True "sport" utility
BMWs in general are wonderful cars to drive, with impressive power and great handling which doesn't compromise the smooth ride. This 650i Convertible that I'm driving is no exception to that. Its got 360 horsepower, a 6-speed manual transmission and big grippy tires. And surprisingly, given the latest BMW designs, this car actually looks good.
The convertible top works very well, can even be operated at low speeds. The rear window powers up or down so it can be lowered with the top in place for nice ventilation, or left up when the top is down to act as an air deflector. At high speeds, with all the windows up, the wind barely rustles your hair.
So what's not to like? In a word, its I-Drive. I-Drive is BMW's system of using a single knob to access all of the standard driver controls, including ventilation, navigation, audio system, etc... I-Drive turns the ultimate driving machine into the ultimate annoyance.
It took me two days to figure out how to adjust the base on the stereo, and its at least three menus into the system. Changing stations is just as difficult, although I think there is a way to change them via steering wheel controls.
Everytime I got into the car, I would set it to "Sport" mode (tightens the suspension, improves steering response), I would turn off the stability control, set the navigation screen and trip computer screen the way I want them, and if it was raining, I would turn on the automatic wipers. After shutting the car off and returning later, I would have to do all of this over again. Extremely frustrating.
There is no reason I can see for this complicated way of accomplishing simple tasks like adjusting audio controls except for the fact that they had the technology to set it up this way. Technology for technology's sake is not useful.
The 650 I was driving runs about $85,000. As much as I love driving this car, the annoying I-Drive would make me look for an alternative.
--Perry Stern
Read more...
BMW 6-Series - Annoying German Engineering
The FJ Cruiser is Toyota’s all-new retro-styled off-roader. I’ve had the opportunity in the past to take the FJ off-road, and found it to be extremely capable. However, this was my first chance to see how it takes on day to day driving.
The bold styling of the new FJ Cruiser is a big attention getter. Available in a number of bright colors, my tester was painted Voodoo Blue. It seems that everything about this vehicle is big: it’s got big tires, large grille, oversized mirrors trimmed with running lights (carry over from the original concept) – even the door handles are super sized. And one-upping all of the competition, the FJ Cruiser has three front windshield wipers, where all others just have two.
This big theme carries over to the interior, where knobs were designed to be operable while wearing gloves. Unfortunately, the back seat is not as large as everything else. Rear seat passengers are a bit cramped, and given the small rear windows, it’s also somewhat claustrophobic back there. Access to the rear seat is easy with rear-hinged access doors unless you’re parked in a narrow parking spot, in which case it’s almost impossible to access the rear seat. Cargo space is plentiful, and rear seats can be folded flat to extend the space.
The FJ Cruiser has plenty of power from its 239-hp V6, and it rides rather smooth on the pavement. Handling is not bad for a big SUV, however it is not terribly maneuverable in parking lots. The FJ needs almost 42 feet to turn around compared to a Hummer H3 that can make the same maneuver in five fewer feet. Visibility is also an issue – there is not much window between the back door and the rear of the vehicle. A very large blind spot.
Overall, Toyota has built the FJ Cruiser with the purpose of handling severe off-roading. And while a higher percentage of FJs will leave the pavement (intentionally) than most other SUVs, it’s still likely that most will never leave the road.
--Perry Stern
Read more...
All-New Toyota FJ Cruiser
OK, a few months ago I wrote that I had a new favorite car, the Porsche Carrera GT. I may have to change my mind.
I was invited to spend a day with the Ferrari Challenge Rally, which is a three day time-distance rally that is put on by Ferrari of North America. About 60 Ferrari owners participated in this event in Napa Valley, CA, driiving everything from 50s classics to exotics like an Enzo and F50. They drove on various twisty roads around Napa, then on day three, drove in a procession across the Golden Gate Bridge on their way to Monterey for the Pebble Beach Concours.
It was made clear that this wasn't a race - the idea was to get to estabilshed checkpoints throughout each day with a time based on appropriate speed for the route. If you get to the checkpoint too soon or too late, your score is penalized.
Of course, we weren't going to be competing, so we didn't really care what our time was. This meant we weren't too concerned about going too fast.
I was there for day 2. I started out the morning in a red (of course) Ferrari F430 Spider with a fellow journalist form C/NET. This is the newest convertible from Ferrari, and it is a gorgeous car. I had some quick instrucion on how everything worked and I was set. Turn the key, push the start button, and there's this wonderful roar from right behind you. That would be the F430's 490-horsepower V8 engine.
This F430 was equipped with Ferrari's F1 transmission - shifting is performed with paddles on either side of the steering wheel. A button on the center console put us in reverse and we backed out of our spot. Visibility backwards is not great and it feels like a very wide car.
Soon we were out on the road. It took a bit of getting used to, as just slight pressure on the accellerator got us moving very quickly. The F1 transmission shifts incredibly smoothly, much better than the SMG (sequential manual gearbox) that BMW offers. Shifts happen in just 150 milliseconds, with no clutch needed.
I got used to it quickly. This car is incredibly fast and handles better than anything I've ever driven on the road. We were taking turns with suggested 20 mph speed limits at 60, and on one longer stretch of straight road I was over 120 mph.
It was interesting to see the reaction from other people on the road. People honked, waved, yelled "nice car", and almost always would pull over to let us by on two-lane roads. Much more positive than I would have expected.
The best part of the morning was following a V12-powered Ferrari Superamerica with a Ferrari 360 Modena behind us on some very twisty roads. The sound of all that power all at once was intoxicating. First the V12 in front of us would wind up, than our V8 would follow suit. Its not always that you get to drive a car that can keep up with a Superamerica. I could do that all day.
However, I didn't get to - the afternoon we swapped with a two other journalists into the larger 612 Scaglietti. The family-sized Ferrari, the 612 has seats for four with a beautiful interior, unless of course you don't like leather. Several cows gave their lives to trim the inside of this car.
The 612 also had an F1 transmission, but unlike the mid-engined F430, the 612 features a 540-horsepower V12 positioned over the front axle. Its defiinitly bigger and heavier than the F430, but its got incredible power. The first time I floored it, I was going 100 mph before I had a chance to glance at the speedometer.
It still handles very well for a car of its size, but it wouldn't be my first choice. For about $100,000 less, you can get a 552-horsepower Bentley Continental GT with all-wheel drive. I think the Bentley looks a lot better as well.
I haven't gotten to drive the F430 at a track, and I haven't driven the Porsche Carrera GT on the road, but the Ferrari feels like it could be driven every day, while the Porsche feels more fragile. I think I have a new favorite.
This was my first time behind the wheel of a Ferrari. It was an amazing experience, and I hope to get the chance again sometime.
--Perry Stern
Read more...
A Day with Ferrari
When the Jaguar XK's first generation came out, it harkened back to the days when the company built cars like the XKE, with the long hood and elegant lines. And while the car did look good, it was still a touring car more than sports car, and it seemed to age quickly.
I think that's why this new 2007 XK Coupe seems like such a jump from the past generation. Now I will admit, when I first saw this car at the auto show in Detroit, I didn't like it. I thought the grilled looked like it came from a Ford Taurus, and the proportions weren't quite right. However, when I had a dark blue convertible delivered to test out a few weeks ago, I completely changed my mind. For some reason in the natural light, it all comes together. The car looks fast just sitting there, with wide rear fenders, dual exhaust and wide tires.
The coupe I'm driving is silver, and it still looks much better than it did at that auto show. I was surprised at the reaction to this car in my driveway. Lots of teens and adults stopping to see it, there were even a few instances were drivers stopped to take a look. I heard one person say that it looks a lot like an Aston Martin. While the front has grown on me, I think it looks best from the rear.
Performance of the XK has moved up a notch as well. The standard 300-hp V8 has an excellent sound, and definitely gets you moving. Acceleration is relatively strong, especially when the 6-speed automatic transmission is put in 'sport' mode, which keeps the revs high for better performance. Of course, fuel economy suffers in this mode. The automatic is the only choice available, however there are paddles on the steering column for those who like to pretend its a manual.
The interior of the new XK is much improved over the outgoing generation. Tasteful use of wood and leather adorn the interior, and seats, which can be adjusted multiple ways, are quite comfortable. The rear seat is more decorative than useful, however my 8 year old daughter was able to squeeze in.
The large video screen that is used for accessing Audio, Nav, Climate, Phone, etc... is actually rather intuitive. There is a button for 'Home', which displays the climate control settings as well as the audio selection. Only complaint is that the touch screen did not work all that well. I found I had to hit buttons several times before it would register.
This is not an inexpensive car, starting around $75k for the coupe, but it does feel like you're getting your money's worth. For those looking for a bit more performance, the 420-hp XKR will be arriving later this year.
--Perry Stern
Read more...
Jaguar XK
There is no denying that the Corvette is an impressive sports car. With a powerful 400-horsepower V8 engine, classic styling, comfortable interior and excellent handling, what more could one want in an American sports car? So if you had a Corvette with even better handling, more aggressive styling and 105 more horses on tap, would it be any better? Absolutely!!!
That, of course, would be the all-new Corvette Z06. At first glance, it looks like any other Corvette, however those in the know will recognize it immediately. It has an air intake just ahead of the hood, larger rear fender flares with additional air scoops, and unique alloy wheels, and larger exhaust. Of course, there’s also the Z06 badge on the side that has red text on it telling the most important part of the story – 505 HP.
Yes, under the hood is Chevrolet’s LS7 7.0-liter V8 engine that pumps out 505 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. This in a car that weighs just 3,000 lbs. 60 mph comes up in just 3.6 seconds; top speed is close to 200 mph. This is the fastest production ‘Vette ever.
But unlike the Viper, which has similar performance numbers, the Z06 is a civilized ride. It doesn’t cook you like the Viper, although after a long drive, the center console did get pretty toasty. The clutch is not heavy – your leg doesn’t hurt after sitting in traffic. Seats are very comfortable, and it drives smoothly at 40 or 140.
I had the opportunity to drive the Z06 from Portland, OR to Seattle, WA - about 190 miles. Even with some stop and go traffic, I averaged an impressive 22 mpg. This is from a 505 horsepower supercar! This is primarily because at 80 mph in 6th gear, the engine is only turning about 1800 rpm. Although, I have to say it’s really hard to cruise along at 80 when you know the car can go twice that speed.
But cruising down the highway at 80 is not what this car is about, even if it does it well. This car is about shifting into 2nd gear at 30 mph, flooring it and having the rear wheels break loose. The V8 sounds fantastic, and acceleration is incredible. It has excellent grip, and when the wheels break free, it’s still controllable. I’ve never driven this car at the track, but it must be phenomenal.
Where the Viper would make a great 3rd or 4th car, the Corvette Z06 could easily be a daily driver. It has a good amount of cargo space, storage pockets in the doors, plenty of room for every day stuff.
And with a starting price around $70,000, this car is an incredible deal. Especially when you compare it to Viper ($83,000) or Porsche 911 Turbo ($123.000). Definitely one of the more impressive cars I’ve driven.
--Perry Stern
Read more...
The Ultimate Corvette
|
|
So GM introduced their all-new full-size SUVs around the time that the price of gas reached around $3 a gallon - not the most brilliant move. Sure, they do have relatively fuel-efficient V8s, but relatively is the operative word here. Similar to the big Dodge HEMI V8s GM's shuts off half the cylinders when not needed.
However, I'm currently driiving the new Tahoe - Chevy's version of this big SUV. Yes, as most people know, i am a leadfoot, but even driving relatively smoothly, I'm averaging around 13 mpg from the Tahoe's 320-hp V8. Not to say that this is a bad car - its actually really nice.
Styling is much cleaner than the outgioing generation, and there's plenty of new cool features. The model I'm driving is the LTZ, fully loaded with leather, DVD player, navigation, satellite radio, etc... Price is around $52k.
It drives great, just as the past version did, but even with the 320 horses, its not terribly quick. Handling is about as good as you can expect from a large SUV, but the ride is very comfortable.
Cargo area is not near as spacious as I would have expected, mainly because the third row seat folds up rather than flat into the floor. There's actually more cargo space my Explorer. Access to the third row is pretty easy, but the seat bottom is close to the floor so you sit with your knees up in the air. Not terribly comfortable for adults.
Overall, this is a good choice in fullisize SUVs. Will be interesting to compare it to the Ford Expedtion, whch gets redesigned for 2007 as well. |
--
Perry Stern
Read more...
2007 Chevy Tahoe
Just had the opportunity to take a 350 mile drive in a Toyota Camry Hybrid and came away quite impressed. Where the Prius is ideal for those making the statement "look at me, i drive a hybrid", the Camry Hybrid looks almost identical to a regular Camry, with the exception of a small Hybrid Synergy Drive badge on the rear fender. The only other difference I noticed was that the trunk is a bit smaller, making room for the battery pack.
Toyota has geared this version of its hybrid system for both power and fuel economy performance, and it covered both admirably. Using an efficient gas engine and a powerful electric motor, the Camry Hybrid produces 187 horsepower. This is teamed with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
We packed the car for the weekend getaway, and even with somewhat compressed trunk space, we fit a suitcase, large duffel bag and a few other bags with room to spare. Three of us had plenty of room, and while the seats were not the most comfortable in the world, they didn't cause any pain after several ours on the road.
Our route had a mix of city and highway driving, but the bulk of it was on the highway, with our speed averaging for the entire trip around 60 mph, so some of the driving was at 70 or higher. With this full size sedan with a decent load, we averaged 38 mpg. Typically when I drive a hybrid, I change my driving style to eek out more mpg, but this time I just drove it like I would any other car, and as I've said before, I tend to have a lead foot. If I had really tried, I probably could have broken 40 mpg. I think this is pretty impressive for a big sedan.
In a couple instances we had to pass on a two lane road. I was really surprised how quick the Camry Hybrid accellerated, taking advantage of the CVT to keep the power in the peak torque.
The price is about $3,000 more than a Camry LE V6, so based on price alone, it would take about 5 years to make up the difference in price based on $3 per gallon.
But I was still impressed.
--Perry Stern
Read more...
Camry Hybrid
Drove down to Portland, Oregon, last week for the North West SUV of the Year event, nicknamed mudfest. I'll talk about that at a later date, once the winners have been announced, but we had a pretty sweet ride to drive down in - the Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG.
Even the plain (if you could call it that) CLS is stunning, arguably one of the most beautiful cars on the road. And with a 302 horsepower V8, the CLS 500 is plenty powerful.
However the CLS 55 gets a supercharged V8 that puts out an impressive 469 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Step on the gas and you blast off like a rocket with this amazing engine growl. That sound makes you want to slow down just so you can floor it again.
We averaged around 70 mph on the 180 mile trip down to Portland, and surprisingly got almost 21 mpg. Not stellar, but not bad for such a powerful car.
Seats are heated and cooled, and even have a pulse-massage system. Rear seats have their own temp settings, as we found out inadvertantlly - apparently front seat passengers can be comfortable while the rear seat thermostat can be set to 90 degrees. Luckily, the rear thermostat can be adjusted from the front controls.
A wonderful car to drive as well as to look at, but at $92,000, its a bit pricey.
--Perry Stern
Read more...
One Fast Mercedes
I had never been given the opportunity to spend more than just a few minutes in the latest Dodge Viper – until now. The only time I had driven this 500+ horsepower beast was on a track at Chrysler’s proving ground in Chelsea, MI. At that time I was blown away by the handling, the power, and the major improvements over the previous generation Viper.
Now that I’ve used the Viper for my daily commute to and from work, I’m not as enamored with the car as I was that day in Michigan.
It wasn’t very hot yesterday – temp was in the high 70s – and I had the top down. When I got in the car, I found that the previous driver had put the air condition on full with high fan. I found out why in about 10 minutes of stop and go driving.
The big V10 engine under the hood of the Viper generates an amazing amount of heat. The very hot exhaust is routed through the door sills to the side outlets. After ten minutes I felt like was sitting in an oven. The doors were hot, the floor was hot, the seat was hot and I could see waves of heat coming from the vents in the hood. I called a friend who I knew had spent some time in a Viper to ask if it was normal, as I was fully expecting the car to burst into flames at any moment – he assured me that it’s just the way the Viper is.
The other issue in stop and go driving is the fact that clutch is quite heavy, and the pedals are very close together. The engine takes up a lot of room, so the pedals are all off to the left. This is not as big of an issue when you’re not constantly braking and shifting.
Yes, driving the Dodge Viper in rush hour traffic really turned me off. But now that I've had a few days of non-rush hour driving, I've really grown to like this beast.
First off, the Viper really looks good. Bright red, of course, with shiny chrome wheels. Large exhaust pipes are visible on the sides below the doors, which helps carry the performance styling, but as I have pointed out earlier, cause the cabin to heat up uncontrollably. You also have to be careful getting in and out when they are hot, especially if you're wearing shorts.
But driving it has become quite enjoyable. The shifter is in just the right position, and shifts can be made pretty quickly. While the clutch is heavy when you have to repeatedly press it in traffic, it does engage predictably and is easy to shift smoothly.
Steering on the freeway takes two hands - with the wide front wheels, they tend to weave when the road surface is uneven. But on a smooth surface, handling is impressive. Entrance ramps can be taken at twice the suggested speed with ease. However, my daughter, who was riding along with me on a particularly fast ramp, was convinced we were riding on two wheels. Too many cartoons, I guess.
But the best part of this car is when you have space in front of you and can just open the throttle. The sound of that V10 engine is not what I would call pleasing like that of a HEMI V8 in the Magnum SRT8. Its best described as a ferocious roar, the kind of sound that scares little children. But accompanying that sound is the most amazing acceleration. It takes your breath away, and as you shift through the gears, the power just keeps on coming, as does the smile on your face. Dodge claims 60 mph comes up in under 4 seconds, and I have no reason to doubt that.
Sure, the Viper has its drawbacks, and as I mentioned before, would not be the best of daily drivers. But the Viper provides a lot of performance for $85,000, and if I could avoid driving it in traffic, I could easily get used to having it around.
--Perry Stern
Read more...
Dodge Viper Experience
Its been a busy few months and I haven't had a chance to update this blog recently. So here's a bit on the Tokyo Motor Show that took place a few weeks ago.
This show was much more interesting than Frankfurt, with many more concept vehicles and a number of ideas for making cars more fuel efficient and better for the environment. Cars shown at the Tokyo show just seem a bit more exciting and more fun than at many other shows.
As I mentioned, green cars were a big deal in Tokyo. A variety of fuel-cell vehicles were shown, ranging from the sleek Honda FCX to the boxy-looking Toyota Fine-X. Mazda showed a version of the Premacy van (not sold in the U.S.) that was a hybrid, combining an electric motor with a rotary engine, and the rotary engine could run on gasoline or hydrogen.
Subaru showed its first hybrid. Built in house, this system mated an electric motor with a turbocharged boxer engine. Geared more towards performance, the electric motor provided power while the turbocharger spooled up, removing all instances of turbo lag. This was shown on a stylish 2-door hatchback built on the Legacy platform, called the B5-TPH.
Volkswagen also showed that high-performance and high-efficiency were not mutually exclusive. The EcoRacer is a sporty little car that uses VW's new TDI diesel technology. The company claims this concept can hit 155 mph, but still gets around 70 mpg. Impressive.
Other cool stuff included the Nissan GT-R Proto. Styling is about 80% production, this is the next-generation of the legendary Skyline GTR. And this one should be coming to the U.S.
Mitsubishi debuted the Concept-X, which will likely become the next Lancer Evolution. This is one mean looking sports car, and one of my personal favorites.
Other debuts included the Audi Shooting Brake - possibly the next TT; a variety of Suzuki concept cars; a Giugiaro-designed Ferrari; the Lexus LF-Sh concept - likely the next LS replacement; and a slew of wild concept cars from Nissan.
--Perry Stern
Read more...