Test Drives

Test Drives2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S: Superlative Speed4.0/5
In the warmth of the summer sun, with dry pavement below your feet and miles of visibility above, a 911 Turbo is not the frightening monster that many a scribe has made it out to be. Oh sure, it’s faster than a speeding neuron and vastly capable of outstripping your …
Test Drives2011 Fiat 500: Cinquecento, il mio amore!4.5/5
Launched in Europe in 2008, the Fiat 500 makes its North American debut this spring. If Chrysler’s predictions are correct, most units of the Cinquecento sold in Canada will be sold in Quebec, where more than half of the country’s Fiat dealerships are located. And many Fiat dealers are hoping …
Test Drives2011 Audi S4: More docile, but just as desirable4.0/5
Auto journalists are often asked about their favourite cars – call it an occupational hazard. My response is always the same: although exotic cars turn heads, sport sedans capture my heart. With all that performance and convenience, sport sedans combine the best of all worlds. While the BMW M3 or …
Test Drives2011 Mazda CX-7: Different engine, different personality!4.0/5
Introduced in 2007, the Mazda CX-7 has created some tough competition in the compact SUV segment, rivaling other choice models. The CX-7 sets itself apart with dynamic style and sportiness thanks to its "zoom-zoom" heritage. You might even consider it a long-legged sports car. Last year, a few cosmetic changes …
Test Drives2011 BMW 550xi: If there was a Nobel Prize for cars...4.0/5
Just like people, some vehicles have evolved better than others. Torture me if you must, but I’ll never tell you which individuals still have Neanderthal-like characteristics. Fortunately, there are those who raise humanity to noble heights – from Las Vegas singers, entrepreneurial visionaries or Nobel Prize winners. The BMW 5 …
Test Drives2011 Ford Explorer: Reinventing the Wheel5.0/5
By now, you may have heard that the single most important SUV ever produced by mankind has been reinvented. If you haven’t, you’re probably deaf, in which case you’ve probably already read about it. Ok, so that may be a bit of a hyperbole. After all, the Land Rover Defender …
Test Drives2010 BMW 535i xDrive GT: The Hunback of Bavaria!3.0/5
There’s a saying amongst seafaring folks that goes like this: life is too short to own an ugly boat. Now, these people are typically of the same sort that shop at places like Harry Rosen, go to work in John Varvatos suits, and drive Bentleys… or BMWs. So why on …
Test DrivesThe 2011 Mini Countryman: A Big Change for Mini3.5/5
You know, English car fanatics are a bit of a different breed. Beyond their obsession with vehicles destined to break their wallets, and hearts (in that order), they’re one of those rare communities that seem free of internal strife and animosity. Get a group of Italians together, and the ensuing …
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