Articles Archives - Page 17 of 243 - New Car Buying GuideNew Car Buying Guide

So, when do you let a teen drive?

If you look closely, you will notice that I am quaking in my boots. The reason is simple; I am getting ready for my third and last son to start his foray into the world of driving. Read More »

Cars choose the worst times to quit working

Way back before cell phones were mandatory accessories, my VW Bug decided to break down on the 405 Freeway at 1 a.m. Read More »

Some People are Driven to Distraction

ON AUG. 1, my colleague and column-space mate, David Allen, expressed a concern in his column that I might reprimand reader Derek Deason, who had sent him a photograph of a hysterically confusing freeway sign that appears to have been taken while Mr. Deason was driving. Read More »

The “3000 Mile Oil Change” is a Myth

Here is a myth that is "busted" not by the Discovery Channel's Mybusters, but the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB). The myth is that you have to change your engine oil every 3000 miles. According a recent CIWMB study, 73 percent of California drivers change their oil more frequently than their manufacturer recommends. Read More »

Read Before You Tow a Car Behind Your Motorhome

You want to tow a vehicle behind your motor home. For most vehicles it takes more than a hitch, tow-bar, electrical connections and perhaps a braking system for the towed vehicles. Many cars, SUVs and trucks with either manual or automatic transmissions can be towed for long distances with all four wheels on the road without a problem. For others, transmissions and even engines can be severely damaged within a few miles. Read More »

Fuel Injector Deposits

Today, there are many drivers who never drove a vehicle that didn’t have electronic fuel injection. Carburetors, what are they? Likewise, they never had to warm up an engine, flooded an engine or used a choke. Electronic fuel injection, which is celebrating its 40th birthday, virtually eliminated these, and many other problems as well as give us cleaner air. Read More »

Homologation

A technical term that is generally used to signify the granting of approval by an official authority. An example of this would be the sanctioning bodies of racing series requiring automakers to manufacture a specific, minimum number of a car that is driven in the series so that it is accepted as a production vehicle. Read More »

Making RVs Handicapped Accessible With Startrack Mobility Aides

Motorhomes and travel trailers are great for the disabled and physically challenged. They can be much more accommodating than traveling by air or riding in car and staying in hotels, once inside. Unfortunately, entering and exiting many motorhomes and trailers can be a challenge for those who use a wheelchair, mobility scooter or just have difficulty climbing stairs. The solution could be mobility aids offered by Startracks, which also markets mobility aides for pickups, vans, buses and SUVs as well as mobility aides for the healthcare industry. Read More »

Can a Hybrid Chevrolet Tahoe, Silverado, GMC Yukon, Sierra or Cadillac Escalade be a good Tow Vehicle?

General Motors is now marketing hybrid versions of its Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade SUVs. Later next year, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid pickups will start appearing in dealer’s showrooms as will the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango Hybrid SUVs. Read More »

The Hemi V8 Chrysler’s Best Known MoPar High-Performance Engine

Even when Chrysler products suffered in build quality, MoPar engines were noted for their bulletproof reliability and durability as well as their often blistering performance. Undoubtedly, Chrysler’s best known high-performance engine is the "hemi", introduced in 1951 as Chrysler's answer to the new Cadillac and Oldsmobile V8s introduced in 1949. Read More »