In 2002, we traded my husband's Ford Escort for a Ford Explorer. Then we had a Ford Explorer and a Geo Prizm. In 2006, the 1994 Geo Prizm got t-boned on a busy street, and we "replaced" the 100,000-mile Ford Explorer with a 2005 Ford Explorer.The 1998 Ford Explorer is still kicking at 140,000 miles three years later. Oops.

A dear friend of mine is from England, now living in the U.S.  She sat in my living room recently, telling me that one of the hardest things to get used to in America has been the way that people spend so much time in their cars.  In England, she told me, life was centered around smaller villages.  Mothers walked their children to school, because they lived close enough.  They walked to the market, and to church.  And it would be nearly unheard of to drive for 15 minutes to go shopping.

I had been shopping at the local Fry's Computer store recently, buying a new flat screen computer monitor and various other supplies to assist running some of the day-to-day tasks at AskPatty.com. I was walking through the parking lot on my way back to my car when I saw something very rare parked among the vehicles there.

My son is taking driver's training lessons right now. This would not be anything exciting for most mother's however, my son is thirty-five, got his driver's license when he was 16, had a car accident in 2005 which resulted in paraplegia and is learning to drive again with hand controls! I am so excited, worried and proud of his desire to get right back into life and have his freedom back and participate in life more fully.

CNN found that 75% of people surveyed would rather go to the dentist than a car dealership. Most people do however love driving their new car off the dealership lot. Emotions run high when buying a new car. Never be afraid to walk away from a car deal if it doesn't feel right. On the other hand, if your questions have been answered and the deal feels right, take a deep breath, buy your car, and enjoy the drive out.

Trash Did you know the answer to reducing petroleum dependency and producing environmentally efficient fuel may be right in your kitchen trash? Household garbage, old tires, and even plant stalk all contain carbon which can be turned into fuel for our cars and trucks. And all of this can be done cheaply and efficiently. Building upon General Motor’s 25 years of biofuel research and energy alternatives for automobiles, the automaker announced their partnership with Coskata at the 2008 North American International Auto Show.

Love or hate your auto repair center? I came across a great article in the Automotive Management Institute Instructor Blog and thought I would share some this and get your thoughts on what level of customer service you are looking for at an auto repair center? Share your good, bad and mediocre experiences at automotive service facilities and suggestions to make your experiences better by commenting below.

The Detroit Auto Show was touting so many Hybrid's I thought I would mention some petrol -powered cars with plenty of fuel economy now and on the horizon.

For those who follow the progress of North Shore Animal League America's famous Chihuahua trio, Venus, Carmen and Pablo, there's news: these charming dogs, born without their front legs and rescued by the League from a Virginia shelter, now have front-wheel drive, in the form of carts that will assist their mobility.

A great winter read for women who love memoirs and road trips is Eight Women, Two Model Ts, and the American West, where writer Joanne Wilke pieces together the journey her grandmother, great-aunt, and six of their female friends made in a couple of Model Ts. In 1924, the women headed out from Iowa on a sightseeing tour that took them to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado, the Great Salt Lake in Utah, Mount Rainier, the Pacific Ocean, and Yellowstone, to name just a few of the tourist attractions of the American West that the women reached during the nine-week trip.

Just could not resist sharing these car buying tips from AWARE and Santa His Reindeer ! Up on the Car Roof click, click, click.....The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and Santa just realized he has a problem. His sleigh is getting old and won’t be able to make it around the world to deliver toys to all the good girls and boys. Santa needs a new sleigh, but he doesn’t know where to begin.

I spoke to Badia a 'Car Crazy Girl' from Saudi during my recent trip to the Dubai Motor Show, who interestingly went to school and lived in the US for 8 years. Badia is thirty-one, has a degree interior reconstruction and design and an international drivers license and LOVES to drive and can drive anywhere outside of her own country, at home she owns a Hummer and has a personal driver to get her around.