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Don't Want A Ticket? Keep A Low Profile...

People who get tickets for speeding are often guilty of more than simply driving faster than the posted limit. Their chief offense? Getting noticed in the first place. That's the first domino to fall in the ugly chain of events that leads to a piece of "payin' paper." 

Here are some common sense ways to run under the radar - literally:

* Drive within 5-10 mph of surrounding traffic. If it's moving 70-ish, you're usually ok up to about 75-80 (even if the posted max is 65). Most of the time, cops are looking for the driver going noticeably faster than the other cars on the road. And when you're in a pack of cars all doing 5-10 mph over the limit, you've automatically improved your odds of not being the one that gets pulled over, even though you're all technically "speeding." The cop has to pick one car. Probably, it won't be you.

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 Posted on May 29, 2007   

How To Handle Minor Car Problems Yourself

You've probably heard that modern cars are complicated - and it's true. But that doesn't mean you're completely helpless when a problem arises. Some minor automotive hiccups can be dealt with even by people who wouldn't know a cold start injector from a pine tree air freshener.

For example:

* The car feels "floaty." Very often this is caused by nothing more serious than under-inflated tires. Instead of supporting the weight of the car evenly and firmly, the under-inflated tire's sidewall flexes excessively and this imparts a slidy-feeling, sea-sick motion. Your car suddenly handles poorly - and you find you need more time to stop. Plus, you're also wearing out your tires more rapidly. The fix?

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 Posted on May 29, 2007   

Acura TL Type-S

As the market for luxury-sport sedans moves back toward rear-wheel-drive (and all-wheel-drive) Acura's TL increasingly stands apart as one of the few models of its kind that remains committed to the front-wheel-drive layout.

It's a theoretical weakness, yes - in terms of absolute handling ability "at the limit" - where a rear-drive BMW, Lexus, Infiniti or Cadillac has a built-in advantage. But how often do you drive "at the limit" - which in a modern sport sedan (front-drive or rear-drive) is a very high limit indeed? It's not 25 years ago, when a better-than-average driver could push a new car close to its limits without overstepping his own.

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 Posted on May 29, 2007   

Automatic Car Wash Tips - And Cautions

Automatic/drive-through car washes are more popular than ever because they save time and hassle. And in winter, they also save you from the ordeal of trying to keep your car clean in freezing weather. Automatic car washes can also be safer for your car's finish than washing your car yourself because do-it-yourselfers sometimes don't use enough water to safely remove dirt; or they wash the car in direct sunlight  - which can burn spots in the paint. Or they use the use the wrong type of soap - such as dishwash detergent, which removes protective wax and leaves a chalky residue on the finish.  Or any one of several common mistakes than can end up doing more harm than good.

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 Posted on May 18, 2007   

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About The Author

Eric Peters is a Washington, D.C.-based, nationally-syndicated automotive columnist. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, the Detroit Free Press and The Washington Times.

He welcomes questions and comments and can be reached at either EPeters952@yahoo.com.

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