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2018 Chevrolet Cruze revolutionizes the home office

March 10, 2018 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

This will not be your usual new car review. It has been said in recent years that there are no bad cars any more. It is more about individual taste. Like just about every car built these days, the Chevrolet Cruze is a good car. The good car, a close cousin of the nice car, can be very difficult to write about, as there is nothing much that sets it apart from the rest of the good cars. The addition of a diesel engine gives the Cruze an economically geeky edge over some of the other small sedans on the market. So what I am writing about?

Well, perhaps the answer is not so much what, but where.

As I write this, I am sitting in a random parking lot in south Oshawa, with my tablet wedged between the steering wheel and my ample belly. Writing an automotive story.

I just took a little break from working to watch an episode of Colony on Netflix on my tablet. Great show.

I’m going to go way out on a limb here and suggest that where modern vehicles from The General, including the Cruze, shine more than the competition is in their ability to improve one’s productivity. You see, part of the modern OnStar functionality is the ability to offer 4G WIFI access in the car. This isn’t any spotty, unreliable public space type WIFI either, OnStar offers super strong, consistent signal. Strong enough that watching shows on your tablet is a very happy experience.

GM products are not the only cars on the market which offer WIFI, as several others are beginning to jump on the bandwagon, but GM was the first and has perfected the technology. While the functionality is beginning to appear on other product lines, it does tend to be on more expensive brands and models, whereas GM has stuffed it into just about everything. That is good news for buyers of entry and mid-level cars.

For comparison sake, I recently tested the WIFI offerings of a 2018 Lincoln MKZ (starting MSRP $42,300 versus $16,395 for Cruze) and couldn’t even check email without the signal stuttering. Netflix was a no-go. The router signal was strong, but the data supply was poor. Your experience may vary.

Some number of years ago now, I visited Sweden to learn more about autonomous vehicles. While I had previously thought that the whole self-driving car thing was all about safety, I quickly learned that automakers believed that modern consumers care more about multi-tasking than they do about safety. Autonomy is about allowing drivers to remain productive and for that to work, the WIFI has to be consistent and strong! We are a long way from seeing fully autonomous vehicles on our roads, but that doesn’t mean that the car can’t improve our ability to be productive.

Chevrolet uses a stronger antenna than cell phones carry to receive signal that powers a 4G LTE wireless hotspot whenever the ignition is turned on. Another cool aspect is that the service works across North America, which means that cell phone data charges don’t need to be an issue on long road trips.

Data can be purchased monthly or in one time blocks as needed:

Monthly plans:
1 GB – $15
4 GB – $35
10 GB – $70
One-time Data packages:
250 MB/day – $5.00
20 GB/year – $200

The Chevrolet Cruze proves that, one doesn’t need to drive an expensive car to make use of the most important innovation in working from home since the invention of the internet!

 

Related posts:

First drive: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Chevy Confirms Cruze Diesel coming to North America Chevy Sonic storms the beach in rural Quebec Review: 2012 Chevrolet Volt Review: 2012 Chevy Tahoe

Small car scribbles

November 15, 2016 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

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In addition to organizing the Canadian Car of the Year awards testfest event last month, I had also been tasked by a print editor to evaluate the small car category. Doing double duty means that I typically don’t have time to actually write about the cars during the event.

Unlike some of the old guard, paper note pads aren’t my thing. Instead, I use Google Keep, which allows me to keep great notes. It occurred to me while writing the story yesterday that it also allows me to share my scribbles with you.

In no particular order, here are my roadside observations of the vehicles entered in small car this year.

Chevrolet Spark

20161028_131702

screenshot_2016-11-15-12-21-19

 

Hyundai Elantra

20161028_134527

screenshot_2016-11-15-12-09-59

Subaru Impreza

20161028_100153

screenshot_2016-11-15-12-05-02

Mini Cooper Clubman

20161028_112110

screenshot_2016-11-15-12-09-29

Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback

20161028_102450

screenshot_2016-11-15-12-09-22

 

Related posts:

Video: Day 2 at Testfest Video: This is Testfest Review: 2012 Chevrolet Volt Review: 2013 Chevy Spark Review: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado

Camaro is UK Bound! But There’s a Catch…

August 18, 2016 by Tom Williams Leave a Comment

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The new 2016 Chevy Camaro is being lauded as possibly the best ever, and come this September our neighbors across the Atlantic in the UK, according to a post from www.roadandtrack.com. But Chevy’s expectations for the Camaro are low. I mean, really, really low. Making this trip across the pond will be either the 2.0L turbocharged four and the mighty 6.2L V-8-the V-6 Camaro will not be available. Anticipated sales? Chevy is exporting a total of 18-yes, 18 Camaros. Total. Of that, 15 will be hardtops, leaving only 3 convertibles to fight over. And all 18 are headed to one dealer only, Ian Allan Motors in Surrey.

Why such a ridiculously low number? For one, the Ford Mustang is already sold there, and it holds two major advantages over the Camaro. For one, the Mustang is priced cheaper, but far more importantly, UK Mustangs are right hand drive. No surprise Chevy is not going to the trouble to build a right hand drive Camaro, so that is a major disadvantage. Second, the Camaro is a big car with gun-slit windows, so the narrow roads of the UK were the furthest from any designer’s mind. Then consider the fact you’re sitting on the wrong side the car and driving your Camaro through town could be downright harrowing. As for roundabouts, I’d advise the UK Camaro owner to drop a gear, bury the throttle and power slide your way ’round whilst either praying or laughing hysterically.

Still, 18 cars total seems timid. Just as there are plenty of British car clubs in North America, so to does the UK have American car clubs. No word if all 18 are already spoken for, if there is further demand if Chevy will send more over. But whatever the case, you will be in very rare company.

Related posts:

Review: 2012 Chevy Camaro SS Review: Chevy Camaro RS Auto Archaeology: The “Better Off Dead” Camaro First drive: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Classic Player’s Challenge Racing in the rain

In The Garage: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT

May 19, 2016 by Gary Grant 1 Comment

Once upon a time, the six cylinder versions of muscle cars were sort of the red headed step-child of real muscle cars. Those days are gone and the V6 version of the sixth generation Camaro is a real contender.

Related posts:

Chevy Scraps Plans for RHD Camaro Modern Muscle Comparo: Time machines First drive: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Review: 2012 Chevrolet Volt Review: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado

Jessi Lang meets a vintage T/A Chevy

August 14, 2014 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

jessi

Driving an Infiniti. To a Mazda sponsored track. To drive a Chevy. Gotta love the little ironies that working in automotive media throws at us sometimes!

After spending a year in rehab following a devastating car accident, Jessi Lang takes the bull by the horns so to speak with her first automotive assignment. As part of Motor Trend’s lead up to the Monterey Historics, Lang had the opportunity to take a couple of hot laps around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in a full on ’69 Camaro Z/28 from the glory days of the Trans Am series. Sadly, a couple was all she got in, as the beast clocked in at 113 db, which is above the sound limits at the track.

Even though my Dad raced an AMX and not a Camaro, I am oh so jealous!

Source: Motor Trend via Youtube

Related posts:

Classic Player’s Challenge Racing in the rain The Lightweight on the podium again at Canadian International Auto Show Impatient Camaro driver clips oncoming Volvo Trans Am visits Brainerd in 1969 First drive: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

The 2014 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: Part I

June 14, 2014 by ponycargirl Leave a Comment

2014 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

The 19th Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance: A Festival of Speed and Style was held over the weekend of May 31 – June 1 in Roger Sherman Baldwin Park by the Greenwich Harbor. The Connecticut Concours is just the right size – big enough for an incredible selection of cars, yet small enough so that every car on the field has a chance to parade by the stand at the end of the day. Concours organizers annually assemble a show of unique cars which can apply to show once every three years. Concours proceeds benefit AmeriCares programs.

Saturday is the Concours Americana where domestic antique automobiles share the lawn with 70’s muscle cars. It was a warm but cloudy day, but the passing rain ended just in time for the parade and awards, while the clouds hung around for dramatic photos. [Read more…]

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Going Further With Ford Part II Automotive Legend Carroll Shelby Passes at 89 Fashion’s Night Out with the Ford Fusion Further With Ford 2013 Trend Conference: Day One Further With Ford 2013 Trend Conference: Day Two

Review: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado

May 8, 2014 by Tom Williams Leave a Comment

2014 Chevrolet Silverado High CountryStereotyping. It’s an ugly habit of us humans, and as much as we show disdain when we see others engaging in this behavior, we’re all guilty of the same. A couple of weeks ago my family was sitting outside a four star restaurant in Florida waiting for our table. We got up for a minute to take a selfie of the three of us, my wife’s purse and bag still on the bench we had just gotten up from. In an instant, an impeccably dressed family of four descends upon our bench, with our belongings on it. I hear them talking to each other. They were French. My reaction? I thought to myself “Typical French arrogant bastards. They think they are so much better than us.”

That was not very nice of me. I personally do not know any French people. I just buy into the stereotype. To flip that around, I often hear ‘Oh, typical American’, which usually means lazy and stupid, or a myriad of things. It’s never meant as a compliment. And if you judge Americans by what cars we buy, well, the numbers tell a story. Of the top ten best selling vehicles in America in 2013, three of them were full-size pick-up trucks. So, yes, we are as a nation, collectively in love with the pick-up truck.

It’s almost strange that in the five years I have been reviewing cars for The Garage, this is only the second pick up truck I have ever had. The trunk in question is the all-new 2014 Chevy Silverado. The competition is cut-throat for full-size trucks, and with its F-150, Ford has owned the sales crown for years, with Chevy’s Silverado coming in at second place. The highlights for the new Silverado are a lighter curb weight, new base V-6 engine, and an improved interior. The aesthetics of the Silverado definitely look up to date, but this is first and foremost a vehicle designed with utility in mind.
[Read more…]

Related posts:

Review: 2012 Chevrolet Volt Review: 2012 Chevy Sonic Review: 2012 Chevy Tahoe Review: 2013 Chevy Spark Review: 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe

Classic Player’s Challenge Racing in the rain

April 28, 2014 by Gary Grant 2 Comments

players

Few who were around to experience the Player’s GM Challenge will argue that there has never been a more exciting racing series in North America. The cars were stout, fast and came out of a showroom. The drivers were talented, fast and tenacious. The fans were drunk and rabid.

As the series took place from the late Eighties to early Nineties, before the age of digital cameras, there is a sad lack of media material available from the series. Hopefully, more fans will start scanning their old photos soon.

Through a friend on Facebook, I just came across this fantastic (for the era) in car video from a race at Shannonville in the rain. The driver is not identified. Do you know who is driving this machine?

Update: Canadian racing legend and top competitor in the series, Ron Fellows, has weighed in on the video. Ron believes that this is one of the Motomaster cars, which he drove himself at Shannonville in 1987. That was a dry race, so Fellows thinks this is David Empringham in the ’88 race.

Related posts:

The Lightweight on the podium again at Canadian International Auto Show On board at Interlagos in a V8 powered Chevy Sonic Impatient Camaro driver clips oncoming Volvo Another Mosport based challenger to join 2011 Trans Am series First drive: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

15 Seconds With: 2015 Chevrolet Corvette

April 8, 2014 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

russ vette

Our buddy Russ Bond from Painkillerz was intending to drive the 2015 Chevy Corvette today. Mother Nature had other ideas.

Related posts:

Chevy Celebrates with Corvette Centennial Edition 15 Seconds With: 2014 Chevrolet Trax 1935 news as presented by Chevrolet Ron Fellows confirmed for World Challenge at Mosport Impatient Camaro driver clips oncoming Volvo

Impatient Camaro driver clips oncoming Volvo

March 25, 2014 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

camaro

A number of years ago, I remember reading a Q & A with then Sgt. Cam Woolley, when someone asked when it was ok to pass on a rural road. The not so obvious answer was that on a single yellow line, one can pass provided it is safe to do so. Then there were the obvious dotted line discussions and the fact that you may never, ever pass on a double yellow line. Common sense that one.

When that double yellow is on a twisty canyon road, it shouldn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that you should stay in your own lane, even if there is a local turtle ahead of you. Last weekend in California, a current generation Chevy Camaro driver felt that the law and common sense didn’t apply to him. #becausecamara ya know.

Reddit user humanwire was out for a drive and had a couple of cameras on board.

Went out this Saturday to hit up my favorite canyon road with some friends, but it ended up being closed once we got there. Hesitantly, we decided to give a Malibu canyon road (Decker Canyon, aka Route 23) a try on the way back, so the whole day wasn’t a complete waste.
I was quickly reminded why I don’t like driving on Malibu canyon roads, and why I head out much further away from Los Angeles for some frisky driving.
A group of three cars came barreling up behind us; a black Comaro, a red Mazdaspeed 3, and a black M3, unable to wait a second for a turnout.

Completely ruined the fun mood of the trip, and my friends and I turned around almost immediately so we wouldn’t be associated with that group. Wouldn’t want a CHP call to go out including us with that group.
Too many dickhead drivers. Too much traffic. Too many police patrols. Less than stellar roads (not all of them).

Pony car boy gets fed up with idling along behind a slowpoke in a Ford Explorer, and decides to pull out and pass, on a blind corner. He actually clips a Volvo that was headed in the opposite direction. Things could have very easily been a deadly incident, so everyone involved were very lucky.

Here’s to hoping that the local police get hold of this and track the moron down.

Source: YouTube via Reddit

Related posts:

Modern Muscle Comparo: Time machines First drive: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Chevy shows the Wonder Twins at Detroit On board at Interlagos in a V8 powered Chevy Sonic Review: 2012 Chevy Tahoe
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