Posted on 3/31/2016
NYC, we got them and we got them bad! Severe road conditions that is. We all know when the National Weather Service says there is a severe weather warning, we need to take precautions. Our blog has pointed out many times during this last year the fact that in the NYC area we always drive under "severe road and traffic conditions" and we have spoken about many factors contributing to dangerous, over used, never maintained roads, traffic, stop and go driving, sudden breaking due to highways seemingly converging traffic and drivers going from doing 55 mph to 10 mph for miles and miles, etc. Nowhere in the USA except other major metropolises like Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, etc, do we find the scope and dimension of what we all know is dangerous roads, extensive drive time and gas consuming, etc which place tremendous burdens on our vehicles and on our nerves. Of course, weather always factors in making severe driving conditions and severe road factors nearly impossible and ... read more
Posted on 1/27/2016
The Force Field will be with you........ These grimy, dirty, squeaking windshield wipers could be replaced very soon! No matter what, all cars have one thing in common, those eventually squeaking, annoying windshield wiper blades that wear out, leave streaks, need replacement depending on how much ice and now and stuff they remove. The law mandates them, safety demands them, and police need a place to stick your $115 summons for double parking on the streets of Queens. What will they do with those tickets in the future when SOUND is your windshield wipers? McLaren, best known for their Formula One race cars, has something to say about all of the above. They have been working towards windshield wiper-less cars. One of their top designers has said that McLaren is working on wiperless car and it looks like the solution may be ultrasound to utilize 30kHz waves across windshields to rid we drivers of rain, dead bugs, and road debris forever. No wiper blades squeaking! Yeah! How? Come on wi ... read more
Posted on 1/4/2016
...you think you have a luxury car? Maybe not. Read about luxury 2016 style. Now keep in mind you are talking about a big sticker price, too, but we can dream, can't we? What's new in luxury...more luxury, luxury gone 21st century and beyond. This article is based on an MSN autos article with some of our insights as consumers, who, like most of you can dream! Massaging seats: How about the big buck Bentley Mulsanne: Reclining rear seat? Yep! "Heating and ventilation?" Of course! In seat massage? You betcha and five different types of massages with 10 different levels of power no less (can we just buy the seats?). MSN Auto states: "The Mulsanne knows how to take care of you." Luxury leather: MSN Auto says: "Diamond stitched leather or Alcantara has also been proliferating throughout the luxury segment. It's gained in popularity not only for the fact that it's synthetic (no dead cows) but also because it's carbon-neutral, which should appeal to the ultr ... read more
Posted on 12/29/2015
3 More Quick Tips from Men's Health Magazine Dump that SUV: Men's Health points out some down sides of driving an SUV. They say your SUV brakes more slowly, accelerates more slowly, takes more time to get through intersections, use more gas, pollute the environment more than mid-size cars and the likelihood of a rollover is increased considerably. Also, SUVs' size tend to cause issues for other drivers which may mean you land up in an accident. The visibility of other drivers impact safety because of blindspots...theirs and yours. Automotive Repair Issues? Be Specific: Need a repair? Think you do? Take notes of everything that happens because a good mechanic wants the facts. Write down such things as: 1) was the engine hot? 2) did whatever happen on a turn? 3) what kind of road were you on? 4) you heard what? Men's Health says be specific: "For instance, say, 'I hear a high-pitched squeal when I accelerate, and then it stops after 30 mph. A good mecha ... read more
Posted on 12/9/2015
Great car tips from Men's Health"Buy, Don't Lease Leasing is more expensive because you're using up the best years of the car's life. A monthly lease payment is precisely calculated to ensure that you pay for every penny of that dizzying depreciation, along with interest and other fees. If you'll keep the car at least 5 years, buying is usually a better deal. Arrive Armed Before going to the dealership, learn your credit score and check with your bank (as well as sites like bankrate.com) about loan options—or you'll be at the mercy of the dealer's finance office. Just don't take on a loan that will last longer than you'll own the car. As a general rule, if you have to stretch the payments beyond four years, you can't afford the car. Ace the Details If you want to customize a new car without making it look like something out of Pimp My Ride, start with the ... read more