Distracted Driving: The New Normal?

Posted on Sep 16, 2022 in Safety | 1 comment

How many times per day do you see people texting behind the wheel? I’d venture to guess that every time you’re stopped at a light or stopped on the highway in heavy traffic, you’ll be able take a look at your fellow drivers and see at least one with his or her face buried in a phone. It’s dangerous, and it shouldn’t happen, but we, as modern-day Americans, have...

Questions and Answers About Winter Tires

Posted on Sep 14, 2022 in Safety | 2 comments

Winter weather has already started its sloppy march across the northern parts of the United States. But that doesn’t mean it’s too late for some winter tire advice. Why do you need winter tires? The fast answer is handling. Well-designed winter tires have deeper treads than summer or all-season tires. (The latter, by the way, are really three-season tires if...

What Does the Wrangler Pickup Mean for FCA?

Posted on Sep 9, 2022 in Editorials | 1 comment

Two months ago at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Jeep CEO Mike Manley confirmed that the next generation Wrangler will spawn a pickup. No other official announcements related to the exciting new product have been released. But as TTAC reported in October (The Untapped Potential of Wrangler), the move was entirely predictable. And it was...

Calamity Jane – a heavy-duty heroine for the nuclear age

Posted on Aug 26, 2022 in Featured | 2 comments

For those of us raised in the United States from the 1950s into the 1990s, the ever-present threat of nuclear war was acknowledged, but not necessarily dwelled upon. Fallout shelter signs were a common sight in cities and towns alike, and most municipalities had their own Civil Defense department, marked with the instantly recognizable blue circle, white...

What Car Could You Drive for 24 Hours?

Posted on Aug 21, 2022 in Racing | 1 comment

From June 19–22, over 150 cars and hundreds of drivers will race the ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race on the Nordschleife (north loop) of the Nürburgring in central Germany. The Nürburgring, with a lap length of over 20 km, allows a driver to race in 150-minute intervals before being required to take a 2-hour break. A driver’s teammate then takes...

Grace, Beauty, Soul…Toyota?

Posted on Aug 16, 2022 in Antique | Comments Off on Grace, Beauty, Soul…Toyota?

I have always hated Toyotas. When I see them on the road, there is an instant feeling of disgust that wells up inside of me, which is inevitably combined with feelings of pity and anger at the people behind the wheel. Toyotas are sad, boring, and bland as Cream of Wheat. But, there was a time, albeit short lived, when a Toyota had grace, beauty, and soul....

The Great Controversy: Oil-Change Intervals

Posted on Aug 13, 2022 in Safety | 1 comment

I’m writing this from a waiting room inside the service department of an auto dealership. I can’t say I like it here. All the chairs are placed in a semi-circle and face a wall-mounted television, which is currently tuned to a show starring three angry judges who like to yell at people. The volume is too high. I don’t even have a television at home, so this is...

Before You Buy Your Teen a Safe Car, Invest in Safe Driving Skills

Posted on Aug 11, 2022 in Safety | Comments Off on Before You Buy Your Teen a Safe Car, Invest in Safe Driving Skills

We’re in the midst of National Teen Driver Safety Week, which runs through Oct. 24. That gives us a great reason to point out the variety of opportunities available for your teens to get into an advanced driver-safety program thanks to companies like Kia, Ford, and BMW. John F. Paul, a AAA spokesman in New England, says these programs can be invaluable for...

Are Dash Cams a Necessity or Problematic Accessory?

Posted on Aug 4, 2022 in Technology | 1 comment

Dash cams are still somewhat rare in the United States despite their wild popularity in other nations. They are almost ubiquitous in Russia and parts of Asia, where the unblinking electronic eyes help to deter scams and police corruption, as well as capturing the occasional meteor explosion or plane crash. Thankfully, we live in a country where the police and...

Do Your Tires Last as Long as You Think They Should?

Posted on Jul 29, 2022 in Safety | Comments Off on Do Your Tires Last as Long as You Think They Should?

Who knew tires could be so controversial? Back in 2009 we posted a blog about the need to replace new tires after just 20,000 miles. At the time I had a new vehicle that required new tires after just 22,000 miles, which turned out to be pretty common as evidenced by the people who left comments on the post. In the years since, I’ve purchased other cars and...

Reflections on Driving in Japan

Posted on Jul 21, 2022 in Editorials | 2 comments

A few weeks ago, one of Best and Brightest asked for my thoughts on driving in Japan. It’s not the first time the topic has come up. There were several comments in response to the series that documented the importation of my Town & Country, but I’ve been content to avoid the subject up ’til now. I’d like to say I’ve abstained explaining driving in Japan...

Disappointment is the gap that exists between expectation and reality

Posted on Jul 20, 2022 in Antique | Comments Off on Disappointment is the gap that exists between expectation and reality

Expectations are very important in the automotive world. They align with reputation and are used to create a persona for a brand. This persona creates desire and respect which in turn sells cars. For example, even before Rolls-Royce introduced the new Wraith, the expectation was that it would be a very expensive and finely crafted automobile of exceptional...

SCCA creates autocross classes for pre-1975 sports cars

Posted on Jul 18, 2022 in Featured | 2 comments

The Sports Car Club of America has announced the creation of two classes for pre-1975 sports cars in its popular Solo autocross program, giving owners of classic cars a way to participate against cars of similar technology. The rules for the new classes, Heritage Classic Street and Heritage Classic Race, can be found on the SCCA’s website. Howard Duncan, the...