The first thing I was told is that I would get muddy, and to bring a change of clothes for the trip back to my hotel. That turned out not to be necessary. Luckily, it had not rained for several days, so unless I roared through standing water on the rutted dirt trails, not much…
Plugging Into Ford’s Electric Vehicle Charging Network
The biggest hurdle for many of us considering an electric vehicle is range anxiety – the fear of running out of power before we get to our destination. Fear not: Just about every EV these days has a 200-300 or more mile range between charges, plus there is a growing network of charging stations, and…
How to Avoid Getting Soaked Buying A Flood Damaged Vehicle
Why flooded cars are dangerous to drive. Many of the cars and trucks damaged in floods wind up for sale online, or even in used car lots. Here’s how to avoid getting soaked by buying a vehicle that is – simply – dangerous to drive. Electronics, including computer chips, hate water. Since modern vehicles are…
Dieselgate: What the VW Settlement Means to You
Dieselgate brings one of the largest settlements in US history. If you own or lease a Volkswagen or Audi diesel vehicle, there’s good news and bad news about the US government settlement for cheating on strict US emissions tests, announced in June. The settlement’s a biggie – $15 billion – one of the largest in…
Bargain Hunting: Best Year-End New Car Buys
This is the time for bargain new cars. The last week of the year may be the best time of the year to get a great deal on a new vehicle, especially a leftover 2015 model or a 2016 that’s in stock. Also, dealers want to meet, or beat, their annual sales quotas and clear…
Pros and Cons of Donating Your Car to Charity
Is donating your car the best idea? Do good by donating your old car to charity. That’s what the charities tell you. But the reality is that you might do better selling your car to a used car dealer or to a junkyard and donating that money to charity. Here are the pros and cons…
Scam Alert: Fake Car Sales on Craigslist
If you are thinking about selling your car online, especially on Craigslist, be aware of an organized scam that pays you with bogus bank checks. The insurance fraud watchdog National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), working with law enforcement agencies in the Midwest, has identified nearly 100 such fake car sales on Craigslist, including one in which…
Teaching Your Teen To Be A Better Driver
Teaching your teen to drive through example. Teaching your teen to be a better, safer driver really starts while she is still strapped safely into her car seat, absorbing what you do behind the wheel. If you speed, tailgate, text while driving, don’t bother using the directional signal, or yell at another driver who doesn’t…