French car, JDM style

Great moments in rebadging!

I saw a Pontiac G3 at work today. It's an Aveo, but it comes from GM's "excitement" division, so you know it's a fun little car too!

See what I did there?

Late to the hairdresser?

EAGLE!

The Dan Fehlings Fantasy Garage, Volume I: BMW 5-Series

Welcome to the Dan Fehlings Fantasy Garage, where I extol the virtues of any car I love. To start us off, I shall introduce you to my favorite all-time car family: the BMW 5-Series.

From left: E12, E28, E34, E39, E60, F10

Serving as BMW's executive-class sedan since 1972, the 5-Series has always been regarded as one of the best sport sedans ever, no matter the generation. Blending contemporary luxury with modern style and peerless dynamics, the 5-Series has received commercial and critical acclaim, leading up to more than 5 million being sold worldwide.

Going to infinity and beyond in an E12

A 5-er is best enjoyed with one of BMW's renowned inline-sixes and crisp-shifting manual gearboxes. If you find this powertain combination in the station-wagon body of a touring series, then you very well may have the best car ever in your driveway; one that can carry 5 people and a bunch of their shit for an amazing drive in comfort and style.

The E34 M5 Touring, which I believe to be the best 5er, and therefore the best car, ever.

Everyone has a favorite 5-Series, and mine is the E34 M5 Touring. The last M5 powered by a proper inline-six, the E34 M5 produced 340 horsepower and rocketed to 60 mph in under six seconds, which is still pretty impressive today. It is also worth noting that this naturally aspirated engine, derived from that of the M1 supercar of the early 1980s, produces more power than the 20 years newer, turbocharged, direct-injected mill in the new 535i. It does all that while being the best-looking BMW ever. Plus, you can get it as a wagon; although the standard sedan is so handsome, even I would be okay with not getting the estate.

The last great 5-Series

The E34 was succeeded by the E39, which received the nameplate's highest sales and greatest critical acclaim. It is also desireable for being one of the last BMWs made before Chris Bangle became head of design for BMW, and ugly-ing the place up. The E39 M5 is particularly beloved for its 394 hp V8 and 6-speed manual transmission, making it one of the greatest stealth supercars of all time. It was succeeded by the E60 in 2004, which was laden with more tech than any 5-Series before, but was unloved by many BMW enthusiasts and journalists for its diluted dynamics and contreversial styling. The E60 M5, however, featured a screaming, F1-like 5.0 liter V10 producing 507 horsepower through a standard manual transmission, or the clunky SMG sequential gearbox which was soon dropped.

 

But the future looks bright for BMW. Despite a poor introduction with the GT hatchback, the new-generation of 5-Series looks poised to be the driver's choice in the crowded midsize-luxury class. Still offering a sweet inline-six or powerful twin-turbo V8 (with 400 hp!) with a proper manual gearbox, the 5-Series looks to once again be one of the best cars on the market today. If it truly is the culmination of the past 40 years, then it should have no problem achieving that goal.

Old Toyota > New Toyota

Yes, this is the same wagon featured before. Yes, I still am in love with it.

Mitsubishi cleaning house

Mitsubishi is finally dropping the unloved Endeavor, the forgotten Galant, and the bastardized Eclipse in the next few months, in order to focus on the rest of their lineup, which isn't much better. While the Endeavor was never anything special (challenge: remeber what it is and what it looks like without googling it!) the Galant was a competent alternative to the Camry and Accord at one point, and even an exciting Pre-Evo in it's early 90's VR-4 form. The Eclipse is the saddent one, having watched it go from a turboccharged, all-wheel-drive pocket rocket to a V6 cruiser driven by cat people. Goodbye, Mitsubishis. We will remember you for the good times, and accept you for the rest.

Check out my other blog!

When I'm not creaming my jeans over some wagons or doing shit with my beloved 4runner, I'm playing with legos! Check out my favorite creations (from other people) over at my Tumblr. You'll like it.

This is why Lincoln SUV drivers are asshats.

Seriously. The second asshat in a Lincoln Aviator. They must be mad they couldn't just get a Navigator.

Carrying Bikes In The Trunk is Lame.

Also, =w=

I'm almost sure I've posted this picture before, but I simply don't care.

It's... it's beautiful...