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Suzuki Trucks Suzuki Equator 2009

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Ford C-MAX; Coming to America!

For all of you who commented last week on the article, “First Look at the All-new Ford C-MAX,” here’s the announcement you’ve been waiting for: The Ford C-Max is coming to North America!

The all-new 7-seat Ford C-MAX debuted today at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, and it will arrive in North America beginning late 2011. The new C-MAX brings kinetic design language to the compact segment, combining bold styling and versatile, spacious 7-seat layout.

The C-MAX is the first of a new generation of global C-segment cars scheduled for introduction by Ford over the next several years. This series of new models will include the all-new, next-generation Ford Focus sedan and five-door hatchback models, scheduled to launch late in calendar year 2010 in the United States.

According to Ford analysts, small cars in the B- and C-segments accounted for less than 15 percent of the U.S. market in 2004. In year-to-date sales through August 2009 however, the small car segment has reached nearly 22 percent of total industry sales, and further gains are expected.

Ford’s new C-vehicle family is the result of an unprecedented global development program that will deliver for customers an array of available advanced technologies aimed at enhancing their convenience, comfort, safety and overall driving experience.

“Consumers are seeking uncompromised vehicles offering value for the money, and C-MAX squarely hits those targets,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development. “The Focus C-MAX will be great to look at, great to sit in and great to drive, bringing Ford DNA to a new market segment in the form of an aspirational, fuel-efficient people carrier.”

Exterior design elevates segment

The new Ford Focus C-MAX demonstrates that compact, 7-seat vehicles can be stylish and desirable while still delivering outstanding space and functionality.

Bold exterior and interior designs have been created using the latest evolution of Ford’s kinetic design form language, building on the themes established in recent product introductions like the hugely successful European-developed Fiesta, Kuga and Mondeo ranges.

Kinetic design elements applied to the new C-MAX include the dynamic, rising beltline, full sculpted surfaces, bold wheel lips, strong athletic shoulders supported by a prominent undercut line and the distinctive kick-up of the window graphic at the C-pillar.

Offering seating for up to seven, the C-MAX destined for North America features a high roofline and thin pillars to emphasize the generous room and visibility in the cabin. Twin sliding doors are neatly integrated, with the rail concealed by the undercut line on the shoulder of the vehicle.

Stylish, modern interior

The new C-MAX interior mirrors the dynamic and modern character of the exterior, complete with muscular, expressive shapes and bold graphics.

Key design features include the taut, wing-like form of the upper instrument panel, which reaches out to the sides of the interior. A dramatic sweeping form connects the instrument panel with the center console.

The cockpit provides a commanding, raised driving position with high-mounted shifter and center console inspired by the acclaimed layout in the new Fiesta. Carefully designed storage areas are located throughout the cabin, including generous door pockets, a large glove box and additional compartments and cup holders in the center console.

Ingenious 7-seat layout

To maximize the versatility of the 7-seat layout, Ford engineers developed a new seat-folding mechanism for the three second-row seats. This mechanism allows the center seat to fold quickly and easily under one of the two outboard seats, creating a handy walk-through space between them.

This walk-through space allows passengers to access the third row without having to disturb the two outer seats, which is particularly helpful when those positions are occupied by child safety seats. Owners have the option of using the convenient 2+2+2 seating layout or switching to a full 7-seater when required.

The second- and third-row seats also have been cleverly engineered so they can be folded to create a flat load floor, regardless of how many seats remain in use. All of the folding mechanisms are designed so they operate with just one hand.

Ford EcoBoostTM advanced powertrains

In many markets, the new C-car family will be offered with versions of Ford’s new EcoBoostTM engines. EcoBoost combines direct petrol injection, turbocharging and dual variable valve timing to maximize efficiency, resulting in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions reduced by up to 20 percent compared with conventional gasoline engines with a similar power output.

The initial Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder lineup will comprise 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter engines. The engines will be available globally, with versions launching in Europe and North America in 2010, and the first rear-wheel-drive application in the Ford Falcon in Australia in 2011. By 2013, nearly 80 percent of Ford global nameplates will have an available EcoBoost option.

Source: The Ford Story

Online Customizer Lets You Build Your Ultimate Dream Virtual Mustang

Have you ever dreamed about your ultimate Mustang? Custom paint, unique wheels. Hood scoop and more? Now it’s easier than ever for lovers of the original pony car to create the virtual Mustang of their dreams. With never-before-used digital technologies, Ford has created a customizer site within the car’s microsite, www.fordvehicles.com/the2010mustang.

The site is meant to reflect what the Ford Mustang is all about: classic design - a design to be redesigned by you - and attitude.

The Mustang customizer site is fun, and it’s also simple to use. Every aspect from choosing parts, changing colors, determining the intensity of your burnout cloud - all interactions are designed to be fluid and easy. There are 239 design elements in the customizer, and visitors can even choose the decals and the environments for their Mustang.

Accessories available include wheels, hoods, spoilers and grilles. Within minutes, vastly different looks can be created. You can build and save up to 10 as desktop wallpaper.

Although there are many customizer sites, the 2010 Ford Mustang customizer sets itself apart, largely because it’s not designed to be a linear build and price experience, like most sites. Ford focused on bringing some fun back into creating the ultimate Mustang.

You can also build your car in community. The community customizer is a multiuser mode that lets four people work on the same Mustang in real time. Chat features create an even more social experience, and the gallery allows submitted Mustangs to be voted on by other users, with the winners displayed each week.

The 2010 Mustang offers more performance and appearance options directly from Ford than ever before. With six accessories available right from the factory floor, 3,012 possible combinations available for order without accessories and 9,224 possible combinations with accessories (not including exterior and interior colors, and SVT),

For those serious about making their custom car a reality, a downloadable PDF offers a detailed list of all the parts used to create that particular Mustang. The PDF is separated into three categories - Ford, aftermarket and concept accessories - and includes links to the applicable sites. The list of parts makes it easy to start a conversation with your local Ford dealer.

When something like this hits in the Mustang community, word travels fast. Mustang enthusiasts have been buzzing with discussion in online forums, and customized Mustangs are even appearing in competitor vehicle forums.

One week after launch, almost 52,000 cars have been built with more than 16,000 of those saved into the site gallery. And more than 30 forums and blogs are sharing their own creations.

Give America’s favorite muscle car your unique spin. Customize your 2010 Ford Mustang by clicking here.

Source: The Ford Story

Your Car Shopping Game Plan

1. Greet the car salesman warmly.
Smile and shake his hand. Be friendly. You want him to like you so that he'll work harder for you.

2. Get his attention by telling him what he wants to hear.
Tell him: "I'll be buying a car very soon." If after this introduction, you find the salesman rude or unwilling to help you, ask to speak to his Sales Manager. Tell the manager that you'd like a more helpful salesman.

3. Tell the car salesman exactly what you want to see.
Be specific as possible. For example: "I'd like to see what you have in a compact car with automatic transmission and a window sticker price of around $18,000." If you're not sure what you want or you're confused by all the choices, then tell him those things that you know are important to you, such as: "I need a four-door car with lots of cargo space and a window sticker price of around $18,000."

Under the guise of trying to help you, the salesman is going to ask you lots of questions. Do not discuss your monthly payments with him.

Then turn the tables on him. Ask him questions about the cars, the dealership and his business. Play dumb and try to learn as much as you can. Get him to like you by pumping his ego: compliment him on what a good job he's doing.

4. Check out the vehicles that he shows you.
When he shows you a car that you like - and that fits your needs and budget - look it over. Do you like the styling of the car? Can you see yourself driving it?

5. If it is a new vehicle, look at the factory window sticker.
The factory window sticker tells you all about the car. Read it carefully because it contains a lot of important information.

The window sticker will give you the predicted gas mileage for both highway and city driving. It will also list all of the equipment that comes standard with the vehicle and then, in a separate column, the options that have been built into the car at the factory with the price of each listed. Look for an "equipment package," a group of discounted options.

At the bottom of the sticker will be the asking price for the vehicle called the "M.S.R.P." which stands for "Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price". Be sure that this price fits your budget.

Some dealerships add a second window sticker called a "Dealer Addendum" in an effort to widen their profit margin. If you see one of these stickers, ignore it for now.

6. Ask about other versions of the same car.
Most vehicles come in several different equipment levels usually designated by a letter code such as DX, SE or XL. You might be able to get the same car with the equipment you want on a less expensive version.

7. If you like the car, sit inside.
Is the interior comfortable? How does the interior "feel"?

8. Ask the salesman if you can test drive the car.
He'll be happy to take you for a test drive.

Notice what's happening here: you're allowing the car salesman to breeze right through the steps of his game plan. He wants you to test drive that car. He thinks he's doing great and that he's in total control. What he doesn't know is that you know exactly what you are doing. In fact, you are in complete control here.

9. Drive the vehicle as you normally would.
Don't "baby" the car. If you normally accelerate hard, then drive it that way. If you normally brake hard or corner fast, then do so. Try to drive on the types of roads you normally drive. Be sure to turn the air conditioning on and off to see how it affects the performance of the engine. And don't forget to ask lots of questions.

10. After the drive, ask the salesman for a brochure.
He'll probably ask you something like: "Is there anything we can do to earn your business today?" or "If I could sell you this $18,000 car for only $12,000, would you buy it today?"

You must be firm and clear. Tell him: "I really appreciate all of your help but, as I told you at the beginning, I'll be buying soon but not today. I simply want a brochure and some information. If I decide to buy this particular car, then I will certainly come back to see you."

If the car salesman is a good guy, he'll get you the brochure. If not, he may disappear and then return with the "Sales Manager" who may or may not be the real Sales Manager. In any case, this new guy may try to "reason" with you, persuade you, perhaps even pressure you to buy today. Again, you must be firm. Repeat to him what you told the salesman.

Don't forget that they are playing a game. And you know exactly what game they are playing. So don't fall for their lines. Don't fall for their come-ons. And don't fall for their intimidation. There's nothing personal about this. It's pure business. That's how they see it. That's how you should see it, too. And don't forget that you have the final say. If they pressure you, you can always walk away.

If they won't give you the brochures you want, no worries. You can always get them direct from the manufacturer.

11. Ask the car salesman more questions.
Ask about factory rebates, the factory warranty, dealership service, local sales taxes, license fees and so on. When you're satisfied that you have the information you need, ask the salesman for his business card.

12. Thank the salesman politely -- then leave!
Whatever happens, under any circumstances, don't buy a car yet.

What should you do next? We recommend doing more research on the vehicle you drove, comparing it to others in its class and giving yourself time to think about it. As much as it feels like that one car won't be around if you pass it up, there's always another car.

Source: by Michael Royce | BeatTheCarSalesman.com

Common Car Dealer Sales Tricks

You have a dilemma. You really want a new car but you absolutely despise being taken into that small room with a car salesman and subjected to common sales tactics. You dread the manipulation, being brow-beaten and, heaven forbid, a hefty dose of gold-chain-laden charm.

You've tried to get personal recommendations of good car dealerships from friends to minimize that risk, but the car you want is only at one car dealer, which none of your friends know anything about. By definition, every person who walks through any new or used car dealership's door is a sales rep's potential paycheck. But how do you avoid the car dealer hitting your pocketbook for more than its due?

Your Friendly New Car Dealer

Even the greenest of peas -- as new reps are referred to in the trade -- are given a personality test to determine the kind of seller they will be. Dominance and competitiveness are appealing traits. A chameleon-type personality is also useful. Many car dealerships will insist that fresh employees take a sales course, usually about a week long, where they learn their trade down to the introductory handshake: three firm pumps and eye contact.

Having invested in their training, new and used car dealership managers push their teams hard to deliver results. Some car dealers are accused of spying on their sales reps but, really, one look at the numbers is enough to differentiate a hard charger from a pushover. Which one do you think will get told to walk? (Car dealerships have notably high staff turnover rates.)

A good car dealer is trained never to be rude, something the car dealership manager often insists upon. That doesn't, however, mean they can't manipulate you. Forget about placing your full trust in the car dealer from the get-go. Remember that while you may be at that moment the most important thing in the world to him, ultimately the rep answers to someone other than you.

Knowledge Is Power

Blogger Ryan Shamus worked as a car salesman in St. Louis for about a year but quit "due to the dishonesty and shady sales tactics that I saw take place day in and day out". He says that tactics vary widely. "When a single guy comes in, you focus solely on engine performance, power, how much of a lady magnet it is or how much mud you can sling with it," Shamus says. "With a lone female, you want to hit on the safety factors, options available, roominess, and how much fun it would be to haul 'the girls' around in it."

He says that the husband and wife team can be difficult. "For younger married couples, most of the time you focus on any rebates and savings available, and it's worth mentioning a family type of vehicle for future plans. When a salesman is up against two people, it's always a bit more difficult because of the 'hero' factor. Whenever two people come in, one of them is usually designated the hero because their sole purpose is to try to beat the salesman."

Husbands often try to play the hero role but, in Shamus's experience, most often the wife is the decision maker. In a dad-and-daughter combo, a car dealer knows that emphasizing safety is key, and that usually a younger driver is "automatically on the salesman's team because they are just as determined to drive off the lot in a new car as the salesman is."

Emotional Response
Any car dealer should be very knowledgeable about the cars they sell but the successful ones use the information selectively. Michael Royce, of BeatTheCarSalesman.com, has sold several million dollars worth of American and import cars and trucks and received numerous dealership honors in Southern California. He tells AOL Autos the customer's emotional state is key to the rep, and that most buyers get a thrill from driving a new car. Ergo, test drive.

Royce also says that special price or clearance sale stickers are like red flags -- or red capes -- to bulls. "The promise of a bargain price is designed to create a sense of urgency, the feeling that if you don't grab this special sale price right now, it will forever disappear. Lots of buyers fall for that."

Other tactics include allowing a customer to take home a car for the night, where they can see it in their driveway or garage. Again, this elicits an emotional response. Even a joke or shared chuckle does more than light up the car dealer's eyes. He knows he's got you on his side and the odds of a sale improve.

Advice? "Analytical buyers pay less for their new cars than emotionally-charged buyers," Royce says.

Pay Attention

The well-informed buyer is the wisest, while customers who haven't done any research frequently get confused by the seemingly endless stream of complex information that comes with buying a car. Car dealers often work around a method which bounces profit potential from one transaction to another. If a customer is set on getting a good deal on their trade-in, a car dealer may then choose to concentrate on inflating monthly payments or the down-payment.

Car dealers are also not legally obliged to offer you the lowest interest rate you qualify for. Once a rep has run your details on the credit check they'll know your income, housing status and if or when you were late paying your rent or mortgage. Some new and used car dealerships obtain this information when the customer is taking a test drive, and the car dealer is already adding up just what price they think you'll pay.

And if you sign up for a higher rate than the car dealership pays back for the car, you've just gifted them some more. Often this difference lies in fractions of percents on your rate. Find out which rate you qualify for first.

Royce says a confused or inattentive buyer can also lead to "slamming." In this case, a car dealer may take charge and hurry them through every step: the test drive, into the office, the write-up, a quick negotiation, sign the papers and drive home. And then, a few days later, enter the infamous "buyer's remorse." Royce says that, unfortunately, this is more common than you might think.

But you, the smart buyer, have negotiated all these obstacles and just when you think you're winning in negotiations, you're introduced to a secondary sales rep that you are told is the car dealership manager. Surprise, he's just another sales buddy brought in when closure on the deal appeared to be slipping. Often the sales team will split commission in this scenario. And they both know that additional options are a car dealer's bread-and-butter, though the practice of "back-ending" a deal, or adding additional charges to option lists without the customer's knowledge, is illegal in many states.

Dedication To The Customer

It's not all doom and gloom when you've got that feeling for a new car. Royce says, "If a salesperson is truly dedicated to customer service, then the customers will eventually buy from that salesperson."

For every crooked car dealer, there are probably just as many for whom you really do come first, because the smart ones worked out a long time ago that repeat business and personal recommendations are the key to successful selling. And remember that line that you used to escape the car dealership, that you had to pick up the kids or mother-in-law, and would be back the day after?

Potential buyers may be guilty of lying and manipulating, too!

Source: by Craig Howie @ AOL Autos

Greenwash: Cash for Clunkers Won't Save Us Fuel

According to a survey of new-vehicle buyers who participated in the recent Cash for Clunkers program, more than 17 percent now harbor “some” doubt or “serious” doubt about letting a government subsidy convince them to go further into debt. CNW Research of Bandon, Oregon, a firm specializing in automotive marketing research, conducted the survey in late August.

What's worse? As it turns out we won't save much fuel from the program, either.

According to a survey of new-vehicle buyers who participated in the recent Cash for Clunkers program, more than 17 percent now harbor “some” doubt or “serious” doubt about letting a government subsidy convince them to go further into debt. CNW Research of Bandon, Oregon, a firm specializing in automotive marketing research, conducted the survey in late August.

Buyer’s remorse is not a new phenomenon as anyone who ever opened an envelope containing Visa’s autopsy of that Spring Break trip to Margaritaville can tell you. The significant revelation of the CNW survey, however, is that under normal conditions only 6 to 8 percent of new-car buyers suffer the shouldn’t-a-done-that syndrome.

That means that over twice as many C4C participants as normal buyers are worried about the negative impact a brand spanking new payment book with $275 printed on each of its 72 pages might have on rent and Hamburger Helper expenditures. (The actual C4C numbers were an average loan length of 49 months and an average payment of $317.) No wonder. I’m surprised that the survey didn’t find half of the C4C spenders sitting up nights watching Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey re-runs.

If you are someone other than the owner of a Treasury Department printing press, you might be allowed a mild case of regret over adding $20,000 or $30,000 to your household debt during what can be called a time of economic uncertainty.

Three revealing line items in a separate CNW survey noted that the drain on the family coffers would be offset by reducing the pay-down of credit card debt, deferring home improvement and removing money from non-targeted savings. About one-fifth of buyers surveyed cited each of these categories as the number one source of their car payment bucks.

Leaving aside the prospects of leaking roofs or empty savings accounts, just consider the act of slowing up on reducing those credit card balances on which you are paying 19 percent interest or worse. Thinking about that in the cold light of early dawn could do more than induce buyer’s remorse; in a clear-thinking head of household able to do basic arithmetic, it could result in thoughts of panic.

When the government set out to stimulate auto sales, do we think its minions intended to pile more debt on the American public? And if so, were they aware that our country’s revolving consumer debt, according to the U.S. Congress’s Joint Economic Committee, has reached a staggering $950 billion, almost all of which is credit card debt and does not include mortgages?

Not Saving Much Fuel

Call me a naysayer, but I do not think adding individual household debt will lead us out of the financial wilderness. Nor will it, as applied in the C4C experiment, do much to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. Quicker than you can say, “Holy statistics, Mr. Wizard,” the numbers nerds ascertained that the new vehicles sold under C4C will use more—not less—fuel than the beaters that were turned in and destroyed.

How can that be? Think of it on a personal level. Suppose you had a 10-year-old particulate belcher that, as the euphemism goes, needed work. Even if you lived in an Orlando suburb, you’d still be less than excited at the idea of piling the kids into it and lighting out for Disney World. But that new Malibu that gets a hell of a lot better mileage is a different kettle of green. You trust it; it’s economical; you drive it more. A lot more, according to another piece of research.

CNW surveyed drivers involved in the purchase of the first 239,000 C4C vehicles. The average intended annual mileage was 10,894, up from the actual clunker mileage of 6,162. For those of you without a calculator falling readily to hand, that’s nearly double.

But what about that miles-per-gallon improvement we were promised? Well, we got it. The average fuel economy reported by C4C buyers rose from 16.3 mpg for Old Dobbin to 24.8 for the new carriage. A monster step in the right direction. Add to that the over-90-percent reduction in tailpipe excretions and we’re still looking good, right?

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Not as good as we might. The new car, because it’s new and fun and green and clean and smells good, will be given some 61 additional gallons each year by its grateful owner. For those first 239,000 C4C vehicles, that’s 14.6 million gallons that the clunkers wouldn’t have gobbled up. The approximately 700,000 total vehicles moved under the program will therefore use an additional 42 million gallons of fuel annually during the first years of ownership.

As Rick Blaine might say to Captain Louis Renault in a remake of Casablanca, “It seems that the Law of Unintended Consequences has taken a hand.”

One can, and we can be sure that the government will, argue that the program at least generated showroom traffic, sold cars and helped dealers reduce inventory. Cars for Clunkers did all that, and when the noise abated, most of the critics had to content themselves with claiming that the program did little more than pull a large number of sales forward and get some old cars off the road, many of which were already on their way to the crusher.

Other critics groused that Cars for Clunkers took $2.8 billion from the general roster of 300 million citizens and handed it tax-free to a small group of 700,000 citizens.

To those negative conclusions I would add my own concerns about giving the consumer incentive to ladle more debt into an already reeking punchbowl. Program proponents point with pride to the disproportionate number of young buyers who bought C4C vehicles. I worry about their already disproportionate debt.

I admit that from the outset I was suspicious of the scheme. Its very name, the Car Allowance Rebate System, occasioned seditious thoughts. Exactly how many fresh-faced little bureaucrats did it take to devise such an overwhelmingly clever acronym (CARS)? Why couldn’t they have just called it Cash for Clunkers like the rest of us? Or used the ubiquitous C4C, and alphanumeric doubtless created by the thumbs of a creative texter within minutes of the program’s announcement?

Better still, why didn’t they call it P2P, as in robbing Peter to pay Paul?

Source: by William Jeanes, AOL Autos

New Honda Trucks Honda Ridgeline 2010

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Honda Ridgeline

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HUMMER H2 SUT 2009 Truck

HUMMER Truck

HUMMER Truck

HUMMER H2 SUT

HUMMER H2 SUT

Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Regular Cab 4WD 2009

Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Regular Cab 4WD

Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Regular Cab 4WD

Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Regular Cab 4WD

Cadillac Escalade EXT

Cadillac Escalade EXT

Cadillac Escalade EXT

Cadillac Escalade EXT

New Pickup Truck 2010 Chevrolet Colorado

New Pickup Truck Chevrolet Colorado 2010

New Pickup Truck Chevrolet Colorado 2010

New Pickup Truck Chevrolet Colorado 2010

Nissan Frontier Trucks 2009 King Cab

2009 Nissan Frontier King Cab

2009 Nissan Frontier King Cab

2009 Nissan Frontier King Cab

New Chevy Trucks Chevrolet Avalanche 2009

New Chevy Trucks Chevrolet Avalanche

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Ford F-450 SD

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New Chevy Trucks Chevrolet Truck Colorado

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Top 11 Driver Distractions

Driven to Distraction

Driving a car is a complex physical and mental operation. Not only does it require coordination and reflexes, it also requires rapid assessment skills and good judgment. Automakers have spent decades making cars easier and safer to drive, installing everything from rearview mirrors to automatic transmissions to cruise control. Despite that, some drivers insist on creating distractions for themselves behind the wheel, most of which have nothing to do with driving, safe or otherwise.



Distraction Causes Crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute have studied driver behavior, and have categorized some of the causes of accidents in these reports. Their conclusion: "Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes."



Just Drive

We've compiled a list of distracting activities that we've witnessed on the road. While we may have been guilty of engaging in a few of these non-driving-related distractions ourselves over the years, we have sworn off all extraneous activities behind the wheel. Our new motto: "Just drive."



Applying Makeup

Ladies, we know that it's impossible to get ready on time in the morning. But please, don't try to put on your mascara in traffic. Not only are you diverting your attention from the road, you're also at risk of looking like a sad clown by the time your get to the office.



Shaving

Gentlemen, just because that razor is cordless doesn't mean that you should use it everywhere. While you concentrate on getting your sideburns even, traffic has bunched up behind you and you're driving on the shoulder. Shave at home, or wait until you get to work.



Eating

We've all done it on a busy day. A quick trip through the drive-through, and before you know it, you're eating a double cheeseburger with one hand, French fries with the other, balancing a soda with your elbow and steering with your knees. Beyond being a recipe for indigestion, eating behind the wheel is unsafe and distracting.



Reading

'Great Expectations' is a great book. It was a great book when Charles Dickens finished it in 1861. It will still be a great book after you reach your destination. Don't read behind the wheel. If you must be literary while driving, try audio books. Many of the classics are available for loan at your public library.



Talking on the Phone

"Research shows that driving while using a cell phone can pose a serious cognitive distraction and degrade driver performance," according to NHTSA, Using a hands-free device can reduce distraction, but not eliminate it. In other words, hang up and drive.



Texting

The driver in front of you on your morning commute weaves and swerves. You pull alongside, expecting to see an inebriated partier. Instead, a starched and pressed business person pilots the vehicle, while texting with both thumbs on a PDA which rests on the steering wheel. Texting is unsafe at any speed but zero.



Lounging

One of the first things we learn in driver's ed is proper driving position. So why do so many drivers insist on slouching, reclining, leaning against the door or putting their feet out of the window? Not only is visibility compromised, reaction time is delayed and control is also compromised, so much of the crash protection engineered into the car is defeated. Straighten up and drive right, for your own good.



Singing

A little bit of singing is a good thing, even while driving. But we've seen drivers engaging in full-out air guitar rockfests worthy of amphitheater stages, all while driving down a crowded highway. Save the theatrics for Karaoke night, and keep your mind on the road.



Petting the dog, cat, rabbit, bird or lizard

In swanky Beverly Hills, it's not uncommon to see a dog's face peeking out of the driver's window as a car whizzes by on Doheny Drive. The California state legislature even debated a law outlawing pets on drivers' laps. Confine your pet to the back seat or passenger seat. Pets are not immune to crashes, and can even cause them if they are unrestrained in the cabin.



Watching a Movie

In-car entertainment can really make a road trip pass by quickly for the passengers. But we've seen vehicles with LCD screens installed in the dash, in clear view of the driver, blaring video entertainment while the vehicle moves through traffic. Drive-in movies are one thing; a driving movie is something else entirely. Be sure to keep entertainment screens out of the driver's line of sight.



Accessing the Internet

We haven't seen this yet, but it's coming. Chrysler LLC recently announced that it will launch an in-vehicle wireless internet system for its vehicles. According to Chrysler, "'uconnect web' transforms the vehicle into a mobile 'hot spot,' delivering unlimited, reliable and uninterrupted Internet connectivity." The system will be available as a dealer installed accessory for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles beginning in August, 2008. Uh-oh!

Source: Autos AOL