When a Camel Beat the Best 4x4s and Borrowing a Volkswagen Up!

"DasWauto" (DasWauto)
02/26/2014 at 18:15 • Filed to: Best of Oppositelock

Assembled here are the best Oppositelock posts from Friday through Sunday. Today we've got a rough desert trek, a review of a cheery VW, a man and his Citroën and more.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Baber K. Khan

What makes this picture great in my eyes is the story of this man and those of his village. As big as the mountain behind him, the poverty in which this man's village lives for days is literally like stepping into hundreds of years behind us. This man had left his village a day ago just as the rain stopped to get supplies for his village and at this point, he's completed 70% of his journey, there-and-back the journey on camels takes roughly three days.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Jonny Edge

With the Skoda needing a minor teething issue sorting out under warranty, I took it into my local dealership and as usual received the excellent standard of care Skoda is so famous for over here in the UK. 'I wonder what car I'll get to borrow while it's being repaired' I thought to myself as I sat in the service area sipping on a fresh cup of coffee from the machine. 'Oh, I do hope it's an Up! I hear those are fantastic.' I was interrupted suddenly by the service manager...

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Apida Online

I'm not a rich guy. I spend more time looking at sub-$1000 cars on craigslist than I should, and I consistently undervalue my time when work is concerned. However, I'm a huge believer in the idea that if you skimp on a quality experience in life, the regret of not doing it will cost exponentially more than any initial cost you would've had to pay. Buying something inspirational you'll remember for the rest of your life is way better than saving your money and having a head full of "What If?"

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

While traffic laws are generally meant to prevent traffic from descending into utter chaos, some of them get more respect than others. Let's try to list the ones that are being broken more often than not. I'll start the list based on my personal experience.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Jonny Edge

If any of you saw me commenting when I first joined this glorious website just the other day, you'd have noticed that I am a Skoda owner and I currently own the new Octavia vRS. Well, the car I owned before was this little pocket rocket above us, The Skoda Fabia vRS. Essentially, this is a VW Polo GTI underneath it's body and while I personally prefer the Polo's looks, the Fabia vRS isn't bad looking at all. You can also buy this Skoda for several thousand pounds less than the Polo and get free servicing and better customer care.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Flavien Vidal

Simracing has been brought up as a tool to learn driving/racing by some or as a waste of time by other for quite a few years now. I have personnally been simracing for the past 7 to 8 years, so it's pretty obvious that my point of view on the subject is more on the "pro" than on the "against" side of things. My goal will be to explain why and how I feel simracing is rarely given a proper chance by people who have experience in racing and who are/used to be racers or seriously experienced journalists.

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

What you are looking at is a heavily modified C107 Mercedes 450 SL . The original car is known to be a perfect luxury cruiser, a two door S-class with slightly sportier handling abilities. Well, thanks to Raeder Motorsport and a well funded private customer, the SL became a proper ring tool.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Automatch Tom

According to a study published on Global Times, a Chinese news site, Chinese car buyers are more likely than Americans to look to blogs and online user reviews when making automotive purchasing decisions.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Fractal Footwork

Technical innovation is what makes Formula 1 so different from any other form of racing. The on track action is as much played out by the engineers and aerodynamicists as it is the drivers. We are here to admire, study, and discuss this beauty that exists on the ragged edge of what we think is possible, or at least what we thought was possible. Also check out !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Fractal Footwork

Due to Infiniti's fair weather relationship with Red Bull Racing, the Nissan luxury subsidiary released a concept for a faster version of their Q50 sedan. If the Eau Rouge Concept makes it to production it would compete with the BMW M5 (Or maybe the M3; I can't seem to wrap my head around their new naming hierarchy). The Eau Rouge may be ostentaciously pointless, even with it's special paint, but could this winged sedan have the power to fly away if released?

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

About a month and a half ago, I traded my '09 Ford Ranger for an Azzuro '12 Fiat 500 Sport with just under 14k on the clock. I loved my truck, but I had the itch for something new. Here's how I like it so far, along with a few little niggles that annoy me.

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

This was originally going to be a nostalgia piece. But the more I thought about it, any nostalgia on my part would be secondhand at best. I've never actually driven or owned a second generation Lincoln Town Car, built between 1990 and 1997. The only real connection – the only real interest – is through the rose-tinted lens of popular culture.

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

Before the 21st century fixation on global warming, climate change, debt crises, zombie invasions and the heat death of the universe, people in general had a much more optimistic vision of the future. Car designers, specifically, had the best vision.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - Desu-San-Desu

A few of my current friends knew about me consulting in college and also knew my general reputation as a car guy. Earlier this week, one of those friends contacted me asking if she could hire me as a consultant to help her and her boyfriend buy a car for her with her tax return money. He drove a 2012 Honda Fit that he'd received as a graduation gift before they'd met, but sharing a car was difficult when they worked in different locations, as was her bumming rides from co-workers. I said sure and we scheduled a time to get together for a consultation interview.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! - tomtom615

Since buying Brawn GP in 2010, Mercedes hired Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, and stuck as a midpack team. However, last year things changed as Lewis Hamilton took the helm of the Mercedes and the results improved. The team has four wins since returning as a constructor, with three being collected in 2013. Their highest finish in the Constructor's Championship is 2nd, also in 2013.

The Best of the Rest

GarageDispatches !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Jbh !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Twinturbobmw !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Jonny Edge !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Luc.A. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Jbh !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Jus1029 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Daender !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Tentacle, Dutchman !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . MoparKetchup !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Battery Tender Unnecessary !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Chandonpierre1 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . DOMdotCOM's !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . JayhawkJake !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . WRC541 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Jarod Rose !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Inline Six !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Carl Levine !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Dsscats !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Velocity !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Coty !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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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 between Friday and Sunday. Take a peek and chime in on some of those listed below:

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My Top 5 reasons F1 has a hard time in North America

How was your commute? (Feb 21)

Do you want your insurance company to be your body shop?

Anyone want to know anything about Alaska?

Coolest Car In A Random Ass Town: Quimper (France)

My McDonald's Meal: The OppositeLock Review

What Color Would You Get it In: Porsche 911

Stupid Hypotheticals - Ultimate Opparty

Stupid Hypotheticals - If You Could Drive Any Animal...

What [did] you do on your car today?

The Best Automotive Commercial - You Decide

When is it acceptable to high-beam slower traffic on the motorway/highway?

What Car Is Perfect For Kentucky?

Secret confession Saturday

What Color Would You Get it In: 1970s Ford Mustangs

Which Would You Rather?

PollTime: Retro Muscle Car Edition

What New Car Needs a Bigger Spoiler?

What Color Would You Get it In: Maserati Quattroporte

Have You Ever Tried to Buy a Car that Wasn't Overtly for Sale?

Has Anyone Else Ever Bought a Car Without Driving It?

Show Us The Best Production Engine You've Ever Heard In Real Life

Just the #tips

Isle of man TT. BALLS OF STEEL!

FWD Double Chevron - The Beast of Tarmac Rally Stages

Jenson Button finally popped the question

Speedmonkey 2014 Morgan 3 Wheeler Review

AUTOCAR MACAN: I Really, Really hate this car

Project Binky - Episode 4

OCD Miata Rebuild

Keep Your Aventador...I want this Lambo!

The Top High-Mileage Cars

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The First Crash of 100 Acre Wood 2014

Suzuki Jimny, snowstorm hero

Irish floods are no match for a Toyota Yaris

Remember the Angry Ram? Now More Angry Ram - With GoPro

Getting 1001HP out of a Nissan Cube [funny]

YEEEEEEE HAAAAAAWWWWWWWW

Dealing with Traffic [funny]

KL swapped Miata

The Scout II Rutledge Wood drove in the Iceland Special is for sale

To Those Who Complain About the STi Rear Wing… It does serve a purpose

Morning Oppo - Boomerangs Do Come Back Edition

Brushing the Road [HoTD]

Honorable Mentions

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

Formula 1:Day Three testing Bahrain

Pictures leaked from Red Bull F1 Team [Gallery]

American Traditions, Hot Rods, and Horses; Desert blast in a 2013 Mustang

What I thought of Honda CR-Z after driving it for only two hours

A Hilarious Long-Winded Craigslist Ad For A Long-Wheelbase Merc

Formula 1:Day Four testing Bahrain

Love Boat Goes To The Breakers

The Valkyrie's Little Brother

Protestors Attack Ukraine Politician's New 991 Turbo S

Bask in the glory of a 4.1 L 997.2 GT3 RS

Subaru Fun Fact: Pedestrian Safety

Opel's Not-So-Excellent Transatlantic Adventure

Double Points: Analyzing the Impact

Someone took the term "run-flat" WAY too seriously

Want to participate on Oppositelock? Check out the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! as well the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to help you get started.