Former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese takes his wife for a spin in a Civic Type R. If this is what a car ride is like for them, I don’t even wanna know what things are like in the bedroom…
-Nick
A very epic video, oh and there’s an RS5 in there too
A couple awesome German cars driving around in the mountains to the tune of some violins. Regular day in a regular life I guess…
-Nick
A telling emissions test by Edmunds Inside Line
For all of the eco conscious folks out there here is a test showing that you should not judge a book by it’s cover, or the “green-ness” of a car by it’s engine size. Knowledge is power.
-Nick
Test Driven: 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Toyota is one of three major automakers still offering an off-road biased SUV, the other two being Nissan (the Xterra) and Chrysler (the Jeep Wrangler). The FJ Cruiser calls up Toyota’s heritage of offering tough-as-nails trucks to go anywhere and do anything, no matter how hard the task or the climate. The old FJ40 Land Cruisers are some of the most famous trucks in the world, but on the surface, the FJ Cruiser seems to be a different story. When I first saw it on sale, I thought it looked like an oversized Tonka Truck, but thanks to the FJ40’s reputation, I figured it was worth a drive, so that’s exactly what I did. Continue reading Test Driven: 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Marketing the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ
Now that the US-market Scion FR-S/ Subaru BRZ have been fully revealed, the question of marketing comes to mind. This is especially so considering the fact that these two cars are basically identical to one another. Some differences seem to exist in the various trim levels offered (with the Subaru being slightly upmarket from the Scion), as well as some slight visual aspects, but otherwise there really are no meaningful differences to choose one car over the other. They seem to be counting on brand loyalty to differentiate the sales between the two brands, but this new rear drive sports car is a bit off color for both brands. Continue reading Marketing the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ
Spotted! AMC Pacer, Carmel, CA
Nick and I spotted this oddball Seventies ride while walking around Carmel during Concours weekend. The Pacer’s story is one of a car that was intended to be ahead of its time, but turned out to be a hodgepodge of components that made a poor whole (too much glass for the interior, one door longer than the other, ugly looks). The Pacer has a following as an offbeat collector car, and seeing one on the street today is relatively uncommon.
Spotted by: Nick and Al
The Death of Maybach: Al’s Thoughts
So, Maybach, as of six days ago, is on its way out, according to Daimler-Benz. Although the cars are pretty overwhelming to behold and definitely showstoppers, I’m not shedding that big of a tear. Yes, I finally got to drive one a few months back, and yes, I did enjoy it. But, when I look at just how the marque has performed in the market over the past decade, my general feelings about the brand have become more evident. Mercedes-Benz was very ambitious in launching the Maybach name, but not every name can be successful, and here are my thoughts on why I don’t think it succeeded. Continue reading The Death of Maybach: Al’s Thoughts
Secondhand Saint: BMW M6 (E63)
The BMW M6 is a legitimately proper Grand Touring car by all modern standards. There is no compromise, or sense of it being outdated because it was only discontinued in 2010. It also did not change much at all over it’s lifespan so the ones from 2006 are just as good as the ones from 2010. Because of this, M6s did not hold their value well at all, and they are becoming more and more affordable for normal people. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: BMW M6 (E63)
Secondhand Saint: Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG, S65 AMG, S600 (2003-2006)
Ah, Mercedes-Benz. Just the name brings up thoughts of expensive country clubs, upper-class attitudes, and feelings of being in the 1%. Their flagship sedan, the S-Class, has always been a leader in its market since the 1970s, and despite the high entry price, still sells itself better than the competition. The previous-generation W220 was the one that brought this fantastically flashy flagship into the 21st century, and now some of the most powerful ones (namely, those with some sort of forced induction) can be had for a fraction of their original value. For reasons that shall be discussed later, we’re going to focus on the S55 and S600, as the S65 is significantly harder to find even today. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG, S65 AMG, S600 (2003-2006)
Test Driven: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Al’s Take
At Pebble Beach, there are test drives everywhere. Mercedes, of course, decided to one-up everyone else there by getting a primo spot right by the security gate, just past the Palm Club. After a bit of talking with the booth professionals, we signed the papers and gave away our sanity to drive an SLS AMG, CLS63 AMG, and Maybach 57S. The SLS, however, was easily the one I was the most excited about. Continue reading Test Driven: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Al’s Take
Maybach: Time to hit the old dusty trail (Nick’s Take)
I have always been a fan of the Maybach since Mercedes brought the brand back in the early 2000’s. I much preferred it’s sleek design to the over bearing brick that is the Rolls Royce Phantom. I liked the limitless options list, and the fact that the 62’s rear seats could be fully reclined (still the most comfortable car I have been in by far). I also loved that the car was offered in two tone color schemes; something there is not enough of these days. Evidently I am in the minority though, because Mercedes has just announced this week that they will be ceasing Maybach production after the 2013 model year. This news came as an initial shock to me, largely because I like the car so much, but I have given some thought as to why it has failed. Continue reading Maybach: Time to hit the old dusty trail (Nick’s Take)
Automotive Evolution: Series Introduction
There is a lot of bickering that goes on between car enthusiasts about cars of different regions, saying European cars are this, American cars can’t do that, Japanese cars are this, etc. With the advent of the Internet this bickering has only expanded and now people are arguing their views with folks all over the globe. While it is interesting to witness, there is a huge amount of ignorance and a lack of appreciation (on everyone’s part) for how different cars came to be the way they are. I am starting this mini series here to take a look at how the automobile developed in different parts of the world, and hopefully enlighten some of the very opinionated people out there so that they may at least respect cars from all regions and their purposes. Continue reading Automotive Evolution: Series Introduction
Mind Over Motor 