On the Cover Review: 2010 Nissan 370Z

Not many Japanese makes sold in the U.S. have a true heritage nameplate in their lineup, but Nissan’s Z-car has a place in our automotive history.  The 370Z replaced the 350Z for the 2009 model year, and as they have throughout the Z’s lifespan, Nissan has tried to keep a balance between performance and relative value.  The 3.7-liter V6 knocks out a respectable 332-hp, and the sporty intent of this car is evident everywhere from the suspension to the seating position.  The original Z—the 240—came to the United States in 1969 under the Datsun banner.  It had a modern long-nose, short deck layout reminiscent of the Corvette of the day, but it certainly wasn’t a big-block Vette fighter.  Nor was it trying to be.  The Z was more of a slick exercise in technology and road-holding ability.  And that’s what you’ll still find today.  Additionally, the 370Z addresses some of the criticisms of interior cheapness that the 350Z was subjected to, so now the tactile and visual experience from behind the wheel better reflects the cutting-edge feel of the rest of the car.

Eleven years of automobile/light truck identification and values containing 40% more models than our competition. Includes VIN identifiers, mileage, options, factory SRP, GVWs and regional classifications.

You need to turn your attention to every part of the vehicle that can be seen from the ground, up close and far away.  Just because the paint is shiny on the hood doesn’t mean your car looks good from the street.  The first time many people see a car is when they drive up to it, so they aren’t looking at it the same way you may be in your detail shop.  What does it look like from car-level?  From low angles?  From above?  Keep an eye on things like rocker panels, the body where it curves under the car, and the underside of the bumper.  Notice exhaust tips and grunge around things like lug nuts and wheel rims.  

I know, you’re thinking that being all persnickety like this is not going to make that big of a difference.  No one is going to pass on a car because the wheel wells are dirty.  But you should consider the details as part of the total package.  That’s why they call it detailing.  If even the smallest things are left unattended, they will cast an unfavorable impression on the entire vehicle.  The idea is not to make it look like someone spit shined it.  The idea is to make it look like a good car that has been taken care of.

So now let’s go back to that pricing issue.  You look in your Red Book and determine that your car is worth an average of $5,000 based on the condition and mileage.  You can bet that that’s a pretty reasonable valuation.  But you want your car to bring more than the average.  Think about being the consumer.  There is a good chance that you would be willing to give more for a “honest,” “clean” used car over a “warmed over” looking car.  Is your car worth 5% more than average?  20% more?  Curb appeal is underrated in the car business.  If you learn how to detail, really detail, you’ll boost your vehicle values, your reputation, and your bottom line.

On The Cover Review: 2010 Chrysler 300C SRT-8

It seems like a long time ago when Mercedes was in control of Chrysler, developing new products out of older Merc components, touting the dizzying performance of the “Hemi”.  It’s not something you would expect to see happen during the Government/ Fiat era of today.  And yet, there are a few holdovers from that crazy time a few years ago, like the 300C SRT-8.  Yeah, it’s getting a little long in the tooth now, but so what?  People still like ’57 Chevys, and they’re old.  The difference is that you can still buy a 300C SRT-8 brand-spankin’-new with a warranty and everything.  Plus, a 300C SRT-8 is still a strong performer regardless of its age.  Zero-to-60 is in the low five-second range, and zero-to-100 comes along in under 17.  The 6.1-liter V8 delivers a strong 425-hp, and provides a snarling soundtrack to satisfy your inner NASCAR driver.  The interior was somewhat updated in 2009, but a radically improved interior and several exterior changes have been revealed for 2010 and beyond.

On The Cover Review: 2010 Ford E-Series Van

If you’re someone who needs a reliable car to commute to work, or you want something fun and sporty, or you enjoy a luxurious vehicle, you may never see the appeal of an E-Series Van.  And yet, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting one on the road.  What gives?  Well, clearly, there is a need for vehicles like this for people that need serious utility capabilities, and the E-Series is one of the best vehicles of its type.  The biggest change for ’10 is that Ford apparently dropped the “Econoline” moniker in favor of simply calling it E-Series, ending a tradition that started in 1960.  Losing our old nameplates is sad if you care, but not many people seem to care anymore anyway.  What stays the same is, well, the van itself.  What can you say, really?  It’s big.  It’s boxy.  The GVWR can go as high as 14,050-lbs.  You can buy a big, old cargo van that’ll carry two people and a fully-stocked repair shop.  Or you can buy a passenger van that can hold as many as 15 people.  You can buy a whole van, or you might choose some version of an incomplete E-Series on which you could install some other body, like a bus or an ambulance.  There are even some people out there that still buy conversion vans that are tarted-up by aftermarket vendors for large sums of money.  Whatever the application, Ford continues to build a solid platform for the people that need it.

On The Cover Review: 2010 Lexus SC 430

For those seasoned motorists who pine for the days of the late ’50s Ford Retractable hardtop, Lexus continues to build their own version of an aging convertible hardtop; the SC 430.  This car is high-quality, smooth, and bland, kind of like vanilla Whole Milk Yogurt.  It is creamier and more expensive than, say, your run-of-the-mill sporty convertible, but it does so without the fun flavors, chocolate chunks, and nuts of something like a BMW.  The SC 430 has been around in more-or-less the same guise as it has since 2002, but you might not have noticed that many of them.  True, they don’t sell nearly as many of these as they do Camrys, but some of their anonymity may go back to the bland yogurt analogy.  They’re nice—you just don’t notice them.  Power comes from a 4.3-liter V8 that slow-churns 288-hp.  Again, we’re talking smooth, but not particularly impressive acceleration and performance.  One thing that you can count on is an impressive array of standard and optional features, including voice navigation, Mark Levinson Audio System, and fancy HID headlamps.  So even if the overall car isn’t extraordinarily exhilarating, there are plenty of electronic gadgets to keep you entertained.

Jeep Wranglers are different than anything else on the market.  From a traditional standpoint, they’re just awful vehicles—terrible quality, terrible amenities, terrible ride, terrible handling—can the dashboard be any chintzier or could there be any more exposed welds on these things?  And yet, their owners love them.  Maybe their crudeness is part of the charm.  Some people like vintage pickups and Broncos and things like that, and they aren’t covered by a new-car warranty like a Wrangler.  And a Wrangler is one of the most capable off-road vehicles money can buy.  Are they nice on-road commuter vehicles?  Eh, maybe not.  They ride hard and their occupants have to endure plenty of ambient noise.  On the other hand, driving one of these to the office may be the equivalent of wearing your play clothes to work.  They might not be appropriate, but they remind you of all the fun you had over the weekend.  The Unlimited version comes with a stretched platform and back doors so your friends can also experience all the fun, and your carpool riders can experience all the misery.

Just when you thought they couldn’t come up with any more cool ideas for the Corvette, along comes the 2010 Grand Sport.  This version sits between the snarling Z06 and the (relatively) docile standard Z51’s, giving customers a unique Corvette that takes a little from both.  The Grand Sport comes with the standard Vette’s 430-hp, 6.2-liter V8, but it ups the performance ante with 14” brakes cribbed from the Z06, along with suspension upgrades and unique 18” (front) and 19” (rear) wheels and high-performance tires.  It also comes with the front nosepiece from a Z06 wider front and rear fenders, and some purposeful-looking dual gill vents and Grand Sport emblems on the front fenders.  The Grand Sport can be ordered as a couple or convertible, and a Heritage Package is available for those who want factory-applied stripes and hash marks on the front fender and specially embroidered seats.

Also included is a special section listing serial numbers, allowing you to determine the year a tractor was built. The Official Tractor Blue Book is a valuable resource for anyone buying, selling or trading used tractors.