 Toyota’s 5.7L V8 Tundra
If a mere 381 horsepower in your Tundra just simply doesn’t get your heart rate up, Toyota has a pretty nifty package you can get, that pumps the 5.7 liter V8 up to an autobahn-burning 504 horsepower and stump pulling 550 lb-ft of torque and it’s no joke. The package is listed in the TRD parts guide and can be ordered across the counter from Toyota dealerships. |
 2009 Chevy Silverado Hybrid 4WD Crew Cab
A 20 mpg work truck
The Silverado Hybrid is Chevrolet’s gasoline-electric hybrid half-ton pickup that returns to the lineup for 2009 featuring General Motor’s two-mode hybrid system combining a 6.0-liter V8 gas engine with Active Fuel Management and late intake valve closing technology, with GM’s Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT) and a 300-volt nickel-metal hydride Energy Storage System. |
 2010 Chevy Camaro RS
Chevy’s pony car returns better than ever
It was such a long time coming and there was so much hype that I thought there was a possibility of the reborn Camaro not being able to live up to expectations. Not so. First and foremost it is a killer looking car.
|
 2010 Taurus SEL
There’s been a lot of hoopla about the industry and some higher profile cars being released along with a lot of emphasis on alternative fuel cars and the truth is, the new Taurus pretty much got lost in the mix.
|
 2009 BMW 328i
What can you say about the 3-series BMW other than it’s a very cool sports sedan, but I do have to confess that it’s just a tad tight for my “athletic” build but other then that, well I have to confess to being somewhat of a Beemer fan and the 3-series is a great way to get into a BMW without breaking the bank. |
 2009 Toyota Venza
The Venza is Toyota’s all-new 5-passenger vehicle that Toyota describes as a crossover sedan, combining the styling and comfort of a sedan with the utility of an SUV. Sounds scintillating right, well that’s the official description but really, what exactly it is is hard to define so suffice it to say, it’s a very nice vehicle.
|
 2010 Mustang GT
There may be some serious discussion about whether Ford’s1964 ½ Mustang or John DeLorean’s 1964 GTO was the original pony car, but make no mistake about the fact that while that question may rage on, there’s no doubt that the Mustang has had the best run over the last almost 45 years, and the 2010 GT is better then ever. With a base price of just under $31,000 you get quite a bit for your money. Case in point, the test car with $1800.00 in extras and $850.00 in destination charges the total came to only $33,725 and that is a lot of form and function for the money.
|
 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP
This is going to be somewhat of a paradoxical review because as any of you that have followed my evaluations over the years know, I am a big fan of roadsters. There have been very few times over the last bunch of years that I haven’t had one in my garage so it’s with very mixed emotions that I give you my take of the 2009 Solstice GXP. I have to be fair and say that coming out of the G8 GXP and getting into the Solstice, from a performance perspective is just not fair.
|
 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
The week that I tested the Pontiac G8 GXP proved to be very ironic in a lot of ways. Here’s why I say that. In 1961 just before I joined the Navy, my dad owned a ’56 Catalina that was very slick, and I had recently bought my first car which was a 1950 Pontiac coupe that I paid 50 bucks for.
|
 The 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner
The 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid uses a new 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine designed to run on the Atkinson 4 stroke with an electric motor and a new engine processor for smooth transitions between gas and electric mode. Smoother is questionable and the CVT is very annoying.
|
 2010 Toyota Prius
Since its introduction to the press in 2001 with sales beginning in 2003, the Cadillac CTS has been a big part of the renaissance at Cadillac and the 2009 iteration continues making strides as one of the best entry level sports sedans on the market.
|
 2009 Cadillac CTS Performance Sedan
Since its introduction to the press in 2001 with sales beginning in 2003, the Cadillac CTS has been a big part of the renaissance at Cadillac and the 2009 iteration continues making strides as one of the best entry level sports sedans on the market.
|
 2009 Mazda MX-5
The best selling sports car of all time gets even better with the 2009 model year. Changes for the 2009 MX-5 include new 16 and 17-inch wheel designs, headlights, taillights and an increase to 167 horsepower. Fuel economy gets a slight 1 mpg gain and suspension tweaks make handling even crisper.
|
 2009 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
The Sebring is Chrysler’s midsize car that’s available as either sedan or convertible. The Sebring sedan was revamped for 2007 and the new convertible joined the lineup in 2008. The new Sebring Convertible, for the first time, offers the choice of a power retractable hard top or a more traditional cloth top.
|
 2009 Subaru Legacy Spec B
The Legacy started out and continues to be Subaru’s luxury sedan. But Subaru has added a high-performance Spec B grade to appeal to driving enthusiasts. A turbocharged horizontal four-cylinder engine provides the punch for this pocket rocket and the Spec B is the only Legacy available with a six-speed manual transmission.
|
 2009 Jeep Liberty Sport
The Liberty is Jeep’s compact sport utility, fitting into the Jeep lineup between the traditional Jeep Wrangler and the flagship Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Liberty was introduced in the spring of 2001 as a replacement for the Cherokee.
|
 2009 Chrysler 300SC SRT8
And the beat goes on
While the talk continues about how bad the cars coming out of Detroit are, I continue to test drive cars that impress me quite a bit. The Chrysler 300C is one that I’ve liked since day one, and the new iteration this big performance sedan is even better.
|
 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T
New Excitement for the Pony Car Wars
Challenger, one of the most iconic names from the pony-car era has returned to the Dodge stable for 2008 after a 35-year hiatus. The design of the new Challenger, remains true to its heritage, but of course benefits
|
 The 2009 LR3 from Land Rover
The Tradition Continues
There are benchmark vehicles that everyone knows about even if they’ve never owned one. Land Rover is one. Now when the manufacturer decides to build a “more affordable” iteration of a benchmark vehicle, the results can be iffy,
|
 2009 Nissan Frontier 4x4 Crew Cab SE
Lots of muscle in a small package
The Frontier has been a pretty solid performer for Nissan since its inception in 1998 and the 2009 version is certainly no different. It’s pretty peppy and some would call it agile, and while the ride leaves no doubt that it’s a truck,
|
 2008 Audi A5 Coupe 3.2 Quattro
There are some vehicles out there that just seem to fit me and the A5 is one of them. My first foray into the Audi 5 was in the venerable S5 which simply stated I loved. Despite the reduction in horsepower to 265 from 354 in the S5 I drove, this car is so cool that I really didn’t mind.
|
 Audi’s sizzling S5 Quattro
I’ve had the good fortune to test drive cars for the manufacturers for almost 15 years now, and often said that I’ve driven a lot of beautiful cars; cars that stir the imagination and get the blood going. The truth is, my acid test of a vehicle that costs let’s say, over $40,000 is, will that vehicle make it on my short list of cars that I’d spend lots of dollars for.
|
 Suzuki’s Dynamic Duo
The 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sedan and SX4 Crossover Touring II AWD
Okay, maybe calling the Suzuki SX4 and SX4 Sport dynamic is a bit of a stretch, but I will tell you that I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice these cars were. I had them back to back and while I can’t say much about the styling,
|
 2008 Nissan Frontier 4X2 Club Cab SE
Some people feel that you’re either a car person or a truck person and in the past, to a certain extent, that was true. Back in the day trucks were one dimensional work horses that were meant for hauling stuff around more so that people and cars were meant for pretty much the opposite. Now days people demand a bit more out of their work horse.
|
 Kia has a Nifty Trio its own
It doesn’t seem like too awfully long ago that no one was taking Kia vehicles very seriously. Well that has changed quite a bit over the last few years and I just drove a trio that was pretty impressive.
|
 The Smart Car by Mercedes - The little car than can
When Cathy and I were assigned a road trip by AZ3Sixty, a magazine we write for out of Phoenix, we were just a bit more then surprised when told what we would be driving.
|
 WELCOME BACK TAURUS… SAME NAME…DIFFERENT CAR
2008 Ford Taurus
Two For the Road Visit the Ford Taurus Team at the Boulders Resort in Carefree, Arizona June 18, 2007
|
 The 2007 Mini Cooper “S” offers Maxi Fun
Okay, first and foremost I have to say I’m way too old to be a Mini owner but I must also say, the Mini S is one, really fun little pocket rocket. Virtually everyone knows that the latest iteration of the Mini Cooper is...
|
 Snake Charmed or Snake bit
You may or may not know that hiding under the hood of the Dodge Viper SRT10 is one very nasty, 510 horsepower, 535 lb-ft of torque V10 engine that offers staggering acceleration and performance. This brazen roadster isn’t everyone’s cup of tea by any stretch, but if you’re looking for pure unadulterated performance, the Viper SRT10 may be the fix you’re looking for.
|
 The all-new LS460 by Lexus
LS stands for, Luxury Supercar
I think one of the most interesting things about being a boomer, especially on the “older” side of boomerville, is seeing the tremendous change in automotive technology.
|
 Serious action comes with VW’s
3.6L 4Motion Passat Wagon
Although I’ve never been a huge VW fan I have acknowledged that the Passat has been a very popular and solid car for the automaker. It has a great heritage and it has been slightly modified to compete more effectively in the US market...
|
 M Stands for Marvelous for Infiniti’s M35 Sedan
It wasn’t too many months ago that I had the opportunity to drive Infiniti’s M45 luxury sport sedan, yes I said sport sedan, and like a lot of my peers, I ran out of superlatives. I hadn’t driven the M35 and quite frankly...
|
