Latest News From Bumper to Bumper Radio

ORLANDO, Fla. (November 11, 2015) –Automakers’ decision to eliminate the spare tire may leave more than 30 million drivers vulnerable at the roadside, according to new research from AAA. Tire inflator kits, a high-cost alternative for consumers, have replaced the spare tire in millions of vehicles over the last 10 model years and, due to their limited functionality, cannot provide even a temporary fix for many common tire-related problems. AAA calls on automakers to put consumer interests first and halt the elimination of the spare tire.

“Flat tires are not a disappearing problem, but spare tires are,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “AAA responds to more than four million calls for flat tire assistance annually and, despite advances in vehicle technology, we have not seen a decline in tire-related calls over the last five years.”

The holidays are stressful enough without having to worry about your vehicle making it over the river and through the woods in time for dinner at grandma’s house. The Car Care Council recommends that before hitting the road for the holidays, you take a little time to have your vehicle thoroughly inspected to make sure it is road ready.

“The last thing anyone wants during the holiday season is to break down miles from home in the middle of nowhere,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “It’s always a wise idea to have your vehicle checked out before you leave home to identify any potential problems that can be serviced before your holiday journey.”

ORLANDO, Fla. (November 17, 2015) – AAA Travel forecasts 46.9 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday, a 0.6 percent increase over the 46.6 million people who traveled last year and the most since 2007. With 300,000 additional holiday travelers, this marks the seventh consecutive year of growth for Thanksgiving travel. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 25 to Sunday, November 29.

“This Thanksgiving, more Americans will carve out time to visit friends and family since 2007,” said Marshall Doney, AAA President and CEO. “While many people remain cautious about the economy and their finances, many thankful Americans continue to put a premium on traveling to spend the holiday with loved ones.”

Wow!!! As a consumer I would be totally confused by all of these terms for a single product.  What am a buying and from whom.  The reality is depending on the business you are working with there are several different names for most major transmission repair.  I have done my research and the reality up until this point is none of these terms are set-up by the federal government or by the state of Arizona.  There is no uniformity or guidelines.  The term is completely defined by the person selling the product and service.  Why should this matter? You are spending a lot of money on a transmission.  Are you receiving “Sparkle Dust” or what I consider “Real Value”? 

Well, the transmission business is changing quicker than ever before. The modern transmission is a fabulous piece of machinery. They are lightweight, smooth and super efficient. Five speed automatics have become standard with the six speed automatics following close behind. Nine speeds are not an unusual find in higher end late model luxury cars.

Bumper Audio Clip of the Week


Bumper to Bumper helps a listener decide between conventional and synthetic oil for his Ford F250.