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

Looking Up

Charleston real estate market in gradual rally after downtime

All things were in place for a strong Charleston area real estate market for years to come. There’s the warm climate, pro-business attitude, attractive locales in Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston counties and fairly reasonable prices. Not to mention the Atlantic Ocean, scenic marshes, top notch restaurants, historic sites, boating and fishing, the excitement of three pro sports teams … Then the inconceivable – at least at the time – happened. The national housing industry, overstimulated by easy financing and speculation, took a hit. Builders stopped building, homeowners couldn’t sell, few people would buy. There’s no arguing that Greater Charleston suffered like the rest of the United States. But not having experienced the artificial highs, the area didn’t succumb to the mind-numbing lows. 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

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

4731 Linfield Drive

Townhome rental in Whitfield on the Ashley touts affordable price, management perks

Built 24 years ago, Whitfield on the Ashley is a 67-unit complex of townhomes and flats in a semi-secluded section of Dorchester Road. Many buyers purchased the North Charleston dwellings as places to live. But the one- and two-story units are also alluring properties to lease with updated kitchens, carpeted bedrooms, washer and dryer connections, two parking spaces per unit and fireplaces. Read More

Cool Living

Eco-friendly design, rooftop amenities provide lift to new peninsula condos

On a short, peninsular lane connected to Meeting Street, there are buildings with plants sprouting from the roof and exposed pipes along ceilings. Don’t read these as signs of an overdue reclamation project, however. They are innovative perks at One Cool Blow condominiums, a trendy new uptown development. Read More

1543 Wando Landing St.

Inverted floor plan, electronic gadgets give traditional Daniel Island home added appeal

Visualize a home’s third level being able to handle a social gathering like this: Guests watch TV from a deck with river views as homeowners grill burgers. Partygoers mingle in the family room and screened porch while party-throwers mix drinks in the kitchen. Sure, lots of houses have such conveniences. Yet typically they are spread among levels, are all downstairs or are on a ground floor – not up high where the Southern exposure is best. But that's the case at 543 Wando Landing St., situated in the Smythe Park section of Daniel Island. 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

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

Here to Preserve

Upscale Johns Island neighborhood grazing gentle creek showcases stand-out homes in woods

Set on pristine property with 300-year-old roots, The Preserve at Fenwick Plantation is being crafted at a deliberate pace to maintain its natural setting. The upscale village, located amid freshwater wetlands just off Maybank Highway, has 66 wooded lots of one-third to one-half acre. Read More