Test Driven: 2012 Mazda Mazdaspeed3
Posted: August 30, 2012 Filed under: Cheap Fun!, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 2.3, 240, 263, 3, 4, 5, back, Car, compare, cylinder, door, Drive, driving, dynamics, Evo, Fast, four, front, fun, FWD, Hatch, hp, Japanese, Liter, manual, Mazda, MazdaSpeed, Mazdaspeed3, Mind, moded, Modified, motor, new, Nick, Over, pleasure, practical, Ralliart, space, speed, Sport, STi, stock, Transmission, tune, tuning, turbo, Used, vs, Walker, wheel, whp, WRX 1 Comment »
I have yet to meet an owner of a Mazdaspeed3 (MS3) who didn’t legitimately love their car. Something about the car seems to inspire people, they always have that “I know something you don’t” smirk on their face. Mazdas have always had a good sporting dynamic to them, but the enthusiasm that owners seem to have about this car goes beyond that. I have always known about the MS3, but somehow, while I’ve been out driving all sorts of fun cars over the years, it has eluded me. So recently, I decided it was time I take one out for a spin to see what these owners are so smug about. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: Scion FRS Automatic, Nick’s Impressions
Posted: June 21, 2012 Filed under: Cheap Fun!, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 200, 4, Automatic, boxer, BRZ, cylinder, Drive, engine, FRS, handling, hp, Mind, motor, Over, review, RWD, Scion, sharp, Subaru, Test, Toyota, Transmission 4 Comments »
I was able to take a short drive in an Automatic Scion FRS recently. The drive was kept brief because I had asked for a manual, and was “just getting a feel for it so I could see if I wanted to order a manual”. Obviously this was not an ideal situation for a review but it did get me some seat time in this hot new car that is selling off the shelves, so I took what I could get for the time being. What follows are my first impressions on the Scion FRS, expect a full fledged review once I am able to get my hands on one with a clutch pedal for a decent amount of time. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: Toyota Prius C
Posted: June 14, 2012 Filed under: Green & Economical, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 1, 2, 3, 4, 50, bcak, C, Car, cheap, city, Drive, eco, economical, environment, EV, friendly, green, Hatch, Hybrid, Japan, Mind, motor, mpg, Over, Prius, review, Test, Toyota 4 Comments »
Toyota Prius C: Small Car, Big City
This was my first time driving a Prius of any sort, although I have driven other hybrids. The Prius is special though because society has made into the poster child for the green car movement. The Prius C is the newest, smallest member of the Prius family, and it is selling like hotcakes right now. Like many car guys, I have always had a good deal of contempt for the Prius over the years for various reasons, but I figured it would be a good idea to at least go try one out for myself before closing the book on the car for good. What lay ahead tuned out to be an interesting experience. Read the rest of this entry »
Spotted! Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, Munich Germany
Posted: May 23, 2012 Filed under: Exotics, SPOTTED! | Tags: 4, 560, Gallardo, Germany, Lamborghini, LP, Mind, motor, Munich, Over, Spyder 1 Comment »
Found in Munich, Germany.
-Nick
Test Driven: 2009 Chevrolet HHR SS
Posted: March 29, 2012 Filed under: TEST DRIVEN, Used Gems | Tags: Test, Drive, turbo, Chevrolet, Chevy, manual, SUV, GM, FWD, SS, review, motor, 4, Over, Small, cylinder, Hatch, Torque, T, Mind, Truck, hp, 2.0, back, Wagon, ecotec, HHR, 260, space, steer, milk 2 Comments »
Chevy HHR SS
The HHR is a car that is definitely overlooked by most people. It was a reaction to the Chrysler PT Cruiser, but it took GM 5 whole years before it was in showrooms. The HHR was often referred to as a small SUV, but honestly its proportions are only slightly larger than those of a Mazda3, and it lacks the ground clearance of a true crossover. It is a bit of an oddball car, and it looks like an old milk truck to boot. That however does make it more interesting than the average car, especially the SS, where Chevy decided to throw in the same turbocharged 2.0L motor from the Cobalt SS. In fact I got the idea to do this review off of a whim when a bright red HHR SS pulled up next to me at a light. The car looked cool, and it peaked my interest enough that I went out and found one to test drive. Read the rest of this entry »
How the cars of Forza Motorsport 4 are made
Posted: February 15, 2012 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE | Tags: 4, Cars, Forza, Making, Mind, motor, Motorsport, of, Over, testing Leave a comment »Here is a look inside the process of making a car as realistic as possible in the virtual world of Forza Motorsport. As an avid Forza player myself I found this very cool. Enjoy.
-Nick
Dodge Dart SRT-4, part of “Second Half America”
Posted: February 14, 2012 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: 2012, 2013, 2014, 300, 4, all, America, AWD, competitor, cylinder, Dart, Dodge, Drive, Evo, front, FWD, halftime, hp, Mind, motor, Over, Sedan, SRT, SRT-4, STi, turbo, wheel, WRX Leave a comment »
Motor Trend's rendering of the Dart SRT-4
Chrysler’s Superbowl ad with Clint Eastwood was a nice way to incite faith that the American auto industry will recover. Chrysler has shown much improvement in the last few years, and as soon as I saw the new Dodge Dart I knew they were on the right track. It is based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, meaning its European roots should make it much more attractive than the Civic or the Corolla, which are both shamelessly boring at this point. There is however another market segment that exists with cars in that segment, one where engines are turbocharged, suspensions are stiffened, and priority is given to high MPH over high MPG. Dodge has competed here before with their SRT-4 Neon and Caliber, and everyone is eagerly awaiting the Dart SRT-4 in the next few years. Prior SRT-4s were relics of first half America though, the one that had to be bailed out, so the question is now, what should the SRT-4 of the second half be like?
Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: 2012 Hyundai Veloster
Posted: February 10, 2012 Filed under: Green & Economical, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 1.6, 2012, 3, 4, cheap, CRX, cylinder, DCT, door, Drive, economy, four, fun, FWD, GDI, handling, Hatch, Hatchback, Hot, Hyundai, Mind, motor, Nick, Over, reliable, review, Test, three, Veloster, Walker Leave a comment »
Hyundai Veloster
In the world of small, economical cars it is hard to find something that is remarkable. Most cars offer basically the same package as all of their competitors, making any differentiating factors superficial at best. Hyundai has changed this game with the Veloster dramatically. Everything from its design, to its features, to the driving experience, the Veloster has charged into the market with a new and unique package, and it is selling like hotcakes. Read the rest of this entry »
Road Review: Nick’s 1993 Mazda MX5 Miata
Posted: December 15, 2011 Filed under: Photography by Dan Valanzola, Road Review, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 1.6, 1992, 1993, 4, 92, 93, Beat, Car, Cat, catback, Convertible, Cruising, driving, exhaust, Flyin, four, full, fun, girly, great, handling, HFC, Inline, joy, magnaflow, Mazda, Miata, Mind, mine, motor, my, N1, NA, Over, own, photos, racing, review, Roadster, Sport, Sports, stage 2, Suspension, Test, Thoughts 1 Comment »
My ’93 Mazda Miata
The Mazda Miata is, in many ways, a controversial car among auto enthusiasts. On one hand it has a huge enthusiast following and is one of the best selling sports cars of all time, and on the other hand there are many people who wouldn’t call it a sports car at all. The later often likes to stigmatize the Miata as a “girls car” that is more of a fashion accessory than a driving machine. For a while I was one of those people, I thought the Miata was too slow to offer any excitement. However, a few years ago, I got my hands on EVO Magazine’s piece on the 100 greatest driver’s cars of all time and I was shocked to see the Miata in the top ten. I read their reasoning on their choice, and their general thoughts on the car. They said it was like many faster sports cars, but the whole experience is in slow motion, and that it really allows you to both savor the experience of driving and work on your technique. My mind was forever changed about the Miata, so much so that I decided to buy one a few months later to have as a fun second car. I have now owned it for around a year and a half, and have tried to sum the car up for you below. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: 2011 VW CC VR6 Executive
Posted: December 1, 2011 Filed under: TEST DRIVEN, Used Gems | Tags: 280, 3.6, 4, 4motion, all, AWD, bargain, CC, consumer, Coupe, design, Drive, German, hp, Impressions, information, L., Mind, Motion, motor, Over, Passat, Sedan, specs, Style, Test, V6, Volkswagen, VR6, VW, wheel Leave a comment »
VW CC VR6 Executive
I will always remember the first time I saw the Volkswagen CC at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The Bugatti Veyron Gran Sport had just been unveiled and was on display near the Concept Lawn, naturally drawing vast amounts of attention from everyone. While I was in the crowd I looked to my right and noticed a very sleek sedan with a lonely VW representative, it piqued my interest so I went to have a chat. I was then informed that this was the CC, a new sedan coming out that was based on the Passat, but targeted toward a more special market, following in the footsteps of the Mercedes CLS. Ever since then I have had a great love for the CC because it defies the boring trends of the auto industry. The other day I finally went in to try one out for myself to see if it drives as well as it looks. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR
Posted: October 27, 2011 Filed under: Sports and Executive, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 10, 4, 4B11, aftermarket, all, Car, charged, cornering, cylinder, DCT, Drive, evolution, four, Inline, Lancer, Mind, Mitsubishi, modifications, motor, MR, Over, paddle, Rally, review, Sedan, shift, Test, turbo, wheel, x 3 Comments »
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR
The great Evo in all of its glory, is not a car most dealers will let people test drive. I however lucked out and played the situation to my advantage and was able to get behind the wheel of a gorgeous dark gray Evo X MR equipped with the Dual Clutch SS-T transmission. This particular Evo also had some light mods including a gutted cats and a chip, but was otherwise stock. Read the rest of this entry »
