QUESTIONS RE: GOOD AND BAD

People want answers. Just check out the Liberal Party or NDP in Canada - a public inquiry is needed for everything - believing citizens want answers. Well known to all in the auto-know is the simple fact that those not in the auto-know want answers, too. The Good Car Guy provides just what you want. Here are the answers to some of the Questions that came to GCBC in May.

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What's bad about the Nissan Versa? The Good Car Guy's Driven review of the Versa hatchback should give you a taste of the good and the bad regarding the Versa. Put in brief: the Versa isn't a beauty, when equipped with the CVT it forces the driver to feel even less connected, and Nissan has priced the car (at least in some markets) a smidgen more than it seems the Versa is worth. 

Is premium necessary for the Honda Civic Si? Looking into the Civic Si's specification list should assure you that Honda does want premium fuel in the tank of their sportiest Civic. And if they want premium, so should you. Engineers work for years to adequately research and develop these high-strung engines. Cars that rev to high heaven in the manner of the Civic Si should be expected to require the higher priced juice. The engineers at Honda didn't find this conclusion by accident - they're worth believing.

How does the B200 compare with the Fit's fuel efficiency? Basic non-turbocharged Mercedes-Benz B200s are expected by Transport Canada to drink 9.2L/100km in the city and 6.7L/100km on the highway. That's with a manual transmission. The Honda Fit, as judged by the same standard, should see 7.1L/100km in the city and 5.7L/100km on the highway. (For Americans, this equates to about 30mpg for the B200 and 37mpg for the Fit.) At the price of fuel around here, Honda's Fit will cost $100 CDN to travel 1000km in the city. Mercedes-Benz's little B-Class would cost around $129 over the same distance. 

Is the BMW 135i a guy car? BMW's smallest competitor, outside of the Mini Cooper family, is verifiably a driver's car. Pug-nosed and almost nasty-looking on large wheels in a dark colour, a hardtop 135i with a manual-tranny is most certainly a guy's car. A basic 128i shows fairly masculinely as well, proving that the owner was seeking a pure driving experience at as low a price as BMW would give. Then again, a white convertible 135i with an automatic is so poseur, ya'ought to stay away.

How quick is the Maserati GranTurismo? MotorTrend and Car&Driver posted the GranTurismo's 0-60mph time at 4.9 seconds. An extra 35-40 horsepower in the GranTurismo S should remove a couple tenths. This Maserati is about so much more than speed, as it should be since it's slower than most competitors, but there's no denying that excessive weight is the greatest detriment to securing any speed-addicted consumer.

Should I buy a Toyota Yaris? GoodCarBadCar.net lists one of the Yaris' best competitors as a member of The Good 12. Don't allow you to think the Yaris is a bad car, but the enthusiast will prefer the Fit every time. Toyota doesn't price the Yaris cheaply, and the inherent quality and comfort you'll find in their smallest North American car is truly wonderful. If driving is something you enjoy; head elsewhere. You likely won't be disappointed with your Yaris unless you've exposed yourself to a manual-transmission in the Honda Fit. The Good Car Guy's Driven article on the Yaris should explain it more thoroughly. Read the Fit Driven post after that and you're understanding will have grown immeasurably.

What is Toronto's most expensive car? If a Bugatti Veyron is in the neighbourhood, one can count on it out-expensivizing just about anything on four wheels. Indeed, this $1,800,000 Veyron is listed on Kijiji.ca with 254km on the odometer. Coloured in black and blue, one can expect the Veyron to grab attention on Yonge Street.