Reader Reviews

Got a real brief drive in a 12 Focus. Hadn't drove one yet. Wowzers, nice! Quick notes: HIGHS: Sweet cabin. Nice plastics and design. Comfy seats. Great dash. Zippy, thought the dual clutch auto was alright! MyFord Touch has lots of features........ Sweet handling, nice ride Feels premium "Intimate" LOWS: MyFord Touch I can see, can be super buggy and a pain. Way too many buttons all around. Buzzy engine.....should be smoother Back seat looked tight, not as tight as I thought though (too) "intimate" for some Ford is putting money the hood of these now.....sweet little cars! I thought I would like a Cruze.....but......... Can't wait to see how the Fus…

So my girlfriend and I decided to check out an auto auction, since I'min the market for a new car...I figured why not. There were plenty of cars there, some were great and some were not so great...and one died on me (`98 Plymouth Voyager's tranny gave out...it got left in the middle of the parking lot). I had fun test driving the assortment of vehicles, and among them were 2 Mazda Millenias. The First Millenia: I must it admit, it is a very nice looking car in person, and it had a very nice set of wheels. It was bluish/green. It had plenty of nice features like power everything, leather, and automatic climate control. The first problem I saw was that the cup…

DRIVEN: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas 3.6L V6 SE w/Technology A8 SUV MSRP $40,285 HIGHS: FINALLY something to drive real traffic in a VW showroom!!! Really, this (and the new Tiguan) will save Volkswagen and make them relevant again. After a second consideration, this is a very crisp, conservative shape that will play well in its market. Bland, sure, and a bit truckish perhaps, but that's what it wants to be. A+ on vehicle packaging. Considering the physical size, and usage of space; 3 spacious rows, usable cargo, great seating options. Second row slides forward and backward. Genius how it can tilt forward for good access to third row, which can ha…

DRIVEN: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox 2.0T AWD LT HIGHS: 2.0t engine is relatively well behaved and mated well to 9 speed automatic. Move the Equinox pretty well and without fuss, four a four cylinder. Should be good for more than just in town errands. Rear row seats are very supportive, placed at a good height, and are nicely comfortable. Cargo area manages to be about the same as the previous version. Crazy considering how much smaller the vehicle is. Interior contains all the style and function upgrades of the new Malibu, like switches, gauges, etc. The size of the vehicle will work well for those who need something that is easy to get around…

Philly auto show is a small one without big unveilings but I work about 40 minutes drive from Philly so left work early yesterday to take a look. So here few of my thoughts. Subaru Ascent - I have to say I was somewhat disappointed. Externally it looks more awkward than in pictures, it is like somebody took Forester and did a 150% copy. At the show they had Limited model, not sure if it is top of the line or not but interior looked just ok. Front seats felt pretty comfortable. Second row doesn’t have a lot of leg room, and third row is tight. My legs were crammed to the second row seat backs as bad as in MDX for example. The only thing due to a more square des…

TESTED: 2015 Subaru Legacy AWD 2.5i Premium MSRP 25,045 HIGHS -a natural and successful evolution of the.....successful previous generation. If you liked the last one, you will like this one -significant powertrain enhancements with the CVT, power delivery, fuel economy, and general drivability. -impressive CVT functioning. It really is ok to own a car with a CVT now! Simulated stepped automatic works well, and overall a lot of folks may not be able to tell the difference from a traditional automatic. -interior, which looks dreadful and cheap in pictures, is actually fairly decent and a bit of an upgrade over the previous model -evolved styling is a bit…

---to fill in later tonight--- overall, nicely improved. good value.

So as you all may know, I bought a 2014 4Runner Trail Edition Premium a few months ago. I gave some first impressions and thoughts on it when I got it, but this is going to be a look at what I've experienced over the last few months, what I like, and what I don't. Let me start by saying I'm still glad I bought it, and I'm still enjoying it. It really takes a lot of stress off me over keeping it clean and immaculate at all times like I did my BMW. That's not to say I trash it, but I got Weathertech mats, so I don't mind to get in with dirty shoes. I don't care if there's bugs splattered on the front, or water spots after it rains. I don't feel the urge to wash it every…

previous review of a 2013 Encore by me here DRIVEN 2017 Buick Encore Essence AWD Leather 1.4t (about 7k miles) HIGHS Still has distinct and snazzy styling. Interior updates made a nice interior even nicer, despite random cheaper plastics. retains the popular crossover friendly seat height and step in. Still a good view all around. No cabin claustrophobia here. Still greatly manueverable and parkable. Still a very good amount of room inside in the passenger compartment (GM does not typically package interior space real effectively for every vehicle) Reasonably quite inside, thanks to Quiet Tuning. Decently quiet while cr…

I was in the Sunshine State for Easter and the car had to go one way out of the state for a really good rate, so I returned it to Atlanta. I arrived in Florida and the selection of cars was really dismal, for what I like, that I almost just took a Focus from the pick your car line. However, I took a Camry. I didn't really like that car. With 29,000 miles on it, it idled roughly with the air conditioner on. Worse yet, there was no fob on the key ring. I figured that out when I tried to pull my stuff out of the trunk. I had to use the key for the front door and then use the inside release just to open the trunk. However, I was tired and went to sleep. The next …

DRIVEN 2016 Buick Envision Premium I 2.0t AWD 15k miles HIGHS -One of the more favorable impressions of me with the oft used 2.0t in a GM vehicle. A very strong point on this vehicle. It fit the character of the vehicle well. Smooth, nice power and torque, and tranny behaved well. It sort of changed my impression of that powertrain as it seemed to fit here better as opposed to being in a 'sport sedan'. -Comfy seats (with nice leather and design), this is supposed to be what Buick is for. And feels very solid. -Quiet cabin, this is supposed to be what Buick is for. -Supple ride and very smooth steering, this is supposed to be what Buick…

A swiss army knife in a really big box. Makes a great case for the modern 'mini'van. DRIVEN 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT (rental, amassed about 500 miles). No idea what the MSRP was, guessing close to 30k. HIGHS Pentastar is a Rock Star. Fabulous engine. Kicks down great, linear power. Cruises smooth. Pentastar is a Track Star. Vehicle chews up and spits out miles. If you need more room and space, then I don't know what to tell ya. Extended console creates a cockpit feel in a van, and the dash layout it great. Dash mounted shifter quickly becomes second nature, and functions quite well. SXT finally gives you the ability to customize your seatin…

Here's a couple pictures of Buick Envisions I took while out at some lots today. Through the window glass, the interior looks to be as nice as it seems in pictures, but perhaps less spacious feeling than the outgoing Envision...perhaps mainly due to a less tall cabin.

Whoa! Didn’t know the Compass got an interior redo for 22! This is a game changer! Why does anyone even look at GM stuff anymore? Nice interior!

Managed to capture a couple pics of the all new 2022 Acura MDX today. Interior looks wider than before, the dash is interesting. Not sure if I dig the console or not. Side flanks of vehicle quite boring and doesn't really give away what brand of vehicle it is. Should appeal to someone who wants a sporty Honda type vehicle and not a blah Pilot or Passport. I wonder if drivers will like the touchpad and weird console and lack of touchscreen.

This rental consisted of a much welcomed upgrade from a compact and being upgraded to a full-size though, in my estimation, this Toyota Camry base sedan looks more like a mid-size to me. That's based on full-sizes looking more like American boulevardiers. They didn't have many cars ... just a lot of SUVs, so I asked for something with a bona fide trunk. Better yet, I got to enjoy having this car in a temperate climate when winter is treating other parts of the country more harshly. I've reviewed this vehicle before, and appended many photos. This is a brief update highlighting pros and cons. PROS: - A 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine with an 8 speed automatic…

Another rental of a smaller sedan with an automatic transmission brought on an upgrade. The vehicle offered was the VW T-Cross SUV. I took a quick look at the phone and went with it. VW makes 2 smaller SUVs with the T in their names, meaning the T-Cross and the T-Roc. It quickly came across that the T-Cross was going to be easy to live with. The proportions would be more workable for Southern Italy. The interior has that spartan but fleshed out enough with comforts and accessories currently found in many VW products. Not only that, the layout of the dashboard and controls allows for quick driver familiarization. Driving out of the rental lot showed more de…

Have had some test drives and lot pics recently I just haven't had time to write or post about. It seems like car shopping is even harder than ever. There should be demo test drive locations where you can simply sample the car and not have to waste so much time. Reserve a few demos of the most popular configs of a car model and most reasonable people can get the first feel of if they like something or not from a self directed test drive at their leisure and not just a canned 4 minute route without a high speed road. Post covid also, a seeming drop in attitudes of the collective sales force. I say that, having done the car sales thing and knowing what sucks about the …

Generally speaking, I prefer not to drive a rental car in Europe unless it has an automatic transmission. That allows a person to pay more attention to the nutty or aggressive drivers than on timing the clutch in tricky situations. Now, even with an automatic transmission, I would not drive in left-hand drive countries - UK, IE, or Malta. Period. Automatics are more readily available and larger cars over there. And they cost more. That slims how many econoboxes with automatics are available as rentals. The icon on my rental reservation indicated a Smart coupe, which would have been fine for 5 days. Instead, I was given a Toyota Aygo. The tiny Toyota had a…

For comparison, see my previous review of the Atlas 3.6 SE here DRIVEN: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas 2.0t S FWD, $32,030 HIGHS: A conservative, butch, truckish shape that works well for the large 3 row crossover segment, on VW's first honest try. A+ on vehicle packaging. Considering the physical size, and usage of space; 3 spacious rows, usable cargo, great seating options (still applies). Very easy to get in and out of. Second row slides forward and backward. Genius how it can tilt forward for good access to third row, which can have real leg room for adults when all three rows are set up well. (still applies) Seating height in second row and l…

DRIVEN: 2020 Ford Explorer XLT 2.3 Ecoboost 4WD MSRP 39,770 HIGHS: -Complete redesign is sharp looking in the flesh, while still familiar and identifiable as an Explorer at the same time -Size was not sacrificed in the redesign, the Explorer is still a nice large vehicle in a time where EPA pressures are forcing smaller vehicles. -New RWD architecture dramatically improves space efficiency and driving feel all at the same time. That combination almost never has been able to exist before. Truly a complete beneficial ground up redesign. -2.3 Ecoboost now mated to new 10 speed automatic has nice pep and verve for most drivers, sounds good and sm…

2017 Cruze Hatchback Premier (1.4T/6A) Odo - 8051 mi We just took the Cruze on a 1,000 mile road trip (from Baltimore to Myrtle Beach and back) and this was my first extended, in-depth experience driving and living with the car for a week. I'll break down the review into sections if you want to skip around. Fuel Economy (EPA rated 28 city/37 highway): *Premium gas/mobil 1 oil used. Manual recommends regular gas, dexos approved synthetic oil. On our trip, we achieved 39.3 mpg leaving Baltimore and 41.0 mpg coming back, based on the gauge cluster. My wife reports that it's fairly accurate, if optimistic by an mpg. Hand calculation is pretty much out the window be…

Since my dealer thought my oil pan might be leaking again on my 16 Malibu, I brought it in for them to fix it (turns out they said it wasn't but after an ECU update my autostop doesn't work now either) but in any case they gave me a loaner sedan Cruze which I didn't drive the tar out of but logged about 50 miles driving home and back. It was an LT with basic wheels (not sure if 16" or 17") and cloth heated seats. The small 7 inch touchscreen also and driver's power seat also. No blind spot or cross path or any other notable newer equipment. Engine was the 1.4t gas and likely the 6 speed automatic. It is also interesting to see how my thoughts match or contrast when i…

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 …

Will start with this one now and fill in / edit more later. Tested 2013 Chevy Malibu 1LT Had a chance to put a few miles on a new Malibu yesterday. I probably did not get a chance to make note of all I wanted to. But in any case, it was a good drive. I really wanted to just test an LS, but the 1LT was what was available. I enjoyed the car a lot. I think there is just enough room left for improvement and it is improved quite a bit over the 2008-2012...which now seems not as appealing in pretty much in every real way. 13 is not quite as nice as the Regal, still (engine perhaps not withstanding). ------ HIGHS -new engine revs nicely and vibrations are damped. -plenty of…

I won't write this as long as my other reviews. At the auto show a few weeks ago, they had a way for people to test drive (a few city blocks) some of the new vehicles. I managed a little time in a new leather optioned Equinox diesel. I had been wanting to try out the new GM diesel. I'm not a huge fan of the new Equinox, but could the diesel engine in fact be the way to go? It helped that this Equinox was trimmed out nicely. Even had the BAMR (big ass moon roof). As a contrast to my quite loathed test drive of a 1.5 LS equinox not too long ago, the impression of the vehicle was very different. What had felt cheap and shitty in many ways with the anemic 1.5 …

I won't write this as long as my other reviews. At the auto show a few weeks ago, they had a way for people to test drive (a few city blocks) some of the new vehicles. I managed a little time in a new Chevrolet Bolt EV!! I had been wanting to try out the new Bolt. I'm a fan of the Volt, but could leaving out the gas engine in fact be the way to go? The Volt is small outside, but it's skateboard platform allows for tremendous packaging efficiency. It doesn't seem at first to be much more than something the size of a Sonic or Encore, but it manages to be big enough inside to feel generally spacious. The unique dash and console design returns much space to the…

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…

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…

DRIVEN: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL 2.4 AWD and 2.0t Limited AWD HIGHS: -Pleasant new shape, and a new larger size. Not a tweener anymore. -Value for the dollar. Sticker prices comparable to Equinox / Terrain in a much larger package. Lots of standard safety equipment that is not yet standard in even near lux or lux makes. -Nice space inside, both rows, Nice cabin width, ample leg room, nice driving position with really comfortable seats, even the back seats comfortable. Super hot heated seats. -Not a luxury interior but nice fresh design, and some interesting new materials for non-luxury. Dash plastic is nice, door plastic decent, even the fak…

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…

Sometimes I don't get upgraded, but most of the time I seem to. It's not because I push for it. It's that the rental agencies don't have much inventory so I'm given a nicer car to putt around in. This latest time, I had rented a compact. The only thing I asked for was a vehicle with a trunk ... or, if was going to be a SUV/CUV, that it had the retractable storage area cover. The rental agent was one of the most relaxed people I've ever come across in this line of work. He told me that, with the way the market is going and with the current state of supply and demand, one should opt for a standard car (one notch below full-size) while setting up the rental if a pe…

This has been a long time coming, but wife and I recently relocated to the St Louis, MO area after living about 2 hrs south of here for 4 years. With the relocation came a new job, and the opportunity to do a ton more reviews and whatnot. I am now at a VW dealership that also specializes in doing a lot of high-end pre-owned vehicles, so this is a whole new world for me. I've already driven 911's, AMG's, Bentleys, Astons, etc, etc, but I want to keep this piece focused on VW models. I'm going to keep this fairly basic with a 'good' and 'bad' type rating system for the vehicles. I will try to add and expand when possible as needed.

TESTED 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan Express FWD MSRP 24,830 +/- 3.6 Pentastar v6 6 speed automatic HIGHS powertrain revised interior including good controls and ergonomics things like gauges, radio, climate control, shifter, vastly improved and deliciously simple interior space, duh, it's a huge box decent ride and handling, does not feel like a barge decently quiet inside not terrible visibility considering a big beast of a van lots of folks like STO N GO updated styling outside looks less dowdy, the grille and rear in particular are nice improvements price! / get more value than the price LOWS considering price point, not a bunch really a little bit more noi…

So I set up an appointment for the Civic SI at a local dealer and checked it out They were very clear that due to the special edition nature of the car they would allow no test drives. I have a few impressions to share though.

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 …

So, I've had a good week as far as fun vehicles and test drives go. A quick run-down on a few- Roush Supercharged Raptor with full ICON suspension (3" lift) and 35's- Wow, what a beast. The guy that traded it in said it had 700hp, but he's full of it. Their website says the Stage 1 setup is good for 525hp, and that sounds right. Either way, for a big truck, the thing moved out pretty good. It had no problem lighting up the back 35's and with the headers and full exhaust, it sounded absolutely monstrous. this thing would scare little kids. It was extremely loud, but still sounded really, really good. It was a total chore to drive, though. No way would I want to…

This visit was brought about by getting an oil change and wandering around the sales floor while it was being done. The GMC Yukon of 2021 vintage was at one corner, taking up a lot of room. This one was an SLE yet, somehow, it had cloth interior seating. Pros: - big and roomy, with 3rd row seats - commanding seating position; seating comfort was acceptable - 5.3 liter V8 that puts out over 350 hp, coupled to a geared automatic transmission ... this engine was previously badged a Vortec, but is now an Ecotec product - simple layout of engine bay - nice enough instrument cluster, with dash mounted gear selection through buttons - climat…

DRIVEN: 2020 Chrysler Pacifica AWD Launch Edition: Well, the lease end is approaching soon and time to get into market to see what the newest is in the family haulers. We currently lease a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and its been fantastic. But as you know, the market never stops. And, my curiosity was piqued, to find out that the 2021 Pacifica coming out soon was to arrive with an all wheel drive option! Not that is it always needed, but living in a snow state, all wheel drive can always be a benefit, especially on those really tough stormy days or when you need to get up a slick driveway and need the traction wherever you can get it. And best thing...no functional …

Picked up my rental Sat. morning at Oakland airport, a gold Malibu LT w/ black and gray cloth interior. Put 100 or so miles on it around the Bay area, driving from Oakland airport up to the hotel in Vallejo and over to the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma for Indy Car race yesterday, and up to Sonoma and Napa for some sight-seeing. I had wanted a Charger, but for a free rental, I wasn't going to complain. It was a pleasant and quiet car to drive, the interior materials pretty nice overall (soft touch on some parts of the dash), controls worked well and were intuitive, dash layout easy on the eyes and easy to use, car felt solid and well put together..doors shut w/ a nice sol…

DRIVEN: 2017 Buick LaCrosse Essence 3.6 FWD ; Driver confidence, Sun and Shade, Sights and Sounds. HIGHS: Car looked good in good color combination and 20" wheels Pretty good interior space front and rear... deceiving when you look at it but the leg room in back is nice. Acceptable pull from generally smooth v6 Nice gauge cluster, GM making progress Seats more comfy than I am used to in GM vehicles lately Not wholly serene, but not noisy inside. Nice view in and out of the car. And large panel sunroof helps relieve the cabin of claustrophobia that can be present in many of the smashed roof sedans today. I was ok with most of t…

With some scouring and luck, I was able to get a weekly rental at a price folks were more accustomed to seeing. This was at the end of last month, right around when fall colors peaked in some places. I was booked for a "mid-size," for which the icon showed a Nissan Sentra. Once I got to the rental agency, there was indeed a Nissan Sentra. However, I saw a Ford Fiesta - a "compact" - toward the edge of the lot and asked if I could have that, instead. The rental agent obliged. It was interesting that this was a 2019 and with miles that were low enough to allow it to remain in the rental fleet. For some strange reason, I get a kick out of the Ford Fiesta. It …

We got our first Camaro in yesterday, a Nightfall Gray over Kalahari 8AT 2SS w/ no options. Suffice to say, after all the reviews and positive press, I've been dying to drive one. And I'm happy that we got an SS in as our first car. Of course, I would have loved for it to have been a manual, but I'll take what I can get. More on that in a minute. Starting with the outside, pictures don't do this car justice. Not to how good it looks in the first place, or even how different from the 5th Gen car it looks. There are much more sophisticated design elements at work here than it's predecessor. Think of it as the old design shrunk down to 9/10's, pulled taught over it's ske…

Tested..... 2011 Kia Sportage base. White / black cloth. 4 cylinder motor, front drive, 6 speed manual transmission. MSRP it was like around 20. Highs- Room and Space - Driver and front passenger have ample space. Rear seat is good for kids and teens if legs not too long. Lots of width. Styling - very attractive styling on the exterior (although the base model wheels were a bit of a dud). Decently attractive dash. Features - fairly well equipped even as a base model, USB, bluetooth, SWAC, power everything (some) Ergonomics - steering wheel is nice and falls into hand and gauges are decent to look into. Armrest and drink holders and window switches laid out nicel…

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…

Test- black 2010? Kia Soul Sport, black, red interior. 4 speed auto. Price was like close to 21 grand. Highs Terrific driver and passenger space and seat comfort. Rear seats are even comfortable and seem to have good space. Nice interior materials and plastics....even the red color looked fantastic in bright sun, textures looked rich and detailed and very little offensive gloss. Ergonomics, everything is laid out nicely and all switches and buttons felt great. Climate controls are very nice! Radio fairly easy to search songs on the flash drive when using SWAC and buttons on the radio. Seating position is nice, not SUV high, and a more chairlike than a car. Inter…

FIAT's 500e is an odd vehicle, in that it's one of the industry's better EV efforts and yet it's publicly loathed by FIAT's own CEO. Though sold only in California and Oregon, a number of 500e's are coming off lease, needing new homes. Unlike many Americans in late 2016 who swore they'd move to Canada, FIAT 500e's are actually following through on those plans, aware of Canada's love of cheap and cheerful compacts. Juicy Jolt A couple diminutive expats ended up at a nearby lot, one of which was a bright, juicy orange with a white accented spoiler, air dam and mirrors. Despite being a fairly old vehicle, this colour combination is akin to a Scaramucci-esque…

Ok, this is going to be a little different. No, I did not drive it, but got to spend a decent amount of time riding in the backseat and it is pretty amazing the things you pick out about a vehicle vehicle from back there. Also, since these are the modern equivilent of a station wagon, I think this makes sense. First impression....... The materials are downright awful. Hard plastic on all rear ouch points and the seat fabric seemed overly cheap. Legroom was ok, but not great. Really, my 07 Patriot was on par with the materials found not only in the back, but most places in the vehicle. It was really pretty dreadful. he only interior high-spots were the gauges and …

I picked up my weekend rental this morning..my neighborhood Enterprise was out of luxury cars, so I ended up w/ a silver w/ tan leather interior Yukon. It's the first GMT-900 SUV I've driven. So far, so good. Smooth, comfortable, quiet. About the only nitpick is I haven't found an ideal seat/wheel/pedal position..the steering wheel goes up/down, but no telescoping. Even w/ the seat all the way back (long legs), the pedals seem too close and the wheel too far away...got to fiddle w/ it some this afternoon after work before I hit the road. The various controls are familiar late model GM, quite similar to the Impalas I've driven. Will post more after I get back …

The month of August means higher rental car prices in California, but I somehow managed $22.00 a day for a compact 2 weekends ago. I went up over the Sierra and to Reno for the weekend, so I figured I'd pick up a rental. (I don't gamble, so it was buffet time...damn, my beloved $8.99 breakfast buffet at the Reno Hilton's "The Lodge" has deteriorated since it changed over to the Grand Sierra Resort). I really like the styling changes on the Focus sedan. They've improved its appearance over the last-gen model. I can't say the same for the changes they've made to the coupe. The previous-gen hatchback coupe with the lights up in the rear pillars was unique. I once ren…

I needed a small car for a few days and the rate at a suburban location for a small car was excellent in these times of not so great rates for rental cars. I didn't know whether I'd get an upgrade one or two categories upward, as I sometimes do. I did not. I was given three cars to choose from. I chose a blue Kia Rio S sedan. The Kia Rio is the fraternal twin of the Hyundai Accent. There aren't many differences, and one certainly sees that in the switches, knobs, and readouts on the dashboard, for one. The difference is that, through the roofline, pillars, and even possibly the slope of the rear back lite, the Kia Rio looks like more of a notchback sedan while …

I got a chance to test drive the Hyundai Sonata AND Tucson a couple days ago. This evening another Sonata test drive. Long story made short to ignore, I am actually am shopping for something of a vehicle so usually when I drive stuff for entertainment but these two vehicles were actually on my 'i would consider this'. Generally i sometimes don't finish these reviews so I will try to be quicker about this. Everyone is aware that Hyundai is growing more and more as a player in the market and each new release is making big / waves in the segment it is in. My last frame of reference for driving a Hyundai was a rental Sonata a couple years ago and while I felt it decently …

I was in So Cal the last few days for the Toyota Long Beach Grand Prix Indy Car race weekend, so it was only appropriate my rental car was a Camry. Had a white Camry w/ a black & gray two tone cloth interior. Drove about 150 miles around Long Beach and Orange County over the last few days. I had a choice of a Camry or Altima Friday night at Hertz, and I realized I'd never driven one so what the heck... Impressions: Nothing memorable. The car was perfectly functional, comfortable, smooth, quiet but really didn't leave much of an impression. Big trunk. Power seemed adequate for accelerating up the notoriously short So Cal on-ramps to the various freeways I …

(Edit)---write up (still) coming---

I've been a fan of the current Fusion's slick styling since it came out, but I hadn't had an opportunity to drive one until this past week, Wed through Sunday, from Hertz at the Pittsburgh Airport. Dark red, gray 'cloth' interior (not a fuzzy/fabric-y cloth, but more artificial feeling). Got to drive it in city traffic in downtown Pittsburgh and Cleveland, suburbia, plenty of freeway driving on the I-70,77,79,90,271,376, 470, 480, etc.., winding twisty Ohio two lane roads, small towns, etc in a variety of weather (dry and sunny to wet w/ rain and light snow). Pros: Comfortable overall, soaks up the miles For a 2.5 4cyl, seems to have adequate power for freeway…

I had rented a car in an Italian city on the Adriatic side - a small vehicle with an automatic - and once again, got upgraded. This was a substantial upgrade into a larger crossover SUV - a Seat Tarraco. The car is named after the Spanish city of Tarragona. I did not know what this model was, except that it was a SEAT product. Upon getting into the vehicle, one sees the typical graphics and appointments shared by the VW family of brands, which include SEAT and Skoda. It shares a lot of components with the VW Tiguan and is built at the same plant in Wolfsburg, Germany. I set up the car right away and learned the controls. It’s better to do this up front than…

So my family got 2 new cars which I got to sample when I went to visit recently. My parents traded in their 2010 Fusion SE on an Escape XLT (FWD and 2.5 liter 4 banger.) They loved their fusion but my dad has MS and needs something that can transport a scooter. They got the escape on clearance for 19k (25k msrp.) Its a solid little truck and they got the 17 inch chrome wheels which really look good on it. No other options besides that. You can tell the platform's a little long in the tooth, it has a solid ride but at the occasional expense of ride quality. It won't win any drag races with the 4 cylinder but it's well geared and reasonably peppy. My brot…

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 $…

Besides getting to drive this American icon, what else can you add to the experince? How about driving it in Hawaii! :AH-HA_wink: I was just on holidays in Oahu and rented this car from Ferrari Rentals (they rent a mix of high end cars at premium prices). I have never driven a Corvette and it has always been a dream of mie to do so. As an aside--I have only ridden in a Corvette once--with 3 other people--some 70's model--which I hate anyhow. So the price was high but since this is not an everyday oppourtunity I was happy to pay the high price. Hey--it's fun to look rich One of the first things I noticed was how stiff the car was. No cowl shake, no rattles and it …

So the Former Stang Drives the newest stang.... Overalll.... Pluses. The fit and finish of the car I drove was fantastic....as good as anything I've seen sold today. The trunk had flawless finish inside of the trunk lid, the door jambs were flawless, the paint inside the motor bay was flawless. Interior fit together perfectly also. It also had plenty of power. However, the car felt really heavy and not terribly playful, the shifter wasn't as clean of good as a GTI, Volvo C30, or any of the other cars we drove and liked better. Seats were comfortable enough but lacked the support of the GTI seats or the better seats of several other cars I've driven. Overall, an 8…

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…

Quick Drive: Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Cabriolet Shocker! Smart’s charged up cabrio is stupid fun! Moseying on down to the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association's 2015 ElectraFest last week, I had the opportunity to test drive an electric car. The July heat called for a convertible and the smart fourtwo electric drive cabriolet was ready to for a summer fling! This is based on a 20 minute test around town. Smart Aleck Smart Elec Fossil-fueled smart’s aren’t renowned for performance pedigree, and when it comes to acceleration, they’re absolute dogs. Thankfully, the electric powertrain jolts a little pep into the Smart’s step, making for a dri…

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…

So I was bored yesterday, and being potentially genuinely interested in this car, I took a trip to the Ford store down the road from me. Magnetic Grey Sport sitting under the awning up by the showroom. Looks pretty slow, so I go check it out. Nobody comes out. I walk inside and find a sales guy. He doesn't introduce himself. Doesn't ask me my name. Doesn't as how he can help me. Awkward. I ask for the keys to the Sport. He proceeds to walk me out to it, let me in, and tells me precisely 0 about the car. Asks me exactly 0 questions. Is this this guy's first day? I ask for a drive, he goes and scans my DL, comes back with a D-tag and says, "There you go, see you when you ge…

Nissan hasn't gotten the best press and the best sales numbers lately. I recently had a Nissan Sentra as a rental. This was a one car bump up in category from what I rented on line. I had driven one once before. Surprisingly, this is now considered an intermediate car. To me, it's a compact car. The Nissan Sentra is more likable than one might image, but it's also sort of boring and predictable. It's likable because it does everything fairly well for its size and price point, while not excelling at any particular thing. On second thought, it excels in terms of fuel economy when on a highway jaunt. Also, the Sentra is a very easy car to get accustomed to once …

Have you ever planned a trip "slightly" incorrectly? Sometimes, it's due to unforeseen events. In this case, I had rented a car for one day less than I actually needed one. So, I then proceeded to book a car for one day to bridge that gap. The car turned out to be a 2020 Chevrolet Spark 5 door hatchback. For the second time now, I have been given a vehicle corresponding exactly the car category that I rented on line. I had seen the Chevy Spark around before. I had even seen them at dealerships and I've sat in them at auto shows. The most noticeable thing about the Spark is how small it is and that the wheelbase is short. And that there is very little overhang…

So, the Smart came ... and stayed. It's not something that came and went. I will say something right off the bat - with their small size and automatics, they are a dream to park or squeeze through narrow spaces if in Europe. The Smart car has seen its sheet metal change in a few areas, and for the better. I remember how the front and rear styling in the original versions was underwhelming . Current versions feature grilles that look like grilles, and improvements in character lines and rear tail lamps as well. However, the biggest change is the slight elongation of the front of the car over the engine compartment. With there actually being a small amount of hor…

On the urging of my neighbor who owns an SX4 crossover and loves it, i took out an SX4 manual sedan today. Fun car! some caveats, which I will get to. Give me a bit and I will get that up. I drove an XL7 also, but that sucked so I won't write much on that.

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…

I never gave much thought to VW products until, when renting a full size at a local Budget years ago, I was given a Passat. I liked it more than I thought I would. I liked the user-friendliness of the dash and the controls. And I liked the flatness with which it cornered and rode. This "flatness" was more noticeable than in similarly sized Camrys and Altimas often found in the same tier of rental cars. The second and only other VW product I have driven was a VW Golf with an automatic. This was across the pond and the rental lasted 3 days. I immediately liked and disliked a few things about the Golf. I liked the dashboard and console set up, as well as the …

I was going somewhere and needed a rental car. Since it fell out of the Thurs.-Mon. time frame, the rates were a little high at the airport. I looked at neighborhood locations. I found a good rate at Enterprise, albeit in the suburbs. As it turns out, I could take rapid transit train service and then walk, yes walk, some 15 minutes from a rail station through an established neighborhood to get to Enterprise. Wheeled luggage is great! So I got up to Enterprise and saw nothing like the intermediate I selected. I saw few cars to begin with ... either much larger or much smaller. When I got up to the counter, they were super nice and the agent told me he would be …