Best of Oppositelock: November 11, 2013

"DasWauto" (DasWauto)
11/15/2013 at 17:00 • Filed to: Best of Oppositelock

Gathered here are the Oppositelock posts that people put a good deal of effort into writing last weekend and Monday. It includes the failed promises of concept cars, why you shouldn't act like a child while driving 75mph, the enigma of the Toyota automatic shifter and more.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - -Amateur

Every generation sees a glimpse of the future when a manufacturer stretches their imagination and envisions what the future car will look like. Then reality sets in and I've been lied to… When we split the atom, it dawned that we can harness this power in a way that doesn't kill people. Haha, silly designers...putting atom powered cars on the road. The future was nuclear powered and it would seem like an awesome powerplant for your local grocery getter...As a nation, we could tell OPEC to suck it.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - ATK109

I am an American abroad, living in Germany, and have successfully purchased a 1988 BMW 320i Touring for future export back to the United States. Good News, Everyone! The '88 Touring is officially registered and insured! If you're new to this series you should read Part I: The Rules for a little background. What comes next is a summary of the first week of ownership, from the issues that may arise from an Ausländer's point of view.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - RaymondStantz

Crossing Africa. It's ridiculously difficult in any sort of purpose built vehicle. Remember this? Well, it's had me thinking... If I were to cross some sort of inhospitable territory in that part of the globe, what would I take? Defenders are cool, but I want to make this a tad more difficult on myself. A diesel W124 wagon? Eh. I could do worse. Much worse. Or maybe better? Yep. Got it. A Peugeot 504 Dangel.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - PatBateman

Last night, I was driving my entire family from Houston to Central Texas in the SUPER MOM MOBILE BATTLE WAGON (Buick Enclave) on IH 10. My wife, three young daughters (all under 8), and I, just driving, minding our own business and being safe on the road. Not everyone was following our example.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Dusty Ventures

After eleven months of exciting back-and-forth competition it's time to crown a champion. And of course by this I mean our fantasy championship, Ogier effectively lead the WRC championship since race one at Monte (Loeb doesn't count) and clinched the title two events ago. Not the case for us as we have a four-way battle for the crown, the top four all within a scant 27 points.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - NotInDetroit

So, it's that time of year again. That's right, Motor Trend's Car of the Year award. Among certain enthusiast circles (particularly Jalops) it's become somewhat infamous and, well, there's a reason for that. Still, despite the never-ending doom and gloom about print media, people do pay attention. Perhaps because of the infamy, in fact, enthusiasts pay attention more than ever to what MT has to say about the winners, the aforementioned Passat and the 2013 winner (Tesla S). But what about the losers?

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Pistol Pete

So I was driving a Corolla for work the other day and, as many a gearhead has done in the past, pondered over the enigma of the Toyota automatic shifter pattern. Toyota isn't the only car manufacturer to employ a step-type pattern or patterns like it, however their's is the most prolific. The seemingly random pattern just didn't make sense to me, but I knew there had to be a reason for it. Then the answer hit me.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Satoshi

For those of you who do not know American Iron, the VRSC (V-Twin Racing Street Custom or V-Rod as it is known) was made for the sport/touring young'ns of the Y generation (akin to Toyota making Scion for yuppies and hipsters in college) with the idea of a performance-oriented Harley in mind, featuring a hydroformed frame and underseat-mounted Fuel Tank, Brembo brakes and a 1,250cc V-Twin engine with Dual Overhead Cams. Yes, it's an OHC engine.

The Best of the Rest

Monovich !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Labcoatguy !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Klic !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Offroadkarter !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . MatthewKlein220 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . TwinTurboBMW !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Gamecat235 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Nobody !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Ricepuddin' !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Team5.0 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Paul, Man of Mustangs !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . 6cyl !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Pixel !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Harris Lue !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Carfanatic !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . BJohnson11 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . F40LM !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Ramblin Rover !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Oldirtybootz !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Aya !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Bhardoin !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Ilike_cougars !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Njp1589 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Coty !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . RikVan !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Maximillious !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

As always, If I've missed something and you would like me to include it, let me know.

Fun Discussions

There were several posts that asked questions and sparked some good discussion last weekend and Monday. Take a peek and chime in on some of them listed below:

What is the best winter beater?

Craigslist Hunt: $18,000 Winter Sports Car

What's More Jalop? Diesel vs. V8

Nissan GT-R To Go Hybrid + Redbull May Have invented a Secret New Hybrid Technology = P1, LaFerrari & 918 Killer?

What Color Would You Get it In: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Coolest Modern Car Interiors

Ultimate Jalop Garage Used-Car Challenge

Tips for learning Stick?

How Wide is Too Wide?

What car would you like to see restomodded?

Where do you rate on the stance chart?

Just the #tips

18 Year Old Girl Dressed Only In Bra And Panties Gets Popped For DUI

ASSETTO CORSA IS OUT!!!!!

New Hampshire Man Fights Denial Of ‘COPSLIE’ Vanity Plate

Safety Institute Suggests Kids Use Booster Seats Until Age 12

1 of 3 BMW Nazca C2s for sale

Winter Miata Driving

Angry @ the Nürburgring

Dude tries to play Eurotruck Simulator 2 while drunk

Gymkhana Duce and a Half

Watch a school bus driver avoid an 18-wheeler rollover

Some modified, real GT40s (plus some hoonage)

Good guy Mark Webber

Rally Finland Crashes

Honourable Mentions

These posts have already been shared with Jalopnik directly but deserve to be mentioned again because they were first posted in Oppositelock:

Five Questionable Vehicle Choices By American Police Departments

A Young Enthusiast's Trip To Europe Part Two, The Nürburgring (Touristenfahrten)

Some of the Weirdest cars from Dubai motor Show

Some thoughts on the Tesla Model S fire saga

Who Needs An Aircraft Carrier?

I Drove This Tesla Model S on a Runway

I'm a car enthusiast and I drive a car with an automatic transmission

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