Let me introduce you to this striking blue 2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster. It belongs to Philip, a friendly fellow who is trying to convince me that the Z4 M Roadster is undervalued in the M-car hierarchy. I’ve got a morning with the car, so let’s see if I agree. My drive of the Z4… Continue reading Review: 2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster is the Right M on the Wrong Road
How much is an hour worth to you? Specifically, an hour in a stuffy, 95°F airport rental car office with a dozen impatient customers and your two travel-weary children? My wife would gladly pay an extra €500 ($589) to escape this hour of hell. Frankly, €500 is too much for me—double the cost of our… Continue reading Review: 2024 Mercedes CLA 180d Shooting Brake is More Capable than Compact
I highly recommend renting a Jeep Renegade e-HYBRID for a trip to the Italian island of Elba. No, scratch that…I highly recommend any vehicle for a trip to Elba, because Elba is a Mediterranean jewel, and the Jeep Renegade is, well, basic transportation. Sorry, let me explain. This summer, we took our two kids on… Continue reading Review: 2024 Jeep Renegade e-HYBRID is Italian like Pizza Hut
They say beggars can’t be choosers, but I’m going to put that to the test. I’m at my local Mercedes-Benz dealership, with the goal of snagging a new Mercedes to review. “I’d love to try the new GLC if you have one to loan,” I tell my service advisor. He checks what is available. “We’ve… Continue reading Review: 2024 Mercedes GLB 250 4Matic and the Choosy Beggar
Valuable life advice can come at you from unexpected places. For example, I was driving through Oakland and spotted a bumper sticker on a Dodge Charger that said, "F*** around and find out." What sage advice! I applied this helpful nugget to my time with the Mercedes C300, f***ing around to find out why Mercedes offers… Continue reading Review: 2024 Mercedes C300 4MATIC Chill or Smash?
It seemed fitting that we pulled a 2025 Nissan Rogue SV from the Hertz rental lot for our Disney World vacation. We were on the way to see Disney’s new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land, and in 2017, Nissan collaborated with LucasFilm on a Star Wars: Rogue One promotion. While that 2017 Rogue got transformed… Continue reading Review: 2025 Nissan Rogue SV Comes with a Droid Copilot
I’m about to drive a trusting friend’s immaculate E30 Touring. It’s a drive that I hope will answer a few burning questions. First, I’m eager to know if 1990s BMWs fall in the sweet spot between classic thrills and modern(ish) capabilities. This question stems from my recent drive of a 1963 Porsche 356. It was… Continue reading Comparison: 1994 BMW E30 Touring vs 2014 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon are Beauty and the Beast
Did you know that the Malibu is the last sedan in Chevrolet’s 2024 portfolio? (Their only other car is the Corvette.) These days, Chevy is a company of SUVs and trucks. Perhaps that's why the Malibu didn't get the polish it deserves... After 300 miles with the 2024 Malibu LT, I can report that the… Continue reading Review: 2024 Chevrolet Malibu LT has Skin Deep Appeal
The Honolulu Dollar Car Rental agent eyes our weary family and copious luggage and senses an opportunity to upsell. “The standard-size car you booked holds two medium bags. Would you like to upgrade to full size for $90?” I consider the cost and decline, deciding to squeeze us into the Chevy Cruze we paid for. (Never mind that the Cruze is so… Continue reading Review: 2022 Dodge Charger SXT is a Dated Standard
An earworm of a song called Water by Tyla has been playing endlessly on the radio. I haven't looked up the exact lyrics, but the refrain goes something like this: Make me sweat, make me holla’Make me lose my breath, make me water It's doubtful Tyla was thinking of her favorite sports car when she… Continue reading Review: 2023 Toyota GR Corolla Core Doesn’t Break a Sweat
Mike's Steering Column 