Is one enough? Is two too many? Those are the basic questions pondered when states consider the number of license plates required on vehicles. But after B.W.’s email informed me that a House Bill suggesting single plates here received no consideration in Washington’s Legislature, I…
Hidden inside every Subaru Outback and Forester built are the muscle and sinew of the Legacy sedan. The midsize Legacy platform is Subaru’s lifeblood. It underpins the company’s two most popular models — the Outback and Forester — and accounts for two-thirds of its sales.
Hi Greg -- I want to thank you for solving a mystery that has dogged me for 55 years! My sister-in-law, Barb, has been sending me your articles as I am a lifelong hot rod guy. (My 1960 high school ride was a 34 Ford coupe with fully worked Chevy sporting a 3x2 barrel setup and more).
Technological advancement is rampant among automakers. Though sometimes moving in uncertain or even misguided directions, it nevertheless dominates industry news. Experts have differing opinions of the eventual results of this trend. For example, akin to the frenetic pace of road building once autos were invented,...
In the Old Dogs/New Tricks category, BMW adds a turbodiesel option this year to its 7 Series lineup. The old: The current, fifth-generation 7 debuted in 2009; a new version is due this year. The new: A 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel six that makes 255 horsepower...
I like the noticeable trending of auto safety issues. I’ve been writing for years about the rampant annual tally of our country’s vehicle related deaths. Until recently, car and truck crashes have ended the lives of over 100 victims daily for decades. Thankfully, that number…
When the 2015 Volkswagen Golf arrived, I’d spent the previous few weeks driving big cars. Minivans, midsize crossovers, full-size American sedans. Not a loser in the bunch. But the Golf forced me to face facts; I’m a small-car guy. Nothing rings my bell like a…
As an enduring annual event here, we are treated to bold and pastel hues emerging with the advent of spring. That colorful palette, made up of tulips, daffodils, and tree buds of virtually every color, is a welcome harbinger of great weather to come. Along…
Last fall, Lincoln ran a TV ad campaign starring Texas actor Matthew McConaughey in homespun-philosopher mode. The viewer goes deep inside McConaughey’s mind as he steers a new Lincoln crossover into an unnamed city at night.
It’s always been common for drivers to have conversations with passengers, but nowadays, phone conversations are also prevalent. Beyond that, many drivers can’t resist the lure of convenient text message communication. The latter is forbidden by law in just about every jurisdiction nationwide. But sadly,…
I’m downtown, having a beer at a local haunt and watching the Final Four’s last hurrah. Outside on the sidewalk at halftime, a friend asks what I’ve driven lately that surprised me. Not what I’d liked best, but the one that exceeded my expectations. It’s...
Over the years of this column’s publication, some driving topics give rise to recurring controversy. Although common sense and written law should dictate driver behavior, certain situations continue to be a source of uncertainty, frustration, and even rage. Differing opinions and indifference to established rules…
This side of a big, yellow school bus, the minivan is the most efficient and comfortable way to transport people and their possessions. Nevertheless, its stock has fallen sharply of late, victimized by the popularity of the sedan-based crossover. Doesn’t seem to matter to Toyota,...
Two weeks ago, I presented some situations involving the elder group of drivers. That included accidents related to diminishing awareness/reflexes/vision or health problems, aging drivers’ reluctance to give up the driving privilege, and even some apt remedies for these dilemmas. As is typical, readers followed…
Volkswagen dropped the sixth-generation Jetta in 2011 and has refined its DNA each year since. Its cabin has grown richer. Engines are more refined and efficient. Ride and handling have evolved. This year, a mid-cycle refresh extends the streak: A stout new turbo-diesel joins the…
When we begin driving, we usually try hard to remember and employ all the new driving rules and tips coming our way. Back then, novice drivers are studying to get a learner’s permit, trying to impress driving instructors, or doing everything “by the book” to…
Out in the supermarket parking lot, you’d be hard-pressed to distinguish this year’s Mazda6 from last’s. Changes to its grille, headlights and taillights are so subtle casual observers won’t notice. It’s a different story inside, though, as Mazda fits the 6 with a new dash...
As it relates to driving, we have an established minimum age. Should there be a mandatory maximum? It’s evident that young drivers contribute greatly to traffic accident and fatality statistics. In fact, motor vehicle accidents remain the number one cause of death for individuals up…
Like a quarterback back seeing gaps in the opponent’s defense, Kia has a knack for finding unexpected openings. Last year, it debuted the K900, a luxury sedan that aims to replicate the full-on luxury experience for thousands less than the (mostly German) competition. This year,…
Ever since the section of Sprague Avenue near downtown was altered from four lanes to two, comments I’ve heard regarding it have been mostly negative. Per my informal survey, anecdotal evidence also suggests a similar attitude toward the proposed lane reduction north of Indiana on…
Let’s just go ahead and declare this Mazda month. In recent weeks, I’ve looked at Mazda’s MX-5 Miata and its CX-9 midsize crossover. Today, we’re looking at the CX-5 compact crossover, and in two weeks we’ll cover the Mazda6 sedan. Blame scheduling woes. I’m supplied...
At times I’ve hinted that to be safer in our motor vehicles, we’d all wear DOT approved helmets. That’s because nearly nine out of ten auto deaths result from an occupant’s head striking something within the car or truck. But since that is not a…
Kia’s Soul is an obvious candidate for electrification. So obvious Kia designed its funky hatchback with that conversion in mind. The Soul’s raffish vibe is well-suited for the iconoclasts who are the EV tribe. Moreover, its blocky, upright stance seems custom-made to accommodate a boxy…
Spring has sprung early this year, making streets soaked with magnesium chloride a mute point for now. Still, judging by reader response to the last two columns on the topic, many citizens share concern over the melter’s use and overuse — some individuals even wishing…
In my music critic days, I covered a “farewell concert” or two. Until now, though, I’ve not had occasion to review a car’s farewell tour. As you read this, Mazda is preparing the world for the arrival of the all-new, fourth-generation 2016 MX-5 Miata. Before...
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