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Posted
Sep 03 2008, 02:12 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Better gas mileage can be had from what used to be standard in cars -- the manual transmission, or stick shift. But how many drivers know how to use one these days?
It's a lost art, but a very efficient one. For its October issue, Consumer Reports bought two versions of seven different cars -- ranging from a $15,800 Scion to a $24,000 Mini Cooper -- and found a gain of 2 to 5 mpg with a standard versus automatic transmission in the same model.
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Posted
Aug 28 2008, 02:50 PM
by
Karen Datko
The blogger who brought us a blow-by-blow description of how to make a month's worth of lunches in 25 minutes now tackles another great do-it-yourself project: how to change the oil in your vehicle. OK, the post about a 23-day supply of PBJ sandwiches was funny. Mike's oil-change post at Clever Dude is the real deal for those who want to cut spending by tackling routine chores they now outsource. After your initial purchase of equipment, he estimates how long it will take before you begin saving money.
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Posted
Aug 21 2008, 10:34 PM
by
Ryan MacClanathan
Rating:
Every driver dreads funny noises coming from their car -- the squealing, the
knocks, the grinding, the groans. Those are the sounds of your car saying
"prepare to empty the contents of your wallet."
Unless you're handy with a wrench, car repairs mean big headaches and big
bills. And then there are those shady mechanics to watch out for. Sometimes taking
the bus doesn't sound too bad.
If you're not ready to ditch your car just yet, Five Cent Nickel has
a helpful post on how to find a
good mechanic -- the kind that doesn't rip you off.
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Posted
Aug 12 2008, 03:30 PM
by
Karen Datko
This post comes from Joe Benton at partner blog ConsumerAffairs.com. The owners of millions of Ford cars and trucks could be driving vehicles still equipped with a faulty cruise-control switch that can start a fire under the hood even when the vehicle is parked and the ignition is turned off. As of July 31, in its most recent report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford Motor Co. said about 4.8 million of the more than 10 million recalled vehicles are now repaired. Some vehicles were included in more than one recall, making it hard to calculate precise numbers.
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Posted
Aug 01 2008, 01:24 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
This guest post comes from ConsumerReports.org. With elevated gas prices, many commuters are looking at alternatives to save money. Some people are opting to downsize their vehicle to a smaller, more fuel-efficient car, others are moving to two-wheeled transportation like motorcycles and scooters, and many other commuters are choosing to forfeit the car and take public transportation. However, for those who can't change their means of transportation or don't have access to public transit, a car pool can be a great way to save money by sharing gas and toll costs, providing driving companionship, and, when you alternate driving, saving wear and tear on your car. To gauge the impact gasoline prices have had on American motorists, the Consumer Reports National Research Center recently conducted a random, nationwide Auto Pulse survey.
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Posted
Jul 31 2008, 07:06 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
"Brainy Smurf" at Pants in a Can isn't unhappy to see car leasing apparently going the way of the dinosaur. In fact, he's practically gloating. After seeing an NBC News report on the Big Three automakers' moves to discourage or totally eliminate leasing, he wrote: "Only being able to drive something that you can actually afford? "How dare they!" he added, snarkily.
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Posted
Jul 30 2008, 04:03 PM
by
Karen Datko
File this under: Sometimes you don't get what you pay for. Thousands of passengers on American Airlines, which now charges $15 for the first checked bag, were forced to depart from John F. Kennedy International Airport and leave their luggage behind. Because of a computer glitch, American's state-of-the-art baggage-sorting system stopped working about 4:45 a.m. Wednesday. Passengers could board flights without their luggage and rely on the airline to get it to their destination, or hang around until the problem was fixed -- not a viable option for many. Meanwhile, workers began sorting suitcases oh so slowly by hand.
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Posted
Jul 29 2008, 04:42 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Call it a desperation move or marketing genius. A Florida car dealer is offering a free energy-efficient car when customers buy a big truck or SUV.
BOGO in the showroom seems to be working. Dealer Jack Holcomb at New Smyrna Chevrolet in New Smyrna Beach said he's generating interest in his previously shunned gas-guzzling inventory. (And, as you'll note by reading the comments section below, it's not a unique idea. Readers are reporting similar promotions across the country.)
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Posted
Jul 16 2008, 06:47 PM
by
Karen Datko
"Vh" at Funny about Money adopted a new policy when gas prices started their hideous climb: She would shop for necessities only at stores along her commute to and from work. She was surprised to see that she is now spending a lot less money on food and other items. In fact, she's actually spending less overall even though gas is eating up a lot more of her budget. Why? For one thing, Home Depot -- her favorite self-indulgence store -- is not along that route.
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Posted
Jul 03 2008, 01:06 PM
by
Karen Datko
This post comes from Joe Benton at partner blog ConsumerAffairs.com. The July Fourth holiday will see $4 gasoline throughout most of the country. Consumers will spend more money per gallon on gasoline celebrating the national holiday weekend than they have ever spent in the history of the nation.
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