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Convertible

CONVERTIBLES

Open air magic

Nobody needs a convertible. But what we need and what we want are two different things, and that's the point of convertibles. Clichéd as it is, there is just something amazing about driving with the roof down, wind in your hair, nothing between you and the sky above.


BUYING USED

More exciting than the average Toyota

Attractively styled but still fairly unadventurous, Solara was aimed at drivers who wanted a slightly more interesting driving experience, but didn't want to get too carried away.


MERCEDES-BENZ CLK 63 AMG

The sound of a first-rate hot rod

This speed demon will get to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds in second gear. By 160 km/h, you'll be shifting into fourth gear. For safety reasons, the engine software limits tops out at 250 km/h but if you could let it fly, it would reach 320 km/h.


BUYING USED

Go-kart handling and a stiff but fairly civilized ride

The Mini Cooper has always had a huge driveability factor that many other makers can only envy; even when you're not driving particularly fast, it feels like you're going like stink.


What car?

Bigger is not always best

Cato and Vaughan help a reader pick the best little car on the market today.

PORSCHE BOXSTER

Porsche Boxster

She says it's not a chick car

Boxster intrigues and intimidates "it just oozes testosterone and taunts me"


CHEVROLET CORVETTE

Corvette

Go with the "You're busted" red paint job

Still as large as life and twice as fast


SMART FORTWO

The fortwo cabriolet.

Easy on the eyes and the gas

With fuel prices rising, the fortwo makes you look pretty Smart


FORD MUSTANG GT

Ford Mustang GT

Feels like a '60s muscle car

Mustang's 2005 retro redesign a hit for Ford

 

Feature Cars 

MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER: Save the top-down experience for a sunny day

But with a push of the button, the top is back up

AUDI TT: First ride of the season is liberating

Top up or down, the second-generation TT roadster has a sexy, streamlined silhouette

CADILLAC XLR-V: Deals available on Caddy's most powerful car

This convertible is the most expensive car Cadillac has produced

BMW 335i CABRIOLET: Elegant design and a marvel under the hood

BMW says this is the slimmest-stacking hardtop around — that leaves room for luggage or golf clubs in the trunk

SAAB 9-3: Sport sedan has everything you need

I've rarely driven a manual gearbox sedan with this level of refinement

MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN: Modern Mini's brilliant second act

But it's hard to be rational about a car that puts a smile on your face

SUBARU IMPREZA: Racer's soul hiding beneath the bodywork

In this case, it was buried rather deeply


News 

Tesla rolls out its electric sports car

After several years of development, the Tesla Roadster — with sleek lines like a Ferrari or Porsche and a sticker price of $109,000 (U.S.) officially moves from the drawing boards to the market next week.

AUTO BUZZ: It's all about lap times — and bragging rights

Carlos Ghosn proudly claimed Nissan's GT-R as "fastest production super car on the Nurburgring" last week; Volvo aims for 'uncrashable' cars; Auto makers laud Windsor-Detroit bridge plans; BMW to offer access to Internet

Ford Motor executives meet with shareholders in Delaware

CEO Mulally is briefing them on the company's turnaround plan

Toyota issues a bleak forecast

U.S. woes, high yen all weigh on the Japanese auto maker as it reports a 28% drop in profit

Audi considers building U.S. auto plant

VW's premium brand stands to benefit “tremendously” from a U.S. manufacturing presences

Microsoft, Hyundai partner for in-car technology

Bill Gates to sign agreement in Seoul, to meet South Korean President Lee Myung-bak

CAW members approve Ford Canada labour deal

CAW chief Buzz Hargrove ‘elated and relieved' after 78% of members back deal

Ford adds fourth vehicle to Oakville production

Assembly of Lincoln MKT crossover part of tentative labour agreement

Auto makers post best April sales on record

Vehicle deliveries jumped 4% in April


One on one 

Cadillac seeks to extend CTS success

Michael Vaughan speaks to Jim Taylor, Cadillac's general manager, about taking General Motors' luxury marque off life support.


You & your car 

What does rpm mean?

One sexist car salesman lost a sale by declining to answer a new driver's question about engine speed; Another reader is wondering about why bumper regulations differ in Canada and the U.S.


Motorsports 

DANIEL MORAD: 'It's all been new for me, but great all around'

Daniel Morad hopes his experience in A1GP is only the start of a globetrotting career in motor racing.

A1GP SERIES: 'We are thinking that we will have a race in Canada in the next three years'

With Canada enjoying its best overall finish in three seasons of A1GP competition, the series continues to talk about bringing its brand of nation versus nation racing to this country.


Car enthusiasts 

1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA CONVERTIBLE: 'I wanted a nice cruiser and driver'

Half a century later, this '58 Impala is still cruising summertime roads, turning heads and winning awards for Chevy enthusiast Alan White of Port Credit, Ont., and his family.


Motorcycles, etc. 

Riders to get greater access to HOV lanes

In many parts of Canada, May is Motorcycle Awareness Month — the idea being to heighten motorcyclists' profiles both with the public and with authorities who make decisions that affect riders.

LETTERS: More on bike technology and finding your way with GPS

Readers write to our resident bike expert to ask questions about GPS systems, and take him to task over overlooked features in one review, and a missing website from another.


Cars and drivers 

ALL & SUNDRY: Feature-rich Q2 a boon for bikers

Q2 is a feature-rich headset for motorcycle helmets that allows bike-to-bike communicating with fellow riders, and permits the connection of a variety of devices.

BETTER DRIVER: Leave enough room to pass safely

For many younger drivers, the process of overtaking another vehicle on a two-lane road is a rare experience, especially if you live and drive in an urban environment.

Better Driver: Don't turn to check blind spot

YOU & YOUR CAR: Do I really need premium gas?

With the escalating price of gas in Canada, one reader is wondering if it's really necessary to spend more at the pumps; another reader is wondering if she can minimize her fuel consumption by using her car's cruise control feature.

SAFETY: Today's sturdier cars make it harder for rescuers

Captain Clint Roberts makes his living cutting accident victims out of hideously mangled vehicles, but even he could hardly believe it when two people in a 2007 mid-size car survived a head-on crash with a full-sized pickup last year.

YOU & YOUR CAR: What's the advantage to rotating tires?

One reader would like to know if it's really necessary to rotate his car's tires as often as his repair shop suggests, and another reader is interested in tires with retractable studs, if they're legal in Canada.


How it works 

Convex secondary mirrors help you see other car

Ford has announced plans to put two of the most recent development on some 2009 model-year vehicles: a blind-spot mirror and a radar detection system.


More reviews 

MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION: Finally, a taste of Evo magic

Mitsubishi's turbocharged Lancer Evolution rally replicar trickles into dealers, blasts onto streets

PONTIAC VIBE: Not too old to catch the Vibe

Aimed at young, media-hip, city dwellers who are as comfortable with a BlackBerry as I am with a half-inch box-end wrench.

JEEP LIBERTY: Some odd compromises in this compact SUV

A Jeep should be utilitarian and yet sufficiently handsome

BMW 550i: What's next? A shoeshine while you drive?

Lane-departure warning, head-up display, active cruise control with stop-and-go. Just some of the nifty gadgets in this new BMW

INFINITI FX: Nissan sees the forest through the trees

It's a drive with a mission — to deliver oak trees to fire victims.

ACURA TL TYPE S: Just enough power to make things interesting

But it's basically an Accord wearing a track suit

ECO DRIVER: