Women and Cars: The Blog!

The vehicles owned by the Obama administration’s auto team could reflect one reason why Detroit’s Big Three automakers are in trouble: The list includes few new American cars.

Among the eight members named Friday to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and the 10 senior policy aides who will assist them in their work, two own American models. Add the Treasury Department’s special adviser to the task force and the total jumps to three.

The Detroit News reviewed public records to discover what many of the task force and staff members drove, but information was not available on all of the officials, and records for some states were not complete.

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At least two task force members don’t own a car, and there are still two open slots on the 10-member panel that will be filled by the secretaries of labor and commerce, who have not yet been appointed.

The co-chairs of the task force — Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and White House National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers — both own foreign automobiles.

Geithner owns a 2008 Acura TSX, registered in New York. He once owned a 1999 Honda Accord and a 2002 Acura MDX, according to public records.

Geithner is the president’s designee for purposes of enforcing loan agreements with GM and Chrysler and must approve or reject any proposed transactions by either company that would cost $100 million or more.

His maternal grandfather, Charles Moore, was a vice president at Ford Motor Co. from 1952-63, according to Peter Geithner, the secretary’s father. But Geithner wasn’t very interested in cars growing up — in part because he graduated from high school in Asia, his father said.

Summers owns a 1995 Mazda Protege that’s registered in Massachusetts. He previously owned a 1996 Ford Taurus GL.

What other task force members drive:

• Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey and a 2004 Volvo S60. He previously owned a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 1982 Datsun.

• Carol Browner, the White House climate czar, said earlier this month at the Washington Auto Show that she doesn’t own an automobile. Public records show she once owned a 1999 Saab 9-5 SE.

• Energy Secretary Steven Chu doesn’t own a car, his wife, Jean Fetter, said in a telephone interview on Sunday. Cabinet officials are typically transported to and from work by security officials in government vehicles.

• Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson owns a 2008 Toyota Prius and a Honda Odyssey minivan, she said Sunday. “It’s great,” she said of her Prius.

• Vehicle information was not available for Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood or Christine Romer, head of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Here’s what task force policy aides drive:

• Austan Goolsbee, staff director and chief economist for the White House Economic Recovery Advisory Board, owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander.

• Joan DeBoer, the chief of staff to LaHood, said in an interview Sunday she drives a 2008 Lexus RX 350. She doesn’t consider herself “a car buff” and views her car as a way to get around town.

• Heather Zichal, deputy director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change, owns a Volvo C30, according to public records and officials.

• Gene Sperling, counsel to the Treasury Secretary, owns a 2003 Lincoln LS, and previously owned a 1993 Saturn SL2.

• Edward B. Montgomery, senior adviser to the Labor Department, owns a 1991 Harley-Davidson and previously owned a 1990 Ford Taurus L station wagon, public records show.

• Lisa Heinzerling, senior climate policy counsel to the head of the EPA, owns a 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback station wagon, according to her husband.

• Diana Farrell, the deputy National Economic Council director, doesn’t own a vehicle. Her husband, Scott Pearson, owns a 1985 Peugeot 505 S.

• Dan Utech, senior adviser to the Energy Secretary, owns a 2003 Mini Cooper S two-door hatchback.

• Rick Wade, a senior adviser at the Commerce Department, owns a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier and previously owned a 1998 Toyota Corolla.

• Jared Bernstein, Vice President Joe Biden’s chief economist, owns a 2005 Honda Odyssey.

The White House declined to comment.

President Barack Obama traded in his Chrysler 300C for a more fuel-efficient Ford Escape hybrid during the 2008 presidential campaign.

Joe Biden, the son of a car dealer, owns a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette — a wedding present from his dad. He primarily commuted from Delaware to the Senate on Amtrak.

Ron Bloom, a special adviser to the Treasury Department who is also advising the task force, owns an aging Ford Taurus.

We are not privy to that information, but we would say she is a typical “Honda Odyssey” soccer mom.

How about you? What do you think? And why?

To look for a used car please go to: Buy Used Car

The chaos on Wall Street is having a very real affect on auto dealerships.

Dealers are reporting sales down 30 percent as dealers across the country face a staggering credit crisis, which has made it hard for some customers to get loans and hampered some dealers from buying inventory. Fears about the economy have also reduced the number of potential customers pulling up on car lots.

“You have to really get to the point now where every customer that walks through your doors has to be a sale, no matter what,” said a sales manager at Metro Chrysler. “You have to treat them like gold.”

About 70 percent of customers are getting turned down for loans now compared to 60 percent before. Like other dealers, Metro Chrysler is looking for ways to cut back on expenses.

The general sales manager of Metro Acura, started seeing a drop in sales last month as U.S. banks started failing one by one.
“We were holding on okay until August, and the last month we definitely felt it. The start of this month isn’t great,” he said.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has partnered with the nation’s leading cancer advocacy groups in a landmark television event and education initiative called Frosted Pink with a Twist, dedicated to raising awareness of cancers primarily affecting women.

Today, 1 in 3 women in the USA will develop cancer in her lifetime. The nationally televised program is part of a multimedia campaign to inspire action, celebrate survivorship, and encourage women to become advocates for their health in the fight against cancer.

The broadcast special will feature Olympic champions of the 2008 Summer Games, led by Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, along with other members of Team USA. The gymnasts’ performances will be paired with icons of song, including Grammy-award winner Carole King, Cyndi Lauper, and Billboard sensations Natasha Bedingfield and Jesse McCartney. Also appearing will be Kenny Loggins and hip-hop artist Mario. Frosted Pink with a Twist will be co-hosted by Olympic gymnastics champion Shannon Miller and cancer survivor and Olympic figure-skating champion Scott Hamilton.

Frosted Pink with a Twist will air on ABC on Sunday, October 12, from 4 to 6 pm Eastern Time. The show will re-air on cable stations throughout October.

For more information on Frosted Pink with a Twist, visit www.frostedpink.org.

Car choices are lifestyle decisions, economic decisions and transportation decisions. For awhile it felt like bigger was better, flashier was cooler, and quantity was superior to quality when is came to motor vehicles. If your gut is telling you it’s time to change and incorporate new and better habits when it comes to what you’re driving, here are a few things to consider.

Determine your priorities and act accordingly. Think both short and long term. Look at the big picture.

Easier said then done- maybe. The key is to make decisions you’re comfortable with both at this point in time and down the road. Don’t be bullied or pushed around by a car salesperson or any other advising parties. Those few extra dollars you agreed to pay on your monthly payment may irk you every month for four years- not worth it. Knowing your garage is not the right fit for the extra-wide truck should automatically eliminate that choice.
Do you really want to pay for premium gasoline every time you fill the tank- you decide?Depending on your choices and decisions, your young child may in fact drive your current car off to college 8 years from now.

Every individual, family and driver will have their preferences, and chances are, will find the car to match. Patience, persistence and prioritizing will help in any motor vehicle quest.

On lifestyle decision making: consider safety features, trunk space, and functionality.
On economic decision making: consider insurance, parts and maintenance, and fuel.
On transportation decision making: think about where you’re driving, the roads you’re traveling on, and parking options and conditions.

Make your list and decide what’s right for you. Your towing capacity may not need to be 9,000 lbs., you may not require 6-cylinders to get to work on time, and that two door sports car may not prove to be the best choice with twins on the way. Good luck and safe driving!

Most new car dealers are honest, but there are some who will scam you.

Read our annual Top 8 New Car Dealer Scams.

No part of the car buying process can be cheater proof- tread carefully and be cautious. Do your research outside of the dealership so you avoid dealer scams.
Dealer Scam #1: Selling you a car you don’t want at a price you don’t want to pay
Avoid being talked into a car you don’t want, know what you do want, from the broad to the minute, and stick to it- and that includes price too.

Dealer Scam #2: False advertising and bait and switch
Ads can be misleading, know the fine print and have a copy in hand. Don’t let advertising get you in the door and fool you into a poor decision- like an ’08 model instead of an ’09 model.

Dealer Scam #3: Making false promises
Don’t take possession of your new car until all aspects of the deal are clear and complete! That includes buffing out that scratch on the bumper, installing the weather guard floor mats you bought and having the valet key in hand. Be patient, because once you drive off that lot chances are all else will be forgotten.

Dealer Scam #4: Your trade in vehicle is worthless
Dealers want to makes deals- know your vehicle trade-in value.

Dealer Scam #5: Fees
The price of the car is not the price you’re going to be paying. There are countless fees you must be aware of- some legitimate and others not. Sales tax and vehicle registration are set by your state. Doc fees and dealer fees are typically part of the package but you should find out ahead of time what these fees are so you know the add-on price. A doc fee may be regulated by your state, or may be a charge set by the dealership just like the dealer fee. Knowing the amount of these two fees may help prevent last minute price shock. There’s also an advertising fee that will pop up when you go to buy a new car- if the advertising fee is listed in the vehicle’s invoice chances are it’s a permissible fee, if your salesperson is writing the fee into your bill of sale- not too legitimate. Additional dealer markup fees are also bogus.

Dealer Scam #6: Credit problems and financing
Know your credit score and financing options from outside sources. Don’t let dealers belittle you for your financial situation, don’t let them toy with you or stick you with an unjustifiable high rate. Don’t drive off in a car that is yet to be solidified in a financial contract, you may get stuck with a higher interest rate than you bargained for.

Dealer Scam #7: Options, accessories and extras
Evaluate the warranties and options being offered. If you’re watching where your money goes during your car purchase, be guarded and watchful when it comes to this part of the deal. Chances are you don’t need to buy the extra two year car warranty right then and there- you have four years to make that decision. Does the tire warranty being sold allow you to get your flat fixed anywhere or does it have to be at the dealership?

Dealer Scam #8: Driving away in a lease or used car
Much like Scam #1- know what you walking in for and don’t drive out with anything less. If you’re shopping for a new car purchase don’t change your plan mid shopping experience and decide it’s okay to lease. If you’ve decided to explore other vehicle/purchasing options reorganize yourself and begin researching and come back to the dealership another day. Be a smart consumer.

Some see a car as a mode of transportation; others see their car as a portable closet. The way you keep your car is not a reflection of who you are, it’s just a reflection of what you choose to transport.Intended to hold our bits and pieces are interior storage compartments, consoles and boxes, door pockets, trunks and boots, storage spaces, and storage bins. It’s hard not to fill the countless nooks and crannies the car manufactures bestow upon us. But what are our most important must haves in the car?

There’s the typical must haves list and then there’s the women’s top 5.

* registration
* pen and paper
* insurance
* first aid kit
* emergency car kit with flares
* roadside assistance phone numbers
* umbrella
* disposable camera

* tire gauge
* blanket
* flashlight
* road atlas
* coins
* sunglasses
* tissues/napkins /hand wipes
* road atlas
* cell phone charger

The women’s top five must-haves are a little different than the standard list. The top five is a vast list. Both, categorically and then specifically, here are the top five items women think they must have in their car:

1. Toiletries: lip gloss, toothbrush, deodorant, condoms, tampons

2. Emergency items: pepper spray, stun gun, water, $20, gloves

3. Flirtatious goods: hair clip, sign that reads “you’re cute,” bubble gum, business cards, and a stop in your tracks wink

4. Wardrobe for the car: gym clothes with sneakers, extra work outfit, change of clothes, jacket/sweatshirt, bathing suit & flip flops

5. Hobby items: beach towel, hat, sun screen, music collection, magazine

The Volkswagen New Beetle was the cute car that started the retro-futurist design craze, which is still going strong. It was a modernized version of the legendary VW Beetle and struck a chord with consumers who had grown tired of standard conservative car designs and had fond memories of the “Bugs” from their youth.

With its distinctive, even iconic, shape, the 2008 Volkswagen Beetle, like its predecessors, is instantly recognizable. This year’s model, offered in two trims and a convertible version, retains many of the features from last year’s edition, while sporting new names for the trim levels. Instead of the base and 2.5L designations, we now have the S and SE.

All versions of the 2008 Beetle have the same power train configuration: a front-mounted 2.5 liter, 150 horsepower, 5- cylinder engine that provides 170 pounds/feet of torque, mated to the standard five-speed manual transmission, though there is an optional six-speed automatic transmission that comes with the Porsche-developed “Tiptronic” quasi-manual shifting functionality, as well. All Beetles are front-wheel drive.

Aside from the obvious feature, the convertible’s soft top, both versions of the 2008 Volkswagen Beetle have essentially the same exterior features. The dome-shaped roof is one of them, of course, but other details include turn signals integrated into the side mirrors, and a power sunroof is available as an option on the SE.
Based on the same platform used for the Volkswagen Golf, the Beetle’s standard wheels are 16-inch alloy, with 17-inch wheels available on the SE.

Inside the 2008 Volkswagen Beetle, there is seating for four passengers, though head- and legroom are both limited in the back seat. A technical hatchback, the rear seat-back folds down for additional storage space. Height-adjustable front seats (bucket style), a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, and air conditioning are all standard, as is the AM/FM Radio/CD player combination that includes an auxiliary jack for MP3 play back.

The seats of the 2008 Beetle are upholstered in a faux leather material referred to as “V-Tex,” and there is a special Cold Weather package that includes heating not just for the front seats, but also the windshield washer nozzles. Actual leather upholstery is no longer an option on any version of the New Beetle. Rounding out the features of the 2008 Volkswagen Beetle is a safety package that includes daytime running lights, anti-lock disc brakes, tire pressure monitoring technology, and side-impact airbags. The base model of the 2008 Beetle has a starting MSRP of $17,365.

Why is it that suddenly when you’re sporting a baby bump, all rules of etiquette seem to go out the window? I had an experience at a family gathering recently, where an in-law relative (a particularly irritating, off-putting one) came over to me and eagerly puts her hands all over my abdomen while simultaneously asking permission- can I feel?

Listen lady. Firstly, at least pretend to wait until I answer before you go ahead and do it anyway. Secondly, NO. Keep your grabby hands to yourself. The catch here is that by saying no, you feel like an ogre who doesn’t appreciate peoples genuine enthusiasm about your impending family addition. But truly, I don’t walk around feeling peoples bodies without permission, and I expect people to have the same courtesy. In America we like to call that ‘assault.’
I think people work under the assumption that all pregnant women are simply ecstatic to be sharing their bodies with someone else, and since they’re already sharing, they may as well be public property. Yes, I’m lucky to be having a healthy pregnancy. Yes, I’m grateful and know that many women would kill to be in my position. That doesn’t mean that I’m without ambivalence. Being pregnant is a time when in an attempt to gain something (a child) you’re also losing many aspects of the life you’ve had until now- like being the proprietor of your own person, and not a landlord- and that’s no small thing. Add to that the fact that your hormones are totally being screwed with 24/7. So please, a little sensitivity, people?

This brings me to my next point- weight gain. On three occasions so far, I’ve run into people who haven’t seen me since before I was pregnant, to meet the exclamation, “you’re huge!” As if that’s what I want to hear? So I have politely, in each situation, said, “I don’t think you should say that to people…” The person then gets defensive, and says something like, “but I didn’t mean anything by it— I just mean because you’re pregnant—” Then I have to say, “Yes, I realize I am pregnant. Thank you for the information. However, no one likes to be told they are huge.” For some reason, this seems beyond people’s grasp, and I can only assume it’s from the same ignorance that causes people to think it’s ok to manhandle your belly.
I should not have to argue this point. Body image is a complicated issue for all women, let alone hormonal, womb-renting women who are gaining weight somewhat beyond their control. No one likes to have their increasing size pointed out to them. Yes, thank you, I realize I am expanding. I’m not happy about it. It should be obvious that this is one of those things you simply keep to yourself.
For some reason, pregnancy seems to be exempt from all rules of tact, and of all times, it should not be. If you meet someone ugly on the street, do you say, “GOD you’re ugly!” No.