Topic: Final Drive: 2001 Porsche Boxster S

[lebowski]

Baruth is just cringe inducing.

hehehe, I guess he's a guilty pleasure. When he sticks to what he actually knows, I find him entertaining: http://www.speedsportlife.com/2008/01/04/avoidable-contact-5-exotics-for-nothing-chicks-for-free/

[dirtyjeffer]

Yep you guys got us. Peter sold a different version of this story to two outlets. They're not the same exactly, but certainly about the same thing. We have different audience to Driving.ca (though clearly a bit of crossover!) so we didn't mind taking this cool piece on.

no worries...i was reading that article and wondering if the space time continuum was messed up as i was pretty sure i had already read it. 

[84im]

I got tired of reading about his sexual exploits and stopped reading his articles a while back.

[ChaosphereIX]

proper Boxter this, flat 6 with good sound

would be a service nightmare, so no way for me, but I do enjoy driving them they are fun to chuck around

new 718 sounds terrible, would get an older one, don't care if it is slower

[johngenx]

I got tired of reading about his sexual exploits and stopped reading his articles a while back.

I showed my wife a picture of him and told how he described himself as a womanizer of sorts.  She's been laughing for quite some time now...

[JacobBlack]

I got tired of reading about his sexual exploits and stopped reading his articles a while back.

I showed my wife a picture of him and told how he described himself as a womanizer of sorts.  She's been laughing for quite some time now...

Are you guy talking about Baruth or Bleakney?

[johngenx]

Are you guy talking about Baruth or Bleakney?

Baruth.

[lebowski]

I got tired of reading about his sexual exploits and stopped reading his articles a while back.

I showed my wife a picture of him and told how he described himself as a womanizer of sorts.  She's been laughing for quite some time now...

If you really want your wife to laugh, you should play her a sound clip of Baruth in an interview - yikes. Morgan Freeman he is not.

I can't deny the cringe-worthiness of some of Baruth's writing ("Hey guys, not to brag, but I totally DID IT with a LADY last night. Now watch me do this rad BMX trick, even though I'm 45.").  But, I've gotta say, his ability to wax philosophical about the dumbest, most mundane car things; that really speaks to me for some reason.

He's a weirdo; a narcissist with a sizable chip on his shoulder (Baruth would no doubt tell us he's merely a renegade swashbuckler, lol), but that type of personality does tend to produce entertaining content.

[EDIT: sorry for going O/T. Back on topic, I like old Boxsters, but it sounds like the mandatory engine-out maintenance would be a costly. Miata,  Z4, or s2000 for me pls.]

[rrocket]

I like him too when he talks about cars. If it's anything other than that, I ignore it. I only care what he thinks about cars. And he knows how to drive a car properly fast also. I chat with him once in a blue moon...he was supposed to come tour my shop. But haven't chatted him up in quite some time.

[lebowski]

I like him too when he talks about cars. If it's anything other than that, I ignore it. I only care what he thinks about cars. And he knows how to drive a car properly fast also. I chat with him once in a blue moon...he was supposed to come tour my shop. But haven't chatted him up in quite some time.

Cool! Plus he's got a 993 and once owned two (!) Phaetons - how insufferable could he be? 

[johngenx]

Barauth is a strong driver and I agree with him on many car topics, but yeah, sometimes we wander too far into his personal life.  Peter Eagan can do that, but not Jack...

[84im]

But when Peter does wanders off topic it's an enjoyable read.

When I read Jacks articles, and he talks about all the expensive cars he's owned, I wonder how the guy is able to afford them.  Rich parents, or is the guy in debt up to his eyeballs?

[craigq]

But when Peter does wanders off topic it's an enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed reading Egan's Leanings motorcycle related books.

[johngenx]

But when Peter does wanders off topic it's an enjoyable read.

Barauth is a strong driver and I agree with him on many car topics, but yeah, sometimes we wander too far into his personal life.  Peter Eagan can do that, but not Jack...

Yup - I find Peter one of the best automotive writers, period.  Insightful and human and relateable.

When I read Jacks articles, and he talks about all the expensive cars he's owned, I wonder how the guy is able to afford them.  Rich parents, or is the guy in debt up to his eyeballs?

I find Jack pulls no punches about manufacturers and models and that's what I like about him.  It's when he gets personal that it comes off the rails.  Then it becomes a big ego stroke.

[lebowski]

When I read Jacks articles, and he talks about all the expensive cars he's owned, I wonder how the guy is able to afford them.  Rich parents, or is the guy in debt up to his eyeballs?

I think it's a combo of factors:

1) well-to-do parents who may have indeed provided some sort of trust fund.

2) most of his toys were owned before he started a family. He drives an accord coupe now.

3) resides in the Midwest, where living is relatively cheap

4) has worked all over the car industry and probably has countless connections for deals on cars/parts/mechanic work.

5) Car journalists often do all sorts of financial contortions in pursuit of their dream cars. [See Harris, Chris, 599GTB  ]