Reader Reviews
Test drive something recently? This is the place to post your impressions.
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2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited automatic 6 speed EPA 29/40, MSRP 20,830 (I think) silver w/ gray interior. HIGHS snappy, smooth engine responsive and well spaced automatic trans. no shift delays, it bangs them out. No Cruze thing here. very usable and effective manumatic large interior with great space front and rear in all dimensions center stack shaped to allow a bit extra drivers knee room attractive, well laid out, and convenient gauges, radio, center stack, and other switches and controls gauge and center stack illumination is fantastic superb steering wheel, with nicely lightly weighted and responsive quick steering to go with handy and organized armrest a…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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...JUST SAY NO.......... this one will be quick. 2010 Hyundai Elantra BLU 5 speed (no A/C) HIGHS peppy engine light clutch decent shifter feeling of interior space (no claustrophobia) convenient and simple climate control decently quiet nice armrest handy window switches decent interior space for the type of car LOWS sea of gray, swirling acres of death inspiring plastic lower seat back dug into my back, seat was not shaped well mouse fur driving position is kind of like driving a bus or a Kia Rondo. no radio (this could be positive if you want your own) no A/C steering wheel is so bulbous its like it's going to birth a baby in your lap. In fact the …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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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After my Friday nighttime shots of the first 2011 Hyundai Elantra to arrive at our dealership, posted here: ...I was down again with my Sonata customer to go over her books (Trailblazer EXT -> '11 Sonata, talk about doubling fuel economy...) yesterday, so I had a few minutes of daylight time with the Elantra. Wow to the looks, again, and as expected, the paint quality, fits and so forth. It's a Hyundai, and though I've not driven it yet, what a looker for the class. This first one we've received is a Limited with the Nav, meaning fully loaded (even heated rear seats) with a sticker of $22830. In that regard, and size/pricing, it already seems to fit perfectly well …
Last reply by caddycruiser, -
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Driven 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE fwd babyish blue CVT 24+/- MSRP (including several add on packages primarily with extra trim and stuff) HIGHS Excellent front row seats. Great cloth, perfectly shaped, very adjustable, lots of leg, shoulder and hip room. Great cockpit, great view of gauges, steering wheels falls to hand perfectly, window switches etc. Large and useful side view mirrors. Great view out the front. Nice gauges, simply and easy climate controls with auto temp. Option package added illumination, cool shift knob, and piano black trim. Overall interior dash and door plastics and trim are very good. Nice looking rig, not freakish. Plastic fr…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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, -
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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…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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2011 Ford Taurus SEL FWD (Rapid Spec 401A) The Story... Last Saturday I spent the day in a family members 2011 Ford Taurus SEL FWD Rapid Spec 401A with the 3.5L Duratec 35 V6 and six speed select shift automatic. This Taurus listed for $28,895.00 and was painted in Kona Blue Metallic with 18 inch alloy wheels, along with a long list of great features, that I will talk more about next. The Features & Interior... As an American car fan, but one who prefers GM some of things I have to say are hard for me to accept but I must. The Taurus SEL with the Rapid Spec 401A which adds Sync and rear parking assist is a great fullsize FWD sedan full of many neat featur…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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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, -
CRUZE LTZ rental drive.....plus old 2011 Chevy Cruze LT1 quick spin - update - LTZ tested - update LS manual and LT2 tested - update ECO manual tested
by regfootball-
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tested - red 2011 Cruze LT1 sticker 20,600 +/- 1.4 turbo, 6 sp auto HIGHS Fantastic cockpit, dash layout, ergonomics, displays, and controls including yummy leather wrapped steering wheel and dash buttons Interesting interior design with pretty good material quality all around Gauges and display in particular are a huge upgrade Really good visibility (as opposed to bunker mode like so many cars including the Malibu) Power seat is handy Great front row space and cabin width Lots of thoughtful convenience features including remote start Quiet interior, especially at highway speeds Frisky little turbo! (except....see below) Much improved steering feel over the Cobalt I pul…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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I don't know if many people know of these events but its an awesome thing. They let you take a car around a predefined course with a sales person in the car. Generally its like a test drive with out that nasty dealership taste. I believe it is open to the public. Usually 18 and older only and you have to pass a sobriety check. It will be located at the Kettering University campus in Flint, MI. Although that area has no open roads so I wonder if the course will be lame... There will be at least the Cruze there and the CTS Coupe there. And you will be able to get a ride in the Volt not drive it. I bet there will be a media booth there as well to hand out brochures and su…
Last reply by @dmin, -
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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…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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popped into the honda dealer yesterday as friday night i saw a new odyssey in the wild. It sure looks like a new age techno barge out and about. Actually, it trailed behind a ford edge in a line of cars, in motion it sort of looked like a stretched and pulled and lowered edge with a kim kardashian bigg butt....... it definitely looks better than the current crop of minivans including Honda's own. It's sort of clumsy look keep the rest of it in check from looking 'too sporty'. I will say this, even with its clumsiness and questionable detailing, its probably the most appealing minivan out there, looks wise. And the minivan segment is taking off again, so has Honda h…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Yesterday I went to the AltCar expo in Santa Monica, CA, where manufacturers were showing off their alternative fueled vehicles: GM - Volt, Cruze LTZ, Silverado Hybrid, Equinox Fuel Cell Nissan - Leaf Honda - Civic Hybrid, Civic CNG, FCX Clarity Toyota - Prius Plug-in, Highlander Fuel Cell Mercedes - B-Class Fuel Cell Kia - Borrego Fuel Cell CODA - EV sedan Ford and Toyota dealers - their respective hybrids VW dealer - Jetta SportWagen TDI and Golf TDI Others - EV fortwo clone, X-Prize vehicles, etc. GM had two Volts there, one silver and one black. They were offering test-drives, but there was a 100 person waiting list, so I only rode in the backseat. Overall…
Last reply by pow, -
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This is going to be fairly brief in comparison to my words about the Cruze. Namely, I did not spend as much time looking the Jetta over and did not have my camera with me. In addition, it still had all the factory protective coverings over much of it. Let me start off with a few words about the exterior. It's not as bland in person. Alot of the little details hide themselves in pictures. I was pleasantly surprised. It's still a very conservative design, but that's something VW has always honed and is present on my favorite, the MK3. In that regard, its a very well done design. It's much more modern and contemporary than the MK5 Jettas that sat beside it. Those, in compar…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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For someone who actually Is considering a car like this for his next drive, I'm deciding on a little review....this coming from someone who has owned Gm compacts for the last decades..... 3 Cruzes came in today to my local dealership. Two LTs, one LTZ. My first impression-mini Malibu! Even after seeing at the auto show, it still reminds of that in the real world. the "outside"- It actually looks good on the outside...even in three different colors. Fit and finish is still much better than the Cobalt. I can close the doors and tell you the difference. It just feels solid when you compare the two. Trunk is the biggest I've seen in a compact. That should be good for the …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Test- black 2010? Kia Soul Sport, black, red interior. 4 speed auto. Price was like close to 21 grand. Highs Terrific driver and passenger space and seat comfort. Rear seats are even comfortable and seem to have good space. Nice interior materials and plastics....even the red color looked fantastic in bright sun, textures looked rich and detailed and very little offensive gloss. Ergonomics, everything is laid out nicely and all switches and buttons felt great. Climate controls are very nice! Radio fairly easy to search songs on the flash drive when using SWAC and buttons on the radio. Seating position is nice, not SUV high, and a more chairlike than a car. Inter…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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Tested..... 2011 Kia Sportage base. White / black cloth. 4 cylinder motor, front drive, 6 speed manual transmission. MSRP it was like around 20. Highs- Room and Space - Driver and front passenger have ample space. Rear seat is good for kids and teens if legs not too long. Lots of width. Styling - very attractive styling on the exterior (although the base model wheels were a bit of a dud). Decently attractive dash. Features - fairly well equipped even as a base model, USB, bluetooth, SWAC, power everything (some) Ergonomics - steering wheel is nice and falls into hand and gauges are decent to look into. Armrest and drink holders and window switches laid out nicel…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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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, …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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quick summation JUST SAY NO. MSRP a little under 23. White, front drive 2.4 CVT. Highs - better than expected engine performance, better than anticipated CVT behavior, solid 'trucklike' (Jeeplike?) feel, feels robust and secure (or did it just feel porky), steering that was decently quick, decent gauge layout and controls, seat was ok in terms of comfort, gets out of its own way (with a lot of groaning), basically sounds like you are driving a tractor. Lows - rear seat accomodations are a bit of a joke, so is cabin with, so is the cargo space, lots of road noise, lack of powertrain refinement, cheap interior, whole thing feels 15 years old, oddly quirky styling of Je…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
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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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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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I put a couple hundred miles on a metallic black w/ charcoal cloth interior '10 Taurus SEL in Orange County (Ca) over the weekend. Picked it up Friday afternoon at John Wayne airport (after some confusion w/ Thrifty-I'd reserved a Charger, almost had an Impala that was low on gas, then got the Taurus). Had a nice mix of freeway gridlock driving, city driving, beach town driving, winding roads, etc. The car had 28,xxx miles. Impressions: Big, solid car. Love the dash design and detailing. Lots of useful cubbholes, cupholders, etc. One of nicer cloth interiors I've seen recently. Wished it had a sunroof since it was dark inside. Positives: Very comfortable. Dis…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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So my parents just got a new Fusion SE. They were longtime GM owners who were very dissapointed when GM got rid of Olds. They sucked it up and moved onto Saturn, leasing an Aura 3.6 XR. The had mixed feelings about the car and not wanting to buy a Malibu since it was virtually the same car as the aura but still wanting to drive a Domestic they ended up giving the Fusion a shot. I bombed around it in giving my Mustang the night off last weekend and here's what I took away. (keep in mind i drive an 05 Mustang GT and owned an 06 Malibu SS before that. Also I have extended driving experience in The Aura XR) Specs: Fusion SE - 2.5 I4 175 hp 172 torque 6 speed auto. Sil…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Stopped by the Ford store after work this evening. They had two Fiestas; a ghastly green SE five-speed with no options for around $15,000 and a black SE with Sport/SYNC and PowerShift for $2K more. I chose the black car because it was already outside and, frankly, it looked so much better. The car was "only" an SE but it didn't feel like it was missing any content. It had nice 15" alloys, same as the ones on the Euro Fiesta; kinda cheapo looking LED DRLs; power everything except the seats; and buttons on the steering wheel for SYNC. The only missing features I'd want are 17" alloys (the current Focus SES has nice charcoal ones) and maybe manumatic control for the automat…
Last reply by pow, -
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Tested..... 2009 Routan SEL I think. White / tan cloth. Used.....11k on the odo. 3.8 litre motor. Lightly optioned. Highs- Room and Space - cargo and passengers Front row seating comfort. For those that like to sit high, this is nice. Seat can be adjusted for perfect driving position unless you like it low. Engine does well at highway speeds. Excellent frontal visibility and decent out the sides and back. Excellent gauges, convenient radio location, nice climate controls. Steering wheel feels nice. Sliding door windows can roll down and have built in sunshades. Good steering and handling. 3.8 has a decent snarl at certain speeds. Engine turns only 2000 rp…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Had to beat the deadline and do my auto show test drive to get my 50 bucks. So i went to my local Ford dealer last saturday. Considering I just bought the cobalt, and really should be getting out of my Taurus X for financial reasons, I really wasn't shopping cars. Just wanted the 50 bucks. But i hadn't driven an 010 Taurus yet. I had driven a Flex once, but very briefly and it was AWD. I have had a Ford 500 and currently the Taurus X so its kind of like dating your girlfriends sister or cousin or mom. "It's all going to feel the same". IYKWIM.....LOL. I really wanted to test the more basic trims because if i do buy again anytime in my life that would be the trims…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Rented a truck today from U-Haul, drove 12 miles around town moving some furniture to the storage unit. Was going to rent a van, but was concerned it wouldn't clear going into the underground storage unit facility entrance (7' 6") Driving impressions--smooth, quiet around town. 1st time I've driven a full size pickup in years. Plenty of space in the bed. Forgot that Ford did away w/ the quarter windows and rear-opening doors on the regular cab w/ the last restyle. Huge C-pillars, slight blind spot in backing up. The tailgate when open must be 3 feet off the ground, had to use a stepladder when getting in and out of the bed loading sofas, coffee tables, etc. Ultra b…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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Interactive Review: 2010 Ford Edge SEL Well it's the last model year before the new Ford Edge, but since I got one for a 4 day rental with just 1,000 miles on the odometer, I thought this would still be a good candidate for an interactive review. So you have till Monday morning to get your questions in.
Last reply by SAmadei, -
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Picked up a gold '10 Fusion SE from Alamo at Denver International Airport Friday morning, put about 200 miles on it this weekend around the city, suburbs, and freeways. It and 3 HHRs were sitting in the 'fullsize' row. None are fullsize, but that's the way it is w/ rental cars.. Overview: A smooth and quiet midsize sedan, pleasantly put together, clean exterior styling, clean interior design, decent materials for the price point (what do these go for, $20k or so?). Pluses Very quiet. Sitting at a light w/ the HVAC and radio off, it's dead silent. As quiet as a hybrid. Only the tach gives away that it is idling. Drives smoothly. The faux brushed aluminum dash …
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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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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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…
Last reply by loki, -
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Tryin to catch up on reviews! Today I had some free time cuz the wife took the day off so I spun out to survey the new 2011 Kia Sorento. For 2011, Kia has updated one of their signature and most popular models by moving to a new platform that is car / crossover based in hopes of giving the Sorento a more modern crossover appeal. This is what renewed the interest for me in the vehicle. That, and very attractive pricing and value in addition to handsome, if a bit bland, new styling. For me in particular, having two crossovers in the garage (Aztek, one of the original crossovers, and a Ford Taurus X), i feel I am the type of shopper companies target with these kinds of …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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…
Last reply by Cory Wolfe, -
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Well, I had to trip it this weekend, 1000 miles and didn't want to take the Aztek. That, and the Aztek and Taurus X would net about 20 mpg on the trip. So I did the math and decided to rent a car. I made the reservation for a full size and Hertz, thinking I would get what I wanted, a Chevy Malibu. Of course, you can only bet, not choose, and I got STUCK with a new (200 miles on the odo) Nissan Altima S. 4 cyl, white. Gonna go retrieve it soon and do part of the trip this evening. I am not that upset about the Altima, since my main motive was to save gas. I understand the Altima with CVT gets really good highway mpg and in that regard it should be bang on for the t…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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So I spent the last two weeks of Dec 2009 in Kauai. Upon my late arrival at the airport with the family and kids in tow, I headed off to the Hertz Rental desk. Being a large group of people getting off the bus and pulling luggage, I told the wife and kids to get everything and I would go grab the car since I had a gold membership, so it should be instally ready. WRONG, Some how HERTZ LOST my info and did not have a car on their reader board, so off to the desk I went to talk to the lady. She reviewed the reservation, due to budget I had taken an Impala for the 5 of us. All adults she realized as the wife and kids walked in with the luggage in tow. Since things were …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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Test Drive: 2010 Volkswagen Golf 2.5 and Jetta TDI Stock Image Shown Got out in the cold yesterday and took out a couple VW's. A 2010 3 door Golf 2.5 / manual and a 2010 Jetta TDI / manual. I wanted a Golf TDI but none was available. I will add more to this tomorrow, since i forgot to get this up earlier Saturday evening. You would be surprised to know that I think my preference of the two is the gas model. I have driven the TDI Jetta now with the manual and the DSG and neither time did I come away thinking I would enjoy the vehicle long term, when i began to consider the main benefit of the diesel is basically fuel mileage....a benefit that comes at a greatly …
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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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Back-to-Back: 2010 Chevrolet Traverse 2LT and 2010 Honda Odyssey EX-L Silver Spring, MD—Yesterday, my parents and I went out to buy my mom a new car. Her Venture hit 105,xxx miles recently and still had a lot of life left, but the problems were beginning to add up, especially since the intake manifold had begun to fail. Rather than sinking $2000 into a car that was only worth about $4000 anyways, they decided the time had come. We narrowed the choices down to a Traverse 2LT or an Odyssey EX-L, and went to a nearby autopark in Montgomery County to sample both. Our first stop was the Chevrolet dealer. They had an incredible selection, ranging from the base LS to t…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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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... …
Last reply by ShadowDog, -
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VEHICLE: 2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 LS EXTENDED CAB 4WD (MSRP = $32,290) Exterior: Imperial Blue Metallic/Interior: Dark Titanium Cloth Options: Locking Rear Differential, $325; Rear Axle 3.42 Ratio, NO CHARGE Engine: 4.8L V8 / Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Alright, so my employer (the school district I teach for) held their annual homecoming football game Saturday (11/7) and of course in the morning was the traditional homecoming parade through the main part of the borough/town. A bun…
Last reply by CanadianBacon94, -
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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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Quick Test: 2008 Saturn Astra XE Back Story: Our humble family sedan, the trusty 2007 Saturn Aura XE V6, has been in the shop numerous times over the past two months for issues that have been plaguing everything from the audio system to the braking system to, just today, the on-board computer system (for a braking system-related problem). The first stop at the service department was a grueling five hour visit late last month, while the technicians tested the car out for two bad speakers, a bad stereo, a concerning grinding noise when you push on the brake pedal and shift into reverse or park, and taillights that came on when you pressed the gas pedal, but not the brak…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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The month of August means higher rental car prices in California, but I somehow managed $22.00 a day for a compact 2 weekends ago. I went up over the Sierra and to Reno for the weekend, so I figured I'd pick up a rental. (I don't gamble, so it was buffet time...damn, my beloved $8.99 breakfast buffet at the Reno Hilton's "The Lodge" has deteriorated since it changed over to the Grand Sierra Resort). I really like the styling changes on the Focus sedan. They've improved its appearance over the last-gen model. I can't say the same for the changes they've made to the coupe. The previous-gen hatchback coupe with the lights up in the rear pillars was unique. I once ren…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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well, I don't think its worthy of a lux car badge. I had this inkling to try an X type since they are CHEAP on the used market. They are compact, but sort of nicely appointed. AWD standard. They look nice. Trunk is actually an ok size. Found a used 5 speed 2.5 to drive today. Had like 60k miles on it. Well, I don't think i will pursue one. Basics on the test drive......the 2.5 needed to be wound up a bit, but had some guts once you got up 35-40 mph plus and had it in the right gear. If the 2.5 worries you they say there is a 3.0. At first I did not like the clutch since it was stiff. But even though it does require a little more leg than you should think…
Last reply by Hudson, -
- 7 replies
- 12k views
Review: 2001 Lincoln LS V8 The Lowdown *81,600 miles *3.9L Jaguar-derived V8 *DEW98 Platform shared with the Jaguar S-Type and the 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird *5-speed automatic transmission (standard, not SelectShift equipped) *252 hp @ 6100 RPM / 267 lb*ft @ 4300 rpm *114.5" wheelbase / 193.5" long / 73.2" wide *3692 lb curb weight *Features: glove box 6 CD changer, power seats, power tilt & telescoping steering wheel, memory seating, heated mirrors, automatic headlights, instant fuel economy gauge, auto-dimming rearview mirror, folding rear seat, front valet key system *Safety features: traction control, rain-sensing wipers, front and side ai…
Last reply by mustang84, -
- 19 replies
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So, first off...my bad. I thought it was a Colorado...never really paid attention to the truck until today. It''s a 2005 (I believe) GMC Canyon regular cab with with a 4x4 Off Road package (I don't know the technical name). Overall I enjoyed it, albeit with a few somewhat important reservations. Exterior: I've always felt that these were attractive trucks, even if the front fascia could have been better integrated. I like the fender flares. I myself prefer the look of extended or crew cab shortbed trucks, but it certainly wasn't ugly. Interior: While it's no Cadillac, I didn't have a problem with the interior. The door panel armrest and area around it were pad…
Last reply by cletus8269, -
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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, -
- 45 replies
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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…
Last reply by Dragon, -
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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, -
2009 Mazda6
by Lamar- 1 follower
- 14 replies
- 2.6k views
So since spring is upon us and today was a nice and sunny (albeit windy) day, I decided to do a little test-driving. I went to the Mazda dealership since I wanted to test drive the new Mazda6 since it's on the list as a replacement for the Maxima (the wife's car). So I got there, told the salesman which trim I wanted to drive, and we went from there. The car was the Mazda6 i Touring, which came with the 2.5L 4-cyl mill, 5-speed automatic transmission, cloth seats, and 17-inch wheels (among other things I can't remember). I chose the 4-cyl because that was the engine my wife indicated she'd rather have, so I had to see if it was going to be fun enough for me to driv…
Last reply by Lamar, -
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I was in NC and had rented a compact car for 4 days. I was hoping for a Cobalt or a Focus. No such luck...they were going to put me in an HHR or PT Cruiser. I told them I needed an 'effing trunk (I was firm, not rude). So I got a Yaris sedan. This is a short review. There is little that is inspiring to say about this car. It is the noisiest new car I've ever driven. It is a lawn-mower with a passenger car shell dropped onto it. To say that going from this car back into a 17 year old Regal with over a quarter of a million miles and feeling like one went from backpack cloth to velvet would about describe it. Shifts are rough, especially when throttled. The in…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
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At the New England International Ford was having an offer to Test Drive one of their vehicles and receive a $50 MasterCard gift card. I figured: sweet, getting paid to drive a new car, its win/win. With all of the Christmas shopping and such I kind of got sidetracked, but today I finally went down to the local Lincoln-Mercury dealer to take an MKS for a spin. I got to drive a red MKS with all-black leather interior. The exterior of the car is quite handsome. It’s not gorgeous nor is it eye bold like a 300C, but the proportions are nice for a FWD based car, and the lines are pleasing to the eye. I appreciated the details of the exterior, such as the thin sliver of chrom…
Last reply by vonVeezelsnider, -
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I bought this used 2007 red V6 LT Malibu in January 2008 with 27K miles and have logged over 16K miles which translates to a current odometer reading of 43K miles. [/size]Driving Impression: The 2007 Malibu LT is a solid enough driving car with competent handling, a smooth ride and light steering that is easy to maneuver in parking lots. The driving position is perfect for my average frame and the telescoping wheel allows me to move the seat forward a little to preserve rear seat legroom. The drivers seat is comfortable, even after 8 hours of driving. Everything is within easy reach for the most part but I wish you can see both the clock and radio station display at t…
Last reply by vonVeezelsnider, -
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Test Drive of the 2008 Volkswagen Golf R32 Today in Ft. Wayne, Indiana at Vorderman Volkswagen I had an appointment to replace the signal repeater in the driver's side mirror and a cargo cover string support in the hatch. Of the three R32's on the lot, one had frequently been in the showroom but was today outside. At the vocalised nudging from my girlfriend (Heather) I requested a drive to which "my" salesman promptly approved. He got the plate, a copy of my identification, fired it up, and moved it away from the building. Even at idle oh what a sound the exhaust makes! It was that special R32 blue colour and number 36 of 5000 according to the plaque adorning the bo…
Last reply by MyerShift, -
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 2.1k views
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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Bright Chrome Appearance package Cruise Control Leather wrapped steering wheel with redundant controls and bluetooth CD with USB port and AUX input jack Spare tire and wheel Ashtray and lighter Silver Moss with Ebony Sport Cloth MSRP $17,500 GM Employee price $16,125 I hit up GM's vehicle locator service on the net yesterday during my lunch break at work, and lo and behold, there was a car just about exactly like what I've been pricing out on Edmunds ever since the '09 prices have been posted, located at Red Lion Chevrolet in Red Lion, PA, about 45 minutes away from me. It's so rare to find a manual transmission car with options, and without the spoiler…
Last reply by ponchoman49, -
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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, -
- 3 replies
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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, -
- 6 replies
- 1.8k views
On the urging of my neighbor who owns an SX4 crossover and loves it, i took out an SX4 manual sedan today. Fun car! some caveats, which I will get to. Give me a bit and I will get that up. I drove an XL7 also, but that sucked so I won't write much on that.
Last reply by regfootball, -
2009 Honda Fit 1 2
by ocnblu- 81 replies
- 12.3k views
Well, today after work I stopped by "my" local BPG/Honda/Acura/Suzuki dealership at the invitation of one of the salesguys to try out an '09 Fit. The car I drove was a base/manual transmission in black. Here are my impressions of the whole experience: The dealership in general has been very nice to deal with, from my first contact with my eventual Sierra salesperson over the internet, to my parting words with the Honda salesguy this evening. First off, I drove to the back of the lot, where they have a fenced-in holding yard for excess inventory. They have quite a selection already of new Fits... silver, purple, black, bright blue and orange, most with "SOLD" tags on…
Last reply by Sixty8panther, -
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--Being in the used car end of the 'biz' gives me the opportunity to road test a variety of late-model cars for longer periods of time than a normal test drive would typically allow. Though these reviews may lack the excitement of being a first impression of the latest 'car de jour,' it provides a unique opportunity to see how a car performs with a little bit of wear and a little bit of age on it. This allows you to see just how well these cars hold up over the years and miles and also represents what the other half of America - i.e., the used car shopper - has to select from. Consider this a long-term test of a car whose previous drivers may or may not have given a damn.…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
- 12 replies
- 4k views
C&G Drives: 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible By z28luvr01 If you've read my report of the New York International Auto Show press days, you know that during my time there I gained quite a respect for the Saab brand, its history, and its fans. Despite my newfound appreciation for all things jet-inspired, I still didn't have enough of a reason to actually head down to a dealer and try one out. The push I needed came last week, wrapped in the latest edition of Bicycling magazine. Nestled between pages 48 and 49 was a coupon for a free cycling jersey upon test-driving any new Saab. I make the trip to Saab of Smithtown, some 13 miles from my house. When I arrive I decide …
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
- 63 replies
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Last Friday I had set up an appointment for my 10,000 mile service update on my Volkswagen Golf (Rabbit) Having made the appointment at Vordermann Volkswagen in Ft. Wayne, I decided to finally taste one of GM's German delights; the new for the U.S. Saturn (Opel) Astra. The staff at Saturn of Ft. Wayne were very courteous and personal to work with. Having explained my situation of why I ended up with a VW instead of the Astra and wanting to finally experience one, they gladly agreed to offer a test drive. A few short minutes later, a silver Astra XR 3-door pulled up in front of my Volkswagen. Talk about nice looking but subtle versus hot looking and great visual pi…
Last reply by daves87rs, -
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will write up later tonight when I have time. nice car, not entirely my cup of tea, good car nonetheless.
Last reply by biff, -
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I got a chance to test drive the Saturn Astra at the Autoshow this year, here's my review. 2008 Saturn Astra - The compact that should've been here four years ago XR Model Shown - Source: GM Media For starters, this isn't a new car. It's being sold all over Europe as the Opel Astra, UK as a Vauxhall Astra. The Astra commences imports this year. I was given an Astra XE 5-door. First impression was a big wow. Compared to the Ion, this was lightyears ahead. It's a big wonder why GM didn't think of this earlier. On a first glance, it was very roomy for a compact hatchback. I adjusted my seats, and there was still some legroom at the back. The test vehicle was equ…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
- 26 replies
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So.....was in Phoenix today for two meetings and was graced with an '08 Charger rental....800 miles on it....with the <groan> 2.7L V6 engine. This was a base car with cloth, no moonroof, and vinyl covering the steering wheel. I'm reminded of why I like the LX cars. Even in this (very) base trim, this car's overall package is hard to beat. The chassis is solid and tight as a drum, and even the base car goes around corners with almost NO body lean and a complete lack of float on the highway. What about the small V6? Let's just say it's a dog....BUT....if you drive the car like most normal people do, it's quiet, mannerly, and at light-to-part throttle, offers mo…
Last reply by regfootball, -
- 1 reply
- 1.6k views
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, -
- 2 followers
- 6 replies
- 10.8k views
There once was a time, a time when full sized family sedans were in nearly every driveway in America. During this time GM's Oldsmobile divison built a reputation for quality and performance on the name Eighty-Eight. Introduced in 1949, the Eighty-Eight was the least expensive of Oldsmobile's full size offerings for 50 years until the end of production in 1999. The following C&G Drive is on a 1988 model with the optional 3800 V6 As Dick Van Patten says so well in this 1986 commercial"Its the family car, that didn't forget the family" . My 1988 Delta 88 Royale has done just that, after nearly two decades of faithful service I can say this is one family car that did…
Last reply by trinacriabob, -
- 0 replies
- 1.7k views
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, -
- 2 replies
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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, -
- 15 replies
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I drive a BMW 335I and recently took it in for service. The dealer I use is also a Toyota Dealer and so my loaner car was a 2006 Camry with 6000 or so miles. I don't remember the trim level but it had cloth seats and some options. My observations: 1. Noisy interior and "raspy" engine noise. 2. Hideous center stack and radio set-up. 3. Vague drive and handle. 4. Door close sounds cheap. 5. Weak performance. 6. Huge interior and trunk. 7. Is this what the "masses" want? Granted I normally drive a BMW which is the benchmark of cars...at least to me, but I expected better than this. Having driven the Impala, this Camry is no better than the Impala in any way. …
Last reply by ToniCipriani, -
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Review: 2nd Generation CTS Most of you know that I have recently found employment in the automotive business again. I am now working at a large Chevrolet-Cadillac dealer in New Hampshire as a sales representative. It's been a very busy week. I swapped in a 2007 Suburban LTZ for a very selective lease customer & also sold XP715's girlfriend a gently-used 2005 Pontiac G6 with the sky-view roof. Tomorrow is a really big day for me, more on that later. My computer is being difficult but I wanted to share a quick review of the 08 CTS with all of you fellow CheersAndGears members. As requested by several of you, I took another quick drive in the white diamon…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
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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, -
- 6 replies
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Hi all, this is my initial and 8 month review on my 2006 Grand Prix. First I'll start off with the basics. - Base sedan - Power windows/locks/mirrors/driver seat - Sunroof - 6-disc in dash CD changer - Steering wheel radio controls - OnStar - Remote vehicle start - White exterior - Black and Tan two-tone interior (Ebony & Tan? I can't remember what GM calls it) The Grand Prix comes fairly well equipped even as just the basic, plain Jane Base version. Aluminum wheels, power windows/locks/mirrors are all standard. Basically just the niceties that many of us want. If the car didn't have any of the other features, I'd still have gotten it. Since…
Last reply by Oracle of Delphi, -
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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, -
- 1 follower
- 1 reply
- 2.4k views
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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So my girlfriend and I decided to check out an auto auction, since I'min the market for a new car...I figured why not. There were plenty of cars there, some were great and some were not so great...and one died on me (`98 Plymouth Voyager's tranny gave out...it got left in the middle of the parking lot). I had fun test driving the assortment of vehicles, and among them were 2 Mazda Millenias. The First Millenia: I must it admit, it is a very nice looking car in person, and it had a very nice set of wheels. It was bluish/green. It had plenty of nice features like power everything, leather, and automatic climate control. The first problem I saw was that the cup…
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
- 55 replies
- 19.3k views
Well I didn't test drive it but my dad did. Our dealer had a Grand Re-Opening becasue it was renovated and they had a 2007 Silverado LTZ on loan from GM Canada. I was surprised they let some drive it. It set a very good impression. Everything was good about it except for the dash. It was a fully loaded LTZ with Nav and DVD. I am not a fan of the dash. i like the work truck set up much better. This had the 5.3L and when we fired up I couldn't believe it. I thought it had the Vortec Max in it because it sounded so powerful. It was loud and aggressive. I was surprised when we opened the hood. It was the 5.3L so I assumed the exhaust was just changed or something. It sounded …
Last reply by BigPontiac, -
- 7 replies
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Extended Drive On Wheels: 2006 Mazda6 i I-4 Proof that bigger isn’t always better With sales of its midsize Millenia and 626 tanking, Mazda introduced a very important car for itself in 2004-the Mazda6. A brand-new car riding a brand-new platform, the 6 gave Mazda a much more dynamic, appealing entry into a market long-dominated by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. While it hasn’t replaced either as a best-seller, the 6 gives Toyota and Honda a very legitimate reason to be afraid, for them to be very afraid. Exterior While the Millenia was an attractive car in its final years, there is no comparison as to which looks better. The 6, when fully dressed up, is one of …
Last reply by ToniCipriani, -
2004 Chevrolet Impala Base V6
by Guest YellowJacket894-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 11 replies
- 10k views
On a cool February day in 2005, we purchased a slightly used Chevrolet Impala with under 15,000 miles on the odometer. Since then we've put a little over 30,000 miles on the clock and here are my impressions of the car. Although I love GM and even hope to work at Design North Studio hopefully designing a car you may even buy, I'll try to be as honest and unbiased as possible here. Our Oh-Four Impala is the most basic model you can get -- bench seat, cloth, no tach, and -- get this folks -- a casette player and no passenger-side door key slot. Doesn't get much more basic than that. The engine was the 3400 V6 engine mated to a four-speed auto transmission with a column sh…
Last reply by Polish_Kris, -
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I've spent about a week in a Caliber SXT rental......and this review can tag along with Cremazie's...... Let's get to the bad stuff first......I HATE the CVT (as I've hated most of them) in this car. It really seems to rob the car of power....it's awkward-feeling....and none too smooth. You really miss the kind off "step-off" from idle that you get in a torque-converter automatic. The car just kind of ooooozes away from a stop. That being said, while the car feels heavy, the engine seems to have decent power for a 4-banger in the midrange. I was surprised at how smooth the 2.0L is.....at idle and on acceleration there is very little buzz or vibration even noticeab…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
- 3 replies
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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, -
- 64 replies
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A little over a year and 36,000 miles ago my brother and his wife decided to buy a prius. I thought I would give my impression on the vehicle this last weekend. 1st I want to start off that they traded in their 120,000 mile 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette. During it's 120,000 miles they did have to replace the battery (90,000 miles), tires (60,000 miles), and at 115,000 miles they were having troubles with the alternator, hence why they decided to trade it in. The only other fix the van EVER had was the lumbar support piece being broken off when new. Now on to the prius. He did comment on how they are loving the space of the vehicle. They were able to load up all 3…
Last reply by regfootball, -
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C&G Drives: The 2007 Saturn AURA By Brian Dreggors "Love me, love me, say that you love me." "I already sold two other XEs." -Saturn salesman That coincides with my findings, too. On the evening of the 15th, I spotted a car carrier taking about three Auras to Saturn of Clearwater. Curious, I tailed it and saw that trio of XEs join four other Auras - including an XR - delivered the night before. By this afternoon, five remained. Meanwhile, the Jeep Compass I tested a few weeks ago still sat lonely across the street. An early indication? Perhaps. We'll see whether Aura not this new midsize Saturn will really move. Let's go! The Basics My tester today was a 2007 …
Last reply by pow, -
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As summer days begin to shorten, three of us decided to take a few days and travel through Jasper and part of Banff national parks. With neither of us wanting to rack up those rough kilometers on our vehicles it was apparent that we would be renting a car. With an internet reservation in hand I walked in to the Alamo and waited for the car I would be awarded in the car lottery. I wanted something compact and expected a Cobalt, Corolla or a Focus, I was pleasantly surprised when he handed me the keys to a 2007 Dodge Caliber. The Striking features of the Caliber along with the success of the Magnum and the 300 had me wanting to drive one for some time. The car was a mid…
Last reply by CMG, -
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2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 3500 SLT This Trucks Features Include:5.9 liter Cummins HO Turbo Diesel - 6 Speed Manual Power Locks - Power Windows - Power Steering Front Center Armrest - Business Console 17" x 8.0" Steel Chrome Clad Wheels AM/FM Stereo With CD Player And Four Speakers Light Khaki Metallic Clear Coat/Color Fold Away Power Trailer Tow Mirrors - Tow Hooks Engine Block Heater Front Hood Protection Shield Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel Bright Grille Carpet Floor Covering Cruise/Speed Control Electric Shift-On-The-Fly Part-Time Transfer Case 11.50 Rear Axle 3.73 Axle Ratio Cloth 40/20/40 Bench Seat Air Conditioning Remote Keyless Entry As Picku…
Last reply by CMG, -
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Was It A Mistake To Make A Muscle Car Out Of An SUV? 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS Review AWD LT 1SE Black Exterior / Ebony Interior In the 70’s a muscle car was a large, powerful, fast machine. My father owned a 71 Oldsmobile Cutlass S (badge brother to the Pontiac GTO and Chevrolet Chevelle) Unfortunately it was totaled and pie-wedged as a Big Rig ran over it, but by all descriptions it was fast as hell! It was simple back then: engine, transmission and speed. Of course as the RPM’s went up the gas gauge went down and that car “could pass everything but a gas station.” In this age of high gas prices this would seem to indicate that the age of the pony car …
Last reply by chevynj, -
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Exterior There is no denying that the Mazda5 is a Minivan. A look at the sliding doors and the rounded, two-box profile is all you need to confirm it. However, the vehicle hides its Minivan-ness pretty well, in fact, better than any other Minivan on the road. The triangular headlights lend a sporty look to the nose, like an angry feline, and the trendy clear taillights also create a somewhat sporty credence. And, from the side, it looks more like a lengthened Toyota Matrix than a Mommymobile. Style is a matter of personal taste, and some would laugh at the Mazda5's attempts to cover itself up. But I think that, for a Minivan, this is as good as it gets. 1 2 3 4 5 Interi…
Last reply by NeonLX, -
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NOTE: I was dumb enough not to bring my camera along for this test drive, so this Edmunds stock photo will have to do. More to come! Exterior I wouldn't be the first to suggest that the HHR looks like a more muscular PT Cruiser. That formality aside, the HHR's styling is pretty good to my eyes. Tall, boxy and, most importantly, it looks pretty unique parked in a lot full of Impalas. Those who are attempting to wean themselves off of SUVs will find the HHR's bold chrome grille and trucky stance especially inviting. One feature I thought was really nifty: The gas cap is flush with the body, but, rather than pressing a release inside, you push the cap in to release it, …
Last reply by Polish_Kris, -
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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…
Last reply by I hope GMRULES again, -
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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…
Last reply by ponchoman49, -
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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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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, -
I've spent years visiting various forums that catered to 3.8 powered FWD BOP products. The LeSabre T-type forum, the Bonneville forum as well as A & W body forums. A few requests, complaints or desires by various members have always seemed to be consistent...... the availability of a standard transmission on the more powerful V6 FWD offerings, lack of 2 dr coupes, more gears and exciting styling. Well the G6 GTP coupe shows someone was listening. One ivory GTP coupe showed up at our local GM dealer and my gal fell right in love with it. So the search began, we looked at red ones, green ones, silver ones, black ones, base coupes, black leather, morocco, and black clo…
Last reply by razoredge, -
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It's been a little over six months since I first picked it up from the dealership. Got the first oil change back in April. So far there are three problems that popped up: 1. Engine will "hot-crank". The G6 is equipped with an electronic starter, opposed to a traditional one that you hold down until it starts, which is designed for remote start. Tap it into start and the car will start on itself. However, the problem right now is that it cranks longer than normal for it to start. 2. Radio will not come on with car occasionally, have to tap the power button repeatedly for it to come on. 3. Car outside temperature display will not show correct temperature at times. O…
Last reply by I hope GMRULES again, -
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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…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
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I have an '06 HHR LT for the week here in Phoenix (3.000 miles on it) and I'm VERY impressed! The HHR is a fine ride and a nice example of how GM can do something right when they want to. This rental car is a fully-loaded HHR with the 2.4L, leather, moonroof, 17-inch wheels. Highs: Mostly (explained later) smooth and refined powertrain. Good ride-and-handling compromise. Quality feel on the road. Very usable interior roominess. Lows: VERY annoying engine/tranny whine upon any measurable acceleration. Electric steering, while improved, is still too vague and loosey-goosey. Interior fit-and-finish of plastic panels on the interior is very poor. Overall: A …
Last reply by Northstar, -
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This car was bought as a repo with 15k miles on it after someone had owned it for 6 months. This cars features include: power windows/locks/mirrors(heated), keyless entry, CD player, 6 speakers, AC, Cruise control Styling: I love the styling. The headlights accent the eggcrate grill excelently. Free flowing lines give the exterior a soft look. Wavey Tailights give a touch of sportyness. I love the short hood and tall trunk and the effect of the cab foward design. The only styling issue is the black door handles. Engine: The old engine was sufficient for this car. It was a 2.4 liter I-4 with 150 hp. Then, in 2002 I got caught in a deep puddle and my car was engulfed …
Last reply by NeonLX, -
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I had the most incredible test drive experience ever in my "career" as a car enthusiast! I attended the Ferrari Challenge at Infineon Raceway (formerly known as Sears Point) up in the Bay Area this weekend. Through a friend that I have at Ferrari N.A., I got to test drive a 612 Scaglietti and an F430 Spider for about 30 minutes each on roads in and around Sonoma County. And, incredibly, my friend got me two "hot laps" around the track in between races in a 612 driven by a professional Ferrari driver. 612 Scaglietti The 612 is THE Ferrari daily-driver. I was impressed by how much room was actually inside the car (it IS a big car after all....) and we had three of us …
Last reply by Camino LS6,
