Well, that didn’t work as planned. After five years of charging our Tesla Model 3 on a 120-volt socket at home, we installed a Level 2 charger. A few factors drove the move. 1) We’ve loved having the electric Model 3 as our primary car. It’s peppy, quiet and reliable. We can power it with… Continue reading Long Term: 2018 Tesla Model 3 Oops, My Bad!
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
I'm looking forward to the LC 500 convertible—like, really looking forward to it. For me, the LC convertible is the perfect showcase for Lexus's masterpiece 5.0L V8. I've sampled this engine in the LC 500 coupe and the IS 500 sedan, and I know it blends splendid symphonies with ripping road performance. I figure the… Continue reading Test Drive: 2024 LC 500 Convertible has V8 Perfection
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
The friendly Mercedes service advisor takes the keys to my 2016 AMG GT S and hands me the fob to a 2023 EQE 350 4MATIC SUV. It hardly seems like a fair trade to swap—an AMG halo sports car for a jelly bean EV SUV—but it’s what it will take to get me home during… Continue reading Review: 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4MATIC SUV
It’s been three years since I sold my 2011 E90 M3, yet I still turn and stare whenever I spot one on the road. The V8 M3 did so many things right—it had a phenomenal engine, balanced handling, and livable luxury—and yet it hurt to own because of its frequent maintenance issues. But there weren’t… Continue reading Test Drive: 2023 Lexus IS 500 is Hot, but Won’t Scald
We are about to do something ridiculous: compare two cars with no reason to go head to head. Though the 1M and CTS-V were contemporaries, they were never competitors. One was a lithe Skunkworks sports car, while the other was a plus-sized ass hauler. It didn’t make any sense to pit the Bimmer against the… Continue reading Comparison: 2011 BMW 1M vs 2014 Cadillac CTS-V is Apples to Oranges
Dear Ruth, How are you? All is well here in California. We hope you, Gerry, Melissa, and Katherine are well, too! I hear through the grapevine that your Dodge Durango lease ends soon, and you are shopping for a new SUV. I just drove the new Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited and think it may be… Continue reading 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited is Mama’s Upgrade
I’ve just crossed three years with my 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S, and frankly, I’m surprised it’s still in my quiver. As sharp and as fast as my black arrow is, it never was a forever car for me. But, I just can’t seem to find anything better for the price. Can you suggest a better… Continue reading Long Term Update: 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S is Exotic But Not Precious
I don’t like the Mercedes G wagon, and I especially disdain the twin-turbo V8 G63 in front of me. I see it as the automotive embodiment of everything distasteful about showy Los Angeles wealth: It’s an eye-smacking truck that says I can flaunt luxury toys and destroy the planet. And its wallet-flattened price says I… Continue reading Test Drive: 2023 Mercedes-AMG G63 is Excess Meets Excellence
Mike's Steering Column 