Want To Get Lucky? Don't Buy These Cars, Pontiac Aztek to Toyota Prius

This top-10 list is a dubious, but practical list of “Top 10 cars, guaranteed to ensure your family line ends with you.” The writer, Vol85, begins with the premise: “I was recently in Knoxville (recently being about six hours ago), and I saw a bunch of Pontiac Azteks at used car lots there. I was thinking, ‘No wonder. Who would want to ruin their life by being seen in one?’ So, the idea for this list was born.” “ . . . These are the cars that say, ‘Nobody in the history of mankind, has had a bulge big enough

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Audi A8, W12 Quattro, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

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Friends who know and fawn over cars love the 2008 Audi A8, W12 quattro. Friends who own cars but view them simply as necessary transportation love the car. Even automobile cynics, for whom cars are among society’s biggest concerns, love it. And there are many reasons for the adulation. As a luxury car, the Audi A8 W12 has a 6.0-liter, 12-cylinder, 450-horsepower engine that operates with a six-speed automatic transmission and Audi’s quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. It features 20-inch alloy wheels and adaptive cruise control and a host of electronic features and high-tech equipment — 16-way power front seats

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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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Mitsubishi/Peugeot-Citroen Consider Electric Car Collaboration

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The French and Japanese may again join forces — in the automotive industry. Mitsubishi Motors of Japan and PSA Peugeot Citroen of France may enter the electric vehicle market in a collaborative technology effort to become viable in the “green” automotive segment The several-month project, announced in Tokyo, will involve joint development of  components to transform electricity into driving force for small urban electric cars. Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroen already have various joint programs, including the recent announcement of the joint construction of a new factory in Russia. The French group is the largest global manufacturer of electric vehicles

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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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Honda Announces New Restyled, Refined 2009 Accord

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The new Accord’s styling is an evolution of the current model, although it’s significantly wider and slightly lower than its predecessor. It adopts a ‘sharp-edged’ design with muscular wheel arches to emphasize the car’s wider track. The more sporty approach to exterior design is perhaps best expressed in the new Touareg, which still offers incredible versatility and practicality, but a mix of curves and crisp lines at the rear give the estate a more stylish overall appearance. Making its debut in Accord is Honda’s second-generation diesel engine – the i-DTEC –, which builds on the outstanding qualities of the award-winning

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2008 Volvo XC70: Weidel on Wheels

Taking another step from its uninspired, stodgy past, Volvo decided to pursue the makeover route for the 2008 XC70. Typically, there’s nothing wrong with redesigns, they’re sometimes long overdue. Not that the XC70 falls into that category, but it emergeed in 2008 as a more appealing vehicle. The remodeled vehicle is four inches longer overall and two longer in the wheelbase. It origin is Volvo’s premium sedan (S80), not the scaled down S60. The XC70 also has revised interior and exterior design. Although it could be easy to do, don’t confuse the XC70 with the V70 wagon. The XC70 has

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Hybrids Rule: 2008's Top Five, Chevy Malibu to Ford Escape (Part 1)

Depending upon one’s perspective, either a lot or not much changed in hybrid cars until 1997. That’s when Toyota debuted the Prius only to car buyers in Japan. A decade later, the automotive industry is fully engrossed in the world of hybrid and other alternatively powered cars. The Prius remains at the forefront of the industry, accounting for about half of 350,000 hybrids sold in the United States in 2007. But while the high-mileage Toyota dominates the market, an ever-expanding array of manufacturers know there’s plenty of room for everyone. Less than three percent of new cars sold in the

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Jaguar Super V8, 2008: Bill Belew's Car Buzz

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Life before and after the Jaguar Super V8 in no particular order. Before — I used to worry about fuel prices. After — If I can afford this car, ($95K) I don’t need to worry about another $1-2/gallon increase. Besides 22 mpg on the highway and the Jaguar will get me from San Francisco to Los Angeles, Cincinnati to Nashville, the New Orleans to Miami. Before — I used to hate getting stuck in traffic. After — I just love sitting in the Jaguar. Who needs to get anywhere in a hurry when you are sitting in a moving living

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Mazda Tribute Hybrid, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

Confused about the differences between the Ford Escape and the Mazda Tribute? Don’t be. They are essentially the same vehicle. And if two options aren’t enough, how about three, with a hybrid model? The Mercury Mariner is a close relative to the Tribute and Escape. The Tribute made up some ground in 2008 joining the Escape and Mariner by adding a hybrid option. Other than the Mazda badge, its two-tone coloring scheme and a couple of small styling differences, the Tribute and the Escape are identical. Yes, the hybrid market continues to multiply, with the Tribute among the new 2008

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GM Announces Education Partnership To Reduce Oil Consumption Via Less Frequent Oil Changes

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And for millions of GM vehicles, that could be mean oil changes with much longer durations than decades-old standard of every 3,000 miles. General Motors will support public outreach efforts by the Cal/EPA and the CIWMB to help motorists understand how frequently they need to change their engine oil, and the proper methods of doing so. The traditional 3,000-mile oil change recommendation was based on past engine and oil technologies. Today’s engines are built to strict tolerances using advanced technology, reducing or eliminating contaminants that might enter the engine. In-vehicle technologies like the GM Oil Life System can also reduce

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2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara XSport: Weidel on Wheels

The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara will not be a first choice for many shoppers. And if money is not an issue, the compact sport utility vehicle may not even make the finalists’ list. Many competitors have better credentials. But if money is an issue, don’t dismiss the Grand Vitara. It has significantly improved in recent years and not only provides an impressive value, it has good qualities as a daily driver. The 2008 Grand Suzuki XSport wasn’t a vehicle I couldn’t wait to bid farewell after a week’s drive. It’s an attractive model with an attractive price tag, $22,349. That’s

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Honda Begins Limited U.S. Distribution Of Hydrogen Car, Clarity

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The FCX Clarity runs on hydrogen and electricity, emits only water and none of the gases believed to induce global warming. Honda began transporting the first supply of the vehicle June 16 from Takanezawa, Japan to Los Angeles. A few dozen of perhaps 200 of the vehicles expected to be available in coming months have created a buzz among Hollywood celebrities, according to the Associated Press. The news service reported actresses Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Harris, filmmaker Christopher Guest and Ron Yerxa and businessmen Job Spallino and Jim Salomon are among the Clarity’s first customers. Honda believes its new

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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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2008 Porsche Tops J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality List

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The Porsche 911 has the fewest quality issues, with 67 problems per 100 vehicles, the study noted. Lincoln took dubious honors, falling from No. 3 to No. 15, according to the results released June 4. Jeep is at the list, with Mini one position from the bottom. Saturn also faltered, falling to No. 33 from No. 20 in 2007. Ford and Mercury performed well both in the top 10. J.D. Power and Associates commended the auto industry for “a continued reduction in the level of defects and malfunctions” in vehicles. Overall quality improved by 6 percent in 2008 compared with

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Ultimate Car Site Features Expansive 24 Hour Le Mans Video List

The post lists links to videos beginning in 1955 and continuing through the 2007 season of races from Le Mans 24 Hour events. Not every race from every year is listed, but who cares? The videos are great and bound to get more than one race fan in trouble for watching them at work. Nevertheless, the guy who posted the list is almost apologetic for posting what is, in fact, a wondrous collection. Here’s what the guy says: “Ok, I know this isn’t complete as of yet, but I want people to be able to watch Le Mans 24 races

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