New Cars

by tgriffith

Dodge Demon Danger: Can’t Buy It Without a Waiver

2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

There aren’t many cars that require the buyer to sign a waiver before driving it off the lot. In fact, there might be only one.

The Dodge Demon, which is actually a Challenger in SRT Demon dress, might look close enough to a standard-issue Challenger to fool the non-initiated, but make no mistake, the Demon is a devil just waiting to prove how delightfully dastardly it can be.

While the Challenger, especially in Hellcat guise, is a perfectly capable performance car, the Demon is a deceptively dangerous track car that’s been approved to freely roam the streets. This isn’t a car for just anyone, though. There’s enough potential danger lurking under the hood (and in the tires), that buyers must sign a waiver before actually buying one. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Regular Cars That Cost as Much as Luxury Cars

Barring the stratospheric price of the Ford GT, the Blue Oval isn’t exactly known for high-priced luxury. That could be about to change, as an $80,000 Ford family hauler is now a reality.

Cars that cost upward of $60,000 and approach $80,000 used to be the realm of ultimate luxury and performance. We’re talking top-end BMWs and Jaguars that blend plush driving pleasure with spirited performance, not to mention a certain brand panache that justifies the price tag.

Today, the $80,000 price point is starting to encroach on mass-market brands. While we are not likely to see an $80,000 Taurus anytime soon, another Ford is dangerously close to breaking that not-so-budget-friendly milestone. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Honda Civic Type R Priced, Proves Demand for Performance

2018 Honda Civic Type R

Dire predictions of an entire generation having zero emotion toward cars have fueled predictions of an unprecedented “buyers strike” in America.

That’s probably not going to happen.

A love, and a need, for cars will continue to dominate the landscape, even as younger folks grow into mature, car-buying adults.

I reference the ferocious new Honda Civic Type R as proof. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Tesla Remains Perfect, Audi Hopes to Follow Its Lead

Safety is quickly becoming a trademark quality for Tesla. The California-based electric carmaker builds the Model S sedan, which achieved the best safety rating of any car ever tested back in 2013.

Now it can lay claim to something else no other automaker has ever been able to accomplish: a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) perfect score for an SUV in its 5-star crash-testing system.

Yes, the Tesla Model X is now the safest SUV ever tested by the government agency. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Will Subaru Become the Next Toyota?

Last week a friend on Facebook shared a post from Toyota that compared the new 86 sports car to the classic 2000GT.

The comparison inspired a heated conversation, with most people arguing that the 86 is a cheap RWD sports car designed for proper weight distribution and mass production, while the classic 2000GT is an ultra-rare Jaguar-esque stunner.

Sitting next to the 2000GT, the 86 looked, in the band Train’s words, like “a crappy purple Scion.”

Then someone else said, “If Subaru made one, gave it AWD, and upped the power, I’d make it my daily driver.”

Subaru is on a 7-year sales march, with each year breaking the previous year’s record. The company certainly seems immune to sagging industry sales, and is in fact working on a new BRZ sports car. But is it the car everyone wants? Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Will President Trump Block German Car Sales?

BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi are symbols of success and prestige.

Owning one is a goal more people are realizing, as BMW sold more than 2.3 million cars last year. Mercedes-Benz was just behind at about 2.2 million, while Audi unloaded some 1.8 million vehicles.

BMW builds its SUVs right here in the States, and Mercedes-Benz has a manufacturing plant in Alabama. Needless to say, German automakers contribute a fair share to the American economy, and well-off car buyers are taking home their wares in record numbers.

Yet the U.S. president is not happy and has vowed to block the “very bad” Germans from exporting cars to our country.

Never mind the fact that the president owns at least one Rolls-Royce (a company owned by BMW) and a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Your Next BMW: Built in China?

BMW 1 Series sedan: Made in China

If Chinese quality has become good enough for Buick, Volvo, and BMW, there’s a good chance it’s good enough for you.

Cars made in China have long been associated with questionable reliability, gaps in body panels, and sub-standard safety features. Those days may be behind us, however, as foreign automakers continue to invest in Chinese manufacturing.

The Buick Envision and Volvo S60 are the first made-in-China cars imported for sale in the U.S., and they are each getting mostly positive reviews from auto journalists around the country.

Now BMW seems ready to further elevate Chinese manufacturing and import models built in China for sale to customers in Germany and the United States. Continue reading >>>

by Matt Smith

Clearing the Air: TDI Aside, VW Still Builds Great Cars

2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack

Years ago, a good friend was in the market for a car, and despite trying my best to sell her on a Honda Fit, she was smitten with one particular Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen, which she’d eventually buy and name Gretta. As much as I tried to sway her to the little Honda (It’s great in the city! Fantastic fuel economy! Honda reliability!), I was always greeted with the same answer, spoken in her best German accent: “But Matt… Das Auto!” Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Ascent and Atlas: The New Breed of 3-Row SUVs

Subaru Ascent concept

But does it have a third row?

It’s a question that’s inevitable when families shop for an SUV. Anything less is deemed inadequate, because there’s just not enough room for two adults, three kids, and occasional friends in a traditional 2-row sedan or SUV.

Three-row vehicles include the Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango, Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and many more.

It’s a crowded field indeed, but two automakers each see room for an additional entry.

Say hello to the Subaru Ascent and Volkswagen Atlas. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Dodge Demon Pricing Revealed: $85K and $1 Options

Official pricing for the most maniacal and unhinged production car ever built has officially been released.

Starting MSRP of the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, more commonly referred to simply as the Dodge Demon, is $84,995. Add a horsepower boost from 808 to 840, and the price jumps to $84,996.

Yes, in perhaps the best cost-to-horsepower-ratio on the planet, the Demon can gain 32 ponies for just a buck. Continue reading >>>