Weekend Driver Blog

2010 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quattro Tiptronic review now online

2009-11-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

My quick review of the Audi diesel SUV is now online. Check it out on my website.

2010 Acura TSX V-6 Quick Review Online

2009-11-02T23:07:00.000-08:00

One down, 12 to go (actually 14), as I've posted my quick review of the 2010 Acura TSX V-6 online. Check it out.

Intensive driving

2009-10-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

I drove 14 new cars or something in two days, including the Honda hydrogen car. Loads o' fun. Watch the website for capsule reviews.

Hey folks... Weekend Driver is coming back!!!

2009-10-24T20:38:00.001-07:00

Great news! After taking a few months off, the San Diego Union-Tribune is going to start running Weekend Driver again in the Saturday Wheels section!!! Frankly, I never thought this would happen, but column No. 75 is done and waiting for publication with auto editor Mark Maynard.

I don't know when it's going to run yet, but it's a fun trip up to Julian with my cousin from Sweden, Sofia, and three of her friends. They're in San Diego this fall going to San Diego State and I wanted to show them that this little corner of the US is a lot more than just a city.

We stopped in at a new-for-me cafe, ate pie, and cruised around in the ultimate Blingmobile, a Chrysler 300c. Thanks much to Chrysler for supplying the car, since five folks can't fit in the Miata.

The Chrysler was great; I'll have some comments on it in the future. But for now, watch this space and your Saturday Wheels section for a brand new Weekend Driver.

______________________________

The Now Cars

2009-09-23T23:05:00.000-07:00

And now a word from your neighborhood American Motors dealer, home of the 1967 Now Cars ... Ambassador, Marlin, Rebel, American.

Wavecrest Woodie Show

2009-09-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

In case you missed the Wavecrest Woodie Show in Encinitas over the weekend, here's a video I shot on the event a couple of years ago. Put it on your calendar for next year.

Cruising to Julian in a Chrysler 300

2009-09-19T22:49:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile, but I'm working on a new Weekend Driver column... and I'm going back to one of everybody's favorite places, Julian. All in a brand new Chrysler 300 Heritage Edition -- talk about a car that turns heads. Here's a sample photo and stay tuned. Hey, it might even get published in a familiar old place.

Nate Harrison Grade

2009-07-12T17:01:00.001-07:00

For your summer enjoyment, take a trip up Nate Harrison Grade.

It's time for Laguna lunch

2009-06-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

Back in September '07, I took a new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon and a great sandwich up to Mt. Laguna for a day in the hills... 6,000 feet up to be sure. It's the drive for today on www.weekenddriver.com. Check it out.

Truck restoration tests mettle of ‘Ironman’ Stewart

2009-06-20T08:26:00.001-07:00

Fun story from the Union-Tribune.

Great time with the Stude folks

2009-06-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

One of the best marque clubs in San Diego has to be the local chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club. Thanks, folks, for having me over on Thursday night. Hope you enjoyed the video and I hope to go out cruising in a classic Stude next month!

Studebakers Tonight, June 11

2009-06-11T14:36:00.001-07:00

Forgot to mention that I'll be at the San Diego chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club tonght at 7. Stop by the Allied Gardens rec center if you have a chance.

What a way to camp

2009-06-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

As usual, Saturday's “Greatest Show on Turf” from the San Diego Automotive Museum was a spectacular success. The annual show in Balboa Park brings in some of the best cars in Southern California. There were several clubs that turned out in force, including the San Diego PT Cruiser Club.

But the real eye-opener for me was a restored VW bus and matching camper. Just take a look at this beauty.

Driving fun³ -- Cruising in a Cube

2009-06-06T07:58:00.001-07:00

Mark Maynard has a great review of the Nissan Cube in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Looks like a great way to get around; maybe I can get my hands on one in the future.

Mailbag: Ft. Hunter Liggett Brings Back Memories

2009-05-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Jack:

Loved your rundown on Fort Hunter Liggett. Brings back lots of memories; I ran the Santa Lucia Recreation Center there way back when. Now my god-daughter's husband works there. Plan to stay at the Hacienda one day soon.

Thanks for all the interesting facts.

Peace,
Maureen

Maureen: You’ve got to visit. It’s one of the most unique places in California and that says a lot!

WD on SDNN

2009-05-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

Too many acronyms... that's Weekend Driver is on the San Diego News Network.

SDNN.com is a new website that has a surprising number of folks who used to write for the Union-Tribune, not just freelance, like I used to. It's run by Barbara Bri and a talented staff... and they want to explore roads! So, Weekend Driver now has a new home.

Does that mean the website and blog go away? Nope.

The first SDNN column is one you've already seen here for a few weeks... the Black Canyon Road cruise. Take a look at it over there and run up the page counts! Click on the ad, while you're at it... support starving freelancers!

Yellow Cabs in San Diego

2009-05-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

The website www.archive.org is one of my favorites because, among other things, it's a depository for now-public domain films from the 40s-60s. Lots of old car company stuff, including this one, Impact '66, which looks to be a dealer-introduction film for the '66 Chevrolet line.

The real nugget in this one is the testimonial from the San Diego Yellow Cab Company president, talking about his spiffy fleet of yellow Novas.

So, watch with us, won't you?

YouTube's No. 1 Studebaker Commercial

2009-05-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

Over on YouTube, I've posted a few old commercials. And here's my most viewed, which happens to be the most viewed old Studebaker commercial on Youtube:

The Wagonaire was a cool idea that has only had two production tries... here in Studebaker's last days and with GMC just as the SUVs started going down.

If you enjoy it, send a dollar to the Studebaker National Museum, www.studebakermuseum.org. I visited there in 2006... check out my online story.

I guess you have to be No. 1 somewhere, and here it is. Enjoy the video.

Black Canyon, Mt. Laguna

2009-05-13T23:26:00.000-07:00

Back to the e-mail...

Dear Jack,

My wife and I greatly appreciate your occasional series Weekend Drive in the San Diego Union. I've spotted and collected four of them in the last year, and the each of the three we've done has been a joy and revelation.

I first spotted the Black Canyon trip about a year ago, and it inspired not only the drive described, but also a side trip with my son along the Santa Ysabel and Black Mountain truck trails, culminating in a hike to Black Mountain Lookout. A wonderful trip, although better done earlier than our June trip, when it must have been nearly 100F! Probably best advised only for the 4wd crowd though.

More recently we did your Japatul and Back door to the Lagunas trips and enjoyed them both immensely. Yesterday we did the Back door to the Lagunas, stopping for a hike to Garnet Peak from the Penny Pines trailhead, then on down Kitchen Creek road to 8, then retracing the Japatul trip in reverse on the way home. I'm looking forward to your Borrego Byways trip the next chance we get.

John

Hi, John. Hope you've found all the columns here at Weekenddriver.com!

Mission Bay and a Mustang

2009-05-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Keep this secret to yourself: on foggy, overcast days, people don't go to the beach.

That means it's a perfect day for a drive around the beach.

Just a few weeks back, Easter weekend was gray and it was perfect top-down driving weather. A light jacket, light traffic and the heater on in the Mustang convertible I had for the weekend.

Say what? A cloudy day perfect for a convertible? Read more>

Loop De Luz and Japatul Valley

2009-05-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

More from the mailbag...

Jack,

Thanks for the several weekend trips you have written for "Wheels" in the sdo union-trib. We have been taking them during the week, since we are now retired.

Your selection and notes of things to watch for are much appreciated. The printed format, with photos and the "Loop De Luz" box which we used today, with exact details, is most helpful. Next week we try Japatul Valley trip.

Know your research and writing are appreciated.

Ed, Mission Beach

Ed: Watch out for those curves on Japatul Valley Road!

Great time in Rancho Santa Fe

2009-05-08T23:17:00.000-07:00

More from the mailbag.... Ben in La Mesa writes...

Hi Mr. Brandais,

We retired here from Cleveland, Ohio 8 years ago.

We have used your various stories to guide us to back-country and out-of-the-way places to have a better knowledge of the area.

We will be taking your proposed trip through Viejas and on to Laguna the first Wednesday we have free.

We try to visit some place or go see something special every Wednesday and have had great fun going on your proposed trips.

The most recent excursion was the one you laid out on RT 56 through Rancho Santa Fe, past the Crosby Golf Course and we lunched at Hernandez Hideaway and had a great fun day.

We have a Chevy Van which handles the back roads real well, BUT then, we never HURRY and frequently pull off and let hurried locals whiz by. Keep covering, and perhaps even repeating, day trips like you have in the past.

We really enjoy them.

Thanks......... Ben in La Mesa

Thanks Ben. Keep cruisin' in that van.

"Americans Aren't Into Small Cars"

2009-05-03T12:29:00.001-07:00

I keep hearing the old line, "Americans Aren't Into Small Cars" from these stock "analysts" that always seem to be quoted in stories about GM, and especially Chrysler's deal with Fiat.

As I look out my window in downtown San Diego, I just don't see that.

What I see are lots of SUVs and lots of small cars. The good news for Detroit? I see Ford Fusions. I see Pontiac Vibes, old Saturns, a Neon here and there, an older Pontiac Grand Am. I almost never see a Chevy Cobalt. I'm seeing more and more Ford Fusions and even a few Mercury Milans.

The good news for US auto workers? I see Toyota Corollas, Honda Civics, Subarus, the Mazda 6, Nissan Sentras and Altimas, all built right here in the good ol' USA.

I almost never see the big cars the auto "experts" say Americans want... the Chevy Impala or Malibu, Chrysler 300 or Dodge Charger, Ford Taurus, Lincolns or Cadillacs. There are lots of Camrys and Accords running around, and they're built in the USA too.

Management of offshore auto companies know they have to have a variety of models and have put development and marketing money into these cars. They create a brand and then keep it up. Detroit for years has done what Ford did with the Taurus or GM did with Saturn... spend billions to create and market and make it a popular item, then let id wither on the vine so it turns into a has-been. Since the 70s, Chevrolet has marketed its small car under several names -- Chevette, Cavalier and now Cobalt. Honda's only had the Civic.

So, do Americans like small cars? I'm going to look up the numbers for a future post, but my guess is a million or more subcompact cars were purchased in the US this year. Almost none of them from American-based companies. Here's a release from Honda talking about the 1.4 million cars they built in North America.

So, "auto industry analysts" -- whattya say to that?

Cruisin Grand in Escondido

2009-04-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

On April 17, I spent the evening at Cruisin’ Grand, the fantastic old car event in Escondido.

The unique thing about the show is that the cars move. Grand Avenue through Escondido’s old downtown is left open, so anyone, no matter what kind of car you have, can cruise down the street. Visitors get to see and hear vintage metal rumbling down the road.

Anyone can drive down Grand, so the Miata and I were able to participate, even though the show is open only to ’73 and earlier. Cars are parked along the street, as well as a couple of sidestreets that are closed off. Here are some photos.

A customed Studebaker truck and a Toyota Supra jockey for the lead at 15 mph down Grand Avenue.

Pristine ’63 Studebaker Avanti was the culmination of more than a century of vehicle production by the the old South Bend company.

A ’59 Pontiac shows off the first year of the “Wide Track” and split grille look, along with its super-high-output engine.

A ’63 Chrysler 300 shows off Virgil Exner’s last design for the Highland Park automaker, along with a few added goodies by its owner.

Current custodian shows off prime condition of a Sting Ray... is it a ’63 or ’64?

What is it? A Willys Aero from the first year, 1952.

Well-preserved former car dealer at Kalmia and Grand shows off a variety of models. Building is typical of dealers in the early post-World War II period.

Vintage Video of Vintage VWs

2009-04-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

A couple of years back, I had time to put together a few videos. Here's one you might enjoy, a morning with the Vintage VW club as they took off on a cruise from the beach to the mountains.