The 2009 Volvo S80: Svenskarna Är Pimps Too

We are flat-out impressed by Volvo’s premium luxury offering, the 2009 Volvo S80 - those Swedes have really stepped up to the plate where the American standard of luxury is concerned. In fact, we’d even go so far as to assert that the Volvo S80 completely outperforms other sedans in its class like the BMW 5-series and the Audi A6.

We test drove the floor model, a 2009 Volvo S80 V8, and by the time we had driven the first half-mile, we were this close to making a break for the border and living a life on the lamb - that’s how in love we are with the new S80.
One of it’s most striking features by far is its handling, the ride is smoother than glass. Although that may not seem like such an impressive feat for a luxury sedan, you have to remember that all the extra safety features Volvo is notorious for adding to their cars usually makes for pretty stiff handling. Leaving their “safety over style” mentality light-years behind them, the Volvo S80 V8 also comes with optional 18″ chrome rims and a 20% window tint, providing for not only a smooth ride, but a sick one too.

So let’s say you buy an S80 and you’re in love with your new whip, but you’re nervous about leaving it alone in the parking lot while you’re up in the club. Well don’t be, because Volvo thought of that. Standard on the S80 V8 and optional on both the S80 3.2 and S80 T6, Volvo’s Personal Car Communicator [PCC] provides every theft-deterrent short of trunk-stored Dobermans. The PCC acts as a two-way radio between you and your car, keeping you constantly aware of when your car is locked or unlocked, and - for when you aren’t within earshot - whether the alarm has been activated or not. If the alarm has been activated, the PCC communicates with the Volvo S80’s Heart Beat Sensor and will notify you as to exactly how many individuals are in the vehicle and where they are seated. After you waste the punks, the S80’s front and rear park-assist cameras as well as Blind Spot Information System will allow you to easily navigate your way out of the parking lot while 311-hp V8 engine will help put some distance between you and the responding 5-0.

Fully bagged out, the S80 goes for about 50k, a lot less than the Germans would try and squeeze out of you for the same luxuries. Bottom line: in the words of the late Notorious BIG “Only Pimpin’ hoes drive Volvos.”

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The 2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe: Thanks Dave

2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe

I guess I’m something of an oddball when it comes to the Civic Si. I actually really liked the fifth generation 2002-2005 Civic Si, the one everyone else thought was ugly; I liked the console mounted shifter and the big headlights and the stubby nose and the fact that it was a hatchback, I liked the whole package. A taffeta white 2005 Civic Si with dark tint all around is a beautiful thing. So I wasn’t super happy in 2006 when Honda totally redesigned the Civic and brought back the coupe. But I recently drove a 2008 Si and it blew my mind.

I have the luxury of working at an auto repair shop, and because of that, I come into contact with a lot of different cars everyday. A customer recently came in looking for a side view mirror for his 2008 Civic Si, we ordered him a new one, and I gave him discount for letting me drive his car around. Everyone wins. On top of that, I got to drive my cousins 2004 Honda Civic Si hatchback a few years ago, and the memory of that drive will be my control.

Fifth Generation Honda Civic Si hatchback

Like I said, the look of the old Civic Si Hatchback was great, the only problem was everything else. Considering it was supposed to be a ‘performance’ car, it was surprisingly lacking in the power and handling department, with pretty obvious understeer on tight curves. The new sixth generation Civic Si definitely fixes that.

Honda hasn’t really done much with the Si since they redesigned it in 2006, but it’s still a major improvement over the hatchback Si. Where the 5th gen hatchback had 160 hp from the 2.0 VTEC engine, the new 6th gen coupe has 197 hp, and the 6 speed trans that the hatchback should have had. You don’t have to push the 2008 Si the way you had to push the hatchback, it wants to go. And the transmission is perfect, shifting is swift and easy, almost effortless.

The power is only a small part of the improvements though. Like I said earlier, the hatch Si had some pretty severe problems with understeer, it just wasn’t as tight as it should have been, and the new coupe corrects that. The 2008 Civic Si took the tight curve on the south end of Wheatsheaf lane perfectly, whereas the old hatchback nearly threw me up on the railroad tracks at the same speed a few years ago. This car handles beautifully. It wouldn’t do it justice to say the new Si is just an improvement on the fifth generation, it’s so much more than that, it really is one of the most enjoyable cars I’ve ever driven.

It is a much tighter ride than the hatchback was, but the whole class has upped their game. The 2008 Civic Si has some very stiff competition. The Chevy Cobalt SS, Mazdaspeed 3, and Volkswagen GTI all have more horsepower than the Civic Si, the Cobalt SS considerably so. And the Mazdaspeed 3 and VW GTI are both on Car and Driver’s 10best list. So what’s the deal?

The Civic Si is a twisty car. Yes, it’s beat in the power department, but I doubt the the Cobalt SS could take the hairpins I’ve taken in the Si. And the Honda is more refined, it has a quality interior, not the chintzy plastics of the Cobalt. Plus, the overall quality of Honda…the car will last. And starting at 21k, it’s the cheapest of the 4 sport-compacts.

As for the look, I still don’t like it the way I liked the hatchback Si. The rear spoiler makes it look silly and the tiny headlights give it a much less aggressive, more boring look. Still, this car was a thrill to drive. I’ll take mine in taffeta white.

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The Urban DINK: 2007 Infiniti G35x

At a wedding not too long ago, a fellow Urban DINK started quizzing me about the new BMW 3 Series and if it was worth the money. The new 3 Series is a great car, but if you have to ask “is it worth the money,” a car like the G35 is probably a better choice. Not because their prices are astronomically different; the 328 starts $1,500 higher than the G35, and the 335 and its larger engine are roughly $7,000 more.

No, it’s because, after a week in an all-wheel-drive G35x, I realized this car is almost as good as a 3 Series on equal footing. Sure, we beat the two together last fall, but on its own, with an automatic, I enjoyed the G35 almost as much as the 3 Series (the 335 with the new twin-turbo is just too amazing to beat out).

The interior quality is so much better in the new G35 than the previous model that, besides the window switches, I’d say it was more attractive inside than the BMW, and much more ergonomically pleasing. All the buttons on the center stack felt great, and the dial/knob/buttons for the navigation system had a nice weight to them. The steering wheel was well-balanced and full of useful buttons, and, as is true in most Infinitis, the most ergonomic features were the stubby stalks for the turn signals and wipers. They’re the perfect length with the perfect feedback. Sometimes it’s the little things.

My main beef my last time in the new G35 was the manual transmission, which I thought was a bit crude for a luxury sedan. It should be noted that three other reviewers at Cars.com all disagreed with me. My tester this week had the automatic with manual shift capability. I just left the thing in drive and let my right foot do all the work. The 306-hp V-6 engine is a thing of beauty. It sounds great, responds immediately and seems to deliver endless power. Getting onto the highway is just a blast. Then there’s the all-wheel drive, which held up in extremely icy conditions and unplowed alleys with near SUV-like confidence.

Nothing about the exterior really thrilled me, but the look shouted “I’m a luxury car,” with its large, chrome grille. When I valet parked at a nice downtown-Chicago restaurant, the guy in the red jacket kept it up front without any added monetary enticement, and that was during the nasty weather when the G35 had been caked with dirt. Still, the inside was what really sold me. The seats were nice, the gauges glowed a subtle blue and that center stack is one of the best I can remember.

As far as Urban DINK-itude goes, the G35x could win an award. If only we didn’t have a dog I’d think about getting one myself. The next person to ask me about a 3 Series might get a more definitive answer now.

*I apologize for the lack of images. Bad weather, a busy auto show schedule and forgetting my camera during Sunday errand runs are all to blame.

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Suburban Dad: Ford Expedition

I’ll say this for the Expedition: It wasincredibly comfortable to ride in, but the mechanics of stopping andgoing overwhelmed the plushness of the interior.

I know great big SUVs like the Expedition are going to need hugeamounts of power to get them moving — and that when they’re this big,it’s going to take more effort to slow them down. But both accelerationand braking were lagging at best — a slow, painful chore at worst. Thataside, my wife and kids really enjoyed the interior of the Expedition.There was far more space for passengers than there was in the Chrysler Aspen, although getting back to the third road was harder than in the Aspen.

TheExpedition’s automatic driver’s seat, which moves back after you’vestopped, made it easier for me to get in and out of the car. When youclimb back in and start it up, the seat moves back into position. Myknees were very grateful for this feature.

The Expedition’s automatic driver’sseat, which moves back after you’ve stopped, made it easier for me toget in and out of the car. When you climb back in and start it up, theseat moves back into position. My knees were very grateful for thisfeature.

This Expedition had tons of other features, including an easy-to-usenavigation system (easier by far than the joystick-burdened system inthe Nissan Quest we drove), heated and cooled front seats (for bothbacks and butts), wireless headphones and a backseat entertainmentsystem with a DVD player. All those extras don't come cheap: As driven,this SUV was around $48,000.

The Wife: She found it very comfy and deemed the heated leatherseats “a nice touch.” The best part for her? “The kids have plenty ofroom to sit — and not touch each other.” Still, she found theExpedition’s dimensions just too darn big, noting, “It looks like asemi.”

The Teen Son: He was thrilled with the headphones once I turned offthe all-Christmas-music station. “I like the headphones,” he said,“because they let me hear my music without having to listen to everyoneelse.” Spoken like a true teen.

The Tweener Daughter: She didn’t like how hard it was to get into the backseat, but “I like how my brother is stuck back there.”

The 10-Year-Old: He liked the DVD controls in the back because “thenyou don’t have to bug your parents to control the movie.” While wearingthe wireless headphones, he was in his own world, humming along to themusic.

Would my wife or I buy the Expedition? Probably not. The roominessinside — not to mention the plushness — was terrific, but the overlylarge size, big price tag, and concern about the effort it would takemy wife to get it to stop in traffic would keep it off our list.

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