1968 found me at Keesler Air Force base in Biloxi, Miss., training in airborne radar and Doppler repair work—work I later performed at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. Along the beachfront in Biloxi, all the girls wanted to ride in another G.I.’s green ’68 GTO convertible, while I spent time alone in my blue Beetle………..
To read the remainder of this article at the AAA site Click Here.
The Hyundai Genesis, the company’s full-size entry-luxury offering, has been built since 2008, and is currently in its second-generation configuration. For 2015, the automobile was extensively re-designed and somewhat enlarged, and such a vehicle is what I was presented to test this last week. The unit was painted Pamplona red (maroon) metallic and was fitted with a leather beige interior. STI-Denver was the press firm that delivered it to my home.
During the week, I drove the car extensively, including all around Denver looking at condos with my family. Thus, I got to drive on several of the streets and freeways in Colorado’s biggest city, and was pleased with the handling and highway manners of the Genesis. I found the shifting of the eight-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic to be a pleasure, and acceleration is good – reportedly zero to 60 in about 6 seconds with the 311 horsepower V-6 providing the grunt. Paddle shifters on the Genesis peek out from each side of the steering wheel and work fine with dashboard updates on current gear selection.
The suspension setup is tuned by famed auto-maker Lotus, and the new model reflects the enhanced engineering that has been added. I understand that springs, bushings, motor mounts – even the power steering – were effected by Lotus. Guidance at highway speed is very good, and handling on the grooved-cement surface on Interstate 25 works out great, thanks in part to the 245/45R18 Hankook Ventus S1 Noble mud & snow radials. The tires surround two-toned, fifteen-spoke premium alloy wheels. Road noise seems to be pretty much at a minimum, and a lot of Colorado sunshine can flow in thanks to the panoramic sunroof. A shade can be deployed to keep it darkened in the Hyundai, and sunshades are on hand for all three rear windows – electric in the rear glass.
The Genesis styling for 2015 is something that the firm is proud of, I’m sure. I liked the looks, my friends and relatives did, and the automotive press has been quite impressed, as well. An ample amount of chrome is installed on all sides, and the taillights look at lot like the Lexus GS (I know well – they were both sitting here for a time in my driveway). The manufacturer has styled the Genesis with a large, Fusion-style (Jag?), nickel-finished grill with six big horizontal bars. Stainless steel exhaust finishers are out back and the entire roof and fin on top are blacked-out.
The Genesis contains a lot of technology inside this five-passenger, rear-wheel drive sedan when equipped with the Signature, Tech, and Ultimate packages, as they are marketed by Hyundai. Examples include lane departure warning, 
imminent collision warning, radar smart cruise control, blind spot monitor to include an icon in the head-up display in the windshield (icons, actually – one for each rear corner), navigation system with 8″ screen, and lane-keep assist. Also inside the Genesis are the usual heated and air conditioned seats, electric tilt/telescope, Lexicon stereo, memory seating, and pushbutton starter. Outside, the trunk opens when the operator stands behind the car (in possession of a key) for three seconds. I liked the seating up front and my passengers in Denver were pleased in all of the other seat locations.
There is no doubt that the Genesis will be a hit in this new configuration. At under $50,000.00, it is a great value for those willing to give up the four rings, tri-star, or the propellor emblem on the hood and trunk of their car. I had a blast driving the Genesis, and can recommend it to prospective shoppers.
WINDOW STICKER – M.S.R.P. $49,950.00, including $4,000.00 for Signature package, $3,500.00 for Tech package, $3,500.00 for Ultimate package, and $950.00 for freight.
The Lexus GS is a mid-size luxury car sold by Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Its design was originated by Italdesign Guigiaro over a quarter century ago as a simplified, European-looking offering. The GS is the car that I was loaned to test this last week. The car is called a GS450h, and the “h“ stands for hybrid drive train, made up of a 306 horsepower Atkinson-cycle V-6 and two electric motor/generators. Total horsepower of the gasoline/electric package is 338, and the power is delivered through a continuously variable automatic transmission. Although not officially designated a “sports sedan”, this 4,147 lb. car can go from zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. Top speed is reportedly a governor-limited 136 mph.
The Lexus GS series of cars has been around since 1993, and is now in its fourth generation configuration for 2014. Lexus, headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, sent as its first automobile to America the big LS series in 1989. The company currently manufactures Japan’s top-selling make of luxury automobiles. The GS models come in a V-6 sports sedan, a high-performance F Sport sedan, and the hybrid (h) model that I tested.
Highway manners of the GS450h are excellent, with an assist from the blind spot monitor to keep the driver out of trouble. Ride on the Dunlop 235/45R18 SP Sport S100 all-season radials (on 18”, eighteen split-spoke alloys) is silent and responsive, and the driver can select from four drive modes – Eco, Normal, Sport, and Sport+. In winter the driver can select “snow”, and there is an “EV” (all-electric) selection to made, too. Lots of options, and lots of performance in the Sport+ mode, especially so for a hybrid vehicle. While in Sport+, the car provides more shock damping, tighter steering, and improved throttle response. And all these handling and power characteristics are present in a car that delivered right at 30 mpg for me all week. Official ratings are 29/city and 34/highway (31 combined).
The M.S.R.P. of the GS450h is $59,600.00 (base), and options include a luxury package for $5,695.00, blind spot monitor for $700.00, premium Mark Levinson stereo for $1,380.00, hard-disk navigation setup for $1,735.00, power trunk for $400.00, and intuitive park assist for $500.00. Total list price with $910.00 for freight comes to $70,920.00. That luxury package includes heated and cooled, 18-way power front semi-aniline leather seats, heated bamboo and leather steering wheel, LED headlamps, and rear-door manual sunshades (an electric sunshade is present in the back window). The 330 watt stereo includes 17 speakers with 7.1 surround sound architecture. The screen for the navigation is gigantic, at 12.3”, with split-screen capability, and controlling its applications is done with a mouse on the console.
The GS450h came with Riviera Red paint and the interior was black. The paint seemed to be two feet thick, and the styling excelled, mostly up front. No tailpipe finishers were present at the rear, in somewhat of a curious styling move (hybrid?). But the car is an eye catcher, for sure.
The Lexus GS450h was a treat to test all week, providing this reviewer
with an extra “measure of pleasure’, and the car deserves a good look from the luxury car-buying public.
Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, has been producing the GS series of sedans since 1993. The new 2014 model that I drove this last week represented the manufacturer’s fourth generation offering, and it came in Obsidian (black) metallic with black leather seating. The GS Lexus sedan is a midsize performance car with all-wheel drive. 
The power train in my test car consisted of a 3.5 liter V6 with 306 horsepower and 277 lb. ft. of torque. Behind it was a six-speed automatic with manual shifting mode and paddles on the steering column. The F Sport package on this car included graphite finished 19” alloy wheels (with Bridgestone Turanza EL400, 255/40R19 radials), Adaptive Variable Suspension, Dynamic Rear Steering, and oversized brakes. It accelerates from zero to sixty in under six seconds and reportedly has a top speed of 131 mph.
The M.S.R.P. of the Lexus is $58,990.00, including freight ($910.00), blind spot monitor ($700.00), F Sport package ($5,695.00), and navigation system with 12.3” screen ($1,735.00). I mentioned some of the F Sport upgrades, but the package also included special grill, rear valence, and trunk fin styling adornments, making the car a striking visage.
Ruth and I drove the Lexus to both Denver and Ft. Collins, and Ruth commented on the sumptuous but sporty ride out on I25. Of course, the blind spot monitor helped her husband keep the big sedan out of the way of other motorists. Wheelbase of the car is 112.2”, overall length is 190.7”, and it weighs 3,970 lbs.
The EPA fuel mileage estimates of the GS are 19 and 26, city/highway, and a combined rating of 21 mpg. During my week driving the Lexus in mostly a city setting, the calculation was 21.5 mpg. The V6 performs well, and delivers a throaty roar upon hard acceleration.
Riding in the GS is especially comfortable due to the supportive bucket seats with perforated leather black trim and 16-way adjustability. The driver chooses from three driving modes with a console mounted dial – Economy, Sport, and Sport Plus. The Sport Plus tightens up the steering and throttle/transmission response; plus it changes the speedometer backlighting to red. It is a five passenger sedan with a large back seat and a 14.3 cubic foot trunk.
The options on the Lexus included a power rear sunshade, USB stereo connection, satellite radio, sunroof, power tilt/telescope, 12-speaker stereo, navigation with 12.3” (!) screen, Bluetooth, and backup camera.
Overall, I would recommend the GS350 to the discerning, performance-oriented buyer with a few extra dollars on hand. It was a blast to drive around for the week I had it in my possession.
I remember the first time I laid eyes on a Volkswagen Beetle, in Grant, Nebraska in about 1963. A young man in town named Charlie Brixius had purchased a used one (perhaps a 1959), and made quite a splash driving it up and down Main Street over and over. We all did that back then – gas was cheap, the pace was leisurely, and that was the place to be seen. The U-turns were made at the same intersections on the north and south end of this town of 1,000 population, and some of the guys out cruising were lucky enough to have a girl sitting in the middle of the front seat for the ride. 
Charlie never had a girl sitting in the middle of his front seat, because the “bug” had two bucket seats in the front of the four-passenger, rear-engined, rear-wheel drive VW. Neither did I, as I rode a Honda 50 scooter/cycle.
Volkswagen Beetles were built from 1938 to 2003, and over 20 million have been manufactured and sold worldwide since the inception of the car in Germany. A man named Porsche designed the car, and along with the rear engine placement, the car was air cooled, without coolant or a radiator. 
What is commonly called a “New Beetle” with coolant, a front engine, and front-wheel drive, has been marketed on and off since 1997. Such a car is what was brought to me a week ago for testing, a 2014 Turbocharged Reef blue metallic unit with “R-Line” equipment specified, including a spoiler, “twister” alloy wheels, extra gauges, aluminum pedal covers, and special badging.
Power for my test car was supplied by a 2.0 liter, 210 horsepower (207 lb. ft. of torque) four cylinder gas engine with an EPA mileage rating of 24/city, 30/highway, 26 combined MPG. The transmission on hand was a six-speed automatic with a manual option that shifted into higher gears in a hurry, but seemed sturdy and somewhat enjoyable. For having a turbocharger, the engine had a definite grumble to it, belying the high RPM turbo operating in the power department. Turbochargers whir at about 150,000 revolutions per minute – roughly 30 times as fast as the engine. They are nice in Colorado, spinning faster at our 
altitude and mitigating power loss that can be associated with naturally-aspirated (i.e. fuel injected) engines.
Inside the Volkswagen, a Fender premium stereo was on hand as well as sunroof, heated leather buckets, Bluetooth connections, navigation, pushbutton starter and satellite radio. The theme inside was two-toned black and blue and somewhat kicky. Styling was great with ten spoke polished alloys and attractive black trim work low on the outside. 
Acceleration of the VW was fine, road manners were on target, and handling/guidance were acceptable. It’s a pretty quiet sedan and visibility is fine. List price was $32,215.00 for the 2014 that I drove and that included freight. It has a niche market and doesn’t sell over 400,000 per year (in the U.S.!) like the old days, but still has a nice following and a fan in this reviewer.
KIA manufactures SUV’s in two sizes, with the biggest being the Sorento, now produced in its third generation configuration. I tested a 2015 Sorento this past week, an SX model painted bright silver metallic. This year marks the fourteenth year of production of the Sorento, a mid-size crossover SUV, and the SX represents the middle of the line of Sorentos, with a generous list of standard equipment items included in its base price of $38,300.00.
Like pretty much all of the Hyundai and KIA lineup (Hyundai owns KIA), the Sorento is good looking. It is a brother-in-law of the Hyundai Santa Fe, and this new model seats seven passengers. Luggage space in the far rear of my test car was limited to 9.1 cubic feet, a number that can be increased to 36.9 with the third row of seating folded flat. Double that amount is available if all seats are folded down behind the heated and ventilated power bucket seats that are up front.
All the upholstery in the test SX was black leather and amenities inside included an Infinity surround sound audio setup with ten speakers, navigation/backup camera with 8” screen, panoramic moon roof, blind spot monitor, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, tilt/telescope, rear window shades, pushbutton start, keyless entry, front/rear air conditioning, and satellite radio. Total passenger volume for the seven passenger SX was 151.4 cubic feet.
I won’t mention the test car I turned in the day this Sorento arrived, but will say that upon entering the Sorento, I found the seating and interior materials to be an upgrade and very nice. Visibility, ride, acceleration, and handling are good, and guidance is acceptable.
Speaking of acceleration, zero to sixty for the KIA is reportedly ten seconds. It is accomplished with a 3.3 liter V-6 with 290 horsepower (6,400 rpm) and 252 lb. ft. of torque (5,200 rpm). The full-time all-wheel drive train utilizes a six-speed electronically controlled transmission. EPA fuel economy ratings are 18 mpg-city, 24 mg-highway, and 20 mpg-combined. My calculation came out to 21.1 mpg for my week with the Sorento, and the fuel tank holds 17.4 gallons.
I mentioned the looks of my SX, and the recruitment of Peter Schreyer to KIA (from Audi) eight years ago is a big component of that styling prowess. His TT model at the prior company was an award-winning design. The KIA I drove featured chrome door handles, ten-spoke alloy wheels, metal fascia integration front and rear, and a chrome luggage rack up top. The tires were Kumho Crugen Premium P235/55R19’s.
Base price of the KIA is $38,300.00, and along with freight of $895.00, the total M.S.R.P. came to $39,195.00. This is where the KIA Sorento SX shines, in the value proposition department. Many comparably-equipped seven passenger SUV’s come in at somewhere north of $50,000.00, so when shoppers are interested in such a vehicle, they best consider one of these KIA’s.
In 1978, Sports Illustrated broadcast an unforgettable TV advertisement in which Steve Garvey and the late Lyle Alzado are discussing their jobs. Garvey says “I’m a hitter”, and Alzado says “I’m a hitter, too,” then looks at the bat in Garvey’s hands; “what’s that for?”, to which Garvey replies “for hitting”. Says Alzado, “I’ve got to get me one of those!”
While testing Honda’s new 2015 Fit this last week, I had a handful of people make that exclamation after looking over and riding in the car, most notably my wife, Ruth. I was pretty pleased by the Fit, as well, a Mystic yellow metallic five-door EX model.
The new Fit has been re-designed for 2015, with a distinctive crease incorporated into the bodywork and a new six-speed standard transmission. Its built on a new platform with an increase in rigidity and a 1.6” shorter (160”) overall length. Height (60”) and width (67”) are the same as a 2014, and the curb weight is 2,650 lbs.
The front-wheel drive Fit has a 1.5 liter, 4 cylinder, 16-valve engine with 130 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 114 lb. ft. of torque at 4,600 rpm. Zero to 60 mph acceleration is reportedly 9 seconds and top speed is 110 mph. Fuel economy ratings are 29 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and a combined rating is 32 mpg.
The five-passenger Honda Fit has a surprisingly ample rear seat for three that folds down or alternatively, can be reclined a bit for weary back- seat passengers. Behind the seat is 17 cubic feet of cargo space accessible with a hatch opening (called a fifth door). Folded down seating results in 53 cubic feet of space behind the little buckets.
Guidance and ride are fine out on the highway in the Fit, and the little four buzzes along at 3,600 rpm at 75 mph. That leaves the six-speed transmission with relatively close ratios and that makes acceleration fun, if not breathtaking. Wind and highway noise out there are OK, and in town the handling is on target. 
Interior appointments, including cloth upholstery, are about what a person might expect, except that the EX has a proximity keyless pushbutton starter setup and a power moon roof. Materials are fine inside the Honda, and a lack of radio knobs can be overcome with steering wheel controls and a 7” touchscreen infotainment screen.
A backup camera is part of the deal on this Honda, and the company has supplied a camera on the right hand mirror to view the driver’s blind spot behind and to the right of the vehicle. It kicks on when the right hand turn signal is switched. I think it’s super – better than navigation and XM satellite radio, things not present in the Honda. 
M.S.R.P. of the Honda, at $18,225.00, is a good value. That’s the reason my friends (and my wife) expressed an intent to “get one of these.” We shall see about that.
The most recent press loan car that I received was last week, a Lexus LS460 4-door sedan with all-wheel drive. The team that delivered the car to Greeley was Rocky Mountain Redline, a fleet management firm in Dacono. The car came in Liquid Platinum (silver) metallic and the interior was black semi-aniline (perforated) leather. The car seated five comfortably because the LS (M.S.R.P. $90,444.00) is big, with a wheelbase of 116.9”, overall length of 200”, height of 58.1”, and width of 73.8”. Weight is 4,652 lbs.
Power for the Lexus is provided by a 4.6 liter, 360 horsepower (@6,400 rpm) V-8 with a fuel economy rating of 16-city, 23-highway, and 18-combined mpg. My fuel mileage during the week with the car was 23.6 mpg, and the car held 22.2 gallons of premium gasoline. Torque rating for the Lexus is 347 lb. ft. @ 4,100 rpm, and the transmission is an eight-speed sequential-shift automatic with manual control setup. Acceleration was smooth and supple, and reportedly the LS460 will go zero to sixty in 6.0 seconds and top out at 130 mph. An adaptive air suspension system was featured on this LS, enhancing the ride appreciably. 
My wife Ruth and another couple all jumped into the Lexus recently to go to Denver to have dinner at the Denver Press Club. That couple was Mr. and Mrs. Bud Wells, Bud being the long time auto columnist that was with the Denver Post for over three decades. The LS, of course, gave us a superb ride and we got lucky and parked right in front of the restaurant on Glenarm Street. Dinner was great and Mr. Wells had many stories about his days of visiting the PC after late nights meeting deadlines at the Post.
This car came equipped without the lane departure warning and radar cruise control, but it had a big navigation screen (12.3”) and 19 speaker, 450-watt Mark Levinson stereo with satellite radio, moon roof, and blind spot monitor. Also, the LS had Bluetooth, Lexus Enform app suite, and power tilt/telescope/heated bamboo steering wheel. All the windows powered up or down (out of sight), the mirrors folded in when the car was locked and a proximity key fob and pushbutton starter button were in the car. The front buckets were superb and adjustable in 16 (driver) and 12 (passenger) ways. Stitched leather was all over the interior, including some well-designed door panels. All four corner seats were heated and air conditioned, something for all the seasons, and the trunk held 18 cubic feet with a lid that powered up and down. The rear seats had a reclining feature, and sunshades were installed in all three rear windows.
The styling of the car was a striking, metallic silver, and up front resided LED lighting for day or night attention. Taillights have three “L’s” molded within each, and an appropriate amount of chrome is installed on the car. The wheels were 19” split-seven spoke forged alloys surrounded by 245/45R19 all-season radials. The twin exhausts puffed out of two sculpted chrome finishers molded into the rear fascia.
Driving the LS is a pleasure, the styling of the car is fine, and comfort for all people inside is top notch. The competition is fierce in this segment, but shoppers for a luxury sedan should not bypass the Lexus dealer during their search. 
This past week I had the opportunity to test a new 2014 Mazda2 sedan courtesy of Greeley Mazda, located at their new location at 2805 Eighth Avenue in Greeley. The car was painted Liquid Silver metallic and featured black cloth upholstery with red piping.
The Mazda2, known as the Demio in Japan, is in its third generation iteration, having been introduced at the 2007 Geneva Auto Show. Actually the American 2 was introduced two years later in Los Angeles , and the 2 is a car that has existed in one form or another since 1987.
M.S.R.P. of the Mazda was $17,050.00 (base) and only freight was added onto the price to bring the total to $17,845.00. The 2 was the least expensive automobile that I have ever tested, but I cannot say it was the least attractive. And driving it was fine, as well, with power supplied by a 1.5 liter, 16-valve four cylinder engine with 100 horsepower (@6,000 rpm) and 98 lb. ft. (@4,000 rpm) of torque. Coupled to the front-wheel drive setup was a four-speed automatic electronically-controlled overdrive transmission. The engine burns regular unleaded gasoline, has an 11.3 gallon tank, and rates 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.
Weight of the little Mazda was 2,359 lbs., and the five passenger hatchback was 155.5” long, 66.7” wide, and rode on a 98” wheelbase. Wheels were 15”, eight-spoke alloys fitted with P185/55R15 Yokohama S34 mud and snow radials. Cargo capacity behind the second row of seating was 13.3 cubic ft., and that number doubled when the back seat was folded flat. I found the back seat to be adequate for up to three persons, and the front buckets were supportive and attractive.
Other interior appointments included cruise control, power locks/windows, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, 6-speaker CD/stereo, and a USB/12 volt outlet. Also present, thankfully, was air conditioning capable of cooling this driver in 95 degree heat. Visibility was fine, as was guidance, ride, and handling. No excessive road noise was present, and acceleration was adequate, considering that the car has 100 horsepower. Reportedly, the zero to sixty timing is a little over ten seconds. Front suspension is of the MacPherson strut variety and in the rear is a torsion bar setup.
I think that the styling of the 2 is a strong suite. It has rakish lines, is hiked up in the rear where the hatch is, and has a visor over the rear hatch where a wiper resides. Front styling is along the Mazda family theme; the Mazda family having an attractive lineup to offer.
The Mazda2 appears to this review to be a good choice in the B-segment category. It’s comfortable, drives nice, is good-looking, and won’t break the bank at purchase time.
Yesterday, I took my current test car to Grant, Nebraska to get a photograph at the park where my Nomad posed in front of my camera in 1966. Grant is my home town, and I was there to attend the Bullock Chevrolet auction, where 200 cars and 2,000 people were on hand. I have the silver car pictured for a few more days, and have posted a review elsewhere in this blog. It is a 2014 Lexus LS460 with an M.S.R.P. of $90,444.00. The 1957 Nomad would have brought about the same amount of money, had it been down the street and for sale at the auction. I should never have sold it, but did, in 1968. 
Stu's Reviews 
