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

Top Gear was wrong. The Lexus SC430 was by far not the worst car ever.

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Lexus SC430 - Front Angle, 2002, 800x600, 10 of 27

Top Gear has, over the years, been very good at explaining why they have their opinions.  However, this is one time where they may not be right in my eyes.  The Lexus SC430 has a lot of reasons behind it for being underwhelming.  But, crucially, it never really ruined a nameplate.   Lexus may have made a mess of the SC nameplate, but people are still buying everything else they make.  The SC was bad, but it wasn’t a car that actually sent a brand into a tailspin.  That, friends, represents far greater levels of failure–a level of failure that, in my opinion, has only been seen once or twice.  However, I’m looking for a car that was bad for the same reasons as the sacrilegious Lexus, but did the job of destroying a reputation. Continue reading Top Gear was wrong. The Lexus SC430 was by far not the worst car ever. →

Opinions

The Malaise Era: As bad as it gets, or misinterpreted?

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We all know how bad cars in America became after Nixon won a second term.  From that point until the end of Reagan’s second term, cars built here in America were, to most of the country, lacking in performance, quality, and innovation.  I understand the sentiment.  Looking into the cars built during the era, we see engines strangled by emissions regulations, stylists stymied by big safety bumpers and lighting changes, and salesmen who were stuck with cars that Americans didn’t want.  I do not want to go into any of  that today, however.  The reason?  I think the Malaise Era of the USA deserves another look, from a more universal perspective. Continue reading The Malaise Era: As bad as it gets, or misinterpreted? →

Car Shows, Opinions

Elmiraj, the Cadillac of Cadillacs

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Cadillac Elmiraj Concept
Cadillac Elmiraj Concept

We got to see Cadillac’s Elmiraj Concept at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and plainly, this is the sort of thing the Cadillac Brand needs right now. Cadillac has not been “the Cadillac of cars” since the mid 1960s in my opinion, and it’s about time they step up and reclaim their original status in the world.

The Elmiraj looks to be a grand touring car of world class standards. It’s design is unmistakably that of a Cadillac, but it has a nice sleek, modern shape. While I doubt it would make it to production in its current form, the Elmiraj’s interior is breathtakingly gorgeous, with gratuitous amounts of wood, leather and metal used throughout.

As far as what’s under the hood, I’ve heard rumors of a twin turbo 4.5L V8 with more than 500hp. That will most likely put the Elmiraj in competition with the Jaguar XKR, Maserati Granturismo, BMW 650i/M6, etc, in the price range around $100,000. That, of course assumes that Cadillac will ever have the guts to actually produce an ambitious concept car such as this.

I think with proper execution, a production version of the Elmiraj would do a lot to put Cadillac back where they need to be as a brand. The ATS, CTS, and the CTS-V have done a lot to show that Cadillac has potential, but they need a capstone, a mighty flagship to lead their assault. I know Cadillac’s track record with concept cars is awful when it comes to anything making it to production, but I am really holding out hope that the Cadillac Elmiraj is not indeed a mirage.

Enjoy the photos

Continue reading Elmiraj, the Cadillac of Cadillacs →

CARS 101

One of the best looks at speeding laws I’ve seen

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We all dread speeding tickets, yet most of us willingly speed everywhere we go. In truth speed limits, everywhere outside of towns and neighborhoods, are far too low. Cars have come a long way, and the government should, if they were concerned with actual public safety and social function, be doing studies to find the optimal speed limit for each road within their jurisdiction. In reality, though, governments, care very little about actual public safety or the practical functioning of society. They are far more concerned with preserving the massive revenue that is brought in by traffic fines. Because of this, the speed limits have remained too low, allowing the cops to literally pick any motorist out of the pack to get a citation.

While I doubt anything will be done about this issue soon, the above video, “Speed Kills Your Pocketbook”, makes a valid and intelligent point. Enjoy.

-Nick

Opinions

Porsche 918: 78mpg and a Nurburgring time of 6:57

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Porsche 918 Spyder cutaway
Porsche 918 Spyder cutaway

Fuel economy isn’t usually a concern for supercars, but Porsche’s new 918 Spyder will supposedly show a Prius what’s what. Back when Porsche first released the 918 Spyder concept, they claimed it would be able to do 78mpg — the world laughed at the idea. Well now, with the production car finally released at the Frankfurt Motor Show , they are holding fast to that claim, so one must presume they have done a few tests that confirm it is possible.

The 918 Spyder can also produce 887hp, but certainly not at the same time it is doing 78mpg. Yes, the choice will be yours from the driver’s seat. While I’m sure that few will actually bother trying to best a Prius in MPG with that sort of power on tap, it is nice to know you can if you want to. The 918 Spyder allows you to have your cake and eat it too, and that is not something true of most similar such cars.

Continue reading Porsche 918: 78mpg and a Nurburgring time of 6:57 →

Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck

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The late 1970s were a bleak time for America.  The country was stuck with a bad case of stagflation, there was rife conflict in the Middle East as the shah of Iran was losing his grip on his country, and if you wanted anything fast and American, you were either wrenching on an older car, or looking longingly at the used car lots for a Hemi Challenger that wasn’t beat to within an inch of its life.  This, however, didn’t stop Dodge from trying to bring the magic back. Continue reading Obscure Auto: 1978-1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck →

CARS 101, Opinions

Cars 101: How to live the “Low Life”

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Slammed Honda Accord Coupe
Slammed Honda Accord Coupe by Dan Valanzola

Have you ever been so stoned that you wondered, “Hey, what if my car… and the ground… were the same thing?”

Evidently, someone asked that very question at some point, and the stance craze was born. Slammed cars have all but replaced ricers as the automotive fad of choice, and now everyone wants to be “Hella Flush” in their mom’s Jetta.

It is a movement based entirely around vanity, compromising practical functionality in the name of style and form. There comes with it a rebellious undertone, projecting a level of pride in deviating from the automotive norm. Most people won’t “get it”, and that is the whole point.

So how does one go about conforming to the non-conformity of the Stance Movement? There is a lot more to it than just lowering your car, although that is an inevitability that you might as well just get out of the way. As said by Stance Works, “Low is a lifestyle”, so you’ve gotta really love it to live it low, bro.

Continue reading Cars 101: How to live the “Low Life” →

CARS 101, Motorsport

Oh The Motoring Irony!

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How much longer will this be a familiar sight?

It goes without saying that Audi owns Le Mans; both figuratively and sort of literally.  The eleven overall victories certainly cement the figurative bit and the constant ‘Quattro’ this and ‘Quattro’ that plastered everywhere seem pretty literal if you were to ask me.

So it came to little surprise to me when Porsche unveiled their new 2014 LMP1 racer a mere week before the 2013 Le Mans race.  The motorsport world had been fast approaching what was seeming to be (and was) yet another overall victory for Audi on the La Sarthe circuit, and Porsche wanted everyone watching to remember that in one year they would be returning to the track to defend their honor (and their sixteen overall victories).

However, while watching a portion of the 1998 Le Mans race on YouTube, I had a revelation of just how ironic this impending on-track battle between the two marques actually is.  Yes, you read that correctly, ironic is the perfect word to use to describe the 2014 24 Heures du Mans.

So, we start the beginning of this ironic, frighteningly Star Wars-like (more on that later) story with the Audi RS2 Avant.  In the early 1990s, Audi engineers decided that they wanted to mix their expertise in building sensible cars with a bit of eye-popping performance.

Continue reading Oh The Motoring Irony! →

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton

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1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton

This beautiful Auburn 851 SC Phaeton was at the recent 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.  The 851 came about when Cord, who owned Auburn at the time, was looking to make an effective car for the times, which had changed. America was now caught in the midst of The Great Depression, and V12 luxury cars were no longer the best idea.

The 851 was a more downmarket model than previous Auburns, though very much still a luxury car. While most people think of the famous Boattail Speedster when they hear the name Auburn, this 851 SC Phaeton was aimed more at clients with families. The car you see here is equipped with Auburn’s supercharged inline-eight cylinder engine, producing 150hp. That was a lot of power at the time, and an 851 Speedster with the same engine set a record, averaging over 100mph for a 12 hour long run. Auburn sold around 5000 851s in 1935, but sales dropped sharply in 1936. It was at that point that Cord decided to end Auburn production altogether.

This 851 SC Phaeton caught my eye because of its  immaculate appointments. Its beautiful two-tone blue exterior sits strikingly over its read leather interior, and the detail work all around the car is incredible. I tried to capture as much of it as I could through the lens of my camera. Enjoy.

Continue reading 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1935 Auburn 851 SC Phaeton →

Opinions

Thoughts on the 2014 BMW i3

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2014 BMW i3

Just yesterday I was telling a friend of mine how I thought the Tesla Model S was currently the only truly viable electric car on the market. Less than 24hrs after that conversation it would seem things have changed. BMW dropped the details on their production ready i3 city car today, and it looks mighty promising in many respects. That said, it also raises a few questions for me.

The basic details of the i3 are as follows:

  • Pricing starts around $41k — before any government discounts
  • Range is said to be 80-100 miles per charge
  • A full charge takes only 3 hours, or just 30 minutes with the optional SAE DC Combo Fast Charger
  • A 650cc range extending gas motor is available as an option
  • 170hp and 184ft/lbs of torque go to the rear wheels — from zero rpm
  • Performance: 0-30 in 3.5sec, 0-60 in 7sec, and a top speed of 93mph
  • The chassis is a carbon fiber reinforced plastic monocoque, a mass production first, which helps keep the weight down to around 2700lbs.

Looking at the details I see a few things that stand out…

Continue reading Thoughts on the 2014 BMW i3 →

Opinions

Leagues Lost in Luxury

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Rolls Royce Phantoms old and new
Rolls Royce Phantoms old and new

Going to all of these concours events I’ve had the privilege to see some of the most glorious prewar luxury cars imaginable. Packards, Duesenbergs,  Delahayes, Bugattis, the list goes on and on. This got me thinking about how most of these wonderful cars haven’t survived the ages, and it begged the question, why?

Continue reading Leagues Lost in Luxury →

Opinions

Jaguar C-X75 by Autocar

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Just listen to this thing, it’s epic. We all saw this car in concept form, but now there are actual prototypes that Jaguar is letting the media sample. While everyone seems to maintain that the “C-X75 will never be built”, one has to wonder why Jaguar has continued its development of the car if they really aren’t going to make it. In business, you don’t spend valuable money developing a project that you aren’t going to see through. I see this as a sure sign that the C-X75 is coming to production, and will be meeting the LaFerrari, Mclaren P1 and Porsche 918 in battle. Be excited.

-Nick