2009 Kia Borrego Review

post from The Truth About Cars on 24 September 2008 11:07:27 AM. © The Truth About Cars

Let's get one thing out of the way right from the start: the Kia Borrego might list for a couple grand less than a 2008 Explorer, but the larger rebate on the Ford eliminates this advantage. The story is similar with other established SUVs. Since the Kia won't cost significantly less than its highly evolved competitors? at least until Kia tosses some similarly serious cash on the hood?the late-to-the-party truck better have another major selling point. So?

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2009-kia-borrego-review/

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10 SALES DOGS YOU MUST BUY NOW! Or not.

post from The Truth About Cars on 24 September 2008 11:07:27 AM. © The Truth About Cars

We’ve already reported that Forbes thinks buying a new SUV from just about anyone in these time of killer depreciation is a damn fine idea. Apparently, the mag’s enthusiasm for vehicles with barge pole marks also extends to other advertisers unloved automobiles. “Cars Worth A Second Look” can be roughly translated into “Four-Wheeled Dogs You [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/10-sales-dogs-you-must-buy-now-or-not/

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Mercedes-Benzs SLR McLaren Speedster

post from Automoblog.net on 24 September 2008 10:11:49 AM. © Automoblog.net

Well, looks like Mercedes is going at it again.The SLR McLaren is a fantastic supercar, combining the luxury, quality, and technical precision of Mercedes with the performance prowess of McLaren. The car can hit 208 mph, accelerates from 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, has 617 horses and 575 pound-feet of torque. That all sounds good, until [...]

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Automoblognet/~3/401869882/

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15 SUVs YOU MUST BUY NOW! Or not.

post from The Truth About Cars on 24 September 2008 10:07:08 AM. © The Truth About Cars

Forbes hit the SEO (search engine optimization) mother lode when someone realized that Google hearts ten best lists. Since that fateful discovery, we’ve had The Ten Best Subcompacts for Badminton Players, The Ten Best Minivans In Which to Play Badminton and The Ten Best Muscle Cars for Overcompensating Badminton Players. Normally, I ignore these lists. [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/15-suvs-you-must-buy-now-or-not/

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Nissan GT-R Faces Backlash Over Big Brother Black
Box

post from The Truth About Cars on 24 September 2008 10:07:07 AM. © The Truth About Cars

According to AutoWeek, it’s currently a backlash of one: Scott Weires. The Florida attorney canceled his order for a GT-R after learning that Nissan’s taken the accident data recorder black box thing to a whole new level. “Unlike an EDR [electronic data recorder], which activates only when sensors indicate that a crash is imminent [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/nissan-gt-r-faces-backlash-over-big-brother-blac
k-box/

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2009 Nissan Maxima: Another "really good" in a
category of full of "great"

post from Karl on Cars on 24 September 2008 10:00:21 AM. © Karl on Cars

Nissan Maxima.jpg Unlike the ever-expanding crossover category, which appears incapable of being over-burdened with too many variations (see Monday's post), the brutal competition within the sedan category means each model must make a strong case for itself or risk being lost in the shuffle.

Case in point -- the 2009 Nissan Maxima. I've always kind of liked the Maxima's mojo as an upscale performance sedan (or "four-door sports car" for long-time fans). It's a history that began with the Datsun 810 back in 1977, and as recently as 1995 the Nissan Maxima represented a relatively unique offering. Horsepower, handling and styling made it a a strong enthusiast's choice, while pricing and seating for five made it a practical performance bargain.

Then came Chrysler's V8 300, Infiniti's very BMW-like G35 and even Nissan's own Altima (drastically upsized and improved in 2002). And if that wasn't enough, Hyundai just jumped into the "$30,000-something" luxury sedan segment with its all-new 2009 Genesis.

To say the Maxima's formerly-unique recipe has been co-opted would be like saying Obama's original campaign strategy has required a few tweaks in recent weeks.

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http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/2008/09/2009-nissan-maxima-another-really-good-in-a
-category-of-full-of-great.html

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Volt Birth Watch 101: Gas Engine Does NOT
Recharge Batteries

post from The Truth About Cars on 24 September 2008 09:06:25 AM. © The Truth About Cars

Edmunds Inside Line reveals that GM has changed their propulsion plans for the plug-in electric - gas hybrid electric Volt. We were laboring under the impression– created by GM’s itself– that the Volt would complete its [theoretical] 40-mile all-electric range and then use its internal combustion engine to recharge the batteries on the fly. Nope. [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/volt-birth-watch-101-engine-does-not-recharage-b
atteries/

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Bailout Watch 66: When Youve Sold Something

Stop selling. To be fair, it’s possible that GM NA Prez Troy Clarke penned this paean to bailout bucks before it was a done deal. (Quick aside: what’s up with The Big 2.8’s choice of media these days? CNBC for ChryCo’s EV bailout bait, and now GM goes with the The Christian Science Monitor for [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-66-when-youve-sold-something/

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Volt Birth Watch 101: Engine Does NOT Recharage
Batteries

Edmunds Inside Line reveals that GM has changed their propulsion plans for the plug-in electric - gas hybrid electric Volt. We were laboring under the impression– created by GM’s itself– that the Volt would complete its [theoretical] 40-mile all-electric range and then use its internal combustion engine to recharge the batteries on the fly. Nope. [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/volt-birth-watch-101-engine-does-not-recharage-b
atteries/

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Bailout Watch 65: Todays the Day

Congress will approve $25b worth of federal low-cost loans under the 2007 Energy and Security Act. The funding will be included in a general bill that keeps the lights on down in DC. In other words, it’s a sure thing. And, let’s face it, a sweetheart deal. As The Detroit News reports, “The Big Three [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-65-todays-the-day/

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