Auto Trends

There are a record number of advice columns on how to save gas, discussing even the most minuet details that might offer one or two extra droplets at best. Some of us have tried every one of these tips, short of hanging outside the drivers side window holding onto a semi truck while in neutral.

But the cold hard facts are coming in and there is really only a few sure fire ways to save any worthwhile gas amounts and we break them down into nice and simple Do and Don’t rules to live by:

Do’s

• Do Drive at a reasonable constant speed. It has been found that driving 55 not only keeps you alive, but saves you as much as 5 to 10 mpg. Cruise control will prove to be a great ally in this effort.
• Do drive with your window down and air conditioner off when you are cruising at low speeds (20-30 mph) around town. This move is usually good for about 1 mpg.
• Do take those sand bags out of the trunk/truck bed in the summertime. Excessive weight decreases fuel economy.
• Do store items in your vehicle or garage rather than on top of your cargo rack whenever possible. The drag coefficient of items on a rack can drag your fuel economy down anywhere from 1 to 4 mpg.
• Do buy a more economical car. There really is no better way to save on gas, than to buy a vehicle that was made to do just that.

Don’ts

• Don’t bother getting gas in the late evening or early morning. The gas is stored in underground tanks, so there is little to no difference in temperature, which means you really are getting about the same amount of gas any time of the day.
• Don’t accelerate and brake heavily in traffic. This wastes energy and inertia and destroys your fuel economy by as much as 40 percent. Remember, the slow and steady turtle always wins the race when it comes to fuel economy… always!
• Don’t overinflate your tires. There is a limit where your safety outdoes any small amount of gas savings you would achieve from overinflated tires.
• Don’t turn off your air conditioner and role down your windows on the highway (40 mph and above) thinking you are saving gas. The negative effect in aerodynamics from the open window outdoes any of the gas saving effects of turning off your air conditioner.
• Don’t bother over zealously changing your air filter. In reality no matter how dirty your filters get, your fuel economy is always the same. Your vehicles computer compensates for the lack of air by reducing the amount of gas going into the engine. Follow the recommended tune-up procedure laid out by your manufacturer. That is all you should need to maintain your vehicles fuel efficiency.

“Ooo laa laa,” and she was looking fine!

Yesterday was a big day for the Chevrolet Camaro fan. She pulled into the Detroit Michigan design center in front of hundreds of thousand watchful eyes, and all rumors were finally laid to rest. No… those Mustang owners won’t get a 4-cylinder model in the line-up to beat up on, and there is no supercharged Z28 to beat up on the Mustang owner. But the Camaro SS will receive a hood scoop like the concept and does have a powerful LS3 6.2 liter V-8 featuring the estimated 422 horsepower and 408 ft-lbs of torque.

Of course the big sellers are going to be the entrance models, which are no slouches themselves by any means. The 3.6 liter V-6 used for both the LS and LT model will have variable valve timing, which will help the midsized V-6 achieve numbers close to the Mustang GT range, or other words about 300 horsepower/273 ft-lbs torque.

This kind of output matched to a six speed transmission, pretty much guarantee a fun ride in even the very lowly base model, which we suspect will not be treated on the streets as lowly at all. But even variable valve timing on a mid-size V-6 without some kind of forced induction (supercharger, turbo) you are not going to be able to see the torque numbers that really makes an enthusiast grin. This will be where the SS trim level will come in.

The high-performance Chevrolet Camaro SS will not only be equipped with a powerful 6.2L V-8, with a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, but it will share a little go fast hardware from the 2008 Corvette just as expected.

The LS3 engine which debuted on the 2008 Corvette will be fitted on the manual Camaro’s and boast the same high-flow cylinder heads that are on the infamous Z06’s LS7 engine. For the automatic breed Camaro’s, they will see the new L99 engine, which is based on the LS3.

The V-8 automatics (with TAPshift control) will also include GM’s Active Fuel Management, which allows the engine to run on just 4 cylinders during highway cruising speeds. So, in a sense there is a 4-cylinder Camaro, just not one with a full-time job!

The Active Fuel Management gets the big 6.2 liter V-8, 23 mpg on the highway, which is only 3 less than the 3.6 liter V-6, which is capable of 26 mpg. GM has certainly kept up with its promise to help ease the consumer’s mind during the oil crunch.

Here are a few of the New Camaro’s highlights:

• 10 available exterior colors
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Variable-rate rack and pinion power steering
• Four-wheel disc brake system, Brembo calipers on SS models
• StabiliTrak stability control system and traction control standard
• Competitive/Sport modes for the stability system offered on SS models, including launch control on SS models equipped with the six-speed manual transmission
• Choice of 18”, 19” and 20” wheels
• Frameless door windows with automatic indexing glass
• Detailed interior with heritage-inspired design, excellent attention to detail and available ambient lighting via LED light pipe technology (ah, we don’t know about this, but to each their own)
• Robust uni-body construction
• Six standard air bags, including head curtain side-impact air bags and front seat-mounted thorax side air bags
• RS appearance package available on LT and SS, will be available with HID headlamps (with integrated halo rings), spoiler, and 20-inch wheels
• Bluetooth capability
• Boston Acoustics audio system
• USB connectivity
• Ultrasonic rear parking assist (late introduction)
• Remote vehicle starting system
• OnStar (of course)
• XM Satellite Radio

US Patent #6125480: Bumper Dumper

The “Bumper Dumper” is a unique toilet seat set up (once featured on the Jay Leno Show) that can be attached to the bumper of most any truck or SUV. The unit fits on a 2X2 hitch and can be fitted with either a trash bag or a sealable 5 gallon bucket that conveniently attaches to the under portion of the seat..

These dumpers must be hot, as just last year they were selling for $59.95, and now they are up to $69.95 (toilet paper holder sold separately).

eBay Motors: Magnetic Sunroof

Have you ever wished that your car, truck, or SUV had the look of a real sunroof? Well now it can… and all in under 5 minutes! These fashionable beauties are simply a rectangular slab of magnet made to give the illusion of a sunroof to any vehicle.

This just might make you slightly cool with everyone that you don’t know. But for those you do, they will think you are so lame, it will cancel out what little coolness you once had.

Hitch Hands and Testicles

These novelty items have already been bashed plenty, but they just keep coming back. The hitch hands is a rubber/plastic hand you place on your hitch giving drivers behind you, ahem, a hand gesture of some sort. The testicles are, just that, a pair of either skin colored, neon coated, chrome, or gold plated cahoonies, designed to make the driver macho.

But they don’t, they make the driver look tacky and most people (especially women) hate them. Some states like Virginia hate the testicles so much that they have taken steps to have them banned under penalty of law.

They have been trying to dash some of their negative attention by donating to testicular cancer research for each testicle hitch they sell. This makes having one of these on your vehicle like having a pink ribbon magnet… only much tackier!

Engine Overhaul Kit in a Bottle

Okay, So I’ll admit that I fell for this when I bought my first car at 15. I will however give myself credit that after putting the liquid “fixer” in and got to the wax/metal pellets you are instructed to drop onto your warm pistons through the spark plug holes, I came to my senses and gave them to a friend I didn’t like much at the time.

This kit has been laughed at for over 40 years, but there’s still enough people buying it that it may be around for another 40. Not even the popularity of the pet rock and cabbage patch doll can touch that!