Top Ten Things I Learned Reviewing Automobiles in 2013

2014-chevy-corvette-c7-stingray-z51

 

1. Although a few buttons on the steering wheel are convenient, more than six is confusing and makes you feel like you are riding around in one of those hover chairs in the second half of Wall-E.

2014-cadillac-cts-36-performance-collection-dashboard

2014 Cadillac CTS 3.6L Performance Collection Review and Test Drive

 

 

2. Speaking of…a contrasting-color-stitched-leather-wrapped-ergonomic-racing-inspired steering wheel may not make the car drive any faster or handle any better, but it sure feels like it does.

2014 Scion tC

Toyota Returns to the Spirit of the 70′s Import Sports Car: The 2014 Scion tC

 

 

3. While illuminated shift knobs look cool, they are not a necessary upgrade. On the other hand, radar or assisted cruise control is totally worth the extra cash.

2013-toyota-avalon-hybrid-feature

2013 Toyota Avalon Limited Hybrid Review and Test Drive

 

 

4. Nobody cares about gas mileage on the first day of a week-long car review. Everybody cares about gas mileage on the sixth day.

2013-chevrolet-volt-badge

2013 Chevy Volt Quick Driving Impressions

 

 

5. You do not always get what you pay for. There are cars that cost less than $30k that I would rather own and drive than many that I have driven that cost $60k plus. 

2013 Scion FR-S 10 Series

First Drive: 2013 Scion FR-S Review – Hype Approved

 

 

6. The more fun a car is to drive, the less chance you have of getting a ticket for being on your smart phone.

2013-bmw-m3-lime-rock-park-edition-front-22013 BMW M3 Lime Rock Park Edition Review and Test Drive

 

7. Although I am a standard transmission kind of guy, many of the new automatics are simply amazing. I do not care if you are a professional rally driver, no one can shift as quickly and efficiently as the PDK automated manual transmission in the 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera S.

2013-porsche-911-c4s-dashboard2013 Porche 911 Carrera 4s Cabriolet Driving Impressions

 

8. Even though it probably will not get any thumbs up at the traffic light, the Toyota Sienna mini-van is a nice way to drive your entire family around town or on long trips.

 

9. Driving the new 2014 Corvette Stingray makes you proud to be an American.

2014-chevy-corvette-c7-stingray-z51-feature
2014 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray Quick Spin & First Impressions

 

10. If your ten-year-old daughter tells you that there is no back seat, it does not matter what the manufacturer claims, those seat belts are simply there to hold groceries in place under hard braking.

2013-porsche-911-c4s-interior2013 Porche 911 Carrera 4s Cabriolet Driving Impressions