New Car Review: 2012 BMW 328i

The 2012 BMW 328i.

Automotive history is littered with small cars that packed on the inches and pounds until they were no longer small. In a sense, it's already happened with the 3-Series BMW, or else we wouldn't have had a 1-Series going on five years now.

So further enlargement of the 3 in its latest generation might not seem like such a good thing on paper. But this is not The Ultimate Reading Machine. So we drive.



Rear three-quarters view of the 2012 BMW 328i.

Sorry. What were we saying?

You have to be very, very good at building cars to make the car bigger, put a four-cylinder where literally generations of drivers have come to expect a six, and still have a terrific driving experience.

BMW is very, very good at building cars. Sure, the four doesn't quite have the zing of the best sixes in the world (which is what BMW built)...but it doesn't feel like anybody else's four, either. It's 2.0 liters, 16 valves, dual overhead cam, an aluminum block, Twin-Power Turbo and variable valve timing. And the upside (a big part of why BMW is switching to fours) is fuel economy...an EPA estimated 23 city/34 highway. In a week of some seriously awful stop-and-go rush hour commutes, we averaged 27.6, which is better than what we've seen in some lesser economy cars.

Handling? It's darn near a cliche, but it's true, so here goes: The car is like an extension of your brain. Think "I want to go......there", turn the wheel just so and....you're there. Zero delay, a slop factor of nil. Simple, precise response.

In a world of $27,000 uplevel Accords and Camrys, $34,900 for this kind of precision and quality is by no means out of line. And it comes with Driving Dynamics Control, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control, four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes, Dynamic Brake Control, Cornering Brake Control, tire pressure monitoring, halogen high and low beam headlights and halogen free-form front foglights, a three-spoke, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, Bluetooth, iDrive with a 6 and a half inch color display, automatic climate control, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, an AM/FM/CD/mp3 audio system with HD Radio, iPod and USB adapter, 17 inch light alloy wheels with run-flat all season tires and a full complement of active and passive safety features.



The 2012 BMW 328i optional Sport Line interior in Dakota Coral Red/Black.

Options? You can get 'em, and our test vehicle had 'em. Including the Dakota Coral Red/Black leather interior you see above ($1,450). Then there's the Sport Line Package...Sports leather steering wheel, an upgrade to 18 inch light alloy wheels, door mirror caps in black, sport seats, brushed aluminum trim, high-gloss black trim highlights and an anthracite headliner ($2,500). The Adaptive M Suspension is $900.

There's also a moonroof ($1,050), split fold-down rear seat ($475), heated front seats ($500), satellite radio with a one-year subscription ($350) and BMW Assist with enhanced Bluetooth and USB ($650).
Add on the $895 destination charge and you're at $43,670.

Now, that close to 45K, I have trouble making the bargain...and even the value analogy. It's all neat stuff and if you want it and can afford it, great. But some judicious cherry-picking of the options list (Red interior: Maybe. Sport Line Package: Maybe. Adaptive M Suspension: Definitely.....) can keep you on this side of $40,000, which is good value. And buying it box stock for $34,900...well, that's a stone cold deal.

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TireKicker Time Machine: 1986-1992 Volvo 240 GL

The 1986-1992 Volvo 240 GL.

Boxy, slow and Spartan.

Still, I (almost) kick myself for not having bought one new and I'd love to find a solid one for the right price today...but the Volvo 240 is finally approaching an age where the true survivors are becoming few in number.




We're going with 1986-92 for this TireKicker Time Machine because the CHMSL (Center High Mounted Stop Light) appeared for the first time in 1986, and the last year for the 240 GL was 1992.

Volvos sold (at premium prices) largely on their safety reputation. They were not just brick-shaped, they had the structural integrity of solid gold bars. That offset a large-ish, heavy-ish sedan being powered by a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine.

Those "premium prices" mentioned in the last paragraph? Base price for an '86 240 GL was $16,425. That's within walking distance of an '86 Buick Electra Park Avenue. A bit more of a walk (less than 2 grand) and you could have had an Audi 5000.

Now, about that (almost) kicking myself for not buying one new: As much as I loved the one and only 240 I ever drove (a 1992 rental from Hertz), I'm glad I didn't rush home to my local Volvo dealer and plop down what was then an MSRP of $22,170. For while Volvo 240s held up well over the years, their resale value never did...falling off a cliff into the bargain basement at an alarming rate. Today, it's a $2,500 car, with the best one in the world worth maybe $3,675, according to the NADA guidebook (the Buick and Audi would fetch closer to $5,000 in top condition).

Still, there's something so straightforward, authentic and honest about the 240. If you've owned one, or have a 240 story, click the comment button.

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New Car Review: 2013 Kia Sorento

The 2013 Kia Sorento.

Meet the all-American midsize crossover.

Yep, it's a Kia.

I'll spare you all the roaring up in the rearview mirror analogies that seem so unavoidable when writing about Kia's huge and so far unfailing strides from punch line to today's version of what Honda was in the 80s. Short version is this is now and so is the Kia Sorento. It's a right-sized crossover SUV, made in America for Americans and it hits the bulls-eye dead center.




Rear three-quarters view of the 2013 Kia Sorento.

Our week in the 2013 Sorento came not long after a week in a 2012 model. Both were front-drive EX models...one notch from the top of the line. Differences? The 2013 EX makes leather trim standard. The '12 had a 2.4 liter four-cylinder, the '13 had a 3.5 liter V6. Frankly, the four is smooth and powerful enough for most driving...and there's a significant fuel economy difference: The four's 22 city/32 highway drops to 20 city/26 highway with the V6. Not a big deal in town, but six fewer on the open road is a big drop.

Apart from more frequent $50 a tank fillups (at $3.45 a gallon) there's not much not to like. Plenty of room for people and their things, a relatively quiet and smooth ride, carlike handling and a raft of features. Opt for the EX model and in addition to the aforementioned leather, you'll get a six-speed automatic transmission, independent front and rear suspension, 5-spoke hyper-finish alloy wheels, a full complement of airbags and active headrests, anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control, downhill brake and hill-start assist control, tire pressure monitoring, fog lamps, heated outside mirrors with turn signal indicators, privacy glass and a rear spoiler.




2013 Kia Sorento instrument panel.

Inside, there's more: Dual-zone automatic climate control, power windows, locks and mirrors, UVO in-vehicle infotainment system with rear camera, USB, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, power driver's seat with lumbar support, push-button start, cruise control, automatic light control, a tilt and telescoping steering column and interior accent illumination.

Base price for all that: $27,950. Which, if you haven't been keeping up with Kia, sounds like a lot for the brand, but isn't. And, in fact, is a bargain compared to direct competitors.

Our tester got loaded beyond the standard stuff, though: $2,000 for the Limited Package (navigation with Sirius Traffic), an air-cooled driver's seat, memory driver's seat and mirrors, power folding ourside mirrors and Homelink)...$3,400 for the Premium Package 2 (First Aid kit, Infinity surround sound audio system, heated front seats, power passenger seat, a 50/50 split folding third row seat, auto-dimming mirror and panoramic sunroof)...$65 for a rear bumper protector...$50 for a cargo net and $125 for a cargo cover.

Grand total, including $800 for freight and handling: $34,390. Again, your brain may have trouble putting the phrase "Thirty four thousand dollars" together with the name "Kia". But try loading a competitor to that level and see what the bottom line is. And there's Kia's 10 year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty, 5 year/60,000 mile limited basic warranty and 5 years/60,000 miles of roadside assistance. It's a compelling package...and one you shouldn't ignore if you're shopping in this segment.

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TireKicker Time Machine: The Half-Million Mile Acura Retires (Sort Of)

Most recent odometer reading of Tyson Hugie's 1994 Acura Legend 6-speed Coupe.

Last August, we did a piece on Tyson Hugie, a young man whose virtually flawless 1994 Acura Legend 6-speed Coupe was nearing the half-million mile mark on the odometer.

Well, as you can see, he and it got there...but there's more to the story...including a well-deserved rest for the 18-year old big Coupe...and a new Acura in Tyson's life.



Acura hands Tyson the keys to a new ILX.

Acura, thrilled with the publicity from Tyson's 500,000 mile Legend, has rewarded him with the use of a new 2013 Acura ILX for the next year, after which it's his (he'll be responsible for the tax implications).  It's an arrangement that lets Tyson rack up the miles in a way no press fleet vehicle would be allowed, and he's already making the most of it. You can follow along on his blog.

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New Car Review: 2012 Mini John Cooper Works Cooper Coupe

The 2012 Mini John Cooper Works Cooper Coupe.

What do you do when you're a decade or so along selling a not terribly practical (as in daily use by a family of four) car?

Well, after making some more practical variants (Clubman, Countryman), you can always make one that's even less practical. Of course, it helps if it's also even more fun than the original. And any time you see the name "John Cooper Works" attached to a Mini, you know the fun quotient has been attended to.




Rear view of the 2012 Mini John Cooper Works Cooper Coupe.

The Cooper Coupe dispenses with the back seat, giving the Mini a trunk instead of a hatch, a seriously racy roofline, and an ability to start conversations in parking lots. Even though you can get a Cooper Coupe three different ways (base, S and John Cooper Works), they're still rare enough that most people think you've had your Mini customized.


The John Cooper Works Coupe is $9,900 more (base price) than the standard Coupe...but that money buys very good stuff, like a boost from 121 horsepower to 208 (thanks to a twin-scroll turbocharger), 22 more miles per hour on the speedometer when you max it out (149 versus 127), 2.2 seconds slashed from the 0-60 time (6.1 rather than 8.3).

Oh...and you feel that power. Torque goes from 114 pounds per foot at 4,200 RPM in the base Coupe to 192 pounds per foot between 1,850 and 5,000 RPM in the JCW. The hood scoop? That's real.

The JCW Coupe also steps you up to 17 inch run-flat tires and standard front fog lamps. The trade-offs: $9,900, 2 seats, and four miles per gallon in both city and highway driving (29/37 for the Coupe, 25/33 for the JCW Coupe). And you can't get an automatic transmission (nor should you want to).



Interior of the 2012 Mini John Cooper Works Cooper Coupe.

The interior is familiar to anyone who's been in a Mini...the big wall-clock sized speedometer in the center of the dash, which now houses a color multi-function display in the middle, audio and climate controls below and a line of toggle switches for windows and other functions. Mounted like a 60s aftermarket accessory on the steering column is a sizeable (compared to anything other than the speedometer) tach, which has a digital display inside that includes odometer, trip odometer, miles to empty and a digital speedometer (in case you want that number in front of you instead of off to the side).

The one we had for a week was just like the one you see here...the color is called Lightning Blue Metallic. It's an extra-cost option ($500). So was the Carbon Black/Beige Punch leather interior ($1,500). Mini Connected with Navigation is the phone/entertainment package including voice command, Bluetooth, USB/iPod connection and navigation ($1,750).

I've never found Minis to be anything but terrific handling little cars, but the tester added a Sport Suspension ($500). And the option gods weren't finished yet. Chrome line interior: $250. Silver Sport Stripes outside: $250. Chrome door mirror caps: $100. A center armrest: $100. Xenon headlamps: $500. A (very good) Harmon-Kardon sound system: $750 (SiriusXM Satellite Radio is included for 1 year, as is smartphone integration and real-time traffic information). White turn signal lights are now apparently something desirable. Mini charges $100 for them. Add the $700 destination charge and the total ends up $38,350.
No, it's not cheap. And it's probably not advisable to have it as your only car. But if your disposable income allows for a toy...something to go carving canyons or embarrassing everyone else at autocross, this is a great way to go.

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News: Click and Clack to Retire: 25 and Done for Car Talk

Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

With apologies to Spanky and Our Gang, Saturday will never be the same.
Tom and Ray Magliozzi, aka Click and Clack, The Tappet Brothers, are ceasing production of new episodes of NPR's Car Talk at the end of September.

As both a car guy and a former radio guy, I can tell you...Car Talk was the best of both, while pretending to be the worst (part of the charm). Damn, I'm gonna miss this. The show goes on with material culled from 25 years of archives, but that's gonna get old in about...26 years.

Read the full NPR statement.

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