The cooler temperatures and early snowfall at Mt. Hood are sure signs that the winter driving season is right around the corner. Once again, AAA is designating October as Car Care Month, and encourages vehicle owners to "get ready, get set, and go." "After the hot summer, millions of vehicles need preventive maintenance before cold weather sets in," says Earl Baker, AAA Oregon/Idaho Approved Auto Repair Manager. "Throughout October, our Approved Auto Repair partners will ... [full story]

It's a buyer's market for consumers looking to simplify their fuel budget with an economy car. This B-segment of compacts and subcompacts has been bumped up this model year with such entries as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Dodge Caliber, a new Hyundai Accent and now the Nissan Versa. Most of these little cars are overachievers in their conveniences, attention to detail and do-all cargo capacity. And Versa is among them.   NISSAN VERSA - The Nissan Versa, ... [full story]

For those commuters too busy to drive as they check sports scores, trade stocks or watch a movie on their phone, Blackberry or DVD screen, Mercedes-Benz has an upgraded cruise control that keeps electronic eyes on the road.   MERCEDES S550 - The Mercedes S550 has short- and long-range radar that can scan 160 yards ahead and be active at speeds up to 120 mph. At slow speeds, the system will brake the car to a stop. ... [full story]

Right now the weather is warm and pleasant, but before you know it, temperatures will cool off and there will be snow on the ground.  Not only is now a good time to check your furnace and seal up the cracks around windows and doors, you should get your car ready for winter as well.  The colder months ahead can really take their toll on your vehicle, especially if you live up north or in ... [full story]

I like a tight deadline, 'specially the one when the appliance repairman calls my cell phone to say he can be at my house in 15 minutes and I know I'm 20 minutes out. That's when a 425-horsepower Dodge Magnum SRT8 comes in handy. This is the big Hemi, the 6.1-liter V-8. With a couple of green lights, I've got it made.    DODGE MAGNUM - What’s not to like about Dodge’s new Hemi-powered $42,000 muscle wagon? CNS ... [full story]

Anyone who has ever slammed the hood of an old Chevy truck will realize how far GM truck construction has improved with the 2007 Chevrolet Suburban. Body panel gaps are so tight now that owners need a lesson in how to close the hood: gently. Slamming could have an impact on the grille, so GM engineers added a strut under the hood for a little downforce resistance. Now, just lower the hood and give a little push ... [full story]

The American-bred sport utility vehicle is a constant frustration to the import imitators. Those brands -- the Europeans mostly -- tend to take carmaking seriously and want to overthink and overengineer their versions of the SUV. It will have no compromises, drive with the fury of a sport sedan and climb mountains like King Kong.   MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 - The new $56,000 Mercedes GL450 can come with power folding mirrors that automatically fold when locking. Its ... [full story]

Each year, approximately 5,000 pedestrians and bicyclists are killed along U.S. roads - 2,300 of them occurring at night - and another 70,000 pedestrians are injured in traffic crashes, according to a 2004 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.  New automotive lighting technologies, including Xenon and Adaptive Front Lighting Systems, can help improve nighttime pedestrian safety, according to the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council. According to researcher Michael Flannagan of the University of Michigan Transportation Research ... [full story]

Jaguar designer Ian Callum faced a dilemma when planning the XK convertible. It could have had a retractable hardtop, creating a coupe and a convertible - two cars in one. He tried, but the company had no experience in engineering a retractable hardtop. Plus, it was a challenge to find adequate stowage for the hardtop without ruining the car's lines. The budget was tight and a retractable hardtop wouldn't have saved that much money, Callum said ... [full story]

Trendy and artsy: Mini Cooper.  Cool soccer Mom: BMW wagon.  Nostalgia lover: new VW Beetle.  Midlife crisis: vintage Corvette.It's no accident that certain cars are driven by certain types of people.  In fact, by the time a car has reached the marketplace, a target buyer is practically in its DNA.  "Car manufacturers are designing vehicles based on focus group studies that give key insights into satisfying lifestyles, egos and current status symbols," says Ron Miller, a ... [full story]

The recent spike in gasoline prices is causing a shift in car-buying habits and increased interest in alternate fuels. But there are plenty of every-day, basic strategies consumers can employ to ease the burden of higher gasoline prices. The following advice is from the pros at the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), who note that these conservation tips will not only save gasoline, they'll help extend the life of your vehicle and ... [full story]

With all the bottled water that is consumed around the world, a bottle cooler built into a glove box seems an obvious idea that should have been done years ago. It wasn't, of course, though there are cooled consoles, glove boxes and optional electric coolers, mostly on luxury vehicles.   HIGH CALIBER - The new Dodge Caliber R/T offers an engaging design that puts all the best parts of a small car, SUV and wagon together. ... [full story]

Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers today detailed his ongoing efforts to detect and deter unlawful gasoline marketing practices. The actions taken by Myers are in response to complaints received from Oregonians concerning price-per-gallon increases of fuel around the state. “Oregonians have clearly expressed their frustrations about high gas prices and its impact on their livelihoods,” Myers said. “We have worked hard to detect unlawful conduct in this important market, and to take aggressive enforcement action ... [full story]