RideLust

The Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger. Three legendary names that have been back in the automotive fold for quite some time now. They’re all classified as muscle / pony cars, but at days end they couldn’t be more different from each other. The real question though is, which one is right for you. Before we answer this you need to put aside your bias for your favorite brand and ask yourself one simple question – What am I going to use it for? At first the answer may seem simple, but I assure you, the more you think about the question, the more difficult your final decision will be.

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• 2013 Volvo S60 T5 R
It’s true. Volvo is not generally looked upon as a manufacturer of fast cars. Well built cars yes, but fast cars, no. However all that changed when I slid behind the wheel of this 2013 Volvo S60 T5 R. The smooth running turbocharged inline-6 makes 325 hp and 354 lb.ft. of torque helping this blue Swede hit 60 mph in just a hair over 5-seconds and run the quarter in around 13.6. Hell, the fact that it’s that quick AND a Volvo automatically make it a shoe-in for a sleeper car list.

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Thumbs Up: Impressive handling and fuel economy; good content for the money

Thumbs Down: Dated exterior design

Buy This Car If: You want a commuter car that delivers both features and frugality

Just a few short years ago , a car that served up features like a blind spot detection system, adaptive headlights, Bluetooth audio streaming, navigation, keyless entry with push-button start, rain-sensing wipers and a Bose Centerpoint surround-sound audio system would have fallen into the luxury car realm, priced far out of reach of the average consumer. Read More…

Thumbs Up: Looks good, best-equipped Kia we’ve ever driven

Thumbs Down: More chrome does not equal more luxury

Buy This Car If: You’re a Kia loyalist who’s looking for entry-level luxury

Not too many years ago, Korean automotive brands were shopped almost exclusively by those who couldn’t afford a Japanese alternative. Then Hyundai and Kia borrowed a page from the Japanese automaker playbook; once they’d drawn in the initial batch of customers with low prices, the Korean brands began to step up quality. Read More…

Thumbs Up: Usable back seat, Acura quality with a Honda price tag

Thumbs Down: Stops just short of being a driver’s car

Buy This Car If: You need sedan-like room but prefer a coupe body style

Honda has completely revamped its Accord lineup for 2013, and an all-new Accord Coupe is among the models. While that may have been met with some indifference in the past, the 2013 Honda Accord Coupe is a surprisingly capable car that looks great both inside and out. In fact, the only thing we can’t figure out about the new Accord Coupe, especially in higher-trim versions, is why it’s sporting a Honda badge and not an Acura logo. Read More…

PRO’s: Great styling, tons of usable space, room for 7 adults, above average visibility and BIG POWER!!

CON’s: Under bolstered front seats.

FINAL THOUGHT: A wonderful alternative to the standard SUV/Minivan that provides all day comfort, big power, room for seven and a driving experience that is MUCH better than you’d expect.

If you were a kid from the mid-1940′s to the mid-1980′s then the odds of you being shuffled around by your parents in a station wagon were pretty damn good. You see before the minivan and the SUV came into the picture, wagons were the shizznit. In fact it hasn’t been until recently that manufacturers are taking a second look and wondering if they should revisit a formula that worked so well for over 40 years. For most people saying “minivan” or “station wagon” is a dirty thing. I mean they’re driven by people who are old, have no fun and are martyrs to their children, right? Well, not really. You see these big behemoths of the open road were people movers and served a purpose that few other vehicles could match. It’s now 2013 and although wagons are few and far between these days, that hasn’t stopped some manufacturers from re-imagining what the wagon should be.

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Thumbs Up: Still delivers razor-sharp handling and superb value

Thumbs Down: Long overdue for replacement

Buy This Car If: You prefer your affordable fun in topless form

Mazda’s MX-5 Miata, in its current form, dates back to the 2006 model year. That’s when the second generation of the world’s favorite sports car gave way to the current generation, dubbed “NC” in Miata-speak. Seven years is a long time to sell any model without significant changes, but the Mazda MX-5 Miata has one primary advantage: it’s outlived all of its competition. Read More…

PRO’s: Stunning styling, beautiful interior, sporty chassis with confidence inspiring road manners.

CON’s: 1.6-liter Ecoboost is a bit underpowered, SYNC is still annoying, do we really need park assist technology?

FINAL THOUGHT: The beauty of the new 2013 Ford Fusion is that depending on how it’s optioned out, it can truly be a car that anyone would be proud to own. It offers good value, fuel economy and interior room, along with the best styling in the business.

So here you have it, the newly redesigned 2013 Ford Fusion. It’s got all new sheet metal, no less than four different engine options (including a hybrid model), a stylish new interior, and pricing that ranges from $23,700.00 all the way up to $40K depending on the model and options. The Fusion has gained a reputation for offering up good reliability and fuel economy, with an image that never makes one feel like they’re driving around in some cookie cutter sedan.

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Thumbs Up: Far more refined than its cousin, the Honda Civic Si

Thumbs Down: Navigation unavailable, average fuel economy

Buy This Car If: You’re looking for a commuter car that isn’t boring to drive

Had things gone according to plan, Acura’s ILX sedan would have been an instant success the moment it hit dealer showrooms, allowing Honda’s luxury brand to put the aging TSX sedan out to pasture. On paper, at least, the ILX delivers the goods: it’s available in models ranging from hybrid though sport-tuned, looks good and delivers a fair amount of content for the price. Acura even wrapped it in a slick ad campaign that said, effectively, dad would have bought this car if he hadn’t been burdened with the responsibility of a family first. We weren’t sure what it meant, either, but then again we’re not exactly in the ILX’s target demographic. Read More…

Thumbs Up: Comfortable ride, quiet cabin

Thumbs Down: Turbo engine and manual transmission, but little entertainment value

Buy This Car If: You prefer to row your own gears, yet want comfort over performance

Buick’s Verano sedan was built to deliver the fuel-sipping advantages of a compact, while serving up more content than buyers in the class are used to. While the Verano was new for the 2012 model year, a turbocharged variant, dubbed the Verano Premium, has been introduced for 2013. Now that GM brand Pontiac is history, the company is hoping that Buick can pick up some of the enthusiast buyers left in the cold by Pontiac’s shuttering. Read More…