An  Aussie cop has been “stood down from duty” while a police commisioner decides whether the copper should turn in his badge. His crime? Spinning donuts–cruellers, actually–in the dirt after being asked for a driving display at a community outreach event.

The whole thing was caught on tape and - of course - posted on YouTube. Never mind that the evidence would never stand up in court. The driver isn’t visible in the car. But even though we’ve had some experiences with some cocky cops and the stunt may not have exhibited a lot of law enforcement professionalism, we think that this single event - which may have taken place between six months and four years ago - is a sacking event.

At worst, the cop could be accused of immaturity. But if that’s a crime, well, book us, Dano.  

As for the cop, he should know better than to do donuts in the dirt. Donuts are for the donut shop.

Posted in police by admin on November 27th, 2007

If you thought Germany’s Autobahn was the last refuge of unlimited speed on the public road, think again.

Oops, sorry. You thought too long. Sparsely populated Central Australia  has installed a speed limit of 80 miles per hour on remote roads, safety experts claiming it will reduce highway carnage.

Well, not yet.

more

Posted in highways, safety, speed limit by admin on November 25th, 2007

What is it about Subaru and gray cars anyway? First there’s the Subaru Legacy GT Spec.B (our review), in 2007 available only in a medium gray (even if expanded to a dark gray also for 2008). And now there’s the gentleman’s Subaru sports sedan, the 2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0R Limited.

Our test vehicle was Quartz Silver Metallic, or what most people would call medium gray. Three other colors are available: Obsidian Black Pearl (black), Deep Bronze Metallic (antique bronze), and Harvest Gold Metallic (didn’t we leave that in the Seventies?). Literally not all gray, of course, but spiritually gray, or as gray as one can get without actually being gray.

So when we approached our test Legacy 3.0R Limited, we weren’t expecting much in the way of performance.

Read more, and then come back and share your opinion.

Posted in Legacy, Subaru, car review, road test by admin on November 16th, 2007

It’s never a good idea to drive an unfamiliar car at ten-tenths—full out—on the first lap, even on one’s home track. In fact, a first lap on any track in any car, familiar or not, is best served as a warm-up lap.

So it was particularly frustrating for us to slip into the driver’s seat of a 2008 Audi R8 for one lap of a road course at Pocono International Raceway. For those familiar with that venue, we pit out at the normal NASCAR pit in, drive the “north” infield course backwards, Long Pond straight—also backwards—and then “south” infield course, and pit in at the NASCAR pit out. It’s not elegant but it sorta works. Our drive time in the R8 would be limited to about two miles at speed at event sponsored by the International Motor Press Association.

Click here to read a brief but authentic carbuzzard.com new car review of the Audi R8 including race track video produced by our friends at RoadFly.com. Then come back and tell the world what you think.

Posted in Audi, R8, car review, tract test by admin on November 15th, 2007

Without question, we’ll admit that it isn’t often that we see a teenaged girl twitterpated over a Volvo.

OK, we’ve never seen a teenaged girl twitterpated over a Volvo.

But recently, seated by the window of our favorite diner, we saw one of the aforementioned individuals not only stop and look at a Volvo but circle around it. And circle again. Then she walked over to her mother who, along with her husband and brother, were also looking at the Volvo approvingly, and made hand-clasped pleading motions.

All this over a Volvo.

The Volvo in question? The new C30 coupe, compact and sleek and, well, find out what else with our authentic carbuzzard.com 2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0 new car review.

And tell us what you think about the Volvo C30 by entering your comments below.

Posted in C30, Volvo, car review, road test by admin on November 11th, 2007