Mazda CX-5

The Mazda vehicle line got at least its fair share of media and consumer attention during 2012 and into the beginning of 2013.

Various different models of the Mazda line attracted attention for a variety of reasons.

However, the most general 'buzz' from observers – both from professional reviewers and from consumers or potential consumers – within the Mazda line involved the CX-5.

To begin with, one can classify the CX-5 into different vehicle categories and different writers indeed list the model under various classification. Some writers, such as Andrei Nedelea at the Auto Evolution website even list more than one category for this vehicle in the same article.

Primarily, reviews refer to the Mazda CX-5 as a Compact SUV. Other reviews may refer to this model as a Crossover vehicle, which incorporates elements of both a hatchback and an SUV. Some writers add the term “affordable” to either or both the hatchback and the crossover SUV designations.

Whatever category or categories reviewers assign the CX-5 to, they give generally good reviews to the vehicle.

The CX-5 uses Mazda's Skyactiv technology, a design approach that has garnered its own good press during 2012. This is an all-around design approach that seeks to combine performance and fuel efficiency, and the CS-5 is one of several Mazda models that incorporate the Skyactive design.

Reviewers, overall, gave good ratings to the CX-5 on three primary elements of the model: performance in terms of the handling and particularly cornering, interior space for vehicles in these classification categories, and cargo space. The CX-5 in the automatic transmission edition gets good to moderate mileage as compared to comparable cars though manual transmission editions and particularly a six-speed manual incline towards out-performing comparable vehicles by other manufacturers in terms of fuel efficiency..

Finally, some reviewers made note that the CX-5 has a low price point for cars in the various categories into which writers classify it.

Some reviewer did note some concerns with a lack of vents in the rear seat of the passenger compartment, which made air-conditioning equipped models somewhat inefficient as to rear seat cooling effect. Others also made note of concerns about the level of power available particularly with reference to uphill driving.

Overall, however, reviewers found much to praise and little to fault in the CX-5. One of the reasons some reviewers gave for their high ratings of this model involved that the CX-5 is an all-new vehicle within the Skyactiv technology vehicle models, whereas many are redesigns of existing Mazda models.

For more detailed information on the CX-5, or to take a test drive of this Mazda model, visit a nearby Mazda dealership such as Raleigh's Sport Durst Mazda Dealer in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina.

Review: 2013 Mazda CX-5, The Truth About Cars, http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/10/review-2013-mazda-cx-5/

Mazda C X-5 Review, U. S. News, http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Mazda_CX-5/

The Brilliant Simplicity of Mazda Skyactiv, Andrei Nedelea, Autoevolution, http://www.autoevolution.com/news/the-brilliant-simplicity-of-mazda-skyactiv-52462.html

Hyundai

This is an intriguing one for me to cover, because I get to in a sense act as more of a journalist than the actual journalists who covered some of the 2012 newsworthy events.

Newsworthy 2012 events for this vehicle line broke down, essentially, into two primary stories. Notable to me, commentators missed a key element, as events progressed, in the second instance.

The first story involved some buzz and excitement about anticipated release of a redesigned 2013 edition Santa Fe.

While even towards year-end most reviewers hadn't actually test driven the updated Santa Fe, yet they anticipated that documented changes would improve both performance and comfort. One anticipated re-design aspect involves that the model, previously sold as a 5-seater, would now also offer a 7-seater edition.

Mileage delivery estimates for the updated Santa Fe call for approximately 21 miles per gallon city and 29 miles per gallon highway for the Sport, or 5-seater: quite reasonable fuel economy for an SUV category vehicle.

The other Hyundai line news during 2012 involved identification of testing flaws that resulted in fuel economy overstatement on most or all models of the Hyundai line, which includes Kia vehicles.

As commentators eventually pointed out, consumers seemed to clearly understand the discrepancy level. Some Hyundai models called for up to forty miles per gallon highway performance. Initially, commentators anticipated that because breaking the forty miles per gallon milestone is an important fuel economy breakthrough, a significant adverse affect on sales numbers and market share had probability.

However, the differential ranged from as little as one mile to as much as three miles per gallon for most models, depending how close to the forty mile per gallon estimate a particular model had ranked. The Kia Soul showed greatest discrepancy, at a 6 mile per gallon differential.

Even at thirty seven miles per gallon, a variation of only three miles per gallon seems somewhat insignificant and apparently most consumers agree. The testing flaws came to light during the summer, and by November Hyundai's sales figures had returned to projected or slightly higher than projected sales numbers.

The aspect of this story that commentators appear to me to have missed involves Hyundai's handling of the situation in terms of solid Public Relations practice.

Much like handling by Tylenol's manufacturer of tainted bottles of Tylenol some decades a go, Hyundai got pro-active. The company promptly admitted to testing flaws although as an honest error on its part. Hyundai also took corrective actions without waiting for Government to compel such actions. Instead, Hyundai management immediately began notifying the public it would take such measures as issuing gas cards to compensate Hyundai and Kia owners for costs associated with discrepancies between stated and actual mileage.

Such an approach demonstrates responsible corporate handling of a potentially more damaging situation, and good public relations policy. Yet, I ran across no reports even after the restored sales figures for December in which commentators made note of that point.

To discover more about what Hyunda vehicles offer, contact a nearby dealer such as Raleigh's Sport Durst Hyundai for the Raleigh-Durham area.

EPA finds Hyundai exaggerated fuel economy claims, refunds coming to customers, Consumer Reports, http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/11/epa-finds-hyundai-exaggerated-fuel-economy-claims-refunds-coming-to-customers.html

Hyundai, Kia to pay owners for overstated MPG, CNN Money, Peter Valdes-Dapena,

http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/02/autos/hyundai-kia-mpg-overstated/index.html

Christmas Tree Reflections

Years ago, when I was first writing creatively, I did a few short Christmas pieces.  They were published in small press outlets.

A couple of them dealt with the Christmas tree itself.  In one, an Aesop type fable comes about through anthropomorphization of the ornaments on the tree.  In another, a letter to a friend, it explores the Christmas tree in terms of the “how’ the ornaments represent.  A friend who gave me an ornaments that aligned with a theme important to me at that time.  An aunt and uncle. . . the only ones in our family willing to ‘waste’ money on special package garnishments for gifts . . . wisely.  They chose sturdy ones which the family [mostly me] converted to tree trim ornaments that in some cased graced the tree for years . . . even decades . . . afterwards.

Where I now live, I’ve never had sufficient storage to dismantle the artificial Christmas tree I put up probably the second year in residence.  So, I’ve simply left the tree in place and stopped lighting it after a certain date each year.  In good years, since I have more trims than I can use at once on this size tree, I’d sometimes dismantle it around Thanksgiving so I could re-trim it in a different way, but I haven’t done that for a few years now.  Traditionally, our family’s tree trimming schedule was the third weekend in Advent:  the weekend of anticipatory joy where in the Catholic church the priestly vestments are rose or pink rather than the penitentiary purple or violet of the other three weekends of Advent.

The date I stop lighting the tree varies depending on circumstance.  Perhaps around January 6^th.  Perhaps Candlemas [February 2^nd].  I know one year, though I’m not sure that it was in this location or in a prior residence, when Lent came quite early that year, I actually continued to light an artificial tree until the day before Ash Wednesday.

Last year was an especially tough year at Christmas.  To my best recollection, I never lit the tree or played Christmas music except, perhaps, a part of the Christmas Day program on my favored radio station.

I was between cars at that time, so I didn’t even hear the Christmas music I normally would be forced to hear while driving around on errands.

Which set of circumstances overall means that this year, as I light the tree even though it has been up in the same form for at least a couple years, I see it with fresh eyes.

And I see both continuation and progress.  So much heritage.

In our family, a focus on the authentic meaning of Christmas in tree trimming always had priority.

Our tree was, as it were, double-themed.

The first theme involved the Nativity.

I inherited many family ornaments, but not our Nativity ornament.  It was a glass globe with the Holy Child in a manger.  But, one year, not long after leaving home, I was fortunate to find a similar piece in a Christmas shop.  This one has Mary and Joseph, also, inside the glass globe. 

Eventually, we built the entire tee around this ornament;  adding the various other symbols of the Nativity as we had the ornaments to do so:  stars, angels, stable animals, birds.

Hand crafted pieces figured prominently in the overall scene:  from waxed paper stars to embroidered angels on a felt backing.

This general Nativity theme centered the tree, with the glass globe ornament at eye level and radiated outward over both the vertical and horizontal center of the front of the tree.

The second sub-theme was all the secular motifs associated with Christmas.  Crafts, here, were also of importance.

The secular theme radiated outwards from the sacred, more towards the top, bottom, sides, and rear of the Christmas tree.  Bridging the two themes, as it were, were such ornaments as music scrolls with Christmas sheet music displayed.

When I gazed on the tree after the first time I lit it, I was again struck by the “who” the ornamentation on this tree represented.  These include people long passed away, as well as people I lost touch with over time such as church youth group members I had volunteered with and who had sold crafted ornaments at church bazaars during various years.

I was once again struck by the theme I had focused one of those early short stories around:  that for me, in many ways the tree trims on this tree more make for “who” is on the tree than for “what” is on it in terms of its ornamentation.

Rather a nice sentiment for the Christmas season.

Fiat 500 Vehicle line -- 2012

One of the most notable aspects of the Fiat 500 line involves that it is a part of Fiat’s program for re-entering the United States automobile market after several years of absence.  As such, the Fiat 500 as sold within the United States has features and design elements that differ from the form in which this vehicle line is sold in Italy, where the line originates. 

Another notable aspect involves appearance although consumer reviews have potential purchasers falling into the ‘you love it or you hate it’ type classification on that score.  I would categorize the look as “trendy,” however, at least a few consumer reviews commented they find the appearance ‘in person’ less outstanding than the photographs they had viewed.

This vehicle is definitely a targeted market car, although there’s some contention among beholders as to the target market’s precise demographic.  The line has basic commuting vehicle as its overall purpose.

The Fiat 500 comes in three model types.  The basic level is the Fiat 500 Pop.  The mid-range is the Fiat 500 Sport.  The top range is the Fiat 500 Lounge.  The Lounge incorporates an automatic transmission.  Automatic transmission is also available on both the Pop and the Sport as an option, but adds a thousand dollars onto the price tag.  Automatic transmission availability, indeed, is one of the distinctions between Fiat 500s as sold in the United States and in Europe.

In terms of technical aspects, the professional reviewer at Car and Driver found the Fiat 500’s suspension well-matched to the car with the result of maneuverability and good road handling. 

This same reviewer also found the front seat surprisingly roomy for a car in its size and price range categories.  Rear seat spaciousness did not get as positive reports almost anywhere, although some commentators did find the rear seat space adequate when the passengers for that seat are children.  Even with regard to the space levels of the front seat, the reviewer cautioned that if that is on an individual’s desirability list, then one needs to stick with the hardtop model and forego the available glass roof.  Apparently, that feature removes inches worth of head room.

One concern reviewers mentioned involves that as a commuting vehicle with a four-cylinder engine, the Fiat 500 has a limited power delivery.  Depending on exactly where one is commuting, this may or may not pose a problem.  In particular, reviewers mentioned that those who live in an area where they have a lot of uphill/downhill driving to incorporate in their commute, the Fiat 500 may not be the best choice.

However, overall in consumer reviews by owners or those who had driven a Fiat 500 at some point as a rented vehicle, consumers on the whole were more positive than negative about Fiat 500 vehicles.

For Fiat 500s in Philadelphia, Reedman Toll Fiat, including year-end specials on 2012 models.   Part of Fiat’s strategy in re-entering the United States market involves limiting the quantity of Fiat outlets. 

References:

2012 Fiat 500 U.S.-Spec, Car and Driver, http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2012-fiat-500-drive-fiat-500-review

Review: 2012 Fiat 500 Lounge (BCAS Edition), The Truth About Cars, Michael Karesh, http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/10/review-2012-fiat-500-lounge/

2011 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry falls into the category of an affordable mid-sized car.  Clearly, the Camry is a popular model within the United States market for those looking for a practical, family-type car and an affordable model.  With fairly recent models, such as the 2011, now coming into the market as pre-owned vehicles, it is worth looking at some of the reasons for the popularity of this particular vehicle model.

It’s almost surprising to start to see pre-owned models of Toyota sedans as recent as the 2011 on the market already.  Owners of Toyotas have a tendency to hang onto the cars for many years:  as anyone who has tried to obtain certain types of replacement parts for can attest.  While I’ve not had to do that with a Camry, I had to awhile back with a Corolla and it can take a week or more for a service shop to locate and get delivery on such a part.

What makes the Camry so popular in its class for United States purchasers?

Apart from the price in comparison with vehicles in luxury or luxury sports car categories of car, there are some particularly attractive aspects of the Camry.

Overall, the reviewers at U. S. News rate the Camry third out of nineteen vehicle models in its overall class.

However, the Camry outperforms other models in the class in certain elements important to purchasers in this vehicle category.

One consideration is the Camry’s fuel economy ratings.  In this category, for fully gasoline-powered engine vehicles, the Camry has the most economical fuel performance.  Only hybrids and diesel-powered vehicles outperform in this vehicle class in terms of fuel economy.

Secondly, this vehicle model has a very high safety ranking from both the national safety testing organizations.  Both the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the federal government’s safety testing programs rate the Camry at a 5-star level for safety.  Since this vehicle model often serves as a family car, this can make for an essential consideration for some potential purchasers.

The Camry also offers what many consider advantages of front-wheel drive and many individual models available with an automatic transmission. The base model does incorporate a standard transmission; however, several other models of the 2011 Camry come equipped with automatic transmission.  It is also a four-door sedan, which in a family vehicle many consider also an advantage in comparison to a two-door or a hatchback.

Reviewers use words like “dependable” and “comfortable ride” to describe the Camry.  The Camry has models that incorporate both inline four cylinder and V-6 engine types.  Some reviewers, however, have expressed concerns about safety issues that did arise in model years just prior to the 2011 Camry model, although these issues do not get much, if any coverage, with specific reference to the 2011 Camry model year.

Currently, those in the Pennsylvania area can find a special on the 2011 Camry when they check to Find new and used cars in Langhorne

References:   

2011 Toyota Camry, Edmunds, http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/camry/2011/

2011 Toyota Camry, U. S. News, http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Toyota_Camry/

Spiritual Seasons

In younger days, I never liked them.  Well, at least not the ones dictated by someone else’s calendar.

We all – those of us of faith – of course, have them.

We have times when our exploration of spiritual truths are deeper, more heartfelt, richer.

This year, I have been exceedingly grateful for Advent.  For Catholic believers, Advent is --- or at least should be – penitential but yet also joyfully anticipatory.  A season of active waiting.

I don’t know what our parish would have done without that kind of spiritual posture after the horrific events in Newtown, Connecticut which seemed to have affected many profoundly.  And now, with the more recent news that scammers have sought to take advantage of this tragedy.  It just boggles the mind.

It so happened that I had decided I wanted to do some serious spiritual exploration during Advent even before the Season began.  I am working several spiritual studies, keeping in balance with my regular professional and personal activities.

This has also enriched my writing life in some ways:  giving new purpose and direction to some of my activities in that area.

Advent, this year at least, is to me a reflection of the flow of life:  as Ecclesiastes has it:  “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”

It is a perspective very much needed in these deeply troubled times.

An American Classic, 2012 edition – Chevrolet Corvette

Though I’ve never had one, this vehicle is still a bit nostalgic for me.  Probably except other writers who had an interest back in that era, few remember a short-lived television series from the early 70s called The Magician.  I was an ardent fan of that show, and in fact in a sense cut my writing teeth on ‘fanzine’ type material based on it. 

The title character, Tony, drove a white corvette in that series.  A sleek, elegant vehicle that gave a sense both of classic line even back then and serious road-handling power.

According to multiple reviewers, those essentials haven’t changed at all in the more than thirty years since that show ran for about two seasons in the early 1970s.

The Corvette falls into the “luxury sports car” category.  U. S. News rates it as the second best vehicle (out of six) in that class:  beat out only by the Porsche Cayman.  That’s no mean accomplishment for an American-made sports car.  Particularly as the vehicles U. S. News rate the Corvette as ranking better than include not only a Mercedes, a BMW, and an Audi, but another Porsche:  the Boxster.

Technically speaking, the Corvette is the only vehicle in the luxury sports car category that comes equipped with a V-8 engine.  The 2012 is available in either a hatchback coupe model or in a convertible style.

The standard Corvette incorporates a six-speed standard transmission, however, a six-speed automatic can be had on all but high-performance models. 

The base Corvette model engine delivers 430 horsepower, however, a higher performance model – the ZR1 – incorporates a 638 horsepower engine.

In driving tests, at least one professional reviewer rated the Corvette’s braking capabilities as exceptional for a sports category vehicle.

The 2012 Corvette models come equipped with numerous safety features, including:

• Traction Control

• Xenon high intensity headlights

• Stability control

• Anti-theft alarm system

And

• Day time running lights

among others.

Where reviewers, generally speaking, seem to find the Corvette lacking has nothing to do with performance or technological capability.  Such faults as professional reviewers find with this vehicle seem to fall in the category of looks and of design elements, such as interior contours and headroom, that can affect the comfort of the vehicle occupants.  They categorize its style or general looks as less elegant and-or impressive than European models in the same category.

Those concerns are probably far lesser to someone who is in the market for the performance aspects of a luxury sports car, however.  Especially since to my mind while the Corvette does fall in that ‘combined’ category of automobile, by intent and design from the very outset the Corvette is more “sports car” than it is luxury vehicle.

Overall, professional reviewers seem in general agreement that for this category of vehicle, the Corvette is a superb value.

You can take a closer look at the value the 2012 Corvette offers the purchaser of a sports luxury vehicle when you View our Lancaster Chevy Buick website.

References:

2012 Corvette – Features and Specs, Edmunds,

http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/corvette/2012/features-specs.html

2012 Corvette, U. S. News, http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Chevrolet_Corvette/