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

2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S (757)

22-04-2009Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S SUV. I took this on a road trip for a thorough testing and found it to be worthy of my trust. Highway as well as dirt roads, but I did not give it an off road test because it is not a 4-wheel drive.

For the road it is impressive with the “Turbocharger” for 200 horsepower from a 2 liter engine. Getting a 100 hp per liter has not typically been a characteristic of American cars, but is more typical of European cars.

For an extensive look at Tiguan go to this link. Very interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Tiguan

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian 1%; Germany 70%; Engine – Hungary; Transmission – Japan.

Assembly – Wolfsburg, Germany

Class: – Compact SUV

Cars: – CC, Eos, GLI, GTI, Jetta, New Beatle, Passat, R32, Rabbit, Routan, Tiguan & Touareg.

Opinion:

Well, Chrysler has now filed for Chapter 11 reorganization as you probably know, but what you may not know is that the taxpayers will fork over several billion to Fiat to manage it. Not a dime out of their pocket. Time will tell if we get any of that money back but I fear if it does come back the taxpayers will never see it.

However there is some hope. Fiat is a master builder of smaller cars. When in Poland for example I think at least every other car was a Fiat. They routinely get fuel economy up to 50 mpg. Poland has emerged as a capitalist success story ever since they abandoned their Socialist Communist system back 17 years ago. I suspect in the future you’ll see more luxury cars but the point is when food and housing is more important than the car you drive you find more inexpensive forms of transportation.

Handling & Performance:

Turbochargers make the driving experience exciting for performance lovers which is the best way to excite smaller displacement engines when the power is needed. Fuel numbers are good and the head jerking acceleration is really impressive.

Styling:

A good utility vehicle with nice lines.

Fit and Finish:

VW Quality that is always good.

Cost:

A little pricey, but fair in class. Look for softer prices in the new car market but used inventory is at the top of the Kelly Blue Book.

Conveniences and comfort:

Well appointed and very comfortable for the 1500 mile trip I put this friendly traveler to the test with me for the week. Never a complaint – from either of us… me or the car.

Consumer Recommendation:

Competitively priced with great safety features included. Choosing among the competition will come down to personal preference of style but you won’t do any better in the area of comfort and performance in my opinion. It’s at the top of the list for me. For an SUV it is classed as a compact but it feels more mid size but would not be a good fit for larger families. Son Mike with 4 kids would not do well in this size SUV because of 3 child car seats. His choice was a Chevy Tahoe because of the need. We need to keep ‘Want’ out of the equation and ‘Need’ foremost when making a buying decision.

Test driving is an obvious, but I suggest you consider renting ones of interest for the next several week end outings.

Recognized Competition:

VW Tiguan $23-31,000, BMW X3 $39,700, Mitsubishi Outlander $21-26,000, Toyota RAV4 $22-28,000, Mazda CX-7 $24-28,000, Mazda Tribute $20-28,000, Dodge Nitro $22-29,000, Ford Escape $20-28,000, Jeep Compass $18-25,000, Jeep Patriot $18-24,000, Lexus RX 350 $37-38,000, Mercury Mariner $23-28,000, Pontiac Torrent $25-31,000, Saturn Vue $23-31,000, Kia Sportage $17-23,000, Nissan Rogue $20-23,000, Hyundai Tucson $18-26,000, Honda CR-V $21-29,000, Chevrolet Equinox $24-31,000, Subaru Forester $20-28,000, Suzuki Grand Vitara$18-26,000.

Good News:

Not a lot to complain about, comfortable ride and a good road car as well as around town.

Bad News:

Only fair fuel economy because you can get as good fuel performance out of a large Chrysler Aspen hybrid for example.

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter inline turbocharged 200 hp engine, 6-speed auto trans, power steering, front strut and rear independent suspension, electronic stability program, anti slip, electronic differential lock, electronic brake force distribution with anti lock braking system, front, side and side curtain air bags, LATCH anchors and tethers and child safety locks, tire pressure monitoring system, climate control, in dash CD player, 8-way driver and passenger seat adjustment with driver lumbar, 60/40 split folding and reclining rear seat, anti theft system, remote keyless entry, power windows, power heated mirrors and trailer hitch preparation.

Gas Stats:

$2.29/ Gal avg. April 18, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

18 City and 24 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $24,300.

2009 Nissan Sentra 2.0 SL (756)

15-04-2009Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Nissan Sentra 2.0 SL. Ok, so I take Mark to the airport and he says he likes it and I get to the office and Merkel says he hates it. Me – I like it and figure Merkel was having his usual bad hair day. And after driving it for several hundred miles it became my friend. The ride is comfortably smooth and it is easy on fuel as well. And fuel economy continues to be increasingly important in today’s world because as we speak it is going up up up.

I think you know we can’t get complacent and figure gas prices will magically go down. So you would be wise to own at least one that gets over 30 mpg. My 1985 Chevrolet pick up truck gets a frightening 10-12 mpg. You gotta love the progress made in fuel economy over the years and it isn’t too late to take advantage of owning a car like this Nissan Sentra that claims 33 mpg. I traveled over 400 miles on a tank of gas.

General Info:

Parts –

Assembly – Agus, Mexico

Class: – Midsize

Cars: – Altima, Armada, cube, Frontier, GT-R, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Quest, Rogue, Sentra, Titan, Versa, Xterra & Z.

Opinion:

Car companies on the verge of bankruptcy is a sad thing for all of us. The ripple effect touches everyone. But you know what – the number of cars purchased and thus manufactured won’t change when all is said and done. Richard always tells me that “When all is said and done, much is said and little is done”.

The important thing to note is that the cars sold here in America will for the most part be made by US auto workers because Toyota and other off shore companies either build cars here already or will do so in the future as consumers demand it. Then those auto workers displaced by one failing company will likely find a job with the surviving companies (by the way that is true in any industry).

That’s Capitalism and a free market economy at work as it has from the beginning of our democratic republic in all industries. That’s what America is all about – Freedom to fail and freedom to succeed. And Adam Smith’s free market invisible hand calls for non-government intervention. Let’s keep it that way and trust the greatest economy on earth to pull us out of the mess the “So Called” geniuses in government got us into. At the end of the day it has always been the American worker who does the real work.

Another note is that while GM and Chrysler are struggling to stay alive by spending billions of bail out money from the good old workers most of those taxpayers are employed by “Small” businesses that make up 80% of the work force. Those small companies are the ones without corporate jets and lavish expense accounts? Bailing out those companies in the 20% is curious indeed. Stacey tells me “you can’t fix ‘Stupid’, but you can vote them out of office.”

It’s evident from the polls that the majority of Americans hate our congress men and women and other leaders who think they are as good as Hollywood actors. Oh, silly me, they are as good and make as much money for the same talent… they memorize their lines – that is, those who can’t afford “Teleprompters”.

Handling & Performance:

This is a very capable car and handled the Crest Test with ease. But I am always aware that it must do it on less gas than has been the norm over the years. When gas was $.20 a gallon it didn’t matter that my 57 Chevrolet only got 7 miles per gallon. But it does matter a lot today. The price of gas is more that 10 times as much today as it was then but we don’t get 70 mpg from today’s cars. So fuel performance is important to us all.

Styling:

Merkel I don’t agree with you that this car is ugly. I like it. The trunk is a little small but Buddy reminded me that we got 3 large golf bags in that trunk plus shoes and bottles of water to survive the long hot day at Rancho Vista Golf Course in Palmdale, CA. The truth of the matter is that this Sentra is a better car than we are golfers.

Fit and Finish:

Very good – It’s assembled in Mexico as many cars are these days. . . which by the way is the best way to control the borders between the US and Mexico. Toyota also built a large plant just over the border in Tecate. (now if we can only get rid of the Unions in the US we can be competitive again as well).

Cost:

Just about right and competitive with the field.

Conveniences and comfort:

Everything you need and more that explains the step up in price from the more basic cars I have reviewed lately. I have to tell you it’s pretty easy to get used to “basic”. We all clamor for power seats for example and then once you set them it is unlikely you’ll do that again. Climate control is nice but once you figure what settings you like you seldom change them. Power windows I like and a remote keyless entry system is good for me. I can live without a lot of the other fluff too. Navigation systems are great and I wouldn’t be without one, but portable versions can save thousands of bucks and cell phone based Nav costs me $10 a month.

Consumer Recommendation:

This is a great line up of competition and well priced cars. I tested them all and if Japanese cars are your thing the Sentra is a good choice. Which ever you lean toward consider cutting out the fluff and you’ll have a great commuter that will double as a cost effective family sedan.

Recognized Competition:

Nissan Sentra $17-21,000, Mitsubishi Lancer $14-26,000, Toyota Corolla $15-20,000, Suzuki SX4 Sport $13-18,000, Ford Focus $16-18,000, Dodge Caliber $16-25,000, Scion tC $17-18,000, Pontiac G5 $17-20,000, Saturn Aura $23-27,000, VW Rabbit $16-19,000, $16-19,000, Kia Spectra $14-16,000, Nissan Versa $10-16,000, Hyundai Elantra $14-17,000, Honda Civic $15-25,000, Chevrolet Cobalt $15-23,000, Mazda 3 $15-22,000.

Good News:

Comfy, capable, cost efficient.

Bad News:

Small trunk.

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter 140 hp 4-cylinder engine, Xtronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), torsion beam rear suspension with stabilizer bar, independent front suspension with stabilizer bar, electric assisted power steering, ABS with electronic brake force distribution front disc and rear drum brakes, 16” allow wheels, power mirrors, leather seats steering wheel, air, power windows and locks with auto locking feature, 6-speaker audio with CD/MP3 and XM satellite, speed sensitive audio volume, Bluetooth phone system, child LATCH and rear door safety locks, tire pressure monitoring system, tilt column, 6-way adjustable driver seat, trip computer w/ o/s Temp etc., illuminated steering wheel controls for audio Bluetooth and cruise controls, 2 – 12 Volt power outlets, front – side and side curtain airbags, 60/40 split folding rear seat and vehicle immobilizer.

Gas Stats:

$2.29/ Gal avg. April 18, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

25 City and 33 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $19,660.

2009 Hyundai Accent GS 3-door (754)

08-04-2009Autolove No comments

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2009 Hyundai Accent GS 3 Door coupe. And you must have noticed how this “South” Korean made car is one of many models so much so it’s beginning to look like a GM line up. That’s not necessarily good news, and particularly for the Japanese who have a healthy respect for what Korea has to offer. The two countries have historically been at odds philosophically and now Korea is an economic competitive threat in the car market.

Pea popper would be a good start to describe this tiny commuter. Ok, so not as small as the Smart for about the same money. Mercedes Benz has put much more money into the unique development of the mechanical component of the Smart. At the far end of the basic spectrum are cars like this Accent GS which is the base model compact but does have a decent rear seat for a compact. The SE is the top for Accent and even has Air, power windows and a radio standard… but the price jumps up to $15,000.

For many on a tight budget this is an ideal solution to saving on cost to buy and cost to operate. Of course it is the base model but so is the pricing at $10,000. It reminds me of the GM run at economy with the Geo line that I tested in South Texas when it first came out.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian 1%; Korea 99%.

Assembly – Ulsan, Korea

Class: – Compact

Cars: – Accent, Azera, Elantra,Entourage, Genesis, Santa Fe, Sonata, Tiburon, Tucson and Veracruz.

Opinion:

Staggered work hours as a solution to traffic congestion. Consider employers who start employees at intervals of every half hour, say 6:30AM, 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30 which puts 25% of the work force on the road in rotation to reduce the number of cars on the highway at one time. Considerate it for your company.

Handling & Performance:

Amazing. When you don’t expect much little cars like this Accent will impress you. The mountain curves and climb over the Crest to La Canada was no problem for this car. It took no back seat to any car I have encountered or tested on the Crest at twice the money. And it did it at 30 plus miles per gallon of gas. Let’s keep all this in perspective.

Styling:

Basic, but not homely or frumpy.

Fit and Finish:

Basic but good for the money.

Cost:

Very good and a perfect commuter.

Conveniences and comfort:

Well, basic doesn’t cover it. My Ford model A had as much … no, just kidding, but the thought did occur to me. But you know what, one has to wonder if all that stuff in our cars is all that necessary. What with iPods, cell phones with nav systems built in duplicating all of this stuff in our commuter cars may become obsolete – like the home phone. Me I use mine just for faxing and that too may go away with faxes going to my PC. I found myself enjoying the silence and the absence of Noise Pollution became golden and appreciated.

The one thing I missed the most was the absence of “Cruise Control”.

Consumer Recommendation:

I just got out of the Toyota Yaris and must say that would have to be one to look closely at along with this Korean offering. In any case, frugal and inexpensive will find growing popularity as “things” become less important and people in our lives once again find favor with us all.

Recognized Competition:

Hyundai Accent $11-15,000, Pontiac G3 $14,000, Toyota Yaris $12-16,000, Suzuki Reno $14,000, Ford Focus $16-18,000, Dodge Caliber $16-25,000, Scion xD $15,000, VW Rabbit $16-19,000, Suzuki SX4 Crossover $16-19,000, Kia Rio $11-14,000, Nissan Versa $10-16,000, Honda Fit $15-19,000, Honda Civic $15-25,000, Smart fortwo $12-17,000, Chevrolet Aveo5 $12-15,000, Mazda 3 $15-22,000.

Good News:

Economical class that makes great commuters with best numbers for fuel economy.

Bad News:

Light weight, basic no frills.

Standard Equipment:

1.6 liter 110 hp 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission, power steering, rear spoiler, Radio prep with 4 speakers, child LATCH, tire pressure monitoring system, intermittent wiper, front – side and side curtain airbags, split folding rear seat, remote fuel filler door release.

Gas Stats:

$2.29/ Gal avg. April 18, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

27 City and 33 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $9,970.

2009 Toyota Yaris S 5-door Liftback (753)

01-04-2009Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Toyota Yaris S 5-door Liftback. It’s even more important a vehicle for the times than it was when I last reviewed it two years back, and although I’m less impressed this time around it has a lot of great points that will be obvious on your first test drive. My colleague Merkel owns a 2007 and he and his wife are thrilled with their decision to buy it. They routinely get 39 mpg and if that isn’t enough it is also a pleasure to drive. It is a real car even though some will argue it is too light and too small. “What if you tangle up with a big SUV they say?” Well I have some advice for them… drive defensively and remember those dinosaurs are being replaced by smaller ones. Anyway, what about “Big Rigs” they are a lot more intimidating than a Suburban!

Opinion:

I’ve spoken with Cal Trans and the CHP and reported on their answers to my questions about our roads and my being curious why diamond lanes aren’t used during off peak hours. Traveling on the 134 East from Glendale to Pasadena the other day I was reminded that I can’t understand why the lane is not marked for use as a HOV lane only during rush hour.

You could have fired off a canon up the diamond lane and not hit a soul. The lane was totally empty while the other lanes were struggling to avoid each other. Are Cal Trans / our legislator’s brain dead? Is it not, at best, shameful they ignore the obvious and at worse criminal that they don’t allow use of that lane by all traffic during off peak hour travel? Hello – the lights are on but it would appear no one is home!

Handling & Performance:

Well, I find the best way to get the handling characteristics of a car is to take it over a mountain range and for us in Southern California the best course is over the San Gabriel Mountains between the city and the desert. It is NOT however a road for the faint hearted, especially during commuter hours in the morning or afternoon. But if you love the hair raising rides at 6-Flags Magic Mountain type theme parks you’re ok for the “Crest” and I have to tell you the Yaris is up to the challenge.

Styling:

Well design is very subjective and some would say it’s cute and others say it is ugly.
The rear seat is roomy and will accommodate 3 passengers. They also did a nice job to allow the seat to adjust forward and backward just like the front seats. They also fold flat easily.

Fit and Finish:
Good.

Cost:

More than it needs to be because of the Toyota badge. But a good value none-the-less.

Conveniences and comfort:

I would NEVER own a car without Cruise Control and this week my conviction was renewed since this model came without cruise. The first car I experienced cruise control came out on the Cadillac in the mid 1970s. I knew then this would eventually have to be standard equipment on ALL cars. Well, it is still not standard equipment but optional and highly recommended.

Consumer Recommendation:

Look at the rise in fuel costs creeping up steadily now and consider a fuel efficient commuter like the list below. Yaris is among the best and is a 5 seater versus the Smart for example and gets nearly the same fuel economy for the same money.

Recognized Competition:

Toyota Yaris $12-16,000, Suzuki Reno $14,000, Hyundai Accent $11-15,000, Scion xD $15,000, VW Rabbit $16-19,000, Suzuki SX4 Crossover $16-19,000, Kia Rio $11-14,000, Nissan Versa $10-16,000, Honda Fit $15-19,000, Smart fortwo $12-17,000, Chevrolet Aveo5 $12-15,000.

Good News:

This is a grouping of economical cars and gives a good variety of great commuters. Yaris is among the best in fuel economy.

Bad News:

Light weight that can be intimidating to many drivers.

Standard Equipment:

1.5 liter 4-cylinder 106 horsepower engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, front wheel drive, electric power steering, electronic throttle control, front disc rear drum ABS brakes with brake force distribution, child LATCH and Tether anchors and rear safety door locks, tire pressure monitoring system, halogen headlights, intermittent front wiper and rear wiper, front and rear spoilers, fog lights, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD WMA/MP3 player, CD text display and iPod interface, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, 4–way adjustable front sport seats, 12 volt outlet, folding rear bench seat, remote fuel filler door and hood release.

Gas Stats:

$2.29/ Gal avg. April 13, ‘09
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

29 City and 35 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $15,125.

Chrysler and FIAT Open Up Shop Together (755)

30-03-2009Autolove No comments

Overview:
Regular readers of this column will recognize our guest writer Merkel Weiss and may recall he is an automotive engineer who has worked for Chrysler in his younger years and a professor of automotive design at the prestigious Pasadena based Art Center College of Design right above the Rose Bowl. Herewith is Merkel’s informative view at historic car makers Chrysler and Fiat.

Opinion:

FIAT is an acronym for Fabbricca Italiana Automoboli Torino, and for some who have had some older experiences with the marque here in the USA, Fix It Again Tony. While it is impossible to go back and review all of the horror and success stories which have only improved with the telling, it can be said that Chrysler and FIAT have had many business dealings together and for the most part they have been lucrative ones for both parties. The current linkup promises to be just such an opportunity.

Several years ago when fuel was hovering near $4 per gallon, it was both General Motors and Ford who entered into a contractual agreements with FIAT. GM wanted access to small platforms which were versatile from a manufacturing standpoint, while Ford was looking for a chassis in order to put the new generation Ford Ka into production in Europe. Today, the new Ka has been shown and has met with wide acclaim, while GM quietly paid FIAT the sum of $2B to get out from under the contract. Ford has always made a good variety of small, fuel efficient cars in Europe but has not exported them to the US. GM has a genuine need for small car expertise and ironically paid FIAT the amount required to design and develop the small FIAT Cinquecento (pronounced Chink-way-chen-tow or 500) platform, the car that brought FIAT back to profitability. That money would have equally been useful to GM to do the new Volt platform engineering, I suspect.

When Mercedes Benz acquired Chrysler in the “merger of equals”, the German owners managed to infuse Chrysler with a healthy dose of good-old front-engine, rear-drive platforms, mostly borrowed from older E-Class tooling, modified to work with American hardware. This has done well to bolster the upper end of the Chrysler lineup. The existing product portfolio of highly successful fuel efficient and spacious front-engine, front wheel drive cars from Neon to Intrepid was pretty much ignored, however. While the upper end products were developed, the midrange products atrophied and some, like the Neon, were dropped from the lineup. This is particularly sad now when it is clear that an American car as large and space efficient as a Dodge Intrepid that achieves 30+ miles per gallon on the highway would be an excellent product during times of elevated fuel prices.

I think that everyone will agree that there is simply no question that the price of fuel will rise to and beyond the $4 level once again, the only question is when and who will be prepared with the appropriate lineup of vehicles. Chrysler has shown that they have the expertise to be that company, only lacking as all the Big 3 in the kind of ultra-high fuel economy, price-point vehicles that FIAT can supply.

FIAT has a long history of building automobile factories in remote locations. They pioneered robotic assembly line plants in the 1970s and have successfully built them all over the world, in many cases establishing a viable presence for the operators. So in this sense, it would seem to be, on the surface at any rate, no great difficulty for FIAT to construct a factory in Mexico to produce the Cinquecento by 2011 as planned. The car has been a smash hit in Europe, both for its good looks and its frugal operation.

The FIAT Cinquecento is an extremely sexy compact FWD hatchback coupe. In my opinion, it is exactly the kind of product that is needed and sooner rather than later. It is the kind of product that, like the 300 in its day, creates lust in the buyer. It is exactly the kind of product that the auto industry thrives on but has lacked to a large extent lately, with the possible exception of the ill-timed return of the muscle car era. The lust in buyers has been missing for the most part because the emotion has left product design. It seems like all of these once-great companies have either forgotten or ignored the emotional latch to the buyer that has catapulted them to greatness in the first place. One quick look at the Cinquecento will remind you that it’s not too late to put some of that emotion back into the sheet metal. Further, it will remind you that at least one firm has not forgotten who they are and how they got there.

I have driven the car and I can say without reservation that it is a serious hoot to drive. Yes it is very small, but it does not feel very small – in fact it feels quite spacious inside. Yes it agile, but not at the expense of feeling skittish. Yes it handles quite well with surprisingly little body roll, but it also rides very well, in fact much better that one would expect from looking at its external dimensions. For Chrysler, this car would be the lineup equivalent of the old, but well respected Dodge Colt, supplied by Mitsubishi.

According to the terms of the agreement between Chrysler and FIAT, there will be at least four other cars available in the US as well, derivatives of the Grande Punto and Panda platforms. The Alfa Romeo Mito is another one of the products that is being considered to be imported by Chrysler. The Mito (Me-tow), named for the towns where Alfa and FIAT are headquartered (Milano and Torino), is the same kind of lust-after product that you would expect from the Italian firm owned by FIAT.

There are many hurdles to jump in order to get where Chrysler and FIAT need to go. The first is relatively straightforward. Chrysler needs to stay in business long enough to get the product lineup out to the market, perhaps another two years. This is no small thing. The market is truly grim these days and the product that they have to sell right now is equally so. The ageing 300 series, the 4-door Charger and the Challenger are all very cool, but not the right products for the current market. Their Jeeps, pickup trucks and minivans, ditto. They are desperate for a new era of products that build on their current lineup, but move toward the future needs of Americans.

Given that Mercedes still holds a 20% stake in Chrysler and FIAT would acquire another 35%, the remaining American share is left at 45%. FIAT has stated categorically that they have no interest in running Chrysler, but to be fair, Mercedes probably said that too. There is simply no doubt that Marchionne, turnaround wizard that he is, could easily do a more credible job of running the conglomerate company than Nardelli, whose experience in the auto industry is limited to his previous position as CEO of Home Depot. It should be obvious even to the casual observer that some better direction at the top would be very advantageous about now. Chrysler has a long history of managing failure rather brilliantly, if you recall the most recent prior occasion when Lee Iacocca spoke before Congress and the nation. The result was the Loan Guarantee Act of 1980 where the US countersigned a bank loan to keep Chrysler in business. Indeed it was the success of sales in the marketplace that Chrysler managed poorly. They managed to parlay some rather handsome designs and a cost structure advantage in the industry into the current narrow and dated product offering, which is not totally different from where they were in 1978-9 before the front wheel drive Omni/Horizon and K-Car products saved them. At this point we don’t even know if Congress will look favorably upon the 55% foreign-owned portion of Chrysler in terms of potential loan/bailout funding. We certainly hope they will because now, as in Iacocca’s time the job loss is still considerably more disadvantageous that the loan or bailout, as the case may be. Further, at this point it really doesn’t look like the alternative options for Chrysler are very good at all.

Gas Stats:

$2.17/ Gal avg. March 28, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

43.5 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $26,000.

2010 Jeep Patriot Limited 4X4 (752)

25-03-2009Autolove No comments

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2010 Jeep Patriot Limited 4X4 and whoever picked the color should be shot.

It’s interesting to note that consumer’s give Jeep a better rating than reviewers do. I align myself with the consumer because I have tested a lot of them and attended Jeep Jamboree’s and Jeep Camps that have convinced me this is the best off road / 4X4 value for the money.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian 79%

Assembly – Belvidere, Illinois, USA

Class: – SUV

Cars: – Commander, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot and Wrangler.

Opinion:

A driving hint we all know but we can all be reminded of conditions of the time of day. If you are driving with the sun behind you then it is in the face of oncoming traffic. It can be very blinding and thus you need to be extra defensive. Always be aware and be safe.

Being aware also means that you can’t be distracted. Recent studies show clearly that one distracted driver will back up traffic for miles behind them.

Handling & Performance:

If power is a hot button for you another model would be better. Commander and Grand Cherokee sport V6’s and V8’s from 210-420 hp.

Styling:

Continued look of old and new.

Fit and Finish:

Good.

Cost:

Consistent within class.

Conveniences and comfort:

Good.

Recognized Competition:

Jeep Patriot $15-25,000, Chevrolet HR $19-26,000, Chrysler PT Cruiser $18,275, Dodge Caliber $17-20,000, Dodge Nitro $22-29,000, Ford Escape $21-27,000, Ford Escape Hybrid $30-34,000, Honda CR-V $22-30,000, Honda Element $21-26,000, Hyundai Tucson $19-26,000, Jeep Compass 15-25,000, Kia Rondo $17-22,000, Kia Sportage $17-23,000, Mazda 5 $19-23,000, Mitsubishi Outlander $21-29,000, Nissan Rogue $20-25,000, Pontiac Torrent $25-31,000, Saturn Vue $23-31,000, Saturn Vue Hybrid $28160, Subaru Forester $20-28,000, Suzuki SX4 Crossover $16-20,000, Suzuki SX4 Sport $13-19,000, Toyota Matrix $17-22,000, Toyota RAV4 $22-28,000.

Good News:

Priced well,

Standard Equipment:

234 liter 172 HP inline 4-cylinder engine, continuously variable automatic transmission with off road crawl ration, front and front and rear side curtain air bags, electronic stability control, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes with brake assist, cruise control, security alarm and theft deterrent system and sentry key, remote keyless entry, power windows and speed sensitive door locks, power heated fold away mirrors, rear window washer wiper and defroster, 115 V and 12 V power outlets, air conditioning, heated front seats, power 8-way driver seat, front passenger fold flat seat, 60/40 reclining and folding rear seat, SIRIUS satellite radio, media center with 6-CD/DVD/MP3 radio, audio jack input for mobile devices, leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls.

Gas Stats:

$2.97/ Gal avg May 29 ‘10

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

20 City and 22 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $24,550.

2010 Jeep Liberty 4X4 (751)

18-03-2009Autolove No comments

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2010 Jeep Liberty 4X4 SUV. Wow, since I reviewed the Liberty some years ago on an Elk Hunt in the snow of southern Oregon, this SUV has put on some weight. But then I have too.

As you probably already know I have a soft spot in my heart for Jeep. The Jamboree’s I’ve attended have convinced me Jeep is not only the Original it is up to the challenges made by virtually every other SUV on the market.

The real contenders are Hummer, Range Rover and newcomer Toyota FJ. They are threats to the Grand Daddy of Crowned Champs in the Off Road auto world. There are admittedly others that are capable but they don’t double as ON Road travelers. They must ride to the off road venues on a trailer. Probably pulled by a Jeep.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian 80%

Assembly – Toledo, Ohio, USA

Class: – SUV

Cars: – Commander, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot and Wrangler.

2003 Liberty smaller size $17-24,000. 1989 Wrangler

Opinion:

Revealing Holidays!

If you ever wondered how many government employees you’re tax dollars are supporting, you’ll be on notice when you drive down the freeway on “Moon Monday”, “Gay Liberation Day”, MKL’s and Presidents day holidays. That’s right those are the days when government offices celebrate while the rest of us must go to work to earn real money to pay for their time off. (suggestion to those on the dole workers – go to the beach on those days and drive during rush hours so it won’t be so obvious).

It would appear to me that if there is 17% unemployment of Non-government jobs then federal and state government should lay off the same number of jobs in the public sector. Me – I’m tired of supporting these high paid positions that provide lousy service to boot. The classic example is the DMV.

If I don’t produce I don’t get paid, but government workers simply show up and they get paid. While on assignment in Eastern Europe shortly after the fall of the USSR and Socialism generally, young people I visited with were thrilled to have the opportunity of Capitalism. But their parents were bummed because they had become accoustomed to just showing up to get a pay check. Today, Poland’s economy, for one Eastern European country, is growing by leaps and bounds as a result.

Traffic patterns can be pretty revealing and a shocking reminder of the imbalance of workers who produce GNP or GDP and those Government Jobs that consume the hard work of the “Real Workers”. For the younger readers, if you don’t know what thoseAcronyms stand for you’re not paying enough attention to US Economic Theory and policy. It is more likely you didn’t even learn about Economics in government run schools.

Ok, so this opinion probably offends about 40% of the people, and the TRUTH of it should offend the other 60% who are reminded of the FACTS – Nothing but the facts.

Handling & Performance:

Ever improving on road comfort as well as first class off road prowess.

Styling:

Consistently Jeep image. Friend Dave has a 1942 Jeep and the dream lives on.

Fit and Finish:

Excellent

Cost:

It is amazing to me that prices have NOT inflated over the years as you might think or expect. The 2003 Liberty was priced at $17-24,000. What’s amazing is that simply from the growth or increase due to passage of time the Rule of 72’s can shed light on the real value we have experienced over the past several decades. Of course the economies of scale and vastly improved technology and component cost efficiency has made a big impact on future cost as well.

Current competitive prices are very close for all in this class.

Conveniences and comfort:

Larger and ever growing improvements in technology.

Consumer Recommendation:

Put Jeep on your competitive review for this class SUV.

Recognized Competition:

Jeep Liberty $23-29,000, Chevrolet Equinox $23-30,000, Dodge Nitro $22-25,000, Ford Escape $21-27,000, Ford Escape Hybird $30-34,000, Honda CR-V $22-30,000, Honda Element $21-26,000, Hyundai Tucson $19-26,000, 2009 Kia Sportage $17-23,000, Mazda Tribute $20-29,000, 2009 Mazda Tribute Hybrid $29-33,000, Mercury Mariner $24-27,000, Mercury Mariner Hybrid $30-32,000, Mitsubishi Outlander $21-29,000, 2009 Nissan Rogue $20-23,000, 2009 Pontiac Torrent $25-31,000, 2009 Saturn Vue $23-31,000, 2009 Saturn Vue Hybrid $28,160, Subaru Forester $20-28,000, 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara $19-27,000, Toyota RAV4 $22-28,000.

Good News:

Jeep styling, roomy interior in class, stable handling and solid feel.

Bad News:

If you opt for the full top soft cover it will come with wind noise. If I wanted that unique sliding top I would put up gladly with a little wind noise.

Standard Equipment:

3.7 liter 210 HP V6 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, electronic stability program, 4-wheel ABS brake assist disc brakes, traction control, Electronic roll mitigation, hill start assist and hill decent control, multistage front air bags, supplemental side curtain and rear air bags, Part time 4-wheel drive system, cruise control, security alarm and theft deterrent system and sentry key, tire pressure monitoring, 19.5 gal fuel tank, air conditioning, media center with CD/MP3 radio, audio jack 8 speakers and SIRIUS satellite service for 1-year, vehicle information center, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, cargo compartment cover, power windows and locks, leather trim 6-way power driver and 2-way passenger heated front seats, tilt steering column, fold flat front passenger seat, 60/40 split folding rear seat, 17” aluminum wheels and rear window wiper washer.

Gas Stats:

$2.97/ Gal avg. January 30 ‘10

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

15 City and 21 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $28,735.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart (750)

12-03-2009Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart 5-door Hatchback. The Sportback is my favorite of the Lancer models because I like the rear styling and it is more of a family car. The Evolution is fun to drive with 291 horsepower and more a kids car. The Sportback sports a 237 hp engine but the turbo gives it a real boost. Some won’t like the head jerking touchy pedal when the turbo kicks in. As you will recall, a Supercharger is belt driven off of the engine so power boost is instant whereas the Turbocharger depends on RPM of the engine and as it increases it adds boost that is delayed. I did get used to the touchy-ness – kind-a.

The first observation I made driving this Lancer was the unlikely comparison with the Nissan 370Z that I had just finished test driving. Well I traveled the exact test mountain course I frequently drive and I was amazed it was performing as well relative to the “Ride on Rails” performance of the Z. I suspect that in large part was due to the AWD (all wheel drive) feature of the Lancer compared to the rear wheel drive Z.

General Info:

Parts – Japan 81%, Engine – Japan; Transmission – Germany

Assembly – Misushima, Japan

Class: – Small Station Wagons

Cars: – Eclipse, Endeavor, Galant, Lancer, Lancer Evolution, Lancer Sportback, Outlander and Raider.

Opinion:

Those pesky big rig trucks who share the highway with us all. I think intstinctively we all give them a wide berth, but I look at it with 3 reasons why those of us driving cars and small trucks should be aware of these big rig work horses.

They are bigger than us.
They can’t stop on a dime and certainly not as fast as you can
They haul up to 50 times the load volume of smaller trucks that are only a third to a quarter the footprint of the 18 wheeler. Therefore they take up a lot less space on the highway to do the same work.

The point is don’t pick a fight that you’re sure to lose.

Handling & Performance:

Very good. Lots of power with the Turbo.

Styling:

Bold grill work that I like. Some take exception that it is too big and is a copy of Audi’s signature feature.

Fit and Finish:

Good.

Cost:

In the hunt for an all wheel drive car but it has some stiff competition.

Conveniences and comfort:

Cruise controls are flat and although they look good I prefer raised controls.

Recognized Competition:

Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback $19-28,000, Audi A3 $27-31,000, BMW 1-Series $29-40,000, Chevrolet Cobalt $15-25,000, Ford Focus $16-19,000, Honda Civic $15-25,000, Hyundai Elantra Touring $16-20,000, Kia Forte $14-17,000, Mazda 3 $15-22,000, MINI Clubman $20-31,000, MINI Cooper $19-34,000, Nissan Sentra $15-20,000, Saturn Astra $17-20,000, Subaru Impreza $17-27,000, Subaru Impreza WRX $25-35,000, Toyota Corolla $15-20,000, Toyota Matrix $17-22,000, Volkswagen Golf $18-23,000, Volkswagen GTI $23-24,000, Volkswagen Rabbit $16-19,000.

Bad News:

Cruise controls need reconsideration,

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter 4-cylinder turbocharged 237 hp engine, twin clutch sportronic transmission with paddle shifters, dual front, side & side curtain airbags, drivers side knee airbag, LATCH system child anchors, tire pressure monitoring, engine immobilizer with anti theft system, stability & traction control, turbocharger, all wheel drive with front Helical & rear mechanical limited slip differentials, sport tuned suspension, anti lock brakes with electronic brake distribution, front and rear stabilizer bars, climate control air conditioning, leather wrapped steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, Audio with CD/MP3 and 6-speakers, aluminum pedals, 60/40 split fold down rear seat, power window, locks and mirrors, Bluetooth hands free system, fog lights, rear wing spoiler, rear wiper, and 18” alloy wheels.

Gas Stats:

$3.01/ Gal avg. April 17 ‘10

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

17 City and 25 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $27,600.

2009 Toyota Highlander 4-door 4X2 SUV (749)

06-03-2009Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Toyota Highlander 4-door 4X2 SUV. When I picked it up on my return from an assignment in Sacramento, my associate got in and said, “what a coincidence – I had already decided I was going to buy a Highlander to replace my current car – a Toyota Sequoia and the only difference is that I want the Hybrid”.

My response was that this 4-cylinder may be a better buy in the long run, because I’m still concerned about the potential for high maintenance costs down the road. The non-conventional components and technology are untested long enough to ease my mind.

As to my friend buying this Highlander I will bet he’ll buy the V6 because it is more powerful at 270 horsepower. It will be a business vehicle and even though he’ll get less fuel economy he knows his tax rate is 43% Federal and State. Obama and the Demo congress are sure to try to make it even higher to pay for the “Change” promised. So, at the end of the day his waste will be paid in equal parts by his adopted Uncle when he deducts the increased fuel costs. What do you think – tax increases to 50% – 60%. Hell, just lay off one more employee and don’t worry about the extra gas.

Observation:

You know what – I get tired on our crowded highways when an unfortunate accident happens. But I have to tell you that the cost to society in additional burning of fuel, lost time at work and general frustration and stress cause much more damage to us all than the benefit of detailed scrutiny on what caused the accident, who was at fault etc. No-fault insurance should eliminate the need to look so closely. They can work out the details later. In the meantime, we need to get that traffic log jam cleared faster.

I get mad as hell watching the Highway Patrol gloat over the jam as they snub their noses at thousands of people slowed to a stop, while they do their jobs. I have news for them – they are more the problem than the solution. And we’re not impressed by their Gestapo posture.

Put larger bumpers on the front of those squad cars we drivers / commuters pay for and push the damn car off to the side and allow the rest of us to get to OUR jobs because we’re not there to watch you do yours.

When you consider lost time of say a half hour for each accident the cost is nearly unfathomable to the hundreds of thousands of commuters involved. For you math wizards out there, call me when you calculate the millions of dollars in extra fuel, and lost productivity. Hint: deduct the huge percentage of government employees who do not actually produce any goods and services in this economy.

Handling & Performance:

Responsive beyond what you’d expect for a 4-cylinder 187 hp engine. Trust me – test this engine configuration and I think you’ll agree you don’t need the V6 with 80 hp more and you won’t use so much gas.

Styling:

Highlander is nice looking with very clean lines, but the design more importantly provides a quiet ride. After coming out of a recent test of the Subaru Forester SUV I noticed how much more noise you get from the road and other moving parts in that Forester. I had to slam the Subaru for the high noise level because insulation is perhaps the least expensive thing to include in the design. Shame on them and kudos to Toyota for the better design.

Fit and Finish:

Always a pleasure to be reminded how well Toyota does on assembly.

Cost:

OK, so there’s a cost to all that good workmanship noted above, but you won’t see it reflected in the prices of this class SUV as much as you’d expect.

Conveniences and comfort:

Very good but, of course, you’ll pay more for the goodies.

Consumer Recommendation:

Price demands you include Highlander in your search. Me – I’d pony up a few extra Jewish shekels for the quality workmanship. But the Dodge Journey is a pretty compelling competitor for a lot less money so don’t leave that one out. I’ve tested them all and if money is not an issue I’d also look closely at the Cad SRX (elegant and one of my favorites).

Recognized Competition:

Toyota Highlander $26-35,000, Dodge Journey $21-29,000, Buick Enclave $35-39,000, GMC Acadia $32-40,000, Cadillac SRX $40-47,000, Subaru Tribeca $30-34,000, Kia Borrego $26-40,000, Mitsubishi Outlander $20-26,000, Chevrolet Traverse $29-41,000, Lincoln MKX $38-40,000, Lexus RX 350 $37-38,000, Nissan Murano $28-37,000, Honda Pilot $28-40,000, Ford Edge $27-37,000, Suzuki XL-7 $26-30,000, Saturn Outlook $31-36,000, Mazda CX-9 $30-35,000, Volvo XC60 $ n/a, Hyundai Veracruz $ n/a.

Good News:

Good pricing, good quality, decent fuel economy in the 4-cylinder version with good performance.

Bad News:

The Economy.

Standard Equipment:

2.7 liter 187 hp inline 4-cylinder engine, front wheel drive, 6-speed automatic trans, power steering, 4-wheel power anti-lock disc brakes with EDB (brake force distribution), 17” alloy wheels, stability control, front side and roll sensing curtain airbags, 2nd row child restraints and tether anchors, power mirrors, front variable and rear intermittent wipers, privacy glass, auto headlights, air conditioning, audio with CD player and auxiliary jack, power windows & locks, cruise control, remote keyless entry, tilt & telescopic wheel, cloth interior, driver 8-way and passenger 4-way seats and 40/20/40 split 2nd row seat.

Gas Stats:

$2.11/ Gal avg. Feb 28, ‘09
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

20 City and 27 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $25,705.

2009 Subaru Forester SUV (748)

26-02-2009Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2009 Subaru Forester – the little brother of the upscale Tribeca. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy luxury as much as the other guy but for a $10,000 price difference the Forester is pretty tempting. And fuel economy is 25% better.

The Crest Test is a great place to evaluate the total handling characteristics of any car or truck. And this SUV passed the test with flying colors. It is pretty awesome primarily because of the signature All-Wheel-Drive feature of Subaru. And I found it to have plenty of power because of the 5-speed manual transmission. Overall – this is a nice midsize SUV.

General Info:

Parts – Japan 100%.

Assembly – Japan

Class: – SUV

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

Opinion:

You know what, for a kinder and gentler country we have less compassion with our citizens and more sense of need to tax them where ever we can. And the CHP – California Highway Patrol is the modern day tax collector. Let’s face it they only add to the aggravation we must endure with the mess of congestion on our highways. It’s like a double teaming of the CHP and Cal Trans to make our lives miserable.

As if stress of everyday life were not enough you get nailed for $300 fines and that is “Criminal”. So who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? The difference becomes very blurred, doesn’t it?

My suggestion is for “We the people” to push for permanently mounted radar speed indicators everywhere you find a black and white today. Flash the speed we’re traveling up on a screen and guess what, people slow down. Generally we speed because we have memory lapses or are simply distracted by the rigors of the day and our foot gets heavy. A gentle reminder is all we need to “do the right thing”.

Secondly we should make it mandatory that all cars be equipped with Cruise / Speed control. It reduces stress when you set the speed at what the flow of traffic is and you’ll get to your destination more relaxed and in the same amount of time. Try it, you’ll like it.

And as for the tax revenue lost we’ll make it up by not needing all those CHP guys and gals and that’s a lot more money than permanent “Robo-Cops”.

Handling & Performance:

AWD is great for handling and in this Forester the fuel performance is improved by 25%. Fuel cost is sure to go back up in the near future so this SUV option from Subaru is a very compelling argument to drive a more basic, yet attractive SUV. The more basic means you’ll have to put up with much more road, engine and drive line noises.

Styling:

Subaru is distinct in appearance but it is the AWD that really defines the car.

Fit and Finish:

Much improved over the years across the brand and the Forester is quite good for the money – especially when you consider AWD is standard on all their products.

Cost:

Not as pricey as its sibling Tribeca by a big chunk of dough. If more basic is ok with you it is at the top of the list in class for me.

Conveniences and comfort:

Competitive complement of creature comforts. Good size transformer cargo area and just the right size for most uses. Son Mike with 4 kids would be a stretch to go to the beach or mountains or out to see dad in the desert. The roof rails for extra gear is fine for a longer trip, but for the short ones it is inconvenient.

Consumer Recommendation:

If a luxury ride is not important you can save a bundle in this class and Subaru is a serious player. But there is no question this is a very capable field of SUVs. Like a menu with too much good stuff to eat or come to think about it the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit edition where it’s tough to decide which is best.

Here’s the kicker – New cars are not selling so used car prices are through the roof right now. For the 90% of you who ARE employed, this is a great time to buy a new car, because new car dealers are “Deal’n”.

Recognized Competition:

Subaru Forester $20-28,000, Pontiac Torrent $25-31,000, Jeep Patriot $18-24,000, Jeep Liberty $23-28,000, Mitsubishi Outlander $20-26,000, Chevrolet Equinox $24-31,000, Hyundai Tucson $18-26,000, Kia Rondo $17-22,000, Kia Sportage $17-23,000, Nissan Rogue $20-23,000, Acura RDX $34-37,000, Honda CR-V $21-29,000, Honda Element $20-26,000, Ford Escape $20-28,000, Ford Escape Hybrid $30-34,000, Mercury Mariner $23-28,000, Suzuki Grand Vitara $18-26,000, Saturn Vue $23-31,000, Mazda CX-7 $24-28,000, Mazda Tribute $20-28,000, Toyota RAV4 $22-28,000, Volkswagen Tiguan $23-31,000.

Good News:

Sweet mountain driving experience, nice styling, very competitive pricing in class, All- wheel drive advantage and decent fuel economy to boot.

Bad News:

Road and engine noise is more noticeable than it needs to be – after all how much more does good insulation cost. Stuff the damn thing with rags… something.

Standard Equipment:

2.5 liter horizontally opposed 4-cylinder 170 hp engine, security system with engine immobilizer, 5-speed manual trans, symmetrical All-wheel drive, 4-wheel independent suspension, 4-wheel power ABS disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution, dual front & side seat and side curtain air bags with roll over sensor, daytime running lights, tire pressure monitoring system, vehicle dynamic control, air conditioning with filtration system, AM/ FM with single CD changer, cruise control, variable intermittent wipers with rear wiper washer and de-icer, power windows & locks, dual power mirrors, rear 60/40 split fold down seat and 12 V outlets in Dash, console and Cargo area.

Gas Stats:

$2.23/ Gal avg. Feb 28, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

20 City and 25 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $22,695.

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