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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-31

Posted August 31, 2009 at 22:00.

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-24

Posted August 24, 2009 at 22:00.

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  • Good review @insideline_com: “2010 Nissan 370Z is one of the best coupe-to-convertible conversions on the road.” http://bit.ly/2du78A #
  • Guinness still has the overall win, but Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy rules the 100 degree day. #
  • Haha! RT @jalopnik: The Worst Possible Way To Advertise Your Business http://jalopnik.com/5340018 #lolcars #fail #
  • Another example of their bankruptcy goal! RT @jalopnik: Toyota Outhippies Itself W/ Freeway Flower Installation http://jalopnik.com/5340285 #
  • Anyone in the market for a 1940 Desoto? 2nd owner. all orig. body in good shape. $2500 http://bit.ly/2gElrM #
  • RT @TexasDPS_PIO: Lots of new Texas laws go into effect on Sept. 1. Find out more: http://bit.ly/10mlRF #
  • Wow. possibly the best site I’ve seen from a manuf. RT @michaelbanovsky: OMG I just fainted! “Extreme Truth” #gt3rs http://tr.im/wGZp #
  • RT @SpeedSportLife: Good reading and some surprises… RT @Motor_Trend: 2009 Motor Trend Best Driver’s Car: http://bit.ly/2ALNt #
  • Want The Stig intro quotes or the Cool Wall on your iPhone? there’s an app for that. http://bit.ly/tfiI3 http://bit.ly/JrP1I #
  • SEC Bans Social Media @ college sporting events http://bit.ly/zfyld #SECfail #
  • beautiful. That list nails it. RT @michaelbanovsky: Yes, @camaro5 zealots, @dkriendler and I were right. Miata>Camaro. http://tr.im/wHFU #
  • Video ad for Jay Leno’s new show. Greatness. From @therealautoblog http://bit.ly/hvbLS #
  • +2 RT @raywert: +1 RT @PickupTrucks: Really, really starting to dislike how bloated and slow @Firefox has become. #
  • S2000. that’s an easy one. :) RT @michaelbanovsky: I may have found myself in a convertible… #wid http://post.ly/2R2d #
  • ha! RT @breakingauto: 2011 @Toyota Priuses feature softly strumming Paul Simon to walk along car at slow speeds, nod-smiling at pedestrians #
  • the Smart car. completely worthless #carchat #
  • I still say to kill the Smart car. it’s not worth anything but for a status symbol #carchat #
  • PLEASE! RT @michaelbanovsky: Oh hey, can we also kill the new look of Acura? It’s making people sick. #carchat #
  • I’d have to say the Hyundai Genesis as well. #carchat #
  • RT @automopedia: @michaelbanovsky the avalon’s…sporty. i mean, if you’re 75 years old anyway :P #carchat #
  • Agreed. RT @rumblestrip: @cbaccus HA!! Just as a “Morning Greetings From Deadwood” to Fritz I’d love to see the G8 GXP win #carchat #
  • drool. RT @Impho: speaking of e30 m3′s. how about stuffing a v10 into it? http://bit.ly/13wapz #carchat #
  • Impressive! @highmileage: RE: Kia Venga by @Taglane http://ow.ly/kEZF #
  • Twitter & cust service @ it’s best. http://bit.ly/QyHeo Companies could learn a lot from @GaylordPalms #
  • Agreed. It’s brilliant! RT @therealautoblog: @breakingauto is my new favorite Twitter feed. #
  • What’s the deal w/ the Twitter porn spam lately? I’ve blocked 40+ followers in the past couple days. annoying #
  • HA! RT @breakingauto: Gov’t cancels Cash4Clunkers, shocked that a program paying people to make poor financial decisions is so successful #
  • F430 for sale at Infiniti dealership. nice RT @GrubbsAutoGroup: Just got Mario Andretti to sign the ’08 Ferrari F430. http://bit.ly/4n5igL #
  • Absurd. Surprised it only took you 5 minutes to find. @michaelbanovsky: The fuel door release on the S2000. #wid http://post.ly/2Wtw #
  • Headed to the theatre to see “Marcus is Walking” looks like good production…examination of moments in life that are lived out in our cars #
  • EVAP purge volume control solonoid is getting power. Now to check continuity through ECM harness. http://twitpic.com/ewg1c #
  • Ugh. I hate electrical issues. Terminal 45 on ECM harness should have continuity to Evap harness. Prob is 45 doesn’t seem to have a contact #
  • At Frisco Rough Riders game & it’s someone’s bedtime. He’s doing well though. http://twitpic.com/exrqw #
  • Any engine/electrical gurus out there? I need some help! Pls RT http://bit.ly/10b5vD #
  • Had @berrylowman & @jennifatkins over tonight. Good conversation & good fajitas #
  • Any engine/electrical gurus out there? I need some help! Pls RT http://bit.ly/10b5vD #
  • Very cool! RT @MysaltH2Oworld: Willie Williams wife to hand out spirit award. #Dustball awesome http://twitpic.com/f2mr5 #

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Hyundai Genesis Coupe Adrenaline Tour – A Review

Posted August 21, 2009 at 12:59.

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Recently I had the opportunity to drive the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe at Hyundai’s Adrenaline Tour event at Texas Motor Speedway. This was not your normal promotional event, as far as the public is concerned. To the surprise of many, Hyundai had set up what was essentially a simple autocross course. Great! For some like me, it was time for some hoonage. For some others it obviously was time to enjoy a leisurely drive and closely examine each cone as the Genesis Coupe ambled along. Seriously, who test drives a sports car that slowly?

Before getting in line I took a closer look at a 2.0 Turbo Hyundai had on display. Fit and finish was surprisingly good. I wouldn’t put it on par with the 370Z interior, but it certainly is leagues better than the earlier 350Z. The layout was well designed with everything easily within reach. The driver’s seat was comfortable yet supportive. It later held me nicely while exploring the limits of adhesion. The back seats were a tad small but would be survivable for short trips if you’re less than 6ft tall.

So on to the experience. Hyundai allowed each person two laps, each lap choosing between the 3.8 liter V6 or 2.0 liter 4 cylinder Turbo engines in either automatic or manual transmissions. Let me preface what follows with the fact that I had one 30-40 second lap in each car, so my impressions can be taken with a grain of salt or even completely thrown out the window. Take your pick.

I took my first lap in the 6-speed V6. Clutch take-up was easy, quick and I had no problem getting a smooth launch. Power delivery was nice and linear but I felt there should be more considering the 306 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. There was a good amount of initial turn-in understeer but once settled in the turn, a good jab of the throttle would bring the tail out nicely. Steering feel was quite good, although I often briefly wondered what the back end was doing. The brakes had good feel and were fade-free, as expected from a Brembo setup. There were some offset bumps at the end of the course intended to upset the car and demonstrate chassis rigidity. Honestly, I have no idea how this should have felt, as I was too focused on the clanking front right suspension as it hit each bump. I realize these are abused demo cars, but for only having a few thousand miles, it still left a bad taste in my mouth.

Next up…the 2.0 liter Turbocharged inline-4, also a 6-speed manual. I got in this car expecting a somewhat different experience. Considering a 106hp deficit when compared to the V6, obviously it wasn’t going to launch out of each turn as quickly. However, I anticipated a lighter feel and being able to carry a little more speed into the turn. So that’s exactly what I did. I came into the first turn a little faster than before. Bad idea. The front end plowed on ahead as I turned the wheel. Successive turns felt better balanced, as I had more appropriate entry speeds, but the car still felt quite heavy and underpowered. Now the V6 had felt a bit heavy too, but you could muscle it around a bit and make it obey. Not so with the 4 cylinder. There is about 100 lbs difference between these two cars, but unfortunately it’s just not that noticeable. In this car I was able to pay attention when rolling over the small speed bumps and it did quite well. I heard no creaks or groans and for a stiff sport suspension it soaked it all up nicely.

I think a buyer looking for a fun, somewhat powerful car will be more apt to want the V6, while the 2.0 Turbo might lean more toward a fun commuter car for someone who occasionally wants to enjoy a back road.  The  2.0 Turbo has decent power for daily driving and will still return 30 mph on the highway.  It may do well with the tuner crowd too, who have always loved anything with a turbo. The more hard-core might want to spend the extra $3k for a little more precision and power on a 370z, but for the money the Genesis Coupe is a steal that buyers won’t regret.

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Click Here to browse my photo gallery for this event.
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Here’s a short video I put together. If you have a fast connection,
click the YouTube icon and watch it in HD!

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Family Portraits

Posted August 18, 2009 at 13:59.

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Last weekend we got up and drove out to Myers Park here in McKinney for a little photo shoot. The hope was that Hampton would stay happy in front of the camera longer outside than he normally does inside. It worked! He had a few episodes, but overall he did great.

Click Here to see the whole gallery.


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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-18

Posted August 17, 2009 at 22:00.

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