Blogging From A to Z Day 15: O is for Overseas Delivery

Image courtesy of Volvo Cars

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here. 

One of my automotive fantasies is to take part in an overseas delivery program. Of course, I love cars, but I also love traveling. Combining the two into a single experience would be nothing short of incredible. Perhaps I will put such a thing on my bucket list, but there are a few factors working against the fantasy. 

Blogging From A to Z Day 14: N is for Nurburgring

Images courtesy of General Motors

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

Few racetracks rise to the level of celebrity the Nurburgring has enjoyed. Despite all of the talk about the track, and its use as a benchmark tool for automakers trying to show off the performance capabilities of new models, most people understand little about the track.

Blogging From A to Z Day 13: M is for Manual Transmission

As you can see, my manual transmission indoctrination started early.

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here. 

In case you haven't noticed, manual transmissions are dying in the U.S. automotive market. Apparently automakers feel that Americans don't want to manually shift gears in their car, favoring that the car's ECU decides when gear changes are made. There are even a number of performance vehicles that are offered with an automatic transmission as an option, when no such option was available before, like the upcoming 2015 Chevrolet Corvette ZO6. Other performance cars can only be had with an automatic transmission, like the Dodge Challenger or Porsche 911 GT3.

Blogging From A to Z Day 12: L is for Lotus

Image courtesy Lotus

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here. 

One of my earliest automotive infatuations was the Lotus Esprit. The car looked sleek and futuristic, yet it didn't use a huge engine like so many other performance cars of the day. There was something magical about the British car, and I have to admit that I'm not a huge British car fan (although the new Jaguar F Type is something else).

Blogging From A to Z Day 11: K is for Koenigsegg

Photos courtesy of Koenigsegg

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

If you've never heard of Koenigsegg, you are missing out on a true automotive gem. The small Swedish automaker is a rising star in the industry, and it's starting to make waves by doing things on its own terms. The company has only been around since 1994, yet the super cars it produces makes Ferraris and Lamborghinis tremble in fear. 

Blogging From A to Z Day 10: J is for Just Hang Up and Drive!

Yes, this a real product! What if the airbag deploys? 

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

Humans seem to be getting dumber, because in recent years we think we can safely pilot a 4,000 pound vehicle while not looking or even keeping our hands on the steering wheel. Why? Because we're too busy fiddling with phones, tablets and other things that have absolutely nothing to do with driving, that's why!

Blogging From A to Z Day 9: I is for Infiniti

Images courtesy Infiniti

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here. 

Back in 1985 Nissan engaged in an ultra top-secret mission to bring about a luxury brand that would later become known to the world as Infiniti. The brand was supposed to take the fight to the luxury brands from Europe and the United States, giving Nissan a presence in a market segment it had never before entered. Keep in mind this was back when people thought of Japanese cars as cheap and economical, not luxurious. 

Blogging From A to Z Day 8: H is for Hemi

Images courtesy Chrysler

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

Everyone has heard of a Hemi, but few people really know what they are. The context you usually hear about Hemis today is when someone is referring to certain engines used in various Chrysler vehicles, which include Dodges, Jeeps, and Rams. Some people mistakenly think that the Hemi engine was invented by Chrysler, but that would be like saying that Porsche invented the boxer engine.

Blogging From A to Z Day 7: G is for Godzilla

Images courtesy of Nissan

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

I thought with the release of the Godzilla movie it would be appropriate to highlight the automotive Godzilla, otherwise known as the Nissan GT-R. The car comes by the nickname rightfully, considering it is known for monstrous performance, plus the car hails from Japan.

Blogging From A to Z Day 6: F is for Fairlady

Photo courtesy Nissan

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

Most people have no idea that Nissan's Z cars (like the 300ZX, 350Z and 370Z) are called the Fairlady in Japan. It's a weird name, I know, but it's the domestic name for its famous sports car line and it works in that culture. For a really eye-opening experience, click this link and see the 370Z's Japanese webpage.

Blogging From A to Z Day 5: E is for Evolution

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

Blogging From A to Z Day 4: D is for Diablo

Image courtesy Brian Snelson via Flickr

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

Today, Lamborghini is known for wild, angular vehicle designs and price tags that equal what many people pay for their house. The Italian car company captured the world's attention in the 1970s thanks to the Countach, a supercar that was like none other. With the increased attention on the company came anticipation about what the raging bull would do next, meaning the next car had to be something spectacular.

That spectacular follow-up model was the Diablo.

Blogging From A to Z Day 3: C is for Crashes

Image courtesy Volvo Cars

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

Crashing a vehicle can be an incredibly scary experience. Fortunately, I've never been in a serious car crash, but I've seen a few in person and many, many on video. Car crashes become even scarier when you are a parent and you realize that you have precious cargo on board, which is why I've made a conscious effort to purchase safer vehicles in the past several years.

Blogging From A to Z Day 2: B is for Buick GNX

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

Back in 1987 the engineering minds at Buick had a great idea: take everything they had learned up to that point on turbocharging and pour it all into one final hurrah for the Grand National. To the untrained eye, the GNX doesn't look like much, other than a boxy 1980s American coupe that is strangely all black. It's what lurks under the skin of that rogue beast that has made the car a classic, even though I will be the first to admit it's pretty damn ugly.

Blogging From A to Z Day 1: A is for Acura

For the month of April I will be participating in the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Learn more about the challenge by clicking here. Each day (except Sundays) I will be posting a theme based on each letter of the alphabet. This blog is covering automotive topics for the month. To read my other blog posts for the challenge, click here.

The first car I ever drove on a regular basis was a Honda. Since then I've owned three, almost owned a couple more, including an Acura. There are some great things about Acura, even with all of its current baggage.