When you have a new vehicle as extroverted looking as this Electric Lime Tacoma in specialized off-road trim called TRD Pro, it only seemed prudent to balance my perspective with another driver, like Bill Green — owner of a ’15 Tacoma SR extended cab model. Bill, the very popular longtime host of the TV show …
All of our press cars arrive freshly cleaned, fully gassed and ready to rock and roll for a week. But if you live in Maine, especially rural Maine, you are keenly aware of the short interval for which your clean, shiny car lasts as more than weather conspires to sully your handiwork. So, frequently our …
Almost 50 years ago, October 1973, Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal led OPEC to create an oil embargo against nations supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War with Egypt — namely the U.S, Britain, Canada and others. The resulting economic panic became the initial Oil Crisis, and forever altered geopolitical energy consumption. Government regulations and mandates …
A traveler heading Downeast on Maine’s Route 1 coastal route might be tempted to peel off at Waldoboro, the crossroads that leads south to the scenic Medomak River and Muscongous Bay, or follow the less-traveled Route 220 north. Meandering through farm country, this rural byway will lead to clever little settlements like Stickney Corner as …
It was over two decades ago, late in winter, and the first of several memorable new BMWs made the pilgrimage to Downeast Maine courtesy of Automotion. That first sedan was a 5-series with a sonorous in-line six-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission (remember when serious cars likely featured a stick shift?). The car was …
Georgetown is like many coastal Maine towns, with multiple villages comprising the expansive waterfront community. From Bay Point to Robinhood, and Georgetown Island to Five Islands, there are coves, inlets, ponds and three major rivers — Kennebec, Sasanoa and Sheepscot — to feast your eyes upon, as well as to pursue your leisure activity. Add …
Jumping out of last week’s GMC Sierra Denali into our polished-silver Ford F-150 Limited with the Powerboost Hybrid option will surely invite some comparisons. Ford’s Powerboost uses the brand’s vaunted 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6 engine and marries a 47-hp electric motor to the 10-speed automatic transmission. With 7.2kW of transferable power delivered via six outlets in …
Full-size pickup trucks are essential to life here whether you work or play deep in the Maine woods, or along the rocky coast. From towing, hauling and just commuting, pickup trucks are practical and an often-necessary tool in our vehicle arsenal for a large majority of Mainers. So, it seemed only fitting that our handsome …
Back in 2005, President Bush II signed the Renewable Fuels Standard law mandating that a percentage of all transportation fuels used in America contain specific renewable fuels — gasoline and diesel. This was before the development of fracking technology, which soon delivered the unforeseen success of American energy independence. Fracking allowed petroleum refiners and energy …
Two big numbers stand out with this week’s redesigned Nissan Sentra SR compact sedan. The first, and still very important to many automotive buyers, is its starting price, $20,635 including destination fee. That is $300 less than the Hyundai Elantra, $500 less than Toyota’s top-selling Corolla and a whopping $2,200 less than the base Honda …
For almost four decades, driving enthusiasts all over the globe have been savoring the lithe manners and athletic driving characteristics of Honda’s compact class Civic. Although the car has grown in every dimension through the years, now larger than many generations of the Accord, the Civic remains a fun and functional daily automobile for drivers …
Late winter in Maine finds many rural roads suffering the vulgarities of the season. Plowed roads start to heave up as the frost goes deep under the surface, while culverts drop. Even recently paved roads crack and ice seeps in to create a vicious damage cycle. The resulting undulating surface becomes the ultimate test track …
