Sedans

Mazda 3, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

Although I was unaware of its popularity among women, I was about to find out as the two of them gushed over the subcompact vehicle. I’ve learned through some subsequent research that women do indeed think highly of the Mazda 3. It possesses the cute factor, which means females universally like the look of the Mazda 3, especially the bright red one driven here for a week. And though I don’t have the research to back up this statement, my guess is that men find the Mazda 3 appealing as well. Perhaps you’ve heard of the term “zoom-zoom? Well it’s not just some clever marketing ploy. The Mazda 3 definitely has some major zip. In fact, it has so much

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Recall Woes Continue For Sweden's Volvo

A Volvo spokesperson the issue is could occur 82,000 cars worldwide. The modules can be exposed to water (from rain) and sale (from snow) which can cause corrosion. The recall is in “corrosive markets,” where inclement weather is more prevalent, including the United States, Sweden, Germany, Japan, Canada, Netherlands, Russia, China and France. Last November, Volvo, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Co., recalled 56,000 cars due to two separate problems linked to airbags and engines. And in December, Volvo said it had recalled 125,000 trucks in North America due to the danger of short circuits in the lighting system that could cause fires. At the same time, Volvo recalled 49,500 cars worldwide due to a technical problem with diesel filters.

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Mazda RX-8, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Sports cars are rarely known for comfort or convenience. But Mazda does a good job of overcoming the stigma with the RX-8. It’s a coupe with four doors (sort of) and it’s about as comfortable as sports cars get. Mazda further differentiates itself in the sports car class via its signature rotary engine. It’s the system that replaces pistons pumping in cylinders with triangular rotors spinning in oval chambers. My weekly driver was the 2008 Grand Touring model, the most expensive of the three options, including the Sport and Touring. Each has a 1.3-liter, 232-horsepower engine with a six-speed manual transmission or a 1.3-liter, 212-horsepower engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. (The automatic allows manual shifting via floor lever or

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Nissan recalls mass quatities of Altimas, Sentras

If the problem occurs, the engine could stop running without warning when the car is driven at low speeds. Jeannine Ginivan, a Nissan Motor Co. spokeswoman, said Monday there have been no reports of crashes or injuries corresponding to the issue. More than 650,000 of the recalled vehicles are in the United States, with the remainder in Mexico and Canada. The Japanese automaker reported the problem in a Nov. 16 letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nissan, which will begin to notify owners Dec. 10, will reprogram the electronic control module to address the problem. For more information, contact: Nissan at (800) 647-7261. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written

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Skoda Extends Tour de France Official Car Deal Through 2011

But the Tour de France is nothing if not a moveable money machine, which is why one of its most important sponsorships is the race’s official vehicle. The manufacturer will serve it that capacity was announced on the eve of the 2008 race route when Skoda agreed with race organizers to extend its current sponsorship through 2011. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars Professional cycling’s image is not as its best, but that didn’t deter the Czech manufacturer from agreeing to keep its brand in the race’s spotlight. Skoda’s vehicles are not available in the United States, but the brand is distributed in nearly 40 countries —

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Nissan Altima, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The two-door features unique body panels that share only the hood. Additionally, the wheelbase and overall length has been shortened and it the coupe has an upgraded suspension. The result is a Euro-styled machine that garners further attention from passersby and deserves even more consideration after its driven. The 2008 Altima sedan will be available in four trims, but only the coupe is currently available in the new year’s model, and it has two options. My test vehicle was the 2.5 liter, 4-cylinder with 175 horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission. There’s also a 3.5-liter V6 option with 270 horsepower. A hybrid model will debut after the new year. The V6, 3.5-liter Altima must be exceedingly quick, because my test

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Volvo S80, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The adaptive cruise control, one of several new safety features for Volvo, determined the driver of the vehicle now perhaps 50 yards in front of me had changed lanes without the proper minimum distance. As such, my cruise control automatically disengaged. It’s an alarming feeling at first, but it’s one more reason why Volvo owners think they’re getting among the safest cars on the road. The Swedish manufacturer offers some of the more popular vehicles in areas where inclement weather rules, like Sweden. But for drivers in non-mountainous areas or when the weather’s often ideal, the new Volvo safety features only further complement the already hard-to-rattle Volvo reputation. Further, the S80 4-door sedan is offered at a competitive price as

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Mercedes Benz E350 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

I was 18 at the time, and when my father let me take the car to the market or when we took the car on father-son journeys, life couldn’t have been better. Mercedes had more luxurious cars then, just as the manufacturer does today. But more than 30 years after driving father’s Benz, I owned a 1979 Mercedes Benz, a 280CE, for several years. It wasn’t the same, of course. It was more than 25 years old and had its issues. But it was  Mercedes, I could afford it, and had the same interior and exterior color as my dad’s car, and that made it all good. That’s also plenty of fodder to explain my fondness or Mercedes Benz automobiles,

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Subaru Legacy, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

What that means is that handling and steering throughout the Subaru line is superior. Subarus confidentially entertain any driving situation, and that’s why the brand is particularly popular in mountain areas where obstacles can be presented without warning. Despite its reputation, however, the Legacy —the oldest name in the Subaru lineup — is far from the first choice for midsize sedan buyers. But with the 2007 models, the manufacturer has made a concerted effort to join the category’s top echelon. Of particularly note is the new GT turbocharged model. First available in a limited release in late 2006, it’s now in full production, and it’s quite a change. The 2007 GT legacy has a six-speed manual transmission, upgraded from the

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Audi A4, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

But not everything is quite right with the A4 and its price point, particularly considering several option packages, provides more than one reason to consider other manufacturers’ offerings. My weekly test drive was the 2007 A4 sedan 2.0 T quattro AT6. It featured a 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower, DOHC turbo-charged 4-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. The A4 is a handsomely designed sedan and its attractive body style and exterior color (ocean blue pearl) combined to attract a good share of attention. Add the platinum-colored interior to the mix, and the Audi is among the nicest-looking sedans on the road. Audi‘s other signature component is its aforementioned superior steering and handling. Every time I drove the car, I was impressed with

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Lincoln MKZ, 2007: The Weekly Driver

In its place as a renamed, restyled and more powerful entry level luxury sedan is the MKZ. And, as the adage goes, what difference a year makes. The MKZ is everything the Zephyr wasn’t. It has more horsepower, more interior space (15.8 cubic feet in the trunk, for example), an attractive redesign (including a pronounced chrome front grill and other chrome trim) improved interior refinements and a better warranty. Similar to the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, the MKZ has the high-end standard features apropos the Lincoln tradition. The MKZ is equipped with a host of standard features: 17-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, wood trim, power seats with memory, dual-zone automatic climate control and a seven-speaker CD stereo with an

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Saturn Aura, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

With 16 manufacturers offering midsize cars and another 10 manufacturers in the premium midsize market, newcomers in the exceedingly popular category often face rough sales roads. Saturn didn't fare well with its midsize L-Series, which was discontinued in 2004. But the General Motors division is trying again with the 2007 Aura.

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Mazda 6, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Could there be a more generically named group of vehicles than those lumped together as “midsize cars”? The Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu and Nissan Altima are all in the category, and all enjoy a loyal consumer following. The Mazda 6 is also in the group. And while not as refined as the Accord or Camry, the Mazda 6 — available in 16 configurations — is a sporty alternative. In fact, with a wagon, hatchback and turbocharged, 274-horsepower edition among the options, the Mazda 6 greatly expands the boundaries of the class. My weekly test drive was Grand Sport model. It has  a 3.0-liter, 24-valve, V6 with 215 horsepower and a five-speed manual transmission. The sedan is actually a

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Volkswagen Passat, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The high-speed interstate to narrow city streets, there’s no place to hide a car’s faults and there are plenty of opportunities for a vehicle to showcase its best attributes. My weekly test drive on a recent visit to the Monterey Peninsula was the 2006 Volkswagen Passat. It’s available in three versions, the 4-cylinder Value Edition and 2.0T (turbocharged) model and the higher performance V6 marketed as the sports model. I drove the 2.0T, which was plenty sporty and responsive on the high-speed, often crowd open roads of Interstate 5 to the winding, more subtle state routes of approaching the peninsula. With the exception of the wheelbase, which is the same as the 1998-2005 sedans, Volkswagen redesigned its midsize car for

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Hyundai Sonata, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The television commercial touting the 2006 Hyundai Sonata matches it confidently against the Honda Accord. That’s a brash move, considering the immense popularity of the country’s best-selling midsize car. But after the driving the redesigned Hyundai for a week, the Sonata represents itself well. The Accord and other well-established vehicles in the class — Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Malibu — have long histories and well-proven resale values. Yet, the Sonata is worthy of a careful look, particularly considering its price point, manufacturer’s warranty, standard features and its attractive new interior and exterior designs. My weekly drive was the top-of-the line LX V6 model. The Sonata is also available in a 4-cylinder model with both automatic and manual transmission options. But

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Hyundai Azera, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

As the replacement for the XG350, Hyundai introduced the Azera earlier this year as the Korean manufacturer’s most luxurious and most expensive offering to date. Luxurious and expensive have never been synonymous with Hyundai. And with the Azera only luxurious applies. It’s a vehicle that may finally allow Hyundai to infringe on sales of the popular Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. Even with the name change alone, the high-end Hyundai has a chance. The now-gone XG350 had its upside, but its name seemed more conducive to a robot or a vacuum cleaner, rather than a car. Although it’s hardly a household word, at least Hyundai Azera has a catchy sound. The car’s name, in fact, is based on

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