So much want, so little time.
The Ferrari 812 Superfast on Drivetribe
So much want, so little time.
All posts by ndubs77
Motor Trend Compares the 2017 Nissan GTR to its heritage
Saleen S7 Twin Turbo Competition at CF Charities
This is one of only three Saleen S7 Twin Turbos in existence equipped with the Competition Package. The boost has been turned up over the standard turbocharged S7, to the tune of 1,000hp over “just” 750hp. Supposedly, it’s capable of 248 mph (as seen on the license plate), though I doubt that’d be done with that massive rear wing in place.
This car is one of a few American hypercars in the owner’s collection, which he had on display at the CF Charities Supercar Show (which he also organizes). I’ve seen this S7 a few times before at other shows in the area, but it’s always thrilling to see it in person.
Enjoy!
Continue reading Saleen S7 Twin Turbo Competition at CF Charities
Porsche 991 Turbo with a Martini-style livery spotted in Greenwich, CT
I loved the Martini homage livery on this Porsche Turbo.
-Nick
This Ferrari 275 N.A.R.T. Spider showed Greenwich some serious class
Of the ten Ferrari 275 N.A.R.T. Spyders on Earth, this is the third one I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in person. It was by far the single most valuable car on the show field at Greenwich this year (we saw the red one in Monterey, which sold for over $27 million at auction a few years back). Yes, the 275 N.A.R.T. Spider is one of the Ferrari holy grails, right up there with the 250 GTO, but even rarer with less than half the production run.
I think this subdued silver example with its rich red leather interior is supremely classy in the highest regard. It’s a very beautiful and inoffensive looking car, something that evokes admiration from people. Despite being worth a genuine fortune today, it doesn’t come off all that ostentatious as a car in person. Maybe my perception was skewed by the carbon-bodied Lamborghini Centenario right across the row, but this 275 might actually require a second look to be noticed in town.
I’ve said before, this is my favorite classic Ferrari, more than a 250 GTO or a 365 Daytona, I love the 275 GTB, and the N.A.R.T. Spider is the ultimate one to have. I fantasize about taking one of these on a journey up the Pacific Coast highway in California, wind in my hair, V12 signing along up front, it would be perfection.
One can only dream, but it sure has been nice to get to see a few of these N.A.R.T. Spiders in person. I’ve it a point to enjoy every moment I have with them, pouring over their every detail, and this was no exception.
I’ll let the photos take it from here. Enjoy.
Continue reading This Ferrari 275 N.A.R.T. Spider showed Greenwich some serious class
Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Review: My Next Daily Driver?
I’m starting to consider options for replacing my Volkswagen CC as my practical daily driver, and I’ve had numerous people tell me to try out the new turbocharged Honda Civic.
Now before any of you scream “Civic Si” or “Civic Type R” at the screen, just know that I need an automatic here because my girlfriend, Gab, needs to be able to drive the car. I have my Miata and my STI when I want to shift my own gears. Also, the mighty Type R is vastly out of my budget for this move.
I’m not going too deep into financials, but I’m considering a lease that would be the same or less than what I currently pay on my CC. I also want a car that is realistically capable of touching 40 MPG when I’m cruising.
So, automatic, 40 MPG capable, and a relatively cheap monthly payment. Sounds like driving excitement may not really be a factor here, right? The options are certainly limited, but the new Civic Hatchback Sport quickly captured my interest when shopping around. I’d heard some great things about the new 1.5L turbocharged engine, and it seemed like Honda had made the Hatchback Sport model a junior Si, of sorts.
I figured if I was going to try out the new Civic, I might as well try the one most likely to catch my interest. The 1.5L Turbo is available on all the Civic models, but the Sport would have the tighter handling and the sport exhaust, which would make it more my kind of car.
So, after work, I went to go check it out, and see if the Civic Hatchback Sport was the “8/10ths Civic Si” I was hoping it would be.
Continue reading Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Review: My Next Daily Driver?
Mercedes SLS AMG Spotted at dinner the other night
When we rolled up to meet my parents at dinner this weekend, we saw this clean SLS AMG parked out front of the restaurant. It’s been a while since I’ve seen one in a random situation, and really is a handsome machine in a real world setting. With its thundering 6.2L naturally aspirated V8, the SLS remains one of the best sounding cars out there.
-Nick
Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder at the CF Charities Supercar Show
This is the new Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder, and I think it is a breath of fresh air in the supercar world. At a time when Ferraris and Lamborghinis seem more and more mass market, here is a genuinely unique supercar that takes a different, more classic, and ultra “special” approach.
Today the mainstream carmakers are obsessed with the orgy of technology, which has many upsides for performance, but nobody is stopping to ask if it really serves the purpose of a super sports car well. Too many cars are being built for lap times and bragging rights, and wind up compromising on a truly engaging driving experience. Speed is great and all, but on my weekends, I don’t have any interest in hopping in a car that does most of the driving for me.
The C8 Preliator brings the formula back to what I consider the epitome of the modern supercar. I see it as carrying on the torch of the Pagani Zonda, the Porsche Carrera GT, and the Ford GT, a truly analog supercar experience, with a beautifully exposed gear lever and a proper 3 pedals.
Though not fitted in the prototype you see here, power will come from a very special Koenigsegg 5.0L naturally aspirated V8 making 600hp. That pushing a car weighing right around the 3,000lb mark (around 200lbs less than a 488), should be quite exciting.
Furthermore, the C8 Preliator Spyder oozes handcrafted fine details. It has a substantial sense of occasion when you’re near it that I don’t think an Aventador or even a LaFerrari can match. The Spyker is a genuine work of art, on a level that can be mentioned with the likes of Pagani and Koenigsegg. As an object you’ll be paying at least $450,000 for, I think this is surely one of the most “special” supercars out there.
This is really my kind of car. Sure, there are way faster cars out there, but this has an incredible balance of power and lightness. You don’t need 1,000hp when the car doesn’t weigh well over 2 tons (cough, Bugatti, cough), and the performance 600hp can provide remain more than insane on the street. Mix that with the pure analogue driving experience, top down thrills, incredible detail work, and a limited production of just 100 units, and you have the ideal recipe for a super sports car as far as I’m concerned.
Enjoy the photos, and be sure to drink in all those fine details!
Continue reading Spyker C8 Preliator Spyder at the CF Charities Supercar Show
Porsche Cayman GT4 spotted in Greenwich, GT
Every time I see a Cayman GT4 in person, I wonder why I aspire for anything else. It’s just about right…
-Nick
LaFerrari Hypercar Spotted in the Rain in Greenwich, CT
How often do you see something like a LaFerrari on the roads when it’s pouring rain? I wish I could say this was a completely random spotting of someone who is really about that daily-driven hypercar life, but the truth is it downpoured at the end of the Greenwich Concours as all the cars were leaving. So no, this person did not just decide to take the Laf for a spin in the rain, he had to get the car home. It did make for some extra awesome photos in traffic, though. This hyper Ferrari is already mental when you see it in contrast with average cars, but to see it in the rain, that’s just such an uncommon sight. The driver even opened it up for us a little when the light turned green. It sounded great!
Enjoy the wet pics.
Continue reading LaFerrari Hypercar Spotted in the Rain in Greenwich, CT
Seeing my first Bugatti EB-110 at Greenwich
In all my years of going to top-tier automotive events, the Bugatti EB-110 had somehow managed to elude me. So, when I heard there would be an EB-110 GT up for auction at the Greenwich Concours this year, I was excited to finally lay eyes on one of these early 90’s unicorns.
The Bugatti marquee has had three different incarnations over the years, the original cars were French, the second generation was Italian, and the third (current) generation is German. The EB-110 came about as the second incarnation of the Bugatti marquee in 1987. Based in Modena, Italy, 139 total EB-110s were produced between 1991 and 1995, before the company went bankrupt while trying to grow too quickly.
At the time, the Bugatti EB-110 was just as much a hypercar as the Veyron or Chiron are today. It was the most technologically ambitious contender, with a 550hp quad turbo 3.5L V12 and all wheel drive. Flat-out, it was right up there with the fastest cars on the planet, with a top speed of 213 mph.
Keep in mind, the McLaren F1’s incredible 240mph record wouldn’t be set until 1998, and in the early 1990’s anything that could crack 210 mph was considered other-worldly. At the time the EB-110 was the fastest car made in Modena, a step above the Ferrari F40’s 201 mph, or the Lamborghini Diablo’s 202 mph. In terms of top speed, it’s main rivals were the Jaguar XJ-220 and the McLaren F1. The Jaguar XJ-220 actually was officially recognized as the fastest road car in the world in 1992 with a run of 217 mph, but they had to raise the rev limiter to get there. Prior, un-altered runs yielded a V-max of 212.3mph, so if we’re comparing two showroom stock cars, the Bugatti and the Jag were neck and neck as the fastest cars in the world. Unless, of course, you came across the odd McLaren F1…
So what are my thoughts on finally seeing an EB-110 GT in person?
Continue reading Seeing my first Bugatti EB-110 at Greenwich
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Spotted in Greenwich, CT
We spotted this member of the JDM royal family on the street in Greenwich, CT during concours weekend. I always love seeing cars that aren’t supposed to be on US roads out and about on US roads, and the Evo VI was never sold here. Let’s face it, it’s more fun when you bend the rules.
Enjoy!
Continue reading Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Spotted in Greenwich, CT
Mind Over Motor 