Continue reading My Top 10 list of cars that defined the past decade
Porsche 992 Carrera S: an approachable 911 Turbo distilled for the masses.
That’s not even an exaggeration. The 992 S is actually a little faster than a 997 Turbo in terms of acceleration. On the road it’s performance is explosive when fully deployed, but also measured enough to be enjoyed by more average drivers. Its speed is substantial, but with the PDK’s tight gear ratios you can actually enjoy the 992’s performance without having to stray into the triple digits. That’s a rarity for a car with this sort of punch.
Continue reading Porsche 992 Carrera S: an approachable 911 Turbo distilled for the masses.
Fun drive, but it left me a little cold. The M2 Competition.
I always enjoy driving BMWs. There are many great things about them. But I’ve never had a BMW set my soul on fire the way many other cars do. They’re good fun while I’m behind the wheel, but afterward, I’m all good. There’s no checking Autotrader listings, no contemplating my finances. Fun was had, moving on.
In every way this M2 Comp is very, very good. It’s quite fast, even struggling to put its power down at times. It handles extremely well with direct steering and a solid planted feel from its chassis. It’s DCT gearbox shifts quickly and obediently. It’s comfortable. It was the right color. It sounded decent. There’s nothing bad about the M2 at all. But it just didn’t leave me buzzing when the drive was over.
Continue reading Fun drive, but it left me a little cold. The M2 Competition.
As good as the kid in me hoped it would be – Thoughts on the Lamborghini Huracan.
I was always amazed at how proper the Gallardo was as the “baby” Lambo. It was a more volume model with a much wider appeal than the V12 Lambos, but it remained a Lamborghini in terms of it driving experience. Watered down, the Gallardo was not, but it did have some clear areas for improvement. Namely it’s clunky single clutch gearbox, and it’s frustrating amount of safety understeer.
Enter the Huracan, still touting a ferocious n/a V10, but now sending it’s power through a modern dual clutch gearbox. And with the addition of torque vectoring, handling improvements seem promising.
Continue reading As good as the kid in me hoped it would be – Thoughts on the Lamborghini Huracan.
Let’s Talk Boost
I had a revelation today when I drove this Stage 1+ Audi RS3 and it put my sentiments on the Ferrari 488 I drove last weekend into perspective.
I’m not “anti-turbo” in the slightest. Boost has been in my life since I began driving. My first car was a 2004 Subaru STi, which I still have. I love boost!
But I think that’s actually the point here… if a car is turbocharged, then I want the full experience of boost, lag, surge, noises, etc. I want all of that, leave nothing out.
Ferrari 488 GTB: Is Boosted Better?
Turbocharged, for better and worse. The Ferrari 488 GTB…
I came away from my drive in the 488 not entirely sold. I mean, how could I not fall in love with a twin turbo 661hp Ferrari?
Like a Fighter Jet on Wheels
I spent some time in this C7 Corvette Grand Sport yesterday. From my experiences so far, this is my ideal Corvette, right down to the Black over Red “Black Widow” spec. Manual transmission, of course.
Put simply, it’s like driving an F16 on public roads. The cabin feels much more like a cockpit than the average car’s interior, and it’s low and wide wedge shape looks nothing at all like a normal car. People know it’s a Vette, though, and it got me admiration from homeless guys and cops alike.
Thoughts from the A90 Supra
I spent a little time driving the new A90 Supra for the second time today. I’ve had some time to collect my thoughts now, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I really enjoy this car a lot.
Driving the Audi RS 3
I was able to spend a little time in this immaculate Stage 1+ Audi RS3 this week. Some details are still top secret, but what I can say is that I’m totally in love with this car.
I’ve driven hundreds of very cool and fun cars over the years and I’m struggling to think of a more complete package than this. Literally every aspect of the RS3 experience I’d categorize as “great,” not just “good.”
It’s got substantial power, the tune gets it into the 500bhp range, and it’s 5 cylinder engine is so unique. It feels so brilliantly turbocharged, with just enough spool time to let the anticipation build before all hell breaks loose. It also had AWE’s SwitchPath Exhaust on it, so it had a substantial 5 cylinder roar when I got on the gas and some lovely pops and burbles when I let off. The stock exhaust is okay, but the amount the AWE system opens it up both power and sound wise, it would be a must have for me.
In addition to the power and sound the RS3’s handling and driving dynamics are right on-point. A lot of cars out there are fast, but the real X-factor for me is the feeling of connection between me, the car, and the road. Through corners the RS3 felt telepathic with immediate steering and nice feel coming through from the road surface. It’s a proper rally-inspired back road attack machine.
The RS3’s S tronic gearbox is also crisp as can be. Part of me would still want a manual in a car like this, but it’d need to be a really great manual for it to be preferable to the S tronic. Normal shit just wouldn’t do.
I loved how special and hardcore the RS3 felt in Dynamic Mode, it’s a proper thrill ride experience. I also loved how it was able to relax in Comfort Mode and be a genuinely livable small sedan with a nice and comfortable interior. It never feels like a normal car, though. Its always a wolf, never a sheep, which is good.
This is one of the few cars I’ve driven where I have literally zero complaints. It may be a little small for some people, but that also allows it to drive and handle in a way that a bigger car just can’t match. For me, this is as close to the perfect single car as I’ve experienced.
– Nick
Nostalgia Time
This is my favorite photo of my STI, capturing it at its peak. This car is so satisfying on so many levels and, being my first car, it has a ton of sentimental value for me.
I think I still see it for what it was during my high school and college years. It was a helluva car to have during my youth, and I literally got to live out that dream of being the young guy with the fast car. And quite fast it was in the era before most cars had turbos, say 2006-2012ish.
My car with light mods and tuning had around 400hp, and performed a little better than an Audi RS4 at the time (lighter, better handling, more torque, more usable power). Sure there were plenty of faster cars out there, but I was faster than most of the common stuff, 4.6 Mustangs, 4.2 S4s, 350/370Zs, GTOs, and E46 M3s were not fucking with me. Even lightly modded Evos would fall back on a top end pull. And the races I lost, I usually hung on to some respectable stuff. I was only 1-2 car lengths behind a CTS-V Coupe at 130mph. It was real world fast, and fast enough to scare people in some pretty serious cars, Ferrari 360s, Porsche 911s, etc.
It was a crazy car in a relatively much simpler time, back when horsepower figures were only just starting to jump. Now many cars are easily this fast, either stock or with light mods. The bar has now been raised, but for six years of my youth, I was dangerous on the streets. I’m lucky and thankful that I experienced that back when I was young and dumb enough to really enjoy it. And as a bonus, I managed not to hurt anything but a few feelings along the way (especially the Mustang guys, their tears were always the sweetest 😂). Call that a win!
-Nick
A Supercar with Massaging Seats, the BMW F90 M5
The BMW F90 M5 is like the Millennium Falcon. It’s big and can haul lots of cargo, it has lots of extra features and tech, and it’s also the fastest ship in the galaxy.
Continue reading A Supercar with Massaging Seats, the BMW F90 M5
Impressions from the Jaguar I-Pace
The Jaguar I-Pace is the first electric car I’ve driven that I could actually see myself owning, and I say this having driven some of the fast Teslas.
I just found the Jag a better all around package. See, I’m not a fan of the idea of an electric sports car at all… totally ruins the point IMO. That said, I love the idea of having an electric daily driver, and the I-Pace just seemed to fit my taste a bit better than the Teslas.
Mind Over Motor 