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Autotalk 8: 2008-06-05
Autotalk Episode 8 - Released June 5, 2008
▼ In the News
• Toyota Announced that the Prius has passed 1-Million sold, since it launched in 1997
news.windingroad.com—toyotas-prius-passes-1-million-sold-mark
• European Patent Office honors Audi with European Invent of the year award
www.autoblog.com—audi-wins-european-inventor-of-the-year-award
• Rumors are flying about VW entering Motorcycle market with a KTM tie up.
www.autoblog.com—rumormill-volkswagen-partnering-with-ktm-on-motorcycle
• The Nürburgring 24 hour race happened last week, with Porsche GT3 of Manthley Racing overall winning: all-star team of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Marc Lieb, and Marcel Tiemann
• Top Gear Fans know about The Stig, the mysterious race car driver who does the track tests for Top Gear. Controversy erupted with spy photos of Tim Shrick, German racer in a white jumpsuit on a secret filming of Top Gear. Could he be The Stig? Not so fast, later photos show a helmet-clad, white jumpsuit wearing guy standing in the photo, presumably The Stig. So controversy subsided.
jalopnik.com—nein-tim-shrick-ist-nicht-der-stiggie
• Ferrari Announced New GT-Style Convertible called the California for only $199,999 - according to AutoWeek, who has it on the cover of this week’s issue, this beauty is capable of sub 4-sec to 60 and 195MPH, using the 4.3L V8 derivative the F430. This is the outcome of the much-rumored new “Dino” model the rumormill pontificated about for months.
▼ Driving Impressions
▼ Mazda CX-9
• Lots of space, seating for 7 in 3 rows. Should be for a 16.6 ft vehicle.
• Build quality on par with current Japanese offerings–not up to VWAG offerings
• 3.7L V6 Rolls out quite well, with good power and smooth operation, as does 6-spd auto. Comes with Xenon’s, 4-wheel ABS, tire pressure monitoring, 8-way power heated driver seat, with 4-way power heated passenger, and standard leather, front/side airbags, and more.
• Mileage 15/21
• Driving impression: Quiet ride, quiet engine, wind noise around A pillar/mirrors at moderately low speeds, easy to drive, visibility a bit weird in the back,
• Hatch hits head, power operation optional
• Weak sauce 3 yr/36k warranty with Roadside, 5/60k on drivetrain & rust
• Pricing: not cheap for segment, starting at $35k, but it does come standard with leather, power seats, etc; then again lacking some really basic features found in competitive vehicles, like a compass. The Grand Touring package is $2,500 and adds DVD Nav, rearview camera and power trunk lid. If you want a sunroof, you get a Bose audio package (so you can hear the radio w/the roof open?) for $1,760, which gives you a 10-speakers system with center channel and MP3 capable changer. You can get the rear camera with just auto-dimming mirrors for only $665. Still no compass anywhere.
• Summary: The CX-9 is marketing driven, with lots of big standard features, like leather and power/heated seats, but then lacks some really basic convenience features found in modern cars, like door-mounted puddle lights, a compass with trip computer, an MP3-capable CD-player as standard. Driving is very car-like, but a LONG car it is, with a 37ft turning circle to u-turn it’s near 17 ft, which actually isn’t bad, because the Saturn Outlook (reviewed last week) is about an inch longer and turns in 3 more feet! The CX-9, however, does not have near the cargo, towing, or fuel tank capacity; and legroom, etc is limited. The Outlook also gets better highway mileage. But, the Outlook is more truck like—it’s quieter overall than the CX-9, but the CX-9 is more car-like in drive-ability.
▼ Misc
• Contact Form: we’ve added a contact form if you’d like to become a sponsor or something, or send a private message.
• Comments system upgraded: add your comments and start a discussion about this autotalk episode
▼ Finally
• Saturn Sky as Electric? We talked about the Tesla, last episode, now according to Autoblog, Advanced Mechanical Products of Cincinnati is offering an electrically driven Sky for $25k.
• Handling and weight questionable, but hey, it’s half the price of a Tesla Roadster.
• Check Autoblog.com link on the Web site for details.
www.autoblog.com—tesla-too-rich-for-your-budget-how-about-an-electric-saturn-sky
▼ Show Notes
• We’re doing a better job with show notes and links. See our original notes with the post and links to the story’s origin.
• Closing
Check feed on iTunes: phobos.apple.com—viewPodcast
Autotalk Episode 8 - 2008-06-05 (mp3) [29:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Autotalk Episode 8 - 2008-06-05 (aac) [29:06m]: Download