Honda Ridgeline TrailSport – Darlin’ or Disgrace?

Here’s the problem with the Honda Ridgeline: It does a lot of things exceptionally well. But for some reason it does 'em all exceptionally dorky. And that in a nutshell is why so many people can’t take the Honda Ridgeline seriously... but maybe they should. Let me...

VB WRX – Make Your Own STI

The VB Subaru WRX offers a really strong performance value, especially today when value of any kind seems hard to find in the new car market. For instance, at 30-grand, you can get a turbocharged AWD WRX with a manual transmission… with enough room for a bike rack on...

Bronco Sport – Is it Worthy?

Reality is - the Bronco Sport will always live in the full-size Bronco’s shadows. But let’s get that out of our heads for the moment & critique it on its own merit. Because if the Bronco Sport is nothing else, at minimum it's a departure from yet another generic...

Mazda 3 Turbo Sedan – Who does Number 3 work for?

The Mazda 3 Sedan is a strong vehicle that seems to get overlooked. It just doesn’t fit in. Here’s what I mean: The Mazda 3 Sedan doesn’t have the perceived status of something like a 3-series BMW or Audi. But it’s not a basic/generic appliance like a Kia or Nissan...

California Dreamin’… of the Past

There was a time when California was the ultimate playground for car enthusiasts. The canyons & picturesque coastal routes made it a haven for anyone who loved the open road. From the legendary routes along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), to the adrenaline-pumping...

K-Swapped RA1 Honda Odyssey – slam the minivan

This is a 1st generation RA1 Honda Odyssey - radicalized. And here’s the thing about a modified minivan like this. Beneath the sheet metal and all the oddball awesomeness - it’s a totally epic conversation starter. An 'icebreaker' anywhere it travels. See, this Honda...

VW Rabbit Pickup – Nothing Amazing

“It’s nothing amazing, but it looks cool.” That’s how Eric Garrison describes his daily-driven 1981 VW Rabbit pickup (aka Caddy). And you know what? A lot of people don’t realize the full truth & wisdom of that statement. Because the truth is, "nothing amazing,...

BMW 2002 – Family Ties

Old vehicles have a way of capturing moments in time & bottling-up vivid memories & nostalgia. They have a way of transcending their mechanical/utilitarian nature, and becoming sentimental family heirlooms… passed down through generations. Such is the case...

Stand-up Jet Ski – new vs old?

I got into stand-up jet skis 3 years ago. No, I can’t do flips, I’m by no means a pro, and I’m not an OG in this world. But I’ve spent my life around visceral cars (mostly of the 80s & 90s), I’ve run an automotive magazine for 18 years, and I’m very in touch with...

Ford Maverick – You Can be my Wingman Anytime

Ford Maverick understands its mission. The modern truck market has gone off the rails in size & in price. And the Ford Maverick returns as an economical, versatile, usable entry-point back into the truck segment. But there’s MORE to the Maverick than that. Call it...
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Gridlife Midwest 2016

Gridlife Midwest 2016

Gridlife Midwest 2016 at Gingerman Raceway just wrapped up and based on what we've seen so far, we're super ...
2016 Volkswagen Jetta

2016 Volkswagen Jetta

Okay here is the thing with the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta.  It's one of the best bang for the buck deals out ...
2016 Mazda3 Review

2016 Mazda3 Review

  OK - honest thoughts on the 2016 Mazda3 5-door: It’s a good car. The shape/design of the 5-door is ...
2016 Camaro SS review

2016 Camaro SS review

  Look I’m going to be candid here - and criticize my own team. Before I drove the 2015 Mustang GT, I was ...

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2016 Volkswagen Beetle Dune Review

2016 Volkswagen Beetle Dune Review

2016 Volkswagen Beetle Dune Edition. In years past Volkswagen was known as the 'quirky' brand.  You want a brown diesel station wagon with a manual?  Get a VW.  You want your brown wagon with a V8?  Get a VW.  You want your hatchback in 5 different colors?  Get a...

2016 Honda Civic Coupe Review

2016 Honda Civic Coupe Review

Honda enthusiasts have been let down for years, because the Civic had become just an appliance (excluding the SIs). Throughout the Civic’s prior history & DNA - sure - it had always been a sensible, reliable, & economical car. But it was ALSO nimble, fun, and...

2016 Lexus IS200t Review

2016 Lexus IS200t Review

In the never ending search for efficiency and power most luxury makes have been judicially replacing their entry level 6 cylinders for turbo 4s.  A turbo 4 can give you comparable level of horsepower but with more torque and better gas mileage.   Lexus was one of the...

2016 Volkswagen Jetta

2016 Volkswagen Jetta

Okay here is the thing with the 2016 Volkswagen Jetta.  It's one of the best bang for the buck deals out there.  It costs the same as its compact sized competitors but the Jetta is significantly larger...

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander GT

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander GT

With the way that Mitsubishi has fallen off the map, I was really hoping for more from this 2016 Outlander GT. They have been marketing the new Outlander GT heavily on TV, and I thought, “Hmmmm maybe this is the beginning of a bold & calculated comeback.” I wanted...

2016 Mazda3 Review

2016 Mazda3 Review

  OK - honest thoughts on the 2016 Mazda3 5-door: It’s a good car. The shape/design of the 5-door is understatedly sophisticated & slick compared to previous generations. It portrays a sense of motion, even when sitting still. The design is more interesting...

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