This elegant barchetta by Zagato is still my personal favorite modern Aston Martin. The wail of a naturally aspirated V12, operated via a manual gearbox, with the wind in your hair… it’s just about perfect!
-Nick
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Highlights from Porsche of Princeton Cars and Coffee
I was able to squeeze in an hour at this cars and coffee held at my local Porsche dealer before breakfast with the family. It was one of those cases where I woke up early anyway, so why not just go? Boy was I glad I did. The cars were all very high quality and there’s plenty more features to come from it.
Until then, enjoy this highlight reel.
-Nick
Highlights from the 2018 Cars and Caffe Season Opener
Here are some highlights from the Cars and Caffe Season Opener. It’s a little late because I came down with a really nasty flu right after the show, so I’m playing a bit of catch up.
Enjoy this taste of much more to come from this phenomenal event. If you live in the northeastern US, it’s really worth the trip.
-Nick
Rob Ferretti Compares the Different Generations of NSX
Porsche 911 Turbo S at Porsche of Princeton Cars & Coffee
The master of acceleration itself, the Porsche 911 Turbo S at Porsche of Princeton Cars & Coffee. I really like the off-white color!
-Nick
Autocar takes Lamborghini Urus for a spin
Matt Farah drives the new Corvette ZR-1
The ZR-1 looks like an absolute savage!
-Nick
Miata Meditation
I’ve owned my Miata Club Edition for two years now, and I’m still absolutely in love with it. That said, I have often thought back to why I didn’t get one of the faster, maybe more impressive cars I was considering at the time (Corvette, M3, Cayman, etc). I remember it was a feeling, a sense of calm rather than excitement or lust. It resonated so clearly with the personal journey I had been on that it seemed just right.
Moderation. Not abstinence, nor indulgence. That was one of the main philosophies of the Buddha, at least as I’ve come to understand. Many may find it odd that I apply Buddhist philosophy to my own pursuit of material pleasures, but for a car enthusiast it is a way of life. I’m not over here trying to be a monk, giving up all material things. I’m a real man with my share of hypocritical beliefs and practices, and I actually quite enjoy being afflicted with desire. Sure, it brings with it pain and anxiety, but it also makes life interesting. Like sitting on the tip of a pin, you feel very alive despite the side effects.
The key is to also be mindful, so you don’t take things too far and find yourself consumed to the very core with material interests. You have to keep these things in context with the experience you’re looking to have in life. I never want to be one of those people who can’t be happy no matter how far they go or how high they climb. What’s the point of all that if you’re going to die miserable anyway? Learning to embrace “what is” is just as important as focusing on “what could be.” Both are important to me, so I try and share my focus between each.
1953 Ferrari 166MM Barchetta by Oblin at Amelia Island
I’ve seen a few Ferrari 166MMs in my time, but this has to be the most striking of them. The coachwork, done by a Belgian company called Oblin, has the fine details that set apart mere “nice cars” from the unforgettable.
Enjoy the gallery.
Continue reading 1953 Ferrari 166MM Barchetta by Oblin at Amelia Island
Porsche 997 GT3 RS spotted at the Amelia Island Cars and Coffee
These will surely be forever classics, from a time when technology had come far enough, but not too far.
-Nick
Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 AWD Review: Don’t call it a sports car
Context is everything. We all make our judgments off of our own experiences prior to the present in an effort to navigate most-effectively through the world. I had been looking forward to getting behind the wheel of an Infiniti Q60 Red Sport for a while. Infiniti’s range-topping new coupe with more zest than its predecessor, largely thanks to its twin-turbocharged engine making a hefty 400hp. Yes, surely the Q60 Red Sport would be as good as I remember the Q50 Red Sport being, but in a more stylish package. There was a problem this time around, though, a problem I hadn’t had before I drove the Q50 Red Sport. Right before I drove this Q60 I drove an Alfa Romeo, and that set the context bar pretty damn high.
Had I not experienced the Alfa in such close proximity, I’d probably be writing something very similar to what I wrote about the Q50. Something along the lines of “Well done, Infiniti, you’ve upped the bar!” But my experience in the Alfa gave this drive so much more contrast. It highlighted all of the major areas where the Q60 is severely lacking as an enthusiast car.
Continue reading Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 AWD Review: Don’t call it a sports car
1929 Auburn Cabin Speedster at Amelia Island
This astounding Auburn caught my eye while driving around on the street the day prior to the Concours. It was one of those extra special cars that stopped me in my tracks, making me drool like an idiot. That swooping shape, the clean two-tone green with cream white, it was a sight to be seen in the show, let alone out on the public road.
The car itself is actually a replica of a one-off Auburn that was destroyed in a fire at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 1929. It’s made of all original Auburn parts, built using the original drawings, so it’s a worthy successor to the original car. I feel like such a story repeats itself throughout history in the automotive world, where an original one-off is destroyed and it has to be replaced by a replica. The Jaguar XJ-13, the Lamborghini Miura Jota, and the Bugatti Type 57 Aerolithe all come to mind, among others.
I’m glad this Auburn exists!
Continue reading 1929 Auburn Cabin Speedster at Amelia Island
Mind Over Motor 