RideLust

PRO’s: Outstanding performance, extreme all-weather versatility, spacious enough for a family of 5.

CON’s: Peculiar styling, high price tag.

FINAL THOUGHT: An amazing SUV/crossover that may well be one of the fastest and most versatile vehicles that BMW has ever produced.

If you’re not sure whether the 2013 BMW X6 M is a car, truck or crossover, don’t feel bad because you’re not alone. You see this things got an identity crises, a bad one, and because of that consumers have been perplex by the X6 since its debut in 2008. I just spent a week with BMW’s X6 M and I can tell you this, I still have no idea what the hell it is, but I fell in love with it, and hot damn if it isn’t a riot of a performance vehicle.

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PRO’s: Beautifully styled, comfortable and sporty interior that’s loaded with tech. Strong V8 offers great performance.

CON’s: Vague steering, high price tag.

FINAL THOUGHT: A nicely appointed sports-sedan that offers plenty of performance and luxury with a image that’s a big departure from its German rivals.

When you think of a mid-sized performance sedan, the odds of a BMW 5-series popping into your head would probably be pretty good. However there is another vehicle out there that’s trying to encroach on the 5-series dominance. It’s imported from Japan and comes in the form of this – the 2013 Infiniti M56. On paper you’ll notice that all the correct bells and whistles are in place. It’s got a big V8, rear-wheel drive performance and thanks to the optional technology package, has just about every option you’d ever want. However, does all of this power and tech make for a good and sporty automobile? Click through to find out.

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It dawned on me recently as I was driving along in the middle of nowhere California that most drivers aren’t properly prepared for those “Oh SHIT!” moments. Therefore I’ve decided to make a quick list of things that you should never be without, and it applies to all drivers, regardless of your daily distance traveled.

1. Cell Phone: These little devices are generally the first line of defense when you’re stranded out there on the open road. They give you comfort, provide you with the contact and emergency information of those that can help, and give you the ability to call on #2 on the list. Oh… and don’t forget to keep your cell charger in the car at all times.

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PRO’s: Quick, nimble, smiles-for-miles little hot-rod.

CON’s: Big price tag, lack of limited-slip-differential.

FINAL THOUGHT: The 2013 BMW 135is is a little pocket-rocket of a car that will make you rediscover driving at its core. It’s fun, fast and has the ability to make even grown men giggle.

Buying a car is not a rational decision, it’s an emotional one. We look at style, performance and how that particular vehicle makes us feel. Does it make us smile when we open the garage door. Does it make the right sound when we turn the key. Above all, does it get our adrenaline flowing when we simply go out for a drive. In a day and age where cars are weighed down by government safety regulations, technology and each company trying to outdo the next guy, it’s nice to see that BMW makes at least one car that throws up its middle finger and shows us that a car can still be a good time.

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PRO’s: Great styling, gobs of torque, impressive performance, great price.

CON’s: Narrow 245-series tires, aging 5-speed transmission, may be a little too aggressive for some.

FINAL THOUGHT: A modern muscle-sedan that provides tire shredding performance in a package that’s all-day comfy and wonderfully styled.

Hurdling down Interstate 680 in Northern, CA in the new 2013 Chrysler 300 SRT8 is an exercise in restraint. On the one hand you’ve got this big American luxo-sled that’s reminiscent of the big Chrysler’s of yesteryear. And on the other you’ve got a player that has the ability to put some serious hurt on the best that Europe and Asia has to offer, something that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

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So here we are – you, me and the 2013 Ford Taurus SEL. This is a car that I really wanted to like, I mean I really did, but unfortunately, I just couldn’t get behind it. This is the sixth generation of Ford’s family hauler, the Taurus. This is the vehicle that redefined what a family car should aspire to be back in the 1980′s. However since its release almost 30-years ago, the Taurus has seemingly lost its way. Yes it will still haul you and your family, but it’s also trying to be a jack-of-all-trades, and unfortunately this is where things go south.

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Thumbs Up: Better than the last Beetle Convertible in every way

Thumbs Down: Cloth seats not available, not much rear passenger room

Buy This Car If: You were there in the 1970s and long for your first Beetle convertible

It’s probably safe to say that few cars ever sold in North America achieved quite as large a cult following as the original Volkswagen Beetle. Countless numbers of us learned to drive behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Beetle, and those of us in snow-belt states soon learned the advantage of skinny tires and a rear-mounted engine in winter. We also learned about things like snap oversteer on black ice, ejecting windshield wiper blades and a heating system that varied between “primitive” and “nonexistent.” Read More…

PRO’s: Outstanding luxury, wonderful performance and loads of useful technology.

CON’s: Big price, hesitant acceleration in comfort mode.

FINAL THOUGHT: One of the best high-end luxury sedans on the market today, regardless of price or pedigree.

For most of us, traveling first class is something that dreams are made of. We wait in line, baggage in hand until our group is called, and then, like lemmings jumping to our deaths, get corralled onto our planes or trains, only to find that we’re seated next to the crying baby or the large man with the glandular disorder. It’s an awful experience for all who are involved and it makes us yearn for the better things in life. Every now and then though, fate smiles upon us and presents us with a gift that not only boosts our morale, but brightens our day. This happened to me last week when a new 2013 BMW 750Li press car appeared in my driveway.

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Thumbs Up: Perhaps the best-looking midsize sedan, premium feel

Thumbs Down: Could use more power, transmission not particularly sporty

Buy This Car If: You’re shopping for a midsize sedan with good looks and an upscale feel

While this may not come as a surprise to many readers, Mazda doesn’t sell nearly as many Mazda6 sedans as Honda sells Accords or Toyota sells Camrys. That’s not to say the previous Mazda6 was a bad car, but it was easily lost in the crowd, especially when competitors spend serious money on television and print advertising. Read More…

Thumbs Up: Reasonable power and ride quality

Thumbs Down: Sport in name only with CVT

Buy This Car If: You want Honda reliability in a relatively entertaining midsize sedan

When Honda redesigned the Accord for the 2013 model year, it also made a serious attempt to broaden the product line and appeal to an even wider array of customers. One such model is the new-for-2013 Accord Sport, which lies one step up from the bottom of the range and is meant to appeal to younger buyers looking for some entertainment value with their family sedan. Read More…