Dec 27, 2008 - Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, 2008 LA Auto Show highs

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!  It's been awhile since I last wrote here.  I hope all of you are doing well.

This blog entry is a few weeks late but I thought I'd share some of the vehicles I really liked at this year's Los Angeles International Auto Show.

Mazda MAZDA3

Some people hate that the new MAZDA3 looks like it's smilling.  I love it!  I'm still not too keen on the plastic above the fog lights, but that may grow on me.The new 3 will hit Mazda showrooms this spring in sedan and hatchback form.  That said, I still highly recommend the current MAZDA3 as the best compact car one can get right now (if all-wheel drive is not needed).

Honda Insight

Seeing the Honda Insight Concept in person made me think, "I wouldn't mind being seen in that."  Honda's upcoming Toyota Prius-fighter looks cool and maybe even fun-to-drive.  Shortly after the LA Auto Show, photos of the production version Insight were released.

To stay informed about Honda's new hybrid, make sure you check out Edmunds.com Inside Line's Honda Insight Buzz Station page.

Five Axis Lexus GS 460

The more I see flat (i.e., not glossy) paint on vehicles, the more I like it.  This Lexus GS 460 modified by Five Axis looks great.  But I think what Five Axis did to a Lexus IS F last year looks even better.

2010 Ford Mustang

Meh.  As far as pony cars go, here's what I think.

Chevrolet Camaro > Dodge Challenger > Ford Mustang

2009 Porsche Boxster and Cayman

Very nice!  I've got a feeling Devoted Dan, my 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Sedan, won't be able to keep up with these on the track.  Also new for MY2009 is Porsche's dual-clutch automated manual transmission called Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, or PDK for short.  Reviews of Porsche's new gearbox have been positive except that the tranny's interface via steering wheel-mounted buttons or the shift lever are counter-intuitive.

Ferrari 430 Scuderia

Wow!  Forget the Ferrari California shown below.  The 430 Scuderia was my favorite Ferrari at this year's show.

Aston Martin DBS

Absolutely beautiful.  However, I think Aston Martins look best in Silver or British Racing Green.

Lotus Evora

I like Lotus' new 2+2 more than the Elise and Exige.  In fact, I like it so much that I went and got one...in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue for the PLAYSTATION3 (PS3).

Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Race Car

I think the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is a pretty neat car.  So does Edmunds.com, which currently has one in its long-term vehicle fleet.  What many of you may not know is that there is a Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup racing series here in North America.  The above car is an example of a Jetta TDI Cup race car.  The use of Audi R8 front brake calipers is interesting and a little funny, too.

MINI John Cooper Works

I've never driven a MINI Cooper.  Hopefully, I'll take one for a spin sooner than later.  Rowing through the gears of this MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Hardtop impressed me because of the shift lever's positive feel through the gates and short throw.  I wish all BMW manual transmissions, which tend to have long shift throws, felt like this.

These are the cars I really like during my brief time at this year's Los Angeles International Auto Show.  I hope you all enjoyed my highlights.

As 2009 approaches, I think it would be nice to leave you all with one of my favorite moments of 2008.  My trip to Buttonwillow Raceway in March resulted in a 0.470 second improvement over my previous best lap time of 2:12.215 on Buttonwillow's Configuration #13 clockwise.  My lap of 2:11.745 is the first lap shown in the YouTube video clip below.

1:13 am | Categories: subaru, impreza, wrx, edmunds, inside line, playstation 3, toyota, honda Comments (0) | Permalink | Alert Administrator

Add to:

Jun 3, 2008 - Wanna be like Magnum, p.i.?

You, too, can be like Tom Magnum.  All you have to do is purchase Edmunds.com's Long-Term 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi Quattrovalvole.  Sure, it would get smoked by a 2007 or later Toyota Camry with a 3.5L V6, but it would sound awesome while being served a slice of humble pie.

You can read Edmunds' adventures with the car here - 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi Quattrovalvole.  It even defeated the mighty Kia Sedona in a head-to-head comparison test! =Þ

Sure, rocking a Detroit Tigers baseball cap and a 'stache would be easier and cheaper, but I doubt they'd be as cool as driving a Ferrari!

Ebay auction for our 1984 Ferrari 308 QV

11:15 pm | Categories: edmunds, inside line Comments (1) | Permalink | Alert Administrator

Add to:

Mar 5, 2008 - Watch where you're going

Tip of the Day: A person will usually steer his or her vehicle to go wherever he or she is looking.

Here's a video of my run down Glendora Mountain Road back on February 18, 2008.  One "issue" I had during it was looking ahead with my eyes instead of looking at the rear of Jon Mak's 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI.  This gave me greater respect for professional race car drivers who need to focus on the racing line and keep track of the other cars in front of them at the same time.  I basically had to mentally force myself to keep looking ahead instead of the rear of his car.

Here's an excellent article on Inside Line by Mac Demere about using your eyes properly as a driver.

The Eyes Have It: Visionary Tactics for Smooth, Quick Driving

See how I'm not looking ahead into the turns and beyond.

Here are some examples of professionals looking ahead.

Al Unser, Jr. at Long Beach in 1991

Gil de Ferran entering the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

1:44 am | Categories: subaru, impreza, wrx, sti, edmunds, inside line Comments (1) | Permalink | Alert Administrator

Add to:

Feb 25, 2008 - This is where the magic happens

12:37 am | Categories: edmunds, inside line Comments (1) | Permalink | Alert Administrator

Add to:

Oct 11, 2007 - Which family sedan in better?

You could be a judge!  It's too bad I'm ineligible.

http://www.edmunds.com/consumercomparisontest.html

12:12 am | Categories: edmunds Comments (3) | Permalink | Alert Administrator

Add to:

Sep 6, 2007 - Mitsubishi Lancer GTS put to the test

 

 

On Saturday, I met up with Edmunds.com Senior Content Editor, Erin Riches, to put our cars through their paces on Little Tujunga Canyon Road (Google Maps link) for a "nice" afternoon drive in the sweltering heat and humidity.  She had Edmunds' Long-Term 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS and I had my trusty ride, "Devoted Dan" -- a lightly modified 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Sedan.  Unlike the newbies (notice how they're not leaning into the turns) in the Mitsubishi Lancer commercial above, I was not impressed by how the car drove.  It's an excellent car overall.  Don't get me wrong.  It just wasn't *that* fun to drive.

Photo: Erin Riches

Here's the Long-Term Road Test blog entry Erin put up on Inside Line - 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS: Takes on a WRX...Sort of.  You can read her impressions of how the Lancer GTS drove after the jump.  She was gracious enough to let me swap cars with her for one of our runs.

Here are my impressions of how the Lancer GTS drove and thoughts about the upcoming Lancer Ralliart.  Please note I didn't bother checking out the interior or thinking about its ergonomics.
 
Chassis - The car felt solid and well-built (the increase in structural rigidity added weight). Kudos to Mitsubishi/Dodge for beefing it up.
 
Engine - The car felt underpowered because of the vehicle's mass. I think 175-200 hp would be good for the GTS trim. Noise wasn't an issue to me as I had the front windows down during my run along the road.
 
Transmission - The shift throws are looooong. Shift throws were easily longer than the throws on a stock 5-speed 2008 Subaru Impreza. (My car has the OEM STI 5-speed short-shifter.) Shifts are much smoother than (as in not as notchy as) those on an Impreza 5MT.
 
Clutch - Pedal travel wasn't too short or too long. The pedal effort is light.
 
Tires - The Dunlop SP Sport 5000M all-season tires (P215/45R18 89V) are definitely better than the Bridgestone Potenza RE92 tires that are standard on all Imprezas. They provide more grip and don't howl loudly in protest to high cornering loads as much as the RE92s. Note: My car is not on RE92s (I have a set of stock 2006 wheels/tires at home). It is currently on Bridgestone Potenza RE-01Rs (P225/45R 91W).
 
Handling - The car handled fairly well and kept its composure at all times. Understeer wasn't a problem (then again, I believe that people who complain about understeer are usually going into a corner too hot to begin with). When the back end began to hint that it wanted to jump out a bit, it would settle down soon thereafter.
 
Braking - Like Erin mentioned, the brakes were smelly after we had beat on them, but they never felt like they were fading badly (as in the pedal going straight to the floorboard). Initial grab was pretty good every time I applied the brakes, but the pedal was softer than I am comfortable with. In other words, I couldn't storm into corners with the GTS like I could with my car (my 2004 WRX has been retrofitted with 2006-2007 OEM 4-pot/2-pot brakes...and Ferodo DS2500 front brake pads (they generate a lot of brake dust for anyone considering them, but are the best pad imo for combined street/track use), Goodridge stainless steel brake lines, and Motul RBF 600 brake fluid).
 
Steering - My only gripe with the car from my short time in it (15 minutes or so(?) on a run down the aforementioned road heading South) was that its steering was uncommunicative. I just couldn't "feel" much of the road and what the car was doing/how it was responding to steering inputs and undulations in the road. (The leather steering wheel itself felt nice in my hands and is sized well.)
 
Visibility - Visibility out the front is good. When doing any spirited driving, visiblity on both sides of the driver's A-pilar is very important to me so I can look ahead in left turns. This was an area the 2008 Subaru Impreza was worse than its predecessor because of its larger side mirrors. The rear wing didn't affect rearward visibility when I was checking my six.
 
The long-term Lancer GTS is priced at $21,615. If you want the maximum amount of smiles-per-mile for this amount of dough, look elsewhere (Civic Si?). However, I think this car would be a great fun-to-drive everyday commuter vehicle given its numerous "creature features."
 
If the Lancer Ralliart comes out with 230-250 hp and all-wheel drive with the number of features the GTS has, the Impreza WRX will be in major trouble.  The only question remaining in my mind is: Will the Lancer Ralliart drive more like the GTS or the Evo? If the former, the folks at Subaru don't have anything to worry about. If the latter, can everybody say, "MY2010-2011 Impreza redesign?"

Photo: Erin Riches

3:07 pm | Categories: subaru, impreza, wrx, edmunds Comments (0) | Permalink | Alert Administrator

Add to:

Aug 17, 2007 - 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX Ride & "Drive"

I used "Drive" in the title because I did a whole lot more riding than driving at Subaru's 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX "Drive the Legend" event at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA last Saturday.

Here's a video of my ride-along with rally driver, Lesley Suddard, in a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX Sedan:

It was a blessing that I had already driven the 2008 WRX when Edmunds had it because the "drive" course that was set up was very short and not very fun.

Marketing machines all dressed up!

Here's my full gallery of photos from the event:
http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j121/USCTrojan4JC/08-11-2007%202008%20WRX%20Event/?start=all

 

12:48 pm | Categories: subaru, impreza, wrx, edmunds Comments (0) | Permalink | Alert Administrator

Add to:

Jul 22, 2007 - Inside Line Full Test: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX

Edmunds.com Inside Line Full Test: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=121788

Thanks to God, Inside Line Executive Editor, Michael Jordan, and Inside Line Editor-in-Chief, Scott Oldham, for giving me the privilege and opportunity to write the Second Opinion piece for this review.

Below is what I actually wrote for the Second Opinion piece before the editing process worked its magic.  Please let me know what you think.  Any and all questions are welcome.

Regarding the Second Opinion, below is what I wrote before it got edited. I was trying to compare the stock 2008 WRX to a stock 2002-2007 WRX and had a 300 word cap.

Second Opinion

With the incoming 2008 Impreza WRX, Subaru has decided to explore the “x” in WRX—the unknown—with its latest sporting icon.

That unknown is the mainstream market. The 2008 Impreza is Subaru’s first concerted effort to enter what it believes is the promised land. Can the new WRX win over both the general public and enthusiasts desiring to slide it like (world rally champion Petter) Solberg?

Being a current WRX owner, I had high hopes for the new ‘Rex. I can easily say the new WRX does everything better than its predecessor—but not by much.

The new car drives much like the old car. That has never been a bad thing. The WRX has always had a way of making its driver feel connected. Rowing through the gears and carving corners remain a delight. The problem is the new WRX’s “improvements” were never felt. And for those wondering, a cheap suit still sticks to the road better than its all-season tires.

To satisfy the general consumer, Subaru knew it had to make the car a better daily driver. Improved areas include interior fit and finish, the radio and available navigation, ergonomics, cabin noise, and usable space. It’s what Subaru didn’t do that hurts its cause. Options that would make life with the WRX grand are still absent. Options such as HID headlights (long offered on WRXs around the world except North America) and keyless start are unavailable on a car Subaru hopes will court most people.

However, like its predecessors, the new WRX will grow on its drivers over time. It may not be the best at anything, but it does everything well. Subaru’s first foray into the unknown—reaching the masses—is an experiment to say the least. But it’s not one gone totally wrong.


Notes (were used for writing the Second Opinion above)
1. Exterior – Neither bland nor boring. Not exciting either. The front fender gap is not as tall as the outgoing model’s. Taller tire sidewalls make vehicle less appealing. Obviously resembles Mazda3 and BMW 1-Series in style and form. Personally, I am fine with the front grille, even with its “egg crate” look. In my opinion, the rear tail lights aren’t that bad; the chrome strip is. A heavily modded Miata owner behind me on Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) had no idea what the car was—he thought it was a Civic of some sort (note: the time was well into the night). Current owners say the exterior is more exciting than the 04-05. Others say it is the most boring Impreza to date. Some absolutely love it. Impreza owners and Subaru enthusiasts are an “interesting” breed to say the least. I actually enjoyed the fact that nobody seemed to really be looking at the car as I sat in stop-and-go traffic for roughly 90 minutes to travel 30 miles on Thursday evening. Why aren’t HID headlights an option on North American market vehicles? One would think there would be a healthy profit margin on it. How difficult would it be to offer the headlamps that will be standard on the STI as an option for the WRX (like they already have been for years throughout the rest of the world)?

2. Interior – Visibility all around is fantastic except for the A-pillar and larger driver side mirror, which affects looking ahead on tight corners. Tilt/telescope steering wheel is a long overdue addition. Driver side front window switch still has no express up functionality. Passenger side front window switch still has no express down (or up) functionality. There is more front legroom width-wise. The interior feels more spacious due to the scalloped door panels. The armrests on the door panels are softer/more plush. The miniaturized Tribeca dash works well for the car. Fit and finish are excellent. Radio and HVAC controls are easy to use. Steering wheel controls could benefit from a little more thought. A slight rattle was heard from the passenger side area of the dash near the windshield when traveling over certain stretches of road (particular frequency of the road undulations is probably the cause of this). The dim blue light and rubber tray on the center console in front of the shifter makes for an ideal location to place a mobile phone and/or a portable digital music player. The electroluminescent instrument cluster is bright and easy to read at all times. Redline on the tachometer would have been better at a 2 to 4 o’clock position compared to the approximate 1 o’clock position it actually is displayed. There is a lot more headroom in the cabin—Subaru shouldn’t have any problems adding a sunroof mid-way through the car’s lifecycle. The front seatback side bolsters appear smaller than 04-06 WRX (excluding the 06-07 WRX TR seats) but hold just as well. The thigh supports on the front seat bottoms seem shorter on the 08 WRX seats than their 04-07 WRX counterparts. Their reduced heights didn’t seem to affect how well the seat held me and may actually facilitate ingress and egress. Rear seat legroom is definitely improved. However, if any of the front seats are placed all the way aft on the seat rail, legroom can be very tight. The rear doors open at a greater angle than the outgoing models thus facilitating the loading of large boxes or other bulky items. The rear hatch opens easily with a press of its latch button. It has a convenient inner grab handle. North American Imprezas finally have a navigation system as an option, but Bluetooth and push button start (actually available on some of Subaru’s other JDM models) options are still not offered. The addition of window frames on the new Impreza definitely help reduce road and wind noise.

3. Engine & Transmission – The 2.5L flat-4 feels fantastic! Bear in mind my vehicle has the 2.0L used in ‘02-‘05 vehicles. I imagine the engine’s performance isn’t much different than the 06-07 2.5L though. Usable torque can be had throughout the entire powerband and turbo lag is non-existent as long as the driver has selected an appropriate gear. The engine pulls strongly to redline—never feeling like it’s running out of breath. Gearing is similar to 02-05 WRX (e.g., 75 mph @ 3,000 rpm in 5th, shift points for other gears seem similar). The “punch” of the turbo (confirmed that it is indeed a Mitsubishi TD04 unit and not the Legacy GT’s IHI VF40 despite the fact that the engine is an LGT motor) providing full boost is no longer felt and may make acceleration less thrilling to the driver. The clutch take-up is progressive and does not require as much effort as the one in my 2004 WRX (pedal travel is slightly shorter than 04 WRX, but still fairly long). No hanging rpm issues (think 2006 Honda Civic Si) were apparent with the drive-by-wire throttle. Shift lever action is fairly smooth and throws are long, but not “cross-country” long (easily cured by the installation of a short-shifter). Downshifting into 1st gear is easier than 02-05 thanks to the double-cone synchros for 1st. Reverse gear can be engaged infinitely easier than the previous 5MTs. The transmission coupled with the engine never left me wanting for an additional cog. I was initially disappointed in April when Subaru announced a 5MT was going to be used with the new WRX, but after driving it, five is fine. The exhaust note is more subtle from both inside and outside the cabin, which like hitting full boost, may detract from the fun factor of the vehicle.

4. Brakes – Brake pedal feel is not as good in terms of the brake system’s initial response as that of the 06-07 WRX with the Subaru 4-pot/2-pot calipers (these were also used on the Z32 Nissan 300ZX). The stopping ability of the brakes (front rotors are believed to have the same part number as the Outback XT’s) is excellent, but still is hampered by the grip of the Bridgestone Potenza RE92A tires. Rear brake disc size appears to be the same as the 02-05 WRX rear discs (unconfirmed). No fade was felt going up or down GMR.

5. Suspension – The new suspension (Legacy front or similar and Tribeca-derived in the rear) seems to be a slight improvement over the outgoing model’s. Healthy body roll still exists, but seems to be less than the 02-07 WRX. The steering rack is quicker than my 2004's but the same as the 2006-2007's. The car is capable of executing quick changes in direction well. Understeer still exists (tires?), but is manageable nearly all the time. The rear stays composed unless the car is tossed hard into a corner or the car is greatly upset in mid-corner. High-speed stability is lacking as the car feels jittery when being driven at high speeds (tires a factor here?). The deletion of the rear limited-slip differential (to make way for the Vehicle Dynamics Control, or VDC, stability control system (can be easily turned off) and an open rear diff) did not seem to affect the vehicle’s handling characteristics adversely.

6. Tires – The Bridgestone Potenza RE92A all-season tires don’t seem to be any better than their RE92 predecessors. They howl in protest in turns stickier tires quietly manage. The change in size to skinnier and taller 205/50R17 from 215/45R17 still does not make any sense.

On Wednesday night, thanks to a kind volunteer on NASIOC (member: theheckwithyou), I drove a stock 2006 WRX to verify (or disprove) some of the things I wrote. In first gear, the 2008 WRX doesn't feel more powerful than a stock 2006/2007 WRX (compared to the 2.0-liter flat-4 in my car). It's in the low RPM range in higher gears that the increased "usable torque" is much more noticeable, especially in 5th. Discernible differences couldn't really be felt in the suspension or brakes. Please note I didn't open up his car like I did our evaluation vehicle. The brake pedal response and feel I wrote in my "Notes" section were probably an effect of having stainless steel brake lines on my car. The brake calipers on my 2004 WRX are the same as the 2006-2007 WRX ones (I paid an arm and a leg to retrofit them because the WRXs in the rest of the world had them at the time...then Subaru stuck it to me by announcing the brakes would be standard on 2006 North American WRXs). Cabin noise is definitely less in the 2008 model (thank you, window frames).

My 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX Sedan

Powertrain
COBB AccessPORT Stage 1
OEM STI 5-speed short throw shifter
Prodrive round tip muffler (axle back only)
Prodrive silicone intercooler hose

Wheels & Tires
Prodrive P1 Gold 17" x 7"
Bridgestone Potenza RE-01R P225/45R17

Suspension
Prodrive WRX springs (2004-on)
STI Group N strut tops (2004-on)
Whiteline steering rack bushings

Brakes
Subaru 4-pot front/2-pot rear brakes (red, same as USDM ‘06-’07 WRX)
Ferodo DS2500 front brake pads
Goodridge stainless steel brake lines
Motul RBF 600 brake fluid

Exterior
Cleared headlights
OEM painted sideskirts
JDM sidemarkers
2006 STI rear diffuser

Interior
OEM turbo boost gauge
MOMO shift knob
STI 5-speed shift pattern emblem
Rear dual cupholder from a Subaru Forester

11:06 pm | Categories: subaru, impreza, wrx, edmunds, inside line Comments (1) | Permalink | Alert Administrator

Add to: