Sports Cars

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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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Saturn Sky 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

If there’s one sure thing about the Saturn Sky, it’s the new sports car’s attention-grabbing appearance. Passersby stopped me at traffic signals and asked questions. Restaurant patrons came to my table and inquired. Neighbors wanted to know about the Sky, and even friends who care little about cars were interested. The Sky was introduced as the manufacturer’s first “high-performance” convertible sports car as a 2007 model although it was first available in the spring of 2006. The two-seater, which shares its basic design with the Pontiac Solstice, is available in two options, the 177-horsepower base model and the 260-horsepower, turbocharged Red Line. Both models, like the Solstice, are rear-wheel drive and have 5-speed manual transmissions as standard equipment. (A 5-speed

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Mitsubishi Eclipse, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Driving a nicely performing convertible with the top down on a sun-baked day is about as good as it gets. But the varying functionality and quality of convertible tops can easily diminish the experience. With the 2007 Eclipse Spyder, Mitsubishi is attempting to squelch the concerns of convertible buyers who may constantly wonder just how long their vehicle’s ragtop will work properly. After restyling and adding improved safety features to the Eclipse coupe for 2006, the convertible version became available for the first time this month (March, 2006). And it’s impressive. With the flick of two side easy-to-maneuver latches and then the pressing and holding a button just above the transmission box, the convertible function works fast. The entire up

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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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Kia Sportage 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Among several changes then was the transition from a truck to car platform. The 2007 Sportage is available is seven configurations, and my weekly driver was the 4×4 (all-wheel drive). It has a 2.7-liter, 24-valve, V6 engine with 173 horsepower a four-speed automatic transmission. Considering its status as a  compact SUV, the Sportage has a lot to offer. Its interior is attractive, with the dark gray paneling and console matched against a silver medal instrumentation panel, shift knob and various handles and supports. The approach is simple and functional. There’s good leg and head room and a surprisingly large and efficient cargo area. The Sportage is available in two trim levels, the LX and EX, with front wheel and all-wheel

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Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 2007: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The compact crew cab has new safety features, a new an optional V8 engine and a new independent rear suspension. Like the Ridgeline, the independent rear suspension was added to provide a more carlike ride than other trucks equipped with a solid rear axle. It works. My weekly test drive was the V8, 4-door crew cab, one of eight Explorer Sport Trac models. It’s a smooth-driving, four-door truck with nearly the comfort of a sedan, but with all the benefits of a workhorse truck. A 210-horsepower engine is standard, but the Limited Edition — the most expensive model — has a 4.6-liter, 292-horsepower, V8 engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission and 4-wheel drive. The ’07 redesign also includes a wheelbase

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Saturn Sky, 2007: The Weekly Driver

The Sky was introduced as the manufacturer’s first “high-performance” convertible sports car as a 2007 model although it was first available in the spring of 2006. The two-seater, which shares its basic design with the Pontiac Solstice, is available in two options, the 177-horsepower base model and the 260-horsepower, turbocharged Red Line. Both models, like the Solstice, are rear-wheel drive and have 5-speed manual transmissions as standard equipment. (A 5-speed automatic is also available in both models.) My weekly test drive was the base model, but it featured two option packages, including a premium leather trim package, automatic transmission and an upgraded sound system. Like the Solstice, Honda S2000 and Mazda Miata, the Sky is at its best with its

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Volvo C70 T5, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The success rate has greatly fluctuated, but that hasn’t stopped several high-end manufacturers — BMW and Lexus, for example — from returning to the niche model in recent years. And now Volvo has joined the fun with a newly designed, attention-grabbing sedan. As a 2006 mid-year addition, the Volvo C70 T5 is a four-door, four-passenger hardtop convertible that showcases the Swedish manufacturer’s innovation and reputation at its best. The car drives so nicely and offers such well-planned features, it’s hard not to like. My weekly test drive was the 2.5-liter, 218-horsepower turbocharged, 5-cylinder C70 with 5-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift gate. A six-speed manual transmission is also available. The handsome C70 offers no indication that it’s a convertible

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Suzuki Reno, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Average price or luxury price, it makes little different. A new vehicle approaching $30,000 still far exceeds many budgets. But what if the benefits of a new warranty are appealing and a consumer has less than half of the average new car price available? One decent option is the Suzuki Reno. It’s  not as well known as most of its competitors, most notably the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus and Honda Civic. But during my weekly test drive, the South Korean manufacturer’s four-door compact not only provided solid transportation, but it did so with surprising responsiveness, good comfort and good overall functionality. The Reno is a basic vehicle, and I don’t want to give the wrong impression. There are reasons the

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Nissan Pathfinder, 2006: The Weekly Driver Car Review

A long-distance haul means different things to different drivers. For me, on this occasion, it was a 400-plus mile trek from Redondo Beach to Sacramento, California. It was a seven-hour day in the car. The trip included the long climb over the infamous Grapevine in Southern California and plenty of flat and high-speed miles along Interstate 5. My transportation was a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder and it performed well. The Pathfinder, the mid-sized SUV, has now been on the market for two decades. My test vehicle was the four-wheel drive LE model (with navigation system), the most expensive of the four available models. Several top manufacturers’ current SUV models are seemingly interchangeable, and that includes Pathfinder and its top competitors, the

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Honda S2000, 2005: The Weekly Driver Car Review

On a warm, spring day and with a convertible top down, anyone who enjoys the combination of shifting gears, fresh air and the open road will thrive on the route. It’s a drivers’ nirvana tucked among forests of Redwood trees and rolling hills. And so it was recently when my wife and I spent a getaway weekend. We drove the segment twice en route and returning from the Mendocino/Ft. Bragg coastline to Sacramento in the Honda S2000, the 2005 edition. The two-seat convertible, unchanged from its 2004 debut, is Honda‘s only sports car, and it adds a pure-fun component to the popular manufacturer’s line of efficient, well-designed sedans, SUVs, vans and hybrid vehicles. For my weekly drive, I had the

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Acura RSX, 2005: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Among other improvements, some models have more horsepower, more heavily bolstered seats and an increase from 16 to 17-inch wheels. For my weekly drive, I scooted around town and on the freeway in the Type-S, the highest-performance of the RSX models. Like other Acuras, the RSX is a recommended purchase by Consumer Guide, the monthly national review magazine based in Illinois. But as much as I tried to like the RSX, several things about the vehicle just never seemed like it warranted best-buy status. There’s nothing particularly inferior about the car, but nor is any exterior or interior feature outstanding. The Acura RSX is grouped with the Mini-Cooper and the Scion tC in the sporty/performance category. As such, they shouldn’t

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Acura SRX, 2004: The Weekly Driver Car Review

“What kind of car is that?” one of seniors asked when I returned and noticed them standing in front of the vehicle. “Look at that styling. That’s a nice, little sports car.” The RSX, particularly the Type S and its four-cylinder, 16-valve, 200 horsepower engine, is exactly that. Like other sports coupes, it has limited rear-seat room and it’s noisy, particularly considering it’s an Acura. But with its tight-shifting gears, quick and responsive steering and zippy overall feel, the RSX is nothing but a fun drive, nicely appointed and economical offering by the well-respected manufacturer. The list of standard technical, safety, interior and exterior features is impressive. The interior, for example, includes perforated leather seats, automatic climate control, BOSE AM/FM

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Acura TSX, 2004: The Weekly Driver Car Review

As a new offering this year, the 2004 Acura TSX is defined as a near-luxury vehicle. By some definitions, that mean it costs less than $30,000 and does not feature the refined quietness of vehicles described as luxurious. Yet, however fine the line may be between near-luxurious and luxurious, the TSX does little to further define those boundaries. In fact, the reverse is true. It’s a luxury car for less than $30,000, and it offers a lot more than some of its higher-priced automotive cousins. My test drive for the week was TSX four-door with a six-speed manual transmission. (The five-speed automatic with a manual shift gate is the only other option.) With an easy-to-use navigation system, 17-inch alloy wheels,

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Honda S2000, 2004: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Winding country roads provide great driving delight. They give sports car owners ample proof why they often sacrificed luxury and comfort for speed and excitement. In Northern California, the wine country roads through the Napa Valley and Mendocino Coast are prime examples — at least for drivers. There are plenty of stretches where passengers susceptible to car sickness may be in trouble. But for a driver, the deep turns and switchbacks require plenty of shifting, maneuvering and accelerating skills. So with a 2004 Honda S2000 as my weekly test drive, could there have been a better location for a getaway weekend? The two-door, rear-wheel drive sports car is a sleek, quick-moving 2.2. liter, 16-valve, 240 horsepower convertible with a six-speed

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