2009 Mazda3 S 5-Door Grand Touring

Well with the entire world hearing about gas guzzlers, the timing couldn’t be much better for checking out this nifty little 5-door sport wagon. The Mazda3 styling is based off the MX-Sportif concept so while the little grocery getter is very practical it stays true to the zoom-zoom campaign that represents the promise of fun driving that Mazda touts.

The 2.3 liter engine produces 156 horsepower and mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, it’s perky enough to make the 3 feel sporty, albeit at higher rpm, which is not too big a deal for most. That said, aficionados will no doubt opt for the very potent MazdaSpeed3 which pumps out 263 turbo-charged horses that propel the car from 0-60 in a mere 5.4 seconds with a top speed in excess of 150mph.

Truth is though this car was designed to be functional with a sufficient amount of form to offer drivers economy, with just a bit of panache, and to that end the Mazda3 S delivers. With 17-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights and foglamps, side sill extensions, sport styled front and rear fascias and the obligatory rear hatch spoiler; this is a very sharp looking little car.

In the S trim you’ll find leather trimmed seating areas, tilt & telescoping steering wheel, 60/40 split fold-down rear seating, AM/FM/CD with controls in the steering wheel, cruise control and power windows standard. Heated front seats, electroluminescent gauges and a trip computer add a touch of luxury, okay; a very small touch, but nice none the less. Base price for the Mazda3 starts at just under $14,500 but with all the goodies on my tester, the price came to just a tad over $22,500 with shipping. Not bad but there are at least 15 models that compete with Mazda in this crowded segment of the market.

As far as driving the Mazda3 goes, I’m a pretty big boy and I have to say I was very comfortable in the driver’s seat and the car handled better then I expected in actuality. While the steering was quick the variable assist could get a bit heavy at times but overall it wasn’t a problem. The balance of the vehicle was surprisingly good despite the 60/40 weight distribution and the ride actually bordered on nimble.

All in all I have to say that overall I was very pleased with the Mazda3 S, but in the interest of full disclosure I have to acknowledge that I’ve been a Mazda fan for quite a while, having owned a Miata for about 12 years. But the truth is, they are very solid cars that, as I said before, do a better than average job of mixing form and function. So, if you’re looking for something that will deliver close to 30mpg on the highway and 22 around town, maybe you should take a ride in a Mazda3 S before making up your mind. I liked it a lot and I’m betting you will too.

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/.

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.

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

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?

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?