AAA: California Texting Ban Not Working

Toyota Dealer AlbuquerqueAAA Study Shows Texting on Rise in CA Despite Ban - Although the state of California’s recently instituted a ban on texting and driving, the number of people involved in this dangerous behavior isn’t going down – it’s going up. In fact, the number of people texting or using electronic devices has increased almost threefold. These are the results of a recent survey published by AAA of Southern California. Find out about other dealer services at Toyota Dealer Albuquerque. The study shows that prior to the institution of California’s texting ban in January, 2009, about 1.4 percent of drivers were seen texting or otherwise manipulating an electronic device such as a smart phone while they were behind the wheel. In the new study, AAA’s observations at seven Southern California locations indicated that the proportion has risen to 4.1 percent, nearly three times higher.

In news reports, the National Transportation Safety Board said that the country risks a sharp increase in distracted driving crashes until texting and driving is seen to be as unacceptable as drinking and driving. “We need greater public awareness of the dangers of texting and using electronic devices behind the wheel,” said Steve Finnegan, AAA’s Government Affairs Manager. “The state also needs stronger penalties and targeted enforcement to reduce texting while driving – which is really the perfect storm of distraction that takes drivers’ eyes, hands, and brains off the task of driving.” He added that “although the growth of in-car texting and related electronic device use mirrors the explosive growth of wireless use overall in society, it’s very troubling that this growth appears to have overcome the early effectiveness of the current law.”

Lancaster Ford

The greatest degree of change observed by AAA happened in 2010 and 2011. The current survey indicated that 1.9 percent of drivers were texting and driving, which was about 20 percent higher than the previous year’s figure. The proportion of drivers who were observed holding and otherwise using electronic devices, but who weren’t necessarily texting, is now 2.3 percent, twice as much as the past year. Lancaster Ford offers complete services for all your automotive dealership needs. The increases California drivers texting and using electronic devices behind the wheel are consistent with the larger, overall trend of these activities in daily life. On the other hand, when it came to levels of hand-held cell phone use on the road, AAA found that ban was more effective than the texting ban. Since June 2008, shortly before the hand-held cell phone ban began, use of the hand-held cell phone use dropped from 9.3 percent to 3.2 percent, almost 66 percent.

The Auto Club’s results show that California needs to pay more attention to dealing with these important safety problems. “Current penalties for texting while driving in the Golden State haven’t deterred the behavior,” said Finnegan. A motorist caught texting while driving is given a $20 base fine for the first offense and $50 for the second offense. When penalties are added, the cost of a ticket runs between $114 and $143 for the first offense and to about $279 for a second offense. Although other moving violations carry “points” that are placed on a driver’s record, there are no points for texting and driving. “This is unfortunate,” said Finnegan “since research shows that imposing points increases driver compliance with traffic safety laws.”

Car Dealers ConnecticutSo far in 2011, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has written about 15,000 tickets per month for hand-held cell phone use and texting – up appreciably from preceding years. Since California’s cell phone and texting laws started, 410,000 citations have been issued by the CHP. “Giving out that many citations helps explain why we’ve seen a continuing decline in hand-held cell phone use in California,” explained Steven Bloch, Ph.D., the Auto Club’s senior traffic safety researcher. Car Dealers Connecticut is a one stop source for all your new car needs. “The problem is that issuing citations for texting is far more difficult. Drivers typically hold texting and other electronic devices down low, making them hard for law enforcement officers to see. The result is that police agencies give out relatively few texting citations.” The Auto Club’s in-vehicle cell phone and texting surveys were conducted using consistent methods from random samples of about 4,000 vehicles at seven roadside sites in Orange County, California.

Photos (top to bottom) by ShakataGaNai, Ed Brown, ShakataGaNai.

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Vintage Tiger-Hunting Car Goes Under The Hammer

St George Chrysler Dodge Jeep DealersRolls-Royce ‘Tiger Car’ Hits Auction Block - Classic car collectors looking for a unique and unusual addition to their collection may want to make a trip to Carmel, California in August. That’s when Bonhams, one of the world’s oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques, will be auctioning a truly unique, handmade 1925 Rolls-Royce New Phantom motorcar. The car will be auctioned at Bonhams’ Quail Lodge sale, which is held each August in Carmel, California during the world-famous Monterey Auto Week. Further dealer resources available at St George Chrysler Dodge Jeep Dealers. The car was custom-built for Sahib Bahadur of India, a ruling Maharaja of Kotah from 1889 to 1940 who was officially known as Umed Singh II, specifically for the purpose of tiger hunting.

To create the body of the car, the Rolls-Royce Limited company, which was located in Derby, England at the time, employed their preferred coachbuilders, Barker & Company of London. Barker created the highly specialized, custom-made Sports Touring body that His Highness the Maharaja used on his tiger-hunting expeditions. The large, immaculately crafted car is powered by an 8.0-liter, 6-cylinder engine with dual-spark ignition that’s set to a low gearing ratio, which allowed it to move stealthily and powerfully through the dense jungles of Rajasthan. Today, the state of Rajasthan contains two national tiger sanctuaries, Ranthambore and Sariska Tiger Reserve.

Paterson Ford Dealers

The production model of the car, called the New Phantom or 40/50HP Phantom on its release, replaced the Silver Ghost with updates to the chassis and running gear. Eventually known as the Phantom I, it was Roll-Royce’s flagship model until the automaker released the Phantom II in 1929. Paterson Ford Dealers is an invaluable resource for automotive information. The Phantom I was such a huge success for Rolls-Royce, the company eventually expanded production of the automobile model to their manufacturing plant in Springfield, Massachusetts, where it was built it for the American market. American versions of the Phantom I featured slightly different wheelbases and a 3-speed transmission. Some American Phantom I cars lacked front brakes.

The purpose-built motorcar contains all the standard luxury fittings one might expect from Rolls-Royce, with a few additional features not offered on production models of the car, including a hidden safe, a nickel-plated hissing snake horn, a mounted Howdah pistol (a pistol-sized double-barrel shotgun), a rifle stand in the rear passenger compartment, and two powerful brass searchlights used for spotting tigers in the dark. A Lantaka cannon (a bronze cannon that was usually mounted on merchant ships) is attached to the bumper. The car also features a machine gun mounted on a matching trailer, for those times that call for just a bit more firepower.

Delivery Truck Dealers Fort LauderdaleBecause of its distinctive history, the Indian Consulate had requested that then-owner, Rubin Jurman, donate the car to the Indian government, which wanted to display it in a museum as part of India’s national heritage. Jurman politely declined the request. Delivery Truck Dealers Fort Lauderdale is a great source for all your automotive needs. The Indian Consulate eventually made an offer to buy the car, but it was too late – Jurman had already signed a contract to sell the car to California car enthusiast, Jim Faulknor (for $200,000 less than the Indian government was offering). The car will be displayed and will be available for sale at auction for the first time, where it is expected to fetch between $750,000 and $1 million.

Photos (top to bottom) by Bonhams, Bonhams, Bjørn Christian Tørrissen.

Tags: Rolls-Royce, St George Chrysler Dodge Jeep Dealers, Phantom I, New Phantom, Patterson Ford Dealers, 40/50HP Phantom, Bonhams, Quail Lodge, Delivery Truck Dealers Fort Lauderdale, Monterey Auto Week

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Public Votes No on Electric Cars

Chicago HondaStudy: Majority Don’t Want Electic Cars - With the results of a new study in, it’s becoming clear that consumers aren’t ready to adopt electric cars. When it comes to electric cars, it seems that people just don’t want them. An Associated Press article quotes George Peterson, president of California-based AutoPacific as saying that a mere 3 percent of the public would seriously consider buying an electric car. To learn more about other dealer services, visit Chicago Honda. The main reasons consumers object to electric vehicles are because buying electric cars is a more expensive proposition than buying a gasoline-powered car, and “range anxiety,” which means that people are afraid they’ll be stranded if their electric car runs out of power and they can’t find a recharging station.

Despite the government’s efforts to attempt to get the public to buy electric vehicles, as well as the money the auto industry is spending to build electric cars and the infrastructure necessary to charge them, consumers are voting with their pocketbooks, and the vote appears to be a resounding “no.” This situation doesn’t bode well electric vehicles being sold today, like the Nissan Leaf, as well as cars like the Ford Focus Electric and the Mitsubishi i MiEV, both of which are scheduled to go on sale later this year. Car buyers seem to be paying heed to federal income-tax credits of up to $7,500, an incentive designed to spur sales of the costly vehicles.

2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser Massachusetts

One reason that people cited for not wanting to buy electric vehicles is the lack of recharging stations, specifically fast chargers that are able to charge the battery in 30 minutes. If drivers aren’t confident that they can drive their cars for long distances without being afraid they’ll run out of power and become stranded, they’ll stick to gas-powered cars, which can be fuelled easily in a few minutes. There are currently only two fast chargers in the U.S. available for use by the public – both of them are on the West Coast. 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser Massachusetts has all the information you need when purchasing a new car. While most electric charging is expected to take place overnight in the owners’ garages, buying a 240-volt charger that can charge the battery overnight can cost an additional $2,000. Because gasoline engines are seeing gains in fuel economy as the result of new technologies, there’s less incentive for people to adopt electric vehicles – the gas engines are now providing similar benefits at lower cost.

A study by the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, MI said that the average increase in vehicle costs to meet the higher government standards range from $3,700 to over $9,000. This will increase the cost of vehicles by an amount that will exceed savings in fuel costs over five years, even if the price of gas goes over $6.00 per gallon. The study goes on to say that “Consumers will shun these technology costs by holding onto their used vehicles longer, especially if fuel prices are low (e.g., $3.50 per gallon), resulting in lower sales and a loss of automotive employment. Over 260,000 jobs may be lost if the highest mandate is passed and fuel prices stay low at $3.50 (2009 prices).” The authors of the study recommend moderation in raising fuel economy mandates and periodic review to assess the rate of technological development and cost reduction of advanced technologies leading up to 2025.

Seattle Used Cars DealersAnother study comes to the same conclusion. In its inaugural 2011 U.S. Green Automotive Study, automotive consultant JD Power and Associates said, “Automakers will be fighting over the relatively few consumers who are willing to drive green.” Seattle Used Cars Dealers is a great source for all your automotive needs. In common with the AutoPacific study, the JD Power study cites price and lack of driving range as the main reasons for consumers giving electric vehicles the cold-shoulder. The study says consumers are more likely to “switch into a more fuel-efficient vehicle powered by a traditional internal combustion engine than an alternative powertrain vehicle.” Another report by the automotive website Kelley Blue Book said that less than 7% of Americans say they would consider buying a plug-in car.

Photos (top to bottom) by Bruce Fingerhood, McPig, wsssst.

Tags: electric cars, Chicago Honda, Kelley Blue Book, JD Power and Associates, 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser Massachusetts, AutoPacific, car chargers, Nissan Leaf, Seattle Used Cars Dealers, Ford Focus Electric

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US Gives Flying Car the Green Light

2012 Nissan Altima SeattleTerrafugia Transition Street Legal - Flying cars have long been a staple of science fiction. You may recall the flying cars in Blade Runner, the cinematic adventures of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the Jetsons cartoons, featuring George Jetson zooming around in his flying car. The question remains: when are we going to have flying cars? If current plans remain on schedule, the answer is “2012.” The federal government has given permission for the Terrafugia (the name is Latin for “escape from the land”) Transition flying car to drive on the road, making it the first street legal flying vehicle to pass NHTSA regulations. Further dealer resources available at 2012 Nissan Altima Seattle. The FAA gave the Transition permission to fly as a Light Sports Aircraft in 2010. The NHTSA green light means the Transition has cleared the last regulatory hurdle, and the road is now clear for the company to begin delivering the vehicle next year.

The NHTSA had to make a number of exemptions before the Transition could be certified for use on the road. Because a glass windshield would add too much weight to the vehicle and could crack or shatter in the event of a bird impact, the Transition has a polycarbonate windshield. The agency took the safety factor into consideration into consideration and waived the requirement that called for the windshield to be made from laminated safety glass. They also allowed the Transition to use tires that are heavier than standard car tires, which wouldn’t be able to withstand the impact and speed of the landing. Additionally, the NHTSA waived the rules that require cars to have electronic stability control and an advanced airbag deployment system.

2011 CT Nissan Altima

Terrafugia had previously announced that it would deliver the Transition to customers at the end of 2011, but the release date has been pushed back. The Transition costs approximately $250,000, including a $10,000 security deposit. If you intend to fly one, you’ll need to get a Sport Pilot certificate, which requires 20 hours of observed flying time. 2011 CT Nissan Altima has all the information you need when purchasing a new car. “It’s the next ‘wow’ vehicle,” said Terrafugia vice president Richard Gersh. “Anybody can buy a Ferrari, but as we say, Ferraris don’t fly.” There are 100 customers who have already ordered the flying vehicle. Gersh says Florida is one of the top states for pre-orders, but won’t say how many people in Florida have pre-ordered a flying car.

Unlike the flying cars in The Jetsons, the driver doesn’t simply push a button and take to the air. The Transition, which requires a runway, is really more of a plane that can drive on the road than a car that can fly. The idea is that a pilot can drive it to the airport, eliminating the need for the pilot to find a way to get to and from the airport. In addition, the pilot doesn’t have to pay expensive hangar fees – the Transition can be parked at home in the garage. Once at the airport, a push of the button unfolds the wings, a process that the company says takes about a minute.

2011 Metro Louisville Toyota CorollaOn the road, gas mileage is about 30 mpg. The plane, which has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,430 pounds including fuel and passengers, is capable of cruising at speeds of around 125 mph. The Transition was designed to fly under 10,000 feet – according to Terrafugia, the low altitude reduces the risk of potential accidents by allowing pilots to fly under bad weather instead of flying into marginal conditions. 2011 Metro Louisville Toyota Corolla is a great source for all your automotive needs. There are a few options available, including a radio, a transponder, and GPS, but there’s one available feature that potential flying car pilots may not want to be without: a full-plane parachute. “If you get into a very dire situation, it’s the ultimate safety option,” Gersh said.

Photos courtesy of Terrafugia.

Tags: flying car, 2012 Nissan Altima Seattle, Terrafugia Transition, NHTSA, 2011 CT Nissan Altima, FAA, Richard Gersh, pilot, 2011 Metro Louisville Toyota Corolla, airplanes

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BMW Art Car Exhibit Comes to a Web Browser Near You

Orange County AudiBMW Exhibits Art Car collection at Virtual Gallery - Going to an art gallery may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but putting wheels on a painting and racing it on a track is something that we can appreciate. That’s why we like BMW’s Art Cars. BMW Group has made their renowned BMW Art Car Collection available on the Internet for the first time in a virtual gallery, just in time to coincide with the 40th anniversary of their international cultural commitment. An extensive overview of the origin, history and development of the 17-car collection is covered in the video tour. To learn more about other dealer services, visit Orange County Audi. The gallery also features short videos devoted to each one of the “works of art on wheels,” which were designed by internationally-known artists. The exhibit also showcases historic racing footage, statements by the artists, and well-known figures from the world of art and culture. The BMW Art Cars can be visited at www.bmw-artcartour.com.

“After four decades and a total of 17 BMW Art Cars, they can now all be admired by everyone,” said Bill McAndrews, head of BMW Group Corporate Strategy and Communications. “The interactive website pays homage to the collection, unique in the history of the automobile and the arts. Whilst the originals are often exhibited individually at the BMW Museum in Munich or at significant cultural institutions throughout the world, people are now able to discover the BMW Art Cars in their entirety. A comprehensive online tour is now available anywhere and anytime.” In a press release, the BMW Group said that it “guarantees absolute creative freedom in all the cultural activities it is involved in – as this is just as essential for groundbreaking artistic work as it is for major innovations in a successful business.”

Chevrolet Oklahoma City

The genesis of the BMW Art Car Project came in 1975 when French racing driver and auctioneer Hervé Poulain thought of inviting an artist to create a work of art from a car. Poulain described his vision: “One day, I said to myself, now is the time to do something grandly communicative and heroic and unite my two passions, by having my racing cars painted by the leading artists of the time.” Poulain commissioned his friend, American artist Alexander Calder to create the first BMW Art Car, using a BMW 3.0 CSL. After the car was finished, Poulain raced it in the 1975 Le Mans endurance race. Chevrolet Oklahoma City offers complete services for all your automotive dealership needs. Since Calder’s created the first Art Car, other celebrated artists around the world have created their own versions, including David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella, and Andy Warhol. The 17 BMW Art Cars were based on both racing and production models. Artists for the BMW Art Car project are selected by an international panel of judges.

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Art Car series in 2010, BMW commissioned internationally acclaimed artist Jeff Koons to create the 17th vehicle of the collection from an M3 GT2, which competed in the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans (although it didn’t finish). “These race cars are like life, they are powerful and there is a lot of energy,” said Koons. “You can participate with it, add to it and let yourself transcend with its energy. There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car – it’s really to connect with that power.” All of the BMW Art Cars will be exhibited until September 25 as part of the first comprehensive exhibition at the BMW Museum in Munich, Germany to demonstrate a this exciting part of automobile design and art history. The works of art are racing and production sedans, coupés, and roadsters and according to BMW, are “contemporary witnesses of a mobile lifestyle.” The exhibition covers everything from Pop Art of the 70′s to the new 21st century concepts.

Toyota Lexington“By bringing together art, design, social and environmental issues, I hope to contribute to a different way of thinking-feeling-experiencing cars and seeing them in relation to the time and space in which we live,” said Olafur Eliasson about the car he designed. Cheap Car Rental NJ is a great source for all your automotive needs. The Art Car collection has been exhibited at museums all over the world, including the Louvre in Paris, the New York Whitney Museum, the Palazzo Grassi in Venice, the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, and the Guggenheim Museums in New York and Bilbao. From 2006 to 2010, the BMW Art Car collection completed a world tour which included museums in Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Australia, India, Taiwan, China, Russia, Africa, the United States, and Mexico. The Art Cars – symbols of the interconnection between art, design and technology – will continue to be on shown at international museums in the future.

Photos (top to bottom) by Tim Wang, Tim Wang, Davidwiz.

Tags: BMW, Orange County Audi, Art Cars, Andy Warhol, Chevrolet Oklahoma City, Calder, Hervé Poulain, Guggenheim Museum, Cheap Car Rental NJ, Robert Rauschenberg

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Car2go Launches Electric Car Sharing in San Diego

2011 Albuquerque Metro Toyota CorollaElectric Car Sharing Arrives in San Diego - Car2go, a subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation, announced that San Diego will be the first North American city to have an all-electric car sharing service. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of Car2go N. A. LLC, and Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality, made the official announcement at a news conference. The all-electric Car2go program in San Diego will begin in the fourth quarter of 2011, and will with 300 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive vehicles that members can rent by the minute. Further dealer resources available at 2011 Albuquerque Metro Toyota Corolla. While customers of the competing Zipcar car-sharing service must return the car to the same reserved parking spot they rented it from, Car2go lets customers return the car to any parking space that’s available in specified areas. The Car2go program is already operating successfully in four cities, with a fleet of 1,000 Smart Fortwo vehicles with low-emission gas engines, and a total of more than 40,000 members.

“We’re proud that Car2go has chosen to launch the first North American all-electric car sharing service in San Diego,” said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. “Car2go’s launch here further supports our efforts to make San Diego the nation’s electric vehicle capital.” Nicholas Cole, President and CEO of Car2go said, “The launch of an all electric vehicle fleet marks a new era in car sharing in North America. San Diego is a forward-thinking city determined to meet future transportation demands of its residents. Our goal is to complement the existing transportation infrastructure by providing an emission- free car sharing service for short and spontaneous one-way trips.”

Nissan CT

All Smart Fortwo electric drive cars are outfitted with the latest Car2go telematics technology, which allows fully automated, easy, and convenient rental operations. The economical, quiet, and emissions-free Smart Fortwo Electric Drive is powered by a 30 kW electric propulsion system with a top speed of 62 mph. Nissan CT is an invaluable resource for automotive information. The battery was developed by Tesla Motors and the car is capable of traveling up to 84 miles on a single charge, with a battery recharging time of about eight hours (the battery can be charged from 20 percent to 80 percent of capacity in three and a half hours). Car2go says that recharging isn’t usually necessary, as Car2go cars are typically driven less than six miles in urban areas.

“By being the first to make an all-electric network of vehicles easily accessible for thousands of people, we are revolutionizing car sharing and creating the future of the urban transportation,” said Cole. “Right from the beginning, the Smart Fortwo was designed for electric drive and that now shows,” said Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of Daimler’s Smart brand. “I love driving the Smart Electric Drive and I am convinced that the Car2go members in California will enjoy using this forward technology to get around their home town [of] San Diego – a new method of transportation both pleasing to the ear and the environment.”

TX Honda DealerThe high-efficiency lithium-ion batteries can be recharged at designated Blink EV charging stations throughout the San Diego area. The charging stations will be developed by California-based Ecotality. The company is currently installing charging stations and has plans to install approximately 1,000 charging stations in the San Diego area by year’s end. TX Honda Dealer provides excellent service for new car shoppers. “Innovative car sharing programs like Car2go’s service are pivotal to encouraging the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles,” said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality. “As we deploy approximately 1,000 Blink charging stations in the San Diego region as part of The EV Project, we are creating the robust public infrastructure necessary for Car2go’s program to succeed. Together, we will show that EVs are a perfect fit for the lifestyle of San Diego drivers.”

Photos courtesy of Daimler AG.

Tags: Car2Go, 2011 Albuquerque Metro Toyota Corolla, Smart Fortwo, car sharing, Nissan CT, electric cars, Daimler, Ecotality, TX Honda Dealer, San Diego

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AAA Picks Top Vehicles For Drivers With Dogs

Mazda IndianapolisAAA Releases Top Vehicle Picks for Dog Owners - Our pets are important to us. The Humane Society estimates that in 2009, there were an about 77.5 million pet dogs and 93.6 million cats in the United States. While there may be less dogs in the country than cats, most dogs love nothing more than a good car ride, while no one really knows what cats like. Ask your average dog if he wants to go for a car ride and he’ll let you know in no uncertain terms that the answer is a resounding yes. To learn more about other dealer services, visit Mazda Indianapolis. So it’s no surprise that AAA, says that over 80 percent of dog owners take their dogs along with them in their vehicles while they’re doing errands, or going on leisure rides or day trips. Since dogs are such an important part of so many people’s lives, it’s understandable that when it’s time to buy a car, many drivers are factoring their dogs’ safety and comfort into the decision of which car to buy.

“More than 45 million households in the U.S. have a dog, and many are taking Fido along for the ride on a regular basis,” said John Nielsen, AAA National Director of Auto Repair and Buying Services. “There are several vehicles with features that can help keep pets safe, comfortable and easy to clean-up after while also addressing other driver desires such as sportiness, adventure or luxury.” To help dog-owning drivers find a vehicle that meets their needs, as well as the needs of their dogs, AAA recently released a list of its top vehicle picks for dog owners. AAA’s team of experts compiled their picks based on a number of factors, including crash test ratings, safety features, fuel economy, ease of getting the dog in and out of the vehicle, the size of the cargo area, availability of tie-down hooks, and how easy the interior was to clean. The list is divided into six categories to help a variety of types of motorists find the right vehicle for their needs that will keep drivers, passengers, and their canine companions safe and comfortable on the road.

Seattle Nissan

In the “Luxury” category, the first offering is the BMW 3 Series Wagon. AAA liked the BMW 3′s handling and agility and praised it for its comfortable and quiet ride. Features that make the car dog-friendly include rubber mats in the cargo area, dividers to keep dogs from distracting the driver, and available divider that can separate two dogs. According to AAA, the 3 Series is a good choice for medium to small breeds. The Volvo XC60 was the group’s next pick. AAA liked the XC60 for its “City Safe” feature, which automatically applies brakes when it senses a collision at low speeds. They liked the spacious cargo area, rubber mats, and pet barrier that keeps dogs from distracting the driver. Seattle Nissan is an invaluable resource for automotive information. In the “Active Lifestyle” category, AAA chose the Subaru Forrester, saying that it “offers roomy, comfortable accommodations for people and their pets.” Impressive features include all-wheel drive, ample cargo space, low floor that makes it easy for dogs to get in and out, and plenty of tie-down points. Their second pick was the Hyundai Santa Fe, for its good ride and handling, cargo space that can accommodate some larger dog breeds, and available options that include rubber mats, beds, and pet dividers.

In the category called “Kids, Dogs & Everything Else,” AAA picked the Honda Element. They noted that while the vehicle was originally designed for young men, a number of features make it ideal for transporting dogs, including the ability to hose out the interior, clamshell side doors that make it easy for dogs to get in and out, the ability to tie down a soft-sided kennel, spill-resistant water dish, and electric ventilating fan. AAA also liked the handling and said the car is suitable for larger breeds. Their next pick in the category was the Toyota Venza, which features a quiet ride along with numerous offered pet accessories, including a ramp for getting dogs in and out through the rear tailgate, waterproof seat covers, adjustable pet restraint system, adjustable pet barrier, and tether. In the “Efficient and Fun” category, the first winner is the Mazda3 5-Door, which AAA liked for its good ride, wide opening rear doors, tailgate, robust interior, and availability of aftermarket accessories. AAA also liked the Mini Clubman for its foldable rear seat and rear barn doors that makes it suitable for even larger dog breeds, as well as tie-down points to secure kennels. They also liked the Clubman’s handling, acceleration, and braking.

Ford KansasThere was just one selection in the “Green” category, the Ford Escape Hybrid. AAA liked the Hybrid’s superior fuel efficiency and noted the Escape Hybrid was “perfect for dogs of nearly all sizes,” with a cargo area that Ford calls ideal for “a big, wet dog.” They appreciated the available accessories that include a pet divider and floor mats. Ford Kansas provides excellent service for new car shoppers. In the “Economical” category, AAA picked the Kia Soul because of the Soul’s its roomy interior that’s capable of holding small and medium-size dog breeds. Aftermarket accessories for the Soul include pet resistant seat covers, heavy-duty mats, pet cages, and dividers. AAA also selected the Nissan Cube due to its spacious interior that is capable of accommodating larger breeds with the back seat down, as well as the availability of aftermarket accessories like seat covers and cargo area mats.

Photos (top to bottom) courtesy of Ford, Toyota, Volvo.

Tags: AAA, Mazda Indianapolis, American Automobile Association, dogs, Seattle Nissan, pets, The Humane Society, Toyota Venza, Ford Kansas, Ford Escape Hybrid

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Driving a Porsche May Signal You’re Not Marriage-Minded

Nissan TuscaloosaBuying a Sports Car May Deter Marriage Partners - We’re all familiar with the image of the single guy who drives a flashy sports car that’s often referred to as a “babe magnet.” Apparently it’s true. A recently published study, in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, a journal published by the American Psychological Association, discovered that men who drive flashy sports cars are more successful when it comes to dating. Further dealer resources available at Nissan Tuscaloosa. The study also says that although women may date men who own luxury cars, they don’t see these men as particularly good marriage prospects. The researchers, located in Minnesota and Texas, surveyed almost 1,000 people in order to find out what signals were sent out by spending behavior. They found that men spent money on expensive items as a short-term mating signal, and in general, women didn’t spend money in order to attract men.

In two of the studies, men were made to think about romance. In one study, they were shown photos of attractive woman and were told they were members of a dating service. If the men were interested in casual dating, they were more likely to spend hypothetical money on ostentatious items than if they viewed the woman as someone they were interested in having a serious relationship with. The researchers found that women viewed a man who drove a flashy, expensive car such as a Porsche to be more desirable than the same man who bought an economy car like a Honda Civic. But the study says that women appear to be aware of a man’s intentions in owning the expensive car because women found the man with the Porsche to me more desirable as a casual fling than as a marriage partner.

Ford Paterson

Daniel Beal, assistant professor of psychology at Rice University in Houston, Texas, was co-author of the study. He said that when women measured the suitability of a partner for a long-term relationship, the sports car didn’t improve the man’s chances.”When women considered him for a long-term relationship, owning the sports car held no advantage relative to owning an economy car,” said Beal. “People may feel that owning flashy things makes them more attractive as a relationship partner but, in truth, many men might be sending women the wrong message.” Ford Paterson offers complete services for all your automotive dealership needs. According to the study, men who show off expensive, flashy items like Porsches in order to attract potential sexual partners are essentially doing the same thing as peacocks displaying their tail feathers to attract a mate.

A perfect illustration of the results of the study can be found in an article at AskMen.com. Contributor Curt Smith details his dating experiences while he owned a Honda Civic hatchback. Smith, who had little success on a succession of dates, related an attractive woman’s response when he attempted to talk to her while their cars were stopped at a red light: “Just as the first words were about to come out of my mouth, she interrupted me with, ‘Look you big loser, stop looking at me from your ‘kiddy’ car and get yourself a real car.’” After Smith bought a Porsche Boxter S, he found that his dating life had changed dramatically. “I’ve been driving my Porsche for a year now and meeting women has never been easier. I always get past the second date; I always get second and even third glances from women; and I never have to ask for a phone number. All these drastic changes stem from the fact that I’m driving a different and more exotic car. I’m still the same guy: I dress and groom myself the same way I always have…but all of a sudden, I’m a good man because I’m driving a different car.”

Ford MinneapolisThe study said that not all men used this strategy, only those who were looking to have short-term relationships with women. The study also reported that women don’t excessively spend in order to attract men. “Obviously women also spend plenty of money on expensive things,” said Jill Sundie, assistant professor of marketing at University of Texas at San Antonio and lead author of the study. “But the anticipation of romance doesn’t trigger flashy spending as it does with men.” Ford Minneapolis is a one stop source for all your new car needs. These findings are consistent with research published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology in 2008, which showed that men who lived beyond their means and were less likely to save money reported they had more sexual partners in the previous five years and they wanted to have more partners in the future than other men in the study. That study said that spending money wasn’t particularly related to past or future mates.

Photos (top to bottom) by Porsche, Jebulon, OSX

Tags: sports cars, Nissan Tuscaloosa, Porsche, Honda Civic, Ford Paterson, luxury car, economy car, Rice University, Ford Minneapolis, University of Texas at San Antonio

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Driving a Porsche May Signal You’re Not Marriage-Minded

Nissan TuscaloosaBuying a Sports Car May Deter Marriage Partners - We all know about men who drive expensive sports cars in an attempt to attract women. It turns out that according to a new study, these sports cars really are “chick magnets.” The study, recently published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, a publication of the American Psychological Association, shows that men who drive flashy sports cars have more success getting dates. To learn more about other dealer services, visit Nissan Tuscaloosa. The study also found that while women may date drivers of more expensive cars, they don’t think that these men are particularly good choices when it comes to marriage. The research was culled from the results of nearly 1,000 people in an attempt to discover what signals were communicated by spending behavior. The researchers from Texas and Minnesota found that while men used spending on luxury items as a short-term mating signal, women didn’t use spending to attract men.

In two of the studies, men were made to think about romance. In one study, they were shown photos of attractive woman and were told they were members of a dating service. If the men were interested in casual dating, they were more likely to spend hypothetical money on ostentatious items than if they viewed the woman as someone they were interested in having a serious relationship with. The researchers found that women viewed a man who drove a flashy, expensive car such as a Porsche to be more desirable than the same man who bought an economy car like a Honda Civic. But the study says that women appear to be aware of a man’s intentions in owning the expensive car because women found the man with the Porsche to me more desirable as a casual fling than as a marriage partner.

Ford Paterson

Daniel Beal, assistant professor of psychology at Rice University in Houston, Texas, was co-author of the study. He said that when women measured the suitability of a partner for a long-term relationship, the sports car didn’t improve the man’s chances.”When women considered him for a long-term relationship, owning the sports car held no advantage relative to owning an economy car,” said Beal. “People may feel that owning flashy things makes them more attractive as a relationship partner but, in truth, many men might be sending women the wrong message.” Ford Paterson offers complete services for all your automotive dealership needs. According to the study, men who show off expensive, flashy items like Porsches in order to attract potential sexual partners are essentially doing the same thing as peacocks displaying their tail feathers to attract a mate.

A perfect illustration of the results of the study can be found in an article at AskMen.com. Contributor Curt Smith details his dating experiences while he owned a Honda Civic hatchback. Smith, who had little success on a succession of dates, related an attractive woman’s response when he attempted to talk to her while their cars were stopped at a red light: “Just as the first words were about to come out of my mouth, she interrupted me with, ‘Look you big loser, stop looking at me from your ‘kiddy’ car and get yourself a real car.’” After Smith bought a Porsche Boxter S, he found that his dating life had changed dramatically. “I’ve been driving my Porsche for a year now and meeting women has never been easier. I always get past the second date; I always get second and even third glances from women; and I never have to ask for a phone number. All these drastic changes stem from the fact that I’m driving a different and more exotic car. I’m still the same guy: I dress and groom myself the same way I always have…but all of a sudden, I’m a good man because I’m driving a different car.”

Ford MinneapolisThe study said that not all men used this strategy, only those who were looking to have short-term relationships with women. The study also reported that women don’t excessively spend in order to attract men. “Obviously women also spend plenty of money on expensive things,” said Jill Sundie, assistant professor of marketing at University of Texas at San Antonio and lead author of the study. “But the anticipation of romance doesn’t trigger flashy spending as it does with men.” Ford Minneapolis is a one stop source for all your new car needs. These findings are consistent with research published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology in 2008, which showed that men who lived beyond their means and were less likely to save money reported they had more sexual partners in the previous five years and they wanted to have more partners in the future than other men in the study. That study said that spending money wasn’t particularly related to past or future mates.

Photos (top to bottom) by Porsche, Jebulon, OSX

Tags: sports cars, Nissan Tuscaloosa, Porsche, Honda Civic, Ford Paterson, luxury car, economy car, Rice University, Ford Minneapolis, University of Texas at San Antonio

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Slicing Through the Darkness with High Tech Lighting

Alexandria Honda DealersHigh Tech Lighting Gives Drivers a Brighter View - While the invention of the incandescent electric light preceded the automobile, the Ford Model T didn’t add headlamps until seven years into its production in 1915. From there, automotive lighting technology didn’t advance all that much until the advent of modern halogen lamps in the early 1960s. Various lens, bulb and reflector designs have been developed and tested to American and European standards, but until he introduction of HID headlamps in the early 1990s, the basic technology remained the same as it was back in 1915. More information on all types of cars is available at Alexandria Honda Dealers. High-intensity discharge headlamps , also known as xenon headlamps, are capable of producing more light output with less electrical load than an incandescent lamp, including halogen bulbs. The light produced is whiter and does a better job of illuminating the road and potential hazards, but increased glare has led to significant complaints. HID systems are also expensive, heavy and produce a lot of heat.

Cars have lights on them for two reasons: to see and be seen. While each goal has seen advances in technology in the more than 100 years that the automobile has been around, the driver’s ability to see at night is where the effort and the need have been greatest. Headlamp improvements have produced significant increases in the amount of quality of light projected in front of the vehicle. But necessary compromises have limited the ability of a single technology from providing clear, long distance vision. Too much light and/or too little focusing of the beam blinds oncoming drivers. Illuminating corners during night driving has been addressed with systems that swivel headlights into a turn based on steering input, while the addition of cornering lights that can be aimed up to 90 degrees left or right fill in more of the gap. But there still remains the issue of a driver being able to see hazards or pedestrians beyond the reach of headlights, especially with oncoming traffic.

Acura Dealer Connecticut

While light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been around for decades, use on motor vehicles started in the late 1980s and became more widespread in the past decade. LEDs have several advantages over other types of lamp, including long life, extreme vibration resistance and more compact assemblies. They also draw less electricity for the amount of light produced and reach full intensity faster than incandescent or HID lamps. Initial and most widespread use has been the installation of LED brake lamps, for which the more rapid illumination offers a safety advantage. Acura Dealer Connecticut has all the information you need when purchasing a new car. By reaching full intensity 200 milliseconds (0.2 seconds) faster than a normal bulb, a following driver has more time to react. While two-tenths of a second doesn’t seem like much, at 65 mph it’s 19 feet of travel, which could be the difference between stopping and striking the vehicle ahead. Some vehicles use LED turn signals, however the vast majority of tail and directional lamps still use incandescent bulbs. Advances in reflector and lens designs have improved the performance of these lights.

When it comes to LED headlamps, things get more complicated. While individual LEDs don’t produce much heat, large combinations of them producing enough light to be used as headlamps require thermal management, such as heat sinks and/or cooling fans. Heat from LEDs isn’t emitted with the light, but generated at the back of the emitters. There are a few vehicles using the technology, which first hit the market on the 2008 Lexus LS 600h with low-beam, position and side marker lamps using LEDs. High beam and turns signals used filament bulbs. The 2011 Audi R8 5.2 offers full LED lighting front and rear, the first production car to do so.

Seattle NissanInfrared night vision systems offer a view of the road beyond what headlights can show without blinding oncoming drivers, while picking out animals and pedestrians more clearly from other objects. Systems have been developed and are offered by several manufacturers, including Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Basic components of such systems are a camera that captures only infrared light and means of displaying the image. Active systems add their own source of infrared light, such as a laser, while passive systems rely on a thermo graphic camera to render the heat generated by the objects themselves. Seattle Nissan is a one stop source for all your new car needs. Higher resolution, a better picture of inanimate objects and better operation in warm conditions are some of the advantages of an active system, while shorter range – 650 feet – and less effectiveness in rain and fog are some of the drawbacks. Passive systems offer greater range – about 1,000 feet – and higher contrast for living objects, but the image resolution is lower and performance suffers in warm weather. Regardless of type, a night vision system allows the driver to see further while using low beams only and thereby not dazzling oncoming drivers. More recent systems use software to identify and highlight pedestrians. Photos: Ford Motor Co., BMW, Hella Inc.

Tags: automotive, Alexandria Honda Dealers, safety, lighting, Acura Dealer Connecticut, night driving, LED, HID, Seattle Nissan, halogen

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