In case you’ll be sitting in front of your TV tonight, sporadically being interrupted by little anklebiters dressed up in their Halloween best, here are a few recommended fright flicks starring murderous automobiles.

Duel - Stephen Spielberg’s feature film debut. Features your average “Joe Six Pack”, aka Dennis Weaver, on a business trip being chased by a possessed tanker truck. Highlight of the flick is when the truck pushes Weaver’s Plymouth Valiant into the path of an oncoming train. Here’s the full length version in Google Video.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Powerful yet fuel efficient 2.0T engine
• More room than a Manhattan loft
• Smooth 6-speed manual transmission
• Terrific highway cruiser

Dings:

• Goofball keyless ignition system and e-brake
• No stereo controls on steering wheel
• Front end feels heavy with noticeable understeer
• Depending on options, pricing can get ridiculous

Ruling: In its base Turbo trim, the Passat is incredibly powerful and fuel efficient, and an outstanding overall value. But once you surpass the $30K threshold, all bets are off.

READ MORE>>

page 1 page 2 page 3

In the Craigslist Candidates column, we scour Craigslist to find the finest thoroughbred schlockbox candidates for The 24 Hours of LeMons. There’s only one stipulation – it’s gotta cost less than $500.

In this Craigslist Candidates installment, we’ve located a classic - the first real 4-door sports car - well, at least according to Nissan. The 1990 Nissan Maxima was dubbed such due to it’s four-wheel independent suspension, disc brakes, impressive-at-the-time 160 horse V-6, and of course the ultimate dead giveaway that it’s a sports car - white gauge faces!

Read the rest of this entry »

The new crossover SUV from Volvo - the XC60 - has a 3.0L turbo-charged six cylinder engine. This crossover is no pushover getting some extra giddyap from a twin-turbo setup that produces 281 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) is one of the most vital safety advances in the past decade by helping prevent spinouts, fishtails, and rollovers.

The new XC60 has lots of torque for hill climbs and has a cool “hill descent control” feature for the other half of the hill. Watch Ulrika climb (and descend) a slope so steep it would make Edmund Hillary stain his shorts.

Read the rest of this entry »

The “Non Car-Pos Mentis” column covers logic-defying news stories that blend cars and really, really stupid people.

From San Anselmo, California comes a stupefyingly moronic tale of a San Francisco hairstylist who was charged with stealing a Lexus SUV he drove to court the day a jury was to decide on his conviction in a separate auto theft case. That’s right. He drove a stolen car to a court hearing about another car he stole.

Police were attracted to the SUV in the courthouse parking lot after bystanders noticed several Yorkshire terriers moving around inside of it with windows fully closed. They later spotted the man approaching the stolen Lexus with keys in hand.

As for the case he was being tried for? Yep, he was convicted of stealing a $125K Porsche - most likely a 911 Turbo. Oh and to top it off, he was also charged with animal cruelty for leaving the terriers inside the Lexus during his hearing.

The dude might be an automotive kleptomaniac, at least he has good taste. Most hairstylists do.

NOTE: Sources close to the story note that the above pic does not fit the description of either the suspect or the canines. The stylist’s hair was much darker and longer, and his skirt far shorter.

Here’s the full story.

October 29, 2008 - Nashville, TN

- Nissan Issues First Images of the All-New 370Z -

Nissan offers the first look at the upcoming 2009 370Z Coupe, which makes its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19^th. The all-new 2009 Nissan 370Z has undergone it’s first full redesign of the iconic Nissan Z since its reintroduction as a 2003 model. The all-new Z will go on sale at Nissan dealers in early 2009.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Kurt Gensheimer

Blings:

• Two raucous, high-po engine options
• Shoulders more aggressive than a defensive lineman
• Neck-snapping Brembo brakes
• Sub-$30K projected MSRP

Dings:

• Stiff ride
• As of today, no planned navigation system option

Ruling: If this pre-production mule is any indication of what’s to come, even amidst a financial Pearl Harbor, Genesis Coupes won’t even make it off the transport truck before being sold.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Kurt Gensheimer

I got a call this morning from my fellow 24 Hours of LeMons teammate, Timmy C, that gasoline has dropped below $2 per gallon. He thought that day would never come, and thought I was nuts when I proclaimed a year ago that it would, but guess what folks? Sometimes crazy people can be right. According to gasbuddy.com Corpus Christi, Texas has been flirting right around the $2 mark, with a few stints this morning below $2. It marks and incomprehensible collapse of the petroleum market since reaching a national high of $4.11 only three months ago.

Although this is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise financial Pearl Harbor, we hope that historically impulse-oriented, short-sighted Americans will continue to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles instead of falling back on those oversized, overstuffed two-and-a-half ton behemoths. We’re skeptically optimistic. But at least for now, enjoy the discount, and instead of continuing to stockpile Ramen noodles, go dust off that over-leveraged H2 and treat yourself to night out at Carl’s Jr!

By Francis Cebedo

Introduction:
I am passionate owner of a 2005 Mini Cooper S. I feel that Mini Cooper offers one the finest driving experiences available and it does so with style and efficiency.

I have two kids and have a heavy cycling background so although the Cooper serves me well, I sometimes wish for more space. So when the Clubman S came became available for testing, I was giddy with anticipation. If this Clubman delivered, I would seriously consider selling my Cooper S and VW Passat and buy the Clubman S as my “do it all” sports car.

What followed is an interesting experience. The Clubman S is a very unique car and a lot of design problems were solved to make this ‘stretch’ Mini possible. Does it deliver? Read on and find out.

READ MORE>>

page 1 page 2

Are you a blogger - or want to be a blogger - interested in writing and discussing stories about the automotive industry? CarReview.com is seeking freelance bloggers to cover the automotive industry.

You must be passionate about cars, whether it is about the current generation, classic cars, American muscle, imports, or evolving trends and technology. You don’t need to be a blogging expert, but you should be familiar with the tools and trends in blogging; a natural writer with an inviting, engaging style; and attuned to the broad interests of CarReview’s audience.

Contact us and include five sample posts written over the course of a single day. In addition to the posts, include a paragraph or more about your experience and the reason you would like to undertake this challenge. Please include a list of sites you scanned to find your material and other favorite sites and blogs. Attach a resume or short note to tell us what you are doing now and what you have done in the recent past.

Respond to:

Derek Mau
Site Manager, CarReview.com
Consumer Review, Inc.
Redwood City, CA 94065
http://www.carreview.com/

• Compensation: Competitive
• Telecommuting is ok.
• This is a freelance contract job.
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!

Fuel Efficient Models Lead in Reliability

Last year three Toyota models had slipped to below average scores for reliability: the Camry V6, Tundra V8, and Lexus GS AWD. Toyota took the news seriously and corrected some of the problems. This year all 42 Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models scored above average in the Consumer Reports annual survey. Almost all the models from Honda and its Acura division received above-average scores. The dark horse was Subaru which scored average or better in reliability.

Consumer Reports found the fuel-efficient vehicles to be the most reliable segment of the automotive market. Survey results showed nine hybrid models earned above-average predicted-reliability ratings. The Toyota Prius, and hybrid versions of the Toyota Camry, the Nissan Altima, the Toyota Highlander, the Ford Escape and the Mercury Mariner all were among cars rated above-average in reliability. They also found that conventional fuel-sippers - such as the Honda Fit, Scion xD, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris - were rated highly and had few problems.

And the winner is…

READ MORE>>

Read the rest of this entry »

By Derek Mau

Stylish. Comfortable. Lots of nifty features that are useful and improves safety. Plus an engine that sparks an enthusiasm for driving and a dynamic sport suspension that does it all. The all-new Audi A4 sedan runs that fine line between luxury and sportiness. After spending hours behind the wheel, both on the open road and on the track, I can testify that the new A4 is all that and a little more.

Read the rest of this entry »

By John G.

Up:

• Perfectly tuned suspension, excellent road feel. SH-AWD really works
• Comfortable yet firmly supportive seats, great driving ergonomics
• A luxury car for people that understand performance isn’t just how fast you can leave a stoplight

Down:

• Can’t decide whether it’s futuristic or conservative. The result just looks strange
• Dash has too much plastic trim, too many plastic buttons for a $50K car
• Needs something more to differentiate it from the TL

Ever since they stopped naming their cars and started using cryptic acronyms, Acura has always had a major brand identity problem. Is it a luxury marque, or a performance marque?

Read the rest of this entry »

By Holly R.

First Impressions:
Having driven the X5 a few months ago, I was eager to compare the X3 to its big brother.  It was definitely smaller, but I thought it had ample room inside.  I was able to get comfortable in the driver’s seat after several adjustments (something I was never able to do in the X5).  It was easy to drive, easy to see out of, easy to pack full of stuff (bike, wine boxes, backpack, etc.).  It’s also significantly less expensive than it’s big bro, but is by no means a “cheap car”.  BMW calls it” An uncompromised middle ground” and that’s an excellent way to describe it.

Read the rest of this entry »

Time to get outta Dodge and head to Las Vegas for the 2008 SEMA show. Three new Challenger concept vehicles will be under the spotlights at the Dodge booth this year. The new 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT10 with a smokin’ 600 hp Viper V10 engine laying power to the wheels. A Dodge Challenger Blacktop, built by the Mopar Underground design team, improved breathing by adding a cat-back dual exhaust, cold air intake to the already hefty 5.7L HEMI® V8. Visual cues are set by the 22 inch Viper wheels, custom spoilers, front brow, and black-on-black racing stripe paint scheme.

Also in the corral this year is the Dodge Challenger Targa which is a all-out competition car that completed the Targa Newfoundlands race this year. The Mopar hood is equipped with a scoop to make room for the 540-horsepower, 490 lb. ft. of torque, 392 HEMI® V-8 Mopar crate motor. Mated to a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox, the engine blasts power to the rear wheels through a production 2009 modified gear ratio in the rear end. Looking svelte, sleek, and downright ornery is the Challenger Blacktop. Details of the Challenger Blacktop, conceived by the Mopar Undergroud team, follows below the jump.

(photos of the SRT10 Concept, Challenger Blacktop, and Challenger Targa cars below the jump)

READ MORE>>

page 1 page 2