Flash Drive — 2013 Subaru Impreza

By Bruce Caldwell

Model Tested: 2013 Subaru Impreza 2.0 Limited 4dr Sedan

Engine: 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder, 148 hp, 145 lb/ft

Transmission: CVT automatic, Symmetrical All Wheel Drive

EPA Ratings: 27-mpg city/36-mpg highway

Base Price: $21,895

As Tested: $24,714

Performance: Excellent fuel economy (the automatic beats the manual). Added wet weather confidence of great AWD system. Handy paddle shifters. Good power for engine size and relatively heavy weight. Responsive handling; not WRX great, but very good.

Comfort: Spacious interior, especially for a compact sedan. Ample seat travel accommodates wide range of drivers. Very good headroom even with sunroof. Room for six-foot tall occupants both front and rear. Nice leather quality for this price point.

Utility: Big trunk with flat floor and oversized pass-thru

            Flat folding split rear seats

            Lots of small item storage bins

WOW Factors: Lots of high quality features at a budget price

                          Subaru’s world-class AWD is standard

Whines: Conservative styling compared to wild WRX STI models

Bottom Line: The Subaru Impreza is an outstanding value in its many iterations. The modest increase from base to Limited adds a lot of luxury to a very competent, all-weather, spacious, economical sedan.

Flash Drive: 2013 Chevy Volt

By Bruce Caldwell

Model Tested: 2013 Chevrolet Volt 4dr Sedan

Engine: Electric motor 149-hp, 273-lb/ft plus 1.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine, 84-hp, 92-lb-ft

Transmission: CVT automatic, Front Wheel Drive

EPA Ratings: 98-mpg electric (38 mile range)/37-mpg gasoline only

Base Price: $39,145

As Tested: $43,375

Performance: Smooth and quiet (almost too quiet in electric mode). Four-hour recharge rate with 240-volt charging station. Non-traditional brake feel. Seamless transition between electric and gas modes

Comfort: Excellent front passenger room

                Great long distance comfort for front passengers

                Very tight rear seat, low ceiling, limited knee room

Utility: Modest cargo capacity

            High lift-over

            Below average size interior storage bins

WOW Factors: Phenomenal fuel economy

                          Very high tech; well executed

                          8-year/100,000 mile battery/Voltec components warrant

Whines: Slow recharging (12-15 hours) on standard household current

               Strictly four-passenger due to huge center tunnel

               Information display borders on overload

               Odd, electronic emergency brake

Bottom Line: The 2013 Chevy Volt is one electric vehicle that makes sense for our expansive country thanks to its gasoline backup engine. Chevrolet calls the Volt an extended range electric vehicle and that’s a perfect description. It provides all the benefits of an electric vehicle without the range anxiety.

And Now, For Something Patriotic...

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ik9AtJQXaHQ?rel=0

This is what loving cars, and family, is all about...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS3SvdWcAks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR-iDNsq388&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFJ-fvi_WZI&feature=fvwrel

American Suzuki files for bankruptcy protection

From the Associated Press

American Suzuki Motor Corp. on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it will cease selling automobiles in the U.S. as part of a plan to restructure its business.

American Suzuki Motor Corp. on Monday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it will cease selling automobiles in the U.S. as part of a plan to restructure its business.

The company, based in Brea, Calif., is the sole distributor of Suzuki Motor Co. vehicles in the continental U.S.

In documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Central District of California, the company estimated that its debts and liabilities range from at least $100 million to as much as $500 million.

It also said it has between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors.

American Suzuki Motor said it has enough cash to operate during the restructuring and intends to honor all car warranties and buyback agreements. It will work with its car dealerships to help them transition into parts-and-service operations. In some cases, the dealerships will be shuttered, it said.

Once it exits bankruptcy protection, American Suzuki Motor said it will focus on selling Suzuki motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and marine outboard engines.

It said that it is exiting the car business because of slow sales, unfavorable foreign exchange rates and high costs due to U.S. regulatory requirements.

It sold 2,023 vehicles in October, which was up 5 percent from the same month last year. Its Grand Vitara sport utility vehicle posted a 64 percent jump in sales last month, although American Suzuki did not say how many of them were sold. In May, the last month it provided a breakdown of its sales, it moved 474 Grand Vitaras, while its biggest seller was its SX4 small crossover, of which 1,101 were sold.

The bankruptcy and reorganization are unrelated to its parent Japan-based Suzuki Motor Corp., which intends to buy the American subsidiary’s remaining businesses and automotive service operation.

The reorganized company will retain the American Suzuki Motor name, the company said.

Flash Drive — 2012 Mini Countryman a capable, fun ride

By Bruce Caldwell

Model Tested: 2012 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4

Engine: 1-6-liter turbocharged dohc I-4, 181 hp, 177 lb/ft

Transmission: 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive

EPA Ratings: 25-mpg city
31-mpg highway

Base Price: $27,050

As Tested: $35,500

Performance:

A sports car that can go off-roading

Strong, responsive engine

Excellent 6-speed transmission, smooth clutch

Welcome hill hold clutch function

Comfort:

Stretch out front seat room

Extra thick, contoured steering wheel

Largest ever Mini Cooper rear seat

Decent highway ride

Utility:

It’s the largest Mini ever, so it carries more than other Minis

Four doors and a hatch optimize accessibility

Folding rear seats and flat cargo floor

Wide hatch opening

Decent cargo capacity

WOW Factors:

High fun-to-drive factor

Uniqueness of a Mini Cooper S

Tons of high-tech features; it’s like an iPad on wheels

Very light interior thanks to panoramic sunroof

Gets lots of positive attention

Fun, fun, fun

Whines:

Extensive option list can run up price

Oversize central speedo is more funky than functional

Too small interior storage bins

Electronic features not very intuitive

Small center armrest interferes with odd E-brake

Too small sun visors

Bottom Line:

The Mini Cooper S Countryman ALL4 is unique and quirky. Its many odd features can be annoying, but its incredible fun factor quickly overrides them. The Mini Countryman ALL4 functionality is fine, but having on and off road fun is the key reason to buy one.

More Recalls — Honda (Again) and Dodge

Honda has announced it is recalling CR-V crossovers from the 2002 to 2006 model years because an electrical switch in the driver's side door could melt and cause a fire. The problem involves around 268,000 vehicles. Honda said rain or other liquids could enter through a driver's open window and damage the master power switch on the door. If that happens, the switch could overheat and melt, causing a fire. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said owners should park their CR-Vs from those model years outside until the recall is performed to avoid any property damage from a fire. A fire could start even when the ignition is off and the CR-V is parked. Honda agreed that concerned owners should park their CR-Vs away from structures that could burn. But spokesman Ed Miller emphasized that a switch is unlikely to catch fire unless someone spilled liquid on it or let a large amount of rain into the vehicle through the driver's side window.

Honda said owners have reported four fires but no injuries or crashes associated with the issue. The company will begin contacting owners next month and will repair the vehicles for free. Honda will install a cover plate inside the switch to prevent any liquid from coming in, Miller said.

It was the third major recall in a week for the Japanese automaker, which usually sits near the top in J.D. Power and Associates' annual rankings of vehicle quality. Earlier the company said it was recalling 820,000 Civic compact and Pilot SUVs from the 2002 through 2004 model years because the headlights can fail. CR-Vs were also recalled earlier this spring for that same issue.

Honda is also recalling 600,000 Accord midsize cars because a faulty power steering house can leak and cause a fire. That recall affects Accords with V6 engines from the 2003 to 2007 model years.

The NHTSA also announced that it's investigating complaints that Honda Odyssey minivans and Pilot SUVs can roll away after drivers remove the ignition key. That investigation involves vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years.

Also he government announced a recall of 44,300 Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota pickup trucks from the 2009 and 2010 model years. The trucks have a nut that could loosen on the rear axle, causing drivers to lose control of their vehicles. The government and Chrysler Group LLC said there have been 15 reports of rear axle failure and three minor injuries related to the issue.