James Raia

Articles by James Raia

Best Used Cars: 2010 Mini Cooper

Mini keeps innovating while also maintaining its heritage. One year, it’s the Clubman, the uber-cool “storm door” model. The next time, it’s the John Cooper Works, the model named after the deceased famous racing car guru who with his father founded the Cooper Car Company. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Mini has done it again. It’s largely left alone the 2009 model for 2010, but has debuted two special editions called Mayfair and Camden. Named after London boroughs, both special editions add $4,500 to the price of a Cooper or Cooper S. The Mayfair is available in Pepper White, Midnight Black or Hot Chocolate metallic, the option I had from my Weekly Driver. Toffy-colored metallic stripes with white outer pinstripes

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2014 Toyota Corolla: New 12th edition icon debuts at $16,800

The Toyota Corolla, the best-selling car in history, has more competition than it once had. Which is at least one reason why the 2014 Toyota Corolla will offer, according to the manufacturer, a “dramatically elevated design, efficiency and renowned Toyota quality at an extremely attainable price.” The 12th generation of the car dating to its debut in 1966, the 2014 Toyota Corolla is available in four grades: L, LE, S, and the new LE Eco grade. The Corolla lineup offers a vehicle for broad range of customers, from the familiar value-minded to shoppers seeking a more premium compact car. The 2014 Toyota Corolla will have a starting MSRP of $16,800 for the L grade with a new 6-speed manual transmission.

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Driving the USA Pro Challenge, #3: Wide open spaces in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

For the past two days, I’ve driven the 2013 Nissan Rogue on the scenic and often wide open and hilly state routes of Colorado during the USA Pro Challenge. Yesterday, I drove from Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs for stage 3. And today, for stage 4, I drove from Steamboat Springs on most of the same route in the reverse direction before diverting in the final sections to US 6, then Interstate 70 to Avon and then the uphill stretch to Beaver Creek Resort. The state highway system in Colorado offers stunning views and often undulating roads through small towns, ranches, abandoned farm equipment and sections of open range. I stopped yesterday at the Toponas General Store. It rests in the

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Best Used Cars: 2012 Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey is arguably best car available currently in the United States when considering its versatility. The 2013 model is the vehicle’s 20th model year. But last year’s edition, which debuted at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, is a good value as two-year–old model. Despite is “van” status, the Odyssey is a powerful and performance oriented for its class. It features a 24-valve, 248-horsepower engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. Its has 0-60 mph acceleration in 7.9 seconds and comfortable seating for seven adults. The Weekly Driver Test Drive I drove the five-door Touring Elite, the most expensive of five available trim levels. In addition to the vast list of standard equipment on the LX, EX and EX-L models,

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Driving the USA Pro Challenge, #2: Navigating the mountains in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

A good navigation system is a welcomed companion, particularly on long solo trips like the journey I’m taking through the heart of Colorado in a 2013 Nissan Rogue during the third USA Pro Challenge. After flying from Sacramento to Denver, I drove to Snowmass in the Rogue following the navigation system instructions, which ideally detailed the 215-mile route. The 5-inch screen in the Rogue is small and it’s not positioned in the best location. It sits low on the center dash. But for its small size, the system has some keen features. Many of its functions, for example, are available on via the touch screen and via a dial. Unlike some navigation systems, which seemingly bark orders and sometimes within

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Driving the 2013 USA Pro Challenge, #1: Mixed Bag debut in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

The third edition of the USA Pro Challenge begins Monday, Aug. 19 and it will take a field of 128 pro cyclists from 16 teams around Colorado for a week. I’m making the trip in a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The compact crossover debuted in 2008 and the 2013 edition is the last year of the car’s first generation. The manufacturer announced recently a second generation will debut with the 2014 edition. I drove from the Denver International Airport to Snowmass in about 5 hours, including a lunch stop and two five-minute stops for phone calls. As a compact crossover, first impressions on the first of eight days in the Rogue were mixed. The Rogue is more carlike than an SUV

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Rare Ferrari sells for record $27.5 million in Monterey auction

A 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB 4*S N.A.R.T. Spider sold for $27.5 million Saturday at the RM Auction during Monterey Auto week, designating it as most expensive road car, most expensive Ferrari and second most expensive car ever sold at public auction. In all, 16 cars sold more at more than $1 million, including a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Road for $8.25 million. The auction marked numerous new world records established for individual marques and models. The 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T Spider is one of the world’s rarest cars, with only 10 cars having been built in the 1960s, commissioned by Ferrari’s American importer, Luigi Chinetti. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to charitable causes close to the heart of

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Best Used Car Reviews: 2006 Honda Civic Si

The Honda Civic is the best-selling compact car in the United States, and the Japanese automaker didn’t arrive at this industry-leading plateau by happenstance. Yet, instead of playing it safe and leaving good enough alone, Honda redesigned the Civic for 2006. As such, with primary competitors Ford, Mazda, Toyota and Volkswagen all also improving their respective offerings, the compact category is among the industry’s most competitive. Honda also knows well that plenty of choices in a leading line can’t help but be a good thing, even if it has gone slightly overboard. The Accord, for example, is available in 30 configurations; the Civic is offered in 20 varieties. (Editor’s note: With this review, theweeklydriver.com begins a new feature. We’re visiting

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Barrett-Jackson Joins the Party at Hot August Nights

By Dan Clarke Apparently, you can make a good thing better. Reno’s Hot August Nights has been a success since its 1986 debut. Barrett-Jackson traces its history to the 1960s and has also done well. Its auctions in Scottsdale, Palm Beach and Las Vegas are a familiar presence on cable television’s Speed Channel. The company initiated the inaugural Reno auction during the week of Hot August Nights and immediately ingratiated itself by creating the Barrett-Jackson Cup. In addition to providing the trophy, Barrett-Jackson donated $20,000 in prize money to Hot August Nights’ Show-n-Shine competition. The winning entry also received a new 430-horsepower LS3 crate engine provided by Chevrolet Performance and valued at $10,000. A 1969 Ford Torino Talladega, owned by

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2014 Kia Sorento, new look, better ride for underdog SUV

Introduced in 2002 into an increasingly crowded market, the Kia Sorento is an unheralded mid-size sport utility vehicle now in its third generation. The 2014 model has been designated with a “facelift” status. But the manufacturer lists more than 30 new additions, including increased horsepower and new interior and exterior styling. As an underdog, Kia competes for a market share by offering a lot of variety in its vehicles. For 2014, the Kia Sorento is available with 2.4-liter GDI (LX, EX) and 3.3-liter GDI V6 (optional in LX, EX; standard in SX and SX Limited). It’s the diverse trims that Kia uses as the reason for promoting the Sorento with the campaign titled: “It has an answer for everything.” The

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Monterey Auto Week: Call it Cars-By-The-Sea

Monterey Auto Week keeps getting bigger and more diverse. It now lasts nearly two weeks and it’s as much about attainable cars as it is masterpiece, price record-breakers. It’s about memorabilia and history, too. And there’s vintage racing and room for one-of-a-kind cars to ugly cars with plenty of pride. The name of the gathering has never made sense, since no one overseas the occasion and also since many of the various show owners are not particularly best friends. Nonetheless, it’s the time of the year for the kaleidoscope of car-related activities that occurs yearly on the Monterey Peninsula in mid-August. The schedule of events includes the best bargain of the festivities, Concours on the Avenue in Carmel on Tuesday,

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2013 Smart Fortwo: Electric, eclectic, fun

Introduced 15 years ago at the Paris Motor Show, the Smart Fortwo, named after its two-seat capacity, is now in its third generation as the smallest full production car available in the United States. The third generation of all electric model was also recently unveiled, and The Weekly Driver drove and filmed the new car at a press launch in San Francisco. Priced respectively at $25,000 (coupe) and $28,000 (cabriolet), the manufacturer is marketing the car as the most affordable full production electric vehicle in the United States. Customers may also be eligible for federal tax credits (totaling as much as $7,500) as well as state and/or local tax credits. During the presentation (and subsequent driving opportunity) of the new

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2013 Hyundai Santa Fe (Sport): New design, quiet ride

The Weekly Driver recently had an opportunity for an extended review, a nearly 2,000-mile, two-week trek in the newly designed, six-passenger 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe (Limited). This week, it’s back to standard procedure. My weekly driver was the 2013 Santa Fe Sport edition. It’s the smaller (in several ways) five-passenger edition in Hyundai‘s restyled Santa Fe lineup. The larger Santa Fe replaced the poor-selling Veracruz. In addition to one less passenger and a smaller engine, the Sport is eight inches shorter than the Limited. But there are also interior and exterior similarities among the siblings, with the SUVs both offering a smooth ride. Hyundai’s new design is featured throughout its SUV lineup, and it attracts a lot of attention. The

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Chevrolet Impala: History of an icon, 1958-2014

The Chevrolet Impala was introduced as a 1958 model and was built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. Fifty-five years later, the Impala has advanced to its 10th generation with the introduction of re-designed  2014 edition. It was recently honored by Consumer Reports as sedan of the year. Available in three trims as a coupe and convertible, the original Chevy Impala ranged in price from $2,586 to $2,724. The starting price for the 2014 model is just under $27,000. Named after the southern African antelope, the Impala became the best-selling automobile in the United States in 1965. Vying against the Ford Galaxie 500 and Plymouth Fury, about 1 million Impala units sold. (Double click on thumbnails to view full-sized

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Chevrolet Impala, 2014: The legendary sedan returns

What does a manufacturer do with a middle-aged car that was once the best-selling car in the country but has fallen on lean times in recent years? In the instance of the Chevrolet Impala, introduced in 1958, the car could simply fade away. Or, the carmaker could continue to honor the badge. That’s what General Motors did with the 10th generation 2014 Impala. The iconic Chevy will likely not return to its heydays, like in 1965 when more than 1 million Impalas sold in the U.S. But the 2014 model has a tremendous amount to offer. General Motors describes the car as “the reestablishment of a popular, enduring and iconic nameplate with a new outlook on style, comfort, efficiency and

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2013 BMW 750Li: Superior luxury, hefty price (video)

The 2013 BMW 750Li, my weekly driver, showcased BMW’s power, as in a 4.4-liter, 32-valve V8 with 445 horsepower and five-second, 0-60 mph prowess. The 7-Series is the BMW flagship, of course and it deserves the status. It’s a beast of a seat, a 4,600-pound cruiser best suited for long, open-road hauls. But the long (201 inches) sedan is also a standard bearer of engineering, technology and for audio enthusiasts, an over-the-top whirlwind of sound. There’s a lot to lot about the new BMW. It short, it’s opulent. And it’s got a hefty price to go along with all of the fine mechanics and superior workmanship. Videographer Bruce Aldrich, editor/publisher of www.tahoetruckoutdoor.com, and The Weekly Driver, review the top-line BMW

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