Gas pains: pump prices rise again
April 18, 2006

This won't come as a surprise to any motorist who's filled up recently - the latest survey of Canadian pump prices shows the cost of gasoline rose by almost four cents a litre in the past week... MORE»

murmur categories: cars, travel, money

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism cars fuel gas gas prices oil environment

posted by Tessa | 17:15 PM (ET) | Permalink

Most/least expensive cars to insure
April 18, 2006

If you're in the market for a new car, one of the often-overlooked expenses you ought to consider is the money you'll have to pony up to insure your new wheels... MORE»

murmur categories: cars, money

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism cars insurance autos auto automobiles

posted by Tessa | 12:07 PM (ET) | Permalink

Get ready for sky-high summer gas prices
April 12, 2006

The looming summer driving season stands to be an expensive one for motorists in Canada and the United States as gas prices look to remain high... MORE»

murmur categories: cars, environment, money

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism cars fuel gas gas prices oil environment

posted by Tessa | 10:30 AM (ET) | Permalink

'Hybrid haters' on the rise in carpool lanes
April 10, 2006

Hybrid drivers in California say they're increasingly becoming the victims of road rage among carpoolers... MORE»

murmur categories: environment, cars

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism environment hybrid cars energy green design technology

posted by Tessa | 12:24 PM (ET) | Permalink

Boost for biodiesel from Big Oil
April 6, 2006

The biodiesel industry, which has been struggling to make inroads with North American consumers, got a big boost this week... MORE»

murmur categories: environment, cars

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism environment biodiesel energy green biofuels

posted by Tessa | 11:58 AM (ET) | Permalink

Many kids too obese for car seats: study
April 3, 2006

A growing number of American children are too heavy to fit into standard car seats, a new study has found ... MORE»

murmur categories: kids, health/safety, travel, cars

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism car seats parenting travel children obesity

posted by Tessa | 11:33 AM (ET) | Permalink

Consumer-made advertising backfires for Chevy
March 31, 2006

These days a big trend in advertising is allowing consumers to create their own ads and post them on company websites. You can bet Chevy will be rethinking its use of the trend after someone created an ad that slams the carmaker's fleet of SUVs ... MORE»

murmur categories: advertising, activism, environment, cars

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism advertising SUV activism environment

posted by Tessa | 10:42 AM (ET) | Permalink

Police warn GM owners to guard against theft
March 20, 2006

Winnipeg police are warning owners of some General Motors cars to be on guard after a 14-year-old boy allegedly stole five GM vehicles in two days... MORE»

murmur categories: cars

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism cars autos theft General Motors

posted by Tessa | 9:33 AM (ET) | Permalink

Child car seat instructions confusing: police
March 6, 2006

Nearly 80 per cent of children's car seats are improperly installed, according to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, but Toronto police say manufacturers should share some of the blame... MORE»

murmur categories: kids, health/safety, travel, cars

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism car seats parenting children travel children

posted by Tessa | 10:02 AM (ET) | Permalink

Japanese cars dominate Consumer Reports' Top Picks for 2006
March 2, 2006

Honda, Toyota and Subaru have produced the best cars for 2006, according to Consumer Reports magazine... MORE»

murmur categories: cars/auto industry

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism cars automotive auto vehicles business

posted by Tessa | 11:16 AM (ET) | Permalink

Willie Nelson launches green fuel campaign
February 10, 2006

Country music legend Willie Nelson is getting into the alternative fuel business with the launch of "BioWillie," his brand of clean-burning fuel made from soybeans... MORE»

murmur categories: environment, cars

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism environment biodiesel energy green Willie Nelson biofuels

posted by Tessa | 10:28 AM (ET) | Permalink

Top 10 myths about hybrid cars
February 2, 2006

From Business Week, the top ten myths about hybrid cars, including... MORE»

murmur categories: environment, cars

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism environment hybrid cars energy green design technology

posted by Tessa | 10:33 AM (ET) | Permalink

Self-parking car in development
February 1, 2006

I have a few family members (who shall remain nameless) who would benefit enormously from this project currently under development in Germany: a car that can parallel park itself... MORE»

murmur categories: cars, technology, miscellaneous

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism car research cars auto design automotive technology

posted by Tessa | 10:35 AM (ET) | Permalink

How the U.S. fell out of love with its cars
January 30, 2006

The Guardian has a fascinating look at the collapse of the American auto industry and the accompanying shift in contemporary car culture... MORE»

murmur categories: cars/auto industry

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism cars automotive auto vehicles business

posted by Tessa | 11:50 AM (ET) | Permalink

Report paints chilling picture of snowmobile injuries
January 25, 2006

Snowmobile accidents account for most severe winter recreation injuries treated in Canada, far outnumbering snowboarding and skiing injuries, according to a report released today... MORE»

murmur categories: cars/transportation health/safety

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism safety snowmobiles research

posted by Tessa | 1:07 PM (ET) | Permalink

Top fuel-efficient cars and SUVs of 2006
January 9, 2006

Is your New Year’s resolution to reduce the gas you’ve been guzzling? Edmunds has two lists that might help... MORE »

murmur categories: cars, environment

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, SUVs, cars, fuel, environment

posted by Tessa | 3:51 PM (ET) | Permalink

Kids aren’t any safer in an SUV than a car: study
January 4, 2006

Research released yesterday about the safety of Sport Utility Vehicles puts the brakes to the idea that bigger is better. A U.S. study says children are no safer riding in SUVs than in cars... MORE »

murmur categories: cars/auto industry, kids, safety

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, SUVs, safety, kids

posted by Tessa | 9:51 AM (ET) | Permalink

Innovative system uses drivers to generate energy
December 19, 2005

An inventor in Britain has created a new tool for harnessing energy from travelling cars. Every time a vehicle travels over Perter Hughes’ “Electro-Kinetic Road Ramp,” between five and 50kW of power is collected in the ramp’s metal plates... MORE»

murmur categories: cars, environment

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, environment, energy

posted by Tessa | 10:44 AM (ET) | Permalink

U.S. ponders tax on hybrids
November 25, 2005

A report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has suggested taxing hybrids and other fuel-efficient cars to raise money for the federal Highway Trust Fund, AP reports... MORE»

murmur categories: environment, cars

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, gasoline, gas prices, hybrid, taxes

posted by Tessa | 1:05 PM (ET) | Permalink

Best and worst cars in reliability
November 4, 2005

Consumer Reports has released its "Best and Worst" list of cars... MORE»

murmur categories: cars/auto industry

tags: consumers, consumer news, consumerism, cars, Consumer Reports

posted by Tessa | 10:04 AM (ET) | Permalink

Is buying premium gas a waste?
August 9, 2005

As gas prices rise, some car owners who’ve traditionally pumped premium grade fuel into their cars may be wondering whether dropping down to regular gas might help relieve the squeeze on their wallets... MORE»

posted 2:35 PM (ET) | Permalink

Pediatricians call for mandatory car booster seats for children
June 24, 2005

All provinces and territories should make car booster seats mandatory to protect children in car accidents, the head of the Canadian Pediatric Society said yesterday... MORE»

posted 10:35 AM (ET) | Permalink

Former Nazi to sue VW over logo
May 27, 2005

A former graphic designer for the Nazi party is suing Volkswagen over its logo. Nikolai Borg says he helped design VW’s logo, and he wants the carmaker to recognize his contribution... MORE»

posted 2:37 PM (ET) | Permalink

“Car cloning” theft hits the road
May 24, 2005

A sophisticated car theft scam is on the rise, putting unassuming consumers and car dealers out thousands of dollars. The scam involves the “cloning” of vehicles, usually high-end luxury cars and sport-utility vehicles... MORE»

posted 11:09 AM (ET) | Permalink

Vancouver promotes pay-as-you go car insurance
April 27, 2005

Vancouver city councillors think motorists should be able to pay for car insurance by the kilometre, CBC News Online reports... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 5:24 PM (ET) | Permalink

Black box tracks your driving, with an eye to saving you on insurance costs
March 22, 2005

Aviva Insurance is launching a “pay as you go” car insurance program, based on data collected by a “black box” installed in your car... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 11:12 AM (ET) | Permalink

Honda tops Consumer Reports’ car picks: Ford Focus bumped
March 7, 2005

Pity those poor American automakers. They’ve been shut out from the top picks in Consumer Reports’ “Best Cars” edition, which hits newsstands next week... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 12:44 PM (ET) | Permalink

Car buyers need more accurate fuel mileage info: U.S. bill
March 4, 2005

Lawmakers in the U.S. say consumers are being misled when it comes to their car’s mileage, Newsday reports... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 11:47 AM (ET) | Permalink

Federal 'feebate' could pinch SUV buyers
February 25, 2005

CBC News reports that this week's federal budget includes a proposal that Ottawa impose a fee on purchases of new SUVs and other large vehicles while offering rebates to people who buy smaller, more fuel-efficient cars... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 2:02 PM (ET) | Permalink

Cars killing suburban dwellers, heart foundation says
February 11, 2005

Cars are killing Canadians, and it's not the accidents, the Heart and Stroke Foundation said yesterday... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 9:35 AM (ET) | Permalink

“Computer” virus moves into fast lane by infecting cars
February 7, 2005

The Independent Online reports that high-tech criminals are causing havoc for some drivers who have vehicles with onboard computers... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 10:04 AM (ET) | Permalink

Viral marketing backfires for VW
January 24, 2005

If you haven’t seen an example for yourself, you’ve probably heard about the phenomenon of ‘viral marketing.’ That’s the term used for a marketing campaign that spreads at lightning speed... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 10:42 AM (ET) | Permalink

VW files charges over viral ad
January 31, 2005

An update on a story from last week... The carmaker Volkswagen has filed criminal charges over a so-called viral ad making the rounds on the web that features a suicide bomber whose attack is defeated when he blows himself up but his VW Polo remains intact... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 9:56 AM (ET) | Permalink

“Smart car” system reads driver’s emotions
January 21, 2005

A Scottish company has developed “emotion sensor” software that monitors a driver’s mood for road rage or drowsiness – and takes action if that mood is deemed to be a problem... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 9:50 AM (ET) | Permalink

Truck drivers protest Ford’s plan to crush vehicles
January 20, 2005

A group of Ford truck drivers are staging a week-long “car sit-in” in Sacramento, protesting the automaker's decision to take back their electric, non-polluting vehicles... MORE»

posted by Tessa | 10:27 AM (ET) | Permalink

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