Thursday, June 13, 2013
2011 Subaru Legacy 2 5 i and 3 6R Limited Review
Attempting to go mainstream is part of what very nearly killed SAAB, so theres precedent for concern every time Subaru gets a bit more normal.
Except that Subarus managed it quite well...first with the Outback, then the Forester, and now with the Legacy.
The Legacy is stepping up in size and refinement, becoming for the first time a logical and direct alternative to Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
And to show just how good the basic product is, Subaru sent us a no-frills Legacy 2.5i. Not a single option (but with 17-inch alloy wheels, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD, an auxilary audio jack, XM/Sirius capability, a multifunction trip computer, an outside temperature gauge, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power windows, door locks and mirrors, a remote keyless entry system, and map and courtesy lights all standard, its a complete package without any options).
Even though the Legacy is bigger now, its lighter than the competition...handles better...and dont forget...its a Subaru, so all-wheel drive is part of the deal.
And the power from the 2.5 liter engine (170 horsepower), teamed with a smooth 6-speed manual, is more than adequate.
That six-speed is a help for the fuel economy...the EPA says 19 city, 27 highway.
And the price?
Well, the price had me reminding myself to think Subaru for my next family sedan: $19,995.
Remember the deal about no options? Thats right...apart from $695 delivery charge, $19,995 is the base and the bottom line. Theres a Camry a few hundred bucks cheaper, but not as satisfying, and the least-expensive Accord is $21,055. Thats compelling math for a car that no longer has to be explained. The Legacy has arrived.
Japanese TV viewers got this commerical, with Robert DeNiro at the wheel of the new Legacy:
UPDATE: I chose to repeat the above review because the base Subaru Legacy is just so darn good. But recently, I had a week in the top-of-the-line 2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited. And it, too was a revelation...just for different reasons.
Regular TireKicker readers know that I believe you can too easily goop up a good car with add-ons and lose the basic flavor. But Subaru swings for the bleachers with the 3.6R Limited and hits a home run.
First of all, the engine....the 170 horses of the base car jumps to 256 in all three flavors of the R (R, R Premium and R Limited)...which puts the performance of the Legacy into another league entirely. The six-speed manual gets swapped for a five-speed automatic, but the extra power, the lack of a clutch and one fewer gear end up extracting the smallest penalty...18 city, 25 highway (as opposed to 19/27 for the base model).
And then, the creature comforts: Dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a 440-watt Harmon Kardon 9-speaker audio system, leather-trimmed seats (including a 10-way power adjustable drivers seat and a 4-way power adjustable one for the front passenger)....all standard. In fact, the only option on our car was a power moonroof ($995)...running the base price of $28,295 to an as-tested (with $725 delivery charge) $30,015.
There are absolute bargains. The 2.5i is that. Theres no other way to describe that much car for under $20,000.
And then there are bargains based on the comparison of content and price. And thats where, for a shade more than 8 grand more, the 3.6 R Limited earns its bargain status. Subaru has built a car that can run with a significantly pricier pack..and, as with the 2.5i, if it were my money...it would be an immediate contender.
Monday, June 10, 2013
UK Lorry Driver Keeps License After Pushing Car Sideways Down Highway
Remember that video? Big stuff all over the internet earlier this year.
Well, the wheels of justice turn quickly in the UK...driver John Tomlinson has appeared before a traffic commissioner, pleaded his case (that he couldnt see, hear or smell the Renault Clio attached to his front bumper) and has been allowed to keep his license.
In fact, traffic commissioner Beverley Bell praised Tomlinson for his fast action and cool head. You dont see it in the video, but other drivers signaled him to pull over, he discovered the Clio on his bumper, and freed driver Rhona Jane Williams.
Commissioner Bell urged companies to retrofit older lorries (trucks to us Yanks)with the kind of proximity mirrors now standard on newer models.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Window Film Cars Can Make More Elegant
The first thing is functional or purpose glazing. If the owner wanted the car interior is exposed because it is dressed in such a way, then the window film used is clear. Conversely, if privacy is desired, then the dark window film installed.
Ideally have a percentage rate of 20 percent dark. While the rear side glass and approximately 60 percent. If the windshield is made darker, preferably up to 40 percent. If it is darker longer be at risk due to disturb the drivers view.
Installation of glass clear film he also had a negative effect that could invite crime. Because people can see clearly all the items in the car. If there are bad intentions, valuables can be a target
The second factor is the quality window film in rejecting solar radiation. Physically, the glass film is not indistinguishable. The only difference is the delivery time guarantee. A good window film can resist heat and solar radiation up to 98 percent. Interior, dashboard is more durable, more fuel efficient because it does not need lots of air conditioning, and for sensitive skin to avoid irritation. For a function like this, manufacturers dare to give 5-year warranty.
One thing that should not be overlooked is to consult with a shop window film installer. Say what will and purpose of the installation of window film that best suits our car types. Window film can change the appearance of the car if the election proper. For instance types such as Mercy elegant cars would be great if the install window film silver. As for the more masculine types like Terano more suited to dark or black glass film.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
New Car Review 2013 Audi A4 2 0T quattro tiptronic
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| The 2013 Audi A4 2.0T quattro. |
As weve noted here at TireKicker before, the worst part of a successful car is keeping the ball rolling...doing the freshening needed to keep the car relevant without losing the thread and screwing it all up. Last time around, two and a half years ago, I worried that Audi was letting the magic of the A4 slip away. If they were, they fixed it in a hurry.
The 2013 Audi A4 2.0T quattro is simply tremendous. A car that pulls of the trick of feeling utterly contemporary and timeless at the same time. The timeless thing is important because Audis had the A4 pretty close to perfect for a long time. To wander too far from what has made an A4 an A4 for the past decade or so would be courting disaster.
The 2.0T quattro tiptronic is a 2.0 liter turbocharged inline four, making 211 horsepower....mated to Audis quattro (the lower case "q" is intentional) full-time all-wheel-drive system and the tiptronic (the lower case "t" is also intentional) 8-speed transmission with sport and manual shift modes. Base price: $34,600, and thats a rock-solid price for the car...neither too high nor too low.
Standard equipment includes anti-lock brakes with brake assist, 17-inch 10-spoke wheels on all-season tires, electronic stability control, electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering, a dynamic five-link front suspension, a dynamic trapezoidal-link fully independent rear axle, power glass sunroof, halogen headlights, front and rear foglights, rain and light sensors, heated and powered outside mirrors, leather seating surfaces, a 12-way power drivers seat and an 8-way power passengers seat, automatic climate control, Audi concert radio with premium sound, including AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD, with SD Card, USB and auxilary inputs, and the usual airbags and alarms.
Going small in displacement with the 2-liter engine and an 8-speed transmission delivers strong fuel economy numbers, too...20 city/30 highway.
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| 2013 Audi A4 interior. |
The interior continues to be a best-in-class effort (despite my concerns in 2010)...and our options tended to enhance the time spent at the wheel: The $4,200 Premium Plus package delivered auto-dimming mirrors inside and out, an iPod cable, Bluetooth, a driver information system with trip computer, heated front seats with driver memory, a split-folding rear seatback, HomeLink garage door opener, a three-zone climate control plus Xenon plus headlamps, LED daytime running lights and taillamps, and an upgrade to 18-inch 10-spoke wheels. The car was also treated to polished exhaust tips for $140 and an extra-cost paint job (Monsoon Gray metallic) for $475. With $895 destination charges, the bottom line wound up at $40,310.
Theres no question the Audi A4 lives in a competitive world (the BMW 328i, also packing a 2-liter turbo four is probably its deadliest nemesis), but its hard to imagine a car holding its ground better. If you cross-shop the A4 and the 3-series, itll be personal preference, not a weakness in either vehicle, that will most likely be the deciding factor.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Painting bumper with his own hands
Bumper is the most prominent place car and its appearance has played an important role in the overall appearance of the car. All motorists who are faced with Car servicing, understand that pleasure is very expensive. And the price does not necessarily mean good quality. Especially now in the country, a time of crisis. It is worth noting that the painting machine, the work is very time-consuming, and in some moments requires almost the jewelry work. If you decide to paint their own bumper of his car, the first thing you need to find the right paint, which should match the old paint. Staining should be carried out in a closed room, where there is no maximum moisture and dust. This article will help you make a painting of the bumper, unless of course you follow all the recommendations and try to gently work. In the beginning, remove the bumper from the car and put it on a convenient work surface. Now should be carefully repaired minor scratches, chips and a little polish. Then a very thin layer to reveal the bumper primed to do so should be doubled. Remember that the warm surface of the paint falls much better. But this does not mean that you should put the bumper in the sun, it is better to put it near a window on the sunny side. In this case, further work will be guaranteed an excellent result. Before painting the whole painted surface is necessary to overwrite the 600 th sandpaper. When using nazhdachku perform better movement back and forth and do circular motions. If you do paint the bumper because of the rust, then you need to treat the surface before the metal itself. This should be done with sandpaper. Surface after treatment with sandpaper must be free of grease, in order to paint when painting lay flat. Now let's paint. Paint a good stir and carefully superimpose the first layer. After that, wait until it dries out, and repeat the painting twice. Again, you should wait until the bumper completely dry. Further, to reveal the brightness of the bumper paint. If you do not feel up to the challenge, then you need to be trained. Take some old scrap metal and try to paint him, if you build it, then you can safely get to work. Otherwise, do not take risks and to save, better to turn to the master, because the correction of bad painting, can cost you a large sum of money. If you want does not fully painted bumper, but only parts, then do grout to partly also done the coloring of the first layer of paint. But the last layer of paint must be imposed entirely on the entire bumper. This is done in order to not get the difference in color, because it is very difficult to find just such a tone, which was initially. To good effect bumper should be polished. Well, that's all the recommendations and sustained action to paint the bumper, hopefully they will help you.