So you made an excellent decision. How about if you want to buy another car? With the myriad of choices available today, all hailing their products as the best in the market, how do you know which one is the real deal?

Well maybe Which? Car can help you.

Which? Car has recently named the ten Don’t Buy cars you’d be better off leaving on dealers’ forecourts and 20 Best Buys you can drive with confidence.

You don’t see a lot of car magazines telling people which cars not to buy, but Which? Car has identified three new cars with such poor safety ratings it may be best to avoid them like a plague.

There are also seven used cars in the list.

Don’t Buys

The ten cars to avoid are:

Chevrolet Matiz (new)

Chrysler Voyager (new)

Dodge Caliber (new)

Citroen Saxo (1996-2003)

Fiat Punto (1999-2006)

Peugeot 106 (1996-2003)

Rover 200/25 (1995-2005)

Citroen Xsara (1997-2004)

Renault Megane (1996-2003)

Land Rover Freelander (1997-2006)

According to Which? Car Editor Richard Headland, “Arthur Daley may have gone out of business, but there are still some pretty dodgy motors out there. We think motorists should steer well clear of these ten cars which are either unsafe, unreliable, or both.”

Of course when there are worst choices for cars, there should be the best buys, right?

Which? Car 2007 Best Buys (new)

Superminis: Honda Jazz, Mazda 2, Toyota Yaris

Medium cars: BMW 1 Series, Mazda 3, VW Golf

Large cars: BMW 3 Series, Honda Accord, Lexus IS, Toyota Prius

Luxury cars: Audi A6, Jaguar XJ, Lexus GS

Mini MPVs: Nissan Note, Renault Modus

MPVs (people carriers): Ford S-Max, Honda FR-V, Toyota Verso

Sports cars: Mazda MX-5, VW Eos

Which? Car 2007 Best Buys (used)

Superminis: Toyota Yaris (1999-2005), Vauxhall Corsa (2000-2006)

Medium cars: Toyota Yaris Verso (2000-2005)

Large cars: Ford Focus (1998-2004), Honda Civic (2000-2005), Toyota Corolla (2002-2006)

Luxury cars: BMW 3 Series (1998-2005), Honda Accord (1998-2003), Lexus IS (1999-2005)

Mini MPVs: Toyota Previa (2000-2005)

MPVs (people carriers): Mazda MX-5 (1998-2005)

Sports/coupes: Honda CR-V (2001-2006)

For complete information regarding Which? Car’s Don’t Buys and Best Buys check out their website at https://www.which.co.uk/.

About Which? Car

Which? Car is largest consumer body in the UK, with over 650,000 members. Now on its 50th anniversary this year, the organization continues to tackle the issues that matter to all consumers, from testing household products like washing machines and digital cameras to confronting important consumer issueslike mis-selling to hospital food. Which? Car is committed to providing unbiased advice to consumers, and has spearheaded some great new initiatives including their Best Buy Icon and the inaugural Which? Awards.

In addition to the aforementioned award, the Ford S-MAX crossover was also given an individual trophy for the minivan category. The said award is for its unmistakable “kinetic design.” The awards are the latest accolades for the crossover. Earlier, the vehicle was crowned the ‘Car of the Year 2007.’ Further, the model has taken over 15 national or individual magazine awards Autobild’s ‘Design Award 2006.’

John Fleming, the President and CEO of Ford of Europe; and Bernhard Mattes, the Chairman of the Management Board at Ford Werke GmbH, accepted the Auto 1 awards from Dr. Andreas Wiele, the Chairman of the magazine division. The awarding happened at Axel Springer AG, during the Auto 1 Gala Event at Espace Sécheron in Geneva.

The jury made worldwide assessments within several participating countries. In Germany alone, over 210,000 AutoBild readers participated. In whole, about 40 million readers throughout Europe were invited to choose their favorite cars.

Before the final decision was given, the dominant models from each country underwent another round of tough tests at the hands of a specialist jury. These tests were undertaken at the test facility of the tyre manufacturer Bridgestone in Aprilia near Rome, Italy. The jury is composed of 24 managing editors, five technology specialists and racing drivers РWalter R̦hrl, Christina Surer, Mattias Ekstr̦m, Filipe Albuquerque and Paul Belmondo. In this final round, the Ford S-MAX crossover emerged as the winner. The model outshined famous competitors like the BMW X5, Mercedes CL, Opel Corsa, Volvo C30 and the VW Eos.

“This is fantastic news and these awards fill us with pride. Together with the other awards that have been won by the Ford S-MAX this latest accolade shows that this car has touched a nerve with the public and the specialist media,” said Fleming.

Fleming added, “For us, this is further proof that our renewed emphasis on dynamic new products that connect emotionally with customers is making a positive contribution to Ford of Europe’s business success. We are confident that the all-new Ford Mondeo will continue this momentum and generate similar interest and enthusiasm when we launch this summer.”

The Ford S-Max features angular headlights, a narrow grille, and a large trapezoidal “mouth” below the bumper. It offers several engines that include the 2.5 L Duratec turbo I5, 2.0 L Duratec I4, 1.8 L Duratorq TDCi I4, 2.0 L Duratorq ZSD TDCi I4, and the 2.0 L Duratorq ZSD TDCi I4.

Moreover, one of the main selling points of the crossover is the “FoldFlatSystem,” which allows the second and third-row seats to fold flat into the floor. The parts accessories of the car are updated to pave way for a powerful and remarkable car. Its Volvo siblings are also undergoing careful planning and manufacturing to protect its reputation for safety and quality. Like the Ford S-Max’s parts, the Volvo fan blade and other auto parts are watchfully enhanced to bolster the efficacy of the vehicle.

While Volkswagen was preparing the Sharan, Ford released their MPVs out in the market. The first generation of Sharan and Galaxy was a joint venture between Volkswagen and Ford in Portugal. However, something happened along the way and now Ford has its own Galaxy out on the market. According to SEAT’s President Andreas Schleef, they are planning a SEAT version of the new Sharan and will be called the Alhambra again.

The Sharan possess what car aficionados call the “must have” feature these days and that is a third row seat that can be stored completely in the floor, like the Opel Zafira. All engines to be used for the Sharan will come from the Passat lineup with the 140bhp TDI probably as the bestseller. The 4 motion will also be offered but as an option.

Volkswagen’s subsidiary Audi is also busy developing the company’s future big flagship—the A8 which is scheduled for release at the end of 2009. The current model has been on the market since 2002. The very first A8model was launched way back in February 1994.

The A8 was tested in cold Scandinavia. Spy photos of the A8 that are spreading online shows that the test car is about 10cm longer than the current A8. It also has some very visible features like wider and rolled out fender flairs. The next generation A8 is also expected to grow to an overall length of 5.10 meters and will derived its power from an all-new V12 Diesel that is currently being used in the Q7 and an equally new V10 petrol engine.

With the launching of the new A8, Audi is expecting stiff competition from BMW’s new 7-Series and Porsche four-door Panamera.

The A8 is not the only Audi to be launched this year; the all-new Audi A5 is also to debut this year. And just like the A8, the A5 has also been tested at the cold climate of the Arctic Circle specifically Northern Sweden. The Audi A5 is a sporty coupe that adapts the design of the Audi Nuvolari concept car.

The Nuvolari concept made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring of 2003. Spy photos spreading online confirm that the new coupe will be considerably larger than the current A4 and comes close to the size of today’s A6.

Audi plans to use the A5 to be a step ahead of the strong A4 competitors which include BMW 3-series coupe, Mercedes CLK and the VW convertible Eos. The A5 with its bigger size is indeed about to fill a gap on the sporty coupe market. The edge of the A5 against its competition is its size since neither the BMW 5-series, Mercedes E-class model ranges nor any other automaker for that matter if offering the same size offered by Audi A5.

Audi also announced that at the later stage of the A5 it will be equipped with a traditional canvas top, while power will be provided by two engines a 3.0 liter TDI V6 and 3.2 Liter FSI V6 petrol unit delivering 255HP. The new model is scheduled for release by the end of 2007.

Another new Volkswagen vehicle to be launched this year is the small utility van—Volkswagen’s Caddy. The said vehicle is to grow about 40 cm in overall length into an XXL version. The Caddy will also offer for the first time a third row of seats plus a family friendly luggage compartment placed behind the third row. The Caddy is scheduled to debut by the end of 2007 at a starting price of 18,000Euros.

Besides creating world renowned vehicles, the German automaker was also known for its top-of-the-line Volkswagen Corrado Parts which are offered by various reputable auto parts dealers worldwide.

Tuning with electronics is the easiest and most effective way to hot-rod your ride. A few hundred bucks and a few minutes for installation delivers the kind of performance that used to take a weekend wrench hours to do. Now, just sit in your driveway and plug in your programmer—bam—instant horsepower. And, you don’t even need to pop the hood!

The most famous name in vehicle tuning is Superchips. For years auto enthusiasts referred to all electronic tuning chips as super chips—no matter what the brand. Now, as the aftermarket floods with similar products, Superchips still stands as the go-to brand for hot rodders everywhere.

For an easy 10% increase in power, the Superchips Max MicroTuner is “plug-n-play” tuning at its best. Just plug the MicroTuner into your OBD-II port and power is at your command. The buttons on the interface allow you to adjust power up or down, load gas-saving programs and even check and clear trouble codes. And the tuner easily returns your ride back to the factory settings—but why?!

The next level for tuning your ride’s brain is Superchips Flashpaq Tuner. This baby delivers all the punch of the MicroTuner along with a bounty of extra features. The Flashpaq is completely updateable over the internet. So, when Superchips releases a new tune for your ride, just connect to the net and update.

Superchips’ reputation as the leader electronic performance comes from years of experience on the track and the street. And, this race-winning heritage goes into every product they sell. Check out what your fellow enthusiasts are saying about their Superchips:

“This is the best upgrade for your truck. Better milage and alot more power. And the transmition shifts so smooth you cant feel it.”

“I installed this and used it for the performance setting and when installed after putting in 91 octane it ran like a scallded dog. I could almost not keep it in a straight line. I have not had it long enough to tell about any milage gain but with the less effort it takes to run it only makes sense that the milage would go up if only a bit.”

“The Superchips programmer was the best bang for dollar for performance gains, I would recommend it to anyone with the hemi motor”

This time, it’s Hypertech and the new Max Energy programmer. The expectations have been ratcheted up this time, with big and bold claims of huge gas mileage savings, 50+ horsepower for gas vehicles and 120+ for diesels, plus the alleged ability to get big gains on low-octane gas. Enthusiasts who know less about cars and performance have been sent off drooling; gearheads remain quite skeptical.

Let’s look at the horsepower gains first, starting with the claimed 50+ boost to gas vehicles. Of course, you can’t get this with every vehicle the Max Energy fits. This dyno-proven gain belongs to the Ford Shelby GT. Vehicles with less displacement and considerably less performance equipment can’t expect to get even half that much of a gain. Most of the gas trucks will be in the 20 range. Only the Hemi-powered DC cars can get up to that mid-20s range too; smaller V6s won’t even get close. Because of the massive compression, diesels can see some unruly gains from this type of programming. The Max Energy also claims to keep these diesels from suffering high EGT damage, thanks to tuning that keeps power high without over-fueling, even when towing. And, it claims to not de-fuel and kill your momentum.

The big problem with the big power gain claim is this: huge, noticeable HP boosts only happen at RPMs most drivers won’t reach—especially if they have an automatic. Peak horsepower usually happens around 4500-5500 RPM. That’s not to say the smaller gains at lower RPMs won’t be noticeable, but the impressive power only happens when you’re really gunning it.

On to the gas savings claims. This feature is one of the main reasons programmers have become so popular in the two years since $3/gallon became the societal norm. Programmers didn’t previously sell themselves on mileage, but began doing so once the big pinch at the pump began. Hypertech reports test vehicles gaining up to 6 MPG, with others settling in the 1-2 MPG gain range. In terms of real-world experience with programmers and mileage, the gains are almost always more modest than the ad claims. A boost of 1-2 MPGs—if any gain is achieved—is the most common scenario. Many drivers see no mileage gains because they simply can’t keep their foot far enough out of the gas pedal.

Some features of the Max Energy are undisputable. The ability on most vehicles to change tire size for odometer and speedometer corrections is great. Reading engine trouble codes is a mainstay of programmers; it’s present here too. Fuel octane settings are also available for some models to help save some coin at the pump. But, it’s not available for performance cars, and as you adjust the octane down, the power also goes down.

The bottom line on the Max Energy: set realistic expectations before you buy. The massive horsepower gains in the ads are probably far from what you’ll actually get, but you will get enough of a gain in power to notice it everywhere you drive. For gas mileage, don’t expect this programmer to save you from all of your petrol peril. Gaining 1-2 MPG is realistic if you’re not racing; anything more is gravy. If you can also make use of the other cool features, this new programmer is a solid buy. If you were hoping to get 50 hp more, save 6 MPG and run all on ethanol, you may want to pass until a programmer that can do all of those things exists.

Accidents involving commercial vehicles tend further toward tragic because of the size of the typical commercial vehicle when compared to the size of the average car. A commercial vehicle does not have to be a truck or another heavy vehicle, but they often are, and damages are often terrible.

A commercial vehicle accident is additionally upsetting when you consider that the drivers of commercial vehicles, as representatives of the companies for which they drive, should be well trained and highly professional drivers.

As the number of available drivers decreases every year, companies are more and more willing to hurry people through basic training to drive commercial vehicles and get them on the road as soon and as cheaply as possible. These newer drivers may not have the knowledge and experience it takes to avoid an accident in some situations.

If you have been struck by a commercial vehicle, then you have a right to the anger that you are probably feeling. No matter their reasons, companies should not allow any less than fully trained drivers to take to the roads and potentially endanger you and your family as well as your expensive property. Your insurance company will help you recoup your losses, but if you are looking to really make these companies stand up and take notice, then you will need a commercial vehicle accident attorney.

These attorneys specialize in dealing with commercial vehicle accident cases, and will be able to help you through the process of filing a lawsuit and seeing it through at the settlement tables or in court as you choose how to proceed.

This attorney will be able to advise you of your legal rights and the rights and responsibilities of the company in question, and will help you get through the lawsuit with a minimum of fuss. These attorneys handle commercial vehicle accident cases primarily, and will already know all of the relevant pieces of law.

Another potential danger of commercial vehicles is poor maintenance, and this is something that you should not ignore. As your insurance company determines the cause of the accident and assigns blame, ask to be kept in the loop. In some cases, the entire fault for the accident can be traced back to the poor maintenance of the tires, brakes, fluids, or other parts of the commercial vehicle.

The owners of these vehicles are responsible for keeping them road worthy and safe to drive in and around, and cutting corners on maintenance can have devastating costs both to the drivers and to the cars around the commercial vehicle when a system fails and the vehicle is involved in an accident.

If you have been the victim of the poor maintenance of a commercial vehicle, you should contact a commercial vehicle accident attorney as soon as possible with your information and ask them to help you get justice against the company responsible. You need to hit them where it hurts them “their bottom lines” in order to make them really take notice and perhaps do something about their lack of safety standards.

A commercial vehicle accident attorney is one who is familiar with commercial vehicle accident law and with the systems of the local courts. You should choose an attorney who operates from a nearby location to help keep them familiar with you and the area, and you should make sure to meet with this person and ask how they plan to proceed before you move forward with them.

A commercial vehicle accident attorney should be someone that you feel comfortable working with. Talk to them about their rates, and choose someone who will not take a fee unless you win your case. This will ensure that they are really focused on fighting for you and helping you to win your case against the commercial vehicle owner.

Drivers of commercial vehicles are supposed to be some of the safest drivers on the road, however poor maintenance, poor training, and long, long hours can combine to make these vehicles accidents waiting to happen. If you have been struck by a commercial vehicle, you have rights to defend yourself with legal recourse.

You can prevail and be awarded with compensation for your pain and suffering as well as for the negligence of the company involved. Contact a commercial vehicle accident attorney and let them help you navigate the legal system to get the money you deserve for this accident.

Injuries related to motorcycle accidents can be severe. Since the driver isn’t protected from head to toe by a car’s body, there can be sliding, scraping, crushing and other types of damage. Recuperation can be long and costly.

The best way to make sure you’re prepared for the worst is to be certain you have a good policy. Whether it’s one provided by your employer or a private purchase plan, there are some basics about medical insurance anyone – a motorcyclist or not – should understand.

Many plans come with a deductible. This is the amount of money that has to be paid before the policy can be used. Generally, the lower the better for medical insurance. And, in some cases, the personal injury protection or PIP deductible on a motorcycle policy itself can be higher if a good health plan will supplement. Deductibles can be per incident in the case of motor policies or annual.

Co-insurance involves cases where two policies come into play. This is common in motor vehicle related accidents. One plan may pay first or be the lead payer while the other one picks up where the first left off. Doctors’ offices and medical facilities generally can help the insured figure who which has to pay what.

A co-payment is a set amount a person insured under a medical policy has to pay per visit to a doctor, hospital or other facility. The amount remains the same regardless of the status of the deductible.

Most medical insurance companies set an out-of-pocket maximum for their clients on an annual basis. This is the total amount of money out of pocket a person will be asked to pay in any given year. Once this amount is met, the insurance generally kicks in at 100 percent, minus the deductible amount. This, of course, does not include premium expenses either.

The lifetime max on a policy is something to consider as well. Since accidents can be costly, the figure is worth keeping in mind. Generally, policies offer a lifetime max of about $1 million. This means once that figure has been met, the policy typically won’t cover anything else.

Of particular concern to cyclists is the exclusion clause of a policy. This will tell the insured what is not covered by the policy. In other words, it’s the fine print.

Generally, those who have a good motor vehicle policy and good medical insurance can rest assured their needs will be met if an accident does take place. Shopping for health insurance and auto insurance, however, should be a deliberate process.

If you are an experienced driver wanting to tow a trailer, here is some towing information that may help you.

1. Because trailer wheels are closer to the inside of a turn than the wheels of the tow vehicle, they are more likely to hit or ride up over curbs. Make sure to take turns wide at corners, curbs and curves.

2. Operate your vehicle at moderate speeds and avoid sudden starts, stops and turns to reduce trailer sway, allowing for adequate reaction time. The phenomenon commonly referred to as “trailer sway” occurs when a trailer being towed by a car, truck or van begins to sway or swing back and forth as it is being pulled. Severe instances of trailer sway can cause drivers to lose control. Cautious driving can help minimize trailer sway, and now new technology from truck and SUV manufacturers helps to virtually eliminate this occurrence.

3. When backing up to either a parking spot or to hitch a trailer use slight movements of the steering wheel to adjust direction. Exaggerated movements will cause excessive movement to the trailer. If you experience difficulty, pull forward and realign the tow vehicle and trailer or start again.

Automotive companies have developed some features such as a reverse camera system to help trailer, boat or RV towers get to their destination quickly.

4. Create a safety checklist before you begin any traveling with your RV, boat or trailer. Below are some pre-departure checklist items:

* Check and correct tire pressure on the tow vehicle and trailer, as low pressure hurts not only the drive of the vehicle but also the fuel economy.

* Make sure the wheel lug nuts/bolts on the tow vehicle and the trailer is tightened to the correct torque.

* Be sure the hitch, coupler, draw bar, and other equipment that connect the trailer and tow vehicle are properly secured and adjusted.

* Check that wiring is properly connected — not touching the road, but loose enough to make turns without disconnecting or damaging the wires.

* Make sure all running lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights are working.

* Verify that the brakes on the tow vehicle and trailer are operating correctly.

* Check that all items are securely fastened on and in the trailer.

* Be sure the trailer jack, tongue support and any attached stabilizers are raised and locked in place.

* Check load distribution to make sure the tow vehicle and trailer are properly balanced front to back and side to side.

* Check side- and rear-view mirrors to make sure you have good visibility.

* Check routes and restrictions on bridges and tunnels.

* Make sure you have wheel chocks and a jack stand.

5. Last, make sure your hitch matches your vehicle’s towing capacity. Below are the classifications.

CLASS I – LIGHT-DUTY

* 2,000-lb. maximum weight (trailer and cargo combined)

* Folding camping trailers and trailers for small boats, motorcycles and snowmobiles

* Conventional weight-carrying hitch

CLASS II – MEDIUM-DUTY

* 2,001-3,500-lb. gross trailer weight – Single-axle, small- to medium- length (up to 18 ft.) trailers

* Almost all trucks, SUVs and some mini-vans can be equipped to tow these trailers

* Conventional weight-distributing hitch not required unless specified for a particular vehicle

CLASS III – HEAVY-DUTY

* 3,501-5,000-lb. gross trailer weight – Dual-axle or large single-axle travel trailers

* Most properly equipped trucks and SUVs can tow them. Conventional weight-distributing hitch not required unless specified for a particular vehicle

CLASS IV – EXTRA-HEAVY-DUTY

* Over 5,000-lb. gross trailer weight o Largest travel and fifth-wheel trailers made for recreation

* Most trucks and SLWs can be equipped to handle trailers in this class

* Most applications require a conventional weight-distributing or fifth-wheel hitch