks at TTAC). The car companies do not pay reviewers for the reviews. But subconsciously (or consciously), the journalist/blogger is always mindful that Car Company X may stop giving you press cars to review if you have badmouthed the last seven offerings from Car Company X. And more subtly, I truly believe that the freebies offered by car companies' marketing departments-- invites to car events, track days, fancy hors d'oeuvres, booze-- cloud the reviewer's judgment.

As I work these issues out in my mind and heart, I invite you to share your thoughts. What do you want to see in a review? What don't you want to see? How do you see the current state of the autojournalism landscape? I'm willing to bet that 15 years ago, we all subscribed to at least one car magazine. I'm also willing to bet the last time we touched a car magazine was at an airport newsstand or the doctor's office.

I'll end this ramble with three car reviewers I have always looked up to:

John Davis of Motorweek. I grew up watching Davis and Co. every week. His review of cars is the epitome of formulaic, but his honest persona makes it all okay.

Csaba Csere of Car & Driver. Just as I watched Davis every week on TV, I read Car & Driver every month as a teenager. I like Csere a lot mostly because of his name.

Jamie Kitman of Automobile. Kitman is hands down my favorite. He is bright, funny, and like-minded politically. He's also a lawyer who manages They Might Be Giants.

Cheap speed round-up

1. Who knew Saturn sold a supercharged car?
2. I never thought to compare a Cobalt/Cavalier with an RSX/Integra.

Turkey protest photos

Here are a few more photos from Occupy Gezi.

Frances Ha trailer

This movie was fun and a bit thought provoking.

And the part where she runs/dances in the streets of New York to Modern Love was pretty sweet.

Amy Poehler's Christopher Walken impersonation

It was so funny, it made me cry.

tv

Protests in Istanbul

I am woefully ignorant of Turkish politics, but I tend to think this is more like protesting in Spain and Greece than Arab Spring-type revolutions in North Africa.

Micro Mayhem stop action car chase movie

Thank you, Sanchez.