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"Strike Stalls BMW Production   Strikes by the German IG Metall industrial union have caused to halt production of its sedan, the Associate Press reported.   The Eastern German workers have been striking since the beginning of June. They want to shorten their workweek from 38 hours to 35 hours \u2014 the same as in Western Germany. Employers say the extra hours are necessary to attract investors in a region that&amp;#039;s still economically depressed, the story said.   The strikes have affected production at factories in the western German cities of Munich and Regensburg and are expected to restrict production at other plants including those of some auto suppliers as well as Volkswagen, the story said.   Ford&amp;#039;s Plans for Century Two   Having celebrated its 100th anniversary, said it plans to introduce 65 new Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products during the next five years.   The first of those new products is the 2004 Ford F-150 pickup, which debuts this fall. Also coming in the fall are two new minivans, the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey. Ford said that the Monterey is the first of four new Mercurys debuting during the next three years.   Among other products Ford will introduce this year are the Ford Harley-Davidson F-Series Super Duty pickup and a 40th Anniversary Edition Mustang.   Ford&amp;#039;s upscale brand, Lincoln, will offer an optional DVD-based navigation system for its entire 2004 lineup, including the Town Car, LS, Navigator and Aviator.   Among detail improvements for the next model year are a new 2.3-liter engine in the Ford Focus, quad captain&amp;#039;s chairs on the Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer and passenger weight-sensing safety technology on the new Ford F-150, Taurus, Freestar and Mercury Monterey.   The most anticipated arrival is that of the Ford GT supercar. The first three will come along this year, although full-scale production is not scheduled to begin in 2004.   Two-Million Mile Man Offers Safe Driving Tips   Irv Gordon, who managed to rack up more than 2.1 million miles on a 1966 P1800, says his feat has had less to do with good fortune than it has had to do with driving with patience and awareness and scheduling regular tune-ups on his car.   In a press release from Volvo Cars of North America, Gordon offered some longevity tips:   During long road trips, take frequent breaks. &amp;quot;This is not NASCAR; it&amp;#039;s okay to take long breaks to stretch your legs, breathe fresh air and review your maps. It keeps you more alert on the road,&amp;quot; Gordon says. Spend a few minutes each week inspecting your car. &amp;quot;Even the most mechanically challenged car owners can look for low fluid levels or deteriorating belts and hoses. Also look to see that the battery connections are tight and corrosion free. These are the most common sources of trouble on the road. And, walk around your car to ensure the blinkers, brake lights, etc., are in proper working condition.&amp;quot; Adjust the mirrors. &amp;quot;Rearview mirrors aren&amp;#039;t &amp;#039;vanity mirrors&amp;#039; designed for admiring your hair or applying lipstick. Automotive engineers spent countless hours designing your car so that these mirrors would reduce blind spots when driving. Do the engineers a favor, and adjust your mirrors accordingly.&amp;quot; Ensure proper tire inflation. &amp;quot;There is a reason all service stations have air pumps and every mechanic has a tire gauge in his or her shirt pocket. Having your tires properly inflated is as important as having oil in your engine.&amp;quot; Don&amp;#039;t drive if you can&amp;#039;t stand the conditions. &amp;quot;Is it too late in the night? Too rainy? Too snowy? Too hot? Too cold? When you&amp;#039;re driving, it&amp;#039;s not the time to be daring. If you haven&amp;#039;t gotten enough sleep, if the roads are too wet, or if anything else will inhibits your ability to drive safely, pull over at a rest stop or stay the night at a hotel. Maybe they&amp;#039;ll have a swimming pool and a complimentary breakfast.&amp;quot; When your car makes a funny noise, listen to it. &amp;quot;Don&amp;#039;t turn the radio up and hope that knocking noise goes away. It won&amp;#039;t. If your engine develops a condition, take it in immediately. The longer you wait the greater potential for danger.&amp;quot; Expect other drivers will make mistakes. &amp;quot;Allow five to six seconds of time from you and the car in front of you. If a car is tailgating you, try let him or her pass.&amp;quot; Read the manuals. &amp;quot;Your owner&amp;#039;s manual is packed with safety tips specific to your car.&amp;quot; Weatherize your car year-round. &amp;quot;Prepare for the climate you&amp;#039;ll be visiting and the season that is approaching, not just the one that&amp;#039;s going on now. Have a qualified mechanic check your tire inflation, treads, brake wear, fluids, etc., and let him or her know the type of weather in which you could be driving.&amp;quot; Buckle up. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s the most important thing you and your family will do on a roadway. Plus, it was a Volvo employee named Nils Bohlin who created the modern safety belt, which has been credited with saving tens of thousands of lives, so I&amp;#039;m a bit partial.&amp;quot;   Gordon purchased his P1800 in June 1966 from a neighborhood Volvo dealership in his native Long Island, New York for $4,150. His 125-mile daily commute to and from work, his passion for driving and his meticulous care for his car enabled him to clock the miles, Volvo said in a press release. In 1998, The Guinness Book of World Records honored Gordon&amp;#039;s car as the vehicle with the &amp;quot;highest certified mileage driven by the original owner in non-commercial service.&amp;quot; Gordon breaks his own world record every time he drives his car. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a9915/strike-stalls-bmw-production/>