Thornton Race didn’t want his son, Rick, to be in danger as he motored to high school, so he provided a sturdy secondhand 1948 Willys Jeep station wagon. It was a strong, slow car, and ideal for a teenage driver. The steel-bodied vehicle had the nose of a military Jeep and was powered by a ...

Faced with stiff competition and an onslaught by crossover sport utility vehicles, the 2017 Mazda6 perseveres as a solid choice for anyone who values driving enjoyment along with the traditional virtues of a midsize four-door sedan. The Mazda6 enjoys a reputation for reliability and, in the ...

Toyota has marked 50 years of its stalwart and economical Corolla by giving it new styling and features and a nicer interior while keeping it under $20,000. The base model, the Corolla L starts, at $19,385, including the destination charge. It comes with a 132-horsepower four-cylinder engine ...

Dear Doctor: I purchased a 2015 Jeep Cherokee two years ago and it ran beautifully for 18 months. Then the check engine light came on, and the dealership told me it needed a new transmission. After the transmission was replaced it was fine when I drove it home. But the next morning I noticed ...

Jim Humlong, his father and his brother all owned different 1957 Pontiac vehicles. Eventually, all the Pontiacs were traded in for newer cars — a move now regretted by Jim Humlong. Decades passed before Humlong saw in a car magazine a well-equipped Star Chief Custom Catalina hardtop ...

By TIM SPELL Motor Matters Ford introduces a freshened, more-capable 2018 F-150 pickup truck. Set to go on sale this fall, the F-150’s headline grabber is an improved five-powertrain lineup, highlighted by a first-time diesel-engine offering. “Our customers have asked for a diesel ...

For those who can afford the luxury of a Mercedes S-Class and want everyone to know it, the German automaker is offering its S550 convertible for the first time since 1971. Worried that the four-seat sedan will be draughty or lack the atmosphere of its fixed-roof version? Don’t. The 2017 ...

The speedometer on Paul Puff’s 1985 Buick can register speeds up to 85 miles per hour. Despite that indication, Puff says, “this car has never seen 85.” Puff explains that his Buick Riviera did not start out as a convertible, as Buick only manufactured Riviera coupes in 1985. ...

Dear Doctor: My 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser has 26,000 miles. I went for a routine oil change and was told I should also have a brake fluid flush performed. Why would this need to be done? –– Richard Dear Richard: Brake fluid does attract moisture. At my shop, we recommend ...

Buick has lowered the price on its popular Encore for 2017, all while updating its look and adding new connectivity features. The base price of a 2017 Encore with the destination charge included has been lowered to $23,915, saving buyers $1,075 off of last year's $24,990 manufacturer's ...

Dear Doctor: I have a 2006 Ford F-250 Super Duty with a 6.0-liter diesel engine. It’s been giving me a lot of trouble restarting after driving for only 20 to 25 minutes and turning off the engine. I have changed the battery, alternator, ignition sensors, computers, fuel pump and cleaned the ...

Ford managed to make its plug-in Fusion Energi gasoline-electric hybrid more fuel efficient for 2017, even while lowering the base price. Federal government fuel economy ratings for this mid-size sedan are increased from last year and now are 42 mpg in combined city / highway travel on ...

Dear Doctor: I own a 2013 Ford F-150 with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine with 20,000 miles. The truck is losing coolant and I have to add more every couple of weeks. I visited two Ford dealerships and after running pressure tests they both told me there is nothing found. If there are no leaks ...

With styling at once rugged and endearing, the newest member of the Jeep family is the smallest model ever offered with the nameplate. And, as we’ve come to expect from Jeep, the Renegade is also wholly capable of extreme off-road sojourns. In other words, yeah it’s cute, but it deserves to ...

Dear Doctor: I purchased a 2016 Ram 3500 heavy-duty pickup truck with the Cummins diesel engine. This truck has two 12-volt batteries. I believe in using battery maintainers for my vehicles. Can I use two maintenance chargers at the same time, or should I alternate between the two ...

After a more than two-year hiatus, Honda's has brought its Ridgeline pickup truck back for 2017, and it's bigger, more powerful and better looking than ever.The previous Honda innovations are still there, like the all-composite bed that doesn't need a bedliner and the tailgate that drops open ...

Dear Doctor: I've had constant squealing in my brakes on my 2004 Toyota Camry. Many dealer mechanics tried to silence it, but could not, and I even had the brakes replaced. What are your thoughts?- RobertDear Robert: We average up to 20 brake replacement jobs a week - and many of them are on ...

Cadillac's newest and biggest luxury sedan, the 2016 CT6, is roomy, stylish and surprisingly agile and comes with innovative features such as cameras that can record the car's surroundings, even when the driver isn't there.The CT6 also is the most fuel- efficient full-size, non-hybrid, ...

Prior to World War II most American automobile manufacturers were not really interested in making their products streamlined or fuel efficient. Producing luxury cars in that era meant making them heavy for a smooth ride and spacious for passenger comfort.Cadillac introduced a series 62 model in ...

Dear Doctor: I have a 2014 Kia Sorento with all-wheel-drive that has an occasional jerking motion when traveling up an incline under light acceleration. Sometimes it feels like the Sorento is having difficulty picking a gear and also feels like it's misfiring. Computer checks show no issues and ...