• jalopnik reviews

    2009 Pontiac G8 GXP, First Drive

    If I were to tell you GM is the new BMW you’d probably laugh at me. But driving the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP just a couple of months after the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V and Corvette ZR1, that’s exactly what I’m thinking. Equipped with a 6.3-liter, LS3 V8 making 415 HP and 415 lb-ft of torque, the G8 GXP isn’t just the fastest car Pontiac's ever made, but based on GM’s new global rear wheel drive platform (the same one as the new Camaro) and fitted with lower, stiffer suspension and a six-speed manual gearbox it strikes the right balance between supercar performance and real world practicality. Think E39 M5, but with a Corvette engine and better steering.

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    12:00 AM on Fri Nov 21 2008
    By Wes Siler
    16,026 views, 174 comments

    Most discussed PotatoeMasher: "the best car in the world, the ZR1." Well I think that debate is settled! lol That quote is bound more »

  • jalopnik reviews

    Jalopnik's 2009 Pickup Truck Comparison Head-To-Head Jubilee Event Challenge Spectacular!

    We've had an abnormally high number of pickup truck first drives recently — the 2009 Ford F-150, the 2008 Toyota Tundra, the 2009 Chevy Silverado and the 2009 Dodge Ram. Why? Because we've been working in conjunction with PickupTrucks.com to bring you a full blown comparison on the 2009 models of every half-ton truck currently for sale in the 'merican market and here it is. It's got all the numbers on towing, handling, braking and acceleration — everything a serious truck buyer could ever need. Frankly, that's the easy part. The subjective determination of which one's the best? That's harder to nail down, but it's what we're here for.

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    2:35 PM on Fri Nov 14 2008
    By Ben Wojdyla
    12,556 views, 73 comments

    Most discussed smalleyxb122: It's not that we don't want a new truck. We just don't need a new truck. Trucks last a loooong more »

  • jalopnik reviews

    2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S, Part Three

    Why you should buy the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S:
    Volkswagen has taken some flack for saying the Tiguan is like the GTI of crossover SUVs. It isn't. At best, it's the GTI of people who go antiquing on the weekend, don't drive particularly fast and live in a college town. If you don't want a wagon, won't drive a Ford and can't afford a Lexus then maybe you should look at the Tiguan.

    Why you shouldn't buy this car:
    You don't think sitting up higher is a good thing. You think a crossover is Lil' Wayne trying to play a guitar. You like wagons. Wagons are cool. You'd totally drive a SportWagen. You wonder why you should buy the GTI of _____ when you could actually just buy a Volkswagen GTI.

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    1:00 PM on Thu Nov 13 2008
    By Matt Hardigree
    1,456 views, 50 comments

    Most discussed The Name's Ash78, Housewares: The GTI, especially with 4 doors, is really cool...but I'm sure lots of Americans can't justify $25k for a hatchback. more »

  • jalopnik reviews

    2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S, Part Two

    Exterior Design: ****
    The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan puts its best face forward, literally. The front fascia borrows more from the attractive Touareg and CC than its platform-mate, the bland Rabbit. The proportions look muscular enough to tackle harsh roads (it actually isn't), sporty enough to best the competition on the track (it won't) and roomy enough to stow your gear (it can't). Even from the back, the Tiguan is still attractive despite being a touch bland.

    Interior Design: **
    The interior is the familiar Volkswagen design, borrowing a radio from the SportWagen, the transmission position of the Golf and the steering wheel from the generic VW parts bin. What sets the cockpit apart from the rest of the VW lineup is higher positioning of the control surface on the dash. The seats fold forward all the way, including the front passenger seat, stretching the usability of the interior. All in all, it's nothing to write home about.

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    1:00 PM on Wed Nov 12 2008
    By Matt Hardigree
    1,964 views, 20 comments

    Most discussed the artist formerly known as dolo54: Is that a goatse in the picture? Oh yeah, THE TEXT IS SO HUGE IN HERE! more »

  • jalopnik reviews

    Spoon Honda NSX-R GT, First Drive

    They say you should never meet your heroes. For the most part that’s true, I’ve never been more disappointed than after my first drive in a DeLorean DMC-12, childhood dreams of time travel completely squashed. When I was eleven I picked out the colors for a friend’s dad’s new NSX — red with a black top — and even though I’ve never driven one, it’s been on top of my supercar wish list ever since. So when the guys from 0-60 Magazine called and said they wanted to fly me out to Infineon to drive not just any NSX, but the Spoon Honda NSX-R GT, a tuned version of the rarest NSX ever made, I didn’t hesitate.

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    4:00 PM on Tue Nov 11 2008
    By Wes Siler
    8,858 views, 48 comments

    Most discussed nick2ny: i almost gotta call bs on that first shot because the tread on the front tire is so clear, and more »

  • jalopnik reviews

    2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S, Part One

    As legend has it, Abraham Lincoln walked three miles through the snow to return a book because it was the honorable thing to do. That's nothing. I drove 164 miles through Texas in a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S to return a book because I've got a bad history of losing my best friend's books. I once loaned one to someone who took it to Spain and then loaned it to someone else who took it to San Francisco. I systematically destroyed another one with notes, dog-earing and misuse. Another one just disappeared altogether. I was on the verge of forever losing borrowing privileges from my few remaining friends. What else could I do? I headed towards Austin.

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    1:00 PM on Tue Nov 11 2008
    By Matt Hardigree
    3,121 views, 57 comments

    Most discussed layabout: One of my neighbours part exchanged his Golf TDi for a Tiguan TDi,so far it's been back to VW with more »

  • jalopnik reviews

    2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor: First Ride

    Ford took us into the desert dirt outside of Las Vegas today to show us a new stock truck package for the 2010 F-150 that looks like it may set the off-road world ablaze. It's called the F-150 SVT Raptor. Thanks to upgrades like internal bypass FOX Racing Shox, a seven-inch wider track and an upgraded front suspension, the Raptor package appears to make this the world's first stock pickup that's fully off-road capable and most importantly, built for speed.

    Hit the jump to see exclusive video from our friends at Streetfire.net! More »
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    12:00 AM on Tue Nov 4 2008
    By Ray Wert
    23,591 views, 115 comments

    Most discussed elwood: So, it's an F150 with some stick-on fender flares, Fox shocks, and new tires? Not exactly a desert race more »

  • 2010 ford fusion

    First Look: Ford SmartGauge Instument Panel

    That newly unveiled 2010 Ford Fusion looks pretty slick and all, but today we got a chance to sit down in the Fusion Hybrid — complete with black and white jelly bean camouflage — and play around with the new twin-LCD SmartGauge display. We'll let Ford Researcher Jeff Greenberg, a Senior Technical Leader at Ford walk you through the features in the video above, but after spending a couple of minutes with it, what do we think? How about a quicky review on this new fangled tech to go along with a new-fangled Fusion? More »
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    5:40 PM on Wed Oct 29 2008
    By Ben Wojdyla
    12,181 views, 48 comments

    Most discussed SakinaCabiri: I love how Enlighten and Empower are options selectable from the menu. more »

  • jalopnik reviews

    2009 MINI Cooper Clubman S, Part Three

    Why you should buy the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman S:
    You're extremely wealthy and like small cars. You never liked going around corners that much anyways. The most exciting thing that could possibly happen to you in the course of a day is spotting another Mini in exactly the same color and getting the driver of it to wave feverishly at you. You used to have a regular Mini, but now you have a small dog.

    Why you shouldn't buy this car:
    You consider value an important part of the car-buying process. You drive aggressively. You hate rear barn doors. You live near curvy roads. You hate suicide doors. You enjoy the way the MINI Cooper S handles. You realized you could buy a well-equipped Chevy HHR SS for half the price and without the waving.

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    1:00 PM on Wed Oct 29 2008
    By Andrew Didorosi
    2,797 views, 53 comments

    Most discussed Youthful_Buick_Aficionado: Wow, that's vicious. Not undeserved, but it's a scathing review from an intern. more »

  • jalopnik reviews

    2009 MINI Cooper Clubman S, Part Two

    Exterior Design: ****
    The 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman S preserves much of the styling moxie possessed by the original while hiding much of the added heft. At a distance, it's nearly impossible to differentiate between the two variations, causing us to do more than one double-take. The only major giveaway is the 50/50 split rear barn doors with through-door tail lamps and the suicide door on the passenger side. But a front 3/4 view will make you swear you're looking at the original "S."

    Interior Design: ***
    The interior of the Clubman is mostly identical to its smaller brother from the cockpit-view forward. Rail-protected flight switches control much of the electrics while a delightfully gaudy speedometer dominates the center console. Every compartment, toggle and switch functions with the usual high level of BMW confidence. But don't even get us started on the Toys R' Us-grade plastic. In this price range, a buyer deserves a little better. Also, the color-selectable mood lighting is a little too Focus-like for our liking.

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    2:40 PM on Tue Oct 28 2008
    By Andrew Didorosi
    3,475 views, 48 comments

    Most discussed Cognitive_Friction: "At a distance, it's nearly impossible to differentiate between the two variations, How far away were you exactly? Have you had more »