There's nothing cost saving about using a singificantly more complex engine.

The regular Sonic does pretty well - the RS manual is using substantially shorter gear ratios (which is why I'm consistently surprised that acceleration doesn't appear to be improved any), dropping the highway rating from 40 to 34. 

Mazda is a better option for an enthusiast, I still think Cruze is a better option for someone looking for an appliance. It's more comfortable, better appointed and larger inside. 

I'll agree with that - for the conservative set, the Cruze is still about the best option on the market. It's design may not be daring, but still looks fresh. 

I'm not really sure what the base wrx manages - I've seen anywhere from 4.4 - 5.8 posted all over the webz. I also thought the A class was at least a size class down from the WRX, if not two. 

Build quality - like sticking a nav screen onto the dash using sticky-tack and covering the dash in carbon fiber appliques? 

So, this is incredibly awesome and everything, but performance wise - does it really have much to offer over a WRX? 0-60 times are a pretty poor way of evaluating every aspect of a car's performance, but as that's the only number provided, I'm curious why the Merc with over 100 extra hp seems to be slower than a 25k…

Amazing, the new commenting system isn't firewalled at work anymore, I can see comments again!

What are you talking about, it's pure automotive awesome!

Honda is also listing 3 variants of a new 500cc twin - CBR500R, CB500F and CB500x, which are fully faired, naked and adventure variants of a single platform. That actually seems more interesting to me as they're fuel injected, counterbalanced twins that should get great fuel economy, have solid real world performance…

Also agree - I live in Houston. The highway system is gawdawful in the city. There are super short entrance and exit ramps on the left and right, lanes starting and stopping in an apparently random fashion, some feeder roads to help people 'get up to merge speed' but with so many driveways for businesses that they're…

How about the BW8 to 288 interchange? Get off onto the feeder, sit at traffic lights for 7 cycles, get back onto a feeder.

Yeah, I must live in your TX. Here in Houston, the only time people every hit the speed limits is during rush hour (seems counterintuitive, right?). If it's the middle of the day or late enough evening, most people drive 5-10 under the limit and sit at green lights.

Would not be surprised if it were 184 kph. Some of the giant hyper-sport touring bikes like the Blackbird or the Hayabusa can manage 184 mph on a glass smooth, arrow straight road with a suicidial rider, but even most supersport bikes don't really have the stability to manage it.

Yes, I'm saying they're initiating the turn from NOT the turn lane, basically creating their own double left turn.

People who stop in the middle of an intersection to make a turn... when there's a turn lane and they're NOT in it.

As a fellow Houstonian, I have noticed that when you use your turn signals while changing lanes, most of the time the guy in the other lane will try to speed up to keep you from getting over. I still use them religiously, but usually only once I've downshifted...

In urban driving, I'd have to say not going when you have the right of way. This includes people who sit at green lights, probably because they're not paying attention, people who stop in the middle of a lane of moving traffic to let someone in, people who don't understand stop signs != parking spaces, etc...

660 miles in an advertised 'drive it anywhere' BMW 635csi. No AC, (Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas in August) the broken steering box bracket was replaced by a long bolt with some fender washers on either side, two out of four control arm bushings were pretty much gone, the two piece driveshaft was misaligned so that…

What are the worst cars then? As far as I can tell, cars are pretty good today (at least, if you ignore sloppy driving dynamics, visibility and the overabundance of electronics). Everyone seems to think that we're discounting sensible options for ONLY having sensible qualities, but everything else on the market offers…