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
After a short and troubled stint with a 2016 Mercedes C450 AMG, my brother has punted on his silver-star sedan and picked up a 2018 Audi S4 Premium Plus. The move from Stuttgart's stormy skies to Ingolstadt's greener grass trades one luxury ride for another, and I'm curious to see Audi's take on the sports… Continue reading Review: 2018 Audi S4 is a Quiet Stunner
The Camaro SS 1LE may be the car I should’ve bought. In fact, after failed attempts to buy used AMG GT Ss, 911 GT3s or Evora 400s, I nearly purchased an SS 1LE. It wasn’t really a compromise pick: the SS was the best blend of a kid-friendly, comfortable daily and track-ready sports car. But… Continue reading Review: 2019 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE 2SS Drive It Like You Stole It
V6 up front, rear wheels driven and seating for two. Sounds like the makings of a driver's car, right? Well, the curious thing is that even though the Ford Transit 250 cargo van is nearly 20 feet long and over 8 feet tall, it did satisfy my love for driving! The van was a means to an… Continue reading Review: 2020 Ford Transit 250 Delivers the Goods
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'm attending the BMW Performance Driving School at Thermal for a private driving lesson. This isn't my first visit; I took lessons here in 2019 as a contestant for BMW's Ultimate Driver Competition. The experience was a blast, so I'm back for more! During the competition, my weak spot was finding speed out of the… Continue reading The BMW Performance Driving School Deserves More than a Quick Visit
When I splurged and paid an extra $1 per day for the Enterprise "Manager's Special" instead of the cheapest sub-compact rental, I hoped I'd get a Toyota Corolla or a Chevy Malibu for the price of a Chevy Spark. Nope! A 2020 Chevy Spark LT was exactly what the manager pulled out for my rental.… Continue reading Review: 2020 Chevrolet Spark LT is the Essence of Automobile
What do you expect out of a Mercedes? Cutting-edge technology wrapped in big badge bling-bling? A rip-snorting V8 pushing a luxury-boat chassis? How about incredible practicality in an unassuming package? Because the latter is what I was surprised—and intrigued—to find in the 2020 Mercedes GLB 250 4Matic. The reason for my surprise is that GLB… Continue reading Review: 2020 Mercedes GLB 250 4Matic is Practically Luxurious
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
Mike's Steering Column 