Last Pony Standing

Posted on by Derek Price
Cargazing
By Derek Price

The 2025 Ford Mustang GT Convertible represents something increasingly precious in today’s automotive landscape: an unapologetic celebration of American muscle car mythology.

With competitors like the Camaro discontinued and the Challenger transitioning to electrification, this $72,245 drop-top stands as the final guardian of V8-powered pony car tradition.

The visual impact of the seventh-generation Mustang deserves recognition. Ford’s designers accomplished the seemingly impossible task of modernizing an icon without neutering its identity.

The proportions remain unmistakably Mustang — long hood, short deck, muscular haunches — while contemporary details keep it from looking like a retro pastiche.

The seventh-generation Mustang’s design evolution successfully modernizes the classic pony car formula while preserving the distinctive proportions that make it instantly recognizable.

Whether parked or moving, it announces its presence with confidence that borders on swagger.

The 5.0-liter Coyote V8 is the soul of this experience. With 480 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, it delivers the kind of immediate, visceral response that defines American performance.

The sound track proves equally compelling — a deep rumble at idle that builds to a full-throated roar under acceleration. Yet highway cruising reveals surprising refinement, with the active exhaust system managing to provide drama on demand without punishing occupants during long drives.

The 10-speed automatic transmission handles the power delivery competently, though it occasionally exhibits a slight whine at certain speeds that intrudes on the otherwise polished experience.

Whether this represents intentional muscle car character or an engineering compromise remains unclear, but it’s noticeable enough to mention.

The cabin blends retro Mustang cues with contemporary technology, creating an environment that honors the car’s heritage while meeting modern expectations for comfort and connectivity.

The convertible configuration adds another dimension to the experience. With the top down, the Mustang becomes a rolling celebration of American automotive culture.

The pricing structure reveals the Mustang’s evolution from accessible performance to aspirational dream machine.

While the base EcoBoost model still offers relatively attainable entry, the GT convertible with desirable options pushes into serious money territory. The performance value remains compelling — few alternatives deliver this combination of power, style and heritage — but the days of cheap muscle are clearly over.

The Mustang GT succeeds because it remains true to its fundamental mission: providing an emotional driving experience that transcends mere transportation. In an era of increasing automotive homogenization, it offers something genuinely different: a connection to American performance tradition wrapped in modern sophistication.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS TESTED?

2025 Ford Mustang GT Convertible Premium ($56,580). Options: Premier Group 401A ($2,900), premium paint ($395), B&O sound system ($995), GT performance package ($5,445), Mustang Nite Pony Package ($1,295), floor mats ($200), red calipers ($750), active valve exhaust ($1,595), red seat belt ($495). Price as tested (including $1,595 destination charge): $72,245

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 107 in.
Length: 189.4 in.
Width: 81.9 in.
Height: 54.8 in.
Engine: 5.0-liter V8 (480 hp, 415 lbs. ft.)
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
MPG: 16 city, 24 highway

RATINGS

Style: 10
Performance: 9
Price: 5
Handling: 7
Ride: 7
Comfort: 7
Quality: 7
Overall: 8

WHY BUY IT?

The 2025 Ford Mustang GT Convertible delivers authentic American muscle car experience with modern refinement, representing the last of its breed in an increasingly electrified world.

Posted in Ford

Groovy Electric Nostalgia

Posted on by Derek Price
Cargazing
By Derek Price

The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz represents automotive time travel: a battery-powered love letter to the 1960s counterculture icon that once symbolized freedom, peace and questionable life choices.

After a week behind the wheel of this $61,545 electric van, it’s clear Volkswagen nailed the aesthetic assignment while creating a vehicle that’s simultaneously impressive and frustrating.

The visual impact is immediate and undeniable. This thing draws crowds like a vintage Woodstock poster.

The two-tone paint scheme, rounded proportions and friendly face create an instant emotional connection that transcends mere transportation.

It looks exactly like what would happen if the Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo decided to go electric and upscale. People point, smile and ask questions at every stop.

The physical presence surprises. This isn’t some nostalgic compact throwback. The ID. Buzz towers over most minivans and commands road space like a small billboard.

The upright driving position places you high above traffic, while the massive windshield creates a greenhouse effect that makes the cabin feel genuinely cavernous.

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz’s retro-modern design successfully translates classic Microbus proportions into a contemporary electric vehicle that commands attention wherever it travels.

Performance delivers unexpected thrills. The single rear-mounted motor produces 282 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, figures that transform this boxy behemoth into something genuinely quick.

The instant electric torque makes merging and passing effortless, creating a peculiar driving dynamic where something that looks like it should lumber actually moves with authority. It’s not exactly sporty, but it’s far more engaging than typical van duty requires.

Despite its imposing size, the ID. Buzz maneuvers through parking lots with surprising agility. The tight turning circle makes navigating tight spaces feel more like driving a compact car than piloting a family hauler.

Inside, the space planning showcases what happens when designers start with a clean electric-vehicle architecture. The flat floor and optimized packaging create room that genuinely impresses.

Three rows of seating feel spacious rather than cramped, and cargo capacity adapts to various family configurations without compromise.

The technology integration reflects Volkswagen’s electric-vehicle ambitions. The infotainment system responds quickly and includes the connectivity features modern families expect.

A spacious cabin benefits from electric-vehicle packaging optimization, creating genuinely impressive room for passengers and cargo in a premium environment.

Charging capability supports DC fast charging, though the 234-mile EPA range feels limiting for the asking price. This range anxiety becomes real during longer trips, requiring more planning than many buyers will appreciate.

The market positioning reveals the ID. Buzz’s fundamental challenge. Starting around $60,000, this becomes a luxury purchase for families who want to make an environmental and style statement.

The potential audience — affluent households seeking electric family transport with retro flair — represents an extremely narrow slice of the market. A gasoline version or lower-priced variant could dramatically expand appeal.

The ID. Buzz succeeds at its primary mission: creating an electric vehicle that generates genuine emotion while serving practical family needs.

Whether that mission translates to commercial success depends on finding enough buyers willing to pay luxury prices for electric van transportation wrapped in 1960s styling.

For the right buyer — someone who values distinctive design, electric motivation and spacious practicality — the ID. Buzz offers something genuinely unique.

For everyone else, it represents an interesting curiosity that generates smiles wherever it shows up.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS TESTED?

2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro S ($59,995). Options: None. Price as tested (including $1,550 destination charge): $61,545

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 127.5 in.
Length: 195.4 in.
Width: 78.1 in.
Height: 76.2 in.
Power: 91-kWh battery and electric motor (282 hp, 413 lbs. ft.)
Range: 234 miles
MPG equivalent: 90 city, 75 highway

RATINGS

Style: 10
Performance: 9
Price: 3
Handling: 6
Ride: 7
Comfort: 8
Quality: 6
Overall: 8

WHY BUY IT?

It delivers unmistakable retro style, impressive space and surprising performance in an electric package that stands out from every other family vehicle on the road.

Posted in Volkswagen

Adventure Truck Evolution

Posted on by Derek Price
Cargazing
By Derek Price

Adventure Truck Evolution

Toyota’s 4Runner Trailhunter Modernizes Without Compromise

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner represents something rare in today’s automotive landscape: a complete redesign that actually improves upon an icon without neutering its soul.

After driving this $69,893 adventure machine for a week, it’s clear Toyota understood the assignment: make the 4Runner better without making it soft.

Let’s address the obvious first. Yes, this is a hybrid 4Runner.

If that sentence makes you wince, relax. Toyota didn’t stuff a Prius powertrain into America’s favorite rock crawler.

The i-FORCE MAX hybrid system combines a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with electric motors to produce 326 horsepower and a massive 465 pound-feet of torque. That’s substantially more grunt than the old naturally aspirated V6, and the extra torque arrives instantly thanks to the electric assistance.

The hybrid system feels right at home in this application. Where economy cars use electric motors to sip fuel delicately, the 4Runner deploys them like a sledgehammer, providing immediate low-end torque that makes crawling over obstacles feel effortless.

The 2025 4Runner Trailhunter’s bronze accents and aggressive stance signal serious off-road intent while maintaining the boxy proportions that define the 4Runner aesthetic.

The EPA-estimated 24 mpg highway rating represents a meaningful improvement over the previous generation’s thirst, though don’t expect Camry-like efficiency from this brick-shaped behemoth.

Behind the wheel, the new 4Runner still drives like a real truck, and that’s entirely the point.

The body-on-frame construction creates a distinctly different driving experience than the unibody crossovers that dominate driveways. It feels substantial, even ponderous at times, with a slight bounce that reminds you there’s serious hardware underneath.

After driving crossovers that feel like appliances, the 4Runner’s honest truck character proves refreshingly authentic.

The Trailhunter trim takes the adventure theme seriously. Old Man Emu suspension components, 33-inch Toyo tires, an onboard air compressor, and bronze-finished wheels signal serious off-road intent.

The distinctive exterior graphics and color-selectable LED fog lights from RIGID Industries add visual drama without crossing into cartoonish territory.

Inside, the transformation is dramatic. Where the previous 4Runner felt stuck in the early 2000s, this generation offers a thoroughly modern experience. The available 14-inch touchscreen runs

Toyota’s latest multimedia system with wireless smartphone integration.

The redesigned cabin features contemporary technology and premium materials while maintaining the functional, tool-like character that 4Runner buyers expect.

The cabin technology represents the most significant upgrade. Previous 4Runner interiors felt like time capsules, with infotainment systems that belonged in rental cars. The new setup responds quickly, looks contemporary and integrates features like the JBL premium audio system seamlessly.

Toyota finally dragged the 4Runner into the smartphone era without compromising its tool-like character.

Space proves generous up front and adequate in the second row, though the optional third row feels like an afterthought designed for emergency use only.

Cargo capacity remains impressive with the rear seats folded, and the various storage cubbies show thoughtful attention to outdoor gear organization.

Some compromises remain. The turbocharged four-cylinder, while torquier than the old V6, could use more outright power for highway passing. The higher trim levels require the hybrid system, limiting powertrain choice. And despite the improvements, this remains a specialized tool rather than a mainstream family hauler.

The 4Runner Trailhunter succeeds because Toyota recognized what needed changing and what didn’t.

For buyers seeking genuine off-road capability without crossover compromises, the redesigned 4Runner offers the complete package.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS TESTED?

2025 Toyota 4Runner Hybrid AWD Trailhunter ($66,900). Options: Digital key ($275), towing hitch ($65), LED lantern ($160), D-pillar cargo lights ($375), cargo cover ($135), cargo mat ($130), floor mats ($199), trailer ball ($24), tow hooks upgrade ($180). Price as tested (including $1,450 destination charge): $69,893

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 112.2 in.
Length: 194.9 in.
Width: 79.9 in.
Height: 74 in.
Power: 2.4-liter turbocharged four cylinder and electric motors (326 hp, 465 lbs. ft.)
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
MPG equivalent: 23 city, 24 highway

RATINGS

Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 5
Handling: 4
Ride:6
Comfort: 6
Quality: 9
Overall: 9

WHY BUY IT?

The new 4Runner delivers authentic off-road capability with thoroughly modern technology while preserving the rugged character that made the original special.

Posted in Toyota

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