Tuesday, November 27, 2007

TWO FOR THE ROAD USA AT THE PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

BARRETT JACKSON MUSTANG – SYNC - WARRIORS IN PINK

Bill and Cathy were guests of Ford Motor Company and the Barrett Jackson organization at the Phoenix Auto Show the day before Thanksgiving 2007.

There were three very impressive arrivals at the Auto show that day. The first was the unveiling of the 2008 GT Ford Shelby Mustang bearing the ever so subtle Barrett Jackson name on the rear of the black with red stripped convertible.

Only 100 Barrett Jackson Mustangs have been allocated to Arizona Ford dealers. Price estimated at $40,000.

www.barrettjackson.com

The second was the introduction of the SYNC powered by Microsoft.

The miracle of technology, available in 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products starting the first of the year named SYNC was demonstrated to us by Ford’s knowledgeable and hip Ford employees Like Stacy Anderson. She's one of the energetic Ford reps touring the country introducing this new Ford technology to High School and College campuses. Some of the exciting features are full voice control of phone and music players, text messaging (hands free) and iTunes Downloads to mention just a few. Ford is excited about their new factory-installed, in-car communications and entertainment system that is designed to change the way consumers use media players and mobile phones in their vehicles. www.syncmyride.com

Last but not least is Ford’s continued involvement in the fight against beast cancer with their warriors in Pink campaign. Besides the beautiful women of the game show ‘Deal or no Deal “, American Idol winner and phenomena Kelly Clarkson joins Ford’s fight by appearing in their campaign.

Ford has supported Komen for the Cure for 13 years and has dedicated more than $90 million in cash and in-kind donations to save lives and help end breast cancer. Last year, their line of apparel generated more than $1.1 million in sales, all net proceeds going to Komen.

www.fordcares.com

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Two for the Road Drives the 2008 Malibu

There's been an awful lot of hoopla from GM about "the car you can't ingnore" and I'm here to tell you, I'm a believer. I always find it interesting when a manufacturer sets the bar high when unveiling a new or re-modeled vehicle. It's a very high risk-reward gamble and after spending some time in Tennessee as the guest of General Motors, Cathy and I are pretty sure they got it right with the new Malibu. The redesign has been a 3-year plan for lead exterior designer Tim Kozub, who's sketch you see at the top of the blog, and as you can see by the video below, the finished product isn't far off the drawing. With models ranging from the 4-cylinder LS to the V6 powered LTZ and a hybrid version the Malibu will appeal to a very eclectic group. We enjoyed driving the V6 and the hybrid and we'll have a lot more to talk about in the near future. In the meantime, enjoy the video to get an idea of what this car is all about, and go to; www.twofortheroadusa.com for more information.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Two for the Road USA at the Gibson Guitar Plant

While Cathy and I were in Tennesse with General Motors for the launch of the all-new Malibu, we were treated to a tour of the Gibson plant to see exactly how these beautiful guitars were made. We were very suprised to find out that much of the process is still done by hand and even more surprised to find out that they refuse to allow any blemishes at all in their guitars. If they are flawed in any way, they are destroyed. It's kind of nice to know there are still businesses that strive for perfection in their products. Here are some pics we took during the tour. For more information, visit www.twofortheroadusa.com

Monday, November 5, 2007

Mario Andretti Signs Autographs at Community Tire in Phoenix


Racing legend Mario Andretti was in Phoenix Arizona donating time to sign autographs and help Howard Fleishman, President of Community Tire and Automotive Service raise money for the 100 club. The 100 club is an organization that helps family's of fallen police officers and fire fighters.


It was a fun event with lots of folks donating time and money that was certainly highlighted by the presence of one of the giants of racing. Andretti was gracious with everyone and it was interesting to see the mix of young and old that came out to get some very interesting items autographed.


Here's a short video clip of the event.


For more on this event and other auto related stories and videos go to www.twofortheroadusa.com

You may or may not have...

You may or may not have heard about the all new Malibu from General Motors and all the hoopla about it. Cath and I went to Tennessee and spent some time behind the wheel, and I'm here to tell you, they have a lot to talk about and so do we. Stay tuned we'll have more on the blog shortly. For more information on two for the road go to www.twofortheroadusa.com.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

Kia has a Nifty Trio of its own

It doesn’t seem like too awfully long ago that no one was taking Kia vehicles very seriously. Well that has changed quite a bit over the last few years and I just drove a trio that was pretty impressive. They all base around $16 to $20 thousand and while that’s good, what’s more important is these cars offer more than just a good price; they’ve now become a good value.

The Kia Rondo is an all-new 5-door crossover vehicle first seen at the 2007 auto show in LA. It’s based on the proven FWD Optima platform. Shaped like a mini-van the Rondo offers plenty of head and legroom with a decent amount of cargo space. The base model sports a 162 horsepower 2.4 liter mated to a 4-speed automatic or, you can opt for the optional 2.7 liter V6 mated to a 5-speed automatic that puts out 182 horsepower. I’ll be quick to point out that the V6 is the way to go especially if you plan to do long hauls climbing hills while loaded down.

The optional 3rd row seating will fold down for additional cargo space. The EX trim comes with body-colored door handles and side moldings and 16-inch wheels while the LX adds fog lights, 17-inch wheels and some chrome accents.

Driving the Rondo was a pleasant surprise because the car handled much better than I expected. I was anticipating a rather dowdy feel to the Rondo and I was very pleased with the solid feel from the car. It was relatively taut and there was pretty good feedback from the road. The interior is comfortable and the ergonomics are better than adequate which means the Rondo would serve one well on most trips.

While the Rondo is a whole lot more function than form, it’s not a bad looking vehicle at all and for the money, well worth looking at, and with a 5 year 60,000 mile base warranty with 24-hour roadside assistance and a 100,000 mile 10 year limited Powertrain warranty, clearly Kia is standing behind their products. So, if you’re in the market for a crossover/mini-van, check out the Kia Rondo, I think you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.


If you’re looking for an inexpensive, small SUV though, put the Kia Sportage on the list of ones to try out. This little SUV has improved by leaps and bounds from whence it started, to the point where it actually has a little style now. While I’m not an SUV guy, I recognize their value and popularity and although I’m not sure how deep the demographic for this size SUV is, there certainly is a plethora to choose from, including the Hyundai sibling Sorento, which I’ll be talking about also. The upside with the Sportage is the pricing. You can get one pretty well adorned for around $22,000 while the sister Sorento will run five to seven thousand more.

After a two year hiatus the Sportage re-appeared in 2005 with an all-new design that was much sportier with a splash of sophistication that was fairly well received. A longer wheelbase and wider stance helped aesthetically as did sleeker aerodynamics. Inside there is more room and it is more comfortable than the previous generation. The 2007 iteration received a couple of subtle design changes and the Electronic Stability Program was re-named Electronic Stability Control. Why, I have no idea.

Drive trains are a base 2.0 liter 140hp 4-Cylinder and a 2.7 liter 173hp V6 which is clearly the better choice as the 4-cylinder is a bit anemic. The V6 on the other hand was plenty spunky and mated to a 4 or 5-speed automatic transmission moves the Sportage off the line with gusto. It’s pretty easy to get in and out of and it’s surprisingly roomy inside with room for four adults, maybe five in a pinch.

The ergonomics are good and easily read and understood and a height-adjustable center console is pretty handy. In the back, there is a pretty significant amount of cargo space when the rear seats are folded and moved forward and even more-so when the front passenger seat is folded down.

Driving the Sportage is a bit mundane but it certainly serves its purpose and while fuel economy is average at best, somewhere in the 25-28mpg range, it does serve a purpose and you can get into three of the four trim packages for under $20,000 and that makes the Kia Sportage worth checking out.


If you like the size of the Sportage but want just a bit more élan, check out the Kia Sorento that was added in 2003 replacing the Sportage in the lineup. Available in an LX and EX trim package, the Sorento offers a higher level of standard features that include A/C, front, rear and side airbags and a potent 3.5 liter engine that puts out 262 horsepower.

The 2007 Sorento also comes with a revised suspension and updates inside and out that give the little SUV a pretty nifty look. The headlights and taillights have been redesigned as have the front and rear fascias and quite frankly I’m amazed at how sharp the Sorento looks compared to its baby sister Sportage.

You can now choose the sunroof as a stand-alone option and 16-inch alloy wheels are available for the EX with 17-inchers being available on the LX. Inside rear legroom has been improved and up front the center console has been redesigned and has metal and wood trims that give an elegant look to the interior. There is an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system that sports 10 speakers which is actually pretty nice.

Under the hood of the 2007 Sorento is an all-new 3.8 liter aluminum V6 engine pushing out 262 horsepower with a towing capability of 5,000 lbs. Standard safety equipment includes a driver knee airbag, dual front advanced 2-stage airbags ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control System and tire-pressure-monitoring system. Other additions include unique and exclusive black interior cloth or leather on LX Sport Package, a trip computer on EX and dual-zoned auto air conditioning for luxury package on EX.

I really enjoyed driving the Sorento and sad as it is to say, I need form as well as function so along with more horsepower, the upgraded styling cues and creature comforts in the Sorento would make this the move likely choice for me. As I said, basing at $19,995 it will run five grand more than the Sportage so the choice is up to you.

All in all this is a very nice trio from Kia and it’s clear to see that they are ready to play with the big kids. The warranty clearly shows they’re willing to stand behind their cars so if you’re in the market for an inexpensive SUV that could be a crossover with its car-like ride, check out the Sorento and I’m betting you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

General Motors introduces the 2008 CTS Sport-Sedan by Cadillac



General Motors Western Region Manager Susan Docherty, and Lund Cadillac Let Two for the Road USA take it for a spin.
When we had GM’s Manager of the Western Region Susan Docherty on our radio show recently, she was so enthusiastic about the 2008 iteration of the CTS that we decided to ask our friends at Lund Cadillac in Phoenix if we could take one out for a spin to see what all the excitement was all about.
Bill Says:
I have to say that the CTS has always been a bit of an enigma to me because at first blush I really liked the car, but there was something that didn’t quite sit right we me and I really couldn’t put my finger on it, until now. The design changes while subtle have a serious impact aesthetically. The car seems to have, for lack of a better word, bulked up and now sports a much more aggressive stance with bulging, muscular fender flares made possible by a 62-inch wide track, the widest in its class, giving the CTS a much lower more assertive stance.

The previous model seemed not only taller, but narrower, and that was what had been nagging at me. This car has stunning lines that flow beautifully back to the short rear deck-lid that give the CTS a beautiful profile and its fully functional chrome air inlets on the front fender’s let you know in no uncertain terms, that this is a serious performer.

Unfortunately the CTS-V performance car won’t be available for quite some time but when I got behind the wheel of our loaner and settled into the beautiful interior, I was really surprised at the response to my right foot. The surprise was due to the response from all-new, 3.6 liter Direct Injection V6 with Variable Valve Timing engine that propels the CTS from 0-60 in under 6 seconds. That’s the type of performance that will get anyone’s attention and it certainly got mine. Mated to a new 6-speed Hydra-Matic transmission, the shifts in CTS are seamless yet crisp and if you so desire, you can use Driver Shift Control mode for smooth clutchless.

There is an awful lot to talk about with the new CTS but I’m going to have to wait until we have one in the press fleet rotation to really get into what this car is all about. Suffice it to say, if you’re looking for a really nifty sports-sedan, the 2008 CTS has taken a quantum leap and I for one am very impressed with it, and I’m betting you will be too.

The base price on the car is just over $32,000 but with the performance package and other options, the one we drove came in just over $42,000. However, for what you get, there’s no doubt that Cadillac has kicked it up a notch with this car, and it will be very interesting to see how it impacts the Infiniti M-series, the BMW 5-series and the C-Class. I’m betting that I’m not the only one that will be surprised by the 2008 Cadillac CTS.


Cathy Says:
The new 2008 CTS is a beautiful, sporty sedan that has enough sex appeal for both a man and women to agree on the purchase. I personally would choose a black exterior and light beige interior for my signature CTS, despite the upkeep. I am glad to see the faux-mini-spoiler on the 2007 is missing off the new ’08.

The cabin of the redesigned Cadillac is significantly improved over its predecessor. It now has a come-hither-look and feel about it that gently welcomes your derriere into the soft leather seats. The materials used inside are high in quality and the detail of wood and alloy remind you of some of the top luxury imports that begin with the letter “L”.



There’s a new telescoping steering column, giving the driver quite a bit of belly room, along with a thinner front seatback; allowing the rear passengers more leg room. The navigation system (which is optional) has a unique leather over-hang, like the large brim of a baseball cap. It might be there for show or to cut any glare that might cause difficulty in viewing.

The CTS is complete with a 40GB hard drive along with the premium Bose surround sound audio system. It has all the up to date hookups for iPod interface and other technology toys I know nothing about. For instance you can set your AM/FM and satellite radio to be rewound, paused and resumed in a TiVo-like manner. Great! I can’t figure out how to do in on my TV, but leave it to Cadillac to have it in the CTS.

It’s not all about the interior look; I did get to drive the powerful sport sedan once I forced Bill out of the driver’s seat. Besides the quick start at the lights and hugging the corners, I found it doing a sort of quick step up a desert hill. I felt like goldilocks in the three bear’s story; sitting in all three chairs till finally she sat in the one that was “just right.” I felt at home, I could locate the controls easily and the icons were a good size. I was impressed with how the A/C chilled the cabin immediately and including vents that were positioned perfectly.

Even if you were to purchase an entry level CTS, you would have more than you expected and for under $33,000. Cadillac has created a luxury sport sedan both inside and out. This baby lives up to its Cadillac heritage.

It was plain to see that the CTS had female influence; so hats off to Susan Docherty of General Motors, who I’m sure had some input.

For more reviews visit http://www.twofortheroadusa.com/.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

YouTube - Off road with the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser

Cathy and I have been test-driving for the manufacturers for nearly 15 years and reporting on them on radio, in print as well as videos. We have the opportunity to travel and get first looks and drives for new product to report on.

So, when Toyota invited us to Big Sky Montana, we were excited about the opportunity we had to spend some serious off-road time in the brand new
2008 Toyota Land Cruiser.

I was amazed at the capabilities offered by this very cool SUV. Check out this video and let us know
what you think.
YouTube - Off road with the 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser

Sunday, September 23, 2007

MARIO ANDRETTI ON TWO FOR THE ROAD RADIO SHOW

Thursday, October 13th 2007
KKNT 960AM Phoenix, Arizona
Autograph Signing at Community Tire
October l7-18 2007

TWO FOR THE ROAD USA

PHOENIX AUTOMOTIVE JOURNALISTS CAN HELP YOU CAPTURE THE BOOMER MARKET

See why Manufacturers and Dealers are looking to these two
automotive journalists to seduce their over 50 market.

Go to, http://www.ebroadcastmedia.com/ for sample video.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Chrysler Visits Phoenix Automotive Press Association



September l8, 2007 – Hermosa Inn – Scottsdale, AZ. Cathy D's take on the all new Jeep Liberty.

Scott Brown, from Chrysler Corporation of the Southwest region, invited 15 top Phoenix press writers to preview three new products from Chrysler. The Town and Country Mini Van ( a movie theater on wheels without a popcorn maker), Dodge Dakota Truck (for the day to day truck lover and urban cowboy) and the 2008 Jeep Liberty (giving a whole new meaning to topless). All three models have some distinct changes in power, appearance and technology, but I was most excited about the 2008 Jeep Liberty.
Over the years my family has had two Jeep Wranglers and two Jeep Cherokees; none of which had any female input for the purchase. We’re not big off road people but before SUV’s became as common as reality shows, it gave me an elevated feeling in traffic and the men in my family felt rugged, cool and able to relate to a scene from the TV show MASH.
The 3.7 liter V-6 (210 horsepower/237 lb-ft torque) hasn’t changed along with its two transmissions but the rest is new and exciting and priced well. Jeep Liberty, no longer Jeep’s entry level model, has a longer wheelbase, width and overall length. It has kind of a Jeep Commander looking style with a little Wrangler-ness butt; less the rear-mounted spare tire on the outside of the cargo door. The spare now stores under the load floor where I would have liked it from the get go.
Okay, here is the cool part… the cloth, roman shade look roof (Sky Slider) opens from front to rear to give that open road look one might imagine on a safari. Chrysler has constructed this jeep continue to appeal to jeep lovers and then added some extras like stain resistant seats, center-stack infotainment, navigation system with MP3 capabilities, touch screen 20 gig hard drive and all the other technology that consumers want in a vehicle along with an off-road experience they can journal.
It is easy to see how you would take this one off road in the mountains or around town for food shopping or transporting kids. I think Chrysler/Jeep has taken the best of all their Jeep models, added a totally open roof, and priced it to make affordable for a younger buyer. The 2008 Jeep Liberty starts at $20,990 for the 4X2 and goes upward from there. The Sky Slider is an optional $1,200.00 but makes the new model attention-grabbing and makes star gazing possible without getting out of your vehicle.

Is Jeep thinking outside the box or did they just make the ’08 jeep look like a box?

In photo
Chrysler VP Steve Bartoli, Mark Kudla/Dodge Dakota, Kim Adams House/Jeep Liberty Bill Zervakos and Cathy Droz, Two for the Road USA in front of the New 2008 Jeep Liberty.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Size really does Matter!!

Okay, this isn’t going to be as titillating as you may have thought the subject matter was, but the truth is, there’s been a lot of ink lately about the Insurance Institute’s recent announcement that there are more traffic fatalities when a small car is involved in an accident than there are when large cars or SUV’s are. Now if that isn’t a case of stating the obvious I don’t know what is. The statistics I’ve seen show a ratio of about two to one between SUV’s and cars, and to that end, here are some thoughts I have about that.

My wife and I have always been fans of roadsters and over the last 30 odd years we’ve always owned a small two-seater of one kind of another. We’ve been asked countless times about driving a small car and the dangers we face because of the overabundance of huge SUV’s on the highway today.

Both of us are what I call aggressive defensive drivers, and by that I mean, if at all possible we do not stay behind vehicles we can’t see around, and we never stay in anyone’s blind spot and more importantly, because we drive cars that have a degree of performance, we have the ability to move quickly to avoid dangers on the road. I have to add that there is not any statistical data that I’m aware of the validates my claim of maneuverability keeping smaller cars out of harms way, but non-the-less, I know that I feel better about my odds of staying out of trouble with the quickness and agility of smaller cars.

Okay all that said it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that the law of physics is immutable and therefore cannot be denied. So clearly we understand that if there is a collision between a 6000 pound Hummer and my wife’s Z4, the BMW will lose. Yes, smaller cars are indeed more dangerous but my question is, how big is big enough?

A Taurus will likely be safer than a Honda Civic in a collision, as will a Crown Victoria in a collision with the same Taurus, and the same goes for a GMC Denali if it collides with the Crown Vic and on and on. So, it begs the question. How big is big enough? Life is full of risks so what are the issues to take into consideration to help abate this ever growing problem caused by consumers wanting to drive smaller more fuel efficient cars.

The issue is that small cars are here to stay now, and with the Smart car coming to America, there will be even more deaths because no matter how well a vehicle meets safety standards, the aforementioned law of physics holds sway. I recently read that GM is cutting production at six plants that build pickups and SUV’s because of falling sales so it will be interesting to see how the balance of size shifts over the next few years.

The absolute truth of the matter is that each of us is responsible for how safely or unsafely we drive. Unfortunately people in big cars and SUV’s sometimes appear to throw their weight around which causes problems, and sometimes people in smaller cars try to squeeze in where there simply isn’t room because they think they can. We all have to remember that size does in fact matter when it comes to our vehicles.

Your thoughts? visit http://www.twofortheroadusa.com and let us know.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

How many people will have to die???

I find it hard to believe that less then a month after hearing about the five young girls killed in New York because the driver was texting while driving, we hear about two more people killed here in Phoenix because allegedly a young lady was texting while driving. Even more disheartening is the fact that we just dedicated an entire radio show to the problem of driving while texting.

Now I know that everyone doesn't listen to the show, but I'm sure you get my drift. There simply isn't enough outcry about this ever growing problem. Clearly it's always a tragedy when anyone dies in a car accident, but when someone dies because another driver was texting is virtually criminal.

It begs the age old question of whether or not there should be stronger limits on teenage driving because of the distractions presented to them with today's hi-tech information systems in cars, as well as the multi-tasking that teens seem to need to do. I have to be quick to point out that I am well aware of the fact that many adults use their blackberry's while driving, dial phone numbers and so on. But the truth is, teens are much more likely to have a problem with it than more experienced drivers.

Another part of the equation is how docile cars are today. I'm sure there are quite of few of us old enough to remember when steering components were linked together by rods and bushings that wore out, making it necessary to move the steering wheel all the time to keep the car in our lane. Today's cars are so well built that they appear to be able to drive themselves and in fact, some almost do. Key word being "almost." Maybe if all vehicles were required to have a lane departure warning system like some high end cars do, who know, maybe the seven people now dead would in fact still be with us.

So, the question is, who is accountable, and what can each of us do to make driving on today's very crowded highways, with vehicles traveling at a pretty high rate speed, safer. I know that I worked with my sons for two to three years teaching them "about" driving as well as driving. I know there are no guarantees, but there has to be a way to cut down on the senseless tragedy of people dieing because someone can't wait to text a friend instead of calling, which in and of itself is dangerous.

Let us hear from you. You can reach us at http://www.twofortheroadusa.com/

Thursday, August 9, 2007

News and Notes from Two for the Road USA

With Cerberus Capitol Management as the new owner of Chrysler, one of the first things they did was bring back the Pentastar logo originally created in 1962 when Chrysler Corporation President Lynn Townsend decided the company needed a new symbol to represent all of the corporation’s brands. Townsend wanted a symbol with a strong, classic look that would be instantly recognizable, but was universal—without written words, so apparently Cerberus feels the logo will hearken back to the heyday of Chrysler while ironically referring to the company as “The New Chrysler.” The name change will take effect on October 4th.

Clearly it will take a lot more than a name change to reverse the $680 million dollar losses in 2006 and more than $2 billion in losses in the first quarter of 2007. The future of vehicles built on Mercedes platforms like the 300 and Crossfire will have a lot to do with the turn around, as will new product development. But perhaps the most interesting thing will be to see what having private ownership of a major manufacturer for the first time in half a century will bring to the market.

It’s interesting to know that in Greek mythology, Cerberus is the three-headed dog that guarded the gates of Hades, so I suppose one can infer a lot from that, or maybe nothing. The question is how well Cerberus will guard the gates of Chrysler now that they have control.




From Toyota comes news of a three-pronged sales strategy focusing on attracting young people to the brand, stressing green technology and trying to make the buying process more pleasant. That seems to exemplify the Toyota mantra of their “customer first” philosophy and the never ending pursuit of leading the market by listening to consumers.

Another area that Toyota is working on is making available in their vehicles the technology that the younger demographic is so enamored with. With products like the Scion xB, which offers customers myriad levels of accessorizing their vehicles, Toyota has taken a giant step towards garnering more that their fair share of the 2.3 billion dollar 35 year old and under market. The also realize that this demographic has very little patience to sit around a showroom for 3 to 5 hours to buy a car, and they certainly want the experience to be fun rather than stressful.

Having spent a lot of time with Toyota testing and evaluating their vehicles, I was, if not surprised, interested in a comment from Toyota Executive who was the moving force behind the development of the Scion brand Jim Lentz saying, “it’s time to change our image from an industry that drags its feet to one that runs on innovation.”

I’ve always seen Toyota as a leader in the industry, and with a philosophy like that, maybe that’s why and something the American Manufacturers can learn from.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

News from Chevrolet

What’s coming up for Chevrolet as far as new product goes? Well for starters there is talk about restyling the Malibu for 2008 which finally shows some styling elan. While the new iteration is a very nifty looking car, for me, I can't help but think back to the days when the Malibu morphed into the ultra cool Chevelle line that brought us the likes of the 396 and 454 cubic inch rat motors in the Super Sport Chevelles of the 60’s and very early ‘70’s. While it would be nice to see something like that happen again, I'm not sure I’ll hold my breath on that ever happening again but who knows.

Clearly the big news for Chevy is what I hope will be a 2008 debut of the all new Camaro. Lines are forming as we speak for this renaissance of an icon that has been missing far to long. While Ford owners as well as Ford may not be quaking in their garages, you know they’re fully aware that with this new iteration of the F-Body, and Dodge’s Challenger coming back, the pony car wars will be on full force. For those of us fortunate enough to have been there at the beginning, it can’t happen soon enough.

Other plans for the lineup sometime in ’09 include refreshing the HHR and the Colorado, a new mid-size CUV will be debuted, and an even more potent Corvette will happen. While Pontiac and Buick are in a way trying to reinvent themselves, Chevrolet is not a brand that has that problem. GM is just trying to make their lineup even better. To that end some future improvements, beyond what I’ve already mentioned will include a rear-wheel-drive Impala which I truly hope happens, and a microcar that was introduced at the New York auto show in April, in a 3 and 5 door configuration.

The car is even smaller than the new Mini Cooper and the Aveo, which is the smallest car Chevy offers to date. There have been questions as to whether or not the car would sell in the U.S.
but to my way of thinking, with the Smart Car making such a splash, the Microcar may just work. Don’t expect it before 2010 or 2011 though.

Clearly aimed at the youth market, the models feature very interesting color schemes which to me clearly define not only the demographic but also the psychographic of the target buyer. ‘There is some concern in the upper echelons of the industry that hip young people have no aesthetic sense but when I think back to my youth, what we did with our cars could certainly beg the same question.


Unique color choices range from an electric green for the Beat to a blaze orange for the Trax, and the most understated of the bunch is the dark purple that’s on the Groove. And how about those names, Cath and I keep threatening to do a show devoted to names of cars past and present one of these days.

Truth is though, with the ecology and economy growing ever more important in our lives, this little trio may jump start the American manufacturer’s development of small fuel efficient yet fun cars. All I can tell you is that after spending a full day on an Arizona road trip driving the tiny Smart Car for an article we did in AZ3Sixty’s magazine recently, I found the Smart Car more than capable and not uncomfortable at all. Except for the times an 18-wheeler blazed by us on the highway making us feel very small indeed.

Only time will tell whether or not we’ll embrace the “little” fuel efficient cars. I for one hope we do, at least for buzzing around town in. It would save a lot of money and actually, they're kinda fun to drive.

More info at, http://www.twofortheroadusa.com

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Life's too short, just drive.

I’ve heard variations of that philosophy before of course, but never those exact words, and when I saw them for the first time, what followed blew me away. Part of what I read was; “maybe you’ve imagined yourself behind the wheel of a true Supercar like the Mercedes SLR McLaren.” Now in my opinion, any car aficionado to not have lusted for driving a McLaren, well then he or she wouldn’t be a true car nut. The phrase however, belongs to a group of people that put on the

World Class Driving event that began in Europe a few years ago, came to the States in 2006 when over 1500 people had the extreme pleasure of driving some of the most fantastic cars ever produced. Today, World Class Driving travels all over the world allowing a select few individuals to drive some of these incredible machines. Rod and I had the opportunity on a beautiful day in May to go to Sedona Arizona and spent some 150 miles worth of seat time in six of the most stunning cars I’ve ever had the privilege to drop my derriere in.
Imagine if you will, 12 hours of Sebring racer and one of the premier Ferrari drivers of all time, Didier Theys, handing you the keys to a beautiful yellow $170,000 Ferrari F430, then leading you out to cruise the streets and highways in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. How cool is that? To verbalize the exhilaration one feels when flicking through the gears with the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, while listening to one of the most thrilling exhaust notes around coming from the 490 horsepower V8 sitting directly behind you, is virtually impossible.

Now try and imagine how you’d feel if Didier then tossed the keys to a black Porsche GT-3 and said follow me. I don’t know about you but Rod and I were both thinking that it was a bit of a let down after the F430, but I have to admit, it didn’t talk long to appreciate the racing heritage in the Porsche. Very different cars for sure but the GT-3 was certainly a blast to drive.
That was followed by a spin in the Ford GT which, truth be told, was a very surprising car. This is pure American muscle at its best. While the Italian and German cars are high rpm cars, the Ford GT is a brute at 500 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of pavement blistering muscle. This car screams from 0-60 in a breathtaking 3.4 seconds, and while following the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, and listening to the magnificent exhaust singing while downshifting, it was interesting to see just how easy it was to stay with the Gallardo without having to downshift the GT. Simply tickle the throttle and the monstrous 500 lb-ft of torque comes to life and moves the Ford with very little effort.
Okay, now we jump out of the GT and get to slip into the sweet sounding lime green Lambo and I must tell you, it simply doesn’t get much better then cruising in Sedona Arizona in May, in a Gallardo Spyder. The exhaust was echoing off the canyon walls begging you to downshift just to listen to the exhaust note. So I did. This car without a doubt has the sweetest albeit most raucous exhaust sound you’ll ever hear and I’m here to tell you, this 500 horsepower car is fast, agile and incredibly fun to drive.


The fastest and most race-like car there was the Noble M400. Noble rolling chassis' are shipped from the manufacturing facility in Port Elizabeth, South Africa without the engine or transmission. The Noble® M400 is sold in limited quantities as a component rolling chassis only. The units come factory assembled, painted, upholstered, with full instrumentation and brakes systems, along with suspension, exhaust wheels and tires. The engine and transaxle has to be installed by the buyer or under the buyer's supervision by an independent contractor. The car computer is mapped to 425 horsepower, and with the ratio of pony power to weight, this car performs with the best in the world, and actually better then most but as Rod said, in reality, this is pretty much a street legal race car.

And then there was the Mercedes SLR McLaren. Almost 620 horsepower and a mind numbing 595 lb-ft of torque moves this huge Supercar down the highway in the blink of an eye. At almost $500,000.00, this is the only car that we had to have a co-pilot with, and truth be told, I simply didn’t care. Make no mistake; this is not a plush cruiser. This is a serious performer with seats that wrap around you giving you the impression of being in the cockpit of a very luxurious race car, and in truth, that’s not a bad analogy. While the Ferrari and Lamborghini are undoubtedly exotics, and the Ford GT is all about muscle with the Noble being all about racing, the SLR McLaren is about everything. Stunning styling, one of the most iniquitous stances you’ll ever see on a car, an interior that’s second to none and performance that is intimidating to everyone else on the road, and in truth, it can be just a bit intimidating behind the wheel. When I had the opportunity, and permission, to “get on it” just a bit, I was dumbfounded at how seamless this car was as we shot from 60 to…. Well, let’s just say I had to back off without even coming close to taxing this very potent engine.

There is a lot more to come on the website in the near future as Rod and I write more, and share some video with you about the incredible day we had with World Class Driving. You must go to their website; www.wcdriving.com and find out where they’ll be next, and if there is anyway you can do it, well as Nike says, just do it, or more importantly, as Jean-Paul Libert and his crew say, “life is to short: just drive.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Is the interactive technology race in cars going too far?

We just did a radio show about the dangers of driving while texting, after hearing about five teenage girls that were killed because phone records show the driver was texting moments before the crash. We also talked about the fact that in this hi-tech world the problem is hardly limited to youngsters, who generally are much more savvy then boomers when it comes to this kind of technology. We also know that way too many of us are guilty of being distracted while driving whether it's a cell phone, blackberry or even the vehicle itself.


The question is how much of a good thing is too much? It certainly can be said that the technical advances in vehicles today are for the most part a good thing and I must admit for the most part that I am a fan, safety and navigation systems are two prime examples. It's important to point out however, that most Nav systems have a fail safe where no input can happen when the vehicle is in motion. However, with the tremendous demand by consumers for more sophisticated systems, I'm wondering if the manufacturers need to start thinking about just how dangerous technology can be.



Because vehicles are so easy to drive today, they're quieter and so solid on the road that there is a false sense of security for people behind the wheel. That quality lends itself to driving at a much higher rate of speed then in the past when you could actually feel the speed of the car. Also, there is more traffic on the roads and trying to stay a safe distance from the car in front of you is virtually impossible on today's roads.


Now add the fact that most ergonomic controls are to the right of the driver and so complicated that it necessitates taking one's eyes of the road to use, you begin to understand just how dangerous our highways are becoming. Having had the privilege over the last 13 years to drive and review vehicles for the manufacturers, my partner and I have driven the BMW7 Series with its 700 plus idrive system, the Audi's with a similar system that is so complicated that one needs to take a class to learn how to use the system. But this problem is not limited to hi-end luxury models. The most basic cars today have at the least a very sophisticated sound system that even with controls in the steering wheel, changing out CD's, or plugging in an mp3 system can be very distracting.


The dichotomy is that the wireless and interactive technology market is worth some $3.5 billion dollars today and that number is expected to grow to over $15 billion by 2015. That's a pretty big piece of pie for manufacturers, so once again the question is, how much it too much? Should controls be installed that render some of the technology inoperative while the vehicle is in motion or should drivers be left to monitor themselves? I'm not sure I know the answer to that but I'd love to hear your thoughts and maybe even have you address them on our radio show.


For more information or to contact us, visit http://www.twofortheroadusa.com/

Friday, July 27, 2007

Whether or not you own a business, you are an employer!

I’ve been in and around the automotive industry pretty much all my life and openly admit to being a certifiable car nut. As a kid, I worked in my dad’s body shop pulling parts off wrecked cars. Later in life I worked for a dealership selling new and used cars and even further down the road I worked as a service advisor before venturing off into the broadcast industry. In 1994, I had an opportunity to buy an independent repair center which I thought would be a great way to exploit my love of cars for my sons and me. But I learned very quickly that there was a whole lot more to owning a repair facility than just a love for cars and the desire to help people.

To say it was an eye opening and interesting experience would be a colossal understatement. The biggest surprise to me was how vulnerable most people are when taking their vehicles in for service and repairs. I had people run in, throw the keys at me while describing a squeak or a squeal, or try and tell me the thingamajig was making noise and so on, not realizing their vulnerability because there just wasn’t enough information to direct a technician to the problem. What that allowed was the likelihood of having to spend more money on diagnostic time, which would run up the bill in a hurry.

After a few years, I decided that there were better ways to enjoy cars then working on them, so I got back into test driving and reviewing for the manufacturers and doing our radio show and it’s safe to say, that I’m much better suited to that. There are a couple of things I learned though, that I know will help ensure that you’ll get the best care possible for your vehicle. Here’s an issue I consider to be the most frequently overlooked.

The single most important thing you must do is understand that you are, in actuality, hiring someone to work for you. Think about that for a moment. I’m pretty sure that if you were going to remodel your home, you’d talk to several contractors, check their credentials, ask to see some of their work and perhaps talk to some of their customers. Even if you don’t own a business and hire people, I’m pretty sure at one time or other you have hired someone to do something for you. It amazes me that people don’t seem to grasp that a vehicle is probably the second most expensive thing we own. Why in the world wouldn’t we do everything in our power to treat it as such?

If you’re one of the fortunate ones that has used a repair facility for a lengthy period of time, and established a professional relationship with the people there, good for you. If not, then before you need work done, do some research on shops in your area. Talk with friends and neighbors and ask who they use and how long they’ve used them. When you’ve found a couple of places that sound good, then it’s time to call and make an appointment with the owner or manager. Explain that you would like to visit with them, and tell them why. I can promise you one thing: the shops that are committed to taking care of their clients will welcome the idea.

When you get to the facility, first impressions are critical. How clean is the waiting room and the shop area? More importantly, are the restrooms clean? Trust your instincts and your first impression. Sometimes pulling into the parking lot may be enough to eliminate a shop. Yes, it is a lot of work, but your time will save you money and afford you peace of mind. You have a pretty healthy investment in your vehicle, so do the legwork. It’ll pay dividends in the long run.

More info on Cathy and Bill at, http://www.ebroadcastmedia.com

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

What's in a Name?

I know you've heard the old axiom what's in a name many times, and in most cases the answer is not much. Ford on the other hand, is hoping there's a lot in the name Taurus, as my partner and I found out when we were invited to a press conference and test drive of the car that will be replacing the not so successful Ford Five Hundred Sedan.

Like a lot of the other writers at the meeting in Carefree, I was curious as to what exactly Ford had done along with the name change to set the Taurus apart from the Five Hundred. To begin with they upped the horsepower from 200 to 260 with a new 3.5 liter V6 which was a big step in the right direction. The Five Hundred in essence was Ford's version of the S80 but unfortunately it was basically just a boring car that created no driving pleasure at all.

Not so with the new Taurus. Styling cues while somewhat minor, have a major impact on you from the get go. Clearly wanting to capitalize on the success of the Fusion, the grille and tail lights as well as the side vents enhance the Taurus' aesthetics enough to make the car pretty good looking, especially the view over the hood from the drivers seat.

What really sets the new Taurus apart from the Five Hundred goes deeper though. Ford's manager of vehicle dynamics John Heider, told us that the suspension and chassis has been tuned to suppress noise, vibration and harshness or NVH as techy's like to say. A run up through Payson and back to Carefree validated his claim. We started out in the Five Hundred before switching to the Taurus, and the difference was certainly noticeable, with special consideration given to steering and maneuverability making a dramatic change in driving dynamics. The Taurus is a much more fun car to drive.
More fun yes, but Hieder was quick to point out that the Taurus is not a sports sedan by any stretch of the imagination. What it is though is a very solid family sedan that has very nice interior appointments with enough luxury to feel good about driving it. And speaking of driving it, the Taurus is a rear-wheel-drive car but the test vehicles were the optional all-wheel-drive which felt very solid on the twisting and winding roads we drove.

While Ford touts the styling and driveability of the new Taurus, which is all good stuff, the big thing they're emphasizing is the five-star safety rating from NHTSA, in four categories or front and side impacts. Ford crash safety engineer Rob Randolph said that even more prestigious was that Taurus has also earned Top Safety Pick honors from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Something that only 10 vehicles have achieved, allowing Randolph to say with justified pride, that "Taurus has been rated the safest full-size car in the United States."

Introduced in 1985 the Taurus was wildly successful for over a decade before questionable styling and serious competition took it's toll on sales. Why Ford didn't just do a face lift on the Taurus is beyond me because the Five Hundred was just too bland to make a dent in the "I'm okay with bland" crowd that the Crown Vic and Buick pretty much own.

So what's in a name? As far as Ford's all-new Taurus is concerned, only time will tell. But what do you think? Is there more to a name than meets the eye?

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Chevy Volt, Hype or Hyperbole


According to a U.S. Department of Transportation report I read 0n GM's Chevrolet website, seventy-eight percent of commuters drive 40 miles or less back and forth to work.
What the General is trying to do is offer the Volt as an opportunity to save gasoline and money with the use of electricity, E85 and biodiesel along with gasoline fuels.
As you can see in pictures of the prototype, the Chevy Volt is one sexy little car, and Chevrolet is introducing it as a new kind of electric vehicle called, Concept Chevy Volt. What sets the Volt apart from previous electric vehicles, is its innovative rechargeable electric drive system, and range, and extended power source. It can be configured to run on electricity, gasoline, E85 or biodiesel. So, according to the information on the General Motors website, you have at least a couple of options for the most efficient drive possible all due to GM’s innovative E-Flex Propulsion System.
All that sounds wonderful but the question remains, will the Volt in actuality be built? In conversations that we had with GM Vice President Bob Lutz in Phoenix in may of this year, the answer is an emphatic yes. General Motors is very excited about the possibilities that the technology in the Volt offers albeit there is still the ubiquitous problem of battery technology that seems to be lagging.
Because Cathy and I test drive for the manufacturer we are often questioned about the development of alternative fuel technologies and what our thoughts are. I am a fan of hybrid technology today because I feel something is better than nothing. That said, I have to be quick to point out that the cost involved in aquisition of a hybrid vehicle most likely will not be recouped as quickly as the consumer may think, but it is a green car and does in a small way help.
The question of the day is, do you believe that the hype around the Volt is the real deal, or is it just more hyperbole from Detroit?

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Are teenage drivers more at risk and more dangerous than ever before?

Are teenage drivers more at risk and more dangerous to other drivers than ever?
by Bill Z, from Two for the Road USA radio show.
www.tftrusa.com

We all know that teenagers are some of the most dangerous, and at risk drivers on the road, and in an effort to combat those dangers, a Senate Panel in Arizona approved a 6 month curfew and passenger restrictions. Teen drivers would have restrictions on when they could drive and how many passengers they could carry under a bill that won easy passage in its first outing in the Arizona State Senate. Instead of giving teens carte blanche when they get their driver's license, they would face an overnight curfew on driving. According to an article in the Arizona Republic by Mary Jo Pitzl, they would also be limited to one passenger under the age of 18, unless those passengers are brothers or sisters. The Teenage Driver Safety Act has drawn strong support from police and safety groups, who note that Arizona is one of only five states without a "graduated" driver's license for teens.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Barbara Leff, R-Paradise Valley, said the bill is designed to cut down on potentially dangerous distractions that come with a car loaded with teens. Dale Norris, executive director of the Arizona Police Association was quoted as saying, “It makes sense to give the least-experienced drivers a phased-in process for gaining road experience.”

As you would expect, most teenagers are not thrilled with these restrictions, but if you, like I, have seen some of the video of teenagers driving as shown on TV newsmagazines, you know that it’s important to somehow help youngsters gain the maturity and experience needed to drive on today’s highways.
According to Cydney DeModica, Arizona Motor Vehicle Division spokeswoman who is a frequent guest on our radio show, "the real key is to get as much driving experience under a teen's belt as possible before they are turned loose on the roadway with other drivers."
It’s my belief that the combination of less mature teens with access to much more powerful and well built, much easier to drive vehicles that give a false sense of security, are major contributors to the problem.

Let us know what you think, go to; http://www.twofortheroadusa.com/