In a new study looking at the durability and reliability of automobile pet harnesses, 36% of the 11 restraint systems tested failed initial strength tests, and of the seven harnesses that then went on to be subjected to an actual crash, only one showed that it would reliably keep both the dog and the vehicle’s passengers safe. [via Consumer Reports] [More]
cars
DOT Sued For Failing To Issue Rule On Rear Visibility In Cars
By 9.25.13
Everyone knows that the wheels of government don’t always turn quickly, but the folks at the Dept. of Transportation have been sitting on a Congressionally mandated new safety rule, one that could save an awful lot of lives and prevent even more injuries, for several years. In an effort to compel the DOT to finally act, several consumer groups and the parents of children who have died in auto accidents have sued the agency in a federal court. [More]
Your E-ZPass Might Be Tracking You Everywhere, Not Just Tollbooths
By 9.13.13 — Updated: 9.15.13
When you get a toll-paying transponder like the E-ZPass, you assume that it just sort of sits there until you drive through a toll booth. That’s not true. Maybe, according to a recent presentation at DEFCON, you should put your E-ZPass away unless you’re actually paying a toll right now. [More]
Don’t Drive Anywhere Without Stashing These Things In Your Car Trunk
By 9.9.13
When I bought a car from a family friend, I was delighted to open up the trunk and find a pair of gloves, tire-changing tools, and a can of Fix-A-Flat nestled on top of the spare tire. There were tissues in the center console, a stocked changepurse, maps, and even a disposable camera. Not everyone is so lucky…but what should you stock your car with when starting from scratch? [More]
It’s Against The Law For Car Dealers To Not Give Consumers All Relevant Info About Deals
By 9.3.13
Take a look at the ad to the left promising $12,000 off MSRP for a 2013 Ford F-150. That’s a heck of an offer for a truck that starts at around $24,000. But what you don’t see — and what you don’t find out until you try to buy the vehicle — is that the discount only applies to the $47,000 F-150 Lariat version, so instead of getting a 50% discount on a reasonably priced new truck, you learn that it’s around a 25% savings on a high-end vehicle. [More]
Should I Trade In My Car Or Sell It Myself?
By 7.2.13
When buying a new car, should you trade your old one in or see how much you can get on the open market? The conventional wisdom is that you get more money on your own, but meeting with buyers and doing paperwork is a hassle you may not want to bother with. Also consider the tax advantages in some states if you trade in at the same dealer where you buy your new car. [Consumer Reports] [More]
1956 Porsche 356A Catch-22: I Can’t Sell A Car That I Can’t Register
By 6.24.13
There is surely someone out there who can give this 57-year-old Porsche a good home. It belonged to the current owner’s father, but is now in disrepair and no longer runs. The problem with finding it a new home is that it’s caught in a weird legal middle ground where it can’t be sold to someone who can fix it up and get it to run because it isn’t registered, but can’t be registered because it isn’t running. [More]
Rent-To-Own Car Tires Become Popular, Are A Terrible Idea
By 6.10.13
Having to get new tires is annoying. They’re not cheap and you usually have to buy four of ’em at once. If you don’t have a few hundred dollars at hand or available on your credit card, what do you do? A growing number of Americans in that predicament are turning to rent-to-own tire stores, where they pay overinflated prices on consumer-unfriendly terms. [More]
Hyundai Rejects Retired Colonel’s Military Discount, Then Says “No We Didn’t”
By 6.3.13
What should have been a no-big-deal $500 discount on a $21,000 car has turned into more than a month of finger-pointing and form letters for one retired Army officer in New Jersey. [More]
The Origo Won’t Let Smartphone Addicts Start Car Unless Phone Is Inaccessible
By 4.19.13
Drivers distracted by their phones or other gadgets in the car are a serious safety problem and really annoying to get stuck behind when the light turns green. What if there were an overly restrictive answer to that problem? Meet the Origo: a system that won’t let you start your car unless your phone is in a specific dock. [More]
Toyota To Start Manufacturing Lexus Vehicles In Kentucky
By 4.18.13
Toyota’s plant in Georgetown, KY, is slated to go a bit upscale with the news that the world’s largest car company will be using the plant to manufacture the Lexus ES, which had previously only been produced in Japan. [More]
Toyota & Ford Fighting On The Playground Over Who Has The No. 1 Car
By 4.10.13
It’s an all-out slap fight on the playground these days between Toyota and Ford, as both claim they’re No. 1 in the world as the makers of the top-selling car of 2012. Toyota contradicted Ford’s claim of the Focus being the coolest by sayings its Corolla is actually the best around. [More]
OnStar Can’t Open Your Deactivated Car If You’re Locked Out
By 3.28.13
On Tuesday, we posted about a blogger who locked her daughter and keys in her vehicle, then contacted OnStar to see whether the service could remotely open the doors for her. We spoke to an OnStar representative, who explained to us that when a car owner chooses not to join or renew OnStar, the cellular device inside the car gets deactivated. [More]
eBay’s VIN System Error Costs Me $1,000, They Don’t Particularly Care
By 3.14.13 — Updated: 3.15.13
It seems like a good idea on the surface: when an eBay Motors seller types in a car’s Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, the site automatically determines the make and model from that number and populates the auction with that information. It’s only a problem if that information is bad…which it was, and just that sort of bad info in a listing led reader S. to spend $1,000 more than he would have for the particular model of used Prius that he bought. [More]
Would You Be Okay Ditching Metal Keys In Favor Of A Smartphone App To Start Your Car?
By 3.12.13
“Where are my keys? I had them right here. But where are they now? UGH I NEED TO FIND MY KEYS.” That’s happened to you probably, but what about losing your smartphone? Maybe not as often, and it’s easier to find what with that whole ringing/beeping and otherwise making noise feature. In the future, losing your keys might be tougher as the American Automobile Association predicts smartphone apps will replace traditional car keys. [More]
Don’t Take The Car Cup Holder For Granted — In 1982 You’d Have Tab All Over Your Lap
By 2.21.13
There are some things we see every day, to the point where they’ve become invisible. For example, the humble cup holder in your car. Sure, it doesn’t do anything beyond its one designated purpose, it doesn’t play your iPod or update your Facebook status for you. But it’s the reason you’re not soaked in Mountain Dew breakfast drink on your way to work, so you should take a moment to thank it for not having to explaining that stain to your boss. [More]
Website Allows Dealers To Bid On Your Trade-In, But Only The Site’s Owner Seems To Be Bidding
By 2.8.13
It’s not a bad idea for a website: Consumers looking to trade in their vehicles upload the details and allow multiple dealerships to place bids. But what if only one dealership is involved? [More]
Buy A Suzuki Car Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace: Company Says It’s Outta Here
By 11.6.12
For anyone who’s had their eye on a Suzuki car, you might want to check into actually buying that vehicle pretty soon, as the company has announced it’s pulling out of the U.S. after it sells of its remaining inventory. It’s the latest automaker to make an exit recently, following in the departing footsteps of Saab and Isuzu. [More]
