By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

The 2006 Cadillac DTS is a modern technology-laden version of the big American luxury liner, a boat by any other name, DeVille.

With a hint of Cadillac’s current edgy styling, including a vertical headlamp theme and some sharply creased sheetmetal, the big Cadillac sedan is still the DeVille that a majority of Cadillac buyers have known and loved for more than half a century. Gone is the storied DeVille name, but the essence of the DeVille is there in the DTS from its softer ride to its spacious interior.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

People have joked for several years that the Toyota Avalon is the best Buick sold in America.

We’ve got an update. Stop the press for a bulletin - the all-new 2006 Buick Lucerne is now the best Buick sold between the Atlantic and the Pacific. It could be argued with conviction that it’s the best Buick ever built by Buick — or anyone else.

 By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

For years BMW has supplied “the ultimate driving machine” to people who live for the simple joy of driving. Few have argued with the German company’s braggadocios description of its vehicles. BMW’s road manners have put truth in advertising.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Upscale sport utility vehicles are still on the most wanted end of the automotive spectrum. At least for those with excess disposable income.

But buying a Porsche Cayenne, a Mercedes ML350 or a Cadillac Escalade certainly is not as politically correct as it once was. Getting politically correct may mean making another choice, particularly one that uses less fossil fuel.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Audi’s timing is perfect. That’s because California gas prices are in the $2.50-a-gallon range, and on the East Coast prices are over $2.00 for unleaded regular.

As fuel prices escalate, fluctuate and manipulate, it seems that many vehicles are getting bigger which in itself makes the problem even larger. Look around, the trend has been to make an all-new model larger — and in many cases heavier — than the previous one.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Gaining that wonderful feeling that all is right with the world can be achieved without the benefit of mind-altering substances.

It’s possible to reach this level of nirvana on the open road behind the wheel of an automobile that fits like a glove — a car that has the rare ability to become one with the driver, a vehicle that answers all requests with a “can do” attitude, and it’s affordable.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Volvo has become known for its great seats and cutting-edge safety and nothing has changed with the all-new 2007 S80 mid-sized luxury sedan.

The seats are heavenly.

And as the competition catches up to Volvo in safety equipment, the Swedish automaker has jumped ahead with a couple of innovations. Some might consider these new features technology run amok. We disagree, at least on one.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Steel top convertibles may not have the same panache as traditional soft top open-air machines. After all the so-called rag tops have a century of nostalgia on their side.
Cloth has been the fabric of open-air automobiles since the horseless carriage.