As families get bigger most people decided to drop the cool factor of their vehicle and purchase a minivan. Minivans are hard to beat when you consider a minivan’s height and sliding doors, spacious interiors and the ability to fit six or seven people plus luggage.
As family-friendly as they are minivans are gas guzzlers and not exciting or cool to drive. Now you don’t have to sacrifice practicality for luxury because here is a list of vehicles that provide both.
1- Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
2- VW Golf Wagon TDI
3- 2010 Acura MDX
4- Ford Flex
5- Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTEC
6- Volvo V70
7- Hyundai Veracruz
8- Mazda CX-9
9- Nissan Cube
10- Two Honda Fits
According to MSN Autos
Whether you’re dealing with the road rage of other drivers of the flooding of mother nature the best emergency plan is preparation.
Continue reading for a driver’s survival guide for every situation you could encounter on the road.
Things are always stressful after a car accident, but here are some tips that can really help you out if, heaven forbid, you get into a fender bender.
According to Sympatico.MSN
-Always report a car accident to the police if someone is injured, or if the damage is over the provincial limit (e.g. In Ontario the limit is $1,000).
- Take reasonable steps to protect your vehicle from another loss. Move it out of the flow of traffic.
- Try to take notes at the scene that include details of the accident, identification of the vehicles and people involved and the names and badges of emergency personnel. If possible, take pictures.
- Get a driver information-exchange form from the police officer. This is a quick checklist that covers all the information you should be collecting from the other party.
- Collect names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses to the accident. You might need to get their statements later.
- Don’t accept money, don’t accept fault and don’t agree to forget about the accident.
- Contact your insurer as soon as possible after the accident, and make sure that you file a complete claim. You might have difficulty processing a claim if you’re late contacting your insurer, or if you’re found withholding details. Make sure that your insurance company agrees to pay for all repairs before you have the work completed.
- Check all repairs at the auto shop and also when you’ve returned home to make sure that you’re satisfied with the work.
- Get an official receipt from the repair shop that details all the work they completed. Make sure that name and address of the shop are clearly identified. You might need to submit this with your insurance claim. Find out how your insurer handles supplemental repairs just in case the repair shop finds more damage to your car that wasn’t on the original estimate.
- Ask us if they have a list of preferred repair shops in your area. Sometimes we have systems already set up with these shops that make processing the claim and getting your car repaired even faster.
If you’ve ever slid into the driver’s seat after someone else you know that it always takes a while to get back into the comfortable position that you’re use to. Knowing what you’re looking for when setting-up your driving position can make it a lot easier to get to.
Here are some guidelines to follow according to Sympatico.MSN
1. The seats
Slide the seat so that you are at least 25 cm from the steering wheel. This will protect you if the airbag is deployed. Ensure you can reach the brake pedal without stretching.
You should also be seated high enough to see over the steering wheel and past the hood. Sit so your arms are slightly bent when you hold the steering wheel.
Make sure the passenger’s seat is pushed back as far as possible because passenger-side airbags are usually larger.
2. The headrest
There are a couple of adjustments to make to your headrest:
Height: The top should be even with the top of your head, and no lower than the top of your ear.
Position: The headrest should be close to the back of your head - no more than five to 10 cm away. That’s one reason it’s not a good idea to drive with your seat tilted back.
A proper headrest position helps reduce the risk of whiplash if you’re hit from behind.
3. The seatbelt
As well as keeping you secure in your seat in the event of a collision, the seatbelt also helps distribute the force of impact over shoulders, hips and the ribcage - the parts of the body that can better sustain impact.
Adjust the seatbelt to fit over your shoulder (never tuck it under your arm), and snugly across your chest. If you can adjust its height, set it so the strap doesn’t dig into your neck or sit too low on your chest.
The lap belt should sit across your hips, rather than across your abdomen, and it shouldn’t be too snug or too loose.
4. The rear-view mirror
Adjust the mirror so you can see it without shifting from your driving position. You should be able to see out the car’s entire rear window.
5. The side mirror
Take a minute to clean it if it’s dirty or covered with snow or ice. The side mirrors should be adjusted so you can see vehicles beside you and in the next lane.
Position the mirrors so you can just barely see your own car - it’s those around you that matter. This should allow adequate vision through the mirrors in combination with your own peripheral vision.
Watchmojo.com provides a step by step guide on how to change a blown fuse in your car
Road trips, weekends away and drive ins are just some ways that we use our cars to create memories. Today there’s more to consider than just having enough money to fill the tank, but also what effect you’re having on the environment.
Change your driving with these easy tips and tricks so that you can enjoy the open road without the guilt gut.
1-Think about what you’re driving
2- Give your car a check up before a long trip.
3- Slow down and save more
4- Use your cruise control
5- Go easy with the A/C
6- Drive in the right gear
According to Sympatico.MSN
Teens and parents count down the days until the driving test. For teens, a license is a new found freedom and for parents it’s one more reason to worry.
Here are 7 things you can do so that your teen will stay safe behind the wheel and to easy your mind.
1. Look in the rear-view mirror
2. Let a professional do the teaching
3. Review what’s being taught
4. Consider the type of car driven
5. Impose a household graduated licencing policy
6. Don’t rush your teen to get a full licence
7. Draw up a driving agreement
When you see an elderly woman or man crouched behind the wheel you can’t help but question their ability to drive. This doubt does have some
grounds since the aging process can affect one’s ability to drive.
Here are some things to keep in mind before letting your parent grab the keys.
According to MSN.Auto.com
- Watch for warning signs
- Ask non-confrontational questions
- Check physical health
- Suggest a refresher course
To buy or to lose- that is the question.
Here are some tips for anyone looking to get a new set of wheels.
An informative how-to guide from our sister site WatchMojo.com:
How to check your tire pressure -
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