Did you hear about that hybrid vehicle that exploded the other day? Too bad - critically injured the victim. The truth is, there are more American-made vehicles right now with 30 mpg+ fuel efficiency than any other country. There are going to be some amazing plug-ins out in the next couple of years. Ford is working on one for 2011, I believe, that will be all-electric and get a ton of mileage. The thinking was that hybrids pose a technical complication, in that you have two different engines.

Never! I grew up in the Detroit area and know what the auto workers do to vehicles “on the line” when their jobs are threatened, and when they first come back from being “On Strike.” Almost important, know the day your vehicle was made, and came “off the line.” Never accept one if that day was a Monday or a Friday. Customizing options only bring greater headaches - they’re not welcomed by the auto workers, such ‘drag’ on their output. Even more important, never by a new car, period! Ignore the song and dance about “buying other people’s troubles,” that only “nurtures” needs for prestige and over-abundance, not common sense. The only nightmares I’ve had in 40+ years of buying vehicles (far fewer since going with Toyota) were with new cars. I must admit, however, that I once bought a “dealer’s car” with very low mileage from the top Toyota saleswoman in the nation, and it turned out to be a once-demolished rental car, rebuilt - Lexus LE, no less. Another dealer traced it for me upon noticing the “paint job” on a new vehicle (???!). It was covered 100% under warranty, by not my investment. Never even “like” a car sales person and never go sit in their “cubicle” (you may as well undress in public). Just walk out. Buy only $50.00-$100.00 above factory cost (not MSRP), and read Consumer’s Reports before even looking at a car, and order the factory cost on the vehicle you select from CU. Like finding a doctor (if we just worked that hard at it), a bad one can kill you. I realize this site to intended to gather information on our “age group” as women, but the flurry of inane topic, questions, and “posts” this past week are far too much to spend time on (read them as a list) without Wowowow paying us, too. When everyone else is being paid, we are your food source, so let’s either stop it, or come clean and perform ethically. The intellect among us is to be respected, not abused.