Assorted Year End Stuff
I’m using the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day to clean up some old files, write a few new articles, and get ready for January which promises to be a busy month. To that end, the following are some of the things I am doing or have recently completed:
Yesterday, I test drove the Saturn Aura — a mid-size sedan that won the North American 
Car of the Year award for 2007. The Aura is Opel-derived and sits on GM’s Epsilon platform — I wrote a review of the car which I found to be a major improvement over the L-Series, the model it replaced. In a sea of mid-size models, the Aura is a nice alternative to the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and other competing cars.
I’m still waiting to receive my press credentials for the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. I mentioned just before Christmas that General Motors invited me to the NAIAS as their guest, but the responsibilities of obtaining credentials is with me. I sent off clips this week and today I faxed a request for credentials on my business letterhead.
Speaking of car reviews, my first review for 435 South Magazine in Overland Park, KS should be available to Johnson County residents any day now. I’m not sure if the magazine will be featuring a copy of the magazine online, but the printed publication will be available locally. My first article covers the Lexus LS series.
I’m updating my flagship site, The Article Writer, which includes this blog, my The Article Writer blog, and lots of HTML pages. Along with the previously mentioned Aura review, I plan on adding regular automotive reviews to that portion of the site. Although posting car reviews here seems much more sensible, I am wanting these newer articles to be viewed a bit differently — my including references and easily printed pages, I’m hoping that the newer pages will be referenced widely and help me to gain additional exposure for me well beyond this blog.
Last but not least, just as I featured my Top 10 The Article Writer Blog Posts For 2007, I plan on featuring the ten most read articles for this blog some time next week. Several December articles will be mentioned, but I’m still not certain which one will come out as #1 for the year.
Happy New Year!
San Diego Auto Show, Now Open
The tinsel is barely clinging to Christmas trees and the presents have been unwrapped, but one more gift remains to be opened for Southern California residents — the 2008 San Diego International Auto Show which starts at 10 a.m. today and runs through this Sunday.
More than 400 new cars, concepts and alternative-powered vehicles will be on display at the San Diego Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Adult ticket prices for this year’s event is $10 each with a $2 per ticket discount available. $1 of the proceeds goes to help the San Diego Boys & Girls Club. Seniors, members of the military and children are charged at a discounted rate with children from 1-6 admitted for free.
A number of special exhibits, including the Toyota Trucks Off Road On Site Adventure located on the back side of the center, will be featured at this year’s show.
Is It Time To Replace Your Brake Pads?
I confess that my interest in passenger cars extends mostly to my personal experience as a driver. I can change the oil, filters, and check routine items for wear and tear, but I 
prefer to have my local garage provide most of my maintenance and repairs. After all, if I am spending a lot of time keeping up with the latest changes in the automotive industry, there just isn’t enough time to spend on my cars. Besides, who has a Haynes or Chilton manual handy when you need one?
Not every maintenance check is a difficult one, despite how complicated most cars are today compared to models dating back 20 to 30 years. Computer chips, sensors, and other engineering and technological marvels are now standard on virtually every car sold in America making it seem that you are driving a personal computer on wheels!
When it comes to checking your brake pads for wear and tear, consider the following warnings as evidence that you need to take your car to a mechanic:
- Squealing brakes
- Pulling of the car from one side to the other
- Wheel grabs
- Brake pedal pumping
- Sudden and hard brake pedal
- Spongy brake pedals
- Grinding of the brakes
Most garages offer free brake inspections, so if you aren’t sure that your pads are worn, a mechanic will diagnose your brake system and recommend a course of action. Your garage should provide to you a printed report outlining recommended repairs and the cost for the work which could also include the turning of brake rotors, replacement of brake calipers, etc.
Their estimated price for repairs should be very close to the actual bill for services, taxes and disposal fees extra. If the garage will not provide a written estimate, then take your car elsewhere.
Ignoring the brake warning signs can result in a costly repair bill as well as diminished safety for you and your passengers. Check your brakes every 10,000 miles or more often if you do a lot of stop and go driving, you drive in a hilly area, your vehicle is old, or your brake system is elaborate (ABS, for example).
Photo courtesy of Cristian Cargnello; Santa Fe, Argentina
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