Reader Reviews
Test drive something recently? This is the place to post your impressions.
399 topics in this forum
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DRIVEN: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer LT AWD 3.6 (MSRP around 40k) HIGHS: -Blazer name is back! -Unique, sporty CUV style, drawing inspiration from the Camaro. Be seen. Looks good in person, even in a bad color. -Nice new interior design, including ball blower vents down low. That will be a godsend in summer. I liked the gauges, displays, controls, and touchscreen. -Cargo area seemed more useful in size than I imagined. If I recall, the rear seats can slide forward and back to help out with that. -If you are averse to 4 cylinder engines, Chevy has you covered here. Most of the Blazers will be had with 3.6 v6. And with enough throttle foot, and…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DRIVEN: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado LT 2.7t four cylinder turbo Crew Cab Short Box 4-Wheel Drive All Star Edition
by regfootball-
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DRIVEN: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2.7 turbo four cylinder Crew Cab Short Box 4-Wheel Drive LT All Star Edition (48k +/- MSRP) This is written from the perspective of someone who is not a truck fan, hasn't owned one, loves cars, not crossovers or trucks. Looking for a daily driver with space and utility. I won't be commenting on 'truck stuff' here. I can't tell you if the four wheel drive system is boss. Or anything about trailering. Or, LOADS. This is about a truck as a transportation device. HIGHS: -Although many may disagree, I love the new design of the Chevy and GMC trucks. (I prefer the more butch GMC front end) -OMG, HUGE INSIDE! NO. LIE…
Last reply by balthazar, -
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2008 Buell Blast Review Something Old, Something New Cheers & Gears Entering the motorcycle hobby is a strange thing. Companies, whet the appetites of riders-to-be with machines that promise warp speed acceleration, or long, chrome-laden cruisers dripping with sex appeal. But almost every Hayabusa or Harley rider has had to start with a bike that they were often glad to be rid of. Little attention is paid to the bikes that many of these riders threw their legs over for their first time. Before one may ride into the sunset on a stallion, they must first learn on a mule. At least that is how the motorcycle industry tends to view 'beginner' bikes: mules. Built…
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C&G Drives: The 2007 Saturn AURA By Brian Dreggors "Love me, love me, say that you love me." "I already sold two other XEs." -Saturn salesman That coincides with my findings, too. On the evening of the 15th, I spotted a car carrier taking about three Auras to Saturn of Clearwater. Curious, I tailed it and saw that trio of XEs join four other Auras - including an XR - delivered the night before. By this afternoon, five remained. Meanwhile, the Jeep Compass I tested a few weeks ago still sat lonely across the street. An early indication? Perhaps. We'll see whether Aura not this new midsize Saturn will really move. Let's go! The Basics My tester today was a 2007 …
Last reply by pow, -
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Last Friday I had set up an appointment for my 10,000 mile service update on my Volkswagen Golf (Rabbit) Having made the appointment at Vordermann Volkswagen in Ft. Wayne, I decided to finally taste one of GM's German delights; the new for the U.S. Saturn (Opel) Astra. The staff at Saturn of Ft. Wayne were very courteous and personal to work with. Having explained my situation of why I ended up with a VW instead of the Astra and wanting to finally experience one, they gladly agreed to offer a test drive. A few short minutes later, a silver Astra XR 3-door pulled up in front of my Volkswagen. Talk about nice looking but subtle versus hot looking and great visual pi…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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will write up later tonight when I have time. nice car, not entirely my cup of tea, good car nonetheless.
Last reply by biff, -
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Well I didn't test drive it but my dad did. Our dealer had a Grand Re-Opening becasue it was renovated and they had a 2007 Silverado LTZ on loan from GM Canada. I was surprised they let some drive it. It set a very good impression. Everything was good about it except for the dash. It was a fully loaded LTZ with Nav and DVD. I am not a fan of the dash. i like the work truck set up much better. This had the 5.3L and when we fired up I couldn't believe it. I thought it had the Vortec Max in it because it sounded so powerful. It was loud and aggressive. I was surprised when we opened the hood. It was the 5.3L so I assumed the exhaust was just changed or something. It sounded …
Last reply by BigPontiac, -
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Keep in mind as you read this that I've been driving Chrysler products for decades now, though I had quite a few GM vehicles "back in the day"... You guys probably remember my gushing over the Cobalt we rented last summer while on vacation. Well, this summer we rented the Cobalt's bigger brother, a 2006 Malibu LT, while our daughter attended a figure skating camp in Santa Fe, NM. We had the thing for a week and put on 1200 miles in all kinds of driving, from stop & go city stuff to mountain climbing. The Malibu was equipped rather well with power everything, remote keyless, killer sound system, sun roof, electric driver's seat, 3500 V6 and a host of other goodies. H…
Last reply by ponchoman49, -
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C&G Preview: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic vs 2012 Hyundai Accent With just about every new vehicle introduction this auto show season (save for the Camaro ZL1 and SRT-8 Mopars), it took no longer than 30 seconds to hear the words "fuel economy" come out of the mouths of the speaker once each press conference started. This being mainly a GM site, I figured it might be a good idea to look at the car curerntly slated to carry the fuel economy torch for the company - the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic - and compare it to another new-for-2012 B segment car that made its debut this season - the Hyundai Accent. Why the Accent, and not the old standards Fit and Yaris? Because Hyundai s…
Last reply by MyerShift, -
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Well, as I've said before, I currently own a 2001 Chevrolet Impala LS sedan, 3.8L V6, Hydra-Matic 4T65E transaxle, leather interior, sunroof, power driver's seat, steering wheel mounted radio controls, am/fm,cd,cassette. The car has 110,000 miles on it and not given me that many problems. I've had to replace the water pump and belt tensioner pulley (both were making a very slight squeal, could only be heard with a screwdriver being used as a stethiscope (sp?), the belt's been changed once, coolant flushed and refilled, hoses replaced, air, oil, fuel, and transmission filters, pcv valve every two oil changes, one set of AC Delco spark plugs, and wires, brakes all the way…
Last reply by scharmer05, -
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This is going to be fairly brief in comparison to my words about the Cruze. Namely, I did not spend as much time looking the Jetta over and did not have my camera with me. In addition, it still had all the factory protective coverings over much of it. Let me start off with a few words about the exterior. It's not as bland in person. Alot of the little details hide themselves in pictures. I was pleasantly surprised. It's still a very conservative design, but that's something VW has always honed and is present on my favorite, the MK3. In that regard, its a very well done design. It's much more modern and contemporary than the MK5 Jettas that sat beside it. Those, in compar…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Review: 2nd Generation CTS Most of you know that I have recently found employment in the automotive business again. I am now working at a large Chevrolet-Cadillac dealer in New Hampshire as a sales representative. It's been a very busy week. I swapped in a 2007 Suburban LTZ for a very selective lease customer & also sold XP715's girlfriend a gently-used 2005 Pontiac G6 with the sky-view roof. Tomorrow is a really big day for me, more on that later. My computer is being difficult but I wanted to share a quick review of the 08 CTS with all of you fellow CheersAndGears members. As requested by several of you, I took another quick drive in the white diamon…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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It's been a little over six months since I first picked it up from the dealership. Got the first oil change back in April. So far there are three problems that popped up: 1. Engine will "hot-crank". The G6 is equipped with an electronic starter, opposed to a traditional one that you hold down until it starts, which is designed for remote start. Tap it into start and the car will start on itself. However, the problem right now is that it cranks longer than normal for it to start. 2. Radio will not come on with car occasionally, have to tap the power button repeatedly for it to come on. 3. Car outside temperature display will not show correct temperature at times. O…
Last reply by I hope GMRULES again, -
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1998 Saturn SL1 in Dark Green 1.9 liter I4 100hp 30,000 miles This car is basically featureless...manual windows,locks, and mirrors, AM/FM Stereo w/ 4 speakers, A/C , powersteering, smokers package, floormats. I've had this car since it was new...so this is a very Long-term review. Styling: I like the styling a lot. Something that you see in this car and other saturns of these years is that they stand out in the compact class. This car has a sporty look. The headlights have a sleek slim design that complement the badge in the middle. The back end could've used some more appeal and badging. Euro style tail lights do not cut it as compared to the front. Another is…
Last reply by Ravenfreak13, -
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My Summary? The GM enthusiast in me likes this car and would actually even consider purchasing one in SS trim! However, the realist in me recognizes that this car is at best a "has-been" in the marketplace and at least a solid decade behind where it needs to be in order to effectively compete in the mid-to-large sedan segment. Now my impressions....... I like the updated appearance of this car and the updated interior with quite good fit-and-finish and a more modern appearance (even if some of the trim pieces are of dubious quality.) However, actually driving this car reminds me of almost every single GM sedan I've driven in the last 20 years......and that's not…
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 3500 SLT This Trucks Features Include:5.9 liter Cummins HO Turbo Diesel - 6 Speed Manual Power Locks - Power Windows - Power Steering Front Center Armrest - Business Console 17" x 8.0" Steel Chrome Clad Wheels AM/FM Stereo With CD Player And Four Speakers Light Khaki Metallic Clear Coat/Color Fold Away Power Trailer Tow Mirrors - Tow Hooks Engine Block Heater Front Hood Protection Shield Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel Bright Grille Carpet Floor Covering Cruise/Speed Control Electric Shift-On-The-Fly Part-Time Transfer Case 11.50 Rear Axle 3.73 Axle Ratio Cloth 40/20/40 Bench Seat Air Conditioning Remote Keyless Entry As Picku…
Last reply by CMG, -
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I was in NC and had rented a compact car for 4 days. I was hoping for a Cobalt or a Focus. No such luck...they were going to put me in an HHR or PT Cruiser. I told them I needed an 'effing trunk (I was firm, not rude). So I got a Yaris sedan. This is a short review. There is little that is inspiring to say about this car. It is the noisiest new car I've ever driven. It is a lawn-mower with a passenger car shell dropped onto it. To say that going from this car back into a 17 year old Regal with over a quarter of a million miles and feeling like one went from backpack cloth to velvet would about describe it. Shifts are rough, especially when throttled. The in…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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2006 PONTIAC G6 V6 - AN OWNER'S REVIEW By: ToniCipriani INTRODUCTION The Pontiac G6 was first released in 2005 as a replacement to the Pontiac Grand Am, Pontiac's midsize coupe and sedan. It was first debuted in concept form at the 2003 North American International Auto Show. Walking away from the excessive cladding that plagued Pontiac's image as being a "cladded Chevrolet", the Pontiac G6 was a stunner. “Clean, smooth lines” are the words best fit to describe the car. The vehicle rides on General Motor's global Epsilon midsize architecture, debuted in the Opel Vectra, and the Chevrolet Malibu in North America. It rides on a 112-inch wheelbase, shared with the Chev…
Last reply by ponchoman49, -
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<h2 style="text-align: center;"><big><big>Battle of the Beasts</big></big></h2> <div style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 363px; height: 273px;" alt="2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty" src="http://www.cheersandgears.com/uploads/1292458660/gallery_51_59_43290.png"> <img style="width: 362px; height: 271px;" alt="2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500" src="http://www.cheersandgears.com/uploads/1289944373/gallery_51_58_805248.png"></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><big><big>Ford F-350 Lariat Super Duty v. GMC Sierra Denali 2500 HD<br> </big></big></div> <…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Review: 2001 Lincoln LS V8 The Lowdown *81,600 miles *3.9L Jaguar-derived V8 *DEW98 Platform shared with the Jaguar S-Type and the 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird *5-speed automatic transmission (standard, not SelectShift equipped) *252 hp @ 6100 RPM / 267 lb*ft @ 4300 rpm *114.5" wheelbase / 193.5" long / 73.2" wide *3692 lb curb weight *Features: glove box 6 CD changer, power seats, power tilt & telescoping steering wheel, memory seating, heated mirrors, automatic headlights, instant fuel economy gauge, auto-dimming rearview mirror, folding rear seat, front valet key system *Safety features: traction control, rain-sensing wipers, front and side ai…
Last reply by mustang84, -
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A little over a year and 36,000 miles ago my brother and his wife decided to buy a prius. I thought I would give my impression on the vehicle this last weekend. 1st I want to start off that they traded in their 120,000 mile 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette. During it's 120,000 miles they did have to replace the battery (90,000 miles), tires (60,000 miles), and at 115,000 miles they were having troubles with the alternator, hence why they decided to trade it in. The only other fix the van EVER had was the lumbar support piece being broken off when new. Now on to the prius. He did comment on how they are loving the space of the vehicle. They were able to load up all 3…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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I spent Easter in Portland and had booked a full-size with Avis. A little over $ 50 for 2 days. Not bad. Avis doesn't have LaCrosses at this location, so I went up to the parking deck to see what they had and noted a couple of Monte Carlo parking spot numbers. I got a white coupe as a result of my snooping around. A couple of things have changed since the last model run and some things are the same. The first thing one notices are the seats. These are the plumper, boxier buckets found in the Impala. Unlike the GP, these are not the Recaro wanna-bes that are hard on anything above a 29 inch waist and one who has smallish lats. Rather, they are comfortable, nicel…
Last reply by BB_454, -
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I currently have a new Monte Carlo LT with the 3900 as a rental car...... ......and I'm fairly impressed with the 3.9L VVT pushrod V6 in this car! First, let me just clarify that I HATE the exterior styling of this car (always have) and I think the interior fit-and-finish and materials is horribly unforgiveable. (As we know, the Monte Carlo does NOT share the vast majority of the MUCH nicer Impala interior upgrades.) The whole car strikes me as "typical" "old-school" GM. NOW that that's off my chest, I can say that the 3.9L in this car is the nicest execution of a pushrod V6 that I've ever seen GM accomplish. Wierd because in the G6 GTP rental I had about a …
Last reply by Carguy, -
2009 Honda Fit 1 2
by ocnblu- 81 replies
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Well, today after work I stopped by "my" local BPG/Honda/Acura/Suzuki dealership at the invitation of one of the salesguys to try out an '09 Fit. The car I drove was a base/manual transmission in black. Here are my impressions of the whole experience: The dealership in general has been very nice to deal with, from my first contact with my eventual Sierra salesperson over the internet, to my parting words with the Honda salesguy this evening. First off, I drove to the back of the lot, where they have a fenced-in holding yard for excess inventory. They have quite a selection already of new Fits... silver, purple, black, bright blue and orange, most with "SOLD" tags on…
Last reply by Sixty8panther, -
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Pics of a new 2020 CT5 Impressions: whoa Finally got picture up impressions later
Last reply by oldshurst442, -
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Quick Drive: 2011 VW Jettas SE with convenience automatic - SEL manual Some comments will be together but others will address the different trim levels. HIGHS 'classic' (cough) and 'safe' (cough), ok, we'll call it 'tidy' styling decent amount of KIT for the price more then deserved AMOUNT of power German 'engineering' is prevalent....regardless of where it was built cabin space and trunk space go beyond what is expected in class. leg room is abundant all around. non invasive cabin. solid road feel. good steering feel (with exception noted below) good road trip car, cruises nicely at high speed (with exception noted below) good transmissions nice feel…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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Quick Test: 2008 Saturn Astra XE Back Story: Our humble family sedan, the trusty 2007 Saturn Aura XE V6, has been in the shop numerous times over the past two months for issues that have been plaguing everything from the audio system to the braking system to, just today, the on-board computer system (for a braking system-related problem). The first stop at the service department was a grueling five hour visit late last month, while the technicians tested the car out for two bad speakers, a bad stereo, a concerning grinding noise when you push on the brake pedal and shift into reverse or park, and taillights that came on when you pressed the gas pedal, but not the brak…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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CRUZE LTZ rental drive.....plus old 2011 Chevy Cruze LT1 quick spin - update - LTZ tested - update LS manual and LT2 tested - update ECO manual tested
by regfootball-
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tested - red 2011 Cruze LT1 sticker 20,600 +/- 1.4 turbo, 6 sp auto HIGHS Fantastic cockpit, dash layout, ergonomics, displays, and controls including yummy leather wrapped steering wheel and dash buttons Interesting interior design with pretty good material quality all around Gauges and display in particular are a huge upgrade Really good visibility (as opposed to bunker mode like so many cars including the Malibu) Power seat is handy Great front row space and cabin width Lots of thoughtful convenience features including remote start Quiet interior, especially at highway speeds Frisky little turbo! (except....see below) Much improved steering feel over the Cobalt I pul…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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TESTED:2016 Cadillac ATS sedan 2.0t 8AT AWD Luxury, MSRP 45,000 and change Note: offered this test drive as an alternate / move up to the used Volt i went in to test drive. Offered as a sample due to a service loaner demo with a 'great lease deal'!! Disclaimer: i don't drive many luxury cars so my proper frame of reference is not great. I typically review vehicles as daily drivers. Prior similar test drive: http://www.cheersandgears.com/topic/81073-2013-cadillac-ats-25l-rwd/?hl=%2Bcadillac+%2Bats Since i am not really in the luxury car market, than this test drive may seem a little odd. But I am a GM fan and since i hadn't driven the AWD turbo ATS, I sa…
Last reply by Suaviloquent, -
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There once was a time, a time when full sized family sedans were in nearly every driveway in America. During this time GM's Oldsmobile divison built a reputation for quality and performance on the name Eighty-Eight. Introduced in 1949, the Eighty-Eight was the least expensive of Oldsmobile's full size offerings for 50 years until the end of production in 1999. The following C&G Drive is on a 1988 model with the optional 3800 V6 As Dick Van Patten says so well in this 1986 commercial"Its the family car, that didn't forget the family" . My 1988 Delta 88 Royale has done just that, after nearly two decades of faithful service I can say this is one family car that did…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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I had the most incredible test drive experience ever in my "career" as a car enthusiast! I attended the Ferrari Challenge at Infineon Raceway (formerly known as Sears Point) up in the Bay Area this weekend. Through a friend that I have at Ferrari N.A., I got to test drive a 612 Scaglietti and an F430 Spider for about 30 minutes each on roads in and around Sonoma County. And, incredibly, my friend got me two "hot laps" around the track in between races in a 612 driven by a professional Ferrari driver. 612 Scaglietti The 612 is THE Ferrari daily-driver. I was impressed by how much room was actually inside the car (it IS a big car after all....) and we had three of us …
Last reply by Camino LS6, -
2004 Chevrolet Impala Base V6
by Guest YellowJacket894-
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On a cool February day in 2005, we purchased a slightly used Chevrolet Impala with under 15,000 miles on the odometer. Since then we've put a little over 30,000 miles on the clock and here are my impressions of the car. Although I love GM and even hope to work at Design North Studio hopefully designing a car you may even buy, I'll try to be as honest and unbiased as possible here. Our Oh-Four Impala is the most basic model you can get -- bench seat, cloth, no tach, and -- get this folks -- a casette player and no passenger-side door key slot. Doesn't get much more basic than that. The engine was the 3400 V6 engine mated to a four-speed auto transmission with a column sh…
Last reply by Polish_Kris, -
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Cadillac dealer had a couple new XT4's! Couldn't drive, and the particular ones they had were more pricey. But I sat in the one and got some pics. I like that it has back some of the Art and Science Edginess and more youthful swagger to it. The cabin in the front row is a very nice width for a compact, the seats way very comfy, and the ergonomics of the screen, wheel, shifter, and especially the selector wheel for the screen were very well thought out. Rear leg room depends on how the front seat is set. For a 'compact' its adequate space. But the rear row has a short seat back, and if the front seat is back far, then leg room for taller folks is tight. …
Last reply by Windstorm, -
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Test Drive: 2010 Volkswagen Golf 2.5 and Jetta TDI Stock Image Shown Got out in the cold yesterday and took out a couple VW's. A 2010 3 door Golf 2.5 / manual and a 2010 Jetta TDI / manual. I wanted a Golf TDI but none was available. I will add more to this tomorrow, since i forgot to get this up earlier Saturday evening. You would be surprised to know that I think my preference of the two is the gas model. I have driven the TDI Jetta now with the manual and the DSG and neither time did I come away thinking I would enjoy the vehicle long term, when i began to consider the main benefit of the diesel is basically fuel mileage....a benefit that comes at a greatly …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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C&G Drives: The 2007 Jeep Compass By Brian Dreggors I could hear the lil' Jeepette screaming, "Drive me!" So I did. Today, I had the opportunity to test drive a fresh-to-the-floor 2007 Jeep Compass. For those unfamiliar, the Compass is Jeep's first foray into the highly-competitive car-based sport utility market, a market characterized by youthful looks, creative design, high utility, and affordability. How does the Compass fare? Let's go! The Basics The Compass that awaited me on the lot was a Bright Silver Metallic Limited 4x4 with 18" alloy wheels. The base MSRP for this trim was listed as $21,180, but the options (including two convenience groups, Boston Ac…
Last reply by I hope GMRULES again, -
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--------- DRIVEN: 2016 Chevrolet Cruze 1LT 1.4t automatic (all new model) MSRP around 24,700 Includes technology package and sun and sound package HIGHS: -Ride....PLUSH -QUIET inside...OMG quiet for this class of car -good OOMPH from the fairly smooth 1.4t, which really has some of the character of the current 1.4, that is to say no lag and a willingness to rev (just smoother and much less noisy / buzzy). -TRANSMISSION is nicely responsive to the turbo. It takes some gas pedal sometimes, but mostly on the spot. -HANDSOME interior. Comes off as tidy, handsome, classy, attractive. Dash, doors, console, etc.....no issues on any plastics, and the dash cloth eve…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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2010 Camaro SS Full Review By Justin Loyear Cheers and Gears Biggest Fan - Head turning looks in a comfortable package. Oh, and 426 horsepower! Toughest Critic - Premium stereo needs improvement for when you don't want to listen to the engine. _____________________________________________________________________________ <img src="http://www.cheersandgears.com/uploads/1265847896/gallery_253_27_415053.jpg" WIDTH="512" HEIGHT="340" HSPACE="15" vspace="15" align="right"> For the driving enthusiast, the automotive holy grail is a performance car that also maintains everyday practicality and affordability. With the Chevrolet Camaro Super Sport starting…
Last reply by loki, -
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This is good news. VW is listening to their US customers who admire what the brand was and should be again. The only affordable German brand. Which brings me to this review of the Jetta's less expensive little brother. I've been checking the website of the local VW dealership, and when they showed 4 Rabbits in stock, 3 five doors and 1 three door, I hightailed it in to check them out this morning. I ended up driving a 3 door with one factory option: floor mats. It was black (and you know what they say about black), with anthracite interior (dark gray woven cloth of a good quality). Of course everyone here probably knows the Rabbit comes with all of the "right" sta…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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I don’t usually take my vehicle to the dealer for service. But I just had a set of $1100 Michelins installed on my 2012 CX-9 GT and Discount Tire doesn’t do wheel alignments. My dealer recently sent me a coupon for a $49.95 alignment, so I decided to take advantage of it. While I was waiting for my car, I ventured into the showroom to check out the all-new 2016 CX-9 that was just released in the last month. They had a top-of-the-line Signature AWD model on display, which had a sticker of $45,215. The Signature is only available with Auburn-colored Nappa Leather interior and has real aluminum and genuine Rosewood trim. It even has very cool looking LED grille acce…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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Exterior There is no denying that the Mazda5 is a Minivan. A look at the sliding doors and the rounded, two-box profile is all you need to confirm it. However, the vehicle hides its Minivan-ness pretty well, in fact, better than any other Minivan on the road. The triangular headlights lend a sporty look to the nose, like an angry feline, and the trendy clear taillights also create a somewhat sporty credence. And, from the side, it looks more like a lengthened Toyota Matrix than a Mommymobile. Style is a matter of personal taste, and some would laugh at the Mazda5's attempts to cover itself up. But I think that, for a Minivan, this is as good as it gets. 1 2 3 4 5 Interi…
Last reply by NeonLX, -
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I just had a new Hyundai Sonata V6 for a rental car in Atlanta and drove it 450 miles south to Tampa so I thought I'd share some of my comments...... The car had a V6, 5-speed auto, moonroof, and alloys. It was a beautiful deep, deep, midnight blue with a light grey cloth interior. The center stack trim was a "faux, carbon fiber" plastic trim that actually comes off alot better than the woodgrain I've seen in uplevel models. Trip mileage was 24.1mpg, with about 60% of the trip with the cruise set at 80mph....and the remaining 40% with the cruise set a bit higher at 85mph. Tank range was a comfortable 367 miles to fillup. The new 3.3L V6 and 5-speed combo is a rea…
Last reply by The O.C., -
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Review: 2005 Nissan Xterra A Competent, Capable SUV…Just Keep the Dramamine Handy by z28luvr01 Last week I had the chance to sample a 2005 Nissan Xterra during a five-day vacation to San Diego. I had initially reserved an economy car and seemed destined for a Hyundai Accent, but the Hertz counter at the San Diego airport ran out of economy cars and gave me, presumably, the next smallest vehicle they had available. In any case, I logged several hundred miles on the Xterra, driving between San Marcos (my hotel location), La Jolla, and the major San Diego attractions, and I take this opportunity to report my impressions of Nissan’s smallest SUV. Exterior The Xte…
Last reply by tama z71, -
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I went by the Hyundai/Subaru/Mazda store today specifically to look at the Genesis Coupe. They had 3 on the lot (and 1 more that was out on a test-drive when I got there) but the one I was immediately drawn to was a Lime Rock Green 2.0T. There was a red 3.8 on the lot too, and 306hp is obviously better than 210, but I drove the green one anyways, since I was most interested to see how Hyundai does a turbocharged 4cyl. The other one was a Nordschleife Gray 4cyl manual, it was the best looking of the bunch. First Impression: The is a very attractive car in person. Its well proportioned and inoffensive, while the window dip at least keeps things interesting. Inside th…
Last reply by Dragon, -
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will get this review up later
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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As summer days begin to shorten, three of us decided to take a few days and travel through Jasper and part of Banff national parks. With neither of us wanting to rack up those rough kilometers on our vehicles it was apparent that we would be renting a car. With an internet reservation in hand I walked in to the Alamo and waited for the car I would be awarded in the car lottery. I wanted something compact and expected a Cobalt, Corolla or a Focus, I was pleasantly surprised when he handed me the keys to a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The Striking features of the Caliber along with the success of the Magnum and the 300 had me wanting to drive one for some time. The car was a mid…
Last reply by CMG, -
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I have an '06 HHR LT for the week here in Phoenix (3.000 miles on it) and I'm VERY impressed! The HHR is a fine ride and a nice example of how GM can do something right when they want to. This rental car is a fully-loaded HHR with the 2.4L, leather, moonroof, 17-inch wheels. Highs: Mostly (explained later) smooth and refined powertrain. Good ride-and-handling compromise. Quality feel on the road. Very usable interior roominess. Lows: VERY annoying engine/tranny whine upon any measurable acceleration. Electric steering, while improved, is still too vague and loosey-goosey. Interior fit-and-finish of plastic panels on the interior is very poor. Overall: A …
Last reply by Northstar, -
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Alright the car is comming up on one year in my ownership, i've had it since May 16th 2005, and i figured id give a review on it, and i promise to be as unbiased as i possibly can. I received the car with 5002 miles on it, now it has 13287. Ill address the miscellaneous problems first. Every now and then i do here a random rattling of something, most of the time i figure out its just one of my CD cases rattling aorund in the glove box, but occassionally it is something else, tho it seems to go away after a while. Also the sunroof occassionally cracks, not as in the glass cracks, it just makes a loud crack noise, its either something falling ontop of it or something el…
Last reply by BB_454, -
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My wife's Cobalt Sport is at 140,000 miles and it's starting to nickle and dime her. It's been efficient (29 mpg average mostly highway) with a bulletproof powertrain (2.4L/4A), but it's loud, it's ugly inside, and it's run its course. Besides, it's not fitting of a young woman with a doctorate in pharmacy making good money. Her requirements for her next car were: -small/maneuverable -more efficient with longer range between fill-ups -peppy acceleration (Cobalt had a reasonable 173 hp) -good for highway commuting -decent tech features like good stereo, heated seats, remote start -reasonably nice inside and out -light color interior (tired of burning her …
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Driven, Buick Regal CXL and CXL Turbo. More specifics later. Drove each of them. I will rate highs and lows as they pertain to both or to each of them. I will rewrite this more legibly as I have more time. HIGHS "Right size" car "Intimate" but not "claustrophic" interior cabin Lots of standard content quiet tuned! (let's have a conversation, honey) Styling, inside and out Solid build quality, inside and out Comfortable seating, very adjustable power seats Genuinely sophisticated and quality demeanor gauges and displays are dead on in the perfect spots. fantastic 'touch points' (stalks, door pulls, wheel, SWAC, center stack, shifter) steering wheel, with on…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Back-to-Back: 2010 Chevrolet Traverse 2LT and 2010 Honda Odyssey EX-L Silver Spring, MD—Yesterday, my parents and I went out to buy my mom a new car. Her Venture hit 105,xxx miles recently and still had a lot of life left, but the problems were beginning to add up, especially since the intake manifold had begun to fail. Rather than sinking $2000 into a car that was only worth about $4000 anyways, they decided the time had come. We narrowed the choices down to a Traverse 2LT or an Odyssey EX-L, and went to a nearby autopark in Montgomery County to sample both. Our first stop was the Chevrolet dealer. They had an incredible selection, ranging from the base LS to t…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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So.....was in Phoenix today for two meetings and was graced with an '08 Charger rental....800 miles on it....with the <groan> 2.7L V6 engine. This was a base car with cloth, no moonroof, and vinyl covering the steering wheel. I'm reminded of why I like the LX cars. Even in this (very) base trim, this car's overall package is hard to beat. The chassis is solid and tight as a drum, and even the base car goes around corners with almost NO body lean and a complete lack of float on the highway. What about the small V6? Let's just say it's a dog....BUT....if you drive the car like most normal people do, it's quiet, mannerly, and at light-to-part throttle, offers mo…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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NOTES / EDIT: 2.0 and hybrid test drives further down Driven: 2016 Chevrolet Malibu 1LT 1.5, MSRP= 26,790? HIGHS: -RIGHT SIZE interior for the class.....consider the interior space / leg room issues fixed, six footers fit in the back even. Head, leg, hip, shoulders, all the room you need. -Greatly changed center stack no longer is a leg intruder. Room to SPLAY. -NOT A BUNKER. Airy cabin with good views out the front, side, and back -Quiet cabin. Muffles the engine din reasonably well and keeps road and tire noise out, more than you'd expect in this class. -As an example, bumps of any kind do not transmit large 'thunks' into the cabin, even on railroad…
Last reply by cp-the-nerd, -
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This was written in June on another Forum but I decided it would be cool to bring it here as a new member owning a new GM K2XX Just got home after originally going to the dealership looking for Escalades and Denalis.. The Cadillac dealership I went on Thursday to had ONE Escalade that wasn't sold yet, and promised me a 1 month wait if I ordered one. Asking price for the Premium version I built was $87,000. Then I told my salesman that I'd get back to him on Monday if I decided. At the same time I thought.. let me mozy over to the GMC/Buick dealer across the street and look at Denalis. This is what happened: So I go into the GMC/Buick dealer and talked to a salesman…
Last reply by Cmicasa the Great, -
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This car was bought as a repo with 15k miles on it after someone had owned it for 6 months. This cars features include: power windows/locks/mirrors(heated), keyless entry, CD player, 6 speakers, AC, Cruise control Styling: I love the styling. The headlights accent the eggcrate grill excelently. Free flowing lines give the exterior a soft look. Wavey Tailights give a touch of sportyness. I love the short hood and tall trunk and the effect of the cab foward design. The only styling issue is the black door handles. Engine: The old engine was sufficient for this car. It was a 2.4 liter I-4 with 150 hp. Then, in 2002 I got caught in a deep puddle and my car was engulfed …
Last reply by NeonLX, -
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DRIVEN 2013 Ford Fusion 2.5 SE, MSRP, a little north of 25g (no MyFordTouch) HIGHS Aston style on the cheap! A very welcome new look for those weary of the old Fusion Big bodacious car! Feels wide, large and safe, long wheelbase Many trims and price levels, and with discounts and incentives, can be a hell of value 2.5 is tuned well for this new platform, doesn't really fall on it's face even with it being slightly aged. Tranny manipulates the car well and shifts quick, stays in powerband and doesn't hunt or any reprehensible behavior. A very nice balance of open cabin with visibility and seclusion. Views out are pretty well done mostly. Interior plastics and…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DRIVEN: 2019 Chevrolet Malibu 1LT 1.5 with CVT, cloth, MSRP just a little over 29,000 my previous review of current gen Malibus are here, where I cover a lot of the highs and lows. https://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/topic/86223-2016-chevrolet-malibu-1lt-15-update-2-hybrid-20-2lt/ Also in reader rides is a link for my lease experience with a 2016 Malibu LT 1.5 to date (now pushing about 40,000 miles). Therefore, I will try to address what is fresh / different on the 2019 car, most specifically the odd decision to swap out the 6 speed traditional automatic for an all new, in house, GM designed CVT transmission. NEW HIGHS: -Revised new front end c…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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2012 Passat SEL TDI 33,+/- MSRP and 2012 Passat SE 5 cylinder, 25,8xx MSRP HIGHS -stately exterior, looks more expensive than class competitors -large car -classy interior (see commentary) -simply laid out and functional interior -huge inside, by all metrics...leg, head, shoulders, it's all good. -big trunk -nice feeling controls -well organized under the hood (including insulation on battery) -SE trim level better than expected, on par with class -SEL has decent plood and nice seat accents, even SE interior in black is alright with pleather -TDI has some snort (see comments) -TDI, DSG functions pretty well -TDI, you really have little idea you are driving …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Tested 2013 Honda Accord Sedan Sport 4 cylinder automatic CVT, MSRP right around 25 geezels. In the interest of wanting to vet all the media gushing on the new Accord, and having sold cars who had CVT's and dealing with the public reaction daily as well as driving them myself....and as possibly thinking mid size sedan in the future...... I ended up in a shorter than i wanted test of a new 013 Accord. The previous gen Accord did not do much for me, and the combination of weird looks, cheap interior, and NVH and driving issues meant the car never interested me. And pretty much the press as a whole had begun to look away from Honda some as midsize class leader. Even th…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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I had the chance to check out the new Cruze the other day, inside and out. I was unable to get a test drive in, however, as they were closed (and were irresponsible enough to leave it unlocked). Let me start by saying this, I was shocked by the car in a few different ways. The first of which, is the exterior impression. As I walked up to it, I was under the impression this was just a base model. Once my eyes wondered over to the window sticker, clearly, it was nothing of the sort. This one was priced at $24k and some change. The exterior is sorely lacking in details. There was nothing to show this wasn't just a tame, pedestrian model. It wasn't until you looked inside, …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Was It A Mistake To Make A Muscle Car Out Of An SUV? 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS Review AWD LT 1SE Black Exterior / Ebony Interior In the 70’s a muscle car was a large, powerful, fast machine. My father owned a 71 Oldsmobile Cutlass S (badge brother to the Pontiac GTO and Chevrolet Chevelle) Unfortunately it was totaled and pie-wedged as a Big Rig ran over it, but by all descriptions it was fast as hell! It was simple back then: engine, transmission and speed. Of course as the RPM’s went up the gas gauge went down and that car “could pass everything but a gas station.” In this age of high gas prices this would seem to indicate that the age of the pony car …
Last reply by chevynj, -
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2011 BMW 535i xDrive I’m going to admit something slightly embarrassing here in the hopes that other people out there, who suffer from the same thing, won’t feel so alone. OK, here goes. I’m a virgin. …a BMW-virgin. I’ve driven many Audis, Vokswagens, Mazdas, Infinitis, Cadillacs and even a few Porsches, but never a car with the blue and white roundel on the hood. All that changes today as I step into the new, 2011 BMW 5-series. Today, I become a man. Or, something… What Works Good news first. The 535i is packing a 3.0L, inline 6 cylinder motor with a twin-scroll turbocharger, and it likes to party. Its’ 300hp will get you to 60mph in about 5.5 seconds, and a $…
Last reply by bobo, -
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2011 Ford Taurus SEL FWD (Rapid Spec 401A) The Story... Last Saturday I spent the day in a family members 2011 Ford Taurus SEL FWD Rapid Spec 401A with the 3.5L Duratec 35 V6 and six speed select shift automatic. This Taurus listed for $28,895.00 and was painted in Kona Blue Metallic with 18 inch alloy wheels, along with a long list of great features, that I will talk more about next. The Features & Interior... As an American car fan, but one who prefers GM some of things I have to say are hard for me to accept but I must. The Taurus SEL with the Rapid Spec 401A which adds Sync and rear parking assist is a great fullsize FWD sedan full of many neat featur…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Interactive Review: 2010 Ford Edge SEL Well it's the last model year before the new Ford Edge, but since I got one for a 4 day rental with just 1,000 miles on the odometer, I thought this would still be a good candidate for an interactive review. So you have till Monday morning to get your questions in.
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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The truck for those who want a truck 2004 GMC Canyon Z71 A Tama Review Accurate assessments of the GMC Canyon have been few and far between. More power! Bigger cabin! Isuzu? These and other cries of misinformation would leave the media sheep to believe that this little piss-bucket is yet another sign of GM’s inability to shake its old ways. Despite having been on the market since December of 2003, this truck has been misrepresented even by those who would defend it. The constant flow of inaccuracies about the GMT-355 twins pains me, and it pains me to the point where I feel the need to forego hour’s worth of study hall time this past week in order to assemble a co…
Last reply by tama z71, -
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The Automobile 1996 Plymouth Breeze. After a lengthy search for a "worthy" automobile to replace my failing Monte Carlo, I discovered this Medium Fern (sage green) Breeze at a local dealership with only 68,000 miles on the clock. History/Lineage The Breeze was one of the cloud car triplets introduced in 1995 to replace the aged A-body, K-derived Chrysler LeBaron, Dodge Spirit, and Plymouth Acclaim sedans. Its archtecture is known as JA. Styling With a unique cab-forward design, the Breeze's fluid, flowing appearance was radical and unlike anything else on the road. It lacked a defined three-box design so common to its competitors. In 2006, this sort of design is copi…
Last reply by MyerShift, -
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Year: 1976 Make: Chevrolet Model: C10 Engine: (original, 350cid, 2bbl Rochester) 350cid bored .040 over, 4bbl Holley Transmission: Turbo-Hydramatic 350 Differential: GM 10-bolt with stock 3.43 gears All right, as the third-generation owner of this truck, I feel it only fitting to be the one that gives it a 30-year review of its performance. The truck is a fleetside, long-wheel base, C10 Custom Deluxe (similar to the W/T trucks of today for y'all that don't know). It was purchased in April of 1976 from the Chevrolet dealership in Greenville, Alabama by my grandfather, Clarence E. Gladwell for 3,300-ish dollars (still have the original bill of sales in the…
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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I bought this used 2007 red V6 LT Malibu in January 2008 with 27K miles and have logged over 16K miles which translates to a current odometer reading of 43K miles. [/size]Driving Impression: The 2007 Malibu LT is a solid enough driving car with competent handling, a smooth ride and light steering that is easy to maneuver in parking lots. The driving position is perfect for my average frame and the telescoping wheel allows me to move the seat forward a little to preserve rear seat legroom. The drivers seat is comfortable, even after 8 hours of driving. Everything is within easy reach for the most part but I wish you can see both the clock and radio station display at t…
Last reply by vonVeezelsnider, -
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NOTE: I was dumb enough not to bring my camera along for this test drive, so this Edmunds stock photo will have to do. More to come! Exterior I wouldn't be the first to suggest that the HHR looks like a more muscular PT Cruiser. That formality aside, the HHR's styling is pretty good to my eyes. Tall, boxy and, most importantly, it looks pretty unique parked in a lot full of Impalas. Those who are attempting to wean themselves off of SUVs will find the HHR's bold chrome grille and trucky stance especially inviting. One feature I thought was really nifty: The gas cap is flush with the body, but, rather than pressing a release inside, you push the cap in to release it, …
Last reply by Polish_Kris, -
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At the New England International Ford was having an offer to Test Drive one of their vehicles and receive a $50 MasterCard gift card. I figured: sweet, getting paid to drive a new car, its win/win. With all of the Christmas shopping and such I kind of got sidetracked, but today I finally went down to the local Lincoln-Mercury dealer to take an MKS for a spin. I got to drive a red MKS with all-black leather interior. The exterior of the car is quite handsome. It’s not gorgeous nor is it eye bold like a 300C, but the proportions are nice for a FWD based car, and the lines are pleasing to the eye. I appreciated the details of the exterior, such as the thin sliver of chrom…
Last reply by vonVeezelsnider, -
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DRIVEN: 2017 Cadillac XT5 Luxury 3.6 AWD (preowned vehicle review) HIGHS: -the 3.6 in this GM vehicle is decently powerful. -nice comfortable seats, good cabin space -dash design and layout is simple and effective -good commanding view of the road. -i do dig the steering wheel -floats along like Cadillacs of yore, sort of, give it credit for good comfort. LOWS: -milk -toast -What are you getting here any different than a trimmed out Ford Edge? -Doesn't feel like a luxury vehicle (to me) even though it is 'nice'. -Vehicle is bulky and not really nimble. -leather and plastics need to improve in quality an…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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2006 Chevrolet HHR 2LT review Could Lutz be right? Could the HHR be a gotta have? For our household it is. In little over 2 weeks we have already over 2300 miles our car/suv/wagon and we love it. Exterior The HHR is a love or hate type of design. Many find the “old” school look to be outdated, others find it a fresh redo of a great original. We find it to be a useful design with some fun old time looks that stands out among the look alike Asian products. Like it or hate it, the design does show just how far modern vehicle design can go with it’s clam shell type hood and bulging panels. The small exterior windows do take some getting used too, as it provides a sh…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
Test drove a new 2010 Subaru Legacy base and 2010 Ford Fusion SE today. Both with four cylinder and manual trans. Since I rarely finish what i start, I will try to just be more brief than usual. Since I drove them back to back it is interesting to have them to compare to each other. First off, the 2010 Ford Fusion SE. 2.5l 4 6 speed manual trans. The car was not equipped with the 18" wheels and Monochrome sport package and what i presume to be tighter suspension. I was disappointed that I could not try that. I have driven the 2010 Fusion this exact way before but figured it would be ok to drive it again. The Fusion is a known commodity and everyone I think will a…
Last reply by Cory Wolfe, -
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review coming. here is the review I did back in 2012 http://www.cheersandgears.com/topic/76589-2012-vw-passat-tdi-sel-and-gas-se/?hl=passat
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Well, I had to trip it this weekend, 1000 miles and didn't want to take the Aztek. That, and the Aztek and Taurus X would net about 20 mpg on the trip. So I did the math and decided to rent a car. I made the reservation for a full size and Hertz, thinking I would get what I wanted, a Chevy Malibu. Of course, you can only bet, not choose, and I got STUCK with a new (200 miles on the odo) Nissan Altima S. 4 cyl, white. Gonna go retrieve it soon and do part of the trip this evening. I am not that upset about the Altima, since my main motive was to save gas. I understand the Altima with CVT gets really good highway mpg and in that regard it should be bang on for the t…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Damn if it's not a good looking car. In the flesh. Sort of an Alfa Romeo / Infinity cross up, but they did a nice job with it (at 43k with LOTS of stuff on it). Interior was locked but to be honest the inside of it looked surprisingly good as well. Lots of surface development and good basic layout. Strangely, the rear seat bottom is very deep, so there will be more leg room back there than meets the eye. There is some Korea faux German finishes and switchgear in there you can detect through the glass, but still, why is this a nicer interior than in most Cadillacs? Knowing that anyone with a beating heart and chromosomes can get credit on a Hyundai, they wel…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Quite frankly I’ve seen some bonehead moves in the auto industry over the last 35 years.. but this one might just take the cake. I’m not gonna speak on crazy comebacks that didn’t get enough attention and they crashed and burned like the Oldsmobile debacle.. and how GM was gonna rename the company Aurora.. put out class leading cars like the Aurora, Intrigue and Alero.. then killed the division. We won’t talk about the super cool Trofeo Toronada.. or the bend to tree-huggers with killing Hummer instead of simply merging it with GMC. Naaaah.. I’m not gonna bring up the fact that they killed the unanimously voted best sports sedan Chevy SS.. but instead of saying “hey We …
Last reply by David, -
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took in a Smart car.....had never driven one......wow, what a trip. the drive itself, as far as the cabin and visibility, not bad, you feel secure in traffic even though there is not much car. The powertrain is a huge deficit to the car. a small three popper and worthless tranny really make the car a toy. the style and design is neat though. Handling is not all bad! The car does give the impression of a tarted up golf cart but methinks its not all far off into being something interesting. HIGHS- unique, useful and innovative package LOWS- junk powertrain (mostly the tranny), lack of solidity truth is as urban cars its hard to think of a better package. Now inves…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Speeding through a city’s arteries, few vehicles get your blood pumping like Buell’s 1125CR. With a futuristic design and a frame coddling a heart that bleeds Red, White and Blue, this American sportbike is unlike anything else on the road. I step outside from a neighbourhood pub, only to notice an older gentleman poring over my motorcycle. Circling around, his gaze moves from side to side before fixating onto the large disc on the front wheel. Upon my approach, he looks up at me, grinning ear-to-ear. “Well mister, I’ve never seen anything quite like this in my life,” he says. “Where did this bike come from? Area 51?” “It is quite otherworldly, isn’t it?,” I smile. B…
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Bright Chrome Appearance package Cruise Control Leather wrapped steering wheel with redundant controls and bluetooth CD with USB port and AUX input jack Spare tire and wheel Ashtray and lighter Silver Moss with Ebony Sport Cloth MSRP $17,500 GM Employee price $16,125 I hit up GM's vehicle locator service on the net yesterday during my lunch break at work, and lo and behold, there was a car just about exactly like what I've been pricing out on Edmunds ever since the '09 prices have been posted, located at Red Lion Chevrolet in Red Lion, PA, about 45 minutes away from me. It's so rare to find a manual transmission car with options, and without the spoiler…
Last reply by ponchoman49, -
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2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SE G Package The Story... Last Saturday I spent a day in 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SE G Package with the base 3.3L 175hp Flex Fuel V6 and four speed automatic. This van listed for $29,360.00 and was painted in Melbourne Green Pearl with 16 inch alloy wheels, it also had a full list of other toys which I will get into later. This van is my brothers used for his sales job, he trades every 1-2 years for something new. **Side note I will have option of getting it when he is done with it in a year and it has about 60,000 miles on it, and for the right price I would be tempted, provided the old Impala gets enough miles on it.** The Toys... …
Last reply by ShadowDog, -
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2006 PONTIAC G6 V6 - 1-year Update By: ToniCipriani It's been one year and a two months on the road for my G6. Things have gone much better than the first 6 months, maybe because my car is finally broken in. Engine is a smooth cruiser, and runs leaner than last year on average. I've sort of changed my driving style a bit, and I've been hammering the engine quite often lately. Yet it still provides me a decent 10L / 100km fuel economy, in mixed driving conditions. The problems I mentioned 6 months ago seemed to have gone away, or lessened to a certain extent. The radio problem was gone, ambient temperature now reads correctly, but the engine hot crank issue seems to b…
Last reply by avant1963, -
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First Drive & Ride: Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 & Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com August 22, 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 What happens when you drop a Jeep Grand Cherokee off at Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology workshop and tell the SRT engineers to have at it? You get the dark and monstrous Grand Cherokee SRT8. On the outside; the Grand Cherokee SRT8 has a lower stance, flared out fenders, a hood with scoops to help cool down the engine, 20 inch wheels wrapped in massive Pirelli PZero tires, and design bits give it an impression of don't mess with me. Inside the SRT8, its a combination of l…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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Vehicle: 2013 Chevrolet Spark LT Colors: Blue Denim Metallic, Black Leatherette MSRP: $N/A (rental vehicle) So here I am on day #2 having a 2013 Chevrolet Spark LT rental vehicle while my wife's 2008 Pontiac G6 V6 Sedan is at the dealer for some warranty repairs (have been doing a punch list of items since early winter; the extended warranty expires in 8 days!). My choice of rental was either a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze LT sedan in black or this Denim Blue Metallic Spark LT - since the wife has been on a small car test-drive kick this year (a previous rental was a '13 Ford Fiesta), I selected the Spark. My drive home with it Monday evening on local roadways was not too ba…
Last reply by Z-06, -
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So I didn't drive it but checked out a Dodge dart at the local dodge dealer...had a few minutes to kill and thought the car looked interesting. Liked: Paint quality was good, probably better than average for a new car. Exterior has really sharp styling. Car is sized nicely, should be easy to park and is a nice balance with need for interior room. Really well packaged. Love the fact that it's available in a manual Reports of 40 mpg plus from reviewers and owners make the car maybe worth a look at some point. Disliked- Interior is nice, but poorly assembled. Car had been at the dealership for a week or so and several interior trim pieces were already starting to c…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Extended Drive On Wheels: 2006 Mazda6 i I-4 Proof that bigger isn’t always better With sales of its midsize Millenia and 626 tanking, Mazda introduced a very important car for itself in 2004-the Mazda6. A brand-new car riding a brand-new platform, the 6 gave Mazda a much more dynamic, appealing entry into a market long-dominated by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. While it hasn’t replaced either as a best-seller, the 6 gives Toyota and Honda a very legitimate reason to be afraid, for them to be very afraid. Exterior While the Millenia was an attractive car in its final years, there is no comparison as to which looks better. The 6, when fully dressed up, is one of …
Last reply by ToniCipriani, -
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(edit: down several posts is the review----here http://www.cheersandgears.com/topic/84699-2015-jeep-renegade/page-3#entry763643 ) ----- note: I went to get my first oil change on my new Town and Country and the dship had a new Renegade on the showfloor. After checking it out, I intend to take a test drive soon. I didn't realize it would have the option for a stick, and on both FWD and AWD. Otherwise the 2.4 engine will sell the most since that is how you get an automatic. So this for now is just an impression on sitting in it and seeing it in person, and especially with it right next to the lame Compass, I can tell you what looks cheeky and cartooni…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Over the last couple weeks, I've had two Impalas from Alamo for rent..over Memorial Day weekend, 3 days with a white w/ neutral interior one in the Indianapolis area and this past weekend a black w/ black interior one in the Denver area. I had driven an '07 Impala a few years ago as a rental, these were pretty similar. Pros--spacious inside, big trunk, reasonably quiet and smooth. Overall, the ergonomics and seat adjustment were fine for me, the steering feel, brakes, etc seemed ok. Outward visibility was better than the Malibu I drove last year. Cons--a few quirks..the turn signal/wiper stalk combo was odd to me, I found myself turning on the signals when trying…
Last reply by PurdueGuy, -
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I know y'all have been waiting for this one (right). I did this one a couple weeks ago. Let me explain. I was at a used dealer scoping out something and they had a used 2011 Kia Sedona cranberry red sitting there. Always sort of looking at family cars, I asked if I could grab some keys and so I took it for a quick spin. Reason: I had read that the Sedona had inherited the revisions to the corporate Kia v6 as well as the 6 speed automatic. So I wanted to see how refined and what sort of nuts it had since i had read an article about it recently. HIGHS Strong, smooth powertrain Space Value for the dollar 'Good' level of refinement Visibility Decent basic interio…
Last reply by Maxy, -
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C&G Drives: 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible By z28luvr01 If you've read my report of the New York International Auto Show press days, you know that during my time there I gained quite a respect for the Saab brand, its history, and its fans. Despite my newfound appreciation for all things jet-inspired, I still didn't have enough of a reason to actually head down to a dealer and try one out. The push I needed came last week, wrapped in the latest edition of Bicycling magazine. Nestled between pages 48 and 49 was a coupon for a free cycling jersey upon test-driving any new Saab. I make the trip to Saab of Smithtown, some 13 miles from my house. When I arrive I decide …
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Tryin to catch up on reviews! Today I had some free time cuz the wife took the day off so I spun out to survey the new 2011 Kia Sorento. For 2011, Kia has updated one of their signature and most popular models by moving to a new platform that is car / crossover based in hopes of giving the Sorento a more modern crossover appeal. This is what renewed the interest for me in the vehicle. That, and very attractive pricing and value in addition to handsome, if a bit bland, new styling. For me in particular, having two crossovers in the garage (Aztek, one of the original crossovers, and a Ford Taurus X), i feel I am the type of shopper companies target with these kinds of …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Driven 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE fwd babyish blue CVT 24+/- MSRP (including several add on packages primarily with extra trim and stuff) HIGHS Excellent front row seats. Great cloth, perfectly shaped, very adjustable, lots of leg, shoulder and hip room. Great cockpit, great view of gauges, steering wheels falls to hand perfectly, window switches etc. Large and useful side view mirrors. Great view out the front. Nice gauges, simply and easy climate controls with auto temp. Option package added illumination, cool shift knob, and piano black trim. Overall interior dash and door plastics and trim are very good. Nice looking rig, not freakish. Plastic fr…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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The LA Auto Show will be the home for the debut of the 2017 Buick LaCrosse next month. To mark the announcement, Buick has released a teaser of the next LaCrosse. The picture reveals a front end similar to the Avenir concept shown at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year with a new three-color tri-shield insignia set on a wing-shaped element. “The Avenir concept shattered expectations of what a Buick could be and the 2017 LaCrosse promises to do the same. Its expressive design represents a break from convention and highlights the progressiveness in all new Buick models,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick. Buick goes on to say that the 2017 LaCrosse…
Last reply by SuperDuper, -
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DRIVEN: 2019 Cadillac XT4 Premium Luxury AWD 2.0t, sticker north of 50 for sure HIGHS: -Pretty spot on size for compact class for Cadillac, this will be easy to park for urban dwellers or those who park in ramps. -A Cadillac with some personality, whoa. -Despite what you've read, this is actually a smooth engine, and it revs nicely. -I felt the acceleration was very good and more than I expected following reviews I've read. And the transmission really kicked down nicely when i needed it. -Very nice responsive steering. Perfect quickness and a very nice size steering wheel to work with. This wasn't a sport model yet to me this is sportier t…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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So, first off...my bad. I thought it was a Colorado...never really paid attention to the truck until today. It''s a 2005 (I believe) GMC Canyon regular cab with with a 4x4 Off Road package (I don't know the technical name). Overall I enjoyed it, albeit with a few somewhat important reservations. Exterior: I've always felt that these were attractive trucks, even if the front fascia could have been better integrated. I like the fender flares. I myself prefer the look of extended or crew cab shortbed trucks, but it certainly wasn't ugly. Interior: While it's no Cadillac, I didn't have a problem with the interior. The door panel armrest and area around it were pad…
Last reply by cletus8269, -
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Last reply by Flybrian, -
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I've spent about a week in a Caliber SXT rental......and this review can tag along with Cremazie's...... Let's get to the bad stuff first......I HATE the CVT (as I've hated most of them) in this car. It really seems to rob the car of power....it's awkward-feeling....and none too smooth. You really miss the kind off "step-off" from idle that you get in a torque-converter automatic. The car just kind of ooooozes away from a stop. That being said, while the car feels heavy, the engine seems to have decent power for a 4-banger in the midrange. I was surprised at how smooth the 2.0L is.....at idle and on acceleration there is very little buzz or vibration even noticeab…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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My step-son decided pretty late in the game to attend his senior prom last Friday (May 11). His original plan was to go with his friends in a stretch Chrysler 300 limo, but with his indesiciveness about attending, his friends replaced him with another couple. When he finally made the decision to go, it was too late for finding an affordable limo in short time (less than two weeks). In comes step-dad with the decision to rent a "luxury" car from Enterprise Rent-a-Car and offer my chauffer services for the evening (you must be 21 with a large fee to drive a rental car in NJ; 25 without the fee). I was hoping to end up with a Cadillac DTS or CTS, but being a holiday weeke…
Last reply by ponchoman49, -
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Ok, it's the end of summer and I want to take a few road trips before it gets colder. My sled is old, so I think I will take an Alamo rental into the "low" Sierra for a couple of weekend days to plunk myself onto an air mattress and enjoy the sun for a mere $ 22 a day....and collect some frequent flyer miles in the process. My reservation for a compact turned out to be a chance to try a Cobalt for over 200 miles. Mine was that electric blue with a hint of purple. The little sedan is pleasing to the eye. The front grille is definitely an improvement and the greenhouse with the sweepback in the rear passenger compartment side window is a departure from the ordinary, w…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Through the last few years, and many automotive ventures, I've had the pleasure of living with endless long term rental vehicles for thousands of miles each. Typically, this has meant anywhere from 3000-6500 miles a piece, before swapping or exchanging for the next. Road warrior, randoms. I'm changing roles tomorrow, and will now be driving manufacturer demo's for long term. My "last rental finale?"... 2019 Cadillac XTS. Picked up yesterday. After putting 3,900 miles on a 2019 Ram 1500 Classic (LOVED it), Enterprise asked me if I'd do them a favor and take one of their leftover XTS's on my one way "get rid of it" trip. Interesting car...for sure..…
Last reply by caddycruiser, -
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Hi all, I am writing a review of my Malibu SS sedan. I got this car about 6 weeks ago and I love it more and more every time I drive it. Lets do this by categories like Dsuupr did… Exterior- In my opinion the normal Malibu, while very solid reliable transportation is about as boring a bread and butter sedan can get. The SS looks like a completely different car. The high polish 18 inch wheels really fill up the wheel wells, and look really nice when they are clean and shinny against my car’s black paint job. The new front clip looks very aggressive with a hint of Subaru styling. The rear end looks nicer with the absence of the chrome bar, a new rear bumper and h…
Last reply by intrigued,
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