How I found myself scrabbling around on a cold garage floor trying to breathe life back into a car that should have gone to the knackers years ago
A few years back, after at least 25 years of driving various Morgans, I sold my 1955 Plus-4 Special and bought a 1976 Triumph TR6. Some might counter that I jumped from the frying pan into the fire by acquiring a Triumph, but after some 10 years of ownership, I’m still a happy camper. The…
The fuel economy of today’s car is miles ahead of what it used to be but manufacturers aren't done yet
Arguably the biggest challenge facing automakers has to do with the environment: How to make their products more fuel efficient and cleaner running, while consuming fewer natural resources and leaving a smaller carbon footprint. Air conditioned seats, illuminated cup-holders, and cars that park themselves are fine and dandy, but people (and governments) want automobiles that…
In the economy market, this model has always been a cut above the rest
Car buyers have plenty to choose from in the economy market segment. Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Hyundai, etc., all have tons of models available and, by and large, they’re pretty good. But one model has always been a cut above the rest when it comes to getting maximum bang for the buck – at least, as…
Today’s automobiles are full of safety features and more improvements are added every model year
In a dramatic video that made the rounds on the Internet a few years ago, a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu is crashed into a 1959 Chev Bel Air in a front offset collision staged by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Despite the prevailing wisdom that older automobiles, with their heavier construction and greater use…
This sport sedan has above-average handling and braking, and beautiful styling, but it's otherwise unremarkable
Believe it or not, one of the major hurdles faced by car manufacturers is what to name their products. After all the research and development, focus groups, engineering studies, clinics, workshops and roundtable discussions, you have to decide what to call the thing. And it’s extremely important – get it wrong and people stay away.…
Better traction, more contact with the road and even studs – winter tires give you superior control and quicker braking
I hate to say it, but winter is just around the corner. In fact, in many places in Canada it’s already snowing, with sub-zero temperatures all over the place. Better get ready for coldness and the best place to start is where the rubber meets the road. Let’s start with the obvious: Get winter tires…
Buying a new car is all about expectations. If you expect to drive something that is faster than everyone else, you get yourself a Corvette, or Porsche. If you expect you will be carrying a bunch of stuff, you get a mini-van or pickup truck. If you are looking to save money on gas, you…
I ride a bicycle as often as I can, but that doesn’t mean I feel compelled to paint myself silver, wear funny clothes, and block traffic
No one can argue that bicycles are increasingly becoming a major part of the urban landscape. I like bikes: I own two and consider the Tour de France to be one of the greatest athletic events of all time. But did you know that riding in a pack like they do in the Tour de…
If you’re a regular reader of this space, you’ll be aware of my aversion to CVTs – continuously variable transmission. With rare exceptions, every time I’ve encountered one of these, it’s been less than satisfactory. Toyota seems to have figured things out, as has Mazda, but, by and large, the belt-driven CVT is an inferior…
Curbside pickup day in my community is a combination of Mardi Gras and Canadian Pickers
One of the biggest criticisms about the automobile is that it can isolate people. We drive around in our own cocoon and the rest of the world is reduced to a series of images floating by the window. This, say those who study these things, tends to make people feel disassociated from one another and…
This all-electric car offers range, jump, comfort and practicality – but it’s not cheap
The first thing that occurred to me when I picked up the all-electric 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric were the two words: range anxiety. It’s the paranoia of driving more than a block or two for fear of running out of battery power and being stranded. Part of the reason for this is that most electric…
From pickup trucks to minivans, what vehicle to rent, beg, borrow or even buy when you're moving - depending on the size of your home
On the fun scale, moving is right up there with looking for a job, root canal and shovelling snow off the driveway. And it’s made even worse if you don’t have the right vehicle (not to mention friends who have suddenly all left town). Borrowing your buddy’s hatchback and cramming it full of your stuff…
Toyota has mastered the art of building appealing, mainstream automobiles and the 2019 RAV4 carries on that tradition
First, let’s talk about the paint job on my test RAV4. Toyota is calling it Blue Flame With Ice Edge. I call it taxi cab meets corporate fleet vehicle and it’s, well, distinctive. Taste is personal, of course, but of the infinite number of paint choices the company could have picked, why this particular eyesore?…
What you need to know about zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, or ZDDP, in engine oil and why it matters – or doesn't, depending on your car
Oil. When it comes time for a change, most of us just wheel into the nearest lube joint or dealership and get it done by someone else. The do-it-yourselfer who breaks out the tool kit, jacks up the front end, rolls up their sleeves and changes their own oil is becoming something of an endangered…
In virtually all respects, this is an extremely well-equipped and dependable automobile – as it is year after year
What makes a car good? Why do some models succeed beyond their manufacturers’ wildest expectations while others are stillborn? Price point? Absolutely – people want to get their money’s worth and a well-priced automobile with good value for the buck has already got a leg up on the competition. What about styling? Not so much.…