Category: Auto

Steering You Right With Sharon Peters Q: A few of our local gas outlets added E85 gas to their pumps. I worry that we’re going to wind up accidentally putting some of that into one of our cars, which aren’t outfitted to accept that stuff. Why don’t they put that gas and the gas hose…

A new wave of aftermarket auto accessories allow owners to upgrade their cars with some of the latest safety systems By Jim Gorzelany CTW Features Owners of older cars and those purchasing used models can now upgrade them with some of the latest high-tech vehicle safety systems at a surprisingly affordable cost, thanks to a…

A recast full-size Titan pickup is positioned to become a bona fide player in an otherwise domestic brand-dominated market By Jim Gorzelany CTW Features In a prolonged new-vehicle reveal that spanned more than a year, Nissan finally took the final wraps off its full line of redesigned Titan full-size pickup trucks at this year’s Chicago…

Steering You Right with Sharon Peters Q: For years I’ve been seeing The Club (anti-theft bar you put on steering wheels) or some knockoff of it on older cars when I’m walking around neighborhoods. I’ve always assumed that’s because old cars are easier to break into and steal. Although some of them look beat up…

The Scion brand has been cancelled, but the cars won’t disappear. In fact, most will be hiding in plain sight with new nameplates at the other end of a Toyota showroom. By Jim Gorzelany CTW Features While Toyota recently announced it would be discontinuing its youth-oriented Scion division at the end of the 2016 model…

Steering You Right With Sharon Peters Q: We noticed that whenever we go to our ski cabin in Colorado, the gas is always considerably cheaper there than at home in California. This isn’t just sometimes. It’s always. Why would that be the case? A: Variation in gas prices over time is the norm, as we…

Slow and steady wins the race as far as lower car insurance premiums are concerned By Jim Gorzelany CTW Features One of the easiest ways to save on car insurance is to choose a model that’s cheaper to cover in the first place. And with Americans holding onto their cars for longer periods than ever…

Steering You Right with Sharon Peters Q: It’s been 11 years since we bought a new or almost-new car, and new terminology has me stumped. “Soft touch” materials are bragged about in ads and reviews. Are they talking about seat fabric? A: No, though it’s not surprising you’d wonder. It’s always surprising to me how…

Here’s a look at which trucks and SUVs can be expected to hold up best over time. By Jim Gorzelany CTW Features With the economy continuing to improve, and gas prices remaining affordable, Americans are rekindling their love affair with big pickup trucks and truck-based SUVs. Sales in the combined segments swelled by 13 percent…