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

2009 Toyota Prius (778)

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2009 Toyota Prius (778)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Toyota Prius Model IV (out of 5 – I, II, III, IV and V). The differences are minor and deal with features included or not. II for example has no Bluetooth, and 6 rather than 8 speakers and no satellite radio.

V for example has leather while others have longer turning radius’, V also had an optional dynamic radar cruise control and lane assist and intelligent parking assist.

Some of these differences are attributable to the ’09 vs the 2010 model years.

Of course not much has changed in appearance and functionality over the years and. It’s not nice to fool around with a successful product. It reminds me of my first economical car that for the day was rather ugly… that college car was the VW Beetle. I think that was a 1960 year model and was as basic as a car can be which reminds me of my first Model A Ford.

Well as much as the world of car has changed it is not earth shattering. The moon walk was earth shattering – literally. I suspect when cars fly over the freeway traffic corridors in multi level as well as multi lanes of air space we can then say the technology has arrived to break the barriers of ho-hum progress in this industry and resultant driving experience. My grand kids will see a whole ‘nuther world of cars I believe but few others will experience a truly new age in the automotive love affair we’ve had for over a hundred years now.

Handling & Performance:

Really cool because when you’re poking along you run on battery so the performance is impressive by any standards. I love to watch the MPG monitor as it pegs at 100 mpg. You too would love that sight and to boot, this car will handle every driving condition, other than off road that you’ll encounter.

Styling:

It’s not a big car – it’s midsize and will seat 4 comfortably and 5 maximum. Consistent look and feel and you can’t miss them on the road. Some would say they’re unattractive and I say I’m distracted by the divider in the back hatch as it obstructs a clear view of rear view traffic in the mirror. Ugly? – no it’s not that bad but moreover beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Conveniences and comfort:

Excellent goodies and midsize car comfort consistent with the class competition.

Fit and Finish:

Very good.

Cost:

Getting better… and for sure it’s a consideration of folks who have opted out of the Hybrid platform because the unknown maintenance problems of the Hybrid technology relative to the marginal increase in fuel economy compared to conventional propulsion.

Consumer Recommendation:

This is a small group in class and I suggest you drive them all. I have of course but you’ll need to look at them all before making the call. A friend just bought a Ford Fusion with a conventional drive train for the reasons mentioned above. All deserve your consideration.

Recognized Competition:

Toyota Prius $22-27,000, Toyota Camry Hybrid $26,150, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid $25,555, Ford Fusion Hybrid $27,625, Mercury Milan Hybrid $27,855, Nissan Altima Hybrid $26,650, Honda Civic Hybrid $24-27,000, Saturn Aura Hybrid $26,325 .

Good News:

A decade of history with no report of big trouble with the hybrid technology, fun car to drive, wonderful fuel economy numbers.

Bad News:

California DMV will only give 75,000 hybrid car pool lane status. Secondly the administration in Washington in all its wisdom has decided to blow out tax credits for hybrids because of caps. So much for lower taxes for us working stiffs.

Standard Equipment:

1.8 liter inline 4 cylinder 134 hp engine, continuously variable automatic transmission, electric power steering, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, 15” alloy wheels, vehicle stability and traction control, front, side knee airbags, LATCH child safety system, tire pressure monitor, engine immobilizer, heated outside mirrors, front and rear intermittent wiper washers, AM/FM with MP3 6 disc CD changer with 8 speakers, leather, 6-way adjustable driver seat with power lumbar, climate control, 60/40 split fold down rear seat, tilt & telescopic steering wheel with controls, power windows & locks, cruise control with instant mpg meter, heated front seats, 2 – 12V outlets and keyless entry with push button start.

Gas Stats:

$3.05/ Gal avg. Sept 23, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

51 City and 48 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $25,800.

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

2009 Toyota RAV4 4X4 SUV (777)

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2009 Toyota RAV4 4X4 SUV (777)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Toyota RAV4 4-wheel drive SUV that is in a class that has become the most popular vehicle on the planet.

And it seems as time goes by even the smallest models get larger which is the case with this RAV4.

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:

Reminder – Revenue’s are a high priority everywhere in our economy these days and you need to watch your speed to keep the vultures from picking your bones. I’m sure you’ve noticed lots of ticketing on our highways. Set your cruise control no more than 4-5 miles over the limit so you don’t get run over by traffic willing to chance increase tax levies by our arrogantly proud traffic cops. You know those crime fighters of people trying to get to work to pay their salaries. They thank us with $300 fines. Don’t you just love these guys?

Handling & Performance:

Since 2003 the RAV4 has gone from a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine that did better on fuel economy than today’s inline 4 and moved more to the 3.5 liter V6 bigger is better version. Why? Because that is what people want so it’s not Toyota’s fault.

Styling:

Not much change in the look and feel from previous years. They still have a rear door opening out left to right with a hard spare tire cover. Although it is personal preference on opening style / design I really prefer the door opening as opposed to a lift gate for the rear access.

Fit and Finish:

Toyota good.

Cost:

Since the 2003 model year the price has gone up nearly $10,000 and there are 50% more competitors to choose from because this truck .

Conveniences and comfort:

All the comforts you’d expect and options can include a power moon roof, power leather heated seats, roof rails, and navigation system, etc. which can push the price up to $33,000 plus.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you can live without leather, moon roof and built in Nav system you can save a bunch. Me – I like the portable Nav options that will save over $1,500. I don’t use a moon roof and think they are passé. Leather and power heated seats are nice but not necessary and can save $2,000 in options.

Take a good look at the newer kids on the block that can save even more. Toyota has a good name but I’ll remind you that even they are outsourcing to Korea. So the Kia and Hyundai are worth a look see.

Recognized Competition:

Toyota RAV4 $22-28,000, Pontiac Torrent $25-31,000, Hyundai Tucson $18-26,000 , Mazda Tribute $20-28,000, Nissan Rogue $20-26,000, Honda CR-V $21-29,000, Jeep Liberty $23-28,000, Jeep Wrangler $21-32,000, Suzuki Grand Vitara $19-27,000, Honda Element $20-26,000, Mitsubishi Outlander $21-26,000, Kia Rondo $17-22,000, Kia Sportage $17-23,000,

2010 year models: Chevrolet Equinox $22-30,000, Subaru Forester $21-28,000, Mercury Mariner $23-27,000, Ford Escape Hybrid $30-34,000, Ford Escape $21-27,000, Mazda CX-7 $22-33,000, Volkswagen Routan $25-39,000.

Good News:

Toyota quality, decent fuel economy, good size 5 seat SUV that is easier to handle.

Bad News:

Top of the price point in class.

Standard Equipment:

3.5 liter 269 hp V6 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, electronic on-demand 4-wheel drive, electronic power steering, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, 18” alloy wheels, vehicle stability and traction control, front, side and side curtain front and rear air bags, child safety tether anchors and safety locks, tire pressure monitoring, fog lights, rear wiper washer, air conditioning, audio with CD changer & 6 speakers, 60/40 split reclining fold flat rear seat, tilt & telescopic steering wheel, cloth interior, power windows & locks, cruise control, keyless entry, 3- 12 V outlets.

Gas Stats:

$2.95/ Gal avg. Sept 17, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

19 City and 26 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $26,530.

2009 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab Big Horn Edition SLT 4X2 pick up truck (776)

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2009 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab Big Horn Edition SLT 4X2 pick up truck (776)

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab SLT 4X2 Big Horn Edition pick up truck. Wow… my first truck was a Chevy ½ ton pick up. Life was simpler then I think.

Well what can I say about my favorite pick up… this is a very handsome truck with the convenience of a full size cab and the quality of a Cummins Diesel engine. Brother John is a mechanic, trucker, and all around do it all kinda guy and I trust his judgment. . . a lot. When John found an 18 wheel dump truck for me to buy it had to be a Peterbilt with a Cummins Diesel. Ok, so that personal preference but truckers talk and I suspect there is a lot of agreement in those circles.

My own Ram 3500 has a Cummins with 260,000 uninterupted service miles of driving and hard work. John tells me Cummins diesels routinely get over a million miles before rebuilding is necessary. But like our government if he told me often enough it would get a Billion or even a Trillion I would believe that too. Hey, John wouldn’t lie to me……….. would he? If he ran for congress I might change my opinion… speaking of opinion…

General Info:

Parts –  US/Canadian 53%, Mexico 18%

Assembly – Saltillo, Mexico.

Class:  – Heavy Duty Vehicle

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

Opinion:

Here is one persons thought to improve travel on our highways. “Have you noticed the flashing electric signs on the freeway that tell you it is 14 minutes to some point of travel? Well, to Cal Trans or any other road Czars I might suggest that flashing the average speed between those points would be more informative. Then folks could set their cruise control at that speed and everyone would get to their destination more safely and in the same amount of time. No more rabbit starts and screeching stops and that means fewer accidents and less traffic jams. That simple information would help us to know what the traffic picture is like up ahead.”

What’s your thought or idea on how our driving experience could be improved?

Handling & Performance:

Well, what can I say, this is a truck and I should expect to wear a kidney belt when driving on the freeway cement without a load. And I shouldn’t really try to talk on my (hands free) cell phone either. If you’ve been there, done that you know what I mean.

Styling:

It has been the king of the road for most of the past in truck history and that which exudes confidence that this truck can get the job done.

Fit and Finish:

Very good.

Cost:

In this class of work horse all are close even if a little pricey for what they deliver.

Conveniences and comfort:

For this kind of vehicle I would opt for a back up sensor because although visibility is quite good when empty, it is not with a load.

On the whole we know trucks have evolved to be more like luxury passenger vehicles than work trucks and this Ram is no exception. They are so well equipped they cost more  than I like to pay for a work vehicle. In a very short period of time all that beautiful stuff is trashed anyway, so I’d opt to pay much less and get the basics. However, that being said trucks today are hot and fewer are actually used for real serious work. I can just imagine the boss asking the guys to sit in the bed so they won’t dirty the seats.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you are a Ford guy test the GM and Chrysler offerings and visa versa. You may find a change is in your future.

Recognized Competition:

Dodge Ram 3500 $36-51,000, GMC Sierra 3500 HD $31-44,000, Ford F450 Super Duty $42-54,000, Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD $31-44,000, Ford F-350 Super Duty $26-42,000.

Good News:

Great styling, tough work vehicle, comfortable cab appointments, powerful and long life Cummins engine.

Bad News:

35 gal fuel tank (because you need it).

Standard Equipment:

6.7 liter Cummins Turbo Diesel 350 hp engine, 6 speed automatic transmission, 35 gal fuel tank, anti spin differential rear axle, heavy duty engine cooling, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, diesel exhaust brake, rear power sliding window, tinted glass, remote keyless entry, sentry key / theft deterrent system, cruise control, power windows and locks, power rack & pinion steering, front stabilizer bar, 750 amp maintenance free battery, air conditioning, tilt steering col, stereo with CD player, Sirius satellite radio, 40/20/40 split bench seat, rear folding seat, stain repellant fabric, rear under seat storage compartment, Overhead console with trip computer.

Gas Stats:

$2.85/ Gal avg. September 4, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

n/a City and n/a Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $42,365.

2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab SLT 4X2 pick up truck (775)

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2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab SLT 4X2 pick up truck (775)

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab SLT 4X2 short bed quad cab pick up truck. This truck is one of nine in class and for my money it is equal to the task of competing but is no longer among the American made trucks until recent years were the unquestioned absolute king of trucks.

That’s a fact but that being said if you know my column you know I drive a Dodge Ram 3500 dual wheel Cummins powered one ton pickup truck. My other truck is a 1985 Chevrolet Silverado and my 775th vehicle is this Ram 1500.

So I tend to lean toward them even though one of my favorite trucks was my 1955 Ford half ton that was my 3rd ownership right behind a 1946 Chevy pickup that followed my first which was a 1934 Chevy coupe with a rumble seat. You know the scene of young kids with their first car – taking it to school with all the other hoodlum friends hanging out of the rumble seat and the ring leader in the front seat yelling – “Stop, there’s Bab’s” or some such other craziness. Thank God we didn’t kill anyone.

Well I can’t help but be impressed with the new offerings from Chrysler because I’ve tested all those listed below. But at the end of the day I know full well your choice will have more to do with your personal preferences and leanings than what mine are or what I have to say. Me, I could see owning any of those listed here.

General Info:

Parts –  US/Canadian 53%, Mexico 18%

Assembly – Warren, MI, USA.

Class:  – Standard Pickups

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

Handling & Performance:

Well, what can I say – it is HEMI powered and I love great performance and innovated technology embodied in the HEMI engine design. It is a 4X2 so it won’t take you off road very far but it has better fuel economy than those dragging around all that added weight.

Styling:

Always a leader. The Japanese have copied the toughness of all American Trucks and the most notable to me is the Nissan Armada. The Japanese car makers share the market and rightfully so. They have applied their great work ethic just as they have with passenger cars.

This bad boy seats 6 comfortably and is well appointed. It has a solid, well assembled and that heavy feel but it is light and nimble on its feet as well.

Fit and Finish:

Very good. In fact as I’ve said before it’s almost too much opulence and carlike for a working truck. So let’s face it, marketing found that most buyers will not want this truck for hauling manure alone. I observe that most people are gentlemen farmers and ranchers who are more interested in comfort.

Cost:

Competitive. It’s a toss up and there is no price advantage to any of them. Trucks are among the most profitable vehicles and I believe they need not be so pricey. But then again they are much more utilitarian than alternative transportation options. And for the ranch most of us living in rural lives know these are necessities not luxuries.

Conveniences and comfort:

All the comforts of home away from home. The only uncomfortable time is driving the freeway without a load. It will flat shake your eye teeth out and give you a sense that you need a kidney belt.

Consumer Recommendation:

Pick your favorite but there are only 6 brands to test and you might be surprised a change is in order with no sacrifice of performance. For example although I have always owned trucks from the big three as is the case with most of us, I like the Honda and Toyota trucks also. They’re the relatively new kids on the block and worth a look see. Then buy one of the others.

Recognized Competition:

Dodge Ram 1500 $22-44,000, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 $19-41,000, Nissan Titan $26-39,000, GMC Sierra 1500 $19-44,000, GMC Sierra Hybrid $38-47,000, Honda Ridgeline $28-37,000, Ford F150 $22-39,000. 2010 model year – Toyota Tundra $23-42,000 and Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid $38-47,000.

Good News:

Solid ride, powerful HEMI gas engine,

Bad News:

Only fair fuel economy,

Standard Equipment:

4.7 liter 310 hp V8 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, front and side curtain air bags, stability control, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, sentry key and theft deterrent system, HD engine cooling, cruise control, remote keyless entry, power windows and locks, tire pressure monitor, locking tailgate, air conditioning, stereo with in dash CD/MP3 player, Sirius satellite radio, 40/20/40 split bench seat and rear fold down with under seat storage, rear power sliding window, tilt steering column, trip computer and info center, temp and compass gauges, 17” aluminum wheels, fold away power heated mirrors.

Options: 5.7 liter 390 hp V8 HEMI engine, $1,310; Clothe bucket seats $925, preferred package, 20” aluminum wheels, leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, dual exhaust, overhead console, exterior mirrors with supplemental signals and courtesy lights, rear dome light, fog lights. $2,250.

Gas Stats:

$2.90/ Gal avg. August 31, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

14 City and 20 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $31,880 and with options $37,845.

2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Premium 4-door. (774)

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2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Premium 4-door. (774)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i Premium 4-door sedan. Significantly less money than the very popular WRX it shares nearly everything. The WRX Premium we looked at recently is a serious performance car with tuned suspension and turbo charged power of 265 horsepower. It comes only with a 5 speed manual transmission while the other WRX models have a 4-speed auto trans with the 265 hp power plant.

This Impreza 2.5i Premium has a 170 hp engine and while a 5-speed manual is standard a 4-speed automatic is optional. And of course this model gets better fuel economy at 20 / 27 mpg vs 18 / 25 mpg numbers for the WRX turbo. Another important difference is the purchase cost of a whopping $10,000 more for the WRX Premium.

General Info:

Parts –  Japan 100%

Assembly – Ota Gunma, Japan.

Class:  – Compact

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

Handling & Performance:

Excellent. An enjoyable ride.

Styling:

Common place in today’s world.

Fit and Finish:

Good

Cost:

Very competitive when you factor in the All Wheel Drive standard on all Subaru’s. But it will cost you in reduced fuel economy relative to other non-AWD vehicles.

Conveniences and comfort:

Usual to competition and in class.

Consumer Recommendation:

There are a lot of great cars listed here and I suspect your general leanings will be as important to you being satisfied. My top 5 picks are VW Jetta, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Matrix, Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra similarly priced but I wouldn’t leave the Kia line out of the mix for even greater price advantage. Be aware that most of the close competition get much better fuel economy. That will surely be important down the highway of time.

Recognized Competition:

Subaru Impreza $17-35,000, Audi A3 $27-37,000, BMW 1-series $29,40,000, Chevrolet Cobalt $ n/a, Honda Civic $15-25,000, Mitsubishi Lancer $15-27,000, Volkswagen Jetta $18-23,000, Volkswagen GTI $23-24,000, Volkswagen New Beetle $18-27,000Pontiac G5 $17-20,000, Dodge Caliber $16-25,000, MINI Clubman $20-31,000, MINI Cooper $19-34,000, Suzuki SX4 Sport $13-18,000, Suzuki SX4 Crossover $19-19,000, Kia Spectra $14-16,000, Nissan Sentra $15-21,000, Hyundai Elantra $14-17,000, 2010 Models – Pontiac Vibe $16-21,000, Mazda3 $15-22,000, Toyota Corolla $15-20,000, Toyota Matrix $17-22,000, Kia Forte $14-17,000, Scion tC $17-18,000, Acura TSX $29-38,000, Ford Focus $16-18,000, Chevrolet HHR $19-26,000.

Good News:

Lots of competitors to chose from, all wheel drive safety and at the top of the list in value for price.

Bad News:

Common place styling, only expected fuel economy.

Standard Equipment:

2.5 liter 170 hp horizontally opposed engine, 4- wheel fully independent all wheel drive, 5-speed manual transmission, dynamic control, front- side – and side curtain air bags, 4-wheel ABS brakes with brake force distribution, tire pressure monitoring, security system with engine immobilizer, safety pedal system, Audio with CD player, Satellite radio ‘capable’, air conditioning, cruise control, tilt steering column, power windows & locks and mirrors, 60/40 Split fold down rear seat, remote keyless entry. Option for the 2.5i Premium package: add power moonroof, alloy wheels, fog lights, stereo with 6-CD changer, 10 speakers, leather steering wheel with audio controls.

Gas Stats:

$2.85/ Gal avg. August 22, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

20 City and 27 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $17,995 and with 2.5i options $19,495.

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Premium (773)

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2009 Subaru Impreza WRX Premium (773)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX with a moon roof. The moon roof isn’t important except it strikes me as a bit old fashioned – moon roofs were the in thing that everyone had to have and now seem to be passé – like Angora dice hanging from the rear view mirror or Naugahyde Vinyl tarps. Remember when you’d see them on pick up truck beds or over the rear seat that were often embellished with “Tuck and Roll”. Fads are funny things eh? Well, today if they threw it in I would consider it. Otherwise it isn’t worth the added cost for me. I can’t remember opening one for a long time. Of course I haven’t been a passenger for a long time. Perhaps moon roofs are more for the others in the car and in any case the driver seldom needs to look in that direction while driving. Not a good idea… and I don’t smoke any longer so … well you know what I mean.

General Info:

Parts –  Japan 100%

Assembly – Ota Gunma, Japan.

Class:  – Compact

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

Opinion:

This last week I had to be out of town and no press vehicles were available so I did a rent-a-car thingeeee. Well I have a suggestion for the Quality Control folks at auto manufacturers. Go to see your car after it has been out on rental for a while. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it but if it is broke change the design to stand up to the abuse. I’m not suggesting that drivers of these rental cars break things on purpose but when they go to use a feature and the knob falls off in their hand it is a better test than a robot doing the same thing thousands of times. People must do it differently.

My case in point is the Pontiac G6 I rented had broken A/C vents. The plastic just couldn’t stand up to the use.

Handling & Performance:

Personally I would like to see more insulation for the exhaust noise from the cabin. Performance is always better with less back pressure on the engine but insulation would solve the problem of having to hear it from inside the car. Now the “Boom Box” crowd would like it – but for my money it resembles the same annoying noise as having to listen to other people’s music at a bazillion decibels.

Gearing could also be better. Transmission really could use a 6th gear.

It is a smooth cruiser, however, and not what I expected from this “kids car” more apparent when compared to prior year models. But it isn’t only for kids any longer with the new larger redesign which includes easier entry and exit. I like it much better than earlier versions.

And of course the turbo charger makes this a rocket and combined with the all wheel drive and low center of gravity it is a hoot to hit the curves of the Crest or other less traveled road courses.

Styling:

Approaching a sedan look and feel but with all the performance characteristics we all like.

Fit and Finish:

Very good.

Cost:

Ok in class and quite good when you consider performance and quality.

Conveniences and comfort:

Well you know by now I am a big supported of Nav systems but I don’t like this one. If I can’t set it for my next destination doing 100 mph it isn’t intuitive enough. No – I don’t text while driving but then I don’t do it in a theatre or restaurant either. People who think they can multi-task like that are kidding themselves. So I was exaggerating by requiring the Nav system to be set up while doing 100 mph… 50 or even less would be ok, but I don’t like stopping to set a revised destination. I promise I’ll have the passenger input the information.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you enjoy the sporty driving experience this all wheel drive (as are all Subaru’s) is the real deal if you don’t mind looking like an old “teeny bopper”. It will definitely provide you with an exciting “E” ride. Is there anyone that doesn’t know what an “E” ride is?

Recognized Competition:

Subaru Impreza WRX $25-35,000, Audi A3 $27-37,000, BMW 1-series $29,40,000, Chevrolet $28-36,000, Chevrolet Cobalt $ n/a, Honda Civic $15-25,000, Mazda Speed3 $23,195, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution $33-38,000, Volkswagen GTI $23-24,000.

Good News:

Fun to drive, fast turbo, larger redesign, easier to get in and out, comfortable cruiser.

Bad News:

Exhaust noise in the cabin is excessive, fast turbo is sure to get you into trouble with the speed police.

Standard Equipment:

2.5 liter 265 hp intercooled turbocharged engine, 5-speed manual transmission, power moon roof, symmetrical all wheel drive, dynamic control, front- side – and side curtain air bags, 4-wheel ABS brakes with brake force distribution, tire pressure monitoring, security system with engine immobilizer, safety pedal system, climate control, stereo, tilt / telescopic leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, cruise control, 60/40 split fold down rear seat, power windows & locks and mirrors, remote keyless entry, heated front seats.

Gas Stats:

$2.65/ Gal avg. August 15, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

18 City and 25 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $29,495.

2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 Wagon Passenger Van (772)

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2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 Wagon Passenger Van (772)

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2009 Dodge Sprinter 2500 Wagon Passenger Van. What a lot of attention this vehicle commands. Size makes a big impression but more than that it has more applications than I imagined. Several asked if it was available in a motor home / RV configuration and the answer is no – not an option from Dodge. But conversions are pretty exciting. Take a look at this link for a You Tube video of an amazing RV application. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4ZLF7NVoe4. You can also go to www.colonialairstream.com for more information.

Those who asked commented that their 40 foot outfits are simply too cumbersome to maneuver – especially for use by only two people. A modified Sprinter is a perfect application for those shorter get-a-ways.

As configured, this model seats 12 and is like a small bus that you can stand up in.

Coincidentally my neighbor was hosting a large party for a class reunion and had a need to shuttle folks from a parking area to the party. This was a hit and a real convenience for all. It was easy to maneuver and the roof air and lighting was great for the untimely heat wave.

These vehicles are very popular in Europe and becoming popular in the US as well. They are getting very attractive and although they are easy to drive and smooth on the highway it becomes a liability when it comes to parking.

General Info:

Parts –  n/a

Assembly – Germany

Class:  – Heavy duty.

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

Handling & Performance:

The turbo diesel is plenty powerful for the application. On the open highway it will keep up with traffic in any condition. But as noted above when on the streets you will have to be constantly aware of the overhead clearance. Thus its application is more leaning to commercial use.

Fuel economy for this diesel is better than Ford or Chevrolet by 2-5 mpg with its Turbo V6 versus the V8 power of the others. The V6 is more than adequate even with the size difference.

Styling:

Streamlined appearance is really so much better than earlier models so it appeals to more people and more applications. It was unattractive in the earlier model years.

Fit and Finish:

Very good.

Cost:

$47,000 with basic stuff without roof air and special paint and tricked out with most all options it will cost about $63,000.

Conveniences and comfort:

Comfortable bus like with lots of storage. It has a smooth stable feel. Tall profile requires more care of overhead clearance areas. Thus most inside parking will be very limited.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you have a need to carry lots of folks and gear this is an option to look at. The competition is more conventional with larger displacement V8 engines but the Turbo Diesel is better overall. The others seat the same number of people with less cargo area and less head room. Sprinter is more unique and more commercial in size and application. There are only two others in this class so you can easily find the one that fits your need best.

Recognized Competition:

Dodge Sprinter Wagon $42-47,000, Ford E Series Wagon $28-36,000, Chevrolet Express $28-34,000, GMC Savana  $28-34,000.

Good News:

Tall walk in passenger comfort, nice styling, powerful Turbo Diesel.

Bad News:

Tall profile that limits parking options that means you don’t park in underground facilities.

Standard Equipment:

3.0 liter V6 Turbo Diesel engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, 4-wheel antilock brake, adaptive electronic stability program, front stabilizer bar, traction control, power rack and pinion steering, keyless entry, power locks, power windows, emergency exit window, electric powered auxiliary heater, 25 gal fuel tank, climate control air conditioning, audio with CD player, 1st and 2nd row 3 passenger bench seats, 3rd row 4 passenger bench seat, tire pressure monitor.

Optional equipment:

Silver metallic paint is $1,185 and other options are available such as roof air and special interior lighting, added side airbags, cold climate special heating, increased insulation etc than will bring the total price up as high as $63,000.

Gas Stats:

$2.75/ Gal avg. August 8, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

18 City and 20 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $47,220.

2009 Toyota Sienna XLE (771)

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2009 Toyota Sienna XLE (771)

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the Toyota Sienna XLE Front Wheel Drive 7 passenger LTD Minivan. What a nice van. I’ve tested it in years past and haven’t changed my opinion. It’s still a great van and at the top of my buy list.

I always encourage cruise control because it is on my must have list for me and highly recommended. But the Smart Cruise is a whole ‘nuther dimension and the cat’s meow for me. I appreciate it more every time I use one. I wouldn’t be surprised if they used this technology to dock the shuttle to the space station at NASA.

If you haven’t used one it is the technology that senses the car in front of you and will apply the brake even before you if you day dream a little. And when traffic speeds up the cruise will keep up all by it’s self. Great feature and indicates further capability to come not so far down the road – namely the car that drives itself. How exciting will that be.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – USA

Class:  – Minivan

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 all the talk about the demise of GM and Chrysler’s problems looming on the horizon according to the mainstream media – CBS, NBC and ABC it is clear the disaster is more about talk than it is about a real disaster. They don’t report the news they “Make” the news.

In Chryslers case they have failed and survived. We musan’t panic like our politicians who would have us believe the sky is falling – Chicken Little –”The sky is falling,” has passed into the English language as a common idiom indicating a hysterical mistaken belief that disaster is imminent. But me thinks they protest too much, blaming everyone but their own corruption. Friend Norm says there are no honest or good politicians but I have to disagree. There are lots of good people in the world and we just need to seek them out and get them in office to replace the bad guys like Chris Dodd, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank and many others you could add to this list.

I bring this up is because of a press release I just received titled “Dodge Viper SRT10 Will Live On”. If folks indeed will buy this thirsty 10-cylinder gas guzzling sports car it may be we’re in less trouble than we’re told. I was sure the US was sinking and all hands would go down with the ship – The USS Panic!

How soon we forget the lessons of TWO K nearly a decade ago promising doom January 1, 2000. Computers would crash and the Sky would fall, but it didn’t happen because it was “Much a-do about nothing”.

I started thinking again and said daahh they’re just trying to pull a fast one on us. Sure unemployment is up but guess what 90% are working and we’re spending too much time listening to “News Makers” who would have you think 90% are UNEMPLOYED. My suggestion is to cancel your newspaper subscription and turn the TV news off until the defeated media gets back to reporting the news. Let them bark to a deff audience for a while. “After all is said and done, much is said and little is done”, Richard always tells me. The less we listen and the more we do by getting up each morning and simply put one foot in front of the other as we walk through this mess the better off we will be. Winston Churchill said of WWII… “when you are going through hell . . . just keep going.”

Handling & Performance:

Nothing special and all brands are very good.

Styling:

Attractive.

Fit and Finish:

Typically excellent Japanese workmanship.

Cost:

Not cheap but competitive with the field.

Conveniences and comfort:

For the money you get a Nav system with backup camera (not convinced this is anything more than a gimmick), and on a cold day the seat warmers are nice. Another favorite feature for me is the sliding side doors and power lift gate. Not a must but convenient.

Consumer Recommendation:

My all time favorite family car for kid toting at every age. Easy to get the car seat age in and buckled up and bus like for the bigger kids.

Recognized Competition:

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

Good News:

Good (not great) fuel economy, great family car.

Bad News:

?

Standard Equipment:

3.5 liter 266 hp V6 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, power rack & pinion steering, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, 17” alloy wheels, front, side and side curtain front and rear air bags, child safety tether anchors, tire pressure monitoring, front and rear parking assist, anti theft system with engine immobilizer, climate control, audio with 8 CD changer & 10 speakers, satellite radio and MP3/WMA capable, 60/40 split & stow 3rd row seat, 2nd row captains chairs, wood grain & leather tilt & telescopic steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth controls, power windows & locks, fog lights, leather trimmed 8-way power heated driver seat w/ lumbar support, 4-way passenger power heated seat, power sliding and rear power back door, power tilt / slide moonroof and cruise control.

Gas Stats:

$2.75/ Gal avg. July 17, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

17 City and 23 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $35,665.

The 2009 Nissan 370ZX (769)

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Overview:

This week we’re talking with Merkel Weiss an old associate about his opinion of the 2009 Nissan 370ZX, one of my favorite cars to drive. Ok, so he’s not all that old but you know what I mean. Herewith an automotive engineers view of the Z.

The other night my old friend Que Quan (Q) pulled up to my back yard in a new test car. There it was, silhouetted in the moonlight. This sleek red Nissan thing with giant 19 inch open-spoke silver wheels sat there as we looked on in mock reverence, usually reserved for an Aston Zagatto or the like.

It was the old car but more, and it was the old car but less. Here is my problem. I have at times liked the Z-car and at times not so much. The early 240Z was a nice car to look at and a reasonably well behaved car for its day. It was also one heck of a bargain – I remember the head of the Mechanical Engineering laboratory at Penn State where I was at grad school debating whether to buy the Vega GT or the 240Z. At that time the Datsun (Nissan today) was a bit of a risk because in 1970, nobody had any experience with the brand, especially with the inline 6 sports car shy of the Datsun 2000 which fell short of being a reliable car. Well, he bought the American car and although patriotic at the time, I never looked at him the same way. Driving the Vega had all the thrill and panache of driving a Trabant. Driving that Z-car on the other hand was a serious hoot. Sure they got fat and sloppy in the 70’s and 80’s but didn’t everything?

And so it was last night and this 370 thing sticks like epoxy. It is well behaved and suffers from none of the underdeveloped shortcomings of some of the earlier cars. It changes direction at the mere thought of it, and it has a nice compromise in ride to its prodigious grip. And when the grip runs out, this thing handles like it has some balance to it. Those famous 3 dials in your face and glowing atop the dash remind you constantly where you are. One could argue that not all the information conveyed by the 370s instruments is actually useful, but what the heck. It’s Japanese. The Western mind stretches but fails to comprehend the strangely oriented and only obtusely connected artifacts of the Asian sports car cockpit. And what’s with the mid-dash flap door that opens to a shallow shelf of rectangular configuration, useful for a hankie or maybe some loose soil? It should be lower in front of the 6-speed shifter and a bit deeper for the obligatory gloves.

The 1990s bought a 300ZX that I thought at the time to be the best ever and occasionally my mind wanders down that path again. Lovely to behold (no small thing for any Asian car) and in twin turbo V6 guise, this car was a real rocket ship. Together with the 4-wheel steering setup, gleaned from the all-too-short Mid 4 program, this car was a serious barrel of monkeys to drive, except that it was really buttoned down. Even the 2+2 version seemed to look properly proportioned, unlike the travesty that befell the Jaguar E-Type V12 2+2, when without any warning it turned from the perhaps finest looking sports car of all time into a pregnant guppy with wheels. Truly, the 300ZX was a milestone automobile.

In truth, the 370ZX may be a milestone car as well. There is some real driver feedback and not that it can read and write like an M3, the car has such high levels of grip that when it approaches the edge, you pretty much know that you’re out there on your own. And still the car’s stability control (4-wheel ABS activating as required to stabilize directionality) comes in to rescue you so long as you have not done something beyond Newtonian physics. If you only need 2 seats, you can live with this car very easily on a day to day basis, providing that you don’t have luggage to haul around bigger than a standard suitcase.

The 370ZX is not a pretty car, in my opinion, but it is very close. I say this as a critic because I very much want to like the way it looks; it is sooooo close. The 350ZX was a car that was aesthetically flamboyant. As such, it tends to get old a bit faster than other, more conservative buttoned-down shapes. But the 370 is really quite different, although closely related and easily identifiable, which I like. Along with the shorter wheelbase, the humpy roof line behind the windshield header that stretches out to an interminably long, flat fastback, punctuated by the big-butt Bertha rear bumper is now gone, replaced by a reasonably perfunctory and quite near attractive roofline.

Where the 350 was a collection of horizontal lines of the sports car, clashing with vertically oriented elements of trim like the front side markers/signals, door handles, and long amorphously stretchy headlights and taillights combined in a random if not pointless manner, the 370 seems to mostly fit into a horizontal theme. The 350s undercut along the bottom of the door has been smoothed out on the 370 and now we have a couple of thin bone lines in the rocker panel, much like a BMW E36. The rear window now has a nice shape to it. There is still not a whole lot of rear ¾ vision available, but to be fair the fat pillars dictated by side impact protection in a coupe rarely permit much these days. At least the trunk has a bit more storage space as a result of the elimination of that ridiculous cross brace, emblazoned with the big Z. That was just too close to the screaming chicken for me.

There is much to like with the car inside and out. The apparent quality of the materials used in the interior is hugely improved. The arm rests, interior door handles and wheel/instrument binnacle all seem to be ergonomic perfection. In contrast, the 6 foot + crowd will have some difficulty with the too-short bottom seat cushions and the barely adequate headroom. For the under 6 foot crowd, like my friend Q, I’d say jump on this car now while they are still dealing. This is about as engaging as sports cars get without having to pay the price of a Porsche and then being grateful for the opportunity. Huge Bridgestone RE050A tires, 245/40-19 front and 275/ 35-19 rear, and well sorted 4-wheel A-arm suspension, 0 – 60 in 5.2 seconds, 60 – 0 in 115 feet, and 18/26 mile per gallon EPA city/highway gives a lot for not so much dollars (list below $30K).

One more detail that needs mentioning is the brilliant shift rev-matching (SynchroRev Match) button above and to the right of the shifter. Engage the rev-matching and it is now near impossible to miss a shift, no matter how goofy you get. Go ahead and try but do not get yourself in trouble please. In all the years that we, the car enthusiasts have had manual transmissions, this is perhaps the most useful and meaningful execution I have ever seen. Now anyone can be Stig Blomquist or Michelle Mouton, dancing on the pedals and charging up that windy road. Life is good behind the wheel once again.

Recognized Competition:

Nissan 370ZX $30-42,000, Infiniti G Coupe $36-39,000,  Lotus Elise $47-55,000, Saturn Sky $28-34,000, Audi TT $35-48,000, Chevrolet Corvette $49-114,000, Pontiac Solstice $24-30,000, Honda S2000 $35-38,000, Mazda RX8 $26-32,000, Mercedes SLK $46-66,000,  Porsche Cayman $50-60,000, Porsche Boxster $47-57,000, BMW Z4 $46-62,000, 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe $22-31,000 and Ford Mustang $21-36,000.

Gas Stats:

$2.69/ Gal avg. July 24, ‘09
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

18 City and 26 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $30-42,000.

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

2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid (768)

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Overview:

This week we’re looking at the Toyota Camry Hybrid 4-door sedan. It’s hard to find something wrong with one of the most popular of Toyota’s model offerings. I enjoyed the week driving the Camry once again. I looked at the first Hybrid in model year 2006 and before that I tested the non-hybrid Camry in 2002.

This 2009 model year is $600 less expensive than a nearly identical 2006 model. It is encouraging to see that the hybrid technology is coming down in price over time and thus passed on to the consumer.

There is so much more to chose from in other Hybrid’s prices have improved. In 2006 there were only two major players – Honda and Toyota.

Note:

In addition to my new vehicle reviews being on the net at www.atthewheel.com they are also published at The Weekend Drive – www.theweekenddrive.com where I’m the Southern California Editor. The Weekend Drive is among the most recognized automotive enthusiast websites in the world. Take a look! Go to BLOG and see my interview and tribute to auto legend Boyd Coddington.

The founder of The Week End Drive and international platform speaker, Vince Bodiford and contributor Price Cobb, international race car driver and I were partners in the newspaper business in Colorado and Texas. Both are very knowledgeable in the automotive industry. Price refers to himself as a ‘Gear Head’. Nicer people are rare.

Opinion:

If you ever had any doubt that 40% of all employees are in government jobs it becomes crystal clear when you get on the freeway on Moon Monday or any other bogus government holiday. Please don’t misunderstand, remembering historical events like landing a man on the moon is good but do we really have to give every government employee the day off? Ok, so the good news is that traffic is light; but the bad news is Socialism is upon us and government wants to take money from those with real jobs and give it to those in government jobs that add nothing to the GNP of this country. To add insult to injury they want to keep government jobs while the private sector is having to lay off. What’s that all about Mr. Obama? I think they call that income redistribution. News flash – “most Americans don’t agree with that kind of change”.

In the auto industry the Japanese are profitable while Govt. Motors, previously known as GM will make matters worse for the US and better for imports. Aren’t you just mad as hell at those arrogant (you add the expletive). Your comments are appreciated and encouraged.

Handling & Performance:

The brakes are a bit touchy and take getting used to in part because of the reverse generation feature that begins charging the batteries the moment you take your foot off the accelerator. Other than that it was a delight to drive.

Styling:

Camry is beginning to improve it’s appearance from the plain Jane look of the past. Don’t get me wrong, I’m inclined more to the girl next door and I don’t like a lot of make up, but a new dress now and then is nice. Good job Toyota.

Conveniences and comfort:

Radio and AC controls should be switched because instinctively you reach for the radio much more than the air so I continued to change the air temp instead of the radio volume. Irritating.

I always love to play with the smart cruise control that senses cars ahead. It also adds a degree of safety since it applies the brakes if you don’t pay attention. Of course that can be a double edged sword in that you begin to rely on the feature which can make you drop your guard.

Fit and Finish:

Consistently good. Camry has grown up and now little sister Corolla has moved up a notch in size and conveniences.

Cost:

Pricing is not bad at all, and when you look at fuel economy you gotta just love it.

Consumer Recommendation:

This is a great field of competitors and the midsize class is so versatile and a great choice for all non-truck uses. It’s a great sedan in class is among the top sellers for many years.

The 2010 model year is right around the corner, but for my money I like dealing on a prior year because dealers are also ready to deal to move inventory. And in this case if Camry is your choice the design difference very slight. I suspect if you look at other differences when test driving you’ll like the savings on the ’09.

$524.60 per month. Down=$3,000; Int.=7%; Term=48 months.

Recognized Competition:

Toyota Camry Hybrid $26,150, Mitsubishi Galant $21-28,000, Hyundai Sonata $19-27,000, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid $25,555, Saturn Aura Hybrid $26,325, Pontiac G6 $19-32,000, Kia Optima $17-22,000, Mazda 6 $19-28,000, Mazda Tribute Hybrid $29-33,000, Nissan Altima Hybrid $26,650, 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid $23-27,000 and Ford Fusion $19-28,000.

Good News:

Outstanding fuel economy, comfortable ride, lots of power and generally a smooth transition of electric / battery and gas engine power train.

Bad News:

Touchy brakes and the AC and radio controls should be reversed.

Standard Equipment:

2.4 liter 187 hp 4- cylinder engine with Hybrid Synergy Drive , electronic continuous variable transmission, electric power assist steering, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with brake assist (regenerative), 16” steel wheels, front, side and side curtain front and rear air bags with driver knee bag, child safety tether anchors LATCH, tire pressure monitoring, engine immobilizer, smart key with push button start, climate control, audio with CD  and MP3 & 6 speakers, 60/40 split folding rear seat, tilt / telescopic steering wheel with audio controls, power windows & locks, power driver seat w/ lumbar support and cruise control.

Gas Stats:

$2.75/ Gal avg. July 17, ‘09
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

33 City and 34 Highway MPG

Pricing:
MSRP $25,350.

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

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