All posts by ndubs77

Test Driven: Aston Martin V8 Vantage S, Nick’s Take (7/10)

December 2, 2013 ndubs77 1 Comment

The raspy echo of a snarling V8 carrying over the desert sand is usually something that would conjure up thoughts of American iron and righteous lawlessness. The movie Vanishing Point comes to mind, and the Dodge Challenger is just the car I would normally think of when the topic of V8s echoing over desert sands arises. But in this case, what I am describing is not a muscle car, but a suave British exotic, fresh from the pages of a novel by Ian Fleming. I am of course talking about an Aston Martin, the V8 Vantage S to be exact, and no, I cannot promise that will be my last James Bond reference because such cliches are obligatory when a journalist drives an Aston, of course.

My drive took place on the racetrack at Exotics Racing in Las Vegas, Nevada. I doubt many Aston Vantages see track time in the hands of their owners, but it was very interesting to get to know this little car in a setting where I could actually explore a good bit of its potential. Exotics Racing had unfortunately unhooked all of the machine guns and the oil slick from the car (things that come standard on every Aston), but on the positive side, that made the car lighter.

Continue reading Test Driven: Aston Martin V8 Vantage S, Nick’s Take (7/10) →

Opinions

RIP Paul Walker, you will be dearly missed

December 1, 2013 ndubs77 6 Comments

As most of you have probably already heard, Fast And Furious star, Paul Walker was killed in a horrific crash yesterday. He was attending a charity car event yesterday afternoon, and he went for a ride in his friend, Rodger Rodas’ (who was a former racing driver), Porsche Carrera GT. Somewhere during the ride, the driver lost control of the notoriously twitchy Porsche, and they crashed. No details have been released yet on the exact circumstances of the crash, but the car was ripped in half, and the fuel tank had ruptured, engulfing the car in flames. Both men were killed in the accident.

This tragedy has shaken the car enthusiast world to the core. I know that my whole generation was, in many ways, brought into our love of cars by Paul Walker and Vin Diesel in The Fast And The Furious, so we all owe Paul a lot of gratitude.

Continue reading RIP Paul Walker, you will be dearly missed →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, Cars We've Driven, SHOWCASE

Fun from Mach 5 Cars’ Exotic Rally Tour

Video November 27, 2013 ndubs77 1 Comment

I recently visited Mach 5 Cars to take part in one of their Exotic Rally Tours. Two of my friends work for Mach 5, an exotic car rental company in the Tri-State Area, and this is something I had been meaning to do for a while now. I took a few pictures, and shot some video of the fun we had on the tour. I was partnered up with my friend, Pete, who works for Mach 5, so when he was driving things got a little crazier.

So check out the video and the photos. Enjoy the sights and sounds of what was surely one of the more exciting days I have had in a while. We look forward to more collaborations with Mach 5 Cars in the future. Check out their website, and give them a call if you want to get yourself behind the wheel… their Exotic Rally Tours are one of the best values in the business. Enjoy.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Jay Leno Shows Us A 1956 Maserati A6G-2000 Allemano Coupe

November 26, 2013 ndubs77 2 Comments

Jay Leno takes us through the details and history of this 1956 Maserati A6G-2000 Allemano Coupe. Enjoy the video!

-Nick

Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, Carmel, CA

November 25, 2013 ndubs77 3 Comments

Among the droves of exotic cars running around Carmel, California during Monterey Car Week, this Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 caught my eye. I love this shade of blue on Lamborghinis, and the lineup of plebeian cars behind it really shows off the Murcielago’s exotic form. Lamborghinis are meant to be appreciated in the real world, amongst boring everyday things. That is where the are most extraordinary, and that is where the contrast is most extreme.

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

Pagani Huayra at The Quail

November 22, 2013 ndubs77 3 Comments

I remember, back when I was like fifteen, when getting to sit in a supercar was an unbelievable thrill. It was before I had a driver’s license, so driving them still seemed so far off in the distance, and sitting in a car at an event was sort of the pinnacle experience among my friends and I. We always used to talk to owners with the hopes of buttering them up before popping the big question, “So, can I sit in it?”

It seems like a simple request, but with many owners, you might as well be saying, “I really love your wife’s breasts, mind if I have myself a feel?” Such cars many people can hold that dearly to themselves. There were always the “cool” owners who obliged us, and a few complete jerks who wouldn’t. Some of my favorite reactions actually came from company representatives, who had forgotten to lock the cars at events, like, “Excuse me, sir. Are you being…. helped?” (to a 15 year old kid), or “You think you can just sit in whatever cars you please?” Well yes, if the door is open I think I will.

Anyway, since starting this site, I have had the great fortune of getting to drive many “dream cars,” and I must say that simply sitting in a Lamborghini doesn’t quite do for me what it used to any more. However, this year we went to The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, and there I was given the opportunity to sit in my (above all others) dream car, the Pagani Huayra. The excitement was back, and in force. I was now in the midst of everything I have seen online, all those immaculate details, and it was just awesome.

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Car Shows

New Hope Auto Show: Buick Super 8 Woody Wagon

November 20, 2013 ndubs77 2 Comments

This Buick Super 8 is a woody among woodies. It rolled in a little later in the day at the New Hope Auto Show this summer, and it immediately ripped our eyes away from the corral of supercars. This is one of those cases where they literally just don’t make them like this anymore. With modern safety regulations and cost concerns, the woody is a thing of the past. While that is quite sad, it also makes spectacular examples, such as this Buick, that much more special.

The details on this Super 8 Wagon were nothing short of immaculate. It is from an era when American cars were at their peak, a level that modern American companies wish they could reach now. I’m sorry, but next to this Buick Super 8, a Verano or a Lacrosse might as well be invisible. GM, and other American companies, need to bring this sort of luscious flavor back into their products. They may not be able to use large wooden panels anymore, but how about some inspired design and a bold sense of style?

I’ll let the photos do the talking from here. Enjoy.

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Opinions

Looking Critically At The New Subaru WRX

November 18, 2013 ndubs77 1 Comment

As information on the 2015 Subaru WRX has been surfacing before its debut at the upcoming 2013 LA Auto Show, I find myself split between two opposing reactions. On the one hand we have the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality, and on the other hand we have the “WTF? It’s exactly the same as the old one!” point of view.

In essence it would seem that Subaru knows they have a great thing going with the WRX, and they don’t see a reason to change much about it. As an STi owner of seven years now, I can attest that the overall package of a WRX makes it one of the best all-round cars that money can buy. It is fast, it handles great, it is practical, it will drive through any weather, it is reasonably priced, and the fuel economy, while not fantastic, is generally tolerable. The 2015 WRX seems to change none of this, and that seems like a sure bet for sales.

The problem I see, though, is that the car is getting a bit stale at this point. There’s nothing really fresh about it, and even with the new body style, it looks the same as the old one. Subaru has changed the engine to a 2.0L flat-4 from the current 2.5L flat-4, but horsepower only increases by a measly 3 ponies for a total of 268hp. Obviously, in real terms, the new WRX still offers a massively fun package, but am I the only one who wanted to see the WRX with at least 300hp by now?…. and the STi with like 400hp?

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Opinions

The ATS-V Is Coming, How Can Cadillac Screw It Up?

November 15, 2013 ndubs77 3 Comments

Cadillac ATS-V Rendering, Courtesy Of Motor Trend

We all know the Cadillac ATS-V is coming. The rumors have been swirling for some time now, and many people have taken it upon themselves to photoshop what they hope the car will look like (see above). But the issue for me now is, wondering if, and how, GM may go about screwing up this highly anticipated car.

This is not to say that I don’t have faith in GM’s ability to make great cars, they have a number of great cars out right now. However, there are still enough instances of idiotic, old-school GM rearing its head in our post-economic-crisis world to make me worry that they may find a way to drop the ball here. And if there are any cars that the bean counters need to not screw up even one tiny bit, the ATS-V is certainly among them.

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Car Shows

Radnor Hunt Concours: 1927 Rolls Royce “Springfield” Phantom I Pall Mall Phaeton

November 13, 2013 ndubs77 Leave a comment

We saw this gorgeous 1927 Rolls Royce “Springfield” Phantom I Pall Mall Phaeton at the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance back in September. It was among the majority of Phantom Is that were built stateside, at Rolls Royce’s factory in Massachusetts. This particular car has been completely restored to its original condition, with its stunning tri-color scheme that consisted of a creme tan and navy blue with red accents. I have seen a few stunning prewar Rolls Royces this summer, but this one may well be my favorite because of its color scheme alone. It is just so rich looking, and extremely unique.

This example also had the distinct honor of carrying none other than Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor Roosevelt during a 1936 parade in Houston, Texas. Its original owner, at the time, was Roy Garret Watson, the Publisher of the Houston Post. This Phantom I resided in Houston until just recently in 2012, when it changed hands and moved to Pittsburgh, PA.

This was my pick for “Best In Show” at Radnor Hunt this year. It didn’t win (my picks never do, somehow), but it was still my favorite car in attendance that day. Enjoy the photos of this immaculate machine.

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Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Autocar Tests The New Ferrari 458 Speciale

November 11, 2013 ndubs77 1 Comment

When I reviewed the Ferrari 458 Italia this past summer, I said that I thought the car may have reached a sort of apex where it would be hard to improve upon. The steering and gear shifts, and really everything else about the car, were all instantaneous, making the car feel like it was literally connected to my central nervous system.

Evidently, Ferrari has found ways of improving the 458. Autocar’s Steve Sutcliffe drives it here, and seems simply blown away by the improvements that have been made. We’ll have to take his word for it for now, but hopefully I will find a way to get my hands on one of these monsters in the future to see for myself.

-Nick