Herculodge: Car Fury

No Recovery in Sight for BMW and Other Sports Cars

Bloomberg News reports the slumping sales of sports cars since 2008 and "no recovery in sight." BMW, Audi, and others are hit hard. Rich people have other vehicle choices that are more appealing than a small convertible.

Posted at 01:20 PM in Car Fury | Permalink | Comments (3)

Honda Attendant Warned Me to Never Buy Honda Cars in White or Black: Downgraded Paint

I'm glad my wife bought her 2014 Honda Accord Sport in silver. Today during its first service since Carrie bought the car in January, the attendant told me that "around 2007 or 2008" Honda started using cheaper paint for white and black. Further, the attendant told me he sees all the chipping and fading problems with those colors when he's over in the detail department.

I asked him if the same holds for Acura and he said he didn't know.

Posted at 09:45 AM in Car Fury | Permalink | Comments (1)

Shifting the 2015 Ford Fiesta 5-Speed Is "Like Mixing a Bowl of Cookie Dough"

Dan Roth of the Autoblog podcast said that while he overall thinks the 2015 Ford Fiesta is competitive in its class, shifting its 5-speed "feels like mixing a bowl of cookie dought."

Love the line. But that's a deal killer.

Posted at 09:25 AM in Car Fury | Permalink | Comments (0)

The New Camry with Lexus IS Front Grill and Molding Could be a Temptation

I love my wife's 2014 Honda Accord Sport, which looks the best in its class, but if the newly refreshed Toyota Camry gets the Lexus IS front grill and molding, it could prove a very compelling choice, especially for someone who can't afford a Lexus:

Posted at 09:44 AM in Car Fury | Permalink | Comments (7)

Infiniti Q50 Up Close Looked Like a Fancy Pants Altima

640 × 480 - infinitihouston.sewell.com

I was swooned by Internet photos of the Infiniti Q50 and then a neighbor bought a slate blue gray one. Love the color but the actual car looks like the new Nissan Altima. I'd rather buy a one-year old Infiniti M37 and get some real luxury.

Posted at 09:04 PM in Car Fury | Permalink | Comments (5)

Spent 23K on a 2014 Honda Accord Sport

We traded in the 2008 Honda Fit and bought a silver Accord. The computer screen on the dash looked like potential problems down the road so we bought the 5-year platinum warranty. In the absence of the new computer technology, I would have skipped the extended warranty but that computer screen in an unknown quantity.

The Accord to me looks like a BMW. Its ride is quiet, smooth. Its acceleration with the 4-cylinder is confident and assuring. We drove the CRV. I hated it. Bouncy. Slow. Turgid. The Accord is a better car and cheaper.

I almost wish the Accord didn't come with that computer screen. It adds a complexity to car that is otherwise wonderfully simple.

Final notes: We drove a black Accord and loved it but got scared about keeping it clean and went with the silver.

Posted at 06:35 AM in Car Fury | Permalink | Comments (9)

Looks Like We're Getting Rid of Our 2008 Honda Fit Sport

The latest crash tests, which simulate real life driving conditions, rendered subcompact cars a poor rating. This includes our 2008 Honda Fit Sport.

Today, my wife will test drive the 2014 Honda Accord Sport and, if our twin girls allow us, slightly used Infiniti G37 sedans.

It's hard to car shop with twin toddlers and no available babysitter.

Posted at 06:48 AM in Car Fury | Permalink | Comments (10)

Car and Driver Finds Gremlins in Their Volvo S60

I had nothing but "gremlins" in my 1999 Volvo S70. now Car and Driver reports the same with their S60.

Posted at 07:02 AM in Car Fury | Permalink | Comments (7)

I Just Spent $275 on a Sears Platinum Car Battery and Feel Ripped Off

Three years ago I bought an Interstate battery, which my mechanic installed for $130. This morning in front of my children's pre-school, my car was dead. I got my neighbor to give me a jump with my jumper cables, which I purchased 3 weeks ago.

I went to my trusty and trustworthy mechanic Hiro and he told me that while my battery was low due to a lack of driving (I drive only 4,500 miles a year), the battery was fine. "Just drive on the freeway for a half hour," he said. "Take a joy ride and it should be fine."

But I got to thinking: "I took my family on a 130-mile trip to San Clemente over the weekend. If Hiro didn't want to sell me a battery, I'd get one from someone else. So my neighbor Joe, the same person who gave me a jump, recommended the Sears Platinum.

Talk about sticker shock. I just spent $275 installed. Was it worth it? I better get 10 years or at least the life of my 2007 Maxima on that thing.

Posted at 01:19 PM in Car Fury | Permalink | Comments (20)

What Happened to Honda? Current Consumer Reports Say Accord Falling in Reliability

I'm sad to say that the Accord six-cylinder is so bad that CR can't even recommend it. CR can barely recommend the four-cylinder which is only average. What the hell happened to Honda? The Camry has gotten worse also, not in reliability but in crash safety.

Some winners: Mazda 6 and Toyota Avalon.