Although gasoline prices are more than a dollar lower than they were last year at this time, the prices at the pump are starting to climb again, which means we need to revisit the topic of gas conservation. This year, gas prices will hit consumers even harder than last year, thanks to the recession. If you've lost your job this year, you are going to be squeezed even more if prices rise mu... read more »

The Cash for Clunkers program gives you a minimal trade-in value when you buy or lease a brand new car. The car you're trading in must meet the following criteria to qualify as a "clunker": * It must be at most 25 years old (yes, they want newer clunkers). * You must have owned it for at least a year (so you can't go get one from the scrap yard now and arbitrage). * I... read more »

Performing routine maintenance on your car is extremely important if you want your car running at its best. The most important of all routine maintenance is changing your cars engine oil and filter. Saving a few dollars, in the short run by not changing your cars engine oil as a routine, can cost you thousands of dollars in repair cost in the long run. You should always check your engine oil indi... read more »

If commuting is a daily reality of your life, as it is for most of us, you're spending a significant amount of time in your car. Keeping the interior clean and sharp can be more than a way to help you and your passengers feel more comfortable, it can actually make your travel time more relaxing. There's no need to spend significant amounts of money on specialized equipment or product... read more »

If you or someone you love is a senior citizen looking to buy or replace a car, the nagging question is, "What kind of car should we buy?" There are so many factors to consider when buying a car, and being an older driver adds a few more to the list. Let's try to sort through some of the important issues, so that when you visit a car dealership, you have the upper hand in the ba... read more »

This is the time of year, in many parts of the country, when deer are very prevalent. It's mating season and it's hunting season, so drivers have to be especially vigilant, especially when driving in heavily wooded areas where deer may congregate. An accidental encounter with a deer can do more than serious damage to your vehicle. It can kill you. In order to protect yourself a... read more »

When you first step onto that lot you are at a distinct disadvantage. The used car dealer has had extensive negotiation and persuasion training and most likely you have not. While it may be impractical to obtain all of the negotiation experience before you go looking for a car, you can still better equip yourself for the experience. A used car dealer has one objective and that is to sell you a c... read more »

Any number of things can happen to us while we're out on the road. While we can't always prevent them from happening, we can do something about it to help make the situation better. Here are a few things to have that can help if you encounter an emergency on the road. It always helps to be prepared. Spare Tire Flat tires are a common problem for drivers. You don't want to b... read more »

Summer is over and autumn is here. Before you know it, it will be Christmas. That means winter weather. Cold mornings, wind, rain, sleet and snow. What's a car to do? If you live and don't travel out of southern states you might not require this information. If not, first thing you want to do is make sure you have the right engine oil. Make sure you get the correct viscosity for the ... read more »

This is the time of the year when cars begin to get persnickety. Perhaps you'll come out one morning and the car won't start. If you know your way around underneath the hood of a car, then you may be able to see what's wrong and fix it on the spot. But most of us don't know a dip stick from a crankshaft so when we look under the hood it's a bit of a mystery. So if you... read more »