Classic Car: Delorean DMC-12

John Delorean had a history of building cars.  He helped developed the Pontiac GTO, Pontiac Grand Prix, and the Pontiac Firebird.  He created his own company, Delorean Motor Company.  To fund his car company, he sold drugs.  Delorean made one car, the Delorean DMC-12, and if you do not know what movie it was featured in, you lived a sheltered childhood.  In my opinion, if it were not featured in a particular film franchise, no one would care for the DMC-12.  Produced from 1981 to 1982 in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland' the Delorean had a few interesting design features.  It is one of the very few cars to be made from stainless steel, most cars were made from steel, aluminum, fiberglass and plastic, or carbon fiber.  The Delorean also had gull-wing doors, a feature taken from the iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL.  Unfortunately, you cannot get a DMC-12 with a flux capacitor.


I first saw the Delorean DMC-12 in person at the October 2010 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee.  It has a huge following because of a certain movie franchise.  I have also seen one being towed on the freeway in Houston.  However, it is nice to see the featured car from a movie franchise I enjoy.  It is not the best looking car I have seen and it is missing the flux capacitor.

The Delorean DMC-12 weighs 2712 lbs and is powered by a PRV V6 that produces 130 bhp and 153 lb-ft of torque.  It come with either a 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission.  It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.6 seconds and goes up to 130 mph.  This is slow by 1980's sport car standards.

The Delorean DMC-12 was the time machine used in the Back to the Future trilogy.  It has been featured in Forza Motorsport 3, Driver: San Francisco, Grand Turismo, Grand Turismo 4, Flatout: Head On, Burnout Paradise, and many other video games.  Jay Leno did a feature on it on his website, www.jaylenosgarage.com.  Top Gear named it one of the worst supercars of all time.  In 2008, 20 Deloreans will be produced each year in Houston.

License plate only works on Deloreans.  If you don't get the joke, go watch Back to the Future movies.

Final Thoughts:  It is nice to see the featured vehicle from a movie franchise I enjoy.  The Delorean-DMC12 could have used a flux capacitor because this car is slow.  The car needed a more powerful engine, and could have used an extra two cylinders.  I question its reliability since I saw one being towed.  It has its charm for being one of the few if not the only car to be made out of stainless steel.

CarJunkie
Photos taken from a digital camera.

First Impression: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

The Chevrolet Corvette has been an American icon since its introduction in 1952. Over the years there have been six generations of this iconic car. A defining characteristic of the Corvette is that its body panels are made out of fiberglass and plastic to save weight. The latest generation, C6, has been around since 2005. The best performing variant of the C6 is the Corvette ZR1. The ZR1 is a race car that can be driven on the road. Since it is a grand tourer, it has a trunk. The ZR1 can compete and outperform supercars from Europe. It combines speed, power, and handling. It is the total package. The engine that powers the ZR1 also powers the Hennessey Venom GT, a hyper car that can reach speeds over 260 mph.

I first saw the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 at the 2011 Houston Auto Show. It was one of the best cars I saw there. While looking at it, I talked with a stranger about seeing this car in an episode of Top Gear. I like the small exterior details of the ZR1. I like that you can see part of the engine through a small piece of glass on the hood. I like its aggressive styling.

Powering the ZR1 is by a LS9 engine, a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine that produces 638 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque, and is paired with a six-speed manual transmission. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 205 mph. It is faster than a Ferrari 458, Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and an Aston Martin DBS.  With prices start a $110,300, it is cheaper than the competition. Compared to the competition, it is a bargain.

Motorweek named the Corvette ZR1 one of its 2009 Driver's Choice Best Dream Machines, along with the Ferrari California. Motorweek also reviewed this car in 2009. Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson drove one during a road trip from California to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. He went 176 mph in a standing mile, a record for the Salt Flats. Jay Leno featured a 2009 Corvette ZR1 on his website, www.jaylenosgarage.com. The ZR1 is playable in Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, available for both the police and racer factions, Grand Turismo 5, and Forza Motorsport 3, just to name a few games.

Final Thoughts: WHAT A CAR! It is fast, handles well, has a trunk, and is a great value for its price. Then the competion cost $150,000 and up and cannot perform like the ZR1, it shows that the ZR1 is a great buy for a car that costs $110,300. It can be used on the track and on everyday roads. It looks aggressive. It is a great alternative to Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

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First Impression: Noble M12 GTO 3R

Great Britain has had several automotive brands under the British Motor Company. Brands include Jaguar, Austin, Morris, MG, Rover, Land Rover, Riley, Mini, and Triumph. Most of the BMC brands are either defunct or owned by automotive companies outside of Britain. Very few British automotive bands are independently owned and headquartered in Britain. Noble, an independent British car company, was founded by Lee Noble in 1999. The first car produced by Noble was the Noble M10. The second Noble car went into production in 2000 and was released in 2001. The second produced Noble was the M12, mid-engine, rear wheel drive supercar. It was in production from 2000 to 2008. The top-of-the-line version of the Noble M12 is the M12 GTO 3R.

I first saw the Noble M12 GTO 3R at the June 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. Initial thought, this looks fast. I like the sleek design. These are rare cars and are not normally see on the roads. With the engine in the back and a trunk in the front, this is a practical supercar.

The Noble M12 GTO 3R is powered by a Ford 3.0L biturbo Duratech V6, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, that produces 352 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 170 mph. The price for the M12 GTO 3R is $100,000. The price is low for a mid-engine supercar, but it does not have the performance that other supercars have. Still it is a very quick car with a sub 4.0 second 0-60 mph acceleration.

The Noble M12 GTO was reviewed by Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear during Series 1, Episode 2. The Noble M12 is playable in Project Gotham Racing 2, Test Drive Unlimited, and Total Immersion Racing. The Noble M12 GTO 3R is playable in ToCA Race Driver 3.

Final Thoughts: This is a fast car. While it does not have the performance or prestige of Lamborghini or Ferrari, this is supercar that should not be overlooked. This is great car for a young automotive company to build on. Noble is currently producing its sixth production car, the Noble M600, a 225 mph hypercar. None of the big Italian or German automotive companies can match the performance of  the sixth car produced by this young British car company has accomplished in its ten plus years. Look for even faster cars produced by Noble.

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First Impression: Rossion Q1

Noble built the M400 from 2004 to 2007. In February 2007, American company 1G Racing/Rossion Automotive, founded by Ian Grunes and Dean Rosen, acquired the rights to the M400. Rossion took the M400 and redesigned a new front end, larger integrated air intakes, ram air side window ducts, a new rear diffuser, power windows, remote power side mirros, and center mounted wide screen entertainment center. Rossion called the redesigned M400 the Rossion Q1. Although Rossion is an American company and Noble is a British company, both the Noble M400 and Rossion Q1 are manufactured by Hi Tech Automotive, which is based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

I first saw the Rossion Q1 at the December 2010 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. A person from Austin brought the Rossion Q1 and had a facts sheet on display right next to the car. Unfortunately, the Q1 was overlooked because Hennessey was revealing the Venom GT at the same event. My first thought on the car was "What is a Rossion?" This was the first time I heard of Rossion. I thought the finish of the car needed some improvements.

The Rossion Q1 is powered by a rebuilt Ford Duratec twin-turbo 3.0L V6, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, that produces 450 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 189 mph. Prices for the Rossion Q1 start at $100,000. Compared to other high-performing cars, the Rossion Q1 is bargain. Not many cars can match the quickness of the Q1. It is also one of the cheaper supercars on the market.

The Rossion Q1 is playable in Project Gotham Racing 4 and Forza Motorsport 3. It has not been featured on any of the major automotive programs.

Final Thought: It is a quick car for a relative low price. The finish of the car needs improvements. There are slower cars that cost more than the Rossion Q1. I wonder what Rossion can do with a car built from scratch. Not a bad initial car for Rossion.

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Photo taken from a camera phone

First Impression: Chevrolet Camaro

During the Muscle Car Wars of the 1960s and 1970s, American car brands had a muscle cars and pony cars. Pony cars were affordable, compact, highly stylish, and high performing cars. In 1964 Ford launched the Mustang, the car that started the pony car. In 1966, Chevrolet revealed the Camaro. In 2002, Chevrolet ceased production of the Camaro. In 2009, Chevrolet revived the Camaro name and released the fifth-generation of the Camaro which was based on the 1969 Camaro. The new Camaro gives Chevrolet and GM a muscle car that can compete with the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger. In 2011, the Camaro was available with a retractable softtop. Like the Camaros of the past, the current generation comes with  3.6L V6 and 6.2L V8 engines with different power outputs.

I see several fifth-generation Camaros at Houston Cars and Coffee events and on the roads. This is a very popular car. I love the styling of the new Camaro. The angle of the windshield could hinder the visibility of Camaro drivers and has been a major criticism of the Camaro. I sat in one at the 2011 Houston Auto Show and had no problem looking through the windshield. It is comfortable to sit in the front, but there is not much leg room for passengers sitting in the back.

The fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro is powered by 2 different 3.6L V6 engines and 6.2L V8 engines. The Camaro uses either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The V6 engines produce either 312 hp or 323 hp. The V8 engines produce between 400 hp and 550 hp. 0-60 times for the Camaro range from 4.6 seconds to 6.1 seconds. The top speed for the Camaro ranges from 150 mph to over 180 mph. Prices for the Camaro start between $22,000 and $40,000, depending on the trim level. The price is very low for a high performing muscle car.

The fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro can be seen in all three Transformers films. It is the vehicle form of the Autobot Bumblebee. It has been reviewed on Motorweek and has been featured on Jay Leno's Garage. Richard Hammond reviewed the Camaro SS during Series 15, Episode 3, where Hammond compared the Camaro to a Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG. The fifth-generation Camaro is playable in almost every major racing game. It is playable in the Burnout games, Need For Speed Games, Test Drive Unlimited 2, Gran Turismo 5, Blur, Split/Second, Dirt 3, Transformers movie games, Project Gotham Racing 4, ModNation Racers, Forza Motorsport 3, and many other video games.

Final Thought: The fifth-generation Camaro is a very stylish muscle car with good performance. It continues the Camaro tradition of offering several options so there is a Camaro for all types of drivers. I did not like that the first Transformers movie was just a 2-hour commercial for the new Camaro. I already know that the Camaro is a good car. I don't need to waste money on a film that is just a long car commercial.

Hennessey Camaro Convertible

Hennessey is also offering different tuning packages for the new Camaro. Prices start at $4,950 for 475 hp package and go to $69,950 of the 1000 hp package. John Hennessey stop by Jay Leno's Garage to show off one of his tuned version of the Camaro, called the Hennessey Camaro HPE600. I saw the Hennessey Camaro at the April 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. The Hennessey Camaro is for those who want a little bit more performance out of their stock Camaros.

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First Impression: Dodge Viper

From 1987 to 1994, Lamborghini was owned by the Chrysler Corporation. During that time, Lamborghini and Chrysler worked on developing a high performing front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car for Dodge, a car brand under the Chrysler marque. The result is the Dodge Viper, a car that can go head-to-head with the Chevrolet Corvette. The Viper was first put into production in 1991 and production continued until 2010, when Dodge stopped production to make the Viper meet new automotive standards. Production for the Viper will continue in 2012, when the Viper gets new safety technology that was not present in previous Vipers.

I see the Dodge Viper everywhere. People drive them as their everyday car in Houston. There are several Vipers at Houston Cars and Coffee events. This car has a huge following. The Viper comes in either a coupe or roadster variant. The Viper has a huge hood for the massive engine that powers the Viper. It looks fast.

The current generation of the Dodge Viper is powered by a 8.4L V10 engine, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, that produces 600 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque. The Viper goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 202 mph. Prices for the Viper start at $90,255. That is cheap for a car with a 0-60 mph time under 3.5 seconds and a top speed over 200 mph. Not even the Corvette ZR1 can match that price.

Jay Leno showed off his 1993 Viper R/10 and a 1996 Viper GTS coupe. Top Gear USA's first ever segment featured Tanner Faust driving a Dodge Viper SRT-10 while trying to evade a Cobra Helicopter. The Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR went around the Top Gear USA test track in 1:22.0, the fastest lap of the season. Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Dodge VIper SRT-10 during Series 5, Episode 3. The Viper went around a very wet Top Gear UK test track in 1:28.5, the 107th fastest lap. The Dodge Viper is playable in almost every major racing game. It is playable in the Need For Speed games, Forza games, Gran Turismo games,
Blur, Test Drive games, Project Gotham Racing games, Burnout games, Grand Theft Auto games, Twisted Metal 3, Moscow Racer, Road To Fame, and many, many other racing games.

Final Thoughts: The Dodge Viper is for those who can drive without electronic driving aides. Only the bravest and experienced drivers should own the Viper. I am not the biggest Chrysler/Dodge fan, but I know a great performing car and the Dodge Viper can compete with the Lexus LFA, Corvette ZR1, Lamborghini Gallardo, and Ferrari 458 Italia. Dodge has stopped production for a year to add electronic driving aides to the Viper to comply with new automotive standards. The next generations of the Viper will not have the same driving experience as previous Vipers.

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First Impression: Shelby Series 1

Carroll Shelby is known for taking Mustangs and British cars and putting big engines in them. Shelby took an AC Ace body and put a small block Ford V8 into the car and called it the Shelby AC Cobra. Shelby also tunes Ford Mustangs, calling them the Shelby GT500 and Shelby GT350, depending on what performance package goes into the Shelby tuned Mustangs. Shelby was also responsible for the two most successful American race cars, the Shelby Daytona Coupe and the Ford GT40.  In 1998, his company, Carroll Shelby International, built the only car produced by Shelby that was built from the ground up. What Shelby created was a high performing roadster called the Shelby Series 1.

I saw the Shelby Series 1 at the January 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. This car attracted a crowd. It is a rare car, only 249 Series 1 were originally made, so it attracted a crowd. The Series 1 looks fast and fun to drive. It has a stunning appearance.

The Shelby Series 1 is powered by 4.0L V8 that could per optionally supercharged, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, that produces 320 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. The car weighs 2,650 lb. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 170 mph. Prices for the Shelby Series start at $181,824. That is a hefty price to pay for American Muscle. The Shelby Series 1 is fast, but not fast enough to be called a supercar.

The Shelby Series 1 has been seen on TV while it was being sold at various autions. It has not been featured on Top Gear or Jay Leno's Garage. The Series 1 is playable in Gran Turismo 2, Gran Turismo 4, Test Drive 5, Test Drive 6, Forza Motorsport games, Manhattan Chase, Speed Busters: American Highways, and TD Overdrive: The Brotherhood of Speed.

Final Thoughts: This is a great American muscle car. It is fast, quick, stunning, but expensive. The Shelby Series 1 is the only car built from scratch by Carroll Shelby. All other Shelbys are either re-engineered models produced by other car companies and modified by Shelby. The Shelby Series 1 has a higher top speed than the famous Shelby AC Cobra. Only 249 were originally built. In 2000, component car versions of the Shelby Series 1 were built without an engine or transmission. Those who got one of the 249 original cars were lucky to get one.

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First Impression: Cadillac XLR/ Cadillac XLR-V

Cadillac had a reputation for making cars that old people drive. GM wanted to attract a younger crowd to Cadillac. Cadillac came out with the SUV Escalade, the sport sedan CTS/CTS-V, and a roadster XLR. Cadillac made the XLR from 2003 to 2009, a total of 15548 XLRs were produced. The XLR was intended to be the flagship for the Cadillac brand and was based on the Chevrolet Corvette's Y-platform. The XLR featured a retractable aluminum rooftop. Cadillac made a high performance version called the XLR-V.

I recently saw a Cadillac XLR at the July edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. I also see them from time to time on the Houston roads. It is a beautiful car. I love the styling of the car. This is not a car for old people. It is a good alternative to the Mercedes-Benz SL Class and the BMW Z Roadster/M Roadster. The XLR-V looks just like the XLR, except for what is under the hood.

The XLR is powered by a 4.6L V8 that produces 320 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The XLR goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 155 mph. Prices for the 2009 XLR started at $86,215. The XLR-V is powered by a supercharged 4.4L V8 that produces 443 hp and 414 lb-ft of torque. The XLR-B goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 155 mph. The XLR-V cost $100,000 in 2009. The XLR and XLR-V are quick, have a decent top speed, and a little pricey. The XLR-V is one of the most expensive cars to come from GM.

The Cadillac XLR and XLR-V were reviewed by Motorweek. The XLR is seen in CSI, Takers, and The Mentalist. The XLR-V is featured in Sons of Anarchy, Shark, and Clarkson: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.  The XLR is playable in Asphalt: Urban GT, Project Gotham Racing 2, Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, and Driver: San Francisco. The XLR-V is playable in Asphalt 2: Urban GT, Test Drive Unlimited, Project Gotham Racing 3, and Midnight Club: Los Angeles.

Final Thoughts: The XLR went unnoticed by the public. People thought the car was for old people since it was a Cadillac. But Cadillac has recently been making cars for the younger car owners. Old people do drive Cadillacs, but I rarely see an old person driving an Escalade or XLR. It is a shame this car was overlook because it is quick and beautiful. The car is expensive though, but it is still a nice alternative to the BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SL Class.

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First Impression: Ariel Atom

The Ariel Atom is a very unique car. There are no doors, windows, a windshield, or a roof on this car. The Atom contains an engine in the rear, a very small trunk in the front, two seats, suspension tuned by engineers at Lotus, four wheels, and a visible chassis. The Atom weighs only 1,350 lbs. Since the Atom is considered a car, and not a motorcycle, the driver and passenger are not required to wear helmets or masks, but it is highly recommended since the Atom is very quick and does not have a windshield.

I first saw the Ariel Atom at the December 2010 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. This was the same event where Hennessey was revealing the Venom GT. The Atom is a very unusual car and still got attention, even though people came to see the Venom GT. The guy who brought the Atom got the car from the second hand market. His Atom was previously owned by guitar legend Eddie Van Halen. His Atom had two small nitro tanks taped to the car's frame.

The Ariel Atom is powered by a 2.0L Honda K20A I4 engine, that can come with a supercharger and paired with a six-speed manual transmission, produces 245 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque or 300 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque with the optional supercharger. The Ariel Atom can go from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and reaches a top speed 140 mph and 155 mph with the supercharger. The base price for the Ariel Atom is $49,980. That is a low price for a very unique car. There is nothing like the Atom on the road and no car can match the thrills or driving experience that the Atom can provide.

Jay Leno did a feature on the Ariel Atom in his own garage. Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Atom during Series 5, Episode 9. Richard Hammond drove the Atom during a drag race between Top Gear and D Motor presenters during Series 11, Episode 6. The Ariel Atom is playable in Project Gotham Racing 2, Project Gotham Racing 3, Project Gotham Racing 4, ToCa Race Driver 3, and Test Drive Unlimited 2.

Final Thoughts: The Ariel Atom is a very unique car. There is nothing like it on the road. The car has hypercar acceleration for under $50,000. If you drive this car, please wear a helmet/mask because there is no windshield to prevent rocks and bugs from hitting your head. With the speed and acceleration of the Atom and no windshields, any small projectile that his your face could cause some injuries to the driver or passenger. A mask/helmet is highly recommended when driving or riding in the Atom. The Atom is also a rare car, with less than 100 Atoms made each year. There is also a 3.0L V8 engine available for the Atom 500 that produces 500 bhp and jumps the price from under $50,000 for a normal Atom to $160,000 for the Atom 500. Only 25 Ariel Atom 500s will produced.

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First Impression: Jaguar XKR

Ian Callum, a car designer currently working for Jaguar, has made works of art out of cars. He designed the Aston Martin DB7, Aston Martin DB9, and the current range of Jaguar. He designed the Jaguar XK series. The XK series has been around since 1996, and there have been two generations of the XK series. The first generation, XK 100, resembled the Aston Martin DB7. The second generation of the XK, XK 150, is one of the most beautiful cars on the road, and resembles an Aston Martin DB9. The XKR is a supercharged version of the XK. The XKR has a different hood and body kit that makes it look more aggressive than the standard Jaguar XK. The XKR is a grand tourer that is available as a two-door coupe or two-door convertible.

I recently saw a Jaguar XKR at the August 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. I also see these cars on the Houston roads. This car has incredible styling. Normally, I would normally pick an Aston Martin over a Jaguar, but the XKR is just as beautiful as an Aston Martin Vantage and almost as beautiful an Aston Martin DB9.

The Jaguar XKR is powered by a supercharged 5.0L V8, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, that produces 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph. Prices for the XKR start at $96,125 for the coupe and $102,125 for the convertible. That is not a bad price for a car that has good performance and incredible styling.

The Jaguar XKR has been featured on Top Gear Series 9, Episode 1 where it was compared to an Aston Martin Vantage. Motorweek did a review of the 2007 Jaguar XKR. The XKR is playable in Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, Shift 2: Unleashed, Race Driver: Grid, GT Racing: Motor Academy, Gran Turismo 5, Test Drive Unlimited 2, Car Town, Forza Motorsport 3, Real Racing 2, and Driver: San Francisco.

Final Thoughts: This is a beautiful car. I just love the styling of the car. There are faster and quicker cars than the XKR and for around the same price, but they do not have the styling or luxury that one gets from the XKR. The XKR is still quick. I would actually take the XKR over an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, as the Jaguar is cheaper than the Aston Martin. This is a sports car that you can use for everyday driving.

CarJunkie
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Classic Car: De Tomaso Pantera

De Tomaso was founded in 1959 and introduced its first car, the Vallelunga, in 1963. Pantera owned Maserati from 1976 to 1993. Maserati made the Biturbo, Quattroporte III, Merak, and Bora while under the De Tomaso banner. In 1970, De Tomaso started production of the Pantera in Modena, Italy. In 1971, De Tomaso released the Pantera. In agreement with Ford, Panteras were sold in the United States through Lincoln and Mercury dealerships. Between 1971 and 1973, 6,128 Panteras were made. Due to poor build quality and the 1973 oil crisis, Ford ended its deal with De Tomaso. De Tomaso continued to produce the Pantea until 1991, with a total of 7260 made from 1971 and the final Pantera sold in 1992.

I recently saw two De Tomaso Panteras at the September 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. It has similar styling to Italian supercars of the 1970s. I like the styling of this car. The Pantera has a big engine bay in the rear of the car to fit a 351 cubic inch engine and transmission.

The Pantera is powered by a Ford 351 Cleveland V8 that produces 330 hp. The Pantera can go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. That is quick by 1970s standards. It reaches a top speed of 159 mph. In 1971, a new Pantera cost $9,800. The Pantera was very cheap compared to other Italian sports cars and supercars. As of the time this article is being written, a Pantera is being sold on Auto Trader Classics for a minimum of $45,000 and a maximum of $64,000. The Pantera had good performance for a 1970s Italian sports car.

The De Tomaso Pantera is featured in movies such as Banzai Runner, Cannonball, Clarkson's Top 100 Cars, and has reviewed by Top Gear and Car and Driver Television. The De Tomaso Pantera is playable in Choro Q Park, Choro Q HG 2, Demolition Racer, Forza Motorsport 3, Driver: Parallel Lines, Muscle Car 3, Driver 76, Flatout: Head On, Sega GT Online, Driver: Renegade, Flatout 2, Flatout: Ultimate Carnage, GT Legends, Enthusia Professional Racing, a R: Racing Evolution.

This is a nice classic car to own. The De Tomaso Pantera is a nice alternative to Ferrari or Lamborghini. But, De Tomaso does not have the prestige of Ferrari or Lamborghini. For a while, Panteras were undervalued for a long time. Recently, the price for a Pantera went up. If you have are looking for a classic Italian car and do not want a Ferrari, Maserati, or Lamborghini, you should look into buying a Pantera. I am surprised that a 1970s Italian car with 330 hp, 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds, and a top speed of 159 mph only went for $9,800. By comparison, a Lamborghini Urraco 250 has a V8 engine and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds with a top speed of 161 mph. Both cars have similar performance by the Urraco cost $24,500 in 1974. The Pantera has good performance and at a bargain price. Plus, the Pantera has good styling. It is a good addition to any classic car collection.

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First Impression: Lotus Elise

Lotus has been making two door roadsters since 1962, when the Lotus released the Elan. The initial run for the Elan ended in 1975 and was brought back from 1989 to 1995. In 1995, Lotus replaced the Elan with the Elise. Lotus stopped production of the first generation Elise due to new European safety regulations. Lotus teamed up with General Motors to help them meet the new safety requirements. In 2002, the second generation Elise was released. GM got their own version of the Elise, the Opel Speedster and the Vauxhall VX220. The Elise is also the basis for the Lotus Exige and the Tesla Roadster.

The Lotus Elise is a regular at Houston Cars and Coffee events as well as the 2011 Houston Auto Show. I like the styling of the Elise. It looks like it would be fun to drive, especially with Lotus' reputation of excellent handling. It is one of the better roadsters out there.

The Lotus Elise is powered by a 1.6L I4 engine, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, that produces 134 hp and 118 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 124 mph. Other versions of the Elise are available. The Elise R has a 1.8L I4 engine that produces 190 hp and has a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 134 mph. The Elise SC has a supercharged 1.8L I4 that produces 220 hp, goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 145 mph. Prices for the Elise start at $47,250. Prices for the Lotus Elise R start at $51,845. Prices for the Lotus Elise Sc start at $54,990. The Elise is a little pricey compare to other sport roadsters, but none of them can handle as well as the Elise. Few sport roadsters have the performance of the Elise.

The Lotus Elise has been featured in Death Racers, Extreme Machines, Clarkson: Hot Metal, and Fifth Gear. The Elise is playable in Shift 2: Unleashed, L.A. Rush: Showdown, Need For Speed: World, Need For Speed: Shift,  Forza Mortorsport 2, Car Town, Saints Row 2, Forza Motorsport 4, Need For Speed: Undercover, Gran Turismo 4, Gran Turismo 5, Test Drive Unlimited, and many other racing games.

Final Thoughts: This is a great little sport roadster. The base Elise has the same horsepower as the Prius, but the Elise is lighter and handles better than the Prius. Since the Elise is lightweight, it does not need a lot of power to get it up to speed. The Elise handles like no other roadster. Lotus has turned handling into a science. The Elise may not be the most powerful or fastest car on the road, but its handling makes it a great track day car.


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First Impression: Lotus Exige

The Lotus Elise has been used as a basis for other cars, including the Lotus Exige. The Exige is essentially the coupe version of the Elise. The Exige is two-door, mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car. The Hennessey Venom GT is based on the Exige.

The Exige is a regular at the Houston Cars and Coffee events. Star Motors brought an Exige at the 2011 Houston Auto Show. I love the styling of the car. It looks sportier and more aggressive than the Elise. The Exige weighs just over 2,000. It is lightweight and has good weight balance. The Exige is one of the best handling cars on the roads.

The Exige is powered by a 1.8L I4 engine, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, that produces 190 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque. The Exige goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 147 mph. The Lotus Exige S has a supercharged 1.8L I4 engine that produces 218 hp and 158.6 lb-ft of torque.  The Exige S goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 148 mph. The Exige S 240 gets 240 hp and goes from 0 to 60 mph in under 4.0 seconds. Prices for the Lotus Exige start at $65,690. The Lotus Exige has great performance, great handling, but it is a little bit pricey.

Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the Exige during Series 4, Episode 1, where he tested the handling of the Exige by seeing if an Apache Gunship Helicopter can get a missle lock on the Exige, which it did not. Top Gear also reviewed the Exige S during Series 8, Episode 3. The Exige and its different versions are playable in Blur, Project Gotham Racing Series, Fuel, Sega GT 2002, Lotus Challenge, Asphalt: Urban GT, Test Drive Unlimited, Need For Speed Series, Forza Motorsports series, Real Racing 2, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights, and many other racing games.

Final Thoughts: This is a great performing, stylish sports car. The 190 hp can easily get a 1 ton car up to speed quickly. Plus, the Exige is one of the best handling cars on the road. The price is a little high for what the Exige is plus not much comes standard on the Exige. But, what other car can avoid missile lock from an Apache Gunship Helicopter. A Dodge Viper could not evade missile lock. Lotuses in general do not have much standard and are a little bit over price for what you get standard. But, nothing handles as well as a Lotus. There is nothing on the road like a Lotus. Lotus have great styling that the Elise was used as the basis for the Tesla Roadster and the Exige was used as the basis for the Hennessey Venom GT. When you buy a Lotus, you are getting performance, handling, and styling. Few companies can give you cars with all three.


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First Impression: Lotus Evora

Lotus is known for making rear-mid engine sports cars with incredible handling. In 2009, Lotus started production on a rear-mid engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door, two-seat or 2+2 seat sports car in 2009, the Lotus Evora. The Evora uses a different platform from the Elise and Exige. The Evora earned EVO Magazine's "Car of the Year 2009," CAR Magazine's "Peformance Car of the Year 2009," and Autocar's "Britain's Best Driver's Car 2009" awards. 

I first saw the Lotus Evora at the 2011 Houston Auto Show and at the October 2011 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. It has good styling, but the styling is not as aggressive as the Exige styling. It is a little bit longer than the Elise and Exige. It can come with 2+2 seating arrangement, but only small children could fit in the rear seats. The Evora also weighs 3,000 lbs, which is 1,000 lbs. more than the Exige.

The Evora is powered by a Toyota 3.5L V6 engine that can be supercharged and is paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The standard V6 engine produces 276 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Evora goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 162 mph. The Evora S comes with a supercharged 3.5L V6 that produces 345 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Evora S goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 172 mph. Prices for the Evora start at $65,157 and prices for the Evora S start at $81,175. That is incredible performance out of a V6 engine. The Evora and Evora S are great performing cars, but the Evora S is almost as expensive as the Nissan GT-R, but the Evora S is not as quick or as fast as the GT-R. The price for the Evora is fair for what you get with the Evora.

Adam Ferrara drove a Lotus Evora in Florida during Top Gear US Season 1, Episode 6. The American Stig drove the Evora around Top Gear US test track in 1:28.4. Top Gear UK reviewed the Evora during Series 13, Episode 1. The British Stig drove the Evora around the Top Gear UK test track in 1:25.7. Fifth Gear and Motorweek have also reviewed the Evora. The Evora is playable in Need For Speed: World, Gran Turismo 5, Need For Speed: The Run, Forza Motorsport 3, Asphalt 5, GT Racing: Motor Academy, Test Drive Unlimited 2, Forza Motorsport 4, Carbon Auto Theft 2, and Real Racing 2.

Final Thought: This is another great car from Lotus. It is one of the fastest cars to wear the Lotus badge. It is a little bit longer and about 1,000 lbs. heavier than the Elise and Exige, but the Evora still handles very well. Lotus continues its tradition of performance, styling, and handling with the Evora. With what comes standard in the Evora plus the performance and the handling, $65,000 is a good price. The Evora S is overprice at $81,000. The Evora S acceleration to 60 mph is only 0.3 seconds quicker and only goes 10 mph faster than the standard Evora. The addition of a supercharger should not cost $16,000 if it slightly improves the performance of the car. The Evora is a good buy. One should get the Evora S if he or she needs a car can be used as a weekend car and as a track day car.

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Classic Car: BMW Z8

Henrik Fisker is responsible for some of the most beautiful cars ever made. He designed the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and worked with Ian Callum on designing the Aston Martin DB9. He also designed the BMW Z8. The Z8 is two-door, two-seater, front-engine, rear-wheel drive roadster with a hardtop. The Z8's production run was from 1999 to 2003, with 5,703 Z8s built.

I recently saw the Z8 at the April 2011 and October 2011 editions of Houston Cars and Coffee. This is one beautiful car. Both times, the Z8 had the top up. One Z8 had the hood up and the engine looks great. It is great to see a car used in a James Bond film in person. I just love the styling of the Z8.

The Z8 is powered by a BMW Motorsport 4.9L V8 engine from the E39 M5, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, that produces 394 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. The Z8 goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and has a limited top speed of 155 mph. Disengage the limiter and the Z8 will reach a top speed 186 mph. A new Z8 went for $128,000. It is beautiful and fast. It maybe a little bit expensive by late 90's early 2000's standards, but there is nothing like it on the road.

The Z8 was featured in James Bond: The World is Not Enough, Honey, Mischief 3000, It's All Gone Pete Tong, Fastlane, and the Tuxedo. Motorweek has reviewed it. It also has been featured on Clarkson: No Limit and Jeremy Clarkson: Head to Head. Clarkson reviewed the Alpina Z8 during Series 2, Episode 3, where he says the car has terrible handling. The Z8 is also playable in The World is Not Enough, James Bond 007: Agnet Under Fire, 007 Racing, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, Crackdown, Project Gotham Racing 3, Drift City, Drag Racer, Drag Racer 3, Need For Speed GT, Forza Motorsport 4, Pursuit Force, Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice, and GT Racing: Motor Academy.

This is one of the best looking cars I have ever seen that came from Germany. It is one of the all time greats that wears the BMW badge. Even though it went out of production in 2003, the cheapest Z8 I saw for sale was $88,000. A new Z8 went for $125,000. A Corvette made during the production run goes from $14,000 to $50,000. The Z8 keeps its value and I have seen a few Z8s go for over $125,000 on Auto Trader. The Z8 is definitely a collector's car, especially when it people are selling it above its original selling price. The Z8 is beautiful and is fast. Anyone who collects German cars needs to have a Z8 in his/her collection. It is good car for cruising, whether the top is up or down.

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First Impression: Mazda RX-8

Mazda has been using Wankel engines since 1965 when the Mazda Cosmo prototype was revealed. The Wankel engine is a rotary combustion engine. Mazda Wankel engines are known for being small and powerful, but they are not fuel efficient. In 2003, Mazda put a Wankel engine in the RX-8. Production for the RX-8 started in 2003 and will end production at the end of 2011. The Mazda RX-8 is front-engine, rear-wheel drive four-door quad coupe.

I have seen the Mazda RX-8 on the roads of Houston. I like the styling. The rear doors are short and can open only when the front doors are open. The is no pillar between the front and rear door. This design helps give the RX-8 its sleek design. The other coupe I remember with this door configuration is the Saturn Ion, and the RX-8 looks much better than the Ion. 

The Mazda RX-8 is powered by a 1.3L Wankel rotary engine, paired with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine paired with the manual transmission produces 232 hp and then engine paired with the automatic transmission produces 212 hp. Both engines produce 159 lb-ft of torque. The RX-8 goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 145 mph. Prices for the RX-8 Sport start at $26,795. The RX-8 Grand Touring starts at $ 32,260. The RX-8 R3 starts at $32,290. That is a great price for a good performing sports car. There is nothing like it on the road.

The Mazda RX-8 has been featured in Car and Driver Television, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, X-Men 2, Motorweek, Fifth Gear, and Clarkson: Shoot Out. Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the RX-8 during Series 3, Episode 5.During Series 9, Episode 2, Richard Hammond drove the RX-8 when the boys were comparing three coupes. The Mazda RX-8 is playable in Need For Speed Series, Project Torque, Sega GT Online, Juiced, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights, Burnout Revenge, Forza Motorsport Series, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Road Burner, and many other racing games.

Final Thoughts: The Mazda RX-8 is affordable, stylish, quick, and unique. There has only been one car with a rotary engine and is a four-door coupe and it is the RX-8. For less than $35,000 you can get a car that gets good acceleration, stylish, and there is no other car like it. Mazda will be ending the production run for the RX-8 with no successor in sight. For the next few years, Mazda will not have a rotary engine road car. Mazda has working on developing a new rotary engine, the 16X, but development has been on hold due to engineering and budgetary reasons.

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First Impression: Noble M400

Noble is a British car company that has been making cars since 1999, starting with the Noble M12. After starting production on the M12 in 2000, Noble released a track variant of the M12, called the M400. Noble had already released M12 GTO, M12 GTO-3, and M12 GTO-3R. From 2004 to 2007, Noble produced the Noble M400, a rear-mid engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door supercar that is manufactured by Hi-Tech Automotive in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Noble sold the rights of the M400 in February 2007 to Rossion, which turned the M400 in to the Rossion Q1.

I recently saw the Noble M400 as the January 2012 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. I have also seen the Rossion Q1 and the M400 has better styling. The rear wing helps give the M400 a better look. Also, the finish on the M400 is better than the finish on the Rossion Q1. A Noble M400 was parked next to a Noble M12 GTO-3R and the two cars are nearly identical, except for the power output under the hood.

The M400 is powered by a twin-turbocharged Ford Durotec V6, paired with a six-speed manual transmission, that produces 425 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The M400 weighs less than 2,500 lbs. and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 187 mph. Prices for the M400 when it was first released started at $93,500. The M400 has 10 more hp and 40 more lb-ft of torque. The M400 is also quicker and faster than the M12 GTO-3R, but the Q1 is slightly quicker and faster than the M400. The M400 is more expensive than the M12 GTO-3R, but it is cheaper than the Q1. The M400 is great value with great performance for under $100,000.

The Noble M400 has been featured on Top Gear, Bullrun, Test Drive, 3000 Miles, and Gumball Rally: Around the World in 8 Days. The Noble M400 is playable in Test Drive Unlimited.

Final Thoughts: The Noble M400 has great performance for under $100,000. It is quicker from 0 to 60 mph than a Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo, Corvette ZR-1, and Pagani Zonda. Noble uses a twin-turbo charged 3.0L Ford V6. While the Rossion Q1 is an improved Noble M400, the Noble M400 has a better finish than the Q1. If you want a car with good performance, try to find a M400 online. If you like styling and beauty to go with performance, go with an Aston Martin, Corvette, Ferrari, or Lamborghini. The Noble M400 is not the best looking supercar out there.

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2011 Car Awards: Best Subcompact

With 2011 over, it is time to look back at the best cars to be released in 2011. I did a list on the worst cars of 2011, now it is time to award the best that came out in 2011, starting with Best Subcompact Car of 2011.


The subcompact is a tough class to judge. Historically, there have been many bad subcompacts, including the Ford Pinto, Chevrolet Vega, and the Yugo. There have also been classic subcompacts like the Austin Mini and the Volkswagen Golf Mk.I GTI. My choice for 2011 Subcompact Car of the year is:

BMW 1M

The standard BMW 1-series is nothing special. It is a smaller version of the 3-series, with similar engines available. BWM's Motorsport division shows how you can make a quality subcompact. Motorsport takes a 1-series body, puts a unique body kit to give it a bigger and wider body. Motorsport then takes the twin-turbocharged 3.0L I6 engine found inthe BMW 335is and Z4sdrive35is. The BMW 1M gets 335 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and reaches a limited top speed of 155 mph. That is  very quick and very fast for a subcompact. Also, the 1M also handles very well. It is the total package when it comes to subcompacts. However, the base price for the 1M is $47,010. That is a lot for a subcompact. But, there is no other subcompact like the 1M, and that is why I have no problem calling it the best subcompact car of 2011.

Others receiving consideration

Ford Fiesta: It is just stunning to look at. Good performance as well.

Mini Cooper S: Great performance for a subcompact, just not as good as the 1M.

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Electric Delorean DMC-12 Specs

It has been announced that Delorean will be releasing an electric version of the cult classic DMC-12. For those who know nothing about popular culture or movies from the 1980's, the Delorean DMC-12 was the car used for the time machine in Back to the Future. Delorean DMC-12 is known for its stainless steel body, gullwing doors, and a rear-mid engine. The car is very stylish and I have seen a few on the roads of Houston. The Delorean had one flaw, the engine. The Delorean featured a 2.4L V6 that produces 130 hp. The Delorean goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds, according to the factory specs. Road and Track tested the Delorean and went from 0 to 60 mph in 10.5 seconds. The original Delorean was slow.

For 2013, the revised Delorean Motor Company, now based in Humble, Texas, just north of Houston, will be producing a Delorean powered by electricity. The 400 VAC electric motor will produce 260 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque. The motor will rev to 14,000 rpm. The transmission consists of a single gear plus reverse. The electric Delorean is expected to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed 125 mph. That is a 5 mph drop in top speed but a vast improvement in acceleration.

Delorean states that the electric DMC-12 will have an electric battery range of over 100 mph, but I will believe it when I see it. The battery comes with a 7 year/100,000 mile warranty. Using a 240 V, 70 A charging station, it will take 3.5 hours to charge an empty battery. The Electric Delorean will outperform the standard Delorean DMC-12. Prices for the Electric Delorean is estimated to be between $90,000 and $100,000. The Electric Delorean will not be available until 2013. 

The Electric Delorean will be better than the Nissan Leaf, but it will be no Tesla Roadster. I cannot resist comparing the Electric Delorean to the Tesla Roadster. The Tesla Roadster goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and can go over 200 miles on one charge. The Roadster starts at $109,000, but it will be discontinued in early 2012. The Tesla is a better car, but it won't be around when the Electric Delorean hits the roads. But compared to other electric vehicles, the Electric Delorean is great. It is just no Telsa Roadster.

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Classic Car: Audi Quattro

When discussing important cars in racing history, it is hard not to mention the Audi Quattro. The Quattro was the first rally car to use a four-wheel drive, which was allowed by the then new rule changes. The Quattro won 23 WRC races from 1981 to 1985. The Quattro also won two WRC championships. The Quattro was the first Audi to use Audi's "quattro" permanent four-wheel drive system and was the first Audi to use a turbocharger and a four-wheel drive system. The quattro GmbH, Audi's in-house tuning company that is responsible for the Audi RS4 and Audi R8, is named after the Quattro.

I recently saw the Quattro at the March 2012 edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. For an iconic car, the Quattro was not getting much attenion. Also present at the event was Christine, the Ferrari 288 GTO, and the McLaren MP4-12C. For a car from the 1980's, the Quattro has good lines. I also like the fastback design of the car. It worked for Ford Mustangs and it works for the Quattro. The Quattro looks like it was built for racing.

The original Quattro is powered by a turbocharged 2.1L I5 engine, paired with a five-speed manual transmission, that produces 197 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 137 mph. The Quattro got a 2.2L DOHC turbocharged I5 engine in 1989 that produces 217 hp and reaches a top speed of 143 mph. As of the time this article was written, the Quattro was going for $19,500 on Auto Traders Classic. This is cheap for a car that was important to rally car racing and Audi history.

The Quattro has been featured on Top Gear, Der Alte, 20 Cars that Changed the World, The World's Greatest Rally Cars, several Jeremy Clarkson car specials, Massive Speed, 30 Years of the RAC Rally, Ashes To Ashes, Car Years, Too Fast To Race, Spender, and many other movies and shows. The Quattro is playable in Stunts, Cross Racing Championship 2005, German Classics GP, Need For Speed: The Run, Beverly Hills Cop, Need For Speed: World, V-Rally 2, Rally Championship 2002, Sega Rally Revo, Rally Cross, Drift Out '94, Choro Q Park, Pro Rally 2001, GT Racing: Motor Academy, Gran Turismo 4, Gran Turismo, Gran Turismo 5, WRC: Rally Evolved, and WRC 4.

The Audi Quattro is a great car. This car changed rally racing. It is a must own for any German car collector, rally car collector, or just a general car collector. The Quattro had 23 WRC victories, 2 WRC championships, and was the first car to use Audi's "quatto" system. The quattro four-wheel drive system is used in the Audi R8. This car is awesome and for under $20,000, you can have your own classic rally car.


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