Reader Reviews
Test drive something recently? This is the place to post your impressions.
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Review: 2001 Lincoln LS V8 The Lowdown *81,600 miles *3.9L Jaguar-derived V8 *DEW98 Platform shared with the Jaguar S-Type and the 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird *5-speed automatic transmission (standard, not SelectShift equipped) *252 hp @ 6100 RPM / 267 lb*ft @ 4300 rpm *114.5" wheelbase / 193.5" long / 73.2" wide *3692 lb curb weight *Features: glove box 6 CD changer, power seats, power tilt & telescoping steering wheel, memory seating, heated mirrors, automatic headlights, instant fuel economy gauge, auto-dimming rearview mirror, folding rear seat, front valet key system *Safety features: traction control, rain-sensing wipers, front and side ai…
Last reply by mustang84, -
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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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This is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and before you ask, it doesn't have the 707 horsepower Hellcat V8. Jalopnik's Truck Yeah was the first to report on these pictures that leaked out last night. Much like the Cherokee and Renegade Trailhawk, the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk gets some improvements to make it more capable off road. There appears to be a suspension lift (we're guessing about an inch), a set of Goodyear off-road tires, skid plates, and tow hooks finished in red. We'll have more details when Chrysler unveils the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk next week at the New York Auto Show. Source: Truck Yeah! View full article
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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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…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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Kia has been trying to break into the premium sedan market with limited success since 2003, first with the Amanti and then with a new try in 2013 with the Kia Cadenza, neither of which sold well. In spite of being on sale for three years, Kia has only sold about 25,000 Cadenzas in the U.S. in total. The Cadenza is Kia's version of the Hyundai Azera. At the New York International Auto Show, Kia unveiled the second generation, 2017 Kia Cadenza. In the 2017 Cadenza is a new, stronger and lighter body structure that helps keep out sound and provides a quiet driving experience. Powering the Cadenza is a revised version of Kia's 3.3 liter V6 producing (a prelim…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Spotted and touched a new 2018 Accord a few days ago. Couldn't get inside It definitely has an 'interesting' look to it. It's got the lowered coupe like roof that is in vogue, and the greenhouse is basically a stretched Civic sort of look. Some odd sculpting to the body and a very blunt and weird upright front end make for a look that is hard to process at first; although strange design has been done often by Honda on cars and motorcycles over the decades (strange design is like a Honda badge of honor). The headlight detail in particular is interesting, with a very introverted looking face. Some of the other front end seams and cut lines and detailing is a bit …
Last reply by frogger, -
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This was written in June on another Forum but I decided it would be cool to bring it here as a new member owning a new GM K2XX Just got home after originally going to the dealership looking for Escalades and Denalis.. The Cadillac dealership I went on Thursday to had ONE Escalade that wasn't sold yet, and promised me a 1 month wait if I ordered one. Asking price for the Premium version I built was $87,000. Then I told my salesman that I'd get back to him on Monday if I decided. At the same time I thought.. let me mozy over to the GMC/Buick dealer across the street and look at Denalis. This is what happened: So I go into the GMC/Buick dealer and talked to a salesman…
Last reply by Cmicasa the Great, -
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Ford Fusion rental review, and in a great place, too!
by Guest trinacriabob- 7 replies
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So, I'm going through some rentals and the latest rendition of the Ford Fusion is included in the list. This rental also occurred in New England during peak color. I had a full size booked at one of the secondary airports. I didn't have a specific car in mind. Actually, I had spotted a Dodge Charger and wanted it, but I was told, 'Sorry, too late, we just rented it.' A Fusion was available. I was somewhat interested in driving one, given that it had changed so much from the previous and very popular more "notchback" design. At the same time, I was a little concerned about navigating Boston, which was included in the trip, in one of these more rakish Fusions wit…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Unfortunately not long enough to do a full on review of it, but enough to get some quick impressions. So I sold a customer a new Equinox the other day, and while waiting he told me he was awaiting his new Slingshot. I told him to bring by sometime, and lo and behold he did. He came by the dealer after having picked it up about an hour earlier, and let me take it for a quick spin. The thing really looks cool in person. It's wide and all edges and hard angles and just looks super aggressive. I thought we were going to cause a wreck driving it through town. Ergonomics are surprisingly good. It's fairly easy to get into, and decently comfortable once you do. You sit uprig…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Interactive Review: 2010 Ford Edge SEL Well it's the last model year before the new Ford Edge, but since I got one for a 4 day rental with just 1,000 miles on the odometer, I thought this would still be a good candidate for an interactive review. So you have till Monday morning to get your questions in.
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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Alright the car is comming up on one year in my ownership, i've had it since May 16th 2005, and i figured id give a review on it, and i promise to be as unbiased as i possibly can. I received the car with 5002 miles on it, now it has 13287. Ill address the miscellaneous problems first. Every now and then i do here a random rattling of something, most of the time i figure out its just one of my CD cases rattling aorund in the glove box, but occassionally it is something else, tho it seems to go away after a while. Also the sunroof occassionally cracks, not as in the glass cracks, it just makes a loud crack noise, its either something falling ontop of it or something el…
Last reply by BB_454, -
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O.k., so I reviewed the Chevy Traverse which I could have kept for the extent of the rental but didn't want to. I'm not used to that size of vehicle. And so I decided to go to Enterprise at the airport to try my luck at getting a regular ole car. Surprisingly, there wasn't much to pick from. I did see a new Chevy Cruze up by the rental station and thought it might be up there for a peculiar reason or some kind of issue. I was really looking forward to driving one of those. I went into this small office on the lot and told them that the Traverse obtained from a suburban location was just too big and hard to see out of - both true - and to see if I could get a car…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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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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2006 PONTIAC G6 V6 - AN OWNER'S REVIEW By: ToniCipriani INTRODUCTION The Pontiac G6 was first released in 2005 as a replacement to the Pontiac Grand Am, Pontiac's midsize coupe and sedan. It was first debuted in concept form at the 2003 North American International Auto Show. Walking away from the excessive cladding that plagued Pontiac's image as being a "cladded Chevrolet", the Pontiac G6 was a stunner. “Clean, smooth lines” are the words best fit to describe the car. The vehicle rides on General Motor's global Epsilon midsize architecture, debuted in the Opel Vectra, and the Chevrolet Malibu in North America. It rides on a 112-inch wheelbase, shared with the Chev…
Last reply by ponchoman49, -
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I was in a weird predicament where transportation from point A to point B became questionable and I looked into renting a car. Generally, you get soaked on short notice. In this case, there was a very good airport to airport deal available and I selected an economy car, displayed as a Ford Fiesta. I didn't care. I just needed to get home. When I got to the first airport on transit, I found out there weren't are economy cars around. And that there weren't any compact cars around. I'd be starting out with an intermediate. I asked what sort of intermediates were around. I was told that I could have a Corolla or a Mazda 3. I've driven Corollas before. It's …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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There once was a time, a time when full sized family sedans were in nearly every driveway in America. During this time GM's Oldsmobile divison built a reputation for quality and performance on the name Eighty-Eight. Introduced in 1949, the Eighty-Eight was the least expensive of Oldsmobile's full size offerings for 50 years until the end of production in 1999. The following C&G Drive is on a 1988 model with the optional 3800 V6 As Dick Van Patten says so well in this 1986 commercial"Its the family car, that didn't forget the family" . My 1988 Delta 88 Royale has done just that, after nearly two decades of faithful service I can say this is one family car that did…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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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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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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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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Well, it is coming time to purchase a newer vehicle. The trucks are rough on fuel and starting to show their age and miles. My goals are something room, AWD, and fuel efficient. I had an 07 Patriot with the 5 speed manual that I loved, so i figured, why not give the updated versions a tr? it also gave me a chance to tr the only transmission choice i hadn't yet, the 6 speed auto. Anyway, here we go! 2015 Jeep patriot Sport AWD. Options: AC, AUTO, power windows/locks, all weather package (tow hooks, 17 inch rims with Goodyear Wrangler SRA tires, tow package, all weather floormats). 30k miles. The overall condition was excellent, no scratches …
Last reply by Stew, -
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Touched a new 2014 today. Saw two of them on the interstate one day this week also. The new front end, in pictures does not look like it would effect much change. But in person, and seeing it in motion, it makes a huge difference in the look of the car. Well done. Through the glass, the interior changes look nice as well. The new console has a little more of a sport sedan flavor and it is very distinct from the laid back Impala. The narrowing of the front seats is noticeable visually inside the car for more leg room. But it still looks tight and the major flaw with seat mounts on the floor not getting fixed still seems half assed. Didn't drive one, want to wait t…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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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Stopped by the Ford store after work this evening. They had two Fiestas; a ghastly green SE five-speed with no options for around $15,000 and a black SE with Sport/SYNC and PowerShift for $2K more. I chose the black car because it was already outside and, frankly, it looked so much better. The car was "only" an SE but it didn't feel like it was missing any content. It had nice 15" alloys, same as the ones on the Euro Fiesta; kinda cheapo looking LED DRLs; power everything except the seats; and buttons on the steering wheel for SYNC. The only missing features I'd want are 17" alloys (the current Focus SES has nice charcoal ones) and maybe manumatic control for the automat…
Last reply by pow, -
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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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…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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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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For someone who actually Is considering a car like this for his next drive, I'm deciding on a little review....this coming from someone who has owned Gm compacts for the last decades..... 3 Cruzes came in today to my local dealership. Two LTs, one LTZ. My first impression-mini Malibu! Even after seeing at the auto show, it still reminds of that in the real world. the "outside"- It actually looks good on the outside...even in three different colors. Fit and finish is still much better than the Cobalt. I can close the doors and tell you the difference. It just feels solid when you compare the two. Trunk is the biggest I've seen in a compact. That should be good for the …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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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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 …
Last reply by ccap41, -
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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…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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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.
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Vehicle: 2013 Chevrolet Spark LT Colors: Blue Denim Metallic, Black Leatherette MSRP: $N/A (rental vehicle) So here I am on day #2 having a 2013 Chevrolet Spark LT rental vehicle while my wife's 2008 Pontiac G6 V6 Sedan is at the dealer for some warranty repairs (have been doing a punch list of items since early winter; the extended warranty expires in 8 days!). My choice of rental was either a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze LT sedan in black or this Denim Blue Metallic Spark LT - since the wife has been on a small car test-drive kick this year (a previous rental was a '13 Ford Fiesta), I selected the Spark. My drive home with it Monday evening on local roadways was not too ba…
Last reply by Z-06, -
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I signed up for an 'electric car test drive event'. I go, thinking Volts, Bolts, and Teslas would be available to drive (also the Pacifica hybrid). Well, there were no Chevy's there. And the only Tesla was a Model 3, which i sat in for awhile. Separate thread. No other Teslas. Wouldn't let anyone drive the Pacifica. Since they had a new Leaf, i took that for a spin. HIGHS The current Leaf is a nice, stylish, space efficient wrapper. I so wish more hatchbacks were like this, tall, without a tumbling roof in the back. So nice and roomy inside because of it. Comfy seats, particularly with the nice leather. Nice driving position. Easy to see …
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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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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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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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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Well, pure coincidence, didn't even know it was out yet. 2018 Chevy Equinox in the showroom when i picked up my Malibu from service today. Wow, very different than the current one is all I can say. Shape looks good mostly, apart from clumsiness and awkwardness in the greenhouse and proportion of top to bottom. The design continues on Chevy's current themes inside and out, but is definitely less butch and less crisp than the current Nox. The greatly reduced wheelbase is definitely noticeable. Somewhat feminine and some Euro look to it also (as if it would compete with Renaults and Peuguots in France). I sat in it, the front feels a fair amount less spaci…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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So another member suggested I post some of the many reviews I did over at MT Forums here. Here's the first of them, with more to come- My dealer got a 2014 Z in with 1,300 miles. Unfortunately, I didn't get to do my usual spirited run for several obvious reasons, but I did take a quick little spin in it. It's really amazing the transformation from the standard car. It's buy far the biggest difference I've ever experienced between a base model and a higher variant. It doesn't even feel like the same car. It seems smaller, and lighter than the regular SS, and much smaller and lighter than it is. It's a worn out cliche, but with it's wide stance and huge meats, it…
Last reply by ccap41, -
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - CheersandGears.com Nov 30th 2012 Friday Night from 5pm to 9pm Dougs Cadillac of Seattle had their anual Customer Appreciation party with Wine, Woman and Cars! We were entertained by the local Seattle Big Band and Ball Room Dancing while enjoying excellent seafood, Cold cut meats, rice dishes, cheeses to go with the Wine and Beer. The only requirement was to bring a bag of non perishable food to donate to Food LifeLine of Seattle. The night started for me at 5pm and a test drive in the ATS AWD. This was an amazing car for me. At 6'6" tall I was still able to find a comfy seat position that allowed me to drive and realize …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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Yesterday I went to the AltCar expo in Santa Monica, CA, where manufacturers were showing off their alternative fueled vehicles: GM - Volt, Cruze LTZ, Silverado Hybrid, Equinox Fuel Cell Nissan - Leaf Honda - Civic Hybrid, Civic CNG, FCX Clarity Toyota - Prius Plug-in, Highlander Fuel Cell Mercedes - B-Class Fuel Cell Kia - Borrego Fuel Cell CODA - EV sedan Ford and Toyota dealers - their respective hybrids VW dealer - Jetta SportWagen TDI and Golf TDI Others - EV fortwo clone, X-Prize vehicles, etc. GM had two Volts there, one silver and one black. They were offering test-drives, but there was a 100 person waiting list, so I only rode in the backseat. Overall…
Last reply by pow, -
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This little car, a 2022 Chevy Spark, saved the day …. or, rather, the week. I exchanged a larger and more complex vehicle and, of the few available to pick from, I chose this one. It was a dark metallic blue sedan. I once had a Spark for a day in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and I felt I could go for this pint-sized and economical go kart, even though, this time, I would be taking it on the open road for about a week. The Spark’s hallmark is simplicity. The interior is simple. The controls are simple. And what’s under the hood is simple. A person gets into the Spark and setting it up is easy. The controls are straightforward. Curiously, the only thing t…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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DETROIT -- General Motors' first-quarter pretax profit surged 28 percent -- even while its global sales slipped -- as the company aggressively cut costs in troubled regions and sold pricier vehicles across its key markets. GM said today its pretax operating income -- the figure the company considers most reflective of its underlying performance -- rose 28 percent, to $2.66 billion. That amounted to a pretax profit of $1.26 a share, hurdling the $1-a-share average forecast of analysts, compiled by Reuters. The improved results were broad-based: Each of GM’s four operating regions posted a stronger bottom line, even as economic headwinds made it tougher to do busine…
Last reply by smk4565, -
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should have it up tomorrow.
Last reply by Soku47, -
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While New York was the home of the Cadillac CT6 debut, Cadillac still had something up their sleeve for Shanghai - the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid. The Plug-In Hybrid is comprised of a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a two electric motors. A new rear wheel electric variable transmission and 18.4 kWh battery finish off the powertrain. Total output is rated at 335 horsepower and 432 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy numbers are expected to "more than double that of the car’s conventional engine offerings, as measured by miles per gallon equivalent." Range is unknown at this time, but Cadillac says that most buyers will be able will be able to travel using battery power …
Last reply by butterfly1, -
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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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I don't know if many people know of these events but its an awesome thing. They let you take a car around a predefined course with a sales person in the car. Generally its like a test drive with out that nasty dealership taste. I believe it is open to the public. Usually 18 and older only and you have to pass a sobriety check. It will be located at the Kettering University campus in Flint, MI. Although that area has no open roads so I wonder if the course will be lame... There will be at least the Cruze there and the CTS Coupe there. And you will be able to get a ride in the Volt not drive it. I bet there will be a media booth there as well to hand out brochures and su…
Last reply by @dmin, -
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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 …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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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…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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…
Last reply by Thed, -
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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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This past Fri-Mon I had a '15 Malibu LT for a rental, picked it up in Columbus, Ohio and drove to various places in Eastern Ohio and Western Pa, in and around Pittsburgh and east to Monroeville and the PA turnpike a bit. I'd driven a few of the previous generation Malibus ('08-12), but this was the first of the current generation I'd driven. Interior impressions: well equipped, all the expected cabin features in a midsize car. Hard plastics on the doors and dash, but nice to look at--brown and light tan two tone. I like the brown. Good HVAC controls w/ dual zone climate, etc. Gauges well positioned and easy to read. I liked the blue lighting behind the chrom…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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Had to beat the deadline and do my auto show test drive to get my 50 bucks. So i went to my local Ford dealer last saturday. Considering I just bought the cobalt, and really should be getting out of my Taurus X for financial reasons, I really wasn't shopping cars. Just wanted the 50 bucks. But i hadn't driven an 010 Taurus yet. I had driven a Flex once, but very briefly and it was AWD. I have had a Ford 500 and currently the Taurus X so its kind of like dating your girlfriends sister or cousin or mom. "It's all going to feel the same". IYKWIM.....LOL. I really wanted to test the more basic trims because if i do buy again anytime in my life that would be the trims…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Checked one out! Obviously, can't drive it. But here is what I thought about it. Strong looking, has presence. Sort of predatory in the front. Large car. Very much cabin rear. Inside, very well done. If you have been in a CX-5, and have seen the pictures of the new interior, then you have a very accurate idea of what it is like. It is like a combination of a BMW interior and an Accord or other similar Japanese car. I would say the interior is better than the new Accord and pretty much all the others, despite some hard plastic that manages to avoid looking cheap. Ergonomics appear to be spot on across the board, especially the memory seat locations, the steering…
Last reply by frogger, -
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Mazda CX-9, 812 miles, 5 adults, 8 days, 7 nights, Grade = D- 25 years of Marriage is what started this lovely 8 days, 7 nights week for the family. Wife wanted to celebrate with the kids in a warm place. Answer was to trade in our time share condo for a time share condo on Kona at Aston Shores at Waikoloa (http://www.astonshoresatwaikoloa.com/). With the wife asking for a perfect week, I went ahead and got our place, made a reservation for a full size SUV, which sadly I could not get with Enterprise or Hertz as they both were out of stock, crazy but being married on Dec 24th doe…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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I don’t know if this vehicle, a Toyota Prius Hybrid HEV, represented an upgrade. It’s just what I was assigned as a mid-size rented vehicle for 3 days. I had a general idea that this vehicle was recently refreshed and that it looked a lot better. As I got closer to it and got into it, I was able to get a better look. The new Prius looks a lot better than I recall a Prius ever looking. It looks sleek, sporty, and even sort of low-slung. Interesting exterior features show that they made this a priority. The front lights and fascia are thin and understated, working well with the more unified exterior. The rear fascia is definitely Prius’s own and it gives the c…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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First and foremost I'm no writer. I put this together from random thoughts and it is simple, and limited to essentially the Epsilon vehicles with a little Alpha and Omega thrown in, but could be expanded to include all of GM concerning it's divisions Chevy vs Buick vs Cadillac vs the Industry Many people lambast Chevy for the Malibu and SS sharing some many design cues, but I maintain that both cars are variably handsome, and in the SS’s case, Chevy/Holden’s take on what a mature mainstream sedan should look like, not succumbing to the body-cladding of past Pontiacs, or racing stripes and trick painted surfaces of the Dodge brand, but presenting to the American…
Last reply by Cmicasa the Great, -
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Basically, I got to take my bother's A5 for a few hour highway jaunt to pick him up in Ashland last Wed. He had driven the rental Charger down and took the train back. So, I pick the car up at my parents and drop off my truck. I have my pre-trip pep talk with the A5 and slip into the driver's seat to get comfortable. After driving my pickups for so long I immediately notice that the footwell seems tight and the pedals far closer to each other than I remember. No problem though. I slide the seat into a comfortable position and adjust the tilt and telescoping wheel and adjust the the lower back lumbar. Seating position: Good to go. Next it is time or an MM…
Last reply by Stew, -
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I was able to test a new 2013 CC "Sport" this past weekend. It was a much better experience than I had hoped for. I had it for a couple of hours and did a good mix of interstate and East TN rural driving. My daily driver is a 1999 C280 with over 250K miles. I provide that only so you can see what I am comparing the new VW against. The over all build quality of the CC (German made 68%) is OK, and I mean just OK. While it is as nice as similar priced Mazda and oddly as nice as the 2013 Mercedes CLA, it is nowhere near as solid as the now 14 year old C280 I drive. The panel fit is OK, but the paint will likely not hold up for a decade, as I would expect. The mo…
Last reply by Hengista, -
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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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popped into the honda dealer yesterday as friday night i saw a new odyssey in the wild. It sure looks like a new age techno barge out and about. Actually, it trailed behind a ford edge in a line of cars, in motion it sort of looked like a stretched and pulled and lowered edge with a kim kardashian bigg butt....... it definitely looks better than the current crop of minivans including Honda's own. It's sort of clumsy look keep the rest of it in check from looking 'too sporty'. I will say this, even with its clumsiness and questionable detailing, its probably the most appealing minivan out there, looks wise. And the minivan segment is taking off again, so has Honda h…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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There are only 4 econoboxes that I know of that you can get with manual windows. They are the Chevy Sonic, the Chevy Spark, the Ford Fiesta, and the Nissan Versa. When it's icy outside and hitting the power window button does NOTHING, you sort of think back to manual windows. I had them in my last car ... by design! It's not surprising they are in the Nissan Versa. It's supposedly the least expensive car you can buy in America. At least, that's the case in base form with manual transmission and no options. It costs something like $12,000 outfitted that way. Professional reviewers all say that the Versa sedan is bread and butter transportation and nothing m…
Last reply by oldshurst442, -
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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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Okay, gents. Long time since I did one of these. This one will be somewhat brief, as I only drove one powertrain option, and although the test drive loops were decently long, I didn't get the variety I would normally incorporate into a good test drive. What I am going to do with this is a 'Good' and 'Bad' list, and then a quick comparo against the other vehicles on hand for the ride and drive event. Good- * Appearance. Yep, I said it. In person, it's a handsome vehicle with a cohesive and non-fussy design. It's not going to turn any heads with its boldness, or lack thereof, but it's clean and understated and elegant. As for looking like other vehicles, …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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So this afternoon, after my wife's OB appointment, I decided we would take the opportunity to do something we hadn't done together in quite some time: go visit a car lot. The intended target: the 2011 Chrysler 300C. We got to the lot and saw about 6 or 7 300s there, most of which were Cs. About five minutes into our browsing (which mainly consisted of my wife listening to me ramble on about stuff), a salesman came out and asked us what we were interested in. I told him we were looking at the 300 and the Charger (which was true, but I had seen the latter already). After explaining many of the new features to us -- mainly the adaptive cruise control, the adaptive HIDs,…
Last reply by Maxy, -
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I haven’t gotten much in the way of rental upgrades lately. I’ve gotten exactly what I’ve rented on line. I had a scheduled airport rental for a “standard” car, barely below a full-size car. When I showed up at the counter, the woman working there was trying to find available cars and wanted to put me in a SUV. I asked her for a regular car with a trunk. I pointed out a Malibu on the lot and she said, “No, that’s a full-size.” Wow! That’s splitting hairs. She spotted a VW Jetta, which is exactly what the icon on the rental reservation showed. She was very nice throughout the rental process and took me out to the car. I took to the VW Jetta with curiosity…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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NOTE: I was dumb enough not to bring my camera along for this test drive, so this Edmunds stock photo will have to do. More to come! Exterior I wouldn't be the first to suggest that the HHR looks like a more muscular PT Cruiser. That formality aside, the HHR's styling is pretty good to my eyes. Tall, boxy and, most importantly, it looks pretty unique parked in a lot full of Impalas. Those who are attempting to wean themselves off of SUVs will find the HHR's bold chrome grille and trucky stance especially inviting. One feature I thought was really nifty: The gas cap is flush with the body, but, rather than pressing a release inside, you push the cap in to release it, …
Last reply by Polish_Kris, -
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The Automobile 1996 Plymouth Breeze. After a lengthy search for a "worthy" automobile to replace my failing Monte Carlo, I discovered this Medium Fern (sage green) Breeze at a local dealership with only 68,000 miles on the clock. History/Lineage The Breeze was one of the cloud car triplets introduced in 1995 to replace the aged A-body, K-derived Chrysler LeBaron, Dodge Spirit, and Plymouth Acclaim sedans. Its archtecture is known as JA. Styling With a unique cab-forward design, the Breeze's fluid, flowing appearance was radical and unlike anything else on the road. It lacked a defined three-box design so common to its competitors. In 2006, this sort of design is copi…
Last reply by MyerShift, -
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I had never driven any Honda vehicle until this year and, after being assigned a 2022 Accord as my rental car in March, I was again assigned an Accord in May. However, this time it was a hybrid. I had never driven any hybrid vehicle until recently, either. First, all Honda Accord sedan models were refreshed for this model year and the minor changes took this car in the right direction. The front grille and rear fascia, together with their lights, are simpler, cleaner, and, somehow, pack an even better punch. It has become a more attractive vehicle. Inside, things are much the same except that the cloth seating surfaces have also been changed for the better compa…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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I travel a lot for work and rent cars 40+ times per year. After several years of dealing with substandard rentals (calling most of them mediocre would be a complement….and a lie), I realized that reserving a “Premium” car was the only way to be guaranteed a decent vehicle. The ‘Premium’ class can be anything from a Taurus Limited, Impala LTZ or Toyota Avalon to a Volvo S60. Recently, I had to fly to Memphis (from Atlanta) for a few days and made my rental reservation the day before I was arriving. I booked a Premium, but when I got to the lot (where I could usually pick a car using my Fastbreak card and be gone in a few minutes) there was nothing that fit the bill.…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Was It A Mistake To Make A Muscle Car Out Of An SUV? 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS Review AWD LT 1SE Black Exterior / Ebony Interior In the 70’s a muscle car was a large, powerful, fast machine. My father owned a 71 Oldsmobile Cutlass S (badge brother to the Pontiac GTO and Chevrolet Chevelle) Unfortunately it was totaled and pie-wedged as a Big Rig ran over it, but by all descriptions it was fast as hell! It was simple back then: engine, transmission and speed. Of course as the RPM’s went up the gas gauge went down and that car “could pass everything but a gas station.” In this age of high gas prices this would seem to indicate that the age of the pony car …
Last reply by chevynj, -
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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…
Last reply by Stew, -
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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 …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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This car was bought as a repo with 15k miles on it after someone had owned it for 6 months. This cars features include: power windows/locks/mirrors(heated), keyless entry, CD player, 6 speakers, AC, Cruise control Styling: I love the styling. The headlights accent the eggcrate grill excelently. Free flowing lines give the exterior a soft look. Wavey Tailights give a touch of sportyness. I love the short hood and tall trunk and the effect of the cab foward design. The only styling issue is the black door handles. Engine: The old engine was sufficient for this car. It was a 2.4 liter I-4 with 150 hp. Then, in 2002 I got caught in a deep puddle and my car was engulfed …
Last reply by NeonLX, -
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 17, 2013 Alfa Romeo has a very ambitious plan to triple their sales by 2016, meaning the brand would be selling around 300,000 vehicles. Looking at Alfa Romeo's current lineup that is only made up of the subcompact MiTo and the compact Giulietta, its a bit of a tall order. However Alfa Romeo's European boss, Louis-Carl Vignon believes the brand cannot not only meet the goal, but exceed it. So how is Alfa Romeo planning to do this? Well a big part of the plan deal with Alfa Romeo's return to the U.S. Alfa Romeo expects the U.S. and Europe to be their big markets by 2016. "Alfa's brand awareness in the U.S. is s…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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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 …
Last reply by Suaviloquent, -
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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…
Last reply by El Kabong, -
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 26, 2013 The Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition has ridden into the sunset. “We don’t have plans for one at the moment. We’ve got 10 models including a brand-new Limited Model, which was new for 2013. We feel like we’ve got the market really well covered,” said Doug Scott, Ford Motor Co.’s truck marketing manager. The F-150 Harley-Davidson was introduced back in 1999 and was the flagship model for the F-150 lineup for a time. Scott said the Harley-Davidson only accounted for one to two percent of F-150 sales. Add in the fact that Ford has added such models like the F-150 Platinum, Limited and Raptor, and there isn…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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I put a couple hundred miles on a metallic black w/ charcoal cloth interior '10 Taurus SEL in Orange County (Ca) over the weekend. Picked it up Friday afternoon at John Wayne airport (after some confusion w/ Thrifty-I'd reserved a Charger, almost had an Impala that was low on gas, then got the Taurus). Had a nice mix of freeway gridlock driving, city driving, beach town driving, winding roads, etc. The car had 28,xxx miles. Impressions: Big, solid car. Love the dash design and detailing. Lots of useful cubbholes, cupholders, etc. One of nicer cloth interiors I've seen recently. Wished it had a sunroof since it was dark inside. Positives: Very comfortable. Dis…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Review: 2005 Nissan Xterra A Competent, Capable SUV…Just Keep the Dramamine Handy by z28luvr01 Last week I had the chance to sample a 2005 Nissan Xterra during a five-day vacation to San Diego. I had initially reserved an economy car and seemed destined for a Hyundai Accent, but the Hertz counter at the San Diego airport ran out of economy cars and gave me, presumably, the next smallest vehicle they had available. In any case, I logged several hundred miles on the Xterra, driving between San Marcos (my hotel location), La Jolla, and the major San Diego attractions, and I take this opportunity to report my impressions of Nissan’s smallest SUV. Exterior The Xte…
Last reply by tama z71, -
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So my parents just got a new Fusion SE. They were longtime GM owners who were very dissapointed when GM got rid of Olds. They sucked it up and moved onto Saturn, leasing an Aura 3.6 XR. The had mixed feelings about the car and not wanting to buy a Malibu since it was virtually the same car as the aura but still wanting to drive a Domestic they ended up giving the Fusion a shot. I bombed around it in giving my Mustang the night off last weekend and here's what I took away. (keep in mind i drive an 05 Mustang GT and owned an 06 Malibu SS before that. Also I have extended driving experience in The Aura XR) Specs: Fusion SE - 2.5 I4 175 hp 172 torque 6 speed auto. Sil…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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As part 1 of my vacation this week, I was in N. California for 4 days driving a rental '12 Cadillac CTS 3.0. I thoroughly enjoyed it in a variety of driving situations--Bay Area freeway traffic, beautiful winding Sonoma and Napa county country roads, driving around town in Sonoma and Napa, etc. My only previous CTS driving experience was a couple short local trips in a black 3.6 a couple of months ago. All in all, it drove quite nicely...this appeared to be a base model w/ small wheels and standard suspension, but the road feel, steering, etc was excellent. Not too many nit-picks to point out..I couldn't find an aux input jack, and the cup holders seem to be too cl…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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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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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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Did the Beetle Friday, so i will do the Camry today. The Camry is the better halves so yesterday was my first time actually driving it, though I have rode in it quite a few times since we got it. Anyway: 2011 Camry LE 2.5 4/6 speed auto Price: 9900 64k miles Ok, long story short. i don't feel a need for a long review. he Camry is what it is and nothing more. I have come to the conclusion it has a mission and does i well. It is big, roomy, all-day comfortable and buttery smooth in in all of it's moves. The ride, the lazy handling, the numb steering, the utter quiet, the fact that every control is placed perfectly to fall in hand with…
Last reply by Stew, -
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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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My brother got his wife a new vehicle, a 2008 MKX. 102k miles One owner Dealership maintained 2 year warranty Immaculate condition. All options but touchscreen/navigation and possibly the THX sound system 20 inch rims Purchase price 11k OTD I am guessing the color is platinum. Looks silver in some light and Gold in others. Looks really good with the 20 inch chrome rims. Really nice gray interior. Signs of wear and tear: couple small nicks on the rear driver's door. Slight signs in the backseat area where a childseat was used, some on armrest, otherwise mint condition, Panoramic sunroof needs oiled or a spray of WD40. Features of note: Sync: D…
Last reply by Stew, -
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Drew, feel free to merge this if you want. Anywho, I'll make this short and sweet, and drop the bomb right out of the gate. The new Malibu is the best mainstream midsize family sedan I've ever driven. There. TL;DR set, you can stop right here. For those of you want a little more detail, here goes. I drove our one and so far, only, new Malibu, a 1.5 LT. It had the optional 'Leather Pkg' for $2,140; 'Driver Confidence Pkg' for $1,195; 'Convenience & Tech Pkg' for $895, and pearl paint for $995. Grand total, after a $745 In-Sticker discount, was $30,375. Let's start with the things I like. It's a list that could be titled "Just About Everything". No, reall…
Last reply by Suaviloquent, -
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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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- Editor-in-Chief
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Driven: 2014 Buick Regal FWD (base) MSRP 30,615 sale price 24,995 Note: truncated review. I've reviewed Regals previously, so this is merely an update on whatever refinements over time that have been had. past reviews http://www.cheersandgears.com/topic/75027-2011-buick-regal-cxl-and-cxl-turbo-updated-with-turbo-manual/?hl=%2Bbuick+%2Bregal
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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- 3 replies
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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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- Editor-in-Chief
- 2 followers
- 3 replies
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Persistence pays off. I wanted to "test drive" of these units. The day I picked up my rental car, they didn't have any Malibus on hand. Instead, I was "upgraded" within the full-size category to the new Impala. I believe it was the LTZ, and even had a V6 and a sunroof. Within a day or so, I took it back. I didn't like it much, largely because I couldn't see out of it all that well. Well, the morning that I took it back to Dollar-Thrifty, they had a Malibu there and I asked them for it. I've found that, of the majors, Dollar-Thrifty has morphed into one of the worst in terms of customer service and attitude. So, in the end, I got my Malibu. I don't know if I'…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Picked up a gold '10 Fusion SE from Alamo at Denver International Airport Friday morning, put about 200 miles on it this weekend around the city, suburbs, and freeways. It and 3 HHRs were sitting in the 'fullsize' row. None are fullsize, but that's the way it is w/ rental cars.. Overview: A smooth and quiet midsize sedan, pleasantly put together, clean exterior styling, clean interior design, decent materials for the price point (what do these go for, $20k or so?). Pluses Very quiet. Sitting at a light w/ the HVAC and radio off, it's dead silent. As quiet as a hybrid. Only the tach gives away that it is idling. Drives smoothly. The faux brushed aluminum dash …
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
Infiniti Q50 - Nissan Altima’s richer cousin who went the Ivy League route – via rental
by trinacriabob- 3 replies
- 1.1k views
I had never driven an Infiniti Q50 before, let alone ever really looked at them. I also didn’t know much about these cars. I was supposed to be assigned a medium sized SUV, but remarked I wanted the luggage area to be hidden. The rental agent told me they could not guarantee the presence of a retractable cover. (Why would they order a car without one or why would someone take one? eBay?) They didn’t have any SUVs anyway, and I got put into an Infiniti Q50. I checked my phone to verify the cost would be covered by my insurance and the credit card parameters. It came in at around $43,000. That’s if new. That said: “no worries.” However, this unit would b…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
- 2 followers
- 3 replies
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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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Reader Reviews are submitted by our readers of vehicles they test drive or rent. If you would like to submit a Reader Review (like our Chevrolet Trailblazer Reader Review), e-mail [email protected] First Impressions I recently had a current-gen Nissan Sentra as a weekly rental. I had driven one before, but it was the last-gen model, and I’ve reviewed it on this forum. This rental unit had slightly over 30,000 miles on it. I gave the last-gen model a mostly positive review for its “can do” aspects and excellent fuel mileage. Now, looking at this new one, it almost makes the last-gen model look a little dowdy. Design, Ride, and Handling You’ll…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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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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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---to fill in later tonight--- overall, nicely improved. good value.
Last reply by regfootball, -
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The truck for those who want a truck 2004 GMC Canyon Z71 A Tama Review Accurate assessments of the GMC Canyon have been few and far between. More power! Bigger cabin! Isuzu? These and other cries of misinformation would leave the media sheep to believe that this little piss-bucket is yet another sign of GM’s inability to shake its old ways. Despite having been on the market since December of 2003, this truck has been misrepresented even by those who would defend it. The constant flow of inaccuracies about the GMT-355 twins pains me, and it pains me to the point where I feel the need to forego hour’s worth of study hall time this past week in order to assemble a co…
Last reply by tama z71,
