 PEOPLE VS. 2006 Scion XB: "It's the box car," a woman said. "I'll bet you're going to tear it up in your review," a man who knows me said. Well, he guessed wrong this time. It is a funny looking vehicle. Judge Bob grants that. But it's funny shape is ultimately quite practical, translating into plenty of passenger and cargo space and a tall roof line that means any size hat can be worn in comfort by a driver. Add to those facts its excellent fuel efficiency of 30 city and 34 highway and its starting price of $14,680 and you have a smart choice among new vehicles in the 2006 Scion XB. Judge Bob found no major considerations compromised in the boxy Scion. It has plenty of pep from its 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that sips regular gas. Its transmission shifts well, once the engine is warmed up. And it's comfortable on rough roads, despite diminutive wheels. You'd have to be an idiot to push this vehicle's performance limits, but it will try to save you with anti-lock brakes and stability control as standard equipment. It's way short of air bags, however, with only front ones installed. The Scion XB has its speedometer installed in a cyclops-eye cluster near the center of the dashboard top. A driver quickly gets used to that location. Other standard items on this cheapie include air conditioning, remote keyless entry and an auxiliary audio input jack ready for your iPod. Fun little car at $17,195 as tested.
PEOPLE VS. 2006 Subaru Outback VDC Limited: Judge Bob can't estimate how many people he has sold on Subaru. But they are many. Subaru is a fine maker of automobiles, with a vehicle for just about any desire or need. The tested 2006 Subaru Outback VDC Limited would do Judge Bob just fine, for instance. In fact, it's more than he needs. But if you're looking for ultimate reliability and durability in a luxury package, this would be your top Subaru pick. It's a notch above the LL Bean model in cost and luxury. All Subarus now have all-wheel drive and this Outback VDC is so-equipped. It provided great confidence on wet highways encountered during test week. And there's just nothing to dislike about the Outback. The base model is terrific; this one just builds on it. But the drive-away price of $36,320 is a shock. This Outback VDC had no options -- not a single one -- as it came with every desirable luxury feature, including a GPS map navigation system. It had panoramic dual power sunroofs, side curtain air bags in addition to the required bags, a five-speed automatic transmission, climate control, a premium audio system that can play MP3 CDs, and power everything. Extremely comfortable to drive on any road. Highly recommended vehicle from one of Judge Bob's favorite brands.
PEOPLE VS. 2006 Lincoln Mark LT4X4: Today in America, half of all new vehicles registered are trucks. That includes many large sport utilities that ride on truck platforms, but many are pickup trucks. Judge Bob has never been a truck fan, although he undertands how they fill a working man's needs. He also appreciates the image of a "truck driving man". But trucks have often been too rough, too uncivilized for daily use. At least 99 percent of Judge Bob's driving is done on paved roads. In any comfort competition, trucks place last here. But not necessarily the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT4X4. As you might expect from any vehicle badged from Ford's luxury division, this Lincoln is one comfortable truck in supercrew format. And it has one comfortable $47,605 price. Several years ago, Judge Bob tested a Lincoln Blackwood truck and this Mark LT reminds him of that truck, without the motorized bed cover. Since Judge Bob admittedly has no need for the functionality of a truck, he can't really address how well this expensive Lincoln does. He does know, however, that it never brutalized him or his passengers (it can seat four), some of whom commented favorably on the ride quality. This Lincoln has a power sliding rear window, skid plates, power adjustable pedals, and a DVD rear seat entertainment system. But it did NOT have side air bags or head curtains, or a nagivation system with rear-view camera. It definitely should at this price. Also prepare to shell out huge bucks for fuel, since the Mark LT has an EPA estimate of 14 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway. Judge Bob still doesn't need a truck. If he did, he couldn't afford this one. And he is disappointed that once again, truck buyers are shorted on safety features.
PEOPLE VS. 2006 Volvo S40 T5: Every once in awhile, a really pleasant surprise comes along in a test car. That was the case with the 2006 Volvo S40 T5. What a great little sporty car this turned out to be. It can more than hold its on in comparision with a BMW 3-series car -- or just about any other sporty small sedan base priced at $26,615. Many options (few of which Judge Bob would order) brought the final price to $33,605. Believe me, the car is a value at its base price and Judge Bob would try to keep things near that level. It's well equipped and only the automatic transmission at $1,200 would make the must-have option list. Now let's untangle that S40 T5 name. S means small, short and stubby. 40 is the age of the target buyer and the minimum hourly wage to own one. T5 means turbocharged five-cylinder to give your boots scootin' ability. Look at the price sticker on the side window, however, and the longest section is devoted to "safety and security". That is the one feature that attracts most buyers to Volvos. No brand can claim more safety features. Begin with a safety cage inside a unibody construction. Add stability traction control, side head curtains, front and side air bags, and whiplash protection seats and head restraints. Much of Judge Bob's daily commute is on narrow rural roads, filled with oversized trucks who hog the center line. In this sporty Volvo S40, Judge Bob ruled. Pass with ease, stop on a dime and take up less than an entire lane of traffic. Perfect. The unusual 5-cylinder engine puts out 218 horsepower from its tiny 2.5 liters, thanks to turbocharging. Braking and suspension components are matched to this sporty engine. Fuel efficiency is excellent: 22 city and 30 highway. This car spoils Judge Bob for anything that follows. It's that good.
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© 2005, Robert C. Bowden
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