On The Cover Review: 2011 Porsche Boxter Spyder

When referring to sports cars, the word “Spyder” usually means convertible.  But all Porsche Boxters are convertibles.  So really, this is just a special Boxter.  In this case, we’re talking about a lightweight canyon-carver; a bare-bones pure sporting machine that puts performance over driver comfort.  This is the lightest car Porsche builds, which is achieved by the use of cloth inside door pulls, carbon fiber seatbacks, and lightweight aluminum fenders and wheels, among other things.  Even air conditioning is optional if you really don’t want to add weight.  Under the hood is a 3.4-liter, 320-hp flat-six, which can propel the 3,000-lb Boxter Spyder from 0-to-60 in some 4.6-seconds.  In other words, this is one spry little Spyder.   And yet, less is more; as in, the lighter the Porsche, the bigger the price tag.  Of course, it’s always been that way.  Speed and handling cost money—even if it does mean buying less of a car to get it.

On The Cover Review: 2011 Lincoln Navigator

Everyone’s favorite tarted-up Ford Expedition is back in 2011, and the Navigator is as brash and in-your-face as ever.  Don’t look for a lot of changes this year, although this isn’t the kind of vehicle most people expect to be state-of-the-art.  The Lincoln Navigator is all about the swagger, and that chrome-drenched smile and large shimmering wheels let everyone know you’ve arrived.  The Achilles heel of this bus is under the hood, where the 5.4-liter V8 only pumps out 300-hp.  We say “only,” because these days, that’s not particularly outstanding on a full-sized luxury SUV.  For cruising around town it’s perfectly adequate, but should you find yourself in a drag race with some other player in an Escalade, you’d be wise not to run for pink slips.  All told, the Navigator is a good, solid vehicle.  How could it not be—it’s based on the Expedition, which is based on the venerable Ford F-150, America’s number-one selling vehicle.  And if Ford is known for nothing else, they’re known for their trucks.  Of course, the Lincoln upgrade is a big step from the Expedition’s bottom line.  But if you want to drive the Big Kahuna on the Ford food chain, you can’t get much bigger than the tried-and-true Navigator.

Last year sales reports reflected a severely distressed market so we adjusted values in the ABOS Marine Blue Book accordingly. Beginning this spring we saw the market for used boat sales start to thaw and we have adjusted many boat values upwards for the first time in memory.  With many manufacturers going bankrupt and liquidating, new boat production and inventory has dwindled. Supply and demand seem to be more in balance. As the repossessions and bank sales dwindle we seem to be heading for a more normal market. We will continue to monitor the market for boats, motors and trailers and adjust values accordingly.

On The Cover Review: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

With its 6.2-liter, supercharged V8, the Corvette ZR1 is one of the baddest cars on the planet.  But that two-seat design isn’t exactly built for family comfort.  Enter the Cadillac CTS-V Sedan.  Here we’re talking Nuerburgring-tuned performance, that exceptional supercharged V8, and Cadillac luxury and refinement.  But what if that family makes lots of speedy trips to the hardware store?  Where are they supposed to put all their building materials?  Luckily, Cadillac answers that question with the 2011 CTS-V Sport Wagon.  Now you can have the performance of the CTS-V, the luxury of a Cadillac, and the practicality of a station wagon.  Is there nothing this car can’t do?  Of course, this no-compromises hot-hauler won’t come cheap.  But with a Corvette ZR1 and an SRX all morphed into one vehicle, you have to expect a little sticker shock.

On The Cover Review: 2011 Ford Escape

The Escape is one of those vehicles that hasn’t changed much in the past decade or so, but it was a solid enough platform that that hasn’t hurt it too much.  Virtually everything carries over again for 2011, which is to say buyers will get a predictable, familiar compact SUV that does everything pretty well without much razzle-dazzle.  Under the hood, choose between a 171-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a 240-hp, 3.0-liter V6, or a gas-electric Hybrid version of the four-cylinder that churns out a combined horsepower rating of 177.  Compared to the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, or Toyota RAV-4, the Escape is certainly showing its age.  But for the folks that believe, “they don’t make ’em like they used to,” well, let’s just say, this is how they used to make ’em.  Of course, if these buyers are set on getting this classic design, they better do it before the end of the 2011 model year.  Because in 2012, a new Escape is scheduled to show up on the scene, and by then, Ford won’t make ’em like they used to either.

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The 2011 edition of the ABOSTM Marine Blue BookTM, Volume I (covers 2000-2010) and the ABOS TM Marine Blue BookTM, Volume II (covers 1982-1999) are also available.

For subscription information and pricing, click here.

The 2011 edition of the ABOSTM Marine Blue BookTM, Volume I (covers 2000-2010) and the Electronic ABOSTM Marine Blue BookTM (covers 1982-2010) are also available.