Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Toyota Calls Steve Wozniak Asks To Borrow Prius
One man has found his way around voicemail, zombie customer service reps and all that in his attempts to tell Toyota he has an unintended acceleration problem with his Prius.
Of course, it helps that his name is Steve Wozniak, that he co-founded Apple and that he called the media to tell them he couldnt get Toyota to listen. Now, The Los Angeles Times says Toyota called Steve to ask to borrow his Prius and see what the problem is.
Monday, June 10, 2013
2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Review
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| The 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid. Green with grins. |
The very idea of a Porsche hybrid takes some big-time explaining for a lot of people. A $67,700 Porsche hybrid SUV even more so.
The Porsche Cayenne is the SUV in question, and to a lot of Porsche purists, it was the Porsche that wasnt supposed to be built anyway. It was counter to the marques mission of building laser-focused sports cars with 2 doors and low centers of gravity.
But the Cayenne has been a success. Porsche builds a lot of them and has built market share squarely on its broad shoulders. And since powerful SUVs have taken the biggest hit when gas prices get squirrely, wouldnt they be the perfect place to employ a little hybrid technology?
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| The 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid. A few extra MPG for a couple extra Gs. |
Hybrid luxo-SUVs arent new anyway...three years ago, when TireKicker was a toddler, we spent in a week in and then wrote about the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid...which, in 2008 was 5 grand more than this years Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid. The Porsche has the edge on performance (0-60 in 6.1 seconds), handling (elementary physics) and, as it turns out, gas mileage, though neither of them pump up the EPA estimates to Prius levels.
In fact, the Hybrid Cayenne S only gets about 2 miles more per gallon in the city and on the highway (20/24) than the non-hybrid version. But Porsche only charges a couple of grand more to make the gas/electric leap.
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| The 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid Interior. You could get used to this. |
$67,700 might strike you as something of a bargain for the Cayenne S Hybrid...and youre right. For what you get, thats a fairly compelling base price. But with Porsche, the difference between base price and as-tested price often jumps by the price of a loaded Honda Fit once you get into the optional equipment. And thats what happened to our test vehicle. About $16,000 worth of options got poured onto and into the machine ($4520 of it for the Convenience Package alone), for an endgame (including destination charges of $84,950.
Yes, thats very different from $67,700, but its not out of the territory for Porsche buyers...who, with the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, get arguably the best of all worlds: An SUV that saves a bit of gas and a bit of the planet because its a hybrid, and is a Porsche.
Try as you might (and a lot of journalists have tried very hard the past few years to poke holes in the Cayenne), its tough to find fault with the finished product. It works like an SUV, goes and handles like a Porsche (okay, the center of gravity does affect things...but theres no other SUV that can play in the twisties like this one) and the hybrid system is unobtrusive. A dealer-accompanied half-hour test drive will have you wanting one. A week unsupervised (as we got) just makes it worse. If Porsche sent it back to us tomorrow, wed be happy campers.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Chrysler Dodge Minivan Airbag Recall
312,000 model year 2005 and 2006 Dodge Caravan, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans are being recalled.
The airbag sensors can crack, water can get inside and then the airbags dont work as designed.
Read the recall notice here.
Not too comforting...the actual recalling and repair doesnt start until June.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
New Car Review 2011 Jeep Patriot
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| The 2011 Jeep Patriot |
It was easy to dismiss the Jeep Patriot when it first hit the streets (and trails) a couple of years back. Part of it was guilt by association, having been introduced to the public at the same time as the first-ever non-Trail Rated Jeep, the almost identically-sized Jeep Compass.
But while the Compass was (and is, despite some upgrades) a Jeeped-up Dodge, the Patriot was (and is) a real Jeep. In many ways, its the spiritual successor to the 1984 Jeep Cherokee.
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| 1984 Jeep Cherokee |
Yes, if you dial the wayback machine 28 model years in reverse, youll find people wondering what was up with this very small Jeep, which replaced the huge (in retrospect) Cherokee (itself a cut-down version of the 1963 Wagoneer).
The Patriots like that. First impression is its too small to be a Jeep, having been exposed to Grand Cherokees, Commanders and even Libertys. But drive it a few minutes and youll find its the back-to-basics vehicle that Jeeps been needing.
Our tester was the Patriot Latitude 4X4, but the window sticker shows that it was optioned up to Latitude level from a base Sport model.
Well break that down for you. Jeep Patriot Sport 4X4. Starting at $17,695, its only $1,700 more than the Sport 2-wheel drive model. Stepping up to the 4X4 gives you the 2.4 liter DOHC 16-valve engine and 165 horsepower instead of the stock 2.0 liter, 141 horsepower four.
You also get three transmission choices: A Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), a CVT with AutoStick, or a five-speed manual. Personally, Id go with the stick, but the Jeep press fleet chose the CVT with an off-road crawl rate. And, honestly, it was a very good, very smooth CVT. I had to be reminded that was how the Patriot was equipped, which means it felt natural...like the best (Nissan, Subaru) CVTs.
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| 2011 Jeep Patriot Interior |
The standard equipment list also includes a full complement of airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes, hill start assist, brake assist, speed control, Security Key Theft Deterrent System, a removable/rechargable LED flashlight, rear window defroster, wiper and washer, tire pressure monitoring, an AM;/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with audio jack, and a center floor console.
All in all, thats a cut above the basics in a very competent little Jeep for only $17,695. Id buy one like that.
Except.
It hadnt occurred to me in a long, long time...especially living in Arizona, but there are cars for sale in this country (not many) where air conditioning is an extra-cost option. And the Jeep Patriot is one.
So our Patriot came with Customer Preferred Package 28B, which gives you air conditioning as well as an upgrade to 17-inch aluminum wheels, power heated manual fold away mirrors, body color door handles and liftgate applique, height adjustable drivers seat, power windows, speed-sensitive power door locks, remote keyless entry, illuminated entry, steering wheel mounted audio controls, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear 60/40 reclining and folding seat backs, a fold-flat front passenger seatback, heated front seats and a 115 volt power outlet.
That package is $3,700. Making the price (so far) $21,395. Which is actually a few bucks cheaper than starting with the Latitude 4X4.
But the option list goes on...another $3,400 worth, give or take. The Security and Convenience Group gets you supplemental front seat-mounted side airbags, a security alarm, auto-dimming rear-view mirror with microphone, electronic vehicle information center, universal garage door opener, adjustable roof rail crossbars and a soft tonneau cover for $750. All nice stuff to have.
Then theres the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Group: All-Terrain tires, brake lock differential, hill descent control, a full-size spare, skid plates for the transmission, oil pan and fuel tank, tow hooks, an engine oil cooler, trailer towing wiring harness, all-season front and rear floor mats and a "Trail Rated" badge for $500. Those are essentials. Id absolutely check that option box.
The CVT with off-road crawl ratio? Thats an extra $1,000. Again, Id go with the manual if it was my money.
Ours also came with the Media Center 430, which adds a 30 gig hard drive that can hold 6,700 of your favorite songs (depending on length...depending on Ramones or Rachmaninoff, your storage capacity may vary), and a 6.5 inch touch screen display. Thats $640. As with nav systems, odds are your phone can do this.
And finally, $375 for the Uconnect Voice Command with Bluetooth. It adds a USB port for mobile devices, and Sirius Satellite Radio with a 1-year subscription. Im a huge believer in hands-free mobile when driving...Id probably say yes for the Bluetooth alone.
With $700 destination charge, the bottom line winds up at $25,410. And thats a long way from the $17,695 we started at. But its not unreasonable. It is far less expensive than the average SUV, which doesnt have the Patriots capabilities (as equipped), and its actually less expensive than the average family sedan today. And wed knock a grand off that sticker by shifting it ourselves.
2011 Jeep Patriot
Base price: $17,695
As tested: $25,410
EPA estimate: 20 mpg city/23 mpg highway
Likes: Compact size, low base price, real Jeep capability, fuel economy, dramatically improved interior.
Dislikes: Air conditioning and Bluetooth should be standard.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin 2000 2003 Repair Manual
Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin 2000 - 2003 GG Release Guidelines for maintenance and repair. Wiring.
Publisher: "Mitsubishi Motor Corporation"
Format: pdf
Size: 52 Mb
Quality: Excellent
Pages: 2,000
Language: English
A selection of manuals for Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin in English. A selection is made up of dealers, and manuals for car maintenance and auto service stations.
Download Free - Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin Repair Manual
Sunday, June 2, 2013
VIDEO University Professor Induces Unintended Acceleration In Toyota Avalon With ABCs Brian Ross At The Wheel
Southern Illinois University professor David Gilbert says a short-circuit can cause the cars to accelerate suddenly and not leave a trace in the cars fault codes.
Toyotas response? Click here.
Read more »
Toyotas response? Click here.
Friday, May 31, 2013
2011 Mazda CX 9 Review
As noted in previous entries here at TireKicker, Mazda doesnt make bad cars. And the CX-9, based on the very good previous-generation Mazda 6, is a strong contender.
The CX-9 is big enough for three rows of seats accomodating seven passengers. The weight of the vehicle, people and stuff is pulled (yep, front-wheel drive) along by a 273 horsepower 3.7 liter V6 with a six-speed automatic transmission. The six speed helps nudge the EPA estimated mileage into respectable territory...16 city, 22 highway.
Ordered in Grand Touring trim, as the test vehicle I drove was, the CX-9 shows up with 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, automatic Xenon headlights, leather-trimmed seats (including an 8-way power heated drivers seat), Bluetooth hands-free capability for your cell phone, a three-zone climate control and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system. Price: $33,355.
Options on the tester included Sirius Satellite Radio, a blind spot monitoring system, a package including a moonroof and a 277-watt, 10-speaker Bose surround sound sytem with a six-disc changer in the dash, a towing package and a GT Assist package...including navigation, rear view camera and power rear hatch. That propels the bottom line (with delivery charges) to $39,405. ..which puts it right in the hunt with a similarly loaded GMC Acadia.
Safetys a plus here, too, with the CX-9 getting a five-star rating from the government for frontal and side crashes for the driver and passenger, and a four-star rollover rating.
As a smaller manufacturer, Mazda often gets overlooked. In this case, that would be a big mistake.
UPDATE: Just finishing a week and a few days in the base-level CX-9 Sport...one without any options whatsoever. And its brilliant. How? Because the basic goodness of the CX-9 as above is there...but the lower standard equipment level (not lower by much) and lack of options keeps the price just a nick under $30,000 as tested. Thats ten grand below the sticker price above....for the same basic vehicle. Go. Drive. One. Now.
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