WEB-ONLY STORIES

July 2010

  • Car Doctor Week of July 26, 2010

  • Is a certified pre-owned vehicle an equal or better option over a new car?

  • Car Doctor Week of July 19, 2010

  • I’m looking for a small SUV. Is the GMC Terrain a good choice?

  • Car Doctor Week of July 12, 2010

  • What cars are American-made?

  • Car Doctor Week of July 5, 2010

  • My car stalls after every oil change. Why?

    June 2010

  • Car Doctor Week of June 28, 2010

  • I own a 2004 Jaguar that has developed a high-pitched, almost siren-type noise. Any idea where this could be coming from?

  • Car Doctor Week of June 21, 2010

  • We’re looking to replace our Volvo wagon with a used vehicle between the years of 2005 and 2007. What can you suggest?

  • Car Doctor Week of June 14, 2010

  • How often should a vehicle's engine oil be changed?

  • Car Doctor Week of June 7, 2010

  • My friend and I both have Toyotas. But why is there such a difference between our two cars?

    May 2010

  • Car Doctor Week of May 31, 2010

  • How important is it to replace a faulty oxygen sensor?

  • Car Doctor Week of May 24, 2010

  • Should I change the transmission fluid in my 2003 Infiniti?

  • Car Doctor Week of May 17, 2010

  • Is this a good time to consider buying a Prius?

  • Car Doctor Week of May 10, 2010

  • Why was my car damaged when it ran out of gas?

  • Best Commuter Cars

  • AAA’s top picks for 2010.

  • Car Doctor Week of May 3, 2010

  • Is it unusual that my Honda’s rear brakes are rusting when the car is only three years old?

    April 2010

  • Car Doctor Week of April 26, 2010

  • Should I buy a BMW or Lexus convertible?

  • Car Doctor Week of April 19, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of April 5, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of April 5, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

    March 2010

  • Car Doctor Week of March 29, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automotive Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of March 22, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of March 15, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of March 8, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of March 1, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

    February 2010

  • Car Doctor Week of February 22, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of February 8, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Techician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of February 1, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

    January 2010

  • Car Doctor Week of January 25, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of January 11, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

    December 2009

  • Car Doctor - Week of January 4, 2010

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of December 28, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of December 21, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of December 14, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor December 7, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Motorbooks Book Reviews

  • Legendary Race Cars

    November 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of November 30, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of November 23, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of November 16, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of November 9, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of November 2, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Winter Driving Tips

  • Inclement weather can pose challenges for even the most experienced driver.

    October 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of October 26, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of October 19, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of October 12, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of October 5, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • 8 Ways to Be an Enviro-Friendly Driver

  • AAA's Car Doctor, John Paul provides 8 ways to be a more environmentally friendly driver.

  • Interview with Tony Horwitz

  • Q&A with Tony Horwitz, author of A Voyage Long and Strange: On the Trail of Vikings, Conquistadors, Lost Colonists, and Other Adventurers in Early America.

  • Delving Deep into the Heart of Romania

  • The Transylvania of Cluj-Napoca and Alba Iulia

    September 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of September 28, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of September 21, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of September 14, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of September 7, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Woodstock Revisited

  • We received a flood of responses to our Woodstock essay contest. Our thanks go to all of our members who took the time to send us their thoughtful and entertaining stories.

  • A Quick Spin in the 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata

  • The 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata, as tested $31,010, base $28.190.

    August 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of August 24, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of August 3, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Scuba-Diving: A New World Awaits

  • Exultation is the going/Of an inland soul to sea, Past the houses, past the headlands/Into deep Eternity

  • A Long Strange Trip

  • Duke Devlin, site interpreter for The Museum at Bethel Woods, came for the Woodstock concert in 1969 and never left.

  • Summer 2009 Concerts at The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

  • The Museum at Bethel Woods

  • Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

  • Set within nearly 2,000 bucolic acres in upstate New York, The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a $100 million outdoor performing-arts center and museum.

  • The Basics of BioFuels

  • As petroleum supplies dwindle and prices seesaw wildly, many attempts to create new-age fuel substitutes are slowed by a variety of barriers.

    July 2009

  • AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet Testifies on Transportation Funding Before the U.S. House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures

  • Leader of nation’s largest motoring organization discusses potential program reforms and funding options for the nation’s transportation system with panel of key federal legislators

  • Car Doctor Week of July 20, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of July 6, 2009

  • With more than 30 years of experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • 5 Facts You Should Know About Your Roads

  • Rough Roads Ahead, Fix Them Now or Pay for it Later

    June 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of June 29, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of June 22, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • Car Doctor Week of June 15, 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of June 15, 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of June 8, 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of June 8, 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of June 1, 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of June 1, 2009

  • Tips For Traveling With Pets

  • Summer is a popular travel season for many families, and furry friends are often a great factor to weigh in when making getaway plans.

  • A Quick Spin In the Volvo XC60

  • The Volvo XC60 T6 AWD ASR, base $37,200, as tested $42,250

  • Trapped in Paradise: A Journey to Stowe, Vermont

  • “It was a difficult climb, but the dense forest, crisp pine air and scenic views were well worth the sweat and stumbles over rocky terrain.”

  • The English County of Kent: From Danish Invaders to Channel Tunnels

  • “[Canterbury’s] cricket ground, St. Lawrence, actually has a tree growing on the pitch. A lime, it survived the building of the ground in 1847, and when a freak thunderstorm blew it down in 2005, the ground staff merely planted a new one.”

    May 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of May 25, 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of May 25, 2009

  • Car Doctor Week of May 18, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

  • AAA Anticipates 7.3 Million Stranded Motorists This Summer

  • The nation's largest motor club expects rise in roadside assistance requests, offers motorists tips to avoid becoming stranded.

  • In a Corner: The Southeastern Region of the Dominican Republic

  • A Practical Guide to Traveling in this Beautiful Region

  • AAA Releases Top Picks for New Vehicle Technology


  • Nation's largest auto club highlights new vehicle features that improve safety, enhance convenience and are just plain cool.

  • A Quick Spin In…Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

  • The 2009 Cadillac Escalade 2WD Hybrid $72,780.00

  • Press Preview of the 2009 New York International Auto Show

  • The death of the SUV has been greatly exaggerated.

  • Car Doctor Week of May 4, 2009

  • AAA’s Car Doctor

  • Car Doctor Week of May 11, 2009

  • With more than 30 years experience in the automotive business, certified Master Automobile Technician John F. Paul answers your questions.

    April 2009

  • Green Product Expo 2009

  • February 25th marked the date of the Green Products Expo at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square.

  • Go Crazy for the Nutmeg State

  • Often overlooked but filled with cultural gems, Connecticut is much more than a New York City suburb.

  • Infiniti G37 Journey Coupe $38,015

  • A truly nice car on many fronts and one that would be most enjoyable on the country drive that we all love so much.

  • To Repair or to Replace—That Is the Question

  • AAA offers advice for motorists debating costly major repairs vs. new vehicle purchases.

  • Trieste Slideshow

  • A photo tour of Trieste, Italy.

  • Trieste:  Legends, Light and Longing

  • Wedged between Slovenia and Croatia on a narrow band of Italy that occupies a separate side of the Adriatic Sea from nearby Venice, Trieste is fascinating city steeped in lore, legend, stories and characters.

    March 2009

  • AAA offers steps to take the gamble out of used vehicle buying

  • With new car sales down, dealers seeing uptick in used vehicle sales

  • Watch for Speed Cameras in Arizona

  • Taking a road trip to visit friends and family out West? Be aware that Arizona has installed a statewide system of speed cameras geared to capture speeders and red-light runners on tape.

  • A Quick Spin In…

  • The Mazda CX-7

  • On a Wing and an Air Fare

  • A new birding route opens up the wonder of Costa Rica.

  • The "Stay Out of Jeopardy" Quiz

  • If you want to avoid jeopardy when you're driving, make sure you use good safe driving practices.

  • Driving & Maintenance Tips for Women

  • Automotive expert encourages women to be car-savvy.

  • Is it Possible to be Luxurious and Green?

  • AAA Five Diamond Lodgings Find Ways to be Environmentally Friendly Without Sacrificing Comfort

    February 2009

  • Rolling on the River

  • It’s worth noting that in bad economic times, riverboats are a good option for touring Europe.

  • New York’s Safest Year to Drive

  • New York State saw the lowest number of crash-related deaths in 2007 since it began monitoring highway safety in the 1920s.

    January 2009

  • A Quick Spin In...2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Turbo Coupe

  • In the midst of its bailout doldrums, GM has taken the time to update one of the (few) stellar performers in its car lineup.

  • How to Realistically Compare Fuel-Economy Ratings

  • If you're looking for a new car to maximize your fuel savings, don't fall into the trap of merely comparing MPG ratings.

  • Improving Your Winter-Driving Skills

  • If you must drive in snow and ice conditions, follow this sound advice to stay safe on the road.

  • A Quick Spin In…

  • The Jaguar XKR Coupe

  • My Scottish Fling

  • Few poets are more beloved than Scotland’s favorite son, Robert Burns. Known as “The Bard,” his prolific works include Auld Lang Syne and A Red, Red Rose.

    November 2008

  • County Donegal: Ireland’s Northernmost Tip

  • There is a chunk of the Republic of Ireland that appears—geographically—as though it should be part of Northern Ireland.

  • More Than a Message

  • What bumper stickers tell you about the person behind the wheel.

  • Glance Again at Your Car’s Windshield

  • There are thousands of responsible auto glass companies that perform high-quality, safe windshield replacement, and some that do not.

    October 2008

  • Why I Buckle Up Without Hesitation

  • The only reason my friend remained unscathed after lightning struck his vehicle was because of his seat belt.

  • Mississippi Meandering

  • Take a diversion to Holly Springs, which is where you will find Graceland Too, a labor-of-love homage to the better-known Graceland across the border in Tennessee.

  • A Quick Spin In The Cadillac DTS

  • Pros: Interior Comfort, Engine power, Build quality

  • Drowsy Driving

  • Between 50 and 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, and people who remain untreated are seven times more likely to fall asleep at the wheel.

  • Manhattan Muses

  • "What an enlightened idea, a museum focusing on poetry."

    September 2008

  • The Best of the Bahamas

  • Want a break from all that sun and sand? The Bahamas has a wealth of culture, too, if you know where to look.

  • How Teen Drivers Think

  • New survey reveals gaps between reality and teens' perception of risk.

  • The Dangers of Hypermiling

  • Some drivers behave recklessly behind the wheel to boost their vehicle's mpg.

  • AAA New York Fall Foliage Guide

  • Autumnal beauty isn't far from home.

  • Wild Canada: Nova Scotia and Newfoundland

  • Ticking to a different clock...

  • A Quick Spin In: Pontiac G8 GT

  • As tested $31,245, base $29,310

  • Brush Strokes of Genius

  • There is a special pleasure in visiting a museum devoted to a single artist.

    August 2008

  • High on Quality

  • Study shows new-car defects declining, even with more high-tech features.

  • The Garifuna

  • A Proud People Dotted Around the Caribbean, and in New York City

  • The Antique Cars of New York’s Past

  • Tucked away on a side street, is a jewel of a museum worth a weekend drive: the Northeast Classic Car Museum.

    July 2008

  • Is Your Teen Ready to Bring a Car to College?

  • Thailand: Something Wonderful

  • The powerful forces of royalty and religion come together in spectacular fashion in Bangkok.

  • Stranger at a Strange Festival

  • Five festivals discovered by chance along the trails of the world.

  • Risky Business

  • Understanding—and changing—our risky driving behaviors could reduce the amount of carnage on our highways.

  • The Arts in Lancaster County: An Overview

  • A special nonprofit markets and promotes the arts in Lancaster.

    June 2008

  • Why Drivers Exhibit Road Rage

  • "We sometimes get a pretty strong sense of security by having this armor wrapped around us. The question is, would we be this aggressive if we didn’t have our cars?"

  • Buddhas and Sand Dunes: A Trip to Northwest China

  • If you need a few days away from the huge, busy metropolises of Beijing and Shanghai, then might I suggest flying to the wilds of northwestern China, to the small city of Dunhuang in the middle of the famous Gobi Desert in the province of Gansu.

    May 2008

  • Long May You Run

  • Cars and trucks stay on the road longer than ever before.

  • Crashes Get Serious

  • Trends in crash severity and frequency could affect your insurance premiums.

  • Our Top 10 Long Island Festivals

  • Read our travel editor's picks and add your own.

  • The Other Borough: Travels in Staten Island

  • This is something that residents of New York City’s least-populous borough do not need to hear again: In terms of favorable publicity, Staten Island gets a rough deal.

  • Three Chance Finds

  • Random travel stops in Mississippi, Panama and Argentina.

  • Keeping Track of Teen Drivers

  • Consider installing a tracking device in your teen’s vehicle—preferably under an agreement with your teenager—as part of your child's behind-the-wheel training.

    April 2008

  • Monarchs in Manhattan

  • Excitement was in the air, or in the gentle waves, at least, in the short space between the QE2 and the Queen Victoria, which was in New York City for the first time after finishing her first transatlantic sailing.

  • A Quick Spin In: Audi R8 Coupe

  • It’s difficult to figure what ranks as the most amazing feature about this car, since there are so many.

  • Parking Survival 101

  • “Nothing can be more gratifying than helping someone when they feel helpless and in the dysfunctional, psychological grasp of a parking ticket.”

  • Wimpy Minivans

  • More than $1,500 in repairs after a crash at 6 mph or less? You’d better believe it.

  • New York International Auto Show Press Preview 2008

  • So Many Cars, So Few Bucks

    March 2008

  • A Quick Spin In: Chevrolet Malibu LTZ

  • Chevy looks to performance and luxury with this automotive overhaul.

  • Paniolos: Hawaii’s Own Breed of Cowboy

  • If cowboys (and cowgirls) are associated with frontier lands and the Wild, Wild West, then it should come as no surprise that cowboys still exist in the state farthest west of all, Hawaii.

  • "One Second, Everything Changes"

  • The immortality of youth met a culture of the extreme...and in an instant, everything changed.

  • Second That Emotion

  • New study gauges new-vehicle owners’ emotional responses to their purchases.

    February 2008

  • The Travel Editor’s Favorite 75 Travel Books

  • The best travel books ever written? You decide!

  • New Color King

  • White overtakes silver as the most popular car color.

  • Winter Driving Tips

  • Inclement weather can pose challenges for even the most experienced driver.

  • Snorkeling and Diving the Wrecks in the Dutch Caribbean

  • Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao

    January 2008

  • Bristol Is One Special Place

  • With nine museums and three mansions, Bristol is a must-visit Rhode Island destination.

  • Iceland Is Hot and Cold

  • Icelandic Notes and Literature

  • How Not to be Green in Greenland

  • As much information as we know on how to get to and around, and enjoy, Greenland.

  • A Guide to Car Donations

  • A little research will help you avoid potential pitfalls.

  •  Myth-Busting Tests

  • Some mid-size SUVs perform worse than cars in crash tests.

  • Oh, the Vanity

  • License plates are becoming the new billboard.

    December 2007

  • Three Island Paradises in the Americas

  • Kauai, Barbuda (Antigua & Barbuda) and the San Blas Islands (Panama) offer a mix of idyllic beaches, stunning scenery and fascinating culture.

    November 2007

  • Drivers Should Use Extra Caution When Approaching Emergency Vehicles

  • How stranded motorists can protect themselves when waiting for AAA’s Roadside Assistance vehicles.

  • November Events

  • Pottering Around Wordsworth Country

  • Most things connected with this landscape have over the last 200 years seeped their way into the collective soul of the English, in a way that no other region has.

  • A Quick Spin In: Audi S4 Cabriolet Quattro MT6

  • You'll exchange a lot of gas for a lot of gusto.

  • Mineola to Montana: A Cowboy Crash Course

  • Would they give me a nickname – like Pistol Pete, the Brooklyn Buckaroo or the AAA Kid?

  • You, Your Car and U.S. Energy Policy

  • Things You Need To Know

    October 2007

  • First Chat With Neil Mandt About Last Stop for Paul

  • “Initially, I think they thought we were insane, but then when they realized we weren’t, they jumped at the chance”—Neil Mandt

  • Valencia and Paella

  • One athletic youth leapfrogged a charging bull, while holding a blazing torch in his hand.

  • Last Stop for Paul, a Film by Neil Mandt: A Review

  • A Review

    August 2007

  • The Core of the Big Apple

  • There is a place for everyone in Central Park. Here are some of the author's favorites

  • Way Off the Road

  • Q&A with Bill Geist, roving correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning.

  • Product Review: GPS on the Run

  • As Global Positioning Systems have become more affordable and portable, the technology has busted out of the automobile and become "wearable."

    June 2007

  • A Quick Spin In: Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, 2007

  • Did the American icon sports car with a drop top make our hearts race?

    May 2007

  • A Quick Spin In: The Saab 9-3 SportCombi

  • A performance station wagon for under $30,000.

    April 2007

  • A Quick Spin In: BMW 328xi Sports Wagon

  • The 3-Series BMW is a good car. But how does it work as a wagon?

    Destination Spotlight: Finger Lakes Wine | Suffolk County | Maison Dupuy | Grapevine in Texas