If you’re the type of person that thinks your vehicle is just a tool that gets you from point A to point B and that getting your hands dirty just to do a regular maintenance task is ridiculous, then this is not the article for you.  However, if you’re a person that actually CARES about your vehicle and you don’t mind a little oil and grit under your fingernails, I invite you to read on.

I think doing your own regular vehicle maintenance is a fun and rewarding experience – and you know that the job is done right.  Today we’re going to cover a basic oil change, and to demonstrate the process, I’ll be changing the oil in my own 2006 Mustang GT. (2 birds, 1 stone!)
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Mini’s marketing people have always done a great job with their advertising. The trend continues as Mini introduces the new 4-door Countryman…

Chrysler’s Dodge Durango has always kind of been the joke of the mid-size SUV world. So much so, that it was earlier reported that they would give the replacement a new name. They’ve decided to stick with the ‘Durango’ name now, but that’s where the similarities to the last model end. The all-new 2011 is actually a great looking and driving vehicle. It’s based on the chassis of the just released 2011 Jeep Gran Cherokee which has earned universal praise from the automotive press. The big difference is on the inside where the new Durango will outdo the jeep with a third row of seats. Only time will tell if the new Dodge can complete with the also all-new Ford Explorer, but still a major step in the right direction. Not bad Dodge. Not bad at all.

Walk through any classic car show and you’ll normally see an old ’32 Ford hot rod. Over the years I’ve trained myself not to cry when I see that most of these cars have small block Chevy’s under the hood. But this??? THIS IS WHERE I DRAW THE LINE! A V8 from a Lexus GS400, complete with custom headers – Just plain wrong.

In recent years, auto companies have learned that the internet is their friend – especially with featured product videos. Toyota’s recent swagger wagon minivan ads are hilarious, but there’s a new king of funny; The Ford Fiesta. Hit the jump and survive through the the boring intro, then try not to laugh, I dare you.
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Making national news today is the BBC’s failure to stop Ben Collins from revealing his identity as the Stig in Britain’s Top Gear program. Nice to see you catching up CNN. Anyway… meanwhile on our shores, Top Gear USA is gearing up for it’s big debut on (and yes, this doesn’t make any sense) the History channel. Here’s a fresh new teaser of the show featuring a trio of Lamborghini supercars.

P.S. Dear Top Gear USA, if you need an American Stig – call me!

Ford Focus vs. a Porsche? Quit laughing – I’ll explain. In Europe, hot hatchbacks rule the roads as taxes, fuel prices and insurance rates keep most “real” sports cars out of reach for most average Joe’s. Because of this, small, mostly 4 cylinder front wheel drive hatchbacks are all the rage. Ford’s European only Focus RS is the king of the hatchback hill, with it’s turbocharged 5 cylinder and race suspension. Britain’s ‘Auto Express’ decided to see if the mighty RS could beat a ‘proper’ sports car – the boxster – on a track. The Focus has the power advantage, the Porsche has the weight advantage; Ding, Ding… “Let’s get it on!!!”
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The rumor mill surrounding the identity of Top Gear’s ‘Stig’ has been on overtime lately as reports of a new autobiography by Ben Collins is said to reveal that he is the man himself. The allure of the ‘Stig’ mystery, however, must be too important to the BBC and Top Gear to let go – so, it’s reported that they’ve fired him! Is Collins in fact the Stig? Will they actually let him go if he reveals the truth? If they do let him go, who will be the next Stig?

BMW is now teasing us with their upcoming 1 Series M Coupe by releasing a ‘strip tease’ video. No mechanical details yet, but look for the car to feature a twin turbo inline 6 with hp in the mid 300s. Check out the vid…

The NADA is mostly known for guiding dealers and consumers on pre-owned car values. However, they also keep up with the ‘cost of ownership’ numbers as well. Here’s the latest list courtesy of NADAguides.com…
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