Akatuki4

Sure, it’s not really that bad as midlife crises go. I mean, yes, when I hit midlife I did switch jobs three times and got divorced, but that’s more the result of a constant and chronic whole-life crisis, not one of the midlife variety. No, my midlife crisis was automotive. My vehicular partners have all been Japanese and reliable and, literally, colorless (silver, beige, white, black, gray). I had owned my 2003 Mazda Protégé 5 for 10 long years. It was a fun, zippy, practical, economical car that could really do anything. But at 37 something snapped and I decided I needed more elegance, more power, more refinement. Enter the A4. Read More…

Back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, if you wanted a hot-hatch, then you only looked at one car; the Volkswagen Golf GTI. It’s small four cylinder engine packed high-revs, smiles galore and giant killer characteristics. However over time the little Golf lost much of its hard edge in favor of creature comforts and ride quality. There’s now a new GTI on the market, aptly named the MK. VII and VW says it’s better in every way. Chris Harris recently grabbed one and gave it a proper flogging so as to let us know if it’s still the same old bloated GTI of the past OR if VW finally got their act together and produced a car that the enthusiasts of old will really want to drive.

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If you’re looking for an exotic car that not only goes against convention, but against everything those “other” exotic manufacturers are doing, then the Spyker C8 Aileron may just fit your bill. The C8 Aileron features a light weight aluminum chassis, an interior that’s made from some of the most expensive cows in history, and a 4.2-liter Audi V8 that pumps out 400 hp (good for 187 mph). It’s also one of the most stunning automobiles to have been created in the last 30 years. The Aileron is not your average super car and is therefore, not for the average enthusiast. It’s not the fastest, best handling or most expensive, but it is a solid performer that will garner looks of amazement wherever it goes.

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Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy. Two Spocks of different eras brought together for a battle of speed and wits in Audi’s new commercial for the 420 horsepower S7 sedan . Quinto, our new Spock, returns for his second film in the upcoming “Star Trek: Into Darkness”, while Nimoy is a veteran of seven motion pictures and will forever be our #1 Spock. And while Quinto adds a wonderfully youthful flair to the character, let’s just say that there’s no replacement for tried and true experience.

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PRO’s: Outstanding performance, extreme all-weather versatility, spacious enough for a family of 5.

CON’s: Peculiar styling, high price tag.

FINAL THOUGHT: An amazing SUV/crossover that may well be one of the fastest and most versatile vehicles that BMW has ever produced.

If you’re not sure whether the 2013 BMW X6 M is a car, truck or crossover, don’t feel bad because you’re not alone. You see this things got an identity crises, a bad one, and because of that consumers have been perplex by the X6 since its debut in 2008. I just spent a week with BMW’s X6 M and I can tell you this, I still have no idea what the hell it is, but I fell in love with it, and hot damn if it isn’t a riot of a performance vehicle.

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They’re a favorite amongst the California Cougar, amazing off-road and come with one helluva’ substantial price tag. Since 1970 Range Rovers have been giving the public a taste of their high-class ruggedness and have been doing so with a shape that has been recognizable for over 40-years. However now they’re bringing us the Evoque, a medium-sized SUV that’s been scaled back on performance, but thrust full-speed ahead on style. Hell, Victoria Beckham was a design consultant on the project. Matt Farah of The Smoking Tire recently got his hands on the Evoque to see if it was still worthy of the Range Rover name, or if it was simply all flash.

Source: TheSmokingTire.com

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PRO’s: Quick, nimble, smiles-for-miles little hot-rod.

CON’s: Big price tag, lack of limited-slip-differential.

FINAL THOUGHT: The 2013 BMW 135is is a little pocket-rocket of a car that will make you rediscover driving at its core. It’s fun, fast and has the ability to make even grown men giggle.

Buying a car is not a rational decision, it’s an emotional one. We look at style, performance and how that particular vehicle makes us feel. Does it make us smile when we open the garage door. Does it make the right sound when we turn the key. Above all, does it get our adrenaline flowing when we simply go out for a drive. In a day and age where cars are weighed down by government safety regulations, technology and each company trying to outdo the next guy, it’s nice to see that BMW makes at least one car that throws up its middle finger and shows us that a car can still be a good time.

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When it comes to heading off-road, vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Raptor and Toyota FJ may come to mind. However when it comes to SERIOUS off-roading most people would ditch the aforementioned rides and go straight for the King, or as most know it, the UniMog. Built by Mercedes-Benz, the UniMog has been around since 1947. It’s a true jack-of-all trades and was built primarily to be used by farmers and municipalities. These trucks are not fast, not nimble and certainly not fuel efficient. However, if you are looking for the best off-road vehicle in existence, then there is no beating this thing.

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Thumbs Up: Better than the last Beetle Convertible in every way

Thumbs Down: Cloth seats not available, not much rear passenger room

Buy This Car If: You were there in the 1970s and long for your first Beetle convertible

It’s probably safe to say that few cars ever sold in North America achieved quite as large a cult following as the original Volkswagen Beetle. Countless numbers of us learned to drive behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Beetle, and those of us in snow-belt states soon learned the advantage of skinny tires and a rear-mounted engine in winter. We also learned about things like snap oversteer on black ice, ejecting windshield wiper blades and a heating system that varied between “primitive” and “nonexistent.” Read More…

PRO’s: Outstanding luxury, wonderful performance and loads of useful technology.

CON’s: Big price, hesitant acceleration in comfort mode.

FINAL THOUGHT: One of the best high-end luxury sedans on the market today, regardless of price or pedigree.

For most of us, traveling first class is something that dreams are made of. We wait in line, baggage in hand until our group is called, and then, like lemmings jumping to our deaths, get corralled onto our planes or trains, only to find that we’re seated next to the crying baby or the large man with the glandular disorder. It’s an awful experience for all who are involved and it makes us yearn for the better things in life. Every now and then though, fate smiles upon us and presents us with a gift that not only boosts our morale, but brightens our day. This happened to me last week when a new 2013 BMW 750Li press car appeared in my driveway.

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