Every weekday, our guide to the Web takes care of business, tackling tech topics that really matter to everybody. From topic definitions to topical rants, Dan Gray’s pieces inform as much as they entertain.
While America’s love for the full-size pickup truck spans decades, there’s always been room for improvement when it came to the ride. Without weight in the bed to compress the traditional leaf springs, pickups can exhibit a choppy ride character. With the new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, the days of compromising ride for the ability [...]
Need to tackle the toughest 4×4 trails with a full crew and gear? Crave open air off-roading? There’s just one four-wheeler that fills the bill. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the only game in town when it comes to topless four-door fun. The stretched version of the iconic Jeep delivers a bounty of interior room, [...]
Some folks don’t want to call the Hyundai Elantra Touring a station wagon … after all, the term station wagon has a stigma. Or had. Once upon a time, station wagons were cool. At some point, a marketeer decided that station wagons were no longer cool. This likely coincided with the development and introduction of [...]
Spending time in a 2010 Ford Mustang V6 is a bit like going back to the future. Slipping behind the wheel brings back memories of every Mustang you’ve ever ridden in before. For me, those memories are quite vivid. While I’ve never owned a Mustang, I flashed back on three mid-sixties ‘Stangs that were key [...]
After spending a week reviewing a 2010 Toyota Prius, I’m still shaking my head. The gasoline engine in the 2010 model is larger than the previous year’s model (1.8 liters vs 1.5 liters), yet it’s more fuel efficient. One might think that a larger displacement would lead to more fuel consumption, rather than less … [...]
After spending a week test-driving the 2010 Honda Insight, I’ve come to a conclusion. If saving money is as (or more) important than saving gasoline, the Honda Insight shines when it comes to overall cost of ownership. While there’s no question that the Toyota Prius gets better mileage, the impact of a five mile per [...]
I get to spend my time in a wide range of vehicles, but I’ve never been in one quite like the Nissan Cube. Make no mistake about it, the Cube produces polarizing feedback. With the Cube still new to American streets, the range of emotions exhibited by passers-by runs the gamut, from one extreme to [...]
If you want to cruise through life unnoticed, don’t drive the new Camaro.
I knew something was up, just minutes after pulling onto the highway after picking up a 2010 Camaro V6 for testing. The first evidence was a guy in the next lane frantically waving and giving me the thumbs up. I wasn’t sure what [...]
The 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe marks a beginning and an end. With a limited production run (reports vary from 1100 to 2000), this hardtop version of GM’s two-seat convertible sports car has been granted instant collectible status. Graced with what just might be the most gorgeous roof line and rear end to ever appear [...]
You’ve seen them scooting around town, but you’ve never quite gotten it. Perhaps you’ve asked yourself, “why would someone want to drive such a tiny little car?”
Until I drove my first MINI a year ago, I never fully understood.
Sure, I’d heard that they’re wickedly fun to drive, that they handle like go-karts, and are quite [...]
Over the course of the last year, I’ve had the opportunity to spend a total of three weeks with two Toyota Yaris and one Prius. After spending seven days with a 2009 Yaris five-door last month, I’ve come to the conclusion that when it comes down to pure dollars and cents, Y > P.
I’ve been [...]
Confession time: until earlier this spring, I’d never driven a Cadillac. I had a picture in my mind of how a Cadillac would handle, how I’d feel behind the wheel, and how much gas it would use. After spending a week with a 2009 Cadillac CTS earlier this spring, I have quite a different opinion.
The [...]
I recently had the opportunity to spend a week with four-door versions of the Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra. Both trucks were well optioned 4×4s representing the top-end of the current state of the mid-size and full-size pickup market. In testing the trucks, I couldn’t help but think … there should be a third choice.
Make [...]
When you need to transport half a dozen people over hundred miles of highway, you’re faced with a question that might seem like it’s straight out of a junior high school math class. Is it more cost-effective to pack all six folks into a minivan or should you split the load between two smaller and [...]
Looking to increase your gas mileage?
If your car has an instant fuel economy gauge, turn it on and leave it on. Conscientious use of an instant fuel economy display will increase your mileage and can save a significant amount of money over the long term.
If your car does not have a built-in instant fuel economy [...]
EcoDriving promises “simple solutions to increase mileage and reduce your carbon footprint.” While most folks would like to cut down on the amount of gasoline they’re using (regardless of the current price), if you ask about their carbon footprint, they’re likely to look at you funny.
But the benefits of EcoDriving don’t stop at meeting personal [...]
Have you ever been in the right place at the wrong time? I began producing car reviews roughly one year ago, on a wing and a prayer. While I could have never predicted the events of the past twelve months, I’ve kept my resolve and held true to my goals. When I started out, I [...]
When it comes to new cars these days, there’s plenty of supply, but little demand. Congress aims to change that with a provision that was added to the economic stimulus bill that’s just passed the Senate. No question about it … Congress wants you to buy a car this year.
The provision will allow you to [...]
When folks think of electric cars, the thoughts are often flights of fancy. We see a George Jetson future, rather than one very much like what we have today. At the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the future was clearly electric … and the concept cars weren’t pie-in-the-sky. I had the opportunity to learn about the [...]
If you’ve never attended a big car show, you’ve probably never experienced the joy and wonder of seeing a concept car for the first time with your own eyes. A blurry little JPEG on a website doesn’t do justice to the designers’ work. There’s nothing quite like watching a one-of-a-kind marvel of modern design rotating [...]
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