Saturday, June 26, 2010

The Car Girl On Assignment- 2011 Mazda2










I recently traveled to Montreal, Quebec to test out the all-new Mazda2 subcompact. So technically, this vehicle wasn't in my garage, per se, but it's close enough, right?!

The 2 (as I will refer to it) is new to North America but has been selling in Japan, Europe and Australia since 2007. It's an award-winning vehicle and is bound to impress its driver. I find the exterior styling to be very cute and very functional. It has some strong lines and nice curves.

Under the hood is a 1.5L, 4-cylinder engine that creates 100 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. Ok, I know that doesn't sound like a lot but, on the other hand, this vehicle doesn't weigh much; 1,043 kgs for the base GX model without air conditioning. It's also actually the lightest vehicle in its class but that doesn't mean it will be blown over when driving at highway speeds. It's composed of high tensile steel (very strong steel) and stays firmly planted on the ground when zipping around. I impressed with how solid it felt when driving quickly.

There are two transmissions offered with the 2; the standard 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. Both get the job done but I'm a shifting kind of girl so the 5-speed manual tickled my fancy. In my opinion, the manual tranny makes driving way more fun and engaging because I can interact with the car a lot more.

Inside, there is a fair amount of people room. Individuals over six feet can fit rather comfortably behind the wheel or in the rear seats. Translation: your knees will not be in your face! Can't go wrong with that. The back seats are also very comfortable, yes, speaking from experience but not that kind! Even with the front seats pushed all the way back, there was a decent amount of legroom.

Here are my top 3 Highlights and Lowlights of the 3:

Highlights
1) Great styling: Yes, it' small but that doesn't mean it has to look bad. It has an amazing Spirited Green exterior colour that looks fab.
2) Handling and stability at highway speeds: The 2 has a nicely tuned suspension to give a little bit of edge while cornering. Its stability at highway speeds was great. It felt firm and did not let the wind push it around.
3) Mazda Skins: Personalizing this vehicle is very easy. Mazda gives the 2 owners an ability to apply 1 of 4 themes of decals on the side. The decals come in small, medium or large and can be outfitted with any of the 7 available exterior colours.

Lowlights:
1) The Dash: While the cabin is very user friendly, I think it needs a little more colour. The black just doesn't do it for me.
2 and 3) The trunk: With no fault of its own, only an emaciated version of myself would be able to fit in the back (that's why there is no trunk shot of me!!) For that, it gets 2 Lowlights. But as you can see I'm REALLY stretching it because I didn't find too much wrong with this vehicle.

If you want to read the full review of this car, visit the link below. Remember to tell all your friends to "Follow Me!" They will not be disappointed!!

http://autoshow.autotrader.ca/2010/06/26/2011-mazda2/

Cheers,
TCG



Tuesday, June 22, 2010

An Interview with The Car Girl

Hi All,

Check out the link under "The Car Girl In Action." I was interviewed by 'My Colleges and Careers' to give some insight into a career as an automotive journalist...

Cheers,

TCG

Monday, June 21, 2010

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS








The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS was recently in my garage. Let's just say this vehicle is a boatload of fun. It takes the muscle car to a whole new level. Under the hood is a proud, 6.2L, V8 engine that produces 426 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. Translation, enough power to get you where you need to go, and fast. It also takes some styling cues from the late 60's Camaro so it has a vintage feel to it, too.

This impressive machine has quite the performance suspension and summer performance tires. Although it's not as refined as lets say the Nissan 370Z, it still feels way better than I thought it would. It's even a nice car to cruise in at highway speeds. But, let's face it, you're probably not going be driving the posted highway speeds in this car.

Here are my top 3 Highlights and Lowlights of the SS:

Highlights:

1) Styling. This car is fantastic to look at. It's aggressive, muscular and has a lot of road presence. Watch out, if you see this grille pop up in your rearview mirror, step aside bc it means business.
2) The Premium Stereo System: There is a 9 speaker, Boston Acoustics stereo inside. The sound quality rocks my socks. Besides, what good would this car be if you couldn't drive down Robson Street without blaring some Urban Cookie Collective very loudly?!
3) Horsepower. Need I say more?

Lowlights:
1) Poor visibility out the rear. It doesn't come as a surprise that trying to see past the "C" pillars is terrible. This is where a rearview camera is a must. Otherwise, just bring a friend along with you anytime you need to parallel park or back out of a parking spot so they can guide you. Although, you might have to pay them.
2) Too much black. The dash is too boring. Yes, the gauges and instrument cluster are fab but there is little flare other than that.
3) Fuel Economy. 13.2L/100km in the city is not going to get you far. Even if you're trying, and I mean really trying to be conservative, it's a lost cause. This puppy will cost you a pretty penny to fill up.

My Rating:
4.25 sets of red Brembo brakes out of 5. Great car to drive but needs a little work done in the interior. Then again, how often do you really look at your dash?

Pricing and available options can be found at www.gm.ca