We often make plans to better our lives at the start of each succeeding year. Since that time is upon us for 2014, let’s all give better driving a top spot on our list of resolutions. After all, vehicular crashes are the number one cause…
Minivans may have been last century’s big news, but you wouldn’t know it from behind the wheel of the 2014 Honda Odyssey. A mid-cycle refresh has the Odyssey feeling as fresh and contemporary as any of the crossovers that have displaced vans in the public’s…
I’m regularly a “sounding board” for readers’ pet driving peeves. A couple good examples of these irksome driving deeds made it to my email inbox last week. Reader B.L. griped, “Last evening as I drove home, a huge pickup truck with those new flashlight-sized headlights…
Sandwiched between volume-minded Chevrolet and performance-focused Cadillac in General Motor’s post-bankruptcy landscape, Buick takes the middle way. It aims to satisfy the middle-class need for affordable luxury. Since the bankruptcy, the company’s persistent focus on comfort, reliability and affordability has produced cars of the quality…
Every so often, clever ( and slightly off-camber) visionaries remind us what a magical business tool the Internet can be. Australian entrepreneur Steve Sammartino and Romanian “self-taught technology genius” Raul Oaida are two examples. With the financial backing of 40 crowd-sourced patrons, Sammartino’s brainchild, dubbed…
Although Ikonic Films probably intended to launch a viral video with their advertisement for a worn-out 1996 Nissan Maxima, chances are they couldn’t have guessed Nissan would step up with an offer to buy it. Thanks to the vulture-like draw of successful viral marketing, that’s…
America’s favorite news anchor is proving he has the mustachioed charisma to sell a shocking number of Dodge Durango’s. With the release of ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ fast approaching, Chrysler made the call to Ron Burgundy, better known as comedian Will Ferrell to help…
In the weeks before the redesigned 2014 Nissan Versa Note landed in my driveway, I’d driven a succession of not-inexpensive vehicles. The Note (from $14,800, including destination) is on the near end of the cost continuum and I admit to approaching it with a certain…
The Seattle Seahawks have the most dominate home field advantage in the NFL thanks to their thunderous fan base, aptly dubbed The 12th Man. To promote Jet Chevrolet, General Manager Mike Gates promised 12 contestants $35,000 a piece if the Seahawks shutout the New York…
Traditionally car dealerships have been taxed with overcoming a major schism in their business plan: Most people don’t like to shop at car dealerships, yet most people are sold on a car only after having a chance to test drive it. That’s where Seattle startup…
“By-wire” technology, as it applies to automotive engineering, is a concept in which a vehicle’s traditional mechanical functions are electronically linked and controlled by use of sensors, computers and other components. The principle has quietly been making its way into our cars and trucks for…
Outside of performing daredevil work or insurance fraud, rolling a car rarely has a positive outcome. Along with being terrifying and potentially lethal, a car rollover usually comes with a large side of embarrassment. That’s what makes the stone-cold lady in this dash-cam rollover video…
The core of automaker attempts to meet skyrocketing fuel economy requirements in 2016 are under the hoods of their cars. In the 20th year of Ward’s 10 Best Engines competition, only two winners are carryovers from last year. By the looks of the fresh top…
Many drivers seem uncertain of the laws regarding school bus interaction. Reader H.P. has given the matter some serious thought, writing and wondering, “I have a question about school buses and 4 lane roads. On 2 lane roads there is no problem. When a bus…
Among many updates to the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, none is more important than the return of diesel. Jeep deleted the diesel option in 2009 but restores it this year with a powerful new turbodiesel. The 3.0-liter V-6 can tow up to 7,200 pounds and,…
Reader input regularly “steers” this column — a condition exemplified by the following responses. B.M. reported some good luck with truckers by writing, “My wife and I recently completed a 4,000 mile road trip to Illinois and back home. All except maybe 100 miles were…
You’d never know by looking at it, but Volkswagen’s compact Jetta receives a batch of updates that make it the most desirable Jetta in recent years. For 2014: a new direct-injected turbocharged four replaces the five-cylinder engine that has powered the majority of Jettas sold;…
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