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Automotive


There’s a little something for everyone here, ranging from how to restore a classic motorcycle to how to judge when it’s time to trade in your car.

Cars


  • Gas sippers
    Gas prices are putting the hurt on us all — including military units in Iraq which pay, on average $3.23 per gallon for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel — but you can ease the pain at the...
  • Gas Sippers: Online Extra
    More vehicles that give you more miles for your dollar.
  • 2008 Honda Civic hybrid
    Summary: The Civic hybrid ranks high on the mileage scale, but not as high as the Prius — and only a few mpg higher than some of the most efficient (and non-hybrid) small cars currently...
  • 2008 Toyota Prius
    Summary: The first mass-produced hybrid is still the most fuel-efficient new vehicle you can buy. Though other hybrids, like the Civic hybrid, can approach its highway mileage, the Prius’...
  • 2008 Mercedes-Benz GL320
    Summary: Diesel power allows this full-size, seven-passenger 4WD SUV to deliver 30-40 percent better economy than gas-powered equivalents (and the same mileage as the smaller, 5-passenger Mercedes...
  • 2008 Jeep Compass/Patriot
    Summary: The Compass (and its cousin, the Patriot) are among the most fuel-efficient small SUVs on the market, especially in terms of their city mileage. Buyers should be aware, however, that these...
  • Gas Sippers: 2008 Lexus ES350
    Summary: Ten years ago, more than half the luxury cars on the market were front-wheel-drive; today, most are rear-wheel-drive — and burn more fuel. (The rear-drive layout is generally...
  • Gas Sippers: 2008 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec
    Summary: All the size, luxury, power and performance of a Mercedes E-Class mid-sized luxury sedan, but with much better economy than the gas-burning versions of this car. “Bluetc” is...
  • Race City, USA
    Mooresville, N.C., doesn’t call itself “Race City, USA,” for nothing. This small town is home to big business — the racing business — and the community rolls out the red...
  • Va-va-vroom!
    2009 may be a full year away, but several ’09 vehicles are going to arrive at dealerships long before New Year’s Day.
  • Car storage: An engineman’s tips
    After we published our 14-step guide to prepping a car for storage before deployment, we heard from Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Follman, an engineman with Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit 501...
  • Store your ride
    Whether it’s a restored vintage muscle car or your late-model daily driver, no car should be parked and left to sit while you’re deployed.
  • Is it time to trade in yet? The 5 factors to consider
    When should you start thinking about buying a new car?
  • Protect your car, data from hackers
    In a late-model vehicle, an onboard computer -- the "ECM," or Electronic Control Module -- controls everything from basic engine operation to when and how firmly the transmission shifts.
  • 5 tips for working with an auto dealer's service department
    Death, taxes and dealing with auto dealership service personnel are three of the unavoidable ugly parts of life. But unlike the first two, dealing with the service department can be made less...
  • How to avoid buying a nightmare of a used car
    Tales of deep woods-dwelling ax murderers may instill fear in Cub Scouts huddled around a flickering late-night campfire -- but few things are as frightening to adults as the real-life used-car...
  • 7 tips when looking for your teen's first car
    The ideal car for a first-time teen driver is one that decreases the odds of having an accident -- and minimizes the potential for harm if it does happen. We're talking pre-emptive damage...

Motorcycles


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