From the Passenger's Perspective: 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport

Here on the small Hawaiian island of Molokai, many of the roads are red clay/dirt paths, which require the use of a decent off-road vehicle.  In fact, in my four days here I have seen but three sports cars.  A Mazda Miata, a Chevrolet Corvette C6 and a Mercedes-Benz SL.  The Jeep, however (a rental) is exactly the kind of car for this island.
I'll start off by saying I've always been a hater of Jeeps.  I can't really explain why, but I was (Note "was").  This Wrangler is the Unlimited, which is the four door variant, and the Sport, which for some reason denotes the base model.  As far as the exterior goes, it looks decent, has the iconic Jeep grille, and for some reason I love the little plastic things that hold the hood on.  They make the car look like it wants to go trail driving.

The interior isn't exactly luxury, but that's not the point.  Everything is very close to you, which is good and bad.  I especially like the simple but functional air vents.  The stereo had nice sound, and the speaker placement on the roll bar in the rear was rather clever.  Drawbacks with the interior are few and far between.  The air conditioning knob button required several presses to get it to activate, and the arm rests on the door are very poorly engineered.  The only other issue was that the Jeep is very difficult to get into.  It doesn't have running boards, so to get in the back required some jumping.
My favorite feature of the Wrangler is the three-piece hard top.  I removed the two panels in the front (a very simple task), which essentially made the Jeep a Targa.   It was fantastic for blasting through the small roads of Molokai.  The panels are very easy to remove and re-install, however the rear piece appeared to be more complicated, but at the risk of rain, I never bothered with it.

As far as driving the Wrangler is concerned, I have been told that it drives like a little tank, though this isn't a bad thing.  The 3.6L V6 engine provides decent power and the handling isn't as bad as you would expect.  The Wrangler feels very solid to drive,if not terribly invigorating or sporty, as the trim level suggests.
The Wrangler Unlimited is actually rather comfortable.  Part of that may be down to Molokai's rather smooth paved roads, but we also took the Wrangler on some mild dirt tracks, where it performed very well.  The suspension absorbs most small bumps, though large ones seem to reverberate through the cabin.  The seats are nice and supportive (probably for off-road comfort), if maybe a bit stiff.
Where you may expect the Jeep to fall down is fuel economy.  Jeep rates the Wrangler Unlimited Sport (On their website) as 17 city/21 Hwy, which doesn't seem so good.  However, in around 250 miles of 45 MPH driving, we used about half a tank, which is quite good.
All in all then, the Wrangler Unlimited was the perfect car for the island of Molokai.  It does on-road driving, warm weather fun, and it'll go anywhere you like, provided you can get into it.
And, with prices starting at around $26,00, it is significantly cheaper than many alternative trucks or SUVs.  However, I have a sneaking suspicion that pretty well every other Jeep is still a bit crap.











http://www.jeep.com/en/2014/wrangler-unlimited/photos-and-videos/#filter=all&asset=13

From the Passenger's Perspective: 2013 Buick Regal

I don't like Buicks.  I really don't.  I think they're dimwitted, slow, boring, ugly, and far too cheap-feeling.  I also buy into the stereotype that the average age of a Buick owner is 112.  This Regal marked the first time I've been in a Buick, and in fact the first time I've been in a GM product since I was little in my dad's Chevrolet Silverado.  This particular Regal was a rental car for the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
On first impressions, this white Regal seemed very boring.  Sure, it isn't ugly, but it is the most generic-looking car I've ever been in.  Something that emphasizes this fact is the cover of the owner's manual.  In my family's Mercedes-Benz C-Class, there is a striking photo of the car in front of what I remember as being a cityscape or some buildings.  In the Regal, though, you get a black and white picture of a bridge and the words "2013 Buick Regal" in block letters in the lower left-hand corner.  Ghastly.

The interior isn't a whole lot better.  All of the buttons are absolutely gigantic, probably owing to the older demographic who buy this car.  For example, the traction control (On a Buick?!) button is about 4 inches long and an inch tall.  It is huge.  And in the center is a tiny, tiny little white picture of skid marks behind a car.  It's much the same story with the parking sensor button.  This Regal has Buick's IntelliLink system, which is the most user-unfriendly system I've ever seen.  To navigate the system's very limited features you have to do a combination of spinning the wheel and clicking it from one side to another, not too complicated.  The problem is that it is virtually impossible to do because the wheel only moves to the sides about a billionth of an inch.  And the wheel is on the center stack, not the usual place on the center console like what BMW and Mercedes do.  Another thing was that every time I  clicked the wheel, it never really did the same thing twice.  However, I was finally able to get into the car's settings.  So I hope whoever rents that Buick next can speak French-Canadian, can convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, and knows how to tell time on a 24-Hour scale.

Another thing I noticed was that the steering wheel was absolutely massive.  It is like something you'd find on a 1600s pirate ship.  Except with more useless buttons.
The driving experience is rather similar.  Obviously, it doesn't handle with much aplomb, but it is reasonable.  However, the engine is pretty pathetic.  It has virtually no power, and whenever you go near the throttle, it makes a terrible belching noise, and doesn't give any noticeable change in velocity whatsoever.  The handling is bearable, not exactly sporty, but that isn't what the car is for.  This car was clearly made for a specific demographic.  I won't say which demographic that is, but I think you know what I mean.  Many of them live in Florida.
So the Buick Regal is not my kind of car.  It try's to do luxury, which takes away from the driving experience, but then it doesn't do luxury very well either.  However, it is rather comfortable, even though the seats are a bit stiff.  The Regal is, however, a decent little runabout that retirees (oops) can use to run around town and occasionally visit friends.

From the Passenger's Perspective: 2013 Chrysler 300

It is slightly unusual for me to be testing a big, American sedan such as the Chrysler 300.  This is actually our rental car for a vacation/business trip to the Big Island of Hawaii.  A Cadillac CTS was the original option, but the 300 ended up being the car for the job.

Exterior Looks
The Chrysler 300, unusual for cars of this type, looks very good.  I love the aggressive yet restrained look of the grille/headlights combo, and the intimidating stance.  It looks very gangster-esque.  I imagine Al Capone would drive this if he were to stalk the streets of Chicago today.  It compels you to drive it with just your left hand on the top of the wheel.  The Cadillac Escalade does the same.


Interior Looks/Functionality
I will start this section of by saying the 300's interior does not stack up to some of it's German rivals.  However, it is cheaper, with a starting MSRP of around $30,000.  It doesn't have quite the same quality or gadgets as it's competitors.  However, for the money, you do get a fairly nice place to be.  The plastics are a bit scratchy, but I love the seats, and the 8.4-inch touchscreen system works surprisingly well.  It took a few minutes to get familiarized with the system, but is very easy and simple to use.  It is also the first car I've been in with an analogue clock.  I thought it would look a bit cheesy and overdone, but it looks nice. However, the headlights are very strange, as the high-beams would only come on if you held the little lever down. Another minor issue would be the gear selector.  It is too sensitive, and the space in between the P,R,N and D are so small you almost always end up going to far or too little.  The interior could also do with a sat-nav, which is an optional extra.



Comfort
For a big car like this, you kind of expect a lazy, sloppy ride.  But with the Chrysler, you don't get it.  It was fairly comfortable, the driving position is good, and the rear seats have adequate leg room.  The ride is a bit bouncier than say a Mercedes C-Class, but for the price this is a comfortable car.  I did note that the ride in the back is a bit jigglier than in the front.

Driving Dynamics
This isn't a sports car.  Nor is this base version a muscle car.  The steering is a bit vague, and the front wheels are a tad disconnected.  But as far as the engine goes, perfect.  It offers adequate power with minimal fuss.  The steering may not be as good as say a BMW, but again, you have to consider price.

Who is this car for?
I have just introduced this little section, which describes what kind of person I think fits this car best.  The Chrysler is tough.  I'm tempted to say it's good for a middle-aged dad who likes to ferry his kids around in an big, tough, muscle car.  But the 300 is more than that.  I think it works for two people.  The aforementioned cool dad, and I think a retired person who loves big, luxurious American cars with looks and a good engine.

Update
Over the course of the trip, I have learned more about certain aspects of the 300.  For instance, the gear selector is really an issue, it is far too sensitive, you almost always end up going past the gear you are looking for.  Second, it makes a very irritating noise when you reverse, like a ghost howling.  Finally, I have noticed something about the interior plastics.  In the passenger seat, where my knee hits the center console, the black plastics have started to wear and become gray-ish.  Further investigation reveals that if you so much as scrape your knuckle against the plastic, it leaves a white streak on the plastic.  This may be fixed by simply wiping down the plastic, but I'm not so sure.  This could leave the car looking very worn very quickly, considering this particular 300 only has 13,500 miles on the clock.

Conclusion
When I first got in the Chrysler, I didn't think I'd like it.  I usually like little European cars with complicated interiors and great handling.  But the 300 surprised me.  I love it's looks, presence, touchscreen system and the general feeling that you are in a big, intimidating car.  This isn't even the full-bore V8 300S, but even so, it's a great car.

From the Passenger's Perspective: Winter 2013 4X4 Comparison

In anticipation of the upcoming winter, I decided to do my first comparison test, between a few 4X4s.  Many thanks to Geneva Foreign & Sports in Geneva, NY for letting me in the cars for the test.  Here are the cars and some of the stats:

2006 BMW X3 3.01
AWD Six-Speed Auto
225 HP 3.0L I6
15/23 MPG

2009 Jeep Patriot Limited
4WD Five-Speed Auto
172 HP 2.4L I4
23/28 MPG

2006 Subaru Forester 2.5 X Premium
AWD Five-Speed Manual
173 HP 2.5L Boxer-4
23/28 MPG

2007 Volvo XC70 Wagon
AWD Five-Speed Auto
208 HP 2.5L I5 Turbo
19/26 MPG

So those are the contenders, let's get to it

Looks
None of these cars are what you would call striking on the outside, and of course, that isn't what they are about.  Nonetheless, of the four I think the BMW looks the best, a combo of the kidney grille and the sportier-than-the-rest stance.  The Subaru comes a distant second with the Volvo clinching third, and the Patriot coming in fourth.
On the inside, things are very similar as far as aesthetic appeal. Take note this has nothing to do with the functionality of the interior.  I think the BMW also has the best looking interior, a combination of modern German tech and a nice color arrangement.  The Volvo comes second with a slightly-sleek but still very logical and Swedish design.  The Subaru gets third, with a nice simple metallic feel, though the upholstery looks a bit 1990s.  The Jeep again gets fourth, only because everything seems miles away from where you are sitting.  You'd have to be at least 6' 2" to reach the rear-view mirror.



















Interior Quality
With big 4X4s like these, you expect all of them to be made to withstand abuse and harsh climates.  This segment deals with the quality and functionality of the interiors of the contenders.
I would have expected the X3 to again win the segment, but I am actually going to award first place to the Volvo XC70.  It seemed to be the best interior as far as the way it was screwed together, and the layout was nice and logical.  You could almost hear Spock telling the Volvo engineers what to do. It had everything you would need, and nothing you could do without.
The BMW comes a close second.  It was overall a better place to sit in than the Volvo, but in layout and control functionality, it received some demerits.  The main issue was finding buttons.  It took a few minutes to figure out how to unlock the car, until finding out that the unlock button was where the hazard light button was.
Third and fourth are more difficult.  I liked the simple, utilitarian feel in the Subaru, but the Jeep had more actual things in it.  Overall I'd say the Subaru clinches third just because in the Jeep, you can never find anything because everything is laid out so oddly.










































Driving Dynamics
Again, none of these cars are meant for pure driving feel, but it is still important.  BMW has always been great at making cars handle well, and the X3 is no exception.  It has often been praised for feeling like a car to drive, and that the X3 does.  It takes a little while to get yourself accustomed to the heavy steering (or so I've been told), but when you do, the car feels like it has grip.  The X3 feels solid, and, to an extent, you can feel the road through your fingertips.   The BMW also has the most power, and you can tell.  It sounds the best, too.
In second comes the Volvo. It may not handle as well as the BMW, but it still goes around corners with some confidence.  The steering is perfectly weighted, and the power feels just right.  The five-cylinder turbo in the Volvo doesn't feel as refined as the engine in the BMW, but the turbo kicks in and you get sufficient power to startle the kids in the back.
Again, in third place comes the Forester.  It was the only manual we drove, and the gearbox was just too clunky, and it really strained the engine.  As for the handling, well the Subaru is a box on wheels, so it handles like one.
And in fourth comes the Jeep Patriot.  It lacked in the handling department.  You feel as though you have no control over the front wheels.  However, the engine didn't feel as though it lacked power, it was just too harsh in delivery.

Comfort
Now, these cars are for the school run, so they should be comfortable.  In first place comes the Volvo XC70.  My only problem was the slightly unsupportive seats, but other than that, it was spot on.  The suspension absorbed the bumps, and you could just sink into the interior and feel as though you aren't really in a car.
In second place comes the BMW X3.  It has a slightly sportier suspension set up, so of course it will lose its ride comfort somewhat.  However, the seats were perfect and there was almost no noise.
In third again comes the Subaru Forester.  The ride quality was decent, but the engine noise was a bit much and the seats were a bit itchy.
In fourth again was the Jeep Patriot.  The ride was iffy, it was a bit too bouncy.  The body rolled a ton and the engine made a significant amount of noise.

Spaciousness
The primary purpose of these cars is space, that's why you buy them.  The winner of this category is again the Volvo, which impressed me with its huge trunk space, made twice as large by folding the rear seats down.  Volvo has always been good at spacious wagons, and the XC70 is no exception.
In second is the X3.  Despite it's sporty look it has very spacious rear seat area, and decent trunk space.
In third comes the Jeep Patriot.  It had decent space in the back and the trunk was pretty good as well.. However, it was a bit difficult to get the rear seats down.
The Forester got fourth, only because it is much smaller than the other three.  For its size however, it is very spacious indeed.

Conclusion
In conclusion, all these cars could be justified.  However, overall in first place is the Volvo XC70.  I loved it's logical interior layout, the comfort of it's ride and the incredibly spacious trunk.  Perfect for the mom with some children to ferry to and from school/sports etc.
Second place goes to the BMW X3, with it's excellent interior and great car-like driving experience.  Not so much a journey car, but an epic urban taxi.
Third is the Subaru Forester.  It would be the ideal car for somebody who needs a small, cheap, utilitarian workhorse.
And in fourth is the Jeep Patriot (Again).  However, if you are somebody who just needs a car that should be able to do some off-roading, this is your car.
Those are the standings, but I will say the car I would buy with my own money would be the BMW X3.  It wasn't quite good enough to win the test, but it wins my vote.

Note: All these cars are currently available on www.gfs1.com in Geneva, New York, all for under $18,000.