D'ELLA Buick GMC Cadillac

How Servicing Your Car Can Extend its Life (Even Further!)

2012-02-08T11:07:00.001-08:00

As acar buyer, you’ve experienced the uneasy feeling of maintaining yourvehicle. In most recent years, advancesin technology have lessened visits to the service department, but routineservice should still not be missed. Ourdealership is a safe haven for your car, catering to its specific needs, like apreventative care center. One of themain questions you ask when purchasing a new or used vehicle is: How reliableit is? In today’s blog, we provide some tips to maintaining your vehicle andhow to extend the already long life of your vehicle.

1. Read thevehicle manual and schedule maintenance appointments - Keeping up with yourvehicle’s scheduled maintenance is key to avoiding costly problems to thecooling system, drivetrain, suspension etc…

2. Call your dealership and ask questions – We’rehere to help. If you have any servicequestions feel free to call us with your questions.

3. Have yourdealership check fluids – Always come in and ask us check the level ofantifreeze, oil, transmission fluid, and brake fluid regularly.

4. Change oil regularly – By changing youroil when your dealership requests it, you can protect your engine. Every car is different, so call us to get theexact information for your specific vehicle make and model.

5. Request afluid flush every two years – By flushing the power steering, brake, andcooling system fluid when it is pertinent, you can cleanse your car’s liquidsin one fell swoop. However, if you havegone more than 50k miles without a change, on many transmissions, it is not thegreatest idea to do so. It can causebreakdown varnish and other solids that have built up in the transmission overtime.

6. Have thetires rotated – Having your tires rotated at your nearest dealership shouldbe second nature. By doing so, you canavoid uneven wear and tear on the tread, extending the life of your tires.

Theseare just a few tips to help you maintain your vehicle in your daily commute,feel free to add your comments below!

# Automotive Advertising

Car People Who Know Grub: Quick Thanksgiving Recipes

2011-11-23T07:12:00.001-08:00

Everyone is huddled around a longtable, the soft scent of cranberry fused with smoked turkey emanates from thesmall area. Your plate is already fullto the brim with Turkey, doused in gravy and soaked up by a monstrous pile ofstuffing. You look down at your plateand smile. Yes, this is perfection. Thanksgiving is the best time of theyear. It’s a celebratory holiday forfamily, friends and an ice-cold brewski. In other words, it’s AWESOME. Intoday’s blog, we’re showing you that us car people can cook, too! For those of you on your last minute cookingbinge, pay attention! We’ve got a coupleof quick recipes courtesy of the Food Network for you:

WorldsSimplest Thanksgiving Turkey

Time:3 Hours

Preheat the oven to 325degrees F. Pull the neck and giblets out of the cavity; ditch the liverand save the rest of the gibletsfor gravy. Dry the turkey with paper towels, then season inside and out withsalt and pepper. Fill the turkey with aromatics like chopped onions,carrots,applesand herbs,then place breast-side up in a roasting pan and brush with melted butter. Tentwith foil and roast for 2 hours (for a 10- to 12-pound turkey;add an extra 15 minutes per pound for larger birds). Remove the foil, bastewith more melted butterand crank the oven to 425 degrees F. Roast for another hour or until the meatat the thigh registers 165 degrees F. Let rest while you make the gravy.

Pumpkin Pie

Time: 1 Hour 35 min

Ingredients

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, optional
1 piece pre-made pie dough
Whipped cream, for topping

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place 1 piece of pre-made pie dough down into a (9-inch) pie pan andpress down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges togetherto make a pretty pattern. Put the pie shell back into the freezer for 1 hour tofirm up. Fit a piece of aluminum foil to cover the inside of the shellcompletely. Fill the shell up to the edges with pie weights or dried beans(about 2 pounds) and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the foiland pie weights and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust is dried outand beginning to color.

For the filling, in a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with ahand mixer. Add the pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the sugar and salt,and beat until combined. Add the eggs mixed with the yolks, half-and-half, andmelted butter, and beat until combined. Finally, add the vanilla, cinnamon, andginger, if using, and beat until incorporated.

Pour the filling into the warm prepared pie crust and bake for 50minutes, or until the center is set. Place the pie on a wire rack and cool toroom temperature. Cut into slices and top each piece with a generous amount ofwhipped cream.

Enjoy!! Happy Thanksgiving!

Automotive Advertising

Tips on Buying New & Used Cars

2011-11-16T11:36:00.001-08:00

Carsare an investment. We know that carbuying is a huge decision, affecting financing, safety, and reliance. We know that car buying is a difficult. We’re here to help. In today’s blog, we've decided to provide theadvantages of buying new and used. The decisionreally boils down to what you can afford and what option will give you peace ofmind in the future.

BuyingNew

· Reduced Maintenance – buying a new vehicle meansno worries for a while. Only theoccasional tune-up and oil change are required.

· Warranty Coverage – the manufacturer covers newvehicles under warranty for at least 3 years, some even longer. Withmanufacturer warranties, if something goes wrong it's the responsibility of thedealer and manufacturer to fix it.

· Peace of Mind – if you do encounter problemswith a new vehicle, you have legal recourse through state lemon laws (availablein every state).

· Roadside Assistance – All mainstream new carscome with free roadside assistance while the vehicle is under warranty. Also, you could be reimbursed for alternatetransportation should something goes wrong.

BuyUsed

· Increased Choice – With used cars, you have alarge choice of cars to choose from. Someone is always selling your dream car in mint condition.

· Improving Reliability – used vehicles don’t usuallyhave the same warranties as new ones, however the original factory warranty istransferable to a second owner at no charge.

· Just Like New – According to Edmunds: “Another trend that makesbuying used a better option is the proliferation of certified pre-ownedprograms. The idea started with luxury brands such as Lexus and Mercedes-Benzand has become a popular alternative for car buyers.”

# Automotive Advertising

4 Vehicle Must Haves

2011-10-31T13:46:00.001-07:00

Thereare some basic items that everyone should have in their car. In 2011, it’s rare that you’ll be foundstranded, with the emergence of features that come equipped with every vehicle,but there are some things you GOTTA have in your vehicle. In today’s blog, we discuss some crucialitems for daily commuters.

JumperCables – These nifty cables are a lifesaver. I can’ even count how many times it’s saved me from a strandedsituation. If you forget to turn offyour lights, leave your car parked for a long time, or just have an olderbattery, jumper cables are awesome. We recommendthe AAA HeavyDuty 16′ 6 Gauge Booster Cable.

12-VoltMini Air Compressor – This small compressor is powered by the vehicle via thecigarette power jack and includes a built-in dial air pressure gauge. You can use this to top off your tires beforea long trip. This saves money and keepsyour vehicle riding great.

JackStands – these are very important because they add a safety precaution for whenyou change your flat tire. Also, youshould only change your flat tire if you’re in a safe location. Get a set of sturdy jacks that feature pawl-and-toothdesign and a one-piece multi-position ductile ratchet bar for extra strength.

FirstAid Kit – Be prepared for anything with a fully equipped first-aid kit. These usually include: bandages, gloves, butterfly closures, an instant cold pack,tape, antibiotic ointment, cotton tips, burn cream ointment, finger splints,alcohol prep pads, a first aid guide, sting relief prep pads, gauze pads,sterile antiseptic prep pads, scissors, and a roll of gauze.

Theseitems will be helpful, as well as the features readily available for yourvehicle. Feel free to add your owncomponents.

Automotive Advertising

The DeLorean is Back From the Future…and it’s ELECTRIC!

2011-10-26T07:06:00.001-07:00

“McFly!”The phrase is well known in American society. A quip that has been instilled in us since the eighties by a burly youngman known by one syllable: Biff. Thisman, Marty McFly’s arch-nemesis, made his life a living hell in the Back to theFuture films by berating him with comments, abuse, and the fondling of hisfuture mom (i.e. see film). It’s anAmerican classic. Marty’s vehicle ofchoice for transcending the time space continuum was a 981 DeLorean DMC-12, a futuristicvehicle with gullwing doors and a fictional “flux capacitor”, the main cog ininitiating time travel. Now, in 2011,the manufacturers over at DeLorean have decided to bring this classic back…asan electric vehicle! Check it out below:

Automotive Advertising

On the Go: Quick Breakfast that Works

2011-10-19T07:05:00.001-07:00

Themorning routine is hectic. Gone are therelaxing mornings of yesteryear, instead they’ve been replaced by a mad dash tothe door and a forgotten lunch on the counter. Getting ready in the morning can be difficult, especially consideringyou’ve got your kids to get ready, lunches to be made, washing up, and theother duties that flood your morning routine. You drive to work everyday with less than enough energy to start a dayof productivity. In today’s blog, wediscuss some quick options that can help you refuel in the morning.

Avoidpicking up coffee treats and fast food alternatives on your way to work. The key to a good breakfast and a healthylifestyle starts with preparation. Tryhomemade peanut butter bars. You can prepare them ahead of time, grabbing themon your path to the door. You’ll need peanuts,sunflower seeds, raisins, oats, rice cereal and wheat germ. According to Lauren S. Johnson: “Place themall in a bowl. Then combine peanut butter,brown sugar and corn syrup (or honey) in a large bowl. Microwave the mixtureuntil it starts bubbling. Then simply add vanilla, stir, and pour the mixtureover the dry ingredients until evenly coated. Transfer the mixture to a greasedpan, press down firmly and let it stand to harden. Once it hardens, simply cutit into little squares and enjoy energizing breakfast bars for a week.”

Anotheroption is to create a smoothie, a great breakfast alternative that’s quick andeasy to make. Take a citrus berrysmoothie for instance, these are rich with healthy carbs and powerfulantioxidants, just add fresh berries, low-fat yogurt, and orange juice! Viola!It only takes 5 minutes to create!

Thereare countless options to help you energize in the morning, add your favoritebelow!

Automotive Advertising

The Kookiest Auto Races…EVER

2011-10-12T05:54:00.001-07:00

Welove speed. The exhilaration we feelwhen we’re driving with the top down and the landscape is whizzing by is anAmerican pastime, almost a tradition in our culture. We pack Nascar Speedways to watch speeddemons circle a track, drive fast in the HOV lane, and mount up a ridiculousamount of speeding violations on a daily basis. We’re a speed-based country bent on getting to the next objective…quickly. As fans of the racing dynamic and the senseof adrenaline we get from it, I’ve decided to pull 3 crazy races into a list(Courtesy of HowStuffWorks.com) on our Blog. Check them out below:

RedBull Soapbox Race

It’sall about gravity with this one. Theobjective is to create a makeshift vessel that can be propelled with onlystandard wheels. The vehicle isengineless, and zooming downhill in this derby and winning could warrant aprize. The derby oozes creativity, with pastentrants being in the shape of a piano, a giant corn on the cob, and…the GoldenGate Bridge. Now that’s awesome!

24Hours of LeMons

Accordingto HowStuffWorks.com “Whilethe actual 24 Hours of LeMans sports car race, held annually in the eponymousFrench city, features real racing cars that have been tuned and engineeredwithin an inch of their lives, the 24 Hours of LeMons race features real, well,lemons.” If you paid more than $500 foryour car, including modifications you won’t be allowed on the track. Our first car out of high school would haveworked perfectly.

Gumball 3000

The Gumball 3000 is a high-end car rally that runs annuallybetween locations since 1999. Thetradition began in London, making its way through Europe, ending in New YorkCity. Other Gumballs have gone from New York tothe Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles and from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to theCannes Film Festival in the south of France -- not a very long trip until youconsider that the route crossed the Mediterranean and passed through NorthAfrica on its way to the finish line. Have any you would like to add?

Automotive Advertising

Tips on Buying a Car For Your College-Bound Teenager

2011-10-04T15:06:00.001-07:00

With the new school in fullswing your teenager or college-bound student may be asking you for a car.Selecting the right vehicle can become quite challenging, especially when theirpreferences can be quite different from yours. The automotive repair experts atShade Tree Garage, in Morristown, New Jersey, have created a list of tips tokeep in mind when purchasing a new vehicle for your teenage driver.

Dan O’Connor, Service Advisor at Shade Tree Garage says, “When purchasing avehicle for your teenager, you’ll want to look at safety, affordability andreliability. If you evaluate each of these areas carefully, you will beconfident you’re getting the best vehicle you can for the money you want tospend.” Here’s O’Connor’s list of tips.

1. Safety - According to AAA, automobile crashes are the leading cause of deathfor teens. “Because safety is of primary importance, it’s critical to choose avehicle that has the latest safety features designed to prevent crashes andminimize injury,” states O’Connor. Any vehicle considered should includefeatures like anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, electronic stabilitycontrol, adjustable/locking head restraints, and airbags.

2. Affordability - Insurance costs, fuel and maintenance will all affect theaffordability of a car. According to O’Connor, “A lot of times a car might lookgreat and be in your price range, but the owner is selling it right at the timeit will need a lot of maintenance work done, like new brakes, tires, or themajor service. Quality automotive repair shops, like Shade Tree Garage, canperform a pre-purchase inspection to let you know if the vehicle is safe,reliable and priced right.”

3. Reliability - Of course you want to know the vehicle won’t break down thefirst time your teen takes it out on the road. It’s a good idea to order thevehicle’s CarFax report. You should also determine if there’s a warranty forthe vehicle. Again, you may want to have an automotive repair expert perform apre-purchase inspection. In doing so, you’ll know the vehicle you are thinkingof purchasing is roadworthy, mechanically-sound and equipped with operationalsafety components.

Automotive Advertising

Big Brother: Traffic Cameras and How They’re Making Us Paranoid

2011-09-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

I know you’ve seen theseinconspicuous little buggers on top of stoplights, on street corners, and inyour nightmares. They record yourmovements through traffic with the flicker of a flash, causing paranoia that couldlead to a citation in the mail, with a photo of you disregarding the law. A smile planted on your face as you cruisethrough a stoplight is all the evidence they need.

Red light cameras are made todeter running red lights. According tothe Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in 2007, almost 900 werekilled and nearly 153,000 were injured in crashes that involved red lightrunning. About half of the deaths are pedestrians and occupants in othervehicles who are hit by the red light runners. The IIHS has reported huge decreasesin red light running in several cities in which the cameras were used. Since they’re working, the cameras have beeninstalled in more major intersections.

Some drivers ask if this isan invasion of privacy. Nope. Driving is a regulated activity on publicroads. When you receive a license, youmust obey the laws of the road, which contains nothing to prevent localgovernments from documenting violators. According to an article appearing in the Atlanta Journal Constitution,the city of Lilburn, GA issued about 1,500 citations in January 2008. Thecitations dropped by 80 percent to around 300 in January 2009, after a newGeorgia law mandated a longer yellow light duration. The extra second on theyellow light may have reduced the problem of red light running for the driver,but it almost worked too well for the city. Red light cameras were no longerissuing enough citations to keep them "profitable" and as a result,Lilburn and four other cities in the same county suspended their red lightprograms.

The red light camera systemlooks like it’s here to stay, for mow. Formore info on how they work, visit: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/safety-regulatory-devices/red-light-camera1.htm

Automotive Advertising

We all live in fear ofthem…the dreaded red light camera! Ch

How Much Does An Electric Vehicle ACTUALLY Cost to Maintain?

2011-09-21T08:20:00.001-07:00

TheJetsons is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of electricvehicles, not necessarily a floating utopia equipped with flying cars, but it’sdefinitely a wave of the future. Withcountless manufacturers rolling our production vehicles and prototypes, it’snot difficult to get lost in the shuffle. We’ve heard the conversation around electric vehicles: they’re quiet,cheap to maintain, and environmentally friendly. Lets delve a bit deeper and get the actualprice of maintaining one.

Accordingto Edmunds: to figureout the cost of fueling an EV, start with the electric car's energy consumptionrate, which is expressed as kWh per 100 miles (kWh/100m). This figure will belisted on the EPA's upcoming EV fuel economy label (the 2011 Leaf's preliminarylabel is shown here,complete with an erroneous 12-cent per kWh figure in the cost estimate thatNissan says it is correcting). The next figure is your home electric rate,assuming that's the primary charging site. Multiply the kWh/100m figure by theelectric rate to get the cost per 100 miles. For instance, the Leaf's kWh/100mfigure is 34. If electricity is 11 cents per kWh — the national average — itwould cost $3.74 to go 100 miles.

Utility companies, and thetime and level of use set the electricity cost. You pay more for kWh at peak hours, making a lot of electric commuterspay more than the national average of 11 cents per kWh. How do real individuals save on theirelectric vehicles?

Tom and Cathy Saxon have twoelectric vehicles. They installedseparate electric meters for their EVs (electric vehicles) in July 2009 andhave been tracking them since then. TheSaxton's Tesla is consuming at a rate of 30.8 kWh/100m (bettering its officialEPA rating); the RAV4 is averaging about 35 kWh/100m. They pay an average of 11.25 cents perkWh. In other words, they drive about 30miles on a dollar’s worth of electricity, it would be much more expensive todrive with gas. Results do vary,depending on a couple factors like when and where you’re charging, but the truecost of filling up is a tad more complicated than expected.

Automotive Advertising

Sharing the Road with Truckers

2011-09-14T14:22:00.001-07:00

Rememberthat kid in grade school who used his size and authority as a weapon formalice? It was the snot nosed kid thatbullied everyone just because he was bigger? Yeah? That’s how I feel sharingthe road with 18-wheeler’s. Withoutputting every truck driver in the proverbial box, many of them are greatdrivers and very courteous, but I can’t help but feel my heart rate increasewhen I’m sharing the highway with one. In today’s blog, we discuss some things to avoid when sharing the roadwith truckers.

1. Ridingin trucker blind spots – Trucks have huge blind spots to the right, rear, andleft side. The worst thing a driver cando is chug along in the trucker's blind spot, where he cannot be seen. Ifyou're going to pass a truck, do it and get it over with. Don't sit alongsidewith the cruise control set 1 mph faster than the truck is traveling.

2. Never,ever, ever try to sneak into a small gap and then brake and make a turn. Trucks need 3 times the distance tostop! Always give yourself more room. Noassistance in lane changes – BAD IDEA. If a trucker is indicating he wants to change lanes, leave room for themto do so. You can indicate yourwillingness by flashing your lights. According to "Sharing theRoad," a booklet distributed by John Deere Transportation Insurance, thethree most common types of accidents involving heavy trucks involve thefollowing: Crashes caused by the truck'sinability to stop in time.2) Crashes caused by a motorist trying to pass atruck on the right while the truck is making a right-hand turn. Also known asthe right turn squeeze.3) Crashes caused by a motorist riding in the trucker'sblind spots. Use the following rule of thumb: If you cannot see the truckdriver in his mirrors, he probably cannot see you.

Becareful, guys! See you soon!

Preparing for a Hurricane

2011-08-31T10:44:00.001-07:00

Weathering the storm is a serious matter. We’ve all been through some type of preparation for some kind of weather turmoil. From putting up shutters, purchasing food in bulk, and having enough batteries to power a small village, we’ve all done what it takes to protect our families and property. In today’s blog, we’re providing some quick tips to help you guys out. If you have any tips to add, please provide them below, we love your feedback!

1. Select a safe location for your family to weather the storm – it could be a place in your home, most likely with no window on a bottom floor. If you don't have a safe area, make note of safe shelters in your area beforehand, contacting the building for arrangements.

2. Stock up on food and water – make sure you purchase non-perishable foods, water, and MAKE SURE you restock up over time to avoid spoilage.

3. Prepare your home – put up hurricane shutters, collect all of your screws/washers and tool kits ahead of time just in case. If you don’t have shutters, stock up on plywood that’s precut for your windows. Also, gather anything loose in your yard to avoid projectiles during the storm.

4. Develop a family communications plan. You might become separated before or after the storm. It's a good idea to have an out-of-state contact (a relative up north?) to act as the point of contact for all family members in the event of an emergency.

5. Plan for your pets!! Maybe even evacuate them to a friend’s home in a safe area.

6. Keep your car gassed up!!! When a storm approaches, lines get long and a lot of stations run out of gas. Always have more than enough.

Supplies:

Non-perishable food
Drinking water
Batteries
Medication for all family members
First aid kit
Flashlights
Battery-operated radio
Cash
Toiletries
Clothing

We wish you the best of luck!

Automotive Advertising

Facebook is Making Some Changes

2011-08-24T13:09:00.001-07:00

Facebook is the number one social media network on the planet, and as we all know, it has paved the way for millions of people to act and react simultaneously. You're on Facebook. Your family's on Facebook. And yes, your Mom is on Facebook. We're all familiar with the platform. Facebook is making some SUBSTANTIAL changes to their privacy policy. In part, inspired by Google+'s plethora of features. Accessibility is the main priority here and a lot of features are being moved to News feeds and profile pages as opposed to setting pages.

"A new drop-down menu will appear next to individual status updates and pieces of profile information (see above), enabling users to select the “audiences,” groups, and friend lists who can see those bits of their personal lives. The View Profile As tool will now reside at the top of your profile page rather than deep in the privacy settings, making it painless to preview what your mom will see before approving her friend request. Keep reading for a breakdown of some of the other big additions."
-Washington Post

Now, you will also be able to tag people who are not yet your friends, with users being able to accept or deny those tags before they're associated with you. An ideal feature for night's that you would like to forget by not being tagged performing a "keg stand". It helps protect your online integrity and private life.

A couple other features include:

Geo-location in status updates
Ability to change who sees Facebook updates after they've posted.
Change of "Everyone" terminology to "Public" (borrowing the lingo from Google+)

The changes begin on Thursday August 25th, showing a great initiative in Facebook's dominance. What else do you think Facebook should change? Let us know in the comments below!

#

Automotive Advertising

More Fun Facts: Car Edition

2011-08-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

Everyone enjoys interesting facts, they’re the backbone to savvy conversation and office banter. In today’s blog, we’re providing you with some awesome vehicle facts. Feel free to add your own!!!

The 1st automobile racetrack in the US was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway which consists of 3 million cobblestones.
In its 1st year the VW Beetle sold only 330 cars in the United States.
Women spend more than $65 million on new cars and trucks, influence 80 percent of all new car purchases, and will buy 60 percent of new cars in 2001.
In 1916, 55 percent of the cars in the world were Model T Fords, a record that has never been beaten.
135 million cars travel the nation's roads and interstates each day.
The first Ford cars had Dodge engines.
One seventh of the new auto/truck sales in the US are in Southern California.
The average 1999 model year automobile cost $5,674 per year to own and operate.
In the 1970's cars were scrapped almost twice as often as small trucks, but over the years cars have become more durable and in 1999 the scrappage rate was almost equal.
The city with the most Rolls Royce's per capita is Hong Kong.
Windshield wipers were invented by a woman.
The brake light in the rear windows was put there after a suggestion by Elizabeth Dole.
The first person to win the Indianapolis 500 at a speed of over 100 MPH without a relief driver was Billy Arnold who won in 1930 with an average speed of 100.448 MPH.
The first product Motorola started to develop was a record player for automobiles. At the time, the most known player on the market was the Victrola, so they called themselves Motorola.
In 2002 30% of the cars sold were SUVs.

Automotive Advertising

What’s Your Social Media Influence?

2011-08-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

Good morning, fans! In today’s blog, we’re going to discuss your presence in social media. You’re the much-needed backbone to a digital revolution. Providing comments, retweets, check-ins and a plethora of other content to the web. We have one question though: have you ever wondered how BIG your influence was? Well Klout, a scoring system of your overall online influence, might shed some light.

Klout scores you on a range from 1 to 100 with higher scores representing a wider and stronger realm of influence. Klout uses over 35 variables to measure your reach and network score.

Klout explained: “True Reach is the size of your engaged audience and is based on those of your followers and friends who actively listen and react to your messages. Amplification Score is the likelihood that your messages will generate actions (retweets, @messages, likes and comments) and is on a scale of 1 to 100. Network score indicates how influential your engaged audience is and is also on a scale from 1 to 100. The Klout score is highly correlated to clicks, comments and retweets.

We believe that influence is the ability to drive people to action -- "action" might be defined as a reply, a retweet, a comment, or a click. We perform significant testing to ensure that the average click-through rate on links shared is highly correlated with a person's Klout Score. The 25+ variables used to generate scores for each of these categories are normalized across the whole data set and run through our analytics engine. After the first pass of analytics, we apply a specific weight to each data point. We then run the factors through our machine-learning analysis and calculate the final Klout Score. The final Klout Score is a representation of how successful a person is at engaging their audience and how big of an impact their messages have on people.”

Klout is an awesome new way to check your personal influence on the web…we know, you’re DYING to see yours. Visit: http://www.klout.com and find out your score today!

Automotive Advertising

3 Important Safety Features !

2011-07-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

Ever since your children were born, you’ve had the unwavering confidence to protect them against all odds. Your parental skills acting as an impenetrable field against anything put in their way. You're a knight, slaying dragons that breathe fire of pestilence, laziness, and the occasional Social Media stint that your kids can’t escape. As your children get older, however, they begin to drive, literally. A 16-year-old behind the wheel is usually a scary thought; a fear for any caring parent. In today’s blog, we discuss 3 awesome options for keeping safe while you drive.

1. A Vehicle with High Crash Test Scores – this isn’t really a safety feature, but it should be something you search for in a vehicle. Look for four or five star crash test ratings for front and side impact, as well as an endorsement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The side impact test conducted by the IIHS is designed to measure the level of occupant protection when a vehicle is struck by an SUV or truck.

2. Frontal Airbags – most vehicles come with these stock, featuring sensors which consider factors like occupant size, seat position and crash sensitivity to determine the level they should inflate. Advanced airbags effectively reduce the risk of an injury.

3. Side-impact and side curtain airbags – These are mounted in either the seat backs or doors and protect the torso during side-impact crashes. Generally, they’re usually for front seat occupants, but manufacturers give you the option to have them for the backseat. These airbags span the length of the cabin and provide head protection for outboard occupants in side-impact collisions. Also protecting during a rollover by keeping everyone inside safe. A lost of crash related deaths stem from ejection for the vehicle.

What are some additional safety features you would recommend? Let us know!

Automotive Advertising

How to Change a Flat Tire

2011-07-19T08:06:00.001-07:00

Imagine driving you car down a rural road on your way home from work. Your favorite song is blaring on the radio, and you finally feel a sense of ease from a busy day. At your favorite part of the song, you hear a loud pop, then the slow roll of a popped tire as you cruise to the median. First, you make sure that you’ve steered clear of any hazards. Then, you realize that your front left tire has become a disheveled piece of rubber. Hands on your hips, foot tapping the ground, you take a long sigh, but not one of relief, one of frustration. Darn! A flat tire.

Now, if you own a vehicle with run-flat tires or a low tire pressure warning system, you most likely won’t have to deal with these frustrations, if you don’t own those options, you’re in luck. We’ve got a step-by-step guide to helping you change that tire.

1. Get your tools – find your car’s spare tire, jack and tire iron. The spare is usually in the trunk under the floor mat, or in a minivan mounted on the back of the tailgate or underneath the vehicle.

2. Check air pressure- if you have an air pressure gauge check the tire’s pressure on the spare, hopefully it should be fine.

3. Remove flat tire- MAKE SURE CAR IS IN GEAR OR PARK, and that the emergency break is set. Also, make sure your car is on a flat surface.

4. Use the tire iron- (the L shaped bar that fits over the wheel lugs) to loosen each lug. They are usually very tight, so use a little force, they should loosen after a couple tries. Leave the lugs loose and move the jack under the car (shown on directions of jack). Raise the jack until it contacts the car’s frame. Continue to expand it.

5. Once the tire is completely raised off the ground, remove the wheel lugs completely.

6. Take the spare tire and line it up over the wheel studs, you’ll have to hold up the tire and try to line up the holes in the wheel. One tip is to balance the tire on your foot while you move it into position. Once done, the lugs should screw on easily. Once each of them is snug and you can't tighten them any further by hand, use the tire iron to finish the job.

7. Lower the jack- carefully, and then pull the jack away from the vehicle. Once the spare tire is on, carefully lower the jack. Pull the jack away from the vehicle. The final step is to tighten down the lugs completely. The reason you tighten the lugs now is that the tire is on the ground and it won't rotate around like it would if it was still hanging in the air.

Congrats, you’ve just changed a flat tire!!

Automotive Advertising

7 Things You Should Have in Your Car

2011-07-13T07:21:00.001-07:00

Ok, as an individual who enjoys a tidy workspace, I can understand why you wouldn’t want to be compared to the vehicle equivalent of the individuals on the TV show: “Hoarders.” We also want you to keep safe while you make your daily commute, so we’re feeling a bit conflicted. In most cases, your vehicle is well equipped with the necessary tools to run smoothly. In today’s blog, with help from The Simple Dollar, we provide a list of some extra essentials that could aid you daily.

1. Owner’s manual This should naturally be in your glove compartment anyway, but you want to make sure that it is indeed in your car.

2. Maps Keep a detailed map of the state you’re in in your car at all times – or even a current atlas if you have room. Don’t completely rely on a GPS navigation system.

3. First aid kit (and manual) This can be vital if you’re in an accident and someone has injuries. Slowing down bleeding quickly can mean the difference between walking something off and going into shock.

4. Flashlight (and extra batteries) Similarly, a flashlight is utterly essential at night if you need to change a tire.

5. Bottled water This is necessary for sustenance if you get stuck somewhere and have to wait for a while.

6. Food! Non-perishables, need we say more?

7. Umbrella stay dry, my friends.

Got anything you’d like to add to the list? Well come on down! Add your essentials below:

Automotive Advertising

Keep your Vehicle Cool During the Summer

2011-07-06T07:36:00.001-07:00

Summer. The byproduct of pent up pubescent energy, barbequed sausage links, and strangely warm swimming pools. It’s a time of childhood freedom, family road trips, and a generous amount of suntan lotion, all wrapped into a 3-month span. Driving your vehicle during the summer months can put wear and tear on your car, the extreme heat causing internal frustration and outward sweat spells. In today’s blog, we suggest ways to keep yourself and your vehicle cool during the summer months.

Our first option is an auto shade that sets in your front window. It cools your vehicle, and protects your dash from cracking from sun damage. Make sure your shade:

· Fits your car fully

· Dark and reflective shade

· HEATSHIELD- made to conform to specific makes and models of vehicles.

Another way to drop your car’s temperature is to install a window film, or tints on your vehicle. Several companies’ make a nearly clear film that reflects U.V. and infrared rays. By keeping your vehicle temperature down, it takes less time for your A/C to cool your car down. Thus, saving you energy and promoting overall efficiency. If you have any other options to contribute, please leave a comment below. Have a great summer!

Preventing Auto Theft

2011-06-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

The worst experience is watching someone drive away in your hard earned vehicle. If a thief sees an opportunity, he’ll take it with relentless force. In today’s blog, we’re delving into the protective nature of the average individual, and providing some great tips on avoiding auto theft.

Theft begins with opportunity, as we all know. The thief sees a opportune moment to strike. Diminish these opportunities by being prepared. An alarm system is a good beginning, however most thieves have a full understanding of most theft systems. Here are some ways to protect your vehicle:

Obviously, you should never do any of these things:

Leave the windows down or the sunroof open;
Leave the keys in the ignition, or someplace else in the car such as under the visor;
Leave the car running and unattended, even for only a few minutes;
Leave car unlocked

NEVER!

Don't leave your spare key somewhere a thief is likely to look, like magnetically stuck to the exhaust pipe or sitting on top of the tire;
Only leave the ignition key with the valet, and make sure that the key to the glove box is a different cut;
When you park on the street, turn the front wheels sharply into the curb and always use the emergency brake;
Disable the car in some way, either by removing the electronic ignition fuse or by some other method;

Stolen vehicles are usually sold as parts because it’s more difficult for police to track hundreds of vehicle parts, as opposed to an entire car. Want to keep your car immune from theft? Consider these options:

Ignition and fuel kill switches;
Floorboard, gearshift, tire/wheel and hood locks;
Vehicle tracking device
If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, back into the driveway; if you have a front-wheel drive vehicle, drive straight into the driveway;
If you have a garage, clean it out and park your vehicle in there, and always lock your garage doors;
Install a motion-sensor light or alarm system on your garage doors;

We hope that we provided some great tips for you, guys. Have a great week! Feel free to share any experiences you might have had, or additional tips. Thanks!

“What in the World is “Hypermiling”?

2011-06-21T12:41:00.001-07:00

The focal point of personal funding woes begins at the pump. Our recent blogs have discussed what precautions you can take to avoid high gas prices In lieu of rising gas prices; a select few have decided to go the distance. Literally. Some individuals have been getting above 65 mpg. Is this a typo? With LASIK eye surgery I can honestly say it’s not. Hypermiling has become the newest craze and in today’s blog, we delve into what it is and how it’s done. Oh, and as a precaution: DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!

Hypermiling is an unorthodox technique for increasing your mpg. These techniques include coasting for blocks with the car engine tuned off, driving at or below the speed limit, pumping up tire pressure far beyond recommendations and carefully manipulating the gas pedal to avoid fuel-burning excess. Options also include keeping the air-condition turned off, and the window cracked slightly. Hypermilers also carry a journal that records their daily commute, gas consumption and mileage. All in an effort to avoid the ever increasing price of gas.

Hypermiling has become a niche, with websites dedicated to the cause. Driving Safety advocates forbid some of their habits, but applaud others. Some Hypermiling habits are very dangerous. “Turning the engine off while coasting can, in some cars, leave the driver without power steering or brakes and allow the possibility that the steering wheel will lock up. Drivers can endanger themselves and others if they go too slow for the pace of traffic.” The list goes on.

However, some Hypermilers ARE safe. They obey all traffic laws and mix city and highway driving in a combination of strategic and gas saving options. Using a truck for a windbreak is dangerous, but safer Hypermilers stay the recommended distance while still maintaining a saving of mpg by putting safety before mileage.

Drive Safely!

How Hybrid Cars Work

2011-06-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

Gas is up. So, I understand when consumers say that we need an alternative. Electric cars are all the rage, with vehicles in high demand. The only question is, how do they work? We embrace the idea, and today we’ll provide some insight on how hybrid engines work.

Hybrids use traditional gas engines and an alternative power plant. There are two types: electric hybrids and hydrogen hybrids. Electric hybrids use an electric motor as their alternative energy source. Hydrogen hybrids extract the element from water and add the hydrogen to the fuel-air mixture of the vehicle. So how do hybrids help the environment? It’s important to know that oil is a limited resource; also carbon dioxide is produced when it’s burned. In addition, the oil that is extracted from the Earth damages the environment from drilling. Although hybrids still use gas, they achieve higher gas mileage than a regular vehicle because of the secondary power source. The average estimate is a five-mpg improvement in fuel economy.

One way the improved fuel economy numbers are achieved is through stop/start technology that is fitted to the vehicle. A stop/start system allows the engine to be shut off when it is not needed, such as when the vehicle is stopped at a red light or the vehicle is coasting. The technology allows for the engine to be restarted quickly so that the driver does not experience any hesitation.

Hybrids are great for the environment. They produce less noise pollution and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Innovation and technology will continue to change and adapt to the times making hybrids a great alternative.

Best Car Ads of 2010

2011-06-08T08:53:00.001-07:00

A TV advertising analytics provider, Ace Metrix, just announced its top TV ads of 2010. In one category, automotive, the list was dominated by luxury brands. The scoring is completed by a national sample of 500 consumers. They take into account viewer engagement, persuasion, and consideration for purchase. The scores increased 17% for 2010 vs. 2009. The creative quality has really been stellar, as car companies become more and more creative with their ads. As the economy improves and economic situations prosper, we’ll continue to see an increase. Here are the top ten videos:

1. Nissan: Wouldn't It?
2. Infiniti: Infiniti M Blind Spot
3. Mercedes-Benz: Triumphant
4. Acura: Man Keeps From Hitting Santa & Sleigh
5. Acura: The Ace Body Structure
6. Nissan: Nissan we make them better Category: Automotive
7. Mercedes-Benz: What Is Performance
8. Mercedes-Benz: Trust Car In World You Can't Predict
9. Lexus: Most Advanced Driving Simulator
10. Lexus: Lexus Responded To Challenge

You can see all the videos right here: http://www.acemetrix.com/events/event/auto-2010

The Best Car ads of 2010 have been released. Check out our blog post to see which TV spots made the cut:

How a Smartphone Helped Avoid a Speeding Ticket

2011-06-01T06:15:00.001-07:00

Imagine driving steadily on the open road, the highway providing a non-stop avenue to your destination. The weather is brisk, your favorite song is on the radio and your smartphone is in the passenger seat. Then, a flashing light impedes your rear-view vision. Your heart races, your palms are clenched on the steering wheel and your knuckles are white with fear.

A young man was pulled over for ‘speeding’ while a smartphone app ran simultaneously on his phone. The app: My Tracks, measures your location and speed, so he was able to offer his traffic judge documented proof that he was driving within the speed limit. He also asked the officer when he last calibrated his radar gun, when he was unable to answer, the judge ruled inconclusive evidence of speeding. The young man walked away scott-free! His smartphone app sealed the deal while his additional experience allowed him to walk away unscathed.

The My Tracks App is only for android phones, but there are also GPS tracking apps for apple (GPS speed, Speed tracker). It might not work every time, but if you’re going on a long drive that’s heavily policed, try utilizing one of these great tools.

One young man was able to prove his innocence, when he received a speeding ticket, with his Smartphone

The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

2011-05-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

You’ve said it a thousand times before: “I want to see what the United States has to offer, I mean, it Is our backyard!” Road trips are an adventure through culture and should be taken several times during a lifetime. Take a journey once in a while. Below we’ve included some US hot spots that are known for shock, awe, and a little rest and relaxation that’s much deserved. Feel free to tell us your story or recommendations:

Colorado

Two words: Calendar photo. Because that’s what pictures look like from the beautiful state of Colorado. Lush vegetation, countless hiking trails, fishing, rock-climbing, and museums, all for your enjoyment and that’s just during the summer! In winter, you can experience any sport under the sun including snowboarding, skiing, and ice climbing, all the while enjoying what the Centennial State has to offer.

Chicago, Illinois

The ‘windy’ city has the largest US building, the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sear’s tower), an observatory, a walk along path on the coast of Lake Michigan, zoos, and some very cultural clubs based on the home of the Blues.

New Orleans, Louisiana

After Hurricane Katrina, all seemed lost for the Mardi Gras foundation New Orleans created. One of the oldest cities in the US, a place is only as strong as its people and New Orleans inhabitants never give up. As the birthplace of jazz New Orleans has the Mardi Gras festival, the beautifully designed French Quarter, and delicious Cajun food for inquiring connoisseurs.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Viva Las Vegas! Elvis said it best in this culturally rich city. Even if you don’t gamble, Vegas is a smorgasbord of excitement. Extravagant shows, hotels like the Bellagio with gorgeous designs, nearby hiking grounds, and cool museums like the Neon make Vegas a unique place to visit. Not to mention a great club scene for party patrons.

Washington, DC

The nation’s capital is a historical centerpiece. The monuments, like the Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian Museums, and Georgetown will make this trip unforgettable. Washington is a quintessential stop for American citizens to soak in some historical knowledge and aesthetic pleasure

Ok, so we’ve provided several spots for your next road trip. Have you had any road trips experiences you would like to share or maybe we missed your favorite hot spot? Feel free to comment below:

Avoiding Traffic Frustration

2011-05-18T07:09:00.001-07:00

You’ve been there. The morning looks promising. You’ve managed to wake up early enough to drop the kids off at school, eat breakfast and create a fifteen-minute window of driving time to account for traffic. However, traffic still looms over your day like a delayed coffee break. Why? Because as you drive onto the entry ramp the congestion on the highway that exits close to your job is jam-packed. You release a sigh, not one of relief, but of remorse as your legs tense up and the radio plays commercials. Great…Traffic…

The average commuter lost 34 hours or a full workweek because of traffic in 2009, according to the latest Urban Mobility Report. In larger cities, traffic increases from office parks being built on rural land and the lag of mass transit continues to add fuel to the fire. Many individuals can make it to work in a relatively good time when traffic is smooth, but when congestion occurs, it can double or even triple a commute. This creates a dead stop between you and your destination. There are some solutions to ease traffic at the federal, state, and local levels:

Toll Roads- fast lanes operated by a private company within the existing freeway system. This would allow for fluctuating, reasonable rates according to time of day and a speedy driving alternative.

GPS traffic management integration- companies that harvest traffic data to create a network that feeds to smartphones or in-dash GPS systems. This would give individuals heads up traffic updates quickly.

Simple tweaks- Hiring more tow trucks to cruise major highway routes, which allows for faster cleared wrecks is a great way to save time. This is already done in Houston and only adds 5 million a year for 100 tow trucks. This tow truck army saves $25 million to $30 in congestion costs and about $30 million that could result in chain-reaction pileups, according to The Texas Transportation Institute.

Flexible work schedules- Working from home, which can be difficult in some cases when employees are needed at the office. Coming in early or late to avoid traffic.

Traffic is a hassle. It takes away from productivity, family time, and just plain enjoyment. Some tweaks to the system could provide a great alternative for American commuters.

Do you have any to add to the list? Feel free to comment!

What Type of Gas Should I Get at the Pump?

2011-05-11T08:23:00.001-07:00

Gas plays an extremely crucial part in our lives. As daily commuters, it’s a means to an end, our destination. As gas prices rise in the summer months, many are considering more fuel-efficient vehicles, transportation alternatives, and cutting their driving down considerably. One age old question that many consumers have at the pump, when they do visit, is what IS really the difference between gas types? It’s always the same scenario: you’re at the pump and you see the ambiguous numbers 87, 89, and 92 plastered on the front of the gas pump terminal. You read the benefits of the higher priced gas and think: “Is this really making a difference?” In today’s blog, we discuss the differences and how it affects your specific vehicle. Check it out!

When buying gas for your vehicle, you should consider a couple things. When you arrive at the gas station you fill up on unleaded gas, with three options: octane, special additives, and ethanol content.

Octane has three options: 87, 89, and 92. Large engines perform well on 87 octane, smaller cars do well with 89, and high performance cars run perfect on 92 octane. The higher the octane rating the more compression the fuel can handle before it ignites. If your engine begins to knock, then fuel is igniting from the compression, not from the spark. Thus, damaging your engine. If this continues to occur, it’s time to buy higher-octane gas.

Special Additives are beneficial because their utilized by fuel companies to keep the inside of the engine clean. For example, Exxon uses high amounts of additives in their gas to keep your system clean. All the major gas companies use detergent additives to help keep the engine clean, so this should not really be a consideration.

The final option is ethanol content. The lower the ethanol content, the better the fuel will burn in your engine, providing a longer life for your engine. Ethanol is also good because it improves fuel economy, sometimes giving up to a 20% boost.

Saving the planet, saving money, or prolonging the life of your car? These are all great options to consider, give us your feedback!

The Best Smartphone: Android, Apple, or Blackberry?

2011-05-04T08:01:00.001-07:00

Flexing your smartphone muscle requires an arsenal of speed, awesome apps, and sex appeal. Are you a businessperson, bent on maximizing your potential? A tech guru who enjoys open source operating systems, or a combination of both? Your phone has to encompass all three to cater to everyday needs of an individual on the go. In today’s blog, we provide the pros and cons of the three biggest smartphone companies.

iPhone: the iPhone has a HUGE, dedicated fan base of followers. Debuting in 2007, the iPhone took the cake in innovation. Creating a user-friendly operating system that was simple to use, and quick implementation was ideal. Apple has introduced many innovative features in its smartphones and has redefined the mobile-device landscape, forcing the competition to evolve and play catch-up in many cases.With the new operating system iOS 4 the phones move quickly (except for older models losing some of that speed in the process). Pros: Operating System, App Store, Web Browsing, Hardware, and Flexibility. Cons: Battery Life, iTunes, Durability, Consumer-centric.

Blackberry: RIM’s (Research in Motion) first smartphone hit the streets in 2002 with a heavy focus on e-mail and corporate messaging. Blackberry’s niche in business makes it a strong contender in the smartphone market. Creating an operating system and hardware also contributes to RIM’s success. Blackberry has the best contact management, calendaring, and e-mail client of all the devices. It is built for the business user and has extras for the consumer. A strong emphasis in battery life provides THE most optimal power consumption for the business user. Pros: Battery Life, Operating System, Durability, Productivity, and Hardware. Cons: Apps, Web Browsing, Business-centric, and Server software.

Android: Android’s operating system is like no other. It is owned and operated by Google, flourishing on a plethora of devices. What started on specific phones has become strictly an operating system for countless phone manufacturers. Android prides itself on being open source, boasting an application store containing thousands of free and paid apps. Android outsells both Blackberry’s and iPhone becoming the number one selling OS. Pros: Google Apps, Android Market, Choice of Hardware, Open Source, ActiveSync. Cons: Battery life, applications, fragmentation.

So…what do you use? Feel free to comment!!

An 'Interesting' List of People to Follow on Twitter!

2011-04-27T07:32:00.001-07:00

Need some guidance with your Twitter account? There’s hope! In today’s Blog, we list some of the most influential Twitter members with a huge list of potential people to follow. Twitter is a micro-blogging site that caters to over an estimated 190 million users, generating 65 million tweets a day and handling over 800,000 search queries per day. It’s right on the heels of Facebook regarding social media monopolization, and truthfully, it’s a lot easier. Here’s a great list of people to follow, enjoy!

Al Gore
@algore
Followers: 2.2 million
Vice President of the United States turned book author, movie maker, and cable channel entrepreneur, Al Gore tweets exactly what you'd expect from a man trying to save the world—lots of links about saving the world—although his feed isn't updated frequently.
Alison Agosti
@Just_Alison
Followers: 213,747
The comedy stylings of the Alison Agosti are of the NSFW one-liner variety. This relative unknown—outside of Twitter—earns her following by actually bringing the funny in a way few can in 140 characters.
Alyssa Milano
@Alyssa_Milano
Followers: 1.35 million
From child sitcom star to adult actress, sex symbol, and activist, Alyssa tweets (a lot) about her life in show business, her baseball obsession, dog rescue, becoming a mom, etc. She even tweets lots of great geekie links.
Barack Obama
@BarackObama
Followers: 6.8 million
Love him or hate him, President Obama's the first U.S. President to completely embrace the digital world,and his tweets, with a mix of info about his various addresses with occasional personal entries, give you a glimpse into the White House. He also has the honor of following more people on Twitter than anyone else at 702,000+; he truly has the ear of the people.
Beth Blecherman
@techmama
Followers: 13,199
The chief technologist of sites like Cool Mom Tech, Beth is a "power mom" who blogs about the intersection of family and the digital world. Her feed is a cornucopia of retweets from her own sites and elsewhere that no parent should miss.
Bill Gates
@billgates
Followers: 2.2 million
We all know him as the one-time richest man alive who drove Microsoft to prominence. Now he's focused on his and his wife Melinda's foundation to help people around the world. His current passion: eradicating polio.
Bill Maher
@billmaher
Followers: 2.2 million
Comedian and political commentator Bill Maher's been doing his thing on late-night TV for almost 20 years now. He brings that same no-bulls#!@ approach to Twitter, calling it like he sees it and not caring at all if you agree.
Brian Heater
@bheater
Followers: 1,800
Call it self-serving, but if there's any one member of PCMag's staff that should be followed by the entire planet Earth, it's Brian Heater. Comic dork, music snob, California hipster, guy who will be played by Michael Cera in the movie of his life... call him what you will, but know this: If you read Brian's daily observations, you will laugh.
Cali Lewis
@CaliLewis
Followers: 118,361
The host of Revision3's GeekBeat.TV, Lewis is also a tech correspondent on TV news channels and tweets about (you guessed it) the latest in computing and tech. Of course, the majority of tweets are links back to her online show, but they tend to be worth a view.
Charles Trippy
@CharlesTrippy
Followers: 112,874
Webby nominee Charles Trippy travels the world and makes videos about those trips for his YouTube channel, Internet Killed Television. This might not seem like a big deal, but with 419,000+ plus YouTube subscribers, Charles obviously knows what he's doing with a travelogue. He brings the same energy and fun to Twitter with commentary on and links to his travels.
Chris Hardwick
@Nerdist
Followers: 1.4 million
You may remember Chris Hardwick from hosting Singled Out (the show that made Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra famous). But the comedian has gone on to do much more, including his musical act Hard 'n Phirm (with Mike Phirman). He also hosts G4's Web Soup. He's first and foremost a nerd (thus the username) and proves it with a geek-tastic Twitter feed.
Chris Luzader
@techzader
Followers: 31,157
Self-described internet addict and "social media-crippling Twitterwhore" Chris Luzader blogs at TechWorthy, but gets his kicks by tweeting just about every worthwhile tech news link he can find. If you want the latest news in the world of online and computing, you'll get it from Techzader almost instantly.
Conan O'Brien
@ConanOBrien
Followers: 2.5 million
It doesn't really matter where Coco goes to host a TV show (he's now on TBS, not NBC, in case you've been living in a cave), because he's one of the funniest guys around. And unlike so many tweeters, he's not using Twitter to promote, just to entertain.
John Cleese
@JohnCleese
Followers: 924,106
Certainly the tallest member of Monty Python's Flying Circus, Mr. Cleese is also still alive. Although he doesn't tweet very much, when he does, they're quite funny sometimes and always very English. He's John Bloody Cleese, so you'll subscribe because of that alone!
John Green
@realjohngreen
Followers: 1.12 million
Green writes award-winning young adult novels and makes a lot of YouTube videos with his brother, EcoGeek's @HankGreen. Together they've built a following so large it has a name: Nerd Fighters. He tweets to them.
John Gruber
@gruber
Followers: 115,056
The proprietor of Daring Fireball, John Gruber blogs full time about Apple, Macs, and anything starting with a lower-case "i." His tweets aren't always Mac-centric (nor even tech-centric), covering his other passions.
John Hodgman
@hodgman
Followers: 507,141
You might know him as the PC in some old Macintosh commercials. Or as a Daily Show resident expert. Or book author. No matter what you know him as, follow John Hodgman and you'll be thoroughly entertained.
John McCain
@SenJohnMcCain
Followers: 1.7 million
War hero, former POW, Arizona senator, and presidential candidate from 2000 and 2008, John McCain uses the Twitter soapbox to reflect on world events, point to what he's working on, and let you know where he is, be it Lithuania, Egypt, Libya, or right at home on the Senate floor.
Kanye West
@kanyewest
Followers: 2.6 million
Kanye, the original crazy celeb of Twitter (crowned long before Charlie Sheen went online), joined Twitter and his feed quickly became the standard of wackiness in 140 characters. He says the kind of things only a rich musician with no filter can get away with, yet has moments of personal insight that might give you pause. Until his next awesome tweet.
Kara Swisher
@karaswisher
Followers: 725,722
Kara Swisher is part of the team at the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital site and conference, where she, along with Walt Mossberg and others, discuss exactly that. She points out the best stories to follow from her Twitter feed.
Karl Rove
@KarlRove
Followers: 228,516
Rove is the former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bush (some would also call him "the brains") and now a political analyst for various outlets. Not surprisingly, he tweets about the world of politics, pointing to his own commentaries and research.
Katie Couric
@katiecouric
Followers: 155,054
More than just the once perky host of Today, Katie Couric is now the anchor for the CBS Evening News and a single mom. While the majority of her Twitter feed is news related, you get occasional insights into her personal life as well.
Keith Olbermann
@KeithOlbermann
Followers: 247,311
The recently fired Olbermann, former big-headed face of MSNBC, will soon be premiering on CurrentTV. Until then, you can find the liberal commenter baiting and insulting the Republicans on Twitter, frequently prompting us to, literally, LOL.
Kelly Oxford
@kellyoxford
Followers: 98,768
We all know that the hilarious Twitter feed "S@%! My Dad Says" became a mediocre CBS sitcom for Capt. Kirk. Well, it's not alone. CBS and producer Jessica Alba are working on a pilot based on Kelly Oxford's witty blogging and tweeting, but this time, Oxford actually wrote the pilot herself, so maybe it'll still be funny when it's on the air. If not, just follow her Twitter feed for the funny.
Kevin Rose
@kevinrose
Followers: 1.2 million
Former TV geek, founder of Digg, video blogger at Diggnation, and now money man to future tech stars, Kevin Rose tweets like he talks, like the fun drinking buddy you know who also can help you with your computer.
Kevin Smith
@ThatKevinSmith
Followers: 1.75 million
Film director Kevin Smith is the very definition of NSFW. His tweets are virtually constant on days when he's not working (which seems to be most of the time), almost always profane, frequently interesting (especially to movie buffs and Smith fans), and usually funny. He's also the master of writing multiple tweets in a row on the same subject, as if 140 characters are never enough for his thoughts.
Lady Gaga
@ladygaga
Followers: 8.6 million
The undisputed heavyweight of Twitter, Lady Gaga sometimes uses the service to promote her political beliefs, have public fights with other celebs, and even fake her own digital death for charity. She's a woman who refuses to be ignored, and that's obviously working for her, even here.
Lance Armstrong
@lancearmstrong
Followers: 2.8 million
While finally retired from cycling (and doping scandals, we hope), Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong remains strong in his fight against cancer, improving the lives of cancer victims via his LiveStrong charity. Follow him to get a glimpse into the life of one very active retiree.
Larry Hryb
@majornelson
Followers: 210,919
Anyone with an Xbox 360 should know Larry Hyrb. Known by his gamertag Major Nelson, Hyrb is the director of programming for the Xbox Live network and on-screen personality in many behind-the-scenes videos found on it, as well as the Major Nelson Radio podcast. Naturally, you can expect lots of gaming talk from his tweets.
Larry King
@kingsthings
Followers: 1.8 million
Gone from our living rooms, but not from our hearts, Larry King is still live on Twitter with semi-regular posts as he takes up travel in his late-in-life retirement.
Michael Ausiello
@MichaelAusiello
Followers: 1.1 million
Formerly the master of entertainment-related scoops and spoilers at TVGuide.com and EW.com, Michael Ausiello is now the founder of the new TVLine.com site, where he continues to write about TV. His tweets point to the latest TV news, plus he continues his on-going lovefest with actress Lauren Graham of "Gilmore Girls."
Michael Ian Black
@michaelianblack
Followers: 1.6 million
Twitter doesn't come much more NSFW than Black's feed. The star of the Stella comedy group has a unique, profane, and an usually bizarre take on the every day, which he shares like a Tourette's patient with some comedy chops.
Piers Morgan
@piersmorgan
Followers: 416,724
This former newspaperman is a UK transplant, a one-time winner of The Apprentice, and the man who recently took over for Larry King on CNN. Much of the Britishness of Piers Morgan's tweets may be lost on Americans (there are posts about something he calls "cricket," which we understand to be the lovechild of golf and baseball), but he retains fans on both sides of the pond. He's definitely enjoying his new gig, and you'll see the infectious glee of it in his tweets.
Rachel Maddow
@maddow
Followers: 1.8 million
The first openly gay anchor of a prime-time news program, The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, Maddow is an outspoken and well-spoken "national security liberal," as she puts it. Naturally, her feed is a take on the day's headlines, both at MSNBC and beyond.
Rachel Sterne
@rachelsterne
Followers: 14,638
The young Chief Digital Officer for the city of New York started as the CEO of a digital media consulting biz and a citizen journalism site. Now her job is to make sure the city's digital media communication is up to snuff. Being on Twitter is a must for that, so New Yorkers who care about tech should be tuning into her feed.
Stan Lee
@TheRealStanLee
Followers: 126,660
The architect of modern mythology through comics, Stan "The Man" created Spider-Man, Ironman, Hulk, X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four, and so much more. There wouldn't be any superhero movies coming out today if not for his work 50 years ago. He continues creating and now tweets about that new work—which is no doubt hard to fit in between his cameos in Marvel movies.
Stephen Colbert
@StephenAtHome
Followers: 2.1 million
Truthiness in 140 characters or less. That sums up the tweets of Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report, Comedy Central's answer to taking on all that pernicious liberal media bias.
Stephen Fry
@stephenfry
Followers: 2.3 million
Stephen Fry is a tweeter of such stature that hearts were broken when the British actor/writer/Renaissance man "left" the service temporarily to avoid a kerfuffle. He uses Twitter to great effect to promote charities and music and authors he likes, as well as his own endeavors, always with the class you'd expect from a guy who once played Jeeves the butler.
Steve Case
@stevecase
Followers: 388,682
Steve Case is the co-founder of AOL and was behind its merger with Time-Warner (even if that didn't work out in the end, he did okay). Now he runs a foundation and an investment holding firm, and he still has plenty to say and does so in 140 characters or less.
Steve Martin
@SteveMartinToGo
Followers: 718,731
From wild-and-crazy guy to respected writer, actor, and banjo player, Steve Martin never stopped being funny (we won't count the Pink Panther remake against him... everyone's got to eat). He's got the perfect humor for the Twitter-verse.
Weird Al Yankovic
@alyankovic
Followers: 1.9 million
He dropped the "weird" title form his username, but this is still the same Weird Al who's been making us laugh for over two decades. He's still making records, still touring, and now cracking us up on Twitter as well.
(List Courtesy of PC Magazine)

More Quick Car Maintenance Tips!

2011-04-20T08:31:00.001-07:00

Who really “enjoys” visiting the mechanic, besides the part-time grease monkey who loves working on his souped-up coupe? That’s right, NO ONE. It’s a draining expense that is required to get you from point a to point b. However, car maintenance is a vital tool in maintaining the life of your car. In today’s blog, we provide some quick tips to give your vehicle a long prosperous life and avoid the junkyard.

Octane Overdose

Applying octane to your vehicle can be a sticky situation. Some is good, but more is troublesome. Higher-than-required octane does not yield more power, it just gives more funds to oil companies. Some engines are rated for premium 91 octane but can burn 87 octane regular. So, run regular gas if you drive nominal or normal speeds and premium if you’re a speed demon.

Oil Change Timing

Every 3,000 miles. It’s been instilled in you since you started driving hot wheel cars in elementary school. Today, engine design has made that number obsolete. Some cars call for 5,000-mile change intervals, some up to 15,000-mile stints. Others have a variable timer. Follow the schedule and use the oil called for by the manufacturer.

Dead Tires

Tires wear out and they also die out. A useless tire is extremely dangerous. Heat, sunlight and ozone conditions all contribute to the wear and tear of your tires. The tire industry says that tires last about 5 years but it really depends on so much more. The industry agreement is about 7 years, but you can check with your mechanic to see how old your tires are. They’ll be able to see the time stamp code in the sidewall.

Got your own tip you want to ad? Feel free!

Keep Your Lil’ Ones Safe: Car Rules to Abide By

2011-04-13T07:02:00.001-07:00

Remember being strapped in what resembled a parachute harness, in the abysmal backseat? You’re next to an annoying sibling who feeds off of the pleasure he/she receives when giving you a “wet willy.” You’re helpless because you can hardly move forward in your newly revamped booster seat, as it crushes your shoulders back into the seat. It’s the most uncomfortable seat known to man, and at 5 years old it’s like a cage to a wild animal, but when it comes down to it, you’re safe. Thousands of childrens lives a jeopardized in car related accidents. In today’s blog we provide a couple tips to keeping your lil ones safe.

1. SUVs aren’t safer: It’s BIG, bad, and menacing, but SUVs are no safer than ordinary sedans. They’re more likely to rollover. The safest vehicles are low to the ground and larger (station wagons).

2. A car does NOT have to move to be dangerous: Parked cars are also, surprisingly deadly. As many as 220 children per year are killed in non-traffic auto accidents. Some are strangled by a window when they’re leaning out, inadvertently leaning on the rocker-type power window switch. Other children, when alone, release the emergency brake, setting the car in motion. Finally, at least 30 kids die each year when their parents leave them in the car and they suffocate from overheating. "Children should never, ever be left alone in an automobile -- not even for a minute," says Terrill Struttmann, executive director of Kids in Cars, an education and advocacy organization he and his wife started after their 2-year-old son was killed by a car set in motion by two kids playing alone inside.

3. Kids don’t need to be inside a car to be hurt by one: nearly 400 children are killed each year when they’re hit by an automobile. ALWAYS keep an eye on your little ones, no matter how many times you’ve warned them to stay out of the streets. A survey conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide found that a majority of drivers speed in school zones, and that nearly a third violate stop signs in neighborhoods where there are kids.

Do you have any tips of your own? Feel free to comment below:

The Appeal of a Manual Transmission

2011-04-06T06:57:00.001-07:00

The veins over your knuckles pulsate to the beat of your heart as you shift gears. You’re focused on the narrow road ahead, carefully weaving through traffic, shifting gears to accommodate your speed. 2^nd gear, speed up, 3^rd gear, even faster. YOU control your car and your destiny. You’re like Jeff Gordon on the last lap of the Daytona 500 with an advantage of 3 car lengths. Home free. You blink once and realize your on your way to work, the interstate is your track, and you’re driving a stick shift vehicle. A manual transmission gives you control. Many racing enthusiasts purchase the manual vehicle because it provides total control over your vehicle. In today’s blog, we discuss the advantages of a manual transmission, which by the way, is usually $900.00 cheaper than an automatic.

If you’re in search of power, Manual transmission is definitely the way to go. For example, an automatic equipped Dodge Neon has a reported 0-60 MPH time of approximately 10.5 seconds. The same Neon when equipped with a 5-speed manual has a reported 0-60 time of 8.1 seconds; a huge difference. The acceleration offered from a vehicle with a manual transmission is usually higher, because of the precise shifting the car encompasses.

Manual transmissions also excel at fuel economy. Most new Automatic cars have an EPA rating of only 1 or 2 MPG less than the same model car with a manual transmission. So, you’re not saving TOO much with a manual but it is a small difference.

When it comes to maintenance, most manuals require less service than their automatic counterparts. The clutch disc in manual transmissions does need to be replaced on occasion. There are many factors that determine how long a clutch will last such as driving style, the material the clutch disc is made of, and the amount of city vs. highway driving. Clutch replacement is often a labor intensive task and can cost several hundred dollars if performed at a repair shop.

So, we’ve given you the facts. What will you choose??? What do you prefer? Feel free to comment below:

How Electric Cars Work

2011-03-30T07:57:00.001-07:00

We enjoy electric toasters, electric music players, and occasionally the electric slide (for the musically inclined, of course). Now, electric cars have peaked our interest with promises of aiding the environment and saving on gas money. Many have thought about the purchase, but how do they work? In today’s blog, we touch on the subject of so much popularity.

First, they create less pollution than gas-powered cars, and are environmentally friendly. Vehicle power is derived from an electric motor. These motors use electricity in place of gasoline to power the vehicle. Electricity is fed to the motor, creating a magnetic field. That magnetic field causes a tightly wound coil to rotate while spinning the axle of the vehicle, turning the tires for motion.

Electric cars are literally ‘plugged in’ to juice up the engine. Electric cars with a battery use an electrical outlet to charge before they are operated. Another way is the hydrogen fuel cell. Fuel cells work when pure hydrogen combines with oxygen to create electricity. The only byproduct of hydrogen fuel cells is water. Yet another way is a solar power. Solar panels on a car collect energy from the sun and store it into the car's battery for later use.

Electric cars are great for the environment. They produce less noise pollution and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Innovation and technology will continue to change and adapt to the times making electric cars a great alternative.

Rock On!! Best Music Alternatives For Your Car

2011-03-23T08:08:00.001-07:00

I think we’ve all been there, you know, the moment where your voice is hoarse from crooning; the steering wheel is your drum set, and your leg’s uncontrollable tapping causes the car to jerk. You’re in the zone and your favorite song is blasting through your speakers. Yeah, people are looking at you funny in other lanes, but you don’t care, you’re lost in the moment. There are several options for listening to music in your car, today our blog discusses the options, feel free to choose your fav!

iPod/Mp3 Player – If you have your favorite tunes locked in on your iPod/smartphone/Mp3 Player-a-majig and your car has an Auxiliary connection, (most cars after 2006 have them) then you’re in luck. You can purchase an auxiliary cable online (eBay has them as low as 1$) plug it into the car and the other end into the headphone jack of your device. Push play on your device and viola, HD music directly from your favorite jukebox.

Satellite Radio – satellite radio is commercial and static free, music is beamed directly from satellites in space. Two big companies, XM and Sirius, have paid subscriptions with countless radio stations to choose from. Music from all genres, sports, traffic, talk shows (Howard Stern) and weather are all included. Purchasing the tuner for your car starts around $75 bucks, with a monthly subscription of around $15. One drawback is that reception can be deterred in cities with skyscrapers, but purchasing an external antenna will fix the problem.

Car Audio w/Cassette Adapter – if you own an older car, don’t panic! You can still play your mp3’s on the road. By purchasing a cassette adapter, you can play your tunes via a headphone jack. First, plug your cassette adapter into your player’s headphone jack. Then, insert the dummy tape into your car’s cassette player. With $20 dollars you can use your modern mp3 player to play your tunes, rock on!!

Top Vehicle Innovations of the Century

2011-03-16T08:20:00.001-07:00

Flying cars have always been something we would like to see in our lifetime, but…for now, we’ll have to settle for some really cool, helpful, innovations. Cars have gone a long way since the Ford Model-T and in today’s blog we discuss some of the most influential technologies to date.

1) Fold-flat rear seats – Honda’s foldaway seats in the late 1990’s took the concept of space saving to another level. Seats that tuck out of the way are much easier to deal with than those that have to be removed.

2) Electronic Stability Systems – introduced by luxury manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz in 1995, this computerized system applies the car’s brakes or cuts the throttle to keep the car going where you want it. This maintains car stability, working within the car’s limitations.

3) DVD Players – In 2002 Honda and Saturn introduced the DVD player, children in the backseat of minivans rejoiced. Innovation? Very much so. DVD players were shrunk and fitted into vehicles, providing a smooth comfortable ride, minus the bickering siblings in the background.

Do you have any innovations you would like to add to the list? There are countless other options available, add yours now!

Doggie Safety Tips (Car Edition)

2011-03-09T08:37:00.003-08:00

A wagging tail is a smile in dog form. Man’s best friend has been keeping us company since the beginning of companionship. In the age of the modern consumer it gets more and more difficult to keep your pet safe. In our recent blog post we discuss some great tips for keeping your ‘Lassie’ safe during a car ride. Below, we’ve provided a quick list of options:

1) Restrain your dog – We know dogs want to have their freedom, however it’s so much safer to keep them restrained while in the car. If your pet is unrestrained it can cause distractions and injury. Imagine making a sudden stop. Even at low speeds this can be very dangerous for your pet. For small and medium sized dogs a crate, or a harness works wonders in the back seat. Now, if you’re Great Mastiff is riding with you today (some grow up to 7 ft. in length) we suggest you have a big enough rear area to contain them. The Front seats can be used to block them in.

2) Don’t put your dog on your lap – Having your dog on your lap is like driving while using a Tablet computer. Huge distraction!! Your reaction time is substantially slowed and if the window is open, an extremely curious dog could run out into traffic.

3) Create a ‘pet friendly’ car – some items for a dog car utopia would be: a cushioned pet bed, extendable cargo area, rear ventilation (A/C or fan), rubber floor mats, and a spill-resistant water bowl. There are several vehicles ideal for dog lovers out there. A lot of car manufacturers are chasing dog lovers with new technology and innovations.

4) Don’t let your dog ride with their head out of the window – I know it’s tempting, but they can be easily injured by debris flying in their eyes.

5) Keep proper ID – just in case your dog gets lost while traveling, you want to make sure you have emergency contact info and up to date ID tags.

6) Prepare a doggie bag – make sure it contains clean up supplies, towel, feeding watering bowl, food, and toys to keep them well behaved

A pet is a family member, lets keep ours safe by practicing great car etiquette, while making the trip fun and exciting for our canine companions.

Don’t Leave Your Wallet at the Gas Pump

2011-03-02T06:10:00.000-08:00

The Jetsons have it too good. Floating space age hovercrafts are great for the environment (no emissions), make traveling efficient, and most importantly: they don’t use GAS! However, it’s not 2062, and in 2010, gas prices have taken an unexpected turn toward increased money signs. As the price of gas slowly rises, we provide several options to help you get your money’s worth in this week’s blog.

One obvious way to improve gas mileage is by purchasing a fuel-efficient vehicle. There are countless vehicles to choose from: the Ford Focus, Chevy Cruze, Chevy Sonic, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra to name a few. In the era of the smartphone, it’s easy to find an app that utilizes your local GPS to find the best surrounding gas prices. Try using Gasbuddy, a free app that checks local gas prices through a network of community users that keep in touch with real-time updates. Another great alternative is to keep up with vehicle maintenance. Check your tire pressure, receive oil changes regularly, flush your radiator, and keep your oil level reasonably leveled. This decreases wear and tear, and increases gas mileage. Also, Do not IDLE! Idling is a waste (unless you’re at a red light, we do advise you to obey traffic laws…hehe) Park your vehicle and go into a restaurant rather than idling in the drive-thru. It usually saves time, and definitely saves gas. Do you have any tips for us? Feel free to comment! We could all use the help!

Interesting Car Facts

2011-02-23T08:54:00.001-08:00

Driving a car everyday, we sometimes become so engulfed in our lives, we neglect to realize just how innovative the technology is that propels out cars and gets us to the next destination. Below are some great car facts you can share with friends.

1. The first cars did not have steering wheels. Drivers steered with a lever.

2. The first speeding ticket was issued in 1902.

3. In 1916, 55 percent of the cars in the world were Model T Fords, a record that has never been beaten.

4. The automobile is the most recycled consumer product in the world today.

5. Most American car horns beep in the key of F.

6. Buick introduced the first electric turn signals in 1938.

7. The first car radio was invented in 1929.

8. In 1923, 173 new inventions by women for cars had been reported. Among these inventions were a carburetor and an electric engine starter.

9. In 1887, Benz was the first car company to be offered for sale.

Got a fun fact you would like to share, comment!

Amazing Smartphone Apps for Making YOUR Life Easier (Car Edition)

2011-02-16T05:52:00.001-08:00

Life is rough, with schedules, play-dates, business meetings, and exhaustion lingering it’s hard to get a few seconds of ease. Well, there is a quick release. Millions of Americans have embraced the smartphone movement or the “computer in your pocket” mentality. It’s easy to pull your phone from your stone washed jeans, or khaki work slacks (whatever your preference) and update your Facebook, play a quick game, or catch up on the Huffington Post’s most recent article. It’s just that easy. Below, we’ve provided some cool apps that can ease that mental strain, and help you find that niche between work and relaxation.

Trapster, a free iPhone application allows drivers to scan the area for known speed traps, police hangouts, speed cameras or even stop-light cameras. Using the GPS capabilities in your smart phone it uses reported speed traps in Trapster’s network database to give voice alerts of approaching traps. This technology is due to a network of over 5 million Trapster users that constantly contribute trap locations.

GasBuddy is a lifesaver for savvy individuals with a frugal mindset. Gas changes fluctuate at the drop of a hat, sometimes varying as much as 20% within a couple city blocks. GasBuddy is a comprehensive source for up to date gas prices. The app lays out prices on a map and allows the user to choose one that fits their budget. Priceless.

Car Finder Plus is an app that records your position when you leave your car, tracking your location in the process. The GPS stores this location and when you’re looking for your vehicle after running your errands it provides a display of where to locate your car.

Repair Pal is a great companion for the everyday driver. It can tell you the right price to pay for repair, find a great mechanic in the area, and gives one-touch access to roadside assistance. Amazing! Plus the app is free!

There are countless smartphone applications available for your phone that helps make life a tad easier. Check out your smartphone application store for details and continue to drive safely!

Feel free to add your favorite app here:

The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

2011-02-09T08:38:00.001-08:00

Colorado

Chicago, Illinois

New Orleans, Louisiana

Las Vegas, Nevada

Washington, DC

Ok, so we’ve provided several spots for your next road trip. Have you had any road trips experiences you would like to share or maybe we missed your favorite hot spot? Feel free to comment below:

How to Avoid a Traffic Jam

2011-02-02T10:35:00.001-08:00

Traffic is a hassle. It’s time consuming, exhausting, and just plain aggravating. If you commute to work in a large city you’ve most likely experienced it. It takes away from work productivity, time with your loved ones, and causes distress. There’s IS hope. By making some changes to your daily routine you can avoid traffic (for he most part, sometimes it’s inevitable) and smile on your way to work.

Please follow our ‘How to Avoid a Traffic Jam’ rules:

1.) Alternate route- check online maps and research the area, because street flow can be faster than the highway during rush hour.

2.) Access roads- during peak hours can save time and energy.

3.) Change your work schedule- most people work 8 to 5. Try coming in earlier and leaving later. A thirty-minute change can mean the difference between smooth sailing and a bumper-to-bumper halt.

4.) Do the speed limit- if everyone drove accordingly; traffic jams would be an imaginary thing of the past.

5.) Listen- try listening to the radio or watching the news before you leave for work. This helps you build an alternate route before your legs touch the brake pedal.

Do you have any to add to the list? Feel free to comment!

What Does Your Car Say About You?

2011-01-26T09:13:00.001-08:00

So, its 6:15 at night and you’re sitting in traffic at a standstill. Brake lights brighten up the night sky in an array of crimson during gridlock congestion. The radio is on, but it’s an infomercial that you’ve begun to ignore, so your mind wanders. You peer to the right and then to the left. The man on the right drives a gunmetal painted Hummer, while the person on the left navigates a fluorescent yellow Toyota hybrid. Immediately, you start to make assumptions. The Hummer is a beast, made for adrenaline junkies and off-road advocates, while the Prius is for the health conscious, environmentally friendly neighbor. Many of us associate certain cars with certain people.

A vehicle can provide insight into a person’s lifestyle, because our perception is based on the vehicle’s marketing. Volvo’s are marketed for safety, while Porsche is an instant sign of speed. So, what does YOUR car say about your lifestyle?

According to a study by researchers at UC Davis, an individual who drives a small car (Honda Civic, SmartCar, Prius) usually lives in a high traffic city. A small vehicle provides easy navigation through tight streets. They are usually more environmentally conscious and less concerned about their cars being a fashion statement or an indication of their status.

Mid sized cars (Chevy Sedan) are a tad harder to decipher. These drivers tend to be individuals belonging to blue-collar town, hold an above average income, are hard working, and enjoy their independence.

Luxury vehicle (Cadillac, Lexus, Infinity) drivers usually drive for status reasons. Middle-aged and retired people with a higher income are more likely to drive a luxury vehicle or a sports car. Generally, they are hard working individuals who enjoy their independence.

The infamous minivan is for outgoing and friendly individuals who enjoy the ‘act’ of driving, while the pickup truck driver is for lower traffic, very hard working individuals that most likely live in the suburbs. Truck drivers tend to utilize their vehicle for work or related activities.

Sports cars (Porsche) tend to be driven by college educated, financially stable, or unstable young people with lower self-esteem. Not confined to those characteristics, they can also be successful businessmen who enjoy having a fine vehicle that shows their status.

Car colors also say a lot about their owner. Check out these examples below:

Black: Aggressive personality, rebel

Silver: Cool, calm, may be a loner

Green: Reactive

Yellow: Idealistic

Blue: Introspective, reflective, and cautious

Red: Someone who is full of energy and pizzazz

White: Status seekers, gregarious

Cream: Contained and controlled

So, what type of driver are you? Feel free to comment!

DGRP001

2011-01-06T18:56:00.000-08:00

DGRP002

2011-01-06T18:55:00.004-08:00

DGRP003

2011-01-06T18:55:00.003-08:00

DGRP004

2011-01-06T18:55:00.002-08:00

DGRP005

2011-01-06T18:55:00.001-08:00

DGRP006

2011-01-06T18:55:00.000-08:00

DBGC001

2011-01-06T18:54:00.000-08:00