WomanOnWheels.ca

What are the top pickup trucks in Canada?

The Toronto Star asked me that question, for the latest Wheels magazine. Find out my choices!

Too much fuel? Push the button ...

Many vehicles now have "economy" buttons, which alter such things as the throttle response and transmission shift points for improved fuel economy. Find out more about Honda's version in my Driving Force column in Metro.

When you're driving ... here's what NOT to do!

I caught this ad for the Honda Accord on television today. It looks like everyone's staying safe and sound when the car detects another vehicle stopped in front of it ... but wait a minute. What on earth are these people doing?

First of all, when he thinks he's going to hit the car in front of him, the driver takes his right hand off the wheel and puts it in front of his wife. My mother used to do this with me, back in the 1960s, when none of us wore a seatbelt, and dashboards were solid metal (not that it would have helped...). Today? Dumb, dumb, dumb. He has no steering control if he has to make an evasive move, and his hand is now in the way of the airbag ...

But that's a moot point, because when she thinks they're going to crash, his wife puts her hand on the dash. Yes, on the airbag. Which, if the cars do collide, will deploy at some 300 km/h, breaking her hand, her wrist, and possibly her elbow, and slamming her hand back into her face, where it will do even more damage.

What was Honda thinking? Didn't anyone check this over before it went out? 

Concept cars: Why aren't they as wild anymore?

Time and money, it seems. That Honda Urban SUV in the picture looks like it could go almost to the showroom floor, but it's considered a concept vehicle. Find out why automakers have toned down their "dream cars" in my Toronto Star story by clicking here.

Automakers that gambled ... and won

Porsche's Cayenne, hybrid-electric vehicles, Ford buying Lincoln during tough economic times ... there have been some pretty big gambles in the auto industry over the years.

Not all of them worked out, but I came up with a list of those that did: cars that were great or sold huge numbers, those that affected the market, and in some cases, such as the Cayenne, cars that saved their companies from potential failure. Read all about it at Sympatico Autos by clicking here.

2013 Accord: Honda's firmly back in the game

I went into the 2013 Honda Accord sedan without too much in the way of expectations: it may be all-new, but it doesn't look all that much different from the old one. I came away extremely impressed, because it's all in the driving. This is one genuinely sweet midsize, and I predict that Honda's going to take home a truckload full of awards for it. Read all about it at Sympatico Autos by clicking here.

Honda design: Putting a car guy at the helm

That's Dave Marek, who admits that he doesn't just like cars - he's obsessed with them. He's also the man who oversees every design that comes out of Honda's North American studios. Read all about him in my Toronto Star story by clicking here.

A look at the Honda Ridgeline

Hard-core truck fans may look down their noses at it, but the Honda Ridgeline is a decent vehicle for those who want a medium-duty machine. If I ever replace my aging half-ton pickup, it's going to be a difficult decision between the Ridgeline and the Nissan Frontier. Read why in my Toronto Star review by clicking here.

What's attached to that gearshift lever, anyway?

Shifting your transmission is pretty simple, but that lever is attached to a remarkably complex component, whether you have an automatic or a stick-shift. I have an explanation in my Driving Force column in Metro - check it out by clicking here.

HID headlights: They're a gas!

Those ultra-bright headlights that you see on some cars are high-intensity discharge, or HID. Instead of a filament, they use a gas, most commonly xenon. And if they're also your high-beams, there's a neat trick to them. Find out all about it in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

Redline: What it is, and why it matters

It's not as much of an issue as it used to be, since cars today keep an eye on the tach and shut down the throttle if you get too close to that dangerous red line. What's redline, and why is it important? Read all about it in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

2012 Honda Insight: Fuel-efficient, but not much else ...

The Honda Insight was the first hybrid to reach our shores, more than a decade ago. The company recently resurrected the name on a compact sedan and sent it out to do battle with other gasoline-electric models on the market, but unfortunately, it comes up short. Find out why in my Sympatico Autos review by clicking here.

2012 Honda Civic: Not as all-new as promised

The Honda Civic was redesigned into its ninth generation for 2012, but there really doesn't seem to be that much of a difference. It's still a pleasant enough driver, but I really did expect a bit more from something that's supposed to be "all-new." Read about it in the Toronto Star 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.

Options: The automaker's dilemma

Customers want options, but what ones? Keeping up with customer preferences - and the speed with which electronics change - can be quite an issue for automakers. I asked Honda about it; you can read the answer in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

Honda LEEDs with environmental design

The company has a new head office in Ontario, built to the environmental standards of LEED. I got a tour of the place recently and wrote about it in my Driving Force column in Metro, which you can find by by clicking here.

A look at Honda's CR-Z Hybrid

Here's a look at the CR-Z, Honda's new hybrid coupe, which is a lot more fun to drive than I would have expected. Read all about it in Autos.ca by clicking here.

A road trip in a Honda CR-Z

My neighbor asked if I wanted to go shopping in Picton, a lovely area near Belleville, Ontario. Does a bear you-know-what in the woods? So I fired up the 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid that I was test-driving for the week and out we went. You can read all about our adventures in the Toronto Star by clicking here.

Is Salvador Dali working for Honda?

Honda has released pictures of the redesigned 2012 Civic, and here's one of the dash. I suppose it all makes sense when you're sitting behind the wheel, but I can't help thinking that someone left the plastic model out in the sun too long ...

In review: 2010 Honda Crosstour

In today's Toronto Star, I have a review of the Honda Accord Crosstour, which you can find by clicking here.

It's all in the numbers ...

This is Scott Niedermayer, captain of the Anaheim Ducks hockey team, with his new Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle. He has just become the first professional athlete to lease one of the zero-emission vehicles.

According to Honda's press release, Neidermayer is a perfect fit for the vehicle because he's an environmentalist. He seeks a "greener lifestyle" that includes adding insulation around his house, and installing a radiant barrier on the roof to conserve energy. He carpools to hockey games with his fellow teammates, and promotes a recycling program in the dressing room.

Oh, and he has four children.

'Nuff said.

In review: Honda Fit

On Canadian Driver, I have a review of the 2009 Honda Fit, which you can find by clicking here.

Confused about hybrids? Here's some help ...

Last week I was in Vancouver with Toyota, where part of the event involved a comparison of the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight and Ford Fusion Hybrid. My Toronto Star story, which dealt with the confusion buyers have about hybrids, can be found by clicking here.

In review: 2009 Honda Accord

  On today's Canadian Driver, I have a review of the four-cylinder Honda Accord. You can find it by clicking here.

Showdown: Prius versus Insight

  On todays' Canadian Driver, I have a story outlining the differences between the upcoming 2010 Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. You can find it by clicking here. 

                                                

EnerGuide: The top fuel-efficiency winners

  Each year, EnerGuide announces the most fuel-efficient vehicles in each of its categories. The Toronto Star published a special "Green Wheels" edition today and had me do a mini-review of each of the winners (the Prius is a full review). You can find the page by clicking here; the reviews are found by clicking on the links in the blue sidebar to the right on the page.