Archive for January, 2010

The reliability ratings for Ford had a significant jump, which makes it the most reliable American carmaker, according to Consumer Reports, which just released its ratings. Other than a few of Ford’s pickup trucks, Ford’s reliability is comparable to that of the Japanese carmakers that are the best. Other carmakers that received the highest ratings […]

What is there to say about the single most expensive hybrid on today’s market?  The Lexus LS600hL is a luxurious hybrid that makes it known to everyone that you have $105,000 to spend on a car that is environmentally responsible. People may not be all that concerned about how the electric motor works in combination […]

Many people believe that pickup trucks and SUVs cause extreme damage to cars in a collision because they are heavier and bigger.  And although size is a factor, the main culprit in collisions involving low speeds is the mismatch of bumper heights. In the United States, SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks aren’t required to have […]

Small SUVs serve the purpose of ferrying people around on weekdays, and then bouncing through the countryside on the weekends. The Subaru Forester rises to this challenge with its new DC3 chassis, double wishbone rear suspension and AWD system. Although the Forester was originally a station wagon, the third-generation model is all SUV.  This five-door […]

Almost every vehicle that has front wheel-drive uses car struts on the front.  They aren’t just shock absorbers.  They integrate many different suspension parts into one assembly.  Included are the spring seats, coil spring, shock absorbers, steering knuckle, and strut bearing. The shock absorber is the part of the strut that is commonly serviced the […]

Did you know that your car is talking?  That’s right, your car is saying a great deal about your personality and attitude.  It’s true we are what we drive.  Car enthusiasts even admit that our vehicles are a window into our souls. Carmakers admit that minivan sales have declined partly due to the fact that […]

There is nothing worse than getting your car repaired and hearing, “It isn’t covered under your auto warranty.”  Often, motorists are confused because they assume that certain repairs are covered.  Drivers need a little education to understand more about their new car warranties. People need to understand that an auto warranty isn’t an entitlement, but […]

Ask a woman if she wants to purchase a Dodge Viper and her answer is likely “no”.  This is a V-10, sports car with two seats with a starting sticker price of approximately $80,000.  However, studies show that this car attracts a large proportion of men drivers.  It seems that as far as cars go, […]

These days many vehicles are being offered with 4WD systems.  It can be difficult for consumers wanting to purchase a car with 4WD to distinguish between the different systems.  There is Part Time 4WD, Full Time 4WD and permanent 4WD.  So, what’s the difference? The most basic of the 4WD systems is Part Time.  This […]

Most vehicles today have ABS, or Antilock brakes.  You’ve probably heard about these brakes but may not know what they are.  ABS is a safety feature that detects if one of the wheels is going to lock up in your vehicle.  In this case the hydraulic pressure of that wheel is controlled, similar to when […]