Recent Comments:
Hertz Shelby GT-Hs going up for auction {Autoblog}
May 13th 2008 10:13AM Or, and sorry to be a buzzkill, you could buy a Shelby GT and get the exact same vehicle for $35K.
Or you could buy a Mustang GT, add the Shelby GT's off-the-shelf Ford Racing performance parts, and get the exact same vehicle minus the Shelby badges for
Tweaked 2009 Ford Focus Coupe debuts {Autoblog}
May 13th 2008 9:33AM I think that by "features a... larger front air intake," you meant "features a black plastic applique on top of the air intake that makes it look bigger."
And if Ford's shortened the gearing enough to make a meaningful difference in acceleration, say goodbye to highway MPG.
The reason for this car's sales upswing is simple: Ford's advertising the heck out of it. Consumers aren't saying, "we prefer this to the '05-'07 car." They were just unaware that Ford still built the thing before, such was the lack of marketing support.
VW Rabbit gets a carrot from Consumer Reports {Autoblog}
May 11th 2008 9:51PM The old Vibe/Matrix was more fun than the new one. The '09's combination of gummy electric steering, high cowl, and small windows makes it feel like a much bigger, heavier, less tossable car than the '03-'08 version. And there hasn't been any significant improvement in ride, noise, or materials quality to balance it out.
From the Awesome Files: V6 Miata auto-x weapon {Autoblog}
May 11th 2008 5:50PM If a low-slung, lightweight, two-seat, rear-wheel-drive, manually-shifted, longitudinally-engined, delicately balanced roadster built on a dedicated platform with no sedan parts isn't your definition of a sports car, I'd like to know what is.
VW Rabbit gets a carrot from Consumer Reports {Autoblog}
May 11th 2008 4:42PM CR's prediction is based on a year's worth of Rabbit owner responses in its reliability survey. Bear in mind that the mechanically identical Jetta has been on the market and racking up repair data since 2005.
I'd still take a Mazda 3 hatch over a Rabbit any day of the week, but CR rates cars on a non-enthusiast scale. By that reasoning, I can see how the VW's smoother ride, comfier seats, roomier cabin, richer materials, and better rear visibility could carry the day.
As a point of interest, CR engineers' favorite cars in a given category are often ones that only score midpack in their ratings. They rank cars by their readership's preferences, not necessarily their own.
Ford holds Taurus SHO focus group in Chicago... what does it mean??? {Autoblog}
May 7th 2008 4:08PM Focus groups, eh? Considering how the '08 Focus came out, I'm not sure I trust Ford to properly interpret the data from those.
Anyway, I don't see a revived SHO being worth the investment, for the same reason Jon noted: when V6 Altimas and Accords hit 60 in ~6 seconds, and 350Zs and RX-8s start under $30K, it's tough to make a big splash in the affordable-performance segment.
Least of all with a souped-up F/AWD midsizer. Buyers who still prioritize performance in a climate of gas-price hysteria will be diehard car nuts, and I suspect they'll want something less fundamentally compromised.
Audi R8 sold out "for months" {Autoblog}
May 7th 2008 9:35AM "Your" PT GT weighs about 3,100 lbs, has a 220-horse turbo four-cylinder, and does 0-60 in about 7 seconds.
Chrysler criticized for $2.99 gas, Suzuki jumps on bandwagon {Autoblog}
May 6th 2008 10:15PM I agree. And by the way...
"Damn, scientists are so smart with the math."
"These incentive programs are nothing but promotions designed to grab headlines..."
... so, John, when UCS points out the fallacy inherent to "free gas" programs, it's whining worthy of ridicule, but when you do it, it's hard-hitting news? C'mon.
Inside Line pits Challenger against Challenger in Vanishing Point-inspired road trip {Autoblog}
May 6th 2008 10:05PM Edmunds' article seems awfully complimentary of the 1970 car, as anyone who's experienced vintage Mopar power steering, build quality, and trim fit can attest.
It also harps pretty hard on the "good ol' days" angle, considering that the featured '70 Challenger has been restored and upgraded with modern (better) engine and suspension parts.
Still, fun reading. Love the embedded Vanishing Point clips.
VIDEO: BMW Design Director on M1 Hommage Concept {Autoblog}
Apr 29th 2008 7:00PM The phrase you were looking for was "hawtest concept car ever." ;-)
Seriously. This thing is drop-dead.
And the M1 itself was a vastly underrated machine. It was an exceptionally balanced and civilized (for a supercar) all-rounder born into an age where aesthetic excess and HP specs (personified by the Countach) determined desirability. That, and it was overpriced and had plastic body panels (apparently a BMW no-no). Still, if it had debuted in the mid-70s as originally intended, classic enthuasiasts would still be worshipping at its altar.
