Fuel Efficient Autos

Do you enjoy taking your Pontiac cars for a Sunday drive when the weather is nice? Do you enjoy road trips across the country to see friends and family? If so, you could be paying a lot more for those conveniences if some people in Washington, D.C. have their way.

Now that the federal government is forcing automakers to make more fuel-efficient cars, drivers are paying less taxes at the pumps as they do not have to fill up as often. These taxes go to fix roads and other infrastructure that is critical to driving. That’s why there is an effort in the nation’s capital to replace the federal gas tax with a new tax based on the number of miles you travel. The VMT, or “vehicle miles traveled,” would go into effect by 2020 if the legislature has its way.

How do you feel about this proposal? Do you think it’s a good idea? Or do you think it’s giving the government too much control over how far you drive your Pontiac cars during any given day or week? Is it too much like Big Brother? If they completely do away with the federal and state gas taxes, this might be a viable option. But if they just add this on to the gas taxes that are already high enough, I think we need to consider other options. What do you think?

Have you been itching to take your Pontiac cars through the streets of Jersey but you can’t because your license is suspended? If so, there may be help on the way.

Essex County College is hosting the “Full Speed Ahead” program to help drivers get their license restored. The first class was held earlier this week, but there will be more classes next month for drivers who did not make it this past Tuesday. The program is designed to help troubled drivers understand the state’s laws and regulations regarding license suspensions as well as provide help for dealing with a suspension and avoiding similar problems in the future.

“According to our research and experience,” said Cornell William Brooks, the executive director of the Institute for Social Justice, “losing your license is not only a transportation inconvenience, but can be economic calamity.”

One thing the program is addressing is the fact that there are “more than 400 grounds for suspension in New Jersey, including many that have nothing to do with unsafe driving,” according to the Institute’s officials.

If you’ve had your license suspended in New Jersey, there’s hope for you yet. For more information on upcoming programs or for help with your suspended license, call Mara Codey or Laurel Dumont at (973) 624-9400 or email the institute at info@njisj.org.

Too many people underestimate the importance of rotating the tires on their Pontiac cars. Unfortunately, they are not getting the most out of their tires by ignoring this simple procedure. Here are some facts about your tires and why you should rotate the tires on your Pontiac cars according the manufacturer’s suggestions.

• Tires wear unevenly. Without rotating them, one tire could be going bald while the others still have most of their tread. This is bad for your fuel economy and other reasons.
• Your front tires typically carry about 60 percent of the car’s overall weight. In addition, they are also responsible for nearly 80 percent of the braking.
• Left turns are statistically faster than right turns. Since drivers tend to take left turns faster, this puts more stress and wear on the right front tire.
• Tires on the right side of the car are more susceptible to road hazards, including curbs, potholes and other dangers. This makes them wear out faster, too.
• Many manufacturers recommend rotating your tires about every 5,000 miles.

If you want to take care of your Pontiac cars and make your tires last as long as possible, don’t ignore the importance of rotating your tires. It’s a simple process and it only takes minutes…even if you do it yourself!

In Pennsylvania, it could become illegal to talk on your cell phones while driving your Pontiac cars or any other kind of car on the roads. State representative John Shapiro recently re-introduced legislation that would ban using hand-held cell phones behind the wheel of a car…unless, of course, it’s not moving.

Currently, Shapiro has more than 65 bipartisan cosponsors for his proposed bill. When he introduced it in 2006, he only had 31 sponsors and only 46 during last year’s session. As you can see, support is growing.

The proposed bill would impose a $50 fine to drivers caught talking on their hand-held cell phones. The violation will not assess any points on the person’s record. Also, emergency vehicle drivers and mass transit drivers would be exempt from this regulation.

“We will save lives on our roadways by simply disconnecting Pennsylvania drivers from their hand-held cell phones,” Shapiro said about the proposed bill. The state legislature is considering a similar ban for people riding on skateboards, scooters and rollerblades.

How do you feel about this legislation? I understand the need for it because drivers are simply more dangerous when they are talking on their cell phone. But do you think the government is infringing on our rights too much? Let us know what you think below.

Saving gas in your Pontiac cars is becoming important again now that gas prices are starting to creep up. But many people have forgotten the gas-saving tips and techniques that overtook the Internet blogs only six months ago. That’s why we are listing some ways you can save gas in your Pontiac cars here. Use these tips and you could save hundreds of dollars a year!

1. Do like the trucks do. Have you ever noticed that huge tractor-trailer trucks hardly ever stop in a traffic jam? Instead, they try to roll along at a slow speed. That’s because stopping and starting can wreak havoc on your gas mileage. When it’s possible, allow your Pontiac cars to roll along slowly instead of always stopping and starting in a traffic jam.
2. Use normal tires. You’ve probably seen the oversized tires that some people put on their cars. Unfortunately, these larger tires can create more friction and kill your fuel efficiency. Instead, use the recommended tires for the best efficiency and gas mileage.
3. Plan your routes. Driving all around town to do your errands eats up your gas, especially if you do not have a planned route. Make sure you take the shortest way possible, start at the farthest errand and work your way back home.

These are just a few things you can do in your Pontiac cars to save gas. Utilize them today and see what a difference they make!

One of the worst things you can do behind the wheel of your Pontiac cars is to drive while you’re drowsy. Unfortunately, many drivers think they can get behind the wheel with little or no sleep and be just fine. Here are some fascinating statistics that might blow your mind.

• About 37 percent of drivers who took a survey by the National Sleep Foundation in 2005 admit to falling asleep while driving at one point in their lives.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates there are more than 100,000 reported crashes each year that are the direct result of drowsy driving.
• About 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries occur each year because of drivers who are too tired behind the wheel.
• Drivers between the ages of 18-29 are more likely to drive while drowsy than any other ages.
• Adults with children are more likely to drive while drowsy than adults without children.
• Men are almost twice as likely as women to fall asleep while they are driving.

Don’t take a risk when driving your Pontiac cars. If you feel tired, pull over and get some rest. You owe it to yourself and the other people on the roads.

Some people in the financial industry advise car buyers to choose used cars instead of new cars. This might seem like good advice, but if you can afford new Pontiac car instead of used Pontiac cars, you will enjoy many advantages. Here are several benefits you get when you invest in a new car rather than a used one.

• You have more options. If you’re shopping for a new car, you can often tell your dealer the features you want. They can specially order your car with the bells and whistles or stripped down if you prefer. You don’t really have that option with used cars.
• New cars need less maintenance. When you buy a new car, you know it will be covered under your warranty if anything goes wrong…at least for the first several thousand miles.
• Roadside assistance is more common these days. New car warranties often come with roadside assistance features. If you run out of gas, get a flat tire or just get stuck somewhere, this can be a handy and helpful feature.

This isn’t to say that used Pontiac cars do not have their advantages, too. But these advantages help you make a more informed decision if you’re trying to decide between a new and used car.

If you’re looking for a midsize SUV and you haven’t taken a look at the latest Pontiac cars on the market, you could be missing something. The 2009 Pontiac Vibe is one of the best crossover utility vehicles in the industry. Here are some facts you may not have known about the history of the Vibe and its current incarnation.

• The Pontiac Vibe debuted in 2003.
• The 2009 Pontiac Vibe has enough room on the inside to seat five passengers comfortably and still have some space left in the cargo area.
• According to Edmunds.com, the wheelbase, length and track of the current Vibe are unaltered, but the platform has gone through major revisions.
• The new Vibe has made improvements in reducing road noise and vibrations when driving. The car’s weight has increased by as much as 150 pounds depending on if you choose a model with an automatic transmission or a manual transmission.
• The 2009 Vibe has airbags throughout the inside of the vehicle as standard equipment.
• Prices for the Vibe can range between $16,000 and $20,000 depending on the features and model you want to purchase. The GT version starts at a price of about $19,895.

Variety in Pontiac cars has come a long way in the last couple decades. The 2009 Pontiac Vibe is just one example of the automaker adapting to the needs of consumers.

Have you ever noticed any Pontiac cars portrayed prominently in your favorite movies? Usually, directors put careful thought and consideration into the cars they use in their movie. Sometimes, there is a financial deal between the producers and the car companies. Either way, Pontiac cars have probably been prominent parts of more movies than you might think. Here are just a few:

Cannonball (1976)
In this movie, the 1970 Pontiac Firebird TransAm was so prominent it was almost one of the movie’s characters. The movie was about an illegal cross-country car race that occurred each year in the United States. Similar movies include Cannonball Run, Rat Race and several others, but Cannonball was the original.

Smokey and the Bandit (1977)
A 1977 Pontiac Firebird TransAm played a huge role in Smokey and the Bandit, a movie that starred Burt Reynolds and Jackie Gleason. The film used five modified models of this popular car for stunts and they were all damaged during filming. It was also the second-highest grossing film of the year, coming in only behind Star Wars.

We’ll write more about Pontiac cars and their roles in popular movies of today and yesteryear. Be sure to come back and look for more of your favorite old and new Pontiac cars in movies.

Did you know a simple inquiry to your insurance company could haunt you for up to seven years? It’s true. Some companies record your call and enter it into their database to keep track of your habits and behaviors. Sound scary? I know I don’t like it.

Here’s how it works. Say you’re driving around in one of your Pontiac cars and you get into a small fender bender. You come home and you can’t find your policy. As a result, you call your auto insurance company to ask what your deductible is. You may even inquire about your coverage in the case of a fender bender. Your insurance company may record in your file that you were in an accident even though you do not make an actual claim. The bad thing is that these inquiries stay on your file for seven years.

As if this doesn’t sound bad enough, several inquiries about your coverage could have more negative consequences. When it comes time to renew your policy, your insurance company may charge you more or even drop you based on those inquiries.

Keep this information in mind when you are making inquiries to your auto insurance company about the coverage on your Pontiac cars. You may be hurting your reputation more than you think!