Car Talk

Mother wants to throw up hands over vomiting incident, but changing out the door could do the trick

Q. A passenger in my son’s Toyota Tacoma truck did not get his head all the way out of the window prior to vomiting. The exterior and the interior of the truck have been detailed, but the smell lingers. When the window is rolled up, it comes up with a smear — leading us to believe vomit got inside the door frame. How can this be cleaned? Read More

A Few Minutes With ... Wayne Yancey

Used car chief at Lexus of Charleston has built up strong resume over 28 years

Not one to mince words, Wayne Yancey gave this honest appraisal of the pre-owned vehicle market in 2009. “The used car business has been up and down,” Lexus of Charleston’s pre-owned manager said this week. “But we have been fortunate not to go backwards.” Lexus of Charleston is expanding its used car footprint, breaking ground on a certified pre-owned center just across Melrose Drive from the existing operation. The facility, which will stock used Lexus models, should be finished by November. Read More

Car Show Calendar

“Lowcountry Muscle Car,” a new local club, will be hosting a car cruise beginning at 3:30 p.m. All American muscle cars are welcome. Read More

Computers can’t do it all; drivers must be responsible, too

QUESTION: Have you ever had a problem with your computer? Most of us have encountered computer difficulties from time to time. This question was intended to position you for the subject of today’s column, the performance of computers and other electronics in modern automobiles and trucks. Today’s vehicles are amazing — highly complex mechanical machines with numerous electronic devices which perform remarkably well considering roads and highways, weather, humidity and various drivers exhibiting different skills. Read More

Mitsubishi Mover

Hoover dealership gets back to selling new cars west of the Ashley with opening of Mitsubishi outlet

Not so long ago, Mitsubishi Motors looked primed to join the Japanese Big 3 automakers as a heavyweight player in the U.S. market. General Motors owned a share of the company. Mitsubishi churned out sedans, sports cars, crossovers — even a pickup truck — that boasted steady production figures. Then in the mid-2000s, sales tumbled nationwide. Read More

Classics grouped at West Ashley eatery for “launch” of outdoor car show season

An olive-colored 1946 Plymouth graced the epicenter of the monthly car show aside Bessinger’s Bar-B-Q, held on a bitterly cold night March 3. Johns Island car buffs Judi Meyer and husband Tony Meyer own the classic. As with many enthusiasts, the reason they acquired that particular model goes back to their formative years. “In 1948, my Dad bought a two-seater. I drove it all the way through high school,” Judi Meyer said. “Daddy paid not quite $2,000 for it in 1948. My Mom has the original bill of sale,” she said. “It took me 40 years to get one back,” she quipped. Read More

A Few Minutes With ... Mark Hoover

Family business weathers Chrysler-mandated closings while regrouping in Summerville, West Ashley

The news hit all at once on May 14, 2009; Hoover Automotive Group would lose 40 percent of its operations in the Charleston area. The closings were considered a cost-saving move from financially struggling Chrysler Corp. But it’s not something any dealer would want to hear, particularly in one fell swoop. Yet group president Mark R. Hoover, while hardly overjoyed, took the disclosure in stride. Read More

Car Talk

It’s worth the gamble to let boyfriend try to fix Volvo pre-pump

Q. I’m a busy, poor veterinary student with an old, 1989 Volvo 240 DL. I have a wannabe boyfriend/mechanic who likes to tear into things and see what’s inside, then put things back together the best he can. I appreciate his efforts very much, but there are times when I hesitate to risk mistakes. I am wondering what you think about an inexperienced home mechanic changing a fuel pre-pump on my car? Read More

Car Show Calendar

The Sixth Annual Dinner and Dance party, hosted by Low Country Mustang Club, will be held 6-9:30 p.m. at Park Circle Community Center in North Charleston. This year’s theme is “American Bandstand.” Read More

Diesel power has advantages but won’t reduce dependence on foreign oil

When it was learned Volkswagen is coming back to the U.S. diesel engine market, many potential buyers are reminded of past ill-fated attempts in selling diesels to Americans. The diesel Oldsmobile comes to mind as a complete disaster when the General Motors division tried to convert an ordinary gasoline engine to diesel. It was unsuccessful, to put it mildly. VW – and other European carmakers – are extremely optimistic that, this time around, diesels will make a comeback. Read More

Four-Peat

Baker Mercedes earns another Best of Best in customer satisfaction, loyalty

Two years ago Baker Mercedes was the carmaker’s top dealership, earning its chairman a green jacket preceding the Masters golf tournament. The store did almost as well for 2009, landing on the manufacturer’s prestigious Best of the Best list for the fourth straight year. Baker Mercedes made the cut among 342 outlets nationwide, although no one outlet has been singled out as the very best. So what was chairman Tommy Baker’s reaction? “Complete humility,” he said. Read More

A Few Minutes With ... Joe Lynch

Longtime manager at Baker Motor Co. plays front-and-center role behind the scenes

Take a look at Joe Lynch’s business card; something appears to be missing. There’s no title. Oh, he has a position, a rather prominent one in fact, as general manager of Baker Motor Co. on Savannah Highway in Charleston. But Lynch, who has held the post for five years, isn’t big on self-promotion. Read More

Car Talk

I live in Albany, N.Y., and I own a 2009 Dodge Journey, all-wheel drive, with 19-inch wheels and tires. I didn’t realize it at the time, but getting these optional huge wheels has made it impossible to find winter tires. So I have to buy another set of smaller, 17-inch wheels to put my winter tires on. Here’s my question: The car has a tire-pressure monitoring system that tells me when the pressure is low in one of the tires. Do I have to buy new tire-pressure sensors for each of these new wheels, or can I get by without them? Read More

Looking at U.S. carmakers of yesteryear, Japanese car industry today

Charles F. Neuhaus of Myrtle Beach wrote in a letter to yours truly: “I read with interest your 13 February column in The Post and Courier. Your list of great auto executives had at least one glaring omission, Walter P. Chrysler. Read More

Car Show Calendar

The 18th annual Lowcountry Shine & Swapp will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Coastal Carolina Flea Market in Ladson. Anything on wheels is welcome to participate including cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, tractors, pedal cars and wagons. Read More