Driving sensations, not just specifications
Seventeen years ago, I got my first taste of the Mini Cooper convertible while vacationing in Hawaii. I was staying on Maui, and I had rented a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette from Toy Box car rentals. While reading the fine print of my rental agreement, I saw that the Corvette was forbidden to be driven on… Continue reading 2025 Mini Cooper S Convertible: Hails from the Toy Box
Another day, another Dollar…though in this case we are picking up a ride from Hertz. The keys to our ride are in the poorly named President’s Circle, the parking lot row from which we can select a car. I see runty Toyota Corollas and geeky Kia Souls, but nothing I'd consider “presidential.” Then, a freshly… Continue reading 2026 Kia K4 LXS: Small Car, Big Value
Since BMW reintroduced Mini to the world in 2001, the niche brand has expanded its product line and enlarged its models. Its initial offering was exclusively subcompact hatchbacks, but over the years, the company has added four-doors and SUVs, too. As the lineup grows in size, my perception of Mini changes. I now see the… Continue reading 2025 Mini JCW 2 Door: Hot-Hatch Heaven
It's Sunday morning, and a swarm of car enthusiasts is orbiting a 1992 Porsche 911 (964) Turbo. The enthusiasts are acting like flies circling a ham sandwich: they buzz in close, sniff at the open window, and then flit back a few feet. Who can blame them? With its punched-out fenders and gargantuan rear wing,… Continue reading 1992 Porsche 911 Turbo: A Charming Challenge
I'm stuffed with peanut butter cookies (thanks, Porsche!) and still floating on the high of driving the world's best luxury vehicles from Maybach and Lucid. Next up is my test drive of the Porsche Cayenne S, a midsize SUV that is downright common in coastal California. How can it possibly excite me after wafting in… Continue reading 2025 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid: The Driver’s Daily
The thesis is simple: for 66% the cost of a 997-generation Porsche 911 GT3, I can get into a 996 GT3 and enjoy 90% of the thrills. The hope is also to find a well-used 996 GT3 around the ~$110k mark, which would be by far the most expensive car I've ever purchased, but much… Continue reading 2004 Porsche 911 GT3: Challenge Accepted?
The BMW X5 is a sweetheart of the line for me. Big enough to spread out, quiet enough to lower my cortisol, and oh so comfortable. The 2025 X5 is a fourth-generation (G05) X5 that launched as a 2019 model. As such, the 2025 X5 has already received BMW’s lifecycle impulse upgrades that updated the… Continue reading 2025 BMW X5 xDrive50e Plug-in Hybrid: A Big Softie
They say “save the best for last,” but I don’t want to wait that long to tell you about my Porsche Taycan 4S test drive. What is true, though, is that the Taycan 4S is my last test drive in an exceptional day of test drives. BMW M3, M4, M5 and X5 M, Lucid Air… Continue reading 2025 Porsche Taycan 4S: Too Good to Miss
I've been dying to try the new M3 and M4 since they launched four years ago. Of all the M models, this duo has the size and performance focus to match my family, fun, and track aspirations. Did you know I owned a 2011 BMW (E90) M3 for seven years? I loved that car's practicality,… Continue reading 2025 BMW M3 and M4 Competition: Family Friendly Weapons
What is the easiest way to be underwhelmed by a $200k Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600? Drive a $260k Mercedes-Maybach S680 first! Sadly, that is what I’m doing today. I’ve just completed test drives of the Mercedes-Maybach S680, Lucid Air, and Lucid Gravity, and now I’m getting behind the wheel of the 2025 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600. It’s… Continue reading 2025 Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600: Sibling Rivalry
