Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

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A few things to consider about insurance before towing

Some friends recently had a discussion – more like a heated debate – about whether or not it was a good idea to purchase a roadside insurance assistance package before their upcoming road trip. Once bickering stopped, we determined one friend had an auto insurance policy that covered roadside assistance. The other friend had no idea if, or what, his policy covered. They agreed they need a few question answered to decide whose vehicle they were going to use. Did they have coverage for towing and labor as part of an insurance package? Some policies will cover the cost of having a car towed to a mechanic. Some may also cover the cost of the labor required to get it

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Hey, Ford F-150 owners: Win $7,000 in parts from AmericanMuscle

As the best-selling vehicle in the United States, there are hundreds of thousands of Ford F-150 owners who’d want to win $7,000 in parts for their favorite trucks. AmericanMuscle.com is going to make that happen. A leading aftermarket provider of Mustang parts, AmericanMuscle will give not only give the winner of the contest their choice of parts, it will also provide the cost of installation at a local automotive shop. The contest, which will continue through August 31, is available to contestants who can enter once a week. To enter, fill out the form on AmericanMuscle.com. It’s the chance to win the get the ultimate truck overhaul. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanMuscle is dedicated to offering the Mustang &

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Unique giveaway will award two free Jeep Wranglers to one winner

Winning one free car is extraordinary. But what are the odds of winning two free cars? ExtremeTerrain, the off-road online merchant, will make it happen. It will give away two new 2018 JL Jeep Wranglers to one winner. The vehicles will be be modified from bumper to bumper in typical XT fashion. The two JL Wranglers, one 4-door model and one 2-door model, that can be shared with a friend, a significant other or both or can kept by the winner. The latest iteration of the iconic off-roader can be traced to WWII. Engine options will be offered, including a 3.0L Diesel and 4-Cylinder Turbo, joining the 3.6L Pentastar V6. The aluminum construction of the JL will reduce weight and

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Distracted Driving – Facts, Danger, Risks

My daughter recently told me I was impatient. I had honked my car horn at the driver of the car ahead of me who didn’t seem to notice the red light where he was stopped had turned to green. I had waited the requisite five seconds after the light changed before I honked. What I pointed out to my daughter — the reason I honked — is that the driver needed to be shaken from his focus on their text, email or other distraction. Many parenting experts say the way to get through to kids about drugs, drinking, issues like safe driving, is to talk, to talk often, to provide concrete and real-life examples, and to model the behavior we

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Car Insurance hassles? There’s an app to ease the pain

The hassle of buying car insurance might only be outdone by the annoyance of buying a new car. Go, an app introduced by a San Francisco company, is now available via Apple Pay and can allow customers to purchase car insurance is as little as three minutes. The process is simple: Car Insurance buyers can take an image of their license and instantly get quotes from State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, among other companies. Drivers can get a quote in less than 60 seconds and determine if there’s a lower rate than their current coverage. Customers can then pay by phone, message, and with Apple Pay. In the same way that iPhone lets customers make one tap and get a

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Rolls-Royce unveils most expensive new car ever made

If money is no problem in your car-buying habits, why not purchase the most expensive new car ever made — a one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce? An unnamed buyer, seeking a vehicle styled after the Rolls-Royce offerings in the 1920 and 1930s, spent a reported $12.8 million on a Rolls-Royce Sweptail. The car took four years to make and was unveiled to the public recently at the Concorso d’Eleganza in Italy. The custom coach was designed via the customer’s wishes: a coach-built coupe with a glass roof. The buyer is described in the carmaker’s press release as a “connoisseur and collector of distinctive, one-off items including super-yachts and private aircraft.” Further, the vehicle was detailed as having traits of several iconic Rolls-Royce models

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Ford Mustang dominates internet vintage car searches

Vintage car enthusiasts all have their favorites. But there’s one iconic vehicle that dominates internet searches — the Ford Mustang. According to the website classiccars.com, the Mustang generated 3,736,942 unique searches in 2016. The Mustang pushed the Ford to its status as the top manufacturer searched for vintage vehicles, followed by Chevrolet. In its state-by-state calculations, the Mustang ranked first in 13 states, followed by the Chevrolet Impala (7) and the Chevrolet Camaro (5), Chevrolet Corvette (3), Dodge Charger (3) and Ford Thunderbird (3). ClassicCars.com, which specializes the research and purchase of classic cars and trucks, registers 330,000 searches daily and three million unique monthly visitors. The site, founded in 2007, is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Among manufacturers, Ford and

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Consumer Reports’ 10 2017 Worst Cars To Buy

Consumer Reports has published car and truck lists for decades. Among its recent compilations is its worst cars for 2017 in 10 popular segments, subcompacts to luxury sedans, compacts to hybrids. The list is based on the lowest overall score in each category and based on a complete overview of each vehicle. The criteria combine a road-test score, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction and safety — including government and insurance industry crash-test results. In conjunction with each worst car in each category, Consumer Reports lists its suggested best choice in each category. Here’s what the publication said about 2017 Chrysler 200. It’s the lowest-ranked sedan in the most popular car category: “This category is overflowing with competent, and even excellent, alternatives

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A Guide to Choosing A Tow Truck Company In Your Area

SPONSORED CONTENT Drivers share a fear of mechanical issues wreaking havoc with our vehicles. Whether you’re on the freeway home after a long day at work, preparing to take the kids to school, or simply letting your car warm up on a crisp winter morning, having engine problems is a pain. It happened to me recently. Eight endless hours spent at the office in front of my computer, and the half-hour drive back home was doubled because of a simple, unexpected issue.   There’s no need to go into specifics. But without the humor and speedy work of the tow truck driver who came to my rescue, I’d have become a ranting, raving wreck, growling at cars as they sped

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3 important things to consider when buying a used truck

Does your truck have constant mechanical problems? Has it outlived its usefulness? If so, start thinking about the purchase of a more dependable vehicle. It’s a big purchase for a considerable amount of money. Carefully consider the factors that will go into your purchase. It will allow you to make an educated decision that you will not regret. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when you are going to purchase a used truck. What is the condition of the used truck? This is an important detail because buying a used truck that has not received proper maintenance could result in frequent and costly repairs. You need to seriously consider buying a used truck if you are

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24 Hours of Le Mans documentary featured on Amazon Prime

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is arguably the most iconic event in automobile racing. Now subscribers to Amazon Prime will soon have an unprecedented access to the entire 24 hours of the race. Le Mans: Racing is Everything will be available for streaming on June 9. In addition to the footage of the event, the documentary will examine the history of Le Mans as well as the legendary riders who have competed in the race and added to its lore. Le Mans: Racing is Everything embeds with teams Porsche, Audi, Nissan, Toyota, Aston Martin and Rebellion as they race to build their cars and compete in what is one of the highest attended single-day sporting events in the world.

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Car-Buying Trends for 2017 and Beyond

SPONSORED CONTENT Millions of new cars are sold every year, and the car-buying experience can be a hassle for many consumers. The traditional process of purchasing a new car involves a lot of time visiting dealers and price negotiation. Today, consumers are looking for a less time-consuming experience as well as a more convenient option better suited for their needs. The buying process and the must-have features are poised to evolve. Here are some of the top car-buying trends for 2017 and beyond. Online Shopping The biggest advance in the car-buying process in recent years is the use of the internet to help purchasers make a decision. Today, it’s common for consumers to spend most of their time searching for

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4 Essential Things to Check Before Buying a Used Car

Purchasing a car is exciting. The thrill of driving away with a new set of wheels should be a great experience. But sometimes, the excitement becomes too much and can lead to not noticing simple faults with the car before you purchase it. Used cars are more prone to having minor faults such as scratches and dents, yet they still should function properly. It’s not fair to purchase a car only to find out when you drive away, there are several faults that can increase the cost of the vehicle. Fortunately, most of these can be spotted before you purchase the vehicle — if you know where to look. Here are four common areas consumers forget to check when buying

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2017 Toyota Prius Prime named Green Car of the Year

For the second straight year, Toyota has been awarded World Green Car honors at the New York International Auto Show. The Toyota Prius Prime was named this year’s winner after its sibling, the Toyota Mirai, earned the award last year. The Prius Prime was chosen from an initial entry list of 12 new vehicles from around the world. Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology (beyond engine componentry), aimed specifically at increasing the vehicle’s environmental responsibility, were all taken into consideration. Toyota is no stranger to the World Car Awards program, now in its 13th year. In addition to the Mirai’s win last year, the Toyota Prius earned “Top Three in the World” status

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Chevrolet Colorado top prize in earthquake charity auction

How does a 2017 Chevrolet Colorado filled with earthquake supplies sound? That’s the grand prize among dozens available in the sixth annual California Earthquake Authority-sponsored auction. The California Earthquake Authority and iHeartMedia are collaborating in the auction to raise funds for American Red Cross disaster-preparedness and relief efforts in California. The 2017 Get Prepared, California! Auction continues through April 30 and offers concert and sports packages, celebrity meet-and-greets and other once-in-a-lifetime items up for bid. Last year’s auction raised more than $174,000. And this year’s proceeds could increase the total amount raised to more than $1 million. It would be enough for the Red Cross to distribute 200,000 blankets at shelters, distribute 100,000 hot meals at shelters or through mobile

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Potential engine failure prompts Hyundai, Kia recall

Hyundai and Kia, the related and increasingly popular South Korean carmakers, have stalled for the second time in two years with the recall of 1.4 million cars and SUVs in the United States and Canada because of potential engine failure. The issue, according to documents released by the U.S. National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, is caused by debris left in the manufacturing process that can restrict oil flow to connecting rod bearings. The restriction can increase temperatures can result increased wear and fail and engine stalling. Owners of vehicles with the issue will hear a knocking sound from the engine and may see a dashboard warning light. The recall including 2013 and 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUV and

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