Silvio Calabi: The ES350 is finally a real Lexus
Interested in a Lexus ES350, but too pressed for time to indulge in a full-on road test? Let me save you an hour: Just slide into the drivers seat and open the cupholder, on the console next to your...
View ArticleGreg Zyla: Chevy badges and models during the 1950s
Q: Greg, I enjoy the articles about the cars in the 50s and 60s, and would like some clarification on Chevy models. I know it all ended up as Biscayne, BelAir and Impala for the full-size Chevys in...
View ArticleDave Ramsey: Dealing with collection agencies
Dear Dave,I have $400 in debt on a credit card, and I havent made a payment on it in about two years. The debt has been sold several times, and now the amount theyre asking for is over $1,000. Id...
View ArticleSilvio Calabi: VW Passat diesel nets 47 mpg
Truly. This weekend we drove a 2014 VW Passat TDI sedan 771 miles, from the coast of Maine to northern New York and back through four states, across White Mountains and Green Mountains, and past...
View ArticleGreg Zyla: Rare Comet Cyclone GT
Hello, Greg, maybe you can help me. I have a 1966 Comet Cyclone GT. It is a factory lightweight with the fiberglass hood and trunk. It might have the mag bumpers too, but Ive never had it checked. My...
View ArticleOn Computers: Shopping by sensor at a store near you
Marketing is taking twists and turns that are surprising and more than a little scary.Example: Some Walmart stores are testing sensors in the ceiling that monitor shoppers who touch products. Touching...
View ArticleMaking Cents: For some, the better the rate, the worse the time to borrow
In general, you would think that a period of sustained lower interest rates would be a good thing for borrowers. And in general, it is. But for many, this period of low rates has caused frustration and...
View ArticleSilvio Calabi: Diesels, part II the Audi A6 TDI
We think of diesel motors as industrial powerplants noisy roughnecks that puff black smoke and should be screened off from polite society. But what makes diesels so useful in heavy-duty trucks,...
View ArticleGreg Zyla: NASCAR and the T-Bird 430 and Olds 88
Q: Hello, Greg, in your column about the T-Bird and the big engines, you mention the 430-inch V-8. Thunderbird raced this engine in 1959, and it was available in a street version and the (Holman-Moody)...
View ArticleDave Ramsey: Section 8 housing dilemma
Dear Dave,I have some rental properties, and the government would like to turn a couple into low-income housing. Is this a good idea, or should I find my own tenant?MarvinDear Marvin,In these types of...
View ArticleMontevideo reps speak with senators about flood mitigation, veterans home
Last Thursday, the Minnesota Senate Capital Investment/Bond-ing Committee met at Southwest Minnesota State University to hear testimony from around southwest Minnesota about various projects with...
View ArticleSilvio Calabi: 2014 Mazda6 Grand Touring oozes charisma
The enormous mid-size sedan market has been dominated for geologic ages by Toyota (Camry) and Honda (Accord), with Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Chevy, Nissan and VW chipping off their own pieces. The rewards of...
View ArticleGreg Zyla: Readers relay Metropolitan experiences and Banks Turbo information
Metro memoriesGreg, I saw your column recently about the Nash Metropolitan, and it sure brought back memories. The Nash Metropolitan was the first car that I ever bought all by myself, and the year was...
View ArticleDave Ramsey: When do I need umbrella insurance?
Dear Dave,At what level of net worth should someone consider umbrella insurance?MattDear Matt,I think its something you should consider if you have a net worth of $500,000 or greater. But first you...
View ArticleGreg Zyla: The Mercury that surprised the automotive world
Q: Greg, Ive always been a fan of Mercury, and wish Ford would have kept the brand name in its car lineup. As a child, my mom and dad had a 1950 Mercury, which my dad later told me was the best...
View ArticleSilvio Calabi: Lexus ES300h hits the hybrid sweet spot
Electric power truly suits Lexus. Electric motors are dead quiet, just like most Lexus vehicles, so maybe its fitting that the company turns out some of the most agreeable of all gas-electric cars....
View ArticleDave Ramsey: Single and staying on track
Dear Dave,Do you have any tips for how a single person can stay on track with their finances?DebbieDear Debbie,Its really pretty simple. The first thing is the same advice I give to married couples,...
View ArticleDear Monty: A home seller’s checklist
Reader question: Monty, we are going to be selling our home soon. The word has gotten out in the neighborhood, and conflicting advice is pouring in about which agent to use and how to go about selling...
View ArticleSilvio Calabi: Jaguar F-Type is a luxury spitfire
By the time I could drive legally, way back in 1965, the Jaguar XKE was four years old and already a global lust object. Even Enzo Ferrari, a man not known for his objectivity, supposedly called it the...
View ArticleGreg Zyla: Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aires K-Car saved Chrysler
Q: Greg, Id like to know about the Plymouth and Dodge K-Cars that came out in 1981. How good were these cars, and would you say that the K-Car saved Chrysler Corporation from going bankrupt? Thanks,...
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