What's your favorite color? A question we have all been asked hundreds of times since kindergarten. I think back to all the vehicles I have owned over the years and as I have matured, so have the colors of my autos. What does the color of your car say about you?

I think it's safe to say that if you own a loud colored car like yellow or red, chances are a bit of that color bleeds into your character. A good example is a colleague here at work; he drives a bright yellow Mazda RX 8 and wears red framed glasses and has an extensive collection of ostentatious shirts to match. I think his car suits him and his personality.

Now, I can't remember all the cars I have owned but I know it is more than 25. The most popular color when I was younger was red, from cars and trucks to my street bikes. As I got older and my personality matured, so did the color of my cars. From my mid-20s to now, silver has been the color found in my garage.

You might not know it, but until last year silver was the most popular car color. So who's No. 1 now? White. Experts at DuPont claim that white means a new hue is on the horizon to top the list.

Why would DuPont know car color trends? Well, they have been producing and following automotive paint trends for 55 years. Through the years DuPont has found that when white hits the top of the list, a new color will emerge to take over within the following few years.

There is a whole new future for car colors on the horizon. Many of the custom colors and finishes seen at shows is making it to mainstream. Several auto manufacturers will be releasing limited edition cars in matte finishes and heavy pearls. That flat teal you saw on a '36 Vicky just might be making it to a new Lexus IS-F!

I just purchased a vehicle and to my own surprise I bought it even though it's black. This will be my fourth black vehicle. Every time I buy one I remind myself I said never again after the last one. My problem is this; some cars just look so good in certain colors. My 2000 Mercedes E55 AMG had to be silver, yet my '06 Dodge Charger begged to be in black.

Step back and ask what your color does for you. Does it make the car or does it make you? Either way now you know that white is the new silver and silver is old news.

Happy Motoring,

Lance

You know it has happened to you, your reading a classified ad and all of a sudden you find a bunch of random letters. These letters are typical abbreviations for vehicle equipment. I'm sure you know the basics, such as A/C, CC, PD or PW. Those options are great, but let's look at the others and see what it all means.

The things you read that you may not know could be; V8, H6, I6, S6, TC, ESC/ESP, FF, GDI and more. Let's look at these and do a little translating.

First off, most engine configurations have an abbreviated term. I think the most popular here in the U.S. would have to be the renowned V8. Cadillac really made the V8 a staple in the U.S. auto industry decades ago. The counterpart to our V8 overseas would be the I6, or inline six as it's known. Another six cylinder is the H6 which is a horizontal or "flat" six cylinder motor. You may also see S6, for slant six. Now that you know this, I will tell you that BMW's do not come with a V6 so the next time that you see and add stating this go ahead and laugh out loud like I do.

What about these other odd grouping of letters I mentioned? ESC stands for electronic stability control (ESP stands for electronic stability program) and is becoming standard on most vehicles today. This has saved hundreds of lives, especially in SUV models. This essentially is an on board computer component that takes makes common sense decisions if a vehicle loses traction or balance (for lack of a better term).

TC or traction control is similar to ESC but focuses only on preventing slip in the drive wheels rather than overall balance of the vehicle. This is done by either automatically cutting power or applying brakes to the drive wheel(s) that are losing traction.

The last two pertain to the fuel system of the vehicle. The first is FF or flex fuel, this is an option found in many of today's cars as well. Flex fuel could mean that the car takes both standard gas and E85 or even gas and ethanol, methanol and alike. The combos vary but the important thing is you are looking at a car that was designed to ultimately help save the earth and cut down on fossil fuel consumption.

The last is GDI; gasoline direct injection (also known as DFI or direct fuel injection). In the cars of yesteryear, fuel was delivered to the engine via a carburetor. After "carbs" came EFI or electronic fuel injection. While EFI was a huge improvement, it was not the end-all beat-all in combustion. Although EFI and GDI are similar, GDI increases fuel efficiency by adjusting the mixture depending on the engine demand. In other wards, if you are at full throttle, it will adjust to be slightly a richer mix than if you were at idle.

All these things may be confusing I know but they make a difference in your bill fold and more importantly in your safety.

Have a question? Let me answer your automotive queries, e-mail me today.

The current financial climate for most is cloudy with a chance of showers. Fortunately the same guy that is costing our country millions if not billions in tax dollars to fuel a war has decided to give a little back. So, what are you going to do with your tax "stimulus" check? Some say pay down credit cards while others figure it will go to groceries and such. One friend has informed me that hers is going towards a down on a much needed car.

While many are tolerating the wheels they have, others are driving cars destined for the scrap pile and my friend is one such person. Some vehicles get to the point where the repairs out weight the value of the auto, this it the point where you should throw up the white flag. Let me add that now is as good a time to buy as any.

The conversation between my friend started by her asking about a vehicle she found at a local dealership. First thing she says is, "they want too much for it". At this point I asked how she found it to be "too much"? She replied that Edmund's stated the car was worth thousands less.

There is more to the value of a car than just checking with one site, or "book" for that matter. The important thing is the "fair market value" of the car. This is factored by local supply and demand in your respective area. Most dealers utilize Kelly Blue Book for pricing cars but even they look at what the competition is selling like models for.

Another thing to factor when shopping for a car is if the car has an extended warranty. It costs dealers hundreds if not thousands to certify a car. Rather it be $300 or $1000, this cost needs to be factored into the sale price of the vehicle. I always say that a CPO car is worth the additional cost because by being certified means not only the dealer but the manufacturer will stand behind the guarantee.

Does this mean you pay the "asking" price of a car? No, there is always room for negotiation when buying a car. Just keep in mind that when buying a pre-owned car from a dealer, you are also buying piece of mind. All dealers do a safety inspection and smog on cars for sale. With a private seller purchase you don't always know if everything is zen. This requires you to take the car to a professional to have all systems checked out for any potential problems.

Take your time when purchasing a vehicle, it's a buyer's market out there. I have offered before, but if anyone ever has any questions while in the car buying process, feel free to contact me. I am always open to share my years of auto experience.

Happy Motoring,

Lance