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Designed by ItalDesign, the SVX is perhaps the best car Subaru produced that never really got popular. Brought into the market from 1992 until 1997, the SVX is rarer than just about anything on the road (save exotics and customs) with only 25,000 produced over its lifespan. Looking a bit like the typical Japanese car from that time, with just a bit of exotica thrown in for good measure, there wasn’t anything quite like it at the time.
Most manufacturers were leaning towards curvatious designs, some extravagantly so (Mazda RX7 TT, Toyota Supra). The SVX was a departure from that and stayed true to the styling that Subaru would eventually become known for: sharp, distinct shapes with a bit of flair. The SVX featured dual exhaust, a wedge design, a subtle spoiler, and the most unique windows the Canadian market had seen on a vehicle in decades.
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My father lives in Ontario, and in my younger years I used to fly out two or three times a year to visit. As I grew up I never forgot the excitement that came with going to visit my dad- the flight to and from was almost as fun as the reason for the visit itself!
So, unfortunately, it’s with a cold, cruel tone that I write this. The irony is not at all lost on me, either, but that doesn’t make it any less unfortunate.
Paranoia Induces Overregulation
I believe that modern-day air travel is absolutely ridiculous, and this was made crystal-clear to me when a child that was sitting behind me asked to see the cockpit - something that I used to do regularly when I flew as a kid - and was denied by the flight attendant. I can’t even completely explain the wonder and amazaement that I used to feel when I entered the cockpit, with it’s big windows displaying the horizon so triumphantly.
Looking around, I used to wonder what every button, switch, and dial did. It was a fantasy of mine to one day fly an airplane and find out. In fact, one of my prevailing memories as a kid was a pilot explaining to me how their radar worked: “this is our radar, it tells us where other planes are. Sometimes a plane will ‘ping’ us, and to show that we’re nice guys, we’ll ‘ping’ them right back. It’s kind of like playing tag, except 40,000 feet in the air”.
Now, you can’t even stand within three feet of the cockpit door during a commercial flight. How… overzealous.
I Believe in Safety… To a Point
I never had a problem with flying, ever. Now, there’s some irrational fear that exists within me that causes me to be anxious and leery before each flight that I make. Given that I fly, on average, at least a dozen times per year this is obviously a feeling I really don’t want to experience.
Now, I can’t even take a bottle of water on an airplane thanks to a terrorist plot involving liquid explosives. Of course, it’s no problem at all if I want to spend $3 mid-flight and purchase one. I’m all for safety, but this seems to be a little over the top. Realistically speaking, in nearly 100 years of flying we are now locked down to the point where something that was once a leisurly activity is now a chore- something that post people just shrug off and ignore until they get to their destination.
I want my freedoms back, as a consumer and as a Canadian. I want to be able to enjoy flying in the same capacity that I used to. Most importantly, I want flying to step down from its pedestal and come back down to earth. There is no reason that we can’t be safe and secure without involving being padded down, stripped down, and humiliated before each and every flight.
The average person won’t have a problem finding reasons why the indsutry is in peril. Why can’t the industry?
The motorcycling season is, unfortunately, nearly three-quarters finished here in Calgary. As we get closed to the middle of September more and more people are going to be putting away their motorcycles and putting them up for sale. Naturally, now’s the time to learn how to ride a motorcycle!
Chances are actually pretty decent that you may be able to get yourself into a motorcycle training class (such as TooCool or Calgary Safety Council). Not only that, but motorcycles tend to cost a lot less at the end of the season as compared to the beginning of the season. If you’re looking to finally make that leap from “cager” to “rider” now’s the time.
Things to Watch Out For in the Fall
I was exagerating slightly when I said that the middle of September is the end of the season. In reality, the weather in Calgary is so unpredictable that it’s impossible to tell. You may be lucky enough to get decent riding weather right into November!
If you’re learning to ride toward the end of the season, however, you’ll need to keep a keen eye out for:
- People selling their motorcycles for less than fair market value - Last year I was able to buy a 2008 Suzuki SV650S, which sells for roughly $9,400 out the door, for substantially less than that. I saved myself a ton of cash by waiting for the right time (the fall) and simply being patient during the winter.
- Cold weather showing up quickly and without warning - This IS Calgary, after all. Once that sun sets you can expect the temperature to drop quite a bit as the end of September draws near. When you’re driving a car it’s not a big deal, but when you’re on a motorcycle you now have to worry about significant traction loss as well as freezing your buns off.
- Rocks/gravel - Occassionally the snow will fall and clear out the next day. Often, the city lays down gravel to keep people from sliding around. You can imagine just how much fun gravel is when you’re on a motorcycle.
That being said, the early Fall is still a great time to learn to ride. The weather is still decent, the scenery is beautiful, and with motorcycles being as inexpensive as they’re going to get you simply don’t have a whole lot to lose. Obviously, being careful with how you ride and taking a new riders course both speak for themselves. If you’re interested in learning how to ride a motorcycle, I recommend starting with a used bike. A great place to start is the used bike section in the marketplace here on Beyond.ca.
Have fun, and ride safe!
Check the forums for the “official” summer cruise thread. Our Spring cruise was pretty awesome, so I’m hoping the summer cruise will be even better. The date is August 23, 2009–late summer. There will be no rocks, and hopefully the weather gods will cooperate with us.
Come out, show off your ride! Here are some pictures from the 2009 Spring Cruise earlier this year.
I thought I’d take a second to thank everyone who came out for making yesterday such a great event. We had about 50 cars show up, some brought food/beverages (despite the fact that apparantly we can’t start a fire for the life of us), and overall it was a really great time. We didn’t have ANY issues with the police/RCMP, though we did have Calaway Park ask us to high tail it out of there. Despite that, I’d like to thank Calaway Park for giving us the time that they did :)
The weather actually held out for the majority of the day and the cruise was great. Some very cool cars came out. The group held together very well, and nobody decided it was time to be a dumbass on the highway. Very cool.
I hope to see you all at the next cruise!
As you may or may not know both Telus and Bell currently charge users without text messaging packages for any incoming texts received. That’s right, incoming texts. Rogers, having waited many months to follow suit, will finally do so as of July 7, 2009.
If you don’t agree with this ridiculous practice you don’t have too many options. Unfortunately, it appears that the “big 3″ (Telus, Bell, and Rogers) have banded together in this regard and are forcing this charge down their customers throats. You know that $7.95 “system access fee” charge? It was once mandatory for providers to pay the Canadian government. Now, they are no longer required to pay the government, yet they still collect the fee. Makes sense, doesn’t it?
More information on your options can be found in this thread: http://forums.beyond.ca/st/263324/rogers-to-charge-for-incoming-text-messages-july-7/.
Send a Message to the Cellular Providers!
Unfortunately, if you’re stuck with the big 3 for some reason (need data access for BlackBerry or don’t want to pay the $400 to get out of your contract, for example) your options are severaly limited. However, if you’re a little more free ridin’ you do have options.
Smaller providers, such as Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, and PC Mobile, all offer pre-paid cellular services with text messaging, picture messaging, and basic data offerings. If you’re an iPhone user you’re pretty much boned (Fido is owned by Rogers), but if you aren’t you can switch over and ditch the rediculous fees.
The longer that Canadians let this extortion happen the more it will cost us in the end. After all, if they can charge us for incoming text messages (which users have absolutely no control over), what’s to stop them from charging a per-minute rate simply for accessing their network (ie- having your phone turned on)?
Quick info:
- 148 HP 2.0L 4 cylinder / 122 HP 1.6L 4 cylinder
- Estimated 33mpg city/43mpg highway (2.0L)
- $17,145 base / $23,845 top-end
Arriving following an interesting and universally well-received marketing campaign, the 2010 Kia Soul represents the brands desire to shift the image of its vehicles from bland, inexpensive econoboxes to interesting and stylish vehicles. As many have said, the Kia Soul may well be the first Kia you’d ever want to own.
Starting at just over $17,000 for a base 1.6L (122HP), the Soul is accessible to just about anyone. The best part, as true to the Hyundai/Kia tradition, is that the $17,000 car comes loaded with tons of standard features:
- 6 airbags
- Power heated mirrors
- Heated front seats
- Power locks
- CD/MP3 player with auxiliary and USB input
- Bluetooth capability
- Steering wheel mounted audio controls
- Power windows
- Plus a lot more
Moving up the mix to the mid-trimmed Soul 2.0L 2u ($19,645), you now also get:
- 142HP 2.0L 4 cylinder
- 16” alloy rims
- Stability control
- Traction control
- 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS
- Roof rails
- Air conditioning
- Remote entry with alarm
- Cruise control
The top-trimmed Soul 2.0L 4u ($21,645) gives you:
- 18” alloys
- Sport-tuned suspension
- Power sunroof
- Soul LED mood speakers (see below)
- Sirius satellite radio
- Premium audio system
There’s no denying that you get a lot of car for your money here. Combine that value with a shape that’s surprisingly attractive (unlike the style-abortion known as the Nissan Cube) and you get a car that makes complete sense, especially during today’s economic circumstances. You may find yourself being rewarded for being frugal with this car.
Initial Impression
Upon entering the Kia dealership at the Glenmore Auto Mall I was greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable salesman named Mika (403-837-9921, mikaremi@hotmail.com). I’ve provided his contact information here because he is an honest salesperson, and he is certainly worth your business should you be in the market. Mika informed me that all of the Souls, save for two, were sold. Walking among the lot proved this point: each and every one, save for two, had a big red “SOLD” sign hanging from the rear view mirror.
What he did have, however, was a “Molten Red” 4u with an automatic transmission, nearly identical to the vehicle I wanted to test drive (I really wanted to drive a “Mint Green” or “Denim Blue” 4u AT). This vehicle has an excellent first impression, especially considering the external build quality. There are no excessive gaps, no obvious areas where they cheaped out, and the shape itself is surprisingly attractive.
Once inside, the 4u doesn’t disappoint. Keeping in mind that this car is barely $24,000 out the door, the interior is excellent. Lots of space, lots of cup holders, and plenty of room to effectively use everything. There is plenty of plastic, but they do not feel cheap to the touch and they certainly do not look cheap either.
The LED mood speakers are quite possibly the lamest and more superficial feature ever offered in a vehicle, and if I were to buy this car tomorrow I’d want to make damn sure my car had them installed. The red LED ring around the speakers glow to the beat of the music based on how loud you have the
stereo cranked. Seems tacky, but it really is quite neat.
Driving Impressions
The 142 horsepower 2.0L engine is not a rocket. In fact, it barely gives the Soul enough thrust to move quickly at all. The Soul is not going to be winning any races, but the suspension is soft enough to dampen Calgary’s harsh spring roads, yet stiff enough to ensure that you aren’t bowled over when you take that off-ramp on to Deerfoot.
The steering feels sharp and precise, though you definitely notice the height of the vehicle during quick manoeuvres. Whipping this car around like a go-kart will create a lot of internal excitement as you are flung from side to side, but it will still take your thrashing with little fuss. I don’t recommend you do it, but it can be done.
All of that being said, it becomes very apparent that this car was designed for the young crowd that’s looking for reliable transportation that is feature-rich and won’t tear a hole in their wallet. The radio, which is very robust, sounds great and comes with Sirius satellite radio right out of the factory. Kia is also including 3 months of service as well (a nice bonus).
Everything is easily located, the radio is easy to use, and the entire setup is just plain easy. I imagine that the normally aspirated engine is also easy on the wallet, and given the high fuel economy ratings (33/43 for this car) it’s easy to see why. Notice a trend here? This car is simply easy to like.
In a world filled with appliance-like Toyota’s and snore-inducing Honda’s, the Kia a breath of fresh air. It may not be a sports car to drive, but it keeps up with traffic in the city, has no problem finding highway speeds, and it is a smooth ride the entire time.
Things to Note
The demand for these things is fierce right now. Mika told me that they were already into May’s production for people who were searching for specific colour choices. If you don’t care what colour you get you may be able to walk into a dealership and walk out with a car. But, and I kid you not when I say this, they are selling fast- one fellow came in looking for a Mint Green 4u, told the salesman that he’d think about it for a bit, and by the time he came back (about 45 minutes) that very same car had sold.
They are not a replacement for large family SUV’s, nor are they off-road capable. They are a FWD crossover that doesn’t look like a fridge or handle like a shopping cart. The 18” rims make this Korean built car look fantastic, and the funky-fresh interior is sure to keep anyone happy in air-conditioned comfort.
I remain optimistic that the Soul will wind up being a great seller for Kia. The engines should be long-lasting, fuel efficient, and reliable. The car itself is covered by a 5 year/100,000km warranty, and there is a 5 year anti-perforation warranty as well.
Whether you’re feeling the effects of the economy, or perhaps you are just looking for a great vehicle at not-so-much money, the 2010 Kia Soul may very well fit the bill.
Quick Info:
- 212HP 2.0L turbo-4 / 299HP 3.8L naturally aspirated six cylinder
- 3, 439lbs (4 cylinder) / 3, 549lbs (6 cylinder)
- $24,495 base 2.0T / $34,995 3.8 GT
This year has seen the death of import performance (Honda axing the S2000, Nissan cancelling its upcoming Silvia replacement, GM killing the V and SS models). In fact, the recent recession and dismal economy are only compounding a trend that’s been continuing for the last little while: fun to drive and sporty cars are, at least as far as the big manufacturers are concerned, not a priority.
That leaves us with limited selection for a sports car that won’t break the bank: the proverbial Ford Mustang, Nissan 370Z, Mazda RX-8, and Infiniti G37. Even then, the pricing on some of those vehicles places them out of reach for many people. Other import rockets, such as the Subaru WRX/STI or Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart/Evo, are more hopped up compacts than true sports cars.
Then, out of the blue, Hyundai releases a concept in 2007. The concept, a hot-orange coupe with a low-slung roofline and a wide stance, was received with open arms and open cheque books. Now, as we enter spring in 2009, the rear-drive Hyundai Genesis Coupe has landed.
Initial Impression
I was lucky enough to find myself test-driving a red 3.8GT. Its low, with a sexy profile thanks largely to gorgeous 19” rims. The rear looks menacing, with dual exhaust and sharp taillights. If you were to remove the Hyundai badge you’d hardly know that this car was made by a Korean car company.
Maybe that’s a good thing, as shaking the reputation of the past has been Hyundai’s biggest challenge and is something that they have been quite successful with. If this car is any indication of things to come (okay, perhaps the last generation Tiburon and Sonata were good indications) then it may be safe to assume that Hyundai is about to become a real tuner favourite.
Cosmetically, if you were to place a G37 coupe and a 3.8GT beside each other, there is little difference. To the untrained eye, the 3.8GT may very well be a G37 coupe. I see the small differences in the headlights, rear quarter, and tail, and I appreciate them completely.
Inside, the 3.8GT Genesis Coupe is comfortable and surprisingly luxurious. The leather sport seats are firm and supportive; the leather wrapped steering wheel and audio controls are soft to the touch; the dash itself does not feel of hard plastic. Aside from cramped rear seats, the interior of the 3.8GT is actually a comfortable place to be. There is a lot of black, but I appreciate that and enjoy it- I’m not a fan of wood-grain, overused brushed aluminum, or shiny plastic pieces.
The car comes with a host of standard features, many of which are available on cars costing thousands of dollars more. It’s no surprise either, as Hyundai has made it its mission to offer all the gizmo’s for less than what everyone else is charging. Good for them, as Bluetooth and aux inputs are great features to have.
Driving Impressions
It was a touch over zero degrees when I put the car on the road, and the snow had retreated enough to keep the roads clean and clear (gravel and dirt aside). Leaving the dealership I kept my foot restrained and controlled. With 300 horses on tap I knew that the 3.8GT would have plenty of go, but I sure didn’t want to be the guy that wrapped a brand new car around a light post.
In traffic the 3.8GT behaves as you’d expect: it’s calm and composed, with big brakes that are a tad touchier than I’m used to. The six speed transmission is smooth and easy to operate, with great clutch feel. I find that a lot of performance-oriented vehicles have heavy clutches, but the 3.8GT seems to be an exception.
Merging on to northbound Deerfoot traffic, the 3.8L V6 really shines and all of that go-juice that I knew (and prayed) the car had demonstrated themselves in all of their glory. True, this car is not a 500 horsepower Viper killer, but its 300 horses get this car moving in a hurry. Having driven vehicles with turbochargers for the last five years the feeling of linear power delivery was odd, but it was also very much appreciated and welcomed. It’s like switching from blonde’s to brunettes: each is attractive in their own right, and both are fun to operate. In the Genesis Coupe, the 3.8L V6 is very clearly more than happy to oblige.
I am curious about what the four cylinder turbo will be like, as I’ve always had a preference for boosted cars- especially in Calgary. However, the V6 is strong and capable, with a great exhaust note. Since the weather was warm (for the season) I had my window open as I roared down Deerfoot.
It was an experience that I hope to soon recreate. I had been recently shopping for a sport coupe and had my mind set on a Porsche Cayman S, and while I recognize that the Hyundai is not in the same league, it is also less than half the price and still a ton of fun to drive. When the weather clears and I am given an opportunity to flog the car around a bit more seriously I will jump on the opportunity. For now, I am content knowing that this car seems to be living up to the hype and allure that Hyundai had created when they released the concept a few years ago.
Things to Note
There is a fair bit of demand for these vehicles. In fact, the sales person I was dealing with wouldn’t even talk pricing with me during the ride. A lot of people are hungry for a sport coupe that isn’t a four door turbo-hatch and won’t cost them their limbs to own. Hyundai seems to have struck gold with this one.
It is priced a fair bit more than the Tiburon that it is replacing, but you are also getting so much more car. The Tiburon was, at best, a 175 horsepower front-driver with a six-speed. The Genesis Coupe is, even in its base form, a 215 horsepower turbocharged rocket with great looks and solid driving dynamics. At $35,000 for a 3.8GT there isn’t much out there that offers more bang for your buck.
If you’ve got a negative opinion of the Genesis due to the fact that it’s a Hyundai, well, it may be time for you to shed your inhibitions. Go drive one. Go experience the new Hyundai. It will make a believer out of you, too.
The area surrounding Glenmore and MacLeod Trail is something of an anomaly: there will never be a point in time, ever, where some sort of construction project isn’t making Calgarian’s swear under their breath. Take the past several years, where Glenmore underwent a massive infrastructure change that included the addition of several overpasses and new lanes. While the effectiveness of the upgrade is certainly up for debate, the fact that it made everyone who used the road miserable is beyond contesting.
The latest victim of the Glenmore and MacLeod anomaly is Chinook Centre, Calgary’s most popular (and largest) shopping mall. An entire section of the parking lot has been closed while construction crews begin a massive expansion of the mall. This means that the parking lot, and the surrounding area, is almost always jam packed with equally frustrated motorists vying for one of the few parking spots which remain.
Please, do me a favour and shoot me now. I will never park in that heart-attack causing stresshole until they finish the expansion and give shoppers somewhere to park. In fact, during my last venture I came up with five things I’d rather do/have happen to me than have to park my damn car in that mall again. In no particular order, they are:
- Have a long, drown out argument with my girlfriend about what time the water should be boiling so she can cook dinner. Seriously, the argument is pointless and only proves that we’re both slightly mentally lacking. However, I’d rather do that than have to park at Chinook Centre ever again.
- Cut myself with my Mach 3 razor right underneath my nose. It’s painful, annoying, and leaves you with three parallel slices and a nice big red mark smack dab in the middle of your face. In fact, to the untrained eye, it looks kind of look a sudden and wildly uncontrollable onslaught of herpes. However, I’d rather have that happen than have to park at Chinook Centre ever again.
- Listen to Aaron Carter blaring as loud as it can go on my 5.1 surround sound system while being beat up by a throng of rabid preteens and single moms. The worst part is that you can’t fight back against a preteen, though I suppose you could try to score a date with the single mom. That being said, I can’t imagine a form of hell much worse than this. However, I’d still rather have that happen than have to park at Chinook Centre ever again.
- Attend a PSI seminar with eight of my closest, newly-converted PSI buddies. While I’m at it, why don’t we refinance the house to pay for their upper level seminars too? Hell, let’s just give them the house for their weekly PSI meetings. That would seriously be the lamest thing I think anyone could ever do. However, I’d still rather do that than have to park at Chinook Centre ever again.
- Watch Will Farrell’s latest string of horrible comedy’s over and over against my will. You’d have to tie me to a chair, glue my eyes open, and put my head between a vice grip for this to ever happen. You couldn’t pay me enough money to actually willingly watch “Step Brothers” and “Semi Pro” again. However, I’d still rather be forced, against my will, to watch them over and over again than have to park at Chinook Centre ever again.
Don’t think I’m serious? Try me.
I’m not one to complain, especially when it comes to the computer game that I’ve been waiting a full decade to get my grubby little fingers on, but unfortunately I am left with no alternative.
Ladies and gentlemen, let it be known that Beyond’s resident gaming geek, the same guy who lauded the release of Fallout as the single most important event of the year, is truly and completely unhappy with Fallout 3’s ending. I will go hungry no more.
Wait… YOU Didn’t Like the Ending?
Yes, correct, I didn’t like it. It reminded me of a baby bell cheese wheel: delicious and satisfying, and then abruptly over. The ending came premature, and in case you’re wondering, yes I just beat the game today (about eight minutes ago, in fact) due to an extremely buggy release that almost resulted in me completely boycotting the game until it was fixed.
Let me be clear: I loved this game. I loved how well the spirit of Fallout and Fallout 2 were integrated so seamlessly into the modern incarnation of my beloved franchise. I loved walking into rooms and seeing skeletons sitting in a corner surrounded by boxes of InstaMash and empty Nuka-Cola bottles; I loved the plunger room and the exploding baby carriages; I even loved feeling of terror that I felt each and every time I came across a Deathclaw or two roaming the wastes. The game was fantastic.
However, it had more than one flaw that significantly hindered the game for me. These flaws, though not necessarily significant on their own, come together to form a mildly annoying “what-the-heck”ism.
- Flaw one: Random and completely unexplainable game crashes. The game wouldn’t stay stable for more than 10 minutes for weeks. Then, suddenly, I’m able to play for an hour or two before it crashes. However, until the game got to that point of stability I was literally pulling my hair out of my head due to sheer frustration.
- Flaw two: NPC’s randomly and accidentally die. I watched several NPC’s from Megaton disappear for no explainable reason. Where did they go? I’ll never know, and neither will you.
- Flaw three: Dogmeat. I loved that damn dog, but Dogmeat was a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation”. He would get into bouts with Giant Radscorpions and Deathclaws while following me (almost always ending in his death), and when I opted to leave him at my place in Megaton he simply disappeared one day.
- Flaw four: The Console. One reason why I always opt to play my games on the PC (whenever possible) is for the expandability of it. Fallout 3 comes with a console that you can use to alter the game to your liking. That’s fantastic! Well, at least it would be if I could actually get my console to work.
- Flaw five: THE ENDING. I’m just going to say this (so as to not ruin the ending for those who haven’t beat the game yet): SAVE THE GAME IN A NEW SAVE FILE BEFORE YOU GO INSIDE. Once you go in, you can’t come out, and the game ends and spits your sorry ass to the menu screen before you can say “OMGWTFBBQ!!!11!1!”
- Flaw six: A 20 level cap. Why? WHY? I hit level 20 before I was halfway through the storyline, rending me a nearly invincible two-legged tank with a plethora of death-dealing weapons and unbeatable skill when using them. Balanced? I don’t think so.
It’s not all bad.
Fallout 3 was an incredible experience, and the level of detail is staggering. Ruined towns, houses, military facilities, bottling plants, car dealerships, cities, lakes, beaches, cliffs, and anything else that may populate a countryside are there for you to explore, blow up, barter with, and generally muck with in one way or another. The game is an achievement and represents one of the best games ever made (as far as I’m concerned).
The freedom the game gives you to roam and explore is unmatched, but that can also work against it. There was more than one occasion where I would encounter a side-quest that was obviously intended for a lower level character with early weapons and I was a jacked-up, mini-gun toting halbringer of doom.
Don’t Toy With me Bethesda
There had better be some expansion packs or DLC for this game. Anything to pick it up where the ending left off, because I am not a happy Cameron right now. I waited 10 years for this game and it had better not end where it did.
Beyond Media, Inc.
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