Tag Archives: Performance Cars

A quick take on the 2014 North American International Auto Show

January 17, 2014 ndubs77 5 Comments

The 2014 North American International Auto Show has been going on this week in Detroit, and there have been a number of interesting car debuts. The internet is full of all the minute details, and plenty of long-winded coverage about cars that nobody has driven yet. I have seen the details, and sat through much of the coverage, and now I want to bring you my concise, informed take on the cars that have debuted at NAIAS 2014. So here it goes.

2015 Acura TLX:
Pretty much unsurprising, but it’s good Acura consolidated the TL and TSX into one model. They should throw the 370hp hybrid drivetrain from the RLX into this car and have a legitimate Audi S4 competitor.

2015 Audi A8:
What exactly is different again?

Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept:
The Allroad Shooting Brake could be an incredibly badass modern rally car for the road. 402hp and 479ft/lbs of torque are some serious figures, and the hybrid drivetrain could prove interesting in a car such as this. My guess, though, is that this will remain a concept.

Continue reading A quick take on the 2014 North American International Auto Show →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Motor Trend Pits the Audi RS7 Against The Porsche Panamera Turbo

January 10, 2014 ndubs77 5 Comments

Motor Trend’s Jonny Lieberman instigates some in-fighting between members of the VW Group: Audi’s RS7 takes on Porsche’s Panamera Turbo. Both are all wheel drive, four door sedans, and both have turbocharged V8 engines. The similarities are numerous, but in the end, the differences do show.

PS: I absolutely love the Porsche’s purple paint job, which Johnny says he hates more than a few times throughout the video. It is a provocative color, and one that lends itself well to the relatively “sleeper” Turbo model.

-Nick

Cars We've Driven, Cheap Fun Cars, Luxury Cars, Road Review, Used Car Gems

Nick’s 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Review

January 6, 2014 ndubs77 11 Comments

It has been nearly three years since I began working on Mind Over Motor, and for some reason I have not gotten around to reviewing the car I know the best in the world, my 2004 Subaru WRX STi.

For most, it would’ve been the very first car to review, but I wanted to focus more on finding ways to get other cars and setting our foundation around that. Having said that, I do think it is high time that I do a proper article on my beloved Subaru, and what better way to begin 2014?

Incidentally, this article will also debut a new style of car review for me, on Mind Over Motor. It is one with a question and answer structure that will hopefully be more conversational in feel. Let me know what you think of the new style, and any suggested improvements you may have in the comments.

So with that, lets start talking Subaru.

Continue reading Nick’s 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Review →

Cars We've Driven

Al’s Favorite Drives of 2013

December 31, 2013 Albert S. Davis 4 Comments

We, here at Mind over Motor, are about to wave goodbye to 2013. I, however, don’t want to wave goodbye to some of my favorite reviews of 2013. I didn’t put up as many reviews as I would have liked this year–and there are plenty of reviews on the way for 2014, I assure everyone. However, of the cars that I took out for a drive this year, here are my four favorites.
Continue reading Al’s Favorite Drives of 2013 →

Opinions

BMW’s new M3 and M4, looking between the lines

December 13, 2013 ndubs77 5 Comments

If you follow automotive news, then you know that the new 2014 BMW M3 and M4 have broken cover in the past few days, after a long, drawn out build up that left few surprises. I’m not here to tell you all of the generic information that you can get anywhere else on the web. I’m here to offer my interpretation and opinion on the information that has been released. So, as educated, free-thinking car enthusiasts, let’s take a look between the lines at what the new BMW M3 and M4 are all about.

Obviously, the number that tends to stick out the most on the interweb is the horsepower figure. People are already complaining about BMW’s official claim of “430bhp” because “It is only like 20 more than the old one, booo!” Those of use who know how the German companies have been operating lately have to laugh at such comments, because we know that the horsepower figures of turbocharged BMWs have consistently been underrated by 10-20%. That means that the new M3 and M4 will actually be producing something in the range of 470-510hp, and that is a substantial increase.

The next number, and the only surprise for me, is the weight of the M3 and M4. BMW is saying that each will weigh in at around 3300lbs, which is quite a bit lighter than the 3700lb E90 generation M3…. which was quite a big girl by M3 standards. The new M3 and M4 are now back around the same weight as the E46 M3, and that is right where I feel these cars should realistically be.

Continue reading BMW’s new M3 and M4, looking between the lines →

Opinions

Looking Critically At The New Subaru WRX

November 18, 2013 ndubs77 1 Comment

As information on the 2015 Subaru WRX has been surfacing before its debut at the upcoming 2013 LA Auto Show, I find myself split between two opposing reactions. On the one hand we have the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality, and on the other hand we have the “WTF? It’s exactly the same as the old one!” point of view.

In essence it would seem that Subaru knows they have a great thing going with the WRX, and they don’t see a reason to change much about it. As an STi owner of seven years now, I can attest that the overall package of a WRX makes it one of the best all-round cars that money can buy. It is fast, it handles great, it is practical, it will drive through any weather, it is reasonably priced, and the fuel economy, while not fantastic, is generally tolerable. The 2015 WRX seems to change none of this, and that seems like a sure bet for sales.

The problem I see, though, is that the car is getting a bit stale at this point. There’s nothing really fresh about it, and even with the new body style, it looks the same as the old one. Subaru has changed the engine to a 2.0L flat-4 from the current 2.5L flat-4, but horsepower only increases by a measly 3 ponies for a total of 268hp. Obviously, in real terms, the new WRX still offers a massively fun package, but am I the only one who wanted to see the WRX with at least 300hp by now?…. and the STi with like 400hp?

Continue reading Looking Critically At The New Subaru WRX →

Opinions

The ATS-V Is Coming, How Can Cadillac Screw It Up?

November 15, 2013 ndubs77 3 Comments

Cadillac ATS-V Rendering, Courtesy Of Motor Trend

We all know the Cadillac ATS-V is coming. The rumors have been swirling for some time now, and many people have taken it upon themselves to photoshop what they hope the car will look like (see above). But the issue for me now is, wondering if, and how, GM may go about screwing up this highly anticipated car.

This is not to say that I don’t have faith in GM’s ability to make great cars, they have a number of great cars out right now. However, there are still enough instances of idiotic, old-school GM rearing its head in our post-economic-crisis world to make me worry that they may find a way to drop the ball here. And if there are any cars that the bean counters need to not screw up even one tiny bit, the ATS-V is certainly among them.

Continue reading The ATS-V Is Coming, How Can Cadillac Screw It Up? →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars

Test Driven: Porsche Panamera GTS (GRADE: A)

November 8, 2013 Albert S. Davis 4 Comments

Porsche is a brand with plenty of varied supporters and detractors. What’s funny is, some of those supporters are also detractors. Whether it was the 911 going to a water-cooled engine, the 911 getting the nose of the Boxster, the 911 going to electric power steering, the Cayenne launching, or the idea (even the idea! For shame!) that Porsche would–GASP!–produce a four door sedan. Any change, and they start screaming.

I’m not one of those people. The Panamera has been a big hit for Porsche financially and I have seen more and more of them on the road since the car’s 2009 launch in America. I hadn’t driven one yet and for some reason, just didn’t think much of it until I was at the Porsche Zentrum at the Quail Lodge in August. When I arrived, I signed up to drive this four-door Porsche, only because the 911s on hand were all booked completely. I thought I’d regret this decision until I turned the key…

Continue reading Test Driven: Porsche Panamera GTS (GRADE: A) →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

EVO’s Car of The Year

November 8, 2013 ndubs77 1 Comment

Not much needs to be said. EVO Magazine’s Car of The Year battle is always epic. Just sit back and enjoy the videos.

-Nick

Cars We've Driven, Luxury Cars

Test Driven: 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT (Grade: C)

October 24, 2013 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Chrysler’s SRT lineup screams for attention these days. The Challenger SRT appeals to the little kid inside of us, even if it’s not as dynamically capable as the competition. The SRT Viper has the bedroom poster market cornered for the company (even if sales aren’t great right now) and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT is a screaming deal. Meanwhile, the sole Chrysler product to wear the badge, the 300, sits in the corner of the showroom and doesn’t seem to get a lot of attention. At Pebble Beach, the first car I took out on the Seventeen-Mile Drive was this icy black 300 SRT. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but after a lot of thinking, I believe I have an answer.

Continue reading Test Driven: 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT (Grade: C) →

Car Shows

Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance: Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series

October 21, 2013 ndubs77 2 Comments

Evidently, Darth Vader was at this year’s Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance because his car was parked prominently at the event. This Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series certainly is evil-looking enough for the Dark Lord of the Sith, and its twin turbo V12 certainly packs enough punch to suit his needs — to the tune of 661hp and a planet-moving 738ft/lbs of torque. Any challengers beware, go up against this monster and you may share the same fate as the doomed planet of Alderaan.

Ok, Star Wars themes aside, this was the first chance I’ve really had to shoot an SL65 Black Series in a good setting. It was a beautiful day in Scarsdale, New York, and this demonic machine was just sitting there, ripe for the picking. I’ve always said that black is the only appropriate color on any “Black Series” AMG Mercedes, and this car definitely reinforced my opinion on the matter. This is one of just 175 in the USA, and made the SLS AMG, parked in front of it for much of the day, look mundane. Enjoy the photos.

Continue reading Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance: Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series →

Auto Idolatry, SHOWCASE

Drive’s Inspiring Interview With Bill Caswell

October 11, 2013 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Many know Bill Caswell as the man who took a $500 Craigslist BMW rally racing and managed to do extremely well. Drive’s Mike Spinelli sits down with Bill to discuss his awesome automotive adventures over the last few years. If you are a car fanatic, this will be quite inspirational.

-Nick