E36 BMWs: Why They Are the Best Things Your Lack Of Money Can Buy

I have been the proud owner of this 1996 BMW 328i since May of 2013 (although I had not daily driven it until I got my license a month ago), and I am convinced that it may be the best "bang for the buck" in the used car market, yes even including the Mazda Miata. 

Most of you are probably thinking, "Well Julian, don't you think you'll be a little bias considering it's your first car and you're happy to even have any car to drive?"

Yes, yes I do. If you would like to put a stop to this madness, please shoot me an email at julian.garfield@gmail.com and I'd be very excited to review anything you may have parked in your garage. 

The E36 BMW set the bar extremely high when they were first brought to the U.S in 1992, and while there were many imitators soon after, nothing really captured the overall driving dynamics and comfort like the BMW's 3rd generation 3 series. And due to such high production numbers throughout the 90's, 20 years later they are a steal.

We picked up this example with 127k miles for a meager $5,000, and that would be considered pretty pricey for what you can truly find these cars for now. By paying a little more than what the average E36 may cost, the interior is great, and everything works exactly as it should with the exception of the right-rear door lock (I have to manually unlock and lock it). 

All of that being said, the car didn't make it home without breaking down. My father and grandfather ended up stranded in Deleware somewhere with a failed water pump, and luckily pulled it to the shoulder without further complications. The cooling systems in the E36 are infamous for being entirely made of plastic, and should be the first thing replaced if it has not been yet. But one aluminum replacement water pump later, and they are great cars in every aspect.

My car currently has Koni single-adjustable shocks and aftermarket springs, Ground Control camber plates and rear ride height adjusters, Sparco Sprint V front seats, upgraded air intake, a custom tune from Epic Motorsports, and a Bimmerworld 3" race exhaust that is guaranteed to make you giggle each and every time you start the car. Oh, and no more 15"x 5.5" Bottle Cap wheels, 17"x 9" TR Motorsport Enkeis complete the look quite nicely if I may say so myself. 

To top all of that off, despite being rated at 18mpg city/24mpg hwy from BMW, its tall gearing aids in it getting rather good fuel mileage. Including city and highway driving, 400 miles on a 16 gallon tank (25mpg) is easily achievable, and I have seen near 35mpg on multiple highway stints. The only trouble is resisting the temptation to hear the engine scream through the Bimmerworld exhaust at 7,000 RPM.

The car has a very nice profile, redefining the 3 Series into the "wedge shape" from the rather boxy predecessors, the E21s and E30s. The sedan provides plenty of room to easily seat 3 in the back row, and there is a surprising amount of trunk space considering it's relatively small size.

Wait, a BMW sedan, small? The overall dimensions of cars have greatly inflated over the years, and it shocked me too when my E36 is dwarfed by the newer Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry parked next to me. The E36s are also known for being exceptionally narrow, only one inch wider than the 1st generation Mazda Miata. 

My 328 hides behind a wild Camry at the grocery store

With a narrow overall width, a long wheelbase with minimal overhang, and a 50/50 weight distribution straight from the factory, these BMWs weren't designed with only comfort in mind. They have a very unadulterated feel while driving. Its drive-by-cable throttle response is far better than the electronic deliveries on the E46s and beyond, and the steering isn't unnaturally light or quick from any computerized aids. Any aftermarket suspension, while it may make the commuting a little more jarring, will give you a car that'll out-handle the vast majority of cars on the road today. Pairing all of this with a 5-speed manual transmission and the incredible sound of a free-spirited inline six, creates the purest driving experience you can have. 

Driving shouldn't be something you have to do; it should be something you look forward to doing. Somehow, that BMW manages to get me even the slightest bit excited to get up and drive to school every morning, quite the feat for a teenager who believes there is no such thing as too much sleep.

I do want to forewarn potential buyers to make sure you select a good example if you plan to use for daily use, there are many cosmetic complaints about E36s as they age, try and seek out cars with good histories of being garage-kept, and take good care of it once it's in your hands. If you currently are not sure how to open the hood of your car, then you're looking for something by the name of "Honda". The E36s aren't mechanically bedeviled, but they do need to be checked on and tended to from time to time as they approach high mileage. 

To sum things up, you can get yourself a comfortable, spacious, quick and sporty car that the whole family can fit in, that's pretty reliable, capable of getting 30mpg, and will turn heads with its glorious sound, for well under $10k. And for my grammar Nazis out there, the greatness of this car prevents that last sentence from being labeled as a sloppy run-on. 

The 5 Best Ways To Get Into Autocrossing

Autocrossing is a great way for enthusiasts around the nation to play with their toys at the absolute limit of grip, without having to think of the consequences of burying their car in the tire wall or getting in trouble with the law.

The best way to start is with what you already have, to see if you like it. From Miatas, to Mustangs, to Porsches, to your grandma's Buick, cars of all kinds can be seen on the grid of any typical Autocrossing event. If you're the one tearing it up in the Buick, it's only a matter of time before you begin asking others, "What do I have to do to be competitive?". I'm going to try and save everyone some trouble and pick out the best ways to start Autocrossing under SCCA Solo competitively without breaking the bank.

5. Toyota Celica GT/GTS

Debuting in 1999, the seventh generation Toyota Celica was Toyota's most recent sporty 2-door up until the long-awaited release in 2013 of the Toyota 86GT, or as we know them, the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S.

The car currently fits quite nicely into the G Street Category. Keeping modifications and cost to a minimum, an upgraded exhaust from the catalytic converter back, your choice of shocks (but not springs mind you), an upgraded sway bar on one end of the car, a 1" tolerance in either direction in wheel diameter, without altering the wheel width, and 200TW (or higher) tires permitted. That's the gist at least, you can read the fine print on your own time. 

Nowadays you can find used Celicas in the range of $3k for your higher mileage, not as "picture perfect" examples, to your $8k or $9k optioned-out garage queens. All said and done, the Celica pictured above is a $3700 Celica GTS with less than $3500 worth of goodies, and his nationals-winning Celica GT was done for less. And the less options the better, if you can find a GTS without a sunroof you'd have quite the unicorn, shaving some pounds (over your head) off the already quite nimble 2400lb curb weight.

Just beware, this sweet deal may not last forever, as class rulings have to favor cars that can still be bought off the showroom floor. The Ford Focus ST (which almost made the cut for this list) is a fierce competitor against the Celica that could possibly eventually force the Celicas out of Street competition.

4. Scion FRS/Subaru BRZ

Likely a shoe-in for the list, the Scion FRS and Subaru BRZ have made a big impact in the sports car industry in the short amount of time they have been around. How you ask? It's the Miata coupe that everyone had been longing for.

The Toyobaru has already taken storm in SCCA Solo, 61 of 1,161 drivers who attended the 2014 SCCA Solo Nationals were sporting BRZs or FRSs. So if you're looking to be the outcast, it definitely would not be the car for you. The "twins" have proven themselves in their street and street touring categories to be a contender for the championship, falling in "C Street" and "Street Touring Xtreme". 

You can get yourself a brand new 2015 Subaru BRZ or Scion FRS for around $25k, and while we're still sorta waiting to see where they settle in on the used market, it looks like most are around $17,000 or $18,000 for a first-year model. While it may not be the cheapest route, by getting a brand new car as your weekend warrior, it can dual purpose as a cool daily driver that you know the history of without the worries of reliability issues of a 10-15 year old car. You'll just have to get over seeing little cone scuffs on your brand new toy.

As for the build, getting your BRZ/FRS ready to take on the RX-8s, Solstices, and MX-5s of C Street could cost around $2500 after shocks, exhaust, sway bar, crash bolts, and other minor expenses. 200TW street tires typically run around $650 a set. Street Touring Xtreme gets a little more costly, allowing things such as ECU tuning, full exhaust including headers, and full suspension modification. This could range anywhere from $4-5k if done on the cheap end, to over $10k sparing no expense.

3. Honda CRX

The Honda CRX became a popular choice in both in SCCA Solo and Club Racing because it makes a very affordable, reliable fun sporty hatchback, which is exactly what the SCCA was founded upon.

The CRX has multiple places to play in the solo crowd, being competitive in Street Touring Sport, F Street Prepared (the 1st gen), Street Modified FWD, and E Prepared. Street Touring Sport is the cheapest way for the CRX to be competitive, pitted against the other Japanese icon of the era, the 1st generation Mazda Miata. The class, despite both cars not necessarily "packing a punch" under the hood, probably bring the highest level of awe between the capabilities of the CRX and Miata when put out on the Autocross course. 

Used Honda CRXs may cost you anywhere from $1500 to $4000 in good running condition, but the bigger issue is finding one that doesn't look like it has either been a home for a family of raccoon, or an extra on the "Fast and Furious" movie set. You want either the '88 or '89 CRX Si if you choose to take on the class, the '88 being lighter, but a slightly different suspension is on the '89 that some seem to prefer. 

The example in the picture is a $4000 1989 Honda CRX Si, and after installing all the goodies allowed in STS, including shocks that can cost as much as the car itself, another $10k can be invested before you're heading off to the Solo Nationals. Investment security is not an issue with the CRX though, as if major changes are made to the class it currently runs it, there are multiple other classes for you to be competitive in.

2. Honda CR125 Shifter Kart

Shifter karts are so fast, I finished the run with high-waters

Have you ever wondered what it's like to do 0-60 in under 4 seconds with your butt 1/2" off the ground? Maybe it's about time you considered purchasing a shifter kart.

Driving a shifter kart should be something that everyone does at least once in their Autocross "career". Partially because you realize you have to process things faster than you ever have just to stay on course, and partially because it gives the owners of said shifter karts a good laugh when your neck snaps back after shifting into 2nd gear. They have a great following in the SCCA Solo community as well, with over 30 class participants in "Kart Modified" at the Solo Nationals each year.

Once you try one,  and wrap your head around the amazing value that they are, it's hard to not go purchase one yourself. You can get yourself a complete shifter kart capable of winning the Solo Nationals for $3000, used karts are without a doubt the better way to make a purchase. Unlike cars, a 2005 chassis vs. a 2015 will make no difference when you're Autocrossing. On top of that, tires are $200 a set, a major cost savings when it comes to expendables.

So why isn't it #1? Sometimes spending less than everyone else and still running the fastest time of the entire event is just too good to be true. While you can sometimes go seasons with minimal maintenance, most things are bass-ackwards when it comes to knowing how to tune and work on a shifter kart. And if you don't know how to fix your problem, you are likely stripping the chassis of the motor and shipping it halfway across the country to get it looked at. Also, being the only class in Solo required to wear a suit, the 100 degree days can be brutal. But that is the LAST thing you are thinking about when you're flying across a parking lot at 70mph.

1. Mazda Miata MX-5

So yeah, I really wasn't going for shock value with this one. The Mazda Miata has been an automotive icon in all of its 25 years of existence, and here's why it is the best car to start Autocrossing with.

First off, they are one of the best handling cars out there. I know as a driving instructor, that every Miata I get into (LS motor swaps not included) will be a well-balanced, neutral car, that will not try and kill me. It teaches the driver how to carry momentum and therefore approach corners properly, and does not have any form of excessive understeer or oversteer. But, it'll do either of those things in an instant with the right (or wrong) inputs. Also, there are at least 7 different classes that one of Miata's three generations is a major contender; C Street (NC), E Street (NB), B Street Prepared (MSM), C Street Prepared (NA, NB, NC), D Prepared (NA, NB, NC), Street Touring Sport (NA), and Street Touring Roadster (NC).

The cheapest way to get yourself on course ready to go is an E Street NB, or 2nd generation Miata. With so many variations, it's tough to know which Miata is the best Miata for the class. Currently, it is speculated the the '99 Sport Package is the car to have, because it provides you with the best suspension and the least amount of options and/or additional weight. The '03 Club Sport is not permitted in E Street due to low production numbers. 

You can find a NB in decent shape for around $4-5k, and after shocks, sway bar, wheels/tires, and exhaust, you can set yourself up with the best components for $7-8k. It's an unbeatable value, and I wouldn't recommend any other car over the Mazda Miata as the greatest place to start.

Photo Credit: Perry Bennett (#2, #4, #5), Craig Wilcox (#3), AJ Aviles (#1)

Fiat Follow-Up: Dealer Leases Abarths Like They're Porsches

http://www.fiatusaofbloomfieldhills.com/v8/templates/193/f04/images/welcome-fiat.jpg

For those of you that missed my previous write-up on the Fiat 500 Abarth, I am happy to say that I must've done something right in my automotive journalism career thus far, as I actually persuaded someone's opinion based on my own opinions (cool huh?). Not long ago I received a text message from my uncle, Matt, who is looking for a 2nd (reliable, new) car to add to their lineup. The text message was exactly this;

"What are your thoughts on the Fiat 500L?"

I try to be as honest as I can with everyone, so of course my response was,

"Well, you have seen what it looks like, right?"

Learning that they weren't necessarily looking for another crossover-SUV to coincide with their Honda CRV, I mentioned to them how much I loved the new Abarth, and they should read my latest post all about it. Shortly after, they left their house en route to Heritage Fiat in Owings Mills, to go test drive the 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio. I was really excited, because I realized that I had not only just saved someone from potentially buying what really is Chrysler's rendition of the Pontiac Aztek, but in addition convinced them to go look at one of the coolest hot hatches offered in America today. 

Questions followed such as, 

"Would we look good driving in it?"

"Would you have to hide from your friends if we pulled up in one?"

"Is it a 'mom' car?"

"Would an 'I heart my dog' sticker look good on the back?"

They don't have a dog, and it turns out they don't want one, so they were really getting tricky with the questions. But the Abarth managed to pass the test, the 500L did not.

 Pictures were included in the decision-making

Eszti, my aunt, loved the Abarth, and before going inside to talk numbers, they called me up to check everything out. Just to help them figure out the options they may want, the things they would want to stay away from, etc, etc. 

I didn't really do anything before they were sold on the car. They wanted a lease, so they had the sales representative go back to his manager to get them a monthly payment. Any guesses on the price? I don't think anyone could've predicted this... $0 down, $700/mo FOR A FIAT. No, they weren't looking at Porsche Caymans, this is a $26k Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio. The dealer was willing to sell the car to Matt and Eszti for $26.1k including all of their options. What would you end up paying at the end of a 3-year lease? $25.2k after 36 months. They must expect the Fiats to nearly obliterate themselves into a million, tiny, non-salvageable pieces by the time they receive the car back.

https://33.media.tumblr.com/28c8e967570a1aa8c0c359180d86f78e/tumblr_n6wqptj2zz1td670bo1_500.gif

More than likely stealing money from mermaids.

They were completely serious, blaming it on "Fiat having a poor lease program". At this point, the manager came over to likely prove to us he was sober, and offer us some explanation. I pointed out to him that Fiat USA advertises the Fiat Abarth 500 starting at $299/mo for 39 months, with $1,699 down. He pointed out that that wasn't for the Cabrio, and it didn't include all the fees to get you in the car on the road. He was correct. So here are my rough numbers after having some time to think about how that made no sense; 

$357/mo for 36 months

357x36= $12,852

$2,705 down payment

+2,705= $15,557

Well, unless there is $10k in taxes and other elements I'm missing, they are fairly far from reaching the numbers on Fiat's website. The manager's rebuttal landed "in the 5s", so likely $599 a month, not even on the same planet as what they were looking for. Needless to say, Matt and Eszti did not leave that day in a 2015 Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio.

So Heritage Fiat of Owings Mills, I would like to congratulate you in driving Matt and Eszti right into the arms of Scion and their fantastic 2014 FR-S. They are very pleased with it so far.

FRESH: 2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE

When the 5th generation Camaros debuted in 2010, I don't feel like I would be going against the grain by saying I was not a fan. Following the trend of Ford and Dodge with the retro re-styling of the Mustang and Challenger, Chevrolet's Camaro was my least favorite, mostly because of the roughly 450lbs of weight added on from the previous generation, and the visual aesthetics. But after driving the 2014 Camaro SS 1LE 5 years later, it's starting to grow on me.

I often am asked what my thoughts are on the Camaros, because many kids my age that aren't dreaming of Ferrari Enzos and Lamborghini Aventadors are dreaming of the Camaro, any year from 1966 to 2015. And while I appreciate that it's at least a more realistic mindset to acquire a Camaro over a $400k supercar, I have never thought of a Camaro as a car I would like to own. It is likely because I (A): Do not have one my father spent years restoring in our garage, and (B): I have never seen any of the transformer movies. So I hadn't had any interest in one until a friend pulled up in his shiny new "Red Hot" 1LE.

 Before even getting into the driver's seat, The longer I looked at the car the more I liked it. First off, the face lift applied to the Camaros in 2014 was a step in the right direction. A little more aggressive in the nose, and a significant improvement in the taillights. Also, everything the 1LE Performance Pack adds on does the car a lot of justice. From the matte black hood, prominent splitter and spoiler, and 20" matte black wheels, it's definitely a car that'll make you look twice. And as a bonus, it's twinning perfectly with my lovely DD.

Looking at it is one thing, squeezing it through an Autocross course is another. It didn't help that the "brilliant" course designer (myself) erred towards favoring a 2000 lb Miata with 275/35/15 Hoosiers when in doubt. 

One thing that was an ultimate struggle with this car was visibility. The windshield pillar slopes back at such a low angle, and in combination with it's long, wide snout, it would take more time than I had to learn the edges of the car. This can be seen in action below, where after I magically made it through the first run clean, I got a little too comfortable for round 2. 

(Working on a way for my video quality to not suck)

The Camaro pounded all 426 horses to the pavement extremely well. With a good set of street tires underneath of it, you could come much closer than I would have expected to fully applying the throttle exiting corners. The turn-in was very quick, contrary to what would be expected from a car weighing in at 3875lbs according to Chevrolet. Standard in all the Camaro SS models is a variable ratio, variable effort electric power steering rack. While it is very helpful for differentiating in force between pulling out of a parking space and racing on the track, the steering felt numb (as a lot of new cars do) when trying to get a feel for the car. 

To sum things up, I was genuinely surprised (in a good way) by the overall performance of the fifth generation Camaro fresh from the factory. Big thanks to Daisy Import Auto Care (http://daisyimportauto.com/) for bringing the car out, I'm anxious to drive the car again with a few improvements that are planned for it over the off-season!

AUTOXY: 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth

I will be starting a category for all the cars prepped for SCCA Solo or Autocross classification, and will be calling it the Autoxy, or Autocross autopsy (see what I did there?). First on the list, the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. 

Photo Cred: Alejandro Aviles

With the popularity of the hot hatch on the rise nowadays, such as the Focus and Fiesta ST, the Fiat 500 Abarth, and all the cool Peugots and Renaults that Europe decides to deprive us of, they are popping up everywhere. And I'm excited about it, because these are the cars that will turn people into car enthusiasts. They're cheap, they're quick, they're fun, and they are all that one step above the car that the general person may have been considering buying anyways. The perfect temptation. 

So the Fiat 500 Abarth fits in the market perfectly. With an MSRP of $22k, you get yourself a turbocharged 1.4l four-cylinder ball of fun. For those of you wondering how the Fiat does straight off the showroom floor, unfortunately, I have no idea. But I can tell you that this one in particular was extremely fun to drive. Here are the goods, straight from car-owner Mr. Setherley himself:

Suspension:

25mm front sway bar Neuspeed

28mm rear torsion bar Neuspeed

Road Race Motorsports front chassis braces

Road Race Motorsports front upper chassis brace

Bilsteins RSS coil overs

Stoptech Cryo slotted rotors front and rear

EBC red stuff pads

Team Dynamics 16"X7" pro race 1.2 forged wheels 13.6 lbs

Toyo R1R 205/50/16 (junk) lol

Road Race Motorsports stainless braided brake lines

Motor:

Road Race Motorsports cold air intake

Road Race Motorsports upper motor heat shield

Road Race Motorsports cat-less down pipe

Road Race Motorsports dual exhaust 2.5" straight

PTP Lava turbo blanket

PTP down pipe blanket

Road Race Motorsports ultimate ECU

Forge Motorsports recirculating BOV

Craven Speed short throw shifter

SS Designs Fabricated front brake cooling ducts.

Misc:

Abarth 695 Ferrari Tributo shift knob

Color matched chrome accents

PIAA bulb upgrades

Tint

Blacked out lighting

Blah blah blah.

So it's had a little work done. I was Shawn's first SCCA Solo instructor at the beginning of the season when the car had little work done, and clearly he's been hooked. The car that was originally bought for a girlfriend has been turned into the weekend warrior, and I was fortunate enough to jump in for a co-drive at a Washington DC Region SCCA Solo night event.

First off, the car sounds absolutely menacing. The closest description to the tone of the exhaust would have to be a cross between a diesel truck, and flatulence, but in the absolute coolest way possible. The Abarth did great out on course, and once you pushed it through the turbo lag, the car is shockingly quick in a straight line. The car from the factory makes 160hp and weighs in at just around 2500lbs, and in ST trim Shawn has adjusted both of those specs in the more exciting direction. I definitely underestimated the tug of the Fiat when it hits its sweet spot.

Unfortunately, I felt that with the setup the way it was, it didn't have the rear-end dependability of its pioneering competitor the Mini Cooper S, which currently holds the title of my favorite FWD car. Possibly linked to the twist-beam axle rear suspension of the Fiat vs. the IRS of the Mini, the Fiat wasn't dancing for me like I find the Minis capable of doing a little more naturally. And in it's current trim, it is outclassed in "STC", competing against the '89 to '91 Civics that have roughly a 600lb weight advantage over the Fiat that is required to meet the modern safety standards, which tends to cause cars to really pack on the pounds.

Photo Cred: Alejandro Aviles

Overall, I personally would rate the new Fiat 500 Abarth quite highly. It would make a very cool daily driver that doubles as a fun regional Autocross/Track Day car. The Fiat is a great value on the new car market today, especially for someone looking to take their "Point A to B" car-stable to the next level.

Starting Out Small: 1961 Austin Mini Cooper S

It's not every day you see an original Mini out and about, and after getting to drive one of these iconic cars I believe it is a car that every enthusiast should get to try in their lifetime. Starting out as a creation of the British Motor Corporation in 1959, many variants spawned from the practical design. John Cooper saw it's potential in motorsport and the Cooper and Cooper S were born in 1961.

This example is a 1961 Austin Mini Cooper S powered by an ever-so-slightly newer naturally aspirated 998cc I4, which began being placed in the Mini Coopers in 1964. Succeeding the 997cc motor that fit the 1961-1963 examples, this motor makes somewhere in the ballpark of a whopping 50 horsepower. As depressing as that sounds in today's automotive world, weighing in at 1400lbs it has a similar power-to-weight ratio as the modern Fiat 500, another 60's classic brought back to reclaim it's niche in the 21st century market.

Being voted the 2nd most influential car of the 20th century, only falling short of the legendary Ford Model T, the Mini earned that title from it's influential design and practicality. It's FWD format changed the game for all cars to follow, allowing 80% of it's total floor pan space for luggage and passengers. Despite it's size, it without a doubt seats 4 better than a Scion FRS. All this being said, I couldn't imagine being put on the street with the rest of today's automobiles, feeling like I'll be crushed by every compact SUV that fills our roads today. Luckily for me, I got to see how it does on an Autocross course in the rain instead.

It was a very neat feeling sitting in the driver's seat. Something about the pure simplicity of a steering wheel, three pedals, a couple of gauges, and a shifter nearly straight from the floor was very appealing to me, maybe because it is also the oldest car I have driven to date.

It was suggested I drive around paddock and get used to the shifter, and I quickly understood why with it's very indefinite feel when putting it into gear. The steering felt extremely genuine, with no form of steering aids and 10" wheels, it felt just like hopping into a go-kart. So I was right at home.

A car that makes me look big!

Taking it over to the staging line had a whole other special feeling for me, especially with my grandfather manning the start of today's Test n' Tune. It would be roughly 45 years ago that my grandfather and grandmother were attacking cones in their 1968 Cooper S, a slight personal touch to my experience with this one. And despite us actually outrunning it on foot to the second corner (I'll admit it was close), it was really enjoyable. Due to the short gearing and lack of power, the car felt comfortable in 3rd gear which differed from the typical 2nd gear racing Autocross is known for. Just like the contemporary versions, it rotated fantastically when breathing off the throttle. The lack of grip from the wet weather conditions certainly made it into a very amusing slippery, countersteery ordeal.

Poor quality, just use your imagination

The course finished with a 7-cone slalom down the hill into a fast right-hander, and with gravity on my side the Mini would come barreling down the hill at a pretty good pace. Entering the slalom completely composed, the back end would step out further and further after each cone, but the Mini never had the audacity to send me for a loop. Being practically as long as it is wide, knowing each corner of the car was not even a concern. Because it was very predictable, and really had a go-kart-like feel when out on the course, I believe that I can say the Minis of the 21st century really captured the tossability that everyone loved of the originals.

Big thanks to Hamid for letting me take a spin in his timeless classic, it was definitely a great experience I won't be forgetting.

The Student Driver

I've been extremely fortunate to be a part of the Sports Car Club of America, competing in both the Solo and Club Racing programs since the age of 5 years old. I've grown up around cars, and they have become my passion, likely for life.

As of the 2014 season, I have become an SCCA Solo instructor. I really enjoy instructing on the Autocross course, I love seeing the enthusiasm from the students, and seeing their satisfaction when their times begin to drop as the day progresses. 

While improving my teaching skills, it has also enhanced my skills as a driver as well. As an instructor, I have learned to quickly adapt to the different dynamics of different cars, by being required to demonstrate the skills needed to shave time on the course in cars that I had never thought I would step foot in. I've been lucky enough to try many cars in the Solo setting, from the typical BRZs, FRSs, Mini Coopers, and Miatas, to the less common Peugot 505s, Caterham 7s, and Acura NSXs.

All of this, while on my learner's permit, yes, a learner's permit. Hence the name, "The Student Driver". Apparently an SCCA Road Racing Competition License doesn't help me slide through the 30 hours of classroom session, 6 hours behind the wheel with an instructor, and a dreadful 9 months of anticipation for when I can drive myself places on my own without a passenger for guidance. This included the Autocross course, where I cannot compete on my own until I have a full state driver's license. I even managed to bring my in-car driver's ed instructor along for the ride as my required passenger at a regional autocross event:

Check back frequently, I will be sharing my experiences behind the wheel of anything I can get my hands on!