Fuel Infection
Automotive Reviews
2005 Dodge Durango Adventurer
Nov 13th
The name badge said “Adventurer,” so we took the new Durango adventuring. We drove to the northern Michigan wilderness on a rescue mission, and we prowled urban Detroit, and Dodge’s “tween-”sized SUV showed equal ability at both tasks.
Redesigned in 2004, the rough, tough, do-it-all Durango adds the Adventurer model for this year. Aimed at active customers who take their SUVs camping and traveling, the Durango Adventurer (the name once graced Dodge pickup trucks) features additional cargo carrying gear and off-road protection. Add heated cloth seats and a HEMI V8 engine to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for a nice adventure indeed. More >
2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Nov 13th
Like the Mazda Miata and Volkswagen Beetle, Chrysler’s PT Cruiser is a feel-good sort of car. It’s hard not to be in a bad mood when driving one, because there’s just something about the little retro-commuter that makes people smile. The PT may not be as universally adored as the Miata, but it’s a great companion. The tall body, good road manners and versatile cargo-carrying ability make it the perfect break from the ordinary when it comes to mundane day-to-day tasks.
For 2006, Chrysler has given the PT Cruiser a quick redesign, with a revised front and rear that give it a bit more of a family resemblance to the rest of the Chrysler lineup (Remember, the PT Cruiser started life as a Plymouth, before that brand’s demise). More >
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
Nov 13th
You’ve probably got a lot of ideas about what a minivan is. It’s a people-mover, it’s a symbol of middle-age stodginess, it’s a parking-lot hogging visibility blocker. We’d like to add one more idea to the pile: it’s a tree fort on wheels.
Remember the tree fort you had (or wanted) as a kid? It was the home base for most summertime adventures. Bring a sleeping bag and a lantern, and you could camp out in it. There was space for a stash of snacks, space for friends to hang out, and plenty of comfortable places to sit. A recent long trip in the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan revealed it to have all of the qualities of that old tree fort, with one telling difference. In fact, it’s better, because unlike that tree fort star cruiser or pirate ship which was always in the same place once your imagination wound down, the Caravan can actually take you out on those adventures. Okay, a minivan can’t navigate the stars or the stormy Atlantic, but anyplace in the continental U.S. is fair game. Ahoy, matey, indeed. More >