Luxurious crossover, quiet comfortable family mover A lot of time has passed since I last tested Nissan’s fine Murano crossover, yet it remains a solid, quiet, comfortable family mover. While many folks buy this in front-drive form, Nissan says, I had the next to top level SL model with AWD. That means it goes for... Continue Reading →
Diecast: CMC Ferrari 250 California
CMC’s Ferrari detail excels, including first working trunk latch There are few, if any, models in the die-cast world as finely made as those produced by CMC. And while pricey, they are well worth the cost for serious, selective collectors. Consider that the new 1:18 Ferrari 250 California is hand-assembled from 1,634 individual parts including wire-spoked... Continue Reading →
2013 Acura ILX Premium
A handsome winner that slots below TSX Acura created one of the finest entry-level sport sedans with its TSX a few years back, but now introduces another winner to slot in just under the TSX. For 2013 Acura rolls out the ever so slightly smaller ILX to fill the entry slot as TSX has crept... Continue Reading →
2013 Ford Escape Titanium 4WD
Titanium edition pricy as a near premium small ute Let’s start with the shocking part, the price. The tested Ford Escape listed at $34,735. Granted this IS the top-of-the-line 2013 Escape Titanium 4WD, but that price is near premium small-ute territory, one where you expect a luxury nameplate. By adding the Titanium moniker it means... Continue Reading →
2013 Nissan Altima 2.5 SV
Refined family sedan with superb CVT deserves its due As in the political world where the frontrunners get all the hype and some worthy candidates get brushed to the sidelines or back pages, Nissan’s Altima doesn’t always get its due. That may be about to change. The 2013 Altima has been revamped to be slightly wider and... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500
Shelby Mustang gorgeous in red, well priced There may be something sweeter and more nostalgic than a 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500, but I can’t think just what. Autoart outdoes itself with this gorgeous red 1:18 diecast with broad white LeMans stripes nose to tail and at a relatively low MSRP of 164.90. Let’s face it,... Continue Reading →
2012 MINI JCW Cooper Coupe
Two-seater delivers attitude, power, performance - at a high cost Perfect timing! I had just driven the raciest version of Fiat’s tiny 500, the Abarth, when an even racier MINI Cooper Coupe, the John Cooper Works, or JCW, edition slotted into the test garage. The Coupe is MINI’s new model, with no back seat and... Continue Reading →
2012 Fiat 500 Abarth
Cute and powerful, but overpriced and a rough rider A co-worker put it perfectly after seeing my black and white Fiat 500 Abarth, it’s the Beanie Baby of cars – Cute with a capital C. I like small cars, appreciate their efficiency, their fun factor and generally their lower cost. The Fiat 500 is cute,... Continue Reading →
Diecast: Auto World 1969 AMC AMX Hurst SS
Two-seat muscle car a rarity, but ready to race AMC’s AMX was an automotive rarity, a two-seat muscle car on a short wheelbase that most folks at the time agreed handled more like a sports car. American Motors’ Javelin had just come out a few months earlier when AMC unveiled the AMX for 1968 ½... Continue Reading →
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
Sporty, useful, practical, some hatchbacks have it all Hatchbacks are fantastic and Hyundai’s latest entry the Elantra GT proves the point. Sporty, useful, practical and bordering on fun to drive a hatchback often gives you more for your money than any other car design on the market. Think of crossovers as hatchbacks on steroids and... Continue Reading →