Longtime Cars.com fans might remember when I bought a 1979 Fiat Spider from Tom “Click” Magliozzi, co-host of “Car Talk” on National Public Radio. Well, now that car is up for auction on Cars.com through the Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program. All net proceeds will go to WBEZ, Chicago’s NPR affiliate. Take a look at the Fiat feature on cartalk.com for some history, in photos and in video. Or just go directly to the listing.
Below you can see my video tour of the heap – a lovable heap, but a heap nonetheless.
The Cruze is a brand-new vehicle for Chevy, replacing the Cobalt. The Cruze is larger, more comfortable and more refined than its predecessor, but you get what you pay for, and the Cruze’s price tag might be higher than what some might be willing to pay for a small car. Is it worth it? Cars.com senior editor David Thomas takes us through the pros and cons. Watch the video to find out.
The redesigned 2010 Lexus GX 460 was initially marred by a poor handling issue that briefly halted sales. With that problem fixed, the GX is selling well, so Cars.com senior editor David Thomas got behind the wheel to see what all the fuss is about. Apparently, there’s a lot to fuss over, and it’s not good – ranging from inadequate passenger space, interior design gaffes and a mediocre ride quality. Despite the flaws, can the Lexus outshine its competitors at its price premium? Watch the video to find out.
The 2011 Subaru Outback competes with the Toyota Venza and Honda Accord Crosstour, but it outsells both of them combined. The Outback accomplishes this by being affordable, reliable and fun to drive, according to Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays. Still, there are a few quibbles related to the Outback’s “OK” interior and outdated navigation system. Is that enough to put off wagon fanatics? Watch the video to find out.
Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder recently got his hands on what will be one of the first battery-electric cars in the U.S., the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Besides being propelled by a virtually quiet electric motor, the i-MiEV drives and feels like any other car, Wiesenfelder says. It even has decent cargo space in comparison to its tiny footprint. Still, with a limited total range — especially when you start trying to control the cabin temperature — is the i-MiEV a realistic heir apparent to today’s gas chuggers? Watch the video to find out.
Now in its fifth model year, the 2011 Jaguar XKR convertible has aged remarkably well, according to Cars.com editor Mike Hanley. The model we tested had a price tag over $100,000, and in a car such as this, you’d expect everything to be top-notch, but Hanley says that’s not necessarily the case with the XKR. The navigation system is slow, the trunk is small, and not all the switches and controls are up to snuff. Still, is that enough reason not to buy this track-ready kitten? Watch the video to find out.
For 2010, the Dodge Caliber received an all-new interior that is more refined and cohesive than the outgoing model’s. According to Cars.com editor Bill Jackson, you still won’t mistake the inside of a Caliber with a Mercedes, at least in the Uptown trim level he tested, but overall the interior is finally up to snuff with the rest of the class. The Caliber is the smallest and most affordable Dodge in the lineup, so how does it stack up against other fun-to-drive hatchbacks? What the video to find out more.
Last year we tested a top-of-the-line Buick LaCrosse, and this year we went in the opposite direction with the bottom-rung four-cylinder CX. This model doesn’t have the thrills you might expect from a premium sedan, but Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder did notice that the LaCrosse base model with cloth seats is actually more comfortable to sit in than the leather-clad models. The LaCrosse will be the flagship of the lineup when the Buick Lucerne is discontinued later next year. Does the LaCrosse have the chops to be the standard-bearer of a brand that’s trying to bring itself up in the world? Watch the video to find out more.
The Infiniti G37 convertible debuted in 2009 as a competitor to the Lexus IS, BMW 328i and Volvo C70 convertibles. Like all convertibles, the G37 has its flaws such as losing almost all of its trunk’s cargo capacity when the roof is down. However, Cars.com editor Bill Jackson still sees a lot of virtue in the G37’s design that could make it a suitable daily commuter. Watch the video and read the full review to understand how the 2010 Infiniti G37 convertible stacks up against the competition.
The 2011 Toyota Avalon is a comfort cruiser. For 2011, the Avalon’s front and rear ends were updated, and it was given a new interior. Despite some minor quibbles over the Avalon’s small trunk, Cars.com editor Mike Hanley explains how the recent updates make the Avalon an attractive alternative to other entry-level luxury sedans. Check out the video to see if the new Avalon has what it takes to compete with cars like the Lexus ES 350. If you want to learn more about the Avalon, read Hanley’s full review here.