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Backseat Driver: AAA offers so much more

How many of you realize that AAA will register your car and renew your license if you are member? No more moaning and groaning about visits to the DMV. And that's not all.
I recently took out a small auto loan with AAA at a very reasonable rate. And while going through the paper work, I was astonished to find out that AAA offers all sorts of loans - 1st mortgages, 2nd mortgages, home equity loans, unsecured loans, personal lines of credit, credit cards ... plus full service insurance services including home, auto and personal as well as liability, life, long term care, business ...
Robert P Murray, AAA Southern New England Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, said it can offer the services at lower rates because it is a club made up of dues-paying members. All you have to do is become a member.
I shall be writing an extended article in the next few weeks focusing on AAA's increasing range of services.
In the meantime, check out my story and Steve Szydlowski's photographs this Saturday on the AAA/Ford Auto Skills State Finals which take place Thursday. Ten teams of high school automotive students will be competing to diagnose and repair deliberately 'bugged' vehicles. Should be fun.

Posted by   at 11:56 AM to AAA | Permalink | Comments 0

Obama: U.S. Auto Fuel Efficiency Lacking

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday faulted U.S. automakers for failing to do what foreign manufacturers have accomplished in producing fuel-efficient vehicles, according to the Associated Press.

Posted by   at 10:30 AM to Alternative fuels , Auto industry , Design , Technology | Permalink | Comments 0

Gas prices, consumption both climb

With gasoline prices again reaching $3 a gallon, you might expect people to say they’ve had enough. But for the most part, Americans aren’t doing much more than complaining, according to The Providence Journal's Timothy C. Barmann.
average price of a gallon of self-serve regular grade gasoline in Rhode Island yesterday was $2.999 a gallon, according to a survey of local dealers by the state Office of Energy Resources. That’s up 10 cents from last week. Nationally, the average price broke a new record at $3.07 a gallon, up nearly 20 cents from two weeks ago, according to a survey by oil analyst Trilby Lundberg.

Posted by   at 10:28 AM to Gas prices | Permalink | Comments 0