dontpanic said...

dontpanic at 06:16 PM JST - 4th November

Turned on by an Afghan policmen they were sent to train according to the BBC.

Posted in 5 British soldiers slain by rogue Afghan policeman at 06:16 PM JST - 4th November
dontpanic at 06:14 PM JST - 4th November

Modern US SUVs are little different from their predecessors.

I've already said a Yaris, even with its safety features wouldnt fair well if hit by a much larger vehicle, thats simple physics. My point was that modern unitary construction cars are not less safe than separate body/frame construction vehicles, thay…

Posted in Japan carmakers top 9 of 10 categories in U.S. Consumer Reports rankings at 06:14 PM JST - 4th November
dontpanic at 06:57 PM JST - 3rd November

"They had large strong frame (body and Frame design), compared to weak unitized body for most of the Japanese cars and American cars of today"

Large strong frame and tough body equals extreme deceleration. While the vehicle may look like its largely survived, the poor buggers inside suffer disastrous internal…

Posted in Japan carmakers top 9 of 10 categories in U.S. Consumer Reports rankings at 06:57 PM JST - 3rd November
dontpanic at 07:51 PM JST - 23rd October

Wonder why the police arent inviolved? Surely you have the failure of a goverment official and two guys attempting to avoid prosecution by subverting the process? These are crimes in anyones book.

Posted in JR West to fire 2 execs for treatment of accident probe at 07:51 PM JST - 23rd October
dontpanic at 08:22 PM JST - 22nd October

"China's GDP growth is over 7 percent this year". Yes, less than half what it was. 7 percent growth for China is likeback treading water, a collapse in anyones book.

I do see China as still a devloping country, only a developing country can experience growth rates the size it…

Posted in Tokyo Motor Show to showcase eco-cars at 08:22 PM JST - 22nd October
dontpanic at 06:19 PM JST - 21st October

"If you look at the lifetime of the cost for diesel vs gas operating cost, this is SUBSTANTIAL difference"

If youre counting pennies over years then I suppose it adds up to a substantial number of pennies. However if you look at the percentage of difference it is small but…

Posted in Tokyo Motor Show to showcase eco-cars at 06:19 PM JST - 21st October
dontpanic at 05:27 PM JST - 21st October

Cards in the wheel spokes is as good an idea as any. At least you will be able to tell whether the car is speeding along or not, near or far etc.

This is a health & safety nightmare in the making. Unless the government sets a standard, car makers…

Posted in Carmakers to be obliged to fit engine-like sound device in hybrids at 05:27 PM JST - 21st October
dontpanic at 06:07 PM JST - 20th October

sfjp330 you seem to know nothing of the European market. Petrol is taxed at a higher rate (though not as substatially as you intimate) to encourage a reduction in it's use, call it ecotax if you like. Why diesel? because as a fuel it is cheaper and easier to produce…

Posted in Tokyo Motor Show to showcase eco-cars at 06:07 PM JST - 20th October
dontpanic at 02:58 AM JST - 11th October

"The moment they figure out how to reverse engineer all that tech, then its gonna be mass production"

They arent going to learn much from Hummers then are they?

Posted in GM agrees to sell Hummer brand to Chinese heavy equipment maker at 02:58 AM JST - 11th October
dontpanic at 04:36 PM JST - 5th October

"the Utsunomiya prosecutors office decided to disclose audiotapes and written records of interrogations of Sugaya over the unsolved murders of two other young girls in the area to his lawyers at their request"

So does this mean that tapes and written interrogation records are not available to the defense at…

Posted in Chief prosecutor apologizes to man wrongfully jailed for 17 years for murder at 04:36 PM JST - 5th October