Guerrilla Test Drive

The 2009 Volkswagen Passat represents the highest level of luxury in the American VW lineup and an impressive bargain in the sport luxury market in its lower level trims. With just a bit of a bump in price over the base car you get upscale amenities while retaining a sporty character that at times comes into contention with the overall lavish goal of the vehicle.

The smooth German exterior looks classy wherever you are and is sure to impress the style conscious.

On the one hand, you have a comfortable competent cruiser capable of 30 MPG on the highway and cosseting you over broken pavement. In the tradition of European sedans, the ride is controlled if not overly sporty. The seats are supportive, the moon roof and leather provide a sumptuous ambiance and up until half throttle the engine is quiet and refined.

The seats trade lateral support for comfort. A calculated choice that pays on long drives while providing just enough support when things get a little lairy.

Push past the half way point and the slight whistle of the turbo picks up on the two liter engine and the wild side of the car comes out. If you have the six speed automatic slotted into sport mode, changing the throttle as well as transmission calibrations, the distinction comes even more quickly as the transmission eagerly, if not supremely quickly, kicks down to bring out the beast from within. Suddenly the mild mannered luxury cruiser pushes you into the back of your seat and the inner sports car comes out to play. I found this to be much more effective than dropping the transmission into the manumatic mode and shifting with the stick shift. The shifts in manual mode just never seemed to be quite as crisp as the sport mode. The 2010 Passat will feature VW’s ubiquitous automated six speed manual transmission which should further improve shifting sportiness.

The engine is not a powerhouse, but it is the constant surge of torque at nearly any rev that keeps your foot coming back down. VW has a recent history of passing around the same engine in nearly every car in their lineup and this engine has always been a favorite of mine. If you want the more sophisticated package all the time I would suggest going for the V6, which in true Volkswagen form should offer a smoother trip up to speed and tame the wild side a little.

When accelerating hard the gearbox will kick down but it hardly needs to in order to really get scooting. The chassis holds up to the sports car premise with a well controlled suspension and firm brakes; brakes that engage slightly high but prove reassuring.

The moon roof provides a glimpse into the smartly styled interior.

The whole experience is only let down by the weight of the car. This model hides its weight well with the added grip from upsize wheels and tires, 18 inchers, but under hard braking you can feel the rear end wiggling from side to side as all that mass attempts to come around. This is a small price to pay to receive the luxury of this car along with its German sports car wild side. Not to mention the fact that pulling up in a sophisticated looking European midsize car carries with it the respectful image that your GTI hatchback will never muster.

When it comes down to it, the beautiful thing about this car is its wild side. Beneath the staid Germanic surface lurks a fast beast scratching to get out. So drop your kids off at school, drop the transmission into Sport, and take the long way to work.

We can all support breast cancer research in our own ways. For some it is walks. For others it is donating money. I recently found out about an opportunity for those in the Subaru community to support breast cancer research.

You can reach their website at scoobiesforboobies.org. This is their second year of funraising for the American Cancer Society and they have some nice shirts for sale.

So I would love to know that  I helped them out with fundraising. This is truly a good cause and you can help in the name of Subarus.

There are few greater driver’s roads than those the government has provided us in our National Parks. The speed limit tends to be low, but the roads are smooth, scenic, and uncrowded if you time things right.

I have never been to Whales. I probably never will. I don’t even know that much about Whales other than it is wet and has “some of the most amazing driving roads ever” according to many magazines. On an early morning cruise through TR National Park I came as close to Whales as I probably ever will on this side of the Atlantic.

One such entertaining road resides in North Dakota right over the boarder from Montana. Theodore Roosevelt National Park sits as the northern cousin to the vast Badlands National Park of South Dakota. This scenic area has its own character, a much more approachable size compared to the southern park, and a herd of Bison that most people will see but like to hide from people out for an early cruise.

The only proof I saw that Bison live in the park was indirect.

Approximately 25 miles of the 35 mile loop through the park is a tempting ribbon of shiny new pavement. The kind that just begs for rubber to be laid down on it and limits to be tested.

Keep in mind there are large four legged beasts roaming behind those blind corners though. Reign in your right foot and you will be rewarded with majestic scenery that pulls at our collective memories of an open unspoiled west. Exactly the kind of thing that caused people to uproot their lives and move into the unknown. It’s all there for you in a 45 minute loop along with a gift shop.

Ideal Car: Mazda Miata or another momentum car. Just enough power to make things interesting at low speeds. That or a real torque monster with a lot of braking after some hard acceleration down low, but forget about any gear other than second or third. Maybe a supercharged Lotus Exige?

Everyone has a favorite road. For some it is the flattest longest stretch of pavement around. Other people favor the most corners packed into the shortest amount of road. A large amount of the population could care even less about the road itself and are in it more for the views.

If you know where this is I will be impressed. Hint: I don't remember where this is.

There is nothing as frustrating as driving a vehicle on a road that does not play to its strengths, or vice versa. There is a right car for every road and perfect road for every car. Hopefully these articles on roads of distinction will help you discover a new favorite kind of road or just appreciate the one on which you have to constantly schlep yourself to work.

Ford, Porsche, Lamborghini. These are just three auto makers who can look back upon more agricultural pursuits in their history. I’m talking tractors. Not to mention the likes of Aston Martin whose gearboxes were designed for these lumbering beasts or lotus which fitted engines originally designed to serve as fire pumps.

So it wasn't the smallest engine there but is part of the greater history of Ford.

This is where the Dublin New Hampshire Small Engine Show comes in. On this damp day the makeshift alleyways were punctuated with the staccato rattle of small engines pumping away. Whether they were designed to provide locomotion in some way or just shove water around to somewhere more useful, these are in many ways the fore bearers of the propulsion for the vehicles we know and love.

Look at that mad positive camber yo! said the random New Hampshire guy.

Seeing the name Ford on a tractor, or realizing that Lamborghini would not have existed without that agricultural base is a very sobering thing. So the next time you look over at that Mercedes R Class, BMW X5, or Porsche Cayenne, remember that there has always been a more lucrative market needed to support you in your sports car. Just be glad you aren’t stuck behind a tractor bearing your beloved brand’s name. More photos here.

Any color as long as it is black. There were some classic cars that made it out.

It was a long time coming but this website now has its own logo. A very special thanks to my friend Ryan Wilson without whom there would be no logo. You were able to take an entirely vague concept and make it reality. You captured everything I want this website to be about. Thank you so much. For more of Ryan’s work check out the Moo Cow Fan Club!

In high school I had a friend that looked so much like his older brother that he escaped with a car full of beer after getting pulled over and producing his brother’s license. This clearly worked to his benefit in this instance but there are cases where such a family resemblance could lead to disappointment.

The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 is a fire breathing legacy of the Japanese sports car wars of the 1990’s. Packing a twin turbo V6 and a sophisticated tarmac gripping all wheel drive system, it ran with Toyota Supras, Mazda RX-7s, and in its homeland the legendary Nissan Skyline GT-R. That car is a legend on wheels to the Mitsubishi faithful.

The Mitsubishi 3000GT SL is a front wheel drive, normally aspirated V6 powered sports coupe. It looks nearly identical to the VR-4, but lacks all of the hardware that makes its bigger, stronger, more exciting brother so desirable.

Not that the car was not enjoyable. I would buy one just for the looks that it got while driving around town. It is a striking design that has more coke bottle shaping to it than many cars since the 1960’s and is almost reminiscent of a corvette.

Nothing says Japanese performance like chrome! One of the major distinguishing features between this car and the more brutal VR-4 will be in the wheels and brakes.

The interior is well appointed, featuring comfortable sport seats with electronic adjustable lumbar support and just enough room in the back for two adults. The front is fairly roomy for a sports car, walking a fine line between sculpted out sporty and normal car roominess.

The driving experience is far from a let down, providing comfortable cruising with enough sportiness thrown in to keep you engaged. The SL features electronically adjustable dampers. The only difference I noticed during less than enthusiastic driving in the sportier setting was jolts from expansion joints found their way into the cabin more readily. The shifter has somewhat long throws, although it is fairly precise and smooth. The clutch uptake is progressive.

The drivetrain is let down primarily by the accelerator which sticks initially leaving it hard to lightly modulate the throttle and resulting in a more vroomy experience than you are really looking for. Overall, the car has nearly enough poke to warrant its hot looks.

However, you end up feeling like a poseur and trying to avoid lining up next to minivans lest they find out your dirty little non VR-4 secret.

This car is well appointed and eye catching but lacks that true sports car essence. It looks the part of its bigger brother while getting you a fairly comfortable, relaxed driving experience. Just maybe take off that SL and let people wonder.

1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT

55,000 Miles

Manual Transmission

It is easy for us Coastal Dwellers to wonder at why people would choose to purchase certain cars. Why choose a Pontiac when you can get a Toyota for the same price? Why a Jeep when a Rav4 would do. It is all fine and well to perform these brand-centric critiques when all the options are available. Want a Subaru in the greater Seattle area? You have over half a dozen dealers from which to pluck your car. Want a Subaru in Montana? In the whole state you have roughly the same number of dealers. It is no wonder that there are such a great number of American cars in the Midwest, they are nearly the only choice.

The fake convertible look is something I will never get. At least it helps it to blend in with the domestics.

It may also boil down to the hard working ethic that leaves less space for such frivalities as a turbo Japanese car when a Mustang will serve just as well, or better yet an old Vette. However, the reverence with which my Minnesotan car-nut relatives speak of such wonders as the R35 GT-R you know that maybe just maybe they would buy one if they didn’t have to drive to the city for an oil change.

Throw in the fact that American cars are no longer the penalty boxes they once were and there is not much of an argument for pushing yourself to get a car that you are going to have to drive an hour for anything more than minor service. So the next time you see a Pontiac Grand Prix cruising down the road, quell your disgust and remember, maybe they’re from Montana.

What do you think? Does anyone from the Midwest have better insight into this phenomenon? How far have you/would you travel for a car dealer? Let me know.

Really could there be a better location for a giant car show than the fairgrounds? Classic Americana is best served surrounded by even more Americana. The Puyallup Fairgrounds in Puyallup Washington turned into a haven for all cars Pre-1972. You like Chopped mercury coupes? Got ‘em. Rat Rods? There was a strong showing. Muscle Cars? I don’t think I have seen so many SS and Shelby models in any one place ever. Hands down. There were cars from back east, down south, and even our friendly cousins to the north.

The 90 degree heat and meandering the fairgrounds from car to car made it hard to truly appreciate all of them. I found myself fading after only about 30 minutes. Most people were huddled in what little shade there was. Overall a great show full of great cars. There is a whole gallery of the photos here.

Extremely large numbers can be hard for our monkey derived brains to wrap around. Taxes are a pain. Somehow everyone thinks there are only 40 jelly beans in those contest jars that hold 200. When numbers get big our brains start having issues.

The same thing happens when we try to think about what a high horsepower car feels like. The acceleration that some cars can dish out is simply something most people have never experienced. That most people have only been in cars with under 300 horsepower does not help the cause. Recently I had the opportunity to sit in the passenger seat of a 2007 WRX STI with 580 HP; roughly double the power the car had when it left the factory.

Just like Johnny Tremain cars can get badges of courage.

The acceleration of a car this fast is as close to an asphalt roller coaster as you are ever going to get. Recapture in your mind the feeling of the tallest roller coaster you have ever been on. The slight anxiety of knowing the decent is coming and then the sheer acceleration as you begin to drop.

Your stomach stays in place as your body rockets forward and your head snaps back into the seat. The ground begins rushing around you, mere feet away outside the window, and everything through the windshield begins speeding towards you with extraordinary conviction. Every shift brings with it a new surge that your stomach cannot catch up with as it sits about a foot behind your body. You try to count the gears but all you can think of is how rapidly the shifts are being popped off and how fast you must be going.

Then as quickly as it started, there is the second shock to the system. The power comes off and you get slammed forward as the car begins to coast. You settle back into the supportive sport seats but your body is still recovering.

My knees tingled as my stomach returned to its rightful place bringing along a sense of nausea that wouldn’t leave me for another hour. Shocked from the experience all I could utter was “Holy shit that was fast” or something equally trite and underwhelming.

That is what 580 horsepower feels like from the passenger seat. A level roller coaster that rips your stomach from your body as it hurls you toward the horizon. Everyone should go for a ride in a car like this. Even the most devout Prius driver could be won over with one ride.

A big thanks to Dom at Maxwell Power. Totally amazing car and thank you for taking the time to show me what a fast car is really like. Check out more about them at www.GETaDOMTUNE.com