Checking in on . . . No one

Wow, its been awhile. Funny thing is: No one but me and Carlson people actually read this. Anyway, I was reading my cousin's blog and it has made me pretty much give up writing (Its pretty hard to keep going when faced with giants like her).

2012 Corvette ZR1

Nathan Hammermaster 7/6/11

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

The Corvette is one of the most well known cars, no doubt about it. It started in 1953 and has a continuing legacy of performance and style. The Corvette has been in production for almost 60 years; not many other cars can make that claim. Various Corvettes have had more or less performance, but now Chevrolet has produced the ultimate Corvette: the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. The C6 ZR1 debuted in 2009, but for best results, 2012 is the one to get.

First, Second, then Third, gears go whizzing by as the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 climbs to it’s 205 mph top speed. Each 638hp , 604 lb. ft. of torque 6-speed manual ZR1 is powered by a 6.2 Liter supercharged V8 (LS9). This engine is the same one found in the  Cadillac CTS-V which makes a lesser 556 HP. The Corvette ZR1 comes with a track-ready, competition-beating suspension, but also a suspension (the same one) that is capable of providing comfort for daily driving. The Corvette boasts a “spacious” cargo hold, but the Corvette (in classic Corvette style) only has two seats. Fuel economy isn’t the greatest (not that it is expected for a supercar) at 14 city/20 highway, but it makes up for it in great performance and striking looks. The ZR1 makes use of a carbon fiber hood, roof, and spoiler for less weight. On the hood there is a plastic cover for viewing the engine, a distinguishing feature of the ZR1. As for basic performance specs: 0-60: 3.5 seconds, 60-0 distance: 99 ft., top speed: 205 mph, grip: 1.01g. One problem the Chevys have suffered in the past is interior quality, Corvette not excluded. But starting with the Cruze (a basic, cheap sedan), and working to the Corvette, Chevy is making improvements, and for 2012: new seats that are heads and toes better. The car starts at $112,525. Not cheap, but for the performance the customer receives, it is quite cheap (a fully optioned out ZR1 can reach over $141,130). The Corvette ZR1 laps the Nurburgring in just 7:26.4, pretty fast. Laguna Seca’s time is 1:35.8. Both of them are extremely fast lap times.
The Corvette ZR1 is definitely in the supercar game. It has all the needed stuff and a way to make it work together. Chevrolet has never made something faster, sleeker, or more powerful than the 2012 Corvette ZR1.
Nathan Hammermaster © SuperchargedReviews 2011 information from Chevrolet.com, CarandDriver.com, Insideline.com, and others

Corvette ZR1 photos

Mustang GT 5.0 pictures

2011 Mustang GT 5.0

Nathan Hammermaster 6/29/11

2011 Mustang GT 5.0

Mustang is as common as peanut butter, vacuums, or the phrase “clean your room!”. The legend of this car started in 1964 when Ford launched its new two-door, 4 seat coupe: the Mustang. The Mustang is named after the WWII plane, not the horse. Well over a million cars were sold, a whole new culture was created, and (not a surprise there) the Mustang was modified. Most notable of the tuners was Carrol Shelby. But this evaluation is not about Ford’s top ‘stang, but it’s standard GT model, standard being relative.

The 5.0 Liter V8 is retro to a 5 liter V8 in the late ‘60s, and this new one is brilliant. It liberates 412 HP and 390 lb. ft. of torque. 0-60 (here come the specs again) is a fast 4.6 seconds, top speed is a respectable 146mph (limited), 70-0 braking distance: 153 ft., grip: .94 g, and the ¼ mile comes in 13.2 seconds @ 109 mph. All these brilliant, Camaro and Challenger beating specs are availble with 17 city/ 26 highway mpg. Incredible, right?, but that is just icing on the cake, it is the fastest muscle car (as noted), it has the most trunk space, and it is pretty comfortable. It looks really good to. A cool feature in the design of the car is the rear lights. They are divided into three sections, when the indicators are turned on, the lights start on the inside one, and blink towards the outside light. The 5.0’s rear two seats aren’t as big as a Challenger’s, but they are better than the Camaro.

The interior is done far more tastefully than the Camaro’s. The seats are decent, and the controls are nicely laid out. Plus, the car has a lot more visibility than the Camaro. The 5.0 comes with a host of standard options and a lot more available. The GT starts at about $29,500, but it gets even more as options add on.

As for the track times The 5.0 laps Streets of Willow in 1:28.2. Fast? for sure, but still slower than the GT500. Not that that matters, this is a review about a much more practical car.

The 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 is without a doubt a step up from the 2010 model, and a step up from the Challenger and the Camaro (never thought I personally would say that). In fact, it almost competes with the M3 (but cheaper, mind you). This muscle car offers a lot of bang for its buck.

Nathan Hammermaster © Superchargedreviews.com Information comes from: CarandDriver.com, Insideline.com, Ford.com, and other little sites for specs.

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Nathan Hammermaster 6/30/11

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Let it be said that all cars are not equal. Just look at the Porsche 911 GT2 RS. It is a mix of speed, lightness, some amenities, added carbon fiber looks, and Porsche every day performance. Fact is, you can’t kill yourself if you leave a Porsche running in a garage with the door shut, you will starve first. Now that says something about Porsche, world class luxury and performance, and it also is pretty fuel efficient for a sports car/supercar. Experience a certain Porsche blow away minds in more ways than one. 
Engine start up: a healthy idle commences. You think, “How is something this docile, so savage?” Well, it is true, this car is the fastest production Porsche 911 ever. Yet it is something that gets 16 city/23 highway mpg, and is drivable on a daily basis, that is assuming anyone wants to take their $245,950 Porsche to work. Mashing the brake pedaling a turn is like a death-wish. Older 911s that are based on the same fundamentals are not hesitant in the least to throw a driver over a cliff if given the opportunity, but surprisingly, this car is not as hard to drive fast. Boasting a 620 horse power, 516 lb.-ft. of torque twin turbocharged intercooled 3.6 liter V6, this Porsche submits mind boggling figures of: 0-62mph: 3.4 seconds, 60-0: 98ft., a top speed of 205mph, and 1.2g. (rounded). 
This car has many perks: substantial space in the trunk (technically it is the hood because the engine is in the back), 16 city/23 highway mpg as noted before, and a pretty comfortable ride. Since this 911 is on a weight saving diet, the back seats are missing versus a “normal” 911. On the Nurburgring, that Porsche beats pretty much any other production car with its 7:18 time. That is a strikingly fast time.
  This car is obviously, with out a doubt, a very fast, exotic car; but it is very expensive, and only 500 were made in 2011, so getting your hand’s one is very tricky. So most of us can only dream of owning this incredible Porsche. This car more than earns the title “Supercar.”
Nathan Hammermaster © SuperchargedReviews 2011 Sources are: Caranddriver.com, Insideline.com,
Porsche.com and other Internet sites for specs.

Porsche 911 GT2 RS Photos

We've got you covered with Photos (Obviously about the Porsche 911 GT2 RS

I really do like this car