Devon test drives a Volvo S80 (Used)

You’ll be surprised that there are buyers who don’t want an Audi A6, BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-class. For those buyers the Volvo S80, even though it will eventually get replaced by the S90, still is a good option for anyone that wants Scandinavian Luxury at an even more discounted price.

The sole engine option for the S80 is a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder pumping out 240hp. It’s one of the smoothest turbocharged four-cylinders we have ever tested and it feels just enough for the S80. The engine never feels short on puff around town and on the highway. You can only have the S80 with front-wheel-drive and with this engine that’s enough. Anything more than that to the front wheels is just down right insane.

The Volvo S80 isn’t even close to be as sharp to drive as a BMW 5-series, but most buyers of the S80 aren’t picking it because of that. They want a smooth and comfortable ride and that’s what they are going to get here. Steering feedback is numb at best and the overall handling is more like ‘safe’ if anything. It doesn’t encourage you to push it hard through corners and bends because well let’s face the facts here. This platform is nearly twelve years old. But not everyone wants a rock hard suspension, and for those you either choose the Mercedes E-class or this.

There really isn’t much wind or road noise to complain of. The turbo engine sounds rather course under heavy acceleration but it is far from a deal breaker. There is no manual gearbox option, but most buyers in this segment don’t really care for one either.

Volvo has always been a paradigm of clarity when it comes to their dashboard layouts; all the controls are within easy reach of the driver’s hand. The seats are all day comfy and offer plenty of support. Rear passengers will find comfort as well. Plus the S80 is one of the few sedans in this segment to have split folding rear seats standard and a boot that’s generous on space.  

All S80s come standard with keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity, leather seats and rain sensing windshield wipers. You’ll have to step up to the Platinum trim to get Xenon headlamps with auto high beam control, collision warning with full auto brake and adaptive cruise control with lane departure warning. We think that it’s best to just spring the extra money for this package because it has many of the modern safety technology and yet still manages to be cheaper than all three German Rivals.

The S80 maybe on its way out the door but that doesn’t mean you can’t pick up one with a deep discount. This maybe one of the few reasons people will still flock to dealers to buy one. However, in our opinion this is the most understated Volvo ever, and for those few individuals that do buy one this is a real gem.

Wait for the S90 if you desire all-wheel-drive or more powerful engine option.

Likes: Most understated Volvo ever. Turbocharged engine offers good flexibility and decent running costs. Comfortable front seats and ride comfort.

Dislikes: Starting to show its age.

Devon’s choice: Platinum package is the only way to go with the S80. It may costs more but it is worth it.

Devon is impressed with the Volvo XC90 (Used)

The previous generation XC90 was our favorite luxury 4x4. It wasn’t as sharp to drive as a BMW X5 and the interior wasn’t classy like an Audi Q7 but it had a charm that was hard to ignore. Now the newer XC90 really does have a lot to live up to; not only in terms of helping Volvo stay afloat but also stamping it’s mark in the ever crowded ever serious luxury 4x4 segment. Tough gig!

Volvo does start off on the right notes with the new XC90 because both the exterior and interior looks are absolutely stunning; both help the XC90 leap light years ahead of the previous generation. Dare we say the XC90 is the most handsome 4x4 in this segment? But how does this all translate onto the road?

The sole engine choice for now is a 2-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder pumping out a hearty 315hp with standard all-wheel-drive. You might think that a tiny four-cylinder isn’t up to the job in the XC90 but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how flexible the engine really is. We haven’t tested the XC90 fully laden but we are pretty sure that it won’t struggle thanks to a maximum tow rating of 5,000lbs.

Our tester car came equipped with air suspension and 20-inch alloys and the ride quality is actually good. Large bumps won’t even send shutters into the cabin. Handling is okay it won’t defy logic like a BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne but it holds its own well. Steering is smooth and offers excellent feedback. Refinement is good in the XC90, when at relaxed speeds you can barely hear a peep out of the engine and road noise is virtually unheard of. There is a bit of wind noise around the side mirrors but it’s far from intrusive or annoying.

Volvo has the best seats in the auto industry hands down. These seats provide enough comfort for drivers of all sizes. The infotainment system is actually quite easy to use and of course you get a full nine-inch display which adds a bit of class to the overall look and feel. All the controls are within easy reach and your view forwards and backwards is good. Boot space is okay with the third row seat in place. Fold the third row seat down and you’ve got even more space, fold down both rows and you have so much space that you would need a transit van if you find the space lacking.

The third row seat is actually quite roomy for adults, even though most will only tolerate it for short journeys. The second row space is generous too, in fact this is one of the few seven-seat 4x4s we’ve ever driven where the balance between utility and people carrier is so good that we have to give it a standing ovation.

T6-AWD gets navigation system, rain sensing windshield wipers and lane departure warning. T6 R-design adds integrated body-kit with 20-inch alloys and full-LED headlights. T6 AWD Inscription adds Nappa leather seating, ventilated seating surfaces and keyless entry with hands-free tailgate opening system. The amount of kit you get standard for the money is actually much more generous then what you would typically get standard on a BMW X5 and Mercedes ML.

We challenge you to find a BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne with the same equipment for similar money and what you’ll find is all the reasons why the XC90 is the better buy. It may not have the resale value of both brands yet but this XC90 looks promising and we do predict that the value will hold very well. Running costs are similar to that of the BMW and Porsche and even though Volvo doesn’t offer a diesel engine it will eventually offer a plug-in hybrid option which is predicted to be one of the greenest seven-seat 4x4s on sale until the Tesla Model-X arrives of course.

Interior quality is superb and many of the plastics feel classy and upmarket; a far departure from the previous generation. Volvo has scored above-average in reliability and we do see this being a new trend for years to come. If Volvo had a middle name it would be safety and everything that you could ever possibly want in terms of safety kit Volvo has it. The most notable of these systems is the city braking which works at speeds up to 30mph, by slowing you down and bring you to a complete stop if the driver so happens to take his or her eyes off the road.

When you think of luxury 4x4s most will venture to the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne because well both are good in their own right. However, the XC90 is better than both in its own way. It may not be as sharp to drive or defy logic, but it is a comfortable cruiser with an outstanding interior and can really fit seven people aboard. Plus it is one of the most handsome looking 4x4s we have ever seen in a while. Volvo really did tick all the right buttons and play all the right notes with the new XC90. Hopefully the new looks and well equipped trim-levels will lure buyers in because passing one up without giving it a real gander is a real shame because this 4x4 is a gem.

Devon’s pick: T6 AWD R-design is where our money would go. It feels like you get a lot of car for your money and still somehow you undercut the X5 and you’re still way below what you would have to pay if you picked the Cayenne. It’s classy and stylish plus we just love those LED headlights.

Like: The XC90 is the most handsome 4x4 in the segment and that style carries inside too. Infotainment system is easy to use and those seats are the best. It can really fit seven people aboard and somehow manages to undercut the heavy hitters in kit and price.

Dislikes: The auto gearbox is a little sluggish to react.

Baby Train

The Baby Train, or simply Baby Train, is an urban legend told in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. The legend first appeared in Christopher Morley's 1939 novel Kitty Foyle. According to the legend, a certain small town had an unusually high birth rate. This was allegedly caused by a freight train passing through the town and blowing its whistle, waking up all the residents. Since it was too late to go back to sleep and too early to get up, couples would have sex. This resulted in a mini-baby boom.

One version of the myth, as written down by the Australian author and folklorist Bill Scott in The Long & The Short & The Tall: a collection of Australian yarns tells the story of a little town on the coast, not too far north of Sydney, where the birth rate was three times the average for all the rest of Australia. This was so unusual the Government sent someone out to the town to investigate the cause for the high birth rate. When the official arrived, he found children everywhere he looked. "Even the local school had those temporary classrooms all over the place to fit them in and they had a special maternity wing at the local hospital." The man was mystified for a while. The people there did not seem different from people in other small towns, so he couldn't understand why they got three times as many children. After a few nights in the town, the man figured it out. This particular town was right by the main railway line. The train was delivering mail right past the town, and thus blew its whistle when it stopped. Since it was too early to get up and it was too late to go back to sleep again, the adults had to find something to do in bed while waiting. This then led to the very high birth rates. Other versions of the myth vary to different degrees. Sometimes the small town is in America or England, and one version tells of noisy foghorns rather a than train whistle.

The story is related to the rumour that birth rates spiked nine months after the Northeast Blackout of 1965, the actual birthrate increase in Boston after February 1969 nor'easter September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and other natural disasters and similar events. It is based on the premise that when regular life is disrupted adults will resort to sex as occupation without regard for family planning or protection.

In 1939 Baby Train was mentioned in Christopher Morley's novel Kitty Foyle: "The first thing you hear mornings in Manitou is the early Q train to Chicago. It's too early to get up and too late to go to sleep again. They have a legend out there that the morning yells of that rattler do a good deal to keep up the birth-rate." In 1944 the story was published in The New Anecdota Americana: Five Hundred Stories for America's Amusement. In 1946 it appeared in A Collection of Jokes and Anecdotes by Bennett Cerf: "A visitor to "a small town near Charleston" is struck by the number of children in that village and thinks to ask the waiter at his hotel about it. The obliging server takes the traveler to see the train tracks at the east end of town where the expresses to Miami come barreling through. "It's this way," he explained. "That damned train rushes by here every morning at seven o'clock. It's too early to get out of bed, and too late to go back to sleep."" In 1946 Frank Cunningham wrote the book Big Dan: The Story Of A Colorful Railroader about the railroader Daniel Goode Cunningham or Big Dan. In the book the Baby Train myth is mentioned. In 1956 Baby Train popped up in Playboy's "Party Jokes". In 1967 Reader's Digest mentioned a version of the myth without a train: "A harried young serviceman, tripping over small children, babies in buggies and the assorted paraphernalia of the very young in a shopping area of San Francisco, sputtered exasperatedly, "Good Lord! Don't these people around here ever do anything else?" A passerby commented knowingly, "It's the foghorns."" In 1985 Bill Scott, an Australian folklorist published The Long & The Short & The Tall: a collection of Australian yarns, where the Baby Train is written down. In 1993 folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand published the book The Baby Train & Other Lusty Urban Legends. The Baby Train was Brunvand's fifth in a series of books that set out to document, and occasionally debunk, urban legends such as "Cactus and Spiders," "The Slasher Under the Car," and "Car Theft during Earth Quake," along with the "Baby Train." Many of the stories were collected from readers of Brunvand's syndicated newspaper column, "Urban Legend". Like Brunvand's previous urban legend books, stories in The Baby Train & Other Lusty Urban Legends are divided into common themes: automobiles, animals, horror, accidents, sex and scandals, crime, business and professional, government, celebrity rumours, and academic legends.

Bunny Man

The Bunny Man is an urban legend that originated from two incidents in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 1970, but has been spread throughout the Washington, D.C., and Maryland areas. The legend has many variations; most involve a man wearing a rabbit costume who attacks people with an axe or hatchet. Most of the stories occur around Colchester Overpass, a Southern Railway overpass spanning Colchester Road near Clifton, Virginia, sometimes referred to as "Bunny Man Bridge". Versions of the legend vary in the Bunny Man's name, motives, weapons, victims, description of the bunny costume or lack thereof, and sometimes even his possible death. In some accounts, victims' bodies are mutilated, and in some variations, the Bunny Man's ghost or aging spectre is said to come out of his place of death each year on Halloween to commemorate his passing.

Fairfax County Public Library Historian-Archivist Brian A. Conley extensively researched the Bunny Man legend. He has located two incidents of a man in a rabbit costume threatening people with an axe. The vandalism reports occurred ten days apart in 1970 in Burke, Virginia. The first incident was reported the evening of October 19, 1970, by U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Robert Bennett and his fiancée, who were visiting relatives on Guinea Road in Burke. Around midnight, while returning from a football game, they reportedly parked their car in a field on Guinea Road to "visit an Uncle who lived across the street from where the car was parked". As they sat in the front seat with the motor running, they noticed something moving outside the rear window. Moments later, the front passenger window was smashed, and there was a white-clad figure standing near the broken window. Bennett turned the car around while the man screamed at them about trespassing, including: "You're on private property, and I have your tag number." As they drove down the road, the couple discovered a hatchet on the car floor. When the police requested a description of the man, Bennett insisted he was wearing a white suit with long bunny ears. However, Bennett's fiancée contested their assailant did not have bunny ears on his head, but was wearing a white capirote of some sort. They both remembered seeing his face clearly, but in the darkness, they could not determine his race. The police returned the hatchet to Bennett after examination. The second reported sighting occurred on the evening of October 29, 1970, when construction security guard Paul Phillips approached a man standing on the porch of an unfinished home, in Kings Park West on Guinea Road. Phillips said the man was wearing a gray, black, and white bunny costume, and was about 20 years old, 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall, and weighed about 175 pounds (79 kg). The man began chopping at a porch post with a long-handled axe, saying: "You are trespassing. If you come any closer, I'll chop off your head." The Fairfax County Police opened investigations into both incidents, but both were eventually closed for lack of evidence. In the weeks following the incidents, more than 50 people contacted the police claiming to have seen the "Bunny Man". Several newspapers, including The Washington Post, reported that the "Bunny Man" had eaten a man's runaway cat. The Post articles that mentioned this incident were: "Man in Bunny suit Sought in Fairfax" (October 22, 1970) "The 'Rabbit' Reappears" (October 31, 1970) "Bunny Man Seen" (November 4, 1970) "Bunny Reports Are Multiplying" (November 6, 1970) In 1973, Patricia Johnson, a student at the University of Maryland, College Park, submitted a research paper that chronicled precisely 54 variations on the two incidents.

Colchester Overpass was built in about 1906 near the site of Sangster's Station, a Civil War era railroad station on what was once the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Because of its association with the legend, the overpass is a popular destination for paranormal enthusiasts (ghost hunters) and curiosity seekers (legend trippers). Interest increases around Halloween, and starting in 2003, local authorities began controlling access to the area during that time. During Halloween 2011, over 200 people, some from as far away as the Pennsylvania–Maryland state line, were turned away during a 14-hour traffic checkpoint into the area. The 2011 slasher film Bunnyman is an exploitation-style version of the story. The 2017 Amazon original series Lore, based on the podcast of the same name, uses the Bunny Man legend to introduce the second episode of Season 1. In The Chris Gethard Show episode "Let's Get Scared", host Chris Gethard dresses as the Bunny Man for the full episode. In 2015, non-fiction author Jenny Cutler Lopez published a full-length feature in Northern Virginia Magazine titled Long Live The Bunnyman. On October 9, 2020, Adult Swim broadcast the story of the bunny man as a "bump" during an episode of Family Guy. Published in the spring of 2021, the short story anthology Dark Words: Stories of Urban Legends and Folklore features the horror story "The Bunny Man Salvation" by Alex Norcross, which follows a local teenager as he investigates the haunted bridge. Bunnyman Brewing in Fairfax, VA was named after the urban legend. The owners, Sam Grey and Eric Berrett, decided on the name based on stories they heard growing up in Fairfax.

Devon test drives Volkwagen's Golf Wagon (Used)

Compact crossovers maybe all the rage right now but not everyone finds them appealing; and for those few individuals the Golf wagon is the perfect alternate. Here’s why:

The standard 1.8 turbo is the best combo for low running costs and flexibility in performance; plus it is priced within reason too. The 2-liter TDI is also priced within reason too but finding one will be a chore because this is the most popular form of Golf wagon. Both engines can be had with a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed DSG auto gearbox.

Whatever wagon stigma you may have in your mind should be immediately thrown to the birds when you look at the Golf Wagon. The steering feedback is good and the ride comfort is excellent; all while offering decent handling and good body control. Most will think that since it is a wagon it will be noisier than a sedan but you’ll be wrong again here because wind and road noise are both kept to a hush and you won’t even hear a peep out of the suspension.

Volkswagen does know a thing or two about infotainment display and user-friendly functionality. Both are well regarded in the Golf Wagon. Front driver and front passengers will be greeted with the most comfortable seats and even the second row passengers won’t complain much about legroom and headroom. The boot space is what makes a wagon a wagon and yes it is generous even with the second row seat folded down. Roof rails are standard as well to add versatility.

S trim comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, V-TEX leatherette seating surfaces, air-con, cd-player and Bluetooth for your mobile phone. SE trim adds panoramic sunroof, keyless start and a rearview camera. Top of the range SEL trim comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, navigation system and power-folding exterior mirrors.

The Golf Wagon is the best choice for anyone refusing to follow the trend of the compact crossover segment. However, the Golf wagon doesn’t offer all-wheel-drive and for those who may want that option will have to venture elsewhere. Everyone else will be happy with the Golf because even the SE trim offers decent value for the money in both the 1.8 turbo and TDI. Discounts should be available and resale value should be strong especially with the TDI.

Volkswagen hasn’t been the best in terms or reliability but we have very little doubt the Golf Wagon reliability will be top notch. Interior materials have been gradually improved over the previous generation and the safety kit is comprehensive; electronic stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes and electronic brake force distribution all come standard.

Don’t want to follow the trend of compact crossovers and don’t mind the lack of all-wheel-drive. The Golf Wagon hands down is the best choice money can buy. You seriously will not be disappointed here.

Likes: Space for passengers and cargo are both generous. Standard kit is decent too and both engines manage good flexibility and low running costs well.

Dislikes: No all-wheel-drive option; the GTI’s engine would be a nice addition too.

Devon's Pick: SE trim manages to combine decent kit at a decent price in both 1.8T and TDI.

Jaguar XF is a great Jag

You've suddenly outgrown your BMW 3-series and well the next step logically would be to climb into the 5-series. However, what if the new promotion allows you to sort of treat yourself to something even nicer. You'd think a nice 7-series would tickle your fancy? How about a Jaguar XF? You won't regret it one bit.

20d trim comes with or without all-wheel-drive and a decent four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. 180Hp for many many not sound like much but it is enough for most buyers who desire luxury and also somewhat respectable running costs. The new 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 247hp is a sweet spot in the range. It has plenty of torque at low revs and feels so much more flexible when you want it the most. What's a Jag without the option of a six-cylinder engine? Well you get two of them to choose from, both 3-liter supercharged with 340hp and 380hp. Our tester car wasn't any of the gasoline engines, we had the diesel engine with all-wheel-drive and a R-Sport package. Exterior styling is great and well the larger alloys seem to compliment the XF style more. Driving the diesel engine in the XF isn't like what you'd expect because we surely expected a smoother engine. It's not all bad just not as smooth as it should be, but at relaxed speeds it's fine. Besides, most people aren't going to flat out flog it at every given opportunity and with the low running costs you get with this car it's a home run. Diesel fueling stations are hard to come by but if you find one and you desire this particular XF we'd say go for it. You won't find a Mercedes E-class diesel until 2018 and you also won't find a 5-series diesel anywhere either. Jaguar pretty much owns this segment.

Long gone are the days when you'd say Jags are for those who are more into luxury and very little sport. The new XF has steering feedback that was sent from the gods and the chassis can pretty much handle every twist and turn tossed at it. You'll appreciate that the diesel engine doesn't have much horsepower because you can really see what the car is capable of achieving without feeling like you're going to overpower each turn and flog it when it isn't needed. 319Lb-ft torque at only 1750rpm is a lot. Road noise is decently suppressed as well as wind noise. The engine does have more clatter than we'd like, but we still would choose this happily over the 2-liter turbo four.

The interior has a minimalistic feel to it. Most would feel there should be buttons where there are none at all and well we are fine with that. It makes you appreciate the space that you have around you and the attention to details is stellar. We just wish that it had a bit more spice to it, more refinement in certain areas where you'll be greeted with cheap plastics. They do feel sturdy and long lasting but for the price that our tester car had we were expecting a bit more. The front seats do offer decent comfort but some may find the seats are a bit narrow and the cabin is also feels narrower than a 5-series. The rear seat can seat four comfortably but a fifth person will find themselves straddling the center transmission hump and sharing out the foot space.

Out tester car came kitted with every single option that you could possibly ask for. Adaptive Xenon-headlamps, lane keep assist, 825 watt sound system and 20-inch alloy wheels. You'll have to pay extra for ventilated leather front seats, upgraded infotainment screen and 360 view camera. These features all came with our tester car and yes while it is nice, many of them we hadn't had the chance to try them due to time. One feature that our tester car didn't come kitted with was the Adaptive Dynamics Package which we did find a bit strange.

The Jaguar XF is a great sedan that you should short list if you aren't impressed with the latest Audi, BMW and Mercedes offerings. Driving dynamics are spot on excellent and you won't regret the diesel engine for it's low running costs. Everyone else will find the 2-liter turbo four offers good flexibility. Power hungry will be very satisfied with the supercharged six-cylinders offered. The only letdown that Jaguar still needs to work on is reliability.

Likes: The XF was sent from the gods. It's dynamically the best sedan we've ever driven. Classic British luxury inside out. Diesel engine has low running costs. There's an XF for everyone.

Dislikes: Jaguar isn't known for having reliable products. Resale value is a bit scary. Be careful with the options as it may induce sticker shock, our tester car certainly did.

Pathological hate responds to anti-gay marriage article

Bigot: a person who is intolerant toward those holding different opinions.

Homophobia: dislike of or prejudice against homosexual people.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

Hate speech is speech that offends, threatens, or insults groups, based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or other traits.

“If we want to defend the centuries-old understanding of marriage, we should start by looking carefully at what God has to say about it. When we speak of the "sanctity of marriage," we mean to say that marriage is a holy and sacred institution created not by man, but by God. That means that no matter what legislators or justices say, the definition of marriage is not ours to tamper with.”

God didn’t create marriage we did. Marriage was once seen as a social contract between two people to keep a bloodline going; keep an inheritance within a family and to keep a last name going. Most importantly it was seen as a union of two people who loved each other and wanted to spend their lives together. “No matter what legislators or justices say the definition of marriage is not ours to tamper with?” We created marriage not god! Secondly I’m glad the government has finally stepped in and said it is unconstitutional to ban gay marriage and it is also unconstitutional to use your religion to deny that right to the LGBT community. It’s fine that you don’t agree with someone being gay but it’s not okay to openly hate and use your religion as a justification to spew your hatred.

Marriage can and should be redefined because it was once illegal for interracial couples to get married and now that gay marriage is deemed unconstitutional to ban, we are redefining it again. Sorry to tell you that the world you once knew is changing and this is a great accomplishment allowing gay couples the right to get married. This should’ve been granted a long time ago!

“First, we in the Christian community need to apologize for the way we have interacted with the LGBT community. As those who have been forgiven by God through Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf, we must exhibit the love of Christ to all men and women. We can stand for the truth and be loving at the same time. This we must do.

Second, our authority to speak to the needs of our nation today is the Word of God. The Scriptures teach that there are absolutes and that there is such a thing as right and wrong. Truth is never tolerant of a lie. The real battleground around this debate on homosexual marriage begins with the question: Who is your authority? We believe that the timeless truth of Holy Scripture gives us the authoritative blueprints for life. We respect those who wish to deny the truth of Scripture. We would ask for a mutual respect in return.”

Yes you are correct it is your job to go out and spread the word of god; but what you fail to realize is that our government shouldn’t be promoting an ideology of any shape or form. I would be offended if the government made radical claims suggesting that there is no god. The only job the government has regarding religion is protection of and protection from religion. No, you shouldn’t proselytize to those who don’t want to hear it, yes you have the right to worship whatever god you choose as long as it doesn’t infringe upon the rights of others then it becomes a problem.

How can you ask for mutual respect in return when you are basically telling gay people that they can’t get married because of god! It angers me that you can sit here and say it’s okay for you to dictate someone else’s life because your bible tells you it’s okay. Well it’s not okay! Freedom of and freedom from religion remember that!

“ It's important to emphasize two things here. First, marriage is not about us; it's about God. From the beginning our purpose—as individuals and as couples in marriage—is to glorify God. We were created with the capacity to enjoy a relationship with God and to love and serve Him. As Jesus says in Matthew 22:37, the greatest commandment is, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."

It’s important to emphasize something here, marriage was not created by god and if you want your marriage to be about god that is fine. However, we live in a society where people get married because they love each other and want to spend their lives together. I don’t understand why we keep having this same discussion over and over again? Not everyone believes in your god and to throw bible verses at them saying this is why gay people can’t get married is plain stupid. You have your religious views? Cool great; but do us all a favor and keep them to your fucking self.

“Second, God ties His image to human sexuality. Marking human beings as distinct from the rest of creation, Genesis 1 says "In the image of God He created him—male and female He created them." In other words, our gender differences as men and women are part of how we understand who God is.”

Let’s look at the creation of man. Adam was created from dirt and Eve was created from the rib of Adam. We don’t see people just popping into existence from bones and dirt; also let’s just tell the truth because the bible does a good job at it. Adam was created to be a robot and Eve was just a baby factory who has no voice and no rights. Created in the image of god? We don’t even know if god does or doesn’t exist and there is no empirical data to suggest otherwise. Please use your brain!

“Homosexuals have suggested for years that their practice is an acceptable alternative lifestyle. Many claim that their sexual attraction is something they were born with. Some have even suggested that God made them as homosexuals. While the impact of nature vs. nurture can be debated, God makes it clear in Scripture that acting on homosexual attraction is sin.”

“The practice of homosexuality isn't a preference or an uncontrollable desire—it's actually a stark confirmation of a person's rebellion against the Designer. Romans 1:21-27 tells us that, as humans failed to honor God, their "foolish heart was darkened" and "they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator ... For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error."

“The issue of sexual behavior isn't a matter of simple preference. Our sexual choices and behavior reflect on the image and glory of God. Our stand against homosexuality is ultimately a stand for the wisdom and perfection of the created design and a choice to honor the Designer.”

People who are gay are gay because they are rebelling against god? What kind of drugs are you on to even come to a conclusion like this? Science has proven that being gay is not a choice and shouldn’t be treated like that. In fact being gay was once considered a mental illness because people used their bible as a weapon to openly discriminate and justify their ignorance. Sexual orientation is not a preference; no one wakes up and says oh I used to be gay but now I’m not. I’m going to date women and be heterosexual. No! No! No! That is not how the world works! Again what if I don’t believe in your god? All you’ve said here is say that the LGBT lifestyle is invalid and they hate god. Nice job on the straw man and insult of a whole community of people who by the way don’t hate your god. They just hate the concept of him and how he is used to discriminate against people.

 A second purpose for marriage is to produce children.  In Genesis 1:28 when God commands Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth..." The most obvious aspect of this command is that God designed male and female to join physically and reproduce children. Procreation is an integral part of God's design for marriage.

In addition, God set up the family as one of his primary institutions (the other being the Church) to tell each succeeding generation about who He is and how they can know Him. God's original plan called for the home to be a sort of greenhouse—a nurture center where children grow up to learn character, values, and integrity. Psalm 78 instructs parents to teach their children to "...put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments..."

This training in obedience is not only an essential responsibility of the family, but it also is designed to be an outgrowth of the marriage. Research studies make it clear that a stable family with both father and mother provides the best environment for children to thrive, mature, and become responsible citizens of any nation and culture.

Male-male or female-female relationships cannot produce children unless something extraordinary is done to assist them. While it is true that gay couples can raise children, and can adopt needy children, they will not, however, multiply a godly legacy when they are living in rebellion to God. In addition, gay couples cannot model what God designed for a child to experience growing up: a complete picture of a male and female completing one another in the marriage relationship. Children were made by God to be nurtured by the love of a mother and a father from birth.

Marriage is about sharing your life with the person you love and if you so happen to want children then that’s fine. However, the only purpose of marriage is not to have children because you are basically shaming every sterile couple who cannot physically have children and this time I won’t bring up an elderly couple. What if a couple doesn’t want children? Are you going to shame them too? Why is marriage about glorifying god and producing children? But not once did you ever mention these people actually want to glorify him or if they actually even believe in him.

There are families with no mom present and vice versa. Some kinds don’t even have both parents at all in their life and they are raised by a grandparent or a sibling. It really is cruel to say that they don’t have a family because it doesn’t fit your biblical standards of what a family should be. Science has proven that a kid can be raised by two people of the same-sex and grow up just like kids who have parents of the opposite sex. Training to glorify god? Please don’t indoctrinate kids into religion until they are fully aware and able to make their own decisions regarding religion. Kids aren’t born hating they learn to hate from their parents. I just hope if you have kids that they don’t take this type of view on marriage; especially a marriage not harming other people.

AGAIN!!! What if the couple is sterile and incapable of having a child on their own? What if the couple doesn’t want a CHILD! Marriage isn’t about having CHIDLREN!!!! Also just because two people of the same-sex can’t physically have a child doesn’t give you the green light to DENY THEM MARRIAGE!  Please get it through your thick skull.

“These passages in Genesis 1 and 2 also make it clear that God not only created the institution of marriage, but He also is intimately involved in bringing a husband and wife together physically through the act of intercourse in marriage. He gave Adam a helper specifically designed for him. God designed a man and a woman to complete one another and He commanded them to become "one flesh." As Jesus said, just after quoting from Genesis 1:27, "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate" (Matthew 19:6).”

“Male and female were created to be complementary to one another in every way—from their emotional and spiritual needs to their anatomical structure. While same-sex couples may attempt to experience some aspects of this "completion," they nevertheless are maintaining a lifestyle built around a sexual rebellion against God. In most cases, this will lead to an inability to make the type of commitment God desires in marriage. Studies show, for example, that even when homosexual men commit themselves to a partner, many still regularly engage in sex with other men several times a year.”

“The physical act of a husband and wife becoming one within marriage is easily understood. They were designed by God for one another. However, two men or two women were not designed by God to become one flesh with one another. The physical joining of two men or two women is not a natural act.”

God is very sexist and do you want to know why? Well let’s start with the story of Adam and Eve and how they fucked up and sinned; even though they weren’t created without a sense of right and wrong. God banished them from the Garden of Eden and punished both of them with mortality and he made child birth for Eve painful. Continue reading the bible and you’ll learn that women aren’t to be trusted because apparently they are all backstabbers and are only objects used to pop out babies. They have no voice and must marry their rapist if they get married; also they can be stoned to death if they aren’t a virgin.

Please tell me more about how two men and two women can’t have a meaningful relationship and they weren’t designed by god; yes also tell me how the world is less than 10,000 years old and god spoke the universe into existence. I find this to be so much more factual than two people who love each other of the same-sex wanting to spend their lives together. How dare they want to be happy? That’s a sin!

Science has proven that being gay is not a choice and is perfectly natural. Being a bigot is a choice however, as well as being homophobic, ignorant and stupid.

“An unselfish commitment to God and to each other is the foundation of a godly home and the bedrock of a stable culture. The more we seek to redefine marriage, and chip away at God's original design for the home, the more we put our families and our nation at risk.”

“This debate about same-sex marriage is the latest outgrowth of a culture that for decades has been drifting from biblical standards of truth and morality. The sexual revolution, for example, sought to bring legitimacy to sex outside of marriage. The women's liberation movement worked to revolutionize the roles of men and women in marriage and in our society. Throw in a rising emphasis on materialism and personal happiness, and you end up with a dramatically new way of looking at marriage. In her book, The Divorce Culture, Barbara Dafoe Whitehead writes:”

“... Americans began to change their ideas about the individual's obligations to family and society. Broadly described, this change was away from an ethic of obligation to others and toward an obligation to self... This ethical shift had a profound impact on ideas about the nature and purpose of the family... People began to judge the strength and "health" of family bonds according to their capacity to promote individual fulfillment and personal growth.”

“When millions of Americans view marriage from the mindset of "What's in it for me?" concepts like responsibility, self-sacrifice, and lifelong commitment become secondary. Is it any wonder that our divorce rate is so high? Or that the number of children born outside of marriage continues to rise? Or that an increasing number of couples are opting to live together instead of marrying?”

“And now the continuing push to legalize same-sex marriage is seeking to redefine marriage even further. From the moment God created marriage, it was designed with a man and woman in mind. God designed two sexes male and female—He did not create four sexes. Same-sex marriage cannot fulfill God's purposes for marriage.”

I’m personally glad we’ve chipped away from the so called ‘godly home’ because if you look at the way homes were in the bible they were pretty terrible. People were forced to marry people they didn’t love because that’s what god wanted? Also if you look at the way men treated women and how women are depicted in the bible it’s just awful. Please tell me how you want to revert back to the dark ages? Gay marriage was deemed unconstitutional to ban because it infringes on the rights of the LGBT community. We have a separation of church and state for a reason! Please open your mind and look at this not from a biblical stand point but from an actual person’s stand point. How would you feel if I came to your wedding and said you couldn’t get married because it offends me? You would what still get married am I correct? Now what gives you the authority to tell someone else they can’t get married your bible? That’s not a credible source!

The same arguments used against interracial marriage were used and again that was deemed unconstitutional to ban. Same happened with gay marriage; we redefined it because we created marriage not god! I’m so happy we as a society have moved forward so radically and seeing gay marriage allowed in all fifty states proves that we are shifting away from religious views and the government isn’t promoting an ideology. You keep throwing god in every argument as if that’s going to make it any more valid. It’s one thing to oppose but it’s another to oppose and not have a real reason because quite frankly I can say your god is an asshole because he rather force people to live the way he wants even though he created free will; also god isn’t even good source of morale because he’s had people do unspeakable things in the bible especially in the old testament. You’re opposed to two people loving each other? I’m opposed to you spewing hatred and being discriminatory towards those who have no effect on your life.

What not to say to a 'godly wife' (apparently)

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I am responding to an article on how to talk to a 'godly wife'. Solving your problems yourself? There's no such thing! You need 'god' in every decision you make because they aren't yours to make they are 'god's'.

“You should have asked for help.”
A woman wants a husband who will care for her and watch over her. She wants a protector and to feel taken care of. Because of this, it’s nice when our husband notices we might need help with something and jumps in for the support.
[What you’re implying is that women are weak and constantly need a man to step in to help out? That’s what I’m getting from this statement.]
Sometimes a wife might need help reaching for that bowl above the refrigerator or picking up the cheerios on the floor. This is a great opportunity to jump in and serve your wife.
[If you can’t reach something too high up ask for your husband for help, or just use a stepstool and grab it yourself. It’s not hard! I mean you’re making women out to be just completely and utterly useless in everything they do.]
If you don’t jump in and maybe your wife seems frustrated or mentions she would have like helped, refrain from commenting she should have asked for it. A comment like that will leave her feeling alone and uncared for.
[This is bullshit! You won’t know if anyone needs help unless they reach out and ask for it. Example, my partner maybe in the living room watching TV and I’ll be in the kitchen and I spill something. It would be highly unfair if I’m cleaning up the spill and expect my partner to automatically know I need help and should run to my aid. If I need help I’ll reach out for it, this is why you communicate with each other! Open your mouth and say how you feel!]

“We just don’t agree so let’s not talk about it.”
Sometimes the logic is; if I know we won’t agree on the topic or see eye to eye, let’s not talk about it. But not talking about it doesn’t make the difference go away. If anything, it creates a gap that will only grow with time.
[There are lots of things my partner and I don’t agree on. We, however come to a middle ground on various issues that we do encounter in our relationship. He doesn’t agree with somethings I think is sensible and vice versa. But we don’t avoid it, we address it when needed. So yes this I agree with, communication is important.]
I’ve watched this happen when it comes to politics, family, and even the Bible. Don’t be afraid to talk to your wife regarding a sensitive issue just because you don’t think you’ll agree. Take the opportunity to really listen to each other and grow closer through the differences.
[I agree with everything you’ve said here except the bible. You just had to toss the fucking bible in!]

“Why are you doing it that way?”
When we’re working on something we care about or pour a lot of time into, we look to our husband for encouragement and validation.
[You could quite literally take that comment in so many directions. I will apply this to my partner and I. He may have noticed that I’m doing a task inefficiently and wants to suggest an easier way of doing so. I would greatly appreciate that tip rather than jumping down his throat and yelling at him. The whole point of a relationship is that it’s all teamwork. We help build each other up and we help each other when one of us is down, and to get mad over a suggestion is just petty.]

“Looks the same to me.”
Your wife gets a new haircut, works out to lose a few pounds, or tries out a new makeup look. She wants to know you notice and might ask “how do I look” or “can you tell I made a change?” If so, never say anything close to “you look the same to me.”
[My partner and I generally don’t have this issue; if I buy a new shirt he will notice right away or if I get my haircut he will notice right away. It is mainly due to him being a very observant and I am the total opposite. I’ll notice larger changes, example he’s working out more and he also changes up his hairstyle. Little things like new shirt or new shoes I won’t notice right away because I’m not very observant and he doesn’t get mad over it. He will tell me flat out ‘hey look at my new shirt’.]
Your wife wants you to notice her, in both the small and significant ways. Make a comment about how you like the new look or appreciate the hard work she’s put into the new effort.
[We all want to be noticed in large and small ways but this is just ridiculous!]

“What did you do all day?”
This is a big no, no! Some women stay home to take care of the kiddos while the husband goes to work, or perhaps works from home. I beg you to please never come home and ask your wife what she’s been doing all day. Maybe the house isn’t perfect or dinner is a bit late, but I promise you that any woman staying home to care for the family, whether that be with kids or a stay-at-home job, is not bored or sitting around the house all day.
[Men stay at home with their kids too! I give major props to any stay at home parent because it’s hard. My partner and I both work full-time jobs and we are both off on the same days. When it comes to cooking we take turns, and when it comes to cleaning we both pitch in to help keep our house clean. I understand some men out there or women work full-time jobs and want to come home and relax, but you do have to realize your partner has a full-time job of raising the kids, cleaning the house and cooking supper. Anyone will want that little break time or to feel appreciated even if the house isn’t in 100% order. He or she may have been running errands all day. I agree with this one, except the ‘woman’ part because there are stay at home dads in the world.]

“What did you say?”
If your wife is sharing something with you, please don’t tune her out as you look at your phone or daydream about the upcoming game (or whatever it is men daydream about!). The last thing your wife wants to hear after she has said something is, “what did you say?” This can be incredibly discouraging and deflating.
[This isn’t just a ‘woman’ thing here! Men want to be heard and want to know that their partner is listening to them wholeheartedly. My partner is like this as well, he gets very sensitive if he feels someone isn’t listening to him when he speaks. I give him my full undivided attention when he talks and when I talk he does the same. Stop trying to make men look like just complete assholes because it depends upon the person. There are women who do the same exact thing you are accusing men of doing, it’s not about gender here it’s all about the person.]

“I don’t know.”
Your wife is looking for her keys or asking what you’d like for dinner, just to name a few examples. She’s turning to you for some insight or help. When you say “I don’t know” and keep doing what you’re doing, you leave your wife feeling alone.
[It highly depends upon the situation, and no one has all the answers for everything. Example, if I ask my partner something and he has no clue how to answer, I’d rather him be honest with me and say I don’t know rather than pull shit out of his ass. I understand you want the insight from your partner but you have to also realize not everyone is perfect and not everyone will know the answer to your particular issue. Secondly, you can ask for help like I’ve said in the beginning. Also, many people aren’t picky eaters, so when you ask ‘hey what do you want for dinner?’ it’s not to be annoying but some just don’t really care what you pick; or if they have a suggestion they’ll make one. I always end up picking the food we eat for dinner because my partner doesn’t really care majority of the time unless he really has a taste for something and he will cook it himself for the two of us.]
Instead, jump in and ask how you can help, offer to look with her, or make some suggestions.
[The food suggestion you can brainstorm on together, it’s not that hard and it works all the time.]

 “I’ll do it later.”
She asks for some help with the house, or for you to run to the grocery store. You respond with “I’ll do it later” but forget or do it a few days later. Here’s the deal: if you do say it, be the person who does it within a reasonable time that doesn’t leave your wife stressed. Only then, having a track record of getting things done, may you use this phrase. If your history is spotty, it’s time to amp up your timeliness!
[It’s not just a ‘man’ thing, women are also guilty of this as well. It all depends upon the person like I’ve been saying throughout this article. You have a lot of women who are procrastinators or just simply forgetful. This isn’t a bad thing but at the same time it does get annoying. You ask for help with a chore and you want your partner to follow through with it. It’s not something to get stressed out about. Work with your partner, try to motivate them to want to do certain chores. It’s not all about ‘you do this’ and ‘you do that’ it’s about working as a team to help each other out.]

“I don’t remember saying that” or “You’re remembering that wrong.”
When remembering some details, both people are going to feel confident in their memory. Be careful how you handle this conversation or it could quickly turn into a fight.
If you feel confident in your memory, try something different like “they way I remember it is…” and approach it from a neutral perspective. Saying something like “you’re remembering it wrong” can feel like an attack and put your wife on the defense.
[My memory is awful when it comes to small details and my partner his memory is sharp. He will remember things that I’ve said to him that I won’t right away. We don’t get into fights about it because there’s no need to break into a fight over it. We may disagree on things said to each other, or if he doesn’t fully remember the situation he’ll try to brainstorm with me until it jogs his memory. Yes I agree, you do want to pick and choose your battles but some people just naturally have bad memory. I wouldn’t ever say that and I don’t know anyone who would say that either.]

“It’s up to you.”
You’re trying to come up with a plan or figure out where to eat and your wife asks for your opinion. You then respond, “it’s up to you.” This can be a frustrating remark to hear and make your wife feel alone or bossy.
[My partner has said this to me several times and he really does just go with the flow. He really isn’t a picky eater, and if he wants something he’ll make the suggestion or prepare it himself for the both of us. I don’t feel alone or bossy, I just know that he wants me to pick something that makes me happy. It’s nothing wrong with that, often times he will make suggestions and I’ll go along with whatever he says.]
Engage in conversation with her to find a solution that works for both of you!
[You’re supposed to do this regardless! You are a couple and you work through things by talking it out!]
Disclaimer: I gathered these in a poll conducted with godly wives. To my wonderful husband, you’ve only said one or two of these [wink, wink]!
[What the fuck is a ‘godly wife’? You just had to throw religion in there right? Why solve our problems like normal people when we can incorporate ‘god’ into them and become ‘children’ because ‘children’ are the ones who can’t really make decisions on their own and that’s what ‘god’ wants of you and your relationship right? Run to him for everything like children!]

Devon is impressed with the Mazda 6

If you’re in the market for a mid-sized family sedan, your first choice would be either the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. However, if you’re only aware of those two choices, you’ll be missing out on the vast number of offerings in this segment. One of them being the unjustly ignored Mazda 6, in our opinion is the best money can buy. Here’s why:

The Mazda 6 can only be had with a 2.5 four-cylinder engine pumping out 185hp. It may not seem like much but this engine really is up for the job. It offers plenty of flexibility around town and on the highway, plus it has low running costs which makes it one of the better overall values compared to most in the competition. We know that it doesn’t offer a turbocharged four-cylinder like the Fusion or a six-cylinder like the Honda Accord. But not everyone cares about horsepower figures, it’s all about the driving experience and with the Mazda 6 you surely won’t be let down.

Steering input is so smooth and responsive that you’ll think this were a sports car rather than a four-door sedan. Handling and ride comfort has a near perfect balance. Some may find that there’s a bit more road noise than some of its keen rivals, but this is far from a deal breaker. Overall refinement of the cabin is top notch and comparable to even some of the more established offerings.

Slip behind the wheel of the Mazda 6 and you’ll be greeted with what we think is the best interior of the segment. The controls and dials are all laid out logically and are within easy reach of the driver’s hand. The driver’s seat and passenger seat are both comfortable and offer plenty of support, while rear passengers get plenty of space. A third person may find some discomfort with the transmission tunnel and somewhat lacking of an actual middle seat. The boot space is generous too but not as flexible as a hatchback or wagon. But that is merely nit picking at best.

The Mazda 6 can be had with three trim levels. Entry-level sport comes with auto-off headlights, cruise control, Bluetooth hands free connectivity for your mobile device and push button ignition switch. You’ll have to step up to touring to get 19inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control and Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry system. Top of the range grand touring gets LED headlights, Bose sound system and leather trimmed seats.

The Mazda 6 really does offer a compelling option for those who enjoy driving and don’t want to conform to the usual class favorites from Toyota and Honda. It’s sporty to drive, has low running costs and is an overall stylish package that’s well equipped. How this isn’t gaining much attention baffles even us, because many are seriously missing out on the most multi-talented options out there. This is worthy of being on your short list indeed.

Likes: Engaging driving experience. Stylish inside and out, standard kit is generous and running costs are low.

Dislikes: There’s no wagon, all-wheel-drive or turbocharged four-cylinder engine to option for.

Devon's choice: The touring trim is the pick of the range. It offers slightly more kit than the sport trim and isn't as expensive as the grand touring.

Devon test drives a Kia Rio 5-door

The Kia Rio for a while carried the image of being a budget car nothing more. Those who needed a cheap means of getting around considered the Rio because of it's ultra low base price. Now times have changed however, and the Kia Rio is far from the cheap car that it used to be. It's still affordable and offers much new technology for such a low asking price. Has Kia finally stepped up their game? Or is it a case of all style no substance?

Performance: The Kia Rio only comes with one engine and that's a 1.6-liter four-cylinder producing 138hp. There's plenty of pace for city and highway driving, and fuel economy is really good as well. The engine is paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six speed automatic gearbox. Picking between the two depends on your tastes.

Ride & Handling: The Kia Rio ride often feels firm and never settled over bumps and potholes. If you get the top of the range trim with the low profile tires, the ride comfort will suffer a bit more. Handling is okay, it's not as sporty as a Fiesta but it does offer a secure feeling. The only downside is the steering can often feel numb at times.

Refinement: Wind noise is well supressed but very little else. Engine noise is often joined by tire noise slapping on the road. The gearshift is a bit notchy too. On long journeys this can make things a bit tiresome unless you turn the radio up a bit to drain out the noise.

Behind the wheel: This car is very easy to get comfortable in because the driving position is adjustable and should suit everyone. The seats are flat and firm. The controls are simple and well placed. The big problem however is the small rear window and thick pillars, which restrict rear visibility.

Space & Practicality: The Rio offers a impressive amount of space for four adults. There's plenty of headroom and legroom to go round. The boot offers plenty of space for its size and the rear seats fold 60/40 for added versatility.

Equipment: The base trim level misses out on power windows and power door locks. But you do get air-con and a CD-player standard. You'll have to step up to the EX trim to get power door locks, windows and Bluetooth connectivity. SX trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels, power folding exterior mirrors, auto headlights with LED day time running lamps and a sports tuned supension.

Buying & Owning: The Kia Rio is one of the most affordable cars on the market. However, the value factor slowly disappears when you climb up the trim levels. The base trim loses out on features that should be standard, while the top of the range seems rather overpriced for what it is. Running costs should be low thanks to good fuel economy, while resale unknown.

Quality & Reliability: The Kia Rio overall interior quality feels good. The quality of the materials used feel sturdy and long lasting. A huge step forward for the brand. Reliability has been average for the Kia brand.

Safety & Security: All Rios come equipped with front and side curtain airbags. Anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control are standard as well. It should also be as thief-proof as other contemporary Kias.

The Kia Rio has really stepped up its game since it was first released in the U.S. No longer is it the car you'd choose because its the cheapest to buy. The new generation of the Rio is stylish, practical and even offers good fuel economy. However, the only disappointing factors is the kit level for the base trim and the disappointing driving experience compared to the Ford Fiesta. If you can ignore these few little faults, you'll find that the Rio is a great car with good value for the money.

Devon's Pick: SX trim may be the most expensive of the Rio range. It's the only version of the Rio that offers the most attractive features such as those LED daytime running lamps and flashy alloy wheels. It's worth spending the extra but loses the value for money factors. 

Likes: Good fuel economy, stylish exterior looks, practical and offers good value for the money.

Dislikes: Not as comfortable or fun to drive as a Ford Fiesta, the base trim is very disappointing.

Devon M

(Used) Devon test drives an Audi Allroad

Photo provided by Devon M 

If you take an Audi A4 raise the suspension slightly and throw on plastic body panels. You get the Audi Allroad, it's designed to compete with the Volvo XC70 and Subaru Outback. With standard Quattro all-wheel-drive and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, can Audi give a justifiable reason to buy a Allroad over a luxury crossover? 

Performance: The Allroad only comes with a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 211hp. Only transmission available is an eight speed automatic gearbox. Which does a good job of helping the engine feel more powerful than the numbers suggest. Pace around town is decent and on the highway there's good punch thanks to the extra torque. 

Ride & handling: Even though the Allroad has a raised driving position for mild off-roading. The downside is that the Allroad is that there's a bit more body roll than the A4 Avant on which its based on. The ride comfort is also a bit of a let down, there's a bit too much thump over poor road surfaces and the steering is overly light with little feedback. 

Refinement: The Allroad is quiet and smooth at highway speeds. There's a bit of wind noise, but it can be easily drained out with the radio. Suspension and road noise are also well supressed. 

Behind the wheel: There's a wide range of adjustments for the driver's seat and steering wheel. The instrumental panel is easy to navigate and visibility is great thanks to large glass area. 

Space & Practicality: There's enough space for four adults and their luggage. Headroom and legroom and plenty and the boot is a good size as well. The rear seats fold down to add more space, but they don't fold completely flat. 

Equipment: The base trim of the Allroad comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, Audi Concert radio, panorama glass roof and leather surfaced seats. Mid-range trim adds Xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, power tailgate, three-zone climate control and heated front seats. Top of the range trim adds navigation system, keyless start, Audi side assist blind spot dection warning and a upgraded sound system. 

Buying & Owning: The Allroad comes with a hefty price tag which is similar to the Volvo XC70. Even though the Subaru Outback is much cheaper to buy, it doesn't have the styling appeal of the Audi Allroad. Gas mileage a combined 23 miles to the gallon which is decent for a wagon that has all-wheel-drive and weighs near 4,000lbs. Resale value should be good as with all Audis. 

Reliability & Quality: The interior quality is excellent for its class. All the materials feel upscale and the overall impression is superb. Audi hasn't really enjoyed the best reliability record in the past, but from what we've seen in recent years. The question still remains over the longterm reliability of the mechanicals and electronics. 

Security & Safety: The Allroad comes with lots of safety equipment, including six airbags and stability control. Rear side airbags are optional. Deadlocks and an alarmn are fitted as stanard to guard against theft. 

The Allroad is a nice wagon with plenty of luxury features galore. The engine is decent for the task, and fuel economy is respectable. However the bigger question remains. Why Audi didn't offer the A6 Allroad instead of the A4 based Allroad. The price tag would've been a little more justifiable and overall packaging would've been more convincing seeing that the Volvo XC70 and Subaru Outback are both larger vehicles with more space. However, if you want a splash of style, wagon practicality and desire the Audi Quattro all-wheel-drive, the Audi Allroad is the perfect car that blends all three very well.

Devon's Pick: Premium Plus adds Xenon headlamps which look better on the Allroad than the halogen headlamps that come standard on the base trim. Plus it feels like an alround better deal than both the base trim and top of the range. 

Likes: Stylish exterior with luxurious interior, spacious room for four adults with a decent sized boot. Turbo engine has more pep than the figures suggest. 

Dislikes: Priced rather steeply, steering is overly light. Reliability record is still iffy. Doesn't offer adjustable suspension like previous Allroad. Based on A4 platform rather than A6 to make it a real competitor towards the Volvo XC70. 

Pathological Hate supports marriage freedom

“We need to protect marriage.”
Protect marriage how? People have married landmarks, video game characters and even themselves. Shot gun weddings exist and even getting married out of wedlock. Marriage should be a union of two people that love each other whether they are two men or two women. Marriage doesn’t need protection; marriage needs to be redefined because it’s no longer just one man one woman and we shouldn’t be throwing religion in people faces to dictate what a marriage is.

“We must preserve traditional marriage.”
Man + woman
Wives submit sexually to their husbands
Interfaith marriage is forbidden
Marriage generally arranged, not based on romantic love
Brides who could not prove her virginity was stoned to death

Man + woman + woman’s property
Man could acquire his wife’s property including her slaves

Man + woman + woman + woman
Man could have multiple wives also known as polygamy

Man + brother’s widow
Widows who had not borne a son required to marry her brother in law, must submit sexually to her new husband.

Rapist + his victim
Virgin who is raped must marry her rapist. Rapist must pay victim’s father 50 shekels of silver for property loss.

Male soldier + prisoner of war
Under Moses’ command, Israelites kill every Midlantie man, woman and child; save for the virgin girls who are taken as spoils of war. Wives must submit sexually to their new owners.

Male slave + female slave

Slave owners could assign female slaves to his male slaves. Female slaves must submit sexually to their new husbands.

These are all examples of traditional marriage and if these are the kind of weddings you want to preserve then you really do want to live in the dark ages because all of these marriage ideas are awful.

“Marriage is a sacred institution.”

Marriage is not a sacred institution! And marriage was not created by god! Marriage was seen as a social contract between two people to keep an inheritance in a family; to keep a last name going or keep a wealth within a family. It had nothing to do with god and even if it did, Christianity only existed for at least 6,000 years which means that marriage existed long before Christianity.  Further proof that your argument is flawed!

“Marriage has always been a bond between one man and one woman.”

Marriage may have been strictly between a man and a woman for those that feel the need to push their biblical standards. But as a society entering new times, we are seeing that love can exist between two men and two women. We should not be dictating who you can and can’t love if that love isn’t harming anyone.

 “Gay marriage will confuse gender roles.”

Gender roles basically say that women should be submissive to their husbands and men should be emotionless robots. I’m glad we are entering a time in which it is becoming socially acceptable for men to express their emotions and women can take on the supporting role. This is the way a marriage should be; two people supporting each other and kids should see this because that is how a marriage should work. Not the dark ages where women weren’t even considered people.

“Gay marriage will confuse the terms ‘husband’ and ‘wife’, or ‘mother and ‘father’.”

Again this is the same argument as the last one. Gender roles is the same as mother and father; husband and wife. Just because two people are of the same sex doesn’t mean that it will confuse these awful gender roles. Instead it should show that we are living in a different times and the word ‘family’ is no longer just a mother and a father.

“Gay people cannot have children and so should not be allowed to marry.”
What if the couple is sterile and can’t have children? What if the couple doesn’t want children? Does this mean that they can’t get married? Sorry I forgot marriage isn’t about love and wanting to share your life with a special person, it’s all about women being baby factories and the man being an emotionless robot. Yes that’s the best marriage ever! 

“No one has the right to redefine marriage.”

Yes we can redefine marriage and do you want to know why? We created marriage! God didn’t! Marriage was a social contract between two people to keep a last name going, to keep a blood line going and to keep a family inheritance in check. It had nothing to do with god and I’m pretty sure there were marriages long before Christianity existed. Oh wait, the world is 6,000 years old and people just pop into existence from bones and dirt.

“The minority should not have the right to dictate to the majority.”

No one should be dictating to anyone about anything! All gay people want is to live their life and be treated like everyone else. I don’t know why this is so hard for you to understand! No one is forcing you to participate in gay sex. No one is forcing you to perform a gay marriage. Marriage is a human right and of course everyone deserves that right. If you aren’t harming anyone why should you care? Are you secretly gay?

“Public opinion polls show most people are against gay marriage.”

Most people that are against gay marriage actually don’t have a real valid reason as to why they are against it. Also what is crazy is that most people who are against it actually think that they themselves will have to become gay and marry someone of the same sex. In fact that’s quite the opposite. All gay people want is to get married and share their life with the person they love. This shouldn’t be an issue because you surely don’t want your rights taken away from you, and you surely don’t want anyone to dictate your life. What gives you the right to do that to someone else? If they aren’t going around harming others then let them be!

“Why is it so important for gay people to have marriage?”

The same reason that heterosexual couples want to get married, to share your life with someone you love and care about. Oh yeah, I keep forgetting the only reason to get married according to the bible is to create children. There’s no love in marriage it’s all about having children and being miserable with someone you don’t even care about.

 “There are two sides to the argument. Why can’t we compromise?”

Did women compromise when they were fighting for the right to vote? Did interracial couples compromise when they wanted the right to get married? No, there is no room for compromise when your rights are steadily being stripped away from you. No one should compromise and settle for anything less.

“Gay marriage is immoral.”

I guess rape, murder and slavery are perfectly moral then? Your bible says that all of the three are okay and even though thou shall not murder is in the Ten Commandments; it’s not even in the top five which is disturbing. Also god told people to kill other people and even had the Israelites eat their own babies?? Yeah gay marriage is so much more immoral than these acts I mentioned above.

“I love my best friend, my brother and my dog. That does not mean we should have the right to marry.”

There is a difference between loving someone and being in love with someone. The love you have between you and your mother in law is not the same as the love you’d have for your spouse or significant other. You love your dog yes that’s fine but are you in love with your dog? No you aren’t. So this argument makes absolutely no sense! But then again this is coming from someone who thinks that two people should marry to have children and not because they love each other.

 “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.”

Adam and Eve creation doesn’t make any sense to begin with. What proof do you have that men are formed form dirt and women are formed from bones? People just pop into existence from dirt and bones. Also, it’s quite mean to say what someone has between them and their partner isn’t real because it’s not biblical love.

“Gay rights are fashionable right now.”

Fashionable, if being gay were fashionable how come there are people protesting at anti-gay marriage rallies? Everyone seems to have an opinion about gay marriage and most of them are hate speech. I can’t imagine anyone thinking that they should have fewer rights and wanting to be treated like second-class citizens. There is nothing fashionable about having your rights taken away from you and people openly discriminating against your lifestyle because they refuse to understand it.

“Gay people do not even want marriage.”

If this were true how come there are so many gay people fighting for the right to get married? How come when gay marriage is allowed in a state the number of gays getting married in a single day are in the hundreds maybe thousands? Maybe not all gay people want to get married right away and maybe some don’t want to get married at all. But to deny the freedom of marriage to someone because it violates your bible is not a valid reason. After all this country was founded on religious freedom and we shouldn’t be throwing biblical agendas down people’s throats.

“Gay people can already get married – to people of the opposite gender.”

Do you even now what being gay means? It really means being happy but a man who is attracted to other men and a woman that is attracted to other women is considered being gay. Now that we have that out of the way, why would any gay person marry someone of the opposite sex as opposed to the person they really love? Are you stupid?  How about I force you to marry a man because it offends me that you want to marry a woman, do you see how stupid that is?!!

 “There will be drastic consequences for society if we accept gay marriage.”

Canada allowed gay marriage and nothing has happened. Here in the U.S. there are currently 37 states that allow gay marriage and none of these states have been wiped off the face of the planet. Do you think that being gay is a plague? Only thing that will change and should change is people’s attitude towards gay people. Homophobes carry this mentality that if you hang around a gay person you will become gay. If this were true; I fed some ducks in a park and I guess that means that I’m a duck now.

 “Gay marriage will cause the disestablishment of the church.”

“State churches that use government power to support themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths undermine all our civil rights. Erecting the wall of separation between church and state, therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.” Thomas Jefferson

Gay marriage will not in any shape or form disestablish your church. However, what should be disestablished is the hatred and bigotry that is associated with most churches. Instead of radically loving others, you hate those who don’t agree with you and banish them to hell. Rapists, pedophiles and murders are welcome into your church and those individuals should be banished to hell for harming other people. Do you see where I’m going with this? A gay person not harming anyone is sent to hell, while those that harm others are redeemed.

 “Gay marriage will lead to polygamy/bestiality/pedophilia/etc.”                                                 

This is so scaremongering and ridiculous. Your bible however does promote two of three. If you refer to my traditional marriage argument many men had multiple wives and even to this day some states allow you to have multiple wives. Pedophilia also exists in the bible too when soldiers destroyed a city and killed every living thing in sight except for the young virgins who are used as war scrap and have to submit to their new husbands sexually.

 “Gay marriage caused the end of the Roman Empire/September 11th/etc.”

There are many reasons why the Roman Empire fell. One of them is the spread of Christianity at the time. People were stoned to death because that’s what religion does it controls people. September 11^th was a false flag attack used as a scaremongering tactic to invade Iraq. The gay mafia had nothing to do with either.

 “You are too emotionally involved to make a rational argument.”

Yes I’m upset because we shouldn’t be having this conversation. You’re basically using your religion as a weapon to discriminate openly against people that aren’t harming others. This is why separation of church and state exists; we should not be allowing religion to influence laws. Otherwise we will be living in the dark ages all over again where stoning people is okay; rape and slavery are perfectly acceptable.

“We are in an economic crisis, so we should not be wasting time on gay marriage.”

Equality shouldn’t be considered a luxury add on. How would you feel if your rights were slowly being taken away from you and you were being treated like a second class citizen? Yes you too would fight for your rights until you get what you deserve and so should gay people.

It violates natural law.

Saint Paul taught in the Epistle to the Romans that the natural law is inscribed on the heart of every man. (Rom. 2:14-15)

Mainstream psychology has proven that being gay is not a choice. People are born with their sexual orientation and learn what they are and aren’t attracted to as they grow up. Saying this violates natural law is just plain idiotic. If you are getting your information from a book that tells you God created Adam from dirt and Eve from a rib and placed then in a garden with a talking snake. These events surely do sound more convincing. Being gay is as natural as being heterosexual and should be treated as such.

It imposes its acceptance on all society.

Those of the LGBT community should be treated and accepted by society because they are people and all they want is to have the same rights like everyone else. You don’t see gay people going from house to house trying to recruit people like you see in some of these religions. Who has the real agenda here? Also teaching your child about homosexuality should be adapted in schools. Oh wait I forgot teaching your children to hate is so much better than teaching them love and tolerance of people that aren’t going around hurting others. That’s just fine! Keep hating gay people because you don’t understand their lifestyle and refuse to want to understand it.

It offends god.

This statement makes you look stupid and do you want to know why? You claim that it offends god that someone is gay, but it doesn’t offend god that babies die every day of starvation or illness that have cures. There should be a lot of things that offends god and yet god does nothing to help those people. God doesn’t even reveal himself or show himself to people individually to prove his existence. If being gay is so offensive to god then why did he create gay people in the first place because being gay is not a choice. But then again this is coming from the same god that created Adam and Eve with a forbidden tree and he knew they were going to eat from that tree and cursed all of humanity because of their fuck up.

If homosexuality is right, then how come two people of the same sex not produce a child?

Just because two people can’t physically produce a child doesn’t mean that they’re lifestyle is wrong. Some heterosexual couples can’t produce a child and have to go by the means of adoption. Does this mean that they are wrong also?