Review: 2025 BMW 320d xDrive M Sport Pro
If German trains can't run on time, what hope do the Italian ones have?
At least that was my thought when planning my recent trip to Italy. Rome has an extremely convenient direct rail link from the airport to the city center, but when looking at transit options from there to the Amalfi coast, it was...less confidence inspiring.
Review: 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4Matic
One of my best friends doesn't 'get' cars.
Don't get me wrong, he isn't willing to spend money on some random piece of crap. He will do the needed research to buy a quality car, quality tires, where and how to get quality maintenance done, etc. He even has a dream car (Audi A8).
But a car is just a "vehicle" to him. As such, if he even chooses to rent a car at all during vacation, he'll pick the cheapest option that lets him do whatever he needs to do.
Pragmatic and reasonable, of course, but it's in stark contrast to my approach.
Review: 2024 BMW X5 xDrive40i
I still remember when BMW unveiled its iDrive infotainment system.
Instead of hard buttons for all functions, the new-for-2002 7-series buried many of them in layers of on-screen submenus only its designer could find intuitive, and the system was panned by everyone as a result.
The pleasant surprise in all this was that BMW didn't pull a Steve Jobs "you're holding it wrong", and actually listened to all the negative feedback. Later iterations of the system became the best in the business, making screened functions easy to find, while all the basics retained the hard buttons they used to have.
Fast forward to today: we have the system's eighth iteration fitted to almost all new BMW's, and it's 2002 all over again. Instead of further refining what worked, they went kamikaze and took out almost all of the remaining buttons, leaving us with a giant smartphone on the dash.
With things again being buried and hard to access, the system is quite literally a high-resolution user experience regression. It's as if they made the industry's best infotainment by fluke.
First time living with an EV (2023 Polestar 2 Review)
With so many differing opinions on whether EV's make sense or not, I figured the best way to find out for sure was to try it for myself. So, during a recent trip to Toronto, I rented a 2023 Polestar 2 dual motor for a week. I then did the same thing again when I got back home, trying it out on home turf.
Now, this isn't a discussion of ethics. Yes, EV batteries are made in a dirty, non-environmentally friendly way, and EV's are subsidized by governments. Not the direction I want to take this post in, however – this is about real-world livability from a car guy's perspective.
With that out of the way, let's begin.
Waiting in the Shadows
Not long after the final chunk of driving before the pandemic started, I drove my little Zastava the hour or so to my mechanic's shop. The aim was to fix a plethora of leaks, change the belts, plus to finally get it to freakin' start reliably, before another driving season would occur.
The car ended up producing some sort of worrying, clutch-like smell about 30-45min in (it's been so long now, I can't remember exactly why). With a strong desire to not have to call a tow truck, I pulled onto the hard shoulder of the highway and waited for the smell to subside before continuing. Eventually, we reached our destination, but not before the brake pedal suddenly got as hard as a rock.
So I Changed My Game Plan
My little Zastava is in the shop, getting all its gaskets replaced (among other things). I always say that hopefully this is the last shop visit before it's fully driveable, but I won't say that this time. No, I think I'll change my game plan and only talk about what's already been done, ignoring its intended impact on the car's future.
Aside from dealing with the Fića's return to form, I've also spent the last five or six years looking for a modern performance car. The basic criteria was a powerful engine, rear wheel drive, two doors, and most importantly, a manual transmission. Extra points if it's brand new.
Easier said than done.
Review: 2019 Dodge Charger GT
Do car owner stereotypes matter when you're renting?
No. No, they do not.
I suppose the worry of being mislabeled as someone who's just waiting to be reckless in traffic isn't really relevant, when you know you're returning the thing in a week anyway. It didn't help that this particular Charger still had the splitter shipping guards on, an organic trend that isn't exactly helping the image these cars have.
Even the manufacturer has gone so far as to say people need to take them off (even if dealers aren't), because they're ruining aerodynamics, and are actually damaging the paint people think they're protecting.
The actual issue for me, though, was that I was under the impression these cars weren't all that good.
End of Season Wrap-Up & Gallery
Back at the end of July last year began the second official driving season for my perpetually-broken little bastard. With some long-awaited new parts and repair work having been done, the plan was to drive it as much as possible, and discover if there was any more work to do. And after four months of regular driving, it turned out that...yes, we have more work to do.
But first, let me go over some good news.
Review: 2018 Volkswagen Golf
Remember that Simpsons episode where the family joins a cult? The entire town is hypnotized by clearly unrealistic promises of awaiting paradise, provided they sacrifice everything in their life that was ever worth a damn.
I feel like that describes the automotive industry today. Manufacturers are The Leader, convincing us that needlessly downsized and complicated engines, lack of steering feel, electronics where they don't need to be, and automatic transmissions are the way forward.
Obsolescence and low quality are the name of today's game, robbing more and more sense out of long-term ownership – cars are now built to be leased.
They have to get those sacks of ballast cash for the UFO somehow, after all.
The worst part is, the
BMW X Tour
BMW's SUV lineup has seen some updates recently. Namely, they redesigned the X3, and launched the all-new X2. I got the chance to sample both on an autocross course, as well as to sample the off-roadability of the current X5 and X6. Here's how it all went.
It's Actually Done
After what seemed like an eternity at the shop, the Fića is finally done. Finished. Ready to drive.
I know, I can't believe it either.
It took the hour-long drive home like a champ. Zero drama. Here's everything that it took to get it to this point.
Review: 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Being behind the wheel of a giant box has a way of messing with your head at first. It's hard to quantify, but your initial impressions are that it just feels...weird.
The thing is, a couple minutes down the road, you clue in to the massive grin that has snuck onto your face. You notice you really, really like this weirdness. You notice you're smiling every time you drive the Wrangler.
Let's go over the quirks, then, of which there are many.
Review: 2017 Volvo V60 Cross Country
Recently, Volvo switched its entire lineup to four-cylinder power, from the big 90-series to the smaller 60-series. While the four-banger doesn't really do it in their larger vehicles, it works quite well in the small stuff, like this V60.
Specifically, this is a V60 Cross Country, the off-road version of the regular V60 wagon. You get some added ground clearance (7.9" total), along with black plastic fender flares and metal lower body trim to complete the look. The differences aren't merely cosmetic, though, evident by the skid plates beneath, and the Hill Descent Control button in the center stack!
Review: 2016 Toyota RAV4
Jaguar Art of Performance Tour
A few months ago, I attended a driving event for the new Jaguar XE and F-Pace. Little did I know we were to be treated to much more than that...
I'll come back to that in a bit.
Events like this tend to sorely lack browsing time, but not this one. The first half hour is for checking out the full range of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, unlocked and on display, at your own pace. A quick and to-the-point briefing follows, after which we're unleashed on the first of four stations.
Review: 2016 Ford Edge Titanium
I'll admit, when I noticed the self-parking system button down by the shifter, I was excited to try it out...then I completely forgot about it.
Later that night, I remembered the button while pulling up next to a vacant parallel spot – so at the very last second, I pressed it. It recognized the spot right away, and told me it'll take the wheel.
The Edge parked itself perfectly on the first try.
What else can it do?
Review: 2016 GMC Terrain
There are cars that surprise you, cars that for whatever reason, you expect to be bad, but they end up being very good. They get under your skin more with every minute behind the wheel. You recommend them to everybody who will listen. You think of any excuse to buy one yourself.
The GMC Terrain is not one of those cars.
Hybernation's over
So this just happened – after much schedule-juggling, the Fića is off to my mechanic. This should be the last major repair before the car is fully driveable and reliable, like it should've been at the start.
Seeing as it was borderline dangerous to drive when I last parked it, we arranged a tow. The plan, however, is to drive it back to my house once the repairs are done.
Crazy, I know.
Review: 2016 Toyota Camry LE
After just two years, Toyota decided to drastically re-style the current Camry, supposedly to make it seem more fun. I don't see the point – why change what your washing machine looks like when people only care that it works?
Review: 2015 Toyota Sienna
If you look at the Sienna as a tool, you won't be disappointed.
It's an implement made for two purposes: carrying a bunch of people and their stuff comfortably, and being inoffensive. It succeeds in both.
I'll come back to that in a bit.
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