Today's cars are packed with high-technology features throughout. From the latest overhead-cam, turbocharged, direct-injected engines, to slick-shifting, computer-controlled twin-clutch transmissions, to voice-controlled infotainment systems with more computing power than it took for the Apollo program to put a man on the moon, there is virtually no area of a modern car that has not benefite
Calling a NASCAR racer a "stock" car is a gross overstatement -- they haven't been even remotely stock for several decades. These race cars are purebred, single-seat racing machines that bare only superficial resemblance to their street-going counterparts. Let us count the ways: Under the hood, a Sprint Cup car features carbureted, pushrod V8s that may have once ruled the roost o
New car warranties have come a long way in the past couple of decades. As the quality of Japanese cars began trumping the style and flash of Detroit, the local guys had to step up. Quality has been improving, but to give customers confidence in their cars, warranty coverage was also increased. Soon enough, the warranty became a significant part of the marketing and a major selling point for some c
Buy a new car today and the odds are pretty strong that within a few days you will receive a phone call asking about the experience. Quite a few new-car buyers may also receive a slew of survey forms in the mail in the coming weeks, all asking for your emotional responses and opinions about that new car. It seems you can't get your car serviced, buy a toaster or even visit a web site without havin
There is nothing worse than breaking down and getting stuck on the side of the road. While not every situation is a nightmare, any breakdown is a pain. Whether you've run out of gas, got a flat tire or some mysterious mechanical knocking just knocked for the last time, there's never a good time to be stuck with an immobile vehicle. Throw in some nasty weather and there is no doubt it w
The beeping grows louder, more confident even, as the signal shows more bars and the directional arrow grows more sure of itself. We're getting closer to finding my car, using a few simple and clear cues delivered by a LoJack tracking computer. ??D.J. Thompson, Director of Law Enforcement for LoJack and a retired Connecticut State Trooper who served eight years as a detective in the auto theft uni
If you get the feeling you’re seeing more ads for car insurance in recent years, there’s a good reason. You are. Spending on auto insurance advertising ballooned from $600 million in 2003 to over $1.7 billion in 2007. In 2008, Geico alone spent more than $600 million, with State Farm and Allstate not far behind. From talking lizards to modern cavemen to that guy who used to be the fake
In Pictures: Kia Sportage Kia Sportage and Hyundai TucsonThe $16,695 Kia Sportage and $18,070 Hyundai Tucson share the car-based platform they are built on. Base models include a 140-hp four-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive. A 173-hp V6 and all-wheel drive are optional. Both are backed by an excellent five year, 60,000 mile basic warranty (with roadside assistance) and a 10-year, 100,000 mil
