As they say “Tis the Season”….well, here at motorfanatics, ’tis the season to be dreaming. Dreaming about fantasy shopping binges. Yesterday, Chris and I went for lunch..and after a quick bite to eat, we decided to do some window shopping. I quickly remembered the BRABUS showroom in Newport Beach, and we headed over. As we pulled in, it occurred to me that it had been a while since I looked in the window. BRABUS was gone, but there was a Rolls Royce Phantom staring out the window with a big bow on top, so we knew we’d still get to see some goods. Inside we found another ½ dozen rolling palaces, in various colors and configurations. All equally extravagant, and excessive. But in the back we found the cars more our style. Read the rest of this entry »

Who would a’ thought it? I guess if something already kicks ass, it can be made more kick ass. Taking their cues from the Porsche philosophy of “refine and perfect”, the kids over at TECHART set out for the Trial of Strength at the High Speed event in Nardo, Italy, to set a record, and they did it. Now, I can speak from experience when I tell you that a Porsche Cayenne can move down the road, but 200mph? That’s more than the legal speed limit faster than I’ve ever driven mine.  An insane 690 horses made it possible for the TECHART equipped Cayenne Turbo S to hit the mark. Rather than regurgitate the details of an event I did not attend, here is what they say happened.

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Ever been rendered speechless? Like when the hottest girl in school says she likes you?   Happened to me back in the 7th grade, no joke, hottest girl in school, an 8th grader, wanted to “go” with me.  What did that consist of?  Nothing, I think I spoke 3 words to her, danced with her at a school dance, was completely overwhelmed with confusing emotions, and then a week later, her friend called my house, and told me it was over.  But the level of stoke that first evening…was immeasurable.   That brings us to yesterday morning.   I’m sitting at my kitchen table, knowing what is about to happen, but I was still giddy like a pre-schooler on Christmas morning.  Then I hear it, the rumble, the power, the confused driver who can’t find my house.  I glance out the window and BAM!  Aston Martin DBS rolling past my window.  No joke, I jumped in the air with a double fist pump.  Sounds retarded, but its true, I had to tell myself audibly to keep it cool.  I had only been in 2 Aston Martins prior to yesterday.  I had a boss a couple years ago who owned a DB9 for while, and then a few weeks back, I got to drive a Vantage Roadster at the MPG track day.  I was about to put a 3rd notch on my Aston Martin score card. Read the rest of this entry »

These are the stories that we live for as MotorFanatics.  After browsing most of my automotive news outlets for the day, I ran over to check on the British fanatic site Autoexpress…and was met with this little jem.   The concept and theoretical successor to the Ferrari Enzo…the code named, and jaw dropping Ferrari F70.  First thought..DAMN!   Seems that  Ferrari is getting tired of all these “Did you hear about the Veyron?” stories, and is working on something more than the 458 Italia.  Well aware that the Ferrari mad scientists are always mixing and experimenting, I knew that the day would soon be here when we could actually start looking forward to something tangible from Ferrari, and the start of the next chapter of the supercar wars. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever been given a gift that seems to have a life of its own?  Like one that you are given initially and that alone is great, but it just keeps giving?  Things like BBQ’s, wet bars, hot wifes, surfboards, golf clubs…you get my point.  Well if you frequent motorfanatics, you may remember that earlier this year I bought into the Porsche family…and while that purchase wasn’t a gift per se, it sure has kept on giving.  Beyond the daily drive or even the joy that it gives me to clean it, being in the Porsche family automatically included me in the “club”.   Being in the club has had a couple immediate perks:  the first is that when you valet park a Porsche, you don’t get that silly giggle from the valet that you get in a rough idling 4runner.  Secondly,  as you probably already know, the new Panamara is starting to show up at dealerships and the dealership I bought my car from invited me to take a drive.  Read the rest of this entry »

This going to throw a lot of people off here.  First because we haven’t updated content in 3 months (our bad) second, it’s about a hybrid from a company in Japan and third, it’s about how I’m actually excited about it.  If you’ve been following us for a while, I’m sure you’ve noticed how pro-european we seem to be in terms of vehicles we favor.  I drive a VW, Dan drives a Porsche, and we both lust after anything that comes out of bavaria, the land of spaghetti, or the nation under rule of a queen.  Thus far, I could see how you might assume that we don’t care much for Asian vehicles, but I’m about to prove you wrong

As a self-proclaimed petrol head and hybrid hater, I’ve told countless people to buy a diesel instead of a battery, and for the most part I like to stick to that mantra.  Until that is, something performance oriented comes about.  Last year, I had the privilege of  riding in a Tesla roadster and the relentless rush of acceleration just blew my mind.  This electric car thing just might take off I thought…until I drove a Prius.  Commuting appliances aside, the ride in the Tesla made me realize that electricity is inherently awesome for us performance enthusiasts.  Lately, electricity’s been getting a bad wrap from us performance minded individuals due to being chained to gutless gas engines, lifeless CVT’s, snail-paced acceleration, and handling so numb you might as well be steering with a joystick.  The Tesla proved to me that through all this depressing, lifeless mediocrity there’s potential in powering vehicles with electricity, and I can’t wait for someone to tap into it.

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Well as in years past when Maranello speaks, we listen.  Today was a pleasant one…receiving the email from the Ferrari PR machine that our speculations in recent months are right on track for this fall’s release of the replacement of the F430.  Ferrari dubs it the 458 Italia, with a sure to be screaming 562 hp engine that they say will be redlined at 9k rpms….yes, 9k.

At first glance, and traditionally not a big fan of the dancing horse,  Chris almost soiled himself.  “Now thats a Ferrari I would own.”  Yes, he said it.  I on the other hand would own as many as I possibly could afford to.  But the point of this post is just to let you all take a look.

[View with PicLens]

Continue for the official words .

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Today was my birthday and my girlfriend promised me a surprise event.  I don’t really care for surprises.  I’d rather just know what I have in store for me so I can get excited or depressed before hand…surprises just tend to make me anxious.  Around 2 o’clock, we got in the car and started heading west…the same direction I drive to the ‘ol 8 to 5.  Nervous she was playing some sick joke taking me to work on a Sunday, we passed my office and exited a few miles after.  As we drove through a huge industrial park, it hit me.  We were headed to the new MB2 indoor electric go-kart facility in Thousand Oaks, CA…and man was I excited.

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I would imagine, that back when transportation fantasies consisted of a healthy horse, and fertile hunting grounds…guys still stood around and said…”If you had 2 gold pieces and you had to spend it on horses, what would you get?”
Because, I’ve played that game since I was a kid, and I can’t imagine variations of the discussion ever not existing.  Its kinda like space….its always been there in some form…and it will continue long after we are all dead and gone.  So this morning, Chris and I had the conversation…and I just happen to have the transcript….

me:  So, if you had 300g’s and you had to spend it all on cars. what would your first purchase be?
Christopher:  it was given to me today?
me:  yep. you get a check at lunch.
Christopher:  FIRST
I’d go straight to the auto gallery and pay cash for that GT3RS
without thinking.  it’d be a reflex
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So yesterday, Chris and I made a trip to the post office…great right? Well, yes, it turned out to be a gem of an outing.  As we pulled into the parking lot, we saw a sparkling 88 Ford Crown Victoria LTD.  No, its no supercar…and it doesn’t handle the canyons well…or really at all.  But it DOES have space…and plenty of it.  So after spending a few minutes talking to the old lady that owned it, we found out it only had 44K miles on it, and it had been driven to the gas station, the grocery store, and the car wash.  Thats it.
The little lady was so eager to tell us about her car, about how she could fit her mothers wheel chair in the trunk, no problem, and how she could still fit all her groceries in there as well.   Anyway, on the drive back to the office, Chris and I really starting thinking, that a car like that would be so fun to drive..because its not what everyone is doing.  Its not expensive, its not fast…and by commercial standards, its not cool.  But it totally is.
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