Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

Episode 37, Garage Time: Airbnb for DIY mechanics

Andrew Koretz formerly lived in a building in Chicago that didn’t have a garage. He had to improvise. When he needed to change the oil in his car or motorcycle, he used the roof of a parking garage across the street from his residence. A self-described gearhead, Koretz, 31, enjoys do-it-yourself challenges. But while working on engines from his former vantage point, he noticed plenty of vacant homes. The result is Garage Time (www.bookgaragetime.com). The online marketplace is the equivalent of Airbnb or VRBO for vehicle owners who wish to work on their vehicles, but who don’t have available facilities. Koretz is our guest on Episode #37 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Bruce Aldrich and I ask Andrew about his

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Episode 38: Driving the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

The Honda Clarity can thank its predecessors. Modern-day alternative fuel vehicles arrived in the United States in 1999 with the debut of the Honda Insight, a hybrid-electric that resembled a horizontally positioned peanut on wheels. The Toyota Prius arrived a few months later and remains the dominant leader in the segment with its family of “green” vehicles. Several manufacturers continue their quests to infiltrate the market, most notably Honda. It debuted the Honda Civic GX (later called the Civic CNG), its compressed natural gas sedan, in limited markets, in 1998. It was eventually available to consumers throughout the country, but production stopped with 2015 model. More innovative is the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, one of the three Clarity models available.

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Report from India: New hybrid cars coming soon

SPONSORED CONTENT Hybrid cars, vehicles using multiple means of propulsion like a diesel engine or a petrol engine paired with an electric engine, minimize the carbon footprint. And hybrid cars are being popularized increasingly by the Indian government. Hybrid cars are economically and environmentally friendly. Some of these cars are on the road, while a few haven’t debuted. Here’s a look at the pending new hybrid cars in India. Skoda Superb Plug-In Hybrid The Skoda Superb Plug-In Hybrid is among the cars soon available in the Indian marketplace. The Skoda Superb Plug-in Hybrid will make its debut in 2019 and is a much-anticipated upcoming car in India. It’s believed the vehicle will derive its power from the 1.4-litre, turbocharged petrol engine,

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Episode #39, Indy 500, Danica Patrick and a reporter’s legacy

Mark Glover has been a journalist for more than 40 years. He’s reported on sports, news and business and with a keen interest in automobile racing, particularly the Indianapolis 500. Glover, who lives in Sacramento, will be attending the Indy 500 with his son. It’s a special time, since the duo has been attending the event together for nearly 30 years. The elder Glover is well into his second half-century of witnessing what is called the “Greatest Spectacle In Racing.” Glover is our guest on Episode 39 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I talk with Mark about his history at the Indy 500, the event he first attended with his father when he was a young

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Episode 35, Honda drives into the future with Clarity

William Lai of Fremont, California, and Chris White of West Sacramento, California, are among early adopters to the Honda Clarity. Lai, who has owned three electrics cars, drives the all-electric variety. Walker drives the hydrogen-powered Clarity Fuel Cell. The Honda Clarity is currently only available in California and Oregon. A pioneer in the alternative fuel vehicles (the original Insight debuted in 2000, a few months before the Toyota Prius) Honda has also equipped its new vehicles with Honda Sensing. It’s the carmaker’s “intelligent suite of safety and driver-assistance technologies designed to alert you to things you might miss while driving.” In Episode 35 of The Weekly Driver podcast below, hosts Bruce Alert and James Raia discuss with Lai and White

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Episode 34, Journalist Ryan Brutt: Will travel for barn finds

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (46.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreRyan Brutt is a writer and photographer who exudes enthusiasm about muscle cars. His interest is overtly apparent in his new book, Muscle Car Barn Finds. It details the art of automotive scavenger hunts. Brutt, self-described as an Automotive Archaeologist, lives in Chicago. The contributing rider to Hot Rod Magazine is our guest on Episode 34 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss the book and Brutt’s trials and tribulations as he travels through several states on his mission to discover hundreds of often abandoned rarities. Consider Brutt’s premise: You’re driving along a country road in Alabama and something bright orange in

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What to consider when buying a used car

SPONSORED CONTENT The search for a reliable used car in good working condition is often tricky. It’s natural to suspect the previous owner of wanting to get rid of the car for a reason. Add to it the time spent on looking for trustworthy sellers online and visiting used car showrooms. They’re acrivities that can sometimes stretch for months and wear you out. In short, purchasing used cars isn’t easy. But the process can be simplified if the buyer is prepared. Do your homework and utilize a convenient, pertinent checklist. The first step in a used car search is to list the features desired — Big or small car? How many seats? Sedan or SUV? Once that’s determined, it’s easier

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Episode 33, Ethiopia to Sacramento: An Uber Success Story

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:46 — 38.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreMulugeta Gebrewahid moved to Sacramento about seven years fago rom his native Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to be closer to his older brother. Known by friends and co-workers as Mule G (Moo-Lay G), the former warehouseman is a husband and father of seven children. He’s active in the Sacramento community via the congregation at Faith Presbyterian Church. Mule is university educated, but he was unable to acquire a job in his engineering field in the United States, so he worked for several years in a warehouse. About four years ago, via the recommendation of a friend, Mule began driving for Uber. He tells his story

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Peugeot owner soon to launch an electric car division

PSA, the French owner of renowned automobile brands including Peugeot and Citroën, will launch a new business unit which will develop only electric vehicles. The announcement comes when the increasing electrification of automakers’ offerings has continued on pace, encouraged by expanding regulations to further curtail emissions. Division and conquer the electric car market? The new division will go operational in 2019 and “be responsible for defining and deploying the group’s electric vehicle strategy and rolling out the related products and services,” according to a PSA-issued statement quoted by the Financial Times. The automotive group appears to be playing catch-up in a market where regulations implemented in markets including Europe and China have incentivized other leading car manufacturers to further the

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Episode 32, Coolest show on earth for all things engines

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:18 — 43.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show is a daylong festival of engines. Rare and sentimental cars, trucks, aircraft, law enforcement vehicles, tractors, busses, military machines and motorcycles, they’re all showcased. Add lives band, food and beverage vendors to its moniker as “the coolest show earth,” ideally defines the upcoming 28th annual event scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m April 29 at Half Moon Bay Airport. The six-hour gathering is a “massive celebration of mechanical ingenuity, power and style.” And it’s the best bargain and with proceeds benefitting the Coastside Adult Day Health Center in Half Moon Bay. In Episode 32 of The Weekly

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New car technology improves safety, increases distractions

As infotainment systems become more complex and carmakers use further technology to improve automotive safety, driver distractions can also increase. In fact, information and entertainment systems in many new cars can distract drivers for more than 40 seconds, according to a new study by the American Automobile Association (AAA), Foundation For Safety. The AAA reports removing your eyes from the road for only two seconds doubles the risk of an accident. Conducted for AAA by researchers from the University of Utah, the survey included voice-based and touchscreen features and studied the visual and cognitive demands required to operate infotainment systems. Thirty new 2017 vehicles were included in the study. Participants were tasked with using interactive technologies to make a phone

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Episode 31, Hyundai Ioniq, Pacific Coast Dream Machines

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:09 — 41.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe 2018 Hyundai Ioniq is the first “green car” that can infiltrate the dominance of the Toyota Prius. The Ioniq is available in three modes — a traditional hybrid, full-electric and plug-in hybrid. The entry-level Ioniq plug-in hybrid Blue Line model is rated at 57 miles per gallon in city driving, 59 miles per gallon for highway treks. Its rating is several miles per gallon higher than the best mileage in the Prius lineup. In electric mode, the Ioniq has a 27-mile range. The efficient little machine can travel nearly 700 miles using gas only. Bruce Aldrich and I discuss the Ioniq in Episode

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Episode 30, The strange case of death by Uber in Arizona

Nearly two weeks after a woman was killed by an autonomous Uber vehicle while walking her bicycle across the street at night and outside of a crosswalk in Tempe, Ariz., much is still unknown about the accident. What is known is that the Governor of Arizona has ended the state’s autonomous vehicle testing program. The auto-parts maker that supplied the radar and camera on the Volvo SUV that killed the woman has stated they had disabled the standard collision-avoidance technology in the vehicle. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been investigating the case since. The local police chief initially called the incident “unavoidable.” But opinions changed after the release of a crash

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Common sense tips to avoid driving and texting

Most drivers try to refrain from texting and driving, but it’s easy to yield to the temptation of an incoming text. While it may seem harmless to glance at your phone just long enough to scan a message, it’s not. Texting and driving statistics reveal reading one text message takes your eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds. That might not seem like a long time, but if you’re traveling 55 mph you can cover the length of a football field in 4.6 seconds. That’s a long distance to travel with your attention diverted. Texting and driving are not a good marriage.Since 18 percent of all fatal automobile accidents are caused by distracted driving, it’s a good idea to learn

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PREVIEW: 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid, priced lower

The fifth and newest addition to the Honda Accord electrified vehicle lineup will debut March 23 when the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid is unveiled at dealerships at a lower price than the previous model. The Accord Hybrid, sibling to the 2018 North American car of the year, will have a starting price of $25,990, including its $890 destination fee. The price reflects a $4,505 price drop from the 2017 model, according to Honda. The Accord Hybrid lineup now comes in five trim levels: Hybrid, EX (new), EX-L, EX-L Navi (new), and Touring. The newest Accord has an estimated gas mileage average of 47 in city and highway driving. The new Accord Hybrid will offer a lengthy list of standard equipment:

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Uber halts self-driving program after pedestrian fatality

The Uber autonomous driving program has been suspended after a 49-year-old woman in Tempe, Arizona, was killed after she was hit by a car as she crossed the street. Self-driving cars have been involved in multiple accidents, but the pedestrian fatality is believed to be the first in the autonomous realm. Uber said it had ceased its autonomous program throughout North America. The accident, according to law enforcement accounts, occurred late in the evening on March 19 when the vehicle was autonomous mode. The vehicle also had a driver. Elaine Herzberg, the victim, wasn’t using a pedestrian crossing. She was transported to a local hospital where she died. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety

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