To find articles of interest on this page, type the name
into "Find in this page" on the Edit tool bar.
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.
Acura
RDX. Road trial.
A
cheaper 2 wheel drive version and much more
of that ZOOM-ZOOM that has made their rivals famous.
2010 Mazda Miata (MX5)
After 40 years this car still represents some
of thebest value that money can buy.
Subaru Outback 2010. Road trial.
Still crazy after all these years.
(And avoid the CVT like it's swine flu.)
2010
Ford Taurus - Road Trial.
Good looking and charming. But not cheap.
Fiesta to the rescue? Watch out, Mazda3.
VW Jetta TDI
At last, a practical view of
the only inexpensive
oil burner yet available to us.
2009 Honda Element.
Getting
pricey.
The 2009 BMW X5 xDrive 35d and the 2009 BMW 335d.
Compared with the compromises required by hybrids
— squishy regenerative brakes, aimless transmissions,
boggy acceleration, diminished cargo space
— the drawbacks of diesels seem positively minor.
VW GTI 2009.
Is the latest one as much fun to drive
as the original after 33 years?
Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTec diesel SUV
A
whole load of disappointment attached to a fantastic engine.
Mazda2
Coming soon to Canada
Kia
Rio 2009.
Decent car. Nice interior.
VW Golf
2012.
The diesel/electric version: 113 mpg.
2010 Chevrolet Camaro.
The TATA Nano.
The VW CC.
The only V6 car that VW offers anymore.
Toyota Yaris five door hatchback.
A perfect example of why you should try
before you buy.
Hyundai Genesis Coupe vs Infiniti’s
G37 Coupe
Is the G37 worth another $10,000?
2009 Kia Soul.
White goods at a bargain price.
2009 Hyundai Elantra GLS Sport
2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
A different car with the same name.
Honda Insight Hybrid 2009.
Depends if you're enough of a tree
hugger
to live with the quirks, jerks and shakes.
No selling price announced yet, either.
All
electric Tesla Roadster.
Good for sex, maybe, but not
much else.
2009 VW Jetta diesel. - 62 mpg.
Ford Fusion Hybrid.
Ford is the American car company that
should survive.
This car proves that they're on the right track,
even if it is at the wrong time.
2009 Nissan 370Z
Is this the right time to introduce
a high horsepower performance car?
Even if it is the best "Z" yet by far.
2009 Chevrolet Aveo5
Cheap as they come, but a bit more economical
this model year.
2009
Dodge Challenger.
A perfect example of "Always try before
you buy"
and "Never buy the first years' production
of any new car"
Infiniti FX50S
Ugly, thirsty and not so fast.
Mazda3
2009.
Never mess with
a good thing.
There are some small "improvements",
but the zoom-zoom is as good as ever.
2009 Nissan Murano
Self healing paint and a parking
camera cannot compensate
for the rubber bands in the suspension
and in the CVT transmission
2009 Toyota Venza.
It's what? Say again, I
don't get it.
The Mountain Climber- BMW 535 diesel
Who could ask for anything more?
VW Golf 2009.
Full of expensive "NANNYGOODIES"
to justify the price.
Oh, yes and 58 mpg.
Nissan Maxima 2009.
Touringus Maximus.
Chrysler
Sebring Cabriolet 2.7 V6
Buy one? Don't even think of renting
one!
Nissan Rogue
If you don't need
too many seats, don't have too much to store
and love the sound of an outboard engine,
then this one's for you.
Ford Fiesta
2009.
The first of the European 65 mpg cars
is about to show up here.
Mini Cooper (John Cooper Works edition.)
Like an eager puppy:
cute at first, but exhausting on a long
walk!
2009 Honda Fit.
Almost the same economy as a Prius at
half the price.
(Now and very much moremoney to
be saved in the future)
2009 Mazda6
Like a
heavyweight boxer: Bulky, but light on its' feet.
Subaru Impreza 2009.
Sensible, comfortable, capable.
Fiat
Abarth.
The ultimate
in fuel economy and performance.
MINI Cooper Diesel
All the performance you really need AND
65 mpg.
Lincoln MKS
Still not the car it should be, for
60 Canadian large.
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.
Aston Martin DB9
They
sure don't build Aston Martins
like they used to,
and for that
we can all be grateful.
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.
