Podcast

#58 Consumer Reports’ expert discusses reliability survey

Mike Quincy is an expert among car experts. For nearly 20 years, he’s purchased, driven and evaluated cars for Consumer Reports. The well-respected magazine and website has tested vehicles for decades, and it’s considered the automotive industry’s most objective resource. Mike is our guest on episode #58 of The Weekly Driver podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Mike the publication’s recently released Most Reliable and Least Reliable vehicle lists for 2018. As Mike details, Consumer Reports purchases all of its test vehicles. The publication’s annual reliability survey analyzes data in 17 areas from more than 500,000 vehicles. Areas for potential problems include interior wear-and-tear, transmission repairs and squeaky brakes. Predictable results occur in the survey, so do

#57, Jeep gets depreciation honors, Nissan Leaf falls

Depreciation isn’t often the top priority for car buyers, but it’s particularly important for consumers who keep their cars for many years. The online automotive search engine iSeeCars.com recently released its survey of vehicles with the most and least depreciation. The site analyzed more than 4.3 million new and used vehicles to identify models with the lowest and highest depreciation after five years. Julie Blackley, communications manager for iSeecars.com, is our guest on episode #57 of TheWeeklyDriver podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Blackley the trends of the survey’s data, including result variance in different geographical areas of the country. According to iSeeCars.com, sport utility vehicle and trucks retain the most value after five years of ownership.

56, Distracted driving now includes ‘Netflixiing’

Laura Adams knows as much as about distracted driving as anyone. But her knowledge isn’t from experiences as a driver or passenger. She’s as an analyst who studies statistics and is shocked at what the numbers reveal. Adams, based in Austin, Texas, works for DriversEd.com. The online driving school and driving safety resource headquartered in Oakland recently released the results of its inaugural initiative detailing drivers’ habits. Bruce Aldrich and James Raia interview Laura in the week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving “Is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system.

#55, Farewell manual transmissions except in collectibles

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:45 — 36.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreChris Warren, sales manager for Premier Financial Services in Florida, knows the vintage car market well. He works for the prominent national company that for more than 20 years has provided financing for previously owned exotic, vintage and luxury cars. What Warren has observed is an increasing renaissance among purists who want to buy vehicles with manual transmissions. Warren is our guest on Episode 55 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss the automotive industry and the increasing lack of manual transmissions in new vehicles and the increasing importance of manual transmissions in collectible cars. “It’s interesting with the

#54, Sacramento designer digs her 1986 Jeep Wagoneer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:34 — 35.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreKerrie Kelly knows style. She owns a design company and works in a home office worthy of recognition in an upscale home decor magazine. Kelly also knows what style she likes in her automobiles. She and her husband own a BMW sedan, but it’s a 1986 Chrysler Jeep Wagoneer she prefers to drive. The Sacramento businesswoman, formerly employed by fashion mogul Ralph Lauren, is our guest on Episode #54 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss Kelly’s passion for her 32-year Jeep Wagoneer, and what she and her husband did to renovate the vehicle. We hear the story of

Episode 53, New cars ‘mobile attack spaces on wheels’

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:03 — 28.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreSteve Povolny is head of the Advanced Threat Research Lab at McAfee in Hillsboro, Oregon. He’s not a fearmonger, but he has concerns about the increasing dilemma of cyber attacks on vehicles. Povolony, who uses the term “mobile attack space on wheels” to discuss the predicament, is our guest on episode #53 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss the quickly evolving and potentially catastrophic phenomenon in a wide-ranging session. Povolny doesn’t speak with a suggestion of an imminent driving apocalypse, but consider his opening remarks: “In the last few years alone, we’ve seen a pretty significant move in

Episode 52, Car driver Joey Hand talks racing, family

Joey Hand is among the country’s most versatile race car drivers. He’s competed as a solo driver on more than a half-dozen series through the years, the American LeMans Series to Formula BMW and Toyota Atlantic to Star Mazda. Like his father, Hand began his career in kart racing. Hand’s son is now the family’s third generation in racing and is also involved in kart racing. Hand, 39, from Sacramento, currently a Ford Factory driver, is our guest on Episode 52 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Hand his versatile victories in the 24-Hour of LeMans, Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. We also discuss Hand’s current successful season and

Episode #51, Colorado conversion man marries VW, Subaru

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:36 — 29.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreVendors at the yearly Outdoor Retailer Show do an impressive job of attracting customers. But none of the companies had a better presentation than Helinox. It used a 1976 restored VW van. Helinox, which makes efficient compact lawnchairs, cots, umbrellas and other outdoor equipment used a VW restored by John Buschmann in his business called Urabus. The name is Subaru spelled in reverse, and Buschman is adapt using Subaru engines in vintage VWs. Buschmann is our guest on Episode 51 of the Weekly Driver Podcast. Buschmann joins us from his shop Englewood, Colorado. He discusses his long interest in Volkswagen and why Subaru engines

Episode 50, Pros & cons, etiquette for bidding at Classic Car Week

Car auctions are a significant component of Classic Car Week, attainable vehicles to one-of-a-kind rarities. Every auction house has its own style, and many auction attendees are veteran bidders with years of experience. Still, a refresher course for experienced car auction buyers and an introduction to proper bidding etiquette for new auction enthusiasts is a good thing. Chris Warren of Premier Financial Services, a leading provider of lease financing for exotic, vintage and luxury cars, is our guest Episode 50 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Bruce Aldrich and I have a lively discussion with Warren about proper etiquette and the ins-and-outs of car auctions. Classic Car Week includes six major auctions beginning Tuesday, Aug. 21. A vast selection of the

Episode 49, Leo Sens, age 12, expert car reviewer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:16 — 19.6MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreLeo Sens is an outgoing 12-year-old boy with lots of interests. He’s a musician and photographer. He likes automobiles, and he’s comfortable giving his opinion as a car reviewer. When his parents were shopping for a new car, Sens was in the back seat. Visiting car dealerships to purchase a vehicle isn’t often anyone’s favorite thing to do. But the younger Sens, who lives with an older sister and his parents in Oakland, California, was into it. While his parents were in the front seat, he thought they needed the perspective of someone sitting in the back seat, a 12-year-old car reviewer. Thus, Backseat

Episode 48, Monterey Peninsula couple rents vintage cars

Classic Car Week, the all-encompassing presentation on the Monterey Peninsula of all things automotive, including vintage cars, revitalizes itself yearly. Many auction and collection names remain the same. But newcomers, including Heather and Rob Gardner, help the collective refresh. The Gardners, who live in Carmel Valley, don’t host a rally, auction or concours. But they could. Instead, the couple will experience their first year of the nearly two-week gathering as owners of Monterey Touring Vehicles (montereytouringvehicles.com). Rob, a physician, and Heather, a research scientist, recently decided their fleet of 36 vintage cars is best served when driven. Heather Gardner is our guest on Episode 48 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I discuss how Monterey Touring Vehicles

Episode 47, Simple innovation for auto travel plentiful

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:31 — 30.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreBased in Oakland, Helinox (www.helinox.com) was among numerous vendors at the recent Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver. The annual trade show showcases a vast array of merchandise, some geared toward various automotive user groups. “We obviously come from the outdoors, but we recognize the way in which people get to the outdoors is often by automobile,” said Azul Couzens, vice president of the company that also makes umbrellas and trekking poles. “More people are active in the outdoors with their cars. They’re going all-terrain; they’re going with their van and they’re going with their restored VW van or Land Cruiser.” The Chair Zero

Episode 46, Raleigh, Corpus Christi, best driving cities

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 87 percent of daily trips occur in personal vehicles. Reasons vary, but comfort and reliability are primary reasons, and they’re important. Drivers spend an average of 290 hours on the road per year. The statistics are also crucial to analysts at WalletHub.com, the personal finance website that uses data-driven journalism to create best and worst lists and various surveys. One recent article, using 29 key indicators of driver friendliness, is a list of the top 100 cities across the United States for driver friendliness. Raleigh, N.C., gets the top honor, followed by Corpus Christi, Texas and Orlando, Florida. Dubious honors were awarded to Oakland, California, San Francisco, California and Detroit, Michigan. In episode

Episode 45, Fast, furious Mecum Auctions returns to Monterey

Ask John Kraman a question about automobile auctions, vintage cars, industry trends or automotive history and the answers come fast and furious from the Mecum Auctions expert. He’s as enthusiastic as anyone and his knowledge flows as fast as verbal clarity allows. As the Director of Company Relations and Lead TV Commentator/Analyst Mecum Auctions, Kraman will be part of the vast staff again present at the world’s largest car collectors auction during Monterey Auto Week in August. The rapid-fire auction will present about 600 cars during Mecum’s three-day presence during the gathering of all things automotive held on the Monterey Peninsula. Kaman is our guest on episode No. 45 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia

Episode 44: Expert examines Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

Driving from Northern California to Southern California and back has been routine in recent years. The 800-mile round-trip trek along Interstate 5 is always interesting, particularly when driving a 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell. Six weeks ago was the most unusual trek I’ve taken from Sacramento to the Los Angeles region (this time to Long Beach) because I drove the sedan that runs on hydrogen. From the expediency of refueling to the performance of the Clarity and from the use of the High Occupancy Lane as a single occupant to running out of hydrogen were all part of the unique experience. The Clarity won me over quickly. I wrote my syndicated automotive for Bay Area News Group, Autopia, about my

Episode 43, Don’t leave pets, children alone in vehicles

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:00 — 33.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreTragedy strikes every summer. Children and pets die from heatstroke after being left unattended in cars and trucks. It should never happen, but it does when unknowing vehicle owners think leaving a window slightly open or parking in the shade alleviates potential problems. But it’s not sufficient. Within minutes after children or animals are left in a vehicle, temperatures can drastically rise and wreak havoc. Young children and pets can’t help themselves. In Episode #43 of The Weekly Driver Podcast, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia speak with Dan Carron, a senior analyst for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The animal