Autoblog Long-Term Garage http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog Long-Term Garage http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/favicon-v5.png Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry. <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: January 2012]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-mini-countryman-january-2012/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-mini-countryman-january-2012/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-mini-countryman-january-2012/#comments Filed under: , ,



Literally two days after my last update about our long-term Mini Countryman, I found myself trudging through a snowstorm at 30 miles per hour on Interstate 94 along Michigan's west coast. I guess Mother Nature had heard my cries about not being able to test our Mini in the snow, and decided to reward me with super slippery roads and poor visibility for two and a half hours straight. Lovely.

Mile after mile, the Mini dutifully carried on while I watched large SUVs and a host of mid-size sedans slide off into the ditches on either side of I-94. I've lived in southeast Michigan my entire life, and I know how to drive in the slushy, slick stuff, but there's nothing quite like the combination of all-wheel drive and proper winter tires for times like this - it not only helps with driver confidence, but makes the whole process of safely navigating through a snowstorm much less fatiguing. Mini's All4 all-wheel-drive system made sure power was being sent to exactly which wheels needed it most, and our car's Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 winter tires provided by the folks at Tire Rack kept the rollers from slipping during acceleration or skidding during braking.

After using the Mini to schlep many an Autoblog staff member to and from various Detroit Auto Show happenings, I handed the Countryman off to executive editor Chris Paukert, who turned it back over praising the All4 system and snow tires' handling on split-mu surfaces - even with the driver's side tires on wet asphalt and the passenger-side wheels trudging through ice and slush, the Mini remained confident and steady despite times when traction coefficients differed at every corner.

The Countryman now resides in Cleveland, Ohio, where it will be under Editor-in-Chief John Neff's care for the next month. We haven't had any snow to speak of since sending the Mini to Ohio, but I'm sure if Neff complains enough, Mother Nature will reward him with a big ol' lake-effect dumping to the Lake Erie coast so he can see just how good our All4/Blizzak combo is.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

2011 Mini Countryman: January 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 mini cooper s countryman2011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymancooper s countrymancountrymanfeaturedlong-termmini Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20165319/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/07/2011-mini-countryman-january-2012/20165319/article-detail.xml 20165319 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/photo-1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/photo-1.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: January 2012]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-january-2012/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-january-2012/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-january-2012/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus

January was not a busy month for our long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus. It did ferry one of our editors between auto company cocktail hours and dinners during the week of the Detroit Auto Show, but for the latter half of the month it wasn't driven all that much. But that's good news, because our Equus spent quite a bit of time at LaFontaine Hyundai, in Dearborn, Michigan, receiving a long-awaited repair to the driver's seat.

As we wind down its year in the Autoblog fleet, we also saw fit to address some cosmetic damage to the front fascia and have our 22,500-mile service completed. While the service was free, the "minor" scrape on the lower corner of the bumper skirt set us back some $669.25. Our time with the Equus ends in just a few weeks, which means we'll only have limited time to enjoy the now-comfortable seat. This has been one of our biggest issues with the car, and to have it finally fixed after all this time is so wonderful that some editors are grumbling that they won't have the chance to get back in the car again.

We do wish, however, that the seat bottom wasn't made to look even more worn by the contrast of the brand new seat back. At least we don't have to look at it while we drive around enjoying the comfort of the now-working back massager.

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: January 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 hyundai equus2011 hyundai equus ultimateablongtermablongterm-equusequusequus ultimatehyundailong term equuslong term garage Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20165393/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/07/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-january-2012/20165393/article-detail.xml 20165393 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/equus-seat-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/equus-seat-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: January 2012]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-january-2012/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-january-2012/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-january-2012/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Stellar fuel efficiency is still the name of the game when it comes to our long-term Volkswagen Jetta TDI, as it's averaging well over its EPA-estimated 30 city and 42 highway miles per gallon in our hands. In fact, with a deft throttle foot, it's not terribly difficult to crest the 50-mpg plateau on long, steady-state trips.

The oil-burning steed recently made the trek from Southern California to the Phoenix, Arizona area so that our resident photographer, Drew Phillips, could make sure we got all the right shots as we lead-footed our way around the Bondurant circuit with the Chevy Camaro ZL1.

Parking the Jetta TDI next to the Camaro ZL1 was an interesting exercise - it's hard to imagine two vehicles more diametrically opposed than these. And, needless to say, moving directly from 580 supercharged horsepower in the ZL1 to just 140 horses in the VW took a bit of right-foot recalibration.

The good news is that, with 236 pound-feet of torque on tap, the Jetta TDI is fun to drive in its own right. Short-shifting the six-speed manual gearbox to keep the diesel mill in its sweet spot produces the most satisfying experience in the Jetta, and it allows you to feel the rush of torque as the turbocharger gets a hold of the spent diesel fumes, pushing your body into the seatback.

Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: January 2012

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: January 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 volkswagen jetta tdiablongtermablongterm-jettafeaturedjettajetta tdilong termlong-termtdivolkswagen Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20165313/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-january-2012/20165313/article-detail.xml 20165313 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2011-jetta-tdo-lt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/2011-jetta-tdo-lt.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: December 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-december-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-december-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-december-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,



After spending the first half of December up in the San Fernando Vallery with Drew Phillips, our long-term Jetta TDI made its way back into my care for a holiday road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Old Blue saw some great American icons on the trip, such as Alcatraz, Muir Woods, Sonoma Valley and the Golden Gate Bridge. Come to think of it, the Jetta and I have seen a lot of the country's splendor together. After all, my last run with the Volkswagen involved driving it 2,000 miles from Detroit to LA.

Since that long road trip in the Jetta this past summer, the interior seems to be more broken-in, though it isn't showing any noticeable signs of wear. That said, it still isn't a very pleasant place to be. I didn't love it on my cross-country journey a few months ago, and while it's more comfortable now that more butts have been in the driver's seat, there simply isn't anything to rave about.

Fuel economy, however, is as great as ever - I commonly see numbers over 40 mpg. The car's much-disliked gearbox is still tricky, and we broke a sweat trying not to stall while starting out on some of those steep San Francisco hills (especially when cars were behind us). But with some serious concentration, we managed with minimal problems.

All-in-all, the Jetta TDI continues to get the job done, though never quite in the refined manner that we're looking for. I've put thousands of miles on this Jetta TDI myself, but have yet to completely bond with it.

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: December 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 volkswagen jetta tdiablongtermablongterm-jettafeaturedjettajetta tdilong-termvolkswagenvw Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20141751/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/06/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-december-2011/20141751/article-detail.xml 20141751 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/08-long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/08-long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: December 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-december-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-december-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-december-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,



As the newest member of the Autoblog crew, I got to take my first turn in the long-term Equus just before the holidays. But rather than the early Christmas present I expected it to be, two weeks behind the wheel felt more like hazing the new guy.

Now, I'm a big fan of the Hyundai Genesis sedan, and I had ridden in an Equus before and found its backseat extremely comfortable, so I was excited to pick up this limousine-like Hyundai from the AOL Autos office in suburban Detroit. I truly wanted to like the car. But by the time I had completed the 55-mile freeway drive back to my house in Ann Arbor, I had already soured. Or to be more accurate, decided that our Equus was broken.

I had been warned about our car's out-of-control lumbar support on the driver's seat and was prepared for an uncomfortable experience, but the Equus proved more painful than I had expected. The problem wasn't just an extreme amount of lumbar support, but that the seat was poking me right in the kidney - reason one to call the dealer.

But that wasn't all...

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: December 2011

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: December 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 hyundai equus2011 hyundai equus ultimateablongtermablongterm-equusequusequus ultimatehyundailong term equuslong term garage Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20139256/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-december-2011/20139256/article-detail.xml 20139256 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/long-term-2011-hyundai-equus-opt-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/long-term-2011-hyundai-equus-opt-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: December 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/2011-mini-countryman-december-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/2011-mini-countryman-december-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/2011-mini-countryman-december-2011/#comments Filed under: , ,



As much as I detest the winter months here in Detroit, the truth is, I'm kind of bummed that we've only seen about a half-inch of snow so far this season. In fact, I was happy that our most recent snowfall actually started to stick to the parking lot across the street from my loft, simply so I could capture this photo of our long-term Mini Countryman with some powder on the ground. Two hours after I took this picture, it had all melted. Sigh.

So why, if I hate winter so much, do I wish there was snow outside my door? I'm extremely eager to see how our Countryman - now riding on winter tires - will fare in the slushy, wintry sludge. A proper set of snow shoes, relatively short wheelbase, decent ground clearance and all-wheel drive are a perfect combination for winter prowess, and darnit, I want to go play.

Still, in the three weeks that the Countryman has been under my watch here in Detroit, I've learned a lot about the big Mini since my first stint behind the wheel way back in August 2010.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: December 2011

2011 Mini Countryman: December 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymanall4countrymanfeaturedlong-termminimotor city mini Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:12:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20137289/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/30/2011-mini-countryman-december-2011/20137289/article-detail.xml 20137289 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/countryman628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/countryman628.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: November 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/05/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-november-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/05/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-november-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/05/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-november-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

It's been a little over six months since the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI joined our long-term garage, and since then, we've put more than 17,000 miles on this Tempest Blue sedan. After spending much of the summer in Detroit, the Jetta TDI was road-tripped out to Los Angeles where the Autoblog staff in Southern California have been tending to the car.

Even after half a year, we are still amazed at how easy it is to get excellent fuel mileage in the Jetta TDI. Official EPA ratings for the car are 30 city and 42 highway, but rarely do we fall below that average. Twice we have averaged more than 50 miles per gallon for a tankful, and only occasionally do we drop below 40 mpg on average. Apparently, only lead-foot Michael Harley, last month's caretaker of the Jetta TDI, knows how to get mediocre fuel mileage out of the 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder, averaging around 35 mpg during his time with the car.

This admirable fuel mileage translates to well over 500 miles per tank (we went 608 miles in between our last two fill-ups), a pleasant change compared to the frequent stops necessary with other vehicles.

Of course, there's more to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI than its fuel mileage. Follow the jump to read more about how the other aspects of the car have fared during the past month.

Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: November 2011

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: November 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 volkswagen jetta tdijettajetta tdilong termlong-termlong-termerlongtermtdivolkswagen Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20119883/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/05/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-november-2011/20119883/article-detail.xml 20119883 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: November 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/2011-mini-countryman-november-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/2011-mini-countryman-november-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/2011-mini-countryman-november-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,



After spending September in the San Francisco bay area with Senior Editor Damon Lavrinc, our long-term 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 moved to southern California during the month of October to serve our esteemed photographer, Drew Phillips. In early November, I handed Drew the keys to our long-term 2011 Jetta TDI and stole the Countryman from his driveway. He hasn't seen it since.

I like the standard Cooper S hardtop. It is fun to toss the little 2,668-pound two-door around and it delivers decent fuel economy. However, after four weeks of living with this maxi-Mini four-door (a whopping 540 pounds heavier), I have come to the conclusion that bigger isn't necessarily better - there is simply too much sugar in this Mini's sweetly flavored drink.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: November 2011

2011 Mini Countryman: November 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 mini cooper s countryman2011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymanall4cooper s countrymancountrymanfeaturedlong-termmini Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20118776/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/02/2011-mini-countryman-november-2011/20118776/article-detail.xml 20118776 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/countryman20-1322804676_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/countryman20-1322804676.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: November 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-november-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-november-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/30/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-november-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,



I'll be honest - I don't love our 2011 Hyundai Equus. It's a perfectly fine luxury sedan, but as a daily driver, it has about as much personality as the new sofa I bought last month. Autoblog Editor-in-Chief John Neff, on the other hand, is quite fond of our long-termer, and in my conversations with him, the vast majority of his praise was concentrated around the Hyundai's behavior on really long road trips - something that, even after our team collectively put nearly 20,000 miles on the car, I had yet to experience, aside from a few quick jaunts between Detroit and Chicago.

Earlier this month, I needed to make a trip from Detroit to southern Illinois and back - 1,200 miles in total that would be covered over two 9.5-hour stints. And since my route would only take me along the hardly scenic, decidedly boring interstates of the midwest (looking at you, I-75, I-70 and I-57), this was clearly a job for the Equus.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: November 2011

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: November 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 hyundai equusablongtermablongterm-equusequushyundailong term equuslong term garagelongtermultimate Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20115654/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/30/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-november-2011/20115654/article-detail.xml 20115654 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/equus628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/equus628.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: October 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/04/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-october-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/04/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-october-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/04/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-october-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,



October proved to be a busy month for our long-term 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Unlike September, where it bounced between our Los Angeles editors, the keys to the Tempest Blue sedan were in my hands through Halloween. During the past month, it has traveled all over Southern California and taken more than a few trips to Los Angeles Airport loaded with my suitcases.

It's hard not to be impressed with the diesel engine and its fuel economy. Displacing 2.0-liters, the turbocharged inline-four generates 140 horsepower. While that first figure isn't particularly impressive, the 236 pound-feet of torque is. Even with five passengers and a full load of soccer equipment in the huge trunk, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI pulls confidently and has no trouble maintaining speed regardless of the grade. The EPA rates the Jetta at 30 mpg city/42 mpg highway - figures that aligned nicely with my overall average of about 36 mpg for the month of October. The TDI's frugality is maximized on the highway, where I have seen better than 50 mpg more than once.

Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: October 2011

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: October 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 jetta tdi2011 volkswagen jetta tdigriotgriotsjettajetta dieseljetta tdilong termtdivolkswagenvolkswagen jetta tdivw Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20098158/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/04/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-october-2011/20098158/article-detail.xml 20098158 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/jetta628lead_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/jetta628lead.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: October 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/02/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-october-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/02/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-october-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/02/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-october-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,



Our long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate has made its way back to my hands after spending the summer with other members of the Autoblog team. Its mileage has nearly tripled since I last drove the big white luxoliner. Summertime excursions and business trips have added up, meaning the Equus now has just under 19,000 miles on the odometer.

With those miles has come a bit of wear and tear, but a recent dealership trip smoothed out many of the rough edges. (Read Editor-in-Chief Neff's report from last month to see what we mean.) Still, a few blemishes remain, but much of it is to be expected with this level of use. We've already talked about the discolored driver's seat, but I've also noticed some general wear in the leather that wasn't there before I gave the Equus away for its summer of road trippin'.

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: October 2011

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: October 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 hyundai equus2011 hyundai equus ultimateablongtermablongterm-equusequusheated steering wheelheated wheelhyundailong term equuslong term garagelong-term Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20094188/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/02/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-october-2011/20094188/article-detail.xml 20094188 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/equus628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/equus628.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: October 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/02/2011-mini-countryman-october-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/02/2011-mini-countryman-october-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/02/2011-mini-countryman-october-2011/#comments Filed under: , ,

2011 Mini Countryman

The last time we updated you on our long-term 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4, it was in Northern California with senior editor Lavrinc. Since then, we've driving the car down to Southern California, although not before it served as our mode of transportation for the Rennsport Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. We've also taken a trip to Phoenix to check out the Local Motors Rally Fighter (look for a feature soon), and driven the Countryman plenty around Los Angeles, doubling our car's mileage in the process. Thanks to a majority of those miles being on the freeway, we've averaged a solid 27.39 mpg, a number that falls right in line with the official rating of 25/31. Our best stint was 29.3 mpg, all freeway miles, coming back from Phoenix.

If anything, spending spending five-plus hours in the Countryman at once has revealed some new likes and dislikes. Follow the jump to read more about them and what life is like for the Countryman in Southern California.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: October 2011

2011 Mini Countryman: October 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 mini countrymancountrymanfeaturedlong termlong term mini countrymanlong-termlong-term mini countrymanminimini countryman Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20094164/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/02/2011-mini-countryman-october-2011/20094164/article-detail.xml 20094164 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/mini-countryman-long-term_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/mini-countryman-long-term.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: September 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/05/2011-mini-countryman-september-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/05/2011-mini-countryman-september-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/05/2011-mini-countryman-september-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,



Our long-term 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 has served out its time in Northern California and is set to head down to LA later this month. But before it departs the sunny side of the bay, I've got some closing thoughts after a few months behind the wheel.

To begin with, Mini has succeeded in creating a livable, entertaining crossover that's nothing if not unique and hasn't diluted the brand's core values... much. Particularly in S and All4 guise, the Countryman has just the right amount of sport to keep us interested and enough functionality to make it an everyday vehicle. Sure, I'd like a little more cargo space, but there's ample room for a family of three - maybe four - to make a weekend trip up to the hills or out to the coast and enjoy the spaces in between.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: September 2011

2011 Mini Countryman: September 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4ablongtermablongterm-countrymanall4countrymanfeaturedlong termlong-termmini Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20072847/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/05/2011-mini-countryman-september-2011/20072847/article-detail.xml 20072847 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/05-mini-countryman-longterm-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/05-mini-countryman-longterm-628.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: September 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-september-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-september-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-september-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,



Our 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate long-term tester made its way back into my garage for the month of September, and despite cresting the 16,000-mile mark, appears no worse for the wear. Or so I thought.

I hadn't seen the Equus since its odometer showed just a few thousand miles, and in that time it's been the vehicle of choice for many of our Detroit-based team members' summer vacations. It's easy to see why: The Equus is ideal for covering long distances in comfort. That piled on the miles quick, though, and sitting in my driveway in early September, the effects of this hard use became apparent.

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: September 2011

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: September 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 hyundai equusablongtermablongterm-equusequushyundailong term equuslong term garage Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20071750/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/04/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-september-2011/20071750/article-detail.xml 20071750 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/19-hyundai-equus-longterm-intro-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/19-hyundai-equus-longterm-intro-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Getting intimate with Mini Connected]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/getting-intimate-with-mini-connected/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/getting-intimate-with-mini-connected/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/getting-intimate-with-mini-connected/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Mini Connected Review

We've being living with our long-term Mini Countryman Cooper S All4 for a little over two months, but we haven't spent much time on one of the most often used - and complex - bits of the car.

Mini Connected is essentially a reworked version of BMW iDrive for the Mini line-up. The system uses the same architecture and a tweaked user interface to provide drivers with a range of entertainment, connectivity and infotainment functionalities. Some components from iDrive have carried over, most notably a multidirectional joystick in place of the standard knob found in most BMWs, while others have been completely redone for both the Mini aesthetic and the circular display mounted in the central speedometer.

Drivers can connect their iPhone to the system over either Bluetooth or USB to take phone calls, stream Internet radio stations, play locally-stored music or listen to Pandora, along with using their data connection to see timelines on Twitter, Facebook and customizable RSS feeds. Include Google search and send-to-car functionality, and it's a pretty compelling package. But it's pricy.

If you opt for Mini Connected by itself, it's a $2,000 option, with the navigation functionality commanding an additional $750. That's a lotta scratch, but after using the system day-to-day, we're just about sold.

There's plenty going on with Mini Connected, so rather than assault you with a few thousand words, hit the jump for a detailed video review of the system in action.

Continue reading Getting intimate with Mini Connected

Getting intimate with Mini Connected originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 mini countrymancountrymanidriveminimini connectedmini countryman Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20072811/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/03/getting-intimate-with-mini-connected/20072811/article-detail.xml 20072811 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/mini-connected-review-vid-cap_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/mini-connected-review-vid-cap.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: September 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-september-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-september-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-september-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

While our long-term Jetta TDI covered thousands of miles in August, mostly thanks to a cross-country jaunt with Michael Zak at the controls, things settled down in September as the blue sedan became accustomed to its new California residence.

Bounced around between the team, the frugal four-door went to Autoblog's Director of Photography, Drew Phillips, first. The bugs were scraped off, the windows cleaned and the Jetta prepared for its official photo shoot (check out the photos laced throughout this post, or click here to see the full gallery). After a week with Drew, it motored across Los Angeles and was soon dropped off at an LA airport parking garage with the keys in an envelope bearing my name (I was arriving back in town after a flight from the Frankfurt Motor Show).

My first order of business was to give the Jetta TDI a quick mechanical inspection...

Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: September 2011

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: September 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 volkswagen jetta tdiablongtermablongterm-jettajettajetta tdilong-termvolkswagenvw Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20071549/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/03/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-september-2011/20071549/article-detail.xml 20071549 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: August 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/08/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-august-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/08/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-august-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/08/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-august-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,



Our 2011 Hyundai Equus long-termer continues to pile on the miles in the effortless fashion that one expects of a premium sedan. August's main outing was a weeklong stint in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, about 800 miles from Detroit. All-in, the trip accounted for over 2,000 miles, during which the Equus stretched its legs as a capable freeway cruiser and even was pressed into undignified service as a surfboard transport (see above). In case you're wondering, no, an eight-foot rental longboard won't fit in a luxury sedan (not in this or any other we can think of), so you'll be forced to do the shish-ka-windows-and-empty-side-road-creep with the hazard lights on if you don't have any alternatives.

With the exception of a modest bit of track time at Hyundai's Seoul proving grounds in a few prototypes, this was your author's first experience with the Equus. As one might expect, it acquits itself better over-the-road than on the track, delivering a comfortable ride and plush confines in which to while away the miles.

What was surprising for this driver was how much attention our Equus garnered - it's rather innocuously styled, after all. But we hadn't been driving further than our first rest stop when a couple of attractive twenty-something ladies stopped to ask about our car as we got out in the parking lot. "What is it?!" they gushed. "Believe it or not, it's a Hyundai," we answered. Puzzled looks. "Wait... really? Well... it's still really nice, though!" We laughed a little inside and moved on, but their reaction was telling - "It's still really nice, though!" is both a credit to what a pleasant surprise the Equus is for Hyundai, as well as a subtly backhanded ding at the company's "off the radar" standing among many consumers. The same rest area yielded a discussion with a very enthusiastic Genesis sedan owner, and subsequent conversations were held at stoplights with frantic arm-waving Toyota Avalon drivers and more random people in parking lots, including a BMW E60 5 Series owner fed up with his ownership experience. We have to admit, we viewed the Equus as something of a generic knockoff design-wise, but our conversations suggest that the general buying public doesn't feel the same way (or doesn't care).

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: August 2011

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: August 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 hyundai equusablongtermablongterm-equusequusequus ultimateglassman hyundaihyundailong-termlong-term carouter banks Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20035272/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/08/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-august-2011/20035272/article-detail.xml 20035272 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/hyundai-equus-longboard-628-1315500694_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/hyundai-equus-longboard-628-1315500694.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: August 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/26/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-august-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/26/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-august-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/26/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-august-2011/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

August was quite the month for our long-term Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Not only did our diesel darling roll over the 10,000-mile mark, it did so while making its journey across the United States - Detroit to Los Angeles - with AOL Autos' Michael Zak behind the wheel.

Before hitting the road, we took the Jetta in for its first scheduled maintenance appointment, all of which was covered under Volkswagen's carefree maintenance program (no-cost scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles). We had the oil changed, tires rotated, fluids topped off, and other key points inspected. Simple stuff. Upon dropping the car off at the dealership, though, we found out that there was an open recall on our car for - wait for it - wind noise. The service technicians told us that the driver door's sound deadening materials would be inspected and replaced, and to be honest, there wasn't any noticeable difference in wind noise when we picked the car up from service later that day.

In any case, the Jetta was now primed and ready for its cross-country voyage, which meant saying goodbye to the Jetta as we handed the keys over to Michael Zak. After four months of service with our east coast staff, it was time for the Jetta to head west. Click through the jump to read more.

Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: August 2011

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: August 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 volkswagen jetta tdiablongtermablongterm-jettafeaturedjettajetta tdilong-termvolkswagenvw Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20027603/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/26/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-august-2011/20027603/article-detail.xml 20027603 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/eco-comparo---12_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/eco-comparo---12.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 joins Autoblog's Long-Term Garage]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/15/2011-mini-cooper-s-countryman-all4-joins-autoblogs-long-term-ga/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/15/2011-mini-cooper-s-countryman-all4-joins-autoblogs-long-term-ga/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/15/2011-mini-cooper-s-countryman-all4-joins-autoblogs-long-term-ga/#comments Filed under: , ,

Welcoming Mini's Burly Uncle into the Family

2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

The idea of a maxi-Mini runs counter to everything we love about the brand. But despite our misgivings, our own Steven J. Ewing came away suitably impressed with the Mini Countryman when he drove it this time last year. How much did he like it? He insisted we add one to the Autoblog Long-Term Garage.

And here it is.

Coated in two-tone True Blue Metallic (as voted by our readers) and tricked out in Cooper S ALL4 guise, our long-term tester is as maxed out as they come - with the exception of an automatic transmission, natch. We think we ticked all the right boxes, including Sport and Premium packs, Xenons, Sport suspension and Mini Connected with Navigation, to get the full Countryman experience. And to kick things off, I headed north for a two-day, 500-mile trek up the coast to put our newest family member through its paces.

The good news: Mini's made one of the most entertaining cute 'utes in the world. The bad: You've got to shell out a heap of coin to enjoy it.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 joins Autoblog's Long-Term Garage

2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 joins Autoblog's Long-Term Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2011 mini cooper s countrymancountrymanfeaturedlong-termlong-term countrymanmini Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20016707/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/15/2011-mini-cooper-s-countryman-all4-joins-autoblogs-long-term-ga/20016707/article-detail.xml 20016707 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/mini-countryman-longterm_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/mini-countryman-longterm.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: July 2011]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/26/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-july-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/26/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-july-2011/ http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/26/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-july-2011/#comments Filed under: , ,

2011 Hyundai Equus

We've been racking up some serious miles on our long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus. Since its delivery in March, we've added nearly 11,000 miles to the odometer, and after that many miles of commuting, road tripping and cargo-shlepping, the interior of the big Hyundai was starting to get a bit dusty. During the month of July, we treated the Equus to some much-needed TLC.

In addition to an hour-long cleaning session at a local do-it-yourself wash and vacuum station, our Equus went in for its second oil change. After our issues with the valet service in May, we opted to just drop the car off at the dealership this time around, mostly because of timing issues on our behalf. Submitting a request for Equus service with an Apple iPad is still as easy as ever, and the dealership request for an appointment went flawlessly.

11,000 miles might not seem like enough time to accumulate lots of wear and tear on a vehicle's cabin, but upon closer inspection, our Equus is starting to show signs of aging.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: July 2011

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: July 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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