Review coming soon!
RNR Automotive Blog
Just another car guy talking about cars.
Monthly Archives: December 2013
2008 Mercedes Benz CLK350 Convertible Review
The reason people like convertibles is because when they think of such cars, they think of driving along the coast with their hair flying in the wind. In many places, a convertible seems like the choice of transport for many people. If you want a luxury convertible with the styling and prestige of a Mercedes Benz, this is what the CLK comes in. Debuting in 1996, the Mercedes Benz CLK rivaled the BMW 3 series . Even though the CLK borrows many styling cues and was similar in size as the E class sedan, it was actually based off the C class sedan. This CLK you see here launched in 2003, as an attempt to better the likes of the Lexus SC430, BMW 3 and 6 series, and the Volvo C70 convertible. This generation was notable for its Black Series version. The Black Series is an ultra high performance division dedicated to upgrading AMG (Mercedes Benz’s in house performance division) vehicles. In 2009, the CLK was replaced by the E-Class coupe and convertible. Continue reading
2008 Infiniti QX56 Review
Definition of infinity: a point in space or time that is or seems infinitely distant. In other words, Infiniti as a company goes beyond its limits. Conceived in 1989 by Nissan as a luxury division, Infiniti challenged the European luxury cars (Lexus and Acura were conceived at around the same time as Infiniti), but ultimately failed due to its lack of prestige and unusual styling which were unmistakeably Japanese. It was not until 2003 that Infiniti became competitive with the arrival of the G35. The G35 sedan and coupe garnered acclaim for its combination of driving excellence, sharp styling, comfort, and affordability. The G35 won Motor Trend’s Car of the Year award when it debuted in 2003. As time passed, Infiniti cars became better. This QX56 is one of Infiniti’s competitive products. Originally, it was a rebadged version of the Nissan Pathfinder dubbed QX4, but it morphed into a clone of the Nissan Armada as the company’s status elevated.
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser (Trails Team Special Edition) Review
Toyota as a company is not known for adventurous vehicles. Practical transportation, yes. Adventurous? No. While the earlier Land Cruisers and 4Runners were considered adventurous, the latest iterations of these SUVs have morphed into conservative vehicles. The FJ Cruiser fills in the void. Rivaling the Jeep Wrangler and Nissan Xterra, the FJ Cruiser debuted in 2006 with priorities on looks and off road ability. The FJ Cruiser is meant to be a retro model inspired by the original Toyota FJ40 Land Cruisers while retaining Toyota’s reliability. The Trails Team Special Edition version you see here is one of 2,500 produced in 2012. This particular version receives many TRD (Toyota Racing Development) upgrades such as upgraded tires, cosmetic changes, body colored interior, and others. Continue reading
2011 Ford Mustang Review
Disclaimer: The car is not stock. The upgrades are magnaflow catback exhaust system, fully adjustable Koni shocks, and Eibach Springs. Driving experience may vary.
Many of you know already what this car is. It is America’s sports car. In my sophomore English class, we had to do a research paper on a biography. Naturally I did my paper on an automotive industry individual, Lee Iacocca. He was the man who was behind the original Ford Mustang. Celebrating its 50 year anniversary, the Ford Mustang debuted in 1964. 18 months after the Mustang debuted in April 1964, a million were made. The Mustang was wildly successful, and it started the muscle car craze in the 1960’s and 1970’s. The Mustang soldiered on, even with the debacle that is the Mustang II (It was bigger and slower and had four cylinder engines). Before the 1994 redesign, the Mustang was close to being discontinued as it had morphed into an uninteresting sports car. But the 1994 redesign changed its outcome, as the design was retro and the driving performance drastically better. Since then, the Mustang has been thriving. Continue reading
2005 Acura TL Review
Before 2004, the Acura TL wasn’t considered a genuine rival to the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class, which could be attributed to its image and dullness. The 2004 redesign changed that. Combining modern styling, sharp performance, affordability, and comfort, the TL surprised it’s German rivals with its competence. The fact it was available in Type S trim and with a manual transmission didn’t hurt either.The original TL (TL stands for ‘Touring Luxury’) was introduced in 1996 to replace the Vigor. The TL did not concern the Europeans as it had dull styling and underwhelming performance. Same thing applies to the second generation TL which debuted in 1999. It wasn’t till 2004 that Acura gave a car the Europeans were afraid of. It became the second best selling luxury sedan behind the BMW 3-Series in the U.S following 2004. Continue reading
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