April 10, 2008
AP Photo
This undated handout photo provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows a crash test of 2008 Kia Optima with standard airbags.
The insurance institute says several mid-size cars have made strides in protecting motorists in side crashes with standard air bags and improved designs.
Click here to watch the AP Video report.
Posted by Pam Cotter 
at 9:21 AM | Permalink
April 7, 2008
A Pittsburgh couple is suing Google for invasion of privacy, claiming its popular "Street View" mapping feature has made a photo of their home available to online searchers, according to thesmokinggun.com.
Aaron and Christine Boring accuse Google of an "intentional and/or grossly reckless invasion" of their seclusion and privacy since they live on a street that is "clearly marked with a 'Private Road' sign," according to an April 2 lawsuit the couple filed in Allegheny County's Court of Common Pleas.
According to the Borings, they purchased their Oakridge Lane home in late-2006 for "a considerable sum of money," noting that a "major component of their purchase decision was a desire for privacy."
But when Pittsburgh was added last October to the roster of cities covered by Google's "Street View" feature, the Borings allege, their "private information was made known to the public," causing them "mental suffering" and diminishing the value of their home (which cost the couple $163,000, according to property records).
The Borings are seeking in excess of $25,000 in damages and want a court order directing Google to destroy images of their home.
Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth at 11:18 AM | Permalink
April 4, 2008
AS researchers who test the accuracy of odometers know, your mileage may vary, and when it comes to a car’s warranty, that could cost an owner money.
An odometer that piles up mileage faster than it should will push a car out of warranty quicker than an odometer that is calibrated correctly.
That is what was happening to many Hondas and Acuras until the problem was noticed by a lawyer in Arkansas, who, along with several other lawyers, filed a lawsuit against Honda in 2004, according to The New York Times.
A final settlement was approved last December, but the deadline for owners to file a claim is approaching: June 26.
Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth at 11:55 AM | Permalink
August 22, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO — Nearly two dozen gas station owners in California sued Shell Oil, Chevron and Saudi Refining, on Tuesday, claiming the companies conspired to fix prices for 23,000 franchise owners nationwide, according to the Associated Press and reported by USA Today.
The case filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco seeks class-action status for the plaintiffs. It is similar to another lawsuit filed in 2004 by other California gas station owners that was thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court last year. The new group of plaintiffs hopes the court will consider a slightly different argument.
Like the previous case, the plaintiffs in this case say chairmen of the three oil companies met privately nearly every month starting in March 1996 for the "purpose of forming and organizing a combination."
The lawsuit alleges executives destroyed documents from the meetings, and a defunct joint venture violated U.S. antitrust laws and caused artificially high wholesale gas prices in nearly every state from 1999 to 2001.
Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth at 10:58 AM | Permalink
August 21, 2007
The Chevrolet Cavalier that Erik Leiken discovered on the Internet lacked curb appeal. Though only 5 years old, the car, with patches of primer paint, appeared to have had a hard existence.
Still, the odometer showed only 70,000 miles. And the car was a private-party bargain at $2,400, far below what he figured a dealer would charge.
But by the time the Chevy broke down a second time in San Diego freeway traffic, Leiken concluded that he had bought a clunker damaged in Hurricane Katrina, according to USA Today.
A Carfax vehicle-history report proved the car was in Louisiana when the hurricane struck.
Posted by Peter C. T. Elsworth at 12:00 PM | Permalink
July 10, 2007
The battle to get the price on your new vehicle starts long before you step in the showroom, according to thecarconnection.com.
Contrary to what your brother-in-law says, or your "friend in the business," buying a car for the best possible price takes time and research. What should you do before you even think of dropping by the local dealer? TheCarConnection.com recommends at least seven things before you sign on the dotted line:
Posted by at 12:35 PM | Permalink
May 16, 2007
The average U.S. household is already spending $1,000 more per year on gasoline than it did five years ago, two consumer groups say in testimony they plan to present to a House Judiciary Committee task force today, according to the Associated Press.
That's an increase of 85 percent, and rural households have been hardest hit because they spend about 20 percent more on gas than urban residents, the Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union said, citing Labor Department figures, AP reports.
Posted by at 10:27 AM | Permalink
May 15, 2007
Add typing to the list of distractions being outlawed across the country. CBS5.com from Seattle reports that the Washington state legislature has followed through with a bill that bans text messaging while driving, according to thecarconnection.com
While handheld cellphones are banned in several states, banning text messaging is the new frontier as PDAs and smartphones and text messaging become more popular. New Jersey and Arizona are also studying texting bans, the Web site reports.
The Washington law was proposed after a 2006 accident in which a driver on a Seattle highway caused a five-car accident while reading his BlackBerry at the wheel.
Posted by at 9:50 AM | Permalink
May 14, 2007
ONE of the most dreaded buying decisions is becoming still tougher, according to the New York Times. Auto manufacturers now sell about 280 different cars in the United States, up from 208 at the start of the decade. In five years that number is expected by market researchers to reach 340.
The Internet’s solution to this problem sounds suspiciously like its answer to everything else these days: more video. But in this case, analysts said, it could help buyers, carmakers and automotive Web sites — at least in the short term.
Posted by at 10:27 AM | Permalink
May 9, 2007
AN Ohio judge will decide on Friday whether to approve the settlement of a class-action suit against Carfax in which consumers could receive coupons worth about $20 and the lawyers representing them $566,000, according to The New York Times.
The suit claims that Carfax, which sells vehicle histories to consumers worried about buying used cars, deceived customers by concealing the limits on the information it collects about crash damage.
Some consumer groups oppose the settlement, saying consumers get no meaningful compensation and Carfax is not being forced to make clear in what way its information is limited.
Posted by at 10:41 AM | Permalink
May 7, 2007
Certified used cars have become popular over the last five years, favored by consumers worried about getting a lemon when they buy used. A guarantee from an automaker that the car checks out is peace of mind for which an increasing number of people are willing to pay extra, sometimes $2,000 or more. But some consumers are finding that certified does not protect them, according to The New York Times.
Posted by at 10:25 AM | Permalink
April 6, 2007
Don't give up if you buy a lemon - a vehicle that is a complete disaster from start to finish, USA Today reports. There is reason for hope even if your car has persistent problems ranging from safety-related to simply annoying.
Every state has a lemon law protecting and spelling out your rights. Most declare vehicles lemons after up to four unsuccessful repair attempts within about 24,000 miles or 24 months, although the laws vary widely, the paper reports.
Posted by at 9:13 AM | Permalink
