Where have I been you ask? We just relocated our corporate offices to Camarillo and on top of that I bought a home down here! Yes, to answer your question I will be eating Ramen noodles for the next few years. I needed it anyway as my belt line was getting a bit tight!

Today I want to talk about stereotypes of cars. Now I know I'm not as funny as my friend Jason Love when it comes to this blog thing but I hung my gesture hat after successfully graduating High School as class clown.

Some car stereotypes I understand whereas others I just don't get.A good example is who drives big trucks. I know why little guys drive big trucks but why little girls? My feeling is that unless you live on a ranch, own a horse or do a lot of recreational activities (i.e.camping, boating, mx) then there is no reason for a person with a family of one to drive a 4 door Excursion!

Here are some others I figured I would just list off for your viewing pleasure...

Porsche- Guy's with small feet
Ford Mustang V6- Mid-life crisis or College girl or rental
Mercedes C230- Someone who wants to say "I drive a Mercedes"
Subaru- “Tree huggers� or “Huppies� you know hippie meets yuppie
BMW 318- The car for someone who wanted to say "I drive a BMW"
Civic- School kid or anyone who thinks of a car as just for A to B
VW- The cabriolets are big with girls, bugs are for mid-life types
Any red sports car- Mid-life crisis, just check the next one you see!
Any Hot Rod- Anyone who appreciates and respects automobiles.

These are some stereotypes I see and hear on a regular basis, I don't make 'em up!.

A good one that confuses me is The Corvette. This car is the all time sports car of our country yet it carries a bit of a stigma. I think most guys love the car because they respect it is the best "bang for the buck" as far as sport cars go. For some reason most ladies I talk to don't care much for the Vette, is it because Face drove one on The A Team or is it just the fact that it only seats two? Then I get thrown for a loop when I see a woman drive one, my whole theory goes out the window! Some hate ‘em, other drive ‘em.

Simply put, I think your car does in some way say who you are. If you drive a Hybrid chances are you don't smoke. If you own an exotic European car socks may be an option. If you are 5'2" and your tires come up to your shoulders you might be compensating. Either way, I think something is said for what you "sport" for an auto.

Cheers, Lance

p.s. BMW driver or not, USE YOUR BLINKERS!

Hello All,

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Okay now auto talk:

I know I have spoke before about ways to save money but wanted to stress it a bit more being that prices are rising. I blame it on politicians that happen to be in the oil business, but that’s just me.

Octane levels. Buy the gasoline that your engine was designed to take. All that the wrong gas will do is make the car knock or waist your money. Too low an octane for a high performance motor will make the engine knock. Too high an octane for a standard engine like a 4 cylinder would be a waist.

3,000-mile oil changes. Look in your book! Most manufacturers actually suggest 5,000 miles, 7,500 miles or even longer intervals between oil changes such as 10,000 for BMW or Mercedes. Many cars even have an engine quality monitor system that lets you know when the oil needs replacing!

Servicing your air filter and wipers. These items can often be found in places we all shop every weekend like Target or Kmart. I would say these two things are a few of the easiest maintenance items to address. Most air filters are fastened by clips whereas other may need a screwdriver. I also highly recommend covering the windshield with a thick towel while changing the wipers. I have seen more than one windshield cracked from leaving the arm up while changing the blade and it accidentally retracting down on the glass. Shoot for once a year or so on blades (rubber dries out quicker in climates like ours).

Changing your coolant every year. The day of changing coolant and anti-freeze every season is long gone. Most coolants these days go for anywhere from 15k-100k without needing a change. Again, always check your owner’s manual for your specific vehicle.Your dealer or shop should be happy to check it for free.

Tire replacement. Listen or rather look at what your tires are telling you! Get down on the ground if you need to see the rear and crank the wheels one way to see the front. If they are not wearing even now, replacing them won’t fix the problem. Your shocks may be bad, your alignment may be out or worse.

It’s Brake time. If your brakes are talking to you chances are they have something to say. If your brakes emit a constant, high-pitched whine chances are they hit what we call the squeaker bars. This is to tell you that you only have a fraction of material left on the pad. If you heard squeaks then it left don’t think things got better. You may actually be metal to metal. Some cars like BMW have sensors and they let you know to replace the pads when there is ¼ life left.

Keeping records. Take time to get a folder for your car. You can keep your records at home but there are a few that should stay with the car. Why? If your tires have road hazard which covers flats or damage, that proof of purchase may come in handy on your annual trip to Lake Shasta.

Not knowing how to change a tire. This may be the same yahoos that don’t use blinkers. Have you ever looked at your spare? ALL tires should have inflation checked at least once a month. Even if you have AAA, you may never know when you might have to change a tire yourself where coverage won’t reach (private property, logging roads, the dunes. AAA will not service these locations, check your book).

Happy Motoring,
Lance