I Designed the ‘Keri Eco Car

I’ve got an idea to make a gas-powered car achieve hybrid fuel consumption numbers….

I really believe a car like this would sell well. I am not alone in wanting a feature-free car.

Read in online at Autonet.ca.

Favourite line:

… remove all the stuff… couple this light-weigh car with a modern fuel efficient engine and ta-da – the result is a gas-powered vehicle that boasts fuel efficiency on par with a hybrid powertrain.

My last line was cut – I said this was the perfect vehicle for Mazda to make, because it is.

Interesting eh… how the Civic has almost doubled in weight since its debut, and a 2013 Lincoln Navigator weighs much more than than a giant 1970s Cadillac.

Where this column was published from.

I’m in the States here. I’m getting pretty good at keeping it all together and meeting deadlines while travelling, which is good.

***

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

Canadian Cars are Different than the USA’s

Our Canadian cars are different than the same model sold in the States. We have more in common with European buyers than those south of the border.

Speaking with Tim Franklin, Nissan’s Senior Manager of Product Planning, we find out how and why.

Read in online on Autonet.ca

Favourite line:

Nissan conducts Canadian-specific tests, to ensure such things as if a Tim Horton’s coffee cup fits comfortably inside the cupholder.

***

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

 

 

Meet an Autonet Teammate – Charles Renny

Meet Charles Renny, he’s been writing about cars for over 20 years, read his work at Autonet.ca.

He excels at simplifying the very technical. I like his approach – here, I’ll help you understand the difference between technical information and personal opinion, now go draw your own conclusion.

He’s also a professional driver, and motorcycle instructor.  And the President of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).  Welcome to my blog, Charles!

Note – because the team is all freelancers, we don’t really hang out, so this is a rarity. I’ve now blogged 65% of the team, nice.

Meet more of the team here, and here.

 

 

Let’s Go WarDriving

WarDriving – the act of searching for Wi-Fi networks from a moving vehicle, driven by someone interested in mapping the locations of Wireless Access Points (WAPs)

Lists are totalled: how many WiFis are locked, unlocked? What’s yours?

Favourite line:

Contrary to its name, wardriving is a relaxed style of driving … when you get down to it, wardriving is actually pretty boring. But the information it yields is not.

They used my collage! Love when that happens.

That’s 3 now (Stick Families are a Terrible Idea, and More Decorum, Please).

Read all my columns here. I started August 2012.

I have great news – as of today, my columns are now published on Autonet.ca! Until now, they printed and that was it, gone.

As a professional documenter, oh the anxiety that created.

***

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

 

 

Tip the Valet Twice

Favourite lines:

“I tip on drop-off” should only be uttered while en route to retrieve your car yourself.

and:

Or don’t. Continue to broadcast an air of cheap, keep defending how you’re sticking it to minimum-wage-guy – the one to whom you’ve just entrusted your second most valuable possession.

I loved this column.

I approached this scientifically, and think I proved indeed, the valet should be tipped twice.

Guess the paper agreed, this was my largest cover-page mention yet.

I love when they say, “our columnist.” Our.

***

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index