My Car Reviews
2009 Cadillac CTS 4dr Sdn RWD w/1SA
Updated 3 months ago- F: A failure
- D: Unsatisfactory
- C: Satisfactory
- B: Good
- A: Delightful
My familiarity with this car:
Know about vehicleMy review:
My business partner, George, decided to trade in his Escalade for this sharp new CTS and he took me out to lunch in it the other day. I've always been a Ford man, but this car had me seriously reconsidering my loyalties.
I was blown away by the styling when my friend drove up. Cadillacs have always looked good in my opinion but this new one is a real looker. We even got a thumbs up from somebody at a traffic light.
George was happy to show off all the bells and whistles on his new car and I was impressed by the stereo most of all. I think that it would give my home theater a run for its money.
I still prefer to drive a truck or SUV, but this Cadillac was definitely something special.
My suggestions for improving this car:
It was a little hard for me to get in and out of George's car, but that's partly because I've got a bum hip. It would be easier for me if the car was taller but then it wouldn't be a sedan now would it?
I think that this car is a home run. Don't change a thing.
2010 Ford Flex 4dr SE FWD
Updated 10 months ago- F: A failure
- D: Unsatisfactory
- C: Satisfactory
- B: Good
- A: Delightful
My familiarity with this car:
Driven itMy review:
My wife and I are starting to think about our next vehicle and she really wants for us to buy the Ford Flex. We've been a Ford family for many years now and have never had any major problems. We like the Flex because it has three rows of seats and we can all take one car when we go out with our daughter, her husband, and our two wonderful grandchildren (Zoe and Zach).
We went to the dealership last weekend and I have to say that the interior in this truck is really amazing. It had this huge sunroof that looked like it came right out of a luxury car. There was also plenty of space inside for our family, which was the most important thing.
My Expedition has a V8 and is not very fuel-efficient. The man at the dealership said that the Flex gets 24 mpg and I really liked the sound of that - especially since gas got so expensive last summer!
I took the Flex out for a quick test drive and was really impressed with how smooth it was. I know the roads near our dealership very well and the Flex was much more comfortable than my Expedition. It really felt like a luxury car instead of a truck.
My suggestions for improving this car:
My wife really loves the styling, but it seems a little fussy to me. I'd like to just hold onto my Expedition but my wife doesn't like driving it any more. She says that it is too hard to park and that she has trouble stepping up into the cabin.
Also, the Flex has a really great base price but it can get pretty expensive once you add all the luxury features.
2005 Ford Explorer 4dr 114" WB 4.0L XLS
Updated 10 months ago- F: A failure
- D: Unsatisfactory
- C: Satisfactory
- B: Good
- A: Delightful
My familiarity with this car:
Owned itMy review:
I drove an Explorer for a few years before I traded it in for my Expedition. It was the second Explorer I owned and I really liked it at first. It had plenty of room for my entire family, including two young grandchildren.
The longer I owned it, though, the more I realized that I needed something with more space. My daughter and her husband usually sat in the middle seats and they were starting to complain about the lack of space when we'd make longer trips, like to our lake house. The grandkids were also starting to fight a bit when they were all the way in the back because the two seats are right on top of each other.
I really liked the truck but I needed something bigger and went for the Expedition. Now that I'm in the bigger truck, everyone has more room to stretch out. Also, my new truck feels a lot more solid and stable when I'm towing our boat.
My suggestions for improving this car:
The Explorer is a great truck but you have to have a young family to really make this one work. There's simply not enough space for everyone to be comfortable.
Also, I wish that it were easier to get into the back seat. The grandkids were very young when I had this truck and they had trouble moving the middle seat to get back there. They'd usually just climb over the middle seat, which is not good when they have muddy shoes on!
2010 Ford Edge 4dr SE FWD
Updated 11 months ago- F: A failure
- D: Unsatisfactory
- C: Satisfactory
- B: Good
- A: Delightful
My familiarity with this car:
Owned itMy review:
This is my wife's car and she loves it. We bought it for her last year to replace her Ford Explorer and she has been head over heels in love with it ever since. I didn't think that she'd go for something so flashy, but I suppose that she's always had better fashion sense than me!
I drive a big Expedition and have to say that the Edge is a lot more comfortable. It doesn't buck and heave over bumps in the road like my truck does. Plus, it's nice and easy to park because it's so small.
We tend to drive her car when it's just the two of us because it's better on gas. Most recently, we drove down to visit my brother in Ohio. I have driven that route plenty of times over the years and this was by far the most comfortable trip!
You really get to know a car when you drive it for 600 miles each way. I liked that there was plenty of room to stretch out and I used the heated seats on a few occasions to keep my back from acting up. It was a very comfortable car and it made the trip go by quickly. We got about 22 miles per gallon on that trip, which is pretty good in my book.
My suggestions for improving this car:
We love our Edge and there's not much that I'd like to improve. Probably the only thing is that I think it could use a little more power. It feels great around town but you have to put your foot into it more than I expected to get up to speed on the highway.
2009 Ford Expedition 2WD 4dr XLT
Updated 12 months ago- F: A failure
- D: Unsatisfactory
- C: Satisfactory
- B: Good
- A: Delightful
My familiarity with this car:
Owned itMy review:
I've had my Expedition for two years now and it is the best vehicle I've ever owned. It's the kind of truck that just gets the job done, no questions asked.
We don't have any kids in the house anymore, but we bought the Expedition so that we could bring our daughter and her family along when we go out together. They live just down the road and we try to see them at least once or twice a week.
I am a big football fan (go Packers!) and love to use my truck for tailgating at the stadium. There's plenty of space inside for the six of us, plus a grill and cooler and lawn chairs. My buddy, Mike, usually brings some brats and burgers and we have a great time with our families.
I've also got a small fishing boat and use my Expedition to tow it in the summer. It's always been a good rig. You hardly notice the weight back there because the engine is so strong and the brakes are so good. It is a much better tow vehicle than the Ford Explorer that I traded in.
My suggestions for improving this car:
I use my Expedition mostly for commuting to my office and it is not that great on gas. I usually get about 14 mpg. It wasn't so bad until gas prices went up last summer and now I really wish that I had something more efficient. It seems like its only a matter of time before the prices go right back up.
My wife has pretty bad arthritis and she says that she wants to get something a little lower to the ground for our next vehicle. She has to stand on the side bars to get up into the Expedition and it aggravates her knee. She drives a Ford Edge and says that that is just the right height for her.
2009 Jeep Wrangler 4WD 2dr X
Updated 12 months ago- F: A failure
- D: Unsatisfactory
- C: Satisfactory
- B: Good
- A: Delightful
My familiarity with this car:
Driven itMy review:
My son owns a Jeep Wrangler and he lets me take it out for a spin when he comes up to visit. I'm always happy to see him - partly because he's my son and partly because I just love driving this truck!
I think that he caught on because one time I offered to go to the store to pick up some drinks right after he arrived and he knew that I had a fridge full of beer down in the cellar. I guess I wasn't fooling anyone!
All in all, this truck is just a hoot to drive. I love taking off the roof and driving around when its nice and warm on a summer evening. And having lived in Wisconsin for over thirty years, I can tell you that the 4WD works great when it snows. There's nothing else like it.
My suggestions for improving this car:
This is not the kind of truck that you really want to mess with. It has to stay strong for going off-road.
Even then, I've got to say that the interior is not very nice. This is my son's second Wrangler and I liked the old truck better because I keep hitting my knee on the dashboard in this one.
My son says that the fuel economy is also really bad, but I don't mind! What do you expect when you're driving a truck that can climb up a mountain with one hand tied behind its back!