Driverless Cars: Encouraging Drinking and Driving?

Posted on Nov 3, 2015 in Safety | 1 comment

Today we learn that a driverless car in China drove 175 miles on a packed expressway without GPS, depending instead on video cameras and radar sensors. Nevada recently passed legislation to legalize self-driving cars—after standards for performance, licensing, etc. are set. Some car blogs have had a lot of fun reporting that Google’s driverless Prius (above)...

More Troubles for Honda: 2.5 Million Recalls

Posted on Oct 25, 2015 in Safety | 2 comments

Even before the terrible earthquake/tsunami disaster in Japan, Honda seemed to be losing its way. I wrote a story in May of last year about that. More recently our estimable tgriffith told you about Consumer Reports’ slam of the new Civic(above)—for bad brakes and handling, a choppy ride and, yes, an inferior interior. CR rated the Civic 11th out of 12 small...

Stealing Cars Through Text Message

Posted on Sep 27, 2015 in Safety | 3 comments

I miss the good ol’ days. Like back in 1998, when the economy was booming, we had a care-free president, the Dow Jones was about to cross the 10,000 mark for the first time and crooks broke into cars with crowbars and screwdrivers. Things were good. It was in 1998 that I had a Toyota Pickup stolen from a Seattle park ‘n’ ride. The thieves broke into the truck...

How to Make Your Teenager Crazy: Track and Record His Driving

Posted on Aug 27, 2015 in Safety | 1 comment

It’s only a pilot, but 10,000 of GM’s OnStar subscribers will participate in a test program called Family Link. This tracks the exact location of a teen’s car on a map and sends parents text messages and emails concerning its movements and whether it’s speeding. Ford’s MyKey system (shown above) is worse. It limits speed to 80 mph, adjusts or mutes stereo...

So a Blonde Crashes a Bentley into a Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes and Porsche…

Posted on Jul 21, 2015 in Safety | 3 comments

Oops …And it’s not even a joke. I’m not one to laugh, too hard, at other people’s misfortunes. In fact, unless someone’s smart fortwo ends up in a river, I’m actually pretty compassionate. But I think my level of compassion for people tapers as their bank accounts rise. Do I feel bad for the unemployed family man who gets his only car stolen? Of course. Do I...

Why a Ford Focus Shouldn’t Have a Tow Hitch

Posted on Jun 16, 2015 in Safety | 1 comment

There’s a Ford Focus in my neighborhood. I realize that’s not particularly interesting, especially considering there are roughly 383,895 other neighborhoods, in my city alone, that can say the same thing. The Focus in my area, though, doesn’t run. I’m guessing it’s a 2000 model. The car is perpetually sitting in its owner’s garage on jack stands with the hood...

Have a Teen? Make ‘Em Drive One of These

Posted on May 15, 2015 in Safety | 3 comments

In case you thought it was impossible to make the Honda Fit look any weirder, check out the non-Photoshopped image above of the Honda Fit Shuttle. The front three-quarters looks like a regular Fit, but the rear looks like the regular Fit has filled its diaper. And what’s with the tri-color pointy C-pillar? The Fit Shuttle is certainly an odd duck, but as of now...

Ford’s Quality Hit: Too Much Distracting Tech

Posted on Apr 11, 2015 in Safety | 4 comments

It had to happen. Consumers, disgusted or confused by Ford’s proliferation of its Sync and MyTouch systems, complained in sufficient numbers that Ford’s quality rating, as measured by the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, fell from 5th place last year to 23rd this year. Problems with these hands-free systems have accelerated by nearly 240 percent. The Power...

Saab 9-5: Uphill Road to a New Market

Posted on Mar 9, 2015 in Safety | 2 comments

Many people seem to dislike Saabs and could care less what happens to the company. Indeed, the abrupt risings and fallings of the company’s fortunes are like a bad soap opera. We have reported on some of these, but Saab is still breathing and seems to have produced a very nice car in the2011 9-5. A more positive version of the story, with comments by Victor...

Better and Worse Ways to Fight Distracted Driving

Posted on Feb 6, 2015 in Safety | 4 comments

In a very interesting interview, NHTSA Administrator David Strickland discusses how the agency views distracted driving as an educational problem it is treating in a way similar to the seatbelt campaigns of the ‘90s. He contends the agency is not trying to regulate smart-phones, but when these devices enter the car and connect with it, “Who actually regulates...

Should’ve Seen This Coming: Digital Steering Wheel On the Way?

Posted on Jan 8, 2015 in Safety | 4 comments

Note to inventors of the world: Not everything needs to go digital. Yes, we appreciate digital music players instead of the old-school Walkmans. Digital television signals are a nice replacement for analog. Replacing in-car audio controls with touch-screen digital interfaces is less necessary, but I suppose I can be convinced. I’m feeling pretty good, though,...

Street Burnouts: What’s the Point?

Posted on Dec 8, 2014 in Safety | 5 comments

I appreciate a smokin’ hot burnout as much as the next guy, especially when one of the six muscle cars profiled yesterday is laying down the rubber. A burnout, though, has a time and a place where it’s appropriate. Any burnouts outside that time and place are no longer cool, just pathetic attempts at trying to be cool. Driving yesterday during rush hour, a...