green living, smart spending
Normally, the automotive events I attend, which include test drives of the newest models, are just for us automotive writers. But Ford has a different idea. Their Go Further With Ford safety, environment and design trend conference at company headquarters in Dearborn this month included an interesting mix of writers and bloggers on fashion, technology,
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It’s top-down weather. Time to feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your face on the open road. Which is the best convertible for a road trip? According to KBB, that would be the 2012 Mazda Miata MX-5, which also has the distinction of being voted the best sportscar for total cost
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There are several affordable electric cars you can drive now, which are not named Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt, eSmart, or eMini Cooper. These plug-in EV models have been driving under the radar and deserve a look. In alphabetical order, Coda, THINK and Wheego. Most of us drive less than 75 miles a day, so an
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The 2012 Acura TL is the January Car of the Month, named by NADA for its updated styling, improved performance, fuel economy and upgraded technology. If you are in the market for an affordable performance sport sedan, the 2012 Acura TL holds up well against more expensive competitors like the BMW 3 Series. I love
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The 2012 Nissan Versa is the least expensive car in North America, with a starting price of just $10,990 MSRP and a budget-saving fuel economy of 33 mpg combined city/highway. Now that I have your attention — The 2012 Nissan Versa is no upholstered roller skate, no stripped-down entry-level tin can that you’d be embarrassed
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Simply, the 2011 VW Jetta is great car. This is a family-friendly, budget-friendly sedan that does double duty as a peformance sedan. This all-new, redesigned model is precision German engineering and safety features, lots of cabin and cargo space, and what I call ‘creature features’. Combine that with fuel economy of up to 42
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The eagerly-awaited extended range hybrid Chevrolet Volt has been getting all the headlines lately, along with many of the top car awards. But so has the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, which the Volt looks like and even feels like behind the wheel, although the fuel efficiency of the two models is very different. I test drove
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Subaru has a well-deserved reputation for safe and sturdy all-wheel drive vehicles, especially wagons. What’s getting attention these days is Subaru technology, fuel economy, creature comforts and design, especially the family-friendly 2011 Subaru Legacy sedan, which has just been named “Car of the Month” by NADA Guides. The Subaru Legacy has broken all sales records
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The 2010 Kia Soul has been named one of the ten best Back-to-School cars for the second year in a row by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, although last year it was the 2009 Kia Soul that got the nod. The Kia Soul is an award-winner for its eye-catching style, roomy interior, safety features, fuyel efficiency,
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More of us car shoppers are researching 2010 and 2011 models from our mobile phones. The website Cars.com, which launched a mobile site in 2007, reports a surge in mobile shopping activity since the launch of its iPhone car shopping app in February. As much as 10 percent of Cars.com’s traffic now comes via a mobile phone or smart phone such
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