© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc. This feed is subject to our terms of use: http://www.epinions.com/help/rss_terms http://www.epinions.com/user-mkaresh Recent reviews written by member mkaresh en-us 121 37 http://www.epinions.com/ http://img.epinions.com/images/epi_images/logos/epinions_121.gif http://www.epinions.com/content_475823902340?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Years ago I owned--and loved--a Ford Contour SE V6. I've been waiting ever since for Ford to create a midsize sedan that was equally fun to drive. For 2010, they've refreshed the Fusion, adding a new Sport model in the process. With a 3.5-liter V6 and... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~475823902340 Wed, 1 Jul 2009 01:08:37 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_475823902340?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_472349707908?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Sport coupe buyers with less than $30,000 to spend have had two choices in recent years. Either a Ford Mustang, or a front-driver based on a mainstream sedan. Want rear-wheel-drive for superior handling, but don't want a Mustang (or the recently... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~472349707908 Sun, 31 May 2009 22:05:35 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_472349707908?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_471800909444?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Over the years, Mazda has wavered this way and that, never quite making it into the first tier of Japanese manufacturers. In recent years, they've had one mass market hit, the Mazda3 compact, introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model. Though the original Mazda3... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~471800909444 Wed, 27 May 2009 01:11:12 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_471800909444?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_467593367172?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - I reviewed the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT last year, and was impressed. For 2009, just in case 361 horsepower wasn't enough, Pontiac has added the 415-horsepower G8 GXP. More appealing to me than the extra power: the availability of a... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~467593367172 Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:01:31 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_467593367172?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_466104520324?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Honda introduced the first hybrid to the American market. The original Insight, a teardrop-shaped two-seater, failed to sell. Honda later added the Civic Hybrid. Without the distinctive styling or radical technology of Toyota's Prius, it sold... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~466104520324 Mon, 6 Apr 2009 11:31:19 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_466104520324?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_465091923588?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Volvo did it. Acura still does it. Audi has been doing it for a long time. And last year Saab gave it a shot: start with a front-wheel-drive platform, add a powerful engine and an all-wheel-drive system (hopefully with a few tricks up its... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~465091923588 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:21:24 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_465091923588?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_461515034244?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - The original Subaru Impreza WRX STI (well, STi until a few years ago) was a legend that was not originally available in the United States. Which of course increased its allure. Still, even once available here many more people lusted after an STI than... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~461515034244 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:40:41 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_461515034244?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_460189372036?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Give Nissan credit for not simply developing me-too products. Case in point: the Infiniti FX, introduced in the 2003 model year. While other SUVs emphasize visibility, interior room, and utility, with the Infiniti FX Nissan explored what an SUV would be... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~460189372036 Fri, 6 Feb 2009 19:52:16 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_460189372036?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_456738639492?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - With the full-size SUV market all but dead, General Motors and Ford are counting on large crossovers (and a few pennies from Washington) to keep them afloat. While large crossovers aren't as profitable as large SUVs were in the 1990s, they are far more... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~456738639492 Mon, 5 Jan 2009 01:25:35 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_456738639492?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_454968774276?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - For the 1990s and much of the 2000s few segments were hotter than conventional midsize SUVs. The last couple of years, though, the segment has been dying, and in recent months it has been all but dead.So clearly Kia picked a wonderful time to... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~454968774276 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:45:40 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_454968774276?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_452781706884?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Many cars are so middle-of-the-road in so many ways that nothing about them, good or bad, is memorable. Then there's the Chevrolet Cobalt SS.Chevrolet Cobalt SS StylingThe Cobalt isn't a bad-looking car...if you stand 50 feet... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~452781706884 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:11:45 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_452781706884?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_452478078596?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - After GM realized that large crossovers were much more profitable than minivans, and that truck-based SUVs were on the way out, it introduced the 2007 Saturn Outlook, soon followed by the 2007 GMC Acadia. A few months later the 2008 Buick Enclave was... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~452478078596 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:54:22 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_452478078596?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_446535601796?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Often the style leader in the compact premium sedan segment, Audi's A4 has usually had to take a backseat to the BMW 3-Series in terms of driving enjoyment. Eager to top the segment on both fronts, Audi has again redesigned the A4 for 2009. Does the... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~446535601796 Wed, 1 Oct 2008 17:53:43 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_446535601796?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_446318022276?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Anyone who's driven one of the first nine iterations of the Mitsubishi Evo is bound to approach the tenth with an odd mix of very high and very low expectations. Sure, the engine and chassis are bound to be top-notch. But will the ride quality and... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~446318022276 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:20:50 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_446318022276?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_445664497284?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Back in 1987, Mazda wanted a big piece of America’s midsize pie. So the semi-independent Japanese company bought an idle plant from write.html/. For two decades, even with heavy fleet sales, Mazda’s family sedan has struggled to utilize a... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~445664497284 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:40:25 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_445664497284?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_444967718532?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - The original smart was a tiny, two-seat car developed by Mercedes working with Swatch, the watch maker. Powered by a rear-mounted 600cc engine, It was designed for Europe's congested cities, where it could be parked nose to the curb. Figuring there... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~444967718532 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:18:06 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_444967718532?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_444761935492?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Eight years ago, Ford was on top of the world. At least one prominent journalist wrote that Ford passing GM to become the top-selling car maker was a matter of if, not when. Lincoln, Ford's luxury brand, displayed concept cars, most notably a striking... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~444761935492 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:10:32 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_444761935492?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_443799342724?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - The Nissan Maxima, and the 810 before it, was a fairly popular car. But it was the 1989 redesign, complete with subtle "4DSC" decals in the rear door windows (for "4-door sports car", that really launched the model and proved that Japan could create a... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~443799342724 Fri, 5 Sep 2008 18:26:33 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_443799342724?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_442913099396?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - General Motors and Ford have both put on hold, perhaps forever, plans to offer V8-powered rear-wheel-drive sedans fully competitive with the best from Germany and Japan. They're running short on resources, and with gas prices around $4 future demand... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~442913099396 Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:49:41 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_442913099396?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_436783320708?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - I’m a big fan of compact hatchbacks. But the first-gen Toyota Matrix didn’t work for me. The driving position was odd, especially with a manual transmission, performance with the base engine was tepid, and the chassis had no strengths worth mentioning... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~436783320708 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:31:57 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_436783320708?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_435786321540?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - I first drove the Subaru Forester five years ago, and discovered a vehicle like no other. The exterior was compact, and so was the rear seat. But the seating position was moderately high, and the roof even higher, for excellent headroom and visibility... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~435786321540 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 14:16:20 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_435786321540?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_433821617796?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Since its redesign for the 2006 model year, the Hyundai Sonata has been a thoroughly competitive midsize sedan, complete with clean styling, a strong optional V6, roomy interior, and relatively low price. What it didn't offer: much in the way of style or... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~433821617796 Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:38:57 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_433821617796?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_432835235460?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Five years ago, Honda filled the space vacated by the four-door Integra by rebadging the more compact, four-cylinder-only European-market Accord as an Acura. Underpowered and undersized by current American standards, the first TSX carved out a niche for... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~432835235460 Fri, 6 Jun 2008 23:18:27 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_432835235460?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_432054308484?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - With the 2003 Pilot, Honda was the first mainstream brand to offer a car-based SUV with a third row of seats. It didn't matter that even an Odyssey minivan was more fun to drive. Families wanted a third row without the stigma of a minivan or the bulk of... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~432054308484 Sat, 31 May 2008 13:30:36 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_432054308484?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_431640448644?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mkaresh - Another year has passed since I first drove the Mazda CX-9, and I still haven't pulled the trigger on a more family-friendly vehicle. So my Mazda Protege5 is still being used to transport three kids on a daily basis. I can see how a larger vehicle with... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~431640448644 Tue, 27 May 2008 16:39:08 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_431640448644?linkin_id=8003929