All posts by ndubs77

A Demonic Black Porsche 918 Spyder at the Greenwich Concours

August 29, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Can we please talk about how awesome the Porsche 918 Spyder is?

For whatever reason, this car is just more my thing than the LaFerrari or P1. Maybe it’s the fact that Porsche set the bar on the Nurburgring and weren’t afraid to post it’s time, a blistering 6:57. Maybe it’s the fact that its hybrid technology has already found its way into other VW Group models, bringing the automobile forward as a whole. Or, hell, maybe I just like it the best because it’s a convertible.

As an show of what the modern automobile can be, I think the Porsche 918 stands ahead of its peers, all things considered. It also absolutely looks the business, especially this one in black. It is a hell of a machine, a 21st century engineering marvel for sure.

Enjoy gazing at it!

Continue reading A Demonic Black Porsche 918 Spyder at the Greenwich Concours →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Jaguar F-Type R AWD: A Cat Tamed By Four Paws?

August 26, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

I’ve been lucky to have driven a few Jaguar F-Types in the last few years. I drove the V6S and V8S models when they first came out, and then I drove the R Coupe a year later.

I think my biggest takeaway was just how much crazier the V8 was, with all that extra power going to the rear wheels. It was fast, like scary fast, and there was always the sense that it was testing the limits of its rear tires. It really kept me on my toes, and that made it really, really exciting.

Unfortunately, exciting doesn’t bode well with the safety concerns of modern automakers. We enthusiasts were hoping Jaguar would give us the V8 F-Type with a manual gearbox. Instead, they left the V8 models automatic-only, and took away our rear wheel drive. I guess that’s the price we pay for getting our hopes up.

So, has Jaguar tamed the beast? Have they neutered the big cat?

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Automotive Lifestyle

Fast into the night at the first taste of Fall

August 24, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

I’ve said before that most of the best drives come spur of the moment. That makes it somewhat challenging for me as a blogger to bring the experience to you, my readers, but my God, is it enjoyable in the moment. Many times those drives become fond memories for years.

I got out of work late on Monday. It was one of those days where you’re up to your ears in all sorts of stuff all day, and you only start really getting things done after most everyone has gone home. The crisp air that hit me when I walked out, though, that instantly cleared my head, and brushed off the stress of the day like it was nothing.

The first taste of Fall is one of the sweetest sensations in the life of a gearhead. It means the treacherous summer heat is nearing its end, and that many fun times are ahead in the best season of the year.

Feeling rejuvenated, I called my buddies Shane and Pat (Shat for short), and we agreed it would be a sin not to take the Miatas out for a blast in this perfect weather.

We met up for dinner at a local diner. Ace, my NC Mazda Miata Club Edition was parked next to Shane’s NA Miata R-Package out front, waiting eagerly for us to eat. Then, just after the sun had fallen off the horizon, we set off, fast, into the night.

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Car Shows

A very wet Lamborghini Miura at the Greenwich Concours

August 22, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

It rained like hell at on the 2nd day of the Greenwich Concours this year. We spent most of our time enjoying wine tasting, eating our fill of as many (free) lobster sandwiches as we could stomach. When the rain did die down, we got photos of the cars, most of which are seldom photographed when soaking wet.

Here are some wet shots of this black Lamborghini Miura. You won’t see one shown like this in the RM Auctions catalog, that’s for sure.

Enjoy!

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

When the condoms all broke, but #Stance is life, this Toyota Sienna is your Shaggin’ Wagon

August 19, 2016 ndubs77 2 Comments

This is what will happen increasingly as the stance people reproduce. Minivans are usually seen as lame, but with a little trendy inspiration, this one has become pretty “bitchin.”

I gotta hand it to whoever built this Sienna, they did a great job with it. That is one good thing about the stance culture, you can participate with any car. That means, unlike us sports car enthusiasts, that when you have kids, you won’t be completely and utterly screwed.

Either way, I just hope they at least open the windows when they vape with the kids in the car.

Continue reading When the condoms all broke, but #Stance is life, this Toyota Sienna is your Shaggin’ Wagon →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Jay Leno drives one of my favorite Ferraris

August 17, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Jay isn’t too much of a Ferrari guy. He always says he likes them, but always feels like he can get something he’ll like better for less money. The classic Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is hard for any gearhead to resist, though.

Enjoy

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

BMW Z8 Spotted in Greenwich, CT

August 15, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

This BMW Z8 was one of numerous tasty cars we saw on the streets of Greenwich during Concours weekend. It’s a roadster with the same engine as the BMW M5 of its day. Quite a nice recipe indeed, and as it turns out, also quite a good investment.

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione at the Amelia Island FOS

August 12, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cars we’ve been blessed with this century thus far. I mean, just look at it. The quintessential essence of the Italian Sports car, this 8C was deep red with a body of sleek curvaceous sexiness.

Many people tend to think right to Ferrari, but remember, Alfa Romeo is the real “Original Gangsta” of Italian sports cars. Enzo Ferrari raced Alfas himself, and his race team, Scuderia Ferrari, saw legendary success with Alfas before they were able to build their own cars after the War. Alfa Romeo was where so much of what we hold dear about Italian cars now all started, and the 8C Competizione marked the return of greatness to the brand. Greatness Alfa continues to push for today with the 4C and the Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Feast your eyes!

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Auto Idolatry

Jay Leno Drives a Blue Beetle with a Wankel

August 10, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

There are some unassuming cars that will stop the crowds at a car show, and leave you wondering why until you take a closer look.

This blue VW Beetle is one of those…

-Nick

Car Shows

Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 Spotted on Amelia Island

August 8, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

This gorgeous gem was waiting for us in one of the event parking areas on Amelia Island. Burgundy might just be the best color on a Lamborghini 400GT 2+2, and it would’ve surely fit in just fine in the show itself.

Enjoy the photos!

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Cars We've Driven, Everyday Normal Cars, SUVs and Crossovers

Toyota RAV4 XLE 2WD Review: More Ground Clearance With Less Compromise

August 5, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Last weekend my girlfriend, Gabrielle, and I travelled deep into the lake country of Minnesota for a family gathering of sorts. I don’t get up there as often as I’d like to, and I always feel like the visit is too short when I do. This trip was different in a few ways, though. My Grandma Ann’s health had been declining, to the point where I knew we needed to get out to try and see her. I wanted her, and the rest of the family, to meet Gab, and I knew time was becoming a factor. Unfortunately, as it happened, our visit came a few weeks too late.

Our trip to Minnesota became about finding solace as as a family, and showing support for my Grandpa Don in this most trying time in life. On the lighter side, Gab got to meet everyone, many of whom had been anxiously waiting to see if she was real for some time. We really had a great time, and it was beautiful just being together with everyone as a family. It was a short trip, but it was extremely valuable.

Now, me being me, I don’t like to rent a car without doing an article on it. Gab likes crossovers and she loves bright blue, so this particular Toyota RAV4 seemed to check all of the right boxes in the car park. It’s not the sort of car I usually review either, so I figured it might add some relevancy for this site in areas other than expensive sports cars.

A few years back, my parents and I had a RAV4 in Sedona, Arizona, and we were thrilled with how well it did with some rather intense surprise off-roading. That one was 4WD, though, and this one was 2WD, so I guess it’s more of a “RAV2”. Even still, rural Minnesota has some off road areas, so I figured the ground clearance may come in handy, along with that legendary Toyota dependability.

Continue reading Toyota RAV4 XLE 2WD Review: More Ground Clearance With Less Compromise →

Car Shows, Uncategorized

Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

August 3, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

A stunning example among the Ferrari 250 Testa Rossas that were featured at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. I was looking back through my photos, and it managed to catch my eye. Surely one of a number of gems we have yet to post from our past endeavors. Much more where this came from.

Enjoy!

Continue reading Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance →