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Northwest Auto Review: Editor's Blog
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Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
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I like Volvos. By any standard, a Volvo is a good car. They’re comfortable, well-engineered, good-looking, nice to drive, and they have all the latest features. And they’re safe, which is always a good thing.
Last weekend, I was nearly killed while driving my lovely old classic MG sports car. Some complete chickenhead in a big ol’ U-Haul came careening around a curve and wandered into my lane, coming right at me at a combined closing speed of about 80 MPH. I was in the process of pitching my beloved british car into the guardrail when the U-Haul swerved the other way and missed me. It was closer than I like to recall.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 25 June 2009 )
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Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
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As part of our mission to bring you the best and the latest in new car reviews, we've partnered with www.vlane.com to provide our readers with access to critical manufacturer and vehicle data, shopping assistance, independent reviews, and a social network for new car buyers.
You can access these features through the "Research Vehicles" menu item over there on the left, and soon through direct links throughout our site. This information is absolutely free, as is membership at vlane.
In case you're wondering, we haven't sold the site or anything like that. This is still an independent entity - we've just teamed up with our friends at vlane to provide more information and access to their network to more people here in the Northwest.
We hope you enjoy the new services and profit by the information.
Jeff Zurschmeide
Editor, Northwest Auto Review
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 February 2009 )
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Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
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Every generation shapes the automotive hobby and the industry at large. Our grandparents – well, OK, my grandparents, maybe your great-grandparents – learned to drive in Model T Fords, and that generation invented the traditional hot rod, drag racing, stock car racing, and sports car racing. In many ways, they’re the automotive “greatest generation” - they invented most of the things we do, using only stone knives and animal skins. Whatever you think about the cars they drove, you gotta give them credit for creativity with what they had.
 We often look back - but here's a look ahead
Then along came the baby boomers, with their predilection for muscle cars, Corvettes, and a few automotive fads that are better left to be forgotten on the ash heap of history.
Generation X (that’s me), brought us the first wave of imports and into the modern era of fuel injection, turbocharged power, and front wheel drive. Now the Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are set to take it all further down the road.
But what’s coming up with the Millennials? Those are the folks who, today, range from high school students to young married couples with a few years of career already under their belts. What does the future hold for the automotive industry when these people move their car shopping from the Nickel Ads to the new car showroom?
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Last Updated ( Monday, 23 February 2009 )
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Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
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The 2009 Jetta TDI clean diesel has been awarded the 2009 Green Car of the Year by Green Car Journal. The editors at Green Car Journal nominated five vehicles that represented the year’s best-of-the-best 2009 green vehicles, and today announced that they have chosen Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI clean diesel as the best-of-the-best and awarded it their 2009 Green Car of the Year.
 Green Car of the Year
And there's very little reason to wonder why. In my opinion, the Jetta TDI is everything a green car needs to be. It's punchy, handles great, quiet inside, affordable, and is just generally fun to drive.
I once interviewed a guy who spent a good chunk of his life building electric drag racing cars. Powered by portable drill batteries, this guy's car could smoke any number of blown V-8 gas hogs. His biggest passion was showing that clean, green cars were fun and sexy. He said, "If the cars aren't fun, no one will buy them."
He was absolutely right, and there's a reason the Jetta TDI is flying off the lots - as will the Audi A3 when it arrives with the same engine and Quattro all wheel drive. The guys over at Green Car Journal called this one just right.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 24 November 2008 )
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Written by Jeff Zurschmeide
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What is it about a long road trip that makes people’s eyes light up? Surely it’s not the prospect of roadside food, long hours struggling to find a decent radio station, or the inevitable stiff back – at least not for those of us who have attained a certain age.  A voyage of discovery
No, the attraction of a long journey on the road is what you expect to see – and expect to discover – along the way. You might find the perfect barbecue joint in Topeka or the unbelievable bookstore in Denver, and you might find out something about yourself while you drive through Monument Valley or mid-town Manhattan. The point of a road trip is to set out for the horizon and see just where the road takes you.
Of course, for Audi of America, a big road trip can also be about making a splashy introduction for its next generation of diesel-powered cars and SUVs. But don’t be fooled, these guys are natural-born road trippers.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 26 October 2008 )
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Editor's Blog 
