An 18-year-old Braintree woman faces several charges after an early morning crash allegedly caused by her texting at the wheel.

The teen, whose name was not released, will be charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to keep within marked lanes and sending or receiving a text message while operating a motor vehicle after a 3 a.m. accident on Rt. 37 on Wednesday, said Braintree Deputy Police Chief Russ Jenkins.

She was apparently driving north when she veered across, into the southbound lane and struck a utility pole with her Nissan Pathfinder near Wampatuck Road. When rescuers arrived, the pole was resting on the roof of her car.

She was treated at South Shore Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Jenkins said. No one else was injured.

The driver allegedly told police that she was texting before the crash.

AutoMD.com estimates that American consumers are overpaying by more than $20 Billion on auto repairs. The investigation not only revealed repair shops giving overblown estimates, but also multiple instances of shops recommending unnecessary work.

Nothing chaps my ass more then being ripped off. Ripping my sister off who fits the typical female stereotype who doesn’t know the difference between a spark plug wire and where the windshield washer fluid goes, really chaps my ass. I’ve never had a bad experience when it comes to automotive repairs because knock on wood, I haven’t had a car that has ever required the maintenance one needs after a certain age. I have dealt with typical maintenance not covered under warranty that most shops still try to up sale you on though. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I use my mom voice when telling them exactly what it is that they be will repairing on my car or the fact that I know what I talking about, no one has ever had the nerve to try an rip me off…yet.

A little over a month ago my younger sister, who religiously takes her car in to have the oil changed and tires rotated at a respectable Jacksonville dealer, gave her the once over, and then proceeded to give her a list of things that needed to be replaced immediately as if there were going to cause major consequences. One must admire a service adviser for simply doing their job but no one sticks it to you quite like a dealer when it comes to the cost of repairs. Not exactly being automotive savvy but experiencing a little bit of sticker shock as a poor college student, she took the list, paid for her oil change and proceeded to call our father who said “I think not”.

Let’s break it down what the dealer’s quoted $2000 bill was going to cover:

• Windshield wipers
• Transmission service
• Spark plugs and wires
• Water pump
• Timing belt
• Labor

The water pump and timing belt, really? Generally, when the the timing belt is replaced you must remove the water pump. It just makes sense at that time to replace them both. My sister bought her car with an extended warranty that heaven forbid, her car overheat or the timing belt break while she was driving down the road causing any major issues, a simple deductible would in fact cover the repairs and replacement. If the engine happened to seize up due to these issues, well then a new engine would be placed in the car for the same deductible. My father, who has owned more than his fair share of automobiles since he started driving in 1975, wasn’t too worried about the water pump or the timing belt so he prioritized the important items on the list. My sister only paid $5000 for the car less than two years ago, dumping $2000 in it now really wasn’t an option or even worth it. At that time she had bought the car it had just gone under a full service including new brakes and tires. The car receiving a clean bill of health from that Dodge dealer all less than 20,000 miles ago too.

My father took 20 minutes out of his day to walk into an automobile supply store where he purchased the windshield wiper blades, quality spark plugs, and transmission service kit, for less than $40. A mechanic and family friend for years was not able to accommodate my sister’s schedule so my father made a quick call to another shop that he had visited on and off for years as he knew the owners. A simple conversation over what repairs were needed and that 75% of the parts had already been purchased, came to a verbal agreement of no more than $100 for labor and miscellaneous parts. Had my father been able to take the time off from work, he would have done all of this himself with a few simple tools. A socket wrench (to fit both the plugs and for the transmission), a ratchet, and a feeler gauge used to set the gap on the plugs. But time being of the essence and not really having a location to put a car on ramps to complete the transmission service, my sister did what a majority of automobile owners do, she took it to have it done.

When my sister dropped her car off, she was given a 4 hour window for all of the repairs to be completed. At the fifth hour, the mechanic called to inform her that both her rear wheel cylinders were leaking and he would not be able to legally let her drive the car away from his shop with such a safety issue. My sister would have to pay for a tow truck and sign a release form in order to get her car back. Feeling pressured and concerned, she agreed without even consulting my father. So how would you even know if there was in fact a problem with the wheel cylinders? The obvious would be that your brake pedal would be soft and require being pushed all the way to the floor, your brake fluid light would come on because there was in fact a leak, and brake fluid would be noticeable on your rear wheels. My sister had experienced NONE of these issues.

At the eighth hour, my sister finally went to pick her car up. $299 later, she reluctantly swiped her card thinking of all the pb & jelly sandwiches she would have to consume for the next month in order to receive her keys back. Not once receiving an invoice stating exactly what had been done or the cost of the parts in order to complete the repair, she was handed a measly statement from the credit card machine stating the amount, date and shop name. There was no offering to view the old parts. Once hitting the road, she called my father to tell him the good news. Needless to say, my family has a tendency to have a bit of a short fuse when it comes to situations like these. No one likes to be taken advantage of and my father had purposely sent my sister there because he was comfortable with the amount quoted and he trusted the shop!

My father immediately came to my house where my sister was to investigate these so-called repairs. The first thing he checked was the spark plugs, she had been charged $10 per plug to change them and guess what? They were the same nasty old spark plugs that had been in there that morning. My father had purchased Autolites that are black, the silver ones from who knows how long ago sat in their place. Had my father had the tools, the entire process to change 4 spark plugs would have taken 15-20 minutes. The transmission was overfilled and we had to get a turkey baster to remove the excess. When he checked the brake fluid, it was dirty. What color is dirty brake fluid? It appears black. New fluid is the color of weak tea. The fact that her car was filthy and there were no hand prints on the rear tires from them being removed along with nothing shiny and new poking out to see it was obvious that the repair on the wheel cylinders had not been made. When my sister told him she didn’t even get an invoice or any old parts back, as one would say, he blew his stack.

With a phone call, the mechanic tried to justify his $10 per spark plug charge and that he had switched them, the fee for cleaning the transmission pan with a can of carb cleaner, that his dinky shop specifically had the wheel cylinders for that exact model car in stock, the entire tube of RTV to seal the transmission pan was justified much like the can of brake cleaner but hey! No charge to bleed the brakes because it wasn’t needed! There is no way you can get out of bleeding the brakes (which means to get all of the air out of the system once new fluid has been placed in the lines) – you have to do it. There was no charge, nor getting out of it because it had not been done. Had it not been 15 minutes from closing or a 45 minute drive away, I can assure you that my father would have been more than willing to settle this face to face as a few choice words over the phone really were not getting his point across as to what he thought about that days events. There was no explanation as to where the parts were, why the spark plugs had not been replaced or any negotiation on the services.

After an hour of ranting about the entire situation, being mad was not solving the issue so my sister got even. She called her bank and explained the situation who stated that since it was a pending transaction to call back once it had posted and they would assist her. That Tuesday, she called her bank back and since the previous person she had spoke to made excellent notes on her account, the charge was refunded and in return paper work was being sent for her to take the car to another repair shop to validate that in fact none of these repairs had been made. When she did in fact take the car for a second opinion recently, the spark plugs and wheel cylinders had not been replaced. No big surprise there. Luckily Visa stays true to it’s word. Unfortunately, not everyone is this lucky at finding such quick resolution in situations like these.

So what can you do to avoid this happening to you?

First, know exactly what needs to be repaired on your car. Second, shop around; don’t settle for one answer. AutoMd has a neat tool that allows you to estimate what you can expect to pay for repairs. Third, always get a written estimate with an agreed charge. Fourth, once you have decided on the shop, be firm with what services are going to be performed on your car – do not let any shop force you into repairs that you did not request. At this time negotiate a price based on what you have found. Fifth, if additional parts are bought during the repair make sure they provide you with proof and that you always receive all of the old parts back. Yes, you will just end up throwing them away but you will see in fact that the repairs had been made on what you were charged for. And lastly, if for some reason you feel as if you did not receive quality service or that repairs made were not to your liking, do not pay or leave the shop until you feel comfortable. You have the right to refuse any service. If you still do not feel comfortable in searching for a repair shop alone or taking your car in for service, take someone with you to reaffirm what you are requesting that is more knowledgeable.

The bitter taste left from a bad automotive repair experience is not one that will soon go away.

Let’s be honest, Buick is not the first manufacturer that would come to mind when deciding to set foot in a dealership as a twenty-something-year-old buyer. In our generation, Buick hasn’t always held up to the cool factor, with the idea of a Buick being associated with the first car your parents bought you, golf tournament prizes and members of the AARP. Which translates with no easy way to tell all of your friends, "Dude, I bought a Buick." Let’s be real though, the 2010 LaCrosse is not your granny’s Buick.

Buick made recent progress with the launch of the Enclave, but the redesigning of the LaCrosse was shifted to the fast lane with a reported sales increase of 100 percent compared to the same month last year. GM has taken a prime opportunity to relaunch Buick to a different crowd of buyers—a younger crowd. In what seems to be a continuous positive movement forward, Buick really is proving that an old dog can be taught new tricks.

The LaCrosse is available in three trims, CX, CXL and the CXS with a starting MSRP of $27,085. Currently the LaCrosse is being offered with an option of two V6 engines but a 2.4L four-cylinder engine will be available with the CX model sometime this spring along with optional AWD, the only car in this class to do so. Each LaCrosse comes with standard security and safety features such as ONSTAR free for the first year, keyless start and dual front airbags, driver/passenger front side airbags, and head side curtains on all rows, with NTSHA consistently giving five stars for safety in front and side collisions. Each Buick comes with a four year/50,000 bumper-to-bumper warranty, five year/100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty that not only meets but exceeds other manufacturers current offerings.

Our CXS with a MSRP of $33,015.00 was equipped with:
-3.6L V6 offering 280-hp
-Upgraded perforated leather
-Heated and cooled front seats
-Ultrasonic rear park assist
-Eight-way driver and passenger front seats
-Memory seats and mirrors
-A wood grain-trimmed leather heated steering wheel with audio controls (Yes, I said a heated steering wheel for when your digits just happen to be a wee bit frosty.)
-384-watt Harman/Kardon FM/AM/XM/CD 11-Speaker audio system
-USB connection, Bluetooth, Universal Home Remote and ambient blue interior lighting

The Touring Package ($800) includes 19-inch, 9-spoke wheels; ALL-SEASON tires; and a chassis selectivity that translates into a “sportier” suspension. The touch screen audio system with navigation and backup camera ($1,995) and the power oversized sunroof ($995) topped the Buick out at $37,555 including that ever annoying destination charge.

The exterior of the LaCrosse is just stunning. It’s sleek, sexy and sophisticated. Try as I may, I cannot find one flaw to this asthetically appeally automobile. From the chrome grill with the massive Buick emblem, to the large hood that gracefully fills out the front, to the slightly flared fenders and delightfully packaged rear with a seamless finish; the LaCrosse does not disappoint in the looks department. I found random passersby swooning over this beauty as she was perched in her spot downtown. The LaCrosse was sometimes confused with a Lexus; people couldn’t help but say “wow” when told otherwise. “Wow”–not word normally associated with Buick. Clearly, we all have it in us to be surprised at some point.

Buick was once considered a “boat of the road,” comfortable to ride in but not exactly what you would consider one that took curves well. Though not classified as a sports sedan or notoriously known for gripping curves and out handling others in this class, I found the LaCrosse did a damn good job. The 3.6L V6 was abundant with power and had no problems getting this sedan down the road. Zero to 60 in 6.4 seconds puts the LaCrosse right along side the ES350. Accelerating from a dead stop to a steady pace along the road was effortless. I am consistently surprised with a V6 engine that is not only good on gas for an engine and car of this size but able to smoke the tires off the line.

LaCrosse’s interior dishes out what we should expect for American luxury regardless of our age. I was immediately impressed with the overall quality of the interior. If a car interior could have a style this might fall into the “Hollywood Regency” era, with wood, leather and metal touches. I was spoiled with all the creature comforts found while behind the wheel. From the curvatures in the door that raised the switches to just in finger reach while my arm rested comfortably along the door control panel, to the center console that just seemed to be at the perfect height. It all seemed as if years of well-executed planning went into the design of this thought out interior. The somewhat vintage instrument cluster provided clear and crisp information. The blue lighting that followed its way around the car’s interior to the dash and door handle areas and the ultramodern 8-inch wide touchscreen audio/navigation screen brought the car into today.

In the past, touchscreen audio systems have not been a favorite of mine, but I was able to easily navigate my way through the menu without a single snafu. I had not only programmed everything to my liking, adjusted the mirrors and seat, and activated the Bluetooth, but I did it all within my first 20 minutes of first being in the car. If the touchscreen isn’t for you (though if you can work a touchscreen phone this will be cake), every button and knob known to man is right under the screen. I found myself not even needing to touch anything except the heated seat and steering wheel button, as the steering wheel once again provides those audio controls we don’t seem to realize how often we use until they are no longer there. An oversized sunroof that stretched its way into the backseat viewing pleasure zone was enjoyable at all speeds. The option to open the roof while leaving the “sun shade” closed was a neat feature for fresh air but not blinding sunshine.

The leather seats were supple and both front and rear seating provided the level of comfort associated with a higher priced automobile. More than ample leg room for both front and rear made any road trip truly enjoyable. LaCrosse provides a tomb-like ride thanks to quality touches such as acoustic laminate glass in the front doors, 5mm thick glass in the rear doors, triple door seals, sound deadening, and acoustic damping. Whether you are sitting at a stoplight or with the car set on cruise, sounds from outside were minimal, needless to say. If you’re one who likes to take a drive to clear your head, this is the car to do it in.

In one week, I went from questioning how great a Buick could actually be to raving about how great of a car the LaCrosse was. In fact, a month later, I still can’t stop talking about the car. I find myself getting that warm and fuzzy feeling inside when I see one on the road because I know whoever bought it knows about the unbeatable value, stellar good looks, impressive interior, and the shear enjoyment felt from not only driving the LaCrosse but by being seen in the car. The LaCrosse convinced me that I don’t need to purchase an import in order to be completely engulfed in 35k lux nor at twenty-seven or any age would I be embarrassed to own this car. I determined this all while blaring Marilyn Manson at a red light, in a Buick, of course.

Photos courtesy of Joanna Cifrian

In the past when I thought Subaru, I would reference my memories of my quirky neighbors in the 80s who drove a spaceship-looking two-door Subaru. Twenty years later, I realize the same quirky crowd still flocks to Subaru, but apparently that crowd has grown with the 200,000 plus cars sold last year. So quirky or not, Subaru was still selling despite the automobile manufacture crash and burn of 2009.

This marks the fifth generation of the Legacy, which received a complete redesign for 2010 as Subaru’s mid-size, but does it really improve the love? Because it’s been a struggle to remotely even feel anything that slightly resembles love when it came to writing this review.

The Legacy comes in eight different trims starting at $19,995 to $29,995 not including options. Each Legacy comes equipped with the norm such as ABS, Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) and the only car in this class to offer AWD standard. Legacy also earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick for it’s ring-shaped reinforced frame that includes Subaru’s advanced frontal air bag system, side curtain air bags and front seat side-impact air bags. To date, the NTSHA has yet to release their rating. The Legacy comes standard with a 2.5-liter SOHC 170-hp engine with the optional 2.5-liter DOHC turbocharged 265-hp or the 3.6 liter DOHC 256-hp– all of which earn the Boxer status. Our GT version came with the 2.5 turbocharged Boxer engine along with a 6-speed manual transmission, option package ’08 and the Sirius Satellite kit topping out at $34,146.

The Legacy did not fail to provide silly grins as the gas pedal was mashed into the floor with the whistling of the turbo. Sadly, the 6-speed manual transmission did not provide the enthusiasm it needed in order to be the perfect match with the turbocharged delight. The transmission felt like how a 14-year-old, 6-foot-4-inch boy appears– lanky and out of place. The Legacy’s handling along with the AWD and turbocharged engine made for a responsive suspension that handled very well. If the transmission could just get in tune with the power and handling, I was starting to think that the Legacy could be a packaged performance bargain for under $35,000 as an alternate to its upgraded German same size class competition.

Exterior wise, the redesigned Legacy appears fuller and not so boxy as its predecessor but in comparison to the previous models, the exterior took on an even more common look. Dare I say the Legacy had once resembled a former Camry but now it seems to lean more towards the last generation Mazda 6. I actually liked the previous version better then the current only because it wasn’t so rounded and puffy. Our 2.5GT Limited version came equipped with a hood scoop look to be borrowed from the Subaru stock pile making the Legacy appear to be a beefier WRX. The 2010 version does have extra interior space for a total of 103 cubic feet thanks to those rounded and smoothed out areas, making this a mid-size that can actually transport three adults in the back seat without whoever gets stuck in the middle feeling as if they’re four years old.

I found nothing superb about the design or the quality of materials used on the Legacy’s interior; it was all extremely average. The leather along with the dual heated seats did come in handy on one of our unusually cold mornings here but with the GT package the seats should offer more of a sportier feel then they did. Despite the 60/40 rear seat and now wider rear doors, do not be prepared to pack too much into the trunk. The trunk lid opens rather low and is prepared to nail you in the forehead if you are over a certain height, so beware. Not to leave out the fact that the opening does not provide many options for stuffing large flat packaged boxes that one just might acquire while on a trip to a certain local Swedish store.

The instrument cluster was basic but easy to read despite the annoying, ever-fluctuating gas mileage gauge. It annoyed me with the fact it it did not specify what the mpg was. If there is going to be a gauge even for this purpose, shouldn’t it be one that tells exactly what you are getting like most cars already do?

The upgraded Harman/Kardon 440-watt audio system provided enough for my boys to enthusiastically get their “gotta get that” groove on while riding in the backseat. The only feature the radio lacks is the auxilary jack for the now common mp3 accessory we all have. The audio controls located via fingertips on the steering wheel were nice, but my biggest annoyance with the car is the now in demand technologically advanced touch screen that happens to control everything.

Okay, so there was a calender to program important events that you would need your car to remind you of or that handy dandy calculator available at just a touch of your index finger, but working the GPS or changing the damn radio station was completely ridiculous. I am technically savvy, and have no other problems figuring out an array of common devices used on a daily basis, but getting into the Legacy made me feel as if I was completely incompetent. On Day Three of having the car, the home screen became stuck on the language selection screen and even with the time spent reading the owners manual and repeatedly selecting English there was no reversing it back to what it had been before. Despite the ever so clever rear vision camera that comes along with the upgrade the only thing it reminded me was that we have been driving for how long now without the assistance of a camera in a car this size, so why is it necessary now?

I just found it quite silly for a car this size. The one time I actually plug an address into the GPS, which thankfully I knew where I was going, it had me going on a goose chase around town. After reaching the destination and restarting the car, I was unable to clear the destination and to avoid hearing the annoying voice of the GPS giving a constant reminder to make a u-turn. By the way, this all comes with a price tag of $2995. Add to the package a sunroof that when open (between the overbearing wind noise and the feeling of being sucked out of the opening) makes you want to keep it closed despite the fact that you did in fact pay extra for a feature you cannot even use at speeds over 25 mph.

Overall, I am completely underwhelmed with Legacy. Based on the sticker price, I was expecting to be wooed but instead I am left asking, is that it? For a class full of plenty of other delightful options, Subaru has done nothing spectacular to catch the eye of this less than quirky driver.

Photos by Joanna Cifrian

The Hyundai Elantra was introduced to us in the early ’90s and wasn’t exactly what anyone claimed as a first choice for this compact class, but things have changed. Hyundai in general has improved, rated #1 in fuel efficiency and offering better reliability with a 10 year/100,000 warranty to boot. They also provide Hyundai Assurance (which allows you to return your vehicle and walk away from your loan or lease without having to worry about negative equity) and standard features that most consider options. Add an affordable price tag to the Elantra and suddenly it makes a brand new car an option for most who would typically settle for used with a starting MSRP of $14,145.

The 4th generation Elantra received an overall makeover with an exterior that is smooth in appearance and not at all ugly but still doesn’t really stand out. The rounded front and rear make the car tasteful without looking like a bubble. As most of the Hyundai models, it is similar with the front grill and headlights as the rest of the lineup. What personality it lacks on the exterior is made up with by an unexpected interior.

Hyundai Elantra offers a spacious interior and unobstructed view to the outside. With 112.1 cubic feet, it has the largest interior of any car in this class. There is seating for four adults comfortably with room for five if needed. An impressive amount of head room, front and rear leg room and comfortable seating took us by surprise. The above average trim did not appear cheap or haphazardly put together, and the dash and surround were clean and thought out even with the large amount of plastic covering the deep dashboard. The instrument cluster was easy to decipher and all controls were well within reach. Little things like placing the trunk release button in the driver side door exactly where your hand naturally wants to reach instead of up under the dash, a rear seat fold release in the trunk and plenty of storage compartments around the driver were nice added touches. The ridiculously inconspicuous trunk that extends with the 60/40 split rear seat were more than enough to carry home two Adirondack chairs along with a week’s worth of groceries. Standard dual front, dual front seat-mounted side airbags and dual side curtain and ABS are an added bonus to what we expect a new car should offer to keep us safe.

The Elantra-Blue as tested came equipped with the Comfort Package ($1700) that added a six-speaker audio system with the essential iPod and MP3 auxiliary jacks, XM radio, cruise and air conditioning. Carpet floor mats ($95), iPod cable ($35) and an easy to use Bluetooth hands-free phone system ($325) along with the freight and handling ($720) topped our total price as tested to $17,020. The base model Elantra unfortunately does not come equipped with air conditioning, which in these days one wouldn’t even consider an option. The price tag slowly creeps towards the $20,000 mark with the upgraded trim packages such as the GLS or SE that the air is standard on.

The manual transmission was confident enough to merge into rush hour traffic as it helped boost the 2.0 liter, 138 HP DOHV 4-cylinder up and down the road. The clutch was easy but the short throws of the shifter were clumsy and felt tightly placed together. With the average 35 highway mpg and combined average 29 mpg, you could easily get past the awkward set up with the fewer trips to the pump. As it was, it felt like it took forever to move the gas gauge off the full indicator and down below the halfway mark. I found the engine to be incredibly quiet even while accelerating and on the highway at higher speeds. There were a few times that if it had not been for the tachometer, I wouldn’t have even known it was running. The ride and handling of the car exceeded expectations by providing more then what I initially expected– but no rally races in its immediate future.

Overall, if you are in the market for a first car or second car to add to the family lineup, put the Hyundai Elantra on your short list. Hyundai offers a great value, long-term backed reliability and you can’t beat the great fuel economy. The car isn’t going to stop traffic with great looks or performance but it will allow you to arrive comfortably and with a realistic price. The Elantra just might be exactly what you are looking for.

Photos by Joanna Cifrian.

Dear Santa,

I know my behavior this year has not always been desirable but I really am trying hard to be a very good girl!

As you know, I haven’t had the best relationship with my car since we came into each other’s lives over the summer. Tomorrow, she is currently going in for service yet again for the same issue. I am asking you to oversee resolution on this stressful subject so I can stop making the 50 mile trek to the dealer or give me the satisfaction of using my right to enact the Lemon Law. You know this is what I really want, so help a girl out and there will be a lot less complaining coming from my end of the world!

If I do end up keeping her, there are a few things that I would like to pamper her with.

1. K&N Air filter
2. Tint the widows, more for me but I feel as if I am the last person in Florida to not have them but she will look pretty with them done
3. Valentine One radar detector. I know, more for me then her
4. Weekly "Spa" treatments. So can you limit the rain fall to only the day before she is to be washed instead of an hour after she has been?
5. Have Nissan agree to cancel my extended warranty and putting the credit towards my account instead of the principle so I can skip some car payments. Okay, another more for me then her….

If for some reason, all goes well and I am able to move on to something else … which would be the very best Christmas present ever … I promise to keep the new car for at least 3 years, love and adore her no matter what since I seek a car that has few service issues in their history and not to bad mouth her in any way.

I say this with eyes, fingers, toes, arms and legs crossed.

Love always,

Sarah

Ps. Can I also have that totally badass Shelby slot car racetrack sold at Restoration Hardware too? I promise to share with the boys!

Pps. Do not fret, my nonautomotive list will follow shortly!

A desire for quality and safety remain strong when purchasing a new vehicle these days despite our limited budgets. The sensible approach in the quest for economical and affordable safety has taken over in our bigger ticket item purchases. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released their reduced top safety choices for the 2010 model year recently. In order to qualify for this award, each vehicle is required to come equipped with ESC or Electronic Stability Control, along with the highest roof strength possible. The stricter standards on model roof strength considered in rollover ratings left previous award-winners out in the cold. Other deciding factors include the best protection against front, rear and side impact. The most surprising is how many of the top rated fell into the under $25,000 price range.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, frontal impacts accounted for 52 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2008. Side impacts accounted for another 28 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths and an additional 16 percent account for rollover crashes.

The Honda Civic and Element, Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, Volkswagen Golf, Tiguan and Jetta, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Volvo C30 and Jeep Patriot round out the best for the under $25,000. This broad range can satisfy several tastes. Unfortunately, most consumers do not solely base their purchase on the IIHS safety rating because there are several other factors to consider. It does make knowing that the amount of money spent will determine just how safe your most precious cargo will remain just in case that day ever comes.

It’s putting the key in the ignition after the day hasn’t gone as planned. It’s the urge that overcomes you to go somewhere other than where you are. It’s those cool Sunday afternoons that beg you to open the windows so your hair can blow in the wind. It’s the longest way down winding roads and interstate on-ramps with tight curves that have your car hugging the road while you sit back in your seat. It’s the thrill of merging quickly into rush hour traffic then slicing through it like a hot knife in butter and glancing in your rear view mirror at those left in your wake. It’s to your favorite music at the moment thumping through the speakers while rowing effortlessly through the gears. It’s to pressing down the gas pedal and watching the speedometer creep over the limit as your worries temporarily disappear. It’s one of my favorite ways to clear my head after all these years, it’s driving.

The Diva had her first and only speeding ticket 11 years ago and does not condone (excessive) speeding.

Between watching Game 5 of the series, I caught a few Barrett-Jackson Super Saturday highlights.

1956 Ford Thunderbird VIN #5 — first released to public sold for $600,000

1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda so clean you could eat off the under carriage of the car $125,000

1996 Buick Custom with a Stage 1 that runs in the 13′s- $475,000

Which got me thinking about past car related things that made me throw up a little in my mouth.

2003 Enzo Ferrari requires Shell Helix10W-60 synthetic oil, which costs around $60 a quart making $700 oil change.

A brake job for an Aston Martin 17, brake pads and rotors, $27,000

But my all time favorite is the cost of the first scheduled service on a Bugatti Veyron at a whopping $22,322, with the price going up each time thereafter. Tires need to be replaced approximately every 2,500 miles for $10,347 a set, and oh by the way, they can only be fitted by Bugatti.

I get upset over the fact my car requires premium gas and the idea of forking out the money to replace low profile tires sooner than expected due to the ridiculous miles I seem to be putting on my car (because I live in fucking nowhere!) makes me want to cry because it takes money out of my shoe allowance and that my friends is a scary thought. Granted, I’ve never once bought tires for a car because by that time I just trade it in. That’s not the point.

At what point is spending money on a car as an enthusiast is too much? At what point is the required maintenance over time ridiculous? Oh I forgot that if I had the money to buy any of those cars then I probably wouldn’t give a shit how much it cost. Silly me!

Not to say if I could own whatever I wanted that I still wouldn’t flinch just a little when it came time to pay those bills.

Just a little.

From an early age, the love for all things powered by horsepower pumped through my veins. I was the baby in stroller at the drags, the toddler at the car shows and the young girl with pigtails on a Saturday night surrounded by muscle cars at a local hang out. I could point out each car giving specific details and tell you that in my own personal opinion, nothing sounded quite like a 5.0 Mustang. For the record, the sound of a v8 Mustang with a Flow Master exhaust still makes me stop and listen until it’s out of range.

I admit to being overwhelmed with facts and what sometimes seemed trivial information as to how much horsepower a certain car produced or what a zero-to-sixty time was but somehow those facts were burned into my memory. Now those random facts flow in the most startling conversations I have with the male population to just to make them walk away scratching their heads.

Often referred to as the son my father never had, I can proudly say that when the hood is open I know exactly what everything is and what purpose it serves. I’ve changed my own oil, fixed my radiator, replaced hoses, I even helped put a center stand on a Honda CBX( my mother loves to refer to it as giving birth to a double breasted Yamaha), replaced sensors, and I’m sure other random maintenance that most people pay for. I like knowing that I can do it. Doesn’t mean I don’t pay someone to do it for me now though.

I am not limited to cars. I love big trucks with souped up Duramax Diesels, Semi’s with ridiculous Detroit Diesels, motorcycles, airplanes “" if it can get me to where I am going then I am pretty sure I know enough about it.

It’s an appreciation and I owe this to my Dad who delightfully instilled this fascination with all things performance and of course the inability own to a car for more than two years.

A 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge and a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda are the favorite muscle cars of the Diva of Driving.

This is one game made for the Ferrari enthusiasts out there. Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli is an in depth racing simulation game that you can experience in the comfort of your own living room.

Based heavily upon the real world Ferrari Challenge single-marque motor sport championship, this Ferrari simulation attempts to give you all the experiences of actually driving a Ferrari on these famous world tracks without having to go through the effort of actually acquiring a Ferrari.

All of the 3D car modeling has been overseen and approved by Ferrari, and they look gorgeous.

To place emphasis and prove the amount of detail placed in these cars, the entire menu system within the game is a full 360 dramatic viewing of a select Ferrari’s surface from all angles. All this is while navigating a small horizontal bar 1/8 the size of the screen for play options. This menu truly is designed for the Ferrari fans that can not go a second without being in the presence of these famous cars.

With so much effort placed on the cars, it makes sense that there was slight design problem that was a bothersome confusion when using the Wii remote to navigate. The onscreen button layout differs from the actual remote. The 1 button is to the right of the 2 button on screen, when on the remote it is opposite. I found myself canceling actions when trying to select. This is not a big of a problem, but just a slight annoyance.

You can find Ferrari Challenge for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and Wii home consoles. This version developed for the Nintendo Wii has the benefit of the Wii remote’s motion sensing for simulation steering instead of online racing offering in the PS3 version. There is no option to drive with a friend in the same room either. Driving your Ferrari here will be a solo affair, and that hurts the game.

Moreover, after the initial wow factor wears off, you will encounter the first major problems with this game. The loading times are horrendous. Having so much work placed in these cars has become a double edged sword to this game. The long loading times between just selecting which Ferrari to drive, I found myself giving up and using which ever default Ferrari was given when starting a race.

There is a lot of decent content, however, and unlike other simulation games like Gran Turismo, you have the ability to jump straight into races and tournaments. There is no requirement to have to get a license forcing you through many tutorial levels. You get to start driving your Ferrari right away.

There is the option of using the Wii remote and nunchuck control scheme or just the remote’s motion sensing steering. Either control scheme works very well. With the real world tracks to race on, the majority of this game is spent on understanding your car — learning how your Ferrari handles, how long it takes for brakes, understanding the ins and outs is what it is all about. Remember, this is a simulation, not an arcade game.

Any mistakes you make driving can be unforgiving. On the easy difficulty tracks, if I got off road once I found it very difficult to make it to the front of the race. That is why there is so much emphasis on all the practice races. The game gives you a visible recommended racing line indicating points of accelerations and braking which are very helpful on your road to Ferrari driving perfection. After a while of driving you start getting an understanding for each Ferrari and can feel the improvement on your driving thanks to the racing line itself.

The game does give you accomplishments to help move you forward on objectives that can be achieved to further your game play. You can buy cars and customize your Ferrari with decals but without online racing to show off your car, it seems like a left over feature from the PS3 version.

There is another side mode called Challenge Cards. It involves a deck of cards with images of a type of Ferrari with info of year model, top speed, weight, engine size and value. You basically pick a statistic on the card about the Ferrari that you think is better than the unknown Ferrari card the computer has. When you win, you get the opponents card. The game continues until one has collected all the cards. It makes a nice distraction from the racing but only just serves as perfecting your knowledge of Ferrari cars.

If you own a PS3, I would recommend the PS3 version because of the benefit of being able to race other people. Otherwise, if you are heavy into racing simulations would I recommend this game for Wii

(ARA) – Millions of Americans will hit the roads during the warm weather months. Whether they’re in the car on business or vacation, many drivers will likely share two major concerns: how they can reduce the impact their motoring has on the environment and on their wallets.

“Gas consumption – and prices – historically rise with the temperature as more people drive for work or pleasure during the warmer months,” says Sue Pinera, environmental programs director of the Hertz Corp., leaders in the rental car industry.”

But you can definitely drive green and save yourself some money without having to trade in your reliable, reasonably priced family vehicle for a new one that features the latest eco-friendly technology.”

Summer vacations often mean extra driving, either to your destination in your own vehicle or, if you fly, in a rental car once you’re there. “Of all summer driving, vacation driving can be the most costly and least green,” Pinera points out. “Whether it’s spending time stuck in traffic or driving in circles looking for an attraction site in an unfamiliar location, there are plenty of opportunities to waste gas.”

Car rental agents, who work in tourist areas across the country leasing a variety of vehicles, have seen everything that works – and doesn’t work – when it comes to conserving gas, saving money and preserving the environment while vacation driving. Here are some tips from agents at Hertz for smart vacation driving:

In Your Own Car

* Have your car thoroughly checked out before going on a long vacation road trip. Be sure tires are properly inflated, oil and oil and air filters are fresh, and the air-conditioning is working properly. “Just $100 in preventative maintenance can save you real dollars in terms of fuel efficiency and a great deal of aggravation if you happen to catch a potentially serious problem before you break down on the roadside,” Pinera says.

* Drive smoothly and considerately. Aggressive driving – fast starts, excessive speed, abrupt maneuvers and constant braking – is not only dangerous, it significantly increases your vehicle’s fuel consumption. “You’ll enjoy the ride more and spend less on gas if you just drive friendly,” Pinera says.

* Only use premium fuel if your car’s manufacturer specifically recommends it for your engine type. Regular fuel costs less and premium will not improve your fuel efficiency in anything but a high-performance engine.

* Look for gas stations that offer pumps with vapor-recovery nozzles. They look like black plastic accordions attached to the nozzle. These curb emissions. Likewise, never try to “top off” your tank with these nozzles. They’re designed to shut off when the gas tank is at its optimum fullness. Continuing to pump could lead to overfilling and spilling.

* Try to pack light and avoid putting anything on top of your vehicle. Rooftop storage may increase the risk of rollover in some types of vehicles, and increases drag, which lowers fuel efficiency in all kinds of autos.

In a Rental Car

* Whenever possible, choose a fuel-efficient model, such as a subcompact, compact or economy car. The good news is that these are usually the least expensive to rent from any company.

* Consider renting a hybrid. Hertz, for example, offers a “Green Collection” of rental cars that includes fuel-sipping hybrids like the Toyota Prius or other environmentally friendly vehicles like the Toyota Camry or Hyundai Sonata, which feature an average Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highway fuel efficiency rating of 31 miles per gallon.

* Paying the extra fee for a navigation system can go a long way towards saving you time (and money) driving around lost. “Navigation systems can help you find your way in unfamiliar territory, helping you reach your list of attractions with a minimum of time and gas lost,” Pinera says. “How you entertain the kids in the back seat, however, is entirely up to you.”

For more green driving tips, visit www.greencars.org or www.epa.gov/air/actions/drive_wise.

Courtesy of ARAcontent