Untitled

Three days, 65 cars, 100 people and a lot of miles on some of the best roads in California...that's the Coastal Range rally in a nutshell. 

It's nearly impossible to explain how much fun we had with the most amazing group of people you will ever meet. 

Pictures speak louder than words... 

DAY 1

DAY 2

  DAY 3

  Had fun crashing Santa Barbara Cars and Coffee

My daily round-trip comute is about 130 miles. This means that I am in the car for about 3 1/2 hours a day...17 1/2 hours a week! Since I started this commute 9 years ago, I have gone through 4 cars. A 1996 Volvo 850 turbo wagon, 2002 audi A4, 2010 VW Jetta TDI and a 2005 Acura TSX. I liked all of these cars, but the VW was the best all rounder dispite it's problem with eating turbos (3 in the last 100k mikes). The VW was powerful enough, handled well, had all the modern amenities and got amazing fuel mileage. When the dieselgate scandal happened, I decided to shelve the TDI and bought a 2005 Honda...I mean Acura TSX. The Acura was a 6spd manual, 200hp sport sedan with a 7,200 rpm redline, and it's a Honda so it would be dead nuts reliable...right? Not quite. I have put 30,000 miles on the Acura iver the ladt year, and spent $3,500 in maintenance, not including consumables like tires and brakes. On top of that, the mileage has depriciated the Acura by at least $2000. This means that I have spent over $450 a month for a 12 year old Acura that doesn't drive as well as my TDI. 

My TDI was sold back to VW for $11,700 and I was sour on the TSX after the recent water pump failure, so I decided to buy a new car. My commute consists of some awesome mountain backroads and the PCH. I wanted something new with a warranty and I would probably be purchasing an extended 100k warranty so that I could drive it for 3 years then dump it right at 100k miles. 

I was thinking about getting a Subaru BRZ, because I love the way they drive and it is the perfect car for The twisty mountain roads that I take half the week. The BRZ has a few shortcomings though. It has a sub par interior, 2 door with tiny back seats (I have a 3 and 7 year old dughter), and it is a little too similar to my 1985 Porsche 944 that I commute in about once a week. 

My decision to buy a new VW GTI Was an easy one. The interior of the GTI is equal or better than cars costing twice as much, it's quick, handles well and has room for my family.  The amount of car you get for the money is amazing. 

My new GTI is a 'Sport' with an extra 10hp, limited slip differential, xenon headlights, and bigger brakes than the standard GTI.

We lucked out and got perfect weather for our fist CNC of 2017. A fun group of people with a really cool, diverse group of cars showed up and Coffeeville's coffee was delicious as always. 

The new BMW X3 is currently the middle child in BMW's SUV lineup but is it worth not forgetting?

​...How I got ahold of an X3 on a layman's budget...

BMW wanted me to drive the new X3 so badly that they designed the e60 we currently own to eat its own a/c compressor. The Ultimate Driving Machine company knew I couldn't afford their refrigerant recovery machine so while they fixed my car for me, they had a shiny new black X3 ready for me to drive up to the snow. Yeah, it's a stripped out courtesy vehicle but so what... Press car!

​What drives a person to reject THE SEDAN that has been the benchmark of driving dynamics and luxury for decades? I'm talking about the BMW 3 series. All the buff books have nothing but good things to say about it. Even DWA! contributors and founding members have held the titles of many a 3 series. True, it has become less sport focused and more "luxury" as of late, but it still has the charisma of its older brothers. What makes a person walk into a dealership, past this sedan of great acclaim, and pay more for its fatter, less athletic cousin?

I'll let my wife describe why she wanted one;

"I love my e60 535 but growing up my mom had SUV's. I'd rather look through the other suvs than be eye level with their doors. I also like getting the idea of having something sporty to take up to the snow two hours away and the back is better for a dog. I don't have a dog but if I did it would be awesome."

So the checklist is as following:

-tall

-sporty

-good in snow

So let's punch some checklists!

First things first;

IS IT TALL?

​No, and let me explain. The idea of tall is to be able to see over things and people. This vehicle does not achieve that goal. The first three vehicles on American's best selling list are tall half-ton pickup trucks. In this compact SUV, you won't be able to see over any of them. Add in the even larger semi trucks and it becomes Impossible to see ahead without some form of X-ray vision. The X3 still isn't tall enough to clear your line of sight of the roof of the 4th best selling car in America. That car is a grounded to the ground Toyota Camry. In addition, you have the glut of SUV's and crossovers that have been selling well for years. Good luck seeing over these as they are roughly the same height as the X3. This leaves you with very few options if you want to see above cars. Daily driving a semi tractor, a lifted pickup, anything with a periscope, or lane splitting a motorcycle is really the only way to see around heavy traffic. In actuality, this is a moot point because I don't see many suburban housewives getting their Class A truck license any time soon.

VERDICT: a piggy back ride from Danny Divito would get you taller.

IS IT SPORTY?

The thing about using Danny Divito as transportation is that he doesn't come across as very sporty. Is the X3 any better? Yes, and that's because underneath it's a modern 3 series with a lift kit and Xdrive (what BMW calls their all wheel drive system). It would be as capable as a 3 series if it were not for the large amount of weight sitting on a lifted suspension. It's definitely not as huckable in the corners as the new 3 and infinitely more disappointing than the 2008 535i that my wife daily drives. The roll in the corners is way too much if it was coming from a sport sedan, but for a small SUV, it's really not as bad as it could be.

Also, on the sporty side, we cannot say anything bad about the motor. This X holds the "28" designation, which means it is the lowest rung on the X3 ladder that comes with Xdrive. However, don't let that fool you. The little turbocharged 2 liter mill really punches above its weight and impresses with its response and overall oomph. You can get the venerated 3 liter straight 6 in it but at a $6k premium, I'm not sure it's worth it. This little motor was seriously quite impressive.

Verdict: Not bad, Not bad at all

SNOW TIME!

Now what does all of this mean for its usability in the snow? Well, being a new car, it starts right up when it's cold outside and employs a sophisticated system to heat up the engine and cabin in rapid fashion. It's called the cooling system and it's equipped with a special bit known as a thermostat. How it all works is witchcraft and the dark arts, but it's really good when it's really cold.

Then there is another issue with cold weather. Because it's an expensive luxury vehicle, it's seats are shod in the finest dead cow. As anyone who has ever used a carcass of a deceased bovine to cushion their bottom in the winter,they can be alarmingly cold. BMW has employed something brilliant to combat this. Not knowing the technical term, I shall refer to them as "Tush Toasters". (Editor's note: "please realize, all this cold weather temperature stuff comes standard in most vehicles these days")

After sitting in the long line of chain checks in the Sierra Nevadas and being waved through without tire chains, we got to business of driving it on the snow. We have discovered it won't make a good substitute for a snowmobile. If the white powdery stuff gets deeper than 6 inches, the stock running gear becomes just about useless. However, if the roads are cold, icy, and are covered in less than 6 inches of fresh snow, it will hold its own against the local snow-bro's 2001 Subaru Outback. (That is speaking from experience) You may even pass him if you are brave enough. (was I? I'll let you guess) The Xdrive system is engineered to make sure even the most timid of grandmothers can feel at ease driving over the river and through the snow covered woods. I can also say it's engineered to keep you from being a hooligan. No powerslides, no snowy four-wheel rooster tails, no fun. It's safe, warm, and regimented just like your German nana.

​Verdict: Nana approves, inner kid does not.

So should you spend your $46,000 on the X3? Maybe. Its not a bad car by any means and many will be attracted to it. Will I be? Well it's not as good to drive as the sometimes cheaper 3 series, it doesn't solve my seeing over things issue, and I can get the Xdrive system in the 3 series wagon. I think my answer is made for me. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself and go get a free loaner like I did!

Now if only BMW would let me drive the 4 series gran coupé with Xdrive...

This 1980 Scirocco fell into my brother 'Blaise's' hands a little over a year ago and it might just stick around.

My first two cars were MK1 Volkswagen Rabbits. These cars are the definition of "slow car fast". I have yet to drive another car that can make a 90 degree turn as fast as these little things. 0-30 mph is where these cars shine and they turn a 2 block drive to the market for some milk into a stage rally. 

Growing up, I hardly ever thought about the MK1 Sciroccos, we wanted GTIs and Mk2 Sciroccos. I don't know how many MK1 Sciroccos were made, but I barley ever saw them growing up and these days they seem to be almost extinct.

When I was in highschool we bought a driving MK1 Scirocco as a parts car to use the engine and trans in my brother's Audi 100.  I drove it home from the junkyard and remember it being way faster and better handling that our 1987 Jetta that I had driven to the junkyard in. That feeling was short lived though, and within 24 hours that Scirocco was sawzalled into little pieces and on it's way to the dump.

When 'Blaise' had the opportunity to pick up this copper/bronze colored 1980  Scirocco for $1,500, I convinced him to jump on it. If he didn't like it, I would happily take it or he could always sell it on 'Bring A Trailer' for four times what he paid...maybe more if he found two buyers that had to have it.  

My first imperssions driving 'Penny' start with sitting down in the cavernous cabin. You would expected it to be a tight fit, but much like a original mini it has tons of room and is a very comfortable place to be. The thin doors and lack of a huge center console area, and low belt line make for an airy cabin that doesn't exist in modern cars. I recently drove a new Porsche 991 Turbo and it felt very claustrophobic despite being ​about 50% larger than 'Penny'.

After sitting in the comfortable Recaro seat I closed the door and was plesently suprised oncw again. The door closed with a solid THUNK! That made my Porsche 944 jelious. ​

On the road, It's about what I expected, but better and more solid feeling. It manages to feel extremely lightweight, but solid at the same time. The lack of power steering feel amazing on this sub 2,000 lb car, and the turn in is just as I remembered from my Mk1 Rabbits. The one place where the the Scirocco really shows it's age is the shifter. It's a little rubbery and vague, but it gets the job done and can be considered part of the charm.​ (since I last drove it, Blaise has replaced the bushings and adjusted the shifter)

Blaise got a screaming deal, and this car is destined to become a sought after classic...if it isn't already.  

-Lane Skelton

With Canepa Cars and Coffe on hiatus for the Fall/Winter, we are having our own DWA! cars N' Coffee on the second Saturday of every month until canepa is back. Last year we split time between a couple different locations, but this year we have a permanent location. The fine people at Coffeeville on Ocean St. in Santa Cruz have opened their doors and parking lot. Last month was our first CNC of the season and we had a nice small group of cars and enthusiasts. 

Today we started our fist teespring.com campaign. Teespring is a t-shirt printing/sales site that offers on demand printing of shirts, much like the way blipshift.com works. The shirts are for sale for a limited time, and when the campaign is over the shirts are printed and shipped.

Our first shirt is a drawing that I did in illustrator of a Porsche 930 rear end with 'DWA!'  tire marks. This shirt will be on sale for 7 days...then it's gone forever. We have a bunch more shirts coming soon.