Automobiles

[Blue Jays]

"...but I found the CX-5 to drive more athletically than the Mazda6 and seemed not to understeer as much as the Mazda3. Which begs the question why Mazda6 wagon for the U.S.? Honestly I'd rather see a CX-5 diesel here. I suppose we're more laissez-faire about the genre in general out here, but anyone looking at a non-German wagon who likes a lively car should just test a CX-5..."

One of my riding buddies has a Mazda3 and simply raves about that vehicle.
The folks over at Car & Driver magazine seem equally enthused about the Mazda3 year after year.
Knowing me...I would probably wish for a MAZDASPEED CX-5, yet that is a whole other story!

[rmplum]

The new Mazda3 is indeed pretty spectacular and it will let you play with the rear end a bit at the limit - instead of just eating up the front tires. It has a very smooth/subtle step out that the ESC actually allows and then reigns in/maintains very smoothly. When we have 3 or 4 cars from that segment now on any kind of curvy road - that is the car that gets taken first. Plus it gets mid 30's pretty easily. It lost a little sharpness from the previous generation in the steering, but it still has a no-look gap to the rest of the segment - and now the interior isn't crap.

All of the CX-5s I have driven have had something against downshifting at anything other than full-boot pedal stroke. For a chassis that sharp it didn't vibe for me (the lazy drivability).

[jitahs]

One of my riding buddies has a Mazda3 and simply raves about that vehicle.
The folks over at Car & Driver magazine seem equally enthused about the Mazda3 year after year.
Knowing me...I would probably wish for a MAZDASPEED CX-5, yet that is a whole other story!

250hp in a cx-5 would be the bomb.

Let's see, I've recently driven the Mazda2, 3, CX-5, 6 and MX-5 - they're all models of restraint.

Yet the chassis are so good they could handle substantially more hp without suspension mods. If Mazda is too conservative in any area it's engine options I think - everyone wants power. But really the CX-5, and all Mazdas frankly, excel in nipping around and being quick, not fast. That's their take on fun. Plus I like that their interiors don't give me a headache.

Anyway here's a take on "fast" (stock 167 hp engine). The "obstacle" is a gt3 rs:

[maunahaole]

There are curvy roads around Ann Arbor?

[jitahs]

The new Mazda3 is indeed pretty spectacular and it will let you play with the rear end a bit at the limit - instead of just eating up the front tires. It has a very smooth/subtle step out that the ESC actually allows and then reigns in/maintains very smoothly. When we have 3 or 4 cars from that segment now on any kind of curvy road - that is the car that gets taken first. Plus it gets mid 30's pretty easily. It lost a little sharpness from the previous generation in the steering, but it still has a no-look gap to the rest of the segment - and now the interior isn't crap.

All of the CX-5s I have driven have had something against downshifting at anything other than full-boot pedal stroke. For a chassis that sharp it didn't vibe for me (the lazy drivability).

I thought Mazda gave journos all stick/all the time? Perhaps they wanted to build in a turbo lag simulator. Definitely was lethargic on downshifts, but the joystick works very quickly. You'd have to know what gear you're in and bang down to use it in conjunction with cruise-around-mode. Or they could just fix it.

While Ford has sharpened up their steering in the Focus and Fiesta STs Mazda has gone the other way, which I suppose most people want but not me. The light effort at low speed is appreciated, however.

[sk_tle]

I own a mazda 2 and would definitely buy another mazda if I was looking for the new car. I tried all eurolike shitboxes that were available and the mazda 2 had the best steering response of all of them (except some real sporty ones such has the renault clio RS which I would rate more as a rally car than a road one)

[vertical_doug]

The Gumball Rally was in London Sunday night on Regent st. There is only one man who can lead the parade, The Hoff!

Attachment 68640

[lukasz]

250hp in a cx-5 would be the bomb.

Let's see, I've recently driven the Mazda2, 3, CX-5, 6 and MX-5 - they're all models of restraint.

Yet the chassis are so good they could handle substantially more hp without suspension mods. If Mazda is too conservative in any area it's engine options I think - everyone wants power. But really the CX-5, and all Mazdas frankly, excel in nipping around and being quick, not fast. That's their take on fun. Plus I like that their interiors don't give me a headache.

Anyway here's a take on "fast" (stock 167 hp engine). The "obstacle" is a gt3 rs:

This video would have come in handy a few years ago when I tried to explain to a young STI owner that an MX-5 had the potential destroy his car in a racing situation.

[maunahaole]

Wagon.

[jitahs]

Nissan Leaf, an awesome car. One thing reviews don't mention is it drives very well, with lots of steering feedback, ZERO understeer, decent grip on run flats (if choppy ride), handling that belies the weight, flat-ish cornering, low CoG, rear wheels that follow the front, very good acceleration, rock solid at all speeds up to x.

No it's not a "green" car; once individual battery cells become fiscally prudent to be replaced, it'll be one step closer. Once these things self-drive and hit 200 miles of range it'll be game over.

[christian]

Once these things self-drive and hit 200 miles of range it'll be game over.

This cannot happen soon enough. Software control to limit speed to <25mph around vulnerable road users too please!

[jitahs]

Cheers to that.

Additionally when you think about why people buy giant SUVs it's in part to protect drivers from themselves. The Yukon that scrapes your jersey can be replaced by a narrower vehicle, allowing for a larger passing distance and better traffic flow.

Ever sit outside somewhere, enjoying the day when an enormous vehicle with ac rattling away forms an aural and visual eclipse, blotting out beautiful scenery and bird song alike? The AC on the Leaf is nearly silent both outside and inside the car. Imagine having a long Q&A with the salesman, in a perfectly temp-controlled environment on a hot day, "engine" running with no fossil fuel-burning guilt.

It's a mind-boggling difference, and this from a skeptic.

[j44ke]

Who knows anything about the Audi E-Tron? They are calling it a plug-in hybrid but then it also charges the battery while driving on the highway and through (as I understand it) regenerative braking. I've been looking at the new A3, and I noticed that the Audi in the LeMans was described as having an E-Tron power plant. Reading the description (twin clutch, parallel motors, etc.) it seems really complicated, and my inner simplicity meter gets a bit jumpy. Just wondering.

[Crashburn]

Who knows anything about the Audi E-Tron? They are calling it a plug-in hybrid but then it also charges the battery while driving on the highway and through (as I understand it) regenerative braking. I've been looking at the new A3, and I noticed that the Audi in the LeMans was described as having an E-Tron power plant. Reading the description (twin clutch, parallel motors, etc.) it seems really complicated, and my inner simplicity meter gets a bit jumpy. Just wondering.

The R18 E-Tron at LeMans and the E-Trons available at the dealership are similar in that they are both labeled E-Tron and use regenerative braking. Other than that they have nothing in common. Any car made within the last ten years should make your simplicity meter twitch. If you ever walk past a W12 Phaeton it may knock you off your feet.

[j44ke]

The R18 E-Tron at LeMans and the E-Trons available at the dealership are similar in that they are both labeled E-Tron and use regenerative braking. Other than that they have nothing in common. Any car made within the last ten years should make your simplicity meter twitch. If you ever walk past a W12 Phaeton it may knock you off your feet.

Hah! Sure. I kind of figured that they weren't the same. But perhaps the technology has some miles under it from aspects of the racing program.

[ned]

"engine" running with no fossil fuel-burning guilt.

Depends on the source of your electricity. I read that a Leaf charged on coal power has effective emissions of 30mpg.

[jitahs]

Depends on the source of your electricity. I read that a Leaf charged on coal power has effective emissions of 30mpg.

I was speaking of where I live but yes, of course. Cali gets its grid juice to the tune of 1% coal; I'm cool as a cucumber with that.

This low, low figure comes from shutting a lot of petroleum coke plants recently, decreasing hydro sources and massively increasing wind and solar reliance.

It's political gridlock, old-guard political cronyism and tradition that keep many states from exploring alternative energy.

A friend lives in Seattle, hardly the bastion of sunshine; with his modest solar installation he:

a) sells kwh back to the city
b) powers his house
c) powers his electric cars

Just an example of what can be done; of course you gotta spend to play. Lotta guys got a lot of $ kicking around, yet purchase the most conspicuous, gas-guzzling vehicle possible*. Short of a 918 Spyder, those guys aren't fooling anyone.

*sport cars exempt - personal bias

[jitahs]

Depends on the source of your electricity. I read that a Leaf charged on coal power has effective emissions of 30mpg.

I just looked it up: UT, your state, is 81% coal-powered, yet has abundant sunshine. It's the powers that be that keep you down.

[rmplum]

We just leased a 2014 Panamera S E-Hybrid that has an E-Charge mode (one of the gazillion buttons between the seats). This charges the onboard battery via more aggressive application of the regenerative brakes and IC engine powering a generator over about 20-30 miles of regular driving. It works, although it is a bit (ok, a lot) disconcerting to get out of the car after even normal driving and take in the unmistakable smell of brakes and warm electronic parts. The first time this happened I wondered for a moment if the car had somehow let me drive with the parking brake on. Also, after a weekend with the car I'm not quite convinced that I want to save the earth with a 4800lb hybrid sports sedan. Compared to the Tesla it feels prehistoric (the process of the car deciding between IC or electric and PDK pondering 1st or 2nd gear seems extremely clumsy) and SLOW. It also sounds completely uninspiring. The brake feel got lost in the translation too, as blindfolded you'd never peg the soft initial touch as Porsche-esque. Maybe it just needs some break-in time.

[jitahs]

A nice proof-of-concept test, since it's a P-car, would be to drive it around, heat up the brakes nice and hot. Then head to the nearest track and see if the brakes boil/you have any pad. What could go wrong?