Auto News 5

At first glance, I thought that our red test car priced out at $29,520, and I said to myself, "Yeah, that's about right for this V-8 pony car." But then I looked farther down the spec sheet and realized that the as-tested price is actually $36,210! And I immediately thought of the all-new, 2009 Nissan 370Z, a much more modern car that is similarly priced (starts at $30K, easily rises to mid- or high 30s with options). I realize that, to Mustang fans, comparing these two cars is an apples-to-oranges affair. But let's face it: they're both rear-wheel-drive, two-door sports cars that are accessible to the common man, so they're worth considering side by side. And for my $30,000 - or $36,000 - I'd take the tight and taut Nissan over the live-axle, old-tech Mustang any day. However, the new Mustang just debuted at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. Once I drive it, perhaps I'll change my mind.

While Hawaii has long welcomed eco-tourists to its shores, the state's motto "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono," can now assume new meaning. The phrase translated means, "The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness." Since so many environmental leaders view their role in this world as righteous, they should be applauding the state's recent move to allow a private company to begin installing an infrastructure to support EV-motoring. The state expects to have multiple battery charging and battery exchange stations in operation by 2012.

Gee, I remember when the Nissan Pathfinder was, like, a super-desirable, chic import SUV. Now it's just one competent SUV in a huge class of them.