Welcome to The Smoking Tire. Kick ass automotive videos and more.

20,000 Mile Update: 2010 VW GTI

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

 

I can’t believe it’s already been over 22,000 miles since I picked up my GTI back in March of 2010. It seems like only yesterday that I traded in my Mercedes C230 for this “hot hatch” and am proud to say, I haven’t looked back…. much. Sure I miss RWD but my Mercedes, with it’s paltry 189 HP and rather weak 193 lbs./tq. never had enough grunt to make it worthwhile. That being said, my decision to add heavy 19 inch wheels didn’t help my performance. My GTI brings a more sporting 200 HP and 207 lb.ft. to the table, all while tipping the scales at 3,113 lbs (137 less than the C230). The extra power, less weight and more performance-oriented suspension make the GTI feel much more nimble. Especially on tight road courses such as Adams Raceway, which we featured in our GTI video review. (more…)

23.12.2011 News 13 Comments

Optima Ultimate SC Invitational is a Must-Attend (Gallery/Video)

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

 

Note: Let’s call this Sunday reading. It’s a bit long but there’s pretty pictures, even one that moves! It’s Sunday, take some time for the story I spent hours on yourself.

 

SEMA was over. The AdultCon of car shows had packed up, making way for the AdultCon of people; AdultCon. Hundreds of thousands of people stared at thousands of cars, parts, dudes in company polo shirts, failed strippers promo models, obstructing the way for depressed humanoids trying to gamble. Everyone went home on Friday…and missed the best show of the entire week: The Optima Batteries Ultimate Street Car Invitational

 

You should have gone, because this event is the shit. Matt was invited to compete in his 1998 C5 Corvette. We figured between the car’s lightweight, power and suspension and Matt knowing Spring Mountain like the palm of his hand, he might do pretty well. However we were not prepared for what showed up early on Saturday morning. Make the jump for the story and massive gallery. (more…)

18.12.2011 News, Photos, Uncategorized, Video No Comments

VW Says the Future is Bright, Diesel and AWD

Monday, November 21st, 2011

We all know how crappy diesel cars used to be. Heavy, smoky, smelly, it was like driving a mob boss from 1973. But not anymore. Now they’re like hanging out with a 5 year old that has a fructose drip duct taped to his jugular. They will go all day, or week, or month (maybe) without refueling. Last month I drove about 3000 miles in two diesel cars and couldn’t believe the MPG. I, like most of America, was fairly unfamiliar with diesel cars. But my experience in a Mercedes E350 and then an X5 (review coming) have been filled with torque, efficiency and silence.

 

Now, as a person who would prefer to carve corners and play dorifto all day then stare at my MPG meter (Look babe, 37.2! High five!) I’m closely watching to see when sports cars will start getting the big d. Wait, that didn’t sound right. You know what I meant. According to some important people at Volkswagen’s R-performance brand, it won’t be long. Make the jump to read more about my dreams of highly efficient hoonery, and watch Matt top out a VW  Touareg TDI.

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21.11.2011 News, Photos 5 Comments

Volkswagen Touareg TDI – Top Speed Dry Lake Test

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

The Smoking Tire takes the 2010 Volkswagen Touareg TDI to El Mirage Dry Lakebed to see how it behaves on the road and off it. We also see how fast it will go in the one place we could think of with no speed limit. Video after the jump.

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24.06.2010 News, Reviews, Video 11 Comments

Bizarre Roadside Sightings: Good Samaritan Edition

Friday, June 11th, 2010

This VW Squareback was spotted by my girlfriend crusing around LA, and it sports an important message: become an organ donor. I am, and always have been, and not being an organ donor is one of the most selfish things anyone can do. All it requires is a signature on a piece of paper, and they don’t cut out your organs until they are sure you’re good and dead, when you certainly won’t need them anymore. And when you see something like this, it makes you appreciate that the biggest gift you may ever give could be life to someone else after you’re done with your body.

Click here to see how to become an organ donor.

11.06.2010 News, Photos No Comments

2010 Volkswagen GTI Review

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

The Smoking Tire heads out to Adams Motorsports Park in Riverside, CA to test the most requested car of 2010, the Volkswagen GTI. Will it beat the Mazdaspeed3′s standard-setting lap time? Watch and see…

25.05.2010 News, Reviews 19 Comments

Reviewed: 2010 Audi A4 Avant

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Americans shy away from wagons like they are the smelly kid at school. “Too bad it’s a wagon.” is the same as, “He’s cool but he smells.” Wagons were around long before the SUV showed up, and then watched as Americans scooped them up by the dozens and took them home to a nice warm garage, leaving the wagon outside in the cold thinking, “But I can carry all that stuff, and I’m more fun to drive.”

We passed wagons by when SUVs showed up, and now the “crossover” has come along to try and steal the much-deserved thunder again. Not on my watch. Make the jump for my review of the brilliant 2010 Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Avant.

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13.04.2010 Uncategorized 8 Comments

Will the Future Have Any Bad Cars?

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010


This is a question I posed to myself the other day while reading a comparison test of a VW GTI, Mazda 3 and Kia Forte sedan. The Kia got 3rd place, but was heralded for being a huge improvement over the last one. The author  said, “Kia has learned how to make a car turn. Uh oh.” They loved the Mazda 3, and of course blew their biggest kisses at the GTI (which it deserved). All 3 hold 5 people, handle pretty good,  are well equipped, and any of them is a good (and cheap) buy.

The cars have handling and acceleration that could have kept up with far more expensive cars of the 80s and 90s, and more gadgets than a 2000 Mercedes. A perfect example is the new V6 Mustang. It makes more power than the old V8, gets good mileage, looks good and drives great. It’s 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds would murder a 1975 Ferrari 308′s 6.5 second sprint and it cost $141,000  (adjusted for inflation). In fact, the “sporty” Toyota Sienna I ranted about last month would be neck and neck with Tom Selleck’s favorite prancing horse. It’s simply automotive evolution.

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07.04.2010 Editorials, Viewer Submission 14 Comments

2010 Volkswagen Golf 5-Door Review

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

In 1974, Volkswagen released the Mk I Golf on the unsuspecting public as a replacement for the nearly 30 year old Beetle. It was originally designed as a simple people mover like the Beetle, but over the last 25 years, has evolved into much more, or has it?

Certainly one could argue that the GTI variants of the Golf, especially the Mk IV “R32” edition, are some of the most satisfying drivers cars on the road, which is why many people have owned multiple generations of the hot hatch. But what about the base Golf? Does technology trickle down from the GTI to the point that even the more sedate versions of the car can be more than just people movers? Or, to put the question more simply, can a base Golf make me smile?

Read on to find out.

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10.02.2010 News, Reviews 1 Comment

Clean Diesel: Good for Planet, Bad for Suicide.

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

VW and Audi are ramping up their clean-diesel technology advertisements. They started out with some print ads, showcasing the AUDI TDI R10 Diesel Race car. This showed people diesel was no longer reserved for UPS trucks or hippies running an ’82 Volvo on old McFries oil. Diesel can be fast and exhilirating, got it. On other side of the coin are the TV ads showing off the excellent gas mileage their Clean Diesel Technology allows. So diesel is for racers and commuters alike, but how could Audi show off how clean and environmentally friendly it is? Like walking behind 5 Philidelphia Eagles fans after lunch, diesel cars were known for fouling the air for anyone behind it with putrid smoke, bad smells, and obnoxious noise. VW/AUDI had to change that, and with the video above, they spell it out very clearly; “Our diesel cars are so clean, we made this timeless standby method of suicide obselete. Buy a gun, because we’re saving the planet.” Leave it to the Germans to turn suicide into a funny, evironmentally-conscious commercial. No doubt we won’t see this commercial in the U.S., because people are so stupid and so greedy they would probably try this, die, and have their family sue Audi.

06.01.2010 Video, Viewer Submission 4 Comments

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