Mazda thinks it's solved the RX-7's shortcomings in a four-door, four-passenger car with aggressive styling and an all-new rotary engine called the RX-8. Sure, it has plenty of power, crisp handling, a firm ride, and a sweet engine, but Mazda goes too far in describing it as "truly a sports car." No matter how quick it is, nothing with four doors and four seats is a sports car. Read More »
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2003 Nissan 350 Z Compact Sports Coupe
Yes, the fabled Z-car of Nissan is back. The iconic sports hatchback coupe from Nissan -- tracking back in a line from the original Datsun 240Z of 1970 to the last issue in 1996 as a twin-turbo 300ZX -- returns in familiar format with the 350Z of 2003. Read More »
2003 Mazda6 Mid-Size Sedan
Consider it the pavement-hugging and curve-craving new flagship from the "Zoom-Zoom" brand of Mazda, whose reputation for producing sporty cars tracks back to the two-seat MX-5 Miata roadster and RX-7 hatchback. Read More »
2004 Chrysler Pacifica Full-Size Wagon
On palm-fringed Prospect Avenue in La Jolla -- the ritzy seaside enclave of suburban San Diego where super-rich residents steer mega-bucks car candy with labels like Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini -- we observe that more than a few of the sidewalk shoppers pay unusual attention to our vehicle with their heads turning and fingers pointing as we roll by. Read More »
2004 Pontiac Grand Prix Mid-Size Sedan
Pontiac's 2004 Grand Prix loses its ugly plastic ripples in favor of a clean, taut, muscular body that looks sporty and sophisticated. The new look indicates a shift in Pontiac to compete more closely with European performance brands like BMW. Regardless of its focus on performance, the Grand Prix's interior is surprisingly comfortable and roomy. Some thoughtful features make it practical as well as sporty, like a folding rear seat and back doors that open nearly 90 degrees for easy entry and exit. Read More »
2004 Volvo S80 Mid-Size Luxury Sedan
Automakers love to bring journalists to Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia as the roads in the region are spectacular for test drives. The winding, empty country roads were a perfect test for the updated 2004 Volvo S80. Despite a variety of road conditions – gravel, dirt, mud – the 2004 S80 handled very well, drove smoothly and was a pleasure to drive. In fact, I’d like to still be driving it now.
Read More »2004 Audi A8 L Luxury Full-Size Sedan
Automotive journalists have long considered the Audi A8 to be the best deal in the full-size luxury car market. The A8 bests significantly larger sellers like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series, Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS430 and the Infiniti Q45. The 2004 Audi A8L is the company’s way of communicating to affluent consumers that the company is a First-Tier Luxury automaker and that their products belong in a consideration set containing any of the aforementioned products. Read More »
2002 Porsche Carrera
Again the bar has been raised with better numbers and comfort. Bose magic and attention to detail adds new reasons for selecting Porsche. Read More »
2004 Jaguar XJ, Vanden Plas and XJR
We try never to miss an opportunity to drive a great vehicle, on great roads in beautiful places. This was just the experience we had driving the all-new 2004 Jaguar XJ from Phoenix to Sedona, Arizona, and back. As is the case with the previous versions, the XJ is a magnificent vehicle filled to the brim with luxurious amenities and one of the most comfortable and sporty rides of any vehicle on the market. Read More »
2003 Toyota Tacoma Compact Pickup Truck
The compact-class trucks from Toyota reinforce brakes on all models by adding an anti-lock brake system (ABS) across the board as standard equipment. Read More »
