ROAD TEST.....2015 Nissan NV200

2015 NISSAN NV200 SV

BASE PRICE:     $22,500 including destination chargeFULLY LOADED: $24,500 including destination charge. This little van is interesting and very handy but I think they named it wrong. It should've been called the Nissan WD200. Why WD you ask? WD in this case stands for Whiteknuckle Doorstop! Allow me to elaborate if I may. The term Whiteknuckle refers to the fact that on slightly windy days driving above 70 mph will find you grasping that urethane covered steering wheel for dear life. Despite the fact it may look somewhat aerodynamic (if that's even possible), it soooooo isn't! Cornering agility? Nope not with the roller skate size 15" tires on this little covered wagon. Power? Oh absolutely not. Will it get on the freeway without you getting struck down in the prime of your life? Sure if you mash down on the throttle like your life depended on it (& it just might). Moving on to the term Doorstop. There is only one way to describe what that means & that is literally a door stop. This thing looks like a door stop. And lastly on the subject of looks Nissan doesn't help this van's self esteem any by giving the base model black bumpers & steel wheels. They don't come any more "base" looking than this. When it comes to the cargo area here's where this little van shines. It has a lot more space inside than one might think & with the side window glass package visibility is great. Having dual side cargo doors really helps with loading & unloading cargo as well. I've seen people put a Vespa Scooter inside the back of one of these and have plenty of room to spare.
As far as creature comforts...um...not so much. Small businesses or consumers buying this type of compact cargo van aren't really so much concerned about how lavishly it's equipped. The seats are adequately comfortable. The seating position and overall ergonomics work well. But one minor annoyance is the very inconvenient location of the power mirror controls. You have to lean down to your left to adjust them & once you think you have it when you lean back up again you actually don't. The optional navigation audio system is not half bad & the center console storage areas are plentiful & huge! The optional rearview camera & rear parking sensors are a big plus to have in any cargo van & here is no different so I highly recommend you opt for them if within your budget. 
MECHANICAL: 24 city / 26 hwy / 25 combined130 hp 2.0L 4-cylinder CVTFront Wheel Drive Compact Cargo Van

SAFETY: Standard safety features include the usual multitude of airbags, electronic brake force distribution, Brake Assist, electronic stability control, and Tire Pressure Monitoring.

COMPETITION: Chevrolet City Express ($24,500, & IT'S THE SAME VAN!)Ford Transit Connect ($25,000, including destination charge)RAM ProMaster City ($25,500, including destination charge) 

The 2015 Nissan NV200 comes in 2 versions; S & SVThe available options/option packages include: Technology PackageRear Door Glass PackageSide Door Glass PackageAppearance PackageSplash GuardsAll Weather Floor MatsRear Bumper ProtectorBody Side Moldings
The bottom line here is this. If you are a small business looking for an affordable delivery van that you can beat the crap out of then the NV200 might just be for you. 
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ROAD TEST.....2015 Lexus RC

2015 LEXUS RC F

BASE PRICE:     $62,500 including destination chargeFULLY LOADED:     $71,000 Let me just start this review by saying that price is a bargain...A DAMN BARGAIN I TELL YOU! This car is sexy, mean looking, & a real kick in the ass to drive. When you wanna go...Jesus of Monte Cristo does this beast go! We're talking 467 horses of raw power. No superchargers, no turbos, just raw V8 muscle when you want it! I'll admit I was hooked on this thing back when it debut in concept form in 2013 and now that I drove one I can honestly say this car is so much better than any BMW M or Mercedes AMG. Since this car was on loan to me from Lexus I never really got the chance to open it up for obvious reasons. But the few times when i stomped on the gas it never failed to leave me grinning ear to ear. 
As far as creature comforts, it has all you'd want either standard or available in some form of package. My test car was hued in a flashy red color called "Infrared" & although this blogger is not normally a fan of red cars, i gotta say this color really makes the car pop. The seats were really comfortable & although this is a sports coupe it was relatively easier to get in/out of than others I've sat in in its class. My RS F test car came equipped with the same touch pad controller as the NX crossover I evaluated a while back however this version was much easier to access & the placement of the infotainment screen was just right. What are the negatives you ask? Well ok if I HAD to find fault with this car here's what i did'nt particularly like. The front end is a tad lower than it appears making it next to impossible to enter lower driveways without going at them at an angle for fear of hearing that awful sccccrrrrappe sound. The back seat is as much of an after thought as most of the cars in this class so don't even bother taking friends along for the ride unless they are amputee midgets. 
MECHANICAL: 16 city / 25 highway MPG465 hp 5.0L V88-speed automaticRear Wheel Drive 2-door Coupe

SAFETY:Standard safety features include the usual multitude of airbags, electronic brake force distribution, Brake Assist, electronic stability control, and front Active head restraints.

COMPETITION:BMW M4 ($64,000, including destination charge)Mercedes-AMG C63 ($65,500, including destination charge)Audi RS 5 ($71,000, including destination charge) Cadillac CTS-V ($70,000, including destination charge)

The RC comes in 3 trims; RC 350 (305 hp V6), RC 350 F-Sport, & jaw dropping RC F.The available options/option packages include: Premium PackageNavigation PackageNavigation/Mark Levinson PackagePerformance PackageAll Weather PackagePower Moonroof19" polished 20-spoke Alloy WheelsPre-Collision Alert w/ Dynamic Radar Cruise ControlBlind Spot Monitor w/ Cross Traffic AlertLeather Seating
The end result you see here is one stunning & fast as shit coupe! The RC has lots of kick ass power, is quite comfortable all things considered, & just loads of kick your teeth in fun! If I were shopping for an everyday usable performance coupe I'd have to say that the 2015 Lexus RC F would be at the top of my list.MORE PHOTOS: