Hefty Tundra ready to take on the Big 3's Big Boys Toyota needn’t worry about folks pooh-poohing their full-size (and then some) Tundra pickup as not manly enough, or strong enough to take on the Big 3’s big boys. Heck, the tested metallic black Tundra CrewMax Limited 4X4 is nothing if not big. First, it’s U.S.-built... Continue Reading →
Die-cast: Replicarz 1984 Indy 500 March racers
Sneva record setting pole car, Johncock STP March offer super detail The March chassis was dominant at the Indianapolis 500 in the early 1980s with track records falling regularly due to one guy in particular, Tom Sneva, the Gas Man. A March won the Indianapolis 500 from 1983 through 1987, Sneva giving March its first... Continue Reading →
Chasing Classic Cars: One-of-a-kinds
Rare cars that pop up from time to time Have you ever seen a car, in person, and it was the only one made? When I was a kid my dad would take me to the Chicago Auto Show. He got the tickets when he worked at American Motors and that was our first stop.... Continue Reading →
2014 Nissan Versa Note SV
Versa is inexpensive, versatile, but extremely underpowered Rarely have I driven a car as underpowered as the Versa Note, Nissan’s new four-door hatchback version of the Versa, which debuted last year as a sedan. Naturally this is an economy model, but still, with a 1.6-liter, I4 that cranks only 109 horsepower the acceleration is lackluster,... Continue Reading →
2014 Ford Fiesta SE
Small cars can be fun to drive if spunky and good handling Driving small cars isn’t a turnoff to me. I enjoy their economy, their simplicity their easy handling and their low cost. But frugal needn’t mean blah, and Ford’s Fiesta has learned that lesson. It offers a spunky look and feel, good handling and an... Continue Reading →
2014 Lexus IS350 AWD
Who makes the best compact sport sedan? Well, BMW has owned that segment for years, but it would be hard to argue against Lexus now making the best looking sport sedan with its new IS series. Lexus created the IS to be a BMW 3 Series (now renamed the 4 Series) fighter, but Lexus is... Continue Reading →
It’s only money, right?
It all depends on how badly you want that car I've done blog entries on the real collector cars with some of them going for millions. If I had the cash, which I don't, at least until the pull my numbers for the Mega Millions, I'd pop for one or two. Won't hold my breath... Continue Reading →
The car that nearly killed GM, the 2nd time
And has virtually no value beyond sentimental I remember when the Chevy Citation was introduced by General Motors in 1980. This X-body car was Chevy's front wheel drive car. Because of the transverse mounted engine, no transmission hump, it had tons of interior space. My experience comes from working at two TV stations where the... Continue Reading →
Promo models from the country that gave us Saunas
The U.S. isn't the only country which likes making promo models Say what? So I'm perusing the model car auction sites, as I almost always do to see what's up for auction and what cars in my collection are worth, when I come across a couple of Volvo's, yup Volvo's. Not from one of the... Continue Reading →
Chasing Classic Cars: A Camaro soon to be classic.
2014 Camaro Hot Wheels edition Every may Mark and I head up to Road America (our favorite place) to the Midwest Automotive Writer Association event. There are cars from just about every manufacturer with the cars they want us to write about. Sure there are "family" cars but sprinkled in are lots of fun cars.... Continue Reading →