CAR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR FEBRUARY OF 2010

On increasingly rare occasions, The Good Car Guy delves into his inbox to search for the most inquisitive; most potentially entertaining; most unintelligible auto-related Questions and seeks to answer them in this space. I don't guarantee that it'll be savvy, saucy, or weirdly-kept.

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Are Dodge Chargers Good Cars? Think of the Chrysler 300-based Dodge Charger like this: a large American sedan based on an old Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Can't be too bad, right? The Dodge Charger isn't a particularly modern device. It's not dexterous or agile... at all. However, the Dodge Charger is still a brash beast. Unfortunately for Chrysler, the Dodge Charger is becoming more exclusive as sales plummet, down 47% in the U.S. last month. Right now, the best thing Dodge's Charger has going for it is the commercial at the bottom of this post. And others like it, seen here or here or here.

How Does The 2010 Subaru Outback Compare To The 2010 Ford Mustang? For starters, it doesn't. If you're interested in Ford Mustang alternatives, y'ought to check out the Chevrolet Camaro or a V8-engined Dodge Challenger. Hooked on the usefulness of the Subaru Outback but can't find peace with your decision? Perhaps you should have a look at the Toyota Venza or Volkswagen Passat Wagon. But comparing the Mustang to the Outback is a study in contrasts.

Check Out The Last Batch Of Questions

Are There Any Affordable Cars With Good Handling? The general tone of this query is so.... discouraged. "Affordable" comes with many different definitions. For the purposes of a GCBC answer, let's assume a USD MSRP under $20,000 is affordable. The three-time Good 12-winning Mini Cooper has a starting price of $19,500. Although difficult to find at that price and low on power, the Mini's ability to go-kart around corners is hard to beat. The $19,200 Mazda 6 isn't an very sporty car - and it's grown a fair bit, too - but the challenge of becoming a two-time Good 12 winner was made easier by the Mazda's firm feel, a trait missing in most of its rivals. Finally, the upcoming Ford Fiesta won't be what you want it to be at its $13,320 base price. With a few creature comforts and a $16-18K sticker, the Fiesta will be a lot of fun in the corners and a car worth owning.

Are Turbocharged Cars Bad? Asking a Question like that means you remember the days of laggy Saab hatchbacks of the early 90s and blown turbos under the hood of rinky-dink domestic small cars in the 80s. These days you won't find one of those excellent new diesel-powered luxury cars without a turbo. Moreover, you won't find any modern diesel without a turbo. Bit by bit, turbochargers are being attached to the types of cars not formerly associated with speed, performance or aftermarket tuning. 2011 Buick Regal anyone? Turbocharged cars are awesome. If, by lowering displacement and increasing performance, a vehicle returns improved efficiency with no noticeable lag, there's nothing to complain about.

THE GOOD CAR GUY ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS

As Question Period gets underway in Ottawa, CPAC's coverage has inspired The Good Car Guy to delve into Questions put forward on vehicular matters; not H1N1. The most annoying thing about QP here at GoodCarBadCar.net isn't able to enjoy the benefit of parliamentary pages when responding to Questions. Plus, nobody calls me the Minister of Cars or the Honourable Member from GoodCarBadCar.net. Hmph.

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What Are The Bad Things About The Bugatti Veyron? Apart from a few hundred who've had the privilege of driving the 1000+ horsepower Franco-German supercar, no consumer is properly equipped to argue against the Veyron's outrageous speed, grip, or luxury. However, the Bugatti Veyron weighs almost as much as a Lincoln Town Car. Weight is the enemy. Imagine how much faster the Veyron would be if its weight matched that of the best supercars. Strip the Bugatti of 1,000 pounds and it might just be fun to drive, rather than a simple shock & awe experience. Other Veyron negatives include questionable styling elements and pricing that puts the Bugatti out of reach for anybody without tens of billions in liquidity.

What Is A Good Car Colour? Although a tremendously particular person, The Good Car Guy finds it easier to list the bad colours than the good. This Lexus LF-A hue is especially shameful, for instance. In truth, even the most audacious colours have their place on the right car. More trying to the eyes are those colours that have become increasingly boring as they've increased in ubiquity: grey (especially on Toyota Camrys), yellow (especially on superfast German sedans), beige (on minivans), and silver (especially on Mercedes' of any type).

Are Volvo's Diesel Engines Fuel Efficient? The five-cylinder diesel found in Volvo's XC90 Across The Pond has a combined rating equal to 10.8 U.S. miles per gallon better than the optional Yamaha V8. Opting for the diesel will require 3.2 more seconds of your time each time you wish to reach 60mph from rest. Volvo offers four different diesels in the C30 hatchback, all of which top 45.6 Imperial mpg on the EU cycle, one of which (the 1.6L, 108-bhp four-pot) is said to reach 83.1 miles per gallon in extra-urban driving.

JAPANESE CAR SALES IN AMERICA: JANUARY-AUGUST OF 2009

With assistance from Autoblog's By The Numbers section, The Good Car Guy has, in response to an interesting question from a GoodCarBadCar.net reader, compiled the monthly statistics for Japanese automobile sales in America for 2009. These are the combined totals for Toyota and its underlings, Honda/Acura, Nissan/Infiniti, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Subaru, and Suzuki.

As we all know, Japanese manufacturers assemble many of their cars right here in North America. But what makes a vehicle Japanese, at least to the best understanding of wise automotive analysts, is the badge on the grille. So for the purposes of this graph, the Mitsubishi Galant's three-diamond triangle sets it apart as Japanese even while folks in Normal, Illinois claim it as their own. You get the picture.

Click the graph for a larger view. All in all, Japanese automakers sold 2,859,373 vehicles in the USA from January 1st of 2009 to August 31st of 2009. That's a lot. FYI, Toyota sells the most every month. Honda's quite a ways behind. Nissan's a few lengths behind Honda. Mazda follows up with Lexus and Subaru in the same territory. Acura and Infiniti battle it out in the rear while Mitsubishi and Suzuki trail the pack by numerous thousands of car lengths. Imagine the average length of all these cars to be about as long as a Toyota Corolla: 178.7 inches. End-to-end, these 2.8 million cars would stretch 8,065 miles. That's the equivalent of a line of cars stretching all the way from the northeast corner of Maine to the southwest corner of California..... four lanes wide.

QUESTIONS FROM THE END OF AUGUST

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.

QUESTIONS FOR THE GOOD CAR GUY FROM AUGUST OF 2009

Not since early this year has The Good Car Guy delved into the hordes of Questions asked by readers in The Good Car Nation. Strange Questions have arisen before (for example) while sometimes I've kept the topic steady (another example). Today's grouping is only lightly related but should be enough to amuse and inform.

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What are good American compact cars? I'm almost frightened: is this a trick Question? Good American compact cars are.... rare? Unbeknownst? Truly, American small cars available in North America are as follows: Chevrolet Cobalt and Aveo, Chevrolet HHR (sort of), Pontiac Vibe, G3, and G5 (not for long), Saturn Astra, Dodge Caliber, Chrysler PT Cruiser (sort of) and Ford Focus. Some people might even include the Jeep Compass and/or Patriot. In terms of truly small cars that'll live on in the near future, this list includes four main players: the Cobalt, Aveo, Caliber, and Focus. Oh... but you're looking for goodness. Wait for - and hope for - the Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Spark.

What is the best powerful luxury car for a top lawyer? Clearly, this querier feels as though they've reached the upper echelon, so why not drive a car that shouts, "I've made it", no bones about it. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class in S550 trim is something to behold. Upgrade to the S600 or S63 AMG to impress the cognoscenti. More money will buy you the S65 AMG if you want to be that stupid. BMW's 7-Series isn't pretty. The Audi A8 is up for replacement. The new Jaguar XJ is as strange as this question. Lexus will sell you an LS if you're dull. Don't forget about the Range Rover - not a car, but perhaps the best vehicle in the world.

What is the best-selling European car in America? Traditionally, Volkswagen's Jetta takes this crown. Accounting for nearly 40% of the U.S. sales of the only mainstream Euro brand competing in the States works in favour of the Volkswagen Jetta when compared with high-end, low-volume cars like the Benz S-Class or Audi R8. Nevertheless, the Jetta still did not crack the top 10 best-selling vehicles in America in 2008 nor in any month thus far in 2009.

What is the best-selling American car in America? Unlike the VW Jetta, which generally holds its crown as the best-selling European car in America month-after-month, the best-selling American car in America changes routinely. Ignoring trucks and SUVs like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, and Ford Escape, 2008's best-selling American car in America was the Chevrolet Impala. More recently, the Ford Fusion beat out all other entrants May and June while the Ford Focus took the title in July.

Which European auto brands don't compete in North America? The definition of a European car must remain the same, regardless of the origin of a company's overlords. Lotus is still British; not Malaysian. Jaguar and Land Rover are very clearly British; not Indian. Mini, Rolls-Royce, and BMW field a team. Likewise, Mercedes-Benz, smart, and Maybach are a trio to whom attention is worth paying. Volkswagen and subsidiaries like Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, and Bugatti all send cars across the Atlantic. Saab and Volvo, despite fleeting U.S. ownership, are well-known competitors in the premium sector over here, as well. And of course, Ferrari and other ultra-luxury manufacturers like Porsche and Koenigsegg still attempt to sell cars in troubled times.

This leaves out Italian brands like Fiat and Alfa Romeo, both of which should export to North America soon. Abarth is Fiat's AMG equivalent but likes to think of itself as a separate entity. Lancia is an Italian underling of Fiat's. Dacia is the Romanian part of Renault's conglomeration. Of course, Renault participates in North America via its alliance with Nissan. Another French group is PSA with its brands Peugeot (407 Coupe pictured) and Citroen. Opel and Vauxhall appear to be decreasingly GM-preserved but are, historically, GM's German and British outposts, respectively. Volkswagen owns Spain's Seat as well as Czech automaker Skoda. This lengthy list seems to ignore Russian automotive brands, many of whom have connections with more established players. AvtoVAZ, GAZ, and others team with companies like Renault and Ford in order to compete in one of the fastest-growing auto markets on the planet.

"WHY ARE GENERAL MOTORS CARS SO BAD?" READER ASKS

Escaping from the routine of normal Wednesday publishing (3 To Beat), The Good Car Guy thought that, with plenty of Questions from The Good Car Nation, that it was time to respond. However, a problem presented itself. One of these questions demands priority placement and an urgent response. Hopefully, more reader Questions will be dealt with later in the normal format.

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Why Are General Motors Cars So Bad? Let's start by forgiving mainstream media viewers for being led into the belief system that portrays the Detroit Three as a builder of "bad cars". For one thing, this is GOODCARBADCAR.net, and the goal of this website is to showcase what is good and what is bad. For the record, over the course of releasing The Bad 8, The Bad 8 v2.0, and The Bad 8 Supersize, on only six occasions has General Motors appeared. As for The Good 12, The Good 12 v2.0, and The Good 12 Supersize, General Motors has made five appearances. Far more prestigous companies fare little better and sometimes worse.

In other words, don't paint all General Motors vehicles with the same brush. Just because General Motors is the maker of the Hummer H2 SUT doesn't mean the Buick Enclave is a bad car.

Onwards to point deux. Apart from GM's ability to make both good cars and bad cars (in reference to their GoodCarBadCar.net victories and losses which centres mainly on desirability and sellability), GM vehicles are also known to be reliable.... by times. As mass-production facilities, certain General Motors manufacturing plants are at the top of the heap.

Point tres declares that over the last two years, almost every newly introduced vehicle in General Motors portfolio is class-competitive or better. The Buick Enclave was already mentioned, but how 'bout the Chevrolet Malibu and Corvette ZR1, Cadillac CTS and CTS-V, the Lambda platform which holds the Enclave's mates from Chevrolet; Saturn; and GMC, the Pontiac Vibe and G8 and various Holdens and Opels? Critics can point to clearly malnourished product lines like the Chevrolet Aveo or over-priced lines like the Saturn Astra, but then the protagonist stands on top of plenty of top-notch trucks and SUVs.

(Pictured from top to bottom are the Chevrolet Malibu LTZ, 

2010 Chevy Equinox interior, and the uncovered Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid)

What's all this mean? There's no need for anybody to suggest that General Motors' current problems relate to current vehicles that are currently bad. Improvements could be made. Start with perceived quality, a complaint made by The Good Car Guy in referencing the Cadillac CTS. Though it is expensive to make very small cars very good, General Motors needs to do it anyway. But in terms of "product".... nah, the current group of cars isn't the problem.

The cars that came before were often bad. And if they weren't, it was the cars before those cars. Indeed, the Chevrolet Cobalt is no Civic/Corolla beater, but it's ten times better than the Chevrolet Cavalier. Yet, the Cobalt is still tainted by the memory of what ought to be called a bad car. The Pontiac G8 is terrific stuff but poorly timed. Pushing the theory that the Cadillac CTS-V is an amazing car is acceptable here, but that's not anywhere near the core of the market. 

The implication, then, isn't that General Motors cars are fine and that's the end of the story. Not at all. GM cars are competitive.... and that fact is terribly irrelevant right now. The stickers you see on new GM cars at dealerships ($8,000 off Cobalts, $17,000 off an Avalanche) make very clear that with traditionally accepted automotive mark-ups of under 10%, these vehicles are sold at a loss. Does that make them bad cars? Of course not. Perhaps the question should have been, Why were the business practices of General Motors so bad? And for that, talk to AutoLine Detroit.

More Posts Like This

November Questions

September Questions

August Questions

Questions Demanding Subjectivity

Questions Re: Good Or Bad

QUESTIONS TO THE GOOD CAR GUY IN NOVEMBER

Reports say Barack Obama, the man who will become POTUS in late January, will be appointing a car czar to handle problems related to General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler. You might start hearing crazy rumours that The Good Car Guy is leaving GoodCarBadCar.net to become an appointee in Obama's adminstration. 

However much you believe The Good Car Guy knows, don't believe everything you hear. Questions to the GoodCarBadCar.net czar from November's curious people are below.

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Are Volkswagen Jettas good cars? With almost every Volkswagen model available in North America, VW puts itself firmly in the very middle of the midst of a conundrum's centrepiece. Without delving too deeply into the soundness of the Jetta's structure, the weakness (2.5L) or strength (2.0T) of its engines, the beauty of one available transmission (DSG), or the bloatedness of its design, let's touch on one thing: market position. In North America, the Jetta's greatest impediment is its price/size/content mixture. At less than $2,000 below the best-selling car in America, the slightly smaller Jetta may look like a decent value. However, the Jetta is also about $2,000 more than Camry-lite, otherwise known as the Corolla, a big time seller in its own right. North of the border, Canada's best selling car is between $4K and $5K cheaper, while the bigger Accord is only about $3,000 more. The Jetta is stuck. Drop the price a little and perhaps it becomes an unstuck better car.

Check out other rounds of Questions with a click here

What are the qualities of good cars? Foremost in the mind of every new car purchaser must, and I mean must, be comfort. To those of you who think that sounds silly coming from an admitted performance car junkie, make sure you consider what it's like to drive a very uncomfortable car that happens to be very fast with terrific handling. We're not discussing comfort in terms of air-conditioning, leather quality, or heated seats. No, this is all about seating, pedal, and steering wheel positioning. If it ain't right for you, don't go any further. Different vehicles work for different people, so don't necessarily listen to cousin Joe who found the lack of an armrest in the last car he drove was a deal breaker. Try it for yourself. In dynamic terms, the joy you derive from driving a one car or another will almost certainly come down to steering quality: precision, weight, and most importantly, feel. If you have an intimate connection with your car through the wheel, its speed (or lack thereof), cargo capacity (or lack thereof), and luxury content (or lack thereof) won't really matter.

What kind of cars are federal agents driving? This question must stem from talk of The Good Car Guy being a part of the next federal administration. Well, if I told you I'd have to kill you.

See The Good Car Guy's suggestions for different authorities 

here and here and here

Which competitors can the '09 Toyota RAV4 beat? Considering direct competition which includes the Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Ford Escape, and many others, it seems fairly obvious that the RAV4 manages to "beat" most. The Forester and Santa Fe well alongside the RAV4, and America has made the CR-V the best-selling SUV. Take a look at the Toyota Highlander 3 To Beat for the RAV4's performance there, too.

SEPTEMBER QUESTIONS FOR THE GOOD CAR GUY

Putting bread on the table by answering consumer's questions regarding automobiles is fun but not easy. Frustrating and not glorifying. Research-centric but gut-derived. Here's a sampling of what's come through to The Good Car Guy through the first 22 days of September 2008.

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Are Infinitis Bad Cars? For the most part, the worst thing you can say about almost any North American market vehicle is that they're boring. Bad is rare, and in autodom, it revolves around being dull, uncool, and pointless. Sometimes those cars are also bad: falling apart, excessive repair costs, or ridiculously uneasy in the hands of a driver. The typical Infiniti is none of those things. Unique design works together with tremendous performance, a positive dealership experience, and terrific quality ratings from J.D. Power to make almost every Infiniti a good car. In fact, the Infiniti G was ranked in the first ever The Good 12 as one of the best good cars you can and should buy. While the Infiniti QX56 is alarmingly behemothesque and the Infiniti M has faded somewhat in the light of strong German competition, one can't say the same about excellent crossovers like the EX and FX or the strength of Infiniti's lineup as a whole.

How quick is the Infiniti FX50? It's easy tell the poser of the question has heard about the V8-powered Infiniti FX50 and discovered an inner yearning for such motive force. Car & Driver measured the FX50 to 60mph at just 5.0 seconds; Motor Trend's tester needed an additional two tenths. Apparently 390 horsepower isn't very concerned 4,575 pounds.

What Cars Will Compete With The Infiniti G37 Convertible? Before the introduction of the G37 convertible, a rendering of which by The Good Car Girl proved remarkably accurate, buyers would have likely leaned towards the BMW 3-Series convertible, a Good 12 winner. The BMW has true-to-the-core rear-wheel drive dynamics unfelt by Audi A4 or Saab 9-3 customers. That being said, those looking for a more sporting feel could've been seen in an Audi TT, BMW Z4, or Porsche Boxster.

QUESTIONS TO THE GOOD CAR GUY IN AUGUST

Demanding answers, The Good Car Nation sends questions to The Good Car Guy with more frequency than can be handled. Some of those selected for public consumption are available below. To see more like these, check out the Questions label.

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What Helps A Car's Resale Value? The greatest attribute any new car can have is a badge... a good one. In this age of image-conscious everything, nothing matters quite as much as the history behind the logo. That's why the typical Hyundai resale value isn't quite as high as it could be, despite great quality ratings. Despite this, some vehicles overcome their badge. Chevrolet isn't perceived to be the most durable brand, but the Corvette will keep half its value after five years. As far as treating your car in a way that will maintain its resale value - service it at the dealer and keep all its records. And buy a Toyota or Honda. 

Is a long wheelbase good or bad? A long wheelbase (the distance between the centres of the front and rear wheels) is neither good or bad, to be precise. There are distinct advantages to a long wheelbase, most notably, ride quality. Although working in tandem with highly tuned suspension geometry and, to an extent, the tires; a long wheelbase spreads the impact of a bump or dip over what is basically a longer period of time. Take a ride on a motorcycle to feel the impact of a bump on a short wheelbase vehicle. Spreading the distance between the wheels by way of a long wheelbase and a wide track (the distance between the left and right wheels) aids handling as well. Picture the stability of an 8-month old baby on all fours before he stands up to a position where his feet (wheels) are close together. Now switch that to a vehicle. It should be made clear that one of the planet's most famous sports cars, the Porsche 911, has a wheelbase some 5 inches shorter than that of a Mini Cooper. That isn't the only case where the 911 flies in the face of conventional wisdom. Audi stretched the wheelbase of its A4 significantly for 2009 to aid ride & handling. Now the engine isn't so noticeably hung out in front of the front wheels but is seen to be spreading the weight of the car more equally between the front and rear axle. 

What is a list of bad new cars? The selection of this question for publication may seem relatively self-serving, but for an honest list, where else to turn but GoodCarBadCar.net's The Bad 8? This important link will take you to the introduction, while this is a link to all members which include the Chrysler Crossfire and Sebring convertible, Ford Taurus, Kia Amanti, Lexus SC430, Lincoln Town Car, Nissan Versa sedan, and Saab 9-5. This was a list for 2007 in North America.

How long should a Toyota Yaris live? Strange questions are answered too. The Good Car Guy spent a good amount of time in a 5-dr Yaris hatch and found it to be exactly what was expected. Good interior design works with space efficiency and can't-go-wrong dynamics to achieve a class-competitive rating without exciting or offending. Assuming the questioner wants to know how long a Yaris will survive, GCBC is out of answers. JD Power gives the '07 Yaris an Initial Quality rating of 3/5, an overall mechanical rating of 3.5/5, and a predicted reliability rating of 3.5/5. That compares with an '07 Hyundai Accent that achieves ratings in the same categories of 4, 4.5, and 4, respectively. If you're referring to the length of time Toyota will compete with a Yaris or Yaris-size car, lengthen your expectations. So long as this segment exists, Toyota will be a player.

QUESTIONS DEMANDING SUBJECTIVITY

Web readers aren't going to pull up an auto blog in search of a de-opinionated, completely objective take. If you happen to be of that rare contrarian breed, feel free to bookmark GoodCarBadCar.net and keep reading - you just might not like it.

Questions come into The Good Car Guy too fast to see them all publicly responded. However, due to the interest some people have in straight-up opinions posted here, it seemed the intelligent thing to lump a few opinionated answers together. For more Questions posts, click here or the label beneath this post.

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Which Small SUVs Are The Best-Looking? Only a smidgen outdated, this post regarding the best overall small crossovers/SUVs will likely be helpful. As far as styling and design, Subaru's latest Forester is pleasant; if not dramatic. The Toyota RAV4 is similarly handsome and the Mitsubishi Outlander pulls off proportions that the RAV4 and Forester wouldn't find egregious. Is the Jeep Wrangler small? If so, its utilitarian approach to a vehicle type that was originally utilitarian is the best route to good design.

Is Nissan A Good Car Brand? Interestingly, Nissan wasn't able to garner any spots in The Good 12, GoodCarBadCar.net's list of the twelve cars you should be driving this year. That's not to say Nissan doesn't build good cars (see GT-R, 350Z) but it ought not to be forgotten that Nissan did find its name on The Bad 8 with the Versa sedan. 

Overall, Nissan is hard to define. Name five countries and Nissan will likely provide five different automotive lineups with which it competes. Nissan builds good cars, to which GoodCarBadCar.net has given credit many times. Is Nissan the next Toyota? No. Fortunately, Nissan is paired up with another unique automaker (Renault) and does things their own way. That's usually for the best.

Is The Mazda 5 A Good Car? More North Americans are figuring out just how good the Mazda 5 is every day. Over 12,000 5's had been sold in the United States through June. Moreover, June sales were almost 30% better than Mazda 5 sales in June of 2007. True, sales statistics do not a good car make. The Good Car Guy's backseat article on the 5 goes a long way to clearing up just why GoodCarBadCar.net responds favourably to Mazda's mini-minivan. 

Apart from that, hear this: the 5 is six mpg better in the city than Mazda's own three-row crossover, the CX-9, when equipped with a manual transmission and five mpg better than the most efficient Honda Odyssey. That manual box is another reason the 5 is fun. Row your own and get involved in the driving experience. Sure, the 5 isn't as capacious as that barge of an Odyssey; but do you need the Honda's cargo bay and can you cope with its fuel bill? Across The Pond, the 5 competes with plenty of like-minded vehicles. The Renault Scenic, Opel Zafira, Volkswagen Touran, and Ford Focus C-Max all fulfill family needs in small packages with 4-cylinder engines. Mazda's 5 is a sign of the times, and it's a good lookin' sign. Find out what kind of change the Mazda can find at AutoEnergy.

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.