Archives for February 13, 2014

Bow Wow: Dog-Friendly Cars

February 13, 2014 by Lauren Richardson 1 Comment

People that take to the road with their pets, particular dogs, know the importance of providing a safe riding experience for their canine companions. While most dogs do ride unrestrained, even hanging out of the passenger window with their tongues lolling out, pet safety must not be taken for granted. The following are among the top dog-friendly cars for your pooch including those with dog safety in mind.

dog-friendly car

Honda Element

The Honda Element is no longer made, a quirky-looking four-passenger utility vehicle sold from 2003 to 2011. If you find one and it is equipped with its “Dog-Friendly” components, you’ll get a vehicle that both you and your pet will love.

Even before Honda rolled out its Dog-Friendly package, this model was prized by pet owners. In response to that interest, Honda engineered and assembled important components including a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform, second row and cargo area pet restraint systems, a load-in ramp with an extension, a 12-volt rear ventilation fan, and second-row seat covers. Honda also included a spill-resistant water bowl and related emblems.

Subaru Outback

Subaru’s dog-friendly credentials do not include a package as comprehensive as Honda’s. Still, the automaker goes to great lengths to accommodate pet owners, even advancing a “Meet the Barkleys” ad campaign featuring a fictitious family of Golden Retrievers. Perhaps more important is the company’s partnership with the ASPCA and its “Kids Against Animal Cruelty” campaign that raises awareness about animal mistreatment and encourages shelter adoptions.

Subaru sells a bunch of pet-friendly swag including dog bandanas, water bowls, collars, leashes, and a waterproof orthopedic pet bed. You can also opt for a compartment separator, what safely separates pets in the storage area from people in the cabin area with both the Subaru Outback and Forester models.

Dog-Friendly Cars

Jeep Wrangler

People that like Jeep Wranglers will often be seen driving around with their pets onboard. It isn’t much of a safety issue until you remove the side doors and the top. Then, you need to find a way to restrain your furry friend.

Some owners tie the dog’s leash to the roll bar, but this option isn’t the best one nor is it completely safe. Aftermarket suppliers have developed Wrangler-specific harnesses that go around your pet’s chest and secure him to the seat belt. Adjust the length enough to give him some room to roam, but not enough where he’ll be hurt in a sudden stop or in an accident.

Volvo XC70

Volvo products have a stellar safety reputation and are a natural consideration for people with pets. You prize Volvo for its safety and technological leadership, trusting this Swedish automaker to take care of your pets too.

To give your dog a place all of her own, a dog gate is a great idea. In the XC70 it attaches to the rear backrest to provide separate areas for your cargo and for your dog. You can position it either on the left or the right. Consider also a protective bumper cover that unfolds over the bumper. It can provide better grip for your dog as she jumps up and into the back of your wagon.

Dog-friendly car.

Dodge Journey

Your dog is on a restricted diet and that makes traveling a chore especially with food that must be kept cool. The Dodge Journey solves that problem by providing a cooling compartment or Chill Zone above the glove box. It is large enough to hold a pair of 12-ounce soda cans, but it can also hold your canned dog food.

The Journey’s cargo area can be outfitted with a dog cage. And for older or smaller dogs, a PortablePET Twistep dog hitch step can make access and egress easier to the rear compartment. If also conveniently folds out of the way when not in use.

Dog-Friendly Considerations

A number of other vehicles are also dog-friendly, outfitted with features that are attractive to owners. They are: waterproof seat covers, a low profile, rear windows that drop down to improve ventilation, fold flat seats, and removable cargo liners for easy vacuuming and washing. You can also shop for a pet harness for added protection. The Sleepypod Clickit Utility Harness is, by the way, the only one recommended by Consumer Reports.

Tips for Teens Buying a First Car

February 13, 2014 by Kelly Larsen 2 Comments

For a teen, getting a driver’s license is a milestone, and getting that very first car is just as exciting. They’ve worked hard to earn their driver’s license, and now they’re ready to hit the road all on their own. But just what they hit the road with—their car, that is—is another matter altogether. There are a lot of things to consider, whether you’re a parent looking to buy your son or daughter their first set of wheels, or a teen doing your own research. Be sure you think about these points before you settle on one vehicle.

New or Used for Teens?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these options. While new cars have more advanced safety features and often fewer problems, it is more expensive to insure a teen driver on a new vehicle, and all of the technology in a new car can become a major distraction. Used cars offer affordability, and so long as they aren’t ancient, they should be reliable, too. The financial aspect is a major factor when deciding between a new or used car, so go with the option that suits your situation. And if you are a parent who plans on having your teen pay you back for their first car, you might want to advise them to go for a less expensive model.

First-Car Suggestions for Used Cars:

Honda Fit
Ford Fusion
Volkswagen Golf
Hyundai Sonata

First-Car Suggestions for New Cars:

Scion tC
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Corolla
Hyundai Elantra

Go for Safety

Teen driver. Obviously, whether you’re a first-time driver or you’ve got decades of experience, having a car that makes you feel safe is key. And as a parent looking at vehicles for your child, safety becomes even more important. There are plenty of websites that let you read about vehicle safety ratings like

href=”http://www.safercar.gov”>safercar.gov and the

href=”http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings”>Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s website—be sure to take advantage of them while you research different cars. And when shopping for a vehicle, whether it’s new or used, look for quality safety features, such as:

Antilock brakes
Front and side airbags, and
Electronic stability control.

Not only will these features make a huge difference in the event of an accident or near-accident, but they can even earn you an insurance discount. Check with your insurance company to find out if they offer such discounts and if you (or your teen) qualify.

First-Car Suggestions Based on Safety Ratings:

Honda Civic
Ford Focus
Toyota Camry
Kia Optima

Reliability Is Essential

Since teens are the most inexperienced drivers on the road, it’s important for them to have cars that they can count on. After all, dealing with a car breakdown is stressful enough when you’ve been driving for years—it’s even more traumatic when you’re a newbie behind the wheel. Some vehicles are notorious for breaking down a lot, and on top of this, some are very expensive to repair (especially luxury and high-performance cars). This is something to consider before you make a car purchase.

First-Car Suggestions Based on Reliability:

Honda Fit
Hyundai Accent
Subaru Impreza
Volkswagen Golf

Fuel Efficiency

With gas prices routinely creeping up, a small sedan might be a better choice than a gas-guzzling truck. Always do your research on fuel economy before you make a decision on a car—you might eliminate some vehicles from your list of options before even looking at them if you find that the MPG is not what you want it to be. If you can afford to opt for a hybrid vehicle, you can get over 50 MPG in the city and over 40 on the highway.

First-Car Suggestions Based on Fuel Economy:

Toyota Prius C
Scion iQ
Ford Fiesta SFE
Toyota Corolla Eco

Big or Small?

The size of a vehicle has an impact on its gas mileage, among other things. After all, a large minivan isn’t going to get the same MPG as a subcompact. But bigger vehicles like SUVs can offer drivers improved visibility and often an

href=”http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/13/car-crash-tests-lifestyle-vehicles-crash-test-report.html”>increased level of safety in crashes. So how do you know which one to choose? Again, it comes down to a number of factors, including what you (or your teen) will be using the car for. There are high-quality vehicles in all size categories.

First-Time Car Suggestions Based on Size:

Honda Fit (Small)
Toyota Corolla (Small)
Buick Enclave (Large)
Chevrolet Traverse (Large)

Again, the vehicle you ultimately end up going with will depend on all of these factors combined. As long as you do plenty of research and weigh your options, you’ll do just fine. Good luck on your search!

See Also — How to Sell Your Car to a Private Party

Smokefree Car Bans: When Children Are Present

February 13, 2014 by Jonathon Greyson Leave a Comment

Taking the puff out of smoking.

smokefree car

Britain will soon be enforcing what some Americans want to see on the books: legislation banning smoking in cars with children present. The British initiative was started by health campaigners and received support by the opposition Labour Party. That ban is expected to kick in by May 2015, just before the next UK general election.

Smokefree Cars

In advocating for the measure, supporters cited data revealing that children riding in cars with smoke present were more likely to suffer health problems. Specifically, passive or secondhand smoking can cause ear infections, an increased risk and severity of asthma attacks, respiratory problems and infections, and an elevated risk of sudden infant death syndrome notes the Centers for Disease Control.

The CDC says that all secondhand smoke not just in-cabin smoke causes an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia annually for children aged 18 months or younger. Some 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations annually are also related to secondhand smoke for this age group.

State Smokefree Car Laws

In the United States, several states have laws in place that ban in-car smoking when children are present. On Jan. 1, 2014, Oregon began enforcing a law that makes it illegal to smoke in a car when children are present. It is a secondary law or what a police officer may cite only if the driver was stopped for another offense or violation.

Oregon defines children as anyone younger than 18. The maximum fine for the first time offender is $250. It rises to a maximum of $500 for each subsequent offense. California, Utah, Maine, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Puerto Rico also have smokefree car laws.

Campaigning for a Cause

Lobbying against smoking in cars is the Americans for Nonsmokers Rights (ANR), an advocacy organization formed in 1976 to preserve nonsmokers’ rights. ANR recognizes that laws alone will not stop secondhand smoking in cars and believes that educating the public about the health hazards would improve decision making about smoking in ways that harm other people.

Not everyone thinks that smokefree car laws are the way to go. British American Tobacco (BAT), whose brands include Lucky Strike, Kent, Pall Mall, and Viceroy, agrees that children should not be exposed to cigarette smoke in cars and other confined places. However, the company says that is concerned that the ban will someday be extended to include smoking when children are not present.

Smokefree New Zealand

The BAT position, however, appears to have little support and may do nothing to stop legislation from being enacted elsewhere. South Africa, Canada, Cyprus, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, also restrict smoking in cars with minors present. And where laws are not in place, educational campaigns may be used to persuade drivers to not light up as in New Zealand where the government has targeted 2025 for when that nation plans to become smoke free.

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