Tag Archives: 2010

2010 Audi TTS 2.0 TFSI Quattro S-Tronic Coupe (815)

19-05-2010Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Audi TTS 2.0 TFSI Quattro S-Tronic Coupe… lets just call it a TTS, but no matter what you call it you’ll definitely say it’s fast.

A recent test car was painted a ‘putrid’ green and then this TTS was delivered and it was brilliantly painted “Solar Orange”. I love it and I didn’t have one negative comment about the paint from anyone else. I highly recommend it. Also brilliant was the interior color treatment of black and orange leather with really classy orange piping and aluminum inlays. Very special car.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian 1%, Germany 75%

Assembly – Gyor, Hungary

Class: – SubCompact

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

Opinion:

I get very nervous when a car behind me is being piloted by a person with a cell phone in hand. A hands free device is only part of the answer because ‘Texting’ is the rear danger which younger drivers in particular do not hesitate to do it while driving. To them it is simply “Multi-Tasking”. More an more we are learning that the human animal only thinks they can do two things at once. They are slowly learning not only can’t they walk and chew gum they definitely can NOT write their friends while driving an automobile at any speed.

Handling & Performance:

Pretty amazing and I think you’ll agree. If you haven’t already driven one, go for a test drive and if that doesn’t get your heart started nothing will, short of a date with Miss America. You’re going to like the experience, I guarantee it.

The reason it is at the top of my list of great sport cars is, in my opinion, because it is an all around performer. The Turbocharger gives it great acceleration, it’s dynamic low center of gravity, wide stance and Quattro / all wheel drive give it great road hugging characteristics not easily bested by others available for use on public highways. Nissan 370Z comes in at # 2 for my money. Sure, the Corvette Z is awesome for raw speed and acceleration but it would be #3 on my list for road hugging ability.

The transmission is a DSG (direct shift gearbox) and it is lightning fast in action and as smooth as it gets. It employs a dual-clutch design that holds the previous gear while shifting to the next and then drops the last gear for instant shifting performance. Pretty cool.

Brother John was a Ferrari’s kind of guy and on occasion I would drive his 365 GTB or the Daytona. For my money I think this TTS does it for me. Porsche is ok too, but like Ferrari they will set you back at least twice the dough. I’ll travel the world for the difference but I won’t miss out on all that much performance driving the TTS.

I tested a Porsche on the race track with a Porsche company professional driver in the right seat. I watched him take it for a couple of laps and it looked pretty easy. Looks are deceiving. At any rate, for $125,000 for that particular Porsche makes this TTS looks really good. And perhaps if I pushed the TTS a little past its limit on the track like I did with the Porsche I might also do a 360 deg., at turn 3. In that track experience there was no harm, no foul and I continued on around without further incident.

I did test this TTS on one of my favorite mountain road test areas and of course I have learned to push only so far. But it was pretty impressive and I didn’t go off the road once.

Styling:

Spectacular look in addition to being one of the premier performers of highway cars. It isn’t for everyone however because it is essentially a two seater. I believe it would also accommodate two small children. Friend Merkel doesn’t agree. Trust me, it isn’t any different than the rear seat of an older Mustang or Camaro.

There is a bit of a Visibility issue and many will have a problem with that. I didn’t going forward but in reverse you are nearly blind with the supports for the hatchback and the small rear window.
Fit and Finish:

Excellent.

Cost:

This Audi is worth the price of admission.

Conveniences and comfort:

All very special stuff that makes the car a kick to drive all the time. This is a keeper and I really could have tested it for another couple of weeks, but I have a weekly column, so I only stretched it to 9 days.

Consumer Recommendation:

Be sure to look at the new Solar Orange color scheme. It is the Bee’s Knee’s. Cute and attractively stylish. Quite possibly the nicest car I have driven in 2010. Try it – you’ll like it too.

Recognized Competition:

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

Good News:

A kick to drive, great styling, fast fast fast road hugging thrilling experience you won’t often find.

Bad News:

Visibility limitations, entry and exit is tight.

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter 285 hp turbo charged 4-cylinder engine, S-Tronic 6-speed automatic dual clutch transmission, Quattro all wheel drive system, 18” alloy wheels, Front McPherson strut and four link rear suspension, servotronic electromechanical steering, electronic stability control, 4-wheel abs disc brakes, anti-slip regulation, automatic rear spoiler, Xenon headlights, tire pressure monitoring system, multi-function leather wrapped sport steering wheel, climate control, 140 watt sound system with in dash CD with SIRIUS satellite and 9-speakers, cruise control, Bluetooth hands free system, 2+2 seater with 50/50 split folding rear seat, front, side and knee airbags, anti-theft alarm system, anchors and tethers for children (LATCH). Options: 19” alloy wheels, silk nappa leather package, 10-way power seats, nav system, rain sensing wipers and Bose sound system upgrade with 6 disc CD changer and LED interior lighting package ($6,050).

Gas Stats:

$2.98/ Gal avg. October 25, ‘09

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

21 City and 29 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $45,900.

2010 Dodge Avenger R/T (813)

03-05-2010Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Dodge Avenger R/T. Avenger was introduced in 1995 and replaced the Daytona. Today Avenger gets its looks from its sibling muscle cars – Charger and Challenger. For many the trip down memory lane of muscle cars is filled with images of their ‘good old days’. Those were the experimental days that made today’s cars what they are. In those ‘good old days’ most all cars were little more than buckets of bolts and gear heads relished the experiences of just keeping them running so they could look cool cruising. That was how guys had ‘fun’ in the 1950s and 1960s.

I suspect that’s why Chrysler has done so well with ‘Retro’ cars today. When I first test drove the revisited Challenger for 2008 people nearly strained their necks doing double takes as we passed on the road. But it wasn’t the old guys but the young ‘dudes’ who surprised me most with their interest. That’s why these are special cars – there is something about them that is timeless. But you know what – they just get better and you don’t have to worry about keeping them running. But when it comes to being able to relive those days we owe Chrysler a debt of gratitude for having the huevo’s to bring them back.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian – 85%

Assembly – Sterling Heights, MI, USA

Class: – Midsize Cars

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

Horsepower:

We all rely on Horsepower as a way to identify power relative to other cars on the road. Muscle cars of old that this Chrysler Avenger reminds me of defines our love for power and influence.

The technical description of horsepower is:

As the term implies it relates to how much work a horse can do over time. So it has stuck as a measure of what machines can do relative to the horse. SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) standardized how it is calculated about a hundred years ago and unless the stated horsepower is certified by the SAE, you can’t place much trust in the accuracy of the number.

DIN horsepower is the German standard. The conditions of the test vary slightly, but the required equipment on the engine and the point of measurement (flywheel) remains the same. Because the test conditions are so similar, it is safe to divide DIN horsepower by 1.0139 to arrive at SAE net. This value is so close to equal that for all but the most technical purposes DIN and SAE net are interchangeable.

General Motors was the first manufacturer to certify an engine’s power and torque ratings using a newly adopted SAEstandard (J2723), James Queen, GM Vice President, Global Engineering, announced during his keynote address at the SAE World Congress and Exhibition in April 2005. The world’s largest automaker said it planed to certify all of its engines to the voluntary standard, and is encouraging its competitors to do the same.

At the end of the day, no matter how they calculate it, we know what fast is and what isn’t just by driving the car and pushing the pedal to the metal, as they say. That validation is pretty easy and when you drive a Corvette Z06 or newer you pretty much know that is as fast as you need to go to get your heart started. Me – I almost always do a 0-60 test and if you get there in 4-5 seconds you believe the horsepower rating or rather you really don’t care how real the number is.

Wanna race for pinks?

Handling & Performance:

Parochial. Handles well but it will leave you feeling it is underpowered. Another engine option is not available.

Styling:

Improved a lot since it was introduced in ’95.

Fit and Finish:

Good.

Cost:

Top of the heap in price point that will attract a lot of buyers.

Conveniences and comfort:

Quite good.

Recognized Competition:

Dodge Avenger $20-22,000, Chevrolet Malibu $22-27,000, Ford Fusion $20-28,000, Honda Accord $21-31,000, Hyundai Sonata$19-25,000, Kia Optima $18-23,000, Mazda 6 $19-29,000, Mercury Milan $22-28,000, Mitsubishi Galant $22-24,000, Nissan Altima $20-30,000, Saturn Aura $23-27,000, Subaru Legacy $20-30,000, Suzuki Kizashi $19-27,000, Toyota Camry $20-29,000 and Volkswagen Jetta $19-25,000.

Good News:

Very well priced in class.

Bad News:

Poor rating among most reviewers who say power is sluggish and JD Powers says reliability rating is ‘mediocre’.

Standard Equipment:

2.4 liter 173 horsepower Inline 4-cylinder engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, front side and side curtain airbags, LATCH system child safety, rear door child protection locks, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, remote keyless entry, theft deterrent system, security alarm, cruise control, tire pressure monitoring, power door locks, air conditioning, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, 8-way driver heated power seat, front passenger fold forward flat seat, 60/40 folding rear seat, audio with CD/DVD/MP3 & SIRIUS satellite radio – 6 speakers, power windows, fog lights and power heated mirrors / manual fold away.

Gas Stats:

$3.00/ Gal avg. May 23 ‘10

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

21 City and 30 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $21,730.

2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI 4-door (812)

26-04-2010Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI 4-door compact sedan. You gotta love the European approach to car making. They are different from American made cars. They build with an eye to ‘substantial’ and make things that last a lifetime. They engineer components to last longer than they need to. American car makers engineer components to last just long enough and therefore are generally more profitable.

Asian made cars tend to be “knock-offs” or clones of American cars. Think about it. Some believe Asian cars are more thoughtfully put together, but even that may have been true 30 years ago but not today. Cheaper labor doesn’t mean better labor.

European and American products have always been higher quality in most everything that has been or IS made today. But probably not with Will be made in the future because that will change over time and even third world countries will continue to develop and come closer together with other artisans of the world. Not in your lifetime but eventually they will become industrialized and look just like the Western World. . . God help us, because I’m not sure Western Culture is better just because it is different, or rather because it is more progressive and aggressive.

I spent 4 years in the Navy and so I understand living life with less restraint. I understand when some use the term “like a drunken Sailor” to embellish or explain in fewer words “Wild and Crazy” behavior. It happens and that is what I mean by ‘less restraint’. Well, that’s the difference in Eastern and Western cultures when it comes to “Consumption”. And frankly I’m not sure such a life style is an enviable quality of Western Culture. Yea we all like more, bigger, better but there’s the rub, eh!? Is all that “Better”? Well, I’m not crazy. I’m not going right out and buy a bicycle or ride in a rickshaw to the office.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canada 1%, Germany 75%

Assembly – Wolfsburg, Germany

Class: – Compact Cars

Cars: – CC, Eos, GLI, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta Sports Wagon, New Beetle, Passat, Passat Wagon, R32, Rabbit, Routan, Tiguan and Touareg 2.

Opinion:

Driving on our highways is generally a wonderful experience. But studies are being done on what keeps traffic moving smoothly. Those studies have shown ONE distracted driver can tie up traffic for miles around him or her.

You can help traffic move smoothly and better if you use Cruise Control and set your speed at the general flow of traffic. Thoughtful drivers also move to a slower lane if they are moving slower than the flow in their lane. The guideline here is that if people are passing you on the right, you might want to move over to the slower lane. It’s the polite thing to do. It doesn’t matter why traffic at that time and place insists on traveling faster than you. Suck up your pride and move over.

Consider it is not only the right thing to do it will prevent you from being involved in a needless accident or be a victim or cause of ‘roadrage’. Better yet, when you do allow faster drivers to go ahead of you they will be the ones who attract the CHP and a ticket for their speed if it exceeds or ignores safety under the conditions.

Handling & Performance:

It is amazing what power and performance VW can get from 2.0 liters. Ok, so it’s only 140 hp but because of the Turbo, this diesel will knock your socks off. You will definitely notice the impressive acceleration when you enter a freeway and need to merge into fast moving traffic.

What this also means is that when you set the cruise control it will pull on the hills with ease. Even more amazing is that it does “everything” you need in a commute and more with MPG numbers of 41 mpg highway. I’m really impressed with that.

Styling:

You’ll be the judge on this one. It is better looking than the Toyota Prius and does it all better. Those German’s are good.

Fit and Finish:

Excellent.

Cost:

Really tough to beat.

Conveniences and comfort:

European cars absolutely do the best job when it comes to making compact cars roomier inside than most other cars in the world, and give up little in comfort. I’ve never been a fan of German, and particularly VW seat adjustment mechanism’s. I prefer almost any other design.

Carefree maintenance service and 24-hour roadside service is covered at no cost for 3 years or 36,000 miles.

Visors don’t extend and that bugs me.

Recognized Competition:

Volkswagon Golf $18-23,000, Chevrolet Cobalt $15-25,000, Dodge Caliber $16-25,000, Ford Focus $16-19,000, Honda Civic $15-25,000, Honda Fit $15-19,000, Hyundai Elantra $14-18,000, Hyundai Elantra Touring $16-20,000, Kia Forte $14-17,000, Kia Forte Koup $17-18,000, Mazda 3 $15-22,000, MINI Clubman $20-31,000, Mitsubishi Eclipse $21-33,000, Mitsubishi Lancer $15-27,000, Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback $19-28,000, Nissan Sentra $15-20,000, Saturn Astra $17-20,000, Subaru Impreza $17-27,000, Suzuki SX4 Crossover $16-20,000, Toyota Corola $15-20,000, Toyota Matrix $17-22,000.

Good News:

Well made, priced and performance doesn’t get any better.

Bad News:

Visors that don’t extend,

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter 140 horsepower Inline 4-cylinder turbo clean diesel engine, 6-speed manual transmission, electro mechanical power steering, independent front and rear suspension, front side and side curtain airbags, Electronic Stability program, anti-slip regulation, 4-wheel ABS power disc brakes, LATCH child safety system, tire pressure monitoring system, power mirrors, leather wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, remote keyless entry, anti-theft alarm with immobilizer deterrent system, air conditioning, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, power windows, 60/40 folding rear seat, touchscreen audio with 6-CD changer w/ SIRIUS satellite radio w/ 6-month subscription, fog lights, 17” alloy wheels

Gas Stats:

$3.00/ Gal avg. May 15 ‘10

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

30 City and 41 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $21,990.

2010 Dodge Challenger SE (810)

19-04-2010Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Dodge Challenger SE 2-door coupe that is super popular. It simply looks great and although the V6 won’t burn up the road you can opt for the R/T with a 5.7 liter 372 horsepower V8 engine or the SRT8 with a 6.1 liter 425 horsepower V8 engine.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian – 70% – Mexico 16%

Assembly – Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Class: – Compact Cars

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

Opinion:

If you drive CA-14 as I do I’ll bet you find the need to dodge potholes. It’s very distracting and dangerous. I have a suggestion for our friends in government. Cut county jobs by 10% and Cal Trans could fill all the potholes from here to the moon. Cut State jobs by 10% and we could balance the budget and fill all the potholes to Mars.

What’s more insulting is that recent reports show that we pay salaries to those employed in government jobs one and a half times those salaries paid to those in productive jobs. You know, the ones that produce real GNP.

Meanwhile, in spite of the imbalance of salaries, we still have the potholes.

Handling & Performance:

Nothing special but all good.

Styling:

Retro and nearly perfect. It is perhaps my favorite of the Chrysler flashback cars that I never owned. My favorite of favorites back then was the 1957 Chevrolet 2-door hardtop but driving this Challenger brings back lots of good memories. It must also do the same for lots of other folks because it always gets the looks. It is simply a timeless styling standout.

Fit and Finish:

Chrysler quality is an obvious and the best transformation from old to present day production for this car maker. Good job guys. And that observation is from me and I was not a supporter in years past. Mom owned Chrysler car so they couldn’t be all that bad I guess.

Cost:

Chrysler cars and trucks are generally very good values. Competition is very close in class grouping.

Conveniences and comfort:

Everything you need, but if you want to upgrade and add Nav, upgrade in paint, leather, special wheels and upgraded audio you’ll need to pop for about $9,000 more.

Recognized Competition:

Dodge Challenger $23-41,000, Chevrolet Camaro $23-34,000, Ford Mustang $22-38,000, Ford Shelby GT500 $49-54,000, Hyundai Genesis Coupe $36-40,000, Infiniti G Convertible $44-47,000, Infiniti G Coupe Mazda RX8 $27-32,000, Nissan Z $30-41,000, Pontiac G6 $19-32,000.

Good News:

Special retro styling, value pricing.

Bad News:

Only fair fuel economy that is little better than the big V8 models.

Standard Equipment:

3.5 liter 250 horsepower V6 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, front side and side curtain airbags, Electronic Stability program, traction control, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, touring suspension, remote keyless entry and sentry key theft deterrent system cruise control, tire pressure monitoring, speed sensitive power door locks, air conditioning, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, power windows, power 8-way driver seat, 60/40 folding rear seat, audio with CD/MP3 4 speakers and fold away power mirrors.

Gas Stats:

$3.03/ Gal avg. May 11 ‘10

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

17 City and 25 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $22,735 (with options on test vehicle – $31,400).

2010 Dodge Charger RT (809)

12-04-2010Autolove No comments

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2010 Dodge Charger RT Rear Wheel Drive 4-door sedan. Dick reminded me how 4-door cars are not like the 4-doors of the distant past where they just weren’t ‘cool’ looking. Remember those days? That was when only your parents would buy a 4-door. Well, that isn’t true today. In fact although in my youth I always bought two door cars, today I’m finding little resistance from young buyers to today’s 4-door models. Two door designs are just too limiting and add little to ‘cool’.

The next most common comment I get is “oh that’s one of those muscle cars”! But not said negatively. No, it is always meant as a good thing. People simply have a reverence for the sound and symbol of ‘raw muscle’. It’s easy for a guy to fall in love with the iconic ‘muscle’ look because it adds to his macho image. Kinda like a chick in a Jeep Wrangler with the wind blowing her long blonde locks. It is clearly a turn on ‘image’ of excitement in living. It paints a picture of active living people you’d like to know.

I can’t say enough about the all too brief ownership and influence Daimler – Benz had on Chrysler products. I haven’t noticed a change from the many improvements built into this product since the new owners took over. I trust they will maintain the improved quality evident from years past when quality wasn’t all that good at Chrysler.

General Info:

Parts – US/Canadian – 79%; Engine – Mexico; Transmission – US.

Assembly – Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Class: – Large Cars

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

Opinion:

Will these guys ever get the message? I pass by a CHP office every day to and from the office and on a recent day I happened to notice a huge blue sign with yellow lettering “NOW HIRING” and phone number, etc… you gotta wonder! While companies are laying off productive workers the IRS and CHP are hiring. What’s that all about? Do we have money to “BURN” in California? Don’t they realize we’ve already burned through everything and we are broke by most accounts. Get it yet?

Handling & Performance:

The base model comes with a 2.7 liter 178 hp V6 engine then it moves to a 3.5 liter 250 hp V6 to this RT with the 5.7 liter 368 hp V8 and finally the SRT8 is the 6.1 liter 425 hp V8.

In addition to power, another important design feature includes the Touring Suspension that makes this car handle well while delivering comfort for the long road trips. It reminds me of the days I watched newspaper partner and international race driver, Price Cobb, do his magic on the race track. I watched him test the track performance and give adjustments to the mechanics to fine tune the suspension settings on Steve Saleen and Tim Allen Mustangs used in their race team. It makes a big difference in handling and will determine winners from losers in high performance operation.

Somewhere in the middle of comfort and performance is where most passengers should be. This Charger has been pretty well fine tuned.

The result is an instant feel of a solid ride and a confident driving experience. It means less drift and therefore is less tiring on those commutes home from the office after a hard day. I enjoyed the ride.

Styling:

Retro and as Kramer would say, “I’m lov’n it”. For me the Challenger is a notch up in Retro design and it is my favorite, but Charger is very nice.

It is important to me and I believe it is important to many others that designers are thoughtful and consider how people actually use their car. Example: Visors. I am instantly turned off when the visor doesn’t include an extension feature. Either a pull out or that the whole visor moves to block the whole side window from glaring sunlight. Well, that doesn’t seem like a big thing but you shouldn’t have to pay luxury car prices to get that convenience.

Fit and Finish:

Since the Daimler Benz days the quality continues to impress me and I hope they don’t lose the touch they were given by those days of ownership. I haven’t seen any difference yet and you have to admire the spunk Chrysler has had as it fought for its life beginning with the “Real Bailout” engineered by Lee Iacocca.

Cost:

Competitive or better than all in class.

Conveniences and comfort:

If you want to be reminded about how efficiently you are driving Dodge has included an ECO gauge to signal you with a subtle ‘fuel saver indicator’ light. This technology has been around a long time but has become more popular in direct proportion with the price of gas.

Recognized Competition:

Dodge Charger $24-38,000, Acura TL $35-43,000, Buick Lucerne $29-43,000, Cadillac CTS $35-61,000, Chevrolet Malibu $22-27,000, Chrysler 300 $27-45,000, Ford Taurus $25-38,000, Honda Accord $21-31,000, Hyundai Azera $25-30,000, Mazda 6 $19-29,000, Nissan Maxima $30-33,000, Pontiac G8 $28-38,000, Toyota Camry $20-29,000.

Good News:

Well built, comfortable solid ride, decent fuel economy in class.

Bad News:

Nothing I can think of!

Standard Equipment:

5.7 liter 368 horsepower HEMI V8 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, front side and side curtain airbags, child upper seat tether anchors, rear door child safety locks, power rack and pinion steering, dual exhaust, touring suspension, 4-wheel ABS performance disc brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, speed sensitive power door locks, Sentry Key theft deterrent system, keyless entry, power adjustable pedals, air filtering, tire pressure monitoring, dual zone climate control, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, power windows, heated front seats, 60/40 folding rear seat, audio with CD/MP3 & SIRIUS satellite service (1-year included) and 6-Boston acoustics speakers.

Gas Stats:

$3.01/ Gal avg. May 1 ‘10

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

16 City and 25 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $31,370 (with preferred options on test vehicle – $39,995).

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart (808)

05-04-2010Autolove 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. So all things considered you have to be impressed with this Lancer.

Opinion:

Those pesky big rig trucks who share the highway with all of us are a nuisance but necessary. I think instinctively 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 we 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 important work of transporting everything we consume.

The point is don’t pick a fight that you’re sure to lose. Be courteous to them. They are professional drivers and have the patience of saints to put up with some stupid moves of car drivers.

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 with the added benefit of being an all wheel drive car, but it still has some stiff competition.

Conveniences and comfort:

Cruise control surfaces are flat or flush with the wheel 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.

Good News:

Fair to good fuel economy, fun to drive sporty car for a 4-door sedan.

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:

$2.99/ Gal avg. April 27 ‘10

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

17 City and 25 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $27,600.

2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster Tour (807)

29-03-2010Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster Tour two seat sport car. Amazing. I’ve always enjoyed the ride in this special performer. And although I like Porsche I also like Ferrari but those fancy badges cost 2-3 times the price of this “Z” so that makes this one of the best alternatives for us common folk to experience an extraordinary performance automobile. You gotta love it.

I like the new and interesting instrument panel. The gas gauge employs small lighted dots that are calibrated one dot per gallon of gas. Kinda neat. But I was a little miffed with a malfunctioning cruise control because I believe this feature is one of the most important and should be standard equipment on ALL cars like seat belts. It simply is the best feature to help drivers maintain a steady speed and thus improve everyone’s commute.

I’m a golfer, arguably, so it was instantly apparent I wouldn’t be using this car to get to the links. Not that the trunk is super tiny but a set of clubs for a midget small is what I’m talking about. Even the Cadillac XLR with a convertible hard top that folds into the trunk will accept a set of clubs with the top down and stored in the trunk area.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – Los Angeles, USA

Class: – Two Seaters

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

Opinion:

Is it just me or do you get really mad when Cal Trans does really stupid things… like closing lanes for cleanup during rush hour. Really – can they be that clueless? They can do such stuff mid day or evenings. Consider the problems caused for hundreds of thousands of travelers for the convenience of a few Cal Trans workers. Really, the other day on CA 14 south they closed a lane before 9 AM. Hellllll O! Any body home at Cal Trans?

Handling & Performance:

Zipping through the mountain curves this Z makes you think you’re riding on rails and it delivers truly amazing handling and the 370 is fast-fast-fast. The CVTCS (continuously variable valve timing control system) is very advanced technology only available on much more expensive engines in the past. Really good stuff and along with sophisticated suspension this is worth the price of admission all by itself. The exceptional handling around sharp mountain curves is because of the advanced engineering says engineer, colleague and friend Merkel Weiss. When it comes to the technical stuff I lean on Merkel.

You will notice the ride being ‘bumpy’ which is necessary for great handling but I like a little softer ride.

If you like a manual shift option the paddle shifters are really long and easy to use. I’m not crazy about the feature and prefer using the automatic setting where it knows when to shift for optimum performance.

Styling:

I like the styling better every year Merkel. Changes are generally minor and that is no different this year with just subtle changes to the door handles and lights front and rear. Nice job Nissan.

Fit and Finish:

Very good. No complaints.

Cost:

Pretty competitive pricing against the closest competition that tops my list, like Audi TT, BMW Z4 and Infiniti G.

Conveniences and comfort:

There is an abundance of great standard features and conveniences including not so usual heated and cooled seats. Comfort is relative, however and as small cabin sports cars go it is typical. I continue to appreciate the smart key system so you can literally leave the key in your pocket or purse. It also has a super simple to use convertible top.

Recognized Competition:

Nissan 370Z $30-41,000, Audi TT $38-49,000, BMW 1-Series $29-40,000, 2009 BMW Z4 $46-52,000, Chevrolet Camaro $23-34,000, 2011 Ford Mustang $22-38,000, 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 $49-54,000, Infiniti G Convertible $44-47,000, Infiniti G Coupe $36-40,000, Mazda RX-8 $26-32,000, Mercedes-Benz SLK $47-67,000, Volkswagen Eos $32-36,000, Volkswagen New Beetle $19-27,000, Volvo C70 $40,000.

Good News:

Outstanding handling that makes the 370 a thrill to drive, good but expected fuel economy, a super simple convertible top mechanism and smartly storing design.

Bad News:

The low front end will scrape on every parking stall wheel stop. You need to be extra careful when parking. The noise level is high with the convertible model.

Standard Equipment:

3.7 liter 332 hp V6 engine, 7 speed automatic transmission, CVTCS, electronic drive by wire throttle, rack & pinion speed sensitive power steering, independent aluminum double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, front & rear stabilizer bars, front & rear vented ABS brake assist disc brakes and brake force distribution, 18” aluminum alloy wheels, front side and side curtain air bags, traction control, vehicle dynamic control, tire pressure monitoring, security system with immobilizer, 8-way adjustable driver and 4-way passenger power leather seats heated and cooled, tilt steering wheel with controls for cruise and audio etc., 8-speaker Bose audio with CD and XM satellite, Bluetooth hands free, climate control, intelligent key system, power windows and locks, 12 volt outlets, illuminated visor mirrors, storage and cup holders you’d expect, power fully automatic folding soft top & heated power mirrors.

Gas Stats:

$2.99/ Gal avg. April 14 ‘10

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

18 City and 25 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $41,820.

2010 Mazda CX9 (806)

23-03-2010Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Mazda CX9 SUV. Zoom – Zoom – Zoom … That slogan make me think of many of the other memorable slogans that stick with us over the years. “See the USA in Your Chevrolet”; “Ugh, Pontiac heap good Car”; “Standard of Excellance” for the Cadillac and it is still used to explain that something is the best if it is the Cadillac of this or that.

Which others do you recall?

General Info:

Parts – 10% US / Canada, 85% Japan.

Assembly – Hiroshima, Japan

Class: – SUV

Cars: – CX9, CX7, Mazda 3,5,6 & Speed 3, MX5 Miata, RX8, Tribute, Tribute Hybrid & Truck.

Opinion:

At the current rate of decline in jobs those fortunate enough to have a job and who commute to those jobs on our freeways, must surely feel they won’t be missed. So for every bad thing that happens, something good often results.

Now if the rest of us would only employ cruise control to maintain a steady speed we can all get to our destinations with less stress and more safely. To me it should be a required feature on all cars. Some roadway signs already exist to show the time required to go from one point to another. If in California Cal Trans would post average speed to and from those points and drivers would be able to set their speed at that average everyone would get to their destinations at precisely the same time but with far less stress and danger of crashes. Get Cruise Control on your next car and if you have it now, use it.

Handling & Performance:

The CX9 provides a solid ride and is very comfortable to boot. It won’t however do that cheaply since the fuel consumption numbers are not real good. 273 hp buys you responsive power but the price is relatively high in fuel consumption.

Styling:

Well, you be the judge, but did the designers mean to make the front on view of the CX9 resemble a “comical caricature of a face” as friend and auto designer Merkel says of it?

Overall, in my view, it has clean uncomplicated lines and is rather innocuous. How can it possibly offend anyone except Merkel, of course, who tends to be super critical of any styling not of his liking. I don’t often agree with his view because it is more picky than mine. I like much of the styling of today’s Chrysler cars, for example, but Merkel’s past life as a design engineer for them during the days when Chrysler products looked pretty hokey (again – my view), relative to the more popular brands. But there was limited competition since back then there were only 3 brands.

Fit and Finish:

Quite good. These guys have this assembly stuff down as never before. In fact I think they really have to be asleep on the line to do a bad job in this area. CAD systems are so sophisticated these days it eliminates the need for a lot of muscle and hammers to make things fit well.

Cost:

A little more than I expected, but it is competitive being at the lower end of pricing in class.

Conveniences and comfort:

The navigation option reminds me that manufacturers could provide a much less expensive system but it is apparent people are willing to pay nearly $2,000 for this feature. Granted it is on the top of my list of “Must Have” features but as voice control is improved, turn by turn instructions are more valuable than looking at a colorful map. Voice commands and instructions make their use safer since there is less distraction. GM has that in their On Star Turn by Turn Navigation.

Recognized Competition:

Mazda CX9 $29-34,000, Acura MDX $42-54,000, BMW X5 $48-86,000, Buick Enclave $36-44,000, Chevrolet Traverse $29-40,000, Dodge Journey $20-30,000, Ford Flex $29-39,000, GMC Acadia $32-42,000, Honda Pilot $28-40,000, Hyundai Veracruz $28-36,000, Jeep Grand Cherokee $31-43,000, Kia Borego $26-40,000, Lexus RX 350 $38-39,000, Lincoln MKX $39-41,000, Mitsubishi Endeavor $28-31,000, Nissan Murano $28-38,000, Subaru Tribeca $30-36,000, Toyota Highlander $26-35,000.

Good News:

Nice styling, comfortable solid ride, all wheel drive and other safety features and priced well.

Bad News:

Only average fuel economy.

Standard Equipment:

3.7 liter 273 hp V6 engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, 4-wheel vented ABS disc brakes, 20” aluminum alloy wheels, auto Xenon headlights, fog lights, heated power mirrors, 7-passenger leather trimmed seating, leather wrapped shift knob and tilt and telescoping steering wheel, front side and side curtain airbags, roll over protection with roll stability control, active torque split all wheel drive system, rain sensing wipers, audio with CD, Bluetooth, power windows, 3-12 volt outlets, climate control in 3-zones, keyless entry and start system, LATCH child safety seat anchors, tire pressure monitoring, anti theft engine immobilizer and perimeter alarm and dynamic stability and traction control.

Gas Stats:

$2.99/ Gal avg. April 3 ‘10

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

15 City and 21 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $34,045.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi SLS (805)

15-03-2010Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi SLS Front Wheel Drive 4-door sedan. What’s in a name? Well in Japanese Kizashi means A great thing is coming.

This comes from a car company mostly known in the past for making cheap and simplistic cars. One that comes to mind was the Samurai small SUV that I think Suzuki would like us to forget. It was introduced in the US and sold here beginning in 1970 through about 2005. Friend Rick had one back in 1980 and for his short commute it worked fine for him but many issues just couldn’t be overlooked. Suits and recall demands must have played a big role in the model being discontinued.

Be prepared to be surprised with Kizashi because the company is working hard to change the image in a world starved for new offerings that are inexpensive yet look good and handle well. This is a real move forward for Suzuki.

The company says interior materials and standard equipment levels rival an entry-level luxury car at a value price. An all-wheel-drive system is also offered which normally sends most of the power to the front wheels but can direct up to 50 percent to the rear wheels. The all-wheel-drive system can be turned off to help improve fuel economy. Suzuki has confirmed that a hybrid system developed with General Motors will be offered in the next two years. A turbocharged 4-cylinder or a V6 engine may also be added.

Opinion:

I would like to know your views on issues you think need to be aired. I tend to be strongly bent on raising awareness about highway and general driving concerns. But they are my observations and I’d like to hear yours. I receive emails for and against my views and I welcome your email communications. joe@atthewheel.com.

Handling & Performance:

Good power even from the 4-cylinder engine. The standard equipment includes high end safety features you’d pay much more for in a ‘luxury badge’.

Styling:

Some think this Kizashi resembles the Audi and Suzuki is pitting it against the Acura TSX. I like the style but the name is ‘foreign’ and not easy to attach to a high end car.

Fit and Finish:

Good.
Cost:

Competitive.

Conveniences and comfort:

A lot of the best stuff. And it occurs to me that technology has done a lot to level the playing field and give the much less advantage to the luxury badges.
Recognized Competition:

Suzuki Kizashi $19-27,000, Acura TSX $29-38,000, Audi A4 $31-34,000, Buick LaCrosse $26-33,000, Chevrolet Malibu $22-27,000, Chrysler Sebring $20-35,000, Dodge Avenger $20-22,000, Ford Fusion $20-28,000, Honda Accord $21-31,000, Hyundai Sonata $19-25,000, Infiniti G Sedan $33-37,000, Kia Optima $18-23,000, Lexus ES 350 $35,175, Lincoln MKZ $34-36,000, Mazda 6 $18-28,000, Mercury Milan $22-28,000, Mitsubishi Galant $22-24,000, Nissan Altima $20-30,000, Subaru Legacy $20-30,000, Toyota Camry $19-29,000, Volkswagen Jetta $18-25,000, Volvo S40 $26-31,000.

Good News:

New entrant to compete is a purchase advantage, decent fuel economy, attractive styling, excellent standard features.

Bad News:

None noted.

Standard Equipment:

2.4 liter 185 hp 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual transmission, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, alloy wheels, Electronic Stability Program, Traction control system, 8 standard air bags front, side and side curtain, tire pressure monitoring, LATCH system, foglights, security system with smartpass keyless entry and start, heated sport leather seats, power tilt and slide sunroof, climate control, Rockford Fosgate audio with MP3 and USB input, Bluetooth system, auto rain sensing wipers, reverse parking sensors, cruise control, tilt and telescoping wheel, 10-way power driver seat and power passenger seat, power mirrors, split rear seat with pass through and multi function trip computer.

Gas Stats:

$2.99/ Gal avg. March 29 ‘10
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

23 City and 30 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $24,449.

2010 Volkswagon Golf (804)

08-03-2010Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week we’re looking at the 2010 Volkswagen Golf 2-door as seen by friend and colleague Merkel Weiss. I don’t always agree with him but I do agree this is a very nice automobile. For those who know Merkel you know he doesn’t say nice things easily.

For those who read my column you will know I quote Merkel on occasion because he adds balance from a design engineer’s point of view.

He’s a member of the Motor Press Guild. Professionally he is a Mechanical Engineer and was a member of the design group at Chrysler Corp. Equally important is that he was a professor of automotive engineering and design at the famous “Art Center College of Design” in Pasadena, California for many years. Some of Professor Weiss’s students went on to become famous as designers of such cars as the PT Cruiser and Chevrolet HHR to name two.

Merkel and I talk on occasion and try to inspire each other and critique each others work. We’ve met on many fields of battle which often come out a draw but when it comes to engineering I can’t argue with the man.

I am happy to share Merkel’s observations once again on this VW Golf.

The Volkswagen that I Have Come to Love
By Merkel Weiss

I just drove a new VW Golf and I find myself again, in love with the car. There is a lot to love about the Golf /GTI line, especially with a starting price of $17,620. The ingress and egress is every bit as graceful as I have come to expect from VW over the years. The size of the door and the threshold height are nearly perfection. You drop right into a nicely sculpted cloth seat which is nicely bolstered but not confining in the Mk 6 Golf. The center console seems a bit too wide, and I find that the outside of my right thigh tires from leaning on the console incessantly, however. The instruments are near perfection and the back seat is also relatively habitable, all this in a car only13.7 feet long. The ride is quiet, compliant, and highly civilized. Handling is crisp in the finest European style.

There is a difference in the connectedness with which the Golf conducts itself which separates it from the Mk 5 Golf and most others back to the early Mk1 GTI. The slightly damped steering imprecision of earlier Mk3 through Mk5 Golf has been replaced with a more direct, more responsive system which at once filters out the unwanted road irregularities while at the same time provides adequately tactile road surface information. Perhaps this is why the Golf has always been such a big player in Europe.

Go into a VW dealership anywhere here in the US and ask for a Golf, I dare you. Then watch the fireworks while the sales staff does everything humanly possible to have you drive out in a Jetta. It’s almost uncanny how they don’t seem to be able to ever put their hands on a Golf that meets your requirements, while there is a near-perfect match in a Jetta warming up right outside the door. And if you were to throw in the magic word TDI Golf, there is nearly no possibility on this green earth that you could find one with the options you want. These cars are scarce and highly sought after. The patience of a saint really pays off if you want a TDI Golf, but hang in there because it’s worth the wait. Of course if you were to accept any color and any option package, they might be able to find one for you…just don’t ask for the manual transmission or…

The standard 2.5 liter 5-cylinder engine works well, thank you. It revs very nicely and pulls as strongly as any passenger car. It’s complaint free and in the manual transmission model, the shifts are short, accurate, and positive. In short, this is a driver’s car that doubles as a competent family car for not a whole lot of money. The only operational down side to the Golf is the fuel economy. Since the car has porked out to 2968 pounds, the EPA fuel economy is 22/30 mpg, city/highway. This figure does not represent the finest efforts being put forward worldwide in the area of efficiency, but it is at least in line with the weight and performance level of the car. The TDI will do a bit better, namely 30/41 mpg. You may recall that previous generation Golf’s were able to get along quite well with the 4 cylinder powerplant, but at this point even though it’s a bit lighter that last year, the slow middle-aged doughnut about the mid section has taken its toll. You’ll be happy to hear that like most German designs, the car carries its heft very well and at no time is there any indication that the car is anything but alive in your hands.

The ignition key is now a laser cut device like BMW and Lexus that will cost you big if it’s lost or damaged. That’s progress for you. Similarly, the electronic key fob locks and unlocks the entire car. There is a redundant lock switch on the drivers’ door. There is however, no key receptacle in the hatch lid so you have to unlock it using the key fob. Then you pull on the hugely oversized round VW moniker handle to open the hatch. There is no mechanical cable release unless you crawl back into the rear and pull the emergency release. I mention this because, like so many other modern electronically assisted cars, when the battery goes dead you’ll lose more than your radio presets.

The back seat is an adequate space for adults so long as the drive is not too long, and children will do just fine there. It’s a light and airy environment with reasonable comfort and good seatbelts. This is a genuinely useful car whether you choose the 2-door or 4-door model. High quality materials abound and it seems a great deal more solid and rattle free than some past models. I admire this base car for what it has and for what it costs, if not for its efficiency. Should you want it all (and hey, why not?) then gather up all your patience, go down to the VW dealership and offer them the $21,990 for the TDI. You won’t regret it.

Recognized Competition:

Gas Stats:

$2.97/ Gal avg. March 15 ‘10
www.fueleconomy.gov
for more information.

22 City and 30 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $17,490.

1 234 5