Let’s start off with part-time 4WD. The most basic system gives you a of choice settings that can be changed depending on the driving situation. However, the 4WD setting cannot be left engaged on dry pavement. This wears the transfer case and eventually results in mechanical damage. There are three settings: 2WD, 4WD High and 4WD Low. You would use 4WD High on snow and for easy to moderate off-roading. With 4WD Low, you’ll be using lower gears with much more torque but a much slower top speed.  4WD Low should only be engaged in extreme off-road situations.

In newer models, the driver can shift from 2WD to 4WD High while driving, but must come to a complete stop to shift into the 4WD Low setting.  One drawback of part-time 4WD is that it must be continually engaged and then disengaged in conditions of light rain or snow. This type of system is best for people who really don’t need 4WD, but occasionally go off-roading and want a little extra security when it snows.

Now let’s talk about AWD. All-wheel drive is similar to full-time 4WD in that the system is always sending power to the wheels, but AWD has no 2WD switch. It is always operating in 4WD mode. AWD systems work well in cars and crossover vehicles like the Chevy Traverse and Chevy Equinox because they don’t add much weight and make them true all-weather vehicles. Today, most All Wheel Drive vehicles are being marketed as being “active” or “intelligent” in that they system only engages whenever sensors detect that a wheel is about to slip. This allows modern cars to enjoy the same efficiency as a two wheel drive model, without sacrificing the safety of being able to engage all four wheels in dangerous conditions.

When it comes to selecting your drive train, you’ll need to consider the type of driving you plan to be doing. There is not one system that is better than the other, and as with most car options, it all depends on your personal driving habits. If you have anymore questions, don’t hesitate to ask the experts over at Classic Chevrolet.

Thanks to Cassidy Schafer for contributing.

OnStar never ceases to amaze me. How many of you out there use OnStar on a daily basis? I do. I love it and couldn’t really imagine my Chevy Tahoe without the power of OnStar. OnStar has announced a new test program called Family Link that will make sure that families have an easier way of connecting to each other when they are on the road. Of course all the vehicles must be equipped with OnStar for this to work but let’s think about this for a second. Your child tells you they are going to a friends house…. but you connect with OnStar and find out that they are galavanting around town in their car etc. This is a great way to keep tabs on your kids to make sure that they are safe and secure.

The optional service allows subscribers to log onto the Family Link website to get a map-type view of the exact location of other family vehicles. The system can also send an email or text to notify them of the location of the vehicle they are tracking as well. Subscribers can choose the day and time and how often they receive these alerts.

This service is particularly helpful for parents of teen drivers to keep tabs on the whereabouts of their young driver on the road.

This invitation-only program includes 10,000 active OnStar subscribers and will be used to gauge interest in this type of program in the future. Other considerations for the pilot include speed, boundary, and arrival/departure alerts. Responses for the program will help decide on the launch and pricing in the future. The test will run until the end of 2011.

—Liza Barth

What do you guys think? Think this will be a service that you would be interested in trying? Think that it should be offered. Let me know what you think.

Thanks to Consumer Reports and Brandi Hodge for contributing.

I can’t even imagine what I would have done but I can tell you right now I know a lot of people that wouldn’t have thought to video record it. Why? Cause they would have already flipped on the windshield wipers and set him on his way before the thought of recording it ever slipped into their minds.

I got to be honest….I might be one of those people. What would you have done in this situation? 

Check out the video….. If you have a strong stomach. 

Thanks to Brandi Hodge for contributing.

Consumer Reports made a simple, easy steps you can take to lower your car’s heat.

1. Park in the shade. Yes, you risk tree pollen or even bird droppings on your car, but it will be much cooler. If there is no shade, then park with the sun beating down into the rear window rather than the front to avoid the steering wheel and front seats from getting hot.
2. Use a sunshade. These windshield covers keep harmful rays out of your vehicle and while it will still be warm inside they do help keep the temperature down. In addition, sunshades will allow the car to cool faster reducing the time you need to use the air conditioning on high, which can save you some money in gas.
3. Deploy window shades. Many baby stores sell these window shades that can be put up or down or taken off an on to keep the sun’s rays from beating down on the car seat and when your child is occupying the seat while driving. Some minivans and luxury cars have retractable shades for the second seating row.
4. Keep leather cool. Leather seats and steering wheels can get so hot they can cause burns. To avoid a hot seat, you can sit on a towel or use a cloth seat cover for the summer months.
5. Watch the buckles. Metal seat belt buckles can also get extremely hot in the sun. Use caution when buckling and try to avoid children handling the metal part of the buckles. Also, don’t be tempted to loosen car seat straps in the summer heat. Children need to be buckled up securely at all times to remain safe.
6. Keep hydrated. Bring bottles of water and ice to help you hydrate on these hot days. Having an extra filled water bottle in the car can be a valued addition to an emergency kit, in case of a breakdown or other unforeseen complication.
7. Don’t leave items in the car. We all know not to keep perishables in the car, but the sun can also affect CDs, DVDs, electronic devices, and toys. Put the items in the trunk or better yet, take them out if you won’t be using them regularly.

What do you think? Some pretty good advice huh?! Let me know if you have any additional tricks that you use to keep your car or truck cooler and I’ll spread the word.

Thanks to Brandi Hodge for contributing.

Thanks to Brandi Hodge for contributing.

The Texas House has approved an 85 mph speed limit for Texas highways. Those who regularly drive through Texas knows this essentially means fewer pointless fines for keeping up with traffic. That makes this particularly notable as a government issue intended to appease people while at the same time reducing their own income. Brilliant. I think I just teared up a little.

But, with all good news comes some bad. News outlets have jumped all over this with the fear mongering you’d expect. Not only is there a slimmer chance of survival in an accident they say and that longer braking distances could mean more accidents (Going fast? Don’t follow so close!), but that this additional speed could cost Texas drivers up to 0.30 per day!

Texans don’t have to worry about those cataclysmic events just yet, though as this isn’t law yet and will have to conduct speed studies, engineering analysis and a new truck lane. Hope, however, is on the horizon so long as Texas stays brave — we have high hopes on this one.

What do you guys think? As drivers is 85 to fast or do you feel like you are already going 85 just to keep up with the traffic? I can understand in the city driving 60 but when you are headed west and there’s nothing but highways is it bad to go 85? I want to hear your opinions!

Thanks to Brandi Hodge for contributing.

Speeding

Many of us have broken the speed limit at one time or another, but here’s the truth: It’s the cause of most crashes. Nearly one in three fatal collisions involved speeding vehicles, at a cost of some 13,000 lives a year, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics. Speeding doesn’t just mean exceeding the posted limit; driving too fast for conditions accounts for about 45 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes.

Tailgating

Following another vehicle too closely dramatically reduces driver reaction time and the vehicle’s stopping distance, creating near-perfect conditions for disaster. The NHTSA considers this “aggressive driving,” and says that it factors into a substantial number of the more than 6 million crashes that occur each year. It’s recommended that drivers employ the “three-second rule” to estimate the proper following distance — that way, there’s plenty of time to react to dangers ahead.

Running a Red Light

If you’ve ever been in a hurry and tempted to beat a changing light, you may want to reconsider: One in three people personally know someone killed in a crash related to this driving mistake. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that in 2009, 676 people died and an estimated 113,000 were injured as a result of running red lights.

Failing to Yield

While the potential dangers of entering a road with faster-moving traffic or passing through a railroad crossing can’t be overstated, failing to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks or other places where people are present is especially hazardous. The IIHS reports that in 2008 alone, 69,000 pedestrians were injured by motor vehicles and more than 4,300 were killed.

Overcorrecting

Overcorrecting — returning the steering wheel too far after an evasive swerve — is a leading cause of rollover collisions, and, according to 2009 NHTSA numbers, a major factor in so-called run-off-road crashes. Near-miss situations can cause adrenaline to surge and panic to set in, but try to keep calm and avoid this common mistake — it may be vital to keeping everyone on the road safe.

Not Wearing a Safety Belt

We’ve all heard the lousy excuses: “It’s uncomfortable,” or “I’m not going very far.” And still, 17 percent of drivers don’t buckle up despite the fact that the NHTSA says wearing your safety belt is 45 percent more effective in preventing death by collision. This common driving mistake is by far the most simple to avoid — just strap it on and click it in every time you get in your car.

[Source: OnStar]

When you are behind the wheel of your new or used Chevy there is absolutely no reason why you should be driving out of control. Do you have any driving tips and hints that you would like to share? If so, send them over to me. I would love to share them with others.

Thanks to Brandi Hodge for contributing.