2010 Nissan 370Z Touring

Bill Zervakos and Cathy Droz

Two for the Road USA

The Nissan 370Z’s heritage dates all the way back into the ‘30’s although in truth the Z-car stems from a long line of two seat roadsters dating back to the 1960’s Datsun Fairlady roadster. That car evolved into the Datsun 2000 and in 1970 the wildly popular 240Z was born as a coupe. The Z-car morphed through several iterations that kept the same basic style all the way through into the 1980’s until the 300ZX was introduced in 1990. The 300ZX iteration didn’t remain extraordinarily popular and the last one rolled of the line in 1996. However, after a 7 year hiatus the 350Z debuted in 2003 with the Roadster joining the lineup in 2004.

For 2010 370Z Coupe maintains most of the design cues that were updated in 2009 while the 2010 Roadster receives some styling updates. The 370Z shares several mechanicals from the Infiniti G Coupe including the potent 332 horsepower CVTCS, or Continuously Variable Timing Control System V6, and some interior accoutrements. Some improvements include an enhanced navigation system, heated mirrors, and an in-cabin microfilter.

Our test car was come-and-get-me red so it was a stunner, and yes, I managed to stay out of trouble. The lines -of the new Z-car are very sleek and muscular with hefty haunches that add to the aggressive stance. Once inside you know you’re in a sports car as the seats are deep and pretty comfortable. Touring models look even more high-class thanks to their leather upholstery and upgraded faux suede door inserts. The ergonomics are easy to figure out, but I have to admit that the seat controls being squished between my right thigh and the console leaves a little to be desired.

Driving the 370Z is definitely a thrill. The ride while taut is not overly harsh and if one thinks it is, the someone is probably looking at the wrong type of vehicle. The 332 horsepower engine though a bit noisy in a raucous sort of way, is responsive and responsive to the right foot. The car handles well and when zipping into turns and downshifting with the paddle shifter; the rev-matching downshifts make the car even easier to handle in tight corners. If you have to stop in a hurry, no worries with the available 4-piston front calipers haul the Z-car to a swift and secure stop in just over 100 feet from 60 miles per hour.

Bottom line, at a base price on the Coupe in the low $30,000 dollar range and the Touring starting at just over $36,000, the 370Z is still one of the best sports coupes for the money out there. It’s sexy looking relatively comfortable even for big boys. It performs very well, numbers range from 5.1 to 5.5 0-60 and does so while getting an EPA rating of 19/26 with a combined average of 21 mpg with the automatic transmission. If you haven’t driven a Nissan Z-car lately, maybe you should check out the 2010 370Z. I think you’ll like it as much as I did.

BOND DB5 MOVIE CAR GOES FOR £3 MILLION

LONDON (27 October, 2010) − The world famous James Bond 1964 Aston Martin DB5 movie car driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger andThunderball, and factory-fitted with the full complement of operational ‘Q-Branch’ gadgets, was sold at auction in London today by RM Auctions, in association with Sotheby’s, in front of a packed audience for *£2,912,000 ($4,608,500). “RM has just established the price of fame,” said Rob Myers, Chairman and Founder, RM Auctions. ”We had a fabulous time during the promotion of the sale of 007’s DB5 and we’re really pleased to have been able to assist with finding it a great new home.”

The successful bidder, Harry Yeaggy, an American business man, is only the second ex-factory owner of the Mr. Bond’s ride.  The car’s seller, Mr. Jerry Lee, an American radio broadcaster based in Philadelphia, PA, purchased it directly from the Aston Martin Lagonda factory for $12,000 in 1969.

“This is a car that I’ve always wanted, after all it is the most famous car in the world,” said Mr. Yeaggy about the purchase of the Bond DB5. “My plan is to display it in my private car museum in Ohio just as it is.”

Mr. Lee plans to use the proceeds from the sale to further the charitable work of The Jerry Lee Foundation, a multi-national initiative dedicated to solving social problems associated with poverty, with an emphasis on crime prevention. Of particular benefit will be the Jerry Lee Center of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania and the Jerry Lee Centre of Experimental Criminology at the University of Cambridge. (http://jerryleefoundation.com/)

“The James Bond car has brought me much enjoyment for some 40 years,” said Jerry Lee. “Even as I sell it and use the proceeds to fund the Jerry Lee Foundation, the car will continue to give me great pleasure as it furthers the mission of the Foundation to do good around the world.” In addition to acquiring the ‘most famous car in the world’, today’s winning bidder receives commemorative Dormeiul ‘Vanquish II’ fabric woven with solid gold thread from famous British tailoring house Gieves & Hawkes, who dressed Sean Connery with bespoke tailoring for all six of his appearances as James Bond. This certified fabric will be made into a handmade bespoke suit by the craftsmen at Gieves & Hawkes of No. 1 Savile Row, London for an estimated value of £30,000. What better sartorial statement could one make when driving or exhibiting this iconic automobile?

2011 Nissan Versa Hatchback SL

The Nissan Versa was introduced in 2006 as a 2007 model as Nissan’s entry level vehicle. The Versa comes as a 5-door hatchback or sedan and believe it or not, there is a method to the madness with the name Versa. It’s an amalgam of Versatile and Space….okay, I’ll buy it but none the less, the Versa is indeed roomy for such a small car although it is a bit tight behind the wheel for an “athletic build” like mine.

The 2010 Versa received a fair amount of upgrades so the 2011 model only offers a few minor changes. ABS is standard on the 1.8 S, Traction control and Nissan’s Vehicle Dynamic Control are standard on 1.8 SL models, and optional on 1.8 S models. However, they remain unavailable in both 1.6 models.

The 1.6 liter in the base sedan puts out 107 horsepower and the 1.8 liter in the S and SL puts out 122 horsepower which allows for mileage ratings between 25 and 34mpg. And of course economy and utilitarianism is what the Versa is all about. One very surprising factor for me is the plethora of transmissions.

There’s an optional 4-speed automatic available for the base and 1.8S models, however its standard on the 1.8SL and not available for the others. There’s a 5-speed manual overdrive available for the 1.6 Sedan and Base Sedan but not for anything else. Then there’s the 6-speed manual overdrive that’s standard only on the 1.8S and not available on any others and finally there’s the CVT, Continuously Variable Transmission that’s standard only on the 1.8SL Hatchback and on nothing else.

Inside is spartan and functional albeit a bit cramped for me, but there is plenty of room for four. Power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, and cruise control are standard on the 1.8 SL model, optional on the 1.8 S, and unavailable on the 1.6 models. The 1.8 SL also has an exclusive power moon roof option. The 1.8 SL model also includes a 5-inch touch-screen and subscription-based XM Satellite Radio as well as Bluetooth connectivity and volume controls on the steering wheel.

On the road you pretty much get what you’d expect from a vehicle like the Versa. It’s solid and although it actually rides a bit better than I’d expected, in my opinion it’s still strictly a grocery getter and not something I’d look forward to driving for any length of time.

Nissan has a history of building pretty solid, safe and reliable cars and the Versa fits right in. So if you’re looking for a decent run around car that’s decent on gas and dependable, keep the Versa on your short list. Backed by Nissan’s standard 36-month, 36,000-mile limited warranty, with price ranges from $9,900 to $17,650, the Nissan Versa could be just the value you’re looking for.

2010 Mazda Miata MX-5

It’s still the one to beat

For anyone that’s followed my reviews over the years knows that I have a special affinity for the Miata, the or MX-5 as Mazda likes to call it now. We’ve owned a few in our time and in truth the only reason we don’t have one now is due to the fact that the power hard top wasn’t available until 2007 and that change alone opened the floodgates to allow the best selling sports car in history to tap an even bigger market.

Introduced in 1989 the MX-5 remains basically unchanged after receiving significant updates for 2009 when Mazda added RX-8 style bold fender flares, a large grille, bigger wheels and tires and dual chrome exhaust pipes. The design changes did give the MX-5 a bit more aggressive look that will hopefully attract more male buyers.  

I've always been a roadster fan and loved the old classics like the MGB and TR-6’s etc but if you owned one of those vehicles, as I did, you knew you were going to spend a fair amount of time “tinkering” with your car. Not so with the Miata. You got all the fun, and exuberance of the classics without any of the hassle. No leaking tops, no electrical problems, no quirky carburetors, nothing. Get in start the car and hit the highway.

The car is simply stated, an absolute blast to drive and for all it’s simplicity, it’s pretty civilized. The test car came with an inline 167 horsepower 4-cylinder paired with a 6-speed manual transmission which made for a really fun driving experience. For those that don’t want to manually shift, a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters is available, but in truth, the only way to have this car is with the manual.

Steering is swift and sure, with great linear brake pedal action making handling very crisp, almost like that of a go-kart. And for a car with less than a 92 inch wheelbase the ride isn’t nearly as rough as one might expect. One minor annoyance is the 6-speed gearing. Fuel economy is decent at 22 and 28 but a taller sixth gear could improve on that significantly and since there’s only 140 lb-ft of torque, you have to downshift to expediently pass at 65, so I don’t understand why they didn’t make sixth a true over-drive gear.

This is a two-seater so there isn’t a lot of extra space in the cabin, and unfortunately the cupholders are positioned in such a way that a cup of coffee or soft drink can be in the way of the shifter. The very good news is that there are lots of places to store things and the trunk does have enough room for a full set of golf clubs but two sets could be difficult. Believe me though; it’s a minor problem though for the true enthusiast.

Bottom line, the MX-5 is still the king of the hill when it comes to serious two-seat fun. It’s inexpensive, prices start at just a under $23,000 for the base Sport and the top of the line Grand Touring PHRT, which is what our test car was, starts at just over $28,000, and with adds the tester came in at just under $33,000. It’s dependable and pretty economical and as I said, an unadulterated blast to drive. There are a couple of pretty nifty looking competitors out there but they don’t come close to unseating the Miata as the King of the Hill of fun roadsters.

So, if you’re looking for something that doesn’t cost a lot to buy and operate and is a boat load of fun, check out the new MX-5 by Mazda. I think you’ll like it a lot.

2011 Maxima SV Premium

4 Door Sports Car contender or pretender

The Maxima has been around since the 1981 model year and was originally a rear-wheel-drive car until the second generation when Nissan switched it to a front-wheel-drive car to the chagrin of many like me. I always found it interesting that Nissan tries to sell the Maxima as a 4-door sports car and while I don’t think it quite lives up to that label, low and behold, right there on the rear quarter glass of the my test car I saw, 4DSC. You got it, 4 door sports car. Well I kind of subscribe to the philosophy of knowing something when I see it and at first blush I have to admit the new Maxima has a pretty sporty look. More on how it drives later.

The Maxima is available as a base S model and the SV with both being powered by the 3.5 liter 290 horsepower V6 and mated to a Constantly Variable Transmission. Standard on the Maxima S are 18" aluminum-alloy wheels, power sliding moonroof, Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Ignition, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System, and Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control System.

The SV adds fog lights, outside mirrors with LED turn signal indicators, digital Bose® audio system with 9 speakers and 2 woofers, XM® Satellite Radio, leather-appointed seats, driver’s seat adjustable thigh support extension, and power lumbar support. The Sports Package adds sport-tuned suspension, 19" aluminum-alloy wheels with P245/40VR19 tires, rear spoiler, paddle shifters, High Intensity Discharge (HID) xenon headlights, dark chrome grille, smoked headlights and interior metallic-link trim.

My test car was the top of the line Premium which adds Dual Panel Moonroof with power retractable sunshades, rear-window power sunshade, premium mood lighting, 7.0" QVGA color display with RearView Camera Monitor, 2 GB Music Box® USB connectivity and eucalyptus wood-tone trim. Pricing range for the Maxima goes from 30,000 for the S, up to $36,760 for the Premium.

I took the Maxima on a quick run to California from Phoenix to catch my granddaughter’s softball tournament and I was very pleased with how comfortable the car was for 4 adults because according to my wife and daughter-in-law, the back seating area was plenty roomy for the two of them.

I’m not yet a big fan of the CVT, or constantly variable transmission and not sure I ever will be since I’m so used to playing with gears. Interestingly, the CVT has been around for over 100 years so it’s not new technology but heretofore materials weren’t durable enough for the big engines in cars. The main advantage is the simplicity of the CVT, you have a belt, some pulleys and microprocessors and that’s pretty much it. The downside is the weight. That said, I just don’t like the whining/moaning sounds that emanate from CVT’s.

Bottom line is, the new Maxima may not yet be a true 4-door sports car but it’s made huge gains in that direction. There’s a pretty stiff amount of competition when you get in the 36 to 37,000 dollar range, like the Lincoln MKZ, the Ford Taurus, the Volvo S60 and the Buick Lucerne to name a few. So do I think the Maxima lives up to the 4 Door Sports Car moniker, not quite, but if you haven’t been in one lately, put the Maxima on your list to check out. I was pleasantly surprised and I’m thinking you will be to.

2011 Lincoln MKT

Station Wagon or Crossover

Introduced in 2010, the MKT is Lincoln’s entry in the full-size luxury crossover segment offering three rows of seating and what Lincoln describes as the best possible blend of fuel economy, performance and technology. The MKT design features Lincoln’s signature split waterfall grille and I have to admit, I really don’t like the look at all. It just seems a bit overbearing to me and detracts from the overall look. That said the THX sound system is second to none.

The MKT is offered in either 6- or 7-passenger configurations, a second-row 60/40 split folding bench seat with heated outboard seating positions all standard. Optional power “fold and tumble” second-row bucket seats include heating, cooling and power lumbar adjustment and an available 5-quart refrigerator in the center console which all came in very handy for a weekend of grandkids soccer games. A fixed glass Panoramic Vista Roof with power-assisted front and rear sunshades is standard and a Power Panoramic Vista roof is optional.

What Lincoln does well with the MKT is offer a whole lot with the standard model. Some include wood inlays on the dashboard, door panels and the steering wheel. The also make the rear liftgate power and rain sensing wipers and heated rear seating. Obviously you get all the usual luxury features you’d expect from Lincoln like leather trim, power adjustable steering column, the Sync entertainment system and puddle lights.

Opt for the Premium Package and you get 12-way front power seats, rear footrests and rear-window sunshades, among other things. The Elite Package brings a voice-activated DVD navigation system with single DVD/CD/MP3 player, 10 gigabytes of music storage and SIRIUS Travel Link. The most fun part of testing the MKT was showing off Ford’s latest radar-guided blind-spot and parking lot warning aids which allows the MKT to park itself….yep, it literally parallel parks itself and quite easily at that.

The MKT is powered by and efficient albeit a bit underpowered 3.7 liter V6 that puts out 268 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque which unfortunately is a bit lackluster for this big a vehicle. That’s not the case with the very slick 3.5 liter dual turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine that pumps out 355 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque which adds a huge fun quotient to driving the MKT. The EcoBoost engine is so efficient that despite weighing in at almost 5000 pounds, the MKT gets 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

Bottom line, whether you call the Lincoln MKT a CUV or a new age station wagon isn’t important and doesn’t alter the fact that it is a very versatile vehicle. It’s a big and roomy, ergo comfortable, and with the EcoBoost engine, it’s plenty spunky. So if you’re looking for a multitasking vehicle, the Lincoln MKT may fit the bill. With base pricing starting just over $44,000 and the EcoBoost AWD iteration tickling $50,000 it isn’t cheap, but then again, it is a Lincoln.

TWO FOR THE ROAD TEST DRIVES HEAT

All-new Dodge Nitro model lineup gives more bang for your buck

The Dodge Nitro lineup has been revised and renamed for 2010, offering new exterior and interior styling and new standard features and safety equipment for 2010. These new models (Heat, Detonator and Shock) provide Nitro customers with more standard content, including a standard 4.0-liter V-6 engine, 20-inch aluminum wheels, eight premium speakers with a 368-watt amplifier and 9-inch subwoofer, deep-tinted glass, Uconnect Phone, iPod Control, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, speed control and security alarm.

In addition to the curb appeal gained from its 20-inch painted Mopar® aluminum wheels and body-color grille with bright billets, the 2010 Dodge Nitro Heat packs a punch with 23 percent more horsepower and 12 percent more torque than the previous entry-level model. With its aluminum 4.0-liter overhead cam V-6 engine, the Nitro Heat, and the entire Nitro lineup, delivers 260 horsepower (194 kW) and 265 lb.-ft. (359 N•m) of torque with a five-speed automatic transmission. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Heat is $23,995 (including $745 destination).

The Dodge Nitro Detonator offers new exterior design cues, as well as standard interior and safety features that were previously optional on the former SXT model. The new Dodge Detonator model features 20-inch Mopar polished/painted aluminum wheels, hood decal, eight speakers plus subwoofer, remote start, ParkSense® rear-park assist and color-keyed premium cloth interior that matches the exterior paint color. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Detonator is $25,995 (including $745 destination).

The Dodge Nitro Shock adds heated leather seats and a sun roof to the Nitro Detonator model. MSRP for the 2010 Dodge Nitro Shock is $26,995 (including $745 destination).

The new 2010 Dodge Nitro