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

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS 4-door Sedan (789)

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2010 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS 4-door Sedan (789)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS 4-door sedan. The pictures are of the 2009 but I could see no significant visual differences at a glance. This is a real coin toss, because I can’t really see any standouts that would convince me it is anything but a very generic class. Compact all purpose sedans by their nature are just that – generic.

As I write this I’m reminded that it is December 7th. I guess it is fitting that I’m writing about a company’s product that built the war machines for the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th. Time has not made us forget but it has dulled the senses and reminds me that to err is human but to forgive is divine.

I was surprised that the Mitsubishi does as poorly in fuel economy numbers compared to the others listed here in class.

Handling & Performance:

Most of the others in class do better in the fuel consumption area. That is of growing importance. But it is fun to drive in part because of the front wheel drive. AWD would be cool but that is only in the Evolution.

Styling:

It is not like the compact segment of the market is unexciting or uninteresting because it is but mostly this class are just simply nice looking automobiles.

As you may know the Lancer was introduced in the US market in 2003 with its ‘shark nosed’ front end look and shares the Outlander platform. It is intended to be a fun to drive sporty economical compact sedan. It accomplishes its goal in my opinion.

Fit and Finish:

Mitsubishi has been consistently well put together and not unlike those noted below that are closest in price. It is typical Japanese work ethic applied to the automotive market. One caveat that must be noted however is that selected automotive products coming from Japan are sometimes assembled in other countries including the US and Mexico for example. But from my experience Japanese oversight management is excellent and the products are very good no matter what country they are assembled in.

Cost:

Competitive among a host of equally good competitors. Nothing so special as to set it far apart from others in class.

Conveniences and comfort:
Generally the Lancer falls behind in roominess. Nearly all other players in this segment noted below have more cargo space and inside space dimensions as well. All have similar electronics and gadgets available but standard stuff is good.

Consumer Recommendation:

Lancer models include the DE, ES, ES Sport GTS and Ralliart with prices ranging from $15,000 to $27,000. One of those listed that is at the top of the list, in my opinion, is the VW Jetta TDI. Look closely at the TDI (Turbo Diesel) which is perhaps my favorite in this group if I had to choose. With over 40 miles per gallon it has my attention.

Consider the philosophy of VW management (in an LA Auto Show Keynote addres VW’s Chairman Dr. Bernd Pischetsrieder) that Diesel is the way to go and fully 50 % of all cars sold in Europe are diesel and for good reason – gas / diesel is about $8.00 a gallon in Europe. When (and it is not IF, but rather when) fuel prices in the US float to world levels people will embrace the diesel performers. Don’t wait for the rush but rather plan ahead. Seriously – Look at the TDI.
Recognized Competition:

Mitsubisi Lancer $15-27,000, Audi S4 $57-58,000, Chevrolet Cobalt $15-25,000, Dodge Avenger $20-22,000, Dodge Caliber $16-25,000, Ford Focus $16-18,000, Honda Civic $15-25,000, Honda Civic Hybrid $24-27,000, Hyundai Elantra $14-18,000, Kia Forte $14-17,000, Kia Spectra $14-16,000, Mazda 3 $15-22,000, Nissan Sentra $15-20,000, Pontiac G5 $17-20,000, Saturn Astra $17-20,000, Scion tC $17-18,000, Subaru Impreza $17-35,000, Suzuki SX4 Sport $13-18,000, Toyota Corolla $15-20,000 and Volkswagen Jetta $18-23,000.

Good News:

Sporty, a fun to drive performer with all wheel drive and Lancer has a better warranty and crash test record generally than its competitors.

Bad News:

Lancer does more poorly than its competition in fuel economy and generally less cargo and interior space.

Standard Equipment:

2.4 liter 168 horsepower 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission, sport tuned suspension, ABS brakes, front, side and side curtain airbags and driver knee bag, LATCH system for child seats, tire pressure monitoring system, daytime running lights, engine immobilizer and anti theft alarm system, stability control, traction control, climate control air conditioning, leather wrapped steering wheel mounted cruise and audio controls, CD/MP3 audio head unit with 6 speakers, tilt steering wheel, manual adjust driver seat, 60/40 split fold down rear seat, power windows and locks, power mirrors, remote keyless entry, Bluetooth hands free system, auto off halogen headlights, fog lights, rear spoiler, 18” allow wheels.

Gas Stats:

$2.81/ Gal avg. December 7, ‘09
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

20 City and 28 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $18,990.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com
Copyright © 2009 – An Automotive Love Affair

 

2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata (788)

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2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata (788)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata two seater convertible sport car.

First I have to tell you I have always liked this little car that is a limited use car as you expect from a sport car. My major complaint is the tinny sound from closing doors, hood and trunk lid. The hood and trunk lid are most noticeably tinny in part because they are aluminum. However, you’ll pay dearly to get a more solid sound from others in class noted below. It is what it is, and the price is right for this car. I’ve tested all those listed here and found the Solstice and Sky to be a little more solid sounding doors etc., but one has to wonder if those cars will be around when Miata moves forward into the future.

I have great memories when the Miata took Ilona and me on a short vacation jaunt to Lake Tahoe with all our bags. True there wasn’t an inch of room to spare but if memory serves me, prior year models had more trunk space. Driving through mountain roads is a delight however and when you’re in love the car becomes a part of the experience. Thanks Miata.

General Info:

Parts – Japan 95%

Assembly – Hiroshima, Japan

Class:  – Two Seater

Cars: – CX-7, CX-9, Mazda 3, 5, 6, MazdaSpeed3, MX-5 Miata, RX 8, Tribute, Tribute Hybrid and Truck.

Opinion:

Most people hate to be told what to do especially when your response would be daaaaah – any idiot knows that – so to the Cal Trans folks who put up the signs for our safety “Click it or Ticket” I say stuff it.

Handling & Performance:

Fun fun fun… road hugging handling and although the trunk clangs a little when you close it, there is no significant tinny-ness in the driving experience. It is a solid performer and the 167 hp 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine is perfect for the car and it will surprise you with 0-60 mph in just 7 seconds.

Styling:

Identifiably consistent design is the look you get while keeping up with the times. There’s a lot to be said for design that can look fresh but still look like the car you first fell in love with.

Design wise I don’t know what they could do better for the size … it is just small. It was, for example, impossible for two of us to get to the airport even with baggage designed for airplane overhead compartments. If there were, however, better access to the small space behind the seats I could have made the trip. The designers might give that some consideration!

Fit and Finish:

Consistently good and not unlike those noted below that are closest in price.

Cost:

Mazda Miata is in some pretty rich company but since there is little to choose from in this small sport car class the most closely aligned is either the Saturn Sky or the Pontiac Solstice. Even the Honda S2000 for much more money doesn’t raise the bar all that much.

Conveniences and comfort:

If you travel light and simply want a fun to drive sport car Mazda Miata is hard to beat. The good news and the bad news is that everything is at your finger tips and well within reach.

You have to love the simple convertible top operation that you can literally put it down while sitting in the car. I didn’t try putting it down while driving but you could at slower speeds without blowing the top into the lane behind you. Definitely not recommended even if the road police are not around.

Consumer Recommendation:

Most folks I talk with about Miata feel it is a Chick Car. No comment.

Recognized Competition:

Mazda MX-5 Miata $22-28,000, Audi TT $35-48,000, BMW Z4 $46-52,000, Lotus Elise $47-55,000, Honda S2000 $35-38,000, Mercedes-Benz SLK $47-67,000, MINI Cooper $20-29,000, Pontiac Solstice $24-30,000, Porsche Boxster $47-57,000, Saturn Sky $28-34,000.

Good News:

Fun, fast, road hugging performance, good fuel economy and ultra simple top operation.

Bad News:

Small, light weight – tinny sound closing doors, trunk and hood, bumpy ride on all but ultra smooth roads, rough entry and exit for older dogs – Definitely a younger people’s car.

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter dual overhead cam16 valve 167 hp 4-cylinder engine, 6 speed manual transmission, rear wheel drive, front disc brakes with rear disc brakes with aluminum calipers, 17” Alloy wheels, power mirrors, air conditioning, power windows & locks, remote keyless entry, heated leather seats and shift knob and hand brake, aluminum engine frame, front double wishbone and rear multi-link suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, cloth convertible top, aluminum hood and trunk lid,

Gas Stats:

$2.78/ Gal avg. November 27, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

21 City and 28 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $26,410.

2010 Mazda 6i Touring Sedan (787)

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2010 Mazda 6i Touring Sedan (787)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Mazda 6i (4-door) Touring Sedan. If the surprise of those I came in contact with while testing the car is any indication, there has been a noticeable (perceived) change in Mazda in recent years.

“Wow that’s a Mazda?” speaks volumes and echo’s my feeling as well. The only Mazda that ever tickled my fun zone is the MX-5 Miata. I’ve always liked the little car because I have always had fun driving it. Most all other Mazda’s have always been pretty commonplace. Good cars but nothing to stir the imagination and excite the driving experience. I expect for most that has not changed but this Sedan is somewhat of a departure in my view. Simply a very nice automobile.

It is assembled in Michigan, USA and half the parts are from the US – now that excites me.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canada 45% Japan 35%. Engine Mexico & Japan, Transmission Japan.

Assembly – Flat Rock, Michigan USA

Class:  – Midsize Car

Cars: – CX-7, CX-9, Mazda 3, 5, 6, MazdaSpeed3, MX-5 Miata, RX 8, Tribute, Tribute Hybrid     and Truck.

Opinion:

This is more information than opinion. For those folks in the high desert in Southern California, USA who do not commute to Los Angeles via Angeles Crest Highway likely do not know that route is closed for up to a year. The recent fires have made the road impassable. For those who do occasion to use the Crest it is a real bummer. Why – because it is the only other route. For the folks who choose to take highway 14 south you have a lot more friends to share the misery of commuting. Opinion – I believe there is a good reason to step up the repairs. While they are at it why not put a hole through the mountain to make it a 5 minute drive?

Handling & Performance:

Mazda is always a solid performer. You seldom hear horror stories about Mazda’s. This Mazda 6i delivers a smooth and comfortable ride and is much faster than you’d expect – for a 2.5 liter 170 hp engine. Any less would be too little any more would be unnecessary. A midsize car is meant to carry folks in comfort under normal road conditions. It does that just fine.

Styling:

Clean lines and the best effort from Mazda ever. Mazda has always, in my mind, been . . . well, just another car. It has always been a ‘plain jane’, just get the job done kinda car. We all know ‘glitz’ sells and sexy is important to catch your eye. Mazda however produces simply no-nonsense transportation passenger vehicles and one truck. I think it is breaking out of the plain wrap mold and the Mazda 6i signals the way.

Fit and Finish:

Excellent.

Cost:

The 18 competitors listed below are very close in pricing. Generally, as far as passenger cars go, this is a nice grouping in class and I like them all in varying degrees. I was particularly impressed with what you get for the money with this Mazda 6i. It is in the top few for best pricing in my mind.

Another note about cost that just blows my mind. I spent a day touring Daimler’s Western Star Truck manufacturing plant in Portland, Oregon this past week. Daimler also manufactures Freightliner trucks (in Mexico now), and after it sold off Chrysler the Mercedes-Benz brand remains its primary product Daimler is known for.

The point of my comment here is that I will never again consider car prices a good deal. The magnitude of building an 18 wheel truck has to make it the best buy on the planet at around $90-110,000 generally. When you consider you can easily pay that for a car in today’s world trucks are inexpensive by comparison. Moreover a car is a liability (costs you money) and a truck is an asset (it makes you money). And unless you’re a taxi cab driver your car makes you nothing. In any case the tour helped me to put value of such vehicles in perspective.

You’ll often hear stories about the owner of a trucking company who complains about the cost of trucks for his fleet but then goes out and steps into his $100,000 Porsche. Go figure the human sense of priority.

Conveniences and comfort:

This Mazda is at the top of the list for comfort. In a world of electronic gadgets for any and everything all manufacturers have lots to choose from to make our travels easier.

Consumer Recommendation:

There is a lot of competition in this class which will make your selection a real chore. Mazda is a must see in your search. It’s not on my Christmas list but it is near the top of my contender list.

Recognized Competition:

Mazda 6i $18-28,000, Audi A4 $31-34,000, Chevrolet Malibu $22-27,000, Chrysler Sebring $20-22,000, Dodge Avenger $20-22,000, Dodge Charger $24-38,000, Ford Fusion $20-28,000, Honda Accord $21-31,000, Hyundai Sonata $19-27,000, Kia Optima $17-22,000, Mercury Milan $22-28,000, Mitsubishi Galant $21-28,000, Nissan Altima $20-29,000, Pontiac G6 $19-32,000, Saturn Aura $23-27,000, Subaru Legacy $20-30,000, Toyota Camry $19-29,000, Volkswagen Jetta $18-23,000.

Good News:

Well priced, good fuel economy, lots of convenience stuff, inclusion of the important mechanical safety features like disc brakes and stability control and plenty of power.

Bad News:

None noted.

Standard Equipment:

2.5 liter 170 hp 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual transmission, anti-theft engine immobilizer, 17” alloy wheels, tire pressure monitoring system, variable intermittent wipers, cloth seats, front and side and side curtain airbags, LATCH child safety seat anchors, 8-way power driver seat, air conditioning, 60/40 split folding rear seats, AM/FM 6-speaker stereo system with 6-disc CD changer, MP-3 playback, front & rear stabilizer bars, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with Traction control and dynamic stability control, fog lights, power mirrors, trip computer, leather wrapped tilt & telescopic steering wheel with controls for radio and cruise control, map lights, center console, rear seat armrest, power windows and locks and remote keyless entry.

Gas Stats:

$2.85/ Gal avg. November 19, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

20 City and 29 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $20,900.

2010 Audi A5 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Quattro MT6 Coupe (786)

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2010 Audi A5 Sedan 2.0 TFSI Quattro MT6 Coupe (786)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Audi A5 2.0 TFSI Quattro MT6 Coupe. What’s not to like. Well we’ll look at a few things but overall this is a sweet automobile from our friends in Germany, of course. Following a look see at the A4 and A3, the A5 climbs the ladder of luxury sports cars in the Subcompact class. Of course a coupe has but two doors and a smaller back seat which is just fine for that youthful perceived need for performance, looking cool and of course not in need of a car for a budding young family.

The 2.0 liter engine produces 211 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and is the same engine I tested in the A4. The 6-speed manual transmission in this A5 delivers better fuel economy than the automatic and fits the sportiness theme. Truly a beautiful car.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian 1%, Germany 75%, Engine – Hungary.

Assembly – Ingolstadt, Germany

Class:  – Subcompact

Cars: – A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, Q5, Q7, R8, RS4, S4, S5, S6, S8, TT

Handling & Performance:

For some reason the brakes on this A5 weren’t “Grabby” as I reported on the A4 so I have to assume it was an anomaly. I also suspect the 0-60 performance of about 6.5 seconds is more impressive in the A5 because it hauls less weight and the manual transmission provides more performance generally.

Styling:

A big thumbs up to all Audi products but this is special. I’ve always leaned toward coupes with only two doors for sleek design but I think that people today are generally more practically minded and would opt for 4 doors. It just makes life easier and 4 doors are increasingly more acceptable to more people. 40 years ago 4-doors were for ‘old’ people.

Fit and Finish:

Very good.

Cost:

In keeping with the entire line of Audi the badge and snob appeal keeps the price at the upper limits of my threshold of pain. But relative to the performers in this class (kinda) the A5 goes more head to head with Infiniti and BMW. Mercedes is a notch up in class I feel and Corvette, well Corvette is simply raw power and a thrill a minute performance.

Conveniences and comfort:

All the Audi cars I’ve tested this year have been as comfortable as cars get by any standards. Naturally all models utilize the same electronics so they fall into the trap of being more confusing than most of us like. Controls simply need to be more intuitive.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you’re in the fast lane and your career is smok’n this is right up your road to looking good and prosperous.

Recognized Competition:

Audi A5 AWD $36-45,000, Mercedes-Benz CLK Class $48-64,000, BMW 3 $34-51,000, Infiniti G Coupe $36-39,000, Infiniti EX $34-37,000, Chevrolet Corvette $49-117,000.

Good News:

Great performer, comfortable ride and elegantly stylish.

Bad News:

Electronics controls are not to my liking – just not intuitive enough.

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter 211 hp 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, 6-speed manual transmission quarto permanent all wheel drive, 18” 10 spoke alloy wheels, electronic stabilization program, ABS, halogen headlights, tire pressure monitoring system, front fog lights, leather 8-way power seats, leather wrapped sport steering wheel, auto climate control, stereo with CD player, SIRIUS satellite radio, 10 speaker 180 watt sound system, power windows & locks, trip computer, front and side and side curtain airbags, anti-theft alarm system, valet key, LATCH for children.

Options:

Premium plus: model $3,500 – 18” 5-spoke alloy wheels, Xenon headlights, Led daytime running lights, three zone climate control, heated front seats, rain / light sensor.

Navigation package with camera: $2,500 – Audi navigation, voice control for radio/phone/navigation, color driver info system, rearview camera and rear parking sensors.

19” sport package $1,450 – 19” allow wheels with high performance tires, front sport seats, sport suspension, shift paddles (auto trans only).

Gas Stats:

$2.85/ Gal avg. November 12, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

22 City and 30 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $36,000 – With options $44,675.

2010 Subaru Outback (785)

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2010 Subaru Outback (785)

strong>Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Subaru Outback 2.5i crossover sport utility vehicle. It’s a ‘sleeper’ and it will impress you just as it did me and Motor Trend awarded it Sport Utility Vehicle of the Year. Good call MT.

I had the pleasure of making the trek up to the SEMA / AAPEX event in Las Vegas with this Outback. It is 250 miles from the Los Angeles area and it passed the test in part because of the comfort that also impressed a usually picky couple of guys sharing the ride. We went to see some new ‘stuff’ from our industry’s aftermarket producers. Nothing earth shattering but interesting.

This Outback is in good company of competitors but in my opinion it is the toughest when you consider the price point while giving up nothing in quality. In fact I’m not sure the others listed here won’t need to rise to the Outback standard. It has a lot to offer and I predict you’ll be impressed as I was.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – United States

Class:  – SUV / Crossover

Cars: – Forester, Impreza, Impreza WRX, Legacy, Outback & Tribeca.

Handling & Performance:

You’re not going to tear up the highway with raw horsepower but it is no slouch either. It is smoothly fast on the highway. In part that is because of the smartly designed Boxer engine – I could but won’t bore you with the technical reasons. If you want to know the details email me.

Styling:

Many competitors with more prestigious badges will offer little more than badge for the extra dough. Subaru delivers great styling with little pomp and ceremony which requires less advertising bucks because it simply delivers quality AWD to convince buyers this is the better car for the money. You can bet the word will get around.

This 2010 model is larger with a wider track and while prior models didn’t ring my bell  this Outback has moved up in class and will appeal to many more consumers. Some boring numbers may be of interest for specific details.

Some will complain it sits too high, but that is a part of the design for a Crossover. It is still easy enough to get in and out while providing SUV type ground clearance (8.7 inches).  Overall the new platform increases the passenger leg room by nearly 4 inches to 37.8 and has a 2.8 inch longer wheelbase (107.9 inches). Total passenger volume is increased by 8 cubic feet (now 105.4 cu. Ft) and with the standard 60/40 split rear seatbacks folded it is up by 6 cubic feet to 71.3 cu. ft.

Kudos to the design team at Subaru.

Fit and Finish:

Excellent.

Cost:

The best of the bunch and a lot for your money which was factored in the Motor Trend award noted above. This is the year to buy the Outback because it is sure to go up in price to equal the value.

Conveniences and comfort:

Outstanding comfort. A great ride with all the interior features you expect in higher priced competitors.

Consumer Recommendation:

This Outback is really tough competition and priced extremely well. Subaru admits they are being very aggressive to get your business. It is well worth your time to include this in your selection process.

Recognized Competition:

Subaru Outback $23-31,000, Audi A4 Avant $35,000, BMW 3 Series Sport Wagon $35-37,000, Volkswagen Passat Wagon $27,000, Saab 9-3 Sport Combi $32-45,000, Volvo V50 $30-36,000, Volvo XC70 $37-40,000, Volvo V70 $33,000, Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon $40-54,000, Mazda CX-7 $22-33,000, Dodge Journey $20-28,000.

Good News:

AWD handling, very comfortable, best pricing in class and great fuel economy for an AWD vehicle.

Bad News:

Some will complain it sits too high.

Standard Equipment:

2.5 liter 170 horsepower 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual transmission, 4-wheel ABS power assist disc brakes, air conditioning, cruise control, front –side and side curtain airbags, power windows and locks, power mirrors, tire pressure monitoring, dynamic control, tilt & telescopic steering wheel / audio & cruise control (std all models), 60/40 split folding rear seat, remote keyless entry, auto on/off lights, stereo with CD player, 16” allow wheels, electric parking brake / hill holder function.

Premium model adds:

10-way drivers seat, 17” allow wheels, cargo cover, fog lights, leather wrapped steering wheel & privacy rear glass.

Limited model adds:

4-way power passenger seat, all-weather package including heated front seats, de-icer wiper & heated mirrors, CVT (continuously variable transmission, dual zone auto climate control, leather seating, 440 watt Harman/Kardon audio system with 6-CD player & Bluetooth.

Gas Stats:

2.85/ Gal avg. November 7, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

22 City and 29 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $22,995 – 24,295 – 27,995.

2009 Audi A4 Sedan 2.0 T Quattro Tiptronic (784)

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2009 Audi A4 Sedan 2.0 T Quattro Tiptronic (784)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Audi A4 Sedan 2.0 T Quattro Tiptronic. It sports the new signature headlights similar to those first introduced on the Audi R8 featuring LED running lights. I fell in love with this lighting feature when I first tested the R8 and was happy to see it a part of the A4 touches.

The 2.0-liter engine produces 211 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, significantly more power than the engine it replaced. More importantly it is a testimony to the fact that you CAN achieve more than 100 hp per liter. Of course we in America historically hadn’t wanted to do that for US made cars. Again I suspect that had more to do with marketing and giving the consumer what they wanted – ‘down and dirty’ simple Muscle kinda cars. The other ingredient in the American auto experience and love affair was the fact that gas prices have always been far lower than the rest of the world so we didn’t need to engineer in exceptional power train design. No country has better engineering than is achievable from inventive and Space Age America. That’s why we have historically been the world leader in the industry. We simply got out foxed by countries more hungry with more realistic corporate leaders that didn’t get paid $500 million a year plus benefits and perks beyond belief.

Hey, I’m not knocking our beloved capitalism but rather I’m disappointed with the greed and corruption from captains of industry here in America. But guess what – it always catches up with the bad guys and the consumer sensed it and turned to better run car producers.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian 1%, Germany 75%

Assembly – Neckarsulm, Germany

Class:  – Compact

Cars: – A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, Q5, Q7, R8, RS4, S4, S5, S6, S8, TT

Handling & Performance:

I wasn’t happy with the brakes because they are very grabby. I’m sure I would adjust to them over time but it was a constant irritation. The rest of the handling characteristics are Audi excellent and thus very enjoyable to drive.

Styling:

Thumbs up in this category. Audi has always had distinctive styling that is consistently Audi and a common trait of most German cars. A good thing, and it reminds me of the days when American car makers would retool every couple of years for a new look and a marketing strategy that I never appreciated as it implied you should trade up every two years because new vs old was intentionally obvious.

Fit and Finish:

Very good.

Cost:

Pricey in large part because of the badge but it is competitive with others in its class.

Conveniences and comfort:

Audi is a comfortable ride by any standards but I find all model electronic controls to be much too complicated an not at all intuitive.

Consumer Recommendation:

The competition is not terribly clear so I’ve chosen All Wheel Drive cars similarly priced. The competitors to the A4 noted here are all V6’s and the BMW and Mercedes have a bit more horsepower and only a little less fuel economy as you’d expect. Most other dimensions and weight are nearly identical.

Recognized Competition:

Audi A4 AWD $32,000, BMW 328 xi AWD $35,600, Mercedes Benz C300 AWD $37,000, Lexus IS250 AWD $35,000.

Good News:

Nice handling and a comfortable ride, lots of power with more than 100 hp / liter.

Bad News:

Electronics controls are not to my liking – just not intuitive enough.

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter 211 hp 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed auto transmission w/Tiptronic / Dynamic Shift Program, Quattro all wheel drive system, ABS, Electronic Stabilization program, 17” alloy wheels, speed sensitive power steering, auto climate control, power windows & locks, cruise control, 60/40 split folding rear seat, power adjust front seats, leather wrapped steering wheel, AM/FM with in dash CD player & Sirius satellite radio, leather seating, trip computer, front and side and side curtain airbags, power heated mirrors, anti-theft alarm system, LATCH for children.

Options:

Prestige model $7,300 – 18” alloy wheel, Bang & olufsen sound system, side assist & rear parking system, advanced key keyless start/stop, Xenon headlights, Bluetooth, three zone climate control, heated front seats, 6-CD changer, memory driver seat & mirrors. Audi Drive Select – $2,950. Navigation with rearview Camera, voice control – $2,500.

Gas Stats:

$3.05/ Gal avg. November 2, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information

21 City and 27 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $32,700 – With options $45,850.

2010 Audi A3 Quattro (783)

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2010 Audi A3 Quattro (783)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Audi A3 2.0 TFSI Quattro Auto S-Tronic. We’ll look at the A4 next week. Can you believe it is 2010 already? I don’t think I’ve even filed my ‘08 tax return yet … like so many others.

Well, here we are with German product reviews after so many weeks of Japanese cars. GM and Ford have pulled way back on promoting their products in keeping with all their other stupid management decisions. One has to wonder how long they will be around. Don’t you wonder also if they still fly around in company owned jets? If you’ve been wondering what their doing with our bail out tax dollars you don’t have to look very far. Indiscriminate spending, golden parachutes, parties and bonuses to undeserving execs. Now that is the nice version. My liberal friend and auto engineer Merkel unloads with even more passion.

The bottom line is that journalists are writing about cars from automakers who still consider critical review of their cars as important. Yes foreign car press fleets are being cut back as well but not as deeply as American car companies – therefore there are fewer cars available for review. Chrysler has been the exception in this area and I continue to do reviews on those. Merkel would chime in with “we’ll see if Fiat can influence Chrysler in a positive way”. One can only wait and wonder.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian 1%, Germany 75%

Assembly – Ingolstadt, Germany

Class:  – Small Station Wagon

Cars: – A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, Q5, Q7, R8, RS4, S4, S5, S6, S8, TT

Handling & Performance:

Surely a lovely driving experience always. Merkel reminds me often that foreign (especially European) car companies seem to be able to get 100 hp out of each liter. US car makers have seldom got close to that kind of engineering. I suspect it has more to do with cheaper gas in the US so necessity forced the Europeans to be thriftier with the gooey substance that costs at least twice what it costs still in the US. Merkel says it is inferior engineering talent.

Styling:

This is their utility model but for most others in the lineup you couldn’t get prettier designs at any level and from any other car company. Good job Audi. Probably the most striking design from Audi is the classic R8. That is very special and a wonderful driving experience on or off the race track – but to keep this in perspective you could buy 4 A3’s or competitive cars for the price of one R8. Pretty always cost you . . . a lot.

Engineering and design includes a clearly superior balancing of the rear hatchback. It is well balanced so it closes with almost no effort. Fabulous. And then I have to say where were those genius’ when it came to designing the accelerator pedal made for a teency weency feet, being way to close to the brake pedal.

Fit and Finish:

German quality in my view is every bit as good as the best of what is produced in any country in today’s world. Workmanship doesn’t get any better.

Cost:

Not bad and right in the middle of the range of cars in this class – and that is good.

Conveniences and comfort:

No question that creature comforts built into this Audi is really nice. On the negative side I have never been fond of the electronics controls from all German car makers. They just think differently from us simple Americans. They are so “foreign” – as in strange, unfamiliar or alien relative to all other makes of cars. It seems to be a German thing-eeee. They simply can’t simplify.

For some features complex is ok and can even be a good thing. The seats, for example, are super comfortable and easily adjusted. The keyless entry and smart key in particular is really nice. I haven’t taken the key out of my pocket since I got the car because it is well thought out and works flawlessly.

Consumer Recommendation:

I haven’t been in the auto repair business for many years, but back in the 90’s Audi had some mechanical issues… along with Fiat (Fix it againTony) and Jaguar was an engineering disappointment in many areas until Ford got involved and we noticed a marked improvement in the product. Remember the old mechanics refered to a “Ford Tool”. When dad would ask me to get one I knew he meant a Hammer. And if it were a really tough job you just got a bigger one.

VW has always been more pragmatic in their approach to the products they build and I think that has carried over to Audi way less than it needs to be. So my concerns for the mechanical side of Audi in the past are probably just that… in the past except for the controls for radio, Navigational for example. All my testing on and off the track is surely impressive for the brand and in fact I just looked at an A6 for my own use. I didn’t buy it because of some body damage I didn’t want to fool with.

If you own an Audi and care to share your experiences with our readers send your comments to me at joe@atthewheel.com.

I think this buying decision would be a tougher one if it weren’t for the pricing. My choice in order from first to last would have to include Volvo, Acura, Audi, BMW, VW, Infiniti, Mazda & Mitsubishi. Now throw price into the mix and the picture is much different because they are all tough and capable competitors. Note the absence of American made cars in this class.

Recognized Competition:

Audi A3 $27-31,000, Acura TSX $29-38,000, BMW 1-Series $29-40,000, Infiniti EX $34-37,000, Mazda 3 $15-22,000, Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback $19-28,000, Volkswagen Rabbit $16-19,000, Volvo C30 $24-26,000.

Good News:

Good fuel economy, a joy to drive, comfy seating and powerful.

Bad News:

Electronics controls drive me bonkers & accelerator pedal is ill conceived.

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter 200 hp 4-cylinder engine, Auto S-tronic transmission, Quattro all wheel drive system, ABS, Electronic Stabilization program, 17” alloy wheels, auto dual zone climate control, power windows & locks, cruise control, 60/40 split folding rear seat, manual adjust front seats, tilt and telescopic leather wrapped steering wheel, AM/FM with in dash CD player & Sirius satellite radio, leather seating, trip computer, front and side and side curtain airbags, power mirrors, anti-theft alarm system, LATCH for children, tire pressure monitor.

Options: 

Nav system plus ($2050), titanium sport package including sport suspension, front sport seats, 18” titanium optic wheels & high performance tires ($2000) , Premium plus model – Xenon headlights, modified leather steering wheel, Illumination package, 17” ten spoke alloy wheels ($2000), Convenience package – auto dimming interior mirror w/ compass, rain and light sensor, Bose premium sound system ($1000).

Gas Stats:

$2.98/ Gal avg. October 25, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

21 City and 28 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $30,850 plus options packages noted amounts.

2009 Toyota Avalon 4-door LTD Sedan (781)

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2009 Toyota Avalon 4-door LTD Sedan (781)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Toyota Avalon 4-Door LTD Sedan. And I have to tell you I wasn’t real thrilled with prior models. Daughter Jenny had one and they weren’t so thrilled with it either. But this year model is really nice. I think I like it better because it more resembles the styling of the Camry, which of course is the top seller for Toyota.

It has an elegant look and feel inside that is further embellished by seats that heat and cool and a very smooth ride doesn’t hurt the overall feel either.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – United States

Class:  – Large Cars

Cars: – 4Runner, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Camry Solara, Corolla, FJ Cruiser, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser, Matrix Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, Venza and Yaris.

Handling & Performance:

It is fast and a real pleasure to drive. Overall it is a great ride.

Styling:

The best yet for style of the Avalon in my opinion. Much more elegant than prior model years.

Fit and Finish:

Excellent.

Cost:

Not bad pricing and if you add the options like voice activated DVD Navigation with upgraded radio and CD changer, Bluetooth, and dynamic laser cruise the price goes up to $38,000.

 

Conveniences and comfort:

Some of the more impressive creature comforts, for me, include the heat and cool seats, a keyless start system becoming more popular in several makes. That feature allows you to open and lock doors, start and stop the engine simply by having the key fob in your pocket or purse. The other most appreciated feature is the Smart Laser Cruise Control that senses the car in front of you and maintains a safe distance automatically.

Consumer Recommendation:

Perhaps the most interesting competitor to this Avalon is the newest kid on the block – Hyundai Azera. It is definitely worth a close look for a couple of reasons – it is well priced and they may be more motivated do deal.

Recognized Competition:

Toyota Avalon $28-35,000, Hyundai Azera $25-29,000, Pontiac G8 $28-38,000, Mercury Sable $25-31,000, Mercury Grand Marquis $29,270, Chevrolet Impala $24-30,000, Buick Lacerne $29-39,000, Dodge Charger $24-38,000, Chrysler 300 $27-45,000, Nissan Maxima $30-33,000, Lincoln MKS $41-48,000, Ford Taurus $25-37,000.

Good News:

Great state of the art technology features, great ride, elegant interior, nicer Avalon styling and decent fuel economy for powerful performer.

Bad News:

None.

Standard Equipment:

3.5 liter 268 hp V6 engine, 6-speed auto transmission, front – side and side curtain airbags and driver knee airbag, 4-wheel ABS Electronic brake force distribution power brakes, stability control with traction control, tire pressure monitor system, daytime running lights and fog lights, 17” alloy wheels, anti theft and engine immobilizer system, power moonroof, rain sensing wipers, power mirrors, auto on/off Halogen headlights, smart key with pushbutton start, JBL AM/FM 6 disc CD changer with 12 speakers, 360 watts, SAT capable, Bluetooth, perforated leather seats with driver’s memory seat and power lumbar, driver and front passenger heated and ventilated seats, rear reclining seats, power rear sunshade, tilt and telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate control and cruise controls, dual zone climate control, wood grained style and leather shift knob and steering wheel.

Gas Stats:

$2.98/ Gal avg. October 11, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

19 City and 28 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $35,185.

2009 Toyota Land Cruiser (780)

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2009 Toyota Land Cruiser (780)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Toyota Land Cruiser. It is extremely solid feeling and overall elegant look inside. But then for the money it’s hard to believe you’d expect any less.

The nav system is a bit klugey and not intuitive enough for my liking. However I have a limited time to get comfortable with the idiosyncrasies but I can only compare it to others that are much easier to use.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – Japan

Class:  – SUV

Cars: – 4Runner, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Camry Solara, Corolla, FJ Cruiser, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser, Matrix Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, Venza and Yaris.

Opinion:

With the ever growing number of potholes left unattended one has to wonder why Cal Trans is not fixing them. It’s not like we don’t pay huge gas taxes to take care of these dangerous conditions. Sounds like negligence to me. I’d be happy to hear from our road repair people for their side of the issue.

Handling & Performance:

A solid well built SUV requires heavy suspension so without a load the ride is stiff most noticeable on cement highways.

Styling:

Elegant interior but pretty unexciting exterior.

Fit and Finish:

Outstanding fit and finish. Again I expect that of any car or SUV in this price range.

Cost:

Speaking of cost this is pricey and the fuel economy is poor with estimated annual fuel cost of $4,102. Not a figure easy to ignore or forget. But if you can afford all the goodies that come standard for the price the fuel is not a real consideration. And if you decide to include all the options a long list of upgrades and navigation you can push the price up to nearly $74,000.

Conveniences and comfort:

I suspect the most positive memorable feature is the cooler space in the front console. Very cool for those long hot summer days. The most negative memory is split between poor fuel economy and poor Nav system ease of use.

Once again I have to tell you how much I like the “Smart Cruise Control”. You’ll recall that is the laser sensitive feature to keep you at a preset distance from the car in front of you.

Most recently Mercedes Benz has been advertising this wonderful feature. To begin with it helps you avoid following too close while helping you keep up with traffic flow when you set it just above the speed flow.

Recognized Competition:

Toyota Land Cruiser $64,755, GMC Yukon Denali $50-56,000, Chevrolet Tahoe $37-51,000, Chevrolet Suburban $40-53,000, Mercedes Benz GL-Class$58-81,000, Mercedes Benz G-Class $100-119,000, Volvo XC90 $37-51,000, Chrysler Aspen $35-37,000, Jeep Commander $29-46,000, Audi Q7 $44-59,000, Land Rover Range Rover $78-93,000, Land Rover LR3 $46,750. 2010 year models: Honda Pilot $28-40,000, Nissan Armada $37-52,000, Lincoln Navigator $54-59,000, Ford Flex $28-39,000, Infiniti QX56 $56-59,000, Ford Expedition $35-51,000, Lexus LX 570 $76,405, Cadillac Escalade $62-87,000.

Good News:

A delightful driving experience and if it’s in your budget range they haven’t left anything out.

Bad News:

A bit pricey and the fuel consumption sucks.

Standard Equipment:

5.7 liter 381 hp V8 engine, full time 4 wheel drive with 4-wheel traction control with dynamic suspension / hill start assist control, dbl wishbone coil spring independent front suspension and 4 link coil spring rear suspension, 4-wheel disc brakes, stability control with cutoff switch multi-terrain anti lock brakes and electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, front airbags and knee bags, front and 1st and 2nd row chair mounted airbags, all rows side curtain airbags, tire pressure monitor system, daytime running lights, 18” alloy wheels, Halogen headlights and fog lights, 8 passenger leather seats with power heated front seats, leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, cruise control, moon roof, 4 zone climate control, 605 watt JBL radio with 6 disc CD with 14 speakers, satellite radio, power retractable mirrors, back up parking sonar warning, smart keyless entry, engine immobilizer with alarm, power tilt and telescopic steering column.

Gas Stats:

$2.98/ Gal avg. October 1, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

13 City and 18 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $64,755.

2009 Chrysler Town & Country Touring (779)

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2009 Chrysler Town & Country Touring (779)

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country Touring at about $30 K and is in the middle of the LX at about $26 K and the Limited at about $37 K

Well, ordinarily I would “See the USA in my Chevrolet”, but that is just a slogan of the past and this week found this Town & Country would take a couple of friends and me from Acton, CA to do our duty to God and country. Yep, we marched on Washington after we parked this delightful companion Town & Country.

Ok, in spite of the great transportation, we did more walking than I like but we all know that’s how vacations can go. We saw many of the sights in and around DC. We stayed in Virginia and drove to wonderful must see historic sights like the Luray Caverns with breathtaking Stalactites (grow down) and Stalagmites (build from the bottom up), Monticello (home of Thomas Jefferson), Mount Vernon (home of George Washington), Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the Veterans Memorials for Vietnam and Korea; We visited museums and of course the Capitol. We had called our representative in Washington DC – a guy you may know – Buck McKeon, and he was kind enough to take a few minutes out of his busy day to see us. His office is at the Rayburn Building, across from the Capitol, and he gave us a copy of the Constitution and passes to get into the House of Representatives Gallery to watch our US Congress in action. I concluded “It’s a dirty job but someone has to do it” – don’t you agree?

Ultimately I hope many of you will take up the challenge and run for office like Buck did over 16 years ago. Thanks to him for his efforts shoveling “Sand” against the tide and thanks to the 1.7 million people in DC with us to protest the direction this country has been going for the past 50 years. That direction would be downhill. God help us. If you were there, email me.

That was all great but the unsung hero was this wonderful van that took us everywhere in comfort and style and not one complaint, unlike my other companions.

General Info:

Parts –  US/Canadian 71%, Engine & Trans made in US

Assembly – Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Class:  – Special Purpose Minivan

Cars: – Caliber, Challenger, Charger, Dakota, Durango, Durango Hybrid, Grand Caravan, Journey, Magnum, Nitro, Ram 15-25-3500, Sprinter, Sprinter Wagon & Viper.

Opinion:

Fuel cost: Well when we got off the plane from LAX to Wash/Dulles in DC we didn’t check out the prices of gas until we got close to needing it. When we filled up in Virginia the price of gas in LA was $3 Bucks a gallon and now we were paying $2.36.

Can someone tell me why? Last time I checked the refineries are right down the way in LA.

Handling & Performance:

A great ride is what you get from this Chrysler product. I was amazed how much power they get out of 197 horsepower without a turbocharger. I also like the handling of these vans because the lower center of gravity gives a more confident feel on the road at freeway speeds.

Styling:

You can’t help but appreciate a Mini-Van when you’re traveling. . . Flashback – Kids, soccer, football, baseball, the beach, skiing in between hot buttered rums around the fire in Mammoth and Park City Utah, etc., etc., etc.

And you can’t help but appreciate all the neat nooks, crannies, power outlets, entertainment systems and so much more that is available to make this mini van basic or a small scale motor home. And you gotta love what they’ve done with this van over the years in beauty and functionality. Great job Chrysler. And finally thanks to Lee Iacocca for saving this Icon of the American Auto industry. Why doesn’t a current day lion like Lee come forward to save GM?

Fit and Finish:

Very good.

Cost:

Competition is all good but Kia is the toughest because it is still the new kid on the block in pricing and can’t be ignored.

Conveniences and comfort:

Town & Country never fails to pamper you with options like an entertainment system to keep passengers from being bored. The power side doors and the rear hatch is activated from the key fob as well and if you’ve never driven vehicles with these conveniences you must consider these options if it’s in the budget. The only thing I would add is a cooler console for those long hot summers and the Stow ‘n Go seating is really a neat option.

All the ups and extras are nice but the basic configuration has to be considered because it can save $9,000. However if you are a family on the go at that children part of your life the Swivel ‘n Go seating is great for $495. For safety I was impressed with the “Blind Spot” detection system worth the cost of about a grand which includes parking sensors and power mirrors. If you need all the electronics like the entertainment system etc., it can push the cost up by about $5,000. There is a lot to choose from.

Recognized Competition:

Chrysler Town & Country $26-37,000, Hyundai Entourage n/a, Toyota Sienna $25-38,000, Dodge Grand Caravan $24-29,000, Volkswagen Routan $25-39,000, Nissan Quest $26-36,000, Kia Sedona $21-28,000, (2010) Honda Odyssey $27-41,000.

Good News:

Highly versatile vehicle, great for families, super useful options – I wish they had vans like this when my kids were small because the next best thing was called a “Station Wagon”, acceptable fuel economy for this class vehicle.

Bad News:

Only fair fuel economy, all are a little pricey.

Standard Equipment:

3.8 liter 197 hp V6 engine (the limited version has a 4.0 liter 251 hp V6), 6-speed automatic transmission, front air bags and side curtain all rows, latch child seat anchor system, electronic stability program, power adjustable pedals, auto headlights, dual side sliding power doors, tire pressure monitor system, power liftgate, remote keyless entry and engine immobilizer, cruise control, rear intermittent wiper washer and anti lock brakes.

Gas Stats:

2.36/ Gal avg. September 15, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

16 City and 23 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $29,395.

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