Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: Test Drives Archives

March 25, 2008

Test Driving the Mazda MX-5 Miata: Like a Glove

Test driving the Mazda MX-5 Miata, we couldn't help but feel like we were living in a video game -- the car wraps around you like a high-tech suit, almost as if you were an anime character that had access to some high-tech gizmo that would convert into a custom wrapped transportation device at your need and/or whim, as the case might be.

That's because the handling and feedback of the MX-5 is nothing if not immediate -- whether you're steering, heal-and-toe shifting or just enjoying the sensuous manner in which it unfolds itself over the asphalt, it always feels right there. There is nothing about the car that detaches you from the impression that you are totally in control of the peppy 2.0 liter, 166-horsepower engine, the six-speed manual transmission or the advanced suspension equipment in the front and rear.

Continue reading"Test Driving the Mazda MX-5 Miata: Like a Glove"

January 16, 2008

A Vert smart Road Trip Across America

Detroit – In an unusual long distance test the smart fortwo and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class demonstrated their top position among the most climate-friendly cars.

On a trip from Los Angeles via Chicago to the Detroit Auto Show 2008 they demonstrated outstanding fuel-saving qualities in everyday real-world conditions.

On the 4,400 kilometre route the smart fortwo mhd recorded an average consumption of just 4.8 litres per hundred kilometres.

Continue reading"A Vert smart Road Trip Across America"

January 7, 2008

Test Driving the 2008 Volkswagen R32 -- Enthusiasts Already Know

Click here to get a free price quote on the 2008 Volkswagen R32!

I only had the Volkswagen R32 an hour when I walked out of the convenience store to see a guy parked alongside the blue beauty, waiting.

It was dark out, but I had an idea what he wanted. He was sitting in an older VW -- with a bodykit and race stickers on the side window.

"What's going on, man?"

"Yo, I just want to hear how she sounds."

I told him how the R32 came into my possession and asked him if he wanted to see the spec sheet.

"Nah, I already know -- I'm an enthusiast."

Continue reading"Test Driving the 2008 Volkswagen R32 -- Enthusiasts Already Know"

November 10, 2007

Consumers Invited To Test Drive New Chevy Malibu at Alabama Auto Show

Consumers attending the Alabama International Auto Show Friday-Sunday, November 9-11 will have a unique opportunity to truly ‘experience’ the GM display by getting behind the wheel and test driving many of General Motors’ hottest new vehicles, including the newly redesigned 2008 Chevy Malibu and the luxurious Cadillac CTS.

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November 8, 2007

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Check out the latest car videos with our nifty new YouTube player.

July 30, 2007

Car Buyer's Notebook Now Available in Nine Languages!

Thanks to the Babel Fish translation software from AltaVista, Car Buyer's Notebook is now available in translation for nine languages. If you include English.

The alternate languages include: Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian and Portugese.

All you have to do is click on the appropriate flag in the box that is on the right hand side of the site.

Click here to read Car Buyer's Notebook in Spanish.

Click here to read Car Buyer's Notebook in French.

Click here to read Car Buyer's Notebook in Japanese.

Click here to read Car Buyer's Notebook in Chinese.

Click here to read Car Buyer's Notebook in German.

Click here to read Car Buyer's Notebook in Korean.

Click here to read Car Buyer's Notebook in Italian.

Click here to read Car Buyer's Notebook in Portugese.

July 4, 2007

Get the Car Buyer's Notebook Widget!

Aren't you tired of constantly navigating to sites, several times a day to keep up with the latest news?

I know I am -- and that's why I love widgets.

Widgets are these cool pieces of desktop "furniture" [like ours at right] that you can add to your computer -- and thus have a continuous live feed of updated news -- without going to a website to scan for cool stuff. [The widget can either be "parked" on top of all windows, or left underneath -- they're customizable, too!]

In the case of Car Buyer's Notebook, we have created just such a widget for you to download to your desktop -- and when you see a story you're really interested in, click on the title and it will take you to a new browser window to see the whole thing.

Getting our widget is simple -- there's only two steps:

1. Go to Springwidgets and download the widget software.

2. Go to this page, and get the Car Buyer's Notebook widget by clicking on the little green cog underneath the widget itself. This will add our widget to your widget menu.

And you will be in automotive widget heaven!

July 3, 2007

Test Driving the 2007 Volvo S80

The 2007 Volvo S80 is an elegant, understated executive sedan that drives wonderfully and imparts a feeling of quiet satisfaction.

Our model was equipped with Volvo’s first-ever V8-engine that puts out an impressive 311 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. And driving it at highway speed reminds even the most mpg-friendly individual that while all cars can do 70 to 80 miles an hour, it takes a V8 to make the journey feel like a pleasure jaunt. As opposed to a nerve-wracking, engine-block twisting ordeal.

That being said, the V8 delivers a comfortable mileage estimate of 17 mpg in the city, 25 on the highway. Because the big engine is paired with such a solid frame and suspension, you never get the feeling you've got more power than stability. I would say the stable ride had a lot to do with the 18-inch wheels [17-inchers are standard] that came with the $2,495 Zubra sport package that also added perforated seating surfaces, active bi-directional xenon lamps and variable suspension settings.

If you decide to opt for the new, compact in-line 6-cylinder engine, that generates 235 hp, you will reap 19 mpg in the city, 28 on the highway.

For a car that starts at $38,705 for the 3.2 liter six-cylinder and $47,350 for the all-wheel drive 8, though, there has got to be a lot more than just a solid ride.

And there is plenty to delight the luxury sedan buyer who may not want the flash of a BMW 5-series or Acura RL, including creatures comforts and tech gadgets that'll impress even the most too busy for cool stuff like e-mail execs.

Continue reading"Test Driving the 2007 Volvo S80"

June 19, 2007

Test Driving the 2007 BMW 328i Convertible -- The Ultimate Tanning Machine

The first question to deal with in reviewing the BMW 328i hardtop convertible is this -- does it deliver a true coupe experience with the top up?

The short answer: yes.

We were shocked at how the car, with the top up, delivered a true no-compromise ride that is capable of making you forget you actually also have a convertible. And this is a vital question for this category of vehicle, because some folks just can't afford to own three cars -- two for the family and one, just for fun.

So right off the bat, if you're looking to drop a little under $50,000, you can indeed get 2 BMWs for the price of one.

With the top up, and thanks to the ample coupe glass, full-sized rear window and mercifully high ceilings [some convertible are smush boxes with the top up], and the hard top, the car drives just like one with a fancy, electrically powered, fully articulated drop top.

Continue reading"Test Driving the 2007 BMW 328i Convertible -- The Ultimate Tanning Machine"

June 11, 2007

Test Driving the 2007 BMW Z4 3.0 Roadster

Wow wow wow wow -- where do we start? The 2007 BMW Z4 Roadster is a best in class roadster that got so many comments during our week of top-down driving fun that we almost were ready to have a sign printed: I know it's a cool car.

The Z4 is one of those rare automobiles that pulls off the trick of being a static work of art that also becomes poetry in motion.

And we were having so much fun that it took us a couple of days to realize that we had the "base" 215-horsepower 3.0 liter engine -- there is also a 255-hp 3.0si roadster, and a similarly equipped coupe.

The Z4 delivers exactly the ride you expect -- tight in the corners, practically asking you to push it, lean down the straightaway and easy to slow down -- if you happen to be going faster than the recommended daily allowance.

Continue reading"Test Driving the 2007 BMW Z4 3.0 Roadster"

May 8, 2007

Infiniti G35, Lexus ES350 & Nissan Maxima All Post 'Excellent' Test Ratings

Lincoln MKZ, Buick Lucerne, and Saab 9-5 achieve 'Very Good' overall scores

YONKERS -- Three of the six upscale sedans tested for the June issue of Consumer Reports, the Infiniti G35, Lexus ES350, and Nissan Maxima, posted "Excellent" overall ratings. It's rare for so many cars to be scored so highly in a monthly test group.

The top-scoring and sporty G35 now ranks as the best car tested by Consumer Reports in the Upscale Sedan category, outpointing the previously- tested Acura TL. The quiet and comfortable E350 came in very close behind the G35. The Maxima rated somewhat lower overall, though still achieving an Excellent overall road test score.

The test group brought together a total of six very different sedans in the $30,000 to $40,000 range, with varying blends of sportiness and opulence. The more posh models tend to be quieter, have more interior space and ride more smoothly. Sporty models usually have less room inside, ride firmly and handle more nimbly.

The three other vehicles rounding out the group, the Lincoln MKZ, Buick Lucerne, and Saab 9-5, all achieved "Very Good" overall ratings. The MKZ was previously called the Zephyr.

Continue reading"Infiniti G35, Lexus ES350 & Nissan Maxima All Post 'Excellent' Test Ratings"

March 23, 2007

2007 Saleen S281 and the New 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition

Sibling Rivalry at Its Finest

COSTA MESA -- Lead Auto Expert Mark Perleberg of NADAguides.com -- a leading vehicle pricing and information website -- recently test drove the 2007 Saleen S281 and the 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition (http://www.saleen.com/index.html) in a week-long, side-by-side and back-to-back comparison. He weighs in on both cars' features and handling.

"Since 1984, Steve Saleen has been remanufacturing new stock Ford Mustangs with a flare that only a businessman with a racing background could pull off," said Perleberg. "Saleen has emerged as a leader in squeezing the most out of new stock Ford Mustang GTs, giving them near Super Car qualities at a relatively low price."

Perleberg says the 2007 S281 features more of what all great performance cars need -- more horsepower! Up an additional 30HP from 2006, the S281 now musters up 465 ponies, and according to Perleberg, acceleration that keeps the car's passengers pinned to the back of their seats when the supercharger kicks in.

Continue reading"2007 Saleen S281 and the New 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition"

Posted by Frank at 2:06 AM | Filed under 5th Wheel | Auto News | Ford | Test Drives

February 7, 2007

Get a First Look at the Mazda CX-9

Lead Auto Expert, Mark Perleberg, Says It's a 'Spicy' Commuter With Great Fuel Economy

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Mark Perleberg, Lead Auto Expert at NADAguides.com -- a leading vehicle information website -- recently had a first look and an extensive test drive of the new 2007 Mazda CX-9. Perleberg weighs in on the car's features to assist shoppers with their car buying research.

Continue reading"Get a First Look at the Mazda CX-9"

Posted by Frank at 6:41 AM | Filed under 2007 Vehicles | Auto News | Mazda | Test Drives

February 2, 2007

Test Driving the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe -- Wow, Wow and Wow

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a must drive in the mid-size SUV category. Period.

That's if you're looking an attractive, nice performing, high quality SUV for a fraction of the cost that other manufacturers are selling similar vehicles for.

When you get in the Hyundai Santa Fe, at least as a car reviewer, it takes a couple days to get over the wow factor. As in, “wow, you get all this for $22,000,” and “wow, you get this?,” and “wow, you get this, too.”

It's a good driving, good looking, good value car all around – it's just continually surprising, especially for the price. For example, I recently drive a high end SUV that cost $45,000 – meaning you could buy two Hyundais for the same money, but you're not getting half the car, but much more with the Hyundai Santa Fe GLS.

Continue reading"Test Driving the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe -- Wow, Wow and Wow"

Posted by Frank at 6:49 PM | Filed under 2007 Vehicles | Auto News | Hyundai | Test Drives

January 16, 2007

Test Driving the 2007 Volvo XC90

I've always felt the Volvo XC90 was the standard bearer of the high-end SUVs because it has such a strong, elegant physical presence -- particularly in the way they successfully sculpted the front and rear shoulder lines of the vehicle so that it actually looks proportionate -- and not just a hulking living room on wheels.

The Volvo XC90 is just a sharp looking car -- really a classic design for the segment, which Volvo maintains for the 2007 model year.

As most vehicles age into their lifeline, the car just gets better and better, really more refined, in the XC90s case the styling is enhanced with a new grille, bumpers and taillights.

For 2007, the XC90 gets an all-new 3.2-liter in-line six-cylinder engine that replaces the previous five cylinder, resulting in 235 horsepower, an increase of 27 hp, and an identical 236 lb.-ft. of torque. Volvo is still offering the V8 option that develops 311 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. The new 6-cylinder and the V8 both meet the stringent ULEV II emissions standards.

The new six-cylinder, which we drove, indeed produces enough power so that potential buyers don't have to automatically default to the V8 if they're looking to ensure they have enough power -- the six delivers.

The 3.2 receives color-coordinated side moldings and door handles while the V8 gains aluminum roof rails and color-coordinated wheel arch moldings. Both models sport new outside mirrors with integrated turn signals that flash three times with light pressure on the turn signal stalk.

An upgraded interior features a standard leather gearshift for the 3.2; changes for the V8 include new watch-dial instruments and optional Sovereign Hide Chestnut Brown leather upholstery. Selecting the Touring Package for the V8 adds new Sapeli wood inlays including the gearshift knob and steering wheel, plus 18-inch “Camulus” alloy wheels. An auxiliary input, MP3 capability and satellite radio preparation is standard on both models.

I think Volvo maintains its benchmark status with the XC90 because as Volvo's most popular selling vehicle in the U.S., it's done something other high-end brands haven't been able to do -- and that is really reflect the brand's values and identity through design and performance. There's a couple other high-end SUV makers that always leave you with the impression all they've done is slap their badge on a truck because they wanted to give their customers the option to have a high-end SUV. FOr the moment these other brands shall remain nameless.

But the focus here is on the Volvo XC90, that delivers a traditional SUV driving experience -- it doesn't have the car-like characteristics of the newer crossovers, and before we all get carried away with what's popular this week, let's remember that SUVs got popular because of the upright, high-performance, near-truck-like driving characteristics which you get with the XC90. Pleasantly stiff, if you'd like, not as in a pickup truck, but as in a well-manufactured luxury SUV that has plenty of performance to spare. In other words it doesn't drive like a mushy, jacked up car that feels off-balance that testing some of the crossovers unfortunately imply.

For someone looking for a high-end SUV the Volvo XC90 remains a great car -- I've always liked the center console dominated by two large round dials for audio controls, the rest of the panel comprised of easy-to-read flush black buttons. And you've got to love the little human graphic sitting in a seat that guide you on the climate control functions. Overall the dash and driver cockpit environment is one that is a pleasure to drive in, and let's face it, with laptops and cellphones, it really can function as a luxurious, mobile office suite.

Steering wheel mounted controls are clean and simple to understand without diving for the driver's manual. They include audio and cruise control functions with flat black buttons on the wheel's center padded area, and Volvo has put easy to use front and rear wipers on the right stalk, with light controls on the left stalk, both mounted on the column.

And yes, for those intending to use the VC90 as a family vehicle, it does come with third row seating that's standard with the eight-cylinder engine and optional with the six. One of the truly cool features of this Volvo are the “active”Bi-Xenon headlights with beams that swivel up to 15 degrees for enhanced nighttime visibility [that cost $800]. A high-power Dynaudio sound system is offered on the V8. An auxiliary input, MP3 capability and satellite radio preparation is standard on both models. Available on both models is Volvo’s state-of-the-art digital video Blind Spot Information System (BLIS).

Adhering to Volvo’s core value of safety, all XC90 models are equipped with Roll Stability Control (RSC), Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC), Side impact Protection System (SIPS) with side airbags and Inflatable Curtains for all three rows.

The 2007 Volvo XC90 with the 3.2 liter six-cylinder engine starts at $36,135, while the V8 begins at $46,425; both have a destination charge of $695. Some option packages to look out for are the climate package that includes heated seats, for $675, as well as the navigation system that goes for $2,120. The all-wheel drive package our tester had runs $1,850.

You're obviously getting a luxury vehicle with the XC90 but another of the great things about the styling is that it's elegant without being ostentatious. This attribute is what used to be known as class which we're glad to see that Volvo did not elect to abandon.

Posted by Frank at 10:20 AM | Filed under 2007 Vehicles | Auto News | Test Drives | Volvo

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