The Common Gearhead

The Top 5 Winter Cars for Under $5,000

Posted by commongearhead on January 22, 2014

Posted in: Opinion. Tagged: Cars, Cheap, Top 5, Winter. Leave a comment

“Snowstorm sweeping the Northeast.” This is a phrase I, and many New Englanders, are more than accustomed to. And whether we like it or not, a car’s winter performance greatly effects our buying decisions. New Englanders buy more Ahhdis and Subarus than almost any other regional population. All Wheel Drive is the be-all and end-all of most vehicle purchases in the cold North, and many feel like they can’t possibly ever be without it because all four wheels must be pushing the car at the same time BECAUSE IT’S SAFER AND I HAVE KIDS.

For those of us who treat our cars better than, say, our families, winter can be a treacherous time. Sand and salt destroy our meticulously hand-waxed paint jobs, rims get scuffed, and accidents can happen. A “winter beater” is a very tempting option for the obsessive gearhead, so I’ve done my best to compile a list of the five most practical and fun winter cars for the budget enthusiast.

Bear in mind, this is a gearhead’s list, so it is in no way practical or recommendable to the average driver, but hot damn is it fun.

5. Audi 4000

Pros: It’s an all wheel drive, late 80s Audi that looks like a rally car and only comes with a manual transmission. It has 4-wheel disk brakes and an inline drivetrain system, and it’s cool as hell

Cons: It’s a German car from the late 80s, meaning it’s about as reliable as an oven made out of newspaper.

4. Toyota 4Runner

The 4Runner is all you really need from an SUV. It’s big, it’s Japanese, it looks like a safari vehicle, and it will go pretty much anywhere and run forever.

Plus you can take your spouse, your kids, your kids’ friends, your dog, your other dog, your kids’ stuffed dogs, your kids’ friends’ dogs and also some firewood.

3. BMW 325ix

Ahh the E30. Many the enthusiast has waxed poetic about its perfectly-balanced chassis, its low-price, and its autocross chops.

But alas! Great news comrades! It comes with all wheel drive, so you can even take your BMW elitist attitude off road with you!

2. Jeep Cherokee

Just look at it. Bonus points if you find a 2-door.

1. Subaru Legacy GT

You may be wondering why this list isn’t topped by a WRX. But joke’s on you, sucker, this is a WRX… basically.

The Legacy GT is just as fast, fits more stuff, looks better than a WRX of the same general age, and it’s still a Subaru. They’re also less likely to be previously modded to death by a 16 year old with a death wish. And it comes in a wagon. Win Win… Win.

The 2015 Ford Mustang is Everything I Love About America

Posted by commongearhead on December 5, 2013

Posted in: Releases. Tagged: 2015 Ford Mustang, GT. Leave a comment

In a way, the 2015 Ford Mustang is the future and the past at the same time. It’s a big-engined, two-door, retro-cool pony car that’s just as comfortable lighting up it’s rear tires as it is sitting in front of a diner and looking cool while you grab a malted milkshake with Sandra D. But it’s also the most technologically-advanced Stang ever made, with independent rear suspension and an available 2.3L Ecoboost 4 cylinder. It’s purely American, but it’s increasingly global. And that is precisely why I love it.

The Mustang represents the direction that the major American automakers are all heading in. American flair with an attempt at global appeal. Ford had long kept it’s American and European divisions decidedly separate, but as more Americans demand more efficient, higher quality cars in their driveways, the cross-pollination has become increasingly evident. We now have access to the European Focus, a truly great economy car that was denied to us for so long by the blue oval. We also get the Kuga (Escape), C-Max, and Mondeo (Fusion), all of which have much higher build qualities than anyone who remembers any of pre-recession Ford would have ever expected.

No more plastics that are as hard as signing up for Obamacare (sorry Barack). No more vents from early 90s Econoline commercial vans. We get exactly what the Europeans do and we’re damn well pleased about it.

But now, for the first time in a generation, the Europeans have the privilege of getting what we have. The Mustang will be sold in Europe as well as many other global markets, and it finally represents something desirable to a mass audience. An economical, affordable, and unbelievably cool American icon. It represents the progress of a company, but more importantly, the progress of a nation.

The Mustang has taken a major step forward from a nostalgia-ridden, wasteful, and questionably-built tribute to the good ol’ days. It honors its heritage but advances its purpose. It embodies the increasing realization that change is necessary, but history is important. It is America with four wheels.

As a nation, we’re not perfect. We draw heavily from our past to gain our stark patriotism, and this often stands in the way of progress. But with every passing year, more and more of us are embracing global ideals and harnessing them to make our country that much better. We are no longer the flag-waving, self-proclaimed king of the hill. Rather, we are the admired but carefully scrutinized leader of the pack. Fond of our past but largely responsible for our own advancement, and the advancement of the world. To me, the 2015 Mustang embodies all of this to a T.

Oh, and if all that talk of 4 cylinders and efficiency worried you, fear not, my fellow gearheads! You can still burn all the dinosaur juice and murder all the tires you want with the 420 hp 5.0L V8.

God Bless America.

The Jaguar F-Type Coupe is Sex on Wheels

Posted by commongearhead on November 20, 2013

Posted in: Releases. Tagged: 2015, Coupe, F-Type, Jaguar, LA Auto Show. 2 Comments

I’d like to take this first sentence to thank you for tearing your eyes away from the image above for long enough to read this. Personally, I’ve been just looking at it all day, and the more I look, the better it gets. It’s like watching Back to the Future for the first time, every time.

The Jaguar F-Type roadster has made quite a splash in the automotive world since its official release this summer. Journalists and enthusiasts alike claim that it’s the second coming of the immortal E-Type, and that it may just be the best looking car on sale today. So good looking, in fact, that the Indians are willing to shell out $230,886 for a base model. That’s a lot of taj-mahundred dollar bills.

But any nay-sayers of the F-Type’s appeal after the release of the coupe variant should find that this cat’s got their tongue (and is currently devouring the rest of their face for insulting it). I didn’t think it was possible to make a better-looking version of an already astounding car, but the coupe is just vastly superior. The roof line accentuates the hunched rear arches perfectly, and adds even more drama to the spaceship-like rear end. It even looks fantastic from above, which is quite the design feat. I pity the bird that decides to drop a dookie on this feline.

And before you start to wonder whether or not this pretty kitty can shake what it’s momma gave it, the R variant will pack a whopping 550 horsepower and get to 60 in 4 seconds, with an electronically-limited top speed of 186 miles per hour. And yeah, it sounds like this:

With looks like that and a snarl to match, it’s no surprise that the internet already has one giant pants teepee for the F-Type Coupe, myself included. And that’s what makes this thing so appealing. It won’t have the scalpel-like precision of a 911, the elegance and smoothness of a Vantage, or the budget performance of a C7 Vette. It won’t brag about Nurburgring times or slalom figures. What it will have, though is emotion. And when it comes down to it, that’s the most important factor in any sports car buyer’s decision.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go read personal finance tips and weep softly in my cubicle while making engine noises.

Owning Your Dream: The MkV GTI and One Very Happy Gearhead

Posted by commongearhead on August 7, 2013

Posted in: Broomhilda. Tagged: 2007, 4-door, Broomhilda, dreams, DSG, GTI, MkV. Leave a comment

For all of us self-proclaimed car guys, petrolheads, gearheads, etc. there has always been one car that sticks out at us as the first that we really, truly loved. For many, the spot in their hearts is filled by a quintessential pin-up: the Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari Enzo, Chevy Corvette, any car that became the poster child for an entire brand, and in many ways, the definition of desire for a generation of car lovers. But while I appreciate the beauty and power of these triumphs of engineering, there was always one car that stuck out above all others in my mind for a myriad of reasons: the MkV Volkswagen GTI.

Now now, I know what you’re probably thinking. “Why would you ever lust for a German econo-car over an Italian supermodel?” “Is he mentally deficient?” Frankly, I’ve wondered the same thing myself (well, one of the two). But for me it all boils down to one simple question: which car, given the assumed unpredictability of your local roads and weather, and the shortage of several hundred thousand dollars in your pocket, would you drive every single day if you only had one car? For me, and many others, the answer was always the GTI.

It all started when I purchased and played the original Need for Speed: Most Wanted for PS2. It remains one of the greatest games of all time in my eyes, and is the reason I became exposed to the car I would come to admire so deeply. The MkV was one of the choices for a starter car, and with the way customization worked in Most Wanted, you could make it go fast enough to be competitive throughout the entire game, even against supercars. And that’s exactly what I did.

Shortly after my love affair began, my dad and I took one of our annual trips to the New England International Auto Show in Boston. This was a particularly exciting year for me, because I knew the new GTI would be there. You may remember the “fast” commercials from when it was released in 2006, but if not, here’s a refresher. It was a clever way to personify the desire to find any excuse to drive, especially in a car as fun as the GTI, and those ads really stuck with me.

So naturally, I rushed my dad over to the VW booth, and took my time inspecting every last inch of the beautiful white beast. I took so much time, evidently, that the sales rep at the booth noticed my interest, and offered me a free promotional DVD, which I’m not ashamed to say I watched multiple times.

Eight long years ago, I dreamed of the day I would own one, and to my luck, that day came just a few short weeks ago.

My first car, the 1999 Volvo S70 I affectionately called “Lucille,” was in possession of my little sister, who had reported many times that the car was on its last legs. There were uncontrollable acceleration issues, a permanent check engine light, and many other mishaps that drove my dad to realize it was perhaps time to let the old Swede go. So he proposed to me that I get the Volvo all cleaned up and ready to sell/trade in, and I could use the money towards a new car that I would commute with for the rest of my college career and onwards. As soon as those words hit my intrigued eardrums, I knew exactly what I’d be getting, so much so that I returned home that night and found an immaculate MkV within minutes.

Later that week, after lunch in a nearby town with my grandmother, I convinced my sister and her boyfriend to ride along with me to the dealership just down the road to take a quick look at it. That “quick look” turned out to be a full-fledged test drive, ending with me putting a hold on the car but a fire under my excitement. It was that much closer to being mine.

After dragging my dad along to the dealership with me that weekend, having him drive the car, and signing some paperwork, she was finally mine! I drove her home the next day, and grinned the whole time. Putting my foot down at every opportunity, treating every corner like it had an apex and a warning track, and listening to the low growl of the 2 liter 4-cylinder and the whine of the turbo like sweet music to my ears. It was my dream coming true, and I was soaking up every second of it.

As a car, it’s as close to perfect as a daily driver can be. It has 4 doors, it gets 30 mpg on the highway, and it’s got a hatch for added practicality. But it’s when you allow yourself to have some fun with it that it really shines.

The steering feel is immediate and precise, to the point where it feels attached to your body. Despite the electric steering (boooo! hissss!), there is an immediate turn in and a weight to the motion that is missing on so many other modern cars. There’s a half second of turbo lag when you put your foot down, but between 2500 rpm and the redline you have all 203 ft-lbs of torque at your disposal. My GTI, which I’ve dubbed “Broomhilda,” has the DSG semi-automatic gearbox, making for a comfortable commuter with a propensity to let her hair down and dance, so to speak. Throw the shifter over into manual mode, and delight in the sound of the lightning-quick “BRAP” that accompanies every flick of the paddle shifters. It’s absolutely intoxicating with the windows down, and makes any dull commute that much more enjoyable.

Needless to say, I am infatuated. It’s hard to see any reason why I would ever need to own anything else, but being a gearhead through and through, there are hundreds of cars I long, and plan, to drive in my life. Those are dreams that I still hold dear. But now, I’m living one.

I realize it’s cliche and preachy to end with a statement about dreams, but screw you I’m doing it anyways. Keep on chasing them, because living them is worth every second of wanting. Even if your dream is an unassuming hatchback.

Happy hunting, gearheads.

A Night at the Illegal Drag Races in Stockholm

Posted by commongearhead on July 3, 2013

Posted in: Adventures and Excursions. Tagged: Drag Racing, Illegal, Sweden. 1 Comment

So, gearheads, I have recently returned from a 5 week trip to France, Sweden, and Dubai with my family (in France) and my wonderful girlfriend (the whole trip). And while this was certainly the trip of a lifetime for many reasons, it was also the ultimate car enthusiast’s trip. I saw so many cars and did so many things that I’d never done before. So I’ve decided to kick off my recollections of this trip’s events with the story of the illegal drag racing scene in Sweden, and how freaking awesome it is.

It all started upon our arrival to Sweden, where we were hosted by my girlfriend’s brother, Mathias, and his family. He’s a successful owner of a contracting company and a big gearhead as well, so we got along just fine from the start. He also has the pleasure of owning a BMW Z4 M Coupe with straight exhaust pipes and 360hp on tap. It is one of the most beautiful and brutally fast cars I’ve ever seen, and it makes a sound like no other.

Upon noticing my excitement from riding in this magnificent vehicle, he asked if I wanted to go see the races on Friday night. I had no idea what he meant, but I figured a guy like him would know what he was doing when it came to this. Alas, I anxiously awaited Friday evening, while keeping myself busy exploring the beautiful city of Stockholm.

Friday finally came, and we spent the afternoon washing the Bimmer so that it would be immaculate in the eyes of the many racing fans who would be attending. At this point, I was still blissfully unaware of what I was about to witness. Would it be some simple cone-led track racing at an old industrial park, or something more reckless? What I saw, though, was well beyond my expectations.

We were on our way to an illegally-operated drag racing tournament for 32 drivers and their 1000+hp cars. Mathias tagged along in the Bimmer behind his friend and next door neighbor, Rasmus, all the way to an outlet mall on the North side of Stockholm. Soon enough, we were parked by a Toys R’ Us, and walked through a string of project cars to the loading dock area. It was then that I caught a glimpse of what I will refer to herein and forever as the Black Beast.

Before me stood a 1200hp BMW E3o 3 Series painted matte black seemingly by a team of children with spray paint. It had the biggest set of drag tires I had ever seen in person, as wide in diameter as one of pregnant Kim K’s thighs. It even had three parallelograms cut out of the hood, presumably to keep the whole thing from getting so hot it melts the entire Arctic Circle.

It was equipped with a roll cage, you know, for safety or something, and the interior was as devoid of content as Miley Cyrus’s skull. It even had sandbags in the trunk for, you know, grip.

This car was driven by a man who was only known to me as Kee-mo. Or Kimo. Or Chemo. I’m not sure which because it was only a verbal introduction, so I’ll just go with “Chemo.” Chemo was apparently the runner-up in the previous 32 car tournament, and was looking to win it all this time. So while his grease monkeys got the car ready, he waited for the call that it was his turn to race. This call finally came, and when it did, everyone in his entourage ran to their cars, and headed out towards the highway, with the Black Beast leading the way. I was already quite surprised but what I had seen, but what came next was utter insanity.

All of us, in our herd of automobiles, fanned out across the highway right after the entrance ramp, 4 lanes wide and 3 cars deep in each lane, ensuring that no local traffic could pass through and disturb the race. The two contenders, lined up just under the highway signs in front of hundreds of race fans just hanging out on the side of the highway and climbing up the signs to get a better look.

As I stood in wonder, trying to take in all that I had been witnessing, I was yelled at to come help warm up the tires. So I ran hard over to the Black Beast and pushed down even harder on the top of the trunk, while one of the crew members poured water under the tires. Chemo then floored it, until Kim K’s thighs created the thickest, smelliest tire smoke I assume has ever been created. I kid you not, this is why global warming is an issue at all.

As Chemo sped off, his tires properly warmed, we promptly hopped over the guard rail and took our places at the starting line, cameras at the ready. The cars took their place, led by the start man, and as soon as he dropped his arms the race was on. It was the loudest, fastest display of DIY racing that I have ever seen, and probably will ever see in my life. Chemo won with ease, and before we had time to celebrate, it was time to run back to our cars and clear the highway in case any unexpected men of the law crashed our party. As we sped off down the highway, Mathias and I laughed from the pure rush of adrenaline, and he asked me “so, how about that, yah?” I was speechless.

We rendezvoused with the team behind a nearby Ikea (typical, I know), where Chemo and his crew were performing repairs on the car. Apparently the rear differential had been shot from the race, and they were attempting to fix it before the next call came it. To my, and many others’ dismay, they could not.

The Black Beast was defeated, by nothing but its own sheer might. But our night at the races was far from over. We witnessed a few other races, won by such unlikely contenders as a mid 90s Audi wagon, a Mitsubishi Colt hatchback, and a Volvo sedan. It was an astonishing display of homemade horsepower and a rebellious spirit. Everyone showed up to the races in their best car, whether that be their backyard project or their race-spec Porsche.

These are some of the cars I was lucky enough to see in the parking lot:

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All in all, it was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had, and something I will remember forever. Keep racing, Swedes. I’ll be back to check it out again.

The Top 5 Summer Rides for under $5,000

Posted by commongearhead on May 10, 2013

Posted in: Opinion. Tagged: Summer, Top 5, Under $5000. Leave a comment

Summer is finally here in Boston, meaning it’s above 40 degrees and everyone is wearing shorts, exposing their long-hibernated calves to the sun. And, in yet another sign of the times, I’ve been driving the Mazda around with all of the windows down and the sunroof open (despite my allergist’s warnings). But all of this sunshine and pollen got me thinking (and sneezing): what car would I want to drive every single day all summer? And which of these could I actually reasonably afford? This is a question of fun-to-drive factor, practicality, versatility, and, in keeping with the Common Gearhead’s mission, affordability. So, after much thought and allergy medication, here are the top 5 cars you could and should have for this summer for under $5,000.

5. Land Rover Discovery 4.0

Now, many of you have your qualms with Land Rovers, and they’re 100% justified. In my experience, they’re large, overpriced gas guzzlers driven by suburban moms and foreign douchebags with unnecessarily expensive sunglasses. But they also happen to be some of the most capable off road vehicles ever built. And until 2003, they were all available with a 4 liter V8 under the hood. I came around to the idea of owning one after Jeremy Clarkson prevailed with an old Range Rover in the Top Gear special that crossed South American jungles, plateaus, mountains, dunes, and the most dangerous road in the world. The Discovery is essentially a Range Rover, but a bit higher off the ground and with more windows to let in summer sunlight. It’s the ideal vehicle to bring all of your friends (if you have 4 of them) and all of their stuff to the beach, mountains, or anywhere you please.

4. Ford Mustang 5.0

Yes, it doesn’t look as cool as the original or new Mustangs. And yes, it is an American car from the late 80s, meaning it is probably less reliable than, oh I don’t know, driving a potato. But I’ll be damned if I said I wouldn’t want to drive around in a muscle car with a 5 liter V8 all summer ruining quiet neighborhoods and setting off car alarms. And, if you find one from 1988 or earlier, you can register it as a classic car, which is cool… I guess. To me it would be worth every penny to hear its 8 cylinder wail every single day. And to top it all off, you can have it as a convertible for basically the same price. Sold.

3. Porsche 944 Turbo

The 944 is a great old car, but be careful not to confuse this with the 924. They may look the same but the 924 was powered presumably by a cage full of hamsters on wheels and had a top speed of approximately one Asian tour group on the sidewalk. The 944 Turbo, however, had a 2.5 liter inline 4 cylinder with a turbo the size of Dusseldorf, and while it may not hold the prestige or street cred of the perpetually-rereleased 911, it is still a very capable car. You could push it to do 0-60 in under 6 seconds, barring turbo lag, and it was extremely well balanced, being the one car that Porsche ever made correctly (with the engine in the front). One of these is easy to find for under $5,000, and it’ll provide you all of the driving fun and nameplate-derived pompousness your little heart desires.

2. Jeep Wrangler

This one is a bit of a no-brainer. What’s the best small 4×4 often equipped with a manual transmission? Wrangler. What’s the only car that you can remove the roof and all of the doors from without being stopped by the police? Wrangler. What’s regarded as one of the most capable and reliable off road vehicles of all time? Suzuki Samurai. Just kidding, it’s a Wrangler. There’s a reason that everyone and their sister has one, knows somebody who has one, or wants one. It will get you to the beach and all the way across it if you please (and if the law permits, of course). And with all of the removable body panels, it is also essentially an open air roadster, allowing you to mess up your girlfriend’s (or slightly feminine boyfriend’s) hair as much as you like. If I had the money or extra space in the driveway I’d have one in a heartbeat, just to have one. And you should too.

1. Mazda Miata

The Miata has been widely regarded as one of the best pure drivers’ cars of all time, and it’s a shame that its reputation has been tarnished by the likes of hairdressers and receptionists (unless they all happen to be car enthusiasts, in which case, I’m sorry ladies). It’s only offered as a roadster, and it only has 2 seats: one for you, and one for your significant other and enough cargo space for one or two of their clothing items. The Miata gets great gas mileage, and it’s Japanese, meaning you only have to repair it once every Emperor’s reign. There’s a reason the brand new Miatas sold today are essentially the same as the original, and that reason is because Mazda did it so well the first time that they decided to keep doing the same thing so that they would never mess anything up. Plus, if you buy an old one, it has flip-up headlights, which is one of the very few things I’m sad didn’t survive the 90s (rest in peace, beepers).

The Subaru WRX Concept Will Beat You Up and Take Your Lunch Money

Posted by commongearhead on March 28, 2013

Posted in: Concept Cars. Tagged: 2013, Concept, New York Auto Show, Subaru, WRX. Leave a comment

Okay, likening the new WRX concept to a school yard bully may be a bit of an embellishment, but hot-diggity-dog does it look mean! I have always been a fan of Subarus, especially the WRX and STi, but if I’m brutally honest, they generally look… well… like they’ve been hit in the face with a frying pan. But that’s never been the point of a WRX. Nobody wants to buy a bulbous, rally blue pocket rocket because it “looks cool” and “isn’t douchey at all,” they buy it because it drives ten times better than it looks.

Enter the new WRX concept, a car that fans of Subarus, and fans of cars that actually look good, can all get behind. Subaru has made it clear that this project will be separate from the Impreza platform entirely, and thankfully, it shows. This car looks like it’s been built from scratch to be a road-going rally car, not just an economy box with a boisterous body kit. The lower roof line and pinched C-pillar give the car a more coupe-like appearance, and as a result, the lines flow better from nose to tail.

Subaru has also had the wherewithal to integrate the shape of the front fenders into the overall design of the car, as opposed to slapping them on with some silly putty and calling it a day, like on previous models. This car actually reminds me quite a bit of a Mitsubishi Evo X, which is not a bad thing at all, because the Evo had all the looks that the previous WRX did not. Maybe Subaru is banking on Mitsu’s impending financial doom so they can steal some design cues and not feel guilty about it…

I also really like the hood scoop, as it has been artfully integrated into the hood, and does not look like it could be easily replaced with a vaccum cleaner or toilet seat (as we learned on the most recent episode of Top Gear). The vents on the front bumper are a nice touch, and thankfully, aren’t overly agressive.

As for the rear of the car, I am especially partial to the splitters on the rear bumper and the wide-set quad exhaust pipes, but the taillights and trunk, dare I say it, look like the new… Camry. Nobody despises Toyota more than yours truly, but thankfully this is a car that can get over it’s passionless, beige, family car evoking rear end by being an all-wheel-drive bruiser for a bargain.

Despite how wonderful this concept truly is, I’m not quite sure about the neon green accents that adorn several parts of the concept. While I do like the color combination, WRXs are supposed to be the traditional blue and gold, not the color scheme of a 6 year old’s 7 Eleven slurpee. Ditch the raver jewelry, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a concept, Subaru.

I look forward to seeing it in production and driving it like an idiot one day.

A Beginner’s Guide to Formula 1 in 2013

Posted by commongearhead on February 28, 2013

Posted in: Formula 1. Tagged: 2013, F1, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Formula 1, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Lotus, McLaren, Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel. Leave a comment

So I have become newly obsessed with Formula 1, and having overlooked it for so long, I am eager to catch up on all I’ve missed out on over the years. Over the last few weeks I’ve poured through news articles, pictures, race recaps from last year’s season… you name it, I’ve read/watched it. And all of this made me realize something quite profound: why the hell wasn’t I paying attention?

Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport. It is where the world’s greatest drivers, mechanics, engineers, designers, and racing fans focus their attention, and more importantly their passion. Cars with over 700 horsepower and more sophisticated aerodynamics than fighter jets scream through city streets and race circuits of some of the most exotic and desirable destinations in the world, so what exactly is not to love?

Personally, I had always written it off as no more than a glorified NASCAR with more money injected in, but now that I have so profoundly realized just how much of an oversight I had made, I am eager to share my newfound excitement with my fellow common gearheads.

If you are already a fan of F1, you’ll find all of this to be common knowledge, but for those of you that I have (hopefully) sparked an interest with, I present to you a Beginner’s Guide to Formula 1 and what to watch for this upcoming season.

A Beginner’s Guide to F1

The Basics:

In total, there are 24 drivers and 12 teams in Formula 1, and for all you math enthusiasts out there, yes, that means two drivers per team. They all take part in 20 different races over the course of 9 months, and at the end, based on points, a Drivers’ Champion and a Constructors’ Champion are named. As with any sport, there are favorites and underdogs, and they are based on the caliber of engineering and driving prowess that they exhibit throughout the season… and also money. Money is important.

The races each span an entire weekend, from Friday to Sunday, and occur in cities and racetracks all over the world. Friday consists of two practice sessions, Saturday is an hour of practice and an hour of qualifying (split into 3 sessions), and Sunday is race day.

Qualifying:

In the first qualifying session, all 24 cars take part in trying to set the fastest lap time possible in 20 minutes. At the end of session 1, the 7 slowest cars are knocked out and start the race in the order that they finished. However, if a driver (or drivers) do not set a time within 107% of the fastest time in session 1, they may not be able to participate in the race at all. The 17 cars that remain for session 2 drive out for a 15 minute session with a clean slate, and again, try to stay out of the bottom 7. The final 10 cars go out for session 3, which lasts 10 minutes, and try to set the fastest overall time, or pole position, for the race on Sunday.

The Race:

Before the start of the race, all of the cars are led by a pace car for a warm up lap, and file back into their starting grid positions. Once all of the cars are set, they rev their high-pitched ear-shattering engines while the race director, Charlie Whiting, turns on the starting lights. When the lights go out, the cars rocket forward, and from then on out they are rarely seen clearly but always heard by everyone in attendance to the race. Points are awarded to the top 10 drivers, and these points go towards their overall scores: 25, 18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1, respectively. Points awarded to drivers also contribute to their team’s score, so the higher a team’s drivers place overall, the more total points they get. That’s why it’s important to have two highly qualified drivers, and not one golden boy and one to get in the way of everyone else.

Tires:

Tires are one of the most important factors in determining performance in an F1 race, so naturally, there are many rules and regulations surrounding them. There are 6 different compounds of tires in Formula 1, indicated by 6 different colors:

Super-soft (Red)
Soft (Yellow)
Medium (White)
Hard (Silver)
Intermediate (Green)
Wet (Blue)

Pirelli is the sole supplier of tires to F1, and determine the two ideal compounds for the race weekend. The optimal (harder) compound is known as the “Prime” tire, and the secondary (softer) compound is called the “Option” tire. At the start of the weekend, each driver gets 18 sets of tires total: 6 Prime, 5 Option, 4 Intermediate, and 3 Wet. One of the Prime sets of tires are used during the practice round and cannot be used again throughout the weekend. Drivers are required to use both Prime and Option compounds during the race, but they are allowed to change tires as many times as they want. Intermediate and Wet tires can only be used if the track is determined to be wet by race officials.

Technical Mumbo Jumbo:

There are two types of technology that are present on most F1 cars to make them go faster, and they are, quite frankly, like something out of a video game. The first is called the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), and it is actually a BOOST system for the car. Basically, kinetic energy from braking is stored and converted to extra power at the push of a button, giving a driver up to an extra 80 horsepower for overtaking or just plain tearing down the track. However, it can only be used a certain amount and is reset each lap, because, well, giving unlimited boost to a group of petrol-heads is never a good idea (i.e. the Fast and Furious movies).

The second system is called the Drag Reduction System (DRS), which is basically the opening of an adjustable flap on the rear wing to reduce drag and give drivers an advantage when attempting to overtake another car. In practice and qualifying it can be used at any time and as much as desired, but during the race, it can only be used when a car is within one second of the car in front, and only in the designated zones marked on the track. It can also only be used after two full laps of the race have been completed.

There are 4 engine manufacturers in F1, and they are Renault, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Cosworth. These 4 engine manufacturers supply all 12 teams, and all generally have similar specifications and performance, although some generally have an advantage over others in any given year.

So there you have it. The worlds fastest and most advanced race cars driven by the best drivers in locations all over the world for 3/4 of the year. And they get to use boost and stuff. And the noise that they make while going around is almost orgasmic to any gearhead (yes, I went there). This is why I am newly in love with Formula 1, and why millions of others are as well.

Now that you have an idea of how it all works, let me give you a quick summary of which teams and drivers to watch in 2013.

Teams to Watch:

Infiniti-Red Bull (website)

Drivers: Sebastian Vettel (GER), Mark Webber (AUS)

Red Bull racing have won the past 3 Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championships, have two of the best drivers (one of whom is on pace to be one of the greatest of all time), and have the fastest, and best looking car. They have risen to greatness in only 8 years, and are now the undisputed favorites in every competition they enter. Basically, they are the New England Patriots of the F1 world. And for this reason, they will undoubtedly continue to dominate, amidst the praises of their supporters and the scorn of their rivals. If you love a healthy display of good, old-fashioned, ass-whooping, then Red Bull is the team for you.

Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes (website)

Drivers: Jenson Button (GBR), Sergio Perez (MEX)

McLaren has been a dominant team since their introduction in 1966, and have continued to be a threat in recent years. They have won a total of 8 championships in their history, and have one of the fastest and best-engineered cars out there, powered by Mercedes. However, their superstar Lewis Hamilton just made the jump to the Mercedes-Petronas team, for what we can only assume was a large amount of hugs and/or chocolate, so they have some rebuilding to do in the driver department if they want to compete for the championship. If you like British things, and shiny stuff grabs your attention, McLaren is your team.

Scuderia Ferrari (website)

Drivers: Fernando Alonso (SPA), Felipe Massa (BRA)

This probably comes as no surprise, but Ferrari is the most dominant Formula 1 team in the history of the sport. The prancing ponies have 15 Constructors’ titles, 16 Drivers’ titles, and have won a quarter of the races they’ve been in since their foundation in 1950. They placed second last year, and have been dominant in pretty much every year that they haven’t won. In addition, Alonso is widely regarded by his peers as the best driver in F1 right now in terms of skill, and while they may not have the fastest car, they are always poised to make a run for first place. If you like Italian-made things, and you really really like the color red, look no further than Ferrari.

Lotus (website)

Drivers: Kimi Räikkönen (FIN), Romain Grosjean (FRA)

Lotus has been widely talked about this year as the dark horse, poised to take down one, or all of the big 3 (see above). Powered by Renault, and with two of the best drivers behind the wheel, they are set up to have a great year in 2013. One of the reasons that I really like Lotus, is solely for the existence of Kimi Räikkönen. He is, quite frankly, a crazy bastard. If you need proof, just watch his interview and lap on Top Gear, or check out quotes from his short stint as a NASCAR driver, where he was heard on the team radio saying “We’re so f***ing s**t it’s unbelievable.” He is by far the biggest oddball in F1, and I love him for it. If you like crazy Finnish people, and black and gold cars, Lotus fits the bill perfectly.

Drivers to Watch:

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

Vettel is only the 3rd driver in history to win 3 consecutive Driver’s Championships, behind Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher, and he’s done it all at only 25 years old. The fact that I only have 4 more years to accomplish something that monumental is a daunting reality, but I digress. Vettel is strong in all conditions, and while there are some drivers that are better than him on certain days, he is at the helm of the fastest car from the best engineer (Adrian Newey), and he is all but unbeatable because of it. If he keeps this pace, he could easily tie or break Schumacher’s record of 7 titles, and he most likely will. And he’ll do it all by the ripe age of 30. Probably.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)

Alonso had one of the all time greatest seasons in 2012, and he didn’t even win the championship. The Drivers’ Championship is generally won by the driver in the best car, but Alonso nearly demolished this stigma just by being an incredible driver. He lost by only 3 points in a car that was 1.5 seconds off pace at the start of the season. This season, he’ll be challenged by the crushing disappointment of losing despite what he called a “perfect” season, and, unfortunately, the continuously dominant Red Bull/Vettel combination. But it’ll be real hard to root against the tall, dark, and handsome Spaniard in the Rosso Ferrari.

Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus)

Kimi returned to Formula 1 last year after a brief stint in rallying, and was successful despite his… let’s call it “vacation.” He is Lotus’s driving monkey, meaning he is there to do only one thing: go fast. He cares nothing for sponsorships, or the media, or really much of anything at all other than cars and driving, and he makes that very clear. Kimi is a madman in one of the world’s fastest machines, and he is hungry to win. I imagine the inner monologue in Kimi’s head during a race goes something like this: “Kimi drive fast. Pass car. Drive fast again. Clean loincloth. Mate with Ungla. Kill sabertooth…” and so on.

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

Hamilton is by far one of the best drivers in F1, and at his best, he is second to none. But he has had a history of being frustrated with cars that are uncompetitive, so making the switch from McLaren to struggling Mercedes was a bold and questionable move. However, this makes him all the more worth the attention this season. It will be interesting to see whether Hamilton can keep his cool and drive at his best throughout the year despite a slower car, or if he’ll lose it and go all Ricky Bobby on us.

For more info on Formula 1 racing, go to the F1 website or BBC Sport. There you can find news, pictures, information, schedules, and even race tickets if you’re so inclined.

I hope you all find F1 as entertaining as I do, and even if you don’t, it’s hard not to appreciate the sheer engineering and driving prowess that goes into racing these screaming, road-going fighter jets.

Top 5 From the 2013 New England International Auto Show

Posted by commongearhead on February 12, 2013

Posted in: Auto Shows. Tagged: 2012, 2013, 500, 6, Abarth, Auto Show, BRZ, Fiat, Focus ST, Ford, FR-S, Mazda, Mini, New England, Paceman, Scion, Subaru. 2 Comments

Last week, I had the time (thankfully) to attend the New England International Auto Show at the Seaport Convention Center in Boston. Despite being deep in my studies for the semester, I figured there is always time to wrap my hands around the supple leather steering wheels of some of the most exciting and desirable new cars. And hey, it gave my family an excuse to come visit me and treat me to dinner too. Beats the hell out of reading Motor Trend and eating Ramen (sorry Motor Trend, I still want to work for you some day).

To my delight, there were several ultra-exotics present at the show, including exhibits from Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Lamborghini, but in the spirit of the Common Gearhead, I’ve compiled a list of the top 5 most impressive fiscally-reasonable rides. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test drive any of these (something about being too young, or a stupid hoonigan…), so this list is based solely on my knowledge of the performance of these cars, and more importantly, how much actually sitting in them impressed me.

5. 2014 Mazda 6

That’s right folks. The number 5 most exciting car on my list is… a family sedan. But if you know anything about Mazda, then you know that “Zoom Zoom” is not just the longest running car company slogan (probably ever), it’s Mazda’s way of life. They don’t make the fastest cars in the world, or the most practical, but every Mazda is sleek, stylish, and a boatload of fun to drive. I am in love with my 3, and I love the new 6 for all the same reasons and more.

First of all, the interior is comfortable and practical. I got a chance to sit in the front and rear seats, and found ample leg room in both areas (keep in mind that I’m about 5’10”). The front seats provide excellent lateral support for those times when you’re inclined to have a little too much fun on that seldom-travelled suburban road. The dashboard is attractive to look at without being unnecessarily brash, and most importantly, the infotainment system has KNOBS. This may seem like a simple thing to be excited over, but as cars get more and more modern and technology-ridden, manufacturers seem to favor replacing simple and effective knobs and buttons with touch-based apparatuses that generally cause more headaches than they ease.

Secondly, the exterior styling is by far the most attractive in the midsize family sedan category. This is a car that actually turns heads, and where Toyota and Honda have taken steps backwards in design with the new Camry and Accord, Mazda has taken a giant leap forward, and this bodes well for them in a super competitive category. The new 6 draws design cues from the Shinari concept, with a strong grille presence and sinister looking headlights. The lines that trace the body create a forward-hunching appearance, giving the car a more athletic appearance that most likely accurately represents how it performs. And with a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder with 184 horses and 185 lb-ft of torque, you can bet it will be quick. Top that off with 38 mpg highway and this family sedan becomes an ever more attractive option over the cookie-cutter soccer practice-mobiles that litter the midsize class.

Mazda 6 Front

Mazda 6 Rear

4. 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth

Viva Italia! Fiat has swept American urban environments (and saved ailing Chrysler) with it’s cheap subcompact alternative to a Mini Cooper, the quirky little 500. You’d be hard pressed to find a major street in Boston without a 500 parked or driving somewhere along it. While many dislike the styling, there are just as many who find it endearing, myself included. And with the 500 Abarth, Fiat have hit all the right strides.

The Abarth that I had the chance to experience was wrapped in the vivid “Rosso” red and adorned with White racing stripes and multi-spoke wheels, giving it a true racing look from the outside. From the cockpit, it is extremely noticeable just how small the car is, smaller than a Mini Cooper, even. But the Rosso red dashboard and the scorpion badge in the steering wheel, there is no mistaking that this car, although small, has big performance ambitions. My one qualm with the interior is that the driving position is a bit strange. The 500 does not offer a telescoping steering wheel, and this is a drawback because without one, it feels like the cockpit was designed for individuals with long arms and short legs, which is, unfortunately or fortunately, not a majority of the population.

However, with a 1.4 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder making 160-hp and 170-lb-ft of torque, this little Italian will do 60 mph in 6.8 seconds while still making 28/32 mpg. Granted, this 0-60 time is about half a second slower than a Mini Cooper S, but the Abarth will run the quarter mile in 15.3 seconds at 89.8 mph, which is a full second faster than the Cooper. A 90.6 inch wheelbase and a curb weight of only 2564 lbs can guarantee that this car will be a dream to throw around the corners. And, to top it all off, Fiat has fitted the Abarth with an active locking differential that minimizes torque steer, the kryptonite of all performance front-drives.

Bold styling coupled with high output and a low sticker price make this piccolo Italiano the ideal inner-city driver’s car, and considering that I am, in fact, an inner-city driver, that’s hard to argue with.

Fiat 500 Abarth Front

3. 2014 Mini Cooper S Paceman

This car makes zero sense. And I love it. Mini has extended it’s line of “niche-splitting” but seemingly pointless creations with the new Paceman, which is essentially a 2-door version of the Countryman with a sloped roof and uglier taillights that somehow work stylistically. This car embodies everything I love about quirky vehicles, and none of the things I can do away with, solely for the fact that it is polarizing, but not off-putting.

Everything about the interior styling is classic Mini: the speedometer is mounted around the infotainment system right in the middle of the dash, the row of switches under the climate control toggle driving settings, and everything is circular. Thankfully, though, Mini has finally mounted the window switches on the doors (why it took them so long beats me). This significantly reduces the risk of knocking your Dunkin’ Donuts coffee into your passenger’s lap while trying to open the window, much to their delight.

As for the exterior styling, it seems that Mini has made a poor(er) man’s Range Rover Evoque. It retains the same Mini charm we have come to know and love, with the only diversion from the norm being the horizontally-oriented taillights, which marks the first time since Mini’s rebirth that they have gone with this layout. Interestingly, in the style of Porsche and Land Rover, Mini has also fitted the Paceman with a large badge that spans the width of the rear hatch. Naturally, this badge reads “PACEMAN,” instead of something more fitting like “NOT AN EVOQUE WE PROMISE.” Lord knows that if I ever own one, the first thing I’ll do is remove the “E” to make “PAC MAN,” but that’s just me.

With the same 1.6 liter twin-scroll turbo I-4 (184 hp, 192 lb-ft) found in the Countryman S, the Paceman promises to be just as fun to drive, if not more, offering a stiffer ride due to the absence of 2 of the doors. Mini has raised a lot of questions with this new addition to its family, but in my opinion, they have answered all of these questions with a resounding “YUP.”

Mini Cooper S Paceman Front

Mini Cooper S Paceman Rear

2. 2013 Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ

This joint project between Toyota (Scion) and Subaru has been heavily hyped since it’s conceptualization, and it seems for a very good reason. Many tests by car magazines, blogs, and everyone in between have hailed that this is an exceptional driver’s car, even better than the long-reigning MX-5 Miata, so naturally I had to check it out for myself. Unfortunately, Scion would not let me test drive one, because of laws or rules or something like that, so I was limited to gathering my opinions at a stand-still.

As far as the exterior styling goes, this car is sharp and clean cut, but leaves a little to be desired in the “brash and bold” department. It is, without a doubt, a very handsome ride, but I feel like Toyobaru could have done more to make this exceptional driver really stand out. However, the lines are very clean, the front end is snarling, and I love the hunched front wheel arches, giving it a very agressive and athletic look. The rear end, however, is utterly forgettable. It doesn’t look bad, but the lackluster taillights and tailpipes and weak design lines leave me with a vaguely empty feeling.

The interior is quite similar to the exterior, in terms of its minimalistic simplicity. But here, I think Toyobaru hit a high note. There are no frills or extraneous buttons and knobs, and everything is clean and well laid out. I especially liked the small steering wheel, which had an incredible feel to it. The seats provided tremendous lateral support, and the driving position always seemed to be exactly right for throwing this lava-colored hotshot around the corners.

Add all of this to a 200-hp 151-lb-ft flat four Boxer engine from Subaru, and, for the first time in their history, a rear wheel drive car, and you’ve got an excellent, affordable ride that’s a dream to drive and won’t break the bank. If I lived somewhere warmer and with better roads, this would be the new car I’d buy in a heartbeat.

Scion FR-S Front

Scion FR-S Rear

1. 2013 Ford Focus ST

Yes, the number one Common Gearhead ride at the auto show was the outlandish, absurd, Tangerine Scream (yes that’s a real paint color) Focus ST. At first glance, this is a car that does it all. I love the agressive styling, with the “Aston-Martin-on-steroids” front fascia, the large, hexagonal, center-mounted tailpipe, and the 19-inch Y-fork wheels. This car looks straight out of a rally stage, and I’m a big fan of rallying, so I am smitten. Ford hit a high note with the design language of the new Focus, and this ST is a sexier version of what was already great.

As for the interior, it’s comfortable, spacious, and loaded with technological goodies. The steering wheel feels excellent in your hands and the Recaro seats are very supportive and comfortable. I am a big fan of the body color inserts throughout the interior, though I think this car would look better in the Performance Blue color that it is also available in. And to top it all off, it’s a hatchback, so you’ll get all of the fun and all of the practicality too.

The big kicker for me, however, is the fact that this screamer makes 252 hp and a hopping 270 lb-ft of torque, which gets it to 60 in 5.9 seconds and through the quarter mile in 14.6 seconds at 95.9 mph. Now, those of you who know anything about FWD cars, know that this amount of power will create a ridiculous amount of torque steer upon launch, but Ford has combatted this with an assisted power steering system, and according to many sources (but not me because Ford wouldn’t let me drive one, either) it has worked spectacularly. In a recent comparison between the ST and the aforementioned BRZ, they said that it “may just be the best handling front-wheel-drive car ever,” and that’s saying quite a bit.

All in all, the combination of practicality, fun, and eccentric and loud good looks make the Focus ST the one to buy. If you’re a more reserved personality, consider a GTI, but if you’re as extroverted as I am, you’d be hard pressed to pass this one up.

Ford Focus ST Front

Ford Focus ST Rear

Ford Focus ST Front Seats

The Common Gearhead

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A Beginner’s Guide to Formula 1 in 2013

Top 5 From the 2013 New England International Auto Show

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