Consumers looking to lease or buy a larger, more upscale car--and who want to be sure it’s safe for the family--have several excellent choices in six 2011 large luxury cars rated Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). You might note that some names are missing...Read More»
Like any other automotive enthusiast, I am sure you have hopped online late at night, always accidentally ending up on Auto Trader after strictly promising yourself just a quick check of Car Town and then straight to bed. But that rarely, if ever, happens. Instead you get caught into perusing the...Read More»
Scion has been in the U.S. since 2002, introduced as a sub-brand to Toyota aimed at younger buyers. Lots of companies try to target the youth with marketing schemes and clever advertising, and most of the time they fail. Younger Americans know a thing or two about marketing and advertising as they...Read More»
The pickup truck is an American cultural icon. It brings to mind images of summers, beach trips, and driving down long, country roads. But, you should know, especially if you are considering purchasing a pickup truck, that there is much more to this vehicle than meets the eye. Rather than just...Read More»
In the 1970s, the Swedes looked like they could rule the world. ABBA, Volvos and Saabs were everywhere, as well as state-sponsored socialism. They were fun, fair, easy-going and above all non-confrontational. It was all about disco, harmony, and music. Well, I am here to tell you, those kind Swedes...Read More»
When I was Internet Manager for a major car dealer, I was amazed at the number of buyers whose first question about the biggest and best model that just arrived on the showroom floor was how many cupholders it had. They weren’t concerned with advances in safety or design, horsepower or gas...Read More»
Closing in on its fiftieth anniversary, the Ford Mustang has seen many improvements, including more power, better handling, advanced safety features and improved fuel economy. Yet, with all of these improvements, the Mustang has not strayed far from its origins. Over the years there have been...Read More»
As I was was busy savoring every bite of my life-shortening, artery-clogging, saturated-fat-laced lunch, knowing that the thick layer of mayonnaise was probably responsible for the seizing sensation going down my left arm, I thought to myself, wouldn’t life be great if we got do-overs? You know...Read More»
If you have seen truck tire carcasses on the highway, you have probably wondered how that truck could continue on without the missing piece. Most likely it didn’t. What the trucker was forced to do was to pull over to the side of the road and call a guy like Junior Blackmar of Kissimmee, Florida...Read More»
So, are there any original ideas left out there? Is the well of human creativity as dry as a slice of salted Melba toast being chewed on by a dour German philosophy student? Is the world of fantastically creative souls who flirt about the automotive advertising world nothing but a tired and spent...Read More»
Dear Irv, I can call you Irv can’t I; anyone who’s driven the same car 2.8 million miles has to be a regular guy. I read about your goal to turn 3 million miles by the time you celebrate your 73rd birthday and please accept my wishes that your recent 70th birthday was a great day. You compared...Read More»
One of Europe’s most popular commercial vehicles arrived in the United States late last year. While considered a fairly large van overseas, the 2010 Ford Transit Connect XLT is most certainly a little thing compared to some of the large commercial vehicles used for deliveries locally. The...Read More»
Buying someone else’s lemon is an old school expression when it comes to describing the purchase of a used car. Today, that’s where to find real value when buying a vehicle. Here are some ways to insure that the value is real. Identify Your Purchase: Take some time to figure out what kind of...Read More»
As I left for my ignominious life-shortening job today, I noticed one thing: Today was hot. Stinking hot. Stinking humid hot. The kind of hot that makes you wish a meteor would hit the earth, preferably on a country that sponsors terrorism, and would move our planet away from the sun by about a...Read More»
When the Suzuki SX4 appeared on the marketplace a couple of years ago, I was smitten. Here was a petite hatch with all-wheel drive that behaved like it was bigger and more expensive than it was. I drove one (with manual transmission and no cruise control) from the Los Angeles area to Las Vegas...Read More»
That new car smell is strangely alluring, but do you really need to buy something right off the showroom floor? Well, millions of North Americans do just that each year, but even more of us seem to prefer the used car fragrance of carpet shampoo and deodorizers. The question is, who’s the smarter...Read More»
Volkswagen is helping its vehicles maintain their resale value by initiating the VW-Certified Collision Repair Facility program. This allows both dealership-affiliated and independent body shops to perform collision repairs according to Volkswagen’s own safety standards and specifications...Read More»
Q. The car dealer's TV ad promised $4,500 for anything I could "push, pull or drag" in. I made the trip, but it was "Too Good To Be True" and would've had to buy one of the cars on their lot with a really bloated price. Otherwise, they wouldn't give me squat for my old truck. Why can't "too good to...Read More»
I got a tip on a great ad and story from a friend about a really innovative car insurance idea. Wait, don't get angry, do not click away from this page--this is still about great car ads, and all things related to cars, including insurance. This one has a great ad for car insurance, which made me...Read More»
