Elbowed out of the limelight for 2015 by rock-star Mustangs and F-150s, Ford's face-lifted Expedition has earned minimal hoopla. But cheaper gas and a recovering economy have spurred full-size SUV sales, so the timing is right for the largest sport-ute wearing the blue oval to win more customers seeking maximum seating and towing capabilities. READ MORE ››
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"This thing is a rattletrap." – Alexander Stoklosa, Online Editor
Our long-term Mini Cooper S Hardtop is barely 15,000 miles into its stay with us, and already it is beginning to make unpleasant noises. We have yet to get the Mini's orchestra of loose trim pieces, rattling heat shielding, and bizarre suspension clunks checked out, but some of the issues are easily diagnosed by the layperson. A hook that juts out of the rear-seat driver's-side door panel—we still aren't sure what it's for—is finger-loose, something in the trunk wants our attention RIGHT NOW, and the panoramic sunroof's shade jiggles in its mounts. The other noises are more elusive.
One such sound that's evaded our curious scouring emanates from the front end when lifting quickly off of the throttle. Audible only on smooth roads where tire noise is kept low, the sound is a sort of metallic clattering, like a loose heat shield somewhere in the engine bay. More concerning is the "snapping" that registers from beneath the rear seat over chassis-twisting events like speed bumps and steep driveway entrances. Slow down to a crawl, and the sound disappears; traverse speed bumps like those found in our office park at any faster speed, and there is a sharp clunk from the rear suspension. It has been suggested by more than one staffer that the sound could be bushing-related, but any such issue would seem remarkable given our long-term Mini's extreme youth.
It should be noted that loose interior trim pieces and other rattles, squeaks, and shimmies aren't uncommon in Minis. Our long-term 2011 Mini Countryman succumbed to similar maladies after only about 10,000 miles, and our 2009 Mini Cooper JCW convertible suffered a nearly identical decline. A big part of the problem, we have surmised, is the Mini's stiff suspension and low-profile run-flat tires. Mix in the Mini's commendably stiff body shell, and, well, it only takes so much jostling on Michigan's cratered roads to start shaking stuff loose. An interior trim engineer (who doesn't work for Mini) has hypothesized to us that the car's trim issues may be an unavoidable side effect of Mini's thriving accessories business. The trim pieces' clip design makes quick removal and attachment a snap (pun intended) for dealers and allows for speedy and inexpensive customization, but it may not be as ideal for keeping the plastic pieces in place over time.
We'll bring you an update as soon as we can get our Mini checked out at the dealer, but needless to say, the fitment of squishier winter rubber has to be welcome relief for our hard-riding hatchback—and our editorial buttocks. In the meantime, we'll continue to appreciate its quick and nimble around-town character and its snappy handling.
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from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/nSHy27
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What We See: In this digital pre-roll—that's the jargon used to describe the ads that you have to endure before you get to see what you really want to watch—we see a target-shopper age-appropriate actor dressed in a target-shopper age-appropriate outfit in front of a Corolla S sedan that's shot from that low, three-quarter front angle that makes any car look good. After a silly, target-shopper age-appropriate intro ("I get it, you've got places to go, kittens to see"), he suggests that instead, you "GO FUN YOURSELF. "Say whaaaaa? F bombs away! Then he pops into frame from the right side of the screen and instructs you to click on the car, not the Skip Ad button. By doing so, he promptly blocks most of another super that says something no one will read or remember, and then the whole scene morphs into Toyota's 1964 World's Fair globe–inspired mega ball umbrella logo.
What We Think: Go Fun Yourself? How juvenile! How inappropriate! How wonderful! And you thought only Guy Fieri could get away with double-entendre ear-teasers like "Shut the front door," "Mutha fatha," and "Kiss my asparagus." No, this slogan isn't for everybody, and I'm sure that some viewers—even in the Corolla's young target demographic—will find this campaign as offensive as the Breaking Bad action figures that were recently banned from Target (I love mine, by the way).
But, hey, it's a jungle out there and cutting through the clutter gets tougher every week, so I say go for it. The spot (along with two similar ones) was created by Saatchi & Saatchi New York, but it really trickled down from the Toyota Aygo commercial created for the European market by Saatchi London this summer. But they weren't the first to use the line either: Go Fun Yourself was the debut album for Super Happy Fun Club way back in 2011. Of course, you might not find that relevant, to which I say—wait for it—"Go fun yourself."
RATING: 5 out of 5
Award-winning ad man–cum–auto journalist Don Klein knows a good (or bad) car commercial when he sees one; this is his space to tell you what he thinks of the latest spots. The ad's rating is depicted on a scale of one (terrible) to five (transcendent), but everyone has an opinion when it comes to advertising, so hit Backfires below and tell us what you think, too. And be sure to read more of Don's advertising critiques here.
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I'm waiting for the light to turn green, thinking that I must remember my excuse (crackers and hummus?) for leaving the house at 9pm at the end of a busy day just so I could drive this bright red, 4-door, 6-speed manual, 210-horsepower, 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI. But it's an awfully normal car. It's not barking or bellowing or champing at the bit. Any gear will do. It's not announcing the roughness of our coastal roads. I can see out of it. It's completely tractable. It's just a Golf.
Only a few weeks prior, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf 1.8TSI left me impressed, led me to believe that it was a terrific foundation for a GTI, and generated many more smiles per mile than I anticipated. Now, in mid-December, a week-long Christmas present from Volkswagen Canada seemed very much to be that first car, but with plaid seats, an upgraded equipment list, an extra cog in the gearbox, bigger wheels, and slightly sportier exterior styling.
Yes, it's all very normal, this seventh-generation GTI. When you want it to be.
And when you don't, the 2015 GTI maintains its disdain for MazdaSpeed 3-like raw exuberance while expressing itself instead through polished, refined, measured, soul-stirring performance; conducting itself with the grace and poise one expects from a far pricier German performance car.
The cabin, replete with a properly large sunroof, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, 8-speaker Fender audio, and keyless access, creates an overall impression of solidity, high-grade material quality, and relative simplicity. I love the plaid seats; my Mazda 3-driving neighbour was disgusted by their retro vibe. The rearview camera is easily washed out and offers little assistance at night. The infotainment unit's graphics and speed are comically outdated. A marginal increase in rear seat legroom would be welcome even at the expense of cargo capacity. And of course, seats folded, the GTI becomes a delivery van, with 53.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Volkswagen's own Tiguan offers only 2.4 extra cubic feet of total cargo space.
Consequently, the MK7 GTI feels delightfully small to toss down an empty rural road, but it has the decorum of a much larger car when traversing rough city streets and cruising down the highway on a long journey. Ride quality is firmer than what you'll encounter in a conventional Golf, but only moderately so. Meanwhile, the degree of steering and handling sharpness acquired by the GTI in its transition out of the Golf's cocoon is palpable the moment you apply a bit of pressure.
The regular Golf, remember, is a fun car to drive quickly. It's like playing intramural basketball: watch me drop a couple three-pointers before clanging one off the front of the rim and I don't care since we're just messing around and we're all enjoying ourselves at this pace aren't we? The GTI locked in a college scholarship in its junior year of high school with a killer crossover, a deadly fadeaway jumper, a solid defensive game, plenty of offensive rebounds, and a few crowd-silencing dunks. All modestly celebrated, of course. It's a GTI, after all. Mature, prudent, sophisticated.
Press a button beside the shifter to choose Sport settings and the car tenses up in all the right places. The electric-assist steering could still be a bit quicker to react, but that hardly noticeable deficiency may be due to the winter tires more than any of the GTI's inherent trait.
That the new GTI could readily amaze with its on-road behaviour is a testament to both the quality of its Continental ContiWinterContacts and the car's own beautifully modulated suspension setup. Sure, the Volkswagen GTI is blissfully dull and cordially mundane when you're driving your mother-in-law's aunt to church. But 258 lb-ft of always-on torque, a short-throw shifter and a clutch with a clear point of engagement (which may be too high for some) come together with a perfect driving position, small car tossability, sports car grip, and grand touring unflappability to create a car that you can use to scare your nephews.
The GTI, perhaps now more than ever, overcomes class distinctions. This Mk7 GTI's performance goes beyond what its specifications suggest. Both in terms of style and texture, the interior possesses the aura of a car priced in excess of $40,000. As befits its mission, the latest GTI caters to all the priorities of its targeted buyer, and it does so without compromising on one front or another. It is a performance car, and it is a small family car, and it is not less of a performance car because it's a small family car, nor is it less of a small family car because it's a performance car.
Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures.
The post Capsule Review: 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
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