2007 Audi A4

  Well I've driven a couple Germans so far, and all of them have been very nice and impressive machines. Sadly the European cars are pretty few and far between here in the U.S. That's partly due to the fear that people have that if anything ever happens to them, they'll have to sell a kidney to get it repaired. That being said they do tend to be quite a bit more expensive for parts, and because there are limited shops that will work on them, the labor's pretty steep too. Of course the flip side of that coin is that they are some of the highest quality vehicles available today which means that potentially you'll be visiting the shop less. Anyway, with the limited number of European cars available, I really have to test them while I have the chance. Today I found a 2007 A4 on the lot and decided to try it out.

  I've always admired the styling that the Europeans put into their cars, and this one is no exception. The exterior wasn't too showy, but you could still see that Audi put a lot of thought into the design. The lines were somewhat rounded but still retained some aggressive notes as well. Up front we notice HID headlights in a slightly down turned angle, the only chrome on the grille is the four interlocking circles that make up the Audi emblem. One design feature that I found interesting is that the body panels are all flush mounted to each other giving the whole exterior a very smooth and uniform look. If that last statement made no sense at all, let me explain. Most cars, for example have a protruding bumper, but the Audi does not. All the components of the body blend in seamlessly with each other.
   Stepping into the interior, we find leather and wood greeting us. This is not unexpected, given that we're looking at an entry level luxury/performance car. One thing that I found that I liked over the Japanese and American competitors is that the wood accents used is actual wood, and not plastic wood grain. Other than that, it's pretty straight forward. The sound system is, of course, premium Bose, most everything is power adjustable, and all the standard features you'd expect are there. Like with other German cars, the dash lighting is all a deep orange/red. I took some time to situate myself in the cabin before setting off. I've found that the interior layout of the European cars is a bit different from others.
  Once I was ready to go, I fired up the two liter turbo and set off. As with other Germans that I've driven I immediately found the steering to be pretty heavy, a trait that probably has something to do with sections of autobahn with no speed limits. I found the ride to be particularly comfortable, the seats were nice and plush, and I really liked how the sound system automatically turned the volume up as you sped up. Being a FWD layout I wasn't expecting too much in the way of handling, but it did well, and I soon found myself cruising on the highway. As far as power train performance goes, the engine did have a bit of turbo lag, but the transmission shifted very nicely in Sport mode. I found myself taking a longer route than I usually do with these reviews just because I was enjoying myself so much.
   Usually at this point I try to think of something negative to say about the car, but honestly there wasn't a whole lot to nitpick about. Sure it wasn't the fully loaded model, and as such didn't have navigation, heated seats or AWD, but that's about the only think I can think of that I'd really change. It's a beautiful car, a joy to drive, comfortable and surprisingly practical. This is one that I could see buying for myself. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the experience as much as I did, and I'll see you again tonight here in The Fast Lane.

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

   Well I made a promise last post to review the current car that I've been drooling over and now that the time comes to start writing I find myself rather nervous. Not so much that I don't know what to write about, but that I won't do this amazing machine proper justice. I've always been a huge car fan, I like the stylish cars, the interesting cars, technology that goes into the driveability, luxuries etc. Mostly though I've always enjoyed getting behind the wheel of a serious driving machine. I've always admired Mitsubishi as a company because they capture most of these traits. Over the years they've made some incredible machines that have changed the whole industry. The Evolution is one of those cars, so iconic and impressive, that I could probably have avoided posting any pictures of it and you'd all know exactly what I was referring to.

   As always I have to start with styling. Being spawned in the world of rally racing, a lot of the Evolution's styling features were not intentional. Loosely based on the Lancer sedan, we find a general body shape from a midsized economy car, but the panels themselves have been altered to accommodate the performance upgrades needed to create a rally racing champion. Up front we find that the body has been lowered and the wheel arches widened to provide aerodynamics with the widened wheels, the same thing happens in the rear with the addition of a diffuser to reduce drag and a spoiler to provide down force. The hood has scoops cut into it that feed cold air directly onto the body of the turbo, a feature that is purely functional but again adds to the overall styling of the car. In short they took a lancer, a good looking economy car to begin with, and made it look absolutely incredible and aggressive.

  The interior is more of the same. Being based on the Lancer it already looked pretty good, but with their functional upgrades it looks and feels amazing. The racing style steering wheel looks very cool and still has space for an airbag, the Recaro brand seats are full buckets with hip and shoulder hugging sides, but they still are comfortable and recline. Everything else is what you'd expect from a Lancer. You have climate control, cruise control, power doors, mirrors and windows, and the one that I drove was equipped with satellite navigation, leather and heated seating surfaces. Let's not forget, however, that this is a driver's car.

   The initial expectation is for a thunderous roar when you start up the engine, but it's actually quite restrained and more of a quiet purr. It's the same feeling as you set off down the low speed limit roads. The ride is smooth, the interior's comfortable, and it drives nicely. As soon as I hit the on ramp, the pedal went straight to the floor and the car immediately transformed. As the twin scroll turbo started hissing I was pressed back into my seat and the engine's RPMs shot up. Being still on the cloverleaf, I was able to get an idea of how sharp the handling was. Accelerating up to highway speeds was a very quick process, and as I settled into a cruise I was amazed to find that the ferocity went back into dormancy and was replaced, again, by the comfortable cruiser. After doing some more handling maneuvers I drove back and found myself lusting after the car all the more than I had before.

   As I said yesterday, this is the current dream car. You may think that there are other cars out there that are much more impressive, powerful and exotic. While that may be true, this is a machine that will hold it's own with a lot of super cars and yet it's a pleasure to drive daily, and it's something that's, not only affordable, but something that you wouldn't be afraid to drive at it's limits, and also doubles as a family sedan when you need it to. I hope you enjoyed this posting, and be sure to join me again tonight for another here in The Fast Lane.

2005 Audi TT-S Quattro

  Today's review was a very interesting one for me. There's an old saying that says: Never meet your heroes. Now I work in the car business and it's inevitable that I'd come across many of my dream cars that I always admired at various stages in life. Today I took the opportunity to review my original dream car. The Audi TT. And not just any TT but their no holds barred S line version. This was the 2005 year's cream of the crop.

  Now bearing in mind the fact that I'd never actually driven the TT until now, let me explain why I drooled over it for hours on end in magazines and Internet sites growing up and why any time I saw one on the street I had to stop and look lustfully at the interior and exterior of this machine. Starting with the exterior it's easy to see why it drew my attention back in the early 2000's. The smooth, rounded lines and the way every body panel, seam and exterior component fits together like one beautiful streamlined jigsaw puzzle. It's not just about the exterior beauty of the car though. As you look at the way every thing's fit together you can tell that it's a serious performance machine. That low stance, the cross drilled brake rotors, the high performance shocks and springs and light weight wheels indicate that it should be very fast and handle very well also. Under the hood we find a turbo charged five valve per cylinder in line four engine attached to a six speed manual transmission feeding the horse power to an all wheel drive system. So far we're still happy with our hero, but the real test is how it feels to drive. Will it really be as good as I always expected it would be?

   Stepping into the interior, I still wasn't disappointed. Every component was functional, but artfully pieced together to create one seamless flow of leather and aluminum beauty and functionality. As with the exterior you can still tell that this is intended to be a performance car with the short throw shifter, the racing styled steering wheel and the hip hugging seats, and yet they give you all the amenities that you'd expect from the German premium auto maker. Aside from the leather and aluminum, there's also a premium audio system by Bose, heated seats, automatic climate control and a very small but usable back seat. As with the exterior these are things I had already been aware of just by reading about it, but now comes the time to find out if it drives as well as I'd hoped.
  The short cruise that I usually take starts out on a low mph road with a couple traffic lights before reaching the on ramp. In town I found that the ride was, as expected a little bit bumpy with little give and body roll from the suspension. It wasn't uncomfortable though and would be something well worth dealing with as soon as I discovered the power and cornering capabilities as I entered onto the on ramp. The stiff suspension that was bumpy before, combined with the quattro all wheel drive enabled the TT to corner like a house fly, while the power combined with the light weight provided plenty of acceleration to put a smile on the face of even the most spoiled and serious driver. On the highway the light weight causes quite a bit of road noise and the still suspension again causes the ride to be bumpy, but overall it was a complete joy to drive, and the interior comforts make even long trips enjoyable.
  Well I finally got to meet my original hero. Was it perfect? Well if I had to nitpick, I'd say that the power could have been a little bit more, the ride could have been a little bit better and the back seat's kinda pointless, but as a whole, I was very impressed and greatly enjoyed the experience. Tomorrow I plan on writing about the current dream car, and you'll definitely want to be sure to join me again here in The Fast Lane.

2004 Jaguar XJR

  So today I figured would be a good idea to get on top of this latest arrival while I still have the chance to test it out. I've always been a big fan of top of the line luxury and performance cars, and today's is both balled into one amazing car. What we're looking at today is the 2004 Jaguar XJR. Some of you might have mixed feelings about the British company, but the fact is that Jaguar has produced some of the most stunning and gorgeous vehicles to ever see the pavement.
  Style has always been on the very top of the priority list for Jaguar, and that becomes evident looking at the exterior of this specimen. The styling, of course, is directly from the 70's, but quite frankly it was gorgeous back then so why change it? It's been slightly tweaked, of course, on the exterior. The lines are smoother and more flowing and rounded than the 70's models and through the wheel spokes, it's evident that it's dripping with modern technology. That being said, you start to notice things like how even though it's a big full size luxury car, it's also relatively low to the ground and how even though it's got a hood ornament of the iconic big cat, it also has performance brakes all the way around. What I'm saying is that even though it's big and classy, it looks like it just might be a sleeper.
   When you step inside though you start to second guess that assumption due to the unbelievable luxury that surrounds you. Every amenity that you can think of is there and then some. Obviously you'd expect leather seating, premium sound system and a sun roof, but what you wouldn't expect is heated seating in the back seats as well as the front, and not only electric seats, windows, doors and mirrors, but also steering wheel and pedal position  as well. As I fired up the engine, I was greeted by the pleasant rumble of a V8, but after a rev or two, I had to take a quick look under the hood. I found myself gaping at a supercharged V8, that I later found out churns out just under 400 horsepower. So it is a sleeper! After messing with the navigation system a little bit, I set off towards the highway immediately impressed by the smooth ride and comfort. The electronically controlled suspension clearly handled cruising well so I decided to put my foot down a little bit entering onto the highway and found that it also cornered very well also. As I accelerated I was pressed back into the leather and the purring V8 suddenly let loose it's big cat roar combined with the classic whine of the supercharger. I was delighted, but as I glanced down at the needle rising higher and higher, eased up on the gas a little bit before I got myself into too much trouble. It was phenomenal cruising at highway speeds, and felt like I was gliding along on a plush, comfy 400 horsepower cloud.


   Thus far I've been able to find something about every car I've driven that I didn't like, but this was a tough one. The styling was timeless and beautiful, the interior had every comfort you could think of, the engine and handling was excellent and even the trunk space was massive. I know it's a first for me, but this one really is flawless. Like I said earlier, some of you may disagree with me about Jags, but if you do ever get the chance be sure and experience one for your selves. Anyway I'll see you all again tomorrow on The Fast Lane.

2004 BMW X5

  I'm back! First off I'd like to apologize for the gap in posts. The good news is that I've had a chance to drive some REALLY rare and interesting cars, so there are good things to come! I'd like to start out this miserable cold autumn with a vehicle that appeals to a lot of people this time of year especially. SUVs, trucks and four wheel drive cars are getting more and more attractive as the ground starts to get rained on and freezing temperatures approach.

  Just so we're clear, the legendary four wheel drive systems that Mitsubishi produces is soon to come, but BMW is a brand that I've always admired. The combination of class, style and quality are rarely found all in one vehicle, but BMW has proved that it is possible. As soon as the chance arose to test their X5 SUV, I jumped at the opportunity. As usual I start by doing a quick walk around and check out the exterior. Up front we find the BMW decided to take their styling from their sedan lineup, a design trait that's becoming more and more popular these days. One thing that you'll notice is that it's rather reserved considering it's category. The styling is there but it's subtle. Moving around to the back you'll find that the ride height is aimed more towards road driving, but still has enough clearance for moderate off road trips. The only disappointing part of the exterior that I found was the back end. In contrast to the front it's big and bulky and none of the styling seems to quite fit. Overall though it's a nice looking SUV and yet isn't too over the top like the Denalis and Escalades and the like.   

        Stepping inside you're greeted by a full leather interior complete with all electric controls and of course memory settings. One thing that I found particularly striking with the interior was the massive glass roof, even more delightful was the fact that it actually opens as a sunroof. To be perfectly honest I was quite pleasantly surprised with the layout of the dash. In past BMWs that I'd driven there wasn't a square inch of dash that didn't have button, switch or knob on it, but this one was very nice and clutter free. Aside from climate control, audio and four wheel drive controls there actually isn't much there. I fired up the engine and turned on the super bright HID headlights. Immediately the dash lit up in orange lights and I was greeted by the premium sound system. After setting up my equalizer and volume I shifted into drive and set off.

     The BMW engines have always been legendary in every way, so the power and responsiveness was impressive, but expected. Steering, as with all BMWs was fairly heavy but responsive. The main thing I was looking for in this one was the suspension though. I wasn't disappointed. The cornering was very good with little body roll for something this big and top heavy, but at the same time the ride was smooth and comfortable as well. Ride height was very nice and well and made me feel much more safe along side highway traffic. Driving through town was a concern for me at first, mainly because I'm used to driving a midsized car, but I found that the turning radius was very good and it negotiated the tight spots very well. I would have liked to do a full test off road as well as city driving, but unfortunately all I had access to was a grassy hill that had just been rained on. Based on the limited testing that I was able to do, I found that the four wheel drive system was very good quality. The wheels never really lost any traction on the slippery grass and the slope descent mode is a helpful feature in a pinch as well.

    Well it's that time again for overall findings. I found the exterior pretty nice. The back end could have stayed on the designers desk a little bit longer but I do like the subtle styling and the functionality of the overall design. The interior had a very nice and open feel to it thanks to that glass roof, and I was pleased to see that BMW finally downsized their button and switch department. Finally I found the performance of the vehicle to be excellent and can't really think of anything to nitpick about that part of the test. Well I plan on continuing every day from now on and you can expect a LOT of really cool and exciting vehicles here in The Fast Lane.

2005 Nissan 350z roadster touring

  Today I decided to treat myself to an indulgence that I love sampling whenever I get the chance. I've always been an admirer of sports cars with powerful engines, good handling, luxuries and good looks. The group that stands out for me in particular though is convertibles. I know I know I live in the Pacific Northwest and convertibles aren't really something that work very well here most of the year. I've always really enjoyed driving back country roads that wind through scenic forests, along rivers, up mountains etc. and let's face it, for that short window of time where the sun actually graces us with it's presence, this is simply the best place on earth to be.

   Today I grabbed the keys to one of the cars that I've always admired, pretended that it wasn't overcast for a moment and jumped in the driver's seat. I'm talking of course about the 2005 350z roadster, and on first glance it's plain to see why I've always admired this particular model. Nissan really went all out with this refined example of the legendary Z line. The massively flared wheel arches, paired with the rounded body lines make it plain to see that this car was designed with my kind of person in mind. The sleek, stylish headlights and taillights are angular and aggressive, while the aluminum, uniquely designed door handles bring a sense of elegance and refinement to the body.

   Inside the car you're greeted with hip hugging leather seats and an interior that continues that seamless mesh of aggressive performance and elegant luxury. As I inserted the key into the ignition and started up the 287 hp V6, I immediately felt like I was in a James Bond movie as a door in the middle of the dash started to automatically open and I was greeted by the LCD navigation and multimedia screen.

   After adjusting my electric seats to my liking, I set off and was immediately pleased by the powerful yet refined sound of the engine as well as the power that went along with it. As I headed towards the highway I couldn't help but noticed the grip as I went into each corner. So far so good then on all counts, but how is it to live with? Well sadly not everything is perfect here. While the heated, electric leather seats are comfortable, there is a fair bit of road noise that comes with the low stance. That being said, with the Bose premium sound system on the volume adjusts itself automatically as you speed up and turns itself down as you slow. Yet another 007 moment there, and although the sound system and navigation are top notch, the layout of the controls and buttons are fairly scattered and inconvenient. The horsepower is very nice as well but the automatic bump shift mode is quite sluggish if you're in the mood to shift like a race car driver. All these things are just me nitpicking though to be honest and overall I give the Z top marks in all areas.

   As with all good things, in the end I did have to hang the keys back on the board. Being a two seater makes the Z a little difficult to own when you have a family, but for the right person few cars will bring this much to the table. I know I enjoyed my review today and I hope you all enjoyed taking the journey with me as well. Be sure and join me again in The Fast Lane tomorrow.

2013 Mitsubishi i-MiEV all electric

      We continue in The Fast Lane today with our green theme. I spoke highly yesterday of the Nissan Leaf, with a promise to review it's rival today: The all new Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Of course I say new because that's what it is to us here in the U.S. Over seas however the i car has been in production and on sale for over five years now. You'll remember I greatly enjoyed the Leaf, so let's see how the i stacks up against it.
   As usual we start with our first impressions. The exterior of the i is a matter of some debate. Some see it as a European chic car that's stylish and unique, while others merely see a bug eyed little car on tiny wheels with no hood. I personally like the little i car and find it's styling unique and funky. I like the way the wheels are at each corner and the front of it looks like a smiling face. I like the color palette that Mitsubishi chose and find the Raspberry color particularly attractive. On first glance we're not so close to a regular car with this electric , but then again the swooping body lines are designed with function before form on this one, and aerodynamics were at the top of the priority list when it went to the drawing board.
  Stepping into the interior you're immediately greeted by the pleasant surprise of space. Looking at the i from the outside you expect it to be cramped and uncomfortable, but there's plenty of leg room both front and back, TONS of headroom throughout the whole car and very nice cargo space when the seats are upright and even more when they're folded flat. One point for the i car over the Leaf in the space department at least. We move on to the driver's seat, where we find a heated driver's side seat, blue tooth, navigation and all the standard amenities we've come to expect from new cars these days as well. As far as actual features the two electrics are pretty evenly matched although the Leaf is more sleek and futuristic, and the i has the option to choose what features you'd like to leave off. Driving the i is quite a bit more like a regular car in that you get an actual key instead of a button and an actual gear shift selector and handbrake instead of a joystick and button. Which is better? Well that's personal preference.
   We select D or Eco mode and head down the road. Straight off the bat, like with the Leaf we're greeted with silence, a bit more so in this model though to be fair because with narrower tires the road noise is significantly lessened. The visibility is excellent as well due to the large, tall windshield, side and rear windows. Power wise we're in the same ballpark though, lots of torque and plenty of top speed, perfectly capable of keeping up on the freeway. Ride is smooth and comfortable, although, since the range is a little less than the Leaf you're rarely in the car for long enough to get sore (unless you're stuck in Portland traffic). Parking is very easy as well due to the short hood, compact body and available backup camera.
  So far pretty evenly matched I'd say. The Leaf is more futuristic and sleek, but the i car is significantly less money. The Leaf has a bit more range but the i has a better warranty. The Leaf has more toys, but the i has more room and is less noisy. So which do you choose? Well from the driver's seat I'd say it's a great choice either way!
    In closing I'd just like to say how pleased I am to finally see a valid effort being put forth to save the environment and these two pioneers are paving the way for the future. Until tomorrow night stay green and keep in The Fast Lane.

2011 Nissan Leaf

   Welcome back everyone! Today we're going green with the all electric Nissan Leaf. The fact is that gas prices have become absurdly expensive over the past couple of years, and there are a lot of options on the market designed to save us money at the pump. Ideally we'd want to have a car that operates exactly like a normal car with no dependency on fossil fuel. The Leaf is one of a couple options that's getting very close to achieving that goal.

   Starting out we look at the exterior of the vehicle. In the past all electric cars have been slow, ugly and impractical. On the exterior, though, the Leaf blends in with it's surroundings to the point where if you didn't know what you were looking at you'd think it's just another funky looking Nissan. Granted I'm not a huge fan of the massive headlights and the long vertical taillights, but overall it's not bad looking either. So far so good then, it looks like a normal car walking up to it. But what's it like on the interior? Well in a word, it's cool. The instruments are minimalist on first glance with a large screen for all the gauges and another screen for the navigation system. Touch the power button, though, and the whole interior lights up with blue LCD gauges and the navigation shows a color map with points of interest including charging stations highlighted. The "shift" knob is a stubby little joy stick with park, drive, reverse and Eco modes on it. Once you get past the gadgets though it's just a normal hatchback again. Comfortable seats, plenty of leg and head room and an adequately spacious trunk.

   All of this so far is exactly what we wanted to begin with, but how does it drive? When in drive it's eerily quiet and you become a little hesitant to let off the brake, and once you're rolling down the street it's more of the same. No noise and no gear shifts make it feel very strange at first, though not in a negative way, but once you start to get used to it, it really feels like any other car. Jump on the highway and the road noise is a little loud, but it does drive, even at highway speeds,like any other car. Amenities include climate control, blue tooth, GPS and more. Range is the biggest question on these cars of course. At up to about 100 miles per charge it's pretty good for most people. For longer trips you'll need a level 3 charger and about 30 minutes of charging time, but it's mostly targeted towards daily commuters and if you're planning on doing any travelling to speak of you'll need a second car.

   Overall I think we're well on our way towards the future. The technology's still in it's infancy but for the time being the Leaf is a good choice for most people. Downsides? maybe give the option for a base model instead of getting all or nothing, road noise is a little annoying and it's not good if you travel. That's just me nitpicking though and I think it's a very impressive machine. Tomorrow we'll be driving it's main competition, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Until then try to stay in The Fast Lane.

2000 chevrolet camaro z28

   Welcome back to The Fast Lane! This time I chose a car that I've always wondered about. The 2000 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. I had never really had any experience with this specific car until now and I always wondered if it was really as good as I'd always heard. So I grabbed the keys and headed out to decide for myself.

   I started out walking up to the exterior of the car, and so far I was impressed. The sleek body lines reminded me of Chevrolet's legacy: the mighty Corvette. The low slung body and large rear spoiler told me this car was all about performance and maybe even handling. The twin exhaust screamed high horsepower. Needless to say I was ecstatic to finally get behind the wheel of this monster. I opened the driver's side door and was amazed at how long and heavy it was, and got into the driver's seat. Once again I was impressed to see that the driver sit's practically on the floor it'self, a feature seen in many high performance machines to lower the center of gravity. I began to situate myself in the cabin, and was pleasantly surprised to see leather seats and electric controls. As I continued to look around though I was more and more disappointed with the cheapness of it all. Everything was plastic and felt like it was about to break off in my hand. I reminded myself that it was a muscle car, however, and assumed that Chevy spent all the money under the hood. I turned the key and was delighted with the thunderous roar of the engine, and the violent shake that came with it. I smiled and put it into gear and set off.
   Driving the car at slow speeds proved to be unimpressive, uncomfortable and loud, but that'd all be worth it as long as it didn't disappoint when your foot goes to the floor. I waited at the light to get onto the on ramp to the freeway and when it turned green I stepped on it. I was immediately sideways and let off the throttle. I tried again and the same thing kept happening. Things were going badly so far with no traction control, but I reminded myself that all true driver's cars had no aides. I decided it must be about either handling or straight line performance. I finally was able to accelerate without spinning the tires and  put my foot down. The engine made a thunderous scream and I braced myself for the G forces, but none came. The disappointment increased, and I thought maybe they'd at least gotten the handling right. They didn't. The body roll was terrible, the body was much too long, and there was a terrible combination of over and under steer. The steering wheel itself was too big and too heavy, and the turning radius was bad.
   In short I was very disappointed with everything about the car. Oh and the day was rainy as well and the T-tops that I had looked forward to were a cool touch, but they leaked. The long heavy doors and the seat on the floor made it impossible to get out of the car when I was parked next to another car. I opened the hood to see if there was something wrong with the engine and found technology from 50 years ago, only slightly tweaked. As the name of this blog suggests I like fast cars, even if fast is all they're good at. Unfortunately all this car is for is show. Join me again next time, hopefully this time in The Fast Lane.

2012 Nissan Maxima

    Welcome back to The Fast Lane! Today I thought I'd treat all the senses and go with a car that I've been admiring since the new body style came out. Today we're looking at a 2012 Nissan Maxima. Past models have been somewhat lackluster and run of the mill, but this new body style intrigued me and I thought I'd try it out and see what all the fuss is about.
   For starters let's take a look at the new body. The sleek lines and raised wheel arches have a hint of the old Corvette styling, that paired with the aggressive looking headlights and taillights make this car look sporty, but somehow it still maintains elegance and class. Chrome is scattered over the body tastefully on the door handles, grill, trunk handle and window surrounds, but fortunately Nissan didn't go over the top with the bling.
  Given that this car is a flagship/luxury sports sedan you expect perfection. I'm happy to say that it doesn't disappoint on the performance front. The 3.5 v6 is ample power and the handling is good for a car of this size. The manual shift mode is fairly slow but that wasn't a huge issue for me given the driving style this car encourages. The cockpit is clad in leather and woodgrain (unless you go for a base model) and there are plenty of amenities that's you'd expect with a luxury sedan such as power heated seats and available options such as power telescopic steering wheel, gps, backup camera, bluetooth and more.
   Ride quality was quite good with average road noise for it's price bracket. dual climate control also ensures comfort and a complaint free environment for both driver and passenger sides. The ride height is ideal as well, accommodating people of all heights and allows for easy entry and departure from the cabin.
   Overall I'd say that the Maxima is an excellent choice for someone who wants a high quality luxury sedan for a great price. I hope you enjoyed todays review and be sure and join me again tomorrow in The Fast Lane!

2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse

   Welcome back to The Fast Lane! Today marks my first review for this blog. Today I took some time to drive a 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse. I decided to write about this car first because it's one that I've admired from day one. I first saw the third generation in a tv ad while I was in high school. I remember drooling over the sleek elegant body, the impressive performance and the features that it offered. When I first walked onto the lot at Alan Webb Mitsubishi I made a beeline towards a third gen Eclipse and immediately took it for a test drive.

    The car that I drove was a fairly standard model equipped with the 2.4 liter engine and the automatic transmission with bump shift technology. Cool blue lighting illuminates all the gauges and dials on the dash, and hip hugging seats keep the driver and front passenger secure during cornering. The body on the 2012 was designed to incorporate designs from both previous eclipses with the blacked out roof and other current models with the front grill design hinting towards the Evolution. The 2.4 engine with the automatic transmission is suited for the driver that wants a stylish sports car with fairly good performance to cruise the roads with while maintaining fuel economy. For the driving enthusiast, I recommend the GT model with the 3.8 v6 with a manual transmission. Handling is decent with some under steer as can be expected from a front wheel drive car, the ride is average stiffness for cars in it's class. Unlike most sports cars in this class the Eclipse has a back seat that is tight but usable. Options included sunroof, heated seats, leather, Rockford Fosgate premium sound system, power drivers seat, climate control and more.
    Overall the Eclipse was more than I expected seeing those TV ads years ago. I wish there was enough back seat space for a baby seat, but I hope to someday own one of these great machines. I hope this review was thorough and informative and I only wish you could experience the car in person. Until tomorrow, stay in the Fast Lane.

Welcome to The Fast Lane!

    Hey readers! I'm Joe Lackey, a car enthusiast/gear head/car salesman. I've decided to dedicate at least one posting a day on a different car that I personally will drive and review. As a salesman for both new Mitsubishi's and pre owned vehicles of every type I have driven hundreds of cars, trucks and SUVs, therefore I feel like I can accurately provide detailed information on vehicles that will appeal to all consumers and/or enthusiast.
   So whether you're car shopping, interested in new technology or just enjoy driving and reading about cars, then this is the blog for you! But first you should know a little about me. I have spent many years abroad in Papua New Guinea and Greece, and have visited many other parts of the world as well. I have dabbled in several professional fields, but found my way back to cars at a large auto parts chain. I spent several years there improving my knowledge of cars, engines and sales. I moved on to car sales and found my calling.
    Over the years I have also had several projects in the form of cars, trucks and motorcycles. My mechanical skills are above average, which enables me to do my own work on my projects and daily drivers as well when I can spare the time away from work and family.
   In closing to this introduction you can expect detailed reviews on all makes of vehicles on the market today. I will post photos of as many as I can, and will respond to requests if possible. Welcome to The Fast Lane!