The Terminator- Arnold would be proud

 

     It's hard to believe this car is over 10 years old! Time really flies it seems. I remember when this car came out. It's in that period of my life where it seems like it was a few years back but in reality, it was a long time ago. That's the only way I can explain it. I am trying to imagine the last 10-12 years and where I have been but I am starting to get confused and my brain is hurting so I will just stick to the car and my fond memories of it.

     This is the Terminator Cobra. I still refer to it as the 03 Cobra as that is when they came out. They are called both ways depending on who you ask. This car was made in 03/04 and has a supercharged 4.6 V8 that is hand built and signed by the builders, similar to the AMG motors, although built by two people, not one. They are powerful stock and back in 03/04, they were fast. With around 400 horsepower and the best whine sound from the supercharger, they earned the name Terminator. For the price, not many cars could even come close. They had good value, good power, and a wonderful sound. The great thing about it as well, is that they can be built, and built to be bat shit fast. The motor is very mod friendly and very durable as well. With different superchargers, pulleys, and exhaust options, these cars can go from 400 to 800 horsepower with a signature in your checkbook.

     Story time!  Yes, I have a story for almost every car I write about. Deal with it. I was working with a phone company at the time, I won't name them, and a buddy who worked there too picked up an 03 convertible. Back in those days, we were actually sales people and not the aggressive clerks Verizon employs now. We had the ability to make deals, save customers from leaving, and have our customers always come back to see us instead of putting them in a cue to get the next available scammer. So back then, we dealt with a guy who was a high revenue client who had multiple issues with phones and always liked the latest models, so we would take care of him and he thanked us with tickets to concerts. One sunny day, he walks in with 4 front row seats to Jimmy Buffet. Not gonna lie here, I am not a huge fan but I didn't hate the music either and it was free and there were chicks there so count me in. It was such short notice, we had to leave right after work to go. I remember calling a buddy who was a fan and mentioned we had free tickets and he declined them. Yeah, he missed out. I won't go into what happened that night because it was epic and should not be repeated, but I do want to discuss the drive there which is whole point of this set up. I had my turbo Audi A4 at the time and we were cruising down to the concert, me following the 03. While on the way, we got stopped at a red light.... next to each other. Guys, red lights, open straights, and cars is a recipe for race. By the way, we drove from Kentucky to Mexico in 15 minutes to do this race for it to be legal. Light turns green and I launch. Mistake #1, having my windows down. I have never heard such savagery. It was brutal. That 03 took off so hard and so loud, I lost my train of thought. I remember him roasting tires and not really pulling away till he hit second. I got freight trained. I was in shock...I got left hard. It didn't seem real, and I was pissed my car was so slow. Why was it so slow? 1. It was only a 1.8 4 cylinder and 2. I was so involved in watching that cobra take off, I forgot to shift. I was hitting rev limiter for like 5 seconds. It was that badass.

     I had a chance to ride in this one only a few hours after purchase. A neighbor just picked it up and brought it over. It handled a long drive and had no issues. This one is modded, and modded well. This is not your typical stock car. The supercharger whine is extremely loud, which I love, but the car is not deafening and still has that typical Mustang burble. What surprised me the most was the typical Mustang body roll around corners was not present. A little suspension work does wonders for this car. It is flat around the corners but not brutally hard. The seats also play into this as they are as comfortable as laying in a pile of cotton balls. This car really is comfy compared to previous mustangs I have been in. I love the suede inserts and this car's interior is in excellent shape. The best part though is the motor. Yes, this one isn't stock, but who likes stock? I don't unless it's a 35 million dollar historic Ferrari. It pulls so hard and squats so well. Normally cars like this can be a handful, and I am sure it is as we only had about 1/2 throttle at most. At 1/2 throttle, this car was squatting and roasting. I am sure 100% throttle is like smoking crack and heroin while jumping higher than Felix's Space Jump. It is just good, old, American FUN!

     I want to thank the owner for bringing by, especially after driving so long to get home. It was a fun ride, it is a very clean ride, and I love supercharger whine. I need more of that in my life. It is very addicting. If I had this car, 5 mpg would be hard to get as I would be in boost constantly. If he is reading this, I think he should let me drive it very soon, or borrow it for a day. Seems fair, right? I mean I did snap pictures and write this fantastic story. I deserve a few 0-160 blasts.


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Audi - B8 S4 DSG V6T MMI - Don't worry, I'll explain

 

 

     Yes, I have already had an S4 on here a year ago. Yes, I have had more Audis on here than any other car. Yes I am biased. But every Audi I have had on here are completely different animals. This one today is a great example of how far the company has come with the S4. For those who don't know too much about this model, it is the business executive's fun car without breaking the bank. Young professionals who want something fast, fun, and luxurious flock to this car. The best part about it you ask? It is still tunable! Yes, that's right. This car appeals to so many because it can still be messed with, made faster, and handle better with a few mods. The S4 was always a mod friendly car except for theV8 years. Not much you could do with those unless you were Scrooge McDuck. The URS4, the B5 S4 and now this model are three examples of growing up but still having that kid in you that wants to tinker with it. Let's talk now about the features- AKA my lingo in the header.

     Let's start with the B8. That is the code for the body style for the A4/S4. They have had many models over the years and you may eventually hear an Audi enthusiast talk these codes. The B8 is the newest. DSG- This is code for the Dual Clutch gearbox instead of the traditional manual or torque converter auto. The DSG gearbox is a thing of beauty in my opinion. So many people, usually older, say nothing beats a manual transmission. Yes, manual transmissions are very fun and necessary in some cars. In this car, the DSG is at home. This transmission will shift faster and rev match downshift better than any human ever could. A buddy of mine says DSG stands for DerShiftenGooden. Wonderful for a track day. V6T- This is code for the motor. Traditionally, Audi has used turbos in their cars, hence the T. In this model, the V6 is supercharged but they kept the T on there for ole' times sake I assume. V6SC looks funny compared to the "T" we have all been used to. MMI- This is code for the Multi Media Interface in the car. This car has more options than you can imagine on the display. Radio, car settings, and Navigation are just a few of the things you can do with this system. I won't go any deeper cause it would take forever.

     What are Audis known for? All wheel drive Quattro! This is where my little story comes in. I have been very fortunate to own an Audi allroad previously and miss that car dearly. I had many good times and many great pics of me in some creeks in that car. Audi had a contest for owners of the allroad and long story short, I won with votes from the greatest group of friends ever. The prize? They flew me and a guest first class out to Sweden to take part in their Audi Ice Experience for a 4 day training/playtime with an Audi S4 wagon on a frozen lake in a beautiful small town called Arvidsjaur. I can't begin to explain how amazing this trip was but it got me thinking a bit. It made me appreciate the car company I love. I will always own one now. I know a lot of companies offer you packages to purchase to go there and take their cars for drives on the ice. I know this because the airport there was loaded with booths for many car companies where you meet up to take part in their driving seminars. It was automotive heaven for me. Although I wanted to stay there for months doing all of these events, I couldn't. I was proud though, that I was with Audi- the best car to be driving on a frozen lake with studded tires and a S4 with DSG. Here is a picture of our ride and a video of a lap I took. And even though it doesn't look that difficult by the video, I can promise you, I was sideways 90% of the time. haha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHA0Wp9-XVk

     Let's talk about this model S4 a bit now. This car has amazing throttle response and feels more powerful than the 333 horsepower it claims. Less power than the previous V8 model, but faster than it. And this car can be upgraded with things like Sport Differentials and Dynamic Driving settings which makes it act civilized and fun whenever you need it. Being a guy who drives on snow maybe 3-4 times a year, I was worried I would be crashing every few minutes, but this car is so easy to control, I only wrecked once, by not paying attention. Wrecking on a lake is not like wrecking on the street. You just hit a pile of snow and have to be towed out by a massive John Deere tractor. Believe it or not, we each had a tractor card they stamped every time you got towed. I had 1, brother had 4. Haha. This car makes you feel like an expert driver only after a few minutes on the ice/road. They really hit the jackpot in my opinion with this model. I know it is not the fastest German sedan out there, but the S4 has always been a car that can be thrashed hard an will make you look like you have been a race car driver for years, while being a good value.

     A friend picked up this one pictured a few weeks back and I know for a fact that he is enjoying the hell out of it. He recently told me it has been washed more in the first week than his last car has been in the last few years. While that might be an exaggeration, it shows how much respect people have for the S4. I have always loved them as they are sleepers. They look like regular A4s with a few subtle differences, but they run a lot faster and will shock the Mustang or Camaro driver thinking this sedan is slow and boring. I am sure that happens a lot with S4 owners. They love the shock they see on peoples faces when they put the hammer down. When modded, these can get REALLY fun. This stock example is a looker though. The details on the car are subtle but amazing. S4 logos in the seats, Tach, and even the all weather floor mats show that they spared no expense on making this car what it really is.... freakin awesome!

     Thanks to the owner for buying this and bringing over even before he got a plate for it! Always enjoy the car conversation and always enjoy having an Audi in the driveway. Anyone who wants to bring over their Audi is always welcome!  Actually, anyone wanting to bring their ride over for this blog is always welcome, as long as it is a different car that hasn't been done yet. Still waiting on a Veyron or Enzo to show up! 

Enjoy the pics, the write up, and please share the Facebook page with your friends!

    

Another Z, A Bigger Number!

 

     Another Z in the driveway. This one is completely different than the last Z I had over, but the same principles apply. An affordable sports car with good looks, good performance, and the best part, reliability. If you have ever had a conversation with a car enthusiast about which cars are best, Japanese cars always come up for their reliability. It always comes up because it is true, but we will discuss that in a few. This model shown is the 370Z Nismo. Most people reading this probably know about the history of the Z car, but if you don't, here is a quick snapshot. The 370 is Nissan's sixth generation of the model. The Z has been around for a while, and it has sold very well. That's really all you need to know for now. Story time!

    

     My first experience with the Z was the 300zx Z31. It was a non turbo edition and a friend picked one up when I was only 16, if I remember correctly. It was a manual and rear wheel drive and that's all that mattered when you are young. It could do donuts and throw the back end around better than Miley Cyrus twerking. I remember learning to drive a manual in this car and perfecting my technique on it. My buddy, on the other hand, could drift that car so well that we would just go out for a drive to whip it around corners. It was so controllable. It wasn't the fastest car around but it would take a beating and never let you down. It was..... very reliable! I had so much fun in this car. Growing up, it was pretty sweet being 16 and having the chance to drive a 2 seater manual sports car whenever I wanted. My friend was very trusting and didn't care I guess. I would never do the things he did though, as it wasn't mine. When I would take a ride with him though, it was "let's find more corners to drift around!" Actually, back then we called it fishtailing because Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift wasn't even written on paper yet. Coming fast into a corner, hitting brakes, dropping into 2nd, and dumping the clutch was a recipe for epic slides. It was so much fun that it was the start of my "stupid driving days."

     This 370Z is completely different than the one I drove many years ago. It still has that similar shape though. Long front end with the big ass to it. I will be honest here. I even admitted this to the owner. I don't like the 350Z and 370Z. There are two reasons. First is because I like the older model. Think of it as the old muscle car guys who prefer the older cars over the newer ones even though the newer models are leaps and bounds better. I still like the 300Zx Z32 model the best because that's what I read about when I was young. The second reason is because of the look of the rear. I think this car looks very odd without the wing. Something doesn't seem right about it. This car and it's Infiniti counterpart have the same issue in my opinion. This is solved when the wing is added. This car in the pictures is straight up badass. No wing-"Ewwwww." Wing- "Please excuse drool!" It is that much of a difference in my opinion. Notice I keep saying my opinion. A lot of people like it the other way around and to each his own.

     I have never ridden in a 350 or 370 so I can't really speak to how they perform. I know they are quick little cars, and a killer value as well. They can be tuned very well on top of that. This Nismo edition has some more bells and whistles and by far the best looking stock wheels I have seen on a car. Maybe not the best, but very close. That's right, those are not aftermarket. Seeing this car up close though had me impressed. There was a lot of attention to detail and it is good to see Nissan stepping up their game inside and out. Obviously the GTR is this car's big brother and that is a completely different animal, but this car is still good looking and has form following function. Still having a rear wheel drive manual these days speaks to how Nissan views their clients. They still want to have fun the old school way. Many reviews complain of the GTR being numb and too computerized. This on the other hand, is a drivers car. Even though the GTR will eat this for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack, the 370 is no laughing matter. This car has good NA power, a wonderful sound, and still able to be tossed around like Miley Cyrus has been. Was that too far? Oh well. Sorry.

     Back to the other thing I mentioned earlier, reliability. Yes, the Japanese cars have a history of reliability but I can explain a bit. German cars have a stigma of being costly to maintain and repair. Let's compare real quick. Again, my opinion so don't freak out here. Let's look at the German sports cars/sedans, new and old. Audi RS7- 560 horsepower twin turbo V8. Mercedes E55 AMG- 469 horsepower Supercharged V8. BMW M5- V8s,V10s, V8TT- lots of power. Porsche 911 turbo-many models over the years but over 500 horsepower in a turbo flat 6. These are complex cars and complex motors. Now look at the 370Z, Acura Integra Type R, and even the NSX. They are not sporting crazy built motors with forced induction. They use proven motors and make the best they can with them. They have less to go wrong and therefore have the reliability we see. Some people want power. Some people want reliability. Sometimes it is hard to have both when it comes to these. That's where I see Nissan though. The 370 is probably a very fun car, and the best part is, you will always be able to drive it. It won't be in a shop 100 days a year and it won't be beating the German sport sedans but it will never let you down and it will be ready when you want to fishtail! These arguments between enthusiasts will never go way, but who cares really? Each model has a target audience and the Z car has a cult following and strong sales to back it up. People buy them for a reason, they are fun. That's all that matters. I used to hate on them but I can't. They are great cars. Yes, my German car bias kicks in sometimes, but I will be honest. I would love to drive this car daily. I would beat on it everyday and not worry about it because it will take it like a champ.

     I want to thank the owner for bringing this by. This is by far one of the cleanest cars I have had in the driveway. It is well taken care of but even better, it is driven! I was very impressed with the detail of this car design and while we talked about the car, I kept looking at the car more and more. It really grows on you even if you don't agree at first. The rear is super sexy with that wing. I can't say enough about the wing and wheels. They make the car go from blah to OMFG! Great Job Nissan!


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