|
|
Reader Service
Free Travel Info |
|
Colorado Calendar
|
|
About our Advertisers
|
|
|||||
|
AutoTalk
Best cars of 2004 for families, by AAA and Parents magazine With so many options out there, researching and finding the vehicle that would best suit your family's needs can be a formidable task. That is why AAA and Parents magazine have joined forces to help you find the best vehicle for your family. "This is the third consecutive year that we've teamed up with AAA to choose the year's best cars for families," said Betty Wong, senior editor, Parents. "AAA brings more than 100 years of auto-safety expertise to the partnership, while Parents understands what moms, dads and kids really want and need in a car." AAA auto reviewers and Parents staff test-drove dozens of vehicles, considering everything from cup holders and cargo space to air bags and fuel economy. The reviewers also installed a variety of child-safety seats into every car, making sure it can be done easily and securely. What do parents really want in a family car? Parents' No. 1 criterion is safety, which is why additional weight was given to top performers in crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Is there one "dream feature" Wong would like to see become standard on family cars? "A built-in vacuum hose in the back seat." Additional child-passenger safety information, including tips from AAA's child-passenger safety campaign, "Seated, Safe and Secure," is available on Parents' Web site, www.parents.com/april, and at www.aaapublicaffairs.com. The top 15 cars for families Economy Cars Sport-Utility Vehicles Sedans Minivans Station Wagons Chrysler Pacifica Pontiac Vibe Volvo V70 Experts examine the road ahead Will your 2015 Toyota be a hybrid? Will you buy your 2030 Ford based on horsepower or processing speed? What you see down the road depends on what you are trained to examine, so we asked an engineer, a second-generation designer and a transportation analyst to share their perspectives. Read more.... Questions about tune-ups? Is an engine tune-up necessary anymore? Yes, but today's procedure is different. After all, modern engines have no points and condenser to replace, no carburetor to adjust, and spark timing is controlled by the car's computer. Most cars now even have direct ignition that replaces the distributor. Your car should be taken to a service facility for an "engine inspection" and "computer scan" about every 30,000 miles. An "engine inspection" allows the service technician to check all the engine functions by connecting your vehicle to a diagnostic analyzer. This computerized equipment reveals problems in the ignition as well as the fuel and emissions systems. It also allows the technician to return the engine to factory specifications. For more information about tune-ups or other car repair and maintenance issues, members are encouraged to visit the automotive section of aaa.com, or visit an Approved Auto Repair facility. 2004 AAA Auto Guide Award Winners By Christy Smith For years, AAA has put its expert knowledge into researching and evaluating the vehicles Americans are driving. But what goes into determining whether a vehicle has the performance, the value, the style to make it a AAA Auto Guide Award winner? The evaluation process is virtually a year-round endeavor. "The process starts before we climb into the cars. We research, we study, we determine what has been changed," explained Jim MacPherson, reviewer and project editor for AAA Auto Guide: 2004 New Cars and Trucks. Once the research is done, the testing begins. Acceleration and braking are tested by instruments. The rest of the evaluations are made on the road, not on a test track. Cars are judged in 10 different categories: acceleration, braking, cargo capacity, comfort, driver's environment, fuel economy, handling, ride, value, and "wow" factor. A score of 5 is possible in each category, so a "perfect" car would total 50 points. Cars are divided into eight categories according to price, plus there are categories for minivans, trucks and a "cool car" (one chosen not on points but on whether it'll attract the most attention at stoplights). Christy Smith is a freelance writer based in Altamonte Springs, Fla. 2004 winners, by price class Detailed reviews of these and other vehicles can be found in the AAA Auto Guide: 2004 New Cars and Trucks, available at AAA offices, online at www.aaa.com, and at retail bookstores. Recycle batteries for Earth Day As a way to observe Earth Day on April 22, AAA Colorado is asking all vehicle owners to check their homes, garages and yards for used lead-acid automotive batteries and take them to a recycling center as part of AAA's fourth annual Great Battery Roundup. AAA Colorado is setting up temporary recycling centers where consumers can drop off used batteries for shipment to recycling plants at no cost. Temporary drop-off locations are: Ace Towing Enterprises Old Style Towing Auto Towing, Inc. |
Copyright © 2004 AAA Colorado. All Rights Reserved. Privacy