Curbside Classic Archives
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American Brands: GM 
American Brands: Ford 
American Brands: Chrysler 
American Brands: AMC, Jeep and All Others 
Automotive Histories and Misc. 
Asian Brands 
UK Brands 
Australian Brands 
European Brands 
Cars Of A Lifetime & Auto-Biography 
Buses 
Trucks, Pickups and Vans 
Design 
Trains, Planes & Ships 
Motorcycles, Trikes, Bicycles 
Engines, Transmissions and other Tech 
Tractors, Lawn Mowers, Off-Road Equipment 
RVs, Motorhomes, Trailers, Campers Privacy
About Author: G. K. Mason
Posts by G. K. Mason
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COAL: 2008 Lexus LS 600h L – The Ultimate Toyota
Posted on November 18, 2023 | 27 CommentsI would own another LS 460L—perhaps with just RWD—but I’m highly interested in owning the LS 600hL. That one seems like an interesting experience, and I’d love to see […] -
COAL: 1996 Jaguar XJ12 – This Kitty’s Got Claws
Posted on November 11, 2023 | 45 CommentsWelcome to Jaguar number 3. My prior two Jaguars (here and here) were X350-generation cars, which were the 2004-2009 ones. I found them to be delightful, characterful machines, when they […] -
COAL: 2010 Range Rover Supercharged – 510 HP of Glory
Posted on November 4, 2023 | 27 Comments -
COAL: 2013 Audi A8 L 4.0T Quattro – A Teutonic Chariot
Posted on October 28, 2023 | 31 CommentsA history of the A8 Audi has had an interesting journey in becoming the credible luxury brand that it is today. Its first foray into the vaunted large-format flagship sedan […] -
COAL: 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S Carbon Edition – For Mom
Posted on October 21, 2023 | 22 CommentsIn a previous COAL, I spoke about how the 2014 Kia Soul Plus—that my grandmother bought new and that my sister inherited—succumbed to the Hyundai/Kia 2.0-liter engine defect and threw […] -
COAL: 2000 BMW 528i M Sport 5MT – A Bona-Fide Hooptie
Posted on October 14, 2023 | 18 CommentsAt some point in 2021, my good friend Nolan posted his newly acquired 2000 528i in a group we’re both a part of. He’d just bought it from a woman […] -
COAL: 2011 Lexus LS 460L AWD – A Taste of the Finer Things in Life
Posted on October 7, 2023 | 32 CommentsA Bit of Background on the Lexus LS It’s no secret that Lexus enjoys much more success than its Japanese luxury cohorts (Acura, Infiniti), and the brand owes much of […] -
COAL: 2022 BMW X5 xDrive45e – Splendid
Posted on September 30, 2023 | 21 CommentsWhen we last left off, I had just purchased a new Subaru Outback and found that car to be an excellent appliance, but lacking in personality. I wanted something […] -
COAL: 2006 Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas – It’s Better The Second Time Around
Posted on September 23, 2023 | 17 CommentsIn late 2019, I bought a 2004 Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas. That one was an early build, having been shipped over from Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich facility sometime in calendar-year […] -
COAL: 2022 Subaru Outback Touring XT – The Best Dang Appliance Money Can Buy
Posted on September 16, 2023 | 24 CommentsYou’ll recall that in my previous COAL, it came down to the Toyota Venza or the Subaru Outback. I initially went with the Venza just based on its looks and […] -
COAL: 2021 Toyota Venza Limited – Style Over Substance
Posted on September 9, 2023 | 42 CommentsLast week, I discussed my very brief ownership of a 2021 Lexus GX 460. It was replaced by a 2021 Toyota Venza that had an even shorter tenure as […] -
COAL: 2021 Lexus GX 460 Premium w/Sport Design – A Childhood Hero
Posted on September 2, 2023 | 21 CommentsThe GX was Lexus’ third SUV offering, after the LX and RX. Introduced in 2003 as the GX 470, it straddled the price space between those two vehicles. Properly midsize, […] -
COAL: 2017 Volvo XC90 Inscription T6 – Family Truckster
Posted on August 26, 2023 | 28 Comments“What happened to the little Sportswagon?” “Oh, no! The Sportswagon’s much too small. Besides, I got a great deal on this one.” I imagine most of you have seen the […] -
COAL: 2016 BMW 535i xDrive M Sport – Eh
Posted on August 19, 2023 | 14 CommentsI had just closed on my house and needed a new daily driver, having sold the 2019 Tiguan SEL Premium beforehand. The 2004 XJ Vanden Plas was thoroughly unsuited to […] -
COAL: 2006 Range Rover Supercharged – How to Flip a Whip
Posted on August 12, 2023 | 29 CommentsFor anyone not in the know, when I use the term “whip,” I mean it in the slang, informal sense: an automobile, particularly a flashy luxury one. The Drive […]
![COAL: 2008 Lexus LS 600h L – The Ultimate Toyota I would own another LS 460L—perhaps with just RWD—but I’m highly interested in owning the LS 600hL. That one seems like an interesting experience, and I’d love to see […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_6042-3.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 1996 Jaguar XJ12 – This Kitty’s Got Claws Welcome to Jaguar number 3. My prior two Jaguars (here and here) were X350-generation cars, which were the 2004-2009 ones. I found them to be delightful, characterful machines, when they […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_3661.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)

![COAL: 2013 Audi A8 L 4.0T Quattro – A Teutonic Chariot A history of the A8 Audi has had an interesting journey in becoming the credible luxury brand that it is today. Its first foray into the vaunted large-format flagship sedan […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_4858.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S Carbon Edition – For Mom In a previous COAL, I spoke about how the 2014 Kia Soul Plus—that my grandmother bought new and that my sister inherited—succumbed to the Hyundai/Kia 2.0-liter engine defect and threw […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_6465.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2000 BMW 528i M Sport 5MT – A Bona-Fide Hooptie At some point in 2021, my good friend Nolan posted his newly acquired 2000 528i in a group we’re both a part of. He’d just bought it from a woman […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_7727.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2011 Lexus LS 460L AWD – A Taste of the Finer Things in Life A Bit of Background on the Lexus LS It’s no secret that Lexus enjoys much more success than its Japanese luxury cohorts (Acura, Infiniti), and the brand owes much of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_3968-2.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2022 BMW X5 xDrive45e – Splendid When we last left off, I had just purchased a new Subaru Outback and found that car to be an excellent appliance, but lacking in personality. I wanted something […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_2199.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2006 Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas – It’s Better The Second Time Around In late 2019, I bought a 2004 Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas. That one was an early build, having been shipped over from Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich facility sometime in calendar-year […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_0345.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2022 Subaru Outback Touring XT – The Best Dang Appliance Money Can Buy You’ll recall that in my previous COAL, it came down to the Toyota Venza or the Subaru Outback. I initially went with the Venza just based on its looks and […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_8971-3.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2021 Toyota Venza Limited – Style Over Substance Last week, I discussed my very brief ownership of a 2021 Lexus GX 460. It was replaced by a 2021 Toyota Venza that had an even shorter tenure as […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_7931.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2021 Lexus GX 460 Premium w/Sport Design – A Childhood Hero The GX was Lexus’ third SUV offering, after the LX and RX. Introduced in 2003 as the GX 470, it straddled the price space between those two vehicles. Properly midsize, […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_6242-3.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2017 Volvo XC90 Inscription T6 – Family Truckster “What happened to the little Sportswagon?” “Oh, no! The Sportswagon’s much too small. Besides, I got a great deal on this one.” I imagine most of you have seen the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_1966.jpeg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2016 BMW 535i xDrive M Sport – Eh I had just closed on my house and needed a new daily driver, having sold the 2019 Tiguan SEL Premium beforehand. The 2004 XJ Vanden Plas was thoroughly unsuited to […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_4904-2.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)
![COAL: 2006 Range Rover Supercharged – How to Flip a Whip For anyone not in the know, when I use the term “whip,” I mean it in the slang, informal sense: an automobile, particularly a flashy luxury one. The Drive […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_6893-3.jpg?resize=115%2C115&quality=75&ssl=1)


