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2006 Lexus SC430 Review

It was 1991, two years after Lexus was created, the SC was birthed to complement the successful LS sedan, and to combat the Mercedes SL, Acura Legend Coupe, and the Infiniti M30. Combining stunning looks and superb driving dynamics, not to mention typical Lexus reliability, the SC was a success. Fast forward nine years into its life cycle with no major updates, and the aging SC was in need of an immediate redesign. Then came 2001 when the redesigned SC would debut. In contrast to the previous SC, the SC is a convertible. One of its unique characteristic was that it had a retractable aluminum hardtop which meant that it could combine the looks of a coupe and a convertible. Continue reading →

2014 Mercedes Benz SLK250 Review

Fun fact: The original Mercedes SLK was the first production luxury convertible to feature a folding hardtop. This novel feature enabled the SLK to look like a coupe with the top up, and a roadster with the top down, while also providing extra comfort and security that other cloth top convertibles could not match. It was a success, selling around 55,000 worldwide in its first year (expensive convertibles do not usually sell this well). However, the original SLK garnered a reputation as a chick car, as it did not provide the driving experience its looks suggested. The second generation SLK in 2005-2011 sacrificed the previous SLK’s smooth lines for a more racier design. Even though handling was improved considerably, its image as a chick car remained, and its handling was still far off the pace of a Porsche Boxster. The latest SLK retains the retractable hardtop while promising better performance than the last two SLKs. Continue reading →

2011 BMW 740Li Review

Debuting in 1977, the 7 series was higher in status and price compared to its 3 and 5 stablemates. It promised a better driving experience with more power and luxury. The first two generations (E23 and E32) did not take off as well as expected as it looked too similar to the 5 series. The 1994-2001 E38 generation fared slightly better due to being featured in several hit movies such as Tomorrow Never Dies with James Bond, and The Transporter. However, it still looked like an oversized 5 series. It wasn’t until 2002 that the 7 series’ popularity soared. The redesigned 7 series (E65) was the best selling 7 series of all time. At the time, Chris Bangle was BMW’s designer, and he was responsible for the controversial styling on the 3, 5, and of course, the 7. Controversy hit the 7 series due to its radical styling and complicated controls. But it finally looked different than other BMWs. Redesigned in 2009, this 7 series builds on its fundamental traits of the older 7, while dialing back on the styling. Continue reading →

Mar 05 2014

Automotive Reviews, Lexus