Reviews
You are currently browsing the articles from Super Car Blog matching the category Reviews.
Recent high increasements in gas prices, have made gasoline very expensive, up to 3 $ a galon, but this price would be happy nostalgia for Europeans, where fuel can be twice as much, or more. So what kind of cars are popular in Europe? Small, economical, but roomy ones. Cars like the Toyota Yaris Liftback.
Yaris is a new nameplate for Toyota in the U.S., but it’s been well-received in Europe, where it’s Toyota’s best seller. Here, the second-generation Yaris, in both hatchback “Liftback” and sedan body styles, will be Toyota’s new entry-level model, replacing the Echo.
With its small size, only twelve and a half feet long, the Liftback can fit easily into tight urban parking spaces. At five and a half feet wide and an even five feet tall, over three inches taller than the sedan - there is much more room inside than expected, aided by an optional split rear seat that can be moved backwards for extra legroom. And if its fuel economy isn’t quite as high as that of a hybrid like a Prius, it’s not exactly thirsty with EPA estimates of 34 mpg city and 40 highway. With a base price of $10,950 ($13,510 as tested), it’s half the price of a Prius. Even at $4 a gallon, that difference buys a lot of regular unleaded.
It’s small size and low fuel consumtion per galon, have made this car to enter in the “econobox” class. Econoboxes of the 70s and 80s were no-frills vehicles, with few creature comforts and minimal power. The Yaris is a much more developed vehicle, with the precise construction, quality materials, and attention to detail for which Toyota is known. It’s not at all cramped, and with its 1.5-liter, 106-horsepower engine, it has no trouble keeping up with traffic. Even driven hard, it sips fuel - I averaged over 35 mpg in a week of mostly highway driving. It’s not boxy-looking, either.
The first Yaris Liftback I drove was an automatic, when the Yaris line was introduced to the press in suburban Irving, Texas, last Fall. I’ve spent the past week with a manual-transmission model with key convenience upgrades. As expected, performance with the five-speed stick was better than with the four-speed automatic. But fuel economy should be nearly the same for both, and the ease of driving an automatic in traffic is undeniable. In either form, the Yaris Liftback should make a great commute module - or a good low-cost car for anyone on a budget. Even though it’s Toyota’s entry-level car, it’s much more than basic transportation.
Written by admin on May 30th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Reviews.
Before i started writeing this review, i thought I was looking at a rather evolved version of the M35x, to my surprise the differences are in greater number then the similarites.
The make things clear, from start the G35x and the M35x are not different versions of the same cars, as I thought. The ???????M???????? sedan is billed by Infiniti as a premium performance sedan and the ???????G???????? is called a premium performance sport sedan. Both are rear-wheel-drive with an all-wheel-drive option and both are luxurious and competent. Both have that wonderful 3.5-liter V6 named by Ward????????s AutoWorld as one of the world????????s 10 best engines. The ???????G????????, however, is a tad smaller than the ???????M???????? and with sportier suspension settings.
On the inside you imediatly recognize the differences. While the ???????G???????? has a keyless ignition it works differently than the ???????M????????. The latter is a push button on the dash and one must have a foot firmly on the brake pedal to start the car. The ???????G???????? on the other hand has a twisting switch that has a little gate which is too small for the fob and must be turned about 60-degrees to start, much like a traditional switch, but without a key inserted. In the ???????G????????s case we needn????????t have a foot planted on the brake, which I thought was superfluous in the ???????M???????? anyway.
The interior is luxurious with fine leather, aluminum trim and quality materials. A little pod high on the dash contains the lovely analog clock and some data fields. Power seat controls are on the console-side seat bolster. When tilting the tilt/telescopic steering wheel the entire gauge pod moves with the wheel, which keeps the gauges readable through the wheel. Like the Nissan we took to Tennessee a few weeks ago there is plenty of travel in the tilt and telescope functions to get the wheel in just the right position.
The fast 3.5-liter engine truly feels, and even sounds, like a V8, giving the ultimate
driving sensation. With 24-valves, aluminum block and heads, dual overhead cams and continuously variable valve timing, ???????microfinished??????? camshafts and molybdenum-coated pistons, in conclusion a extremely efficient and sophisticated engine. Generating 280 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque it has plenty of thrust and a smooth delivery. Just remember, you can also get a 4.5-liter V8 with 335 horsepower, if you wish, and you can get a 6-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter.
I was as impressed with the G35x chassy as much as i was with the chassy of the M35x when i first saw it. The mulit-link fully independent designs front and rear make for stability, stiffness without harshness, and great control. Bouncing firmly over a particularly rough railroad crossing disturbs the chassis not an ounce. The suspension is tuned for a bit more stiffness with this sport sedan than last week????????s luxury sedan.
If you????????re in the market for a sporty premium luxury sedan with plenty of technology you????????ll want to include the M & G35x in your search. Put them up against the Lexus GS models, BMW 5-Series, Cadillac CTS and Mercedes E-Class and you????????ll have a tough choice to make.
Written by admin on May 25th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Reviews.
Today, i have for you car lovers all over, a review on the renowed Dodge Magnum SRT, a car that i don’t really regard to much. After a really bad point in Chrysler motor history, something clearly had to be doned to make profit. That something was the new and exciting automobile called Magnum SRT. This move was very bold, as this car isn’t a really conventional one, with a really aggressive looking automobile but which has been getting awards from all and sundry. Why is it not for me? Maybe it’s becouse of it’s???? 6.1 liter hemi engine, wich i found no troubles, in terms of controling it, but the power did come in rather suddenly and it did call for a great deal of concentration.
I see this as a great car for young Texans blasting to a rodeo but genteel Marin County is not like that. Percentage wise there are more Priuses here than anywhere else in the country and that probably says it all. Don????????t get me wrong-the Dodge is amazing value at around 40 thousand dollars. It is a bit of an International cocktail-the engine is made in Mexico, the transmission in Germany and final assembly is in Ontario, Canada.
Still, what matters is that the Dodge is very well screwed together. The instrumentation is excellent as are the seats. What I missed was the brilliant TV monitor - aiding reversing- from the infinity. The Magnum is a long car and the TV would be a God-send.
The Dodge has all the standard equipment one could reasonably expect from a 60 thousand dollar automobile and as I????????ve said huge fun and huge value for the right person. Having said that I am not that person. I am delighted they are doing well but as we all know the other half of the company is Mercedes Benz. For me an E series 320 with 4matic is the answer to my prayers. Until and if the new S class had a 4matic option as well.
For the record the Magnum does 14 to a gallon in town and 20 on the highway, although the chances are that the sort of speeds this Dodge is capable of will tempt people to put pedal to the metal and really go for it.
This is a rough car, not one for those who don’t like to “play it hard”, mostly for those of us who enjoy getting a speedying ticket.
Written by admin on May 18th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Reviews.
In 1993 the all new Nissan Skyline R33 GTS25-T replaced the successful R32 GTS- T. Little brother to the all conquering GTR the GTS25-T is more affordable and still a thrilling ride. It features a more modern new shape with smooth lines rather than the sharp edges of the previous model. The new looks were debatable some liked the newer styling of the R33 and some preferred the harder edges of the R32.
On the road with the R33 the first thing you notice is how smooth the R25DET engine is power delivery is linier and the car pulls hard from 3000rpm to the 7000 rpm redline. The manual coupe version will propel you from 0-100 in 6.18 seconds and complete the quarter in 14.4. Maximum power is 187kw at 6400 and a max torque 295nm at 4800. The RB25DET is a ripper and featured technology ahead of it time. The 2.5 liter turbo intercooled straight 6 features a twin cam head with variable valve timing on the intake side.
Handling of the coupe is great with a good balance between comfort and a sports like feel. The rear of the car steered by a system called HICAS which works by calculating the speed and angle of the car through the corners. This feature seems to minimize under- steer and kept the car flat through the corner. The rear on the car is equipped with a viscous LSD and steps out ever so progressively when pushing hard. This makes the car easy to control but if pushed to hard it would be easy to loose the rear end. The skyline is a medium size coupe weighing in at 1360kg and when cornering its a great drive but not quiet as direct or nibble though the bends as the lighter R32 was. But light suspension modifications improve handling significantly.
In Australia a good series 1 GTS25-T can be picked up for around $17,000 and a series 2 for around 20,000. With standard features including electric windows and climate control I thinks it is great value for money. With light modifications to the engine and suspension this car can be turned into a street weapon. For more information I recomend visiting http://nissanskyline.6te.net
About the author
Glenn Munn has been a sports car Enthusiast for many Years. More information and tuning guides for all popular skyline models can be found at my new website http://nissanskyline.6te.net
Written by admin on May 15th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Reviews.
The Toyota Camry has been the best-selling car in this country for the past four years, and for eight of the past nine years. It’s been in the top few for even longer. I see numerous examples from the previous three generations, models going back to 1992, on a regular basis, and even a few earlier ones, going all the way back to the Camry’s debut in 1983. Over six and a half million Camrys have been sold in America since then. The words “rare'’ and “exotic'’ will never be applied to the Toyota Camry.
With its position at the top of the sales charts, the Camry is a serious target for all competitors. Toyota has recently made their jobs much more difficult by replacing the fifth-generation Camry, introduced in 2002, with a new and very different sixth generation debuting early as a model year 2007 vehicle.
Little about the Camry has been left unchanged. Most apparent is new styling, bolder and more international than previously seen on a Camry. Overall size is not much changed, but a longer wheelbase and wider track translate to even more interior space. Crashworthiness has been improved by changes to both materials and design. Wheels and tires are larger, and all models feature four-wheel antilock disc brakes.
And “all models'’ has more significance, with an expanded lineup. After all, the Camry didn’t reach the peak of popularity by being a niche vehicle. Even the entry-level CE grade is well-equipped, with power windows. mirrors, and locks, Optitron backlit gauges, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with a jack for an external MP3 player, and seven air bags. The core-model LE adds remote entry, a power driver’ seat, and a long list of available options. The SE has gotten sportier, with an aero body kit, extra chassis reinforcement, and a specially-tuned suspension. The premium XLE gets as standard equipment many of the LE’s options, and upscale options including a DVD navigation system, leather upholstery, and a keyless push-button starting system.
The standard engine is all non-hybrid 2007 Camrys is an upgraded version of Toyota’s 2AZ-FE 2.4-liter four-cylinder, now with 158 horsepower. It’s matched to a five-speed manual or automatic transmission. Optional in all but the CE is a new 3.5-liter V6, with 268 horsepower. It comes with a six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode. The Camry LE four-cylinder may be statistically average, but with good power and economy, plenty of passenger and trunk space, and typically Toyota high build quality, it’s the benchmark family sedan.
Written by admin on May 14th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Reviews.
