Category Archives: Cars We’ve Driven

This is our road test section. We use whatever means we can to get whatever cars we can.

2014 Jaguar XJR LWB Review (10/10)

February 5, 2014 ndubs77 6 Comments

Say you have been very successful in your chosen career, and you are ready to treat yourself to a really nice set of wheels. Many die-hard car enthusiasts, like myself, would rather have a collection of a few different cars on a six-figure budget, but many folks still opt for just one car to suit all of their needs and desires. In truth, if you have a high-level executive job, you probably don’t have much spare time to spend cruising around just for fun in multiple, superfluous cars, so having one car that really knocks the ball out of the park is the only way to go.

Obviously, with such a large budget, you can basically have anything you want from a car without even straining yourself. That said, such a budget does allow you to get yourself something that is truly extraordinary, should you so wish. This is where a car like the new Jaguar XJR comes in.

Continue reading 2014 Jaguar XJR LWB Review (10/10) →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: Jaguar F-Type V6S, Al’s Take (Grade: B+)

January 31, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Jaguar’s F-Type is a car that has taken a lot of thought out of me. When I was at Pebble Beach, it was already on sale, and I’d already had some seat time in one back in June 2013 on a parking-lot racetrack in Queens, NY. However, due to the limited amount of time I’d had with it, I was looking forward to taking another crack at this little sports car in the Golden State. I got my wish when I strapped myself into this sleek black beauty, and took it for a rather educational drive around the Seventeen Mile Drive.
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Cars We've Driven, Cheap Fun Cars, Luxury Cars, Used Car Gems

2004 Volkswagen Mk4 Golf R32 Used Car Review

January 20, 2014 ndubs77 12 Comments

2004 Volkswagen Mk4 Golf R32 reviewed by Mind Over Motor

What is it?

This is the original R-rated Volkswagen. After four generations of GTIs, VW decided that something more was needed to compete with the more serious performance cars of the world. Interestingly, the R32 was the first production car to feature a dual-clutch gearbox, although the US only received R32s equipped with manual transmissions. In total just 5000 mk4 Golf R32s were imported to US shores, making them one of the rarest cars in their range.

How’s the R32’s driving experience?

In short: fantastic, and a lot better that I had thought it would be. I’ve driven both of this car’s successors, the Mk5 R32 and the Mk6 Golf R, and I have to say that the Mk4 R32 has a certain something that its replacements do not.

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Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera, Al’s Take (Grade: A)

January 16, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

I don’t like the phrase “lame-duck.” It implies a constantly negative connotation. I don’t like negative connotations when it comes to anything that’s orange, Italian, and far too loud. Despite that, the Gallardo, one of Lamborghini’s most successful models, is indeed on its way out. This particular orange Italian screamer was the third car of four that I drove in Las Vegas last summer and, thanks to the scorching temperatures, the one I was the most fearful of not being able to drive. Luckily, this Lamborghini stayed cool in the heat, while I roasted in the sunlight before taking the wheel. It didn’t disappoint.

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Cars We've Driven, Cheap Fun Cars, Luxury Cars, Road Review, Used Car Gems

Nick’s 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Review

January 6, 2014 ndubs77 11 Comments

It has been nearly three years since I began working on Mind Over Motor, and for some reason I have not gotten around to reviewing the car I know the best in the world, my 2004 Subaru WRX STi.

For most, it would’ve been the very first car to review, but I wanted to focus more on finding ways to get other cars and setting our foundation around that. Having said that, I do think it is high time that I do a proper article on my beloved Subaru, and what better way to begin 2014?

Incidentally, this article will also debut a new style of car review for me, on Mind Over Motor. It is one with a question and answer structure that will hopefully be more conversational in feel. Let me know what you think of the new style, and any suggested improvements you may have in the comments.

So with that, lets start talking Subaru.

Continue reading Nick’s 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Review →

Cars We've Driven

Nick’s Top Car Reviews of 2013

January 1, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

Ferrari 458 Italia Reviewed by Mind Over Motor at Exotics Racing

Happy 2014 everyone! We continue our week of recapping the fun of 2013 with a conglomeration of the best cars I have reviewed during the past year.

I don’t think it is any secret that car reviews are my favorite thing to do for Mind Over Motor. Getting behind the wheel of different types of cars is something that I live for, and putting together these articles allows me to utilize a wide range of creative skills and concepts that I really enjoy. I won’t lie, it takes a lot of time and effort to produce these articles, but it is worth it for me because I get to have fun while also helping and entertaining people with the final product.

While I enjoy reviewing cars of all types, 2013 sort of became dominated by high end cars (not that I’m complaining, of course). We were fortunate enough to be given lots of opportunities to drive some very nice, and often very expensive, vehicles, so naturally we weren’t going to turn them down. Because of this, the High End & Exotic section has been split up into multiple sub-sections, so that I can fully represent my favorite drives of the year.

Here are the top cars, from each category, that I drove during 2013. Click the title links to see the full review articles. Enjoy!

Continue reading Nick’s Top Car Reviews of 2013 →

Cars We've Driven

Al’s Favorite Drives of 2013

December 31, 2013 Albert S. Davis 4 Comments

We, here at Mind over Motor, are about to wave goodbye to 2013. I, however, don’t want to wave goodbye to some of my favorite reviews of 2013. I didn’t put up as many reviews as I would have liked this year–and there are plenty of reviews on the way for 2014, I assure everyone. However, of the cars that I took out for a drive this year, here are my four favorites.
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Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars, Luxury Cars, SUVs and Crossovers

Test Driven: 2014 Range Rover Supercharged (Grade: B)

December 17, 2013 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

The Range Rover is a hard vehicle for me to place sometimes. It has the trappings and the appeal of a luxury car, but can tackle off-road trails like nobody’s business. This year, Land Rover did a ground-up redesign of the old girl and at Pebble Beach, I took a chance on this big black beast after taking a Rolls-Royce out for a spin. Now, I drove an older one on a short off-road course last year and it was a rather eye-opening experience, where I learned just how capable the old one was. This time, though, there was no rock-crawling or dune-smashing. It was just me, a representative, and the 17-Mile Drive. After I shut the door, I had some interesting things to ponder. Continue reading Test Driven: 2014 Range Rover Supercharged (Grade: B) →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

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.

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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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Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: Porsche Panamera GTS (GRADE: A)

November 8, 2013 Albert S. Davis 4 Comments

Porsche is a brand with plenty of varied supporters and detractors. What’s funny is, some of those supporters are also detractors. Whether it was the 911 going to a water-cooled engine, the 911 getting the nose of the Boxster, the 911 going to electric power steering, the Cayenne launching, or the idea (even the idea! For shame!) that Porsche would–GASP!–produce a four door sedan. Any change, and they start screaming.

I’m not one of those people. The Panamera has been a big hit for Porsche financially and I have seen more and more of them on the road since the car’s 2009 launch in America. I hadn’t driven one yet and for some reason, just didn’t think much of it until I was at the Porsche Zentrum at the Quail Lodge in August. When I arrived, I signed up to drive this four-door Porsche, only because the 911s on hand were all booked completely. I thought I’d regret this decision until I turned the key…

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Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars, Luxury Cars

Test Driven: Hyundai Equus, Nick’s Take (6.5/10)

November 1, 2013 ndubs77 1 Comment

Hyundai has transformed itself over the last decade, going from the stereotype maker of cheap jalopies to a company that is now taking on the biggest names in the luxury market. The Equus you see here is the culmination of those efforts, a car that claims to strike directly at the standard of the world, the Mercedes S class.

It is really crazy to think that the same company which makes the economy-minded Elantra can also produce this posh luxury bruiser. Other companies, like Honda and Toyota, created whole new brands (Acura and Lexus) for their upmarket efforts in the US, but Hyundai has decided to keep everything under one flag.

This does beg some questions: Can the Equus really work as a Hyundai in a country where people are obsessed purely with their own self image? And furthermore, if we put the Equus up against its claimed competitors, will it stand up to the challenge?

Continue reading Test Driven: Hyundai Equus, Nick’s Take (6.5/10) →