A Truly Moving Experience

My recent purchase of a new home sent me scrambling for large SUVS with cavernous cargo-carrying capacities in what became a month-long comparison of vehicular storage spaces. The 2009 Nissan Pathfinder SE emerged at the top of my list, boasting the largest, most functional interior as well as a host of standard features that make this giant sport-utility vehicle a versatile and comfortable family hauler.

For so long, Ford's F-Series has been the most popular vehicle sold in America. All that changed this summer when gas prices spiked over four dollars nationally, giving Detroit--as well as other manufacturers--the answer to the question, "What will it take for Americans to truly change their vehicle purchase selections and driving habits?" We got our answer and even with the recent retreat of fuel prices, seismic changes have taken place.

Into this maelstrom comes Ford with its most important product launch since the Mustang in 1964: the next generation F-Series. While it bears more than a passing resemblance to the outgoing model and faces formidable competition, Ford invited us to the Michigan Proving Grounds in rural Romeo north of Detroit to see just how completely updated and upgraded the new F-Series is. Clearly, Ford is attempting to raise the bar. On all accounts, they have a winner on their hands.

There are many ways to spend $40,000 on your next car. Here's one that you might have overlooked: the NISMO 350Z. Is it a stepping stone to a GT-R?

Needless to say, sports cars are never the most practical of purchases, especially in this era of $4.00/gallon gasoline. They are emotional. The broad category, from $30,000 to $60,000, is packed with more than a dozen worthy adversaries, most notable among them Porsche's Boxster and Cayman, BMW's Z4, and even domestics like the Dodge Challenger STR8, the Shelby Mustang GT500, and Chevy's upcoming Camaro SS.

Exactly where does our blazing Nogaro Red Nissan NISMO 350Z fit in? Over eight days, two intense road trips to the California Desert, and almost 2,000 miles, we now have a very clear idea. What we found was an athletic performance car--unheralded in many ways--that was capable of showing its tail pipes to a host of far better-known and more-expensive competitors. There are many ways to spend $40,000 on your next car. Here's one that you might have overlooked: the NISMO 350Z. Is it a stepping stone to a GT-R?

The true beauty of this car goes far beyond the eye of the beholder.

Our Managing Editor Brandy Schaffels and our Editorial Director Rich Truesdell have known each other for almost 15 years, starting with their time at Motor Trend where Brandy was a Copy Editor and Rich was a Contributing Editor (and in those days Rich's copy needed lots of editing). From that beginning they worked together on motortrend.com where they teamed up to produce international auto show coverage. Last year Rich called on Brandy to help launch Automotive Traveler where her contributions in managing details has been invaluable.

As both test drive dozens of new vehicles each year, they look at these vehicles from different perspectives; Brandy as a working mom with two boys, and Rich as a gearhead who sees things a bit differently.

This week both have driven Cadillac's 2008 Cadillac CTS DI Performance Sedan and are here sharing their impressions.