Natalie Josef
Natalie Josef is an automotive expert at RepairPal, the leading online source of auto repair resources and estimates. With many ASE Master certified mechanics on staff who have decades of experience, RepairPal knows all the fine points of car repair.
Posts by Natalie Josef
We all know the story—once you drive that brand new car off the lot, its value drops to below even what the dealer paid for it. Even though most of us aren’t thinking about the resale value of our new car when we sign the dotted line, we should be.
We all know the story—once you drive that brand new car off the lot, its value drops to below even what the dealer paid for it. Even though most of us aren’t thinking about the resale value of our new car when we sign the dotted line, we should be.
I don’t know about you, but to me, buying Christmas presents is no easy task. Whether it’s for your brother or your grandma, it’s hard to know exactly what people will and will not like.
I don’t know about you, but to me, buying Christmas presents is no easy task. Whether it’s for your brother or your grandma, it’s hard to know exactly what people will and will not like.
It used to be that in America, you could buy a piece of furniture and it would last for one hundred years or a piece of clothing that would make it through more than one fashion season. Shoes would last for years and cars … well, what about cars? I once knew someone who owned a 1990 Honda Civic Hatchback CRX.
It used to be that in America, you could buy a piece of furniture and it would last for one hundred years or a piece of clothing that would make it through more than one fashion season. Shoes would last for years and cars … well, what about cars? I once knew someone who owned a 1990 Honda Civic Hatchback CRX.
Yes, folks, it’s that time of year when we promise ourselves we will cut down on the ice cream and hit the gym, when we promise to decrease the drinking we do and increase the amount of money we save. Sure, many of the resolutions are just a distant memory by the time February rolls around, but surely we possess the willpower to keep some of our promises, right? Some of the easiest resolutions to keep are ones that “add” something to our lives, not take something away (ice cream, I miss you already).
Yes, folks, it’s that time of year when we promise ourselves we will cut down on the ice cream and hit the gym, when we promise to decrease the drinking we do and increase the amount of money we save. Sure, many of the resolutions are just a distant memory by the time February rolls around, but surely we possess the willpower to keep some of our promises, right? Some of the easiest resolutions to keep are ones that “add” something to our lives, not take something away (ice cream, I miss you already).
The other night, I was suffering through the seemingly endless barrage of commercials in hopes of someday getting back to watching South Park when the strangest thing happened—I thought I heard the opening bars to the classic Judas Priest song, “The Hellion/Electric Eye.” Fearing I had fallen asleep and was having a Headbanger’s Ball flashback/fantasy, I sat up straight in my seat and turned up the volume.
The other night, I was suffering through the seemingly endless barrage of commercials in hopes of someday getting back to watching South Park when the strangest thing happened—I thought I heard the opening bars to the classic Judas Priest song, “The Hellion/Electric Eye.” Fearing I had fallen asleep and was having a Headbanger’s Ball flashback/fantasy, I sat up straight in my seat and turned up the volume.
These days, if you purchase a product that comes with a decent warranty, you should consider yourself pretty lucky. Every piece of furniture I have ever bought at Macy’s has come with an ironclad warranty that I have had to use and every time they were polite and helpful.
These days, if you purchase a product that comes with a decent warranty, you should consider yourself pretty lucky. Every piece of furniture I have ever bought at Macy’s has come with an ironclad warranty that I have had to use and every time they were polite and helpful.
According to a recently published report that examined federal data on fatal car crashes conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and published in Traffic Injury Prevention, from 2005 to 2009, U.S.
According to a recently published report that examined federal data on fatal car crashes conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and published in Traffic Injury Prevention, from 2005 to 2009, U.S.
Well, folks, today is my birthday and since I am an adult and still have to work, I thought I would talk about presents, because no matter how old you are, it’s always nice to get presents. There are some great car-related presents out there that will make your special driver very happy.
Well, folks, today is my birthday and since I am an adult and still have to work, I thought I would talk about presents, because no matter how old you are, it’s always nice to get presents. There are some great car-related presents out there that will make your special driver very happy.
Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that they were considering a rule that would require trucks that weigh over 26,000 pounds to be limited to 68 miles per hour. According to the proposal, all newly manufactured trucks will be equipped with an electronic control module (ECM) that would limit the speed and be tamper-resistant.
Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that they were considering a rule that would require trucks that weigh over 26,000 pounds to be limited to 68 miles per hour. According to the proposal, all newly manufactured trucks will be equipped with an electronic control module (ECM) that would limit the speed and be tamper-resistant.
The year was 1991. The location—a vacant parking lot in Virginia.
The year was 1991. The location—a vacant parking lot in Virginia.
When I first got my car, I loved everything about it except for the automatic door locks. When I reached 9 mph, all of the doors would lock.
When I first got my car, I loved everything about it except for the automatic door locks. When I reached 9 mph, all of the doors would lock.
The Toyota Motor Corporation announced today that it will recall more than 1.7 million vehicles due to potentially faulty parts, including defective fuel devices.
The Toyota Motor Corporation announced today that it will recall more than 1.7 million vehicles due to potentially faulty parts, including defective fuel devices.
Usually when people become parents, they hand over the keys to their sports car, resign themselves to the dreaded minivan or station wagon, and wait the 20+ years until their midlife crisis finally gives them the green light to buy that 6-cylinder, 2-seater they had to give up in the first place. It’s part of the deal—when you are a parent, you do the responsible thing, and there is nothing responsible about having a sports car when your children are in diapers.
Usually when people become parents, they hand over the keys to their sports car, resign themselves to the dreaded minivan or station wagon, and wait the 20+ years until their midlife crisis finally gives them the green light to buy that 6-cylinder, 2-seater they had to give up in the first place. It’s part of the deal—when you are a parent, you do the responsible thing, and there is nothing responsible about having a sports car when your children are in diapers.
There are some people who like to push things to the limit—I am not one of those people. I pay my bills as soon as I get them.
There are some people who like to push things to the limit—I am not one of those people. I pay my bills as soon as I get them.
When you're a parent, you tend to worry about anything and everything when it comes to your kids. It's hard enough watching Billy go to Kindergarten the first day or deciding if young Maggie is ready to date, but watching your teenager get behind the wheel and driving away has to be one of the most stressful moments of parenting.
When you're a parent, you tend to worry about anything and everything when it comes to your kids. It's hard enough watching Billy go to Kindergarten the first day or deciding if young Maggie is ready to date, but watching your teenager get behind the wheel and driving away has to be one of the most stressful moments of parenting.