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 →
Promo model: Nash Metropolitan
In the early 50's most of the car manufacturers were going the "bigger is better" route.  Nash Motor Company executives were examining the market to offer American buyers an economical transportation alternative. In came the Nash Metropolitan. Wait a minute, isn't the all coming around again with cars like the Fiat 500 and Smart Car? Same concept,... Continue Reading →
Art by Design: The Automobile
Since it was nice this past weekend, I hopped on my motorcycle and took a ride to the Wilson Center in Brookfield, WI for an art show. No wait, not just an "art show". Sure they had paintings, which I barely glanced at, but they also had some pretty cool cars which are really rolling... 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 →
Promo Model: Chevy Corvair
This is one of my favorite cars, the Chevy Corvair. The compact automobile was produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors for the 1960–1969 model years. It was the only American-made,mass-produced passenger car to feature a rear-mounted air-cooled engine. It was General Motors' response to the growing popularity of small, lightweight imported cars such as the original VW Beetle, as well as to compete... Continue Reading →
Paul drives a Ferrari
It's one of those cars most guys lust over, a Ferrari. Nothing else seems to mater when one drives by. The power is beyond words. The handling is perfect. And when the 458 is cruising around town, it's downright sedate...(you might even think you were in a *gasp* luxury sedan.) Hit the gas on the... 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 →