The Modern Materialist

Browse by Tags

• Top 17 Coolest Movie Vehicles Of All Time... And How To Buy 'Em

  The history of film has been littered with memorable vehicles. Cars, trucks, and other things that go vroom have often been as important as the people who drive them. So herewith, a list of the seventeen coolest movie road vehicles (so no boats, or planes) of all time. And, since this is the Modern Materialist, we're going to hook you up with how you can grab one of your own movie rides. It may not be in everyone's price range, but it'll certainly be on your wish list:   Read More... Posted Aug 28 2008, 03:05 PM by Alex Zalben with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: cars, Movies, listicle, automobiles

• Baby Won't You Light My Lamborghini

  You could literally say these are the Lamborghini's of cigar lighters and cutters, as they are literally made by Lamborghini. And because I don't have a ton to say about this, here's the best Lamborghini video ever: Read More... Posted Aug 22 2008, 04:31 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: cars, smoking, lighters

• In the News: Mini Coopers

  My friend Nicole (she of the Test Drive: SoundTech fame) has this adorable, bright blue Mini Cooper that I sometimes wish I could run away with. And just this past weekend, I found out that someone else I know just bought a Mini Cooper Convertible (!) slightly used. She let me ride in the back seat, and it made me wish I had never spent my hard-earned money on a mere Mitsubishi Galant with sparkly red paint. At the moment when we breezed through an intersection, and I felt the wind whipping through my ponytail, I declared: "I am getting one of these." Read More... Posted Jul 29 2008, 05:36 PM by Steph Auteri with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: cars

• Dork Trap

  I swear to god, I must be the biggest nerd in the world. Let's see if you are, too. If I told you that the above vintage/modern land-rover mash-up had 1500+ HP, what would you think that means? Read More... Posted Jul 01 2008, 12:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: cars, expensive

• July 4th Must-Haves: Party-A-Cargo

  Kind of waited to the last second to think about your July 4th plans, huh? Well, Modern Materialist is here to help! We'll be posting some July 4th Must Haves throughout the next few days, leading up to, you know, July 4th. Anyway, the first one is a doozy: Read More... Posted Jul 01 2008, 10:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: cars, Food and Drink, july 4th, kegerators

• Quick Tip Of The Day: Add a Solar Panel to Your Prius

  We recently took a survey, and found out that 100% of the people that read this blgo own Priuses… Uh, Prii. Anyway, everybody owns a Prius, so here’s a quick tip on how to trick out your car to make it even more environmentally friendly, and save even more money. SEV (Solar Electrical Vehicles) offers a solar panel for your 2004-2006 Toyota Prius that lets the whole car run on sunshine. In fact, you’ll (most likely) never have to plug the hybrid in again, saving electric energy, while you’re also saving on fuel. SEV estimates that you’ll make your money back on the solar panel in under three years, just from the energy savings. Pricing is available on request, and SEV suggests that the panel should be installed by professionals, though you’re welcome to tear the roof off your car by yourself. Oh, and by the way, I’m aware you don’t all own a Prius. And thanks to Will, for the tip! Check out a video of the SEV Panel in action, after the jump... Read More... Posted May 21 2008, 08:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip, gadgets, cars, green

• You Don't Know Air Jack

  I don’t own a car now, but when I did, getting a jack under there was a pain in the asshole*. If your tire is flat, you’re already dirty, sweaty, and annoyed, so getting a cold metal jack under a car and cranking just makes things worse. Don't be a jack-off, check out what's going on after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 23 2008, 03:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, cars

• Moov it, Kid

  As well documented on this blog, I very much liked to take things apart and put them back together again. Therefore, as I’m sure you can guess, I kind of totally loved Legos (and Lincoln Logs, but in retrospect, I may have been wrong to love them). I also loved riding my bike, or hot wheels, or any sort of vehicle I could get my hands on. So thank you, Berg Toys, for creating Moov, which is basically Legos meets Hot Wheels. Check out a video of the Moov in action, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 08 2008, 01:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: cars, toys

• Give Your Man a Mini Hummer

  I mean, think about it: when’s the last time you gave your S.O. a Hummer, right? Probably at the beginning of your relationship, you guys were all Hummer crazy. Every night, you gave your guy a Hummer, and he was all like, “I love Hummers! Give me more Hummers!” And you were all like, “I don’t know if I can, my mouth is sore… From talking to the car dealership every day to buy you cars!” Psyche! You thought I was talking about something dirty, when I was ACTUALLY talking about the car, the Hummer. I totally tricked you suckers. Also, I made an incredibly original pun that no-one has ever made before. Ever. After the jump, more hilarious blow-job jokes, and actual information on the Mini Hummer...  Read More... Posted Apr 08 2008, 12:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: cars, toys, Sports

• Ferrari… For Kidz!

  Get ‘em young, I always say, and I guess Ferrari says that too, as they’ve released an officially licensed Ferrari Go-Kart. You know, for kidz? The Ferrari FXX is the “ultimate experience” because it has “7 gears, 12-inch lightweight metal wheel rims, with ultra flat super slick X-treme tyres.” You can also monitor your speed and time with the digital dashboard computer. And there is a “leather-looking” steering whell, and soft sport seats. I don’t know about you, but I think this Go-Kart might be nicer than my apartment. [$2480, Berg Toys] [Via Toyology] Posted Mar 28 2008, 11:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: cars, toys

• Adventures in Tacky: 3D Hanging Car Shelf

  Technically speaking, this is the front grille of a car that you can install on your wall as your shelf. In actuality, it’s a shelf, and then also, the front grille of a car. Take a close look at the picture. I can understand why you’d want a car sticking out of your wall: when you were five, you went to the Hard Rock Café, and have spent the rest of your life trying to duplicate their décor. Don’t worry; I’m the same way, but for Planet Hollywood. So far, I have William Shatner’s toupee on my bookshelf, and an “authentic” coffee cup from Friends. My fingers are crossed for that day when I can finally track down a life-sized Terminator… Here’s hoping! Anywho, so you go ahead and purchase one of these “shelves,” which comes in ’57 Bel Air, Ford Mustang, or 1959 Cadillac. And finally… FINALLY… Your Hard Rock dreams are complete. Now, all you need to do is cook up a limp, tasteless burger, blast some Rolling Stones, over-charge yourself for food, and you’re good to go! Check out the product page for some other choice items, including a lovely wall clock, and a coat rack. [$55, California Car Cover Co.] [Via Freshome] Posted Mar 03 2008, 12:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: cars, home, Adventures in Tacky

• Little Coal Briquette

  This one’s for the fellas, so ladies, go back to your Best of Etsy, or whatever. Dudes, now that we’re alone, let’s talk about the two most awesome things ever, and how we can combine them. No, I’m not talking about Beer Football. I’m talking about cars, and BBQ. Thanks to the fine folks over at BBQ Vette, you can finally combine the hottest car with the hottest coals. Just a quick check, we’re in the 1980s, right? Okay, cool. More vague sexism after the jump...  Read More... Posted Feb 28 2008, 04:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: cars, food

• Salt n Pepper's Here and We're in Effect

  [$60, Top of the Line] At first glance, I thought this was some sort of steampunk inspired salt and pepper shakers. But turns out, it’s a little more authentic, and a little less ironic: The aluminum side-draft carburetor body, reduced to 70% of its original size, is fitted with two stainless steel, inlet ram pipes that contain salt and pepper. Quality abounds. No detail is left out. A real, one-of-a-kind gift all the way around. A hidden bonus is a front panel that slides back, revealing a compartment for sugar packets and toothpicks. What more could you possible want on your dinner table? I’d replace “dinner” with “diner,” but otherwise, we’re good to go on this. If I was a kid, I’d love the hidden compartment. If I was an adult, I would love the car inspired design. And, that, friends, is my incredible grasp on the differences between kids and adults. [Via Thoughts from the Sidelines]  Posted Feb 25 2008, 01:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, kitchen, cars

• Product Porn: Rinspeed Squba, the Underwater Car

  Taking the least dangerous page from Bond's arsenal, Rinspeed have created an underwater car that actually works:   It's completely submersible, and also, completely green (it runs on rechargable lithium ion batteries). Good girl who turns out to be bad not included. [Via] Posted Feb 18 2008, 12:00 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Videos, cars, concepts, Product Porn

• Plug It In, Plug It In

  A situation: You’re in your car, and you want a smoothie badly. You’ve just left the supermarket, have a bunch of bananas, some strawberries, non-fat vanilla ice cream, and your four-speed blender. So it seems a waste to stop by Jamba Juice, and you decide to make a smoothie in your car, while you’re driving. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, the biggest problem with this scenario is that your blender doesn’t have a car adapter. Enter Black & Decker, who have the solution to all your non-smoothie drinking needs: a power adapter to turns your car into a three-pronged outlet! The 100 Watt Power Inverter converts your vehicle’s 12 volt DC power into 115 volts of AC blending power...   Read More... Posted Feb 13 2008, 11:00 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, cars, electronics

• Disgruntled American Automakers Want Us Dead

  Today's New York Times runs with a page-one story that smells a bit stale, but nevertheless provides a reliable twinge of superiority for us non-car people: More High Tech Invitations To Take Your Mind Off Road. "Talking on cellphones and typing text messages while driving has already led to bans in many states. But now auto companies, likening their latest models to living rooms on the road, are turning cars into cocoons of communication systems and high-tech entertainment." Though not the article's purpose, the alliterative "cars into cocoons of communication systems" makes this idea sound incredibly appealing. So does the latest vehicular-distraction buzz product, the 2009 Ford F-150's optional "Work Solutions" package, a head-on-collision happy bundle of keyboards, printers, touchscreens and, according to Engadget, "an RFID-equipped Tool Link system built in partnership with DEWALT and ThingMagic for a real-time inventory of your RFID tagged tools." Yeah that's right. Photo credit: John Gress/Reuters  Posted Feb 12 2008, 12:03 PM by Will Doig with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, engadget, distraction, cars, new york times, ford