Autoblog

Land Rover completes 8,000-mile Journey of Discovery from Birmingham to Beijing

Noah Joseph — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, China, Europe, Land Rover, UK, Middle East, Russia, Beijing Motor Show, Off-Road

Not long ago, Land Rover embarked on an epic trans-continental road trip that sought to retrace the route taken by a similar expedition in 1956 and raise £1m for the Red Cross. And after 8,000 miles traveled through thirteen countries - starting in Birmigham, England and ending in Beijing, China - they finally made it.

The departure was celebrated with the production of the millionth Discovery, the arrival timed to coincide with the Beijing Motor Show. Along the way the rugged motorcade swung through Switzerland for the Geneva Motor Show, hit some of Europe's oldest cities, traversed a wide variety of terrains and climates, rolled through Chernobyl as the first private vehicles to tour the disaster site since the nuclear meltdown there 25 years ago, visited an array of museums and toured a former Soviet submarine base.

But before it could complete the final 72-hour leg into China, the crew had to detonate a controlled avalanche to clear an alpine pass. In other words, it was not your average road trip. Read more about it in the press release below and scope out the high-resolution images in the gallery for a closer look at what the convoy encountered along the way.

Continue reading Land Rover completes 8,000-mile Journey of Discovery from Birmingham to Beijing

Land Rover completes 8,000-mile Journey of Discovery from Birmingham to Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2012 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend visits Norway, looks for lineage in Audi R8 Spyder

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Etc., Videos, Audi, Luxury

When Motor Trend tecnical director Frank Markus decided he needed to get away, you should know that his 'time out' wouldn't merely be a weekend at the local hot springs or camping down by the river. The MT crew has made fine work of taking glorious trips in glorious cars - and a Subaru Outback - and Markus would keep it up, tracing Viking routes and his own heritage in an Audi R8 V10 Spyder along Norway's Atlantic Road.

We'd love to tell you about it but we'd be remiss - the story is worth the read and the video, after the jump, is even moreso worth the watch. To Markus and his steed, we say "skaal!"

Continue reading Motor Trend visits Norway, looks for lineage in Audi R8 Spyder

Motor Trend visits Norway, looks for lineage in Audi R8 Spyder originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Classic Mercedes-Benz proves to be perfect west coast road-tripper

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Diesel, Luxury

JG Francis is an man who knows a lot about the older products in the Mercedes-Benz family. He owns Los Angeles-based Mercedes Motoring, which is where Francis turns wrenches on classic tri-stars and breathes new life back into the lumbering German coupes, sedans and wagons. Sometimes Francis will travel far to bring a new project back to his California shop, and his pal Sean always seems ready to make the trek with him.

The duo's latest conquest was a ~~1969~~ 1976 240 D sedan that was located all the way up in Fairbanks, Alaska. After 10 days and 4,000 miles, the men and their machine arrived back in the Golden State, and were given no issues by the classic diesel four door. Mercedes-Benz put together a short video about JG Francis and his shop, and the automaker is currently editing another about his most recent roadtrip. After the jump, we have the bio video for Francis and a teaser clip for his Alaska-to-California adventure.

Continue reading Classic Mercedes-Benz proves to be perfect west coast road-tripper

Classic Mercedes-Benz proves to be perfect west coast road-tripper originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One family's remarkable 11-year road trip

Jeff Glucker — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Road trips are fun. We recently spent a weekend with the 2011 Airstream Avenue and had a great time running up the California coast. That was three days of adventure. The Zapp family of Argentina also enjoys a good road trip, and they've been on their current journey for the last 11 years.

Herman and Candelaria Zapp set off on a trip back in 2000. The couple left Argentina in their 1928 Graham-Paige Model 610 and headed north towards Alaska. Eleven years and 145,000 miles later, the Zapp family has grown by four. Pampa was born in the United States, Tehue in Argentina, Paloma in Canada and Wallaby in Australia. The children are "home-schooled" out on the road, and that allows the Zapps to keep on exploring.

Though the Model 610 can't go over 40 miles per hour, the Zapps have taken it throughout North America, to parts of Asia and down to Australia. It's a truly amazing journey and you can read more about it at MSNBC.com.

[Source: MSNBC]

One family's remarkable 11-year road trip originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche buffs go searching for great German beer... deep in the heart of Texas?

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Porsche

A good roadtrip needs a few items for success; great people, interesting destinations and, of course, the right vehicles. We can't vouch for the people on a personal level in this tale, but Autoweek took on a Texas roadtrip and seems to have gotten the ingredients just right. How do six tuned Porsches, 800 miles and four breweries sound? As long as the drinking is done when the driving is finished (which of course it was), then you would be correct to say it sounds like heaven on earth.

Autoweek's Jeff Bolton embarked on a quest for good German beer, using good German sports cars to shuttle him around the Great State of Texas. Starting in Dallas, the crew moves about until they end up in Shiner, Texas, where they chat with long-time brewmaster Jimmy Mauric.

If roadtrips were eligible for awards, this Texas Porsche beer run would be an early front-runner for Best of 2011. Head over to Autoweek to read about the trip, and be sure to check out the video as well.

[Source: Autoweek]

Porsche buffs go searching for great German beer... deep in the heart of Texas? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Not to Buy a Project Vehicle: The tale of the 1975 International Pickup

Zach Bowman — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Truck, Work, Humor

1975 International Pickup Project Vehicle - Click above for high-res image gallery

Fifty miles. After 16 grueling hours of nonstop cursing, bleeding, sweating and huffing gas fumes from the open jerry can in the floorboard, I'm less than an hour from home, laying on the oil-soaked asphalt of a truck pull off on the side of I-40 with antifreeze in my eyes. Both of them.

Admittedly, this was not part of the plan.

Confession time: I spend an inordinate amount of time in the autos section of Craigslist. That site is like Krispy Kreme doughnuts dipped in crack cocaine for any connoisseur of bad ideas, and I, loyal readers, am the world's foremost authority on poor decisions. So it should come as no surprise that when my wife took off for a business trip for a few days, I turned to my other mistress - the thought of securing an inexpensive, tough as nails long-bed pickup via the wonder of the internet.

I landed on a 1975 International 150. The listing read like my ultimate wish-list for a truck - International? Check. Three-quarter ton? Check. Four-speed manual with a divorced two-speed New Process 205 transfer case? Check. From California with minimal rust? Check. According to the post, it even had a mere 40,000 miles on the clock and had spent most of its life languishing on a farm out west. The posting even said it ran like a top. By all accounts, the truck was exactly what I wanted. Sure, I could have easily nabbed a local Ford F-150 or Chevrolet Silverado, but I suffer from a very rare genetic defect that causes me to be sympathetic toward the International cause. There is no cure.

The only real problem was that it was located three and a half hours away in Bowling Green, Kentucky - not exactly a quick trip across town. My options were to either let the truck pass, con a friend into dragging a car hauler all the way to Kentucky for a truck I wasn't sure I was going to buy, or wing it.

I'll take door number three, Monty.

Continue reading...

Gallery: 1975 International Pickup Project Vehicle

Continue reading How Not to Buy a Project Vehicle: The tale of the 1975 International Pickup

How Not to Buy a Project Vehicle: The tale of the 1975 International Pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus launches iPhone app for Lexus Enform users

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Lexus

In-car infotainment and emergency aids like Sync, OnStar, COMAND and iDrive might be the pin-ups who get the boys' attention, but there's another beauty in the corner quietly adding features and getting into better shape: Lexus Enform. Toyota's luxury brand hasn't put the bullhorn to work for Enform, and you can't find it in any Toyota yet, but it's still hard at work on the system.

The latest addition is a mobile app for the iPhone that will let you plan a trip on the phone and send it to the car. If it's a trip you want to let your 413 Facebook friends know about, you can also share it in an instant. The app is available now for the iPhone, and will be ready on October 15 for Blackberry and Android users.

[Source: Lexus]

Lexus launches iPhone app for Lexus Enform users originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog End-of-Summer Road Trip Gadget Guide

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:05:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

There's less than one month of summer left and many of you have yet to take a vacation. Might we suggest a road trip? Whether you head out to see Wally World or the world's biggest ball of twine, many challenges await you along the way. Between lousy truck-stop food, random mattresses left in the road, bickering children and your significant other taking over the climate controls like some sort of tin-pot dictator, there's plenty of nonsense to deal with. So, we've gathered a list of some gadgets that might make your life easier, safer and more entertaining on the road. Follow the jump to check out our official Autoblog End-of-Summer Road Trip Gadget Guide.

Continue reading Autoblog End-of-Summer Road Trip Gadget Guide

Autoblog End-of-Summer Road Trip Gadget Guide originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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George Clooney voted best road trip companion by... underwear company survey?

Zach Bowman — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Ford, Celebrities

Jockey's 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible - Click above to enlarge

Here's a fun little fact for you: When the economy began tanking in late 2008, sales of men's underwear followed, plummeting nearly 12 percent. In fact, male undergarments are one of Alan Greenspan's key market indicators. Why? If you don't have a job, suddenly outdated undies are the least of your concerns. How about another one? On average, men only buy underwear for 17 years of their lives. No, your grandfather isn't wearing the same boxers he picked in Hanoi, but typical guys only buy their own unmentionables from age 19-36. Otherwise, the duty falls on the heads of mothers, girlfriends and wives.

And why do you care? Because both of those tidbits go a long way toward explaining why Jockey, a company that specializes in men's underwear, seems to think most Americans would want to go on a road trip with George Clooney. Don't get us wrong. Clooney seems like a stand up guy, and we certainly wouldn't turn down having a beer with the actor-turned-philanthropist if the opportunity arose, but we could probably come up with a few other persons of interest when it comes to hopping in the car and heading for the horizon. We're thinking the results of the survey may have been slightly skewed to the female end of the spectrum.

The info also keys us in to why Jockey is offering everyone and their cousin the chance to win a gorgeous 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible to go on their very own all-American road trip. The car will be towing a small Airstream from coast to coast to stir up interest, so you can either catch it along the way or sign up here. Here's hoping there's a 289 under the hood. Hit the jump for the PR, and be sure to leave us your pick for a road trip companion in 'Comments.'

[Source: Jockey]

Continue reading George Clooney voted best road trip companion by... underwear company survey?

George Clooney voted best road trip companion by... underwear company survey? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you've ever wondered what a Tata Nano looks like in Gulf livery, well... wonder no more

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Etc., Hatchback, India, Tata

The CarWale Endurance Run Tata Nano - Click above for image gallery

The Indian car shopping site CarWale.com is driving a Tata Nano in a loop across the length and breadth of India to make a point about the car and the country. Their journey started on February 4 and ends February 19, covering 6,909 kilometers (4,284 miles) of terrain best described as... Indian... and along the way, the crew will explore every aspect of the Nano, including how it came about and what it means for the people who can benefit the most from it.

Naturally, the trip has seen its share of heat, goats, nearly impossible roads, wild motorbikers, jury-rigged repairs, Jeep Wrangler taxis with roof-mounted loudspeakers and miserable GPS instructions. It's a colorful tale all the way, and as if a Nano in iconic Gulf drag weren't enough (love the auxiliary Hella lamps, guys), the pictures alone are worth a visit. And to the two gents at the helm, best of luck to you the rest of the way.

Gallery: CarWale Endurance Run

[Source: CarWale]

If you've ever wondered what a Tata Nano looks like in Gulf livery, well... wonder no more originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Road Trip: 2009 Toyota Venza a few refinements short of a great ride

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Toyota, New Car Reviews

2009 Toyota Venza - Click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this spring, our own Alex Nunez reviewed Toyota's latest crossover type thingy, the Venza, and came away rather impressed. I do a fair bit of traveling for my day job, which usually entails schlepping a sizable amount of video equipment around. Typically we pack up our A/V gear and FedEx it to a location since airlines charge so much for extra baggage and won't guarantee arrival times. For one of our recent trips, however, we decided to hit the road and venture from our Ann Arbor offices down to western South Carolina. As it happened, a Venza was available for duty and appeared to be well-suited to the task at hand.

We loaded up cameras, tripods, microphones and other miscellanea before heading due south on US-23 for Ohio and parts beyond. Our Venza was finished in a unique Sunset Bronze Mica color with the same ivory leather interior that we sampled previously. Under the hood was also the same 3.5-liter V6 engine that we've enjoyed in numerous Lexus and Toyota vehicles with torque going to all four wheels via Toyota's all-wheel-drive system.

As Nunez described, the Venza doesn't really fit in the typical crossover category because it's taller than a typical wagon yet shorter than vehicles like the Ford Edge or Chevrolet Equinox. It's more like a tall Camry wagon than anything else - which, at least in theory - is just ducky by us. Find out how the Venza fared on our road trip odyssey after the jump.

Gallery: Road Trip: 2009 Toyota Venza

Continue reading Road Trip: 2009 Toyota Venza a few refinements short of a great ride

Road Trip: 2009 Toyota Venza a few refinements short of a great ride originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Road Trip Review: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with Navigation [w/VIDEO]

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Hyundai, New Car Reviews

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe w/Nav - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been less than a year since the Hyundai Genesis Coupe hit the streets, but the Korean automaker isn't sitting on its hands. Just as it's done in the past, Hyundai is launching a steady stream of refreshed and redesigned models, and even new models - like the Genesis - are benefiting from the updates. At the top of Hyundai's list of early cycle improvements is fitting the Genesis Coupe with a satellite navigation system, something that's been missing since it's launch earlier this year. So after getting an exclusive glimpse of a prototype system in May, Hyundai invited us back to sample the production version in a few Coupes and one Sedan. How's it work? We hit the road to find out.

Gallery: Road Trip Review: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with Navigation

Continue reading Road Trip Review: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with Navigation [w/VIDEO]

Road Trip Review: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with Navigation [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man driving around the globe in Bridget the Midget for charity

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:20:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Fifty-two-year-old Briton Roy Locock decided to drive around the world to benefit charity. A circumnavigating spin behind the wheel is almost passe these days, but Locock's choice of wheels certainly isn't: a 1977 MG Midget. He bought the car -- named Bridget -- in 2006, and after taking it on a tour of Spain and Italy, began a restoration. Not long afterward he figured Bridget needed to get out and see some things.

He's been on the road now for well over a year, going from Oxford, England to Chennai, India, then taking a boat down to Australia for a drive entirely around that country, then hopping a boat to Argentina and driving due north, and now he's in Canada. His company all this time has been himself, five-days of emergency rations, two 20-liter gas cans, and a car with 3.5 inches of ground clearance. Oh, and fortitude. Lots of that.

Locock's driving to benefit UNICEF, and you can read all about the adventures on the blog he is still updating. Bridget does like to provide her own mechanical adventures -- she is an MG, after all -- but the fact that she has covered almost 30,000 miles so far has to count for something. Good luck on the rest of your trip, Mr. Locock.

[Source: Bridget the Midget via Google]

Man driving around the globe in Bridget the Midget for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Newlywed couple changes last names to Ford to celebrate... well, Fords

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:40:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Ford

When Jaime Case and Chris Hodges decided to get married, Jaime didn't want the regular run-up filled with fights, dresses, cakes, consultants and huge expenses. So she dreamed up a Wedding Road Trip, the theme of which was "Two people, two months, two hundred friends, one bad economy, one ring, one dress, one car, one life together." Essentially, it would be a trip around these United States - with plenty of rules - to see friends before getting married.

To help make the trip, Ford Motor Company donated a Fusion sedan to the couple's cause. It also happened that Jaime and Chris wanted to take new last names instead of Jaime taking her husband-to-be's surname, and so the couple spent months trying to come up with one. After "two months of long conversations, intense fights, and hours of thinking," the last name they came up with: Ford. That's right, they are now Chris and Jaime Ford.

There were five criteria they used to choose the new name, and eleven reasons why "Ford" was found to be perfect. We won't spoil it, but the justifications are wide-ranging, span rivers, a president and first lady, capitalism, egalitarianism, family, a Mustang fastback and two pickup trucks. Learn more at the link below.

[Source: Wedding Road Trip via USA Today | Image: The Ford Story]

Newlywed couple changes last names to Ford to celebrate... well, Fords originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pledge Drive: Man to hit every state in continental U.S. behind the wheel of his '32 Ford replica

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Lifestyle

One 59-year-old man with a mission; one 19-year-old car that's a copy of a 77-year-old car; 64 cities in 49 states; nine days; 1,100 miles between sunrises; and more than 100 billion burgers sold -- those are the stats of Dave Schaub's trip across America to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Palo Alto, California.

Called Drivin' for the Kids, Schaub's trip is just as much for him as it is for the children who will benefit. Starting in Needles, California Schaub will take his '32 Ford replica (with a smallblock Chevy engine, GM transmission and 24 mpg) across the South, up to Maine, back across the north and midwest, and finish up in Hyder, Alaska. The trip begins on Tuesday, September 8, and If you'd like to donate or just check up on his progress via GPS head over to www.49in9.com. And to you, Mr. Schaub, good luck.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Pledge Drive: Man to hit every state in continental U.S. behind the wheel of his '32 Ford replica originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi Mileage Marathon: If it's Thursday we must be in ... ?

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Audi

click for a gallery of shots from Day Three of the marathon

Day Four is upon us and we're on our way out of Chicago. We've got one of our longest days of the trip today, with a 550-mile run to Memphis for some BBQ. In Chicago we had our first driver crew swap. The first of four legs is over and a predominantly new group of drivers is taking over the diesel Audis as we move on to Dallas, Amarillo and Denver on Sunday. The nature of this trip is predominantly highway running punctuated by lunch and overnight stops in the various cities along the route. That means the diesels are truly in their element... and it shows. Diesels love steady state running and there is no way even the sophisticated two-mode hybrid system in the Chevy Tahoe can get anywhere near 30 mpg even on a long highway cruise. We're seeing up to 33 mpg in the Q7s and 38 in the Q5s. The A4s and A3s are topping 44 and 50 mpg respectively. Of course, around town those numbers drop off, but they still turn in very respectable mileage in the low 20s. Having said all that, read on after the jump to find out who was victorious in over the first leg and what I think about driving across America in a Q7.

Gallery: Audi Mileage Marathon Day 3

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Our travel and lodging for this media event was provided by the manufacturer.

Continue reading Audi Mileage Marathon: If it's Thursday we must be in ... ?

Audi Mileage Marathon: If it's Thursday we must be in ... ? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kelley Blue Book names Best New Road Trip Vehicles for 2008

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Sedan, Supercars, First Drives, Lifestyle

click to view more high-res images of the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT

Next Monday is Memorial Day, which many think of as the official start of the summer driving season. That means it's time to pack your families and all their associated gear in the ~~family truckster~~ family sedan and head out to see the relatives. We've already seen one set of choices for the best vehicle with which to hit the open road, and now Kelley Blue Book has decided to throw its hat in the ring as well. They cover all the bases, so regardless of the size of your clan, you'll be sure to find a recommendation that suits you. Some of their choices, like the Grand Caravan sitting at number five, seem pretty obvious and would likely make for a smooth trip. If smoothness isn't really your thing, perhaps the Bugatti Veyron, number two on KBB's list, would be a better choice. Too fuel thirsty for your pocketbook? Consider the Prius at number nine. Take a look at their full list here.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Kelley Blue Book names Best New Road Trip Vehicles for 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 May 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Road Trip Vehicles of the Year as chosen by Thule

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Hybrid, Wagon, Crossover, Subaru, Toyota, First Drives, Lifestyle

There are few words in the English language which can conjure up as much meaning, and likely so many memories, as these: road trip. We've all been on them before; some are the highlights of your life and some... well, not so much. But having the right vehicle can make all the difference in the world. Thule, maker of "transportation accessories", has added its name to the ever-growing list of companies that have invented an "__ of the year" award. For this particular honor, Thule has broken the automotive landscape in half, dividing its choices for the best vehicle to take a road trip in at the $30 grand mark. Without further ado, the winners are:

Best road trip vehicle under $30,000: Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited
Best road trip vehicle over $30,000: Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited

If you really want to read all of the reasons that Thule offers for choosing these vehicles, there's a whole press release pasted after the break. We're not going to argue with their choices, as both the Outback and the Highlander are fine vehicles, which would be suitable for a group of four people and their assorted belongings. Sure beats the old funny-smelling air-cooled VW van that had trouble keeping up with the slow-moving traffic that some of us can remember from our childhood.

Gallery: 2008 Subaru Legacy and Outback

Gallery: Highlander Hybrid 2008

[Source: Thule]

Continue reading 2008 Road Trip Vehicles of the Year as chosen by Thule

2008 Road Trip Vehicles of the Year as chosen by Thule originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2 guys, an Audi S4, blue tape and the Coolest. Road trip. Ever.

John Neff — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Audi

We've heard this story a thousand times before. Man finally procures his dream car. It's delivered on the other side of the country. Road trip! It's the age old passage of breaking your car in with a cross country delivery trek. A member of the VWVortex.com forums who goes by the handle uglybastid and his friend Aaron traveled to New York to pick up an Audi S4 for a (very trusting) friend. The black sedan from Ingolstadt was looking good, but uglybastid and Aaron like their Audis in Nogaru Blue, not black. In order to protect the car from rock chips over 2,850 miles, and to switch the color to something more palatable, the two purchased four and a half rolls of 3M Safe-Release blue tape... and covered the car from bumper to bumper in the adhesive strips. It's the best blue tape job ever and also allowed the two to chronicle their adventure via a Sharpie marker on the sheetmetal. Throughout the road trip, uglybastid exhibits an unhealthy knowledge of roadside attractions, and the two pass more plastic cows and muffler men than actual human beings. Keep in mind, the car has no plates and despite being pulled over twice by some friendly fuzz, the two make it all the way across the northern half of the U.S. on their way to back to Seattle where the Audi S4 will find its new home. Please, it's a Sunday, do yourself a favor, click through and read the amazing tale of uglybastid, Aaron and the blue-taped Audi S4.

Thanks to Chuck G. for the tip!

[Source: VWVortex.com]

2 guys, an Audi S4, blue tape and the Coolest. Road trip. Ever. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The most scenic jaunts in the U.S.

Erin Mays — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

You might think that Europe has the market cornered on scenic drives, what with its old world charm, looming castles, rolling vineyards and ancient ruins.

The folks at MSN Travel, however, think that the United States has some pretty drives as well, and in honor of the days being ripe for road trips, they've narrowed the list down to their top 10 faves.

Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina starts the list off with nature at its best, Highway 1 in California is thrown in there as an obvious choice, and the drive through Sonoma and Napa Valley could give the French countryside a run for its money.

But what about the roads less traveled? Not to disappoint, the article includes drives like Seward Valley through Resurrectoin Bay to Anchorage in Alaska, as well as Going to the Sun Road through Montana's Glacier National Park.

[Source: MSN Travel]

The most scenic jaunts in the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Jul 2006 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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