Car News Articles

In the spirit of When Tuning Goes Horribly Wrong, I present another truly epic message board thread; this time it’s on Honda-Tech.com and is titled, “So, Don’t Buy a VW.”

Because, after all, it’s Volkswagen’s fault that the author got a lug bolt stuck and took a Sawzall to his wheel to get it off. The thread is up to 17 pages now, and it’s well worth a read.

That photo makes me cringe.

–Chris H.

Click stars to vote (left is low, right is high)

Fall is here, Is you Subaru ready for winter?

 

Things to look at on your Subaru now that the leaves are starting to turn color are as follows.

 

The engine oil level and condition should be inspected, if it has been longer than a few months since it has been changed now is the time.

 

Engine coolant should be inspected for level, proper freeze protection and for any signs of contamination.

 

The wiper blades should be checked for streaking, tears and cracks.  Windshield washer fluid should be checked for level and freeze protection as well.

 

Tires should be checked for the proper pressure, wear, punctures (screws and nails) and for weather checking this is also a good time to consider rotating and balancing the tires as well.

 

All of the lights should be checked for proper function and the head light lenses inspected for any signs of dulling or pitting as this can be corrected and greatly improve night time visibility.

 

If the Subaru is due for any maintenance such as the transmission fluid or differential fluids being serviced now is the time, as starting out the cold part of the year with fresh fluids will go a long way in protecting the devices the fluids are intended to lubricate.

 

The coolant hoses and accessory drive belts should be inspected and replaced if the hoses feel soft or crunchy, or if the belts are cracked or frayed.

 

This is a good time to inspect the spare tire, vehicle jack and lug wrench, a flat spare tire really won’t do you much good.

 

The battery should be serviced and tested; the charging and starting systems looked at as well including the battery cables.

 

These are just a few examples of ways to get your Subaru ready for fall and winter; a little preventative maintenance can go a long way towards a trouble free Fall and Winter driving season.

 

Thanks for reading

 

Justin

SIBENIK, Croatia — Hook-and-ladder trucks may be the heroes of the road, but they are not known for their maneuverability. That’s what makes the Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 20 fire-fighting vehicle such a jaw-dropper. With a short wheelbase and the turning circle of a midsize car, it can easily negotiate steps, narrow streets and trackless terrain, said Mercedes-Benz as it rolled out its first Unimog firefighter earlier this week.

Such a vehicle is critical in this part of the world, where medieval streets make it difficult for firefighters and their equipment to get access to historic parts of town.

“Its principal fields of use are firefighting — forest-fire fighting in particular — disaster intervention, expeditions as well as servicing and maintenance jobs in difficult-to-reach places,” said Mercedes-Benz in a statement.

The new firefighting Unimog was deployed here as a tank water tender. It is equipped with a 150-horsepower four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, said the automaker. The vehicle’s centrifugal fire pump is powered by the engine. It also is equipped with differential locks at the front and rear and permanent all-wheel drive, which Mercedes-Benz says makes it suitable for fighting forest fires in trackless terrain.

The Unimog U 20 firefighter has a short wheelbase of 106.3 inches and a turning circle of 41.3 feet. The three Unimog model ranges are all available for firefighting duty, said the German automaker.

Inside Line says: The Unimog U 20 seriously raises the bar when it comes to fighting fires. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent

Do you want to see uncensored promo version from BMW & Audi holly war? BMW guys cuts the last few seconds with a Audi logo.

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Drivers in Southern California should be on the lookout for a blue tanker truck from now until Dec. 31. The folks at SoCal Honda will be sending their so-called Honda Helpful teams to dole out free gas to lucky motorists.

Honda Helpful teams are said to have spread out across Southern California communities to perform such random acts of kindness as distributing umbrellas when it’s raining, handing out reusable grocery bags at local grocers and feeding the homeless.

We couldn’t get a straight answer from SoCal Honda if the “Helpful Guys & Girls in Blue” — as their teams are known — will only dole out free gas to Honda owners or if drivers of other brands are eligible. A representative enigmatically told us, “The majority are Honda drivers, but some non-Honda drivers may also get lucky!”

If you live in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange County, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena or Ventura County, keep your eyes peeled for the big blue truck—especially if you’re a Honda owner.