Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Watch the sad, final moments of a crusher-bound heap

Automotive wrecking yards are good places to reflect on the real-world values of heavily depreciated vehicles versus global current scrap-metal prices, and to see which cars have suddenly had the fix-it-versus-total-it line moved by insurance companies (the early-21st-century Subaru Legacy Outback, for example, appeared in large numbers in high-turnover wrecking yards just during the last year, as fairly minor collision damage on these cars is no longer worth fixing). You'll see the things that a car's last owner does in a desperate attempt to sell (or at least live with) an increasingly decrepit heap (as we learned in "Repo Man," you really will find a Little Tree in every car). During a recent trip to a San Jose, Calif., yard, I encountered this sad yet strangely compelling scene.

Former GM president James McDonald dies at 87

James McDonald, who served as president of General Motors Corp. under CEO Roger Smith in the 1980s, died on Sunday at the age of 87. McDonald became president and COO on Feb.

Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet (2012) first pics

These are the first official shots of the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, which goes on sale in March 2012.  The convertible top still looks as if it was made of soft fabric, but it actually consists of three semi-rigid lightweight panels coated with a novel furry material, which conceals the cutlines. A fabric top layer finishes things off, and is claimed to be very soundproof, while the rear glass screen is heated and scratchproof. So the new Porsche 911 Cabriolet is a bit of a porker?