June 2, 2008 No Comments

Toyota Prius 2008 Review.

To my eyes, the Toyota Prius looks like an Area 51 reject: an ungainly sci fi fantasy devoid of charm or beauty. To its admirers’ eyes, the Prius is the latter day equivalent of a Model T or a VW Bug: an automobile whose virtues– and virtuousness– transcend the normal dictates of style. And THEN there’s the debate about propulsion, premiums and politics. (more…)

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June 2, 2008 No Comments

Lexus LS600hL 2008 Review.

I disagree with every review of the Lexus LS600hL ever written. Categorically. To a man, my colleagues misinterpret the most expensive Lexus as a misguided planet-saver that doesn’t deliver enough mpg to justify its sky-high price tag. (more…)

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June 2, 2008 No Comments

Dacia Logan MCV 1.5 dCi 2008 Review.

I love European “people’s” cars. The Renault R4, the Fiat Uno and Punto, Peugeots 205 to 207, the early Golfs– they were all affordable and fun to drive with more character than Marcello Mastroianni. By the same token, I hate what Lee Iacocca called PODS. Lido was referring to Chryslers, but plenty of manufacturers have built cars for Poor Old Dumb Shits. PODS-mobiles are often Russian; Lada leading the pack. (more…)

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June 2, 2008 No Comments

Toyota FJ Cruiser 2008 review.

In the science fiction TV show Stargate SG-1, a small U.S. Air Force military team uses an ancient alien device to travel to other worlds. The team’s adventures typically entail going to other planets, shooting guns, speaking to inhabitants who strangely speak English and saving Earth from otherwise certain destruction. All good stuff, really. But here in the real world, we don’t have a Stargate or even Richard Dean Anderson at the ready to reach faraway places for adventure. What we do have is the 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser. (more…)

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June 2, 2008 No Comments

Kia Continental 2008 Review.

If you’ve been looking in on the live stream of the Nürburgring 24h race, you might spot the car above crossing your video window. It’s basically a production-spec Kia pro_ceed (fitted with whatever safety features are required for race participation) powered by the stock 138 hp/225 lb-ft 2.0L diesel. The skinny on this one is that it was entered by Continental Tires’ Italian division and will run the entire race on ContiSportContact 3 street tires. (more…)

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June 2, 2008 No Comments

GMC Envoy 2008 Review.

With crossover SUVs becoming increasingly popular, it might be easy to forget that SUVs started out based on pickup trucks. While crossovers hold an attractive edge in terms of ride and handling dynamics, and usually better fuel efficiency and interior space, traditional truck-based utes still offer tougher off-road capability and greater towing capacity. For those who prefer this old-school approach to SUV design, GMC offers the 2008 Envoy. (more…)

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