One of my readers recently sent me this Tweet, in which hunky Glee up-and-comer Chord Overstreet let his legions of followers know that he was in need of a new ride. “Finally a way to combine your two interests,” the reader noted. “Cars, and Glee.” Thanks!!! I replied, with my signature facetious sincerity. Why? Because, discounting the fact that I’ve previously found exquisite means to marry my televisual and automotive pursuits (see, for example, “Which Handsome Male Glee Character does Your Compact Car Resemble?”), by the time I received the note, I was already shifted into Overstreet overdrive. Having hitherto helped clients as diverse as a west-coast Rabbi, my gay BFF, and Lindsay Lohan choose appropriate vehicles, I’d offered Chord my car-finding expertise during our infamous interview earlier this fall, and we’d already begun his vehicular quest.
Few things in life seem more satisfying than spending someone else’s money, but the assignment turned out to be more difficult than I expected.
First off, my initial conversations with Chord made it immediately apparent that he is not some stereotypical, status-seeking Hollywood brat-packer. Though he is a 21-year-old dude with a penchant for speed (thank God), he’s kind-hearted, self-effacing, and compelled by understatement, so anything too flashy or aggressive was out. Also, while he’s originally from Nashville, he pushed back against my bad Southern clichés and wasn’t “really feelin’ the pickups,” ruling out anything with a bed (or gun rack) out back. And given his commute and desire not to end up living in his car, he wanted acceptable gas mileage and a reasonable, five-figure price.
This left me seeking out about a half-dozen distinct, affordable vehicles that looked compellingly classy, balanced conventionality and uniqueness, and still incorporated a vital dose of sexy, youthful exuberance. Because of availability and schedules, we didn’t end up with exactly the test cars I desired, but we did end up with a truly diverse and delightful assortment. Scroll through the slide show below to check out the six rides I procured for Chord, and to read his assessments and anecdotes. (And to see which one he picked).
BMW 135i Convertible: BMW’s stubby convertible looked “cool, but girly” to Chord. But, he noted, “It doesn’t really matter how it looks on the outside when I’m in it, driving. And it’s a fun, quick little car.” Speaking of being in it, he loved the Bimmer’s stark all-black leather interior, and the fact that he could “see all of my music on the display screen.” And he raved about the Bavarian’s legendary road feel. “I guess I carved shit up a little.”
Chevrolet Camaro SS: The Camaro’s belligerent, retro-inspired styling appealed to Chord, and was definitely more “a man’s car.” But the interior appeared cut rate compared to our pricier offerings, and the chopped cabin felt cramped, “like the roof was low.” Also, the Chevy lacked the Teuton’s stickiness. “It doesn’t handle as well as the BMW.” Still, smiles were inevitable whenever Chord put his foot deep into it, “It’s sheer power. It just goes like a frickin’ monster.” Plus, he joked, when he drove it, he “got flashed buy guys in mullets.”
Nissan GT-R: Chord loved the menacing, benostriled appearance of Nissan’s bat-shit supercar. “I like the body style of the 370Z,” he said, “And it’s like that, but on crack. You cannot stop staring at it.” The busy interior was slightly less compelling. “There’s a lot going on on the inside. And I couldn’t find where to plug in my iPod.” But any niggling issues disappeared under acceleration. “It’s so fast and powerful. Everybody I took for a ride, screamed. Their faces literally peeled back.” He even got to participate in a stoplight drag race against an actor friend from Disney Channel in a Vette. The result? “I smoked him.”
VW GTI: Getting into this econo-based hatchback after a week in the GT-R was “like going from a Playboy model, to a grandma,” for Chord. (Ew!) “It wasn’t really very exciting.” And the interior reminded him of his “brother’s Pontiac Vibe” (though “more high end.”) Fortunately, he felt the car “handled pretty well.” But, overall, in driving it, he “felt a little like a soccer mom.”
Range Rover Sport: Chord was drawn to the small, big Land Rover’s “classic SUV shape” though he would have preferred a “more subtle” color. He found the wood, chrome, and leather interior “amazing” and “all class.” And he enjoyed the driving position and dynamics “I like feeling like I’m dominating everyone else on the road. Plus it was quick and smooth, and the brakes were great.” Overall, the Range ranked high. “Definitely one of my faves for an everyday car.”
Audi S5 Cabriolet: Chord praised the Audi’s exterior as “classy, and not too flashy” meaning: “you don’t look like a douche driving it.” And while he’d have preferred a coupe he liked “the option to be able to put the top down.” The elegant interior earned high praise too, particularly the integrated vents in the seatbacks. “It’s brilliant. Pick up a friend, put the top down, and turn on the neck heat.” And the driving experience was a high-scoring combination of spirited and (relatively) frugal “It’s very fun to drive—quick, smooth. And the V-6 is better than a V-8 as far as gas mileage.”
“For an everyday car,” Chord said, “it would have to be the Audi. It has a classy look, handles well, has a cool interior with all the features—even neck heat!—and lots of trunk room.” But if he could have a second vehicle, it would absolutely be the GT-R. “I loved that car,” he said. “I actually went through withdrawal after I had to give it back.”
Fortunately for Chord, I’m nothing if not a pusher of automotive methadone, so while I was back in LA last week covering the Auto Show, just for fun, I picked up about $650,000 worth of vehicles that I thought might alleviate his suffering. A late Glee shoot precluded his garnering seat time in the Bentley Mulsanne, but we managed to find a few hours to bomb around together in Audi’s super-engined R8 Spyder, and a Tesla’s super-green, all-electric Roadster. Here’s a little video of his impressions.
source: vanityfair.com
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