Category Archives: Cars We’ve Driven

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

2016 Mazda ND Miata Club Review: Joy On Four Wheels

January 13, 2016 ndubs77 3 Comments

The original Mazda Miata brought driving enjoyment to the masses. Like the great British and Italian roadsters before it, the Miata offered the full wind-in-your-hair experience, but it did so without all of the reliability problems suffered by the european cars. It was a simple, affordable, enjoyable machine. They basically materialized fun, and gave it four wheels.

Some have criticized the Miata for being soft as a sports car, though, even saying that it isn’t really a sports car at all. For the original NA Miata in stock form, I have to I agree. It’s a lot of fun, and is surely a great roadster, but a stock NA Miata lacks the handling composure that really defines a true sports car.

As the Miata has grown and evolved over the years, Mazda has worked to make it more of a sports car, while keeping it a great roadster as well. When I took the new ND Miata out for a spin, it became clear that Mazda has finally found the right balance for the total Miata experience.

In some regards Mazda has taken the Miata back to its roots. In other ways it has benefitted from many modern technological improvements. All in all, I am confident in saying that it is the best Miata they’ve ever made. Here’s why…

Continue reading 2016 Mazda ND Miata Club Review: Joy On Four Wheels →

Cars We've Driven, Everyday Normal Cars, Luxury Cars, MoM Vlog, Photography by Dan Valanzola, Road Review, SUVs and Crossovers

Volkswagen Touareg TDI: The Dieselgate Review

Video December 16, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

This 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI is my dad’s daily driver, and despite us owning it for nearly 5 years now, I’ve yet to do a review on it until now. But with the advent of Dieselgate, which now affects our Touareg, I figured it was time.

In the video I review the Touareg, and how it’s been for our family over the years. Then, with that in mind, I give my take on Dieselgate and what we plan to do as things progress.

I wrote an article on Dieselgate earlier, before the V6 diesel models were affected, but now that our Touareg has been drawn into it, I wanted to do show my take on the full issue on video.

Enjoy!

Here are some pics of our VW Touareg TDI shot by our friend, Dan Valanzola:

-Nick Walker

Cars We've Driven

Lexus RC-F Review: The Best GT Car For The Money?

November 11, 2015 ndubs77 7 Comments

$75,000 will buy you a hell of a lot of car. For those looking for a posh grand touring coupe, options will include Aston Martins, Maseratis and Bentleys, in addition to your more run-of-the-mill German luxury sleds. There are a lot of fine cars to choose from.

But now I’m going to tell you why you should consider forgoing all of the above, and write the big check out to your local Lexus dealership instead. The Molten Pearl Orange car you see here is the Lexus RC-F, and it may well be the best grand touring coupe available on a $75,000 budget.

A grand touring car is mainly about three things, style, speed and comfort. But the RC-F brings even more to the table, and it winds up making a hell of a lot of sense to any thinking buyer.

Wait, isn’t this supposed to compete with the BMW M4 and Cadillac ATS-V?

Yes, in many regards it does. But the RC-F has a different sort of character about it.

The BMW and the Cadillac are very much sports cars at heart. While the RC-F has a lot of sporting elements, it feels more varied in its focus. It’s quite a bit heavier than the BMW and Caddy, certainly not a nimble handler to the same degree. But that solid, heavy feel in the RC-F, mixed with its dynamic ambidexterity, gives it the unmistakeable flavor of a grand touring car. That is why I am framing it as such, and it seems to make a lot more sense when looked at through the grand touring lens.

Continue reading Lexus RC-F Review: The Best GT Car For The Money? →

Cars We've Driven

2016 Nissan Maxima Quick Take Review (5.5/10)

October 26, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

My buddy won some prize at a local Nissan dealer, so I went with him to try and get a review on the new Nissan Maxima SR. What followed was a lesson in how NOT to go about selling a car to someone.

The salesman was rude and awkward The car was still covered in delivery tape (hence my lack of real photos), and the seats were still wrapped in plastic. Our drive also consisted of just driving a few blocks around town instead of a real test drive on varying types of roads. Even if I were serious about buying this car, I sure as hell wouldn’t have bought it from this place.

Despite all of this I made due in the situation and found out enough about the new Nissan Maxima to know I don’t need to drive it further to render my verdict.

Continue reading 2016 Nissan Maxima Quick Take Review (5.5/10) →

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

Jeep Renegade Limited Review: The Italians Have Made A Jeep You’ll Love!

October 7, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

When you think of Jeep, you think of the iconic Jeep Wrangler. Drawing its heritage all the way back to the army jeeps of World War II, the Wrangler has become the staple off-road vehicle of choice for many.

Many people just love the Wrangler’s unique style, though, without much interest in actually using its vast off-road capabilities. These buyers spell big opportunity for Jeep.

You see, while the Wrangler is quite “cool”, it’s strict off-road focus gives it some pretty serious drawbacks when it comes to everyday on-road driving. Anyone wanting to drive a Wrangler for its style points will have to be willing to sacrifice on fuel economy, practicality, handling, comfort, and security (with open models). Kind of a tough sell.

The big solution for Jeep was to create an all-new model that would take the Wrangler’s DNA and distill it into a more useable package for normal on-road use.

The new Jeep Renegade is that solution. Where the Wrangler is an off-roader first and daily car second, the Renegade is daily car first and an off-roader second.

Renegades are selling well, and I do think Jeep may have a home run on their hands here. Honestly, there are more buyers out there who just want a Jeep for the unique style of the brand, rather than to actually go rock crawling in the desert.

My girlfriend, Gab, is a perfect example. She’s all about the Jeep image, and she loves the car’s features, but she’s not all about getting it muddy or traversing the Mojave desert in her spare time.

Gab got this black 2015 Jeep Renegade Limited a little over a month ago, and she’s been letting me drive her around in it. I feel I’ve gotten to know the car pretty well at this point, and now it’s time to share my take on it with you, my dear readers.

So put your boots on and lets get to it! Continue reading Jeep Renegade Limited Review: The Italians Have Made A Jeep You’ll Love! →

Cars We've Driven

Frankenstein Volvo, A Hillbilly Hot Rod

September 2, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

Sometimes fun isn’t pretty, it’s vile and blemished, with a crooked smile.

This hooptie-looking Volvo belongs to my buddy, Matt. He calls it his Frankestien Volvo, and it’s a sort of “Hillbilly Hot Rod.” With approaching a build like that, it’s hard to go wrong.

You see, perception is largely based on our expectations. If you expect a car to be flawless, then any scratch, any imperfection can ruin it. But if you go in expecting a car to be ghetto as hell, then that leaves you open to be pleasantly surprised by any redeeming qualities.

Matt’s Volvo is clearly a car who’s hair has been let down for the duration.There’s no room for high and mighty expectations to come along for the ride because the back seat has been thrown out. The interior is largely bare, with lots of open metal and wiring. The front seats are the stock volvo pieces, which are comfortable, but a little loose on their mounts. Oh, and there weren’t any seat belts either…

Maybe I was stupid for taking this deathtrap of a car out for a spin… surely from a mother’s perspective I was. But the character of the car, built by Matt (who is a mechanic, among other things), is that of care-free living, and it sort of captivated me in that moment. If it were a Nissan 350Z without seatbelts, I would’ve declined the drive… but not this. Continue reading Frankenstein Volvo, A Hillbilly Hot Rod →

Cars We've Driven, SUVs and Crossovers

2015 Subaru Forester Reviewed (Grade: B)

July 23, 2015 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Monday morning, I go out to start the Subaru Legacy GT, back in early December 2014. It’s cold outside and I’m in no mood to deal with things going wrong. I’m greeted by an angry-looking little red light on the dashboard shaped like a battery. When it’s getting colder outside, this is the one light I wish didn’t exist. Too bad. My alternator had started to fail, and fail it did, just 12 hours later. I got a tan Forester as a loaner, which was miles better than calling a cab that smelled like pee for five days. Continue reading 2015 Subaru Forester Reviewed (Grade: B) →

Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars, SUVs and Crossovers

2016 Volvo XC90 Review: Tell The World You’ve Made Babies In Style!

June 17, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

Why does one need a seven passenger vehicle?

Well, maybe you’re popular and have a lot of friends. Or, perhaps more likely, you haven’t been using condoms, but still won’t pull out before the job is done, because that would be disgracefully un-Patriotic. You wouldn’t want to disappoint Uncle Sam now, would you? Of course not.

But now you find yourself surrounded by screaming little bastards of various sizes, and you need a vehicle that can fit everyone, together, all at once… what joy! The car had better be extra comfortable too, because, with all that screaming in the back, it certainly won’t be easy to relax while you drive.

You could buy a minivan, but that’s just demeaning to your character. I mean you’re clearly an attractive person because you’ve been able to make lots of babies. So why buy a car that will turn you into a shmuck now?

You don’t want to sell out, and the best news is you don’t have to. There are plenty of nice and stylish SUVs out there that you will be delighted to drive the family around in. And Volvo has just brought a formidable new player to the game…

Meet the all-new 2016 Volvo XC90, which is a completely new flavor from the previous XC90. Where the old XC90 was too soccer-mom-ish, maybe a small step up from a minivan, the new XC90 is a suave and luxurious SUV. Eager to compete at the top, it’s new sense of style on the surface also comes with many clever improvements underneath. What we have here might be the most interesting 7 seater on the market.

Driving Impressions

I took a camera along for the ride, so you can see my realtime reactions to the car for yourself.

Continue reading 2016 Volvo XC90 Review: Tell The World You’ve Made Babies In Style! →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

BMW M5 Review (10/10): The Epitome of the Modern Automobile?

May 29, 2015 ndubs77 6 Comments

I despised this BMW M5 when it came out, but then I drove it and it totally won me over. You see, I had always seen the E39 M5 as the quintessential BMW M5, and in many ways I still do. But I had been defining the M5 as a driver’s car, which is only a part of what it is actually meant to be. The BMW M5 has really always been about being a four-door useable supercar. As supercars have changed over the last decade or so, the BMW M5 has changed along with them.

The F10 generation M5 you see here is the most modern idea of what a four-door supercar should be, and I must admit that it blew my mind with it’s bag-o-tricks.

What’s Good?

It Does More of Everything Now

The original E28 BMW M5 from the 1980s was a practical 5-Series sedan with the engine from the BMW M1 Supercar stuffed under the hood. Sedan practicality with supercar levels of punch, and handling to match. Back then, refinement only really went so far, and there was a trade off between comfort and performance.

Over time, that has become less, and less the case. And now the craziest thing about the M5 is that it is basically a full-fledged luxury cruiser in addition to being a practical supercar.

Looking back to the early 2000s, the E39 M5’s era, the current 5-Series is the same size as the 7-Series was back then. If this M5 were out 10-15 years ago, it would’ve been an M7.

It’s not just the size, though. The M5 can have almost all of the same luxury features available on today’s BMW 7-Series. If it weren’t for the M-Badge and all the extra performance, the M5 would do just fine as an everyday luxury sedan.

Continue reading BMW M5 Review (10/10): The Epitome of the Modern Automobile? →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Jaguar F-Type R Coupe Review: The Best Luxury Sports Car under $120 grand?

May 6, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

The Porsche 911 has traditionally been the king of luxury sports cars, but the current generation has become way too expensive and is fairly forgettable. 911 Carrera S models start at $100,000 and can top $150,000 with all the options you want. For that kind of money, don’t you want something with a little more impact?

The 911 is probably as weak as it has ever been right now, and happily, there are many great options that can be had for under $120,000, let alone under $150,000.

The Jaguar F-Type is a relative newcomer, and it has a hell of a lot to offer for very reasonable money.

This is the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe, a rear wheel drive one, which sadly will only exist for the 2015 model year. Come 2016, and all V8 F-Types will all be all wheel drive. The plus, longer tire life and more grip… the minus, longer tire life and more grip.

In either RWD or AWD form, though, the V8 Jag F-Type is a hugely desirable car. To the extent that I might argue it’s the best luxury sports car (or “Sports Grand Tourer”) to buy right now, overall.

Continue reading Jaguar F-Type R Coupe Review: The Best Luxury Sports Car under $120 grand? →

Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars, Road Review

Road Review: 2015 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT/RS Convertible (Grade: C)

April 3, 2015 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

As most of you all know, I spent a weekend in Florida in February. When you’re in South Florida, mass transportation is not really a “thing” like it is in the Northeast where I live year-round. When you’re staying with family and need to get around, a rental car is job number one, considering that at my age, it wouldn’t be right to rely on others for getting places. As a result, I embarked on a journey to find a decent deal on a cheap rental. It took just five minutes to figure out that as an AAA member, I could get deals on rentals—and Thrifty was only more than willing to provide. When all the papers were signed, I had spent just 400 dollars—on a convertible. In South Florida, where this rental level is always a high-demand product, I expected to be priced out of the market. Instead, I got one for the price of a subcompact at a five-day rate. Suckers…giving a 25-year-old a convertible that said “Ford Mustang or similar.” Thrifty said, “Take any Ford Mustang you want.” I looked for twenty minutes, then had to ask “Where’s the Mustangs?”

They had none left (Thrifty, advertise what you have, not what you don’t), but when I asked the old man at the counter in the lot about the Cadillac CTS and the Camaro convertible sitting front of the booth, he simply said after checking my reciept from the counter, “Just take it, no extra charge.” I dropped my luggage and jacket in the trunk, threw the Camaro in gear, and set off to my grandmother’s condo. As I drove it from Fort Lauderdale International to the great city of Boca Raton (where I was the youngest man driving a convertible for miles and miles), I asked myself a question: “Can the V6 Camaro Convertible be a lot more than just a rental car, or only that?” A few days, a tank of gas, plenty of bugs in the mouth, and a few beers later, I had found an answer. Continue reading Road Review: 2015 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT/RS Convertible (Grade: C) →

Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars

2015 Cadillac CTS Vsport Review

March 25, 2015 ndubs77 7 Comments

This is effectively an incognito BMW E39 M5, only even more well-rounded. It is the Cadillac CTS Vsport, not to be confused with the CTS-V, which is Cadillac’s full-throttle, “still hard as a rock after 4 hours” experience.

The CTS Vsport is very much its own thing, not just some “Diet CTS-V” with less calories. If the CTS-V is a big honking hamburger, then the CTS Vsport is grilled salmon filet. It is an entirely different flavor from the V, so get that comparison out of your head from the get-go.

Continue reading 2015 Cadillac CTS Vsport Review →