The Lost Review

Ok, so I wrote a review last week of the Mazda 6 that I rented while in Virginia. Through out the whole review I compared the Mazda to a Pontiac G6 that I had driven and reviewed. Well, I got to looking through my posts and realized that I never posted the entry about the G6 and my trip to the beautiful states of Iowa and Illinois. Why you may ask? Well I wrote the entry at the airport without any internet access and just never uploaded it. So, below you will find my somewhat delayed review of the Pontiac G6...

The below trip took place 4/2/07-4/6/07

Well, I am in the great states of Illinois and Iowa this week. Thought I would post a a car review and some food reviews.

On a side note, this is the 4th straight trip that I have been snowed on, kind of funny. I like snow but not the 26 degree temps with 50mph winds....that is why I live in Atlanta.

Road:

Pontiac G6

This is the 2nd time that I have rented a G6 while on a work trip. Both times I have gotten the V6 version. Not a bad little car. Has nice pick up when you step on it, had good back seat space, a pretty good stereo, and nice clear cut controls.

My biggest issues with it: The interior looks really cheap, loads of terrible black plastic, cheap feeling switches and control surfaces. Steering wheel is really big (it does tilt and telescope which is a plus) and just doesn't feel right for some reason. Seats, where do I start? Side bolsters are a bit too rigid and are at a strange angle. After 30mins the seat puts my left leg to sleep and starts pinching the sides of my back. The side mirrors are a strange shape and tend to cut off things towards the very outside of the viewing area.

Would I buy this car? No. Do I mind renting one? No. It is kind of fun to drive but I am glad that both times I have rented one that I haven't had more than an 1 1/2 drive to make in it without being able to stop for sometime.


Food:

Tuesday Lunch
Ate at a neat place in Albany, IL Tuesday for lunch. I think it was called the Albany Mississippi River Cafe. Local spot, pretty small. Good food and great prices. I ordered the meatloaf, a side salad and had mashed potatoes as a side item. All of it was good. Meal also came with a desert, I got a chocolate and peanut butter pudding. It was 6.95 for the whole thing. Good spot if you are ever in Albany, IL.

Tuesday Dinner
Ended up at the Blue Cat Brew Pub in downtown Rock Island, IL. Found an add for it in the hotel information book. Decided to give it a shot. Nice looking joint when you walk in, it is right across the street from the Rock Island Casino but looked to have only locals eating there. Order up a River Bend Pale Ale to start. All in all a very good IPA, not the best I have had, but for a Local Mircobrew very good. For dinner I had a half rack of their ribs at the suggestion of my friendly bar keep. How where they? Well the first indication that they where going to be good was when I went to eat the first rib and all the meat fell off right onto my plate. They were amazing. Best ribs I have had in quite a while. 2nd beer I ordered, the Blue Cat Anniversary Ale was much better than the first, it was a little darker and had a better taste to it. It was a good spot and somewhere that I plan to return to next time I am in the area.