The Weekly Driver Newsletter, Volume 1, #1

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PUBLISHER’S STARTING LINE Since TheWeeklyDriver.com debuted in 2004, the repeated delays and controversy surrounding the three-wheel Elio vehicle has attracted more interest than any other topic. The innovative Tesla has changed the auto industry. Test drives and reviews of a Bentley sedan and SUV were special experiences. Driving a Rolls-Royce for a day in the Arizona desert was a rare treat. And through 13 years of publishing, many others vehicles, entry level to luxury, have been intriguing. But the reaction to the Elio, a vehicle that doesn’t exist, tops all. Here’s the deal: Paul Elio announced his intentions in 2014

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What you need to know before buying an SUV

More consumers are buying an SUV for the combination of style, performance and convenience. It’s a logical choice for families and individuals needing versatility in the vehicle. But there are several key areas to consider before investing in a new SUV: What Are Your Needs? Do you require an SUV with superior off-road capabilities or a vehicle with plenty of cargo space and transport capabilities? Carefully consider the choices carefully narrow the possible vehicles remembering and how and where you plan to drive the vehicle. What Is Your Budget? As soon as you’ve established your needs and chosen an SUV

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Overcoming range anxiety for EV DRIVERs

The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) has also prompted an increasing concern for drivers — range anxiety. It’s the fear or worry of running out of battery power while driving an electric vehicle. It can leave the driver and their passengers stranded with no charging station nearby. The apprehension stems naturally from the apparently limited driving range of EVs compared to traditional fossil-fuel-powered, internal combustion engine vehicles. While EV batteries have improved considerably since their first launch, range anxiety remains a concern for potential buyers. However, with careful planning and adopting some essential practices, EV drivers can effectively manage

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Bigger trucks carry more weight including safety risks

Bigger trucks keep getting  bigger. The increased size also means increased dangers. That’s the assessment of Consumer Reports. The publication’s analysts detailed that from 2000 to 2018 (the most recent study) trucks are 11 percent tall and 24 percent heavier. As a result, big trucks have poorer front sight lines and bigger blindspots that can prevent viewing a small vehicle or a pedestrian. Bigger Trucks doesn’t mean better trucks “Because of their height and long hoods, some trucks have front blind spots 11 feet longer than some sedans and 7 feet longer than many popular SUVs, which increases the risk

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LA Auto Show: On the way in a 2013 Toyota Prius c, #1

The 2013 Toyota Prius c, which joined the Prius family earlier this year, is among five finalists for Green Car of the Year honors at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Which means it made perfect sense to drive one to the show. Which is exactly what I’m doing. The easy-to-use navigation system in the Prius c (the lowercase “c” is for “city”) dialed in the route from my home in Sacramento to Los Angeles as 380 miles and the time en route as 6 hours and 4 minutes. The route is primarily south on Interstate 5. I left at 6:10

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LA Auto Show: On the way in a 2013 Toyota Prius c, #2

Nearly 312 miles into my trip Tuesday (Nov. 27) from Sacramento to Los Angeles en route to the Los Angeles Auto Show in my 2013 Toyota Prius c weekly driver I stopped for gas. It was about 10 miles before the beginning of the gnarly, always aggressive ascent over the Grapevine, North to South, on Interstate 5. The Prius had fared well for more than five hours, but the major task of driving to Los Angeles was just a few minutes away. The car may or may not have needed a break, but I certainly did. The new Prius has

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LA Auto Show, 2012: On the way home in a 2013 Toyota Prius c

My long haul returning to Sacramento from the LA Auto Show tested the limits of my weekly driver, the 2013 Toyota Prius c. I left Los Angeles just after 3 p.m. and arrived just after 11 p.m. Minus three stops, it was about seven hours of driving time, including the northbound negotiation of The Grapevine along Interstate 5. The north-south route negotiating the infamous mountain pass seemed more ominous than the drive to my Hollywood hotel, about eight miles from the Los Angeles Convention Center. And there were a few reasons: It was nightfall, there was sporadic rain and crosswinds

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Driving the Tour of California #2: It’s time for The Grapevine in a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

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It’s nice to have friends who know cars. One friend who owns a Corvette and has rebuilt vintage Triumphs likes to look at the engine of every car I drive, even when there’s often not much to see since they’re often covered. Another friend always asks about the weight of cars since he’s a pilot and such matters are important. Another friend is keen on sound systems and other friend immediately notices the design and material quality of interiors. This friend, who owns a Subaru Outback and a vintage Volkswagen bug, took one look at the 2013 Santa Fe I’m

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Driving the Tour of California #3: Arriving in Los Angeles madness in a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

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The final stretch of my drive from Sacramento to San Diego for the start of the Tour of California took me over the steep, winding Grapevine into the hectic nature of the Los Angeles basin and finally to San Diego. How anyone can maintain their stress level commuting in the Los Angeles area on either Highway 101 or the 405 is beyond me. I’ve driven both highways in recent years at different times of the day, and it’s always madness. Unlike the aggressive driving in Europe in which drivers also have skill, many Southern California drivers appear to be motivated

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Driving the Tour of California #4: Divine navigation the way to go in 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

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The first few days of the Amgen Tour of California involved only 10-mile round-trip treks from San Diego to Escondido, a welcome respite from the nearly 500-mile pre-race trek from Sacramento. But the multiple-hour treks returned for stages 2 and 3 and they reiterated my appreciate for the navigation system in the 2013 Santa Fe I’m driving for two weeks and for an estimated 2,000 miles. As previously mentioned, the Digital Navigation System in the Santa Fe is arguably the best I’ve used in the 10 years I’ve been reviewing cars. It has an eight-inch screen and offers a clear

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Driving the 2013 USA Pro Challenge, #1: Mixed Bag debut in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

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The third edition of the USA Pro Challenge begins Monday, Aug. 19 and it will take a field of 128 pro cyclists from 16 teams around Colorado for a week. I’m making the trip in a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The compact crossover debuted in 2008 and the 2013 edition is the last year of the car’s first generation. The manufacturer announced recently a second generation will debut with the 2014 edition. I drove from the Denver International Airport to Snowmass in about 5 hours, including a lunch stop and two five-minute stops for phone calls. As a compact crossover, first

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Driving the USA Pro Challenge, #2: Navigating the mountains in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

A good navigation system is a welcomed companion, particularly on long solo trips like the journey I’m taking through the heart of Colorado in a 2013 Nissan Rogue during the third USA Pro Challenge. After flying from Sacramento to Denver, I drove to Snowmass in the Rogue following the navigation system instructions, which ideally detailed the 215-mile route. The 5-inch screen in the Rogue is small and it’s not positioned in the best location. It sits low on the center dash. But for its small size, the system has some keen features. Many of its functions, for example, are available

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Driving the USA Pro Challenge, #3: Wide open spaces in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

For the past two days, I’ve driven the 2013 Nissan Rogue on the scenic and often wide open and hilly state routes of Colorado during the USA Pro Challenge. Yesterday, I drove from Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs for stage 3. And today, for stage 4, I drove from Steamboat Springs on most of the same route in the reverse direction before diverting in the final sections to US 6, then Interstate 70 to Avon and then the uphill stretch to Beaver Creek Resort. The state highway system in Colorado offers stunning views and often undulating roads through small towns, ranches,

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2014 Lexus IS 350C: Day 1 driving the USA Pro Challenge

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The 2014 Lexus IS 350C, via the manufacturer’s description, is an entry level retractable hardtop offered by Toyota’s upscale line. It’s hard to think of a $55,000 car as an entry level machine, but I’m not here to squabble. The two-seat V6, 306 horsepower automatic is The Weekly Driver’s test vehicle during the USA Pro Challenge, the weeklong professional bike race in Colorado. I’ve just finished a nearly five-hour stint in the car from the Denver International Airport to Snowmass Resort. The navigation system detailed a 203-mile route with a 3-hour, 38-minute journey involved. But my trek included a few

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Driving the USA Pro Challenge, Day 5: Rock, row, top down

The drive from Salida to Colorado Springs, Colo., is only 100 miles. But the navigation system on my 2014 Lexus IS 350C detailed that it was a 2 1/2-hour drive. It didn’t make sense because the majority of the route to the start and finish of stage 4 of the USA Pro Challenge was on U.S 50 and then on state route 115. The reason it took so long is because the roads wind through the Rockies and along the Arkansas River. The roads weave past old towns, rafting rental equipment outfits, general stores and roadside cabins for rent. It

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Episode 11, Mecum Auction Debuts In Las Vegas

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (33.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreMecum Auctions is the largest automotive auction house in the United States. Mecum will conduct 14 auctions throughout the United States in 2017, including the inaugural event in Las Vegas, Nov. 16-18. In Episode 11, co-host James Raia interviews John Kraman, a television brodcaster and analyst with Mecum, about the new auction as well as his 60-year passion for automobiles.

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