Driving in snow? Prepare, slow down or don’t leave home

Driving in snow and other bad weather isn’t easy. Particularly when it’s cold outside, precautions are necessary to ensure your safety. Snow and ice, heavy storms, strong winds and tornadoes can cause car accidents within minutes. In short, driving during the winter can be a dangerous with snow and sleet particularly troublesome and cause of many inclement weather accidents. But adhering to safe driving practice practices specific to inclement can help. Here are some tips and must-dos to help ensure safe driving in poor weather conditions. What Are Some Basic Warning Signs? It is important to be particularly aware of

Read more

2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 53: Handsome, fast, pricey

,

Seven years ago, Mercedes-Benz changed the name of its mid-size sport utility vehicles from M-Class to GLE. It aligned the vehicles with the badges of the manufacturer’s most closely related sedans. The SUVs are offered in five trims, including the AMG GLE 53, and they remain among the carmaker’s most versatile luxury wheels. With the AMG GLE 63, the two siblings feature the subsidiary’s suite of high-performance engines and superior interior accouterments that can elevate the offerings to six-figure vehicles. All trim levels come standard with all-wheel drive, which Mercedes-Benz calls (4MATIC) except for the GLE 350. It’s also available

Read more

5 SUV Must Dos And Must Haves For A Road Trip

Car travel is increasingly popular, with Americans experiencing fun-filled adventures, observing beautiful landscapes and collecting joyous moments  — and often in an SUV. But what cars are becoming Americans’ first choice to travel? Industry data details that sport utility vehicles outsold sedans two to one in 2019. And the trend is expected to grow. Sport utility vehicles are popular for their practicality, clearance height, power and cargo space. With the growing trend of SUVs, car riders need to plan and prepare for long road journeys. Here’s a list of essentials for traveling in your SUV: Maintenance Cars need maintenance, with

Read more

Once the next great thing, farewell compact vans

Say goodbye to the compact van segment — at least in the United States. According to several online automotive publication reports, Ram will stop importing ProMaster City to the United States at the end of this season and Ford will drop the Transit Connect at the end of 2023. The two were the last of the remaining vehicles in the once popular niche segment. Ram and Ford have not commented on the reports of once niche but popular segment of the utilitarian vehicles. Compact Vans: So Long, Farewell Ford, which brought the new segment of compact vans into the United

Read more

Little Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 SUV is big-time

,

Mercedes-Benz and its uber-luxury sidekicks AMG and Maybach offer 31 vehicles in 2022 models. Coupes, convertibles, electric vehicles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, roadsters and wagons are all in the mix. Add multiple trims in each segment, and whether via abacus or app, keeping track of the German manufacturer’s extended family of vehicles is a task. Mercedes-Benz Offers Lots Of Choices Even connoisseurs of the carmakers’ stoic vehicles might need a chart to differentiate the GLA 250, GLB 250 and GLC SUVs. The former is a luxury subcompact; the latter is a luxury compact. The Mercedes-Benz GLC is among the competitors

Read more

#240, Vintage driver, vintage Bugatti

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:36 — 44.8MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreVisiting a grandparent as a youngster often includes affection, treats and wisdom, all offered for free. It leads to buying a Bugatti in parts for $150,000 less frequently. Nathanael Greene’s childhood visits to New Hampshire resulted in his 65-year history with the iconic automobile introduced by Italian-French carmaker Ettore Bugatti in 1924. Greene owns three, including the 1925 Bugatti Type 35 he’s competed in at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for many years beginning in 1997. The former investment executive was my recent guest on

Read more

Illinois is stunning state for a safe drive

Chicago, Illinois is a major transportation and museum hub. It’s well-known for its cuisine, including horseshoe sandwiches, deep dish pizzas and corn dogs. Illinois was also the first state to abolish slavery. Illinois offers a lot for visitors, particularly for those who want to drive around the state. Here’s a comprehensive list of places to visit: Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Spoon River Valley is a picturesque 140-mile trip with more than two-dozen attractions. The lovely byway hosts flea markets, antique shows and handmade delicacy businesses. Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Fall Festival is the main attraction of the valley’s

Read more

Five Best Factors to Consider When Purchasing Car Insurance

By Zev Goldstein Legendary comedian Don Rickles once quipped, “Show business is my life. When I was a kid, I sold insurance, but nobody laughed.” You know as well as I do that the car insurance business can be no laughing matter. Between the increased cost premiums and the seemingly endless number of possible companies we could insure with, it can be difficult to handle. Here are some useful tips to help you choose the best car insurance: Determine a Good Coverage Level Sometimes, coverage choices are already made for you. For instance, your state already mandates legal minimum coverages

Read more

2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge redefines station wagons

American full-sized station wagons were dispatched from the new car lineup in 1996. Once chariots of choice to transport occupants and massive trundle-style suitcases to train stations, the three-row beauties were discarded in favor of a multi-brand brigade of sport utility vehicles. Thankfully, wagons still abound, with cargo space still relevant. It’s now part of the versatile vehicles’ three-part attraction that also includes sportiness and performance. The updated 2022 Volvo XC60 Recharge adds a fourth attraction. It’s a plug-in hybrid in both the T6 and T8 Inscription (hybrid twin-engine technology) trims. The last long-tenured American full-size wagons were family rooms

Read more

Why You Should Buy An EV in 2021

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Maybe your car needs repairs often and costs too much money to maintain. Or perhaps your lease is expired. If so, are you thinking about buying a new car in 2021? An electric vehicle is an excellent choice and there are many advantages to consider: Maintenance is Cheaper Purchasing a new car can be a bad investment. New vehicles depreciate quickly and depending on the purchase price of the vehicle, a buyer can lose thousands of dollars while driving the vehicle from the dealership. It’s an investment most people would consider a substantial stock market loss. With a

Read more

Car care is really important when autumn is in the air

Fall is approaching. That means it’s time to start getting your car ready for the seasonal changes with proper car care. Here are several tips to help you get started. As the leaves start to turn and days grow shorter, it’s important to make sure your car is ready for the autumn. One way to do this is to get an extended car warranty. The best extended warranty companies will cover repairs to your vehicle if something goes wrong, helping you to avoid unexpected costs. In addition, an extended warranty can give you peace of mind knowing that you’re covered

Read more

Car Subscription Services: Pros, Cons, Costs; Worthy?

Forget about fitting winter tires to your loan car this year. Instead, take out a car subscription on an SUV for six months when the weather is at its worst. In the spring, exchange it for a convertible. It costs the same or less than a loan vehicle, and you don’t have to worry about servicing costs, insurance, road tax or breakdown cover. These are taken care of in the lease agreement in some car subscription services. What Is A Car Subscription Service? Around 6 1/2 billion people globally own a smartphone, which translates to around 90 percent of adults.

Read more

#237, Support The Weekly Driver website, podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:44 — 45.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreBruce Aldrich and I have co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast for more than four years. It’s available on all major podcast platforms, including TheWeeklyDriver.com. The independent automotive website, which I edit and publish, has been online since 2004. In this episode, Bruce and I discuss two books about as opposite as feasible — although both are about the automotive world. We introduce the books as a way of also introducing listeners to the podcast and visitors to the website to Patreon. The platform allows

Read more

Affordable ways to buy a new or used car

Getting your own car can have a huge impact on your life. It can provide great independence as well as the ability to travel near or far while only having to spend money on fuel. It can also be expensive. Many people trying to buy a new car don’t have the access to the funds required to purchase a new car at a dealership. Fortunately, many affordable options are available to explore, and you won’t have spend a fortune to start traveling where you wish. Here are some different ways to purchase a car without having to pay above and

Read more

#236, Pulitzer Prize winner Joe White’s auto newsletter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:06 — 48.2MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreJoe White has reported on the automotive industry for more than 40 years. Primarily based in Detroit throughout his career, White worked for The Wall Street Journal for 28 years, including tenures in Brussels and the United Kingdom. Since 2015, White has been employed by Thomson Reuters, the international data company and news service. He writes Auto File, a free, three-day-per-week electronic auto newsletter. It’s chock-full of business-oriented news stories and trends in the automotive industry. While co-host Bruce Aldrich is traveling, I interview

Read more

7 Road Trip Essentials When Traveling With a Baby

Road trips are excellent travel options, especially when traveling with kids. You can go at your own pace, allowing stops for bathroom breaks or for assisting a restless baby. Deciding what to pack for a road trip, however, can be daunting, especially if you are a new parent. Here are seven road trip essentials when traveling with your young children to improve the chances of a stress-free family vacation. First Aid Kit Be sure to purchase a ready-made or self-assembled first aid to carry in the vehicle. Essential include gauze pads, adhesive bandages, scissors, cold packs, antiseptic pads and tweezers

Read more