These three vehicles ease the stress of urban

by Rob Douthit
Wheels
These three vehicles ease
the stress of urban driving
Cox News Service
The Mini
Cooper packs a
surprisingly big
punch, particularly
in the S model,
which provides
greater power and
braking on city
streets.
Driving in the city sometimes
ain’t pretty. Dealing with traffic, narrow streets, potholes and
other hazards can be stressful
for motorists. While there’s not
much you can do about those
conditions, you can choose a vehicle that helps you cope a little
better. If you drive frequently in
urban environments, it’s a good
idea to think about ease of parking and handling, visibility and
city gas mileage when picking
your ride. Cars.com recently
compiled a list of good city cars.
Here are three of them:
1. Mini Cooper: This cute little thing is just over 12 feet long.
Its tight turning radius lets it
squeeze into parking spaces
other cars have to pass up.
Mini also has parking sensors
for the rear bumper. Inside,
four adults can be seated and
have the protection of six air
bags. The hatchback opens to
decent cargo space, especially
with the rear seat folded down.
The higher-level S model gives
great power and braking on city
streets, and a convertible version is offered.
2. BMW 328i wagon: This is a
nice new addition to the BMW
3 Series. It has 35 percent more
cargo space than the sedan,
but it isn’t longer. Its turning
radius is a very respectable 36
feet, it gets 17 mpg in the city
(although you must use premium gas) and it seats five. Not
to mention, it’s a BMW, so you
get a handsome interior and
exterior design and smokin’
German engineering.
3. Ford Escape Hybrid: You
can feel good while driving this
in urban areas because you are
releasing fewer CO2 emissions
than traditional fuel vehicles.
Also, your gas mileage in those
areas is great — how does 29 to
34 mpg grab you? The EPA says
the Escape Hybrid is the most
efficient SUV on the market.
No wonder several presidential
candidates are using them in
their campaigns.
Puzzle Solutions
Tips To Live By: Winter Maintenance
As winter weather hits and temperatures drop, your car can be
affected. Follow these important tips to maintain your vehicle,
stay warm, save money and keep everyone safe.
• Be sure your battery
and charging system
are in good condition.
The battery’s cranking
power is decreased in
colder weather. Be sure
you always have jumper
cables or a portable power
pack in your vehicle.
• Check your heater and defroster as well as your wiper
blades.
• Use a multi-viscosity oil to protect your car and ease engine
start up in low temperatures.
• Ensure that oil, gas and air filters are in good condition.
• Your coolant should be changed every two years, with the
exception of extended-life coolants which can be changed
every 5 years. Check your levels often during winter and be
sure the tank pressure cap is tight.
• Make sure your thermostat is functioning properly. Check
for leaking or soft hoses and replace when necessary.
• Check for proper tire inflation and excessive tread wear.
Tread is important in slick winter conditions. Low tire
pressure increases the wear and fuel consumption, but overpressure can reduce traction. You might consider snow tires
in the winter, depending on where you live.
• Avoid jackrabbit starts, it wastes fuel and can be unsafe on
slippery roads. Avoid the need for sudden stops by pacing your
driving.
• Let your vehicle idle for a few seconds before running it in
order for all lubricants to properly circulate, but no more than a
few seconds is necessary, otherwise you are wasting fuel.
• Always keep an ice scraper in your car and a de-icer for
locks. A small shovel can also be helpful if you become
stuck in snow. Keep a blanket handy just in case you are
stranded in the cold.
• Keep a sandbag in your trunk for increased traction in
rear-wheel-drive vehicles. It can also be used to sprinkle on
snow or ice for traction.
• Always keep your fuel tank above half full in case you are
stranded, you will be able to idle and keep warm.
Taking care of your car and following these simple tips will
help you stay safe, and help your car last longer and be more
dependable during the cold winter months.
Volume 4, Issue 1
Relax, We’ll Take It From Here™
The No.1 Collision Repair Group in North America
www.CARSTAR.com
CARSTAR Tees Off for Charity and Children
As a part of the CARSTAR
Super’Stang national
tour, CARSTAR Business
Groups around the country
have come up with a fun
way to showcase the 1967
Shelby Mustang recreation and raise money for
children with life-threatening illnesses. In 2007,
CARSTAR sponsored
In the Bleachers
nearly 10 local golf tournaments to raise money
for the Make-A-Wish
Foundation.® Business
Groups in Tampa, Florida,
Northwest Indiana, Arizona, Wisconsin, Western
New York, and the Kansas
City metro area, among
others have sponsored golf
tournaments in their respective areas
for insurance
agents and
community
leaders.
In all,
CARSTAR
golf tournaments have
raised an
impressive
$45,000
through sponsorships and
golfer participation for the
Make-A-Wish
Foundation.
In some
cases, a Business Group
will sponsor a
MORE FUN INSIDE!
specific child in their area
through their local MakeA-Wish chapter.
In Arizona this past December, golfers came out
to raise money to grant the
wish of Shelbi, a 15-yearold from Phoenix who
dreamed of going to the
Bahamas. The tournament
raised $10,000 to send
Shelbi and her family to
the Atlantis resort. Shelbi
was able to attend the
event and share her story
during the tournament
luncheon.
“Shelbi is a great example of how strong and
positive these courageous
children are, even when
facing a difficult illness,”
said Nicole Romanoff,
events and communications associate for the
Make-A-Wish Foundation
of Arizona.
The event, which took
place at Orange Tree
Resort in Scottsdale, drew
in more than 100 golfers
and had hole sponsorships
from national and local
businesses.
CARSTAR owners in Tampa present
a check for $18,000 to Make-A-Wish
Likewise, the four
CARSTAR locations in
Northwest Indiana teamed
up for their second annual
golf tournament benefitting the Make-A-Wish
Foundation of Greater
Ohio, Kentucky and
Indiana. Their tournament raised $6,000 for
Rachel, a 16-year-old girl
suffering from leukemia
who dreams of being a
photographer. Thanks
to the CARSTAR golf
tournament and the 140
golfers and sponsors who
participated, Rachel was
presented with a sunshineyellow laptop, a digital
camera and printer to help
fulfill her dream.
The event took place
at White Hawk Country
Club in Crown Point, Ind.
and Rachel and her family
were able to attend.
Incredibly, the Tampa
Bay CARSTAR business
group, whose goal was
to raise $15,000 was able
to raise $18,000 for the
Central and Northern Fla.
Make-A-Wish Chapter!
“We have participated
in charity tournaments
before, but this year we
were really inspired by the
Make-A-Wish Foundation,” said Mary Hoskinson, marketing director
for James CARSTAR Collision in Clearwater, Fla.
The Florida event featured a special guest, Jeff
Hendler, a golf pro and
well-known inspirational
instructor in the collision
repair industry. The tournament featured a “Beat
the Pro” competition to
raise money while MakeA-Wish volunteers were
on hand to sell Wish Stars
and bracelets. The event,
which took place at
continued on page 2
Great cars. Low rates.
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continued from page 1
the legendary Copperhead Golf Course of
the Innisbrook Resort in
Mary Hoskinson poses with golf
pro and collision repair expert Jeff
Hendler at the Tampa event.
November, drew in nearly
150 golfers!
Golf tournaments in
Kansas City, Western New
York and Wisconsin drew
in more than $10,000 for
charity.
Each event, of course,
showcased the CARSTAR
Super’Stang, the centerpiece of the national tour,
often times, right on the
golf course itself.
The Super’Stang was
created by CARSTAR
and the country’s leading restorer of Shelby
Mustangs, Jeff Yergovich.
The car will be sold at
auction in January 2009 to
benefit the Make-A-Wish
Foundation.
CARSTAR is proud
of its national partnership with the Foundation,
which grants the wishes of
children with life-threatening medical conditions
to enrich the human experience with hope, strength
and joy. To date, more
than $155,000 has been
raised for the Make-AWish Foundation through
events such as these and
the local Star program.
Ever Wonder?
How does a hybrid work?
The term “hybrid” is
defined as the offspring
of two very different
species, yet combines
characteristics of both.
A hybrid vehicle
is one that uses two
or more propulsion
systems.
Hybrid cars are
the new wave of the
eco-friendly future,
combining an internal
combustion engine with
an electric motor as the
power source.
The electric motor
decreases fuel
consumption from
regular gasoline-burning
CARSTAR Comics
engines. They can save
up to 30% of fuel.
There are three
classifications of hybrid
vehicles. Mild hybrids
use the electric motor
and battery to assist the
internal combustion
engine. It cannot drive
on the electric engine
alone.
Conversely, in a full
hybrid, the electric
motor and internal
combustion engine can
either work together
or independently,
depending on conditions.
With a light load and
light acceleration, a full
hybrid can run solely on
the electric motor. The
internal engine kicks in
as necessary.
And a Plug-In
hybrid utilizes the
recharageable motor
and battery system with
the internal combustion
engine only as a backup.
The electric motor
recharges itself when
braking by running the
motor backwards.
All of this is controlled
by a complex computer.
Teleword
Franchise Spotlight
Ink Pen
The Duplex
Pooch Café
Dansicker CARSTAR
1310 Racquet Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21209
(410) 821-5056
Owners: Steve Dansicker
Customer Service Rating: 96%
Equipment
• CCC & Quick Books Pro Computer
Software
• Garmat Paint Booth
• BASF Paint
• Chief, Genesis Frame Equipment (3)
• Miller Welding Equipment (3)
• FMC Alignment Equipment
Special Services
• Towing Service: Dansicker CARSTAR
(410) 821-5056
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car on site (410) 5834750
• Customer Pickup and Vehicle Delivery in
Immediate Service Area
• 5-Year Nationwide Warranty
“Nothing great was ever achieved without
enthusiasm.” -Ralph Emerson
Edited by Timothy Parker
ACROSS
1 Follow feloniously
6 One of the two evil
nations at
Armageddon
11 British rule in India
prior to 1947
14 Home of Hercules’s
lion
15 Monroe’s
co-star in “The
Seven Year Itch’’
16 ___-friendly (safe
for the
environment)
17 New York Knicks
coach Thomas
18 Late, in Spain
19 601, in old Rome
20 Beginning of a
tongue twister
22 Attila was one
23 ___-Caps
24 Corral
26 Helium, for one
29 Slashed phrase
32 Good time for a
procrastinator?
33 Cartel since ’60
35 Slip-in with the
antes
http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/
hybridvehicles/a/howhybridswork.
htm
Facility
• 16,000 Sq. Feet
• 24 Work Bays
• 11 Talented Staff Members
Universal Crossword
36 Swallow hook, line
and sinker
37 Middle of tongue
twister
43 Chang’s Siamese
twin
44 Short game word
45 Indulge in voguing
46 Spingarn Medal
org.
49 “___ Bones’’
(Stephen King
novel)
51 “Have some’’
52 Psych up
54 Sea, across the sea
56 Way back when
57 End of the tongue
twister
63 Wood of the
Rolling Stones
64 Carafe size,
perhaps
65 Allow only one to a
customer
66 Uno and due
67 Turner
autobiography
68 Pass into law
69 Grp. founded in
Bogota in 1948
70 Perfume, as at mass
71 Call again, in poker
DOWN
1 Hissy fit
2 New Age pianist
John
3 Gallic girlfriend
4 Toronto Maple ___
5 Hawaiian shaman
6 Site of the oldest
church in France
7 On sabbatical, e.g.
8 Big name in baby
food
9 Like days of yore
10 Happy chorus?
11 More than popular
12 Point the finger at
13 NFL Hall-of-Famer
Charlie
21 Type of committee
25 Easy basketball
shot
26 Seafaring man
27 “The Simpsons’’
convenience store
manager
28 “Oh yeah, ___
who?’’
30 “A ___ of
Flanders’’
31 “I’m ___ here!’’
(skedaddler’s
remark)
34 Bohemian, e.g.
36 Morph into
38 Where some scenes
are made
39 The Bard’s witch
40 Playwright Akins
41 Half a Gabor name
42 “Are we there
___?’’
46 Close by
47 Silky-haired rabbit
48 Wears a hair shirt
49 “___ Show,” 2000
mockumentary
50 Tentative proposal
53 Deluxe digs for
honeymooners
55 It has Bonn on its
banks
58 Urgent cravings
59 Highlands hillside
60 ’’___ helpless as a
kitten up a tree
…’’
61 “Miami ___’’ (Don
Johnson show)
62 Suffix with “disk’’
© 2007 Universal Press Syndicate www.upuzzles.com
“TONGUE TWISTER” by Carol Lachance
Sudoku Pacific