Ariel Atom - WOW

Yes, You CAN Drive a Tesla in the Snow [Video]

I know the video is a little grainy, but let's hear from Elon Musk the CEO himself. This video is from the grand opening party at the gallery in Boulder

How Will a Tesla Handle in the Winter? from gearthoughts on Vimeo.

Tesla Dealership in Boulder

I was on Pearl Street and happened to catch the new Tesla dealership opening. With $42,000 in tax credits for buying a Tesla, sales will no doubt be brisk.

Here's a few pics (too big? try the slideshow):

Here's one on a test ride..

Who Bought THIS? [Classifieds]

We were recently up in Aspen when I spotted this in the local newspaper. Seriously, who would buy this family truckster?

Which Ride? [Mechanical Viagra)

Spotted outside the gym:

So, who do you think arrived first? Did the guy on the low rider park next to the scooter? Nah, more likely the guy on the scooter thought he'd make a subtle point.

Classic.

Check Maintenance Records [Car Buying Tip]

If you're shopping for a used car, look for one that has had extensive and regular maintenance.

Years ago, I sold a slightly modified Audi 200 Quattro for $4,500. During the preceding 18 months, I had fixed nearly every major problem with the vehicle. During my ownership, I religously changing the oil every 3,000 miles (or less). I put in a new timing belt, water pump, power steering pump, suspension, wheels, european headlights, and performance chip (+ waste gate spring). Another (older, wiser) enthusiast bought it, getting over $4,000 in recent (documented) maintenance.

Yeah, I got more than the average price but not by much. Certainly not enough to make up for $4,000 in work I put in. The buyer basically paid $500 for the car.

Why did I sell that Audi? Part of it was boredom. The other was a misguided belief that the car had become an endless money pit. The truth was that during my ownership tenure, I fixed nearly every major maintenance item on the car. I also learned all the major systemic failures and how to repair/replace them.

That Audi is long gone. The take home lesson for you, dear reader, is that if you're out there shopping, look for a car that has had extensive and regular maintenance. You can find real gems.

Here's a Volvo 240 Wagon, for example. Not only are 240 wagons becoming harder to find, ones with documented maintenance records for under $1,000 are super rare. In case the CL listing disappears, here's the description:

1991 Volvo 240 Station Wagon

Navy Blue

Automatic Transmission

230,000 Miles

Good Working Condition........Interior is in decent shape as well

Many new parts and recent work have been put into this car....

New Alternator

New Battery

New Spark Plugs and distributor cap

New Belts and Timing Belt

New Pulleys

New Mass Air Flow Sensor

Brand New Winter Tires and Brand New Three Season Tires

This car has treated me very well and i have invested a lot of work into it... these volvos really last forever..... I am only selling it because I was recently given a Toyota with very few miles...

I just cant afford two cars.... Asking $950 because the tires and recent work are worth at least that....

Please call if interested..........

Yeah, like the boys at Jalopnik, I seem to have a curious obsession with Volvo 240s.

Here's a closing thought. A car with about 80,000 miles on it is usually due for a huge variety of services, in particular the timing belt and water pump. On a european car, that can be a $1,000 service call or more. A car with 100,000 to 120,000 miles on it has likely already had that service. If the car was otherwise been well maintained, you're probably better off with the higher mileage option. You'll pay substantially less for it and you can spend the money on suspension or other tuning upgrades, rather on upcoming scheduled maintenance.

image: Dave_7

Dual Sport Motorcycle Update [Shootout]

A bunch of my ADV buddies have replaced their primary duty bikes with used Husky 610s, so many that I've been wondering what I'm missing. It's turning into a Husky cult out here in Colorado.

Time to update the F650GS PD vs KLR650 Shootout.

New Additions:

2007 Husky TE610

2007 KTM 525 EXC

2009 BMW F800GS

A couple of thoughts

2007 Husky TE610 - A very capable dual sport, lighter and more powerful than the KLR. Owners will also tell you that it's far better built (though I've seen them wrenching, feverishly). Many have replaced the stock seat (plank) with a Renazco or custom seat. If you plan on riding a lot, plan to shell out another $350-$500 for better seat or buy one already farkled.

2007 KTM 525EXC - What's this dirt bike doing in here? Well, in Colorado it's relatively easy to plate a dirt bike and many owners have done so. It will suck cruising I-70, but on the trail I'll bet this little number will be a lot more fun than any of the others.

2009 F800GS - I've only seen these on the street, but look below for the video of some dude riding two up Murphy's hogback in Moab. I personally witnessed a half dozen bikes go down on this very spot, so keep in mind that a capable rider matters a lot more than a capable bike.

Final note - used prices vary tremendously on condition. Forget online pricing guides. I searched eBay, CycleTrader, Craigslist, and a few motorcycle forums to get a ballpark on pricing. YMMV.