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
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 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 am shopping for a second car, something fun to whip about in the city as I run errands with my baby daughter. While researching my options, I turned to Todd and Paul from the Everyday Driver podcast for vehicle suggestions. Paul provided me with a laundry list of vehicles to test drive, and the… Continue reading Test Drive: 2016 Lexus IS350 F Sport
My local Cadillac dealer is rather persnickety when it comes to giving out test drives. I had dropped by to drive the newly released ATS-V and was required to undergo a full-blown credit check before they'd let me take it around the block. The only other time I've been subjected to such pre-test drive scrutiny… Continue reading Test Drive: 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe
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
Not so long ago, I was sitting by the pool on vacation when BMW's media embargo on the F80 M3 and F82 M4 expired and the internet was flooded with reviews of the new BMWs. With great excitement, I consumed every quality review I could find, trying to determine if the heir to the sports… Continue reading Comparison: 2015 BMW M4 vs. 2011 BMW M3
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
My friend Sage has been researching his next car. A few months ago, Sage and I had rented an E46 M3 from RelayRides, and we were completely taken by the E46's performance, balance and poise. After the rental, we both dived into Craigslist searches to find that perfect example of the model, but we've both… Continue reading Comparison: 2013 Ford Mustang GT vs 2011 BMW M3
This Sunday I had my first chance to autocross my 2011 BMW M3 at El Toro airfield. While I had done an autocross in Oakland many months ago, it was a poor chance to feel out the car as the course was very short (maybe 40 seconds long) and pretty slow. Today’s El Toro event… Continue reading Long Term: 2011 BMW M3 at Autocross
Mike's Steering Column 