Lots of racers use video cameras to capture action at the track. Some of this is for fun, because it is enjoyable to review an exciting day’s activity. Some video is for sharing, because if you make an epic start or pass, you want your buddies to see it. Some of this use of video is to gather evidence; if you protest or someone protests against you, you’d like to have an objective record of what happened. And our favorite reason for racing videos is learning, because sometimes you or another driver can see what went wrong or what went right and you can do better next time. So, video is good. Not only that, it is relatively cheap and has the appearance of being easy.
In the world of the workaday enthusiast, minivans don’t usually come to mind as the fun, stylish vehicle that drivers are clamoring to own or drive. The segment is, however, not without its charms. Especially with the advancement of technology, minivans are seeing more and more in terms of entertainment, convenience, and other ways to keep its occupants assuaged—not always an easy task when some of those occupants are antsy children. Often, it’s the addition of children—and, ultimately, belongings—to one’s life that makes a person begin to see the values of the kind of vehicle they swore they’d never own.
Two wagons—the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon and the BMW 328i Sports Wagon—both are based on sedans. Both are luxury sport brands, one from Germany, and one from Japan. They are nearly identical in weight and cargo space, and, in this instance, they both are capable of shifting through the gears without any driver interference. They each have a lot of clout, whether dynamically or aesthetically, and they similar in price. In concept, despite their countries of origin, these two offer a lot in common to a buyer. But when we begin to take a closer look, the differences emerge.
What do $30K sedans tell us about the state of mass-market car-making, circa 2010?