Would I buy one? It's a question I ask myself whenever I slide behind the wheel of a car. Would I drop my hard earned money on one of these? Would I want to own it? Drive it for years? Look at it in my driveway? Tell people it's mine?
It's also the question you the reader ask me the most. So I've decided to go through all the cars we now have in our fleet and decide whether or not I would buy one. I also included a few recently departed vehicles. Seems appropriate since they just left us.
Continue reading Would I Buy One?.
Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2004 Toyota Prius,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2006 Lexus RX 400h,2007 Ford Edge SEL,2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Audi R8,2008 BMW 135i,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 Audi S5,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Nissan GT-R,2009 Suzuki SX4,2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
Here are the fuel economy figures for April 2009. As usual, we've listed the best and worst tanks and the average over the entire life of the vehicle.
We're missing a couple of cars that were out of town or unavailable at the time we took the readings.
| Car | Best | Worst | Average |
| 2009 Audi A4 Avant | 26.8 | 17.5 | 22.3 |
| 2008 BMW 135i | 27.7 | 9.5 | 19.8 |
| 2009 BMW 750i | 21.8 | 14.6 | 19.1 |
| 2002 BMW M3 | 23.5 | 12.3 | 17.5 |
| 2009 BMW M3 | 16.8 | 9.6 | 14.8 |
| 2008 Cadillac CTS | 32.5 | 9.9 | 19.2 |
| 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T | 18.1 | 10.3 | 16.3 |
| 2009 Ford Flex Limited | 26.7 | 13.7 | 19.6 |
| 2008 Ford Focus SES | 40.6 | 16.6 | 26.7 |
| 2007 Honda Civic GX | 47.3 | 12.7 | 31.7 |
| 2009 Honda Fit Sport | 39.0 | 26.0 | 32.0 |
| 2009 Hyundai Genesis | 24.8 | 15.5 | 20.7 |
| 2009 Infiniti FX50 | 21.8 | 10.7 | 17.1 |
| 2009 Mazda 6 | 29.1 | 19.5 | 23.5 |
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X GSR | 22.6 | 11.0 | 17.2 |
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X MR | 21.3 | 11.7 | 16.8 |
| 2009 Nissan GT-R | 21.8 | 11.5 | 16.5 |
| 2008 Pontiac G8 GT | 19.4 | 14.1 | 17.3 |
| 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion | 43.4 | 23.5 | 33.7 |
| 2009 Suzuki SX4 | 25.0 | 18.6 | 22.5 |
| 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI | 43.0 | 28.7 | 35.3 |
| 2005 Volkswagen Jetta on Biodiesel | 49.1 | 26.2 | 38.8 |
After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
Continue reading Big List of Fuel Economy - April Edition.
Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2004 Toyota Prius,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2006 Lexus RX 400h,2007 Ford Edge SEL,2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 BMW 135i,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 BMW 750i,2009 BMW M3,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Nissan GT-R,2009 Suzuki SX4,2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
What's it like working at Inside Line?
I get this question almost daily from somebody, and my answer usually blows their mind. I say, "Well, everyday this guy Mike walks up to me with a clipboard that contains a list of 15 to 30 cars ranging from a Smart to a GT-R and he says, 'Scott, what do you want to drive home tonight.'"
It's true.
Continue reading Where's the Clipboard Damn It, I Need a Car!.
Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2004 Toyota Prius,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2006 Lexus RX 400h,2007 Ford Edge SEL,2007 Honda Civic GX,2008 Audi R8,2008 BMW 135i,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI,2009 Audi A4 Avant,2009 BMW 750i,2009 Dodge Challenger R/T,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Honda Fit Sport,2009 Hyundai Genesis V6,2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD,2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring,2009 Nissan 370Z Touring,2009 Nissan GT-R,2009 Suzuki SX4,2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
I was thinking the other day (always a dangerous proposition, I know) and wondering how all the current (or really, really recently departed) Edmunds/Inside Line long-term vehicles stack up against each other in fuel economy, at least the fuel economy we've been recording during their time with us. So I made a list. For you and for me. In case we were both wondering.
The only current vehicles missing from my list are the Audi R8 and the Dodge Grand Caravan, and that's because no one has entered any fuel data into the tracking spreadsheet for those vehicles yet. The very top and the very bottom of the list aren't going to surprise anybody (I don't think), but the middle is kinda interesting. Seeing the Rondo and the WRX so close to each other made me raise my eyebrows. Ditto the Ford GT's spot above the Veracruz. Ready to check it all out? Follow the jump with me.
Continue reading The Big List of Fuel Economy.
Categories: 2002 BMW M3,2004 Toyota Prius,2005 Ford GT,2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI,2006 Lexus RX 400h,2007 Chevrolet Silverado LT,2007 Ford Edge SEL,2007 Honda Civic GX,2007 Honda Fit Sport,2007 Kia Rondo,2007 Saturn Aura XR,2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab,2008 BMW 135i,2008 BMW X5 4.8i,2008 Buick Enclave CX,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6,2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD,2008 Mazda CX-9,2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport,2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR,2008 Pontiac G8 GT,2008 Scion xB,2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe,2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI,2009 Ford Flex Limited,2009 Nissan GT-R
On the eve of Independence Day, I thought I'd peruse our garage for the most American metal. Amongst the many long-termers presently in the long-term fleet, we have quite the selection of cars built by domestic makers. Some are excellent representives of this great land, others ... not so much. And that's not counting the pretty cool American cars that reside in our editors' own garages: Trans Ams, Challengers, Corvettes and Schmidt's big ol' F-150.
Of course, what constitutes an American car these days is up for debate given the Focus is hecho en Mexico and our Hyundai Veracruz is hecho en Alabama. But I'll leave those determinations up to you. And the nominees for our Most American Car are...
Buick Enclave
Cadillac CTS
Chevy Silverado
Dodge Caravan (oh dear god, I hope not)
Ford Edge
Ford Focus
Ford GT
Pontiac G8 GT
Saturn Aura
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
Categories: 2005 Ford GT,2007 Chevrolet Silverado LT,2007 Ford Edge SEL,2007 Saturn Aura XR,2008 Buick Enclave CX,2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI,2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT,2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe,2008 Pontiac G8 GT
Oops, did I say the Ford Edge was on crack? I meant, the Ford Edge has a crack in its windshield. My mistake. Anyway, while driving along the La Cienega Quasi-Highway toward the airport Friday, I heard a sharp impact and then looked over to see this crack (photo below is actual size) in the left center portion of the windshield...
Continue reading 2007 Ford Edge: On Crack.
Categories: 2007 Ford Edge SEL
I've been reading with interest some of the other blog entries on the Ford Edge. It seems to be growing on the staff, as it is on the general public. Yet at the same time, there's not a lot of enthusiasm for this vehicle. Yes, it's got good acceleration, nice amenities, smooth ride, and nice style...
Continue reading 2007 Ford Edge SEL -- Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.
Categories: 2007 Ford Edge SEL
When I was growing up I used to be impressed by the newfangled numeric security keypads on the driver doors of Ford Tauruses and the like. They seemed so high-tech.
In 1986.
Of course, that was before the widespread availability of remote-transmitter key fobs...
Continue reading 2007 Ford Edge SEL: Old School.
Categories: 2007 Ford Edge SEL
OK, I didn't really get to take our 2007 Ford Edge SEL out this weekend since I had gone roadtripping with Erin Riches,
Inside Line
Senior Editor, in the Mini. But when I got into the Edge the couple of times I did, I noticed this. Our particular Edge is equipped with the Seating Flexibility Package ($985) which means leather-trimmed seats, six-way power driver and passenger seats and a fold-flat second-row seat with a rear EasyFold remote release. But even then, lumbar and recline functions (the levers to the left and right of the power button in the above picture) are manual...
Continue reading 2007 Ford Edge: Partial Power Seats.
Categories: 2007 Ford Edge SEL
Remember two weeks ago when our
2007 Ford Edge came back from the dealership?
It had gone in for a check engine light and an odd noise from the front end. While the mystery noise wasn't repeatable (Customers love being told they're delusional) the check engine light was reset. Not fixed. Reset. Why? Because that's Ford's policy.
Continue reading 2007 Ford Edge SEL: Back in the Shop..
Categories: 2007 Ford Edge SEL
So we got the 2007 Ford Edge back from the shop yesterday after it was sent there for a couple of issues: 1) the "Check Engine" light wouldn't turn off and 2) one of the editors reported that the car vibrates when coming to a stop and that she heard a knocking noise coming from the front brakes.
The dealership erased the code to reset the "Check Engine" light and "performed a visual multi point inspection." No charge for that since it's covered under warranty. But to test the car and find out where the knocking noise was coming from was $45. They drove the car around and were never able to duplicate the sound...
Continue reading 2007 Ford Edge: Check Engine Light Turned Off, Mystery Noise Not Solved.
Categories: 2007 Ford Edge SEL
The Ford Edge goes into the dealership today to get its "check engine" light looked after. As some of you may know, the "check engine" light usually signifies "check gas cap" or "check some part of the emissions" system. After the light came on, we discovered the cap was indeed not "tightened until clicks" as the cap above suggests. So we did tighten until clicks and hoped the light would go off over the weekend...
Continue reading 2007 Ford Edge: Tighten Until Clicks.
Categories: 2007 Ford Edge SEL
The Edge has been spanked repeatedly for its poor performance in braking tests, and justifiably so, since relative to others in its class, its achievement in this area is less than impressive. (Bad Edge - go to your room!) But when it comes to matters such as this, there's nothing like a real-life emergency situation to add a sense of perspective. This morning, just such a situation presented itself.
I was coming in to work...
Continue reading 2007 Ford Edge SEL: On the Brakes.
Categories: 2007 Ford Edge SEL
I was supposed to head out of town this last weekend, but last minutes changes of plan prevented me from doing so. Never the less, I had the Ford Edge for my days off.
I haven't been in it for a while, and by a "while" I mean since we bought the thing. I know the Edge hasn't been getting a lot of praise so I don't want to jump on the party train. Except for one small fact...
Continue reading 2007 Ford Edge: Up Close and Personal.
Categories: 2007 Ford Edge SEL
As Magrath wrote yesterday, the Ford Edge is a pretty good car. Last summer, there was a stretch where it seemed like I was driving nothing but Ford's hit crossover and then my Edge supply ran dry for several months. I finally got back into its comfy, well-positioned driver seat last night and found it to be as pleasant as ever to drive. I also like that it's built 10 minutes from my hometown near Toronto.
Judging by its solid sales performance last year (fifth-best-selling SUV), the Edge is resonating with the car-buying public as well. But there are a few key areas Ford should (and probably will) address with the eventual midlife freshening to make it resonate even more.
Continue reading 2007 Ford Edge: Sharpening the Edge.
Categories: 2007 Ford Edge SEL