One thing Scion has never steered away from is trying to manufacture unique looking vehicles. Introduced by Toyota in 2002, the cars have often been viewed as quirky. However, there’s nothing peculiar regarding the appearance of the 2015 Scion tC. The second generation Scion tC features a flat roofline, a wide lower grille, panoramic sunroof, […]
Travel/Golf/Auto reviews
Jeep Patriot: enticing price, off-road capability
It’s certainly a tempting sticker price. Car shoppers can drive a new 2015 Jeep Patriot off the dealer lot for just under $17,000. That’s quite a bargain for a compact sport utility vehicle. The Patriot price is roughly $7,000 less than the base model of the Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape or the Honda CR-V, arguably […]
Buick Encore: Subcompact SUV with some limitations
This Buick is a rather tiny vehicle. And that is a little ironic, considering Buick was once primarily known for manufacturing large, oversized sedans that were built for comfort and performance. The 2015 Buick Encore possesses neither quality. It’s a tall subcompact sport utility vehicle with a short wheelbase that is 11 inches less than […]
Turbocharged Ford Escape features lots of performance
Labeling the Ford Escape an energetic sport utility vehicle with some very pleasing performance may come as a surprise to many. The Escape went through a redesign in 2013 that made it a much improved compact crossover SUV. One of the reasons for the improvement was the emergence of an energetic turbocharged engine. The turbocharged […]
Lexus RC 350 coupe a real gem
Lexus is reaching back in the company playbook for this choice, introducing its first hard-top coup since we hit the new millennial age in 2000. Indeed, 15 years seems like a long time before developing another two-door vehicle. But the long wait between the SC 400 and the 2015 RC 350 makes sense because it […]
Scion FR-S: affordable sports car
There’s nothing too fancy about the 2016 Scion FR-S. It’s essentially the type of back-to-basics sports car that people have loved for decades. There’s plenty to admire about this light weight, attractive sports car that has surprisingly good performance, delivers admirable gas mileage (22-34 mpg), and is priced very reasonably at $24,300. By the way, […]
Toyota Highlander continues success as midsize SUV
One of the most highly-rated midsize sport utility vehicles is the Toyota Highlander, a sensible, well designed crossover. The Highlander is a three-row, family-friendly midsize crossover that’s offered in four trim models (LE, LE Plus, XLE, Limited) and a hybrid version. 2015 Toyota Highlander Performance: 2.7-liter, four-cylinder, 185 horsepower; 3.5-liter, V6, 270 horsepower Mileage estimate: […]
Mitsubishi Outlander rising in status
Are you confined to a strict budget, yet still in need of a vehicle that can transport seven people? One solution is the Mitsubishi Outlander, a sport utility vehicle with three rows of seating that can be driven off the dealer lot for a reasonable price. The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander starts at $22,995 and even […]
Spectacular meteor shower event Friday at Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe
The Perseids is a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle. The meteors can typically be seen around mid-July each year, with the peak in activity happening between Aug. 9-14. During the peak, the rate of meteors reaches an astonishing 60 or more miles per hour. Lovers of the stars will receive an extra treat this week […]
Greenhorn Creek Resort hosting Calaveras Junior Open
Some of Northern California’s finest young golfers will be seeing how their game holds up against a talented field of juniors at Greenhorn Creek Resort in Angels Camp. The inaugural Calaveras Junior Open is set to make its debut at Greenhorn Creek Resort, with the first round to be competed on Monday, August 10. The […]