Nissan Altima woes return, 2 million recalled

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The Nissan Altima, once the Japanese manufacturer’s best-selling vehicle, is increasingly doomed. Nissan recently announced the recall of nearly two million midsize cars in the U.S. and Canada to fix a nagging latch problem that may allow the hood to fly open while cars are moving. The latest recall covers nearly 1.9 million Altimas and includes cars from the 2013 through 2015 model years that were recalled earlier. It’s also been expanded to 2016 through 2018 model years. Nissan‘s latest recall covers nearly 1.9 million Altimas and includes cars from 2013 through 2015 model years, previously recalled. Nissan Altima recalled

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Kansas car junkyard: worthless rust or gold?

One person may see automotive gold, another may see a far-as-the-eye-can-see car junkyard of worthless rust-plagued classics as exactly that — junk. At least the seller of a junkyard in Great Bend, Kansas, full of classic cars, trucks and RVs in various states of disrepair hopes the first description is accurate. As detailed on eBay.com, craigslist and BarnFinds.com, the seller has so many vehicles, he’s not exactly sure what’s in the salvage yard. But the seller, who lists an address and phone number but not his name, knows he has some desired relics. Car junkyard has some surprises Some of

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2020 Lexus LX 570: pricey rugged luxury

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A luxury sport utility vehicle with strong attributes for off-road use is a niche offering in the vastly varied automotive marketplace. It’s a head-shaking quality of the 2020 Lexus LX 570. The wisdom of excursions on rugged terrain in a top-line luxury vehicle may be questionable. But as one friend who’s refreshingly dispassionate about automobiles often says: “If no one bought ’em, they wouldn’t make ’em.” For 2020, Lexus offers few changes in the LX 570, a small luxury apartment on wheels. But a new Sport Package includes a few intriguing features: a revised grille, different lower bumper styling, chrome-accented

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#136, Prof. Brian Marks talks cars, Covid-19

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:48 — 42.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreBrian Marks is the Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn. He has a Ph.D. in Economics, a law degree, several additional titles and plenty of academic responsibilities. Marks’ opinions are thought-provoking and concisely address the COVID-19 and how it has and will continue to affect the automotive world. While covering many areas of the industry, Marks is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia,

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New drink honors iconic Laguna Seca turn 8

(At the top of this post is an encore presentation of our recent podcast with Barry Toepke, the marketing and communications director at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Several changes for the 2020 season were announced after the orginal podcast brodcast April 14, 2020.) Like all businesses, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has altered its plans several times this year as the COVID-19 pandemic situation remains ever-evolving. When the multi-disciple racing season finally begins this summer, visitors to the Monterey Peninsula may wish to taste a new cocktail, created to celebrate the delayed-but still-scheduled season. To commemorative the start of the unique

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#135, Buying a new car like it’s 2019

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If you’re interested in purchasing a vehicle, why not considering buying a new car that’s nearly two years old? There’s a huge inventory of 2019 vehicles available, particularly for consumers interested in Dodge. Here’s the deal. The covid-19 pandemic stalled production of 2020 models for carmakers and resulted in the temporary closing of many car dealerships. Sales suffered. But a positive emerged from the health crisis, and Julie Blackley, an analyst at iseecars.com, is our guest on this week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast to discuss the issue. Dodge Caravan: New Car, Nearly Age 2 Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and

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Buy Tom Brady’s custom 2017 Cadillac Escalade for 300K

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Quarterback Tom Brady likes expensive cars as much as the next celebrity. But he’s not so attached to his vehicles that he can’t part company with his luxury wheels — like a 2017 Cadillac Escalade. Brady is selling his heavily customized Cadillac Escalade ESV edition for $300,000. It costs $350,000 new. Becker Automotive Design in Oxnard, California customized the one-of-a-kind sport utility vehicle. Brady called the Escalade his “sanctuary.” Tom Brady’a 2017 Cadillac Escalade Specs: * It was stretched by 20 inches, with the rear doors extended by 10 inches. * The roof was raised five inches and enforced with

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Huge Dodge Grand Caravan surplus in covid-19 crisis

The covid-19 pandemic stalled production of 2020 models for carmakers and resulted in great deals including the Dodge Grand Caravan

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Chevrolet Colorado gets cheapest truck honor

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There’s a new leader among cheap trucks. Goodbye, Nissan Frontier. Hello, Chevrolet Colorado. After years of holding the honor of being the least expensive pickup, the Frontier has been rebooted with more standard equipment. The result: The Colorado extended-cab for 2020 costs $22,495 (including its destination fee) as assumed the cheapest truck honors The Frontier for 2020 costs about $7,500 this year than it did in 2019. The new Chevrolet Colorado has a lot to offer for its rock-bottom price. Its base trim features a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower and six-speed automatic transmission. Chevrolet Colorado gets mixed reviews

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#134, Vermont artist Chris Miller’s stone truck

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:07 — 45.5MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreChris Miller, a sculptor who lives Maples Corner, a hamlet outside Calais, Vermont, began carving about 45 years ago. He works in granite, wood and marble, and his work is featured in private collections and sculpture galleries. It all gets its share of acclaim, including one of his most unique creations — a stone truck. Miller’s truck sculpture was inspired by a stone creation of a Volkswagen Beetle built in Ithaca, New York in 1976. It’s also an homage to an automotive phenomenon. As

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Chevy Spark tops 2020 cheapest car list

Six years ago, a small number of buyers in the United States could still purchase the cheapest car with a sticker price of less than $10,000. It was a 2014 Chevrolet Spark and considering all available rebates, including a military personnel discount and several other incentives, the base model Spark was available for a high four-figure tally. With the average price of a new vehicle now steadily advancing toward $40,000, only about a dozen new cars in the country are now available for less than $20,000. Despite the price increase, the top-10 cheap car list includes a substantially improved standard

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Need a new truck? Here are 10 for less than 35K

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With the average price of a new passenger vehicle at the beginning of 2020 approaching $38,000, it’s no wonder why the base price of the most expensive truck in the United States is nearly $90,000. With the coronavirus continuing, the end-of-the-year sales for cars and trucks will be skewed compared to recent years. Regardless, prices will remain high. But truck exceptions are aplenty. Regardless, prices will remain high. But truck exceptions are aplenty. And if you have a good credit score, financing a new truck might be more reasonable than you might think. Here, in alphabetical order, are 10 trucks,

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#133, AACA Museum adapts, goes virtual during Covid-19

Museums have impossible business models during the coronavirus. But in the business of celebrating history, creativity reigns. When public visits aren’t feasible, creativity prevails. Like many museums, automobile museums can virtually present their exhibits. Car enthusiasts and history buffs can still enjoy the legacies of vintage vehicles. Jeff Bliemeister, executive director of the AACA Museum in Hersey, Pennsylvania, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. AACA Museum features Tucker Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Bliemeister how the facility, one of the country’s most prominent auto museums, maintains its online videos, tours and special exhibits

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2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 (Press Release)

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The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 221 horsepower matched with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

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2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250: Finally!

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Introduced in 2014, the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 is an entry-level luxury sedan styled like a coupe and priced to sway new buyers from Audi and BMW. Redesigned for 2020, criticisms of poor ride quality, stiff seats and limited interior room have been addressed. In addition to the CLA 250, the new generation of the sedan is now also available in AMG CL 35 and AMG CLA 45 trims. The AMG CLA 35 also uses a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (302 hp and 295 lb-ft) and is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch as well. Mercedes-Benz CLA 250: Three Trims

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2020 Nissan Pathfinder: Keep Trying

There’s nothing overtly wrong with the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder. But competition is intense in the sport utility vehicle marketplace. And the SUV, now in its 34th year, needs a complete overall. Its current generation started in 2013 and competition has improved since the SUV debuted in 1986. Its peak sales year in the United States was 88,632 in 2013, with fluctuating sales since. About 65,000 Pathfinders were sold in the U.S. last year. The Ford Explorer is a longstanding rival and newcomers like the Kia Telluride and Volkswagen Atlas have designed with modern buyers in mind. The 2019 Pathfinder had

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