BBB: Probably Best Not To Buy Auto Warranty By Phone
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009The key tip to this story is to avoid buying auto warranty extensions if someone calls you and tells you that you need to extend your coverage.
Archive for the ‘Sad stories’ Category
The key tip to this story is to avoid buying auto warranty extensions if someone calls you and tells you that you need to extend your coverage.
When Do You Take Keys From Alzheimer Sufferers?
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009At some time it will be just too dangerous to let Alzheimer sufferers take out the family car, and figuring out when that should be is a growing issue.
Cell Phones And iPods Can Make Walking Dangerous
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009You don't have to be in a car to be a counted as a traffic fatality, as being hit by a car gets you on the list as well. That becomes a more likely happening if you tune out the traffic around you by talking on the phone or listening ...
Saturn Brand Set For Extinction In GM’s Revival Plan
Thursday, February 19th, 2009This is extremely bad news for people who want to escape the hassle and haggling of a traditional new car dealership to buy excellent new products (Aura, Astra, Vue), but General Motors says it has to be this way if the company will survive.
Buyers Pay Twice For Used Cars As Dealers Ignore Loans
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009This is one of those situations that makes people hate and distrust used cars dealers in general, and who can blame them? Consider this: Often when a dealer buys a used car to sell to another owner, he promises to pay the original owner with the proceeds from the sale ...
Car-Related Insight On Why Men Behave Like They Do
Monday, February 2nd, 2009Maybe it's not Mars that men are from, but from some planet in another universe, as this story about paying money to wreck cars makes clear.
Three Women Plead Guilty To Staging Car Wrecks
Saturday, January 31st, 2009After staging these crashes, the women went on to claim insurance payments for things that didn't happen, which of course all the other patrons of the company would have to pay for.
Comprehensive Used Car Information Is Almost Here
Friday, January 30th, 2009As this story mentions in passing, none of the firms that sell you used car reports (Carfax et al) have all of the information that you need to make an informed choice. But a government-mandated data base is finally getting off the ground, and in due course it will deliver ...
Sometimes There Are Good Reasons To Hate Lawyers
Friday, January 30th, 2009The glee in this press release about a method for overturning DUI charges from a British law firm is not quite typical of the kind of thing you see from American law firms when they think they've done something clever, but it's close enough to give you the creeps.
Elvis Statue Saves Parking Space Or Else In Boston
Friday, January 30th, 2009This type of thing may happen in other parts of the continent, but somehow it isn't surprising that it's pretty common in Boston, particularly the south side. If you don't life there, this kind of behavior might be viewed as comical.
Two More Drop-Top Roadsters Soon To Disappear
Thursday, January 29th, 2009Since outward signs of enjoyment and financial well-being seem more offensive lately than they have in a long time, it's probably not surprising that a pair of "life's-a-banquet-and-I'm-filling-my-plate" cars will be phased out.
Stopping Gas Burns On Kids The Aim Of New Campaign
Monday, January 26th, 2009Apparently a significant number of people, including a lot of children, are burned when gasoline catches fire, and the Shriners' Hospitals for Children wants to reduce that number. More information can be found at www.burnawarenessweek.org.
Florida Case Suggests Lying For A Loan Is Not Smart
Sunday, January 25th, 2009To sell more cars, it seems that various dealers are quite willing to encourage customers to lie about their personal financial situation to qualify for credit. As this story makes plain, it might sound like a good idea for the woman looking for transportation, but it can turn bad quite ...
“Safekeeping” Tow Leads To Extra Trouble For Woman
Sunday, January 25th, 2009By far the most important lesson of this story is that you should NEVER leave anything on view inside your car since it can lead to a break-in and endless residual trouble. From there on, it probably depends upon where you live, since not all police departments will behave the ...
One In Six Drivers May Be Uninsured By 2010: Study
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009The continuing growth in the number of people who are driving around without car insurance is a huge financial problem for the people who are insured, since their rates will probably be going up. But there are various issues associated with this and you should check with your agent to ...
This Story Should Remind Us Of How Risky Driving Is
Monday, January 19th, 2009Most people take being in a car for granted, especially if they've been doing it for years with no untoward results. But this story shows how close to disaster you can come every time you get into a vehicle. This situation will play out in these people's lives forever and ...
Why Doesn’t NASCAR Allow More Women To Race?
Monday, January 19th, 2009In case you didn't know it, women are taking a much bigger interest in grassroots stock car racing across America, but the big bucks series has gone cold on women since its sole female racer was found to be having a "relationship" with her team boss. Who is surprised to ...
Chrysler To Stop Building Its Smallest Vehicle Soon
Monday, January 19th, 2009When the PT Cruiser came out in 2000 it was a huge hit and took an early lead in what we might now call the mini-crossover market, but the struggling company was not able to keep up development on the retro-looking wagon and it slipped off most people's shopping lists. ...
Female Thief Run Over Twice By Her Getaway Car
Monday, January 19th, 2009This is the kind of thing you might find hysterical in a film, but it makes you shake your head when you know it happened in real life. Especially when you consider the part about the check.
Elderly Woman Leaves Crash For Hair Appointment
Monday, January 19th, 2009A 77-year-old Florida woman crashed into someone on a scooter and then left the scene to get to her hairdresser's on time. And it wasn't as if she didn't know the crash happened, since the guy on the scooter was thrown onto the hood of her car and hit the ...
Wal-Mart Sells Family A Defective Child Safety Seat
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009This is the kind of story that gives parents nightmares, so that means it's required reading for anyone who wants to know how the world can put her children at risk and what she has to do to protect them.
Woman Gets Life For Running Into And Killing A Mother
Saturday, January 10th, 2009Not only did she do it on purpose and not show much emotion at being sentenced, but it seems to have happened because of a man and an injury to an innocent dog. For reasons that defy explanation, it seems even worse because it happened in Scotland.
Some Stats On Teen Drivers And Vehicle Crashes
Saturday, January 10th, 2009Not much of this will be new to the concerned parent, but it's always good to have the truths and dangers of teen driving brought up for reconsideration.
Dog Burns As Drunk Driver Flees Car On Train Tracks
Friday, January 9th, 2009This amazingly awful incident took place near Toronto, on train tracks used by a regional commuter train network. The stupidity and callousness of the person responsible is, unfortunately, almost universal. It was interesting to learn that it's rare to see drunks and dogs in the same vehicle; more proof that ...
What Happens To Chrysler If It Goes Out Of Business?
Thursday, January 8th, 2009Pretty much every car company in the world is in the economic hospital these days, but the one that seems closest to not making it is Chrysler. There's a wide range of opinion about what will happen at that point, and some of it's actually good for the consumer.
Imagine Your Car As A Rolling Political Podium
Tuesday, January 6th, 2009The blogosphere has made it easier for anyone with internet access to inflict his (it's usually a guy) idiotic opinions on the world, so how long will it be before we start to see an outbreak of outrageous commentary on cars? Not long enough.
“All Barter Anon If The Chump Is The Client Or Seller”
Tuesday, January 6th, 2009We have no idea either what that means, but it's a classic example of one of those websites you just have to see to believe, and since this one is reputedly about cars we thought we'd share it with you. We have decided not to keep you current on a ...
Mother And Unborn Child Die In Hit-And-Run And Theft
Monday, January 5th, 2009As depressing as this story is for the obvious reasons, the worst of it may be what some passer-by did before leaving the scene. The crash, even the hit-and-run is sadly familiar, but that second guy...
Mom Charged With Leaving 2-Year-Old In Car Outside Bar
Saturday, January 3rd, 2009This is one of those stories that's simply hard for most people to believe, but unfortunately it's true. At least the authorities seem more disposed to doing something about them now.
Suffering Charities Show US Car Industry’s Financial Impact
Saturday, January 3rd, 2009With revenues down, Chrysler, Ford and GM have had to reduce the amount they give to charities, and with those cuts come the cries for new financial assistance. This brings to light another area where the US car companies contribute to our society.
Two Women Arrested In Car-Jacking Of UK Mother
Saturday, January 3rd, 2009This story you would have to say is an unfortunate consequence in the increasing levels of equality and opportunity for women in various countries of the world.
Being A Good Samaritan Definitely Has Major Risks
Thursday, January 1st, 2009A man who wanted to help another person after a car crash was hurt when a third car crashed into him and now a Texas court has ruled against insurance coverage for his medical bills.
Extra Vigilance Needed To Avoid Damage From Potholes
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008A bad winter and smaller highway budgets can created potholes that will easily damage your car enough to require hundreds of dollars in repairs and replacements. So more than ever it pays to watch the road in front of you.
The Thoughts Of A Man Who Crashed His Girlfriend’s Car
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008It's really best to let this guy speak for himself about "douchebaggy activity".
Fewer Car Dealers Is Usually Bad News For Consumers
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008As you can see from this story, most of the media tends to see the move to close thousands of auto dealers as a necessary step in the salvation of the Detroit car companies, and it may well be. But it's also bad news for the average consumer since that ...
