2010 North American International Auto Show Preview, parte due

So I got a slew of emails this week from the NAIAS show organizers. Here’s a sampling of what to expect!

The first one is regarding the charity preview on the Friday evening before the show officially starts. This year that day is January 15th:

"The Romantics" Set to Rock Charity Preview at 2010 North American International Auto Show - National Recording Artists Coming Home to Help Out

Detroit, MI - January 5, 2010 - The home-grown masters of infectious upbeat, three-chord rock are coming back to Detroit for an exclusive show at the 2010 Charity Preview at Cobo Center, Friday, January 15, 2010.

The annual Charity Preview gala event is once again scheduled for the Friday prior to public days, January 15 from 6-9 p.m. The annual event benefits 12 local children's charities and has raised more then $79 million since its inception in 1976, with the money raised by ticket sales going to provide medical treatment, clothing and support services for local kids. Tickets for Charity Preview are currently available and can be purchased by calling 888-838-7500, or by visiting www.charitypreview.com. Tickets are $250 each.

"Entertainment for Charity Preview is great because it provides value for a ticket that does so much good for so many in our tri-county area. But to have The Romantics here to play for the home crowd is beyond our expectations," said Doug Fox, chairman, 2010 NAIAS. "These guys earned their stripes playing for America's toughest audiences in the Midwest and specifically Detroit. They understand how to deliver a show that is sure to not only provide an uplifting party, but to draw a crowd to help those in dire need when times are the most difficult - the children of our cities."

With a driving E-A-D-A chord progression and a raucous refrain of "HEY.uh  huh," of "What I Like About You," The Romantics blazed onto airwaves in 1980 and firmly established themselves in the power pop movement. Hits like "Talkin' in Your Sleep," "Rock You Up" and "One in a Million" broke to national channels to make the band a staple on the touring circuit to take the Detroit legacy of Iggy Pop melded with The Ramones energy to the masses.

"We are proud to take part in this charitable event. It's always exciting when we play Detroit, but doing it to help the community in our hometown takes this to another level for us," said Romantics guitarist/vocalist Wally Palmar. "We know this will be a great show for the Detroit crowd and I know they won't disappoint in benefiting what's important to all of us - the children of the Motor City."

Along with repeats I posted last week was this gem of an announcement:

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood to Attend 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will hold a press conference at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan at 7:00 AM on Monday, January 11, 2010. The North American International Auto Show in Detroit is the largest automotive showcase in America.

Following the press conference, Secretary LaHood will attend the opening ceremony and unveilings for Ford, GM and Toyota, then tour the show floor.

WHO: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood

WHAT: Press Conference at the North American International Auto Show, Detroit, MI

WHEN: 7:00 AM - Monday, January 11, 2010

WHERE: Cobo Center, Michigan Hall Stage
               1 Washington Boulevard
               Detroit, MI  48226

Now I’m really feeling the pain of not going to the press preview this year! I’d love to hear what Mr. LaHood will say about our current transportation needs and what, if anything, the federal government is planning for the future.

Remember, the public show runs January 16 through January 23, 2010. Go here for more info.

And here’s today's Retro Review, one of my all-time favorite trucks!:

2003 GMC Sierra w/Quadrasteer

A Big Truck with Maneuvers to Spare

By James E. Bryson

Innovation is nothing new for automakers. It's how they get people to buy more of their product and it grants the innovator bragging rights for at least a few years. Enter what GM is calling Quadrasteer: just like it sounds, it's four-wheel steering for a pickup truck…pretty neat.

In the light truck category, those that are smaller than a semi and work just as hard, innovation has been slow for the last few years because there's only so much you can do with a pickup, until the competition bring their version to market.

Other manufacturers have tried this type of thing before, most notably the Nissan 300ZX with HICAS (High Capacity Actively Controlled Suspension) rear steering. But where Nissan failed to attract buyers to a high performance sports car that could corner better, this new iteration from The General is actually useful to a larger percentage of the truck populace.

We tested Quadrasteer on a 2003 GMC Sierra Heavy Duty crew cab with four full-sized doors and a standard bed. It was pretty long and sat really high…what a great truck should be.

For the price of a decent used car ($5,525) you get the four-wheel steering package: Quadrasteer, roof marker lamps (like a semi), heavy duty trailering equipment, manually selected ride control, a limited slip differential and a 145-amp alternator. All of this must be accompanied by the heavy-duty package as well. Hopefully it won't be long before this option will be available on regular trucks so that more of the population can take advantage of this class-leading feature.

The funny thing is…Quadrasteer is well worth the money. We found that we were able to run circles around some family sedans and we even made a few u-turns that no other truck could conceivably accomplish without two or three tries doing the old three-point maneuver.

This new system is supposed to be great for towing (the rear wheels turn with the fronts on the road so the trailer will follow more easily). Unfortunately for us we didn't get a chance to test the Sierra's towing ability but we're sure that with the ride control, big engine and Quadrasteer we could have towed anything including a fifth-wheel trailer with ease (mostly because the truck sits really high).

Inside the Sierra HD is just like any other GM truck, which isn't as bad as you might think. On the contrary, it's a very livable, useable place. Our tester was equipped with many neat options that would make travel a delight. For the kids, there was a DVD entertainment system with connections for gaming systems. For the adults, there was an upgraded radio with CD, Bose speakers and XM satellite radio.

The real distinguishing factor to tell the Quadrasteer vehicle from more plebian Sierras is the rear fender bulges and semi-like lights adorning the top of the cab and bulged fenders. One thing we really missed with this truck was running boards. It's a fairly tall vehicle and we ended up having to practically jump into it every time. While not an issue to keep us from buying, this was getting old by the end of our visit with the Sierra.

One startling thing we found with our tester was the bouncy ride this truck affords. We had to keep telling ourselves that this is a work truck and not something designed for daily commuting, unless your commute takes you onto a construction site or you haul a trailer as part of your occupation. With that in mind we found it a bit easier to swallow the as-tested price of $45,095, which included a $745 destination charge.

Options on our tester, which ended up bumping the test vehicles price by 12-large, included the $1600 SLT décor group (front leather seats, air and dual-zone climate controls, cruise control, CD radio, power windows and locks, transfer case and steering wheel controls for almost everything); the aforementioned Quadrasteer package; rear-seat DVD entertainment system ($1295); front reclining buckets with power driver seat ($1135); $595 for the totally awesome Bose CD stereo; $325 for an equally awesome XM satellite receiver; polished aluminum wheels ($150); LT245/75R16 tires ($55); and a 4.10 rear axle ($50).

Funny thing is, without all the frilly stuff and Quadrasteer, a heavy-duty GMC bases at $33,620.00. For the price you get basic necessities like 6.0-liter V8, four-wheel ABS, rear heat ducts and a 60/40 split rear seat, full gauges with tachometer, trailer wire harness and tilt wheel.

Our bottom line comes down to this: even if this Sierra came without Quadrasteer and the XM Radio package it would still be a great vehicle, albeit a much less expensive one.

Today’s Car of the Day:

Here’s the Cadillac Converj electric vehicle concept from the 2009 NAIAS. It’s basically an electric-powered CTS coupe.

This is one of those concepts that I really wish the company would build…unadulterated and unchanged form concept form. Too bad that rarely happens.

Thanks for stopping by!!

2010 North American International Auto Show Preview

The auto show season is in full swing and we’ve got a little preview from emails we received from show organizers.

Here’s an interesting one for the greenies out there:

Detroit, MI - December 18, 2009 - Media, government officials, the global auto industry and the public will see fresh exhibits highlighting "green" technology at the 2010 NAIAS. The show marks the debut of Electric Avenue presented by The Dow Chemical Company on the main show floor, a 37,000 square-foot area dedicated to showcasing the latest in electronic vehicles and technology.

"NAIAS is proud of the history we have in bringing innovative ideas to a world-wide audience, and the all-new Electric Avenue is going to show visitors from around the globe where the future of automotive technology is headed," said Doug Fox, chairman, 2010 NAIAS. "This effort allows for more than doing what is trendy by addressing a necessary think-tank of discussion that will dictate where the global auto industry will go in 2010 and beyond. The NAIAS is proud to have a sponsor such as The Dow Chemical Company that understands the value of these efforts. Its endorsements of this activity allow the show to continue to be a thought-provoking leader to an industry with significant worldwide and economic impact."

This new feature is set to dovetail perfectly with the returning Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) EcoXperience in Michigan Hall that will once again feature a quarter-mile track winding through a landscape designed after Michigan's natural beauty.

Scheduled vehicles appearing in Electric Avenue include: BYD Auto e6; BYD Auto F3DM-hybrid; Commuter Cars - Tango 600; CT&T United eZone; CT&T United cZone; Edison2 (X Prize); EV Innovations - Wave 2 (X Prize); Green Vehicles Triac; Harvey Coachworks BugE; Li Shi Guang Ming LI'S; Mitsubishi I MiEV; Nissan LEAF; Saba Motors - SABA "Carbon Zero" Roadster (X Prize); SSI Racing - 2SSIC-65 (X Prize); Michelin - Venturi Volage; Michelin - Nissan Mixim; ZAP - Alias (X Prize)

Of course, this list is subject to change…

So my trepidation about all these electric vehicles is their claim that the are zero emission vehicles. The problem with that statement is the way we create electricity: mostly from BURNING coal and natural gas. And as we all should know by now, the burning of fossil fuels is where the theory of global warming gets it fuel. Therefore, I think they should not be able to call these things zero emission vehicles because form most accounts I’ve read or heard, creating enough electricity to power an electric car is just about as bad for the environment as if that car burned gasoline. The only true zero emission vehicle is those powered by people (bicycles) or powered by electricity made not form fossil fuels but from the sun, or possibly nuclear power.

I’ll get down off my soapbox now…

Here’s another interesting email form show organizers outlining more goodies in store:

Detroit, MI - December 24, 2009 - More than 40 glitzy cars and concepts, technology of the future, thousands of journalists and top governmental officials are only the front fender to the vehicle that is going to motor the world's economy starting Jan. 11, 2010 when the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) opens its doors. While the place to learn about what the international automakers have planned for the future, the NAIAS is ready to once again be a forum on the industry for top leaders.

As proof, a series of symposiums await the world that will feature a look at the past, present and future of technologies designed to move the industry and a global economy forward.

Initial symposiums planned for Thursday, January 14 at NAIAS on the Detroit Hall Stage (main floor) include:

9:30 am - TARDEC presents "Driving Solutions - Commercial Military"

11:00 am - The Henry Ford presents "Electric Cars - Past & Future"

2:00 pm - Center for Automotive Research presents "Vehicle Electrification - From Oil to the Grid"

All, with more updates to come, are part of the aggressive "green presence" at the 2010 NAIAS. Exhibits and features providing the necessary backdrop to emerging technology trends include:

• Electric Avenue, a 37,000 square-foot area, on the main show floor, presented by The Dow Chemical Company, is dedicated to showcasing the latest in electric vehicles and technology by both traditional automakers and innovative entrepreneurs. The all-new exhibit area will feature nearly 20 vehicles as well as symposiums and special events on an adjacent NAIAS stage.

• The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has returned with EcoXperience, which will once again be featured in Michigan Hall, offering a quarter-mile track through a Michigan-designed landscape, where journalists will be able to drive low emission vehicles indoors, while the public can experience the same track by taking rides during public days. The display will feature more than 200 evergreen and deciduous trees; over 600 evergreen and flowering shrubs; over 5,000 flowering tulips, daffodils and hyacinths; approximately 650,000 pounds of stone; and over 130,000 gallons of water flowing through two water features, both with waterfalls.

"To say we are 'charged up' about the 2010 NAIAS, isn't just a pun based on the electric vehicle technology that will be on hand this year," said Doug Fox, chairman, 2010 NAIAS.  "NAIAS is always about providing the insight and forum for progressive discussion on where the automotive industry is going. It provides exhibitors an opportunity to showcase what they are doing about the future and to educate and inform thousands of journalists, government leaders and the public about technologies that will be available to all of us."

So not only is there a bevy of cool cars and technology on display at the 2010 NAIAS, but there’s symposiums, meetings, balloting and much more! It’s a veritable cornucopia of events all rolled into one!

Today’s Retro Review (which you should find to be totally opposite of eco-friendly):

2006 HUMMER H1 Alpha

Alpha Indeed

by James E. Bryson

Monsters come in all shapes and sizes. Figuratively and literally. There are the imaginary ones under the bed (they aren't really there, right?). Then you have the cute ones recently featured in myriad animated movies.

Then there are the monsters of the road; the tractor-trailers traveling the highways of America and the land yachts of this generation, the SUV.

It was that last bit that got us going on this tangent: we got to spend a quasimodo-esque week with a more-powerful 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha wagon. And for anyone even remotely familiar with the HUMMER brand, you know that these vehicles were first conceived as a civilian-use military truck. And we can honestly say that it's still not far off the military family tree.

"Alpha represents HUMMER performance taken to its ultimate extension," according to HUMMER general manager Susan Docherty. "That means improving HUMMERs already-unmatched off-road capability, along with enhancements to fuel efficiency and driving comfort on the road. As the original HUMMER, the H1 is the perfect vehicle to mark the start of the Alpha series."

Here, here!

And let us tell you that the big dog Alpha lives up to its name in every way, shape and form. It is the king of whatever road it travels, or makes as the case may be, and it commands all in its vicinity to come closer an ogle its righteousness…or maybe that was just our perception.
It seemed that everyone out in the world could do nothing but stare at the H1. A few brave souls came by and asked questions or made comments but no one commented on the gas guzzling nature of the Beast, as we eventually referred to it.

It's just as well they didn't, since the H1 we drove came equipped with the new-to-HUMMER-for-2006 6.6-liter Duramax turbo diesel that makes a chest-thumping 300 horsepower and foundation-rocking 520 lb.-ft. of torque, about 95 and 94 more than the previous 6.5-liter turbo diesel, respectively. We're talking enough power to tow almost anything this side of a fifth-wheel or to pull that stubborn old stump on your back 40 out of its resting place and drag it into the pond for the fishies to enjoy.

The only drawback to the gobs of power is the fuel mileage…let's just say that if you need to ask then maybe you shouldn't. Or, to put it another way, the H1 doesn't list its mileage numbers on the vehicle sticker, like any other heavy-duty truck. What we can sya about the mileage is the we got about 500 miles between both tanks…and with about 50 total gallons used, you could say the Beast got around 10 miles per gallon of diesel fuel. But that is mere conjecture and not necessarily based on any real events (names will be changed to protect the innocent!).

Inside, the Beast was decked out in fashionable (for taking over third world dictatorships) leather in a stylish two-tone treatment. We liked the feel and comfort of the driver's seat as well; once we figured out how to get it adjusted to our dimensions. And once we got used to our left arm rubbing the door; it is that close in there.

To give you a better idea how tight the driving quarters are in an H1, there are no airbags, and if there were, they might take your head off because you practically sit on top of the steering wheel. Don't get us wrong, though. The driving position was comfy and all controls were well at hand, especially the radio controls, which weren't even in the same hemisphere as the front passenger…Can you say "I have the Power" over the radio?! (he he)

But then, between the seats, there is a great expanse, not unlike Siberia in its vastness. This great space in the passenger area has a lot to do with the running gear and other vehicle systems tucked high into the frame for Mt. Everest-like ground clearance.
For even better protection out on the trail, our test truck was fitted with an off-road package that included a tubular-steel ladder to protect the already hidden running gear…talk about some serious off-road attributes!

And, so as not to let you forget you're driving a Beast of a machine, setting the parking brake was akin to curling 15 pounds; too bad it worked on just one arm.

And let us also not forget all the other nifty features a vehicle like this provides for your driving and pillaging pleasure: Of note was the cool door stays on the rear of the Beast. These handy little rubber booties accepted the male counterpart form the doors so that there were immobilized in the open position, leaving the doors out of mind for loading or unloading your gear or those spare parts your buddy needed to get his Jeep unstuck.

Another fine feature that came with the Beast was the Central Tire Inflation System. The CTIS allows the driver (since no one else can really reach the controls) to adjust, front or rear, the air pressure in the tires to maximize traction, no matter what situation you might find yourself in (see the Jeep comment above).

And now, about that price…Again, if you really need to ask, then maybe the Beast is not for you.

Our black diamond tester started at $139,771, which includes the Duramax diesel; Allison automatic; Goodyear GSAs; dual tanks; CTIS; heated front seats; Monsoon sound with six-disc changer; trailer towing package; heated windshield and mirrors; power locks/windows and keyless entry; two-speed lockable transfer case and a rearview mirror with compass, temp readout and map light.

Add to that our vehicles off road package (12,000-pound winch; front and rear electronically locking axels and 17-inch two-piece aluminum wheels) at $5,726.00, a tire upgrade for $100 and a $1,025 destination charge and you get a total as-tested price of $146,622.00. Or, something no mere mortal can hope to afford without winning the lottery.

The bottom line is, if you want people to stare and have that macho, he-man feeling, and need to haul a lot of stuff or like to fell trees, the H1 Alpha is your ride.

Today’s Car of the Day:

It’s the Fisker Karma, first shown at the 2008 NAIAS:

The Karma is a plug-in hybrid that uses a gas generator to extend its range to a reported 300 miles. The manufacturer claims 0-60 times of less than six seconds and all of this in a very luxurious cockpit that coddles its occupants.

 

Lead The Future indeed!

For more info, check out Fisker.com

This IS The Droid I’ve Been Looking For!

If you’re not living under a rock, or in an Afghani cave, then you may have heard about the newest “smart” phone offered by Verizon; The Motorola Droid (name use officially licensed by Lucas himself…or, at least, his company.)

For the last 18 months, I’ve had a pretty decent experience with the LG EnV, eve though I’m currently on handset numero three! You see, these EnVs have a problem with the connection through the hinge and the screens sometimes don’t come on and the phone locks up badly at other times. Number three, though, has been really good…until a couple days ago when the interior screen stopped working and I had to power it off then back on. No too terrible, but there was also a problem with the outside lights coming on when you grab it from an off angle.

So it was time for a new phone. And luckily for me, the stars aligned: The Droid came out and I was able to get permission from the boss!

Some of the standout features of the Droid are a 3.7 in. (diagonal) touch screen with 440X854 pixels, compared with 320X480 for the iPhone. It has a slide out qwerty keyboard that has some convenient keys like “@” and “?” that you don’t need to hit “alt.'” for, which is really nice.The Droid has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, along with an included(!) 16 Gb micro SD card and a very easy to use voice search feature that works really well! Find full reviews here and here.

After a few days with Droid, I can say it’s pretty awesome! The phone works great! I called my buddy in Michigan and he said it sounded like I was on a landline. And the other “smart” stuff is totally awesome!

Since this phone is based on the Android operating system made by Google, the Droid seamlessly syncs with all my gmail contacts and is another way to see my Google Calendar, read through Google Docs and basically not have a reason to not keep in touch!

There are also apps you can get through the Android Marketplace for everything from Facebook and MySpace to Amazon and so much more. I got an app for my bank, a barcode scanner for easy price comparison shopping on the fly and even a level!!! I know what you’re saying now, though, “but it doesn’t have nearly as many apps as the Apple App Store”. My answer to that?? It’s been practically proven that 95% of the apps in the Apple App Store are worthless and just a waste of time. ‘Nuff said!!

Is the Droid worth the money? That’s up to you. Once I found out my corporate discount applied to the data plan for “smart” phones, I was there! And the Droid, with the rebate and my new every two credit, came out to be about $50 more than the Samsung Rogue I was looking at. And for the greater functionality and paying about the same per month, the Droid it was!

Hopefully I will be this enchanted with Droid in another six months…

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And now for today’s Retro Review:

2003 Mercury Marauder

Ford's Answer to the Impala SS…A Few Years Too Late

by James E. Bryson

It's the adrenaline rush of knowing the officer is behind you. That is the reality hitting us square in the head when we're out on the open road. That rush can make you feel cranky, agitated, or worse. The relief comes when the officer passes you and goes on to someone else.

Now imagine having that power all to yourself.

This is not what Mercury engineers were thinking, at least not that we know of, when the made a few changes to the venerable Grand Marquis that transformed it into the ultimate cop car look-alike. Or, maybe they wanted to make a new Bluesmobile. Whatever the case, the 2003 Mercury Marauder is one bad machine that, with a bit more oomph down low, could be the ultimate sleeper car for late night street racers.

The Marauder is a blacked-out Grand Marquis with little chrome, except for the wheels and a few trim pieces, and not much flash. But that's the point. Stealth performance could be the tagline for the Marauder ad campaign. Even the grill is all black, with an elegant chrome Mercury moniker in its center.

Inside, the Marauder is all business with comfortable, supportive seats covered in fine gray "Nudo" leather, a legible gauge cluster with satellite gauges in the full-length center console and a fitting floor-mounted shifter that belies the performance attributes of the Marauder more than the monochromatic color scheme (take your proof in some of GM's offerings of late). The totally fake carbon fiber treatment on the doors and dash are forgivable in this car because of its sporty nature, though wood accents would have lent a more luxurious air to the vehicle.

We really liked the seats, front and rear. The nice aspect of such a large car is the room it affords to all passengers. We also found the driver's seat to be comfy and somewhat suited to spirited driving. These weren't Mustang quality, mind you, but they performed better in most ways than the standard Grand Marquis seats would have.

One small complaint about the front seats, for this price range at least, was the lack of seat heaters. It's a small complaint, but for a car that can be beaten by a Honda Civic to 60 mph, a warm tush might give us a little solace.

The rest of the interior is packaged well. The instruments are easy to read and have a sporty flair to them. We also liked the bright "Marauder" that lights up at night in the speedometer.
In the trunk, we found a nice little surprise: a plastic trunk organizer that was functional, if a bit bulky. The bulk comes from the organizer taking up the depth of the trunk. Thankfully, the spare tire was placed on a shelf and out of the way for most of what you'd put in there. When we needed a little extra space, the organizer came out easily and freed up the deeper part of the trunk entirely.

Under the hood is Ford's potent 4.6-liter V8 making 302 horsepower and 318 pound-feet of torque. While this seems like a lot on paper, the reality of the Merc's high weight and the lack of low-end grunt (peak torque comes at a high 4300 rpm) means slow straight-line acceleration, for a muscle-bound brute. But don't get the message wrong, the Marauder will hit 60 in a respectable time, just not what we were expecting.

Mid-range traipses to passing speed are adequate, but there is always that want for more power.

And, the lack of low-end torque severely limits burnouts because they are nearly impossible without some water on the road to loosen grip.

Speaking of which, cornering traction and ride control are excellent in the Marauder. Mercury's engineers should pat themselves on the back for a job well done with the suspension settings and the amount of control the Marauder commands. Compared with the old-person ride of the Grand Marquis, the Marauder is a powerful European sedan looking for its next victim.

We found ourselves hitting corners faster than in other "family" sedans and a few more sporty cars. The Marauder should be the benchmark for Ford performance sedans in the future.

The only time the suspension was not appreciated was over particularly harsh bumps and imperfections in the road. Though, those experiences were not overly bad, just reminders that this is a performance-oriented cruiser, not your daddy's Grand Marquis.

By now, you're probably asking yourself, "What's it cost?" Well, get ready for this one: Our test Marauder, with only $550 in options, stickered at $35,045.00, including the obligatory destination charge (which was $705 for this Merc).

The real question then becomes, "Is it worth it?"

Well, we'll leave that up to you. Just remember that for similar money , there are plenty of little rockets out there, though they won't give the people around you on the highway a scare thinking you're Smokey on the prowl for his next revenue raising interlude.

With what this car represents, it's a shame that it couldn't directly compete with the old Chevy Impala SS. Lord Vader, you could have had two choices.

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And today’s Car Of The Day:

Say hello to the Aluminum bodied Ford Shelby GR1 concept shown at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. The GR1 had a 6.4-liter V10 with over 600 horsepower and over 500 pound-feet of torque feeding the rear wheels and was reportedly good for 0-60 in under four seconds. The jury is still out if this was better than the GT…but the GT didn’t have a sleek aluminum body!

 

A Labor/Labour Day to Remember

There’s nothing like taking that end-of-summer road trip. Hitting the highways in search of the last grasp of Summer and the last fun before the reality of Fall and Winter hit.

It was with a little trepidation that the Wife and I set out for adventure, fun, good food, good friends and good relatives. Yes, we made the trek to the north. The little town known as “The D”, thanks to T-Baby and her hit single, “It’s so Cold In The D”. After you sit through the song, go here to see a response…

So out we set with not much of an itinerary and a lot of road before us. Our first stop was our favorite little winery in the sleepy Southwestern Michigan town of Coloma, Karma Vista. We were inside, tasting the new wines, when it hit me that we’ve been patronizing Karma Vista for the last 5 years. It was here that we spent a glorious afternoon on our honeymoon tour of Michigan wine country. What makes Karma Vista so special, besides the great wine, wonderful location and great owners in Joe and Sue Herman, is the titles of the wines themselves: Gunzan Rose, Pink Side of the Moon, Starry Starry White, Moondance Merlot, Watusi Red…are you seeing the pattern?? So yes, we bought a case but it’s not all for us: We gave two bottles to E & M for boarding us, two bottles are for C & J for watching the girls and two bottles are for A & S for a housewarming gift. Generous, no?

Another cultural schooling came Friday when we crossed the border into Canada to visit the wineries of Pelee Island and Mastronardi. Each had a great selection of great-tasting wines and beautiful surroundings. The interesting thing about the Ontario wineries was the extra step undertaken to ensure the wines are of the utmost quality and use only grapes grown in Southern Ontario. Here’s an excerpt from the Canada South Wine Tours explaining their system:

In 1989, Canada adopted a designation system known as the VQA system (Vintners Quality Alliance) which was initiated by the winemakers of Ontario in recognition of the importance of having standards against which Canadian wines could be measured against the wines of other countries. The system was modeled after the French system which is based on origin and identifies specific geographic areas that have been singled out as having characteristics favorable to the cultivation of grapes. Essex County was officially identified as having two of Ontario’s three Designated Viticultural Areas. The two areas were named Lake Erie North Shore (mainland) and Pelee Island (Island). The third area in Ontario is Niagara, there are also 4 DVA’s in British Columbia. Since then, a growing number of vintners have been reclaiming the soil and the region’s reputation by producing some of Canada’s best wines. Today there are approximately 1,000 acres of grapes in the Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island Designated Viticultural Areas.

So we didn’t exactly buy a case in Canada but that’s OK since we were worried about the duty tax we might pay for any extra bottles over the 9 we purchased. Thankfully, we sailed through the border!

Our next big even came Saturday night when we went to see Jack Scott and his band perform at the annual Hamtramck Polish Festival. The band performed admirably, playing some of Jack’s greatest hits including “Burning Bridges”, “Leroy/Greaseball” and “Geraldine”.

Yes, my friends, life is good…

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And here’s today’s Retro Review!!

2002 BMW 330xi

Ultimate Driving Machine Indeed

by James E. Bryson

There are times when you have to ask yourself what you did to deserve such wonderful treatment…driving any BMW will get such a response. Us auto reviewers get to drive a lot of nice cars and trucks but when we get something like a new BMW, it makes us giddy. Why, you ask? Because, when BMW calls its cars the "Ultimate Driving Machines", they aren't kidding. From the Mini up to the new 7-Series, BMW makes the most driver-oriented, fun-to-drive, best handling cars this side of the racetrack.

The only downside is paying out the wazoo for the privilege…but we digress.

The last 3-Series Bimmer we tested was the new-for-'99 328i sedan. It was a remarkable car with excellent road manners and good looks to boot. This time around, we got a chance to sample the all-wheel-drive machine called 330xi.

From its tight steering and quick responses to the way it coddles you in any of the seats to its striking lines and muscular haunches, the BMW 3-Series is more a piece of art than mere automobile.
Topping out at over $43-large, our tester was well appointed and never left us with anything less than a huge grin every time we got out after a drive. Nothing less than a spectacular car can produce such emotion and vigor.

BMW is a favorite of many enthusiasts and for good reason: The company builds the best road-going cars available. As an example of this, we were driving about one wet day and went to take a corner, which the Camaro SS we recently drove coerced us to slow down through. The Bimmer begged us to go faster than we thought possible through this particular corner and got us in and out with no drama and had us wanting to drive all the really twisty roads Greater St. Louis has to offer.

Inside, BMW made a comfortable, luxurious cockpit into a thing of beauty. The leather on our test car was perfect without so much as a stitch out of place. The seats were European comfortable (read firm) and were infinitely adjustable. The rear seat was a bit small and wouldn't be very comfortable for those over 5' 10" or so.
The quality of the materials and switchgear was impeccable; as well it should have been for the price and for the reputation. For, you do not purchase a Bimmer for its price. You purchase a Bimmer for its status and pedigree. Or, you purchase one because it makes the seat of the pants a happy place.

The seats were European firm, but with a softness that made long drives comfortable. All switches were easily reachable and felt substantial to the touch. You really feel the luxurious quality of this car in every facet.
In normal, everyday driving, the 330xi is docile except for lurching from a complete stop, despite every effort. Talk about a touchy throttle! We did find, after spending a few days behind the wheel, that if you wait a second or two after releasing the brake that you can control this lurching a bit better, but it didn't clear up totally.

German engineering has been celebrated for many, many years and the 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine in our tester was one of the best in the world. It's silky smooth and produces plenty of power to move this one-and-one-half-ton car to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds (according to manufacturer specs). It sure felt that fast and there was plenty of power on tap to pass on tight two-lanes or to hurry out of any corner.

Needless to say, we drove our test loop twice in this car, just for the grin-factor.

Our 2002 BMW 330xi tester topped out at $43,035.00, which included $645 for the destination charge.
Base price for the 330xi is $35,740.00. For that much money, you get a whole lot, including the sweet engine; four wheel ventilated and ABS-equipped disc brakes; Dynamic Brake Control, which intervenes during emergency braking to help achieve the shortest stopping distance; all-wheel drive; Dynamic Stability Control, which helps the driver maintain control of the car when he or she gets a little out of hand in the corners; 17-inch alloy wheels; and all the luxury appointments you can stomach.

If you need more stuff and have the money to burn, we'd suggest starting with the option our tester was equipped with: For starters, we had Topaz Blue Metallic paint (a beautiful shade, to say the least) for $475; a cold weather package that includes heated front seats; headlight washers, a split fold-down rear seats, a ski bag and a rear arm rest ($1000); and the premium package that includes leather upholstery, power glass moonroof, "Myrtle" wood trim, auto-dimming interior mirror, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights ($2900). The automatic transmission (sans manumatic control since BMW doesn't offer it) was an extra $1275, along with $300 for run-flat, all-season tires, $700 for xenon headlights, which we highly recommend.

For what you pay, the BMW 3-series is the best thing going. There are a lot of new, and some old, competitors out there, but they never really seem to hit the mark in quality materials, solid engineering or fun-to-drive factor.

The 330xi is one amazing machine that truly adds flavor and grace to the 3-series lineup. Now, if we could only get them to put a manumatic in it…

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And here’s the Car of the Day: It’s the Chrysler Crossfire, first seen at the 2003 NAIAS.

It’s shape is interesting and how can any self-respecting car-lover not love the boat-tail effect on the rear end?

Based on the Mercedes-Benz SLK mechanicals, the Crossfire is well=appointed and comes with a potent V6. The convertible was even sexier…too bad it’s now out of production.

Driving Miss Vikki

In my last post I told you about our trip to the great mitten state and a little about our adventures up there. Well, what I didn’t mention was the car we drove.

As with other long trips, we rented from the locally-owned rental fleet (look it up if you don’t know) and to my surprise, they only had a few cars available…on a Wednesday night! Well, since we were heading up to the Detroit area, home of the UAW and the domestic auto industry, I asked for an American-made car but all they had was a couple of pickup trucks. I don’t mind driving a full-size truck but I wasn’t really interested in getting 15 miles per gallon on a 1500-mile trip.

So my choices were either a Honda Accord, Nissan Altima or Toyota Camry. Not a big fan of the continuously variable transmission found in the Altima, so that was out. And Camry’s to me are the blandest of the Japanese sedans, so that was out. So the Accord it was.

We actually liked it. We found the trunk to be spacious, if not  a bit oddly shaped…we thought we were missing something since we filled the trunk and had room to spare…and we had almost nothing in the back seat!

Since it was a rental, we didn’t expect much in the way of options and we weren’t disappointed. When we get a car from the manufacturers press fleet, they’re usually the top of the line, heavily optioned and with the highest trim level and biggest engine. Not so with a rental.

Our car had the four-cylinder engine, wheel covers rather than alloys, and cloth seats. It also had the base radio with CD player and no automatic climate control. It was a basic car, but one that did it’s job very well.

The Accord handled quite nicely and was well-composed on the highway, with little to no bobbing and weaving over expansion joints or minor undulations. Cornering was good as well, which was a nice surprise and made the trip that much more fun.

One of the nicest surprises was getting 31 miles per gallon over the course of 1500 miles. If we had a V6 and more upscale trim, that number would have been a bit lower. However, with the vehicle optioned as it was, we made out really well. Of course, that number was bolstered with us driving over 1000 miles solely on the highway.

So yes, the Accord is a well-built, American-assembled car and is a good value for the money.

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And now, today’s Retro Review:

2002 Mazda MPV ES

Cargo Ergo Zoom Zoom

by James E. Bryson

There seems to be a feeling that when you get older and start your family that you need to make certain sacrifices like quitting the bowling league or not going to your favorite sporting events as often. Another sacrifice, made mostly by men, is the purchase of the "family" vehicle, be it a wagon, SUV or minivan.

In its most recent media blitz, Ford-owned Mazda has been working diligently to transform its image from Japanese also-ran to first-rate car company. To do this, they have added more sportiness into all vehicles, including the staid-but-venerable MPV minivan.

We spent a week with a top-'O-the-line MPV ES and found it to be capable, comfortable and worth its price. We also found that it is indeed a sporty little van with a fairly high "Zoom Zoom" factor.

Inside, we found comfortable seats with good side bolsters to keep you planted in tight corners…at least the tightest corners you might want to venture into with an almost-two-ton van. On the flip side to the seats, we found the seat belts a pain to use at times; they seemed to get in the way and were difficult to reach without turning around.

The two-tone dash is opulent, but the darker tone on top flows onto the doors…seems like a bad decision because of the large gaps between dash and door. We did find all important controls well placed and easy to use. The last little niggle we have with the interior was carbon fiber accents which are sharp but seem out of place in a mommy-mobile

We have nothing but kudos for the engine, transmission and ride characteristics of this van. We were pleasantly surprised at the plentiful power and smooth operation of both engine and transmission, the former a high-tech V6 and an electronically controlled five-speed automatic for the latter.

We felt like this combination should be put into a Miata or something where the broad power curve and correct shift points, mated to a competent suspension, would be more sporty, and possibly more fun. (Really, who are we kidding? This van was a blast to drive and has the capability to haul all your stuff and some people to wherever you need to go with style, class and sportiness.)

Many nice features:
· Regular windows in both rear sliding doors.
· Power sliding doors.
· And the 3rd row of seats folds flat.

Competent, good design? Yes. Strong performer, good handling? For the most part. Would we suggest it to people? Definitely. Top of its class? Quite possibly.

We found the MPV to be a nice little van on the whole.

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And the car of the day is…

Say hello to the Chevy Nomad. This concept was based on the same platform that gave us the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky.

It’s an attractive vehicle that GM dropped the ball on. Instead of following the market studies to the “T”, the General could have been building cars like this that people really want and want to drive.

The Nomad was gorgeous from all angles and was infinitely more practical then either the Solstice or Sky, though it’s no convertible.

Check out the pics and you be the judge…Should GM have built the Nomad alongside the Solstice/Sky? Do you think if General Motors built more interesting products like this that they wouldn’t be in the predicament they are in now?

Enquiring minds want to know…

Windows Makes A Comeback!

So, finally, Windows7 has come out. It’s been a long, arduous process but well worth the wait.

I bought two prerelease copies, the price was too good to pass up - $50 a piece – one for me and one for the wife. I’ve ported all my stuff over to the newer computer and am using it to write this post. I really dig Windows7 and can’t wait to get more familiar with it and the many new features it promises.

The install process went really smoothly and I had no problems doing a “clean” install with the upgrade discs I bought. The real issues started with the second computer…I had to switch the CD and DVD drives around and have had a couple problems – one with the computer seemingly frozen while copying data form the archive and another when it rebooted and didn’t find one of the hard drives, which caused it to error out…at least no BSOD’s yet!!

Now we have two fully functional, works better than ever PC’s in the house. Next step it to show the wife some of the new features that should make her world a little easier place to live.

I’ll keep you updated as living with Windows7 becomes more normalized.

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And now, today’s Retro Review:

2002 Mercedes-Benz SLK

Yes, I know a little German

by James E. Bryson

I always like going home to Detroit. I get to see my favorite friends, close family and other special people in my life.

Back in early May, I was chatting with my friend Steve and told him I'd be coming for a visit before Memorial Day and he said, "Great, I should have THE car by then!"

Let me give you a little background. Steve, who is well over 6-feet tall, has been looking for an exciting, well-handling car for over a year with little consideration to budget. He had ordered a Honda S2000 and decided that it was too small. He then looked at the BMW Z3 (too small again) the Porsche Boxster (you guessed right if you said it was too small), and the Mercedes-Benz SLK.

As a former automotive journalist-turned-regular-laborer, I though it would be interesting to get an owner's side of things. So I asked him to send a message with some of his thoughts and they will be peppered throughout this review.

"I've always wanted to own a convertible," he said is his message. "I've planned and saved for it for years. I didn't plan on owning an Mercedes-Benz, it just worked out that way."

After a lot of time hemming and hawing over this monumental decision, Steve took and chance and settled for what he thought was the best car for him.

"I finally settled on the Mercedes-Benz SLK320, V6 power, touchshift semi-manual transmission and just enough room for my big ass," Steve said. "As a journalist I absolutely loved this car calling it the 'perfect car for a weekend getaway.' Today, my opinion remains the same but the car has been improved."

"My time as a journalist taught me that happiness was a very important factor in my purchase. I looked at everything on the market eliminating them all for one reason or another," Steve said in an e-mail afterward.

Fortunately for you and me, Steve is the generous type and we went out on a clear, warm Friday afternoon for a little bit of what we in the industry call "ride & drive".

The SLK is quite the comfortable car. With the top down and the wind in our hair, we had a chance to really get a look at the interior: Nice leather seats and leather wrapped steering wheel and shift lever. The seats were more of a European-style (read: firm) with myriad adjustments and the recently restyled dash is now more user friendly and looks better than on previous models.

But the best part of the SLK's design has to be the ever-so-clever retractable hardtop, which balances coupe-like silence, security and rigidity with open-aired driving in half-a-minute.

Though the two-tone interior treatment has been kept, it is more toned down than previous models and is actually quite nice.

The center stack of controls, HVAC and radio dominate, has been upgraded to allow for more ease of use and looks much better than previous SLKs. We applaud MB for modernizing their interiors over the last few years.

Power from the normally aspirated V6 comes on soon and strong for this heavy little car. With 215 horsepower on tap, we had some fun trying to stay out of trouble with the local law enforcement agencies.

Yours truly was quite impressed with the neutral handling of the V6 SLK. We were able to take tight corners with ease and just a hint of understeer towards the tire's adhesion limits.

The suspension, while on the sporty side, didn't treat us as harshly as we would have thought on Michigan's weather-beaten roads.

"It doesn't bottom out on every pothole like it would if I got the sport suspension," Steve said at a local eatery before our drive.

Dislikes for the car were few, to say the least, but they were fairly major to the owner.

"It does have flaws," Steve said. "Right knee room could be more plentiful; my knee is sandwiched tightly between the steering wheel and center console tunnel. The steering wheel only telescopes, no tilt! And the trunk is too small limiting luggage to a couple of small bags at best."

Our only other real complaint was the lack of any lumbar support in the seats.

"The seats themselves are stiff, but are slowly breaking in," Steve mused. "You sit very low in the SLK which means elbows on the windowsill is not comfortable."

The sticker price for our tester was $48,345.00, which included a base price of $44,800.00; the automatic transmission with/touch shift ($1300); K4 Value Added Package which included xenon headlamps, headlamp washers and heated seats ($1580); and destination charges ($665). The only other option, which was dealer installed to boot, was a trunk-mounted CD changer (no in-dash unit is available) that cost more trunk space but was a worthwhile entertainment-oriented investment.

With these specific options and no sport package, which Steve opted not to get because he thought it diminished the ride, the SLK320 turns out to be a fine grand touring car for those weekend getaways and for cruising main street on a warm summer night.

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The Car of the Day is:

The Volvo 3CC concept from the 2005 North American International Auto Show.

 

If you look closely, you can see the resemblance to the C30 coupe that went on sale a couple years ago. Obviously, Volvo didn’t keep all the styling of this show car, but it’s easy to see the development.

Too bad they put normal doors on the C30!

Again, thanks for stopping by!!!