Road & Travel Magazine's Blog

New Car Review: 2010 Infiniti EX35

By Bob Plunkett

 We're poised on a parking lot in a San Diego suburb preceding some drive tests in a 2010 Infiniti EX35 crossover utility vehicle.

 EX 2010 unites a powerful V6 engine with sculptural bodywork and a spacious five-place passenger compartment filled with a carload of comfort gear as well as high-tech electronic gadgets.

 Infiniti says the EX possesses the soul of a nimble sports coupe, but then it packs the hardware of a sporty car.

 All EX models carry Infiniti's vehicle dynamic control device and traction control system which automatically check lateral skidding on slippery pavement.

 Also, there are plenty of air bags concealed in the passenger compartment. The collection includes dual-stage frontal air bags plus side-impact air bags for front seats and curtain-style air bags mounted in the roof above front and rear outboard seats.

 Hang on for a wild ride because EX35 romps -- it's quick off the stoplight line but also quick to accelerate at highway speed and, as our drive tests reveal, downright fun to drive.

 The smart equipment is able to distribute the engine's torque in amounts which vary with the pavement conditions (smooth or rough, wet or dry) and a particular driver's intensity. That torque division could be 50:50 (front/rear) to assure good tire grip on dirt or slippery snow, or a split of 0:100 (front/rear) for optimum acceleration on dry pavement from a standing start.

 The cabin for EX35, with form-fitting seats and lots of electronic gizmos, is an artful design trimming in premium leather with textured aluminum accents.

 Infiniti structures the price chart for the 2010 EX35 CUV upward from the entry MSRP of $33,800.

Click here for more information on Infinit vehicles

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Tips for Selling a Used Car

Are you ready to be out with the old and in with the new? Here are a few general tips for getting the most out of your used vehicle.

Be prepared. Know what you old car is worth, know how much you want to get for it, and stand firm. Before you go in, set a baseline in your mind that you're not willing to break. If the deal isn't right, go somewhere else.

Flatter your car. Give it a good scrubbing inside and out. Spend some time polishing with a good car wax and run through the inside with a vacuum. Stale French fries lodged between the seat cushions might not be a fair indicator of the car's condition - but it's quite a turnoff nonetheless.

Keep the motor clean. Consider hosing off the engine with a degreasing agent.

Perform a general maintenance check. Change the oil and make sure all other fluids are topped off. Make sure the tire pressure is at the level outlined in the owner's manual.

Change the spark plugs. Many buyers request to pull a spark plug to check for deposits of oil, and to assess the condition of the engine. And if they don't ask, pull the new sparkplugs for them.

Get all your paperwork in order. Prepare a folder containing a list of all maintenance records, the owner's manual, registration and title. The more organized you appear, the more confident a potential buyer will be that you've taken good care of the car.

Show it off. If you choose the online route, or even if you decide to pay to run a photo in a printed classified listing, photograph your meticulously cleaned car with a flattering backdrop. Shooting it in an appealing location near a coastline, some mountains or in front of some greenery will look more impressive than standing next to a dumpster.

New Car Review: 2010 Ford Taurus

By Bob Plunkett

These wheels de jour amount to a new flagship 2010 Ford Taurus in the package of a mid-size model but the cabin of a big car with high-riding seats and a load of high-tech and luxury gear.

The doors run deep to make cabin entry and exit easy and seats are elevated so passengers sit a few inches higher than in other sedans of comparable size. Ford labels the design as 'Command Seating' and compares the upright seat position to that of a crossover utility vehicle.

 And while the beltline is high, so too is the wrap of windows around the cabin so a driver has good sight lines with virtually no blind spots -- note triangular glass in rear roof pillars to diminish corner vision blockage.

 The spec sheet for Taurus lists lots of active and passive safety equipment.

 Passive devices include smart dual-stage frontal air bags for front riders, plus seat-mounted side air bags up front and curtain-style side air bags front and rear.

 Active safety systems range from four-wheel disc brakes tied to an anti-lock brake system (ABS) and traction control system (TCS) or Ford's AdvanceTrac electronic anti-skid mechanism.

 Essentially, the passenger compartment on Taurus was designed around body sizes of intended occupants, with more than adequate room for long legs and broad shoulders.

 Cool ideas make it nice inside:

 * Intelligent Access with Push Button Start -- a driver totes a keyless fob, taps a touch pad on the door pillar to enter, then cranks the engine from a push-button starter.

 * Adaptive Cruise Control -- a radar-based system capable of maintaining a precise distance between the Taurus front bumper and the back bumper of a vehicle ahead.

 * BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert via icons in side mirrors.

 * Ford Sync -- voice-activated control over in-car phones, media players and USB storage devices.

 Ford surprises with price points on the 2010 Taurus at the level of 2009 models, beginning at $25,180 for base Taurus SE FWD.

The 2010 Ford Taurus won the 2010 International Car of the Year Award. Click here for more information.

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Building a Vehicle Emergency Kit - Part Two

Here are additional items necessary for you onboard vehicle safety kit:

Flashlight —Purchase a wind-up flashlight, and you'll never have to worry about dead batteries.

Jumper Cables — Look for the compact, coiled type that fit neatly into their own bag.

Liquid Latex — This miracle-in-a-can seals small holes in tires.

Matches — If you have to stay overnight in your car and make a campfire somewhere beside it, the last thing you want to worry about is how to start a fire rubbing two sticks together.

Meal Kit — Keep non-perishable items like packs of crackers, dried fruit, peanut butter, energy bars and even canned tuna with pop-top lids in your car at all times.

Pencil and Notepad — You might need this in case of a car accident, so you can jot down the other drivers' information, or for writing down instructions from 911 or directions.

Snow Scraper — You might also need a small shovel and a snowbrush. But if your area primarily deals with ice conditions, a snow or ice scraper will do.

Warning Light or Road Flares — If you're in an accident — especially at night — make yourself more visible to rescue personnel and other drivers.

Click here for more safety tips from Road & Travel Magazine

Click here for more tips from Autotrader.com

 

Car Saftey Kit: What You Need Onboard

It’s important to keep safety in mind as you head out on road trips and spring travel this year. In part one of a two part series Autotrader.com suggest some key safety items to bring with you in your car that may save your life.

Auto Escape Tool — In case your car is submerged in water, this handy gadget has two small steel tips designed to break a window with one or two blows, and a sharp blade to slice through seatbelts. Some models are fluorescent, which makes them more visible in the dark or under murky water. Usually this tool can be clipped to your keychain, or attached to your visor.

Blanket — Use it to cover hot car seats in the summer months, or to stay warm should you get stranded in the winter.

Cell Phone Charger — Buy a cell phone charger that works in a car lighter or can be recharged with a hand crank.

Cleaning Items — You need wet wipes, tissues and plastic trash bags — good for trash or a carsick child.

Extra (Hidden) Cash — It's best to forget about this stash of cash until you absolutely need it, maybe to purchase a few gallons of gas or to pass through a toll booth.

Fire Extinguisher — A fire extinguisher is a must if you're driving an older car prone to having an overheated engine.

First-aid Kit — Get two that are well-equipped — one that can easily be reached from the front seat and one for the back seat. Each should contain antiseptic; cleanser and ointment packets; bandages; scissors; tweezers; gauze; instant cold packs; latex gloves and a first-aid guide.

Read tomorrow's blog for more important safet tips.

Click here for more safety tips from Road & Travel Magazine.

Click here for more information from Autotrader.com's Lifestyle Center

New Auto Advice for Women & Families on the Road

Everyone has a different priority when it comes to shopping for a car. It could be finding a good deal, a vehicle that is safe for kids, or even a model that reflects your unique personality. With so many different vehicles out there, choosing the right one can be a challenge.

Road & Travel Magazine wants to provide its readers with the most comprehensive information in automotive and safety issues, which is why we have developed a content partnership with AutoTrader.com.

As the largest online auto classifieds site, Autotrader.com now offers its readers the Lifestyle Center, a new tool that allows consumers to search for cars based on their lifestyle preferences, featuring Family Focus, Going Green, Smart Saver, Trend Watch and Work & Play sections. The Family Focus section provides the top researched SUVs, minivans and wagons, allowing consumers to see what their peers are looking at most often, and also includes articles and tips on topics like what to keep in the car in case of an emergency, what to look for in a family car, correct installation of a baby seat and more.

With the weather getting warmer and spring travel on the brain, it’s important to keep in mind the items that will keep you safe during your upcoming spring or summer road trip. Stay tuned as the Road & Travel Magazine Blog and the Earth, Wind & Power Blogazine feature many great tips and expert advice to help keep you safe on the road including tomorrow’s first of a two-part feature from Autotrader.com on what to keep in your car in case  of an emergency.

New Car Review: 2010 Volvo XC60

By Bob Plunkett

The Volvo XC60 happens to be one of the most intelligent cars in the world. It carries some special hardware for safety and can actually out-think a driver at times and make intelligent decisions regarding the safe operation of the vehicle.

For example, a laser-based vehicle control system aboard XC60 is capable of detecting an immovable object in the path of the wagon. If this equipment determines that the driver is not going to stop the vehicle, then it will activate the brakes on its own. Volvo labels this new gear as City Safety and describes it as a driver support system designed to apply emergency braking automatically to prevent or at least lessen a low-speed collision.

DSTC monitors the vehicle's forward progress and -- if dangerous oversteer or understeer skidding is detected -- it acts automatically to correct the unstable maneuver by braking wheels or cutting the throttle.

The design of the cabin is good -- there are comfortable seats for passengers and lots of luxury goods. It can be quick and enthusiastic too, thanks to a turbo-charged in-line-six engine aboard.

Riders are shielded in the cabin by frontal air bags and side-impact air bags in front seats plus Volvo's side curtain-style air bags. And to damp the whiplash effect during a rear impact, front seatbacks instantly move rearward to pare acceleration forces on the passenger's back and neck. Volvo's price points for XC60 climb up from $37,200.

The Volvo CX60 won the 2010 International Truck of the Year Award. Click here for more information.

Click here to learn more about Volvo vehicles

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New Car Review: 2010 Acura RDX

By Bob Plunkett 

The 2010 Acura RDX slots into the compact class with a 104-inch wheelbase and totes a unique variable-flow turbocharger to nix the typical turbo's power lag.

And the 2010 Acura RDX's feisty CUV boost the fuel economy by several mpg points while trimming MSRP figures by several thousands of dollars by offering the new option of a front-wheel-drive (FWD) version in lieu of the previously-standard all-wheel-drive (AWD) equipment.

 Federal EPA fuel consumption numbers for the RDX FWD come to 18 miles per gallon for city driving and 24 mpg on the highway. For RDX AWD, the numbers tally to 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.

 The computer-controlled AWD system can disburse the engine's considerable torque not only to wheels fore and aft but the left or right ones too. It's always engaged and enables the vehicle to maneuver on wet or dry pavement with the uncanny agility of a wily sports car.

 In the handsome cabin there's room for five riders with supportive sport bucket seats in front of a bench for three and a rear bay for cargo.

 Posh gear inside includes perforated leather trimming the seats, automatic controls for the climate system with dual zones for comfort, power operation for windows and mirrors and door locks, the driver's bucket with 8-way power controls including adjustable lumbar support, heat elements inside both front buckets, and a power moonroof.

 New standard interior features for 2010 RDX models range from a rear view camera system to auto-function headlights, ambient footwell lighting, an electronic compass and USB-port connectivity.

 Acura establishes MSRP figures for the 2010 RDX CUV beginning at $32,520 for RDX FWD. The 2010 RDX SH-AWD lists for $34,520.

Click here for more information about Acura vehicles

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Get your Car Ready for Spring

By Erin Marquis

Spring and summer is right around the corner, even if you live in a state that sees warm weather all year round, there are still a few things you can do to keep your car running smooth.

1. Change your Oil: Not just and oil change. In warmer weather your car should use thicker oil, since warm weather will thin it out more than cold weather. Too thin an oil can cause engine damage.

2. Remove snow tires: Snow tires wear out quickly on dry pavement, so it’s a good idea to put a normal set of tires on once the snow melts.

3. Check your windshield wipers: Wipers can dry out and get damaged by salt in the winter months and should be replaced every year or so. Also, switch to a warm weather windshield fluid to make sure you have maximum visibility.

4. Check belts and hoses: Before starting out for that long awaited road trip make sure none of the belts in your engine are worn out. Also check your hoses and make sure they are sealed tightly and not cracked.

5. Check you tire pressure: The warmer months can make tire pressure rise as the air inside gets hot. Make sure your tires aren’t over inflated or under inflated, as that can lead to a blow out.

6.Check for Rust : If your car comes into contact with salt, whether from the road or ocean, you need to check regularly for rust damage.

Click here for more maintenance tips from Road & Travel Magazine.

Texting While Driving, Unsafe at Any Speed

By Erin Marquis

Texting while driving (TWD) is a serious issue in the United States. Currently 19 states ban the practice of sending a text while operating a vehicle and President Barak Obama has banned all federal employees from TWD while they are conducting government business. These laws are only going to become more prevalent and strict and for good reason, TWD kills.

In Utah a young man killed two people when he sent a text while driving to work. That state now sentences those who text and drive has seriously as drunk drivers who kill. He pled guilty to vehicular manslaughter. There are studies that suggest the amount of impairment is even worse when texting then when driving legally drunk.

According to the New York Times, 97% of Americans think texting while driving should be banned. Yet why do some many people still do it? The answer unfortunately comes from the most inexperienced drivers on the road. Teens and young adults are more likely to text and drive because they are more comfortable with the technology. But comfort is a long way from being safe. A recent study of 19-24 year olds demonstrated that teenagers who were engaged in texting while driving are up to six times more likely to have an accident. When a driver is actively involved in TWD, his driving patterns change. For instance, the response time needed to break slows down by 23%.

Protecting your teens from causing a serious accident is as simple as having a serious talk with them and setting a good example. Teens are more likely to drive safely if their parents don’t drive with a distraction, which includes speaking and texting on a cell phone while driving.

Click here for more safety articled from Road & Travel Magazine