Summer heat can be as brutal on a vehicle and its occupants as the most chilling winter weather, according to AAA Idaho, which reminds motorists that the temperature in an overheated car can turn deadly dangerous in a matter of minutes. "An unattended small child or a pet is defenseless against the heat in an unattended or locked car, and the common reasons for a car overheating in the first place can put all occupants ... [full story]

The Honda Civic coupe seems all grown up now, ready to please adults with its confidence and style. It used to be that this little two-door was fit for a first-time buyer, but the eighth generation 2006 model has been fleshed out in size, substance and safety. It's a good choice as a refined and stylish high-mileage commuter car.   HONDA CIVIC - The Honda Civic coupe is in its eighth generation and has been fleshed ... [full story]

During the past week, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline increased by almost 8 cents to $2.93--the highest since mid-May. Oregon's statewide average, however, continued its downward trend, dropping to $2.96. National Average  Regular Unleaded  Current  $ 2.93 27-Jun   $ 2.86 Mo. Ago   $ 2.86 Yr. Ago   $ 2.22Crude oil currently is trading at more than $70 per barrel, largely in response to recent global developments. Geopolitical issues to keep an eye on include North Korea's testing of long-range missiles; ... [full story]

I was talking with the owner of a Ford F-150 pickup who said, "You know what's wrong with this truck? Nothing." Another owner told me that his F-150 has more than 133,000 miles on it and every now and then he thinks of trading it in, but why? "There's nothing wrong with it," he says. That was the benchmark Toyota had to hit with its Tundra half-ton pickup. Not just reliability, but user satisfaction. And it did, ... [full story]

The third time's the charm for the Cadillac Escalade. The third-generation Escalade, on sale now, is at long last the Eldorado of luxury sport utility vehicles. Previous generations bankrolled enough development budget for the 2007 model that it could break out of the stamping mold from the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, with which Escalade shares a platform.   NEW CADILLAC - The 2007 Cadillac Escalade has a fierce exterior, a friendly interior and comes with an ... [full story]

The hybridization of a gasoline engine is a wonderful thing. Especially when it's pushing more than 300 horsepower in a sport sedan built to take it. Hybrids, combining an electric motor and battery pack with a gasoline engine, are heralded for their fuel economy and substantial reduction in tailpipe emissions.   Lexus GS 450h Sedan But the system also brings a stunning boost in horsepower when applied to larger engines, such as that in the Lexus GS 450h ... [full story]

BOISE - Today, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety issued the results of a study that demonstrates states with nighttime and passenger restrictions for teen drivers record significantly lower crash and injury rates than jurisdictions that do not. According to AAA, the state of Oregon recorded death and injury rates for 16-year-old drivers that are 20 percent lower than in a comparable jurisdiction without such restrictions. The restrictions are part of graduated driver licensing (GDL) laws ... [full story]

Carbon fiber, volcanic ash and Kevlar might seem odd ingredients for a tire, but Goodyear has called on that recipe to improve grip and handling in some of its tires. Representatives from the tire maker were in San Diego recently to run service employees and the media through tests of two new tires, the Eagle ResponsEdge performance touring tire and the Fortera TripleTred for minivans and SUVs. The event at Qualcomm Stadium featured an open-air classroom and ... [full story]

Toyota put its RAV4 through a growth spurt for 2006, adding 14 inches of length so it could offer a third-row seat and a bigger cabin. And what was once a nimble four-door runabout has seemingly become a one-size-fits-all, entry-level SUV that has moved up in price. I recently tested a RAV4 Sport 4WD with a 166-horsepower four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission, and while I liked the contemporary styling, the overall package didn't give the impression ... [full story]

Motorists hoping to stretch their fuel dollars by boosting their vehicles' fuel efficiency should be wary of the promises of gas-saving additives, fuel-line devices and other supposed enhancers, AAA warns. With Idaho's current average price for regular grade gasoline just pennies short of the record price of $2.95 set last September, some motorists may be persuaded to experiment with one or more of the many fuel additives or devices that promise to dramatically improve a vehicle's ... [full story]

Travel will be up slightly this Memorial Day holiday despite high gas prices and increasing vacation costs, according to AAA. AAA estimates that 37.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 0.9 percent increase from last year. Approximately 31.4 million travelers (84 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 0.7 percent increase from the 31.2 million who drove a year ago. Another 4.3 million ... [full story]

1. Keep an eye on your gas consumption The more aware you are of the amount of fuel that you use the more you can do to try to reduce your gas costs. If you notice that your gas efficiency is decreasing it could be an indicating factor that your car needs servicing. Make weekly comparisons with your fuel log that you keep in you car to see how much your gas consumption is going ... [full story]

Recreational Vehicle is a $10.4 billion industry. Recreational vehicles are purchased for many reasons, including to travel long / short distances, and a secondary home on wheels. Not everyone may enjoy the comforts or style of living in a RV. Anyone that enjoys driving, being closer to nature, saving money staying in a hotel / motel plus meals, and enjoys sightseeing. Consider first renting an RV before investing money, to understand the lifestyle having a recreational ... [full story]