zero to hero

Carving A Path

Posted on by noahmielke

Sometimes life takes you in a different direction than you expected. I could have told you at four years old what I dreamed of being. Car designer extraordinaire. Mocking up clay models and bringing beauty to steel and plastic. I drew all day EVERY day until I got my first set of real car keys. By then the teenage desires and life’s miss steps blindsided my focus. I never stopped loving cars. I was always working on them so I could really drive them. I have never been satisfied with normal cars as my transportation. Some where my choices forced me to give up on my true desires. Life is a road we all learn from. I don’t regret my path, but its interesting to see where you’ve landed.

My family is incredible. I have learned to be a lot less selfish, and my better half is the most supportive human I have ever met. (She’s also a decent editor 😉) She knows me.  It’s why I am here writing this despite being tired and getting ready for the rest of my work week. My passion for car design has never stopped, it continues. I might not be a famous designer, but my children have all picked up my weird habits. I draw cars. It’s my passion and one of my favorite ways to spend my time. The best gift I could get as a kid was a drawing pad with pencils. When my children get bored these are the first things I hand them. They are so much more talented than I ever was.

We painted a mural in the garage that has our car Horton on it. My daughter Lola (11) drew the penguins hanging around the car. They are a cool touch, she’s an amazing cartoonist. My son Aidan (15) also blows me away with his artwork, and same with my youngest daughter Scarlet (10). They all have an impressive grasp on art, and they aren’t just limited to mechanical things like I was. Its funny to me to see these things not as echoes of the past but like a song building momentum. The final big guitar strum is them with their extraordinary gifts. My dream wasn’t really all that great, what I have now is so much better. It’s where I am meant to be; with the people I love. -Noah

Yep that was a common site as a kid. Can’t believe I wore that hat.

Why Did I Buy A Veloster N?

Posted on by noahmielke

Why did I buy a Hyundai Veloster N? Why is it the only new car I’ve ever decided to pay the premium of zero mileage ownership? While the world’s been busy forgetting what visceral is, Hyundai didn’t. They are in the right place and have invested in the right people to make a statement. Not with their advertising, not with their size, and not with flashy ass stat sheets. Hyundai won Road & Track performance car of the year providing fun with a dedicated focus on the driver’s experience. You remember that fun thing we used to do….drive? The feeling of a leather wheel in your hand, the roar of a V8, or the curves of Jaguar E-Type as you breathed in freedom. Throughout history there were some pretty awesome options to get that exhilarating feeling behind the wheel. I know humans like to one up each other, it’s in our DNA, but it’s not fulfilling. It doesn’t satiate that beast of bewilderment; that moment you’re alone and have nothing to prove. That moment you put on your song, the one you don’t listen too with your friends around. Just you and the road.

To me; those moments don’t add up in calculations. I have always been brash when it comes to my tastes. I want sound, I want feedback, and most importantly, I want to be a part of what’s happening. The little blue dot brings it and then some. Sounds, pop pops, and burls; calling me to get rowdy. We are a team; we both cringe when we hit a pothole, a rock chips off the front hood, or I park too close to the curb. It’s not just a tool, we are partners. I want a love like Han Solo and the millennium falcon or Spike and his Sword Fish II. I desire a reason to look forward to my commute, and a cause to get off my butt and wash a car that’s too beautiful not too. I want to turn around when I park and stop to take a picture or just be damn proud its mine. This year might be the only year Hyundai wins this award, but it’s a good thing because it raised the eyebrows of other companies.

It must be a slap in the face to Corvette engineers not to see an easy win with a well-priced mid-engine monster. Auto experience doesn’t quite add up too pure fun. I’m not saying it’s not an amazing car, just fell flat along with most of the car companies to provide that “fun feeling”. If you want to just buy a car as a flashy showboat to impress, most expensive cars will work.

Thank you, Hyundai, for remembering some of us don’t need the validation of anything other than the thrill we feel, alone carving canyon roads or making someone shake their finger at you in traffic because your car makes extra music from its exhaust. I’ve only had this little bugger for four months but its been an adventure. On top of fun I can validate its usefulness. I make deliveries in this thing. I’m rolling up on ten thousand miles and couldn’t be happier. The Hyundai Veloster N it truly is an incredible machine. So, my money is in Hyundai’s hands now and they deserve every cent. I will be an old man still driving the wheels off it. Thank you, guys, for hearing the cries from some of us car boys and girls. A new legendary love story begins of Noah and his faithful Blue Dot.  

*Queue the intense ride into the sunset music. *

 -Noah

See it’s useful!

Romeo & Giulia

Posted on by noahmielke

I was talking about an article on Alfa’s growing pains with my wife last week. The piece had expressed how hard it was with their range to gain ground in the U.S. market. The Stelvio and Giulia haven’t been increasing sales. Alfa – I don’t know if its true but if your reading this, here’s my two cents.

First ignore the naysayers; your line up is fantastic so far. The crossover market is quaking in their boots to your passionate Stelvio. Luxury sedan owners are taking notice of the Giulia’s heartbeat and sensual lines. My wife’s interest in this car conversation came from her desire to own the new Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Seriously if you can pique her interest, you’re on the right path and it encompasses your ability to pipe life back into the driving experience.

Here’s the little small issue following your justified invasion of our dealerships, we can’t afford it. We want it, but its unobtainium. I don’t make a six-figure income so what do we do? Look to other brands? We want a die-hard, exhilarating, true driving experience every day, not a hatchback, but a true front engine rear wheel drive. A call back to early 70’s GTV. I’m talking use parts in your bin, utilize a small four cylinder in your ranks and breath that Alfa magic into it. Give it usable space as a four-seater, six speed manual with trunk or smoothed in hatch, keep it around 30k. Talk about ending that sales gap with more people flooding into your dealerships.

Becoming brand loyal, lots of companies have watered their brands down to facilitate a wider group but loose it all.

You are not Porsche; think how well they’ve done staying loyal to their fan base. Hyundai has shown too that putting excitement into their cars has made them more valuable to the automotive community. Alfa bring the Quadrifoglio to the masses again, like I said your not Porsche you are Alfa – a company that brings la passione and history that goes way further back. No matter what you choose I’ll be here rooting for you guys. -Noah