Drive a smart fortwo in NYC and you can instantly achieve rock star status. Sounds like an advertisement? But it's true. Everywhere I went people gave me the thumbs up for 'driving green', let me pass if I wanted (unheard of in the city), asked me for a ride or asked me where to get one. In other words, I got respect!

Who would ever think that a smart fortwo could garner as much praise as other flashier, more upscale and expensive models I've driven in the city.

All the right ingredients:
It's great looking, eco-conscious, inexpensive and new to the US. And it's tiny-tiny enough to create it's own lane, to park anywhere and skittle between cars like a bicycle. But deceptively enough, the interior is very spacious with cargo space big enough to contain 10 bags of groceries with room to spare! Upfront there's plenty of head and elbow room. My 6' teen was comfortable enough to ask me if I'd buy one for him!

Driving the smart fortwo is a blast:
In the city, the car was so quiet that everyone was asking if it was electric. And it's so nimble that I was able to skirt around pot holes, tuck into half parking spaces and hustle down narrow streets.

The engine:
The 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder engine puts out 70 hp, 33/40 miles to the gallon and was given the ULEV for low exhaust emissions.

When you try to get some juice in automatic the gearing is jumpy  but once you get it up to speed on a highway this guy rocks. I found that driving in manual (with paddles or the shifter)is much smoother and more responsive than in automatic.  If  you're not manual savvy an arrow in the console lets you know which direction to shift.

As safe as a brick:
The smart fortwo was designed by the Mercedes engineer of the S-class, who confirms that this is just as safe. For instance, the metal body is reinforced at strategic points with high-strength steel, the high-seating position gives the passenger and driver advantages in frontal and side impact crashes, the engine and starter battery are housed in impact protection zones. The smart fortwo also comes standard with two head/neck side airbags, a seat occupancy sensor and kneepads, ESP and ABS.

The price:
The smart car comes in three versions; Fortwopure starts at $11,590; Fortwopassioncoupe starts at $13,590 and the Passion cabriolet starts at $16,590.

When I visited Aruba last week, I had no idea that I would be taking an off-road adventure. I was psyched for swimming, snorkeling, biking, sailing  and chillin' out with a bottle of Balashi, the local beer. Then Sjeidy, my hip host from the Aruba Tourism Authority, asked if I wanted to trek over some sand dunes in a Tomcar with Aruba Off-Road. I was in!



My first impression was that we were getting into  a Tonka Toy with harnesses. Our two-seater version had a roof but no doors, a windshield (that makes it street legal), a high ground clearance of  14.5" and 3 gears: drive, neutral and reverse. With bright yellow suspension coils, fat tires and lights that stuck out like bugs eyes, the vehicle looked cute enough to pet. But, it proved to be a serious off-roader that could do 35 miles per hour while running through sand, climbing boulders and descending into stream beds. In one gear! I was impressed.

Our tour started at a country stable only minutes from the Arikok National Park. We were on fabulous rutty roads within minutes moving up to high rises where we could view the entire island (and beyond to Venezuela on a clear day).  From there we cut through desert dotted with people-sized cactus to a series of caves with original Indian drawings and up the coast to a natural rock bridge that recently collapsed into the ocean. Our last stop of the day was Baby Beach... milky turquoise waters and a soft white sandy stretch. Could I have gotten all of these places in a Toyota Rav4? Sure thing. But, the Tomcar was a fabulous way to go behind the scenes on this exquisite island.

When I returned to my hotel that afternoon, I started researching the roots of the Tomcar and came up with some fascinating information. Turns out, the Tomcar is tough enough to take on bullets and boulders.

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One of my friends told me that I always describe cars as "feminine". Well, I am correcting that. The 2008 Cadillac CTS that I test drove last weekend is not feminine, it is not masculine, it actually doesn't call either sex to mind!

But, is it sexy? Well, yes...and that's why I chose it to drive my son upstate to check out colleges. I know that he ranks this among the "cool wheels". Especially, I might add in black raven with an ebony interior. Lovely.

I hadn't driven the CTS in years but I have been watching it mature into a sedan that notes BM3 and 5-series, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus G5, Infiniti G35 and Audi A4 as competitors.

The CTS is in a class of its own. Noted as Motor Trend's 2008 Car of the Year, the Cadillac CTS takes its namesake into a trendier dimension with a cut-up profile and buffed up 17 or 18" painted  aluminum wheels. The 3.6L Direct Injection  that I tested came with Sapele wood trim on the inside, heated and cooled  8-way stitched leather seats, an excellent 10-speaker Bose sound system and a pop-up info screen that was placed at just the right angle for the driver to see the controls.

GM tuned the CTS on Germany's Nuerurgring track and despite this being a large sedan, it's V6 Direct inject puts out 304 hp with 25% lower hydrocarbon emissions. The speed was sure and steady, the handling crisp-despite the fact that I have been spoiled with some over-the top European cars lately-the CTS was a delight. As well it should be. The price, as tested was $48,240.00 including destination.

The Spanish-owned Ibiza, part of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, was the chosen setting to preview the 2009 Audi A4 Avant, their fourth-generation wagon. 

I think it only fitting that I give you a short understanding of Ibiza before I launch into a description of the Audi A4 Avant.

The Audi A4 Avant is all about lovely lines and superior technology. Ibiza is all about the senses.

Founded by Phoenician’s in 654 BC, the early settlers believed Ibiza to be a magic isle blessed by the Gods because of its fertile red soil that supposedly wards off all manner of harmful reptiles, animals, insects or plants.

Mellow is the mood here. Ibiza was a huge hippie hang-out in the 60’s and since has given birth to a renowned club scene. But, people are drawn to this fertile island for its sandy beaches and laid-back Mediterranean life.  Staggering cliffs with feverish views of seas, pine forests, olive groves and small centuries-old towns are just some of the perks.

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The under approach...

..so to continue the discussion from yesterday on how to hold a steering wheel, in my google search I came up with the JD Power article titled Steering for Optimal Control.

The JD Power piece supports the low riders. As quoted; ”The current recommendation for hand placement (if you imagine your steering wheel is a clock) is anywhere between 7 o'clock and 9 o'clock for your left hand and between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock for your right hand. Although it may feel strange to have your hands so low on the steering wheel, this actually provides better control than the "10 and 2" method.

I asked Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing at Edmunds Inc. (no relation to Edmunds), for his opinion. He pointed to a line in the article that states, "A lower hand position (8 and 4 or 7 and 5) makes it less likely that you will overcorrect during an emergency maneuver, which is what often causes spins, slides, and rollovers."
 
His take? "This line of reasoning is an outgrowth of the popularity of SUVs. Since high CG [center of gravity] vehicles like these don't handle well in emergency maneuvers and are the source of most of the rollovers they allude to, this improper hand position is being advocated to compensate. You can't input very much when holding the wheel in this way--so you can't roll the thing over--or so goes the reasoning. They're trying to dull someone's natural reactions."
 
Furthermore, Edmunds says this theory is not taking into account the fact that stability control systems are becoming standard on SUVs (to pass the government rollover test) and will be required on all vehicles in a couple of years.

"Overcorrecting isn't an issue with stability control-equipped vehicles, so this advice seems directed at older SUVs," he said. "I agree that 12 or 6 is bad, bad, bad, but 7 and 5 is nearly the same as 6. I can't follow the logic on this one."

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The views are staggering in Ibiza, Spain

We were test driving the 2009 Audi A4 Avant 2.0 turbocharged in Ibiza, Spain. This is just possibly the most beautiful place on earth with the kind of roads that enthusiasts dream about. My partner, 'Eric'. who writes for those kinds of magazines, was in the driver’s seat. Before we set out, he said something like, “I’m going to be flinging this car around because I have to give it a full-on review.”
 
I replied, “That’s fine, but I think I’ll opt out.” He assured me that it would be fun and not to worry.

Yes, 'Eric' is a confident driver and a whiz at understanding, explaining and writing about torque, steer, engines, handling and all that jazz. And yes, he makes me feel like a lightweight. But, that’s my own ego stuff.

'Eric' did drive hard, take corners fast and like the pro that he is, even turned the ESP off at one point to prove how steady this sporty wagon is. The Audi A4 Avant was certainly up to the challenge. I wasn’t. I have two kids, two dogs and a husband at home. I like to take it easy. I’ll leave the other stuff to the race track.

In any event, when it was my turn to take the wheel, he pointed out that I was holding it wrong. “I’m what?” I said astonished. Mind you, I hold it at 9 and 3 (thumb resting gently) like I have been taught at several driving schools around the country.

“No, no! You should hold the wheel like this---on the bottom,” he said. I put my hands inside the spaces under the wheel as he suggested. He explained that in this position you were pulling down on the wheel, that you were using your arm muscles not your body and something about feeling the car dynamics better. It all sounded good to me but I was getting confused. In fact so confused and intimidated that for a moment there I forgot how to drive. Instead of my usual shuffle, I was taking a series of tight, tense turns hand over hand. It was not my greatest day of driving. But, what came out of this is the desire to know how to hold the wheel correctly. I also learned a whole lot more about how vehicles work.  (Thank you 'Eric!')

I checked with the experts at a well-reputed institution and yes, indeed, 9 and 3 still holds BUT according to AAA National, a leader in producing driving instruction materials for teen driving programs, holding below the wheel in the grips is fine as well. Ah ha! We were both correct!

And my ego? Back to normal.

I just spent some time in the refreshed-for-2008 Mazda Mazda5, and I enjoyed it quite a lot. It was really useful, fun to drive and cool-looking enough that my severely minivan-averse husband was happy to be seen in it. And we're actually in the market for exactly this type of vehicle right now, but probably won't be buying one.

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We were going from New York to Washington, DC for the weekend and I decided to test drive a sedan instead of a large van or SUV. My teens are used to three rows and a home entertainment system. That wasn’t going to happen this trip. I was keen to try out the 2008 Audi A6 Sedan. They weren't pleased.

"What’'s up with this Mom?” they inquired, eyeing the Audi.  “Have you lost your mind… where are we going to fit?”

"Just put your stuff in the trunk and let’s get on with it,”I quipped, expecting to have to do a major squish job with our luggage. Not so!

The trunk was deep and cavernous with room to spare after we loaded our various bags and equipment in. Even my kids were impressed.  I can't remember loading so much into the trunk of a sedan--—families take note!

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The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 is one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. Compare it to ice-cream and it would be that perfect gelato after a long day in the Caribbean sun.

If you take that up a notch, the 2009 SL AMG roadsters in 2 flavors V8 or V12 are that perfect gelato followed by a dip in a cool pool and a full-body massage.

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When I left freezing NYC for sunny Santa Monica, California this week my family was already jealous. But they didn’t know the half of it. I was in sunny So Cal to drive the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL series on routes that make you feel like singing arias, my family was not happy. They were deeply jealous and I can’t blame them. The experience of driving both the SL 550 and the SL 65 AMG was none other than spiritual.

Let me start with the SL 550, the roadster with a seven-speed  V8  engine putting out  382 hp and 391 lb.ft of torque with a 0-60 of 5.3 seconds. There is something about the way that the horsepower and the torque match up, the car is so superbly engineered that driving the SL550 feels something akin to yoga. It is perfectly balanced. For me, that means that I could see having this as my every day car. It didn’t roar and spit fire when I put my foot on the gas, it never made me feel uncomfortable like it might buck me, the SL let me take charge but took good care of me. Do you understand that feeling?

Some top features:

Exquisite Sound System: My SL 550 came equipped with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound with 10 speakers (510 watt output), a slot for music memory cards and Bluetooth interface. That all translates to the fact that one can hear music with the top down while travelling at fast speeds, you can download up to 4 GB of music to a memory card and slide it into the sound system and cell phone use is hands free.

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