Automotive Resource Guide

Finding information about past, current, and future car offerings used to be a task that involved wading through countless glossy magazines, perusing bulky sales brochures, shifting through inky newspapers, and skimming through a host of other print material of varying sizes and depths. How many of us have subscribed to 2, 4, or even 5 or more publications just to get the latest information about our favorite cars? Today, thanks to the internet, there are a host of sites available to learn more about your classic and to take a look at concept cars. I will list some of my favorites here; I hope that you will enjoy scrutinizing them as much as I have.

The Detroit News – I doubt that there is a single newspaper in the USA that matches the depth and breadth of coverage that The Detroit News provides on a daily basis about the automobile industry. It certainly makes sense that they are the leader, given that the Detroit area has long been the bastion of American automotive might. Visit www.detnews.com for more information.

Car and Driver – One of my favorite print magazines shares a lot of useful information right online. My favorite feature is their break down by make and model of every single car on the market. C&D even gives visitors full access to some really great road tests they have performed on a whole host of vehicles. Very informative: www.caranddriver.com

Auto Blog – Some of the best and most honest information can be read through this particular blog site. Vehicles of every stripe and persuasion are covered; breaking make/model information is shared, and readers are quick to add their personal comments. Sometimes the responses are hilarious, while other times they seem politically charged. No matter, the information given is certainly useful: www.autoblog.com

Edmunds – Good information on current models and they seem to have a grasp on upcoming offerings too. Compare what they write about future models and they generally have the best “off the record” information of anyone: www.edmunds.com

Car Survey – Similar to the Auto Blog, Car Survey allows users to blog in information about their vehicle. If you own a ’74 Monte Carlo, an ’83 Fairmount, or a ’95 Intrepid, then comments about your make/model are featured by owners who have the same car as you. A good place to trace the history of specific models, foreign and domestic too: www.carsurvey.com

Assorted Sites – Lastly, several smaller sites dedicated to specific car brands such as www.allpars.com can be extremely helpful as well as are certain commercial sites touting car parts. I also regularly refer to various car clubs and automaker sites for detailed information. So, what is the best part of conducting research on the internet for car information? Well, two actually: it is both fast and it is usually free.

Now, Google your way over and find out all the information you need about your cabriolet, your pocket rocket, your off-roader, or your minivan. Everything you need is right at your finger tips and certain to pique your interest.