2013 Nissan Pathfinder SUV: Car Coach, Car Review

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The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder SUV has been completely redesigned, with a new engine, interior and handling. Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, takes a closer look.


Model - 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
MPG - Combined 26 mpg - 30% better than previous model.
Engine - 3.5 L v6 engine on regular unleaded with 260 hp.
Towing Capacity - 5,000 lbs.
Price - starts at $28,270 and tops put at $40,000 for the Platinum edition.
Built in Smyrna, TN

The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder is a modern, balanced SUV that offers capability and versatility with fuel economy, a premium and spacious interior, and advanced technology. The new Unibody construction offers 4-Wheel Drive Performance with a driver selectable All-Mode 4x4, 2WD, Auto, or 4WD lock modes, which are great for snow or off-roading.

The Pathfinder seats seven passengers and offers good acceleration; the ride and handling are improved with confident braking. There was excellent visibility, a spacious cabin and a great exterior design.

This SUV features EZ second row sliding seating, allowing more entry room. You can also either recline or fold the 2nd and 3rd row seats down flat.

Technology Features:
•Easy tire alert
•Bose entertainment system
•Tri-Zone entertainment system
•Power lift gate
•Dual panoramic moon roof
•Heated and cooled front seats and heated steering wheel.
•Remote engine start
•XM Nav traffic & Weather
•Streaming BlueTooth audio
•8" screen with DVD and iPod
•Around view camera with a birds-eye overhead view.

Competes with:
•Ford Explorer
•Honda Pilot
•Dodge Durango
•Chevrolet Trailblazer

Likes:
•New style and design
•Powerful engine
•Improved ride quality for the road
•Great sound system

Dislikes:
•Hard plastic dash
•Needs lumbar support
•One-touch Automatic windows for front windows

The new 2013 Nissan Pathfinder offers premium styling and comfort on-road, great off-road abilities, intelligent technology solutions that make life easier, and top-notch fuel economy.

Visit http://www.nissanusa.com/suvs/pathfinder for more information.

OUR CLUELESS LEADERS EDITION

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THE CAR COACH REPORTS: WEEK IN REVIEW 11-16-12

OUR CLUELESS LEADERS EDITION
The NTSB is at it again.  http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/14/us/ntsb-vehicle-safety-devices/index.html
The government agency, whose members probably don’t even drive their own cars, want all automakers to include safety systems such as crash avoidance, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warnings as standard equipment on all cars.
Their argument is that cars would be safer and insurance rates would go down due to fewer crashes.  This may be true and even a bit compelling, but I have to say the costs for this idea are unacceptable.
First there are the actual real costs involved.  While these safety systems already exist on higher-end vehicles, the cost of installing them on more affordable vehicles would add thousands of dollars to their sticker prices.  In other words, we the consumers get to foot the bill.  Imagine adding $5,000 to the sticker price of a Honda Fit or a Nissan Versa.  Who would buy one?
Second, there are the emotional costs.  Do we really need our ever-growing nanny state government mandating an overabundance of safety regulations to protect us from ourselves?  I can swerve my car back into its lane without Uncle Sam grabbing the wheel, thank you very much.  I can hit my own brakes when I judge my car to be too close to another.  Ray LaHood does not need to this for me.  And I don’t want to follow the car in front of me when I use cruise control.  I want the ability to hit the accelerate button and go around it without having to worry about Obama wagging his finger at me.
What’s next?  Will the NTSB mandate that all car radios play NPR while the vehicle is in motion without to the ability to change the station?  When will our out-of-touch government stop thinking they know what’s best for the public and start focusing on real issues? 
If the NTSB wants to be useful, perhaps they should take a look at why certain drivers need these safety systems and make getting a driver’s license more difficult.  Driver education and the driver’s license test in Germany are far more comprehensive and they have fewer fatalities per capita versus the U.S. and some of their roads don’t even have speed limits! 


What are your thoughts?
Post your comments at  http://laurenfix.blogspot.com/




My Final Thought:
Our current administration loves green cars.  Obama is all about electric vehicles and alternative energy.  Yet the Nissan Leaf is continuing to flounder:  http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/11/nissan-will-miss-leaf-sales-targets-says-ghosn/
Hmmm…I wonder why this could be?  I know!  People don’t want electric cars!   Even hybrids only make up less than three percent of vehicles on the road today.  We like our gas cars in America.  When will this sink in with our president?  When will he open the Keystone Pipeline and allow for drilling on federal lands so we can have more affordable gas? 
I really do believe that our leaders have good intentions but they are idealists who are out of touch with the American people.  In other words, they’re clueless.
Love your car!  See you next week!
--Lauren Fix

Putting the Cost of Gas into Perspective: Lauren Fix, The Car Coach

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Around the world, gasoline prices generally are much, much higher than in the United States. This is the case in most European countries, whereas in oil-rich nations like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, gasoline is cheap. In Venezuela, gasoline sells at around 12 cents a gallon. It’s cheaper than water. In Saudi Arabia, it’s about 45 cents per gallon. In Qatar, gasoline prices recently increased 25 percent to a whopping 88 cents per gallon.
Here are examples of the price of gasoline per gallon in other nations:

Spain: $7.60

Italy: $8.79

France: $9.24

Germany: $9.07

Portugal: $9.13

Czech Republic: $8.21

Denmark: $9.69

The Netherlands: $9.58

Think a gallon of gas is expensive? Did you know gas compared to other liquids is still cheaper, gallon-to-gallon? Here’s a little humor to help ease the pain of your next trip to the pump and put things in perspective
Some examples:

Brand Bleach: $2.56 a gallon

Soda: $3.84 a gallon

Diet Snapple (16 oz. $1.29): $10.32 per gallon

Starbucks Coffee Grande: $7 per gallon

Lipton Iced Tea (16 oz. $1.19): $9.52 per gallon

Gatorade (20 oz. $1.59): $10.17 / gallon

Ocean Spray (16 oz. $1.25): $10 / gallon

Brake fluid (12 oz. $3.15): $33.60 / gallon

Vick’s Nyquil (6 oz. $8.35): $178.13 per gallon

White-Out (7 oz. $1.39): $25.42 per gallon

Scope Mouthwash (1.5 oz. $0.99): $84.48 per gallon

Name-brand cough syrup: $128 / gallon

Champagne: $755 a gallon

Nail polish: $ 1,024 a gallon.

And this is the REAL KICKER...
Bottled water $21.19 per gallon.


So the next time you’re at the pump, be glad your car doesn’t run on Scope, White-Out or Nyquil.

Home Tour Part 2

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HOME TOUR PART 2 FROM THE VINTAGE BAZAAR INTERVIEW WITH KATHERINEwith new photos addedpart 1 published 11/11/12
 ( found a photo of the house being moved... thought I would add it here!)

You’ve got a great mix of cottage, antique, vintage, and industrial. Where are your favorite places to pick up each different style?Thank you for your kind words about my scattered style.  I call it “Warehouse Chic”. That is a combo of the industrial, schoolhouse, cottage and shabby styles all rolled into one!


My blue velvet couch and chair, as well as my living room table, are from my mother’s living room,  a room that was almost roped off from the rest of the house — and God forbid you put something on the table without a coaster back then. It was passed down to me after her passing and I love it. The diminutive size fits beautifully into my little living room!
                       
The industrial dining table was a display piece at a little shop in Dekalb.  I love the combo of the massive size, the glass and the industrial feel! It is perfect in every way!



Aside from that, I love a good road trip.  I am a back roads taker at heart!  I travel to Michigan with friends. There is a GREAT place along the roadside just south of South Haven. Wonderful industrial finds there, nice and chippy and rusty!  Aged to perfection!  Up the road a bit, near Saugatuck and along the Blue Star Highway, there are some great antique shops.  

I LOVE road tripping to Milwaukee and beyond. Our favorite place to go is Door County, Wisconsin, stopping at Dodge Antiques along the way in Algoma (that is where I found the old windmill piece I use on my dresser). The owner will tell you the back story on each and every piece he has… and after his regular shop closes the party begins at his ‘in-town’ barn.  I have yet to stop in there… but that is on my bucket list!On the way to Door County last year we took a little detour through rural Wisconsin and came upon a vintage travel trailer that was in need of restoring.  I bought it on a whim and we now use it for our Wisconsin flea market road trips.  It is our U-haul and Motel 6 all in one!


I find great things along roadsides and am not afraid to stop in a posh area, drop the top on my vw convertible and stash what I am able inside.  After all, the sky’s the limit!

Talk about some of the pieces in your house that you salvaged from the aftermath of Katrina.After Hurricane Katrina, my sister and daughter headed down to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on a mission trip. While there, they had the daunting task of cleaning up some out lots and trying to pull them together and rid them of debris. An old Shell Oil sign that had been lost in the mud years ago was unearthed. The owner of the home was not interested in it and my sister brought it home for her son. It sat in their garage and when they had to sell their home, she asked if I would like it, I jumped at it and it has spent some time on my mantel.  I love old colorful signage. 

 I found some old lube barrels in her garage as well… before they hit the dumpster, I salvaged them, cleaned them, and now they sit proudly as our living room side tables. Pop a round piece of glass on anything and make it a cool functional piece!

Speaking of salvaging things from nothing, do you have any favorite dumpster or curb finds?I would have to say my most functional is the lube side table collection, but I found a wonderful old hutch top outside an antique mall… curbside.  I was just moving into the mall and needed something to elevate my pieces for display.  It fit in magically and I now use it as a piece on top of another curbside castoff, a  science table I found in front of the old Cenacle in Warrenville. Both work together to make a great art space, and a place for me to display my work and my ever growing globe collection. 


(I remember stopping a Chem-Lawn truck and asking the driver to help me hoist the scientific table into the convertible. So happy I did — would not have lasted long on that curb!)



Watch for part 3 in the days to come.     martha

ACTIVE AUTO INDUSTRY WEEK EDITION

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THE CAR COACH REPORTS: WEEK IN REVIEW 11-9-12

ACTIVE AUTO INDUSTRY WEEK EDITION
It’s been a strange and eventful week in the soap opera I like to call the automotive industry. 
First, New Yorkers and New Jerseyans were forced to wait in really long lines for hours at a time just to get gas due to Hurricane Sandy.  Then they were told to ration their fill-ups by odd and even number days corresponding with the numerals on their license plates.  Um, is this 1979?  The hurricane occurred more than a week ago and the Northeast is still short on gas supply?  I don’t get it.  There isn’t a shortage and the oil companies have tanker trucks so what’s the deal? Ship the stuff in there and let people fill up.  Perhaps I’m missing something here but if a man can jump to earth faster than the speed of sound from a balloon in space, why can’t we get gas to New York?!!
Second, Suzuki is pulling out of the United States.  I can’t say I’m surprised.  While the Kizashi sedan and their XLZ SUV are actually decent vehicles, it was too little too late.  Suzuki had been an also-ran in the U.S. for years due to relatively few shoddy product offerings (remember the Samurai?) and a lack of widespread dealers.  Perhaps the beleaguered Japanese manufacturer will retreat from our shores only to come back stronger in a few years.
Finally, Obama was reelected.  What does this have to do with the auto industry, you ask?  Well, I’ll tell ya:
·       The new CAFE rules he put into effect will result in slower, lighter, more dangerous and more expensive cars.
·       Don’t like Ethanol?  Get used to it.  Obama is a big supporter of Ethanol, which has been shown to reduce gas mileage, harm catalytic converters and other emissions components, and ruin just about any two-stroke and/or carbureted motor including boats, classic cars, lawn mowers, generators, weed eaters, jet skis, ATVs, motorcycles and much more.
·       Obama now needs to figure out a way to unload the government owned GM stock without further deflating its value.  This will likely result in a long sell-off process, keeping GM under partial government control for an extended period of time.  And guess what?  We, the taxpayers, will end up eating billions of dollars in losses.
·       Gas prices will remain high in the U.S. under Obama since he has no intention of drilling on our own lands and won’t allow the Keystone Pipeline to be built here. 





What are your thoughts?
Post your comments at  http://laurenfix.blogspot.com/




My Final Thought:
Please read this story: http://jalopnik.com/5958982/residents-claim-central-parking-locked-cars-in-garage-before-sandy-charged-owners-for-trapped-cars
It appears Central Parking in Manhattan bilked customers in evacuation zones and let other customers’ cars perish in Hurricane Sandy.
Shame on you Central Parking!!!


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

Part 1: Home tour Opendoorstudio from The Vintage Bazaar

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My interview with Katherine from The Vintage Bazaar in Chicago Copied from the Vintage Bazaar blog 2012  ... I have added photos to the original post for you to enjoy!
KATHERINE9  
First of all, your house is amazing. But I want to talk about how it was literally picked up and moved from one location to another at some point? I saw them do this with a house in my neighborhood when I was young. Totally surreal experience! Why did that happen?
Back in 1991 when we purchased our home, we loved all of the qualities of the 1930s cape cod but LOVED the fact that it seemed to have a “new” basement.  It was not until our elderly neighbor dug up the local news clipping highlighting our home on wheels that we realized its history.  In 1981 it was purchased for one dollar, put on wheels and moved to its location.
It reminds me of the 1940′s childrens book written by Virginia Lee Burton entitled “The Little House”.  I often show and tell visitors our little house’s story and say … ours was the Poster Child for the book!I have been able to collect  more information over the years.  The former owner would frequent the vintage sales in my front  “secret garden” to share tidbits of information.

our "secret garden" front yard, through the  wooden door arbor we created from an old door.

   I  have found out that it was located only about 1/2 mile from our home and was rescued to make way for a strip mall and local grocery store. At the time of the house move they also moved our town’s implement shed, so that serves as my studio, our garage and storage space.



When folks stop by, they often tell us about the parties they went to in our home, they talk about it having been a two flat just years before we purchased it. 

Our bathroom AFTER the remodel, I designed the room and the tile floor.

The " new"  shower carved out of the closet, tile purchased on Ebay

 Repair men who come to work on our home say they know all about the electrical and plumbing in it. Seems it was built by a renowned builder that made a name for himself in the older sections of Naperville.  This was his home, and you know what they say about the home of a builder: never completed and short cuts all around!  
Look for part 2 of the 3 part post... later this week.

2012 KIA Optima SX Car Coach, Car Review

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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.

2012 Infiniti G37xS Car Coach, Car Review

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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.