Entries from October 2009
I’ll say it now, I love the Forester XT, there’s no other car quite like it. Subaru has taken the Impreza chassis, added a compact SUV wagon body and put in a WRX turbo engine to create this incomparable vehicle. It scampers to 100 kmh in under 6.5 seconds, faster than the Porsche Cayenne S and BMW X5 4.4l V8. Only the X5 4.8iS and Cayenne Turbo are faster, but they cost almost 3 times as much as the forester XT! Of course the Forester is in a different class to the BMW and Porsche, but that places the XT in a class of its own.
The XT is faster than most hot hatches and sedans, yet it has the versatility and space of a compact SUV. Those not in the know will be shocked at how you can pull away from them at the lights. Because the chassis is based on the Impreza, the Forester acquits itself well even in the bends. Outright mechanical grip is not very high and the body does roll, but everything is very predictable and just adds to the silliness of the existence of the XT. Nobody really needs a compact SUV that can outrun a Boxster, but we should be glad that it even exists.
The interior has nothing much to write home about, the dash is made of hard plastics, but it feels durable. The visibility is great in all directions and the double sized sunroof that opens up to the rear bench adds a sense of space and airiness to the cabin. You get a feeling that Subaru is more engineering than marketing led, and the budget is spent on where it counts. You never buy a Subaru because of the perception of quality like an Audi, but you buy it because you understand what a great car it is. And for that, I’d take the Forester over its competitors all the time.
Pros: Surprising speed, versatility and reliability
Cons: Thirsty, some may find it too small
Via Carsales
Categories: BVM Car of the day · Used · Used Review
Tagged: BVM COTD, Subaru, Used Review
I love my fast cars just like everyone else, but over the years I’ve come to realise that it’s not the amount of power you have under the bonnet, but it’s the smile that a car puts on your face and how it makes you feel going around corners. These days, most cars can accelerate hard without requiring much effort, put the transmission in D and stomp on the throttle. In no time at all, you’re doing silly speeds and worrying about your licence. Surely there’s a better option?
So if you love driving, what you need is actually a car with less power. You will actually get to use the full extent of the throttle and rev range more frequently and it teaches you to be a better driver by anticipating the road ahead and preserving momentum by picking the best cornering line. You also get that smug satisfaction that you’re able to push the limits of the car instead of cruising along, wondering what your car can actually do, but will never be able to explore on the road. So what better car to do all that than in a lightweight hatch?
Before the Mini took the premium hatch market by storm, Renault gave us the Clio Sport. The 2.0l engine pushes out a frantic 172bhp and combined with its light weight result in a very healthy 160bhp/tonne. In comparison, the original Porsche Boxster could only manage 142bhp/tonne! All these translate to huge fun! The French may not be good at luxury cars, but they sure know how to do sporty hatches. Driving fast around windy roads, the Clio Sport feels very eager. In comparison to modern hatches, you wouldn’t call the Clio refined, but you forgive it mostly because you’re doing something far more important, driving.
The interior of the Clio is not particularly attractive, but it’s not ugly either. The sports seats are excellent at holding you in place but the driving position may not suit everyone. Also, if you ever get too carried away and run out of talent, the Clio has scored 5 stars in the NCAP safety tests. At $10,500 for this 2002 example, only thing left to do now is to get one and finding that perfect road.
Pros: Grip, cheap and fun
Cons: Driving position may not suit everyone
Via Carsales
Categories: BVM Car of the day · Used · Used Review
Tagged: BVM COTD, Renault, Used Review
Categories: Concept
Tagged: BMW
So you’re a young mother of two, you are looking for the perfect car. You drive mostly in the city and you also want a high driving position to give you better visibility. You don’t want to drive an SUV or MPV either because you’re fashion conscious or you find them just too long. To top it off, you’ll need something with a large boot for the prams and shopping so a hatch wouldn’t do. Oh, and it has to be safe so the little ones are well protected in case the worst happens.
You may not have thought about it before, but the Mercedes B-Class suits the above requirements to a tee. The height of the B-Class is similar to Nissan’s latest crossover SUV Dualis, so you do get the high driving position with the associated view. However, the B-Class is actually only slightly longer than a Volkswagen Golf at 4.27m while having a wheelbase of nearly 2.8m. That’s 7cm longer than the Golf and it’s actually longer than Mercedes’ own C-Class. So what does this all mean? Well, what the figures translate to is a Golf sized car that rides almost as high as a compact SUV, with leg room rivalling an E-Class. And if you choose the diesel like this B180 CDi, you even get 6.2l/100km economy which is similar to the diesel Golf!
If you are prepared to throw the notion of what a tradition Mercedes should be aside, you will be rewarded with a very versatile car in the B-Class. The boot is huge considering its relatively small exterior dimensions and with the rear seats folded, you’ll be amazed what it would swallow. The interior fit and finish is now back to the standards that Mercedes was once known for. It’s not ostentatious but it does feel like a quality car with none of the nasty cost cutting effects of the late nineties.
New, you would have to pay over $50,000 to get into the B-Class, but now after 3 years, it’s a more reasonable $32,000. It’s still a lot of money for such a ‘small’ car, but for its blend of versatility and manoeuvrable size, the B-Class has no current rival. There is no reason to suspect the B-Class to be anything but reliable as there’re no complicated electronics to fail. Sure you don’t get a sporty drive, but that’s not what the B-Class is about. What Mercedes has done is created a big but small, high but not too high, efficient and competent car that drivers don’t even know they want till they live with one.
Pros: Large interior space where it counts, economical
Cons: Dowdy van like image
Via Carsales
Categories: BVM Car of the day · Used · Used Review
Tagged: BVM COTD, Mercedes, Used Review
Categories: Video
Tagged: Youtube
Categories: Environment
Tagged: EV, Tesla
Categories: Environment
Tagged: Urban
October 28, 2009 · 1 Comment
Categories: Concept
Tagged: Concept, Subaru
I will take the plunge and actually admit that I love the design of this 7-Series. It wasn’t always the case, but with age, I’ve not only grown accustomed to the weird headlights and double-stacked bootlid, but in comparison to its competitors, it looks fantastic. Can you believe it’s been 8 years since the first Chris Bangle designed BMW was launched? Be it as it may, I will leave it to you to decide whether you love or loathe the exterior design.
To sit in the driver’s seat of the 7-Series (trust me, that’s where you want to be) is to feel like a million bucks. There’s sumptuous leather lining every touch surface and it feels like the car was hewn from solid billet. In here, you begin to understand why anyone would pay nearly a quarter of a million dollars for the pleasure of driving the granddaddy of all BMWs. You will also soon forget that this car is already 7 years old.
The 333bhp 4.4l V8 is smooth and full of charm. It quietly wafts you along when you’re not in a rush, but when you’re in the mood to hustle, it propels 2 tons as if it were nuclear powered. You can hear a hint of the V8 when you extend the engine, but it is not an unpleasant noise. The 7-Series is a big car, but as you spend time with it and begin to trust its abilities, the car shrinks around you. This is a properly luxurious car that you wouldn’t mind driving fast and not just on the motorways, but on the windy bits too.
If you are prepared to live with the V8 thirst and associated running costs of a luxury saloon, with more than 75% of the initial asking price already depreciated, it beggars belief that you can now have this 7-Series for just over $40,000. BMWs are generally reliable and the 7-Series is no different. However, for such a complex car, make sure every single function works before you buy. Once you’ve made the decision, I have no doubt you will be smiling each time you think of the depreciation the previous owner has suffered just so you can have the privilege of buying one for the price of a new Camry.
Pros: Superb handling, luxury
Cons: V8 Thirst, iDrive, potentially expensive to repair
Via Carsales
Categories: BVM Car of the day · Used · Used Review
Tagged: BMW, BVM COTD, Used Review
Categories: Video
Tagged: Youtube
