West Coast Customs Customizes Randy Foye's Jeep

Randy Foye, Shooting guard of the Los Angeles Clippers (I had to look that up), took his Jeep Wrangler to West Coast Customs. No strangers to having high profile clientele, Ryan and his crew gave him the royal treatment, especially because the Underdogs of Los Angeles Basketball went further in the playoffs then the Lakers. I'm still laughing over that one... Anyway look at the photos...

The color red doesn't do anything for me, but this Jeep is gorgeous...

Jeep Compass

The new generation of Jeep Compass has nearly all the advantages to become a hit on the Old Continent. Disputes SUV at a reasonable price is disappointing, however, offered security.

Increased suspension, solid chassis and a known brand - are elements that inspire confidence in the safety offered by the car. All this has a Jeep Compass. The new generation of this model is already being offered in the sale and tempt potential customers a low price. However, the attractiveness of the car has slowed significantly after presenting the results of the latest EuroNCAP crash tests. Crashtest Compass fell far satisfactory. In recent years, many cars are received from the organization's five stars, four stars have become virtually standard. New Jeep received only two.

The tests conducted by EuroNCAP are always the same scenario: a frontal impact at 34 mph, side impact at 31 mph and hit the pole side at 18 mph. During these tests, the attention to the protection of each passenger, including children, pedestrians, and the presence of systems to enhance security - ESP, and a device that reminds you of the obligation to fasten seat belts.

Let's see why the Jeep Compass at the beginning of 2012, conducted the test received only two stars.

You car has a frontal impact score of only 61 percent. effectiveness of protection. For comparison, Dacia Duster, who in 2011 received the worst score of all the cars tested by EuroNCAP, won in this category, 74 percent. The driver of the Jeep is poorly covered in the section of the thighs and calves, and the passenger in the front seat is in the same situation when it comes to the thigh. Well fell out the side collision with a car. Protection offered in this case offers a Jeep Compass, was described as good. It is bad but in the case of side impact to the post. Passengers SUV with American heritage can not count on sufficient protection to upper chest.

The level of safety for children, which provides a Jeep Compass, is acceptable. Euro NCAP has defined it to 76 percent. Worse is, however, in the protection of pedestrians. Jeepowi awarded 23 percent here., While the Chevrolet Captiva, which in the SUV segment is available at a price only slightly higher than the Jeep, got 48 percent. The final evaluation of the Jeep Compass by EuroNCAP standard equipment helped little in the ESP.

Bernie's Test Drives from the 2012 AJC Car Show

Last week the annual Atlanta Journal Constitution Car Show rolled into town. When I moved to Atlanta back in '07, I remember how big their auto show use to be. In '08, they held the show in two rooms at the Georgia World Congress Center and it was a week long. Now.... it's five days long and confined into one room without all of the auto makers there (Mercedes Benz/Smart Car didn't show up).

I'm not gonna lie, I had fun this year. I spent more time outside of the show than I did inside, because the AJC made the show more family friendly. Six automakers- Cadillac, Dodge, GMC, Toyota, Kia, and VW offered test drives for those who wanted to feel the experience. And my crazy self decided to take advantage of the offers.

I test drove 10 vehicles. And it took me a little over 4 hours to do so. I tested in the exact order of driving: the Jeep Wrangler, Fiat Cabriolet, Dodge Charger R/T, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius-V, VW Bettle, VW Tiguan, and Kia Optima Turbo. Originally, I was going to rank the cars from which one I like from the lowest to the highest. But instead, I'll go by the order that I listed the vehicles above.

To kick off the test driving experience, I went with the Jeep Wrangler first. It was the blue, two door one pictured above with my test driving friend. I chose this particular vehicle first because the Jeep Wrangler will be one of my next vehicles (the Ford Mustang 5.0 GT is the other. I didn't forget about that one). I've previously mentioned how I fell in love with the Jeep Wrangler in Boston when I had the pleasure of driving a four door one. The blue one was fun, I liked how it goes into Eco mode to allow for the best gas milage, the removeable hood, plus that shade of blue pops *makes popping noise*. But with my vehicles, I like room. The two door was cute, but the four door is more ideal for me.

(Photo from thearticlewriter.com)

The Fiat Cabriolet was sooooooo fun to drive. The difference between the Fiat Convertible and most other convertibles is that you can put the top down while the car is in motion, up to 65 mph. I drove the Fiat Lounge Cabriolet, which is the second most expensive one, behind the Gucci Edition. Of course, Dodge was super excited, referring to the car as the J-Lo car. I'm still bitter with Jennifer Lopez because the commercial appeared to be in the Bronx, but in reality, she shot the commercial in Los Angeles and in the commercial she talked about what she loved about New York. I love Los Angeles and all, but it's not New York.

The Dodge Charger R/T was the type of vehicle that my lead foot needed. I like my vehicles to have power, and the Charger had pick up. The guy who was in charge of the Charger was happy, yet surprised that I tested the 370 horses. If I presented with a vehicle with a decent amount of horsepower, a dry road, and no cops around, of course I'm gonna drive fast. But the car will be returned exactly how I got it, just with a few more miles on it. But I could have continued living my life without knowing that there are 164 lights involved with the Dodge Chargers tail lights.

Then I shimmied over to the Cadillac area. My first vehicle was the biggest one they had to offer, yet no one was driving it, so that's why I asked to drive the Cadillac Escalade ESV. The size wasn't intimidating at all and I'm all of 5'2 and a half. What I liked the most about it, besides the fact that it's a full size SUV that offers 400 horsepower, but there's sensors on it that tells you when a vehicle is in your blind spot area- a feature that should be available on all vehicles.

Next, I hopped behind the wheel of the Cadillac CTS-V. Yes dears, the same one that Justin Beiber purchased. But there was a huge conspiracy involving this car. So we pull out of the lot, and it starts to rain. Not drizzle, but RAIN. I was pissed!!!! Because of the rain, I wasn't about to try out the 500+ horsepower. I love to speed, but I have great judgment. I didn't tell you the best part. When it was time for me to give the car back, it stops raining. Just my luck....

I ran back inside to register with Toyota and VW, then headed over to the Toyota area to select the "redesigned" 2012 Camry. Toyota failed to realize that minor changes doesn't warrant them to call it a redesign. The redesigning of the Camry was back in 2007. It was fun to drive, but I honestly didn't see any major difference between the 2012 one and the one my dad has- which is an '07. The 2012 one offers a lot more options, and who doesn't love options? As far as the standard equipment, there's no difference. The best part about the test drive was when the test drive guy started playing Young Jeezy since I mentioned I liked rap music.

I got out of the Camry, and ran into a guy I met before at one of the previous auto show. He was in charge of the Prius V and that's why I tested it. I asked the famous question- how much horsepower does it have? His answer- 138. I died laughing. Here's the thing- I've been followed before in my car, and the one thing I need is horsepower to get away from stalkers. 138 horsepower isn't gonna help you get away from anyone except if they're driving a Smart Car, which only offers 71 horsepower. The highlight to this test drive- Cam'ron came on the radio.

Then I ran to the VW area, when I jumped into the candy apple red Beetle. Oh my goodness, this car surprised me the most. When I turned onto the main road and the test driving guy encouraged me to test the tubo engine, I was in lust. It was cute,and it packed enough punch to leave folks in the dust. This was fun, and the redesigning of the Beetle is very roomy in the interior.

From there, I had to try VW's SUV- the Tiguan. The crazy name intrigued me, but I learned that a child entered a contest and came up with the name since they liked tigers and iguanas. It was fun to drive, and it was equipped with the same Turbo engine with a panaramic moon roof. It was cool, but I felt bad for the woman who was riding with me.

Finally, to round out the test drive, I ran over to the Kia section and jumped into the Optima Turbo. I tested the Optima Turbo last year, but the one I drove this year seemed a little different. But before I get into that, I want to get into something else. The test drive guy- forgot his name, but he was beyond knowledgable about auto shows, and all things automotive related. It was weird, he was like Rain Man of the automotive world. He did have an aspect of my dream job and I respected him for it. So while I was driving, Rain Man told me that Kia brought on someone from Audi to join Kia's design team, and the interior looked so much better. I forgot I was driving a Kia for awhile.

I hope the AJC Auto Show allows the test driving program next year. That way, it gave consumers a more intimate feel with a car. Auto Shows are good because they allow consumers to get in the car and feel the comfort level. But it's one thing to sit in a car, it's another to drive it for a few minutes. I didn't go to the GMC area, they provided a bunch of compact and midsize cars, plus the GMC Arcadia that I test drived before, and the Chevy Camaro which I test drove before. I know one thing, I wish Ford would partake in the test driving program.

KICKER® Unveils Factory Audio Upgrade Kits for Jeep Wrangler

KICKER® Performance Audio pushes the envelope with factory audio upgrade kits for Jeep® Wrangler®. The upgrades are currently available for 2006-2012 Wranglers, and the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) on the upgrades varies. Factory audio upgrades are available at Authorized KICKER Dealers and select Jeep dealers across North America.

KICKER factory audio upgrades offer a new look at mobile audio, providing a solution for consumers who seek high-end sound created specifically for their vehicle, but installed quickly with little modification. The kits consists of high-end subwoofer and amplifier upgrades mounted in definitive locations that give the listener immediate satisfaction with intensified sound, a factory look and minor modification to their vehicle.

Upgrade kits for Jeep Wrangler consist of a KICKER-signature, 10-inch square subwoofer in an OEM-quality, made-to-fit enclosure with mounting brackets and wiring, a low-power-draw, integrated bass amplifier (200 watts) and a multi-channel DSP amp to enhance the existing factory speakers (optional). Each KICKER component has been precisely tuned and balanced to match the superior performance and rugged durability demonstrated by Jeep vehicles. The upgrades cosmetically integrate into the vehicle for a clean, factory-installed look.

KICKER has been providing high-quality aftermarket audio gear since 1980 with roots in performance sound equipment dating back to 1973. Known for legendary bass in mobile applications, KICKER is the manufacturer of the patented Solo-Baric® square-cone technology in a subwoofer, which has earned numerous industry awards since its inception in 2000. This patented technology provides more cone area than a round subwoofer of like size, 16-to-20 percent on average. The square’s abundant cone area delivers louder, clearer bass than that produced by a same-sized round woofer.

KICKER Performance Audio products, a division of Stillwater Designs and Audio, Inc.®, are available for the mobile and home audio aftermarket at authorized dealers worldwide, and also through selected Original Equipment Manufacturers. Consumers needing more information on KICKER or Livin’ Loud® may call the Consumer Information Line at 1-800-256-5425 or visit the brand Web site at www.kicker.com. Follow KICKER at facebook.com/kickeraudio and twitter.com/kickeraudio.

MC Customs shows off a Gorgeous Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

MC Customs released photos of a gorgeous, GORGEOUS Jeep Wrangler Rubicon that belongs to Alex Gonzalez of the Milwaukee Brewers (Uhhhhhhh). Check it out...

Not a fan of that custom box in the trunk, but other than that, isn't it GORGEOUS???????

Bernie's Top 5 Car Rentals in 2011

Anyone who knows me knows that I rent cars. I'm not like the folks in Atlanta who would rent a car just to go to the club and pretend it's theirs. Most of my rentals were out of town ones or traveling to a car show outside the metro Atlanta area, plus I had two unexpected rentals because my boo on four wheels (My Envoy) was being serviced or being repaired.

So I compiled a list of my top five rentals of this year with the pros and cons of each, where, why, how long it was rented, etc... I'm sure everyone can guess the number one car.

5. 2012 Dodge Avenger. Rented from Alamo for transportation for a week while transmission was being repaired.
My most recent rental, and I liked it. The Avenger is the smaller version of the Charger, which is what made me to pick it. Plus it was black on black. The interior stitching was a nice touch, and for a vehicle that had the base package, it came with useful perks- especially the audio and driving controls on the steering wheel. It served it's purpose, however would Bernie buy one: NO... Why own an Avenger if you can own a Charger?

4. 2010 Dodge Charger. Rented from Alamo for car show in Georgia for one day. Having experience with leaving tire skid marks on the road with a Charger, I decided to rent another one. I always liked the Charger, but would Bernie buy one: NO... Everyone and their mother has one. It's perfect if you want to blend in with everyone else and not stand out. You can't go to a car show without seeing at least 10 of them. I believe that everything that you do to a Charger has been done.

3. 2011 Nissan Rogue. Rented from Alamo in Los Angeles and drove to Vegas and back for four days. My first time driving a Nissan but what really surprised me is that it had the ability to go 160 MPH... and this was the base package. It was a cute CUV, but the size of it is a fraction smaller than the Murano. It was great on the road and it was able to fight through the Santa Ana Winds, Jim Jones sounded great coming out of the stock sound system, but would Bernie buy one: Nope. I'll get a Murano instead- the difference between the two is that Murano has a V6 engine (which means more horsepower. I like pickup in my vehicles), and it's a bit more high-end and a tab more cargo space. But if you don't care about a V6 engine, extra amenities, or a little less space- then the Rogue is the car for you.

2. 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport. Rented from Alamo in Boston and drove to Providence RI for one day. I had a serious Blond moment in this truck, but I LOVED IT. I got it because the original vehicle class I rented wasn't available, so I picked the four door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport. This was the vehicle where I realized how short I was, because there is no graceful way to get in or out of it. The Wrangler really could use a running board, but it would take away from the ruggedness of it. It performed GREAT on I-95, even in the rain in Boston. Talk about a perfect vehicle. Would Bernie buy one: As awkward as I was entering and exiting this truck, I would buy one. Oh and T.I. sounded great coming out of the sound system. Yes I listened to T.I. while I was in Boston and Providence... but I didn't try to find Pauly D.
P.S. The blond moment was that I didn't know how to roll down the windows. The controls were in the middle panel by the audio system, not on the doors like in most vehicles.

1. 2011 Ford Mustang 5.0 GT. Rented from Avis in Los Angeles and drove to Vegas for one day. I already created a post about this experience, but the only thing that I do not like about this car is that it's a very low car and you can feel the road. I wouldn't drive this on the Cross Bronx Expressway like I was driving it on I-15. But I sure tested out the 412 Horsepower. Would Bernie buy this: Yes I would... in black. What a 30th birthday gift this would be... I really did love this car. Thank god for Avis for having that special that particular time I was there. Great vehicle for California and Vegas... you know, places that have sunshine almost all year.

I've rented seven cars this year, and the two that wasn't listed was the Dodge Caliber that my insurance company set up for me to use while my Envoy was being fixed after the accident. And the second was the 2011 Chevy HHR. Both cars can be summarized by the same statement: It was alright, but it wasn't anything to write home about.

Sadly, this wasn't the first year where I excessively rented cars. 2006 was a very good year as well. Some people do drugs, some people drink, some people gamble, some people shop. I rent cars.

A post about Car Rental Tips will be coming soon...

Robinson Cano's Home Run Derby Jeep is now Done!!!!

MC Customs in Miami, finished the Home Run Derby Jeep, belonging to my crush, Robinson Cano, of the heartbreaking New York Yankees. (Side note: I said heartbreaking because they finished number one in the entire AL division, yet they were taking out by the sorry Detroit Tigers. I was PISSED, but you know what? I don't plan on removing my New York Yankees tattoo, nor will I remove them from my heart. I love them, even though they (mainly A-Rod) made me upset.).

Unlike most of Cano's customized vehicles that I've featured, this will be a DR vehicle. Meaning he's sending over to the Dominican Republic- his native country and where you can catch him during the off season. My guess is that the reason why this is doing to the Dominican Republic instead of New Jersey, because if you paid attention to the Home Run Derby, the one who pitched to him, and helped him win was none other than his Dad, Jose Cano, who once played in the MLB, and Cano's parents still reside in the DR.

(He looks just like his Mommy)

Before, I talked about it while Mc Customs was working on it, and here is the finished product...

The Jeep came out great. It's cute, but not as cute as the owner. Just one more photo of Robinson Cano, I promise that it would be the last one... for this post.

Coming soon: Robinson Cano's Home Run Derby Jeep

(Cute Photo, but the watermark is killing it. Great shallow depth of field. That's photography talk, just smile and nod...)

I'm sure some of you may have heard, but the world's greatest New York Yankees are the 2011 AL East Champions. In honor of that as well as other things, I decided to compose a post on someone. My Ray of Sunshine (other than a certain West Coast Rapper) happens to be Robinson Cano, second baseman of the New York Yankees as well as the 2011 Home Run Derby Champion.

Awhile ago, I created a post about what Cano drives (Ferrari California and Porsche Panamera). However, I stumbled across a project in the works: A 2011 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon customized as a celebratory gift for him. Miami customizers to the stars, MC Customs, are still working hard on the project and haven't released details about the customizations, but I did find photos...

More photos are coming soon!!! Judging from the photos, you can tell what customizations are being done to it, but a detailed list would be so much better...

Photos: MC