There are so many people in the road test business now, that it no longer makes sense for me to continue
providing them.

Some of these road tests are spurious, sycophantic boot licking and some of them tell the realistic truth.

Some of the archive articles below cannot be described as road tests necessarily: they are opinions,
but as such they are well worth reading.

Otherwise, and since I know where everything is and what's good and what's not, e-mail me from the home index page
& I'll send you whatever material you request.

Phil Bailey

To find articles of interest on this page, type the name
into "Find in this page" on the Edit tool bar.

Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder.
Good enough to be Italian.

2009 Acura TSX
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
And so is the disappointment.

2008 Kia Rio.
 If you know going in that you aren't getting much,
then you won't be disappointed, will you?

Suzuki SX4
This is the one that may save them from oblivion.

2009 Subaru Forester.
A viable alternative to the Honda CRV.
Mitsubishi Outlander.

Smart Fortwo: Passion edition.
With its limited carrying capacity, mediocre fuel economy,
erratic handling and fitful acceleration, one question that potential
buyers in this part of the world should be asking is:
what’s the point?

Prius road test.
Definitely not suitable for driving through the Rockies.
But might be OK on the Prairies - with a following wind.

 Which?
Kia Rondo vs Mazda5.

Nissan Altima Coupe.
Why buy the Infiniti G37,
when this is just as good?

 2009 Acura TSX.

2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Grand Touring PRHT

BMW 1 series.
A 9/10ths scale model of a 3 series,
at 9/10ths of the price.
Mazda5
Excellent value for money, after the "mail in rebate" .

Saturn Aura Hybrid.
WOW! A fuel cost saving of $150 a year.

2009 Toyota Corolla.
 As good as ever for going slowly in the left lane.

2008 Nissan Rogue.
 If you can forgive the vibrating CVT transmission,
everything else is just about spot-on.

Nissan Altima Hybrid.
 The dollars and sense aspects of
the only alternative to the Camry hybrid.
The VW Golf TDI Hybrid
Gets 69 miles per gallon in the European fuel economy test cycle,
Toyota claims 54 mpg for the Prius in the same test.

2008 Saturn Vue.
 A compromised German package.

 2008 Taurus X SUV.
 Rumour is that this truck will die when the Flex hits the showrooms.
But it's a good effort and will be a good buy, discounted or used.

Jaguar XF
You can forget your BMWs. This is fan-bleeding-tastic.
Balanced. Meaty. And a bit flawed

2008 Ford Focus
 You can frig around with the electronics and
change the lighting colour of the cup holders.
Everything else has gone to hell in a handbasket.

Subaru Legacy Wagon.
 50 mpg and quieter than a Rolls Royce Phantom.
OK, it's a diesel and it's not here yet,
but what a winner this wagon could be.
Mini Cooper S Clubman
Don't look back, cos there's nothing to see.

2008 Hyundai Entourage.
 A very creditable quality alternative to the other minivans.

Subaru WTX
 As an ex professional rally driver and admirer of Subaru reliability,
if not their style, I should be thoroughly PO'd at this article,
but I'm not - it's too hilarious to be resented.

Long term road test: Toyota FJ.
 Bulletproof, but quirky.

Mazda CX7
 How to avoid boredom, even when driving an SUV.

Jaguar XF
 The make or break sedan from the cat people.

2008 Subaru WRX  2.5.
 Softened and stripped.

Nissan GT-R:  
911 performance for Jaguar money
Teeth shattering performance, in more ways than one.

Comparison.
Which?
2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Accord,
Nissan Altima or Toyota Camry?


BMW 1-series.
 Back to the days of the 2002.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu
As noted in a recent baileyblog, the Malibu is not to be trusted.
Sure enough, four weeks later, the new "Camry beater"
is found at fault by USA Today.

2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0 litre.
"A most pleasant car."

2008 BMW X5
Softer, gentler and even more pointless.

Acura TL
For people who want technology, performance,
space, comfort, and reliability in a single car.

Nissan Murano vs Mazda CX7
Is the older truck worth so much more money?
Ford TaurusX
Don't be confused, this is the truck version.

2008 Ford Focus.
 First it was bad, then it got a lot better,
now it's gone bad again.

2008 VW City.

2008 Dodge Avenger.

Honda Fit 2008
Preview of what's coming next.
MINI Clubman wagon.
We're OK, but anyone that drives on the "wrong side"
of the road will get out into moving traffic.
Nissan Rogue.
Bye, bye X-Trail, you will not be missed.

 Short take.
 What happens when you cross an elephant with a giraffe?
You get a very expensive Volvo type XC.

Porsche Cayenne 2008
 Faster, thirstier, safer and dumber than ever.

2008 Buick Enclave.
 The devil is in the details,
but most Buick owners won't even notice.
Infiniti G37
A very good car becomes a very fine car.

2008 Honda Accord - Preview.
 Bigger car and a bigger sticker price - a MUCH bigger sticker price.

I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK.
Canada-good. Chrysler Manvan- very bad!

Pontiac Solstice
Languishing on the sales room floor - no big surprise.

Chrysler Sebring Convertible.
 The top retracts - and that's the end of the thrills, folks.

BMW 3-series convertible.
 Maybe Bangle was right after all.

Mazda CX7
 Yet ANOTHER SUV?

 A brace of Mazdas.
 Coming your way very, very soon.

Volvo C30
 A cousin to the Mazda3, with one different engine option.

Volkswagens EOS hard top convertible.
 An enormous capacity to disappoint.

Jeep Patriot
 Good off roader, but not so smooth on the highways.
2007 Subaru Tribeca.
 Looks better, goes better, still pricey.

Honda Civic Type R
 Walking is more fun - and easier on the bones.

Chevrolet Cobalt.
Saturn goes it one better.

Chevrolet Aveo.
 Cheap, nasty and thirsty.
What's to love?

Hyundai Veracruz.
 Another seven seater.
Either there's about to be a population explosion,
or this is the answer to a request that no one has ever made.
Suzuki Aerio.
( Note: I once had a fellow call me and extoll the virtues of this car.
He couldn't understand why there weren't thousands of them on the road.
For the life of me, I couldn't conjure up any enthusiasm at the time
and now I know why.)

BMW CS Concept.
 Having a go at Aston Martin and Porsche.

VW Polo Diesel.
 I have seen the future and it's not so bad.

Ford Flex
 Early news of the latest thing in wagons.
(Sorry, crossovers).
Volvo S80.
A powerful, fluid and agile car.

Honda Civic Type R
 Just spent $4000 on a coffee can muffler and a set of mag wheels?
Think you're now a cool cat? Not even close, my young friend.

VW Rabbit: The comeback kid?

Hyundai Sonata.
 A long term test confirms that the Sonata is
a major contender in the family car market.
Audi S5
 Phenomenal in a straight line and wobbly round the corners.
- Almost American.
Cadillac SRX4
 Another Aztek in the making.

Toyota Yaris.
 Only a feeble Echo of its' former self.

Saturn Astra.
 Don't Americanise it: Please leave it alone.

Mazda CX9
 Biggest and heaviest Mazda ever built.
Hyundai Veracruz.
 As smooth and silent as a Lexus.
But a much better bargain.

Bentley Arnage.
 A quarter of a million dollar car that wakes you up in the
middle of the night, if you leave the dome light on.
Not only that, but you can't shut it off!

2008 Infiniti G35.
 Still one of my favourites.
2008 Smart.
Driving an underpowered car on an autoroute is one
of the most dangerous things a man can do.
It’s very nearly as dangerous as driving through Alabama
with “Hillary for President” written on the side of your car.
BMW 335i Coupe.
 Still the best - if not the best price.

2008 Mercedes Benz C-Class.
Pretty good, but still doesn't have the firepower of a BMW.

Bentley GTC Convertible
Like falling asleep in a warm and scented bath.
(Just lie back and enjoy the waft).

Dodge Caliber
Every now and again I come across an essay disguised as
a road test that is a real winner.
If you haven't seen this one yet, do yourself a favour,
take the time to read it. It's a classic.

Honda Civic hybrid.
 In England, the land of parsimonious little diesel cars,
two families try out the Honda hybrid.

Mercedes  E320 Bluetec diesel.
 Any minute now, but don't hold your breath.

Audi R8.
 Audi produces its first Porsche punisher.

Lexus ES350.
 It will not make you laugh and it will not make you cry.
In effect, you may be completely emotionless.

BMW M6.
 Good for track racing, but an absolute nightmare in traffic.

 The Kia C'EED.
 Almost got it right this time.

Renault Nepta
It is fantastique, but it may also be credible.

Morgan Aeromax.
 Want to stand out from all your friends in their Ferraris?
Here's a suggestion.

Jaguar XKR
 OK, so some bits fell off, but who cares?
Volvo C30
 Sweden discovers the youth market.
VW GTi TSi
 Perhaps one of the five worst cars ever built.

Chrysler Sebring.
 The options list is a very tricky document.

Shelby GT500 Mustang.
 Like having sex on a waterbed:
It feels really good but is highly unstable.

BMW 335i SE Coupe.
A drivers' car ... and yet, somehow......NOT.
The Lincoln em-kay-eks (MKX).
 Essentially, the Ford Edge dipped in gold.

Nissan Altima Hybrid
 A Toyota Camry hybrid in disguise.

BMW Z4 Coupe
A lot of the silly styling is gone.

The VW Scirocco.
 A really good looking new model from Wolfsburg.

An expensive tree ornament.
The latest Smart Fortwo uses a gas engine.
2007 Kia Rondo.
 An "SUV" without the 4x4 - an excellent idea.
BMW X5
 Gargantuan amounts of gadgetry

2007 Audi Allroad - the ultimate station wagon.
2007 Audi TT V6 Quattro.
Surprise, the cheaper (well, less expensive)
version is the better choice.

Mercedes E320 Bluetec diesel.
The big Bluetec gets better mileage than either a
Mini Cooper or a Suzuki Swift.

Dodge Nitro.
Yawn!!

Ford Edge and Lincoln MK X.
 Things are really "edgy"at Ford these days.
Are these the two vehicles that might save their bacon?

Alfa Romeo Brera.
 Rumour is that Alfas are on their way back to North America.
Here's an example that's gorgeous and economical
and won't offend the econazis, much as we would like to.
2007 Honda CRV.
 An inoffensive 4x4 that doesn't deserve the wrath of the econazis.
2007 Rover Freelander2.
 Bouncing around among the sand dunes of Morocco.

2007 Lincoln Navigator.
 In your face, Greenpeace.
(Even if the floor mats ARE an extra $90)

Saturn Aura.
The German heritage shows, but very critical to Auras' success
is whether Saturn can shed its image as a corn-fed
car company providing friendly service and modest
transportation to drivers who never felt that the
55 m.p.h. speed limit was that much of an imposition.

Lexus GS450h.
Just because you care about the environment
doesn't mean you have to be boring.

Audi S6 Avant
What we’ve been given is an ocean-going turkey,
a lemon the size of Steven Seagal’s ponytail,
 possibly the biggest disappointment in all of automotive history.

2007 Infiniti G35 sedan.
Fast, nasty and heroic.

 2007 Lexus LS460 -  automotive wallpaper.
Passion takes a back seat.
Lexus' LS 460 has it all: seats with massage function, a fridge.
It even parks itself. But will anyone ever really love it?

Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid
Half hearted and half pregnant.

Chevrolet Aveo   
Throttle response is eventual, acceleration is leisurely and
steering feel is implied. Applying the brakes is like stepping on a
day old jelly-filled Krispy Kreme.

The latest MINI models.
It might be time to stop polishing.
Without a few edges, a diamond doesn't sparkle.

The Roush Mustang.
And a European view of American drivers.
One very good, the other pretty awful.

The new MINI: A preview.
Bigger and yet much more economical.

VW Rabbit.
Looks like the quality might be back.
In any case, this is a lot of bunny for a buck.

 Lexus GS 450h
Plug a 12 volt fan into the power outlet.
Stick it on the roof, blowing backwards.
And now you have as much of a hybrid
as this car is ever intended to be.

Maserati Quattroporte
A beautiful car with a really bad gearbox.

Volvo C70 Retractable.
A Swede undresses and this one is actually handsome.

Hyundai Entourage.
The Kia Sedona - reinvented.

 The Renault SupaClio.
The MINI Cooper S just got pushed aside.

Mercedes Benz CLK 63.
There comes a time when more horsepower is a pointless vanity.
This kind of car is now mostly for lads who shower with their shorts on.

Acura RL
Trying hard to catch up to Lexus and BMW.

Which CUV?
2007 Toyota RAV4, Nissan Murano or Mazda CX-7?

Dodge Caliber.
A clutch slippin' rock 'n roller going nowhere - slowly.

Infiniti FX45
(The FX 35 is so much better.)

Acura RDX
A turbocharged CRV that thinks it's a Beemer.

Hey, a FIVE cylinder Golf, Rabbit.

VW Jetta GLi
Maybe you don't need an Audi after all?


2006 Audi TT 2 litre.
 Another hairdressers' car grows up.

Chevrolet HHR vs Mazda 5.
 Sailboat vs power boat.

Hyundai Azera.
 Another Korean Buick.

BMW Z4 M
 OK, but for another $16000 where's the "M" part?

2007 Kia Sedona.
Hamburger all dressed can only go so far.
Particularly if the meat is rotten.

Nissan Versa
 The latest new mini car arrival.
BMW Z4 M type Coupe.
Lots of flaws and lots of fun.

2006 Dodge Magnum SRT-8
A family car? Not really.

Honda Civic Hybrid.
 Fuel economy disappointing.
Handling & brakes not up to standard.

2006 Kia Rio 5, Nissan Versa,
Dodge Caliber, and Honda Fit
A quick comparison.
VW EOS.
"Affordable" and "dream car" may not be an oxymoron any more.
The Smart Car
 Not so smart in the price department,
or on the highway.
Mazda5
Looks rather like a Mercedes R-Class,
but as designed by Japanese wood nymphs.

Aston Martin DB9
They sure don't build Aston Martins like they used to,
and for that we can all be grateful.

Saturn Sky
For another $5000 you get some good stuff -
but all the shortcomings of the Solstice cannot
be overcome.

Lexus IS 250.
 Strange thing, when you think about it:
Women don't like Lexus(es).

Audi RS4
A pre-emptive strike against the V8  BMW M3
before it's even been introduced.

Mazda CX7
Punchy, quick and curvaceous, but pulling at the seams a little,
the CX-7 is an easy car to like but a little tougher to love.

The MINI convertible.
 It's expensive, but you'll get no agro
from the tree huggers with this one.

Mercedes GL
 Why, in the midst of a slowly-rolling energy crisis, an unpopular
war in a region of the world made strategic only by its' oil,
and the globes' climbing mercury, should precisely the
wrong kind of vehicle remain in production?

Honda Civic Hybrid vs Toyota Prius.
 Neither one really impresses us that much.

2005 BMW 545i
One year with a Bimmer whose performance
hides all the other niggles.
Volvo C70 convertible.
Possibly the most disappointing car in the history of the universe.
Ford Fusion.
Best selling car from Ford in a long time.
The "zoom-zoom" shows through.
Honda Fit.
This car is known as the Jazz in Europe.
And it's been around for quite a while.
So what do the Europeans think of it?

Corvette Z06
Good in a staight line:
Otherwise stability challenged.

Jaguar XK convertible.
 It is pant-wettingly pretty, but tends to turn its lights
skyward above 130 mph. Probably, you shouldn't care.

Nissan Titan
Pick up trucks:They are, to the world of cars,
what Mexican food is to the world of haute cuisine.

VW Jetta 2006.
Welcome to the dead zone.
Lexus RX 350.
39 upgrades in the march to perfection.
Mercedes R-class - a 3 ton Tessie.
Who says well-heeled soccer moms can't have fun?
Porsche Cayenne Biturbo.
If you live near a desert - fine.
Otherwise - pointless.

Which?
King vs Kong.
The Audi A8 compared with the Mercedes S500.

Mazda Miata (MX5)
Hairdressers will still adore it,
but then, so will Arnold now.

Audi Shooting Brake.
The Krauts borrowed this name from the Brits.
But George B is just gonna LOVE it.

Toyota Yaris vs Kia Rio5

Mercedes ML320
Improved? Yes. Pricey? Also.

2006 Ford Explorer
Fancy new mechanicals, same old prom dress.

Audi Q7
The body control of a pole dancer
and that may send you straight to Hades.

Audi Avant A6 - 2006
 Parked outside your country home,
who would know you're actually a bank robber?

Dodge Caliber.
 A vast improvement over the Neon
- except for the CVT transmission.

Toyota FJ Cruiser
 Boulevardier goes postal when taken off-road.

Mercedes Benz SLK 55.
Choosing one is easy, if you have the moolah.
Buying one is a nightmare.
2006 Jaguar XK - Its' claws are showing.
The XK is probably at least as good as a sports car
as the Porsche 911 Turbo is as a tourer.

2007 Toyota Camry.
The best selling ice cream in the world
is premium plain vanilla......

2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Safe, reliable, sturdy, bourgeois:
The radon of midsize ex-urban transportation:
odorless, colorless, invisible.

BMW 325 Xi Wagon.  
Classic, impeccable, enviable
— an entire wardrobe of cars in one package.

2006 Mercedes S500
Friends of the Earth won't like you, but everyone else will.
2007 Chevrolet Tahoe.
A stud, or a dud?
Does 12 mpg really matter?

Bugatti Veyron
How much do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.
Subaru Tribeca.
 Even the best make mistakes and this overweight,
overpriced answer to the GM Aztek is a huge one.