2012 Volvo C30
2012 Volvo C30
The world has officially shifted on its axis. Tom Cruise plays a ROCKSTAR and I like a Volvo station wagon.
First I’ll just touch on the many things that are wrong with Mr. Cruise playing a ROCKSTAR. Wait, there’s just not enough space. So, we’ll move onto the Volvo C30 Turbo.
I’m getting to be a huge fan of the “Rally” style cars. It started with an STI that a friend of mine owned. Ryan, from the show had a 700HP Subaru that both scared and attracted me at the same time, kind of like Rihanna.
I’m not sure Volvo intended the C30 to be seen as a rally car but, to me a turbo hatchback is a rally car indeed.
Starting with its very peppy power-plant, a 2.5 liter turbo that puts out about 235HP and 230ftlbs of torque the C30 offers a very upbeat driving experience. I was lucky enough to get the “R” package which includes a lower stance, huge wheels and tires and a handling package. This car should not be fast or even quick. You see it has a weight problem. Weighing in at 4,300lbs-that’s only a few pounds shy of my truck- the Volvo c30 won’t be winning any bathing suit competitions.
This is what I find fascinating about cars. It’s all about the set up. In the normal world I would become uninterested very quickly in this cars horsepower to weight ratio. On paper it looks like a slug. On the road the C30 feels like a fun little slot car.
What really sets the Volvo apart from the rest of the-yawn-hatchbacks is the exterior styling. The C30 is the most stylish car I’ve been given this year. It looks like nothing else on the road today. There is a body line that starts at the headlights and continues to the rear of the car. The line gets more pronounced as it goes farther back. Just above the rear wheels this body line turns into about a four inch shelf. For those of you that are confused, the C30 has a Donkey Butt. Wow, never thought I would use that in a review.
The dash is a thing of beauty. All of the controls are on a pod about fourteen inches tall, six inches wide and one inch deep. It literally looks like a big i-phone. However, even though it looks really cool, the extremely small and cramped buttons make it almost impossible to operate while driving. I guess its ok since the Volvo has always been a very safe car to crash.
The C30 has two doors and four seats. There is no room in the back seat for anyone large enough to ride the roller coaster. I don’t care because the C30 is so much fun to drive I don’t want the car full of people.
It is so rare to find originality in our world. The C30 is to cars what the Red Hot Chili Peppers are to rock.
With a price ranging from $25,000.00 TO $32,000.00 THE C30 is very reasonably priced. If you’re looking for a cool hatchback to infuse your daily commute with style, fun and safety there is no better choice out there. As for the fuel economy, it was great. I averaged 30mpg over my week of automotive bliss.
I just wish Tom Cruise didn’t play a ROCKSTAR.
Read MoreInfinity EX35
EX35
This week I received my second Infinity. Normally this doesn’t happen. But I’ve never been happier. I was very impressed with the fit and finish and extreme luxury of the brand. This week nothing changes but the name. The Infinity EX35 is another winner in my book.
The size of the EX35 is perfect for a small family. Much like the Infinity M Hybrid, the EX35 has the looks and the performance to impress the most stringent critic. Some of the reviews I’ve read have come down hard on the size of the EX-35. Look, if you want a big SUV get one but, thankfully we all don’t need the big ride.
Ease of driving comes to mind first, followed closely by comfort. The ergonomics are spot on. The power, while not excessive offers plenty of go-mo.
Far and away the most impressive award must go to exterior design. The body flows like the pre-dam Colorado. The smooth front fascia gives way to rounded shoulders over all of the wheel wells and snaps back into uniformity before you get to the hatchback.
I’ve always been a fan of Nissan/Infinity. They make some of the most amazingly smooth power-plants in the industry today. The Infinity EX35 is no exception. The 3.5 liter makes 297HP thanks in part to an aluminum block and heads. Low friction molybdenum-coated pistons, and CVTCS.
Power gets you there but convenience makes the trip better also. With its dual-zone climate control and heated and cooled back seat center console vent the EX35 assures a happy tribe, although, the Indians in the back need to have short legs to ride in total comfort. The lack of legroom for the back seat passengers is one glaring weakness.
The Bose 11-speaker infotainment system offers more beautiful noise than a twenty song set by Fleetwood Mac. Of course there are USB ports for all of our “needed” world monitors. Man, I miss the days of un-connectivity.
If you have a family of four or less and you are the anti-sedan type, the Infinity EX35 is a perfect choice.
Read MoreInfinity M Hybrid
Infinity M Hybrid
I’m a music fan. I prefer rock and roll. I actually like all types of music but, rock is by far my favorite. And every decade or so a song comes out that both blazes new territory and also stands the test of time. Case and point, Prodigy’s “Breathe” impressed me the first time I heard it and continues to captivate me to this day.
So, with all of the manufacturers trying to master this new “hybrid” idea, Infinity has gotten my attention.
The Infinity M Hybrid is a flawless execution of a platform that gives me real hope for the future of Hybrids. To be fair all of the other manufacturers are also making great headway, but, the way Nissan strung this car together is clearly a huge leap forward.
First of all, let me tell you this car is more luxurious than a week on your own island. The sound deafening allows you to motor about town and on the highway in complete solace. The Bose system allows you to enjoy Prodigy or the Russian Easter Overture. How often do you see those two in the same sentence? The front seats are climate controlled and the steering wheel is heated. The Japanese Ash wood trim is as beautiful as Brooklyn Decker on a Maui beach. Offering a finish that looks weathered in from day one. When I sat in the car my first thought was it looked like a Jag. That’s not bad company when it comes to styling.
Although the interior is sublime the real star of this show is the power-train. Starting with the 3.5 liter 24 valveV-6, aluminum alloy block and heads with Low-friction coated pistons that offers 330HP on its own, then adding an additional battery to bring the total horsepower to 360 the Infinity M will get to 60MPH in less than six seconds. The power transfer from motor to electric is seamless. Actually, it’s better than that. The only way to tell which motor is driving the car is to keep your eye on the tach.
Most of the time while driving in town I was running electric. On a trip to Richardson to see my little brother graduate form UTD I was able to complete the trip with less than a quarter tank of gas. At one time the car switched to electric on the highway.
The fuel economy is said to be 18/25 but, I did much better. The trick is to stay in economy mode. You hear that Washington? The trick is to stay in economy mode but, I digress.
The trick to getting all of us sold on hybrids is cars like the Infinity M Hybrid. If the manufacturers will just understand that the buyers want it all than there should be no problem. The joy of the M Hybrid is the “hybrid” is not the focus. It’s just an amazing car that is quiet, fast and sips fuel like a four-banger. There, that’s all we want.
Congratulations Infinity. Even though the price tag of $53,700 eliminates buyers like my newly degreed brother there are many others who should put this car on their short list.
Read More2012 Cadillac CTS-v
2012 Cadillac CTS-v
To whom much is given much is expected. Back a few years ago we gave the General as much as we could. That led to some lofty expectations for most of us. Having tested most of their product line since then I would say they are well on their way to fulfilling those expectations. From fuel sipping models like the Cruze, to big and bad ZL1’s and CTS-V’s. Although I appreciate the former, I’m in love with the latter.
The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V is vicious! When it was delivered all auto controls were in place. Traction control, check, Torque management, on. I pulled away from the office like 90 percent of the tenants in our building, driving a four door sedan. I took the windy road home and maybe even smiled a little.
I woke up the next morning, turned off the traction control and found Lithium on Satellite Radio. I took the same windy road back to work and when I arrived I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. The car I had yesterday had disappeared. In its place was a fire breathing, ill tempered wannabe nascar. I loved it.
The 2012 CTS-v is the perfect gentlemen’s car. Impress your clients with the luxury during the day and beat it hard on the way home or, uh…at the track. Unlike the CTS-v coupe which I did not like nearly as much as the sedan, the four door version allows room for comfort, room to be a Cadillac. I mean, if you buy a Cadillac you should have ample space and trust me you’ll never run out of power. With almost cartoonish horse power and torque numbers 556/551 the CTS-v is more fun than a weekend with Steve-O.
All power numbers aside the CTS-v is absolutely balanced and stable. For a car as heavy as the CTS-v you would expect a mushy driving experience. I assure you the opposite is true. With the Dual-Mode Magnetic Ride Control, the Chris Farley of cars rips the road up.
My favorite feature has to be the Recaro driving seats. Offering more adjustments than John Travolta’s Masseuse, the comfort is unmatched. As long as you’re comfortable enjoy your tunes on the fully integrated Bluetooth system.
The price range from a low of $64,000.00 to a still reasonable $73,000.00 fully loaded. And best of all, it’s a Cadillac. Read More
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