Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[2013 Nissan Pathfinder: May 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/07/2013-nissan-pathfinder-may-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/07/2013-nissan-pathfinder-may-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/07/2013-nissan-pathfinder-may-2013/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Long-term 2013 Nissan Pathfinder - Front three-quarter view

Despite the snow-capped photos you see here, our long-term Pathfinder has been the subject of some proper pre-summer lovin' here in metro Detroit (we're working on a new gallery). Now that the warm weather has hit Michigan, many of our staffers have eagerly grabbed the keys to our big, brown Nissan for road trips all over the place. And the Pathfinder has indeed proven itself to be quite the worthy long-distance hauler, as editors John Neff and Seyth Miersma have already experienced.

This time around, a couple of our colleagues from AOL Autos put hundreds of miles on our trusty Nissan. And while everyone agrees that the Pathfinder is a solid vehicle for the task of road tripping, there are a couple of specific pros and cons that have been mentioned on several occasions.

Continue reading 2013 Nissan Pathfinder: May 2013

2013 Nissan Pathfinder: May 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 nissan pathfinderablongterm-pathfinderlong-termlongtermnissannissan pathfinderFri, 07 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20584708/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/07/2013-nissan-pathfinder-may-2013/20584708/article-detail.xml 20584708 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2013-nissan-pathfinder-lt---01_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/2013-nissan-pathfinder-lt---01.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: May 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-may-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-may-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/06/03/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-may-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Long-term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Although I went on the Portland launch of the regular-strength Veloster back in late 2011, my time in the Turbo model was previously limited to one very brief commuting experience, so I was glad to get some time in our long-term matte gray model this month. In a way, I lucked out, grabbing the key fob to our Hyundai just as the weather in mid-Michigan finally acknowledged spring's existence. The temperature change afforded us the chance to swap out the all-season Kumho Solus KH25 rubber that it arrived with in January for its optional ($1,200) Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires (215/40ZR18), an almost absurdly major-league, high-dollar set of shoes for what is actually only a hottish hatch.

You might have expected the Veloster Turbo to slide under the radar in such high-performance and shouty company, but the truth is it was a little magnet for attention.

With the new footwear freshly installed, I made a beeline for South Bend, Indiana for the start of this year's One Lap of America, an event I've been staffing for well over a decade. I rolled into the Tire Rack headquarters' expansive parking lot, parking the VT alongside the competitors, whose vehicles appeared "cunningly disguised as racecars," covered with all manner of sponsorship stickers and graphics. You might have expected the Veloster Turbo to slide under the radar in such high-performance and shouty company, but the truth is it was a little magnet for attention.

Most of the One Lappers I spoke with had seen standard Velosters before from a distance or at auto shows, but none of them had firsthand experience with them, let alone with the Turbo. While not everyone loved its looks, a good number truly did, and several asked if the car's matte finish was a wrap - all were impressed to learn that it wasn't. They were also pretty blown away by the inclusion of Michelin Pilots on a car of this price and mission, and everyone appreciated that it had a six-speed manual and a "real" third door. At least a couple of drivers pronounced it a "great kid's car" and vowed to have a look at it for their own progeny after the weeklong rally. As much as I enjoy the car, it was frankly a warmer reaction than I had anticipated amidst a crowd of hardcore car guys and gals.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: May 2013

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: May 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 hyundai veloster turboablongterm-velosterfeaturedhyundaihyundai velosterhyundai veloster turbolong-termlongtermMon, 03 Jun 2013 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20588259/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/06/03/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-may-2013/20588259/article-detail.xml 20588259 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/lt-veloster-turbo-one-lap-628-1370277290_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/06/lt-veloster-turbo-one-lap-628-1370277290.jpg <![CDATA[2014 Mazda6: Introduction]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/30/2014-mazda6-long-term-introduction/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/30/2014-mazda6-long-term-introduction/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/30/2014-mazda6-long-term-introduction/#commentsFiled under: , ,

An Extended Stay With The Sexy Six

2014 Mazda6

The new-for-2014 Mazda6 sedan is more than just a pretty face. For Mazda, it marks the company's best effort yet at competing in the highly competitive midsize sedan segment, all the while staying true to the brand's core value of offering high levels of driver involvement above all. We certainly came away impressed after our first drive of the sleek Six in France last fall, and we knew right from the start that this would be a car we'd want to spend a lot of time with back here at home.

So with that in mind, the folks at Mazda graciously agreed to loan us the fully loaded Soul Red tester you see here for a one-year stay in the Autoblog long-term garage. Because of how important this car is to the segment, and to Mazda as a brand, we know there's going to be a lot to talk about it over the next 12 months. Right now, though, allow us to introduce you to the newest member of our long-term family.

Continue reading 2014 Mazda6: Introduction

2014 Mazda6: Introduction originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 May 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 mazda mazda62014 mazda6ablongtermablongterm-mazda6featuredlong-termlongtermmazdamazda mazda6mazda6Thu, 30 May 2013 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20584698/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/30/2014-mazda6-long-term-introduction/20584698/article-detail.xml 20584698 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/01-2014-mazda6-lt-1369671254_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/01-2014-mazda6-lt-1369671254.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: April 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-april-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-april-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-april-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Learning To Love Understand You

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

I will admit, I haven't had the nicest things to say about our long-term 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo since its arrival in our fleet earlier this year. I can't exactly say that I've bonded with our turbocharged Hyundai, despite the fact that I've driven it quite a bit since its arrival in the Autoblog Garage. Several of my friends will no doubt recall me saying things like, "I love everything about this car - except driving it," which is a shame, since the driving aspect is what's supposed to make this car so special. I'm a big fan of the base Veloster, and this one has the extra power bump that the naturally aspirated could really benefit from. So what gives?

Recently, I took a trip to the south of France, where I drove the brand-new Ford Fiesta ST along the lovely roads of the Alps. I adored that car - it's everything a hot hatch should be, and it's priced right, too. But when I came home and picked up the Veloster Turbo at the airport, I found myself disappointed. The Ford I drove in Europe was similar to the Hyundai in terms of size, function, equipment and price, but it was far better to drive. To be fair, that car wasn't even out to benchmark when the Veloster Turbo debuted, but my already sour feelings only got worse at that moment.

But this matte gray cloud does have a silver lining. And all it takes is a bit of rethinking.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: April 2013

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: April 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 May 2013 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 hyundai veloster turboablongterm-velosterhyundaihyundai velosterhyundai veloster turbolong-termlongtermWed, 01 May 2013 15:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20549238/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/01/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-april-2013/20549238/article-detail.xml 20549238 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/002-long-term-2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/002-long-term-2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Nissan Pathfinder: April 2013]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/2013-nissan-pathfinder-april-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/2013-nissan-pathfinder-april-2013/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/26/2013-nissan-pathfinder-april-2013/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Not Just For Families

2013 Nissan Pathfinder

Since our long-term 2013 Nissan Pathfinder joined the Autoblog Garage in late December of last year, the only time I've really spent with it has been during the short periods of time between my co-workers' longer loans. Until now, my experiences with our Mocha Stone tester have been limited to pick-ups and drop-offs at various locations around the greater Michigan/Ohio area, not to mention keeping the vehicle clean inside and out, as well as handling our first bit of scheduled maintenance in late March.

I was pleased, then, to actually be able to spend most of the month of April with our Pathfinder, finally giving me a chance to see what everyone else does and does not like about Nissan's new crossover. But here's the thing: I'm admittedly not the ideal person to test a family-minded vehicle. I'm single and in my late twenties, so something like our other long-term car, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, is better suited to meet my everyday needs.

But as I found after my stint with the Nissan, there's a whole lot to like about the Pathfinder no matter what your lifestyle demands. Allow me to explain.

Continue reading 2013 Nissan Pathfinder: April 2013

2013 Nissan Pathfinder: April 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 nissan pathfinderablongterm-pathfinderlong-termlongtermnissannissan pathfinderFri, 26 Apr 2013 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20549168/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/26/2013-nissan-pathfinder-april-2013/20549168/article-detail.xml 20549168 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/2013-nissan-pathfinder-lt---03-1366917927_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/2013-nissan-pathfinder-lt---03-1366917927.jpg <![CDATA[2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: Introduction]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-long-term-introduction/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-long-term-introduction/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-long-term-introduction/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

The Hyundai Veloster is indeed an automotive oddball, and that's part of the reason why we're so drawn to it. Even in base form, the Veloster is a cleverly packaged little wonder that's bursting with personality, and with the added grunt and visual aggression of the Turbo model, there's a lot to talk about.

Despite not really fitting into any one specific vehicle segment (unless you dump it into the all-too-vague "compact" class), the Veloster Turbo looks really good on paper, to say nothing of how it looks on the street. It's certainly a head-turner, and we're intrigued by the overall package of an oddly shaped three-door (or four-door?) with some forced induction motivation.

We've had a lot to say about the weird little Hyundai in the past, and we don't see the conversations about this car ending anytime soon. Thus, we've welcomed a matte gray example into the Autoblog long-term garage for one year of testing. This should definitely be interesting.

Continue reading 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: Introduction

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: Introduction originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 hyundai veloster turboablongtermablongterm-velosterfeaturedhyundailongtermvelosterveloster turboMon, 28 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20440050/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/28/2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo-long-term-introduction/20440050/article-detail.xml 20440050 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/001-long-term-2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo628opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/001-long-term-2013-hyundai-veloster-turbo628opt.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Wrap-Up [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/13/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-wrap-up-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/13/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-wrap-up-w-video/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/13/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-wrap-up-w-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

She Ain't What She Used To Be



Truth be told, we never had any intention of spending a full year with Volkswagen's sixth-generation Jetta. We were enjoying many a happy trail with our 2010 TDI Cup Street Edition - a car that won us over with its excellent mix of sport and efficiency. It was, perhaps, the best model to come out of the Jetta's fifth generation, and we were glad to have it, especially after we first met the controversially redesigned 2011 model that wasn't exactly garnering rave reviews.

But then the TDI Cup Street met a very tragic and mysterious demise. (We still miss you, Heidi.)

To ease our pain, Volkswagen offered up the chance to spend one year with the 2011 Jetta TDI you see here. Sure, it uses the same torquey 2.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-four as the old Jetta, but nearly everything else had been changed... and not necessarily for the better.

So how would a full year with the new Jetta TDI stack up after we had eight lovely months of diesel motoring with Frou Cup Street? Would we still love it like the old model, or would we simply end the year with a resounding... "Meh?"

Continue reading 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Wrap-Up [w/video]

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Wrap-Up [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 volkswagen jetta tdiablongtermablongterm-jettafeaturedjettajetta tdilong-termlongtermtdivolkswagenvwFri, 13 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20225295/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/13/2011-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-wrap-up-w-video/20225295/article-detail.xml 20225295 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/10-long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/10-long-term-2011-vw-jetta-tdi-opt.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Mini Countryman: March 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/2011-mini-countryman-march-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/2011-mini-countryman-march-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/2011-mini-countryman-march-2012/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2011 Mini Countryman

When our friends at The Tire Rack told us they'd be sending over a set of Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 tires mounted on 17-inch Sport Edition alloy wheels for our long-term Mini Countryman, our minds were immediately filled with images of the little blue hatchback bounding along snowy roads with razor-sharp precision and confidence. Instead, editors Neff, Paukert and myself can literally count on one hand the number of times we actually had to drive the Mini on snowy/slushy roads. So much for winter tire/all-wheel-drive snowy playtime.

To say that we've had an unusually mild winter here in the Midwest is truly an understatement (note: we are absolutely not complaining). In mid-March, we saw record-high temperatures in the mid-80s. As Neff said in last month's update, seriously, what the hell is going on?

So rather than wear down the tread on our Blizzaks even further, we took the Countryman over to Motor City Mini once again to have its stock Pirelli Cinturato 18-inch wheels and run-flat (boo!) tires put back on. Perfect timing, too, since the car was just about to roll over the 12,000-mile mark, meaning its first scheduled maintenance was due. The oil was changed, fluids were topped off and all of the other mechanical elements inspected, and thus, our Mini is now prepped and ready for spring and summer in The D. We griped about the harshness of the run-flat tires combined with our optional sport suspension already, so we'll spare you another round of grumbling. If there's one thing we'll miss about the winter tires, it's the smoother - albeit, slightly louder - ride.

Our observed fuel economy numbers are falling short of what the EPA suggests.

With 12,000 miles now under our belts, the Countryman is plenty broken in. But after a quick math session with the car's logbook, it seems our observed fuel economy numbers are falling short of what the EPA suggests. I'll personally admit to driving the Mini more aggressively than most consumers likely will (hey, this thing is seriously fun to throw around), but even so, the fact that our observed fuel economy is only 24.9 miles per gallon is indeed questionable. The EPA rates the 2011 Cooper S Countryman All4 at 26/32 mpg city/highway and 28 mpg combined when fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, and our best recorded fuel economy is only a dismal 29.3 mpg. Either I'm not the only one with a heavy right foot or something is off here. We'll definitely be keeping a close watch over this as time progresses.

In the next month, associate editor Chris Shunk will put the Countryman to use as a family hauler, so we'll get a better idea of just how kid-and-cargo-friendly the four-passenger interior really is. Stay tuned.

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: March 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 mini cooper s countryman2011 mini countrymanablongtermablongterm-countrymancounrymanfeaturedlong-termlongtermminiThu, 29 Mar 2012 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20200087/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/29/2011-mini-countryman-march-2012/20200087/article-detail.xml 20200087 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mini628-1333035713_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mini628-1333035713.jpg <![CDATA[2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: Wrap-Up [w/videos]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/16/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-wrap-up-w-videos/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/16/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-wrap-up-w-videos/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/16/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-wrap-up-w-videos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What A Difference A Year Makes

2011 Hyundai Equus Long-Term

There was a point in time where if we read one more lede that started with "Hyundai sure is on a roll these days," we would have clawed our eyes out. Fact of the matter, though, is that those words were absolutely true. Hyundai has really come a long way here in the United States, especially in the past couple of years. And the only reason people have stopped writing about Hyundai's forward momentum is because, frankly, we expect nothing less now. Every new product blows the doors off of the one that came before it, and brand-new ventures like the Genesis line or funky-fresh Veloster are nothing short of impressive.

But every family has its black sheep, and unfortunately for Hyundai, that might be the largest one in its herd. You see, while Hyundai has worked hard to create a unique brand identity here in the United States by offering cars that are designed specifically with our market in mind, the Equus was simply a vehicle hauled over from Korea with a few minor Americanized tweaks. Don't get us wrong, the Equus is a plenty good car, and through its faults, we praised it in both our initial first drive and follow-up review as being a tremendous value that's pretty darn up to snuff with its competitive set. But over time, can something that's simply a good value work in the highly competitive full-size luxury set?

That in mind, we ordered a White Satin Pearl 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate for our long-term garage in order to see if after one year of day-to-day use, the big flagship would be able to stand tall with the rest of its Modern Hyundai kin, or simply be another budget-minded also-ran from the days of Old Hyundai. 52 weeks and 22,638 miles later, all we can say is, man, what a difference a year makes.

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: Wrap-Up [w/videos]

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: Wrap-Up [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 hyundai equus2011 hyundai equus ultimateablongterm-equusequusfeaturedhyundailong-termlongtermFri, 16 Mar 2012 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20194458/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/16/2011-hyundai-equus-ultimate-wrap-up-w-videos/20194458/article-detail.xml 20194458 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/hyundai-equus-longterm-intro_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/hyundai-equus-longterm-intro.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/#commentsFiled 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-termerlongtermtdivolkswagenMon, 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 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/#commentsFiled 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 garagelongtermultimateWed, 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[2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: It's the little things...]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/22/2010-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-cup-street-edition-its-the-little-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/22/2010-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-cup-street-edition-its-the-little-th/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/22/2010-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-cup-street-edition-its-the-little-th/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2010 Volkswagen Jetta Door Pocket

With over three months and 5,342 miles on our Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition long-termer, we've moved from the honeymoon phase to the daily grind, and now we're appreciating the little things.

Aside from averaging 39.2 mpg since our last update - which included a 10- hour trip to LA and back - there are a handful of thoughtful touches that continue to impress us. For instance? Carpeted bin liners. It may sound trite, but not hearing a plastic-on-plastic smack every time we throw our FastTrak into the door pocket is reassuring. Auto-up and down on all four windows is something you don't find often enough in this segment and it's a huge plus when clearing out the heat on a summer day. But our Favorite Little Thing? B-pillar mounted coat hooks. Throw your dry cleaning or sportcoat onto one of the hooks normally integrated into the rear grab handles and you've doubled your blind-spot. With VW's solution, visibility out back remains nearly unobstructed, assuming you hang your coat on the passenger side and not behind the driver's seat. We've also managed to cram four R-compound-shod wheels into the back (not for the Jetta, mind) with the rear seats folded down, and still had room for a toolbox, a few backpacks and a small tent. Not bad for a "compact sedan."


Gallery: Review: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: It's the little things... originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition2010VolkswagenJettaTdiCupStreetEditionjettajetta tdiJettaTdijettatdi-longtermlong termlong-termLongTermtdivolkswagenvolkswagen jetta tdiVolkswagenJettaTdiWed, 22 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19643144/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/09/22/2010-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-cup-street-edition-its-the-little-th/19643144/article-detail.xml 19643144 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/carpet-jetta-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/carpet-jetta-630op.jpg <![CDATA[2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: Getting intimate and egged]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/16/2010-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-cup-street-edition-getting-intimate-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/16/2010-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-cup-street-edition-getting-intimate-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/16/2010-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-cup-street-edition-getting-intimate-a/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



There's no better way to get to know a vehicle than washing it yourself. So rather than sending it through the local hand-wash last weekend, I pulled out a bucket and got sudsy for the first time... in a while.

After a run through the Altamont Hills the previous day, our long-term Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition was coated from windshield to air dam with crickets - something that happens in the hills the same time each year. While I expected the massive grille to be covered in the little bastards, what I didn't expect to find (after I toweled everything down, natch) was hundreds of the buggers wedged in between the lower bumper and the underbody tray. A small gap in between the two panels allowed the loud-legged Gryllidaes to go antenna-first into the slot, requiring a strong hose and a flathead screwdriver to get them out. Messy - but the again, genocide normally is.

Make the jump for the rest.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition


Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: Getting intimate and egged

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition: Getting intimate and egged originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition2010VolkswagenJettaTdiCupStreetEditionJettaJetta tdijetta tdi cupjetta+tdiJettaTdijettatdi-longtermJettaTdiCuplongtermtdi cup street editionTdiCupStreetEditionVolkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street EditionVolkswagenJettaTdiCupStreetEditionFri, 16 Jul 2010 14:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19557466/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/16/2010-volkswagen-jetta-tdi-cup-street-edition-getting-intimate-a/19557466/article-detail.xml 19557466 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/2010-05-29-13.10.27-630op2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/2010-05-29-13.10.27-630op2.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Long-Term Garage Introduction: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/29/autoblog-long-term-garage-introduction-2010-volkswagen-jetta-td/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/29/autoblog-long-term-garage-introduction-2010-volkswagen-jetta-td/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/29/autoblog-long-term-garage-introduction-2010-volkswagen-jetta-td/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition - Click above for high-res image gallery

We hinted at it in our review, but it's time to make it official. Welcome the newest entrant to the Autoblog Long-Term Garage: the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition.

So why, with the all-new Jetta right around the corner, would we bring the TDI Cup into the hallowed halls of Autoblog Towers? Simple. We want to get intimate with diesel. Not only do we want to reap the high-mileage benefits of ultra-low sulfur dino-juice, we want to see if something with a TDI badge can, in fact, be an entertaining drive over the long haul.

We explored the Cup's backroad prowess in our review, but how will it fare at the track? Will a new set of tires and wheels make a world of difference? How about some upgraded brake pads? In stock form, does it have what it takes to compete with the latest and greatest in the new fuel-conscious sporty car segment? How will it hold up after thousands of miles, a few road trips and stints across the country with our editors? All these questions and more will be answered over the course of a year.

We'll be keeping you updated on the TDI's progress with weekly and monthly posts, highlighting the finer points and questioning the logic of others. More importantly, we're interested in what you want to know about the Jetta TDI Cup Edition. Tell us in Comments and we'll get cracking.

Additionally, we've set up a specific page to follow the TDI's progress, complete with updates, specs and other useful info. Check it out and follow us on Twitter at TheRealAutoblog for 140-character morsels of insight tagged #ablongterm.

The fun is about to begin, and the only question now is: What's first?


Gallery: Review: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition

Autoblog Long-Term Garage Introduction: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition2010VolkswagenJettaTdiCupEditioncup editionCupEditionfeaturedjettaJetta cupjetta tdiJettaCupJettaTdijettatdi-longtermlong termLongTermtdiTDI cupTdiCupvolkswagenvolkswagen jetta tdi cup editionVolkswagenJettaTdiCupEditionvwTue, 29 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19534491/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/29/autoblog-long-term-garage-introduction-2010-volkswagen-jetta-td/19534491/article-detail.xml 19534491 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/01jettitdicupltintroopt-1277767767_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/01jettitdicupltintroopt-1277767767.jpg <![CDATA[2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Backwards E-brake]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/04/2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt-backwards-e-brake/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/04/2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt-backwards-e-brake/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/04/2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt-backwards-e-brake/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Long-term 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Executive Editor Paukert has already complained about one button located on the panel to the left of the steering wheel in our long-term 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT. But now that the keys have traded hands and I've got a beef to share about a different button.

The electronic parking brake is the biggest "button" in the cluster, but it's not so much a button as a push/pull-type switch. Fitted with a manual transmission, we tend to set the parking brake every time we exit the car, so the switch gets a lot of use.

However, Subaru has set up the switch in the exact opposite orientation you'd expect. Every time I go to set the parking brake, I pull it. Every time I go to turn it off, I push it. Unfortunately, it works the other way around. I think what's going on is that my muscle memory is trying to replicate what I would do with a more traditional parking brake lever, i.e. pull to set, push to release. I suppose someone could argue the exact opposite, that pushing to engage and pulling to release makes total sense (because that's how the door on a microwave works?), but we've heard from other late-model Subaru owners that this switch is a source of frustration for them as well, and many other vehicles that we've driven with similar e-brake levers work in the opposite fashion.

For now, we must remember that in this digital age of ours, new technology doesn't necessarily mimic its analog counterpart, which means I'm stuck pulling when I should pushing until my brain decides to relent.

CLICK HERE to check out all of the updates on our long-term 2011 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT.


Gallery: Long Term: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Backwards E-brake originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 subaru legacy2011 subary legacy 2.5gt2011SubaryLegacy2.5gtlegacylegacy 2.5gtlegacy longtermlegacy-longtermLegacy2.5gtLegacyLongtermlong-termlongtermlongterm legacylongterm-legacyLongtermLegacysubarusubaru legacysubaru legacy 2.5gtSubaruLegacySubaruLegacy2.5gtFri, 04 Jun 2010 19:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19502960/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/04/2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt-backwards-e-brake/19502960/article-detail.xml 19502960 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/40subaru25gtlongtermintroopt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/40subaru25gtlongtermintroopt.jpg <![CDATA[2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Automatic hill-holder is a great feature, but why the idiot lamp?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt-automatic-hill-holder-is-a-great-featu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt-automatic-hill-holder-is-a-great-featu/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt-automatic-hill-holder-is-a-great-featu/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Like all new-for-2010 Subaru Legacy models, our long-term 2.5GT has an electronic parking brake that has a hill holder feature. We think these are great, particularly on manual transmission cars like ours, where rollback on uphill starts can be require a bit of pedal dancing that's particularly nerve-racking for newer stick-shift drivers. It's also mighty convenient for those that live in hilly areas where incline starts are a frequent occurrence.

So... great feature, right? Yes, but why does switching it on illuminate a green indicator lamp in the gauge cluster, and why does it turn itself off every time you turn off the car? We understand the advantage of a defeat button (usage is potentially ill-advised if you're towing something or carrying a heavy load), but we would prefer that once the feature is activated, that it stay that way until the driver specifies otherwise.

Oddly enough, Subaru actually offered a mechanical hill holder on its cars long before going to an electronic parking brake, but as best we can remember, that system wasn't defeatable. Still, we don't recall hearing anyone grouse about it staying on all the time, and we're not sure why the default setting for this new system is off, or why it requires an idiot lamp at all. As it is, we've stopped using it regularly to avoid the extra light in the cluster. That, and we couldn't get The Smiths' "There is a Light that Never Goes Out" bounding through our head every time we used it.


Gallery: Long Term: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT: Automatic hill-holder is a great feature, but why the idiot lamp? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.5GT2010 Legacy2010 Subaru2010 Subaru Legacy2010Legacy2010Subaru2010SubaruLegacyelectronic paring brakeelectronic parking brakeElectronicParkingBrakehill holderHillHolderLegacy 2.5 GTlegacy-longtermLegacy2.5Gtlong termlong-term carLong-termCarlong-termerLongTermsubaru legacy 2.5GTSubaruLegacy2.5gtWed, 14 Apr 2010 14:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19440006/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/14/2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt-automatic-hill-holder-is-a-great-featu/19440006/article-detail.xml 19440006 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/subaru-lt-legacy-hill-holder-lamp-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/subaru-lt-legacy-hill-holder-lamp-630.jpg <![CDATA[Autoblog Long-Term Garage Introduction: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/autoblog-long-term-garage-introduction-2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/autoblog-long-term-garage-introduction-2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/autoblog-long-term-garage-introduction-2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Like others in our field, we pride ourselves on being able to offer our readers a surprisingly comprehensive assessment of a vehicle after only driving it for a few hours (as at an automaker's first-drive event) or living with it for several days (as with a normal media vehicle loan). But even though we've got our testing methodology down, there's simply no way to learn what it's like to live with an automobile without... well... living with the automobile.

Simply put, a year's worth of the day-in, day-out grind is likely to reveal more foibles and hidden charms than any number of test-drives could ever hope to expose. How does your backside feel after an 800-mile road trip? Does the clutch pedal feel like stirring molasses in subzero temperatures? How will the seat leather and interior plastics hold up over thousands of miles? Will the gearshift feel like a trusted old friend mile-after-mile? These are questions that can only be answered with a long-term driving experience.

To that end, we're pleased to introduce the first-ever entry into the Autoblog Long-Term Garage: The 2010 Subaru 2.5GT. We fell in love with this, the most sporting of Legacy models during its Vancouver launch over the summer, but the popularity of the model and its production-line companion, the Outback, has been so great that it's been impossible to secure a 2.5GT up until now. Subaru's Indiana plant has been so busy building the necessary volumes of the brand's bread-and-butter models that production of the 2.5GT - an enthusiast's sedan, when compared to its counterparts - has only recently started to come on-stream.

We suspect our loaded-up Ruby Red Pearl Limited model has been worth the wait, but we're prepared to take a year to come to grips with our final judgment. How will we feel about this rally-bred all-wheel-drive sport sedan after 365 days of everything from daily commuting to opposite-lock dancing on abandoned fire trails? Will its assertive flat-four thrum and newfound size win over converts - or leave us wishing we had picked a more obvious, safe-as-houses alternative?

More importantly - what do you want to know about life with the 2.5GT? We'll be regularly updating you on our new Subie's progress, passing its keys between our editors stationed around the country, putting its 265 horsepower through the paces in different climates and over various types of roads in order to see if it's worth the asking price. While you're pondering what questions to ask us in the Comments, feel free to check out our high-res gallery below as well as the spec panel after the jump laying out what makes the 2.5GT tick.

How to follow our Long-Term updates:
  • Twitter: Follow therealautoblog and look for tweets tagged #ablongterm.
  • Visit the Long-Term Garage category on Autoblog | Subscribe to RSS.
  • We'll be launching a new Long-Term model page for the 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT in the next couple of weeks that will contain all of the information, insights and updates we publish. Stay tuned!

Gallery: Long Term: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT


Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Autoblog Long-Term Garage Introduction: 2010 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.5 gt2.5G2.5Gt2.5GT limited2.5gtLimited2010 lexus2010 subaru legacy2010 subaru outback2010Lexus2010SubaruLegacy2010SubaruOutbackablongtermfeaturedlegacylegacy longtermlegacy+longtermlegacy-longtermLegacyLongtermlong termlong-termlong-term road testlong-term testlong-termerLong-termRoadTestLong-termTestLongTermScoobySubarusubaru legacySubaru Legacy 2.5GTSubaruLegacySubaruLegacy2.5gtsubary legacySubaryLegacySubieTue, 30 Mar 2010 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19418814/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/30/autoblog-long-term-garage-introduction-2010-subaru-legacy-2-5gt/19418814/article-detail.xml 19418814 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/lead1subaru25gtlongtermintro_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/lead1subaru25gtlongtermintro.jpg -1 2