Podcast

Episode 26, picky buyer looks for 6 months, buys 2018 VW Atlas

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (82.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreSeveral months ago, Chris Wood decided it was time for a new vehicle. He has a family, including four grandchildren, a 50-pound dog and a 5,000-pound ski boat and equipment to haul. He had $50,000 to spend, but he was faced with a lingering dilemma. Wood, 63, of Pleasanton, a retired Silicon Valley computer salesman, looked for six months but couldn’t find a new sports utility vehicle that fit his criteria and could match the quality his previous vehicle, a 1999 Ford Explorer. “I had it for 19 years; I serviced it all the time,” said Wood. “I put in transmissions and took care a lot of

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Episode 25, RV expert believes industry needs major repairs

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:53 — 46.5MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreChuck Woodbury, editor and publisher of the RVTravel.com, the industry’s largest and most prestigious online publication, is a full-time RVer and an industry advocate. But Woodbury says RV buyers must beware. The RV industry, with record sales in 2017, needs to better protect the best interests of buyers. Woodbury, an author, internationally renowned RV industry expert and the host of the best-selling Better Business Bureau DVD, “Buying a Recreational Vehicle,” is the guest on episode 25 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. “There’s no international organization anymore that looks out for the interest of RVers,” says Woodury. “There’s nobody back in Washington, D.C., or in

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Episode 24, Eric Wohlberg: cycling champion, vintage Buick driver

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:37 — 31.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreEric Wohlberg spent more than a decade traveling around the world to compete on two wheels. He participated in three Summer Olympics for Canada and won multiple cycling national individual time trial titles and stage races. But Wohlberg, 53, of San Jose, in his sixth year as a director for the Rally Cycling Team, now prefers four-wheel transportation. He often travels to the team’s camp and its races in the United States and his native country while driving one of his two vintage cars. Since 1990, Wohlberg has owned a 1965 Mustang Fastback. For his 50th birthday, he purchased a 1964 Buick LeSabre estate

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Episode 23 (Part 2), Everything’s autonomous in CES madness

The recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas had several themes. Autonomous and electric vehicles, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, pending 5G technology, 3D television, personal mobility and every entrepreneurial gadget feasible were in the mix. The CES gathering was held in five locations on the Las Vegas strip. Flash flooding greeted visitors on opening day; a power outage occurred on the second day. The estimated attendance for the week was 250,000, and the showroom floors were crowded. Nonetheless, an estimated 1,700 vendors showcased their wares with flash and fast-talking, expertise and wishful thinking. In episode 23 of The Weekly Driver Podcast, co-host Bruce Aldrich and I discuss the concept vehicles automakers like Toyota and BMW hope will be autonomous vehicles

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Episode 23, Going mobile at CES with electric bikes, scooters

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:59 — 32.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreAutonomous cars, trucks and helicopters, drones and virtual reality technology are at the center of the current whirlwind of technology innovation. But personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs) are also increasingly abundant. They’re compact, often foldable and easily transportable in boats, planes, automobiles and RVs. They’re the scooters, simple bicycles and mopeds of yesteryear gone electric and grouped under the umbrella term “personal transporters.” And they’re used as complementary transportation for travelers or stand-alone vehicles for leisure treks and short commutes. More than a dozen domestic and international PLEV companies, and at least two with agreements with Ford Motor Company, showcased their new machines at

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Episode 22, Famed climber Alex Honnold prefers life in a van

Last summer, Alex Honnold became the first free solo climber to ascend El Capitan in Yosemite. The accomplishment resulted in international acclaim. Honnold appeared on magazine covers, as a guest on late night talk shows, and he continues to be a speaker in demand at trade shows and corporate meetings. Despite his celebrity, Honnold prefers a simple life. He owns and shares a home in Las Vegas with his girlfriend. It’s a short distance from casino mecca and home of the Voetbalwedden headquarters. Another view from his front door highlights a favorite location, the varied, step climbing available at Red Rocks Canyon. But for six months a year, Honnold spends his life on the road in a RAM ProMaster cargo

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Episode 21, Rags to riches: The restoration of a rare Porsche 356

Leigh Rutledge, a real estate executive in Sacramento, California, owns a rare Porsche — a 1956 Porsche 356 Cabriolet. The car was made in the year Rutledge was born, and the model also corresponds to the month and year she was born. In Episode 21 of The Weekly Driver Podcast, hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Rutledge her 27-year ownership of the unique Porsche. The car has had a hard-to-believe legacy. Rutledge purchased the Porsche in 1990 after noticing it for sale on a 3×5 index card. But the Porsche wasn’t much more than a collection of parts. The restoration began as a series of catastrophes, from unscrupulous “experts” to financial missteps. But through the care and concern

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Episode 20, 2017 year-end observations, goodbye to 21 cars

Every year, cars come and go. In 2018, nearly two dozen vehicles available in 2017 won’t be available as new models. Some of the cars, like the Chevrolet Spark, have been failing for years. Some of the other departing vehicles, like the Honda Accord coupe, come as surprises. In Episode 20 of The Weekly Driver Podcast, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia bid farewell to the departing vehicles. Some we’ll miss. But for others, good riddance. With the new year upon us, we also look back on some of the popular topics in the auto industry during 2017. What exactly will happen beginning January 1 with the new marijuana laws beging is anyone’s guess. How will law enforcement officials handle

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Episode 19, IIHS: Crash Test Dummies to Autonomous Driving

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:53 — 32.8MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreSean O’Malley and David Aylor represent the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in Arlington, Virginia. Established in 1959, the IIHS is a non-profit organization that works to reduce motor vehicle deaths, crashes, injuries and property damage. O’Malley, the senior test coordinator, and Aylor, the manager of active testing, work with colleagues to conduct research and produce ratings for mainstream passenger vehicles. The organization also researches and produces ratings for consumer products such as child car booster seats. Additionally, the IIHS researches road design and traffic regulations. In this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss the changing

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Episode 18, California Automobile Museum curator Carly Starr

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:21 — 43.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreCarly Starr is the curator of the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento. She has incredible knowledge of the cars and trucks in the unheralded museum as well as its diverse outreach programs throughout the year. The museum, located at 2200 Front St., opened in May 1987. It has more than 150 classic cars, race cars, trucks and rotating displays of different generations of vehicles from various regional clubs. The California Automobile Museum is also unique among car museums. It selectively buys and sells vintage cars and trucks. During a recent visit to the museum, co-host Bruce Aldrich and I visited the museum, chatted with

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Episode 17, The Weekly Driver Podcast’s Best Cars of 2017

The Weekly Driver Podcast presents its 2017 best cars of year. It’s the 11th annual compilation, previously published only on the TheWeeklyDriver.com. I reviewed 38 cars and trucks in 2017, and we choose the vehicles of the year based on value, safety, fuel efficiency, versatility and comfort. We only select cars or trucks we’ve driven. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I hash it out in episode 17. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly

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Episode 16, LA Auto Show Day 3: Tips for the public, Volvo, meet Blinker

Rod Buscher was in the car dealership business for 30 years. Now, he’s the CEO of Blinker, the application that simplifies the car-buying and car-selling process. In Episode 16, we interview Buscher during the LA Auto Show. Also, we provide an overview of the show for its public viewing days, Dec. 1-10. And we discuss the fly-and-buy program offered by Volvo. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for

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Episode 15, LA Auto Show, Day 2: Honda Goes More Green, Wacky Concept

Honda has invested a lot of money into its green cars effort, including the Clarity. It’s the carmaker’s entree into hydrogen cars. In Episode 14, we discuss the Clarity with a Honda representative. We explore the other sights and sounds during our second day of visiting the 2017 LA Auto Show, including a look at a wacky concept called Red Square. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns

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Episode 14, LA Auto Show, Day 1: Electric Bikes, Trucks and Amazon Mayhem

The first day of the LA Auto Show was the debut of AutoMobilty — all things tech orientd in the automotive industry. In this episode, The Weekly Driver interviews Jenninfer Parke, co-founder of the start-up app, Fair, where a certified used vehicle takes 10 minutes to negotiate. We also interview Jeff Holland from Bollinger Motors, an all-electric truck company; We discuss the new season of The Grand Tour om Amazon Prime; and we chat with John King, owner of the electric bike company, Phantom Bikes. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes

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Episode 13, Tesla’s Woes, Farewell Danica Patrick

Elon Musk recently announced two new off-the-hook vehicles despite Tesla’s massive debt and abrupt company layoffs. What’s up with that? And Danica Patrick had an emotional announcement that she’s retiring after the 2018 Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500. We give our opinions on the polarizing luminaries. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers,

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Episode 12, Drag racer Henry Giselle Roberson

Henry Giselle Roberson, 31, of North Highlands, California, has been drag racing for more than half his life. His father, age 75, began racing on the streets of San Francisco. The younger Roberson is following his father’s path, competing on tracks from Arizona to Oregon. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines

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