There’s just nothing like a shiny new car, truck or SUV to make you feel like hitting the open road – heading out from McHenry to points unknown. Everything is clean. The engine purrs like a kitten. And then there’s that new-car smell. But, how does a car go from that to some of the junkers you see on the road? Don’t just compare those junkers to new cars; compare them to some of the older

Dodge describes it as “a beast unlike any in the kingdom” and that’s true, to a point. The 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon offers a spectacular display of what auto manufacturers can do with a factory engine’s horsepower, if they have the will to dream of more … and more. The Demon clocks in with 840 hp. That’s from the factory, not a hotrod someone souped up in their garage. According

Tires have advanced over the years. Tire manufacturers have developed tires that grab the road with greater efficiency. They’ve created tires that last longer, that provide greater performance in varying conditions – such as wet, snowy and icy roads. Now, the manufacture of tires is about to take another leap forward. Pirelli is introducing tires that will communicate with an app you can download

That US Marine Harrier pilot knows how important vision is while flying. Vision, and proper adjustment ofrearview mirrors is equally important when you're driving on Richmond highways. A US Marine who used to work on Harrier Jump Jets once said of the planes, “Wings are overrated.” Of course, he was kidding. In fact, the comment was funny because it was the absolute opposite of the truth. We

Or, is it the same purchasing your auto insurance online It’s Illinois. That means that you must have auto insurance if you operate a car on the state’s roadways – and that includes the roads of Spring Grove. Of course, you’d have to be crazy to drive without insurance. As long as you need auto insurance, make sure you have a policy that works to your advantage. There are subtle differences

Enjoy, but have your car checked out, too The warmer weather, these last few days, may give you the feeling that the winter of 2016-17 is about over. Actually, there’s additional evidence, and far more concrete; as of Monday, Mar. 30, 2017, winter officially ended. This doesn’t mean that we won’t have any additional snowfall. It doesn’t mean the temperature won’t drop precipitously into

You’ve heard it all before: Change your car’s engine oil on schedule. Keep the air pressure at the proper level in the tires on your pickup truck. Make sure your shocks, struts and springs are in good order and your car is properly aligned. You hear it, but there’s no sense of urgency. And so, a couple extra-thousand miles slip by before you bring the car in for its next oil change. You tell

There is something exciting about purchasing a new car. Unless you can pay cash for the car, there is also something dreadful about buying a new car – years of hefty, monthly payments. At some point, however, it may be time to buy a new car. How do you know when that time has arrived? One thing to consider is the age and condition of your existing vehicle. Some say that it is best to trade in your

UPDATE: Kurt Busch won the 59th Annual Daytona 500. Chase Elliott finished 14th after running out of fuel as the race reached its conclusion. However, this was a significant improvement from his 2016 finish of 37th. Last year, Chase Elliott was a rookie running in the Daytona 500 in Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet NAPA car No. 24. He started the race in the pole position. Well, he’s done it again.

Hopefully, with the warm weather this week, you’ve had a chance to get out of the house and shake off some of that cabin fever winter has imposed on you. While enjoying near- and record-warm days, you may have noticed how dirty the winter has gotten your car. You may have thought to yourself, this is a good time to wash the car. You’re right; this is a good time to wash the car. Now, the question