The cash for clunkers program or the CAR Allowance Rebate System (CARS) is:
“a $1 billion government program that helps consumers buy or lease a more environmentally-friendly vehicle from a participating dealer when they trade in a less fuel-efficient car or truck. The program is designed to energize the economy; boost auto sales and put safer, cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles on the nation’s roadways.”
Consumers can trade in their car for a credit of $3,500 or $4,500, depending on the car traded and how “green” your new one is.
Read more to find out if you qualify.
An informative how-to guide from our sister site WatchMojo.com:
How to check your tire pressure -
Norway had the idea to ban gas cars by 2015. To be more specific, they out forth a plan that would prohibit the sale of cars that run only on gas. Cars already on the road would not be affected. Hybrids that run partially on gas would still be okay.
The plan, put forth initially by the country’s finance minister (from the Socialist Left Party), is apparently thought of as crazy by the majority of the country, and is opposed by the opposition. The general idea is that since the economy is already bad, the car company’s are worrying about staying afloat, not developing new technologies.
Honestly, it’s not the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard a government propose. Read more…
California is doing everything it can to help heal the earth. The latest way they plan to reduce carbon emissions is by…banning black cars. That’s right:
The California legislature is considering regulating the color of cars and reflectivity of paint to reduce the energy requirements to cool them. A presentation on the proposed legislation by the California Air Resources Board is below. (Continue…)
More on Autoblog and CrunchGear.
Above 0.08, you get arrested. At 0.3 you suffer from alcohol poisoning. At 0.4, you are either in a coma, or you die. The man was driving in a parking lot with a beer in between his legs. Nice. Not so nice: someone called the cops. It’s his fifth DUI:
GM is now worth less than Bed, Bath & Beyond. Heck, toymaker Mattel is worth more than GM now. What does that say? Here’s an interesting and thought-provoking piece by Forbes on why there is an argument to be made about Washington letting GM falter:
There’s an unpublicized view among foreign-car lobbyists that General Motors is much scarier dead or bankrupt than alive. When those lobbyists discuss what they fear most, increased stateside competition from our Big Three automakers pales in comparison to what the collapse of GM, Ford Motor or Chrysler might mean in terms of bad policy.
General Motors’ situation is particularly noteworthy, since its stock recently hit a 50-year low amid increased talk of bankruptcy. With a market cap of $5.7 billion, GM’s market value is now less than that of Bed, Bath and Beyond.
While GM’s vitality is increasingly irrelevant when it comes to the health and size of the U.S. economy, it is sadly a very relevant entity within the friendly confines of Washington, D.C. A collapsed GM would predictably lead to all manner of protectionist and currency-related punishment for those automakers who’ve apparently committed the grave offense of producing that which U.S. consumers want– while being foreign.
GM’s descent into pointlessness has occurred despite its status as one of the U.S.’–and the world’s–most heavily subsidized companies. Those who doubt this need only reference the highway bills of the multi-hundred-billion-dollar variety that Congress routinely passes that make cars in the world’s largest car market a necessity.
The highway subsidy isn’t so bad when we consider Americans are at least free to use the roads, which have created a market for all carmakers irrespective of origin and which exist thanks to Congress’ generosity with the money of others.
What’s more offensive is that Americans have been routinely victimized by the automobile lobby in the form of voluntary export restraints imposed on Japanese producers, not to mention the tariffs placed on the exports offered up by those same producers.
U.S. carmakers have eagerly sought tariffs and various restraints on trade over the years, and they’ve burned U.S. consumers twice: first, for raising the prices of the goods they want and, second, for decreasing the size of overseas markets they themselves might like to export to. When we restrict the ability of exporters to send us what we want, we also restrict their ability to purchase from us.
But what’s most problematic when it comes to U.S. automakers is their impact on U.S. currency policy. The Big Three have routinely agitated for a weaker dollar against the yen. In a 2005 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, GM Chief Executive Rick Wagoner cast some of the blame for the company’s poor performance on “unfair trading practices,” in particular, “Japan’s long-term initiatives to artificially weaken the yen.”
Homeless people living in cars and motorhomes across the US are being joined by a new breed: the middle class.
As mortgage foreclosures continue to rise, growing numbers of middle-class professionals are losing their homes and downsizing from four bedrooms to four wheels.
With numbers rising, New Beginnings, a homeless agency in Santa Barbara, California, has launched a safe parking scheme, whose aim is to provide a refuge of sorts for those who have nowhere to go other than their vehicle. Read more…
According to Dan Glaister
Don’t gloss over one of the most important aspects of car shopping: the test drive. Here are some practical tips to get the most out of a spin behind the wheel of a potential new car.
Taking a test-drive might seem like speed-dating, but keep in mind that there’s a lot more at stake. In just the half-hour (or less) behind the wheel, you’re going to need to determine whether this car is serious relationship material or not — without so much as a full first date.
Because there’s so much to assess in such a short amount of time, you’ll need to have a strategy. As a starting point, revisit your priorities and do an informal assessment of how your own vehicle fits your needs. For example, if you want something that’s maneuverable for city streets, does it also have enough cargo space for your weekend trips to the lake? Is there enough room in the back for your mother-in-law, a car seat and the family dog? Read more…
According to BENGT HALVORSON
LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire - March 21, 2008) - Research results showing how physical conditions faced by senior adults can be mitigated by choosing a vehicle with appropriate features was announced today by AAA, in partnership with the University of Florida’s National Older Driver Research and Training Center (NODRTC).
AAA and the NODRTC researchers released its Smart Features for Mature Drivers guide today at the New York International Auto Show.
AAA’s Smart Features for Mature Drivers identifies vehicle components that can assist drivers with visual, physical and mental changes that are frequently encountered as they age. The AAA information pointed out conditions often faced by senior adults, including diminished vision, arthritic hands, hip and leg pain and limited upper-body range of motion, highlights features that best address each condition and provides examples of vehicles exemplifying those features.
“Driving is a key to social interaction and healthy living and independence,” said Steve Mazor of the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Automotive Research Center in Diamond Bar, Calif. “This is important information for this growing segment of the driving population. We encourage older drivers and their families to use the Smart Features for Mature Drivers research as a guide when selecting their next vehicle or evaluating their current one because specific vehicle features can help improve driver safety and comfort.”
Persons over age 65 represent the fastest growing population segment in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were more than 37 million people age 65 and older in the United States in 2006 and 29 million were licensed drivers in 2005. It is estimated that by 2020 there will be more than 40 million licensed drivers age 65 and older.
As a person ages, physiological changes can affect driving ability. Muscle strength, reaction times, range of motion and visual acuity tend to diminish as part of the natural aging process. Also, the increased prevalence of health issues such as arthritis, hip and knee joint pain or osteoporosis can reduce the ability to safely execute the complex task of driving.
In a recent survey, AAA found that 43 percent of motorists over the age of 55 suffered from at least one of nine driving related difficulties commonly caused by aging, and nearly one out of four motorists over 55 plan to purchase a vehicle in the next two years.
Because everyone ages differently, AAA recommends mature drivers look for vehicles with features that address their specific needs and health issues. Some of the recommendations included in Smart Features for Mature Drivers include:
– Drivers suffering from hip or leg pain, decreased leg strength or
limited knee range of motion should look for vehicles with six-way
adjustable power seats and seat heights that come between the driver’s mid-
thigh and lower buttocks. Both of these features can make it easier for
drivers to enter and exit a vehicle.
– Drivers with arthritic hands, painful or stiff fingers or diminished
fine motor skills would benefit from four-door models, thick steering
wheels, keyless entry and ignition, power mirrors and seats and larger
dashboard controls with buttons.
– Drivers with diminished vision or problems with low contrast
sensitivity will find helpful vehicles with extendable sun visors, large
audio and climate controls and displays with contrasting text.
AAA’s Smart Features for Mature Drivers also includes vehicle features recommended for all seniors, regardless of their health issues, such as:
– Proven crashworthiness, crash test and rollover ratings from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (safercar.gov) and the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (iihs.org/ratings)
– Side and dual-stage/threshold airbags that adjust the deployment force
based on the severity of the crash
– Adjustable head restraints and extra padding
– Antilock brakes
– Dynamic stability control
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