#145, Author unloads on Takata in new Killer Airbags book

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:17 — 59.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreJerry W. Cox has a stark warning for the driving public. He says 12 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads have defective Takata-made airbags that still have not been replaced. Cox, a former consultant for the now-defunct Japanese automotive parts company, discusses the details in his new book “Killer Airbags: The Deadly Secret Automakers Don’t Want You To Know.” Now an automotive consultant, Cox is our guest on Episode #145 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with

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#144, Rolls-Royce is back with a wicked ghost of a machine

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:16 — 40.2MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreRolls-Royce has long represented elegance and sophistication in automobiles most often named after ghosts. There have been years of exception. Used Rolls-Royce models, particularly in the company’s native England, were hard to sell for years. But now the bespoke machines are back in a big way. In 2019, Rolls-Royce sold more than 5,100 vehicles worldwide, the best annual sales volume in the company’s 116-year history. Elizabeth Williams, the company’s product communications manager, discusses the Rolls-Royce return to prominence on this week’s episode of The

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2020 Dodge Charger ultimate family muscle car

The Dodge Charger began as a concept vehicle in the 1940s, debuted in production in 1966 and gained its fame as the car driven by the bad guy in the 1968 movie Bullitt. Steve McQueen pursued the Charger and its stuntman driver Bill Hickman on the hilly streets of San Francisco in his 1968 Ford Mustang. The scenes defined muscle car bravado. Not much has changed in the past half-century. The Charger and Mustang, in their best performance trims, remain iconic. They’re modernized, more powerful and both retain a link to the past. The 2020 Dodge Charger knows its strengths.

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RV industry booming in COVID-19 crisis but buyer beware

The COVID-19 pandemic has likely forever changed the business landscape — and not for much good. But the RV industry is an exception among the tragedies of long-time companies closing, furloughed employees and depleting workforces. RVing has provided a new part-time and full-time opportunity for travelers who are increasingly weary of the restrictions of home stay drug the coronavirus. Sales are up. The video below and its commentary on the CNBC network provides an excellent overview of the industry. It discusses ownership of different types of RVs and vans and the major companies that manufacturer them. RV industry quality control

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Toyota Tundra recall woes: faulty wiring, dim turn signals

Nearly 200,000 Toyota Tundra pickup trucks in model years from 2018 through 2020 and equipped with LED headlights have been recalled their front turn signals may be too dim for other drivers to see. The problem occurs because on certain Tundra models the wiring harness connecting the front headlights and turn signals to the vehicle’s electrical system was improperly installed. Because of an error in written instructions used on the assembly line, the front turn signal bulbs were connected to the wrong wires in the harness and the bulbs do not fully illuminate. Toyota Tundra dealers will fix Federal motor

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Laguna Seca woes: COVID-19 concerns prompt IndyCar scratch

Following a 15-year absence, the IndyCar Series returned to Laguna Seca in 2019 with Colton Herta winning. Bryan Herta, Colton's father, was victorious at the raceway in 1998 and 1999.

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New stone truck built to last more than any Ford truck

Not too long ago, Chris Miller took a camping trip. It was for relaxation but he was also seeking inspiration for his next art creation. He found it — a perfectly patinaed 1940 Chevrolet pickup truck. The 80-year-old truck prompted an idea for Miller’s second elaborate work of automotive art — his second stone truck. Eight years after he made his first stone truck, Miller has created another. He’s also kept Ford Motor Company true to its word in an astonishing way. Miller, a sculptor who lives Maples Corner, a hamlet outside Calais, Vermont, began carving about 45 years ago.

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#143, Record sale for Mustang; goodbye Chevy Sonic, Honda Fit

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:41 — 36.6MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThere’s always news in the automotive world. Sometimes, The Weekly Driver Podcast doesn’t schedule a guest so co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia can discuss a few topics, like cars that will no longer be manufactured and a 55-year-old Mustang selling for an eye-opening record. That’s what we do in this episode. The Chevrolet Sonic and Honda Fit will no longer be manufactured after the cars’ current editions. Bruce and I discuss why we say good riddance to the Sonic and a hearty farewell

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#142, Pickup truck rarity: 1958 Chevy an homage to SF Giants

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:39 — 47.6MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreAmir Daneshvar is accustomed to selling unique, high-end, modern-day cars — Audi to Porsche, BMW to Mercedes-Benz. But how about a 1958 Chevrolet Apache Fleetside? It’s more unusual considering its appearance. It’s an homage on wheels to the San Francisco Giants. The pickup truck was made for one of the team’s “super fans.” The year of the truck is the year the Giants relocated from New York to San Francisco. It has a 350 crate motor and a 700R4 transmission. Daneshvar is our guest

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5K deposit for ghost truck: Gamblers’ delight or dilemma?

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Here’s an investment adventure for hybrid truck enthusiasts: You can make a deposit of $250 to $5,000 on a hydrogen/electric pickup truck with an estimated range of 600 miles. The caveat: The Nikola Badger doesn’t exist — at least not yet. Nikola, named after Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer and futurist, was announced in late June. According to the company based in Phoenix, Ariz., the powertrain has 906 horsepower and 980 lb-ft of torque and can accelerate from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds. The truck’s full cost ranges between $60,000 and $90,000. It’s touted

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5 great cars for drive-in movie visit during Covid-19

There’s no wrong vehicle to drive to a drive-in movie theater. But some are better than others. And one of the best is a Ram 1500 pickup truck — at least according to cars.com. Drive-in movie theaters are having another renaissance during the coronavirus as a safe escape from social distancing. Drive-ins around the country aren’t yet showing new movies. Instead, classics from many genres are playing. “Drive-in theaters are making a comeback this summer as the destination of choice for movies, music and other forms of live entertainment that people can experience without ever leaving the safety of their

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Quick shifts to automatic transmissions continues

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Thirty-eight car nameplates offer manual transmissions for their 2020 models, Aston Martin to Volkswagen. Truck enthusiasts who like to shift gears have far fewer choices. In fact, only two manufacturers, Toyota and Jeep, offer a manual transmission in their fleets. Here’s the full list of cars with manual transmissions, either as standard or optional equipment, for the 2020 model year: Aston Martin Vantage, BMW M2, BMW M4 (all body styles), Chevrolet Camaro (all body styles), Chevrolet Spark, Dodge Challenger, Fiat 124 Spider, Ford Mustang (all body styles), Shelby GT350, Genesis G70, Honda Accord, Honda Civic (all body styles), Civic Si

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James Bond films mean Aston Martin scenes but no DBX

Whenever a new James Bond movie is released, a conversation with Ian Fleming would be fascinating. Is secret agent 007’s portrayal still recognizable from the author’s first book published nearly 70 years ago? And what would he say about the movies’ automotive coolness, the Aston Martin driving scenes? Fleming died 56 years ago in his native England. Scotsman Sean Connery played the debonair character in the first five Bond films (and seven overall). He began driving an Aston Martin DB5 in the third film, Goldfinger (1964). Connery is now age 89 and long ago retired. He presumably has priorities other

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Have 20K or 25K for a truck? Toyota tops watchdog’s list

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Toyota tops the list for most reliable and best buy in a new survey for consumers in the market for a used truck with a budget of less than $20,000 and less than $25,000, according to iseecars.com. The car search engine, based in Woburn, Mass., helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources.   iSeeCars analyzed more than 6.1 million used cars sold from October 2019 through March 2020 from model years 2011 onward. Toyota used pickup get top marks Cars previously determined to be among the Longest-Lasting Cars and had an overall crash

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Lady Gaga goes gaga over cult 1993 Ford pickup truck

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Lady Gaga missed out on the joys of teenage driving — at least officially. But she’s made up for lost time. After first getting her driver’s license at age 30, Gaga, 34, has made it a habit of buying cars. She owns about 20, including what appears to her favorite, a daily driver 1993 Ford SVT Lightning pickup truck. Gaga also owns a Chevrolet El Camino, Ford Bronco and Mercedes-Benz W123 sedan. The Ford truck she owns is among her least expensive cars the performer owns. The mint condition vehicle’s estimated value is $40,000. Lady Gaga like her vintage cars

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2020 Rolls-Royce Wraith: Pricey, worthy ghost of Xmas now

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By James Raia and Bruce Aldrich Once cited among the world’s most recognizable brands and of unequaled reputation, Rolls-Royce not too long ago lost its spirit. Various models with fading, hand-written for sale signs were prominent in neighborhoods throughout the carmaker’s native England. Often named after ghosts, Rolls-Royce became its namesake for an unimaginable reason. No one wanted one, even at near give-way prices. The car’s Flying Lady hood ornament, officially called the Spirit of Ecstasy, was heavily tarnished.   But in the decade since Torsten Müller-Ötvös assumed his chief executive officer responsibilities, Rolls-Royce has far surpassed its successes of

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