Marty Padgett's Inside Scoop on Auto News and 2006

Toyota Floor Mat Safety Recall: My Prius Goes On Notice

By Marty PadgettMarty Padgett, November 18th, 2009

You're well aware that Toyota is recalling the 2004-2009 Prius--among a list of vehicles--for an issue with floor mats. Here at High Gear Media, we have at least two vehicles affected by the recall, both 2004 Toyota Prius hatchbacks, both even the same shade of blue.

One of them's mine, and in the nearly six years we've owned our Prius, it's been relatively fault-free. Early on, we replaced the navigation screen under warranty. Two accidents cost about $3500 each, though they were parking-lot scrapes--the price of very light wheel spindles, suspension A-arms and lots front-end plastic.

Every car company has recalls, and Toyota is no...

You're well aware that Toyota is recalling the 2004-2009 Prius--among a list of vehicles--for an issue with floor mats. Here at High Gear Media, we have at least two vehicles affected by the recall, both 2004 Toyota Prius hatchbacks, both even the same shade of blue. One of them's mine, and in the nearly six years we've owned our Prius, it's been relatively fault-free. Early on, we replaced the navigation screen under warranty. Two accidents cost about $3500 each, though they were parking-lot scrapes--the price of very light wheel spindles, suspension A-arms and lots front-end plastic. Every car company has recalls, and Toyota is no... Read More

Tags: Recalls

Posted in: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, Toyota, Lexus, Prius

Twelve Days of Christmas: Motor City Dream Garages

By Colin MathewsColin Mathews, December 17th, 2008

This Christmas, purchase the book that takes you on an intimate tour of 20 incredible garages throughout Detroit. In "Motor City Dream Garages," journalist Rex Roy gives you an intimate look at collections held by garages like Henry Ford's Fair Lane in Dearborn (referred to as "The First Dream Garage"), The Mopar Cathedral, the Big Red Barn, and The Racer's Garage. Each garage is visually and verbally unveiled, detailing stunning automotive collections inside the structures purpose built for them. Included are the garages of legends such as Bob Lutz, Larry Smith (chairman of the Meadow Brook Concours), and Kip Ewing (engineer behind the Ford... This Christmas, purchase the book that takes you on an intimate tour of 20 incredible garages throughout Detroit. In "Motor City Dream Garages," journalist Rex Roy gives you an intimate look at collections held by garages like Henry Ford's Fair Lane in Dearborn (referred to as "The First Dream Garage"), The Mopar Cathedral, the Big Red Barn, and The Racer's Garage. Each garage is visually and verbally unveiled, detailing stunning automotive collections inside the structures purpose built for them. Included are the garages of legends such as Bob Lutz, Larry Smith (chairman of the Meadow Brook Concours), and Kip Ewing (engineer behind the Ford... Read More

Tags: Enthusiasts, Gadgets/Products, Shoppers, Car Publications

Posted in: 2006, 2008, Ford, GT

Tough Times Force Even Schwarzenegger to Support Girlie Hybrids

By Colin MathewsColin Mathews, November 20th, 2008

Wow, even cigar-smoking, bodybuilding, one-time Conan the Barbarian Schwarzenegger the Governator has been forced to face the facts of fuel efficiency. The juiced-up juggernaut posed next to a girlie little Saturn VUE Hybrid at the L.A. Auto Show, perhaps a concession to his left-coast state that sells more Toyota Priuses and Civic Hybrids than probably any other state in the union. Schwarzenegger, of course, was one of the first adopters of the hulking Hummer H1, a barely disguised HUMVEE military vehicle peddled to rich former movie stars by GM back when gas was cheap and environmentalism was strictly the domain of anti-American left-wing... Wow, even cigar-smoking, bodybuilding, one-time Conan the Barbarian Schwarzenegger the Governator has been forced to face the facts of fuel efficiency. The juiced-up juggernaut posed next to a girlie little Saturn VUE Hybrid at the L.A. Auto Show, perhaps a concession to his left-coast state that sells more Toyota Priuses and Civic Hybrids than probably any other state in the union. Schwarzenegger, of course, was one of the first adopters of the hulking Hummer H1, a barely disguised HUMVEE military vehicle peddled to rich former movie stars by GM back when gas was cheap and environmentalism was strictly the domain of anti-American left-wing... Read More

Tags: Marketing, Politics, Los Angeles Auto Show, General Motors, Celebrities

Posted in: 2006, 2009, Saturn, HUMMER, Sports Cars, Hybrid, Green, H1