2012 Honda CR-V Review

The 2012 Honda CR-V starts out at $22,495 running up to $29,995. It falls into the "compact SUV" class/market of vehicles. The fourth-generation CR-V made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November and went on sale in December 2011. Exterior styling is significantly improved. Fuel economy gets a boost and the all-wheel-drive system is new. EPA ratings are 23 city mpg and 31 highway mpg for the 2wd models, and 22 city mpg and 30 highway mpg for the AWD models. That’s on regular grade fuel. The fuel tank holds 15.3 gallons and that should be good for about 450 miles of highway cruising with your Spy Sunglasses on. Living in a snowy-winter region, I would be hard pressed to decide to opt for the AWD vs 2WD with the price increment only $1250 and the fuel economy difference only 1 mpg. Honda certainly hasn’t made this decision easy. However, in a non-snowy region I would stick with the 2WD, especially since the CR-V drives through the front wheels that gives some advantage in slippery road conditions over a RWD vehicle architecture. full review

Kelley Blue Book Picks 10 Cars That 'Reignite The American Dream'

The "American Dream" seems to still be talked about although I am not quite sure what it refers to anymore. House, white picket fence, 2 kids, middle calss? Being a billionaire like Bill Gates? Own your own business? Drive a muscle car? I really don't know. Kelley Blue Book apparently knows what our dream is though and has picked 10 cars that reignite it. ;) Here are the first 3 (click here for the other 7):

Chevrolet Corvette For nearly 60 years the Corvette has captivated drivers across America and far beyond, rising in status from an innovative convertible with then-fancy features like fuel injection and power windows to the supercar that is today's ZR1. As American as Jon Stewart interviewing Springsteen for Rolling Stone, the Corvette is our homegrown exotic-fighter that is as competent pacing the Indy 500 as it is comfortably cruising down the main drag in Anytown, USA. Ford Mustang The Ford Mustang is so American, it's a cliche rivaling apple pie. Cliche or not we love the Stang. It's a car with more attitude than sense, exhibited by the ultimate availability of a 550-horsepower V8 whose prodigious power is directed to the rear wheels via an impossibly dated live axle. Thankfully, the Mustang's "classic" elements are contrasted by modern touches including an impressively efficient V6 and the latest generation of infotainment technology, ensuring this quintessential American pony car will stay relevant for years to come. Jeep Wrangler With lineage tracing back to the battlefields of World War II, the Jeep Wrangler has become the 4-wheeled personification of American Exceptionalism. When we think of freedom, images of treading through waist-high water, crawling mammoth-sized rock formations, and climbing 45-degree grades frequently come to mind. To the casual observer, the Wrangler's go-anywhere, do-anything philosophy might seem like idle boasting, but to Jeep owners, it's a way of life.

Seems like these are just classic cars. According to them apparently the American Dream is a throwback to the simpler times. Maybe they have free shipping coupons for these cars. :P

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Review

The Chevy Malibu is a car I remember rolling along in to the beach with a buddy of mine who had an old classic convertible Malibu. I think it was a 1968-69 Malibu. Metallic blue. One of those a guy restores and keeps in his garage all winter and dreams of showing it off at shows, or just simply to pick up women in our redneck area of living. Let's just say that we picked up more women when the car was parked and we weren't sitting in a car with a couple of guys shouting out of it like animals. I believe he has long sold it to help pay for his Wilmington nc homes for sale. The new 2013 Malibu comes in LS, LT and LTZ trim levels, in addition to the ECO. Prices start at $23,150 for the LS and top out at $30,925 for the LTZ. The ECO has a base price of $26,095 and from an equipment comparison standpoint is most similar to the LT model with a base price starting at $24,765. That’s $1330 more for the ECO technology. The test car was the ECO 2SA model with an MSRP of $26,845. A Leather Package for $1300 brought leather seat trim, a front passenger power seat and heated front seats. Add in $325 for the Crystal Red exterior and $760 destination charge and things top out at $29,230. full review

July 4th Deadliest Driving Day!

America **** Yeah! One guess as to what makes it the deadliest driving day? I'm going with alcohol. OF course it could just be the more people on the roads the higher the chance of traffic fatalities. I mean that's obvious right? With more people on the roads there are obviously more bad drivers on the roads. Kids on vacation. Out late going to see fireworks. 4th of July festivities bring out all ages. Event planners needing commercial general liability insurance ready for the fun. A new analysis of crash data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that July 4 is the deadliest day for teens on the road and is just as deadly for the motorists that will be driving alongside them. In the U.S., car crashes are the number one cause of death for everyone ages 1-34, with teens crashing four times more often than any other age group. Based on the latest available data, IIHS reports that more than 800 people were killed on July 4 from 2006-2010, making July one of the deadliest months on the road for drivers. And if the projections remain true this year, an average of 140 people will lose their lives on July 4 due to car crashes. In 2010, Missouri lost 83 due to fatal car crashes during the month of July. more