2.29.2012

CHIX AND CARZ CONCIERGE SERVICES

As you all know by now, for a chick, I know a lot about carz. So let this chick help you...

Here are some of the awesome services I provide:

*Finding the right driving school or race car driving school
*Fleet Service
*Limo Service
*Exotic Car Rental/Purchase
*Assistance in car buying/leasing
*Carz 101 (Basic automotive education and safety)
*Where to go for parts, service, collision/body work
*Car Shows (all types)

Contact me: chixandcarz@gmail.com

2.20.2012

SLEEPLESS IN SOCAL

Besides having a "thing" for carz, I have a "thing" for wordz and letterz. The alphabet and I are BFF's. It began when I was a child. The game of choice in our family was Scrabble. Then Boggle. Now it's Words with Friends, Scramble with Friends and Hanging with Friends. I can't get through a Sunday without doing the New York Times crossword puzzle. You get the picture - I'm a word nerd.

This morning I awoke at 4 a.m. with random, anxiety-ridden thoughts dancing through my head. What should I write for my next blog post? Should I grab my iPhone and take my turn on the many open word games I have? Should I finish yesterday's crossword puzzle? Did I charge my Kindle?

I try to erase these thoughts from my head by closing my eyes and wishing Mr. Sandman would re-appear. He did not. What did appear were more thoughts of letters and words. Only this time it wasn't random. It was organized. The letters of the alphabet kept appearing, in order. My immediate response to each letter was a word that began with said letter. For instance A-apple, B-baseball, C-cat and so on.

Then it hit me. Why don't I do that with CARZ? I went back to the letter A, charged up my neurons and started rattling off a few cars that began with the letter A. Boom. Got my idea for the next blog.

The list below contains models and manufacturers that surfaced from my coffeeless brain. I did not and could not include every make and model. Despite that, I give myself kudos for marrying my love for wordz (and the alphabet) with my love for carz.




A
Alfa Romeo
Aston Martin
Austin Healy
Audi
AMC
Acura
Abarth

B
Bugatti
BMW
Bentley
Buick
Boxster
Bonneville

C
Carrera
Camaro
Corvette
Charger
Challenger
Cayenne
Cobra
Corsair
Chrysler
Cadillac
Cord

D
Dodge
Dart
Dino
DeLorean

E
Eos
Escort
Escape
Edge
Enzo
Evoque
Effijy
Edsel
Eclipse


F
Fisker
Ferrari
Fiat
Ford
Firebird

G
Gellardo
Gran Torino
GTO
GTI
GMC
Golf


H
Hyundai
Honda
Hummer
Hornet

I
Imperial
Infinity
Impreza
Isuzu

J
Jeep
Jaguar
Jimmy
Jetta
Jensen
Justy

K
Kia
Karmann Ghia
Ka
Koenigsegg

L
Lamborghini
Lexus
Land Rover
Lancia
Lincoln
Lotus

M
Mini Cooper
Mustang
Maybach
Mercedes
Mitsubishi
Maserati
Morgan
Mazda
McLaren
Mercury

N
Nissan
Nova
NSX

O
Oldsmobile
Opel

P
Pontiac
Pagani
Peugeot
Porsche
Pinto
Prius
Plymouth
Passat

Q
Q7
Q3
Quattro

R
Rolls Royce
Renault
R8
Rambler

S
Shelby
Spyder
Suzuki
Subaru
Sahara
Sunbeam

T
Tesla
Testa Rossa
Thunderbird
Toyota
Triumph
Trans Am
Tiguan
Toureg

U
Uplander
Ulysse
Uno

V
Volkswagen
Volvo
Veyron
Viper
Vega


W
Wrangler
Wagoneer

X
XK
X16
XJ12
XKR
XF

Y
Yugo
Yeni
Yukon

Z
Zagato
ZX









2.08.2012

Dude, Where's My Electric Car?

I'm not ready to trade my car in yet. But when it comes time, I may consider an EV (electric vehicle) or a plug-in hybrid (combo electric/gasoline engine). The key word here is MAY.

I have certain expectations of my future "green" vehicle. It has to be pleasing to the eye and have lots of bells and whistles. I know, I'm spoiled. I'm sort of a car snob. I love beautiful cars with sexy lines. I love cars that whisper my name. I love cars that are high-tech and nerdy on the inside but exude class and elegance on the outside. I love cars with pep in their step and ones with excellent sound systems.

If I were in the market for a new EV today I would only consider two - Tesla Model S (all electric) and the Fisker Karma (plug-in hybrid). This decision is based solely on the inner and outer beauty, not the price, the specs or even a test drive. I know, you're thinking "how shallow is this chick?".  I can't help it. There has to be a physical attraction. You get where I'm going with this, right?

                                                                          TESLA MODEL S



                                                                         FISKER KARMA



After researching EV's, reading the test drive evals, comparing specs, viewing their pictures and seeing some in person, I have absolutely no desire to own most of the EV's on the market. I saw the Nissan Leaf the day I went to test drive the Juke. It wasn't calling my name, I wasn't physically attracted to it. Although I was quite curious, I did get a close-up, eye-balled it a few times, peeked at the interior, checked out the sticker price ($37,500), shook my head and moseyed over to the Juke. I've also seen a couple of Chevy Volts ($41,000) on the road. Not a bad looking vehicle, but not one I can see myself driving. I will make a point of heading to the Chevy dealer to get a closer look and perhaps a test drive.

                                                                             NISSAN LEAF




                                                                             CHEVY VOLT


So far I've only seen one Fisker Karma on the road. It was love at first sight. I took a double take. I gawked, mouth open, flies flying in. I want one of these. Oh, but wait, it's only $106,000. A girl can dream, can't she?

My selection is narrowed down to the Tesla Model S. The price is $49,900 (for the 40 kWh battery after the $7,500 federal tax credit; check to see if your state offers a tax credit). Still pretty steep but less then half the price of the Karma. And there's plenty of boring and unattractive vehicles available at this price point.

Here's what $49,900 gets you:

4-door sedan
Seating up to 7 (5 adults + 2 kids)
19" all-season tires
Frameless windows (similar to the Audi A7)
17" touch screen (as Motor Trend calls it, "an iPad on steroids")
160 mile range (twice that of a Nissan Leaf)
368 cubic feet of storage (front and rear trunks)
4 USB ports
8 Airbags
Door handles retract into the body when not in use
0 Tailpipe Emissions
Handles 120v/240v
Costs approx. 2 cents/mile to charge battery
Quiet motor, smooth ride (according to most evals.)










As of November 2011, 6,500 reservations were taken for a $5,000 deposit. Production begins this month. Hmmmm, if I put a deposit down now (fully refundable), I can hopefully get my Model S this fall.

According to Chris Paine (director of Who Killed The Electric Car), "Model S is a remarkably important car. This car shows that it can be done and it will be done."  I say AMEN to that and let's all get over battery anxiety.