Top Six under $45,000

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By John LeBlanc

Do you have $45 big ones burning a hole in your car account? Want a ride that’s well-made, fun-to-drive and a good value? Alphabetically, here are my top half-dozen choices, whether you’re looking for a spots car or a people mover: Read more

2010 New York: Concepts

Conceptually lacking

After shows in Detroit, Chicago, and Geneva, the Big Apple shindig had little excitement for those looking for the future of the car

By John LeBlanc

NEW YORK – Maybe it’s a sign of smaller development budgets in today’s still struggling auto industry. But the word “fresh” is hardly the word to describe the concept cars at this year’s New York auto show. Despite show organizers promoting newer concepts like the Audi e-tron, Cadillac XTS or Toyota FT-CH beforehand, none were present during the media days at this year’s show. Instead, most of the show cars have been seen many times before (Suzuki’s Makai debuted almost three years ago!) More “nostalgia” than “new,” here are the top eight show cars from this year’s Big Apple event. Read more

The Crank: Is Acura’s new TSX Sport Wagon good enough?

By John LeBlanc

We—as in myself and many of The Crank faithful—appreciate a good sports wagon like wine lovers enjoy a good pinot noir. Either as a slightly more practical alternative to a more confining sports sedan, or a more fun-to-drive diversion from the cute-ute herd, sports wagon fans, there are many. Read more

Stuff: Convertible history

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Wind-in-your-hair motoring through the ages

A recent drive in some older ‘Benz convertibles highlight the evolution of the open-air car

By John LeBlanc

MALLORCA, Spain – Completely unlike what’s available in new-car showrooms these days, at the dawn of the automobile age more than a century ago, virtually all cars were convertibles. The main reason was cost and weight. The features car buyers take for granted today in even the least expensive set of wheels – roof, glass windows, proper weatherproofing – were either too expensive or too heavy It would take until 1910 before luxury brand Cadillac offered the first fully enclosed car. Read more

First Drive: 2011 Mercedes-Benz E Class Cabriolet

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The Anti-Convertible

Mercedes’ latest four-seat cabriolet attempts to eradicate that wind-in-your-hair feeling from open-air cars

By John LeBlanc

MALLORCA, Spain – When was the last time you felt that cherished “wind in your hair” feeling? My guess, not recently. The desire to save our precious craniums means no one rides a bike in the summer or skates at the local rink in the winter without some kind of CSA-certified protection covering our noggins. And with air conditioning a “must have” in any new car, driving with the windows down is becoming a thing of the past. In today’s safety-conscious and climate-controlled world, opportunities are few and far between to have your follicles tussled. Read more

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