Q: I have two vehicles in Arizona that I had to leave there on March 18. I have not been able to get them due to the virus. When I am able to get them, what type of maintenance should I have done to them? They have been garaged with trickle chargers. Should I have the oil changed and all flu… Read More ⇒
It’s not unusual for luxury brands to experience an image slump. Sometimes they recover, like Gucci has, while others, such as Bill Blass, Halston and Anne Klein, never do. Read More ⇒
DETROIT — The Toyota Supra is back after two decades away, and Americans are thankful. Read More ⇒
Q: I have always been told that tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. Now I just saw an article that said to rotate them “only if needed.” Is that correct? Is it OK to not rotate them if they appear to be wearing evenly? Read More ⇒
Q: A friend of mine just bought a 2002 Corvette. Nice car but he neglected to check out the lug nuts. The wheels have a locking lug nut on each one. There is no master unlock and previous owner is not answering his calls. Any idea on how to go about getting them off without wrecking things? Read More ⇒
DETROIT — There are two kinds of auto enthusiasts: those who get their thrills on-road, and those who get them off-road. Read More ⇒
Buick possesses some truly fantastic model names that it no longer uses, including Electra, Invicta, Centurion and Apollo. These days, the brand’s crossover sport utility vehicles all start with the letter “E,” with its most popular model being the diminutive Encore, a subcompact crossover S… Read More ⇒
Q: I’ve been thinking about trading in my 2008 Silverado for a new truck. Just the other day my check engine light came on. I used the OBD scanner I bought to see what the code was. It said cylinder 1 misfire. This is creeping me out, as it sounds serious. The truck only has 80,000 miles on … Read More ⇒
There is something about looking back that seems perfect right now, given the realities of the present time. And there’s no better wayback machine than the 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack Widebody. Read More ⇒
If you haven’t figured out how to learn from your mistakes by the time you’re 94 years old, you’re probably doing something wrong. After missing the mark with its first subcompact SUV, Mercedes-Benz — founded in 1926, if you just got on the metaphor bus — learned its lesson and got just abou… Read More ⇒
A new version of Nissan’s best-selling Rogue compact SUV goes on sale this fall with advanced new driver assistance features including adaptive cruise control that can slow the vehicle in anticipation of oncoming curves and exit ramps. Read More ⇒
By now everyone has noticed how cheap gasoline has become, but it would be foolish to assume the low prices will last. Read More ⇒
Q: I recently took my 2014 Kia Soul in for its 7,500-mile service. I have a little over 31,000 miles on it; we are seniors and don’t do a lot of driving. Our service adviser told us all was well except for the battery. It is three years old, and the climate here in Las Vegas doesn’t favor th… Read More ⇒
Q: I understand that the composition of gasoline marketed in the Chicago area is adjusted seasonally (“summer blend” and “winter blend”) due to EPA requirements. Given that many people are driving less during the shelter-in-place, what would be the effect on drivability if you filled your ta… Read More ⇒
As troublesome as our current times may be, it has made us realize how much we have taken for granted, such as a leisurely drive. Read More ⇒
Detroit Free Press (TNS) The 2020 Volkswagen Passat is one of the year’s best new cars, though it’s not really new. New exterior styling, added features and lower prices transform the Passat into a first-rate competitor for leading family sedans like the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyo… Read More ⇒
Hyundai should score a choice slice of the shrinking pie for midsize hybrid sedans with the stylish and well-equipped 2020 Sonata hybrid. The new hybrid offers a miserly version that the EPA rates at 52 mpg in combined city and highway driving and a loaded top model rated at 47 mpg combined. Read More ⇒
Q: Do you recommend the installation of an after-market blind-spot sensor? It would go on a 2012 Camry. If so, what are recommended brands and who installs them? Read More ⇒
Ford Motor Co. will unveil the new Ford Bronco SUV this summer. Read More ⇒
Volkswagen will narrowly meet an end-of-summer deadline to start deliveries of its flagship ID.3 electric car, but early buyers will have to wait months for all the features to work. Read More ⇒
DETROIT — The 2020 Honda Civic Type R has 306 horsepower, four doors, a hatchback, red seats, insane handling, the latest electronics and a rear wing the size of the Sopwith Camel. Sounds like heaven to me. Read More ⇒
Q: I have a 2016 Tahoe and recommended tire pressure is 35 psi. When I start out, it reads 35 but after 20-30 minutes of high-speed driving, all tires are up to 38. Should I reduce pressure to 32 so it will be 35 at speed? Read More ⇒
Every fall, after that one last drive, my old Corvette goes into the garage for its long winter nap. I rarely intend for it to be the last drive, but the weather changes, battery dies, and it’s in for the count. A similar phenomenon happened during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Cars were par… Read More ⇒
Q: I have a hybrid Ford Fusion. Most of the miles driven are on the battery, and I use very little gasoline. Sometimes the gas is in the tank for almost six months until the tank is refilled. Is there anything I should add to the tank to keep the gasoline “fresh?” Read More ⇒
DETROIT — Two months into the COVID-19 shutdown, Michigan motorheads were taking to their sports cars for some therapeutic social-distancing. Metro Detroit’s Woodward Avenue, suburban twisties and country roads were suddenly full of spring songbirds: the sharp call of the Porsche flat-six, t… Read More ⇒
It’s always the good-looking ones who disappoint. Read More ⇒
Q: Where is the outdoor temperature sensor on a car generally located? I ask because it appears that the temperature indicated on the dashboard does not always align with the ambient temperature. If the sensor is located under the hood, would the heat reflected from the hood elevate the true… Read More ⇒
HARTFORD, Conn. — Car batteries are fading and ruinous rodents are colonizing engine compartments as the coronavirus keeps many cars parked at home. Read More ⇒
2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited AWD: A new entrant in the three-row race. Read More ⇒
COVID-19 times are lean times. Toilet paper is priceless. Attorneys general are on the lookout for price-gouging. Read More ⇒
Q: I just bought a nice used car for my 16-year-old daughter to drive. Among all the care and usage recommendations I have given her, the one thing she’s most perplexed about are the gauges. Can you please explain them and their importance? Also, any other tips for a new driver to keep her s… Read More ⇒
Q: I want to ask a follow-up question regarding a recent column. I always use regular gas, except when I’m driving out West in high altitudes. If I’m driving through the mountains, I use premium for better performance. Am I just burning money? Is there a certain altitude at which it makes se… Read More ⇒
Coming soon: The neighbor with endless stories about why their “desert-rated” truck is the cat’s pajamas not just for the legendary Baja 1000 race but for daily drives on Woodward Avenue, the Long Island Expressway and Lakeshore Drive. Read More ⇒
Selling a new car, truck, or SUV is challenging at any time, but it’s especially difficult now, thanks to COVID-19. New car customers are more scarce than respirators, face masks and toilet paper. Read More ⇒
If you’re considering a new or used car purchase, now may be the time to get a killer deal as the auto industry creeps out of the coronavirus shutdown and ramps up in the next month or so, industry experts say. Read More ⇒
2020 Subaru Legacy XT: The stealth Subaru. Read More ⇒
Q: Would you please repeat the information about doing the penny test on your tires to determine if they have enough tread depth? My wife and I take walks and sometimes I look at the tires of parked cars and I am saddened by the number that have minimal, if any, tread on them. Read More ⇒
MASSENA — Organizers of a car and cycle show fundraiser that began in 2016 are looking for individuals who want to participate in a parade of vehicles this year. Read More ⇒
I have been contemplating how I am managing social distancing in the age of COVID-19 and have concluded that I am handling this all wrong. Instead of being cooped up in my home near the beach I’m not allowed on, the restaurant that no longer allows me into their dining room and the store tha… Read More ⇒
Q: Based on my last inspection, I am due for new brake pads for my 2011 Cadillac SRX. Searching brake shops, I find a wide range of prices starting at $99 per axle from a national chain to $199 from a Cadillac dealer. What should I be asking for? Read More ⇒
DETROIT — I miss the Ford Fiesta. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have one. Read More ⇒
The Toyota Sequoia is aptly named. It’s yuge. Read More ⇒
Q: I went to the Toyota dealer for an 85,000-mile service of my 2013 Sienna, which is just tire rotation. They showed me the cabin and engine filters were needed, and they did a fuel induction and throttle body service. Read More ⇒
Toyota Tacoma, America’s best-selling midsize pickup for more than a decade, has new tech, style, comfort and convenience features for 2020, making it more compelling and more competitive. Read More ⇒
Allstate announced Monday that it will return $600 million in auto insurance premiums to customers because fewer motorists are on the road as a result of the new coronavirus. Read More ⇒
Q: I have a 2016 Chevy Impala with 22,500 miles. I had a flat tire last October and stopped on the side of the road to change it. I found at least 4 inches of water in the spare tire well. No indications of water on the carpet. I found out that GM had a program bulletin on the 2014 Impala fo… Read More ⇒
It’d be easy to overlook the 2020 Cadillac CT5-V. Easy, but a mistake. The new sport sedan is one of 2020’s most pleasant surprises, graced with comfort, handling, advanced features and attractive prices. Read More ⇒
Q: I find it strange that I can get out of my car and lock it while it still is running. This is a safety factor. I have stated this to GM, but have heard nothing. My car is a Buick Encore. What do you think? Read More ⇒
No matter how rich you are, there are certain things you will always hate spending money on, like ATM fees, cable TV and airline baggage fees. Then there are the things that are so wonderful that you can’t help yourself; you have to have it. Like the 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo. Read More ⇒
TUCSON — The Honda CR-V is all grown up. The unassuming little model that confused many buyers when it debuted in 1997 with less off-road or towing capacity than other SUVs is now effectively Honda’s flagship. The CR-V outsold the Accord midsize sedan by 116,601 last year, and a loaded hybri… Read More ⇒
