Full Review of the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze by txGarge

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Adam Moore

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT reviewed by txGarage

We’ve been looking to get into the Chevrolet Cruze for a full week review for a while now. We’ve actually driven a few different models of the Cruze at some events, but have never had the time to really check out the details. Well, we finally got our hands on one, so what’d we think?

The last two times I was behind the wheel of a Cruze, one was a base and one was an eco model. Both had cloth seats and a lackluster performance. Our tester was a 2012 Cruze 2LT. This afforded us leather seats, navigation, 17” alloy wheels, remote start, and a 1.4 liter turbocharged engine matched up to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This decked out Cruze has a window-sticker of just under $24k (23,980) and is spec’d out the exact way I’d want one if I was dropping the money. But would I drop my own money for this car? Let’s get more into the driving, looks, and feel and find out. Continue reading →

Sonic the Turbo – Review of the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 1LT TURBO

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Adam Moore

2012 Chevrolet Sonic turbo - reviewed by txGarage

First and foremost, let’s do some house cleaning. The Sonic is a replacement for the Chevrolet Aveo. Don’t look on this site for an Aveo review, because there isn’t one. I have driven a few versions of the Aveo. Back when running a small local dealership in Dallas we would stumble across an Aveo or two. This was always a tough sell as there was nothing particularly good about these cars, except maybe it’s price. I could never recommend it to anyone; not as a teenager’s first car or a cheap family car. There were just too many other products you could get that were much better.

Now we have the Sonic and GM says that it’s not really replacing the Aveo because it’s a whole new car. You see the Aveo was a car built by Daewoo and badged in the U.S. as a Chevrolet. The Sonic on the other hand is all Chevy and assembled in Michigan. So did Chevy do it right this time? Can I finally recommend a Chevrolet, compact hatchback, to friends and readers? Continue reading →

Quick Drive: 2011 Kia Optima Turbo

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Adam Moore

The 2011 Kia Optima Turbo at the Texas Auto Roundup

We reviewed the 2011 Kia Optima a few months back, and I still maintain that for the price, it’s one of the best looking cars you can get right now. We already felt like the 2.4 liter engine in the Optima we drove then was pretty peppy, but I wouldn’t consider it fast car. Now with a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine, let’s see what we think.

The turbo engine in this Optima is the same basic setup that you get in cars like the Genesis Coupe and Sonata turbo. This setup pushes out 274 horsepower and is only matched up to 6-speed automatic transmission in the Optima. You also get a slightly different body kit and wheels with the turbo model showing off the fact that you’re in something a little more special. Continue reading →

2011 Scion tC extended review:

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Toby

2011 Scion tC Coupe

Last year, Adam had the chance to attend the special launch of the 2011 Scion tC in Austin, Texas. He had the opportunity to spend a little time in different models of the tC, powering this little coupe through the hills and twisties in and around Austin, and published a great First Drive write-up of the car. Now, I get this car for a full week to see what it’s really all about in an everyday driving environment. Continue reading →

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Review

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Adam Moore

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart by txGarage

The Mitsubishi Lancer has been around for a while now, and even though it didn’t start out being sold in the American market, it has always been the platform for Mitsubishi’s halo car; the Evolution. When I was in high school, I had a friend who owned a Mitsubishi Mirage, yeah remember those, that had a body kit to look like the Japanese only Evo. My first experience seeing a true Evo was also in high school. I knew this one was the real deal mostly because it was right-hand drive. Needless to say, even though we didn’t get the Evo in America, it was still a very popular car. So popular that Mitsubishi finally decided to bring the Lancer and the Evo to the United States in 2003. This was the eighth generation of the Evo, so you see that Mitsubishi took it’s time. Continue reading →

2011 Buick Regal Turbo – Reviewed

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Adam Moore

2011 Buick Regal Turbo at Cowboy Stadium

The new Buick Regal was brought over from Europe to solve some of GM’s big problems in the U.S. Buick has been falling in numbers and failing with marketing for years, and now that it’s one of the surviving brands of the “New GM”, Buick knows it’s got to get it right. In the European market, this car is known as the Opel Insignia. If you know European cars and Opel’s history with GM, you’ll know that the last generation Opel Insignia was brought over to our shores as the Saturn Aura. Before the purging of brands, this Buick Regal would have been yet another poorly marketed Saturn. Thankfully, someone in GM had some clarity to make this a Buick. The Opel was built to compete in Europe with the likes of Audi and BMW, sort of the same market that Buick needs to go after. When you see the Regal, sit in it, and drive it, you might think to yourself that this feels more like a German car than an American one. With good reason, as the U.S. version shares 95% of its overall parts with the Insignia. The 5% that differs consist of the headlights and taillights and other minor changes to meet American standards. Continue reading →

The 2010 Texas Truck Rodeo

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Adam Moore

2010 Ford F-150 Truck of Texas

The Texas Auto Writers Association gathered together last weekend for their annual truck event known as the Texas Truck Rodeo. This year it was held in San Antonio where the trucks and SUV’s would be put through the test at the Knibbe Ranch.
Every year, the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) names the Truck of Texas after this event and for the past six years that truck has been the Ford F-150. This year was no different with the new Ford F-150 taking the big prize yet again. For 2010, the F-150 didn’t just get a new look, it got an all around new package. The interior is a nice place to be whether you are roaring down a highway or driving through an open field. The powertrain has been tweaked giving the new F-150 a boost in fuel economy by as much as 12% over the prior year model. The title for Truck of the Year seems to be well deserved for Ford’s hard work on the F-150 year after year.

Continue reading →

V6 Camaro vs GT-R

Posted on August 8, 2009 by Adam Moore

2010 Camaro

East Texas Muscle Cars in Longview Texas have started developing a turbocharged 2010 V6 Camaro. Their intent is to use the platform to build an American Muscle car to take on Godzilla around the ring. That would be the GT-R’s Nurburgring time of 7 minutes 26.7 seconds also coming dangerously close to the Corvette ZR1’s time of 7:26.4.

It’s not as easy as strapping on a turbo and pushing the car to the projected 500 horsepower, the GT-R has a massively unique and sophisticated AWD system that allows it to make the most of its 480hp from its twin-turbo 3.8 liter V6. The guys at East Texas Muscle Cars are addressing this by changing up the suspension and brakes on the car as well.

Mike White from East Texas Muscle Cars told Edmunds “We wanted to do something a little different. We’re seeing a lot of interest in something like this for the V6 Camaros.”

The car will make its debut at the 2009 SEMA Show this year in the Squires Turbo System Booth.

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Check them out at: http://www.easttexasmusclecars.com

[source: edmunds]

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