What Cleveland Women Want
Readers are important back seat drivers for this feature
Thursday, June 26, 2008 - Cleveland Plain Dealer
I really enjoy opening the "mailbag" and hearing from readers who have suggestions for topics in this space or comments about past stories. I also appreciate alert readers, including Alan Travaglianti of Strongsville.
Awhile back, I wrote a story about helping teenagers learn the skills they need to be safe drivers. I quoted information provided by The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course that said a teenager is killed in a car crash every 6.5 minutes. Sharped-eyed Travaglianti took me to task for not checking my math and wrote, "With 365 days per year, 24 hours per day and 60 minutes per hour, we have 525,600 minutes per year. At a fatality rate of one every 6.5 minutes, that would be 80,862 teenage deaths. That is way more than the overall total of about 38,000 car fatalities per year."
No, I didn't do the math. I got A's in every subject in school except algebra. I only passed that class because Mr. Brown, my math teacher at Solon High School, took pity on me. Anyway, Mid-Ohio confirmed that the stat was wrong and has revised its information to read that a teenager is killed in a car crash every 64.5 minutes. And although even one teenage death in this country is too many, at least the number is lower than reported originally.
Travaglianti also commented about the value of defensive driving courses for teenagers. His son was 17 years old and driving for a year when the teen enrolled in a Track Time high-performance driving course at Mid-Ohio. The course was a graduation present from his parents. Travaglianti said his son learned "how a car really handles with braking, turning and accelerating like one could never do on public streets."
"My relatives and friends thought it would cause my son to become a street racer by having him learn how to drive fast. He learned instead that racetracks are for speed and public highways are for people and defensive driving. What he learned about car control taught him much about winter driving and what to do when skidding. He has not had a speeding ticket in 14 years since taking this course," said Travaglianti.
That's what we like to hear. And on another subject...
According to a Favorite Car Feature survey of female customers, 62 percent of women "most enjoy" a fold-down back seat that provides more storage area. The survey was conducted by LeaseTrader.com, a company that helps consumers transfer car leases. John Sternal, vice president of marketing communications, said the next most enjoyed items in order are: Bluetooth capability, MP3/iPod connectivity, automatic open/close hatchbacks, and GPS technology.
Tiffaney Beatty, senior vice president, National City District Sales Executive, shared research that said "men are four times more likely than women to negotiate," which could "mean a big disadvantage for women when it comes to car shopping." Beatty said the bank's Check Ready is a new auto loan feature that includes a blank check up to a maximum amount that can be used like a personal check when buying a car.
According to Beatty, the "check is a strong incentive for the dealership to meet your price. It takes away the stress of wondering whether you'll get financing at the rate you want." Having a set loan amount also helps a car buyer stay within a budget," she said. For more information, visit www.nationalcity.com/autoloan.
A reader from Brooklyn, Ohio, asked for suggestions for a "good car repair shop" on the West Side. I'm sure, or at least I hope, she has had her faulty brakes fixed by now. But any suggestions for future repairs would be welcome.
Colette Brooks is owner of BioBling, a company that connects "conscious women with biodiesel cars and the fuel - veggie oil - to run them." Brooks tracks down car dealers and private sellers who are selling the green car you want. Brooks gets 10 percent of the acquisition cost to locate the car and you pay shipping fees if necessary. She can also hook you up with a biofuel distributor.
If you already drive a biodiesel car or you just think it's a good idea, Brooks also sells t-shirts, tank tops and long sleeved shirts that tell the story. For more information, visit www.biobling.com
Women and Cars will be looking at alternative fuels in a future column. I'm intrigued that fuels have been made from algae and other unusual sources. I'm interested in what you have to say about the subject and if and why you drive a green car. Please email me at the address below.
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This story posted by LeaseTrader.com, the automotive service company that lets people transfer out of their Car Leases early. If you're looking to swap a lease or transfer out of your Car Lease, please visit www.leasetrader.com.
Print | posted on Monday, June 30, 2008 8:11 PM