2014 Ram 2500 Power Wagon Review

    Pickup trucks used to be a simple, body-on-frame vehicle that could haul a lot of stuff and even a trailer behind, but weren't very comfortable, powerful, or very advanced at all. But if you look at trucks like the Ram 2500 Power Wagon, you will realize how far they've come from being a simple farmer's tool to a highly advanced vehicle, with new interior amenities usually only found on high-end cars. The 2500 Power Wagon has the trademark HEMI 6.4 liter V8 that produces here a substantial 410 hp and 429 pound-feet of torque. This model comes standard with all-wheel drive, so you won't have any trouble if you need to take an off-road shortcut. 0-60 isn't really relevant, but it does happen in around 7.5 seconds, which isn't great compared to the SRT10 model from a couple of years ago. I guess that's not really fair, considering the fact that that car had a Viper engine, so you can't really compare it to any other pickup. The interior on Rams has hugely improved, with many new features, such as a Jaguar/Land Rover style shift knob, a 5.0-in. touch-screen infotainment system, and some new color choices inside, which all look really good in my opinion. 

Click here to go to the Ram site

2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Review

    When the seventh-generation Corvette was released in early 2014, it was a pretty big deal, considering that every other Car & Driver magazine cover for about a year had a Corvette on the cover and in the first month of sales, Chevy sold over 2200 units, which is quite impressive. I know that there's a stereotype about having a Corvette being a mid-life-crisis car, but it's actually a scientific fact. Studies show that in 2012, 46% of Corvette buyers were 55 or older, which is quite ironic. I honestly couldn't care less about the sales figures or the Corvette itself, but there is a new "Z06" model, and it has 650 hp. That's more than a Dodge Viper, which has an 8.4 liter V10 (the largest production engine available). I am so glad that they've ditched the old 7.0 liter V8 in the previous Z06 (but they've put in the new Camaro Z/28). But the new Z06 "only" has a supercharged 6.2 liter V8 that rockets this classic American sports icon to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds. Not a whole lot faster than the previous model, but still beats the BMW M6. The interior is what Chevy calls "drive-focused," which doesn't really mean anything, but is a nice interior nonetheless. 

Here's the link to the Chevrolet site:
http://www.chevrolet.com/corvette-z06-supercar.html

2015 Porsche Cayman GTS Review

    I know some people like the Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class or the BMW Z4 a lot because they're relatively cheap and are lots of fun. The Porsche Cayman is not cheaper, but is way more fun. The newest model, the GTS, is quite a performer, with a 340-hp tune from the same engine in the 911 Carrera, which is a little crazy to put in a Cayman. I think it would be a ton of fun to have a 600+ hp Cayman, but that would probably be too fast and they would put an unfair limit on the speedometer, which would ruin the point of 600 hp. But the GTS is still plenty fast, with a 0-60 time of 4.0-4.3 seconds, which is definitely fast enough. The top speed is limited to 177, which is only a little faster than a M-B ML63 AMG, which is twice the size and has a 5.5 liter twin-turbo V8. The interior is comfortable enough, but isn't so comfortable that you'd be distracted form the driving, just like in a Bentley. I actually really like the Cayman GTS, and would definitely rater have one over a 911 Carrera, which is $10K more. 

Here's the link to the Porsche site:
http://www.porsche.com/usa/models/cayman/cayman-gts/

2014 Knight XV Review

    Most of you are probably familiar with the Hummer H1, H2, and H3 and think of it as a very big car. But compared to the Knight XV, it is an ant. The XV is 1.5 feet taller than the H2, so now you would think: is it as big as a Marauder? The answer is this: a most definite YES. This car is massive. It is the civilian version of the Ghurka military vehicle, which looks almost identical, but you'll know it's an XV by the big grille and exterior side badging. The XV has one purpose, and does it well: protect the owner well and surround them in an explosion-free opulent interior. The XV has B7 level armoring, so you won't need to worry about potential threats. And you'll be preoccupied by the many interior goodies, such as the electrostatic tinted windows, a choice of Xbox or PS3 system, retractable flat-screen TV, decanter bar, and the somewhat ridiculous cigar humidor. I don't see the point of buying this car over an Audi A8L W12 Security or a Maybach Guard, but for some people want something more of a statement (in this case, a statement the size of Florida). There are two engine choices: a GM-sourced 6.0 liter V8 that produces 325 hp and 400 lb-feet of torque, or a Cummins 6.7 liter diesel that produces 300 hp and 660 pound-feet of torque. 

Here's the link to the Conquest Vehicles site:
http://www.conquestvehicles.com/vehicle-specifications.html

2012 Maybach 62S Review

    Almost anyone who knows anything about cars will know that you're successful if you pull up to the curb in a Maybach. The reason for this is that all of the Maybach cars are extremely expensive. The range-topping model, the Guard (an armored version of the 62 sedan), is over $1 million! How can anyone afford that? I guess not that many people, because Mercedes-Benz discontinued the Maybach sub-brand a year ago. It's a shame, because they made some incredible cars, including the 57, the 62, the Zeppelin version of both of those, and the Laundaulet. The Zeppelin is more of a collector's car, and it was kind of a homage to the old Maybach Zeppelins of the 20's, 30's, and 40's (the cars, not the Maybach airship engines). When Maybach gave the 57 and 62 a facelift two years ago, they updated the engines as well. The engine in the 57S and 62 S is a 6.0 liter, twin-turbo V12 that produces 620 hp. 
    My favorite part of all of the Maybach models is all of the little gadgets and toys inside, and you'd find a new feature inside every time you go inside the car. For example, when you buy the car, you might not have realize that your 62 came with a electronically controlled sunroof that can be turned opaque with the touch of a button, or the Motorola mobile phone hidden in the dashboard. But there are so many of these little things that I can't even count them all. Some more include a Maybach-brand pen in the glove box, a decently sized champagne fridge in the backseat, the special flute cup-holders that clamp the glass down, or the fully reclining seats that are also heated, ventilated, and massage your back. I just wish Mercedes' wasn't so stupid to think that the S-Class could possibly do a sufficient job replacing the Maybach as their super-luxury limousine.  

Here's the link to the Maybach site: (it's only a letter)
http://maybach.com/

2014 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Pur Blanc Review

    As you'd expect from the owner of a Mansory Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe and a Mansory/Renntech Mercedes-McLaren SLR, the owner of all of these insane supercars also has a Bugatti Veyron, which has basically become the standard ultra-rich person show-stopper. But this millionaire has no ordinary Veyron. They own the Veyron Super Sport Pur Blanc, which is a one-off edition specifically made for this person. It has 1,200 hp, which puts the standard Veyron's 1,001 hp to shame (not that that's small, but you get the idea). That immense amount of power comes from the stock Veyron's 8.0 liter, quad-turbocharged, W16 engine. 0-60 is estimated to take about 2.2 seconds, which could be wildly off track, but is my best guess. The interior follows the exterior's white and black color scheme, with some "Pur Blanc" embroidered headrests. I am actually not a huge fan of the Bugatti Veyron, but this edition, as well as the many other special editions of this car, are beginning to change my mind. 

Here's the link to the Bugatti site:
http://www.bugatti.com/en/home.html

Top speed: 267.8   Luggage: included   Treadplates: obnoxious (but who cares when you're that rich)

What's the Best Car Manufacturer?

    One of the most common questions in the car world is what car company is the best. I think the best way of measuring this is by seeing which company has made the greatest number of good cars. My personal favorite is Rolls-Royce, which is responsible for the Phantom V, the Silver Cloud, the Corniche, the Phantom (Coupe, Drophead Coupe, and EWB), the Ghost (SWB and EWB), and the Wraith. But there are many other great companies, such as Lamborghini, Bentley, Aston-Martin, Ferrari, and even mainstream companies like Ford or Mazda. Personally, I think this completely depends on opinion and taste in cars. For example, if you like fast, sporty cars, you might like Ferrari or Aston-Martin, but if you're like me and like big luxury cars, you might prefer Rolls-Royce or Maybach. Please leave a comment on what your favorite car company is and why, and whichever brand is most common will get one of its cars reviewed.