Car Culture
Report: Texting Behind the Wheel More Dangerous than Drunk Driving
Posted: Jun. 25, 2009 11:06:19 a.m.
What's safer, texting a friend while driving, or downing a few beers and getting behind the wheel? Car and Driver decided to do us all a favor and find out.
"We decided to compare the results of texting to the effects of drunk driving, on the same day and under the exact same conditions," they write. "Not surprisingly, Car and Driver doesn't receive a lot of research grants."
Testing on an airport runway, the magazine mounted a light ...
Survey: New York City Drivers Love Obscene Gestures
Posted: Jun. 19, 2009 10:06:20 a.m.
You will die. You will be taxed. The sun will rise in the morning. And if you drive in New York City, someone will lay on their horn behind you and give you the one-finger salute. These things are certain.
To prove the last one, we have the results of a recent survey.
Kicking Tires explains, "An AutoVantage survey asked drivers about the courteousness of their fellow road warriors, and New York came out on top for the city with ...
GM Cuts NASCAR Support; Honda to Step In?
Posted: Jun. 15, 2009 10:06:17 a.m.
General Motors, facing the need to justify its expenses to a bankruptcy court and a skeptical public, has cut its investment in NASCAR.
Autoblog explains, "The scalpel of bankruptcy that is slicing off GM's sponsorship activities hasn't touched NASCAR's top tier Sprint Cup series, but the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series' have been trimmed." Teams led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick "have been told by GM that they will lose funding." Harvick has not ...
Free Goat With Purchase of Mitsubishi
Posted: May. 28, 2009 10:05:59 a.m.
Sure, the buy-a-Chrysler-Pacifica-get-a-PT-Cruiser-free deal looked enticing. And the buy-one-get-one-free-Dodge-Rams were tempting. But nothing can top the deal Mitsubishi is offering in New Zealand this month.
Australia's Sydney Morning Herald reports, "Mitsubishi Motors is offering a free goat with every Triton ute sold before August in a novel effort at correcting the economy."
A ute, we should explain, is a vehicle with the front end of a family sedan and the rear end of a pickup truck - like the Subaru ...
Four States Forbid Smiling for Driver's License Photos
Posted: May. 27, 2009 10:05:44 a.m.
If you live in Arkansas, Indiana, Nevada or Virginia, don't smile for your driver's license photo. It's illegal now.
USA Today reports, "The serious poses are urged by DMVs that have installed high-tech software that compares a new license photo with others that have already been shot." The software will raise an alarm if it detects that someone may be applying for a driver's license under a second identity. "But there's a wrinkle in the ...
Ready for In-Car TV? It'll Cost You, But It's Almost Here
Posted: May. 26, 2009 11:05:19 a.m.
Apparently, we're not distracted enough in our cars. The satellite radio is great for mom and dad up front, and the DVD player hanging down from the ceiling kept the kids quiet for a while, but they're tired of all of their movies and want to watch new SpongeBob episodes in traffic. Well, relax. In a matter of months, you'll be able to give them 22 television channels to choose from.
AT&T is behind it. Their ...
The Car Warranty Scam Should Stop Calling You Now
Posted: May. 22, 2009 10:05:07 a.m.
This is the final warning that the warranty on your vehicle is about to...*click*
It's over.
Finally.
UPI reports, "The Federal Trade Commission announced Friday that a U.S. District Court in Chicago issued a restraining order demanding that three companies accused of aggressively making automated calls to sell auto warranties across the country cease the pitches."
USA Today adds, "The Federal Trade Commission has received 30,000 complaints about this unsolicited robocall pitch." The three companies reportedly ...
Chevy to Offer Transformers-Themed Camaro
Posted: May. 21, 2009 10:05:38 a.m.
Do you like Transformers? Do you REALLY like Transformers? Do you love the toys of your childhood so much that you'd spend tens of thousands of dollars to look like you had a full-size Transformer? Do you love them so much that you'd be unembarrassed to pretend to drive a real life robot-in-disguise?
Do we have news for you!
Jalopnik reports, "GM's announced to dealers a limited Chevy Camaro Bumblebee Edition will be available to order beginning ...
It's Official -- New Yorkers Don't Know How to Drive
Posted: May. 21, 2009 10:05:01 a.m.
The worst drivers in America live in New York. Of course, you knew that. You've been in the Holland Tunnel. But now, we have proof.
GMAC Insurance has released the results of its National Drivers Test for 2009. The test, which measures basic knowledge of driving laws, was given to more than 5,000 drivers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia -- and New Yorkers finished last. Last year's loser, New Jersey, improved its score just ...
What do New Fuel Economy Standards Mean for You?
Posted: May. 19, 2009 11:05:01 a.m.
The Obama administration is widely expected to announce new federal regulations requiring cars to be more fuel efficient, and meet stricter emissions standards, at a press conference today. What do the new rules mean for car shoppers?
First, it doesn't mean anything about your current car. The Los Angeles Times reports, "The regulations would apply only to new cars. You don't have to scrap your gas guzzler and you won't need to retrofit it." The regulations don ...
