Fussy controls and bad ergonomics take away from an attractive car that should just be a pleasure to drive
Sometimes it seems car manufacturers are rolling backwards when it comes to usability and driver friendliness. Despite – or maybe because of – things like touch screen controls, continuously variable transmissions (CVT), driver-vehicle interface, climate control, etc., etc., some cars are nowhere as driveable as they used to be. No argument, automobiles are more sophisticated…
Things have definitely changed in the car industry over the past decade. Especially with domestic manufacturers. What was known as The Big Three – General Motors, Ford and Chrysler – pretty much owned the car industry in North America right up to the early 1980s and had an iron grip on most buyers’ affections. But that…
The G90 matches anything in the luxury market when it comes to comfort, performance, engineering finesse and usability
Although upscale luxury cars ostensibly represent the pinnacle of automotive engineering and are something many people aspire to own, I find them kind of tiresome to drive these days. When a top-tier luxury mobile appears on my schedule, I often groan inwardly and sometimes find myself reluctant to drive it. It seems car makers are…
The 2020 version of this SUV has plenty of prestige and presence, but it's not perfect
Is bigger better? Mercedes-Benz has always thought so. If you’re talking bigger performance, bigger presence, bigger luxury and, yes, bigger price tag, Mercedes has always risen to the challenge. This applies in spades to the company’s full-size SUV line. These are big automobiles and the 2020 GLS 450 is right near the top of the…
In a world filled with anonymous SUVs and universally similar sedans and hatchbacks, seeing a Morgan going down the highway is like a breath of fresh air
Last year, the Morgan Motor Co., which started selling its iconic three-wheeled runabout in England in 1910, was sold to an Italian investment firm. Egad! But the beat goes on and the Morgan is still as iconic as ever. Arguably it’s most recognizable model is the three-wheeler. Available in the U.S., the 3 Wheeler is…
Every now and then, a vehicle comes my way that just seems to bug me at every turn. I can’t get along with it and everything about it rubs me the wrong way. Sometimes, the car ticks all the right boxes in terms of engineering, styling and performance, and often comes with top-notch credentials, but…
This sport sedan has above-average handling and braking, and beautiful styling, but it's otherwise unremarkable
Believe it or not, one of the major hurdles faced by car manufacturers is what to name their products. After all the research and development, focus groups, engineering studies, clinics, workshops and roundtable discussions, you have to decide what to call the thing. And it’s extremely important – get it wrong and people stay away.…
The people who attend these events – and those who bring the cars – are getting older
It’s almost a cultural cliché these days. The old cars roll in and park, their drivers set up folding chairs or start polishing, the hot dog and hamburger vendors start cooking, someone puts on some Chuck Berry or Bill Haley, and the people file in to gaze at vintage and classic automobiles. Sometimes they’re British…
Electronic ignitions, new carburetors, synthetic lubricating fuels, eBay and collector car insurance all play a role
Like pets and people, cars need to be exercised regularly, especially those with a few miles on them. If those old bones and joints aren’t given a regular workout, they deteriorate. Rubber gets brittle, oil loses its viscosity, gas sheds its octane and moving parts become arthritic. Cars aren’t couch potatoes – they like it…
This spectacular-looking automobile drives like a sports coupe and even plows through snow with ease
Ford announced a while ago that it would cease production of all its conventional passenger sedans starting in 2020. As well as being a potential game-changer for the company, this is also a huge mistake. Yes, people are buying SUVs and sport cutes in unprecedented numbers, but things change. And right now, Ford has never…
Sometimes it seems car manufacturers are rolling backwards when it comes to usability and driver friendliness. Despite – or maybe because of – things like touch screen controls, continuously variable transmissions (CVT), driver-vehicle interface, climate control, etc., etc., some cars are nowhere as driveable as they used to be. No argument, automobiles are more sophisticated…
