Car Coach, Car Review: 2013 Infiniti JX35

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The 2013 Infiniti JX35 is a seven-passenger CUV loaded with sophisticated technology, plenty of driving comforts, and a curvy design. The JX35 has road presence, from the stylized chrome grille to the crescent shaped rear pillars. Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, takes a closer look.
  Model - 2013 Infiniti JX35
MPG - 18/24 21 mpg combined
Engine - 3.5L V6 engine with 265 hp. riding on 18-inch alloy wheels
Built in: Smyrna, TN
Price - starts at $40,450
Test Vehicle - $54,070 was equipped with the Technology package including Back-Up Collision Intervention and Forward Collision Warning, remote engine start, heated steering wheel, Blinds Spot and Lane Departure Warning and Prevention Systems and Intelligent Cruise Control.
The 2013 Infiniti JX35 also offers a Theatre package with dual 7-inch color screens and 2-wireless headsets. The Deluxe Touring package includes 20” wheels and Bose Cabin Surround Sound system with beautiful sound, especially when you add the Premium package to the shopping list.
Infiniti’s goal with the 2013 JX three-row crossover is volume. The interior is a huge space with plenty of storage and comfort for the whole family.
The JX35 has road presence, from the stylized chrome grille to the crescent shaped rear pillars. Infiniti has always done an amazing job with body design.

Competes with:
•Audi Q7
•Lincoln MKT
•Mercedes-Benz GL-class
•Acura MDX
•BMW X5

Likes:
•Easy access to roomy third row
•Plenty of high-tech safety
•Very comfortable seats
•Pleasing ride quality
•Easy to use technology systems

Dislikes:
•Engine needs more power
•Not a fan of the CVT transmission
The 2013 Infiniti JX35 is an excellent luxury CUV for someone who wants everything from style to technology to a smooth quiet ride. It's a great family vehicle if it fits your budget.

NEVER YELL FIRE IN A CROWDED HONDA EDITION

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THE CAR COACH REPORTS: WEEK IN REVIEW 10-5-12

NEVER YELL FIRE IN A CROWDED HONDA EDITION
It’s been a dismal week for the #2 Japanese automaker.  Hundreds of thousands of Honda Pilots, Civics and Accords are being recalled and/or investigated for potential fire hazards related to headlight wiring issues: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/recall-of-820000-pilots-and-civics-caps-a-rough-week-for-honda/
To this I have to ask: What the heck is going on with the quality of cars these days?  It seems no automaker is immune to a huge barrage of recent recalls, much more so than at any other time in automotive history.
Did the Toyota debacle from a few years ago cause the feds to go into panic mode and investigate every little issue and turn molehills into mountains or are today’s cars really this faulty?
Could you imagine if the feds investigated cars from the ‘70s and ‘80s with this much scrutiny?  I’m willing to bet every car made in that era would have been recalled for a slew of safety and quality issues.
Or were cars simpler and easier to build back then?  Perhaps they weren’t so sophisticated and didn’t cause so many issues as a result.  Either way, modern automotive manufacturers need to get their acts together. 
How much confidence does it instill in the consumer to buy a new car only to worry that it could catch fire or breakdown on a busy highway? You’re almost better off buying used, since a pre-owned vehicle will likely have had the bugs worked out of it.
And it’s not just Honda this week—Ford is also being investigated: http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/10/safety-investigators-probing-over-2-mil-honda-ford-vehicles/
Nissan had a recall: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/10/recall-alert-2012-nissan-frontier.html
Hyundai Velosters have shattering sunroofs: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/10/05/feds-probe-shattering-sunroofs-on-hyundai-veloster/
Yugos have faulty transmissions: Just kidding!
But seriously, who’s setting the benchmark for automotive quality these days?  It must be Mazda—I haven’t heard of any recalls from them lately.


What do you think?
Post your comments at  http://laurenfix.blogspot.com/



My Final Thought:
Please watch this video: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/surveillance-camera-shows-mercedes-driver-parking-fail/
It should be a PSA on always remembering to put your car in park and to use the emergency brake if on a hill. 

Love your car!  See you next week!
--Lauren Fix

Car Coach, Car Review: 2012 KIA Optima SX

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Courtesy of YNN/ Time Warner Cable
Aired: 10/02/2012

The 2012 KIA Optima SX has beautiful styling, a long list of features and enjoyable driving dynamics. Lauren Fix, The Car Coach, has the details.

Model - 2012 KIA Optima SX
MPG - 22/34 mpg
Engine - 2.0L Turbo with 274 hp and tons of torque.
Transmissions: 6-speed automatic
Price - starts at $26,500

The 2012 KIA Optima SX offers these standard features:
· Bluetooth
· iPod input
· Satellite radio
· Side/Curtain Airbags
· Stability Control
· Traction Control
· Standard 18" wheels
· Navigation System (Optional)

The Optima SX is attractive and spacious. Behind the wheel, it's a good balance of comfort and sporty handling around turns. If you have a lead foot, then you will love the turbocharged SX model; it has power that matches most V6 engines and still gets respectable fuel economy.

Our test vehicle included the technology package: UVO and Sirius radio; panoramic sunroof; high quality Infinity Audio; rear backup camera and enjoyable heated front and rear seats; plus cooled front seats.

Overall, the Optima SX provides pleasing performance, good fuel economy and a spacious, high-tech interior, all of which combine to make it a great value.

Competes with:
· Ford Fusion
· Toyota Camry
· Dodge Dart
· VW Jetta GLI
· Nissan Altima
· And many others

Likes-
· Good looking, stylish design
· More premium features than its competition
· Great pricing and long warranty
· Powerful, very responsive engine with great fuel economy

Dislikes-
· Needs lumbar on passenger side
· Would like a larger navigation screen

The 2012 KIA Optima SX is an affordable, fun-to-drive vehicle that offers great driving dynamics, wrapped in a stylish package that provides all it promises.

Remember, when shopping for a new car, test drive as many vehicles as you can in the class you are looking in to make sure you find the car that is best for you.

Car Coach, Car Review: 2012 Infiniti G37xS

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Courtesy of YNN/ Time Warner Cable
Aired: 10/04/2012

The 2012 Infiniti G37xS is a coupe with great value and a refined, sporty driving experience. This vehicle is a great choice if you rarely have back-seat passengers or a lot of luggage. Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, takes a closer look.

Model - 2012 Infiniti G37xS Coupe
MPG - 18/25 20 mpg combined
Engine - 3.7L engine with 330 hp riding on 18-inch alloy wheels
Transmissions: 7-speed automatic with drive sport mode
Price - starts at $40,700
Test Car - $48,445.00

The 2012 Infiniti G37xS Coupe is a sleek, sporty and powerful upscale midsize car. This vehicle is a great choice if you rarely have back-seat passengers or a lot of luggage.

My test drive in the G37x proved that was not only luxurious but also extremely fun to fling around corners. With its potent V6 engines, excellent handling and high-end interior, it was comfortable enough for a long road trip.

The 2012 Infiniti G comes in three body styles: sedan, coupe and convertible. The manual transmission in the G was easy to shift and placed the power where most needed. All the body styles not only look good but perform equally well.

Our test car came with the premium package including a sunroof, rear backup sensors, premium Bose audio, and a sport package including 19" wheels and a sport-tuned suspension with sport brakes.

The Infiniti G37 offers a good balance of fun and luxury, and its lower base price compared with many of its rivals makes it a good option among upscale midsize cars.

Competes with:
•Lexus IS250
•Acura TL
•Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300
•Volvo S60
•Volkswagen CC VR6
•Buick Regal CXL Turbo

Likes:
•Great exhaust notes
•Tight handling
•Strong brakes
•Easy-to-use high-tech features

Dislikes:
•Rear headroom is tight
•Minimal trunk space
•Needs adjustable seatbelts

The 2012 Infiniti G37xS Coupe is sport-focused, intelligently designed and attractively priced. It's an excellent choice for a luxury sport coupe.

Lauren Fix, The Car Coach: Sonic Resurfacing

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Sonic Resurface virtually erases scratches on most surfaces and it takes only minutes and provides long-lasting results.

What causes this type of damage? Most car scratches cut into the car’s clear coat, but don’t gouge into the paint layer. Bushes, tree branches, keys and fingernails around the door handles can cause these kinds of scratches. In addition, acid rain can damage paint and the clear coat.
Everyday weather can leave interesting gifts on our autos: acid rain, tree sap, bird droppings and bee spots. When you see these gifts, remove them from your paint as soon as you can. Left in place, they can etch paint and release surface contaminants that eat away at paint. It can be difficult to repair such areas after etching has occurred.

Keys and belt buckles can cause deep scratches down to the base (color) coat or primer. Unfortunately, they cannot be removed nor can they be made to look less noticeable. That’s when it’s time to get Sonic Resurfacing from the pros.

If you choose to never clean your car, I promise that rust will appear on your vehicle and it will spread, leaving you with an ugly car and a repair bill.
Restore the original luster of your paint by removing scratches from the clear coat.

POTPOURRI EDITION

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THE CAR COACH REPORTS: WEEK IN REVIEW 8-17-12
POTPOURRI EDITION

It’s been a slow news week in the automotive realm: Another Fisker caught fire for no good reason and the company needs another $150 million to build the “affordable” Atlantic sedan, Kia and Hyundai are making positive news as usual with the announcement of a big new model push, and the Monterey Weekend has officially kicked off with a slew of obnoxiously expensive (yet extremely beautiful) classics. 
Since there seems to be a bit of a lull in the vehicular soap opera, I’m going to focus this week on some crazy car news that caught my eye and made me laugh, cringe and yell out loud:
1.    What is this woman thinking?:  http://www.fastcocreate.com/1681467/volvo-promotes-trucks-via-insane-tightrope-stunt     
Better yet, what is Volvo thinking?  Isn’t Volvo supposed to be about safety?  Why would they want to promote a stability feature on their trucks by showing a woman performing a death-defying tightrope walk between two speeding trucks? I have an idea: Why doesn’t Apple show off the new iPhone 5 by having a skydiver jump out of a plane with no parachute? 
2.    Will.I.Am = No I won’t (listen to his music): http://jalopnik.com/5934704/relax-the-valet-had-williams-700000-delorean-the-whole-time
Is this guy so desperate for publicity that he would stage having his one-off custom DeLorean stolen? How about making some good music for notoriety?  And what’s with this car anyway?  It’s hideous!
3.    Best. Save. Ever: http://jalopnik.com/5934684/watch-a-rally-evo-save-itself-from-a-massive-crash
Was it luck?  Was it skill?  Divine intervention?  Who knows, but I have to say that this was the best save I have ever seen in any auto racing event, ever.  Watch the video—you won’t be sorry.
4.    Canadian Engineering at its finest: http://jalopnik.com/5935065/watch-a-canadian-highway-sign-bend-like-crazy-in-the-wind
I’m a certified automotive engineer.  I can rebuild an engine with my eyes closed, bleed a brake line one handed, and replace suspension components in my sleep.  Yet I can’t for the life of me figure out how this Canadian road sign structure ended up bouncing like a toddler’s bouncy seat.  It’s like Salvador Dali was painting the road!
5.    Darth Vader would be ashamed: http://jalopnik.com/5935703/the-force-is-strong-with-this-ford-raptor
Um, yeah—Darth Vader on the hood of a Ford Raptor—makes perfect sense.  Can you sense the sarcasm?  I think Darth Vader would actually force choke this guy.  Enough said!  Gotta run; I’m late for my appointment with a local artist who is painting Super Mario on the hood of my Audi.




Post your comments at  http://laurenfix.blogspot.com/

Love your car!  See you next week!
--Lauren Fix

The Car Coach: 2012 GMC Acadia Denali - YNN, Your News Now

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The Car Coach: The 2012 GMC Acadia Denali - YNN, Your News Now

The Car Coach: The 2012 GMC Acadia Denali

By: Lauren Fix, The Car Coach The 2012 GMC Acadia Denali is a safe, affordable SUV that can seat the whole family. Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, takes a test drive and a closer look. Model - 2012 GMC Acadia Denali
MPG - 16 city/ 23 hwy mpg.
Engine - 3.6-liter V6 with 288 hp.
Transmissions: 6-speed automatic
Price - $45,880
Maximum Towing: 5200 lbs. The 2012 GMC Acadia offers these standard features:
•Hill-hold assist braking technology
•Fog lamps
•OnStar
•Standard stability control
•Side curtain airbags
•Polished aluminum roof rails
•Dual exhaust outlets with chrome tips
•Standard 8-way power drivers seat.
•Remote Vehicle start
•Leather seating surfaces
•Available 19- or 20-inch wheels
•Optional two-panel power sunroof with tilt-sliding front and fixed rear panels, with sunshade
•Optional rearview camera
•Available all-wheel drive Our test drive in the Acadia Denali proved the SUV’s solid performance, responsive handling, comfortable ride, and quiet, well-finished interior. There were plenty of options, including navigation, but these bump up the price quickly. Competes with:
•Chevrolet Traverse
•Ford Flex
•Buick Enclave
•Honda Pilot
•Mazda CX-9
•Mercedes GL Likes:
•Comfortable ride
•Seats for up to 8 passengers
•Adult-friendly third-row seat
•Plenty of cargo and storage space
•Top safety scores Dislikes:
•Large size makes maneuverability a bit cumbersome
•Compromised rear visibility

The 2012 GMC Acadia Denali offers a winning combination of comfort, features, cargo space and performance in a utility-style package. Remember, when shopping for a new car, test drive as many vehicles as you can in the class you are looking in to make sure you find the car that is best for you.