WomanOnWheels.ca

Want a new DeLorean? Only a piece of paper is keeping it from you...

A brand-new version of the iconic stainless-steel sports car is in the works, but a piece of paper from NHTSA is holding it back -- along with any other replica car that might interest you. Find out the rest of the story in my piece over at AutoTRADER.

The History of Auto Shows

Auto shows got their start in North America with the first major one in 1900, and they've been part of the consumer and media scene ever since. What will happen going forward is anyone's guess, but I have a look at where they've been in my "Rearview Mirror" column at the National Post.

Buying a new car? Here's what you will -- and might not -- get

Some auto items have been around long enough that automakers don't advertise them anymore, which doesn't always help you when you're buying a new vehicle. And while some have become mandatory, others are still optional. Will your car have anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring, or disc brakes? Find out what it will or might have in my story at AutoTrader.

Buying an accessible vehicle? Here are some of your options...

While you can get almost anything converted to at least some sort of accessibility, getting the right vehicle for your needs can require expert advice and, in most cases, a fair chunk of change. None of the mainstream automakers convert vehicles themselves, but some offer rebates if you have it done. And there's even one that's purpose-built for wheelchair passengers -- find out more in my story at AutoTRADER.ca.

What drives you nuts on a car?

Cars should be straightforward -- after all, you're hurtling forward at double- or triple-digit speeds, and the last thing you need is a distraction. Or you're trying to put your car in gear, but it's not obvious exactly how to do it. What drives you nuts? Find out what bugs me in my gallery over at Autofocus.

O Canada! Cars that are north of the border only...

While most models are shared between the U.S. and Canada, our markets can be considerably different. There have been more than a few cars sold in Canada that never got to the U.S. ... check out my Autofocus gallery here!

Drop the top: Some of the strangest convertibles ever

Nothing beats a convertible on a summer day, but not all ragtops are created equal. Some of them were unusual or just plain strange. Check out these fifteen versions in my gallery over at Autofocus.

Looking at a car online? It might be looking back at you...

Whenever you go onto a sales site, you're leaving a digital trail behind. And increasingly, car dealers are using that information to know more about what you want, what you're cross-shopping, and even how far along you are in your search...and that's just the beginning. Find out more in my story over at Autofocus.

When automakers scale down and build to a budget

Automakers often have to cater to a wide audience, and in addition to offering upscale models, they'll often build down to a budget as well. Check out my gallery of affordable automobiles, old and new, over at Autofocus.

What's better: A new car, or an old one?

I love old cars with all my heart -- and my wallet! -- but just like anything else, there have been so many improvements over the years in the auto industry. I've compiled a list of some of them in my gallery over at Autofocus.

Buying a car? Here's what to check ...

There are a lot of things to remember when you're buying a car, and you may not always remember to check them all. I have a short list in my story over at the Chicago Tribune.

What does your car need to be legal?

Canada regulates what a new car must have in order to be legally sold in this country, and sets standards for those features as well. There are some interesting things on the list - and also some interesting things that are not required, even though you probably think they are. That photo to the left is a clue ... find out more in my photo gallery over at Autofocus.

What do all those auto terms mean?

You've heard them in all the ads and the auto stories: terms like direct injection, EcoBoost, TFSI, or Hemi. But do you know what they mean? Check out my explanation of some of the more common ones over at Autofocus.

The great "little" stuff on cars ...

I've had a driver's license since 1976, which also means that I've seen a lot of innovations on cars over the years. Sure, we have cars that park themselves and guide us to our destinations, but it's the little things that make driving so much better, even if we take them for granted.

So I compiled a list of 20 of them. Come see over at Autofocus ... what features make your driving experience better?

No matter what you drive, take a picture of it!

Park it in a nice place, put the family beside it, snap some photos, and then get them printed and put them away. One day, perhaps many years from now, trust me - someone will treasure them. Find out more over in my story at Autofocus.ca.

Old cars versus new: which is better?

I love old cars, but I'm also realistic about how much has improved over the years - not just in the engines, but in ride and handling, too. Find out more in my Driving Force column over at Metro.

AutoConnect: The future is here!

If you're going to the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, don't miss the AutoConnect display, which shows off some of the latest safety and connectivity features. Check it out in my photo gallery over at Autofocus.ca.

Shop for a car AND a dealer!

Buying the right car is only half the story. The right dealership can make a big difference too, especially when it's time for maintenance or repairs. Find out more about choosing the right one in my story over at Autofocus.ca.

Why do automakers do that?

What's up with dials that keep spinning, cars with speed limiters, and windows that go down but not up? Find out why ... about these and more ... in my photo gallery over at Autofocus.ca.

How do forecasters ... forecast?

Estimating auto sales in the upcoming year is an important tool for many people: automakers, car dealers, and even the people stocking tires and parts. Find out how it's done in my Driving Force column in Metro.

When automakers take our money, they owe us ...

General Motors and Chrysler made the news with their taxpayer bailouts, but the reality is that any car plant is built with considerable help from the public purse. And since we paid for it, then if the automaker closes part or all of it, we should be getting something back. Read my rant over at Autofocus.ca.

Is the "S-Car" cursed?

Looking through history, it almost seems like there's a "Curse of the S-Car." Start your car with that letter, and things may not always go as you planned.

Don't believe me? Have a look at my photo gallery over at Autofocus.ca.

Just don't tell Smart, Scion, or Subaru!

New-car prices? See how many used ones there are!

You might think a car drops out of the market as soon as someone buys it, but when it goes back on sale as a used vehicle, it's going to have an effect on the price of new cars. Find out why in my Driving Force column in Metro.

Used cars: Setting the price for new cars

Once a car finds a new owner and it's driven off the dealer's lot, that's the end of it, right?

Well, not quite. Manufacturers still have their eyes on those cars, primarily because they'll be a major influence when it comes time to set the price on new cars in the coming years. Find out more in my Autofocus.ca story.

Car dealerships: The face of the company

Automakers spend untold millions - sometimes even billions - to develop a car, test it, build it, launch it, advertise it, and get it into the showrooms.

And then, it all comes down to one person who doesn't even work for the manufacturer. Read my opinion piece on dealerships over at Autofocus.ca.

Buying a new car? The time may be right

Next year's models are hitting the showroom floors, and that makes fall a good time to look for a new vehicle. Find out why in my Driving Force column in Metro.

How much does a car cost?

You may be looking only at the window sticker, but there are far more costs associated with a car, including maintenance, insurance, and financing (stretch it out long enough, and you could be adding thousands more to the price). Find out more in my Driving Force column in Metro.

Why don't we get the cool cars over here?

Ever read about a cool model overseas, and wondered why we can't have it here? Or why your favorite car doesn't come with a diesel, or a stick shift, or as a wagon? It's all about volume and costs. Find out more in my story at Autofocus.ca.

Your new car just arrived ... now what?

When the big day comes and that new car is ready to be picked up, many people just do a quick walk around it, take the keys, and head off down the road. But there are several things you should do to make the process go smoothly and ensure that everything is right. Check out my story on tips and tricks at Autofocus.ca.

Building auto parts: It's a numbers game

Automakers depend on mass production: that's how they bring the prices down and turn a profit. Find out more in my Driving Force column in Metro!

Economy of scale: Why mass production needs the masses

Building a car isn't cheap, especially if you factor in how much it costs even before the first one runs down the assembly line. Bringing down that per-unit price is the key to profitability, and it can entail everything from designing architecture that can produce numerous variants, to even working with the competition on big-ticket items. Find out more in my AutoFocus story.

Cars are getting better ... yes, really!

I love my old cars, but I never fool myself into thinking that automakers haven't made great strides. I very seldom see cars overheating on the side of the road ... in fact, unless they obviously haven't seen any maintenance in the last ten years, I very seldom see any cars stranded on the side of the road.

Find out my thoughts on the matter over at Sympatico Autos ... click here!

What's a VIN? And why should you know?

That long line of numbers and letters on your vehicle ownership, and stashed under your windshield, is your car's fingerprint. You'll need it when you're getting your car repaired, and especially if you suspect there may be a recall on it. Find out more in my Sympatico Autos story by clicking here.

What's depreciation all about?

It's the difference between what you paid for your car, and what you could get for it if you sold it, but the amount it goes down depends on numerous factors. Find out more in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

Automakers that gambled ... and won

Porsche's Cayenne, hybrid-electric vehicles, Ford buying Lincoln during tough economic times ... there have been some pretty big gambles in the auto industry over the years.

Not all of them worked out, but I came up with a list of those that did: cars that were great or sold huge numbers, those that affected the market, and in some cases, such as the Cayenne, cars that saved their companies from potential failure. Read all about it at Sympatico Autos by clicking here.

What is your car trying to tell you?

Your dash contains a number of warning lights that will illuminate when something goes wrong or needs attention. But do you know what they all mean? I have a gallery and explanation of them at Sympatico Autos - click here!

Extended warranties: What should you know?

If you buy a car, you'll probably be asked if you want an extended warranty. Whether it's a good or bad idea to buy one depends on many factors; read all about it in my Toronto Star story by clicking here.

Focus groups: Are they really talking to people?

Indeed they are, it seems. Automakers talk about "focus groups" when it comes to developing a product, which got me wondering: do they phone people, do they put them around a table, or what? So I asked Chrysler. Read the answer in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

Just what happens on a car launch?

In a nutshell, writers get in the car, writers drive the car, writers write about the car. But it can be brutally fast-paced, sometimes with very little seat time, and with confusing directions that have us paying more attention to the route book than to the car.

That's the point behind my Autofocus blog on how, very occasionally, I'll come to a different conclusion about a car once I've had the opportunity to drive it at my own pace later on. Find it here.

Headlights: A bright idea!

Over the years, headlights have gone from being strictly a source of illumination to a styling trend ... and now they're moving forward with all sorts of neat technologies. I have a slideshow of headlights through the years at Autofocus - check it out!

Something on your car you don't like? You might have asked for it!

"Be careful what you wish for, for you may get it," the saying goes, and many car buyers are finding that to be true. Thick windshield pillars, head restraints that push your neck forward, transmissions that upshift too quickly: they're all because consumers and governments wanted the benefits that they provide, without realizing they may have the odd drawback. Read my list of them at Sympatico Autos  by clicking here.

Vehicle testing: More than just crashing cars

The extent to which automakers test their vehicles is mind-boggling. From computer models, to driving them in extreme temperatures, to opening the doors hundreds of thousands of times, each new model must be extensively evaluated. I have an overview of it at Sympatico Autos - check it out by clicking here.

Cruise control: Two cars, two systems, but which one's correct?

I had to return a vehicle today and needed a ride home, so I engaged the services of my husband. I drove a Subaru Impreza, while he followed along in a Mercedes-Benz M-Class, both of them new vehicles.

We got onto the highway, and I set the cruise control on my car to 105 km/h. All the way out - about a half-hour trip - the speedometer never varied from that.

But he certainly did. I'd look in my rearview mirror and he'd be way off in the distance; then he'd catch up and be right on my back bumper. After a while he'd fade off again.

When we finally got to our destination, I said, "Why did you keep falling back and then speeding up?" He said, "Me? I was trying to figure out why you were doing that. I kept saying, 'Why isn't she using the cruise control'?"

It turns out both of us had our vehicles on cruise, and both of us noted that our speedometers didn't vary from what we'd set. (My cruise was indicated by the speedometer; his had an electronic readout for the speed.) This is the second time this has happened, although I don't remember which cars we were driving then. Both cars set to the same speed, and yet they vary wildly. How many cruise control systems are out there that aren't maintaining the speed we think we've set?

Timing chain or belt? Which do you have?

It's important to know, because if you have a belt, you'll eventually have to change it - or potentially face some serious engine consequences. Find out why they're different and what you need know in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

Redline: What it is, and why it matters

It's not as much of an issue as it used to be, since cars today keep an eye on the tach and shut down the throttle if you get too close to that dangerous red line. What's redline, and why is it important? Read all about it in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

Why do you need to tighten your fuel cap?

Your vehicle's fuel cap probably contains a warning that you need to turn it until it clicks. Ever wonder why? You can read about it in my Driving Force column in Metro by clicking here.

(It's a PDF - the story didn't end up online as it usually does.)

Check it out: DriveSideways

My friend and colleague James Bergeron puts his thoughts together on his blog, DriveSideways, and it's a great resource for reviews, information and automotive musings. Click here and check it out!

So how do you "Find the Best" car?

With so many cars, so many ratings, so many numbers, how do you compare them? I got a tip on a new website, Find the Best, that's putting together a database that includes such information as horsepower, fuel economy, price and ratings.

It's primarily U.S. information but there's a lot of stuff happening on it. Check it out at Find the Best.

So who makes the most cars? It might surprise you ...

I always figured it was the U.S. that turned out the largest number of new cars each year, but as it turns out, our continent is relatively low on the list. (Keep in mind this doesn't include trucks.)

In 2010, automakers worldwide churned out 58,478,810 cars, according to information from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. That's a fair number of rides.

The European Union accounted for most of them, at more than 15 million. The second-largest was China, which made almost 13.9 million, a rise of 33.8% over its output in 2009. Third on the list was Japan, at just over 8.3 million.

Next up is South Korea, then Brazil, then India. The United States clocks in at seventh place, making just over 2.7 million in 2010. After that, it's Mexico, Iran, Russia (up 101.6% from 2009, with over 1.2 million cars produced), Canada, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Argentina, and at just over 496,000 cars, Indonesia. Where will your next car come from? These days, it could be just about anywhere.

Old cars and safety: These are the good old days

I'm still getting letters over an opinion piece I wrote in the Toronto Star about how old cars are a lot of fun, but they're nowhere near as safe as the cars built today. The newspaper illustrated my story with pictures from a crash test performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in which it banged up a 1959 Bel Air against a 2009 Malibu to show how far cars had come in the 50 years the IIHS had been around. (You can see the video here.)

What surprised me was how many readers said the test "wasn't fair," because the cars didn't hit precisely head-on. The reality is that the standard is what's known as the "frontal offset," where the cars hit with each vehicle's front quarter at the middle of the other vehicle's hood. It's done this way because this is how most so-called "head-on" collisions occur. The cars don't hit each other directly face-to-face. Rather, one driver veers across the line where he's hit by oncoming traffic, often by drivers who are swerving to avoid him, making the possibility of a straight-on hit even less likely.

The Bel Air's driver probably wouldn't have fared much better in a direct head-on that these readers might have considered to be more in the car's favor anyway. In old cars, it's the "secondary collision" that was often responsible for death or serious injury. Since these cars didn't crumple up, crash force was sent straight into the cabin, where the driver was crushed by or crashed into the interior panels. New cars "disintegrate," as one reader put it, because they're supposed to do that. By crumpling up, they help prevent crash energy from reaching and deforming the cabin.

Fewer people are killed on U.S. roads these days, and it certainly isn't because we're all much better drivers. It's primarily because cars are doing a better job of protecting us.

None of that will probably get through to most of these readers, of course; you stand a better chance standing between a bear and her cubs than you do when you criticize old cars. Hey, I love old cars. I've played with them for almost 30 years now, and as you can see by clicking on the link to the right, I still own a couple. I'm also realistic about how time marches on. A 2009 car is vastly superior, safety-wise, to a 1959. And in 2029, we'll look back and say my goodness, look how far we've come in twenty years.