Winter tires are one of the most important components on your vehicle when it comes to protecting you and your passengers from icy or snow-packed roads. Snow chains, snow tires, and studded winter tires are all options that can make your driving experience safer during a dangerous winter. However, before you run out and buy a new set of Blizzaks or studded snows, there are three things you need to think about.

1. How much does it snow in your town? Many people living in North America are fortunate enough to experience infrequent snow storms. In many areas, there may only be a handful of snow storms, and if this describes your situation, a decent set of snow tires (and perhaps a second set of wheels to mount them on) are all you need. Investing in chains or studded tires likely isn’t warranted if the winters in your area are relatively mild.

On the other hand, you may live in an area where a large amount of snow can fall at the drop of a hat. If that’s the case, you want to think about investing in tire chains in addition to snow tires. Chains are incredibly helpful in deep snow, and they also perform well on icy roads. However, unlike studded tires, they can be removed when not needed.

Finally, if you live in an area where the snow falls and doesn’t melt until spring, you want to think about studded tires. They are the best option available for icy roads, but they’re overkill unless your roads are always icy.

2. What are other drivers doing? If you’ve moved to a new city, you may not know what to expect in terms of winter driving. In this case, it’s a good idea to ask your co-workers and neighbors about what they do for winter driving. In Denver, for example, most people just make sure their car has a good set of all-season tires and call it a day. Residents of Kansas City need snow tires, however, so it’s best to ask around.

3. What works best for your vehicle? If you have a pickup truck or real-wheel drive vehicle, a set of snow tires or even studded snow tires may be a necessity. Pickup trucks tend to slip and slide around a bit more than cars, and rear-wheel drive cars can be hard to maneuver in icy conditions, so studded tires are a good investment.

Conversely, many new cars can’t be fitted with tire chains without special considerations. Therefore, you also need to consider what works best for your specific car, truck, or SUV before you buy anything…and be sure to check your vehicle owner’s manual before buying chains.

In a perfect world, you’d buy a spare set of snow tires mounted on their own set of wheels, with a set of tire chains as a back-up. However, you don’t need to go all out to be safe. You can always make arrangements to stay home if and/or when conditions become treacherous.

Author Information

Jason Lancaster has written extensively about automotive accessories and safety and is a regular contributor to www.ToyotaPartsBlog.com, a website chock full of Toyota maintenance tips.

The results of the 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study from J.D. Power and Associates is out and four Ford brand and two Lincoln brand vehicles finished in the top three of their respective segments. Of the six, three vehicles were ranked the highest in durability — the Ford Fusion, the Ford Explorer and the Lincoln MKZ. The study looks at 2009 model year vehicles and asks owners about problems they’ve experienced during the previous 12-months.

Fusion, Explorer & Ranger Ranked

The first generation Ford Fusion continues to receive praise from its owners. The 2009 model, pictured here, once again finished first in the latest Vehicle Dependability Study from J.D. Power and Associates.

The Ford Explorer tied with the Nissan Murano as the most dependable midsize crossover/sport utility vehicle. The Explorer featured was the previous generation’s body on frame model. In third place was the Toyota Highlander.

The Ford Ranger has since been discontinued, but owners have praised the vehicle for its value and dependability. J.D. Power says that the Ranger finished second in the midsize pickup segment behind the Nissan Frontier and ahead of the Honda Ridgeline.

Among large cars, the Ford Taurus finished third behind the Buick Lucerne and Toyota’s Avalon. This Taurus was the previous edition model. The current edition Taurus went on sale in the 2011 model year.

Lincoln, Ford Namplate Rankings

Two Lincoln models also performed well with the Lincoln MKZ and the Lexus ES 350 tying for the highest ranked entry premium car. The Acura TL finished in third. In the midsize premium/crossover sport utility vehicle segment, the Lincoln MKX finished first. No other vehicles were ranked.

Overall, Lincoln and Ford finished 7th and 8th respectively in the 2012 Namplate Ranking. That ranking gives an average problems per 100 vehicles and Lincoln came in at 116 per 100 vehicles and Ford at 124 per 100 vehicles. The industry average was PP 132, putting Ford and Lincoln among 12 brands that beat the average. Another 20 brands finished below average.

J.D. Power also said that the Ford Mustang performed quite well although there weren’t enough vehicles in its category to compete and be ranked.

Ford Statement

“The results of this study are extremely gratifying,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford Group Vice President, Global Quality and New Model Launches. “The ranking amongst the top 10 brands achieved by Ford and Lincoln speaks to our ongoing commitment to develop and deliver best-in-class products.”

More Information — J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study

You can search for tell talke signs of a flooded car and avoid buying a lemon car:

1. Take a whiff — Let your senses tell you if something is wrong with a car. Musty smells can be detected even if the cabin, trunk or engine pay has an unmistakeable perfume or cleaning solution smell. That smell alone should tell you that something is not right. Why else would a seller try to use a cleaning solution or perfume in a car he is trying to sell?

2. Feel the carpeting — Flood damaged cars usually have new carpeting. If the carpeting feels too new compared to the age of the car, your suspicions should be raised. If the carpet has not been replaced, run your hands over it to looks for signs of staining and fading. A carpet that has been soaked just doesn’t feel right either — the pile can feel rough. Use the same testing methods for the upholstery too.

3. Look in nooks and crannies — Flip the rear seats over, move the front seats back and forth, and peel away the carpeting. Look closely at the bolts and seat runners — if these appear rusty, then the car has been water damaged. Check the tire well, storage compartments and door pockets for signs of water. Staining and residual matter could be present.

4. Check the electrical system — Damage to your car’s electrical system may be more difficult to see, but if all of the wires beneath the dashboard are new, then you can expect that this car has been damaged. Replacing the wires won’t mask worse problems such as salt water in the engine, in the transmission or in other components.

5. Explore the trunk — New carpeting in the trunk, a new jack for the spare tire or anything else that doesn’t match up with the rest of the trunk should be a warning sign. Check the gasket around the trunk as well as the hood — it could be brittle or new if the current owner has replaced it. Wiring in the tail lamps could be damaged. Look up and within the trunk lid for signs of rust, discoloration and foul odors.

You can also track your vehicle’s history by obtaining a CarFax report or by visiting the National Insurance Crime Bureau and using its VinCheck service to find out whether a car has been declared an unrecovered stolen or salvage vehicle. Finally, hire a trusted mechanic to inspect your car too. He may turn up things you’ve missed or didn’t think to inspect.

See Also — Auto Trends Magazine: Beware of Flood Damaged Cars!

The Ford Taurus gains a 2.0-liter EcoBoost for 2012.

The Ford Motor Company used the backdrop of the 2012 Washington Auto Show to announce that it will be boosting its EcoBoost engine product three-fold this year in bid to keep up with availability and demand. EcoBoost will now be available in 11 vehicles this year, up from 7 last year.

Advanced Technology

EcoBoost is technology that incorporates direct fuel injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing to deliver engines that are more powerful, but smaller. Ford’s proprietary technology has been in use since 2009 and has recently found success in its F-150 pickup trucks. Those trucks are powered by two V-6 or two V-8 gasoline engines, with its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 making 365 horsepower while still delivering good fuel economy.

Ford had already announced that 2012 versions of the Ford Edge and Ford Explorer, crossover sport utility vehicles this writer drove last August. Ford reports that it sold 127,683 EcoBoost-equipped vehicles in the United States last year and will be adding the technology to its compact Focus, midsize Fusion and even in its large Taurus sedan this year.

Class-Leading Efficiency

“EcoBoost expansion and availability in high-volume nameplates such as the all-new Ford Escape and Fusion will take this affordable, fuel-saving technology to the heart of the market,” said Ford Group Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering Sue Cischke. “Ford is committed to delivering class-leading fuel economy for our customers, which benefits the environment and helps the U.S. move toward greater energy independence.”

Placing a four cylinder engine in a large car sounds like utter madness. However, Ford like some other manufacturers has put to death the time-honored saying that “there is no replacement for displacement.” The 2.0-liter EcoBoost four that will be optional in the Taurus will make 231 horsepower. That compares to the 263 horsepower the standard 3.5-liter V-6 makes. The Taurus SHO, however, will continue to be powered by a 365-horsepower EcoBoost V-6 engine.

Police Interceptor

Besides the Fusion, Focus and Taurus, Ford says that it will place its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine in its Police Interceptor model. That engine will represent the first-ever turbocharger used in a police pursuit model.

Until 2011, Ford hadn’t offered a six cylinder engine since retiring its 4.9-liter inline-six a few years earlier. A normally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6 was introduced along with an EcoBoost 3.5-liter V-6 engine. Together, those engines accounted for 56 percent of Ford’s F-150 sales, demonstrating that customers will buy a fuel efficient truck, especially one that has enough horsepower and torque to pull a big load. Equipped with EcoBoost the F-150 can pull up to 11,300 pounds.

The Ford Motor Company is fresh off a banner year one, that despite sales that remain off of highs reached just five years ago, are more profitable for the Blue Oval. This company, founded in 1903, continues to make the changes necessary to remain competitive. For 2012, the following auto trends should help Ford set or keep pace:

Ford Escape — The compact Escape has been a huge hit for Ford. This five passenger crossover is currently available in front- and all-wheel-drive and offers four and six cylinder gasoline engine choices. The new model will be slightly smaller and lighter, and will feature a family of three four cylinder gas engines. Gone are the V-6 and the hybrid as Ford believes that it can maintain lofty sales with the newest iteration of the Escape. This model will feature the latest in Ford MyTouch infotainment technology and also include hands-free liftgate activation. The 2013 edition goes on sale this spring.

Ford C-Max — Where did the Ford Escape hybrid technology go? To the Ford C-Max, that is where. Actually, the old nickel-metal hydride system will be replaced by lithium-ion batteries and be placed in a new model: the C-Max Hybrid and the C-Max Energi, one offering standard hybrid technology, the other sold as a plug-in hybrid. This vehicle will be underpinned by Ford’s compact car platform and go on sale later in the year. Don’t expect it t be a big seller, but it will enable Ford to launch a line of vehicles to take on Toyota’s Prius line.

Ford Transit — Ford won’t be dropping its full-size Econoline vans just yet, but it will supplement its line up with the Ford Transit (business edition, pictured), a full-size van that has been sold in Europe for many years. This vehicle may be sold as the T-Series stateside according to Autoblog to avoid confusion with the compact Transit Connect. In any case these T-250, T-350 and T-450 models will be sold by next year with production expected to commence before 2012 ends. Ford says that the new Transit will offer a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy over the Econoline, in part by offering a 300 pound lighter frame.

EcoBoost Distribution — Look for Ford to continue to expand EcoBoost availability in the coming year. New 2012 models with EcoBoost, technology that includes direct injection and turbocharging, are the Ford Explorer and Ford Edge. The 2013 Ford Escape will also offer EcoBoost and we’ll see the updated 2013 Ford Taurus outfitted with an optional 2.0-liter EcoBoost four, a small engine for a large car. Ford will offer EcoBoost in 90 percent of its vehicles by 2014.

Longer term, we’ll see a replacement for the Ford Mustang in time for its 2015 silver anniversary model. Expect that car to debut on April 17, 2014, exactly 50 years to the date of the original model. Ford’s pickup trucks will undergo an update just before then and we may see an all-new Ford Ranger pickup truck in the lineup although it may be imported from Thailand. Finally, if Chevrolet sees some success with its A-segment Spark, the similar sized Ford Ka could be the next car taken from Europe and sold in the United States and Canada, one of several auto trends will be following.

Photo: Ford Motor Company

Fuel Prices

Last summer, with gas prices surging past $4 per gallon, the collective groans from SUV and truck owners everywhere could be heard at gas pumps across the nation. Quite suddenly slapping down a $100 bill to pay for gas was becoming all too common, leaving many owners of gas guzzlers frustrated.

Soon, talk shifted to selling their vehicles and shifting to a car that could deliver 10-15 more miles to the gallon of fuel. But, several big problems were soon noted, forcing many truck owners to reconsider their plans including:

Huge Financial Loss — New cars can lose as much as one-third of their value after the first year, but the depreciation rate for some big vehicles meant that depreciation accelerated to 50 percent or more. The owner of a one- or two-year-old truck was suddenly finding that getting out of a loan was impossible to do without losing several thousands of dollars more just pay off the loan.

Undesirable Vehicle — With a flood of big vehicles on the market, even people who need a larger truck or SUV can pick and choose, making it a buyers market for them. Too many trucks and too few buyers have caused some people to reconsider the sale of their rides.

Inflated Small Car Prices — One neighbor of mine who didn’t have the problem of trying to unload a big vehicle was stunned when he checked out the price on the Honda Civic hybrid. Not only weren’t discounts being offered, but his dealer was charging a premium price for the car. Get rid of a big truck and buy an overpriced small car and you’ll be paying thousands of dollars just to switch.

So, what do you do if you’re stuck? You make do with what you have.

Hold On

Getting rid of your late model truck or SUV will cost you dearly, but holding onto it and riding out the current spike in gas prices could serve you well. Instead of selling, try to drive less by combining errands and use the most fuel efficient car in the family for the person with the longest commute.

Also, use regular fuel wherever possible, keep your truck well tuned and tires inflated, and consider working from home one day a week if you have a job that encourages people to do that.

Lower Prices

Fortunately, gas prices are in a retreat, but certainly not fast enough for most people. Likely, higher gas prices are here to stay, forcing you and millions of other drivers to come up with ways to save gasoline. If you are in the market for a new truck, you may be pleasantly surprised to find Ford truck engines that are fuel efficient, yet powerful.

For one thing, liability, comprehensive, collision, uninsured motorist coverage, deductibles, and other language makes it difficult for some drivers to figure out what coverage they have. Include the limits of your coverage, $100K, $300K, $50K and how that coverage works and most of us have no clear understanding of what insurance coverage we have.

Frank N. Darras, who is known as America’s top insurance lawyer, offers some practical advice about insurance, “Make sure you are covered for any accident that could put you and yours in the poor house. Raise your limits on all the coverage you can afford and lower your premiums by raising your deductibles. If your car is older, why carry a low deductible on comprehensive insurance which pays for fire, wind, hail and glass breakage?”

Darras says, “Carriers also look at your age, driving record and the make and model of your car. Where you live plays an important role in determining premium. If you live in a nice neighborhood, there generally is less congestion, which means fewer accidents and probably not as many thefts. Most carriers want a three year history of how many tickets you have had and the accidents you have been in as part of the premium equation. The kind of work you do also factors into the premium equation. Do boring safe work and you will pay lower premiums.” “Finally, a high credit score can lower your premiums. Carriers believe the more responsible you are about staying current on your bills will translate into responsible driving.”

Darras offers these money saving tips:

– If you get a ticket, fight them or go to traffic school so they don’t stay on your record and cause your premiums to go through the roof

– Cover your teenagers on your policy so they are not the primary driver on an expensive car. By covering your kids on your policy you can take advantage of your insurance carrier’s multi-car discount as well

– If you get in a minor accident and damage is less than $500, see if you can pay the other driver outside your insurance to prevent your rates from skyrocketing

– At renewal time, check your premiums against the market, make sure you are receiving all of your discounts, like the good student and customer loyalty discounts

– Pay your bills on time if you can, credit scores count big in the premium mix

– Timely premium payments will also lower your underwriting risks and future rates

– Boost your uninsured motorist coverage. For about $100 more a year, you can have uninsured motorist coverage of at least $100,000. Remember, uninsured motorist coverage is protecting you if the other driver has none. When was the last time you went to the emergency room and were out of work for a month when your losses weren’t more than 25,000?

– If your car is older than 5 years, drop the comprehensive coverage, if it is older than 12 years, drop the collision

“Always keep a disposable camera in your glove compartment. If you are in an accident, make sure you take photos before any vehicles are moved. Minutes after the accident, the story will change, so make sure you have pictures,” says Darras.

Clearly, in these days of financial pressures, following advice shared by Darras and others can save you a lot of money. Auto insurance isn’t a water cooler topic but it is a conversation that needs to be started especially as we begin a new year.

Photo: Kay Garston

Before you purchase a new car you probably have done extensive research to determine how that model compares to the competition. Once satisfied that a particular model meets your selection criteria, shopping for car simply involves comparing package options and prices offered by local dealers.

Insurance Premiums

However, there may be one other bit of criteria you’ll want to consider before making a purchase, one that could spell the difference between paying hundreds of extra dollars per year for the car or saving that money. That my friend would be your insurance premium, a rate that can vary from car to car.

Fortunately, if you are interested in a particular model, you can call your insurance provider before you make that purchase to see what your car insurance costs will be. You might be in for a rude awakening or a pleasant surprise, enough of a difference between competing models which could cause you to rethink your purchase. Not a bad thing, but better to find out now instead of waiting until after you purchase your car.

National Premiums

To that end, the online insurance portal Insure.com has calculated the average national premiums to insure the nation’s 10 lowest insurance premiums for 2011:

Vehicle Average annual premium:

Volkswagen CC Sport 4 Door Coupe 4 $1,186

Nissan Cube SL 4 Door Wagon 4 $1,188

Nissan Cube 4 Door Wagon 4 $1,206

Nissan Cube S 4 Door Wagon 4 $1,208

Ford Taurus SE 4 Door Sedan 3.5L 6 $1,254

Nissan Versa 4 Door Sedan 4 $1,268

Nissan Versa S 4 Door Sedan 4 $1,268

Audi A3 2.0 TDI 4 Door Wagon Turbo Deisel 4 $1,269

Honda Accord SE4 Door Sedan 4 $1,269

Subaru Legacy 2.5i 4 Door Sedan AWD 4 $1,273

The first question you might be asking yourself after reviewing this list is, “What makes insurance more expensive for one car over the next?” Well, the term loss history is frequently used which is industry speak for determining how often that particular model is stolen, number of claims submitted annually, is it totaled easier than other models, are passenger injuries more commonplace in one model versus another one, etc. Together, insurers than calculate cost which explains the difference as in the near $300 insurance differential between the Ford F-Series and Dodge Ram pickup trucks.

Of course, if the rate you are being quoted by your current insurance provider is higher than expected, you may be able to save additional money by shopping around. Contact at least three other insurance companies and give them the information about the model you want and use those numbers to help you determine the model you want and the insurance coverage.

The 2012 Ford Fiesta is a subcompact model available in four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body styles. Making its debut in 2010 to the U.S. market, this front-wheel-drive vehicle is currently the smallest car in Ford’s American line up. Among the many significant attributes this car possess are its contemporary and sporty exterior, excellent value and excellent fuel economy. The 2012 Ford Fiesta has added two new interior packages, a driver’s seat armrest and an integrated blind spot side view mirror. The base sedan is priced from $13,995 for 2012.

The Ford Fiesta offers tremendous value in a small package.

Engine and Transmissions

The 2012 Ford Fiesta is powered by a 16-valve, inline four cylinder engine displacing at 1.6-liters. This engine produces 120 horsepower at 6,350 rpm and 112 foot-pounds of torque at 5,000 rpm. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard and a 6-speed automatic is optional. This engine has a 11.0-to-1 compression ratio and runs on regular grade gasoline. Top fuel economy is 29 mpg city, 40 mpg highway when equipped with its SFE package. Its 12.4 gallon fuel tank gives the Fiesta a cruising range of just under 500 miles.

Dimensions

Both Ford Fiesta body styles sit on a 98-inch long wheelbase. The hatchback is 160.1 inches long; the sedan is 173.6 inches long. Both models are 67.8 inches wide and 58.0 inches tall. The Fiesta offers 85.1 cubic feet of passenger volume. Storage capacity is 12.8 cubic feet in the sedan and 15.4 cubic feet in the hatchback. The sedan weighs in from 2,578 to 2,628 pounds; the hatchback weighs in from 2,537 to 2,575 pounds.

Cabin Features

The 2012 Ford Fiesta comes surprisingly well-equipped and includes front cloth bucket seats, an auxiliary audio input jack, intermittent windshield wipers, a 4-inch multifunctional display with LCD screen, a capless fuel filler, and climate control.

Available options, depending on trim level, include Ford SYNC, ambient lighting, a premium audio system, integrated blind spot mirrors, push button start, leather-trimmed seats, heated seats and keyless entry. You can also order a sunroof, SiriusXM satellite radio, a rear deck lid spoiler, LED supplemental parking lamps with chrome bezels; a chrome beltline and decklid moldings; all-weather floor mats and a cargo management system.

Safety Features

This model features seven standard airbags including a driver’s knee airbag. Other safety features include a safety cage made of boron steel; electronic power assisted steering; a tire pressure monitoring system; electronic stability control and traction control; and four-wheel anti-lock brakes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has recognized the Ford Fiesta with its “top safety pick” award for scoring the highest marks in frontal offset, side impact, roof strength and rear crash protection.

Advanced Safety Features

Parents can’t wait for the new technology to hit and few cars driven by teens will actually have advanced safety features included as it’ll take a number of years before moms and dads everywhere trade their cars in for a new ride. So what parents need to do in the meantime is fall back on an ages old practice: nagging.

Safe Driving Tips

Seriously, we know that nagging doesn’t work but careful instruction certainly can. If your teen understands that driving is a privilege and not a right and that you remember to use your leverage to take away the keys from them if they abuse these same privileges, then you’ll do fine. Just in case, insurance giant GEICO offers the following tips to help parents remind their kids to drive right:

Parents, practice driving in all types of weather with your teen; while it’s helpful for them to get practical experience in clear weather, they’ll need to learn how to handle the car during rain, sleet, snow, etc.

Enforce a strict seatbelt policy so that it is second-nature to teens when they turn on the car unsupervised.

Teach your new driver how to handle the car in the case of a skid. It’s important for teens to know how to act in case of an emergency.

Set the example for your teen and drive slowly. Teens learn best by example so be cautious when out and about this season and make sure to leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles.

Make sure your teen is prepared for an emergency: have a road-side safety kit in your trunk or car.

Talking & Driving

Of course, having a cell phone handy for life’s emergencies is a wise thing to give to the responsible team. Just tell them not to talk and drive — in some states that practice is illegal and can result in a hefty fine!

Photo: Andrzej Gdula