Ever take a break from a car and come back to it only to find that it's not quite how you remember it? That was me last week when I took the keys to our Buick Enclave. I had last driven it six months ago. When pulling out of the Edmunds parking garage, the Buick seemed like a big bowl of mush, with a squishy brake pedal, a wallowing ride and vague steering. I didn't remember it being this bad.
Then again, I had been driving our Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution around for two weeks prior to the Buick. My perspective had been skewed.
Now that I have acclimated to the Enclave (again), we're best friends.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 22,337 miles
joefrompa says:
10:21 AM, 08/25/08
Brent,
Whahuh? The buick feels like a big bowl of mush compared to the Evo, but now it's all good.
Dude....you get paid for that? Cause I want to get paid for that :)
Joe
dougtheeng says:
10:31 AM, 08/25/08
haha well I imagine driving just about any vehicle after the Evo would be a mushy let down. It must be a challenge going from vehicle to vehicle to vehicle all the time. I occasionally drive my parent's VW Golf and I need to remind myself that I can't drive it like I do my MINI.
jdub53084 says:
12:58 PM, 08/25/08
Defiantly agree with the changing vehicles feel. I drove my mom's Malibu after driving my pick up truck. What a difference. Especially in the difference in braking ability!
opfreak says:
01:07 PM, 08/25/08
you evo post was about its digital handling. with the sh-awd (or what ever mitsu calls it), wouldn't most cars feel, umm, different?
kurtamaxxxguy says:
01:09 PM, 08/25/08
Guess is Brent's appreciating each vehicle's strengths and "pose", rather that (as some other car sites do) bash one vehicle because it's not the same as another.
That's harder with a segment-comparison senario, though Edmunds does give a good idea as to how vehicles shape up as daily drivers as well as those best suited for the track.
Dan Edmunds says:
05:53 PM, 08/25/08
It's kind of like driving your off-roader back onto the pavement after a day in the boulders. Even a Jeep Wrangler will feel like a Lexus--for about 3 minutes.