WomanOnWheels.ca

What's involved in "refreshing" a car?

Manufacturers generally bring out a new model, and then "refresh" it after a couple of years ... but it's a far bigger job than you might think. Find out more in my Driving Force column in Metro.

Which pickup truck should you buy?

That depends on a number of factors - what you're towing or hauling, what features you want, and what cab configuration works best for you. Read more in my story over at the Toronto Star.

In review: 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser

It's the FJ Cruiser's last year, and it's going out in style, with a cool (but pricey) Trail Teams Edition. I found some mud and got it dirty - find out more over at Autofocus.

Video review: 2014 Toyota RAV4

 

In review: 2014 Toyota RAV4

It's a model that's matured considerably since that first tinny model, and the interior is extremely well-done, but it's still a pretty noisy vehicle. Find out more in my review at the Toronto Star.

In review: 2014 Toyota Tacoma

It's a popular truck, and I like its size, but it really could use a makeover - especially those seats! Find out more in my Toronto Star review.

In review: 2014 Toyota Tacoma

It's one of the few compact/midsize trucks you can get right now, but while the Tacoma handles most tasks quite well, it could use an update - especially that seating position! Find out more in my review over at Autofocus.

In review: 2014 Toyota Camry

A redesigned Camry will be emerging for 2015, but in the meantime, I took out the V6-powered 2014 version for a spin. Find out more in my review over at Autofocus.

In review: 2014 Toyota RAV4

Originally a tinny, rough little thing, the RAV4 has matured into a decent little cute-ute. Find out more in my review over at Autofocus.

The new Toyota Camry: What goes into a redesign?

The Toyota Camry is being overhauled for 2015 - not a complete makeover, but an extensive refresh. So what goes into it? There's a lot more than just some new sheet metal - find out more in my story in the Toronto Star.

In review: 2014 Toyota Prius C

For some reason, I have an odd little fondness for Toyota's smallest hybrid, far more so than anything I feel for its larger Prius hatchback sibling. But it's still a love-hate relationship, and if you're looking at it, go into the test-drive with your eyes open. Find out more in my review over at Autofocus.

In review: 2014 Toyota Prius

Although the Honda Insight was the first hybrid to go on sale in North America in 2000, the Prius was the world's first mass-produced hybrid when it was offered in Japan in 1997. It's come a long way, but has it come enough, especially when it faces so much competition today? Find out in my review over at Autofocus.ca.

In review: 2014 Toyota Highlander

The popular Highlander is all-new for 2014, and I was hoping that would include the seats - I found them very uncomfortable on the last-generation model when I drove one to Kentucky. Find out how that went in my review over at Autofocus.ca.

AutoConnect: The future is here!

If you're going to the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, don't miss the AutoConnect display, which shows off some of the latest safety and connectivity features. Check it out in my photo gallery over at Autofocus.ca.

In review: 2014 Toyota Corolla

Is a hybrid always the best way to save money? The answer is "not necessarily." Find out why in my review of the all-new 2014 Toyota Corolla over at the Toronto Star.

In review: 2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Toyota's Highlander is a popular choice with many people, especially since it comes with three rows of seats. For those who prefer gasoline-electric, there's also a hybrid version. It's nice enough, but it's pricey, and I didn't get the mileage I figured I'd get. Read more over at Sympatico Autos.

Toyota Prius Plug-In: How it works

It looks like a regular Prius, and it runs as a hybrid just as the regular one does, but you can also plug it in and travel part of your route entirely on a household charge. Read all about it in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

Super stuff on safety ...

It's to the automakers' credit that they can get people to buy safety features, even though these buyers may not actually know what they are, or how they work. There's a new website called Brain On Board, which explains many of them, along with myth-busting some common misconceptions. Check it out 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 Toyota Avalon: Perfect for a long-distance drive

The Toyota Avalon is one of those low-key cars that many people think isn't even around anymore. But it is, and there's a new version for 2013 that's even better than the model it replaces - and that one was a lovely car to drive. Read all about it at Sympatico Autos by clicking here.

A look at the Toyota Prius Plug-In

Toyota spent its first hybrid years convincing people you didn't have to plug in the Prius; now, it has to explain that yes, you can. I drove the Prius Plug-In, an extended-range model that runs on battery only from a stored charge and then reverts to hybrid mode when that runs out. Read all about it in the Toronto Star by clicking here.

Plugging in a Prius ...

I spent a week with the new Toyota Prius Plug-In, which as its name suggests can be plugged into a wall. The car will run on that stored charge and then, once it depletes, return to normal hybrid operation. Read all about it in my Sympatico Autos review by clicking here.

A look at Toyota's Prius C

I've never been terribly found of the Toyota Prius, but I must admit that its little brother, the Prius C, was more fun than I thought it would be. Read all about it in my Toronto Star review by clicking here.

The Atkinson cycle: Old technology on modern cars

You've probably heard of the Atkinson cycle, a common feature on engines in hybrid vehicles, but do you know what it is? Find out in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

A look at the 2012 Toyota Tacoma

Toyota sent me out to drive the Tacoma pickup truck, which has received some updates for 2012. They're relatively minor; the main point was to remind buyers that as many automakers leave the compact truck market, the Tacoma's still around. You can read all about it in the Toronto Star by clicking here.

In review: 2011 Toyota Sienna

Few people will ever long for a minivan, but for hauling crowds, nothing beats them. I drove the redesigned Toyota Sienna from Ontario to Pennsylvania and came away very impressed. You can read all about it in Autos.ca by clicking here.

In review: 2011 Scion xB - "The Toaster"

 I'm not the target audience, but overall, I liked the Scion xB anyway - the car that's better known as "The Toaster" to its fans. Read all about it at Autos.ca by clicking here.

A look at Toyota's hybrid safety

 Safety is a major factor for hybrids, both for drivers and for those who work on them and those who may have to extract people from them should they crash. I have a look at Toyota's safety measures in Metro; you can find the story by clicking here.

A look at Toyota's Star Safety System

In Metro, I have a look at Toyota's Star Safety System and what it contains. You can read about Toyota by clicking here.

In review: 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser

I have a look at the Toyota FJ Cruiser in the Toronto Star; you can read all about it by clicking here.

Driving the plug-in Toyota Prius

I had a chance to cruise around Vancouver for an hour in a plug-in Toyota Prius test vehicle. You can read all about it by clicking here.

A first look at Scion in Canada

In the Toronto Star, I have a look at Scion's introduction into Canada - not so much the cars themselves, but on the way Toyota is marketing them to a new generation of buyers. You can find it by clicking here.

A first look at Toyota's new 2011 Avalon

On today's Canadian Driver, I have a "first-drive" of the redesigned 2011 Toyota Avalon, which you can find by clicking here.

To Kentucky and back in a recalled Toyota

I fulfilled my lifelong dream of going to the Kentucky Derby last weekend, and did it in a Toyota specifically chosen because it was affected by the recall for the accelerator pedal.

Needless to say, I made it there and back in one piece; you can read about my adventure by clicking here.

You can also see my photos over here; click on each one to see them individually.

NHTSA vs Toyota: Faster than a speeding bullet!

In the news today: the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, plans to seek the maximum penalty of $16.375 million against Toyota for its sticky accelerator pedals. The government agency claims that the automaker didn't send notification of the safety defect on time; such notices must be sent within five business days.

NHTSA is saying that Toyota knew about the problems as early as September 29, 2009, and if that's true, then there should be stiff penalties: you can't keep quiet about safety recalls.

But what I found unusual is that NHTSA launched its investigation into the scope and timeliness of the recalls on February 16, 2010. And on April 5, 2010, having received 70,000 pages of documents from Toyota, NHTSA has decided to demand the penalty.

Counting weekends and holidays, that's 49 days. When in your life did you ever see a government agency move that fast?

On top of it, NHTSA is saying that September 29 is the day that Toyota sent recall repair procedures to 31 European countries and to Canada. Except that Toyota Canada says it received no such communication on that date.

I've heard a lot of rumblings about conspiracy theories -- that the U.S. government, having a substantial stake in two domestic automakers, wouldn't mind levelling or even tilting the playing field a little. And for the most part, I've treated such conspiracy theories as wishful thinking from the tinfoil-hat crowd.

Still, after just a month and a half of investigation, and NHTSA's statement that it's still looking through the 70,000 pages of documents, and an accusation that the Canadian arm says is incorrect ... well, if Toyota is guilty of the charges, it needs to have that and more levied against it. But it sure does seem like the U.S. government is accelerating more rapidly than I think I've ever seen before.

 

Toyota Tundra, and why perception isn't always reality

In the Toronto Star, I have an opinion piece on the gap between consumer perception and auto reality, which you can find by clicking here.

I also have a look at the 2010 Toyota Tundra, which you can find by clicking here.

Runaway cars: Not just Toyota's problem, it seems

There's an interesting report out today by Edmunds.com on the issue of unintended acceleration -- the problem Toyota is famously facing right now. The company looked at NHTSA data for the "Big Six" -- Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan and Toyota -- and found that every one has consumer complaints filed against them for unintended acceleration.

Toyota has the dubious distinction of leading the pack, though -- Edmunds says the number of complaints filed against it exceed the rest of the Big Six combined.

And while you might be tempted to say that it's because of the media exposure, it seems that there's more to it than that. Edmunds analyzed complaints filed before and after September 30, 2009 - since Toyota announced its safety advisory regarding potential floor mat interference on September 29, 2009. Looking at 2005 to 2010 models, Edmunds found 601 complaints filed after the advisory went out and the media scuffle began. But in nearly five years prior to the advisory, Toyota had 532 complaints.

Toyota's rate of complaints was the highest, at 4.81 per 100,000 vehicles sold. Ford was second at 3.12, followed by Chrysler at 1.72, Honda at 1.46, Nissan at 1.07, and GM at 0.81.

What's going on here? I expected the numbers to jump when the media got hold of the story, especially since some of it bordered on the ridiculous (people sobbing on camera in front of vehicles not connected to any of the recalls, and the Toronto Star running a photo of a woman who now carries a rosary in her car after it jumped a curb) and all manner of Nervous Nellies and Lawsuit Larrys came out of the closet. But the numbers didn't change all that drastically from the years when no one made a fuss about it, and now it seems that Toyota isn't alone.

Maybe cost-cutting has gone too far. After all, we've got expensive systems like anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control and TPMS mandated or about to be mandated on every vehicle; we've got power accessories and fancy stereos pretty much across the board; and people still want their cars to cost $15,000. You don't get something -- or in this case, everything -- for nothing, and maybe that's the root of the problem.

A drive in the Chevrolet Volt, and a look at Sienna

In today's Toronto Star, I have a look at what it's like to drive the Chevrolet Volt -- a short trip, but a stint behind the wheel nevertheless. It can be found here.

I also have a review of the Toyota Sienna minivan, visible over here.

Toyota's recall woes: what's needed is perspective

I did a series of radio program interviews for CBC today on the subject of Toyota's recalls: specifically, I was asked what drivers should do if their accelerator pedals stick while they're driving.

From there, each interviewer went straight to the next issue - Toyota now has an issue with its brakes. So what should drivers do when their brakes fail?

Toyota has an engineering problem, but that's nothing compared to its public perception problem. From the initial reports on the Prius, it appears to be a case of a blip when driving over broken pavement. But these interviewers -- and no doubt, writers and interviewers in many more outlets -- were making it sound as if Prius owners everywhere are applying the brakes and nothing's happening.

One of the interviewers sounded genuinely surprised when he asked me if I'd be concerned about driving a Toyota, and I told him "of course not." He was also very surprised when I explained -- as I did on each interview -- that even though your car is subject to a recall, it's highly unlikely it will ever actually experience the problem that's being fixed.

Caution is one thing; panic is another, and it burns me to see people blowing this way out of proportion. Owners need to be aware of the recalls, but they don't need to be scared shirtless.

And if you're not sure how a recall works, click here.

 

The lawsuits: It was just a matter of time

So the sharks are circling: a pair of New York law firms have started a class action suit against Toyota for the recalls on its vehicles. They're trying to cover everyone in the U.S. who owns a vehicle affected by the recall (which doesn't necessarily mean it's affected by the primary problem of the sticking accelerator pedal, of course).

The lawsuit contends that the owners of these vehicles lost the use of them, and also sustained, among other things, economic losses and severe emotional distress.

The mind just ... well, it boggles.

In review: 2010 Toyota Sienna

On today's Canadian Driver, I have a review of the 2010 Toyota Sienna, which you can find by clicking here.

Toyota 4Runner, and a car that runs on whale oil

In today's Toronto Star, I have a look at the all-new 2010 Toyota 4Runner, which you can find by clicking here.

I also have an opinion piece on who really makes the decisions on environmentally-friendly vehicles -- including the whale oil and crushed kitten editions -- available here.

In review: Toyota Tundra

On today's Canadian Driver, I have a review of the 2010 Toyota Tundra, which you can find by clicking here.

In review: 2010 Toyota Prius

On today's Canadian Driver, I have a review of the 2010 Toyota Prius, which you can access by clicking here.

Why, yes, I knew that ...

I make a habit out of reading the owner's manual of every car I test-drive. It's mostly to learn about the car, and partly to assemble my annual "Auto Funnies" column -- 2007 is here, and 2008 is over here.

These manuals are intended to inform people who don't know anything about their cars. So I could only shake my head when I read this in the Toyota Prius' manual:

Your vehicle must use only unleaded gasoline.Select octane rating 88 (Research Octane Number 92). Use of unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 88 may result in engine knocking. At minimum, the gasoline you use should meet the specifications of ASTM D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB3.5-M93 in Canada.

Why, yes, thank you, that's much clearer!

Toyota Canada Motor Skills Clinic

I have a story on the Toyota Canada Motor Skills Clinic on Canadian Driver, which you can find by clicking here.

This is an Aston Martin?

This is an Aston Martin. Well, it might be soon, if all goes according to plan.

The car shown here is actually the Toyota iQ, a subcompact the company sells in Japan and Europe. But Aston Martin -- and this is not a joke -- has produced a concept vehicle from it, which it calls the Cygnet.

According to the company, should the project go ahead, Aston Martin will sell a luxury version of this little machine, "akin to an exclusive tender to a luxury yacht," according to the CEO.

If ever you needed proof that the auto world's been turned on its head, I don't think you can do any better than this.

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.

Toyota Motor Skills Clinic: Helping patients relearn the road

In today's Toronto Star, I have a story on the Toyota Motor Skills Clinic, which is used to help rehabilitation patients relearn how to get in and out of a vehicle, and navigate different road and sidewalk surfaces. You can read 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.