Capping off a great ride in wine country.(Auto Monday)(Auto aftermarket)

0 Comments | Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), April, 2006

Byline: Bob Kocher On a sunny but nippy spring day a couple of weeks ago in Napa Valley, the wine country of California, I made a fun discovery along my route. No, I was not trying to relive the same drive through wine country as the main characters in the feature film 'Sideways,' I was, however, on a driving mission, a first time drive in a new vehicle.

My drive through Napa Valley was for the most part a normal day of driving for me. My drive vehicle was the new 2006.5 Kia Optima that was being launched to the automotive media that week. Spending a day driving and riding in the car before it shows up in dealer showrooms is part of being an auto writer. The new Optima was handling like a European sedan. It was quite amazing, a very quiet and smooth drive...