Monday, August 18, 2008

Big is the New Luxury


OVERVIEW
Like many Americans, my wife and I have made a tradition of spending the 4th of July holiday on a grassy knoll watching fireworks. Since my wife is now seven months pregnant, we chose to spend this year away from the large crowds that accompany fireworks displays. Instead, we opted to spend the three day weekend in Bethany Beach, Delaware with family. When I found the Chrysler Aspen Limited on my schedule for the holiday, it seemed like the perfect occasion for a road trip. This year is the second time I’ve had the Aspen, and the second year of its production. So naturally, it makes for a comfortable choice on long trips. This year, the Aspen has received a few upgrades, including a 4.7-liter E-85 compatible V8. In an effort to provide more fuel efficient choices, Chrysler also will be introducing a hybrid version for 2009.
PERFORMANCE
While fuel efficient motoring is easier on the wallet, nothing is better for passing on two-lane state highways like a big, bad, Hemi. This 5.7-liter V8 makes 335 horsepower and 370 lbs.-ft torque. Let me tell you, it feels more powerful than that. Whether slicing through beach bound traffic or hauling a jet-ski, this V8 has plenty of power on tap for normal duty.
HANDLING
Since nobody buys full-size SUVs for their cornering ability, let’s be honest. Ride quality is really what separates the men from the boys. This is especially the case with the more upscale models. The Aspen has a lot going for it. But, the first area where one can tell the difference between a $70,000 dollar Cadillac Escalade and the $43,000 Aspen is ride quality. Its ride quality is good, just not as smooth as some of the more expensive choices.
STYLING
Chrysler refers to the Aspen as the 300C of full-size SUVs. If what they mean is that it is almost as good as its more expensive counterparts, they are correct. Furthermore, looking at the Aspen, it’s immediately recognizable as a Chrysler, and not a Dodge. A distinctive hood and 20” inch chrome wheels certainly go a long way towards that end. Inside, the cabin is very comfortable. Driver and front passenger are treated to leather seating surfaces with warmers, navigation, Bluetooth, and much more. The second and third rows are a bit of a different story. While the second row gets heated buckets, there isn’t much leg room due to the third row, which is actually pretty roomy.
JUDGEMENT
The Chrysler Aspen is actually one of my favorites. It’s bigger than a midsize SUV, but a little more manageable than most full size choices. Additionally, it is extremely well equipped for its price.

Dodge Offers Midsize Alternative


O VERVIEW
To describe today’s midsize sedan market as crowded is a little like referring to the overwhelming nausea following your Thanksgiving dinner binge as a little full. The reality is that today’s fuel prices are driving more and more former SUV owners back into the sedan fold. Chrysler is hoping that offering a muscular-looking sedan, combined with creative dealership incentives, and shrewd marketing will drive sales to their all-new Dodge Avenger, which was re-introduced in 2007 as a 2008 model after a seven-year hiatus. Only time will tell if this strategy will ultimately be successful. However, after only one week of the “Refuel America”$2.99 per gallon gasoline promotion, their website traffic went up by 25% percent increasing internet leads by 34%. We’ll see if that can be chalked up to projected five-dollar-per-gallon summertime gasoline rumors perpetuated by mainstream media.
PERFORMANCE
Of the four available trims on the Avenger, there are three powerplants. They are a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a 2.7-liter flex-fuel V6, and a 3.5-liter V6, which is available with AWD. My tester being the SXT, it came equipped with the all-new 2.7-liter flex-fuel V6. Based solely on horsepower, engine noise, and sophistication, this engine is not terribly impressive. I can only assume that Chrysler’s reason for offering it is to demonstrate their commitment to more fuel efficient choices. After all, they say they are investing three billion dollars in powertrain and axle development for their next generation models. Unfortunately, if you compare this engine against the competition’s larger and more powerful choices, you’ll find that any increased fuel efficiency is marginal at best.
HANDLING
Since AWD is only available in R/T trim, I couldn’t tell you how the Avenger stacks up against its competition. However, comparing the SXT to its front-wheel-drive competitors, I can tell you that it doesn’t stack up very well at all. While its ride quality is passable, putting the Avenger through its paces around corners reveals its less sophisticated personality. Abundant body roll, imprecise steering, and incommunicative suspension is immediately noticeable. It’s a bit like taking that really hot chick from the trailer park home to meet the folks for dinner.
STYLING
Taking a walk around the Avenger reveals good and bad. It has an aggressive stance, big wheels and tires, and appears to be lurching forward standing still. It also has cheap black plastic inserts inside the rear windows above awkward-looking rear shoulders. The Avenger’s interior reveals the biggest deficiency between Dodge and the rest of the field. The biggest problem is the abundance of cheap-looking plastic. However, the Avenger’s MyGig multimedia system features 20 gigabyte disc drive and one of the best MP3 interfaces I’ve used to date.
JUDGEMENT
The Avenger doesn’t offer enough reasons to pry away buyers from Toyota or Honda.

Toyota Tundra is All Business


OVERVIEW
Now that Toyota is fully involved in NASCAR and the Tundra is entering its second year since a major redesign in 2007, you could say that the Asian automaker is "pot committed" in this segment. Of course, a marginal economy and escalating gas prices haven't exactly helped matters for the Japanese juggernaut. This was most clearly demonstrated by recently released July sales figures that revealed a 29.5 percent drop in truck sales, compared to last year. Of course, this is all relative when you look at GM's 36.4 percent drop in its truck sales. Be that as it may, Toyota is serious about trucks and the Tundra is all the evidence you need.
PERFORMANCE
Among the many positive attributes the Tundra presents, the most obvious upon first drive has to be its beefy 5.7-liter V8. Not only does this monster offer plenty of horsepower and torque, but the available TRD exhaust sounds so aggressive, it makes you want to either run over the person in front of you, or start a fight. Of course, having spent a portion of my formative years in Oklahoma, also known as the official home of the glass-pack, or cherry bomb, I may be a bit biased. During my week with the Tundra, I found myself needing to haul several loads of landscaping dirt. Filled completely to the top of the bed, it still pulled like a Budweiser Clydesdale on steroids.
HANDLING
My tester came outfitted in the SR5 trim and some of the aforementioned TRD goodies, which meant it included the works in terms of off-road equipment. All of this comes at some price in terms of ride quality. Even with its firm ride, though, the Tundra remains acceptably comfortable in town or out in the pasture.
STYLING
The exterior styling of the Tundra is typically Toyota. While it is attractive and modern, its lines are understated to be sure. Climb inside the Tundra for the first time, and you may be fooled into thinking you’ve inadvertently stumbled into someone’s office. Toyota’s engineers clearly designed the interior with dual purposes in mind. While you’ll find knobs big enough to operate wearing gloves, there is also room to store a laptop and hanging files.
JUDGEMENT
If you are in the market for a full size pickup truck, the Tundra has to be on your list. Not only does it feature superb power and off-road prowess, it offers the kind of fit and finish inside to keep an executive happy.

Audi's R8 Provides Unique Experience


“What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the Audi brand name?” Asked the confident driving instructor. Immediately, almost as if scripted, one overly caffeinated and supremely enthusiastic student blurted out, “Oo, oo, Quattro!,” This was the first of what would be many challenges posed by the instructors at the Audi Driving Experience, which I participated in recently. I attended this event for two reasons. First, and perhaps most importantly, this half day driving school was hosted at Summit Point Motorsports Park, which along with being a challenging and beautiful race track, also is a place with truly magical childhood memories for me. Having spent several childhood summers watching and helping my father with his Club Ford racecar, Summit Point holds a particularly special place in my heart. Additionally, I was enticed by the prospect of getting behind the wheel of the Audi R8. For the unfamiliar, the R8, which is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo, but with a 4.2-liter V8, is the German automaker’s six-figure supercar. So, you can imagine how much fun driving this caliber car on a real racetrack might be.
If you think that signing a release waiver is enough to get someone to hand you the keys to 420 horsepower supercar, you are sorely mistaken. Fortunately for all involved, students work up to this privilege. So, before we got anywhere near the R8, our instructors put us through our paces in a variety of driving exercises in the Audi A4, A5, and S5 models. We began with a challenging auto cross course that featured left and right hand turns, a short slalom course, and hard braking. We were given our times after each lap. While we got feedback after each lap, instructors were not in the car during the exercise. This provided a stress free environment for us to get a baseline idea of our driving skill. We would later run the same course and be timed again for comparison against one another.
After putting down some less-than-blistering laps at the autocross, our group of four students headed to a braking exercise. This challenged each student to test Audi’s ABS system at its limits as well as our own reflexes. I’d be lying to you if I said that I aced this part. In fact, I struggled mightily to keep the brake pedal fully to the floor. I learned a valuable lesson from this exercise. Drivers generally don’t do the right thing in an emergency situation. You have to be trained to do the right thing. So, when an emergency occurs, your training becomes instinct rather than panic and overcompensation.
From the braking exercise, we headed to an evasive lane change test. This exercise is designed to simulate an evasive lane change at speed without much room for error. This time, I was poised and ready to improve upon my performance. Being an extremely competitive person, I made it my goal to be the best student I could be. This meant not only being the fastest in my group, but immediately implementing the feedback Laughlin, my instructor, gave me. This time, Laughlin gave me all positive feedback. I miraculously managed to get through the cone course a number of times without disturbing a single cone. Eureka!
Now for the good stuff! After proving that we were at least marginally safe behind the wheel of a sports car, Laughlin guided us to the holy grail of our driving school, the Audi R8. As I mentioned earlier, the R8 is designed to run with some of the crème` de la crème` of sports cars. This mid-engine rocket ship has gobs of power, race-oriented suspension and brakes, and a six-figure price tag. While it doesn’t have quite as much grunt as the Lambo Gallardo, a Ferrari F430, or an Aston Martin DB9, there is more than enough power on tap to get a novice in trouble in a hurry. Further, the Audi’s price tag is quite a bit smaller than any of those cars, so it represents a comparative value.
During our first few laps around Summit Point’s Shenandoah course, I could immediately tell that this was going to be one of the highlights of my career. Laughlin, our instructor led the group of four students around the track. Even before we got up to speed, the responsiveness, both in terms of throttle and steering, was immediately noticeable. The difference between this kind of car and the average sedan is like the difference between a Cessna and a F16. After four or five slower laps to get acclimated, we began to pick up the speed. We tried to mirror the line and braking our instructor showed us. Some had an easier time than others, which prevented us from going as fast as we could have since we were running together in a line. I’m pleased to report that neither I nor my partner was to blame. Each lap I could tell that I was able to discern more about the car’s handling than the previous one. Additionally, the more comfortable I became in the car, the smoother I became behind the wheel. As we picked up speed as a group, things began to slow down for me inside the car.
Unfortunately, like all good things, our time in the Audi R8 had to come to an end. After what seemed like a few minutes, we pulled back off track, we were told by the instructors to use the knowledge we gained that day for good, not evil. And with that, my Audi Driving Experience came to a close. Not did this course prove to be an extremely enjoyable time, the fundamental taught in this performance driving course can make anyone a safer and more confident driver. And as for the car…Well, if you happen to have about a hundred grand lying around, there far worse ways to spend it.