The 2011 Mazda Speed3 delivers the goods!

There is only one word that comes to mind when I think of the majority of the Mazdas I have ever driven, FUN! Mazda builds affordable, fuel efficient, performance oriented vehicles that seem to be quite reliable and trustworthy, but most importantly they are a blast to drive. The engineers at Mazda have brought some legendary vehicles to our shores over the last few decades. The first one that comes to mind is the RX-7, then the RX-8, and then one of the most important roadsters of all time the Mazda Miata. Steeped in that tradition comes the 2011 Mazda Speed3 and it delivers one of the most entertaining drives that you'll find under $30,000. The Mazda Speed3 was redesigned in 2010 and while most people loved it a few people thought the new front fascia was just too much to handle. I personally love the style of this car even if it looks like it's smiling back at you from the front end. Perhaps the car is smiling, letting everyone know that the Mazda Speed3 is providing a good time at an affordable price. From the hood scoop to the european inspired 18" wheels these Speed3's are stunning. Today's 2011 Mazda Speed3 is a vicious looking little hatchback. From the sides this car looks like it could stun anything on the road. Our 2011 Mazda Speed3 is done up in a light gray metallic paint job and inside it has probably one of the coolest interiors you'll find for under $30,000. Today's version has black leather seating with red baseball stitching running down the seams. I personally love the red baseball stitching and it truly makes the interior look phenomenal. Inside this Mazda Speed3 has a list of luxury features that would keep any enthusiast happy for years. From the second you open the door you are greeted with a long list of cool features. The first thing I noticed was the aluminum pedals and aluminum kick plate. Then I remembered that they only come in manual version and all of a sudden my heart started race. This was going to be a fun drive, and now I'm pumped up for today's drive. Once inside the cockpit I start to get comfortable which was easy to do. Every button seems to be placed right where you would like it to be, and the seating was very supple and secure. My only complaint would've been the tiny Navigation screen they use. Most smart phones have bigger display screens than this Navigation unit, but I don't use Navigation very often anyway, so it's not that big of a deal. Under the hood the 2011 Mazdaspeed 3  has a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine. Packing 263 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, and it can get you to 60 mph in a quick 6.3 seconds. The car has beautiful exhaust notes and I can't wait to get to the nearest expressway. Right off the bat I notice that this turbocharged engine may be almost to powerful for this chassis. When you truly step into the accelerator there is quite a bit of torque steer, but that's what I come to work for everyday anyway. The steering was quick, responsive, and smooth. The brakes were phenomenal, and the cornering was an absolute blast. Once on the freeway I couldn't find a vehicle that would want to tangle with this Speed3. These things are the real deal. It's hard to believe that you can get this much enjoyment out of a little hatchback like this, but it delivered in every category. I couldn't find one single thing I disliked about the Mazda Speed3, except it's miniature Navigation screen. For the money it's hard to believe anything could possibly compete with this car, but apparently it's contender's deliver the goods as well. The thing that most impressed me was the shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. You're practically screaming down the street before you even get to 3rd gear. All in all this car is awesome. From the styling, performance, handling, and price the Mazda Speed3 is no joke. If you are out shopping Lancer's, Civics, even Mustangs, the Mazda Speed3 should definitely get a test run, because I guarantee you'll be impressed.  If you haven't given Mazda a chance, now is the time, because they went all out for the 2011 Mazda Speed3!


2011 Mazda Speed3 Specs:

Engine & Performance

• Base engine size: 2.3 L
• Cam type: Double overhead cam (DOHC)
• Cylinders: inline 4
• Valves: 16
• Valve timing: Variable
• Direct injection
• Torque: 280 ft-lbs. @ 3000 rpm
• Horsepower: 263 hp @ 5500 rpm
• Turning circle: 36.1 ft.

• Base engine type: gas

DriveTrain

• Drive type: front wheel drive
• Transmission: 6-speed manual
• Front limited slip differential

Suspension

• MacPherson strut front suspension
• Multi-link rear suspension
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Front and rear stabilizer bar

Fuel

• Fuel type: gas
• Fuel type: premium unleaded (required)
• Fuel tank capacity: 15.9 gal.
• Range in miles (cty/hwy): 286.2/397.5 mi.
• EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 18/25 mpg

2011 Mazda Speed3 Warranty:

Warranty

• Basic: 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
• Drivetrain: 5 yr./ 60000 mi.
• Roadside: 3 yr./ 36000 mi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazdaspeed3
http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mazdaspeed3/2011/
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1012_2011_mazdaspeed3/viewall.html

Introducing the 2nd Generation 2011 Scion TC

In 2002 Toyota Motor Company launched a new division under the name Scion. Toyota is no stranger to launching a new brand and they literally blew us all away back in 1999 when they launched Lexus and completely changed the face of the Luxury car market. Scion was originally marketed and directed at today's 20 somethings. Loaded with tons of standard features, almost limitless options, and a price point directed at America's youth, Scion came out firing on all cylinders. Since 2002 our economy has taken quite a tumble and the 20 something demographic that Toyota was aiming for went down with the rest of us. That being said Scion has not even come close to the notoriety of the Lexus, but Scion continues to chip away at their share of the market. Originally launched in 2004 The Scion TC was easily Scion's best looking and most attractive vehicle. The new 2011 Scion TC is in it's 2nd generation now, and while most of the TC's lines and design remained the same there was a much needed face lift. Today's 2011 Scion TC is dressed in a metallic black paint job and it's accented nicely inside with black cloth seating surfaces. To the untrained eye, she appears to be pretty much the same old TC, but after a little studying you can see and feel the new TC is drastically different. The TC is built on the same platform as the original 1st generation, but the engine, transmission, and suspension were tweaked for the better. When looking at the TC from afar she looks devastatingly fast as well as furious, but as the old saying goes "Don't judge a book by it's cover". The 2011 Scion TC is powered by a 2.5L inline 4 Cylinder engine, which gets 180 horsepower and 173lb feet of torque. The zero to 60 times look to be about 7.3 seconds which is far from impressive, but more than enough power for today's generation of driver's. On the inside the TC is pretty awesome looking. Very much like the cockpit in a jet even the inside of the TC looks fast. The coolest interior feature by far is the dual Panoramic moonroof which can be set to let light and air in or sealed completely silent and dark. All of the gadgetry and technology are within reach and nicely placed, nothing is overdone or to flashy, but she's very well appointed. The seats feel sporty yet comfortable and the 6 speed transmission is a blast to shift through. I took the TC out on I-65 North and she had plenty of power to run with the traffic. Despite the oddly shaped steering wheel the handling was nimble, but still sporty. Whipping in and out of position was no issue and a good driver could have a ton of fun in the TC. With most sport model vehicles the suspension is stiff, but this car felt very nice and secure. Corners were fun, there was no real body roll issue and the braking was very responsive . All in all the car is a fun car to drive and it is quite different than it's competitor's from Honda or Ford. The only real set back to me was the design of C-Pillar which seemed unsually blocky and pretty squarely shaped. The TC got alot of attention at stop lights though and you could see the look from the passers by trying to make out what kind of make and model the TC is. Overall the styling is bold, very aggressive, and perfect for the 20 somethings of today's marketplace. There's plenty of storage inside and the gas mileage is very good on the highway at around 31mpg. The thing I've noticed most with the Scion's is there ability not to depreciate. They seem to hold their value nicely and even after a year or two of driving the car it is still in the ballpark that you originally paid for the car. In today's car market almost everyone leaves the dealerships upside down, but with the Scions you seem to get alot for your money. If you are out shopping Civics, Focuses or anything in this class, I would definitely take the time to drive the 2011 Scion TC, she is definitely a contender and she looks faster than the whole lot combined.


2011 Scion TC Specs:

Engine & Performance

• Base engine size: 2.5 L
• Cam type: Double overhead cam (DOHC)
• Cylinders: inline 4
• Valves: 16
• Valve timing: Variable
• Torque: 173 ft-lbs. @ 4100 rpm
• Horsepower: 180 hp @ 6000 rpm
• Turning circle: 37.4 ft.

• Base engine type: gas

DriveTrain

• Drive type: front wheel drive
• Transmission: 6-speed manual

Suspension

• MacPherson strut front suspension
• Double wishbone rear suspension
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Front and rear stabilizer bar

Fuel

• Fuel type: gas
• Fuel type: regular unleaded
• Fuel tank capacity: 14.5 gal.
• Range in miles (cty/hwy): 333.5/449.5 mi.
• EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 23/31 mpg

2011 Scion TC Warranty:

• Basic: 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
• Drivetrain: 5 yr./ 60000 mi.
• Free Maintenance: 2 yr./ 25000 mi.
• Roadside: 2 yr./ 25000 mi.

http://www.edmunds.com/scion/tc/2011/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scion_tC

http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/scion_tc_2011

Georgetown KY's own the All New 2011 Toyota Avalon

Since February 21st, 2004, Toyota's Georgetown, KY plant has been delivering Toyota Avalons to happy customer's all over the United States. Released as a 2005 model, the Avalons have since been known for their luxurious ammenities, safety ratings, and overall reliability. The Avalons are built in the same plant as the Camry, and the Camry has long been one of America's sweethearts. The Avalon is essentially a Camry just stretched out, more luxurious, and a tad bit more sophisticated. So, if you can, just imagine one of the World's most dependable and trusted vehicles with more luxurious styling inside and out, and a much smoother ride. Today's Avalon is a 2011 model dressed in a green metallic paint job and accented beautifully inside with supple gray leather seating surfaces and beautiful wood grain trim. As I make my laps around the 3rd generation Avalon, she seems to be much larger than previous models and definitely looks longer. They have stretched her out from 191.9 inches long to 197.2 inches long and it is definitely noticeable to anyone who is familiar with the previous Avalons. As with every other manufacturer in the World, Toyota has added LED lighting to the front and rear lights which gives it a very stunning and classy look when approaching the front or rear ends. The side of the vehicle is not sculpted much and seems to be pretty much just flat sheet metal, and at a 197.2 inches that's a lot of blank space, but she's still nicely designed. Overall the car is very attractive and well appointed from the outside. Inside the cabin the cockpit almost mimics a base Lexus at every corner. Let's face it Toyota knows how to build and market luxury cars, and they've been doing so with Lexus since 1989. The Avalon is nothing short of a luxury car, and she delivers luxury everywhere you look. The list of features for  this 2011 Toyota Avalon is long. It's well equipped with Power All, Rear View Camera, Power Sunroof, Universal Garage Door Openers, Heated Seats, Keyless Access, and one of the largest cabins you'll find in a car. The steering wheel feels way better weighted than the Camry, and the textures used inside are top notch. Once on the road the Avalon drives smooth and brakes well. The Avalon is suprisingly quick and agile for her size though. While meant to be a cruiser the car still has awesome straight ahead power. The 3.5 L V-6 puts out 268 Horsepower and these Avalons can get up and go from a complete stop. The highway ride is extremley cushy, but does give you some bounce on road imperfections and bumps. The cornering wasn't phenomenal and there was some body roll, but this isn't meant to be a sports car. These were built for the long ride and once I'm on the expressway, I'm in complete comfort. The sound system is awesome, the seats are warm, the steering is nice, and the big car doesn't seem so big once you are cruising at 65-70 miles per hour. If my profession called for lots of driving or travelling this would definitely be one of my top picks. I could literally see myself driving this car from one end of the country to the other with no real issues. As far as space goes inside, she has room for 5 adults to sit comfortably and the backseats seem monsterous. Even with the front seats all the way back, there aren't too many folks who wouldn't be comfortable back there. The 5 speed sequential shift transmission that they've mated to V-6 is very calm and well behaved, and I felt little or no lag or shifting as I ran the car up the expressway. All in all the Avalon is a very well built vehicle, built right here in my home state of Kentucky. There really wasn't anything I disliked about the car. It would be way too big for just my daughter and myself, but if you have a growing family and want to stay in a car, this would be a solid pick. I would also recommend the Avalons to anyone who travels several thousand miles a year in a vehicle, or transports clients from one location to another. Toyota has built almost the perfect highway car. Walking away from the car I can't help but think, how awesome it is that a idea that started on a drawing board in Japan, has made it's way all the way to Georgetown, KY to come to fruition. This makes me proud to be an American and a dreamer. It just goes to show anything can and will happen!

2011 Toyota Avalon Limited Specs:

Engine & Performance

• Base engine size: 3.5 L
• Cam type: Double overhead cam (DOHC)
• Cylinders: V6
• Valves: 24
• Valve timing: Variable
• Torque: 248 ft-lbs. @ 4700 rpm
• Horsepower: 268 hp @ 6200 rpm
• Turning circle: 36.9 ft.

• Base engine type: gas

DriveTrain

• Drive type: front wheel drive
• Transmission: 6-speed shiftable automatic

Suspension

• MacPherson strut front suspension
• MacPherson strut rear suspension
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Front and rear stabilizer bar

Fuel

• Fuel type: gas
• Fuel type: regular unleaded
• Fuel tank capacity: 18.5 gal.
• Range in miles (cty/hwy): 370.0/536.5 mi.
• EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 20/29 mpg

2011 Toyota Avalon Warranty:

Basic: 3 year or 36,000 miles

Powertrain: 6 Year or 60,000 miles

Rust: 60 months or unlimited miles

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/avalon/2011/

http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/toyota_avalon_2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Avalon

The Luxurious Beast that is the 2011 GMC Yukon Denali

GMC is more than likely not the first name plate you think of when the word Luxury manufacturer comes to mind. However, the GMC Yukon Denali is changing that every single day and on every single test drive. The 2011 GMC Yukon Denali is a premium SUV that can take on any of the Luxury SUV's in terms of Luxury, Ride, Performance, Styling, and Value. Not only is the Yukon Denali gorgeous with it's masculine styling and bold agressive front grille, but it delivers in every category that you would test or compare a luxury vehicle by. The 2011 GMC Yukon Denali that we currently have in stock is built on the same exact chassis as the Cadillac Escalade and also uses the same exact 403 Horsepower, 6.2 L V-8, six speed transmission, and full time all wheel drive system. This is basically an Escalade with a different logo on the front. What we've come to love about the Escalade translates right over to the 2011 GMC Yukon Denali. The 2011 GMC Yukon Denali that I'll be driving today is dressed in the black metallic exterior paint job and it's highlighted with bright chrome accents and bright chrome wheels. When inside supple black leather seating surfaces welcome you, and brilliant light wood trim accents the majority of the cabin. This particular Yukon Denali has the Power Moonroof, Power Seats w/memory seating, Premium Bose Am/FM/CD/MP3 Stereo System, Heated Seats, Air Cooled Seats, Dual Climate Control, Rear View Camera, Rear TV/DVD, BlueTooth, 3rd row Seating, and the list goes on for days and days. With the ammenities listed above anyone can find themselves perfectly content within minutes of entering the vehicle. The same sound insulation that is used on the Escalade is also incorperated and the Denali is extremely quiet and well mannered. Once I'm out on the roadway I feel like I'm the king of the road. Visibilty is wonderful from every direction, and The Denali has plenty of height to allow you to tower over the other vehicles on the road. The power of the 6.2L is plenty and it delivers anytime you so much as touch the gas pedal. The braking is great and it can tow up to around 8,400 lbs. The truck behaves like a car the majority of the time, and cornering for it's size is quite impressive. The cabin is cavernous inside, it's very well appointed, and it would allow most families to travel in comfort from one side of the country to the other. Despite the size and overall weight the truck is very quick and nimble on it's feet, and I was really impressed by the overall performance. The Denali is built on a truck frame, but you won't even notice unless you are on a rocky terrain. In town the truck has a nice turning radius and wouldn't be to hard to manuever in the mall parking lot. Overall the Denali delivers in every department. I love the styling,  the ride quality, and I absolutely love the interior. The 2011 Denalis are gorgeous, quiet, smooth, quick, and roomy. When it comes to SUVs of this size, the Denalis are one of my favorites and if you drive one I bet they'll make it on your list as well. If you are in the market for a  Luxury SUV the Denali should definitely get a look and a test drive, because it's worth every penny!

2011 GMC Yukon Denali Specs:

Engine & Performance

• Base engine size: 6.2 L
• Cam type: Overhead valves (OHV)
• Cylinders: V8
• Valves: 16
• Valve timing: Variable
• Torque: 417 ft-lbs. @ 4300 rpm
• Horsepower: 403 hp @ 5700 rpm
• Turning circle: 39.0 ft.

• Base engine type: flex-fuel (FFV)

DriveTrain

• Drive type: rear wheel drive
• Transmission: 6-speed shiftable automatic
• Rear locking differential

Suspension

• Short and long arm front suspension
• Multi-link rear suspension
• Front independent suspension
• Front and rear stabilizer bar

Fuel

• Fuel type: flex-fuel (FFV)
• Fuel type: flex-fuel (premium unleaded recommended/E85)
• Fuel tank capacity: 26 gal.
• Range in miles (cty/hwy): 364/468 mi.
• EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 14/18 mpg

2011 GMC Yukon Denali Warranty:

Warranty

• Basic: 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
• Drivetrain: 5 yr./ 100000 mi.
• Roadside: 5 yr./ 100000 mi.
• Rust: 6 yr./ 100000 mi.

http://www.edmunds.com/gmc/yukon/2011/features-specs.html?style=101347417

http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/gmc_yukon-denali_2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_Denali