Gas Prices Continue To Climb
Pain at the pump is a term to describe what many consumers are feeling when they gas up (or diesel up or ethanol up…you get the picture). Over the weekend I filled the near empty tank of my Dodge Neon and I paid $31 for that privilege. $31! Fortunately, our other vehicle is also economical — a Toyota RAV4, but those fill ups will likely cost us about $40.
I cannot imagine what people with larger, less fuel efficient vehicles are going through. Even some minivans aren’t as fuel efficient as you might expect and, if you use a truck or SUV for work, then an $80 fill up may not be out of reach. Ouch!
There was a news blurb on the radio (sorry, I cannot remember the source) where it was said that gas in my state, NC, will hit $3.30 this summer breaking last summer’s peak of $3.18. I paid $2.89 for regular yesterday, so that means that there is at least another 40 cents more to add to the price of a gallon of gas.
Lest we forget, gas prices dropped over the winter with prices approximately 75 cents lower than they are now. With bigger increases coming, a $1.15 per gallon swing in gas prices is hard to swallow. However, our national gas usage continues to grow. Go figure?
Quality Brakes: They Stop Every Time!
It is a fact of life: your car’s brake system will need regular inspections and maintenance to ensure that they are always doing what they are supposed to do, which is to stop your car. As simple as that seems, not all owners maintain their cars in the same way and not all replacement brake parts are the same. Getting into the habit of regularly checking your brakes can save you a lot of problems [and money] later on. Let’s take a look at some of the things that you can do to ensure that your car stops on a dime, every time.
Magna Is The Frontrunner For Chrysler
Magna International, the Canadian auto parts supplier, appears to have the upper hand in negotiations to purchase Chrysler, or a portion thereof.
The Detroit News is reporting that Magna is likely to get a stake in Chrysler — somewhere between 25 and 50 percent — as Magna has been valuing the company in the mid to high $5 billion dollar range, a figure that is higher than the two competing offers from stand alone private equity groups.
The UAW is receptive to Magna too and could play a pivotal role in Magna winning the bid. The union has said that they would consider concessions to Magna in a bid to help reign in healthcare and pension costs perhaps in exchange for jobs and/or employee relocation packages.
DaimlerChrysler could still retain an interest in Magna should Magna’s investment be accepted. Magna, a key supplier to Ford and GM as well, could lose business to the two other US automakers should their plan come to fruition.
-
Custom Search