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  • Cost of car ownership on the rise

    As any motorist can attest, the cost of driving has been on the rise. Just how much? Recent analysis from AAA shows the cost of driving a passenger vehicle in the United States has increased 1.9 cents per mile in the last year and now averages 54.1 cents per mile. Costs for maintenance, full-coverage insurance and depreciation are all slightly lower this year, while the costs for fuel, tires, financing, license, registration and taxes showed increases. In 2008, AAA estimates it will cost $8,121 to own and operate a new passenger car driven 15,000 miles per year. This compares to $7,823 per year in 2007; or 52.2 cents per mile. These figures come from an AAA study that puts dollar figures to some common-sense car-buying advice . For example, AAA's research shows the annual average cost of driving a small sedan is $6,320 per year, while a large sedan costs $9,769 per year. Similar savings can be realized by driving a minivan, instead of a larger and less-fuel efficient sport utility vehicle (SUV). AAA estimates the annual expense of owning and operating a typical minivan at $8,644 per year versus $10,448 for a four-wheel-drive mid-size SUV . Ultimately, right-sizing car choices to...
  • How to drive safe in a snowy winter

    As snow storms grabbed headlines this weekend, many drivers found their vehicle lacked the traction necessary to safely transport them to work, school, or the grocery store. While winter's days are counting down, it is clear from the number of roadside mishaps that not everyone was properly prepared. (Check out this Weather Channel video.) Being safe is a combination of the right tires, the right driving techniques, and simply common sense. You may find that the tires that came on your car are perfectly adequate on most days. Do you truly know what the tires are and what conditions they were engineered for? Many drivers think that an M+S (mud and snow) rating stamped on their tires' sidewalls assures decent traction in sloppy conditions. Granted, more-aggressive tread patterns such as those on all-terrain or even mud-terrain truck tires can offer better bad-weather traction compared to some pavement-friendly skins, but tire manufacturers actually engineer tires for specific low-grip conditions. (Learn more about winter tires .) A main difference among winter tires, all-season-tires, and summer tires is the pliability and durability of their rubber at different temperatures....