2009 Archives - The Weekly Driver

Justin selects his top-5 parts under $500 for 2009-2014 F150s

In this episode of AmericanTruck’s (AT) “The Haul” YouTube Video Series, host Justin  Dugan selects his favorite top-5 parts for under $500 for 2009-2014 F150s. Including parts from AT’s most popular categories like Truck Lighting, F150 Lift Kits, Exterior Accessories+ more, Justin’s Top 5 focuses on functionality while sprinkling in a few F150 exterior styling mods for good measure. Parts featured in this video: Barricade HD Bull Bar w/Skid Plate & 20-inch. Dual Row LED Light Bar, Textured Black, JLT, V3.0 Black Oil Separator Passenger Side, ReadyLIFT 2 in. Billet Aluminum Leveling Kit Anodized Black, Husky X Act Contour Front Floor Liners Black & TruShield Soft Rolling Bed Cover. American Trucks is regarded as one of the best, most reliable

President Barack Obama's limousine: A modified 2009 Cadillac called The Beast

One of the most anticipated moments of Election Day was President Barack Obama’s arrival for his acceptance speech. One television commentator said it might be shortest processional in history since the president’s motorcade traveled only a few blocks in downtown Chicago to the McCormick Center. The short travel distance nonetheless includes plenty of security vehicles, including the current presidential limousine — a 2009 Cadillac. It’s often called The Beast. According to the manufacturer, Chevrolet, the 2009 Cadillac presidential limousine is the first not to carry a specific model name. The vehicle’s exterior many current Cadillac styling themes, but does not resemble any particular production vehicle. The body is modification of the immediately previous DTS-badged Presidential limousines, but the vehicle’s chassis

Specialty cars

Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, 2009 car review

You may not be able to afford a Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, or even want one, for that matter. But you owe it to yourself to drive one before you pass on. If all you drive are cars such as Toyotas and Chevys, you’ll never get the full picture. The 2009 Phantom Coupe ($400,000) is large, heavy and luxurious. That’s the way Rolls-Royces have always been, so why break tradition? But the car also is powerful, fast and agile on twisting mountain roads near this city, I discovered while driving it at a recent media preview, And that’s not the way Rolls-Royces have always been. The 2009 Coupe should not be mistaken for a Rolls built before Germany’s BMW Group took

Automotive News

Honda Accord, Civic top 2009 most stolen car list

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the 1991 Toyota Camry joined the Accord and Civic in 2009 making the the country’s top-three stolen vehicles all from Japanese manufacturers. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars According to another just released report, the Uniform Crime Report, compiled by the FBI, 794,616 vehicles were reported stolen in 2009, the sixth consecutive year of lower car theft in the country. In 2008, 956,846 vehicles were reported stolen, then the lowest annual total in more than 20 years. 1. 1994 Honda Accord 2. 1995 Honda Civic 3. 1991 Toyota Camry 4. 1997 Ford F-150 pickup 5. 2004 Dodge Ram pickup 6. 2000 Dodge Caravan 7.

Economy cars

Super Bowl 2010: Car commercials revisited (Toyota Corolla, 2009)

Automakers have been major contributors through the years to a much-anticipated social phenomenon: Commercials of the Super Bowl. The 30-second and one-minute spots are the most expensive on television. And while it’s the game most fans tune in to watch, commercials, halftime entertainment and the rest of the pageantry are eagerly and equally awaited spectacles for many football and non-football fans. Chrysler will return to the commercial fraternity during the Super Bowl this year for the first time since 2004. Companies with connections to automobiles also involved in the Feb. 7 game (that’s less than three weeks) include: Hyundai, Bridgestone, GoDaddy.com, Anheuser-Busch, Cars.com, Honda and Audi. The companies’ commercials for this year aren’t yet available for viewing, of course. But

Used Cars

Nissan Versa (2009), Ford Escape (2005) Among Cars.com Best Used Cars For About $10,000

In the writers’ words: “Whether it’s a weekday commuter or a Saturday grocery-getter, drivers need their set of wheels, but the average price of a new car — $28,929 including financing, according to Comerica Bank’s latest Auto Affordability Index — is awfully high for many people. “Not to worry; we’ve singled out some good buys for you. With reliability, safety and bottom-dollar value in mind, we looked at new and late-model used cars whose retail values hover around $10,000. We crunched reliability and crash-test scores. We considered standard and optional safety features and looked at how easy it is to find cars with those options. Finally, we considered gas mileage along with our own qualitative impressions — things such as

News Service

China zooms past U.S. in yearly auto sales in 2009, an industry first

China’s target sales for 2009 was 1o million units. The 2009 annual sales in United States was 10.4 million cars and light trucks. It was in lowest level in the U.S. in 27 years. The Chinese tally also included 650,000 in large trucks sales. According to automotive analysts in China, demand is so high, many buyers having to wait at least several weeks to get their purchases. The top-10 selling cars in China in 2009: 1. Buick Excelle; 2. New Hyundai Elantra; 3. Volkswagen Jetta; 4. BYD F3; 5. Volkswagen Santana; 6. Old Hyundia Elantra; 7. Chery QQ; 8. Xia Li; 9. Honda Accord; 10. Toyota Camry. Top-10 selling in the United States in 2009: 1. Ford F-Series; 2. Toyota

Automotive News, Sedans

Honda, Toyota dominate Kelley Blue Book car searches in 2009

Honda has the top two searches with the Accord and Civic and also the fourth position with the Honda CR-V. Toyota has four spots in the top 10 and Nissan has one position. American manufacturers combined for only five spots among the top-20 most search cars on KBB.com. Ford and Chevrolet each had two vehicles represent, but Chrysler wasn’t represented. The Honda Civic, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry (in varying orders each year) have been the top three most-researched new vehicles on kbb.com each year since 2004. The top-20 cars researched in 2009 in KBB.com: 1. Honda Accord; 2. Honda Civic; 3. Toyota Camry; 4. Honda CR-V; 5. Toyota Corolla; 6. Toyota RAV4; 7. Toyota Highlander; 8. Toyota Prius; 9.

News Service

Honda Fit to Lexus GS450h, The Weekly Driver's Cars of the Year, 2009

Lots of car buyers purchase $15,000 cars or prefer SUVs and midsize sedans. Hybrids and sports cars are fun drives, but they still comprise niche market choices compared to more popular choices — Honda Accord to Ford F-150 pick-ups to Toyota Camry. It’s these cars I’ve most often reviewed since 2003. In 2007, I began a Best-of-the-Year list. Like during the list’s previous two editions, I waited until the end of the year — the opposite approach of the major car publications. The industry’s renowned magazines and web sites often select their lists to outdo each other. Sometimes, some of the cars chosen have just debuted or in some instances they’re not yet available to the public. How does that

Sport Utility Vehicles

Honda Pilot, 2009: Weidel on Wheels

When Honda came out with the Pilot six years ago the Japanese automaker quickly had another hit. The Pilot became one of the forerunners in the eight-passenger midsize crossover segment. It’s a sport utility vehicle whose car-like qualities and hauling capabilities were lauded. Despite the accolades, one aspect of the Pilot got exposed – third-row seating was lacking. It wasn’t accommodating and the guess is in many Pilots the third row lay flat and it was left unused. The weakness remained, but the popularity of the Pilot grew with sales rising more to than 152,000 by 2006. But one year later, the competition caught up; Honda sold only 117,000 Pilots in 2007. Obviously, something had to be done. Have you

Electric and Hybrid, Luxury cars, Sport Utility Vehicles

Lexus GS450h, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

It’s a heavy heavyweight in the premium sedan market. It features extraordinary technology, including some features other hybrids don’t offer. The GS 450h operates in gas-only or electric-only mode or a combination, for example, with little difference in performance but plenty of eco-friendly ambition. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (8) Rating of 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. In a hybrid? Impressive is an understatement. Cargo Room (7) Nicely configured and deep trunk, but where’s the light? Side pockets pull out for easy access. Front-seat cup holders a little snug. Controls (6) Elegant dials. Nothing too high-tech. Independent temperature controls “ping” when increased or decreased. Some numbers and switches and not-so-easy to reach, so there’s a learning curve. Details (7) Wood

Automotive Reviews, Sports Cars

Infiniti G37, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Last year, Infiniti changed its coupe’s name to G37, a reflection of the car’s newly powered 3.7-liter engine. Now the brand’s sedan and convertible share the same title, and all three have a lot to offer. But it’s the coupe, on several top-10 lists in 2008, that stands out again in 2009. First Impression: How classy! Great exterior color (Amethyst Graphite) interior color (Graphite), beautiful body design, great dark wood interior trim. It looked proud and elegant in the driveway and everywhere else for that matter. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (7) There’s a hint of lag, but then watch out. The new seven-speed automatic transmission (with manual shift mode) accelerates quickly and with plenty of reserve. Hit it hard

Luxury cars, News Service, Sedans

Scion Tops Consumer Reports 2009 Reliability List, Chrysler Falters

The Consumer Reports study is compilation of more than 1.4 million readers’ responses this spring to vehicles from previous years. The results are used to predict reliability for 2009 model. Here are top two best and worst cars (if available) from each category in the Consumer Reports’ reliability issue, available on newsstands Nov. 11. Small Car Best: Scion xD, Mini Cooper Clubman Worst: Nissan Versa (sedan), (no second pick) Family Car Best: Toyota Prius, Kia Optima Worst: Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring (V-6) Sporty Car, Coupes & Convertibles Best: Lexus SC, Volvo C30 Worst: Chrysler Sebring (convertible), Saturn Sky Upscale/Luxury Car Best: Infinity M35 (rear-wheel drive), Lexus IS250 Worst: Cadillac STS (V-8), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (V-8) Wagons & Minivan Best: Toyota Matrix,

Sedans, Specialty cars, Sports Cars

BMW 335d, 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

The Weekly Driver’s Ratings First Impressions: What’s up with the jumbo-sized decal? Good thing it’s just for promotion and not for consumers. Acceleration (7) What’s four-tenths of a second? That’s the difference between the traditional gas and slightly slower diesel editions. And 6.0 seconds for the diesel model is hardly pedestrian. Maybe drivers with uber-keen hearing can hear the diesel engine “ping”during acceleration, but I couldn’t. The 335d doesn’t seem like it moves quickly, but it does. Braking/Steering/Handling (7) They’re all fortes of the manufacturer. Tight (adjustable) steering requires an adjustment after adventures not-too-dissimilar from upper-body stretching workouts. Cornering is smooth and confident, braking is firm. Cargo Room (5) The 335d’s cargo area measures 12 cubic feet, which reflects the

Electric and Hybrid, Sedans

Honda Civic (Hybrid), 2009: The Weekly Driver Car Review

But the 2009 Civic hybrid has a refreshed exterior design, more interior space and is more attractive than its biggest competitor. Still, the new and improved Civic hybrid isn’t an overt bargain. Among four available trims, the Civic hybrid with leather trim seats and a navigation system is now a $27,000 car. That’s pricey for a Honda Civic — until considering that the average new price of a car in the United States is now nearly $30,000. Then the Civic hybrid makes a lot more sense. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (4) With its continuously variable transmission, the Civic has a near-limitless number of gear ratios. It’s a nice feature, but none of the gears help the hybrid’s acceleration. But

Pickup Trucks

Volvo Cross Country (XC 70) T6, 2009: Roman Mica's Ramblimg Review (Video)

Three-minute speed review: Can you see yourself falling in love with the 2009 Volvo XC 70 T6 wagon. You’ve heard of speed dating. Yes? Today I’m happy to introduce speed reviewing. Give me three minutes and I’ll give you all the important stuff you needabout a car in my three-minute speed review. 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