WomanOnWheels.ca

Ten auto goodies you might not have known ...

Chrysler had record players, Studebaker ended its days in Canada, and BMW started as an aircraft company. I've compiled ten fascinating facts about autos for the Toronto Star, and you can find them by clicking here.

In review: the 2012 Mazda5

The Mazda5 a nifty little car and a great alternative if you occasionally carry a full house but don't want a full-size minivan. You can read my review of the 2012 version in the Toronto Star by clicking here.

Electric or gasoline? What's best for your fleet?

Although electrified vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf are marketed to the public, the most likely place for any widespread adoption of alternative-fuel vehicles is with commercial fleets, for several reasons: they travel enough miles to make back the purchase price faster, the vehicles usually follow set routes and come back each night to a central depot where they can be charged, and any lower maintenance costs are always a bonus.

But how does a fleet operator know which type of propulsion to buy? There's a new product, FleetCarma, that plugs into a vehicle, tracks the type of use it's getting, and then uses sophisticated software to calculate what will work the best. There's a free trial offer for operators who want to try it out, too. You can read all about it in my article in Fleet Digest by clicking here.

Running a red? Your car will tell others!

New technology is under development that can tell if you're planning on running a red light, and send out a message to other vehicles in the intersection so they can warn their drivers about your boneheaded move. Read all about it in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

A cell phone that warns you? No, we need one that slaps you ...

In the news today: a U.S. company has developed a cellphone application that taps into GPS and navigation systems to warn drivers if they are approaching such dangers as stop signs, train tracks, school crossings or hazardous conditions while they are talking on the phone.  If you get a text message, the application will remind you to "pull over to text" rather than do it on the fly.

What's next? An application that reminds you to breathe in and out? It's the next logical step, because if you need something like this, you're too stupid to breathe.

What is needed is a cellphone application that slaps you in the head if you pick up a call or send a text while you're driving. Yes, I know all the whiny arguments - "People are going to do it anyway, you might as well make it as safe as possible." Hell, a few of them are still going to drink and drive - should we open the driver's door for them?

Here's my app. You get caught talking on a cell phone in the car, the phone is confiscated, you get a fine of several thousand dollars, and you get several points on your license. This stuff kills people. When you have a call that's more important than that, get back to me. Just don't do it while you're behind the wheel.

A look at the 2012 Nissan Altima Coupe

It's handsome, it's fun to drive, it's comfortable, but it's a lot of money. Read my review of the 2012 Nissan Altima 3.5 Coupe in Autos.ca by clicking here.

So where is your Japanese car made? How about in China?

The Automobile Protection Association, a Canadian consumer advocate group, sent its representatives to the Montreal Auto Show to take in the sights.

Once away from the concept cars and all-new-model reveals, one headed over to Honda's booth and took a closer look at the 2012 Fit ... and found a VIN tag that indicated it was made in China. It seems the strong Yen has made it difficult for companies to build entry-level vehicles in Japan and then sell them at a reasonable price over here. What else to do but outsource, it seems? Check out the APA's blog for a better look by clicking here.

It's awards time - nominate your favourite tire dealer!

Tire Review magazine is looking for the top independent tire dealers in Canada and the United States, and nominations are open for its Top Shop awards. The winners will be shops that stand out in such things as customer service, business management, community involvement, appearance and innovation.

Shop owners can nominate themselves, or their customers (or friends or relatives!) can do so as well. The nomination has to include information about the shop and a short essay on why the shop deserves it. There are some decent prizes of tire changers, cash and a trip to the SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas for the winners. To find out more or to enter a shop, click here.

Vehicle platforms: Design one, build many

A vehicle's platform used to mean a stand-alone frame, which would then have the body bolted to it. Today, "platform" is more of an engineering term for a vehicle's structural design, allowing automakers to turn out a variety of vehicles that look and perform differently but share the basic underpinnings. Read all about it in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

2012 Detroit Auto Show

I've finally had a chance to get all the work out of the way and reflect on the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, which I attended last week. My feet still hurt - that is one big show.

I was there in the years when it was ridiculous, when automakers drove cars through windows, brought celebrities out on stage, gave out more stuff than people could carry, and you could go across the street afterwards to a repurposed firehall and drink yourself stupid on Daimler's dime. Then the recession hit, and I was there in the years when it was like a funeral and you went hungry because there was nowhere to get lunch. Now it's about halfway in the middle: the mood is upbeat, but the belt is still a bit tight.

Some manufacturers weren't there: Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and of course Saab, which won't be anywhere anymore. Coda, a company that makes electric cars, had a surprisingly large booth. Craftsman debuted a lawn tractor in the mezzanine. Yes, really.

There were some surprises. The new Ford Fusion is stunning. Yes, you read that right - it's that photo up there, and it's just beautiful. I can hardly wait to drive it. The Dodge Dart looks like it really could have what it takes. The VW Bugster is cute as ... well, you know. The Lexus LF-LC concept wins the award for poorest name and best design. When the wraps came off the Acura NSX concept, journalists cheered. Save for when Ford packs the stands with dealers and employees for reveals, I've never heard cheering at an auto show before.

There were some ho-hums. I'm not too sure about the Honda Accord concept, which is amazing from the rear and kind of strange from the front, and with a side profile lifted straight from the Crosstour. The Prius c looks like an electrified Matrix. The Mini Roadster is cute, but it's really just a convertible missing its back seat.

And me being me ... the car that really caught my eye was up in Lincoln's booth. Henry Ford's son Edsel loved good design and he sometimes had the company produce one-off cars for him. One of those was a 1934 Lincoln Model 40 speedster, and it was on display. Oh my. They really don't make them like that anymore.

Small cars at the Detroit Auto Show

The Toronto Star had several writers wandering around, me included, and I was sent out to report on compacts and subcompacts revealed at the show. There weren't many of them, but I found 'em (the Dodge Dart ended up in another writer's story) and you can find 'em by clicking here.

Check it out: DriveSideways

My friend and colleague James Bergeron puts his thoughts together on his blog, DriveSideways, and it's a great resource for reviews, information and automotive musings. Click here and check it out!

Chrysler wants to shake up workers ...

Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne - who came to the company when Fiat took the reins - is not happy with unionized auto workers.

Speaking at the Detroit Auto Show, Marchionne said that the current union system of hourly wage increases isn't going to cut it, and instead, he wants a system of profit-sharing.

A Toronto Star story reports that Marchionne said the cost of building vehicles in Canada must fall to meet what workers are paid in the United States. "The Canadian system needs to be as competitive as the American side," Marchionne said, and added that it is difficult for him to explain to American workers why Canadian employees are paid more money.

Fair enough. So I have a question for you, Mr. Marchionne. As a Canadian consumer, how do you explain that I can buy a Canadian-built Chrysler 300 on the U.S. side of the border for $28,170, but in Canada it starts at $32,995? Why does a U.S.-built Ram 1500 cost $21,475 in the United States, but it's $26,770 in Canada? If it's difficult to explain accounting to the workers, how about some information for the buyers?

Oil grades: What do those numbers mean?

5W-30, 10W40 - what do those oil numbers mean? They refer to the oil's viscosity, and it's important that you use the right ones for the right applications to best protect your engine. I asked Castrol about it; you can read the result in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

2011 Porsche 911 GTS: Yeah, I could live with one of these ...

Loud, fast, rumpity and mean - what's not to love? Well, there were a couple of minor things ... read all about it in my Autos.ca review by clicking here.

Three days with the all-electric Nissan Leaf

I had the use of an all-electric Nissan Leaf for three days. I'd specifically booked it for December, to see how it behaved in cold weather, although the temperature remained unseasonably warm. Even so, it was interesting to bring home my first all-electric car for daily driving. The verdict: it's a hoot to drive, but yes, there is such a thing as range anxiety. Read all about it in Autos.ca by clicking here.

VW's Jetta: It appears I'm not alone ...

As part of a Toronto Star assignment, I had to name the best and worst vehicles I drove in 2011. For the low spot, I picked the 2.0-litre Volkswagen Jetta. Usually these articles result in a cascade of letters from people who are upset that I didn't like their favorite machine, but so far, I've had a thumb's-up from reader Peter Sarvos, who was equally unimpressed. Read his blog post by clicking here.

The main page of his Energy, Climate, Transportation blog can be found by clicking here. It's a good read.

The Chevy Volt and Volkswagen Jetta: My best and worst for 2011

Each year, the editor of the Wheels section in the Toronto Star asks the car reviewers to name the best and worst cars they drove that year. For 2011, mine were the Chevrolet Volt and Volkswagen Jetta 2.0. Find out the details by clicking here.

A Cadillac parade and Al Unser Jr: My best and worst of 2011

Each year, the Toronto Star asks its Wheels writers to describe their best and worst auto experiences. Mine for 2011 were a Cadillac parade in Vermont and a run-in with race driver Al Unser Jr. You can read all about it by clicking here.

Another year of auto funnies ...

A homemade seatbelt, a million-dollar crash and spiders up the fuel pipe: they're all part of some of the weird auto things that happened in 2011. You can read this year's list in the Toronto Star by clicking here.

This is an annual list, so click on previous years to see them: 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

My little red Christmas truck ...

The Toronto Star asked its writers for Christmas stories, and from the Wheels contributors, pieces that had to do with all things wheeled. This little toy truck, which my brother still has, got me through a tough transition when I was a child. You can read all about it by clicking here.

Don't drink and drive ... try these instead!

It's the time of year for Christmas cheer, but that should never include car keys. At Autos.ca we put together a list of alternatives to getting behind the wheel, including Operation Red Nose, taxi numbers, and a list of designated driver services. Find it all by clicking here - and click before you go out for the night!

A look at the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon

I love station wagons, but there aren't that many left to love anymore. One worthy of affection - providing you can afford the steep price tag - is the Mercedes-Benz E350 version. Read all about it in Autos.ca by clicking here.

GM builds bad roads on purpose

Vehicles have to be tested on all types of road surfaces while they're being developed, and most manufacturers do this at dedicated facilities where bad roads are laid down right from the start. I check out GM's Milford Proving Grounds in my Driving Force column in Metro; you can check it out by clicking here.

The coolest hot rod stuff ever

More years ago than I care to remember, I met Lance Sorchik, a very talented artist and hot-rod builder from New Jersey. We kept touch over the years, and I even commissioned this piece of artwork from him, depicting a car that was undergoing construction in my garage. (It now lives in California - the car, not the painting!)

Lance has a fantastic website with his artwork and his cars, and you really need to check it out. Click here to visit him.

Saab: 1950-2011

It's official. Some 61 years after it was founded, Saab has folded. The company made the announcement today after it was unable to secure promised funding.

It had been courting various partners for a while, but was pinning its hopes on a couple of Chinese auto companies and investors who had ordered cars to sell in that country. The problem is that when you order vehicles, you really need to pay for them.

The Swedish and Chinese companies continued to barter back and forth, but in the end, General Motors, which sold Saab in 2010 but still held key technology licenses, finally said enough is enough. GM refused to okay the latest transaction, the Chinese automaker has withdrawn, and Saab has filed for bankruptcy.

It's not easy or cheap to run a car company, and when GM originally cut it loose, its future was iffy even as its new owners were optimistic. Still, it made some really sweet cars in its day, and it's always hard to see something go, especially one that had such a history. RIP, Saab, and thanks for the ride.

All I want for Christmas is ...

Well, not much, actually - I don't do the Christmas gift thing. But I must for the Toronto Star, which asks for a list of car-related gifts for its special Christmas edition each year. Mine run from a $2 box of window wipes to that gorgeous Montegrappa pen shown here, celebrating Alfa Romeo and a steal at $1,720. Read all about it by clicking here.

Audi Q5 Hybrid: Less fuel, more fun

I drove the upcoming 2013 Audi Q5 Hybrid in Spain earlier this year; Metro asked me for a short review of it. The bottom line: it's costly and it's fun. Read all about it by clicking here.

Small cars need big solutions

Cars are getting smaller, but they still have pretty much the same number of components as larger vehicles - and that presents a problem for automakers, who must find a way to stuff everything inside. Simply making the parts smaller isn't always a solution. I asked Toyota how it shoehorned everything into the Scion iQ; you can read the answer in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

2012 Buick Verano: Definitely not a gussied-up Cruze

It's more of a baby Regal, and it's a pretty nice ride. You can read all about this newest and smallest Buick on Autos.ca by clicking here.