Monday, January 25, 2010

Car Reviews

I have decided that my dream job is two fold. The first part would be hosting the American version of the greatest show on television, Top Gear. I would be the main host, I would hire a pair of my co-workers to host the rest of it. The best part would be trying to hire the Stig.

The second part is to write for Car & Driver. This has got to be the best job ever. You get paid to beat the crap out of cars, drive them on tracks, long term, take random road trips to figure out what you like and don't. The best part is people pay to read your opinions. I know you have the journalistic responsibility to be neutral, but lets face it, MINIs are the best car ever. Never would they loose a comparo.

With that being said, I am not going to write a review, but I will give my highs and lows of some cars I have taken home from work.

2002 Jaguar X-type 2.5

Highs: Cheap, AWD
Lows:Feels Cheap, 165hp with AWD and 2 tons = slow, automatic transmission searches for gears at the same pace OJ searches for the "real" killer

2000 Mercedes Benz SLK 230

Highs: Retractable hard-top works great, good shoulder room for a small convertible, I love a thick steering wheel.
Lows: Transmission lunges before upshifts, supercharger needs more boost, massive cowl shake over bumps is unnerving.

2008 Chevrolet Suburban

Highs: Displacement Management, operates on 4cy at cruising speeds, got 17mpg city/hwy. Commanding view, but easy to see all around.
Lows: Parking Decks, Ballantyne Soccer Moms, who needs this much SUV?

2005 Mazda 3

Highs: Nav, Leather, Bose, Roof, in a small car. Useful cargo space. Good power and reflexes.
Lows: No lower back support, big blind spot at the right quarter panel.

2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Highs: Drives like a heavier SUV, lots of options per dollar, I actually think it looks good.
Lows: Lower seat cushion has ZERO support, leather feels like plastic, anemic motor is also thirsty, only 15.2mpg.

2007 Honda Accord

Highs: You know it will last forever, seats are nice and wide, quiet as can be.
Lows: As vanilla as a Honda, steering does not communicate what the car is doing, everybody has one.

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