2015 Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible Premium

To paraphrase that old Shakespeare guy "how do I love thee my sweet Mustang, let me count the ways"...  Seriously this generation was huge leap forward but more so in the convertible than the other models.  Theres plenty to love.  Last generation with either motor under the hood on bad roads you got some cowl and door shake, you could even see the hood wobble over the worst of what L.A. Freeways could pitch at you.

This generation is a whole new story.  Yes, it picks up a few pounds of weight from stiffening key areas, but this was a purpose built convertible not a conversion.  IT was designed to be a convertible so there isn't after work to be done to stiffen and make up for the loss of a roof.  IT shows, driving the convertible top down, and elements be damned, it tracks as accurate and peppy as its hard topped variant.  I.  Love.  This.  Car.

They day I had this car it was classic June Gloom here in the L.A. Basin.  So gloomy it was actually drizzling on my way down to Motor City in Carson where the Ford Open House was taking place.  Lucky me, I was the first to arrive and had my pic of Mustangs...make mine an EcoBoost with 6 Speed Manual please, thank you very much.  I arrived to have the drizzle stop and the top down on my ride of choice.

Yes, it was a bit nipply out, but who cares when heated and cooled seats are standard equipment on the EcoBoost Premium Convertible.  Flip on the heaters, adjust the seats to fit and snick snick through the gears and  you are off.  Cars like this are meant to have a manual tranny, its half the fun of a spirited car when you get to match engine to gear and go to your hearts content.  Mustang delivers fun in spades to start with, the convertible is having your cake and eating it tow.  With extra icing.

I won't bore you with the details, and if  you're a V8 only die hard who hasn't wrapped his head around same power as the V8 from V6 or 4cylinder, stop now and skip ahead a paragraph.  The 2.3L Ecoboost in the Mustang is a marriage made in heaven. With 300+ horsepower on tap when you use premium fuel AND 320ft lbs of torque this car takes off when you want it to. It feels nimbler and quicker to respond than the GT. Top gear and 60 on the fwy and you spot a gap to dive into to get around slower traffic...no worries it has the power to do that without having to down shift. Just goose and go. Steep hill to climb like in Signal Hill...no sweat, an on ramp to charge up, no worries.  This 4cyl twin scroll turbo engine cranks out the power the V8 did only a few short years ago.  And that's an accomplishment.  I said in another post this 2.3L Ecoboost is the best 4cyl Ford has ever made and I was serious.

All that fun doesn't come at a penalty either.  My average MPG with spirited driving still was a very respectable 22.8 over a 20 mile loop from Carson to Signal Hill.  Had I not gotten stuck in a 5 mile traffic jam wherein I spent my time shifting back and forth between 1 and 2 for 15 minutes that number would have been a lot higher.  Those kind of numbers are what taking the Ecoboost over a V8 is all about, with premium still over $4/gallon in the basin those numbers make living with a spirited sports convertible a lot easier to afford than one would think.  Do remember these Ecoboost engines turn out their best numbers for performance and MPG on premium fuel...don't cheap out on regular, get the 91 and live life in the fast lane.

The Ecoboost Premium Convertible comes with a lot of really sweet standard features, heated cooled seats, 6 speed manual tranny, Sync/MyFord (updated this year and faster than ever), glossy painted wheels, leather seating, push button start, HID head lamps and then you get to the goodies that are optional.  Things like adjustable suspension, steering and larger performance wheels.  The car starts at 34.8K and is nicely equipped as is.  See ford.com for details on building your own.  The Competition Orange version I had was optioned out to a whisker shy of 38.7K and that's a helluva lot of car for the money.  I'll take one, but in Magnetic.

Of course as long as I have a kid at home this is not a practical car for me.  One day again I will have a Mustang.  And it will be a convertible.  Just like this.  Until then I'll take the adventures and chances to drive and imagine what life all the time motoring top down in the fast lane is like.

More high res pics of the Mustang EcoBoost Premium Convertible in my flickr album from the Ford Open House.

2016 Ford Explorer Duo Sinner or Saint - pick one for kicks or giggles

Ford heavily updated 2016 Ford Explorer is on sale now. You can get it in a variety of forms from entry at a nose hair over 31K  and nicely optioned out Limited starting at 41.7K or a Sport at 43.7K, the latter gets you the totally awesome 3.5L V6 with twin turbo EcoBoost.  Between Limited and Sport think of it as having an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other daring you to push the limits.

New for 2016 is the option of the 2.3L Ecoboost on all models but the Sport.  This engine is the model of refinement and power.  Perfect balance.  It gives up 10 horsepower to the standard V6 but picks up 55 foot pounds of torque that amply makes up the nominal horsepower difference. This is simply the best 4 cylinder Ford has ever put out, turbo or not. Smooth, steady power delivery, nice growl at the upper ranges without nary a rumble, shake or stumble throughout the rev range.  It easily kept up with traffic and ran with the best of them.  It climbed Signal Hill with no drama stress or worries.

Think of the Explorer Limited as the one you drive with an angel on your shoulder.  Its completely comfortable, able and drives like a charm.  Easy handling, remarkable given its overall size as it feels more like a competent luxury sedan not an SUV that bobbed and floated and sorta went where you aimed it that was common even a few years ago.  IT doesn't beg you to flog it, it rewards the driver with competency and coddles them in just about every creature comfort one could want.

The list on the Limited is extensive and really nice.  Heated standard steering wheel, tasteful matte wood trim with brushed aluminum accents. Heated/Cooled front seats. Power folding 50/50 split 3rd row seats are standard.  Leather seating.  Hands free power lift gate...a little wiggle waggle of the foot under the rear bumper and voila its open.  A full list of standard features can be found on Ford.com.  Suffice it to say its completely equipped as is, the options you can add are all technology related.

The angel on your shoulder will love the Limited.  Its truly about refined motoring, plush and comfort all the way all day.  Think cathedral on wheels. Its having your cake AND eating it too, as all that comfort, quality and zip doesn't come with a penalty at the pump.  The fuel economy on my 21 mile loop was a respectable 19.1MPG. Not bad at all for a big SUV with All Wheel Drive.

If the Limited is soothing the angel on the right, the devil on the left is drooling to get his hands on all the twin turbo goodness that is the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 found in the Explorer Sport.  This car is a beast in all the best terms of the word.  Where the Limited is plush and controlled, this is firm in the sport sedan sense and begs you to push the limits.  In corners, on ramps and straight aways.  The suspension is tuned perfectly for zipping about. The devil on the left is pushing you to be bold and enjoy what this SUV can do.

But the Sport does this without being coarse or giving up any of the build quality and luxury found in the Limited.  Yes, its a sport but that doesn't mean you give up the premium feel.  In fact there are little touches all over to let you know this is still a top tier auto.

The devil is in the details.  Brushed aluminum and carbon fiber trim on the dash.  Red stitching on the black leather seats.  Sport specific bright wheels.  Its a complete package, its luxury meant to be pushed to the limit and the execution is there.

Yet with all that performance and giving into the urges this EcoBoost still doesn't kill you at the pumps.  In spite of spirited driving and on ramp charges it turned in a respectable 17.3  MPG over the 21 mile loop of mixed freeway and urban driving.  And a curvy hill to climb.  Pretty slick...V8 performance when needed and V6 economy when you don't in a large SUV is quite a trick.

Common to both is the latest updates to Sync/MyFord.  It's faster to the touch, better voice recognition in a word simpler and more intuitive than the version that launched 3 years ago.  The improvements are welcomed.

Now there's a 3rd version coming later this summer that promises to completely upstage these two.  Explorer Platinum.  All the go fast capability of the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost in a version so luxurious its options will be few and luxury will be nothing like we've ever seen Ford put into an SUV before.  This promises to have unique LED head lamps and fog lamps just to get the exclusivity cranked up a notch and make it possible to tell it apart at a glance, not by reading the rear tailgate.

So who you gonna listen to?  The angel on the right looking for a heavenly motoring experience or the devil on the left begging you to be bad and push it?

More from the Ford Open House I attended in a flickr album.

2015 Ford Expedition Limited now with Ecoboost

I tried so hard to love this SUV. For a car guy like me it has a lot going on to love.  Starting with the new for this year Ecoboost 3.5l V6.  Those twin turbos give that beast life it never knew possible.  This thing has CHUTZPAH like I never dreamed possible in a full size SUV.

Add in the 6 speed automatic and this beasty is really fun to drive and easyish on gas compared to its V8 brethren if you keep your foot out of the gas.  In a rather spirited 20 mile loop including a steep hill climb, urban bump and go and zippy urban freeway I averaged middling 15.2MPG.  Given its size not that bad, given that its EPA ratings are 15 City/20 highway/17 combined I did expect a bit better.

Where you sit in the new limited...a lovely leather throne you can't help but love this vehicle.  Where it falls short is the lack of even faux wood, brushed aluminum or any other lux details you expect from an SUV starting at 54K and optioned up to nearly 60K.  The hard plastics on the doors and dash wreak utilitarian hose it off rather than a luxury vehicle.  Sad really as those touches just aren't what we've come to expect from Ford of late.  Even the lowly Focus is detailed better in terms of luxury appointments, premium feel at half the price.  I understand this is a stop gap edition and an all new for 2016 is coming that will address these short comings and be on part with expectations and the rest of the fleet.

But enough of the niggles...this truck has some outstanding features.  The latest iteration comes with forward and rear sensors to protect bumping objects as you park, power liftgate, and heated/cooled power seats.  All nice touches and expected at this price point.

The iteration I drove also had Ford's most current Sync MyFord package and it worked like a charm.  Voice commands for everything and ample dummy switches for those that prefer that option than a slick working touch screen.

Really nifty touch too is the automatic running boards that deploy when you unlock the doors from the key fob or put the truck into park after driving.  A nice way to get in and out without mucking up your pant legs.

At the end of the day, this may not have the premium feel of other Ford products of late, but the refinement and power of its 2015 updated engine/tranny combo more than makes up for the shortcomings.  Nice SUV, certainly the most technologically advanced out there for the money.

2016 Camaro teased...when muscle cars compete we all win

© 2015 Jeffrey Sauger and General Motors 

This weekend the 2016 Camaro in base and SS forms was unveiled at Belle Isle in Detroit MI.  Why not Los Angeles where we buy a disproportionate share of their annual production? Your guess is as good as mine.  What I do know is when the muscle cars duke it out for dominance, we all win.  2008 I predicted the new Camaro would kick the Mustang into the dirt, they did. Briefly.  Ford thoroughly updated the Mustang 2010 and again 2011 giving us more refinement, more power and a solid competitor to the Camaro.  2015 we saw the new Mustang arrive and wow, it stomped the aging Camaro into the dirt.  Now its time for Camaro's redux and it appears it will be uber competitive with the new 'stang.

From the Press Release:

The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro is unveiled Saturday, May 16, 2015 at its world debut on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan. The sixth-generation Camaro is faster, lighter and more nimble. Engine options include a 2.0L Turbo, an all-new 3.6L V-6 and the LT1 6.2L V-8, which is SAE-certified at 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque – for the most powerful Camaro SS ever. Each engine is available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. (Photo by Jeffrey Sauger for Chevrolet) General Motors Executive Vice President Global Product Development Mark Reuss introduces the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro at its world debut Saturday, May 16, 2015 on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan. The sixth-generation Camaro is faster, lighter and more nimble. Engine options include a 2.0L Turbo, an all-new 3.6L V-6 and the LT1 6.2L V-8, which is SAE-certified at 455 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque – for the most powerful Camaro SS ever. Each engine is available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)

With  this new Camaro they have 3 distinct power plants just like the Mustang.

• Ford 2.3l ecoboost with 310+ horsepower vs Chevy 2.0L Turbo with 275 horsepower
• Ford 3.7 L V6 with 300 horsepower vs Chevy 3.6;V6 so new horsepower figures haven't been released
• Chevy 6.2L V8 with 455 horsepower vs Ford 5.0l V8 with 435 horsepower

All those numbers are good.  We know the Mustang put on about 100 lbs with the 2015 edition, a lot of it to meet newer crash standards and some to meet customer creature comfort expectations.  Currently the Mustang ranges in weight from 3532-3750 depending on power train,  Current Camaro starts 3702 in base trim and climbs quickly.  Close in weight now V8 advantage appears to go to Camaro in horsepower:weight, with Mustang taking it on the entry models.  What we don't know is how much pork the Camaro gains in this new generation or if Chevy has seen the light and will trim some of the extra off and hold and advantage across the board on Ford.

Regardless the outcome.  We. All. Win.

Advantage Ford Lincoln signs on as Chalk Festival 1st Prize Sponsor

Monrovia Association of Fine Arts, a fine group that I also happen to be a Board Member of as well as past, President decided to crank up the activities at this years 52nd Annual Celebrate the Arts.  How?  With a Chalk Festival layered into the already busy and well attended event.  This isn't a one many show and to pull it off the entire board has been working hard on getting this going.

First challenge was to find sponsors for prizes.  Our big prize of $500 is being sponsored by a local dealer, Advantage Ford Lincoln in Duarte.  This sponsorship was crucial to our making the Chalk Festival a success and we are extremely grateful that Advantage Ford Lincoln stepped up.

Rounding out the final assortment of prizes $250 Second Place by Monrovia Area Merchants (to be enumerated later), and 3rd Place by Brian Huffman Photography.  These sponsors deserve our support and thanks...with your shopping dollar.

Advantage Ford Lincoln also has the option of taking up a display space to promote their dealership and products at the Celebrate the Arts on September 26 and 27,2015,  They also have available to them parking spaces on well travelled Myrtle Avenue next to Library Park to displace a select few vehicles.

2015 Concorso de Ferrari

What a most excellent car show this was.  A Ferrari for every budget.  From fixers at 40K (Yes, some were for sale) to a  $15M La Ferrari, the gamut was covered quite nicely.  Very nicely.  Not being a high volume manufacture there were an awful lot of one off models here.  All told the 140 cars here for the day covered the gamut from the curvaceous sexy 50s to the current sinister, evil, menacing La Ferrari.

Also at this show were a few other super cars, exotic and downright sexy performance sedans.  I'm talking Saleen S7, Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli and a selection of Aston Martin.

But enough of the other makes, lets focus on the main event, Ferrari.  This is a storied brand, the lustful dreams of young men and old alike.  It history on the race track was translated in to road cars for the public, or at least those in the upper incomes.  Its a brand that exudes speed, style, class, and wealth like no other.  Its pure sex appeal with 4 wheels planted firmly on the ground sweeping ess curves.

My absolute favorite car of the show, wasn't one of the super cars, but this 1952 212 Export Coupe. Right hand drive and flawlessly restored.  Not a dimple in the paint, a pit in the chrome.  The leather on the seats seductively draped, tucked and folded.  I want one just like it.  Or just a ride in it up the 1 from SaMo to Port Hueneme.  Am I asking for too much in life?

Engine where a back seat would be in any other car.  The 458 Speciale V8 screams and sings like nothing else I've ever hear before.  Trust me, I'd rather have that next to my ears than a whining toddler in a car seat kicking my seat back.  Any.  Day.

I wish I had scribbled more information on this car onto the old note pad or had the foresight to snap a pic of its information placard.  This was one of the true beauties of the show.  All curvaceous sexy curves.  Voluptuous even.  Something about the cars from the 50s and 60s that I prefer over the new models. These cars were sex on 4 wheels, something few other manufacturers have ever really duplicated.

And what's a Ferrari show without a few Dinos to illustrate what really put the brand on consumers radar in the late 60s into the early 70s.  Produced for a few short years it was the "affordable" Ferrari sub brand with potent V6 or V8 motors.  They had everything to offer in term of fun to drive spirited handling, sexy bodies of a Ferrari only no V12 or high price tag.  It was a hit for the brand.  By 1974 they decided to brand all as Ferrari and with it the demure spitfire that was Dino went with it.

1984 Ferrari launched the Testarossa..the world took notice.  Fast, incredibly fast and powerful for the era...while everyone else was mired in the the malaise era they did something about it. Made a fast, powerful car, MPG be damned, CAFE be damned car and put the world on notice that those regulations didn't mean the end to fun cars.  They sold and sold well in spite of its nearly 185K price tag and gas guzzler tax.  I think this car and its subsequent variations lit the imaginations of designers and started the super car craze that we are riding right now.  Even 30 years later this is a drop dead gorgeous automobile.  It has stood the test of time.

And I end this post with the top dog of the Ferrari line up today.  A road going super car like few others.  The La Ferrari.  Batman only wishes his car looked as evil wicked mean and nasty.

All pics and video by me.  More high res pics in my flickr album 2015 Concorso de Ferrari.

2015 Fabulous Fords Forever

Every car show has its amazing autos, plebeian autos and just outright  stop you in your tracks gorgeous.  Its not always a stunning restoration or custom that gets your attention.  Sometimes its the absurd taken to the nth degree.

I call it the Mad Max Mustang at this past weekends Fabulous Fords Forever show in Buena Park CA.  Its a 1968 Mustang mated to a stretched original bronco frame.  Its gun metal grey primer.  With a Gatling gun.  Can it get any more unique and original?  Beats the Disco Pinto by a long shot.

Of course there was a lot of everything among the 1900+ Ford cars and trucks at this show for everyone.  The history of Ford from the beginning to customized 2015 Mustangs were on hand.  Henry would have been proud of his history put together in one stunning show

This handsomely restored 1973 Pinto Wagon was among many that were not at previous shows.  I chose this as my favorite of the lot as the modifications were nominal inside and out.  Interesting to see the modifications on this one time economy car.  Lots of V8's and 80s era 2.3l turbos under the hood, far more oomph that the little darling was graced with in the beginning.  Remember the 1.6l that was standard making all of 70bhp?

Wildly popular and amply represented was the original Bronco.  This was a serious off road machine that could climb rocks and mud hollers with the best Jeep could put out back in the day.  This example is such a pristine example, I'd be afraid of taking it to a mall out of fear it would get dinged and dented.  Nice truck.

There were several Edsels at the show this weekend. This by far was the most beautifully restored example.  A Pacer Convertible.  If they had left the factory in this condition back in the day...they'd still be in production today.  Not a flaw to be found in this car.

1969 Mercury Marauder X100.  This was the "it" car for me in high school.  It was Mercury Marquis in the front, shortened wheel base to the rear with a fast back roof.  Bucket seats, hidden headlamps and real factory "mag" wheels.  The crowning glory to this beast was the 429 4 barrel putting out 360hp and a boat load of torque for dramatic tire squeal launches that settled down into a dreamy, if not frightening ride when you left the straight aways and into a sharp corner.  I guess that era wasn't all that afterwards.

Lincoln was well represented as you saw in the video.  This 1940 Continental with the V12 was one of the prettiest cars at the show.  The black paint if you look closely perfectly flawless reflected everything on the horizon.  Beautiful restoration, this owner must be proud.

More pics of the 2015 Fabulous Fords Forever on flickr