As you may have seen, Car and Driver did what they're supposed to do and stuck five Nissan GT-Rs on dynamometers to find out just what's up with the cars' world-beating performance. Er, I should say to find out what's up with the discrepancy between their various performances. C&D concluded that U.S. non-press cars make about 520 hp at the crank. Our man Berkowitz concluded that Nissan is feeding the buff books (and Edmunds) ringers. Regardless, does it matter? Here's a for instance… You know the Bugatti Veyron and how it makes 1,001 hp from its quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W16 motor? Well, in Europe it makes 1,020 hp. Something to do with the difference between our more accurate SAE net and the funny Euro (probably metric) whatever system. How does Bugatti explain it? The engines actually produce 1,040 hp, so who cares? And that's kinda my point. Remember when Mazda got "nailed" a few years ago for overrating the horsepower in the Miata. They said it made 155 hp, but in reality it only made 142 hp. Did it really effect the car? Or, closer to (my) home 2006 Subaru WRX had 230 hp when I bought it. Then a few months later the SAE rejiggered how they measure horsepower. Now my car makes 224 hp. Which is actually three horses less than my 2001 WRX. Do i care? Actually, I do. That really pissed me off. You?

First of all, I want to say great job this year on the Top 10 list. I'm lucky enough to have spent seat time in every car on the list save the Caddy and the GT-R,and there isn't a single one I wouldn't be happy to own. But let's talk top slot. Mazda3? Look, I know gas prices are high and small is in, but the Mazda3 ain't exactly frugal. With the 2.3-liter engine, the six-year-old design gets less than 30 mpg– on the highway. Around town you're talking 22 mpg. That's about the same as a Chevy Silverado Hybrid. The dash is kooktastic and I still think the four-door's funny looking (the wagon is the sex). Yes, it drives quite well and I recommend the 3 to people all the time. But I recommend the cheaper, better-driving Honda Fit even more. What's that you say? You're not talking about the standard Mazda3, but in fact the rip-snorting 263 hp MazdaSpeed3? Again, a good car, but not #1. Why not? The all new Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Ralliart blows its FWD, torque-cutting doors off. And then there's the little matter of STI and EVO. Am I wrong? Are you?

Hang around Herr Farago long enough and you'll eventually hear, "The Brand isn't everything; it's the only thing." Of course I've made a pretty good career out of disagreeing with Farago about nearly everything. See, I believe that products trump brand. Case in point, Porsche. The Cayenne was a brand killer, right? A travesty of all that Porsche stands for and all that Porschephiles believe in. And I agree with them totally. Except for the Turbo model, a vehicle so good in so many ways that I want one. And remember, to the brand faithful, the mid-engined (and therefor sacrilegious) Boxster is just as terrible as the Cayenne, even if the little roadster is more fun to drive than big daddy 911. Or how about Volkswagen. Personally, I've never cared for many VWs. Sure, I like GTIs just fine but aside from (some of) those, pass. However, I loved the brand defying Touraeg V10 TDI and I lust after a Phaeton. The latter being one of the best cars ever made, badge be damned. And I'm fine with that. And how about Buick? They've got their brand down pat (old people and old people who golf) but I'm not interested in any of their products, even as loaner press cars. But what about Jaguar? A friend of mine asked for my advice on a car. Turned out he decided his 12-year-old Plymouth Breeze just wasn't saying all the right things about him, and he wanted a vehicle that broadcast his socio-economic achievements to the world. "So I'm thinking something upmarket, like an Audi A4 or a Jaguar X-Type." I was taken aback. Jaguar X-Type? Why on earth would he want one of those? "It's a Jaguar, they're classy." Really?

So, like most of you, I spend a lot of time talking about cars with my friends when it's time for them to buy. Talking with a dear friend of mine who has $20,000 to spend, I ran through my usual you're-not-a-car-person holy trinity of Honda Fit/Mazda 3/Subaru Impreza — cars I believe achieve the perfect balance of cost, reliability and fun to drive. But in regard to that last point, while they are fun to drive, they ain't that fun. She inquired about Audis and Volkswagens. Der Germans would mean used and I can't in good faith advise a dear friend to get a use Audi/VW, can I? BMW? Well, I told her, you could get a lotta BMW for $20,000, but you could also be burning wheel bearings and frying ECUs (or whatever other weird gremlins 50,000 mile BMWs develop). The conversation went on for a bit, and then I showed her a 1972 Citoren SM (see photo) I've been tracking on eBay Motors for a few days. $9,000. Lifetime California car. Well maintained, no rust and the hydraulics work. 3 owners. Life is short. SM stands for "Sport Maserati." It has a Maserati engine. You kinda need to own a car like this once in your life. She's single, no children and she can afford it. And the $11,000 she saves will keep a couple of French and Italian mechanics fat and drunk off table wine for a few years to come. What do you think?

I know the fat dude on Family Guy coined the term, and Berkowitz adopted it, but man– did this dude grind my gears yesterday. Many of the freeways in Los Angeles have traffic lights at their entrances. This is a very well thought out system to temporarily delay you from getting stuck in traffic. I mean, 10 seconds at a red light beats sitting in traffic (somehow) right? And many of these very same freeways have carpool entrance lanes. This means that if their are two of you in the car, you can bypass the red light and get stuck in traffic immediately. See, that's progressive. Anyhow, today I'm getting on the 134 in Glendale and even though there isn't any traffic, I have to wait for the light. Clocking my rearview I notice the white white Honda Civic with exactly one passenger in it is going around me on the right in the carpool lane. Solo. As my bile is building — I don't like cheaters — I notice when he passes me his car is slathered with yellow High Occupancy Lane access stickers. It's a fragging hybrid! That's right, if you drive a Prius-like vehicle you can bop along in the carpool lane all by your lonesome while the rest of us sit still. But here's my point — I don't care how good your city mileage is, a hybrid under hard acceleration getting on a freeway is going to make as much pollution as my car. Probably more, as its puny NA engine is going to have to work harder to schlep the extra battery weight. Thanks for always thinking ahead, California! And am I weird for being more upset that a hybrid was essentially able to cheat it's way in front of me legally than if the putz had just broken the law and ran the light? Maybe I am. But I'm calm now. So, you?

As you may or may not have seen, Nissan is building a convertible Murano. OK, so… besides the obvious question (what were they drinking?), I'm starting to see the 4-door crossover drop top as a good idea. A few reasons why. I recently drove the new Murano. It was so dull that not only do I barely remember spending a week with it, but the TTAC governing body told me to not even bother with a review (it would have been a Second Take, granted). Besides looking like a moon buggy, the 17 mpg soft-roader has nothing going for it. Hacking off the roof could only help. Additionally, as an American loving American, I proudly stand behind all 4-door convertibles. No other cars so perfectly capture our fading but still proud space race zeitgeist. And since the domestics aren't building one, go Nissan! Finally, one of my least favorite rental cars — the PT Cruiser — is improved by at least 500% once the top comes off. You?

My lady and I cruised down to San Diego on Friday for a wedding. When we got to Orange County, we were suddenly in Corvette Country. I mean like serious Corvette Country. The highlight (of course) was the cherry red split window coupe. But we also saw C3s, C4s an overload of C5s and lots of C6s. While I was explaining the difference between the LS1, LS2, LS3 and LS7 mills, my girlfriend (between yawns) asked, "Why do all the drivers look exactly alike?" And… she was right. All of them were wearing open-collared shirts and dark aviators. I explained to her the rivalry between the 911 and the Corvette, and while the butt-engined Porsches are technically more expensive, Porsche guys get around that by dismissing the new models as having lost the plot and only buying used. Until the new ones come down in price and they can then afford them. Los Angeles, where we live, is Porsche 911 Sudetenland. Yeah, we got Boxsters, but Boxster owners aren't Porsche guys. Boxster volks just like driving (or being seen), but 911 guys are a different animal entirely. And they all dress exactly alike, as if any minute they might be forced to show up on a red carpet and pound red bulls till 4:00 am. Porsche guys of course despise Corvette guys, and vice versa. The funny part is that each thinks their particular mode of transport is the very, very best in existence. I find them all tedious and prefer spending my time in the company of Viper or Se7en owners. You?

RF just shot me a press release that claims a Peugeot survey discovered that drivers use their owner's manuals now more than ever. According to their findings, 79 percent of customers have consulted their handbook and learned about features on their cars that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Some 93 percent of drivers have read or do read their handbook. Fully 82 percent feel it necessary to have a paper copy of the handbook rather than access the info electronically. The entire story sent alarm bells off in my head. I mean, the last time I used an owner's manual was when my 2000 Nissan Sentra's engine warning light started flashing at me (it meant my gas cap was loose). And, that's it. OK, in the interest of Truth, I did thumb through the Jeep Wrangler's book to try and figure out how to remove the top, the doors and the windscreen. But I put it down when I came across an image of a rubber mallet. You?

A friend of mine works for the GAO (Government Accountability Office) out here in the City of Angels. As cracking the traffic nut in Los Angeles is the Gordian Knot of our time, he hears a lot of supposed "solutions." Sadly, most involve toll roads. However, one we've discussed that I like is the idea of separate roads for semi trucks. More specifically, all cargo coming into San Pedro and Long Beach gets trained up to near Union station where it is then picked up by waiting trailers that then drive off on rig-only roads. With no passenger cars to get in their way, the semis could haul three trailers. Flipside: with no big rigs clogging the freeways, traffic would roll. Furthermore, as 100 percent of all non-weather road damage is caused by 18-wheelers, public roads would last much, much longer and be shuttered less often for repairs. Win/win, if you ask me. Though, there is that up front cost… Still, I think it's a fantastic plan. Now, we just get another series of roads in place for anything with two-wheels and we're in business. What do you think?

Here's a QOTD that doesn't involve me pumping gas… Yesterday we heard news that Ford and the General are talking about collaborating on an engine. Today we see that there's a 95 percent chance that one of 'em will go bust sooner than later. They already work together (to some extent) on transmissions and they all share suppliers. So why not just make like Ze Germans and merge? Take VW/Porsche as an example. Volkswagen owns Audi as well as every other non-French make in Europe. And while the whole story is murky, Porsche now owns Volkswagen. So, if Porsche wants a V6 or an SUV they just take what they need. Simple. With Detroit in a perpetual game of chase the Japanese, wouldn't it make sense to own up to their failings (stop laughing), pool their collective resources and start really competing on a worldwide scale? Instead of three full-size pickups, offer just one. Fusion, Malibu, Sebring (OK, you can laugh at that last one)– none are as good as the Camcord and they only steal sales from each other. Besides, the Fusion and Sebring are essentially rebadged Japanese cars anyhow. With one big Detroit taking its A game to the world stage, at least they'd have a chance. Right?

I was pumping gas into my WRX this morning when a man in a Ford F-350 yelled, "I had a 1983 Subaru GL. I drove it until 1992, sold it to a friend who drove it for another 5 or 6 years. Then he gave it to his son. Still on the road, with over 400,000 miles.Your car will never die." I responded that in the 160,000+ miles I'd put on my two WRXs I've replaced a battery and a headlight (though a buddy of mine burnt a clutch — let's not count that). Then there's my girlfriend's 2001 Ford Focus. She barely drives it. At 73,000 miles we replaced the radiator puke tank, thermostat housing and cooling fan and then discovered that all the engine mounts are shot. And those are just the iceberg tips in terms of crap that's malfunctioning. I give the transmission 5,000 more miles, tops. And we're not alone. Google "Ford Focus Radiator Overflow Tank" to meet our compatriots. And my question is why are some makes (or even some years within a make) so very much more reliable than others?

Hang around the car business long enough and you're bound to get some weird offers. Maybe something along the lines of, "If you fly to South Carolina and 'judge' some 70 odd cars, we'll give you $50." And so your honor, this is how I found myself standing in soupy 90 degree plus weather pounding on the hood of a 325e (or five) demanding to know how they got such a fine automobile for $500 or less. Murliee Martin and myself did an adequate job of busting the more obvious cheaters (we hit a spec Miata with a 200 lap ding and some got that tried to sneak in a supercharged PT Cruiser with 70 demerits) but a few slipped through our clutches. Namely the #1 and #2 cars, a BMW 318i and Saab 900 Turbo, respectively. In fact, the track employees were quite shocked as to  how we let the Swede slide by. Guess we got distracted by something. Oh, did I tell you that they let me drive the pace car, a Vitamin C Dodge Challenger SRT-8? They did. And to think, my Mom's still bummed I didn't go to law school.

I was recently chatting with a friend whose OCD makes Farago's look like drunken absentmindedness, when she revealed that over the weekend was her 10th time getting pulled over and getting out of it.Sure, she's very pretty and very blond, but even still. That's one Hell of a lucky streak. Running back through my own encounters with Johnny Law I realized that I'm about 50/50. Ironically, the faster and more expensive my ride, the luckier I am. Case in point, when I dumped the GT500's clutch and laid tire tracks for almost an entire block, the officer wanted to know how I liked the overblown Shelby compared to the regular GT. Going 55 in a 35 mph behind the wheel of a Ford Explorer? Not so lucky. Going 135 100 mph in a WRX? Got written up for 85 mph. Going 80 mph in a green Sentra? Traffic school. How about you?

I just spent three hours deducing that a car completely covered in loose fitting vinyl was in fact a Suzuki Kizashi and not a Volkswagen Jetta. Or refreshed Subaru WRX. And we auto scribes do not get paid by the hour. OK, some of us do, but three hours is an insanely long time. Especially if no one cares. You there, sir, do you care about a Suzuki Kizashi? What if I told you it was a 300 hp, AWD Camry competitor? Still not interested in looking at photos of it all wrapped up in line-blurring leather? I'm not shocked. However, I am shocked at the news from last week that a French journalist was hauled off to jail for industrial espionage because he got a hold of photographs of the new Renault Megane. How nutso is that? I say pretty nutso. But I'm being serious — do you really care about spy shots? And if so, why? Or why not?

NPR's Market Place recently featured on an economist who said gas prices don't follow any rational economic pattern. Supply has nothing to do with demand, and vice-versa. Wonderful. TTAC contributor and former Car and Driver ME Stephan Wilkinson emailed me this morning on the same topic. "Opinions, of course, range all the way from simple supply-and-demand to Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy, with all sorts of goofball imaginings in between." Personally I like the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy idea, but there's probably more to it than that. But how would I know? Wilkinson goes on, "There's an interesting piece in the new Conde Nast Portfolio, 'Crude Reporting,' on how bad a job simplistic journalists have been doing with the subject, at least in part because newsrooms are staffed by a generation of Reaganomics enthusiasts who believe that the market rules, whereas back in the old days, reporters were 'the redistribuionist children of the New Deal and the AFL-CIO.'" Well, if this is the same "generation of Reaganomics enthusiasts" who didn't once bother to ask Judith Miller if she was, you know, making shit up during our march to war, then a bit more is illuminated. Your thoughts?