2015 Lexus NX 200t F Sport Review by Randy Stern There’s gold in the premium compact crossover segment! We’re prospectors. We got $45,000 lying around and want something that tackles the urban scene while getting cred in the suburbs. It means balancing between valet drop-offs, school drop-offs, shopping, lunch, hair appointments – and I am not just talking about women here! The ...[Read More]
2015 Maserati Quattroporte S Q4 Review by Randy Stern Once in a lifetime, a person gets to experience what “amazing” feels like. “Amazing” feels like a level of nirvana was achieved. It also feels like someone has lifted the clouds that hovered over said person and provided infinite and perfectly blue skies. It also warmed the Earth with a perfect 72 degrees Fahrenhe...[Read More]
2015 Toyota Tundra Platinum CrewMax 4X4 Review by Randy Stern The full-sized pickup market is not for everybody. But, if you stick around, you might get some credibility. Case in point: Toyota. Back in 1993, Toyota thought they would attempt to get in on this very domestic of markets. The T100 was a good first attempt, but truck buyers dismissed it for being too small, too light and lacking...[Read More]
2015 Lincoln Navigator Review by Randy Stern Large SUVs used to rule the universe – just like dinosaurs. It was when we Americans were thought to be invincible. No military mission or economic setback would hurt our stride. We came back stronger than ever in the 1990s. We also enjoyed tech money and spent it wonderfully. During the time, the SUV was the big thing for Americans. Everyone sol...[Read More]
2015 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Edition Crew Cab 4X4 Review by Randy Stern “Why, yes, I cover trucks, too!” I believe I said that to a group of truck enthusiasts back in January somewhere on the edge of the Twin Cities. You probably read about my encounter with them on this site. These truck enthusiasts confirmed something that I have tried to explain to editors, publishers, OEM ...[Read More]
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited Review by Randy Stern Remember 1992? Why 1992? Something happened that has changed the face of sports utility vehicles forever. The segment was growing thanks to several ground-breaking vehicles that made it easier for a family to drive one. Until the mid-1980s, there were a few choices. The Jeep Cherokee was developed into a unit-body wagon that was as capa...[Read More]
2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI SE Review by Randy Stern Yes, Why This Ride? reviewed the Volkswagen Jetta before. Why is this review any different than the turbocharged gasoline SE model James Hamel drove a year ago? The first clue comes from what is underneath the hood. The SE model I drove for this update on our coverage of the Volkswagen Jetta has something that has attracted buyers to this s...[Read More]
2015 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited Review by Randy Stern Dear families – you may want to pay attention to this review. There are several reason for my call to action here. One – have you considered how comfortable your family really is in the vehicle you chose for them? Two – have you considered how comfortable you are to drive it back-and-forth to work, or to school to drop off the kids...[Read More]
2015 Toyota Camry XSE V6 Review by Randy Stern You dare call this car “beige?” Worse still – “milquetoast!” Well, you did. But, every year, we do not get the last laugh. That is, unless you are among the 428,606 owners of the best-selling passenger car in America. Who are we? Enthusiasts. But, who are they – those who out number us lot? Toyota Camry owners, tha...[Read More]
2015 Volkswagen Passat SEL TDI by Randy Stern A big sedan with a diesel engine – sounds familiar, does it not? It used to be that if you built a car with a diesel engine with the intent of giving everyone space, it would have to be big. Big, as in a Mercedes-Benz 300SD Turbodiesel, that would only translate into one big point of reference: price. You could always pay less – such as for an O...[Read More]
2015 Dodge Charger R/T Plus Review by Randy Stern By now, you may have figured out that I am indeed the Moparian of the WTR crew (or, at least one of them…). What is a “Moparian?” It is a phrase identifying those who are enthusiasts of anything related to the lineage of the Chrysler Corporation. This was a phrase born from social media, thanks to the collaboration of the M...[Read More]
2015 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ AWD Review by Randy Stern So, you got a family. There’s plenty of folks like you. Your friends, too. They are also growing through their teenage years. Three-row crossovers – not all of them are equal and accommodating. Your dilemma is very common. However, you already nixed the minivan because you want that eight-inch ground clearance for taking on difficult roa...[Read More]