The Weekly Driver Podcast

With the end of one year and the beginning of another, it's always a good time to look back at what happened in the automotive world in the past 12 months and pick cars of the year.

It was an ideal time to be part of an industry in 2018. Alternative fuels, ride-sharing platforms, alternative fuel, and the increasing interest in vintage cars and trucks. It was a whirlwind year.

The Genesis G80 and G90 are among TheWeeklyDriver.com's Cars of the Year.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia recap the year in Episode #67 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We focus on the top-10 cars of the year I selected as editor and publisher of www.theweeklydriver.com.

Most industry publications and organizations select vehicles of the year in the preceding calendar year. At the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, the 2019 Genesis G70 received several car-of-the-year awards. Genesis is deserving of praise, but its accolades follow the long-time practice of honoring cars too early.

We discuss the best cars of the year at the end of the year. It seems more logical to have time to consider all vehicles and add perspective to the selections. My selections for 2018 were chosen from estimated 40 cars and trucks I reviewed in 2018.

The Weekly Driver encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friend and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts.

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Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All episodes of the podcast are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform:

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The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.

Welcome to another episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast, our last broadcast in 2018 and our 66th episode.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia interview Ian Sweeney and Julie Blackley.

The Weekly Driver Podcast #66 reports on on-demand insurance and best end-of-the-year new car deals.

Sweeney is General Manager of Trov Mobility based in Danville, California. He explains the company's motto:

"Insurance billed by second, day, mile, event. . . . whatever you need."

The on-demand insurance company found that 56 percent of 2,000 respondents in a recent survey believe it’s more economical to use shared transportation than own a vehicle.

Not surprisingly Millennials, ages 22-37, (39 percent) are more likely to be willing to make the sacrifice than their Gen X, ages 38-53, (30 percent) and Boomer, ages 54-72, (15

percent) counterparts.

Men (31 percent) are slightly more likely to be willing to give up their vehicle than women (22 percent).

Blackley is an analyst for iseecars.com, the online automotive search engine and research website. She's our second guest on this week's episode. As she was during her first appearance, Blackley is whirlwind of automotive statistics.

This time, as she details, “the site looked at the used cars that have the most year-end deals, and also did a deeper analysis to include SUVs, pickups and discontinued/soon-to-be discontinued cars."

To find out, iSeeCars analyzed more 2.4 million one-to five-year-old used cars sold to determine which cars are most likely to offer savings of at least 5 percent (or $1,000 on the average used car price of $20,243) during the month of December.

Blackley details that sedans are most likely to be discounted by at least 5 percent at the end of the year. Eight of the 10 vehicles on the list are a sedan, with six compact cars.

The Weekly Driver encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friend and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All episodes of the podcast are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform:

Google Play

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher

The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.

Welcome to the latest episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We have a two-part broadcast with an entrepreneur from Australia and a discussion with an insurance industry analyst about driving hazards during holiday travel.

Our first guest is Ian Davidson, the co-founder of GOFAR. It's a telematics device that connects vehicles to the cloud.

Winter weather increases potential driving hazards.

Named one of the "Top 10 Coolest things in the world" by GQ magazine, we reach Davidson in Sydney. He discusses with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia how the product works and its global appeal in dozens of countries. It’s available on Amazon here:

GOFAR - The easiest way to log business mileage

Davidson shares his experiences with the product, public feedback and upgrades planned for the device the help drivers collect data about their driving habits.

Our second guest is Jason Hargraves an analyst and managing editor of InsuranceQuotes.com in Austin, Texas.

According to the company's new data in its Holiday Hazards study, many Americans report increased risks during the holiday season, including more potential hazards while driving.

We discuss with Hargraves precautionary tips for drivers during the holiday season as well as insurance rules reminders for those who have experienced car thefts of holiday packages and other problems.

Hargraves also details travel tips for drivers traveling during the holidays in inclement weather.

“The holiday season is a time of year filled with joy as we gather with loved ones, but unfortunately, it’s also a time filled with risk," said Hargraves. “Taking preventative steps in advance, like using the Amazon Key, is a simple way to keep burglars at bay while avoiding the headache of losing holiday gifts.”

The study was conducted in November for insuranceQuotes.com among a sample of 1,001 respondents.

The Weekly Driver encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friend and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts.

Support our podcast by shopping on Amazon.com.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All episodes of the podcast are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform:

Google Play

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher

The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.

Welcome to another episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. In this week's two-part presentation, we recap the recently concluded LA Auto Show and we discuss drivers' habits during the holidays with Laura Adams of DriversEd.com.

As the first major auto show of the year, the LA Auto Show is always chock-full of innovation. This year was no different. Two concept vehicles, Byton and Rivian, both soon scheduled for their public debuts, attracted a lot of attention.

The Rivian concept is an all-electric SUV with 0-60 mph speed in 3.0 seconds and a 400-mile range. The new company also has an all-electric pickup. Image © James Raia/2018.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss the Byton and its building reputation as a potential rival for Tesla. And we also exchange ideas on Rivian. It plans on debuting the first electric pick-up truck as well as an SUV with the next year. The Rivian models are being touted with 0-60 mph acceleration in 3.0 second and in higher-priced trims with respective ranges of 400 miles. In the second half go the episode, Bruce and James  discuss with Adams the results of the online driving school's recent survey drivers' habits during the holiday season.

A repeat guest, Adams is a statistical whirlwind. We discuss some of the surprising and not-so-surprising statistics covering a range of driving situations during the holidays: office parties to New's Years and Uber to marijuana use while driving.

A few key numbers from the company's latest survey: 67 percent of Americans said they feel less safe on the road during the holiday season. And 23 percent of those who responded to the survey admit to drinking more alcohol during the holiday season than they do during other times of the year.

“The unfortunate reality is that every year come holiday time, there’s more drinking, and there’s more drinking and driving, which leads to more accidents and more deaths,” said Adams, a safety and education analyst. “The solution is actually simple: if you’re drinking, arrange for someone else to drive or call for an Uber, Lyft or taxi. Period. Any death caused by drinking and driving is a death that was entirely preventable.”

The Weekly Driver encourages and appreciates feedback from our listeners. Please forward episode links to family, friend and colleagues. And you are welcome to repost links from the podcast to your social media accounts.

Please send comments and suggestions for new episodes to James Raia via email: [email protected].

All episodes of the podcast are archived on www.theweeklydriver.com/podcast

Every episode is also available on your preferred podcast platform:

Google Play

iTunes

Spotify

Stitcher

The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.

Day 3 of the LA Auto Show was the last of the Media Days. The public show opened its 10-day run today (Nov. 30) and will continue through Dec. 9.

A handful of vehicles attracted a vast amount of attention, and representatives of two of those companies are our guests on Episode #63 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

The Rivian Concept pick-up truck and SUV are potential competitors for Tesla and were featured at the LA Auto Show. Images © James Raia/2018

Bruce Aldrich produced the show remotely from interviews I had from the show. Our guests are Kevin Smith, a Senior Group Manager of Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility for Genesis, and Sethu Gopal, Senior Director of Connected Car and Digital Experience for Rivian.

A third guest, a communications director for Polaris, did not make his scheduled interview.

A huge sign on the front of Los Angeles Convention announced the 2019 Genesis G70 as the MotorTrend Car of the Year. The entry-level luxury sedan has received several honors and it's likely to receive several more.

Smith and I discuss the reasons for the debut vehicle's success. He provides details of the two additional sedans in the Genesis lineup and plans for the now three-year-old brand's future vehicles.

Rivian, the concept all-electric pick-up truck and sport utility vehicle, has often been touted as a pending competitor to Tesla.

The company was founded nearly 10 years ago by Mainstream Motors in Florida. Its name was changed to Avera and now Rivian. It has two concepts at the LA Auto Show, the R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV.

Gopal discusses the company's plans for the production of the vehicle. He also details some of the specs for the uniquely designed machines: a 400-plus mile range, 0-60 miles per hour times in 3.0 seconds and 11,000-pound towing capacities.

Revisit our earlier podcasts from this year's LA Auto Show via the links below:

Day 1: Byton Concept, Airstream

Day 2: Cadillac, Baja 1000, Prestone

In addition to its availability on this website, the Weekly Driver Podcast is also available on iTunes.

All episodes of our podcasts are also archived on this website, TheWeeklyDriver.com.

We welcome your comments and episode suggestions. Please also consider forwarding episode links to family, friends and colleagues and reposting on social media platforms.

The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.

Welcome to Day 2 of The Weekly Driver Podcast's special coverage of AutoMobility LA and the LA Auto Show.

Today (Nov. 28) was the opening day for media previews of new car debuts, and it didn't disappoint. While co-host Bruce Aldrich produced Episode No. 62 remotely, James Raia (your other co-host) was reporting from the showroom halls of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Cadillac showcased its new SUV, the XT4, at LA Auto Show. Image © James Raia/2018.

We have three guests. Phil Zak is the exterior designer for Cadillac. He explains the enduring brand's continuing transition into the SUV segment, particularly the new XT4. We also discuss Cadillac's continuing pursuit to appeal to younger buyers. And we also talk about the recent announcement of GM's decision to shut down several production plants and discontinue a half-dozen cars, including two Cadillac models.

Our second guest is Josh McGuckin. With a team of more than 20 people and a co-driver, McGuckin completed the Baja 1,000 in 2017 and plans to do it again next year. The Volkswagen Beetle McGuckin's drove in the event was part of the homage to Volkswagen in the Technology Pavilion during AutoMobility LA.

Several dozen vintage VW Beetles were on display during Beetles & Breakfast, a celebration of the iconic brand. The 2019 model is the last production year for the Beetle.

And in the closing segment, The Weekly Driver Podcast talks with Steven Clancy, the president of Prestone. It's the more than 90-year company famous for its anti-freeze and coolant.

Clancy and I discuss the company's new product and how the company has adapted to new needs in the automotive industry.

In addition to its availability on this website, the Weekly Driver Podcast is also available on iTunes.

All episodes of our podcasts are also archived on this website, TheWeeklyDriver.com.

We welcome your comments and episode suggestions. Please also consider forwarding episode links to family, friends and colleagues and reposting on social media platforms.

The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.

Welcome to our special podcast episodes from AutoMobility LA and the Los Angeles Auto Show.

For the past few years, AutoMobility LA has showcased the ever-advancing technology in the automotive world. Our first episode is direct from the technology tent on the eve of the opening day of the traditional show.

The Byton concept SUV has a 49-inch touchscreen interface. Image © James Raia/2018

Co-host Bruce Aldrich is producing the show remotely, but James Raia (that's me) will be reporting live from the showroom floor for three days. We'll start with two diverse guests, Florian Bauer from the concept electric vehicle Byton and Jeremy Levi, a sales consultant for Airstream.

Bauer is director of product management for Byton. It's considered a pending top competitor for Tesla and it's about year from its debut in China, where its financial backing is located.

If Byton's future advances as planned, the M-Byte crossover and E-Byte sedan will debut to the American public via its U.S. base in Santa Clara, California in June 2020.

Bauer and I discuss the unique Byton features. With an advertised base price of $45,000, the Byton is marketed for drivers and passenger to operate the vehicle or controls some of its features with Amazon Alexa voice commands or hand gestures.

The command operation is a touchscreen that extends the entire length of the dash. It’s 49 inches long and 10 inches high. The seats in the spacious SUV swivel so passengers can face each other.

Levi discusses the new fully connected Airstream Classic. With all-new Smart Control Technology, the Airstream Classic’s most important features and amenities can be monitored and controlled from anywhere. Travelers can stay connected to the comforts of home, even when far from it.

In addition to its availability on this website, the Weekly Driver Podcast is also available on iTunes.

All episodes of our podcasts are also archived on this website, TheWeeklyDriver.com.

We welcome your comments and episode suggestions. Please also consider forwarding episode links to family, friends and colleagues and reposting on social media platforms.

The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.

Ray Elliott of Los Gatos, California has been a tow truck driver in the Silicon Valley for more 20 years. He witnesses stupidity on the freeway daily.

Elliott has arrived on the scene of every kind of accident imaginable, sometimes before law enforcement personnel or first responders. He has seen fender benders and death.

Ray Elliott, a veteran tow truck driver in the San Francisco Bay Area, filming the accident in which he's about to be involved. Video image courtesy of Ray Elliott.

As a former paramedic, Elliott has helped saved lives at accidents. He's seen so much go wrong, he decided years ago to document much of his daily work life on a website titled. idiotsontheinterstate.com.

Elliott is our guest on Episode #60 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Elliott his website and its varied video content. The videos are raw and done with Elliott's smartphone.

Elliott's opinions often criticize the poor habits of drivers, the public to police officers. Some of the videos are less than one minute in length. Other videos last several minutes.

One video shows Elliott's tow truck colliding with a van after the latter makes an illegal right-hand turn. Elliott's reaction is "priceless." The story behind the accident is explained in the podcast episode.

The Weekly Driver Podcast became aware of Elliott when he sent me a letter after reading one of my Sunday columns in the San Jose Mercury.

The letter began:

"I am a exceptionally experienced tow truck driver in Silicon Valley, and I am the publisher of the website idiotsontheinterstate.com. I see and write about all the crappy engineering that comes my way every day."

In another section, while commenting on the smart keys/fobs, electric brakes and the overall poor quality of engineering, Elliott wrote:

"I could go on and on about the piss-poor engineering I see on a daily basis.  Much of it actually can endanger my life.  I have to figure out how to disengage or override theses gizmos in the most dangerous of situations in the most dangerous places. Things that were once simple are now overly complicated and can become very dangerous for both me, the tow driver, and the occupants of the vehicle."

Elliott doesn't have advertising on his website. He said he created the site as a public service. And it also provides a way for a veteran tow truck driver to vent.

In addition to its availability on this website, the Weekly Driver Podcast is also available on iTunes.

All episodes of our podcasts are also archived on this website, TheWeeklyDriver.com.

We welcome your comments and episode suggestions. Please also consider forwarding episode links to family, friends and colleagues and reposting on social media platforms.

The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.

The LA Auto Show began more 100 years ago and it's always changed with trends in the automotive industry: pick-up trucks to alternative fuel vehicles.

This year's show, scheduled Nov. 29-Dec. 10 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will be no different. More than 60 vehicles are confirmed to make their North American or global debuts.

Manufacturer specialists, once known as Sirens, are an enduring tradition of the LA Auto Show.

Lefteris "Lefty" Tsironis, the show's marketing and communications director, is our guest on episode #59 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

Tsironis takes co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia through the show, concepts to the increase of Chinese manufacturers to the enduring tradition of manufacturers' ambassadors, once known as sirens.

One of the most prominent components of the industry, the advancing importance of technology in the industry, will be the focus of AutoMobility LA. It's the preceding press and trade portion of the show, beginning Nov. 26.

Manufacturers' continued emphasis on technology, autonomous driving and alternative fuel vehicles will be feature in the the four-day show.

Toyota plans to launch five new vehicles, including special editions and hybrid models.

Volkswagen has confirmed both global and North American unveilings, including an electric concept and GTI and Beetle special editions. Toyota is launching five new vehicles, including hybrid and special edition models. Subaru will also have multiple introductions, including a plug-in hybrid.

Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Nissan, Porsche, Volvo and several other marques have confirmed model introductions for AutoMobility LA. Carmakers debuting vehicles at AutoMobility LA will also have their new vehicles available during the public show.

Tickets, parking availability, confirmed manufacturers and other details of the show are available via the web site, www.laautoshow.com.

In addition to its availability on this website, the Weekly Driver Podcast is also available on iTunes.

All episodes of our podcasts are also archived on this website, TheWeeklyDriver.com.

We welcome your comments and episode suggestions. Please also consider forwarding episode links to family, friends and colleagues and reposting on social media platforms.

The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.

Mike Quincy is an expert among car experts. For nearly 20 years, he's purchased, driven and evaluated cars for Consumer Reports.

The well-respected magazine and website has tested vehicles for decades, and it's considered the automotive industry's most objective resource.

Lexus took the top spot in the 2018 Consumer Reports' reliability survey. Image © Bruce Aldrich/2018

Mike is our guest on episode #58 of The Weekly Driver podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Mike the publication's recently released Most Reliable and Least Reliable vehicle lists for 2018.

As Mike details, Consumer Reports purchases all of its test vehicles. The publication’s annual reliability survey analyzes data in 17 areas from more than 500,000 vehicles. Areas for potential problems include interior wear-and-tear, transmission repairs and squeaky brakes.

Predictable results occur in the survey, so do surprises.

Volvo was the least reliable car in this year's tabulations. The reason: The Swedish-made, Chinese-owned manufacturer dropped six places from last year and had an average reliability score of 22.

Tesla, which dropped six positions in the survey, had an average score of 32. The Model S had a below-average rating following suspension problems and a door handle issue.

This year, Toyota and its luxury sibling Lexus, reversed positions. Lexus got the top spot, with a reliability score of 78 and had six models in the study.

In addition to Consumer Reports’ results, Mike also shares with us his personal opinions about his favorite and not-so-favorite vehicles.

And he also answers the question Consumer Reports receives more than any other inquiry. He tells us what happens to the vehicles after they’re evaluated.

In addition to its availability on this website, the Weekly Driver Podcast is also available on iTunes, Stitcher and Podtail

All episodes of our podcasts are also archived on this website, TheWeeklyDriver.com.

We welcome your comments and episode suggestions. Please also consider forwarding episode links to family, friends and colleagues and reposting on social media platforms.

The Weekly Driver Podcast is presented by www.americanmuscle.com.