Road & Travel Magazine's Blog

Proactively Prepare For That Dreaded Flat Tire

By Liz Kaadou

You are driving down a winding three-lane highway, hands gripped tightly to your leather-clad steering wheel, the sun is shining through your crystal clear windows, and a light breeze is wispily blowing through your hair. Sounds like the perfect way to start off your morning…until with no warning at all, you feel a sudden pop and your car seems completely off balance.  The dreaded flat tire has veered itself directly into your once tranquil driving path.  This could be cause for immediate concern and panic, especially if you are woman. But before you find yourself stranded on the side of the freeway with nothing in your trunk but a box of Kleenex and some mouth-watering mints, you may want to follow these practical steps to make sure you are always proactively prepared.

 

1) Make sure you always have a spare tire that is adequately filled with air.

 

2) Buy yourself a drill that can be plugged into your car lighter.  Make sure and also buy a tip for the drill that will fit the lug nuts on your car.  This way, you will be prepared in the event that the lug nuts are too tight for you to loosen.

 

3) Keep a ramp in your car so you will be able to lift the tire into the air during your tire changing extravaganza.  You can purchase a small ramp at any auto supply store.

 

4) Stash a pair of work gloves and and a set of disposable paper coveralls in your trunk.

 

5) Keep a small jack and tire iron in your trunk.

 

For more auto safety advice from Road & Travel Magazine, visit our Safety & Security section.

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

Cruise Control's Contradictory Effects

By Sara Hoffman

There is many a beauty about using cruise control while driving long distances – it prevents speeding tickets, gives the foot a rest, and can save gas. Drivers may think it will ease driving in bad weather conditions, but rainy weather is one case where relying too heavily on cruise control can have the opposite effect.

If your car does begin to hydroplane (meaning that the tires actually rise up on top of the water like water skis), braking is the worst thing to do – and yet it is the most commonly used way to disable cruise control. Cruise control also maintains the speed of your car while you’re trying to decrease speed without hitting the brakes. The safest thing to do if it begins to rain even a little bit, is to disable cruise control. If you lose control of the car, decrease speed by taking your foot off the gas and regain control before using the brakes.

Driving in rainy conditions is no time to be on auto-pilot, hydroplaning can literally make a vehicle take off instantaneously like an airplane if speed isn’t reduced. The risk of driving with cruise control in the rain isn’t worth taking. Though it’s not as well-known as it should be, this risk is serious enough that some cars, like the 2010 Toyota Sienna Limited XLE, won’t let you set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on.

Source: The National Safety Commission

For more auto safety advice from Road & Travel Magazine, visit our Safety & Security section.

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

2010 Contenders For Car & Truck of the Year

Car lovers around the world fasten your seatbelts, as the top contenders for the 2010 International Car and Truck of the Year (ICOTY) battle it out in a race to the finish line. The ICOTY jury is proud to announce its top three nominees in each category.  After months of intense vehicle testing by the auto industry’s leading automotive editors and journalists, only the most innovative and emotionally compelling vehicles have cruised into the top three positions.

The mission of the ICOTY Awards is to honor and highlight the emotional connection between cars and consumers, in addition to how well automakers achieve that goal through the design and marketing of their vehicles.

"The awards are not centered on power and performance," said Courtney Caldwell, ICOTY’s creator and executive producer. "It's about how cars reflect our personalities, lifestyles and self image, an attitude most consumers can identify with."

 

Click here to see if your favorite cars and trucks made the top three.

 

Find more about our ICOTY awards here.

 

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog   Become a Facebook Fan

Americans Still Love Big & Luxurious Cars the Most

According to the 2009 Motorist Choice Awards, the best-scored cars by consumers for value and owner satisfaction are bigger, more luxurious cars. Cars like these, despite the economy and fuel consumption rates, make people feel proud of what they're driving, which is the leading reason people buy new cars today. The 2009 Motorist Choice Awards, co-developed by AutoPacific and IntelliChoice.com, recognize new cars and trucks that give their owners both economic and emotional satisfaction, helping new-car buyers find vehicles that best satisfy all of their personal-transportation needs.

The top 34 cars were large cars, luxury cars, sport utility vehicles, crossover SUVs or minivans, with the Lexus LS taking 1st place overall, and the Chevrolet Tahoe taking the gold for the best SUV. "This affinity for big vehicles makes the American market unique compared to the rest of the world," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific, which is known for it's owner satisfaction ratings. Only two small cars even made rank in the top 107 cars.

Leading manufacturers were Toyota and GM, though most manufacturers took at least one award. “Every car winning a Motorist Choice Award is a defendable purchase, and their owners will be pleased, both financially and behind the wheel," said James Bell, publisher and editor of IntelliChoice.com, which determined value ratings for winning vehicles.

For more car buying advice, visit RTM's New Car Reviews Section.

Subscribe to Roadandtravel Blog Bookmark this on Delicious

Top 5 Important Questions to Ask Your Mechanic

Taking your vehicle in for repairs can be an intimidating task, especially if you’re not familiar with the lingo associated with vehicle maintenance and repair.

Whether you need a problem fixed immediately or are simply searching for an auto care center to perform routine maintenance, there are a number of important questions all vehicle owners should ask before turning their keys over to an automotive technician:

1. Are you ASE certified?
2. What payment policies and guarantees do you offer?
3. What is your used parts policy?
4. Do you have a list of references I can contact?
5. Can I receive a written explanation of what work was completed on my vehicle?

Click here to learn more about these questions and taking your car to the shop.

Reducing Carbon Emissions on the Road

You don’t have to own a hybrid to be interested in protecting the earth from dangerous greenhouse gases. And if you are someone who feels there isn’t a hybrid available to suit your lifestyle, there are alternative options to help reduce your carbon footprint.

Carbon Offset Programs — Many programs like MyClimate offer services that allow users to calculate their personal, carbon emissions – based on automotive transportation, flights and energy consumption. Calculate yours and see where changes can be made.

Traveling Green — When traveling, consider eco lodge options, those that use green products, generate their own power and specialize in sustainable, responsible tourism.

On the Road — Headed for a road trip? An often overlooked option is a hybrid car rental; ask the rental company if they have hybrid options. Stuck with the car you’ve got? You can still do your part by carpooling – an efficient way to save fuel, reduce carbon emissions and relieve traffic congestion.

Learn more about offsetting your carbon emissions.

2009 International Car of the Year Awards' Winners

The votes are in, and the 13^th Annual International Car of the Year Awards (ICOTY) jury have announced the winners of 2009 International Car and Truck of the Year.

2009 Nissan GT-R: International Car of the Year

"The ICOTY Awards are not about power and performance, but rather personality and passion," said ICOTY Executive Producer Courtney Caldwell. “The awards are based on lifestyle compatibility and how well automakers achieve that goal.”

2009 Dodge Ram 1500: International Truck of the Year

The ICOTY jury, made up of 16 nationally-renowned automotive journalists, selected the 2009 vehicles as the best for the new model year with final ballots tabulated by J.D. Power and Associates to ensure accuracy and credibility.

 

Click here to view a buyer’s guide of the ICOTY Winners.

Most Environmentally-Friendly Car and Truck of the Year

Volkswagen Jetta TDI Honored as Inaugural Earth, Wind & Power Car of the Year

The mission of the Earth, Wind & Power (EWP) Awards is to recognize vehicles driven by a power source that help reduce global warming, are conducive to promoting a cleaner environment and support the mission to achieve energy independence through alternative sources, the inaugural EWP Awards honored the Most Environmentally-Friendly Car and Truck of the Year.

The 2009 eco-friendly automobiles that took top honors were the fuel efficient Volkswagen Jetta TDI as the EWP Car of the Year and the hybrid SUV favorite, the Ford Escape Hybrid, as EWP Truck of the Year.

Ford Escape Hybrid Named Earth, Wind & Power Truck of the Year

“With global warming and foreign oil dependence a mainstream concern today, more people are turning to fuel-efficient or alternative fuel vehicles,” said Courtney Caldwell, ICOTY creator and producer. “It’s become of vital interest to consumers, automakers, and the future of our planet to produce vehicles that are compatible with our environment.” 

Visit EWP Winners’ Page for more information on these eco-friendly vehicles.

Honda Motor Company Wins 2009 Earth Angel Award

In response to the growing concern for global warming and the fluctuation of gas prices, the 2009 International Car of the Year Awards awarded Honda Motor Company with the second annual EARTH ANGEL Award as the automaker demonstrating the most significant progress with environmental initiatives and partnerships on a worldwide basis.

"At Honda, we are working to reduce the environmental footprint of our operations with the same passion and purpose as our commitment to develop new technologies that reduce the environmental footprint of our products," said Tetsuo Iwamura, president and CEO of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

 

Michigan Congressman Gary Peters provided opening remarks for the award citing the importance of recognizing the automotive industry for the remarkable strides being taken within the environmental arena.

 

Visit Earth Angel to read more about Honda’s win.

RTM Announces 6th Annual Lifetime Legend Award

Veteran automotive journalist Warren Brown, automotive writer for The Washington Post, became the sixth recipient of ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine's (RTM) annual Lifetime Legend Award. Sponsored by Ford Motor Company, RTM honored Brown during the 13th annual International Car of the Year Awards (ICOTY) on January 10, 2009 at the MGM Grand Detroit.

For nearly 30 years Brown has been writing his “On Wheels” automotive column in Washington D.C., giving readers the benefit of his wisdom and firsthand experience behind the wheel of vehicles from around the world. He also performs regular video test drives and weekly radio reports, leaving listeners with no excuse for not having the answers they need when it comes to buying a new car.

“Warren is one of the most gifted and loved journalists in our industry,” said ICOTY Producer Courtney Caldwell. “We are honored to present this much-deserved Lifetime Legend Award to him.”

Read more about RTM's Lifetime Legend Award.