Ten Top Convertibles of 2010

By Maureen Condon

BMW Z4 Roadster

It’s summer time! Who doesn’t want to be riding around in a convertible with the top down, the wind in your hair and the sun on your face?

Convertibles are as old as, if not older than, the automobile. The first “convertibles” were horse-drawn carriages with fold down tops. How’s that for old! But, convertibles magically seem to make everyone who drives or rides in them feel young, attractive and rich!

Plus, there’s the whole hip language thing about convertibles – ragtops, hardtops, 2+2s, and “All Weather” -- early car terminology for the first convertibles.

Did you know that the Porsche and the Mercedes Benz “Cabriolets” take their name from an early French term meaning folding top, or convertible? The same car would be called a Drophead Coupe in England – evoking a not-so-romantic image!

But whatever you call it, if you drive a convertible, you are sure to turn heads and spark conversation.
MSN has picked out the top 10 convertibles for 2010. You can see them all at:

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=1146118&icid=autos_1398&GT1=22021#1q=10%20Best%20Convertibles%20of%202010%3A%202010%20Ferrari%20California

And if you want to pick up more automotive terminology and history, so you can chat with authority about convertibles past as well as present, you can do so at:

http://www.wheels.ca/article/242807

and

http://www.antiquecar.com/terms.php#C

How to Wash Your Car & Still Conserve Water during a Summer Drought

By Maureen Condon

It certainly looks like we are in for some very hot, dry summer weather nationwide. That can mean restrictions on outdoor water usage and usually the first thing you need to forego is washing your car.

However, regular car washes are important to maintaining your car’s exterior and its value for resale. Bugs, pollen, pollution and even rainwater can damage its finish and need to be periodically washed away.

If you are careful, and willing to take the road less travelled, you can wash your car with a relatively small amount of water – no gushing water hose here!

You start by filling a watering can and a bucket. Have I lost you already? Please take heart, and read on.

Using a watering can reduces your water consumption by two to three times the amount you’d use with a garden hose.

Here’s how to go at it:

1. Wash your car on a lawn, being careful to prevent run-off onto hard surfaces such as driveways or roads. This has the added value of watering the lawn too.

2. Caution! Be sure you are not parking your car on top of the section of lawn where your gas or water utilities are piped in. If you disturb those pipes by driving over them (even with the lawn and dirt in between) you could have really big problems! If you don’t know where your pipes are, it’s better to wash your car in the driveway.

3. Early mornings or evenings are the best times for car washing – just find a shady spot.

4. Wash your car one section at a time.

5. Start by removing loose dirt with water from the watering can.

6. Follow this with a thorough hand wash using a clean sponge or wash mitt and any car wash solution.

7. Pour the car wash solution it into a clean, large bucket and add water.

8. Wash the car, section by section. Start washing your car from the top and gradually work your way down the sides.

9. Rinse your sponge regularly in the bucket to remove collected dirt or grime.

10. It is important to rinse off the car before the car wash starts to dry.

11. You can rinse the roof using a watering can with the nozzle removed, which will help disperse the suds.

12. For the rest of the body, use the watering can with the nozzle on, again starting from the top and working down.

13. When the car is thoroughly rinsed, wipe it down with a chamois cloth.

Of course, if you want to save even more water, you could just wash the areas of your car that have dirt on them, and save a more thorough washing for when the water restrictions are lifted.

When is a Child Car Safety Seat No Longer Safe?

Your child’s car safety seat may look perfectly fine. But looks can be deceiving.

Car safety seats for infants and young children have expiration dates. When the expiration date is reached – usually around 6 years after it was manufactured -- the seat is no longer safe to use and it should be disposed of, or even better, recycled for its plastic parts.

The expiration date is stamped on the seat, usually on the bottom. Car seats and booster seats have these expiration dates because the materials degrade over time from sun and heat exposure -- weakening their effectiveness in a crash.

Another caution: If you have a hand-me-down child car seat you need to know not only the expiration date, but also the history of the seat. Has it been in an accident? If so, its materials or structure may be compromised and it should not be used again, even though it may look fine.

Parents should exercise caution when obtaining a child car safety seat from any source, other than the original manufacturer or retailer.

Charities and consignment or thrift shops have no way of screening the seats they offer the public to know if they have expired or been in an accident. Anyone picking up a car seat that has been placed with a charity, consignment or thrift shop, or left at the curb for disposal, may be unknowingly putting their child at risk.

The best way to make sure that no one unwittingly uses your discarded child car safety seat is to dismantle it – cut off the straps – and drop it off at a recycling facility. 90% of car seat material can be recycled.

Recycling programs for car seats are just beginning to appear nationwide. Contact your local recycling program to ask if a safety seat can be recycled where you live.

Consider starting a child safety seat recycling program if one is not already available in your community. To start a recycling program, you will need volunteers to collect and disassemble the seats, a collection and storage location, and a buyer for the recyclable components.

If you cannot find a way to recycle your child’s old car seat, cut off the straps and disassemble the seat before discarding it so that the seat cannot be recovered from the trash and used. Write "DO NOT USE" in permanent marker on the seat frame, and dispose of the frame separately from the straps and padding.

For more information on this topic, visit: http://www.ehow.com/how_5821607_recycle-child-passenger-safety-seats.html http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/30766.aspx

Haven't You Always Wanted to Design Your Own Car? Now You Can!

At Radiator Springs you can design your own car! Photo Disney Pixar - Sparks

At the Disney Pixar World of Cars Online, you can design your own online car and give it some personality!

http://disney.go.com/cars/

You can chose the body style, paint and so much more and then race your car in the new Disney beta game.

http://worldofcars.go.com/?source=PpWCWocDol00005&cmp=woc_BAC_Cars_FGames_170x270_OpenBeta_Lightning_Extl

You can even join the World of Cars online community and converse with other World of Cars players in the Crews News Blog.
http://worldofcars.go.com/community/

This is definitely a case where an animation is worth more than a 1,000 words. So jump online and head on down to Radiator Springs where all the action is and have some fun!

Check out the "Crews News Blog" at: http://worldofcars.go.com/blog/cars/entry/follow_the_leader_week

Ford tops list for non-luxury brands in J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Initial Quality Study

Ford tops the list for non-luxury brand cars in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS). Ford is now rated far above any other domestic or imported brand in the U. S.



Only the luxury brands -- Lexus, Mercedes Benz, Acura and Porsche -- scored higher among all brands.



This year, Ford moves into the top five for the first time since the inception of the study.



As a corporation, Ford Motor Company (including Volvo) has 12 models that rank within the top three in their respective segments in 2010—more than any other corporation, according to the press release issued by J.D. Power and Associates announcing its 2010 IQS award winners.



The J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study has been conducted annually for the past 24 years. It serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership.



The study is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and build better vehicles and by consumers to help them in their vehicle purchase decisions.



Initial quality has been shown over the years to be an excellent predictor of long-term vehicle durability, which directly impacts consumer purchase decisions. The study captures problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories—design related problems and defects and malfunctions.



This year, domestic auto brands, as a whole, have demonstrated higher initial quality than import brands for the first time, according to J.D. Power and Associates.



In particular, initial quality of Ford models has improved steadily for the past nine years, the press release stated.



“Naturally, we are very proud to be a Ford dealership and pleased with the results of this study. J.D. Power and Associates’ IQS substantiates the fact that the Ford cars and trucks available from Ancira Ford Mercury, in Floresville, TX, and Ancira Ford Mercury in Eagle Pass, TX are better built and of higher quality than any other non-luxury vehicles being sold today,” a spokesperson for Ancira Ford said today.



For more information and to read the entire press release, visit:



http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2010099

Top 10 Driving Etiquette Mistakes and Misdemeanors

The Lane Drifters - endangering everyone on the road!


What's your take on the Top 10 Driving Etiquette Mistakes and Misdemeanors? And what do you call the people who commit them?

Here’s my take on it! You may beg to differ, and you can do so by posting your comments at the end of this blog.

1. Lane Drifters. Drivers who don’t stay in their own lane and mindlessly drift over the white lines on the highway. Not only is this rude, it’s extremely dangerous and should be a crime punishable by high fines and misdemeanors.

2. Tailgaters. Again, rude and dangerous drivers. Tailgating causes the most serious of accidents. The worst tailgaters are so close you can’t even see their headlights!

3. The No-Win Mergers -- Drivers who merge onto a divided highway at a low speed with no regard for the cars already traveling in the right hand lane. If you wait for them, they slow down even more, and if you speed up to safely pass them, they speed up too.

4. Right Lane Dive Bombers - Drivers who merge into the left hand lane of a divided highway and immediately head directly for the far right lane, at a slow speed, with no regard for or apparent awareness of other drivers on the road.

5. Seat Belt Shirkers. People who don't wear their seat belts deserve to be fined. Let’s face it: if they get in an accident and require extreme medical services, we all pay for their arrogance in high insurance costs.

6. Left Lane Hogs. Drivers who get in the far left lane and go less than the speed limit.

7. Breakdown Lane Vigilantes. Drivers who block the breakdown lane by sticking half of their car into it, so people who legitimately need to use it can’t.

8. Deaf, Dumb and Blind Drivers who don’t pull over for ambulances, fire engines or police cars.

9. Readers, Texters and Groomers who think they can drive and otherwise multitask and not put themselves and all the rest of us at risk.

10. Space Invaders. Drivers who park so close to your car on the driver’s side, even a thin person can’t open the door and get back in the car without a can opener.

I was surprised to find there was little overlap between my list of driving annoyances and the list published by Askmen.com. However, I think their top 10 has a lot of merit too!

http://www.askmen.com/top_10/cars/top-10-driving-etiquette-mistakes_10.html

I bet you can come up with your own top 10 list, and I’d love to read it!

Decorate Your Car for the 4th of July

Cars line up to form the stars and stripes

You have to be really organized and have a lot of friends to pull off this automotive rendition of Old Glory.

But most likely you've only got one car or truck available to express your patriotic fervor for the upcoming holiday.

Seriously, have you ever wanted to decorate your car for the 4th of July? It’s easy enough to put a few flags on it, or a few red, white and blue balloons.

But if you really want to go at it with gusto, there’s no substitute for paint!

Here’s a look at what some 4th of July enthusiasts have done with their cars.

You’ve got only a short amount of time to come up with your own design! Go for it!

The perfect patriotic paint job for a small, experimental car

Patriotic Police Car

A Classic Patriotic Look

The Patriotic Race Car

Even cartoon characters are decorating their cars for 4th of July!

Long 4th of July Weekend? Take a Roadtrip!

As I'm sure you've heard, Fourth of July weekend is rapidly approaching, and that means lots of barbecues and fireworks for most people. But since it's a long weekend this year, why not change up the birthday of the good ol' US of A with a holiday weekend road trip? Whether it be a coastal destination, a capital city, or a historical landmark, here are a few great holiday
destinations that we recommend!

San Antonio

If you happen to be in Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, head over to San Antonio and enjoy the beautiful San Antonio River Walk where you will find plenty of attractions and entertainment for all ages. The annual July 4th Arts & Crafts Show along the river also takes place July 2nd through July 5th. This event features local and regional artists, craftsmen, and jewelers who offer handmade gifts. Many local San Antonio businesses will also be open during the holiday weekend, such as the Ancira Auto Group, who will be holding a barbeque cook-out at all their locations.

Philadelphia

Where better to spend Independence day than in the city where The Declaration of Independence was signed? There is no place like Philadelphia over Fourth of July Weekend. The city offers famous patriotic sites like Independence Hall and The Liberty Bell. Or, take a walk down to South Street and enjoy a cheesesteak from Jim's Steaks - make sure you order whiz and onions! Philadelphia also hosts the Welcome America Festival every year, which offers great food and entertainment for residents and visitors alike.

Washington D.C.

Our nation's capital not only offers the perfect patriotic backdrop for Independence Day, but is also home to some of the most exciting Fourth of July events around. Washington DC's 4th of July Parade takes place on July 4th at 11:45 AM on Constitution Avenue and features marching bands, military units, and floats. The parade draws a large crowd, so arrive early to get your spot! Take time to gather at the steps of the National Archives Building for the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence and hear the performance by the Federal City Brass Band. And don't forget to check out the Fourth of July Fireworks on the National Mall around 9:15 PM. Fireworks are launched from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and light up the sky over the Washington Monument.

San Diego

If you are looking for a beach town that knows how to party on July 4th, look no further! San Diego boasts plenty of festivities along their sprawling shores for merry sunbathers. Enjoy a ride on the Carousel and funnel cake at The San Diego Fair held annually at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Big Bay Boom July 4th Fireworks show is sure to promise a spectacular display over the San Diego Bay! You will hear explosions all night and see the rockets'
glare as they are launched simultaneously from four barges strategically placed

around the bay.

Boston

The city that is regarded as the birthplace of the American Revolution is now one of the nation's foremost Fourth of July destinations. The Boston Harborfest is a favorite destination for Fourth of July festivities. The celebration offers a slew of events, ranging from fireworks, concerts, cruises, tours, and of course, a spectacular fireworks display. Be sure to bring your beach chairs and blankets to ensure good seats! Interested in checking out culinary events? The Boston Harborfest Chowderfest is a competition between restaurants in the Greater Boston area for the best New England Style clam chowder. It's a great way for tourists to sample varying kinds of local food!