You just don’t have the necessary eye-hand-ear co-ordination to drive and carry on a conversation at the same time, not even if you’re using Bluetooth
Hey you! Yeah, I’m talking to you … the guy who seems to be talking to himself or, worse, the one with a cellphone plastered to the side of his head. A moment of your time, if you please. I’ve been stuck in traffic behind you for a while and even if you haven’t noticed,…
It’s a little twitchy at highway speed but around town it’s nimble, easy to manoeuvre and simple to park
Take a look at what’s filling up the highways and byways these days and you’ll come to the inescapable conclusion that the day of the traditional family sedan is over. The four-door people carrier with a trunk that many of us grew up with seems to be going the way of whitewall tires, bell-bottom pants…
Electronic ignitions, new carburetors, synthetic lubricating fuels, eBay and collector car insurance all play a role
Like pets and people, cars need to be exercised regularly, especially those with a few miles on them. If those old bones and joints aren’t given a regular workout, they deteriorate. Rubber gets brittle, oil loses its viscosity, gas sheds its octane and moving parts become arthritic. Cars aren’t couch potatoes – they like it…
Mid-size SUV offers high standard equipment level, driver-friendliness and a high degree of usability
Although it sometimes seems that every other vehicle on the road is a Hyundai Santa Fe, this mid-size SUV from Korea is actually not even in the best-selling top 10. The best-selling SUVs in Canada are the likes of the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. According to the people who monitor these things,…
A few things you should know before you start shopping for your next car through the online giant
By now, eBay has become almost as much a part of the public consciousness as Google or Microsoft. Founded almost 25 years ago, it’s far and away the world’s most popular online auction house and, on any given day, millions of visitors peruse its listings. It’s estimated that at least 200 million consumers use it…
It’s civilized, practical and, as far as it goes, rugged. Score another one for Honda
When Honda introduced its Ridgeline pickup in 2006, it was well received except for one thing: it looked funny. It didn’t really resemble a traditional North American pickup, with its high rear deck sides and odd cargo layout. Some said it had more than a passing resemblance to the Chevrolet Avalanche, which wasn’t necessarily a…
It gets average grades for performance and features, but users have had a variety of problems
Kia had a landmark year in 2010. As well as dramatically increasing its sales and becoming a legitimate contender in the marketplace, it opened a manufacturing plant in the U.S. – West Point, Ga. The debuting model was the mid-size 2011 Sorento SUV. There are two engine choices: a 2.4-litre four cylinder and 3.5-litre V6,…
Driver input these days, it seems, is decreasing incrementally
It all started with cruise control. It was, arguably, the first modern automotive convenience readily available to buyers that didn’t fundamentally involve the operation of the vehicle. When it became readily available – in the 1970s, initially in the RV industry – it was something of a sensation: a feature that allowed you to drive…
Buying used: the 2010 version offers plenty of options, including some unusual features
With spring just around the corner, it’s top-down time. If you're in the market for a pre-owned model, the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster is a decent choice. After a major redesign, in 2009, Nissan lowered the price and reduced the size of its flagship roadster. Strictly a two-seater, it was now shorter and lighter, with…
The 2019 model can be plugged in overnight and then travel up to 40 km on battery power
The federal government recently announced funding in this year’s budget for incentives of up to $5,000 for Canadian buyers of zero-emissions vehicles. That’s good, but why not extend the funding to hybrid cars? Given the current technology, a hybrid car makes much more sense than a fully electric one. And if the hybrid is a…
According to Consumer Reports, there are plenty of good used cars out there from the last decade – and some models to avoid
Thinking of buying a used car that’s four years old? Well, every year, Consumer Reports publishes its “Best And Worst” automobile issue. This is arguably the most comprehensive and thorough automobile guide and takes a hard, cold look at new and used cars and SUVs. Consumer Reports accepts no advertising, so they have no axes…
This spectacular-looking automobile drives like a sports coupe and even plows through snow with ease
Ford announced a while ago that it would cease production of all its conventional passenger sedans starting in 2020. As well as being a potential game-changer for the company, this is also a huge mistake. Yes, people are buying SUVs and sport cutes in unprecedented numbers, but things change. And right now, Ford has never…
From the comfort of the ride to the quality of the mechanics to the utility of its design, this used minivan offers value
In 2010, Toyota was still grappling with its unintended acceleration/sticky floor mat/wonky gas pedal/ineffective brake pedal imbroglio. But one of the few models in the company’s stable not affected was the Sienna. If you liked minivans, the 2010 Sienna has all the necessary ingredients. It goes about its business efficiently and unobtrusively. At the time,…
The Toyota Prius C is small and basic, but it's also relatively cheap. However, it just may disappear from the market shortly
One the problems with being environmentally responsible is that, for carmakers and consumers, it doesn’t come cheap. Electric and hybrid cars, for the most part, are more expensive than their internal combustion-propelled counterparts. Mitsubishi and Nissan, for example, are both actively immersed in electric/hybrid vehicle technology. They also sell affordable, non-hybrid econoboxes priced in the…
Buying used: In virtually every area, this generation of the TSX receives top or near-the-top grades
Originally based on the European Honda Accord, the Acura TSX has always been an intriguing blend of performance and luxury. Not a hard-and-fast sport sedan along the lines of the Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series, it still holds its own under most circumstances. The 2010 version is powered by either a 3.5-litre V6 or…