Today, as gas prices are surpassing $3 per gallon, SUVs and minivans are not as practical to own. So what's a family to do? Enter the 2006 Volkswagen Passat 3.6L, the midsize sedan that may forever change the attitude of owning a "grown-up" family car. In its most powerful Passat to date, the 280-horsepower arrives soon to dealerships around the country. Although considered a family car, it does not sacrifice speed. The car continues to perform in the ... [full story]

The 2006 cars will be arriving at your local dealer soon. If you're in the market for a car, you probably want one that's safe, powerful and fun to drive. The 2006 Volkswagen GLI fits the bill on all counts. With gas prices as high as they are, fuel economy is an important consideration - even in a high- performance vehicle. The GLI averages 32 miles per gallon on the freeway and 24 in the city. Additionally, ... [full story]

Ready to experience the treasures of small towns and roadside curiosities? Pack up your family, hop in the car and make your next adventure a road trip. Whether it's travel for the holidays, summer vacation, spring break or just a long weekend, a road trip is a fun way to travel with your family and make memories that will last a lifetime. To be the ultimate road warrior, keep the following road trip rules in ... [full story]

Mobile phones have become a lifeline for North American motorists. According to the Cellular Telephone Industry Association, more than 73 million calls are placed to 911 hotlines from cell phones every year. AAA handles an additional 14 million calls for emergency roadside assistance from cell callers. "Your cell phone can be perceived as a companion or a status symbol, but when you really need it, it can be your most important personal safety device," said ... [full story]

Car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. According to Car-Accidents.net, they occur approximately 6.4 million times each year. Although being involved in a car accident can be overwhelming, knowing what to do in the moments following a fender-bender can help alleviate some of the stress and confusion of the situation. The service specialists at Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge offer the following tips on how to handle a car accident: * Don't leave the ... [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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]