Quick Drive: 2012 Ford Explorer Ecoboost and Ford Edge Ecoboost

For 2011 Ford introduced an all-new Explorer. Upon the introduction Ford said that there will be a four-cylinder Ecoboost version, but not until a year later. It is now a year later. The six-cylinder Explorer has been a great sales hit for the company, and now here is the promised only four-cylinder.

Disclosure: Ford invited me to Detroit to sample the Ecoboost Explorer and Edge. I have never been to a press event like this and I reluctantly accepted as I had difficulty taking the day and a half off work. I also read enough of Jack Baruth’s articles to know what to expect. Ford paid for transportation and a nice hotel. I paid $20 for a taxi ride to the airport and worked late the other three days that week. … Continue Reading

Quick Look: 2011 Chrysler 200, 300, Town & Country

We have become jaded. Most people wouldn’t know a luxury car is if they got ran over by one. Car magazines are telling us that modern luxury cars need to have dynamic side bolsters, Lotus-like handling, and Corvette power.  Why? Since when does a luxury car need to be a big sports car? By big magazine standards Germans are leading the way in the luxury car wars and are defining the market by attempting to create a better BMW M5 with each new model. I say they are wrong, completely wrong.

Luxury speaks of comfort, refinement, and opulance. Once upon a time American manufacturers were the luxury car leaders. The proof of that is in vehicles driven by heads of state, celebrities, and gangsters in the 50s and 60s – they were all driving a big American sedan or some kind of eastern bloc knock off. Those cars were big and intimidating, with long hoods and huge trunks. On the inside were soft, wide leather seats and latest technological gadgets indiscernibly integrated among the wood trim. … Continue Reading

Pointless Comparison: Corvette Grand Sport vs. Porsche 911 Carrera

Every time a new version of the Corette or the 911 comes out, which happens pretty often, every automotive magazine comes out with their big “Corvette versus Carrera!” comparison. To me, and to actual buyers, such comparisons are pointless. I have yet to meet anyone who actually cross-shopped the two cars; you either want a ‘Vette or you want a 911, performance numbers be damned.

That fact could not be more true for the convertible versions of each. These are both street cars and they appeal to potential buyers through style and image, not performance. No track junkie would consider either of those two convertibles, just as none of the convertible buyers would eye the Z06 or the GT3.

The Corvette and the 911 have been around for a very long time. In their own way, both remained true to their roots and evolved since their introductions. Current generations of both are nearing the end of their life cycles which means that soon there will be more pointless Corvette versus Carrera comparisons. Before that happens however, I got one last chance to drive the C6 and 997.2 which allowed me write this pointless comparison. … Continue Reading

Quick Drive: Acura ZDX – Is it everything or nothing?

I own a 2005 Acura TSX. Two years ago I had the chance to drive a 2006 TL for a few days and I loved it. Last year I had a 2009 TL for a weekend and I liked it. This past weekend I had an Acura ZDX, given to me as a loaner car from the dealership while my car was in for service. ZDX, the crossover-wagon-SUV-coupe thing seen above, is Acura’s answer to the question no one asked. The ZDX starts around $45,000, has a 300hp 3.7L V6 engine, trademarked “Super Handling” AWD, SportShift transmission with steering wheel mounted paddles, a hatchback-like hatch, and styling from a different planet. To my industrial designer eyes, if I maybe so kind, the design is awkward – I had zero expectations.

… Continue Reading

Quick look: 2011 Lincoln MKT and The Panther

In the early 1990s my stepfather was operating a car service company in northern New Jersey. The fleet of Lincoln Town Cars would chauffer businessmen between fancy suburbs and the three area airports. To the teenage me, there always seemed to be a Town Car around in need of cleaning or a transmission replacement.

Ford has recently announced that they would be discontinuing the Panther platform on which the Town Car, Grand Marquis, and Crown Victoria are based. Normally I would have no issue with a car manufacturer killing off such dinosaur, after all these are heavy, inefficient, and essentially non-upgradeable vehicles. … Continue Reading

Quick Drive: 2012 Acura TL

In 2004 a uniquely sculptured third generation Acura TL premiered. Contemporary looks combined with legendary reliability and a fair price made it an instant hit. Even my own mother bought one. When parked next to my E46 BMW, the bimmer looked downright dated and, to add insult to injury was significantly down on power. At the time I said that this TL would have been a nearly perfect automobile had it been rear-wheel-drive.

In 2009 the fourth generation of the TL came out. Acura took a big chance stylistically with it, being the first car in its lineup to feature the infamous “Power Plenum” front end, which became known as the “beak”. The whole car seemed bigger and more massive. Despite the new all-wheel-drive system, increased room and power, the automotive media chastised the TL for its looks. Buyers showed equally little mercy as sales numbers were significantly down from those of the previous car. … Continue Reading

Why Is Everyone Going Crazy About the Chevrolet Volt?

Considering there are a handful of electric cars coming out next year and a hybrid in almost every automaker’s line-up, what makes this car so special?

The key is in the drivetrain. While the Volt comes with a gasoline powered engine, this is no hybrid; the drive-train is fully electric. The internal combustion engine is a battery charger, which extends the estimated 40 electric-only miles to about 360 additional miles, using just nine gallons of gas. This is one of only two cars coming to market that utilize this type of drivetrain. The other car is the Fisker Karma, which will set you back about $87,000, while the Chevy Volt is a palatable $41,000. Both cars are eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit which makes the sticker price sting a little less. … Continue Reading

Review: Volvo S60 – Naughty or Nice?

This is the tale of two car companies. One company wants to be fast and sporty and even naughty, it wants you to think that the car will allow you to live through your gymkhana fantasies. The other wants you to know that you are inside the Volvo brick of old which inspires confidence to take on the world of the mighty SUV. So which is it? … Continue Reading

Built Borrowed Tough: Neighbor’s Ford F-250 XL

When it comes to pickups, brand loyalties can be intense.
There are Ford guys and Chevy guys, Toyota guys and Dodge guys. Even the occasional Nissan guy or International-Harvester guy.
I’m a borrowed guy.
I’ve never owned a pickup of my own, but I’ve never had a problem finding one when I needed one. When I lived near his home, I just borrowed my dad’s truck.
Now that I live several hours away, I turned to a neighbor recently when I needed to haul away the debris from a remodeling project.
I think I found the perfect truck.

… Continue Reading

Three Roadsters Not for Every Budget

Looking for a two-passenger sporty convertible? Perhaps something to compliment your Range Rover? Here are three best suggestions ranging in price from a lot to a lot more, surly one will appeal to you senses. … Continue Reading

Quick Drive: 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

Despite almost buying a ’99 Boxster, I was never a big fan of the model. I never loved the original’s 996-based looks and its stigma of being a Porsche for people who could not afford a 911 always bothered me.  It grew on me when the first generation Boxster S came out in 2000, but performance-for-dollar it still could not compete with the Honda S2000, a roadster I have always been in love with.

However, everything I thought I knew about the Boxster went out the window when I got to drive a 2011 Boxster Spyder. This is definitely not a cheaper version of the 911, nor is it cheap. Over the years the Boxster has grown up and looks to have firmly established its own identity; confident and mature too. … Continue Reading

Mercedes SLS AMG review – Beauty in Function

Imagine meeting a famous actress, one who is so unbelievably hot that you sat through her crappy movies just because she is in them. For the sake of visualization let’s pick that actress to be Megan Fox. Now imagine having the opportunity to meet Megan and right away realizing that she is much hotter in real life than she is in pictures.

You compose yourself, keep your cool, and before you know it you’re making small talk. Very small talk, because next thing you know the talk is over and you find yourself gettin’ it on with Megan. At this point it doesn’t matter if you’re a man, woman, gay, straight or other; you are with Megan Fox, and let’s be honest here, no sane human on earth will refuse her. Wham, bam, just like that it’s over. Things get a little cloudy until you find yourself sitting at a bar, smoking a cigarette. Finally calm, you are trying to sort out exactly what the hell has just happened. And that is pretty much how I felt after a quick drive of the Mercedes SLS AMG. … Continue Reading

Sunny-Side Up Niçoise Salad

A good recipe combines easy to obtain ingredients in unusual fashion, plays up the strengths of individual contributions, and results in something greater than a mere sum of its parts.  Sweet and sour, soft and crunchy, hot and cold; each flavor, texture, and temperature should play a role of contrasting, balancing, or enhancing the overall result. What follows, hopefully, is a good step-by-step recipe for a memorable rendezvous. … Continue Reading

2010 Lexus RX350 – quick spin

Thanksgiving* may be the perfect holiday – it happens to be the longest weekend, has no religious connections, you don’t have to give gifts.  All you have to do is eat and watch football – perfect indeed. Thanksgiving is also a damn good reason to meet up with people you haven’t seen in a while and of course check out their new cars!

.

A family friend, Mark who happens to be an MD bought this new RX350 based on my recommendation; he was looking for a solid, reliable, quiet and comfortable ride which he’d keep for some time. Just about any car enthusiast will tell you that almost all Lexus and Toyota cars are dull and boring to drive. Personally, I think of them as quiet and comfortable and that’s just what the RX350 is. It is something you slip into at the end of a hard day and drive yourself home at a leisurely pace and relax, almost oblivious to the 20-mile back-up in front of you; the “enthusiast” next to you in the Z370 with lightened flywheel and a set of coilovers does not get that same calming feeling, and yet he isn’t moving any faster. … Continue Reading

Experiencing The New Diesel-Powered BMWs.

While you may have already read a thing or two about BMW’s new compression ignition offerings, you may not have heard all the details, and you may have some questions. I sure did, and I did my best to answer them here. Get coffee, go read, see huge gallery. … Continue Reading