I am sitting in a brand new 2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo that has unfortunately been optioned in retiree spec. Brown exterior paint is accompanied by tan leather and a wood-trimmed dash. The color and material choices are out-of-sync with my preferences, but the refreshed design pleases me. The updated exterior is much sleeker than before,… Continue reading Test Drive: 2017 Porsche Panamera Turbo
I do it to myself all the time, and I think I’ve done it again. I’ve convinced myself the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is the perfect car for me purely on the basis of written and video reviews. You’d think I learn, but it’s a hard habit to break. It’s not too hard to trace… Continue reading Test Drive: 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
I’d been planning this moment for months, scheming about my way into the driver’s seat of the McLaren 570GT. Thankfully my machinations just came to fruition. I am getting called off the waitlist for the McLaren test-drive experience at Monterey. McLaren is showing off its newly debuted 570S Spider, the roofless version of its Sports… Continue reading Test Drive: 2017 McLaren 570S Spider
There a handful of vehicles that are heralded as prime enthusiast metal yet linger forever on dealer lots. Unfortunately for GM, the Chevy SS is one of those models. How many manufacturers are making V8-powered RWD sedans? Not that many. How many manufacturers are selling that same car with a manual transmission and magnetic ride… Continue reading Test Drive: 2017 Chevrolet SS
Test drives of the Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang were unobtainium in the year following its launch, as the Ford dealers treated the car as if it was made of gold. (To be fair, many dealers did turn the car into gold.) But now, a wave of used GT350 Mustangs is starting to appear on used… Continue reading Test Drive: 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang
The current generation Mercedes AMG C63 S is a car for which I have very high expectations. It’s been heralded by Jonny Lieberman of Motor Trend as the best vehicle in the super-sedan set. It mixes the modern formula for power—turbocharging!—with the classic V8 formula. It’s learned to dance through the corners while still being… Continue reading Test Drive: 2017 Mercedes AMG C63 S
Have you ever tried to take a meaningful test drive in the heart of a major city? It’s not easy to accomplish, what with block-by-block stop signs, cyclists sharing the road, pedestrians at every crosswalk, and the general pervasive congestion that comes with dense, urban living. Still, plan carefully, and it is possible to get… Continue reading Test Drive: 2011 BMW 1M
During Monterey Car Week, numerous high-end manufacturers were offering test drives of their newest cars. The Acura NSX, Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman (as well as the rest of the Porsche lineup), Lamborghini Huracan, Alfa Romeo 4C Spyder and McLaren 570S/GT were all buzzing up and down Carmel Valley wooing potential customers. Enticed by the… Continue reading Test Drive: 2016 McLaren 570GT
It is 9:45am, and I am raising my day's first cup of black tea to my lips to clear the grogginess from my mind. Three sips in, I laugh at my own stupidity—I don't need caffeine, the Lotus Elise that is about to arrive in my driveway will shake me awake! As you know, the… Continue reading Test Drive: 2006 Lotus Elise
I just requested an hour test drive of the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG courtesy of the internet startup dealership SHIFT. I am shopping for a fun runabout for my in-town errands, and the Mercedes AMG's mini-small SUV is actually the closest approximation to a hot hatch that the company offers in America. (Europe gets a… Continue reading Test Drive: 2015 Mercedes GLA 45 AMG
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