To Love A Sienna Like No Other?

Posted on Jul 21, 2021 in Editorials | 1 comment

MatadorX writes: Sajeev, I am hoping you and your readership can give me some guidance as to how far to take a vehicle overhaul: mild insanity or full on broke? The vehicle in question is a 1998 Toyota Sienna XLE. It has been in the family since grandpa (who else) bought it brand new, finally abandoning Chrysler vans after three successive transmission...

Which Beater Should She Bet On?

Posted on Jun 25, 2021 in Editorials | 1 comment

Kobe writes: Hi Bark, I’ve only begun to read TTAC and your email responses are a great read, so I figured I’d give sending you a question a shot. Two of my wife’s friends are looking for reliable, used cars. The parameters I’ve been given were $4,000 or less (as she will need to save a little for maintenance repairs I figure), a hatchback (preferably...

Exploding Airbags: Who Has the Right Fix?

Posted on Jun 24, 2021 in Safety | Comments Off on Exploding Airbags: Who Has the Right Fix?

Ten automakers have recalled a total of 8 million cars because the airbags in them can explode. While it’s true that airbags are, by design, supposed to explode out of the car in case of an accident, these airbags explode with so much force that they actually send shrapnel into the air. An airbag with shrapnel is worse than no airbag at all. Right? All the...

How to Create the Ultimate Tailgating Experience

Posted on Jun 21, 2021 in Technology | 1 comment

We don’t know how it is where you work, but around here, there are days at the office where you’d think we were employed by a sports network. With Labor Day behind us, and football cranking up for another season, the local sports action (both professional and collegiate) becomes the topic of most conversations. OK, we do some work also, but that’s just so we...

Die Another Day – Jensen Interceptor

Posted on Jun 16, 2021 in Antique | 2 comments

Grand touring cars are the luxury equivalent of the supercar. Cars like the magnificent Ferrari 365 Daytona are a perfect example of the GT class. They are performance automobiles with 2+2 seating, remarkable handling, supercar speed, opulent interiors, and a colossal price tag. They are driven by the rich, the famous, and the well manicured titans of industry...

the Lotus Exige S Roadster

Posted on Jun 15, 2021 in Racing | 2 comments

A few folks have been modifying present Lotus Exige S cars, converting them into soft-tops (see comment by wallabyguy here), but now the factory does it for you. And it has made other alterations to make this a most desirable sports car. This is part of Lotus’s comeback story. The firm has had lots of ups and downs but has always kept to the “less is more”...

How many vintage cars are enough?

Posted on Jun 11, 2021 in Featured | 2 comments

Sure, I want all of them… but would that be sensible? When I was a teenager, I thought there was no such thing as owning too many vintage cars. They looked great, were easy to work on and were considerably cheaper and usually quicker than a new car. Over the next 30 years, however, I came to grips with the realities of such a desire. Since owning multiple...

Cars on Autopilot: Self-Driving or Drive Yourself?

Posted on May 27, 2021 in Safety | Comments Off on Cars on Autopilot: Self-Driving or Drive Yourself?

The first autopilot system in an airplane was developed in 1912, just as car technology was in its infancy. In the 102 years since, airplane technology has evolved so aircraft can virtually fly from point A to point B by themselves. The human pilots are there to monitor progress, handle takeoffs and landings, and be prepared for emergencies. We all accept the...

The Fragile Second Act Of The Prius C

Posted on May 18, 2021 in Editorials | 1 comment

There must be something about being the world’s most powerful automaker that makes you just, you know, wanna spread some branding around like your showroom is a big slice of bread and your best-loved nameplates are just sweet, sweet chrome jelly. How else can you explain Toyota’s attempt to expand the “Prius” into a three-car lineup, in the same way that...

Cars Found on eBay

Posted on May 16, 2021 in Antique | Comments Off on Cars Found on eBay

eBay and Craigslist are the best places to look at cars you have no intention of buying. This is a good thing, because many of the cars are hiding more problems than you could ever afford to fix, and some even have stolen VIN tags. Occasionally, there are some interesting finds, and today we are focusing on four cars representing the life of the de Tomaso...

Detroit didn’t kill the Tucker 48

Posted on May 11, 2021 in Featured | 2 comments

Earliest proposal by ex-GM designer George Lawson was called the Tin Goose, had pivoting, skirted front fenders. Tin Goose sketches appeared in early ads (below), but later ads showed Alex Tremulis’s updated Tucker drawing. Forget the movie. Forget the legend. Detroit did not put Preston Tucker out of business. What killed Tucker in 1948 was a simple lack of...

Polaroid PD-G55H Dash Camera Review

Posted on May 10, 2021 in Technology | 1 comment

Polaroid PD-G55H Over the past few weeks, I have been driving around my town with a dash camera and I have to admit, it takes some time getting used to. Depending on where you live, driving can either be the best or the worst time of your daily routine. As an automotive journalist, my job is to judge how fun and functional a particular vehicle is and report it....

Cooler Driving Tips From Ford

Posted on Apr 19, 2021 in Technology | 1 comment

Hot town, summer in the city, back of my neck getting dirty and gritty,” The Lovin’ Spoonful so famously sang. And if you have a car with black, leather interior, you well know that blazing heat feel the moment you sit down. Just the other day, I went to the grocery store. I can be a bit chatty in public. I also never go to the grocery store with a list – I...