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2008 Infiniti G37S, Part Three

Why you should buy the 2008 Infiniti G37S:
You've just been made junior partner at your law firm. You want to go fast, but you don't necessarily need to go the fastest. You want a car that handles well, but it's not like you're going to autocross it. You care about looking good but could care less if you look tough. You've got some change, but you don't want to spend all of it on a car.

Why you shouldn't buy this car:
You've just been made to chug a pitcher of Spaten Lager after being unable to name all the goalies of the previous four German World Cup teams. It is important that you be the fastest. It is more important to you that a car feels right than looks good. Price is no object. Well... price is an object, but you're willing to spend a little more and eat sugar packets for a week to get automotive perfection.

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12:30 PM on Wed Aug 27 2008
By Matt Hardigree
1,488 views, 32 comments

Latest by Sean_Hannity_has_AIDS: @NovaloadMissesPolar: Seriously, dude, your fixation/fascination/obsession with me is getting creepy. I asked a question, then answered another. It's not all more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Infiniti G37S, Part Two

Exterior Design: ****
The 2008 Infiniti G37S is one of the few Japanese luxury cars with the aesthetics to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Europe's best, a fact helped by the coupe's bulging, enticing shoulders. The headlights may appear a bit doe-eyed from the front, but they stretch handsomely around the front fender, starting a line that flows over the shimmering 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, then continuing below the greenhouse and towards the sloping tail. It's a design that puts the flame surfacing of the BMW 3-series coupe on ice.

Interior Design: ***
There's no doubting that this is a performance luxury car, but not because of the materials. Bathed in a soft black plastic with smoothed aluminum inserts, the textures are nice but they're not particularly sporty nor are they overwhelmingly luxurious. The leather buckets are supportive and well-bolstered, but they're not something you'll brag about. The layout is smart and the buttons are within easy reach, but it's all a bit plain. No, the reason it's clear this car is ready to perform is the seating position, which is so low that you'll pucker your cheeks as you approach speed bumps.

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12:30 PM on Tue Aug 26 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,715 views, 51 comments

Latest by n/a: Everyone always complains about the beefy clutches on the nissans. I wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Infiniti G37S, Part One

There are those who claim to be able to reach across the ethereal plane, into another dimension, and speak with the dead. I will make no such claim. The best I could offer my friend was assistance in tracking down the plots containing his great grandfather and other relatives, buried in an Irish Catholic cemetery north of town. Aiding us in our search was the stately 2008 Infiniti G37S, which felt appropriate for this task — you don't want to visit your ancestors in an Aveo. It would look bad.

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12:30 PM on Mon Aug 25 2008
By Matt Hardigree
3,769 views, 32 comments

Latest by ihateauditions: @Mysterious Utility Bento: You're not the only one. I bought the sedan, despite having a wife who more »

jalopnik reviews

2009 Honda Fit, First Drive, Part Two

As we told you yesterday, we asked our many-layered friend John Krewson to take a spin in the new 2009 Honda Fit. After yesterday's taste of the new-and-now-priced-to-move-starting-at-$14,550 Honda Fit, he's brought us the whole red pepper of a review today. — Ed.

It's always been hard for me to find someone who doesn't like the Honda Fit. And what's not to like? It's earned a reputation for being nimble, thrifty, capable, and perhaps most importantly, charismatic. It might not be all that muscular, and it might be just the slightest bit IKEAesque inside, but for about fifteen grand it's hard to think of another subcompact that's quite as, well, friendly to live with. If the Fit were a transformer, it would fold out into a cheerful, helpful little brother with freckles and a turned-up nose.

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2:15 PM on Wed Aug 20 2008
By John Krewson
10,921 views, 78 comments

Latest by badco/LoJ: My local Honda dealer is selling '08 Fits with $2500 worth of magic sealants and crap accessories plus a $3000 more »

jalopnik reviews

2009 Corvette ZR1: First Drive

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 is the best car ever made. It redefines what performance cars are capable of, not by its numbers (the 0-to-60 in 3.3 seconds and a 205 MPH top speed figures are no longer noteworthy north of $100,000), but by how it makes those numbers so accessible. Simply put, the ZR1's most remarkable achievement is how easy and unintimidating the chassis makes exploiting the car's 638 HP. The only problem is I'm not good enough a driver to fully do so.

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10:30 PM on Tue Aug 19 2008
By Wes Siler
57,017 views, 171 comments

Latest by hustler: "luxury bass boat" is pretty lol more »

jalopnik reviews

2009 Honda Fit, First Drive

We've asked our many-layered friend John Krewson to take a spin in the new 2009 Honda Fit. He'll have the full first drive for us tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a taste. — Ed.

It's always been hard for me to find someone who doesn't like the Honda Fit. And what's not to like? It's earned a reputation for being nimble, thrifty, capable, and perhaps most importantly, charismatic. It might not be all that muscular, and it might be just the slightest bit IKEAesque inside, but for about fifteen grand it's hard to think of another subcompact that's quite as, well, friendly to live with. If the Fit were a transformer, it would fold out into a cheerful, helpful little brother with freckles and a turned-up nose.

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6:01 PM on Tue Aug 19 2008
By John Krewson
8,734 views, 58 comments

Latest by brandegee: @mechimike: Unfortunately, the Matrix handles like a top-heavy truck, at least compared to the Subaru Outback Sport I compared it more »

first drive

2009 Dodge Challenger

Last month's review of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 may have seemed to some a blinding orgy of Detroit love. Having just moved from Detroit to New York City, I was homesick and was seemingly in need of a shot of Motor City muscle. Still, I offer no apology, because despite the rose-colored glasses, I managed to outline the three glaring issues with the low-volume '08 model year Challenger SRT8 — the outdated interior, the weight and most importantly, the automatic transmission. After spending a day this past week driving the new 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, SRT8 and SE on the roads of New York City and on the Raceway Park track at Englishtown, NJ, Dodge has fixed at least one-third of the Challenger's problems. That's a good thing for Dodge, because I left the rose-colored glasses back in Detroit.

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4:30 PM on Sun Aug 17 2008
By Ray Wert
9,951 views, 66 comments

Latest by n/a: @stoneman: Last i checked gas prices are on the way DOWN, news was saying backing in the high 2s by more »

first drive

2009 Subaru Impreza WRX

"Stop Speeding Yanks!" "Slow the f#*k down!," "Go home!" Something about the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX makes you want to speed. And here in Canada, where they take the law literally, blatantly flouting limits really stands out. Of course, something about the WRX will always sit uncomfortably with the surrounding world, no matter the pace. While it's been modified for 2009, just one year after its launch with 41 more horsepower, stiffened suspension and STI-esque bodykit, it remains one of the ugliest cars on sale.

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12:30 AM on Fri Aug 15 2008
By Wes Siler
6,723 views, 64 comments

Latest by AlexCConley: Only a few will know who Pastor Troy is. But i am glad i didn't swap out for the 08 more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, Part Three

Why you should buy the 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid:
You need a full-size SUV for mid-level towing and passenger-carrying duties, and you plan to put enough miles on it that an almost 50% improvement in fuel economy is worth the substantially higher up-front price. You like the idea of having both gas and electric motors, but you think Priuses are for sissies.

Why you shouldn't buy this car:
You don't want to wait over 39,000 miles to pay off the added cost of the hybrid drivetrain. You need a full-size body-on-frame SUV that can tow more than 6,200 pounds. You're single, have no kids, and don't own a boat. You don't mind sacrificing some space and spec to get better fuel economy from a smaller vehicle. You think SUVs are the spawn of Satan, hybrid or otherwise.

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12:00 PM on Thu Jul 31 2008
By Andrew Stoy
2,982 views, 73 comments

Latest by stoneman: I think I'll test drive this thing myself before I make any kind of remarks. I'll get back to you more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, Part Two

Exterior Design: **
Whether you love or hate big SUVs, the 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid sports monolithic good looks compared to others in the category. Body-color trim, molded-in side steps, and the hybrid-specific front air dam add to handsome proportions. If you're trying to be subtle, though, look elsewhere: The Tahoe Hybrid shouts its greenness from every surface, using emblems, logos, and tape stripes to tell the world you're doing your part for global warming...wait, against global warming. What exactly DOES this thing say? Oh yeah, Hybrid. Everywhere. We'd like to give this beast four stars here, but we'll subtract one for huge "HYBRID" logos on each side.

Interior Design: ***
Good God it's wide in here. The expanse of dash and the far proximity of our passenger reminds us of a friend's '68 Chrysler Newport, albeit jacked up a few feet. Everything is where you expect it to be, though, with storage and power options just about everywhere you look...except under the second-row bench, which is where the battery pack lives. The leather-swaddled seats were comfortable for hours on end, and the clear lines of sight made the huge Tahoe easier to drive.

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12:00 PM on Wed Jul 30 2008
By Andrew Stoy
2,975 views, 49 comments

Latest by golferal: @Rican5.0: Exactly what does the Tahoe Hybrid (or any other Tahoe) have to do with supporting our troops or the more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, Part One

Go North — and take that big-ass SUV with you. That was the mandate from the wife, so that's what I did. Sure, it was partly to visit friends near Lewiston, four hours north of Detroit, but it was also partly to get the 2008 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid out of our driveway. Greenwashing badges be damned, it was a little embarrassing to have a brand-new full-size SUV in front of my modest home in Southeast Michigan; I know neighbors who have been laid off, and neighbors who have changed their driving habits to afford gas. Against that backdrop, the Tahoe felt ostentatious and a little improper, regardless of whether or not it was a fleet loaner.

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12:30 PM on Tue Jul 29 2008
By Andrew Stoy
4,174 views, 76 comments

Latest by leighzbohns: @OldeEnglishD misses Polar: I just have to say that most of the people I see driving priuses are comfortably middle class, more »

first drive

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR

Andrew Stoy is wrong. (No, I'm not. —A.S.) The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR makes a much better everyday car than the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. And I should know: I've only driven it in rush hour traffic.

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3:30 PM on Wed Jul 23 2008
By Wes Siler
8,024 views, 26 comments

Latest by stoneman: Love-it-or-hate-it styling....I say it's much better than the metrosexual Subaru WRX STi (08). And I drive the base '07 which more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Dodge Charger SRT8, Part Three

Why you should buy the 2008 Dodge Charger SRT8:
You never got enough oversteer from your big wheel as a kid. Your father taught you big motors and tire smoke are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The first passage in your bible reads "In the beginning, God created the Hemi and the Earth." You think global warming is not only a crock of crap, but a communist plot against all that is good and pure. You run a drag strip for orphans. You own stock in ExxonMobil.

Why you shouldn't buy this car:
The rumble of a proper American V8 annoys you. The soft whoosh your Birkenstocks bring when pressed against the pedal of your hybrid makes you put down your wheatgrass smoothie and smile. You think a Japanese crossover is the most responsible automotive investment you can make. You care about depreciation. You are Ed Begley Jr.

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3:00 PM on Thu Jul 17 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
4,937 views, 86 comments

Latest by n/a: I'd like to add my 2 cents to this long discussion/debate. My wife drives BMW's which I have to say are more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt, Part Three

Why you should buy the 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt:
You don't care if other people think you're cool; you know you're cool. If you want a job done right you think you have to do it yourself. You've got a bad habit of getting into car chases that end in fiery explosions. You were alive when the movie I'm alluding to premiered.

Why you shouldn't buy this car:
It is important that others know you've got a big... er... engine. You think you're cool, but just in case here are a couple of awesome stripes, gigantic foglights and an ugly spoiler. You don't care about balance or composure, you care about numbers. You want something on a piece of paper you can show everyone else. Let's understand each other — I don't like you.

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12:00 PM on Thu Jul 17 2008
By Matt Hardigree
6,236 views, 31 comments

Latest by n/a: I have been driving basically this same car for 18 months (07 Shelby GT). Mine has basically the same hardware, more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Dodge Charger SRT8, Part Two

Exterior Design: ****
Let's not mince words here: The 2008 Dodge Charger SRT8 is the kid that took your sister out to a party and she came back with frazzled hair, disheveled clothes, and smeared makeup. It's a badass car and it looks it. In sedate colors it blends in like a roughneck in a polo, but when properly coiffed, it gets a solid nod as the obvious troublemaker. Something is brewing behind those headlights, and we all know it starts with a capital 'T'.

Interior Design: **
Like Wert said said so eloquently in his review of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, "the exterior was crafted with pound upon pound of love and care; the interior feels like the ginger-headed stepchild of the design process." As Challenger goes, so goes Charger. Where the exterior is tough and purposeful, the interior is disjointed and nonsensical. A car like this should be a purpose-built missile of power and fury, not some toddler-coddling, middle-American market-research vomitorium.

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3:00 PM on Wed Jul 16 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
4,110 views, 57 comments

Latest by AlexConley: @Unregular: The duct work under the hood diverted air to the headers. I think that people will soon just cut the more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt, Part Two

Exterior Design: *****
The 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt isn't just a series of minor enhancements. Although the differences between the GT are subtle, they're numerous — starting with the badge delete option and Highland Green paint, a large black grille rimmed with a satin piece of chrome that hints at the car's unique importance. The dark five-spoked wheels get a similar strip of lightly colored metal around the perimeter, helping to both maintain the car's stealth and at the same time acting as an enticement to the casual observer. Even the carefully considered lack of a lip spoiler adds much to the stature of the car, signified by a refusal to ornament. A rarity these days.

Interior Design: **
The '60s-era font used for the gauges is difficult to read at first. The gigantic and distinguishing piece of machine-turned aluminum that covers the dash is also a bit worrying. Although it definitely stands out against the primarily-black interior, the word 'AIRBAGS' etched into the corner of one panel ruins it.

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12:00 PM on Wed Jul 16 2008
By Matt Hardigree
4,301 views, 35 comments

Latest by n/a: Love this car but the big problem here in Canada is that they will not let this car go for more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Dodge Charger SRT8, Part One

While Wert spent last week behind the wheel of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, I had the muscle car's big, boorish bear of a brother, the 2008 Dodge Charger SRT8. While the two cars may come off the same production lines, I'm finding myself using a different set of adjectives than the petals of flowery prose Wert scattered in front of the Challenger's tires. The Charger SRT8 is pitifully crude, boorish and obnoxious. As far as high performance goes, it's a complete piece of shit. But it's the most badass, tire-spinning, smoke-billowingly fun piece of shit we've ever driven.

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3:00 PM on Tue Jul 15 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
6,590 views, 125 comments

Latest by camp6ell: @Ray Wert: In that case, I look forward to the 2008 Dodge Charger SXT next month! more »

jalopnik reviews

2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt, Part One

I managed to drive nearly one thousand miles across Texas in a 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt without running over a cow, getting in a gunfight or playing a single hand of high stakes poker. How? If you've never been, the Texas in your head is a rugged place with sun-drenched highways stretching across a flat endless plain as seen in movies actually shot in Southern California. We've got three of the ten largest cities in the United States. We've got dusty hills and verdant valleys. Modern skyscrapers and sandy beaches. Twists and turns. Tangy BBQ and spicy Pho. For both Texas and the Bullitt, the myth serves a purpose but the reality is that much more magical.

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12:30 PM on Tue Jul 15 2008
By Matt Hardigree
4,267 views, 59 comments

Latest by NovaloadMissesPolar: @wadboy: "I stopped at a roadhouse in Texas, a little place called Hamburger Dan's..." Great old song. Oh, Mustang? Very hot. more »

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