Reader Reviews

So I swung by the auto auction Wednesday for fun and to see what they had. Most of teh stuff wasn't of any interest, but an `03 Nissan Altima 2.5 V6 did catch my eye. I decided to spend some quality time with it and see what it was like. Overall the car was in good shape. Engine ran well, interior was clean and in good shape besides a cubby door forward of the shifter that wouldn't close. Exterior was in good shape save the yellowed headlights. Fired it up, revved it some, pooped the hood and gave it a walk around. Everything looked and sounded good. They have a pretty big area where you can test drive the cars, and get them up o 40-50 mph at full throttle before …

Test drove a new 2010 Subaru Legacy base and 2010 Ford Fusion SE today. Both with four cylinder and manual trans. Since I rarely finish what i start, I will try to just be more brief than usual. Since I drove them back to back it is interesting to have them to compare to each other. First off, the 2010 Ford Fusion SE. 2.5l 4 6 speed manual trans. The car was not equipped with the 18" wheels and Monochrome sport package and what i presume to be tighter suspension. I was disappointed that I could not try that. I have driven the 2010 Fusion this exact way before but figured it would be ok to drive it again. The Fusion is a known commodity and everyone I think will a…

Keep in mind as you read this that I've been driving Chrysler products for decades now, though I had quite a few GM vehicles "back in the day"... You guys probably remember my gushing over the Cobalt we rented last summer while on vacation. Well, this summer we rented the Cobalt's bigger brother, a 2006 Malibu LT, while our daughter attended a figure skating camp in Santa Fe, NM. We had the thing for a week and put on 1200 miles in all kinds of driving, from stop & go city stuff to mountain climbing. The Malibu was equipped rather well with power everything, remote keyless, killer sound system, sun roof, electric driver's seat, 3500 V6 and a host of other goodies. H…

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…

OK Quick clarification to anyone listening. Using BLUETOOTH and your existing DATA connection on your cell phone (Tested with ANDROID Samsung Galaxy III and IV and LG Viper) will allow you car to connect to (tested with my 2014 Impala LTZ, 2014 Corvette Stingray Z51, 2015 GMC Yukon SLT, ex's 2014 Buick Verano Turbo, and my assistant's 2014 Chevy Cruze LTZ) Apps: iHeartRadio Tune-in Milk Pandora and from what I speculate any other like those. I use iHeart, Pandora, and Milk all the time due to them allowing the "Create Your Own Station" features. I love listening to Prince, Doug Stanhope, Greg Gilrado, Robert Schimmel, Jim Gaffigan, Hendrix, Led Zep, Motown…

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. …

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…

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…

Here's one you guys might like. My dealer group owns a Toyota store and a GM store, so I took a new Crew Cab Z71 Colorado out and drove it back-to-back with a Double (Toyota speak for crew) Cab Tacoma TRD Sport. I did a write-up right afterwards- Exterior- It's bigger than I expected. At first glance, it doesn't really seem smaller than a Silverado. Parking the two next to one another reveals the Colorado to mainly be narrower and have a smaller cab. The bed height is virtually identical, which is a sore point, imo. But it's a good-looking truck, overall. Nicely detailed, modern looking. I dig it. In comparison, the Tacoma looks cheap and toy-like. It's decidedly…

This is good news. VW is listening to their US customers who admire what the brand was and should be again. The only affordable German brand. Which brings me to this review of the Jetta's less expensive little brother. I've been checking the website of the local VW dealership, and when they showed 4 Rabbits in stock, 3 five doors and 1 three door, I hightailed it in to check them out this morning. I ended up driving a 3 door with one factory option: floor mats. It was black (and you know what they say about black), with anthracite interior (dark gray woven cloth of a good quality). Of course everyone here probably knows the Rabbit comes with all of the "right" sta…

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…

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…

Was in Denver for the weekend, beautiful fall weather. Since I'd sampled 3 midsize and one fullsize this year, I thought I'd rent a compact...got a black 4dr Cobalt from Thrifty. Charcoal interior. First compact I've driven since a 2dr Cobalt back in '08, also in Denver. Was a pleasant little car, nothing to complain about..seemed competent, reasonably peppy, comfortable, easy to see out of. Interesting to have the controls for the info screen (trip computer) on the steering wheel...couldn't figure out how to reset the trip odometers, though. No cruise control. The seats were firm, pretty well bolstered...wonder if they might be too firm on a long drive. See…

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 year, I won a weekend trip out to California to take part in a test drive event sponsored by Motor Trend (and probably Chrysler). 5 auto enthusiasts were chosen from video auditions, and we drove the piss out of the 2014 Malibu LTZ Turbo, Fusion SE 2.0EB, Camry SE V6 (*not the brand new one*), and the then-new 2015 Chrysler 200S V6. I'll break down the individual tests with scoring out of 5 stars. I hope you guys enjoy the long read. Acceleration: Chrysler 200S - * * * * * Toyota Camry - * * * * Chevy Malibu - * * * Ford Fusion - * * * *Note: we were required to use sport mode and paddle shifters. First things first: the 2.0T engines are outcla…

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…

Recently my sister leased a brand new Radiant Silver on black Altima 2.5S. It's got the CVT and intelli-key system. Its a great package, for the the 22k or 23k but compared to our 06 Malibu that was the same price, the Malibu has twice as much options. Now for what makes the Altima a deal. The interior, why boring for most I find great. Materials are top notch, especially the cloth, which is some sort of cloth and suede like material. The only downside to me actually is the headroom , from the drivers seat I feel like my head and the roof are almost touching, there is plenty of leg room but. As for the exterior, yeah it looks ALOT like the old Altima, but its still very …

I currently have a new Monte Carlo LT with the 3900 as a rental car...... ......and I'm fairly impressed with the 3.9L VVT pushrod V6 in this car! First, let me just clarify that I HATE the exterior styling of this car (always have) and I think the interior fit-and-finish and materials is horribly unforgiveable. (As we know, the Monte Carlo does NOT share the vast majority of the MUCH nicer Impala interior upgrades.) The whole car strikes me as "typical" "old-school" GM. NOW that that's off my chest, I can say that the 3.9L in this car is the nicest execution of a pushrod V6 that I've ever seen GM accomplish. Wierd because in the G6 GTP rental I had about a …

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com March 26, 2013 What happens when you take the fastest and meanest Jaguar XK, the XKR-S and turn it up to eleven? You get the brand new 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT which is a track-ready weapon that is road legal. The XKR-S GT features a new aerodynamic package that includes a carbon fiber front splitter, dive planes, extended wheel arch spats, a rear diffuser, and a large fixed rear wing. This allows the XKR-S GT to achieve a maximum downforce of 320 lbs when traveling at the vehicle’s top speed of 186 MPH. The GT also features a set of carbon ceramic brake discs (a first for Jaguar) and a race-derived, height-adjustable tw…

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…

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…

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…

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 …

No other country in the world has bought into the hype over hybrids like the United States of America. Whereas our European counterparts prefer more sensible diesels, we Americans have a Colin Farrel-esque stereotype about diesels in that they're grimy and they smell bad. I suppose that it's not entirely our fault, though. After all, when automakers tried selling diesels in passenger cars here back in the late Seventies, they were far from being an acceptable replacement for gasoline engines. They did stink like something dead, they clacked and clicked like a bag of old bones, and they were known for sometimes breaking down. They also could have arrived at a better tim…

short spin.... handles really sweet. 7 speed auto, fairly responsive....still not a manual though. all in all, not really detracting from the drive much. the gimmicky nature of the shift lever is distracting though. Paddles make up for it. Size of the car is nice for anyone who doesn't carry people. Seats were comfy. Interior simple, and tasteful. I'd go for a couple inches wider and some more rear leg room. Interior not plush but in the front enough room to be sorta comfy in the excellent seats. Love the visibility out of the car. Partially this is due to the 2 door nature and lack of obtrusive pillars aplenty. Have to admit though.....the car did not feel ba…

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…

HIGHS: Sexy looks Price and value at this trim level Surprised that I liked the improved interior Six cylinders came standard GIRTHY wide cabin and comfortable seats Ride wasn't bonecrushing punishing at least Nice view out the front and good side mirror visibility (despite the squashed roof) Roof did feel squashed but not as severe as I feared Not quiet inside, but not excessively loud. Cupholders, nice setup LOWS Shifter a bit notchy. I would not get this car with a stick.....stick...with the automatic Hard to drive smoothly (unless you own the car for a few weeks first I imagine) Lots of business and effort to just get it to drive smoothly. Engine so…

I had a '16 Malibu LS in Ohio for a few days a couple of weeks ago. Black w/ black cloth interior. All in all, a pleasant drive. Seemed to have plenty enough power on Ohio freeways and around Columbus and some small towns Pros: Revised dash and center stack makes the cockpit seem more open, more spacious Looks like more rear leg room than the previous generation (longer wheelbase) Interior plastics are a mix of hard and soft touch, w/ some simulated stitching and fabric on the dash, which I thought was unusual. Ample trunk room Very quiet Start/stop feature was smooth and unobtrusive Good outward visibility even w/ fastback styling Cons: Couldn't figure…

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…

DRIVEN: 2017 Chevy Volt LT cloth seats quick note, most of my basis of comparison is the outgoing Volt model, which I have driven a few times. HIGHS: -Sexy new shape is less science project and more real sporty car. -Sexiness carries to the interior which you sit 'in' like a cockpit and its a sporty outlook out of the car. Center console with shifter and such is very nice. -Interior is revised with 'iPad on the dash' and a completely new design that fits in with all the other Chevy's; no longer an outlier -New Volt is a big step forward in overall execution of the Voltec concept; it's a big improvement in nearly every way over the already pretty well done Vol…

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.

Cadillac had a Lyric on tour here a couple days ago at a local dealer. Coincidentally I was downtown for a work seminar that day which was close to the dealer, and I managed to make it just in time before the end of the day to check it out before they got it back on the trailer. Images momentarily

------writeup coming later today----------- "Automotive death on four wheels, with a new funeral suit, and a larger, more spacious casket" Is this really the case? Check back later......

So our regular client and mega baller who graces us with all kinds of great specialty used cars just worked out a deal for us to get 7 of his cars, and among them were a Focus RS and new TT RS. I didn't get a really long drive in either, but here is a brief review and my impressions of each- Focus RS- This car was actually a positive surprise. The interior is markedly inferior to a Golf R. But it's really not terrible. It's not quite as intuitive or quality feeling, but it's miles better than an Evo, and still better than an STI, imo. The ride is definitely stiff and way rougher than a Golf R even in 'Race'. But it's not unbearable. It really is only a problem…

I finally drove the Continental today. It was a base Premiere, which of course has the 3.7L. That was my biggest concern as I wasn't sure if it would be enough for the car. Turns out I was right that it is more than adequate. It even shifts a lot smoother than the MKX I drove last year. I was also impressed by the sound system even though it wasn't Revel audio. The ride quality was everything I expected, I'd say it was even better than the MKX. The one negative I discovered was that if the battery died, everyone would have to climb through the driver's side door to get out. Overall, I was very impressed. I was expecting to come away wanting a higher spec model, but that w…

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…

Well, as I've said before, I currently own a 2001 Chevrolet Impala LS sedan, 3.8L V6, Hydra-Matic 4T65E transaxle, leather interior, sunroof, power driver's seat, steering wheel mounted radio controls, am/fm,cd,cassette. The car has 110,000 miles on it and not given me that many problems. I've had to replace the water pump and belt tensioner pulley (both were making a very slight squeal, could only be heard with a screwdriver being used as a stethiscope (sp?), the belt's been changed once, coolant flushed and refilled, hoses replaced, air, oil, fuel, and transmission filters, pcv valve every two oil changes, one set of AC Delco spark plugs, and wires, brakes all the way…

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…

Picked up a white Mazda6 at Port of Columbus Airport in Columbus, Ohio Thursday afternoon, dropped it off this afternoon. White w/ charcoal cloth interior. Put about 250 miles on it driving from Columbus to Cleveland (went to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum) then down to the family farm in Tuscarawas County and back to Columbus.. Nothing really to complain about...plenty of power for a 4cyl, quiet, smooth. Comfortable, good outward visibility. Reasonable controls. No steering wheel adjustment, though I was able to adjust the seat to my liking. No MP3 jack that I could find. Didn't like the red lit gauges at night. Turn signal control was counter-intuitive…

I rented a car because I got a good deal. AAA was giving a 3rd weekend day free if you paid for 2. Not only that, I got bumped up from a compact (because they didn't have any) to an intermediate. The car assigned to me was a 2019 Toyota Corolla LE. It was bronze with a black cloth interior and wheel covers on what appeared to be 15" wheels. Its styling is acceptable. The signature "angry appliance" grille isn't as bad as it is on some bigger Toyota's and Lexus products and an identifiable front fascia/bumper is welcomed. The greenhouse is sort of dull, as is the rear fascia. The small slats at the edges of the front bumper are odd but sort of grow on you. I t…

Well guys, it happened. I never thought it would, but I drove a car that may be technically perfect. You can stop reading here if you want, or go further for me to explain why. I'm pretty sure I have spoken of our one particular client from whom we get regularly get a lot of very high end cars from. Last Friday upon arriving at work, I was simply told to "...get in, we're going to pick up some of Tommy's cars." I don't need anymore of an invite than that. Typically, we pick his cars up from one of two locations- from a parking garage underneath one of his friend's restaurants that is nearby, or from a shop about 10 miles away where he has his cars detailed. This time…

2010 Camaro SS Full Review By Justin Loyear Cheers and Gears Biggest Fan - Head turning looks in a comfortable package. Oh, and 426 horsepower! Toughest Critic - Premium stereo needs improvement for when you don't want to listen to the engine. _____________________________________________________________________________ <img src="http://www.cheersandgears.com/uploads/1265847896/gallery_253_27_415053.jpg" WIDTH="512" HEIGHT="340" HSPACE="15" vspace="15" align="right"> For the driving enthusiast, the automotive holy grail is a performance car that also maintains everyday practicality and affordability. With the Chevrolet Camaro Super Sport starting…

......and now I have never wanted something so badly in my life. Earlier I got a chance to take our 2017 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Coupe out. Nothing crazy. about a 10 mile loop through some local roads with a few esses and sweepers. Seven speed dogleg manual transmission. My. Gawd. Easily the most fun, coolest, most charismatic car I've ever driven by a comfortable margin. The sound, the power delivery, the shifter, steering, the physicality of it. Just unlike anything else I've ever been in. I drove it right after a Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder E-gear, and the Brit was so, so much enjoyable to drive. It's just intoxicating. You have to drive it, and it's not eas…

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…

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…

Reviewing the Altima was on my bucket list. I then saw another member did a very thorough job of reviewing it and wondered if I should review it. My spin on the car is somewhat the same, yet different, so I will review the typical base model Nissan Altima found in rental fleets. Japanese iron has made serious inroads into rental fleets. If you call ahead to find out what the full size car might be, you are likely to hear a list of Camry and Company. After a very slushy and unremarkable but absurdly cheap 2009-ish rental of a Camry in Canada, I vowed to avoid renting the larger Japanese cars in the future. It turned out that I had a weird flight connection in M…

As you all know I recently purchased a 2012 Beetle Turbo. The reasons i went with the Beetle is because I needed something with decent fuel mileage and got a great deal. It helps that it is somewhat unique and is a really good driver. Basics: 2012 Beetle Turbo 2.0T/6 speed manual Base turbo (18 inch instead of 19 inch rims, no fender audio or sunroof, etc, etc) 53k miles when purchased, now a little over 55k Dealership had to replace all brake rotors and pads because they were shot Price $10,900 Exterior: It is a Beetle and unabashedly so. I really like this generation. I was never a big fan of the New Beetle, but I…

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 …

I have come to believe that you shouldn’t opt for the manager’s special or wild card to save some money on a rental car. If you order a specific type of car, it is usually set aside for you or an upgrade is possible. In this case, the agency's manager’s special indicated that it could include EVs. I called several days ahead and was told that getting a gasoline powered vehicle was likely if that’s what the customer wanted. When I got to the airport location, that wasn’t the way it was going to be. I was given the keys to a Tesla SUV, a twin motor Model Y. I was told that getting a gasoline powered car would cost me a fairly hefty sum, for which it seemed they ma…

I had the opportunity to rent a Chevy Cruze. This would have been the last gen model, prior to the arrival of the new one that is now in the showrooms. While the Cruze was definitely a step up in that niche from Chevy's previous Cavalier and Cobalt models, it was starting to get long in the tooth. It was never ungainly. It just seemed a little chunky. Though I haven't driven one, the current Cruze fixes all that. I got to select a car from the specified category at the rental car agency in SoCal. Take a pale gold one (a color that does NOT draw attention) with Florida plates (far away!) ... or take a red one (a color that DOES draw attention) with local plates?…

I had the chance to check out the new Cruze the other day, inside and out. I was unable to get a test drive in, however, as they were closed (and were irresponsible enough to leave it unlocked). Let me start by saying this, I was shocked by the car in a few different ways. The first of which, is the exterior impression. As I walked up to it, I was under the impression this was just a base model. Once my eyes wondered over to the window sticker, clearly, it was nothing of the sort. This one was priced at $24k and some change. The exterior is sorely lacking in details. There was nothing to show this wasn't just a tame, pedestrian model. It wasn't until you looked inside, …

DRIVEN 2015 Honda CR-v AWD LX HIGHS Engine plus CVT can deliver great scoot ........when you lean hard on the throttle CVT might actually be the best of such a breed, compared to earlier CVT's, responsive Sufficient cabin girth and front row room Rear seat space is alright for this class too Surprising cargo space with and without the rear seat down Innocuous, if that is your sort of thing Feminine, if that is your sort of thing Cheap and tinny, if that is your sort of thing EPA ratings are pretty good i guess Honda whores out the leases so you are ok there Some parts of the newly revised dash feel soft to the touch Rear cargo latches to dump the rear sea…

Was near a BGMC dealer today and bumped in because i saw the new LaCrosse. They also had new Envision on the floor and 'new' "Acadia" as well (I'll probably be calling it what it is, an Envoy XL7, because it feels to me like a combination of those two FINE GM products, moreso than it feels like a 'real' Acadia.....but I digress). (Digression number two.....still really dig the Encore. 17's not in yet but the Encore to me is still one of GM's best masterstrokes. A bit more armrest and a real console, and such...nice little gem. Surprisingly not at all rendered without an identity with the arrival of the Envision. The Encore still feels like it has a rightful and …

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…

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…

I had never driven any Honda. I had rented a full size car for a week in a Southern California suburb. I saw some Chevy Malibus and Toyota Camrys on the lot, but was assigned an Accord. I would have preferred to remain in something I was familiar with, but was open to this experience. I’m glad I was. The Honda Accord was of the last model year before the current refresh. It’s a comfortable car with an easy to live in cabin. Both the front and rear seating areas are spacious enough, and the trunk is also generous. The seats have a nicer shape, even though the fabric was weird, with an unusual sheen. (In the refreshed Accord, the seating upholstery has reverted …

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…

I went by the Hyundai/Subaru/Mazda store today specifically to look at the Genesis Coupe. They had 3 on the lot (and 1 more that was out on a test-drive when I got there) but the one I was immediately drawn to was a Lime Rock Green 2.0T. There was a red 3.8 on the lot too, and 306hp is obviously better than 210, but I drove the green one anyways, since I was most interested to see how Hyundai does a turbocharged 4cyl. The other one was a Nordschleife Gray 4cyl manual, it was the best looking of the bunch. First Impression: The is a very attractive car in person. Its well proportioned and inoffensive, while the window dip at least keeps things interesting. Inside th…

1998 Saturn SL1 in Dark Green 1.9 liter I4 100hp 30,000 miles This car is basically featureless...manual windows,locks, and mirrors, AM/FM Stereo w/ 4 speakers, A/C , powersteering, smokers package, floormats. I've had this car since it was new...so this is a very Long-term review. Styling: I like the styling a lot. Something that you see in this car and other saturns of these years is that they stand out in the compact class. This car has a sporty look. The headlights have a sleek slim design that complement the badge in the middle. The back end could've used some more appeal and badging. Euro style tail lights do not cut it as compared to the front. Another is…

Will get some notes in later today. a couple pics or it didn’t happen

2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SE G Package The Story... Last Saturday I spent a day in 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SE G Package with the base 3.3L 175hp Flex Fuel V6 and four speed automatic. This van listed for $29,360.00 and was painted in Melbourne Green Pearl with 16 inch alloy wheels, it also had a full list of other toys which I will get into later. This van is my brothers used for his sales job, he trades every 1-2 years for something new. **Side note I will have option of getting it when he is done with it in a year and it has about 60,000 miles on it, and for the right price I would be tempted, provided the old Impala gets enough miles on it.** The Toys... …

Will get some thoughts up later today. Unfortunately missed out on getting any pics.

I had an intermediate car rented to drive down to the South Bay/Monterey County and was fully expecting to get Ford or GM stuff. Not so. I was given a Hyundai Sonata. My initial impression of this car was to scratch my chin - some good, some bad. The overall proportions make it easy to park and maneuver. It has a lot of room within its dimensions, both in the seating areas and in its deep trunk. Its seats are comfortable and its controls are very logically organized, though the layout is boring and the elliptical forms seem dated. The seats are well-formed and reasonably comfortable. I always appreciate a good greenhouse and this car has good visibility and few b…

C&G Drives: The 2007 Jeep Compass By Brian Dreggors I could hear the lil' Jeepette screaming, "Drive me!" So I did. Today, I had the opportunity to test drive a fresh-to-the-floor 2007 Jeep Compass. For those unfamiliar, the Compass is Jeep's first foray into the highly-competitive car-based sport utility market, a market characterized by youthful looks, creative design, high utility, and affordability. How does the Compass fare? Let's go! The Basics The Compass that awaited me on the lot was a Bright Silver Metallic Limited 4x4 with 18" alloy wheels. The base MSRP for this trim was listed as $21,180, but the options (including two convenience groups, Boston Ac…

I spent Easter in Portland and had booked a full-size with Avis. A little over $ 50 for 2 days. Not bad. Avis doesn't have LaCrosses at this location, so I went up to the parking deck to see what they had and noted a couple of Monte Carlo parking spot numbers. I got a white coupe as a result of my snooping around. A couple of things have changed since the last model run and some things are the same. The first thing one notices are the seats. These are the plumper, boxier buckets found in the Impala. Unlike the GP, these are not the Recaro wanna-bes that are hard on anything above a 29 inch waist and one who has smallish lats. Rather, they are comfortable, nicel…