Automotive | King of the Road

Bwheel : Give Your Car a Bit of Finesse With Windshield Decals

2010-05-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

Ajeet Khurana

Windshield decals are those strips of decoration or wording at the top of the windshield you see on those cool cars going down the road. You know just what these decals do for the car; they actually give the car a bit of finesse or pizzazz that is certainly not a factory add-on.

You can of course find decals with the name of your car in all kinds of fonts, colors, and styles, but if you want something besides Camaro or Silverado on the windshield, just use your imagination. You can decals already created with wording such as princess, caught you looking, baby girl, and intimidator, to name a few. However, you do not have to choose a ready-made decal.

Today, you can find a graphic designer that will create a windshield decal with your preferences. The only thing is you have to ensure the size that will fit your vehicle without obstructing your view, or you may find yourself with a hefty traffic ticket. You can choose from wording, tribal designs, animals, or whatever you desire and have the design created into windshield decals for all your vehicles.

Once you have chosen your design, your designer will be able to create the decal. Of course, that is not all; you will need to know if you want a removable decal, a static cling decal, or if you prefer a permanent decal. All of these questions will need to be answered before you can receive the decal of your choice. If you want a decal that you can remove, this has to be explained to the designer. If you want a permanent decal, the decal has to be weather proof or you will be spending money for a decal that will fade away.

You know you want to add a decal to your windshield. Now, just start looking online for the various decals available, you may wish to have your windshield decal match decals you wish to put on the rear window. No matter, what you desire, your dream of sprucing up your car can be a reality with a decal for the windshield. The good news is you can get decals that are see-through which is really awesome. It gives you the look you want while allowing you to see through your windshield with no problem. Have fun shopping for the decals you want to give your car or truck personality. Don't worry all of your friends will be envious.

Bwheel : The easy way to save on auto insurance

2010-05-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

Auto insurance is a big chunk of your monthly budget, but shopping around to find a good policy price can be incredibly time consuming.

Fortunately, the Internet has sites that do the hard work for you. For example, www.freeinsurancerates.org is a free and easy way to learn your auto insurance options so you can get the best price for your policy in much less time.

Compare quotes quickly and easily

You can't know you're getting the lowest rate for auto insurance unless you compare multiple quotes. When you visit www.freeinsurancerates.org, you'll fill out basic information about your insurance needs and auto history.

Within a matter of minutes you'll be connected to a variety of auto insurance companies who can give you quotes directly. If you have any questions, agents are there to help. Compare prices on similar policies and choose the right price for you.

The service is completely free and there is no obligation to buy. Your personal information is kept safe and confidential at all times and will only be used to find the best insurance quotes for you.

Remember to about special discounts as this is another way to save even more money.

Here are some examples of discounts often offered by auto insurance carriers:

* Safe driver discounts for drivers with few accidents or violations.
* Good student discounts for students with high GPAs.
* Low mileage discounts for drivers who drive minimal mileage each year.
* Anti-theft discounts for cars with anti-theft devices installed.
* Good credit score discounts for drivers with high credit scores.
* Safe car discounts for cars with safety features such as air bags.
* Bundling discounts for drivers who have homeowners or other types of insurance with the same carrier.

Your free auto insurance quotes could save you a lot of money. Get the discounts you want and a policy easily within your budget. Visit www.freeinsurancerates.org today.

Sponsored content provided by FreeInsuranceRates.org. Copyright ARAnet, Inc.

Bwheel : Higher Limits - But Less Leeway

2010-05-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

Eric Peters

The good news is many states are raising their highway speed limits to the almost-fair. In my home state of Virginia, for example, many rural highway limits will go "up" to 70 mph this July. I put "up" in quotes because the new 70 mph limit, while higher than the previous 65 mph limit, is exactly the same (or slightly less) than the speed limit was way back in the early 1970s - before Nixon gave us the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit law that stayed on the books for the next 20-plus years.

So, we're almost back to where we were a generation ago. That's the good news. The bad news is that with these new limits comes much more aggressive enforcement. 70 mph means 70 mph. Not 75 mph. No more cushion of 5-10 mph or so, which used to be the unspoken gentlemen's agreement during the Drive 55 (and later, 65) era.

So, the net effect may be that while the legal limit is higher, actual road speeds will be lower. Or at least, you'll be more likely to get a ticket if you drive at speeds that used to be unofficially ok, even if technically illegal.

I know a few cops, including a state trooper, and they've told me that the deal is off. If you drive more than a couple of miles-per-hour faster than the new, "higher" limits, you can expect to be on the receiving end of a piece of payin' paper. But it's not out of vengefulness. It's opportunism, plain and simple.

The upticked limits have been in the pipeline for a while. It takes years to get something like this done. Public resentment of artificially low limits required time to fester to a boiling point sufficient to overcome decades of "speed kills" propaganda and give us an actual bill that might eventually become a law. Meanwhile, the economy tanked - and with it, tax revenues. State and local governments are broke or staring down "painful" (to the bureaucrats and tax-feeders) cutbacks. To keep the gravy train running, more "revenue" needs to be raised. But since overt taxes are politically unthinkable right now, more subtle means of extracting the necessary lucre are necessary.

Enter the Motorists Tax. The beauty of it (again, from the bureaucrats' point-of-view) is that it has a moralizing element to it. They will croon about safety. And of the need for "zero tolerance" of "dangerous speeders."

Since most people have completely forgotten that speed limits 40 years ago were higher than they are today, this will likely sell. Driving 70 mph will be portrayed as Autobahn-like, while driving any faster than 70 will be denounced as the equivalent of running down small children with an SUV. It will not matter that 70-ish mph has been the de facto, routine, average speed of most cars on most highways for years, without excessive carnage or mayhem (indeed, the fact is accident/fatality rates have been trending downward - to a great extent because modern cars are vastly more safe to be in if you do crash and inherently less likely to crash in the first place thanks to accident-avoidance technology such as stability control and ABS). Nor will it matter that the new "higher" limits merely mean that the legal speed limit now roughly comports more closely with the natural flow of traffic.

What will matter is that the revenuers now have a new excuse to pick our pockets. In the past, the really egregious tickets - 62 in a 55, say - were hard to support because they were so obviously unjust. Many judges tossed such tickets out. Everyone saw through it, knew it was absurd. But the memory of a time when American highways were posted at 70-75 mph and it was routine to travel at 80-plus without too much worry about being hassled by cops is now so dim and largely forgotten that bringing back 70 seems like a radical - even reckless - thing. Such blazing, daredevil speed!

It is presented as the outer threshold of sanity. And thus, any farther is clearly out of bounds. So, be forewarned - and adjust your pace to the new reality. 70 means 70 (unless you've been snarky enough to buy a good radar detector).

Otherwise, expect no mercy. The gentlemen's understanding between cops and motorists is torn asunder. The cushion is no more. Drive accordingly.

Reviewing the 2010 Infiniti EX35

2010-04-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

Eric Peters

More and more people are "crossing over" to crossovers from traditional SUVs. These car-based wagons are easier on gas than a truck-based SUV, handle more like a regular car - but are roomier inside and can usually carry more stuff than a regular car. Almost all of them have one big downside, however - if you're a performance driving enthusiast.

That downside is that most are based on a front-wheel-drive layout, usually with an all-wheel-drive system of some kind available optionally. Nothing wrong with that, if you mainly want better traction in the wet and snow. But if you want rear wheel drive (with a RWD-based AWD system) and superior RWD handling and balance - you're pretty much out of luck. One of the handful of exceptions to this rule is Infiniti's rear-drive-based EX35

WHAT IT IS

The EX35 is a medium-small, five-door hatchback luxury-sportwagon with two rows of seating and a cargo area behind that - aka, a "crossover" - that differs from others like it mainly in being built on a rear-wheel-drive (instead of front-wheel-drive) layout. It offers performance/handling closer to a RWD sport sedan than other otherwise similar crossover wagons.

WHAT'S NEW

The EX35 was introduced for 2009 as a brand-new model so there are only a few tweaks here and there for 2010. Prices start at $33,800 for the base RWD version and run to $37,400 for a top-of-the-line Journey version with AWD.

WHAT'S GOOD

Rear wheel drive layout delivers sportier driving feel than front-drive-based crossovers. Standard V-6 is as strong as some V-8s. Very quick; very sharp reflexes. More fun to drive than a BMW X3 and doesn't cost nearly as much as the BMW does.

WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD

No manual transmission option - a shame given the otherwise unimpeachable performance vehicle bona fides the EX brings to the table.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

The EX comes standard with a 297 hp 3.5 liter V-6 and five-speed automatic transmission - period. The EX's V-6 is one of the strongest standard (and even optional) engines available in a vehicle in this class/price range. 0-60 happens in about 6.3 seconds. These stats (297 hp; 0-60 in just over six seconds) beat the one competitor that's most similar to the EX in layout, the BMW X3.

Like the Infiniti, the BMW X3 is based on a rear-drive (3-series sedan) layout. But its standard 3 liter straight six is considerably less potent (260 hp, or almost 40 less than the Infiniti brings to the table) and its price tag ($39,700) is almost six grand higher to start. The one advantage the BMW does have, as far as performance stuff goes, is that it comes standard with a six speed manual transmission.

The Infiniti is automatic-only. The BMW also comes standard with AWD (which partially justifies its higher price point). Gas mileage for the RWD version of the EX35 is 17 city, 24 highway - slightly better than the heavier, less powerful X3 (16 city, 23 highway).

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

The difference in agility between the EX35 and other FWD/AWD crossovers and truck-based SUVs is apparent as soon as you start driving the thing faster than the (under)posted speed limit, in curves especially. It's not nose-heavy like so any FWD-based crossovers so it doesn't dive and plow and understeer unhappily - with the electronic traction/stability control cutting in constantly as it tries to make up for the design deficiency - in a performance context - of the FWD layout. Arc the steering wheel as appropriate to suit your line, then bully your way through putting power to the rear - as the Motor Gods intended.

And with almost 40 hp more than its nearest SUV/crossover competition (the BMW X3) it can launch itself out of those corners - and down the straightaways - with far greater authority, too. The 3.5 liter V-6 is strong enough to push you back in your seat - and makes passing slo-mo's a real pleasure. Just punch it - and you're gone.

Though it would be nice to have the option, at least, of a six-speed manual in this thing, the abundant power (as well as the excellent programming Infiniti has dialed into the standard automatic) make it a lot more fun to drive than the manual-equipped BMW X3.

High speed stability is exceptional, too - and that is something that's often lacking in closer-to-SUV crossovers like the X3. (It may just be why BMW fits the X3 with not-so-high-speed H-rated/130 mph maximum tires vs. the EX's 168 mph W-rated tires.)

If there's a downside, it's that the EX eggs you on to drive it fast and hard - which does an OJ on the thing's "best case" gas mileage. Run the EX35 hard, as it likes to be driven, and you can expect to get a real world average that's close to 15-16 mpg.

It also wants premium unleaded - so your gas costs will be higher than vehicles that are happy on regular or mid-grade.

RWD versions of the EX35 are slightly quicker and more athletic feeling because they weigh slightly less - and because there's less parastic drag through the drivetrain. You can also make the rear tires screech (traction control off) if that's your thing. Either way, both versions of the EX are as quick - or quicker - than an early-mid 1990s V-8 powered Mustang GT.

Other factors that affect handling feel/cornering prowess are ride height and weight. The EX35 sits much lower to the pavement than the X3, with only 6.5 inches of clearance vs. the BMW's 8 inches. That is a significant difference you really can feel in a high-speed turn. The AWD X3 is also around 200 pounds heavier than the RWD EX35 (3,754 lbs. vs. 4,012 for the BMW). Combined with the almost 40 hp deficit, this makes the X3 feel sluggish compared with the athletic Infiniti - once again, despite the BMW's available manual transmission.

STYLING & UTILITY

The EX looks like what it is - a wagonized version of the G35 sedan. The front clip is very similar, for example.

The interior layout of the EX is also similar to the way the G35's laid out. It is much less SUV (or even crossover) like and more sport sedan-like - with a curving "double wave" dash that flows into the door panels and recessed LCD display for the GPS in the center stack. It is finished with black lacquer and aluminum trim plates or - optionally - wood veneer inserts. It's what you might cll "swank-tech." The stats say it will seat five but realistically, this is a four-passenger vehicle - as are others in the segment, including the X3.

One area where the EX is objectively weak relative to competitors like the BMW X3 is cargo capacity. Behind the rear seats, there's only about 19 cubic feet vs. the BMW's 30 cubic feet.

Rear seat accommodations are a mixed bag. Taller torso riders will appreciate the extra headroom (38.4 inches for the EX vs. 37.8 for the X3). But if they have long legs, they will be less happy in the EX - which has just 28.5 inches of legroom vs. 35.8 n the BMW.

QUALITY & SAFETY

Infiniti vehicles have a high-end feel to them, not just a high-end brand name. Though several models are either based on or share major components such as platforms and engines with less prestigious Nissan-branded models, Infiniti does a very effective job of putting distance between them - and not just price-wise.

The base EX, for example, comes with a high level of standard amenities, including automatic climate control, electric sunroof, premium stereo with factory satellite radio hook-up, 17 inch alloy wheels and Infiniti's unique self-healing paint. The finish has high-elastic resins that let it expand to fill in small scratches without ever needing to visit a body shop - or get out the buffing compound.

With a starting price point of $33,800 the EX is also considerably less expensive than its most direct competitor, the BMW X3 ($39,700).

If the definition of "quality" includes giving you equivalent or better features and equipment than competitors for less money than they are charging, then the EX35 is certainly a high-quality vehicle.

Lots of safety equipment - both built-in crashworthiness and active accident-avoidance features - is a given on a vehicle such as the EX35. But in addition to the things you'd find in other similar in price vehicle, such as high-capacity disc brakes with ABS, side-impact and curtain air bags, traction and stability control, the EX35 goes up another notch with an available full perimeter Around View camera system that gives you a 360 degree bird's eye look around the entire vehicle, as if you were floating 10 feet above it. It works when you're moving forward as well as backing up, too - and makes it almost impossible to not notice something that you might otherwise bump into or drive over. You can change the view, too, to show the rear wheels relative to the curb - very helpful in parallel parking and could save you some scuffed (and expensive) rims, too.

In addition to all that, the EX also offers an optional Lane Departure Warning that beeps at you if you wander too near the double yellow line in the road. But be advised the system can be annoying. Its default setting is "always on" - meaning its on whenever you first get in/start the vehicle. You have to manually turn it off every time you start the car if you want to nix the relentless beeping. That I could live without.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The EX35 offers a tempting package that should appeal to the serious enthusiast driver who wants some utility but real-deal performance and handling capability, too.

Add the optional AWD system and you can probably make it into the office on those handful of snow days when AWD would come in handy, too. And the rest of the time? You'll be showing your bumper to every other small SUV/crossover on the road.

Is Big Brother your backseat spy?

2010-04-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

Is the latest auto technology a threat to your privacy?

A strange question at first glance, perhaps, but it's no coincidence so many new-car commercials show a solitary driver escaping civilization along some lonesome desert, mountain or prairie road.

Americans love cars and one of the things they treasure most is the privacy they provide.

But they also love convenience. And that clash promises to bring strife to Americans' love affair with the automobile: Convenience versus privacy.

"What is a car? The freedom on an open road to do as you please," says Beth Givens, founder and director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Larry Ponemon, founder and chairman of the Ponemon Institute, which advises businesses and the government on privacy and ethical information management, agrees. "It's a sacred place where we can sing, we can make private phone calls. For the most part people don't worry about their privacy when they're in the car -- they're home."

But as technological gizmos such as global positioning systems (GPS) can make cars physically safer and more convenient, they can make driving less safe from a privacy perspective.

"The freedom to travel is one of the most fundamental freedoms in a democratic society, and that's something you should be able to do without your every move being tracked," says Jay Stanley, communications director of the technology and liberty program of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Privacy advocates acknowledge the benefits of auto technology while cautioning about their potential for allowing (an expected) freedom sting. Here's how some of today's electronic auto gadgets could be used to invade your privacy:

The black box

Nearly everyone knows about flight data recorders on airplanes, but news to many consumers is that most newer cars have a similar device. These black boxes (AKA event data recorders or crash data recorders) can capture vehicle speed, brake action, shift position, engine speed, change of speed over time, airbag deployment, seatbelt use and other data just before or after a crash.

On the pro side, black boxes accelerate safety by providing information experts use to improve cars and roads. Also, simple knowledge about the device may be enough to get some people to think thrice about risky driving moves.

What frustrates privacy advocates most is this: "All of a sudden you're involved in a situation with your car and you didn't know it was really spying on you," Givens says, noting that attorneys and insurance companies are well aware of the data and already are using it in legislation.

"Some car safety people are pushing for all cars to be equipped with [black boxes]," notes Richard M. Smith, a privacy and security consultant. Smith explains that adding the devices is "not a big deal" from either a technical or financial standpoint. "It's really a crapshoot; it's very unclear who this helps," he says, pointing out that ownership of the data and how it's interpreted (or misinterpreted) are potential issues.

Money savings may convince consumers to give up a little privacy. Through a Minnesota pilot program, some insurance policyholders of the Progressive Casualty Insurance Co., allow their driving habits to be tracked.

The tracking device, which spokesman William Perry says doesn't actually involve a black box, acts like one by recording mileage, speed and time of day. Customers willing to share that information can save 5 to 25 percent off the cost of their next policy. It's all in the name of accurate pricing, Perry explains.

Radio frequency ID chips

RFID chips allow everyday objects to "talk" to each other.

"I'm very concerned about expansion of radio frequency ID in cars," Givens says. "We could literally be tracked everywhere we drive." Highway systems are equipped with RFID signal readers, and tire manufacturers have started implanting chips in tires to help spot failures and track tires for recall purposes.

Toll booth speed pass systems also incorporate the technology and can record a person's whereabouts. "Of course, 99 percent of the time it doesn't really matter," says ACLU's Stanley. "It becomes another data point on that individual. But on rare occasions it could matter to you."

And sufficient privacy protections haven't yet been put in place, he adds.

Secondary use of RFID data concerns Smith, too. One example of "feature creeper" is in the Orlando, Fla., area, where, beginning in May 2005, roadside RFID readers will trace the travel time of individual cars, creating an average trip time that can be communicated to other drivers.

"Most people just think about the benefits of having [speed pass]," Givens says. But driver data could be connected to other records -- and the data have already been used in divorce and child custody disputes. Not to mention, the data also could be used to nab individuals for speeding.

Global positioning systems

Divorce attorneys and private detectives wouldn't mind getting their hands on navigational system records, either. What better way to prove or disprove a spouse's location? Subscribers to GPS technology services have access to maps and driving directions as needed, and companies like OnStar also offer stolen vehicle and roadside assistance. OnStar call centers can even listen in on a car, should it be stolen or the driver needs help.

"Most people think that this is an excellent technology and it's worth money to pay for it," says Ponemon. "But you're basically providing information on where you are at any point in time. In safe hands that information is probably okay for each of us, (but) it can be used against people who may not want to reveal where they are."

"They kind of control your car," Smith says, noting that companies like OnStar have no particular reason to spy on their customers, but in some cases they have been required -- under subpoena -- to provide that information." OnStar's privacy policy is upfront about stating that information will be used to respond to regulatory and legal requirements. In some cases, drivers don't even know they're being tracked through GPS. Law enforcement officials have gotten warrants to attach GPS devices to the cars of suspects, Givens says. While many might find that a desirable feature, a stalker could use GPS to keep tabs on a victim.

Some rental car companies have also used the technology, charging customers additional fees for speeding or exceeding certain boundaries. California legislation prohibits companies from using GPS without the customer's consent, and in Connecticut a court ruled that one rental car company's speeding fines were illegal. But experts say the issue isn't closed.

Risks and rewards

"There's no absolute right to privacy," Ponemon cautions. "None of this information, when it's collected, is absolutely protected."

And Givens adds, "The problem is that there will always be other uses found for [the data]."

And if the day comes where drivers rely too much on auto gizmos, a technology failure could cause havoc. As could an outright technology shutdown; the Bush administration has recently announced that the nation's GPS infrastructure could be turned off in the event of an attack, since terrorists could tap into the systems.

"I'd be afraid of technology that shuts my car off," Ponemon says, imagining that he's on a highway when someone pushes a button that could cause his car, which may be relying too much on technology-based systems, to crash.

Still, privacy advocates recognize the plus side of technologies that improve safety and enhance the driver's experience. "I think that the benefits outweigh the costs and the risk, but there need to be privacy and security safeguards," Ponemon says.

Stanley adds, "Most technologies have good uses and we want to be able to [use them] without worrying about them being used against us."

King Of The Road : The Bamboozled American Driver

2010-04-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

Eric Peters

Just the other day I saw a TV commercial for the 2011 Infiniti M56. It has a 420 hp 5.6 liter V-8 engine. It can reach 60 mph in about 5 seconds and will run to more than 150 mph, flat out. I know, it makes me excited too.

But how many of the middle-aged urban/suburban manager/professional types who buy a car like this will ever drive it faster than 100? Or even 90? And how often will they do even that? Even the young and eager can't make use of such power. See what happens if you drive 100 mph (or faster) for any length of time in the U.S. I don't like it, either - but it's the reality.

How often do you see people (teenagers excepted) blasting 0-60 as fast as the car can go? Not me. I drive a lot and all over the country and what I see much more often is cars - including 400 hp cars like the M56 - easing away from lights just like the minivan in the next lane. The cars all pretty much grouped together, none going much faster than the others - and all of them going pretty slow. Maybe 10 mph or so over the posted limit. If there's no cop around. That's about it.

How often do you see a car doing 0-60 in 5 seconds? Or running 20 or more mph faster than surrounding traffic. It happens, yes. But it's rare - and when it does happen it's usually a kid in a souped-up Mitsubishi with a huge wing on the trunk, not a 40-year-old businessman in a $57,000 Infiniti (or Benz or whatever).

In this country, a 400 hp car is as useless as a jet ski in the Mojave. We can't drive really fast (much over 80) for any length of time, at least, because if we do, we will be roughly treated by the police - then the courts - and then by the DMV and the insurance cartels.

Adults - who are the only people in a position to buy a car like the $57,000 M56 - know this. They may have a teenaged son or daughter who would kill to drive the M56 to the fullest extent of its capability (and may just do it) but the adult owner won't because he's aware of the consequences or is just too old for that kind of stuff. Reality check. It sucks, but it's the truth.

Equally true: A modern fule-injected 200 hp V-6 will get you to 100 without breaking a sweat - and to 80 or so (about the fastest we can realistically drive here for any length of time) and maintain it, easily. And it wouldn't get 16 mpg (or cost $57k) like the 420 hp M56 does.

But, we've been convinced by the marketing and PR wizards that a V-8 more powerful than Ferrari V-12s were in the '80s is an absolute Essential - or at least, very desirable - even if we have neither the inclination nor the opportunity to ever actually use two-thirds of that capability.

Current luxury cars are more juiced up than Arnold Schwarzennegger during his Mr. Olympia days - and like him, built mostly for show-only.

In Europe (Germany especially) really powerful cars do get used, so it makes some sense. But there's something symptomatically American about millions of 300 and 400 hp luxury cars loafing along at 64 mph - their engines burbling, their chrome plated 20 inch rims spinning... like Arnold flexing his biceps, but never actually doing anything with them.

Virtually all current-year luxury cars are really sports cars. They have sharply raked windshields and low-cut rooflines, hold-you-tight-bucket seats with floor (and paddle) shifters and consoles and huge hooded gauge clusters with tachometers and 8,000 RPM redlines. They ride on 18, 19 and 20-inch light-alloy wheels with tires that have sidewalls as skinny and hard as the 20-year-old flatbelly who teaches aerobics at the gym. Which is lovely, if you do track days - or drive on public roads like you do on track days.

But 95 percent of the people who drive these cars, don't. As Bob Dole once said: You know it. I know it. The American people know it. But they don't care. They willingly pay fifty or sixty grand to cram their not-so-flexible, not-so-young-anymore backsides into a tight-fitting, hard-riding sports car with four doors and pay $300 a pop for 150 mph-rated tires that never see the high side of 80 - in order that they may feel youthful and virile and whatever-else, as conditioned into their heads by the PR maestros who make it so.

My father in law drives a Cadillac Sedan de Ville from the early 1990s - the era when Cadillac still built luxury cars. It does not have bucket seats. It has flat, three-across bench seats. They give when you sit down - and are perfect for 15 hour drives to Vegas. A pull-down column-shifter controls an automatic that is automatic. It does not require or expect you to tap paddle shifters or engage "sport" mode. There is no "sport" mode. Its job is to transition between gears without the driver or passengers noticing or feeling anything. That was the whole object of the exercise, you see.

It has pop-on (and off) wire wheel covers on 15 inch rims - with smooth-riding all-season radials wrapped around 'em. The suspension is soft. You don't feel potholes. The steering is one-finger effortless - and the car is incredibly comfortable.

True, it doesn't "handle" in the way that almost all modern car reviewers require for their approval. But it wasn't meant to. What it was meant to do is glides along, smoothly and quietly - relaxation in motion. Which is what used to be what luxury meant. I miss it. Don't you?

On the other end of the scale, we have economy car buyers who don't think it's unreasonable to expect the automakers to produce subcompacts that can take a T-bone impact at 60 mph like a 5,000 pound S-Class Benz, yet also knock down 40 MPGs but still do 0-60 in less than 8 seconds; that feature GPS, power windows and locks, Bluetooth wireless - and still be priced under $15k.

Economy cars - the real deal - can't be sold here. At least, not recently. Remember the three-cylinder Geo Metro? That was an economy car. It got better gas mileage (50-plus MPGs) than a 2010 Prius - and it cost half as much. Naturally, no one bought it.

People also snicker at 40 mpg diesel tanks like the old Benz 300D. Too slow. Not "sporty" enough. Meanwhile, people bitch about $3 gas. Meanwhile, millions of hausfraus putter around suburbia in 5,000 lb. 4WD SUVs and AWD "crossovers" that will live their entire lives on the tarmac. Am I the only one left who can see the man behind the curtain?

Go back 25 years or so and the only people who drive 4WDs were country people or working people who needed them and actually used them. All-wheel-drive was nonexistent, but all of a sudden, almost every new car has it or offers it. Millions of car buyers suddenly believe they've just got to have it.

The PR flacks created a need - and the industry is eager to fulfill that need. It's capitalism, of course. But that doesn't mean it's smart.

Traffic Stop Stuff

2009-10-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

It's more likely than it's probably ever been you'll get pulled over by a cop at some point in the near future. Not only are there more penny-ante laws and violations on the books than ever, state and local governments are dealing with major cash flow problems, just like the rest of us. They can't raise taxes directly; that would spark a revolt of the masses at this point. But they can turn loose the cops - whose ticket books and radar guns serve as a very effective means of indirect taxation.

So, first, be on the alert. Second, be prepared. Do you know how to handle yourself during a traffic stop? How you behave can be the key factor that determines whether you can successfully beat the ticket later on - or maybe (if you're really lucky) get off with a warning right now.

Pull over the right way - Yes, there is a definite right way to pull over during a traffic stop. When the cop turns on his lights, you should immediately slow the vehicle and put your turn signal on. Then pull off the road - to a shoulder or side street - as quickly as possible. Do not stop in the middle of the road. The idea is to park your car so it's out of the way of traffic - which makes the stop safer for the cop. Which makes him happy. Which is good policy, because aggravating the cop - or conveying the impression that you're an addled idiot - will not help you.

Next, put the car in Park, shut down the engine, turn on the hazard blinkers and turn on the interior light (if it's dark outside). Put both hands on the top of the steering wheel and sit quietly. Do not root around for stuff. Again, the idea here is to make the cop feel safe by conveying the impression that you're an Honest Joe or Jane - and not some thug.

Important: If you have a concealed handgun permit, keep it with your driver's license (a paper clip works well). Do not reach for or produce your weapon. When the cop comes to your window, hand him your license and your permit and tell him, "Officer, I have a concealed carry permit." If you are carrying a weapon or have one in the vehicle, tell him exactly where it is but do not reach for it. Usually, cops relax around CWP holders because CWP holders are by definition not criminals (having undergone state and federal background checks) and rarely cause trouble. But it's very important to let the cop know you have the CWP before he discovers you have a gun on you.

Be polite and cooperative but not talkative - The cop is not your friend. Remember this. He is there to give you a ticket and anything you say can and will be sued against you in court. The cop is taking notes and trained to ask you leading and entrapping questions, such as "Do you know how fast you were going"? To which, you should reply along the lines of "I'm sure you have an opinion, officer." Never incriminate yourself - unless you feel you did do something wrong and want to pay the fine. It's best to keep the conversation as short, sweet - and forgettable - as possible. If you are confrontational or sarcastic, not only will the cop remember you, he is much more motivated to see you're convicted. If, on the other hand, you're remembered as a nice, polite, cooperative person, the cop is more likely to not object come court time when the judge considers a reduced charge or "driving school" to nix the ticket.

Take notes yourself - If you are going to contest the ticket, you should be prepared to present facts in court - or have facts to give your attorney. For example, was the speed limit sign clearly posted? If it was obscured by a leafy tree, and you can show this in court (keeping a small disposable camera with you in the car for this purpose is a smart idea) that is an objective fact that may just get you out of the ticket. Etc. You want to record and keep track of any fact that either puts into question the offense you've been charged with or which serves as what they call in legal lingo a mitigating circumstance - such as the fact that you were rushing your pregnant wife to the emergency room.

At court, unless you have a driving record peppered with previous violations, you can almost always get the judge/commonwealth's attorney to agree to a lesser charge, or even a reduced charge - or to drop the moving violation in return for agreeing to attend one of those day-long DMV driving schools many states offer. The main thing they want is your money; the main thing you want to avoid is "points" on your driver's record, because they can lead to hiked insurance costs for several years vs. the one-time hit of a fine.

At court is the time to talk, incidentally - to explain to the judge, as nicely and politely as you can, why you did "x" - and that you're very sorry about it and it won't happen again and that you'd really appreciate being able to avoid the DMV points but are happy to pay a fine or go to driving school. Dress in nice clothes and appear clean cut and responsible. It's groveling and it sucks - but it does work and if it gets you out of the points, it's worth it.

This approach usually yields better results than actually denying the charge outright and trying to fight it - which you should never attempt yourself, by the way. The system is designed by and for lawyers - and unless you are one yourself, you will almost certainly hear the words, "guilty - fines and costs" - before you can get three words of your own out.

If you want to fight a traffic ticket head-on, get an experienced traffic attorney and let him earn his fee.

Eric Peters

The never-ending debate: Motorhome or 5th-wheeler?

2009-10-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

Motorhome or travel trailer? If you are venturing out to buy your first RV, or maybe just an upgrade, you have probably already asked yourself that question. There are many advantages and some disadvantages to both. Mostly you need to decide what you want to use your RV to do and where to go and your decision should not be a difficult one.

A motorhome can offer you a little more mobility than a travel trailer. If you travel extensively or are a “full-timer” a motorhome has more of what you are looking for. In a motorhome you will always be in your “home” even if traveling down the highway. Passengers always have full access to beds, kitchen, bathroom, couch. However, 5th wheelers, when parked, have a much larger living space because of their slide-outs. Most travel trailers and 5th wheelers have slide-outs that almost touch when in travel mode. They open to allow a large and comfortable living space when parked. Motorhomes that have slide-outs are a bit confining when on the road.

External storage room is another important decision factor. 5th wheelers and Class A motorhomes generally have large external storage compartments but other trailers and Class C motorhomes generally lack such large storage areas. Maintenance of your RV is going to be less with travel trailers and 5th wheelers. Motorhomes have a few more “systems”, which means more things that could malfunction. Also, if you have engine trouble with a motorhome, your whole home is stranded. With travel trailers the towing vehicle can be exchanged or replaced. Another small, yet important, contrast is height of motorhomes vs. travel trailers. Trailers are closer to the ground, only 1 to 2 stairs, whereas motorhomes are about 3 to 5 steps above the ground.

The comfort levels of motorhomes and travel trailers are tied if comparing them while both parked. However, while in-motion and during travel a motorhome takes the cake. Travelers can use all the amenities of the motorhome while in motion. A travel trailer with slide-outs may not even be accessible while in travel mode. Price, which is one of the most persuasive decision factors, is not as easily generalized to motorhomes vs. travel trailers. An average motorhome is generally going to cost more than an average travel trailer but there are many exceptions. There are so many different amenities, luxury levels, and sizes to both categories that price is always circumstantial. Of course, the larger the travel trailer you get the larger the towing vehicle will have to be, a crucial factor to keep in mind.

Last, but not least; safety factors of motorhomes vs. travel trailers. Due to the fact that drivers and passengers are protected by the steel frame of a truck around them, travel trailers are ranked higher in crash protection. However, it is also true that travel trailers are more likely to be involved in crashes. It is fairly common for travel trailers to jack-knife in the road or become overturned. Motorhomes are not too often involved in crashes except sometimes problems with their vehicle in tow.

Breezego CSS

Eric's Autos: Take Your Paws Off My Clunker!

2009-09-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

Eric's Autos: Take Your Paws Off My Clunker!

Eric Peters

I'll be keeping my "clunker" - a 1998 Nissan Frontier with about 120,000 miles on it. But why? Don't I want to take the government up on its promise of a $3,500-$4,500 handout in return for bringing my old truck in for destruction? No thanks.

My truck may be old; it may even be a "clunker" as far as the government's concerned. But as far as I am concerned, what matters far more than what the government thinks - or even its offer of a $3,500-$4,500 handout - is what I know to be true about my truck.

For one, it is still running great. I think it has another 100,000 miles in it, easy. Why would I want to toss away a perfectly good truck? It's "old"? So what! Too many people are hypnotized and conditioned to believe that it is an essential part of being American to throw away things that are still perfectly good in order to get the "newest" and "latest" thing. This places people on a treadmill of endless consumerism - which profits no one except those who are doing the selling (and the lending). The truck is also paid-for.

That means I have zero fixed expenses beyond the cost of gas and every now and then regular maintenance. Sure, it will likely need this or that as the years roll by. But I'll take the occasional expense for, say, a new alternator or maybe a replacement water pump over the absolute certainty of a monthly payment (with interest) for the next five years.

You may snicker at me when you pull up next to me at the next red light in your new Obama-mobile. But guess what? I've probably got more money in the bank than you do. I definitely don't owe some shyster bank or car company a fistfull of cash every month. I have better things to do with my money - such as save it or spend it on things that are, you know, essential.

A new car isn't. People may believe otherwise, thanks to the consumer conditioning they have absorbed since they were toddlers - but that's just because they've been suckered by Madison Avenue ad men.

Bottom line: There is no way this scam - and that's what it is, a scam - will save you any money. Even if your old car got 15 mpg and you new one twice that, the total cost of the new car (don't neglect to include all taxes - including personal property taxes - as well as insurance and interest payments and all the rest of it) is going to wash away any "gas savings" you may have been hoping for.

And if you really do drive a "clunker"? A car that is on its last legs and no longer reliable or constantly nickel and diming you into the poorhouse with repair costs?

It's still not smart to partake of the Cash for Clunker Con. A much savvier move, money-wise, would be to sell your old car for whatever it will fetch, then use that plus whatever money you have saved up to buy a mechanically sound used car.

For between $5,000 and $8,000 you have your choice of a veritable bounty of new-looking, new-driving and high efficiency slightly used cars. (I recently bought a 2002 Nissan Frontier - very much the same as my '98 only newer and with only 58k miles on it - for $7,200. It looks brand-new and it drives brand new and it cost me less than half the cost a stripped-down base model 2009 Frontier.)

Most people who can afford to finance a new car in the $15k range can afford to buy a used car in this price range with cash. This is a far smarter move, financially, than tying the albatross of a large loan with interest around your neck. Debt is financial cancer. It eats you alive, eventually.

And yet, the suckers think they are getting such a deal. It's no wonder. This is the same crowd that buys into advertising slogans such as "up to 50 percent more!" (which of course means 1 or 2 percent more in reality, if you are really lucky), that buys tax-yourself lottery tickets every week for years on end ("my number's gonna come up today, I can feel it!") and can't perform sixth grade arithmetic without the aid of a calculator - and maybe not even then. You cannot help such people.

All you can do is manipulate them to your advantage. I want no part of that. Exploitation is not my bag, baby. I leave that to the government.

Car Selling- 10 Top Tips

2009-09-12T21:32:00.000-07:00

Car Selling- 10 Top Tips to help you achieve the best price
Barbara Jeffers

You’ve taken care of it, serviced it regularly, and washed it every weekend. However, now the time has come to sell your car. So what should you do to get the best price?

1. Research the price - It is essential to have the car priced correctly for a quick sale. Check the price of similar cars in your area. Check the local papers, motoring ad magazines and online. Remember that buyers like bargain, so this price includes a margin for haggling.

2. Have an MOT that is more than 9 months - Even if your MOT renewal is not due you can get a new one. This will stop people thinking you are just selling as it won’t get through the next MOT.

3. Clean the car inside and out - Do a thorough clean, remove all sticky finger prints and dogs hairs. Put in a new air freshener. Consider having a full, professional valet service.

4. Repair the car - Get any minor mechanical faults or paintwork repaired.

5. Documentation Preparation - Keep all the documents in a folder or large envelope that you can give to the buyer to take away. This should include all MOT certificates and service records. If you have work that is still under guarantee, ensure that the receipt is included and the guarantee is transferable.

6. Adverts - Stick to facts and describe the car accurately. Include the year, mileage, MOT months and where you are based. If it's being sold for spares only, or it requires substantial repairs, say so.

7. Test Drive - Check that the buyer is insured to drive the car. Go with them in the car. If you change seats part way through, always take the keys with you and hand them over when you get back in the car.

8. Provide a receipt - Provide a receipt that identifies the car, price and the fact that it is sold as seen without a guarantee. Ensure that two copies are signed by yourself and the seller and keep one copy for yourself.

9. Get paid - Preferably in cash and count it in front of the buyer. If a cheque is given then wait for it to clear in you bank before you hand the car over, but give the receipt annotated with ‘waiting for funds to clear’ and the date for the pickup of the car.

10. Inform the DVLA - Follow the instructions on the V5/registration documents and detach, fill in and send of the portion as indicated. If you don’t do this, it is possible that future offences and convictions associated with the car and its new driver could come your way.

bwheel - Car Insurance

2009-09-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

Best New High Mileage Cars for Seniors
Eric Peters

Senior drivers often have different wants and needs when it comes to vehicles - but like almost everyone else, they're also concerned about the high cost of fuel. The following five cars offer good (to excellent) fuel economy as well as features that will appeal to senior drivers:

Under $15,000 - 2010 Nissan Versa 1.6 (base price $9,990; $11,990 with automatic and AC )

In addition to being the least expensive new car on the market right now, the Versa compact sedan also stands out among cars in its class and price range because of its substantially roomier backseat accommodations. Four adults can sit comfortably in the Versa - a claim few compact sedans or hatchbacks can honestly make. The Versa's tall roofline and large, wide-opening doors also ease entry and exit from the vehicle.

And gas mileage, even with the optional automatic transmission, is very good: 26 city and 33 highway. Its ride is softer than many smallish cars, too.

For those who want more power - and power amenities - the Versa is also available with a larger 1.8 liter engine and can be equipped with high-tech features such as Bluetooth wireless and keyless ignition as well as luxury-oriented equipment such as a sunroof and premium stereo with satellite radio. Prices for the more powerful Versa 1.8S with automatic begin just over $14k. Manual transmission versions of both the Versa 1.6 and the Versa 1.8S are about $1,000 less.

Under $20,000 - 2010 Honda Insight hybrid (base price $19,800)

The Insight is a hybrid gas-electric five-door hatchback sedan that's similar in layout and size to the best-selling Toyota Prius but costs several thousand dollars less.

Two features especially stand out. The first is the simplicity of its interior layout. While the shape of the instrument panel is swoopy and futuristic, the controls are similar in function to what you'd find in a standard (non-hybrid car). For example, instead of a dashboard-mounted toggle switch to control the transmission (as in the Prius) the Insight has a conventional floor-mounted gear selector and the usual ranges of Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Sport. Other controls are similarly easy to understand and use, such as the rotary knob for the AC system (no computer "menus" or "mice" to deal with).

The Insight's other strong suit is its "kammback" rear section. Instead of the typical steeply-raked hatchback design with an abbreviated trunk area, the Insight's rear section tapers gradually, with the single piece tailgate section opening wide to provide a generous opening to the large (32 cubic feet with the second row seats folded) cargo area. This means greater access - and less work/trouble getting things in and out of the cargo area.

Gas mileage (40 city, 43 highway) may not as high as the Toyota's (51 city, 48 highway) but the Insight's much lower up-front cost washes out the Toyota's over-the-road mileage advantage. It would take several years of driving to make up for the approximate $2,200 price difference between the cost of a new Insight and the cost of the least expensive version of the Prius ($22,000).

Under $30,000 - 2010 Ford Taurus (base price $25,170)

The Taurus was a great car in the 1980s and thanks to a complete redesign it is once again exactly that. This is a large, five-passenger sedan that is exceptionally comfortable, smooth and very nicely finished and equipped - for significantly less money than you'd pay for an equivalent import such as the $27,895 Toyota Avalon. The new Taurus is actually bigger than the Avalon (which is itself bigger than a Camry - or the Honda Accord, etc.) with more front seat head and legroom and a substantially larger (20.1 cubic foot) trunk.

The Taurus also comes standard with a powerful 3.5 liter V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission and can be ordered with all-wheel-drive for improved winter and wet-weather traction and safety. Another helpful feature is an external keypad SecuriCode entry system. If you lock your keys inside the car, you can enter a personal code to unlock the vehicle. Base SE models are very well equipped with a six-way power driver's seat, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel (which makes the car fit a variety of drivers) as well as automatic headlights, AC, cruise control, power windows and locks, etc. all included.

Official EPA gas mileage numbers weren't published at the time of this writing (because the new Taurus is just coming out) but are expected to be in the low-mid 20s for city driving and close to 30 mpg for highway driving. A Flex Fuel (can operate on E85 ethanol as well as regular gasoline) should be available soon, too.

Under $35,000 - 2010 Buick LaCrosse (base price $27,085)

GM may be in trouble but its Buick division is a bright spot in an otherwise bleak landscape. Reason? Buicks like the 2010 LaCrosse continue to offer what you might call the Traditional Luxury Car Experience. It is noticeably softer-riding than the typical mid-sized luxury sedan - where the emphasis is increasingly tilted toward high-performance handling and import car "sporty" driving feel. There's nothing with that, if that's what you want. But if you prefer a car that drives the way American luxury cars used to drive, the new LaCrosse is apt to be more to your liking.

It's also a great deal - priced comparably to cars that aren't even in the luxury or near-luxury class (like the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord) and well under the price of similarly posh, similarly equipped luxury-brand competitors such as the Lexus ES350 - which starts at $34,470 (a nearly $7,000 price difference).

The 2010 LaCrosse - which is all-new for 2010 - comes standard with a 255 hp V-6 engine, six-speed automatic transmission, seven-speaker stereo, 17-inch wheels, climate control AC, leather trim and full power accessories (windows, door locks, cruise control, etc.). A top-of-the-line CXS with "all the bells and whistles" still stickers out at just $33,615 or thousands less than several competitors.

You'll save at the pump, too. The 2010 LaCrosse is rated by the EPA at 18 mpg in city driving and 27 mpg in highway driving - the latter figure only a few miles per gallon off the pace of many economy-class cars.

Under $45,000 - 2010 BMW 335d (base price $43,900)

Combining luxury, performance and excellent fuel efficiency, the diesel-powered version of BMW's highly regarded 3 Series sedan is literally in a class by itself - for the moment, at least.

Neither Lexus, nor Cadillac, nor Acura, nor Audi or Infiniti or Jaguar offer a luxury sedan that can match the 335d's high-end amenities, high-power and performance (425 lbs.-ft of torque - more than most 6 liter gasoline V-8s - and zero to 60 in about 6 seconds) and its EPA rated 36 mpg capability on the highway. (Its 23 mpg city rating is also very good for a car this powerful.)

The reason is simply that none of those brands currently sell diesel-powered versions of their luxury-sport sedans. (Only Mercedes-benz currently offers a diesel-powered luxury-sport sedan, the $54,200 E320 BlueTEC. But the E320 is massively more expensive as well as a larger car than the 335d, so it's not really in the same class as the BMW.)

The mileage disparity - especially on the highway - can be huge. For example, a new Cadillac CTS with the 3.6 liter gas V-6 only manages 26 mpg on the highway (even with the latest direct injection technology) and just 17 mpg in city driving. This is a representative sample of the mileage delivered by comparable luxury-performance sedans powered by gasoline engines vs. the BMW's turbocharged 3 liter diesel engine. Even with the price of regular unleaded having gone down a bit (appx. $2.30 per gallon at the time of this writing), the savings over an 8-10 period can be considerable. If gas should go back up to $3 or $4 per gallon sometime over the next few years, the difference in ownership costs could be huge.

And the "diesel downsides" of truck-like noise, rattles and clouds of sooty black smoke? They are history. Modern turbocharged, direct engine diesels are smooth, quiet - and clean.

Reviewing the 2009 Mazda CX-9

2009-09-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

Mazda does a great job making relatively inexpensive, reasonably economical cars that are almost always more fun to drive than similar cars from competitors. The catch has been that for the most part, these cars have been medium and compact-sized ony. People who needed a full-size vehicle with room for a large family pretty much had to shop somewhere else. That's why Mazda decided to build the CX-9.

WHAT IT IS

The CX-9 is a seven-passenger, three-row sportwagon that comes standard with V-6 power and either front-wheel-drive or (optionally) all-wheel-drive. Prices start at $29,820 and run to $35,205. The CX-9 is slightly smaller than the eight-passenger Chevy Traverse, about the same size as the seven- passenger Ford Flex and bigger than a Toyota Venza, which seats only five. But it is by far the largest vehicle Mazda has ever made.

WHAT'S NEW

Introduced in '07 and updated significantly in 2008 with a bigger, more powerful 3.7 liter V-6, the '09 CX-9 is mostly a carryover. Bluetooth wireless has been made standard - and AWD-equipped models now also get a trailer towing prep package included.

Bu the really good news is that Mazda hasn't raised the price much. The MSRP of the 2009 model with more standard equipment is only $520 more than the '08 version. If you've shopped around, you'll know that's a pretty modest year-to-year uptick relative to many others, whose MSRP has jumped by closer to $1,000 (or even more), often for pretty much the same vehicle as before.

WHAT'S GOOD

Roomy, sporty and family friendly; not a minivan. 2009 only slightly more expensive than 2008 model.

WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD

Costs a lot more than a minivan; being cool and quick don't come cheap.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

The CX-9's standard 3.7 liter V-6 produces 273 hp, which puts it just above the Flex (262 hp 3.5 liter V-6), V-6 Venza (3.5 liters, 268 hp) and just under the Chevy Traverse (3.6 liter V-6, 281 hp). The standard and only transmission is a six-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can choose FWD or AWD.

True to Mazda's reputation, the CX-9 is a snappy performer, capable of making it to 60 mph in about 7.3 seconds. For a vehicle this big that weighs over 5,000 pounds, that's an excellent run. But don't expect equally excellent fuel economy. The CX-9 sucks it down with gusto - 16 city, 22 highway (with FWD; AWD equipped models lose about 1 mpg both ways). However, this is about the same as others like the Traverse (17/24) and Ford Flex (also 17/24). Even the smaller, seats-only-five-people Toyota Venza doesn't do much better. V-6 versions log 18 city, 25 highway.

The CX-9's max tow rating is 3,500 pounds - much less than the Traverse (5,400 lbs.), Flex (4,500 lbs.) and dead even with the Venza.

RIDE & HANDLING/DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

The CX-9 edges out the Chevy Traverse to 60 mph by about half a second (7.3 seconds vs 7.8 seconds) and flat out walks away from the sluggish Ford Flex, which needs almost 9 seconds to do the deed. The Venza's quicker than all of them - about 6.7 seconds to 60 - but it ought to be, as it's smaller and lighter.

Acceleration, though, is only one of the CX-9's virtues. Handling is where it really puts distance between itself and most of its competitors. That "zoom zoom" ad copy's no hype.

Front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, the CX-9 hustles through a turn like no minivan ever did - and more athletically than most crossovers and wagons in the segment. The 5,000-plus pounds of curb weight doesn't lurch around oafishly - traction and stability control sweating hard to keep the tires planted. The suspension's definitely up to the job of maintaining a fast pace - and so is the drivetrain, including the standard six-speed automatic. It's a "smart" automatics that adjusts itself to your driving. If, for example, you're trying to keep pace with a Miata through a series of S-turns, it'll hold the lower gears without upshifting as you come out of the corner - just like you'd do yourself with a manual transmission. When you slow down/back off, so does the transmission - which then eases into 5th or 6th to cut the revs and up the mpgs.

Steering is light, precise and very similar to what you get in Mazda's other cars. The DNA shows. The Ford Flex is not even close as a driver's car; the Traverse (and its other GM siblings) is better but can't match the CX-9's moves, either. And compared with a traditional minivan, you'll swear you're driving a seven-seat 911.

STYLING & UTILITY

The CX-9's less boxy than the Flex and less SUV-like than the bigger (and bigger-looking) Chevy Traverse. The low, wide front end feeds into a fast windshield and low roofline - all of which make the eye believe the car's smaller than it really is. You get in and out - no climbing in, up or over anything.

The interior's sporty and classy - like every Mazda. Piano back and wood trim inserts nicely complement solid and two-tone interiors. Rotary controls for the AC, fan and heat you can adjust by feel - without having to take your eyes off the road. Sports car-like gauge cluster with large tach and speedo and secondary pods off to either side - the whole thing backlit in aircraft-like red-orange. Wide and deep center console that's very comfortable as an arm rest and has plenty of room to stash your radar detector.

As before, the CX-9's equally good at hauling people - and stuff - as it is hauling you-know-what. It has a super- spacious, wide-body interior with standard third-row that's equally kid or adult friendly. This is a nice contrast to the semi-useless third rows one often finds in mid-large SUVs and crossovers - which are marginal even for limber kids and young adults but uncomfortably inaccessible for adults - or just too cramped to be serviceable for anything but very short trips. The Mazda's second row slide/fold system is easy to use, too.

Cargo-wise, with the third row up, the CX-9 offers 17.2 cubic feet of space; drop 'em and you've got 101 cubic feet. This is much more space than either the Flex (83 cubes, max) or Venza (70 cubes max) offer. The Traverse has more total space - 118 cubic feet - as well as slightly more room for people (8 passengers, total, vs. 7 for the Mazda). But not by all that much. The CX9's 3,500 lbs. max tow rating is a weak point. Many mid-sized sedans and almost all minivans can tow about this much.

QUALITY & SAFETY

Mazda's rep for quality and its customer satisfaction scores are among the best out there, even though Mazda's prices often significantly undercut competitors. For example, the Chevy Traverse starts at $29,255 and you can easily spend more than $40k on one. The Ford Flex, too, is pretty pricey - $36,810 for a fully loaded one. Each of these - the Chevy and the Ford - have their own strengths, of course. But holding their value isn't one of them, unfortunately. GM and Ford vehicles, historically, have higher-than-average depreciation rates. Mazdas, on the other hand, hold their value pretty well - and because they're less expensive to buy in the first place, whatever the depreciation ends up being ends up hurting even less.

As far as safety: All CX-9s come with dual front, front seat side-impact and full-row curtain airbags, plus traction/stability control and ABS with Brake Assist. Top-of-the-line Grand Touring models also come with a Blind Spot Warning System with indicators built into the outside rearview mirrors. Top scores in all government and insurance industry crash testing.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Sporty wagons and crossovers like the CX-9 are doing a Dr. Kevorkian on traditional minivans. Several automakers - including Ford - have dropped them from their product lineups entirely. The "why" is not hard to fathom: The only thing a traditional minivan still has going for it is the price. You can pick one up for considerably less than the CX-9's MSRP of $29,820 - which is about five grand more than you'd pay for a decently equipped traditional minivan.

The CX-9 has competition; most recently, from the just-launched Chevy Traverse as well as the Ford Flex - and even the Toyota Venza, for those who might want something just a bit smaller. But the CX-9 has sharper reflexes and is much more fun to drive than its competition. That's always been Mazda's strongest hand.

The Car Log By bwheel car insurance

2009-09-12T21:09:00.000-07:00

One of the first things I do when I acquire a new vehicle - new or used - is buy a small spiral-bound notebook that will fit easily into the glovebox. (Spiral-bound because a pen or pencil fits nicely in the binding.) On the cover I write the make/model/year of the vehicle and "Maintenance Log." In the book will go information about all service and maintenance work done to the vehicle from that day forward, with date and mileage noted.

Keep such a log yourself and you'll be able to tell, at a glance, when the oil was changed last, the brakes were serviced, the struts replaced and the transmission fluid and filter changed out.

This is helpful for both the home mechanic as well as the person who leaves it all to the dealer. While most dealerships do keep records of the work done to your vehicle, having a back-up is often handy, especially if the dealer's records are lost or simply don't agree with what you remember was done.

If, for example, a warranty-related problem develops it may be necessary to produce proof that certain service work was done according to the manufacturer's recommended service schedule. (The "fine print" in some warranties allows the manufacturer/dealer to avoid paying for some repairs if the owner can't prove the car was maintained per recommendations.)

The Maintenance Log will allow you to quickly reference the information you need and you can back that up with your receipts for things like oil and filter changes - which you should always keep at least as long as the vehicle remains under warranty. (Unwieldy receipts and paperwork can be stored separately, in a file cabinet or folder someplace in your home. Just be sure you do have them somewhere.)

The little notebook is also a good place to keep track of things you might otherwise lose track of - such as that the tires should be rotated this fall (you can jot down a reminder to yourself on a "reminders" page).

Another advantage of the Maintenance Log will show up come re-sale time. In particular, if you are going to sell the vehicle on your own. Being able to document the service history of the vehicle can be a be very strong selling point that will help you negotiate the best possible deal for yourself.

Even if your trade-in, being able to show the vehicle was meticulously taken care of should help secure the best-possible trade-in.

You could, of course, also use a PDA or similar electronic device, but I prefer the old-fashioned notepad because it's simpler, cheaper and virtually foolproof. It won't "crash" and can't be attacked by a virus. It's not hurt by heat (as in a glovebox) and even if it gets wet, you'll probably still be able to use it after it dries out.

Having a pad and something to write on it with can also be very helpful if you need to leave a note for someone, such as the owner of another car you accidently bumped into in the parking lot.

Eric Peters

Simple Car Maintenence by bwheel

2009-09-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

Simple Car Maintenence
Jared Connell

There are many simple things that you can do when it comes to maintaining your vehicle. Doing these simple maintenence tasks on your own car will help you save money and help keep your car in better shape. If you have a basic knowledge of cars and a few simple tools, you can save a lot of money over the lifetime of your car.

One thing that you can do is learn to change your oil by yourself. If you have a car you may need ramps, jackstands, or some other way to get your car higher so you can crawl underneath it. Once you are able to get under the car, changing your oil is pretty simple. First you need to find the drain plug on the bottom of your oil pan. This will allow all the old oil to drain out of the engine. Once this is done, replace the plug and find the filter. You may need an oil filter wrench, but many can be hand tightened. Change the oil filter and you are almost done. All you need to do now is fill it back up with new oil and you've just saved some money. Plus you did it yourself so you know it has been done right.

Each time you change your oil, it is a good idea to clean or change your air filter as well. Some air filters can be cleaned and reused, while others should be replaced everytime. It is a good idea to clean or change your air filter regularly so that your car can breathe properly. If it can't get enough air, then it will cause your engine to use more gas than is necessary. It can also cause damage to the engine if the filter fails and small particles get into the engine.

Another thing you can do to for preventitive maintenence is to check the air pressure in your tires. If you make sure that your tires always have the proper amount of air in them then you will make sure that they will wear perfectly even. If you don't know how much air to put into your tires, you can look in the car's user manual, inside the driver's side door jamb, or on the sidewall of the tire. If the tires are low, then put more air in, if they are high, then let some air out. Make sure that you check your tires while they are warm.

Fuel injector or carb cleaner is also a good thing to do every time you change your oil. This will ensure that the gas is getting to the engine properly and not getting clogged up along the way. Gasoline can build carbon buildups after a while which gunks up your engine and robs it of power. If you use fuel injector cleaner regularly, it will keep these deposits to a minimum.

If you follow these simple tips you can keep your car running strong and not have to pay a mechanic to do it!

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2009-09-12T14:05:00.000-07:00

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