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Savvy Trucks & Toys

 by Steve Smirnis

2010 Chevrolet Camaros–Retro meets today!

I have to say, driving the 2010 Camaros has been thrilling, surprising and fun! From a pure looks stand point, I doubt there is any car in America that garners so much attention for the dollar. Everywhere I drove, people stared, remarked and gave the “thumbs up.”  Remember, we are starting at under $23,000 for a 304 hp V6 that goes zero to sixty in 6.7 seconds and gets 29 mpg highway/18 city. The handling was very good with very little body roll, and the engine had a nice growl to it. Don’t feel like you chickened out by not getting the V8, because this V6 has only 11 hp less than the V8 Mustang!  If you are looking for an eye catching, quick, comfortable, everyday drive, look no further than the Camaro LT, and for less than $2,000 add the RS package. Have fun!

Now lets talk about the monster “SS.” On my 6-speed manual test car, the growl rising up from the exhaust kept inviting me to “punch it” every time I got in the car. The voice in the back of my mind whispered, “Let’s do something fun,” every time I got behind the wheel.  I could see myself getting in trouble with this machine! The “SS” received a lot of attention on and off the road. Be ready to get lots of compliments and get into conversations with complete strangers about performance and price, and how jealous of it they are. Bottom line: It goes zero to sixty in 4.8 seconds, has Brembo brakes, stunning retro looks and is loaded with everything a modern sports car should have for about $34,000! 

2010 Corvette Grand Sport is Chevrolet’s Ultimate Toy

Starting at about $56,000 the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport (formerly known as the Z51 package) is the American Ferrari.  It doesn’t play second fiddle to any sports car. In fact, I know two Italian friends who have imported these Vettes into their homeland in Italy where the Vette is considered an exotic that turns a lot of heads.

The facts are quite simple: This machine does zero to sixty in 3.8 seconds.  With the standard 430-hp LS3 V8, it tops out at about 190mph.  And with the upgraded exhaust, add 6 more hp.  All this, while it achieves 1.0 g on the skid pad.  Not a shabby comparison to the Italian Ferrari, right?  But compare the Corvette’s 26 mpg highway/16mpg city to a Ferrari with similar specs.   First there are no Ferraris capable of achieving 26mpg, and then there’s the fact that most Ferraris are at least three times the price.  On top of that, compare the reliability and repair costs of Chevrolet versus that of its Italian cousin.  If I’m paying, I’ll take the Vette any day!

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox FWD 2LT

Ready for anything from a night on the town to an off-road adventure. To say I was pleasantly surprised when General Motors delivered my first test car would be a major understatement. At first glance I thought it was a Lexus RX. The black granite paint with just the right amount of chrome projected style and quality. I had done some research and have seen many of its predecessors on the road. I always thought it was a pretty nice vehicle, but the 2010 model is completely different!

                                                      2010 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, The “Green” TRUCK for “Green” Builders

Until you drive and experience this full size, powerful construction tool you will always wonder if this hybrid, green monster is for real. Like its GMC Sierra cousin, it is available in 4-door crew cab only. While crushing the competition in fuel economy with a nearly 50% improvement in the city (21MPG) and 25% overall, the Silverado still hauls with a towing capacity of 6100/2767 for the 2WD and 5900/2676 for the 4WD. The transmission is a 2-mode continuous electric ratio hybrid with four fixed gears. All you really need to know is that it has two types of motors–a powerful 6.0 liter/332 HP aluminum block gas engine and two 60-kilowatt electric motors that switch between the gas/electric power plants at optimal times for maximum efficiency and performance needs.

 

GMC Terrain— Smaller and More Fuel-Efficient But Packing the Punch of GMC’s Full-Size Trucks

I found the look of the Terrain to be bolder and more aggressive than it’s sibling the Chevrolet Equinox . The ride is smooth, quiet and fun to drive. My test car was powered by the optional direct injected 3.0L V6 DOHC engine which packed an impressive 264 horsepower. Even with the larger engine, the terrain still turned in some impressive mileage numbers: 17MPG City and 25 MPG Highway. The base price is about $2,000 more than the Equinox but includes options like the rearview back up camera and a number of other options which are included that easily justify the cost. Overall I believe GMC is going to sell a lot of these crossovers, and it will end up being an integral part of the new GM success story.

 2010 GMC Yukon Denali Hybrid is the Ultimate Builder Machine

Wow!  With more than a 50-percent increase in fuel economy, the gas savings on the perfect builder’s vehicle are a tremendous help on the pocketbook that we can all appreciate, especially now.  The GM 2-mode continuous electric ratio hybrid transmission with four fixed gears and 6.0 l Vortec V-8 engine with active fuel management helped my two wheel drive text model to achieve a remarkable 21 MPG City and 22 MPG Highway.

 

2010 LaCross Represents a Reinvigorated Buick

The great look, intelligent personal technologies and safety features of the completely redesigned 2010 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan make it a shining example of the globally influenced product renaissance at Buick. Buick positions the LaCross against the Lexus ES models, but I find its size and solid feel and ride more comparable to larger luxury cars such as the Lexus LS.   This makes it an even better bargain at thousands below those comparable counterparts.  It offers all-wheel drive as well as three efficient, powerful engines—which were especially felt when accelerating on the highway.

2010 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, The “Green” TRUCK for “Green” Builders

Until you drive and experience this full size, powerful construction tool you will always wonder if this hybrid, green monster is for real. Like its GMC Sierra cousin, it is available in 4-door crew cab only. While crushing the competition in fuel economy with a nearly 50% improvement in the city (21MPG) and 25% overall, the Silverado still hauls with a towing capacity of 6100/2767 for the 2WD and 5900/2676 for the 4WD. The transmission is a 2-mode continuous electric ratio hybrid with four fixed gears. All you really need to know is that it has two types of motors–a powerful 6.0 liter/332 HP aluminum block gas engine and two 60-kilowatt electric motors  that  switch between the gas/electric power plants at optimal times for maximum efficiency and performance needs.

2010 Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie Mega Cab

 The 6.7-Liter Cummins Turbo Diesel engine, capable of towing just about anything, is what sets this giant apart from any other pickup on the road.  To match all this power, it also has an almost intimidating aggressive-looking newly designed front end.  In driving it to several builder networking functions across the Metroplex, it was an attention-grabber.  Builders love big and powerful trucks, and this one fits the bill.  They wanted a look inside and asked lots of questions.  My test model was also loaded with options offering all the creature comforts of a luxury SUV—real time traffic navigation, a 30 GB hard drive media center with 4,250 song capacity, USB port and 506W Alpine sound system.  The U-connect phone system with voice command will keep your hands on the wheel.  You really need the back-up cameras and parking sensor options on this one. And unless you’re the size of my builder friend John Montgomery from Fort Worth, you’ll need side running boards to climb in.

2010 Lexus HS 250h—A Hybrid that Doesn’t Scream “Save the Whales!”

This is Lexus’ first car available as a hybrid only! Finally there is a luxury compact sedan vehicle that is a not shaped like an insect and screams “save the whales.”  The HS 250h is for those who respect the environment, like saving money while being very comfortable, and don’t care whether or not anyone notices that they are driving a hybrid.  With a modified version of its Toyota Camry cousin’s hybrid powertrain, the HS 250h’s main power comes from a 2.4-liter gasoline inline-four making 147 horsepower. Two electric motors in the powertrain add an additional 40 horsepower, bringing the total to 187HP. The gasoline engine utilizes an automatic start/stop technology, which means once you press the start button on the dash the electric and gas engines will activate at the appropriate moment power is needed. When braking or idling, the electric motors recharge the nickel/metal-hydride batteries.  The transmission is extremely efficient and varies continuously to offer a seamless transition between gears.

The HS 250h’s technology and functionality are the fun part!  In the center control panel, there is a mouse-like toggle called “Remote Touch” that operates the Mark Levinson infotainment system with DVD audio, voice controlled navigation along with Lexus’ new Enform services. This command service center offers stock info including weather and sports. Upon starting the vehicle, a DVD screen pops up from the dash and tilts to give you a perfect viewing angle. There is a very convenient USB and audio jack to plug in your I-Phone, MP3 or I-POD. I plugged in my son’s I-Phone and he was ecstatic to see that his phone calls and songs integrated perfectly with the infotainment system. The phone calls were hands free and all his songs appeared in perfect order and sounded fantastic through the Mark Levinson stereo