All posts by ndubs77

Opinions

Thoughts on the SRT Viper

1 Comment
SRT Viper

Back when I was a kid my first real “Dream Car” was the Viper GTS. There was something that was just so cool and awesome about it, and thats what matters when you’re a kid. Now as I’ve grown older, and have learned more about cars and driving, I realize how insane the Viper is as a car. I still love Vipers though, and they will always have a special place as my first automotive love, however my tastes have since gravitated to the more refined offerings from Europe. That said, seeing this new car  brings me back to when I first saw the GTS. It’s shape is much more that of the original Viper than of the previous generation, and for me that is a major step in the right direction (not that I disliked the previous gen at all). The Magic seems to be returning, and this new Viper looks very promising in many ways.   Continue reading Thoughts on the SRT Viper →

Cars We've Driven, Used Car Gems

Test Driven: 2009 Chevrolet HHR SS (6/10)

4 Comments

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.   Continue reading Test Driven: 2009 Chevrolet HHR SS (6/10) →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Batman in his Lambo

Leave a comment

The Dark Knight was spotted out driving his Gallardo Spyder. See the rest of this on GTspirit.

-Nick

Opinions

BMW and Saab, a match made in Heaven

1 Comment
BMW and Saab

Recently it was reported that BMW had expressed interest in purchasing Saab Automobiles. After hearing this news I found myself constantly pondering the possibilities of this acquisition and how BMW could make Saab work in the market where GM had failed. BMW will of course be in contention with numerous other bidders, however after much thought I see BMW as the most perfect match possible for the Saab brand and its resurgence.

Continue reading BMW and Saab, a match made in Heaven →

Opinions

A Prius, a Veyron, and an MP4-12C walk into a bar…

1 Comment
Tom Cruise and his Veyron on the red carpet

That is a silly title, I know, but it does beg the question as to why I would put those three specific cars together at all? The answer lies in how they all have a similar reason for their existence, to be a number. Each was meant to achieve some specific measure of performance that would define the car to the world. While all three have been successful in achieving their tangible goals they have all wound up becoming relics of a more regimented and boring existence. They all cater to an increasingly soulless and superficial world where people judge everything from a bunch of numbers on sheet of paper or a computer screen, and not so much from actual experiences.    Continue reading A Prius, a Veyron, and an MP4-12C walk into a bar… →

Secondhand Saints, SHOWCASE

Seconhand Saint: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8/9 (2003-2007)

Leave a comment
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX

These days the Evo is one of the most respected cars on the road. In stock form it is one of the ultimate rally bred, point-to-point missiles money can buy, and Evos that are modified easily have the potential to give Ferrari owner something to worry about. Yet despite their hardcore performance they are also just normal Japanese sedans on the surface, making an Evo one of the best overall daily drivers out there. Obviously all of this makes these things quite a hot commodity on the secondhand market, so lets look at the details.     Continue reading Seconhand Saint: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8/9 (2003-2007) →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

How the cars of Forza Motorsport 4 are made

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

Opinions

Dodge Dart SRT-4, part of “Second Half America”

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?
Continue reading Dodge Dart SRT-4, part of “Second Half America” →