Fuel Efficient Autos

In case you didn’t get the memo, talking on your handheld cell phone while behind the wheel of your car has been banned in Philadelphia. The ban occurred earlier this month, but it won’t go into effect until later this year. Here are the basic facts you need to know about the cell phone ban so you don’t get hit with a ticket.

• Your first offense will cost you $150 if you get caught talking on your cell phone while operating your vehicle.
• Your second offense will be a $300 fine.
• The ban takes effect on November 1, 2009.
• Studies show that you are nearly three times as likely to get into an accident while dialing your cell phone and driving. You are almost twice as likely to get into an accident when just talking on your cell phone and driving.
• The ban on cell phones and driving in Philadelphia was supported by 85 percent of the voters. Only 13 percent voted against it.
• About 20 to 30 percent of accidents are caused by distracted drivers.

Facts and statistics like these should make you want to put your cell phone down when driving your VW cars. It’s just a matter of common sense and the responsibility you have when behind the wheel.

When you are driving your VW cars around the Philadelphia area, you have more of a chance of getting into an accident than anywhere else in the nation. This finding comes from a recent study – the 2009 Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report.

The report came out earlier this month and researchers found that Philadelphia is the “most dangerous of the big cities to drive in.” This is because the statistics show drivers in Philly have a 57.1 percent greater chance of being in an automobile accident than the national average.

One columnist attests to the dangers in “The City of Brotherly Love.” She said even pedestrians are in danger as Philadelphia drivers often “blow through stop signs and drivers get annoyed (if not irate) if you try to walk in a crosswalk in front of them.”

Rick Shnitzler agrees. He is a city planner in Philadelphia and he watched more than 100 drivers just go through a stop sign at 20th and Hamilton in Franklintown. He saw one woman eating food with a fork, a large number of drivers talking on their cell phone, one driver with a dog on their lap, one guy reading a book and one woman putting on eyeliner.

Things like this happen all over the country, but it seems to be more common in Philadelphia. Just be careful driving your VW cars around the city and always look out for the other guy. That’s one of the best ways to avoid traffic accidents.

Do you plan on driving your VW cars in downtown Philadelphia any time soon? Or is that something you do on a daily basis? Either way, this article offers some tips that may help make the experience a little smoother. Here are some highlights from that article.

Know a Few Basic Facts
You might save yourself a lot of headaches by remembering that the streets are separated into “North” and “South” by Market Street. Therefore, the addresses of South 21st Street begin south of Market Street and the addresses of North 21st Street begin on the north side of Market Street. Also, Broad Street is also called 14th Street. Tidbits like these could save you hours in trying to find your destination.

Use Street Sense
Downtown Philadelphia is crowded and busy, especially during the day. If you try to change lanes too quickly or if you are not paying attention, you could cause an accident or at least get other drivers really ticked off.

Do Some Homework
Before driving in downtown Philadelphia for the first time or if you are not accustomed to the area, study maps of the streets before trying to conquer it. Having a good idea of where you need to go before you even leave the house is half the battle.

Follow these tips when driving your VW cars through downtown Philadelphia and you should be just fine!

I’m not sure how this one slipped by me, but an article in The Automotive News at the end of last month discussed how people really enjoy their VW cars based on vehicle quality and “enthusiasm for their purchases.”

The study was conducted by Strategic Vision, Inc. and it measured 17 segments for its 2009 Total Quality Index. The Jetta, one of the medium-sized VW cars in the automaker’s lineup, was top-rated in its segment by consumers. The VW New Beetle was rated at the top of the Small Specialty Coupe segment while the Volkswagen Tiquan won the Entry Utility Segment and the VW Rabbit was the winner for the Small Multi-Function segment. The AudiA4 also tied for the top spot in the Near-Luxury Car segment.

According to the article, Strategic Vision “attempts to set itself apart from other surveys…by emphasizing features that consumers like – not just flaws.” The company’s surveys include opinions from more than 20,000 buyers who purchased 2008 and 2009 models between the months of September and December of 2008.

Come see what all the fuss is about with VW cars. Visit your local VW dealer today and take a look at the inventory. You’ll be so glad you did!

This story comes out of the UK, but it could just as easily happen in the United States and it probably has.

Instead of risking the possibility of setting off an alarm or getting caught in a carjacking incident, thieves in the UK are reportedly breaking into homes, stealing car keys, and then driving off with the car or cars in the driveway without suspicion. But thieves are also being innovative in their desire to steal keys. If they choose to forego breaking into a home, they are using fishing rods and other devices to snag the keys through letter boxes and other small openings.

According to Staveley Head, a spokesperson for a leading auto insurance company in the UK, the thieves are targeting all types of cars. Some concentrate on modest cars in order to sell the parts.

Robberies of homes in London have increased by 70 percent in recent months. Since April, there have been more than 751 stolen sets of keys reported. That’s quite a difference from 480 reported last year during the same time period.

It just goes to show that thieves are getting smarter and bolder. Help prevent yourself from becoming a victim by keeping the keys to your VW cars in a safe place. You never know when one of these thugs are going to strike.

Keeping your VW cars in tip-top shape should be a priority. Your VW cars will last for many years with smooth sailing if you simply take care of it properly. One way to do that is to find a reputable repair shop for scheduled maintenance procedures and any repairs that come up. Here are some tips for finding one of those shops.

• Look for a place that has been around awhile. This shows that they have a good customer base and that they have experience and they can probably be competitive with other repair shops in your area.
• Find a place with good customer service. Does the person who takes your vehicle treat you with respect? Or do they treat you like a bother? Will they explain the procedures to you and tell you what is recommended? These are all things to consider and you can usually find this out within the first couple minutes before making your decision.
• Look for their credentials. Reputable mechanics and service stations will have their certification and other credentials in view for everybody to see. Look for these before letting them work on your VW cars.

At one time or another, you will need someone to work on your VW cars. Don’t wait until you are in a bind to find the perfect repair station for your needs.

Have you ever wondered what the person in the car next to you is like? Are they an angry type of person? Are they generous? Are they likely to cut you off on the highway? Some analysts feel that the color you choose for your car says a lot about your personality. So what does your VW cars say about you?

Black – People who choose black cars based on color tend to have a more aggressive personality. These people also have rebellious and “loner” tendencies.

Green – If you choose green for the color of your car, you tend to be more hysterical and irrational.

Silver – The buyers who choose silver cars tend to be calmer, laid back and easygoing.

Blue – If you are a blue car person, you may be more introspective and cautious.

Gray – People who choose gray cars tend to be more dedicated to their work than those who choose other colors.

Yellow – This is one of the more fun colors. It indicates a person who is idealistic

White – People who enjoy their white cars tend to be more extroverted than others. They are also hoping their car is a type of status symbol for them.

You probably did not know that the color you choose for your VW cars could say so much, did you? Of course, there is always the possibility that you just choose that color because it looks nice, too!

On Monday, we began a discussion about how fewer Americans are drinking and driving, but many of them are still under the influence of drugs while behind the wheel. Here are some more facts and statistics from that article.

• Of the drivers who tested positive for alcohol impairment, men outnumbered women.
• Most drivers who had blood alcohol levels above the legal limit were on the roads between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
• Motorcycles and pickup trucks were the most common vehicles for those drivers who were drunk.
• About 90 percent of the drivers asked were willing to give a breath sample. Only 70 percent agreed to a saliva sample. Researchers conducting the survey offered $10 for saliva samples and $50 for blood samples. If a driver did not want to participate, the researchers offered $100 for an extra incentive.
• If a driver was found to be impaired during the survey, they were not arrested but they were forced to find another way home. “The important thing was we didn’t want to allow anybody back into traffic that appeared to be impaired,” explained Jeff Michael with the NHTSA.

It does not matter if you are just a little impaired or a lot impaired. Do not get behind the wheel of your VW cars if you have had anything that could alter your judgment or your reflexes. It’s dangerous, illegal and irresponsible.

Have you ever heard that there is a bright side and a dark side of every story? This is one of those stories.

A recent wave of random roadside checks shows some good news: Fewer Americans are driving while under the influence of alcohol. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, there is no significant decline in drug use among today’s drivers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) selected random drivers in 300 locations across the Unite States. They administered blood tests, breath tests, saliva tests and questionnaires to see if alcohol still plays a prominent role on today’s highways. The results were good in that the problem of drunk driving has decline a great deal since 1973 when about 7.5 percent of American drivers had a blood alcohol level of at least .08. The most recent test shows only about 2.2 percent of drivers are above the legal limit.

On the other hand, the survey showed that about 16.3 percent of nighttime drivers had drugs in their system. About 9 percent had marijuana in their system while about 4 percent had cocaine and another 4 percent had prescription drugs.

There is much more to this story and the results that the NHTSA found. Come back on Wednesday to learn more. Until then, be safe behind the wheel of your VW cars. Don’t drink and drive and don’t do drugs. Any type of unnatural influence when you are driving is unsafe and irresponsible.

With gas prices on the rise in Pennsylvania and all across the country, now is a good time to go back over some of the ways you can save gas when driving your VW cars. Use these tips to squeeze a few extra miles out of every gallon you pump into your car.

1. Keep the proper tire pressure. Check the pressure in your tires at least once a month to ensure they are inflated properly for optimum fuel economy.

2. Get a tune up. Getting a tune up on your car can increase your gas mileage by as much as four percent.

3. Replace the air filter. A clogged air filter makes the engine work harder than necessary. You can increase your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent by changing your dirty air filter.

4. Make sure the gas cap is tight. If you leave your gas cap loose, your fuel could evaporate. The Car Care Council estimates loose gas caps has resulted in 147 million gallons of evaporated fuel every year.

5. Park your car in the shade. If your car gets too hot, the fuel is more likely to evaporate. Staying in the shade helps prevent that from happening.

Use these tips with your VW cars and you can spend less money on fuel this summer!