Welcome to Eric Peters Autos

How Government Makes Your Car Less Safe

I recently did a column about the burbling war between the Safety Nazis and...

2012 Hyundai Veloster

Hyundai thinks it has solved the Access Problem that’s always been a problem for...

The Emperor’s Speech

The other night, Emperor Palpatine gave his State of the Empire speech. You know,...

The Failure of Satellite Radio

Satellite radio – that is, SirusXM satellite radio – was supposed to be revolutionary,...

Hyundai thinks it has solved the Access Problem that’s always been a problem for sporty coupes. The 2012 Veloster doesn’t merely have three doors – that’s been done before. It has three different-sized doors. The functional problem is the third door might be on the wrong side (the passenger side) of the car. And even though the Veloster’s third door opens wider, the space it opens up to isn’t all that much larger. The Hyundai’s back seat area has about the same real estate as the back seat area of a Mazda RX-8 (another three-door coupe). Less, actually....
Throw it in the woods »

2012 Chrysler 300

By eric

January 23, 2012

With the demise of the Ford Crown Vic (and its sister ship, the Lincoln Town Car) there’s only one choice left if you’re looking for a traditional American-style roller. You know, something substantial – a big (and heavy) sedan available with a big V-8 engine that comes standard with a big personality. And which also’s still affordable. It’s built by Chrysler. WHAT IT IS The 300 (and its corporate cousin, the Dodge Charger) is an American brand rewind on what has – unfortunately – become a mostly European concept . . . and a rich man’s ride: It’s...
Throw it in the woods »

2012 Range Rover Evoque

By eric

January 17, 2012

James Bond’s Walther PPK was a lot like the new Range Rover Evoque: Compact, elegant – but very capable when called upon. Ditto the Evoque. There’s a small but potent (and efficient) turbo’d four under the hood. Almost 30 MPG on the road – and 0-60 in seven seconds flat. Terrain-mapping AWD is at your fingertips – and the ability to ford nearly 20 inches of water. You can go two-door – or four. Let’s look some more… . WHAT IT IS The Evoque is a new addition to the Land Rover lineup, positioned as a stylistic and...
Throw it in the woods »

How Government Makes Your Car Less Safe

By eric

January 28, 2012

I recently did a column about the burbling war between the Safety Nazis and the Mileage Mussolinis (see here). Well, here’s the first casualty: Your safety. Because your next...
Throw it in the woods »

The Emperor’s Speech

By eric

January 26, 2012

The other night, Emperor Palpatine gave his State of the Empire speech. You know, the Sith Lord from Star Wars. He channeled his Dark Presence right into the Capitol...
Throw it in the woods »

The Failure of Satellite Radio

By eric

January 25, 2012

A Bit of Good News… Well, Sort Of

By eric

January 23, 2012

Sometimes, we get a lucky break. The same Supreme Court that routinely tramples the Constitution once in awhile stops mid-stomp, as if by dint of some atavistic recollection of...
Throw it in the woods »

What's Happening?

eric: Whachoo mean?
eric: I think most would – just as most have in the past. The military does not encourage independent thought. It encourages obedience. Was the average German soldier in WWII a psychopathic killer or just an order-follower? I think...
eric: “Hyundai’s reasoning for the third door being on the right/passenger side is so people riding in the back could be let out on a sidewalk.” I didn’t know that – interesting! Thanks for calling it to my attention....
clover: Brent, I do not know how to explain things more easily. Put a bunch of pennies on the table and work it out yourself. As an example spread them out in a line from one end of the table to the other. With 5 inches apart representing a high...
Brandonjin: Over the past few years, I’ve started to grow an affinity for hatchbacks. I never liked them, but now I could see myself owning one. O.o I like the way the Veloster looks, especially from the back like you said. Hyundai’s...
lberns1: You’re assuming that the entire military would side with the government.
winston smith: plagiarist? LOL
eric: Hey Mike, Thanks! I also like the RX-8 but the current model never quite found its niche. Kind of like the Honda S2000. Still, I doubt Mazda will give up on it entirely. There’s too much legacy there. I’d bet on a resurrection at...
eric: Of course, Clover – because you don’t care about facts. Or logic. Or reason. 190 hp in a 3,600 lb. car is the same, in terms of power-to-weight, as your 80 hp in a 2,200 lb. car. Poor ol’ Clover.
eric: I’ve seen minor but noticeable gains in fuel economy and performance/driveability (especially in winter) by using synthetic gear lube in manual transmissions and axles/transfer cases. I also like reusable high-flow filters such as the...
eric: It’s worse than that… when you take drugs, they eventually wear off. Stupid is forever.

Consumer News

The Failure of Satellite Radio

Satellite radio – that is, SirusXM satellite radio – was supposed to be revolutionary, an end-run around the heavily censored, mostly commercials dreck of terrestrial FM and AM radio. Well, they did ok on the first score. Satellite radio is more free and open in the sense that things can be said openly that...

Lincoln’s Future: Is There One?

Back in the mid-’90s, Lincoln was riding high. Ford’s primo brand was actually outselling GM’s Cadillac division, which at the time was purveyor of stolid starter caskets to the AARP crowd. It was Lincoln that birthed the idea of taking a big SUV from the lower-key Ford line, chroming everything that wasn’t plastic and...

Tits Up

There will be no bailout for Saab – and so, no bailout for Saab owners. Sweden’s other automaker, formerly an appendage of GM, recently filed for bankruptcy liquidation – not reorganization. It no longer builds cars and no longer intends to build cars. There will be no 2013 Saabs – no more new Saabs,...

Suing Honda . . . Watch Out, GM!

Heather Peters (no relation to this writer) is hopping mad at Honda. She says her ’06 hybrid Civic’s actual mileage more than just varied: About 30 MPG vs. the EPA (and Honda) advertised 50 MPG. So she’s going after Honda in court – small claims court – for $10,000. Which is the maximum payday...