Category: Cars

Went to the local Ferrari dealer to checkout the 458 today. First time I’ve seen it in person as Ferrari didn’t show at LA Autoshow Media Day and historically, cars look better in person so I was anxiously awaiting to see this car in person. I gotta say I was seriously disappointed. Even my buddy Tony who was with me (who is a real “Tifosi”) felt that the 458 was “fail”. Some parts just felt…well…CHEAP. The sideskirt (unpainted) looked gimicky, not to mention the front end “flaps” that work for aerodynamics. The prancing horse emblem on the front sticks out of a single “stem” and looks CRAZY out of place. The interior was straight out of Space Mountain – I understand the whole driver oriented cockpit deal, but sitting on both the drivers and passengers side, I found it to all be just a little too odd. The center console is what really reminded me of Space Mountain, just too futuristic for my tastes. I’m not hating, in fact – maybe its a design that we’ll all grow into…all pics courtesy of my buddy Tony, Mr. Tifosi himself…who didn’t particularly like the car either.

This is a nice angle, a little reminiscent of the 360 in the rear 3/4.

Rear shot, the 2 light deal and the cutouts are a bit odd (although very aero functional) – a lot of controversy surrounds the use of the 3 tips, but for those that really know Ferrari’s, they’ll remember that the F40 had 3 tips as well..

Front head on – the silver diffusors in the bumper move up and down (not mechanically) and that silver prancing horse sticks out on a stick (literally) which is a bit odd. Lots of cutouts for aero, the front looks MEAN.

Drivers Side – cockpit, all oriented towards the driver. The steering wheel had WAY too many buttons, notice no stalks for the turn signal and wipers – they’re all on the steering wheel.

Just reminds me of waiting in line forever…SPACE MOUNTAIN! I dunno why, but the 3 button deal and overall shape of the center console just brings me back to Disneyland lol.

BUSTED…me checking out the 458 LOL.

You’ve got the POWER!! LOL.

Anyone who’s into cars knows that Japanese car manufacturers OWN the market for great navigation. They were the first to introduce it, first to offer touch screen and simply the best function wise. Counter that with the European offerings for Navi…well, lemme just say – they’ve been pretty bad. Porsche’s original PCM was particularly archaic considering in 2006 our Cayenne had PCM (Porsche Communication Management) and didn’t even offer a touch screen, but rather utilized 2 scroll buttons (UGH). It would take minutes to just input a location, scroll then push, scroll then push – letter by letter, HORRIBLE. Turn by turn directions were decent, but input and selection was such a chore due to the scrolling necessary for each selection that we’d often not even use it.

Porsche’s new PCM 3.0 (Touch Screen) is WORLDS better than the old PCM. Seriously. Much more intuitive function-wise, not to mention that the touch capability KILLS the old 2 button scroll deal. Address input is substantially faster, simpler and the format makes much more sense.

Did I mention it reads MP3’s exceptionally well? The old version of PCM touted “WMA” functionality but it was hit and miss. PCM 3.o luvs MP3’s. Wife’s music not mine, BTW LOL. Reads MP3’s like a champ – including title, track, etc. Note the new SD card slot option,  a good alternative to burning CD’s. Simply scroll or touch the screen with your finger and you’re to your particular track. On the old PCM, you’d have to know the # and punch it in manually.

This is pretty sick as well, up to minute traffic! Not even offered on the old PCM, again – another nice addition, esp. when you’re in a hurry to get to your destination.

Satellite Radio…nice when you don’t want to listen to commercials, some good channels as well.

Has bluetooth as well obviously – I can’t say enough of how much better this version of PCM is. Intuitively works like a “JDM” NAV, super easy to use 0- which is what you need when you’re driving! Hopefully other European manufacturers have followed suit and integrated touch into their setups as well, works so much better than any type of scrolling (iDrive) technology…

A few pics from C&C today and GMG’s open house last week…

Clean Black Ferrari California – still doesn’t seem like a Ferrari to me, maybe fits the “Mercedes SL” crowd that wants to say they own a Ferrari.

Nice black F430 on HRE’s – of particular note, the Challenge Rear grill, looks sooo good. Much sportier than the OE rear IMO.

Heffner Audi R8 Twin Turbo – SICKNESS.

An unsuspecting Will, showing off my TMZ skills to the guys – reverse, one handed, flipped wrist no-look shot. haha

GMG Open House – sick 16m, gorgeous color.

Novitec Supercharged 430, Black for a year straight ala Jay Z.

Another of the Novitec SC’d -F430 – I might bring back Versace shades…

Had to include this one – would’ve been a nice shot, too much Photoshop to move that fat dude out of the way – COME ON MAN!

Finally got around to finishing these up…

I once called the E92 ///M3 “Low Rent” – yes, true story…LOL. Just ran across this old pic I shot of my friend Brian’s ride…maybe I was wrong LOL, my bad.

Obviously SV influenced, but looks great on the LP640 and would definitely give a first gen Murcielago a nice facelift…

Go scoop it. Scott Chu is shooting for them now and I love his stuff. Last year I actually sat down with John for lunch and had a meeting with Scott right after, two good guys doing their thing. The Lambor-mini on the front is the coolest ATV ever, seriously wish those were street legal (and not 20K lol)