Category: Lifestyle - Transportation - Automotive - Reviews - Convertibles

2015 FIAT 500C Abarth - Single-Footed Stomping the Scorpion - Short Review, Video

"The Tiny Terror from Toluca" (Mexico): 2014 FIAT 500C Abarth. Colored Granito Lucente (Granite Crystal to us Anglo's). All it takes to thoroughly enjoy this rambunctious, raucous rag-top Wild Child is genuine driver involvement and $26,195.<br> <br> Our fully loaded 5-speed manual tester, with leather seats, Beats audio, automatic climate control and TomTom pod-mount SD navigation topped out at $31,645. <br>
Scorpions have one nasty sting! Just  like Godzilla did to Bambi, humans can dispatch that venomous insect with one “swift, single-footed stomp.” FIAT, maker of insect-sized cars, recently cajoled “Drive…He Said” into taking a quick spin in their “Scorpion”, the 2015 FIAT 500C Abarth. The “C” represents nature’s free air conditioning via a clever, pillar-full... Read more »
By George Straton,
November 7, 2014 at 8:41 am • 

2014 Mazda MX-5 Club - On the Farewell Circuit - Short Review + Video

The 2014 Mazda MX-5 Club "Miata" is the swan-song for just the third generation of the most popular roadster ever. <br> <br> Our track-oriented True Red tester included power retracting hard-top, 6-speed manual transmission tester, sport dampers, limited slip diff and low-profile performance tires for $29,460.<br>
With the new Chevrolet C7 Corvette convertible already rolling out of Bowling Green, the next closely-guarded roadster secret is the upcoming 2016 Mazda MX-5. Aka the “Miata”, it’s world’s top selling continuously produced twin-seat roadster. Join the Club: In the final year of the NC MX-5, Mazda offers 2014 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club. Go fast... Read more »
By George Straton,
July 21, 2014 at 11:57 am • 

2014 Volkswagen Beetle TDi - Bug Imitating Camel - Review

For a touring rag-top with "To Die For" highway fuel economy and gobs of passing power, there's the "TDi." Planted on the rear of our Candy White 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible, "TDi" = "Power by Rudolf Diesel."<br> <br>Priced at $31,000 with navigation, we think the extra $2600 spent over the base inline 5-pot "gas" engine earns it a place high-up the compact "drop top" Short List.<br> <br> Does cruise control belong on the left side high beam/ turn signal steering column stalk?<br>
“Drive…He Said” recently put Volkswagen of America’s Mark Gillies on the spot. We asked whether every VW offering in the U.S. would eventually feature torque brimming diesel powerplants. Gillies winked and said Americans should expect diesels across the entire VW line by the next model cycles. For Now: Americans make do with six VW models... Read more »
By George Straton,
November 15, 2013 at 11:26 am • 
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From the Passenger's Seat - 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible - Guest Review

The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle 50s Edition. Fitted with Tiptronic transmission, cruise control and leather seating it barely breaks $26,000 in price.
Here at “Drive…He Said” home we have plenty of neighbors who have a genuine interest or curiosity in the vehicles that we park outside. The line can queue up pretty quickly when it’s the latest sports car or alternative energy vehicle. Or minivan.  One  gentleman neighbor, who can offer ninety-three (93!) years of perspective on... Read more »
By George Straton,
February 2, 2013 at 3:03 pm • 

"Drive...He Said" 2012 Wind-In-Your-Hair Summer Wind-Down - Convertible Sport Car Comparison

The best top-down weather of the season is yet to come: (Clockwise from top left) 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible, 2012 Nissan Z Roadster Touring, 2012 Lexus IS250C, 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition
* * * * * * * * * * * * As the summer season of 2012 draws to a close, we here at “Drive…He Said” can’t think of a better time to drop the tops of a few convertibles. We can’t think of a better way to enjoy the cool autumn breezes wafting... Read more »
By George Straton,
September 24, 2012 at 4:00 pm •