Nissan Juke: “A car… That crashed into the back of a motorcycle.”

Okay, before I get started, I would like to wish everyone a very happy Halloween, and my apologies for not updating the site for about a month. Times have been a bit busy.

Anyway, let’s get down to business. The Nissan Juke. This is quite a leap for Nissan, all things considered.  They mainly build average cars, for average people.  And I appreciate that. Aside from the 350Z and the 370Z, sports cars are out of the question.  This is different though.  This is a VSUV. (VERY sporty utility vehicle.)  I mean, honestly.  The central dash with the cupholders and all, is designed and shaped to look like the body of a motorcycle! Now, that’s cool.

Not to mention the tons of neat colors it comes in.  To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, let me name one for you: Electric blue. Can you imagine that??  A low-riding sports car, that can take your son to soccer practice, look amazing parked outside a modern art gallery, and it comes in “electric blue?”  I mean, come on, that’s pretty darn great!

The performance is fairly average, with a little kick in the backside to give you that edge in beating the yellow light. So, all in all, this is an incredible machine.

 And when it comes to overall satisfaction, this car is in a league of it’s own.

Fiat 500 Abarth: “A cuddly pet mouse… That goes like a bullet!”

Now, if you know what the Fiat 500 is, you are probably thinking: Yes, I know. It’s practical, cute, well laid out, has a nice interior, a nice price, and a nice retro body to wrap it all up.  But, you may look at the 500 as a car you wear, not drive.  Something you pop on with your fancy hat and tuxedo.

But wait… there’s a new version!

The Abarth.  This little car seems to have put on a whole new impression.  As a pose to pulling up at a grocery store and everyone going:  “Aww! It’s so cute!” People will think, “Okay, now that’s pretty cool looking.” It’s been tricked out with some Abarth badges, some stripes, and a steering wheel trimmed in red and black.  This really is a brilliant looking thing.

Now, it is a bit on the steep side when it comes to price.  I read on the Car And Driver website that the base model cost $18,001. And that’s just the base model! It can go up to $25,000 if you really want to stick some kit on it. But nevertheless, I believe it is worth that money.

So, now I can put this into 25 simple words: If you want a cuddly pet mouse, buy a Fiat 500.

If you want a cuddly pet mouse that has 135 bhp, buy a Fiat 500 Abarth.

Car Expectations: “Well, it’s a Lamborghini, of course it’s good looking.”

Car companies all have different sorts of customers.  If you are the sort of person who likes to toodle around town in a charismatic, adorable, peppy, and good looking car, you are a FIAT person.  If you are very interested in reliability and want it to play the full part in your car, you are a Toyota person.  If you want good reliability, great looks, nice gas mileage, and a sturdy feel, you are a Volkswagen person.

Also, when it comes to looks in a car, the supercar/hypercar makers have it easy.  Raise your (digital) hand if you think Ferraris are good looking.  Okay, for those of you who did, you are mostly correct. Allow me to explain:

Now Ferraris ARE good looking… But not all of them.  Think about the F430 Scuderia, it overall doesn’t seem to… I don’t know… Fit.  I love the old F430.  Beautiful car.  but what they did with the Scuderia is… Up the performance, there’s no doubt about that, but also make it extremely ugly.  But what I’m trying to say here is, everyone thinks Ferraris are good looking because they’re Ferraris. They may be striking, but not always pretty.

To bring things to a close now, I would like to end on an optimistic note.  To all you car makers out there, just keep doing what you’re doing.  Because somewhere out there, there is someone who will always appreciate it.  Whether it’s the average guy who just wants a Toytota Yaris for popping around town, or your business exec who wants a BMW for zipping to work, having a productive day, and then zipping back home again.

To all car makers of the world: Well done.

 

 

The Porsche 911 Evolution: “It looks like… Well, a 911.”

The Porsche 911 evolution is, in my opinion, rather boring. Ever since th mid 20th century, Porsche have been building their 911 range. And it’s almost like they put the papers that they used for the last 911, in a photocopier, and made it 2% larger. Other than that, and of course all of the new technology that has come with the 21st century, I don’t see much of a difference in the looks.  What we have here is a driver’s car, something that will do a thrash around the Nurburgring, and then drive you home in a way that shouldn’t hurt your spine too badly.

But, I’m blabbering. What I’m trying to say is, the Porsche 911, is still a great car, it still is a fast car, and in black, it would fit perfectly outside of the best urban restaurant in town.

But overall, a Ferrari, an Aston Martin, or an Audi R8 all catch my eye.  And the porsche does too, but… Well, it doesn’t really fill me with the same giddy joy that the others do. With the others, I can imagine myself driving them, grinning behind the wheel, feeling like a movie star.  But as the 911 has never really changed, it feels like it’s an everyman car. (in my opinion)

And although now it catches my eye, if they don’t give it some styling changes, some life, within the next, say 10-11 years, it may not catch my eye at all.

The Maserati MC12: “No back window… Hmm…”

The Maserati MC12 is a large car, it is an expensive car, and it is, in my opinion, top notch when it comes to looks.

Let’s cut straight to the chase: It has no back window.  This has been replaced with some sort of louvre setup. Now, aesthetically, this is fine, but practically, it’s hopeless. But then again, who buys a supercar because it’s practical? More to the piont though,  you buy a supercar, and you can’t see out the back. It makes no sense! That’s like moving from your trailer, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and buying a large designer home in L.A., and it has no kitchen. Why?? If you paid for the whole house, normally one would think a kitchen would be part of the deal.

Anyway, more on topic, this is quite a car, and because of that, it comes at quite a price: $770,000 to be exact. This is a car that makes everyone gape, including your wallet.

So, you would have to be bonkers to buy this car, and if you were at all sensible, you would simply upgrade from your Kia Sorento, to a Hyundai Tuscon.  Although, why would you do that?  If you had the funds, the space, and the need, why not buy something that makes you truly happy, something that makes you giggle when you overtake someone on the highway, something that makes you put on a pair of shades, roll down your window, brace yourself for the next tunnel and listen as your ears are caressed by the sound of this car.

So, to wrap things up, I really think this is for the sort of person who has $770,000 burning a hole in their pocket.  And I admit, those people are few and far between, but for those who are lucky, who are drooling at the showroom window, who are in love with this car, really, why not?

August 27 2011

Mazda MX5 Miata: “It’s small, it’s Japanese… It must be good.”

This Mazda MX5 Miata is, in the car world, is a clever little mouse.  It started out life in the 80′s with it’s drop-top roof and flip-up headlights, but slowly it has crept up the evolutionary ladder, becoming larger, more technological, better looking.  And now, we have a true recipe for perfection: Just the right amout of power in the engine in the front, a stylish, short rear end, and a drop top in the middle.

This really is, roadster royalty.  And all in all, it’s got quite a bit of competition.  The BMW Z4/Z8, the Mercedes Benz SLK 230, etc.

But after a long drive through the mountains, or a long lonely highway, or even just the backroads of New York City, this really is the kind of car that makes you turn around once more before leaving it in the driveway, and taking a glance at this incredible machine, that seems to push all the right roadster buttons.

August 27 2011

The Volkswagen Beetle: “What just happened?”

The Volkswagen Beetle is an icon.  It boldly went where no car had gone before with the unusual styling aspects.  And now, as of 2011, it seems to be gone.

Let me explain:  The Volkswagen Beetle was built as a people’s car.  But there have been a few styling tweaks since the mid 1900′s when it was first born.  For a start, the old one was ruthlessly simple, tiny engine, tiny car.  They even sold a model with a sealed up underside, making it completely airtight.  So, if you were felling brave, (or stupid) you could drive into a lake, and you would float like a big metal rubber duck.

Anyway, back to my original point, the VW Beetle has morphed in to what can only be described as… Well, in my opinion, a dissapointment.  A few years ago, Porsche bought Volkswagen.  Fine, but what sort of results would this produce? Would this adorable little car become a Porsche 911?  And… Well, it has.  The new 2012 VW Beetle has lost it’s bulging rear wheel arches, which have been replaced with a 911 style sweeping rear end, it has become streamlined and sporty, and has… Wait for it… A spoiler!  Putting a spoiler on a car as docile and cutesy as that is like putting a bright orange cowboy hat on the Queen of England!  It just doesn’t fit. Nevertheless though, the new Beetle promises to be quite a car, so I`m going to stay optimistic about the results.

But, I miss the old dog. You never knew whether to drive the original New Beetle, or hug it. And inevitably, I would still have the one from 2001.  The original New Beetle. It had all the charm of the old Beetle, while having all the creature comforts you could ever need.  Oh, and did I mention? It comes with a flower.

August 27 2011