New Cars

It’s Here: The Nieman Marcus Christmas Car. Buy One!

Oct 28, 2016 by tgriffith

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Every year at about this time we get to announce, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, the annual Neiman Marcus Christmas Book car.

For the uninitiated, the Neiman Marcus car is an extravagant version of a vehicle typically priced much higher than comparable models at local dealerships. It’s always a limited edition and always sells out within hours, sometimes minutes, of going on sale.

Recent years have included worthy cars such as Aston Martin and Ferrari, as well as questionable choices such as a $95,000 Mustang and a limited edition Camaro.

How does this year’s choice stack up? Well, at $63,000, it’s definitely one of the least expensive Neiman Marcus cars to hit the catalog in a very long time. It’s also one of the best values.

The Changing Purpose SUVs

Oct 26, 2016 by tgriffith

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Sport utility vehicles entered the automotive scene as 4×4 alternatives to station wagons, sedans, and minivans. They quickly became the go-anywhere, haul-anything preference for families across the United States. These were the vehicles that allowed drivers to skip the Holiday Inn and venture deep into the woods if they so desired.

They were large, heavy, and capable rigs that rode high and gave drivers a commanding view and comforting presence in the midst of the surrounding Civics and Corollas. The fact that early V8-powered SUVs sucked gas fast enough to watch the fuel gauge drop didn’t matter, because gasoline was cheap and the economy was strong.

Then the bottom fell out in 2007 and the game completely changed. Large SUVs became symbols of excess and waste. Filling their gas tanks required a second mortgage. Falling sales inspired a new breed of SUVs, one that could still haul up to 8 people, but compromised some off-road ability for more civilized fuel economy numbers.

It’s an evolution that continues into this day and is embodied by the new Audi Q7.

Here’s Our First Glance at the New Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Oct 19, 2016 by tgriffith

The Jeep Commander has earned a spot on our list of the best “dead” cars to buy, but its successor might be worth waiting for if you have the desire for a luxury SUV that carries the name of a Jeep with a legendary past.

The Commander was supposed to be Jeep’s answer to the Chevy Tahoe and other large 3-row SUVs, but its dismal fuel economy sent owners and potential buyers running. The SUV probably would have been a success if it debuted in 2000, but the high gas prices and uncertain economy between 2006 and 2010 led to the Commander’s demise.

Now that we’re in more stable times, Jeep has decided that it’s time to try again, only this time it’ll be with an all-new Grand Wagoneer.

The Luxury Market’s New Look

Oct 17, 2016 by tgriffith

A car grabbed my attention from about four lengths ahead on the highway coming into downtown. A Bentley? No, it didn’t have the right rear end. A Rolls? Definitely not.

Once I got closer I realized that the car was a new Lincoln Continental and looked darn good cruising among the mass of plebeian automobiles on the highway. So good, in fact, that I had to wonder when the last time was that a Lincoln caught my attention and demanded a double-take.

Okay, in all honesty, the last time it happened was with the MKT, a crossover SUV of exceptionally unfortunate proportions. The Continental, though, turned my head for all the right reasons. Seeing that car, paired with the recent release of the Genesis luxury brand, got me thinking that the luxury market suddenly looks a lot more interesting than it did even a year ago.

The Times They Are a-Changin’

Oct 14, 2016 by Steve Halloran

Everyone knows someone who regularly gripes about “the end” of the manual transmission, uncovered V8 engines, and our ability to get away from it all. We prefer to drive with a stick, thank you, but we know manuals aren’t always faster, cheaper, and less expensive anymore. And while we love the sound and power of a V8, a turbo four can go a lot farther on a tank of gas and lets a driver get more value out of the car’s stereo. And we think our newfound inability to really escape has more to do with smartphones and the Internet than the advance of car technology.

So we’re going to take a look at some new and different cars that mark big changes we hope all drivers can agree are positive. We’re not sure they’ll end up on as many high-schoolers’ bedroom walls as the GTO Judge and the Lamborghini Countach did, but we expect to see plenty of them on the road, and who knows which 2016 might just become a sought-after collectible to today’s hipsters.

New Cars

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