I don't recall this happening with our previous Mini long-termer, but perhaps I just never noticed or the sun wasn't at the right angle. Yet last night and this morning, the Mini's giant speedometer routinely got washed out when the sun hit it from around the C-pillar area. I usually use the digital speedometer in the tachometer pod, but still, this makes the center speedo even more useless.
Having said that, I still defend its existance as it's a heritage feature and the rest of the car is so darned kookie anyway. A Mini with normal gauges would be like Angelina Jolie with normal lips.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 4,072 miles
Categories: 2009 Mini E
You just bought a 2010 Mazdaspeed 3. Do you follow the break-in precautions noted in the owner's manual, or just go for it?
No special break-in is necessary, but a few precautions in the first 1,000 km (600 miles) may add to the performance, economy, and life of your Mazda.
- Do not race the engine.
- Do not maintain one constant speed, either slow or fast, for a long period of time
- Do not drive constantly at full-throttle or high engine rpm for extended periods of time
- Avoid unnecessary hard stops.
- Avoid full-throttle starts.
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager
Categories: 2010 Mazdaspeed 3
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
Categories: 2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD
I'm used to getting around 300 mi fuel range in most vehicles; that's my expectation.
And I don't like to go much below a 1/4 tank, just in case.
Our long-term 2009 Mazda 6 has a 2.5L I-4 EPA rated at 21 City, 30 Hwy, 24 Combined (but only has 170 hp).
400 miles on a tank? Can do easy.
I actually got 410 mi on one tank of my Vegas holiday -- pretty good, huh?
What are your expectations for fuel range?
(North Strip pic overlooking the Wynn golf course for those of you snowed-in.)
Albert Austria, Senior Engineer @ 23,000 miles
Categories: 2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring
We just had the new Lotus Evora in our lot (more on that in coming weeks), and the greenhouse had a wonderful wraparound look - almost like a private jet. It was really due to the exaggerated curve of the windshield and the shape of the side glass, but the A-pillar was also blacked out. I hopped from the diminutive Lotus into our long-term Z and it got me thinking, "would that treatment work on the Z?" In the image above, you'll see it switch back and forth. It's really subtle, but I think it works. Photo credit to the talented Mr. Sadlier.
Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor @ 17,630 miles
Categories: 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring
Haven't driven the Mazdasped all that much at night. Turns out, it's quite nice inside, especially for a $25K car. The red glow of the instrument cluster and it accompanying controls reminded me of our S5, which is not a bad comparison given that the Audi is over double the price.
At first, the blue contrast seemed a bit gimmicky, like the Mazda designers were trying to channel their inner Scion or something. But after driving it for awhile I found that the added contrast actually makes the gauges that much more readable.
Not a big deal really, all cars should be so thoughtfully designed. Performance cars like the Mazdaspeed 3 should be held to a slightly higher standard, however, and in this case it passed the test.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line @ 5,040 miles
Categories: 2010 Mazdaspeed 3
The Ram seems even more portly when driving around densely populated areas. I'm especially nervous when driving in parking lots/garages.
Here in Santa Monica, they have large parking garages for the shoppers. I was pulling out of one garage to the street, but it's the kind of garage where you can't see the pedestrians on the sidewalks. I approached with great caution, looking into the convex mirrors for signs of people outside.
Just as I got my nose out onto the sidewalk a group of young guys walks right out in front of me. I nearly crush one guy and his saucer wide eyes reflect his similarly felt sentiments. He looks up at me, I can read his lips as he says: "Nice truck, dude." He gives me an enthusiastic thumbs up, then walks off down the street.
I wish I could be so enthusiastic after a near death experience.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 16,194 miles
Categories: 2009 Dodge Ram 1500
Nope, I don't win the award for the longest single trip in our Mini E; this one was only 78 miles. But I believe I'm the first Inside Line editor to witness "----" on the distance-to-empty meter.
I didn't set out to achieve this milestone. I didn't even plan to be driving our Mini E over Christmas break. But circumstances and weather dictated otherwise.
Continue reading...
Categories: 2009 Mini E
I drove the long-term Infiniti FX50 over the holiday break and was too lazy to put fuel in it. Most of my driving involved local jaunts to stores for last-minute shopping versus my typical 100-mile daily commute, so the shrinking fuel level didn't really faze me. But when the miles-to-empty range dropped below 60 the crossover's information window lit up like a hazmat warning.
Continue reading...
Categories: 2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD
Like every car in our Long Term fleet, our 2010 Volvo XC60 paid its dues upon entry with a trip to the track and a hearty flogging at the hands of our trained professional test drivers.
They chucked this 4,000+lb SUV through the slalom, around the skidpad and down the skidpad.
Follow the jump for the full results!
Continue reading...
Categories: 2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD,Track Tested
On the streets surrounding our Santa Monica offices, 2009 Audi S5s are a dime a dozen. But 80 miles east, in the Inland Empire, things are different. There is no ocean breeze. No marine layer. And out here, the S5 sticks out like a sore thumb.
I found myself in this desert oasis over the weekend. I'd been here 100 times before, but never in the S5. Horns were honked. Smiles were cast. Hands were waved. One poor kid even dropped her ice cream cone. The car drew so much attention it made me uncomfortable. I couldn't shake it. Not even a sale at this local statuary dustbowl could lift my spirits.
I don't welcome the celebrity status the S5 holds out here. Next time I'm taking the Ram. And next time I'm buying that Statue of Liberty lamp.
Mike Schmidt, Manager of Vehicle Testing @ 13,500 miles
Categories: 2009 Audi S5
There's nothing wrong with our 2009 Ford Flex Limited, nothing at all. Got plenty of fuel, too. It's just that we're here on the Oregon Coast and the weather is great ... for the time being.
Continue reading...
Categories: 2009 Ford Flex Limited
That is a six-foot ladder. It fit in our long-term 2010 Volvo XC60 very easily thanks to the SUVs unique flat-folding rear seat center section. With one hand it drops flat and allows you to carry long stuff and still seat four comfortably.
Very cool. More SUVs should have this feature instead of the more common 50/50 or 60/40 rear seat designs. This Volvo is really starting to win me over.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 20,504 miles
Categories: 2010 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD
The more TPMS warnings in get in various cars, the more I'm thankful that this feature is now standard in every new car. I got a low-pressure warning in our Hyundai Genesis a few mornings ago for the left-rear tire. My wife had taken the Genesis shopping the day before; did she drive over some road debris?
The Genesis doesn't display the actual pressure, so I had to manually check the tire's actual pressure with a gauge. Thankfully, it was only a little low compared to the other tires, and I didn't see any screws or punctures during a visual inspection. So maybe the cold morning temperature dropped the tire's pressure enough to trip the TPMS. I filled the tire back to spec at a nearby gas station and have been keeping an eye on it. So far, no more warnings.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 22,645 miles
Categories: 2009 Hyundai Genesis V6
I just got the keys to our new house. What do I do next? Get the keys to our Ram and make the first (of many) trips to Home Depot.
The back patio was gross. Covered in gunk, paint and mold I headed straight to the rental department and got a big ol' power washer. I forgot to bring any tie downs, so thankfully the Ram was equipped to hold the $1,000 power washer in place. I didn't want to damage something on the first home project. That indignity is saved for a time when someone can witness my stupidity.
Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer @ 16,120 miles
Categories: 2009 Dodge Ram 1500
So I'm driving a Toyota Corolla rental car over the holiday and when it comes to a stop at a light, it's so quiet that I think the engine has stopped. But because I've been driving the Honda Insight lately, I think this is normal.
And then I realize that it will indeed soon be normal, as simple stop/start mechanisms are already starting to appear on all manner of European and Japanese cars. They represent the most cost-effective strategy to get a big jump in air emissions reduction and fuel efficiency improvement. Americans have always disdained these so-called mild hybrids, but there's no doubt that they're on the way here.
Soon even a Chevy Camaro SS will be silent at stoplights.
Michael Jordan, Executive Editor @ 10,804 miles
Categories: 2010 Honda Insight EX,Vehicles
This new Camaro is less than the sum of its parts.
Or to be more accurate, it's less than the sum of its numbers. 6.2 liters + 426 hp + over 108 mph trap speeds + 112 ft braking = zzzzzzzzzzzz.
I thought Camaros were supposed to be good, clean, stupid fun? This thing has zero personality. Oh sure, it pulls like a train but it just feels like it was built to look good on paper.
Until the General is able to put a little fourth-gen (lively handling and the ability to perform instant, low speed pants-filling powerslides for a start) into this new Camaro, you can have it. I'll pass.
Is it wrong to say I'd rather have a Mustang?
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 9,118 miles
Categories: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
Some time ago the passenger door panel on our 2009 Infiniti FX50 began to peel. So we took the FX50 to Cerritos Infiniti for repair. At that time our advisor informed us the peeling trim was a known issue. She ordered the replacement door panel and sent us on our way.
"I'll call you when the parts arrive. But they are on back-order and we probably won't see them for two weeks." That's what she said.
Two weeks passed and our phone was silent. We called the dealer to follow up and learned that the part number for our door panel had been changed internally. Some kind of inventory glitch. What that meant to us was a cancelled order. And to re-order the same part with the correct number would take another two weeks. Looks like we're going to need more super glue to get us through to next year.
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Manager @ 28,000 miles
Categories: 2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD
OK, so Donna beat me to it. But I swear I took this photo of our 2009 Ford Flex with Christmas lights on Dec 24th, the day we arrived in Oregon. Dad and I only got the wireless network set up in his house this afternoon, you see.
Ironically, the electric Mini couldn't actually power the lights that were draped across its flanks. For all its electric subsystems, the Mini E has no 110V outlet to power accessories like a Wii gaming system, a laptop charge cord or a string of christmas lights. But the Flex has such an outlet and, after we wrested control from the kids and unplugged the Wii, we actually drove the final 5 rural miles with these extra "clearance lights" attached to make our grand entrance.
Continue reading...
Categories: 2009 Ford Flex Limited
The oil sensor in our 2008 Pontiac G8 GT finally told us it was time for an oil change. We checked records and the last time we got new oil was 13,000 miles ago! We wanted to send an oil sample off to Blackstone Laboratories to see what they could tell us about the condition of the oil. We wanted to know if the oil was truly done, as the sensor indicated, or whether there was any life left in the slippery stuff.
Our first stop was to look in the owner's manual to see what Pontiac had to say about oil changes.
"When the system has calculated that oil life has been diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is necessary. ... It is possible that, if you are driving under the best conditions, the oil life system might not indicate that an oil change is necessary for over a year. However, the engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a year."
Still, we were curious about the condition of the oil and why the sensor finally went off. We tried to use the "vampire gun" that Blackstone gave us to suck out a sample by inserting a long tube down the dipstick opening into the oil pan. However, we came up dry. We took the G8 to Boulevard Buick Pontaic GMC, in Signal Hill, CA, where the service advisor said the baffle over the oil pan prevented anything but the dipstick from being inserted. We asked him to keep a sample for us while doing the oil change.
By the way, the oil change, inspections and tire rotation was only $39.95. It took them two hours to do the service and clear two recalls. We'll report back on the condition of the oil after we hear from Blackstone labs.
Categories: 2008 Pontiac G8 GT
