Cars

Sport, Off-Road, Touring

Spring Snow Edition of SORT
As of Monday, April 11, 2022 at 6:00 PM pacific time:

Sport Off-Road Touring
2016 Lamborghini Aventador 2021 Ford Bronco 1956 Continental Mark II
If this was matte black instead of Maronne Apus (AKA dark gray) it could be confused with a Batmobile. Ford’s Wrangler competitor, it’s optioned up compared to the base Bronco, but $60k! This is a big car. It doesn’t look it in this picture, but it is almost 3 feet longer than a 1956 Thunderbird.

These cars, while very interesting, are not the most interesting of the cars available right now on BAT, this 1981 Honda Prelude 5-Speed is because of the personal connection, in 1981 we bought a new Prelude. We had our choice of maroon or this blue and we picked the maroon over blue because we didn’t want a white interior (the maroon car had a maroon interior.)

Here is what last week’s cars sold for, or bid to, if the reserve was not met.
Sports: 1974 Porsche 914 Sold for $61,500 on 4/5/22
Off-Road: 1991 Land Rover Defender 90 Sold for $106,000 on 4/6/22
Touring: 1969 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Sold for $26,000 on 4/6/22

Sport, Off-Road, Touring

Santa Fe Edition of SORT
As of Monday, April 4, 2022 at 6:00 PM pacific time:

Sport Off-Road Touring
1974 Porsche
914		 1991 Land Rover
Defender 90		 1969 Volkswagen
Karmann Ghia
It was between this and a 2016 Boxster, also in orange, but the 914 is just the right size. With Wranglers, FJs and Defenders to chose from I think the Defender 90 would the winner. I bet this wouold not be the best cross-country tourer, but I’d live with it happily because of the way it looks.

Here is what two weeks ago’s cars sold for, or bid to, if the reserve was not met.
Sports: 2015 Ferrari California T Sold for $148,000 on 3/25/22
Off-Road: 1996 Suzuki X-90 4×4 Sold for $8,800 on 3/27/22
Touring: 1949 Ford Custom Convertible Sold for $69,500 on 3/27/22

Sport, Off-Road, Touring

Vernal Equinox Edition of SORT
As of Monday, March 21, 2022 at 6:00 PM pacific time:

Sport Off-Road Touring
2015 Ferrari
California T		 1996 Suzuki
X-90 4×4		 1949 Ford
Custom Convertible
Ferrari people don’t think this is a real sports car, but what do they know? This thing is bonkers. It’s like a toy car. Where do I mount the bicycles? These cars are nicknamed Shoebox Fords, I don’t see it, but what do I know?

Here is what last week’s cars sold for, or bid to, if the reserve was not met.
Sports: 2013 BMW M3 Coupe Sold for $68,500 on 3/18/22
Off-Road: 2004 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Sold for $27,750 on 3/15/22
Touring: 1955 Chevrolet Apache Pickup Bid to $35,750 on 3/18/22

Car-y Truck or Truck-y Car?

We have been tossing around the idea that we need a different vehicle to take advantage of the outdoor activities that abound in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. The lowered Miata is a no-go on anything but a nice smooth road and the Mini has a bit more ground clearance, literally like maybe an inch or so more than the Miata’s three.

We don’t want to do serious off-roading like rock crawling or anything, but we do want the ability to turn down a forest service road and drive a few miles to a trailhead without poking a hole in some vital bit of our car.

Our first thought was Wrangler. We had a real nice experience with a Rubicon we borrowed from Crazy Dave’s Car Rental. So much so, that we currently have a ginormous 5-gallon water jug in the living room we have been tossing change into labeled “Jeep Jar.”

But the Jeep is probably more hardcore than we need. A mid level SUV is not the most desirable vehicle on my list, but would be a good compromise. Donna has always wanted a small pickup for its utility, but today’s small pickups are anything but small.

An intriguing option is a couple of new vehicles that are just appearing on the market that are a mashup of a small SUV and a pickup truck, AKA Trucklets1. They are the Ford Maverick and the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Below is a video from my new favorite car guys comparing them both:

The Everyday Driver guys did separate reviews of the two crucks2, so here are their takes on the Santa Cruz and then the Maverick.

17.8 mile drive take a walk at the Running Y Ranch.
Times Miata Driven since 01/01/22: 13

 

And I’m James™

While I’m still a big fan of Everyday Driver and enjoy their YouTube video car reviews along with occasionally listening to their podcast, my latest car review obsession is Throttle House. I hate to give credit to a computer algorithm, but I have to thank the the YouTube version for the discovery of this channel.

It all started with one guy, a Canadian named Thomas Holland, who bought an E46 BMW in 2016 and started posting videos about it. This progressed from “How To” videos to comparing the BMW to friends cars, to reviewing new cars for a Canadian car magazine to reviewing cars as a YouTube business. As the videos move forward they become better and better, but still just a guy talking about cars. They really became something else when a recently emigrated English fellow named James Engelsman joined him in 2018.

Now, the two of them (along with 3 other full time employees) produce a professional grade video of 15 to 20 minutes in length each week. There is typically a brief 2 to 3 minute scripted humorous intro “skit” inspired by the car or locale. This is then followed by both of them driving the car along with discussion of the design of the interior and exterior. There are also track tests and comparisons of old and new versions of the same auto.

Plus they have an “Extra” channel that includes unscripted quick car reviews and other random stuff. All of their content is made with their unique humorous interplay of good friends really enjoying what they do (or they are better actors than car reviewers.)

Today’s post title comes from their “patented” lead in to the driving portion of the videos and they sell a t-shirt in their store with this phrase on it. I considered buying one, but hesitate because people who see me in it will think that is what my name is, unless of course they are one of their nearly 2 million subscribers. I really like the hoodie, so much so, that I’ve actually considered dropping $55 on one. Maybe for my birthday.

If you would like to see an overview of how it started and then over time transformed to its current iteration, I’ve got a playlist of 6 YouTube videos for you or just go straight to the Throttle House channel and enjoy.

7.5 mile round trip to to take a walk in the park this past Monday.
Times Miata Driven since 01/01/22: 12

 

Sport, Off-Road, Touring

Erin go Bragh Edition of SORT
As of Monday, March 14, 2022 at 6:00 PM pacific time:

Sport Off-Road Touring
2013 BMW
M3 Coupe		 2004 Jeep
Wrangler Rubicon		 1955 Chevrolet
Apache Pickup
I got two out of three of the GOAT cars returning, but that is just by coincidence
because they happened to be some of the brightest green vehicles I could find.

Here is what last week’s cars sold for, or bid to, if the reserve was not met.
Sports: 2004 BMW M3 Sold for $83,000 on 3/14/22
Off-Road: 2008 Jeep Wrangler Bid to $23,500 on 3/13/22
Touring: 2016 Porsche Cayman Sold for $61,500 on 3/11/22

Sport, Off-Road, Touring

GOAT Edition of SORT
As of Monday, March 7, 2022 at 6:00 PM pacific time:

Sport Off-Road Touring
2004 BMW M3 2008 Jeep Wrangler 2016 Porsche Cayman
This week is pretty much my “Greatest Of All Time” SORT Bring A Trailer picks,
a BMW M3, a Jeep Wrangler and a Porsche Cayman.

Here is what last week’s cars sold for, or bid to, if the reserve was not met.
Sports: 1994 Toyota MR2 Turbo Bid to $24,000 on 3/5/22
Off-Road: 1981 Nissan Patrol LG-61 Sold for $29,500 on 3/1/22
Touring: 1961 Volkswagen Type 2 Sold for $32,500 on 3/3/22