January 23, 2001: 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LS Extended Cab, Short BoxClick image to enlarge By Jeremy Cato General Motors did some pretty smart engineering when it completely re-made its pickup trucks for the 1999 model year. The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra arrived with the kind of engineering that squeezes out squeaks and rattles, calms vibrations, eliminates water leaks and creates more cabi... Read Article

December 31, 2000: 1997 Toyota RAV4 4 door 4x4Click image to enlarge By Bob McHugh Quick to twig to a growing demand for a small sport utility vehicle with car-like driving manners, Toyota gave us the first generation RAV4 (Recreational Active Vehicle) back in 1996, as a '97 model year vehicle. It was an instant hit in Canada! Although it may ride high and look like a truck the RAV4 has its' roots in ... Read Article

March 29, 2000: 1997 Jeep TJ Sport (US 'Wrangler' model)Click image to enlarge Although nobody is quite certain how the name 'Jeep' came about, it's definitely linked to the origins of the TJ. Most likely it's a distortion of the US army's 'GP' (general purpose) designation given to the TJ's ancestor the Willys MB during WW2. A take-over of American Motors (AMC) in 1988 brought the Jeep brand, the real priz... Read Article

March 29, 2000: 1995 Mazda MX-3 PrecidiaClick image to enlarge The Mazda MX-3 Precidia may not be the original pocket-rocket, but you have to admit that its flying wedge design is distinctive and appealing (well I think so!). Its inaugural model-year in Canada was 1992, the final one was 1996, and it's a great under-$10,000 used car buy today. The Precidia gave its main rival, the Honda CRX, a good sales... Read Article

February 20, 2000: by Bob McHugh 1999 Plymouth Breeze The Plymouth brand of automobiles has joined Studebaker, Rambler and all those other famous nameplates that have been cast aside over the years. However, not too long ago Plymouth was being touted as having the cars that would appeal to smart-shopping young buyers, looking for a car that was both stylish and practical. And a new 1996 Plymouth Breeze had t... Read Article

February 19, 2000: 1992 Saturn SC By Bob McHugh A wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, the Saturn Car Company operates independently of its parent company - and it is different. A no-dicker pricing strategy and a no-nonsense low-key marketing approach with an emphasis on service and customer satisfaction, highlight the refreshing Saturn way of selling and owning a car. The first Saturn was built ... Read Article

February 19, 2000: 1997 Porsche Boxster, click image to enlarge By Bob McHugh For those of us who enjoy driving the roadster of roadsters, the superb handling mid-engine Porsche Boxster is an automotive masterpiece. Unfortunately the chances of me having one in my garage (on a permanent basis) are slim - but I can dream! Porsche aficionado's trace the Boxster's heritage back to the 550 Spider, a legendar... Read Article

February 19, 2000: 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix SE Coupe. Click image to enlarge By Jeremy Cato There was a time when Pontiacs were fearsome stock-car racers, formidable drag-strip contenders and even coveted street machines. That was the 1960s and Pontiac was hip. Then along came the late '80s and early '90s. Those years were very troubling for old-time Grand Prix lovers. Alas, it was when the Grand Prix becam... Read Article

February 19, 2000: 1995 Oldsmobile Achieva S By Bob McHugh Achieva joined the Oldsmobile product line as a replacement for the Calais for the 1992 model year. Sharing both a common platform and mechanical components with fellow GM vehicles, the Pontiac Grand Am and Buick Skylark, Achieva is the one with clean simple styling lines and a smart 'business suit'-like appeal. A compact two-door coupe or four-... Read Article

February 18, 2000: 1993 Nissan Altima SE By Bob McHugh The Altima could be dubbed the "American" Nissan as it was the first car to be designed and built in the USA by a Japanese-based company. A five seater family sedan with modest sporty appeal, a good reputation for reliability and a great used car purchase! The 1993 Altima replaced the Stanza in the Nissan product line-up and although a shade smaller i... Read Article

February 17, 2000: North American car of the Year, AAA Car of the Year and a bevy of other awards were bestowed on the 1994 C-Class Mercedes during its first year in Canada. Read Article

February 16, 2000: 2000 Hyundai TiburonClick image to enlarge By Bob McHugh An upstart Hyundai Motor Company rocked the auto world in 1993 when it showed a sleek and curvaceous concept car known as the HCD (Hyundai California Design) -II, on the North American auto show circuit. Until then, car buyers tended to think of a new Hyundai as a "good used-car alternative" and what better way to break that mind... Read Article

February 16, 2000: 1996 Hyundai Elantra, Click image to enlarge The 1996 second-generation Hyundai Elantra was another step forward in quality for this Korean auto company. Hyundai resale prices are generally lower (good for buyers) than competitive Japanese imports and the quality-gap is a lot tighter these days (also good for buyers). Although known for low-priced, appealing products, poor quality Hy... Read Article