Discussion of matters in the automotive industry and in car culture. Our opinions on what is going on, manufacturer’s products, etc
Back in August, Nick and I were at the Pebble Beach Concours, as most of you know. The day we arrived, we got hosed by Air Traffic Control, and missed the debut of the Cadillac Ciel concept car. When we both saw it in the flesh the next morning, I was smitten. While GM is calling it a strict concept, I think that it really does represent a lot about the future of the Cadillac brand in two or three different realms. Continue reading Why I love the Cadillac Ciel
I was watching an Edmunds video on Youtube where they tested the new Buick Verano, a Chevy Cruze in makeup and a cocktail dress. Overall they liked how smoothly it rode and all of the effort Buick had put into making the car as quite and serene as possible in the cabin. All of this seemed great until they voiced their complaints about GM’s engine choice for the car, the shouty and strained Ecotec Inline 4. Evidently it will ruin your relaxation anytime you decide to accelerate with a loud, unrefined groan. It is sad that with most Buicks there seems to be one large flaw somewhere in the design of each of their cars, but I believe there is an easy solution for many of their problems. Continue reading Buick: Diesel is a Must.
Jaguar is a brand long known for sporty, luxurious British automobiles, but their attempt two decades ago to bring out a fully-fledged supercar did not quite pan out as expected. For the reason, the XJ220 is notable in its development and how it changed when the finished product hit the market. It’s still one of the prettiest cars of the early 1990s, and carries with it a particularly intriguing automotive story. Continue reading Obscure Auto: Jaguar XJ220
This is a mythical machine known to many enthusiasts. Anyone who has played Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport will recognize it as the most insane car that british manufacturer, TVR, ever built. It is the Cerbera Speed 12. People who know it, know of it’s insanity, but few know it’s actual story. We will try and set the record straight. Continue reading Obscure Auto: TVR Cerbera Speed 12
In the past few days, since Forza 4 hit the shelves, I have devoted a rather large, and probably unhealthy amount of time to it. As a young car guy who enjoys video games I was indescribably excited for the game’s release. So after a decent amount of hours played in the game I am ready to share my thoughts. Continue reading Forza Motorsport 4
While the rest of the world makes sports cars, Toyota is seemingly pretending to make one. The FT-86 has been on the mind of every gearhead in the world since at least 2008, but since then, Toyota has been constantly tossing the concept into a microwave and pressing Reheat for every car show since. Not many specifications have hit the press, and although a tie-up with Subaru has been announced, not a whole lot is really known for sure about it. What is going on here? Is Toyota afraid to release this car? Or will they ever release it? Or is this just a hoax (Just kidding.)? Continue reading Toyota and the FT-86: The Wait Goes On
Back when Toyota made really fun cars, the MR2 was their answer to the Mazda Miata. Low-slung, small, and mid-engined, the MR2 Spyder represented a true sports car configuration for the price of a milquetoast Corolla sedan. While it never enjoyed the success of the MX-5, they’re a great way to get a little mini-Boxster for a fraction of the price. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: Toyota MR2 Spyder (2000-2005)
Recently BMW has made a commitment to turbocharging their entire lineup in the name of efficiency. Many enthusiasts are skeptical that this move will serve to improve the cars, but I think otherwise. I have driven a few 335is and can say that BMW has gotten these boosted cars to deliver their power very smoothly. They are a far cry from the more crude turbocharged cars of old that were plagued by excessive lag and sudden onset power that could unset the car’s balance in a corner. These cars seem to be living up to the BMW reputation quite nicely, and have even shown some surprises that BMW executive wanted to conceal on paper in order to preserve demand for their other cars. Continue reading Something is up with BMW’s power claims
Pretty much anyone with a driver’s license has seen someone standing at the side of the road staring at a stranded car with steam billowing out of the engine bay. Some of these people (myself included) have been forced to pull over due to overheating. So, how do you handle such a thing, and how do you avoid it happening in the first place? Read on. Continue reading Cars 101: Overheating
High performance SUVs were a strange thing back in the early part of the new millenium. General Motors had just launched their newest midsize SUVs in 2002, the GMT360 lineup. The lineup included the new Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy (which would go on to win Motor Trend‘s 2002 SUV of the Year), and the Oldsmobile Bravada (notably, the last new Oldsmobile, which eventually became the Buick Rainier). But, no one quite knew about the trick that GM had up its sleeve for the TrailBlazer. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: 2006-2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS
The G35 pretty much saved the Infiniti brand when it came out. It offered an extremely solid package for a very good price offering better performance than its German competition for less money. The G35 shared its platform with the Nissan 350Z, making the sedan a four door sports car and the coupe a more comfortable Z. It was a rock solid lineup and they sold like hotcakes to executives and enthusiasts alike. Now they are among the best used cars you can buy if you’re looking for something that’s got everything. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: Infiniti G35
If there is one brand that does the best job of no longer resembling its roots, it is Lancia. Since the death of the Delta Integrale in the early Nineties, Lancia hasn’t really had a halo car, and has not been much more than a Fiat offshoot. Since Chrysler has come under the Fiat banner, Sergio Marchionne has announced a partnership between Chrysler and Lancia. Continue reading The Chrysler-Lancia Connection needs to be reviewed.
Mind Over Motor 