If you're a dyed-in-the-wool car enthusiast, one who would rather detail their own car than let another touch it, and have a fondness for tools, gadgets and automotive accouterments then you've probably heard of Griot's Garage if already not shopped it.
Perhaps you've received Griot's Garage catalog in the mail, opening it with the same type of anticipation kids in the sixties had opening the toy catalog from FAO Schwartz. It's packed full of specialized products that at times have you shaking your head in amazement - that someone actually saw the need and thought to create it and others are buying it.

Griot's products can be found in use at almost any Concours d'Elegance, in fact best of show at Pebble Beach this year, the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta must have shone well using Griot's famous Carnauba wax.

I've used their products on numerous occasions, and found the quality to be exceptional and their service excellent. A recent visit to the Griot's Garage website has me eyeballing the Low Down Detail Creeper, obviously a great gift (accompanied by the Micro Fiber Detailing Socks) for any BMW CS Coupe owners that sport those BBS basket weave mags that take 2 hours to detail with all those nooks and crannies (makes you really appreciate a simple five spoke wheel design - although I could never get behind those three spoke Saab Turbo mags).

What gearhead hasn't worked out his (or her) ultimate garage in their head, sleepless nights or not, down to the immaculate floor surface you could dine off, the impeccable organization where every tool has its rightful (and logical ) place. Girot's is a great place to extend and enhance your fantasy, and should you decide that it's actually the time to pull the trigger on that daydream, just be sure your credit card has a credit line. I was a bit disappointed not to see the super-cool full factory Ferrari race tool set offered anymore that I've lusted after for so long, but it always was a bit pricey, making some of my Snap-On stuff look cheap by comparison, probably done in by the strong Euro. However there are some very cool Piloti driving shoes in Girot's red/black schema that look pretty sweet...you, know I just got paid, maybe I'll treat myself. So check it out, the website's good but the catalog is better, just something about lying around thumbing through it and working on the mental construct of the new workshop.

Labels: detailing tools, Griot's Garage, ultimate grage

And the nominees are...
Drop Top - The Driver Profile: Sunshine junkie.
Easy - any car with a removable roof when a fixed roof car just misses the mark, every time.

Torque Galore - The Driver Profile: Torque-monger. Any car that has gobs of torque at any rpm range, doesn't require much shifting as a result and pins you to the seat in the straights.

Slice and Dice - The Driver Profile: Performance fanatic. Light, agile, high revving, more fun for the driver than the second class passenger with very sporty styling, often a coupe is preferred for a stiffer chassis.

GT Cruiser - The Driver Profile: Boulevard king. Treats the passenger(s) with the same luxury and respect as the driver, smooth ride, easy to get in and out, often has a token back seat, heavy but comfortable.

While some cars fall into more than one category, I think many drivers tend towards a particular style of car. You don't have many people say their favorite type of car is a big comfortable grand touring sports car that their significant other enjoys for a casual weekend cruise and then they own a Lotus Elise, which is exactly the opposite of that. No, they want a Mercedes-Benz SL or a Ferrari 550 Maranello. Or the person who wants a convertible to enjoy the wind in the hair and then they own a Cayman S. No, they choose a Boxster or a Corvette convertible.

I am impartial to the Slice and Dice category. Give me a coupe, light weight, edgy styling and I am thrilled. The Cayman S, BMW's new or old M coupe or M3, Lotus Elise (hard top on, please), Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Porsche 911 C4S, Ferrari 360 Modena (Challenge Stradale, Mmmm), F430 (Scuderia is better yet) or Lamborghini Gallardo (Superleggera...) or Audi R8 to name but a few. I like the torsional rigidity of a coupe and generally, with few exceptions, the roof line looks far better on a coupe. Chopping the top loses a lot of the cool design appeal incorporated into the roof line.

Weigh in with your opinions. What category do you prefer? Did I leave out a category? Feedback wanted!

Labels: Club Sportiva, convertible, exotic car share club, GT, sports coupe, torque monster

Surprisingly and somewhat amazingly, Lamborghini unveiled a new car today for the Paris Auto show - the Estoque. And shockingly, it has four doors. This news is as big as the post when Ferrari unveiled an all-new model earlier this year - the California.

There are few examples of four door Lamborghinis over the decades. A brief prep lesson for the Trivial Pursuit hounds. The Lamborghini LM002 SUV was produced in limited numbers from 1986 - 1993. It was rare and generally unloved but mean and functional. The 1987 Lamborghini Portofino prototype, which never made it to production and then was reportedly destroyed in a wreck while on a transporter. It was slinky but no more than a wishful dream. Too bad. These are the two precedents for today's unveiling.

The Estoque will reportedly carry the V10 from the Gallardo LP 560-4, along with a number of design elements. Lamborghini is aiming for a 2010 launch. While this is aggressive timing, they are certainly trying to play catch up to other four doors from Porsche's Panamera and Aston Martin's Rapide. It is certainly a good time to be a car enthusiast!

The price is also shocking. At an estimated 150,000 Euros, or roughly $230,000 which is likely to increase by 2010, they are positioning this at the same level as the Gallardo. Among the growing family of Lamborghini models, however, this is logical.

The question in my mind is, do I like the look? My first reaction is neutrality, which isn't a traditional Lamborghini design element. Most other Lamborghinis have a shock value that allows you to see it and then immediately close your eye and envision it in your mind, seared in, that is. Not so much with this. Maybe they are going for a more mainstream design that is less polarizing? Eitherway, this redefines the term, four door sports car.

Labels: Aston Martin Rapide, Club Sportiva, exotic car share club, four door sports car, Lamborghini Estoque, Porsche Panamera