Wagons have a pretty colored history here in America. For ages and ages, they were the ride of choice for the American mom, with long wheelbases, huge interior room, smooth styling, and excellent visibility. However, starting before the beginning of the SUV craze, wagons somehow became uncool among America’s mainstream car buyers. Continue reading Explaining the Death and Rebirth of the Wagon
In the 1960s, automakers were experimenting with all sorts of things. Some wanted to use space-age materials for interior design, while others became obsessed with the racetrack. Some tried hard to coax more power out of their engines, and others experimented with all-new theories–some worked (such as the independent rear suspension on the Corvette), and others did not (the “For Desert Only” switch on Ramblers). Chrysler, meanwhile, worked tirelessly to blow everybody out of the water with their newest idea–a turbine-powered car. Continue reading Obscure Auto: Chrysler Turbine
This year, a pretty significant number of cars are hitting their last year of production, or are officially dead. A good number of these models should have been dumped eons ago, and others don’t deserve to die. Here’s a few of my thoughts on some of the cars that are either dead or dying. To make life easier, I’ll group them by brand or by configuration. I’m not sad to see most of them go, but I am sad to see one or two in particular go away. Continue reading 2011: The Thinning of the Herd, and why I’m so happy some cars are going away.
Acura’s done well for itself over the years, even without a real flagship. The TL has become a desirable luxury/sport sedan. the TSX, despite its humble origins as the Euro-spec Honda Accord, has become a very, very interesting choice for a premium compact that won’t break the bank. Meanwhile, the MDX and RDX are popular in their segments because of their intelligent AWD, responsive engines (especially the RDX’s turbocharged plant), and smart packaging. But what do we all make of their “flagship” RL? I’m not so sure it’s really as good a car as the rest of the line. Continue reading Acura RL: Is there a point to buying one? No, there is not.
With a fairly large hurricane barrelling towards the Northeast, it’s pretty clear that many will be evacuating the coasts, and others might also try to get to a shelter as well. While this is all a good idea, getting there is going to be tough, and if you’re one of the unfortunate number of people to get caught in either the storm itself, or in any storm in general, you might end up dealing with one of the most dangerous wet weather instances. I’m talking about hydroplaning–many have heard of it, but few know what to do or how to spot it.
The Crossfire was probably one of the more visible results of the DaimlerChrysler conglomerate. Born as a concept around 2002, it garnered immediate applause among the automotive faithful for being a strikingly beautiful car with the potential to break Chrysler into an entirely new market. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6
I’m not normally the guy who will say that a car is completely faultless in the way that it drives. I like to pick things apart, try to find a flaw, no matter how hard it may be to do so. I do it because I know nothing’s perfect and I’d rather not blow sunshine up anything’s rear end without reservation. But, Porsche’s Boxster Spyder was so good, that I gave up looking. Continue reading Test Driven: Porsche Boxster Spyder PDK
Smart has been operating here in the US of A for about 3 years now, and they seem to be the perfect example of an automotive fad. While it’s been successful in Europe, I’m not quite sure that it’s been a big hit in the States, and I have reason to believe that the car is flawed in more ways than one–and the market itself hasn’t been helping, either. Continue reading Is Smart really so “Smart”? I’m not thinking so.
Before the Nissan Skyline GT-R, there was the Toyota 2000GT, widely regarded to be the first truly collectable Japanese car, and one of the first true Japanese supercars. Toyota, up until that point, was widely considered to be the producer of rather dull, basic automobiles. When the 2000GT hit the streets, though, the notion of Japanese cars being “boring” was shattered. Continue reading Obscure Auto: Toyota 2000GT
Cruise control has been around since the Sixties, but it has evolved as the car around it has evolved. It’s useful for long, punishing drives, such as one I took just yesterday from northern New Jersey to Long Beach Island. That said, there are some times when it’s useful, and others when it should be avoided. Continue reading Cars 101: Cruise Control
Back when Nissan stopped selling the original Z-car in 1996 in the USA, enthusiasts were infuriated. The Z was introduced around 1970, and immediately became the “Japanese Mustang” for its low price, well-matched engine, and balanced handling. Nissan enlarged it over the years until the 300ZX hit the streets in 1990, when it was a wide, tech-packed sports coupe, with some aspects that were a bit ahead of its time. When sales faltered, however, Nissan couldn’t afford to keep building them. But, in 2002, they performed a ritual on the grave, and the ghost came back to life. Continue reading Secondhand Saint: Nissan 350Z
Mind Over Motor 