Porsche 911 Carrera Review

Every time Porsche changes the 911, they take the risk that they'll ruin it (I know, purists will argue they did that when they switched from air to water-cooled engines). What's remarkable is how, every time, they dodge that bullet. It's the greatest high-wire act on earth...with continuous performances for the past 46 years.If you'd asked me, I'd have told you that the 2008 911 was as good as they'd ever be able to make. I'd have been wrong. The 2009 immediately announces its superiority. It performs better (even in the "base" Carrera, which I drove for a week recently), the interior is nicer, the electronic aids (Porsche Stability Management,...

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Lexus is250 Review

If your image of Lexus is one of a maker of perfect but boring luxury automobiles, then it's time for a test drive of an is250.This has been Lexus' sport model for six or seven years now...and while it's been on the receiving end of the "relentless pursuit of perfection", it is still a different kind of Lexus.The 250 (there's a 350 and the F version as well) looks a little underpowered on paper (204 horsepower from a 2.5 liter V6), but it's by no means slow.The standard six-speed automatic transmission keeps the EPA mileage numbers up (21 city/29 highway), and it's a complete, well-equipped package at the base price of $32,325.Lexus loaded up...

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Dodge Journey R/T Review

The Dodge Journey should be such an easy vehicle to ridicule. So how come I really enjoy driving it?This is one of those few "answers to questions nobody asked" that leaves me wondering why we weren't asking. The Journey finds that sliver of middle ground between a crossover and a minivan and then steps down a size class.The result is an efficient mover of people (5) and things (within reason). And, despite some plasticky and unimaginatively designed interior bits, it's pleasant to drive.The $26,785 base price of the R/T model we tested buys front wheel drive (an AWD model is available), a 3.5-liter high output V6 mated to a six-speed transmission...

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Toyota Yaris 5-door Review

If you haven't already read my post from last fall about the 2009 Toyota Yaris Sedan, now'd be a good time. The 5-door? All the good stuff you get with the four-door minus the trunk, but plus the convenience of a hatch.The price? Would you believe exactly ten dollars more than the as-tested price of the four-door...with the same EPA estimated 29 city/35 highway miles per gallon.As with the four-door, there are the questions about what else $16,700 and change could buy you...but the Yaris in either configuration is well worth a look and a test dri...

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Hindi Comedy Photo

इंडीया आस्ट्रेलिया के मॅच के दौरान एक आस्ट्रेलियन प्रेक्षक मैदानपर नंगा होकर दौड पडायह क्षण टिव्हीपर मॅचे के प्रक्षेपणके दौरान किसी कारणवश दिखाए नही जा सके. वह प्रक्षेक सिधा दौडा तो सायमन्डके पास जा पहूचा. सायमंड उसे कोहनीसे दूर हटाते हूए .नंगेसे खुदा डरे यूंही नही कहते. वह प्रेक्षक नंगा मैदानपर लेटकर मजे ले रहा है और पुलिसवाला उसके पास जानेको डर रहा है..और मजा तो तब आया जब वह नंगा प्रेक्षक बिनदास खडा था और पुलिस उसे 'कवर' करनेकी कोशीश कर रहे थे.------सुना है बादमें पुलिसने उसपर 1500 डॉलर (यानी 60000/- रुपए) का जुर्माना लगा...

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Nissan Altima 2.5 S Review

Tempted by the Nissan Altima Hybrid (as I was), but looking to skip the tech and save a few bucks?Well, the Altima 2.5 S is one heck of a deal. All the Altima goodness that I've been telling you about in both the Hybrid and Coupe models, but with a 2.5 liter 16-valve four-cylinder under the hood. 170 horsepower routed through a continuously variable transmission. Way beyond adequate performance and amenities and some seriously stingy results in terms of mileage. The EPA says 23 city/31 highway, just missing TireKicker's Top Ten Fuel Savers...and we saw a real-world combined 27 miles per gallon in our week with the car. And the price is right...base...

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Kia Borrego EX V8 Review

For those of you who read my review of the Kia Borrego EX powered by the 3.8 liter 6-cylinder and said "I want a V8", well...they make one.For the life of me, I can't tell much of a difference between the engines in terms of power and performance. Fuel economy won't help you choose, either...the V8 is only 1 mile per gallon thirstier than the V6 (dropping to an EPA estimated 15 city/20 highway). About the only difference I can see is that the 8 costs more...a $3,000 difference. Drive 'em both. If it were my money, I'd take the s...

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Jaguar XKR Convertible Review

I remember the thrill I felt as a tiny TireKicker when I saw the Jaguar XKE Convertible back in 1961. There was no question: I was in the presence of something special.Even with the passage of 48 years (!), it's tough to top that design. The requirements of modern motoring make it virtually impossible to build anything that sleek and lithe (where would the computers fit?). Jaguar's attempts to evoke the old E-Type have largely fallen far short of the mark...until the current XK and XKR.Again, practicalities keep the new car bigger in every dimension than the original E-Type, but there is a sense of something special...and a close-cousin resemblance...

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Toyota Land Cruiser Review

Even before the economy turned to jello and gas prices went bipolar, the idea of a new Toyota Land Cruiser...a new, bigger, Toyota Land Cruiser...seemed like a pretty iffy proposition. The writing's been on the wall for a couple of years now: This is a time of change. Smaller, more economical approaches are the future.So I got behind the wheel of this $64,000 behemoth ($72,000 and change as equipped) with reservations.I ended up loving it. Look: The Toyota Land Cruiser (along with the Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon XL and the Range Rover) have a right to survivor status. They were here, doing what real sport-utility vehicles are supposed...

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Honda Pilot Touring Review

The handwriting was on the wall when Honda nailed the minivan concept with the current-generation Odyssey a few years back: No segment is safe from Honda superiority. It's just a matter of time.Well, other segments (full-size pickups) will have to wait, but here's some more bad news for Detroit: The new Pilot is a home run.As big a Honda fan as I've been for the past 25 years, I was underwhelmed by the first-gen Pilot. It was competent, but little else. The new '09 had me won over in about ten minutes. Time for an objectivity test: My wife. For some reason I've never understood, Hondas leave her cold. She just doesn't like them.She gets in the...

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Land Rover LR3 Review

As I noted in my review of the Land Rover LR2 a while back, Land Rover has finally hit on the key to success for its smaller, less expensive (compared to the top-of-the-line Range Rover) vehicles: Make them as much like the flagship as possible.They've certainly applied it brilliantly to the mid-size LR3 (known once upon a time as the Discovery). What was once a fairly stark, utilitarian vehicle now coddles you in the same kind of luxury as the Range Rover, especially when ordered with the optional HSE LUX Package, which this tester was. How luxurious are we talking about? Well, if the Ritz-Carlton made SUVs, this would be the one they'd make....

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Bob Golfen on Speed

(Oh, sure, Bob...like you thought I could pass up that headline.)A TireKicker tip of the hat to Bob Golfen, newly appointed Automotive Editor at speedtv.com. 11 and a half years ago, when I was a television reporter and the station I worked for needed new segments to fill their expanding newscasts, I decided it would be a great time to indulge my boyhood dream and become a professional TireKicker. I just had no idea how to start. So I called Bob (who'd been writing automotive reviews and other stories at The Arizona Republic for 9 years at that point) and asked for one...just one...name and phone number of a press person at an automobile manufacturer.Bob...

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