The Road Less Driven
Introducing your new monthly automotive digest.
Many of you are already aware that I’ve been working in automotive media for over a decade, but for those of you that didn’t catch that bit of information, this should bring you up to speed. I started out by writing inflammatory pieces for user-generated-content site that’s long since been mothballed. It was fun, it let me get things off my chest about automotive culture and not long after I started posting I caught the eye of an editor who took a bet on me as a freelancer. From there things just snowballed and for a brief period of time I was writing for multiple websites covering day-to-day news, reviewing new and classic cars, and the marketplace for pre-owned cars as well. It didn’t take long for me to realize that was unsustainable and fortunately right about that time I got a cushy photography gig with a retainer that allowed me to be pickier about what automotive stories I’d take on.
It has been years since I shared any industry news(apart from the odd Instagram story post) and while I still don’t have any desire to cover the inner-workings of the business, I do feel that broadly speaking the automotive world is in such a weird place that it’s actually rather entertaining, even to those who have little more than a cursory interest in it. So, with all that mind I’ve decided to dust off my original automotive blog name, The Road Less Driven, and incorporate it into This Nice Life as a place to share auto/moto stories from around the web. I’ll be figuring out the format over the next couple of installments, so bear with me while I figure out what works best. I know that eventually I’ll incorporate original reviews and buying guides, as that is what’s likely to be most useful to you. In the meantime, please enjoy the work of my peers.
Best- AM
Motor1 recently put up a great piece that summarizes how Audi overtook BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the late Aughts, went on to own the 2010’s, only to promptly score a bunch of own goals just in time for a global pandemic, then ultimately find themselves back listlessly flapping in the wind with no decisive direction. Doing things like renaming your entire lineup because your first few EV models used even numbers and you drank the EV kool-aid, only to find that consumers aren’t on the same page…ouch. - If BMW owned the 2000s, Audi owned the 2010s
Speaking of Volkswagen Auto Group, if things at Audi are not great, things at parent company VW are much worse. The automotive titan is set to implement a massive cost cutting plan, at the core of which sits a number of potential strategies sure to anger both employees and citizens alike, chief among them shuttering 3 factories in Germany. I’m not surprised to see this news given VW’s slide from the funky entry-level premium German brand I grew up with, to a soulless mass-market, volume chasing brand that it is now. It was likely that the GTI and Golf R were not long for this world, but this move would be the nail in the coffin, cementing VW’s identity as utterly bland. - Volkswagen’s $4.3 billion cost-cutting plan threatens German legacy.
Road & Track sent the very trustworthy and very British Jethro Bovingdon to drive the new Aston Martin Vanquish in Sardinia. You can skip all other first drive reviews of the new Vanquish and read this one. At least until I drive it of course. - New Aston Martin Vanquish is Savage and Superb.
Gear Patrol hasn’t had the most reliable or engaging automotive content in recent memory, but a straightforward take on classic car ownership from the driver of a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL is certainly a step in the right direction. Having previously owned a classic Benz myself(1984 W123 250) I found myself nodding in agreement again and again while reading this piece. And of course when I was done reading I couldn’t help but open a few tabs to search for my current classic(technically neo-vintage) Benz obsession, the underrated, but certainly not underpowered, CLK 55 AMG coupe that still lives in the shadow of the E46 BMW M3. - 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL Review: An All-Time Classic Daily Driver-
A friendly reminder that AWD and 4WD vehicles are not the same thing. - National Park Service Will Cite Drivers Of AWD Cars For Driving On 4WD-Only Trails
And finally if you’re thinking about purchasing a new “regular car” before the end of the year, I’d place a PHEV(Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) at the top of your list over an EV, as many smart buyers already are. I say “regular car” because that’s the category where PHEVs make the most sense, while performance vehicles are still most appealing with internal combustion engines and the best EV’s on the market remain luxury items, with a few exceptions of course. Here’s a handy list to help you maximize your purchase with assistance from Uncle Sam and keep in mind that all new leased PHEVs are eligible for the full federal tax credit. Do with that information what you will, probably best to talk to your CPA before making a decision. - Here’s The EPA’s List Of Plug-In Hybrids Eligible For The Federal Tax Credit
What happened to The Motoring Journal?