Category Archives: Opinions

Discussion of matters in the automotive industry and in car culture. Our opinions on what is going on, manufacturer’s products, etc

Opinions

The MK7 Volkswagen Golf R, and why the Subaru STI should be scared

January 9, 2015 ndubs77 7 Comments

Volkswagen’s new Mk7 Golf R seems to be something special, something that ups the ante. In fact, it appears to have improved so much so that I think it will serve the Subaru STI it’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an extra smack in the face for dessert. And I say that as someone who owns a Subaru STI.

A Stagnant Subaru

But I don’t own a new Subaru STI, no, I own a 2004 STI, and the car that I bought back in 2006 was a very different car than today’s. The STI I bought was one that was legitimately, wheel to wheel, a Porsche 911, BMW M3, and Corvette competitor. The 2004 STI was a world-beater ten years ago. But here is where we come to the problem with the new STI… it has barely changed one bit since 2004.

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CARS 101

Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R 2.0T Modification and Tuning Guide

January 6, 2015 ndubs77 7 Comments

Volkswagen’s 2.0T has been the backbone of their lineup, at least here in the US, for nearly a decade now. It has nestled itself into a versitile position, powering the higher-end VW models as well as the lower level Audi models.

Volkswagens equipped with the 2.0T include: the GTI, Golf R, Jetta GLI, Passat, Beetle Turbo, CC, Eos, and Tiguan.

Audis equipped with the 2.0T include: the A3, S3, A4, A5, A6, Q3, Q5, and TT.

The 2.0T has wide-ranging capabilities, and, what luck, it just so happens to be quite tuneable. While there are a few varying versions of the 2.0T out there, depending on the model, the general modification path is pretty standard fare.

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Opinions

The 2016 Cadillac CTS-V And The Identity Of New GM

December 24, 2014 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Christmas came a few days early for American car enthusiasts this year. On Monday, General Motors released the first details on the new Cadillac CTS-V, the latest part of a blatant assault on their foreign rivals. But the offensive is about far more than just “beating” the competition. What these efforts are really about is cementing a solid reputation for the new-era of General Motors.

What I’ve seen happen in the last few years is GM creating their own identity, their own unique flavor of automobile. This is especially so in the high performance sector. GM isn’t trying to build a carbon copy of the latest BMW, quite the contrary. If anything, BMW has strayed from their own ideology in recent years, and GM has chosen to pursue the path that BMW and others have left behind.

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Opinions

Mercedes’ New Bro-Chariot Has Arrived, And It’s Called The GLE

December 12, 2014 ndubs77 2 Comments

Let’s begin with a story…

A few years ago, BMW created an all-new segment. They looked at the idea behind Mercedes’ beautiful CLS 4-door coupe, and then BMW thought… “what if we did that with an SUV?”, And the BMW X6 was born!

Now, unlike the Mercedes CLS, which is essentially just a sleeker, more beautiful Mercedes E-Class with no tangible drawbacks, the X6 didn’t turn out so well. The tapered roofline that makes a car look sleek wound up looking really awkward on the X6’s larger SUV proportions. It also compromised the size of the trunk. So a sleeker, more beautiful BMW X5 the X6 was not, not by a long shot. In fact, it really only served to remove the “utility” from “Sport Utility Vehicle.”

So why, then, would you buy a BMW X6? If you wanted an SUV for all of the reasons anyone wants an SUV, then you’d buy the X5. If you wanted a stylish coupe for all of the reasons people generally want a stylish coupe, then you’d buy a 6 Series. Where is the market for something that looks like a sad humpback whale on wheels?

Well, Mercedes-Benz has clearly been watching closely, and whatever the market may be, they want a peice of it! So, with that, they decided to take their M-Class SUV, break its back like Bane did Batman, and boom!… the Mercedes GLE is here.

Continue reading Mercedes’ New Bro-Chariot Has Arrived, And It’s Called The GLE →

Opinions

Consumer Comparison 2015: Accord vs Altima vs Camry

December 10, 2014 ndubs77 2 Comments

The Honda Accord, the Nissan Altima, and the Toyota Camry, these may seem like mundane machines, but they wage a battle royale for the hearts and minds of the average buyers that make up a huge percentage of the automotive market. And make no mistake, if you are looking to buy one of these three cars, then you are very much an average, Joe-Blow sort of car buyer. That said, do not despair at your C+ automotive clout, because you represent the very backbone of the auto industry, and you are about to make an extremely important decision.

Honda, Toyota, and Nissan are basically seen as the “sure bet” manufacturers for anyone who just wants a reliable form of transportation. That is why we grouped these sedans together. But how are you supposed to choose between three decent options that might as well be carbon copies of one another? Well, dear reader, that’s where we come in to help!

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Opinions

Cars That Should Be Made: Mazdaspeed Miata

December 3, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

We all know Mazda recently unveiled their new MX-5 Miata to the world. In short, it looks fantastic and it is over 200lbs lighter than the current NC-generation Miata. All should seem right with the world, but what about those of us who yearn for a faster Miata, something that will really set our trousers ablaze?

The standard Miata is a great little thing. Made out of sheer joy, the the Miata’s best trait is probably the simplicity of its experience. I wouldn’t for a single instant suggest that Mazda should change the basic Miata, no. But that doesn’t mean they cannot offer a hotter version under the Mazdaspeed nameplate.

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Opinions

Why would you buy a new Porsche 911?

November 14, 2014 ndubs77 3 Comments

In every segment there seems to be one car that sets the bar, the standard by which every other car like it is judged. For the white-collar sports car enthusiast it has long been the Porsche 911. For thinking buyers, however, that may no longer be the case.

I’m not going to complain about the 911 in the way most Porsche purists do, I’m fine with the electric steering, I’m fine with it being water cooled, and I’m even fine with it gaining some size. My gripe really only concerns what buyers get for the price. The car itself is fantastic, but now you’re paying a lot more money for something that really hasn’t changed all that much over the years.

Frankly, the Porsche 911 has become boring and cliche. They don’t even turn too many heads anymore because it feels like there’s a 911 everywhere you look. Maybe it’s the fault of the Cayenne and Panamera for making the Porsche brand more commonplace, or maybe it’s the fact that so many people have bought 911s because it is such a great car. Either way, though, the basic 911 just doesn’t seem worth the kind of money Porsche is asking these days.

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Opinions

The demise of Lotus?

October 1, 2014 ndubs77 4 Comments

A few weeks back I was at a cruise night event in Hopewell, NJ and I was perusing around the Lotus dealer in the middle of town. There was free beer and a great spread to go with the sexy cars they had on display. I made my way over to a gorgeous dark red Lotus Evora S, remembering well my drive in one a few years back at Pebble Beach. It was an extremely entertaining car to drive, a sort of mini-supercar by today’s standards. 345hp may not sound astronomical at this point, but the Evora isn’t all that heavy at under 3000lbs. It has plenty of punch, and when you mix that with the Evora’s sublime handling you definitely wind up with a huge grin on your face. The Evora is a wonderful car, and quite a looker as well, but then I made the mistake of looking at the price tag…

$94,000!?!?! And I thought Porsche’s were a overpriced!

Continue reading The demise of Lotus? →

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1929 Ruxton C Baker-Raulang Roadster at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

September 30, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Ruxtons were a featured marque this year at the Pebble Beach Concours, and what a great brand to feature at a show like this. These cars were built-to-order in a shop in Philadelphia and were incredibly expensive to buy. As the first front-wheel-drive American automobile for sale, these were exclusive in their era and very innovative for the late Twenties. The brand would sadly fail in 1931, but interest in the cars has been high in the recent past as orphan marques become more noticeable at Concours events. This particular Ruxton is the fifth Roadster built and features a truly breathtaking pink paint finish, something unique and stunning on a car from the Roaring Twenties. This car now resides in the Petersen collection and was right at the front of the line of Ruxtons in the middle row at Pebble Beach–a fitting location for such an eye-catching automobile. In terms of striving for attention, it does not get any better than this Ruxton for 1929. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1929 Ruxton C Baker-Raulang Roadster at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance →

Opinions

The Jaguar XE might be one of the most important launches from the brand in decades.

September 12, 2014 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

Jaguar has been, over the past five years, transformed dramatically. What was once a struggling, traditional English luxury car company with limited cash from a cash-strapped Ford Motor Company has been injected with fresh funding from Tata Motors and fresh talent from all over the industry. This half-decade has turned the brand into a styling powerhouse, with more than just a few great models on their stage. The XJ has been turned into a sleek animal of a flagship sedan, where a stodgy and outdated sedan once stood. The rise of the F-Type coupe and roadster mark the end of the line for the XK series, which despite its best efforts was always rather second fiddle to the king of its segment (I think it begins with the letter P). Finally, the XF has exorcised the demons of the frumpy and unappealing S-Type, for better much than for worse. However, I’m here to talk about the car that I think is going to bring the Jaguar name from an afterthought to the front of our minds: the new XE. Continue reading The Jaguar XE might be one of the most important launches from the brand in decades. →

Opinions

Paul Walker’s soul wants you to sign this petition so the US can have Nissan Skylines

August 7, 2014 ndubs77 4 Comments

Petrolicious has put forth a petition to get the American government to change the DOT/EPA’s import rule from 25 years to 15 years. What this means is that instead of just being able to import R32 generation Nissan Skylines right now, we would be able to import all of the R32 and R33 generation Skylines, and even some R34 generation Skylines… as seen in The Fast and Furious movies. The rule goes far beyond Nissan Skylines, though. Just think of all the awesome cars in Europe that haven’t made their way over here to the States…. Audi RS2, soon to be Audi RS5 (B5 gen), BMW M5 Wagons, all of those wonderful hot-hatches, and even a first-generation PAGANI ZONDA.

This is really a petition to change a stupid law that needlessly infringes upon the freedom of American consumers to purchase whatever vehicle they want. It serves absolutely no safety purpose, given that all cars from 15 years ago are way less safe than newer cars. Even if you personally would not import a car, you should sign the petition out of good will to your fellow car-lovers, and in return, you will have the pleasure of seeing more beautiful Alfa Romeos roaming the streets. This change will only serve to improve everyone’s lives!

You can sign the petition HERE. All it requires is your name, email, and zip code. It take 2 seconds.

Let’s all use the power of social media to make the United States a better place!

-Nick

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1935 Duesenberg “Mormon Meteor” at the Elegance at Hershey

July 23, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

This is the “Mormon Meteor,” a one-off Duesenberg that set a world land speed record in 1935. Based on Duesenberg’s Model J chassis, it was commissioned by famed driver Ab Jenkins for the purpose of setting a land speed record. Much to the delight of his sponsors, who funded the build of the car, Jenkins set a speed record by averaging 135.47mph over a 24 hour period at the Bonneville Salt Flats in October of 1935. The record stood all the way until 1961, which is quite impressive considering the caliber of racing cars that came out between 1935 and then (Jaguar D-Type, Ferrari Testa Rossa, etc).

After setting the speed record, Jenkins made the necessary adjustments to the car for street use and drove it another 20,000 miles around his home area in Utah. This is a very significant automobile, and a real testament to the quality of Duesenberg’s engineering, because it was based on a production car, the Model J. Now obviously it wasn’t just a standard Model J with a body kit, no, it’s 420ci (6.9L) supercharged straight-8 engine was heavily tweaked to produce a massive 400hp, a huge amount of power for the day. Most road cars on sale today can’t even reach 135mph, let alone average that for a whole day, so the Duesenberg Mormon Meteor is really an engineering marvel. As pre-war automotive technology goes, this car might just be the pinnacle.

The Elegance at Hershey was my second encounter with the Mormon Meteor. It took best in show at Pebble Beach in 2007, which, incidentally, was my inaugural visit to the events of Monterey Car Week. Naturally, if it can win Pebble Beach, then it can win other concours events, and it did just that by taking best in show this year at The Elegance at Hershey. All Duesenbergs are special cars, certainly the pinnacle of their era, but the Mormon Meteor may well be the the king of them all. It is a mighty impressive, and very beautiful machine, with the craftsmanship and quality to withstand the ages.

I just hope my photos do it justice, enjoy!

Continue reading 1935 Duesenberg “Mormon Meteor” at the Elegance at Hershey →