In a rare accolade for U.S.automakers,Consumer Reports magazine has named two American brands as its top choices for the best full size trucks of 2013.The Chevrolet Silverado from General Motors won top spot in the organization’s coveted list of large trucks,followed closely by the Ram 150 from Chrysler.Both trucks received high praise from the publication for their overall performance,quality,fuel-efficiency and comfort.

The color of your car can reveal a lot more about your personality and lifestyle than you probably assume.Studies have shown that people subconsciously choose car paint styles and colors that are an extension of their personality.Car owners who drive black cars,for instance,tend to be authoritative,not manipulated easily and with a taste for the classic and the elegant.People who like red for their car often tend to have an impulsive,highly energetic and outgoing personality.

Drivers in Washington D.C have once again earned the dubious distinction of being ranked the worst drivers in America.On average,drivers in the nation’s capital get into accidents once every 4.8 years,or twice as frequently as the national average,according to statistics compiled by insurance giant Allstate Insurance.This marks the sixth year in a row that Washington D.C.has ranked at the bottom of Allstate’s list of worst drivers in the US.

German automaker Mercedes Benz has knocked American luxury car manufacturer Lincoln Motor Company off the top of the American Customer Satisfaction index for automobiles for 2013.Mercedes scored a total of 88 points out of a possible 100 in the satisfaction index for luxury cars,followed by Lexus with a score of 87 points.Lincoln was not considered for the index this year because of its low market share.

After years of struggling to jump-start sales of its once promising Scion brand of small cars,Japanese car maker Toyota appears to be finally ready to throw in the towel on the franchise.

For years,American carmakers have vigorously wooed the 18 to 30-year old demographic with snazzy subcompacts like the Toyota Scion models,the Ford Fiesta,Kia Soul and the Chevy Sonic.Auto manufactures have promoted the vehicles using hip social media marketing techniques,youth-oriented advertising campaigns and music sponsorships.Yet,in a strange twist of irony,the biggest buyers of these cars are not youth,but people nearing retirement age.

People in the United States are holding on to their cars longer than ever before.According to automotive industry research firm Polk,the average age of cars on US roads is 11.4 years,the oldest ever since the company started tracking vehicle age in 1995.The latest numbers are up slightly from the 11.2 years that Polk reported last year,and a long way off from the average age of 9.7 years ten years ago.

Road trips are the stuff of legends,sure to create a host of memories you’ll be laughing about for years to come.However,those legends can quickly turn from good to bad without the proper trip planning,like getting a flat in the middle of nowhere only to find you’ve forgotten to pack the jack,or even having a durable road trip car to make the distance.

Having your car stolen or vandalized can be a disheartening and expensive experience,but there are several measures you can take to mitigate the risk of becoming a victim.In 2011,about 715,400 motor vehicles were stolen nationwide according to the Uniform Crime Report from the FBI.That translated to roughly 230 auto vehicle thefts per 100,000 inhabitants.

The question of whether it is better to lease or buy a car can be a tough one to answer in certain situations.Both options have their advantages and disadvantages depending on how much you want to spend upfront,how much you can afford in monthly payments,how long you want to keep the vehicle,how much you drive and numerous other similar factors.

With dreams of owning an amazing ride at a fraction of the cost,cheap fixer upper cars have been sought after with a veracity those same boys usually reserved for chasing girls.Today,thanks to the internet,this genre of vehicles are now available to people of all ranges and age abilities,whether they are looking for a rare barn-find like a 63 Corvette,or the classic muscle cars of 1970,or even sentimental choices from their youth,like a late 80s Mustang 5.0.

Ford could soon become the first car manufacturer in the world to use robotic technology for conducting durability tests on new vehicles.The company has launched a pilot program under which it is using a next generation driverless car technology from Utah-based Autonomous Technologies Inc.for high-impact durability testing of the 2014 Ford Transit commercial van.