Spring Car Care and Motorcycles 2009

The odometer just clicked over. Your car made it to 100,000 miles. Now what? "Treat your car as you did for the first 100,000 miles for as long as you own it. You made it to the first milestone, you must be doing something right," said Irv Gordon from East Patchogue in Long Island, N.Y. He knows a thing or two about high-mileage cars. As the owner of a 1966 Volvo P1800S with over 2.7 million miles, Gordon holds the Guinness World Record for the most miles driven by a single owner in a noncommercial vehicle.

Savvy auto buyers know you don't have to spend a small fortune or face hefty monthly payments to get on the road. There are plenty of good deals out there on used cars if you know where to look and what to ask. But there are plenty of bad deals too, experts warn. Before walking through that lot or scanning the newspaper classifieds and online listings, give some thought to your driving habits, needs and budget, said the Federal Trade Commission in its fact-packed "Buying A Used Car" brochure, available at www.ftc.gov.

If your heart skips a beat when that gleaming, rust-free 1961 Thunderbird comes up for auction and you raise your hand to bid, put it back down. Buying, selling, caring for and showing everything from Model Ts to muscle cars can be a pricey and demanding pastime peppered with unforeseen outlays, expensive paint jobs, storage and transportation issues and more. It's not a hobby for everyone -- but the love and care put in to them can inspire any car owner.

Give away a car? In this economy? It's not as crazy as it sounds. Donating an unwanted car or truck to charity is a powerful way to support a worthwhile cause and save some money come tax time. "It is an easy alternative to selling or trading your vehicle and a unique way to make a significant charitable gift in lieu of cash or other assets," said Kelly Buttler, director of Cars For Courage, which benefits the Courage Center in Minneapolis, Minn., a rehabilitation and resource center for people with disabilities. Hundreds of charities nationwide rely on vehicle donations to help fund their efforts, including Volunteers of America, Goodwill Industries and Habitat for Humanity.

Zero dollars down. Zero percent financing. Thousands back in cash. Can it get any better if you're shopping for a new car? No, but if you wait too long, those manufacturer's incentives may be history. "We don't think incentives can rise dollar-wise very much higher beyond what automakers have offered currently and in the past few months," said Philip Reed Sr., consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com.

Whether embarking on a cross-country trek or just running into town for groceries, it pays to plan ahead. Pack the right junk in your trunk, and you'll be ready for just about anything the road throws at you. "It's not like it was 20 years ago when you got stranded on the side of the road," said LeeAnn Shattuck, co-owner of Women's Automotive Solutions in Fort Mill, S.C., a consulting and car buying service. "Nowadays everybody has a cell phone, which makes it a little easier. But if the battery dies or you find yourself stranded with no signal, you need to have the right supplies."

Glistening showrooms and shiny new cars tempt us to want that brand new leather interior and those stylish wheels. However, just deciding on the car of your dreams in today's economy won't bring you closer to driving it out of the showroom. With the average price of a new car going for just under $30,000, it is almost non-existent to hear of someone simply plunking down the cash. Cars cost big bucks, and loans may be difficult to come by.

It's hard to be sympathetic to the Big Three automakers, who recently pleaded with Congress for a cash bailout. Congress already had designated $25 billion to help the automakers transition manufacturing from SUVs to more efficient models. "But why should taxpayers be asked to pay for this change of business model?" asked James Gattuso of The Heritage Foundation.

All your bills are paid for the month. You've just gotten an oil change for your car and filled your tank of gas. Then the dreaded "check engine" light goes on, and the first thought that goes through your head is how much money this is going to cost. There's no need to worry. Finding -- and going to -- a mechanic doesn't have to be a nightmare.

Little compares to the feel of the open road on a sunny day, the rushing wind and the power of a motorcycle gliding on a twisty road, with the rider and the bike working as one cohesive unit. Once the anxiety of early riding becomes a more peaceful and comfortable feeling, the rider enters a zone and there's no going back. However, the excitement and freedom riding offers can tempt aspiring riders to try more experienced riding techniques before they're ready.

For almost 150 years, the motorcycle has sent out a siren call to thrill seekers, nature lovers and romantics. Today more than 4 million of the two-wheeled steeds are registered in the United States, the majority purchased for recreational use. While automobiles far exceed them, there's much to be said for these motorized marvels.

The big, shiny motorcycle is sitting in your garage, and your dream of taking to the road is about to come true. But before you head out, you'll need to make sure you're properly attired. Having the right gear is as important as choosing the right bike. "Buying a bike is only the beginning," said Andy Ruppel, general manager of AJ Cycle and Trike Conversions in Jasper, Ind. "In order to ride comfortably and safely, you need to protect yourself from the elements, keep warm and dry, and have impact and abrasion protection in the event of an accident."

Motorcycles are economical and fuel-efficient -- not to mention lots of fun to ride. The average "gas-guzzler" will give its owner upwards of 60 miles on a single gallon of gas. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, motorcycles consume 56 percent less fuel per mile traveled. Many manufacturers' engineering departments have improved technology making the bikes not only more fuel efficient but also more environmentally friendly. Companies like Honda offer motorcycles that far exceed even the most stringent air emission standards.

When Linda Pasetti-Olson, a housewife who has retired from the information technology field, wants to escape her daily chores, she hops on her Harley Davidson motorcycle and hits the road. A resident of Montgomery, Ill., Pasetti-Olson is the president of the South Dupage Chapter of ABATE, or American Bikers Aimed Toward Education. Over the past 12 years, she has put 70,000 miles on her bike, traveling all around the United States. "People are nice on the road. I've never had a bit of trouble," she said.

The history of motorcycles is long and storied. They have come a long way since the Roper Machine, a steam powered "safety bike" that was demonstrated in the United States in 1867. By the time that Harley-Davidson started producing motorcycles in 1903, the designs had evolved and these powerful machines were capable of speeding along roads. Every company pushes to construct better cycles -- whether they have more power, speed, comfort or prestige. But no matter where you go, there are many types of cycles out there for every rider.

Restraints, such as child seats, seat belts and air bags, save thousands of lives in the U.S. each year. Here's a look at lives saved in 2007.

Motorists who allow their gas tanks to get close to empty risk being stranded on the road and causing expensive damage to their vehicle. Here are some tips from AAA.

If it seems like Harleys hog the highways, that's because nearly one out of every two motorcycles sold in North America is a Harley-Davidson.