Dodge Avenger RT, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

Shopping for a Dodge Stratus and can’t find the 2008 model? Call off the search, the Stratus is no longer part of the Dodge lineup. After selling nearly 100,000 units in 2005, sales of the Status dropped nearly in half in 2006. That was enough to convince parent company Chrysler it was time to pull the plug on the modest, mid-size sedan. It was a necessary if Dodge wanted to stay competitive in the mid-size sedan classification. Dodge filled the opening with the Avenger. It’s a catchier name and Chrysler hopes the vehicle will also attract more buyers. The larger

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GMC Yukon XL, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

Another buddy runs a business that absolutely requires he own a vehicle that seats six or more and can also haul heavy equipment. His choice is also large SUV, which I also understand. But the stay-at-home moms who drop off their lone child to school every morning or the single dad who works in an office and has never contemplated becoming a blue-collar worker, this I can’t understand. Headlines hypothesize gas prices could climb to $4 a gallon this summer. Preposterous? Hardly. Those hefty fill-ups regularly cursed now could seem like a bargain by the time summer arrives. So the

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Volvo P1800 Begins Daily Telegraph's List Of "The 100 Most Beautiful Cars" (Nos. 100-81)

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The newspaper commented: “According to one reader, ‘It looks even better when you remove its front and rear bumpers.’ “ Here’s the start of the list, which the newspaper is publishing in 20-choice increments: 100. Volvo P1800 99. Triumph TR6 98. Triumph TR 4/5 97. Triumph Stag 96. Triumph Spitfire 95. Toyota 2000 GT 94. Peugeot 504 Coupe 93. Peugeot 406 92. Nissan 300 ZX 91. Mini 90. Mercedes-Benz Pagoda (W113) 89. Mercedes-Benz 500K/540K 88. Maserati 350 GT 87. Maserati 250F 86. Lotus Europa 85. Land Rover Defender 84. Lancia Aurelia B20 83. Lamborghini Espada 82. Lagonda Rapide 81. Jaguar

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Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, Chevrolet Bel Air Make Daily Telegraph’s Beautiful Car List (Nos. 80-61)

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Car aficionados likely know such unique cars as the NSU Ro80 or the Hispano-Suiza H6. But almost anyone who’s owned a car or whose parents owned a car has likely at least heard of the Chevrolet Bel Air or a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. All four were selected by The Daily Telegraph, the London newspaper among “The 100 Most Beautiful Cars.” The Weekly Driver continues its countdown with the Nos. 80-61 vehicles, and what a diverse group. The newspapers’ readers sent in thousands of votes representing 367 different cars. Each car is represented by a photo and short description. The

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Ford Mustang, Bugatti Share Daily Telegraph's Most Beautiful Car list (No. 60-41)

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Several years ago, a friend bought two handmade Bugatti replicas. They’re Bugatti blue, beautiful and pristine miniatures of the real deal. But by their craftsmanship, they’re also a real deal unto themselves and great collectors’ items. Another friend is a Ford Mustang fancier. He bought a new Mustang a few years ago and treasured it. But he sold the car within its first year of purchase because he just wasn’t driving it often enough to justify the joy of ownership. It’s not often the Bugatti and Ford Mustang are discussed in the same automotive conversation. My friends’ tales provide one

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Ferrari, Jaguar and VW Karmann Ghia (Really!) On London Telegraph's Top-100 car list

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But the Ghia had its moments. I once drove it round-trip from Sacramento to Las Vegas and managed to maneuver through heavy rain, strong winds and followed a snow plow over a mountain pass on Interstate 50. A few years into ownership, the Ghia was heavily vandalized and I sold it cheap. Turns out my father had good taste, similar to readers of The (London) Daily Telegraph. In its recently released list of the “100 Most Beautiful Cars,” the VW Karmann Ghia was voted No. 32, finishing better than some Ferraris and eight positions shy of the unique Talbot Lago

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Jaguar E-Type (XK-E) Named Most Beautiful Car In (London) Daily Telegraph Survey

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Several friends have owned or currently own Chevrolet Corvettes. But given the choice, it might be the last car I’d select on The (London) Daily Telegraph’s recently announced list of the “100 Most Beautiful Cars.” I’ve never been a Corvette guy. Among those who appreciate classic automobiles, I’m in the minority, however, particularly among respondents to the London newspaper’s recent survey. Its readers picked the Corvette as the 15th Most Beautiful Car, two positions ahead of the Austin Healy 3000 and one position behind the Alfa Romeo P3 8C. Still, there’s no doubt the Corvette is fascinating and legendary. And

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Audi Gets Two World Car Of The Year Honors

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When naming the Audi R8 as the 2008 World Performance Car, the jurors observed it has “solid credentials on paper thanks to its mid-mounted 420 horsepower V8 engine and aluminum construction. But where it excels is in the exceptional balance, refinement and control that grant the driver the confidence to push to the limit. It has astonishing precision for a car of its size category.” Last year, the Audi RS 4 collected the World Performance Car award, so this makes it two in a row in the performance category for the brand with the four rings. This year there were

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Tata Motors Of India Buys Jaguar, Land Rover From Ford Motor Co.

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The price is about one-third of what Ford paid for the two brands. According to the Associated Press, the transaction will “expand the Indian carmaker’s reach around the globe and give Jaguar and Land Rover capital to update and expand their product lines.” The sale had been in the works for months as Ford sought money to fund its turnaround plan. Tata will pay $2.3 billion for the British brands, but Ford will pay about $600 million into the Jaguar-Land Rover pension fund when the deal closes, Tata’s statement said. Ford bought Jaguar for $2.5 billion in 1989 and Land

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

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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 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. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in

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Electric Sports Car, Tesla, Makes Los Angeles Debut

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According to an Associated Press report, the Tesla can travel 225 miles on one charge and fully recharge in 3 1/2 hours. The car was developed in San Carlos, Calif., with venture capital of more than $40 million. Google Inc. founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were among the initial investors. A distribution for San Carlos as well as in Chicago, New York and other cities by early next year. Although a fully loaded model can cost $124,000, the Tesla’s 6,831-cell lithium-ion battery pack gives off no emissions. The Tesla accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in slightly less than

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The Weekly Driver On The Road: GM getaway features Pontiac G8, Vibe, Lucerne

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 mountain roads 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

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Toyota Corolla, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Its name connotes royalty, but who would have known 40 years ago when it was first sold in the United States that the Toyota Corolla actually deserved such a lofty title? Corolla means “little crown,” and now in its fifth decade and with more than 33 million sold, there’s no reason to deny it. The Toyota Corolla, a little engine that could, continues to be royalty. The 2009 Toyota Corolla isn’t a hybrid, nor does it boast any other high-tech refinement or embellished marketing campaigns. The Corolla remains what it’s always been — among the finest basic transportation cars ever

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Volvo C30, 2008: Bill Belew's Car Buzz

I first saw a Volvo up close when I spent a year one winter in Buffalo, NY. A Volvo sedan in front of a dealer was completely mangled. Smushed. Ready for the scrap heap. There was a sign next to it, “The Driver Walked Away From This Crash Without A Scratch.” So, the first thing I wanted to do when I recently got in the 2008 Volvo 2 Door Hatchback C30, was roll it down a hill, it into a paper wad, err,metal wad, make it look like mashed potatoes, a pile of corn cobs and see if I could

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Pontiac G8, 2008 (Video Review)

The Pontiac, G8 is the first full-size, rear-wheel drive sedan from Pontiac since the 1986 Bonneville. The G8 replaces the Bonneville, which ended production with its 2005 model and the Grand Prix, which will cease its tenure with the 2008 model. Pontiac also has a hopeful third market share responsibility for the G8, since it also replaces the V8-powered GTO coupe, which was discontinued in 2006. Videographer Bruce Aldrich and I take a look at the new power brokers from Pontiac. Watch it here: https://www.myspace.com/video/vid/36310615 James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written

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Land Rover LR3 HSE, 2008: Bill Belew’s Car Review

Magic happens when you drive a Land Rover. I can’t say if it’s good or bad magic, but it definitely happens. The first thing I looked at when I got in the 2008 Land Rover 3 HSE car was the odometer. There was an indicator that told me, among other things, how many miles I had left on the full tank. I drove the car about six-tenths of a mile to meet friends for breakfast and the odometer dropped six miles. “What a gas hog,” I thought. “The treehuggers would have a field day if they knew for sure how

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