Automotive Reviews

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Rare Bugatti Veyrons at auction, rare pedal car an option

The first and last hardtop Bugatti Veyron supercars made, numbers #001 and #300, went up for aution in RM Sotheby’s auction Thursday night, Aug. 13 during Monterey Auto Week. It will be nteresting to note what prices the two rare cars attract as well as the difference between the selling points the two iconic vehicles. The three-day auction, which began with a preview Aug. 12, is being held at the Portola Hotel and Spa in Monterey. The original Bugatti, a 2006, Bugatti Veyron 16.4, is predicted to sell for $1.8-$2.4 million. The second Bugatti, a 2012 Veyron 16.4 Super Sports, is predicted to sell for about $1 million. Bugatti enthusiasts can also take note: If you didn’t make the highest

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2015 Porsche Panamera Hybrid: The perfect cycling car?

The fledging Airgas-Safeway cycling team is still seeking competitive clout. But the squad has attracted major attention at the Tour of Utah — if only in the caravan of race vehicles. The first-year team and its exuberant owner, Chris Johnson, secured the use of two 2015 Porsche Panamera S Hybrids as team cars for the biggest race of the team’s short tenure. Subaru is a race sponsor and there’s the usual assortment of manufacturers represented among team vehicles, Kia to Volvo. But it’s a safe bet to assume $110,000 high-performance, four-door hybrid sports cars with 380 horsepower are a first in the sport. “I think cycling is a perfect type of audience; a lot of cyclists drive Porsches,” said Johnson,

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Driving the Tour of Utah in a 2015 Lexus ES 350, #1

Driving from Sacramento, California to Logan, Utah is doable in one day. It’s about a 685-mile trek and takes 12 hours with stops. I opted for the two-day version, and one reason was because of my ride, a 2015 Lexus ES 350. A logical approach to attend the Tour of Utah bike race was a first night’s stop in Elko, Nevada, a 415-mile effort east on Interstate 80 to Reno, Nev. It was then into the desert for several-hour effort into open range, past small towns, plenty of sage brush and where the 75-mph speed limit is barely a deterrent. The 2015 Lexus ES 350 is the upscale version of a Toyota Avalon. It’s a four-door, luxury sedan featuring a

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Ferrari has nine of top-10 most expensive auctioned cars

With Monterey Auto Week and its collection of high-end car auctions on the horizon in mid-August, it’s always interesting to see how much car enthusiasts will pay for rare automobiles. They’re often Ferrari models. What’s surprising is that some vintage cars attract little attention and sell for reasonable amounts. And, of course, there are cars that attract international investors willing to pay whatever amount it takes. The current highest amount paid at auction is for a 1962-63 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta. It sold for $38.1 million in August 2014 to an investment group at Bonham’s Quail Lodge Auction in Carmel, California. As described in an article on thestreet.com, the 250 GTO has a unique history. Henri Oreiller, a retired Olympic

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2015 Toyota Sienna: no more minivan stigma

Minivans get a bad rap. They’re boxes on wheels. They’re only for soccer moms. Neither criticism seems fair to me, and one reason is the 2015 Toyota Sienna. Manufactured since 1997 when it replaced the Toyota Previa, the 2015 Toyota Sienna has been refreshed in the fourth year of the third generation introduced in 2011. Among the most versatile and safe vehicles available, the Toyota Sienna received a new tail light and interior design refresh. The Sienna SE reverted to the original pre-facelift “sport” tail lights and Sky Blue Pearl, Creme Brulee Metallic and Attitude Black Metallic are new exterior color choices. The Weekly Driver Test Drive My weekly driver was the Toyota Sienna SE, the eight-seater and one of

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2016 Special Edition Toyota Camry

After its extensive redesign a year ago, the 2016 Toyota Camry will be offered in a Special Edition. The newest Toyota Camry will feature  a more aggressive look and increased technology. More than 2,000 changes were made in the 2015, with only the roofline remaining from the previous edition, the new Special Edition model of the 2016 Toyota Camry will based on the Camry SE. The limited production Camry will add sporty interior and exterior features. In addition to features found on the Camry SE, standard equipment on the Special Edition will include: * Unique 18-inch alloy wheels with machined face contrasted with gloss black painted accents and P225/45R18 tires * Power tilt/slide moonroof * Smoked tail lamp treatment * Blue

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2015 Ford Mustang: Iconic muscle car turns 50 in style

The 2015 Ford Mustang marks the car’s 50th anniversary, and the carmaker celebrated the milestone with a surprise. It didn’t spoil the party with an over-the-top, too powerful machine. Instead, it offered an EcoBoost four-cylinder as one of six trim levels. The Weekly Driver Test Drive With its Competition Orange exterior paint and black ragtop, the 2015 Ford Mustang attracted as much attention as any car I’ve driven with the exception of a Rolls-Royce Wraith. Young people in the neighborhood yelled out praise. Strangers in parking lots offered compliments, and a few drivers accelerated past me on the highway seemingly wanting to have drag races. None of these onlookers knew, but my Ford Mustang test vehicle for the week was

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Toyota Prius recalls continue with software, hybrid system woes

Toyota and recalls as synonymous. The Japanese manufacturer has announced another recall, this time 625,000 Prius models worldwide for a software issue. that could result in the failure of the hybrid system. In the United States, the recall affects 109,000 Prius V models from 2012, 2013 and 2014. The issue in the current software for the motor/generator control and hybrid control ECU’s can cause increases temperatures near some transistor. A warning light would warn drivers, but it could also escalate and cause the hybrid system severe damage. Dealers will upgrade the software for both ECUs to fix the issue. Toyota will notify owners in the U.S. by mail about scheduling repairs. According to Reuters, the international news agency, about 340,000

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2015 Nissan Rogue: Worthy SUV in packed segment

What can an underdog sport utility vehicle offer to gain a share of the vastly competition automotive segment? The Nissan Rogue found a way. It didn’t start well. The Rouge debuted in late 2007 as a 2008 model and was met with a mediocre response. The Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4 and Ford Escape, among others, had well-established audiences. And who wanted a vehicle named Rogue? Did it define its name as “good for nothing” or vagrant? But with its second generation unveiling in 2014 with better gas mileage and a more comfortable, better-made interior, the Rogue was not longer scorned. Its scoundrel, low-selling image was gone. The Weekly Driver Test Drive I first drove the 2015 Nissan Rogue for a

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2016 Scion iA, iM: worthy new underdog sub-compacts

It seems like only a few years ago when Scion joined the automotive community and touted its edgy, inexpensive cars. They were geared toward active young buyers, then called Generation Y, and who had limited funds. But it’s been 12 years since Scion debuted in the United States, and the brand produced by Toyota is still marketing its vehicles to active young buyers, now called millennials. Scion says its cars are ideal for those constantly on the move and with less than $20,000 to spend on a new car. Beginning with a national debut on September 1, Scion will focus on two new 2016 offerings. The Scion iA is a sporty entry level sedan; the Scion iM is a five-door

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Bugatti barn find in France sells for record $951,216

A 1925 Bugatti Brescia, which remained covered in a small French barn for 40 years, has just sold for a record $951,216 in a Paris auction. The rare Bugatti, one of only 12 remaining, had not been touched in that past four decades. It sold for more than four times its prediced price at the Artcurial Motorcars’ Automobiles sur les Champs sale. The Brescia chassis 2628 was originally purchased by French Bugatti enthusiast Bernard Terrillon, and wears bodywork hand crafted by coachbuilder Maron Pot et Cie from Levallois-Perret. The purchase price was a record to the Brescia model Bugatti. Its legacy dates to the first car Ettore Bugatti made in his Molscheim factory, the Type 13. Bugatti cars, advanced for

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Local dealers provide strong option for used car buyers

Buying a used car makes sense for many reasons — the improving reliability of many manufacturers to lower insurance premiums. But finding the best price and location to buy a previously owned vehicle takes research and patience. Consumers seeking to purchase a car should initially determine if they’ve made the right decision to buy a used vehicle instead of new car or truck. The major factor is to determine the proper balance between risks and value of a new car versus the same qualities of a used car. One recent trend leading toward the consumers purchasing a used car is an analysis conducted by Consumer Reports, the independent research and testing organization. In its annual subscriber survey during the past

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2015 Toyota Prius: great efficiency, but rivals challenging

Now a mainstay in the car industry, the Toyota Prius family is ever expanding. It includes five trims of the original hatchback as well as the compact Prius C and Prius V wagon, the largest offering in the hybrid clan. The Persona Series is new for 2015 and adds a half-dozen cosmetic items to the lengthy list of standard features. But overall, the 2015 Prius lineup has only one major change. A rearview camera is now standard on all hatchback models. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2015 Toyota Prius, including my weekly driver Five trim, is a five-passenger hatchback hybrid. It debuted in the United States in 2001, quickly gained national attention and moved to the top of the

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2016 Hyundai Elantra GT: Refreshed, roomy, rough ride

Joining a competitive segment, the five-door Hyundai Elantra GT debuted four years ago. The 2016 edition has a few upgrades, including bolder exterior and interior styling, re-tuned power steering and an expanded optional technology package. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Seeking its place in the increasingly popular compact hatchback segment, the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT is one offered with one trim. It’s a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder with 173 horsepower and six-speed manual transmission. Its new styling includes a more aggressive grille and a streamlined roof. My weekly driver featured the optional six-speed automatic transmission and a lengthy list of standard features that positions the Elantra GT well against top competitors like the top-selling Volkswagen Golf, Mazda3, Ford Focus and Kia Forte.

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Fourteen rare cars, trucks set for online auction

Fourteen rare cars, trucks and a motorcyle, a 1927 Ford Model T Roadster to a 1994 Argo Conquest Amphibious 8×8, all located in Auburn Airpark in Auburn, California, will be auctioned beginning June 16 through the online site, www.GovLiquidation.com. According to the auctioneers, the vehicles are all in working condition. Bidding on each vehicle starts at $25. Here’s the list of vehicles: 1948 Lincoln Continental 2-Door Hard Top Coupe; 1960 Willys 4×4 Wagon; 1944 Studebaker M29-C Weasel; 1929 Ford Model A Rumble Seat Sport Coupe; 1994 Argo Conquest Amphibious 8×8; 1980 Ford Model A Shay Roadster; 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe; 1957 Chevy 2-Door Hot Rod; 1966 Ford F100; 1949 Cadillac 4-Door Sedan; 1927 Ford Model T Roadster Hemi Hot Rod;

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Mazda3, Pontiac Vibe among best used cars for under 10K

Consumer Reports has plenty to say about new cars and trucks, but it also has some practical advice for buyers seeking the best used cars on tight budgets. It’s compiled a varied (and sometimes surprising) list of its top-10 best used cars for under $10,000. The publication recommends several criteria while searching for a good used vehicle. The more important: good reliability, stability control, the newest used car you can afford, buy from a reputable seller and seek the car’s past history.   Here’s what Consumer Reports writes about two of its choices, followed its top-10 list of best used cars to buy for under $10,000. 2008 MAZDA 3 The excellent Mazda 3 is one of our favorite small cars

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