Honda shined bright while sales of the Civic and Accord shot up over 60% from the previous year. Ford, an American company, is also a strong contender as they can brag 5 vehicles on Wall Street Journal’s ‘Top 20 Vehicles’ list. Chrysler, another domestic brand, rose from the ashes from near-bankruptcy to a 30% sales improvement, compliments of a strategic and catchy marketing campaign. Other notably impressive sales leaps from 2011 to 2012 belong to Hyundai, Mazda, and Audi who all boast a 20% improvement. Even VW and BMW are bragging over 30% increase.

Luxury car makers are no longer immune to the fluctuating economy. Italian companies fared well, Ferrari with a 23% increase and Maserati with a 40% leap. British and English luxury car maker Bentley and Rolls Royce suffered over a 25% decrease. 100 year old ultra-luxury German manufacturer, Maybach, stomached the great loss of 75% sales in 2012 as the discontinuation of Maybach was announced in August.

It is undeniable that all industries bare some scars from our abusive and hurting economy. The automotive industry, that seemingly has been holding on by a thread has found some relief. It seems that now, finally, we are starting to see a bright future for the companies that provide us with dangerous recalls, dramatic news stories, endless marketing campaigns, and of course necessary means of transportation.

1. Toyota Camry
• 2013 sales: 483,977
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 344,713
• Base price: $22,055
• Vehicle type: 4-door sedan, 4 cylinder

The Camry sits in the middle of the Toyota sedan model line — above the Corolla and below the Avalon in price. As is true of all high-selling models that sell hundreds of thousand of vehicles each year, the Camry comes in a number of versions. These include two hybrids, and what Toyota labels the XLE model, which comes with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that generates 268 horsepower. In August 2011 Toyota released its first redesign of the Camry in five years. However, many auto industry watchers said the company played it safe, given that the dimensions were unchanged.

2. Ford F-150
• 2013 sales: 455,305
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 351,177
• Base price: $23,670
• Vehicle type: 2-door pickup, 6 cylinder

The F-150 is the base model of Ford’s large line of pickups. The first generation of the truck was introduced in 1948. The basic F-150 XL gets 23 mpg in highway driving. Of course, as engines get bigger, gas mileage drops. The FX2 model has a 5-liter V-8, which gets only 21 mpg in highway driving. The SVT Raptor sports model has a 6.2-liter V-8, which only gets 16 mpg in highway driving. The Limited model costs over $55,000 when fully loaded with all options. The restyled Ford F-150 costs $170 more than the previous year’s model.

3. Honda Accord
• 2013 sales: 387,779
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 276,196
• Base price: $21,680
• Vehicle type: 4-door sedan, 4 cylinder

The Accord comes in both a four-door base sedan and two-door coupe. The base engine for both is a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine. The sedan has an optional 3.5-liter V-6. Honda’s full-size sedan competes against Toyota Camry and Chevrolet Malibu, both of which are on this list. Among the changes in the new Honda Accord, which went on sale in September, are a shorter length, a continuously variable transmission, and a new engine family. Honda calls it “the most sculpted and dynamic Accord ever.”

4. Nissan Altima
• 2013 sales: 358,187
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 258,663
• Base price: $21,700
• Vehicle type: 4-door, 4 cylinder

The 2013 Nissan Altima went on sale in June. It has different proportions and is more loaded with technology, although the changes aren’t massive. “It looks different, at least a bit sexier than the existing model, but its mission remains the same: attract as many mainstream car buyers as possible,” writes Greg Migliore of Autoweek. The fuel economy for the four-cylinder Altima is approximately 27 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway This goes down to 22 mpg and 301 mpg, respectively, for V-6 models.

5. Honda Civic
• 2013 sales: 357,621
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 254,716
• Base price: $15,755
• Vehicle type: 2-door coupe, 4 cylinder

The Civic is one of Honda’s lowest-priced models and comes in seven versions. The first, and least expensive, is a coupe. For slightly more money, $18,165, the Civic is available in a sedan version. As befitting the low-end model of any large manufacturer’s line, Honda offers a hybrid version, which gets 44 mpg in highway driving, as well as a natural-gas version. Fully loaded, the natural-gas version has a sticker price over $31,000. Sales of the Honda Civic have already grown from 221,235 in 2011 to 254,716 in the first 10 months of 2012. The restyled Civic is expected to come out in 2013.

6. Toyota Corolla
• 2013 sales: 333,933
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 237,844
• Base price: $16,230
• Vehicle type: 4-door sedan, 4 cylinder

The Corolla is Toyota’s low-end sedan. Part of its appeal is its 34 mpg in highway driving. Toyota markets the Corolla against the Honda Civic Sedan and Hyundai Elantra. Among its advantages over its competition are standard climate control and a CD player. Sales of the Corolla in the first 10 months of the year have already surpassed 2011′s total of 226,342. The Corolla’s most recent redesign was in 2007. Still, it was the best-selling compact car in 2011. Insiders have told Autoguide that the 2014 Toyota Corolla will be a “dramatic change.”

7. Honda CR-V
• 2013 sales: 327,955
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 233,586
• Base price: $22,695
• Vehicle type: 4-door crossover, 4 cylinder

The CR-V is Honda’s base crossover vehicle. Its small 185-horsepower engine gets 31 mpg in highway driving. The CR-V comes in six versions, which include relatively standard options, such as all-wheel drive. The high end EX-L has a satellite navigation system and a base price of $30,195. The 2012 model, which went on sale in June 2011, included cutting-edge technology features, such as a standard Pandora radio interface and a text-messaging feature that reads messages and allows people to choose one of six automated replies.

8. Ford Fusion
• 2013 sales: 290,424
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 206,855
• Base price: $21,700
• Vehicle type: 4-door sedan, 4 cylinder

The Fusion is Ford’s midsize sedan and comes in four models. The base Fusion gets 34 mpg in highway driving. For consumers more interested in an environmentally friendly car, the Fusion Hybrid gets 47 mpg on the highway. The highest-priced Fusion Titanium AWD costs $36,550 fully loaded, nearly twice as much as the base model. With its 2013 Fusion, Ford became the first car company “to offer a sedan with gasoline, hybrid and plug-in power trains that the automaker expects to result in “a triple crown of best-in-class gas, hybrid [and] plug-in efficiency,” according to Car Connection.

9. Chevy Silverado 1500
• 2013 sales: 282,627
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 248,533
• Base price: $22,595
• Vehicle type: 2-door pickup, 6 cylinder

The Silverado is the midpriced model among Chevy’s pickups, between the $17,474 Colorado and $35,980 Avalanche. Chevy offers three other versions of the Silverado, which are priced well above the 1500 — a hybrid, the 2500 HD, which has a 395-horsepower engine, and the six-wheel 3500 HD. As with many pickups, the 1500 comes in both two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models. The 2014 Chevy Silverado will debut Dec.13 and will be featured at the Detroit auto show in January, although no major details about the truck have been released.

10. Ford Escape
• 2013 sales: 273,846
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 219,907
• Base price: $22,470
• Vehicle type: 4-door SUV, 4 cylinder

The Escape is the entry model of Ford’s SUV/crossover line. It weighs 3,500 pounds, carries up to five people and gets 33 mpg in highway driving. At the other end of the Ford SUV range is the Expedition, which can carry up to eight people, weigh as much as 6,000 pounds and be priced as high as $49,525, getting an average of 14 mpg in city driving. Probably because of the differences in fuel economy, Ford sold 19,832 Escape models in October vs. 2,943 Expeditions. The 2013 Ford Escape, which debuted in November 2011, is slightly longer and wider than previous versions and has a stronger engine.

11. Chevy Malibu
• 2013 sales: 251,403
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 189,094
• Base price: $22,390
• Vehicle type: 4-door sedan, 4 cylinder

Chevy markets the Malibu as its sporty but modestly priced sedan. The GM (GM) division says the Malibu is “inspired by the athletic stance of Camaro,” one of the Chevy sports cars. There is also a high-mileage, four-door version, the Malibu Eco, which gets 37 mpg in highway driving. The Eco gets some of its power from energy stored in a lithium-ion battery. The redesigned 2013 Malibu, which came out in the spring of 2012, went on sale in nearly 100 countries. Although the new car is slightly shorter than previous models, it is wider, helping to improve interior room.

12. Chevy Cruze
• 2013 sales: 247,870
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 199,721
• Base price: $17,130
• Vehicle type: 4-door sedan, 4 cylinder

The Cruze is one of Chevy’s anchors in the high-mileage car race and gets 38 mpg in highway driving. According to parent company GM, the Cruze has the “best fuel economy of any gas engine in America.” The Cruze comes in nine versions, the most expensive of which, the LTZ Auto, has a base price of $23,550. Compared with most of the vehicles on this list, the Cruze is expected to grow modestly. Chevrolet is projected to sell 239,665 models in 2012, which is around 8,000 cars more than were sold in 2011 and around 8,000 less than projected 2013 sales.

13. Chevy Equinox
• 2013 sales: 247,468
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 182,249
• Base price: $23,755
• Vehicle type: 4-door SUV, 4 cylinder

GM’s largest division by sales has 17 basic models, which include cars, crossovers, SUVs and pickups. The Equinox is the least expensive of the crossover/SUVs in the group, with a base price of just $23,755. The vehicle seats five people, and higher-end models have a V-6 engine. Chevy boasts that the Equinox has gotten good marks from Kelley Blue Book, a leading industry research resource. The car has estimated fuel efficiency of 32 mpg in highway driving and 182 horsepower, ranked third and fourth, respectively, out of 18 four-door 2013 SUVs Kelley Blue Book rates.

14. Ford Focus
• 2013 sales: 243,965
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 205,006
• Base price: $16,200
• Vehicle type: 4-door sedan, 4 cylinder

Ford, the only one of the Detroit Three U.S. car companies that did not file for bankruptcy during the recession, has a small fleet of high-mileage cars. The Focus and its stablemate Fiesta get 38 mpg and 39 mpg in highway driving, respectively. The Focus is available in a high-performance ST version, and an electric model, which is priced at $39,200 but gets 99 mpg in highway driving. Ford released a new Focus in 2011, the first redesign in 11 years. It also completely revamped the Detroit plant where the vehicle is made.

15. Hyundai Sonata
• 2013 sales: 235,218
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 192,119
• Base price: $20,995
• Vehicle type: 4-door sedan, 4 cylinder

The Sonata, Hyundai’s slightly more expensive four-door sedan, can cost over $32,000 when all possible accessories and packages are added. Hyundai’s marketing claims about the cars were severely damaged recently when a government investigation forced it to change inaccurate mpg estimates. Both Hyundai and Kia Motors, which has also been implicated in a lawsuit over the probe, have agreed to give current and former owners prepaid debit cards compensating them for the estimated amount of additional money they spent on gas tied to the lower gas-mileage results.

16. Hyundai Elantra
• 2013 sales: 215,721
• Year-to-date 2012 sales: 167,087
• Base price: $16,815
• Vehicle type: 4-door sedan, 4 cylinder

The Elantra is one of two cars that Hyundai, a relative newcomer to the market, has on the list. Despite entering the U.S. market many years after foreign-owned manufacturers, such as Toyota and Honda, Hyundai has done extremely well with its low-priced cars. The South Korean company now has a 4.9% share of the U.S. market. Hyundai says the Elantra gets 38 mpg in highway driving, which is probably one of its attractions. Although the Elantra has historically been a sedan, the 2013 Elantra also features hatchback and coupe models.

Everyone wants to make smart decisions and save money when it comes down to choosing a car insurance carrier. To help the process move along without a hitch, we have provided a few questions you might want to ask to be fully confident and content with your insurance carrier.

1: Am I getting all the auto insurance discounts that my company offers?
Many car insurance companies offer much more than safe-driver discounts. You may qualify for a variety of other discounts, called “credits.” Derek S. Ross, vice president of C.M. Meiers Company Inc., an insurance brokerage in Woodland Hills, Calif., says insurers offer discounts if your car has certain safety features like a car alarm, airbags or an antitheft or electronic vehicle-locator device. Your insurer may even give you a discount if you park in a garage.
If you drive a hybrid, some insurers offer discounts simply because the vehicle is eco-friendly.

Believe it or not, bragging about your child’s accomplishments in school could save you up to 20 percent on your insurance policy: Ask for a good student discount (most companies require a 3.0 GPA or higher). This generally applies to young adults in their teens to age 23 or 25.
Some insurers also offer discounts to working professionals. “They all create their own discount structures for select professionals and groups,” Ross says. This applies to customers who have a master’s or doctorate degree (like medical professionals, lawyers, engineers and others).
In addition, being a member of a professional organization within your field — like a state bar association or medical board — can save you insurance money, Ross says. Some insurers even offer discounts if you graduated from a specific college or university. Just ask. Other discounts include low-mileage savings. If you don’t drive long distances, some companies will award you a discount based on your annual mileage. Finally, if you happen to have a homeowners insurance policy with the same company, don’t forget to ask for a multiline discount.

2: Do I have comprehensive and collision coverage — and is it worth it?
Collision coverage pays for repairs to your car in the event of an accident, no matter who caused it. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage suffered through other events — like vandalism, flood, theft or tree damage. Both coverages generally require that you pay a deductible first.
Alex Soto, former chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America and current president and CEO of Miami-based InSource Inc., says that collision and comprehensive coverage can be a good idea if you own a newer car. But once your car depreciates in value, you may want to cancel it. For example, it may not be worthwhile to pay $400 a year for collision/comprehensive insurance to protect a car that is only valued at $3,000. If you make a total loss claim, you’ll pay your deductible (say, $1,000) and the insurance company then pays the remainder — in this case, $2,000. Was that $400 premium worth it?
On the other hand, if your car is valued at $40,000, buying comprehensive and collision coverage for $500 to $600 may be a good idea. “It is worth it because while you can afford a $2,000 loss as in the previous example, you may not wish to self-insure $40,000,” Soto says. Check the NADA Guides’ value of your car each year and decide if collision and comprehensive coverage is a good bet.

3: Does my policy include uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage?
Not all states require you to have UM coverage. (See your state’s minimum levels of required auto insurance.) If you must buy it, your agent will tell you. If not, Ross says it’s one of the most important coverages to consider. If you have collision coverage, damages to your vehicle will be covered if an uninsured driver crashes into you. But if you don’t, you may want to consider purchasing uninsured motorist property-damage (UMPD) coverage. “A lot of people cannot afford comp and collision,” Ross says. “So if you don’t have it because you can’t afford it, you can get UMPD.”
Because it’s less expensive than collision, UMPD usually only pays up to $3,500 for repairs but it does not require you to cough up a deductible. If you do have collision coverage — and want to avoid paying the deductible (usually at least $500) after an accident — you can add on a collision deductible waiver. Relatively inexpensive, this will waive your collision deductible if your vehicle is hit by an uninsured motorist.
You should also ask your agent what type of coverage you have in the event an uninsured driver hits your vehicle and injures you. While collision coverage pays for damages to your vehicle, it does not cover medical bills. You may want to inquire about UM coverage for bodily injury.

4: If my car is totaled, how much will my insurance pay to cover the loss?
If you don’t address the issue when you buy your policy, the claims check to pay for your totaled car may shock you. Mary Paquette, vice president of private client services at Chartwell Insurance Services in Chicago, says that some insurance companies pay out “actual cash value” while others pay an “agreed upon value” in the event of a total loss. Actual cash value is the depreciated value of your car at the time of the loss. Many insurance companies use the NADA Guide to look up this figure, Paquette says.
For example, say you insure your new car valued at $20,000 in January. With an actual cash value policy, your car may only be valued at $16,000 in July, Paquette says. That’s what you would be paid for your wrecked car. “It can be a surprise,” Paquette says. But if your policy has an “agreed upon value,” the total loss value of your car (agreed upon annually when you renew your insurance) does not drop during the term of your policy.
“This way you have the piece of mind of knowing exactly what that value is listed at and sometimes you have the flexibility to increase that agreed value for an additional premium,” says Paquette, adding that certain companies such as Chubb Group, Fireman’s Fund and Chartis Private Client Group offer “agreed upon value.” Check with your agent to see if your insurer offers that option. Adding the feature to your policy will cost around $100 extra for the average policyholder, she says.
For more, here’s what to do when your auto insurer totals your car.

5: If I need new parts for my car, will my insurer pay for original manufacturer parts?
Some insurance companies guarantee “original equipment manufacturer” (OEM) parts while others will pay only for “aftermarket parts,” Paquette says. As the name suggests, OEM parts are those made by the manufacturer of your vehicle. “Aftermarket parts” are generally less expensive and made by another manufacturer (commonly foreign manufacturers).
Many insurance companies also retain the right to use either one. For example, when it comes to safety items that include airbags and engine parts, some insurers will guarantee OEM parts. But if you need to replace nonsafety items such as a stereo, power windows and door knobs, you may get aftermarket parts. This may not always be negotiable with some insurers. Some insurance companies will not write policies that guarantee OEM parts. Of course you can always choose to pay the extra cost for OEMs if you’re in an accident. “But if you have an option between companies, you may want to go with a company that does not retain the right to use aftermarket parts,” Paquette says.

To answer environmental fears, many consumers are picking smaller vehicles or hybrid vehicles to help reduce the impact that cars have on the environment. Nevertheless, it isn’t just environmentalists that are choosing to buy hybrid cars. Value conscious consumers are also increasingly interested in buying hybrid cars. In a time of unstable gas prices, hybrid cars make a smart choice for those worried about fuel efficiency as hybrids get significantly better gas mileage than their traditional counterparts.

Why buy a Hybrid?
For some consumers, the additional cost of a hybrid vehicle can be a problem, however, owning one is like converting religions and realizing you just spent your life with the wrong group. Customer satisfaction is among the highest with hybrid vehicle owners and the financial benefits can be substantial.

You’ll save money on gas- 

With gas prices soaring to more than four bucks a gallon in many parts of the country, there’s no smarter reason to switch to a hybrid than fuel efficiency. Just compare the miles per gallon you’re getting now with, for example, a Toyota Prius’s 60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. In fact, hybrid cars can go for more than 600 miles between fill-ups, meaning you should be able to cut visits to your neighborhood gas station in half, saving you time as well as money. If you drive 1,000 miles a month and your current car averages 20 miles per gallon, driving a hybrid could save $700 or more a year at the pump.

Reduce Sound Pollution – In addition to reducing emissions, hybrids also significantly reduce sound pollution. Hybrids run much quieter and smoother than traditional cars. If more people began driving hybrids, it would greatly reduce the amount of noise pollution coming from the nation’s roadways. In metropolitan areas, this would be a particularly welcome development as anyone who has lived on a busy street or near a highway could confirm.

You’ll be doing your part to help protect the environment.-
Not only do gasoline-electric hybrids get much better mileage than many standard cars, but most also produce about 90 percent fewer smog-forming tailpipe emissions compared with the average new car, according to Dave Hermance, head of Environmental Engineering for Toyota.

You’ll get cash back from Uncle Sam -
More financial incentive to buy a hybrid: The IRS’s Clean Fuel Vehicle Tax Deduction allows you to take money off your 2004 federal tax bill. You may also qualify for additional financial incentives offered by state and local agencies; log on to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Website (www.ccities.doe.gov/vbg/progs/laws.cgi) to learn more.

Free HOV Passes- Many states have introduced programs where owners of hybrid cars get free HOV passes and even special parking passes. Although saving money on the cost of a HOV pass is not anything to write home about, you can feel safe driving in the HOV lane without constantly looking around for a police officer and that is priceless.

Altruism – After years of environmentalists talking about how bad cars are, hybrids can give their owners a certain sense of pride in their purchase. They can feel good about their choice-it reduces the impact on the environment and helps take responsibility for the mistakes of the past. Moreover, as more hybrids are sold, demand will increase which will lower the price and make the cars more accessible to large portions of the population.

The list of 2013 models is controlled by trucks and SUVs from Japanese automakers Honda (NYSE:HMC) and Toyota. As a matter of fact, only two cars, the Honda Civic and Toyota’s Scion tC, made this year’s list. Toyota was able to rule the chart with six vehicles in the top 10.

One model from Chrysler, now owned by Italy’s Fiat – the Jeep Wrangler — is the only vehicle from an American brand on the list. Volkswagen‘s Porsche also produced one vehicle on the list.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the average car holds only 38% of its selling price at the end of five years.

Here are Kelley Blue Book’s Top 10 vehicles with the best five-year resale value for 2013:

. Toyota FJ Cruiser — 63%
. Toyota Tacoma — 57%
. Jeep Wrangler — 55.4%
. Honda CR-V — 50.7%
. Toyota 4Runner — 49%
. Toyota Land Cruiser — 49%
. Porsche Cayenne — 47.3%
. Lexus LX – 47%
. Honda Civic — 46.9%
. Scion tC — 46.5%

For more detail on the resale values of the vehicles in the list, please visit Kelley Blue Book.

Here is a list of slang terms that are most commonly used between our friendly, and sometimes not so friendly, car salesmen around the country:

“B.C.” – Customer with bad credit.

“Buried” or “Upside Down” – A customer who owes more than the car he/she is trading is worth.

“Back Lot Special” – A vehicle with little resale value that usually takes up a back row on the car lot.

“Be Back” – The customer who says they’ll be back.

“Bare” – Paint that is beginning to fade.

“Checked Tops” – Vehicle with chipped or spotted paint on hood, top or truck.

“Donut” – Small size spare tire used on newer vehicles.

“Fresh Badge” – Car that has recent state inspection.

“Full Shot” – A vehicle that has been completely rebuilt following a crash.

“Gear Banger” or “Stick” – Manual transmission equipped vehicles.

“In The Wrapper” – A car in like new condition.

“Leaker” – A bad moon or sun roof.

“Laydown” – Customer who buys a car without negotiating price.

“Light the Candles” – Start the engine.

“Nine Yards” – A car equipped with every option available.

“Orange Peel” – Paint applied poorly that looks wavy.

“Plain Janer” or “Rubbernose” – Car with few or no options.

“Put to Sleep” – Customer who paid too much for his/her car.

“Ringer” or “Hot” – A stolen vehicle with incorrect vehicle identification number (VIN).

“Slider” – Power sunroof.

“Slug” or “Dog” – Vehicle with a worn engine.

“Spare Is In The Wrapper” – A spare tire that has never been used.

“Six Banger” – A six cylinder engine.

“Spinner” or “Bad Clock” – A vehicle with a rolled-back mileage odometer.

“Stroker” or “Tire Kicker” – A person on the lot who looks with no intention of buying.

“Sneakers” or “Paws” – The tires.

“Tight” or “Cherry” – Vehicle in excellent condition.

“The Up” – The next customer assigned to a salesman who has to “get up” to assist.

“Worth A Nickel” – A vehicle with a value of $500. A pair of nickels is $5500, while a dime is $1000. A dozen is $1200 and so forth.

“50-50″ – Agreement between buyer and seller where each assumes 50 percent of the cost of repair that occurs within the warranty limit.

Now that you have all the slang down, you’ll know it’s time to leave when you overhear your salesperson telling a coworker that you would be the perfect person to buy the “spinner” that’s a “slug” because you’re a “laydown” who was “put to sleep” at the previous dealership.

Making sure all your belongings fit is one thing, but this space houses your workshop, truck, big toys and, in some cases, the man cave where you escape for a football game or afternoon of hanging out with some pals. This is the perfect time of year to make your garage the storage and hang-out space you need for those long winter months.

Here are a few tips that can help you turn your garage into a space that meets all your requirements for many years to come:

- Clean it up. While the weather is relatively warm, take the time to clean out the garage of anything not needed (broken car parts, duplicate tools, half-empty cans of paint or stain and even products you’ve outgrown) and find storage space for what’s left over. Purchase storage containers and shelving, or build hanging racks to help keep items off the floor and out of the way. Wash down the floors, scrub the walls and let it dry out before putting everything back in.

- Protect your floors. After driving through the slush and snow, your car or truck is going to be bringing a lot of sand and salt chemicals into your garage. As it melts, this corrosive mixture congregates on the floor, developing pockmarks and cracks in the concrete. Give your garage floor a protective.

- Maintenance is important. Sometimes just cleaning the garage isn’t enough. You may need to invest a bit of time and energy into the electrical and – if included – heating as well. Replace all the batteries in your garage door openers, and clean the weather stripping between the door panels. Also have a heating professional check out your garage heater at the same time you are getting your home furnace inspected and cleaned. You don’t want to come out to the garage on the day the temps drop below freezing and discover the heater isn’t working.

Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas chaos is around the corner. This means an influx of families on the road, hazardous driving conditions and the much dreaded shopping traffic.

We have listed 10 must know driving tips to help you and your family have safe travels this Christmas season.

1. Avoid warming up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage
Even though you can’t see or smell it, your vehicle emits carbon monoxide gas. High levels of carbon monoxide can kill a person in minutes when the garage door is closed. Also, make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud. This could cause carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.

2. Check tire pressure frequently and when tires are cold
As you remember from your high school chemistry class, molecules contract in cold weather. This causes tires to be underinflated, which can result in longer stopping distances (and longer skids!) on wet surfaces. Besides saving fuel and minimizing emissions, properly inflated tires offer the best contact with the road and thus are safer.

3. Replace your summer tires with all-season or winter tires
Many newer vehicles today come with summer tires installed from the factory. Although, these tires provide fantastic cornering and traction on dry/wet pavement, they don’t particularly do well on snow and ice. Summer tires also tend to get hard and brittle in cold temperatures, which can affect a vehicle’s ability to stop and steer. In comparison, all-season tires are constructed to perform well in all seasons. In general, they hold up better to cold temperatures and offer better snow and ice traction than summer tires. However, if you live in areas with harsh winter weather you should definitely consider a set of winter tires (also known as “snow tires”). Winter tires have tread patterns specifically designed to dig down and bite into snow and ice. They are made from softer rubber compounds that retain their flexibility in cold weather. This causes the tire to better grip the surface of the road in icy or snowy conditions.

4. Check tire tread depth
According to a recent survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11% of vehicles in the United States have one or more bald tires. These vehicles are at higher risk for hydroplaning and loss of vehicle control in bad weather, which can lead to accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. We recommend that you check your tire tread twice a year and especially before a long trip.

5. Don’t use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface
Cruise control is designed for normal road conditions. Under slick conditions, you need to be in complete control and constantly monitoring road conditions. With some cars, it is possible that the wheels will actually spin faster when the cruise control is on and the car hits a slippery spot and begins hydroplaning. When the tires finally make contact with firm road again, the car can skid or lose control.

6. Keep your gas tank at least half-full. By doing so, you will not only avoid gas line freeze-up but also lower your risk of running out of gas in case of lengthy traffic delays (like the one experienced on 495 last year!).

7. Accelerate and decelerate slowly
Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.

8. Increase following distance
The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.

9. Don’t power up on snow covered hills
Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads simply gets your wheels spinning. The best approach is to gain a little momentum going before you reach the hill and let that momentum carry you to the top. As you reach the top of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.

10. In the event you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle
Your car will provide temporary shelter and will make it easier for rescuers to locate you. Walking away from it in a blowing storm can cause you to lose sight of your vehicle and become lost. Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled up window to signal distress. At night, keep the dome light on if possible. It only uses a small amount of electricity. If possible run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and to conserve gasoline. Hopefully, before your trip, you’ve packed a cell phone, blankets, gloves, hats, food, water, and any needed medication in your vehicle.

By following these holidays driving tips your family should be able to take on the roads and all that holiday driving brings to us this time of year without a hitch.

Country super star Alan Jackson heads to the Cruzan Amphitheater to serenade us with songs from his newest album ‘ Thirty Miles West’ and some of his beloved classics. The Cruzan Amphitheater will be hosting Alan Jackson and the WIRK Country Christmas beginning at 4:00pm this Saturday.

The AutoCricket.com party deck will surely be full of cowboy boots and Christmas spirit. So get those boots on and two-step on over to the party deck where we are sure to have a hog wild good time.

Many ladies donned in their little black dresses showed for the evening’s festivities. The event began at Saks Fifth Avenue for an early cocktail hour, fashion show and auction to benefit the Center for Creative Education and ended with a dinner at the Grand Court.

The Center for Creative Education is a non-profit program that helps bring art and education to the children and teens of Palm Beach County through two unique programs; Project LEAP/In-School Program and the CADRE/ After-School Program.
CCE’s Project Leap/In-School program allows professional artists to work in partnership with the classroom to bring an artistic aspect to traditional classroom subjects such as math and science.

CADRE/After-school program is a program offered in low income communities and helps kids and teens to find and exercise their talents rather they be artistic or not. CADRE is a free program offered at community centers, the YMCA, THE Boys and Girls club, Palm Beach County Elementary and middle schools as well as at faith-based after school programs.

AutoCricket.com is a multifaceted company with a consumer-friendly interface enabling consumers to meet all of their automotive needs. The simple forms with drop down menus and self-generated answers have made searching for automotive insurance and new vehicle prices easier for consumers. AutoCricket.com strives to provide a simple solution for those who have automotive needs, whether it is to search, finance or insure.

CCE uses the arts to enrich and transform children’s educational experience at more than 70 underperforming schools in Palm Beach County. This year we served the greatest number of children in any single year, estimated at 12,500 students.

For more information regarding AutoCricket.com please visit our website or contact Nora Robinson at 561.845.2391.

For more information regarding Center for Creative Education please visit their website at www.cceflorida.org.

Media Contact:
Nora Robinson
AutoCricket Corp.
155 East Blue Heron Blvd. Suite 405
West Palm Beach FL 33404
Ph: 561.845.2391