Quick Car Update

2 weeks ago I had the Acura RL, their flagship vehicle.

300 hp, every feature you can imagine, the interior colour (which isn’t translating in photo) was a cream coloured leather everywhere, like butter.

My review prints this week, and it contains 2 lines I invented that are pure gold.

That’s day-of-the-photos, but actually spent the majority of time driving their crown jewel in jogging pants.

Re-broke my toe slamming the brakes on College Street on Saturday evening (not my fault). Saved the car though; I never ever want to have to make that phone call.

Had this Chevy Spark the week before that, just never blogged it.

84 hp! (non-car nerds: anything below 3 digits makes car nerds roll their eyes). For what it is though, I thought they did a good job with 84 hp.

The colour though, woah it’s bright. That green continues into the interior, into everywhere.

That review prints 3 weeks from now.

Then I was back in my Jetta for a minute.

I sometimes prefer this lunch box to the new cars I drive, just because like, less worry. As in, you’re looking at almost $100,000 above, like that.

I’m closing in on my next benchmark, $1.5 million in cars tested.

 

19 Minutes from Call to Boost

I drive a lunch box that often breaks down. Like a Monday, while I was swapping cars.

That has to be one of their record times, and I’ve had many opportunities to track times.

During this escapade my editor Joe helped me out, so instead of doing our review at the office, I took him dinner at the Hard Rock.

(the Hard Rock Cafe is one of CAA’s many partners, find the list of all their partners here).

Delicious.

In the auto journalism world, there’s a type of review where you pair up with another writer and go back and forth, discussion format.

That’s what’s happening here.

Specifically, we’re reviewing the all-new Dodge Dart – the smallest car Chrysler has ever built!

We crushed it, our review printed last week, then came the best part…

Flash your CAA card and tada, 10% off dinner.

You should have CAA for your car, even owners with brand new vehicles are not immune. These LifeSide Assistance deals and savings that come with the membership are gravy.

Get LifeSide Assistance too:

Facebook

CAAsco.com

 

This is Car Swap Day

What it is to swap cars and drive a different one each week.

It’s almost always Monday.

Round trip = 135 km, 3-ish hours in this example.

Many manufacturers are located just off the 401.

Going from 1 to 2 – starting at home downtown, then it’s north to return the 2013 Civic to Honda, Canada.

Proper etiquette is to gas and wash it before handing the keys back.

Where the keys go.

Longtime fan of the Civic. Read my full, technical review of the 2013 sedan here.

Now climb into my 1999 Jetta, which has been parked at Honda.

Remember to remind myself:

“From a brand-new car into the opposite, brake sooner Keri.”

The trip will always be in traffic.

On the map 2 to 3, and park the Jetta at Chrysler.

That sign does not get old.

Now I’m in the Chrysler anti-chamber; if you’ve been there, you know what I mean.

Picked up this week’s car, the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart Limited.

You might recognize the name from the muscle cars of the 70s.

This year, Chrysler brought the name back to life; it’d been dormant since 1976.

I might have a review for the paper coming up about the Dart, so saving my interior shots for that.

And it’s too soon to state any opinion.

Now home, 3 back to 1 on the map.

And that is Car Swap Day.

 

 

 

 

The World Starts Up Tomorrow

Perfect New Year’s weather eh.

Went for a drive.

Documenting me on today.

World’s Oldest Tomboy.

It’s not my fault that I look so good in a hat.

Hope you had a strong start to your new year today!

And with that, the end holidays are over. The world goes back to work tomorrow, it’s go time.