A tale of two Impalas

You are looking at a pair of 2014 Chevrolet Impala sedans. Both are finished with Crystal Red Tintcoat paint. Both are top-level LTZ models. Both are currently being built and are sold in the U.S. And yet, there is very little else about these cars that are the same. You see, the one on the left is an Impala Limited, the previous-generation Impala that GM only sells to fleet customers. The one on the right is the newest version of the Impala. Let’s do a little comparison of the two.

2015 GMC Canyon test drive review. The truckin' sweet spot

These days, when a manufacturer claims their truck is full-sized, they mean it. I’ve reviewed some pickups lately that completely dwarf the old HMC ’63 Chevy. And while these new trucks are capable of carrying payload and pulling trailers that would have been impossible just a few years ago, there are some people that just don’t want to drive something that big. That’s where the all-new 2015 GMC Canyon comes in. This truck is still able to handle most of the things people buy trucks for in the first place, but it comes in a smaller, more manageable package.

1953 Ford is ridiculously original

On July 2, 1953, Edward Lamb from Greenville, Tenn., walked into Green County Motor Company with a used car trade-in and $627 cash, and drove away with a brand-new Ford Customline Fordor.  Edward’s Glacier Blue sedan may not have been the flashiest car on the block, but it commemorated Ford’s 50th-Anniversary.  Today, 61 years later, this amazing time capsule has only amassed 31,000 actual miles.  From top to bottom, this car is pristine, untouched, and absolutely original.  It may be the nicest, most honest old car I have ever seen.

2014 Cadillac XTS VSport test drive review. This is what makes a Cadillac a Cadillac

There was a time when Cadillacs did not compete with cars like Mercedes and BMW.  They had rivals like Lincoln and Packard.  But even among their peer group, they stood alone.  If you bought the best watch or refrigerator or lawn mower money could buy, someone would call it “the Cadillac of lawn mowers.”  That’s because Cadillacs were the best, both in perception and reality.  They were the most luxurious.  They were the most technologically advanced.  They were the most stylish.  And in many cases, they were the biggest.

New car reviews to get us ready for the auto show

The Greater Kansas City Auto Show is taking place in going on in Bartle Hall this weekend.  Naturally, I plan to be there to check out all the latest and greatest.  But to get ready, I thought we’d take a look back at my top ten favorite new cars that I had the opportunity to test drive over the past year or two. I’ve been very fortunate with this blog, because without it, I never would have had the chance to drive a new Cadillac for a week, for example.  As someone who really loves cars, I cannot understate how awesome I think this has been for me.  Just rereading the stories makes me happy.  I hope they make you happy too.

2014 Chrysler 300S Hemi test drive review. Even better than they used to be

They don’t make ‘em like they used to.  You hear people say that all the time when it comes to the current state of new cars.  And for the most part, that’s probably true.  There aren’t many places that you can buy a large, V8, rear-wheel-drive car anymore that can devour highway miles like they did 20-30 years ago.  But I can tell you from firsthand experience that there is at least one place—your Chrysler dealer.  I just spent a week driving a loaded 2014 Chrysler 300S, and it combines everything you loved about those old cars with all the new features people expect and crave. 

2014 Chevrolet SS test drive review. Not what it first appears to be

The car you’re looking at here may be one of the biggest sleepers in America.  It looks like an oversized Chevy Cruze.  It doesn’t really have a name.  And it is one of the fastest, most potent full-sized sedans you can buy.  The 2014 Chevrolet SS is one of those cars that you need to experience to appreciate.  But not many people will get that chance.  In spite of being the face of Chevrolet’s NASCAR efforts, this car is a secret.  And it will probably remain a secret until someone looks back on them and realizes what they missed.

2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited V6 4X4 test drive review. I'm starting to get it

We took BHo to basketball practice last week, and it was one of those deals where the gym was locked and we had to wait for someone to bring the key.  It was really cold out, so everyone was still sitting in their cars.  There are twenty-one fourth-grade boy basketball players at BHo’s school, and every one of them was sitting in some kind of SUV or crossover vehicle.  Every.  Single.  One.  Of.  Them.  Normally, BHo would have been the exception; but not this time.  We had access to a 2014 Jeep Cherokee.  And while I’ve never considered myself an SUV guy, per se, I am starting to see why so many people are.

2014 Volkswagen CC R-Line test drive review. Much better at delivering to a food pantry than a Camaro

My 10-year-old son has a December birthday, and we usually throw a party for him.  But instead of asking for presents, I am very proud to report that for the past five years, he has asked his friends to bring canned food items instead of gifts.  Last year, he collected a record 442 items.  This year, he shattered his own record with 674 items!  People are really getting behind his efforts, and he gets a good feeling from taking his donations to the St. Vincent DePaul food pantry each year. 

2014 Cadillac CTS 2.0T Premium test drive review. As exciting as you would hope a new Cadillac could be

You may not have picked up on it yet, but I love cars.  Always have.  And as much as I love old cars, I also get pretty excited when some really cool new car comes out.  And I can’t think of anything more exciting than an all-new, rear-wheel-drive Cadillac CTS.  This is the Motor Trend Car of the Year.  It is grabbing praise, headlines, and awards everywhere it goes.  Some people call it the best Cadillac sedan ever.  Others call it the best American car ever.  The 2014 CTS is seriously getting that kind of praise.  The fact that I got a chance to drive a new 2.0T Premium last week was a very big opportunity.  Let’s take a look at my little turbocharged terror.  I’ll bet you’ll think it’s pretty cool too.

2014 GMC Acadia Denali test drive review. Comfort, utility, and confidence no matter the conditions

My household consists of myself, my wife, and one fairly undersized 10-year-old boy.  The seven-passenger 2014 GMC Acadia Denali is probably more vehicle than we need.  However, this was a busy week.  I opened up a swap meet display.  My dad and I went to the Mecum auction.  And the family headed up to St. Joseph to watch my son’s basketball tournament.  With each task, I began to appreciate more and more the safety, utility, and convenience of a large crossover like this.  It’s no wonder people like these things.  For real-world use, you just can’t beat them.

2014 Cadillac ATS 2.0T test drive review. Obsessed with Red Obsession

Make no mistake; the Cadillac ATS is a world-class sports sedan.  Sure, it’s easy to dismiss it as just another Cadillac, but don’t let the familiar looks fool you.   If you’re in the market for a BMW 3-Series and you don’t test drive an ATS, you’re not doing yourself any favors.  Take this 2014 ATS 2.0T Premium that I had the opportunity to drive last week.  Not only was it a great running and handling car, but certain aspects of the styling were beyond expectations.

Exploring Parkville in a 2014 Subaru BRZ

With work, family commitments, friends, hobbies, and kid’s activities, it seems like we’re always on the go.  That makes it hard to appreciate everything we have at home.  I recently had the chance to spend a week with a Subaru BRZ.  But instead of taking it on an epic road trip, I decided to explore some of the history of my current hometown, Parkville, Mo.  The punchy little sports coupe shuttled me to various local landmarks, and gave me a chance to appreciate some of the cool sights we have right here at home.

The "last" Camaro. A look back at the 2001-2002 Camaro SS

A decade ago, most people thought the Camaro was gone forever. There was no replacement in the works after the 2002 model year. There were disputes between General Motors and the St. Therese, Quebec assembly plant involving, among other things, the use of the Camaro name itself. It was a bleak time for fans of Chevrolet’s entry in the Pony Car wars.

And yet, if a person was looking for affordable performance, the Camaro was an unbeatable deal.

2014 Camaro SS convertible test drive review. Pure evil

Off in the distance, the vile shrill of a banshee pierced the silence.  Then I saw them, the white halos, cutting through the darkness like lasers.  But these were not the halos of angels.  Before my eyes could even focus, there was a flash of blood red, as evil as the devil himself.  And then it was gone.  My heart raced as I contemplated what I had just seen.  Was this the apocalypse—a lost soul escaping from hell to exact its revenge on all humankind?  No, but it was close.  This was the 2014 Camaro SS convertible.  This is a car so powerful, so unruly, that Satan would use it to pick up his date.  Wicked and wonderful, the new Camaro SS is temptation on wheels.

2014 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ test drive review. Better than drugs

Last Friday night, I was dealing with a kidney stone.  If you’ve never had one, it’s sort of like trying to pass a large cocklebur through a swizzle stick.  Your back hurts.  A lot.  It is very hard to calm things down.  So I ended up climbing out of bed and heading to the emergency room for some pain medicine.  And as I was driving, a soothing sense of calm came over me.  And then I realized, it was because of the vehicle I was driving: a 2014 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ.

2014 Silverado vs. 1963 C-10. The ultimate battle of supremacy

If you turn on the television at this very moment, there will be a Chevy commercial on one of the stations proclaiming “Silverado vs. …”  Then they’ll put it up against a Ford or Ram, or the perils of the desert, or whatever might pose a challenge to the all-new 2014 Silverado.  I recently had the chance to drive a new Silverado LTZ Z71 Crew Cab, but I didn’t have a comparable F-150 sitting around.  So I did my own Silverado vs.  This one is “Silverado vs. the Hover Motor Company 1963 C-10.”  You will undoubtedly learn all about the latest full-sized Chevy truck from this hard-hitting bit of reporting.  Or just look at the article I wrote about the 2014 GMC Sierra a couple of weeks ago.  They’re pretty similar.

2014 Buick LaCrosse test drive review. The pride of Kansas City

One of the most underrated luxury cars on the planet is built right here at the GM Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City.  Take a look at this 2014 Buick LaCrosse.  Yes, Buicks are often considered old folks’ cars.  Yes, this is the biggest car in the Buick lineup.  And no, that chrome tri-shield is not going to impress your neighbors like a three-pointed star or a blue-and-white propeller.  But if you can put all of those pre-conceived notions aside, you’ll realize that this is one of the most well-appointed, quality-built luxury cars there is.  Pay attention, folks, because this became a mighty nice car while everyone was looking over there.

2014 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 4X4 test drive review. The luxury car that works like a truck

Let me just put this out there.  If I had 50-large to spend on a new vehicle right now, I’d be mighty tempted to order a new 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT 4X4 exactly like the one I just finished test driving.  Bright red?  Absolutely.  20-inch chrome wheels?  You bet.  Z71 off-road suspension?  Sign me up.  Honestly, if you’re into cars, and appreciate a modern interpretation of the classic American pickup, there’s not much to dislike here.  Allow me to explain.

Exclusive first test-drive of the new 1961 Corvette

There was plenty of excitement on the streets of Kansas City this week when we were given the key to one of the first 1961 Corvettes in town.  No, this isn’t a complete overhaul of America’s only true sports car, but people certainly noticed the changes.  Never have we had a car that drew such a crowd everywhere it went.  The Corvette continues to be an object of desire for many, and after our time behind the wheel, we can easily see why.