Showing posts with label Sedans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sedans. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

First Drive: 2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI

The Volkswagen Passat has been around since 1973, serving as Volkswagen's mid-size/large family sedan. The Passat is in its seventh generation, which was released in 2010. In the North American and Chinese markets, the seventh generation Passat was released in 2011. While the new Passat is known as the Passat B7 worldwide, the new Passat is known as the Passat NMS (New Mid-size Sedan). The Passat NMS was named Motortrend's 2012 Car of the Year. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, this is one of six Volkswagen that were available for test drives.

As far as exterior styling goes, nothing special. It looks like your typical mid-size sedan. The front grill is standard for Volswagen. On the inside, the Passat felt roomy. I had plenty of leg room and head room behind the wheel. Other than that, nothing else noteworthy.

The Passat TDI is powered by a turbocharged direct injected 2.0L diesel engine that produces 138 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 seconds in 9.2 seconds. When I was behind the wheel of the Passat, I was comfortable. The Passat went smoothly over speed bumps. The car responds when I turn the steering wheel. The Passat has some zip to it. I had fun behind the wheel of the Passat TDI.

The Passat has been featured on The Middle, Parks and Recreation, Modern Family, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Continuum, Major Crimes, and Your Sister's Sister.

Overall, the Passat may look like your typical mid-size car. The interior and exterior are nothing special. Yet, the Passat TDI was very comfortable to drive in and I had fun behind the wheel. While the 2.0L TDI engine does not put out a lot of horsepower, the engine has a good amount of torque and it gives the car decent acceleration. The Passat handles the one curve on a side street well. I was so comfortable behind the wheel that I felt like I was on cloud. The Passat TDI is a good car. Now do I agree that with Motortend that the Passat is the 2012 Car of the Year, an award given out near the end of 2011, no I do not. The Passat was not my favorite Volkswagen to drive. Prices for the Passat TDI SE sedan start at $26,225. Prices for the Passat TDI SEL Premium sedan starts at $32,915. If you are in the market for mid-size sedan that comes with a diesel engine, give the Passat TDI a test drive. However there are better mid-size sedans out there for around the same price as the Passat TDI, and the Passat TDI does not stand out from the other mid-size sedans. But if you are interested in the Passat, with or without the TDI engine, give it a test drive.


CarJunkie
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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac XTS

In 2011, General Motors and Cadillac ended production for both the Cadillac STS and DTS. In 2012, Cadillac came out with an all new full-size sedan, the XTS, to replace both the STS and DTS. The XTS also serves as the flagship car for the Cadillac brand. I first saw the Cadillac XTS at the 2012 Houston Auto Show and named it my best full-size Car to come out in 2012, and I did that before I drove the XTS. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I got behind the wheel of an XTS. This was the first car I drove on Day 4 of the Houston Auto Show.

The XTS is just beautiful. The XTS has some sleek lines going along the side of the car. The rear slope is integrated nicely. The headlights are integrated nicely into the body. The interior is even better. The XTS has a luxurious and roomy. I was very comfortable behind the wheel. The feel like I am on a cloud when I am behind the wheel. I had plenty of leg room and head room. There are some features that I like. There is a heads up display that informs the driver what the speed limit is and also acts as a speedometer. The gauges are digital and can be customized to fit the driver's need. The middle gauge acted as a speedometer and navigation. This is the first time I have been behind the wheel of a car with the navigation located in front of the driver and not to the side. I have an external GPS device for my RAV4 and I have to turn to the side to look at it instead of looking ahead. In the XTS, I can look straight at the rood and at the navigation screen at the same time. This feature is something that needs to be on more cars. It is dangerous for a driver to have his or her eyes not looking directly at the road.

Powering the XTS is a 3.6L V6, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, that producs 304 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque. The XTS goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which is good for a full-size sedan. The car feels quick. The XTS has a soft ride, yet the XTS handles well. The car immediately turns when I turn the steering wheel. Over the five days, there were some vehicles that did not turn one way or another immediately when I turn the steering wheel. The XTS handles bumps well. I barely felt any bumps when I was behind the wheel. The XTS is a good car to be behind the wheel of.

Overall, the XTS is an amazing cars. I love the exterior styling. It is just beautiful. The interior is really nice. I felt very comfortable behind the wheel. I love that the driver can customize the gauges to fit his or her needs. I liked having the navigation screen directly in front of me when I was behind the wheel of the XTS. The XTS also has good acceleration. It is just an enjoyable car to drive. Prices for the XTS start at $44,075 and can go up to $60,385 for a fully loaded XTS premium sedan. That price may seem high, but compared to its German rivals, the XTS has a lot to offer for a good price. If you can afford it, get it. The XTS is an amazing car.

CarJunkie
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First Drive:2012 Buick Regal CXL Turbo

The Buick Regal has been around in North America since 1973. In 1999, the Regal made its way to China. From 2004 to 2010, Buick and General Motors stopped selling the Regal in North America, but sales of the Regal continued in China. In 2009, an new Regal went to production. From 2009 until early 2011, the Regal was produced in Germany at the Opel (the German subsidiary for General Motors) Russelheim Assembly facility. In German, the car was called the Opel Insignia. In 2011, the Buick Regal began being produced in Oshawa, Ontario. The Regal is a front engine, front-wheel drive four door mid-size sedan. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, I took one out on a test drive with my father sitting in the back.

On the outside, nothing special. Nothing really stands out. It just looks bland compared to other mid-size sedans. On the inside, there is not much head room. My dad is 5'5"/5'6" and his head was hitting the roof. The seat was not comfortable what so ever. My back stated hurting just one minute into the test drive.

The Regal I test drove came with a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine that produced 220 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Regal goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. I had no desire to test the acceleration of the Regal. My back was hurting. Also the car has a stiff suspension. The other two Buicks that I drove were very comfortable and had a soft ride. Why did Buick need to make the Regal have a very stiff ride. It is not a car people would take to the track. It is a luxury sedan. Prices for a Buick Regal Turbo start at $30,260. That is not a lot of money for a luxury mid-size sedan with a turbocharged engine, but the ride is too uncomfortable for me to recommend.

Overall, I did not like the Buick Regal Turbo. The ride was so stiff that my back was hurting after one minute of driving it. For as much as I did not like the Chevrolet Volt, at least the Volt was not trying to kill my back. The Buick Regal was not available for test drives at the 2013 Houston Auto Show, but one was on display inside. I sat in a 2013 Buick Regal and it too was uncomfortable. At the 2012 Houston Auto Show, I drove the Buick Verano and Buick LaCrosse and both cars were very comfortable to sit in. I even drove the Buick Enclave at the 2013 Houston Auto Show and that was comfortable to sit in. I just do not understand why the Buick Regal was designed with a stiff suspension. It is not a car someone would drive on track day. The Buick Regal is the most uncomfortable car I drove in 2012. I cannot recommend someone buying this car. If you want a turbocharged four-door sedan, I recommend almost anything else.


CarJunkie
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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac ATS 2.0T


In 2012, Cadillac came out with two new sedans. The first of the two new sedans is the XTS, a full size sedan that replaced both the STS and DTS. The second new sedan is the ATS, a compact sedan that competes against the Lexus IS, BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.The ATS is the first Cadillac compact sedan to be sold in North America since the Cimarron was sold from 1982 to 1988. The European market got the BLS from 2005 to 2010. The Cadillac is a front-engine, four door compact sedan that is available with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. I first saw the ATS at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. I liked what I saw out of the ATS and named it my 2012 Best Sports Sedan award before even driving it. The ATS was Esquire's 2013 Car of the Year, Popular Mechanics' 2013 Luxury Car of the Year, and Motor Press Guild's 2013 Vehicle of the year. The ATS is also the 2013 North American Car of the Year. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to get behind the wheel of the ATS and take it out for a test drive. The version of the ATS that I drove came with a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and with rear-wheel drive.

The ATS styling grew on me. It has some nice character lines and a nice sports sedan styling. It does not look as bland as some of the other compact sedans, luxury sedans, and sports sedans. The ATS has a nice interior. The touch screen is user friendly.  The seat was comfortable to sit in. I had a nice amount of leg room and head room. The car has a sporty feel to it, but it is not too stiff and unpleasant. 

The ATS I drove came with a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine that produces 272 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The ATS is also available with a 2.5L I4 engine that produces 202 hp and 190 lb-ft. The ATS also comes with a 3.6L V6 engine that produces 321 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque. All engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged 2.0L engine is available with an optional six-speed manual transmission. The first I noticed about the way the ATS 2.0T was the lack of turbo lag. I did not notice any turbo lag, if there was any. The car has smooth acceleration. The ATS 2.0T can go from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds, and it felt quick. The ATS has a comfortable, quiet ride and was fun to drive. The car has good throttle response and responds well when I turned the steering wheel. The base price for the ATS starts at $33,995. The ATS 2.0T starts at $35,795. The ATS 3.6 starts at $42,090. That is a good price for what you get with the ATS.

Overall, the ATS is a very good sports sedan. I drove both the ATS and CTS sedans, and I was more comfortable in the ATS than in the CTS.The ATS has a nice balance between ride quality and handling. The ATS has a sporty suspension, yet it was comfortable to be in. I have been in cars that have too soft of a ride that there is a delay between turning the steering wheel and the car turning. I have also been cars that the suspension was too stiff more me to enjoy the car. The has good power and nice acceleration. I drove the ATS with the turbocharged engine, but I did not notice any turbo lag. Well done General Motors and Cadillac. Also, the ATS has a good sports sedan styling. It shares some resemblance to the Cadillac CTS, but that is not a bad thing. And the ATS also goes for a reasonable price. You get a lot of car for under $40,000, and that includes a turbocharged engine. If you are looking for a luxury compact sedan or a sports sedan, give the ATS a test drive. I highly recommend the ATS. This is one of the best cars to come out in 2012.

CarJunkie
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First Drive: 2013 Hyundai Equus


The Hyundai Equus has been around since 1999, serving as the brand's full-size luxury sedan. The first generation Equus was produced from 1999 to 2008 and was sold in South Korea, China, and Middle East. The Western European got this car, which was renamed the Hyundai Continental, in the early and mid 2000s. In 2009, the second generation Equus was released. This time, the Equus was available for the North American market. In 2012, the Equus got an update, now available with an eight-speed automatic transmission. I have seen the Equus at a few automotive events in the greater Houston Area. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to test drive one. The Equus is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive four-door full-size luxury sedan.

I have to give credit to Hyundai for the great improvements over the years to its brands. The new Hyundais are vastly improvements over previous Hyundais. The Equus is very easy on the eyes. The car looks luxurious. I like the sleek body lines and the front grill. Everything is nicely integrated as far as body design goes. While it does not have a sporty or aggressive styling, the Equus is still beautiful. The Equus is very luxurious on the inside. The leather seats are nice a comfortable. The leather and wood trim gives the Equus a luxurious feel. The user interface and touchscreen are easy to use. Behind the wheel, I had plenty of head room and leg room. And there is plenty of room in the back for adult passengers. I was very comfortable behind the wheel.

Powering the Equus is a 5.0L V8 engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, that produces 429 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque. The Equus goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The Equus felt quick when I pressed the accelerator pedal. The Equus has a very soft ride. I felt like I was riding on a cloud when I was driving the Equus. The Equus may have a soft suspension, but it handles well. There is an instantaneous response when I turned the wheel. The Equus also has a quiet cabin. I did not hear any outside noise and I could barely hear the engine when I was inside the Equus. Prices for the Equus start at $59,250 and the Equus Ultimate goes for $66,250. That may seem expensive for a car, but the Equus is a good value compared to the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the Audi A8.

Overall, the Equus is a great luxury full-size sedan. I felt like I was riding on a cloud because the Equus has a very soft ride. The car has a luxury sedan styling and a luxurious interior. The Equus has wood trim and very comfortable leather seats. The Equus gets good power from the V8 engine and has good acceleration for a full-size luxury sedan. Despite the soft ride, the Equus handles nicely. The Equus has a very reasonable price of around $60,000 compared to its German rivals. If you are in the market for a full-size luxury sedan, give the Equus a test drive. Hyundai has greatly improved its quality of vehicles over the years.


CarJunkie
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First Drive: 2013 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee

The Dodge Charger served as Dodge's entry in the muscle car market from 1966 to 1978. It was a front engine, rear-wheel drive mid-size two door coupe. In February 2005, Dodge revealed a new full-size sedan to replace the Dodge Intrepid. Dodge decided to bring back the Charger name. With the new Charger comes a Charger SRT-8 powered by a hemi V8. In 2010, the second generation of the Charger came out. Starting in 2012, SRT got its hands on the second generation Charger. I first was the second generation Dodge Charger SRT-8 at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I got a change to take one out for a test drive. The version I drove is the 2013 Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee. This was one of two SRT vehicles available for test drives. You have to first drive a non SRT Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram, or Fiat before getting into one of the two SRT vehicles.

The Charger SRT-8 Super Bee has an aggressive styling. It starts with the front bumper, grill, and headlights. It looks mean. The is a rear spoiler that does not hinder visibility when looking at the rear view mirror. I have driven some cars where the rear spoiler hinders visibility when looking at the rear view mirror. The yellow paint job with black trapezoids on the hood. The Charger has a sporty interior. No leather seats are in the Super Bee. The seats are covered with an exclusive Z-stripe cloth with the Super Bee logo on the headrests. The are two gauges and a screen behind the steering wheel. I had a good amount of head room and leg room behind the wheel. The seat was comfortable, especially for a performance vehicle.

The Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee is powered by a 6.4L hemi V8, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting mode, that produces 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4,2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 178 mph. The Charger felt fast, for the few seconds I could unleash the Charger. I was behind a very slow driver and every time I gave myself some distance, I caught up. This was frustrating because I wanted to test the power and acceleration of the Super Bee, but I just could never give myself some room because the person test driving the Chevrolet Spark in front of me was driving very slowly. As far as drive quality, the Charger has a smooth ride. The Charger also has responsive handling. It was also very quiet inside the Charger as well. This is a good ride, I just wish I was not behind a very slow driver.

Overall, the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee is a great muscle car. It is quick, fast, and comfortable. The Dodge Charger is available with a 3.6L V6 engine for people who want a good full-size sedan ideal for everyday driving. For those who want a four-door sedan for both everyday driving and track days, the Super Bee is the ideal car. A Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee will set you back $43,450, but that is a great value for what you get. If you are in the market for a full-size sedan that is practical and fun to drive, give the Super Bee a test drive. There was another SRT vehicle available for test drive, and when I was in that car, I did not have a very slow driver in front of me.


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First Drive: Chrysler 300S


The Chrysler 300 has been around since the spring of 2004, serving as the full-size luxury sedan for Chrysler. It replaced the Chrysler Concorde. In 2011, the second generation Chrysler 300 was released. At the 2011 New York International Auto Show, Chrysler revealed an "S" level trim for the 300. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to take the 300S out for a test drive. This was one of two versions of the Chrysler 300 that I drove. The other 300 was tuned by SRT.

The 300S has a nice exterior. It is not sporty or aggressive, but it looks luxurious. I prefer the lined grill on the second generation 300 over the checker grill on the first generation 300. It has a nice hood and a slanted truck, and a nice luxurious side profile. The 300S also comes with 20" polished aluminum wheels with black painted pockets, and a black painted grill and headlamps. The 300S comes with a 10-speaker Beats by Dr. Dre sound system, and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. The interior is luxurious. The 300S has leather seats with the Chrysler 300S logo located on the upper part of the seats. The dashboard is wrapped in leather. The seat was comfortable and I had good head room and leg room behind the wheel.

The 300S is powered by a 3.6L V6 enigne, paired with a eight-speed automatic transmission that comes with paddle shifters, that produces 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 300S goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 114 mph. The 300S has good acceleration and power throughout the rpm range. The acceleration was smooth. I did not feel any jerky motions when I upshift and downshift. The 300S has a very comfortable ride. It was very quiet inside the 300S. The 300S also has good handling. The car responded when I turned the wheel. Prices for the 300S start at $33,995, which is a good value for what you get with the 300S.

Overall, the 300S is a good full-size luxury sedan. It has good acceleration and a good ride quality. The car drives smoothly on city roads. I was very comfortable behind the wheel. And you get a good car for under $35,000. So if you are looking for a good domestic luxury full-size sedan and do not want to spend $40,000, give the Chrysler 300S a test drive. If you want a Chrysler 300 is a Hemi V8, there is an SRT-8 version of the 300.

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First Drive: Chrysler 300 SRT-8

The Chrysler 300 has been around since 2005, serving as Chrysler's full-size luxury sedan. So far, there have been two generations of the 300. Chrysler has its own in house tuning company Street and Racing Technology, or SRT for short. SRT took a Chrysler 300 C and turned into the Chrysler 300C SRT-8, replacing the 5.7L Hemi V8 engine found in the standard 300C with a 6.1L Hemi V8 that produces 425 hp. With Chrysler releasing the second generation 300 in 2011, SRT got its hands on the car. At the 2011 New York International Auto Show, Chrysler revealed the next generation Chrysler 300 SRT-8. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to take one out for a test drive. Unlike my test drive with the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee, I did not have a slow moving car preventing me from unleashing the fury of a SRT vehicle.

On the outside, the 300 SRT-8 looks like a standard Chrysler 300, but there are few minor changes. The chrome trim has been replaced with body color trim, a lower front fascia, larger exhaust tip, and 20" aluminum wheels. The 300 SRT-8 also sits a half-inch lower to the ground than the standard 300, plus the 300 SRT-8 also has a sportier suspension and a Brembo brakes package. The interior is very similar to other Chrysler 300 that I drove. The major difference is that the seat in the SRT-8 is stiffer than the seat in the 300S. I still had good head room and leg room behind the wheel of the 300 SRT-8.

The 300 SRT-8 is powered by a 6.4L Hemi V8, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, that produces 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 175 mph. On the test drive with the 300 SRT-8, I had no cars in front of me, so I was able to unleash the fury of the engine. The 300 SRT-8 is quick. Compared to the 300S, the 300 SRT-8 has a stiffer, sportier ride. It was stiff, but not too stiff for my comfort level. The 300 SRT-8 did not try to kill my back, unlike some other vehicles I have driven. For a car with a big engine, it was quiet inside the 300 SRT-8. This car has good muscle car performance. The Chrysler 300 SRT-8 goes for $47,995, which is over $1,000 more than the Dodge Charger SRT-8. Still, that is not bad for a full-size luxury four-door muscle car.

The Chrysler 300 SRT-8 has been featured in Breaking Bad. The Chrysler 300 SRT-8 is playable in Forza Motorsport 4, Car Town, and Car Town EX.

Overall, the Chrysler 300 SRT-8 is a fun car to drive. It is a quick full-size four door door sedan. It has a few minor differences on the exterior compared to the other versions of the Chrysler 300. It still feels luxurious on the inside, even with the stiffer ride. When I was in the Dodge Charger SRT-8 Super Bee, I was not able to test out the acceleration of the car since I had a slow moving car in front of me. It was a different story with the Chrysler 300 SRT-8. I had nothing in front of me when I was on the roads in the 300 SRT-8 and I could just nail it. I could feel my heart beat fast when I was in this car. The 300 SRT-8 has a sporty ride, but I was still comfortable behind the wheel. If you want a muscle car with four doors, then check out the Chrysler 300 SRT-8. If you want a slightly softer ride from SRT, then go with the 300 SRT-8 over the Charger SRT-8. But if you want a slightly sportier ride, then go with the Charger SRT-8. Both are very good four-door muscle cars. But if you want an American full-size sedan with a softer ride, then go with the Charger or 300 that was not tuned by SRT, or go with the Cadillac XTS. SRT cars are for people who want to go quick.

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First Drive: 2013 Honda Accord Sedan


The Honda Accord has been around since 1976. On September 19, 2012, Honda released the ninth-generation Accord Sedan, with the Accord Coupe being released on October 15, 2012. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, Honda had only one model available for test drive, the Accord Sedan. To keep the line going, there were five Accords available for test drive. On day 5 of the Houston Auto Show, I took one out for a test drive. The Accord I drove came with a 2.4L I4 engine paired with a CVT automatic transmission. The Accord can come with a 3.5L V6 engine that can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed manual transmission can also be paired with the 2.4L I4 engine. The Accord is a front engine, front-wheel drive mid-size car.

As far as exterior styling goes, there is nothing special about the Honda Accord. It is slightly more refined than the previous generation Accord. There is nothing special regarding the interior styling of the Accord. I have seen much worst interiors in other cars, but I have also seen much better interiors in other cars than in the Accord. The Accord does come standard with an 8" LCD screen, a single angle backup camera, dual zone automatic control. The optional navigation system includes a 6" touchscreen. Also available is a tri-angle backup camera and wide angle passenger blind spot camera. Safety features include an optional forward collision warning system, lane departure warning system, and blind spot monitor. The safety features do work and are noticeable on the test drive. I had a good amount out head room and leg room behind the wheel. The seat was comfortable.

The Honda Accord I drove came with the 2.4L I4 engine, paired with a CVT automatic transmission, that produces 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 120 mph. The Accord has a smooth ride, but it did not feel as a fast as some other cars I have driven. It was quiet inside the Accord during the test drive. Prices for the Accord start at $22,470. That is a reasonable price for a mid-size sedan.


The Honda Accord is not a bad car. It has a comfortable, smooth ride. The engine provides good power for being a 2.4L I4 engine. But I have only one word to describe the Honda Accord, boring. I was bored behind the wheel of the Honda Accord. The Accord did not feel as fast as the 0 to 60 mph time suggests. Cars that go from 0 to 60 mph in under 8.0 seconds have good acceleration. The interior has good features, but the layout and styling is nothing special. The exterior styling is bland. The Toyota Camry and the Nissan Altima were available for test drives as well. Both are mid-size sedans with standard I4 engine, but the versions of these two cars that were available for test driving came with the V6 engine. Why Honda decided not to have the V6 Accord available for test driving just does not make sense. If you are a car company and the only one model available for test drives, you should have it be the top of the line version. You want to get people excited and want them to enjoy their time behind the wheel of your car, bring out the most powerful version of that car. Honda only had the Accord available for test drives because all of the Honda's technology is available in the Accord. Still, it would have been nice to have the Civic, Insight, CR-V, CR-Z, and Fit available for test drives in addition to the Accord. If you want a reliable car that can get you from point A to point B, then give the Accord a test drive. If you want an everyday car that is fun to drive, then pass on the Accord. This was a boring car to drive.

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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac CTS


The Cadillac CTS has been around since 2002, serving as the brand's mid-size luxury car. The CTS is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive car. All-wheel drive is available as an option. The CTS comes with either a six-speed manual, a five-speed automatic (first generation only), or a six-speed automatic transmission. The first generation, which was produced from 2002 to 2007, was only available as a four-door sedan. The second generation CTS, which went into production in 2007, is in its final year. The second generation CTS is available as a two-door coupe, a four-door sedan, or a five-dour wagon. There is also a tuned version of the CTS, the CTS-V, which is powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine that produces 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque. On March 26, 2013, General Motors announced the all new third generation Cadillac CTS which will be available starting with the 2014 model year. With the new CTS comes an all new CTS-V. I have seen various versions  of the Cadillac CTS at the various car events in the greater Houston area. I got behind the wheel of the CTS at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. The vesion I drove was a CTS Sedan with the six-speed automatic transmission.

On the outside, the CTS has a nice sporty luxurious exterior. It has some sleek sporty lines on it. The CTS has a luxurious interior. You know a car is luxurious when it has an analog clock on the dashboard. The CTS also features a pop-up screen. Behind the wheel, I had a decent amount of headroom and a good amount of leg room, but the seat is very firm.

The CTS is powered by a 3.6L V6 that produces 318 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 in 6.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 150 mph. This car feels quick. It is not super quick, but it is till quick enough for highway passing and highway entry. The ride is rough. The suspension is stiff, meaning that you will feel every bump in the road. But due to the stiff suspension, the CTS is very responsive. The CTS also has good throttle response. This would make a good track car if it had a V8 engine. Prices for the CTS with the 3.6L V6 and an automatic transmission start at $43,340. The base CTS with a 3.0L V6 engine starts at $39,095. For a luxury mid-size sports sedan, that is not too expensive compared to its European rivals.

Overall, the CTS is a good car. It has good performace, a nice sporty styling, a luxurious interior, good leg room, decent leg room, and is not too expensive for what you get. The car is very responsive due to its stiff suspension. But the responsiveness comes at a price. The CTS has a rough ride. The seat is very firm to the point that it is uncomfortable. The CTS is a sports sedan and it has a sporty feel. If you do not mind a stiff ride, then I can recommend giving the CTS a test drive. But for those who want to be comfortable behind the wheel and do not like a stiff ride, look elsewhere. When the 2014 CTS hits showroom floors, expect a price drop in the 2013 CTS. Now, I also test drove three CTS-Vs and there is significant difference between the CTS and CTS-V.

CarJunkie
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First Drive: 2013 Nissan Versa Sedan


The Nissan Versa has been sold in the United States since 2007. The Versa has been on sale in Japan since 2004. In Japan, the Versa is known as the Tida. At the 2011 New York Auto Show, the second-generation Versa was revealed and went on sale in late 2011. The hatchback version of the Versa will be based on the Nissan Note while the sedan version of the Versa will be based on the Nissan Sunny. The Versa is a front-engine, front-wheel drive compact car and it serves as the entry level car for Nissan in the American market. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I was able to take the Nissan Versa Sedan for a test drive. The Nissan Versa is the least expensive new car available in the United States.

The Versa Sedan has a boring exterior styling. I prefer cars with sporty aggressive or luxurious exteriors. The Versa Sedan does not have luxurious styling or a sporty aggressive styling. The headlights are big and not streamlined. There are no sleek lines or curves going along the sides of the Versa Sedan. The interior feels cheap. A 5" touchscreen, bluetooth connectivity, an interface system for the iPod, radio data system, and 60/40 split fold-down rear seats are all options for higher-end Versa Sedans. But the standard Versa interior is boring. There is nothing luxurious about it. The radio looks cheap. The S and S plus trim levels do not come with power windows and power door locks. I drove the SV trim level that had power windows and power locks. The seats come with cloth upholstery. The driver seat is uncomfortable. I had decent leg room, but my head nearly touched the roof of the car.

The second generation Nissan Versa Sedan has been featured on Motorweek and Vrum.

The Versa Sedan is powered by a 1.6L I4 engine, paired with a CVT automatic transmission, that produces 109 hp and 107 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission also available for the Versa Sedan. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 107 mph. The Versa did not feel quick. The Versa Sedan has a rough ride. It was also noisy inside the Versa, which makes it hard to hear the Nissan product specialist explain the car. The Versa Sedan has a cheap drive quality to it. Prices for the Versa Sedan start at $11,990. Prices for the Versa Sedan SV starts at $15,240.

Overall, the Nissan Versa Sedan feels cheap, The exterior is bland and cheap. The interior is cheap. The drive quality is cheap. The Versa Sedan has the lowest base price of any new vehicle. The engine feels underpowered. The car does not feel fast. The Versa Sedan has subpar performance. This is a horrendous car. But the base prices of $11,990 can attract first time car buyers. But you get what you paid for. I have had fun behind the wheel of cars with base prices of under $17,000. I enjoyed driving the Chevrolet Sparkand that has a base price of $12,995. The Versa Sedan is just too cheap of a car for me to recommend to experienced drivers. But it is a good car for teenagers who just got their driver's license because the Versa Sedan has the lowest base price. They do not need a fancy car starting out. But for everyone else looking for a new vehicle, look elsewhere.

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First Drive: 2013 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan


The Cadillac CTS has been around since 2002, serving as the brand's mid-size luxury car. In 2004, Cadillac released a high-performance version of the CTS, called the CTS-V. Cadillac started production of the second generation CTS in 2007. In 2009, Cadillac released the second generation CTS-V. I have seen several versions of the Cadillac CTS-V on streets of Houston and at various Houston car events. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I got test drive the three versions of the Cadillac CTS-V, including the CTS-V Sedan. I also test drove the CTS Sedan. While both cars share the same body design, the CTS-V Sedan is a completely different car than the CTS Sedan. The version of the CTS-V Sedan I drove came with the optional six-speed automatic transmission. The CTS-V Sedan comes with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The Cadillac CTS-V Sedan is a front-engine, rear

On the outside, the CTS-V Sedan shares the same body as the CTS Sedan. The CTS-V has a different front bumper than the CTS. The CTS-V features a mesh grill instead of the checker grill found on the CTS. The CTS-V also has a mesh grill on the bumper and larger openings on the bumper for fog lights. The CTS-V Sedan also has a slightly different interior than the CTS Sedan. The CTS-V features Recaro seats that adjust fourteen different ways. These seats are very comfortable to sit in and still gives the CTS-V a sporty feel. The seats in the CTS Sedan are firm.

The CTS-V Sedan is powered by a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine that produces 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 179 mph. This car is fast. All three versions of the CTS-V are fast. The CTS-V Sedan has a quiet ride, even with a big, powerful engine in the front. The CTS-V Sedan also has a sporty, yet soft ride to it. This is the result of the magnetic ride control system, suspension technology that Ferrari borrowed from Cadillac and used it in the Ferrari 458 Italia. The CTS-V Sedan responds quite well when I turn the steering wheel, press the accelerator pedal, and when I press the brake pedal. The CTS-V Sedan also features Brembo disc brakes, which help the CTS-V stop on a dime. Prices for the CTS-V Sedan start at $64,515, and a fully-loaded CTS-V Sedan can go for over $75,000. You do get a lot of car for that price.

The CTS-V Sedan has been featured on Top Gear Korea, Motorweek, Top Gear USA, Necessary Roughness, Tactical Force, and Golden Boy. The CTS-V Sedan is playalbe in StreetRally, Auto Club Revolution, Superstars V8 Racing, Superstars V8 Next Challenge, Race On, Forza Motorsport 3, vDream Racing, Forza Motorsport 4, Need For Speed: World, Everyday Cha Cha Cha, and Driver: San Francisco.

Overall, the Cadillac CTS-V Sedan is a great car. Actually, the entire CTS-V line is great. These cars are quick, fast, comfortable to drive in, and respond well when I turn the steering wheel. All three cars have quiet interiors. I also like the magnetic ride control system. I have driven all three versions and I prefer the CTS-V Sedan over the CTS-V Coupe since the Sedan has more in the back for adult passengers. But my favorite version of the CTS-V is the CTS-V Wagon. It has more room than the CTS-V Sedan, plus it has more space in the trunk to carry more items than the CTS-V Sedan. I highly recommend the CTS-V line to anyone who can afford one. Even if you cannot afford one, at least take one out for a test drive if you can. These cars are just amazing.

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First Impression: 2012 Bentley Mulsanne

The original Bentley Mulsanne was produced from 1980 to 1992. The name comes from the Mulsanne Straight, a stretch of the 24 Hours of LeMans course where cars reach their highest speeds. Between 1924 and 1930, Bentley had five victories at the 24 Hours of LeMans. While the Mulsanne was based on the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Silver Spur, all Bentley models at that time were based on the Mulsanne until 1998, when the Bentley Arnage was introduced. In 1998, Volkswagen bought Bentely. The new Bentley Continental GT, Continental GTC, and Continental Flying Spur would be built on the same platform as the Volkswagen Phaeton. On August 16, 2009, Bentley unveiled a new four-door luxury sedan at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. This new Bentley went for $550,000 at the Pebble Beach car auction. This new car is the Bentley Mulsanne. Production for the Mulsanne commenced in 2010. The new Mulsanne is the first car to be independently designed by Bentley in 80 years since the W.O. Bentley 8 Litre model in 1930. From 1930 until 1998, most Bentleys shared platforms with Rolls-Royce models. The Bentley Mulsanne is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive, four-door sedan that serves as the flagship for Bentley.

I first saw the Mulsanne at the 2012 Houston Auto Show. This was one of three Bentleys on display, the other two being the Bentley Continental GT and the Bentley Continental GTC. I have seen both versions of the Continental around Houston and at various Houston Cars and Coffee events, but never a Mulsanne. The Bentleys were roped off so I could not sit inside the car. This car is beautiful. It attracted more attention then the other two Bentleys. It has a sleek, luxurious side profile. I really like how the front bumper and rear are integrated into the styling. Great job by designer Dirk van Braeckel.

The Bentley Mulsane is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.75L V8 engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, that produces 505 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 184 mph. The Mulsanne does have some power under the hood, but it also weighs 5,700 pounds. It has good acceleration for a car of that size and weight. Prices for the Mulsanne start at $325,000. This is high, but added options can put the price over $500,000. The Mulsanne is expensive, but that is the price for luxury and performance.

The Bentley Mulsanne has been featured on RTL Autowereld, Auto Esporte, Cars.TV, The Car Show, Ultimate Factories, Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocal, Rubbeldiekatz, Motorweek, and Hotel Desire. The Mulsanne has made a stop by Jay Leno's Garage. The Bentley Mulsanne is playable in Saints Row: The Third and Saints Row IV.

Final Thoughts: The Bentley Mulsanne is a beautiful car. It has power and performance, but it is also expensive. $325,000 is quite a bit of money for a car. While I am not a big fan of the Bentley Continental GT. I see quite a few Continental GTs on Houston roads. I have seen the Mulsanne only once outside of an auto show, and that was recently outside a Houston restaurant. If you go with the Mulsanne, you get exclusivity, something that you would not get with the Continental GT. If you can afford one, go ahead and take it out for a test drive.

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First Drive: 2013 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited

The Subaru Legacy has been in production since 1989 and is currently on its fifth generation. When it first came out, the Legacy was a front-engine, front-wheel drive, four door compact sedan or five door wagon. Starting in 1994, the Legacy wagon became the Subaru Outback. Starting in 1995, the Legacy was sold as a mid-size sedan with all-wheel drive available as an option. In 1996, the Subaru Legacy was only available with all-wheel drive in North America. Starting in 1998 with the third generation model, all Subaru Legacy were all-wheel drive. I have seen the Legacy on the Houston roads. I have seen some at various Houston car events. I had a chance to take a 2012 Legacy for a test drive at the 2012 Houston Auto Show, but I passed up the opportunity in order to test drive the Subaru Impreza. Subaru did not have a ride and drive booth at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. During one Friday in April of 2013, I decided to test drive five cars that day. The final car I test drove was the Subaru Legacy. The version I drove came with a H6 engine and the interior was the Limited trim level. The Legacy Limited H6 came with a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The Legacy is available with a 2.5L H4 engine that can be paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a lineartronic CVT transmission.

The Legacy has a slightly sporty styling. The Legacy has a long hood with a short rear end. It also has wheel arches that slightly extend out. Subaru has greatly improved the styling of the Legacy over the years, considering how bland the styling of the first generation Legacy was.  The version I drove came with the limited trim level, which includes leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, wood trim, a navigation system, and a moonroof. Safety features include a pre-collision system, Subaru's EyeSight driver assistance system, lane departure warning system, and adaptive cruise control. I was comfortable behind the wheel of the Legacy. I had a good amount of leg room and head room. The seat was very comfortable.

The Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited is powered by a 3.6L H6 engine that produces 256 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 135 mph. The Legacy gets good power out of the H6 engine. The Legacy has good acceleration for a mid-size sedan. The Legacy has good grip. It felt very stable on the high due to the all-wheel drive system. The Legacy has a smooth ride to it. It was quiet behind the wheel of the Legacy. The Legacy is one of the most fun Japanese mid-size sedans I have driven. Prices for the base Legacy 2.5i start at $20,295. Prices for the Legacy 3.6R Limited start at $28,895. The price for the Legacy I test drove is $33,867. That is slightly less money compared to the prices of its fellow six-cylinder Japanese mid-size sedans. Both the V6 Honda Accord and the V6 Toyota Camry both start around $30,000.

Overall, the Subaru Legacy is one of the better mid-size sedans I have driven. It has good balance, stability, power, and performance. It is very comfortable inside the car. Not to mention that this is a fun car to drive as far as mid-size Japanese sedans go. I prefer the Subaru Legacy over most mid-size sedans. There are various trim levels, transmissions, and engines to chose from with the Legacy. If you want a turbocharged H4 engine, you can get one with that engine. If you want a basic mid-size sedan with an H4 engine, you can get one for under $21,000. With its great drive quality, performance, and options, anyone who is looking to get a mid-size sedan should take a Subaru Legacy out for a test drive. This is a good car.

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First Drive: 2013 Dodge Dart GT

The Dodge Dart made its debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. The new Dart is based on a slightly enlarged Fiat Compact platform. The Fiat Compact platform is used in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but is enlarged by 1.5 inches in width and with a 3.7 inch longer wheelbase. The Dodge Dart is a front-engine, front-wheel drive four door compact sedan. The last Dodge compact sedan was the Dodge Neon and Dodge Neon SRT-4, which were discontinued in 2005. I have driven the Dodge Dart back in 2012, one with a 2.0L I4 engine that produces 160 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. The Dart is also available with a turbocharged 1.4L I4 engine that produces 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The Dart GT comes with a 2.4L I4 engine.  I recently went down to Helfman Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM (professional new car sales team and great service) and took a 2013 Dodge Dart GT for a test drive. The Dodge Dart GT comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The version I drove came with a six-speed automatic transmission with Chrysler's Autostick that allows for clutchless manual shifting.

As far as the compact sedans go, the Dodge Dart has the most aggressive styling to it. The dart has sleek body lines and a beautifully shaped hood. The Dart GT has LED racetrack tailamps, black headlamp bezels, day light opening moldings, body color door handles, hyper black crosshair with black surround on the grill, and 18 inch aluminum wheels. These additions help enhance the Dart's exterior. The Dart is well equipped on the interior. The Dart GT includes a reverse camera, a 7 inch thin film transfer instrument cluster display, Chrysler's 8.4 inch Uconnect touch media center that includes AM/FM/Sirius XM radio, Bluetooth connectivity, climate control, and customized settings. The Dart GT also 10 airbags and the version I drove has blind spot and rear cross path detection. The version I drove also had Nappa leather seats with heated front seats and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Dart is spacious on the inside. The Dart boasts best-in-class shoulder and hip room plus more rear seat legroom and overall interior room than some mid-size cars. The Dart has a great interior and a roomy interior.

The Dart GT is powered by a 2.4L I4 engine that produces 184 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 130 mph. With the 2.4L engine, the Dart feels faster and has better throttle response than the 2.0L version. It has better performance than most compact sedans. On the roads and highways, the Dart GT has a quiet, smooth ride. The Dart GT responds well when I turn the steering wheel. Prices for the Dart GT starts at $20,995, not including the $995 destination charge. The version I test drove cost $25,520, which includes a $995 destination charge. 

Overall, the Dodge Dart GT is a great value. It has good power and performance, especially for a compact sedan. The Dart GT also has a roomy interior with a great infotainment system. The Uconnect system is AOL Autos' 2012 Technology of the Year. The Dart GT benefits greatly from the Uconnect 8.4 system. Compared to other cars in its class, the Dart GT has one of the most power engines in its class and has best-in-class shoulder and hip room. Also, the Dart GT benefits from an aggressive styling. The leather seats and leather steering wheel give the Dart GT a luxurious feel. All this for starting at just under $22,000. The Dart GT is a great car at a great value. 

CarJunkie
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