Tag Archives: Luxury Cars

Automotive Lifestyle, Everyday Normal Cars

The Lincoln Mark VII LSC Chronicles, Part 2: June, July, and August -The Plot Thickens

November 29, 2016 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

This is Part 2 in a series.

Where we last left this story, I had taken a few interviews and the Lincoln had barfed coolant all over South Jersey. By the beginning of June, I’d parked the poor thing and taken back to driving the Legacy nearly full-time. I’d hit off on a few good interviews in the beginning of June, and while walking out to take the Lincoln to the center of town to pick up election results with my friend Damon, I got the offer as I started the engine. What started out as another day in the pack, had become a blessing. A blessing that turned into a curse, within due time. Continue reading The Lincoln Mark VII LSC Chronicles, Part 2: June, July, and August -The Plot Thickens →

Opinions

So, Alfa Romeo Is Making an SUV

November 17, 2016 ndubs77 2 Comments

This is the Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV, more specifically the Stelvio Quadrifoglio, a.k.a the fast one you really want. That’s right, Alfa is getting into the SUV/Crossover market, which is the most obvious and expected move for them. I must say, though, the Stelvio looks pretty damn good.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio definitely seems like a serious contender with its 505hp 2.9L twin turbo V6, shared with its Guilia sedan sibling. The difference in the Stelvio is that you get all wheel drive to help put all that horsepower to the ground. I see it likely being the most fun one can have in a crossover, but with the usual Italian car frustrations.

Look, I trust Alfa Romeo to deliver an emotionally riveting driving experience in any vehicle they make. They could make a pogo stick, and I’m sure it’d get me all hot and bothered. I’m also someone who genuinely enjoys the current crop of fast SUVs, so I see no reason why the Stelvio won’t be phenomenal from a driving perspective.

The question here for me will be more the in the Utility end. Obviously it’s going to be practical in terms of space, but can the Italians really pull the functional details together enough to satisfy the daily user? SUVs are daily drivers, and everything needs to work, and stay working, day in, and day out. Fiat-Chrysler hasn’t had the best track record for that lately, and Italian cars haven’t had a great track record for that in… um… ever.

A few technical flaws in a weekend sports car come off as endearing because driving a car like that is solely for enjoyment. However, with a daily commuter, every flaw is going to annoy the owner, and that frustration will add up over time. I really hope Alfa Romeo has put in the work to make the Stelvio as reliable as can be. It doesn’t need to rival Lexus, but it does need to be on par with Audi, Jaguar and BMW.

The Stelvio’s first impressions are great as far as I’m concerned, though I don’t see any reason why it won’t be the same old Italian car story, only this time as a crossover.

-Nick Walker

Automotive Lifestyle, Everyday Normal Cars, Luxury Cars, Used Car Gems

The Lincoln Mark VII LSC Chronicles, Part 1: April and May – Continuing The Story.

November 11, 2016 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

This is Part 1 of an occasional series.

On April 16, as most of you dear readers know, I purchased this big gray Lincoln Mark VII LSC to replace my Miata, which I’d sold to Nick. What most of you don’t know, is the rest of the story. Through this occasional series, I will work to chronicle the past six months of what I’ve done with this gigantic piece of American history, and how it has fit into the other parts of my life in that time. Continue reading The Lincoln Mark VII LSC Chronicles, Part 1: April and May – Continuing The Story. →

Auto Idolatry, Automotive Lifestyle, Random Cool Stuff, Uncategorized

Motor Trend’s Take on the Jaguar F-Pace

November 10, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

I absolutely loved the F-Pace when I drove it a few weeks ago. Turns out the folks at Motor Trend agree with me.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, Automotive Lifestyle, Random Cool Stuff

What do you get in a $600k Rolls Royce?

November 8, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Rob Ferretti shows us some of what you get when you spend $600,000 on a Rolls Royce Phantom, and asks whether it’s worth it over cheaper luxury cars.

-Nick

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

Porsche Macan Turbo Review: Like a Fancy WRX for Rich People!

November 4, 2016 ndubs77 3 Comments

The Porsche Macan is basically a luxury rally car for the financially well-endowed, and the Turbo is the Mac-daddy of the lineup. It’s remarkable just how good Porsche has been able to make this car considering it shares its underpinnings with the very vanilla VW Tiguan. It took a while for fun to find its way into the crossover segment, but after driving this Macan Turbo, I can vouch that it definitely has.

It was one of those things I had to experience to believe. I figured the Macan might just be nothing more than a faster Tiguan with a Porsche body and a nice interior; that would’ve been just fine for most Macan buyers, and a mediocre Macan would’ve still been a solid revenue car for Porsche. Thankfully, they went over and above to preserve the integrity of their speed-synonymous brand. The Macan Turbo is a real Porsche, a new type of Porsche to be sure, but a real Porsche within its mold.

Continue reading Porsche Macan Turbo Review: Like a Fancy WRX for Rich People! →

Cars We've Seen

Stanced Lexus RC F at First Class Fitment

October 24, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

I’m a big fan of the Lexus RC F, and this one turned its appearance up to eleven.

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

Jaguar F-Pace S: Enthusiast Approved

October 13, 2016 ndubs77 4 Comments

Damn, everyone is jumping on the crossover bandwagon. Clearly following Porsche’s success, Maserati, Bentley, and now Jaguar have now all made high-riding vehicles for people who want a station wagon that isn’t a “station wagon.” I haven’t been much of a fan of crossovers until pretty recently, when some of them have stepped into the ring of high performance. Yes, there is now a full segment of fast crossovers that handle pretty darn well, and they’re sort of like big, comfy rally cars.

I’d heard a lot of praise being thrown at the Jaguar F-Pace, so when I was able to try on out for myself, I jumped on the opportunity. The car I drove was the top-of-the-line F-Pace S, so if this one didn’t impress me, none of them would. And you know what? In many respects, it may be the best fast crossover I’ve driven to date.

Continue reading Jaguar F-Pace S: Enthusiast Approved →

Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars, Uncategorized

A BMW 528i is a Superior Rental Car That Will Spoil You

September 28, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

Rental cars, they’re usually total crap that you’re only willing to put up with for a few days because they serve a purpose. Some trips can really use a bright spot, though, and for us gearheads a car can be just the thing to brighten up life.

I lost both of my grandmothers this summer, within a month and a half of each other. What can I say, it hasn’t been ideal. It was just my mom and I going on the trip, out to Tucson, Arizona last weekend. My dad was away singing in China, and my girlfriend had her busiest work weekend of the year. We were flying out to Phoenix, and then driving 100 miles, or so, down to Tucson. While we were definitely looking forward to seeing my mom’s side of the family and catch up with everyone, it was still a trip meant for saying goodbye to my grandma, Jody, who we all hold very dear in our hearts.

This trip was definitely one that needed as many bright spots as we could give it. So, when the rental car lady told us we could have a BMW 528i for only $20/day more than the Chevy Malibu we had booked, we were like, “Oh hell yes!” If we were going to be cruising through the desert at high speed, we might as well aim to be as comfortable as possible.

I hadn’t even planned to do an article on this trip, but when life hands you a Bimmer….

Continue reading A BMW 528i is a Superior Rental Car That Will Spoil You →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Jaguar F-Type R AWD: A Cat Tamed By Four Paws?

August 26, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

I’ve been lucky to have driven a few Jaguar F-Types in the last few years. I drove the V6S and V8S models when they first came out, and then I drove the R Coupe a year later.

I think my biggest takeaway was just how much crazier the V8 was, with all that extra power going to the rear wheels. It was fast, like scary fast, and there was always the sense that it was testing the limits of its rear tires. It really kept me on my toes, and that made it really, really exciting.

Unfortunately, exciting doesn’t bode well with the safety concerns of modern automakers. We enthusiasts were hoping Jaguar would give us the V8 F-Type with a manual gearbox. Instead, they left the V8 models automatic-only, and took away our rear wheel drive. I guess that’s the price we pay for getting our hopes up.

So, has Jaguar tamed the beast? Have they neutered the big cat?

Continue reading Jaguar F-Type R AWD: A Cat Tamed By Four Paws? →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars, SUVs and Crossovers, Uncategorized

Infiniti QX80 Limited Review: The Plush Utility Vehicle

July 29, 2016 ndubs77 1 Comment

I believe the term is “Land Yacht.” A massive, expensive way of getting from place to place for people who like to take up their slightly-more-than-fair share of space in the world. It also works great if you have a large family, although, most forms of birth control are a lot cheaper than this $90,000 behemoth.

Either way, if this is the way you want to get around in the world, then the Infiniti QX80 Limited will do a lot to float your boat. Maybe a Cadillac Escalade is too “Tony Soprano” for you. Maybe you’d like a Mercedes GLS, but, unfortunately, your local dealer just sold their last one to another real estate agent who’s drowning themselves in payments trying to “project an image of success” to their clients. Have no fear, the QX80 is here to save the day, and you just might be glad you didn’t get the others.

Continue reading Infiniti QX80 Limited Review: The Plush Utility Vehicle →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Motor Trend: Cadillac CTS-V vs. Lexus GS F

July 25, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

This video really made me want a Lexus GS F for some reason. The Caddy is cool, but they also neglected to mention that the Lexus will be reliable for 200,000 miles of relatively trouble-free fun. The CTS-V?… Not so much, if history is any indicator.

Enjoy.

Nick