Week of November 26th

It's late I Know! I'll explain why later.

11/26/12

• 1998 Ford Mustang V6: Drives so old school. The simplicity is kind of nice.
• 2004 Dodge Ram 1500: I swear they make these tall just for the sake of being tall. 
• 2002 Acura TL 3.2: Nice ride, I'd take this over an Accord. 

11/27/12

• 2009 Chevy Impala SS: This car has way too much engine for its front wheel drive suspension. Overall good build quality, but the seats are unsupportive.
• 2010 Acura RDX Turbo: Great throttle response with the turbo. This CUV has a nice low center of gravity feel to it. 
• 2012 Honda Pilot: Things learned by Honda in the Ridgeline can be felt in this. Overall it feels more sturdy and less like a bloated car than most Large CUV's. Defiantly get this over the up-badged Acura MDX which just feels gaudy.

11/28/12

• 2011 Hyundai Sonata Limited: This car is Fantastic! Smooth autostick gearbox, great middle of the road power (not weak but not overpowering the front wheels), Awesome powertrain warranty! Overall fit and finish is on par with new Fords. GIVE THIS A LOOK!
• 2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 S: The 2.5 S has too much of an option spread, this one had nearly nothing where as previous Altima 2.5 S was really nicely equipped. But still it has a great engine, and a nice smooth CVT.
• 2009 Ford Escape XLT: Comfortable and still un-apologetically truck like, but small truck like. Like a Pony or something.
• 2008 Toyota FJ Cruser: SO FUN! It's almost a Pantomime of a truck. It has all exaggerated "truckey" characteristics and style cues. It just screams "Lets go Play In the Mud!". I mean it has three tiny front wiper blades, why? because why not?

1,2,3, The shifter looks like a marital aid!!!

• 2008 Toyota Solara SE Convertible: Soft and floppy like a Camry which isn't particularly sporty, it's the car that signaled the end of the cool Toyotas like the MR2, Supra, and Celica. None of these problems matter too much though when you put the top down!

Yeup that says 37° F. I'm that stupid.

11/29/12

• 2003 Dodge Neon SXT: Direct, Immediate steering responce. I know it was not the best car in its class, but I understand why it does so well in 24 Hours of LeMons.
• 2007 Nissan Murano S AWD: Older Murano's like this are way more fun. Funky interior, sport setting on the CVT. Weird how it runs in sport mode @ 3500 RPM, but it's dead in the center of the Torque peak. 
• 2005 BMW 545i Sport: Great power and Throttle responce. Sport suspension and seats really make this car special on an already great chassis.

Just watch out for that right front corner, DERP!

• 2007 GMC Yukon: Great Interior, perhaps the Escalade IS Overrated.
• 2004 Toyota 4-Runner: HVAC needed too much time to interpret. Good, low, legs forward seating position. It's the Quintessential Japanese Truck style SUV.
• 2005 Ford Focus: It may look new, but it's still the same as the old '90's Escort deep inside. The new stuff is way better.

11/30/12

• 2011 BMW 335i X-Drive: Astronomical launch with the turbo engine and AWD!
• 2004 Suzuki XL-7: Great little body on frame trucklet. Feels very '80's you can tell not much has been done to modernize the chassis really. Should not have tried to be upscale though, the interior is mismatched to the overall truck. It should be utilitarian, not fake wood and such. Also, all Toyota switch gear.
• 2008 BMW 328xi: This car just has such a confident, solid feel. The "28" engine (the N52 Inline 6) is the right amount of power to keep you out of too much trouble, but still have fun.
• 2005 Chevy Cobalt: Like yesterday's '05 Focus, this feels just like the old 80's-90's car it still basically is under its body. Expect an old Chevy Caviler not a modern car.

Or if you want to be a Dandy, Picture the Cadillac Cimarron. A Turd by any other name would smell as foul.

Week of October 29th

10/29/12

• 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 SLT HD: Great power and HUGE towing Brakes!
• 2004 Ford Taurus SE: BLAH?
• 2003 Acura MDX: This is a LUXURY SUV?
• 2005 Chevy Impala: It doesn't even have a DOME LIGHT!?

10/31/12

• 2004 Volkswagen Jetta: Like putting on a well worn pair of boots. The MkIV aged real well, except for that "soft touch" plastic. That stuff should be banned.
• 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor: CUV, it sits like a chair, rides like a box.
• 1979 Honda Trail 90: It's like a scooter meets a mountain goat. Can't wait to ride it to work in the spring. 100 MPG!

It does however need a bit of work to be road legal again.

11/1/12

• 2005 Subaru Baja: Feels lighter and more responsivethan the Outback. I want this turbo engine in my Outback. "Metal" trim instead of "wood" so you know it's "tougher".
• 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse SE: Too much form over function. Like an "idea" of the old Eclipse, but only visually. Quick initial turn in, but then washes out, back end does nothing, it's just allong for the ride.
• 2007 Nissan 350Z: Very track oriented car. Stiff and well planted; good power anywhere in the rev range.

It's like a car version of Mega Man.

• 2005 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4: Meh...

11/2/12

• 2006 Saturn Ion: Tight, much more euro than the old Saturns.
• 2005 Ford Explorer: Bleh, so middle of the road. When it's not flipping off it.
• 2011 Volvo C70 T5: Incredibly solid for a hard top convertible. Good power and good auto transmission
• 2009 Volkswagen CC: Too tiny inside. Ok Headroom, but the door entry is way too low, I hit my head EVERY TIME.

Week of October 22nd

10/22/12

• 2005 Chevy Monte Carlo LT: Overall Ok ride, but every sense says late 90's car, not 2005.
• 2005 Cadillac SRX: It's ok for a tall wagon CUV, but a CTS Wagon would do as good a job or better.
• 2006 Lexus GX470: The 4-Runner is the perfect covered light truck, But this one needs new rear shocks.
• 2002 Honda Accord EX 4dr. Comfortable and nice, but steering is way too light.

10/23/12

• 2003 Honda Accord V6: This drives GREAT! Smooth competent power, V6 Steering feels really good!
• 2002 BMW X5 3.0i: Too tall, too upright.
• 2010 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Limited: I really kinda like Sync. Truck is Ok, but CG is in a weird spot, somewhere midway between an SUVs and a crew cab pickup.
• 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STi: Good low CG, but feels bigger and less powerful than the EvoX by a significant margin. Nicer interior though.

Evo wins this round.

10/24/12

• 2007 Hummer H3: Surprisingly it does ride different than a TrailBlazer. Like riding in a TONKA TRUCK, but visibility is pillbox poor.

10/25/12

• 2007 Acura RDX Turbo: Great pickup, fun turbo noise, comfortable and responsive, great primary and secondary controls. Bit too darty on the freeway, not much on center feel.
• 2010 Lexus GX460: Man I love Toyota Trucks. Fantastic new interior, but I'd rather this truck Un-Luxed and ready for the dirt.
• 2008 Ford Mustang V6: GREAT! Very American car. Drives like my old 90's T-bird did. Perfect for the beautiful sunny warm day!
• 2009 Cadillac Escalade ESV: 4 Gallons doesn't even make the gas gauge move!
• 2004 Saab 9-3 Turbo 2.0: Fun Driving, very European feel for a "GM".

10/26/12

• 2003 Ford Windstar: You can defiantly feel it is biased around the Taurus.
• 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab: Big Truck.
• 2012 Ford Focus SE: Fantastic total execution! Great Power, great maneuverability, Fantastic!

Week of October 15th

10/16/12

• 2008 Acura MDX: Why is this car so tall?
• 2010 Lexus RX350: Why is this truck so cushy inside?
• 2010 Nissan Versa 4dr.: Great "Zippy" car. Good Feel. Great throttle and steering.

10/18/12

• 2002 Buick LeSabre Limited: Still just a cool highway mile eater.
• 2004 Ford Escape 4x4: Feels light and responsive. Very well sorted. Much less top heavy feeling than the CR-V or RAV4.
• 2010 Cadillac Escalade: Exhaust not as awesome in this one, the other one must have been aftermarket.
• 2009 Lexus RX350: Still a truck in a dress.

10/19/12

• 2005 BMW X3 2.5i: The most BMW of the BMW trucks. No Cruse Control standard in 2005!?
• 2006 Chevy Equinox: This could have been a really nice wagon in another life.

Hey look at that, the call offs have started, No worries, I'll just pay my mortgage with good intentions and fairy dust.

Week of September 10th

9/10/12

• 2001 Toyota Camry LE: Bland, but not sloppy.
• 2006 Buick Terraza: Lower rent Minivan, Blah....
• 2009 BMW X6 5.0 Twin-Turbo: POWAH!!!! I still don't get it though?
• Mercedes-Benz C240: Very Meh...may as well get a Camry.

9/11/12

• 2006 Acura TSX: Tight, Responsive, Low drivetrain inertia. Like, but TINY.
• 2004 AUDI A4 Quattro 1.8T: Great drive. I really like the solid 'CLICK' of the buttons.
• 2006 Lincoln Mark LT: WHY? Total Shit for it's price.

9/12/12

• 2005 Chevy Equinox: I suppose it is at least unoffensive, but competent.
• 2007 Cadillac Escalade: Intoxicating Exhaust sound. The Perfect long haul towing machine. Everything I hated about the Lincoln Mark LT I love in this.
• 2010 Lexus RX350: Toyota makes an Ok unibody truck. So save your money.

9/13/12

• 2001 Nissan Altima SE: Great turn in, good dynamics. Mazda isn't the only game in town it seems.
• 2004 Volvo V40 Wagon: Built like one big machined piece of billet steel! Solid, positive feel, super stiff and confident brakes. -LOVE-
• 2009 Lexus ES350: Still just an Avalon with a nicer interior.
• 2003 Chevy Avalanche: Great tow vehicle for the price, But THIRSTY!

9/14/12

• 2009 BMW 328i: Freude am Fahren!
• 2011 Ford Ranger Sport 4x4: Good light truck.
• 2008 Honda Accord 4dr: Better than Toyota, but still kinda dull.