Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

The Weekly Driver Podcast #1 (Monterey Auto Week)

Welcome to the debut of The Weekly Driver podcast. Co-hosted by James Raia and Bruce Aldrich, the weekly podcast is an extension of the website, www.theweeklydriver.com. The latter has been published since 2004 and features new car reviews and articles on automotive trends. Click on the link below to listen to episode #1. The Weekly Driver Podcast #1 (Monterey Auto Week) James Raia is a syndicated automotive columnist for Bay Area News Group and Gulf Shore Business Magazine. He is also a freelance writer who contributes sports, business and lifestyle articles to many print and online publications. He lives with his wife and two cats in Sacramento. Bruce Aldrich is the editor and publisher of www.tahoetruckeeoutdoor.com. An avid endurance athlete

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National Truck Driving Championship Challenges Best of the Best

SPONSORED CONTENT The annual three-day National Truck Driving Championship is held in August and features competitors from every state competing head-to-head in eight classes. They vie for the honor as the Bendix Grand Champion. One component of the competition stands out — knowledge is valued as much as driving skills. Competitors have to demonstrate skill, knowledge and capability but not just on the obstacle course. Drivers must also complete a written test to show their knowledge of rules and procedures. And they inspect a vehicle to show their knowledge of vehicles and their ability to detect malfunctions. Given the sometimes bad press the industry receives in situations involving accidents or ill-prepared drivers, this demonstrates the industry’s commitment to safe driving.

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Know the rules before driving and parking in Calgary

SPONSORED CONTENT Calgary attracts vistors from neighboring cities, other Canadiab provinces as well as the United States and other countries. It’s popular destination for tourists to sightsee and participate in the city’s diverse activities. But whether you visit to attend the Calgary Stampede, Opera in the Village or any of the many other food or cultural events the city hosts annually, studying common sense driving and parking regulation before you arrive is wise. Some of the most common parking infractions, according to the city’s website: • Remaining in a parking space after its metered time has elapsed • Not parking within a designated stall; • Parking in an alley; • Parking on private property; • Parking too close to a

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Tupac Skakur’s tricked out Hummer for sale — again

More than two decades after his murder in Las Vegas, the legend of Tupac Shakur remains in the spotlight. This time, a 1996 Hummer the rapper purchased less than a month before his death is up for auction beginning August 10. The fully loaded vehicle was customized by Shakur and is equipped with a 6.5 liter, turbo diesel V-8 engine with automatic transmission. The odometer reads 10,101 miles. The sale of the Hummer will be part of The Pop Culture auction from RR Auction in Boston that will continue through August 17. Tupac’s Hummer previously sold in May 2016 to a qualified bidder from Ohio for $337,000. After several attempts to collect payment — the winning bidder defaulted on payment

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More troubles for Elio Motors, company failure imminent?

It’s hard to keep it up with the setbacks of Elio Motors. Failure now seems imminent. The latest woes of the fledgling company include another production delay until at least 2019, a public offering with hopes of raising $100 million and an announcement of potential design defects in prototypes. Additionally, the company founded in 2009 by Paul Elio and his goal to offer a three-wheel vehicle with a top speed of 100 mph, a cost of $6,800 and an estimated 84 mph, doesn’t have operating revenue. It has dismissed much of its engineering, manufacturing, sales and marketing workplace. “The Elio is still in development, and we do not expect to start delivering to customers until 2019,” Elio said in his

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Proper car maintenance can beat summer heat woes

Summer is ideal for a car road trip — exploring new parts of your community, family vacations, visiting relatives and sightseeing. But if you don’t take care of your car or aren’t aware of some of the extra issues you can encounter in summer you may be unable to take that spur-of-the-moment trip. Worse, you could be stuck somewhere needing a tow truck company’s service. Despite being a beast of a machine, designed to travel in all kinds of weather and to protect you from the elements, your car can be vulnerable to heat. Imagine yourself on an August summer day, car packed, family all set for the annual getaway, and halfway through the mountains, your car dies. Not only

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Long Beach to ban oversized vehicles in residential areas?

The city of Long Beach, California, is moving forward with plans to ban long-term parking of oversized vehicles in residential neighborhoods. The Press-Telegram newspaper reports local Councilwoman Suzie Price saying the new law, if passed, would create consistency on the issue across the city. She noted that previous complaints and issues were handled individually. According to news reports, complaints raised about large vehicles parked in place for weeks or longer, include monopolizing parking, blocking views, causing congestion and creating a dangerous visibility issue for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. Large trucks parking on city streets can prove problematic. The new law would allow parking for 72 hours, with a permit and a maximum of 20 permits per year. It does not

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: Many changes for 2018 Toyota Camry

A higher sticker price and appreciably better gas mileage are among several big changes in store for the 2018 Toyota Camry. The top-selling sedan in the United States will make its nationwide debut later this summer. The eighth generation of the re-engineered Camry LE will be priced at $24,885, including shipping, about $900 more than the 2017 price. The L “value” version of the 2018 Camry, with smaller wheels and fewer convenience features, will be priced at $24,380. Fuel economy with the new four-cylinder engine is estimated by the EPA at 29 mpg in the city, 41 mpg on the highway and 34 combined. That’s 26 percent better than the current base model’s 24 mpg city/33 highway/27 combined. The new

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Newcomer Genesis gets top J.D. Power quality honors

Genesis, the first-year automaker formerly top-line model in the Hyundai lineup, earned the highest ranking among 13 premium brands in the just-announced J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Initial Quality Study. The 31st annual study serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership.   The 2017 study s based on responses from nearly 80,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2017 model-vehicles. The study uses a 233-question survey designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate the identification of problems and drive product improvement. “Receiving this award in our very first year in the U.S. market is a strong testament toward the commitment and meticulous work of Genesis,” said Head of Genesis Brand, Manfred Fitzgerald. “We are

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A few things to consider about insurance before towing

Some friends recently had a discussion – more like a heated debate – about whether or not it was a good idea to purchase a roadside insurance assistance package before their upcoming road trip. Once bickering stopped, we determined one friend had an auto insurance policy that covered roadside assistance. The other friend had no idea if, or what, his policy covered. They agreed they need a few question answered to decide whose vehicle they were going to use. Did they have coverage for towing and labor as part of an insurance package? Some policies will cover the cost of having a car towed to a mechanic. Some may also cover the cost of the labor required to get it

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Hey, Ford F-150 owners: Win $7,000 in parts from AmericanMuscle

As the best-selling vehicle in the United States, there are hundreds of thousands of Ford F-150 owners who’d want to win $7,000 in parts for their favorite trucks. AmericanMuscle.com is going to make that happen. A leading aftermarket provider of Mustang parts, AmericanMuscle will give not only give the winner of the contest their choice of parts, it will also provide the cost of installation at a local automotive shop. The contest, which will continue through August 31, is available to contestants who can enter once a week. To enter, fill out the form on AmericanMuscle.com. It’s the chance to win the get the ultimate truck overhaul. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanMuscle is dedicated to offering the Mustang &

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Unique giveaway will award two free Jeep Wranglers to one winner

Winning one free car is extraordinary. But what are the odds of winning two free cars? ExtremeTerrain, the off-road online merchant, will make it happen. It will give away two new 2018 JL Jeep Wranglers to one winner. The vehicles will be be modified from bumper to bumper in typical XT fashion. The two JL Wranglers, one 4-door model and one 2-door model, that can be shared with a friend, a significant other or both or can kept by the winner. The latest iteration of the iconic off-roader can be traced to WWII. Engine options will be offered, including a 3.0L Diesel and 4-Cylinder Turbo, joining the 3.6L Pentastar V6. The aluminum construction of the JL will reduce weight and

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Distracted Driving – Facts, Danger, Risks

My daughter recently told me I was impatient. I had honked my car horn at the driver of the car ahead of me who didn’t seem to notice the red light where he was stopped had turned to green. I had waited the requisite five seconds after the light changed before I honked. What I pointed out to my daughter — the reason I honked — is that the driver needed to be shaken from his focus on their text, email or other distraction. Many parenting experts say the way to get through to kids about drugs, drinking, issues like safe driving, is to talk, to talk often, to provide concrete and real-life examples, and to model the behavior we

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Car Insurance hassles? There’s an app to ease the pain

The hassle of buying car insurance might only be outdone by the annoyance of buying a new car. Go, an app introduced by a San Francisco company, is now available via Apple Pay and can allow customers to purchase car insurance is as little as three minutes. The process is simple: Car Insurance buyers can take an image of their license and instantly get quotes from State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, among other companies. Drivers can get a quote in less than 60 seconds and determine if there’s a lower rate than their current coverage. Customers can then pay by phone, message, and with Apple Pay. In the same way that iPhone lets customers make one tap and get a

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Rolls-Royce unveils most expensive new car ever made

If money is no problem in your car-buying habits, why not purchase the most expensive new car ever made — a one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce? An unnamed buyer, seeking a vehicle styled after the Rolls-Royce offerings in the 1920 and 1930s, spent a reported $12.8 million on a Rolls-Royce Sweptail. The car took four years to make and was unveiled to the public recently at the Concorso d’Eleganza in Italy. The custom coach was designed via the customer’s wishes: a coach-built coupe with a glass roof. The buyer is described in the carmaker’s press release as a “connoisseur and collector of distinctive, one-off items including super-yachts and private aircraft.” Further, the vehicle was detailed as having traits of several iconic Rolls-Royce models

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Ford Mustang dominates internet vintage car searches

Vintage car enthusiasts all have their favorites. But there’s one iconic vehicle that dominates internet searches — the Ford Mustang. According to the website classiccars.com, the Mustang generated 3,736,942 unique searches in 2016. The Mustang pushed the Ford to its status as the top manufacturer searched for vintage vehicles, followed by Chevrolet. In its state-by-state calculations, the Mustang ranked first in 13 states, followed by the Chevrolet Impala (7) and the Chevrolet Camaro (5), Chevrolet Corvette (3), Dodge Charger (3) and Ford Thunderbird (3). ClassicCars.com, which specializes the research and purchase of classic cars and trucks, registers 330,000 searches daily and three million unique monthly visitors. The site, founded in 2007, is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Among manufacturers, Ford and

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