Free Republic

Like his neighbors, Jonathan Bird had grown tired of hearing tires squeal on the street outside his Wylie home. When the 28-year-old confronted five teens about the annoyance just before midnight Saturday, they responded by beating him to death on a neighbor's lawn, police say. Four of the five suspects charged with murder are 16 years old. Their names are being withheld because they are minors. The fifth suspect is 17-year-old Ethan Dorris of Wylie.

When it comes to maintaining your car, misconceptions abound. And even the best intentions can lead you to spend more money than necessary or even compromise your safety. Here are a few common car care myths that can do more harm than good. Myth: Engine oil should be changed every 3,000 miles. Reality: Despite what oil companies and quick-lube shops often claim, it’s usually not necessary. Stick to the service intervals in your car’s owner’s manual. Under normal driving conditions, most vehicles are designed to go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes. Changing oil more often doesn’t hurt the...

PDATED (October 2, 2009): Volkswagen has now officially released details on the 2010 Golf TDI. The new model is rated at 30/41 mpg (city/hwy) for the manual transmission and 32/42 mpg with VW’s advanced DSG automatic transmission. The car is priced from $21,990. Noticeably absent from the North American market since 2006, the Volkswagen Golf TDI will return for 2010. The new model was showcased today at the New York Auto Show, along with the high performance GTI (see our review here). There weren’t any standard Golfs on the floor, but we do have info on that model too....

A Massachusetts man is in custody at the Rock County Jail today after allegedly kidnapping a West Springfield, Mass., car salesman during a test drive and driving the stolen vehicle more than 1,000 miles overnight before getting caught speeding early Friday morning in Rock County. A Wisconsin State Patrol trooper, according to a lead dispatcher at the Rock County Communications Center, pulled over Aleh Kot, 32, of Massachusetts at 2:30 a.m. at Interstate 90/39 mile marker 165 just north of the Newville exit. Kot was arrested on charges of operating a motor vehicle without owner consent, speeding and reckless driving,...

Sweden is a not entirely a Socialist hellhole on Earth. We fight alongside you Americans. We will not accept further terrorist attacks on NYC. Apart from knowing the nature of lasting friendship and military alliances, we also know how to drive real vehicles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzHElhj2pTo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXuhJvdchhg&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Sometimes it's the journey, sometimes it's the destination—and sometimes, it's both. National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get directions, quizzes, photos, and more.

In what some might consider an ironic twist, on Wednesday a law making guns accessible and more portable in public went into effect the same day that restrictions on women's rights to choose to terminate an unintended pregnancy went into effect in Arizona. Arizona StatePress.com reports that both laws are "stirring controversy among Arizona residents, businesses, organizations and politicians." The new laws allow guns to be kept in cars on campus, as well as on public and private properties. New abortion laws, which have been challenged in court, impose a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions. Another new gun...

America, are you ready for Rush Limbaugh in an electric car? The conservative talk show host has agreed to take Jay Leno's "Green Car Challenge." In the segment airing next Thursday on NBC's "Jay Leno Show," Limbaugh will race an electric Ford Focus around a custom-built track beside Leno's studio, the show's representative confirmed. The "Green Car Challenge" segment makes its debut on the primetime show tomorrow night. Celebrities who participate drive two times around the twisty track, which takes a little less than a minute to complete. By the time Rush gets behind the wheel of the zero-emission vehicle,...

This test was for IIHS's 50th year anniversary in the safety research business! Congrats on your 50 years guys! May many more come your way! The dummy in the Malibu suffered only minor leg injuries while the dummy in the Bel Air would have dies instantly, this really shows how auto safety has progressed! Video Linky

Six women were treated for cuts, bruising and shock after Robert Caton, 50, smashed a 1983 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit into the store and demolished two check outs. View Pictures...

Highlights * Many dealers are now requiring consumers to sign an agreement to pay back the ‘clunker’ credit if claim is denied * Official government rules for the CARS program forbid such agreements * Consumer advocate groups called on federal officials to crack down on abuse Some dealers are participating the the CARS program, informally known as ‘cash for clunkers’ but cherry picking to follow the rules that benefit them. Apparently, among all signatures required at closing, many dealers are including a clause that if the government denies the claim for your ‘clunker,’ you must repay the $3,500 or $4,500...

The Cash for Clunkers program is stupid for a lot of reasons. Not only is it just another tax-payer bailout of the unions automakers, who can sell more cars at artificially depressed prices so they can keep the doors open. It also screws with the free-market (big surprise there) by pulling forward demand that isn't there now, only to kill demand over the next 1-2 years. Killing off the clunkers also hurts the used car market, the spare parts market, and the auto repair business. If there aren't any old cars to buy or fix, those guys are all out...

In a normal world, you take your trade-in to the dealer, he buys it from you, and then he resells it at the auto auction. It is the most efficient allocation of resources for the product. In this case, the government buys your trade-in and, instead of using it for its full value, it destroys the vehicle. Don't get me wrong, I won't stay awake at night worrying about inanimate objects, but there seems to be something unsettling about this state sanctioned "autocide."

A day after a man drove a car off the top of a downtown New Orleans parking garage, plummeting four stories to another rooftop, he and his passenger were under hospital care Tuesday while the adjoining building's owner pondered how to remove the wrecked vehicle.

In tough times, auto companies will cover your payment if you lose your job. Believe it or not, this is not a new sales tactic... NOTE: The author of this comic requests that you visit his web site and please refrain from copying the cartoon within this thread. Thank you!

Kingston Police have arrested at least three people in connection with the mysterious deaths of four Montreal women found in a submerged car in Kingston Mills June 30. Three teenage sisters were found dead in the car, Zainab Shafi, 19, Sahar, 17, and Geeti, 13, along with a 50-year-old woman, Rona Amir Mohammed. La Presse newspaper in Montreal said three people who were heading to Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport were arrested yesterday morning. Initially, police said the case was suspicious but that they had not found evidence of foul play. It's not clear what charges are being laid, but...

A Missouri car dealer is giving away vouchers for a free AK-47 assault rifle with the purchase of a pickup truck.

President Obama's dream of dramatically remaking the nation's health-care system is still a long way from reality. But if lawmakers can reach an accord, one thing is virtually certain: For the first time ever, every American would be required to carry health insurance. The requirement, known as an individual mandate, is among the most far-reaching changes envisioned this year by those pushing for health-care reform. And it is one of the few common threads running through all three bills being considered in Congress, greatly increasing the likelihood it will survive the legislative process. Obama continued Tuesday to push lawmakers struggling...

It's the worst year in history for the industry: Two Detroit companies went bankrupt, and even the Japanese are losing money. But nothing stops those Koreans. Hyundai and Kia are expanding their lineups, a new Kia plant is to open in Georgia, and they are setting most ambitious goals. Their cars may not be the best, but they are improving--many get on the "recommended" list in Consumers Reports--and they are getting major help from the home country's weak currency. The two are connected under the name Hyundai Kia Automotive Group. Hyundai is larger and owns a 39% controlling stake in...

Deputies say a Cumming woman was concerned enough to take her sick pet to the veterinarian, but left her 22-month-old son alone in a hot SUV. Dawn Myers, 38, was arrested on charges of cruelty to children. Deputies were called to a Cumming vet’s office on Thursday for a report of a child unattended inside a Ford Expedition, said Capt. Frank Huggins, spokesman for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. “The child was in the car for 30-40 minutes,” Huggins said. “The engine was not running and the windows were rolled up.” Myers took her two other children inside the vet’s...

Bloom's relevant experience appears to be negotiating for unions with troubled companies, and so it would be useful to know his approach. Thanks to an old Time magazine collection of quotes, here it is: "Let me give you some advice. First, we are big believers in dentist chair bargaining. For those of you not familiar with this approach, it is inspired by the story of the man who walks into his dentist's office, grabs the dentist by the balls and says, 'now, let's not hurt each other.' We do have a lot to lose and we and everybody else knows...

SYNOPSIS: Transcript of 13 July 2009 Bob Lutz interview with The Takeaway, host John Hockenberry and guest host Farai Chideya. John Hockenberry: It’s great to talk to you again. We’ve talked over many years and this is certainly a very different moment. Although I have to say, General Motors has typically announced some pretty ambitious plans, even emerging from bankruptcy: 10 new products emerging in the U.S. market; 43, or something like that, nameplates. First of all, wouldn’t it be better to focus on one or two successes like the Camero, you sold 10,000 units of that car as recently...

WASHINGTON – Steven Rattner, head of the Obama administration's auto task force, is leaving that post and will be replaced by former steelworkers official Ron Bloom. The administration said Monday that Rattner decided to return to private life and his family in New York City. Rattner won praise for the job he did managing the massive restructuring of General Motors and Chrysler. But his government service came under a cloud with an investigation of an influence peddling scandal back in New York. Authorities have said that Rattner, an investment banker, was unlikely to face charges in the investigation which involved...

GM considers new car listings on eBayPublished: July 10, 2009 at 11:45 PM DETROIT, July 10 (UPI) -- General Motors Corp. is discussing a possible partnership with eBay that would allow dealers to list new cars on the auction Web site, officials said. Rob Chesney, vice president of eBay Motors and Marketplaces, told The New York Times no deal is in place. In its initial statement Friday, GM suggested the program was ready for testing by dealers. "We hope to support GM's new company and vision going forward," Chesney said. "We are excited about a potential new adventure that supports...

On Sunday, the left channel (front and back) cut out with nary a sound coming from the left rear, and the front left speaker was tweeter only. After sitting overnight, (Monday morning) the stereo functioned normally (as far as I could tell) for a few minutes, and then same thing. Last night, I removed left side speakers, and discovered left front speaker was blown (and probably was Monday morning, but I just didn't notice). Left rear speaker was ok. Moved left rear to left front, and replaced left rear. (I checked both speakers to make sure they were functional before...

In a recent op-ed piece published in The Wall Street Journal, Alan Reynolds of the Cato Institute starts by making a few decent points about fuel taxation and fuel economy rules. Unfortunately, he undermines himself with some blatant errors and misinformation. In discussing how Detroit automakers will deal with new fuel efficiency requirements, he makes the all-too-common mistake of referring to Ford's hybrid system as licensed from Toyota ("Similarly, Ford has the Toyota-licensed hybrid Fusion and will soon produce the European Ford Fiesta in Mexico"). The reality is that Ford independently developed its own hybrid system at the same time...

WTF?

Police in Massachusetts said a 31-year-old pregnant woman was miraculously unharmed after accidentally backing her car off the fourth story of a parking garage. Springfield Police Lt. Rupert Daniel said the woman, who was alone in her car at the time, accidentally put her Hyundai Sonata in reverse and drove off the fourth story of the downtown garage, plunging 40 feet to the sidewalk below, WWLP-TV, Springfield, reported Tuesday. The woman was treated for minor injuries at Baystate Medical Center and released.

In another example of feel good legislation Congress has once again come up with a plan to help their primary constituents, the unions under the guise of advancing environmentalism and helping the economy. The cash for clunkers act as it is named will pay anywhere from $3,500 to $4,500 for any vehicle sold in a transaction to purchase a more fuel efficient one. As with most feel good legislation, it is ill considered with unintended consequences and a waste of taxpayer money. Let’s examine the pertinent numbers. Under the act, $1 billion as a starter will be spent by the...

After investing billions of taxpayer dollars in two domestic automakers to help them survive the dramatic downturn in car sales along with an enduring recession, Congress and the Obama administration want to help jumpstart the industry. The battery cables of choice for this operation — [1] HR2751 Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS), also dubbed “Cash for Clunkers” — is roughly patterned after a similar automotive stimulus scheme in Europe. If it worked on the Continent, it must be a good thing, as the current beltway logic asserts. The idea of encouraging people to retire their old relics of...

( cue eerie music)I live about a mile from our former President George Bush. Ever since he moved into the "neighborhood" car alarm remotes in my complex and around the area randomly stop working. Luckily I don't have an alarm that cuts the engine. I have to drive with the alarm blaring another mile just to use the remote to kill the alarm. At 6 in the morning it's not uncommon now to hear car alarms go off all over the place as people try to start their cars. My roommate started to have the same problem also. I've seen...

The worst drivers in America live in New York. Of course, you knew that. You've been in the Holland Tunnel. But now, we have proof. GMAC Insurance has released the results of its National Drivers Test for 2009. The test, which measures basic knowledge of driving laws, was given to more than 5,000 drivers from all 50 states and the District of Columbia -- and New Yorkers finished last. Last year's loser, New Jersey, improved its score just enough to leap over New York. Hawaii, California and Georgia rounded out the bottom five. Idaho and Wisconsin drivers tied for the...

May 28, 2009 A good product must be perfectly adapted to its market - and the Spira looks like an excellent fit for the chaotic conditions of South-East Asian roads. This odd little three-wheel two-seater weighs only 300-odd pounds (130kg) - that's because it uses a super-lightweight reinforced foam for 90 percent of the bodywork. It gets well over 100mpg from its 110cc engine, it's light enough to lift by hand, and the foam shell has huge safety benefits, both for the occupants and for the legions of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists that swarm the roads of Thailand. Oh, and...

If you've ever seen Chip Foose at work, it's hard not to admire the guy. He's got more natural talent in his pinky finger than most of us car guys can dream of, and each of the vehicles he builds ends up being a work of art. He recently got his hands on a brand new 2010 Ford Mustang GT, which was Foosified on an episode of Spike TV's MuscleCar. The best part? You can enter to win the car on PowerBlockTV.com. This customized pony car features an Edelbrock supercharger system, Roush body kit, Magnaflow exhaust, Foose wheels and Pirelli...

US drivers who own a car made overseas are more likely to be satisfied with their purchase than domestic car owners, a poll showed on Tuesday. Seventy-seven percent of poll respondents who own a foreign car said they were happy with it versus 69 percent of American car owners.

Much has been written about the Insight, Honda’s new low-priced hybrid… So far, though, you have not been told what it’s like as a car; as a tool for moving you, your friends and your things from place to place. So here goes. It’s terrible. Possibly the worst new car money can buy. It’s the first car I’ve ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so I didn’t have to drive it anymore. Jeremy Clarkson The Sunday Times, May 17, 2009

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made a public presentation of his new Niva vehicle, which he bought about a month ago. The car was unveiled to reporters near Putin’s residence in the city of Sochi in Russia’s south, where Putin conducted negotiations with the prime minister of Turkey. Putin told reporters that he was enjoying driving his new car, although he only traveled about 300 meters, RIA Novosti reports. Putin did not specify the price that he paid for the SUV. Putin said that he liked the new wheels of the car, its soft suspension and the powerful engine. The...

German automotive giant Daimler has invested in electric-car company Tesla Motors and plans to use Tesla's battery packs in its Smart electric car due later this year. At a Tuesday press conference held at the Daimler museum in Stuttgart, Germany, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Daimler management board member Thomas Weber said the contract between the two companies calls for joint collaboration on the Smart electric car and future models.

CHICAGO, May 16 (UPI) -- Three U.S. telemarketing firms accused of making misleading "robocalls" about expiring car warranties must stop the practice, a court says. The Federal Trade Commission announced Friday that a U.S. District Court in Chicago issued a restraining order demanding that three companies accused of aggressively making automated calls to sell auto warranties across the country cease the pitches, The New York Times reported. "For the first time in months, millions of New Yorkers and people across the country will finally have some relief from these annoying calls with potentially thousands saved from falling into this scam,"...

US auto giant General Motors (GM) filed a lawsuit against China's Chery Automobile Co for alleged piracy of a mini car developed by its South Korean affiliate Daewoo. The lawsuit, launched in the name of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co Ltd, contends Chery's QQ copied the design of Daewoo's Matiz while Chery claims it developed the QQ on its own. GM's investigation results showed the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components," GM China Group said in a statement on Thursday night. GM's joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) and...

A citizen with a “concealed-carry” handgun license shot out a tire on a car full of fleeing shoplifters, then followed them in his own vehicle Wednesday morning, helping Azle police apprehend four people who were subsequently charged with robbery. Police officers from at least three agencies caught up with everyone in a neighborhood behind Allsup’s convenience store off Highway 199 west of Azle. Four accused shoplifters had been spotted by employees of Albertsons grocery store and were attempting a getaway with less than $50 worth of miscellaneous items when they were spotted by a citizen in the parking lot. The...

SHANGHAI, China — As General Motors sales continue to tank in the United States, the automaker is racking up impressive gains in China, where sales shattered another record in April. GM sales in China jumped 50 percent in April, to 151,084. In comparison, GM's U.S. sales last month plunged 33 percent to 172,150. The Buick brand in particular is on a tear in China. Where Buick dealers in the U.S. sold only 8,928 vehicles in April, in China they delivered 38,071 — a 64 percent increase over the previous year. GM, however, is seeing the greatest growth spurt in minivehicles,...

May 3, 2009 LOS ANGELES-- One of three young men suspected of stealing from cars in Mar Vista today was shot in the face by a would-be theft victim. The shooting occurred at around 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning in the 12900 block of Manor Lane near Venice Boulevard. and Beethoven Street, said Sergeant Lane Bragg of the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Station. A man who lives in the neighborhood allegedly heard loud noises and went out to the street to investigate. According to Officer Rosario Herrera of the LAPD, the man confronted the thieves attempting to break into his...

Chrysler runs out of gas, Chevy hits the accelerator - on the same day. The 2010 Camaro rolls onto America's roadways as the Detroit giant calls it quits. Oh, the irony.

General Motors has announced that it will be eliminating the Pontiac brand as part of an accelerated restructuring plan aimed at avoiding bankruptcy and keeping Detroit's largest automaker viable in the years to come. Along with the nameplate, GM says it will cut 21,000 hourly workers by the end of 2010, a 34 percent reduction, and reduce the number of manufacturing facilities it owns from 47 to 34. The company will also be trimming the number of dealerships that sell its vehicles to 3,605 from a high of 6,246 in 2008, a reduction of 42 percent that reflects the recent...

Also at Yahoo News: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090422/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gm_factories_1

Now you have probably gathered I am not into the whole "green" movement. But, in light of earth day, I thought this was worth sharing. With a vehicle body made from potatoes, a steering wheel made from carrots, the ability to run on waste chocolate and vegetable oil, the 140 mph Environ-MENTAL is the first formula 3 race car designed from materials that are both sustainable and renewable. (more on site)

A Kingsport man used his concealed handgun to protect himself during an alleged road rage incident on Sunday. According to Kingsport Police, the incident occurred about 1:58 a.m. on Harris Avenue. Michael Salyer told police he was headed home when a yellow Ford Probe in front of him started weaving from left to right. The driver, later identified as Jonathan Lee Adams, 28, 1630 Spruce St., stopped in the middle of the road, jumped out and started screaming at him, Salyer said. When Adams tried to get in his car, Salyer said, that's when he pulled out his handgun and...

Fisker Automotive announced that it raised $85 million in venture capital backing from New York-based Eco-Drive (Capital) Partners LLC, a European-American investment consortium, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers.