I heard it before I saw it.
When I looked up I was being passed by a shiny black Nissan GT-R. I was driving the Ford Flex at the time. While the funky Flex is likeable, it just doesn't do it for me.
I longed to pull up next to the driver and proclaim, "I used to drive a white one. Really. I swear."
But he disappeared in a flash of obsidian.
I miss the GT-R. And somewhere in my heart, I know it misses me.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
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Ever wonder what the mix is for new Camaros moving off dealer lots? Well, I noticed a post on a Camaro forum that gave a link to a database site that tracks Camaros being sold and gives you the ability to filter for a variety of parameters. There seems to be some disagreement among forum posters about how truly accurate the information is, but it's certainly better than nothing.
I was interested to learn how many 2010 Camaros are like our long-term car, which is to say Camaros with the V8 and the manual transmission. The results:
Percentage of 2010 Camaros sold with the SS trim (V8): 61 percent
Percentage of those Camaro SS models with the manual transmission: 46 percent
I was a little surprised; I would have guessed lower percentages for both. Another way to look at it would be: a little more than one out of four Camaros sold is the V8/manual combination.
Camaro5 forum
camaro.spasticsquirrel.com
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 11,716 miles
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Well, the racing season has begun, so I have racing cars on the brain. And when the Camaro comes up, naturally I think about the unveiling of the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS that will pace the 2010 Indianapolis 500 in May. The official unveiling took place in December.
It turns out that the Camaro has paced the Indy 500 a bunch of times: 1967, 1969, 1982 and 1993. What interests me is the comparison with the 1969 Camaro SS, since the look of the '69 model inspired the 2010 model. (Actually GM designer Bob Boniface originally conceived a car based on the 1970 Camaro, but the GM execs decided that the '69 model was the proper starting point, since they were old and the '69 Camaro is the one that all the old guys collect.)
So maybe a simple comparison between the 1969 Camaro SS and the 2010 Camaro SS can give us an idea of what might have been lost (or gained) in translation.
]]> 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS
OHV V8 6162cc/376 cu-in
400 hp @ 5,900 rpm; 420 lb-ft @ 4,600 rpm
Length 190.4 inches
Width 75.5 inches
Height 54.2 inches
Weight 3,857 pounds
Top speed 155 mph
Michael Jordan, Executive Editor @ 11,455 miles
One of my friends says our 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 looks like a big shoe. "That long, flat hood and that stubby hatchback rear... yep, it's a big shoe." He says the same thing about the BMW M coupe and strangely there are two examples of BMW's wild-child hatchback living in our office garage. Both are red.
So, should a self-respecting car guy-person have any reservations about driving around in a giant red shoe? I, for one, do not.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 6,571 miles
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Three different times over the weekend people stopped to ask me if I was pleased I chose the 2010 Honda Insight over the soon-to-be-officially-recalled 2010 Toyota Prius.
"Aren't you glad you went Honda instead of Toyota?" asked a 50-something-year-old guy in the Von's grocery store parking lot.
"Yeah," I muttered as I quickly slid into the Insight's driver's seat.
It was late, I was alone, and I didn't have the heart to tell him that recalled or not, I still prefer the Prius to the Insight.
Will Toyota's latest troubles push you into an Insight over a Prius?
Kelly Toepke, News Editor @ 12,233 miles
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We had a company lunch last Friday, pizza and salad. As I was eating my sixth slice, someone asked me what test car I would be driving over the weekend. "S5," I answered.
Another co-worker at my table said, "I almost bought that car."
I replied, "Yeah, and?"
"The sunroof doesn't open," she asserted.
That was the dealbreaker for her. She ended up in a two-door 3-series.
For some people, fresh air is a matter of paramount importance.
For me? Don't care -- I don't want to muss my coif.
And you? Will you, too, be like Liz Lemon and cry, "Dealbreaker!"
(Blue non-long term Audi A5 with moonroof pictured)
Albert Austria, Senior Engineer @ 16,150 miles
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On a long to the Ojai valley about 90 miles north of L.A. (that's one of the town's landmark arches in the picture, look closely and you'll see it was built way back in 1999) I gave the M3's "M" button another shot. It more or less coordinates all the possible means of electronic changes like the throttle control, dampers and stability control. You can set it up any way you want, but one of our resident track jockeys had already dialed in a nice setup, so I just pressed it and went.
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Once I turned off onto some more interesting roads, I let it loose and the M3 felt just about perfect. If anything, it's a bit too capable, willing to go a little faster than is safe on public roads. That edginess that makes it a little too jumpy around town turns into a directness in corners that quite satisfying. Not required by any means, but a definite step up. After arriving at my destination I could see why the "M" button gets to be addictive to some. I'm guessing it's the roads it entices you to drive as much as it is the added performance. Either way, I'll admit to wanting one now.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line @ 16,495 miles
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Let's start this off on the right foot: I like our 2010 GMC Terrain. I like its easy-to-use navigation/audio interface. I like its overall interior styling. I like its suspension tuning, and despite the fact that this four-cylinder model isn't all that powerful, I find the power it does have to be adequate. And I like that and the efficiency that comes with it.
So I was surprised to see that its rear seats don't fold flat.
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Fold-flat rear seats have become an axiom among many of the Terrain's competitors as they greatly increase the utility of the cargo area. Not a huge deal, but a feature you'll miss when you don't have it.
On the up side, this is what a small-items tray looks like when it's done right. Even I can't find a way to dump my small items on the floor from this massive bin.
Go, home team.
Josh Jacquot, Senior road test editor @ about 1,100 miles.
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Oh yeah, the BMW 750i also has a heated steering wheel. Of course, it does. I'm surprised it doesn't have a latte machine in the dash.
Heated steering wheels are a feature I never paid attention to before I tried it in our Dodge Ram. Now, it's my new favorite thing. The BMW 750i's heated steering wheel is subtler than the Ram's but still cozy.
I was on the road early this morning and really wanted to pull over, rest my face on the steering wheel and take a nap.
Do you think heated seats and steering wheels would put you to sleep on a long road trip?
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor @ 25,324 miles
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Every time I've jumped behind the wheel of our 2009 Mini E I've rolled my eyes at the fact that the speedometer is located in the center and the battery charge display is behind the steering wheel. I mean, who looks at their "fuel gauge" more than their driving speed? I know, we all heard this before. But the thing is, don't laugh, I had no idea that you could change the digital display behind the wheel to show the speed, too. Until I looked on Mini forums and finally RTFM.
Yes, page 39 of the manual:
"To have the current speed shown in the upper display otherwise serving for the outside temperature display and clock.
1. Press the button in the turn indicator lever repeatedly until the current speed appears in the lower display.
2. Wait for the speed display to automatically move to the upper display.
The outside temperature then appears in the lower display."
OK, now I officially have nothing to complain about.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 4,641 miles
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You know that pile of old paint cans, solvents, and other accumulated stuff in the garage that you've been ignoring? Well, I got rid of mine this weekend. I was thankful for the Dodge Ram's nifty adjustable bed-divider that kept the cargo from moving around on the way to the disposal site.
I was also grateful for the smooth riding suspension, even with what amounts to an empty bed. I also mangaged to raise the running, average fuel economy (at least according to the onboard computer) from 14.1 mpg to 15.3 over the course of 275 miles.
Chief Road Test Editor, Chris Walton @ 20,398 miles
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Thanks to allenychung for this week's favorite caption. Here are the others that got our Volt.
Mobil Ohm (ergsum)
I don't drink but thanks for the offer. (caswalker)
We don't serve your kind here. (lowmilelude)
I'm just showing off (throwback)
Mini-E-Wan Kenobi, "These aren't the fuels you're looking for" (ergsum)
Checking current fuel prices. (ergsum)
The Mini-E was out of luck, no Charger or Accord to be found. (ergsum)
The Mini-E was out of luck. No Volts, either. (vt8919)
Jumpin' Jack Flash don't need no gas, gas, gas! (technetium99)
What to use Regular Coal power, Wind Plus, or Premium Nuclear? (hybris)
This is where normal cars are charged within less than 5 minutes (nomercy346)
Well, at least the picture is fuel for conversation. (eidolways)
Range Envy (subytrojan)
Donna DeRosa having a blond moment - proof that weekly bell ringing lowers IQ (bluepunk82)
Exxon, exxoff! (ergsum)
CASH only. You can't charge here. (bluepunk82)
RTFM! (subaru123)
What was your favorite?
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
And thanks for the song!
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Despite the fact that our Flex has racked up nearly 50,000 miles, I had yet to spend any real quality time in it. That changed this week when I took it to Vegas, about a 600-mile round trip from my house in greater L.A. I averaged 22.4 mpg with the drive being mostly open freeway cruising running between 70-80 mph.
Herewith are some random cheers and jeers I had for this Ford, some of which you may have already seen noted by my colleagues.
]]> Cheers:-- Great seats: Plush, wide and yet supportive enough for a four-hour stint.
-- Nav system: Easy to use and clear graphics too.
-- Sync system: Easy hook-up to my phone, a voice recognition system that knows what I'm saying, and a cool weather forecast function.
-- Awesome highway cruiser. With the speed limit being 75 over much of the ride, I just set the cruise at 80. With the engine loafing along at 2000 rpm, the low levels of road and wind noise and the lack of vibration, it felt like we were going more like 50.
-- Capless fuel filler. I was surprised by how much I appreciated this feature which eliminates the minor steps of removing and replacing a fuel cap. Didn't think I was that lazy!
-- Plenty of cubbies for snacks, cell phone and wallet.
Jeers:
-- Nav system Traffic: Showed the freeway (yes the portion I was on) as "green" when it should've shown "red" -- it was very slow-moving traffic for a few miles.
-- The cruise control: The buttons are all the same, so you have to glance at them to operate the system, and there's no "cancel" mode.
As you can see, there's plenty good and not much bad to say about the Flex. Now I know why this car is so popular with the staff for road trips.
Note:
I did not see the Flock of Seagulls. The sign caught my eye so I had to shoot it as proof that, nearly three decades later, The Flock are still milking their crowd pleaser: "I Ran". Besides, I'll take "Space Age Love Song" over I Ran any day.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 46,921 miles
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I've complimented our 2009 Honda Fit's driver-side cupholder before, but what I haven't mentioned is that it holds coffee so securely, you can drive around open-top.
I have a bit of a cafe latte habit. I don't like putting a sippy top on my beverage, because then I don't get to enjoy the crema before the foam dissolves. But in most cars, I then face the peril of having my latte splash onto surrounding upholstery and buttons that might get all sticky. The Fit is the only car I've driven in which I can leave the top off with a clear conscience.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
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Our 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid went to the dealer for a reflash of the software that controls the braking system. We have not yet experienced any problem with the car, but you don't want to mess around with brake problems, especially after we heard the first-hand description of the problem that Consumer Reports expereinced in their Fusion Hybrid.
Their car went into a fail-safe mode as one of their drivers rolled up to a stop sign. The regenerative system reportedly cut out and the car sailed through the stop sign, warning lights ablaze.
Before we took ours in, we first had to see if the fix applied to us. Ford started using the new software on the assembly line on October 18, 2009, so any Fusion Hybrid or Milan Hybrid made before October 17 has the old software. Our door jamb states only that our Fusion Hybrid was made in October 2009, so our car could fall on either side of the issue. A call to the Ford dealer was in order.
Us: "I'm calling about the brake software reflash on my Fusion Hybrid."
Them: "That's not us, that's Toyota."
Us: "Check your computer for Customer Satisfaction Program 10B13 or TSB number 09-22-11."
Them, after typing a few seconds: "Oh, yes. What's your VIN?" We tell them. More typing, "Yes, your car was built on October 4th. Bring it in."
So we did.
It was all over in ten minutes. It was a simple reflash of the software through the diagnostic port. No charge, of course.
But look what the invoice says ...
It says "RECALL" twice. Not "TSB", not "Customer Satisfation Program"-- it says "RECALL".
Of course it also lists our car as a Ford Escape, but that seems like a simple manual entry error. The VIN is the thing that ensures they're doing what's required for a Ford Fusion Hybrid.
If we have safety issues (and make no mistake, a brake problem that affects stopping is a safety issue) let's not beat around the bush and play semantics with the word recall. If recall is the internal word, and recall is a word that will compel owners to come to the dealer for a fix, then that had better be the way it is communicated to the public.
I've put a call in to Ford for an explanation. I'll let you know what I learn when they call back.
Update: Ford does not yet have an answer. They are researching the issue. They are just as confused by the "Escape" model indication as we are.
UPDATE 2: According to Ford sources, "10" stands for 2010 and the "B" in the 10B13 code stands for "customer satisfaction". Safety issues would have had an "S". "E" is for emissions. "C" is for regulatory compliance issues. There are others.
These codes are used to denote different types of service campaigns covered under warranty. They must appear on the invoice for a dealer to get paid. According to Ford, the use of the word "recall" here does not relate to the NHTSA definition of the word. A true NHTSA recall is something that relates to a safety condition, an emissions defect or a regulatory compliance problem: 10S, 10E or 10C in Ford-speak. The Ford spokesman I spoke to emphasizes the the B in 10B13 means this is a customer satisfaction issue, not a recall as NHTSA defines the term. But the Ford coding system for logging the fix and applying for repayment on such "B" customer satisfaction issues is shared.
That's all well and good, but I have a hard time with the premise that brake interruptions (loss of regenerative brakes in this case) can be anything other than a safety concern. If I blow through a stop sign, sure, I'm unsatisfied, but I might also hit something or someone.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 3,021 miles
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