The Weekend Drive - The Independent Automotive Enthusiast Headquarters

Welcome to The Weekend Drive® CELEBRATING OUR 10th ANNIVERSARY! For a decade, your independent source of all things automotive. Since 1999, the trusted, independent source of road tests and reviews of the newest models of cars, trucks, and SUVs. All vehicles featured are personally driven by our own editors in real-world, everyday conditions. We are passionate enthusiasts of new vehicles, classics, hot-rods, muscle-cars and motorsports!

2010 KIA Forte - "entry level" gets a promotion

As applied to cars, "entry level" means the bottom rung of styling, power and comfort. The compromises were so great that anyone behind that wheel wanted to move up, as quickly as possible. With the arrival of the all-new 2010 KIA Forte - entry level just got a promotion. For the money, KIA once again delivers a stylish, comfortable and fun entry level car in the same package.

I like nothing more than wide open highway in front of me, so for this test I added over 600-miles to the clock - including urban and highway driving. When it comes to evaluating a new model vehicle, I'm no pushover. But I'm hard-pressed to find anything to complain about on the new Kia Forte. The Forte replaces the Spectra sedan, itself nice but truly entry-level. Forte raises the bar, inside the cabin and on the road, it's a real delight to drive. It's responsive and sporty, but not punishing or fatiguing. It's not trying to be "European" or something it's not - instead it's just an honest small sedan that looks and drives terrific. Nicely done indeed.

It comes in three trim levels (LX, EX and SX) which translates to "good, better, best." We tested the SX - the nicer of the three with the 173-hp 2.4-liter engine paired to a silky-smooth 5-speed automatic transmission. The SX is the best trim level and has a sport tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels and larger front brakes along with a black interior trimmed in red stitching. The LX and EX have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 156-hp - still plenty of power.

Rivals are many - all the cookie-cutter entry level econo-boxes - which Forte rises above. Kia Forte prices start at $13,695 for the base 2.0-liter model. Our fully-equipped 2.4-liter SX-test model was priced at $20,490. Best news, Forte sips the fuel - up to 34-mpg on most models and up to 36-mpg with the optional fuel economy package. - by Vince Bodiford
KIA Official Site

CELEBRITY CARS: Michael Jackson odd car collection

The death of Michael Jackson has spiked interest in his collection of cars. Among them: 1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph with a Palace of Versailles-inspired interior; 1990 Rolls Royce Silver Spur II with semi-custom interior; 1988 Lincoln Town Car with factory interior; 1954 Cadillac Fleetwood used during the filming of Driving Miss Daisy. See this slide show put together by AutoTrader UK.

Jackson's collection included a 1997 Neoplan Tour Bus with individual seats and booths, and a king's crown embroidered in the carpet, and a bathroom lined in porcelain, gold, and granite. A few of his other vehicles included a 1993 Ford Econoline van with leather seats, individual tv-screens, a video game console; a creepy Neverland 1986 GMC High Sierra firetruck, an even creepier Neverland golf-cart; a 1988 GMC Jimmy, and a sketchy replica of a 1909 Detamble Model B Roadster. Also in the collection was an electrified horse-drawn carriage, and a 2001 Harley-Davidson touring police motorcycle. - by Vince Bodiford

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