FAMILY-SIZE PLUG-IN HYBRIDS By Barbara & Bill Schaffer Each year members of the Northwest Automotive Press Association meet to evaluate some of the latest and greatest environmentally friendly vehicles available to U.S. consumers. This year the competition was held at the Pearson Air Museum located on the grounds of the Fort Vancouver Historic Reserve in…
By Barbara & Bill Schaffer With the automotive market stampeding to electrify products, it’s sometimes difficult to keep up with what’s available. Until recently, there have been few small premium plug-in hybrids with all-wheel drive, but the number has grown quickly. One of the new ones, and the smallest offering, is the Mini S E…
Lexus LC 500 to Volkswagen Jetta GLI By Bill Schaffer Mount Hood – Here are the cars from the Lexus LC 500 to the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, which made up the balance of the 24 cars in the 2017 NWAPA Run to the Sun. When the two-day drive was finished, the NWAPA members chose favorites….
By Barbara & Bill Schaffer Included with the standard equipment listed on the Monroney of the 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman was a group of features labeled as “Go Cart Handling, Braking.” That’s a phrase that won’t make much sense to the someone who hasn’t driven a Mini Cooper — or a go cart — but…
“2016 MINI Cooper S Convertible” A Two-door, four-seat Open Air Tourer The 2016 MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Convertible represent a progression of the first, which is still the only premium convertible in the small car segment. This latest iteration MINI Cooper Convertible is available in three models on our shores. It comes as…
The British have interesting names for things. They call garbage rubbish, shopping carts are called shopping trolleys, and sedans are called saloons. So what does the Mini Clubman mean? Clubman meaning: it is an Estate car and not a wagon. They don’t want you calling it a wagon it is an Estate car. Traditionally wagons…
“2016 MINI Cooper & Cooper S Clubman” A Refined more Versatile Premium G0 Kart Savannah, GA, – Now there’s a not so mini MINI available for your driving pleasure. It comes two ways –available as the 2016 MINI Cooper; & Cooper S Clubman. Both models serve up seating for five, with 6 doors (split rear…
“2015 MINI Cooper S 4 Door Hardtop” A stretched Hardtop with two additional doors For those who favored the MINI Cooper S Hardtop Coupe, but wanted the convenience of a couple of extra doors, your wish is granted. There is now a 2015 MINI Cooper S 4 Door Hardtop. This means that there’s more MINI,…
By Barbara & Bill Schaffer It had been several years since we’d had a chance to test drive a Mini Cooper, and since that time the brand’s lineup has grown extensively. They now have a Hardtop 2 Door, Hardtop 4 Door, Countryman, Paceman, Convertible, Coupe and Roadster. The same basic car that is now the…
By Bill Schaffer Portland, Ore. – Every year an automotive writer’s organization Barb and I belong to has a two-day drive called Run to the Sun (RttS). It gives us a chance to sample some of the manufacturers’ latest offerings. This year Barbara was away at a Jeep-Ram-Dodge program in Southern California, so I was…
