RideLust

The Isle of Man is home to what, arguably, is the most insane motorcycle race in the world. Each year, riders from around the globe converge on the tiny island, located directly between England and Ireland, to contest for top honors in the Isle of Man TT. Unlike motorcycle races in the rest of the world, the Isle of Man TT is held on closed village roads, with little thought to safety other than the occasional hay bales. Crash hard, and there’s a good chance of serious injury or death, as the island has see 231 rider fatalities since 1907. Read More…

Recently, I attended the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania. Held every May, this show features a vast array of meticulously maintained classic British, European and Japanese cars, exemplary examples of their more modern kin, as well as a beautiful collection of kit cars.  As far as sheer variety in makes, models and years, hands down, this show can’t be beat.

This has become something of an annual treat for me as I can think of few better ways to spend a weekend than by gazing at a gleaming sea of jaw-droppingly stunning automobiles, many of which I guarantee you won’t find at other shows. Plus, participation is open to anyone with an import or a kit car – all you have to do is register, make your car pretty and show up. It’s a great opportunity to display your cherished ride and meet other aficionados of your favorite marques.

I used to come down to show my Saab and hang out with the Saab contingent that makes it out every year. But even though I have a Subaru now, it’s just so much fun that I continue to make the trip to Carlisle (my WRX was parked over by the lone DeLorean, if you happened to be there). Volvo, BMW and Audi clubs also traditionally have a large showing so the weekend is packed with the cars you love, cars you haven’t seen before, your friends from the forums, barbeques – it’s a good time for everyone.  So, if you’re not too far out from Pennsylvania, I definitely recommend heading out there next May to check out the Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals. To tide you over, provided for your viewing pleasure are some of my favorite cars of the weekend. Enjoy!

 

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Thumbs Up: Faster and much more refined than previous generations.

Thumbs Down: Heavier clutch than a Dodge Viper.

Buy This Car If: You want to go fast, in all weather, on a budget.

I’ve danced around buying a Subaru Impreza WRX for a lot of years. I came close, very close, back in 2003. I test drove four or five different models, but I just couldn’t convince myself to buy one. Back then, the cars felt crude and entry-level, and you definitely sacrificed comfort and amenities in the name of performance. Oddly enough, the WRX of 2003 didn’t even feel fast, although it was. I never could warm up to them enough to buy one, and my current financial situation puts a 2011 WRX well out of reach. In the words of Kurt Vonnegut, “So it goes”. Read More…

Sometimes, regardless of how big or how much power your 4×4 muscle truck makes, the forces of nature will conspire against you and cause embarrassment. Take this 2500 series quad-cab Chevrolet Silverado for example. In standard form this sucker should be able to tow in excess of 10,000 lbs, haul you and your family across the country in comfort and then romp you through the desert if called upon to do so. However, as it happens, this particular Chevy looks to have been halted by a little mud. Mud unfortunately is one of those rare substances that can not only become slick as snot, but it has the ability to disable just about any vehicle out there. Thankfully though for the owner of this particular truck, a buddy with an AWD Subaru was able to lend a helping hand. Now in the real world we all know that the big Chevy would stomp this Subaru into mush, but just this once, we’ll let the Subie fans out there rejoice and celebrate this brand victory.
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When Subaru ramps up production in Japan again, the auto manufacturer will begin building the fourth generation of the Impreza sedan and wagon. The car will be sold worldwide alongside of the higher performance WRX and WRX STI variants, which soldier on as third generation models. Future versions of the Impreza will be based on the fourth generation car, while all new WRX and STI versions will be based on the current, third generation cars. Why the split? Call it marketing or call it emission compliance. On the marketing side, Subaru is trying to emphasize the difference between their sport models and their environmentally friendly, fuel efficient models. On the emission regulation side, Subaru will need to ramp up sales of base model Imprezas to justify building a higher performance, less fuel efficient model. It’s all about achieving the upcoming CAFE and Euro fuel economy and emission targets. Read More…

In my time on this earth I’ve owned around 30 vehicles. I’ve had cars, boats, motorcycles and even a snow mobile, and in that time I’ve got to say that they were all pretty good. So when it came time to sit down and think about what the absolute worst one was, it really wasn’t that easy of a choice. First I categorized them by vehicle type, then the time period for which I owned them, and lastly I worked out how they affected me financially and emotionally with a list of pro’s and con’s. It was actually a pretty fun exercise and one that took me on a nice trip down memory lane. After looking at my vehicle list and then cross referencing it with my pro’s and con’s, I was finally able to come to a decision – my 1998 Subaru Legacy GT. Back then I was looking for a car that was quick, fun to drive with a five speed and more importantly, had all wheel drive. In the late 1990′s there were only two real choices; the all new Audi A4 or a Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS (predecessor to the STI). After deciding that the Audi was too expensive I decided to go for the Subaru. My plan was to lease the car for three years and then If I liked it, I’d buy it out at the end of the lease.
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A new 2011 Subaru WRX STI costs just a nick under $38,000, not chump change by any means. It’s all-wheel-drive, comes with a 305 hp turbocharged boxer flat-4 and is generally considered to be one of the baddest imports out there. So why may I ask would someone go through all the trouble of ruining this great little car by taking a Sawzall to it and chopping off the top? Are they trying to make a statement, be cool or simply just lower the value of the car by $30,000. The Subaru STI works so well because of the millions and millions of dollars that was spent on research and development. Engineers slaved tirelessly over this machine to make sure that it was the best in its class structurally so that nothing, and I mean nothing needed to be added to it.
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Ford Mustang in Hamburg, Germany.  Photo courtesy of Jan Riggert.

It’s February and we’re in the heart of Winter 2011.  For car enthusiasts, it’s very easy to dismiss this season as a time of dreary dormancy.  When the grey skies and the bleak landscapes make even the cherished weekend drive unwelcome.  When the air is too agonizingly frigid to endure with the roof tucked away and the windows down.  When you long to pitch your keys after frantically scraping your windshield in the quiet hours before dawn and your thoughts incessantly turn to the salt feasting on your vehicle.  Sitting behind the wheel, your breath visible, you find that even your car starts begrudgingly, chugging to life with the reluctance of a teenager waking on a weekend morning.  In winter, the sleek, silvery hides of the cars we’ve fondly lusted over in the warmer months are locked away, sheltered from the elements, and the bronzed, bikinied goddesses of the tuner meets are in hibernation.  Winter is a terrible time for car enthusiasts.

Or is it?

The following are some of my favorite winter photos from around the Web.  If you’re bemoaning the winter blues, take a look at these and get out and drive.  Winter is no reason to stay inside. Read More…

There has been a lot of buzz recently about Toyota’s budget minded rear-wheel drive FT-86 sports coupe. Truth be told this is one nifty little bugger and if the rumors of a Subaru derived 305hp / 290 lb-ft turbo 4-cylinder are true, it’s also going to be an absolute pistol to drive. The FT-86 will be built under a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru. However according to Toyobaru.net, U.S. residents will be seeing the FT-86 badged under the Scion nameplate as the Scion FT-S when it eventually hits U.S. shores. There are also rumors of an AWD version to be released under the Subaru nameplate with a price tag that could be upwards of 40k… that’s big money for a little car that would be a pretty close competitor to Subaru’s own 4-door STI. Production of the Scion FT-S is rumored to begin in the 4th quarter of 2011, so stay tuned for more information.

If you’ve got a dog, chances are you’ll understand these Subaru commercials. Terrier or greyhound owners may not chuckle, and toy poodle owners won’t even crack a smile. Own a border collie (like I do), and you’ll probably laugh nervously, because if you leave the dog alone long enough, he will figure out how to drive (opposable thumbs be damned). Try explaining THAT accident to the insurance company, or your vet. Videos after the jump. Read More…