Sedans

Pontiac G8, 2008 (Video Review)

The Pontiac, G8 is the first full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan from Pontiac since the 1986 Bonneville. The G8 replaces the Bonneville, which ended production with its 2005 model and the Grand Prix, which will cease its tenure with the 2008 model. Pontiac also has a hopeful third market share responsibility for the G8, since it also replaces the V8-powered GTO coupe, which was discontinued in 2006. Videographer Bruce Aldrich and I take a look at the new power brokers from Pontiac. Watch it here: https://www.myspace.com/video/vid/36310615 James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes

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Honda Announces New Restyled, Refined 2009 Accord

The new Accord’s styling is an evolution of the current model, although it’s significantly wider and slightly lower than its predecessor. It adopts a ‘sharp-edged’ design with muscular wheel arches to emphasize the car’s wider track. The more sporty approach to exterior design is perhaps best expressed in the new Touareg, which still offers incredible versatility and practicality, but a mix of curves and crisp lines at the rear give the estate a more stylish overall appearance. Making its debut in Accord is Honda’s second-generation diesel engine – the i-DTEC –, which builds on the outstanding qualities of the award-winning i-CTDi unit. Not only is the new diesel more powerful – offering 150 PS at 4,000 rpm – it also

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Jaguar Super V8, 2008: Bill Belew's Car Buzz

Life before and after the Jaguar Super V8 in no particular order. Before — I used to worry about fuel prices. After — If I can afford this car, ($95K) I don’t need to worry about another $1-2/gallon increase. Besides 22 mpg on the highway and the Jaguar will get me from San Francisco to Los Angeles, Cincinnati to Nashville, the New Orleans to Miami. Before — I used to hate getting stuck in traffic. After — I just love sitting in the Jaguar. Who needs to get anywhere in a hurry when you are sitting in a moving living room? Before —  used to have to fumble with CDs. After — Now, I hit the 60’s button, the 70’s,

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Ford Mustang Tops List Of Young Drivers' Most Wanted Cars

ForbesAuto.com, in its long article written by John Adams, is quick to explain vehicles purchased by car buyers under age 21 represent only 1.2 percent of all new car sales. Nevertheless, it’s interesting]]> to examine young car buyers’ habits, particularly considering 3.2 million kids in the United States have or will graduate from high school this year. Nine of out the top-10 (and ties) favorites among young car buyers are automobiles priced under $20,000. Ford has three cars on the list, Volkswagen, Toyota and Honda are represented twice. Jeep, Dodge and Chevrolet have one selection each. 10. Volkswagen Jetta; 9. Dodge Charger; 8 (tie) Jeep Wrangler, Ford F-150; 7. (tie) Ford Focus, Chevrolet Impala; 6. Toyota Corolla; 5. 2009 Toyota

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Kia Optima, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

I recently drove a 2008 Kia Optima nearly 1,100 miles in eight days in Georgia. It’s a vastly unheralded midsize sedan. There’s little flash, no outrageous color choices, nothing so computer high-tech it’s problematic for the average driver. What the Optima provides is dependable transportation, a superior warranty and stellar crash tests results that all add up to prompt one question: Why isn’t the public giving Kia more attention? The likely answer is that it’s positioned in arguably the most competitive car segment — the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry are the “major players” in midsize sedan category. Several leading automotive publications have commented that one of the Kia’s best attributes is its ability to not stand out

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Honda Civic (Hybrid), 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Like I experienced when I first test drove the Civic hybrid in 2004, the current version in exceedingly quiet.  During stops, for example, it seems the vehicle’s engine has stopped. Instead, it’s the engine operating solely on electric power. The hybrid Civic is equipped with a 110-horsepower, 1.3-liter engine with two relatively new features largely known by acronyms, IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) and CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). A five-speed manual transmission was previously available, but now the hybrid is only offered with an automatic transmission. The IMA, as previously mentioned, allows a vehicle to operate solely on electric power in certain situations. The CVT feature replaces conventional gears with a belt-and-pully system that continuously and automatically adjusts to provide a

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Consumer Reports Selects Most Overlooked Cars For 2008

But the Consumer Report list that impressed me recently is Consumer Reports list of Most Overlooked Cars. It’s a short list for 2008 — four vehicles. Tthe foursome includes a car and a manufacturer I’ve been touting for several years, Hyundai. Consumer Reports has a lot of nice things to says about Hyundai’s top-of-the-line sedan, the Azera. And it’s hard to disagree. Here’s the list of Consumer Reports’ most overlooked cars for 2008 and a brief comment on each vehicle: According the publication’s online site: “These models prove that a car doesn’t have to be a top seller or a top scorer to be a sensible choice and a good value. “All have performed well in our testing, and all

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Acura RL, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

With that in mind, it’s no surprise I thoroughly enjoyed a week behind the wheel of the Accord’s more sophisticated cousin, the 2008 Acura RL. As Honda’s luxury division, it’s no surprise Acura shares similar views as its parent company and has a good idea of what attracts car buyers and keeps them coming back. Just like the Accord, there is a lot of value in the RL, Acura’s flagship sedan. Although there are no significant changes from the 2007 model, does there really need to be? There’s a simple reason for the lack of any new features — the 2008 Acura RL is already considered one of the finest sedans in the premium mid-size category. This year’s RL provides

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Volvo Awarded International Safety Honor

Volvo, the Swedish manufacturer known its durable and safety-oriented vehicles, has received an international award for its commitment to preventing accidents. Volvo’s in-house developed technology for avoiding low-speed collisions has been awarded the American “Traffic Safety Achievement Award” at this year’s World Traffic Safety Symposium in New York Volvo will be the first manufacturer to install its low-speed safety technology, called City Safety, as standard equipment in a vehicle. It will be available later this year in the XC60, the first Volvo with the feature. According to Volvo, approximately 75 percent of all collisions are at speeds less than 18 mph. In 50 percent of these collisions, drivers do not brake before the collision because of insufficient concentration. If the

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Audi Gets Two World Car Of The Year Honors

When naming the Audi R8 as the 2008 World Performance Car, the jurors observed it has “solid credentials on paper thanks to its mid-mounted 420 horsepower V8 engine and aluminum construction. But where it excels is in the exceptional balance, refinement and control that grant the driver the confidence to push to the limit. It has astonishing precision for a car of its size category.” Last year, the Audi RS 4 collected the World Performance Car award, so this makes it two in a row in the performance category for the brand with the four rings. This year there were two representatives from Audi in the final stages of voting, as the Audi S5 was also one of the top

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Audi A4, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Not many vehicles in the same class are offered as a sedan, convertible and wagon, and that’s another strong trait for the vehicle often credited with jettisoning Audi out of its sales slump and image problems in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The ’08 Audi remains largely unchanged from 2007. The minor alterations include new bumpers and a new lower side door trim. The A4 is available with one of two engines. A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 cylinder produces 200 horsepower and the 3.1-liter V6 has 255 horsepower. My weekly test drive is the 2.0-liter, turbocharged Quattro, Audi’s all-wheel drive system. Audi A4 sedans have either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. I’m

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Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, Chevrolet Bel Air Make Daily Telegraph’s Beautiful Car List (Nos. 80-61)

Car aficionados likely know such unique cars as the NSU Ro80 or the Hispano-Suiza H6. But almost anyone who’s owned a car or whose parents owned a car has likely at least heard of the Chevrolet Bel Air or a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. All four were selected by The Daily Telegraph, the London newspaper among “The 100 Most Beautiful Cars.” The Weekly Driver continues its countdown with the Nos. 80-61 vehicles, and what a diverse group. The newspapers’ readers sent in thousands of votes representing 367 different cars. Each car is represented by a photo and short description. The accompanying text for the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud (No. 65) is typical of the newspaper’s clever style: “The Bentley S2/S3’s

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Chevrolet Malibu (Hybrid), 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The promotion began in earnest during the 2007 World Series and it hasn’t waned. Chevrolet wants the Malibu to compete with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, and that’s a hefty task. With its hybrid version, new for 2008, the Malibu features GMC‘s “mild hybrid system” rather than its dual mode full hybrid system. The hybrid’s configuration is a 36-volt electric motor coupled with a 2.4 liter Ecotec VVT four-cylinder engine with a four-speed manual transmission. Using an integrated starter-generator, mild hybrid approach the gasoline engine shuts off at stoplights or other stopping situations. With its well-touted exterior redesign, the new Malibu also features a sharp new interior that features chrome outlines on gauges, center vents and the console shifter.

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Dodge Avenger RT, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

Shopping for a Dodge Stratus and can’t find the 2008 model? Call off the search, the Stratus is no longer part of the Dodge lineup. After selling nearly 100,000 units in 2005, sales of the Status dropped nearly in half in 2006. That was enough to convince parent company Chrysler it was time to pull the plug on the modest, mid-size sedan. It was a necessary if Dodge wanted to stay competitive in the mid-size sedan classification. Dodge filled the opening with the Avenger. It’s a catchier name and Chrysler hopes the vehicle will also attract more buyers. The larger dimensions – 2.5 more inches of headroom, 1.2 inches greater shoulder room, and 2.5 inches higher — are definite factors

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Subaru Legacy, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

When discussing the Subaru lineup the first thing often mentioned is the all-wheel drive capability, because a foul-weather vehicle is always desirable in many regions of the country. Every Subaru is equipped with a traction-grabbing advantage that makes many drivers like me anxious to take a journey into the high country. However, this review of the Subaru Legacy Limited will be restricted to uninspired trips around South Placer County in Northern California. Sound dull? Some weeks are like that, especially the days following Christmas this year when the weather was damp, dreary and staying indoors seemed like a pretty enticing thing at the time. Despite the lack of driving challenge, I did learn more than a few things about the

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Keep On Truckin': Americans keeping cars (and trucks) longer

In 2007, 41.3 percent of all cars were 11 years or older, compared with 40.9 percent the year before. The median age for trucks and sport utility vehicles rose 4 percent to 7.1 years. Dave Goebel, a consultant for Polk’s aftermarket team, said those numbers are starting to reflect a surge in truck and SUV purchases in the mid-to late 1990s. Purchases of new cars fell 3 percent in the U.S. in 2007 as a combination of factors, including high gas prices and the housing crisis, weighed on consumers and led many to put off buying new cars. The Service Contract Industry Council, a trade group for providers of extended warranties, said it also sees evidence that people are keeping

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