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About Me
My (realistic) dream cars: BMW M5 and Corvette Z06.
My (unrealistic) dream cars: Lexus LF-A and Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
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Advance Pursuit
Let the car talking begin!
I got an hour to burn this morning so I decided to pay my local Pontiac dealer a visit to check out the new G8. Currently they only have the V8 GT and the sales person told me that none of the dealers currently have the V6 version. After talked to the sales for about 5 minutes I was able to get a test drive, it was short but definitely gave me a better understanding about GM's new hottest car. Following are my observations and opinions:
Exterior: From the pictures I have already came to like G8's styling and to see it in person certainly did not disappoint. This car looks GOOD! The 19-inch 5-spoke wheels fit the big sedan very well and the overall flow of this car is very nicely done. Maybe GM should seriously consider having Holden to take over its sedan design projects. I would say the only down side of the exterior styling is the hood scoops, I personally rather not having those but sure enough there are people who like them. The paint quality is mediocre at best, orange peels are excessive and very obvious.
Interior: The interior styling is probably the best I've seen in any GM cars, it is clean, straight forward and ergonomically sound. Fit and finish is night and day compare to the old Pontiacs, especially the last gen Grand Prix, I would say it is now on par with Nissan in this department. However, the orange demo in the show room (it has the moon roof. The one I drove does not) already has a loose headliner and looks like it could fall off at any moment. I don't know whether or not this is an isolated case but seems like GM still has some work to do regarding the interior. Besides the top of the dash and door panels the car is filled with hard, black plastics, which is not a surprise for non-luxury cars now a day. The look is okay but felt cheap when touching it, however it does not feel any cheaper than the Nissan Altima. The seats are supportive enough but the fake leather felt urg... fake, with the 10-way adjustable (6-way power, 4-way manual) it was easy to find a comfortable driving position.
Personally, I don't think the much criticized oil temp and battery gauges on top of the center stack look that bad as many editors have mentioned, it could look much better if the color is not red though. I have to give props to GM for the nicely integrated screen on the center stack, the look is modern and one can get all information from it. If it was up to me I wouldn't put the window switches on the center console but it certainly is not a deal breaker and one could easily learn to live with it. Overall I think it's a job well done for GM, it wouldn't wow an interior critic like me but I definitely appreciate the improvements that GM has made compare to their older products.
Driving: This is where this car shines. The suspension is firm but yet not overly stiff to make the car bumpy over rough roads. Steering is tight and road feel feedback is clear, the car drives smaller than it is (a very good thing) and it takes corners in a confident way with very little body rolls. On the dark gray demo I drove, when the steering wheel is turned there was noise coming from the front wheels, the sales told me it's probably the tires but I am not buying that. Again, I don't know if this is an isolated case or not but that tells us that GM has not yet cleaned up all its quality glitches. Performance wise, the 361-hp V8 is the shining star, the throttle response is quick, sound is great and the endless torque is pretty impressive. This is a very fast car but somehow it doesn't feel "wicked fast" as one would in a 335i or IS350, that's probably due to the weight and size of the car. When the engine is at idle, there are a lot of vibration in the cabin, it is certainly a big turn off and cheapened the car quiet a bit. Last but not least, the brake is etiquette but a little mushy for a sports sedan.
Bottom Line: Honest effort from GM and should give the BMW 550i a run for its money if one only cares about performance. When the overall package has been taken into consideration I would say the luxury sports sedans would have nothing to worry about.
If you are on a budget and looking for a performance car with decent cabin... look no further.
Knowing that the all new redesigned Acura TSX went on sale on 4/24 I went for a test drive on my day off today, the followings are my impressions and observations.
Exterior: Not a fan of the new exterior styling, especially the new Acura corporate grille. The old pentagon design was more sleeker and less "WTF...". I've noticed excessive orange peel on the black demo I drove and the paint quality is obviously not as good as other luxury brands like Lexus, MB and BMW. It's very Honda-like.
Interior: Fit and finish is very good, on par with the Honda/Acura standard. The dashboard has a strong BMW feel to it, the reason of that is due to where the navigation screen is located, right at the center and on top of the A/C vents. Given that I am not a fan of the BMW dashes, I too do not like the new design in the TSX. The old style of having the screen incorporated within the center stack looks much better in my opinion. The big down side of the interior is the utilization of the hard plastic panels. The lower half of all panels inside the car including the dashboard, center stack, center console and door panels are all made of hard plastics. Although the quality is high but it felt cheap when touching it. Also, the aluminum trim is gone and replaced by the metallic paint on plastic; to me that's okay but kind of a downgrade from the previous gen. The interior volume has dramatically improved over the last model, I am 6'1 and were able to sit comfortably in the backseat even after I adjusted the driver seat to my ideal driving position. The best part of the interior is the steering wheel, it is thick and feels very good holding on to it. The seats are supportive but again the leather quality is lacking compare to the leading luxury brands.
Driving: Right off the line the car felt much faster than the previous model, which is not a surprise given that this new 2.4 I4 has 6 more lb-ft of torque. However, when pushed hard, the lack of horsepower immediate shows, in my opinion 201hp is definitely not enough for this car. I took the car around PV on some twisty roads to test the steering response, overall it's very precise and the car will go where the wheel is pointed at. Suspension is firm but very comfortable on rocky roads, the car felt very confident through corners with minimal body roll. One criticism I have for the new TSX is that Acura has replaced the hydraulic power steering with electric-assist. Because of that, the road feel is not as "crisp" as the previous gen and the steering felt much lighter. Oh, by the way, the brake is very Honda-mushy as expected.
Overall I would say this is an mediocre effort from Acura. It won't shock the world but will continue to provide a decent product to the customers who are looking for an affordable entry level luxury sedan.
Since I got the lowering springs installed couple weeks ago I decided to get the alignment done today. I've heard from couple friends that Firestone has a pretty good "lifetime alignment" program so I decided to check it out. The cost is $169, the program is good through the lifetime of the car with no limitations as long as I own the car. Although Firestone recommends to get the alignment done every 6k miles but I can bring it in anytime. The program is also honored by all 1,600 Firestone locations.
Since a single alignment check cost $69 at Firestone that means I'll recoup the money after 3 checks (2 after the first one), every check after is just a bonus. I personally think this is a good program especially for those who do some "spirited driving" or take their cars to tracks.
After the alignment I decided to stop by my local MB dealer to check out the new C. Overall I am not impressed nor disappointed by the car, the interior is typical MB and on par with the last generation and is still among the leaders in the entry luxury segment. The paint has obvious orange peal but looks like now-a-day that's normal even to the luxury cars (check out BMW). Lexus however, would have both of them beat in the paint department. I didn't test drive the car since they don't have any C350s on the lot and the 220hp C300 is just too weak on the powertrain for me to give it a try.
Overall not a bad execution but now they are playing catch up against competitors like the IS350, G35 and king of the segment 335i.
Okay, not exactly...
I had the Eibach springs installed on Saturday and it might be an exaggeration to say that it feels like a totally different car but to be quiet honest, that statement might not be that far from the reality.
I was surprised to find out that the springs actually give the car a smoother ride quality than before, I wouldn't call it softer but it is definitely better. The old artificial stiffness and isolation feeling was gone and replaced by a more engaging experience. The best part is that now the car can go through turns and corner with much less body roll and is much confident. To put the difference in perspective, for you Bimmer guys the difference is much greater than a sports vs. non-sports BMW. Also, the steering response is improved slightly as well.
On top of the improved handling, the lower stance due to the springs (1" front and 0.8" rear) is just the icing on the cake. It indeed looks sleeker than before.
Based on this experience I would recommend aftermarket performance springs like Eibach and Tein to anybody who is looking for better handling or to transform the car for the better without breaking the bank.
I am having a RX350 as loaner car for today due to the 25k miles service and a TSIB fix. After driving about 10 miles to work I have to say that those marketing gurus at Lexus must be genius to make this car as the number one selling luxury SUV in the US. To me this is just a floatier ES350 (yes, floatier than an ES), I personally don't think that's possible but somehow Lexus engineers have done it. Also, the seat is just about the worst seat that I have ever sat on, it offers no support what-so-ever, for a guy with long thighs like me I can't imaging of driving long distance on it. The steering is ES-like light and offers minimal road feedback. Also, there is a rattle noise coming from the center console area. The only positive areas are:
1. The 3.5L V6 is smooth but the 5-speed transmission is dated, the same engine feels much more punchier with the 6-speed on the ES.
2. Interior material quality and fit-n'-finish are up to the normal Lexus standard, which is expected of course.
Personally I just couldn't justify of paying $40k+ for a vehicle like the RX.
Went to the LA Auto Show yesterday and here are my thoughts on several high-profile new models:
Chevy Malibu: Overall exterior design is much improved over the old but the rear end looks out of place with the overall design scheme. The side profile, especially the shape of the windows, still reminds me of Acura TL. The front end looks like a bloated Cobalt but doesn't look bad at all. Interior design is great, flows very well and by just design it is probably one of the best in class. However, hard and low-grade plastics are still all over the place. I understand that all cars in this class do utilize a lot of hard plastics but at least in Accord and Camry those felt more "up class" than those found in the Malibu. Fit-'n-finish is improved but is still behind the leaders. Overall a great effort from GM but be it a Camry killer? I don't think so.
Saturn Aura: Everything said about the Malibu interior can be applied here...Aura does have a sportier looking exterior than the Malibu though.
Cadillac CTS: The interior of this car is just amazing. Design wise this is definitely the bench mark of the class, fit-'n-finish and material quality are also up there with the leaders like Lexus, BMW and MB. Not so crazy about the panoramic sunroof though especially with the cheap looking cover. I prefer a cover than can actually block the sunlight when I don't want it instead of the one on the CTS which lets about 40% of the light in all the time, definitely an oversight in Caddy designer's part. Exterior design is not my cup of tea, I prefer last generation's more reserved art and science look than the new one's "in your face" look.
Toyota Sequoia: I have one word to describe this SUV and that's huge. Everything is huge in this thing including interior space, engine (which shares with the Tundra and Land Cruiser), center arm rest (they might as well just put another bucket seat instead) and even center stack controls. With the gas price approaching $4 per gallon, humongous SUVs like these should just be banned and burned. Plastic materials used in the interior are on the cheap side and too many hard plastics are being utilized. Fit-'n-finish is still Toyota good though.
Subaru Impreza WRX STi: With a sticker price around $35K I’d definitely expect to see a more upscale interior than one that's currently in the STi. I understand that this car is meant to be driven but still, when I am paying above $30K for a car I expect an interior that looks and feels better than a Toyota Corolla.
Smart for Two: I was surprised by how roomy the cabin is. I am 6'1 and close to 200 lbs but I feel extremely comfortable sitting in the passenger seat. With a MSRP of $12K this thing is definitely on the high side. However, I think it'll be a success in metro areas like NYC, Chicago and Boston.
Nissan GT-R: Another car that's meant to be driven but in my opinion and my friend (who drives a G35 coupe) also agree that Nissan over-styled this car. Instead of making it cartoonish like it is right now they should've just use the old G35 coupe, make it more muscular and call it a day. The interior looks like it's been piece together by LEGO, what a mess. However, $69K starting MSRP is great for a Porsche Turbo fighter though.
Infiniti G37: Good interior and so-so exterior. Why would Infiniti designers soften the old G coupe's line to make the G37 is beyond me. I personally would be much happier with the old exterior style plus the new interior. My friend, who is driving the G35 now, after spend about 10 minutes with this car declared that he couldn't see himself getting one. A problem for Infiniti? Probably not. But definitely a concern though.
Infiniti EX35: Great interior, probably the best in class in terms of material and build quality. However, styling is a bit too soft for my taste. I personally prefer Acura RDX's technological look. Exterior wise it looks like a G35 ram into a Subaru Tribeca. It is okay but not eye opening.
MB C-class: The new C is much improved over the old one. It now looks more sporty and interior is much more modern. Material utilized for the interior is average for cars in this class, too much hard plastic used in my opinion and the fake leather seats felt horrible. Build quality and fit-and-finish is still the benchmark of the class though. The worst part about this car is probably the 3.5L V6. 268HP is definitely not under powered but with the Lexus 2GR-FSE making 306HP, Infiniti VQ35 making 306HP and the BMW twin-turbo I6 making 300HP, MB needs the 3.5L V6 to put out at least 300HP in order to be competitive.
The thing that I am most disappointed about is what I found in the BMW section. Couple months ago I saw a black M6 in my local BMW dealer with excessive orange peels on the paint. I thought that was probably an individual case given that I don't think this would happen on a $100K car if my $60K cheaper car doesn't have those. In the BMW section, I spotted a dark color 7-series so curiosity led me to exam the paint closely again, the outcome was very disappointed because I again saw obvious orange peels on the 7-series. BMW needs to do something about this because if other luxury makes like Infiniti, Lexus and MB can make the orange peels almost non-existence under naked eyes then I don't know why BMW couldn't. Ultimate driving machines? Or should it be "Ultimate Driving Machines with a lot of ORANGE PEELS"
I sat in the LS600hL and drove the IS-F on a dyno last month during the Taste of Lexus Evening Event in Santa Anita Park, CA. On top of that I also drove the GS350 in a small course. Was disappointed that Lexus didn't offer the SC430, LS460 and GS450h for us to drive. The only models that we can drive are the GS350, IS350 and IS250. I only choose the GS350 since there is no point to drive my own car...
Here are my impressions:
IS-F: This is really not a dyno test instead it's a simulated 1/4-mile run on a dyno. I got to sit in the IS-F, drive it to the 4th gear (I got to shift it myself), let go of the gas and let it coast. Overall, the V8 is pretty impressive, I'll say it is definitely over 410HP. It doesn't have a traditional V8 low grunt, instead it has a high pitch scream, very nice. The 8-speed transmission shifts fast under manual mode. May not be as fast as the DSG but is definitely faster than the regular IS and other shift-tronics out there. I really wasn't a fan on how does the IS-F look when it debut back in January but this is one of those cars that pictures just don't do it justice. The side profile is very nice, the bulk hood doesn't look out of shape and the big vent on the side looks reserve and not boy-racer like. Bottom line is this is a pretty impressive effort from Lexus but would be better if they drop a manual tranny in there.
LS600hL: The interior is much better than the regular LS. The dash, door panel and center console are all covered by leather. Very nice. Is it worth over 100 grand? I don't know since I am not into the ubber-luxury sedans. This is definitely not a driver's car, may have more appeal to backseat buyers with the massage captain's chair and all the goodies in the back. Overall it is a worthy competitor to the S600 and 760iL.
GS350: Drove the GS350 in a small track, it has good pickup, decent brake and went through the corner with ease. Overall speaking, with the 2GR-FSE under the hood it felt like a bigger IS350 with a softer suspension. For anyone who likes the IS350 but needs a bigger backseat this is definitely a good alternative.
Side note: The Lexus rep told us while waiting to drive the IS-F that there are definitely other F models in the pipeline. I asked him so does that mean the GS-F is definitely coming. He said: Shh...
PS. Since then the official specs for the IS-F has been released: 416HP and 371 lb-ft. 0-60 in 4.6 seconds according to Lexus but Car & Driver did it in 4.2. Overall very impressive as Lexus' first try of this whole factory-tune performance sedan thing.
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