Behind The Wheel: 2013 VW Beetle Convertible- QT for the OC

Last summer I drove the restyled VW Beetle Turbo and came away impressed indeed- especially with the more masculine, 356-like styling, upgraded interior and the spirited performance that reminded me of my first and second generation GTIs back in my college days.

So when Volkswagen called and offered me a crack at the new Beetle Convertible, who was I to be impolite and decline? I met them in Newport Beach on a Friday afternoon and they handed me the keys (okay, the fob)  to a $32,295 (plus destination) Beetle Convertible Turbo with Sound and Navigation Package and Automatic in a smart Reef Blue color.

I dropped the top and headed to Laguna to see how the locals would react. Although it normally takes a much pricier car to turn a head in the OC, the sporty little Beetle received nods and waves, and why not? The redesigned car, as I noted last year, is much more like a 356 than a Beetle, and there's nothing they like better in the OC than a Porsche.

And even side from being a surfer magnet, the Beetle Convertible has a lot to offer. First I'm impressed by what it doesn't have- noise and vibration. There's no cowl shake to speak of and the three layer convertible top is the quietest soft top I have ever experienced- even freeway driving is a pleasure. It's maybe a decibel or two louder than the coupe.  The audio system can actually be heard and enjoyed with the top up or down. It's a one-touch system for lowering the top and side windows, so it's effortless fun for all the sun chasers. One thing that's far from one touch is the Rube Goldberg device that they called the top boot- I've had convertibles since the 70s and this is the first time that I just gave up and stuffed the damn thing in the trunk. Fortunately, the top's appearance when lowered is not objectionable.

The engine was the same 2.0 liter 200 HP Turbo I drove last summer, although this time it was mated to VW's six speed Automatic. I'm not normally a fan of multi-speed Automatics and this is no exception. I understand the need to achieve CAFE numbers, but how about a Sport mode? The calibration was so biased in favor of fuel economy that it was always one gear ahead of where I wanted to be. I overcame with manual mode but a sport button would be lovely. As it is, I'd opt for the six speed manual and use the thousand dollar savings to pay for all the extra gas I'd plan to burn.

This car was also equipped with the Fender Premium Audio and Navigation, and I must admit that the Fender is a big improvement over the base and a luxury worth investing in. It has Sirius XM, 400 watts of power and nine speakers and created a sound that was rich and enjoyable whether the top was raised or lowered. I was much more meh on the Navigation, which was pleasant enough to use but whose display seemed scarcely larger than an iPhone. I can take it or leave it but the package also includes the leather interior that I very much liked, so just ignore it.

Even in Southern California, some rain must fall and the Beetle and I had a full day of rain testing (oh, the things I do for my readers.) I'm happy to report that the Beetle's snug little beret allowed not one drip of water inside and the heater kept the cabin toasty warm. While I won't claim that it was more fun in the rain than in the sun, there was certainly no penalty involved.

And that really sums up the Beetle Convertible- it's so well designed and well constructed that one could literally forget that its a convertible until the top button is pushed- and that's serious praise indeed. My list of likes is long, and quibbles are few. If you're shopping for a convertible, this one belongs on the short list.

Chicago Style- That 70s Auto Show

1971 Chevrolet Display

 The Chicago Auto Show Press Days concluded this week, with the show opening to the public tomorrow. The very thought of it made me shudder- remembering the brutal winter cold and sudden snowstorms that I encountered working it back in the 80s and 90s. There was always a freak winter blizzard somewhere during the show's run. Not quite the thing of which nostalgia is made.

But all hope is not lost- the CATA, which runs the show, maintains an excellent website with a marvelous historical photo file that goes back decades, so not only can you browse the show from the comforts of home, you can also select a time when new cars were actually interesting and when you could tell them apart.

I've chosen the decade of the seventies, because the cars were wild and colorful and the photos are in color. Each of the photos merits study- they're chock full of special cars and rare models. And the colors are amazing. So grab your platform shoes, but the Bee Gees in the 8-Track and turn on the disco ball- we're going to that 70s Auto Show, and we're doing it Chicago Style:

Pontiac for 1972

1973 Ford Display

Cadillac for 1974

GMC Motor Homes for 1974

AMC for 1975 including the new Pacer

1975 Buick Indy Pace Car

Lincoln display for 1975

Buick for 1976 including another Indy Pace Car

Porsche/ Audi for 1977

Chevrolet for 1977

1977 Plymouth Arrow display

1977 Ford Cruising Van and Pinto Crusing Wagon

The downsized 1977 Thunderbird

AMC's Grand Pacer of 1978

AMC Gremlins of 1978

Cadillac for 1979

The all new 1979 Riviera S-Type

Chevrolet for 1979, with Chevette on the turntable

Lincoln is Trying to Kill Me

Lincoln is at it again. First they rip my heart out and stomp on it with their utter inability to correctly identify their own models, I screamed at the top of my lungs and once a couple of major blogs picked up the story, low and behold, they managed to find a bright fourteen year old to rectify the most glaring errors.

So I start to think, maybe they're getting better. WRONG. And then I saw THIS. This- the most ghastly automobile commercial in the history of mankind. This- which makes Infiniti's "rocks and trees" look like "The Dodge Rebellion." THIS, which makes me pine for the halcyon days of "We're Not Your Father's Oldsmobile." Just tie me to the railroad tracks already.

Grab your airsickness bag, here's is Lincoln's utterly pitiful Super Bowl Ad. I dare you to get past the first alpaca:



Memo to Ford: Just go ahead and shut it down. We'd rather remember the greatness that it was than live through the festering ooze that you have allowed it to become.

Behind The Wheel: 2013 Toyota RAV4- The Original Crossover Crosses Over

The restyled fourth generation Toyota RAV4 will begin arriving on our shores at the end of this month. The RAV4, which is credited with creating the compact crossover segment, enters its fourth generation with a totally restyled exterior and interior, as well as a new six speed transmission and other refinements to a largely carried over platform.

 The overall dimensions of the new RAV4 are very similar to the prior one- same wheelbase, total length down two inches, overall height down about an inch and width reduced by .04 of an inch. The three row version is gone and the new generation is offered only as a five passenger vehicle in three trim levels- LE, XLE, and Limited. Both FWD and All Wheel Drive versions are offered.

 The exterior is totally restyled and is generally consistent with the look of current Toyota passenger car offerings. The front end styling is much more aerodynamic and also more carlike than its predecessor- whereas the RAV4 started the Tonka Truck club, it's now much more Camry than Tundra. This means upright truck grilles and high hood lines have given way to curves and improved aerodynamics. The look is pleasing and sophisticated, and again far less truck inspired than before.

 The biggest change on the exterior comes in the rear, where the cargo door has given way to a top hinged rear liftgate and the iconic outside mounted spare has disappeared beneath the rear cargo floor. Score one for to consumer clinics, but the result is a less distinctive design and diminished brand continuity- from the back it could be a Kia or an Audi. That aspect aside, the overall effect of the styling is contemporary and pleasing. It's a handsome member of a crowded class, but it's not a standout.

 Seventeen inch steel wheels are standard, the XLE gets 17 inch alloys and the Limited rolls on twin spoke 18 inch alloys. A great deal of attention has been paid toairflow including tailored corners, smooth edged fascias and even restyled front fender liners in order to maximize efficiency. The overall drag coefficient has been lowered from .334 to .329, which makes the RAV4 quieter as well as more fuel efficient.

 The change inside is much more dramatic. The entire interior has been redesigned and taken upscale- the instrument panel has a baby Lexus feel, the materials are all soft to the touch, the steering column angle has been reduced, and the overall effect is very carlike. The seats themselves are redesigned with a slim front seatback that improves rear knee room, and the rearward adjustment has been increased by .8 inches.

The LE and XLE have cloth trim, but the Limited stands out here with hide-like SofTex trim and a two toning pattern they call "Color Block", which introduces an accent color to the seats, dash and door panels. The effect ranges from subtle to outstanding - the Terra Cotta scheme is an attention getter, the beige and gray much more subtle and there is still a monochromatic black for those allergic to fashion.

 French stitching on the seats and instrument panels are also included on the XLE and Limited models as well as a power moonroof. The redesigned dash continues with Toyota's current theme of spreading out in a horizontal fashion and raising the display screen as high as possible.

 Speaking of the screen, it's a 6.1 inch color display with backup camera, HVAC and audio integrated and is standard on all models. The XLE and Limited offer optionalintegrated Navigation with Sirius/XM radio, HD Radio with iTunes tagging, advanced voice recognition and Text to speech capabilities, as well as Toyota's Entune multimedia system with Bing, iHeart radio,and Pandora. Advanced JBL audio is also available on the Limited.

 Safety has been given attention too, with eight standard airbags - consisting of driver and front passenger, driver's knee and passenger seat cushion, front seat side mounted, and side curtain airbags for the front and rear passengers. If you're getting the impression that a whole lot of attention has been paid to the look and feel of the interior, then you get it. With the recent influx of redesigned compact crossovers on the market, Toyota decided to step up it's interior game.

 The basic platform is retained, with a few changes made. The V-6 offering was dropped, leaving the 2.5 liter four cylinder engine as the sole power plant. It develops 176 HP and 172 lb.-ft. of torque, and is mated to a new six speed automatic transmission with three drive modes- Standard, Sport, and ECO, and a "Flex-Start" locking Torque Converter. The result of these changes is improved fuel economy. The FWD is rated at 24 City/ 31 Highway / 26 combined, and the AWD is rated at 22/ 29/ 25, or only one mile per gallon less than the FWD. That's a 2 mpg improvement for the FWD and one mpg better as an AWD.

With the V6 gone, and no talk of Hybrid or diesel power. It looks like their game plan is extract the maximum efficiency from the 2.5 liter four and not try and address every niche in the marketplace. One chassis statistic worth noting is ground clearance- ground clearance is 6.2 inches, down 1.2 inches from last year. Again we see how much more carlike the RAV4 has become.

 There are no surprises when you turn the key. The RAV4 is smooth, comfortable, and above all, carlike. There are no rough edges remaining. The engine is Toyota smooth, of course, and adequately powerful. The six speed automatic is by far the most entertaining in Sport mode, and there are genuine differences in its behavior when ECO is selected. The seats are supportive and comfortable, the handling is predicable and the ride is smooth. It would be an excellent choice for a cross country adventure.

 I did have the opportunity to take the AWD offroad briefly and it seemed competent, but bear in mind we were in Scottsdale and not Moab and this little cruiser is more suited for climbing the Beverly Hills. It's pretty evident under hard acceleration that it's a four cylinder car, and in those moments you'll click your heels together and wish for a Turbo variant, but otherwise it's quite smooth and effortless. The steering is noteworthy because although I generally hate electronic power steering, the engineers at Toyota have managed to increase feedback into the system (remember when we used to call it road feel?) and the result is an electronic system that isn't a trip down Novocaine Lane.

 To sum it up. the car that created the compact crossover craze has finally crossed over. Think of it as a tall, fuel efficient car that will haul all of the drag bags you can throw at it. It's strongest suits are a luxuriously appointed interior and Toyota reliability. Priced from $24,145 for the base LE to $29,255 for an AWD Limited, it should give the new kids on the block a run for their money.

2013 Toyota RAV4
5 Passenger FWD/ AWD Crossover
Powertrain: 2.5 Liter 4 Cyl. VVT, 6 Speed Automatic Transmission
Fuel Economy- 24/31 FWD, 22/29 AWD
Base Price Range- $24,145 LE/ $29,255 Limited AWD
Suspension F/R- Ind/ Trailing Arm
Wheels 17"/17" Steel (LE), 17'/17" alloy (XLE), 18'/18' alloy (Limited)
Brakes: disc/disc f/r with ABS
Must have features: Upscale interior, standard back up cam, legendary reliability

Little Red Corvette

The big news out of the Detroit Auto Show on Sunday night was the reveal of the long awaited 2014 Corvette Stingray. Why don't you just go ahead and watch:

Lincoln Applies a Tourniquet

1956 Continental Mark II (Lincoln Motor Company)

You may recall that last week, I was the teensiest bit annoyed with the folks at Lincoln Motor Company. It seems like it was something about their new Lincoln Motor Co. Tumblr Page and their utter inability to caption a photograph correctly and the devastating message it sent to the dwindling number of folks to whom they are still relevant. Yes, it's coming back to me now.

I chose a snappy, upbeat headline, calling the piece "Every Day, Lincoln Plunges a Knife into My Heart." Dramatic, yes- but conventional social networking had failed and I was really starting to feel bad for them, You see, I was Lincoln when Lincoln wasn't cool. Well, technically, Lincoln still isn't actually cool but you get the idea.

The story got some decent volume behind it and then the nice folks over at Hemmings Motor News featured it on Saturday, so it got a whole rush of energy. I got notes and comments from lots of folks who shared my frustration, although I never heard a peep out of Lincoln directly.

I checked the site on a whim yesterday and  noticed that four of the five of the captions are now corrected (I had thoughtfully posted the correct captions in the original rant. You're welcome, Lincoln.) The 1948 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet, the 1953 Lincoln Capri, the 1956 Continental Mark II and the 1941 Lincoln Continental Coupe are all right as rain and the ghost of Edsel Ford is smiling down upon Dearborn.

1933 Lincoln KA Convertible Roadster (Lincoln Motor Co)

All is not perfect, of course- the 1933 KA Convertible Roadster is still identified as the cheaper Roadster, and the 1929 Le Baron Aero Phaeton is missing its Aero, but four out of five were corrected and all in all I give them an A- for effort. We do want them to succeed after all, and this was certainly a welcome gesture. Kudos to Lincoln for a worthwhile effort.

Now bring us an updated 1961 Lincoln Continental.

Every Day, Lincoln Plunges a Knife Into My Heart

1956 Continental Mark II at LA Press Day

Every day, the newly renamed Lincoln Motor Company plunges a knife into my heart. 

You see, I'm one of the few life long Lincoln devotees that have owned, restored, showed, and driven the brand (and still do) and I still love the Lincoln nameplate despite its descent into being the generic equivalent of luxury marques- a car with no unique models, no dealer network, and only minimal signs of brain activity- just enough to keep us from pulling the plug as each day our hopes for a recovery grow dimmer.

One such glimmer of hope was at Press Days for the Los Angeles Auto Show, when on Wednesday the Lincoln display was decked out in iconic brilliance- stunning examples of Lincoln excellence from 1929 to 1961 and crowned by the presence of a Continental Mark II, which was the mid-fifties ubercar that immediately became the darling of the rich and famous. 

Not to be content with any garden variety hand assembled Mark II, the car on display was special ordered by none other than Miss Elizabeth Taylor for her husband, showman Mike Todd, in a rich violet blue. It and the other cars on the floor looked resplendent and were not only were the talk of the show, but actually offered us hope that Lincoln had recognized at least some of the greatness in their heritage and saw the promise of a revitalized brand. 

Except that they're doing such a damned lousy job of it. At the Auto Show, they announced a new Tumblr site called "Lincoln Now," in which they post pictures of the glory of Lincoln. Great idea, but three of the first four were misidentified. Then the site transferred to a new name, Lincoln Motor Co, but the old site remained alive, as a blank page, with a prompt to enter a password and no redirect or even a link to the new url for over a week. 

Now, thankfully, it at least redirects so that the handful of us who still care about the brand can at least find it, but every time I visit I wince in terror to see what the latest misidentification will be. So far, of eleven photos captioned with year and model, five of them are wrong. Were we talking about a twelve year old in Great Falls, Montana, I'd be the first to say cut him some slack. But this is the all new "We Get It" Lincoln Motor Company, and the ad agency is jointly owned by Lincoln. 

So really guys, how can this be? You can't even caption your own goddamned photos? I can send you a list of twelve year olds (omitting the one in Great Falls, of course) that can do a more professional job. Seriously, it's time to fire people. You're on the verge of being nothing more than a drinking game.

And Lincoln Motor Company, to prove my magnanimous desire to help you get it, allow me to help you correct your captions (all images via Lincoln Motor Co.Tumblr:)

1941 Lincoln Continental Coupe

This is a 1941 Lincoln Continental Coupe which Lincoln identifies as a 1940. The push button doors, lower body bright molding, fender script, parking lamps atop the fenders, Lincoln wheel covers and split grille with a defining chrome bead are all signatures of the 1941 Lincoln Continental. It can be no other. 

1956 Continental  Mark II

Here is the shining moment of the brand's history- the handmade, incomparable 1956 Continental Mark II. From 1956 through 1958, Continental was a separate registered make, so that it is NEVER appropriate to refer to this car as a Lincoln Continental. NEVER. Did you hear me, Lincoln?

1953 Lincoln Capri Convertible

Hispters are dancing in front of a 1953 Lincoln Capri convertible. It is not a Lincoln Continental Capri. In fact, there are no Continentals between 1949 and 1955. Lincoln Capri. Got it?

1933 Lincoln KA Convertible Roadster

 A slightly more minor transgression- this 1933 Lincoln KA wears an attractive body style called a Convertible Roadster, which features roll up windows and Landau Irons (Those are the shiny silver things on the sides of the top.) This differentiates it from the Roadster, which has side curtains and no Landau Irons. I don't expect them to remember this, I expect them to look it up in a damn book before posting.

1948 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet

And here we are back to Lincoln 101. Here is the iconic 1948 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet. It's a late production model and represents one of the last ones ever assembled of this lovely style. It is not a "Lincoln Cabriolet Tudor." Find the person that wrote that and fire them- TODAY. It's unacceptable. 

Guys, I get that the task you are immersed in is daunting. You have a wonderful old brand that hasn't had a new product worth the powder it would take to blow it to hell for 10 years now. You've just discontinued the most successful and profitable car in your history and you've got nothing left but some rebadged Fords sitting  in the darkest corner of a Ford dealer's showroom. 

But you've done it before, with the brilliant and timeless 1961 Lincoln Continental, and you can do it again. And in the meantime, you owe it to the dwindling numbers of us who still care about you to at least act like you know who you are and stop plunging the knives into our hearts on a daily basis.