Ram pickup trucks’ dilemma: wheels can fall off

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Stellantis, the new owner of Fiat-Chrysler, has made a dubious announcement — the wheels of more than a half-million of its Ram pickup trucks can fall off. As such, the manufacturer announced 510,000 Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickups and Ram 4500 and 5500 cab-chassis vehicles from 2012 to 2021 and mostly from North American have been recalled. More than 500,000 Ram pickup trucks have been recalled because the wheels can fall off. Ram Pickup Trucks Have Loose Nuts The trucks in question have dual rear wheels and flanged lug nuts. Stellantis said some service and owner’s manuals had the wrong torque

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#185, West Coast Bike Week set for Monterey Peninsula debut

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:20 — 38.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreMotorcycle racing and lots of related activities will add to the always-full calendar of motorsports with the debut of West Coast Bike Week at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The community-focused, 10 days of racing and fan interaction will be geared toward those who enjoy all things on two wheels. Barry Toepke, Director of Heritage Events & Public Relations for the raceway, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts James Raia and Bruce Aldrich discuss with Toepke the new series

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Buying bland beige works best for pickup truck resale value

If you want the best resale value after owning your pickup truck for three years, buy beige. And don’t buy brown. According to the analysis of iseecars.com the online automotive search engine and research website, beige pickup trucks have the lowest average depreciation of any color. A beige truck with a new price of $45,272, has an average resale price after three years of $37,097, or an 18.1 percent depreciation. After comparing the prices of more than six million new and used cars between 2017 to 2020, iSeeCars.com has determined which colors help, hurt, or have minimal impact on a

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PREVIEW: 2022 Kia Telluride gets upgrades, new pricing

Prices and upgrades have been announced for the 2022 Kia Telluride, the increasingly popular sport utility vehicle. Introduced as a concept car in 2016, the vehicle debuted in the spring of 2019 as a 2020 model. Named after the town of Telluride, Colorado, the SUV is the largest vehicle Kia has manufactured in the United States. Kia Telluride: Top Sales, Awards Among other accolades, the Telluride was named the 2020 World Car of the Year as well as SUV of the Year. The large SUV had a 28 percent increase in sales from 2019 to 2020. It was the 11th

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2021 Hyundai Venue seeks home in crowded SUV family

Now in its second model year, the Hyundai Venue is the smallest sport utility vehicle and seventh sport or adventure offering in the company’s stable. It fills a niche the South Korean manufacturer has deemed important. But it’s hard to fathom. Since the carmaker already offers the Ioniq, Kona, Palisade, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe and Tucson, does it need the Venue? It’s marketed as a mini or sub-compact, entry-level SUV with a healthy chunk of features and superior gas mileage for its segment. It’s matched against more than dozen competitors, notably the Kia Soul, Mazda CX-30, MINI Cooper Countryman, Nissan

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#184, Monterey Auto Week is back including memorabilia

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:50 — 36.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreMonterey Auto Week. Monterey Car Week. Classic Car Week. By any name, the now nearly two-week presentation of all things automotive will be back in mid-August. After a one-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the usual annual attractions — shows to auctions, speakers’ forums to memorabilia — will unfold throughout the Monterey Peninsula. Recently approved as an indoor show, the Automobilia Pop-Up Show, with a new one-year-only husband-wife organization team, will be held Aug. 10-11 at Embassy Suites in Seaside. Monterey

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#183, Fun Father’s Day gifts for car fans

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:05 — 26.6MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreProud car owners aren’t often at a loss for words. It’s part of the enjoyment of sharing artwork of wheels. The artists at Respoke Collection offer another way to showcase a favorite machine or a showroom full of automobiles or motorcycles. Forward a quality image online to the company’s online presence, and it will return a vehicle rendering on canvas or on paper in dimensions as large as 24×36. It’s an ideal, unique Father’s Day gift for the car collector in the family. On

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Save money with proper car maintenance dos & dont’s

Your vehicle is an essential tool but it can be taken for granted. It’s often used daily, but if car maintenance is not done properly repairs can become expensive and your safety is at risk. To help keep your car in proper condition, improve its longevity and ensure your safety, here’s a list of “dos and don’ts.” DO THIS * Buy from a reputable used car dealership. It will ensure you have spent your money wisely. A reputable dealership will service its inventory before offering it for sale. It will provide the reassurance you’re purchasing a vehicle properly maintained and

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Nervous driver? Learning and studying your car helps

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Being a nervous driver is common. Many people have anxiety on the road even as experienced drivers and in well-traveled areas. After all, you’re in charge of a large metal box on wheels. And it’s likely you’re surrounded by drivers in similar situations but with different approaches to road safety. Anyone can be nervous while, but it shouldn’t be overwhelming and stop you is you want to get behind the wheel. Owning and operating a car is often an integral part of many peoples’ lives. It’s important for personal transportation, can mean better living circumstances and even better

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Buying a car? Plan properly, buy it, maintain it

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Buying a car is an achievement, and it’s often a substantial detailed investment. But the transaction can be more straightforward than expected. If the buyer is prepared, the purchase can be successful with little or no stress. Still, if it’s your first or second car, a new or used car, just don’t take this kind of investment lightly. Plan the purchase properly so it occurs smoothly and you get the ideal vehicle. Once you buy a new car, what’s next? How long do you plan on using it? Do you know how to maintain it and prolong its

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2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat reigns in SUV jungle

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Being the biggest, baddest or fastest means a lot in the automotive industry. The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat is the most powerful sport utility vehicle ever made. It has a few horsepower nod over the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. What’s difficult to determine is why the designations are important. The SUV Hellcat is newly designed to join the other Hellcat sedan offerings. It’s aggressive-looking but not particularly handsome. But multiple badges (side views of an angered wildcat) vault it into a roadshow. The design derives from the name of the American Grumman F6F Hellcat, the main Navy fighter in the

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Car collector Scott Gunnari: A Man & His Edsels, #182

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:03 — 42.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreMany cars have failed, but none quite like the Edsel. Scott Gunnari knows all the stories. But the vintage car collector enjoys the car named after Henry Ford’s his son as much as any collector of any brand. Gunnari, the lead inspector for Page One Automotive, the automotive fleet and event management service company in Brisbane, California, has had six of the much-maligned machines in his collection. He now owns three. Gunnari is our guest this week on Episode #182 of The Weekly Driver

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5 Ways To Make A Car Sound System Sensational

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT A car sound system isn’t just about making music sound great. You can also use your stereo to retrieve the audio portion of drive-in movies.  You can talk with friends and family via a smartphone Bluetooth connection. You can listen to audiobooks or sporting events. But when building a sensational-sounding car stereo system, it’s all about the music. If your factory-installed audio system isn’t providing the bass, power or clarity desired, consider audio addons, like subwoofers for cars or trucks. Or consider buying a new audio system that can deliver “concert sound.” Here are five ways to make

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The Pope going green with new Fisker electric popemobile

The Pope is getting a new popemobile. It’s an all-electric sport utility vehicle with an all-glass dome to give crowds a better opportunity to see the pontiff. Henrik Fisker and Geeta Gupta-Fisker, co-founders of the Fisker, the American electric startup carmaker, presented the design of the new transporter to Pope Francis in a private meeting May 20. The duo presented the Vatican with a concept of a modified Fisker Ocean. The Pope will get his new one-of-a-kind wheels next year. “I got inspired reading that Pope Francis is very considerate about the environment and the impact of climate change for

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Car travel is great for spontaneity but plan anyway

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT If you have a car and want to go on a road trip, you’re lucky. Particularly considering the current complicated global epidemiological situation, being the road seems like a great luxury — whether it’s locally or across the country. Before traveling, however, making sure your car is in proper condition and that you have a plan can mean the difference between a successful and unsuccessful journey. Being prepared will help prevent any potential problems — like getting stuck in the “middle of nowhere.” Car travel has a wide range of advantages. If you haven’t tried it yet because

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College students’ best approach to buying a used car

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Enrolling in a college or university is among the most important steps of a young adult’s future. Your life may significantly change, particularly if you continue your education far from home and are interested in buying a used car. But not only is it necessary to find the best accommodations you’ll need to meet financial obligations, including paying tuition and buying books. Many new university students also buy their first car while attending college. But what’s the best way to choose a car while attending a university? What vehicle best suits your needs? Here’s a checklist to help

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