2010 Porsche Panamera 4S

A lot of noise has been made about the Porsche Panamera and naturally with all this fuss one is inclined to have a gander. Take a look I did. The Panamera has all the Porsche curves , but leaves one not sure, whether it is a sports car, or  a luxury one. Hard to tell by just looking at it without the drive. I personally think there was some exaggeration on the aerodynamics and such. Not very good looking to be honest. But then again looks can be very deceiving, because this car is packing all the heat, if you follow. It looks a bit small to be compared to the likes of the LS 460, BMW 750 or the S Class even, but believe me this Porsche is up there too. Another German masterpiece. Hats off to this ingenuity. As I mentioned earlier the exterior of the Panamera  does  this car no  justice at all, rather the inside tells a  different story. 

The interior of the Panamera looks like a miniature cockpit. Feels like you can take off at any time. Dials are all within reach and strategically placed. Impressed and surprised by how roomy the Panamera is.Enough leg room in the back and you could actually be chauffeured. And the leather interior which is standard blends in quite well with the whole interior. The seats feel like they are designed  for you ,the way they feel and hug all your curves. I have to admit this is the first Porsche I have ever driven, with all their history and I did not go wrong to start with this particular model. 

Very sturdy on the road, plus the Panamera has a very low Center of Gravity which makes it stable, and can take curves with ease at full pelt too. The sporty suspension is always a bonus and the way they combined the luxury feel and a solid sporty suspension is beyond me. All I can say is that the Panamera sits on the road and goes. I guess with a 400-horsepower 4.8-liter V-8 engine the Panamera can always give you that little bit extra. And if you want to kick it up a notch then there is the twin turbo and that will give you an additional 100 horsepower. All depends on how deep your pockets are. The Porsche  Panamera is an all wheel drive with a seven speed, dual clutch transmission. 0 - 60 in 4.8seconds and thats the 4S for you. You can only love this. 24 miles per gallon Highway. Like I mentioned earlier, this cocoon feels like a cockpit and that goes for the safety features too.Standard curtain airbags which seem to be the norm these days, nothing out of the ordinary really.

 But this car is not the norm with Posche , then again they pushed the boundaries with the Cayenne and that was a success so why not get in the Grand Turismo. Looking good from where I am standing.

Now for you to be ridding one of these bad boys your pockets have to be at least $80 000.00 deep. Well worth the price. I would charge more because this car awesome.

I think Porsche have the right people doing their bidding for them and should keep it up. I hear there is an even better Panamera coming in 2011.

http://www.porsche.com/usa/models/panamera/

Mercedes S550

The Mercedes S550. How do you describe this car? Simply elegant. A performer with grace and class. Brilliant Motor indeed. One of the premium luxury cars about really, I mean not looking at the ridiculously luxurious Rolls Royce or Bentley. The S550 stands out quite a bit in its class. 

The front grill is a noticable change, very pronounced and shaped more like an arrow. Then there is the bumper, real curvy with light catching contours and the chrome  strip below the cooling air  inlet. The back is a lot more solid and looks like the E and C class. A bit curvier with the lights more solid and representative of the Mercedes brand. Which is less than what I can say for the S Class predessesor. The backlights always put me off, looked like a cross between the Lexus and something hideous. This time the Mercedes S550 has come up trumps and has the right curves. Love the LEDs lights on the Mercedes that make it look like it has eyebrows.

 

The inside is very Spacious indeed. It feels like stepping into a  different world. Now I see why all these Dictators from the Third World are stepping over each other to bag one of these bad boys. You would think Mercedes would say no to this ill gotten money ,but I guess all money is the same color in the bank

. 

The S550 has a 482 horsepower V8 with 4matic all wheel drive as an option. This sweet baby has the get up and go you require and some after burners too. The fuel economy is not too impressive 14mpg City and 21 mpg Highway. A sweet 0 - 60 in 5.4seconds. Thats why the unfavorable fuel economy. I suppose if you want a big car like this to have such power, there is a price to pay. The drive was what I expected , only it was better. A cocoon of comfort, far removed from the outside world. Smooth control and a car this size usually runs away from you but this was solid. Loved the way the S550 hugged the road. In most cars there is the standard safety, like airbags and such, but the S class  has a few little extras. There the camera, and radar based Driver Assistance which includes Adaptive High Beam Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and the Pre Safe Braking System. This intervenes in case there is an impending rear end collision. Think the lane keeping assist is lame, because if you as a driver cant stay in your lane  , seriously you ought not drive. How rubbish can you get? This is a really good one though, the Assist Driver Drowsiness Monitor and Active Body Control which stabilizes the climate in the cabin to keep the driver awake.With The Pre Safe Braking System, Mercedes S550 comes to a halt in 0.6 seconds. The Night View Assist has the unique function of  detecting pedestrians a safe distance away.

Another quality product from Mercedes, Bravo again for a good products. Best in this class but with a Price tag of over a $91 000.00, I think I will stay with the Jaguar XJL and BMW 750Li , which offer equally  as good quality, but for 11K less. Lovely looking backside though.

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicles/explore/overview/class-S/model-S550V

VW Tiguan

The VW Tiguan, what can I say about this car. Not too sure, You know what, I am still trying to find out why this car is one the road. Personally I see no advantage of having it, but  guess  the pony look is appealing to some. It looks  very ill proportioned. It seems like BMW, Audi and VW  missed the mark on this car, BMW with the X3, Audi Q5 and then VW the Tiguan. Ghastly looking cars. Some would say an abomination. A bit brutal , but I am just saying... I suppose one has to have an acquired taste to really appreciate these cars. My theory is " polish a turd, still a turd" to be honest. the look is not appealing at all on the VW Tiguan, but nonetheless VW were confident enough to put it out there, clearly they have something that will not do any damage to their reputation.

The inside is very deceitful, not at all like what you expect after seeing the horrible exterior of the Tiguan. Very spacious. You could have five big adults in this little shoe box with no problem. I am sure I mentioned this with the Touareg, that somehow the driver always finds it hard to get into the best driving position. steering seems a little too far forward still. Once you have done the right adjustments you are nearly there. Not there but nearly there, but thats all you can get, regards to driving comfort.Controls are in the right places so you are not reaching out for unreachable buttons or dials. Very impressive interior in the Tiguan. 

The drive was pretty ordinary. Bearing in mind this is  a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine and that's the base and all there is for the VW Tiguan. 200 horse power. This car does 18 mpg City and 24 Highway on average, varying of course, depending on how heavy your foot is on the accelerator. There are nifty little things that the Tiguan does which impressed me like the electronic hand brake, which you engage when you stop and as soon as you put your foot on the accelerator the hand brake disengages. You also look at the Tiguan and it looks like it can flip easily, but no, I managed to go through a round about at 40 mph and  the drive never felt like it was mismatched on any of the wheels at all. On the freeway you still have that extra in the little Pony. Much more than I expected. Not sure I need to take it off road in the US though ,with all these monster trucks out there. Don't want to run risk some off roader running me over.

Safety is standard with airbags and such. Nothing  too outstanding on this little match box. there is sufficient trunk space for a small family but thats about it. Will do well in Europe this car, not in the United States. Not the best small SUV out there like some reviewers are saying. Again its an acquired taste this VW Tiguan.

I really dont like this car truth be told and would not recomend it to anyone at all.  Retails at just above $23 000.00 and not worth it at all.

http://www.vw.com/tiguan/completespecs/en/us/

2011 Chevy Camaro SS

Hmmmmmm. What does one say when they are faced with such a monumental task. One asks themselves again and again,  whether when the times comes, they will be able to take on the task at hand.Reviewing a muscle car that is in a class above all. Guess we will have to find out. They tried to make the Camaro look the part in Transformers, but I do not think they did this monster any justice at all. So something did come out of Motown that is worth talking about. The Chevy Camaro.This car does not just have  muscle under the hood, but the curves on this one are muscle too. It stands menacingly in front of you. I guess thats why they made it get up and go in Transformers, literally, because it has that look. For a car with a menacing look they sure gave it a good character,not, Bumblebee, are you kidding me? Injustice at its worst. I particular like the 20-inch ,5 spoke rims, and if you want it looking  the real deal it is , then  ghosted stripes are not a bad idea at all.

The inside however simple, comes top for the muscle cars I have been in. Very appealing to the eye yet maintaining that sporty menacing look, which is so adorable if you ask me. The Ford Mustang was impressive don't get me wrong but this Camaro has an interior to rival luxury motors. make sure you do not try and put people in the back sit, because they are going to be very uncomfortable, so much that after the journey , they will not want to talk to you again. You have the necessary gizmos and controls you need in a sports car, I mean why would you need more right.Visibility is a cause for concern in the Camaro because the design makes the whole outlook too compact. There is trunk space but not sure what anyone would want to carry in this car except golf clubs. This car is for those smug Yuppies cruising around on the weekend and those older gentlemen who are finding it hard to let go of their youth.

This is the look of a 6.2L 426hp V8 engine. One thing to be considered about how effective American muscle cars can be, is where you are driving them. In a straight line Muscle cars can out perform any car but when there are turns involved, evolution is a bit slow on these monsters because you can easily find yourself parked in a tree. It takes reducing your acceleration immensely just to make a turn in the Camaro. But while the turning maybe a bit tricky, I found the Camaro very solid and good to go. Response to the acceleration was not disappointing at all, like the muscle car it is. As you have come to expect the fuel economy is not too great but 16mpg City and 24mpg Highway is not bad for a muscle car. 0 - 60 in 4.5 seconds.  You can only understand this when you are sat behind the driver's seat. I am impressed by the Chevy Camaro. The Shelby  GT500 is a lot more agile than the Camaro but I am quite taken by the design and look of the Camaro. This is the only reason I would probably want General motors to stay in business because clearly some thought was put into this car and the transition from the old Camaro to this one is spectacular. Safety is nothing outstanding, just the usual package , airbags and Electronic Stability Control System.

Now I want to find out what all this fuss about on the Hyundai Genesis coupe and Nissan 370Z , and if they can measure up to my beloved Camaro. I know at just over $30 000.00, a Chevy Camaro SS is a very good buy. And if you are having a midlife crisis chaps out there, this car will make you bounce back with a bang without putting too much of a dent after that Alimony check.

We are also on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=141009175930108


http://www.chevrolet.com/camaro/

2011 BMW M3

Ladies and Gentleman, BMW is back. Please raise your glasses as we toast to this modern marvel. Please remain standing as we honor the BMW M3. Now BMW ( Bayerische Motoren Werke) which translates to Bavaria Motor Works in English know a thing or two about motors. I am not going to tell you how the company logo came to be, because you already know that BMW started off as an aircraft company in 1929 and the blue and white represent a propeller cutting through the blue sky. Catchy indeed.
Before this model there was the BMW M3 e46 and on this one I was convinced they could not do anything beyond this. It will be crazy right? Graceful and yet looked like a beast that is untouchable and cant be brought to heel. Very domineering indeed, ask the guys at Mercedes, Audi and Lexus in that order.

Now I am talking about the M3 e 46, the rest were pretty ordinary, disappointing actually.The model that came after the M3 e 46 was even worse, so bad I did not look at a BMW 3 series for a time. The designers had taken the BMW 3 series back to the stone age. I am hoping the designers and the whole team were put out of the equation.  The New M3 speaks volumes for BMW. Personally I think this is the best car in the BMW kitty.

These guys had to come back to reality, and what a way to make another grand entrance. The curves show innovation on the part of the design team. A sports car on the streets. Not saying when behind the wheel, go crazy, be advised this car will get you carried away and serious bother with. Inside the M3 is a whole array of BMW really.

Tell me , is there ever going to be a time when BMW will change that ghastly steering wheel? Think this is the time to do it , does my box in Still, it blends in well with the new look interior. Now is you are looking forward to having too much room in this car, I am afraid you will have to look elsewhere.The seats are well cupped to take you all in and fit one's curves. Very small gear shift on the driver's side, changing up is literally pushing the gear knob forward and then down is backwards.Or you can go Formula 1 on the M3, and start changing gears on the wheel with both hands on the steering, tapping the silver gear shift on the right up to change the gears upward and then the gear shift on the left for down shift.Or just let the rpms to below 1000 and the gears go down automatically. I have to say , there is a bit of congestion on the steering  wheel, because aside from the gearshifts, there is the  indicators and the wipers. Too much clutter. Not good guys
The engine of course,4.0, V8 and 414 horsepower.

The M3 is a small car, so its not carrying too much power, this means there is a few horses just hanging around to give it the extra kick. This car does 0 - 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Blistering pace. Not out of the ordinary for a sports sedan but nonetheless impressive. Fuel economy, none at all, get ready to carry a gas station in the back of the car 13mpg City and 20mpg highway. I suppose you know what you are getting into when you purchasing this motor.
I drove the M3 hard top convertible. This one is a lot heavier than the coupe of course because structurally there has to be compensation for the lack of a solid top. Naturally one would assume sluggish driving, far from it. Nice and solid, suspension  very firm. The driver and the car are one in this baby. Very sporty feeling. Sitting in the driver's seat all I could have was that Hamilton feeling,  " I am ready, bring it on and I will give you some lemon." Now the old 3 series was very deceitful, you can put pedal to the metal and it response with a lot of noise, but that was not translated to distance traveled , if you follow my my drift. I was feeling in control and there was a soft purr under the hood. I felt content and put the car to the test. Respond it did, and in such fashion, I could not have imagined. I was satisfied with myself. Now bearing in mind the M3 engine has to be run in to 1200 miles before you can open it up, this baby had no problem making other drivers look like they had their reverse gear engaged. Handling was spectacular. Now I am not a BMW fan at all but, I have to give these guys their dues, because this car is out of this world. Handled like a true BMW darling, and people were serious when they put it out there. Just like the 750 Li and such the BMW has Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) which continuously monitor such variables as speed, steering angle, brake pressure and traction , and corrects them immediately if they are not insinc. This really works and where else would this be more desirable than on a luxury sports car. BMW are the only manufacturer with a Head Protection System(HPS),  which is an inflatable tubular structure that, on top of the airbags provides protection for severe  side impact for the front occupants. Stops the occupants from  hitting the side window and object penetrating from the sides.. Bravo BMW , Bravo.
Now if you want to have all this goodness, you can agree with me there is a price to pay and it is not a small one. The convertible is retails at just over $67000.00, the Coupe at $58 400.00 and the Sedan $55 400.00. Personally I think , when you get to such a range you should go all out. Maybe it might help during a mid life crisis. Now ladies and gentlemen again, please help me toast to this car of our time.You may take your seats.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2010/M/M3Sedan/Default.aspx

Nissan Altima

Very modest Nissan, the Altima is. Not very outstanding but it will definitely do the job. Small sedan and very comparable to the Hyundai Sonata. Not too outstanding, but the Nissan Altima appeals to the young families and students as well, or just those starting up the car ladder.There is enough room on the inside as well as in the trunk, well thats when you are not moving the whole clan. This car has a purpose and it serves the market well. The Altima does not stand out like a sore thumb but is positioned just right. I like this little sedan, Well this car might just shoot to the top of the market especially after recent news that the Hyundai Sonata has been recalled due to a fault with the steering components.Pretty modest on the inside but comfortable. One thing to remember is that if one is going for a low end car, there is no need for all the gadgetry. Its convenient to get you from one point to another, and the Altima does just that.

One thing I really like about the Nissan Altima is the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). Best thing about this system is you cannot feel the gears changing , only the acceleration. Nissan are the only ones with this technology in automatic transmission, Which I am sure they will be selling in to the others soon, as you do. Engine sizes are the base 2.5liter and then the 3.5liter V6, the later of course there to fit in the gas guzzling American market. Again no need because the 2.5 is sufficient and very fuel economic. Does 23mpg city and 32 Highway. This is not bad at all. Love the unique back lights.

Now the drive is not bad at all. This sedan is good to go and this is the base model. Most cars I talk about on the high end of motors, usually have to have the emphasis on performance. I mean who wants to race the streets with an Altima. Do not even think of doing it because the Highway patrol will run you down, and you will be worrying about dropping the soap. But one thing that has to be appreciated on the Altima is the Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). You would not know if the gear changing smacked you right across the face. Smooth as a baby's bottom. I enjoyed the drive in the Altima.It has just enough power to get you out of those sticky situations, namely behind or beside a rig. People when you are in those situations , you need to either pass the rig ,or give the rig enough space to maneuver. I am saying this because a truck driver does not have as much vision as when in a small car. I mean these guys can drag you for miles without noticing you. There is the standard airbags, six of them, front head restrains that move up and forward in rear-end collisions to help cushion the blow , thus less whiplash. Vehicle Dynamic Control( VDC) to help compensate for over and under steer. There is also Traction Control System(TCS) And this applies the brakes or reduces engine power in slippery conditions. Then there is Electronic Brake force Distribution(EBD).Now this monitors weight distribution in the whole system so the rear brake force can be adjusted for more balanced braking. Now all this sounds a bit like out of Formular 1 tech talk but really it is simply a system to keep the car well balanced and safe.

To be honest Nissan have produced a modest motor and put it out for just over $19000.00. Not bad at all. Bravo Nissan. Keep this up and you guys will be alright in these troubled times

http://www.nissanusa.com/altima/

Dodge Challenger

When you see the Challenger straight away you think of the Dukes of Hazard, right. Well of course the Dukes of Hazard really did drive the Old school Dodge Challenger. Bit of a boys toy then, rough, rugged and raw. Yes it did look good then. Now I have a chance to look at the Challenger up close and personal. Forget what you saw on TV, this is the real deal in front of you. Not very appealing to the eye. I guess most people would say, ah well its a muscle car and Dodge have stuck to tradition and kept the look of the Challenger pretty much the same as its predecessor. Well thats true and thats not, at the same time true. Thing is, Dodge failed to infuse tradition and the future because with this design , no one can incorporate the modern aerodynamics. Basically this is a very ugly car.  The back is not too appealing either. Shows lack of imagination on the part of the design team. The length of the Challanger does not do justice to the car's sporty feel. Kind of feels like, the people at Dodge came out with the Challenger without engaging their brains in gear. More like panic production, because Chevrolet and Ford had managed to transform their muscle cars from the classics to the morden day powers they are.

Of course the inside is that of a real muscle car. Not much is needed inside except perhaps a stool , gear stick and steering.Well bit brutal there but the inside is really basic. Whoever came up wit the notion of having muscle cars with automatic transmission? It defeats the purpose of having so much power in a motor. So the inside is pretty basic. not sure I care about the wing mirrors,too old fashioned and hard to see out of.

The Challenger has a a distinct sound to it. Sound a bit tame though compared to the Mustang. the Mustang sounds more aggressive even though it has a smaller engine. The purr is that of a NASCAR. The challenger boasts a 5.7l  HEMI V8 357 Horsepower engine. Quite a powerful engine. You cannot exactly feel the power as  the Challenger is  carrying too much weight. Not as slim lined as the Camaro or the Mustang. Rather disappointing, but then again it is a Dodge, and they are not well known for their innovation are they? Had a tough time trying to adjust my view in the wing mirrors. On the road the Challenger was a bit slow for a muscle car. The get up and book is unimpressive. I would not recommend this car because there are better performers in the same class.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/DodgeChallenger

Chrysler Sebring

This is the motor I drive. Not outstanding at all, very basic. Reliable in more ways than not. In some cases very unreliable. Its not too appealing to the eye but at the same time its not too bad looking. Then again this is a Chrysler, these guys are not known for their high end cars, are they? Big jump from the model before it really. I guess it was in the hope of being competitive but this was not the case. The market did not react favorably to this mid sized sedan so really, the price is rather low. This is a 2.7-liter V6 good for 189 hp.

The inside again is very plain. Chrysler did not go out of their way to design this interior.

Pretty ordinary ha, nothing worth writing home about. Its pretty roomy and you are very comfortable in it. One thing I can say about the Sebring is that, it is surprisingly comfortable. And when driving everything is within reach. Trunk space is not all that great though, does the job, but not too good.

The drive is very good, the Chrysler Sebring handles very well. Pretty different for a car that is very basic. The fuel economy is pretty ordinary in the Sebring. In fact its very horrible. So really what you are looking at is a very big gas bill which makes the Chrysler Sebring cost you more in the long run. Another thing thats true about the Chrysler Sebring, is the way it is so steady when you are driving on the freeway. Good for those long runs.

Certain details Chrysler always conveniently forgot to mention is the gearbox locking up in park mode. This happens in pretty much all the Chyslers. They know about this but they are willing to put a car out on the road. Who does that?

So what just because I paid $ 20000.00+, which is peanuts in car terms, Chrysler do not have to improve their cars at all. This is why this car should be on my wall of shame too.

2011 Toyota Tundra

Toyota, known for their good cars, not. Very dangerous acceleration which  resulted in many casualties. Even one guy from San Diego California tried to cash in and supposed his car was out of control. So naturally every time one  looks at a Toyota, there is always an air of uncertainty,  and rightly so. Too many Toyotas   recalls. I was close enough to tiptoeing into the Toyota dealership , do not know why, but just know that I was nearly doing it.. I did walk in and looked at the Tundra. Now America is a land of SUVs  and trucks. They stretch as far as the eye can see, everywhere you look really. Everyday you are bombarded with car commercials, especially during the American football season, every manufacturer claims to have the truck that does the job, and only driven by  real men. With this Tundra I think the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and eat I did. Just the curves on the Tundra makes it a little more desirable than other trucks in the game Aerodynamics on a truck, not bad. Then you have the size of the truck that makes it a real American truck which has managed successfully to retain the Toyota look. Big with the double cab package. This is a step up from the Tacoma model.  Now we could go into the whole Trapezoidal Frame, which allows the Leaf springs to be positioned toe-out. The advantage of this design is that, the Tundra delivers superior lateral control when turning especially under heavy loading, that is, towing a rather heavy load. Borish is it not. Basically, it means the Tundra was designed in such a fashion that it can take  to corners well without straining the frame too much.

Trucks as usual are supposed to come standard, Winding windows, basic gear shift and no comfort taken into consideration. Basically is there room at the back to carry a workman's equipment and , can a truck tow big loads? While the truck does this, can the driver be protected from the elements? If these questions are answered then yes lets put the truck out there. What about safety, fuel efficiency and dare I dream, comfort. Well all this is encompassed in this truck.  The seats can be adjusted to the needs of the driver and in the Limited model they are actually leather seats. No need for that though, because it is still a truck, and the basic function is work. The Tundra is the only truck with the slide and recline rear seats, 44.5 inches of legroom in the back. With the 60/40 split the rear seat fold flat and  forms a hard work surface. Indeed the Toyota Tundra is big in all the rite places.

Now again the drive was a surprise., because thing is with most trucks its all about how much the truck can tow, and this truck 4 x 2, 5.7L, V8 can tow 9900 lb. and that is 1100 less than the Nissan Titan. I am surprised though that the Toyota Tundra is two wheel drive. Disappointing actually, because it is a very weak off road truck. It is never about how well it handles. This handles very well and with Traction control in slippery conditions, a driver does not worry too much about skids, This is also aided by VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC) which monitors the steering angle and compares it to the direction in which the truck is traveling. Any discrepancies and the VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC) corrects the anomaly. This is a smooth ride, sturdy and never sluggish. And of course its a truck, it will definitely have that roar and that is music to my ears. The safety which comes standard in any Tundra is the latest adopted system of side curtain and front seat mounted airbags. There is also front and outboard passenger knee airbags.

Fuel economy is what you have come to expect in a big gas guzzler like the Tundra, 14mpg City and 18 mpg Highway. Never disappoint, these big cars. Go on and  destroy the environment, why don't you Toyota.

Starting at just over $26000.00, maybe people should start forgiving toyota and and maybe making an appearance inthe Toyota Showrooms.

 For the Specification detail plese visit:

http://www.toyota.com/tundra/features.html

DRIVERNOMICS WALL OF SHAME

I AM GOING TO UPDATE THIS AS WE GO ALONG.

LEXUS LS460

 CHRYSLER SEBRING

2010 Lexus LS 460

Looks good does it not? I agree. Toyota have done well to put the Lexus out there because this car is standing against the BMW 7 series, Mercedes S  Class, Audi A8 and Jaguar XJ. Doing a good job of it all too well, except the recalls of course. Apparently there was a malfunction in their electronics that can cause the steering wheel to fall out of alignment. Usually when stories like this start or do rounds in the papers, its been about for a while. Means Lexus would have been trying to do some damage control, but now they cannot contain the press onslaught. Hey I say, let them get slaughtered.


I have not heard that Lexus have sorted that problem, which means they are still in the doghouse. And to this site the Lexus LS 460 is the first car on the wall of shame. A few more cars will be joining the Lexus LS460 on there. I am sure you can all agree that People's safety is the foremost thing to be considered when designing and manufacturing a car. sadly lexus had other things on their minds. Hardly a sobering thought when paying such an amount for a car. Who pays $ 74 000.00 to go off the road? Unforgivable.



Luxury car which is a death trap. No go area.

2011 Ford Mustang GT

Another Ford masterpiece. I am saying this because,  Ford are usually about low end cars. Pure American Muscle this one. This is one thing Americans are known for, big engine cars with an extra bit of umpf. And I mean one of those, baby lets go cars. Kick Ass Ride. This is one of those bad boys. Very unassuming on the outside. It has this kind of rugged look about it. Very appealing to the petrol heads, but not to everyone is a gas junkie. One thing I like though, is the fact that the contours and feel can easily be transformed into an urban jungle dweller. The little horse emblem at the front has a mysterious look about it, what I do not know, Maybe this wild horse which is free to go. So whats the interior like. Bearing in mind its a sporting motor, not a lot of effort is put in the design of the interior, of these sort of cars. You might as well be sitting on a little rock, or the floor with the steering and long ugly gearshift for all we care. All you have to feel as the driver, is the muscle. But wait, these guys had another surprise.

Plain but not too plain. Matter of fact you can sit in the car feeling like you have the necessary tools to operate this machine. Nice fancy dials, a little gear shift. Diping seats that cup your assets as you sit comfortably. Caution though, cars with such rigid suspension are not for those marathon runs, your bum will go to sleep. Got the massive speakers for you to be banging as you race those streets, against those Nissan Skylines, Mitsubishi Evos and such. But all those other cars are twigged here and there, to give them the edge, but Mustang GT is straight off the line onto the street, ready to blitz. There is a back seat in some of the Mustangs but really you have no need for it. Built for the road. I just had to throw in that V8 GT engine for you to appreciate what I am talking about.

Only a beast carries such under the hood. As soon as I turned the engine , it felt like, it was about business. Revved up the engine a bit and you could feel the car  shaking, and the purr was just overwhelming. Bearing in mind this is a 5.0L engine delivering 412 horsepower. Now I believe , because I was inside this machine.Any other day I would said,"What a load of waffle." As you cruise the street,  it feels like you are stifling the car a little bit because, clearly you cant open her up. On the freeway it is another matter. The car just sat on the asphalt and started chewing it. I mean it just came into its own and just belted. You can get this in manual transmission or automatic. Drove the automatic one, but manual is more fun with six-speed gearbox. All the other drives could do, was watch as I sped past their cars. People I am talking acceleration to the maximum, and the Mustang GT seemed in no mood to slow down. only limiting factor was the police. When you read other publications, all you hear is this, 0 - 60 in however secs talk. Really all you are doing is imagining, but I was living the experience in the Mustang. Monster , now I know what people mean, when they say American Muscle, because it is muscle on the road indeed. Yes The Mustang GT does 0 - 60 in 4.3sec. Meaning if you are in any other car, then all you can see is dust or fumes even. So if you want to live a Quater mile at a time as the Americans so ably put it, then you can do this in 12.8 sec. This is fast , real fast. The price you pay in gallons  is not bad though. 17mpg city and 26 mpg Highway

The Ford Mustang is well Sturdy to so that is a plus, and the center of gravity is really low. This means chances of this car flipping are very low, but this is not to mean go out there and act stupid especially this LABOR DAY WEEKEND. I just wonder how well the Mustang will compare with the Challenger or Camaro , to name a few. Looking really good so far. Even the BMW M3 , Audi S4, Mercedes C350, even with their price tags might not perform as well as this monster.

Very reasonably priced too, at just over $22 000.00. Petrol heads now is your chance to look at a car worth its weight in Speed and Performance.
For Specifications check: http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/mustang/

2010 BMW 750Li

Driving pleasure.Big car. Very imposing and simply amazing. This car is way up there with the best and its can stand up and be counted and not just that, annihilate competition by a margin. A beast on the road. Built to perfection and with  precision. BMW ,on this one wanted to show what they are capable of doing, and proved themselves they did. Just looking at the 750Li , you find it has its own swagga, One of those," I am here now, its time you paid attention to me and  me alone", and all this because of monstrous power refined by the Germans.

The front still looks a bit ordinary, matter of fact at first glance you think it is the 5 series, but at close inspection you notice, the body is bigger and rather wide and more imposing. There is a silly grin on your face now,  you realise this the BMW 750Li that they have been talking about. As you follow the trim to the back  you notice the designers at BMW pulled all the stops on the 7 Series, that way it could compete with the Audi A8, Jaguar XJ, Mercedes S  Class and Lexus LS.

The Backside on the 2010 BMW 750Li is a bit fuller and more curvier, unlike its predecessor. A step in the right direction. Unlike the Step back in the three series, that was taken a few years back. Stepping on the inside is like getting into another zone, different world.

The seats are heated and they can shift in all sorts of angles for comfort. Loads of room as well  in this car, driver is very comfortable for a good drive. A power sunroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity and four-zone automatic climate control add to the luxury vehicle’s ambiance. Hardware includes a navigation system with voice activation.

This is a V8 4.4liter, 400 horsepower engine, so it has some kick in it. Just pulling out of the lot you can feel this machine is raring to go. Soon as there was an opening I stepped on it and boy, you wanna listen to the roar. And the control was amazing. Good job on the suspension because I could feel the road in my hands and best bit  is  this is a rear wheel drive so you can feel the car pushing  from the back. Very sturdy and settles on the road so well. On the motorway all the other cars seemed to be going backwards. Went on the off ramp to come back on my self and this is when things got so interesting for me. So instead of the usual slow  approach from a side road onto the freeway, the rep told me to put my foot down and I thought he was joking because the ramp curves onto the freeway almost like 180 degrees. Accelerating in these conditions in any other car is suicidal but not with the 750Li. Ah ah. I felt like I was being pushed against the driver's door and  my head was spinning. The Seat belt was nice and tight and I was in a good position to enjoy the BMW 750Li taking that ramp as if on a straight  road. I would like to see any car beat the X Drive “performance control,” a torque-vectoring system featured on the two-wheel-drive 750Li, that applies light braking to the inside rear wheel, while adding power to the outside rear wheel, correcting for under-steer without the driver ever knowing. Additionally, the 750Li is fitted with active front and rear anti-roll bars that adjust to keep the pitch of the big sedan going in its intended direction. Safety as well is paramount on the 750Li with dual deployment airbags and first-and second-row side curtain airbags. Nice little cocoon of comfort and safety.


All this said and done though the BMW 750Li is still a guzzler only getting 15mpg City and 22 highway. but one thing I know is for just around $80 000 one gets to enjoy the comforts that the Germans have put on this car.


One thing though that keeps niggling me at the back of my mind is how abundant the 750Li is on the street, and the characters driving it are  rather look unsavory. The gangster type. This lowers the value of the car quite significantly, don't care what people say.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Vehicles/2011/7/750LixDriveSedan/Features_and_Specs/default.aspx?enc=/eiUrYOZAxtXbrazY6tfknvs2p4czl6fdqlc7VGB7GOyFaguGHnYLNxdUcG8jWx045Q4yRVwjuZzLlE/36H9YcncCRXErhKyMn8eUcbGRlwIJQzsVXG03whBNJBMNtdi+yEFMNw4g4EM/1etqMzz4/V+T+YRZOLk0uW3LuPdRyPkN39PoTM743afoH2qAP0VfTXA+pEAHHcSU/vj4Crddm9Ty4yKqqQ4XJL3evRI4qg=

Toyota Prius

This is the Third generation of the Toyota Prius so it seems like these guys are here to stay. And with the increasing rhetoric about saving the environment, what better way to compete in the market than with a more advanced Prius. I mean we all know that the big engine cars and polluters are slowly going out of favor. Brilliant to drive but with changing times falling short of environmental expectations. Very short.

The Toyota Prius still looks very futuristic and it stands out. The slick design shows someone was awake at every turn to make sure they produce a likable motor. Good to look at too. Well you know there has been numerous recalls by Toyota and the press has not given them a break at all. Justified, the  hammering they have been taking in a lot of cases . Considering there has been deaths which resulted from their negligence.
 I am not trying to defend the Toyota people for their arrogance at all.
The other outstanding thing  on the Prius is the Light Emitting Diodes (LED) headlamps  with auto leveling, auto-off and headlamp washers plus the LED tailamps

As you can all see the inside of a Prius, while simple, looks very futuristic and Spacey. Looks small from the outside but surprisingly roomy. Ample room for strollers and shopping ladies. And when you sit in the driver's seat you felt like the Prius is made out of molded glass really, because from the look , there is no feel of metal, but the one thing I have against the whole Spacey look, is the that one cannot see through the back window using the rear view mirror.

The wind shield  reduces glare however. First I have seen that on a car actually. Impressive indeed.

I found the get up and go real slow. Bit lethargic, but that can be expected because the gas engine only engages after the electrical motor has reached a certain number of revolutions. Sounds like a little golf cart to be honest, before the gas engine kicks in. The air only comes on when the gas engine is engaged and when you get to a traffic light, the electrical motor takes over because you are stationary  then, the car heats up or gets cold inside because there is no air circulation. Now what kind of thinking was that to save even on air circulation? Not cool. Still felt a bit unsafe without the rear view mirror use. Although its roomy inside the drive feels a bit restricted in movement, because of the dipping seat.
Good drive though nonetheless. but if you are a petrol head then probably not a good idea at all. I did manage to get the Prius up to 76 mph without the accelerator getting stuck. Phew! what a relief.

Can't go wrong if you want to protect the environment, with the Toyota Prius. Starting at just over $22000.00, this is not a bad buy if you are brave. Remember the Prius can do 50miles to the gallon combined. that's both City and Highway

http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/specs.html

Mercedes Benz E Class

This supposedly the ultimate driving experience, Mercedes.This was the case years ago, but not anymore. A lot of  manufacturers have pulled their game up and are matching Mercedes toe to toe. Still looks slick and appealing but that Mercedes eye turning aura is slowing fading away. Maybe its because there is too many E classes on the road, I do not know,or maybe in the E Class Mercedes tried hard to make it look like the CLS, and that car is well ugly. No wonder it was not as successful. But wait, no there is not a lot of luxury sedans like this one. Still four eyed like its predecessors, and then that Mercedes grill which never goes wrong. This car has rims that are so good there is no need to chrome it up, unless you are some pimp who really believes you have to lower the standards of the Mercedes or some low brow rap star. The inside still has that feel of quality and attention to detail only Mercedes can deliver. Now they don't have the gear shift on the obvious spot. Its by the steering wheel and you might mistake it for the indicator switch , which I did and I put the car in reverse.  Bit of an innovation but it could be dangerous. Old habits. Everything else is in the right place however like the indicator and wiper switch. Makes the Steering column a bit congested if you ask me and very untidy. In most of the new cars the  driver's seat control are actually on the seat but Mercedes chose to put theirs on the door, again crowding the spot for the mirror controls, window controls and such. Stepping backwards into confusion times.

 Safety has always been Mercedes priority and the E class is no exception, airbags all round, Night View Assist, Reads invisible infrared beams with a special camera, this innovation can be activated at nighttime when your low-beam headlamps are on and can detect objects nearly 500 feet ahead in near-total darkness. When activated, it displays the captured image on a black-and-white screen in the instrument cluster. Advanced software helps it detect human forms up to 300 feet ahead and then highlight them on the display. Unlike other systems that identify only warm objects like animals but not cold ones such as debris or parked cars, Night View Assist detects both. And with the image on a high-resolution screen and not the windshield, you get a clearer, sharper picture of what's ahead. This just touching the surface because Mercedes has tonnes to offer.There is decent room in the backseat especially if you have children and very comfortable too. There is trunk space in this motor but not as much as the Audi A6.

So when I drove the Mercedes I was expecting the usual comfort and flare that has for years been synonymous with what is Mercedes Benz. I expected this motor to outperform any car in its class namely the BMW 5 series , or Audi A6 perhaps but I have to say I was rather disappointed. No annihilation here. The get up and go was real good but not much better than the 5 series. The engine is 268-horsepower 3.5 liter V-6 so it packs a punch and good gas mileage. Only  does 17mpg city and 26mpg Highway. Impressive. I made sure i drove the E class along the same route. I know there is people out there who swear by the Mercedes brand  like the despots like Robert Mugabe and all the other egomaniacs out there, but gone are the days when the Mercedes brand was the only one doing the business. Take a look again and see whats out there. Handling was amazing and the car is real sturdy as well. Mercedes have always done a good job with the suspension. This is one quality I admire about Mercedes because you have the car in your hand and can feel it. Yes people noticed me and eyes were getting turned, but lately Mercedes are not the only head turner. Matter of fact people these days turn their heads and when they notice its Mercedes, they go back to what they were doing. No surprise there. Braking was exceptional as well so handy , what with the Anti-lock braking system and Brake assist.

Retailing at just under $50000, this is not a bad buy,for this goodness, I agree one has to pay a little bit more.

Take a look at the Specs on here.

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehicles/explore/safety/class-E/model-E350W

2011 Kia Sportage Review

This is new from Kia Motors. Always thought they were ordinary in their car making. Guess I was wrong. Very futuristic in design. The curves show some seriousness on the part of the designer and the name Spor-taj. Maybe if you pronounce it like that, then this car should cost a couple of thousands dollars more. This a small car and  when designing a car this size, there is not much you can do. But yes, the Kia Sportage has an Audi Q7 feel about it. Evident on the backside. That narrowing that goes from the middle all the way back and the feel of incompleteness. Rumor has it it was designed by a former Audi Designer

This makes a very good car for the work commute because it can take a few people and does very low gas mileage, Very good for carpooling. For the trendy mothers who are not keen on the Mini vans, this is the car to consider as it  doubles up as a small SUV and a smaller version of the mini van only better looking. Very good for a small family. And there is a lot more room in the back if you have one child and want to carry a bit more stuff. This is because, one of the back seats can be folded.

Very basic  on the inside, easy on the eye but nothing too outstanding. Very comfortable  and the spacious inside. Has size limitations though. Not made for the average big American because there will be very little room to maneuver. With accessories this car can be a little performer but then again, this is not one car you want to buy for performance, rather for the convenience and affordability.

The drive was normal and nothing worth writing home about, and the car was very stiff. Yes the seats are very hard. One can imagine sitting on hard boards and feel more comfortable. One thing that annoyed me was that, it was loud inside this car. Like the silencer in the exhaust system was malfunctioning. A small engine perhaps, but too loud. You know when a car makes  some noise, you expect it to be moving fast, unfortunately the Sportage covers very little ground as regards to the purr in the hood. Mind you the fuel economy is really good at 22 mpg city and 31mpg highway.The design  and the performance do not match up at all. Good safety features like Brake assist system (BAS), airbags all round.

Decent package for just over $21000.00. Good to have a look at if times are hard or you just want to live  modestly

http://www.kia.com/#/sportage/specifications/