2008 Mazda RX-8, Part Two

The shows all sorts of pleasing shapes amidst all of that strong idiosyncrasy. It's good clean fun to look at the profile of the front fenders rising slightly above the curve of the hood while you're driving. Molded-in Wankelry on the hood flows nicely into subtle twin speed bumps on...

Nov 15, 2024

NY Times Reveals Congressmen Have Bad Taste In Cars, No Eye For A Deal

Representative Michael R. McNulty pays $816 for a 2007 Hybrid, which he chose for its utility. Representative Redolphus Towns pays $715 a month for his he bought it to save money on fuel. Representative Louise M. Slaughter needed a car that handled safely in the snow, so she picked a...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Mazda RX-8, Part Three

You've been complaining that no one makes interestingly different cars anymore, and now you have a chance to own one. You like the idea of an engine that not only can but must spin above six grand to be entertaining or useful. You think all doors should be suicide doors....

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Suzuki SX4, Part One

When an automaker wants you to sell you a vehicle like the 2008 Suzuki SX4, they'll put together an ad featuring people who seem to spend their entire life riding mountain bikes, chugging energy drinks and otherwise enjoying a kind of lifestyle that exists predominately in the glossy pages of...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Suzuki SX4, Part Two

Design touches such as the split A-pillar, metal-look skid plates and black plastic everywhere give the 2008 Suzuki SX4 a distinctive and tough look that unfortunately distracts from its sporty and capable soul. If we're being generous, the car is a triathlete, pretty good at almost everything. At least it...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Suzuki SX4, Part Three

"Yeah man, that WRX is nice but it looks like it's had some hard miles. That kid put stickers on it, that makes me nervous. I don't know if I want a used car. Yeah, yeah I'd love a new one but that's a little out of the question right...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Ford Escape: First Drive

While we're not quite willing to call this a full review, we did get some seat time with a couple of spankin' new models yesterday. We managed to get back-to-back seat time with both the 2008 and 2009 V6 4x4 Limited as well as the Hybrid for direct comparison on...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Part One

The affluent neighborhood of Glencoe, Illinois is home to a curving street of -designed houses reached by a single-access bridge also designed by Wright. The black 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen parked on said bridge couldn't be more incongruous to the surrounding Prairie School architecture, which is recognizable by the strong...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Part Two

The lines that we like on the somehow fall short with the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen. The taillight assembly looks like it was tacked on to the design at the last minute and the grille looks more like the work of an overzealous orthodontist than what we picture when we...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Part Three

You want a Euro wagon and don't have the stash for an Audi S4 Avant or the desire to stuff your friends in an A3. The question of how you're going to get all of this stuff back to your loft from Trader Joe's is a common one. Subaru? Nothanku....

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo X: First Drive, Again

When our fearless leader so elegantly blew the clutch on the only in the country after the performance sedan spent a long tour of Europe and a hard day under the boot of Jan Magnussen, we thought getting an honest review of the car would be nigh impossible. We also...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Der Film

Now that we've proudly provided you with our review of the , we now just as proudly present the following Jalopnik original production: Wheels of Desire, der film. The affluent neighborhood of Glencoe, Illinois is home to a curving street of Frank Lloyd… ...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Hyundai Genesis

It was at dinner on the second night of my Korean adventure to drive the on behalf of when I finally decided to try kimchi. If you've never tried the stuff, you'd better have a stomach built like a steel-clad clay pot. I don't. But after spending a few hours...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 BMW 128i Convertible, Part One

Piloting the out into a crowded street, top down, I couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious. I'm not much for the attention drawn by convertibles, and this is a shiny, brand-new BMW convertible. No less than three minutes into my journey I'm stopped by someone on the street who...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 BMW 128i Convertible, Part Two

The manages to put its best face forward, with wide headlights that add a new dimension to the brand's rigid look and set the 1-Series apart from the big brother 3. In profile, you'll have to buy into the flame surfacing and its fear of straight lines, which shouldn't be...

Nov 15, 2024