Business - Automotive

Highway fatalities declining nationwide, even with motorist distractions

Texting while driving, which President Barack Obama has banned for federal employees, is clearly hazardous. But other driving distractions — like putting on make-up and road rage — are even more dangerous. At least that is the opinion of most of the 3,000 respondents to a survey by LeaseTrader.com, which manages auto lease transfers. Read More

Car Show Calendar

The 15th annual All Ford & Mustang Show, hosted by the Low Country Mustang Club, will be held at Carolina Ice Palace, 7665 Northwoods Blvd. Event hours are noon to 4 p.m. with check-in from 9 a.m. to noon. Read More

2010 Triumph Daytona 675

Top-notch manufacturing design, effort mark luxurious new sportbike

When great care and precise craftsmanship are used to create a product, the outcome can be special. Sportbikes, for the most part, have two primary strong suits, exhilarating design and exhilarating performance. As you will soon read, English motorcycle manufacturer Triumph did not subscribe to this way of thinking when they created the Daytona 675 sportbike. Similar to another English manufacturer, Triumph also added an element of quality and a touch of luxury. Read More

2010 Audi A3 Turbodiesel

New crossover exudes performance while boasting 40-plus miles per gallon fuel totals

Those maximum miles per hour figures that show up on a car speedometer — routinely 100, 150 even 200 mph — are essentially advertising ploys. They make the plodding family runabout seem fast and the sleek roadster appear even faster. But the gauge that tops out at 160 mph on the new Audi A3 turbodiesel is more than a generic marketing tool; it sends a message to buyers. Read More

Car Talk

Note to husband: don’t substitute transmission for the brakes

Q. My husband actually said this: “If you ask Click and Clack, and they say I did something wrong, I’ll stop doing it.” So here we go: When my husband backs my new Toyota minivan out of our driveway (he’s backing it down a hill), he doesn’t use the brakes. He just shifts it from reverse into drive as the minivan is still rolling backward, and then goes forward. Read More

A Few Minutes With ... Steve Jacobs

Veteran auto manager cuts ownership teeth developing Marathon Chevrolet over past four years

The title of “car dealership owner” is not exactly what Steve Jacobs had in mind after graduating from Miami of Ohio in 1971. “I was going to law school,” he said. But in his first post-graduate job, Jacobs came to a career-shifting realization: “I found out in order to increase my pay, I had to work more years.” Recently married, Jacobs admittedly was disillusioned with his prospects. So he sought a job that was more performance driven: auto sales. Read More

Prevent tragedies: don’t let teens drive under the influence this Halloween – or any time

HALLOWEEN! How timely for today’s discussion: Watching over our children, no matter the age. Read More

Car Show Calendar

The eighth annual Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival will take place at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn on Hilton Head Island and at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa on Hutchinson Island, Ga. Read More

Four-door Porsche

Powerful, luxurious Porsche Panamera sedan the “cross-trainer” of performance vehicles

When manufacturers introduce new models to the automotive press, they supply all sorts of information. Media relations operatives gather, present and provide information on horsepower, torque, fuel economy, cargo capacity, price range, etc. Buyer demographics is one category that practically all manufacturers fawn over. Typically their target demographic is well-educated and is involved in a number of similar activities. And if the model being presented is an expensive one, this demographic has a higher than average income level. One similar video and verbal presentation was given during the media introduction of the all-new 2010 Porsche Panamera. Read More

British, German cars make their marques on Charleston this fall

Whether parked or racing, roadsters or limos, British and German vehicles attracted crowds in the Charleston area, and, with local owners, elsewhere. Read More

A Few Minutes With ... Steven Rhoads

New general manager at West Ashley Toyota promotes customer serivce, volume, low prices

One thing is for certain: West Ashley Toyota over the years has not been hard to find. The dealership for the past 23 years has been located at the corner of Savannah Highway and Savage Road. Read More

Car Talk

One alternative to major overhaul in car that’s burning oil is to keep dipstick handy

Q. I have a 2002 Nissan Altima that for the past six months has been losing oil at the rate of about a quart per month. I thought that it might be either leaking oil or burning oil. However, there are no drips under the car, and it recently passed emissions testing during inspection (I would have thought it would have failed if it was burning oil). Anyhow, I'm perplexed. What’s happening to the oil? Read More

Green Streets

Fuel costs, environmental standards drive manufacturers to hybrids and other clean technology

Not long from now, greater Charleston’s half-million motorists could indeed be filling up at the corner hydrogen station, perhaps known as the ‘hydro,’ or the ‘H.’ Read More

First or not, Duryea brothers credited with building initial cars in U.S.

Quickly, now, who was the first American to produce a motor car in this country? Henry Ford. No. Walter Chrysler. No. Billy Durant. No. Read More

Car Show Calendar

The British Car Club of Charleston will sponsor the 25th annual British Car Day at Patriot’s Point in Mount Pleasant. Read More