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About Me
Isn't this meadow soothing? Let's pave a road through it! I'm James Riswick and these are my random thoughts published daily. Recent Posts
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CarSpace Thoughts from the CurbCar Reviews, News and Random Thoughts from Edmunds.com Automotive Editor James Riswick Dec 15, 2008 - Not-Really-A-Car Review: The Endor Express
My girlfriend and I wanted to take a quick, exotic Christmas vacation, so we decided to visit the exotic forest moon of Endor. We booked passage on the Endor Express...what a mistake. Things were strange from the very beginning. The boarding process was easy enough, but it oddly took us through a series of grimy service bays. I guess the terminal's under construction. The Endor Express utilizes the Starspeeder 3000, a small spacecraft that resembles a Chevy Lumina van. Packed uncomfortably into this box, we discovered it was piloted by an RX pilot droid on its first journey and we could tell. He immediately got us lost in the spaceport and there were numerous close calls with machinery. It was terrifying. When we finally got to hyperspeed -- quite incredible, actually -- that robot jackass passed the Endor moon and sent us into a gigantic comet fragment. Yes, INTO a comet. But that wasn't the worse part. Upon miraculously exiting the comet in one piece, an Imperial battle cruiser was gracious enough to lock onto us with a tractor beam presumably to bring our battered vessel in for repairs. Shockingly, the pilot allied with a fleet of Rebel scum fighters who broke us free from the beam. I can't imagine that the Endor Express would appreciate its pilot and navigator (who resembled a garbage can) actively participating in an assault against our Imperial government (long live the Emperor). We were actually there as they destroyed the not-yet-completed Peace Star we've been told about on the Galactic News Network. Those poor independent construction contractors. Oh the alien/humanity. After that harrowing experience, the pilot jumped to hyperspeed and took us away ... back to the spaceport! After all that, we didn't even get to see Endor. What a gyp. I immediately demanded my money back, but all I got was a confused guy in an orange jumpsuit who said "the exit's this way, sir." What a horrible experience. Until they find some other way to visit those adorable little Ewoks, I simply cannot recommend the Endor Express. -James Riswick
Aug 22, 2008 - 2001 Donalson One-Man Kayak: Worst Road Feel Ever
In the spirit of my E-Z-GO TXT Golf Cart road test, I thought I'd have a whirl at applying my automotive reviewing trade to other forms of transportation. It's gotta be synonymous, right? I came upon the 2001 Donalson One-Man Kayak, described by the Wigamog Inn's 16-year-old activities dude as "yeah, I guess that's cool." I suppose that's like Motor Trend Car of the Year in the kayak world. This one seemed smaller than all the others, a roadster of sorts, the sports kayak. I liked the sound of that. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the worst vehicles I've ever traveled in. First of all, the interior was chalk-full of hard plastic (still better than Chrysler, though). I could just hear Sadlier demanding some soft-touch stuff. Perhaps some Alcantara or maybe a carbon fiber applique to spruce things up a bit since this is the sports kayak. Also, road feel is just awful -- again, not what I was expecting from the sports kayak. The ride quality was the epitome of floaty, you'd think they hired Toyota to do it. Steering feel was, well, it sucked too. No steering wheel, let alone one that tilted and telescoped. And the power? Oh my god. It was restricted to a 2-Rizpower motor. Are they flippin' serious? Look at that picture, do you see those guns? Basically Derringers. So I walked away unimpressed by my sports kayak from Donalson. Perhaps I just stumbled upon the Dodge Avenger of kayaks, I just couldn't tell you. -James Riswick
Jul 14, 2008 - Always Fly Virgin America
Greetings from New York City. This is actually the first time I've been in the Big Apple. Partially because I've never had a reason to, partly because of my intense distaste for the New York Yankees and their fans. And whattya know, I'm here at the same time as the All-Star Game (although I'll probably be busy during it). Any way, fly Virgin America. Always. Remember seeing movies of flying in the 60s when everything was cool and they had those hot air hostesses? Well, aside from the hostesses (no offense Diane and Lovely) that atmosphere is back with Virgin America. Flying is cool again with 98-percent less rectal pain caused when flying one of the big airlines. The above photo shows exactly what the cabin looks like. I was provided with a power plug for my laptop and had free satellite basic cable channels throughout the flight. I had to pay for a sandwich (that actually tasted good), but I ordered it with credit card electronically through in-seat entertainment system. In true auto journalist fashion, I must point out the superior interior materials. The best of all, Virgin America was actually CHEAPER than the regular airlines from LAX to JFK. Does this have anything to do with cars? Well, no, but it is in the transportation realm. Also, it's my blog damn it. -James Riswick
Jun 6, 2008 - E-Z-GO TXT Golf Cart: Lots of Gadgets, Dynamically Crap
I learned to drive on a golf cart. Brilliant idea by the way, working your kid up slowly through the moving vehicle ranks. But since high school, I can count the number of times I've played golf on one hand. When Edmunds was scrambling to find a few bodies to fill an invitation to play at the L.A. Auto Open at Trump National Golf Club, I couldn't resist the opportunity to hit the links. As Sadlier's photos show, it's one gorgeous golf course. The E-Z-GO TXT golf cart we drove around it is essentially the same model I learned on, although I have no idea if its 2.5-hp motor with 36-volt electric system has been upgraded since then or any other component -- steering, suspension, etc. What clearly has changed is the options list. Nobody blinked an eye that these things had GPS systems with a huge screen mounted in the center-top of the "windshield." It didn't prevent us from getting lost on the serpentine links of Trump National, but rather, it uses satellites to tell you how far away you are from the green. Seriously, though, no touchscreen or voice commands? Our cart also had a cooler and a club/ball washing unit on board. Swanky stuff. I pondered where the outrigger board was for our caddie Victor. However, like the 2009 Acura TSX, our E-Z-GO test cart was packed with gizmos but was dynamically crap. Perhaps the battery wasn't fully charged, but our cart struggled mightily to get up hills and this is with two tall lanky dudes aboard -- not a pair of corn-fed hefty duffers. Sadlier and I had to skateboard a few times. I estimate a 0-60 ft time in 5 seconds. More distressingly, the rear-wheel mechanical self-adjusting drum brakes were absolute garbage. Going down a hill was frightening -- we usually had to lock up the brakes with the single-point engagement parking brake. I just don't remember golf carts performing this badly before. Around corners, body roll was alarming. The front and rear leaf spring suspension is decidedly old school, but the ride was certainly compliant enough. We were driving on grass though, maybe that had something to do with it. Any way, the TXT's rack-and-pinion steering is pretty good and actually more advanced than the first generation Mercedes SLK's recirculating ball deal -- or so I figure. So the E-Z-GO TXT left me cold. The gadgets were nice, but I was expecting more from The Donald. -James Riswick
May 26, 2008 - Comparison: Toyota Corolla vs. Luigi's Classic Dragster
Electric steering often gets described as feeling like it comes from a video game. The lack of feel and old-lady-friendly weighting have taken the term "artificial" to a new level. So, with Nintendo's new MarioKart Wii and its nifty steering system (no buttons, just turn the controller like a wheel), I decided to put this comparison to the test. And what better car to use than the 2009 Toyota Corolla, a car whose steering was described by our Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton as follows: "To say the steering feel is vague would be to credit it with any feel, of which it has none." 2) 2009 Toyota Corolla XLE Although the Corolla scored big points for being an actual conveyance, in the realm of steering, it lost big time. During aggressive driving, I could sorta guess what the tires were doing, but I feel better guessing about those impossible opera questions on "Jeopardy!" than when driving. As is, the Corolla just slogs about, tires squeeling and body rolling, as you turn the wheel in an approximation of what one might do when turning a car. Around town and on the highway, the easy-peasy weighting isn't that bad, but if you have to avoid something, good luck buddy. 1) Luigi's Classic Dragster Oh sure, it's probably not the best MarioKart Wii car -- some would argue Wario's Flame Flyer or Baby Peach's Booster Seat are better choices -- but Luigi's Classic Dragster has one of the highest handling ratings. Like the Corolla's you turn the Wii wheel in an approximation of what one might do when turning a car. I find this more acceptable when sitting on my couch -- which the Corolla's driver seat does sorta feel like, but I digress. Luigi's Dragster has no road feel to speak of as the wheel is obviously not attached to a car, which is in turn not attached to a road. However, unlike the Corolla, it is possible to coax the Classic Dragster into a drift and it is quite easy to snap it back into place. I also thought the Classic Dragster was much better at dodging green turtle shells and gigantic penguins than the Corolla would've been. Well, I've actually never tried that in a Corolla, but Walton wasn't too impressed at the Toyota's ability to dodge cones, so I'm giving this one to the Dragster. Ay, Luigi a wins! -James Riswick
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