Ten Fun, Affordable Vintage Cars

My father owned a 1962 Corvair Spyder convertible. It was supercharged, had wire-rimmed wheels. And, of course, it was a rear-engine wonder. It was the most unique car my family owned during my youth. We weren’t really a car family. I remember a 1955 Buick, a 1962 Ford Falcon station wagon, a 1964 Ford Galaxie, a 1973 Ford Courier pick-up truck and a 1973 Mercedes-Benz 240D. Somewhere in the mix, we had a Volvo sedan and an AMC Hornet. Nothing fancy. Some good cars, some bad. If given the opportunity, I would own any of them now for nostalgia. Which,

Read more

2015 Dodge Challenger: Smooth, powerful, fast

The 2015 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack is not too late to the party. Chrysler’s Dodge division was late to the hot 1960s muscle car scene, which was fading fast when Dodge announced its 1970 Challenger coupe. That was too bad because the Challenger was the slickest looking muscle “pony car” (think Mustang and Camaro), and you could get it with Chrysler’s famous 425 horsepower “Hemi” V8. It’s surprising that Chrysler wasn’t quicker on the trigger with the Challenger because its 1955 C300 coupe was America’s first mass-produced 300-horsepower car with its Hemi V-8. It was the most powerful U.S.

Read more

2015 Lexus IS 250: Comfort, control, cool

Following its extensive redesign last year, the 2015 Lexus IS 250 includes a few technology interface updates. But the compact entry-level luxury sedan largely remains a twin of its one-year older sibling. Powered by a 2.5-liter, 24-valve V6 delivering 204 horsepower, the 2015 Lexus IS 250 is offered only with a six-speed automatic transmission, but there’s a choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive. The Weekly Driver Test Drive While not the fastest nor the most economical, Lexus always does interiors and exteriors right. The IS 250 may be the entry level for the luxury line, but it’s made with top-line

Read more

Jim Carrey mocks Lincoln in SNL brilliance

From its debut, the Lincoln MKC commercials featuring Matthew McConaughey driving slowly were an easy target. He speaks nearly inaudibly. He’s seriously contemplating life. And just what is McConaughey doing driving late at night, dressed well but with seemingly no place to go? McConaughey has always been an easy target. He made movies for years while rarely wearing a shirt.There’s his often difficult to understand accent. There’s his overt enthusiasm and chiseled face. And there several lackluster performances in early career movies easy criticize. But McConaughey is now a bonafide movie star with an Academy Award for best actor and

Read more

Get a grip this winter on slippery roads

Don’t be the driver who spins out, gets stuck in a snow bank, or just stays home because of bad weather. Get a grip. All-wheel or four-wheel drive is a solid foundation to safe winter driving and winter tires complete the package. Is there a difference between a general purpose tire and a winter specific tire? I drove BMW’s equipped with “all-season” tires and Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 winter tires on the ice recently at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo. There is a huge improvement in grip with the winter Blizzak tires. The video below shows the red BMW 328i

Read more

Winter driving conditions demand specific tires

The added traction of a specialized winter tire is amazing. If you drive in snow and ice, you need winter tires. Winter tires will reduce your stopping distance, allow faster acceleration and provide better steering. The typical tire on your car or truck is a general purpose tire labeled “all-season” or “mud and snow.” These tires perform well in many conditions, but they under perform in cold temperatures and on slippery surfaces. A winter tire is optimized for these conditions through special tread designs and advanced rubber compounds. Bridgestone gave me the opportunity to drive and compare tires at its

Read more

2015 Nissan Versa Note: Inexpensive but not cheap

,

It doesn’t seem like the Nissan Versa has been around for nine years. What might be the confusion (at least for me) is the Nissan Versa Note (the hatchback version). It debuted in the summer of 2013 as a 2014 model to replace the Nissan Versa hatcback. And with the 2015 Nissan Versa Note, the subcompact already has changes. It’s now also available in SR and SV trims, increasing consumers’ options to five trims. The Weekly Driver Test Drive As an entry-level sub-compact, what exactly can a consumer expect for a vehicle with a base price of $17,530.00? That’s less

Read more

Ford F-150 again tops best-selling vehicle list

, ,

The Ford F-150 pick-up truck and the Toyota Corolla don’t appear to have much in common. But they do. The Ford-150 had been made for 67 years; the Toyota Corolla is now 43 years old. The two enduring vehicles are perennially on the top-10 selling vehicle list in the United States. Although 2014 totals won’t be tallied until early January 2015, the Ford 150 will again lead the top-10 vehicle sales for the year. It will mark the 44th consecutive year the F-150 will lead truck sales. The Toyota Corolla may not lead the pack, but its enduring popularity is

Read more

Chrysler recalls 907,000 vehicles, dubious record set

With nearly 907,000 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep SUVs recalls announced October 16, a dubious record has been set with more than 52 million vehicles recalled to date this year. The latest recall involves with faulty alternators and heated power mirror wiring that can short and cause fires. The recalls push the total number of recalls so far this year 544, short of the 684 mark set in 2008. The largest of the new recalls covers nearly 470,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees, Chrysler 300s, and Dodge Chargers, Challengers and Durangos from the 2011 through 2014 model years. The alternators can fail, causing

Read more

2014 Cadillac ELR: What was GM thinking?

Four years after it debuted as a concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the 2014 Cadillac ELR hybrid was released to the public as General Motors’ latest effort to make its large powerful machines environmentally viable. From its long reputation as a big car acquired only after achieving big success (or to at least give that impression), Cadillac has steadily tried to re-position itself. There may still be older consumers who buy Cadillacs because their fathers and grandfathers did. But what exactly is the target market for potential buyers of the Cadillac ELR? The Cadillac

Read more

Honda Fit, Nissan Versa among top cheap cars

,

The Tata Nano was all the rage a few years ago when it was introduced in India as a new car for about $2,500. In the past year, the Elio, a three-wheel concept vehicle with a price of $6,800, has gotten a lot of attention as the first of several pending forward-thinking cheap cars for the masses in the United States. Since neither car is available in this country, two of the most popularity vehicles in the crowd entry level segment are the Honda Fit and the Nissan Versa Note. And a cheap new car in the United States means

Read more

2015 Chevrolet Corvette under scrutiny, recall next?

,

The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette, the iconic vehicle often dubbed through the years as “America’s Sports Car,” is having difficulty. Although it hasn’t been recalled, General Motors has issued two stop-sale orders because of the difficulties with the driver’s airbag and in other instances, the parking brake cables. “General Motors has told Chevrolet dealers to stop delivery of approximately 2,000 2015 Corvettes to fix the driver’s airbag. GM has also temporarily stopped shipment of the cars from the plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the automaker said in a statement. “Separately, another 800 Corvettes — most of them at dealerships — are

Read more

NEW CAR PREVIEW: Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

Bridging the gap between other models, Porsche has unveiled the second generation of 911 Carrera GTS models in coupe and cabriolet versions and with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The new Porsche model features 430 horsepower from the Carrera S Powerkit which incorporates the Sport Chrono package and Sport Exhaust. The standard PASM active damper system lowers the ride height by 10 mm compared to the 911 Carrera. When equipped with PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung dual-clutch transmission), the 911 Carrera GTS sprints from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds (Cabriolet: 4.0 seconds). Top track speeds for the GTS

Read more

Jay Leno in driver’s seat of new network auto show

Jay Leno will be returning to television with a primetime show on CNBC, and it will be centered around his passion for automobiles, according to several celebrity and television news websites. Leno, 64, stopped hosting the “Tonight Show” in February. Industry reports say Leno was contacted by several networks, including CNN, A&E and the History Channel to host a program about cars. Leno wanted to remain in the NBC “family.” Leno has a strong relationship with CNBC president Mark Hoffman. It broadcast a “Jay’s Garage” special in September called “Jay’s Garage: The Ultimate Car Week.” Leno is among the world’s

Read more

2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T: Refined, well-equipped

The ultracompetitive mid-size sedan market heats up with the addition of Hyundai’s new 2015 Sonata Sport. It’s been given a more refined design, inside and out, to draw additional mid-size sedan buyers. This seventh-generation front-wheel-drive Sonata swaps the previous model’s ultra-sporty look for a more conservative one. However, this four-door sedan has a purposeful shape, with a coupe-like roofline and horizontal lines in the rear that underscore the car’s width and give it a planted (spell “road-hugging”) look. Hyundai likens the styling to an athlete in a well-tailored suit. The new Sonata has a stiffer body structure, better ride quality,

Read more

Honda Odyssey, Ford Flex among 10 best family cars

Minivans take a bad rap. They’re the ultimate family cars and have sometimes been referred to as “loser cruisers” or the vehicles of choice for overprotective soccer moms who carry endless supplies of juice packs. The less-than stellar reputation is unfair, however. Minivans make ideal family vehicles. They’re more economical in some instances than family sedans. And for long vacation hauls, comfort and cargo space are import. TheWeeklyDriver.com’s two favorite family are the Honda Odyssey and Ford Flex. The Odyssey is arguably the most versatile vehicle available in the United States. The seat configuration, high seating and, of course, it’s

Read more