For those of you that remember an old post about the Terrafugia Transition will the public ever have the chance to park one at home? -On display this week at the New York Auto Show the Terrafugia is still an awesome idea but an article published by Popular Mechanics explains why we most likely will not see this or other flying cars on our lots or on the road anytime soon.

Article Source: Popular Mechanics

Everyone loves the Terrafugia Transition, the cute-as-a-bug flying car that has been center stage at the New York International Auto Show this week. Among the media reporting enthusiastically on its car-show debut were The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. CNN was there, too, declaring, “Flying cars are not just the stuff of sci-fi movies anymore.”

You might think that PopMech would be on board with this rapturous reception. We’ve always been boosters of the flying car idea, and once hoped that we’d all be flying around in them by now. But we’ve also always tried to inject a dose of realism into our reporting and face the reality that the compromises involved in trying to do both air and land well are prohibitive.

We salute Terrafugia for finding a workable compromise between sky and land requirements; from an engineering perspective, it’s an impressive accomplishment. But the limitations remain enormous, and so we remain skeptical that a vehicle of this sort will ever become more than a novelty craft.

Here’s why:

Read more: 7 Reasons the Terrafugia Transition Isn’t Coming to Your Garage – Popular Mechanics

1. It will be hard to produce for the advertised price.

Aircraft almost always cost more to build than originally estimated—often, much, much more. For example: When Vern Raburn conceived the Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet, its revolutionary design was going to provide a twin-engine turbofan plane for the masses, with each selling for just $1 million. Unfortunately, before you build a lot, you have to build a couple, and that’s expensive. Soon after the Eclipse finally hit the market, the price was raised to $2.15 million. Not enough were sold to make production economical. The company filed for bankruptcy later that same year.

The Terrafugia’s $279,000 price point is a lot lower. But it’s still based on assumptions about labor costs, production efficiency, the price of raw materials, and more. By way of comparison, the Terrafugia’s current price tag is about the same as that of a new Cessna 172, the most-produced aircraft in history. And its development costs were amortized before Terrafugia’s builders were even born.

For its part, Terrafugia is standing by its projected price. “That figure is based on our production prototyping, so we are fairly confident in it,” chief operating officer Anna Dietrich says. “Of course, things like energy costs affect the price of all the raw materials, so it is possible that something could drive it up.”

2. Its certification standard will require significant performance restrictions.

Speaking of the Cessna 172, that plane has been fully certified by the FAA under its Part 23 rules, which means it can be used for anything you might want to use an airplane for. The Terrafugia is aiming for certification under much looser, less expensive rules called Light Sport Aircraft, or LSA. But because such planes have to meet less stringent safety requirements, the FAA puts greater restrictions on their use. These planes cannot be used commercially, for instance, and they can carry only one passenger in addition to the pilot.

There is also a strict limit on the aircraft’s maximum gross weight, which could prove problematic: The reality is that most people who can afford to fly and have the time to do so are middle-aged or older, and many of these people have a hard time keeping control of their expanding waistlines. The flying club I belong to recently decided to sell its Cessna 152, a two-seat light plane with similar characteristics to the Terrafugia, because too few members were able to fly with a passenger without violating the weight limit.

3. The light aircraft market is extraordinarily tough.

A quarter-million is a lot of money for such a restricted aircraft. When Cessna considered entering the LSA market, the company decided it would be feasible only if it could sell aircraft for less than $100,000. By shifting production to China, it nearly managed to meet that goal; the resulting aircraft, the Cessna Skycatcher, was sold initially for $109,500. But even Cessna couldn’t sustain such a low price point. Last year, having delivered about 100 of the aircraft, the company upped the price to $149,000.

While the market for top-end business jets is booming (Google’s top three execs have eight jets among them), the lower you go down the market, the worse business is. When it comes to single-engine piston planes, you can hear crickets chirping.

4. Its legal future is cloudy.

Terrafugia’s ambition is to be certified as a Light Sport Aircraft. But the company first has to complete its flight testing program, which it hopes to do by early 2013. “We have six phases of the flight testing laid out,” Dietrich says. “At the completion of those tests, assuming everything goes as planned, we’ll be able to declare compliance to all of the FAA’s light sport standards.”

We wish them well, but there’s a long way to go. For its part, the FAA has released a statement that reads, in part: “The manufacturer has not yet applied for an FAA airworthiness certificate, so the FAA has not yet determined what level of pilot certificate and training would be required to operate the Terrafugia Transition as an aircraft.” That’s a hurdle Terrafugia will need to clear before it can make its first delivery.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation has deemed the Transition roadworthy—thanks to several temporary waivers. It’s far from guaranteed that those waivers will be renewed.

5. Design compromises will take a serious toll on performance.

Aircraft and planes occupy very different environments, and as a result, face very different design requirements. Planes must be lightweight in order to move efficiently through the air; cars must be strong and dense to survive impacts. Planes must have long wings to push down the air; cars must be small to minimize air resistance. No vehicle capable of operating in both environments will excel at either.

In Terrafugia’s defense, Dietrich points out that virtually every man-made object involves a compromise of some sort. “Every product you buy, every vehicle, every aircraft is a compromise,” Dietrich says. “You trade high performance for style, or safety. You are always making design choices. You’re always making tradeoffs.”

Not every compromise is equally severe, however. Just by looking at the Terrafugia’s design, you can tell it’s going to suffer from efficiency and control issues. Because it’s relatively short, the control surfaces on the tail won’t have much leverage, so the plane is going to be relatively unstable along the longitudinal axis. And look at that front canard: It’s right in front of the main part of the car body, which will disrupt airflow and make the plane less effective.

6. Roadability’s benefits don’t outweigh its penalties.

In exchange for its severe limitations in performance, what does the Transition’s roadworthiness give you in return? The ability to drive away from an airport after you land. In a world where no one owned a car, this would be a game-changer. In the real world, a pickup by a friend or a rental car is just a phone call (or text) away.

7. Past precedents are not encouraging.

The idea of the flying car, or roadable plane, has been tried many times before, and has failed. One of the more promising made headlines in the ’40s and ’50s, when Robert Edison Fulton introduced a roadable aircraft he called the Airphibian. The vehicle was a small two-passenger car to which wings and a tail could be attached. It flew successfully, and Fulton and his team logged hundreds of thousands of miles of driving and flying. But performance was anemic, and sales never materialized.

Another riff on the same idea was the Aerocar, a vehicle dreamed up by a Washington State inventor named Moulton Taylor. The Aerocar looked a lot like the Airphibian, but its wings folded up on the ground and pulled behind the car like a trailer. This offered greater convenience, but no greater success: Taylor could never attract enough orders to start production.

Terrafugia could be in the same boat. What it has created is an admirable execution of the flying car concept, but flying cars simply are still too costly and impractical for the dream to become more than a novelty anytime soon.

Jeff Wise is a contributing editor for Popular Mechanics and the author of Extreme Fear: The Science of Your Mind in Danger. For a daily dose of extreme fear, check out his blog.

Sure, we all know that many people love that new car smell – some stores even sell a spray the has “new car scent” but in reality that smell is made up of many chemicals including new plastics, adhesives and more. Research shows that this smell is not good for you and give you all the more reason to buy pre-owned — same great car and no new car toxic smell. Here is a recent article discussing that new car smell that we felt we should share.

Article Source [CBS LOCAL]

ANN ARBOR (WWJ) – Many people say they love that new car smell, but researchers at the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor say it could be making you sick.

The study tested over 200 of the most popular 2011- and 2012-model vehicles for chemicals that off-gas from parts such as the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests and seats.

Chemicals of primary concern include: bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC); lead; and heavy metals.

Researchers say the chemicals contribute to that “new car smell” and a variety of acute and long-term health concerns, including allergies, birth defects and liver toxicity.

Director Jeff Gearhart said cars with the healthiest interiors are the Honda Civic, Toyota Prius and Honda CR-Z.

“Since we first started testing in 2006, we’ve seen an improvement on average in the vehicles that are in the market. So, we know there is a trend toward healthier interiors, but what we really want to see is to see that accelerated,” said Gearhart.

The worst models were the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Chrysler 200 SC and Kia Soul. Gearhart said they want manufacturers to keep working toward healthier interiors.

“Start certifying those vehicle to independent third-party standards so that consumers know when they’re shopping for a vehicle that it has a healthy interior,” said Gearhart

Where does your car rank? Visit www.healthystuff.org to search for your make and model.

Good morning, good Monday morning! On February 25, 2012 I will take to the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean and bravely make my second Polar Plunge in Seaside Heights, NJ to support the Special Olympics of New Jersey. Sure, the water is freezing cold but it’s a total blast and for a great cause too – so who cares about the cold!

I’m officially registered as a Plunger on the NJ Polar Plunge website and any donations would be geatly appreciated. Remarkably, I was able to raise over $500 last year and with your help I’m looking to crush that number this year! Did, I mention that the water will be freezing!

As always, thank you for your support.  

Donation Link

All Donations are Tax-Deductibel

Want to watch me take the plunge last year – see me on YouTube (not at work) View the video

Many of us seem to dread having to purchase a car, especially a used vehicle. We seem to instantly think of those creepy used car salesmen who want to sell you everything under the sun and then some. Or, the second you step foot on the car lot sales men seem to appear from nowhere — but at MB Motorsports in Tinton Falls the experience is nothing like that.  It may work for some dealership but that is not how we run our dealership — who needs that added pressure — right?

MB Motorsports makes finding the perfect car, truck or motorcycle extremely simple through the website, www.mbmotorsports.com . You can setup a test drive or just come down and take a look at the vehicle — and when you’re ready to learn more that’s when our experienced and professional sales staff steps in.

Our NJ used car dealership wants to ensure that your experience is memorable and hope  when you are ready to make another purchase or if a friend starts to look for a car, truck or motorcylce that you simply recommend MB Motorsports.

Easy to navigate and designed with the consumer in mind, MB Motorsports is proud to announce the launch of its all-new website. The new website not only allows for the customer to easily find the type of vehicle they are seeking the website also reflects the professionalism and reputation that people have come to expect from MB Motorsports.

“The site is fresh, easy to use and offers the user a great web experience,” said Jesse Lehman of MB Motorsports. “The website features everything from our huge selection of premium pre-owned vehicles, pictures, videos, tutorials, testimonials, a blog and much more,” Lehman said. The staff at MB Motorsports ask that you take a break from your busy schedule and take a test drive of their new website. www.mbmotorsports.com

It’s a normal occurrence and a great money maker for schools and groups to make a quick buck by offering a car wash — and it seems as if there are always lines of people at these events too. However, MB Motorsports fans should know that you may be donating to a great cause but might be better off just giving the group the few dollars and drive away which could save your cars finish.

If there is any place to get scratches and swirl marks it would be one of these road-side car washes — and especially with a black Honda — I simply say No Thanks! How many times do you think those sponges have hit the ground or picked up dirt from other cars which will end up leaving your finish looking like a warzone. 
I remember when I was in high-school I took part in a car wash and saw someone with a sponge that was on the ground with a small stone in it that left a nice sized scratch in the hood. From that day on — I will donate the money to the cause but won’t let them touch my car. Of course, the choice is yours but I like my mirror-like finish and work hard to maintain it.

Have you had a bad experience with one of these fundraiser — share your story with MB Motorsports!

I’m not so sure MB Motorsports is actually celebrating the day by promoting junk food — but I supposed if there is one day to eat some bad food and it is nationally recognized — then let today be the day!

I would never call myself a health food fanatic or anything but I would much rather eat vegetables or fruit over junk food — unless it’s Herr’s Salt and Vinegar chips then you will have to fight me for them.

So you ask yourself who would make this a nationally recognized day? Well the origins are unknown but it is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau which sent out an  Daily Feature alert that read: “On the one hand, there’s increasing concern about obesity, diabetes, and the quality of the diet of many Americans, underlined by pronouncements of anxiety from doctors and public health officials.  On the other, junk food shows no sign of waning in popularity.  In fact, today is National Junk Food Day.  Its theme song might be the hit of years ago, “Junk Food Junkie,” which sang the praises of such items as “Dr Pepper and an old Moon Pie.”  

So MB Motorsports fans — what is your favorite junk food?

I would consider my wife and I pretty avid crabbers and it is one of our favorite things to do in the summer months at the Jersey Shore. If you have never tried crabbing, and I don’t mean with traps, I mean dropline, bait and sinker then I highly recommend giving crabbing a try to all of the MB Motorsports fans in or visiting the Garden State.

If you have never crabbed before you can either rent a boat or you can crab from many area piers and lagoons but we always find a day out on the boat to be much more fun and relaxing. There are many spots through-out the state but two of our favorites locations include the Oceanic bridge in Rumson and the Causeway bridge in Long Beach Island — however we do find that the Rumson crabs are a little more aggressive — so watch your fingers.   So how do you catch the NJ Blueclaw Crabs — well we prefer to use cut up Bunker fish but many also like to use raw chicken wings or chicken necks — it really is personal preference.  What ever you do when you pull them up and catch them don’t put them into a cooler with water — you will kill them. Keep them in a bushel or  a cooler with some seaweed or wet paper towels and in the shade. If you put them in water they will deplete the oxygen and die — no good!

Finally, cooking crab is up to you. You can steam, boil bake or grill them. I like to boil them first and then transfer to a stream pot for another few minutes with some spices in the water. Then I will remove them — clean them and the saute them in a garlic, butter and old bay sauce quickly — and they are delicious! But it is all up to you!  Give it a try and let us know what you think MB Motorsports Fans!

Did you know that MB Motorsports is officially on FourSquare! When ever you are at our car or truck lot you can check in and receive exclusive discounts, specials and tips from NJ used car dealer, MB Motorsports. For those of you not familiar with FourSquare . For the MB Motorsports fans not familiar with FourSquare it’s a smart-phone application and website that gives you & your friends new ways to explore your city. Earn points & unlock badges for discovering new things.  Check In to MB Motorsports on Foursquare today.

I’m not sure how many readers remember but about a year ago I wrote on the MB Motorsports blog about the Terrafugia Transition — which is said to be the world’s first flying car.It is still pretty amazing to think you could be driving down the highway and roll right into the local airport, be cleared for departure and take-off to a distant destination.  One of the biggest issues for this flying vehicle was waiting for the final approval from the NHTSA . There are still many issue that the flying-car needs to fix which many should be address in the newest model However despite a helpful weight exemption from the aerial feds, according to the new spec a fully-fuelled Transition will be able to lift only 330lb of passengers and payload. That said it would not be able to take off with two average sized men.Additionally the price has dramatically increased from $148k to $250k.

Terrafugia is almost there and when the do finally work all the kinks out I think they will be the leaders in this new market of flying automobiles.