Editor's
Notebook:
The newspaper industry is
suffering. A recent headline in The
New Yorker magazine dramatically introduces a feature on the
desperate situation. It reads: Out Of Print.
How does this relate
to automobiles? In Sacramento, and I'm assuming in many other regional
newspapers, print coverage of niche areas has been canceled, streamlined or
refocused. The Sacramento Bee on
April 2 replaced its editorial auto section with an advertising-based auto
section edited by the special sections advertising
department.
I write about The Bee's change in The Weekly Driver
blog. There's also a blog on the 2007 Buick Rendezvous' new
dubious distinction: Most Dangerous Vehicle To Be In During A
Crash.
Also in this issue, Jeff Weidel, author of the syndicated
review column, Weidel on Wheels, has three new reviews. The pieces include
the featured review of the issue, the 2008 Acura RL.
And, as always, there's a varied selection of
review favorites, video reviews, features and industry
news.
Featured Review:
Acura RL, 2008: Weidel On
Wheels
Like many drivers, I’ve always been a fan of
the Honda Accord. Second on the list of top-selling cars in the United
States, the Accord always looks and feels like a more expensive
vehicle.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise I thoroughly
enjoyed a week behind the wheel of the Accord’s more sophisticated
cousin, the 2008 Acura RL.
As
Honda’s luxury division, it’s no surprise Acura shares similar
views as its parent company and has a good idea of what attracts car buyers
and keeps them coming back. Just like the Accord, there is a lot of value
in the RL, Acura’s flagship sedan.
Although there are no
significant changes from the 2007 model, does there really need to be?
There’s a simple reason for the lack of any new features — the
2008 Acura RL is already considered one of the finest sedans in the premium
mid-size category.
To read more, link: Acura RL, 2008
More In This
Issue:
New
Review: VW R32, 2008: Weidel On Wheels
If you’re shopping for a steroid-induced, compact hatchback, call off
the search. Although not all aspects of the 2008 Volkswagen R32 are
appealing, it will definitely satisfy your need for speed.
Read more...
New Review: Saturn Sky,
2008: Weidel On Wheels
Needing a little "bling" in its lineup,
Saturn finally convinced parent company General Motors a sports car could elicit positive results.
Although the Sky convertible wasn’t exactly unique when it came out a year ago, it provided Saturn with definite eye appeal.
Read more...
Review Favorite: Honda Fit, 2008: The Weekly
Driver.
One friend took
out the rear-seat headrest while driving so he could get a better view
out the rear window. Another friend ripped through the gears of the
automatic transmission to test the car’s sportiness. And a lot of other
friends still didn’t recognize The Fit. Read
more...
Review Favorite: Audi A4, 2008: The Weekly
Driver
Since its debut a decade and a half ago, the Audi A4 has built a reputation as a versatile entry-level luxury car. It’s strong on design, with superb handling and personality. Read more...
Review Favorite: Cadillac, CTS, 2008: The Weekly
Driver
A
mid-size entry level luxury car, the Cadillac CTS was introduced in
2003 as a replacement for the Catera. Five years, later it's become
the manufacturer's first success story in recent market campaign to
sell vehicles to younger buyers. Read more...
News: Audi
May Have World's Most Expensive Vehicle
Deusenberg,
Ferrari and Buggati are all fine automobiles, and all might logically
hold the label as the World’s Most Expensive Car. However, the
most expensive car in the world might not be the classic that readily
comes to mind. Read more...
News: Consumer Reports'
Most Overlooked 2008 Cars
The
Consumer Report list that impressed me recently is Consumer Reports
list of Most Overlooked Cars. It’s a short list for 2008 — four
vehicles. Read more...
Blog: Don't
Crash In Buick's Rendezvous
For the 2007 model year, the minivan-based Buick Rendezvous, the Sport Utility Vehicle promoted by golfer Tiger Woods, was ranked as the most dangerous car to be in during a crash. Read more...
Blog: Sacramento Bee Dumps Editorial
Auto Section For Auto Advertising Section
In recent months,
some newspapers have made drastic moves. The Orange County Register
recently stopped printing a business section, opting to transfer its
business content online. Read more...
I'd
also like to suggest to subscribers to support our sponsors and
advertisers.The
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This
newsletter's corresponding web site also showcases advertisements from
Google. One program, called Google AdSense, is available to
anyone with a web site with revolving content. To sign-up for the
program, click on: Google
AdSense
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