All posts by ndubs77

1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe at RM Auctions Monterey

February 9, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

“Classy” was the single word that came to mind when I came upon this stunning 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe at the RM Auction display in downtown Monterey. Classy on a level not seen in modern Ferraris, which are more ostentatious than anything at this point. I mean just look at the rich two-tone color scheme and that sumptuous interior, this is a 50s-era Italian car in its finest form.

The 1953 250 Europa Coupe was actually the first Ferrari to use the “250” nomenclature, which later would encompass the most sought after Ferraris of all time. It was also the first dedicated Ferrari road-car, the genesis for a lineage of Ferrari Grand Tourers that continues to this day. The Europa Coupe you see here is one of only 21 examples produced, and it recently won its class at the 2014 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

The 250 Europa Coupe’s performance was quite good in the 1950s and still would be respectable today. Its 3.0L V12 engine produced 200hp and was hooked up to a 4 speed manual gearbox. A Subaru BRZ or Honda Civic Si make the same amount of horsepower today, and those are pretty quick cars, but this old Ferrari is also lighter than both of them. So should any custodian of one of the 21 Europa Coupes like to use their car on the road, they will still find it easy to keep up with traffic. Stopping, however, is a different issue, as Ferrari was slow to adopt disc brakes. So yea, this thing has drums.

I remember seeing a 250 Europa Coupe similar to this one in a magazine as a kid. I was spellbound by its elegance and sheer beauty. It’s no wonder this classic Ferrari dropped the hammer at $2,750,000 this summer in Monterey. With Ferrari values going through the roof, this stunning example is likely to be a great investment. Read more on its history here.

-Nick Walker

Cars We've Driven, Everyday Normal Cars, Exotic Supercars

Tesla Model S P85D Review

February 6, 2015 ndubs77 9 Comments

Tesla has taken the industry by storm, shattering all expectations and continuing to surprise everyone. I remember about a year ago when Tesla shares were around $120 and many analysts were saying that was far too high. Well guess what, today shares are selling for $218.

Elon Musk’s can-do spirit permeates through the Tesla brand. That charisma associated with the brand seems to appeal to many customers as much the car itself does. Lately, I’ve grown accustomed to seeing Teslas everywhere in my area. For a high-end luxury car, they are selling like hotcakes.

The Model S P85D is surely the most multi-functional vehicle that I’ve ever experienced, and that is what surprised and impressed me the most about it. In fact, I’d say it’s like having four distinct cars in one…

Continue reading Tesla Model S P85D Review →

Opinions

Is The Cayman GT4 The Salvation Of Porsche’s Manual Gearbox?

February 4, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

In 2013 Porsche released the (991) 911 GT3 without even the option of a manual gearbox. They put all of their chips in the PDK basket, and then watched as the value of older manual-equipped 911 GT3s skyrocketed.

We’re talking $160,000+ for a 997 GT3 RS and over $300,000 for a GT3 RS 4.0.

Could Porsche have been wrong about the consumer’s desire for PDK? And does the new manual-only Cayman GT4 signify that Porsche may be back-pedaling a bit?

Continue reading Is The Cayman GT4 The Salvation Of Porsche’s Manual Gearbox? →

Opinions

The 2016 Ford Focus RS Done Right!

February 3, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Don’t you just love when automakers don’t drop the ball at the last minute and disappoint everyone?

All too often car companies release products that just aren’t as good as they should be. They either don’t listen to what customers are asking for, or they think they don’t need to improve upon a good product (cough, Subaru, cough).

Today, Ford has released the details on the new 2016 Ford Focus RS, a rally-style hatchback aimed directly at the Subaru WRX STI. All of the details we were praying for are thankfully present and accounted for, namely all-wheel-drive a manual gearbox.

Continue reading The 2016 Ford Focus RS Done Right! →

Auto Idolatry

Gabriel Iglesias Visits Jay Leno’s Garage With His VW Samba

February 2, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Funny and Fluffy man, Gabriel Iglesias, swings by Jay Leno’s Garage with his 1966 Volkswagen Samba Bus. If you have eyes and a heartbeat, then it’s very likely you love the style of those old 1960’s VWs. I know every time I see a vintage Bus like this one, I really wish that Volkswagen would still make cars with this sort of style.

Enjoy this hilarious episode!

-Nick

Auto Idolatry

Autocar Tries Out The New Mazda MX5 Miata

February 2, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Here is our first look at what the new 2015 Mazda MX5 Miata is like from behind the wheel. This is the 1.5L-equipped Miata, which will be a Japanese and European model only. Impressions on the US-spec 2.0L Miata are yet to come, but horsepower for the 2.0L SkyActive four cylinder has been announced at 155bhp. That’s not the 180-200hp that many of us were hoping for, but this is a Miata, so it doesn’t really matter that much.

In the video, he says the new car feels a lot like the original Miata, and I can think of no higher praise for this car than that.

Enjoy!

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

Ferrari 458 Speciale Spotted In Pebble Beach, CA

January 30, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

We spotted this ominous black and gold Ferrari 458 Speciale while we were out and about in Pebble Beach. We saw a number of 458 Speciales during our trip, but this one was definitely a more uncommon color combo.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry

Dodge Challenger Hellcat vs. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

January 30, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

An epic showdown between two of the top-tier muscle cars. The 580hp Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was some tough stuff a few years ago, but can it match up to Dodge’s new 707hp Challenger Hellcat?

Motor Trend’s Johnny Lieberman finds out…

Enjoy

Nick

Opinions

Okay, fine! The Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ Are Mediocre

January 28, 2015 ndubs77 9 Comments

Yea that’s right, people, I’m saying it! Toyota and Subaru’s supposed christchild of a sports car is actually pretty meh, and sales are dropping off. Here’s why…

So Much Hype

The GT86 may well be the most over-hyped car in recent memory. In reality, people liked the idea of the car more than the actual car itself. And because they wanted more companies to make cars like it, everyone raved about the GT86.

I really liked the manual FR-S when I drove it, and I hated the automatic. The reason comes down to the fact that all the FR-S really has going for it are its wonderful driving dynamics. In many respects it actually does feel like a Porsche Cayman, and that’s awesome! But when you remove the manual gearbox from the FR-S or BRZ, then you remove most of the driving engagement. That leaves the car’s more mediocre aspects completely exposed, and in my opinion, ruins it entirely.

Continue reading Okay, fine! The Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ Are Mediocre →

Opinions

Edmunds Tests The Durability Of Ford’s Aluminum F-150

January 27, 2015 ndubs77 4 Comments

I’ll admit to being one of the skeptics of the new aluminum-bodied Ford F-150. I could just see them getting banged up real easily on worksites, and being extremely expensive to fix. This video shows some surprising resilience in the F-150’s aluminum body panels, even after being pounded with a sledgehammer. No word on the repair bill as of yet, so we’ll have to wait and see. But thus far, I’m definitely impressed.

UPDATE: They got the bill!

So the aluminum body panels are sturdier than many had thought, but you won’t want to have to fix them. They are quite expensive, more than double the cost of repairing steel body work. Aluminum costs substantially more to work on than steel, and it takes more hours to do the work.

In a nutshell, it’s a good thing that the F-150’s aluminum body panels are pretty robust because many customers may find it a better idea to just live with a few dings and dents than spend the big money on repairs.

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

Hennessey Venom GT Spotted in Carmel, CA

January 26, 2015 ndubs77 3 Comments

There are exotic cars, and then there are hyper-exotic cars. During Monterey Car Week, you get used to seeing the “normal” exotic cars, but seeing a hyper-exotic will still make you go absolutely crazy. Running recklessly through the street or parking in a tow-away zone, you are willing to take the risk just so you can get a photo of such a beast in the wild. The car we have here is just such a thing. It is a Hennessey Venom GT, for those of you unfamiliar at first sight.

It is a very special occasion seeing the fastest street-legal car on Earth out in contrast with the real, often mundane world. With minivans and pickup trucks all around, the 270mph-capable Venom GT looked totally evil and menacing. I mean think about that for a second. I generally consider a Porsche Cayman S to be a pretty fast car, and that has a top speed of around 170mph. This Hennessey will do an entire 100mph more than that!

The Venom GT draws a ton of attention to itself too. It is obscenely wide, so it pokes out past the line of other parked cars, and those huge rear tires leave no guesses as to the car’s high performance capabilities. Simply put, the Venom GT is one seriously bad Mo-Fo.

This was actually John Hennessey’s personal car, and it was parked outside the hotel he was staying at in Carmel, CA. Even among the other hyper-exotic cars we caught roaming the public streets this summer, this brutal Hennessey Venom GT left a lasting impression on us.

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

A Raspberry Mercedes 300SL Roadster at the Gooding & Company Auction

January 23, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

I’ve seen a fair number of Mercedes 300SLs in my time, but this one has to be my favorite, by far. It’s color is not red, it’s color is not pink, its color is raspberry! It also has a rich tan interior with a bright white steering wheel, in true 300SL form.

I walked into the Gooding & Company Auction display at Pebble Beach to this stunning automobile sitting right in front of me, and my jaw crashed through the floor. A car like a 300SL is supposed to make a statement, and this raspberry example is anything but subtle. It looks incredible today as a classic, but just imagine how it looked back in the 1950s. Back then the Mercedes 300SL was the fastest road car in the world, with a top speed cracking 150mph. The glamour is almost unfathomable!

The appeal of this magnificent 300SL Roadster has clearly only grown over the years. Looking at it that day, I would’ve considered bartering my very soul for it. But even so, I’m not sure that would’ve covered the $1.7 Million that this thing dropped the hammer at.

One more thing to dream about, I guess…

Continue reading A Raspberry Mercedes 300SL Roadster at the Gooding & Company Auction →