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Women on Wheels: Taxi Sisters 2007-10-24 23:02:49
Not every woman on wheels is racecar driver, biker chick, or automotive executive. Sometimes a woman on wheels is the woman who drives your cab. For this week’s Women
on Wheels
, we introduce you to a pioneering group of women cabbies…in Senegal.
It’s a common misconception that the ban on women drivers in conservative, presominantly Muslim countries is because of religious law, but last month, a new program launched in Senegal proved that to be a fallacy. How? Well they’ve started a new program called “Taxi Sister,” which was inspired by President Abdoulaye Wayde.
Taxi-Sister, which is regarded as the first such program to be offered in any country with a 95% Muslim population, was the result of a deal between a local car retailer, and a government fund to help female entrepreneurs get their starts.
According to Senegalese local paper Le Soleil, the First Lady Vivian Wade presented the ten brand new cars to their new drivers, the first of what will ult Read more:Sisters
Busineess Monday: Bye-Bye Buick Lucerne? 2007-10-22 07:45:48 It seems like the news from Detroit these days is nothing but bad. GM and the UAW went through a strike just a few weeks ago, while Chrysler is still in negotiations, and sales of American cars are slumping at the same time American auto workers are asking for better job stability and benefits, among other things.
GM, specifically, has announced that with sales of the Buick
Lucerne down 15.3 percent, and the Cadillac DTS down 14.4 percent, they will be halting production of those front-wheel drive behemoths at it’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant for two weeks beginning on December 14th, with subsequent plans to completely drop a shift, and lay off 767 hourly workers.
The Lucerne and the DTS were originally put into production to replace the classic Buick LeSabre and Cadillac Deville. GM’s numbers say that the Lucerne’s whole market segment is down 19.1 percent through September, while the DTS is still leading it’s segment, but also has numbers that are off, down 5.5 Read more:Monday
Friday Five: Horror on Wheels 2007-10-26 12:25:35 Halloween may not be til Wednesday, but this is Halloween weekend. What better time to rent a stack of cheesy auto-related horror movies, light a fire, and curl up on the sofa with popcorn? Need some suggestions? Here are five horror movies involving cars or trucks. (Vampires on motorcycles, we saved for another occasion.)
The Car: “There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, no way to stop… THE CAR.” Released in 1977, and starring James Brolin, this is about a possessed car that stalks and kills its victims.
Christine: “How do you kill something that can’t possibly be alive?” Released in 1983, directed by John Carpenter, based on the novel by Stephen King, and the classic car-related horror film
Duel: “A duel is about to begin between a man, a truck, and an open road. Where a simple battle of wits is now a matter of life and death.” Steven Spielberg’s first directorial outing - years before Jaws, and way more scary. Release Read more:Friday
, Wheels
Just a Note 2007-11-01 15:52:50 …to apologize for the lack of posts this week. We’ve been researching new stories.
We’ll be back on Monday, November 5th with our usual features, including Media Monday, and History Thursday.
Look for articles about Citroen crossing the Sahara, and the history of JEEP as well.
Tech Thursday: Winter Preparedness 2007-11-07 22:34:46 Winter is creeping closer and closer, with snow already making an appearance in the Midwest. If you live in a place where the temperatures dip below freezing, it’s a wise idea to make sure your car is prepped for winter. For this week’s Tech Thursday
, here are some things you should do to winterize your car:
Battery: Cold weather can reduce your battery’s life by up to half, so get your battery tested, and replace it if necessary.
Tires: Winter or summer, saving gas, or staying on the road, it all comes down to tired. For winter, make sure they have adequate pressure, and also make sure the treads are in good condition. This is a good time to rotate your tires, or replace them with snow tires, if necessary.
Wipers: Make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition. If the blades show any signs of tearing or cracking, or if they leave bad streaks or smears on the windshield, replace them. If you live in a place prone to snow and ice, you might want to consider
Media Monday: 2008 Ford Taurus 2007-11-05 19:39:10 The 2008 Ford Taurus
has a five star safety rating, and is being billed (by Ford) as the safest car in America. In June, 2007, they launched a series of advertising spots featuring this information. Courtesy of YouTube, here’s the first, which featured a father watching his son grow from toddler to near-adult driver.
Ratings are given annually by the Institute for Highway Safety, based on crash tests conducted on closed tracks.
Read more:Monday
, Ford Taurus
Business Monday: News Bites 2007-11-12 22:55:56 News from Chrysler this week is that they’re cutting third shifts and various American plants, as well as cutting models, so if you’re a great fan of the PT Cruiser Convertible, you should buy one now, because after 2009, they’re a discontinued model. Other models being cut are the two-seat Crossfire, the Pacifica, and the Dodge Magnum.
* * * * *
Also making news in Detroit are Chevy’s plans to unveil a seven-seat compact minivan based on the Opel Zafira, though made a bit more masculine, this bringing European styling to American family vehicles once more (compact minis are tres chic across the pond). This minivan, currently known as the MPV-7, is likely to be built in Hamtramck, MI.
* * * * *
Jeep is making news on the Alternative Fuel front, by offering a diesel option in their new Laredo. The optional engine is a 3.0 liter V-6, and it makes the Laredo the third Grand Cherokee model to have a diesel option. The other two are the Grand Cherokee Limited and Read more:Business
, Monday
Freewrite Friday: Halftrack Connections 2007-11-16 18:08:35 If I told you that there was an automotive connection between the last Tsar of Russia, the Eiffel tower, the Sahara Desert, the Silk Road, the Freemasons, and military vehicles would you believe me?
You would if you’d ever heard of the Citroen Halftrack. It was a car developed by (you guessed it) Andre Citroen who used a Kegresse track system for the rear propulsion. Kegresse developed his system while working in Russia, using personal vehicles from Tsar Nicholas II’s personal motorcade.
Citroen adapted the technology to his cars, which, as halftracks, had normal front wheels. Among his other achievements were a special herringbone-style gear that helped reduce axial thrust. He was a Freemason and some thing the Citroen logo is an adaptation of the Freemasons’ symbol for architecture. Citroen’s other big splash was when he used the Eiffel tower as the world’s largest billboard.
Later, Citroen and Georges-Marie Haardt formed a partnership of exploration, Read more:Friday
Women on Wheels: Lori Johnson / Ladies Start Your Engine 2007-11-14 21:13:05 True Story: An old friend of my mother’s once had a choice between buying her son, who had a scholarship to a toney music school, his very own harp or paying a mechanic to rebuild the engine in her car so that she could drive it. She was an amazing mother, and opted to buy the harp, then spent several weeks taking the bus to and from work while she also attended an automotive class at the local community college and learned how to rebuild the engine herself. She had to endure a lot of teasing from the mostly male students in the class.
She died of Ovarian cancer several years ago, but I always think of her around this time of year, and so, in her honor, for this week’s Women
on Wheels
, we’re spotlighting Lori Johnson
, whom we learned about from our friends at AskPatty.
Lori runs “Ladies, Start
Your Engine
s,” a hands-on automotive repair class just for women, which not only teaches women how to do basic auto work, but also gives them a sense of empowerment
Happy Thanksgiving 2007-11-22 08:32:59 We here at Automotive Blogger wish you a safe and happy holiday, and will refrain from mentioning the Thanksgiving
when we were thirteen, and the family car broke down in the middle of nowhere in a rain storm, in the Days Before Cell Phones.
Instead we offer this link to eHow on How to cook a turkey on your engine.
Please note, we offer it as entertainment, and strongly recommend that you choose a more conventional method of cooking the family bird, one that involves an oven. Or a grill. And lots of hungry relatives giving advice.
Read more:Happy
Coming Attractions 2007-11-28 11:58:42 We wanted to give you an idea of what’s to come in the next month at AutomotiveBlogger.net:
The holiday season is upon us, and even auto aficionados can get caught up in the hype. We’re going to feed your need for car-related gifts beginning this Friday, with day one of our gift guide.
With longer nights and darker days, it’s important to remember that the chance of being in a car accident increases by 50% as soon as the sun goes down. Tomorrow, we’ll be featuring tips for safer night driving.
We’ll also be looking at the spate of Christmas-oriented car commercials, because some of them are cheesy but others are just plain fun.
Stay tuned.
Read more:Attractions
2007 Holiday Gift Guide - Kensington FM Tuner 2007-12-05 07:56:23 From now through December 24th we’re offering gift suggestions for auto enthusiasts. This week’s gifts are all under $25.
* * * * *
This FM tuner by Kensington works with any iPod that has a dock connector, allowing you to either play your iPod over any FM stereo (including the one in your car) or stream your favorite radio station through your iPod. It comes with instructions, and is great for anyone who owns a car just old enough to not have an mp3 jack built in.
Price: $20
Read more:Holiday
, Guide
, Tuner
2007 Holiday Gift Guide - Turtle Wax 2007-12-04 08:44:29 From now through December 24th, we’re offering gift suggestions for auto enthusiasts. This week, all our gifts are $25 or less.
* * * * *
Turtle Wax Ice, unlike most polishes, can be used in full sunlight. It gives great shine with just one application, but works even better when layered. The complete kit includes a Turtle Wax micro-fiber cloth, but you can buy them separately for less than $3 / each, as well.
Price: Ice $12 - $20, Cloth $2.75 - $3.00
Read more:Holiday
, Guide
2007 Holiday Gift Guide - Armor All 2007-12-03 22:38:08 As promised, from now through December 24th, we’re offering gift suggestions for auto enthusiasts. This week, all our gifts are $25 or less.
Armor
All has long been a product of choice for cleaning the upholstery and interior surfaces of cars, and with this gift pack of wipes for different surfaces, you can help your favorite gearhead keep their leather, vinyl, and glass in spotless condition.
After all, what good is a ride in a horseless carriage if it’s covered in dust?
Price: $13 - $25, depending on the retailer.
Read more:Holiday
, Guide
Tips for Night Driving 2007-11-29 20:09:30 With the nights growing longer, weather infringing upon the daylight, and holiday lights catching our attention, driving safely at night becomes increasingly important. Especially when you consider that, depending on the source of information, the likelihood of being in an accident is either twice or three times higher after dark.
Here, then, are tips for safe night driving:
Prepare your car. Make sure headlights, taillights, and turn signals and windows are all clean, and that your headlights are properly aimed, both to ensure that you can see the road correctly, and to keep from blinding other drivers.
Don’t drink or smoke while driving. Alcohol is a depressant and can increase fatigue, as well as impair your response time, while nicotine and carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke are a detriment to night vision.
Err on the side of light. While they won’t help you see any better during the early twilight hours, having your headlights will make it easier for other driver Read more:Night
, Driving
2007 Holiday Gift Guide - Tocca 007 Candle 2007-12-10 07:52:53 From now through December 24th we’re offering gift suggestions for auto enthusiasts. This week’s gifts are all in the $25 - $50 price range.
* * * * *
For the female auto enthusiast in your life, or to make the woman in your life feel more comfortable when she’s visiting your space, we suggest the Tocca 007 candle. It’s scent includes hint of the leather interior of an Astin Martin, as well as the essence of a dry Martini.
Price: $36
Read more:Holiday
, Guide
, Candle
2007 Holiday Gift Guide: Cars (WS or FS) 2007-12-07 08:13:35 From now through December 24th, we're offering gift suggestions for auto enthusiasts. This week, all our gifts are $25 or less.
* * * * *
For the junior enthusiast in your family, the movie Cars by Disney/Pixar is just the thing, and you can offer it in either wide- or full-screen for under $20, or Blu-Ray for under $25. It’s a modern classic, waiting to be enjoyed by the whole family.
Read more:Holiday
, Guide
2007 Holiday Gift Guide - Heated Seat Cushion 2007-12-06 08:08:48 From now through December 24 we’re offering a holiday gift guide for auto lovers. This week: gifts under $25.
* * * * *
This Wagan Tech IN-9738 Heated
Seat Cushion keeps you cozy and warm as you drive through cold weather to or from work. It’s especially useful in those moments before the heat kicks on in the morning. It’s powered by the cigarette lighter / power port in your car.
Price: $18 - $20
Read more:Holiday
, Guide
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