2021 Honda Accord Hybrid: The best gets better

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In its sixth decade, the Honda Accord is part of a small fraternity of vehicles that changed the automotive industry. Unveiled in 1976, the Accord was joined by the Toyota Camry six years later. The vehicles’ rivalry has continued since, with the carmakers’ healthy competition a constant in the always-in-flux family sedan segment. Key Takeaways Six decades of evolution pay off: The 2021 Accord Hybrid continues Honda’s rivalry with Toyota Camry, now in its 10th generation with refreshed styling and a sport sedan personality. 212-hp hybrid system erases stodgy reputation: The combined four-cylinder gas engine and electric motor deliver adequate

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New pickup trucks pricey? Sure. But bargains abound

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In case anyone hasn’t noticed, pickup trucks have become increasingly expensive. With extensive option packages, several new pickup trucks more than $100,000. But considering the new Ford Maverick, soon debuting as a 2022 model, many pickup trucks are still reasonably priced. The Maverick is already upsetting the industry since it will undercut the current cheapest pickup truck, the Toyota Tacoma, by more than $4,000. Of course, payload, towing capacity, model year and many other factors make the list of the current cheapest pickup trucks skewed. But via dollars alone, Ford has put the other manufacturers on notice: the pickup truck

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Avoid These 5 Mistakes When Scrapping Your Car

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Scrapped automobiles globally produce more than 25 million tons of recycled material every year. It’s among the most of all consumer goods recyclables. So, rather than have your old car rust away in your garage, why not have it scrapped? Almost every part of the car is recyclable, and the process helps protect the environment. Recycled metal is made into new sheets of metal used to manufacture new cars, saving energy and resources needed for metal production. Why not contribute to a better environment and get paid for it? Scrapping Your Car Properly But before scrapping your car

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Ford Lightning electric pickup truck pricing revealed

The Ford F-150 Lightning, the manufacturer’s recently announced electric truck, with be priced at just under $50,000 with its optional extended-range battery. Ford previously released a base price of $39,974 for the 2022 pickup truck. The newly announced detail has exactly a $10,000 premium for the trim with an estimated 300-mile range. The prices don’t include a yet-to-be-released destination fee and details of a potential $7,500 EV tax credit and other incentives. The Lightning is built with the same military-grade aluminum-alloy body as the gasoline versions of the F-150. However, a different frame helps accommodate the battery packs. Ford Lightning

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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

Monterey 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 Auto Week Is Back While long-time show organizer Everett Anton “Tony” Singer (www.vintageautoposters.com) continues plans for

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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 | More Many 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

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