The American Crew: 2007 Year in Review (Part 1)
As we turn yet another page in the history books, we look back at some of the highlights in the American realm of car manufacturing over the past few years:
Chevrolet in Review- Hearts were broken the day they discontinued the Camaro, but recently has begun singing again once the concept pictures of the all new 2008 retro Camaro were released. The only thing that even comes close to that of the new Camaro concept car is the new Chevrolet Corvette. Perhaps it’s the rumble of the Corvette’s 505 horsepower V-8, or maybe the new sleek European type styling; actually it is probably just the fact that American muscle is still alive and well in an era of economy and ultra strict emissions.
The American police force can’t be wrong; and neither will you if you thought of buying a new Chevrolet Impala. One of Chevrolet’s most popular selling cars in the late 50’s, the Impala is still going strong in today’s market as a high-performance Caprice Classic. Great horsepower and decent handling for both the V-6 and V-8 version, the Impala would be sure to give the new Ford Mustang a run for its money.
One nice little highlight over the years has to be the new Chevrolet Cobalt. This stylish compact has more choices of add-ons than vanilla ice cream sundae. They come with stand still under body lighting kits, superchargers, ground effects, and upgraded suspension packages… and that is only scratching the surface of a super cool car with a base price of just over $12,000. A few steps below the Cobalt’s site rest the modest Chevrolet Aveo. Now this is not my favorite vehicle that has ever come out of the Chevrolet assembly line. Admittedly an all around sound vehicle that will get you from A to B; but Consumer reports puts it as, “the Aveo sedan and hatchback are simply) Daewoos rebadged as Chevrolet’sâ€, and this was not meant to a compliment!
If hauling loved ones is more important than tree stumps the Chevrolet Uplander is a cool little minivan that looks more like that of an SUV. Featuring an all new performance enhanced V-6 and an onboard entertainment system for those really long trips, the Uplander has moved to one of the most well equipped minivans on the market today. If you are actually looking for an SUV, then the Chevrolet Equinox is a great introductory mid-size. The Equinox seats five comfortably, and is a much lower cost option than much of its competition.
Inspired by the 1950’s Suburban, the Chevrolet HHR (Heritage High Roof) resembles the PT cruiser in more than just one way. But what the heck, out of all the other “me too cruisers†soon to be popping up; this one has a remote starter for those cold winter mornings before work. Now if your immediate family is larger than five, then the Chevrolet Tahoe just might be what you have been looking for to tote your miniature parade around the town. Seats nine passengers comfortably, with even enough room for the dog; the Tahoe proves that sometimes bigger is better!
Chrysler in Review- The Chrysler name has signified dignity and quality since your Daddy was just a glimmer in your Grandma’s eye. Simple to work on and familiar to just about any mechanic. Inside every Chrysler building you will always find three things: Quality, integrity, and a showroom full of some of the most classic designed vehicles you will find anywhere. There are so many Chrysler cars to choose from, how does one ever choose which Chrysler is right for them. Well, lets sort through a heaping handful of Chrysler’s (past and present), and see if we can’t narrow it down a little bit for you.
Let us kick things off with the award winning Chrysler 300C, which was named one of Car and Drivers 10 best full-sized sedans for 2006. Now this would make the fourth time in a row that the Chrysler 300 has achieved this award; not too shabby. Prior to the 300C preceded the Chrysler 300M, which was a beautifully engineered vehicle back in 2001, but I must say the M is much more refined and agile when you take it to the road.
Since 1993 the Chrysler Concorde has had a strong following of loyal customers who seem to approve of its roomy interior and classy aerodynamic styling. The Concorde is definitely considered a premium luxury sedan by all definitions, but the smooth handling and powerful engine are the most fun part of owning one. What was that? Did you say that the 300C and Concorde was just not big and luxurious enough for you? Well then you are going to have to wait for the 2008 Chrysler Imperial to satiate that appetite.
The Chrysler Imperial (Concept), a concept car, could quite frankly be called the Titanic of luxury sedans. At 17 inches longer and six inches taller than the 300C, and it is about as close as you will ever get to a Rolls Royce at its price range. This production flagship will clearly set a new benchmark for affordable luxury, and with a little help from Chrysler financial; maybe now we can at last know how the other half lives.
Moving on over to the more sporty side of things we find the Chrysler Sebring. This roomy, luxurious, European styled sedan proves that you can have everything in a sports car and still be able to fit a full sized family between the doors comfortably. Now if the Sebring does not quite have enough sport feel for you, then perhaps you should step up to the Chrysler Crossfire, which is Chrysler’s answer to the mid-sized mid-aged crisis. With plenty of power, style, class, and only enough room for you and your suitcase; the Crossfire promises you one thing. That wherever you are going; people will definitely notice when you get there!
Last but certainly not least is Chrysler’s answer to the SUV craze in America. Built with “step across†height to give riders the comfort of neither climbing up nor down to get in, the Chrysler Pacifica would make a comfortable vehicle for any sized passengers. The Pacifica manages to combine practicality with great handling, plus add in the space of a low roofed minivan for convenient city driving and parking. Chrysler… who could ask for anything more!
With the introduction of the 1989 Acura NSX (all-aluminum body) super car, Japan took on the markets of Ferrari and Porsche head on with this 276 horsepower sport coupe and emerged in the dust to tell about it. Today, even the mention of the NSX brings tingles down the spines of tuners far and wide. But for many of us average Jane’s and Joe’s; settling for the less expensive Acura Integra will have to do as a close second best.
The Acura MDX SUV forefronts the luxury end of things, while the Acura RDX is considered as more of a tuned crossover compact. The MDX is a mid-duty family hauler designed for those occasional excursions into the wild. With enough power and torque to get you where you need to go, your Acura MDX will not leave you stranded unless you wander into the “extreme†off-road. The Acura RDX, with its turbo-tuned engineering is considered Acura’s answer to the popular BMW X5. Built to cruise the open highways, yet topple a mountain side or two if pushed to the task, the RDX is quite at home in both the city and country. Both make a great choice, as size and functionality will probably be your main deciding factor.
Off the beaten path the 2007 Honda Element emerges as a rather surprisingly rugged vehicle ready for almost anything. Featuring a scratch resistant interior and water resistant seating and cargo area; the Element is clearly designed for the serious outdoor adventurer who does not have time to worry about the elements damaging their vehicle. Not necessarily meant for the beaten path; but the Element can none-the-less take a beating and still look great! The Honda HR-V (Hybrid Recreational Vehicle) is your vehicle of choice to get you where you need to go by using its real time hydraulically activated 4X4 capability. Unfortunately only shipped in Europe at the moment, the HR-V is a decent overall economy mini SUV.
With the extreme current competition involved with the mini SUV market, it takes something special to really stand out these days, and the Honda CRV just may have what it takes to get the job done. Designed more for street use, the CRV still gives a rather purposeful appearance and offers a roomy interior with a small enough exterior to easily maneuver through any parking garage and alleyway you will come across during your average day to day excursions. The lack of a V-6 version is about the biggest weakness found in the CRV lineup; but when you consider the price of gas, you have to seriously question yourself if that is really a weakness!
The 2007 Nissan Altima is considered Nissan’s top selling vehicle today, and is by all intense purposes an all around good value. With engines option that vary anywhere from 175 horsepower to 260, and enough safety features to make the daily driver breathe a slight sigh of relief when they slip behind the wheel every morning; the Altima is a rather conservative option for anyone to consider. An even less stylish alternative is the aging Nissan Maxima, but as nothing has changed on this model since 2002, I think I will leave this one where it stands.
Back to the price-conscious slice of the market we find the all new Nissan Versa which is basically your typical hatchback subcompact that you find with every other manufacturer on the streets. Albeit not a huge thrill to drive; just keep telling yourself what great gas mileage you are getting! Nissan of course also realizes the value of the human desire to carry stuff around with them, thus opens the door for a line of trucks, minivans, and SUV’s.
The Nissan Murano is Nissan’s version of the SUV. The Murano is based on the Altima sedan platform and hosts a fair amount of standard features, such as all-wheel drive, ABS brakes, and side air bags. Along the same lines of the Murano is the Nissan Quest, which changes up the exterior with more of a minivan appearance. Besides the appearance, optional rearview TV camera, and run flat tires; the Quest is not that much different from the Murano. Flip a coin and go with it!
 