Automotive Talk--cars, fuels, motorsports, etc.

[Chernaudi]

New topic-wood burning cars. They were at one point common in Europe during World War II-in general, they worked, but were ineffcient, stalled regulary, and emitted a foul stench. However, several cars have been built in recent years that run off of wood gases. Basically, wood is heated to near-combustion to produce flamable gasses which are then injected into the cylinders of the engine and ignited in the conventional way with spark plugs, and these don't emit the foul smell and smoke, due to the exhaust being passed through water and a catalyic converter/particle filter.

So does anyone think that wood has a future as a fuel for cars?

[marielle]

yeesh this thread is slow.....

Ok picking it up...
the Dakar has started...

I watch everyday..the ducth guys and Girl are doing great, except for the bugies...
are there more Dakar fans around here....

and what about schumi returning to the F1?
I don't like him... he should stay away and let new drivers try...

[Chernaudi]

Don't much follow F1 or Dakar, even though Volkswagen has won with diesel powered vehicles before, namely last year.

And news on the auto racing front is slow-racing season doesn't really start until Feburary and March.

However, Ford does have a new 5.0 Mustang GT coming out this spring-a good car for a Twilight character?

[xJasper37]

For the twilight characters, I think higher end European Sports cars. The Mustang has always struck me as overrated, I know it has its followers, but maybe my experiecne with the 78 Mustang has ruined me for life.

Give me a Maserati and I will be content forever.

[Chernaudi]

I now present the world's smallest car-the Peel P50.

Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson reviews it-and even uses it to negotiate BBC's headquarters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJfSS0ZXYdo

[Chernaudi]

Even luxury car makers are downsizing-the Audi A1: http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/ ... 5635.shtml

[dazzledBrit]

I drive an LPG car...it's a boring Vauxhall Astra estate (great for the dog), but the fuel costs are very low. LPG (liquid petroleum gas) burns cleaner than conventional petrol and is low taxed in the UK (£0.50-0.60/litre instead of £1.00-1.10/litre) so it's cheap on fuel. The car can also run on standard petrol - it has 2 tanks and switches between them easily.

We looked into getting an electric hybrid, but decided that a lot of the hyped hybrids are not as good as they make them seem.

I'd love to get a sports car...I adore fast cars.

[Chernaudi]

It seems since Summit released their trailer for Eclipse yesterday, Audi has joined the band wagon with this teaser for the R15 "+" racing car:

http://www.endurance-info.com/version2/ ... udiR15.jpg

[marielle]

Gosh... there aren't many car fanatics here....

OK so last week the F1 season has started....it's wasn't very spectaculair, Alonso won....
this weekend they will be racing in Australia.
I'm so hoping Button can repeat his last season...

Ok Question of the day...
How is your favorite driver in the F1 this season... and what are you thinking of the new rules (no tankstop)?

[marielle]

I guess... I have to do this on my own.....

Sunday was the best race ever......Grandprix F1 in Australia, and Jenson Button Won...!!!
it was well worth to get so early out of bed....
a few crashes, some rain... some tactic mistakes... all in all prefect....