Truth: Next Exit

2012-01-26T09:52:00.001-06:00

I'm just saying ...

2012-01-24T10:33:00.002-06:00

2012 is here!

2011-12-31T22:25:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year!

2011-12-30T13:12:00.003-06:00

Negligent repair shops play with your safety.

2011-12-29T07:23:00.001-06:00

Here in Amarillo - bring your repaired vehicle in for a FREE post-repair inspection at Bernards Advanced Collision!

Slick streets mean more cars to fix ..

2011-12-21T17:43:00.002-06:00

Coolest car of the month ...

2011-12-02T07:19:00.003-06:00

Yeah we think the fin is over the top but that's the point isn't it? Check out the lines on this 2010 Dodge CHALLENGER HPP Daytona custom conversion show car. Wonderfully rad & bad!

LINK FOR MORE PHOTOS

Videos: Does Progressive use Snapshot against you?

2011-11-14T22:23:00.003-06:00

Video we found on YouTube concerning Progressive Insurance and their "Snapshot" driving monitoring system.

TV investigation into the "truth" about Progessive's Snapshot:

Images from Cruise Night - 11-5-2011

2011-11-06T08:46:00.009-06:00

Click to enlarge:

All photos (C) Steve Douglass

New 789 Chevy?

2011-11-01T14:25:00.002-05:00

I had to share this cool car in an e-mail I received.

- Thought you might enjoy looking at this

unusual Chevy. It's a 1957, 1958 & 1959

Chevy All Rolled Into One!

This car was built by N2A motors

(No Two Alike).

Unbelievable! The company is planning a

Production run of about 100 vehicles. It

sits on a Corvette C6 chassis, Front

styled like a 57 Chevy, side like a 58,

rear like a 59. Hence the designation

"789."

Is this a hot looking car, or what !!

(You probably need to be at least 50 years old to really appreciate this! )

580hp Camaro ZL1 convertible revealed

2011-10-11T07:36:00.002-05:00

Top Gear: 580hp Camaro ZL1 convertible revealed

Has Chevrolet heeded none of Sir John Dalberg-Acton's legendary, chilling advice? That all power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely?

One can merely speculate as to whether the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 convertible's 580hp corrupts; whether that stratospheric power output will liquidise rear tyres, raze poorly fixed hairpieces and vaporise your spine. That's right, dearest Internet badgers, the new Chevy Camaro ZL1 drop-top now produces 580 horses and 556 torques. It is Chevy's most powerful drop-top ever. Ever.

The coupe version of the ZL1 recently did a lap of Germany’s 13-mile-long Nurburgring Nordschleife race track in 7:41, putting it in the same league with supercars like the Mercedes-Benz SLS and Porsche 911 GT3.

Pricing has not yet been released, but is expected to fall in the $50-$60,000 range.
Unfortunately for potential buyers who live in four-season states, the ZL1 Convertible doesn’t go on sale until the end of 2012, so they’ll have to live another summer without it.
At least that gives them plenty of time to pick a new hairstyle.

And you wonder why your insurance rates are high?

2011-09-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

New York DA fighting auto insurance industry ...

2011-09-13T15:06:00.004-05:00

Spotlight on soaring car insurance costs

2011-09-13T14:56:00.003-05:00

By Tanya Powley

The car insurance industry has had a busy week.
On Thursday, the Office of Fair Trading, the consumer watchdog, announced it would launch an investigation into soaring car insurance premiums.

Any motorist who has had to renew their car insurance recently will be fully aware of how big these rises have been. We’re not just talking about price increases of 10 or 20 per cent. Family members and friends alike have complained to me that their premiums have often doubled in price.

In fact, according to the AA’Insurance Premium Index, average insurance premiums have rocketed by as much as 40 per cent in a single year. To make matters worse, this follows a 30 per cent rise in premiums in 2010.

The consumer watchdog is set to examine whether there are any competition or consumer issues that need to be addressed. It will start collecting evidence of over-pricing and is expected to publish its findings in December.

So the OFT’s probe into insurance costs is likely to be welcomed by motorists up and down the country.

But that’s not the only good news for motorists this week.

On Friday, the government announced it would ban the referral fees paid by lawyers and claim management companies to insurers in personal injury claims.

The payment of referral fees has been repeatedly blamed by insurers as one of the main factors pushing car insurance premiums upwards.

Often termed the insurance industry’s “dirty little secret”, insurers will sell on the details of their customer’s car accident to a personal injury lawyer who will in turn pay the insurer a referral fee for doing so.

This then leads to an increasing number of personal injury claims being made as lawyers and claim management companies phone and send texts to the motorist encouraging them to sue for compensation.

Insurers are blaming this increase in claims for the rise in insurance premiums as they look to pass the legal costs onto the motorist, while pocketing the referral fees that led to that claim being made in the first place.

It is this system that the government wants to remove. Justice official Jonathan Djanogly said: “The ‘no-win, no-fee’ system is pushing us into a compensation culture in which middle men make a tidy profit which the rest of us end up paying for through higher insurance premiums and higher prices.”

“Honest motorists are seeing their premiums hiked up as insurance companies cover the increasing costs of more and more compensation claims. Many of the claims are spurious and only happen because the current system allows too many people to profit from minor accidents and incidents.”

Top stolen cars!

2011-08-03T17:04:00.001-05:00

It's something almost everyone relies on.

It's their vehicle. And to have it stolen could obviously be very inconvenient. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has released its new report on the most stolen cars in America.

The 1995 Honda Civic is the most stolen car in America. It had held that position since 2007.

Since 2007, car thefts have remained consistent but dropped by almost nine percent in 2007.

"The continuing national decrease in vehicle theft is a positive sign that the fight against vehicle theft by law enforcement, the insurance industry and the NICB continues to be effective," said Robert M. Bryant, NICB's president and chief executive officer.

As for theft prevention, the NICB says everyone should use simple, low-cost suggestions to make vehicles less attractive to thieves. It recommends: common sense, a warning device, an immobilizing device and a tracking device.

The report was based off information from the National Crime Information Center.

The following are the 10 most stolen vehicles, according to the NICB:
Honda Civic (1995)
Honda Accord (1991)
Toyota Camry (1989)
Ford F-150 (1997)
Chevrolet C/K 1500 (1994)
Acura Integra (1994)
Dodge Ram Pickup (2004)
Nissan Sentra (1994)
Toyota Pickup (1988)
Toyota Corolla (2007)

Amarillo Cruise Night July, 2nd 2011

2011-07-06T09:53:00.015-05:00

Click to enlarge:

(C) Steve Douglass

Self portrait in a Cadillac ...

Old truck - Old Glory ...

Three generations of motorheads ...

Stang ...

Fuzzy dice ...

Cushman Ken ...

Cool hat ...

Goldsmobile ...

Van blue ...

Metal mouth ...

American "Buffalo & Kat"

All Images (C) Steve Douglass - approved for private use only! Publication or reproduction requires permission from teh photographer. Contact: webbfeatproductions.com

Just how important is your windshield replacement installation?

2011-05-09T21:17:00.001-05:00

Organized Scams Defraud Consumers And Insurers Alike, Costing Billions Of Dollars Annually

2011-04-25T10:42:00.003-05:00

NEW YORK, April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If you have been involved in an auto accident that just didn't feel right, it might not have been an accident at all. More and more criminals are devising elaborate staged vehicle accidents—complete with fake injuries—to collect on insurance policies, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). Not only can these staged accidents cost honest policyholders and auto insurers billions of dollars annually, but they create unsafe conditions on roads and highways—particularly when the scheme goes wrong.

"Staged auto accidents are a dangerous criminal activity that targets innocent drivers with increasingly bold schemes aimed at defrauding insurance companies," said Loretta Worters, vice president with the I.I.I. "Not only do honest policyholders ultimately end up paying more for auto insurance, but those committing the fraud can cause serious injuries or death."

Staged accidents aren't the only way to defraud consumers. Fraud may be committed by a number of different parties involved in an insurance transaction: applicants for insurance; policyholders; third-party claimants; and professionals who provide services and equipment to claimants. In addition to staged accidents, common fraud practices include "padding," or inflating actual claims; misrepresenting facts on an insurance application; and submitting claims for injuries or damage that never occurred, services never rendered or equipment never delivered.

Fraudulent automobile accidents occur more frequently in urban areas, where there is a greater number of vehicles, and in wealthier communities because drivers there are perceived to have better insurance coverage, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) noted. Criminals often target new, rental or commercial vehicles because they are typically well insured. Furthermore, criminals tend to prey on women driving alone and senior citizens since they are perceived to cause fewer problems and are less likely to be confrontational at accident scenes.

Such organized scams are especially common in states that have so-called "no-fault" auto insurance, a term used loosely to denote any auto insurance program that allows policyholders to recover financial losses from their own insurance company, regardless of fault. Twelve U.S. states have no-fault auto insurance laws, with Florida topping the list of no-fault states with questionable claims involving staged accidents.

The best defense against becoming involved in a staged accident and auto insurance fraud is to know what to look for. According to NICB, here are some of the more common staged accident scenarios:

Swoop and Squat: Usually involves three vehicles; two are driven by criminals, the other is the victim. The driver of the "squat" vehicle positions his vehicle in front of the victim's car. The driver of the "swoop vehicle" pulls ahead of the squat vehicle and internationally cuts it off, thus causing the squat vehicle driver to hit his breaks. The victim cannot react in time and rear ends the squat vehicle. The swoop vehicle races off and is not seen again. The innocent motorist states the swoop vehicle caused the accident, but because that driver cannot be located, the victim has to pay the vehicle damage and personal injury claims of passengers in the squat vehicle.

Side Swipe: Typically occurs at busy intersections with dual left turn lanes. The criminal positions his vehicle in the outer lane. As soon as the victim's vehicle drifts into the outer turn lane, the criminal side-swipes it.

Panic stop: Here the criminal typically drives an older vehicle filled with passengers. The criminal positions his car in front of the victim's while a backseat passenger in the criminal's vehicle watches and waits for the innocent motorist to be distracted, for example, by a cellphone call. As soon as the victim is distracted, the driver slams on the brakes, causing the innocent motorist to rear-end the criminal's vehicle. The victim's insurance company must pay for vehicle damage as well as injuries that the passengers may claim to have suffered from the accident.
Drive down: In this scheme, the victim merges his vehicle into traffic after being motioned to do so by the criminal. As the innocent driver begins to merge, the criminal speeds up and causes a collision. When questioned, the criminal denies motioning the victim to merge into traffic or gives excuses

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE PRNEWSWIRE.COM

Texas House approves 85 MPH Speed Limit ..

2011-04-08T12:00:00.001-05:00

Everything is big in Texas and now even the speed limit will be the biggest in America. The Texas House of Representatives have recently approved a new transportation bill. Part of it allows the Texas Department of Transportation to set speed limits to 85 MPH on select interstates.

Texas already has over 520 miles of interstate where the highways have a speed limit of 80 mph. The states of Montana and Wyoming have enjoyed an 80 mph speed limit for more than a decade on hundreds of highway miles as well. One area that may receive the 85 mph speed limit in Texas is a long stretch of Interstate 10 where you have a flat long line of sight with wide lanes and good shoulders.

You have to wonder, is raising the speed limit to 85 mph in any area of the U.S. such a good idea? Insurance companies don’t seem to think so. Jerry Johns, a spokesman for the Southwestern Insurance Information Service believes that such an increase of the speed limit in just some areas will have a dramatic impact on the death and injury rate on those highways in which the 85 mph speed limit is implemented.

Although drivers already exceed 70 mph speed limits on highways, 85 mph could not only raise the stakes, literally, but raise fuel consumption during a time when gas prices are nearing record highs again. Despite highway deaths falling to the lowest level since 1949, an 85 mph speed limit could have detrimental effects on that statistic.

We should also think about the added skill and vehicle capabilities required to maintain a speed of 85 mph on some of America’s roads. It is bad enough that we have people who carelessly reach excessive speeds on U.S. interstates and highways. The DOT would need to conduct a thorough safety analysis of roadways before they can post an 85 mph speed limit.

Do you think it is such a good idea to implement an 85 mph speed limit? If so, where should it be posted? If you object, tell us why in the comments area below.

Amarillo Cruise Night - April 2 -2011

2011-04-03T09:38:00.014-05:00

Click to enlarge each photograph:

Video - Make A Wish Car Show 2011

2011-03-05T16:59:00.001-06:00

Short teaser for the Make-A-Wish car show. It's running through Sunday at the Amarillo Civic Center. If you are a motor-head like I am - well worth the $5 - and its for a great cause.

27th Annual Make A Wish Car show this weekend!

2011-03-03T08:16:00.001-06:00

27th Annual Make-A-Wish Car Show
AMARILLO CIVIC CENTER
Date: March 05, 2011
Time: Saturday (10am - 6pm), Sunday (10am - 5pm)

Join the Panhandle Council of Car Clubs for the 27th Annual Car Show benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Plains. This two day Car Show features 300+ cars all under one roof. Cars of all shapes, sizes, models, colors, etc. Last year, the Car Show was able to rasie over $60,000 for the children with life-threatening medical conditions in the Texas Panhandle. That is enough to grant between 8-10 wishes!

PRICE: Adults ($5), Kids ($3), Under 5 Free

Explain this to your insurance agent ...

2011-02-17T11:47:00.000-06:00

What a deal!

2011-02-02T10:51:00.001-06:00

Detroit Auto Show: 15 Cars Of The Future

2011-01-12T09:41:00.002-06:00

CNN:

The Civic concept shows what the next generation Honda Civic will look like. The new Civic will offer a new interpretation of the current Civic's "one-motion" style, Honda says.
The 2012 Civic will be even more fuel efficient, according to Honda. Like today, a hybrid version will be available.

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, senior writer

CLICK TO SEE THE REST OF THE TOP 15

Safest Cars for 2011

2011-01-02T20:21:00.003-06:00

The safest cars for 2011 have been chosen by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent nonprofit scientific organization dedicated to reducing the incidents on American highways.

Eighteen of the 66 winners of the newest IIHS Top Safety Pick award come from Hyundai and Volkswagen; with nine winning models each, the two manufacturers topped the list.

IIHS instituted tougher standards for 2010; the institute added roof strength to its criteria, testing protection in rollover crashes. Only 27 models from 2010 were initially able to pass the new test.

"In just a year, automakers have more than doubled the number of vehicles that meet the criteria for Top Safety Pick," Institute president Adrian Lund said in a press release.

Ten more models made the grade in 2011, while two were discontinued.

"That gives consumers shopping for a safer new car or SUV—from economy to luxury models—plenty of choices to consider in most dealer showrooms,” Lund continued. “In fact, every major automaker has at least one winning model this year."

Rear crash protection, seat and head restraints, front and side evaluations were all added into consideration along with roof strength. Based on incident tests and ratings, IIHS´s list helps consumers to choose cars that offer the highest level of protection.
Here's a full list of the 2011 Top Safety Picks:

Buick LaCrosse Audi A3
Buick Regal Audi A4 sedan
BMW 5 series (except 4-wheel drive and V8) Chevrolet Malibu
Cadillac CTS sedan Chrysler 200 4-door
Ford Taurus Dodge Avenger
Hyundai Genesis Ford Fusion
Infiniti M37/M56 (except M56x 4-wheel drive) Hyundai Sonata
Lincoln MKS Kia Optima
Mercedes E class coupe Lincoln MKZ
Mercedes E class sedan Mercedes C class
Toyota Avalon Subaru Legacy
Volvo S80 Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Chevrolet Cruze Volvo C30
Honda Civic 4-door models (except Si) with optional electronic stability control Minicar
Kia Forte sedan Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback
Kia Soul (built after July 2010)
Mitsubishi Lancer sedan (except 4-wheel drive)
Nissan Cube Midsize SUVs
Scion tC Audi Q5
Scion xB Cadillac SRX
Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback (except WRX) Chevrolet Equinox
Toyota Corolla Dodge Journey
Volkswagen Golf 4-door Ford Explorer
Volkswagen GTI 4-door Ford Flex
GMC Terrain
Hyundai Santa Fe
Toyota Sienna
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento (built after March 2010)
Small SUVs Lexus RX
Honda Element Lincoln MKT
Hyundai Tucson Mercedes GLK
Jeep Patriot (with optional side torso airbags) Subaru Tribeca
Kia Sportage Toyota Highlander
Subaru Forester Toyota Venza
Volkswagen Tiguan Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90
Volkswagen Touareg

This weeks funny photo:

2011-01-02T19:59:00.002-06:00

And you thought you were having a bad day!

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T09:29:00.002-06:00

This weeks funny photo:

2010-12-20T09:13:00.000-06:00

How Much Are You Over-Paying For Your Auto Insurance?

2010-12-14T08:13:00.002-06:00

How Much Are You Over-Paying For Your Auto Insurance

In good times, it's natural that we pay less attention to our individual expenses. But today, regardless of our current situation, we all need to save as much money as possible.

And when it comes to saving money, the experts agree one of the best places to start is with your auto insurance.

While it’s natural that companies want to generate as much profit as they can, auto insurance is one area that many people end up paying way more than they should. That’s because they are unaware of some key information which insurance companies aren’t in a particular hurry to share.

What you need to know to make sure your Insurance Company is not getting rich off you

1. Rates are constantly changing. In fact, in certain states and for certain policies rates have actually dropped significantly in the past 12 months. And if your record has improved you may even be eligible for additional reductions. You can be sure, however, that your insurance company isn’t going to call you up and let you know their rates have dropped.

2. You're not locked in to your policy. Even if you have pre-paid your current insurance company for an entire year, you have the right to cancel the policy at any time and receive a pro-rated refund. In fact their is no cost to switch policies from one company to another.

3. Comparing quotes from multiple insurance companies delivers the most savings. Today there are online services that let consumers quickly shop for the best rates from a nationwide selection of auto insurance companies, all competing for your business. You simply enter your requirements, and instantly receive quotes from a wide range of reputable companies so you can immediately see how much you could save by switching.

One of the most comprehensive of these comparison services is offered by a website called AutoInsuranceTips.com They operate a free service that will quickly get you auto insurance quotes from a wide network of premium insurers. It makes it quick and simple to learn which company is willing to ensure you for less. The site also contains a wealth of reference information that helps you understand how different policies work and how to save the most money possible.

The fact is that with a minimal amount of time and the help of a service such as AutoInsuranceTips.com you may be able to quickly save hundreds of dollars.

So, if you're into saving money, start by finding out how much less you could be paying every month for your auto insurance coverage.

Funny of the week: And you think you have problems ...

2010-12-13T08:04:00.002-06:00

Funny of the week: And you think you have problems ...

2010-12-06T08:50:00.001-06:00

Amarillo Christmas Light Parade

2010-12-05T07:05:00.001-06:00

Beware of rebuilt wrecks.

2010-11-30T15:44:00.001-06:00

November Cruise Night Photos ...

2010-11-07T14:19:00.004-06:00

Sponsored by Panhandle Council of Car Clubs.
Click to enlarge:

The Luckiest People On Earth ...

2010-10-07T08:59:00.001-05:00

Hialeah Police have arrested five insurance adjusters accused of fraud.

2010-09-30T22:00:00.003-05:00

Five former claims adjusters were arrested today for their roles in several auto insurance fraud schemes
By JESSICA SICK and HANK TESTER

Five former insurance company claims adjusters were arrested today for their roles in several auto insurance fraud schemes.

The arrests come after last year's investigation by the Hialeah Police Auto Theft Unit, Miami-Dade Auto Theft Task Force and National Insurance Crime Bureau that led to the arrest of 26 people involved in the insurance schemes in which vehicle owners conspired with auto shops to bilk insurance companies out of $5 million.

According to authorities, in order to avoid payments on financed vehicles, the vehicle owner stages a crash and takes the vehicle to a repair shop, where the shop causes further damage to the vehicle, namely tampering with the airbag so that it appears it deployed during the crash, which ups the claim amount.

Today in a joint press conference addressing "Operation Crash and Bash for Cash," State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Hialeah Police Chief Mark Overton, and representatives from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Allstate and State Farm announced the arrests of Allstate employees Roman Hernandez, Eduardo Quinonez, and Roy Stella, and State Farm employees Jeremazine Kirland and Julio Ravelo.

All five suspects were charged with various counts of grand theft of the third degree and RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, not Suave).
Rundle said this case is the first she can remember in which employees for the insurance companies were involved in the insurance scam.

"They betrayed their employers, they betrayed their colleagues and the betrayed the consumers of South Floriday," she said. "Ultimately, all of us."
"Florida is ground zero for this activity," said Overton during the press conference, "and we won't tolerate

Replace the word "Health" with "Auto"

2010-09-08T14:49:00.000-05:00

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Beware of rebuilt wrecks!

2010-09-07T09:26:00.001-05:00

How to Steer Clear of Auto Warranty Scams

2010-08-30T08:47:00.002-05:00

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, urges you to be skeptical of mail and phone calls warning that the warranty on your car is about to expire. The companies behind the mail and calls may give the impression they represent your car dealer or manufacturer. With phrases like Motor Vehicle Notification, Final Warranty Notice or Notice of Interruption, they are trying to make the offer seem urgent — and to get you to call a toll-free number for more information.

More than likely, these pitches are from unrelated businesses that want to sell you extended warranties — more accurately known as service contracts — that often sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars. If you respond to a call from a business pitching so-called extended warranties, you’re likely to hear high-pressure sales tactics, as well as demands for personal financial information and a down payment, before you get any details about the service contract. And if you buy a service contract, you may find that the company behind it won’t be in business long enough to fulfill its commitments.

Protect Yourself

So how can you steer clear of scam auto warranty offers? The FTC says:

If you get mail or phone calls about renewing your vehicle warranty, don’t take the information at face value. Your vehicle’s warranty may be far from expiring — or it may have expired already. If you have a question about your warranty, check your owner’s manual, call the dealer who sold you the car or contact the vehicle manufacturer.
Be alert to fast talkers. Telemarketers pitching auto warranties often use high-pressure tactics to hide their true motive. Take your time. Most legitimate businesses will give you time and written information about an offer before asking you to commit to a purchase.
Never give out personal financial or other sensitive information like your bank account, credit card or Social Security numbers — even your driver’s license number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) — unless you know who you’re dealing with. Scam artists often ask for this information during an unsolicited sales pitch, and then use it to commit other frauds against you.
Be skeptical of any unsolicited sales calls if the call is a recorded message or if your phone number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. You shouldn't get recorded sales pitches unless you have specifically agreed to accept such calls, with few exceptions — read New Rules for Robocalls to learn more. And if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry, a salesperson may call you only if you have agreed to accept calls from the company the salesperson works for, if you have bought something from the company within the last 18 months or if you have asked the company for information within the last three months. To report violations of the National Do Not Call Registry or to register a phone number, visit DoNotCall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222.
Service Contracts

A service contract is a promise to perform (or pay for) certain repairs or services. Although a service contract is sometimes called an extended warranty, it is not a warranty as defined by federal law. A service contract may be arranged any time and always costs extra; a warranty comes with a new car and is included in the original price. Used cars also may come with some type of coverage. The separate and additional cost distinguishes a service contract from a warranty.

Auto service contracts may be sold by vehicle manufacturers, auto dealerships or independent providers. If you want to buy a service contract, shop around so you understand just what you’re buying. Coverage varies widely. Other tips:

Research the company responsible for paying your claims (usually called the contract administrator or the service contract provider). Service contract sellers (also called brokers) do not decide what repairs are covered under the service contracts they sell, and they may assert that they have no further responsibility to you once you buy the service contract.
Check on licensing and registration within your state. While many states do not regulate contract administrators, some states (including California, Florida and New York) have strict regulations.
Before you do business, check out the seller and the contract administrator with your state Attorney General (naag.org), local consumer protection agency (consumeraction.gov) and the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) to make sure no unresolved complaints are on file. The phone numbers for these organizations are in your phone book or available through directory assistance or Internet directories.

Center City Polk Bock Party Street Photos

2010-08-23T07:35:00.015-05:00

Center City Polk Street Block Party: A virtual walk down Polk

2010-08-22T13:25:00.002-05:00

Annual Polk Street Cruise 2010 photos!

2010-08-08T15:12:00.001-05:00

Just a few snapshots from the Panhandle Council Of Car Club's Annual Polk Street Cruise.
Photos by Steve Douglass
(Click to enlarge)

See more great cruise night photos here!

GMAC rates states with worst drivers.

2010-06-01T22:27:00.000-05:00

Worried about getting hit by some careless driver who doesn't know the rules of the road ? Well then you might want to steer clear of New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and California.

Those four areas top this year's list of the states with the worst drivers, according to a survey performed by GMAC Insurance.

"It's discouraging to see that overall average test scores are lower than last year," said Wade Bontrager, a senior vice president for GMAC Insurance, which ranked drivers.

GMAC for the past six years has surveyed roughly 5,000 people across the country with 20 test questions taken from various state driving tests. It turns out than many Americans don't really know what it means when there is a solid yellow line on one side of the center line or what type of lights to use when driving in the fog. (No passing and use your low beams.)

If the numbers from the GMAC survey held true for the entire U.S. population, it would mean that one in five licensed drivers -- roughly 38 million Americans -- would not pass a written drivers exam if taken today.

The overall scores fell from 76.6 percent last year to 76.2 percent this year. Eighty-five percent could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light (stop if it is safe to do so) and many remained confused by safe following distances (3 seconds.)

So where does your state rank? Below is a list of how each state fared from worst to best and their rank from last year. There was a lot of movement from the last test, so study up New Yorkers, there's always next year.

51: New York (51)

50: New Jersey (50)

49: Washington, D.C. (44)

48: California (48)

47: Rhode Island (46)

46: Louisiana (37)

45: West Virginia (28)

44: Hawaii (49)

43: New Hampshire (33)

42: Kentucky (35)

41: Florida (43)

40: Mississippi (39)

39: Pennsylvania (36)

38: Massachusetts (45)

37: North Carolina (20)

36: Arkansas (24)

35: Texas (25)

34: Connecticut (42)

33: Illinois (29)

32: Georgia (47)

31: Alabama (26)

30: South Carolina (40)

29: New Mexico (19)

28: Virginia (21)

27: Ohio (34)

26: Maine (31)

25: Delaware (32)

24: Colorado (15)

23: Utah (7)

22: Vermont (22)

21: Nevada (27)

20: Maryland (41)

19: Tennessee (38)

18: Wyoming (8)

17: Arizona (30)

16: Missouri (16)

15: Michigan (23)

14: North Dakota (13)

13: Oklahoma (17)

12: Wisconsin (2)

11: Washington (18)

10: Alaska (12)

9: Montana (3)

8: Idaho (1)

7: Indiana (22)

6: Nebraska (6)

5: Iowa (9)

4: Minnesota (11)

3: South Dakota (5)

2: Oregon (10)

1: Kansas (4)

Beware of fake bumpers!

2010-04-21T08:37:00.000-05:00

New York Auto Show Highlights

2010-04-15T10:18:00.001-05:00

Ya gotta laugh sometimes!

2010-04-15T10:08:00.001-05:00

Toyota Faces Subrogation Action From Insurance Firms

2010-04-15T10:04:00.000-05:00

Insurance companies have questions about accidents involving Toyotas

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

If Toyota didn't have enough problems with frightened consumers, angry lawmakers, class action lawsuits, massive recalls and a potential $16 million fine, they could be answering some tough questions from insurance companies.

Both Allstate and State Farm have confirmed that their companies have begun a "subrogation" process with Toyota, though neither firm would provide much in the way of detail.

A subrogation is the shifting of a financial burden from one party to another. In this case, the auto insurance companies that have paid out millions of dollars over the years for accidents involving Toyotas would try to recover some of that money.

Industry sources say Allstate has notified Toyota that it has claims that it believes may be the result of a product defect. While some sources say the initial review of cases may only extend back a few months, the potential is there for a wider review.

In January Toyota recalled 2.3 million vehicles to repair a "sticky" accelerator pedal, which it described as the possible source of some sudden acceleration incidents. It has steadfastly insisted the electronics system is not at fault.

Both ConsumerAffairs.com and official sources like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have complaints about sudden acceleration in Toyotas that extend back to at least 2005.

USA Today quotes Mark Bunim, an attorney with Case Closure, a mediation firm, as saying subrogation actions could end up costing Toyota as much as $30 million, and the insurance companies wouldn't be the only ones getting paid. Consumers who paid deductibles involved in those claims could also get refunds.

Claim denied

According to USA Today, State Farm attempted to recover claims in 2007 for an accident involving a 2005 Toyota Camry. NHTSA said it had looked into the sudden acceleration complaint and closed its investigation. State Farm was not reimbursed, the newspaper said.

This is but the latest setback for the Japanese automaker, which holds around 17 percent of the US automotive market. Many of these problems have emerged since February, when Clarence Ditlow of the Center for Auto Safety told ConsumerAffairs.com that the carmaker could bounce back, but only on one condition.

"For the next year they have to bat 1,000," he said. "If they make a mistake they have to correct it almost overnight."

Toyota has attempted to get the healing process started with a number of financial incentives to bring customers back into the showrooms. While it's worked so far, a protracted battle with insurance companies - who could increase consume

Read more: LINK

Bernard BarBeQue Photos!

2010-04-05T14:30:00.000-05:00

As a special thanks to all our loyal customers (and in conjunction with Pete's Car Smart KIA) we through a free Texas-sized barbeque!

We fed hundreds of hungry and friendly folks brisket, sausage, bread and beans. The Bernard's Advanced Collision Barbeque Team was pleased to serve our many patrons and friends who have helped us become what we are today- Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle's most honest and professional body shop!

Hey- you didn't leave me any!

Thank you folks!

-Shane & Terrence

Beware of "Concierge" services.

2010-03-10T13:02:00.000-06:00

Auto repair quality in Progressive Concierge shops ranked lower than industry average in J.D. Power and Associates Insurance Claims Study

The results of amsurvey by J.D. Power and Associates - may have come as a shock to the nation's number three auto insurer, Progressive, but not to the post-repair inspectors and vehicle owners who have seen all too frequently the inferior quality work coming out of Progressive's Concierge body shops. In fact, to say quality is anything better than poor, based on what I've seen, would be a gross understatement. Progressive's customers obviously agree with me.

The J.D. Power and Associates Insurance Claims Study reported that repairs undertaken through Progressive's network of fifty-four Concierge repair facilities in thirty-nine of the nation's major metropolitan markets are little faster, and a little less expensive than the industry average. For that, Progressive is to be praised.

But there is a different story to tell when it comes to quality [see footnote]. Concierge customers ranked repair quality they received below industry average - even lower than the quality Progressive customers received when they elected to have cars repaired in shops other than Concierge.

Moreover, Progressive's Concierge shops follow only Allstate for bragging rights to the industry's highest failure rate, which causes claimants to be burdened by the need to make return trips to body shops to correct work that wasn't fixed right the first time.

Says the study, "If there is a clink in the armor for Progressive, it is that the end product, the vehicle repair, lags the industry both in terms of customer perception of quality as well as necessity for repeat visits to the body shop, which work to drive back up the claims costs saved due to the concierge business model."

What is especially bad for Progressive is that as a result of the insurer taking direct control of the repair - everything from the initial estimate to the final inspection - customers see Progressive as being directly responsible for the quality of the job. And isn't that the way it should be when an insurer wants to act as the repair expert and call the shots during the repair at the body shop?

Consumers are not fools

Generally speaking, consumers by and large accept at least some personal responsibility for the outcome of a collision repair job, especially when they are involved in the decision making process. When the job doesn't turn out right these consumers will often blame poor quality work, in large part, on body shops they chose to deal with, even in cases where the insurer pressured them into selecting from a preapproved list. This is the rule among competitors of Progressive.

But Progressive is the exception to the rule; 63 percent of Concierge customers blame their substandard repair directly on Progressive, the insurance company that took their money in exchange for the right to stand in their place in dealings with the body shop. As far as consumers are concerned, the hand-off approach that Progressive advertises makes the insurer solely responsible for the outcome of the repair whether good or bad.

According to J.D. Power and Associates, 48 percent of a customer's overall impression of his/her insurer is driven by their claims experience. The worst part for Progressive is that we know from historical data that customers who are to some degree dissatisfied are more apt to shop for coverage among other insurance companies, and are less likely to renew policies with the same insurer.

Can Progressive turn customer opinion of Concierge around?

Progressive's Concierge service already rates high for courtesy and friendliness of its staff who meet personally with claimants to obtain authorizations, take the keys, explain the repair process and provide them regular updates while the car is out of commission. Consumers favor this personal approach above that of the impersonal call center whose customer service employees are faceless and seemingly less empathetic to accident victims.

But Progressive can't forget that collision repair is, first and foremost, about repairing the car to preloss condition. Everything outside of performing the needed repair is of less importance, including to some degree, daily communication with the claimant.

Most consumers expect to be treated politely by claims staff, and there are no extra points for doing what's expected of you. But I think I speak for the majority of consumers when I say emphatically the most important consideration is getting the repair right the first time. That's an expectation, too. In fact, if every time a consumer looks at his/her car he or she believes they got the high-quality repair they expected and paid for, they'll be more willing to put up with the shortcomings of the claims department staff.

Often collision repair shops have blamed Progressive for hiring young, inexperienced, college-educated females and paying them an above average wage to don their short skirts and high heels and beat consumers and shops down to the bottom dollar without even knowing the nomenclature of parts on a car. On the surface it may seem to some to be a good move to pay an inexperienced employee a few dollars per hour to negotiate a reduction in hours from a repair shop estimate normally billed at more than $40 per hour. However, in my opinion, if Progressive is to turn its Concierge program around and gain the confidence of its customers, it will have to pay money sufficient to attract better quality shops into its program, even if those shops refuse to negotiate on how a car should be repaired and the amount of money it takes to accomplish the repair.

Unfortunately for Progressive, body shops on the high end of the quality spectrum won't likely see the need to negotiate with insurance staff that lacks an understanding of vehicle safety and crashworthiness - even when the negotiator looks like a Cover Girl model. So it will have to step up to more experienced adjusters as well.

Now that I've had my rant, here is my advice to Progressive: Spend more money in the shop where additional claims dollars can buy higher quality parts and labor. Save the money you're spending employing cute girls whose jobs are to negotiate and con customers into believing they received a good job even when they didn't. While the present approach may have seemed innovative and forward thinking to the bean counters, take it from one on the streets looking at the work everyday. The Concierge claims model ain't workin' and your customers in the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates Insurance Claims Study just told you so.

**NOTE** Often consumers asked to rate the quality of repairs don't understand the intricacies of collision repair well enough to spot anything less than the most glaring of deficiencies. Therefore, it is with all probability that the number of consumers dissatisfied with repairs at Concierge facilities would be much greater than the number found in the The J.D. Power and Associates Insurance Claims Study if repairs were to have been viewed through the eyes of an auto inspector knowledgeable in collision repair techniques for the brand of car being scrutinized.

This post sponsored by; Bernard's Advanced Collision.

Toyota Tundra Recall expanded to al 50 states.

2010-03-10T12:54:00.001-06:00

Detroit, MI) -- Toyota now says it will fix all 2000 to 2003 model year Tundra pickups sold in the U.S. to address a risk over frame corrosion.

Last November, the car maker recalled 110,000 Tundras sold in 20 cold-weather states.

At the time, Toyota said exposure to heavy road salt could lead to corrosion, which could cause spare tires or even the gas tank to drop onto the road.

Toyota told its U.S. dealers in a notice yesterday that it would expand the recall to Tundras sold in all 50 states.

Company spokesman Brian Lyons wasn't able to say how many additional vehicles would be involved.

Toyota has recalled more than eight million vehicles worldwide for mechanical problems with its accelerator assembly and over floor mats that could cause the accelerator to stick.

In February, Toyota recalled nearly 500,000 hybrids, including its top-selling Prius, because of braking problems.

This post sponsored by; Bernard's Advanced Collision.

Claims adjuster among 5 arrested in auto insurance scheme.

2010-03-10T12:37:00.000-06:00

Five Florida residents, including a claims adjuster for Zurich Insurance Group, are accused of stealing more than $240,000 from the insurer by creating multiple false and fabricated claims.

Donald Alfred Toohey III, 30, of Lake County, Fla., was recently arrested following an anonymous tip in September 2009 of possible fraudulent activity during his employment with Zurich, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud.

An investigation found that Toohey, along with four other individuals, were allegedly receiving payments from 26 different claims, totaling $240,000, from August 2004 through June 2009 in various counties in Florida. The investigation discovered that Toohey, using his position as a Zurich claims adjuster, created fictitious claims for monetary gain for himself and his four co-conspirators, all of Pasco County, Fla., according to investigators.
The co-conspirators are identified as Scott J. Kincaid, 44; Brian Frederick Kneifer, 26; Anthony Michal Kneifer, 26; and Tricia Ann Allen, 27. All four, along with Toohey, face up to 15 years in state prison if convicted on charges of grand theft and conspiracy.

This post sponsored by; Bernard's Advanced Collision.

The scam was allegedly initiated by Toohey, who would create a fraudulent file and claim for each of the participants, showing reason for reimbursement to the individual for injuries occurring either to the person or their automobile during an accident, according to officials.

The participant would then receive a check in the mail with the understanding that a portion was to be paid to Toohey.
The investigation into Toohey’s alleged activities led the fraud division to confirm three or more checks received and cashed by each individual with thefts ranging from $8,800 to more than $67,000.
Zurich Insurance Group informed investigators that none of the five were policyholders at the time of payment, or at any other time, and payment audits confirmed the payouts as fraudulent, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Coakley, motorcycle insurers settle

2010-03-10T12:31:00.000-06:00

BY NICK REES

Coakley
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Settlements have been reached by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley with four auto insurance companies over allegations that they overcharged Massachusetts consumers for motorcycle insurance.

The state's complaint alleged that Metropolitan Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Plymouth Rock Assurance, Pilgrim Insurance Company and the United Services Automobile Association used inflated motorcycle values in calculating premiums for many Massachusetts consumers. As a result of this practice, millions of dollars were overcharged in insurance premium overcharges, she alleges.

This newest settlement is expected to return $9 million to consumers and follows settlements with Safety Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual and Quincy Mutual in January over similar allegations. All told, the seven insurers are expected to return $20 million to consumers and pay Massachusetts more than $1 million.

"We are pleased that these insurance companies will return $9 million in insurance premium overcharges to affected motorcycle owners," Coakley said.

"While we appreciate that these companies cooperated with our investigation, it remains troubling that they systemically overcharged their customers on such a large scale."

Metropolitan Property & Casualty will return $3.5 million under terms of the settlement, with Plymouth Rock Assurance and Pilgrim Insurance collectively returning $3.6 million and USAA returning $2.3 million. Additionally, the insurance companies will make more than $500,000 in payments to the state and adopt conduct reforms.

The state's investigation into motorcycle rating practices began in the fall of 2008 following a complaint from the owners of a 1999 Harley Davidson Road King Classic that had been valued at $20,000 by Safety Insurance company. After the motorcycle was stolen, the company offered $11,000 to settle the claims and tried to refund $1,500 in premiums that had been based on the $20,000 value used from 2003 to 2008.

This complaint led Coakley's office to begin reviewing Safety Insurance and other insurance companies' practices of inflating and un-depreciating motorcycle values to rate coverage.

Many auto insurers operating in the Massachusetts marketplace were revealed to have failed to obtain current book values for motorcycles they insured and instead used inflated and out of date values to calculate premiums, leading to multiple settlements, Coakley said.

This post sponsored by; Bernard's Advanced Collision.

Make A Wish car show this weekend.

2010-03-01T10:27:00.000-06:00

There's a great event this weekend (March, 7th 2010) for classic car buffs at the Amarillo Civic Center, the annual Make A Wish Car Show .

TIckets are $5.00 for adults - $3.00 for kids and the proceeds go to9 a great cause!

More details HERE.

Filing An Auto Insurance Claim

2010-03-01T10:23:00.001-06:00

CLAIMS HANDLING: Car Wrecks, Insurance Companies & Lawyers

2010-03-01T10:19:00.000-06:00

Oklahoma getting tough on uninsured drivers

2010-03-01T10:05:00.000-06:00

Icy Roads- Banged Up Bodies

2010-02-05T09:39:00.000-06:00

By Meredith Keller
Thursday, February 04, 2010 at 4:24 p.m.

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- All of this snow comes with slippery roads which equals hazardous driving conditions, which is bad for you but good for the car repair business.

During this winter weather the past week Amarillo Police have responded to 161 car accidents. Over at Bernads Collision Center cars are lined up around the block in need of repair.

The owner says an average storm brings in two to three cars a day, so far today he's gotten 8.

Co-Owner Terence Bernard said "We have a lot of people that say you guys prey on bad weather to help your business and its true that some people misfortunes help the body shop business."

Bernard added they have received more cars needing repair in yesterday's storm, than last week.

If you must get out on the roads tonight remember to drive with care, keep your head lights on, and allow plenty of room to stop between you and other cars.

Icy Roads Boon for Body Shops?

2010-02-05T09:36:00.000-06:00

By Meredith Keller
KVII TV
Thursday, February 04, 2010 at 4:16 p.m.

AMARILLO, TEXAS -- This winter weather comes with slippery roads and hazardous driving conditions, and that's bad for most of us, but good for the auto repair business.

Since the snowstorm last week, Potter County has seen 161 wrecks, but the people at Bernard's Collision say more cars drove in with damage from yesterday's storm than from last week's.

Bernard's Co-Owner Terence Bernard said, "This morning phones were ringing off the hook and we've had eight cars dropped off immediately which is a lot for one small storm." Bernard went on to say an average for a winter storm is two to three cars. He said people may have been more fearful of driving in last Thursday's storm because of all the media hype.

Some good advice: Even in light snow conditions drive with care, leave your headlights on and allow plenty of brake time in between your car and others on the road.

Highlights of 2010 Detroit Auto show

2010-01-26T10:22:00.001-06:00

New Fords unveiled at 2010 Detroit Auto Show

2010-01-26T10:15:00.001-06:00

Truth or Parody? Cheapest Way Body Shop!

2010-01-26T10:03:00.000-06:00

LINK:

How To Get Full Value For Damaged Vehicle

2009-12-21T13:37:00.000-06:00

How Much Are You Over-Paying For Your Auto Insurance?

2009-11-24T07:42:00.000-06:00

In good times, it's natural that we pay less attention to our individual expenses. But in today's uncertain times, regardless of our current situation, everybody needs to save as much money as possible.

When it comes to saving money the best place to start is with your auto insurance.

Most Americans can point to a similar list of monthly expenses, including mortgage or rent payments, auto expenses, utility bills, food & clothing etc... Many of these expenses are fixed and can't be changed and so they offer few opportunities to save any significant amounts of money. Financial experts agree, however, that the one monthly expense, where people can, with minimal effort, often find real and substantial monthly savings is auto insurance.

Auto Insurance is a necessary evil that responsible people know they can't live without. In fact, for many of us, it's a payment we make month-in and month-out, and never see the benefit of. That's OK, because the coverage has to be there if we need it - but it's also makes it all the more important that we don't over-pay.

How to make sure your Insurance Company is not getting rich off you

Fortunately, today there are online services that let consumers quickly shop for the best rates from a nationwide selection of auto insurance companies, all competing for your business. You simply enter your requirements, and instantly receive quotes from a wide range of reputable companies.

One of the most comprehensive of these services is a QuoteWizard.com. They operate a free website service that will find you the best insurance quotes from a wide network of premium insurers. The site also contains a wealth of reference information that helps you understand how different policies work and how to save the most money possible.

The fact is that auto insurance rates are constantly changing, and for certain policies rates have actually dropped significantly in the past 12 months. You can be sure, however, that your insurance company is not going to call you up and let you know their rates have dropped. But, with a minimal amount of time on a service such as QuoteWizard.com you may be able to quickly save hundreds of dollars.

ORIGINALLY POSTED HERE

The Safest Cars for 2010

2009-11-18T08:07:00.000-06:00

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety measures vehicles for protection in front, side, rear crashes and rollovers.
Andrina CasonAssociate Producer
November 18, 2009
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is out with its 2010 Top Safety Pick Awards.

Nineteen cars and eight SUV's won this year's award, and for the first time, a good performance in a roof strength test that measures protection in a rollover is needed to win.

The test also measured protection for front, side and rear crashes.

The 27 winners in the five classes are:

LARGE CARS
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80
MIDSIZE CARS
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler Sebring
Dodge Avenger
Mercedes C class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Passat
Volvo C30
SMALL CARS
Honda Civic
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza
Volkswagen Golf
MIDSIZE SUV'S
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90
SMALL SUV'S
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan
Toyota, the world's largest auto maker, was shut out of this year's awards.

Insurance Companies Driving Honest Repair Shops Out

2009-10-19T15:07:00.000-05:00

15 Wackiest custom car modifications ...

2009-08-31T15:04:00.001-05:00

CLICK LINK HERE!

Least Expensive Cars to Insure

2009-08-26T13:47:00.001-05:00

Cars That Won't Break the Bank to Insure

These 20 cars and trucks have incredibly low premiums, earning them a spot on our list of least expensive to insure. The data was compiled by Insure.com, with averages based on a 40-year-old male driver who commutes 12 miles to work, with policy limits of 100/300/50 and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive.

Least Expensive Cars to Insure

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Check it out!

2009-08-25T09:04:00.000-05:00

We are now a :

Feel you are getting ripped off by your insurance company? Afraid you aren't getting properly compensated for your loss?
Then visit our new partner: Wreck Check Car Centers!

5% of collision repaired vehicles are improperly repaired.

35% include major structural damage that may impede the safty of your vehicle.
Insure that your vehicle is returned to a safe condition and all manfacturers designed safety features will respond properly in a subsequent collision!

"REQUEST A POST REPAIR INSPECTION"

Polk Street Cruise Night 2009

2009-08-02T10:06:00.001-05:00

Its just a strip of road, right? I must have traveled down its length hundreds of times and never given it a second thought.

Polk street is the main street that runs through downtown Amarillo a street like any other - but on this special "Cruise Night" I can't help but feel like I am visiting and old friend. The festive atmosphere, classic cars, the sights, the sounds, the pretty girls, it all comes rushing back.

"Do you know John so-in so? He goes to Tascosa doesn't he?" "Meet ya at the Pig Hip!" "Last one to Stanley's buys the cokes."

But as much as I remember "cruising" "dragging" or "scraping" Polk as a teen, I never ever saw it as alive as it is tonight. Hundreds of people line the street.

Beautiful vintage and not-so-vintage cars, trucks, motorcycles and even bicycles parade by in an endless loop of steel, metal flake paint and DVD players all playing golden oldies.

All I can say is "this is amazing" a dazzling homage to an era of teenage social interaction that was killed off a long time ago by shopping malls, cineplexes and the ever outward urban sprawl of Amarillo, away from downtown.

Way back "when dinosaurs ruled the earth" I cruised down Polk in an ugly brown Buick Electra which my friends dubbed the "big rolling turd." I didn't resent the moniker because at least I had a car they could disrespect. Most of my high school friends were "sans wheels" and it was either the "turd" or a long walk home.

But the cars cruising Polk tonight are light years beyond my old Buick and are more like moving pieces of kinetic sculpture. Idealized versions of the cars we always drooled over when we were kids, MOPARS, muscle cars, GTOs, Stangs, Vettes and Camaros.

Most have been lovingly restored, awash in metal flake and polished chrome wire wheels. A far cry from my brown Buick, that although it had two doors that I couldn't open and burned oil at a rate that would (especially now) make an oil sheik worry, I kind of miss.

Stop me before I digress any further ... Don't get me started telling Polk Street stories ...

Tonight's "Cruise on Polk " - sure brought back memories both good and bad - but now blessed with a thing called "perspective" even those memories of the bad things we did - seem tame by today's standards.

These memories of my "ill-spent" youth reminded me of who I was back then and what brought me down the long road to who I am today.

Sure sometimes we got into a little trouble (we never said we were angels) but we never landed in jail, no one ever got hurt and more importantly our shenanigans were never mean-spirited in intent.

No one went to jail for mooning a cop, pulling a prank in front of the Paramount Theatre or water-ballooning the crowd outside the Esquire.

As much fun as it was, watching the parade of heavy metal on Polk, I couldn't help but feel a touch of melancholy for the proceeding generation of teenagers who never got to cruise Polk, who never got ticketed for doing a burn-out or experienced the all-American fun we had on this short expanse of asphalt in downtown USA.

I'll never reclaim my youth - but for a few hours tonight i was young again.

Thanks Panhandle Council of Car Clubs for bringing it all back.

-Steve Douglass

Polk Street Cruise Tonight!

2009-08-01T14:59:00.001-05:00

Just in case you wanted something to do and see this evening - it's Cruise Night and not only that its' the big Polk Street Cruise where hundreds of classic cars come into town for an annual nostalgic 1960s American Graffiti style slow ride downtown. Cars gather at 5PM at the Region 16 building on Bell & Hillside. Weather looks like it will be perfect. Great photo op!

A few from 4th of July Cruise Night ...

2009-07-08T18:36:00.001-05:00

Spotted At Cruise Night

2009-06-17T19:27:00.000-05:00

Link HERE.

US Fidelis Car Warranty Service Scam Exposed

2009-06-08T13:19:00.000-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Nationwide Insurance: Not On Your Side 2

2009-06-03T18:09:00.001-05:00

Nationwide Insurance Exposed:

2009-06-03T18:07:00.000-05:00

Nationwide Insurance Exposed: Part One

2009-06-03T18:03:00.001-05:00

Nationwide Insurance: Not On Your Side

2009-06-03T18:02:00.001-05:00

Don't get rear-ended by your Insurance Company!

2009-06-03T17:58:00.000-05:00

Unsafe Body Repair Report Connecticut

2009-06-03T17:51:00.000-05:00

It's happening everywhere folks!

Direct Repair Steering Investigation in New York

2009-06-03T17:42:00.000-05:00

Cool Car Desktop Of The Month

2009-06-03T17:32:00.000-05:00

Click to download full size image.
2009 Chevy Camaro in Black

Are they cutting corners?

2009-05-08T08:36:00.001-05:00

Erick's Story: Insurance Company rip-off.

2009-02-27T10:44:00.000-06:00

Insurance Company Steering

2008-11-20T08:51:00.001-06:00

Erick's Story: Insurance Company rip-off.

2008-11-20T08:48:00.001-06:00

Desktop Car Photo Of The Week: Shoe Car

2008-11-20T08:41:00.001-06:00

Desktop Photo Of The Week: Look Closely

2008-11-13T10:46:00.000-06:00

2008-11-12T21:52:00.001-06:00

Could This Damage Your Car?

Undercover investigation examines services at some big name repair shops

By Joel Grover and Matt Goldberg

Updated 11:40 AM PST, Wed, Nov 12, 2008

Inside a Jiffy Lube on Pico and San Vicente in Los Angeles, a service technician tries to sell an undercover NBC Los Angeles employee an "engine flush" or engine cleaning.

"Engine cleaning every two years, 30,000 miles is required for the vehicle," the technician says.

But NBC Los Angeles has heard from customers across the country, who say their engines broke down after having an engine flush.

At the Jiffy Lube we went to on Pico, the technician says the engine flush will prolong the life of the engine on our Honda Accord test car.

An engine flush is where they pour a chemical solvent into your engine, supposedly to flush out old sludge.

When our undercover person asks, "is that something that Honda recommends?" Than technician says, "It requires it every two years, every 30,000 miles."

That's not true. Our car's maintenance schedule says nothing about an engine flush.

"After engine flushes, there's a pretty high incidence of some damage to the interior of the engine," Chris Martin of Honda tells NBC Los Angeles.

That's why Honda issued a memo to mechanics advising them not to perform engine flushes. Other major car-makers, including Ford, General Motors, and Nissan have all issued similar advisories against the service.

Why? Over time, gummy deposits can build up inside your engine. The chemicals used for engine flush, are supposed to break up those deposits. But car-makers say, pieces of that broken up sediment can clog up other parts of the engine and ruin it.

The car ran perfectly before I took it in that day," says Pat Marriott. He took his Nissan Sentra to a Jiffy Lube in Kansas City. "They sold me, really sold me hard on an engine flush," Marriott tells NBC Los Angeles.

He says three days later, on the highway his car broke down and he had to replace his engine for $5000.

That's because Nissan and other car-makers say damage resulting from engine flushes won't be covered by your warranty.

At other Jiffy Lube's, like one on Overland in West Los Angeles, they offered us other services like a fuel injection cleaning. That's where they put a chemical cleaner into your fuel injectors.

When the NBC Los Angeles undercover person asked the technician, "does Honda recommend that?" He said, "It's every 15,000 miles or every year, recommended."

That's also not true. Honda and other big car-makers say fuel injection cleaning is an improper repair procedure.

"Using the cleaner, using a fuel injection cleaning system can cause harm to other injectors," Martin tells NBC Los Angeles.

Jiffy Lube isn't the only major chain recommending services car-makers say could be harmful. It happened to us at EZ Lube.

When our undercover person asked a technician at one of their locations in Silverlake, "Does Honda recommend an engine flush?" He replied, "They recommend... everything I'm telling you. We go by whatever the manufacturer recommends."

Our undercover person asks him for proof, since EZ Lube's computer lists all manufacturer recommendations, but there's no engine flush listed. The undercover employee asks him, "How come they're not on the computer?" The technician replied, "I don't know."

Across town at an EZ Lube near Santa Monica, technicians push a $99 transmission service using a high tech flushing machine.

Our undercover employee asks the technician, "does Honda recommend that it be done with a machine like that?" The technician responds, "Correct. That's the only way you can do it."

But Honda's memo to mechanics clearly says "do not use transmission flushing machines" because of the risks to the car.

All told four out of five Jiffy Lube's, and five out of five EZ Lube's pushed services car-makers don't recommend, but technicians told us the opposite.

We went back to the manager at that Silverlake EZ Lube.

"You said Honda recommends an engine flush. That's not true. Why did you say that?" NBC Los Angeles Investigative Reporter Joel Grover asked.

"I don't know," he replied.

As for those technicians at Jiffy Lube who didn't tell us the truth, they wouldn't talk to us on camera and neither would their bosses.

Executives at Jiffy Lube and EZ Lube declined our offer to watch our undercover tape, and do interviews.

But in separate statements, both companies said it was unacceptable for their employees to misrepresent certain services as manufacturer recommendations, when they're not.

EZ Lube says some of the employees we caught doing this will be terminated.

Jiffy Lube says they're taking steps to minimize the chance of it occurring again and they want to hear from any unhappy customers.

Jiffy Lube can be reached by phone at 800-344-6933.

EZ Lube can be reached by phone at 800-559-5823 or email info@ezlube.com.

11 Secrets of Auto Detailing

2008-10-17T08:41:00.000-05:00

(AOL Autos) -- Taking care of your car's appearance doesn't qualify as vanity, it's smart vehicle ownership. You can hire a professional auto detailer to care for your car for $100 to $500 -- or you can swipe their secrets, do it yourself and save some dough.

To remove stubborn pet hair from your car's carpets, put on a pair of latex gloves, experts suggest.

There are a few professional organizations for detailers, like the National Association for Professional Detailing & Reconditioning (NAPDR) and the Professional Detailers Association, where you can find references for local detailers, but membership in either or any organization does not guarantee competence.

If you're going to hire a detailer, ask a lot of questions, ask for references and to see sample work, and agree to a price in writing before the detailing work begins.

"There are no secrets in this business anymore," said NAPDR Membership Chairman Randy Lowe, who also owns Randy's Custom Detail in Salem, Oregon. With the free flow of information on the Internet, do-it-yourselfers have access to all of the tools and tricks of the trade available to the pros.

If you choose to detail your own ride, be prepared to spend a little bit of money gathering the proper tools and materials.

You may already have most of the right stuff handy in your garage; if you must gather everything from scratch, you might spend from $30 to $100 or more, depending on how extensive you want your detail job to be. AOL Autos: Most popular fuel-efficient cars

The most important material that you'll need is already in your tool kit. For Lowe, the secret ingredient is hard work and elbow grease.

There are few automotive maintenance chores that are more satisfying, accessible to all skill levels and truly beneficial for your car than a good detail job.

We've collected the top secrets that will help you to get professional results, make your detailing more fun, more successful and easier.

Secret #1: Use two buckets to wash

Detailers know that the two bucket method is the best way to get your exterior clean. Use one bucket to hold your clean suds, and another bucket to hold clean water. Before you dip your cleaning mitt into the clean suds, rinse it off in the clean water bucket and wring it dry.

Then, you're always putting a clean mitt into the clean suds that will go on your car. If you only use one bucket, you're just moving dirt off of your car, into your suds and back onto your car.

Some pros have started using the Grit Guard insert, a $9.99 tray that helps sediment settle to the bottom of your wash bucket, instead of getting stirred up in the water and recollected on your wash mitt. AOL Autos: Hybrids that will save you the most

Secret #2: Join the microfiber revolution

We're living the microfiber revolution. Pro detailers use color-coded, task-specific microfiber cloths and towels for greater efficiency, lower friction and scratching and easier washing, rinsing and drying. Mike Pennington, director of training and consumer relations for Meguiars, emphasizes that it's important to wash your microfiber as a separate load, not mixed in with the regular laundry and rags.

Microfiber will trap the lint from cotton towels, defeating the purpose of the wash. Use very little detergent and skip the fabric softener, which will coat the fibers and inhibit microfiber's qualities. Double up on the rinse cycle, and your microfiber will perform at its best. Remove any labels and stitching before you use your towels to avoid scratching.

And remember, you get what you pay for -- those cheapo packs of microfiber from the warehouse store are not nearly as good as the ones you can find at online specialty stores.

Secret #3: Detail your trim first

This tip comes from Jim Dvorak, a product specialist at Mothers Polish. He suggests using a trim protectant/restorer like Mothers' Back to Black before waxing your paint. Wash and dry your vehicle, then apply the trim protectant.

The product will repel polish and wax that might otherwise stain your trim. Some pro detailers use masking tape to protect the trim during waxing -- this application can help save time and cleanup.

Secret #4: Use a buffer to apply product, a towel to remove

Consumers sometimes get confused by the name of the tool, and use a power buffer to remove wax or polish from the painted surfaces of their cars. A buffer can leave erratic swirl marks in your clear coat and paint if used to remove product, that's not what it's for.

Use the buffer to apply wax, and then use a soft, dry cloth to remove it. You'll avoid burning the paint or damaging the clear coat, and you'll wind up with a thin, even coat of wax.

Secret #5: Get a dual action polisher

For just a little bit more than you'd spend on a good direct drive polisher and an orbital polisher, you can get the perfect blend of both tools with a dual action polisher like the Flex XC 3401 VRG, which retails for around $280.

Based in Stuttgart, Germany, Flex has been making tools since 1922, and has been building dedicated auto finish polishers since 1988. The XC 3401 VRG is detailer Randy Lowe's favorite tool for exterior finishes. He says that it will handle 90% of the polishing chores you will encounter.

Meguiars' Dual Action Polisher ($149) is a little more consumer friendly, and a little less expensive than the Flex. It doesn't have the forced rotation, which keeps the tool moving even under a heavy load. Forced rotation is a great feature for an expert who knows how to use it; in inexperienced hands, it can do more harm than good.

Secret #6: Use a clay bar system

This secret may be out of the bag already, but it's such a good one that it bears repeating. There's no better way to remove surface contaminants from paint than with a good clay bar system. Pros have been using clay for years, and consumer versions have been on the market for at least a decade.

A good clay bar system includes a spray lubricant, usually a detailing spray, an 80 - 100 gram clay bar, and a towel. According to Mike Pennington from Meguiars, after washing and drying your car, you rub the clay bar on the paint to remove "bonded environmental contaminants" without removing paint thickness.

The smoother paint surface takes polishing and wax better, and extends the life of subsequent treatments. Meguiars' Smooth Surface Clay Kit retails for $19.99; Mothers' California Gold Clay Bar Paint Saving System is $19.95.

Secret #7: Use a plastic grocery bag to check the paint surface

Hers's another tip from Jim Dvorak at Mothers. Once you have cleaned your paint's surface of contaminants with a clay bar system or other cleaner, it's important to make sure that you've really removed all the dirt before you seal the surface with wax.

Put your hand in an ordinary thin plastic grocery bag, and run it over the surface of the paint. The plastic bag will amplify any bumps and imperfections, so that you can go back and detail again. Keep rechecking until the surface is totally smooth, then polish (if necessary) and apply protective wax.

Secret #8: Dry your glass in two directions

Here's a great tip from Meguiars' Pennington: Dry your glass in two directions. Get into the habit of doing your final wipe of interior glass in a horizontal direction, and the final wipe on the exterior in a vertical direction.

Then, when you find the inevitable streak, you'll instantly know whether it's on the inside (horizontal) or the outside (vertical) of the glass. You'll get perfectly clear glass without jumping in and out of the vehicle chasing that streak.

Secret #9: Brush it first

Pennington says that when it comes to cleaning interiors, mechanical agitation is always better than chemical intervention. That means that your first line of attack is a good brush.

For instance, before vacuuming your carpeting, de-mat the fibers by using a stiff nylon brush. Then, when you vacuum, the dirt will be free in the carpet, and will be much easier to extract. The same goes for door panels, though you'll want to use a gentler brush. If more aggressive cleaning is necessary, start gently, use a gentle solution of fabric cleaner, and dry with a soft cotton cloth.

Secret #10: Make static electricity your friend

To remove stubborn pet hair from your car's carpets, put on a pair of latex gloves (readily available in boxes of 100 from any home improvement store) and then rub your hand over the carpet. The static electricity caused by the latex glove will help bring the pet hair up to the surface of the carpet for easy removal by hand or vacuum.

Secret #11: Leave the headliner alone

According to Pennington, there's one part of the car that detailers avoid if at all possible: the headliner. Even a little bit of agitation can cause the glue in a headliner to fail, causing way more problems than it is worth. Keep your ministrations to a minimum when it comes to cleaning, brushing and tending to the headliner fabric.

If you positively must clean your headliner, use very little moisture, and never allow it to soak through the outer fabric.

Auto detailing can be a great way to bond with your car, and to make your automotive investment go farther, last longer and look better. Hopefully these top secrets will help you and your ride along the way.

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Fine tuning your auto insurance

2008-09-12T08:04:00.000-05:00

(AOL Autos) -- We keep our cars tuned up, but what about our automobile insurance? Recently I had a chat with an insurance broker. The topic of conversation? Smart insurance buying.

The hospital bill from the people you hit can be expensive, so buy as high a liability limit as you can afford.

After our conversation I realized that the biggest mistake an uninformed consumer makes is to regard insurance coverage as a commodity... as generic as the oil purchased for the car.

An insurance policy is a personalized service contract that provides coverage for you and your family in the event of an accident. When you read your auto policy the language is anything but simple. And everyone knows it's not inexpensive!

To regard auto insurance as a "necessary evil" to be purchased as cheap as possible is a foolish and ignorant approach to this very necessary aspect of driving an automobile.

Based on our conversation, here's how to get the biggest "bang for your buck" when purchasing automobile insurance:

Buy as high a liability limit as you can afford

This is the coverage that protects you in the event you get into an accident and are accused of negligence. Remember, a lawsuit can be brought against you despite your culpability - and damages sought in today's court actions seldom fall below six figures.

Often the spouse of the injured party seeks more than $100,000 for "loss of services." This doesn't include the dollars requested for the injured party. Question... how far would your present policy go in responding to this kind of a suit?

Be realistic, not ridiculous in determining the amount of liability you need. Most insurance companies will write liability coverage up to at least $500,000. Adding an umbrella liability policy in the amount of one, two, three million (or more depending on your situation) will go a long way in protecting you.

Only buying $50,000 coverage? See how long that lasts you when you get the hospital bill from the party you hit for three or four weeks... oh, and I forgot about the "loss of services."

Buy supplemental uninsured motorist coverage

This is the coverage that protects you in the event you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, or a motorist with low limits of liability insurance coverage. AOL Autos: 10 cheapest cars in U.S.

Let's say that you're involved in an accident resulting in serious injury to you, and possibly your passengers. No matter what the amount a court might award, if the negligent party has inadequate liability coverage and few assets, your award is of little value.

The Supplemental Uninsured Motorist portion of your policy provides the liability coverage the other driver should have had, up to the limit you carry on your policy.

Carry high deductibles on your physical damage

Higher liability as well as Supplemental Uninsured Motorist coverage means higher premiums. A good way to help pay for this is to carry as high a deductible on your collision and comprehensive as you can reasonably afford. This brings the price of the premiums down.

Consider dropping physical damage on older vehicles

This is not an easy call. Typically, an insurance company charges less for collision and comprehensive on an older vehicle. In general, when a vehicle is six years old or more, it's worth considering this change.

Things to take into consideration when trying to make this call are value of the vehicle, its condition, how much you drive it, and the policy charge for the coverage. At some point the charge for the coverage will not be worth what you could collect in the event of a loss.

Never skimp on liability coverage in order to pay for less important physical damage coverage on a vehicle that is worth less than what the policy would pay in the event of a loss.

Deal with an agent that has your confidence

Make sure your agent gives you the service you need. Ask questions about coverage under different scenarios and ask for recommendations. Deal with a full-service agency; one that offers all the products you need and has the staff to make the complex insurance marketplace bearable.

People spend money on maintaining their cars and ignore their insurance coverage. When you get in an accident and have the other party's lawyers breathing down your neck is not the time to find out that your insurance coverage was inadequate.

Get with your agent and tune up your insurance policy now!!!

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