HJ Pizarro

 The idea of flying cars has caught the fascination of drivers, pilots, and science fiction fans for decades. But, are they an impossibility? Or, do they exist?  Remember the Jetson’s flying car in the introduction of the cartoon, The Jetsons? That flying car could transport the whole family and fold into a briefcase when not …

Half a century ago, if a person purchased a car, they could expect it to last two to three years. As technology has progressed, manufacturers have learned how to make their products more precise in fit, with better quality, and have thereby elongated system life spans. That is true from the suspension and engine systems in a car, all …

Ever wondered what happens to a vehicle after it goes to a salvage yard? Before you answer that the car sits somewhere or gets crushed, let me fill you in on a particular fact. The automotive salvage industry is vast. So, vast that there are three answers to what happens to that vehicle once it arrives on …

Way back in the 1990s, I was a young driver with my first vehicle. It was a little pickup truck that was only a few years old. It had a standard (stick-shift/manual) transmission and was void of any options except for a day/night rearview mirror. I loved it! Normal Daily Driver The truck was not …

Mention a green car and many people will start to think of fuel-efficient, electric, or alternative fuel vehicles. But, this post doesn’t have anything to do with that. In appreciation for all things green on St. Patrick’s day, this post will cover green colored cars that were made famous for their on-screen appearances.  Bullitt To …

Online buying services such as Carvana and Vroom have been trying to disrupt the traditional car-buying process for years. The Coronavirus is also a disrupter. The outbreak of the coronavirus may play into a more robust and stable future for the online services as opposed to the traditional car dealerships, at least for the short-term. Get The Lead-In Traditional …

Do you know what a rally is? Not everybody does. There are also some people that think they know what it is but really don’t. So, what is it? When asked what a rally is, a lot of people will more than likely say it’s a timed event running on closed public roads, both paved …

In the automotive world, if you mention the name Capri, you will be surprised at the disparity of what people remember. Older people will remember it as a Lincoln. Others will remember a European road racing car. Still, others will remember a Fox bodied sister car to the Ford Mustang. The last group will remember …

Mention the name MG and more than likely most people that remember the manufacturer will have visions of little, convertible, sports cars pop to their minds. Indeed, in the 1960s and through the 1970s, MGs used to dot many a driveway and compete in many a rally. So, what happened to MG? Back in the …

Ever come across the term “kit car”? Wonder what they are? Are they toys or real, driveable vehicles? Just what is a Kit Car? Kit cars are component vehicles. Some kits contain all the components necessary to complete the car, except the fluids. Other times, the “kit” from the manufacturer will require a donor vehicle. …

I’ve mentioned before that I learned to drive in the 1980s. In the time since then, I’ve seen a lot of automotive industry advancements filter into more and more models. Advances in safety systems are the most impressive. But, there have been advances in convenience features for the consumer as well. Enter the infotainment system. …

Power steering, power brakes, and power windows are the kinds of features we don’t think much about these days. But, there was a day when each of those things was considered an optional item, not included in the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Consequently, the purchase price would go up with the addition of each selected …

Wednesday morning, the Mayor of Saint Petersburg Florida went on record in a press conference to say that the 16th Annual Firestone Grand Prix will go on this weekend. The conference was held to address concerns of Coronavirus’s impact in the area and to the event.   Embrace The Race The Mayor, Rick Kriseman, began the press …

Late Tuesday afternoon, the organizers of the New York International Auto Show announced that its annual show was postponed. Originally scheduled to run April 10-19th, the show was rescheduled for August 28th through September 6, 2020. Mark Schienberg, President of the New York Automobile Dealers Association, said the move was being made to protect “attendees, …

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization on their website declared, “COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.” This means that there is a major concern for the health and wellbeing of humans globally. Indeed, the Coronavirus, as it is commonly known, is no respecter of national borders, political parties, religious faith, or even gender. So, …

Many motoring enthusiasts may recall the trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May from their days of hosting the BBC’s Top Gear show. They became immensely popular, not just for their personalities, but also their hijinx. After the BBC, they moved to Amazon and began producing The Grand Tour. Now in its fourth …

There is no denying that the dawn of the V8 muscle car in the 1960s certainly changed things. High horsepower vehicles, growling deeply, and moving metal quickly down the road was a definite attraction to automotive enthusiasts and well as the regular consumer. In today’s market, however, those old cars are a joke.  There’s nothing …

Previously we covered a portion of a list of things every driver should know about cars. That installment is found here. In this next installment, a few other basic things every driver should know are discussed such as, filters, tire pressures, what to do if you can’t start your car, and what are good things …

Station wagons used to be a popular family hauler in the United States. Over time, however, they progressively started to disappear. Or, have they? Large Station Wagons Are Gone It is true that right now, in the US, one can not buy a full-size station wagon from the mainline automotive manufacturers. The last ones ceased …

Car curious? Don’t know much about cars but want to learn a few things to avoid feeling ignorant about the subject? It doesn’t matter if a vehicle is owned, leased, or borrowed, there are a few things everyone, especially new drivers, should know about them. Follow along in this two-part series as we go over …