zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info

Lots of Cute, Tons of Fun, and a Gigantic Smile in the New Morgan 3 Wheeler!

It has two cylinders.  No doors.  No frills.  A curb weight about 1200 pounds.  Lots of zoom, and some vroom.  But, is three wheels taking weight reduction a bit too far?  Nope.  From 1919 to 1950, the British automaker, Morgan produced over 9 MILLION units.  About ten or eleven years ago, Pete Larsen, who works at Liberty Motors in Seattle, basically designed a three wheeler by himself.  Charles Morgan, who is the grandson of Morgan’s founder, HFS Morgan, heard of Pete’s creation, bought one, and took it to the factory.  Ten years later, the iconic Morgan 3 Wheeler is back.

This car is not meant to be a track day warrior.  Nay, it is meant to be a car where the driver is involved, mesmerized, and captured (dare I say it, captivated) by the charm of the car at sane speeds on normal roads.  The 80 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque are sent to the rear wheel by a five-speed manual transmission taken from a Mazda Miata.

Getting into the car itself deserves a paragraph of its own, so read up…To get into the car while it is running, I recommend the driver enter the car by getting into the passenger seat (on the left side), climbing over the unnaturally high center console (while avoiding the gearshift lever – ouch), and plunking oneself into the drivers seat.  It’s as simple as that…

The one thing that may surprise you is the lack of electronic nannies.  This car is old school.  And proud of it.  Going down a road at 60 mph will feel like you are going 100.  With the smell of hot oil, rubber screeching on pavement (the back end LOVES to swing out), and the wind in your face, life couldn’t be better.  The steering is rack-and-pinion, and to turn the wheel, you must keep your right elbow hanging out of the car.  However, it is a lot of fun!

The car only costs a mere $50,000.  Can I buy one, Mom?…

zoomvroom World News

Is This a Hint of What Will Come?

I’m not sure if you’ve seen the latest batches of pictures that Porsche recently released of the 918 prototype, you were likely scratching your head.  Why?  Because Porsche initially painted this forthcoming supercar in a bland black-and-white paint pattern based upon the historic Martini Racing colors.  Well that color experiment went belly up.  Porsche repainted.  Check out the Martini Racing inspired color choice.  Here is a sneak peek, and you’re in some very good luck…

Porsche 918 Spyder in Martini Racing Colors

This photo was taken by a Porsche photographer at the Nürburgring racetrack, where it was doing many grueling laps.  Porsche has been pretty much mum about releasing technical information about the 918 recently. Us car enthusiasts can only wait until September 18, 2013 (9/18!), when Porsche will release this lovely car.  Here’s to hoping that Porsche will do what Ford did with the GT:  Replicate the old factory racing livery colors on the production 918.

P.S.  Is it just me, or does this possibly herald a new era of Porsche competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?  I encourage you to watch the Steve McQueen movie, Le Mans.  I also encourage you to remember the following thought; I’d LOVE for my loyal subscribers to buy me one when it comes out (it is expected to go for approximately $1.4)…   I don’t want to disappoint you by not showing you a picture of one of the historic Porsche 917’s:   Fonds d'ecran: Martini Porsche 917K Le Mans 1971

zoomvroom Vehicle repair

My Baby’s Running!

Remember when I told you that I was having some technological issues last week?  Well, thanks to a different IT department (NOT the Apple Store!), everything is fixed and just itching to be published.  I now have a YouTube account called unmuffled auto news.  I just added my first video yesterday to my channel (exciting, I know!)!  So, click the link provided, and enjoy the show!

Don’t you just LOVE the sound of a big old American-made V6?  VROOOM!

zoomvroom Car Reviews, New car info

All Looks, No Power in the 2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe.

The Edmund’s Senior Editor, Erin Riches has a bit of a funny story to tell:  “Hey, that’s a beautiful BMW.  It’s new, isn’t it?” asks a man in a Pujols jersey getting out of a Range Rover.

“Yes, it’s a 2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe.  Goes on sale in a few weeks.”

“Looks great,” he says before taking his wife’s hand as they stroll toward Angel Stadium.  Fifty feet later, we hear him say, “Honey, look, that’s the Porsche I was telling you about –  the Panorama.”

That’s where Erin’s story ends.  I’m sure you’re dying to know why I’ve included this story.  I’ll tell you.  The PANAMERA is NOT called the Panorama!  Oops!

But, back to the BMW.  Some people can get confused about the bulbous Panamera, but this is the first time in a long time that somebody has called a BMW beautiful. Erin is relieved that he didn’t ask about the way it drives.  Why?  There really isn’t a set-in-stone answer to that. Erin likes the smooth, powerful, and rev-happy turbocharged six-cylinder engines that are found throughout the BMW line (except for the new 3 Series).  But, the 315 horsepower, 330 lb-ft of torque 3.0 liter turbocharged inline six cylinder engine feels very unresponsive unless you keep the car in Sport Mode all the time (recommended).  Even with Sport Mode on, the car doesn’t have very much low-end grunt.  You’d think it would be the opposite, with those 330 lb-ft of torque coming into full play at 1,400 rpm.  If you want a Gran Coupe, wait until the 650i Gran Coupe comes out, as it will have the bigger and more powerful 4.4 liter, twin turbocharged V8 that cranks out a beefy 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.  That bigger engine may give the chunky Gran Coupe some more VROOM!

If you already have a Gran Coupe, I’m sure that you are all too aware of the sluggish acceleration.  60 mph comes up in an extremely slow 5.7 seconds (5.4 if you allow one foot of rollout on the dragstrip).  The quarter mile isn’t any better, coming up in an unremarkable 14.2 seconds at 95 mph.  The smaller BMW 535i is as fast, and is smaller by at least 500 pounds.  The V6 Porsche Panamera gets to 60 in 5.8 seconds, but is faster in the quarter mile, at 14 seconds flat at 98.4 mph.  All the other competitors beat it to 60 and the quarter, but don’t look as nice…  But, the 640i Gran Coupe is best in braking, taking a mere 110 feet to get to a complete halt from 70 mph.

I have some words of wisdom for potential buyers and the folks over at BMW:  Retune the chassis, so it doesn’t make the car drive as oddly as it does, and bring the 650i Gran Coupe over ASAP!  Potential buyers should most definitely wait until the 650i Gran Coupe comes out.  I guess I’ll wait.  I only have a year and a bit.

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An IOU and a Little Teaser…

No post yesterday as I had a technical glitch.  Can you believe it? Me, Mr. Technology, trouble with a computer? Anyway,  I have the COOLEST video to upload, and it involves a certain Chevy S10.  That’s all I’ll say… You’ll just have to wait and see.  How’s that for a teaser?

I think it’s time for me to give you some photos of a 1957-ish Chevy Apache.  I’ve seen it driving around, earning it’s keep as a weekend hauler for it’s owner.  It’s a really cool old truck!  Not as cool as My Baby, but close (ish).

 

 I don’t know who the owner is, but it’s still a really nice old hauler!

 

 

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The New Hyundai Elantra Coupe is for Sale!

Hyundai’s sporty, popular Elantra has been lagging behind the new Honda Civic.  Why?  Because the Civic has a sporty coupe version.  So, Hyundai decided to give the Civic and the VW Golf a run for their money.

To compete against the Civic, the all-new Hyundai Elantra Coupe has the same engine and transmission that the Elantra sedan has.  This means that the slightly lighter Elantra Coupe is a bit faster (data is unavailable at press time), but it is about 1/2 an inch longer. The sporty-looking Elantra Coupe SE trim level is the trim to get.  Why?  Sporty-looking seventeen-inch wheels with five spokes accentuate the graceful, sporty, flowing lines of the Elantra Coupe.  It also has chrome-lined foglamps, and optional side mirror turn signal repeaters.  The dual chrome exhaust tips that give a turbocharged sound to the Elantra Coupe stick out of a blacked-out rear diffuser.  But, the untrained eye might mistake it for a Civic coupe.  Why?  The Elantra Coupe does look a bit like a skinnier, taller Honda Civic coupe.

The driver’s car is the Elantra GT hatchback.  It is a replacement for the ancient Elantra Touring hatchback/station wagon.  It also happens to be based on the European-market- only Hyundai i30 hatchback.  It has a two-inch shorter wheelbase than the Elantra coupe and sedan, and is nine inches shorter than the Elantra sedan, 0.2 inches wider, and is 1.4 inches taller.  It comes with a cooled glovebox and also has a 12-volt electrical outlet in the back.  To keep driving enjoyment up on the Elantra GT, Hyundai has added a three-stage Driver Selectable Steering Mode and includes a chassis that is tuned for “added feel, responsiveness, and control.”

The Elantra Coupe went on sale in late May, and the Elantra GT will be for sale by late August.  I can’t wait to buy the Elantra GT!

Sources:  http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/2012/1204_hyundai_latest_sales_coupe/ and hyundaiusa.com

zoomvroom Recall Alert!, Vehicle repair, World News

Be Careful Driving These Cars!

For those of you who own a 2009-2010 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup and/or a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, listen and listen good!

The 2009-10 Dodge Ram 1500 has a problem where the variable-speed gears in the rear end will stop turning (mostly at highway speeds), causing the rear wheels to lock up.  Several people have complained to NHTSA about the rear wheels locking up while on the highway and their truck spinning out.  Of course, NHTSA started investigating, and found out that there is a small software glitch that tells the gears to stop spinning.  This means that up to 230,000 Ram 1500 pickups will be recalled.  The closest dealer will fix the truck for free!

With the amazing new Jeep Grand Cherokee, everything seemed fine until somebody called Jeep to tell them that a fire had just occurred.  Jeep, not expecting something like that, called NHTSA almost immediately.  NHTSA found out that the power-steering fluid hoses can leak onto the hot engine, which could start a fire!  If you take your 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee (with any engine) to your local dealer, it will be fixed with heavy-duty hoses.

Not only is this bad for Mopar’s reputation, but it could also cause (hopefully) false concern about the rest of the product line that SRT, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram sell.  Let’s hope that the problems are limited to these two vehicles.  If you want any more information, you can go to:  http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/results.cfm for the Grand Cherokee, or http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/results.cfm for the Ram 1500

zoomvroom Uncategorized

The CHP’s New Donut Holder!

As Ford’s ancient Crown Victoria is no longer available for order, the California Highway Patrol had to test out a whole new crop of cars.  The Big Three tested out the:  Chevrolet Caprice PPV, Dodge Charger Pursuit/Interceptor, and Ford Police Interceptor Sedan (Taurus-based).  They also tested out the Ford Police Interceptor Utility (Explorer-based) and the Chevrolet Tahoe PPV.  There is one potentially troubling sign for the Big Three sedans:  payload.  The beefy Ford Police Interceptor Sedan can hold a pretty hefty 1200 pounds, but the CHP needs a payload of at least 1700 pounds.  That’s pretty heavy.  The legendary Crown Vic could hold closer to 2000, but it’s not being produced anymore.  It came down to the Ford Police Interceptor Utility and the Chevrolet Tahoe PPV.  The Dodge Durango Special Service arrived a bit too late in the game, and wasn’t considered anyways because it didn’t have a “Pursuit” rating.  Too bad.

A CHP rep said that officers are split 60% in favor of sedans, and 40% are in favor of the SUVs.  But, the Ford Police Interceptor Utility is pretty fun to drive, and may help change the balance.  The CHP picked the Ford Police Interceptor Utility due to a lower bid than Chevrolet.  The CHP may buy a few of the sedans for executive purposes or display vehicles, but you’d better get comfortable knowing what Ford Explorer headlights look like.

This is a big win for Ford.  It’s quite obvious that the Ford Police Interceptor Utility is based on the Explorer, but Ford says that it is purpose-built.  Ford has done many upgrades:  heavy-duty brake, electrical, and cooling systems have been added to cope with all the needs of police work.  Since police officers need to have a laptop, radio, and other electrical gear, Ford has added a special column shifter so there can be room for that stuff.  There are even special seats for police officers that have cutouts for their utility belts (many officers complain about massive back pain in the Crown Victoria).  Since the Explorer (in all variants) comes in front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, the CHP has asked Ford to build the vehicles in all-wheel-drive form.  The 3.7 liter V6 from the Mustang has been added for a variety of reasons:  not only is it more powerful than the standard engine, it gets better fuel economy, it sounds better, and it should have been in the Explorer in the first place.  The 3.7 liter engine has 304 horsepower and 24 more lb-ft of torque.  That’s enough to keep the big-boned Explorer at it’s top speed of 135 mph for a long time.

Californians have almost six months to get familiar with Explorer headlights, as they will begin staring into your car by January 2013.  But, remember what Crown Victoria headlights look like because the CHP had ordered 329 before production ended.  It’s also not a bad idea to find out what the Kawasaki Concours 14 ABS P motorcycle looks like, as there are now 400 of them throughout the state, helping to phase out the ancient BMW R1200 RTP.

I’ve attached the link for those curious enough to find out what Ford has to say about their big win.  http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#

zoomvroom Car Reviews

Still in the Middle of the Pack…

Up until it’s redesign three model years ago (in 2010), Chevy’s lackluster Equinox was frequently ridiculed  by everybody else in the segment (Toyota Rav4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and many others).  Then, the compact-crossover grouping received a big, big shock:  The Equinox was redesigned (gasp!), and brought along a nearly identical twin, the chunky-yet-spunky GMC Terrain.  Unfortunately, both vehicles are so underpowered that a Yugo could get to 60 mph as quickly.  So, GMC and Chevy decided to up the ante.  The Terrain Denali and the Equinox LTZ now have the GM family’s stellar 3.6 liter V6.  The engine has 301 horsepower and a barely-adequate 272 lb-ft of torque.

On the the subject of fuel economy, you can almost laugh that off, get a Prius v and a pickup.  The Equinox LTZ with front-wheel drive gets 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway.  If you need all-wheel-drive, the LTZ with all-wheel-drive gets a scary 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway.  Oh, and the front-wheel-drive model is faster to 60 mph at 6.8 seconds (add four-tenths of a second to the chunkier all-wheel-drive model.  I won’t even start on the Terrain.)

The Equinox and Terrain now are easier to drive on bumpy roads due to some new suspension trickery – it shares the same dual-flow dampers that the larger Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave have.  This means that the Terrain and Equinox bob and weave a lot less on less-than-ideal surfaces.  Plus, it gives the driver a much better perception of grip when hurtling into a corner.

Overall, the relatively large Equinox still has a lot of interior noise, an upshift-happy transmission, and very bad rear visibility.  Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to lose a bit of that flab, Chevy.  But, the revised Equinox has a much bigger kick in the pants and is an effortless interstate cruiser.  Car & Driver had a chance to test the “old” 3.0 liter V6 against the “new” engine, and found that the new Equinox is a bit easier to drive.