I remember a time when you could purchase a decently equipped NEW car (1970’s definition) for right around $4,000 with a monthly payment spreading out over 36 months of about $140/month.  To be fair, decently equipped in the mid 1970’s was a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, single speaker AM/FM radio and an electric rear window defogger.  Also worthy of note, build quality was spotty for EVERYBODY – even the Japanese at the time, and a vehicle with 100,000 miles on the odometer was overdue at the junkyard.  Today is very different all the way around.  The average transaction price is hovering around $50,000 with monthly payments and payment plans extending well into the future.  Is this the edge of vehicle affordability?  

The Volkswagen Jetta was launched by the automaker in 1980 to fill a sedan niche slightly above the firm’s Golf (then known in the States as the Rabbit), hatchback.  Sold globally and known by variety of model names, the Jetta has grown in size and power with each generation.  With millions sold over its model run, the Volkswagen Jetta continues to be popular with motorists.  

The performance-oriented Jetta GLI was first introduced into the American marketplace for the 1984 model year. After the successful launch of the Golf GTI – or as it was known here, the Rabbit GTI – Volkswagen decided to create a similar sporty version of the Jetta. Unlike the Golf GTI, the top-of-the-line Jetta had a four-door option, seating for five and a spacious trunk, which better fit the needs of the average American family.  Now in its seventh generation, I consider its position in the American marketplace from behind the wheel. 

Every 31 seconds, a car gets stolen in America.  Since the Ford F-150 pickup truck has been the most popular vehicle sold in the country for over 40 years, it makes sense to surmise that many of those thefts would be of the popular truck.  Now Ford is offering new F-150 owners a mobile app engine immobilizer as part of its new Ford Security Package.  We review. 

Coffee.   Regular or decaf(!), black, or with cream and/or sugar, hot or iced, fancy or not.  Everybody has a preference.  As for me, regular hot coffee with a dash of half and half with PLENTY of sugar!  Speaking of preference, it seems that Gen Z is on a different page – as a group, they like it cold, sweet, and loaded with creamer.  IS NOTHING SACRED?  We look at how the coffee industry is pivoting to this new reality. 

When it comes to purchasing a vehicle at your local car dealership, the usual interaction with the dealership’s F&I Department (that stands for Finance and Insurance) is once the deal has been made and financing is being discussed.  However, there are additional new products available that they want to sell you at vehicle purchase.  We review some of the offerings.  

According to a recent article in Scientific American magazine, the rates of fatal crashes and crime are both LOWER on public transportation than on roadways.  While there is a common perception in the United States that taking public transit is dangerous, the truth is quite the opposite.  We discuss. 

Are you a deep fake?  Your local new car dealer wants to know, especially before selling you a car.  It seems that modern scammers are using artificial intelligence to replicate voices and faces in calls and videos, opening up a new realm of auto finance fraud.  This is particularly troublesome in what the industry calls "off-site deliveries", that is, vehicle deliveries that do not happen at the dealership itself.  

Since starting my radio show back in 2017, I have talked about a number of new and promising EV start-ups, some are still around, some have faded from memory and some, like Rivian, are thriving.  Faraday Future, a company that introduced its first prototypes to the world at CES back in 2017, is one such company.  I have detailed their ups and downs, each time it seems that it was dead for sure, it comes back to life.  Well, its back again,  we discuss.  

The American dealership landscape tells an equally compelling story of strategic consolidation. While Detroit automakers trim their franchise networks, remaining dealers achieve significantly higher sales volumes—particularly luxury brands seeking exclusive retail experiences. Toyota leads with an astonishing 1,607 vehicles per dealership annually (triple the industry average), demonstrating how fewer, more focused retail locations can drive exceptional performance.

Nissan continues defying industry trends with its commitment to sedan models. The 2025 Altima offers impressive value at $30,330 (with AWD) in a market where average transaction prices approach $50,000. Though solidly built with exceptional headlights and generous cargo capacity, the vehicle reveals its aging platform through absent modern features and surprisingly antiquated controls straight from the 1980s.