With spring upon us, heavy rains have come to many parts of the country. Looking to the state of Texas alone, 11 counties were declared disaster areas due to extreme weather. Flooding has hit other parts of the United States as well.

For enthusiasts, this raises an alarming question. Used cars are a huge source for buyers as an alternative to new cars but for us, used cars are usually one of our best options to get the cars we dream about. In other words, we can get our hands on true performance cars without the cost. But a flooded car is dead to us and we need to be aware of the potential for a dishonest seller. Que sites like VehicleHistory.com to provide some critical information.

“The combination of a growing used car market and the potential of a surge in salvaged vehicles in the hands of unscrupulous sellers could leave consumers ripped off,” said Scott Burgess, analyst at VehicleHistory.com “It’s essential that every consumer know their car’s history before they buy it, not after.”

Many states will consider a salvaged car roadworthy as long as it passes safety inspections. It will, of course, be issued a Salvage Rebuilt title. That may sound like a negative but if it’s a car you plan on keeping, then it’s merely your own conscience you have to convince. But a salvage title also gives you an advantage when negotiating price. The price should be well under comparable cars not caught in flood waters but you have the opportunity to get it even lower. The downside is the potential for continuing problems even though it may have been given a clean bill of health.

“Flood damaged cars may not show exterior signs of damage but they often come with a plague of problems ranging from electrical issues to parts seizing under stress,” Burgess said. “Because consumers can now search the globe for the perfect vehicle, they run a greater risk of being lured into a deal that could devastate them and their family.”

The best advice for enthusiasts? Take advantage of the services provided by sites such as VehicleHistory.com. They do the research for you and you’ll know what you’re buying, without the surprises. Their press release can be found here.

photo credit: DSCF0483_1 via photopin (license)

I’ve thought long and hard about the future of driving as the reality of the autonomous car continues to grow. The number and volume of the supporters of this new technology seems to be increasing as companies such as Google are developing self-driving cars at a rapid pace.

There are definitely pros and cons to both sides. An example, as you’ll see in the video, are blind people being able to do something they’ve never been able to do and that’s drive a car. Or, more accurately, have a car at their disposal when they need it, such as taking their child to school or going to a doctor’s appointment.

Potential problems will probably be worked out over time, particularly when it comes to safety. Will an autonomous car be able to make quick decisions to avoid hitting another car or a pedestrian? The technology companies say it will happen over time. In the video, Google engineers explain how the autonomous system they have developed learns as it goes. But what an individual car may encounter and learn about isn’t unique to that single car. What it learns is applied to the whole system, so all cars are made aware of it, thus, in theory, it won’t happen again across the entire fleet of self-driving cars.

Now, on to my opinion, which won’t jive with proponents of autonomous systems. As an enthusiast, I can’t fathom being so disconnected from the driving experience. I relish and enjoy it. There’s a freedom to the driving experience that dates back to the first cars and only grew over time. Google has developed autonomous cars lacking any way of controlling it. No steering wheel? In my mind, I’m thinking, “Well, I changed my mind. I want to turn back there!” That lack of control violates every bone in my car-crazed body. Not going to happen. And no, I’m not going to apologize for it either.

The video, “Long Road To A Driverless Future,” takes a look at the future of mixing autonomous technology with cars. How will the technology evolve? Will drivers accept it and give up control? It’s pretty clear it will take time which, of course, plays into the hands of proponents of autonomous technology.

The video featured above comes from a five-part series produced by the Financial Times called, “Living With Robots,” which explores the relationship between man and machine in the home, the workplace and the world around us. Interesting stuff. Technology can be helpful and many can benefit from it, as I explained above. But I just can’t imagine any enthusiast handing the keys over to a robot. I may be alone in my beliefs. But so be it. I can stand the ridicule.

This post has been sponsored by the Financial Times, promoting their five-part series, “Living With Robots.” The text above is by Ridestory. Ridestory was financially compensated to write and publish it.

Following its global reveal in February at the Geneva Motor Show, the McLaren 570GT will be shown at the London Motor Show from May 5-8.

Called the most refined and luxurious McLaren to date, the 570GT is described as practical enough for everyday use as well as long drives. The car does feature a side-opening rear glass hatch for additional storage.

With styling cues obviously borrowed from the P1, the 570GT is powered by the 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 so commonplace among McLaren’s vehicles. The engine develops 562 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque via the rear wheels through a seven-speed transmission. Deliveries are scheduled for July of this year with a starting price of $225,000.