cars

Think for a moment about everything you do in a typical week . . . going to work or school or volunteering, visiting friends and family, getting to a doctor’s appointment or the grocery store, grabbing a bite to eat, catching a movie . . . and you’ll understand why safe, affordable transportation options are a key component of what we at AARP call “livable communities” – great places to live for people of all ages. Day-to-day mobility is critical to earn a living, raise a family, contribute to your community, and, really, enjoy life.

Baby Boomers share their opinions on new car technology, maintenance and repairs, and more in AARP’s latest consumer survey, “Boomers Going the Distance: 2018 Consumer Insights on the Driving Experience,”

Last week, AARP hosted an event with POLITICO at the Detroit Auto Show. The topic: Driverless cars and the Future of Mobility. Now, if you’re wondering why AARP sponsored a panel that sounds more like the Jetsons than the Golden Girls . . . the answer is pretty simple. Having safe, affordable transportation options is essential to live independently, whatever your age. And, since driverless cars are coming sooner than you might think, AARP is working to make sure that these cars of the future meet the needs and concerns of older adults.

https://vimeo.com/121200178

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants to extend its oversight to large nonbank auto-finance companies to make sure they are not discriminating against consumers.

News last week that a North Carolina woman died in a head-on car crash while posting selfies and Facebook updates brings home the hope for "connected cars." More cars connected to the Internet, the argument goes, would help, not distract, drivers. With hands-free, eyes-on-the-road communication and entertainment as the norm, we might hear fewer such horror stories.

If you don't believe the ultra-low price or attractive finance terms in an advertisement for a new car, your instincts may be right. Some dealers run deceptive ads to lure consumers into their showrooms and then never deliver on their promises, according to a federal regulator.

Though he immodestly titled his memoirs They Call Me Mister 500, Andy Granatelli actually was behind the wheel at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway just once, in the time trials in 1948. Back then, he was billed "Antonio the Great, Famed Italian Speed Ace," even though he hailed from Chicago and had raced only a few times, on state fairgrounds and small tracks in the Midwest. Despite the hype, Granatelli's career as an Indy driver ended ignominiously, when he crashed, breaking his shoulders and knocking out 11 teeth in the process.

News, discoveries and fun ... 

The conventional wisdom about older car buyers is that they're primarily motivated by price, durability and the ease of getting in and out of a vehicle - factors that translate into a big, bulky domestic sedan. But a new study shows that some automobile shoppers 60 and older are going green and buying hybrids because it boosts their self-esteem and image.