*rawr*

Uh, so yeah…I want to drive a Mustang GT500. Of course, this will probably NEVER happen, most likely because by the time I’ll be able to afford one I’ll be married with a kid on the way. That’s a little disheartening, so I won’t think of it. Also, I doubt Ford would just “hand me” a $48,000 car for two or three days, free of charge. I’m sure it’s already been reviewed by bigger & better automotive blogs already. Besides, they’re REALLY pushing the Taurus right now, so I don’t think they’d want to “give out” the super-car version of their most popular & best selling car in history when their concentration is on other vehicles. Unfortunately, mere passion for a classic American super-car isn’t enough to grab even a dealership test drive, & seeing as I carry absolutely no weight in Ford Motor Company (yet), it puts me at even more of a disadvantage. As I said elsewhere: this is disheartening.

Well, on par with my crappy memory, I have yet again forgotten a seemingly trite aspect of this beautiful car: the rims. At least, on the “Limited” package. The Taurus Limited comes standard with 19″, machined & chrome-clad aluminum kicks. I say “kicks” because I view the ‘rim+tire’ concept as the vehicular form of shoes. Anyway, I like them. “Sure, who wouldn’t like 19″ polished chrome,” but these are just different. They’re artsy & unique.

That car deserves those four polished rollers.

The arrangement of the larger & wider five spoke design coupled with the thinner five spoke design just looks fantastic. There’s a slight concave dip as all the spokes approach the centre of the rim. Although there is no lug cover, I really wouldn’t want one. You have to remember, this is a beautiful car, paired with the simple fact of being a Ford, so it deserves to be shown off, lug nuts & all. I’m just in awe of everything Ford has done with this that is “so simple yet so elegant”. Now, on to the interior…

The interior, as previously stated, could easily rival a Mercedes.The perforated leather contour seating is, to put it simply, perfect. They are comfortable, plush & heated. The spacious cockpit has ample headroom for someone 6′+ tall. The power adjustable pedals make them easier to reach without adjusting the seat within ridiculous proximity to the steering column. Everything required for a comfortable drive is literally within a one foot span. The headrests, although appearing to be at an odd angle, are very comfortable. The 10-way power seats (with back/butt massage) is terrific after a taxing day.

I've been saving this photo for a while. Beautiful.

The front cabin is composed of a leather-wrapped steering wheel housed on the most inclusive yet uncluttered dash I have ever seen. Three circular areas house the (left to right) tachometer, speedometer, & fuel/PRNDM/oil temperature gauges. Yes, that third circle sounds cluttered but I assure you, it’s not. Drifting off to the right you have your media/temperature controls in the centre column moving seamlessly down to the shifter, cup holders, & storage compartments. Still more to the right is the passenger airbag, glovebox & passenger seat (of course).

Now, something I think is truly exceptional that you will not find in any other car on the market today…ambient lighting in the cabin. Seven different colours & five different brightnesses.

Of course, I didn't get a snap of the ambient in the Taurus that I had.

Although a small detail, I’ve found it’s the small things that have impressed me with this vehicle. Not that the larger things haven’t, by any stretch of the imagination, I’m still in wonder at the features this vehicle has available. If you showed this to someone & told them (after they finished “ooo-ing & aah-ing” over it) that there were additional features available, I’m fairly certain they would say, “you mean there’s more?!”

I can’t begin to express how much of this car was mind blowing. I’m not just saying that because I had a “free, au gratis” car for three days. Driving this car was an honor & privilege that has left a metaphorical pleasant & refined taste in my mouth.

So, I’ve covered the exterior, now I think it’s time for a “comprehensive examination” of the interior (yes, I realise it has been a week, but trust me, I vividly remember everything about this car). But before we begin with the inside, let me first touch on an aspect of the exterior body styling that I missed in my previous two articles. What I would like to mention is the circled accent line on the rear quarters (right rear pictured) of the Taurus vehicles.

Sexy accent (circled) for your viewing pleasure.

Yes, I know the photo is of a Taurus SHO, but that doesn’t change the sexiness. I find that this, like the rear fascia, provides a line of continuity to the Taurus that, as mentioned previously, most automakers indubitably & constantly fail at. I don’t want to keep repeating myself, but it makes the 2010 Taurus a veritable 360º canvas of design & innovation. If you can’t see the photo very well, use this link to view the original resolution.

Okay, on with the cushy, refined & “rival of a Mercedes-Benz” interior. Hah, you think I jest but I assure you, no, I’m not. Read onwards.

Everything can be controlled with this relatively simple layout.

The 2010 Ford Taurus is your typical, full-size sedan, in terms of legroom, trunk space & seating. What makes it NOT your typical sedan is the degree of refinement one experiences while in the Taurus, whether driver or a passenger. Let’s take a look at the driver for a moment. The 2010 Taurus has a 10-way, power, perforated leather seats…complete with a back/bum massage setting. I discovered that (regrettably) the evening of my last day with the car. To think I could have been massaged while driving around the entire weekend comes as a big disappointment in myself. Ah well. As if the seats themselves aren’t great enough already, Ford has done the “hottest & coolest” (pun intended) thing for a sedan costing $34k: heated & cooled seats. I kid you not. Wait, it gets better. The front passenger gets a heated/cooled seat. Better still…the rear seats get heated (no cooled, unfortunately). Although a disappointment on not having cooled seats in the rear, if Ford HAD put them in the new Taurus. they wouldn’t have use for this AWESOME sunshade.

Sun/privacy shade.

Yeah, that’s right. A sunshade. I know other sedans have this option, so it’s not that “new” or “revolutionary”…oh wait, it’s in a car costing $35,000. I hope you see my point. Everything that comes standard on the Limited trim is definitely worth the money, if you’ve got it. Heck, even the base model at $25k is a steal! It’s no wonder Ford is having trouble keeping up with demand. Call me snooty or what have you, but if I ever happen to own one of these, my only disappointment will be that it’s such a great value that EVERYONE will have one. I’ll have to make mine “unique” & slap some 24s on it so it’ll stand out. Kidding.

So, I finally received the link for the photos Kelly Karnesky took for me…au gratis…& they turned out AWESOME! This car can’t get any better. Seriously. At first I was like, “Ehhh” at the rear fascia because it looks a LITTLE bit like the rear of a two-door Civic. I quickly dismissed this ridiculous assumption, of course, as a Civic can in no way compete with a full-size sedan of this calibre. Overall, the contour lines & placement of certain elements make for a very captivating & interestingly designed vehicle.

It's. So. Classy.

I’m not usually a “sedan” person, due to the fact that I have been raised on, primarily, large SUVs. My having a 2010 Taurus for a few days has effectively changed my viewpoint on mid- to full-size sedans. I still can’t do a compact. Too little space for me. But getting back to my change in vehicular perspective, I actually find it mundane & cumbersome to drive a large SUV. I have complete disregard for fuel economy, so it’s not the gas prices or emissions of a Suburban that are starting to bother me. It’s the large, brickish feel of swinging a 15′ car around a 90º right turn. Nothing against Chevrolet, it’s just not my type of car anymore. Anyway, getting back to the focal point of this article…the new Taurus’ are, to put it simply, just a whole new version of the car than we are used to. I mean, you can’t really compare this to previous Taurus’.

I say "Ford Taurus", you visualise this.

The ratio of standard equipment & degree of class to the model of car it is, has been bumped up several notches. Yes yes, I know what you’re thinking. “You had the ‘Limited’ trim, so of course it’s different from the photo to the left.” No, not really. Take a look at a base 2010 Taurus. The ’93 predecessor, for it’s time, wasn’t half as good as this new & improved younger brother is for our time. If that makes sense.

I don’t think I took any photos of the rear (I didn’t want to be impolite…har har) but I find, upon further inspection & introspection, the rear is a very good looking side of the vehicle. Considering that the back of the vehicle is what most people will be looking at (while driving), I think Ford has done a very good job at designing something eye-catching, but not an eye-sore. So many car manufacturers fail when they design the rear of their vehicles, not just in sacrificing a tapered look (*cough*2007-9Malibu*cough*) for aerodynamics or they just completely fail at juxtaposing the lights/badges/chrome/et cetera.

This is actually pleasant to look at.

So, Ford dropped of the Taurus yesterday (yes, I know. I’m behind on my posts) at around 11 AM, which was perfect, considering I woke up at 10:30. It’s like I went to bed & woke up to a brand new car. Actually, yeah, that’s what happened. I DO have some real photos, so keep reading.

Upon reception of the Taurus, I quickly finished my half-eaten breakfast & went outside to check it out. The interior was VERY nice (I seem to keep forgetting photos of those but they should be up tomorrow). Perforated leather contour seats, heated/cooled driver & front passenger seats, heated rear seats…the list goes on. I ventured back inside to retrieve my sister for a first drive. It. Was. AWESOME. I would NEVER get tired of driving this car, I’m not even kidding!

The 3.5L DOHC V6 is rated at 263HP when at (according to the Taurus website) 6,250 RPMs. You can definitely feel it. The pickup on this car reminds me of when I drove the Mustang GT (ohhh that WONDERFUL Mustang…).

Some new Ford Taurus fans checkin' out the goods.

Of course, it’s NOT a Mustang GT but…gosh…I like that. It has the pickup & power of a decent sports car, but the class & elegance to rival a Mercedes. Seriously. I was blown away with this car. The 2010 Taurus makes way for a whole new legacy in the Ford line & effectively replaces all of our preconceived impressions of previous versions of this car (no offense, Ford). Driving around town in the 2010 Taurus, I felt like a cut above the rest. That’s not meant to sound snooty, but it’s the truth. And quite honestly, as a car company, that should be one of the main concerns. Can the owner pay $25k for a car that makes them feel like it’s a $50k car. This is something Ford has clearly thought about & it’s apparent in the new Taurus.

Anyway, that’s all for now. Keep on the lookout for a few more posts tomorrow; I need to play catchup. For now, it’s time for me to retire to the bed (I’m writing this from the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit). The game is tomorrow: Lions vs. Vikings. It should be a good game. Details shall follow!

Well, today after meeting with one of my closest friends at Starbucks, I, having a few hours & full use of a car, decided to exercise my 21 year-old privilege of the “walk-in test drive”. My intention was to test drive a Camaro at Marty Feldman Chevrolet on Grand River just east of Novi Road but upon entering the dealership, speaking with a salesman & handing over my license (for whatever they do with it…photocopy, I think) I was asked by the salesman if I could drive a stick. I answered (honestly) with “no” to which the answer was “all we have are sticks…” Crap. From my previous answer, I obviously can’t drive one & the only auto they had on the lot was sold. I left the dealership, disheartened but persistent. I told the salesman I would be back in a few days to check & he responded with a decided “Alright. We might have some in by then.” As I left, I made up my mind to drive to the Tom Holzer Ford dealership, on 10 Mile barely east of Haggardy Road. On the way, I passed a Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge dealership, checked in to test drive a new Challenger, but the only one they had was in the show room & the man I spoke with told me “no way”. I promptly drove to the Ford dealership & made my intentions known. I told them I wanted something with a lot of power, more than stock & it had to be an automatic. I was given a display Mustang GT in ‘Grabber Blue’, a VERY nice, “look at me” colour (see photo). I followed Ron (my salesman) outside so he could carefully drive it off the curb & onto the pavement. When he started her (yes, “her”) the engine growled to life. The stock exhaust on these GTs is pretty “kick ass”. It’s not loud & is more of a rumble than your typical, base Mustang. Few words were exchanged between Ron & I (I have no idea why) in between him getting out of the GT & me getting in. All he said was “It’s the GT, so it has the bigger engine” then he closed the door & while I adjusted everything, he simply walked away. Not even a backwards glance, like he knew I was going to take good care of it or something (which I DID).

This is exactly what it looked like. L.O.V.E. that colour!

Okay, when I drive an auto transmission, I drive in a sort of “odd” way. I shift down to 1st, then 2nd, 3rd (if there is one) & then, of course, “Drive”. Idk, to me that just seems “odd” but I like doing it. I took the GT out of the dealership in ‘D’ just in case he was listening or something but the second I was on Haggardy I floored it. Man, that 281ci 315HP V8 hauled. I drove around surface streets only, simply because I know them better than anything else. I drove up to Fountain Walk, then south down Novi Road (where I was complimented on the colour at a red light by a guy about my age in a black Firebird) & pretty much all around the downtown Novi area.

The handling on this was rather erratic, albeit another word might be “responsive”. The brakes were excellent, but like any new car were quite touchy. The pickup on the accelerator was a bit of a disappointment. Even when I floored it, it took about .5-1 second to respond but once it did…whoa…hang on. I didn’t park it, get out & check out the engine (rest assured that upon my next test drive of an American muscle, I will) like I should have, but the sound in itself was incredible. I still feel my stomach slide up a little & the adrenaline start to pump even when I’m just thinking about it. Like right now. Mmmm…. All in all, I’ll be returning to (a) Ford dealership to test drive a GT (or maybe something even faster?) VERY soon, so as to actually get out & look at the vehicle’s exterior aesthetics. And of course, you will be the first to hear of it. Oh & keep on the lookout for the article about both the Camaro & Challenger. Peace.

Yes, pun intended. I was out with Josh Walker yesterday attempting to work on our upcoming website, osk (OptionShiftK). Per usual, though, we got sidetracked & were reading each other’s Tweets (entries on Twitter) & Josh noticed something I said to Ford (yes, the actual car company) regarding a Tweet that Ford had made involving a link to a photo of a new Mustang racing an aeroplane (see photo below).

Mustang GT500 & a stunt plane going at it. Yes, the fire is real & no, this is not Photoshopped.

Anyway, I saw the photo & basically said something along the lines of “@Ford, WHOA that’s awesome. Let’s see a Civic do that!” I’m not even going to lie, we all know a Civic can’t & shouldn’t race an aeroplane. Anyway, Josh saw said posting (of mine) & challenged me to actually drive one. So I took him up on it. On a whim, like we do everything, we promptly drove to Suburban Honda on Haggardy, walked in the dealership & requested to test drive a Civic. After a bit of paperwork I was handed the keys to a sporty-looking two door & told I could take it wherever I wanted, so as to get a feel for it. I never went on the highway, but took surface streets the entire time so I could better test the suspension & shocks.

It looked something like this, I think. Only silver.

The overall drive was uneventful & although fun, I wouldn’t buy a Honda, let alone a Civic. They’re just not my type of car is all. I’m hoping to quick test drive a new 2010 Camaro later today, so of course, there will be another posting either today or tomorrow. Be on the lookout for that.

Seriously…how can you even compare this with a Civic. You can't.

Well, as promised, this is me updating you guys on the test-drive of the ’72 Cutlass. You may notice my vocabulary taking a slightly less refined turn in this post but think nothing of it. I arrived at Kevin’s (the owner’s name) house at around 2 o’clock for the showing / test-drive. It was a beast of a vehicle, having never seen a Cutlass of this vintage up close & it blew my mind. We did the usual introductions & hellos then I proceeded to ask him a little about the car. It was a drag race project, so as (most) all drag cars it had VERY thick tires with minimal treads in back & standard radials up front. The rear bench seat was removed & not included in the sale. One of the few reasons I decided not to consider for purchase. There were two pieces of the right rear quarter panels missing (NOT cool) & several small spots with random holes. So basically, the body would have needed more work than I am willing to put in to it. Also, I haven’t learned how to solder yet, which would definitely be needed, so there’s that small obstacle.

Aside from the little body work it would need this car looks amazing.

Well, after covering most of the fixes, builds & modifications Kevin had done to the car, he opened the drivers door & started her up. I have never heard anything like this Cutlass before. It was the very exemplification of American power & muscle. The engine on this car didn’t purr…it growled. And when the gas was even slightly depressed…she roared. Below is a video of what it sounded like. It’s a VERY good representation of the aforementioned car.

Well, after standing speechlessly in awe of this dedicated automobile, Kevin & I buckled in & took it for a ride. First, he drove me around in it a little. I have three words for the performance of it: This. Car. Hauls. It is easily one of the fastest vehicles I have ever been in or had the privilege of driving. After arriving in a warehouse parking lot & spinning a few doughnuts (also my first ever) Kevin pulled over & let me give it a try. Pulling out of the parking lot, I could feel the rear end fishtail a little due to the combined efforts of the nearly treadless tires & the 400HP 455 big block V8. If anyone still wanted a Prius after driving one of these, they are seriously screwed up in the head. Well, anyway, I drive back to Kevin’s house per his directions, inspected the vehicle a little more, said I would let him know that night, said our goodbyes & I departed with my ride, courtesy of Mark.

Note the rear tires. Pretty sure they're around a size P335/30R16.

I’ve pretty much decided that I want to get a Cutlass. Preferably a 1968, as that body style just looks completely bad a**. I’ll fix the baby up, get it repainted (I’m thinking a nice “look-at-me” orange with black accents) & some other sweet stuff. Maybe an engine swap if it doesn’t already have a 455 V8. I’ll probably make it a 442 tribute since I completely love the 442 model but cannot afford it, even used. The feature that infatuates me the most is the rear spoiler. It’s not flashy, gaudy or anything. It’s low profile & performance oriented…& totally makes a ’68 Cutlass look like a Dodge Charger. Awesome.

Anyway, as always, keep checking back. You never know when I’ll make a post debuting a Cutlass that I have (hopefully) picked up for a reasonable price. Ciao.

Well, as always, I am reconsidering my taste in automotive transportation yet again. I have nothing against the aforementioned 1953 Cadillac Fleetwood in one of my previous posts, in blatant contrast I think it is one of the most beautifully designed cars I have ever seen. However, nothing can compare to the sheer American power that the Oldsmobile 455 V8 can output. Although I haven’t test driven this current automotive infatuation yet, from the seller’s description & the provided photos, this car looks like it outputs quite the power. I believe the Oldsmobile 455 V8 was rated at around 400 HP.

1972 Oldsmobile 455 V8

Again, I haven’t driven this fine muscle car of yore as of yet but I fully intend to & I fully intend to write about it as well. So keep checking back often so you don’t miss it. But I digress, this car is more than just raw power. Although the chrome components & accessories are toned down a little bit, this fastback still is miles ahead of cars today, in terms of design & performance. This model, the Cutlass S (not sure if the ‘S’ is an unorthodox abbreviation of ‘Supreme’ or what but either way it sounds awesome), is one of the coolest cars I have ever seen. I can only hope I can earn up some cash so I can make the purchase. Hopefully. If all goes through this will make a nice restoration vehicle, which will inevitably mean something to spend my copious amounts of time working on. Sweet. Keep checking back for updates for at least the posting of the test drive.

Boom.

You know the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. That is the exact feeling I had coursing through my veins at approximately 5:15 PM. It was post-test drive of a 1953 Cadillac Fleetwood, an ornately gorgeous, stalwart automobile of yore. Chromed out to the apex anywhere you can think of streamlining a vehicle.

I would assume those front bullets are for pushing Civics out of the way.

The current owner, Gerry, & I, circled the auto about ten times, Gerry talking non-stop about the various fixes & restoration he had already done. It was significant. Very significant. Mechanically, the car drives like it was a few months off the lot. Aesthetically, it looked like someone unleashed an irate badger on the interiour, but it (the badger) seemed to have regained its composure after only a few minutes. In plain English (with British English spelling) that analogy basically means the interiour wasn’t great…but it was workable.

This picture doesn't quite capture the desolation of some of the interiour.

This picture doesn’t quite capture the desolation of some of the interiour. Gerry flipped the automatic fuel pump switch to “On” for about two seconds, flipped it off & gave the key a turn. The antique 312 V8 purred to life, making the sultry sounds that only an engine of sheer power can. In other words, it ran smooth as butter; no clicks, no whines. Nothing. We took it out on the roads & drove about three miles…still nothing. It has a very cushy ride & I was pleasantly surprised at the suspension. We stopped in the parking lot of a local car repair (irony) to trade off so Gerry could drive & I could experience the car from a passenger’s perspective. This I was also pleasantly surprised with. The back seat is more spacious than cars of current annum & the seat (a bench-style) is very comfortable & expansive.

Not bad, eh? Missing the skirts & a bit of chrome, but still beautiful.

Everything considered, I think this might be the car for me. My first car, at that. We may need to discuss the price a little, but I think we’ll reach an accord. Then begins the restoration process. Hopefully it will be presentable for the Woodward Dream Cruise in 2010. Anyway, check back regularly for any news on the tank known as a 1953 Cadillac Fleetwood. Anything, no matter how major or minor will probably be posted.