Karl on Cars

Karl on Cars http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/  1995-2008 Edmunds.com, Inc. The contents of this feed are for non-commercial use only. Thu, 15 May 2008 01:05:30 GMT Web Crossing(r) Unix-v6.0 built May 6 2008 01:30:43 (source:1029 2008-05-05 23:05:11 -0700)/Unix-6.0 (http://webcrossing.com/) http://backend.userland.com/rss 2009 Ford Flex: First Look and Crawl Around Fri, 16 May 2008 13:05:00 GMT http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/10 http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/10 Karl Brauer <karl@edmunds.com> 2009 Ford Flex. First Look Impressive Interior Packaging SYNC Crossover <IMG height=271 src="http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea74c3/cmd.233/embedded..eea74c6" width=430 align=textTop> I just got my first close-up look a the <A href="http://www.edmunds.com/ford/flex/2009/index.html">2009 Ford Flex</A>. One of Ford's able-bodied reprsentatives brought it by the office, showed us all the major features and then let us crawl in, through and around it. We didn't get to actually drive it, but we do have a First Drive coming in a few weeks. <IMG height=276 src="http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea74c3/cmd.233/embedded..eea74c9" width=430 align=textTop> I'm impressed with this car for several reasons. First, I like the square profile. We all know that everything comes in cycles, and I'm more than over the "SUV-with-curves" style dominating the current crossover segment. Have I mentioned how many times I've had the keys to our long-term Enclave or CX-9 or Veracruz and walked up to the wrong car in the parking garage? I'm not trying to make a joke -- this has really happened, several times. Between the similar colors and shapes it's genuinely hard to tell them apart from more than 20 feet. If nothing else, the Ford Flex will not look like every other $30K crossover. Second, it's got impressive interior packaging. The second-row seats literally flip and fold forward at the touch of a button (not sure that feature will be on base models...) and the third-row seat is fully functional for full-sized adults. This car also had the latest version of SYNC combined with a voice-activated navigation system. It was easy to do everything from order up a song-list on an iPod to input a street address using only my voice (and the "voice" button on the steering wheel). The overall look and feel of the interior was impressive as well. There were also soft-touch inserts along the door panels where your hand or arm is likey to contact them, and while much of the dash (and the bulk of the door panels) were hard plastic, the plastic had a rich texture that at least made it look premium. The seat leather looked and felt good, and the multiple clear roof panels had a Nissan "skyview" effect on the cabin. Many of the other editors, after seeing the Flex in person, felt it looked better than it did in pictures. I would concur, and suggest people who aren't sure about the styliing hold judgement until they see it in the steel. It will have the Edge's drivetrain, so power shouldn't be an issue (let's hope it loses the slow-to-downshift six-speed tranny). My only complaint thus far? No telescoping steering wheel. That seems like an oversight in a segment this competitive. We'll know more in the next month between our upcoming Ford Flex First Drive and getting seat time in a test car. But Ford needs new product like Lindsay needs an image makeover, and it's nice to see it finally showing up. http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea74c3#cm Edmunds Consumer Comparison Test: Economy Cars Thu, 15 May 2008 13:05:00 GMT http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/9 http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/9 Karl Brauer <karl@edmunds.com> Edmunds Consumer Comparison Test Economy Sedans Honda Civic Mazda 3 Toyota Corolla Willow Springs Evaluation <IMG height=230 src="http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea74bf/cmd.233/enclosure..eea74c0" width=430 align=textTop> I spent most of yesterday at Willow Springs Raceway as part of our second Edmunds Consumer Comparison Test: Economy Cars. If you saw my <A href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/764">earlier post</A> you already know that we wanted to pit the leading (by both sales and editorial opinion) economy sedans against each other, but beyond picking the entrants and organizing the test session we would offer no guidance on which car we like the best. Six consumers performed each of the evaluations on the economy sedans. The excercises including a city driving loop, a highway loop, acceleration, braking and handling tests, plus a static evaluation where they could test cargo capacity, examine interior features and generally go over each car with a fine tooth comb. The one hiccup we encountered had to do with the test car candidates -- we lost the Mitsubishi Lancer. While the Honda Civic, Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla all arrived with proper equipment and an MSRP within $500 of each other, the Mitsu showed up with luxury features that pushed it approximately $2,000 higher than the others. Considering that's over 10% of the total cost of these cars we simply couldn't let it slide. Sorry Mitsubishi. And nope, there wasn't time to jam another candidate in after we discovered this issue with the Lancer. So in a few weeks we'll have the official results from six consumers regarding their opinions (and ranking) of the Civic, 3 and Corolla (and yes, it was a 2009 Corolla since that model is in showrooms now and was just redesigned). I don't know the results yet myself, but I'm very interested in hearing what these folks have to say. http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea74c1#cm 2009 Acura TSX: A Really-Really-Really Good Honda Wed, 14 May 2008 13:05:00 GMT http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/8 http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/8 Karl Brauer <karl@edmunds.com> 2008 Acura TSX Really Good Honda Premium Brand <IMG height=243 src="http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea7428/cmd.233/enclosure..eea7429" width=430 align=textTop> It's time for Acura to get serious. I don't mean serious in a "no more fun" sense, I mean serious in a "We're committed to creating full-fledged premium cars, and not just really good Hondas" sense. That's what the <A href="http://www.edmunds.com/new/2009/acura/tsx/101001144/prices.html">2009 Acura TSX</A> feels like to me -- a really good Honda. That's great if you already love Hondas and just won the lottery, but if you're trying to bring non-Honda-philes into the fold, this car can't do it. <IMG height=175 src="http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea742a/cmd.233/embedded..eea742f" width=200 align=right>I drove the TSX on a variety of roads, including Mulholland Drive. On that twisty stretch of asphalt the car was confident, flingable and predictable right up to the limit. I loved the smooth-like-buttah shifter, the responsive-yet-refined power delivery and the heavily-bolstered seats that proved both comfortable and supportive. Basically, it felt like a big Civic Si. And certainly there are worse descriptions for a car to wear, but when I'm spending $32,000 for a luxury sedan with a premium nameplate do I want to feel like I'm piloting a large Civic -- even one with supple leather seats and a highly advanced in-car entertainment system? If I'm a huge Honda fan, the answer could very well be yes. If I'm cross-shopping an A4, 3 Series or IS 250, probably not. When the "let's spin off a premium Japanese nameplate" game started, by Acura no less, 20 years ago it was okay to re-body and rebadge an existing volume seller like the Accord, Civic or Camry. But in 2008 brands like Infiniti and Lexus are offering rear-wheel-drive luxury sedans with V6 engines (V8 if you go IS-F). Yes, you can make an argument that cars like the TSX, TL and RL offer a price and/or MPG advantage, but there's one big problem with this plan -- these are premium brands! Telling your friends at the country club or investment firm you went with the Acura product to save money and gas doesn't exactly score status points, and that's what premium brands are all about. "Yeah Karl, but maybe the TSX isn't trying to compete with the 3 Series or the A4, or even the G35 and IS. Maybe Acura is going after cars like the S40 and 9-3." Have you seen the sales numbers on those cars? If that's as high as Acura is aiming we have a whole new issue to discuss. Ultimately the TSX is a fine machine. Actually, it's a really, really, really good Honda -- and that can't be bad. But it's also not competitive in today's premium luxury market, as Acura's sales in recent years confirm. It certainly explains why American Honda is the only major automaker with year-to-date sales higher in 2008 than 2007, even as Acura's sales continue to decline. The high-fuel-mileage/low-price route works for a volume seller, particulary in tough economic times. Congrats Honda. But for premium shoppers, in good times or bad, the "Honda turned up to 11" is becoming a tough sell in 2008. http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea742a#cm Talk Back Tuesday: Chrysler refools-ur, refuels America Tue, 13 May 2008 13:05:00 GMT http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/4 http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/4 Karl Brauer <karl@edmunds.com> Talk Back Tuesday Let's Refuel American Chrysler Incentive Good Deal <IMG height=256 src="http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea713f/cmd.233/embedded..eea73b1" width=430 align=textTop> "Gas prices are skyrocketing! There's no end in sight!! Who knows how high they'll go?!!!" The above statements may or may not be true, but Chrysler is hoping enough of you feel this way to fall for their latest marketing scheme: <A href="http://www.autoobserver.com/2008/05/chrysler-unveil.html">Let's Refuel America!</A> The Edmunds data department confirmed last week that, for the most part, this "deal" isn't all it's cracked up to be (surprise!). But <A href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121035620399981143.html">here's a story</A> that pulls all the important numbers together and, in simple terms, says to avoid the "Let's Refuel America!" boondoggle and just take the good, old reliable incentive cash. You'll come out much better. Unless, of course, gas really does skyrocket in the next three years, at which point Let's Refuel America could be a good deal. According to the numbers-crunchers, gas has to hit at least $4-a-gallon to break even with the current cash incentives, and it must go higher to transform the gimmick into a good deal. Which brings us to the question, actually the questions, for today's Talk Back Tuesday: Does Let's Refuel America strike you as a good deal? Do you think it will work to sell the company's product? And, more importantly, will Chrysler exist in three years to actually fulfill its part of this deal? Me? I'd rather take the cash today than bet on higher gas prices (and Chrysler's long-term solvency) tomorrow. BTW, there have been periods in the not-so-distance past where the price of gas has actually gone down. Can you imagine being the genius who signed up for the screaming deal of $2.99 a gallon in 2010...when the price is $2.34 a gallon? It could happen. http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea713f#cm Ford's SYNC: A Look at the Future in a Car from the Past Mon, 12 May 2008 13:05:00 GMT http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/7 http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/7 Karl Brauer <karl@edmunds.com> 2008 Ford Focus Future Car Audio Microsoft SYNC Apple iPhone <IMG height=323 src="http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea7237/cmd.233/embedded..eea7334" width=430 align=textTop> Our <A href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/category/cat.2008FordFocusSESCoupe">long-term 2008 Ford Focus</A> isn't the most loved car in the <A href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/">long-term fleet</A>, but I've spent the last several days driving it (despite several other options) for a simple reason: <A href="http://www.syncmyride.com/#/home/">SYNC.</A> It's no secret that the "new" Ford Focus is basically the latest version of an aging chassis long past its sell-by date. Many have flatly stated that SYNC is the only thing the Focus has going for it in the ultra competitve economy-car segment. After playing with the system for several days and watching it talk to my iPhone I've decided...they may be right. Not because the 2008 Ford Focus is really that bad, but because SYNC is simply that cool. Being able to plug the iPhone in and have it instantly download my contact list made a good first impression, but the accurate voice recognition, full display/control integration and no-brainer Bluetooth functionality are what made it easy to keep getting back in the Focus and face my 50-mile commute at the end (or beginning) of a long work day. But perhaps the most exciting aspect of SYNC is the future-proof design. In a world where computers, cell phones and, yes, even car audio systems are obsolete in a matter of weeks it's pretty sad that we're expected to live with the same sound system for 3-5 years after buying a car. However, with SYNC, system updates and new features can be incorporated without buying a new car or replacing the head unit. And as you may already know, Ford's exclusive rights to SYNC only last 18 months. The roll out plans are already underway for additional companies to SYNC up with Microsoft, with <A href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/11">Hyundai/Kia first on the waiting list</A> (though they'll call the system something else). Say what you want about Microsoft, but if they successfully corner the car audio market the software giant will likely solve much of the integration/obsolescence issues currently plaguing the rest of the industry. And yes, I love the fact that, once again, Microsoft and Apple will be forced to "play nice" for mutual benefit. http://blogs.edmunds.com/.eea7237#cm