The Weekly Driver Podcast

Chuck Woodbury, editor and publisher of the RVTravel.com, the industry's largest and most prestigious online publication, is a full-time RVer and an industry advocate. But Woodbury says RV buyers must beware.

The RV industry, with record sales in 2017, needs to better protect the best interests of buyers.

The RV industry needs to better protect the interests buyers, according to Chuck Woodbury, editor and publisher of RVTravel.com.

Woodbury, an author, internationally renowned RV industry expert and the host of the best-selling Better Business Bureau DVD, “Buying a Recreational Vehicle,” is the guest on episode 25 of The Weekly Driver Podcast.

"There's no international organization anymore that looks out for the interest of RVers," says Woodbury. "There's nobody back in Washington, D.C., or in state legislatures lobbying for lemon laws for RVers. The only lobbying that's going on is against lemon laws. The dealers and the manufacturers do not want lemon laws. It means they have to build better RVs or take them back and they don't want to do that."

According to Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) in Reston, Va., wholesale shipments increased 17.2 percent in 2017 from the previous year. Motorhome shipments increased 14.4 percent last year from 2016 totals.

But while industry sales highlight the industry's boom, it's also fostered growing concerns of decreasing manufacturing quality.

"To me, it's a huge problem," says Woodbury, who frequently receives letters from readers of his website and RV Travel Newsletter about catastrophic issues. "I am probably the only voice out there who is trying to get the companies to do something more to improve their products."

Woodbury, who's traveled throughout the world as an RVer for more than 30 years, believes manufacturers and dealers entice potential buyers with increasingly advanced equipment and furnishing and with low long-term financing. But it's rarely in the best interests of customers.

"Many of manufacturers today do not even to do a final inspection before the RVs off to dealers," Woodbury warns. "It's up to the dealers to find problems. Some dealers will go and look through their inventory find problems. Other dealers just look the other way."

Further troublesome is a lack of qualified assistance for RVers whose vehicles need repair.

"There's a huge shortage of RV technicians, says Woodbury. "Generally, the dealers don't pay very well, so it can be very difficult to get an RV fixed. We hear horror stories all the time about people buying RVs riddled with defects. It can take months to get an RV repaired. I feel sorry for people who have paid $100,000 or $200,000 or a new RV and they can't use it."

In addition to discussing the industry’s shortcomings, Woodbury also discusses new trends in RV industry, the increase of different groups buying RVs and other changes in the RV community.

Eric Wohlberg spent more than a decade traveling around the world to compete on two wheels. He participated in three Summer Olympics for Canada and won multiple cycling national individual time trial titles and stage races.

But Wohlberg, 53, of San Jose, in his sixth year as a director for the Rally Cycling Team, now prefers four-wheel transportation. He often travels to the team's camp and its races in the United States and his native country while driving one of his two vintage cars.

Eric Wohlberg and his beloved 1964 Buick LeSabre estate wagon. Images © James Raia/2018

Since 1990, Wohlberg has owned a 1965 Mustang Fastback. For his 50th birthday, he purchased a 1964 Buick LeSabre estate station wagon.

“I think every man over the age 50 should be driving a Buick of some sort,” Wohlberg said recently during the team’s recent pre-season training camp along beachfront property in Oxnard. “It’s a rite of passage.”

The well-worn interior of Eric Wohlberg's 1964 Buick LeSabre estate wagon.

“Right now, that wagon is driving down property values. The place where it’s parked in front of is for sale, so that house is probably going for $15,000 or $20,000 less. I am sure the owner will be happy when it’s not there.”

Wohlberg’s interest in vintage cars and their repairs dates to his youth. He was raised on a wheat farm in Saskatchewan where his family had to be self-sufficient. His father led the way.

The creatively done, makeshift engine of the Eric Wohlberg's 1964 Buick LeSabre estate wagon.

“If something broke, you had to fix it; that’s all there is to it,” said Wohlberg. “I just had that same farm-boy mentality. If something breaks, you do your best to fix it. Sometimes it might break a little worse when you are trying to fix it. But that’s how it goes. It’s a never-say-die attitude.”

Wohlberg is humble. While not equipped at his home to do total rebuilds, but he knows his cars well and does most of the repairs.

Monterey Auto Week, the yearly international pilgrimage in August to all things automotive is among Wohlberg’s favorite weeks of the year. He camps on the beach in the station wagon with his girlfriend and absorbs the car culture.

“It’s amazing the attention my car gets down there,” Wohlberg said. “Once all the Lamborghinis and Ferraris are judged, I can score 9 1/2s and 10s with my station wagon. With my Mustang, people always want to know if it’s for sale. I’ve had a couple of offers for the wagon. It’s a beautiful wagon and they’re kind of coming back into style."

Wohlberg’s description ideally defines the term, “beauty in the eye of the beholder.”

The engine compartment is a collection of mismatched parts, the fodder of creative mechanics. The exterior is weathered. The interior is old and worn. The driver’s seat floor mat bears the image of a road runner. A religious figurine rest in the center of the dash, accompanied by a plastic toy rifle. What's not to like?

“It’s a fun old car; it’s a little rough," Wohlberg said. "It’s a 50 or maybe even a 100-footer. But it gets the job done. I can haul a lot of stuff in it. I beat it up; it’s perfect for the foul weather on highways 101 and 880.”

Autonomous cars, trucks and helicopters, drones and virtual reality technology are at the center of the current whirlwind of technology innovation. But personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs) are also increasingly abundant. They're compact, often foldable and easily transportable in boats, planes, automobiles and RVs.

They’re the scooters, simple bicycles and mopeds of yesteryear gone electric and grouped under the umbrella term “personal transporters.” And they're used as complementary transportation for travelers or stand-alone vehicles for leisure treks and short commutes.

Electric bikes and other personal mobility transportation systems were prominent at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Image  © Bruce Aldrich/2018

More than a dozen domestic and international PLEV companies, and at least two with agreements with Ford Motor Company, showcased their new machines at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Here are three examples of new mobility options, simple to futuristic-looking:

Headquartered in Fremont and manufactured in Ann Arbor, Mich., GenZe electric bikes (www.genze.com) include three ride modes, travel as much as 50 miles per charge and have a removable battery for portable recharging.

The Ujet electric scooter from Luxembourg has advanced technology and folds up into a case similar to the size of a carry-on suitcase. Image © Bruce Aldrich/2018

Bike lane and public transit friendly, GenZe electric bikes are legal transportation where conventional bicycles are legal. The e-bikes have a maximum speed of 18 miles per hour and include a 345 watt-hour lithium-ion battery. A display shows riders their current speed and battery charge level. Prices range from $1,599 to $1,899 and the bikes weigh 46 pounds. GenZe also has a lineup of electric scooters, starting at $2,999.

Available since last June, GenZe recently collaborated with Motivate International, the operator of the Bay Area’s regional bike share system, and Ford’s GoBike program. A fleet of 250 GenZe bikes will be added in April to the current e-bike network in San Francisco.

Riders can locate GenZe e-Bikes using the Ford GoBike application. Renting and returning the e-bikes from any location in San Francisco is available using Clipper smart card or mobile phone.

Ojo Scooters offered a variety of retro-styles scooters. Image © Bruce Aldrich/2018

Marketed as offering clean, sustainable and silent transportation for city dwellers, Ujet (www.ujet.com) debuted its lineup of electric scooters at CES. The futuristic design includes spoke-free wheels, a stealth frame, elaborate technology and weighs 31 pounds all in an easy-to-use foldable system.

Manufactured in Germany and headquartered Luxembourg, the Ujet is high-tech but easily transportable. The scooter includes a built-in HD dash camera, two USB ports as well as Bluetooth and GPS connectivity. The scooter can be paired with a smartphone using a telematics app, with wifi and 4G connectivity.

The Ujet scooter can mount two separate batteries. The smaller battery has a 43-mile range, the larger battery has a 93-mile range. The top speed is 28 miles per hour. Eco, normal and sport driving modes are offered, and the Ujet has a payload of 275 pounds. Costs range from $8,900-$9,900.

Technology makes the Ujet impressively user-friendly. The Android or iOS applications provide instructions for available parking. The app also monitors the scooter’s performance, including battery level, mileage and saved carbon dioxide emissions.

With a range of up to 50 miles, dual suspension and an array of retro designs, the Ojo electric scooter packs a lot into its stealthy aluminum frame.

Headquartered in Oxnard, Ojo scooters (www.ojoelectric.com) have a rigid construction for ride stabilization and a top speed of 20 miles per hour. An add-on battery doubles the range. There's a dashboard touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity to use with two embedded speakers. There’s also a built-in power cord that plugs into a standard wall outlet and recharges in five hours. The scooter costs $1,999.

Ford and Ojo representatives met a recent trade show, with the result a global licensing arrangement. The carmaker is at the forefront of mobility solutions, and one of its goals is having the owners of its vehicles traveling with an Ojo in the trunk.

Last summer, Alex Honnold became the first free solo climber to ascend El Capitan in Yosemite. The accomplishment resulted in international acclaim. Honnold appeared on magazine covers, as a guest on late night talk shows, and he continues to be a speaker in demand at trade shows and corporate meetings.

Despite his celebrity, Honnold prefers a simple life. He owns and shares a home in Las Vegas with his girlfriend. It’s a short distance from casino mecca and home of the Voetbalwedden headquarters. Another view from his front door highlights a favorite location, the varied, step climbing available at Red Rocks Canyon.

 

Climber Alex Honnold enjoys life on the road and the simplicity of traveling to train with the conveniences of portability  in his RAM ProMaster cargo van. All images © Bruce Aldrich/2018

But for six months a year, Honnold spends his life on the road in a RAM ProMaster cargo van. It’s equipped with a three-burner stove, and a horizontally positioned mattress across the back of the van. It has all the equipment necessary for the athlete often described as the world’s best mountain climber.

The RAM van is Honnold’s third mobile home. He “destroyed” his family’s van during his early nomadic lifestyle. He lived in a Ford Econoline van for years while honing his climbing skills. His current road companion on wheels is parked in the driveway at the end of a street in suburban Las Vegas.

Like his climbing proficiency, Honnold is expertly skilled in space management. He describes the middle of the van as a “living room.” The cabinets and draws are packed with essentials. There's a fingerboard across the inside top of the side door. It's where Honnold stretches and strengthens his fingers. The van and its simplicity are just as Honnold likes it.

In episode 22 of The Weekly Driver Podcast, hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia visit Alex Honnold at his home in Las Vegas. We revisit his climbing history, his life in Las Vegas and Honnold's favorite lifestyle — life on the road in a van.

Leigh Rutledge, a real estate executive in Sacramento, California, owns a rare Porsche — a 1956 Porsche 356 Cabriolet.

The car was made in the year Rutledge was born, and the model also corresponds to the month and year she was born.

In Episode 21 of The Weekly Driver Podcast, hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Rutledge her 27-year ownership of the unique Porsche. The car has had a hard-to-believe legacy.

Leigh Rutledge and her 1956 Porsche 356 Cabriolet. Images © Bruce Aldrich/2018.

A rare 1956 Porsche 356 Cabriolet.

Restored and stunning, a 1956 Porsche 356 Cabriolet.

Leigh Rutledge and her awards from her highly rewarded 1956 Porsche 356 Cabriolet.

Top up and Leigh Rutledge ready to go in her 1956 Porsche 356 Cabriolet.

Rutledge purchased the Porsche in 1990 after noticing it for sale on a 3x5 index card. But the Porsche wasn't much more than a collection of parts. The restoration began as a series of catastrophes, from unscrupulous “experts” to financial missteps.

But through the care and concern of several friends as well as her husband, Bill Hambrick (he’s also a vintage Porsche owner), Rutledge persevered. She now has one of what may be 20 known examples of the Cabriolet remaining.

Through the years, Rutledge has entered various car shows, and her Porsche has won every time. More than 350 vehicles were entered in one event.

Rutledge doesn’t drive her Porsche often, but when she does, it always attracts attention. About 1 1/2 years ago, Rutledge was contacted by a wannabe owner in Germany. The discussion didn’t advance past pleasantries.

Rutledge and Hambrick often attend Porsche functions in one of their vintage cars. But they’ve never driven their respective Porsches to the same event. Rutledge said the husband-wife team has discussed the possibilities, and their mini rally could happen this year.

Listen to our episode as Rutledge details the trials and tribulations of her Porsche ownership. She talks about rare parts and rave reviews. She shares the appreciation she has for the friend who is largely responsible for its restoration.

And she also reveals what her 1956 Porsche 356 Cabriolet is likely worth.

Thank you for listening to our podcast. We welcome your comments.

Every year, cars come and go. In 2018, nearly two dozen vehicles available in 2017 won't be available as new models. Some of the cars, like the Chevrolet Spark, have been failing for years. Some of the other departing vehicles, like the Honda Accord coupe, come as surprises.

In Episode 20 of The Weekly Driver Podcast, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia bid farewell to the departing vehicles. Some we'll miss. But for others, good riddance.

The Elio Motors three-wheel vehicle is failing before it was made.

With the new year upon us, we also look back on some of the popular topics in the auto industry during 2017.

What exactly will happen beginning January 1 with the new marijuana laws beging is anyone's guess. How will law enforcement officials handle motorists who have had to much to smoke?

No one was in the news more than Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla. We chat about his ongoing plans for the fastest production vehicle ever made as well as the delays in his long-promised everyman's Tesla.

Paul Elio, the owner of the fledgling three-wheel Elio, spent much of the year fending off criticism about his yet-to-be manufactured vehicle.

Elio has massive debt, lots of broken promises and a few pending lawsuits. He's also facing the likelihood his much-touted vehicle with its $7,400 price, 84 miles per gallon and 100 miles per hour estimates, will never be made.

Also in Episode 20, we share some of our "pet peeves." We answer the question why every car couldn't have rear window windshield wipers. And Bruce explains that drivers not using their blinkers is a not a new story and that it's perhaps me just getting old

We hope you enjoy the episode and we welcome your comments.

Sean O'Malley and David Aylor represent the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in Arlington, Virginia. Established in 1959, the IIHS is a non-profit organization that works to reduce motor vehicle deaths, crashes, injuries and property damage.

O'Malley, the senior test coordinator, and Aylor, the manager of active testing, work with colleagues to conduct research and produce ratings for mainstream passenger vehicles. The organization also researches and produces ratings for consumer products such as child car booster seats.

The IIHS, based in Arlington, Virginia, has been testing vehicles since 1959.

Additionally, the IIHS researches road design and traffic regulations.

In this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast, co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss the changing world of cars and trucks and how the organization views advancing technology.

O'Malley and Aylor detail how the organization rates vehicles, its relationship with automobile manufacturers and the future of autonomous driving.

"Basically, our goal is to reduce the losses on our highways, from deaths to injuries and property damage," O'Malley. "Through our research and crash testing our goal is to give consumers useful information on different technologies and road design.

"But I think most people recognize us from the ratings and our crash test dummies."

For more information, visit: www.iihs.org

We hope you enjoy this episode and we'd appreciate your feedback.

Carly Starr is the curator of the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento. She has incredible knowledge of the cars and trucks in the unheralded museum as well as its diverse outreach programs throughout the year.

The museum, located at 2200 Front St., opened in May 1987. It has more than 150 classic cars, race cars, trucks and rotating displays of different generations of vehicles from various regional clubs.

The California Automobile Museum is also unique among car museums. It selectively buys and sells vintage cars and trucks.

The California Automobile Museum in Sacramento opened in 1987. It has a varied collection of cars and trucks and specialty exhibits. Images © Bruce Aldrich/2017.

The California Automobile Museum in Sacramento has a wide variety of rare cars.

The California Automobile Museum has many examples of iconic automobile design.

The California Automobile Museum has a varied collection of cars and trucks.

During a recent visit to the museum, co-host Bruce Aldrich and I visited the museum, chatted with an outgoing docent and then interviewed Starr for The Weekly Driver Podcast. (Visit the episode at the bottom of this post.)

Starr’s detailed information and passion for the museum and cars is impressive, particularly since she admittedly said he had little knowledge of the automotive industry when he began her job about five years ago.

A graduate of UCLA with a bachelor's degree in history, Starr's career has included marketing, administration and specialty museum training. She was also a docent at the California State Railroad Museum.

We discussed the history of the 72,000 square-foot museum, its ownership legacy and its recent upgrades after extensive roof damage. Starr also shared some of the museum's plans for special events and the vehicles she hopes will soon join the museum's collection.

We talked a lot about cars, including the museum’s original donation and how the museum works in conjunction with the Sacramento community for special exhibits, parades and school visits.

The museum's automotive treasures are varied and include: a 1933 Lincoln KB once owned by Bank of America founder A.P. Giannini, Gov. Jerry Brown’s 1974 Plymouth Satellite, and a 1987 Lamborghini Contact 5000SQV previously owned by Malcolm Forbes.

Visit the museum’s website: www.calautomuseum.org for museum hours of operation, membership details and special attractions.

The Weekly Driver Podcast presents its 2017 best cars of year. It's the 11th annual compilation, previously published only on the TheWeeklyDriver.com. I reviewed 38 cars and trucks in 2017, and we choose the vehicles of the year based on value, safety, fuel efficiency, versatility and comfort. We only select cars or trucks we've driven. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I hash it out in episode 17.

Rod Buscher was in the car dealership business for 30 years. Now, he's the CEO of Blinker, the application that simplifies the car-buying and car-selling process. In Episode 16, we interview Buscher during the LA Auto Show. Also, we provide an overview of the show for its public viewing days, Dec. 1-10. And we discuss the fly-and-buy program offered by Volvo.