What I Drove in 2011: The Year in Cars

We’ve compiled our year in driving in a singular blog post. We drove cars in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Le Mans, France. We drove big cars, we drove small cars. We drove gasoline engines, electric cars and hybrids. We drove 53 cars. We drove 2011 models. We drove 2012 models. And still so many cars left to drive. Gotryke’s Year in Cars: 1. Honda... Read More

Lee Quinones Drives the Infiniti QX56

Our resident artist/car critic, Lee Quinones, weighs in on the supple SUV, the 2011 Infiniti QX56, for Gotryke. The 2011 QX56 has sizable presence to say the least. I would guess that when such size matters, then the wallet and road lanes come with the package because this pup takes it all. The bigger they are the harder they may fall doesn’t apply her,e because when it... Read More

2010 Nissan Altima Coupe: Party of One

Party of one — that’s what the 2010 Nissan Altima Coupe does best, make a single person’s get around town peppy and look good while doing it. The sedan is in the new grocery getter segment, but the Altima coupe is no family car. Think of it as the muted version of the 370Z, spicy with mild + sauce and a design scheme that shares definite traits with the sister... Read More

Nissan Leaf Shakes the Money Tree

Nissan turns a new leaf with the approval of a $1.4 billion government loan for production of the Nissan Leaf in Smyrna, Tenn providing up to 1,300 green-minded jobs in a move that calls attention in the automakers’ race to claim the greenest car company award. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced that the Department of Energy sealed the deal today, after Nissan met rigorous... Read More

Top Ten Cars of 2009

It takes a realistic optimist to be enthusiastic about vehicles in 2009. A realistic optimist looks at 2009 as the basis for a meaner, leaner decade, shaped by some sense of purpose. And purpose is surely what’s been lacking in the credit-driven capitalistic society. It’s an old trend with a new name: maturialism. The reality is that 2009 was full of painful and complex... Read More

Attention music producers: Get paid to make car noises

I edged the nose of the new Toyota Prius to turn onto the busy thoroughfare. I felt small and insignificant.  No one could hear me, quiet as a church mouse with the super silent engine. I prayed no one whizzed by and missed me as I leaped forward into the blind spot. And on a few separate occasions, one of our test car drivers left a quiet hybrid running. He couldn’t... Read More

Nissan Cube: Wacky Wedding Chariot

“It looks like Fred Flintstone’s car!” That was the initial response from one passenger at first glance in our driveway. We climbed inside and marveled at the quirky interior, complete with a swirly ceiling, red-accented rubber bands inexplicably attached to the doors and a shag rug on top of the dash. We had a contest to determine all of the things that the shag... Read More

Nice and Nissan: 2010 Nissan Murano LE

guess what’s inside. Sunny afternoon outing with a couple ladies and baby in tow and the 2010 Nissan Murano LE was an ideal partner. Let me clarify – these are not the average ladies. We’re talking fly, discerning and sophisticated ladies, the kind of ladies who will tear down your vehicular pleasure principle with a blunt blow. When the Murano first came... Read More

Lee Quinones to the Maximum: 2009 Nissan Maxima

Our artistically-inclined Gotryke contributor/test driver Lee Quinones has some reflections after some time behind the wheel of the 2009 Nissan Maxima. Notes from Lee’s time in the field: As soon as I get into a ride I can read off all its goods and bad like a Presidential speech. This coach read off swell and well to me. The interior was very manageable with all of the... Read More

2009 Nissan Maxima: drive it to the max

Pessimism. Yawn symphony — we’re tired of it. Yes, things are tough out there. But, we’ve got to keep going. One day people will need to buy new cars and we’ll bet they’ll be looking for new things that they actually might like — a spring cleaning of sorts. The 2009 Nissan Maxima reeks of spring-like sensations. Here’s another instance... Read More