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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
EXCLUSIVE MEMBER DISCOUNTS - PAGE 6 • SCHOOL’S OPEN, DRIVE CAREFULLY - PAGE 32
NEW VERSUS USEDThe pluses and minuses of buying a new or used car
THE DISNEY DREAM Disney’s newest cruise ship sets sail in 2011
GIVING UP THE GHOSTAt what point should you decide to buy a new vehicle?
Spooktacular
October 16
Page 6
QUESTIONS?1-800-318-4981
Sorry, no phone quotesAAA.com/AutoBuying
*Savings may vary depending on make, model and availability
Auto Buying Program
ACURAAcura of ManhattanManhattan 212-459-9200Call: Jericho Amagsila orVinicio Galarza
Acura of Valley StreamValley Stream 877-822-3143Call: Steve Verga orRich McCormick
Paragon AcuraWoodside 877-229-1761Call: Melvin Salcedo orJoe Rosa
AUDIAudi of HuntingtonHuntington Sta. 631-486-5600Call: Jim Karcher
Audi of ManhattanManhattan 212-515-8200Call: Vincent Schommer orPatrick Genova
Atlantic Audi of West IslipWest Islip 888-896-7220Call: Len Livermore orCharles Greene
BMWHabberstad BMWHuntington 631-418-3295Call: Audra Pittel
Rallye BMWWestbury 516-393-0000Call: Bert Vargas orMichael Corssen
CHEVROLETH.B. ChevroletForest Hills 866-NYC-ChevyCall: Larry Katzman orTony Raziano
CHEVROLET (cont’d)Nesenger 112 ChevroletMedford 631-758-2200Call: Kim Hickey
Robert ChevroletHicksville 866-306-6358Call: Bob Galletta orRichard Howard
CHRYSLER/JEEPEast Hills Chrysler/JeepGreenvale 888-472-6986Call: Ed Whiffen orSteve DeSetto
Star Chrysler/JeepQueens Village 718-479-6200Call: William Howard orPete Zacharia
DODGEEast Hills DodgeGreenvale 888-472-6986Call: Ed Whiffen orSteve DeSetto
Star DodgeQueens Village 718-479-6200Call: William Howard orPete Zacharia
FORDHempstead FordHempstead 516-483-7200Call: John Berto orKaren Hestra
Manhattan FordManhattan 888-471-0642Call: Natalie Waterman orCarlos Nazario
HONDABabylon HondaBabylon 631-669-8800Call: Alise Damico orJohn Maynes
Baron HondaPatchogue 631-475-8400Call: Vito Greco
Bay Ridge HondaBrooklyn 718-836-4600Call: Frank Baldassare orGeorge Gambino
HONDA (cont’d)Friendly HondaPoughkeepsie 845-454-2400Call: Dana Cherubini orMichael Glynn
Honda CityLevittown 516-735-8900Call: Keith Altimari orFrank Gonzales
Honda of NanuetNanuet 845-623-1200Call: Paul Randazzo orPete Khan
Honda of Staten IslandStaten Island 718-720-1100Call: Patrick Ruanne orTina Carracio
Paragon HondaWoodside 888-318-8794Call: Alex Missaoui orJonathan Camacho
Yonkers HondaYonkers 914-961-8180Call: Richard Stein
HYUNDAIAdvantage HyundaiHicksville 888-662-5942Call: Dan Toomey, Jr. orJoe Librizzi
Atlantic HyundaiWest Islip 866-377-0968Call: Chris Mooney orBryan Harris
Manfredi HyundaiStaten Island 718-727-2277Call: Rich Armstrong orLarry Farina
Valley Stream HyundaiValley Stream 877-207-8320Call: Eric Newburg orAlan Schubach
INFINITILegacy InfinitiLynbrook 866-444-0486Call: Willy Alzamora orJohn Chmela
Pepe InfinitiWhite Plains 914-428-0900Call: Rares Constantin orIra Parker
KIASmithtown KiaSaint James 631-724-8008Call: Mike Siemon orCharlie Giamanco
LEXUSRallye LexusGlen Cove 516-676-4000Call: John Capozzi orBart Marconi
LINCOLN-MERCURYPort Lincoln-MercuryRoslyn 516-484-6633Call: Bob Goldman
Hempstead Lincoln-MercuryHempstead 516-483-7200Call: John Berto orKaren Hestra
Manhattan Lincoln MercuryManhattan 888-471-0642Call: Natalie Waterman orCarlos Nazario
MAZDAKoeppel MazdaWoodside 888-575-9162Call: Francisco Espinal orMichael D’Andrea
Palisades MazdaWest Nyack 845-224-3660Call: Tom Dillon orRich Noorigian
Wantagh MazdaWantagh 516-826-7788Call: Vinnie Vergara orJoe Stella
MERCEDES-BENZHelms Bros. Mercedes-BenzBayside 718-631-8181Call: Marty Friedman
MITSUBISHIStar MitsubishiQueens Village 718-479-6200Call: William Howard orPete Zacharia
NISSANAtlantic NissanWest Islip 631-587-0700Call: Javon Ferguson orLekwa Nnate
Bay Ridge NissanBay Ridge 718-238-8000Call: Manny Licitra orMike Onions
NISSAN (cont’d)Gregoris NissanValley Stream 516-825-8700Call: Joe Deo orRichard DeGregoris
Premium NissanNew Rochelle 914-576-7600Call: Peter Iannuzi
Staten Island NissanStaten Island 718-447-3800Call: Shawn Kasai orRon Elkhoury
SCIONSmithtown ScionSmithtown 631-724-3300Call: Steve Gaynor
SUBARUBill Kolb Jr. SubaruOrangeburg 866-414-5795Call: Chris Flood orStuart Lesser
Colonial SubaruKingston 845-339-3333Call: Tom Murphy, III orTom Murphy, Jr.
Donaldsons SubaruSayville 631-567-6400Call: Charlie Romano
Koeppel SubaruLong Island City 888-427-8227Call: Roy Rodriguez orCharles Fama
Port SubaruRoslyn 516-484-6633Call: Bob Goldman
Rye SubaruRye 914-967-6300Call: Neil Downing orGreg Dietz
TOYOTABay Ridge ToyotaBay Ridge 718-439-7888Call: Jason Adamson orAmy Kendall
DCH Toyota CityMamaroneck 914-698-8120Call: Ginny Bisconti orBill Glass
TOYOTA (cont’d)Fordham ToyotaBronx 800-677-5132Call: Jenry Castillo orVictor DiazLee’s ToyotaJamaica 800-476-2191Call: Ali Kazmi orJeannie RomeoManfredi ToyotaStaten Island 718-979-1200Call: Miguel Rodriguez orJim O’BrienNewburgh ToyotaNew Windsor 845-561-0340Call: Frank FabianoPenn ToyotaGreenvale 800-708-9607Call: Frank UbriacoSmithtown ToyotaSmithtown 631-724-3300Call: Lou Malerba orGuy AlbergoStar ToyotaBayside 718-279-1800Call: Ronald Cordero orAllen TamWestbury ToyotaWestbury 877-344-5016Call: Francisco Calixte orJorge Ortiz
VOLKSWAGENDonaldsons VolkswagenSayville 631-567-6400Call: Mike Ragusa orGreg LilienthalKoeppel VolkswagenWoodside 866-449-5555Call: Jose Concepcion orRosario D’Amato
VOLVOBay Ridge VolvoBrooklyn 800-531-9852Call: Scott Rozany
C&T September Digital 2010 1
Car & Travel (ISSN 1080-2290, USPS 383-120) is published 10 times a year by AAA New York, 1415 Kellum Place, Garden City, NY 11530-1690. Periodicals Mail postage paid at Garden City, NY, and additional mailing offices. Copyright © 2010 by AAA New York. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Car & Travel assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material and reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material. Advertisements in this publication do not necessarily carry the endorsement of AAA New York. Subscription price of $4 is included in membership dues; nonmember subscription is $12/year, $20 foreign, or $2 a copy. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Car & Travel, 1415 Kellum Place, Garden City, NY 11530-1690.
contents
AAA New York • Car & Travel • September 2010 Volume 16, No. 9 • CarandTravelMagazine.com
10
12
20
LETTERS Midtown muddle; SCOOT commute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
UPDATE Child-seat survey results; Cell phone stats; Leisure sickness . . . . . . . 3
ISSUESNYC DOT Peddles Pet Project . . . . . . . 4
READERS ASK Is it legal for gas stations to charge more for credit card purchases? . . . . 4
DISCOUNTSAAA Spooktacular event; SIRIUS|XM radio, Masker Orchards, New YorkIslanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
GIVING UP THE GHOSTAt what point should you decide to buy a new vehicle? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
NEW VERSUS USEDA look at the pluses and minuses of buying a new or used car . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SCHOOL’S OPENKeep kids safe when they head back to class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
TEST DRIVES 2010 Kia Forte SX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
CARS Top 5 misconceptions about fuel economy; How to search for recalls on your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
NEW CRUISE SHIPSThe Disney Dream dominates—actually sails off almost alone —in the Cruise Ship Class of 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
CRUISING IN A RECESSIONCarnival’s refitted Glory sails from Manhattan for stimulus-era cruises . .26
TRAVEL DESK Hudson Valley Food and Wine Festival; Scholastic DVD giveaway . . 28
ISRAEL Visits to Jerusalem, Negev Desert, Dead Sea and other beautiful spots . . 30
MEMBER NEWS School’s Open, Drive Carefully; Child Safety-Seat Event . . . . . . . . . . . 32
ATLANTIC CITY CONTESTWin a two-night get-away . . . . . . . . 33
NOTEBOOK New York’s roads and bridges shape a boy’s life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
ON THE COVER Steven Salerno illustrates the difficult decision to repair an old car or buy a new one .
DIGITAL BONUS DIGITAL BONUS
DIGITAL BONUS
2 C&T September Digital 2010
Midtown MuddleYour commentary on the bizarre plan to turn part of Manhat-tan’s 34th St. into yet another unwanted pedestrian mall was entirely too kind to the Bloomberg administration (Issues, July). This is one more example of their anti-auto agenda. Witness the reduction of the former “Broad-Way” to a two-lane alley (one lane when delivery trucks are parked) with largely unused pedestrian and bike lanes, the usurious 18.25-percent parking-garage tax, outrageous bridge and tunnel tolls and the thwarted multi-billion dollar congestion-pricing scheme. It’s all aimed at
making driving in the city so costly and inconvenient that people will either stay away or flock to the already overburdened mass-transit system.
Wade HoytYorktown
Regarding the Broadway pedestrian mall, Newsday columnist Linda Winer summed it up best: “Mayor Bloomberg, tear down this mall.” This should be the rallying cry for a return to sanity.
James W. BradleyEast Northport
My wife and I love the new pedestrian areas in Times Square. Rather than walking in the street to pass crowded, slow-moving sidewalks, there is a wide corridor where we can safely stroll through Times Square. When visiting with friends from out of town, we sit at the tables and relax while soaking in the “Times Square experience” without inconveniencing other pedestrians.
James E. GochnauerBrooklyn
Thanks to one of the islands, I no longer feel like a pin in a bowling alley as I cross the formerly hair-raising intersection of Fifth Ave. and Broadway at 23rd St.
Maurice CoryNew York City
The reorganization of the streets is a wonderful thing, and I don’t know of anybody who doesn’t think so.
Steve ChannonReceived via e-mail
SCOOT CommuteYour article on a SCOOT commute is great (Notebook, July). What if you prepared a petition that we could sign, asking the government to change the traffic lights? As far as the Department of Transportation listening—did you see the article on page four of the same issue? It took them 24 years to remove tollbooths that were not being used. If I didn’t use something in 24 years, it would fall off.
Henry Ford Received via e-mail
Obsolete Objection I’d like to take issue with a few of the items in the “10 Obsolete Car Features” article (Car & Travel Digital, July). Many of the convenience features in an automobile just add to the expense of a car, such as remote keyless entry and electric mirrors.
Also, you say manual transmissions will be a thing of the past. There is no better choice for absolute control of your vehicle.
John BarnhartFort Montgomery
Editor’s Note: Car & Travel Digital con-tains articles that are not included in the print edition. To receive the digital magazine, register online at AAA.com/Email.
letters
Send letters! E-mail: [email protected] Mail: Editor, Car & Travel, 1415 Kellum Place, Garden City, NY 11530-1690. Please include your name
and e-mail and mailing addresses. Letters might be shortened or edited
for space requirements. Letters printed here do not necessarily reflect the
opinion of Car & Travel or AAA.
is the official publication of
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C&T September Digital 2010 3
update
2010 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2010 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Make your reservation today, visit a local AAA branch office.Make your reservation today, visit a local AAA branch office.
▲ Parents Need a Boost in Car-Seat KnowledgeIf you have a child who uses a car or booster seat, there’s no question that you care about their safety. In fact, ac-cording to a survey conducted by AAA and Dorel Juvenile Group, 76 percent of parents who responded said that safety is the most important factor when choosing a car or booster seat.
However, out of the 649 who responded (with at least one child aged eight
or younger), only 44 percent could identify the safest location in their vehicle for the seat and only 26 percent knew the proper weight and height recommendations.
New York State law requires that children stay seated in their car or booster seats through age seven or until they are four feet, nine inches tall. The safest position is in the mid-dle of the rear seat—and when your kids progress to regular safety belts, they should stay in this location until they are at least 12 years old. Need a car seat check? See page 32.
Phone Use Far Too Common Among DriversA recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that texting and talking on a cell phone while driving is not only dan-gerous but also alarmingly common.
The 1,219 drivers surveyed report that: • Each day, they spend about an hour driving in the car, with approximately four minutes, or seven percent of time, devoted to their cell phone. • Drivers younger than 30 years of age spend 16 percent of their driving time on the phone.• 42 percent of drivers use their phones in stop-and-go traffic, and 45 percent use them when traffic is free flowing in high-speed areas.
Vacation WoesAccording to a recent travel industry survey, 30 percent of working Ameri-cans have trouble disconnecting from their BlackBerrys, cell phones and laptops while on vacation. Three per-cent even develop “leisure sickness”—fatigue, muscle pain, nausea and flu-like symptoms—when they are left without the usual office workload.C
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4 C&T September Digital 2010
NYC DOT Peddles Pet Project
READERS ASK Road and Travel FAQs
Can gasoline service sta-tions charge two different
prices, one for cash and one for credit?
Q:
A: Yes. However, the prices advertised on the signs
must be clearly labeled “Cash” and “Credit.” In 2008, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo launched an investigation into this practice. The Attorney General’s investigation identified instances where gas stations engaged in false advertising by only listing the lower cash prices on their street-view signage in order to lure patrons to the pump. In several cases, the stations failed to disclose that the price was only for cash trans-actions. Once at the pump, con-sumers discovered that they were charged more for using a credit card—a deceptive “bait and switch” practice. Consumers who suspect a station is engaging in this prac-tice are urged to call the New York State Attorney General’s Consumer Helpline at 800/771-7755.
New York City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) is mounting an aggressive campaign to build 1,800 miles of bike lanes over the next two decades. The campaign is being spearheaded by a DOT hierarchy that is dominated by policy advocates for increased bike use. Yes, cycling is a good thing, but like anything else, this expan-sion of the dedicated bicycle lane network may go from good to bad unless the city DOT addresses questions about the cost and safety of their plan.
For starters, many bike lane segments appear underutilized, and their construction does not seem to justify the expense in terms of dollars spent or the loss of parking spots and closure of traffic lanes. Further, in some locations, the lanes appear to be disrupting not only traffic but also local businesses along the route, because park-ing spots have been lost due to the dedicated lanes.
The expansion is also raising safety issues for pedestrians and cyclists themselves. Many of the bike lanes appear to be shoe horned in on nar-row streets, posing a risk to bikers who may possibly get “doored” by drivers opening car doors alongside the dedicated bike lanes.
New York City has always been a great walking city, but the rise in bikes may create a more challenging environment for walkers mix-ing with bikers. A recent New York Post commentary on the bike lanes was accompanied by vivid photos of someone being struck by a bike while hailing a cab. Further, complaints about bikers ignoring traffic rules appear to be on the rise, begging the question of whether or not the city is taking steps to ensure that cyclists obey the laws.
Advocates of increased bike use, those both within DOT and on the outside, need to take a step back and examine the effects this expansion is having on all of the city’s residents and taxpayers to ensure the public welfare is being well served—including pedestrians and drivers and the city as a whole. �
Are you in favor of the city’s efforts to increase bike lanes? Visit AAA.com/Poll and tell us what you think. A
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GreatCall delivers safety and security at exclusive AAA New York Member prices.
The superior wireless services of GreatCall keep you and your family safe, healthy and connected with an easy to use phone, innovative services and live, U.S. Based Customer Service available 24/7. Whether it’s a drive to the corner store or a trip across the country, GreatCall provides
the security of knowing that no matter what happens, day or night, we are always here for you. The AAA Emergency Roadside Service phone number is pre-programmed for you into your phone and calls directly to AAA Roadside Service are always free. All of these premium services are available on the high quality Jitterbug, made by worldwide leader Samsung and powered by one of America’s largest and most reliable wireless networks. Get started today at exclusive AAA New York Member prices you won’t fi nd anywhere else.
The custom designed phone inspired by simplicity.• Large keypad makes dialing easy
• Powerful speaker delivers clear sound
• Speakerphone and voice dial feature
• Stay safe, connected and informed with services like LiveNurse, SimpleText and MyWorldTM
• FREE Car Charger and Leather Case, a $4399 value with activation
AAA New York Members alsoreceive the following benefi ts:• Powered by one of America’s largest and most reliable wireless networks
• 5% discount on all monthly rate plans
• Big savings on the Jitterbug phone
• No contracts, no cancellation fees, no binding commitments
• 30% discount on all accessories
• Friendly 30-Day Return Policy1
866-490-1957
All rate plans and services require the purchase of a GreatCall phone and a one-time set up fee of $35. Coverage and service is not available everywhere. Prices and fees are subject to change. There are no additional fees to call GreatCall’s 24-hour U.S. Based Customer Service. However, for calls to an Operator in which a service is completed, minutes will be deducted from your monthly balance equal to the length of the call and any call connected by the Operator, plus an additional 5 minutes. GreatCall is not a health care provider and does not provide health care services. You should seek the advice of your physician if you have any questions about medical treatment. 1We will refund the full price of the GreatCall phone if it is returned within 30 days of purchase in like-new condition. We will also refund your fi rst monthly service charge if you have less than 30 minutes of usage. If you have more than 30 minutes of usage, a per minute charge of 35 cents will apply for each minute over 30 minutes. The activation fee and shipping charges are not refundable. Monthly rate plans do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges. AAA New York Members must provide a valid membership number at time of purchase. Jitterbug is a registered trademark of GreatCall, Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and its related entities. Copyright ©2010 GreatCall, Inc. AAA © Copyright 2010.
Monthly Rate
Monthly Anytime Minutes
LiveNurse
The Wellness Call
AAA Emergency Roadside Service Calls
Operator Assistance
Long Distance Calls
Nationwide Coverage
Best Value! Additional Night/Weekend Minutes
5% Discount& BonusMinutes
Nationwide Coverage
Competitive share plans available. Call a GreatCall expert to learn more.
Powered by one of America’s largest and most reliable wireless networks
Exclusive rate plans for AAA New York Members.
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To order or learn more, call 1-866-490-1957or visit greatcall.com/NewYork
GreatCall service available No service available
1007905_AAAnewyork8-16_R1.indd 1 7/19/10 5:34 PM
6 C&T September Digital 2010
discounts SpooktacularWhat: A fun event for the whole family
When: Sat., Oct. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: AAA Headquarters, 1415 Kellum Place, Garden City, NY 11530.
What to Expect: Make sure the kids wear their Halloween costumes to this free event. There will be face painting, safe Halloween trick-or-treating tips, giveaways, contests, prizes and much more. Check out the full schedule of events at AAA.com/Events.
▲
Sirius|XM Free Radio OfferWhat: Sirius | XM Satellite Radio
The Deal: For a limited time, AAA members can receive a free XM radio and listen free for 30 days. Plus, members save up to 40% on radio accessories every day.
When: Free radio offer expires Thurs., Sept. 30.
How: Visit AAA.com/Sirius.
What to Expect: With SIRIUS Satellite Radio, you can listen to what you want, when you want, wherever you are. You get more than 130 channels, including 100-percent commercial-free music from every genre, plus sports, news, talk and comedy—all with crystal-clear, coast-to-coast coverage, all in one place and all at your fingertips.
Fine Print: Restrictions may apply. Visit AAA.com/Sirius for complete offer details.
▲
Apple PickingWhat: Masker Orchards
The Deal: Save $2 on your purchase or receive a free jug of apple cider when picking two or more bags of apples.
How: Show your AAA membership card at time of purchase.
Where: Located in Warwick, just off Rte. 17A (Exit 15A off the NYS Thruway).
When: Open Labor Day weekend through early November.
What to Expect: Wander through the 200-acre orchard, breathe in the crisp autumn air and view the glow of the area’s spectacular fall foliage. For the kids, there are barnyard baby animals, as well as pony and wagon rides. Masker is more than a pick-it-yourself apple orchard—it is a family tradition. For more information, call 845/986-1058 or visit Maskers.com.
Save on HockeyWhat: The New York Islanders
The Deal: Save up to 40% on select New York Islander games. Pay $65 for End Zone 200s (regular price $95); pay $43 for Center Mezzanine 300s (regular price $75); and pay $36 for End Zone Mezzanine 300s (regular price $65).
Where: Nassau Coliseum, Long Island.
When: Sat., Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. vs. Colorado; Fri., Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. vs. Montreal; Sat., Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. vs. Philadelphia; Sat., Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. vs. Florida; Fri., Nov. 26 at 1 p.m. vs. New Jersey; Sat., Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. vs. Atlanta; and Wed., Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. vs. Pittsburgh.
How: Call 516/501-6763 and ask for the AAA discount, or print out your order form online and fax your request to 516/501-6762. Include your daytime phone number and AAA membership number with all requests.
Fine Print: Tickets are subject to availability. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Please allow up two weeks for delivery.
C&T September Digital 2010 7
Book your next vacation with AAA Travel
Call 800/847-8091 Click AAA.com/Sale Visit a branch office
Book your 2011 vacation at 2010 prices!SAVE up to $100* on already reduced cruises and tours plus:❱ FREE upgrades ❱ FREE onboard credits ❱ Discounted theme park tickets ❱ Airline Service Fees Waived** ❱ & much more!
AAA Travel Store BONUS OFFERS:❱ SAVE 20% on all name-brand luggage ❱ SAVE 10% on all travel accessories
Valid on new vacation package bookings of $3,000 or more made at AAA New York with AAA preferred tour operators. Sale ends 10/16/10. Other restrictions may apply. **Airline service fees will be waived for all airline tickets purchased in conjunction with the vacation package or cruise.
AAA Travel’s2011Vacation SaleOctober 13-16
All branch locations
September is Sandals Month
Book your next vacation with AAA Travel
Call 800/847-8091 Click AAA.com/Travel Visit a branch office
Book your Luxury Included® Sandals or Beaches vacation September 1-30, 2010, with AAA Travel and receive a $250 Red Lane® Spa credit per room, plus added member benefits.
A Sandals and Beaches ambassador will be available at the following locations:
❉ Sat., Sept. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.Nassau: 229 Seventh St., Garden CitySuffolk: 729 Smithtown By-Pass, Smithtown Queens: 186-06 Hillside Ave., JamaicaOneonta: 195 Oneida St., Oneonta (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
❉ Wed., Sept 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.Manhattan: 1881 Broadway & 62nd St.
❉ Thurs., Sept. 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Utica: 409 Court St., Utica
❉ Sat., Sept. 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.Brooklyn: 2334 Ralph Ave., Mill BasinWestchester: 111 Brook St., Scarsdale
Offer is valid on new bookings, 6 nights or longer only concierge rooms and higher. Offer is not combinable with any other resort/spa credit. Travel window: 9/1/10-8/31/11. Offer can be changed or withdrawn at any time. May not be applicable for group bookings. Blackout dates may apply. Offer NOT applicable at Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas, Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts or Royal Plantation Resorts. Spa credit is only valid for treatments at the spa (not retail products).
leaf other discounts behind!
•AAA Prescription Savings•ADT Home Security
•Broadview Home Security•Central Parking NYC*•Consumer Relocations
•DIRECTV®•EagleRider
•Extra Space Storage•FETCH! Pet Care
•Geek Squad•Golden Touch Transportation
•LuggageForward.com•Penske Truck Rentals
•PlanetFone International Cell Phone Rentals•Professional Drivers Incorporated
•SuperShuttle* •The UPS Store
•Ticketfeeder.com*
AAA.com/DiscountsWherever you go, we go
* Check AAA.com/Discounts for applicable codes and availability. Some discounts may only be available online.All discounts are current as of printing. Some exclusions apply. Not responsible for errors or omissions.
100 Ways to Save
ATTRACTIONS92nd Street Y
Adventure Island
Atlantis Marine World Aquarium
Baseball Hall of Fame
Berkshires East Skiing
Bronx Zoo*
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Busch Gardens Tampa
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Camelback Skiing*
Camelbeach Waterpark*
Circle Line Cruises
Discovery Cove
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Guggenheim Museum
Harness Racing Museum
Hicksville Gregory Museum
Liberty Helicopters
Liberty Science Center
Long Island Children’s Museum
Long Island Museum of American Art, History & Carriages
Long Island Philharmonic
Madame Tussauds New York
Madison Square Garden All Access Tour
Masker Orchards
Medieval Times
New York Aquarium*
New York Liberty Basketball
New York Pass
Niagara Parks Pass*
NYSKYRIDE
New York Waterway
On Location Tours*
Radio City Stagedoor Tour
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
SeaWorld
Sesame Place
Six Flags
South Street Seaport Museum
Splish Splash
The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
The New York Botanical Garden
Top of the Rock
Uncle Sam’s New York
Universal Orlando
Islands of Adventure
Water Country USA
Woodridge Segway Tours
SHOWSBlue Man Group Orlando
Disney’s The Lion King
Disney’s Mary Poppins
Movie Tickets- AMC, Clearview Cinemas, National Amusement & Regal Cinemas††
Murdered by the Mob
New Victory Theater
Smucker’s Stars on Ice
Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding
Westchester Broadway Theater
SHOPBanana Republic Factory Stores
Chelsea Premium Outlets
Cookies by Design
Gap Outlet
LensCrafters
NAPA Auto Parts
NBA Store
New York & Company
Payless Shoe Source
Pearle Vision
Penske Truck Rentals
Reebok Outlet Stores
Samsonite Company Stores
Sears Optical
Steiner Sports Collectibles
Sunglass Hut
Tanger Outlets
Target Optical
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
SHOP ONLINE*
AAA.com/ShopNow
AAA.com/Barnes & Noble.com
AAA.com/Dell
AAA.com/FTD
AAA.com/SIRIUS
AAA.com/Target
CookiesbyDesign.com**
Davidscookies.com*
FDNY Fire Zone*
FragranceNet.com*
GNC.com**
Golf Digest Tee Times**
Harland Clark
Jos. A. Bank**
KMart.com**
Kohls.com**
Magellan
NBAStore.com**
NFLShop.com**
Sears.com**
Shoes.com**
ShopNHL.com*
Steiner Sports*
SERVICESAAA Prescription Savings
ADT Home Security
Broadview Home Security
Central Parking NYC*
Consumer Relocations
Consumer Reports Magazine
DIRECTV®+
EagleRider
Extra Space Storage
FETCH! Pet Care
Geek Squad
Golden Touch Transportation
LuggageForward.com
Newport Audiology Centers
Penske Truck Rentals
PlanetFone International Cell Phone Rentals
Professional Drivers Incorporated
SuperShuttle*
The UPS Store
Ticketfeeder.com
TRAVEL AMTRAK
Avistar Airport Parking
Grand Canyon Railway & Resort
Gray Line
Hertz
HOTELS Best Western International Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites
Hilton Properties: Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations Club (retail hotel inventory only), Homewood Suites by Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Collection
Hyatt Hotels: Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites.
Marriott Hotels: Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Towne Hill Suites, and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels: Aloft, Element, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Meridien, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Sheraton, W Hotels, Westin
The Thayer Hotel
DINE Chart House Restaurants
Hard Rock Cafe
Landry’s Seafood House
Muer Restaurants
Saltgrass Steakhouse
The Crab House
For best discount on Theme Park tickets visit AAA.com/Discounts or any local AAA branch office. * Check AAA.com/Discounts for applicable codes and availability. **Discount only available through AAA.com/ShopNow+ All discounts are current as of printing. Some exclusions apply. Not responsible for errors or omissions.††Tickets may be restricted for up to two weeks on first-run movies and surcharges may apply. Please check AAA.com/Tickets for more information.
10 C&T September Digital 2010
BY PETER BOHR
Giving Up the GhostWhen is it time to buy a new car?
““Sell your car before you reach
a milestone.
CO
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C&T September Digital 2010 11
It’s the car owner’s classic conundrum: Is it more prudent to keep driving your older, paid-off car or trade it for a newer car? Put another way, is it better to take on a new stream of
payments to a lender or risk making a stream of payments to a repair shop?
As a car ages, it loses value, while the bills to keep it run-ning mount up. Hold out too long and you could find your-self in the predicament of facing a repair bill that’s higher than the market value of the car. At that point, you may be tempt-ed to pull the plug on the old jalopy and buy a new car— especially if the car’s payment book is empty.
Financially speaking, not a good idea. Consider how much it would cost to buy a new car—or even a newer, used car—that’s comparable to your current ride. Twenty, 30, maybe 40 grand? Plus finance charg-es, documentation fees, sales taxes and, undoubtedly, higher insurance premiums. That kind of money will pay for more alternators, timing belts, transmissions or other components than your old car is likely to need for many more miles.
It’s usually less costly to fix an old car than to replace it with a new one. “People typically buy new cars because they want one, not because they need one,” says Jack Nerad, Kelley Blue Book’s executive editorial director. Yet, there are other important factors to consider:
■ Too much hassle. Repeated trips to the mechanic are mak-ing you feel like you’re being nibbled to death by a demented duck. Or you’re worried about breakdowns leaving you stranded by the roadside. A well-maintained, modern car should run for 150,000 miles or more before needing major repairs, but, eventually, your used car will be all used up. An inspection by a AAA Approved Auto Repair shop can help you determine if your old car is reaching the end of its road.
■ Too unattractive. Rarely do modern cars rust away; automak-ers take many steps to prevent it. But perhaps your car has been the victim of too many fender-benders, or heaven forbid, you’ve neglected to maintain it. Perhaps after a hard life, it shakes, rattles and rolls. For whatever reason, your car embarrasses you, and you’re ready to get rid of it.
■ Too few of the latest bells and whistles. New cars come loaded with a wondrous variety of gadgets such as an iPod jack, re-mote keyless entry or a navigation system. If your car is 10 or more years old, it could be missing features you want and need.
■ Too fuelish. Unless you drive an awful lot, trading an old gas-guzzler for a new gas-miser will cost you more than you’ll save in fuel costs, but your social conscience may encourage you to drive a newer, greener, more efficient car.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question, but if you’re inclined to trade your current car for a new one, Nerad suggests heeding these mileage milestones: the expiration of the new-car “bumper-to-bumper” warranty and when the odometer reaches 50,000 miles and again at 100,000 miles. Sell your car before you reach a milestone, and you’re likely to lose less of your investment. Selling before your car’s model is replaced by a redesigned model also helps reduce your loss. A
12 C&T September Digital 2010
BY PETER BOHR / ILLUSTRATION BY STEVEN SALERNO
New Versus UsedIn a down economy, what’s the better buy?
C&T September Digital 2010 13
A car is as important as a Social Security number and a good attitude when it comes to landing a job. My niece Ariel, a recent college grad, turned to her favorite uncle—me—
for advice. Ariel’s car-buying budget of $12,000 or so was limit-ed, and she assumed she could only afford a used one. Or as they euphemistically say in the car biz, a “previously owned vehicle.”
With the automotive industry in turmoil and new-car sales con-tinuing to slide, her assumption isn’t necessarily correct. Many car shoppers have similarly assumed that a used car would be the better value. Consequently, the used-car market hasn’t been especially af-fected by the economic turmoil, says Jack Nerad, editorial director of Kelley Blue Book. “Used-car prices have stayed strong, while new-car prices have fallen off a cliff,” he adds.
Indeed, new-car prices have fallen even more sharply than con-sumer incomes during this recession, according to Comerica Bank’s most recent Auto Affordability Index. These days, a typical new car or truck rolls out of the showroom with a sales price of about $26,000. That equates to 21.5 weeks of median family income in the U.S., the fewest since the bank developed the index in 1979.
With many car dealers hurting, a good haggler can make an even better deal. And leftovers from the previous model year can be a real steal. “I’ve seen some cars advertised for under $9,000,” says Nerad. “They may be last year’s model, but they’re still brand new cars.”
The benefits of buying new rather than used are many. Not only will buyers experience the thrill of that new-car smell, they’ll avoid the danger of buying somebody else’s troubles. (Even if you buy a used car that’s under warranty, if something goes wrong, it can still be a hassle to get a problem fixed.) The new car will come wrapped in the security blanket of a new-car bumper-to-bumper warranty that promises to pay for nearly every ill—usually for three years or 36,000 miles, but for as long as five years or 60,000 miles in the case of Hyundai.
A new car also may come with an even longer warranty covering the engine and transmission. It may also come with safety features and other technology that weren’t available on older cars. And interest rates on new-car loans are usually more favorable than those on used cars.
Of course, for those whose budgets are more limited than Ariel’s, any new car will be out of reach. For those with champagne tastes and beer budgets, a used car is the only option; they won’t find a spanking-new BMW or Lexus for 12—or even 24—grand. A cer-tified pre-owned car (CPO) can be a good choice. CPO cars are typically cream puffs that come with an automaker-backed warranty, though it’s shorter and often less comprehensive than a new-car war-ranty.
In these strange times, the old paradigm about used cars offering better value than new cars has shifted. The price gap between late-model used cars and their new counterparts has narrowed. Which means that for buyers like Ariel, life is good. A
14 C&T September Digital 2010
red lights and/or has its Stop sign out, it is New York State law to stop.
AAA, as part of the annual School’s Open, Drive Carefully campaign, also advises drivers to keep their headlights on during the day. By doing so, it becomes easier for children and other drivers to see your car approaching.
Parents need to take responsibility for their chil-dren’s safety as well. Keep these tips in mind:
Before letting your kids walk without an adult, determine their maturity level, as well as environ-mental factors, such as distance, time of day, traffic congestion and availability of sidewalks.
Make sure other drivers can see your kids if they normally walk to and from school. The brighter their clothes, the more visible they will be. A
Drivers—watch out! With school back in session, more cars, buses and
children are out on the road again, which means your undi-vided attention is needed behind the wheel.
Pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of death among children ages five to 14. Chil-dren are at a higher risk of injury because they are harder for driv-ers to spot and also because they have a more difficult time judg-ing traffic situations such as the speed of an oncoming car.
Ultimately, it’s the driver’s responsibility to keep kids safe. Follow these important tips:
While approaching a school zone, driving past a playground or searching for a space in a park-ing lot, take it slow—especially in bad weather. The more caution you practice with your driving, the more readily you will be able to spot a child in the road.
Scan your surroundings for any-thing signaling a child is in the area such as a bicycle, scooter or basketball. Be prepared to stop if you see flashing yellow lights on school buses. When a bus is flashing
BY LESLIE FAZIN
School’s Open, Drive Carefully:What you need to know about keeping kids safe when they head back to class
© M
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Make sure your kids know how to stay safe on their way to school:◗ Practice safe school bus behavior. Teach your chil-dren that it is important to sit quietly in their seat and to listen to their bus driver. The more rowdy the bus is, the more bothered and distracted the driver will be at the wheel.
◗ Keep away from the danger zone. Children are most likely to be hit when they step inside a school bus “danger zone.” This zone is the area around the bus that blocks the child from view. To be seen by the driver, the safe distance away from harm is 10 feet, or five large steps in front of the bus. Instruct your kids to make eye contact with their bus driver if they have to cross the street.
◗ Set the right example. Parents know all too well that children learn by imitation, so set a good example for them to follow. Whenever crossing the street, tell them to look left, right and then left again. Never cross a road with your kids unless the pedestrian light is showing the ‘walker’ symbol, or it says ‘Walk,’ even if it is com-pletely safe to do so.
◗ Walk facing traffic. According to the New York State Department of Transportation, if a sidewalk is unavail-able, the best way to get home is to walk facing traffic. This technique, coupled with retro-reflective materials, allows your kids to be seen by drivers on the road.
YOUgo,go.WE
Wherever
AAA.com/Benefits
❱Roadside❱Discounts❱Travel❱Financial...and much more!
16 C&T September Digital 2010
The Forte follows the Soul as another all-new model from Kia, the Korean car maker that continues its foray into vehicle classes dominated by Japanese brands. With an attractive price, the car is sure to garner much attention,
but driving it may leave some with a sour experience.
test drives
2010 Kia Forte SXMSRP $17,195, As tested $19,490
C&T September Digital 2010 17
To search for the vehicle that’s best for you, or to review its safety ratings, visit AAA.com/AutoBuying. To find
more automobile reviews, visit CarandTravelMagazine.com and click on “Car Features” and then “Test Drives.”
specificationsdimensionsDrivetrain Layout . . . . . . . Front-wheel-driveWheelbase/Length . . . . . . .104.3 in./178.3 in.Width/Height . . . . . . . . . . . . .69.9 in./57.5 in.Track (front/rear) . . . . . . . . . .61.3 in./61.6 in.Headroom (front/rear) . . . . . .40.0 in./37.6 in.Legroom (front/rear) . . . . . . . . . 43.3/35.0 in.Shoulder room (front/rear) . .55.7 in./54.7 in.Curb weight (manual/auto). . . . . . .2,853 lbs.Passenger volume . . . . . . . . . . . . .96.8 cu. ft.Rear Cargo area volume . . . . . . . .14.7 cu. ft. Fuel-tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . 13.7 gallons
specificationsEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4L I4Horsepower. . . . . . . . . . . . . .173 @ 6,000 rpmTorque (lb-ft). . . . . . . . . . . . .168 @ 4,000 rpmAcceleration . . . . . . . . . . . .0-60 mph 8.9 sec.Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60-0 mph 119 feetFuel requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RegularEPA city/highway . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22/32 mpg
warrantiesBumper-to-bumper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5/60,000Powertrain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10/100,000Rust-through . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5/100,000
competitors Chevrolet Cobalt, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer
The top-of-the-line SX Forte looks good, though you proba-bly couldn’t distinguish it from a dozen other small economy se-dans. The car features a pleasing interior in spite of the use of lots of plastic. Seats are comfortable, and all the controls work seam-lessly. There’s a lot of content for such an inexpensive car: Blue-tooth connectivity, USB ports, satellite radio, stability control, traction control, heated seats, a moonroof and a remote tire-pressure monitoring system.
On the road, the Forte is a mixed bag. The engine makes decent power, enabling the car to accelerate well enough for stress-free highway merging. A smooth-shifting six-speed man-ual transmission ensures a gear for all occasions. But, the clutch is abysmal. It has no progression to its engagement. We tried slip-ping it but wound up making lots of jerky starts. Finally, we settled on just letting it out, with little or no gas. It never stalled, but we were left with insufficient engine revs for strong accelera-tion. We don’t know if the clutch’s performance is typical or if our
tester needed an adjustment. If you’re considering a stick shift, make sure you have a test drive to determine if you could live with the Forte’s clutch.
The car handled admirably on smooth roads. Steering was quick and accurate, and though there was some body roll, it
wasn’t excessive. However, the car went to pieces when the road got bumpy. If you hit a series of bumps at highway speeds, the car strangely yaws to the left, forcing the driver to correct the motion with the steering wheel. Increase your speed over the same road and the car gets so loose and floaty, it feels like you could easily lose control. The Forte has an antiquated torsion-bar rear suspension that could be the source of its troubles, along with the stiffer springs and lower profile tires on our sporty SX model. Kia should address this deficiency soon.
The Forte isn’t a bad car, especially given its bargain price. However, we have some rough roads in our area, and the car’s poor suspen-sion might leave drivers hanging in space in driving situations where they most need a vehicle to work with them. A� —ROBERT�SINCLAIR,�JR
““Make sure you have a test drive to determine if you could live
with the Forte’s clutch.
18 C&T September Digital 2010
cars
Engine $2500Transmission $1800Brakes $1100A/C System $975Power Steering $975Fuel Injectors $1125Electrical System $525Suspension $475Oxygen Sensor $557Radiator $385
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▲ Top 5 Misconceptions About Fuel EconomyAutomotive engineers and car company experts have helped the Environmental Protection Agency compile a list of misconceptions about fuel economy. Advances in technology, engine de-sign and other factors have contrib-uted to making many of our ideas about fuel economy obsolete. Here are the top five misconceptions (for the complete list, visit fueleconomy.gov/feg/topten.jsp):
• You have to drive a small car to get good mileage. More fuel-efficient engines, hybrid drivetrains, better aerodynamics and low-rolling resis-tance tires have made many standard mid-sized cars very fuel efficient. • It takes more fuel to start an engine than it does to idle. Modern fuel-injection engines start with very little fuel, if they’re warm. An idling engine uses up to a gallon of gas for every hour it’s running. • Vehicles need to warm up before they’re driven. Modern vehicles can be driven immediately after starting, as long as you’re gentle. • Replacing your air filter will help improve your fuel economy. Back when cars had carburetors, this was true, but modern fuel-injection and ignition systems compensate for a dirty filter. • Aftermarket additives and devices
can dramatically improve your fuel economy. The old myth about dropping a tablet of some miracle chemical in your gas tank for dra-matically improved mileage is still a fairy tale.
Search for Vehicle RecallsWith Toyota and other manufactur-ers frequently announcing recalls, you may be wondering where you can find safety information about your own vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administra-tion (NHTSA) provides an extensive database of defects and recalls.
To find recalls for your vehicle, visit NHTSA.gov and click on the “search” icon next to “latest recalls.” Follow the prompts to enter your vehicle’s model, make and year, in order to discover any complaints associated with your car’s history. C
OPY
RIG
HT
© M
EDIA
BAK
ERY
Approved Auto Repair Stations
Stations subject to change. Visit AAA.com for the latest station listings. AAA approves and maintains a network of nearly 8,000 Approved Auto Repair facilities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 10 Canadian provinces.
gold spotlight
FREEComprehensive
Safety Inspection
• Battery• Belts and pulleys• Lights• Hoses
• Tires• Mirrors• Wipers and wiper fluid• Horn operation
Inspection includes check of:
John Frisolone in front of Complete Auto Repair in Bellmore, L.I.
❚ BRONXDon-Glo Sunoco1280 Allerton Ave.718/882-3432
Don-Glo of Manhattan II Service Ctr. 409 West 218th St.212/567-1767
❚ BROOKLYNOne Stop 86th8202 7th Ave.718/331-1207
❚ MANHATTANDon-Glo of Manhattan II Service Ctr. 409 West 218th St.212/567-1767
54th Street Auto Center Inc.415 West 54th Street212/265-3120
❚ STATEN ISLANDBay Street Auto Center830 Bay St.718/447-8917
Jefferson Valley Service Station214 East Main St., Jefferson Valley914/245-3333
AA Auto Tech Center2285 Crompond Rd., Cortlandt Manor914/737-5050
Cappello’s Auto Repair184 Sough Highland Avenue, Ossining914/762-0022
❚ ROCKLAND COUNTYDom’s Towing/The Garage324 Route 59, Spring Valley845/352-8237
❚ DUTCHESS COUNTYJack’s Auto Service4228 Route 22, Wassaic845/373-9757
J & J Automotive, Inc6787 Route 9, Rhinebeck845/876-5300
Paul’s Motors6 Fairview Ave., Poughkeepsie845/471-4240
❚ ORANGE COUNTYDolson Auto & Tire125 Dolson AvenueMiddletown, NY 10940845/343-6300
❚ PUTNAM COUNTYChris’ Automotive Center349 Rte. 52, Carmel845/225-3054
❚ ULSTER COUNTYErichsen’s Auto Service170 Rte. 299, Highland845/691-8837
❚ ONEIDA COUNTYMohawk Automotive Inc.4952 Commercial DriveYorkville 315/738-1707
Maugeri’s Auto Repair Inc.510 Albany St., Utica315/733-5033
Mercurio’s Automotive Inc.450 French Rd., Utica315/732-6098
Don’s Ford Superstore Inc. Member of the Carbone Auto GroupRte. 12 N., Horatio St., Utica315/797-1520
Clinton Auto ServiceRte. 12 B Meadow St.Clinton315/853-5573
Carbone Dodge/Chrysler/JeepCommercial Dr., Yorkville315/736-3371
Carbone General Motors CapitolCommercial Dr., Yorkville315/736-0811
Carbone HondaCommercial Dr., Yorkville315/736-7310
Panella’s Collision & Service58 Henderson St. New York Mills 315/768-8100
Tallmans Sales & Service5176 Commercial Drive, Yorkville 315/736-2442
Tallmans Sales & Services1719 Genesee Street, Utica315/732-6522
❚ HERKIMER COUNTYSkinner’s Sales, Inc.700 Mohawk St., Herkimer315/866-3530
S&S Automotive Center325 S. Oyster Bay Rd., Plainview516/933-7822
Jerry’s Auto & Towing91 Powerhouse Rd., Roslyn Heights516/621-6024
Statewide Auto Repair 842 Nassau Rd., Uniondale516/564-7770
❚ SUFFOLK COUNTYKlis Brothers Auto & Tire3040 Jericho Tpke., East Northport631/462-6677
CD Automotive50 B Rocky Point Road, Rocky Point631/744-2887
Double N Automotive125 Mark Tree Road, Centereach631/285-7636
Smithwest Service Center789 Jericho Turnpike/Route 25,St. James 631/265-9885
A-1 Car Care47 Hawkins Ave., Ronkonkoma631/588-6737
A-1 Car Care North630 New York Ave., Huntington631/470-9542
Westside Auto Tech & Tire 700 Long Island Ave., Deer Park631/667-5268
❚ WESTCHESTER COUNTYC&C Auto Repair90 Rockdale Ave.New Rochelle914/235-4200
R.J.T. Motorist Services101 Westmoreland Ave.White Plains914/948-1100
Don-Glo IV Auto Service Center179 McLean Ave., Yonkers914/968-6779
Colonial Service Station2430 Richmond Rd.718/351-1500
❚ QUEENSUnion Tpke Service Station252-02 Union Tpke., Bellerose718/343-7862
❚ NASSAU COUNTYFamily Auto Service2157 Marion Place, Baldwin516/868-8571
Complete Auto Repair2720 Merrick Rd., Bellmore516/826-7125
Elmont Car Care535 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont516/328-8181
T.N.T. Automotive Corp.909 Second Ave., New Hyde Park516/326-2396
Conlon Automotive1150 No. Broadway North Massapequa516/293-0654
Coupon good at participating AAR stations only. Includes most cars and light trucks. Must present coupon prior to service. May not be combined with any other offer. Valid through October 31, 2010.
Complete Auto Repair2720 Merrick Rd., Bellmore; 516/826-7125
John Frisolone, an ASE-certified technician and owner of Complete Auto Repair in Bellmore, says the growth of his business usually begins with one single customer. “It starts with someone’s vehicle breaking down,” he says, “and then the person becomes a customer for life.” The shop also thrives through word-of-mouth. In fact, Complete Auto Repair has been in business for over 40 years without advertising. The station provides towing and road service, diesel-vehicle emissions testing, tire sales and state inspections, as well as other automotive repairs, including computer diagnostics, alignment and the AAA bat-tery installation program. With four full-time ASE-certified technicians and approximately 12 road-service operators, Frisolone emphasizes the importance of integ-rity in the workplace. “You have to be upfront and honest,” he says.
20 C&T September Digital 2010
BY DANA HAMMOND
Disney’s New Dreamboat
© 2
008
DIS
NEY
. ALL
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RES
ERVE
D.
The wait is over for Disney Cruise Line fans longing for a new ship to adore
classic ocean liner, upon closer inspection revealed mouse ears on its sophisticated smokestacks, an image of Mickey in the filigree emblazoned on its traditional bow and a statue of Goofy dangling off the stern. Before departing, Magic hoisted its gold-en anchors, which looked like colossal cufflinks, and delivered a final blow to the competition with a horn that sounded the first seven notes of When You Wish Upon a Star. It left little doubt about the onboard playground, a place where every family member fits in.
Disney hasn’t shied away from sprinkling pixie dust on its ships to keep them primped to perfection.
The Disney Dream is soon to become a reality.
DISNEY DEFINITELY brought something special to the high seas with the launch of Magic in 1998 and Wonder in 1999, a two-ship fleet that caught the attention of the cruising world and never really relinquished it.
I can recall watching Magic steal the spotlight from other boats bobbing off the coast of Grand Cayman years after it de-buted. This elegant vessel, with a silhouette reminiscent of a
C&T September Digital 2010 21
All guests circle back to the pool on the Disney Dream
Nonetheless, no new ships emerged. That’s about to change. Captain Mickey is busy preparing for the arrival of not one, but two new ships, Dream and Fantasy, due in 2011 and 2012, respectively. While these sister ships resemble their stylish siblings from the outside, they’re 50 percent larger. Inside, the recipe for success remains the same, namely a delicious mix of Old World design and New World technology. Plus, large dashes of Disney charm and flavor on every deck. Have you ever seen a chandelier crafted from glass slippers? Well, get ready.
When Dream debuts in January, the attention to detail will astonish even avid Disney fans. The ship also boasts features never seen before at sea. From the virtual portholes that adorn inside cabins to the flume ride that loops around the outside decks, inge-nuity reigns. The tech-savvy portholes actually give guests a real-time view that reflects their stateroom location—and more. Mickey might snorkel past the porthole or perhaps you’ll catch Peach, the starfish from the film Finding Nemo, plastered up against it peering in.
AquaDuck, the first shipboard watercoaster, does Donald proud. This high-speed flume rockets rid-ers around four decks on a route that rips through a tunnel in the forward smokestack and shoots out over the ocean in a translucent tube. For another splash of fun, Dream sports Disney’s iconic Mickey-shaped pool, where kids smiling from ear-to-ear flop into the mouse’s ears for a tot-sized taste of hot-tubbing. A family pool with a jumbo movie
screen and a sublime sanctuary for adults await as well. The lat-ter promises a multi-level pool with a swim-up bar. For the smallest cruisers, Dream delivers a soft-deck water park dubbed Nemo’s Reef.
Guests rotate through three themed restaurants on Dream. The changing scenery includes Animator’s Palate, which morphs into an underwater world during the course of a meal. This inter-active experience reaches a cre-scendo when Crush, the turtle from Finding Nemo, swims around (via LCD screens) engaging din-ers. The whimsical Enchanted Garden, with its flower fixtures that bloom, provides another fanciful setting. The third venue, Royal Palace, houses the hand-blown slipper chandelier and offers a formal feel. Adults also have two specialty restaurants to sample.
Dream does a nice job woo-ing adults. A nighttime enter-tainment district with a string of funky lounges amounts to a playground for grown-ups,
22 C&T September Digital 2010
where they can sip bubbly in a bodacious lair inspired by the inside of a champagne bottle or unwind at a “sky bar” with faux windows that showcase differ-ent cityscapes. Still, all roads lead back to family fare.
Nearly a deck is devoted to youth activity areas, including age-spe-cific clubs. Everything from huge, interactive play-floors to sound studios and science labs fill these spaces. Youngsters might opt to romp in the exaggerated envi-ronment of Andy’s Room, from the Toy Story films, to experience being toy-sized, while teens chill in an exclusive, swipe-card club with its own outdoor oasis. Even “tweens” have a retreat.
Stage shows and deck par-ties featuring fireworks provide family entertainment. Fittingly, Dream’s 3-D movie theater with
Dream’s making waves, but it’s not the only ship on the horizon in 2011. Carnival sets its own ver-sion of magic afloat when Carnival Magic debuts in May, and, in July, Celebrity welcomes Silhouette. Carnival’s “fun ship” promises glitzy lounges, dueling waterslides and a promenaded deck adorned with pocket whirlpools overlook-ing the sea. A lawn club with real grass, a glassblowing studio and chic eateries distinguish Silhouette. Next winter Silhouette will offer cruises from New Jersey.
Cruise rates are in US dollars, per person, based on double occupancy, capacity controlled and subject to change at any time without prior notice. Government taxes and fees are additional for all guests. Ships’ Registry: The Bahamas & Panama
Book your next vacation with AAA Travel
Call 800/847-8091 Click AAA.com/Cruises Visit a branch office
Your Magic BeginsCarnival Magic, the newest addition to our fleet, will sail from Europe in 2011 and promises to be filled with the latest fun innovations.
CASH IN EARLY. Book with AAA Travel 3 months in advance for short cruises and 5 months in advance for cruises 6 days or longer. Once you do that, you can be sure you’ll get an unbeatable price. And if you happen to see a lower Carnival advertised rate anywhere else, Carnival will match it. Simple as that.
stadium seating ranks as the best afloat. A sports deck touts a truly “Goofy” golf course, and guests mingle with Disney characters in Dream’s grand lobby. This stylish, Art Deco space displays “enchanted art” as well. These pieces recognize the presence of an admirer, triggering an animated sequence.
Cabins exhibit family ap-peal with a split-bath setup that makes sharing easy. Gigan-tic portholes in some provide a clever window seat, and kids sleeping in pull-down beds will discover one more testament to Disney’s ingenuity—hidden murals depicting Tinker Bell. Disney didn’t overlook anything on this Dreamboat. A
For travel information:Visit AAA.com/Disney
Disney Dream. Launching in 2011.
CAN USE ANY COLORS: THERE ARE NO APPROVED COLORS
Created with all the imagination of Disney dream makers, our newest ship features spectacular innovations that will make dreams come true in brand-new ways.
Legendary Disney service, unique personal touches and elegant details all come together on this incredible vessel to create spaces and experiences designed to delight kids, teens, adults and families in enchantingly different ways.
Ask about exclusive AAA Member Benefits.
Book your next vacation with AAA TravelCall 800/651-9265 Click AAA.com/Disney Visit a branch officeAs to Disney artwork, logos and properties: ©Disney. Ships Registry: The Bahamas.
A wild, watery ride, this 765-foot-long, winding slide propels you up, down, around, through the forward funnel, splashing down four decks and even over the edge of the ship!
Thrill to the first water coaster at sea, the AquaDuck!
ALASKAAMSTERDAM: 7 days starting at $749 OOSTERDAM: 7 days starting at $829
26 C&T September Digital 2010
A Good Reason to Cruise in a Bad EconomyCarnival’s Manhattan-based boat invites travelers on a quick getaway to Canada and New England that won’t break the bank
B Y D A N A H A M M O N D
IN THIS DIZZYING economy, where the stock market seems to be weathering more waves than all the boats afloat, bargain-hunting has blossomed into an art form. So, while I watched the market sink, I also looked for cruise deals that were on the rise. Some interesting opportunities
emerged, with one truly glorious bargain having just sailed into Manhattan. That means you don’t have to fly anywhere to get onboard, and you can pack as many bags as you’d like without incurring crazy fees.
The ship, Carnival Glory, offers cruises along the storied North Atlantic coast to Canada and New England (the last sailing in 2010 is on Oct. 9). Itin-eraries include a mix of budget-friendly short get-
C&T September Digital 2010 27
aways, as well as longer trips during the traditional fall foliage season. For first-timers looking to test their sea legs and cruise addicts in search of a quick fix, choos-ing a four-day trip built around a weekend makes sense. Five-day and seven-day outings round out the roster. Popular ports of call—Boston, Portland and the Canadian cities of Halifax and Saint John—share the spotlight, but bear in mind the shortest cruises don’t hit every port. They typically include two sea days wrapped around one full day in port.
The downtime on deck won’t disappoint, since Carnival’s mega-ships are floating destinations. These boats flaunt festive pool decks with signature water-slides and themed interior spaces decorated in whim-sical eye candy. Glory’s lounges come to life in every color of the rainbow, from the On the Green Sports Bar with stools plopped atop gigantic faux golf balls to the Ivory Club Cigar Bar where faux elephant tusks do the trick.
Other diversions include a spa and fitness center, a casino, a comedy club and a large production theater. The latter stages Vegas-style reviews and hosts guest performers, including magician Justin Illusion, who delivers one of the best acts afloat.
Carnival’s affordable “fun ships” give anybody a good reason to cruise in a bad economy, but Glory caught my eye for another reason. Its recent reno-vation carved out new spaces and even added a bunch of balcony cabins. Glory arrived ready to make a splash and maybe even a statement about where the cruise industry is headed. While the past decade witnessed the arrival of one new ship after another, that spectacular shipbuilding spurt has subsided. Now, some of the newest innovations are popping up on the decks of older ships. (Older being a relative term, since Glory, for example, debuted only in 2003.) All of this should signal cruisers to examine ships more carefully. What you find might be surprising, even if you’ve been onboard before.
Carnival’s ships appeal to passengers of all ages, so I was happy to see fresh venues that cater to adults and kids. Parents can escape to a quiet, outdoor haven created for adults only, while their “tweens” kick back in an inviting lounge designed just for them. Both spaces are outfitted with age-appropriate finery such as clamshell sunbeds, oversized whirlpools and a full bar for the adults and lots of tech toys for the tweens. Glory already contained a club for older teens and an activity center for kids.
The entire family can gather poolside to watch movies at the new Seaside Theater, which boasts a big screen and a booming sound system. When hun-ger strikes, a Mongolian Barbecue now awaits in the
nearby food court, a place already packed with a deli, a fish ‘n’ chips stand and many other options. Additionally, one of the ship’s two formal dining rooms was recon-figured to support open seating.
The ship offers a remarkable, must-do, three-and-a-half-hour “Behind the Fun” tour with rare access to spaces as varied as the enormous laundry facilities, the captain’s private dining room, the bridge, the engine control room and the crew’s quarters. Q&A sessions with everyone from the captain on down en-hance the experience. Partici-pants leave with a head full of inside information and a handful of commemorative gifts.
It’s so easy to fall under the ship’s spell and forget you’re sail-ing somewhere, but nothing beats stepping up to the rail for an eye-ful of the rugged coastline, with its weathered lighthouses and sig-nature rocky shores, to pull you out of the ship’s party vortex and spark interest in treasures ashore.
Outside and inside, on the right cruise, even if funds are tight, the fun can flow freely. A
Tourism Information: AAA.com/cruises
28 C&T September Digital 2010
travel desk
Prices are per person, double occupancy, cruise only, on select sailings, and subject to availability. Government taxes and fees are additional. Certain restrictions apply. Itinerary and prices are subject to change without notice. ©2010 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ship’s registered in the Bahamas
Book your vacation with AAA TravelCall 800-847-8091 Click AAA.com/Cruises Visit a branch office
EASTERN CARIBBEAN HOLIDAY CRUISE
DEC. 26, 2010-JAN. 2, 2011
7 days starting at $2599
PRIVATE ISLAND EXPERIENCEDEC. 1-5, 2010
4 nights starting at $689 Receive $50 on-board credit per cabin
Allure of the Seas
Starting December 1, Allure of the Seas will be the first to welcome the DreamWorks Experience onboard our already stunning collection of experiences for the whole family.
Allure of the Seas will be the exclusive ship in our fleet with the How to Train Your DragonTM Ice Show and MadagascarTM Aqua Show.
Children’s DVD ContestWhat: Sing-Along Travel Kit: The Wheels on the BusAbout: Scholastic has put together this award-winning entertaining se-ries featuring 15 musical story books on two read-along-with DVDs. Also in-cluded are a music CD and an activity book with crayons. The DVD contains such classic pieces as “This Land is Your Land,” written by folk balladeer Woody Guthrie.
How: Car & Travel has 10 sets. To win, go to AAA.com/Win or send a postcard to Wheels on the Bus Contest, Car & Travel, 1415 Kellum Place, Garden City, NY 11530. Include your name, Club membership number and mailing ad-dress. Entries must contain a valid e-mail address and be submitted online or postmarked by Sept. 30, 2010. Only one entry per member is allowed.Note: If you are not among the lucky 10, visit newkideo.com to purchase your own (list price: $24.95).
Atlantic City Getaway ContestMake sure you check out our exciting new Atlantic City vacation getaway contest to the Tropicana in the Sep-tember issue of Car & Travel Digital at http://carandtravel.ai-dsg.com. You could win a two-night vacation valued at approximately $600.
Foodies, To Your EnginesWhat: Hudson Valley Food & Wine FestWhere: Duchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY.When: Sat., Sept. 11 to Sun., Sept. 12.About: This food/wine extravaganza includes regional producers, gourmet foods, wine seminars and musical enter-tainment. Regular admission is $15 ($25 for both days), while tasting tickets cost $30 ($50 for both days).More information: Call 888/687-2517 or visit hudsonvalleywinefest.com.
Southampton Sensation What: Arts Harvest SouthamptonWhere: The Village of Southampton, Long Island.When: Fri., Sept. 17 to Sun., Oct. 10 (four consecutive Fri. to Sun. week-ends).About: Two years ago, the Long Island town of Southampton initiated an Arts District to stimulate tourism and the local economy, and this four-weekend event is a platform to coordinate future plans (for example, the proposed African American Museum of the East End) and bring all its existing stake holders together for public viewing and consumption. Taking part are such facilities as the Southampton Cultural Center, Rogers Memorial Library and the Parrish Art Museum, among others; all those tak-ing part are in the new district, except the Shinnecock Nation Cultural Cen-ter & Museum.
On two Saturdays (Sept. 18 and 25), art depicting the town will be exhib-ited along Main St., and there will be a chance to buy pieces at a silent auc-tion on Sat., Oct. 2. Local radio station 88.3FM Peconic Public Broadcasting, bands, family events and special exhi-bitions are also part of the fun, as are a farm-to-table breakfast and sepa-rate dinner, featuring local star chefs.More information: For a full calendar of events, visit artsharvestsouthamp-ton.org or call 631/287-4377.
C&T September Digital 2010 29
AAA Group Vacations
Let us plan your family reunion, church group, destination wedding or any other group travel experience.
Specializing in all types of travel, our dedicated group consultants will design a vacation that suits every member of your party. Plus, as a AAA member, your group will receive the best rate possible.
❉ Mention this ad and receive an added bonus on your next group vacation.
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NICKELODEON AT SEASAILING ROUND-TRIP FROM NY
NORWEGIAN JEWELFlorida & Bahamas: 7 days starting at $509
Caribbean: 10 days starting at $859
*Rates are cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy, based on availability and apply to select sailings. Government taxes and fees are additional. Other restrictions apply. Not responsible for typographical errors or omissions. SHIP’S REGISTRY: BAHAMAS.
Book your vacation with AAA TravelCall 800-847-8091 Click AAA.com/Cruises Visit a branch office
PRESIDENT’S WEEK THEME CRUISENICKELODEON ALL ACCESSFEBRUARY 20-27, 2011NORWEGIAN JEWEL: 7 days starting at $1349MEET-AND-GREET WITH STARS,LIVE SPONGEBOB SHOW, AND SLIME!!
NO f CRUISES
Here Comes the Fun What: Abbey Road on the RiverWhere: Gaylord National Resort, Na-tional Harbor, Md.When: Thurs., Sept. 2 to Mon., Sept. 6About: Want to venture a little farther this Labor Day weekend? Might we suggest this five-day extravaganza of everything The Beatles? Billed as the world’s largest Beatles-inspired fes-tival, this nonstop celebration of the Liverpool mop tops features exhibits of band paraphernalia and 50 or so tribute bands, which hail from as near or far as the USA, Canada, Nor-way, Italy, Germany, Puerto Rico and, of course, the United Kingdom.
Guest speakers such as early Beatles drummer Pete Best are on hand, too, no doubt reminiscing about the British Invasion and The Beatles’ incontrovertible place in music his-tory. Did you know that John Lennon would have been 70 this October? More information: Visit abbeyroadon theriver.com or call 216/378-1980.
Alaska SpectacularWhat: Alaska on StageWhere: New Hartford High School, 33 Oxford Rd., New Hartford (near Utica).When: Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m.What: Holland America Line and AAA Travel proudly present “On Stage Alas-ka,” an exhilarating live performance and film presentation. You’ll discover all the Great Land has to offer: towering mountains, Ice Age glaciers, abundant wildlife, dog sledding and gold panning.How: RSVP by calling 315/797-5452.
Smooth SailingWhat: Cruise SaleWhere: Watermill Caterers, 711 Smith-town By-Pass, Smithtown.When: Oct. 6, 6:30 to 9 p.m.About: Discover what’s new in cruising for 2011. Book for big savings, cabin upgrades and free gifts. RSVP by call-ing 888/780-8552 or e-mailing [email protected].
The Dead Sea: No More Salt Required
Israel: Salt, Sea, Scenery and Sacredness
NOW HAVING TRAVELED in Israel and Kurdish Turkey, I can firmly state my favorite sound is that of the muezzin calling the Muslim faithful to prayer. In Jerusalem’s Old City, on the roof of the Austrian Hospice of the Holy Family or the Lebanese-Christian Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate, an espresso in hand, this beautiful sound echoes across one of the world’s most famous scenes—aural and optical—that of this holiest of cities: The Temple Mount, Al-Aqsa Mosque, myriad crosses, tow-ers and domes, klezmer and other musical styles, the Armenian Quarter in the distance. It’s transcen-dental and ephemeral, complete and majestic, all at the same time. This sound, this scene, it makes the traveler feel alive.
What it additionally provides for those of faith, I can only guess. Three days in a row I arrive at the Jaffa and Damascus gates of the Old City at dawn, before the crowds mass and when monks, nuns, priests and rabbis—Coptic, Syriac, Hassidic, Greek Orthodox, Ethiopian Orthodox, Jewish, Islamic, Armenian Orthodox and probably others—scurry down dark passages and schoolchildren walk through the market, or suq. At this time of day, it’s possible to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher almost on your own. My prized walk was to one side of this revered spot, through the light blue door of the Ethiopian chapel, up stairs to another of its chapels and up more stairs to a roof where a line—invisible to us, but not so to the often feuding churches—divides Copt from Ethiopian. The Lebanese and Austrian spots also contain accommodations, which might not be the finest places
B Y T E R E N C E B A K E R
C&T September Digital 2010 31
you’ve ever stayed but might pos-sibly be the most memorable.
On another morning I wander back streets to the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s most sacred sites. Small pieces of paper dot the wall’s cracks, and the faithful gently rock to and fro. On the third, I slowly meander along the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus Christ took his last steps. Stopping off at the Stations of the Cross, sipping cardamom-flavored coffee, eating halva and honey and buying CDs by Egypt’s greatest singer, loved throughout the Middle East, the late Umm Kulthum, I go on to the Mount of Olives, to walk back down to the Old City via the Church of the Assumption, the grave of the Virgin Mary, the Garden of Gethsemane and other locations of such historical im-portance it is impossible to fully comprehend what it all means.
Pilgrims are omnipresent, and wonder is everywhere, but, mean-time, normal lives are being led. Outside the Old City, markets bustle and Orthodox Jews raise families to great callings in the conservative neighborhood of Mea Shearim.
It is a leap of imagination to contemplate Tel Aviv, a mere 35 miles away. This is a party city of beautiful people—relaxing on the beaches, surfing on the sea, sipping wine in the numerous bars and nightclubs. A walk along the Mediterranean leads to Jaffa, one of the oldest places on Earth, supposedly built by Noah’s son after the Great Flood. Have lunch in the atmospheric, mostly out-door kebob restaurant run by the omnipresent Dr. Shakshuka (just off Beit Eshel St.; ask anyone for directions), where locals and ad-venturous tourists mix and a meal becomes an event.
Nowhere in Israel is far from anywhere else, and despite the
bad news occasionally coming out of the country, one in every five tourists comes from the United States. I saw nothing that made me nervous (I was there in Nov. 2009 and the only time I saw the country’s famed security was at JFK), but the best advice is, if you see a demonstration, avoid it.
From the cities, head to a desert, the Negev or Judean. The Negev’s wondrous spots include the huge craters near the town of Mitzpe Ramon and the thin, water- and wildlife-filled canyon of Ein Avdat, while the Judean sits beside the Dead Sea, the lowest elevation on Earth, almost 1,400 feet below sea level. More advice: ask someone where you can access the sea for free, rather than pay the exorbi-tant prices charged by the area’s bland hotels. Effort-lessly floating face up (believe me, don’t get its water in your mouth or eyes) in this otherworldly, saline landscape is unforgettable, and if you want a Dead Sea mud treatment, then be prepared to pay.
The Judean Desert also is famous for one of Israel’s most iconic sites, the mountaintop fortress of Ma-sada (the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered close by). If able, walk to the top. It’s hot, sweaty and steep, but it will give you the sense of what the Jewish “reb-els” must have experienced as they feared the inevi-table oncoming of the Roman legions. As you walk higher, the outlines of former Roman camps appear, and from the top, looking down, so does the colossal ramp the Romans climbed before they found that what awaited them was a mass-suicide. A
Tourism Information: goisrael.comAAA Travel: 800/847-8091
32 C&T September Digital 2010
member news
School’s Open, Drive CarefullyAAA’s annual School’s Open, Drive Carefully campaign encourages motorists to take extra caution when driving near schools. Drivers should take responsibility for keeping children safe. To receive a free
“School’s Open, Drive Carefully” bum-per sticker, visit your local AAA branch office or call 516/535-2566. Preparing for HalloweenAccording to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Halloween is consistently one of the most danger-ous days of the year for pedestrians. To help reduce the risks, AAA has free Halloween activity sheets and book-marks for our members. You can down-load them at AAA.com/Safety, or you can order large quantities for schools or youth groups by calling 516/535-2566. These items will also be available at your local AAA branch beginning Oct. 4.
Holiday Notice: AAA New York’s administrative offices will be closed on Mon., Oct. 11, in observance of Columbus Day. All branch offices, Telephone Travel Agency and Member Services phones will operate on a regular weekday schedule. AAA Roadside Assistance remains available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
!
Child Safety Seat EventsNot sure how to install your child’s safety seat? The Club will hold a car seat check at our Oneonta office at 195 Oneida St. on Sat., Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. No appointment necessary.
Also, as part of the Club’s Spook-tacular event (see page 6), we will be hosting a car seat check in cooperation with the Nassau County Safe Kids Coalition. It will be held at the AAA administrative building, 1415 Kellum Place, Garden City, N.Y., on Sat., Oct. 16, 9 a.m. to noon. A certified tech-nician will install safety seats and an-swer questions. Call 516/873-2364 to schedule an appointment. C
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Contest InfoContest Info
Contest Winners:Ira R., Plainview, N.Y. is the winner of the June 2010 Atlantic City Getaway.John S., Staten Island, N.Y. is the winner of the June 2010 Ocean City, MD. Getaway.Susan W., Islip Terrace, N.Y. is the winner of the June 2010 Warwick, Rhode Island Family Getaway.
Order Free AAA and Car & Travel advertiser information:CLICK HERE TO ORDER ONLINE! Your free information is just a mouse-click away. Complete the online form (month of issue,your name, address, e-mail address, etc.). Make your selection(s) by checking the boxes. Click the SUBMIT button when done.
1. Win a Stay in Atlantic CityCLICK HERE to enter the September Car & Travel contest,and you could be the winner of two luxurious nights at the Tropicana Casino & Resort, as well as the recipient of a complimentary buffet for two in The Fiesta Buffet, a $50 gift card for shopping in the Tropicana’s Quarterand an Atlantic City Welcome Basket upon arrival.
Transportation, gratuities and other incidentals are the sole respon-sibility of the winner. The prize package is non-transferable and not redeemable for cash. Advance reservations are required for accom-modations. Package is valid Sunday through Thursday only, exclud-ing holidays. All services are based on availability. Certificateexpires May 31, 2011. Winner must be 21 years old to partici-pate. This contest will require a W-9 form to be completed as the prize package has an approximate retail value of $600.
Complete sweepstakes rules are available at www.haMediaGroup.com/carandtravel.
NO LUCK NEEDEDYou don’t need Dame Fortune to smile brightly upon you to have a good time at the Tropicana or in Atlantic City.How could you when you immerse yourself in the overwhelming wealth of things to do at the Tropicana?
Gracing the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk, the Tropicana entertainment complex is modeled after a revered Cuban casino and hotelfrom Havana’s glory days. The current offering adds to the legend of the Tropicana name by being one o f the New Jersey’s largest hotels,as well as offering more than 20 restaurants, more than 20 shops and more than 13 nightclubs and bars. It also boats entertainment venuesthat include an IMAX theater, a comedy club and a 148,000-square-foot casino.
Needless to say, the Tropicana is a vacation destination all by itself.But Atlantic City’s allure is here, too, from nightlife to water sports. Tour the boardwalk, wade in the ocean, play a round of golf,
browse the myriad shops, drop a line in the water, feed the slot machines, find an out-of-the-way attraction.In short, explore this renowned capital of fun. If you do, you’ll make your own luck.
34 C&T September Digital 2010
their neighborhoods to make way for many of his mega proj-ects, including the Cross Bronx Expressway, and Othmar Am-mann, the brilliant engineer who designed the structures. Am-mann served as assistant to Gustav Lindenthal, the engineer of the 1917, rail-only Hell Gate Bridge, which still holds a record for its ability to support 75,000 pounds per linear foot. In 1921, Lindenthal proposed a ridiculously large double-deck suspen-sion bridge between midtown Manhattan and New Jersey that would have 16 vehicle lanes and 12 rail lines and whose approach roadways would be topped by the world’s tallest building. The project’s ambition and expense were too great, and it was scrapped, but Ammann conceived a more practical structure between the two states that, like Lindenthal’s, was to be clad in masonry. Once construction was underway, the beauty of the exposed steel and the calculations of the extra cost of all the stonework became apparent, so the bridge, named for the first U.S. president, was left as it was.
New York is rife with marvels of engineering that we take for granted as we course and curse our way through the maze of roadways and traffic. The Bruckner Interchange is one, though not generally recognized as such. I remember riding with Mom sometime in the early 60’s across the new Throggs Neck Bridge and encountering a mass of concrete pillars of varying height as we wound our way through a maze of rough temporary roads toward the also recently completed Cross Bronx Expressway. These masonry tubes, this bundle of confusion, seemed to have no rhyme or reason, and today, four major highways snake their way over, around and through each other at the Interchange. Look at a satel-lite photo of the structure on Wikipedia and try to imagine a young boy’s fascination.
My awe for such projects hasn’t waned but, regrettably, building them sure has. We still rely on mostly 30’s-era infrastructure, but, unlike then, the roads and bridges are now filled with vehicles traveling at speeds that were unheard of when they were built. The need certainly is there. Similar to the era that led to the building of so much of our Depres-sion-era road structures, the federal government stands ready with stimulus money, but where we had a pushy autocrat in Robert Moses that could ramrod projects through, good or bad, we now have a wimpy legislature to whom shovel-ready seems to mean being prepared to deflect blame in a scandal.
My dear grandfather is long gone, but if he were here, he would certainly be distressed at the inaction that leaves bad roads to tear apart his beloved Oldsmobile, and at having no new grand construction projects to marvel at with his grandson. A
Robert O. Sinclair, Jr., is the associate editor of this magazine.
New York’s road infrastructure always has held a strong in-terest for me, nurtured by my
car-loving grandfather. In my youth, he regularly picked me up in his early 60’s Olds Cutlass to go camp out under various bridges to relax and take in the sheer physical grandeur of the structures. We walked through Francis Lewis Park beneath the Whitestone Bridge. We strolled under the double-arch Washington Bridge, near his home in the Bronx, where massive steel beams connect the bridge to heavy masonry anchorages right next to the sidewalk. We gazed at the Brooklyn Bridge in its Victorian elegance, lulled by the buzz of autos speeding along the roadway’s metal grates, tires slapping across ex-pansion joints. I remember being most impressed by the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, whose slender 70-story-tall towers seemed to grow out of the water. Its cables are tied to huge con-crete anchorages at both ends that themselves are larger than many build-ings. “That’s the longest bridge in the world, son,” my grandfather said. It seemed impossible that such a distance could be spanned, but there it was.
The Verrazano and five other bridges in our area (Whitestone, Throggs Neck, George Washington, Bayonne and Tri-borough) owe their existence mainly to two men, power broker Robert Moses, hated by many for destroying
BY ROBERT O. S INCLAIR, JR.
The Rivers Run Under Them
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SEPTEMBER 2010 issue of Car & Travel magazine.
Don’t miss next month’s issue featuring:Beyond 100,000 Miles:
How to help your car last well beyond 100K miles
Life Expectancy: How long can you expect these 6 critical car components to last?
Autumn in the Adirondacks: Take a fall drive around the Adirondack Mountains
How to Pack Lightly: Advice for how to lighten the load
