The applied physics of boxer engines
Boxer engines: The darling crankcase configuration of Porsche and Subaru - among others. What makes them tick, and what makes them different from inline and vee-style engines?
What is ‘brake mean effective pressure’?
A proper engine-tech brainiac calculates BMEP using a formula and established units. If you want to do this, be it entirely in your head…
Engine tech explained: 4-cyl vs 6-cyl vs V8
Obviously they have a different numbers of cylinders, but have you ever stopped to think more deeply than that about the different operational characteristics of these configurations?
Top 6 ways to beat a car dealer before the end of financial year
Car dealers transact every day. You don’t. They’re match fit. You’re not. They’re ambush predators. You’re not. So … here’s how to win
Can you reduce road noise by changing your car’s wheels and tyres?
The ancient Jedi art of cutting road noise by reverse engineering the car’s wheels/tyre package. Or not…
Can you video police during a roadside stop?
This question about filming the cops - it’s all over the web. So let’s drill down into it. Can you do it legally? And: Is it a good idea?
Ford Powershift transmission problems: $10 million fine
Federal Court hands down a $10 million wrist slap to Ford - but the penalty doesn't go far enough or help nearly enough embattled consumers
Brown coal into hydrogen: Aussie PM Malcolm Turnbull's dumbest idea. Ever.
The PM seems will start on pole position ahead of Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un at the Scientifically Illiterate Leader Grand Slam in Victoria...
Ultimate bad look: When a car dealer threatens a customer
A Holden dealer in Queensland has rolled the dice by threatening to sue an elderly couple over an online video, which seems a bad idea
Why don't cars rust as badly as they used to?
Remember how badly cars from the '60s and '70s got eaten away by rust? This problem went away, quietly. Have you ever wondered why?
Never ask a car dealer for advice
Would you go lunch with this man? Well, for the same reason, it's probably best if you don't ask a car dealer for advice
The physics of turbochargers (for dummies)
Turbochargers return to the engine energy that you would otherwise waste in the exhaust - literally pumping up the efficiency. What's not to like?
What to do if your airbags don't deploy in a crash
You’ve just crashed your car. You look around, and the airbags have not deployed. Should you sue the manufacturer? Let’s talk about that.
Holden: 'Don't buy' warning for 2018. (Here's why.)
If you’re thinking about buying a Holden, don’t. The brand’s set to fail in 2018. Here’s why.
Dear Mercedes AMG: Stop apologising for your squeaky brakes and just get the engineering right
Mercedes-Benz says its squeaky brakes are a 'characteristic' of the vehicle. They call it a 'feature', and it's all your fault. I call BS...
Ford drops F-bomb on Focus RS owner (epic customer service 'fail')
In a shocking development, Ford has been charged with honesty, in the first degree. The F-bomb has finally landed... (Language warning.)
Hyundai i30 N: Volkswagen Golf GTI Killer?
Will Dr Kevorkian gently usher the Volkswagen Golf GTI off the hot hatch podium and into the light? Let’s look at the odds.
The truth about small capacity turbo engines
If you grew up before the web, a 1.5-litre engine might seem insufficient to drag an SUV all over town. Perception ain’t reality, though...
The truth about sexism in the car industry today
Let’s talk about sexism in car advertising and in the car industry broadly. Here's why the social justice warriors miss the target, every time
DIY Free Rear View Blindspot Management Upgrade
Here's how to upgrade your car to advanced rear vision blindspot management - without spending a cent