American Compact Sedans- A Buying Guide Pt. 1

Compact sedans are some of the most popular cars around today. That is why there are so many options out there with their pros and cons. Each of them are unique. This guide is to help you choose the right compact sedan.

Now, let's start with one of the most popular ones, the Toyota Corolla.

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is popular around the world. In Japan, there are even special Corolla dealerships. The Toyota Corolla is one of the most reliable vehicles in its class. They are known for lasting way more than ten years. Starting with where you sit, the interior feels nice, and the available navigation system is one of my favorites to use even though the screen is small. Even better, it starts at just about 17,000 dollars.

However, the Toyota Corolla is also one of the weakest and least interesting car in its class. This car has 132 horsepower in the base 4 cylinder and 150 horsepower in the Eco trim. It also looks like any other car on the road. Not only that, the transmission options aren't great. There is a droning CVT, a six speed manual, or an outdated 4 speed automatic transmission. This is a great car have, as long as you don't care that much about performance or styling. 

Of coarse, one of its main rivals, the Honda Civic, may suit you better if you are more into performance and looks.

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic, like the Toyota Corolla, is one of the most reliable cars in its class. However, it is sportier and looks more interesting. It sports a much more powerful 2.0 liter V-TEC engine with 156 horsepower. However, if that isn't enough for you, you can roll with a much better 1.5 liter turbocharged engine with 176 horsepower. I am glad to say that it doesn't feel as cheap as the old one. Honda ditched the 2 level speedometer and tachometer system that looked all weird. The interior may not look as nice as the Toyota Corolla's interior, but it is still great. Soft touch plastics are everywhere. 

Honda Civic

However, not everything is great about this car. Transmission options are still pretty awful. There is a 6 speed manual, only on the LX trim (for now since they are still adding more trims including a Type R). Then, there is the CVT on all the other trim levels, no other options. The CVT is optional for the LX. For the interior, Honda wouldn't give us a volume knob. This makes me want to shoot the Honda Link developers in the face. A volume knob is the most efficient way to get the job done. Not only that, you have to pay a price for the better power (and V-TEC) over the Corolla. This popular compact sedan starts at over 18,000 dollars.

If the is too expensive, but you still want something nice, then look no further. Let's look at the Mazda 3 sedan.

Mazda 3

The Mazda 3 is arguably the sportiest in its class. It has a 2.0 liter SKYACTIV 4 cylinder with 155 power or an optional 2.5 liter SKYACTIV 184 horsepower. Best of all, the transmission options are great with a 6 speed manual available on every model, or a 6 speed automatic that works very well. The Mazda 3 is probably the closest thing in its class to being like a Mercedes Benz. Like a Mercedes Benz, it has a floating screen, a signature exterior design, and a knob to control the infotainment system. However, it also has a touchscreen if the knob isn't doing the trick for you. One thing that many people worry about is the price. This car starts at around 17,000 dollars. However, for all the fancy stuff such as the 2.5 4 cylinder engine, heads up display, and navigation system, it will cost about 25,000 dollars. 

Mazda 3
By Manoj Prasad

That is not to say that this car is excellent in every way because its not. For starters, it isn't as reliable as the Honda Civic, nor the Toyota Corolla. Cargo space also stinks with only 12.4 cubic feet in the trunk compared to the massive 15.1 cubic feet in the Civic's trunk.  Not only that, but the infotainment system, like Mercedes Benz, is unnecessarily complicated. Even with its cons, this car is still great to drive and is great to live with.

Now, let's end this guide with another Japanese car, the Nissan Sentra.

Nissan Sentra
No Updated Image Available at the Time

The Nissan Sentra is Nissan's piece of the pie in this class. It is cheaper than all the other cars I mentioned so far starting at around 16,000 dollars. It has only one engine option. That is a 4 cylinder with 130 horsepower, less than the Toyota Corolla (shame). You can get a 6 speed manual in the S model, but you are able to "upgrade" to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). If you want to get a trim level better than the base S model, then you must get the evil CVT. It is like they force you to get an awful car or have a nicer car but with the droning CVT. For the interior, it's not that great, but I won't complain. The display in between the tachometer and the speedometer is nice and colorful. The design layout is logical. However, I must say that it is a little boring. The navigation screen is 5.8 inches large and the screen doesn't look very nice. However, I cannot complain too much since it is a cheap car.

That is the end for part one of the compact sedan buying guide. Thank you so much for reading. If you have a question, then send it to me at edster.chen@yahoo.com.

Amazing Cars That Need to Come Back to Life

Cars come and go. However, some cars that go shouldn't have. Here are 4 cars that need to be brought back to life again. I will not mention cars that have been replaced by a different model in the cars that need to be revived part..

1. Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

The Cadillac CTS-V wagon was the wagon version of the insane CTS-V. It had the same type of performance as the regular CTS-V sedan, but it was cooler. It had more practicality and was the fastest wagon on sale due to the Mercedes E63 wagon's speed limiter and the fact that there wasn't anything like it. It is still a small market with the Mercedes E63 AMG wagon being the only one running for super wagon.

2. Honda S2000

Honda S2000

The Honda S2000 was Honda's sports car. It was driver orientated with a hidden radio infotainment system and the climate control right next to the steering wheel. Not only that, but it was light. It weighs less than 2,900 pounds. That is lightweight for a sports car since most cars weigh more than 3,000 pounds. The problem is that the only sports car Honda makes is the awful CR-Z hybrid. The CR-Z is slow . It doesn't feel like a real sports car.

3. Toyota Supra

Toyota Supra

The Toyota is a JDM legend. The 2JZ-GTE engine produced 320 horsepower in the 1992 Supra. This car is popular among car enthusiasts. Part of the reason is that it is very reliable. Another reason is that it is cheap to build. For around 15-20 grand, a shop will pop an extra 400 horsepower making more than a 1.3 million dollar Pagani Huayra.

4. Subaru WRX Sti Hatchback

Subaru Impreza WRX Sti Hatchback

The Subaru WRX Sti hatchback was a beast. It had the same performance as the Subaru WRX Sti sedan but was more practical and cooler to the enthusiasts. However for some stupid reason, Subaru killed it off when they revealed the new WRX Sti. I don't understand why they would do such a thing.

5. Honda CR-X

Honda CR-X

The Honda CR-X used to be this front wheel drive monster that was cheap. It was a lift back so it let in more natural lighting that you average Scion FR-S. Sadly in 1991, they killed this JDM car. They never brought it back. Then in 2010, instead of bringing a proper and legitimate CR-X, they brought a car that was similar to the CR-X in terms of body style since it was also a liftback. This car is the Honda CR-Z. The Honda CR-Z is this awful and worthless hybrid. The power on this thing sucks. There is only 130 horsepower. A Prius V has 131 horsepower. Not only that, the Hnda CR-Z doesn't even get 40 MPG for both highway and city compared to the Prius V's combined 44 city and 40 highway. They need to bring back a proper and legitimate Honda CR-X and not a worthless hybrid, which doesn't deserve to live on as a Honda.

Thank you so much for reading. To read more articles, scroll down. If you have any questions, send it to me at edster.chen@yahoo.com.

SF Auto Show Highlights

Recently, I went to the 2016 San Francisco International Auto Show and was able to see many cars in flesh. It was a lot of fun, and I saw some really cool cars. Here are the top 5 coolest cars seen.

1. Mercedes G Class

Mercedes G Class

If you want a hard core off roading vehicle that is luxury, then the Mercedes G Class will suit your needs. This car is powerful and is not as soft as the 2016 Range Rover. This is real old school off roading with no air suspension and no fancy driving modes. Instead, this military like vehicle has three different locking diffs. It will get you to where you want to go without the glitches of a Range Rover.

2. Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR James Bond

Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR

In the Bond film Spectre, an awesome Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR  is featured. It is featured in a car chase rolling through four feet of snow. It is modified to look like one of the coolest Land Rovers ever. The designers certainly aced it with an epic light bar and mean look. They certainly started off with a great car to modify. The Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR is made to be one of the craziest Land Rovers ever with a supercharged engine that produces 550 horsepower. The engine will scream.

3. Porsche 918

Porsche 918

This hypercar is the replacement for the legendary Carrera GT. That means that there are some pretty high expectations. They certainly went above and beyond when it comes to building this new legend. It hosts a total of 887 horsepower from the hybrid powertrain that says hybrids don't need to be slow. The two electric motors work along with the 6.8 kW-h battery and allows the car to go full electric mode for twelve miles. The dashboard in the interior is like a swooping line with a long screen on it. The exhausts are next to your ears so you can hear the naturally aspirated V8. This car is truly amazing.

4. Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

The Pagani Huayra is truly special. The level of craftsmanship will blow your mind. It starts at 1.07 million dollars and it may only have 720 horsepower. However, horsepower doesn't say everything about this car. It has got these insane metal dials inside. All the mechanisms for the gear shifter are exposed and they give a nice clink. The body is made from carbotanium, a blend of carbon fiber and titanium. It makes the body nice and light and it won't shatter, unlike regular carbon fiber. The car isn't about just the power. It is also about the details that go into it making this car so special.

5. Dodge Charger Hellcat

Dodge Charger Hellcat

The Dodge Charger Hellcat is everything a proper American muscle car should be. It is powerful and can do some of the biggest burnouts. Unlike the Pagani, it is a fraction of the price. It starts at seventy grand which may seem a lot. However, this beast has 707 horsepower, just 13 less than the Pagani. The Hellcat is one of the best "cheap" thrills".

Thank you so much for reading. Send me a comment at edster.chen@yahoo.com. If you want to see more, scroll down.