Where I've been and what I'm doing
You may have noticed that things were a bit slow blog-wise last week. I spent the first part of my week in South Carolina, trying out some new tires at Michelin's proving grounds. Among the tires we sampled was the Michellin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP (for Zero Pressure, aka run-flat). Why should you care? Because the PS2 ZP is the tire Chevrolet chose for the upcoming 205 MPH 2009 Corvette ZR-1. No, I didn't get to drive a ZR-1 (damn!), but I did get to compare the PS2 ZP to the current Corvette original-equipment tire, both in wet braking and on a fast autocross circuit. The short version: The PS2 ZP sticks like glue, and you can definitely feel the difference. Michelin plans to make the tire available for C5 and C6 Corvettes.
After that, it was back (near) home to Santa Barbara to drive Hyundai's new Genesis sedan. I'll be writing a full review, but here's the short version: It's a Lexus marked down by 25%. And before you tell me all Hyundais are crapola, go down to your local Hyundai dealer and check out a Genesis (they are arriving in dealers now; in fact the first one was sold on Thursday). Drive it if the dealer will let you. And if you still want to tell me that Hyundai doesn't build an excellent car, well, I won't believe you.
So as you can see, I've got quite a bit on my plate -- 2009 Maxima and 2009 Genesis Sedan writeups, plus a few '08 stragglers, and I've got some improvements in the works that should (hopefully) make navigating our reviews a bit easier... and then we'll be heading full-throttle into the 2009 model year. Should be a good summer! -- Aaron Gold
Photos © Aaron Gold
And they actually pay you to do this? Where do I sign up ;op
C
Take a number, Chuck!
Where can I find a job like this in Canada?
Do you know when you may be testing the Jetta TDI? I have put some money down on one at a dealer, but with the diesel prices the way that they are and no one really knowing what they get for mileage (I talked to a former salesman and he stated that there is a rep going around showing the car to dealers and he got 46 MPG). Or do I look at the regular Jetta (or maybe a Wolfsburg).
AARON: Sir, have you seen (or driven) the two new offerings that KIA is projecting soon?
Can you explain the differences between the DIESELS being offered in EUROPE and the DIESELS being offered here in the States? Years ago a GM engineer told that that a “Rain-X” style product was to be placed on the windscreens of their vehicles shortly! What happened? Thank you!
Billie Joe — No, and the main difference is that they can buy them, we can’t.
I’m not sure what the differences are in emissions standards, but you’ll see more diesels starting to show up in the next year or so — unless diesel prices rise to $6/gallon and put off sales.
No word on the Rain-X thing, but I used to use that stuff back when I lived where it rained. Amazing stuff, it really worked. I used to put my wipers on the slowest delay setting, only because I read somewhere that driving without your wipers on in the rain was a ticketable offense. — Aaron