2009 Dodge Journey

by Myles Kornblatt

When it’s not quite a wagon and not quite an SUV, then it’s a crossover. Dodge takes its first attempt at the segment with the Journey. The Journey is based on the same D-segment platform as the Avenger; it is a new crossover utility vehicle that fits in between the compact Caliber and Grand Caravan. The Journey provides the passenger space of a minivan, the effectiveness of an SUV and has a large amount of storage bins and spaces. The Journey was first introduced at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto show. Sales begin with this 2009 model, which was first released to the public last March. The Journey R/T is a crossover that has an almost identical wheelbase to the short-wheelbase Chrysler minivans that it replaces. This 3,800 lb crossover is powered by a 3.5 liter High Output V6 engine. This engine produces 232 horsepower, and is matted to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This is the largest engine available on the Journey models. The base Journey trim, which is known as the Journey SE, is powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine.

Exterior The Journey hides its tall wagon nature well with its sculpted front end, bold fenders and its simple and clean body. The front end is the most attractive feature of this exterior. The front of the Journey gives off muscularity, with a signature Dodge crosshair chrome grille and Ram’s-head decal in between quad-halogen headlamps and the available fog lamps. At the side, it’s hard to miss these large fenders, which are accented by these standard 19 inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels. If you prefer smaller wheels, I don’t know why you really would; you can also choose to have standard 16 inch 6 spoke wheel cover. The overall side view of the Journey is bold but simple. The rear of the crossover is rounded out. It features a small spoiler at the top of the lift gate. This spoiler is accented by a small rear stop light. The taillights are large, along with the dual exhaust, which adds a more aggressive look. Overall, the exterior of the Journey R/T is fairly large. It has an aggressive look, with its sculpted wheel arches and angled beltline giving it a sportier, SUV-like appearance.

Interior The interior looks better than the other recent Chrysler vehicles, but the Journey could be even nicer if it had a bit better plastics, and less noticeable seat tracks. However, from the drivers view, everything looks good. The slanted center console is easy to reach. The center console has all the basic controls that you would find on car most cars in this price class, like the climate and radio controls. These buttons are pretty straight forward, but are can be distracting because they are not distinctive to the touch. The inside of the Journey R/T is lined with soft-skin paneling, and chrome trim accents. This is also available in cloth. The steering wheel is leather wrapped and mounted with the radio controls. The instrument cluster is small and has three basic dials. Like with the rest of the interior pieces, it works well but it could be more eye appealing. Our seats are two-toned and leather-trimmed. The second row offers some unique features for the class including the ability to slide and recline. Also unique is the ability to have heater in the first two rows of seats. The most innovative part of the Journey’s interior is the storage. Our Journey features what Dodge calls “flip n’ stow”, which has a storage bin under the front passenger seat cushion. There is storage bins on the front floor of the second row that can also double as a cooler (holding a twelve-pack and ice.) Chrysler gave the Journey one more storage compartment in the Cargo area. The bin, just like the others, is located in the rear floor. This is the largest of all the storage compartments in this crossover. The cool thing about this hidden storage is that it can be reversed, and configures into a grocery bag position to hold all your bags in place. To make it even better, the third row seats, second row seats, and passenger seat all fold down flat, giving you about 113 inches of cargo space. Overall, the interior of the Dodge Journey R/T has plenty of space. Which is what every family needs in there crossover. The interior is simple and convenient, it proves plenty of storage.

Test Drive When test driving the Journey R/T, you will enjoy all the benefit of a crossover - a high seat with a good view on the road, while keeping a car-like ride. Stiffer suspension and sharper steering of the R/T model improve the driving pleasure, bringing the experience closer to driving a large size sedan. Our car is very sharp and quick to respond to the driver’s actions but the sporty feeling comes with a price. At lower speed, the steering becomes heavy and the suspensions make you feel every pothole in the road. The only ergonomic problem with the drive was an issue with the location of the brake pedal. Located very high off the ground, the pedal doesn’t allow you to keep your heel planted to the floor while braking. It’s a small detail that can equal a big pain in heavy traffic. Our Journey R/T was equipped with the powerful V6 engine that produces 232 horsepower matted to a six speed automatic transmission, with shifttronic manual simulation. Even with this 6 speed transmission the fuel economy was not exceptional at 16 city / 23 highway. On the bright side, the semi-automatic transmission was fairly quick and deliver its dose of fun and excitement. While driving in fully automatic mode, the powerful engine is tamed, and gives off more of a comfort drive. Overall the Journey is very pleasant drive and is a worthy first attempt by Dodge in the crossover market. We enjoyed our R/T model, but with the reality of gas prices, those of you who would want to embark on long road trips might want to consider the slightly more economic 2.4-liter engine, offering 19 MPG city and 25 MPG highway.

Click here to find a Dodge for you.

Hall Virginia Beach Dodge and TCC Student Takes Ninth in U.S. In SkillUSA Competition.

Tidewater Community College’s automotive technology program has launched another student on a championship path. Chris Caulkins of Virginia Beach made the top 10 in a category of the national SkillsUSA Championships held in Kansas City last week. He took ninth place in the Automotive Service Technology, college/postsecondary level. In the same category, he won first place at the state level in May, along with Brian Wagner in the Diesel Equipment Technology category, joined by Brandon Pereira with second place and Christopher Bonin in third place – a TCC state sweep in diesel. Caulkins, a student in one of TCC’s manufacturer-based programs – Chrysler Automotive Program (CAP) – started at TCC last August and is a graduate of the Virginia Beach Technical & Career Education Center. In his first year at TCC he earned a 3.89 cumulative grade point average (out of 4). Caulkins also has six ASE certifications and plans to be an ASE Master Certified Technician before he graduates. He has taken an active role in TCC’s chapter of SkillsUSA, where he serves as the club’s president. The chapter is at work on a project vehicle – a 1986 Dodge Omni GLH – which they hope to have ready for the 2009 Grassroots Motorsports Challenge. Scott Benson, service manager at Hall Dodge, says, “The CAP program has been a great benefit to us and to Chris. We’re happy to support CAP at TCC.” Benson also serves on TCC’s automotive technology advisory board.

Top 11 Driver Distractions

Driven to Distraction
Driving a car is a complex physical and mental operation. Not only does it require coordination and reflexes, it also requires rapid assessment skills and good judgment. Automakers have spent decades making cars easier and safer to drive, installing everything from rearview mirrors to automatic transmissions to cruise control. Despite that, some drivers insist on creating distractions for themselves behind the wheel, most of which have nothing to do with driving, safe or otherwise.

Distraction Causes Crashes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute have studied driver behavior, and have categorized some of the causes of accidents in these reports. Their conclusion: "Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes."

Just Drive
We've compiled a list of distracting activities that we've witnessed on the road. While we may have been guilty of engaging in a few of these non-driving-related distractions ourselves over the years, we have sworn off all extraneous activities behind the wheel. Our new motto: "Just drive."

Applying Makeup
Ladies, we know that it's impossible to get ready on time in the morning. But please, don't try to put on your mascara in traffic. Not only are you diverting your attention from the road, you’re also at risk of looking like a sad clown by the time your get to the office.

Shaving
Gentlemen, just because that razor is cordless doesn't mean that you should use it everywhere. While you concentrate on getting your sideburns even, traffic has bunched up behind you and you're driving on the shoulder. Shave at home, or wait until you get to work.

Eating
We’ve all done it on a busy day. A quick trip through the drive-through, and before you know it, you're eating a double cheeseburger with one hand, French fries with the other, balancing a soda with your elbow and steering with your knees. Beyond being a recipe for indigestion, eating behind the wheel is unsafe and distracting.

Reading
'Great Expectations' is a great book. It was a great book when Charles Dickens finished it in 1861. It will still be a great book after you reach your destination. Don't read behind the wheel. If you must be literary while driving, try audio books. Many of the classics are available for loan at your public library.

Talking on the Phone
"Research shows that driving while using a cell phone can pose a serious cognitive distraction and degrade driver performance," according to NHTSA, Using a hands-free device can reduce distraction, but not eliminate it. In other words, hang up and drive.

Texting
The driver in front of you on your morning commute weaves and swerves. You pull alongside, expecting to see an inebriated partier. Instead, a starched and pressed business person pilots the vehicle – while texting with both thumbs on a PDA which rests on the steering wheel. Texting is unsafe at any speed but zero.

Lounging
One of the first things we learn in driver's ed is proper driving position. So why do so many drivers insist on slouching, reclining, leaning against the door or putting their feet out of the window? Not only is visibility compromised, reaction time is delayed and control is also compromised, so much of the crash protection engineered into the car is defeated. Straighten up and drive right, for your own good.

Singing
A little bit of singing is a good thing, even while driving. But we've seen drivers engaging in full-out air guitar rockfests worthy of amphitheater stages, all while driving down a crowded highway. Save the theatrics for Karaoke night, and keep your mind on the road.

Petting the dog, cat, rabbit, bird or lizard
In swanky Beverly Hills, it's not uncommon to see a dog's face peeking out of the driver's window as a car whizzes by on Doheny Drive. The California state legislature even debated a law outlawing pets on drivers' laps. Confine your pet to the back seat or passenger seat. Pets are not immune to crashes, and can even cause them if they are unrestrained in the cabin.

Watching a Movie
In-car entertainment can really make a road trip pass by quickly for the passengers. But we've seen vehicles with LCD screens installed in the dash, in clear view of the driver, blaring video entertainment while the vehicle moves through traffic. Drive-in movies are one thing; a driving movie is something else entirely. Be sure to keep entertainment screens out of the driver’s line of sight.

Accessing the Internet
We haven’t seen this yet, but it’s coming. Chrysler LLC recently announced that it will launch an in-vehicle wireless internet system for its vehicles. According to Chrysler, "'uconnect web' transforms the vehicle into a mobile 'hot spot,' delivering unlimited, reliable and uninterrupted Internet connectivity." The system will be available as a dealer installed accessory for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles beginning in August, 2008. Uh-oh!

100% Russian bling: Gold plated Porsche 911 turbo

by Shrawan Raja

If you wake up day after day only to find your bank balance replenished by a few million dollars, chances are at some point, you won’t know what to do with it. Take this Porsche 911 owner for example. He couldn’t find ways to get rid of the fast-accumulating green paper and did this to himself.- A 40- pound pure gold covered Porsche 911.

We find the idea annoying but appreciate the work that has gone into it. The carvings and designs on the surface are brilliant and would have taken weeks to complete by an extremely set of talented and skilled individuals. The polished surface looks nice and should have masked the rear-view mirrors entirely, eliminating the need for a reflective glass and related electronics for adjustments, but maybe next time?!

Driving a Porsche 911 on the streets would grab enough attention leave alone a gold-covered one. Is the Sultan of Brunei reading this?

Can you name the eight United States Presidents that were born in Virginia?

See answer under Car Doctor.

Ask the Car Doctor

Battle High Gas Prices: Tips to Boost Your Fuel Economy

How to save on gas without getting rid of your car.

By: Steve Siler and Colin Mathews

Thanks to the recent spike in fuel prices, high-mileage vehicles are among the most researched of all new-car purchases.

When it comes down to it, the most economical vehicle choice for your family is quite possibly the one that’s already sitting in your driveway. Unless you’re leasing a car that is due to be returned in the next couple of months, you might save as much or more money by simply keeping the car you own and driving it more economically.

But how, exactly? We’re not going to recommend any “hypermiling” nonsense, but we do know a few tricks—some you also might know, and others you might not. All, however, enable you to boost your personal fuel economy, squeezing more miles per gallon from whatever you drive, be it a Focus or a Phantom. Although gains from some of the tips below might seem minute, successfully enact all of them, and you’ll be nickel-and-diming Exxon for hundreds of bucks a year.

Tune Up Your Car

Okay, cars don’t really need “tune-ups” in the traditional mechanical sense any more. But if your “check engine” light is on, it could indicate a serious problem—say, a faulty oxygen sensor or worn spark plugs and wires—that, when fixed, could garner fuel-economy gains upwards of 30 percent, according to the EPA and Department of Energy’s shared Web site: www.fueleconomy.com. Be sure to follow your recommended service schedule to keep your car running optimally. Also, if you’re the change-your-own-oil type, the EPA says to be sure you use the right stuff. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by one to two percent.

Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated

The Department of Energy estimates that 5 to 15 percent of light-duty fuel consumption is spent overcoming rolling resistance, i.e., the friction between the road and a car’s tires. Lowering your vehicle’s rolling resistance starts with simply ensuring that your tires have enough air pressure. Underinflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1-psi drop in pressure of all four tires.

A typical tire loses 1 psi per month and another with every 10-degree drop in temperature, so if you haven’t checked your tires in a few months, it’s time. Of course, pumping a few extra pounds of air pressure into the tires is one of the oldest fuel-economy tricks around, but going overboard will cost you some ride comfort and lateral grip, and—if taken to the extreme—could result in highly dangerous blowouts.

Make sure that your automobile is up to date on its service schedule.

Click Here to schedule a service appointment at your nearest Mile One Service Center.

The eight United States Presidents that were born in Virginia: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson.