Test Drives, Trends & Events

On the trailer and ready to go! (Photo: Tim & Daisy Odell)

The clock says 5:00am and I am scrambling to grab my gear. Race suit, check. Gloves and boots, check. Fireproof underwear, check. Helmet, check. Sleeping bag and extra clothes, check. I hop in my mobile hotel, a 2009 Dodge Sprinter, and head to LA to meet the rest of my team. I have entered the 24 Hours of Lemons - Buttonwillow and we have a 2 hour drive ahead of us. The 1982 BMW 633 CSi is on the trailer, in full CSI:Miami regalia per our chosen theme, and my coffee is in the cup holder. Let the fun begin. More...

Despite the name Solar Orange, the paint scheme on this 2009 Audi TTS is far from eye-searing.

A sports car should be both exciting to look at and exciting behind the wheel. The 2009 Nissan 370Z has a polarizing “love-it or hate-it” style and is a blast to drive. The 2009 Aston Martin Vantage is truly a looker even when standing still but it is truly a joy to run through the gears. The 2009 Audi TTS is in my possession for the week and has so far fulfilled one half of my simplified equation; it looks great from all angles - even when wearing bright (very bright) Solar Orange paint but is it fun to drive? More...

The 2010 Nissan GT-R

Exotic sports cars are the stuff that dreams are made of. As a younger man, I was in love with the Porsche 959. Some kids adorned their walls with shots of the Lamborghini Countach while others fell head over heels with the Ferrari F40. Today’s young car lovers may have pictures of the Porsche 911 Turbo, Lamborghini Murcielago, or Ferrari 430 on their walls. All amazing cars equipped with equally amazing price tags. Nissan has a car in its stable that offers near-supercar performance with a price tag under the six-figure mark. It is the 2010 Nissan GT-R… and it’s awesome. More...

The 2009 Audi R8. Alternate title: When a Man Loves an Audi.

Beautiful eyes, gorgeous hips, and a stunning profile have me completely in love

No I am not referring to a woman, but to the 2009 Audi R8. It has a polarizing appearance that quite literally causes people to shout nonsense at me when I am driving down the road. They crane their necks, twist their bodies, point at the car … and then turn into incoherent puddles of stupor. It all sounds quite dramatic, but their reactions are nothing compared to my own. I am a drooling, slack-jawed mess adrift in a beautiful sea of carbon-fiber and aluminum. More...

It is nice to have good neighbors. For example, STILLEN who is right down the street  built the amazing Ford GT that competed in the Dunlop Targa Rally in New Zealand. NADAguides.com was a proud sponsor of that vehicle as well as their current project involving the building of a GT-R which will compete in the upcoming Targa Newfoundland. As I said, they are good neighbors, but I didn’t realize how good until they handed me the keys to their Mustang GT that was built for the 2007 SEMA show. Aw shucks STILLEN… you guys are the best! More...