REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

A new start

The Pontiac Montana came with a slew of changes last year. In addition to adjustments made to the front end (bumpers and grille), this minivan had benefited from a magic seat that can be tucked under the floor, a rear parking radar, side airbags which protect both the head and the thorax, remodeled seats and soon an AWD system.Much like the Chrysler Caravan and Voyager, the Montana is available in regular and extended wheelbase versions, all equipped this year with a fourth door. All doors open onto a bright, comfortable and inviting interior. The driving position is good, visibility is panoramic, equipment is detailed, instrumentation is minimal and controls are easy to read and use.

A few glitches: loudspeakers are positioned too low in the trunk, the absence of accessible coat hooks (in the three door version) and windshield wipers heap snow, slush and water a few centimetres from roof pillars. Worse still, this vehicle’s manufacturing quality is very inconsistent at times.Only one engine is available to power this minivan, the 3.4-litre V6 with an output of 185 horses and 210 pound-feet of torque. Considering the vehicle’s weight and its main mission, it isn’t very much, although I must say that pick-up in the low rpm range is still interesting. The four-speed automatic transmission works flawlessly and is very smooth. When it comes to handling, the Montana is precise and pleasant to drive. This minivan has the qualities it needs to stand up to the best of its competitors. But unlike them, this Pontiac drives more like a truck and doesn’t seem to take well to corners, no doubt because of its width. It’s too bad that this Pontiac doesn’t offer four disc brakes, even as an option. Like many other vehicles in its category, it seems to run out of steam after a few emergency stops.

General Motor ’ s powerful distribution network has contributed largely to the Montana ’ s success, even if it could do better.

PROS
Choice of models
Modular interior
Pleasant to drive

CONS
Marginal V6 power
Mediocre braking system

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * *
Passenger: * * * *

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Driving a Porsche 911 Turbo is a lot like having sex

In fact, driving a Porsche 911 Turbo is a lot like sex, what with all the excitement and endorphins going on. In fact, a whole bunch of people might say that it’s even better than sex. For one thing, it’s more accessible. You can mat the throttle of a 911 as many times as you want. The average Canadian, on the other hand, only has sex 2.7 times per week. Porsche Turbos never suffer from ‘performance anxiety’. No one has ever called 415 rampaging horses impotent. But there’s much more to the this latest Turbo than just impressing the Joneses and bolstering your sex life. It’s called performance, and this Porsche has it in spades.Inside the no-nonsense interior, the front seats are firm, supportive and totally comfortable. Rear seats are extremely cramped and there ’ s a distinct lack of inside storage space. Those 415 horsepower (at 6,000 rpm) are accompanied by a stump-pulling 413 lb.-ft of torque (at a relatively subterranean 2,700 rpm), the two of which combine for a zero- to-100 km/h time of just 4.2 seconds and a claimed top speed of 305 klicks per hour.

Fed by not one, but two turbochargers through an intercooler, the Turbo’s response to commands from the helm is immediate. Accelerating in the Porsche is like being pulled relentlessly ahead by the world’s largest rubber band; it feels like you’ll never run out of power. In fact, it’s almost certain you’ll run out of bottle before the Turbo calls an end to the festivities. What makes this all even more incredible is that the latest version of this rocketship is a veritable pussycat, especially when compared with the famed Turbos that have gone before.

Old rear-wheel-drive Turbos were indescribable terrors, always challenging their drivers to push to the edge of traction and then biting them right in the tender parts for daring to imagine they were anywhere competent enough to pilot such a ominous beast. Porsche did away with this diabolical treachery by first adding all-wheel-drive to smooth out the power delivery and, more recently, including its electronic Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system to prevent such drastic fishtailing (as well as understeer). The result is Ferrari-type performance needing just Plain Jane Chevy driving skills. Like last year’s Carrera 4, the 2001 Turbo is an amazingly precise car, yet its demands are few.

PROS
Powertrain performance
Steering/handling Driving fun

CONS
Interior room
Price

2006 Germany

REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Driving a Porsche 911 Turbo is a lot like having sex

In fact, driving a Porsche 911 Turbo is a lot like sex, what with all the excitement and endorphins going on. In fact, a whole bunch of people might say that it’s even better than sex. For one thing, it’s more accessible. You can mat the throttle of a 911 as many times as you want. The average Canadian, on the other hand, only has sex 2.7 times per week. Porsche Turbos never suffer from ‘performance anxiety’. No one has ever called 415 rampaging horses impotent. But there’s much more to the this latest Turbo than just impressing the Joneses and bolstering your sex life. It’s called performance, and this Porsche has it in spades.Inside the no-nonsense interior, the front seats are firm, supportive and totally comfortable. Rear seats are extremely cramped and there ’ s a distinct lack of inside storage space. Those 415 horsepower (at 6,000 rpm) are accompanied by a stump-pulling 413 lb.-ft of torque (at a relatively subterranean 2,700 rpm), the two of which combine for a zero- to-100 km/h time of just 4.2 seconds and a claimed top speed of 305 klicks per hour.

Fed by not one, but two turbochargers through an intercooler, the Turbo’s response to commands from the helm is immediate. Accelerating in the Porsche is like being pulled relentlessly ahead by the world’s largest rubber band; it feels like you’ll never run out of power. In fact, it’s almost certain you’ll run out of bottle before the Turbo calls an end to the festivities. What makes this all even more incredible is that the latest version of this rocketship is a veritable pussycat, especially when compared with the famed Turbos that have gone before.

Old rear-wheel-drive Turbos were indescribable terrors, always challenging their drivers to push to the edge of traction and then biting them right in the tender parts for daring to imagine they were anywhere competent enough to pilot such a ominous beast. Porsche did away with this diabolical treachery by first adding all-wheel-drive to smooth out the power delivery and, more recently, including its electronic Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system to prevent such drastic fishtailing (as well as understeer). The result is Ferrari-type performance needing just Plain Jane Chevy driving skills. Like last year’s Carrera 4, the 2001 Turbo is an amazingly precise car, yet its demands are few.

PROS
Powertrain performance
Steering/handling Driving fun

CONS
Interior room
Price

2006 Germany