There has been much internet talk regarding whether or not Ford sufficiently differentiated the Focus RS from its little brother, the Focus ST, to justify the $11,345 MSRP price premium. Today I had a few fresh hours in the Focus ST, so I’ll try to compare and contrast these hot-hatch siblings and then consider the… Continue reading Review: 2016 Ford Focus ST
I’m driving BMW’s latest. “The latest what?” you wonder. The latest marketing-driven snafu is what most hardcore Bimmerphiles would say. You see, the BMW X1 (chassis code F48) is BMW’s first front-wheel-drive platform ever. This breaks the rule that BMWs are RWD driver’s cars at the core and threatens to condemn the X1 as the… Continue reading Review: 2016 BMW X1 xDrive28i
If there is one silver lining to the fact that my 2011 E90 M3 throws check-engine lights three times a year, it is that my repair shop McKenna BMW has a varied and enticing fleet of loaner cars. This week my M3's increased emissions check-engine light granted me access to a $58,000 BMW 435i Gran… Continue reading Review: 2016 BMW 435i Gran Coupe
To paraphrase Nino Karotta, I’ve just driven the Fiesta ST quite hard. I get it now; I understand why the media is goo-goo over this red hot hatch. But I haven’t run home and bookmarked Craigslist or Autotrader searches for the cleanest, prettiest example in a 500-mile radius; no, the Fiesta ST has not captured… Continue reading Review: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST
Sometimes it feels like BMW just has just one sedan design that it sells in Small, Medium, Large and X-Large sizes to fill its model range. I suppose this model similarity is a result of having a strong corporate design language that governs the appearance of its cars and makes it possible to pick out… Continue reading Review: 2016 BMW 535i M Sport
I picked up my 2014 Corvette Stingray rental on a cold and dark night in the far-flung suburbs of Los Angeles. Oodles of glowing reviews for the Corvette over the last few years made me very interested in driving Chevy’s finest. This car had been rented to me by a pair of car-enthusiast brothers, who… Continue reading Review: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Z51
I have the BMW i3 for an extended three-day test drive. The vehicle I was lent is a “Mega” series model, the most basic i3 available—Giga and Terra series being better equipped—with cloth and synthetic leather and minimal gadgets. For my first two days with the i3, my use of the car was just a… Continue reading Review: 2015 BMW i3
I have a dealership loaner car, a 2015 328i with the M Sport performance package. The M Sport package brings some M inspired gear into the normal range of BMWs. For the 328i, it includes the M Sport suspension for better handling, an M-inspired steering wheel (with similar size and feel to the M4's wheel… Continue reading Review: 2015 BMW 328i M Sport
I expected to be wowed by the power, but the steering impressed me the most. Every so often, in what I presume are moments of boredom, my wife Kay reads my car magazines. From her fleeting explorations of my world, she has learned that the 911 Turbo is the best car in the world, bar… Continue reading Review: 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo
The Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S have been a hot discussion topic for enthusiasts ever since their launch. Priced around $25k new, these Japanese twins are the most compelling entry-level RWD sports cars today. Lauded for providing a pure driving experience, I'd been searching for my chance to drive an FR-S or BRZ for quite… Continue reading Review: 2014 Subaru BRZ
Mike's Steering Column 