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August 18, 2006
Related links: 2004 Toyota Tundra Double Cab Limited  <br />Slowly but steadily Americans have been cozying up to the idea of buying a pick-up truck from the automakers in the Land of the Rising Sun, and after taking delivery of our 2004 Toyota Tundra Double Cab Limited, it's not hard to see why.
August 18, 2006
Related links: Mercury Mariner Hybrid Although almost identical to the Ford Escape Hybrid by most measures, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid somehow rates hardly a fraction of the attention its sibling enjoys. This neglect may not seem startling, but compared to the acclaim lavished upon both the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX400h gas-electric SUVs, the Marinerís gotten something of a bum deal. Whatís more, the Mercury and the Ford together rate appreciably less acclaim than they probably merit, as America's first mass-market, domestic, full hybrids.
August 18, 2006
Related links: Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC The product portfolio at Mercedes-Benz has proliferated rapidly in the last few yearsónew models from the C-Class Coupe to the savage SLR have kept the brand abreast of the niche-market trend. Still, there is no other model that so inherently defines Mercedes than the E-Class. Buttering the Benz bread for decades, the E makes up approximately 25% of their annual sales. Sedan or wagon, V6 or V8, rear- or all-wheel-drive, the E-Class is the worldís pre-eminent luxury car. We just spent a week behind the wheel of the popular 2006 E350 4MATIC iteration,
August 18, 2006
Related links: Volvo C70 A convertible Volvo? In "Passion Red" paint? We know; unexpected to say the least. And yet, it isn't at all incongruous. When the spanking-new Swede showed up in our fleet, we'd already heard the major talking points: folding metal roof, T5 motor, manual transmission, marginally affordable sub-$40K pricetag. All pluses, to be sure, but uttering the words "Volvo" and "desire" in the same sentence still took practice. It was practice we were more than willing to commit to, though, once we laid eyes on the 2007 Volvo C70.
August 17, 2006
Related links: Lexus IS 350 This was supposed to be the BMW-beater. Lexus aimed the IS development target squarely at the 3-series, and made no bones about it. The cognoscenti met this contention with skepticism--seemingly every carmaker has claimed to have conquered the kingpin Bimmer at one time or another, and yet the 3-series remains the performance paragon. In the interest of settling the dispute--for our own edification, if not for the record--we spent a week behind the wheel of the 2006 Lexus IS 350.
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August 17, 2006
Related links: Ford Freestyle  Automotive journalists are well-known for decrying the SUV craze-in part selfishly, as we enjoy driving exciting vehicles, and reviewing truck after truck after truck can become tedious. "Why," we're always lamenting, "why don't consumers buy wagons?" After all, the station wagon offers similar utility, better fuel economy, and usually better pricing than the typical SUV does, and their lower centers of gravity and weights make for more sporting machines, on average.
August 15, 2006
Related links: 2004 Toyota Tundra Double Cab Limited <br />Slowly but steadily Americans have been cozying up to the idea of buying a pick-up truck from the automakers in the Land of the Rising Sun, and after taking delivery of our 2004 Toyota Tundra Double Cab Limited, it's not hard to see why.
August 12, 2006
Related links: 2006 Nissan Titan Crew Cab We've spent the last few days reacquainting ourselves with the full-size Nissan Titan pickup that recently joined the Roadfly long-term fleet. At-first-glance impressions and technical specs are covered elsewhere on this site, so we won't spend much time on them here. Instead, we're approaching this as sort of an "open ownership experience," as if we've actually just plunked $37,440 down at a dealership for a Titan of our own. The "open" part relates to our overarching goal as journalists--bringing the truth to our readers. As we go about our year as proto-Titan-owners, we'll be updating you on every detail, every observation (good or bad), and of course, any expenses, problems and so on that pop up.
August 2, 2006
Related links: 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR Contrary to common conceptions, those of us lucky enough to make our livings in the industry won't generally fawn actively over cars like these. Instead, typical automotive journalists and assorted hangers-on will grumble about endless new editions of what's essentially the same vehicle, or carp about uncomfortable cockpits and rough rides. It's not that we don't covet their corner-carving capabilities, or appreciate their alacritous acceleration. Our professional reputations, though, ride on our never giving the impression that we do what we do just because we like to kick ass on the asphalt. In truth, the disinterest is wholly feigned. To let you in on (what's probably not much of) a secret: no matter how restrained our external reactions are, when something as sweet as the 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR shows up in our driveway, the little gearhead inside is invariably jumping for joy.
August 1, 2006
Related links: Dodge Caliber DaimlerChrylser sure did a 180 when they filled the happy-go-lucky little Neon's slot in the corporate roster with the all-new 2007 Caliber. In case the commercials haven't hammered the point home, the Dodge Boys' new compact couldn't be more differentiated from the "hi!"-mobile if they'd made it into a motorcycle. What used to be a jelly-bean-looking sedan/coupe with not much more to its credit than the rare, hotted-up R/T club-racing version became a hunkered-down crossover/hatchback with near-midsize airs.
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