Cube Rubrics

Who says a sexy car has to be all big and bad? Not me. Not the Cube.
The new Nissan Cube packs a whole lotta attitude in a petite package and it's a kick to drive. With its funky design, and satisfactory get up and go, I thought it was a great urban ride. Perfect for pulling into tight parking spaces or for hauling gear, the Cube makes city driving fun again.

Read my review here.


For the technical view, you can get Don's take here.

Order up!

Some things just work. They meet all the requirements and do it with a little style. That's my assessment of the 2010 Toyota Camry.

This little dish serves up dependable transportation and comfort, and it looks good, too. I thought the newest model had everything it needed to keep its status as America's favorite passenger car.

Read my Toyota Camry review here.

Don's take.

Talk to me, baby...

You know how it is. You know there's something going on in there but he won't say a word. Ask him what he's thinking and the reply is usually something like, "Huh? Oh, nothing."

I'm not saying I want a long-term relationship with the new Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback, but I do like the way it communicates...

Read my review of the Ralliart here.

Don gives his view.

A Crying Jag

Last month I spent a couple of days driving the new 2010 Jaguar XK-R convertible around town. Not a bad way to pick up the dry cleaning.

It's almost impossible to go anywhere in this car without getting a lot of attention. I didn't leave the house without checking my make-up first. Not that I needed it. Nobody was looking at me. All eyes were on the machine. And with good reason.

The XK-R is a beautiful thing.This is a car for drivers. For drivers who demand performance, quality and who expect to be the center of attention wherever they go. It powers up, drives hard and pulls you into the wind. The interior was everything you'd expect from Jaguar. Rich and luxurious and very, very good looking. At just over $100,000, it ought to be.

Like I said, it's a fun drive. But there were a few negatives:

For some reason, they decided to put a backseat in the car but it's really useless. I'm short. Under 5'4" tall. I have to pull the seat up close to put the pedal on the floor. But even with the seat adjusted for my height, there wasn't room to put anyone back there.

And, putting the top up combined with the super low profile leaves the driver with no good way to see out the side or back windows.

Still, when it was time to give it back, I hated to say goodbye. It was one sweet ride.

You can find all the specs and details for the XK-R convertible here

The view from the hot seat

I know I should say the first thing I want out of a car is speed. Or, performance. Or, even status.

But, to tell the truth, one of the first things I look for when I get in a car is the switch for the seat heater. I love a nice warm seat. And in this part of the country, with the exception of about 8 weeks every year, even if the day turns hot and sunny, the mornings can be a little chilly.

I just picked up a new Subaru Outback to review. I admired the exterior and commented on the roomy interior. I hopped in, buckled up and hit the button. Ahhhh. True happiness is a heated seat.

I've written about my fondness for heat before, in a 2005 Home Planet column

It's not my fault. I'm just driven that way...

You should have seen his face when I drove up and stopped the car at the door of the hotel. He trotted out to meet me like a puppy looking for a treat.

Sure, I’m old enough to be his mother. Or, his mother’s older sister. But, at the moment, that didn’t matter to either of us. I had something he just couldn’t wait to get his hands on.

You can read the rest of my Hyundai Genesis Track review here

You gotta be Flexible

Everything deserves a second look, right?

Read my review of the new Ford Flex, here.