Well to my surprise there was actually work to do New Years Eve. So that's good.
12/31/12
2010 Mazda CX-9 AWD: Great dynamic feel. AWD system is un-obtrusive and really solid. I'm really starting to take a like to this thing. I hate CUV's, but this is fun to drive. If I suddenly discovered I had 3-4 illegitimate children, this is the vehicle I'd buy.
2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDi Cup Edition: More visual bark than performance bite. It's just a TDi version of the Jetta GLIwith a big goofy front clip. It's still VW nice, but "Cup Edition" Just looks a bit silly.
Looks like the race car, If you squint.....
1/1/13
Office Chair Jousting, Yea, it's a thing!
1/2/13
2002 Chevy Silverado 1500 w/20" Rims: Yea, somebody did this, and yea then we bought it. Ride was smoother than I expected, but braking was poor with the big heavy rims.
Luxury?
2000 Ford Windstar: Has a very solid feel. Conveys strength and protection. Doesn't necessarily deliver mind you....
2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE: These cars continue to impress, Great CVT, Great Engine, but steering is a bit light.
2007 Dodge Nitro SLT 4x4: Even tighter than it's sibling Jeep. No shoulder or foot room. It's like they designed this thing to not be used.
1/3/13
2009 Toyota Venza: Neat styling for a tall wagon CUV. Drives well and has good power. Really feels like it was designed by the group that did the Prius.
2003 Honda Pilot: Smart storage layout, doesn't drive too tippy. This doesn't have that fake "Truck-ey" feeling many of these kinds of cars do.
2011 Hyundai Sonata SE: Smooth, comfortable, with great interior design and trim. The back light (the rear window) has distortion dead center.
2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE: You just don't need the V6 with the Nissan CVT. Save the money.
1/4/13
2009 Saturn Outlook: Build quality and design is on par with VW/Audi. You can defiantly tell that the latter saturns were pulled out of the European arm of GM.
2007 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro: Engine has nowhere near the pull of the BMW 2.0 Turbo. Chassis is tight and fun to drive, like a sharper VW Passat. Not a whole lot of knee room though. But, I love the hard click of the buttons in the Audi.
2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser: It drives like a really top heavy Neon, which it is. The Retro interior has a good novelty factor, but overall it kinda looks like it was trying too hard. I will say though, Chryslers cheap interior materials don't seem so bad in the retro style.
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.
2004 Ford Explorer XLS: Can't decide if it should be a truck.
8/29/12
2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon: Nice but the new transverse engine layout still is noticeable.
2008 Kia Spectra: Good ride, not sporty but not rough either.
8/30/12
2009 Lexus ES350: Toyota Avalon with a nicer interior.
2001 Honda Civic LX Coupe: Tight and Fun.
2004 Cadillac SRX: Utter crap. Not luxurious, and not worth the money.
2005 Hyundai Tucson: I don't even remember it, CUV's are that dull.
2005 Chevy Equinox: Competent but seat is too high, why isn't it just a wagon?
8/31/12
2008 Nissan Sentra SL: Strong Pull, good turn in dynamics.
2006 Toyota Highlander V6 4WD: Fantastic execution of a unibody SUV.
2011 Kia Soul: Good head room, but a bit gutless. Rather a Spectra.
2004 Dodge Stratus SXT 2dr: Poor Gearing, but it's nice and low.
2002 Buick LeSabre Limited: Lux everything, even a GM HUD! Feels a bit old for an '02, but nice on the highway.
200x Mini Cooper S Turbo: Pure tiny car FUN!
WHAT?
This was my first week at the job, I was still working out format and how much I wanted to say. Also found a cache of Hearing Aid batteries in the '02 LeSabre. Really says it all for Buick.
