So we Southerners have a bad reputation for driving in snow. Mostly it’s deserved. Take the residents of the Chesapeake region of Virginia as the latest example in a shameful, Piggly Wiggly–raiding history of freak overreactions to weather. The Associated Press reports that Monday’s snowfall of less than one inch in the stretch of I-64 between Virginia Beach and Williamsburg caused about 115 minor accidents, for which the state police had to call in extra troopers. Would it have been worse if it weren’t Presidents’ Day? Probably. Can you think of a more timely metaphor for modern politics? We totally doubt it.

Let’s get physical…physical…Why can’t we get Olivia Newton-John out of our heads? Maybe it’s the video for that song, and the chunky guy aerobicizing with Olivia — and his passing resemblance to NASCAR argumentarian Tony Stewart. Stewart has had his share of embarrassing track moments, so we think it’s with total control of self-ironic expression that he’s giving his sweat towel to Old Spice to auction off for charity on eBay (unwashed!, trumpets the press release). At least, the Victory Junction Gang Camp will benefit from the weeklong eBay auction. Now, someone remind us: is it technically “jumping the shark” if it’s Elvis you’re aping and not the Fonz?

Everybody’s waiting for February 28, when the wraps will come off the new models and concept cars at the Geneva Auto Show. One of them is the Altica, a cool-looking cross between a sports car and a station wagon from which Renault design boss Patrick Le Quement will remove the cover on the first press day of the show.

Except it isn’t a secret: for Parisians, and any lucky TCC faithful who may be in a cold but sunny Paris (well it was last weekend anyway) there’s an up-close preview of the car that will be the centrepiece of the Renault Geneva stand right there on Paris tourist central, the Champs Elysées.

Big, manufacturer-supported auto showrooms are a feature of the broad boulevard that leads from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, and there, smack in the middle of the main display window of the Renault building, is the Altica. There are no ropes keeping the crowds at a respectful distance, as there will be in Switzerland, just a barrier set about a foot away that gives a clear view of the concept and its modern interior design. The car looks good, and its unique driving seat set up, sleek lines and unique rear quarter window treatment certainly enhance its concept car credentials.

If you’re in Paris before the Altica leaves the showroom on Feb 22 to be prepped and polished for Geneva, drop in – the showroom is also a trendy coffee-bar, and a seat looking down on a ‘secret’ new car is something that Starbucks certainly can’t offer.

Thank you Volkswagen, for making our life easy by naming concepts for letters. It's like the Electric Company meets Wolfsburg: we've had Concept R, Concept C, and now Concept A. The PBS types would be all over you for putting them in reverse alphabetical order, but our car-addled brains love your simplicity. Now can we talk more about Phaeton and Touareg?

Generous Motors is a thing of the past, our Joe Szczesny writes. Things are so bad at the Renaissance Center, GM even asked him to give one of his consonants back.

Ford says its market share will continue to slide before it stabilizes. Apparently, the Way Forward also includes some side-to-side jiggling and possibly, liquefaction. And who said the domestics don't know California?

It probably goes without saying that if you need a loan in Detroit, Auburn Hills is the place to go. Also, if you need a pickup truck, we hear they have a lot of them on hand.

Our recent TCConfidential tiff here of late with another writer certainly spurred some interesting comments. It shook us so badly we had to make a few phonecalls and line up free trips to more exotic places just to get over the hazing. (Editor's note: insert sarcasm here.)

So, real women drive Bimmer wagons and VW convertibles and such? Then how come Shannen Doherty was in a Range Rover when she went off-roading unexpectedly? (P.S. Knowing she's a Memphian and a Republican only makes us love her more. You go, Brenda Walsh!)

TheCarConnection’s been attracting attention from all sorts of places and people, but the attention we’ve received from one must-be fan is turning sour—so of course, we thought you deserved to know about it.

Robert Farago is a writer who has been appearing of late on the Jalopnik blog, as well as his own site, where he’s been trying to gain fame with his “GM Deathwatch” pieces.

A few months ago, Farago inquired about writing for TCC. We declined his reviews, judging him to be too full of venom to write clearly about cars—the same judgment a newspaper client of his in San Francisco had made before us.

Now, twice in recent weeks, Farago’s gone after my writing. From calling me out for florid writing in my Jaguar XK review, he’s progressed to picking bones with TCC for taking manufacturer-sponsored trips to evaluate new cars. Like every other outlet that has a story about the new XK, I went to Cape Town, South Africa, to drive it. Likewise, for the new Volvo C70, I went to Maui.

Farago wants to give CPR to an issue that the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and ABC’s 20/20 have all investigated and editorialized upon—to no effect. The story’s been a red herring ever since I joined the business in 1991. The presumption by Farago and others who don’t have enough credible outlets to get invited, is that by going to South Africa or Maui, I’ve traded away my impartiality for a good review.

You can read my original stories on the Jaguar XK, and Volvo C70 as well as a Maui travel piece and my recent Dodge Caliber review on TCC and judge for yourself. And you can follow the email trail below if you wish - and let us know what you think by sending email.

Robert,
I can’t ask you to cease criticizing my work, which is your American-granted right, though I might wish we were in a society where I determined whose opinions were worth reading and whose deserved a good stoning. I can ask you to please, sometime soon, for the love of all auto journalism, please remove the stick up your ass or at least align it in a more comfortable position.
It’s one thing to attack me as you did, uncredited, on Jalopnik for florid writing re: the XK, another thing here to say it’s unethical to say Volvo underwrote my trip to Hawaii.
It’s really uninformed and unfair to your readers to call me out for taking a trip to do my job, and not disclose your own intent to land in the same circle. Our publisher, Paul Eisenstein, and many PR people can attest that going on an event with 30-plus journalists is far from my favorite use of time. I go on these events, like most other writers, because it’s the best, earliest opportunity to get into a new vehicle. If I waited to drive a GM car after their event, I’d have to wait three to six months.
Meanwhile, sites like yours lob criticism in all directions but create no real news of your own. Being a meta-critic is pleasing and certainly draws Web traffic, but it’s not journalism. And my gut feeling is that this criticism of me and my writing comes from your aborted attempt to write for TCC, which I still was open to until reading this last column.
I understand the need to catapult yourself into view of PR people for work’s sake. In fact, in your Jalopnik column, you said you were open to the same kind of treatment I received in Cape Town and Maui – and unknown to you, such stellar places as Galena, Illinois; Fort Stockton, Texas; Veracruz, Mexico; and my own backyard. I’m sure my travel agent buddy won’t be asking if he can get on the same “fam trips” to those locations.
If I can offer any advice, other than re-oriented that stick from graf one, it would be to stop throwing bombs that can’t be lobbed right back at you with equal accuracy.

Thanks for your email.

1. My BTL on your article was not uncredited. Note the RF at the bottom.

2. I do not wish to be in your circle or travel to exotic locations. I simply want access to press cars to review on behalf of my readers.

3. Are you saying Volvo did or did not underwrite your trip? If they didn't, I will remove all mention of your site and print a full retraction.

4. My writing about TCC was not motivated by any desire for "revenge". This is an issue that needs airing. For consumers.

5. I understand your point about having to go on junkets to get your slice of the action. This was mentioned in my piece.

6. Right from the start, I pointed out that your site did not mention the manufacturer's contribution. How hard would that be?

RF


Marty wrote:
I’ll disclose mine when you disclose yours.


Deal.

From now, whenever I review a test car I will print the following: "The vehicle reviewed was provided by the manufacturer, who also paid for insurance and one tank of gas."

You will disclose any and all expenses provided by the manufacturer for a gfiven story (e.g. car, insurance, gas, airfare, transfer, accomodation, meals).

Deal?

RF


No actually I meant, you disclose your true reason for doing the stories – that you couldn’t write for us. Your story isn’t nearly as interesting when all the facts are presented by you, the “impartial” author.