Reader Reviews
Test drive something recently? This is the place to post your impressions.
414 topics in this forum
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This was probably the first time I’ve gotten downgraded and it wasn’t on my part. I rented a compact (icon showed a Nissan Versa) at LAX to keep costs down and was given what could be considered a subcompact. Their number of cars was slim. I felt I was downgraded in more than one way. I had seen these cars at auto shows and didn’t pay much attention to them. At the time, they were the only car sold in North America that I knew of being sold with a 3-cylinder engine. The guy at the rental lot didn’t believe it and lifting the hood – to count manifold ducting – is what convinced him. Spark plugs which depended on a coil are no longer in the sides of engines as they…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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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.
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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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I was handed the keys to a Chevrolet Malibu 3 times in the last 2 months. On two occasions, it was in the province of Quebec and, on the other, it was upon coming back to the U.S. One rental lasted only 2 days. As for the Quebec rentals, both of my vehicles were plated in the province of Ontario. I was told that Malibus were common in rental fleets because they were one of the more obtainable cars during and after the pandemic. I don’t know how much sense that makes, but it’s not something I’d investigate further. Since they’ve released this last-gen Malibu, I’ve had them in so many rentals, probably aggregating somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 miles. Whe…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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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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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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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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(Here's a link to my prior test on a 2.5 automatic http://www.cheersandgears.com/topic/81238-2013-ford-fusion-25-se/ ) DRIVEN 2013 Ford Fusion 1.6 Ecoboost 6MT, MSRP unknown (car was preowned with about 30k miles) included MyFord Touch HIGHS (with the highs from the prior test below additional for reference, the additional applies here to this MT unit) Good feeling and working shifter Somewhat surprising power and drivability of the tiny Ecoboost 4 Torque curve has no real peaks and valleys, just has a nice linear torque build, almost elasticky in feel, no real lag Remains quiet inside and most of the tiny turbo din is muffled Amazing that you can find a la…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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So, you all may well know that we just bought the MINI Cooper S for my wife to drive. My son is going to take our four door family car for his use, and we are going to be in need of a more door practical car in the next year or so. I've enjoyed reading the reviews of the Verano, and thought they looked like a sharp car. Since I got off of work a little early today, I stopped by the local Buick dealer for a quick test hop. There were things I liked, things I didn't like, and things that I thought really stood out as positives. First of all, things I didn't like. Biggest of all the side profile is a little bit busy with the extra front quarter window and extra rear qu…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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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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Again, the rental agency was out of compacts and I got upgraded. I jumped up 2 categories, into a Toyota Camry SE with less than 10,000 miles. I never recall liking Camrys, thinking back to when I was given keys to a late 1990s model and the vague and boring motoring experience that came with that. The Camry has come a long way. I didn't fall in love with this car, but I'd have to say I liked most things about it. First, from once being a boring looking vehicle, most vantage points on this vehicle are flattering and much better than they've been in past model years. The only exception is the grille. Toyota can't seem to separate itself from the abrasive, ov…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Driven: 2018 Buick Regal Sportback Essence 2.0t (the original review is in this post. Revised reviews are further down, in this post, and in this other post) HIGHS: -Nice understated shape conceals a cleverly integrated hatchback design -'Decent' propulsion from 2.0t engine -Nicely shaped upper dash with touchsreen oriented slightly to driver. Interesting at least from a design standpoint. -Sporting driving position and good room in both rows, mostly, plus the biggest benefit being improved leg room over previous model -Really nice cargo space, with seats up, or seats down, the cargo area of this vehicle and the flexibility of it in a…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Last weekend my brother got married in Destin. Since we were only staying a few days, we decided it was worth it to rent a car for the trip from Cincinnati to Destin. I was hoping for a Malibu or Fusion and we received a Malibu that had about 1900 miles on it. The 1.5L was a solid engine. I've read where some people complain about turbo lag, but it seemed fine to me. The sound system was pretty good, although it had a weird issue with my iPod where it would randomly skip a few seconds ahead in the song. The usb location could have been better. It's out in the open, so you have to remove whatever device is sitting there if you don't want to worry about someone break…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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…
Last reply by ccap41, -
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Malibu 2.0 but with a hatch. I like, but the interior is no real step above apart from a little bit nicer console. Not a drop dead stunner. Like most of the new Buicks it just sort of fades in. looks spacious at least. Overall I'd give styling a b for being inoffensive and incorporating the hatch very well. It doesn't come off as 'premium' as much as it should. I hope to check it out asap.
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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VEHICLE: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 LS EXTENDED CAB 4WD (MSRP = $32,290) Exterior: Imperial Blue Metallic/Interior: Dark Titanium Cloth Options: Locking Rear Differential, $325; Rear Axle 3.42 Ratio, NO CHARGE Engine: 4.8L V8 / Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Alright, so my employer (the school district I teach for) held their annual homecoming football game Saturday (11/7) and of course in the morning was the traditional homecoming parade through the main part of the borough/town. A bun…
Last reply by CanadianBacon94, -
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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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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…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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I won't go into too much detail, but I had to bridge the way to another rental with a two day rental. The rental agent told me to go to a line with a higher level of service and pick out a car there. I saw an intriguing Malibu, for lack of a better word, in an outstanding color combination and with the full sunroof. I decided on that one and am glad I did. It looks like there are no more extensions. This is it. There won't be another generation of Malibu with an ICE. We were strung along with all the conceptual and schematic mock-ups just like we were with the Charger. I'm not surprised. - - - - - PHOTOS TO FOLLOW
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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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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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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Last reply by Flybrian, -
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2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited automatic 6 speed EPA 29/40, MSRP 20,830 (I think) silver w/ gray interior. HIGHS snappy, smooth engine responsive and well spaced automatic trans. no shift delays, it bangs them out. No Cruze thing here. very usable and effective manumatic large interior with great space front and rear in all dimensions center stack shaped to allow a bit extra drivers knee room attractive, well laid out, and convenient gauges, radio, center stack, and other switches and controls gauge and center stack illumination is fantastic superb steering wheel, with nicely lightly weighted and responsive quick steering to go with handy and organized armrest a…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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Picked up a white Passat early Sunday morning at the Cleveland, OH airport. I've got it through Feb 4th, so I'll have 2 weeks of experience. So far, pleasantly bland inside and out. Good, clear gauges. HVAC controls took a bit of time to figure out (humidity!! windows fogging up! Don't have that in AZ). Mirror adjustment controls were hard to get to work, thought the knob was going to break off. Driving--good steering feel, reasonable power and reasonably quiet (lots of tire thump noise on Ohio's broken up freeways and streets). Mostly surface roads and streets so far. Will update over the next week.
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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While I’ve posted about Dodge Chargers quite a bit, I’ve never reviewed one. I once reviewed a Chrysler 300 because I rented one for a day for an abnormally low price. I’ve had Chargers as rentals. The last rented Charger featured the current roofline, but had the last bulbous Ram-like grille. Just recently, I had drove a 2020 Charger for 6 days via an upgrade. I was supposed to get a Hyundai Elantra (or similar). They didn’t have intermediates, so I was directed to the full-size aisle. The Dodge Charger is often one step up from full-sizes in rental fleets. So I asked the Cuban gentleman working on the lot if I could have the one Charger in the full-size row …
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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DRIVEN 2013 Cadillac ATS RWD 2.5L, Black with Carmel vinyl interior, MSRP about 33,800 HIGHS ATS is sweet looking inside and out! 2.5 has decent power, revs freely Good passing power and better than expected off the line power. Neutral handling with RWD chassis Good ride and handling balance appropriate for a base car Front row seating has nice space for legroom and width / girth Good forward visibility Attractive interior on the base model, even with the decontented headliner and vinyl seats and such Very nicely contoured seats for the base model Nice gauge cluster You can tell, the car feels very balanced, also stable and secure. Quite quiet inside and com…
Last reply by vonVeezelsnider, -
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DRIVEN: 2018 Buick Enclave Essence AWD original MSRP about 49,000 HIGHS: -Stylish, understated looks, particularly for a rather large CUV. -Room and space, OMG what so many are looking for. And it has it a plenty. Simply put, leg room, hips and shoulders, head room. Easy to ingress and egress; just perfect for that! This is why people buy these kind of vehicles. OH I LOVE THE GIRTH. So comfortable is this vehicle. Nice driving position, for a CUV. -A very interesting interior design, consistent with recent Buick theming, with all the swooping and flowing curves and trim.....but probably best executed overall in this vehicle. The interior on thi…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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 …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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I drive a BMW 335I and recently took it in for service. The dealer I use is also a Toyota Dealer and so my loaner car was a 2006 Camry with 6000 or so miles. I don't remember the trim level but it had cloth seats and some options. My observations: 1. Noisy interior and "raspy" engine noise. 2. Hideous center stack and radio set-up. 3. Vague drive and handle. 4. Door close sounds cheap. 5. Weak performance. 6. Huge interior and trunk. 7. Is this what the "masses" want? Granted I normally drive a BMW which is the benchmark of cars...at least to me, but I expected better than this. Having driven the Impala, this Camry is no better than the Impala in any way. …
Last reply by ToniCipriani, -
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Imagine if the Ford Taurus wasn't a mass-market full-size sedan, but a luxury sedan. Well imagine no more. Ford has pulled the covers off the new Chinese-Market 2016 Taurus which moves upscale to satisfy the demand for luxury vehicles and delivers on the automaker's commitment to bring 15 new world-class vehicles to China by 2015. The 2016 Chinese-spec Taurus looks like bigger Fusion - we'll let you decided whether or not that's a good thing. Up front is the trapezoidal grille and a set of slimmed down headlights. The side profile boasts a distinctive character line and a set 19-inch wheels. Towards the back are a set of LED taillights and chrome bar. Compared to the No…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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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…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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A few weeks back, I took a still in the wrapper 2013 Subaru Outback 3.6 Limited in on trade, with just over 2900 miles. The clients had owned a 1999 Lexus RX300 for many years and many miles, and then decided after a few trials to get the Outback and specifically with the 3.6L engine "it has a lot more power, and is a lot nicer to drive" they said. But it didn't click. They have a lot of friends with Acura MDX's that sing the praises, and decided after driving one to trade it in again on the all new 2014 Acura MDX. So we now have the Outback for sale, with 3000 miles. It's an interesting package, as it has heated leather seats and the nicer audio, but a manual dimming mi…
Last reply by caddycruiser, -
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I thought I'd do a cluster of reviews of cars I've rented and what I thought of them. I've rented Buick Veranos a total of 3 times - twice here locally and once, of all places, for a strange and long layover at DTW. For an extra $10, I thought, "WTH, I'll take the Verano." One of the things I have to accept is that the days of the cast iron block and cast iron head are gone. I've got one now. The next time around, it won't be an option. I'm now at the point where I sort of know that this technology has been improved and that these all-aluminum 4 cylinder engines can go the distance. Of the 3 Buick sedans in the current line-up - LaCrosse, Regal, and Verano…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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So this has been a long time coming, especially since I never really did a review thread after buying it initially. Well, without further delay, here we are. I'm just going to cut straight to the chase here and come out the gate with a lofty declaration- this is one of the greatest cars on the road today. Now, I'll tell you why in the next few paragraphs. There's countless reviews out there that no doubt sing this car's praises, but they're not as in-depth as what I will provide here. First the car itself. I bought a 2016 4DR GTI SE w/ DSG trans and Performance Pkg. The PP adds Golf R brakes, an E-LSD, and (supposedly) a 10hp power bump. I didn't care so much about…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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DRIVEN: 2020 Cadillac XT6 AWD Sport, MSRP about 63,500. Satin Steel exterior, black interior. HIGHS: -Peppy, responsive 3.6 v6 and 9 speed auto. -Nice quick steering, unusual for a CUV and especially for Cadillac. -Overall, nice suspension, ride and handling. Comfortable but tight in turns, feels darn near sedan like, Cadillac did a really nice job with the steering, ride and handling. -I didn't take issue with the interior so much, apart from it's dated and dull design. At least in all black it looked pretty good and textures and plastics and build quality were nice; I just don't have a good frame of reference for interiors vs. the whole of t…
Last reply by surreal1272, -
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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 …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Test Drive of the 2008 Volkswagen Golf R32 Today in Ft. Wayne, Indiana at Vorderman Volkswagen I had an appointment to replace the signal repeater in the driver's side mirror and a cargo cover string support in the hatch. Of the three R32's on the lot, one had frequently been in the showroom but was today outside. At the vocalised nudging from my girlfriend (Heather) I requested a drive to which "my" salesman promptly approved. He got the plate, a copy of my identification, fired it up, and moved it away from the building. Even at idle oh what a sound the exhaust makes! It was that special R32 blue colour and number 36 of 5000 according to the plaque adorning the bo…
Last reply by MyerShift, -
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So I spent the last two weeks of Dec 2009 in Kauai. Upon my late arrival at the airport with the family and kids in tow, I headed off to the Hertz Rental desk. Being a large group of people getting off the bus and pulling luggage, I told the wife and kids to get everything and I would go grab the car since I had a gold membership, so it should be instally ready. WRONG, Some how HERTZ LOST my info and did not have a car on their reader board, so off to the desk I went to talk to the lady. She reviewed the reservation, due to budget I had taken an Impala for the 5 of us. All adults she realized as the wife and kids walked in with the luggage in tow. Since things were …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Had some free time on my hands today round lunch so I decided to go up to my Caddy dealer to get a word on the arrival of the CTS-V. My sales rep literally thru his hands up and said that they are wondering that themselves.. as they already have a pre-order list almost 100 deep, cash money deposits, and some from out in PA, VA and W.VA. So.. I looked over on the showroom an they had this Crystal White Frost matte-finish ATS-V: On the windshield it notes only 99 being made, and they wouldn't allow me to test it unless I was seriously considering it.. because of the rarity. Really beautiful car. The paint seriously emanates with the snoot in me. Driving it wou…
Last reply by Cmicasa the Great, -
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And hot damn, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little impressed. Nice steering. Great ride but not at the compromise of handling, which itself is pretty nice. Low noise levels. Solid brake feel and action. It's let down by the transmission, which is painfully slow to respond under heavy throttle and can deliver harsh shifts. Under part-throttle upshifts, it's generally fine. The smallish back seat, cheap interior, and Chrysler reliability would keep me from buying one, but I can't in good conscience say it drives bad. Which is rather surprising.
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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DRIVEN: 2019 Honda Accord LX 1.5t CVT, MSRP under 25k HIGHS: -Roomy, spacious, front and back, and in the trunk. Front seats reasonably comfortable. -Interior design and quality of plastics entirely nice enough for this price class. Clean, simple dash shape and console. Fake wood is decent, plastics are nicely grained. No complaints. -Its nice to not be in too much of a bunker. The side windows and glass area are generous enough that it is easier to see daylight out than some other competitors. Good front, rear and side visibility, comparatively speaking. -For a CVT, one of the better performing CVT's. And with good get up and go with a hea…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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- 13 replies
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DRIVEN - short take review Used 2014 Cadillac CTS 2.0t AWD (20k on odometer) HIGHS -Wow! The steering! Perfect speed, awesome feel. -The ride is also pretty much spot on, it's comfy and allows some fun, too. -Car feels SOLID but not heavy. -Terrific views out of the car. Slender pillars in front. Even with the long hood, it is low and it falls away from your line of sight. -Car is just about the perfect size for a drivable fun sedan. Just big enough, not too big, not too small. -Gauges are nicely in line in front of you. They may look cheap to some but I liked the layout and liked their classical Cadillac look. -S…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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 …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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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…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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July 2, 2012 Drew Dowdell - Managing Editor, CheersandGears.com When most people think of stalwart Japanese cars, the first names that come to mind are typically the Accord and Camry. However, Nissan's had a name in the game for just as long with the Maxima. The Maxima was the first of the Japanese mid-size cars to go big, growing to 188 inches in 1988 while the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry remained decidedly more compact for a few more years. This gave the Maxima a leg up in being considered more of a luxury car than your otherwise typical Japanese sedan. The 1988 Maxima was also called a 4 Door Sports Car by Nissan in a nod to the powerful-for-time 160 h…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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I've spent years visiting various forums that catered to 3.8 powered FWD BOP products. The LeSabre T-type forum, the Bonneville forum as well as A & W body forums. A few requests, complaints or desires by various members have always seemed to be consistent...... the availability of a standard transmission on the more powerful V6 FWD offerings, lack of 2 dr coupes, more gears and exciting styling. Well the G6 GTP coupe shows someone was listening. One ivory GTP coupe showed up at our local GM dealer and my gal fell right in love with it. So the search began, we looked at red ones, green ones, silver ones, black ones, base coupes, black leather, morocco, and black clo…
Last reply by razoredge, -
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I recently flew to the Florida Keys to get married, and our "premium sedan" rental turned out to be a 2017 Infiniti Q50 3.0T (RWD) with under 1,000 miles. At first, I was pleasantly surprised to have the sport sedan because the rental preview online was a Buick Lacrosse, but my enthusiasm faded during the 100 mile drive from Fort Lauderdale to Islamorada. I'll try to keep my impressions fairly brief and I can answer any questions in detail. Exterior: 7/10 - I find the Q50 completely forgettable. Infiniti has made much better looking cars, this design has some clean lines, but I think the front looks kind of melty and the rear is too generic. Interior Fit/Finish: 8/10 - …
Last reply by Cmicasa the Great, -
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Hi all, this is my initial and 8 month review on my 2006 Grand Prix. First I'll start off with the basics. - Base sedan - Power windows/locks/mirrors/driver seat - Sunroof - 6-disc in dash CD changer - Steering wheel radio controls - OnStar - Remote vehicle start - White exterior - Black and Tan two-tone interior (Ebony & Tan? I can't remember what GM calls it) The Grand Prix comes fairly well equipped even as just the basic, plain Jane Base version. Aluminum wheels, power windows/locks/mirrors are all standard. Basically just the niceties that many of us want. If the car didn't have any of the other features, I'd still have gotten it. Since…
Last reply by Oracle of Delphi, -
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well, I don't think its worthy of a lux car badge. I had this inkling to try an X type since they are CHEAP on the used market. They are compact, but sort of nicely appointed. AWD standard. They look nice. Trunk is actually an ok size. Found a used 5 speed 2.5 to drive today. Had like 60k miles on it. Well, I don't think i will pursue one. Basics on the test drive......the 2.5 needed to be wound up a bit, but had some guts once you got up 35-40 mph plus and had it in the right gear. If the 2.5 worries you they say there is a 3.0. At first I did not like the clutch since it was stiff. But even though it does require a little more leg than you should think…
Last reply by Hudson, -
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DRIVEN 2018 Chevrolet Traverse AWD LT 3LZ (will verify) No MSRP on the label HIGHS Mini Suburban feel Mini Suburban crossover style Spacious and well laid out interior. Spacious front and second rows, particularly in GIRTH. Cargo space behind third row is more useful than previous version. More space and additional depth below cargo cover. Ridiculously simple dashboard design comes off as elegant and easy to use, using the same bits as all the other newest Chevy's (window switches, gauges, etc.) Sliding door cubby with touchscreen is actually not gimmicky and is a ridiculously useful center storage cubby. Very quiet inside. …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Tested 2014 Chevy Cruze diesel automatic. (Despite the dude at the one chevy place last week saying they would not hit lots until fall) HIGHS: Walks like a Cruze, talks like a Cruze, and this one is loaded. Feels great with the tan leather on black. Snappy acceleration. Possibly the fastest Cruze they sell. Peppy off the line and good kickdown for roll on acceleration too. Mostly behaves like a gas car. Fun to see instant mpg readings in the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Is heavier than a standard Cruze but does not feel overly ponderous or lazy or anything in that regard. Feels hefty on the road. Ride and steering very middle of market and will feel quality to most, …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Will get some notes in later today. a couple pics or it didn’t happen
Last reply by regfootball, -
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For the last week because of not having a single drivable car in the driveway, I've had a white diamond '11 STS as a rental. Taking it back to Enterprise tommorow. First impressions: Smooth. Quiet. Comfortable. Good exhaust roar when I put my foot down. Like the color combination--white diamond w/ two-tone tan interior. I've always liked the exterior design of the STS, crisp and clean..not as aggro as the CTS, but definitely a Cadillac. This is the first current Caddy I've driven, have driven an '00-02 vintage DTS and a few mid-late '90s era deVilles. Seats are adjustable and comfortable, not sport seats, but wide enough for fat American behinds (my size 40 fi…
Last reply by z28luvr01, -
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This is a cheesy write up but i checked out an Envision in the flesh. (By the way, huge Verano incentives now). Was not fortunate enough to get into it, but I can comment on how it looks. Looks pretty good. Front end is a little bland and dated. Was parked next to a Terrain and it's noticeably shorter, less wide, and not as tall. But the size of it yes pretty much falls into line with the compact CUV competition, like the MKC. A look through the window, the interior looks good, particularly the seats, leather, soft surfaces, the center armrest / console / stack. Gazing in the window, it looks like there is good use of space, it looks efficient. Rear leg spa…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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I’ve rented the Chevrolet Malibu before and I was treated to a normal weekly rate that didn’t have a drop charge in the Florida Panhandle, most likely because their tourist season is beginning and that area could use the cars. It didn’t really drive in from Malibu, but from elsewhere within Florida! It’s last call because the Malibu is bowing out this year. Chevy and its General Motors stablemates are overhauling their product lines in a big way. Nonetheless, whether as daily drivers or company cars and fleet cars, there are quite a few of these on the road, first arriving in 2017. With newer powertrains, first a smaller turbocharged 4 cylinder engine and the…
Last reply by oldshurst442, -
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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…
Last reply by regfootball, -
2009 Mazda6
by Lamar- 1 follower
- 14 replies
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So since spring is upon us and today was a nice and sunny (albeit windy) day, I decided to do a little test-driving. I went to the Mazda dealership since I wanted to test drive the new Mazda6 since it's on the list as a replacement for the Maxima (the wife's car). So I got there, told the salesman which trim I wanted to drive, and we went from there. The car was the Mazda6 i Touring, which came with the 2.5L 4-cyl mill, 5-speed automatic transmission, cloth seats, and 17-inch wheels (among other things I can't remember). I chose the 4-cyl because that was the engine my wife indicated she'd rather have, so I had to see if it was going to be fun enough for me to driv…
Last reply by Lamar, -
Audi Q2 - a brand and vehicle I wasn't expecting to try out - review based on a rental of several days
by trinacriabob-
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This vehicle was an upgrade, although that situation didn’t go smoothly. There was a fair bit of obfuscation that led to an upcharge for this Audi Q2. I actually wanted a smaller sedan with an automatic, so somewhat of a downgrade, but they didn’t have vehicles in that category. The other vehicles were larger and I turned down a newer Citroen DS 7 SUV. As I was being presented with choices, all with automatic transmissions, I would be checking their retail prices on my phone. I didn’t want that expensive of a car. For being an Audi, this is “somewhat” lower priced, but, per reading reviews and comments, this a vehicle where the sticker can climb if optioned up…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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??? What a sweet looking rig! Wagoneer......... Wish I could have got interior pics. Seeet interior! And this isn’t the loaded model…
Last reply by ccap41, -
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XT5 - 3 days, 300+ miles, Review Dropped off one auto Friday morning and was put into a 2017 XT5 in White with White / grey interior. Fit and finish is solid, comfort level, this auto has it and could easily be a road trip CUV. Ease of use is right up there especially if you are a GM previous owner, this auto makes it easy to get in, adjust and drive. CUE worked flawlessly for me and spacious, yup, had that in spades. This was the initial impression, once you get over the newness of being in an auto you then start to notice small things such as the drivers chair for me initially was fine, but by the end of the first day, I realized it was short for m…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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…
Last reply by riviera74, -
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Volkswagen comes to Geneva with a concept that not only slips in between the Passat and Phaeton, but one that gives a sneak peek into a future design language. The Sport Coupé Concept GTE is larger than the current CC in every dimension except in height. The front end has a new grille design and headlights with LEDs. Around back is styling similar to the Audi A7 with a liftback and low stance. Inside is seating for four passengers, along with large display screens for front and rear seat passengers. Power comes from plug-in hybrid powertrain that pairs a turbocharged 3.0L V6 and two electric motors to produce a total output of 374 horsepower. Volkswagen says the powertr…
Last reply by smk4565, -
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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…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Only a couple of days after first reporting about Chevrolet showing off the Bolt concept at the Detroit Auto Show, the automaker has revealed it for all to see. The Bolt is GM's attempt at building an electric car with a 200 Mile range for the price of around $30,000. Styling is a mixture of Spark and the BMW i3 with a large area of glass, and a high beltline. The Bolt's body features barely any front or rear overhang which in turn helps out in interior space. Materials such as aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber help keep weight down and improve range. Inside is very spacious with a light color theme which only adds to that feeling. The dashboard has a flowing look an…
Last reply by JulianWilliams, -
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Got a chance to drive a base FWD 2.0 Ecoboost Edge. Let me just sum it quick. It keeps all the size, space, driving position plusses that makes the Edge popular. The new interior is light years more attractive, has way better quality, and is more functional. The new steering wheel has great layout with its buttons to control nearly everything on the vehicle. The Edge drives quieter and tighter now. Not any more sporty, but it does feel lots less junky than the first gen. Really this review is based on the engine......people say it's underpowered in the Explorer etc. Here is what i found........seems like a wee bit underpowered, but the power delivery is liquid smo…
Last reply by ponchoman49, -
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Well as a part of the autoshow GM was handing out brochures to take to the dealership to get 25 dollars in free gas and to test drive a Cruze. The heater core hoses in my Malibu were rotting out so I had to pass by the dealership anyway to pick up a couple of new ones. I got into a blue Cruze LS. The First thing I notice is plenty of interior space; much different than the last compact GM car I drove. My brother owns a Cavalier, and when I enter that car I'm touching the dashboard with my knees, the steering wheel etc etc (Its cramped!). This car felt much roomier, no intrusions from the dash, door, wheel etc. Outward visibility was great. The car came with power w…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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Vehicle: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ Crew Cab Standard Box 4WD (Z71 package) Black exterior with Jet Black leather interior MSRP: $48,xxx Late last night I decided to drive by a local Chevrolet dealership to see if they had received any 2014 Silverado models in stock yet. Much to my surprise they had two models parked up front for the whole passing-by world to see - a white LT CC short box 4WD (Z71) and the black LTZ standard box described above. The dealership was still open so I decided to stop to see if they'd let me sit in it. My 7 year-old son and I walked around the truck, admiring its 'newness'. A young sales professional quickly came out to greet us. …
Last reply by Blake Noble, -
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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…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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...JUST SAY NO.......... this one will be quick. 2010 Hyundai Elantra BLU 5 speed (no A/C) HIGHS peppy engine light clutch decent shifter feeling of interior space (no claustrophobia) convenient and simple climate control decently quiet nice armrest handy window switches decent interior space for the type of car LOWS sea of gray, swirling acres of death inspiring plastic lower seat back dug into my back, seat was not shaped well mouse fur driving position is kind of like driving a bus or a Kia Rondo. no radio (this could be positive if you want your own) no A/C steering wheel is so bulbous its like it's going to birth a baby in your lap. In fact the …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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 …
Last reply by avro206, -
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I had reserved a mid-size car. I would have it for a week. I arrived to pick up the rental and there were no cars that I could see. The gentleman helping me pointed to either a Toyota Rav 4 or a Nissan Rogue. I did see a Malibu and a Fusion parked further away, and asked if I could have those instead. I was told that one had a mechanical issue that needed fixing and the other one was already assigned. I looked at the 2 vehicles available and focused on how well the luggage area was covered. I picked the Toyota Rav 4. I see the reviews bill it as a "cross over SUV." The interior and the controls took some getting used to. It's very different from a domesti…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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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!
Last reply by balthazar, -
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---to post later --- short version AVOID
Last reply by Hengista, -
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Since Zipcar now offers Focii, and since that's a vehicle I would seriously consider, I thought I'd borrow one for 2 hours while they're still mint, and see what's what. 2012 Focus SEL 5-door - $21,XXX (no options) and 700 miles on the odo PROS: silent engine, low NVH, very polished powertrain overall good build quality; not VW solid but still feels very substantial high-quality switchgear (solid buttons, switches, knobs) SEL gets soft upper door panels = nice supportive and comfy front buckets (even without sport seats) seats keep you fresh after a long drive superb tracking and stability; great on LA freeways, not perturbed by expansion joints, wind, uneven sur…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Tested 2013 Nissan Altima SV sedan 2.5, MSRP roughly 25k Had to. Drove the Accord last week, the midsize segment is on fire with new entries. As you know, the Honda failed to win my endorsement due to NVH issues. But the 13 Accord has a new CVT...that was not the problem. Honda still makes their cars too loud and noisy, etc. The 13 Altima in nearly every way, shape and form is the most analogous to the new Accord. And the Altima itself is a market juggernaut. Sales and leasing, the Altima has been in the top of the sales charts for several years now. For 2013, Nissan chose not to mess with success, but did concentrate on worthwhile improvements all around the car to ma…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DRIVEN 2014 Chevy Impala 1LT 2.5 HIGHS Who can deny it's a sexy shape? STUNNER Lots of beautiful styling details if you look long enough and take notice Makes good on the promise and premise of a full sized sedan, lots of room and space, front and back and trunk This thing is definitely a great highway cruiser, in the vein of so many other GM sedans, you can be king of the cornfield states Seating all around is very comfortable Interior design is definitely flashy, good looking gauges and useful controls MyLink system has a lot of nice features Heft and solidity lacking in so many sedans these days The 4 cylinder, if set on cruise, and settled in, and …
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Well, it was time for another business trip for my brother and another rental. To mine and his surprise his ride was a 2015 Charger with the Pentastar V6/8 speed auto. (He also had a choice of a base Cherokee or escape, but the charger was easily the winner). As a rental it was a base model with a few options. It had no foglamps, but did have some very nice looking LED accents on the front and the racetrack lights on the rear. For a base model he interior was very nice. It had the smaller 5 inch touch screen, but it is still VERY intuitive and easy to use. All touch points and the dash top were covered in high quality/soft touch materials The seats were very comfo…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Simply put, fantastic. You're in shock as to how it can be such a nice cabin for 23 grand. The leather is nice. The plastic is 'very good'. Colors (tan interior), textures, nothing stands out as a sore thumb. Its a markedly better cabin than the cousin Hyundai Sonata, even. Room and space, all good. A bit of a lowrider, but it is a sedan. The dash layout is simply refreshing in the current sea of murk. A nice modern interpretation of what a wraparound dash would be in 2011. The radio and climate control take a little work to remember but it's all laid out nicely. Honestly, I am shocked. And I am supposed to now look at the Cruze's sticker and not bust out into …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Coming up later..... Here's some pics. Was shopping for mom. I don't think MOM 'needs' the TWIN TURBO. HIGHS: Lots of extra ROAR and THRUST for the twin turbo vs. the AARP issue V6. Attractive car, take a look at the pictures. Comfortable seating and lots of girth, room, and space. This is how GM used to build a lot of their cars (they don't anymore unless you get a truck). Honestly the car could cruise all day (that must be why they offer Super Cruise). At the same time, it has steering and handling that isn't dead or slow. It has the right amount of reflexes for a non sport model. As with every CT6 I have driven, it drives ligh…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Bingo. This is one of the few times I've rented an economy car and got the exact car shown on the icon. I rented a car for one day and was given a Ford Fiesta. I have rented quite a few slightly larger Ford Focuses in the past but never a Fiesta. Also, the only times you get the "icon" from what you rented is if you rent a really high priced luxury car where the car is specifically named. And it's a large enough airport location. I've never done that. The other extreme is when you want an econobox mini with 2-seats and an automatic trans overseas to keep costs way, way down. I have done that. In that case, you'll usually be handed the keys to a Smart for two. …
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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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…
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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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…
Last reply by balthazar, -
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I'll keep this one brief, as I didn't get a real long stint due to the near empty gas tank new cars are delivered to the dealer with. Just enough time to get a pretty decent impression of it. Car was a 6MT that stickered for a shade over 23K. Right off the bat, I'm not a fan of the clutch. It's softer than a marshmallow, with an absurdly long travel, and a super vague engagement point. No feel to it whatsoever. Made me feel like a manual car-novice. The next impression is the acceleration. And it's pretty modest. Yeah, yeah, I daily a GTI, but still. This is an engine that likes and needs to be revved. There's not much going on down low. It wakes up above 4,00…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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So, the brother's ATS is in the shop again, this time getting the entire passenger side front LEDs replaced. His Rental while it is being fixed is a 17 Cruze LT with the RS package. Exterior: White does not suit this car. It looks bulbous and overweight, especially with the RS sideskirts. The premier looks much better with it larger rims and in a darker color. Interior: Tons of room. The controls are easy to use and work well, and it had Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Interior materials left MUCH to be desired. The thing is filled with hard and cheap plastics with that weird carpeted crap covering a few small places on the dash and doors. The trunk i…
Last reply by Frisky Dingo, -
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I got a chance to test drive the Saturn Astra at the Autoshow this year, here's my review. 2008 Saturn Astra - The compact that should've been here four years ago XR Model Shown - Source: GM Media For starters, this isn't a new car. It's being sold all over Europe as the Opel Astra, UK as a Vauxhall Astra. The Astra commences imports this year. I was given an Astra XE 5-door. First impression was a big wow. Compared to the Ion, this was lightyears ahead. It's a big wonder why GM didn't think of this earlier. On a first glance, it was very roomy for a compact hatchback. I adjusted my seats, and there was still some legroom at the back. The test vehicle was equ…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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It's been 3 years that I've owned the 2008 LaCrosse CX. The Regal is gone, fetching $1,500 at 271,000 miles. So, here I am with another W-body, a line which ceased production in 2009. The LaCrosse has been a reliable performer. It has not gone back in for warranty work. The build quality is quite good and it feels solid (well, it weighs over 3,600 pounds). The dashboard makes a lot of sense and I've finally started to understand the available commands in the center stack. Some of them are informative and I've had to make use of the tire pressure monitor which led me to the tire store. The powertrain is reliable. Best of all, the automatic transmission shifts se…
Last reply by ponchoman49, -
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We've gotten our first Tiguans in and I've got a decent little drive a few times. I've thus far driven an SEL Premium 4Motion (2 row) and an SE FWD (3 row). My impressions follow- The Good- Overall driving dynamics. Steering is crisp and precise, with nice weight. Handling is beyond competent with a generally eager nature and it is happy going through corners. It really feels like a larger, taller Golf. Which it essentially is. Solid structure. It feels stiff and solid. Like most other VW's. It is quiet, and it rides quite well, even with the 19" wheels found on the top-trim SEL Premium. Virtual Cockpit really takes mainstream segment infotainm…
Last reply by Frisky Dingo, -
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Just turned in a weekend rental of a 2014 silver Camry SE 2.5 with automatic and black interior with painted silver contrasting. The drive- in two words mediocre and forgettable. The 2.5 was enough engine to get you there and the 6 speed shifted smoothly. Handling was a mixed bag. Steering felt like it was Novocain injected with numbness and little feedback. Driven conservatively the SE with it's 17" tires does well enough and feels somewhat sporty. But driven at the limits is where it all falls apart. The tires howl in agony and there is much body lean. braking was competent but hardly class leading. The 2.5 got up to 60 in a middling 9 seconds flat with 9,200 miles on …
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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DRIVEN: 2020 Subaru Ascent Premium (AWD 2.4 turbo) HIGHS: -Finally, what the market was looking for, a worthwhile Subaru entry into the 3 row crossover segment. And packaging, size wise, styling, just about perfect for Subaru -2.4 engine can snarl, nice go juice, and the CVT is actually fairly responsive. Moves out well, or at least feels like it does. Makes the Ascent feel sporty actually. -As mentioned above, packaging is just about perfect for Subaru. It might be considered a tweener, but it does not feel hulking or girthy...and it still will be garagable for many of those folks that would shop import brands. Cabin width not as wide as a Traver…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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The big star for Buick at the Shanghai Motor Show was the second-generation Verano. Buick's compact sedan borrows a number of design ideas from Avenir and Rivera concept cars with a larger grille, new headlights, a double-swept beltline, and steeply raked front and rear windshields. A set of 17-inch wheels finish off the Verano. Power comes from a turbocharged 1.5L EcoTec four-cylinder 166 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. How much of this comes to the North-American spec Verano remains a mystery at this time. Source: Buick Image Credit: Newspress Press Release is on Page 2 Buick Verano Debuts…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DRIVEN: thanks to an egift card incentive, 2017 Chrysler Pacifica (not even sure what trim) Quick spin, and even less time to write here. Here i can legimately make comparison to the Town and Country in our garage HIGHS -eye catching looks inside and out, minvans now have style -all the positive assets of the minivan are maintained....and enhanced -updated Pentastar v6 remains strong and feels faster, and promises improved mpg (if possible) -update to the 9 speed vs the 6 speed means much better and quicker shifting (note: my short spin exhibited none of the 9 speed foibles written about in the buff books). It bangs off shifts smoother and quicker and theref…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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This was a one-day rental of a small automatic that really went over the top in terms of an upgrade. I was assigned a Cupra Formentor. It’s a SEAT SUV model that is its own brand within the brand. The instant you look at it, the Cupra makes an assertive statement. The minute you get in, it makes a good impression. The workmanship is evident throughout. And the instant you drive off, it will come off as roadworthy. Over that one-day period – to bridge a 7-day rental up to 8 days – this proved to be true over and over. I really came to like this car. One would think that smooth and quiet would compromise how planted a vehicle is and how well it communica…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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DRIVEN: 2019 Ford Edge ST AWD 2.7t Prior Ford Edge Titianium review here for comparison https://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/topic/85019-2015-ford-edge-titanium-awd-20/ HIGHS: Lots of room, front and back, the Edge is cavernous 'Grand Touring' ride (for a crossover). That is to say, comfortable. 2.7 it strong once it spools up. EPA ratings are quite good for the 2.7t. Nice commanding view of road and good overall visibility, which is getting more rare in crossovers. Nice looking wheels. Power adjustable steering column! Love that feature..... Big discounts on these right now, you get a lot for your money with the ST at…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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We are looking for a new car this next year. On the list- Chevrolet Camaro V6 Mazda Miata MX-5 Mini Cooper/Clubman (S version) Volkswagen GTI Volkswagen Beetle (redesigned 2012) Volvo C30 My wife and Children wanted to add a car to the list-they wanted another four door to choose from, and it had to be fun to drive, a manual shift, and most importantly not look like anything else on the road. Oh a whim, we drove the Juke, and here it is-the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Last reply by 67impss, -
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--Being in the used car end of the 'biz' gives me the opportunity to road test a variety of late-model cars for longer periods of time than a normal test drive would typically allow. Though these reviews may lack the excitement of being a first impression of the latest 'car de jour,' it provides a unique opportunity to see how a car performs with a little bit of wear and a little bit of age on it. This allows you to see just how well these cars hold up over the years and miles and also represents what the other half of America - i.e., the used car shopper - has to select from. Consider this a long-term test of a car whose previous drivers may or may not have given a damn.…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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Rented a truck today from U-Haul, drove 12 miles around town moving some furniture to the storage unit. Was going to rent a van, but was concerned it wouldn't clear going into the underground storage unit facility entrance (7' 6") Driving impressions--smooth, quiet around town. 1st time I've driven a full size pickup in years. Plenty of space in the bed. Forgot that Ford did away w/ the quarter windows and rear-opening doors on the regular cab w/ the last restyle. Huge C-pillars, slight blind spot in backing up. The tailgate when open must be 3 feet off the ground, had to use a stepladder when getting in and out of the bed loading sofas, coffee tables, etc. Ultra b…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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After my Friday nighttime shots of the first 2011 Hyundai Elantra to arrive at our dealership, posted here: ...I was down again with my Sonata customer to go over her books (Trailblazer EXT -> '11 Sonata, talk about doubling fuel economy...) yesterday, so I had a few minutes of daylight time with the Elantra. Wow to the looks, again, and as expected, the paint quality, fits and so forth. It's a Hyundai, and though I've not driven it yet, what a looker for the class. This first one we've received is a Limited with the Nav, meaning fully loaded (even heated rear seats) with a sticker of $22830. In that regard, and size/pricing, it already seems to fit perfectly well …
Last reply by caddycruiser, -
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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…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
I had to get a rental car for a couple of days to see some sights near but not in Lisbon, Portugal. For others, public transit such as the Metro worked well … or even better. Overseas, you want to land on deals that wrap all the insurance coverages into the deal and this was one such package – and one you want in a European capital. Surprisingly, the traffic wasn’t all that, bad but the roads outside the belt roads aren’t as clear and neither is Google Maps. To that end, I ordered something with an automatic transmission. The invoice said I’d be getting a Toyota Corolla Hybrid or similar. That’s what I was given. I don’t know how they manage over there …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
