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GMC Yukon XL, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

A friend who owns a huge sport utility vehicle swears he needs it. No argument here; He’s got six pre-school aged or younger kids and prefers not leaving any at home when the family heads out.

Tata Nano, '79 MG, '82 Ram Charger, '01 VW Jetta: For $2,500, You Make The Call

The anticipated debut of the Tata Nano, the controversial $2,500 wonder car from India, has generated a lot of interest. With the average price of a new car in the United States now $30,000 and the price of gas approaching $4 per gallon, the arrival of a $2,500 vehicle in another, poor part of the world should certainly stimulate the Indian economy.

Chevrolet Malibu (Hybrid), 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

It’s hard not to see Malibu advertisements. With its keen redesign for 2008, Chevrolet has seemingly put everything it has into the marketing of the car named after the southern California beach city.

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

Subaru Legacy, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

This time of year I’m typically plotting a getaway day or two into the snow country. But the thinking of this longtime skier far outweighs what actually happens, which is why there is nothing to report about how the 2008 Subaru Legacy responded in the snow-shrouded Lake Tahoe region.

It's Fast, It's Light, It's A Car & It's Made With Wood

Forget aluminum, titanium, chrome, steel, fiberglass, etc. At least, that’s what’s a U.S. car design company believes. It’s created the world’s first supercar with a top speed of 240 mph made from wood.

Keep On Truckin': Americans keeping cars (and trucks) longer

The median age of cars in the United States in 2007 was 9.2 years, equaling the record “old age” record for active cars, according to the consulting firm R.L. Polk & Co. Based on a survey of 240.9 million cars and light trucks, the report detailed Americans are keeping cars and trucks longer as quality improves and the uncertain economy makes new purchases less appealing.

Consumer Reports Selects Its Top-10 Cars For 2008

Consumer Reports has released its top-10 cars of the year for 2008 — and not all of the selections are vehicles that readily come to mind. The magazine has selected one vehicle in each of 10 classes. Here’s the list, a magazine comment, additional comments from CNNMoney.com and the approximate price of each vehicle:

Chevy Malibu, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

It’s hard not to see advertisements for the Chevrolet Malibu. With its keen redesign for 2008, Chevrolet has put everything it has into the marketing of the car named after the southern California beach city. The promotion began in earnest during last October’s World Series and it hasn’t waned.

VW Beetle To Ford Model T: The Top-5 Best-Selling Cars In History

How many Ford Model-Ts have you seen on the road, lately? Is it more than the number of Volkswagen Beetles or Toyota Corollas you’ve seen around town or on the freeway?

Today's Cars: Bench Seats Benched, Ashtrays Extinquished?

Larry Printz doesn’t give his opinion, but my hunch is that the automotive writer for the The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., is a throwback kind of guy — at least with regard to his cars. And in many ways, I’m with him. In a recent piece Printz details traditional car features and gadgets no longer offered or rarely offered. It’s the equipment he writes that’s “about to join vinyl LPs, shag carpet and typewriters in the dustbin of history.” Bench seats: “The popularity of minivans and SUVs, many with seven passenger seating, have killed the front bench seat, which allows

Dodge Dakota, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

I’ve never quite understood the fascination with pickup trucks. But there is no denying the style’s popularity, especially among men. Look around, plenty of big and small trucks abound, including the ever-popular Dodge Ram and Dodge Dakota.

Ford Edge, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

A friend took a good, long look at the interior and exterior of the new Ford Edge, chuckled and said, “Well, for a Ford it’s pretty edgy.” True enough. With the 2008 Edge, the often conservative Ford has extended the definition of the term “crossover.”

General Motors' latest shocker: $38 million loss in 2007

How’s it possible to loss $38.7 million in a year? Not even General Motors is like sure exactly how it happened. But the world’s largest automaker has annnounced that’s the amount it lost in 2007. As a result, GM will again offer a new round of buyback offers to 74,000 hourly workers, all of whom are represented by the United Auto Workers. GM said the loss largely was due to a third-quarter charge related to unused tax credits. The 2007 loss topped GM’s previous record in 1992, when the company lost $23.4 billion because of a change in health care

Ford Edge, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

Cost-cutting measures have been an ongoing process for the Detroit’s big three — Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. All three automotive giants reported declining sales in 2007 with Ford taking the biggest hit, 12.1 percent. Not only did Ford’s sales dive sharply in 2007, it was overtaken by Toyota as No. 2 in the American market. And Toyota probably won’t stop there. GM’s days as king of the hill look numbered as well.

Mazda 3, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

In the dimly lit parking garage at work, the shadowy figures of two women were standing near my regular space, chatting amicably as they peered at the smallish, red vehicle with the sizable reputation. A couple of quick hellos were offered, then the conversation quickly turned to the car of the week — the 2008 Mazda 3.