2008 BMW 128i Convertible, Part Three

You just found out that the Botox you had injected straight into your eyelid didn't leak into your brain thereby ending an existence that has, up to now, been mostly pointless. No longer. Your new life is going to have meaning, you're going to shun materialism and embrace the world....

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Mazdaspeed3, Part One

Cruising the affluent suburban streets of the Chicago area in the , I'm looking for trouble. The dimming evening light and warm weather has brought out all the usual suspects: everyone from boy-racers in tuned Hondas to middle-aged men in Ford GTs. Chirping the tires as I dart from stoplight...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Lincoln MKS, First Drive

When the powers-that-be over here at Jalopnik asked me to test drive a car for you boys, I was pretty excited. Finally, I thought, Jalopnik is learning to respect a woman's automotive point of view. And then Ray told me it was going to be the . Hmm. I'll admit,...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Mazdaspeed3, Part Two

The 2008 Mazdaspeed3 doesn't visually distinguish itself much from the standard Mazda 3 hatchback, but it doesn't need to. The basic design's thick D-pillars, subtle shoulder bulges over the wheels, and angular lines are a good starting point. More important is how the car doesn't look. There are no scoops,...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Mazdaspeed3, Part Three

You want a fast car, but have to pick up your children from school. You want a WRX STI, but can't quite afford the running costs and you don't need the AWD anyways. You got a bunch of tickets a few years ago; you still like driving fast, but want...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Dodge Journey, Part One

With marriage looming, fatherhood has become an ever-increasing possibility, albeit one that is still far enough away that I can justify spending money on myself. When that day does come though, I'd like to think that I'd be the cool dad with the awesome wagon. However, increasingly competent crossovers are...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Dodge Journey SXT, Part Two

The is without a doubt one of the better looking cars in the Dodge lineup. But, that's not saying much. The sharp profile and muscular fender flares manage to hide the crossover's stubby dimensions while the cheaters on the B- and C-pillars also keep the shorter greenhouse from looking cartoonish...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Dodge Journey SXT, Part Three

You need a mid-level, V6-powered SUV/crossover that looks better than a Toyota Highlander and gets better gas mileage than a Honda Pilot, and it has to have more cargo area than a Nissan Murano but it also needs to cost less than a Ford Edge, and you’re okay with having...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Ford Flex, First Drive

"We wanted to give the Flex what we call a 'wow' factor." "Wow, can I quote you on that?" Press launches are interesting places. Well, if you find humanity in its most mundane and sycophantic form interesting that is. Full Disclosure: I didn't actually drive the , but I did...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Dodge Journey, The Film

For those who enjoyed , we present the latest in our series of Jalopnik Original Productions: The Journey, a tale of love and rejection in the . We hope is proud. Now that we've proudly provided you with our review of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, we now ...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, Part One

Visitors to Chicago may never realize that an entire world exists below their feet as they explore the city. But it's there. And it's paved. Word came to me that at the lowest point, Lower Lower Randolph Street, there's a mystical market trading in far out wares. In order to...

Nov 15, 2024

2009 Chevy Traverse, First Drive

So this crossover thing? Yeah, it's starting to get a little out-of-hand. What we have here is the . If you want to use the promotional literature, it's an 8-passenger crossover vehicle. If you use your eyes, it's a minivan with big wheels and no sliding side doors. Thus the...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, Part Two

If someone ran over your mother with a right in front of you, you'd be unable to explain to the police what it was. It's a battle to the death between blandness (from the front it looks like a smaller and blander Altima) and gimmickry (the Sebring called, even they...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, Part Three

You think hatchbacks are for Euro sissies, the Civic SI is too refined and the Caliber SRT-4 is too domestic. You need to be able to comfortably move four adults yet somehow it doesn't bother you that you're driving a car whose interior looks as though it was designed by...

Nov 15, 2024

2008 Dodge Charger Police Edition, Part One

If you saw Top Gear last week, you saw the boys compete to find the best sub-£900 replacement for the British standard Opel Astra police car. They shouldn't have bothered. There's already something bigger, stronger and faster in the colonies — and we've driven it. Just ignore the price tag...

Nov 15, 2024