ARE FLYING CARS IN STORE FOR US? KIPLINGER THINKS SO.
Meet George Jetson! Buzzing around in his bubble-top family saucer... whether it's the Jetsons or the flying cars in the Back to the Future films, our idea of the future of travel has always included aviating autmobiles, impractical though they may be. But are these science fiction wonders really in store for us? The folks at Kiplinger think so, and they feature one such idea in their article "Five Ways Technology will Change the Way You Travel." I'll outline those five things, and share my own opinion, after the jump. 1. Flying CarsYup, they didn't waste any time getting to this - thought it's a far cry from the Jetsons or Hill Valley of 2015. This is a plane that can drive on public roads by folding up its wings when it lands. It runs on plain old auto fuel, has a top land speed of 65 mph, and a hefty price tag to the tune of $200,000. Now - this clearly isn't for everyone. There's no parking garage in any city that will accomodate this thing, and you'd have to [Read More]published July 6, 2011 at 4:31pm CDT
CDC REPORTS ASTHMA CASES ON THE RISE; YOUR VEHICLE'S CABIN AIR FILTER CAN HELP
Brought to you by Purolator Filters A study released recently by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the number of asthma cases in the U.S. is on the rise. Nearly ten percent of children and eight percent of the U.S. population at large are suffering from this potentially life-threatening disease. For those among us who confront this challenge on a daily basis, a clean and dust-free environment is imperative – whether it is in our homes, our offices … or even our cars. While there are filters that purify the air inside homes and office buildings, many are surprised to learn that there are cabin air filters that are designed to keep the air inside our vehicles clean and fresh. With some two and a half million asthma sufferers, and millions more enduring allergy symptoms at this time of year, car owners and drivers should be aware that it’s very likely that their vehicle came factory-equipped with a filter that can remove allergens and [Read More]published July 6, 2011 at 4:27pm CDT
DON’T SPEND YOUR VACATION ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
Brought to you by Car Care Council A simple driveway inspection can give motorists peace of mind and save them from the inconvenience of a roadside breakdown, according to the Car Care Council. “No one wants to experience car trouble while on vacation,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “A simple vehicle inspection can help avoid the inconvenience and potential safety hazards of breaking down many miles away from home. In just 10 minutes, drivers can make sure their car is ready for travel and then take steps to have any problems fixed before heading out for vacation.” Right in their own driveway, motorists can identify how road ready their vehicle is with the 10-minute driveway inspection recommended by the Car Care Council. If repairs or maintenance are needed, they can be performed before hitting the road. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering and brake and transmission, as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolan [Read More]published June 27, 2011 at 11:30pm CDT
CAR BUSINESS LANGUAGE AND LINGO-EPILOGUE
“Using All The Terms In One Short Story” I was going into work one day and my thoughts were focused on selling a car. I had a couple of bad days where it seemed like everything went wrong. The “Up” I had turned out to be a “Bogue” that was also “Upside Down” in his trade…No deal. The next “Up” I got wasn’t much better off…He was “Hooked” so bad he didn’t have a chance of doing anything. Then I had a “Be Back” that wasn’t much better off than the first two “Fresh Ups” I had earlier…He was “Clobbered” and reminded me of the guy I had last week that was “Buried.” I figured the next “Up” would either be “Hammered” or I’d put a deal together and it would be a “Roll Back.” Yeah, my attitude wasn’t the best so I needed to find a way to get pumped up about selling something. I needed a “Lay Down” bad. Someone that by the time I got done with them, they’d be completely “Laid Away” and it would be a “Spot [Read More]published June 21, 2011 at 3:41pm CDT
HARNESSING THE SUMMER SUN: CHEVY VOLT OWNERS LOOK TO THE SKY FOR CLEAN ENERGY
Well, as we wrap up National Tire Safety Week, my thoughts are about finding some time this weekend to soak up some well-deserved summer sun, and I'd imagine I'm not alone in the Ask Patty Nation. So it seems only fitting that today I'm sharing with you a couple of gentlemen who are also soaking up some rays - but they're not working on their tans. The new generation of electric cars is the latest step in a long journey toward clean, green energy that we started decades ago. I marvel at how far we've come, but some people take good ideas and push them just a little farther. This post highlights two particular gentlemen who not only own and drive a Chevy Volt, but also choose to charge its batteries with a little help from above. Solar panel arrays offset their grid consumption, and keep their Volts on the road. Head past the jump for more. ZD Wines Winemaster and CEO Robert deLeuze with his Chevrolet Volt and a solar panel array in the vineyard of his Napa, Califor [Read More]published June 14, 2011 at 1:13pm CDT
DRIVERS BEWARE! THE PERIL OF POTHOLES ARE UPON US
Brought to you by Car Care Council Hitting a pothole can damage tires, wheels, steering and suspension, wheel alignment and more. The Car Care Council recommends that motorists who experience any of the following warning signs after hitting a pothole should have a professional technician at their local repair shop inspect the vehicle. Loss of control, swaying when making routine turns, bottoming-out on city streets or bouncing excessively on rough roads. These are indicators that the steering and suspension may have been damaged. The steering and suspension are key safety-related systems. Together, they largely determine your car’s ride and handling. Key components are shocks and/or struts, the steering knuckle, ball joints, the steering rack/box, bearings, seals and hub units and tie rod ends. Pulling in one direction, instead of maintaining a straight path, and uneven tire wear. These symptoms mean there’s an alignment problem. Proper wheel alignment is important for the [Read More]published June 3, 2011 at 12:18am CDT
FOR $4.99 YOU CAN STOP YOUR TEEN FROM TEXTING AND DRIVING
Moms: How much is your child's safety worth to you? You probably can't put a number on it. Texting while driving is a serious problem - the statistics are mind-boggling. As of 2010, as many as a whopping 30% of accidents were caused by someone using a phone, and studies have shown that texting while you're behind the wheel at 35mph places you at even greater risk than driving drunk at the same speed. That blows my mind, I just can't wrap my brain around it. Our children have grown up immersed in new technology, and they are learning to drive with phones in their hands. The solution to this is two-fold - first and foremost, set a good example. Keep the phone out of your hand while you're driving. As of 2008 adults were just as guilty as our teens were, but those numbers are changing due to many national awareness campaigns. Second, invest in technology that puts you in control of your teen's safety. For a mere $4.99 per year you can download the Ask Patty Mobile [Read More]published May 26, 2011 at 5:31pm CDT
RALPH LAUREN, CARS, FASHION, AND A REAL AUTOMOTIVE WOMAN PIONEER
Ralph Lauren is an American icon, indisputably. The most recognizable US fashion designer has a passion beyond the runway, though, and that's his cars. He has a fabled collection of classic, rare, and exotic automobiles that is the envy of many an aficionado, and some gems from his auto collection are currently on display in Paris at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, which has 17 of the designer’s classic vehicles on display through Aug. 28. Known more for polo shirts and country elegance, the quintessential American designer confesses to taking inspiration from his personal collection of 64 classic cars. So much so, in fact, that recent collections have focused surprisingly on leather, including not only leather jackets but classic driving attire, including leather hoods with goggles and stylish driving gloves, a fashion sentiment now that echoes a time when driving a car was a more demanding and dirty affair - but the clash of masculine textures with feminine curves warr [Read More]published May 24, 2011 at 1:39am CDT
CAR BUSINESS LANGUAGE AND LINGO-PART I
Now the car business is very unique when it comes to having its own language. I remember when I first got in the retail side of the business back in the mid 80′s, and I thought everyone was speaking a different language in the car dealership I was working in. Being that I was a young strapping 28 year old, and very wet behind the ears. I was about as green as they get at that time in my life. When I started hearing terms like “Up’s” and “Be Backs” I thought I needed to go back to school and lean this specialized language everyone was speaking at the store. I had no idea I was getting into a new business and that I’d need to learn a whole new vocabulary. But it wasn’t long when I started to pick up on the specialized language that car salespeople speak at a car dealership. I’m sure some of these terms are used in other businesses, but for the most part the following are unique to the car business. Below is most and#40;I’m sure I’m forgetting some s [Read More]published May 18, 2011 at 2:49pm CDT
GAS-SAVING TIPS FOR TRYING TIMES
Brought to you by ASE - National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence Every day seems to bring higher prices at the gas pump. Some commuters are sharing rides, others are taking public transportation. But if you are like countless others, you depend on your personal vehicle. So here are some easy-to-follow gas-saving tips from the experts at the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and#40;ASEand#41; on how to conserve fuel and make sure your car or truck gets optimal miles per gallon. Monitor tires. Under-inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work harder. Remove excess weight. Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle. Less weight means better mileage. Consolidate trips and errands. Also, try to travel when traffic is light so you can avoid stop-and-go conditions. Keep your engine "tuned up." Replace filters and fluids as recommended; have engine performance problems and#40;rough idling, poor acceleration, e [Read More]published May 16, 2011 at 1:12pm CDT