Recently, I bought new tires for my vehicle. Shortly thereafter, I got new brakes. And, upon returning home from the brake shop, my insurance bill for the next six months was in the mailbox. Fabulous. Owning a vehicle isn’t cheap. Things like insurance, regular maintenance costs, repairs, depreciation of a vehicle over time, and even annual registration fees (these can be quite costly, depending on … Read More
Car Ownership
News and tips related to being an automobile driver and owner
Beating the Polar Vortex One Day at a Time
You can’t turn on the news these days without hearing something about the polar vortex. It’s not confined to just the weathercasters talking about it anymore—it’s everywhere. And when I see those poor newscasters out there in the cold, reporting about it…well, I realize it’s their job, but I still feel bad for them. But, in plain English, what IS this thing they call the … Read More
FCA Hits the Mark with Super Bowl Commercials
Regardless of who your team is, almost everyone can agree — we watch the Super Bowl just as much for the commercials as anything else. And let’s be real, this year’s game quickly became more about the commercials than the (lack-of) game. Known for their impassioned and lengthy Super Bowl commercials, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA — formerly known as Chrysler Group LLC and Fiat SpA) … Read More
Get better gas mileage and save at the pump
Did you make a New Year’s resolution? Was it, by chance, to spend less and/or save more? Well, New Year’s resolution or no, one of the best ways to not spend as much this year is to make fewer trips to the gas station. Especially at todays gas prices. Ask any “expert” and the first suggestion he/she will almost always give as one of the … Read More
Not my first rodeo? – RAM Rodeo series, part 1
When I got the idea to write a series about rodeos, I thought, “How tough can this be?” I mean, talk about exciting! Buckin’ broncos and bull ridin’ and barrel racin’. Throw in the fact that the events I’ll be attending are all sponsored by RAM Trucks and I’m good to go, right? This was going to be FUN! During the holidays, there was a … Read More
Tis the season to… travel
Ahhhh…the holiday travel season. What fun it is! NOT. As with almost every year for the last five years, AAA is projecting near-record travelers to be on the roads again for the 2013 holiday season. “While economic growth has stagnated and consumer confidence has fallen Americans will not be Scrooges when it comes to traveling this year,” said AAA Chicago Regional President Brad Roeber. “Of … Read More
Gift ideas for motorheads and non-motorheads alike!
The holiday gift-giving season has arrived and if any of you are anything like me, you’ve got at least one person on your list with question marks beside his/her name. It’s true. We all have people who either go out and buy whatever they want, leaving nothing for family and friends to get for them, or folks who just never really mention anything they like … Read More
Staying safe this winter season
Winter weather started early this year and we saw news clips from around the country of vehicles slipping, sliding, spinning, and – in some cases – tumbling into ditches or medians. These aren’t pretty sights for anyone. Of course, the best advice, the advice heard most often, is to just stay put, wherever you are (hopefully in the comfort and warmth of your home). But … Read More
Country Strong
Growing up in America’s heartland, my cousins were dairy farmers. I remember them getting up to do the milking before school, on Sundays before church and even on Christmas morning. Once, when I was little, Jack tried to explain to me that the cows didn’t know the difference between Christmas and any other day. At the time, I just couldn’t comprehend how that was possible. … Read More