What Car Show Goers REALLY Want to See

--Steve Proffitt

Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

NPR Photo

 

Nissan's The Cube

NPR Photo

The LA Auto Show opens today. Yesterday, Madeleine and I took in a preview. We aired a story about it on today's show.

We sat in a gianormous Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, and in a cute little Nissan Cube.

We saw a lot of other cars, of course. There were all-electric vehicles, clean diesels, cars that run on ethanol and natural gas and even some cool electric bicycles. Some cars looked like the future. Others were very much of the past.

But down in the basement, where the "after-market" people show off their wares, we got a look at a completely ridiculous but oh-what-fun show car that was part of the display of stuff being shown by Galpin Auto Sports.

They are, among other things, the folks that do the cars for MTV's Pimp My Ride.

 

There was no one around to tell us WHAT this thing was. Here's what we could deduce. It's very blue. It has fur. And it features a vintage portable television below the dash.

NPR Photo

 

It's not environmentally friendly. We don't even know if it actually runs. But really, this is exactly the kind of thing that the kid in all of us actually wants to see when we go to a car show.

Tags: LA Auto Show | cars

12:47 PM ET | 11-21-2008 | permalink

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DOCP: Driving On Cell Phone

--Steve Proffitt

Last month, California joined the handful of states (Connecticut, DC, New Jersey, New York and Washington) that ban driving while holding a cell phone.

But everyday, on the drive home from work, I see at least a couple of people gabbing away on their handsets behind the wheel.

Earlier this month, the California Highway Patrol released preliminary figures that showed CHPs officers had already written some 7,000 citations for drivers who were caught with cells in hand. And the Orange County Register recently reported that officers in the OC have written more than 400 tickets.

I'll admit that I do occasionally answer the phone when it rings and I am driving, and I'll admit that I've yet to purchase a hands-free device. But I've really tried to stay off the thing while motoring.

What about you? If you live in a place where a cell phone ban has gone into effect, are you complying? Are you seeing other scofflaws?

Just do me a favor. Don't text in your comment while you're on the road. OK?

11:44 AM ET | 08-20-2008 | permalink

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