And then there were two... the comparison continues!

 So after going to multiple dealerships, we narrowed our comparison to two cars.  We felt that the Honda Accord coupe and the Altima coupe were just not what we were looking for.  We wanted a RWD coupe that would provide more driving pleasure and were willing to forgo the superior interior finish of the Accord coupe for a sportier feel from the Mustang V6 and the Genesis coupe.  The dealership had quite a few 2011 Mustang GT's and I got to test drive a Mustang GT California edition.  What I loved about the GT was the great power and torque from the 5.0 liter V8 and what impressed me the most was the rumble of the V8.

 However, our comparison was of the V6 Mustang and while we did like the great power of the V6, the V8 was just that much better.  The V6 was relatively quiet under normal driving conditions and sounded pretty good once we opened up the throttle.

 The white convertible Mustang pictured was the one we test drove and aside from having more power than the Hyundai Genesis, the 'Stang also had a great interior finish and more room in the backseat for a pair of 6'1" 200 pounders.  One of the downsides to the Mustang was the snappy clutch, that would take some getting used to, but for someone new to driving stick, was less than ideal.

 Now as for the Hyundai Genesis, we decided to opt for the 2.0T instead of the 3.8L V6.  Although having the extra power would be nice, it would have bumped up the price significantly, and as for lease deals, the bigger engine would not have been worth the extra price.  The V6 is also significantly heavier, making the 2.0T a better option for handling and driving thrills.  After some negotiating, we were able to drive down the price of an available 2.0T R-Spec to around $700 over the base model.  While the R-Spec is more money, what you get for the package could be considered a steal.  With a limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes, upgraded wheels and tires, a front mounted strut brace, camber modifications, and a lighter curb weight you just can't beat this package.

As far as what we felt of the car, we really liked the 6-speed manual and the clutch was feather light and easy to get accustomed to.  Buyers will certainly want to go with the manual which gives a better feel and the automatic with paddle shifters seems a bit delayed and not as sharp as you'd expect and simply just does not provide the same feel as a manual.  The interior is a bit cheaper looking than the Mustang's and there is absolutely no room for anyone taller than 5'8".  A plus on this car is that, you wouldn't want to be driving this car with three passengers anyway as this car has a driver's car feel and one you'd want to enjoy particularly with the R-Spec package.  With a curbweight under 3,300 lbs. the 2.0T saves about 500 lbs. from the V6 and the weight difference is noticeable.  Having the RWD setup with the LSD, camber adjustment and the other upgrades from the R-Spec package make this car a fun drive.

Where the Genesis really shines is in the low-slung seating position and overall driving feel of the car.  The car sits down low and you really get the sense that you're in a sports coupe.  Finally, between the great lease deals that were at our disposal, the great feel driving the car, and the incredible upgrades available with the R-Spec package, the Genesis is the clear winner in our books.  Furthermore, with some boost tuning, I think this car can be tuned to 300+ hp.

Mustang V6
Pros:  Great power and sound when you open the throttle.  Great interior with room for 4 and Muscle Car feel.
Cons:  Not as much rumble as the V8.


Hyundai Genesis 2.0T R-Spec
Pros:  Great track ready feel and even better driving position.  Incredible upgrades from the R-Spec package.
Cons:  Small interior with little to no room in the rear.  Cheaper interior feel.

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Alfa Romeo's return to the US delayed until 2013

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is not pleased with the designs for US bound vehicles.  Marchionne is also apparently displeased with the new Chrysler designs coming out of Detroit.  It's comforting to see an automaker's CEO taking such a vested interest in the design of its vehicles, instead of settling for mediocrity.  Not only am I not a fan of Chrysler's or their designs, but to me they are dead last in both design and innovation.  It's understandable, they struggled to stay alive and needed to be rescued by Fiat, but that doesn't mean that they weren't terrible cars before the credit crisis.  Even Ford and GM were making technological and design progress after falling behind to the both the Germans and Japanese.

As far as Alfa is concerned, I am glad that they are delaying the brand's return to the US.  If they want to make a successful return, they have to make sure they mold their Italian design to US tastes.  That is not to say that they need to make all new vehicles, but rather tailor their current designs to what would attract American buyers.  The whole point of bringing Alfa's back to the US is to have attractive, unique, and stylish cars that are different from what we're used to seeing.  Take the Spider Quadrifoglio: My uncle owns one, and I've driven it several times before.  It's not the best or most reliable car, but it sure is a looker; and for springtime cruising, it was great; I would not mind a remake.

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Battle of the under $30k V6's: Auto POI's first Comparison Preview

So the inspiration for this comparison is an actual comparison that me and my friends are genuinely having to decide which coupe works best for a twenty something year old to upgrade to from a Honda Civic.  We are going to be testing all four of these cars, but are currently looking at the numbers.  So this post will incorporate our research and opinions and our final verdict.
We narrowed our search down to these 4 vehicles which we felt could match our criteria: sporty coupes, with the V6 option, for around $30k.  We have an American muscle legend and in my opinion, the best of the big 3 American muscle cars, the Ford Mustang.  We have a newcomer that has been winning praise from many, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.  Then we have two coupes from Japan, the Altima coupe and the Accord Coupe.
So where to begin?  Let's start with our criteria for deciding the best of these cars:

• Performance: engine response/power, steering feel, and handling feel.
• Fit and Finish: interior and exterior styling, and options included within the budget.
• Value: overall monthly cost, fuel efficiency

So here are the preliminary numbers.
In engine power and torque:

1. Ford Mustang 3.7L V6 - Horsepower: 305 hp @ 6500 rpm - Torque: 280 ft-lbs. @ 4250 rpm
2. Hyundai Genesis 3.8L V6 - Horsepower: 290 hp @ 6200 rpm - Torque: 264 ft-lbs. @ 4500 rpm
3. Honda Accord 3.5L V6 - Horsepower: 271 hp @ 6200 rpm - Torque: 251 ft-lbs. @ 5000 rpm
4. Nissan Altima 3.5L V6 - Horsepower: 270 hp @ 6000 rpm - Torque: 258 ft-lbs.@ 4400 rpm

So power wise, they seem pretty evenly matched, but if I had to order how I think each one of these cars will respond, I think they will rank as currently listed.  The Genesis is the heaviest with a curb weight of almost 3,800 lbs.  The Accord and the Mustang come in between 3,400-3,500 lbs.  And the lightest of the bunch is the Altima weighing in at around 3,300 lbs.

On the side of performance, this comparison really should be separated into two categories, the "sporty" coupes and the sports car coupes.  The front wheel drive Altima and Accord should be categorized apart from the Mustang and Genesis which are more pure sports-coupes; having rear wheel drive and more aggressive suspension, transmission, and braking setups.

The real test will come when we drive these things, so stay tuned for the results, which will include how they look in person and how they feel while in the driver's seat.  Also, lease options help to seal the deal for Auto_POI's first comparison winner.

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First Published Article .. Check it out

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

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KEEP RIGHT, PASS LEFT!

On my 4am drive to work; a fresh cup of coffee in my hand, window cracked just enough for me to feel a slight breeze but not too much to make me shiver and house music blasting from my speakers, I noticed something.  I noticed that at 4am the drive is serene it's peaceful, and for not having slept much, it's relaxing.  I realized that not having anyone on the road makes driving all the more pleasurable.  That, if I decided to wake up on a summer's morning at 4am it would be to drive the empty roads with the windows fully down, no coffee, only adrenaline keeping me awake.  In memory of the late David E. Davis; "God does not charge us for hours spent driving before breakfast".
I wish driving could be that enjoyable ALL day, but sadly, it isn't.  Part of the reason for this are the large number of careless people that do not pay attention nor do they care much about sharing the roads with other people.  Most people care more about texting, checking their e-mail or facebook, reading the newspaper, or checking themselves out in the mirror than they do about the actual act of driving itself.  This is not to say that everyone should love driving as much as I do, nor that a good driver can't multitask.  No, for those who don't love driving the way I do what I'm trying to say is... "Get out of the way!".  It's not that I approve of aggressive driving, but I feel that it is every driver's responsibility to observe the unwritten (and written, but unenforced) rule of the road.  The left lane, at least in the US, is the passing lane.  The left lane is not the drive slow because it's your road too lane.  The left lane is not the keep up with the driver to my right and block traffic lane.  It is not the change into the lane because I don't want to be too close to any other car lane.
The passing lane was designed to keep the flow of traffic.  When drivers don't observe it, they obstruct the flow of traffic and irritate those who want to pass.  I must make note, that the passing lane is not a ticket to speed (although that would be nice).  
In Germany's Autobahn, where in some portions, there is no observed speed limit; if you are in the passing lane and not passing every other car you will, eventually, irritate someone in an Audi R8 who WANTS to pass you, who NEEDS to pass you, who has EVERY RIGHT to pass you.  On the Autobahn, not observing this might as well be grounds for death amongst your peers.  It is strictly forced via the law of the land, and it is shunned to say the least.
 Should we Americans adopt such a policy?  Where anyone caught driving less than ludicrous speed should be honked and cursed at.  Should law enforcement actually enforce this law strictly and pull people over for such a crime?  It's hard to tell.  Simply because such a decision would be too subjective.  In bumper to bumper traffic this law does not apply, so it would be difficult to determine what is grounds for a citation.

I'll stick to flicking my high-beams or honking my horn.

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Audi Quattro Concept

Ok so I know my posts have been BMW-centric to say the least.  So here's a story from Audi: production of the Audi Quattro concept could become a reality.  The car based off of the S5 platform will be powered by a 2.5 liter 5 cylinder engine punching out 400+ hp, my guess is we'll see a tuned version of the engine found in the TT RS.  Set above the S5, as almost a consolation prize for not bringing the RS5 to the US, does the Quattro actually fill the void?  I don't think so, a tuned TT RS on an S5 platform does not replace the RS5.  That does not however mean this won't be a pretty cool car.

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BMW X1M

BMW is reportedly working on an M version of their new X1 compact SUV.  Taking the engine off the 135i, this answer to Audi's Q5 could potentially have around 350hp similar to that of the 1 series M.  With the addition of an X5M an X6M, and potentially an X1M; is the BMW M division losing its focus?


To keep it short; I think so.  BMW's M brand has always been for the driving purists, creating road going sports cars with the perfect blend of everyday driver cars and track day performance. M cars are not just street cars for the track, nor race cars for the road, they are a unique brand for those who love driving.

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BMW M5 Concept Revealed!

The next generation M5 Concept has been leaked and we take a look at what the BMW M division engineers have come up with.

Styling features include all the upgrades to be expected of any M car including: aggresive body panel upgrades, wider stance, larger and sportier wheels and tires, M3-esque front and rear bumpers, and a more powerful engine.

Key features include: a V8 M TwinPower Turbo engine to replace the V10 of the outgoing model.  The engine is a 4.4l twin-turbo V8 with an impressive 555 hp at 5,750 RPM and peak torque coming in at 501 lbft  from 1,500 and 5,650 rpm.  Personally, I think this is a great decision to scrap the V10 being that under normal driving conditions the previous M5 would run at 400hp and would shell out 500hp when set in M dynamic mode.  This new engine is also in line with BMW's push towards smaller engines with forced induction technologies including the small twin-turbo setups and the twin scroll single turbos as seen in the majority of their lineup.

Also featured in this new beastly M car will be a 7-speed dual clutch transmission and wait for it... a proper Manual gearbox which is in fact coming to the US!  Auto enthusiasts can breath a sigh of joy and relief, knowing that one of their favorite M cars will be available in a manual.  The new M5 will have a larger fuel tank (approx. 21 gallons) to increase the miles per tank from the old generation that many complained would only get around 200 miles per tank.

All in all, another great M car coming out of Germany.  Can't wait to see what they come up with for the next M3.

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BMW 6 Series Convertible 650i full road test car review - BBC Top Gear - BBC Top Gear

BMW 6 Series Convertible 650i - BBC Top Gear - BBC Top Gear

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F30 BMW 3-Series Predictions

IS THIS WHAT THE NEW 3 SERIES WILL LOOK LIKE?

The car that has been named one of Car & Driver's 10-Best 20 years in a row is due for a re-make and given Adrian van Hooydonk's transition from Chris Bangle's conservative designs of the past for a more aggresive and progressive design; could we see a 3-series closely resembling a smaller version of the new 5-series??

What I want to know from the online community is what they think of the new design, what types of engines will power the new 3-series, and any other thoughts or predictions for this sure to be 21+ time 10-Best award winner.

My thoughts:

The styling will certainly resemble a smaller, yet more aggressive version of the 5-series.  With a slightly longer and wider wheelbase, yet with a smaller increase in overall length and smaller overhang; the new 3-series will definitely continue BMW's strive to create the Ultimate Driving Machine.  The car will certainly handle better and understeer less even if the car gains a few pounds, which hopefully it won't.  I'm not a fan of the new BMW kidney grills, I think they're a bit big but I think the wider, aggresive stance will certainly work for this car.  The front headlights with squared off Angel Eyes will definitely be noticable even if you are a fan of the outgoing style.  I'm not sure what BMW plans to do with the front bumper, but i'm hoping that M-style sport packaging will enable customers to choose sporty body panels like those currently available for the current 5 and 7 series.

As far as engine size and performance is concerned the new 3 series will still have the 3.0 liter and twin scroll single turbo versions found in the outgoing 328 and 335.  Power will more than likely be up a few horses with an increase in efficiency through upgraded Engine Management and direct injection systems.  Whether or not BMW will offer a four cylinder turbo situated beneath the 328 remains to be seen.  With a push for more efficient vehicles I would not be surprised if BMW did decide to add a smaller engine to the mix.  Even if the new 3 series does grow in size, I don't expect the car to gain too much weight as has been the trend in recent years.  In a more optimistic approach, BMW could strive to make their cars lighter in an effort to increase efficiency without sacrificing performance.  A lighter, updated 3 series could certainly perform better and get better gas mileage than the outgoing model.  Even if the new car does gain a few extra pounds like an out of work actor, I expect the new model to handle just as well, if not better, than the E9X generations.  The new 5-series not only grew in size, but also gained significantly more weight, but somehow still manages to handle just as well as the previous generation.  So, I expect something similar in this case.

A Turbo'd M3?!?! No matter what BMW decides to do with the future M3, it will definitely be a step forward and in the right direction.  A turbo'd six cylinder M3 would not be such a bad idea, as long as response from the turbo(s) is negligible.  It would certainly allow for tuners to have their way with the M3 and could certainly do alot of interesting and great things.  My only request is that they keep the weight down on the new model and increase performance and efficiency through weight reduction, and power increases even with smaller displacement engines.  I'm not sure where the new M3 would sit in relation to the 335, but while the 335 does run on low boost, I figure the new M3 would benefit from a higher boost pressure.

Let me know what you think!

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First Post

Mission Statement:

To create a point of connection for all those interested in the Automotive Industry that allows participants to share ideas, opinions, and insights.  To connect people from all walks of life in the online community with shared interest in the Automotive Industry.  This blog will analyze current events and trends in the Automotive Sector and allow for discussion amongst its participants.

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