Name:    Jessica Cram
Occupation:    Architectural Technologist
First Car:    1989 Dodge Dakota 4X4
Current Car:    2003 Oldsmobile Alero
Dream Car:    Mini Checkmate Edition

“It is like sitting in a really nice living room.” So wrote one of the passengers of the Lexus. The interior, with its leather and abundant bird’s-eye maple accents, does indeed have the appearance of a well-appointed sitting room. Or, if you’re using the DVD player, a home theatre (there’s even a remote control). Lexus clearly pulled out all the stops when it came to interior design and comfort, but not at the expense of the vehicle’s performance. This thing goes. And does so with great handling and a smooth, responsive ride. Participants were particularly impressed with the fact that this SUV drove like a much more compact vehicle. Adding to its drivability were the voice activated navigation system and the back-up camera. These were just another couple of indications that Lexus understands that driving is meant to be fun, especially when you don’t have to worry about how to get from point A to B, or about shopping carts left in the middle of parking lots.�

 VOLVO S80 - Bill Ward & Gwen Bonneville�

Name:    Bill Ward
Occupation:    Automotive Safety Consultant
First Car:    1953 Studillac (Studebaker
Starliner with a Cadillac engine)
Current Car:    2000 S10 Extreme
Dream Car:    Bentley Coupe

Name:    Gwen M. Bonneville
Occupation:    Early Childhood Education
Specialist
Current Car:    2000 S10 Extreme
Dream Car:    BMW Z5 Coupe and a Vespa scooter

Most important feature
Him: Power and performance.
Her: Image and style.�

It’s no secret that Volvo doesn’t have the sexiest reputation. The name usually brings to mind reliability and sturdiness. The common perception seems to be that Volvo builds vehicles that “moms” like. The S80 does a great job of dispelling that notion. Actually, it blows it out of the water. Moms will still like it, but so will dads...and sons and daughters...and anybody else who enjoys a great ride. This is a sports car done up like a sedan. The drive was smooth, but powerful. Effortless, but fun. All the Volvo trademarks of safety and security were there, but so was incredible performance and smart design. Two features really caught the attention of participants. The first was the awesome roar of the engine. This is a car that really announces its presence. The other cool feature was the Gracenote™ CD database capability that identifies the artist and song when a CD is playing. While it didn’t really contribute that much to how the car drove, it is just another indication that Volvo really knows what they’re doing with car design. Smart.�

Subaru Outback - Glenn & Lisa Tinley �

Name:    Glenn Tinley
Occupation    Publisher —Winnipeg Men magazine
First Car:    1972 Ford Pinto
Dream Car:    Maserati Quattroporte

Name:    Lisa Tinley
Occupation:    Vice President of Marketing— Special Olympics Manitoba
First Car:    1988 Ford Topaz (hell on wheels)
Current Car:    2007 Pontiac Acadia
Dream Car:    Convertible of any kind on a hot summer day on a long winding road

Most important feature
Him: Everyday driving comfort.
Her: The height of the back seat so I do not have to bend over to put our son into his car seat.�

The Outback was, hands down, the surprise of the weekend. Its stylish and well-designed exterior aside, most couples’ first impression of the Subaru was, “It’s a station wagon.” Then they got behind the wheel. People loved it because it handled beautifully, went real fast, had a tight, responsive feel, and was one of the more comfortable rides of the weekend. It also impressed with its interior features and toys. The GPS system had a clear, easy-to-read display, the sound system was awesome, and the huge moon-roof gave the vehicle an almost convertible-like feel from the inside. Both drivers and passengers commented on the easily accessible controls, and the sensible placement of the numerous storage spaces. Interestingly, although the first impression of this vehicle was for the most part less than stellar, this was the one vehicle that a higher proportion of the couples said they would consider buying. “A high-performance family vehicle,” as one participant put it.�

Chevrolet Tahoe - Steven Gall & Alana Gunn�

Name:    Steven Gall
Occupation:    Chiropractor
First Car:    Chevy Chevette
Current Car:    Nissan Murano
Dream Car:    Porche Cayenne

Name:    Alana Gunn
Occupation:    Business Owner—Two Blonds and a Brunette Gift Co.
First Car:    BMW 328i
Current Car:    Caravan

Most important feature
Him: Power, speed, handling, luxury.
Her: Safety, roomy for kids, fuel economy.�

 The workhorse of the weekend. When it came to keeping up with the Infiniti, Passat, Audi, and the BMW, the Tahoe was, as expected, well out of its league. But for comfort, gadgets and utility, this vehicle was at the top of the list. With its XM Satellite radio, superb sound system, and Panasonic DVD player, the Tahoe was voted best vehicle for a family road trip. Besides that, drivers and passengers alike felt safe in this vehicle. Its size, comfort, and stability made for a very secure ride. The spacious interior and amount of storage space also left favourable impressions with the drivers. The other feature of the Tahoe that drew a lot of attention was its Active Fuel Management™ technology. When cruising down the highway, on level roads, or other situations where extra power isn’t required, AFM™ technology shuts down four of the eight cylinders—and does so without a discernible difference in performance. With current gas prices as they are, this feature also held a lot of appeal to those drivers with families.�

Audi A4 - Greg & Tammy Dueck �

Name:    Greg Dueck
Occupation:    Director of Industrial and Road Safety—Safety Services Manitoba
First Car:    1969 Charger RT
Current Car:    2005 Chrysler 300
Dream Car:    1968 Mustang Fastback

Name:    Tammy Dueck
Occupation:    Hairstylist and salon owner
First Car:    1982 Mercury Lynx
Current Car:    2002 Jeep Liberty Ltd
Dream Car:    1971 Baracuda or BMW X3

Most important feature
Him: Style.
Her: Practicality.�

With overwhelmingly positive comments, the A4 was a strong contender for car of the weekend. There was a lot of backroom dealing among drivers to arrange who was going to be next in this “sexy beast.” Drivers loved the sleek and stylish exterior, the minimal but functional interior, and especially the ride. Despite the non-cooperative weather on Saturday—which still didn’t deter almost anybody from putting the top down—the route we took this day really allowed the Audi to shine. With tight corners, a few straightaways, and the odd garter snake to out-manoeuvre, the Audi’s outstanding performance made for a really fun driving experience. The one complaint heard about this vehicle came from one of the male participants. He was having so much fun with the top down on Sunday afternoon that he didn’t notice the third-degree sunburn developing on the top of his head. He’d like to encourage Audi to make hats standard equipment—especially for those less hirsute drivers.�

BMW 328i - Carey Gregorashuk & Anna Bosica �

Name:    Carey Gregorashuk
Occupation:    Letter Carrier—Canada Post
First Car:    67 Oldsmobile 442
Current Car:    Mazda 3 GT
Dream Car:    32, 3 Window Coupe

Name:    Anna Bosica
Occupation:    Letter Carrier—Canada Post
First Car:    Ford Mustang
Current Car:    Nissan X-Terra 2000
Dream Car:    Before Pursuit: Mazda CX9 or Nissan Murrano.
After Pursuit:
Lexus for winter, BMW for summer

Most important feature
Him: “Bang for the buck” technology, performance and engineering.
Her: Comfort, gas mileage, appearance�.

The design engineers at Bayerische Motoren Werke must have had Manitoba in mind when they conceived this vehicle. It didn’t matter what the driving conditions were, the 328i handled them with grace and aplomb. Those lucky enough to give it a whirl while we were in Riding Mountain said that driving through the beauty of Manitoba’s best known national park with the top down was almost a religious experience. However, the feature that really resonated with drivers was the hardtop convertible, and the slick mechanism that raised and lowered it. A convertible that doubles as a hardtop found much favour with these Manitobans who envisioned year-round driving fun in the Beemer. The only complaint came from one reviewer who wished for a navigation system. This was quickly dismissed as it was felt that this would be a vehicle most wouldn’t mind getting lost in.�

VW Passat Wagon - Roger Rempel & Crystal Chercoe �

Name:    Roger Rempel
Occupation:    Environmental Engineer—Tetres Consultants Inc and President, Consulting Engineers of Manitoba Inc.
First Car:    Mazda
Current Car:    Honda Element, Vespa Gran Tourismo
Dream Car:    Bugatti Veyron 2

Name:    Crystal Chercoe
Occupation:    Social Entrepreneur
First Car:    Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais GT
Current: Car    Honda Civic H/B and Vespa GTS scooter
Dream Car:    Lexus SC 430, Ferrari, Bentley GT

Most important feature
Him: Good design, engineering, excellence, performance, ergonomics.
Her: Engineering, performance and reliability, aesthetics.�

As with the Subaru Outback, the Passat suffered from an initial assessment that when it comes to station wagons, there’s no “S” in SUV. All that remains is a utility vehicle and shuttling kids and lugging groceries in a pretty bland looking car with a sluggish and uninspiring ride. Apparently Volkswagen is on a mission to restore the image of the lowly station wagon, because the Passat is a vehicle that is about as far from that assessment as you can get. While it may indeed be used for the kids and the groceries, it’s going to make those trips a lot more fun than they used to be. Most participants felt that this vehicle was number two on the raw power scale—slightly behind the Infiniti. Its quick acceleration was particularly notable, especially as it wasn’t at the expense of handling and control. Also impressive was the clean, logical interior arrangement and the more than ample storage space. Another top-of-the-list vehicle for participants with families.�

Infiniti G35X - Rennie & Allison Zegalski �

Name:    Rennie Zegalski
Occupation:    Commercial Realtor
First Car:    1990 Ford Ranger
Current Car:    Acura MDX 2007
Dream Car:    Bentley

Name:    Allison Zegalski
Occupation:    Director, Communications—
Federal Government
First Car:    Purple 1998 Plymouth “Grimace” Breeze
Current Car:    2000 Honda CR-V
Dream Car:    Aston Martin

Most important feature
Him: Quality.
Her: Comfort and safety.�

 “Power.” The one word most participants used to describe the experience of driving the Infiniti. When two of the Pursuit couples took a wrong turn on Sunday afternoon, the task of chasing them down was left to the G35X. With its instant acceleration, and handling that seems to get tighter the faster you go, it was more than capable of reeling in the errant drivers. This was a vehicle that exceeded most drivers’ expectations. As one said, “The G obviously stands for g-force.” Flight was actually a common metaphor from participant commentaries. Aside from its pin-you-in-your-seat punch, participants loved the navigation system and the “cockpit” feel of being in the driver’s seat. And one of the passengers remarked that she was waiting for the announcement to “fasten seatbelts, place chair backs and tables in an upright position, and ensure that all carry-on luggage is safely stowed.”�

Mazda CX9 - Craig & Lisa Lawrence �

Name:    Craig Lawrence
Occupation:    Freelance writer & Program
Coordinator—Manitoba Marathon
First Car:    Toyota Corolla
Current Car:    Transport
Dream Car:    Mercedes SLK 350 Roadster

Name:    Lisa Lawrence
Occupation:    Planning & Programming— MTS TV
First Car:    Pacer (the fish bowl)
Current Car:    Yamaha Vino
Dream Car:    Before Pursuit: ’80s TR6 Convertible.
After Pursuit: Audi A4 convertible

Most important feature
Him: Performance and sound system.
Her: Fun to drive.�

Mazda doesn’t usually spring to mind when the topic of conversation is luxury vehicles. But the CX9 might change that. This was another vehicle that took participants by surprise. Mazda somehow figured out how to make the CX9 look sleek and sporty from the outside, and cavernous from the inside. The roominess for drivers and all the passengers is impressive. This is a vehicle that can accommodate a large family, a load of groceries, and a hockey bag or two. Sounds like a van, right? Doesn’t drive like one. “Smooth,” “peppy,” and “great handling” were all used to describe the CX9. And the fact that it was among the more affordable vehicles of the weekend placed it high on the lists of those participants with families.�

Mercedes Benz R500 - John & Kim Sauder �

Name:    John Sauder
Occupation:    Broadcaster
First Car:    ’66 Beetle
Current Car:    2003 Ford Taurus Station Wagon
Dream Car:    Porsche Carrera Convertible

Name:    Kim Sauder
Occupation:    Teacher (Phys Ed)
First Car:    Datsun Hatch Back
Current Car:    ’99 Cavalier Z24 Convertible
Dream Car:    Anything with John in it!

Most important feature
Him: Sporty, practical for camping and sports gear, dependable, good stereo.
Her: Affordable, reliable, fuel efficient, sporty and functional for our active outdoor life-style.�

A name like “Mercedes” carries with it some pretty high expectations. Styling, driveability, and especially luxury are all assumed to be given when the vehicle under discussion is a Benz. The R500 had it all—and then some. Most reviewers compared the ride to “being on rails,” with one driver insisting that the vehicle was clairvoyant—it was that responsive. The Mercedes also impressed with its power, virtually silent ride, and classy interior. The real crowd pleasers though, were the enormous moon roof, and especially the harman/kardon™ sound system. Several couples indicated that it was “best in the fleet.” The only quibble reviewers had was with the placement of the cruise control mechanism. It was thought to be a little too close to the turn signal, and made for a few unintended jumps into cruise mode. Other than that, the only complaint drivers had was when they had to let somebody else have a turn.�