About: Autolove

Joe Mavilia is a syndicated columnist with more than 35 years in the automotive industry. He is a member of the Motor Press Guild and Automotive Press Association. His reviews have been published in print media including the Los Angeles Times, The Golden Transcript - Colorado, La Feria News - Texas, The Pasadena Weekly - California, and others around the country, including www.theweekenddrive.com where he is the West Coast Editor. Reviews and Opinion Columns may also be seen in Sunnews.org and The Country Journal every week in the Antelope Valley, CA. I hope they are helpful

Recent Posts by Autolove

Char Letter To Editor

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My husband and I read your article (re: Subaru Legacy) in the Country Journal and just had to write you.  About a month ago we purchased a Subaru Outback.  Before buying, we did our homework.  Look at every model (excluding luxury lines) and read reviews.  My husband had not wanted a AWD vehicle.  However, I went to the library and Consumer Reports had nothing but good things to say about Subaru.  He agreed to look and when we went for our test drive we looked at each other and said “this is it”.  We couldn’t be happier with our purchased.  We had previously owned Volvos and they were excellent as well.  We were looking for room (for our new dog) and little bit bigger than what we had.  The Outback has it all.  Storage, fuel economy, dependability, quiet ride, great dashboard and comfortable.  We always read your articles and it was good to know that you wrote so highly about Subaru.

Thank you for your contributions and we look forward to more in the future.

Best regards,

Char

2015 Nissan Versa (1053)

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2015 Nissan Versa (1053)

Overview:

This week I looked at the 2015 Nissan Versa SV Sedan. This is a great commuter for young families interested in economy and on a modest budget for transportation. It provides everything you need in a general transportation car. It only has 109 horsepower but it is surprising agile. It will keep up with traffic but not with great ease. But it will do it at 40 mpg and at a purchase price of about $12-15,000 that’s what I’m talking about. I can’t complain about what it doesn’t have but rather brag about what it does have. It has a great personality would scare some away, but don’t let that distract you. It may be just the right one for you.

Opinion:

Would someone tell me what it is with Honda drivers? Really, I am on the road a lot and since I write about cars I’m interested in trends and behavior of drivers. Without the driver the car is pretty sterile.

So I have observed before and revisit the fact that people who drive Honda cars are the fastest drivers on the highway. I suggest you watch for the phenomenon yourself. When a car zips around you look at the badge and you will see what I mean. Yep it’s another Honda.

Perhaps there is a CHP officer out there who can shed some light on my assertion since Honda drivers must account for up to 80% of all citations written based on what cars are speeding. Psychologists can add more to explain why they drive as they do. Ok, to remain balanced, Ford is a close second followed by Chevy and BMW. Next week I’ll be talking about the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and it too gets a lot of attention from the CHP. It’s a kid’s car and is way too fast for the uninitiated. It is nearly impossible to keep your speed down with turbocharged power and I had to rely on my cruise control as I would find myself going too fast.

General Information: It is assembled in // n/a. Classification is Compact. Cars from Nissan: Altima, Maxima, Versa, Sentra, Cube, Leaf, Pathfinder Hybrid, Z Coupe, roadster and GT-R, Murano, Juke, Rogue, Xterra, Armada, Quest, NV Passenger, Frontier and Titan.

Handling & Performance:
Great commuter and around town ease of handling. It won’t burn the tires off but it will get you there as efficiently as 40 mpg without the complexity and expense of Hybrid equipment. That to me makes more sense when you consider that same performance in a Hybrid will cost two to three times as much to purchase.

Styling:
Plain Jane styling might describe it adequately, but nice looking all the same. I always did prefer the girl next door.

Fit and Finish:
Very good for a car at this price point.

Cost:
Outstanding value to buy and to operate.

Conveniences and comfort:
I’ve tested cars at twice the money that didn’t have any more features found in this Versa.

Consumer Recommendations:
I’ve noted some close competitors and you owe it to yourself to test drive them all. My choices are Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa, Chevrolet Sonic in that order. I’d be interested in how you rank them after testing.

Recognized Competition:
Nissan Versa $16,000, Chevrolet Sonic $16,000, Ford Fiesta $16,000, Hyundai Accent $16,000, Kia Rio $14,000.

Good News:
Very well priced, outstanding fuel economy, decent interior room and good sized trunk.

Bad News:
Some will be turned off with 109 horsepower performance.

Standard Equipment:
1.6 liter 109 horsepower 4-cylinder engine, CVT auto transmission, front wheel drive, 4-wheel ABS front disc and rear drum brakes with EBD Electronic Brake force distribution and brake assist, 15” steeel wheels, front, side and curtain airbags, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), traction control, dynamic control, tire pressure monitor, 6-way manual adjustable driver seat and 4-way adjustable passenger seat, AM/FM/CD/Aux audio system with 4-speakers and USB/ iPod control, Bluetooth hands free phone system, Cruise control, steering wheel mounted audio controls, 60/40 split fold down rear seat, power door locks, trip computer, remote keyless entry with trunk release.

Gas Stats:
$3.55/ Gal avg. October 8, 2014
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

31 City and 40 Highway MPG

Pricing:
MSRP $15,530

2015 Subaru Outback 2.5 i (1052)

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2015 Subaru Outback 2.5 i (1052)

Overview:

This week my ride is the 2015 Subaru Outback midsize crossover that they say rides on an all new platform with extensive quietening revisions including an acoustic windshield and liquid filled engine mounts. The interior space has been increased even though the footprint is essentially the same.

I felt good in this car for many reasons. It looks good, if performs well, it is comfortable and it doesn’t cost much money to operate.

Opinion:

When it comes to American industry and particularly the auto industry we can surely say Yes We Can. It is, of course, not in reference to Obama’s charge to the presidency. This is the REAL world where Yes we Can means something tangible. And Yes “WE DID THAT” applies to founding, settling and spreading out to tame the wilds of North America. It was done as a result of American Ingenuity at work to build things without the interference of a government who has the audacity to imply Government Did That. American Entrepreneurs built the economies of the free world and don’t you forget it. If the government did have anything to do with successful people it was that they stayed the hell out of the way. Apparently those in government today have indeed forgotten WHO made this country great. Yes we can was not just a slogan back then, it was a way of living.

General Information: It is assembled in // n/a. Classification is Midsize. Cars from Subaru: BRZ, Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Outback, Tribeca, WRX, XV Crosstrek.

Handling & Performance:

All Subaru’s are always AWD on all models and that gives Subaru cars that comfort and confidence you want in a car. It allows you to get the best performance in all road conditions that are not available on most cars that don’t come standard with AWD. I took this Outback for a ride through the San Gabriel Mountains of California which is a favorite test area for me. I call it the Crest Test since it is the route over Angeles Crest Highway between La Canada past the turn off to Mount Wilson and down into the high desert just to the west of Palmdale. It really did perform wonderfully and the more I drive these Subaru’s the more I like them. AWD hugs the road in all of the hundreds of turns on that road and it is simply a more comfortable ride when the vehicle is sure footed like a cat.

Styling:

Rather typical for SUV’s and Crossover’s, which is a good thing. I’m conservative by nature and don’t like radical departures from the norm. I prefer a nice looking automobile, not one that is hurting for attention and get it with outrageous designs. You know, kind of like those kids that walk around with their pants down below their but cracks.

Inside it is well appointed with a luxurious and attractive soft fabric interior – nice job Subaru.

Fit and Finish:
Consistently good assembly can be counted on.

Cost:
It is competitive in class but does so with standard AWD on all models which gives added value to the package price.

Conveniences and comfort:
“Loaded” as they say and I particularly appreciate the “Lane Departure” feature to go along with the “Adaptive Cruise Control” and blind spot warning signal. I know these will soon be on all cars and should be standard equipment on all cars.

Good News:
A long time performer company with a stellar reputation, great fuel economy, nicely stylish, comfortable, outstanding handling and roadability.

Bad News:
Nothing noted.

Standard Equipment:
2.5 liter 174 horsepower (Boxer) H-4 cylinder engine, symetrical all wheel drive CVT auto tranmission, 8 airbags including new front seat-cushion airbags for safety in frontal collisions, 17” alloy wheels, 10-way power driver seat, split dual zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, windshield wiper deicer, leather wrapped steering wheel, air filtration, fog lights, 7” touch screen display with multi-touch control swipe, scrolling gesture control, voice activated controls, serius XM, SMS text messaging, iTunes tagging and dual USB ports, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, vehicle lane departure warning, new color stereo cameras and steering responsive fog lights, power rear gat e with memory height function, new infotainment includes standard screen display and high resolution backup camera standard on all trims.

Options: you can add moonroof, navigation, blindspot detection and rear cross traffic alert for $3,390.

Gas Stats:
$3.67/ Gal avg. September 30, 2014
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

25 City and 33 Highway MPG

Pricing:
MSRP $26,995

2015 Chrysler 200 Limited (1051)

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2015 Chrysler 200 Limited (1051)

Overview:

This week I had the opportunity to test the 2015 Chrysler 200 Limited. I’m always amazed at how American ingenuity dazzles us more every year. Old timers will remember the Avis car rental company who launched themselves into the spotlight by proudly proclaiming in their advertisements that they were “number 2 – they try harder”.  Now that American car makers are no longer number 1 in the world of automobiles they too are trying harder. It’s humbling to be knocked off your pedestal. But what is important is they got back up and they should be number one again. They really gave birth to the industry and set the standard of excellence for a world to shoot at. There is more innovation in our multi-cultural industrial machine simply because of that fact – producing everything imaginable from the minds of many viewpoints.

I never counted them out and the Big Three are still alive and well and it is they who continue to lead and yes be copied. A great big thanks to the consumer who wake up even sleeping giants with their purchasing power – $$$$$$.

General Information:

Parts from the US / Canada 73%; It is assembled in Sterling Heights, MI USA, Classification is Midsize. Cars from Chrysler: 200, 300 & Town & Country.

Handling & Performance:

Only adequate power for the most part from this 4-cylinder engine. It has a smooth ride but the drive train is not as smooth as I think it should be. I found myself being aware of shifting when it should be quiet. It’s not a deal breaker and it is just something you will want to watch for on your test drive.

Styling:

This is a strikingly good looking automobile and a new look I was quick to appreciate.

Fit and Finish:

Very good.

Cost:

Wow. How can you go wrong? This is a lot of car for the money.

Conveniences and comfort:

Everything you could expect and for the money I didn’t expect as much. My most favorite feature in any car today is the “Keyless Entry and Go” feature that is usually not available on cars at this price point. Literally you will likely never need to take the key fob out of your pocket or purse ever… for me it was only when I changed my pants. You gotta agree it is the most useful of features. Also exclusive in this class is the electric park brake and Safe-hold feature.

One feature I found nice but mis-placed on the control panel is the ‘Rotary E-Shift’ knob. It is a nice replacement of the shift lever. However its placement on the panel is my problem. It is right below the temperature knob and it is so easy to grab the wrong knob and change from automatic climate control to manual fan. It is even the same size and if that knob alone were simply smaller and offset from the shift knob it would be better. I’m sure after a few years of driving my motor skills would be honed in perfectly and it wouldn’t bug me.

As an aside do you recall the older Chrysler products that employed push button shift up on the dash? This must be a Chrysler thing where they are futuristic in design thinking and this time they got it right. I like the electric shift knob approach.

Uconnect Bluetooth connectivity is among the best on the market. I must say however use of my iPhone is a bit confused by the streaming audio and input commands to my phone’s Nav system or in leaving voice messages. With the system connected to the cars audio / speaker system it doesn’t always pick up the command. On the other hand it could be me and not the sensitivity of the microphone on the car.

Consumer Recommendation:

You may want to move to the V-6 engine option model if you find the 184 horsepower 4-cylinder engine is not enough power for you. I like the highway 36 mpg performance more (V6 consumes 7 MPG more), because the 4-cylinder is not that much of a drawback for me.

Recognized Competition:

Chrysler 200 $23,000, Audi A3 $30,000, Chevrolet Cruze $23,000, Dodge Dart $23,000, Honda Civic $24,000, Hyundai Elantra $22,000, Kia Forte $21,000, Mazda3 Touring $26,000, Mitsubishi Lancer  $21,000, Nissan Sentra $18,000, Subaru Impreza $22,000, VW Golf $20,000, VW Jetta $21,000.

Good News:

Attractive, great fuel economy with decent power and outstanding pricing.

Bad News:

Transmission shift not transparent, placement of the shift knob could be better.

Standard Equipment:

2.4 liter 184 HP inline 4-cylinder, 9-speed automatic transmission, front side and side curtain front and rear and driver and passenger knee airbags, Child LATCH system, stability and traction control, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with brake assist, electric park brake and power steering, keyless enter and go, security alarm, cruise control, air conditioning, Uconnect AM/FM/Bluetooth, 6-speakers, audio input jack for mobile devices, Remote USB port, steering wheel mounted controls, power windows and locks, manual 6-way front seat adjustment, Ambient LED interior lighting, information center, tire pressure monitor, compass, O/S temp gauge, rearview mirror with Microphone, tilt and telescopic steering column, 12 V aux power outlet, rear armrest with storage cup holder, front center sliding armrest, auto headlights, LED tail lights, 17” silver aluminum wheels.

Gas Stats:

$3.65 / Gal avg. September 22, 2014

www.fueleconomy.gov
For more information.

23 City and 36 Highway MPG

Pricing:
MSRP $23,255.

2014 Dodge Charger R/T Plus 100th Anniversary Edition (1050)

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2014 Dodge Charger R/T Plus 100th Anniversary Edition (1050)

Overview:

This week I had the opportunity to test the 2014 Dodge Charger R/T Plus 100th Anniversary Edition. Fortunately I was able to give it a good test that revealed the strengths of this car that otherwise would not have been as obvious tooling around town alone. I was invited on assignment to the United We Stand conference with Sarah Palin and one for my most favorite people in the world, Dinesh D’Souza who’s books and Documentaries of 2016 and America (Imagine the world without her). They are the most watched documentaries ever. The bad news is that the IRS dogs were sic’d on Mr. D’Souza for exposing some myths about current and past events. I guess that’s what you refer to as Politically IN-Correct speech. The administration want to throw him into prison. Wow, what is happening to our first amendment right to free speech?

So back to the trip to Phoenix Arizona and the wide open road. What a delight as a highway car. Smooth and robust is just the beginning of the experience that answered my uncertainty of this Chrysler product. Was it just a Muscle Car? But it passed with flying colors. Friend Richard was reluctant to make the journey but he became a convert too. This is a car worth your consideration too.

General Information:

Parts from the US / Canada 62%; Mexico 15%. It is assembled in Brampton, Ontario, Canada USA, Classification is Midsize. Cars from Dodge: Avenger, Challenger, Charger, Dart, Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey and SRT Viper.

Handling & Performance:

370 horsepower these days is getting rarer especially with the cost of fuel. But it was impressive here too at 25 highway MPG. Thus when you have a need for acceleration it is there right under your foot. It was stable yet a soft and super quiet ride at the same time. Steering was sure and the feel was perfect which translates into a less stressful driving experience. I have a Ford F350 crew cab and long bed truck and I have to say the steering is a disappointment and tiring on the nerves in that Ford.

This was a rear wheel drive model and although you can opt for AWD all-wheel drive I have no problem with the performance afforded with traditional RWD cars. I rather like that “Old Feeling”. Yes, it did break away a few times and it brought back memories.

Styling:

Simply beautiful. Great job and kudos to the design team at Chrysler.

Fit and Finish:

Excellent. Richard commented on the great looking dash and in general the assembly was pretty near flawless.

Cost:

$30 grand is pretty fitting and I take no exception on the pricing.

Conveniences and comfort:

All the appropriate bells and whistles and more new stuff. The seating was good for me with well-padded leather seats and on a long driver that is super important. The Bluetooth was simple to set up and clear as a bell communication.

One feature I thought unnecessary is the Remote Start but Phoenix was 107 degrees and it was nice to turn on the car from the air conditioned house so the car would be cool when we got in. Cool… literally.

An interesting addition to some cars is the Ready Alert Braking system. It anticipates a possible emergency stop when the gas pedal is release quickly so the braking system is alerted and the control pump engages to set brake pads against the rotors in order to decrease the time required for full brake application. What will they think of next? I’m glad you asked. They have added Rain Brake Support that is a system to apply a small amount of brake pressure to remove any water buildup on the front brake rotors when the windshield wipers are on. Is that interesting or what?

Consumer Recommendation:

100th anniversary is impressive. These guys have been around at least twice as long as most competitors and senior citizens can appreciate that fact … that is if you are 100 or more. I’m not there yet but I have always had a love affair with the automobile, so it was love at first sight for this Candy Apple Red beauty. The company calls it High Octane Red Pearl Coat Exterior paint. Whatever they call it, it is still Candy Apple Red to me. When a car brightens your day or week in my case you get attached. You are surely going to fall in love with this car too.

There is a lot of competition in this class because it is so popular but you will want to test drive the Charger R/T.

Recognized Competition:

Dodge Charger R/T $30,000, Acura TSX $31,000, Audi $30,000, BMW 3-Series $33,000, Buick LaCrosse $34,000, Cadillac ATS $33,000, Chevrolet Camaro $29,000, Chrysler 300 $31,000, Honda Accord EX-L $30,000, Hyundai Azera Ltd $35,000, Kia Optima SX $28,000, Mazda 6 $25,000, Mercedes Benz CLA $30,000, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO $35,000, Nissan Maxima $31,000, Subaru Legacy 3.6R Ltd $33,000, VW Jetta $27,000, Volvo S60 $33,000.

Good News:

Classic Muscle car performance coupled with decent fuel economy, well appointed and very pretty.

Bad News:

Dick said the reclining seat was uncomfortable. Picky picky picky.

Standard Equipment:

5.7 liter 370 HP V8 HEMI VVT engine, 5-speed automatic trans, front side and side curtain front and back airbags, 4-wheel ABS performance disc brakes, stability and traction control, hill start assist, rain brake support, ready alert braking, performance suspension, tire pressure monitor, information center, keyless enter and go push button start / stop, remote start system, climate control dual zone, 8-way driver power seat, 4-way passenger power seat, heated front seats, rear 60/40 split folding seat, rear armrest with cup holder, Uconnect 8.4 CD/DVD/MP3 touch screen display, audio jack input for mobile devices, remote USB port, 6-premium speakers, Sirius XM satellite radio, leather wrapped steering wheels and shift knob, tilt and telescope steering column, 18” polished aluminum wheels and auto headlights.

Gas Stats:

$3.65 / Gal avg. September 14, 2014

www.fueleconomy.gov
For more information.

15 City and 25 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $30,495.

2014 Fiat 500 C Abarth Cabrio GQ Edition (1048)

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2014 Fiat 500 C Abarth Cabrio GQ Edition (1048)

Overview:

This week I had the opportunity to test the 2014 Fiat 500 C Abarth Cabrio GQ Edition. The Cabrio is a convertible in the easiest sense of the word. The soft top simply accordions to the back with a push of a button and reverse to close. No latches to disengage or re-engage. It is more like a full length moon roof but it is close to a full convertible and it is really cool.

General Information: Parts from the US / Canada 23%; Mexico 42%. It is assembled in Toluca, Mexico, Classification is Minicompact. Cars from Fiat: 500, 500e, 500L, Abarth, C Abarth, C Lounge, C Pop, Lounge, Sport and Turbo

Don’t you just love the multi-national make up of cars today! Above information about the cars origin should speak volumes of how global the auto industry has become. And this Italian company is not alone, of course, but joined by all other car companies in all countries. From the Big 3 in the US – only half a century ago for the vast majority of cars produced in the entire world we now see cars being made around the world.

China 25%, United States 13%, Japan 11%, Germany 7%, South Korea 5%, India 4.5%, Brazil 4%, Mexico 3.5%, Canada 3%, Russia 2.5% and others 21.2%.

Handling & Performance:

What a kick to drive around town and it is also a great commuter with close to the top for fuel economy of cars in this price range. It is very quick with turbo power that gets you in and out of traffic with ease and it is a very stable ride, albeit a little stiff suspension. So it will not be noticed on your commute other than if you drive in the truck lanes where you will feel the road imperfections.

Styling:

Design has left it a bit noisy inside and I didn’t expect that for the money. Its looks are very identifiable but I rather prefer the design of the 500L 4-door sedan, more so because it offers much more room. However if you are OK with smaller it’s cute and I’m guessing it will appeal especially to young girls.

As you may know one of my pet peeves is for a car to have sun visors that don’t extend to give adequate coverage of the side window. They are also narrow and that adds to the problem even for front windshield glare. I’d say about 75% of cars I test drive have the ability to extend or they have a plastic piece inside the visor that pulls out to give more coverage. Well, of course, this is one of those cars that irritates me in this regard.

Fit and Finish:

Very good and reminiscent of the VW Beetle.

Cost:

A point of departure for me as to cost is that it is more expensive than I would have guessed but the engineering and features including the Cabrio top and Turbo power give support for the higher than expected cost.

Conveniences and comfort:

It has all the usual bells and whistles and safety features you would expect for a car in this price range. But I was not thrilled with the ride characteristics as the seat is not as cushiony as I would expect.

Consumer Recommendation:

If I were considering the MINI or the VW Golf or even the VW Beetle, I would definitely include this in my list of cars to test drive.
Recognized Competition:
Fiat C Abarth $26,000, Chevrolet Cruze $24,000, Chrysler 200 $22,000, Honda Fit $17,000, Hyundai Azera $31,000, Kia Forte coupe $21,000, Mazda 2 $16,000, MINI Cooper $28,000, Nissan Versa Note $14,000, Volkswagen Golf $27,000.

Good News:

Very good fuel economy, well-engineered and turbocharger fast.

Bad News:

A little pricey and more importantly the sun visors don’t extend.

Standard Equipment:

1.4 liter 160 Horsepower inline 4-cylinder turbo engine, 5 speed manual transmission, front, side and side curtain airbags and driver knee airbag, LATCH system, stability control, torque transfer control, 4-wheel disc performance brakes, hill start assist, remote keyless entry, cruise control, power door locks, engine immobilizer, rear window defroster, rear park assist, turbo boos gauge, 12 volt aux power outlet, security alarm, air conditioning, rear 50/50 split fold down seat, power windows, AM/FM CD, MP3 audio system, Blue and Me hands free communication, USB/Auxiliary audio input jack, steering wheel mounted audio and cruise controls, tilt steering column, 16” aluminum wheels, Nero black performance soft top, side sills ground effects, power heated mirrors and fog lights.

Gas Stats:

$3.65 / Gal avg. September 6, 2014

www.fueleconomy.gov
For more information.

28 City and 34 Highway MPG

Pricing:
MSRP $26,195.

21st Century Design Directions (1049)

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21st Century Design Directions (1049)

Overview: 

This week we’re looking at 21st Century Design Directions.

by Merkel Weiss

Professor Weiss, as many know is a colleague and friend of mine for many years and this week he is applying his automotive engineering expertise to Battery powered cars. He is a brilliant engineer and as some know was an automotive designer in Detroit and later spent many years teaching future car designers at the prestigious Art Center School of Design in Pasadena, CA. Many of his students now populate much of the automotive world of design.

Herewith is a bit of new age technology information I found interesting and even though it is more futuristic and for me it is not a viable option yet. It does point out that it brings us closer to electric powered vehicles as a reality. But face it, every electric vehicle on the market is either way too expensive or too much of a hassle to own and drive and finally they are heavily subsidized by yours and my tax dollars.

When they begin getting 4-500 miles on one charge I might be interested. But those who still think solar and wind energy is a solution to energy needs they simply don’t know the facts or simply choose to ignore them. Every bit of alternative energy sources added together only equals about 1% of our energy consumption. If you doubled it you’d be all the way to 2% – Whoopee. And these electric cars do nothing to reduce the ‘carbon footprint’ since they run on electricity that is generated by coal. So keep a clear perspective while some folks blow smoke in your face so you won’t see very clearly.

High Performance 21st Century Design Directions            by Merkel Weiss 9-1-14

Now that we’re permanently entrenched in the era of the return of electric drive in automobiles, it’s clear that battery design is going to be the new engineering Holy Grail. The energy density is the Kilowatts (KW) of stored energy per Kilogram (Kg) unit of battery weight. As we push for more and more energy density, the battery materials are necessarily more and more exotic. Currently we’re getting comfortable with Lithium polymer batteries, apparently without notice that several Fisker Karma and Tesla Model S sedans have burned down from battery pack fires. I’m confident that we’ll eventually get past this hiccup in battery production quality. We still have a significant learning curve in order to get where we want to be, on some level on a par with gasoline model vehicle range of about 300-400 miles per refill. These new battery materials promise to be more and more volatile.

One particular promising direction appears to be supercapacitors. These are electrical energy storage devices much like a battery except that where batteries generally prefer to release their stored energy slowly and then recharge slowly, supercapacitors like to release the stored energy quickly. This makes it a pretty good auxiliary power unit for launch of an electric drive vehicle. Although they are far from perfected at this time, the technology appears promising in the near future. Since electric motors have full torque at very low speed, they’re only limited by how much electrical energy can be rapidly dumped from storage. This is in direct contrast to rotating engines where the torque delivery is limited to being proportional to the crankshaft rpm.

This coming year in Formula One brings some new innovative changes that will have the effect of increased efficiency on street cars in a few short years. The hybrid drive system is aided by a turbocharger which recovers heat and flow energy from the engine exhaust and converts it not only to an intake charge pressure boost (as usual) but also to electrical energy, stored in the battery pack. For this purpose, the turbo has its own electric motor/generator which could also serve to completely eliminate turbo lag.

These are several examples of how electronic engine optimization is stepping up. It’s no longer a simple management system, but now an entire integrated hybrid drive system which recovers kinetic (motion) energy from wherever it can be found, converts it to electrical energy, and stores it for future use.

Transmissions will have many more gears in the future, perhaps as many as a dozen. CVTs (continuously variable transmissions) will be common and the days of old geezers shifting gears will be gone forever, replaced by ever more efficient gear changes that are microseconds in length and unnoticeable in character.

Steering shafts between the front wheels and the steering wheel will be gone soon. They have always been extra weight anyway, not to mention a serious crash liability for manufacturers. The steering wheel will be backed by a rotary servo which in turn will translate motion to the electric servo on the front rack and pinion steering. Who needs actual road feel anyway? It’s only a distraction. The first car to have this steer-by-wire feature, the Infiniti G50 is already on the road. Infiniti calls it DAS, Direct Active Steering.

Shortly, brake systems will delete the mechanical and hydraulic components altogether, and the ABS systems will simply do full duty in their place. The new system will be cheaper, lighter and more efficient as well.

Repair of all these on-board electronic devices will take a new kind of automotive repair technician, one that is not yet in place. We can only hope that he is more competent and more honest than the previous generation. Things will certainly be more complex, more expensive and more disposable. The only thing that I can say for absolute sure is that drivers don’t need complex systems to replace simple ones. It just seems to be the direction that things are going in.

2014 Dodge Dart Limited (1047)

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2014 Dodge Dart Limited (1047)

Overview: 

This week I had the opportunity to test the 2014 Dodge Dart Limited midsize sedan. I have heard praises from a friend who owned a Dart in the 60s. That was a time when many were woo’d by Ford and GM cars that were simply much cooler. Chrysler at the time was not cool. Dart first came on the scene in 1960 and has been offered in much of the world over most of the years since.

The decades of the 60s and even 70s were kind of ho-hum for me as to my feeling of car designs in those years. But it was the adventuresome years of the 1950s that car makers were daring and concept cars then were introduced from fertile imaginations. Today it is all about profit and what the consumer should buy, not so much for cars they would be wowed by. I think people were so pumped by the end of the war and hope truly abounded in all hearts. We’d been given a new lease on life and we were going to make the most of it.

It was then that we also accepted living with plastic in every facet of our lives. Today it continues as we get cars from plastic minds devoid of any real imagination. I guess I don’t like the computer generated life that has replaced the wild original thoughts and designs of actual human beings as they toyed with artful creations before computers. Pretty soon, I fear, future generations will simply buy holograms and imagine they’re driving while contemplating their navels as entitlement payments are deposited into a computer chip in the brain that continues to shrink from lack of use. I love Henry Ford’s famous quote that is appropriate here – “Thinking is the hardest work, that’s why so few people do it”.

Okay, a little cynical and an existential journey to depart from my usual rational view of the world. I’m dredging up memories of my youth in the 50s when I actually attended those car shows that displayed futuristic concepts that were mimicked the TV shows of the day like Flash Gordon.

Remember Flash Gordon?

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General Information:

Parts from the US / Canada 62%; Mexico 15%. It is assembled in Belvidere, IL USA, Classification is Midsize. Cars from Dodge: Avenger, Challenger, Charger, Dart, Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey and SRT Viper.

Handling & Performance:

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The Dart on the other hand is far more practical. So to my point, should things always be practical?

Styling:

Dart is contemporary. In other words pretty much the same as most others. However, it is more competitive than I can ever remember it being.

Fit and Finish:

Very good. I was never a fan of Chrysler products in my youth because it just wasn’t cool. Chevy and Ford were the choice of most back then when the perception of cool was more important than cost and utility. It just had more to do with appearances. But mom owned Chrysler products and they just seemed cheaply constructed or at least that was the rationale of the youth I knew. We aren’t in Kansas any longer Todo. And neither is the auto industry.

Cost:

Today’s cars are an unimaginable value for the dollar generally and this Dart is no exception. It just reminds me every time I test a different car that it is simply true that you can own a new car for a couple of hundred dollars a month.

Conveniences and comfort:

Everything I need in a driving experience is basically fulfilled in this Dart, and at a price most can afford.  Another feature that isn’t thought of by many is the ERM, or Electronic Roll Mitigation”. You’ll never know you have it but will be glad you do if radical maneuvers begin to cause the car to roll. Such devastating moves are no allowed through electronic sensors that will cut power, apply brakes or in other words take over certain functions from the driver to prevent roll over.

Another feature that necessarily is new is how cars are entering the 21st Century and this Dart is iPod conscious – or has a facility for connectivity to your iPod.

Consumer Recommendation:

This Dart has inherited so much from the Daimler Benz’s ownership of the Chrysler and that would fundamentally change the product for the good. I encourage you to include this car in your next search. It isn’t a stretch to say this will enjoy acceptance of a lot of people in the near future, and that will help it retain value.

Recognized Competition:

Dodge Dart $23,000, Chevrolet Cruze $24,000, Chrysler 200 $23,000, Honda Civic $23,000, Hyundai Elantra $22,000, Kia Optima $22,000, Mazda 3 $26,000, Mitsubishi Lancer $20,000, Nissan Sentra $20,000, Subaru Impreza $22,000, Subaru Legacy $26,000.

Good News:

Good energy at a price many can afford, I found it comfortable and nice looking.

Bad News:

A couple of riders thought it was a bit noisy inside.

Standard Equipment:

2.4 liter 184 horsepower inline 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, front, side and side curtain front and rear airbags, and supplemental rear seat side airbags and driver and passenger knee airbags, LATCH child safety system, 4-wheel ABS power disc brakes, traction control, roll mitigation, keyless push button start and stop with proximity keyless entry and remote start, rear backup camera, Uconnect AM/FM/ Nav 8.4” touch screen display, Sirius XM satellite radio, Garmin GPS navigation, voice command Bluetooth, steering wheel mounted audio controls, climate control with dual zone control, heated front seats, heated leather wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, power 6-way driver seat, fog lights, 17” aluminum wheels, power heated mirrors, power mirrors with turn signals and power sunroof.

Gas Stats:

$3.75 / Gal avg. August 24, 2014

www.fueleconomy.gov

For more information.

23 City and 35 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $22,995.

Merkel’s Road Dufus (1046)

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Merkel’s Road Dufus (1046)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at The Road Dufus by Merkel Weiss

Professor Weiss, as many know him is a colleague and friend of mine for many years and always speaks his mind and simply doesn’t mince words. I’m on vacation, but I think he needs to get away too. He is a brilliant engineer and as some know was an automotive designer in Detroit and later spent many years teaching future car designers at the prestigious Art Center School of Design in Pasadena, CA. Many of his students now populate much of the automotive world.

Herewith is a bit of driving frustration revealed. Definition of a Dufus or Doofus: A fool, idiot, airhead, birdbrain, boob. A Doofus is many things because there are many perceptions of how a person is behaving makes them suspect of being a genuine fool or even worse.

Driving in populated, highly congested areas is always difficult and often risky. The purpose of the article then, is to identify the risky drivers by their behavior so as to avoid their consistently visible errors in judgment and bad choices negatively influencing our lives. The advantages are many. So here, in no particular order are the traits of the road dufus, the driver that you want to avoid at all cost.

While stopped at an intersection, it’s easy to spot drivers who either pull up so far as to block the Intersection or else hang back so far so as to fail to trip the underground magnetometer loop. In this way they either block traffic indicating that they are obviously more important than everyone else, or they’ll sit there indefinitely until someone from the opposing direction triggers the switch and changes the light. If you get behind a dufus in a left turn lane, it’s best to get around them and go straight if you want to get where you’re going. Similarly, anyone waiting at a red signal who leaves more than a car length between their car and the car in front of them is telling you to get in front of them or lag behind in slow motion until you get around them.

Merging on the freeway is an art in many cases, but it’s not that complicated. Come up to freeway speed and merge behind the car that has enough space behind. Those who drive the entrance lane without coming to a safe merging speed need to be avoided. They are telling you that they know how to drive cautiously but they don’t know how to drive safely. In general the merge is a time when accidents are more likely to occur, so it’s always safer to merge into a sufficiently large spot at consistent speed. Avoid the road dufus who merges at speeds slower than prevailing traffic.

While on the freeway, it’s best to be concerned with any driver who fails to turn off their turn signal or hazard flashers. This is often, but not always a symbol of an inattentive dufus. You might give them a break if they’re driving an historic or loud-ish car as they might not be able to hear the clicking flasher. Overall though, driving with hazard lights, flashers or wipers on for no apparent reason is a sign of gross inattention and road dufus-ism.

Similarly while on the freeway, if you see a driver riding the brakes or stopping unnecessarily in heavy traffic, this is an excellent car to avoid. Hanging in the left hand lane (known alternatively as the fast lane or the passing lane) is a sign of the driver either being more important than everyone else and/or being clueless to the flow of traffic in the other lanes. This is probably the most common road dufus. They’re only asking to be passed since no amount of flashing or honking ever seems to help alert them to their position as an island in the river of progress.

The rubbernecker is a dufus who is easily identifiable at the time, but in general traffic often not. The rubbernecker doesn’t show them until something appears in the opposing direction that’s sufficiently interesting to cause them to slow down and gawk, thereby reducing the speed of everyone behind them. You get past a rubbernecker and you’re on open highway around here. That’s about like striking gold on your commute home.

Thank you Merkel and although some may not have experienced what you have while driving I know I sure have. But I often try to find a reason why they are behaving as they are. I choose to think they are having a bad day, their wife or husband left them that day, a loved one died and they just aren’t themselves. All other are jerks and should not be driving because they are clueless as to how they can hurt others. DON’T BE A DUFUS!

2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium (1045)

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2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium (1045)

Overview:

This week my ride is the 2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium. The first thing that strikes me in this car is that “yes we can” have a car that is spacious, has power enough and yet gets an average of 30 mpg. Yep, the top end highway mpg is 36. Now that’s what I’m talking about.

Opinion:

The Yes We Can is not in reference to Obama’s charge to election, this is the REAL world where “WE DID THAT” as a result of American Ingenuity at work to build things without the interference of a government who has the audacity to imply Government Did That. American Entrepreneurs built the economies of the free world and don’t you forget it. Apparently those in government did forget it.

General Information:

It is assembled in // n/a. Classification is Midsize. Cars from Subaru: BRZ, Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Outback, Tribeca, WRX, XV Crosstrek.

Handling & Performance:

No complaints on this Legacy as to performance. You won’t do 0-60 in 5 seconds but you will have all you need for normal driving. You will be tempted to have a heavier foot on the throttle because you won’t be draining the tank as quickly as in other competitors.

Styling:

Someone was commenting to me that all cars look the same these days. I recall my grandmother’s visit from the Old Italian area of Massachusetts to California where we had moved in search of a different life. She took the train as most did in those days, and she was overwhelmed by the hustle bustle of our new home. Then she saw a Studebaker of the day and was convinced that Californian’s were strange people. Look at the cars they drove that were designed so you couldn’t tell whether they were coming or going. I guess Studebaker hadn’t reached Massachusetts yet.

The point of my little story is that cars were designed by people back then in contrast to designs today that are put through the ‘clone’ machine of CAD (computer aided design) software that uses efficiency designing so they are aerodynamic to improve fuel economy for example. Ever see an airplane design that wasn’t aerodynamic? Some cars however are box-like, but they are the exception and more a departure for ‘shock effect’. But the overwhelming designs DO in fact make them all look alike because the majority of folks want those designs and more importantly they are demanding better fuel economy. When gas prices go to $10 a gallon there won’t be a boxy car on the road.
Fit and Finish:
Very good.

Cost:

Not bad considering what you are getting for the money. The features include a lot of futuristic assists that are leading to cars that drive you rather than the other way around.

Conveniences and comfort:

Subaru boasts ‘extensive quietening revisions to include acoustic windshield and liquid filled engine mounts.

Acoustic windshield seeks to cut interior noise while reducing weight. The liquid filled engine mounts are used to absorb vibration primarily while the engine is at idle when the engine doesn’t run as smoothly. Things like this are employed to make your ride more comfortable, quieter and more efficient to operate.

Features that ring my bell include adaptive cruise control with pre-collision braking and I also look for “blind spot” sensing (available as an option on this Subaru) which is extremely useful. I also find lane departure warning interesting and is another crutch to keep you attentive to ‘driving’ and not all the other distractions we’re inclined to. With adaptive cruise you can literally take your foot off the accelerator and watch the car come to a complete stop in traffic and start up when cars in front begin to move. All such technology makes your drive more comfortable and less stressful. There is a comfort and calmness to the driving experience that is provided by a smart car that has your back, so to speak. If you get distracted and the traffic stops suddenly pre-collision braking will save your butt.

Consumer Recommendation:

I have tested all the competition (except Ford and Toyota) and Subaru has over the years been a consistent performer. I like the AWD standard on all Subaru’s and the silence is deafening when it comes to the horror stories of maintenance typical of some cars. My experience of owning an automotive repair facility for many years gives me a good feeling about Subaru products due mostly to the fact they were absent from our shop. Look around and they are on the road and not in the shop. We did see a lot of BMW’s, Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar and the like but I can’t remember Subaru. To me that is a very good thing. Today there are new kids on the block so consider Hyundai and Kia in your search. But the entire list below deserves your consideration as well.

Recognized Competition:

Subaru Legacy $23,000, Audi A3 $30,000, Buick LaCrosse $33,000, Chevrolet Cruze $24,000, Chrusler 300 $31,000, Dodge Charger $27,000, Honda Accord Sedan $28,000, Hyundai Sonata $21,000, Kia Optima $22,000, Mazda 6 $25,000, Mitsubishi Lancer $20,000, Nissan Altima $28,000, Volkswagen Jetta $26,000.

Good News:

Nice ride, powerful, spacious, nice features and great fuel economy.

Bad News:

If I think of something I will tell you.

Standard Equipment:

2.5 liter 175 horsepower (Boxer) H-4 cylinder engine, symetrical all wheel drive CVT 6-speed automatic tranmission, 8 airbags, 17” alloy wheels, 10-way power driver seat, dual zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, windshield wiper deicer, leather wrapped steering wheel, fog lights, 7” touch screen display with multi-touch control swipe, scrolling gesture control, voice activated controls, serius XM, SMS text messaging, iTunes tagging and dual USB ports, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, vehicle lane departure warning, new infotainment includes standard touch screen display with high resolution backup camera.

Options: you can add moonroof, navigation, blindspot detection and rear cross traffic alert for $2,890.

Gas Stats:
$3.77/ Gal avg. August 12, 2014
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

26 City and 36 Highway MPG

Pricing:
MSRP $23,495

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