Reader Reviews
Test drive something recently? This is the place to post your impressions.
414 topics in this forum
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(Edit)---write up (still) coming---
Last reply by regfootball, -
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So the Former Stang Drives the newest stang.... Overalll.... Pluses. The fit and finish of the car I drove was fantastic....as good as anything I've seen sold today. The trunk had flawless finish inside of the trunk lid, the door jambs were flawless, the paint inside the motor bay was flawless. Interior fit together perfectly also. It also had plenty of power. However, the car felt really heavy and not terribly playful, the shifter wasn't as clean of good as a GTI, Volvo C30, or any of the other cars we drove and liked better. Seats were comfortable enough but lacked the support of the GTI seats or the better seats of several other cars I've driven. Overall, an 8…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
This vehicle, the VW Polo, deserves a shout out for being so competent in so many areas. I was once assigned one that was a slight upgrade within the automatic category overseas. Then, I was assigned one two more times, and it matched the icon I’d be renting. I should have written this up several months ago; however, the product remains largely unchanged. The Polo’s immediate strength is its taut road manners. Handling is addressed and so is smoothness. Sound control is good, too. The engine is a turbocharged 3-cylinder that is shared by the VW family of companies and also makes its way into Seat and Skoda products. One would never think this is the powerp…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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I needed to go to San Jose and San Francisco a couple of Saturdays ago, so I thought I would avail myself of the best weekend rates I could find. And then, on Sunday, I would make my way up to Lake Tahoe as summer winds down. I found a great rate for a compact and, naturally, when you get to the counter, they try to sell you the upgrade into a bigger car. I was told $5 for each day and that one of my choices would be a Malibu. I said "sign me up." For $10, I could take an extended test drive and I wouldn't be pressured into buying. The Malibu has grown on me and, even initially, I liked its overall packaging and styling, but didn't love it. I'll speak to the styli…
Last reply by regfootball, -
This rental experience, lasting one week, was a surprise all the way around. The first thing that comes to mind is how helpful the agents were upon renting and returning the vehicle. I got my assigned category of vehicle, plus a small upward bump, assuming this sedan could be considered midsized. The current Mazda 3 sedan (2024 model year rental) appears to have grown up and, with its thicker pillars and haunches, looked like it was going to be a nicer car for an entire week than the only other time I’ve rented a Mazda 3, about 5 years ago, and for which that rental lasted only 1 day. Do I like the way the current Mazda 3 looks? Mostly yes, and some no. I li…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Simply put, fantastic. You're in shock as to how it can be such a nice cabin for 23 grand. The leather is nice. The plastic is 'very good'. Colors (tan interior), textures, nothing stands out as a sore thumb. Its a markedly better cabin than the cousin Hyundai Sonata, even. Room and space, all good. A bit of a lowrider, but it is a sedan. The dash layout is simply refreshing in the current sea of murk. A nice modern interpretation of what a wraparound dash would be in 2011. The radio and climate control take a little work to remember but it's all laid out nicely. Honestly, I am shocked. And I am supposed to now look at the Cruze's sticker and not bust out into …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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G. David Felt www.cheersandgears.com 2013 Nissan Altima S - Success or Failure? This review starts off sadly, with my 2008 Trailblazer SS AWD being hit in the drivers door and needing a complete replacement. SS is awesome and all fixed, but for the 3 weeks I was out of an auto, I was in this rental. Short Answer for those that want to know what I think, DO NOT BUY! Everything people complain about of 1980's and 1990's American cars is what you find on this car. Yes this is a long term rental fleet car as it had California plates and 42,785 miles when I got it. My rental allowed me to add on 1,137 miles by the time I returned it. This did include a 300 mi…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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So while visiting my wife's family in Middle of Nowhere, Virginia, I went to the local Ford dealer to look at the Fusions that they had. We saw several Fusion SEL models (all 4cyl), a couple of SEs, and a Sport. The salesman came out to talk to us ("us" being me, my wife, and her cousin and cousin's husband). We made the usual salesman-customer talk, and then he asked if I wanted to take one of the cars out for a little bit. Now you know I couldn't pass that up... We chose one of the SELs, black on black. Remember a few months ago that I test-drove the '09 Mazda6 i and came away impressed with the dynamics. Now was my chance to compare the first cousins... The in…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Ok, it's the end of summer and I want to take a few road trips before it gets colder. My sled is old, so I think I will take an Alamo rental into the "low" Sierra for a couple of weekend days to plunk myself onto an air mattress and enjoy the sun for a mere $ 22 a day....and collect some frequent flyer miles in the process. My reservation for a compact turned out to be a chance to try a Cobalt for over 200 miles. Mine was that electric blue with a hint of purple. The little sedan is pleasing to the eye. The front grille is definitely an improvement and the greenhouse with the sweepback in the rear passenger compartment side window is a departure from the ordinary, w…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
I like to rent cars with automatic transmissions in Europe when I do rent a car because it eliminates one stressor and allows better focusing on traffic, signage, and defensive driving. Sadly, they milk tourist for this, with rates often being double. Stateside, your base Fiesta or Spark is implicitly automatic. So, it’s “funny” overseas because the purchase cost of that vehicle for the agencies is not twice as much because of the gearbox. That said, in the not so populated Algarve, the south facing coast of Portugal where it’s a collection of beach towns spread across some 150 miles, I decided to go with an econobox with a manual transmission and save some money.…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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This was the last of 3 rental at different locations in Portugal and a vehicle I never thought I’d be writing a review about. Again, I rented an automatic vehicle with one of the major agencies and the description indicated a Toyota Corolla Hybrid automatic or similar. Anymore, you go up to a kiosk, as if ordering at McDonald’s, to kick off your rental at major European airports. It’s important to have one’s data for the transaction ready. If there are questions or hiccups, agency personnel are on hand. I was doing this and then, at a certain part of the screen, a car description, including specifics like the license plate, appeared. I asked the agent what this was …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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I just got home from driving an '09 Focus SE coupe. For 2009, the SE is the "base" coupe trim level, but it comes pretty well equipped for about $16,800 MSRP. Black grille, darkened head- and taillamps, foglamps, low rear spoiler, and body-color power, heated mirrors and door handles lend the car a sporty look. The lack of fender vents cleans up the sides of the car. The one I drove was Brilliant Silver, with the Stone cloth interior. The paint really glistened nicely under the lights on the lot. I'd prefer the black interior, though, to better contrast with the silver center stack. The car I drove had no factory options, but was equipped just about perfectly, feat…
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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Instead of the Impala (I've had 3 as rentals this year), I moved up a class at the counter and chose a 300 over the LaCrosse. Had a silver 2012 Chrysler 300 with 795 miles on it when I picked it up Friday night in San Jose. Drove to Monterey and got to drive on a mix of freeway, two lane roads, and city streets around the Monterey Bay area over the weekend. Impressions: Smooth, quiet, solid and hefty. Even w/ the V6, it moves out at a reasonable pace...sticks to the road well for its size. Outward visiblity is pretty good, better than the similarly sized Taurus I drove last year IIRC. Great lights at night (xenon, I believe) Comfortable, adjustable seats. Lots…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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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 …
Last reply by Daryl Z71, -
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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…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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…
Last reply by JessiFox, -
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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 …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 22, 2013 For the past year or so, we've been hearing murmurs on a new Lexus IS coupe since Lexus showed off the LF-CC concept at the Paris Motor Show. Now, the Lexus coupe is real and is coming to this year's Toyko Motor Show. A source tells Automotive News that Lexus will unveil the production coupe in November and it will wear the RC nameplate. The base RC will use a 3.5L V6 with 306 horsepower. Follow that will be the RC-F which is reported to pack a 460 horsepower V8 engine. The RC is expected to go on sale late next year. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) William Maley is a staff writer for Chee…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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Just picked this up for my weekend road trip to LA. Initial impressions--huge, quiet, smooth, comfortable, hard to see out of (esp. towards the rear). More notes to come. Update: Had a good weekend w/ this truck. Drove on a variety of freeways, 2 lanes, winding mountain roads, cities and small towns in Central/Northern AZ and So Cal. Impressions: All in all, a very good road trip vehicle...lots of cubbies and storage areas inside, power supply points, usb sockets, etc. Great ergonomics and seating position. Felt and drove very car-like, not truckish at all. My previous GM full size experience was a weekend w/ a Yukon a couple years ago, on some of t…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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I have a number of new features planned for CheersandGears.com for 2015. The first new feature comes to us from long time member Balthazar. He has cued up trivia questions for us to answer each week. Some weeks, we will be offering prizes to the first to answer all 5 questions correctly. We will reveal the answers to this week's questions in next week's post. In the long-running TV series "Married with Children", what brand/model car was Al Bundy always bemoaning? Name 3 makes of American automobiles that have had special 'Hurst' Editions. In which state was the 'Springfield' Rolls Royce auto built? What was the first model year of the Chevy Bel Air? Which …
Last reply by smk4565, -
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DRIVEN: 2016 Cadillac CT6 Luxury 3.6 AWD (Used vehicle review) originally 63k msrp. HIGHS: Yup, this is my type of car, I got in and felt right at home. To heck with crossovers! Surprisingly I had a very positive vibe of the interior and it's quality. Sure it may not 100% match some Germans but honestly it was fine in the front and quite honestly better than what a lot of Cadillacs have had for interiors in the last 20-30 years. And a quiet interior. Hushed for road noise, like a luxury brand should be....an obvious upgrade vs. non luxury marques. And so comfortable! Seats were a glove and the cockpit around me was there just for me. I liked the l…
Last reply by riviera74, -
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DRIVEN: 2015 Mazda Mazda3 Sport 2.0 MT, msrp 19,265 (no options) HIGHS: Attractive and intimate driver cockpit, simple, ergonomic, and somewhat reminiscent of a BMW or Audi design inside. Comfortable drivers chair, and more cabin girth than you'd expect. All controls well laid out. Touchscreen with secondary control wheel and pushbutton start included in sport trim 2.0 has pep and goes about its business with 'just enough' power for most, while not being offensive from the smoothness standpoint. Power delivery is VERY linear. Manual trans shifter, while not 'sublime', falls into line of 'very good' and with what you would expect from advance billing Despite not having a…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Had a chance to drive both the auto and stick CX-5 a couple weeks ago. There is a lot that is really cool about this vehicle. There is a couple things Mazda really effed. Overall don't believe the hype about this feeling like a sports car or anything. It's height and such still make it feel like an SUV. Actually that is the impressive thing about the vehicle. They shaved a lot of pounds from the design but yet when you sit in it and drive it, it feels like a larger, heavier crossover / SUV. It just has better steering and responsiveness from pretty much the rest. It's still not a sedan though. You will not get the sporty feel of a sedan in this vehicle. The majo…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DRIVEN: 2015 Ford Escape SE FWD 1.6t Ecoboost, MSRP about 26,200 HIGHS: Not at all like the older Escapes we probably rode in or drove at one time in the past Fluid shape that many will like compared to boxier offerings A crossover can feel somewhat athletic on the road? This does... Because of nicely weighted and quick steering coupled with composed suspension and handling The engine joins in the fun, the 1.6t has a nice little torque burst, revs out nicely, and is quite smooth The transmission is well mated to the engine and kicks in quickly to help the fun Most cars in this price range these days don't even feel connected as much as this ....SUV VERY quie…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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First Drive & Ride: Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 & Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com August 22, 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 What happens when you drop a Jeep Grand Cherokee off at Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology workshop and tell the SRT engineers to have at it? You get the dark and monstrous Grand Cherokee SRT8. On the outside; the Grand Cherokee SRT8 has a lower stance, flared out fenders, a hood with scoops to help cool down the engine, 20 inch wheels wrapped in massive Pirelli PZero tires, and design bits give it an impression of don't mess with me. Inside the SRT8, its a combination of l…
Last reply by William Maley, -
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I'll do this minor update with pros and cons, since it's just an update and it's easier. I had a white 2019 Malibu sedan that I drove for about a week from Michigan's U.P. to the Twin Cities. I've probably had a handful of this generation of Malibu as rentals. Pros: - familiar and popular - the 1.5 liter engine is up to the task, but that's probably because of the assist from the turbocharger - roomy interior and trunk - sensible dash layout and cluster arrangements that are easy to learn - respectable fuel mileage, especially on the highway - fairly comfortable seating - nimble and connected handling ... seems to be at its…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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DRIVEN: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox 2.0T AWD LT HIGHS: 2.0t engine is relatively well behaved and mated well to 9 speed automatic. Move the Equinox pretty well and without fuss, four a four cylinder. Should be good for more than just in town errands. Rear row seats are very supportive, placed at a good height, and are nicely comfortable. Cargo area manages to be about the same as the previous version. Crazy considering how much smaller the vehicle is. Interior contains all the style and function upgrades of the new Malibu, like switches, gauges, etc. The size of the vehicle will work well for those who need something that is easy to get around…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DRIVEN: 2020 Ford Explorer XLT 2.3 Ecoboost 4WD MSRP 39,770 HIGHS: -Complete redesign is sharp looking in the flesh, while still familiar and identifiable as an Explorer at the same time -Size was not sacrificed in the redesign, the Explorer is still a nice large vehicle in a time where EPA pressures are forcing smaller vehicles. -New RWD architecture dramatically improves space efficiency and driving feel all at the same time. That combination almost never has been able to exist before. Truly a complete beneficial ground up redesign. -2.3 Ecoboost now mated to new 10 speed automatic has nice pep and verve for most drivers, sounds good and sm…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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I got a chance to test drive the Hyundai Sonata AND Tucson a couple days ago. This evening another Sonata test drive. Long story made short to ignore, I am actually am shopping for something of a vehicle so usually when I drive stuff for entertainment but these two vehicles were actually on my 'i would consider this'. Generally i sometimes don't finish these reviews so I will try to be quicker about this. Everyone is aware that Hyundai is growing more and more as a player in the market and each new release is making big / waves in the segment it is in. My last frame of reference for driving a Hyundai was a rental Sonata a couple years ago and while I felt it decently …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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I was in So Cal the last few days for the Toyota Long Beach Grand Prix Indy Car race weekend, so it was only appropriate my rental car was a Camry. Had a white Camry w/ a black & gray two tone cloth interior. Drove about 150 miles around Long Beach and Orange County over the last few days. I had a choice of a Camry or Altima Friday night at Hertz, and I realized I'd never driven one so what the heck... Impressions: Nothing memorable. The car was perfectly functional, comfortable, smooth, quiet but really didn't leave much of an impression. Big trunk. Power seemed adequate for accelerating up the notoriously short So Cal on-ramps to the various freeways I …
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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2006 Chevrolet HHR 2LT review Could Lutz be right? Could the HHR be a gotta have? For our household it is. In little over 2 weeks we have already over 2300 miles our car/suv/wagon and we love it. Exterior The HHR is a love or hate type of design. Many find the “old” school look to be outdated, others find it a fresh redo of a great original. We find it to be a useful design with some fun old time looks that stands out among the look alike Asian products. Like it or hate it, the design does show just how far modern vehicle design can go with it’s clam shell type hood and bulging panels. The small exterior windows do take some getting used too, as it provides a sh…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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Back when I was eleven years old, we were taking a trip in my parents Ford Country squire through rural Georgia. We pulled into a servicew station, as both my younger sister and I had to relieve ourselves of the Coca Cola we had enjoyed at lunch. Thankfully, by eleven years of age, I was enough of a car nut to know that the car sitting in the service bay being repaired was a 1970 Torino GT converetible. The mechanic seemed old enough to have watched Sherman burn the place to the ground 112 years before. I asked him.. "Where is the bathroom?" "Over there, son...." he poointed towards two doors, one marked boys, one marked "Men". "Which one do I use?" I asked... "Ne…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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I went in to test drive a new HRV and then decided, nah. I can't do this. I am sitting here drinking their free coffee now and eating their free cookies though at least Hondaphiles are all over this place and are like stink on sh-- all over the HRV. This thing will sell like hot cakes.
Last reply by Frisky Dingo, -
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DRIVEN 2018 GMC Terrain SLE FWD 1.5t 9 speed auto, MSRP like around 30k. Front wheel drive version only. Cloth interior. HIGHS Ok, with the higher hp and torque, and the 9 speed auto, the engine performance did --- ok ---. And its smooth most of the time, particularly when just 40-70 mph cruising. Tranny seemed well matched, the higher tune 1.5t and 9 speed is exclusive here I think. Why isn't this the powertrain in the Malibu? Terrain interior is unique from the Equinox and Envision and feels sufficiently trucky. Nice layout and shapes on the dash. I like the GMC steering wheel. And the screen display and climate controls are done the best of…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DRIVEN: 2015 Ford Focus SE 1.0 Ecoboost 6MT hatch, msrp a tish over 20k (my fave colors for Ford, Tectonic and stone interior) HIGHS: Sleek hatchback shape New physical controls in center stack for climate, radio, etc, overall nice dash layout and gauges, driver oriented Nice plastics with the dark and light in most places, stone interior really lightens up the interior Nicely composed and quiet for an econocar at speed, feels solid and stable Finally gets a six speed! Very good shifter, snick, snick Feels exactly like the Fusion MT, same powerband, same road feel, just a smaller version NO vibration from the powertrain. Seems impossible, but almost entirely…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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I remember when the Kia Soul hit the market, together with its jingle about a “little bit of soul.” I still think the name is clever. Yet, it has taken me this long to actually drive one. It was because of a situation where the rental agency had run out of compact sedans. The Kia Soul doesn’t look like anything else. It’s quirky and even an ugly sort of cute. When it was first released, its cartoon-like front grille “expressed” sadness. It has been minimally changed during its run and, currently, the front grille looks a little “angry” … and with an underbite. The side profile is largely unchanged. Now, the rear door and surface are vertical and its rear …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
I had to get a rental car for a couple of days to see some sights near but not in Lisbon, Portugal. For others, public transit such as the Metro worked well … or even better. Overseas, you want to land on deals that wrap all the insurance coverages into the deal and this was one such package – and one you want in a European capital. Surprisingly, the traffic wasn’t all that, bad but the roads outside the belt roads aren’t as clear and neither is Google Maps. To that end, I ordered something with an automatic transmission. The invoice said I’d be getting a Toyota Corolla Hybrid or similar. That’s what I was given. I don’t know how they manage over there …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Hi all, I am writing a review of my Malibu SS sedan. I got this car about 6 weeks ago and I love it more and more every time I drive it. Lets do this by categories like Dsuupr did… Exterior- In my opinion the normal Malibu, while very solid reliable transportation is about as boring a bread and butter sedan can get. The SS looks like a completely different car. The high polish 18 inch wheels really fill up the wheel wells, and look really nice when they are clean and shinny against my car’s black paint job. The new front clip looks very aggressive with a hint of Subaru styling. The rear end looks nicer with the absence of the chrome bar, a new rear bumper and h…
Last reply by intrigued, -
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Picked up a gray Sonata w/ two tone gray interior at the San Jose airport Friday evening, drove through late rush hour traffic down the 101 to Salinas. Drove from the hotel to Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway on some twisty roads Saturday and Sunday, and then back to the San Jose airport Sunday afternoon. Impressions: Smooth, quiet, reasonably powerful, good on gas, well put together, good outward visibility. Kind of an anonymous midsize, pleasantly styled but not particularly memorable. I'd driven a rental Sonata 2 generations ago, this definitely felt bigger and more solid. Seemed to have more space inside than the Malibus I've driven in recent years. Dash design an…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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Was on vacation to New York for the weekend, got a rental Fusion to play around with. Originally I was looking for another G6, but they didn't have one. Exterior I was given an SE V6 model, the base model with an upgraded engine, and paired with a boring silver colour. But the car still looked good, as commented by my friends. For one thing it does look better than the dark side (read: *cough* *cough* Camry *cough*). Interior At first I was worried about the size of the car affecting the interior, but I was proved wrong throughout the trip. The capacity is amazing on this car. With me and my friend both being 6 foot, we both sat comfortably in the same column, wit…
Last reply by ToniCipriani, -
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Tested - blue 2010 Suzuki Kizashi AWD SE 23,800 MSRP +/- HIGHS 'very good' driving dynamics CVT! 'more power than you can expect' 'right size' packaging big trunk soft touch interior surfaces quality touch points MEMORY SEATS at 24k? syling including interesting exhaust features comfortable seats cabin audio (SE system is good, adding the rockford fosgate sub allows for mirror shaking bass) dual zone climate paddle shifters on the SES, responsive manual shifting price, warranty nice trunk back seat is surprisingly accomodating unique in the crowd steering tightens up nicely at speed engine has unexpected grunt! (will put you in your seat if you work th…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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 …
Last reply by Lamar, -
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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…
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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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…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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- 780 views
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…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
Tesla Model Y ... for about 7 hours instead of 7 days ... definitely a unique experience
by trinacriabob- 2 replies
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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…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Will get some thoughts up later today. Unfortunately missed out on getting any pics.
Last reply by regfootball, -
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for a rental I got a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (RVR in Canada) with about 200 miles on the odo. the target buyer is your weird aunt who always called herself ‘the fun aunt’ when you were 11 because she’s 44 but says she looks 41, unmarried, says words like ‘groovy’ , funky’ and ‘kiddo’ and always takes you to applebees for appy hour for some belated birthdate you had a week and a half ago. the aunt whose name your mom would slowly sigh out after hanging up another phone call where the subjects shifted between dried ovaries, outdated match.com profile photos, gravity’s toll and questioning why that nice boy way back in grade 12 never called again, while your…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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DRIVEN - 2017 GMC Acadia SLT AWD, MSRP like 45,500 or something HIGHS: Something in the showroom at GMC to fend off the onslaught of Jeep Grand Cherokee sales Downsized to hit a broader swath of the market. Much more garageable than old Acadia. Solid build quality, inside and out. Feels very hefty and solid on the road, giving the impression of durability and ready for tough roads. If GMC wanted it to feel like a truck, and not a crossover, then they hit the jackpot. First and second row seating is very solid and comfortable. Drivers seat is very adjustable. Rear seats even good for large adults and plenty of leg room. Sort of a …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Friend texted me; said he spotted a Maverick! I was actually close by where he was at, so I went to check it out. more pics later; just a few for now.
Last reply by balthazar, -
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DRIVEN: 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Ti Sport AWD; (around 50k) HIGHS: -Sexy, sporty, attractive as a crossover these days can be. Love how you can get different colored brake calipers on this thing. -Very comfortable front row seating; lots of room and girth, bolstered seats hug you just right.......disclaimer: I would not get the bolstered seats, I am wider than the bolsters! and I hate climbing over them. The non-bolstered seats are just as comfortable and supportive. I will go so far to say that the seats are VERY GOOD, regardless if you choose bolstered or not. -Love the interior dash layout, and the gauges. The steering wheel is a rockstar, great …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Lately, I've been getting the category of car that I selected during the on-line rental process. That means I haven't been upgraded in a while. For a rental while away in May, and for a very good price in these crazy times, I was given a new Toyota Corolla base model. Pros: - the legendary reliability - the engine was a 2.0 L 4 cylinder, but there is a base 1.8 L 4 cylinder; also, Toyota has really cleaned up its engine bays and everything is easy to identify and reach - the fuel economy, with the CVT (also in cons) delivering better fuel mileage, per the EPA ratings, than the 6 speed manual option - it's a car that a driver becomes familiar wit…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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I seem to score better cars when renting overseas. I tend to reserve the smallest car they have with an automatic transmission. If I was in a rural area with just towns instead of cities, I could probably be satisfied with a manual transmission ... and save some money. So, once again, I rented a small car with an automatic. Once I got up to the counter, I asked what I'd be assigned. I was told that it would be a Skoda. I had heard of the brand but didn't know what its products looked like. It sounded Slavic. The car was in the lot and it seems the Italians have a host of other small(er) rental agencies in addition to the names we know in the U.S. and Canad…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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This morning I brought my Cobalt in for service, and after handing the service writer the keys, I slowly wander into the showroom to kill some time while waiting for the work to be done. I spent a good ten minutes in each of three cars, and my impressions follow: Malibu By far the crown jewel of the showroom. It got the coveted spot in fhe center of the showroom just in front of the entry/exit doors. This pot is usually reserved for a Corvette or SSR. This particular specimen was an LS optioned only with floor mats and color keyed rubstrips. The car was blue with the titanium cloth inside - a very attractive combination that sort of hid its base car status (the smalli…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
I was assigned a 2025 Nissan Versa from NY-LGA for the Labor Day weekend. About 10 years ago, I used to think that Versa was dowdy. As I got into it and drove around Long Island, Westchester County, and even a little bit of Manhattan (where I parked it on the street overnight for free!) with a friend I'd gone to school with, I came to like this little car. There's nothing overwhelming or remarkable about this last Versa It's just a straightforward economy car. It's nimble, slots into small spaces, and, on good pavement, rides smoothly enough for its size. The ergonomics of the interior make sense - an aesthetically balanced dashboard, simple controls, decent sea…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 18, 2012 Shelby has been synonymous with the Mustang since the late sixties with the GT350 and GT500. Since the two got back together in 2007 with GT500, Shelby has been reestablishing itself as the halo car producer for Ford. But Shelby is looking to expand. Autoblog talked with Shelby president John Luft about what the future holds for the company. Luft said the company is looking at whether to branch out to other vehicles in the Ford stable. "Our plans include everything from the Mustang to looking at future development of the EcoBoost motor. There could be a Focus or Fusion development in our future." Luft…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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DRIVEN 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander ES AWD MSRP 27235 (actual price 22235) HIGHS -Price and Value + Warranty -Feels solid, substantial and stable and well built -Spacious first and second row for the class -Bonus (small) third row for the times it is handy -Second row adjust fore and aft as well as fold -Simple and legible dash and controls, good driving position -Plastic and interior materials that looks cheap in photos is actually not too bad -Good fit and finish all around -Nice steering wheel and SWAC -Nice trucky personality -Rides like a bigger vehicle -Nice alternative to the junky feeling CRV -Is a nice way for someone stepping down from a larger, more…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Posts in this category are only visible to Admins and Editor/Reporter. This post is meant to be treated as a Wiki and Members of both groups can and should update this with new information as needed. Press Days: 01/12/2015 - 01/13/2015 Credentials: Arrived Drew's planned travel days: 01/11/2015 - 01/14/2015 Model Debut Spreadsheet: Google Docs (only Drew, Michael, and William can access) (3 truck debuts?) Press Release Schedule: Updated in the Google Docs above or the official press release schedule here. Banner Items: Completed by Dodgefan in mid November Accommodations: Reservation confirmed to rent a 4 bedroom home. It has enough room that William can crash ther…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
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I was in the Sunshine State for Easter and the car had to go one way out of the state for a really good rate, so I returned it to Atlanta. I arrived in Florida and the selection of cars was really dismal, for what I like, that I almost just took a Focus from the pick your car line. However, I took a Camry. I didn't really like that car. With 29,000 miles on it, it idled roughly with the air conditioner on. Worse yet, there was no fob on the key ring. I figured that out when I tried to pull my stuff out of the trunk. I had to use the key for the front door and then use the inside release just to open the trunk. However, I was tired and went to sleep. The next …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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For comparison, see my previous review of the Atlas 3.6 SE here DRIVEN: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas 2.0t S FWD, $32,030 HIGHS: A conservative, butch, truckish shape that works well for the large 3 row crossover segment, on VW's first honest try. A+ on vehicle packaging. Considering the physical size, and usage of space; 3 spacious rows, usable cargo, great seating options (still applies). Very easy to get in and out of. Second row slides forward and backward. Genius how it can tilt forward for good access to third row, which can have real leg room for adults when all three rows are set up well. (still applies) Seating height in second row and l…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DRIVEN: 2017 Cadillac CT6 Luxury 2.0E Plug in hybrid RWD (Used vehicle review) HIGHS: Always love driving the CT6, it's a nice size for me, nice ride height, car rides and handles lighter than it is. My other CT6 that I have reviewed you will see I really think its a great package. Quiet interior, once again. So quiet, that I couldn't discern electric operation vs gas, most of the time. Both modes very quiet. Comfortable seats as I have noted before. Some minor bolstering but wider and well padded cushion. Not many cars have this anymore! I have always liked how well layout the gauge cluster is on the CT6, it seems like it crowds the dr…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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Sometimes I don't get upgraded, but most of the time I seem to. It's not because I push for it. It's that the rental agencies don't have much inventory so I'm given a nicer car to putt around in. This latest time, I had rented a compact. The only thing I asked for was a vehicle with a trunk ... or, if was going to be a SUV/CUV, that it had the retractable storage area cover. The rental agent was one of the most relaxed people I've ever come across in this line of work. He told me that, with the way the market is going and with the current state of supply and demand, one should opt for a standard car (one notch below full-size) while setting up the rental if a pe…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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So, I've had a good week as far as fun vehicles and test drives go. A quick run-down on a few- Roush Supercharged Raptor with full ICON suspension (3" lift) and 35's- Wow, what a beast. The guy that traded it in said it had 700hp, but he's full of it. Their website says the Stage 1 setup is good for 525hp, and that sounds right. Either way, for a big truck, the thing moved out pretty good. It had no problem lighting up the back 35's and with the headers and full exhaust, it sounded absolutely monstrous. this thing would scare little kids. It was extremely loud, but still sounded really, really good. It was a total chore to drive, though. No way would I want to…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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This visit was brought about by getting an oil change and wandering around the sales floor while it was being done. The GMC Yukon of 2021 vintage was at one corner, taking up a lot of room. This one was an SLE yet, somehow, it had cloth interior seating. Pros: - big and roomy, with 3rd row seats - commanding seating position; seating comfort was acceptable - 5.3 liter V8 that puts out over 350 hp, coupled to a geared automatic transmission ... this engine was previously badged a Vortec, but is now an Ecotec product - simple layout of engine bay - nice enough instrument cluster, with dash mounted gear selection through buttons - climat…
Last reply by balthazar, -
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I needed a small car for a few days and the rate at a suburban location for a small car was excellent in these times of not so great rates for rental cars. I didn't know whether I'd get an upgrade one or two categories upward, as I sometimes do. I did not. I was given three cars to choose from. I chose a blue Kia Rio S sedan. The Kia Rio is the fraternal twin of the Hyundai Accent. There aren't many differences, and one certainly sees that in the switches, knobs, and readouts on the dashboard, for one. The difference is that, through the roofline, pillars, and even possibly the slope of the rear back lite, the Kia Rio looks like more of a notchback sedan while …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
I had rented a car in an Italian city on the Adriatic side - a small vehicle with an automatic - and once again, got upgraded. This was a substantial upgrade into a larger crossover SUV - a Seat Tarraco. The car is named after the Spanish city of Tarragona. I did not know what this model was, except that it was a SEAT product. Upon getting into the vehicle, one sees the typical graphics and appointments shared by the VW family of brands, which include SEAT and Skoda. It shares a lot of components with the VW Tiguan and is built at the same plant in Wolfsburg, Germany. I set up the car right away and learned the controls. It’s better to do this up front than…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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So my family got 2 new cars which I got to sample when I went to visit recently. My parents traded in their 2010 Fusion SE on an Escape XLT (FWD and 2.5 liter 4 banger.) They loved their fusion but my dad has MS and needs something that can transport a scooter. They got the escape on clearance for 19k (25k msrp.) Its a solid little truck and they got the 17 inch chrome wheels which really look good on it. No other options besides that. You can tell the platform's a little long in the tooth, it has a solid ride but at the occasional expense of ride quality. It won't win any drag races with the 4 cylinder but it's well geared and reasonably peppy. My brot…
Last reply by hyperv6, -
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Besides getting to drive this American icon, what else can you add to the experince? How about driving it in Hawaii! :AH-HA_wink: I was just on holidays in Oahu and rented this car from Ferrari Rentals (they rent a mix of high end cars at premium prices). I have never driven a Corvette and it has always been a dream of mie to do so. As an aside--I have only ridden in a Corvette once--with 3 other people--some 70's model--which I hate anyhow. So the price was high but since this is not an everyday oppourtunity I was happy to pay the high price. Hey--it's fun to look rich One of the first things I noticed was how stiff the car was. No cowl shake, no rattles and it …
Last reply by avro206, -
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I was going somewhere and needed a rental car. Since it fell out of the Thurs.-Mon. time frame, the rates were a little high at the airport. I looked at neighborhood locations. I found a good rate at Enterprise, albeit in the suburbs. As it turns out, I could take rapid transit train service and then walk, yes walk, some 15 minutes from a rail station through an established neighborhood to get to Enterprise. Wheeled luggage is great! So I got up to Enterprise and saw nothing like the intermediate I selected. I saw few cars to begin with ... either much larger or much smaller. When I got up to the counter, they were super nice and the agent told me he would be …
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Our big dog client who we get all the high end cars from just dumped a major load on us yesterday- 2018 Panamera Turbo S, 2017 M4 GTS, 2017 Civic R, 2018 M550i, 2017 Shelby F-150, 2017 California T, and a Lava Orange GT3RS. Being the Porsche fan I am, I of course chose the 911 when we picked them up. Impressions follow- First off, this car just looks the damn business. It's not conventionally beautiful or full of stylized elements. This thing is all purpose. All function. It looks like it's ready to rip your face off, and pulverize any car it comes across. And it is. I could go on about the interior and whatnot, but if you've seen the inside of a 911, you…
Last reply by oldshurst442, -
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Spotted and touched a new Enclave a week or so back. Couldn't get inside Very impressed at how it continues the look of the outgoing model. Very tidy, and body gaps are much tighter. Not as bombastic in overall design as the old one. But the market will like the shape in the flesh. The size of the vehicle is literally spot on for the market. Perfect size. Buick's bling reduction I think is setting itself up to bring back the bling in mid cycle refresh..... The interior through the windows looks very well done. With lighter shades of materials, its not a dark tomb like most of the Traverses. The new dashboard is quite different than the outgoing one, a…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Tested, base 9-5 sedan...MSRP roughly 40k (closeout price roughly 30k), 2.0 turbo 4, 220hp, 6 speed man.... HIGHS Smooth engine and powertrain Nice shifter and clutch, nice knob to grab and hold. Good cabin room front and back Borderline sexy exterior style Lots of equipment Saab starter button now between the legs....er, seats......! That Eurocar smell inside..... Big trunk that is nicely appointed. Drivers seat is widely adjustable and generally comfortable. Other seats are pleasing firm. Decent visibility out the front and sides, under the premise of a car with not very large side glass. Dash layout, which differs from the Regal, is not too bad of a layout…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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no drive, but touched em at two separate dealers. Hatchbacks. Car looks good mostly but to me the proportions are out of whack with the seemingly long hood and not so long passenger cabin. Some of this is likely trickery as the side swoop and the hood basically going over the bumper still doesn't keep some of the windshield from encroaching on the front axle line. But overall, the side profile looks very uncomfortable for a front drive car. You could say they are trying to emulate a rear drive BMW in its proportions. The shape is nice mostly but I think it lacks definition. Looks a bit blobbish. Or European, take your pick. What I could see through the glass abou…
Last reply by PONTIAC06, -
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At such a low price, it made sense to rent instead of take the Regal. I had rented a compact. When I got there, they had no cars. They gave me a Trailblazer. They are nice, but not stunning. And even with a 4.2 Vortec 6, they are NOT economical. However, it was the lack of a canvas in the rear that caused me to take it back a few hours later. "Please give me something with a trunk." "How about a G6?" "Perfect." The overall stance of the G6 inspires confidence. It's rakish and the wheels are planted at the outer corners to the greatest extent possible, elongating the wheelbase. The rear quarter view is probably the most attractive. The front fascia is so…
Last reply by ToniCipriani, -
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This is 2 reviews in one. Like the title of the review says, with a Fiat 500, it depends. Here, I'm not talking about their reliability. That's a big question mark across the board. I'm talking about the driving experience in the 500 and how it varies by the model you have. In this case, a while back, I had 2 back to back Fiats in different places, given to me by the rental car to fulfill the economy car with automatic criteria. Fiat 500 coupe This is the reboot of the old school Fiat 500 coupe of yesteryear that people laughed at, stereotyped as the prototypical Italian car, was once truly ubiquitous, and could be picked up and moved by 2 or 3 strong peopl…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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(edit, down further is an update with a spin in the EX-T 1.5 turbo) DRIVEN: 2016 Honda Civic 2.0 LX cvt, MSRP around 20,200 HIGHS: New style! That looks good and is bound to find favor with existing Hondaphiles and bring in new fas as well, sexy shape and not overboard. (Looks much better in the metal, than in the pictures) Larger size, the car pushes the limits of the compact class, and it's a perfect size. Spacious interior, the front seats are spacious and even my 6'1 girthy self fit into the back seat with without cramped legs and still with a bit of headroom to spare Vastly different interior layout is spot on for a semi sporty environment and everyd…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Tested..... 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander ES. Gray / black cloth. Demo.....6-7k on the odo. 4 cylinder motor, front drive, CVT transmission. Lightly optioned. MSRP more than 21,500 but less than 22,000. Highs- Room and Space - cargo and passengers Seating comfort, first two rows. Seat adjustments, both rows, including recline and fore/aft in the second row. Engine does well at highway speeds, once underway and crusing. Excellent visibility overall and fairly airy cabin by today's standards. Decent gauge layout, convenient and simple radio and climate controls. Steering wheel feels real nice with nice feeling function buttons. Fold and tumble second row seats for max …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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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…
Last reply by Frisky Dingo, -
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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…
Last reply by Paolino, -
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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…
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
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2006 PONTIAC G6 V6 - 1-year Update By: ToniCipriani It's been one year and a two months on the road for my G6. Things have gone much better than the first 6 months, maybe because my car is finally broken in. Engine is a smooth cruiser, and runs leaner than last year on average. I've sort of changed my driving style a bit, and I've been hammering the engine quite often lately. Yet it still provides me a decent 10L / 100km fuel economy, in mixed driving conditions. The problems I mentioned 6 months ago seemed to have gone away, or lessened to a certain extent. The radio problem was gone, ambient temperature now reads correctly, but the engine hot crank issue seems to b…
Last reply by avant1963, -
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Here's some pics and thoughts on the Acuras I checked out in the showroom today.
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Attended the Ford sponsored EcoBoost Challenge today (merely a couple miles from home). These canned track / test drive events are usually pretty cheesy, and this was no exception, ST cars not withstanding. Since all you get either way in these cars is about a minute of time, there is not much to expound upon, but some things stick in your head. Hybrid Challenge- The trick was either take the Fusion Hybird or CMax hybrid and see what your best average mpg would be. Sort of a dumb concept, its a short loop course which you can't get up to speed to really put to use hypermile techniques. I ended up in a Fusion and I like the car. From what I could tell, it seemed smo…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Can’t drive anything these days. And that’s ok. Here’s some Mach E pics from today.
Last reply by regfootball, -
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I had just finished up with a doctor's appointment and there was a Cadillac dealership right across the street. I don't usually look at Cadillacs but, since it was right across the street, I thought I'd look at their entry-level vehicle, the CT4. There was one in the showroom and it made for sticker shock. That's because it was the Blackwing edition, the top of the line. I was told that they are having trouble getting cars in general and that there was one slightly used or demo of the more basic CT4 on the lot. I told the lady there was no sense in opening it up since I was just looking. I'll do this review in pro and con style, like @regfootball does, to be…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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DRIVEN: 2015 Ford Edge AWD Titanium 2.0 msrp around 43,500 HIGHS: Retains the spot on take of the large crossover segment it invented and takes it to a grand new place Exterior styling not a big departure from the past recipe but its still fresh and new, its 'Crossover 2015' Front row is a great place to be, lots of comfort, space, girth, and a great view out the living room window Perfect, and I do mean that, perfect seat height and location for a vehicle like this..... Solid and stable ride, its a grand chariot and you sit back, enjoy the view, and eat up a whole bunch of miles Lots of toys in that big MSRP......huge moonro…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Just wanted to post a few thoughts on the local auto show....what's the best forum to do that in these days?
Last reply by regfootball, -
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A couple of weeks ago, my sled, a 2008 Buick LaCrosse CX with the base 3800 V6 engine, turned ten! Both then and today, it had and has less than 70,000 miles on the odometer, respectively. I remember driving it home after being pushed by friends and family to replace its predecessor, another W body with over 270,000 original miles and reasonably hassle free service, and savoring the new car smell. Part of what pushed me was the impending cessation of Buick Motor Division’s production of the 3800 V6 engine, which I had in the previous car, albeit of Series I vintage. I had been extremely pleased with everything about that “little” engine. The other impetus was t…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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previous review of a 2013 Encore by me here DRIVEN 2017 Buick Encore Essence AWD Leather 1.4t (about 7k miles) HIGHS Still has distinct and snazzy styling. Interior updates made a nice interior even nicer, despite random cheaper plastics. retains the popular crossover friendly seat height and step in. Still a good view all around. No cabin claustrophobia here. Still greatly manueverable and parkable. Still a very good amount of room inside in the passenger compartment (GM does not typically package interior space real effectively for every vehicle) Reasonably quite inside, thanks to Quiet Tuning. Decently quiet while cr…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DRIVEN 2016 Buick Envision Premium I 2.0t AWD 15k miles HIGHS -One of the more favorable impressions of me with the oft used 2.0t in a GM vehicle. A very strong point on this vehicle. It fit the character of the vehicle well. Smooth, nice power and torque, and tranny behaved well. It sort of changed my impression of that powertrain as it seemed to fit here better as opposed to being in a 'sport sedan'. -Comfy seats (with nice leather and design), this is supposed to be what Buick is for. And feels very solid. -Quiet cabin, this is supposed to be what Buick is for. -Supple ride and very smooth steering, this is supposed to be what Buick…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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A swiss army knife in a really big box. Makes a great case for the modern 'mini'van. DRIVEN 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT (rental, amassed about 500 miles). No idea what the MSRP was, guessing close to 30k. HIGHS Pentastar is a Rock Star. Fabulous engine. Kicks down great, linear power. Cruises smooth. Pentastar is a Track Star. Vehicle chews up and spits out miles. If you need more room and space, then I don't know what to tell ya. Extended console creates a cockpit feel in a van, and the dash layout it great. Dash mounted shifter quickly becomes second nature, and functions quite well. SXT finally gives you the ability to customize your seatin…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Managed to capture a couple pics of the all new 2022 Acura MDX today. Interior looks wider than before, the dash is interesting. Not sure if I dig the console or not. Side flanks of vehicle quite boring and doesn't really give away what brand of vehicle it is. Should appeal to someone who wants a sporty Honda type vehicle and not a blah Pilot or Passport. I wonder if drivers will like the touchpad and weird console and lack of touchscreen.
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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 leather optioned Equinox diesel. I had been wanting to try out the new GM diesel. I'm not a huge fan of the new Equinox, but could the diesel engine in fact be the way to go? It helped that this Equinox was trimmed out nicely. Even had the BAMR (big ass moon roof). As a contrast to my quite loathed test drive of a 1.5 LS equinox not too long ago, the impression of the vehicle was very different. What had felt cheap and shitty in many ways with the anemic 1.5 …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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DRIVEN: 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe SEL 2.4 AWD and 2.0t Limited AWD HIGHS: -Pleasant new shape, and a new larger size. Not a tweener anymore. -Value for the dollar. Sticker prices comparable to Equinox / Terrain in a much larger package. Lots of standard safety equipment that is not yet standard in even near lux or lux makes. -Nice space inside, both rows, Nice cabin width, ample leg room, nice driving position with really comfortable seats, even the back seats comfortable. Super hot heated seats. -Not a luxury interior but nice fresh design, and some interesting new materials for non-luxury. Dash plastic is nice, door plastic decent, even the fak…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Picked up my rental Sat. morning at Oakland airport, a gold Malibu LT w/ black and gray cloth interior. Put 100 or so miles on it around the Bay area, driving from Oakland airport up to the hotel in Vallejo and over to the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma for Indy Car race yesterday, and up to Sonoma and Napa for some sight-seeing. I had wanted a Charger, but for a free rental, I wasn't going to complain. It was a pleasant and quiet car to drive, the interior materials pretty nice overall (soft touch on some parts of the dash), controls worked well and were intuitive, dash layout easy on the eyes and easy to use, car felt solid and well put together..doors shut w/ a nice sol…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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DRIVEN: 2017 Buick LaCrosse Essence 3.6 FWD ; Driver confidence, Sun and Shade, Sights and Sounds. HIGHS: Car looked good in good color combination and 20" wheels Pretty good interior space front and rear... deceiving when you look at it but the leg room in back is nice. Acceptable pull from generally smooth v6 Nice gauge cluster, GM making progress Seats more comfy than I am used to in GM vehicles lately Not wholly serene, but not noisy inside. Nice view in and out of the car. And large panel sunroof helps relieve the cabin of claustrophobia that can be present in many of the smashed roof sedans today. I was ok with most of t…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Year: 1976 Make: Chevrolet Model: C10 Engine: (original, 350cid, 2bbl Rochester) 350cid bored .040 over, 4bbl Holley Transmission: Turbo-Hydramatic 350 Differential: GM 10-bolt with stock 3.43 gears All right, as the third-generation owner of this truck, I feel it only fitting to be the one that gives it a 30-year review of its performance. The truck is a fleetside, long-wheel base, C10 Custom Deluxe (similar to the W/T trucks of today for y'all that don't know). It was purchased in April of 1976 from the Chevrolet dealership in Greenville, Alabama by my grandfather, Clarence E. Gladwell for 3,300-ish dollars (still have the original bill of sales in the…
Last reply by 76ChevyTrucker, -
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So, the Smart came ... and stayed. It's not something that came and went. I will say something right off the bat - with their small size and automatics, they are a dream to park or squeeze through narrow spaces if in Europe. The Smart car has seen its sheet metal change in a few areas, and for the better. I remember how the front and rear styling in the original versions was underwhelming . Current versions feature grilles that look like grilles, and improvements in character lines and rear tail lamps as well. However, the biggest change is the slight elongation of the front of the car over the engine compartment. With there actually being a small amount of hor…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
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Driven 2010 VW Tiguan S manual trans, FWD, Black w/ Charcoal cloth 17" wheel option MSRP 24,400 +/- Highs Room and Space, both rows, lots of it. Could serve as family transport. Upright seating, good cabin visibility. Nice center armrest. Most cabin ergonomics and controls are good. Nice dead pedal. E Brake. Very good 'Pre 2011 Jetta' VW plastics, textures. Well trimmed cargo area. second row seat slides forward if need be. Tiguan has a very compact footprint Good power rating on the engine Quick steering ratio. Decent and comfortable ride. Heft and quality build feel. 2nd gear is a good gear for fast speed building in urban driving. 4th gear is a great…
Last reply by regfootball,
