Author: MrAngry

I LOVE MINI-VANS!! There I said it… surprised? Well you shouldn’t be. Minivans in my opinion are the perfect vehicle, as they do just about everything. Need to go to Home Depot for a 5×8 sheet of plywood? No problem, fold down the seats and slide that baby right in. Maybe you have a family of 6 that needs to get to Mac D’s for vanilla shakes, once again, problem solved, just shovel everyone in and hit the gas. Or lastly, perhaps it’s time for you and the clan to go up skiing for the weekend… well then rock-on with yo’ bad self, as most now come equipped with AWD.

My point is that since the introduction of the original Chrysler minivan way back in 1984, manufactures have been scuttling to build a better mousetrap. Each year new features and options come out that make the original look like an antique. Example – as I was walking around the Washington, DC International Auto show I came upon the new Toyota Sienna and was VERY impressed by what I saw. First off, these are not the minivans we grew up with, nor are they just for soccer Moms anymore.

The Toyota Sienna has an air of refinement to it that is apparent as soon as you step into it. The dash layout is simple and easy to read as are the climate controls. Placement of the center console is done nicely as well. Being a big guy I always find my right leg butting up against center consoles which, as you can imagine, can be quite annoying on long trips. No worries in the Sienna though, as my big ass fit in there just fine.

The rear cabin of the Sienna is awesome – like seriously awesome. Not only do the rear seats track back and fourth, but they recline and have a lazy boy style foot rests to boot – how cool is that! Toyota also employed a new split screen DVD system for the rear passengers. The screen itself is about 12 inches wide and allows for simultaneous split screen viewing which should work out great if you’re toting the kids around. Other conveniences like multiple storage bays, dual zone climate control and 7 passenger seating are also a part of the Sienna’s family friendly arsenal. Price on this fully maxxed out Sienna was just over 40k which is a BIG number, but for what you get and the wrapper in which it’s packaged, it’s actually not to bad of a deal. Mileage is also pretty decent with ratings of 18 city / 24 hwy.

Crossover, Cross Tour, SUV, 4×4, POS, Urban Utility Vehicle… manufactures have come up with an endless amount of ways to set themselves apart from the competition. Try and picture it for a moment… 7 or 8 marketing executives all sitting in a conference room somewhere, all staring at and easel with stank coffee breath. Up on the board are dozens of acronyms that are supposed to reflect the name of the companies newest product. It’s a laborious process and one that I’d imagine is a nightmare to be a part of.

By the looks of it however BMW just left the conference room, because sitting on the exhibition room floor in front of me was their newest creation. The 2010 550i Gran Turismo PAS or Progressive Activity Sedan. Ladies and gentleman, I ask you… when is enough, enough? If memory recalls it wasn’t too long ago when there was only like 5 different vehicle types roving the streets. The 4-door family sedan, the station wagon (remember those) or mini-van, the sports car, the luxury car and the pick-up truck. That was it – end of story.

So back to the Bimmer. Basically what BMW did was take a 5-series, slap a hatchback on it and give it a new name… that’s it. Obviously there are those of you out there that will disagree with me and say this is the best thing since sliced bread – you would however, be wrong. The 550i GT PAS has everything you’ve come to expect from BMW. All materials are first rate as is the fit and finish. However this is where my compliments end. You see, BMW has lost me with this vehicle as I simply don’t know what it is and or, what it’s trying to be. For instance, if you wanted a sports car from BMW you’d by a Z4 or M3, if you wanted a sedan you’d buy a 7 or 5-series and if you wanted an SUV I would assume you’d check out the X5 or X6. So BMW, why build this thing?

This confusion continues throughout the interior as well. You’ve got this big hatchback that opens up to reveal a decent amount of storage space when the seats are folded down. Then upon inspection of the rear seating compartment you’ll notice the 550i GT only sits 4 as the big center console in the rear doesn’t fold away. Why do this? There are also video monitors integrated into the rear headrests… again, why? I mean is this where you’re putting your crayon carrying kids? If so, why not just go for something a bit more utilitarian like the X5 or X6, I mean at least you’d get AWD (YES! another acronym) with those.

Performance is everything you’d expect from a BMW as the 550i GT sports a 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 delivering 400 bhp and 450 lb-ft. For some reason though, I feel than any sentence with “V8″ and “twin-turbo” in the same line should put out a heck of a lot more than 400 bhp… that’s just me though. Oh and its also got an 8-speed automatic gear box… ya’ll remember back in the day, when cars only had three or four speeds… crazy right?

At the end of the day the BMW 550i GT looks to be a very well engineered and well built automobile that is facing an identity crises. Hell, maybe that’s why the BMW marketing weenies decided to call it a “Progressive Activity Sedan”. They probably didn’t know what the hell they created either… oh and by the way, it’s $64,000.00.

Sometimes being a member of the automotive press has its own set of unique privileges or “perks”, if you will. Some of these include, but are not limited to: access to pre-production automobiles, insider information and access to some of the coolest autos to ever roll on pavement. Take today for example – I got to test drive a new Audi A3 TDI and BMW 335d, two new clean diesels from two of the biggest German automakers out there… make sure you keep an eye out for a full review and road test on both.

I also got a chance to get up close and personal with the new Mercedes Benz SLS AMG… OH MY GOD IS THIS THING SEXY!! Seriously, this new Merc. is a sight to behold. The SLS AMG pays homage to its Great Grandfather, the 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing (a car located on my top ten list). Visually the car is just stunning. Its free flowing lines come together in a very organic form with no hard lines or rough edges. The front grill looks as though it was taken directly from the original 300SL and transplanted onto the SLS – this was a good move on Mercedes part.

Follow its lines around to the side and rear and you’ll be provided with further influence of ole’ Great Grandpa. Recessed side louvers behind the front wheels are also reminiscent of the 300SL, as are the beautifully sculpted gullwing doors. Ladies and gentlemen… this is one elegant automobile. The rear deck lid is smooth and sculpted hiding only the outline of a retractable rear spoiler with dual stainless exhaust ports completing the SLS’s rear fascia.

From a performance standpoint, the SLS AMG is a hammer producing 571 bhp & 479 lb-ft from its 6.3 liter V8. All this power is laid down by a 7-speed Getrag dual-clutch semi-automatic transmission with 3 different sport settings. Oh and by the way, the entire engine compartment is covered in carbon fiber… nice touch Mercedes.

One thing that simply can’t be ignored on this machine – the MASSIVE 15.8 inch ceramic rotors up front and 14.2 inch rotors out back. Stop short in this sucker and the paramedics will be pulling your eyeballs off the windshield. This is serious stuff.

After speaking with the Mercedes rep for a while he kindly asked if I would like to take a seat in the new SLS… “Well, yes thank you, I certainly would”, I replied. Now, as mentioned in a previous blog, I’m a big Dude and at 6′4″, 245 lbs. small two seat coupes are generally not my friends. It seemed that today however I was able to make a new friend as Mr. SLS AMG welcomed me into his cabin with open arms. The seats were nicely bolstered, but not overly so with the right amount of padding in all the right places. Now, not only did I fit but I also had more than enough leg, shoulder and head room – man I was really diggin’ this thing.

After I was comfortably settled in I began to admire the dash and the carbon fiber center console. All the controls are very straight forward so that you won’t need a degree in astrophysics to figure out how to start the damn thing.

Even the red and black leather combo interior felt right. The steering wheel had a nice firm feel to it with the beautiful gauge cluster clearly visible behind it. Mercedes clearly put their time in on this one.

Viewing the SLS AMG in person was a real treat. Getting up close and personal with it was simply a privilege that very few people will get to experience. Remember those “perks” I spoke about earlier… well ladies and gentleman, welcome to the world of the automotive press.

So I’m down here in Washington, DC covering the DC International Auto Show for RideLust.com and I have to say that this is one big eco friendly gathering. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m in the nations capital and surrounded by all those who strive to do right for the world… or maybe they are just down here to do right for themselves… hell, I don’t know. Either way though there are hybrids, electric cars and clean diesels everywhere – it’s actually quite impressive

The obvious contenders were all present and accounted for. Chevrolet was pimping out a version of the their eagerly awaited hybrid electric vehicle, the VOLT. Their display was small but impressive enough, as I could actually get in and get some photo’s of both the drive train and interior. I even got a chance to sit in the cabin and I’m happy to report that there is room in there, as my 6′4″ body fit just fine.

The interior, while obviously pre-production, was quite nice looking as was the overall look and feel. Interior room was also impressive both for front and rear passengers with a very sporty feel to it. As far as being a sporty car to drive, well, that has yet to be seen. Chevy seems to be moving in the right direction though.

Rear cargo space was ample as well, though I can’t imagine Chevrolet would leave that open space between the rear seats.

As a die hard muscle car guy I have to say that I am not a big fan of hybrids, but that my first impressions of the Volt are actually quite good. The styling, both interior and exterior wise is quite nice without being overdone – roominess is impressive as well. The key now is to see if Chevrolet can actually produce it and make it as good as we all hope it is. Time will tell as the VOLT is supposed to be released by the end of the year.

I was having a conversation with a buddy of mine and inevitably we began to talk about cars. Specifically, our top ten dream cars. Think making this list was easy? Well I’ve got news for you it’s actually a total bitch. Think about if money was no object and garage space was plentiful – what would you buy? Think about it carefully because in all honesty it’s not an easy question. The more we spoke the more we brought up cars that we missed for one reason or another. Maybe we were too young, too poor or whatever. Not surprisingly we both had a good mix of both American and European favorites. Keep in mind, the cars listed below are MY dream cars, so please feel free to agree and or disagree as the mood strikes you. In the end though, make sure you post your favorites up and give the explanations as to why they’d made their way into your fantasy garage.

So, without further adieu, I present to you: MR. ANGRY’s Top Ten Car List.

1. 1973 Lamborghini Miura SV: Ladies and gentleman, this is my holy grail. It’s the car that all other automobiles are judged by. Not only is it the sexiest thing to ever roll on two wheels, but it was also the first real super car. It was powered by a mid-engine, transversely mounted 4.0 liter V-12 that produced between 370-440 bhp depending upon the tune and had a top speed in the neighborhood of 175 mph. Simply put… a Masterpiece.

2. 1968 Dodge Charger: Ahh… man do I love this car. This is to America what the Miura is to Italy. It is perhaps the best looking car to have ever been produced by any American manufacturer. From the long coke bottle shape, to the fully blacked out grill, the Charger makes you feel like a badass when you’re not even moving. It has been in countless movies and chase scenes and has made exotics tremble at stoplights. This IS the car your mother warned you about. It lives for big smokey burnouts and spits in the face of little frou-frou hybrids… it’s just awesome.

3. 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne: Where do I begin with this thing? Between the bubble-top styling, the Batman styled rear taillights and the: “I’m up to no good” persona, the Biscayne makes me want to go out and run moon-shine in the back woods of Georgia.

4. 1955 Mercedes 300SL: There are cars and then there are icons. What you are looking at here is such a car. Its timeless shape looks current some 55 years after it was built. Look at the design that went into this exquisitely crafted exterior. The flared front and rear fender arches, the functional side-exit louvers used for cooling and of course those amazing gull wing doors. The little Benz was powered by a fuel-injected straight-6 that kicked out a respectable 215 bhp… remember, this was 1955 so that was pretty damn good, as was the top speed of around 160 mph. Ladies and gentleman, for 1955, that was BOOKIN’!

5. 2005 Ferrari 575M Maranello: Growing up as a kid in the 1980’s I was inundated with images of the red Ferrari 308 that Magnum P.I. (Tom Selleck) drove around the big island of Hawaii catching bad guys. Fast forward 25 years and that same kid is now in his mid-30’s fantasizing about yet another Ferrari. Most of the cars on my list follow a formula that’s 100 years old – that being, front engine, rear drive, two door coupes. I simply love em’. They’re big, a blast to drive and can chew up miles at triple digit speeds all day long. The 575 Maranello is no exception. It’s 5.7 liter V12 puts out 540 HP and can propel this beauty to 203 mph. Combine that with some of the most beautiful body lines of any car out there and you’ve got one hell of a weekend getaway car.

6. 1995 Porsche 928 GTS: Ah yes, the beloved 928. I remember as a kid my dentist, good ole’ Dr. DaGrosa had a grey market 928 S. It was candy apple red with brushed gold wheels – it was simply amazing. Porsche’s 928 series was built from 1977-1995 (that’s 18 years people) and is, to this day, one of the best GT (Grand Touring) cars ever made. Big V8 up front, rear wheel drive and a top end of just under 150 mph. The final version, the 1995 928 GTS had 345 BHP and 370 LBS. TQ. and topped out over at over 170. I’d like mine in silver please…

7. 1975 BMW 3.0 CSL: Ok… I’m not a HUGE fan of BMW’s. I mean I do like them, hell I’ve evened owned one – a 2001 E39 M5. The new ones however just don’t get the blood boiling like the old ones do. Yes, the new crop of BMW’s are wonderful cars. They perform fantastic, but aside from that, don’t do a damn thing for me. Take that hideous i-Drive for example… probably the WORST internal automotive system ever to be put into a car. As a driver, I don’t want 6 suspension settings, 4 engine modes and or three ways to turn on the God damn radio. I want a car that turns on when I turn the key, goes forward when I press the gas and doesn’t tell me what I can and can’t do.

This is where the 3.0 CSL comes in. In reality it was BMW’s first “M” car. Powered by an inline 6-cylinder engine producing 206 BHP, the CSL would run 0-60 in about 7.0 sec, it handled great and had the looks of a true European sports sedan. They key is actually finding one in decent condition that hasn’t been butchered over the last 35 years. One day perhaps… one day.

8. 1969 Dodge Daytona: I love this car for two reasons. One because I own one, well a replica of one anyway, and two, because it is just so damn ridiculous looking. Dodge had to produce a street going version of their all dominating race car to comply with Nascar’s homologation rules for 1969 so they built just 504 of these wicked machines.

Think about walking into a dealer in though in 1969 and seeing this thing on the showroom floor. It’s 19 feet 6 inches long, has a 4-foot wing on the back and a nose cone like a Saturn 5 Rocket. Now picture trying to convince your wife that it was the perfect family car… yeah right, no dice. Because of this Daytona’s languished on dealer floors until the early 1970’s.

As an owner of one I can tell you that regardless of where I go or what else is in the parking lot, the Daytona is always the center of attention. Plus it’s just plain cool to see drivers of exotics get nervous when you pull up next to them.

9. 1982 Lamborghini Countach: Let’s see now… 5.2 liters, mid-engine V-12 producing 375 BHP-(in 1982!!) and a top speed of 180 mph. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I was a 10-year old kid from Brooklyn and this car was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen. Remember when “Cannonball Run” came out in the early 80’s and the opening scene was the black Lamborghini Countach running from the ’81 Trans Am Police car. To this day, I don’t think there has ever been a better opening to a feature film… Adrian Barbeau’s thunder bombs didn’t hurt either

Just for shit’s and giggles I’ve included the link the opening of Cannonball Run… ENJOY!

10. 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon Coupe – MAD MAX ONLY: An Australian only model, the Ford Falcon XB coupe blasted on the big screen when I was 9 years old in “The Road Warrior”. A movie that I know EVERYONE reading this has seen because this is a CAR site right! Seriously, if you haven’t seen this movie just go put in a bullet in your foot because you’re a disgrace to the man race.

But I digress… Obviously the Falcon in the movie was highly modified with its fake Weiand blower and 8-pak of side exit zoomies, but so what!?! That black bastard was by far the meanest looking ride to ever grace the silver screen. Everything that came after were just imitations. I have made a promise to myself that I WILL build a replica of this car in the VERY near future and when I do just step-the-hell-back cause’ it’s going to be one fully functional Mutha’ F*cka’!

Well… that is it. Those are my top ten cars of all time and the ones that gain access to my fantasy garage. So, whatcha’ got people?

It’s January 2010, which means there is action going on in garages all over the United States. Why you might ask? Well, this is the time of year when guys begin to get itchy to drive. We’re sick and tired of the snow and crappy weather and are longing for those first few 60 degree spring days. Until then we’re stuck with the snow, sleet & rain that engulfs the northeast from January until March… (those of you who live on the west coast can suck it).

Since we’re not really driving, racing or attending car shows yet, this is the time of year when all the superfluous automotive crap gets done. It’s time to install those new heads, suspension systems and or custom brakes. Guys all over the place are captivated by their Summit Racing and Jegs catalogs whilst they sit on the proverbial throne. Credit cards all over the northeast are beginning to sweat like a whore in church…

Well… that may be going a bit far, but you get the idea.

My point is that now is the time of year to take care of any modifications that you’re planning for the upcoming car season. Hell, my list is flippin’ huge. My ‘68 Charger is getting a host of suspension upgrades as well as some major TLC and my ‘69 Daytona has already gone under the knife by getting a full repaint, new front spoiler, windshield clips and rear window straps with more to go. I figure that if I’m lucky, I’ll have everything bought, paid for and installed by mid-March, it’s going to be close though. There’s a lot of parts and not a lot of garage space.

So what does everyone else have planned? New headers for the Honda? Perhaps new wheels and skins for the old Chevy? What-cha’ all doing? Post up… inquiring minds (mainly mine) want to know.

Ok fine… I’ll admit it; there are times when I can be a total prick when it comes to cars. This however only takes place when I find them offensive. Take this 1996 Honda Accord that is currently listed on eBay for example – it offends me. Not so much because of what it is, but because of what was done to it. One day 14 years ago this little Accord rolled off the assembly line with the dream of making someone very happy. It was filled with the hopes of serving as reliable transportation to an individual or family. All the right attributes were there. A peppy 4-cylinder engine, great fuel economy and most of all Honda’s legendary reliability.

But then somewhere along its lifetime this little Honda went astray… it was corrupted by the powers that be and turned to the dark side of the force. It’s a story we’ve heard a thousand times before and one that ends just as tragically. First an aftermarket stereo was added, then speakers and boombastic’ amp. Rims and tires where next (non-matching), followed by the flatulent sounds of an aftermarket exhaust system (muffler only)… now, it was only a matter of time.

Next was the addition of a non-painted body kit, aftermarket seats and the ever-present super sized rear wing that does absolutely nothing. But this wasn’t good enough… it wanted more. Non-racing, racing seats (purchased second hand) were added in conjunction with harnesses that were installed incorrectly. But tragically the final nail in the coffin came by way of a weapon that is like a mistress to a politician… the Sawzall. The final breath of the little Accord took place when it’s sunroof, the virtual window to the cars soul, was cut out and cast aside like a piece of everyday trash. Left now is only a shell of a once reliable family sedan. Its good intentions squandered and it’s dreams crushed under the heel of an amateur customizer.

We now bid you farewell “Little Honda that Could” and wish you bliss in the automotive afterlife… Vios Con Dios little Honda… Vios Con Dios…

Every now and again my brain wanders with visions of driving an old car as my daily driver. I mean how cool would it be to cruise the streets everyday in a classic Chevelle, Charger or Mustang. People constantly giving you the thumbs up, you’d feel like a rock star at every stoplight and valets would always give you the prime spots. I mean hell, if you’re going to go out and drop 25 or 30 large on a new Mustang or Challenger why not get the original right? Before you consider doing this, however, take heed because I’ve been down this road and want to give ya’ll some real world impressions about driving that classic everyday.

I tried doing this last year for over a month in my modified 1968 Dodge Charger. I started on July 20th and finished up on August 25, 2009 and in that time I logged just under 6000 miles… not bad for one months worth of driving. The reason for all those miles was one big ass road trip around the continental United States. I even rigged my baby out with all the conveniences of a new car by installing navigation, satellite radio, a new comfy interior and even a CB radio.

Throughout that entire month I never encountered one problem as the car ran beautifully. Going back to the above paragraph I can safely say that we were indeed the highlight of every stoplight, intersection and destination that we traveled too. Inquiries and comments a plenty were thrown at us and hell, we even got on the local news a few times. So with that being said, would I drive a classic everyday? The answer is simple… no.

While I had a wonderful time driving my old sled, I have to say that by the end of everyday it was exhausting albeit a bit nerve racking. The main ingredient that new cars have over the classics is 42 years of technology and innovation. Yes, new cars do essentially the same things as old cars, but they do it in much different ways. Things like ride quality, interior cabin noise and safety are leaps and bounds over the classics and don’t even get me started on fuel economy. One must also consider possible breakdowns and parts availability as some items are simply not available any more. Ask anyone whose ever tried to find a replacement grill for a ‘68 Charger… it’s a total bitch as well as being SUPER expensive. Maintenance on the classics is a bit cheaper (especially if you’re DIY’er) but will be more frequent than on a new car.

What it all comes down to in the end though is this: new cars are just that… new. They look new, smell new and perform like new. They come with such wonderful things as a warranty, good fuel economy and air conditioning. They’re also safe, quiet and reliable. Where old cars are cool, new cars are practical. Where old cars are a thrill ride, new cars are a safe ride and where old cars look great, new cars just perform great. In the end it is obviously up to the individual to make this decision. Just a word of advice though from someone whose been there.

Buy new, drive safe and get from point A to B without any drama. Just make sure however you have that extra spot in the garage to put that four wheeled dream in when the time comes.

The words “affordable” and “Italian” generally don’t play well in the same sandbox. Italian sports cars as a whole bring up thoughts of big dollars, big repair bills and big ego’s, that is, until now. I recently had the opportunity to view one of these rare Italian beasties in person and was pleasantly surprised by what I found out, that being, that most anyone whose employed can own one.

What you see here is a 1960 Alfa Romeo 2000 and it is a beauty. Think of it as the Mazda Miata’s illegitimate great grandfather. These cars, although rare are actually quite affordable with the price spectrum ranging from about 20k-40k which really isn’t that bad when you consider this car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro… never heard of him? Well, he’s the guy who also designed the Ferrari 250 Berlinetta Bertone, De Tomaso Mangusta, Iso Grifo and Maserati Ghibli, so in short… he’s got mad skills.

Performance wise the little Alfa is no pavement shredder. It’s little four cylinder cast iron mill churns out about 105 HP @ 5300 RPM and sounds glorious, not to bad for a car that weighs less than 2300 lbs. Although, if you want to get really crazy the later 2600 models did have an 2.3L inline-6 that produced 145 HP… BOOYA!! Make no mistake, these little Alfa’s are all Italian, all sports car and everything you’d need to fit in to any car show anywhere in the world. So before you go out and spend that 30k on some new pasta rocket or strudel wagon, take a look around and think outside the box, because if you do, you may just be amazed at what you’ll find.

There is something to be said about owning a beater. They’re not pretty, generally don’t run well and are most likely the farthest thing from a performance vehicle that one can imagine. The general public views them with looks of disgust and considers them road hazards. What they don’t realize however is that to those of us in the automotive know, our beaters are our full-on prize possessions.

The beater is a ride that laughs in the face of all that is beautiful in the automotive spectrum. They love parking on city streets and live for door dings and crappy weather. The beater is a beast that does what all high-end garage queens strive to be, that being… useful. Go to any Home Depot or the local train station and see for yourselves how many Mercedes and BMW’s you see in the lot – the simple fact is, not to many. They don’t live here… this is the beaters playground.

God knows over the years I’ve had my share of beaters. Everything ranging from a 1981 Mercury Capri (remember those), to a clapped out rusted Dodge Dakota pick-up truck, to my all time favorite… a 1997 Mercury Villager mini-van… man do I miss that thing. They were all great vehicles that did exactly what they were supposed to do. They gave me the freedom to park, go and do anything I wanted without the worry of something happening to them. So, with that being said, let’s here about the POS you’ve got in the driveway… I flippin’ love these things so post them up and be proud of your pile.

Related: RideLust’s 15 Beaters That Won’t Disappoint