Carlisle Events and Carlisle Auctions often tout that cars, people and excitement help power their annual schedule of events and auctions.  While that is certainly the case, a fourth bullet point often helps make or break a fun-filled weekend; weather!  For Sunset-Carlisle, November 8-9, 2019 in Sarasota, Florida, warm temps, blue skies and an awesome turnout of excited bidders and spectators helped make this first-ever offering worthy of a fall 2020 sequel.

Prior to the start of Sunset-Carlisle, the Carlisle Auctions team worked to load in cars, register bidders, check in consignors and prep the venue in front of Friday’s start.  Event prep also included positioning of Friday’s scheduled cars, indoor merchandise and collectibles as well as making sure the VIP area was ready for those planning to attend.  Another great feature of the event included a display complements of Corsa 7 of Sarasota.  Their two Hyper-cars strongly appealed to the guests who meandered the facility daily.

With seats in place, video monitors turned on, participants ready and auctioneers on the podium, it was show time in Sarasota!  The first of 400+ cars crossed the block just after 10 a.m.  From the time the first item crossed the block until the final car crossed on Saturday, the event ran smoothly.  From Corvettes to Corvairs, Mustangs to Mopars, Street Rods to VW Vans and lots of things in between, the auction featured nearly 100 years of automotive history.

Millions in total sales were amassed, with the top five selling cars amassing $277,090.  Speaking of the top five, they are as follows:

1) 1973 Detomasa Pantera - $97,370
2) 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet - $55,105
3) 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 - $51,895
4) 1956 Chevrolet BelAir - $51,360
5) 1998 Ferrari F355 Spider - $51,360
*all totals include applicable fees

“For our first event in Sarasota we were very impressed with the turnout of bidders and guests as well as the quality of the cars,” noted Tony Cline, Director of Auction Operations.  “Sarasota is a beautiful city and the hospitality was second to none,” continued Cline.  “We are looking forward to our next event here in 2020."

Sunset-Carlisle marks the end of the 2019 auction season for Carlisle Auctions.  Looking forward, the Carlisle Auctions team turns its attention to its upcoming 400+ car auction as part of Winter AutoFest in Lakeland, Florida.  The event runs February 21-22, 2020 at the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus.  Finally, details on any leftover inventory from Sunset-Carlisle that is still for sale can be learned by calling Carlisle Auctions at 717-960-6400 or online at www.CarlisleAuctions.com and viewing the results page and link associated with Sunset-Carlisle.  Also, for car lovers and followers of events outside of the Carlisle Events/Carlisle Auctions brand, visit Awesome Joe Auctions, an all-new online auction marketplace run in partnership with Carlisle Auctions.

Subaru’s version of the sports coupe, is the BRZ, launched in 2013 and co-developed with Toyota as part of its “86” series of grand tourer sports coupes. BRZ features a boxer engine, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and 2+2 seating, but its platform is its own, and unshared with other models. The Boxer engine, a Subaru staple, is behind the nomenclature, as BRZ stands for “Boxer Rear-drive Zenith”.

Remaining in its first generation, the 2019 BRZ adds only a Series.Gray trim model, based on BRZ Limited, featuring black-finish alloy wheels and Performance Package with Brembo® brakes, SACHS® performance shock absorbers, and exclusive exterior and interior trim. Cosmetically, and for better road steadiness, a wheel opening arch fin was added to enhance aerodynamic stability on all models.

I have driven BRZs before and few changes is good strategy … while power may be bit lacking – at 205 hp an 156 lbs-ft of torque, BRZ is a fun drive that is a kick on the autocross, a beast in quick turns and a bit of a strategy animal on the highway in uphill grades and passing at speed. And BRZ’s around town manners and maneuverability are first-class.

BRZ utilizes a large proportion of high-tensile steel, with aluminum for the hood, to present a light and well-balanced chassis, weighing in with a curbweight of only 2798 lbs. for the manual edition of the Limited trim, and 2840 for an automatic. Its handling attributes can partially be traced to its low center of gravity at just 18.1 inches -- among the lowest of any production car in the world.

The sleek and raked coupe body includes a low roof height of just 50.6 inches, combined with a swept-back roofline, bulging front fenders, short overhangs and pronounced rear haunches for a lean, athletic stance that emulates that of a classic GT coupe. BRZ sits 166.7 inches long, and 69.9 inches wide on a 101.2-inch wheelbase and its exterior is enhanced by hawk eye high intensity discharge headlights, hexagonal lower grille and six-star ornament in Subaru signature styling.

The BRZ interior is simple, elegant, sports coupelike and loaded with tech, featuring an easy-to-see instrument panel, center-mounted tachometer with an analog speedometer to its left, fuel and temperature gauges positioned to the right, and a cornucopia of infotainment.

Cabin accommodations are also coupelike and decidedly cramped with 37.1 inches of front headroom and 35.0 inches for rear-seat passengers, a comfortable 41.9 inches of front legroom, but only a child-worthy 29.9 inches in row two, and 53.1 inches of front shoulder room, with a tight 45.3 inches in the backseats.

Under hood, Subaru’s 2.0-liter Boxer engine in manual configuration is EPA estimated at 21/29/24 while the automatic comes in higher at 24/33/27, and my week of mixed-use testing in the manual came in at an average of 25.0mpg.

While BRZ looks, handles and sounds like a throaty sports coupe, it doesn’t accelerate like one. Thanks to a low-body weight, the modest horsepower and torque outputs are fine for long-distance cruising and some autocross fun, but BRZ is NOT a speed-track performer. Acceleration seems tedious, though I was able to finish a zero-to-60mph sprint I accomplished in 6.6 seconds, en route to a 15.1-second quarter-mile. 

BRZ’s rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assist is communicative and predictive, and performs well in quick Esses, winding curves and tight parking situations. The 4-wheel independent front suspension with MacPherson-type struts, lower L-arms, coil springs, stabilizer bar, strut tower brace and anti-dive geometry, combined with a double-wishbone type rear with coil springs, stabilizer bar and anti-lift geometry smooth out road irregularities while offering good road feel to the driver.

Regarding safety, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2019 Subaru BRZ “Top Safety Pick” honors  based on crashworthiness evaluations of front moderate overlap, side impact, roof crush and rear impact. Subaru’s Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frame safety structure forms the foundation for crash protection and occupant safety and the compact Subaru Boxer engine helps enhance safety, because it allows more crush room in front and on the sides.

Additionally, Subaru’s Advanced Frontal Airbag System employs dual-stage-deployment driver and front passenger air bags. And front seat side pelvis/torso air bags and side curtain air bags offer additional head protection for front and rear occupants.

The 2019 Subaru BRZ starts at $25,795 in Premium trim, with voice-activated GPS navigation system and Bluetooth® hands-free connectivity. The Limited trim starts at $28,645 and gets you Alcantara® and leather-trimmed upholstery, heated front seats, Keyless access with push-button start, heated side mirrors, LED fog lights, dual-zone automatic climate control, Sport-design gauges with 4.2-inch multi-function display, and more.

My Limited BRZ with a manual transmission, much more fun than the automatic 6-speed for $1100 more, came with a Crystal Black Silica exterior matched to a Black Leather/ Alcantara® cabin. The only package offered, a cool aluminum-alloy wheel and Brenbo performance braking system would have added $1195, but were not on my build. Accessories including a 10-inch powered subwoofer, exterior cosmetics and interior illumination are available. My test ride only added an auto-dimming mirror with compass and Homelink® for $377. Destination and delivery charges of $885 put the final sticker-as-tested at $29,907.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

 

 

Marketed by Mazda as “Always Elegant. Never Ordinary,” Mazda’s CX-9 has been an attractive, elegant  three-row crossover since it debuted in 2006. Sculpted, rounded and carved, the midsize SUV has always stood out from its many boxy competitors. With each successive model year, the Mazda CX-9, now in the fourth year of its second generation, has benefited from refinements, technology updates and performance improvements, and that tradition continues for 2019.

New Equipment for 2019 includes: a retuned suspension for a smoother ride; new Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ infotainment technologies; SiriusXM® 3-Year Traffic and Travel Link Subscription with information for Traffic, Weather, Sports Scores, Fuel Prices and Parking; a new reconfigurable 7.0-inch TFT gauge display, new 360-degree View Monitor and surround-view parking camera system, ventilated front seats, frameless rearview mirror, power-folding door mirrors, updated Santos Rosewood interior trim, new Signature trim level badge, and new uplevel packages. 

CX-9 has earned accolades from media leaders as a “10 Best” winner in truck and SUV competition; A Top-Safety Vehicle; a Tops in Design Crossover; “North American Utility of the Year” finalist; “World Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year” finalist; “10 Best Interiors” and “10 Best Engines” awards recipient. CX-9 also won Strategic Vision’s “Total Quality Impact” award, and for 2019, Mazda CX-9, continues to impress in safety, earning the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s highest recognition of “Top Safety Pick+” when equipped with Smart Brake Support and Adaptive Front-lighting System. 

CX-9 also proudly embodies Mazda’s “Soul of Motion” design concept through its proportion -- a long hood, swept greenhouse, large wheels and short overhangs that convey stability and a contained sense of potential energy. A true midsize three-row crossover, CX-9 measures 199.4 inches long, 77.2 inches wide and 67.6 inches high, with a 40.5-inch front overhang and 115.3-inch wheelbase. Ground clearance is 8.8 inches and curb-to-curb turning circle radius is 19.4 feet. My test CX-9 Signature was in AWD configuration and came in with a curbweight of 4308 pounds.

My Signature trim also added a Signature Badge, LED grill and overhead accent lighting, 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, automatic power folding side mirrors and power sliding-glass moonroof with sunshade.

CX-9’s powertrain is the same as last year, with a 2.5-liter inline-4 turbo engine that delivers 227hp on regular (87-octane) unleaded fuel and 250hp with Premium (93-octane) gas. Torque is 310 lbs.-ft., and the EPA estimate is 20mpg/city, 26mpg/highway in AWD configuration (FWD is rated at 22/28). A week of mixed-use driving averaged 23.7mpg.

CX-9 delivers on the highway, with a driver’s feel and a pampering and alert ride. Road feel is good at speed and macadam ruts are smoothed out by its MacPherson strut independent front suspension with stabilizer bar and an independent multi-link rear with stabilizer bar. The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering with engine-speed-sensing variable assist was attentive and accurate both at high speed and during autocross maneuvers, though some acceptable understeer took place during hairpins and S-Curves. Acceleration was dependable and solid in all ranges. My test CX-9 showed strong speed increase when asked and both passing at speed and overcoming long uphill grades were predictable and uncompromising. In track tests, my CX-9 finished off a zero-to-60mph sprint in 7.6 seconds during a steady 16-flat quarter-mile run.

The CX-9 cabin is elegant, intuitive, loaded and comfortable, but accommodations can be confining for drivers and passengers over 6-feet tall. Front headroom is 39.3 inches up front without a moonroof, 38.5 in row two and a child-friendly 35.4 inches in row three. Legroom is comfortable at 41.0 in front with 39.4 in row two and a confined 29.7 in row three, while shoulder room measures 57.9, 58.1 and 53.1.

The interior is saturated with high-tech and comfort amenities, infotainment, safety and navigational (option) amenities, a 7-inch LCD multi-information display, Bose® Centerpoint® Surround Sound System with AudioPilot® and 12 speakers, and my test Signature added Auburn Nappa leather seating and trim, heated second-row seats, genuine Santos Rosewood inlays and leather-wrapped steering wheel with unique stitching.

Safety is attended to well and includes such items as advanced dual front airbags, front side-impact airbags, side air curtains (front, rear and third row) with roll-over protection, Blind Spot Monitoring System, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, tire pressure monitoring system and more.

Available in four trim levels, FWD and AWD, the 2019 Mazda CX-9 starts at 33,325 for a front-wheel drive in the Sport trim – AWD starts at $34,080. Touring trim starts at $35,330 in FWD and 37,130 for AWD; the Grand Touring trim starts at $40,840 (FWD) and $42,640 (AWD) and the top-of-the-model-line Signature starts at $45,365 available only in AWD.

My test ride, a CX-9 Signature in Jet Black Mica Mica (a standard color), with Black Cloth interior, added a Power Driver’s Seat and I-Activsense Package for $1290 (power lumbar, heated front seats and side mirrors, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Rain-sensing wipers, Smart Brake Support, and more); Rear Parking Sensors for $500; Frameless Auto-Dimming Mirror with Homelink for $325; LED Fog Light for $450; Navigation System for $400; and Front and rear Splash Guards for $100. With Destination charges of $1045, my 2019 Mazda CX-9 Signature as tested, stickered at $38,190.

<I> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

It’s a Jeep thing July 18-19, 2020! PA Jeeps’ All Breeds Jeep Show makes a move from York, PA (and the York Fairgrounds) to Carlisle, PA and the Carlisle Fairgrounds as they celebrate their 25^th annual weekend of all things Jeep!  The All Breeds Jeep Show, produced by PA Jeeps, will make its annual home at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds where enthusiasts of America’s biggest automotive brands and vehicles come together annually to gather, share and celebrate the vehicles, manufacturers hobbies and interests.    

PA Jeeps was established in 1992 by a small group of friends in York. The club evolved into a group of more than 150 Jeep enthusiasts and friends that continues to grow. A quarter of a century ago they set in motion the All Breeds Jeep Show to share their passion for Jeeps. They are joined annually by more than 80 vendors and at least 700 Jeeps in celebration. The event features manufacturers of Jeep products, a swap meet, CTI Trailer as well as a show and shine Jeep show. Raffles, food vendors and a kid’s area add to the weekend fun. A highlight of the annual events is an obstacle course with materials donated by Union Quarries of Carlisle.

The Carlisle Fairgrounds is home to Carlisle Events, producers of their own portfolio of automotive events.  The Jeep weekend will fall between two of the many great events on the Carlisle Events schedule, the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals and Carlisle Truck Nationals.  The Carlisle Fairgrounds facility also welcomes a number of annual club cruise ins, a Camping World RV show and numerous community and charity events each year.

Carlisle Fairgrounds representative, Ed Scholly, was pleased to see the All Breeds Jeep Show choose the fairgrounds in Carlisle, PA. “The All Breeds Jeep Show making their home at Carlisle will put their enthusiasts in the company of some of the most passionate communities of automotive enthusiasts in the world. Some of the biggest automotive makes and models share their products and passions here.  Seeing an iconic brand like JEEP and their loyal enthusiasts at Carlisle will be good for the Carlisle Fairgrounds, and the automotive community as a whole. We are happy to welcome them.”       

PA Jeeps expressed excitement in the opportunity to grow their event in Carlisle as well.  “We are looking forward to the 25^th Anniversary of this event,” noted Jennifer Watson, Show Chairman of PA Jeeps. “The Carlisle Fairgrounds is set up for automotive events with all the resources on-site to make the All Breeds Jeep show the number one destination for Jeep enthusiasts in the Mid-Atlantic,” continued Watson.  “We are a non-profit club and organization, so the event supports a number of charities such as Keystone Warriors, Homeless Veteran’s, PA Breast Cancer Coalition and more.  We invite the Carlisle and surrounding communities to join us as well.”

Watson also recognized the surrounding community and town of Carlisle, specifically its numerous hotel offerings.  She also noted the numerous new restaurants and outlets to explore and be entertained.  This, combined with the Carlisle Fairgrounds itself will help make this event a memorable weekend endeavor for friends and families in the Jeep community. 

Jeep owners should eagerly connect with the PA Jeeps team to get involved, as the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds offer a more central location with more hotel options, great ease of access, more restaurants and a larger overall footprint to show, go and have fun.  Registration is now available for the 2020 event and details can be found at www.pajeeps.org.

The No.1-selling car in Europe for the past 44 consecutive years is the Volkswagen Golf. Though not currently cracking America’s top 100 -- Golf struggles, as do many compact hatchbacks -- that doesn’t change the excitement generated by Golf’s abilities and price – basing in the low $20Ks

The seventh-generation Golf originally replaced the “Beetle” and was introduced to America in 1975 as the “Rabbit.” Volkswagen has never made an official explanation as to why the “Golf’ designation was not available to the United States until the 2010 model year, but from the beginning, the vehicle was one of the first small hatchbacks to break the bonds of the econobox perception, delivering an upscale hatch for economy prices.

Following a slight design tweak in 2018 – straightening out some rounded architecture, adding some detail and upscaling the interior – the 2019 Golf changes engines and adds transmission options and driver-assistance items. Available in two trims --S and SE --  Front Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Traffic Alert are now standard on both trim levels, and a Driver-Assistance Package has been added as an option for the SE trim; all 2019 Golf models feature Volkswagen’s innovative MIB II touchscreen infotainment system; and the big news is a powertrain change.

For 2019, Golf believes less is more  … less power is more fuel-effective, as Golf replaces its 1.8-liter TSI® engine -- 170hp and 199 lbs.-ft. of torque – with a 1.4-liter turbo rated at 147hp and 184 lbs.-ft. for a fuel-economy increase of 4 mpg/city and 1 mpg/highway – 29/city and 37/highway. The new powertrain is the same system employed by the 2019 Jetta, and it is paired with either six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Golf’s unitary construction, bolt-on front fenders and two solid mounted subframes form the exterior. Its front bumper and chrome-surround grille flanked on either side by carved LED daytime running lights provide the Golf a light signature, and at the rear, full standard LED taillights complete the display without distracting from the strong C-pillar and non-boxy lines. With a curb weight of 2873 lbs. for manual transmission (2945 lbs. for an automatic), the compact hatchback measures167.6 inches long, 58.2 inches high and 70.8 inches wide on wheelbase of 103.8 inches.

Golf power comes from a front-mounted engine and a front-wheel-drive set-up. Its new 1.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged and direct-injection TSI engine was mated to a six-speed manual gearbox in my test ride, and the system is enhanced by an air-to-water heat exchanger built directly into the intake module in place of an intercooler. The exhaust manifold is integrated into the head, reducing the distance that exhaust gases must travel to reach the turbocharger, resulting in faster response and improved low-rpm performance, as well as increased torque throughout the rev range. Even with the power loss, acceleration was equal to the larger engine’s results, as I found the previous turbo hesitant with more turbo lag, and my zero-to-60mph test sprint was accomplished in 60 mph in 7.7 seconds during a 16.0-second quarter-mile. That actually beat my last test runs in earlier-model Golfs, by 0.3 seconds. The power loss was felt in passing at speed, as in those ranges, while there is less lag, there is also a slower power build-up, resulting in longer passing times – close, but a bit longer. And my week with the 1.4-T manual saw an average of 30.9mpg.

Inside, Golf seems a bit snug, but is actually roomy for the niche, and it is filled with electronics. Interior headroom comes in at only 38.4 inches in front and 38.1 inches in row two; legroom is comfortable in row one at 41.2 inches and a cramped 35.6 for the second seats; and shoulder room is 55.9 and 53.9.

The standard 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel emphasizes the driver-centric nature of the Golf cabin, and backlighting for the controls provides an upscale ambience. Both Golf trims feature a raft of comfort and convenience features often found on more expensive vehicles, including up-niche cosmetics, Climatic® air conditioning, cruise control, rearview camera, partial leather-wrapped handbrake and shifter knob, and partial power front seats.

Safety items include a combination of both passive and active safety systems; front and rear disc brakes; hill-hold assist; six airbags; and a number of electronic safety systems, such as an Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Stability Control and Volkswagen’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.  

The 2019 Golf 1.4T is available in two trims – the S and SE.—with the base S starting at $21,845. My test SE started at $24,145, and added an 8-inch touchscreen (upgrading the base 6.5-incher on the S), a panoramic sunroof and keyless access with push-button start to the base model. In Silk Blue Metallic exterior paint, my test ride was matched to a Titan Black V-Tex Leatherette interior and came with the 6-speed manual transmission – an automatic trans would have been an $1100 upgrade. The Driver Assistance Package added High Beam Control (Light Assist), Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist), Auto-dimming interior rearview mirror, Adaptive Cruise Control and 17-inch alloy wheels for $1295. With Destination Charges of $895, my 2019 Golf SE stickered at $26,335.

 

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>