welcome
to drivetime-radio.com. this is where you'll find an archive of longtime radio and tv personality new
york vinnie richichi's popular vehicle review radio feature drivetime. vehicle
reviews delivered in a real person to person
style. it's all here for car lovers...auto and truck
reviews, news and information. check back often as news and reviews are
being added constantly. also listen for drivetime on a radio station
near you and look for drivetime-tv video reviews on www.937thefan.com ! before you buy your next car or truck listen to what vinnie has to say about it right here or contact vinnie at... vinnie@drivetime-radio.com
CLICK BELOW TO SEE OUR COVERAGE OF THE 2011 PITTSBURGH AUTO SHOW
a quick tour of some of the cool cars and trucks on display at the 2011 pittsburgh international auto show.
this weeks featured review
2011 NISSAN 370Z NISMO COUPE
2011 NISSAN 370Z NISMO
while
NISSAN'S 370Z is an incredible sports car in it's stock "nice" form, the
boys and girls over at NISSAN'S performance shop NISMO have turned
"nice" into NASTY. the 2011 370Z NISMO begs to be driven, not in traffic
as there it feels almost uncomfortable but like all cars that have true
racing blood, out on the open road with the gurgle of exhaust and the
slight squeal of hot tire grabbing a little asphalt. the NISMO never
disappoints anyone who wants to take it on and better yet push it a
little and is one of the automotive world's little rewards for those who
are lucky enough to spend a week in one. if it is possible to have an
affair with a car, the NISMO will never run out of suitors.
it's no secret that BUICK is doing everything they can to shed their image as your grandfathers car, although my grandfather had a GS455 back in the 70's that I always wanted. it looks like they might finally be succeeding with cars like the REGAL TURBO. fast, athletic with clean lines and lots of power for a 4 cylinder turbo with a 6 speed automatic, the REGAL is a car that should get people into BUICK showrooms looking for something besides a crossover. there is a reason they are plastering ads for the REGAL all over the NCAA tournament, to get you to look. i say its well worth the stop if you are looking for a sporty sedan.
it was a lot of fun driving the only CHEVROLET VOLT in Pittsburgh! lots of folks stopped and stared, some offered granola and yogurt parfaits, others lauded us for helping to save the enviroment and a select few laughed because old habits die hard. from the drivers seat though the VOLT was a revolutionary machine that was fun to drive as well as technologically engaging. this car is going to be a winner for CHEVY and for the American people! click for review....
2011 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY LARIAT POWERSTROKE DIESEL
2011 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY DIESEL
while the GMC DENALI brings an air of civility and softness to the big boy's work truck it seems after a week and a thousand or so miles in FORD'S F350 SUPER DUTY LARIAT CREW CAB POWER STROKE DIESEL you kind of get the feeling that FORD'S entry is ready to kick some serious butt. with superb ride and handling, quiet and comfortable cab, a diesel that runs cleaner and is more powerful than anything FORD has stuck in one of it's pickups before it seems that they are serious about staying on top of the work truck pile. the F350 SUPER DUTY is so much of a truck you will find yourself pulling right up next to the KENWORTHS and the PETERBUILTS at the big truck gas pumps at your local truck stop...and feeling right at home!
got to hand it to CHEVROLET. they have come up with the right car at the right time. the CHEVY CRUZE TURBO is a solid package that gets high 30's gas mileage, seats 5 comfortably, has some pop to it when you hit the gas, is well designed with an especially stylish interior, handles well and is another reason to take a look at American cars once again. this one was on the drawing boards before the troubles hit GM but it might become the symbol of the revival of the automaker. the CRUZE goes right after TOYOTA. can it make a dent?
sporty, fun to drive, unique looking and it passes a lot of $4 a gallon gas stations between having to stop off for a drink. the 2 is a pretty hot little number for MAZDA. if you are someone who loves to drive and wants a little more than four wheels and a radio in their commutomobile then you are going to love the 2. you can feel the sports car genes when you open it up yet it has sense enough to behave like an econo car in daily traffic. MAZDA did America a solid by bringing the 2 to our shores. it's a small car for the MIATA lover in all of us!
if you are looking for a truck that sweats testosterone, that says "you da man..."no im the man"..."no you da man", a truck that uses steroids instead of gasoline, thats bigger than life itself then look no further. GMC's DENALI HD2500 DURAMAX DIESEL CREW CAB PICKUP is about as manly as you are going to get on four wheels. but with all of the scratching going on there is also a civility to the DENALI, a softness to the inside that says all you gotta do is wash me off and i'll be ready for saturday night. GMC's DENALI is a top of the line pickup that is at the top of the pickup game. the DENALI makes getting whatever job you throw at it a little bit more fun to get done.
HOOD BADGES ARE PROMINENT IN CASE YOU FORGET WHAT YOU ARE DRIVING
2011 CADILLAC CTS COUPE
2011 CADILLAC CTS COUPE
this weeks edition of drivetime has us cruising in style in the 2011 CADILLAC CTS COUPE. somewhere along the way cadillac coupes stopped being the kind of cars that guys like chuck berry wrote songs about. the new GM has gone a long way in trying to restore some of that romance, making it's CTS Coupe a car with distinctive lines, a lot of power, great handling and an elegant interior. is it enough to make somebody pick up a guitar? better yet is it enough to give BMW a run for their money? click on the icon on the left to hear my review of the latest of GM's comeback kids!
Mitsubishi has gussied up it's Outlander for 2010 with some nice cosmetic touches and some hi-tech improvements. some people are going to love the design and some are going to think it looks like a goldfish. as a guy who likes to tailgate i'm not as concerned about the front as i am about the big time bonus the split rear lid offers. it's also roomy, fun to drive and has that big pounder in the back to keep the music flowing. if you are looking for an f.u.v....Fun Utility Vehicle...the Outlander should be on your list!
if they were aiming for a solid, fun to drive small sedan that gives you a lot of space inside and a lot of bang for the buck, Suzuki hit the mark big time. with good feel of the road, all wheel drive, comfortable seats and quality interior, the Kizashi is a serious contender that hangs tough in a crowded field. if you are looking for a lot of car for 23k you should take a look at the Kizashi!
in the
sixties it was called "THE HUGGER". for 2010 they might want to call it
the "Mother Hugger" 'cause Chevy's SS version of it's iconic ponycar is
all grown up and without a doubt has somewhere to go...and quickly!
while the Camaro SS may not be as fast as the Ford Shelby Mustang GT or
as neck snapping as the Dodge Challenger SRT Hemi, the SS puts it all
together in a quick, tourquey, spectacularly handling road machine.
don't ask me what I want for Christmas...just go get me one of these
babies! actually wait until the convertible version hits the showroom
next year!
Ford hit the nail on the head with it's european based TRANSIT CONNECT. not only will you see legions of these quirky looking vehicles running around town delivering everything from flowers to people, but i think that it is just versatile enough to become as cool as the VW bus was in the sixties. surfers, garage sale fans, campers and people looking for room to haul the family around town in something a little different are going love the TC. great seating postions, easy access in and out for both passengers and cargo and mid twenties gas mileage are just some of the bonuses that come with the TRANSIT CONNECT. is a Peter Max version on the way?
a most impressive effort by BUICK, the LACROSSE has style, quality and comfort all at a great price. you have to throw out all of what you thought you knew about BUICK because the LACROSSE represents a BUICK that wants to go toe to toe with LEXUS, INFINITI and ACURA. sure your grandma will still like her BUICK but this one is aimed squarely at her grandson who hasn't stopped by a BUICK showroom in a long time!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! WE GET 2010 OFF TO A FAST START WITH THE MAZDASPEED 3 HATCHBACK!
A PIT STOP AT THE U-TOTEM IN ELLENSBURG
those folks at MAZDA have built themselves one mighty fine little sportscar in the MAZDASPEED 3! a perfect confluence of comfort, performance, practicality and good looks the MAZDASPEED 3 never disappoints. winding out the six speed manual you feel the thrill of what putting a sportscar through it's paces is supposed to feel like and you still have room for that trip to the nursery or lumber yard. this car makes you want to drive! zoom-zoom!
quite quirky looking is the HONDA CROSSTOUR wannabe suv but you have to think that honda fans who are looking for what amounts to an accord station wagon are going to love this hauler. it gives you the car feel but also allows you to carry more than the sedan without having to drive an suv. the commercials for the crosstour are groovy and come to think of it the crosstour is too!!! click to the left for vinnie's review.
if you know about cars you know about AUDI. they are some of the best built fun to drive luxury cars on the road today. the new A4 continues on that theme and takes it to the next level with the new 211 horsepower TURBO QUATTRO edition. when you talk about "northwest types" of cars you have to give this one a long hard look. it's handling in wet or slick weather is among the best i've ever driven and it's responsiveness when you hit the gas is phenominal! AUDI gives you the whole package in the A4! click on the icon to the left to hear my review!
make no mistake about it...the ram makes no apologies about what it is, a big ass pickup truck. if you are buying this truck you aren't thinking about gas mileage...you're worried about loading, pulling, towing, and getting the job done right way before you are thinking about whether or not this truck gets as much milegae as a prius! well the RAM delivers big time. click to the left to hear my review.
SEATTLE AUTO SHOW 2009...AN AUDIO LOOK
CADILLAC CONVERJ COUPE
while there are plenty of cool new cars to see this weekend at the 2009 seattle auto show including the corvette sting ray and cadillac converj concepts, a lincoln concept with suicide doors, the fisker karma and acuras newest crossover that looks like a bmw crossover, the thing i have dug since i was a kid was listening to the model-spokesmen/women talk about the features and improvements on all of the hot new cars. so this session of drivetime is a tribute to them...the men and women of the turntable!
like kermit the frog once sang...happiness is bein' green (although van morrison did a great version of that song as well)! i find it tough to imagine that anyone that spends some time in the new lexus greenmachine the RX450h crossover would be anything but happy with this fine technological wonder! from the subtle changes on the outside to one of the most comfortable, driver friendly, technologically advanced interiors lexus has crafted yet another great luxury vehicle this time with the enviroment and the public's insatiable taste for anything thats green in mind.
soul can mean a lot of things...your inner spirit, great music, chicken and waffles, you get the picture. now soul also means a fun, boxy little car from KIA. check out vinnie's review of the 2010 KIA Soul by clicking the link on the left.
2010 JAGUAR XF PREMIUM SEDAN
jaguars new xf premium sedan is one incredible car. modern lines but with the classic jaguar feel this jag does not disappoint on any level. loaded with high tech stuff it's right in the middle of the 21st century but holds on to the bloodlines of the great jags of the past. power, luxury, grace and just enough tradition makes it one snarling cat! click to the left to hear vinnie's review of the jag that everyone is stopping to look at!
jaguar takes it in a whole new direction with the XF. luxury, speed and a lot of trick stuff make this sedan not only fun to drive but on the top of the high tech heap as well! listen to vinnie's review by clicking on the left.
THE LATEST EDITION OF DRIVETIME TV
a million and a half bucks on four wheels! the tires cost 20 grand! thats the Bugatti Veyron. 1000 horsepower with all wheel drive, zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds. it's the definition of a supercar and there are just 200 in the world. vinnie finds one here in seattle and takes you on a quick tour.
A FIRST PEEK AT TWO NEW SUBARU'S AND A LINCOLN
a busy week as we give you a first look at subaru's new legacy sedan and outback wagon and a look and ride in lincoln's new MKT crossover.
previous reviews
A LABOR DAY TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S HARDEST WORKER...THE PICKUP TRUCK
it may be America's best worker...it carries massive loads, gets through all kinds of weather, doesn't have to take the day off when it gets a scratch and only drinks five quarts every 5,000 miles....oh and it is the best in the world at what it does...it is the pickup truck. listen below as I pay tribute to this big part of most blue collar working folks lives!
maybe porsche drivers don't wave to each other like corvette owners do...probably because they are so absorbed in what might be the perfect road machine...the carrera s. it's a lot of money...it uses a lot of gas...but believe me it's a lot of car!
KIA'S completely new FORTE packs a lot of value into a small package. standard equipment includes steering wheel controls, bluetooth connectivity,traction control, abs, and a bunch of other safety equipment and all at under 20k. click below for vinnie's review of the KIA FORTE EX.
lexus' sporty IS 350 sedan has a lot to like and its own personality in a crowded field of great cars. two long trips in the 350 gave me a better understanding why lexus owners are so loyal to the brand!
