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
Beep!...Beep!...Beep! Click. Ugh. You turn off your alarm clock and grope around on the bedside table for your glasses and phone. Getting up this early seemed like a good idea yesterday, but your kids woke you up twice overnight, and now you are wishing for more sleep. You roll out of bed and groggily start… Continue reading Long Term: CTS-V, GT S, M3 or Model 3—Choose Your Own Adventure
You would think the owner of a 503 hp AMG GTS would never be late. But unfortunately, I am: the AMG’S 12-month report is arriving three months tardy! You may remember that my AMG GT S experience had a rocky start. When it arrived from Vroom.com, the car had shoddy paintwork on many body panels,… Continue reading Long Term: 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S has a Birthday
Here’s what I’ve been led to believe about the new Chevrolet (C8) Corvette. First, it’s a blue-collar supercar that renders all sporting metal between $60k and $100k obsolete. Second, it’s a ground-up rethink that moves the engine midship, polishes the model’s luxury credentials and brings the fight to Ferrari’s V8s and Lamborghini’s V10s. Finally, it’s… Continue reading Comparison: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 LT2 vs. 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S Yin-Yang Supercars
A nail to the sidewall just ended the life of a Nitto Motivo tire on my AMG GT S’s rear axle. The unpatchable wound forced the purchase of two new rear tires, much earlier than I was expecting. I didn’t love the Nittos, but they were new, and I planned on roasting them with abandon… Continue reading Long Term: 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S has New Shoes
We just took our first long trip in our Tesla Model 3, nearly 500 miles and 10 hours to Palm Springs. We were nervous about hauling the whole family across California in our EV, and here’s how it went. The packing went smoothly enough. We are a family of four, with an infant and a… Continue reading Long Term: 2018 Tesla Model 3 is Middling on Range
I think I'm twice the fool. I keep finding questionable and head-scratching items about my new-to-me 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S that don't sit well with me. I hate to admit it, but I was pennywise and pound foolish when I purchased this car from Vroom.com. Yes, dear reader, that's buyer's remorse. The would've, should've, could'ves… Continue reading Long Term: 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S Elicits Buyer’s Remorse
After Vroom.com clawed back my red 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S, I said, "The next one will be for keeps." Little did I know that "the next one" would also be from (still questionable) Vroom.com. It was a black-on-black 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S with 36k miles. At $67k, it was the cheapest in the country, and… Continue reading Long Term: 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S
I have friends who say that free beer and pizza tastes worse than suds and pie you buy for yourself. I'm skeptical: free food is delicious! Regardless of who's right, it's true that I lost my taste for BMW ownership once my extended warranty expired and my free lunch at the BMW service center ended.… Continue reading Long Term: 2011 BMW M3
Mike's Steering Column 