All posts by ndubs77

Cadillac Sixteen Concept at Amelia Island

May 6, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Remember that time Cadillac made the most epic luxury car in the world, and then left us all hot and bothered with our hopes crushed? This is the Cadillac Sixteen Concept, and it would have crushed the Rolls Royce Phantom back in 2003… if it had been real, but it wasn’t.

A nod to top-of-the-line Cadillacs of old, the Sixteen Concept was a functional prototype complete with a bespoke V-16 engine. That’s sixteen cylinders, displacing a massive 13.2L (830ci), that produce 1,000hp and and 1,000 ft/lbs of torque, all without the aid of any forced induction. There hasn’t been another modern production engine like it, and the probably won’t ever be.

Sure, this thing definitely looks a bit GM 2000’s-tastic when you look at it now, especially the interior, but it would’ve been a true Cadillac’s Cadillac at a time when the brand really needed such a flagship. Now, 13 years later, Cadillac is still in need of such a flagship for the brand to rally behind.

The Sixteen Concept is a wonderful embodiment of both the best and the worst of General Motors. They can make a wonderful, cutting edge car, but then their management all too often winds up getting in the way, and ruining all the fun.

Enjoy the photos of what could’ve been the most proper of Cadillacs.

Continue reading Cadillac Sixteen Concept at Amelia Island →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Porsche 991.2 Carrera S Review: Do Turbos Make a Better 911?

May 4, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Everyone sharpen your pitchforks and light your torches! Porsche has gone and changed the 911 again, and this time we’re gonna burn Stuttgart to the ground! They won’t get a way with it this time!

Wait, what? What’s that you say? Porsche has turbocharged all of the 911 Carrera models, and now they’re actually improved? You say Porsche has secretly answered our purist prayers and we don’t even know it? How can that be?!!!!

Well it’s true, folks, all of it. Porsche has made all of their 911s into 911 Turbos, although they’ll surely hate me for saying it that way. The way Porsche would want me to say it is, “911 Carrera and Targa models all now have a 3.0L Twin Turbocharged Flat-Six engine, but they are not “911 Turbos” because the 911 Turbo and 911 Turbo S each have a 3.8L Twin Turbocharged Flat-Six engine.” See what I mean?

There are a few ways to look at this new 991.2 generation Porsche 911. I’m going to go through the way I see the car now, after taking it for a spin recently.

I’m not going to waste our time talking much about the aspects of the 911 that haven’t changed much. Just know that it’s still a wonderful handling car, it still has the best electric power steering in the business, it’s still of top-notch build quality, and PDK is still among the best dual-clutch trannies around.

Alright, now let’s talk about that new turbocharged engine, and what it does for the 911 as a car…

Continue reading Porsche 991.2 Carrera S Review: Do Turbos Make a Better 911? →

Car Shows

Ferrari 288 GTO at RM Sotheby’s Auction, Amelia Island

May 2, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

That time Ferrari took their 308 super sports car, and strapped two turbos to it because they wanted to go rally racing. They never actually went rally racing, but they did help lay the foundations for the royal epic-ness that is the modern hypercar.

The idea of taking a supercar and making it more “super” was in many ways born with the Ferrari 288 GTO. It is the first in the lineup of, currently five, super Ferraris, the F40, F50, Enzo and LaFerrari in addition. They’re all fine and great, and the F40 in many ways gets most of the lime light, but the 288 GTO is genesis, and it will always be tremendously special.

Just how special? Well, early this March it was about $2,585,000 worth of special.

Not bad, eh?

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

A Prohibition-tastic Cord L-29 at Amelia Island

April 29, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

1931 was an interesting time. People were still riding the wave of craziness from the roaring 20’s in many ways, but there were more and more symptoms of the Great Depression popping up all over. It was a trying time, to be sure, and people weren’t even allowed to drink to cope with it all. That wouldn’t do at all, especially not if you were wealthy and flamboyant.

This flashy orange and yellow Cord came with just the solution, a full cocktail bar hidden away in a secret compartment in the passenger door. I mean, laws are for the working class, they shouldn’t be drinking because they have to be working. But when you’re rich and set for life, you play by a different set of rules. You should be able to have a drink while you’re out driving your sports car.

This 1931 Cord L-29 is actually a replica of a show car that Cord featured during the era to promote their brand. Needless to say, it’s quite striking, and getting these photos took lots of patience because people were swarming the car.

Enjoy the gallery!

Continue reading A Prohibition-tastic Cord L-29 at Amelia Island →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Motor Trend drives the swanky Lagonda Taraf by Aston Martin

April 27, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

The Logonda Taraf is a million dollar cherry on top of the Aston Martin pie. It’s a Rapide underneath, but they’ve done a lot to make it more “special.”

I think it’s pretty sharp, definitely a head turner for the handful of owners to show off to their friends.

-Nick

Car Shows

Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 at Amelia Island

April 25, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

This is the Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6, a car for hardcore people who live hardcore lives filled with all manner of hardcoreness, as well as grotesque amounts of money (maybe legal, but probably not). It’s 6-wheel drive, and that means that even after the apocalypse, you’ll be able to get to the mall so you can still be the first one to get the new iPhone.

That’s what the modern luxury SUV is about, and the Mercedes 6×6 is the undisputed king. You don’t even have to worry about arriving early to get a good parking spot when you have one of these. If it’s crowded, just park on top some car in a handicapped spot. You’ve already paid for your privilege, they can get their own.

The 6×6 is definitely a Bond villains car if I’ve ever seen one. It’s for people who don conflict diamonds proudly and wear clothing made from the pelts of endangered animals. Someone with henchmen and offshore bank accounts with a good evil laugh, and a cat which they stroke constantly.

If this fits you, then you need a Mercedes 6×6. Sure they may be all sold out, but just assassinate someone who has one and pick it up cheap at the estate sale. Heck, with a few well-placed put options, you might even make money along the way.

-Nick

Automotive Lifestyle

New beginnings, I bought Al’s Miata

April 20, 2016 ndubs77 6 Comments

Over the last few months, Al has been constantly talking about the idea of selling his Mazda Miata and buying some cool old American car. He’s been on craigslist like crazy, and has been continually messaging me and many of his other friends asking our thoughts on the possibilities.

I recently got a great new job, which brought with it a nice little pay increase, so naturally I’d been thinking of getting some new wheels. I’ve been missing my old Miata like crazy since I sold it a few years back. It’s like there’s been a hole in my soul that can only be filled by one thing. I needed to get myself another Miata!

So, a week or so ago, when Al sent me some links of cars he was looking at, I floated the idea. I said, “You keep talking about selling your Miata to get something else, and now I’m looking to buy a Miata. Let’s make something happen here.”

Al brought the car by on Saturday morning. I took it for a quick drive, looked it over, and I was sold. We went to the DMV and did all the paperwork.

I paid Al with cash money, but he wasn’t about to go to the bank. No, we were going to check out a car right away. I’ll let him tell the rest tomorrow.

I’m going to live with my new Miata for a few weeks before I do a proper article on it, but so far, so fun. It sure as hell isn’t perfect, but it isn’t trying to be, and that’s the whole point.

It is a delightful little machine!

-Nick Walker

Automotive Lifestyle

Not a bad way to spend an evening

April 20, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

Many times the best drives come completely unplanned. There are no cameras rolling, nothing even remotely contrived. Often times the reason for the drive is even purely functional.

Last night was one of those awesome spur of the moment car experiences for me and my buddy Shane. That’s why the pics are crap, and this article, written in immediate hindsight, may be a little wonky. But it was one of those great drives I know I’ll remember long into the future.

Continue reading Not a bad way to spend an evening →

Car Shows, Uncategorized

Classic Ford F-100 at Amelia Island

April 18, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

This might be the cleanest custom Ford F-100 I’ve ever seen. The detail work on it is truly immaculate, right down to the rich wooden bed. It was featured in Classic Trucks Magazine, and the owner had the issue displayed proudly on the seat.

This is a spectacular work of automotive art. Enjoy the gallery!

Continue reading Classic Ford F-100 at Amelia Island →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE, Uncategorized

Motor Trend tests the new BMW M2

April 15, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Here’s Motor Trend’s test of the BMW M2, where they pit it against its bigger brother, the BMW M4.

Could the M2 possibly be better than the M4?

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Matt Farah drives the new Turbo Porsche 718 Boxster S

April 13, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Matt Farah shows us the new turbocharged Porsche 718 Boxster S in action. It seems very impressive, but it will also definitely be divisive.

To start with, it sounds like a Subaru. Whether that’s a good thing or not will be hotly debated. I, for one, kind of like it.

Regardless of your opinion on the new four-cylinder Boxster, there’s no denying that it has some serious performance. The base model 718 Boxster has 300hp now, and the S has 350hp. With tuning options soon to come, these things should be insane.

I like it.

-Nick