Weekly auto rail, with a tip on finding travel deals, Car Q&A with Junior Damato and more.
The travel bug is striking Americans across the country. Most of us feel a need to get away and recharge our batteries with a change of scene. If this urge to travel has struck your family, there are deals to be found, whether you're planning an in-state excursion or heading across the country. Here are some tips.
- Look for the specials. Hotels, restaurants and even activity centers are offering special vacation deals. Think about seeing the New England coast from your cabin's balcony. Or rent a convertible and feel the wind whip through your hair as you drive through the mountains.
- Use your favorite online vacation search site for great savings when you combine hotel, car rental and airfare purchases. To make the deal even better, purchase your trip on these sites through Ebates.com, which will give you cash back on a percentage of your total purchase for additional savings.
- Consider varying the timing of your travels, especially if you're booking flights. Leaving on a Wednesday and returning on a Tuesday, or traveling early or late in the day can lower the prices tremendously.
- Start gathering the materials you need for your trip. Purchase travel books or luggage now if you see a good deal.
GM introduced a tiny concept car ahead of the Shanghai Expo, the EN-V. The car has two wheels and seats two.
Q: I own a 1981 VW diesel pickup that is now having the engine rebuilt. I want to know about the use of synthetic oil when the engine is complete. I was thing about Shell Rotella. What are your thoughts?
A: The problem with the older diesel engines is that they are very dirty burning engines. The oil gets contaminated from excess diesel fuel that does not get burned in a short time. I recommend the use of regular oil and frequent changes like a regular gas engine. Use a good quality diesel oil for this vehicle.