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By John Heilig
You gotta like hybrids, even if you don't like them. They say, "I'm special. Look what I'm doing for the environment." Sure, one-passenger Priuses can go in HOV-2 lanes, but some of us aren't looking for sainthood and expecting "normal car" drivers to bow down to us as we pass.
Check out more Ford model reviews from RTM here.
Most families are lusting after the same aspect in their summer vacation: affordability. Because of this economic influence, many travelers have shifted their focus this summer from 2-week traditional vacations to shorter, more affordable "micro-vacations." According to Kampgrounds of America (KOA), there was a 6% increase in campground stays since last Memorial Day weekend, which is attributed to people not planning as far ahead to make travel decisions. The spontaneity of camping is perfect for families or groups of friends who have difficulty coordinating schedules to pick a date. It's easy to plan a trip and find camping sites along the way using tools like KOA's regional vacation ideas map of the U.S.
Though camping is down-to-earth and lets you appreciate a different way of life, it doesn't have to be wild and rustic. Campground cabins usually run about $45-$80 per night, and sleep 4-8 people. That's roughly $10 per person! Plus, many campsites offer amenities, activities and events which are included in your lodging expense - many even offer wi-fi!
Find more group travel ideas in RTM's Travel Channel.
As the weather warms up, drivers begin thinking of the services needed to maintain their vehicles now that winter has passed. Unfortunately, it’s during this time of year, that automotive myths are often unintentionally perpetuated. Knowing which stories are myths and which ones are fact can be difficult. Because of that, NAPA’s 2009 Technician of the Year, Jack Gregory, is dispelling some common myths to keep everyone’s vehicle running smoothly in 2009.
Myth: Driving at 56 mph will give you the best fuel economy.
Fact: Although most vehicle manufacturers base their product’s gas mileage at 56 mph, driving at that speed doesn’t guarantee the best gas mileage. Keeping a consistent speed, whether it’s 25 mph or 65 mph, will ensure the best fuel economy.
Myth: Filling your cooling system with all water and no anti-freeze will save you money while not harming your vehicle. Myth: Driving closely behind an 18-wheeler will protect you from headwinds and allow your car to use less gas.
Fact: The vehicle’s cooling system requires a mixture of half water, half anti-freeze. “Too much anti-freeze causes the vehicle to run on higher than optimal temperatures,” cautions Gregory. "Too much water can cause lower operating temperatures and possible freezing."
Fact: This doesn’t help with gas mileage, is dangerous and can be illegal. A sudden stop from the 18-wheeler could force a driver to slam on the brakes or even worse, cause an accident.
Summer marks an important travel season. Whether you're a student, a professional or a hard-working parent, going away on vacation and getting away from it all brings a sense of freedom, but travelers should be aware that it's not all completely care-free. There is a certain amount of preparation and planning that needs to go into ensuring a safe, healthy and happy trip, such as planning in advance to get the appropriate immunizations and ensuring you have the right travel documentation. And, as a woman, you have some unique health and well-being concerns to consider as well.
Dr. Dominique Tessier, an expert in the area of women's health and travel offers the following tips to female travelers:
· Prepare and bring a travel medical kit - This is an important kit that women should always take with them when crossing time zones. Items like first aid supplies, insect protection, sun protection, water purification, medications and other toiletries are important to include.
· Research the cultural and social attitudes towards women - It's important that women understand the environment that they're traveling to. For example, some countries have certain dress codes for women that you must abide by as a visitor.
· Prepare for differing hygiene practices - Toilet paper and use of hand dryers and paper towel is different is many countries, so women must be prepared for this. Bring tissues and your own hand towels.
· Be aware - Anyone travelling to unfamiliar areas should take precautions to stay protected and ensure they are always aware of their surroundings. As a woman, this is even more important, so always travel with companions and make sure someone always knows where you are.
For more tips, check out RTM's Travel Advice section.
We all want to try it - a travel adventure that's genuinely a cultural immersion in a foreign country. To have experiences completely different than we've ever had, to see sights beyond what we could ever imagine, and to connect with people from entirely different backgrounds, why not get lost in Asia?
Discoverasianow.com provides all the inspiration you could possibly need to book your flight to the Thailand, Singapore, The Phillipines, Macau, Korea, Japan, India, Hong Kong, or China. It's such a note-worthy resource, we had to highlight it despite the economic downturn - an excursion to an Asian beach or metropolis is more affordable and easier to plan when you have a tool this convenient. The packages, which include land and air, are an incredible, truly all-inclusive deal.
The site provides a myriad of important information about each of the 8 regions it covers, but I think it's worth a visit just for the mesmerizing photos.
For more travel ideas, check out RTM's Travel Channel.
National Tire Safety Week, an initiative backed by the Rubber Manufacturers Association, is here to remind drivers to check something that’s often neglected- their tires. The RMA makes tire maintenance simple by using the acronym PART- pressure, alignment, rotation and tread.
Correct tire pressure is especially important this summer, as properly inflated tires can improve fuel efficiency by 3.3 percent and save $.06 a gallon at the pump, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Approximately 1.2 billion gallons of fuel are wasted each year by U.S. motorists driving on under-inflated tires, which also pose a safety risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that under-inflated tires contribute to more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year. Motorists should check tire inflation at least monthly or before a long trip.
Alignment is easier to judge since a vehicle will often pull to one side when the wheels are misaligned. Alignment should be corrected by a licensed mechanic, since misalignment can cause uneven or premature wear of the tires.
Regularly rotating tires according to your vehicle owner's manual improves safety. A good rule of thumb is to have your tires rotated every 5,000-8,000 miles.
Tread Depth/Tire Wear: Motorists should monitor the wear of their tires to ensure good traction. To quickly check the tire tread, insert a penny in the tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down - if you can see the entire head, your tires are worn and should be replaced.
For more car care tips from RTM, click here, or go straight to RTM's basic Tire Maintenance Guide.
Sources: Firestone, AAA, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Rubber Manufacturers Association, Goodyear, Michelin
Driving this week’s 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP test car was bittersweet. It’s the last of a great legend… a line of performance vehicles that set the standard for hotness, coolness and downright sex appeal. No matter what happens to Pontiac it will always be known for giving birth to the Firebird and GTO, both children of the 60s, and cars on which my teeth were cut.
The 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP is right up there with the best of the best when it comes to style, performance and head-turning ability. The liquid red exterior is an awesome eye-popper, craning necks from looky-loos who drooled with envy and smiled with memories of their own. “Nice car,” was the compliment of the week.
The sporty onyx and red leather bucket seats and interior took my breath away every time I opened the door. Driving this bodacious beauty for a week was more than a test. It was a drive down memory lane. My first driving experience was in a 1964 GTO, at a mere 14 years old. I bugged (called stalking today) a grease monkey at our local gas station to teach me how to drive his new ride. The sound of the engine, the smell of the exhaust, the appearance of its style, turned me into an instant muscle car fan. After a year of harassing him daily he finally acquiesced and taught me to drive his pride and joy, which I’m sure was simply a ploy to get rid him of me. One of the most memorable moments was seeing his knuckles turn white as he gripped the door in shear terror as I quickly learned how to jam through the gears and leave rubber all over our neighborhood streets. Driving the Pontiac G8 GXP this week opened the flood gates to all of those memories. In fact, when Pontiac picked it up at the end of the week a wave of separation anxiety overcame me.
While the fully loaded G8 GXP is impractical on so many levels ecologically and economically, like its low gas mileage due to its hefty 6.2L V8 engine and its $41K price tag, it’s well worth the buy for anyone who loves performance and style. Add to that the impending extinction of Pontiac, the G8 GXP will quickly appreciate in value. Today, finding a pristine GTO, once a mere $3000 fully loaded, goes for upwards of $90K. It’s a keeper, especially for a collector, and in all honesty if I had the bucks I would buy one myself. The GXP version is fully loaded with a gaggle of gadgets and numerous safety features including OnStar. When it comes to a car like this it’s not about being practical, it’s about being in love. Who says there’s no emotional connection to cars? – Courtney Caldwell, Editor
For more 2009 Pontiac models, check out RTM's 2009 Vehicle Model Guide.
Summer travelers craving a European getaway have the upper hand in bargaining for low airfare prices this year. George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog, says, “Fares to Europe are much lower than they were last summer, and indeed on some routes they are much lower than we have seen in many years. If you have the time, inclination, and money, this is a great year to visit."
Airfarewatchdog offers these timely strategies for booking your flight:
Click here for more Travel Advice & Tips from RTM.
“Few people realize driving is one of the most dangerous things they do on a daily basis,” said Bill Wade, National Program Manager of Tire Rack Street Survival®. “A car traveling at just four mph has more energy than a bullet. That’s a lot of responsibility,” he added. Wade offers the following suggestions for parents and teens to have a safer summer behind the wheel:
• Remind your teen to look 10 seconds down the road at all times when driving, so they will learn to focus on the best escape route when confronted with an obstacle. • Teach your teen to keep their hands off of the center of the steering wheel and their feet off of the dashboard. In the event of an accident an airbag deployment with the hands or feet in this position can cause serious bodily harm. • Complete a quick vehicle maintenance check with your teen every month to ensure everything is working properly. Are the tires inflated correctly? For correct tire inflation specs and for more tire-related information go to www.tirerack.com. (Source: Tire Rack Street Survival) For more on teen driving, check out RTM's Teens & Tots Section. To make driving safer this summer, nothing can take the place of experience behind the wheel. However, teen driving risks can be dramatically reduced by taking the right precautions and using a few simple techniques, say driving experts at Tire Rack Street Survival®, a national non-profit teen driving program. History has shown that as teens trade textbooks for car keys in May and June, the number of fatal crashes will skyrocket to an average of 13 teen deaths a day, marking the beginning of the 100 deadliest days of the year for teen drivers.
Talk about bare bones! This week’s test vehicle was the 2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 Sedan, which was as stripped down as I’ve ever seen. When Nissan launched this model a few years ago I did an on-air overview of it with Harry Smith, host of CBS’s Early Show. At that time, Nissan provided the top-of-the-line Versa model for the camera, and it was hot. The new little sub-compact had every bell and whistle you could imagine. I knew there were other models with fewer options; however I didn’t realize there was one as bare bones as this week’s test car.
Most gadgets on the test Versa were manual including windows, seat adjustments, side view mirrors, and door locks. Let me re-phrase… door lock, which can only be opened via key and not key fob. This model had one outside door lock, which was on the driver’s side door, allowing for no other access into the car if all doors are locked. Once inside, the other three doors offer inside locks that need to be manually pressed to open or lock the doors. This isn’t a bad thing if you’re the only user of the vehicle and don’t need regular access to the rest of the car. Women with kids, this particular Versa version is not for you. Not only is access challenging it also poses a security risk to your personal safety should you need quick access to escape a weird and wild whack-job who intends you harm.
What I loved about this skinny-minny model was its gas mileage, which was so good that I thought the gas gauge had broken because the needle hadn’t moved off full until I hit 101 miles and even then it moved only one notch. Nissan claims only 26MPG city and 34MPG highway but I found it to exceed that.
If you’re in-market for just a plain Jane, point A to point B ride and don’t care about all the bells and whistles, the Nissan Versa 1.6 Sedan is a great buy for only $12K. If you need more in your daily commute than this version offers then visit the Nissan website to review the other roomy Versa models and variety of options from Nissan. No matter which Versa you choose, you can count on a governmental 5-star frontal safety rating and four stars in side impacts and rollovers. But, hopefully you’ll never have to find out just how good they are. Safe driving!
Check out RTM's Nissan New Vehicle Buyer's Guide.
