Aston Martin DB9

I had just a little more than 48 hours. And, I have to admit, my heart leapt in my chest when I saw it. Forty-eight hours wasn’t nearly enough time.

But at least there was a long drive to Indianapolis in my future. Just more than 400 miles of pavement. That was definitely something to look forward to. I wouldn’t think of goodbye.

So, I hopped behind the wheel of the 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Volante and smiled with pure glee. I did, after all, have 48 hours behind the wheel of this test vehicle that had a price tag topping $208,000, and I was determined to eke out every ounce of enjoyment possible.

Before starting the car or even adjusting my seat, I had to touch everything. The leather of the steering wheel was smooth and supple, and the suede ceiling almost melted under my touch. The wood paneling had a shiny matte finish that felt like actual wood, and the knobs and dials on the center stack were actual metal. They tinked musically as I flicked my fingernails along the edges. The biggest surprise was the ashtray within the optional smoking kit. It was a removable glass bowl.

I was stunned. Every detail from the carefully hand-stitched seats right down to the lowly ashtray was breathtakingly planned and executed.

But the clock was ticking and a precious 10 minutes had already passed. So, I took the clear-topped key with the Aston Martin emblem below the glasslike covering and pushed it into the key slot on the dash, which doubles as an ignition. The engine roared to life.

The DB9 comes equipped with a 5.9-liter V-12 engine that delivers 470 horsepower, and its low, strong growl is absolutely lyrical. The thing that amazed me about this engine is that with all the power it held, it was just as beautifully executed as the interior design. Often with such power comes sudden and clumsy acceleration. Sudden and clumsy due to driver error. Yet, with the DB9, no matter how clumsily I stomped on the gas pedal, the acceleration was smooth and downright beautiful.

I had miles of open highway to play, and 55 mph seemed like I was crawling along. Luckily, once out of the immediate Chicago area, I-65 has a speed limit of 70 mph, and I was able to cruise effortlessly at something a little more than that.

For the three-hour drive to Indy, the driver’s seat was steadily comfortable, and the heated seats remained a nice warm consistent temperature.

Because the test vehicle was the DB9 Volante, that means it was a convertible. Like everything else, it was beautifully executed. With a push of the button the top flowed down into a compartment into the trunk. It was a bit chilly during the brief test period, but I did manage a couple of jaunts with the top down. For the bulk of my trip, however, the top was up. Which gave me plenty of time to analyze any wind noise that might escape in through the canvas top. Amazingly, due to the three layers under the canvas top, the DB9 Volante was quieter than most sedans.

Much as I absolutely loved this car, I have to admit there were a couple little things that put a damper on my mood. I figured that a car topping $200K would have beat pretty much every mundane issue one might encounter in a mere vehicle. But that was not the case. The first thing I noticed was the heaviness of the trunk and lack of handhold to open the lid. It unlatched with a click of the key fob, but it didn’t automatically raise. I had to grip the ledge above the license plate to raise the trunk, and it was a bit awkward given the weight of the metal lid. Plus, there’s always the concern that I could scratch the pearlescent white paint.

The second thing I noted was the fact that the windows were auto down … but not auto up. With everything else so meticulously executed, this was more of a surprise than an annoyance. If a $20K car can do this, why not a $200K one?

It boggles my mind that there could possibly be options on this car. But there were about $10K of extras that were listed on the sticker sheet. The base price for the DB9 Volante is $198,200, and the test vehicle added a plethora of items such as the optional smokers kit, 19-inch 15-spoke wheels, carpet color, contrast stitching and perforated leather seat insert. The final price of the test vehicle including the $2,100 gas guzzler fee was $208,970.

On the drive to my sister’s house in Indy, I called and warned her that I had something special. And the weekend was filled with driving to birthday parties and first communions to show off the most expensive car I’ve had the pleasure to keep overnight. The gear heads had to look under the hood, and the awestruck needed a ride around the block. Everyone wanted to hear the engine and sit in driver’s seat.

I learned several things during my short time behind the wheel. First, the quiet beauty of the DB9 Volante is definitely a head turner to those who know what they’re looking at. Second, someone who is 6-foot, 10-inches cannot fit behind the wheel. Well, he can, but he looks like a giant with knees cradling the sides of the steering wheel.

I also learned that I could quite happily trade my condo for this car. It was gorgeous and a dream to drive. When reality hit on Monday morning, I reluctantly turned over the jewellike key fob and watched the taillights disappear down my alley.

For me it’s nice to know such stunning works of automotive art exist. Even if I’ll never make enough money to own one. Sigh.

2009 Dodge Charger

The first thing I noted about the 2009 Dodge Charger was the comfort. Usually I get behind the wheel of a Chrysler product, and I’m instantly in an awkward position. The steering wheel, the seat, the gearshift are all in places that just aren’t optimal.

Yet, when I slid behind the wheel of the Charger, I experienced instant comfort. And I was surprised.

For the rest of the review, visit SearchChicago - Autos.

2009 Volkswagen CC

With the long lean lines, couplike styling and downward sloping hood, you could almost swear you were looking at a Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. Instead, it was the all-new 2009 Volkswagen CC. And it costs $40,000 less.

I was smitten with the CC before I even drove it simply because of its classy, elegant styling. Getting behind the wheel, however, was slightly anticlimactic. Don’t get me wrong; I liked it. But I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would.

To read the rest of the review, visit SearchChicago - Autos.

2009 Mini Cooper Convertible

Mini has the tendency to make quirky cool. And, from the Union Jack that can be painted on the roof to the large speedometer appearing on the center stack that inspires back-seat drivers everywhere, there’s a plethora of quirk in a Mini Cooper.

The newest tool in the cool box: the Openometer. This gauge shows up behind the steering wheel on the 2009 Mini Cooper Convertible and displays the amount of time you drive around topless. Well, not you personally, but the car.

To read the rest of the story, visit SearchChicago - Autos at: http://tr.im/kQqR

2009 BMW 750i

If there’s one thing you should know about BMW it’s this: It makes a phenomenal driver’s vehicle. Each BMW is meant to be driven to the fullest, which I would expect from the sportier, tinier cars in the lineup. But when you see it in vehicles like the X6 and 7-Series, it’s pretty awesome.

In a recent test of the 2009 750i I was constantly amazed by its fleet-footed acceleration and relative alacrity. It drove like a much smaller car. But make no mistake, at 199.8 inches, this is a large sedan. Longer than many SUVs, actually. So its nimbleness was quite surprising. From my tight condo parking space to narrow Chicago alleys, I found that I could maneuver the test car quite well.

To read the rest of the story, go to SearchChicago - Autos at: http://tr.im/kr2V

The focus is fuel economy

At a recent Midwest Automotive Media Association dinner hosted by Chevrolet, Ed Peper gave a very compelling speech about the state of affairs at Chevrolet. While he acknowledged tough times ahead, the overall prospects for the brand look good. Especially since the new focus is fuel economy, fuel economy, fuel economy.

In fact, Chevrolet announced today that the 2010 Equinox SUV is expected to deliver an estimated 32 mpg on the highway with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. This means you can travel about 600 miles on a single tank of gas. While final EPA estimates aren't out, the expected city/highway mileage when the Equinox hits the streets in June will be 22/32 mpg. This is significantly better than the Honda CR-V (20/27 mpg) and the Toyota RAV-4 (22/28 mpg).

With all the focus on efficiency, one of my twitter friends raised a very good question: What about the Corvette? With only V-8 engine options, you're looking at a best case scenario of 26 mpg on the highway.

During the dinner, Peper had good words for the Camaro and several of the all-new smaller offerings from Chevrolet like the Cruze and Orlando ... but nary a word about Corvette. Anyone out there who can weigh in on this?

Does Corvette have a future? I sure as hell hope so.

2010 Lexus RX 350

I have to admit Lexus has done such a great job with its vehicles that they’ve actually become a bit boring. So well made. So luxurious. So comfortable. So uninspiring. So predictable.

Which is why sliding behind the wheel of the 2010 RX 350 was such a nice surprise.

This benchmark crossover may look familiar with the shape that launched the segment, but don’t let that fool you. This vehicle is all new for 2010, and it has raised the bar again.

I’m typically not a fan of anything larger than a coupe for my personal use, but after driving the RX 350 for a week, it has joined the Nissan Maxima on my top-pick list.

Read the rest of the review on SearchChicago - Autos at: http://tr.im/keMT.