James Raia is a journalist who for more than 30 years has contributed to numerous publications on a variety of subjects — golf to cycling, travel to business. He's also publisher of the websites: <a href="http://www.ByJamesRaia.com">ByJamesRaia.com</a> <a href="http://www.GolfTribune.com">GolfTribune.com</a> <a href="http://www.MontereyPeninsula.org">MontereyPeninsula.org</a> <a href="http://www.TheWeeklyDriver.com">TheWeeklyDriver.com</a>
The biggest automotive news of 2008 remains the ongoing crisis among the “Big Three” manufacturers — General Motors, Chrysler and Ford. But beyond all the serious stuff, there was a lot of fun and intrigue for automotive enthusiasts in 2008. This year marked the sixth full year of The Weekly Driver reviews.
It’s easy to dismiss entry level sub-compacts. They’re unlikely any buyers’ dream cars. And, really, what can a consumer expect for about half of the $30,000 average price of new car in the United States? The answer, as Honda (Fit), Nissan (Versa), Smart (ForTwo) and Scion (XD) have all proven, is a lot. There’s much to offer in the sub-compact segment. And Suzuki should be included in fraternity of the surprisingly strong entry level sub-compacts with the 2009 SX4.
Far too few new American cars average more than 30 mpg. But the 2008 Nissan Altima hybrid is in the small fraternity and that means it warrants extended consideration. A midsize sedan with strong competition among hybrid and non-hybrid family vehicles, the Altima hybrid offers surprising versatility and holds its own in many areas against non-hybrid leaders Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Toyota is hoping the 2009 Venza, is “the right vehicle at the right time.” That’s the message from the manufacturer as it unveils its new offering positioned between two of its long-time mainstays, Highlander and Camry. The Venza, named via the combination of the words Monza (the famous raceway in Italy) and Adventure, is also being promoted as “70 percent car and 30 percent” sport utility vehicle.
Since its debut in 2004, the Kia Amanti has been one of the most unheralded cars on the road. And it’s difficult to understand why more premium midsize sedan buyers haven’t considered the Korean manufacturer’s top-of-the-line offering. I hadn’t driven the Amanti since its debut model. It’s been redesigned once, but for 2008 the Kia remains largely unchanged from a year ago. It still features exterior characteristics reminiscent of Audi, Lincoln and Mercedes, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
The official route of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, the expanded fourth edition of the largest professional stage race in the United States was announced Thursday race organizers, a few hours prior to various media briefings throughout the state. As previously announced, the nine-day, estimated 750-mile course will progress from Sacramento to Escondido, Feb. 14-22 and will be one day and about 100 miles longer than the 2008 edition.
Like
its popular brethren, the CR-V, Odyssey and Element, the Pilot
completes Honda's best-buy SUV and van line. And like any of those
offerings or anything else in Honda's arsenal, it's hard to find
serious fault with the Pilot. I
last reviewed a Pilot in 2005, less than two years after it debuted as
the replacement for the Passport. My weekly test drive this time around
was the top of the line EX L 5-door Touring model. Redesigned after a
six-year tenure of the previous offering, the 2009 Pilot is one inch
wider and three inches longer in overall length and wheelbase.
Six years after it was introduced, the Acura TSX remains an unheralded sedan that teeters the fine line between premium compact car and premium sports/performance vehicle. I drove the 2004 model and thought highly of it as a near-luxury car with superior handling. I recently drove the 2009 model for a week and felt the same way. It’s a sedan designated by the odd term “four-door coupe.”
Two
things seemed odd about driving the 2009 Suzuki Equator. It’s
the first time I’ve reviewed a new vehicle not yet available
to the public. More relevant, with all the outdoors-type products
Suzuki manufactures — motorcycles, dirt bikes, all-terrain
vehicles and marine equipment — it’s never made a
pick-up. It
has one now, the 2009 Equator, scheduled for dealer delivery in
December.
Now
in its third year in the United States and ninth worldwide, the Honda
Fit keeps getting better. For 2009, the Fit has undergone its first
interior and exterior redesign. It’s all good.
There’s a new four-way backseat configuration, 10 cupholders
(really?), vision-improving triangular front side windows,
increases in length and width and a nifty van-like windshield position.
The news that Lance Armstrong and his girlfriend Anna Hansen are expecting a child next June has quickly spread across the Internet with a strong underlying theme: The seven-time Tour de France titlis...
By the time Lance Armstrong's rumored return to cycling was confirmed Wednesday, public relations, marketing and journalistic outlets around the globe were well into the story. Armstrong (...
The news surrounding the return of Lance Amstrong seems to change about once an hour. Now comes work, via the Australian Web site, CyclingNews.com, that Armstrong's return will include an appearance o...
Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner, turns age 37 today. And that means it’s almost exactly 10 months until Armstrong will win his eighth Tour de France.Since Armstrong announc...
There’s plenty to criticize in pro cycling, its doping issues to organizational woes.But organizers of the Tour of Missouri did something nice last Sunday afternoon. They called Michael Sayers t...
Sugar Ray Leonard did it, so did Michael Jordan and Brett Favre. Now, it’s Lance Armstrong’s turn to not be able to stay away. Rumor has Lance Armstrong returning from what would be a near...
It’s easy to make fun of the Tour de France. Riders know the rules and yet they’re still dumb enough the use illegal drugs, get immediate gratification and then get caught.And with the fou...
I wish I’d come across this earlier in the Tour de France. But there are still three days left in the race’s 95th edition, so as the saying “better late than never.”You Tube ha...
Cycling News reports on more competitive cycling than any other web site. If you want regional, national or international results the Australian site will likely have them.And if you want nuances, the...
There’s nothing like seeing the Tour de France in person. I’ve been 10 times and I’m in the second year of what I hope will only be a two-year hiatus from attending the event.Despite...
Blogs by this Author
The biggest automotive news of 2008 remains the ongoing crisis among the “Big Three” manufacturers — General Motors, Chrysler and Ford. But beyond all the serious stuff, there was a lot of fun and intrigue for automotive enthusiasts in 2008. This year marked the sixth full year of The Weekly Driver reviews.
It’s easy to dismiss entry level sub-compacts. They’re unlikely any buyers’ dream cars. And, really, what can a consumer expect for about half of the $30,000 average price of new car in the United States? The answer, as Honda (Fit), Nissan (Versa), Smart (ForTwo) and Scion (XD) have all proven, is a lot. There’s much to offer in the sub-compact segment. And Suzuki should be included in fraternity of the surprisingly strong entry level sub-compacts with the 2009 SX4.
Far too few new American cars average more than 30 mpg. But the 2008 Nissan Altima hybrid is in the small fraternity and that means it warrants extended consideration. A midsize sedan with strong competition among hybrid and non-hybrid family vehicles, the Altima hybrid offers surprising versatility and holds its own in many areas against non-hybrid leaders Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
Toyota is hoping the 2009 Venza, is “the right vehicle at the right time.” That’s the message from the manufacturer as it unveils its new offering positioned between two of its long-time mainstays, Highlander and Camry. The Venza, named via the combination of the words Monza (the famous raceway in Italy) and Adventure, is also being promoted as “70 percent car and 30 percent” sport utility vehicle.
Since its debut in 2004, the Kia Amanti has been one of the most unheralded cars on the road. And it’s difficult to understand why more premium midsize sedan buyers haven’t considered the Korean manufacturer’s top-of-the-line offering. I hadn’t driven the Amanti since its debut model. It’s been redesigned once, but for 2008 the Kia remains largely unchanged from a year ago. It still features exterior characteristics reminiscent of Audi, Lincoln and Mercedes, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Six years after it was introduced, the Acura TSX remains an unheralded sedan that teeters the fine line between premium compact car and premium sports/performance vehicle. I drove the 2004 model and thought highly of it as a near-luxury car with superior handling. I recently drove the 2009 model for a week and felt the same way. It’s a sedan designated by the odd term “four-door coupe.” 
Two
things seemed odd about driving the 2009 Suzuki Equator. It’s
the first time I’ve reviewed a new vehicle not yet available
to the public. More relevant, with all the outdoors-type products
Suzuki manufactures — motorcycles, dirt bikes, all-terrain
vehicles and marine equipment — it’s never made a
pick-up. It
has one now, the 2009 Equator, scheduled for dealer delivery in
December.