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Bob Barr For President? Does He Drive Libertarian?

The announcement former Georgia congressman Bob Barr is running for president adds another component to the already complex and tedious campaign trail.

Barr said he’s running because “there was not currently or anywhere on the horizon any candidate who understood the principles of fiscal conservatism and basic principles on which he said America was founded.”

Barr, 59, is running as a Libertarian Party candidate. Among its platforms, libertarians “believe in, and pursue, personal freedom while maintaining personal responsibility.”

And that’s where The Weekly Driver is curious.

It seems Libertarian and “Going Green” are complementary, if not synonymous.

So what kind of car(s) does Barr own and drive?

If he’s a man of his word, then Barr should be driving a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle, right? Or at least he should be driving economic car.

Here are five good, practical choices:

1. Toyota Prius — It’s the best-selling hybrid in the United States. Reasons abound — great gas mileage to Toyota reputation.

2. Honda Civic Hybrid — Unheralded compared to the Prius, with sales of about one-third the segment leader. But after driving the past three years of this vehicle, it’s an extraordinary value.

3. Honda Fit — It was the 2007 car of the year in a lot of well-respected automobile publications, and there’s not a better car available in the United States for $15,000.

4. Ford Escape hybrid — OK. Maybe political candidates need a little room. Maybe they need to travel with luggage, assistants and who knows what else? This sports utility vehicle gets around rather nicely and gets 31 mph on the freeway.

5. Chevrolet Malibu hybrid — Sedans add a little class to politicians arriving on the campaign trail or for TV show appearances. The Malibu hybrid provides the style, but it’s understated and gets nearly 30 mph on the highway.

Norway Thinks Global With New U.S.—Based Electric Car, Think City

Think Global, a Norwegian automaker, has plance to sell an electric car in the United States by the end of 2009 that goes 110 miles without recharing and costs less than $25,000.

According to the Associated Press, two venture capital firms are funding the U.S. operation, which will likely  be based Southern California.

The car will be named Think City, is a two-seater with a top speed of about 65 mph. It will operate on sodium batteries and is 95 percent recyclable.

“It's a mass-market vehicle,” Ray Lane of venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers to the AP. “Our desire is to be selling 30-40-50,000 of these cars in a couple of years.”

Think Chief Executive Jan-Olaf Willums said test vehicles will be brought to the U.S. in coming months.

Ford Motor Co. owned Think for five years, leasing vehicles in the U.S. before selling the company in 2004.

Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motor Co., have announced plans to make all-electric cars.

Dodge Viper's Dubious Honor: Most Expensive Car To Repair

Escalating gas prices and “green” cars are the most hotly discussed topics in the automotive industry. But there’s an equally important issue for car owners.

It’s the determining factor for some new/used car buyers, while other consumer buy brands regardless of resale value and cost of operation.

Forbes.com does a lot of keen reporting in the auto industry, and its latest effort is no exception. It’s the list of the most expensive cars to repair.

Using 2008 repair estimates calculated over a five-year period and tabulated by Vincentric did the study. It’s an auto industry data-analysis company that examines the cost of zero-deductible, bumper-to-bumper extended-warranty claims to calculate the average cost owners can expect to pay, according to Forbes.com. Maintenance costs are part of a different analysis.

The most luxury and non-luxury expensive cars to repair after their warranty expires and the average five-year estimate repair costs:

Luxury

Audi A8 ($1,640), Mercedes-Benz C ($1,640), Jaguar XK ($1,629), Land Rover ($1,600), Range Rover ($1,600), Mercedes-Benz C Class ($1,540).

Non-luxury

Hummer 2 ($1,484), Dodge Ram 3500 ($1,282), Hummer 3 ($1,244), Ford Mustang ($1,201), Chevrolet Silverado ($1,094), Mini-Cooper Convertible ($1,093), Subaru Imprezza ($1,006), GMC Yukon ($970), Chrysler Pacifica ($970).

There was also one vehicle that didn’t fall into either the luxury or non-luxury category, the Dodge Viper.

According to the report, a Dodge spokesperson said the brand makes only 1,500 Vipers per year with a starting price of $84,460. The Viper features a low-hanging front spoiler that easily gets damaged. It costs $1,800 to replace.

And thus, the Viper has the highest cost of repair for any car over a five-year period, $1,641.

The Weekly Driver On The Road: GM Getaway Features Pontiac G8, Vibe, Lucerne

In addition to the well-established national and international auto shows, auto manufacturers often invite the media to smaller, regional gatherings to introduce vehicles.

In early April, I joined more than 40 other journalists and photographers at a General Motors’ media launch and two-day getaway at The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, California.

The Pontiac G8, Pontiac Vibe and Buick Lucerne, each in several options, were presented in two sessions each attended by about two dozen journalists.

We each test drove the various vehicles on a hilly winding 170-mile road trip trek from Santa Monica to Ojai  — on some of the most famous road in Southern California.

The Vibe is one of the most unheralded small SUVs available. Spacious and featuring innovative exterior and interior design, the Vibe is ideal for a small businessperson with cargo-space needs or an economically minded family with SUV needs.

The Buick Lucerne is an industry standard, but it’s also been redesigned and offers good comfort and a smooth drive. The entry-level luxury market is a competitive car segment, so it’ll be interesting to see how the new Lucerne fits into the marketplace.

The Pontiac G8 is Pontiac’s new showcase. It’s the brand’s first full-size sedan since the Bonneville and the first rear-wheel Pontiac since 1986. It’s being touted as the most powerful (361 horsepower) car available in the United States for less than $30,000.

I also took a few (included) images, and I’ll have full reviews of the vehicles later in the year.

The Weekly Driver On The Road: Nothing Like The Waffle House

There’s nothing like the Waffle House. You want a stick-to-your-ribs breakfast at anytime of the day or night? This is the place.

Anyone who lives in the South can easily take ‘em for granted. Perhaps it’s not too dissimilar from other parts of the country where Denny’s or Starbucks rule highway exits and small and large cities.

But in the South, Waffle House is where it’s going on. Truck drivers, business people conducting meetings, families, retirees, travelers or locals called by first name. Waffle House is where they go seeking familiarity, quick service and hot food.

Waitresses are what’s happening at Waffle House. They’re quick-witted, know every angle and mostly call everyone “sugar” or “darlin'.”

I know a reporter for a cycling magazine who has stolen a coffee mug from every Waffle House he’s visited. He could likely serve an NFL team coffee with Waffle House mugs to spare. But Waffle House is still a new phenomenon for me.

I first visited Waffle House last year and the Tour de Georgia. The waitress at the counter who served me was the manager. At one point during my meal she left the restaurant and helped a customer who had locked his keys in his car. The manager just happened to carry a “slim jim” on her key ring.

I couldn’t wait to get to a Waffle House at this year’s Tour de Georgia. After flying overnight from San Jose, Ca., I stopped at this Waffle House location just outside of Atlanta. It was packed at 7 a.m.

An African-American guy and his friend told me I looked like retired Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Roger Staubach. I told one of the African-American guys he looked like rapper/actor LL Cool J. We all laughed. One of those guys took the top picture of the waitress and me.

Oh, more importantly, the cheese eggs, grits, raisin toast and full-strength brew got me down the road for another three hours en route to Savannah on a sunny gloriously warm morning.

The Weekly Driver On The Road: (Tour de) Georgia On My Mind

A couple of years ago, I passed a quarter-century milestone. I reported on my first bicycle race in 1981, the Nevada City Classic. Greg LeMond won the race for the third straight year.

I didn’t know much about cycling, but I liked LeMond and I like what I watched. I’ve stayed with the sport since. And since 1986, five years after I started reporting on the sport, I’ve now covered at least one stage race every year since 1986 — the Coors Classic, the Ore-Ida Women's Challenge, the Tour DuPont, the Tour de Trump, Tour of California and Tour of Missouri.

Many of the races are now a blu, but as I've said for the past several years, the travel component of cycling is still appealing. It’s driving through small towns, meeting people and seeing familiar faces in pressrooms that make the races worth it for me.

In the past several years, I’ve also had the opportunity to test drive cars during events like the Tour de California, Tour of Missouri and for the second year, the recently completed Tour de Georgia.

This year’s race began in Tybee Island, Ga., and concluded seven days later in Atlanta. I drove a 2008 Kia Optima, start to finish. The media can travel on the same route as the cyclists or on alternate routes in order to work early and be firmly situated when the cyclists arrive.

Most often, I take the latter route, and I did so during the Tour de Georgia. On interstates, four-lane highway and country roads, I drove the four-door sedan Optima slightly less than 1,100 miles. (I'll review the Optima soon.)

With the exception of the steep climb to Brasstown Bald Mountain, (the highest point in Georgia at 4,783 feet) when many other cars also trained negotiating the steep, switchback climbs, the Kia handled the week’s task well.

As I mentioned, bike races are sometimes indistinguishable. It's the open road, small towns, like Dahlonega and Hiawassee at the Tour de Georgia, that always make the journeys worthwhile.

For the past two years, the race entourage has stayed at Ramada Lake Chatuge Lodge in Hiawassee. I took these images from my hotel room the morning I left for Atlanta.

If the 2009 Tour de Georgia returns to either city, count me in.





The Weekly Driver On The Road: Cheap Gas Prices In Georgia, Not!

Five days into the Tour de Georgia, I’ve finally driven the roads that remind me why I appreciate bicycle racing.

The route for stage 5 took the field from Suwanee to Dahlonega, and at 133 miles, it was the longest day of the weeklong race. The alternate route from Lake Lanier Island (where the entourage stayed after stage 4) to the finish was much shorter — only a 90-minute drive.

I took the roads less traveled. The freeway ended after 35 miles with a sudden left-hand turn onto Duncan Bridge Rd.

Farmlands with twisting single-lane roads featured ideal scenery — abandoned, weather-beaten barns, rusted farm equipment, country stores advertising boiled peanuts.

This week, I’m driving a Kia Optima, the Korean manufacturer’s mid-level sedan. It negotiated the roads well, cornering nicely and accelerating short, steep inclines with little effort.

About 15 miles from the finish, I drove through an intersection and right past a small gas station that prompted a double-take. About a mile down the road, I turned around to further investigate what appeared to be phenomenally low gas prices.

And, of course, it was too good to be true. The building was vacant, with a large, front window revealing a trashed interior. The gas pump cords were slashed, and yet the gas price signs of yesteryear remained. No one was around to ask how long the station has been closed or whether Thomas’ Deer Cooler is still open for business.

Toyota, Tata Motors Named Among World's Most Innovative Companies

The automotive industry has plenty of global problems. But innovation is not one of the issues — at least according to BusinessWeek magazine.

In its list of the world’s 50 most innovated companies, Toyota and Tata Motors of India are both in the top-10 list.    

Apple, which debuted the iPhone and the MacBook Air in the past year, was named the world’s most innovative company.

Here’s the list of  the top-10:

1. Apple; 2;.Google; 3. Toyota; 4. General Electric; 5. Microsoft;  6. Tata Motors; 7. Nintendo; 8. Proctor & Gamble; 9. Sony; 10. Nokia.

The Weekly Driver On The Road: Small Roads, Big Sights On The Way To Monterey

One of my favorite car review testing routes is the estimated 200-mile drive from Sacramento to the Monterey Peninsula.

I’ve mentioned the high-speed trek along the congested city stretches, open agricultural farmlands and rolling fields along Interstate 5 . And I’ve written about how in Gilroy, the road changes for a short stretch onto highway 101 and then onto two mall connecting 152 and 156 routes as the peninsula and Pacific Ocean appear on the horizon.

It’s these secondary roads I enjoy the most. Form the hectic nature of Interstate 5, the road abruptly changes onto an oddly cambered route past San Luis Reservoir and through a winding downhill section. It snakes past ranch-style homes, old barns, fruit stands and a variety grazing animals.

Last week, I drove a 2008 Hyundai Veracruz along the route, and unlike some sport utility vehicles, the Hyundai had little difficulty accelerating or descending tight corners. I maneuvered along the technical sections almost carlike.

And on two briefs occasions, I also drove the Veracruz off-road, although just in the dirt and gravel in driveways and roadsides to take this blog’s images.

Like lots of folks, I like old barns. This dilapidated example has somehow remained erect for the past 25years I’ve driven to the Monterey Peninsula. It’s just off the road a few miles past the San Luis Reservoir.

The image of the horses almost didn’t happen. I’ve seen horses along the same route many times, but I’d never before seen a foal. But the moment I notice it, was out of vision.

A few miles later, I couldn’t resist. Traffic was steady in both direction, but I looked for a quick opening, made an abrupt by safe U-turn and headed back to capture an image of mother and child.

DRIV, A New Luxury Car Club, Prepares For San Francisco, Las Vegas Debut

For several months, Brad Johnson and Darren Matte have been steadily advancing plans for DRIV, a luxury car club. It’s a private members organization, based in San Francisco and Las Vegas, offering a portfolio of vehicles — Ferrari F430 Spider to Bentley Continental Flying Spur sedan.
 
Last week, DRIV had an evening launch reception in Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. Greg Soderland and I made the drive from Sacramento and enjoyed the warm, outdoor gathering hosted inconjunction with Cellar 365.
 
It’s not the first luxury car club, but DRIV’s desire, according to its literature, is to offer members “a simple point system that allow members to create a personalized driving experience.”
 
Utilizing the point system and an included mileage ‘bank’, members can borrow any of the luxury and exotic vehicles to drive in a club “that relieves you of the burden of outright ownership.

Depreciation, servicing, detailing and storage all cease to be of concern.”
 
DRIV will begin its program, according to company literature, with three vehicles each of the San Francisco and Las Vegas locations. It’s targeting six vehicles in both locations by the end of 2008.
 
DRIV also has a series of Arrive and DRIV functions scheduled throughout Northern California. During these gatherings, groups limited to 15 can “further learn about membership while gaining complimentary seat time behind the wheel of a few different cars from the collection.”
 
The Arrive and DRIV sessions are scheduled: Presidio (San Francisco), May 14; The Carneros Inn (Napa), June 4; Woodside (Peninsula/South Bay), June 25; Lafayette (Park Hotel & Spa), July 16.
 
For additional information, contact DRIV, via telephone, 866-539-8680, or visit the company web site, www.clubdriv.com.


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