Test Driven: Cadillac ATS-4 3.6
Posted: October 19, 2012 Filed under: Sports and Executive, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 3, 3.6, all, American, ATS, ATS-4, Automatic, beats, BMW, Brembo, Cadillac, chassis, Comparison, Drive, fun, German, handling, Leather, Luxury, Mind, motor, Nurburgring, Over, Sedan, speed, Sport, tuned, V6, vs, wheel 2 Comments »
This is a big moment for American auto industry, one that can mark a turning point toward success or a continued trend of let downs in the luxury market. Obviously the big comparison is with the BMW 3 series, and I have been very unimpressed with the comparisons done by large publications so far (favoritism and bias run rampant over objectivism and sense). So, I went out and drove the ATS and BMW 3 series back to back to see what I thought from the driver seat. I’m not going to string you along, I liked the Cadillac better, and I will explain why in the paragraphs that follow. Read the rest of this entry »
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 »
Car & Driver: Lotus Elan vs. Mazda MX5
Posted: August 10, 2012 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE | Tags: &, 20, and, Car, Comparison, Driver, driving, Elan, fun, History, Laguna, Lotus, Mazda, Miata, Mind, motor, MX5, Over, pleasure, Raceway, Roadster, Seca, Super, vs Leave a comment »This is a great video showcasing two of the best roadsters in history. The Elan was the inspiration for the MX5 in a different era, and both cars have lessons to teach other carmakers today. This is pure driving and pure fun, the hell with 0-60 times and 1/4 mile runs. I can only hope that one day I get to drive a Lotus Elan like this, it is pretty high up there on my list. Enjoy the vid.
-Nick
Spotted! Ferrari FF vs Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Detroit, MI
Posted: August 8, 2012 Filed under: Exotics, SPOTTED! | Tags: 532, 612, 650, Belle, brake, Car, Comparison, design, Detroit, Ferrari, FF, four, Gran, grand, hp, Island, lot, MI, Michigan, paddle, Park, Prix, Scaglietti, seat, shift, shooting, Tourer, Turismo, V12, vs 1 Comment »
These two Ferraris were in the car park at the 2012 Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Island. This is the first FF I have gotten up close with, and it just happened to be parked next to the 612 that it replaced. The owner was very cool and was happy to open the car up and let people sit in it for a few minutes. It was cool to see the FF right next to the 612 Scaglietti because it really let me appreciate the leap in design that Ferrari has taken with the FF. See for yourself, and enjoy.
Test Driven: 2012 VW Beetle Turbo vs 2012 VW GTI
Posted: December 23, 2011 Filed under: Cheap Fun!, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 2.0T, 200, 2012, 210, advice, Beetle, Comparison, consumer, DCT, difference, Drive, DSG, fun, German, GTI, handling, Hatch, Hot, hp, manual, Mind, motor, Over, practical, Retro, review, Sport, Test, turbo, Volkswagen, vs, VW 4 Comments »
Beetle Turbo vs GTI
I first saw the new VW Beetle up close at the New York International Autoshow this past year. I was very excited to see that the new version had become more of a sporting machine and less of a decorated flowerpot. On the surface the Beetle is on the same chassis as the Golf, and the one I was interested in, the Beetle Turbo, basically has the same mechanics as the famed GTI. This made me wonder how similar they really were to each other because I know VW would not want to steal sales from themselves. I decided to go try them both out back to back and compare. Read the rest of this entry »
A telling emissions test by Edmunds Inside Line
Posted: December 7, 2011 Filed under: CARS 101 | Tags: big, Blower, Car, Comparison, Edmunds, Emissions, engine, Inside, Leaf, Line, Mind, motor, Over, Small, Test, Truck, Truth, video, vs Leave a comment »For all of the eco conscious folks out there here is a test showing that you should not judge a book by it’s cover, or the “green-ness” of a car by it’s engine size. Knowledge is power.
-Nick
Twin Turbo 458 Italia vs Lambo Aventador
Posted: October 26, 2011 Filed under: Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE | Tags: 1, 458, Aventador, Ferrari, Highway, Italia, kit, Lamborghini, Mind, motor, Over, pull, racing, Stage, turbo, Twin, Underground, vs Leave a comment »Underground Racing’s twin turbo Ferrari Italia up against a stock Lamborghini Aventador. This is a good showing of the difference between wheel horsepower (whp) and brake horsepower (bhp). The Italia is making 700whp, whereas the Aventador’s V12 puts out 700hp before the power makes it’s way through the drivetrain. The difference is pretty evident during the highway pulls they do. You gotta love a company like UR, who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty with the most expensive cars out there. Enjoy!
-Nick
Cars 101: Horsepower vs. Torque
Posted: August 19, 2011 Filed under: CARS 101 | Tags: 101, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0, acceleration, BMW, Cars, Diesel, force, Ford, Gasoline, Horsepower, M3, Mind, motor, Mustang, Over, rotational, speed, TDI, Time, Torque, Touareg, V10, V6, vs, VW Jetta, work Leave a comment »
These specifications found on all cars, but many people don’t really know what they mean, even if they know what sorts of numbers constitute a lot or a little. There is a very detailed answer for defining each of these terms but this is Cars 101 so we will keep it simple and applicable to what most people can recognize. Read the rest of this entry »
Challenger vs Camaro, the Stang will sit this one out, for now.
Posted: July 8, 2011 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: American, Camaro, Challenger, Chevy, Chrysler, Dodge, GM, Horsepower, mile, Mind over motor, quarter, V8, vs Leave a comment »
Camaro vs Challenger. Its High Noon in Texas, ladies and gentlemen.
Ever since Dodge rebooted the Challenger in 2008, muscle car enthusiasts have been absolutely rejoicing. From the ho-hum V6 model (which, despite its faults, does sell) to the tire-annihilating SRT8, the lineup has always drawn my attention. Meanwhile, across town, the boys at Chevy created the hot-selling new Camaro, which, with 432 horsepower from the SS, makes a clear (and powerful) case for itself. The SRT8 happens to be one of the best performance bargains on the market right now, but the Camaro SS may be even better. Read the rest of this entry »
