July 22, 2020

Rental Car Review: A Better Traverse?

It has been something I have witnessed through a brief foray or two into Chevrolet’s mid-sized, three-row SUV since before its first appearance in showrooms in the summer of 2017. I applauded the fact that it has adult-sized space in the third row, despite having access to it from the passenger side only. I also applauded the fact that it is contemporary enough to fit within Chevrolet’s new design guidelines, along with huge advances to its technology offerings.

July 21, 2020

Historiography: The Personalization of the Pickup Truck

Whether you were a farmer, a tradesperson or in the business of transporting goods a distance, a truck was the best way to accomplish commerce. It made money for you, your employees and your business. The idea was simple: Take a chassis, add a cab and find a way to take care of the back to carry loads.

July 20, 2020

Rental Car Review: The Top Of The Class?

Based on my original review of this current generation of this popular compact SUV a year ago, I found it to be the “top of its class.” It certainly made some huge steps in terms of engineering, design, technology, and efficiency. Toyota is not complaining about this current generation of the RAV4 a bit.

July 19, 2020

Commentary: A Cure For A Merged Company

I’m thinking it could be a medication for a number of ailments. Like having a better outlook on life with a medication to cure all emotional issues. Maybe to cure cancer, type 2 diabetes, AIDS, or COVID-19?

July 16, 2020

Preview: A Little Taste of Vantas

Other Chinese automakers had their eyes on our market for years. Now, a third company will now enter our market with a lineup of SUVs that should be more aligned with the tastes of our consumer.

July 15, 2020

Quickies: Why Blue Stands Out in Wichita

Let me set the stage here. First of all, I mentioned that Wichita was not on the original plan for this road trip. A friend of mine asked about having me make a stop in there. After seeing that I could, I added the extra miles and the overnight stop to the trip.

July 14, 2020

Commentary: The Importance of The Ford Bronco

Ford also did a shrewd move on making Bronco its own "brand." I understand why, since the Bronco serves a completely different purpose within Ford’s sales infrastructure. Mustang has a similar standing within Ford, as they are being developed into their own "brand" with the coupes, convertibles, and the Mach-E electric crossover.

July 13, 2020

Rental Car Review: What Was Driven on The Mid-Continent Road Trip?

The vehicle for the road trip could have easily been an SUV, but I feared it would be less efficient even the larger interior and cargo space. Heck, it could have been a pickup truck. I would have to utilize the back seat for the luggage and the "stowaway" to reside in. A smaller car would also have compromises with luggage compared to the Camry.

July 12, 2020

Commentary: Was The Mid-Continent Road Trip Really Worth It?

Just as we thought we were slowing down the pandemic, it started to kick back up. As my trip progressed, masks were required to be worn inside any business within the state of Kansas by governor’s orders. They also have been mandated in Kansas City, Missouri. While most people complied, I found others who were brazen enough to enter stores without one.

July 9, 2020

Travelogue: The Mid-Continent Road Trip – Part 3

The Mid-Continent Road Trip has shifted west into Kansas. It was also a “request stop.” This may require a long backstory with some explanations and naming names. However, that was never on my agenda on this road trip. I wanted to bless this experience by gaining new experiences, driving on new roads, and absorbing new destinations – and states driven in.