The Automotive

I agree with Winfield’s comments about standardization of manumatic formats. But he is behind the times on BMW. I own a 2001 X5 that shifts as he describes—for-ward for an up shift, toward you to down-shift. Image my surprise when my car was in for service (all too common an event, unfortunately) and the 2002 loaner’s shift pattern was the opposite—forward for a downshift, toward you for an up shift. My salesman informed me that BMW had quietly continue reading…

Ford focus is a decent car and good value, especially the SVT version, but how can the car be considered a 10Best with the numerous recalls in the past few years? According to the Center for Auto Safety, it has nine safety recalls and six more issues being investigated. The selections are based primarily on the things that are right about a car’s design, not the things that might go wrong during ownership. The focus provides an unusually elevated degree of driving refinement and interior utility for a car in its price range. continue reading…