Small cars can be fun to drive if spunky and good handling Driving small cars isn’t a turnoff to me. I enjoy their economy, their simplicity their easy handling and their low cost. But frugal needn’t mean blah, and Ford’s Fiesta has learned that lesson. It offers a spunky look and feel, good handling and an... Continue Reading →
2014 Lexus IS350 AWD
Who makes the best compact sport sedan? Well, BMW has owned that segment for years, but it would be hard to argue against Lexus now making the best looking sport sedan with its new IS series. Lexus created the IS to be a BMW 3 Series (now renamed the 4 Series) fighter, but Lexus is... Continue Reading →
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 1LT
Fast & furious new Stingray sets a new standard The company parking lot was alive with color, as was the driveway at home. People stared, gave a thumbs up and admired what for 60 years has been America’s Sports Car. This was a Torch Red Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51, fresh off the assembly line in... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Replicarz 1973 STP Indy 500 Eagles
Replicarz creates scorching ’73 Indy Eagles Editor's Note: An earlier review I did on similar models was pre-production prototypes. These are the real deal and are on sale now from Replicarz. Swede Savage was not a relative of mine, but as a teen in the 1970s I was a big fan, mainly because of the... Continue Reading →
2013 Toyota RAV4 Limited AWD
Lackluster new RAV4 underwhelming Underwhelmed, that was how the new Toyota RAV4 left me. Oh it looks fine, pretty much like every other compact ute out these days, and with all the features and electronic options and doodads you’d want. But given Toyota’s history, I was surprised by how lackluster it felt and it had fit... Continue Reading →
2014 Acura MDX SH-AWD
New MDX lighter, loaded with gadgets galore Acura put its popular MDX sport-utility on a serious diet, tweaked its dimensions a bit and in the test version, attached every electronic gee-whiz feature its engineers could muster – hence the $57,400 price tag. First, the sport-ute added considerably to its use of high-strength steel and a new... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Autoart Lamborghini Countach
WOW ... Autoart’s Countach an eyeful of detail It’s hard not to be wowed by most Autoart Signature Series models, this is diecast near its peak. And there’s a lot of wow factor with a bright orange Lamborghini Countach LP400. You may need sunglasses to examine it up close. Countach was the first Lambo to... Continue Reading →
2013 Chrysler 200
Chrysler 200 Touring feels like a rental car, but scores with good MPG I wasn’t expecting much when the silver Chrysler 200 Touring arrived. It’s not a styling leader and isn’t far removed from its Sebring predecessor. It looks like a rental car and feels like one too. This one tried to spiff up a bit... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Corgi 2012 Lotus F1 E20
Corgi's 1:43 F1 Lotus E20 racer offers detail at value price By Mark Savage Lotus and its founder Colin Chapman are legendary, especially in Formula 1 racing circles. Chapman perfected the lightweight, fully stressed monocoque chassis and rear-engine design that revolutionized open wheel racing, both F1 and Indy Car, in the 1960s. Under Chapman’s guidance... Continue Reading →
2013 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Core
Challenger SRT8 puts 470 ponies under you Muscle is one thing. Looks are another. But I still expect a boatload of amenities at $41 grand. The “TorRed” Dodge Challenger SRT8 Core that I blasted around town in last week targets the fanatical muscle car lover. It packs a 6.4-liter V8 SRT HEMI that punches out... Continue Reading →