Fast Lane | The Rock River Times

Buying a used car? Expert tips to speed, ease the process

Courtesy of ARA Content The approach of summer means just one thing to car buyers—the opportunity to score a great deal,
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March 10, 2010 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: World’s oldest muffler?

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer There are times when a motor vehicle part seems to defy the laws of “planned obsolescence.” The
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March 10, 2010 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Chicago Auto Show 2010 through green eyes

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer I actually have blue eyes, but I see through “green” eyes. Everywhere I look, I’m looking for
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February 24, 2010 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: 2010 Green Car of the Year

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer As I write this, Super Bowl XLIV looms to dominate the television landscape. My wife and I
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February 10, 2010 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

What to look for in your auto insurance policy

Courtesy of ARA Content More than 186 million cars are on the road in the United States, according to The Insurance
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February 10, 2010 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Make a resolution to cut automotive costs in the new year

Courtesy of ARA Content An annual tradition, Americans have their minds on resolutions for the New Year. While most hope to
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January 27, 2010 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Green opinion

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer If you write a column called Mr. Green Car, it goes without saying that you are probably
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January 27, 2010 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: ‘Leaf’ it to Nissan

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer Leave it to Nissan to perhaps be the first major manufacturer of the everyday electric car. Their
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January 13, 2010 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Is there a slime pond in your future?

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer First of all, I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and is looking forward to a prosperous
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December 30, 2009 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Drive safely with expert cold-weather car care tips

Courtesy of ARA Content Rough winter weather increases your risk of being in a car accident by 36 percent, according to
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December 30, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

It’s easier than ever to plow snow like a pro

Courtesy of ARA Content As more Americans stretch their budgets in hopes of accomplishing more with less, many owners of half-ton
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December 30, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Nature’s fuel—part two

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer I had a reader contact me about the use of hemp (marijuana) seeds for oil use directly
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December 16, 2009 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Tips for keeping your car running in colder weather

Courtesy of ARA Content Baby, it may be cold outside, but inside your car’s engine, it’s hot as blazes. Even when
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December 16, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Biodiesel—nature’s fuel

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer Since I’ve begun to write this column, I’ve frequently discussed the sources of our transportation energy and
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December 2, 2009 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

What to do if you’re in an auto accident

Courtesy of ARA Content As winter approaches, snow, ice storms and fewer daylight hours mean more drivers are at the risk
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December 2, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Time for tires? Buying basics for tire shoppers

Courtesy of ARA Content It’s one of the most important vehicle-related purchases you can make, yet a whopping 62 percent of
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November 18, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Prevent Blindness America offers winter auto safety tips

From press release CHICAGO—Although winter officially begins in December, in some parts of the country, it is well under way. Driving in
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November 18, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Half-ton truck owners now have a full-sized snowplow

Courtesy of ARA Content With more than 2.5 million half-ton pickups sold annually, these trucks are beloved for their versatility and
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November 18, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Tips to keep your car running for a million miles

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer It was not that long ago that driving a car until it had 100,000 miles was considered
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November 18, 2009 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: MicroFueler offers home-brew alternative

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer During the 2009 Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair at the Ogle County Fairgrounds, I saw
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November 4, 2009 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | 1 Comment

Car care advice for consumers facing tough economy

Courtesy of ARA Content The average car and light truck on American roads has reached a record age of 9.4 years,
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November 4, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Ford workers vote down cost-cutting plan

By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer Union workers at Ford Motor Company voiced their opinions last week by voting down the company’s proposal
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November 4, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Get your auto maintenance in gear: simple safety tips

Courtesy of ARA Content In a tough economy, it’s only natural to look for ways to cut corners. But trimming auto
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November 4, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Tesla Roadster comes to Rockford

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer The Tesla Motors “Roadster” is coming to town. This all-electric hot rod of celebrities is nearly a
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October 21, 2009 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Vehicles become more eco-friendly

Courtesy of ARA Content With gas prices soaring and the emphasis on preserving the environment, more and more people are becoming
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October 21, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | 1 Comment

Cash for Clunkers spoils used market

 Retail car sales tumble at program’s end By Jim Hagerty Staff Writer The federal subsidized program, Cash for Clunkers, was a hit
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October 21, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

High-tech options offer boost for tires

Courtesy of ARA Content They are your vehicle’s only connection to the road, yet most of the time your tires are
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October 7, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: A green not-so-green vacation

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer My wife and I recently spent two weeks vacationing on Kauai Island, Hawaii. Mr. & Mrs. Green
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October 7, 2009 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Chevy Volt—fuzzy math?

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer There seems to be a lot of excitement over the prospect of the new Chevy Volt arriving.
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September 23, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane> Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Car buying: Six slippery sales strategies

Courtesy of ARA Content Even with the success of the “Cash for Clunkers” program, the auto industry is limping through the
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September 9, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Getting kids to sleep while on the road

Courtesy of ARA Content With the fall season upon us, many families will be traveling. But with all of the excitement
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September 9, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Oil philosophy 102—synthetic oil

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer I’ve had little firsthand experience with synthetic oils. Primarily with what lubricates turbine aircraft engines, and, to
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September 9, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane> Mr. Green Car | 1 Comment

Mr. Green Car: Oil philosophy 101

By Allen Penticoff Free-lance Writer We’d all like our cars and trucks to run at their best and last a long time.
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August 26, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane> Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

‘Cash for Clunkers’ not for everyone

• Keeping current vehicle running efficiently the best economic alternative for some Editor’s note: The following article was submitted before
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August 26, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Is your car ready to drive?

Courtesy of ARA Content Americans are holding on to their automobiles longer, and this means proper maintenance is key to keeping
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August 26, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Law bans text messaging while driving, cell phone use in school and construction zones

Legislation proposed by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White to strengthen the laws on distracted driving was signed into law
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August 12, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Green transportation at the Energy Fair

This last weekend (Aug. 8-9) saw the 2009 Illinois Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair at the Ogle County Fairgrounds
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August 12, 2009 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Mr. Green Car: Veggie oil power—part two

Mr. Green Car has gone “green” with his recently-acquired Volkswagen Rabbit diesel. Not only does this car burn used cooking
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July 29, 2009 | Also published in Mr. Green Car | Comments (0)

Buying used? How to avoid getting bitten by repair costs

If your old clunker is gasping its last, you might think (like millions of other Americans these days) you can
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July 29, 2009 | Also published in Fast Lane | 1 Comment

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