2012 Toyota Prius Hybrid

On April 16, 2012August 2, 2013 By stuwright47In *HYBRIDS/ELECTRICS, ToyotaLeave a comment

The Toyota Prius was introduced in our country in 1997, and is America’s top-selling hybrid car. The Prius accounts for almost 51% of the 270,000 or so hybrids sold in America each year, and globally the U.S. accounts for half of Prius production. The name on the car, “Prius”, is Latin for “before”. This is the second “Prii” that I have driven this year, with the first one designated as a “V”, for versatile. This 2012 that I am reporting on now was a Winter Gray metallic, 3^rd generation Prius in the Five Model configuration. A Five Model is the top-of-the-line Prius with SofTex leather-like interior and 17” alloy five spoke wheels, among other things. And by third generation, I mean the car that has been on the market since 2009, with its full re-design. It is the best-looking Prius that has ever been produced.

During the week, Ruth and I travelled to Denver twice in the little gray Prius and obtained over 40 miles per gallon of regular gasoline. We were so excited about the national championship game at the Pepsi Center, I must admit that we failed to nail down the exact mileage of the car. Everyone knows these Prii do good on gas, and the economy ratings are 50/city and 48/highway. The reason that city ratings are superior is because of the availability of electric power to cruise around town. The Prius has a 98 horsepower (1.8 liter) gasoline engine and two electric motor/generators on board. In the “EV” mode, a person can drive to the neighbors or perhaps to Loaf ‘n Jug without the gas engine even operating. For highway driving, you need internal combustion engine power, but the car runs pretty quietly and ride/handling are fine. The Prius is pretty roomy (it seats five) and comfortable, with fetching two-tone seats and plenty of cup holders and compartments. This Prius was base-priced at $29,805.00, and freight and technology package brought the total to $34,885.00. That last item provided hard-disk nav, JBL sound system with MP3 connection, Entune (a Toyota exclusive), HD/satellite radio, Bluetooth, hands-free phone setup, back-up camera, radar cruise control, lane keep assist, and head-up speedometer display in the windshield. Approaching the car with a key fob in your pocket, you can just reach for the door handle and get in. Upon getting situated, you just push the button and the car is ready to drive (even though you may not hear anything). The navigation screen was 6.1” touch-type, and provided oodles of information for interested parties.

Outside, the car had blue-accent car badges, rear spoiler, LED headlamps, power mirrors, and front fog lamps. Tires that were fitted on the 17” alloys were P215/45R17 all-season radials. I recommend the Prius to anyone looking for a solid investment and a method for saving money on gas. A person could wait for the plug-in Prius, due out soon, but would have to spend a little more money, and, well, plug it in. Either way a person wants to go, the pump prices we are seeing make the purchase pretty sensible.

“Paint It, Black” 2012 Toyota Camry SE

On April 9, 2012August 8, 2013 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, ToyotaLeave a comment

Admit it; you thought the name of Mick Jagger’s old smash hit song was “Painted Black.” Well, at least I did. And, in fact, the song lyrics include the phrase, “painted black” on seven different occasions. Jagger and Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones) wrote the song and gave it the title “Paint It Black,” and reportedly Decca, the record label, added the comma. It reached number 1 in both the U.S. and the U.K. in May of 1966, and currently it stands at number 73 on the list of the Greatest Hits of the 60’s.

I love hits of the 60’s, and also love automobiles of the 10’s. The Toyota Camry SE that I drove around last week was painted black – Attitude Black. I get a positive vibe looking at these Toyota paint chips; as you recall, the Toyota Yaris I recently drove was painted Absolutely Red. This Camry, of course, is quite a bit more car, and in fact is America’s number 1 seller, having been so for ten straight years. They whip out over 300,000 units in this country, year after year, and have topped 400,000 units on several occasions.

For 2012, the Toyota Camry was totally redesigned, inside and out. I’ll admit I was perfectly satisfied with the styling of the 2006/2011 Camry, but for 2012 the company has given the car a sleeker, chiseled body style and the fuel mileage has been improved. The SE in my possession had the 3.5 liter, 268 horsepower V6 and was rated at 21 city/30 highway mpg. I observed 21.9 mpg in mostly town mode. Behind the V6 was a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. This is a front-wheel drive automobile with electric power steering to enhance that fuel mileage. It rides (rather firmly) on 18”, dark gray, five spoke alloy wheels fitted with P225/45R18 Michelin “green” Primacy radials. The mid-size sedan is 189.2” long and seats five, weighing in at 3,420 pounds. The trunk contains 15.4 cubic feet of cargo space.

The interior of the SE features leather-trimmed Ultrasuede sport buckets up front and matching two-toned (black/ash) fold-down rear bench with armrest and cupholders. All the sound system and Bluetooth connectivity items are present, as well as hard-disk drive nav/backup camera with touch-screen (6.1”). The JBL stereo has ten speakers in eight locations, and the Toyota cruise control is behind the steering wheel at 4 o’clock. Riding around in the peppy Camry is like wearing a nice old pair of shoes that don’t pinch your toes or bother the arches. It just kind of gets the job done without distress.

Base M.S.R.P. for the SE was $26,640.00, and that included the $895.00 convenience package as well as the leather seating. Moonroof, special mats, wheel locks, and freight brought the total to $31,202.00. That total is actually a couple of thousand dollars less than what Toyota charged for such a model in 2011, making the new Camry a pretty good deal that is “painted black.”

“Good Vibrations” 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan SE

On March 24, 2012August 22, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, VolkswagenLeave a comment

I drove around in a VW Tiguan this last week and experienced some vibrations (more on that later), but overall found the vehicle to be very good, so therefore the Beach Boys megahit came to mind. Brian Wilson and Mike Love wrote it, and Rolling Stone magazine ranked “Good Vibrations” at number 6 on “The 500 Greatest Songs of all Time” list in their 2004 special issue. That lofty perch is higher than any Beatles hit (“Hey Jude” is number 8,) and bandleader Wilson took seven months, four studios, and $50,000.00 to piece together the song for its late-1966 introduction. Reportedly Wilson got the idea to write the song because his mother, Audree, taught him that dogs picked up “vibrations” from people, therefore choosing to bark at some, but not at others.

Is this article about a car, or about music? It’s about a car; specifically the Volkswagen Tiguan (name = tiger + iguana.) The unit came in Night Blue Metallic and featured a beige leather interior. M.S.R.P. was $33,300.00, including freight, and the SE 4Motion (all-wheel drive) model came handsomely equipped. The drive train consisted of a 200 hp, turbocharged, 4 cylinder, 2 liter engine with 207 lb. ft. of torque. And behind it was a 6 speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic shifting and sport mode. I mentioned vibrations earlier, and here’s the deal. To enhance fuel economy, Volkswagen has elected to direct the transmission to move into the higher gears at lower rpm (perhaps 1,350.) So in residential areas, for instance, the drive train tended to vibrate somewhat. Stepping on the throttle quickly put the transmission in a lower gear, and off you would go. I thought perhaps it was a dealer adjustment, but upon visiting the blogosphere, I found quite a bit of discussion about the tendency. The car reminded me a little bit of a diesel city bus – they jump into their higher gear ratios the same way. I’m writing quite a bit about this, so let’s move on.

Highway driving and manners of the Tiguan were par excellence, to be sure. The interior had that Teutonic luxury look that you would have expected, and on hand were the navigation system, satellite radio, tilt/telescope, heated buckets, fold down rear seat, Bluetooth and media device interface, and a huge panoramic power sunroof that extended over the back seats. It was a lot of fun around town, especially so if you employed the Tiptronic transmission. And doing so involved a city fuel economy rating of 21 mpg (27 city). I observed 23.5 during my week with the car, and it required premium unleaded gasoline. Weight of the Tiguan was 3,434 lbs. and its wheelbase was 102.5”. Styling was sleek and European, and the car rode on attractive, 18” alloy wheels.

I enjoyed the “good vibrations” of spending a week with the Tiguan, and if I was in the market for a small SUV such as this VW, Toyota’s RAV4, or Honda’s CRV, I would be taking a long look at the Volkswagen.

“Mamma Mia!” 2012 Volvo S60 R Design

On January 30, 2012August 2, 2013 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, VolvoLeave a comment

The Italian phrase for “My Goodness” comes to mind as I test the Volvo S60 this past week. It was a Passion Red all wheel drive four door sedan dressed out in the “R Design” configuration, fully loaded. R Design refers to the special front styling, blue watch dial instrument cluster, increased horsepower, tuned suspension, special wheels, dual tailpipes, and trunk tail fin. The 3 liter, 325 horsepower six makes this car the most powerful production Volvo ever, and is an in-line model setting crosswise under the hood of the car, providing a measure of frontal collision safety. It’s turbocharged and provides 354 lb./ft. of torque with a redline of 7,000 rpms. Coupled with a six speed automatic transmission, the zero to sixty and top speed numbers are reportedly 5.3 seconds and 134 governor limited miles per hour. Fuel (premium) numbers are 18/26, and I have noted a readout of 22.7 mpg. The car rides on 18” IXION alloy wheels fitted with 235/40ZR18 Continental Extreme Contact radials.

The M.S.R.P of the little Volvo was $46,875.00, including freight. Also included was a Multimedia package ($2,700), and Climate package ($800), the two of which provided premium sound, rear park assist camera, navigation system, heated seats/headlight washers/windshield washer nozzles, and an upgraded interior air quality setup. The R Design elements (see above) were included in the base price of $42,500.00. Inside the car were Offblack leather buckets with double stitching, yummy aluminum inlayed trimwork all over, leather steering wheel with more aluminum, power moon roof, and sporty shift knob and pedals. All the appointments that are to be expected in a loaded sedan are there including a console/stack with buttons I’m still, as of this writing, getting familiar with. I’ll describe two: one to flop the rear headrests down for rear visibility in reverse, and another to activate the rear camera and peek at the plates on that vehicle that’s been tailgating you.

I referred to the Volvo as “little” because it’s only a bit over fifteen feet long. It will fit in the garage and you can have a washer/dryer against the wall ahead of it. Wheelbase is the same as a Toyota Camry, however, and the car weighs 3,863 lbs. The engine positioning is the reason for the stubbiness. I don’t care if they installed it upside-down in there, though, because this car flies! And it’s an extremely smooth delivery of the power (quiet, too). I took off for Wellington in the Volvo and found the ride to be firm, but compliant. Steering is very light and responsive, as well. If driving in the dark on winding roads, the Active Bending Xenon dual headlights do an excellent job of lighting the road ahead. I actually don’t know how that all works – maybe chipmunks looking through the grill with a little control stick in their hands. But I liked it. My trip up north didn’t take very long, but long were the looks of people on the road admiring the Volvo with its gleaming red finish and somewhat jaunty, rakish styling.

I say, Mamma Mia, what a car! Ironically, a musical by that name is coming to Greeley next month. The play features music by the group ABBA, a bunch of Swedes that happen to have produced a great product. Like Volvo.

“Little Deuce Coupe” 2012 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR

On January 23, 2012August 2, 2013 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, NissanLeave a comment

The 1963 Beach Boys hit was the b-side single opposite “Surfer Girl”, and was about a b-car, the 1932 Ford model B. “Deuce” in the song title was a result of the last digit in that model year, and the Nissan I drove last week was another “deuce coupe”, the 2012 Nissan Altima 3.5 SR 2 door. A lot of things have changed in eighty years, and as an example, “pink slip” in the lyrics of that song meant the title to the souped up Ford. In today’s jobless recovery a “pink slip” would refer to the termination notice that might be found in one’s pay envelope. “Little Deuce Coupe”, “409”, “Shut Down”, “This Car of Mine”, and “Fun, Fun, Fun” were examples of Beach Boy car hits of the 60’s, and like my kids, I loved them all.

I grew rather fond of the Altima in our time spent together, as well. The Ford back then cost $490.00, so in inflation adjusted dollars, the Altima may be a little pricey ($32,165.00), but then again it’s pretty loaded with equipment not even dreamed of in 1932. The M.S.R.P. included a base of $30,700, floor and trunk mats, and a rear spoiler. The SR is the top line Altima with bolstered charcoal leather seating, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, Bose stereo, USB port, XM satellite radio, Bluetooth wireless cell phone link, rearview camera, auto-dimming rearview mirror, compass, moonroof, universal garage door opener, and xenon headlights. Also included is, of course, power windows and locks, tilt/telescope steering column, a smallish leather wrapped steering wheel with lots of controls on it, pushbutton starting, real “hand” brake, keyless entry, and an excellent cruise control. Back seat room is designed for three people, but by the looks of it back there, I think the less entrants the better. It is, after all, a coupe.

Under the hood is a DOHC, 24 valve, 270 horsepower V6 with 258 lbs. ft. of torque. It provides plenty of snap through a close ratio 6 speed manual transmission (a coupe exclusive) and front-wheel-drive configuration. It’s fun to drive and provides fuel economy ratings of 18/city and 27/highway (my observance – 21.1). I set sail for Cherry Creek mall in the “Red Alert” Altima and noticed a lot of attention being paid to me at stoplights in LaSalle, Platteville, and Brighton. The styling of the car includes a re-designed chrome grill and foglights up front with a Maxima look, 18” ten spoke alloy wheels, and dual tip exhausts at the rear. Ride is compliant, but firm, and as mentioned earlier, acceleration is fine (reportedly zero to sixty in 5.5 seconds).

The main competition for the Altima is the Honda Accord coupe with similar size, horsepower, and dimensions. As I understand it, the Altima comes out on top relative to sportiness and handling. I would certainly rate it as a top pick in this particular category.

“Sunken Treasure” – 2011 Land Rover LR4 4WD

On October 14, 2011July 22, 2013 By stuwright47In *SPORT UTILITIES, Land RoverLeave a comment

In December of 1981, a new military regime took control of the country of Argentina. The new junta was made up of Gen. Leopoldo Galtieri, Brig. Basilio Lami Dozo, and Adm. Jorge Anaya. The latter was the main architect of a military solution to Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands, a claim disputed by the United Kingdom. The Falklands are made up of two large and many small islands east of Argentina in the South Atlantic Ocean, and Adm. Anaya wanted to seize control of them and thus divert public attention away from the chronic problems of the Argentine economy. He also wanted to mobilize the country’s patriotic feelings.

What does all of this have to do with the subject of my SUV review, the Land Rover LR4? Well, in the buildup for the Falklands War, the British sent a boatload of Land Rover Series III’s aboard the Atlantic Conveyor towards the Islands. The vehicles were for the purpose of transporting combat troops into battle upon arrival. The Conveyor was hit by an Argentine missile and sunk, leaving hundreds of Land Rovers at the bottom of the Atlantic and many British troops “yomping” (walking) into combat. The Land Rover Company wasn’t sunk, however, and 30 years later they manufactured the lovely LR4 that I recently drove for a week.

The Baltic Blue beauty I tested had a M.S.R.P. of $58,515.00, which included a heavy duty package as well as a $9,155.00, seven seat LUX package. When it was delivered to my home, I was particularly excited to take my first drive in a Land Rover. The company makes five models, which are split into two series: Land Rover (LR2 and LR4) and the higher-end Range Rover (Evoque, Sport, and the $80,000.00 Range Rover). What I had my hands on was the top-of-the-line Land Rover, a relative bargain when compared to Audi’s Q7 ($8,000.00 more), Mercedes’ GL450 ($18,000.00 more), and Toyota’s Land “Cruiser” ($15,000.00 more).

I grabbed my camera (and wife), and headed for Central City for a nice afternoon jaunt. The LR4 sits up nice and high and has a terrific SUV truck-like feel. The ride is super and the visibility is off-the-charts; it’s like riding in an Amtrak Superliner. Options are all over the place inside (almond/nutmeg premium leather seating), including nav, back-up camera, armrests, electronic steering column, and an analog clock. Topside the vehicle has THREE glass panel roofs, the front one powered. I know I’m gushing about this rig, but truthfully, it was just superb.

In the Central City/Blackhawk area, I cruised up and down the little streets and gleaned a lot of eyeballs in the process. The LR4 rolls on 19”, 7-split spoke alloy wheels and of course has the iconic mini-grills on the fenders as well as a rather sophisticated Xenon headlight setup. The tailgate is an asymmetric, two-piece design and I liked it. Power to the four wheels is provided by a 5.0 liter, 375 hp V-8 that can set you sailing from zero to 60 in under 8 seconds. A six speed transmission puts the power to the transfer case. For off-roading, a knob on the console provides a Terrain Response system for surfaces you are likely (or unlikely) to encounter while motoring away from the highway.

Thirty years ago a bunch of Land Rovers were sunk and the British soldiers were sent into battle afoot. But the UK won the Falklands War and the Land Rover Company has produced over four million vehicles worldwide since 1947. I sure had a blast in the LR4 I had for a week.

2012 Toyota Prius V

On October 4, 2011July 25, 2013 By stuwright47In *HYBRIDS/ELECTRICS, ToyotaLeave a comment

The new, bigger, Toyota Prius V (vee) was introduced in our country in October of 2011, and was designed as a station wagon/multi-purpose vehicle to complement the Prius lineup. The Prius has been around since 1997 and is America’s number one selling hybrid. In fact, it accounted for almost 51% of the 270,000 or so hybrids sold in America last year, and globally the U.S. accounts for half of Prius production. The name on the car, “Prius”, is Latin for “before”.

The Barcelona red, front-wheel drive 2012 model Prius V was delivered to my house last week and I immediately planned a trip to Estes Park to buy lunch for my wife, Ruth. I punched the button to begin calculating the fuel mileage for the trip, and we headed for the Other Side (on the other side of Estes). I can’t really complain about the power it provided going up through the canyon, and handling was suitable, as was the ride. In a hybrid like this, the car has a gas (98 hp) engine and two electric (80 & 36 hp) motor/generators that combine (through a planetary gearbox) to power the wheels. Electric motors are actually generators, and visa versa. Put the juice to a motor, and you get motion. Crank the generator, and you get electricity. So these motor/generators in a Prius serve the dual purposes of wheel power and battery charge. And gasoline is the “motion lotion” that makes the car go – no gas, no go. When you leave a stoplight with a Prius, electric power gets you rolling and gasoline power takes it from 15 mph. When you slow down for a light, the weight of the car turns a motor/generator and charges the nickel-metal hydride battery. You can select “EV mode” on the console and creep around with electric power only, for instance in a parking garage at night. You can push a “power” button, too, and get maximum acceleration with max gas power. You cannot plug in a Prius, but I understand a plug-in model is being introduced. It will allow you to go, say, 50 miles without starting the gasoline engine, and the car is to be more expensive.

How does all this stuff work together for J. Q. Public, just trying to reach his or her destination? Pretty darn good, I’d say. I thoroughly enjoyed the week with this 5 passenger car, and by the way got 52.5 mpg on that trip to Estes Park. Even with a “fudge factor” that may be involved with the car’s computer, it’s excellent economy. The Prius V was equipped with heated leather buckets, as well as the “Advanced technology package”, that added $5,580.00 to the base price of $29,990.00. M.S.R.P. therefore came to $36,622.00 with the floor mats, wheel locks, and freight. In that package was hard disk drive navigation, back-up cam, 8 speaker stereo, satellite radio, USB port, Bluetooth phone setup, radar cruise control, double stationary moonroof arrangement with shades, electric power steering, power windows/locks/tailgate, and digital climate control. So many gadgets are included, that I understand Nancy Pelosi tells her friends that if they want to know what all is present on her Prius, they need to buy one.

“Twenty Years of Pride” 2011 BMW 328i

On September 26, 2011August 26, 2014 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, BMWLeave a comment

In October of 1991, Motor Trend magazine selected BMW’s 325i as one of the “Ten Best” automobiles of the 1992 model year. BMW had (and has) produced automobiles since 1929 and along the way also produced airplane engines (WWII) and motorcycles. The highly anticipated 325i had been totally restyled and featured a 2.5 liter, 189hp, DOHC in-line, six cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission. The reputation of BMW had been burnished into the minds of the motoring public with the production of the 2002 during the sixties and seventies. That “New Class” compact sporting sedan featured the celebrated M10 four-cylinder engine as well as independent suspension, MacPherson struts, and front disc brakes. The 2002 was the precursor to the famed 325i that was introduced twenty years ago this month. The 1992 325i weighed a ton and a half, was 175” long, and reportedly accelerated 0 to 60mph in 8.0 seconds.

Twenty years have rolled by since the 325i introduction, and now the model most akin to that car is the 2011 BMW 328i. I recently was able to drive around in one with all-wheel drive and a 3.0 liter, 230hp, DOHC six-cylinder engine and six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. I have never owned a BMW, but after some time behind the wheel, I see why the car has such a sterling reputation. This 2011 BMW 3 series is superior in virtually every way when compared to one sold twenty years ago. Consider that the 328i: will go an additional 2 highway miles on a gallon of gas, will go zero to sixty in two seconds less, and will top out at an additional 15mph when compared with its 1992 counterpart. And the price has gone from a base of $28,000.00 to a current $36,600.00, a REDUCTION when inflation is factored in.

The Tasman green four-door sedan I had the pleasure of driving had saddle brown Dakota leather upholstery, 3-way heated front seats, tilt-telescope steering column, and all the power accessories including moonroof. The trunk is a rather large 14 cubic feet, and the wheels were 17”, ten-spoke alloys. Other amenities too numerous to mention were present in this “Ultimate Driving Machine”, and the MSRP, as equipped, was $42,550.00.

When behind the wheel of a BMW, you expect (and receive) a taut, supple ride, lots of acceleration, and crisp cornering capabilities. The car met my expectations on this day, and I also enjoyed the firm, well-bolstered bucket seats and sensible instrument panel. Rear seating is, might I say, limited, but the car is manufactured with the people up front in mind. And up there the driver enjoys the aforementioned 0 to 60mph acceleration of 6 seconds and BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) for braking. That system includes stopping functions for deceleration, wet weather, incline, and heat control. Bottom line; the BMW provides the GO! and the WHOA!.

For twenty years BMW has avoided any bankruptcies, bailouts, or boondoggles. Just steady progress that followed that 1992 Motor Trend Top Ten selection and proceeding to today’s sleek, technically advanced, fifth generation 328i. Car & Driver magazine agreed with that 1992 selection, and tacked on 19 more in succession to include the car that I drove last month. I’ll second that (those) notion(s).

2011 Volkswagen Jetta SEL

On September 19, 2011August 8, 2013 By stuwright47In *PASSENGER CARS, VolkswagenLeave a comment

Volkswagen was originally founded in 1937 by the German Labor Front, a Nazi trade union. The venture included production of an inexpensive car for the common man along with state-sponsored financing (“five marks a week you must put aside, if in your own car you want to ride”). Previously, Germans could typically only afford a motorcycle, but with the advent of this new Wolfsburg factory, hundreds of thousands could afford this new “Beetle”, designed by Ferdinand Porsche. World War II cut off civilian automobile production, but not before Adolf Hitler received a Cabriolet model for his 49^th birthday (1938).

Fast forward to 2011, and we find that Volkswagen (People’s Car) has enjoyed almost 60 years of success in the United States, with sales peaking in 1970 at over a half million cars (7% of the U. S. market). Current market share has been cut roughly to half of that, but the company has a long-range U. S. target of a million cars and trucks, counting Audis, by 2018. Audi is the premium automobile brand of Volkswagen AG.

The number one selling Volkswagen is the Jetta, produced since 1979. It is currently in it’s sixth generation form, this new model having been introduced in June of last year. A Candy White 2011 Jetta SEL2.5 four-door sedan was brought to my home on a recent Monday morning, and I immediately got inside to check out the amenities. Heated seats and mirrors, plus color-screen navigation and Sirius satellite radio: check. Power lumbar “V-tech” leatherette Titan black bolstered buckets and leather wheel: check. Metal pedal covers/ door sills and Bluetooth and IPod connection: check. Pushbutton start (on the console) and six-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission: check. Although most of the buzz this summer is about the new masculine (supposedly) Beetle introduction, this Jetta is almost the newest VW in the lineup and, as mentioned earlier, the most popular. It’s easy to see and feel why, because this is a real nice car.

I jumped in and took off for Ft. Collins for some lunch and a test drive. A real firm ride is in store for the operator; a feeling of quality (and quietness). The steering wheel is rather thick with lots of buttons, and the transmission is a treat. One complaint I had is that it travels up to top gear rather hurriedly, but two solutions exist for that problem – the sports mode and the Tiptronic (manual) selection. Operating this car manually is a snap; the best I have driven. Speaking of snap, the five cylinder, 2.5 liter, 170 hp engine provides plenty of that. More, in fact, than would seem available with that horsepower rating.

Guiding the little Jetta up the Interstate is pleasurable. Once again, the ride is a little firm with our beat up Interstate along the Front Range. I had plenty of punch for changing lanes and running by service trucks and seniors. At the Charco Broiler parking lot I stepped outside to view the styling of the VW. It’s good, if not spectacular, and looks particularly nice from the front. The mirrors have lighting stripes on them and up front are good-looking fog lights. The new Jetta, brought out last year, is longer than its predecessor, resulting in an enlarged back seating area. Indeed, there is legroom for a big human being. Plus the trunk is the biggest in its class, at 15.5 cubic feet. Also in the center of the back seat is a flop-down armrest/cupholder and this VW had a power moonroof.

After lunch, I drove to Centerra shopping area and took photos of the Jetta at Chapungu Sculpture Park. This is the best-looking Jetta to date, and has 17”, fifteen-spoke alloy wheels to dress it up. The back windows do not roll out of sight, as do those of many models that compete against it. But bottom line; I’d own a car like this, perhaps in a more exciting color.

2012 Infiniti FX50s AWD

On September 15, 2011August 22, 2014 By stuwright47In *CROSSOVERS, Infiniti1 Comment

Last week in Phoenix I was able to test drive a 2012 Infiniti SUV courtesy of PageOneAuto of Chandler, Arizona. Carrie Owens of POA was nice enough to have the vehicle waiting at Sky Harbor airport for my visit to the Valley of the Sun. Ruth accompanied me and we stayed in Scottsdale, visiting Rockie spring training and as well, we attended the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Speedway. The Infiniti was brand new and painted Graphite Shadow dark silver with matching graphite quilted leather interior.

Infiniti has been producing the FX series of vehicles since 2003, and is the luxury division of Nissan Motors of Japan. The FX is a mid-size upscale crossover and the FX50 has a 5.0 liter V8 with 390 hp (@ 6,500 rpm) under the hood. Torque is 369 lb-.ft., and the engine is mated to a seven speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Big magnesium paddle shifters are behind the steering wheel to take care of shifting with both hands under heavy acceleration. The economy ratings are 14 city/20 highway, and during the week I was pleased to observe an overall mileage rating of 18.8 mpg. The car has Intelligent All-Wheel Drive with snow mode, and reportedly accelerates from zero to sixty in 5.4 seconds.

On Sunday morning we jumped in the FX and blasted off for Avondale, AZ, home of the Sprint Cup race track and NASCAR racing action. It was a pretty good distance from Scottsdale, and allowed us to get a feel for the big Infiniti out on the Interstates. I’m calling it big, but in fact it is less than sixteen feet long with a wheelbase of 113.6”. But it weighs 4,557 lbs., so therefore it has a big vehicle feel and ride. The FX has ample clearance for a crossover, but is in fact built somewhat low to the ground like a sports car. It rolls on 265/45R21 V rated tires and 21” (TWENTY ONE!) 6 spoke alloy wheels. The styling of this four door is dynamite – I have admired them since they were introduced nine years ago.

The interior of the Infiniti is first class in both upholstery and electronic gadgetry. The hard drive nav/backup camera has an 8” split screen and voice command. In the screen the driver is able to view “eye in the sky” location of the car for parking or backing up. All the power options are on hand including tilt/telescope, seating (both heated and cooled up front), flop down rear seating allowing for 62 cubic feet of cargo space, 11 speaker Bose stereo with DVD player, Bluetooth music and phone connection and the technology package. The last item provided adaptive cruise control and a lane departure prevention setup that I found helpful. The package added $2,900 to the base price of $59,350, and a sport package was another $3,100. Total M.S.R.P. came to $66,545.00, a little below average for a vehicle in this class such as a Porsche Cayenne or BMW X6M.

I found myself enjoying our vacation in Phoenix a little more due to the top flight wheels Ruth and I had to move around in. We put on about 500 miles and were able to show it off in the Salt River Fields parking lot for a spring training game with the KC Royals. The Rockies were not winners on that day, but the Infiniti FX50s was and is one, both in looks and in operation.