Bernie's Top and Bottom Picks from the NAIAS

NAIAS or the most important auto show- the North American International Auto Show is currently taking place in Detroit, Michigan. Despite Detroit being the home of the "Big Three", almost all automakers use this show to show off what they've been working on in hopes to have the next great automobile.

I wasn't fortunate enough to attend the NAIAS this year (I'm currently back in school), however, in true Bernie fashion, I bring to you my top picks from the North American International Auto Show.

Number 5... The Dodge Dart. This particular car, I'm not looking at it from whether or not I would buy one, but I'm looking at it from Dodge's standpoint. Dodge hasn't had a strong compact car/economy car/clown car/funsize car since the Neon, and that was awhile ago. During that era, Dodge dominated it so maybe the Dart would be a solid move on Dodge's part. Let's be real, if you combine the Avenger and the Caliber together, it still didn't make the noise that the Neon made.

Number 4... The Chevy Tru 140S. This looks better than the Chevy Cruze, but sadly, according to Autoblog, it would perform just like the Cruze. *sad face* That means the Tru 140S will have the same 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and it'll put out 150 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Which means it'll look better than it performs.

Number 3... Acura NSX. I've never described a vehicle as being sexy and I'm not a fan of vehicles that barely clear the ground, nor have I been a fan of exotic cars. However, if Acura gives the thumbs up and I had the money to purchase this, believe me, I would snatch this up in a heart beat. But if it suffers from the "Chevy Tru" disease (I look fast, but my performance sucks), then I would leave it on the lot.

Apparently because of NAIAS, Acura gave the green light to the NSX which will be produced in 2015. Acura, call me to test drive, I'm available. But if it has less than 300 horsepower, then lose my number.

Number 2... The Bentley Continental GT V8. I Love Bentley. They took their best selling vehicle and figured out how to make it better. They reduced the engine power from the W12 to a V8, lowered the horsepower, thus increasing the MPG. I'm huge on horsepower but Bentley hasn't been stingy with it. Bentley kept the design but made the Continental a stronger vehicle. The difference is- it's roughly $10,000+ less than the W12, you lose about 60 horsepower, but the 0-60 is still the same, plus it gets better gas milage to over 20 mpg. Let me stop, because I'm starting to sound like a car salesman.

Number 1... Of course it's the Ford Shelby 50th Anniversary Edition. But I hear that Carroll Shelby wants to back away from creating the Shelby Mustangs as a whole vehicle, and focus on making the parts to convert a Mustang into a Shelby Mustang. That means he wants to make more money. Either way, I love the car and I'm still working on getting one... or being perfectly content with a Mustang 5.0 GT.

I do have one honorable mention, and it goes to Mercedes Benz. Mercedes Benz has been paying attention to "what's hot in the streets" so to speak and everyone knows that all trends start in the streets. One trend is matte painting a vehicle, and Mercedes picked up on it. Offering high end vehicles in white, flat silver, dark grey, and black and possibly expanding the color palette down the line. It's a great idea, and I commend them being ahead of the curve, but... As a person who has been in the streets (a.k.a. car shows around the country), I've seen many matte vehicles. BMWs have been the most popular, followed by other imports, and I've seen a matte black Lamborghini, plus Jim Jones does have a matte black Audi. I don't think a matte Mercedes Benz will go over well. If they sell more than 9, I will be surprised. I'll give Mercedes an A for effort, but BMW should have came up with that idea since they would have profited more.


Now for my bottom picks...

The Cadillac ATS that everyone was wetting their pants over. Why? It looks just like the Cadillac CTS and usually Cadillac can crank out different designs in their models. I hope Cadillac isn't turning into Nissan. Which brings me to my next bottom pick...

The "Newly Modeled" Nissan Pathfinder. It's newly modeled all right. It looks just like the Murano and Rogue. What's the difference? I won't find out for myself until I can corner Nissan at an auto show in March and April.

Chevy Node 130R. Remember when the present design of the Chevy Camaro was just a concept? Again, that's what this looks like to me, but it probably won't perform like the Camaro.

Lexus LF-LC. That grille... That grille... That grille...

And finally, the Buick Encave. Normally I'm sympathetic towards the Encave because Buick's clientele are folks over 50 and the Encave was the shred of hope for a younger audience. However, the length seems squished and the bumper looks off.


I hope that the vehicles I listed above will strut their stuff at the 2012 New York Auto Show, because I'm going this year...

Photos: AB and NAIAS

Top 10 "Manly" Cars, According to AskMen.com

Looking at lists like this makes me laugh. So the guys at Ask Men.com decided to compose a list of the top 10 "manly" cars, or what they think falls into that category. According to their site, the manly cars that did make this list are’t exclusively new cars or old cars, and a few aren’t even cars at all. And just so we’re clear, this isn’t all about horsepower or raw performance numbers. The 10 manly cars that make this top 10 are here because of their character, whether they’re among the fastest in the world or they struggle to keep up on the freeway.

No.10 1960-1984 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser. I picture a country guy loving this truck, especially if they wear overalls everyday. "The original Land Cruiser was just as rugged and capable as the rival Jeep CJ, but with tougher looks and better reliability. The timeless demand keeps collector values high and has even inspired a re-creation from TLC, a California company specializing in the restoration of these manly cars."

No.9 2007-Present Bugatti Veyron. Seeing how the only people that I can think of that own this car happen to be men, I will have to agree with them. "Remember, though, this isn’t just about the seven-figure sticker price, the 1,001 horsepower or the ability to top 55 mph speed limits by almost 250 mph. As a manly car, the Veyron has the look of an assassin. It's not overtly tough like Rambo, but that’s because it doesn’t have to be. If James Bond were French, this would be his car."

No.8 1953-2002 Cadillac Eldorado. This particular year and model of the photo above (1950s) is hot. It reminds me of I Love Lucy when Lucy wanted this car as a convertible to drive to LA. "This manly personal coupe wasn’t meek, but its sizable proportions were neat and purposeful, managing to look more sophisticated than other models and more appealing to younger male buyers."

No.7 1981-Present Dodge Ram. I understand why this truck is on this list, seeing how nothing about it appeals to me. "On the basis of manliness, they were light-years apart. Buyers responded accordingly, and the years since kept enthusiasm going strong with variants featuring big diesels, crew cabs, dual rear wheels, and even a version with the Viper’s V10 under the hood. 2009 brings another update to the Ram, but Dodge has wisely chosen not to make radical changes, keeping this a manly car for a long time to come."

No.6 1974-1990 Lamborghini Countach. This exotic car screams "I'm a rich man who is having a Mid-Life Crisis". "To this day, the Countach is an uncompromising, temperamental brute with a “screw you” attitude. You’d better do everything just right when you’re stuffed behind the wheel (Mid-life crisis... told you) or things could get very ugly very quickly. Somewhere along the way, you realize the bull in the emblem is apt, and you’re just the matador with a fine line of uncertain control."

No.5 1953-Present Chevrolet Corvette. This car is for the average man who is having a mid-life crisis. But correct me if I'm wrong, but I've seen a lot of women who not only drive this car, but own it, and not just the new ones. "The 1953-’54 cars are excused from this discussion, and some odd color options on the C4 of ’84-’96 dilute the manliness. The manliest is the C2 Sting Ray of ’63-’67. Some see a Sting Ray and think “phallic symbol on four wheels.” Others attribute the manliness to its road manner, which doesn’t suffer fools. Whatever it is, things weren’t quite the same when the Sting Ray designation took a year off for the ’68 redesign and returned as the "Stingray" in ’69."

No.4 1962-1964 Ferrari GTO. This is a cute car. "It was built to win races, so the design was the result of wind tunnel and test-track refinement, not an attempt to appeal to customers. Nevertheless, the manly V12 dominated the track and has become a legend. To this day, it’s just your average streetable race car -- if you dare to attempt it after finding a willing seller and parting with many, many millions."

No.3 1992-2006 Hummer H1. "The look is unmistakable and intimidating. The toughness and off-road prowess is incredible. It may have generated more publicity than sales during its run of public availability, but it will always be one of the manliest rides ever."

No.2 1992-Present Dodge Viper "wholly a man’s car since it was launched as a 1992 model. It has always had a V10, and that’s always been tied to a manual transmission -- no paddle shifters here. What’s more, there isn’t much to save your bacon if you get too crazy -- no coddling electronic aids are going to make it all better. You either get it right or face the consequences -- truly the sign of a manly car."

No.1 1962-1967 AC Cobra. "The car was virtually unmatched by anything else on the track or the street, and its performance is still formidable over four decades later. Whether equipped with a 260 cubic-inch, small-block V8 or the fearsome 427, the AC Cobra is our manliest car for its aggressive and timeless looks, untamed character and association with Carroll Shelby."

All in all, I agree with most of the cars listed, except for the Corvette. Well at least this list made sense, compared to the "top 10 Chick Magnets"...

10 Cars Women Will Love... According to Forbes

I really hate lists like this. Between the one I'm about to list as well as the uber corny "Top 10 Chick Magnets", because they think that all women are the same. Let's get into the list and what I think of the choices...

GMC Acadia:
Special Features: Standard stability control, XM Radio, OnStar and remote keyless entry; optional power sunroof and heated/cooled front seats.
MPG: 17 city/24 hwy
MSRP: $31,840

Kia Optima Hybrid:
Special Features: This is Kia's first hybrid car. It uses a lightweight lithium polymer battery with a 4-cylindar engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. It'll go on sale later this spring.
MPG: 36 city/40 hwy
MSRP: $26,000

Hyundai Tucson:
Special Features: Standard brake control and hillstart assist, traction control and (on the GL) five-speed manual transmission; optional six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
MPG: 20 city/27 hwy
MSRP: $18,895

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport:
Special Features: Standard stability control with hillstart assist, USB capability and (on the ES) five-speed manual; optional high-intensity headlamps, auto climate control with pollen filter, heated front seats, passive-entry system with panic feature.
MPG: 24 city/31 hwy
MSRP: $18,495

Volvo C70:
Special Features: Standard front fog lights, stability control and anti-skid system, remote controlled alarm and locking system, door-mounted inflatable curtain airbags; optional dual xenon headlamps, remote garage door opener.
MPG: 19 city/28 hwy
MSRP: $39,950

Mazda 5:
Special Features: Standard stability and traction control, five-speed automatic transmission, cruise control, second-row captain's chairs and fold-out table; optional xenon headlights, leather-trimmed heated front seats, anti-theft alarm system.
MPG: 21 city/ 28 hwy
MSRP: $19,195

Acura TL:
Special Features: Standard sport-shift automatic with paddle shifters, performance braking, keyless remote entry and Bluetooth; optional surround sound, all-wheel-drive, blind-spot warning.
MPG: 20 city/29 hwy
MSRP: $35,605

Chevrolet Cruze Eco:
Special Features: Standard 6-speed manual transmission, OnStar, remote keyless entry, XM Radio; optional Bluetooth, remote vehicle start, cruise control, 6-speed automatic transmission
MPG: 28 city/42 hwy
MSRP: $18,425

Saab 9-5:
Special Features: Standard Bluetooth, USB, XM Radio, cooled glove box, heated front seats, keyless start, ambient lighting; optional leather seats, panorama moonroof, multi-color display, sport-leather steering wheel.
MPG: 20 city/33 hwy
MSRP: $38,525

Chevrolet Equinox:
Special Features: Standard traction control, tire pressure monitor, hillstart assist, XM Radio, sliding rear seat; optional rear-seat entertainment, E85 flexfuel capability, heated front seats, rear-park assist.
MPG: 22 city/32 hwy
MSRP: $22,995

Attention Forbes: Not ALL Women are Soccer Moms. Even the Soccer Moms that live in my general area don't drive these vehicles.

Yuck! "Steering wheels are nine times dirtier than public toilet seats" says IBN Live

The hard working people at Queen Mary University in London claims that there are, about 700 different kinds of bacteria per square inch of steering wheel. That compares to 80 distinct bacteria types on a public toilet seat. On top of that, the trunk has 1,000 bacteria types per square inch. The most common form of bacteria was bacillus cereus, which can cause food poisoning.

The reason cars are so filthy because they're not as maintain as one keeps their house. While we vacuum, dust and disinfect our home on a semi-regular basis, only one third of study participants cleaned their vehicle once a year or more. Although I clean mine at least once a month. Most people (I would say all, but I've been to some nasty houses) take out the trash and vacuum frequently, but how often do people wipe down that nasty steering wheel? Factor in when people eat in their car, brush their hair, apply makeup, some people pick their noses while driving (don't think I haven't seen your nasty behinds), including other unthinkable things.

Aside from the cleanliness of a car, the study also revealed that 66% of motorists did not check the oil and water levels before heading out on a road trip. The same percentage did not know how to change a tire, half weren't able to check if the tire tread was safe, a third had no idea on how to pump air into a tire and more than half couldn't replace a windscreen wiper to save their lives.

Photo: DIY Electric Car

Un Oh! You Might Want to Think Twice About An Electric Car...

Because with electricity can spark fires.

Case in point- A Connecticut home caught fire, and the fire originated in the garage. No one was hurt, but the two victims happened to be a brand new Chevy Volt (with only 2000 miles on it) and a converted all-electric Suzuki Samurai that the homeowner converted himself (*side eye*).

Right now, no one knows the official cause of the fire, but what is known is that the fire did originate where the two cars were parked.

Here's the video...



It's sad that the owners lost their vehicles and a part of their home, however it was a little naive of him to think that the electric cars had nothing to do with the fire. Now, Connecticut news stations are reporting that the remains of the Chevy Volt caught fire AGAIN, and this time, it wasn't plug in...

Do You Want to See What 50 Cent Drives????

50 Cent was kind enough to extend an invitation to Access O, a South African Magazine to his home to show everyone what his house looks like and what three luxury cars he drives.




P.S. And yes, 50 Cent can be kind. Trust me, I know. He was nice to me both times I've seen and photographed him, and yes, that photo of him above is one that I've taken of him.

Top 8 Cars that could be collectors items in 2041

According to Josh Max at AOL Motors, there's certain cars of today that could be worth a nice chunk of change in another 20+ years. Here's the catch: these cars should have low mileage, be in wonderful condition (cars from states and climates that don't see winters or salted roads tend to do best over time) and have as much original equipment as possible. So Florida, California, Arizona, etc pay attention...

Chrysler PT Cruiser (1999-2009)

Plymouth Prowler (1997-2002)

Dodge Viper (1992-present)

First-generation Audi TT Roadster (1999-2002)

Mini Cooper (2001-present)

BMW Z3 Coupe (1999-2002)

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe (2011)

Chevy Volt (2011)

So when the Motorama's World Of Wheels 2045 rolls around, don't be surprised if some of these cars are featured and are for sale for $60,000 or more.

What Legends Are Made Of: The Legendary Convertible Bertt

The Legendary Convertible Bertt is an established brand out of Atlanta that is creating their own lane as far as blending muscle cars and affordable fashion. Primarily a men's line (women's line is coming soon) that consists of T-Shirts and Racing Shirts that incorporates the young and old aspects of the muscle car culture. Convertible Bertt is well known for designing the "I Am the Street Dream" shirt that was worn by Young Jeezy.



I had the opportunity to interview D. Mapp, owner of Convertible Bertt and he provided a better insight into the history of the brand, his love of muscle cars, and what's next out of the Convertible Bertt empire.




Of course, I included my favorites out of the house of Convertible Bertt, and click on the photo for more information...











(This hat has been seen on Lil' Wayne on his Behind the Music on VH-1...)



Don't sleep on Convertible Bertt... After all, they did say "We would rather fail at trying to succeed at something different, than succeed for about two weeks in doing something everyone else is doing."