TireKicker Time Machine: 1986-89 Porsche 911

Front view of a classic '80s Porsche 911.

After a much too long absence, TireKicker Time Machine is back as a regular feature...and we start with a car I literally stumbled across and photographed mere minutes ago.

Before the comments start rolling in that this is too new, too modern to fit the "classic" definition, let's remember that the last year for this body style was 1989...and with the 2013s already showing up on the streets and in the showrooms, that means this particular TireKicker Time Machine is at least 24 years old....and possibly 27.

Hopefully some sharp-eyed Porschephiles can help us narrow down the actual model year of this beautiful example. We know it can't be newer than an '89 because of the body style....and the reason it can't be older than an '86 is visible in this shot if you look closely enough. Do you see it?

The plate says "VRYLCKY"...and we agree...very lucky. This is a TireKicker Time Machine we'd love to have in the driveway at TireKicker World Headquarters on a permanent basis.

New Car Review: 2012 Honda CR-V





The 2012 Honda CR-V.

Expectations.

That's the problem Honda has at the moment. I've read a few mediocre to bad reviews of the 2012 Honda CR-V, and after a week and 500 miles at the wheel, I can tell you, they're wrong. And it stems from expectations.

Those of us of a certain age watched as Honda went from building underpowered motorbikes to two-door rollerskates like the Honda 600 to world-beating sedans like the 1980s Accords and Civics in what seemed like the blink of an eye...and maintained the edge in quality, reliability and even innovation.

For the past decade or so, Honda's been operating with different priorities, and it shows. Their cars are no longer cutting edge. The simplicity and flawless ergonomics have given way to a fascination with electronics and buttons in the cabin. I've even said it...in a lot of ways, Kia is now building what we (of a certain age) expected from Honda.

But that doesn't mean that their cars are bad...or even less competitive in their categories.





The 2012 Honda CR-V.

The CR-V was a pioneer of what used to be called the cute-ute segment. For 2012, it's a bigger, more refined machine...enough so that it could be all the SUV most families really need.

Our test vehicle was the loaded all-wheel drive EX-L with navigation. Beginning price $29,795. Zero options. With $810 destination and handling, it sits at $30,605.

No, a 185 horsepower four mated to a 5-speed automatic won't set your hair on fire. Neither will anything else in this class. It's smoother than you'd expect, quicker than you'd expect and quiet. Exactly what you'd want from a small SUV.

It comes with four-wheel drive, a full complement of airbags and curtains, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution, vehicle stability assist, and tire-pressure monitoring.



The 2012 Honda CR-V interior.

Inside? A nice place to do your driving, with what seems like a significant reduction in the number of buttons on the dashboard, a generous sized (wide and deep) center console, power outlets, USB and auxilary jacks, Bluetooth, leather trimmed seats, steering wheel and shift knob, a good-sounding audio system with Pandora interface and XM Satellite Radio, and a power moonroof.

Complaints?  The audio and nav graphics are dated and the multiple audio sources can't be scrolled through quickly. To get to the one you want requires some patience. First-time pairing of a phone via Bluetooth isn't as quick and intuitive as with a lot of systems. And, the CR-Vs tall stance makes it susceptible to cross-winds...not dangerously so, but you can feel it more than in most vehicles in this class.

Apart from those things, though, this is a fully-equipped, well-built, go-anywhere small bordering on midsize SUV for roughly $30,000 that the EPA says will get 22 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway. In 500 miles worth of a 60/40 city streets/urban freeway mix, we saw 25.3.

I'd love to see Honda return to the days of amazement and wonder with every new product. But there's a lot to be said for simply building good cars with good value. And right now, Honda's delivering.

New Car Review: 2012 BMW Z4 2.8i




The 2012 BMW Z4 2.8i.

Pundits have been predicting the end of our second golden age of performance for quite a while now...and reason tells you they're probably right...that a combination of increasing mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and just plain old pain at the pump will someday result in liters and horsepower taking a back seat to efficiency and economy.

That being the case, the news that BMW, maker of the sweetest six-cylinders on this or any other planet, was shifting to four-cylinders in some variants of some of its models, was especially worrying.

Well, stop it. Now. The BMW Z4 2.8i, the four-cylinder that this year replaces the 3.0-liter 6, is soooo good.

Remember how much we loved the Z4 3.5i last year?  We love the 2.8i more.






The 2012 BMW Z4 2.8i.

First of all, it's lost none of its looks. The Z4, long an ugly duckling, is now drop-dead gorgeous. If you can resist those curves, see a doctor.

Secondly, while the 2.8 packs 60 fewer horsepower than the 3.5, it's a still-serious 240 horses, it's 231 pounds lighter and that peak power comes up 800 rpms earlier. And that lighter weight means a lighter nose...the 2.8 is much more tossable than the 3.5. Plus, BMW engineers have managed to make the four feel almost as silky as their legendary sixes.

Third, there's some serious fuel economy involved here. The EPA estimate for the Z4 2.8i is 22 city/34 highway, and what we saw in our week at the wheel suggests that's a realistic number.




The 2012 BMW Z4 2.8i interior.

And the interior...my Lord, the interior. The Z4 is one of the few cars on the market today where the inside looks as good as the outside and vice-versa. Everything's right where it should be and it all looks and feels very special...never, ever, giving you the feeling you're in an ordinary car. And you're not.

$49.525 with delivery and handling gets you a fully equipped car that will impress the neighbors, attract admiring looks from strangers, entertain you in motion and save you money at the gas station.

The 2.8 secures its place on TireKicker's Top Ten Cars list for all those reasons. I drive 104 cars a year. There's something new every week. I want this one back.