While “urban sprawl” and “smart growth” seem to be key phrases in the news these daysespecially among politicians and environmentalists, the truth is “smart growth” can only happen when there is a plan in place to grow. “Smart growth” is not a reaction to a housing boom. Neither is it a way to boost a city’s economy as it begins to slide into a slump. Truly smart growth is a new city’s plan to, over years, accommodate more people and businesses, without comprising its natur…
Vehicle Safety: Everyone’s Responsibility
Most of us can look back and note how different things were back when we were growing up than they are now. We live in a cautious world, teeming with negligence lawsuits, tougher regulations for manufacturers, and precautionary recalls. Seatbelt laws are common. Diving boards have been outlawed in several states. Children now have to be strapped into child car seats until they’re seven years old in some states.
The Best SUVs Under $20,000
Looking for a Midsize SUV but want to stay on a budget? No problem! Who said SUVs have to be a drain on your pocketbook? We don’t think so. To prove our theory, we decided to look at available Sport Utility Vehicles that can hold their own against other top-selling SUVs, but can also be as easy on your finances as the payment for a mid-size car.
The Power Of Your Car: What The Japanese Know And We Don’t
Picture this. Five days a week, you get into your car, ready for the hour long commute to work, school, the café your sister insists has the best breakfast. You turn on the radio, plug in your cell phone to recharge the battery, plug your Bluetooth into the second outlet on the console, adjust your ipod on the dash, and decide you’re ready to go. Sound familiar? With commute times of U.S. drivers on the rise since ABC News reported in 2005 that 220 million Americans spend an …
Twenty Years Of Isuzu: A History Of Excellence
We are the culmination of our experiences, and the same is true for companies. Companies, like people, seem to have a life of their own.
Pickup Trucks And Safety
Recent news has the consumer population clamoring about whether or not the cars we drive are really safe. Forbes came out with an article on July 30, 2007 by Bengt Halvorson titled “Top 20 Most Dangerous Vehicles,” that uncovered some unnerving facts about pickup trucks in general. According to the article, “Pickups as a class have the highest rate of fatality and serious injury,” said Michael Dulberger, president of Informed for Life a safety advocacy group.
Pick Up Trucks: The Symbol Of Today’s Middle America
Middle America geographically refers to the area of land between the east coast states and the west coast states, but the term is more often used as a cultural label rather than a geographical one. It tends to suggest a suburb or small town where most of the residents are middle class (households earning approximately between $19,000 annually considered lower middle class and those earning up to about $55,000 per year upper middle class). The paradigm of “Middle America…
Comparison Of Warranties On Pickup Trucks
If you’re in the market for a pickup because you need a pickup, that is you’re going to put it to the test and need something tougher and roomier than an SUV, it’s important to take a look at the warranties on competing models. Truck warranties cover four aspects of the vehicle: Basic Warranty (which covers pretty much everything on the truck in its early life), Drivetrain (the internal components that are often high-ticket items to replace), Rust (exterior of the car only),…
Engine Know-how: Cylinders, Torque, And Pistons
Everyone knows that if you want to pack a punch, the 8-cylinder engine is the way to go. You know it, I know it, the car dealer knows it, and if you check with your insurance agent to see if your premiums will increase when you trade in that 4- for an 8-, you can be sure he/she knows it too. But it’s not quite that simple. Which engines really do perform the best? Well, to answer that, we need to look at a few engine basics.
Car Buying Help: Edmunds And Intellichoice
You need a new car. Maybe you’re in the market for something compact and economical, maybe you want something bigger to accommodate your growing family, or maybe it’s finally time for that luxury sports coupe you’ve always wanted. So where do you start?
America’s Love Affair With The Pickup Truck
Baseball, apple pie, and pickup trucks three symbols of the down-home American heartland. Americans tend to love all things American and the pickup truck is no exception. The very first pickup truck debuted, thanks to Henry Ford, in 1925. Although a bit lengthy for today’s marketing standards, Ford described it as a “Ford Model T Runabout with Pickup Body.” It was surprisingly similar to current pickups with an adjustable tailgate, a large cargo box, and heavy-duty springs …