Edmunds CarPool

A couple weeks back I was lucky to spend a weekend in an 80-year-old summer cabin at the base of Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain peak in the lower 48 states. Two friends of mine, Darrell and Alexandria were set to be my cabin mates. We had no intentions of cresting the 14,505 foot high peak -- we just wanted to get away and relax in an amazing setting.

But how do I get there? Should I take my 2003 Subaru Outback Sport or the Land Cruiser? The Soob would get us there quicker, be more comfortable and be cheaper due lower fuel consumption. But the LC has a tailgate, better visibility and is way more capable off-road. It came down to this: I imagined if "the truck" found out that I went up to Whitney without it. It would be confused, disappointed and possibly angry. No need for bad FJ60 karma -- truck wins.

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Categories: Editors' Personal Cars, Toyota

Last week I blogged about the frustrating iPod integration in a 2010 Lexus ES 350, in which the system decides to play a sample of the music on the device as you scroll through a list of menu items. But this problem, which also popped up on a 2010 Toyota Camry XLE I tested last week (and every Toyota and Lexus I've been in recently), is minor compared to other tech troubles I uncovered in the Camry. And it shows the difficulty automakers face when trying to accommodate the latest portable devices drivers bring into the car.

It's not like I have the latest and greatest phone, a year-old iPhone 3GS, which just became antiquated. And I haven't had the exact same issues in other Toyota and Lexus vehicles, such as not being able to pair my phone with the Bluetooth system, as shown in the long video above (with apologies for the blinking display).

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Categories: Car Audio and Technology, Lexus, Toyota

See that button? Sadly, when you press this button, a hot tub doesn't rise from the cargo area, nor does a beer tap pop from the center console. What does it do?" you ask?

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Categories: Test Car Notes, Toyota

Most of the time, when a model is killed-off a similar vehicle replaces it. But sometimes we're left with a vast emptiness. Here are my top three cars that wandered off into the void that I wished would come back.

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Categories: Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Weekly Top 3

Of all the vehicles I've driven and tested over the years, the ones that stand out the most to me are the tech-laden, high-performance cars: Audi S5, BMW M6, Dodge Challenger and Nissan GT-R. My wife also gets to experience some of these vehicles either as a driver or passenger, and I'm always curious to hear her opinion or perspective.

So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that of all the cars that have graced our driveway, her favorite so far is the 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan I recently tested. While she appreciated the ton of tech toys the Sienna offers -- a dual-view backup camera, split-screen rear entertainment system, Smart Key and power everything -- and the ample interior space and amenities such as second-row Ottoman-style captain's chairs, I was surprised by her favorite feature. A perfect place to store her purse.

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Categories: Car Audio and Technology, Test Car Notes, Toyota

I hate squeaks. There's nothing worse than that little something vibrating away, mile after mile, grating on my nerves. Silicone, tape, shims or whatever -- I'll tear a car apart to fix a squeak. Ironically, I like older cars, and my Land Cruiser is especially prone to shakes, rattles, clunks, and groans. So to save my sanity, I turn the radio up, smile, and remind myself that for all it's worth, I really do love this thing and I should get over it.

The problem is that by turning the radio up and having blind faith in my ultra-reliable tank, it becomes difficult to differentiate between something annoying (but normal) or a signal of something problematic or potentially dangerous.

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Categories: Editors' Personal Cars, Toyota

Here's Day 2 from the Fuel-Sipper Smackdown 3: SUV Edition. It was a miracle we ended up in the garage at all after St. Patrick's Day in Las Vegas -- but we had fuel sipping to do to find out which SUVs get the best fuel economy?

Day 1 Video

James Riswick, Automotive Editor

Categories: BMW, Comparison Test, Ford, Fuel Efficiency, GMC, Hybrid Vehicles, Thoughts from the Curb, Toyota, Volkswagen

I had another editorial in mind for this week, but the lunacy surrounding the continued pummeling of Toyota by everyone from bankrupt real estate agents to the Orange County DA has my blood boiling. I feel compelled to scream out "STOP THE MADNESS" but that phrase doesn't fully capture the issue. To be accurate I'd have to yell, "STOP THE POLITICAL POSTURING AND NEWS RATINGS COMPETITION AND TRIAL LAWYER ANGLING AND OVERALL LOSS OF ALL RATIONAL THINKING BY MUCH OF THE MEDIA!" -- but I'm not sure I have to lung capacity to pull it off.

Instead of screaming I'll try taking a disappointingly unique approach to the Toyota Unintended Acceleration situation -- I'll use logic and critical analysis.

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Categories: Karl on Cars, Toyota, Traffic Safety

 For this week's post on the cars we own we've got Senior Video Specialist John Adolph and his 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser. Yep, it's a bit of a change-up; believe it or not, but a couple of us actually know how to wheel and prefer to hit up a rocky trail on the weekend rather than a racetrack. John is typically behind the camera making Edmunds' and Inside Line's videos come to life, so you're likely not familiar with his name. But he's an enthusiast and we dig his Land Cruiser and the two older Mercedes he owns. So make the jump to read more about his FJ60.

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Categories: Editors' Personal Cars, Toyota

I'm kicking off a new category on Karl on Cars (formerly Talk Back Tuesday). This will be a recurring topic that will usually discuss a vehicle brand but might also discuss a model or some other automotive topic.

So what defines "Car Guy Talk" in this arena? Pretty much what you'd expect -- an unscripted automotive discussion that happens thousands of times a day between car guys, but this will be me sharing my thoughts with you -- minus the colorful language I often throw in when talking cars with my car guy compatriots. I'd suggest I want to hear the same back from you, but you folks have already proven your ability to hold up your end of the conversation on this blog, so no worries there.

Considering the ongoing headlines of the past two weeks it seems fitting to start this Car Guy Talk series with the largest (and now most controversial) automotive player on the planet: Toyota.

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Categories: Karl on Cars, Toyota

#NAIAS: Edmunds.com Editor-in-Chief Karl Brauer is in Detroit, on the floor of Cobo Hall for the North American International Auto Show. His day has been filled with the latest new car introductions, many of which he's captured on video.  For your viewing pleasure, we've compiled a series of the big unveilings. Check them out after the jump and look for more to be added as the day progresses.

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Categories: Auto Shows, BMW, Buick, GMC, Toyota

Our staff has been saying for years that you can't beat a minivan for a family vehicle. In the past, those buying an SUV rather than a minivan gave up a lot of passenger space and cargo capacity in exchange for a cooler image.  With the current crop of larger three-row crossovers, the gap has been closed considerably, and as a result, minivans have been declining in popularity, with Ford and GM both pulling out of the segment.

That said, minivans still are the smart choice if maximum seating comfort and massive stuff-lugging versatility are must-haves.  And Toyota sees that thinning of the herd as an opportunity to grab more market share -- yes, the pie is smaller, but so is the number of those vying for a big slice.  Showing the motoring press its redesigned for 2011 Sienna, Toyota offered a little "same-old, same-old" (not a bad thing) and something of a shocker -- a sport-tuned minivan.  When you've finished laughing, please follow the jump.

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Categories: Automotive News, Toyota

One of my friends is ready to buy a new car. As you might imagine, when you're in my position and a friend or family member is ramping up for a car purchase the phone often rings (or, as in this case, the "New Email" folder goes bold).

My friend currently owns a 2005 Acura TL, which he purchased because of its combination of luxury, technology and quality. He's a successful lawyer, and financially capable of buying a much more expensive car, but he puts a lot of value on...well, value. When he asked me about the TL four years ago, and told me what his priorities were, I said, "The TL will absolutely serve your needs." He bought it and has had no regrets. But his driving habits rack up the miles quickly, and after four years his TL is pretty worn out.

So he's ready for a new car, and the just-redesigned 2009 Acura TL would be the obvious choice. After all, it still offers all the luxury, technology and quality of the previous version. However, in my friend's words, it is "quite ugly."

His girlfriend drives a 2006 Lexus RX, which he really likes except for one characteristic -- he HATES how the navigation system goes dead once the car is in motion. So he asked me in his email, "You're the car expert. Can you tell me if the new 2010 Lexus RX navigation system can be used while in motion or is it a completely useless upgrade like it has been to this point?" To which I replied, "Lexus=Toyota, and Toyota=nanny-ism. In other words, NO USING NAV WHILE DRIVING!"

This made him very unhappy and put him in a state where I can't reprint his next reply. It also made him write a no-nonsense letter to Lexus; a letter that generated a very corporate response. Follow the jump to read it.

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Categories: Acura, Car Audio and Technology, Honda, Lexus, Safety Systems, Talk Back Tuesday, Toyota, Traffic Safety

          Auto shows are supposed to be filled with fantasy cars. After all, for decades the glitzy show cars at these flashy gatherings were referred to as "dream cars," so expecting nothing but down-to-earth reality vehicles to appear on the show floor would be unrealistic (and, honestly, boring).

But at this year's Detroit Auto Show I found myself increasingly annoyed by the unending parade of pure fiction being shown off. This aggrevation came not as much from the show cars' embodiment as metallic vaporware as it did from the messages surrounding them. Basically, the automakers were claiming these vehicles would be available in the next 12-24 months when, of course, they probably won't represent viable transportation for upwards of 12-24 years.

By now you've probably identified which cars I'm referring to -- electric cars.

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Categories: Auto Shows, Dodge, Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, MINI, Talk Back Tuesday, Tesla, Toyota