Rather than tiring of the Questions of others being answered by The Good Car Guy, feel free to use the contact section on the right side of every GoodCarBadCar.net page to send in your own. The lead-up into the automotive world's traditional big season resulted in a lot of Questions directed my way in August. Plenty have already been answered and plenty will go unanswered in this space. For now, a handful of interesting queries are acknowledged below.
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What's The Best Small Luxury SUV? It's been more than a decade since Lexus introduced the RX300 to well-moneyed buyers in North America looking for a gussied-up Camry on stilts. In other words, luxury SUVs are nothing new. Small luxury SUVs are a more recent trend that's being catered to by the main German trio as well as the Japanese luxury producers and some others. In this March post, The Good Car Guy praises the Audi Q5 above all others; text not out-of-line with the Q5's status as a Good 12 Supersize winner. Don't forget about the Mercedes GLK350's good looks, the Volvo XC60's uniquely Swedish approach, Acura's turbocharged RDX, the genuine Land Rover LR2, or BMW's X3 and Infiniti EX.
Is 0-60 MPH In 9.5 Seconds Quick? "Fast" and "Quick" are relative terms. Are we talking about pets, planes, trains, or Usain Bolt? There was a time when a nine-point-five sprint to 60 would have been alarmingly quick. Then came a time when 9.5 to 60mph was... normal. Now, 9.5 seconds to the 60mph landmark is approaching lackluster status. Supercars hit 60 in fewer than four seconds. There are lots of cars you see most days that could, if necessary, hit 60 in less than five seconds. Coming in under six-point-oh is possible in a few mainstream V6 family sedans. The sixes and sevens are full of normal cars. From eight-point-oh up to nine-point-oh is common territory for economy cars and the zone above 9.0 is left to the slower cars of the day; at least those competing for market share in North America. Check GoodCarBadCar's 0-60 zone for recent independent tests on new cars.
What Car Has The Best Steering Feel In History? This would be an excellent Question for an editor-in-chief at a major car magazine, somebody who has driven all of today's cars and plenty of vehicles from days gone by. Steering feel, by the way, "is a feel for the road transmitted through the steering wheel," according to Cars.com. Vehicles with "good" steering feel, the kind that enthusiasts knowingly savour and lay-drivers enjoy without realizing it, do not disruptively bring attention to roadway problems but communicate like the best neurosurgeons as they train residents; describing and translating and thoughtfully outlining without taking over the process. Though steering feel seems to be going the way of dinosaurs, the following new cars are prime examples of a dying breed: Lotus Elise, Mazda RX-8, Porsche 911 GT3, and Mini Cooper represent well. The best of all time? I don't have a clue, but the McLaren F1 has to be up there along with the Porsche 911 2.7 RS of '73 was impeccable (they say). Do NOT confuse weight with feel. Don't confuse grip & handling with feel. Finding and feeling a vehicle with decent amounts of steering feel is like slicing the first cut off the most prime cut of beef of the best cow on the farm; tasting that it was marinated to perfection; cooked perfectly in an expensive kitchen; spiced to match your own taste buds. This post explains more.
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