Automedia.com - DriveSmart Articles

Four Paths to Fuel Efficiency

Plenty of people claim they want fuel-efficiency, yet many shun higher-efficiency cars unless they see a tangible economic benefit. Many of us are environmentally concerned, but only when it doesn't cost us much—if anything...

Accident Avoidance Training for Teens

Your teen is 16. He or she has spent hours yawning in the driver’s ed classroom, and scaring you to death on the roads while learning to drive. They pass the test. They have a license—and now your nightmares begin. Although we’re making safer cars, they do not drive themselves. Can your teen handle an emergency situation, swerve to avoid a deer and not go out of control? Probably not. That’s where accident avoidance training could bridge the gap, and help ease your worries...

Auto Safety Systems and the Law

New-car brochures and vehicle reviews regularly tout facts and features about new models, and high-tech, advanced safety systems such as dual front airbags and a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS). That’s the same as saying it meets current emissions standards: If the vehicle didn’t have dual front airbags and a tire-pressure monitoring system, it couldn’t be offered for sale. Of course, the promotional information often mentions that its star meets current emissions standards, too...

Driving a Chevy Volt Test Mule

GM recently announced that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt could score 230 mpg in the EPA city fuel economy cycle and well into the triple digits for combined driving. Though the final EPA test methodology for vehicles that will plug into the electric grid has yet to be finalized, 230 mpg is GM’s best guess estimate given the EPA’s current criteria for plug-in hybrids and extended range electric vehicles...

Porsche Builds Hybrid SUV

Porsche has evolved (to the dismay of some and the excitement of others) from a company once known only for its sports cars into an automaker who is also building them in the forms of an SUV and a new sedan. In 2002, they released the ultimate performance SUV, the Cayenne. Later this year, the four-door Panamera goes on sale and, in late 2010, the company plans to market its first hybrid powertrain. Porsche says, "Using a parallel full hybrid design with the electric motor between the combustion engine and the transmission, Porsche engineers have been able to drive at speeds up to 86 mph without at all using the combustion engine."..

Cheat the New Fuel Economy Rules

In NASCAR it’s called "gettin' competitive." In research and development groups, it's termed “innovation” or “disruptive technology.” In sports they say, “That’s the way the game is played,” until the official calls a penalty. The self-righteous call it “cheating,” unless they’re doing it themselves. To meet the new 35.5-miles per gallon Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard, engineers at car companies must do something similar—come up with technological breakthroughs and push the gray areas of the regulations, perhaps to the breaking point. As in racing, sports and politics, it’s not cheating unless you get caught...

Last Chance for Canceled Models

The automotive world has turned upside down. Your last chance to buy some wonderful vehicles models is fast approaching. Since the Internet is forever, by the time you’re reading this, these opportunities may have long passed...

Head Restraints: Comfort Vs. Safety

Car-oriented chat rooms are loaded with complaints about uncomfortable head restraints, which are often incorrectly called headrests, in new cars. No car company seems immune from criticism. Objections come from tall, average and short people. Both the traditional passive and “active” head restraints take hits. Here are a few actual opinions:..

The 5 Least Expensive 2009 Sedans

To many, it feels like 1930. (In a recession, your neighbor loses his job. In a depression you lose yours.) Here are five peppy, capable, low-cost, four-door sedans that will allow you to survive the current unpleasant times. Auto enthusiasts shouldn’t feel too penalized: All have more than 100 horsepower, which was once a prerequisite for a sports sedan. The legendary BMW 2002 from the 1970s barely cleared that mark. Here are the five least expensive, new, four-door sedans available in the U.S. Prices include destination and handling...

Buying a Used Hybrid

Because hybrids are a comparatively recent phenomenon, not too many have reached the used-car market. Those that have tend to be costly. This was especially true in mid-2008, when gasoline prices hit the roof and customers clamored for fuel-efficient models. There's a logical reason why secondhand hybrids are in short supply: relatively few have been sold new. Hybrids garner a lot of publicity, but modest sales. Around a million have gone to U.S. customers since 2000...

Hybrid Electric Vehicles: Pros and Cons

Given the choice of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) with limited range that takes hours to recharge or a conventional one powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE), the vast majority of buyers opt for the ICE. That is why BEVs were beaten out by ICEs in the industry’s early days and have not competed effectively since. Advancing battery technology is increasing range and making BEVs more acceptable for daily use, but battery prices remain high and realistic (non battery damaging) charge times long...

Fiat 500: On Its Way

Early one morning at the New York Auto Show, in April 2009, two rows of neatly positioned automobiles stood in darkened corridors at the side of the auditorium. Several would soon receive World Car of the Year awards in specific categories. One patient contender for the Design prize, a mini-sized blue car with a curiously compelling profile, seemed caught between bashful reticence and youthful enthusiasm...

Crash Testing for Safety

For many buyers, especially those with families, safety is a major concern when shopping for a vehicle. The main two organizations that perform automotive safety testing are the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Both have easy-to-use websites (IIHS.org and NHTSA.gov) that provide vehicle ratings...

Electric Vehicles: Pros and Cons

In the early days of automotive history, electric cars were more popular than the other alternatives, gasoline and steam-powered vehicles. Gasoline was volatile, highly flammable, scary to store and tote around in a tank. (Ever wonder why early garages were on the other side of the lots from car-owners’ homes?) Scalding-hot steam was nearly as frightening, and not much fun to use, or fast to make...

Scion xB, Nissan cube, Kia Soul Comparison

Not many new models create a separate category. Yet, that's what happened when Scion—Toyota's youth division—launched its boxy little first-generation xB for 2004. Squared-off vehicles had hit the market before, but few ever took off like this Scion. Four years later, Scion had a bigger, less boxy, second-generation xB at dealerships, keeping the market to itself a while longer. In spring 2009, though, a pair of competitors reached the youth-market scene, supplied by Kia and Nissan...

Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Expo

On May 11, 2008, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline was about $3.72 a gallon. That was the date the four-day 2008 Alternatives Fuels and Vehicles National Conference and Expo opened in Las Vegas. On April 19, ‘09, the 2009 Alternative Fuels and Vehicles National Conference and Expo opened at Walt Disney World's Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, FL. And the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline is about $2.05. Might that result in a decline in interest in alternative fuels?..

2009 New York Auto Show

Any analysts looking for evidence of distress in the wake of depleted auto sales got a different picture at the New York Auto Show, held in mid-April. Even when the financial crisis was mentioned during automaker news conferences, it failed to cast much of a shadow on the presentation of new and redesigned models...

Getting an Auto Loan Today

Not so long ago, buying a car on credit was stress-free. Hardly anyone had to go without wheels. Through the 1990s and into the 21st century, dealers were selling cars for little (or even nothing) down, and lengthening loan terms to six and seven years, to keep monthly payments low...

Top 10 Dumb Driving Moves

What’s the dumbest thing you’ve seen another driver do lately? Now, confess the dumbest driving move you’ve made recently. Since this is supposed to be a fun story, stay away from driver’s ed lectures about driving under the influence, going 50 mph in a school zone and having unrestrained kids bouncing around in the back of an SUV. All of our Top 10 Dumb Driving Moves could end tragically—that possibility exists every time a vehicle is moving. However, today we’re trying to be humorous-dumb, not heartbreaking-dumb...

Top 10 Production-Likely Concept Cars

Show cars have played a growing and pivotal role in automobile development over the past half-century. Rather than make an educated guess about the likelihood that a proposed model will enjoy public acceptance, manufacturers can unveil that new vehicle first in concept form. Millions of people might have an opportunity to see it and comment upon it, helping developers to gauge the likely response to a production decision...

2009 Detroit Auto Show

DETROIT—Even before the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) was scheduled to open to journalists, industry shrinkage was evident. In the past, news conferences were scheduled for two full days and part of a third. This year, nearly everything would be over by mid-afternoon on the second day...

Super Scooter

When high gas prices hit town last summer so did the scooters, as everyone from coeds to professionals to retirees suddenly perked up to a simple, enjoyable mode of transportation that Europeans have embraced for years. With two small wheels, friendly styling, lightweight and small-displacement engines, scooters are perfect for urban errand-running and commuting. But that’s about where the fun stops, because the same easy-to-live-with features that make scooters heroic in town also ensure they’ll rarely stray past the city limits...

Nitrogen for Tires

Today, you’ll notice green nitrogen “filling stations” at tire shops across the continent. Typically, filling a tire with nitrogen costs in the range of $10 per tire (although a few shops include it for free when they sell you a new set of tires). Using compressed nitrogen instead of compressed air isn’t really new. The military, commercial airplanes, racecars and even the space shuttle have used it for years...

2009 Toyota Prius

In Washington, D.C., Toyota Prius seem almost as common as pickups in Texas. It’s not true, but some car-oriented visitors feel that way. The Prius, the nation’s fuel-mileage leader, is well suited for Washington’s congested streets. The gas-electric hybrid is far more convenient and, at least for suburban dwellers, a Prius will get you where you’re going quicker than the area’s Metro rail system. If four people share the cost of commuting, a Prius may be cheaper, too. More important for a place that’s all about making statements, the Prius might as well be wrapped with political vehicle graphics. These would say its owner is very environmentally conscious. Optionally, the graphics could also say: “I’m a liberal and darned proud of it.” Prius sales numbers may be a better barometer of public feelings than are political opinion polls.

Plug-In Hybrids: Ready For Prime Time?

Optimistic predictions for plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles abound. Advocates of plug-ins (also called PHEVs) say they promise to radically reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, slash greenhouse gas emissions and radically cut the cost of running a vehicle. A study by the Electric Power Research Institute and the Natural Recourses Defense Council said plug-ins will cut U.S. petroleum use by up to four million barrels a day: The groups predicted it will be as if 80 million cars were removed from the road. Several automakers announced that they would offer plug-ins for sale by 2010. Advocates predicted that two-thirds of all vehicles—including larger delivery trucks—would be plug-in hybrids. Plug-ins will save money and the environment while protecting our national security, said the prognosticators. (A definition: Plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles can tap into household electric outlets to recharge their batteries. They retain conventional gasoline engines to allow longer journeys. Some call them “extended-range electric vehicles.”)..

2008 LA Auto Show Highlights

As the first major American auto show of the new model year, the Los Angeles event invariably signals what can be expected for the coming season. Like the Paris Motor Show in early October, Los Angeles saw performance and luxury share the spotlight with "green" themes...

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid

Rarely can “SUV,” “clean air,” and “good gas mileage” be used in the same sentence. One of the few exceptions is the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid...

Hybrid Vehicles: All You Need to Know

Hybrid-electric vehicles have been on American roads for more than a decade, but, still, a lot of people don’t truly know what exactly a hybrid vehicle is, much less how one works. A common reaction to a hybrid is: “Why are you putting gasoline in it? Don’t you plug it in?” We’ll tell you everything you need to know about hybrid vehicles and probably a whole lot more. Here are the basics:..

Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell Crossover

For years now, auto manufacturers have been developing experimental vehicles that contain a fuel cell. Typically, the fuel cell is used to convert hydrogen into electricity, which then operates the vehicle. Most of those experimental fuel-cell vehicles were exhibited at auto shows and other events, driven briefly by a handful of dignitaries, celebrities, government leaders, and media people. A tiny number wound up in the hands of government agencies or other organizations for longer-term trials...

Paris Motor Show Goes Green

Paris—Every other year, auto journalists and industry leaders trot off to Paris for that city’s flamboyant automobile show. Paris alternates with Frankfurt (Germany) to present what most observers consider the paramount automobile exhibition in Europe. As before, this year’s Mondial de l’Automobile opened at the sprawling exposition center at Porte de Versailles, in the southern portion of Paris. Nine separate halls were filled to capacity with cars, light trucks, and related exhibits...

Market Madness Hits Used Cars

New-car shoppers, turning away from big SUVs in favor of fuel-efficient models, aren't the only ones affected by the escalating cost of gasoline. Zooming fuel prices in early 2008 also turned the used-car market topsy-turvy. Vehicles that were formerly good values began turning into pariahs. Previously unpopular models, seldom seen on shopping lists, abruptly sounded a lot more appealing...

2009 Honda Fit

When interest in smaller, fuel-efficient cars began to sizzle in the spring of 2008, Honda didn't have to worry much. In addition to the popular Civic, Honda had a smaller-yet Fit in its stable—with a redesigned version at Honda dealers now...

2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2009 Toyota Camry is the latest successor in a long line of regal Toyota sedans that ultimately lent the Camry its name. The word Camry ascended in a phonetic translation of the Japanese word kanmuri - or Crown. Not surprisingly, the flagship of the Toyota lineup in Japan before the advent of Camry was the mighty Toyota Crown. Executive level motoring luxury has since been spun off into the brand known stateside as Lexus. Deluxe motoring coaches aside, the Toyota lineup has always featured a mileage champion. The 1984 Toyota Starlet boasted an almost unbelievable EPA mileage rating of 55 mpg highway. This figure was likely achieved at the then national speed limit of 55 mph, and with an accompanying level of ride possible only in a small, short wheelbase compact hatchback. Merging the previously unrelated concepts of a comfortable, practical, and roomy sedan together with the fuel economy of a compact car is the hybrid version of the popular four-door Toyota Camry.

Best Mileage Models for Your New-Car Money

As consumers turn toward fuel-efficient vehicles, it pays to know which ones are thriftiest—and which aren't as economical as they might appear.

Top 10 Best Values in Used Vehicles

You needn’t be a member of Mensa to know that the best deals in used cars will be vehicles that get poor fuel mileage. Also, pawnshop display areas are full of vehicles that can best be described as toys: Harleys, jacked-up SUVs, modified Camaros, sports cars with aftermarket turbochargers, and more...

2009 Honda FCX Clarity Preview

The 2009 Honda FCX Clarity doesn’t have an engine. It doesn’t use gasoline, diesel or biofuel. Its emission are only water vapor and oxygen. It gets the equivalent of about 80 miles per gallon gasoline and is almost completely silent...

Convertible Comparison

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy open top fun. And there are few automotive experiences as gratifying as a top-down cruise on a twisty road in a well-sorted roadster...

Civic Vs. Prius: Compact Hybrid Comparison

Popularity can grow, and it can fade. Hybrid (gasoline/electric) cars saw gradual but steady escalation in the early years of the 21st century, but interest began to slip a bit in the second half of the decade. Suddenly, triggered by skyrocketing gasoline prices in 2007, and even more so in 2008, hybrids began to practically fly off dealer lots. Gas-guzzling SUVs could barely be given away, but small, fuel-efficient automobiles quickly became the superstars of the sales race...

Gas Prices: Going Up, But How Far?

Motorists have been complaining about gasoline prices for years—even for decades. Up until the sharp price hikes in 2007 and, especially 2008, they had little to complain about...

Fuel Economy Now Selling

Back in the late 1950s and 1960s, a small-car boom occurred in the U.S. Dozens of foreign makes hit the market, built in Europe and, to a lesser extent, Asia...

Automotive Myths

We’re not sure where some of these car myths started. Things like mixing low- and high-octane gas to get an octane level higher than high—that had to be a contest between Dumb and Dumber. The campfire-story genesis doesn’t seem appropriate either, because some myths are actually based in fact, maybe old facts, but facts nonetheless. We’ll start with that old grudge move: Sugar in the gas tank...

100-MPG SUV

Back in the heyday of the internal-combustion engine, when gasoline was cheap and highways were full, not many motorists fretted about fuel economy. Teenagers could drive all night on a few bucks worth of gas. Long commutes weren't yet commonplace. Traffic jams were more likely to occur on Sundays, when "everybody" was out driving, than on workdays...

Top 10 Tips for Used Car Buying

Looking for a new ride? You can save a lot of money by smart-shopping the used car market. You will skirt the biggest, hidden cost in a new car—depreciation. Once that new car leaves the lot, its value immediately plummets. According to Consumer Reports, a Pontiac Vibe ‘03 or ‘04 or Scion Xb ‘04 or ’05 can be purchased for between $8,000 to $10,000. The new models of these vehicles cost $15,650 for the Xb and $15,310 for the base model Vibe. The average life of a passenger car is 20 years or 126,665 miles while light trucks have a lifespan of 25 years or 153,698 miles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. So that ’03 to ’05 model has a lot of life left...

In Search of the Perfect Pickup

The original 57 varieties of Heinz products should be very worried. Because at last count, Chevrolet and GMC were closing fast with a combined—are you ready for this?—48 varieties of pickup trucks. From an economical two-passenger Canyon or Colorado to a three-passenger 1500 series, a five-passenger 2500 series and a six-passenger 3500 turbodiesel crew-cab dually, the two GM divisions build a pickup for almost everyone. Which makes it all that much harder to choose just one. We decided to try anyway, putting two “midlevel” trucks, the Silverado 2500 HD and Sierra Denali 1500, to test...

Off-Road Driving Safety Tips

Going off roading? Here are your choices:..

Getting 35 MPG

Most of the technology auto manufacturers need to make the mandated 35 miles per gallon Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standard ordered by 2020 not only exists, but also is already in use in some vehicles, says Charles Hubbard of Lexus College...

Make Your Own Biodiesel Fuel

As noted in our article, “Biodiesel Benefits, Fueling the Green Revolution,” biodiesel is rapidly becoming a key alternative fuel. Refineries that make biodiesel are popping up all over the country. “The growth of the biodiesel industry is almost staggering,” observes NBB Chief Executive Joe Jobe. “We’re always hearing about how no new petroleum refineries have been built in the United States in 30 years. This is where biodiesel can make a difference. Every plant that goes up is adding fuel refining capacity to our nation’s energy capabilities.”..

Top 10 Future American Collector Cars

It's human nature. You're in front of the TV, you flip past a car auction, and your jaw drops. The prices that some collector cars are bringing at places like Barrett-Jackson are mind blowing. A classic example is the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird. Here is a car so monumentally homely and impractical on the street that dealers were still trying to sell 1970 leftovers well into 1971. But, the droop snoot and tall tail were about function, not fashion. Race versions of the winged Mopars were so fast that NASCAR promptly outlawed them from the circuit. Couple that racing pedigree with the off-the-charts sums being paid for any original, Hemi or 440 engine cars these days, and in Superbird (and its sibling the Dodge Daytona), you've got rolling money machines. Want one? At a big-time auction, be prepared to spend more than you did for your first house, and maybe your second...

Not Guilty!

To beat a traffic ticket, you needn't be a close friend of the governor or have attended kindergarten with the chief of police. In fact, it's likely neither of those will help as much as this simple tip: Plead not guilty...

Trouble with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

The most idiotic of all “idiot lights” in your car may be the Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The problem isn’t with the TPMS itself. Rather, it’s that the TPMS light doesn’t illuminate until your tires are severely or, possibly, dangerously underinflated. Imagine a burglar alarm that doesn’t go off until the bad guys have already carried out the TiVo...

Aging Driver Safety

Johnell Brooks was a passenger when her grandmother ran two red lights in quick succession. When Johnell spoke up, her grandmother replied: "Honey, I haven't been able to see stoplights in years. If the car in front goes, so do I." Brooks forced her family to face the fact that her grandmother, who suffered from macular degeneration, was going to hurt herself or kill someone else. When her grandmother lost her driving privileges and, thus, her independence, she blamed Johnell...

2008 New York Auto Show

As the last American auto show of the season, New York's annual event occupies a unique role in the industry. Nearly all the vehicles that have emerged at prior shows appear in New York, along with a selection of new and redesigned models that have not been seen before—or appeared only at shows outside North America...

2008 Full-Size Truck Comparison

Perhaps more than any other vehicle category, pickup trucks attract loyal audiences. Full-size pickups, in particular, tend to be bought by shoppers, mostly men, who have owned the same make and model before. Until the past few years, nearly all of those big-pickup sales have gone to domestic models: the long-lived and top-selling Ford F-150, the Dodge Ram, and Chevrolet Silverado (or its GMC Sierra counterpart)...

Throwaway Road Trip

It was at dusk, the point in the afternoon when you're still wearing your sunglasses but probably shouldn't, that the real risk of long-hauling our throwaway Rav4 sprouted ugly pig wings and squealed into the sky...

Fuel Gauge Lies

Does it seem like your gas gauge stays on "Full" for a long time before lollygagging down to the halfway mark? Then does it skip almost immediately from half to one-quarter? Have you driven seemingly forever with the fuel warning light on?..

Biodiesel Benefits

What's the next "Big Thing?" Well, clearly our energy problems seem to grow as fast as the prices at the pump, so finding an alternative fuel is now a national priority, and a common topic of conversation. For instance, just a few years ago if you mentioned the word "biodiesel" you'd probably get either a blank stare or a sarcastic remark about the exhaust smelling like french fries. Today, though, biodiesel is no joke. It's now an established alternative fuel, and becoming a mainstream commodity. In fact, the latest Energy Bill that's being signed into law will significantly increase the use of biodiesel in the United States...

Virtual Backseat Parents

The day they get a driver's license is a golden moment for teens—and for their parents, it's the day they start getting grey hair. Every time their teen is on the road, their worry meters spike. Now, thanks to technology, parents can virtually ride with their teen drivers wherever they go and monitor their driving behavior; and, in some instances, correct it. Through the magic of GPS, devices are on the market that can monitor a teen's driving speed, map their vehicle's position, monitor seatbelt use, unlock a door and even enforce curfew by turning off the car's ignition or locking the door...

New Auto Technology Trends

Las Vegas inspires a weird kind of awe. Ogle at spectacles like the mega-story Coke bottle, the Luxor's pyramid or the Treasure Island pirate ship, and you don't know whether to laugh or cry. Are we a brilliantly playful civilization or is Armageddon nigh?..

2008 Chicago Auto Show

In 1901, Chicago saw its first official auto show. Except for the period during and after World War II, an auto show took place each year in the Windy City...

2008 Detroit Auto Show Highlights

Packs of avid journalists crowded the aisles of Detroit's Cobo Hall for two full days in mid-January, to gaze and hear about the latest vehicle models. Performance once again captured plenty of attention, led by the new Corvette ZR1 with its 620-horsepower V-8 engine...

Summer Tires in Snow

Driving on ultra-high performance tires on a snow-covered road is like trying to negotiate Copper Mountain's expert-level "Drain Pipe" ski run on water skis. Both are skis: What's the problem? Even on tires billed as "ultra-high performance all-season," driving in the snow is like negotiating that black-diamond run on cross-country skis: It's possible, but it's not the best choice...

Road Gator Wrestling

Starting in mid-May, those who drive Sunbelt roads begin seeing the occasional 18-wheeler truck tire tread lying beside or on the highway. Some call them "road gators." We presume that's because they'll take a bite out of your car if you run over one. Hit a road gator that's lying on its side and it'll slice open the engine or transmission oil pan, rip off a brake or fuel line or snap off a suspension component...

Auto Insurance Basics

While we generally don't think twice about our automotive insurance once we've purchased a policy, all insurance experts advise us to reexamine our coverage every year just before it's time to renew. According to these same experts, we should also do our auto insurance homework long before we purchase that new vehicle...

GPS Buying Guide

High-tech companies have a way of cramming more user-friendly features into smaller and smaller packages. And portable GPS (Global Positioning System) units are a prime example of this trend. A popular alternative to in-dash systems, the latest GPS devices not only aid travelers, they travel well themselves...

Suburban Diesel

Owners of big SUVs have had to rely mostly on gasoline-guzzling V-8s to power their hefty rigs, but that's about to change. For years automakers have been hinting at the possibility of offering a greater number of fuel-efficient diesels in their domestic lineups of cars and trucks (in contrast to Europe where oil burners are in the majority). The latest news is that this is finally going to happen, but it's been a long time coming...

2008 Midsize Hybrid Sedan Comparison

Hybrid powertrains started in small cars—namely the two-passenger Honda Insight and the compact Toyota Prius. Those vehicles were uniquely hybrid, offered only with a gasoline/electric powertrain...

2008 Premium Crossover Comparison

Even though they're sometimes considered SUVs, the smallest utility models from Acura, BMW, and Land Rover qualify as crossover vehicles. Their structures more closely resemble those of passenger cars rather than trucks. Despite relatively tall profiles and higher ground clearances than sedans or station wagons, these premium-level crossovers promise driving characteristics and ride quality that emulate passenger cars. Fuel economy, though not exactly frugal, scores noticeably better than truck-type SUVs...

Do-It-Yourself Test Drive

Car writers have it easy. When they want to do a comparison test, they phone the car manufacturers and—POOF—a quarter million dollars worth of vehicles magically shows up. You may not realize it, but you have almost as much clout...

Hybrid Myths

Most new technologies create unfounded fear among the uninformed, while even the well educated overlook truly serious issues. It's no different for hybrid vehicles. Some inappropriately worry that wrecked hybrids may electrocute passengers and rescue workers. Others unnecessarily fear that hybrids' batteries will need to be replaced as often as those in a smoke detector. While most hybrid owners are smug about their vehicles' environmental friendliness, few are concerned with the real possibility that hybrid batteries may wind up in landfills...

10 Tips for Choosing the Right Tires

It's a toss-up as to which is more unwelcome, purchasing tires or getting a full physical exam. There may be more pain buying tires because most people wait until it's urgent—or even critical—to start shopping. Here are some tips on how and when to select tires...

10 Tips for Parents of Teenage Drivers

Every year, teenage drivers are involved in about 8,000 fatal vehicle crashes. Yearly, about 5,000 teens—drivers and passengers—die in car accidents. Another 400,000 or more are injured, with 30,000 of those requiring hospitalization. Keeping teen drivers and passengers safe is arguably the most challenging of parental tasks. It's one that I'm currently tackling...

10 Tips to Trump Driving Boredom

The very word automobile grew from an invention that enabled us to miraculously move ourselves about. Back in the days of handlebar moustaches and steam engines, the automobile was looked upon as an oddity of the super rich. While we take automobiles almost for granted today, working folks of yesteryear could only dream of speeding down the road behind the wheel of a Stanley Steamer. As time went on the automobile became more affordable and utilitarian. Henry Ford and his desire to build a car for the masses changed everything with the Model T. In modern times the automobile has become an essential part of our lives. As with any aspect of modern society, driving can become drudgery if we let it happen. Don't let the joy of driving become lost on utility. Taking some simple steps can get you and your ride out of automotive dullsville...

2004-2005 Midsize SUV Comparison

Deciding which new vehicle to buy is seldom easy. After researching the likely prospects and narrowing down the choices to a handful of models, picking out one of them can be the toughest task of all...

2005 Safety Report Card

"The safety story," says Dr. Adrian K. Lund, COO of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "is that automakers are making rapid safety changes" and those changes are making some crash testing obsolete...

2006 California Auto Show

In its goal to establish itself as a major force among auto shows, the 2006 California International Auto Show ironically relied on introductions from the domestic "Big 3" as the major anchors to its five-day event. The fact that virtually all Asian imports were essentially silent, save for relatively large exhibits, was underscored by the fact that the domestic manufacturers' combined market share in Southern California has continued to drop, making it imperative they make a big play wherever they can...

2006 Chicago Auto Show

CHICAGO—Evidence of any trend toward smaller, less fuel-thirsty cars was hard to find at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show, held February 10-19. Nearly all of the new and redesigned models were bigger and/or more powerful. Except for GM and Ford, which promoted flex-fuel (ethanol/gasoline) vehicles, fuel-efficiency sat on the back burner...

2006 New-Model News

With gasoline prices rising rapidly and fuel shortages possible, logic would suggest that economy cars might rule the 2006 model lineup. Instead, though, the new and redesigned models run the full gamut, ranging from a gargantuan Dodge pickup down to redesigned minicars from South Korean automakers...

2006 North American International Auto Show

We love these big international auto shows. We really do. But one frustrating thing about them—especially this January's Motor City soirée of sculpted metal and glass—is that the newest and juiciest goodies are always just out of reach. They're up there on revolving platforms, rotating tantalizingly so that every nuance of color and surface taunts and tempts in the most flattering of light. But can we settle into their soft leather seats, turn a key, feel an engine come to life, engage a gear, press a pedal, turn a wheel?..

2007 Crossover Guide

Since the Toyota RAV4 popularized the car-based SUV concept in the mid-1990s, crossover vehicles have grown exponentially, both in total sales and models. Unlike many fads, the spiking crossover popularity has its roots in common sense. Americans have voted with their wallets for years, with a large percentage wanting a commanding view of the road, all-weather traction, light-duty tow capability, flexible interior space, and tough-looking styling. Recent interest has been furthered by escalated fuel prices encouraging consumers to right-size their daily drivers. While some manufacturers had timidly approached this emerging market segment in the past, nearly all automakers are shifting their focus on crossovers in 2007 and beyond. Translation: this trend is still gaining momentum...

2007 Detroit Auto Show

The first show of the New Year always begins with the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), otherwise known as the Detroit Auto Show, the biggest and oldest auto show in the United States. This year the Motor City celebrates its 100th anniversary and will unveil over 45 new models to the press and public...

2007 Hybrid Vehicle Guide

Honda and Toyota led in bringing hybrid automobiles to America just as the 21st century got underway. Honda's Insight was an ultra-lightweight two-seater, while the Toyota Prius was a curious-looking but otherwise conventional four-door sedan. Redesigning of the Prius for 2004 cemented its position as the top-selling hybrid automobile in America...

2007 Minivan Marketplace

They're practical, sensible, versatile—and generally economical to drive. Why, then, do many folks still scoff at minivans and their owners? Should you ignore the "image police" and go for a minivan, despite anyone's taunts?..

2007 New Model Preview

As the 2007 model year rolls out though, the roster of new and redesigned vehicles contains quite a few large vehicles, some of which are selling well. "Crossover" models continue to attract attention, even though many Americans aren't yet willing to slim down their vehicle demands. Performance reaches new heights, too, as engines grow larger and more powerful, with some promising improved gas mileage and lower emissions...

2008 Compact Crossover Comparison

Crossover vehicles, especially those that are compact in size, have become hot items lately—yet not everyone agrees on the definition. Crossovers are car-based, rather than built on a truck-type platform. Though squarish in profile and higher off the ground than a regular passenger car, crossovers display driving characteristics—especially ride comfort and handling qualities—that mimic those of a compact sedan. Fuel economy beats that of conventional sport-utility vehicles. Still, many of these vehicles are considered crossovers in some quarters, but dubbed compact SUVs by others...

2008 New Models: Early View

Not long after each New Year begins, automakers start trotting out a few new models for the coming season. Officially, a 2008 model could be placed on sale as early as January 2007. Not many arrive at dealerships quite that early. But as spring rolls toward summer, the early trickle of new and redesigned models—plus a few that haven't changed all that much—turns into a steadily flowing stream...

2WD Vs. 4WD

If the world of off-roading calls-out to you, and you're ruing the limitations of your two-wheel-drive light truck, then read on. While 4x4s are the kings of rock crawling, mud bogging and all other sorts of non-paved adventures, you don't have to scrap your reliable 4x2 in order to join in the fun. By simply adding a few upgrades, you and your 2WD may be able to respond to that call of the wild...

5 Top Convertibles to Consider

Times are good for convertible buyers. The market offers everything from the small and sporty to the large and luxurious. The possibilities are many and the fun is in the deciding, but for those who want a head start, here's a cross section of choices to consider...

A New Way to New-Car Shop

Mazda is rolling out a "Retail Revolution," which John Mendel, Executive Vice President and COO of Mazda North America characterizes as "all about falling in love with cars." The auto industry, in the past, Mendel points out, has used the showroom to control the customer. "The deal has gotten in the way of falling in love with the vehicle," he said...

ABS and Stability Control

If only vehicles had a time machine and a credit card reader...

ABS and Stability Control

If only vehicles had a time machine and a credit card reader...

Accident Prevention Technology

With highway fatality statistics refusing to budge, the government is developing technology that can help drivers avoid accidents. Drivers are distracted, fatigued and overstressed—and their driving habits account for 90 percent of all accidents. Researchers are looking at technology to help cut down on tailgating, poor decisions navigating intersections, and rollover and run-off-the-road accidents...

Active Safety for SUVs

Over the last few decades, consumers have let it be known that safety sells automobiles. In the past, that meant designs to improve the crashworthiness of vehicles and protect occupants from crash forces. Today, major advances in safety equipment can correct driver error and avoid crashes before they occur. Twenty years ago, the car was king. Today, light trucks, minivans, pickups and sport-utility vehicles are kings of the road. These vehicles were recently under a harsh safety spotlight for their high rollover crash incidents, and the weight imbalance when a passenger car and light truck are involved in a crash. In these crashes, over 80 percent of the resulting fatalities occur in the passenger car. In answer to questions raised about the safety of these very popular vehicles, Senator John McCain convened a hearing before the Senate Science and Transportation Commerce Committee on SUV safety. Chairman McCain said he called the hearing, "to examine the incidents of death, injury, and rollover when SUVs are involved in vehicle crashes."..

Aftermarket Parts vs. OEM Warranties

Capitalism is rooted in making a buck. Philosophically, the less one pays, the more one keeps. Trying to get a company to part with its money can be frustrating, even if you've parted with yours based on their warranty...

Alliances Along the Hybrid Highway

While the conventional internal combustion engines that have powered cars, trucks and SUVs for many decades will continue to be popular, car buyers are demanding alternatives. Thanks to an improvement in hybrid technology, there are currently three hybrid models on the market and many others coming. Combined with a concern for our planet's well being and the relatively limited supply of fossil fuels, hybrid propulsion promises to become an integral part of the automotive landscape...

Alternative Fuels

Americans, often noted for their so-called love affair with the car, have recently begun to support alternatives to straight gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles. While they have been available for over a decade, both traditional and alternative fuels have seen recent technical advances and innovations that have made them both feasible and affordable. For reasons that include reducing air pollution, the eventual consumption of all fossil fuels, the increasing price of gas, and the dependence on foreign petroleum, alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) are growing in popularity with not just environmentalists and consumers, but with auto manufacturers and the government, as well...

Alternative Fuels Glossary

Alternative fuels have earned plenty of publicity lately. Even so, most unconventional fuel sources and powertrains are in a state of infancy...

Alternatives to Street Racing

Every form of speed competition, from the Kentucky Derby to NASCAR, originated from one cocky racer challenging another to prove whose ride was fastest. Even as motorsports events have grown into an organized, multi-billion-dollar business, homegrown hot rodders continue to throw down the gauntlet, with challenges played out on back roads where people get arrested, hurt or even killed...

Are You Equipped for Roadside Emergencies?

You've filled your travel mug to the brim with hot coffee, plugged your cell phone into the dash, and your road atlas is tucked into the door pocket. So now you're ready to head down the road, right? Well, maybe—but what's in your trunk? Are you prepared for a breakdown?..

At-Home Test for Senior Drivers

Giving up a driver's license is a devastating decision for seniors in America's mobile society. Knowing when to relinquish the driver's seat is difficult for individual drivers to gauge because there is no driving test in most states for senior license holders. With tragic results, some seniors continue to drive beyond their capability to do so. How does the senior or the senior's family gauge their level of driving skill? With a new tool just released by the AAA, seniors can test eight physical and mental abilities that are the strongest predictors of crash risk among older drivers. "Roadwise Review: A Tool to Help Seniors Drive Safely Longer," is a CD-ROM that seniors can use in their own homes to gauge their driving ability...

Au(to) Natural

Imagine metal junkyards—the ugly graveyards of rusting cars and trucks—magically transformed into compost centers. The idea of cars being turned into organic matter, although seemingly impossible, is really not all that far-fetched. Automakers and scientists are teaming up to develop and employ new bio plastics made from sugar cane, sweet potatoes, elephant grass, soy beans, bananas, bamboo, and other plant matter. Lasting a minimum of 14 years, this green plastic is as tough and durable as its petroleum-based cousin when in use, but is actually vastly superior during the manufacturing process and once the car is retired...

Auto Recalls: Fixing the Problem

If you find out about a safety recall by reading a report in a newspaper or magazine, or on an automotive web site, don't dash right down to the nearest dealership to demand immediate satisfaction. Wait a while before proceeding. An official notice should be coming by first-class mail, directly from the manufacturer, who is allowed a "reasonable time" to make arrangements for any necessary repairs...

Automobile Insurance Fraud

As gas prices continue to soar, the economy barely gets rolling, and all of those great deals we saw over the past few years for buying new cars begin to dwindle, Americans are calculating and refinancing, budgeting and saving wherever and whenever possible. And yet, there are some costs that just can't be avoided: rents or mortgages, health care, gasoline—and car insurance. It seems there is little to nothing the average consumer can do, beyond some basic comparison-shopping, to substantially reduce the cost of their car insurance...

Automotive Anomalies

Sport Activity Vehicle. SportCross. Five-door hatchback. Crossover. Sportwagon. Sportback. Outback. What happened to the "good old station wagon—" Gone the way of the dinosaur, my friend. Gone the way of Vanilla Ice. Out of favor, out of touch...

Automotive Exclusivity

Tired of seeing near-duplicates of your automobile cruising down the road at every turn? There's a solution to that dilemma—provided you're willing to pay for the privilege. More than a dozen automakers turn out vehicles in such small numbers that the chance of your encountering another one on a given trip is about as likely as winning the lottery...

Behind the Wheel of a Big Rig

Imagine you're motoring down a curvy backroad. It's so narrow that when you're 18 inches away from the fog line on the right, the left side of your vehicle is no more than that away from the centerline. Touching mirrors with passing vehicles is a real concern. Your brakes promise little stopping power. Your tires don't provide much grip, which is good—the vehicle is so top heavy that sticky tires would result in a tip over...

Big Rig Blues

The television movie "Duel" began Steven Spielberg's directorial career and forever changed the way drivers view big rigs. Separating fact from fiction, however, casts a much less demonic aura over those mastodons of the highway. In fact, without the big rigs and their cargo, 82 percent of the country's communities would be without groceries and other goods...

Budget Trucks: Value and Versatility

More buyers are turning to trucks as they search for versatile vehicles that can handle the daily commute on the highway as well as the extracurricular activities of the weekend. In recent years, however, the face and tone of trucks has moved decidedly upscale, taking on family-sedan features and luxury-car characteristics. The result of this evolution is a swell in pickup truck sales, as well as pricing. But don't let that discourage you—there are still plenty of pickup truck choices in the "under $20,000" price category...

Car Care for Better Mileage

Remember when gas was less than $2 a gallon? While it would be nice to see those prices again, there are several easy and inexpensive things you can do to your vehicle to get the maximum miles per gallon, adding up to considerable savings over a full year of driving...

Car Fire - What to do if your Car catches Fire

Smoke and/or the acrid smell of burning wires—these are not sensual assaults to be ignored when you're heading down the highway. Just like in Monopoly: Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Drive directly to the shoulder of the road and turn off the ignition...

Car Lease - Does it make sense?

Not so long ago, leasing was the hot item in the automotive marketplace. Commercials touted lease deals that sounded impossible to refuse. Who could resist, say, a Mazda Miata roadster for $99 a month?..

Car Ownership - Weighing the Cost?

As the world's leading culture of consumers, perhaps our preoccupation with sale price is perfectly understandable. But when it comes to cars, the bottom line really isn't the end of the story. Unlike vacations, TVs, cell phones and other consumer goods, cars are almost never single-owner, maintenance-free devices. Financially speaking, cars are more like a piece of property. The real measure of automotive value is the use you get out of the vehicle while you own it vs. the true total cost to you. Typically, cars, trucks and SUVs are financed, maintained, insured, fueled and eventually sold or traded in. With so many variables, it's definitely tunnel vision to lock in on just one aspect of the total ownership process. Let's take a look at the key costs of ownership, and see if we can save you some money in the long run...

Car Seat Safety Flaws

Making kids safe in cars seems to be a lot harder than we thought when the first child safety seat made its appearance in 1962. After almost 50 years of legislation and new technology, we still can't get our kids buckled up properly...

Car Window Sticker Basics

Every car shopper knows to look at the window sticker for a vehicle's price. But that's just the beginning of what the sticker can tell you. For the savvy shopper who knows what to look for, the window sticker contains a wealth of information that, at a glance, can give you a quick profile of the entire car...

Cargo-carrying tips for your truck

Axioms like, "A tidy desk is the sign of an empty mind," and, "Housecleaning makes you ugly," were undoubtedly coined by messy people. Even those of us who thrive in what we defend as organized chaos have to admit there are places where tidiness is a near necessity. One of those is in our vehicle...

Cell Phones Quadruple Chance of Crash

Talking on a cell phone while driving can quadruple your chances of a crash ending with a hospital visit, according to a new study released by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). The statistic is an equal opportunity warning. The same statistics apply to women, men, young or old, hands-free or handheld cell phone users. The study, entitled the "Role of cellular phones in motor vehicle crashes resulting in hospital attendance" by S. McEvoy et al, is published in the British Medical Journal, available at bmj.com...

Certification Eases Used Car Buying

The number of certified "pre-owned" vehicles continues to grow as a market force, tempting shoppers who worry about potential problems with their used-car purchase. Used cars are a gamble. Certification programs, operated by automakers and their dealers, can provide a welcome—if somewhat costly—"safety net" to reduce that risk...

College and Auto Insurance

While you are packing extra long sheets, the right laptop, and other electronics for your college-bound freshman, add auto insurance to your checklist. Whether your student is taking one of the family cars, his or her own set of wheels to campus, or is going to be without wheels, it will affect the family's auto insurance. While you are setting up final dental appointments, call your insurance company and find out how your insurance picture changes when your child squeals out of the driveway on the way to the university. Taking the time to do so could mean a few extra bucks in your family pocketbook plus the assurance that you are protecting your child away from home...

Conservation is Key

You know gas prices have become very serious when a dedicated car enthusiast sells his BMW M3 convertible to buy a hybrid...

Convertible Style

Top-down driving used to be the ultimate form of motoring pleasure. Teens looking for their first car gazed longingly at convertibles, hoping Mom and Dad wouldn't guide them toward a mild-mannered sedan instead...

Cutting the Cord with Bluetooth

More than ever, the world around us is rapidly evolving into a perpetual 24/7 barrage of information. For many, the time we spend away from the office is by no means time away from work. We sit in our cars on traffic-jammed freeways talking on our wireless phones while scrolling through PDAs that contain the most intimate details of our lives. The availability of these electronic tools has made our lives easier, but with this convenience comes some new frustrations and even dangers...

Defensive Driving

Refuse to be an auto-accident victim...

Defusing Road Rage

One man cuts another off on an interstate in Virginia, and a deadly vehicular duel begins on the roadway. This particular July evening it ends in the death of one man and the arrest of the other—and another incident of road rage captures national headlines. Is there a berserk maniac behind every steering wheel?..

Diesel Advancements

Despite the fact that diesel engines are currently found mostly in full-size trucks and commercial rigs, that may soon change due to some recent developments in technology and fuel emission standards. While many people think of diesel-powered vehicles as noisy, smelly and slow, the latest generation of diesel engines is changing that perception...

Diesel and the Aftermarket

Given the building demand for diesel power, there's another side of the coin to consider. What sort of aftermarket upgrades can be added to improve performance, so an oil burner is more akin to the gasoline-powered vehicles we're used to driving?..

Diesel and the Aftermarket

Do Not Be a Payment Shopper

Anyone who has sold cars for a living will tell you that most buyers are payment shoppers. More than comparing vehicles, or looking for the best vehicle for their particular needs, they shop monthly payments, which is one of the absolute worst ways to buy a car...

Drive Like a Cop

The FBI says police officers are about as likely to be killed in a vehicle crash as with a criminal's gun. Cops drive in a high-threat, workload-intensive environment: blaring sirens, flashing computers, screaming radios, civilian drivers seemingly bent on kamikaze attacks, and, at their destination, angry bad guys who don't particularly respect public servants. All reasons that cops take driving very seriously. With feedback from officers in the field, law-enforcement driving instructors have compiled numerous tips to help their students avoid becoming a statistic. Here, we pass those along to you...

Drivetrains Explained

Just about every vehicular drive system imaginable is currently in production—each touted by its manufacturer as the obviously superior choice for you. With conflicting claims and confusing terminology, it's hard to know what's what, and what's best for you. The optimum drive-system choice for a given vehicle depends on many factors. If you're realistic about the type of driving you do, you can narrow down the possibilities—and probably save a lot of money in the process...

Driving Cheap

Driving is a costly business, but most Americans have no practical alternatives. Besides, no other mode of transportation offers the same level of freedom to go where you want, when you want. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save a few dollars here and there in every phase of car ownership. These savings can add up over the total time you own your car. Depending on your level of commitment, you can save literally thousands...

Driving for Sales

Selling cars, trucks, SUVs, just about everything, has taken a different approach these days. Very different...

Driving in Water or Floods

It's the stuff of nightmares: You're in your vehicle, in a body of water and you're sinking. Never mind how you got there, it's the getting out that's critical. As in most life-threatening situations, keeping your wits and knowing what to do give you the best chances for survival...

Dual-Dyno Brake Testing

So your car or truck needs brakes. Maybe just new pads or shoes. Maybe rotors, drums or more. Where do you go? Who do you trust? Your new car dealer may be a good choice, depending on your vehicle and past experience. Brake specialty shop? General mechanic? Corner gas station? Or maybe you do it yourself?..

Dumb and Dumber Driving Mistakes

Imagine that you're driving on the highway and you notice something really strange about the car in front of you. Not only does the driver have her head tilted to one side to hold a cell phone in place, but she also has her bare right foot on the dash in order to—get this—paint her toenails! We're not making this up—a driving instructor from the AAA actually witnessed this event, and carefully avoided disturbing the concentration of this rolling cosmetologist...

E85: Flex-Fuel Vehicles

Nearly five million alternative-fuel vehicles are currently on U.S. roads—and many of their owners don't even know it. Flexible-fuel (flex-fuel) models first appeared in 1991. Since then, each of the Big 3 domestic automakers has manufactured about 1.5 million flex-fuel cars, and hundreds of thousands more are expected to arrive by the end of 2006. A flex-fuel vehicle, or FFV, is a vehicle that is capable of running on either gasoline or E85, which is a blend of 85-percent ethanol and 15-percent gasoline. The idea of such vehicles is not a new one; Henry Ford designed his Model T to operate solely on ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol. All current vehicles can accept fuel containing up to 10-percent ethanol...

Electronic Stability Control for EVERY Car

All vehicles in the U.S. must be equipped with anti-rollover Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems by September 2011. Since 1995, when ESC first came ashore on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, more and more high-end vehicles added the lifesaving technology as standard equipment. Now, the government has ruled that even the humblest passenger car sold in the U.S. must be equipped with ESC...

Emission Condition

Thanks to the fractured individual policies and personal agendas of many state politicians, automotive emission regulations sadly do not comply throughout the country. In fact, it is California that essentially sets the standards—because it can. California has the most number of vehicles and, consequently, the highest amount of emissions and corresponding pollution levels. In the past, it was always the "other" 49 states and California. However, a number of states are now starting to either follow California's example, or chart a separate course, all typically in the name of controlling, or improving the environment. For the purposes of this article, we examined California's Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) regulations...

EPA Innovates Hydraulic Hybrid System

The Environmental Protection Agency is testing a cheaper, simpler hybrid technology it hopes can greatly increase the mpg of American vehicles. The agency has 20 patents on the system and has already begun testing it this year. EPA's new hydraulic hybrid technology could improve fuel economy up to 55 percent—better than the 30 to 40 percent fuel economy of gas-electric hybrids. The system uses hydraulic pressure to recapture energy lost through braking, and then releases the pressure during acceleration...

EPA Mileage Testing Under Scrutiny

Legislation is winding its torturous route through Congress that may change the 30-year-old test by which the Environmental Protection Agency arrives at its city and highway estimated miles per gallon for all new model cars and light trucks. A provision in the Highway Bill that passed the Senate offered by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) would require the EPA to revamp its testing. Ever since the last gas crisis in the '70s, the government stamps an estimate of average gas mileage on new models' showroom stickers. EPA gets its estimate from lab tests where vehicles run on a dynamometer—sort of a treadmill for cars—that simulates driving at an average speed of 48 mph and at a top speed of 60. Unfortunately the test doesn't take into consideration the hallmarks of today's driving...

Explosive Safety

Automobile safety is an explosive issue. Literally. New cars have several features that, if employed in a different manner, would earn you a visit by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and, perhaps, a forced, multi-year vacation at taxpayer expense. If you modified these safety features or employed their components for ulterior motives, the ATF would call them "destructive devices," a category that includes things like machine guns, sawed-off shotguns, and rocket-propelled grenades...

Extended Warranties

Buying a new car involves making several decisions, some of which can be expensive. But just when you think you've picked the right make, model, color, and options and researched pricing, a prominent decision still remains: whether to buy an extended warranty or not. (Chrysler helped make the decision for its customers, unveiling a new 7-Year/70,000-Mile Limited Powertrain Warranty to motivate buyers to its dealerships.)..

Federal ID Card

Legislation attached to the $82 billion military spending bill known as the REAL ID Act will require all adult U.S. citizens and legal residents to trade their state driving licenses for new, national, electronically readable federal ID cards by 2008. Passed by Congress in June of this year, the legislation needs Senate and Presidential approval before becoming law. Critics of the legislation say it poses a huge boondoggle at DMV counters as well as a sharp rise in fees...

Fending Off Jack Frost

Forest creatures and retirees have the right idea. They either sleep through the winter or migrate to warmer climates. Most of us don't have these options, though we may do our best to do both. So, as daylight dwindles down to a few hours, the frost builds up on the windshield and we pull out the parkas and mittens, take a look at the vehicle you assume will carry you through the season and make sure it's ready for the challenge..

Ford Wants to Sync Your Ride

Ford wants to entice the "millennias"—the 30 and under crowd, born with digital music and text messaging in their DNA—into the Ford family. Collaborating with Microsoft, Ford is introducing its Sync system on the $14,695 2008 Ford Focus offering voice-activated communication and entertainment that allows tech savvy young buyers to keep their eyes on the road while they shuffle through iPod tunes or text message their pals. The bottom up introduction of the system reflects the biggest user pool—young, first time owners who are tech savvy and tech driven...

From Storage to the Street

If Indiana Jones were a car guy, his idea of lost treasure might have been automotive artifacts instead of the lost ark. Even though "Raiders of the Old Car Barn" may not have quite the same ring to it, there is a bit of adventure and resourcefulness required when working on a rusty antique. Where do you begin on such an expedition, and what sorts of dangers lurk in the shadows? Well, the greatest risks you're likely to find are a nest of mice in the tattered upholstery or an exhaust belching black smoke. As for what to do first, the steps to follow are fairly straightforward...

Fuel Saving Engine Technology

Over more than a century, the automobile has presented itself as a fascinating microcosm of technological evolution at work, with humble beginnings that embraced bicycle wheels, a tiller to steer, and a variety of rudimentary powerplants running on fuels ranging from coal gas, hydrogen and oxygen, steam, kerosene, and electricity, to the currently more common gasoline, diesel and, now, E85. These latter fuels power nearly all of the vehicles on our roads today...

Future Tire is a Tweel

Having enough air in our tires is a safety check American's just don't seem to be able to handle. Now, Michelin may take air out of the safety equation with their revolutionary new "Tweel," a combination of tire and wheel that rides on rubber permanently attached to flexible spokes fused with a flexible wheel that deforms to absorb shock. Checking tire pressure, fixing flats, highway blowouts and balancing between traction and comfort could all fade into memory—if the Tweel becomes real...

Gas Saving Tips

During the last gas crisis in the Persian Gulf in the 1970s, American motorists could only squeeze 15 miles out of a gallon of gas, however, that gallon only cost 38 cents. Today, gas prices have spiked to more than two dollars a gallon in some areas of the country—and light trucks, the most popular selling vehicles, are thirsty vehicles. A barrel of crude oil hit $40 last month, but slipped back down to $30 the day before the second Gulf War was launched...

Getting Out of Upside Down

Upside-down means you owe more on the car than it is worth. You may ask, "How can that be—" Easy. Let's say you buy a new car with for a price of $35,000. The various taxes, license and fees will add, as a rough rule of thumb, about 10 percent. The total is now $38,500. You write a check for a down payment of $3,000, which leaves $35,500 to finance. Over 60 months, depending on your credit rating and what sort of interest rate that allows, you will have monthly payments of, roughly, about $750, for a total of around $45,000. Add in the down payment and, by the time you're all done, assuming you keep the vehicle until it's paid off, you will have spent about $48,000...

Getting Out of Upside Down

Give Your Kids a Safety Boost

Children who weigh less than 80 pounds and buckle up with adult seatbelts are almost four times more likey to be seriously injured in vehicle crashes than kids riding in booster seats, according to a 2000 study reported in the Journal of Pediatrics. The study found that 83 percent of 4- to 8-year olds had graduated to using adult seatbelts too soon. A follow-up study by the same group released in 2003 and based on real-world data showed booster seats virtually eliminated injury to the abdomen and spine in auto crashes...

Giving Teens a Driving Edge

The usual driver's education course doesn't prepare teens for dangerous situations, where their skills and the vehicle are on the edge of disaster like an out-of-control car that doesn't respond to panic steering and braking. Former racecar driver Jeff Payne, founder of Driver's Edge, wants teens to be in control of their vehicle—particularly in panic situations. He is taking a dozen professional drivers on a national tour of 13 cities around the country to provide real-life training for young drivers that could save their lives and will certainly add to their driving skills...

GM, CDC Partner for Faster Accident Response

In the near future, vehicles may be able to alert emergency crews to how severe the injuries are in a car crash and victims should be taken for the best care. That scenario could result in a decrease of 25 percent in traffic fatalities and a decrease in disabilities resulting from crash injuries. The GM Foundation announced in March a partnership with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation to provide real-time information through OnStar that will allow emergency medical responders to determine the level of care that crash victims will need before emergency crews arrive at the scene...

Handling a Skid

"Turn in the direction of the skid," said your Driver's Ed teacher. It was bad advice. Unless, that is, he took you to a track or a snowy parking lot and allowed you to develop skill in catching a slide...

Handling Defined

A good handling car—you know EXACTLY what that means. So did my grandmother. And I guarantee her definition didn't agree with yours...

Head Restraints

Head restraints get a ho-hum rating on a vehicle's sexy options scale, and most consumers never take the time to adjust them properly. But those little squares on the top of the front passenger seats are an important safety technology that can save passengers from whiplash injuries that leave one million Americans with chronic life-changing injuries every year...

Help Your Mechanic Help You

Even though it may seem like your mechanic speaks a different language than you, explaining your vehicle's mechanical problems doesn't have to be a challenge in translation. There are number of things you can do to make the process of getting your car fixed easier and less expensive...

High-Tech Good Samaritans

A high-tech fleet of OnStar good Samaritans is adding 2.5 million pairs of eyes to the search for a missing child when the AMBER Alert is sounded. GM's subsidiary OnStar joined up with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to put its GPS satellite and wireless technologies and the expertise of its call center advisors on the AMBER Alert network. This unique collaboration marks the first time that an in-vehicle safety communications system using GPS satellite technology and private citizens has teamed up to help NCMEC locate missing children...

Highway Safety and Crash Testing Organizations

Henry Bliss stepped off a New York trolley in 1899 and was hit and killed by an automobile, becoming the first North American motor vehicle fatality. Since that time, over 20 million people worldwide have died in traffic accidents. Government and private groups work worldwide to get consumers information about the safest cars to drive and safe driver strategies to stem the growing accident statistics...

Horse Trailering

What do you need for selecting the best horse-towing rig and successfully using it? Good horse sense, of course. When you're new to the adventure of trailering your horse(s) to events or trailheads, you can always ask fellow horse people for their suggestions. What you'll end up with is as many different opinions as sources. Most of those opinions will be valid, but it's up to you to sort through them and figure out what applies to your situation. The following information is designed to help you in that process, let you know what's available and what's necessary...

Horsepower - How much do you need?

Ask an enthusiast about preferences in a new vehicle, and the answer is likely to be two words: "more power." Like the power-crazed character played by Tim Allen on the old "Home Improvement" TV show, they're seldom satisfied...

How Continuously Variable Transmissions Work

First there were manual gearboxes, then automatic transmissions. Now here comes the latest—the CVT...

How Cruise Control Works

Driving is not always the delightful and entertaining treat we'd like it to be. Sometimes it's downright boring. When the road stretches on to the horizon and traffic is nil, cruise control is one of those little luxuries that helps the miles melt away more comfortably...

How Much is Your Used Car Worth?

Typically, a person shopping for a new, or newer, car is currently driving something he or she is planning to use as a trade-in. This brings up the big question: What's it worth?..

How OnStar Works

You've probably seen or heard the advertisements for OnStar—the General Motors communication system that alerts emergency services if you've broken down or had an accident. Not only that, it can unlock your vehicle's doors, provide, real-time driving navigation and even deliver stock market price updates (we're not kidding here). But who among us can explain how it works? How does that reassuring voice know your vehicle's airbags have inflated and you need help? We'll give you the easy version...

How to Beat a Traffic Ticket

If you drive much, it's inevitable that one day you're gonna get nailed. Even if you're not an inveterate speeder or lane-changing fanatic, eventually you'll be caught tuning the radio when you should have been noticing a reduction in the posted limit, you'll make an ill-considered lane change or commit one of literally hundreds of other driving errors. Most of these infractions will slide by unnoticed, but every once in a while you'll do the wrong thing at the wrong time and attract the attention of the law. If the officer issues you a ticket, you face a fine, points on your license, raised (or cancelled) insurance rates and—if you've been driving like a real barbarian—even suspension of your license...

How to Buy Car Insurance

They make it sound so easy, with advice just a phone call away—or available with a quick visit to a storefront agent. Even so, insurance shopping can seem like wandering into a maze. Why? Because unlike prices for other commodities, auto insurance rates aren't clearly stated. There's no simple price list...

How to Speak Car Specs

There's practically no way to avoid 'em—statistics, dimensions, measures and techno-hype. Carmakers and car reviewers bombard the hapless car shopper with highly technical information. In the case of road tests and reviews by reputable sources, it can be useful and enlightening. As spouted by amped-up marketing machines, it can be nothing more than pure artifice...

Hurricanes, Floods and Used-Car Sales

After every flood disaster, media and consumer groups start waving the fraud red flag. Beware, they caution, of con men that slap a quick cosmetic job on a moldy vehicle totaled and sold for scrap in the aftermath. Every time, some unsuspecting consumers drive a vehicle home that will begin to mold, mildew and revert to the disaster it was before the cosmetic job. This time around, though, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is calling for legislation to develop a national database that would, at the click of a mouse, provide vehicle history and title information anywhere in the 50 states...

Hybrid Innovations

There are many ways to blend the internal combustion (IC) engine and electric power. These technologies have much in common—and many points of differentiation. In addition to Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system, other manufacturers have devised alternative means of propelling cars and trucks with a blend of fossil fuel and electricity...

Hybrid Innovations

Hybrid Vehicle Guide

When hybrid-powered vehicles first appeared, starting in 2000, the idea of switching between gasoline and electric power seemed a bit of a gimmick. Certainly, the need for more economical vehicles was growing. Fully electric cars had never caught on, largely because of their limited range and the need to plug in for recharging. Still, there had to be a more appealing answer; most likely, fuel-cell vehicles that run on hydrogen...

Hybrid Vehicle Tax Credits

Skyrocketing gas prices and fears of global warming jump started sales of hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles last year. In an effort to swell green showroom traffic, the Federal Government offered a tax carrot to seal the deal. Tucked into the Energy Policy Act of 2005 are tax credits for consumers who purchase various advanced technology vehicles, including hybrid-electric and diesel-powered cars and light trucks. The provision, which became effective in January 2006, differs from previous federal incentives for these vehicles by utilizing tax credits rather than deductions. Tax credits typically result in greater savings for consumers. The Feds are offering a tax credit to buyers of hybrid and clean diesel vehicles of $250 to $3,400, depending on the energy efficiency of the model, although none of the current 32 models qualify for the top credit this year...

Hybrids in the Carpool Lane

If not subjected to outright road rage, solo hybrid drivers on California's commuter lanes have at least had to deal with bad manners. That's partly in response to the state's freeway commuter lane-use having been expanded beyond the original multi-passenger vehicles to now include single-occupant hybrids, in order to encourage fuel economy...

Interstate Infernos

A total of 266,500 vehicles burst into flames on our highways in 2005. These fires claimed 520 lives, caused 1,300 injuries and almost a billion dollars in property damages, according to a new report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)...

Involve Yourself: Become a Better Driver

There you are, stuck in traffic on the 405 some Friday afternoon. You've spent a fair share of days behind the wheel of a car, and you think, "I'm good. Real good." Rolling into Silverlake adjacent to visit the Shortstop for a well-deserved beverage, you wheel your doom-mobile into a perfect parallel parking maneuver (six inches from the curb, decent clearance both in front and behind, wheels curbed—just like in San Fran). Afterward, pulling out onto Sunset Blvd., you stop far enough back so pedestrians can pass in front of you, you signal your intentions and wait for the appropriate opportunity before heading back onto the highways and byways of America—home of the free, land of the brave, parking lot for the insane...

Know Your Car

From the right seat it was clear that my student in the high-performance driving school was approaching the hairpin corner far too fast. But he braked only lightly. "Brake," I urged. "Brake hard!" I pleaded. "BRAKE! BRAKE!" I screamed. Yet he acted as if he'd trapped a kitten's tail between pedal and foot, then we went bounding off the road. Later, I asked what, if anything, was he thinking. "I was afraid of skidding," he said. My response: "You'd rather crash than skid?" No answer...

Light Roads Ahead

As the sun sets, traffic accidents and fatalities spike on American roadways. The government estimates that 2.8 million police-reported crashes including 23,000 fatalities occur annually in the United States at night or under poor visibility conditions. After 45 years of age, everyone's vision begins to deteriorate and nighttime driving becomes more difficult. Two statistics underline the hazards of nighttime driving: 90 percent of a driver's reaction depends upon vision, and driver error is behind 90 percent of highway fatalities...

Living with Your Alternative Fuel Vehicle

Back in the 1950s, drivers of tiny imported cars often encountered derisive glares from pilots of domestic V-8 land yachts. A few years ago, the buyer of an alternative-fuel vehicle might have faced similar reactions. Today, their owners are more likely to be viewed as sensible visionaries...

Looking into 2005

Now that the annual auto-show season has ended, it's time to consider what the 2005 model year will bring. New products span such a wide range of sizes, classes, and body styles that trends are elusive...

Lower Your Car Payment

If it's important that you reduce the monthly payment, or the down payment, there are a variety of ways to make that happen. For a lot of reasons, which will probably be obvious, most people don't want to hear about them. But, here they are...

Making Cars Safer

Safety is key on almost every new-car buyer's list today. Why has it been elevated? Simple. In 2004 there were 42,636 traffic fatalities in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That's more than twice the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden when the Knicks take center court...

MINI Factory, Monster Mechanics

OXFORD, England—When BMW decided to revive the MINI in modern form, after buying the old Rover company, they needed a factory that could handle the task. What better choice than the facility on the outskirts of Oxford, where original Minis were produced from 1959 into the beginning of the 21st century...

Modern Diesel Engines

Since the advent of the automotive age, diesel-powered vehicles have been considered by many to be noisy, dirty and underpowered. While Americans have viewed the diesel engine as the redheaded stepchild of the powertrain community and perceived diesel fuel as a "strange type of gas," Europe and Asia have long embraced diesel as a powerful and efficient fuel source. Here in the U.S., this alternative to gasoline has persevered by carving a popular niche among commercial trucking and weekend tow vehicles. Now, new developments in diesel engine technologies are creating cleaner, quieter choices for smaller cars, SUVs and luxury sedans without sacrificing performance...

Monotracer Dry Motorcycle

Is a cabin motorcycle the sports cars of the future? They are fast like a Porsche, economical like a Smart Car and offer fun like a Super bike—without the hassle of getting wet. A small company in Winterthur manufactures them...

More MPG Tips

Since prices at the pump have escalated to record heights, it's worth every penny we spend on gas to try and maximize the mileage we get with each fill-up. While some of us choose to drive full-sized SUVs or high-performance musclecars and some might select a fuel-efficient hybrid as a daily driver, our driving habits and vehicle-maintenance practices can extend each tank of gas and save us a significant amount of money over time regardless of vehicle preference...

Mud Driving Tips and Advice

Off road maniacs seek it out; we played in it as kids, some may have even eaten it. But on the road, it seems to take on a life of its own as it spreads its maliciousness over asphalt or sits on the side waiting to swallow vehicles in one belch. It's mud...

Nanotechnology

Scientists, using new processes and equipment, are now able to get right down to the molecular level of a material and manipulate the atoms and molecules to make better, stronger or entirely new materials. The new science, nanotechnology, gets its name from the Greek word 'nanos' which means dwarf. But to scientists, nano means one-billionth of something. A human hair for instance is 50,000 nanometers across. Working on this tiny scale enables scientists to manipulate the characteristics of a material, like paint, to get a tougher, shinier and easier to clean surface. Nanotechnology is already producing better materials in today's automobiles...

Navigation System Basics

Some people have the wait-til-it's-perfected gene. These are folks who may have been on the verge of getting a VCR when DVDs came out, so they're on hold again. These are also the people with glove compartments jam-packed with maps that, if still up-to-date, are seriously frayed around the folds. They're patiently waiting for navigation systems to be perfected. The wait may be over...

New Car Research

The car-buying decision is a multifaceted process, which requires consideration of a lot of separate pieces of information. The best way to make sure that you buy the right car at the right price is to do your homework. Fortunately, in this age of electronic information, getting the facts is now easier than ever...

New-Age Diesel Developments

Even though hybrid gas/electric cars are getting a lot of press these days, with some used models selling for more than when new, the consensus of auto-industry watchers focuses on the diesel as the immediate future for both fuel economy and emissions standards. Of course, the diesel won't solve long-term fossil fuel problems, but recent developments indicate that it represents an interim step in the right direction while the world waits for hybrids and alternative fuel technologies to meet U.S. market demands...

Odometer Fraud

"The car belonged to a little old lady, and she hardly drove it"—music to the ears of a used car buyer. But, before snapping up the little old lady's vintage Ford Mustang, make sure there isn't a wolf behind the wheel. Worn, high-mileage clunkers can morph into low-mileage sweet deals with a little fraudulent finesse of the odometer...

Off Roading with Care

Enamored by the freedom and capability of a 4x4, you went out and bought an SUV. It looks great and holds everything and everybody you'd ever want to share a drive with. Now you've grown restless with pavement. The only dirt your SUV has seen is from a distance. You crave a new adventure, but have no idea where to begin. You've checked out the off-road magazines and sense the pictured terrain goes beyond the concept of mere adventure. Plus your showroom new ride bears little resemblance to the featured vehicles...

Out of Body Shop Experience

Not that anyone ever wants the experience, but chances are at one point in your life, despite every precaution you take, you will probably get into an accident. Whether or not it's your fault, that will be the moment when you're going to need to enlist the aid of one of those myriad body shops you've driven past over the years. It seems they're on every corner, especially in some parts of your community, but when you need them, they're booked up (especially after rainy weather)...

Paris Motor Show 2006

It's 8:00 a.m. when the gates open at the Parc des Expositions in Paris's south end. Thousands of frenzied journalists all enter the massive convention center as it plays host to the Mondial de L'Automobile, toting cameras, briefcases and notepads. Every other year the automotive manufacturers converge into the City of Romance for one of the largest European motor shows, providing an opportunity to showcase their latest concepts and unveil the newest models. There were close to 70 new models unveiled in Paris this year, including 13 European premieres and 21 French premieres...

Passenger Van Safety Patrol

Perhaps the most important thing pastors, principals, and parents can do for the well-being and safety of their congregation, students, and children is to check the tire pressure of the 15-passenger vans in which their charges will ride...

Pedestrian Safety

Softening the punch of motor vehicles when they hit a pedestrian or cyclist is the next step in automotive safety, but U.S. pedestrians will benefit as an afterthought. This fall regulators in Europe will require that all new vehicles sold in Europe pass crash testing designed to mitigate head and leg injuries in accidents with pedestrians or bicyclists. In 2010, much stricter regulations will go into effect. U.S. pedestrians can expect the initial pedestrian-friendly designs to carry over to this market; but, in the absence of comparable U.S. regulations, the more sophisticated pedestrian-friendly technology geared to meet Europe's 2010 regulations may not be packed under U.S. hoods...

Pet Safety in the Car

Blissfully ignorant, 40 million Americans are carrying a 1,200-pound elephant in the back seat of their vehicles masquerading as the loyal family pet. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), an unsecured 60-pound dog during a 30-mph crash becomes a projectile that could hit a windshield, backseat or his owner with the force of 1,200 pounds. After years of safety campaigns, Americans buckle up their kids in the family vehicle, but most are unaware that the family pet is also at risk in a crash or panic stop...

Pocket Bikes

Buzzing like angry hornets, the mini-motorcycles or pocket-bike craze is sweeping from California to New York. These miniature motorcycles copy the racing looks of Honda, Kawasaki and Harley, but with a tiny stance under two feet and weighing less than 50 pounds. Powered by a two-stroke lawnmower-type engine, they have a pull-cord starter. The price tag starts at about $200, but can go as high as $3,000. The lower price models top out at about 30 mph, but the pricier models can hit 70 mph. Originally used for racing in Europe and Japan, these "pocket rockets" are appearing on urban streets with young male drivers scrunched on the seat just inches from the pavement zipping through traffic...

Power Window Dangers

Most parents are unaware that the power windows in their automobiles can kill or injure young children. Typically, the child has his or her head out the window of a parked car and accidentally leans on the window switch mounted horizontally on the armrest. Power windows can exert up to 80 pounds of pressure—enough to choke a child, or break arms or fingers. Initially a luxury item, power windows are on 80 percent of the vehicles sold today...

Preparing Your Car for Sale

As Neil Sedaka once crooned (remember him—), breaking up is hard to do, but when it comes car ownership, nothing lasts forever. Sentimentality aside, you may be dying to get rid of that old beast anyway, and want to get as much money as possible for it. What sort of things should you do before slapping on a "For Sale" sign and running an ad in the "Auto Trader"?..

Proper Pump Etiquette

It's 5:40 p.m. and you desperately need to get gas before you get onto the freeway. And you're apparently not alone. Pulling into a crowded station and finding a place in line requires quick thinking and a cool temperament...

Protecting Yourself While at the Pump

Friends are warning friends all over the Internet to dock their cell phones or risk becoming a fireball at the gas pump. Yet there has never been one recorded incident of a cell phone causing a fire at a gas station. Those warnings would be far more useful if they admonished friends to protect themselves against static electricity, which has ignited at least 150 fires at gas pumps according to the American Petroleum Institute. Just this month in Albany, Georgia, the Associated Press reported that a hair stylist was pumping gas into her car when her hair burst into flames. Her husband, Camilla firefighter Lt. Bill Marshall said the fire was probably caused by static electricity from his wife's hair rubbing against her clothes...

Rain Driving Survival

In a lot of regions of the country, rain driving is an unavoidable part of getting around. You either learn to deal with it, or else you spend massive amounts of time stranded at home, staring at rain-spattered windows with baleful eyes. In drier regions of the country, it's possible to drive for years and get little experience in the wet. In either case, wet-weather smarts can make you a safer driver and reduce your stress level when the drops begin to fall...

Rear-View Camera Install

Have you ever tried to hook up to a trailer without someone spotting for you? If you avoided scratching your paint or dinging the hitch, consider yourself a talented estimator of distance. For the rest of us, though, a rear-view camera can make this task and others much easier...

Rear-Wheel-Drive Revival?

DETROIT—DaimlerChrysler is leading the way toward what could become a revival of rear-drive family cars. After a decade and a half of offering nothing but front-drive passenger cars, including a trio of full-size sedans, the 2005 model year brings a pair of rear-drive full-size automobiles. On sale this spring, the 2005 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum can even have V-8 power—a sharp contrast to the V-6 engines that powered their predecessors...

Residual Values

Whether you're seeking a new automobile or a secondhand model, awareness of residual values is crucial for selecting the best prospects. Used mainly by the leasing industry, residual values are predictors of what a new car or truck will be worth, compared to its initial price, when it's two, three, or four years old. Resale value, in contrast, specifies what the vehicle actually will sell for, once it's reached the used car marketplace...

Safer Nighttime Driving

Most drivers don't use a standard nighttime safety feature—their high beams. Those who do often forget to lower them for oncoming traffic. There are two safety problems here. Failure to utilize high beams shortens the nighttime driver's vision of the road ahead. Cars traveling 35 mph using low beams "out drive" their headlights and can't see far enough down the road to detect and react to potential hazards or pedestrians. The glare from high beams left on when passing an oncoming car or when approaching a car in the lane ahead, can temporarily blind that driver, slowing down their reflexes and increasing their braking distances...

Safety Tips for Winter Driving

Winter weather takes many interesting forms. In Southern California, it brings rain; in Florida, it brings tourists. But in the mountains or above the Mason Dixon Line, it means something entirely different. Those who live in severe winter areas usually have familiar tactics to deal with those mornings when another 18 inches of snow has fallen. If you're a deep-snow novice, though, and plan to head due north or into the mountains for a ski vacation, read carefully. That picture postcard of freshly driven snow laying like a pure white comforter over the landscape can be ugly if you're not used to it. Consider the following as an automotive primer on real winter...

Scooter Travel

You have to "have it bad" for motor scooters, according to one website dedicated to the Vespa brand. Vespa, in fact, may be the quintessential example of the scooter one visualizes when thinking of these personable, two-wheeled vehicles, perhaps reminded of "Toad" crashing his into Mel's Drive-In in the classic cruising film, "American Graffiti."..

Selecting the Right Tow Vehicle

Tow vehicles and trailers are like marriages—if they're not well-matched you can expect trouble. What constitutes a good match between your rig and what you're towing? Proper weight is a primary factor...

Senior Drivers: Time to Take the Keys?

Driving is a privilege that, in the minds of most Americans, has evolved into a right. The facts speak for themselves, however, when age and health concerns inhibit someone's ability to handle a moving vehicle even at slow speeds. Faced with taking this privilege away, this freedom, is cause for concern as families try to balance what's best for everyone while not hurting the elders we so respect...

Should You Trade or Sell Your Used Car?

At new-car time there's nearly always an accompanying question: What to do with the old car? If you've already promised it to your daughter so she can take it to college, your decision is made. But for most of the rest of us, we have to decide whether to trade in on the new one, or sell it ourselves...

Side Impact Airbag Mandate

When a vehicle barrels into the side of another vehicle even at speeds as low as 20 mph it often means head trauma or death for the driver or passengers in the struck vehicle. The federal government is now demanding that automakers take aggressive steps to protect our heads. U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced new side impact safety requirements for all passenger vehicles which will require automakers to provide head protection both in the front and back passenger compartment in side-impact crashes. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has worked on the regulation since 2004 but side impact safety has a longer history...

Side-Impact Airbags

When an SUV hits a passenger car in the side, occupants of the car often are killed or suffer severe head injuries. The government is moving to make car occupants safer with new side-impact regulations. A new 4-foot 11-inch crash-test dummy, named for NHTSA Administrator Dr. Jeffrey Runge's mother, Irma, will play the part of small stature females, children and the elderly in the crash testing. For the first time, Dr. Runge said, Vince, a crash-test dummy with the proportions of an average man, will be equipped to register brain injury in side-impact testing. Sixty percent of all fatalities in these crashes are the result of head injuries...

Simple Tips for Safer Trips

According to the Federal Government, something on the order of 80 percent of all crashes is due to driver error. This means, they didn't have to happen. In fact, some people are of the strong conviction that essentially all crashes are due to driver error...

Smart Car

What's small and cute, unique and economical? Hint: It's as much fun to look at as to drive. Naturally, it's the European-built Smart car...

Smart Card Keyless Entry Systems

In an age when convenience is king, automakers are working harder than ever to capitalize on potential buyers' lust for new technologies that offer valuable time-savings and increased functionality. As a result, luxury car brands like Mercedes and Acura are ushering out the traditional keyless entry system in exchange for the next generation in remote automotive security and access. Strangely, though, the evolution of keyless entry is not to a new and cutting-edge technology, but rather a system that was developed more than 30 years ago—the smart card...

Sound Suspension

Doctor Amar Bose is a quiet man. Yet, when you listen to the tone of his voice as he explains the newest direction his ultra-premium sound company is turning, you see intensity in his eyes. This same intensity is what makes "The Mountain," the hill on which the company headquarters sits, continually buzz with excitement. The excitement that exudes from Dr. Bose is the passion that has molded the company into what it is today...

Sound Suspension

Stars on Cars to Spotlight Safety

Safety sells cars—and when an automaker achieves a five stars rating on the government crash test, that achievement is spotlighted in their advertising. But what about the cars that don't have high ratings? Where does the consumer, especially the internet-challenged consumer, find that information? Sen. Mike DeWine wants that safety information to be on the window sticker of every new vehicle. To make that happen he attached an amendment to the massive highway bill that recently passed both the House and Senate. The catchy title for the bill is "Stars on Cars," but the senator is serious about putting safety information in the face of every new car buyer...

State of the Auto Industry Today

DETROIT—For decades, it's been called the "Motor City." Detroit also has been a troubled city. Not that it matters directly to Michigan's automakers, because most of their factories lie in surrounding towns. Still, Detroit's decline is a resounding sign of the distress among domestic automakers...

Steps to Improve Handling

The first step toward improving your car's handling is to honestly assess where and how you'll be driving it. A car modified to whip through a tight autocross course will likely attempt to spin out on a full-sized road racing circuit—and will almost certainly be treacherous in a public-road driving-skill pop-quiz. (Imagine encountering an old, dripping-coolant beater on your favorite on-ramp.) Most everyone this side of pit wall will be happier with light changes that improve handling feel. A simple switch from touring all-season tires to high-performance summer rubber may be all it takes...

Strict Safety Standards Primary Lifesavers

According to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), U.S. drivers are safer on the road thanks to legislation requiring automakers to create, install, and improve active and passive safety technologies. Unfortunately, however, drivers seem to be relying a bit too heavily on these newer technologies without sufficiently modifying their driving behaviors, like properly using seatbelts, not drinking and driving, and speeding. Without new vehicle safety technology, IIHS found highway fatalities would have started climbing in 1994...

Subcompact Comparo: Aveo, Fit, Yaris, SX4

The specter of $4.00 per gallon gasoline is enough to make you consider cheaper modes of transportation. Several automakers have recognized this trend in recent years and responded with low-cost economy car offerings...

Super Hybrids

Earlier this summer, three dollars a gallon stood like a benchmark for unacceptable gasoline prices. Now, with record-breaking storms coming in record-breaking numbers and continued instability in the Middle East, the sky appears to be the limit for gas prices. If there ever was a time for innovative approaches to creating more fuel-efficient transportation, this is it...

Surviving Winter Roads

To paraphrase Formula 1 World Champion and Indy winner Emerson Fittipaldi: on snowy and icy roads, bad drivers go too slow where the traction is good, and too fast where there's little grip. Here's the key on both the racetrack and winter roads: know where you MUST go slow and where you MAY go fast...

Teen Driver Survival Tips

Parents of teenagers: I share your pain...

Teen Graduated Licensing

Sweet sixteen is the most hazardous year in a driver's highway lifetime and giving a lift to teen friends ups the danger exponentially. In the United States, 16 year olds have almost 10 times the crash risk of drivers ages 30-59 and almost three times the risk of older teenagers, according to a 1996 California study of the perils of learning to drive. Teens make up only 6.8 percent of the driving population, but they are involved in 14 percent of all fatal crashes on the highway, according to government crash statistics...

Test Driving Tips

The test drive is one of the most important parts of buying a car. No matter what the car reviews say, if a vehicle doesn't fit you and your lifestyle, you're going to become dissatisfied with it long before that payment book is empty. The test drive is your opportunity to make your own personal assessment in a thorough, hands-on manner. If you're attentive to the details here, you can quickly tell whether or not you and the vehicle are meant for a long-term relationship...

The Dilemma of Older Drivers

When should elderly drivers hand in their car keys? That question jumped from a family to a national quandary after an 87-year-old driver plowed into a street market in Santa Monica, CA, killing 10 and injuring scores more. But the question has no easy answers...

The Downlow of Handling

Many think that the keys to good handling are super-low profile tires, stiff springs, rock-hard shocks, wrist-thick "sway" bars, and slammed-to-the-ground suspensions. "Many" are mistaken. Done haphazardly, these "improvements" can make a car SLOWER around a racetrack and punishing on the street...

The Evolution of Fuel Cell Vehicles

Not so long ago, automakers and analysts were predicting fuel-cell cars that run on hydrogen as a viable choice in the coming-soon years. Lately, that launch date has moved further and further into the distance: not before 2010, and possibly as late as 2020...

The Fiery End to a Favorite Car

When a gearhead looks at an abused or neglected car, the urge to rescue it from the brink is powerful. Some tender attentions levied upon the saddest of basket cases will affect resurrection if enough cash and clock are applied, so says the rule. There are exceptions to that, though, as the horrible end of this melted, torched-within-an-inch-of-vapor Miata will attest...

The Future of Fuel Economy is Now

Just as Congress and the auto industry are battling over new fuel economy rules to reduce U.S. oil consumption, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) released a study arguing that, "technologies exist today that can improve light-duty vehicle fuel economy by up to 50 percent over the next 10 years without reducing the size of the vehicle," or compromising safety...

The Importance of Coolant

Whether you call it engine coolant or antifreeze, the fluid in your radiator multi-tasks, circulating throughout your engine block and keeping the works purring like a kitten...

The Mature Driver

The boomers are heading over the hill into retirement. The graying of the American motorist is prompting changes in roadway and vehicle design as well as driver licensing. By 2030, nearly 70 million American drivers will be over the age of 65...

Timing is Everything

Real world experience: A mini-truck was cruising a rural road. The engine died mid-shift. One minute it was purring right along, the next minute the only sound was the wind whistling in the open window. Turn on the ignition and nothing, absolutely nothing...

Tips from a Professional Speeder

News flash: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration may soon begin cracking down on excessive speed with high-tech devices...

Top 10 at the L.A. Auto Show 2006

While still small in comparison to such automotive juggernauts as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the L.A. Auto show in Los Angeles seems to have hit a quick step of its own in 2006. Although known as the "City of Angels," any angels visiting this city, sort of by the sea, would likely have two or three cars, and perhaps an SUV, instead of the usual wings. The automobile is literally an integral part of the landscape here, and the city has long been at the forefront of emerging automotive trends. To that end, the annual L.A. Auto Show changed its dates for 2006. While the show typically occurs after the NAIAS, as of this year, it took place before the show in Detroit, in order to ramp up its efforts to become the season opener of automobile shows. Everything from hydrogen-powered sedans to concept crossovers inspired by backpacks was on display for the motor going public...

Top 10 Cars Under $16,000 - 2005

If you're in the market for a new car but either can't or don't want to spend a lot of money, you still have several choices. Automotive manufacturers have a slew of vehicles available in 2005 in the sub-$16,000 range, and they are more reliable and safe than ever...

Top 10 Driving Tips

Virtually all Americans think they are "above average" or "average" drivers. (The four percent that are "below average" are everywhere!) Most U.S. males think they should be in NASCAR instead of Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. It's nice we have such positive self-images...

Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles for 2007

We got our first wakeup call back in the 1970s with the oil embargo, long lines at the gas pumps and prices that rose to a level that seemed atrocious then. The Greens have been pushing for more efficient use of natural resources forever, but since 9/11 they've been joined by those who see every dime we spend at the gas station as a threat to national security and self-sufficiency...

Top 10 Safety Systems

This year about 42,500 people, give or take 1,000, will die in traffic accidents in the U.S. Though terrible, it could be a lot worse. Without the advances on our following list of Top 10 Safety Systems, the per-mile death rate might be the same as 1966. That would mean more than 160,000 would be killed. This year and next year—and the next. And 1966 was far from the worst for per-mile fatalities...

Tow Far, Tow Good: Essential Tips

Towing a trailer is not as simple as some might think. On the other hand, it's not an overly difficult skill to learn either. The following tips can help to ensure that your towing experience is a positive and safe one, whatever your level of experience. Our first part will cover items to check and practice before heading out, and the second part will go into detailed tips on handling...

Tow Far, Tow Good: Trailer Handling

In our first installment on towing tips, we covered five basic points on preparing for a trip, from maintenance to practicing various maneuvers. Now we'll go into a bit more detail on the actual handling of your tow vehicle and trailer while underway...

Towing Basics

Master tow-vehicle drivers appear to have the skill to thread a needle with their trailers. Whether it's a boat, cargo trailer or camper in tow, the trailer seems psychically connected to the driver's brain, rather than hitched to his tow vehicle. For beginners, towing can be intimidating, but even experienced trailer operators have had their learning curves and difficult experiences. Outfitted with the right information, the right equipment and diligent practice, you too can readily master the art of towing...

Transportation Progression

Japan may have inadvertently sounded a cautionary end to the General Motors highway model system from the 1939 World's Fair, which spawned broad infrastructure to grow the world's automotive business into the late 21st century. It now seems odd that none of the pole position cars in the top automotive ranks are any longer American, when the United States was once home base with the likes of Henry Ford and others...

Travel and Car Care Tech

Traveling by automobile in the not so distant past meant leaving it all behind. A pic-a-nic basket full of sandwiches, a thermos full of lemonade, and maybe a beach ball—and travel was go! A full tank of gas and paper map that never folded back the way it was before it got opened meant usually arriving at an intended destination. Sometimes this traveling strategy resulted in taking an unintended scenic route, and ending up getting lost. Carefree motoring indeed...

Tricks to Buying a Used Car, Part 1

Everyone has something they hate, and for some it's buying a car. Me, I enjoy it, because I get to have something new to learn, take apart and break. I'm a gearhead, though, so forgive me those idiosyncrasies and instead take from me the experience. I'm going to tell you about buying a used car. As someone who has bought and sold a few (at least two dozen in the past 15 years), I've probably figured out a few things that can help you buy one yourself. An introduction, then, to what went through my mind as I shopped. (Author's note: Writing to you in the first person isn't something I like. It's elitist and arrogant in a way that doesn't jive with real journalism. Arrogance can be fun, but not when it's the one-sided, manufactured omnipotence some writers adopt to preach to readers they know can't respond. It's easy to be the smartest guy in the room when you're alone in the basement.)..

Tricks to Buying a Used Car, Part 2

It would prove harder to find a CR-V than a Rav4. Hondas, with their high resale values, usually cost more than matching Toyotas. I'd have to look harder. I wound up on San Diego's Craig's List for a sump of first-generation CR-Vs and Rav4s. Front-wheel drives and all-wheel drive, stick and slushbox, clean and beaten like an 18p nail...

Unintended Acceleration

News Item: A woman, who was driving a neighbor's car, crashed into her own house, through the kitchen, out the back, across the yard, through the fence, across the alley and into a ditch. "It accelerated and the brakes wouldn't work," she said...

Variable Displacement

We've all heard the phrase "not hitting on all cylinders." That used to be almost as bad as "being a bubble off plumb," or "not all his oars in the water." But in today's automotive lexicon, not hitting on all cylinders represents an innovative yet intrinsically simple concept for improving fuel economy with no compromise in performance...

Variable Valve Timing

In an internal combustion engine, optimizing the airflow in and out of each combustion chamber is a key to just about every aspect of performance. Power, emissions, fuel economy and other critical parameters are all dependent upon how good the engine flows air in and out...

Volvo Safety Concept Car

Safety is in the eye of the beholder, according to Volvo and Ford engineers who say that 90 percent of all vital driver information comes to us visually. The automakers' recent 7-city tour of the Safety Concept Car (SCC) showcased new technology designed to enhance a driver's view of the road...

Volvo's Concept for Cleaning the Air

These days, automakers are selling an increasing number of cars that feature extremely low emissions and high fuel economy. The aim, of course, is to provide choices for those who wish to go about their daily drive in ways that leave the least amount of emissions in their wake...

Weird Science

In the film "Back to the Future," Doc popped the hood of his time-traveling DeLorean and tossed kitchen scraps and beer cans into his gigawatt fusion converter thingamajig. It functioned much like a food processor/trash compactor, but converting waste into automotive fuel. Turns out that this cinematic solution to contemporary problems of both excess litter and fuel shortages isn't that far off the mark...

What is a Crossover?

Crossover vehicles have been available in the United States for the past decade or so, gaining market traction with all-wheel drive tenacity with year after year. Only recently, however, has the word "crossover" become part of the American lexicon. As the term implies, crossover vehicles are intended to satisfy a market segment nexus that sees consumers transitioning from sedans, wagons, SUVs, and even minivans, toward vehicles that offer balances of versatility, ride height, comfort, and often traction. Fuel economy concerns have further driven sales recently, with shoppers willing to sacrifice seldom-used truck-toughness from traditional SUVs, to purchase more car-like vehicles with similar packaging...

What Kind of Fuel Am I?

Many people pick a gas station based on price and/or convenience, probably because they feel that most brands of fuel are pretty much alike. Is that really the case, though? Since your choice of gasoline directly affects engine performance, economy and longevity, along with the environment, it pays to know the facts about different types of fuel...

Why Buy a Convertible?

1. They're Not Just Convertibles Anymore..

Women, Driving, and Cars

The editor's assignment was "what influence have women had on automotive design and performance?" Being a woman, that sounded pretty cool—I think. Certainly I'm not the only female who relishes that seat-of-the-pants feel of unleashing torque on a freeway on-ramp, or of flexing through twisting turns on country lanes. Well, I didn't exactly find my speed-thirsty tribe; instead, the research turned up a picture of women's influence on a male-dominated industry as complex as women themselves...

World Car of the Year Winners

The jury has voted; the results are in: The Lexus LS 460 was named 2007 World Car of the Year by a 44-member jury of top automotive journalists from 22 countries at an April 5, 2007 press conference at the New York International Auto Show. At the same time, the Audi RS 4 was honored as World Performance Car of the Year, the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec diesel sedan as World Green Car of the Year and the Audi TT as World Car Design of the Year...

XM vs. Sirius

A new battle has emerged among companies trying to gain a foothold for consumer entertainment dollars. It smacks of the old VCR wars where two formats, VHS and Betamax, fought for the placement of the ultimate content provider. Betamax lost and went the way of the dinosaur. This time the two hardware systems, again each totally incompatible with the other, stream signals featuring a multiplicity of programming—music, talk, sports, traffic and weather to your car or home—and are known as satellite radio under the names XM and Sirius. And, to borrow a reference from the latter, both are serious indeed...