The two cars that we have here today have little in common. One is my 2016 Mercedes AMG GT S, and the other is my friend Sage’s 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Both cars may be on the chopping block soon. I’ve owned the AMG GT S for about five years, and the itch for a… Continue reading Comparison: 2016 Mazda MX-5 and 2016 Mercedes AMG GT S Shake Rattle ‘N No-Roll
I’ve heard it whispered that the BMW X5 M is the way BMW should have built the brand new 2025 (G90) M5, and that the M5 would have been better skipping hybridization and just sticking with a twin-turbo V8. While we’ll never know how this imaginary M5 would have turned out, I do have the… Continue reading Comparison: 2025 BMW X5 M Competition and M5 are Sumo Wrestling
I have an extraordinary opportunity staring at me, a chance to drive the best from BMW’s 2024 lineup in back-to-back test drives. And the pair of keys to which I have access couldn’t be more exciting; the Alpina B8 Gran Coupe and M8 Competition coupe are at my beck and call. This will be a… Continue reading Comparison: 2024 Alpina B8 and BMW M8 are the Best, Served Two Ways
I’m about to drive a trusting friend’s immaculate E30 Touring. It’s a drive that I hope will answer a few burning questions. First, I’m eager to know if 1990s BMWs fall in the sweet spot between classic thrills and modern(ish) capabilities. This question stems from my recent drive of a 1963 Porsche 356. It was… Continue reading Comparison: 1994 BMW E30 Touring vs 2014 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon are Beauty and the Beast
Out of necessity, my size-13 shoes cover all three pedals of the Porsche 356. My left foot fully depresses the clutch, while my right foot firmly holds the brake and feathers the gas. This silly little dance keeps the engine from stalling while I wait for my break in traffic. "Damn," I think, "what am… Continue reading Comparison: 1963 Porsche 356 B Cabriolet S and 2021 Mazda Miata ND are Truffles and Tripe
There's a lot I love about my 2016 AMG GT S. It buzzes with feedback and excitement, it's an absolute joy to hoon through the corners, and it has exotic curb appeal. But it's not flawless, and I'm curious to see how AMG has remade the AMG GT coupe for 2024. What are the faults… Continue reading Comparison: 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT 55 is a Massive Improvement over the GT S
We are about to do something ridiculous: compare two cars with no reason to go head to head. Though the 1M and CTS-V were contemporaries, they were never competitors. One was a lithe Skunkworks sports car, while the other was a plus-sized ass hauler. It didn’t make any sense to pit the Bimmer against the… Continue reading Comparison: 2011 BMW 1M vs 2014 Cadillac CTS-V is Apples to Oranges
Well, this is a surprise. My family from the heart of conservative trucks-and-guns Pennsylvania just took delivery of an EV. A 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E, to be precise. Now I’m wondering, is this a harbinger of red America going green? Not that selling EVs in the heartland should be hard. EVs pair the torque of… Continue reading Review: 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E (vs. Tesla Model 3)
In less than five minutes of exploring the cabin of the 2021 Tesla Model Y, I have my thesis: The SUV is a vertically-stretched Model 3, but its rear bench and trunk don’t offer enough additional space to tempt me out of my beloved Model 3 sedan. I’m pretty confident about my (premature?) verdict, but… Continue reading Review: 2021 Tesla Model Y (vs Model 3)
I haven’t been this excited to test a new car in a long time. Why? Because the new metal is a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4. When it was released, the GT4 brought lustful tears of gratitude to the eyes of journalists. Now it’s my turn to drive the legend. So please hide my checkbook and… Continue reading Comparison: 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S are Complementary Sports Cars
Mike's Steering Column 