You probably know the scenario. The office clock says noon and the guys and gals decide where to go for lunch. In many towns, the drive time to a restaurant eats up most of the lunch hour, not to mention the gas.
It's hard to find lunch for less than ten bucks plus tip. You gobble down your food, share a few laughs with your co-workers and rush back to the office wishing you had time for a nap.
As you walk to your desk, you notice this guy putting away his brown bag. He appears calm, happy and ready to get back to work, some of which he did while eating his lunch. He's thinking how delicious it was, how much money he saved and the hassle avoided.
Is it worth it to prepare and bring your lunch to work each day? Well, looking at some basic examples let's say the cost to fix your own lunch costs about $3 a day. It's probably much cheaper.
That's $15 for a five day week. Eating out at approximately $10 a day comes to $50 for the week. You saved at least $35 not including drive time and gas. That's more than $1,800 a year saved. Interested?
Here are some brown bag tips. Prepare it the night before so you're not rushed in the morning. Keep it simple but be creative and think healthy. Sandwiches on wholesome bread are fine but include nuts, fruit or yogurt. Also, put in a little treat for yourself that you can look forward to, perhaps a health bar or your favorite cookie.
Plan ahead and buy in bulk with lunches in mind. Buy large chips and put them in smaller plastic bags instead of buying small individual bags. Don't pay more for convenience.
Cook a big dinner and save some for lunch the next day or the entire week. If it's home cooked you know it's good, healthy and cleaner. Put it in individual containers that night so you can grab and go in the morning.
If you're running late there's nothing wrong with occasionally taking a can of soup or vegetable chili. Most offices have ovens or microwaves you can use for heating.
Bring your drink too. You can probably get a 12-pack of soda for $2.99 and that comes to about 25 cents a can. Compare that with expensive vending machine drinks or coffee and you've saved even more.
It's up to you of course, but you can continue to work while you eat, catch up on your emails or other relaxing reading. It just might impress the boss and if you have to take off early, you don't feel as guilty. Don't be surprised if others ask you for tips on brown bagging.
There's a lot to be said for brown bagging your lunch. You eat better, save time, money and you're more productive. Now all you have to do is figure out where to invest all that money you saved.
Read more...
To Save Big, Nix the Lunch Breaks with Co-Workers
Ford Fusion Sales Put it in the Top Ten and No. 1 Selling Domestic Car
The 2010 Ford Fusion has been quite the success for Ford. It's been a while since Ford has been competitive in the mid-size sedan market. The days of the best-selling Taurus are a distant memory, but after five years on the market and a successful redesign, the Fusion is picking up pace.
Sales of the 2010 Ford Fusion have already reached 151,137 units, which already eclipses the previous full-year sales high of 149,552 in 2007. In the first 10 months of 2009, Fusion sales have improved 15 percent.
"It's extraordinary that a car could set a sales record in an environment where overall industry sales are down 26 percent from a year ago," Ford sales analyst George Pipas said.
Of course Fusion sales are still way off from the Camry and Accord, but the Fusion is now the best selling domestic car.
Read more...Toyota Planning Larger Prius with a Lithium-Ion Battery
A new report is claiming that Toyota is planning a new larger Prius, that will be powered by a lithium-ion battery. The new larger version of the Prius will either be a wagon or SUV and it will supposedly launch by the end of next year.
According to the Japanese Yomiuri newspaper, the new version of the Prius will be Toyota's first hybrid with a lithium-ion battery. Toyota of course has declined to comment on the report.
Toyota is also reportedly working on a Prius coupe to go head to head with the upcoming Honda CR-Z hybrid.
Read more...Ford Announces New Police Interceptor for 2011, Goodbye Crown Vic
Ford has announced that the automaker is working on a new Police Interceptor that will replace the aged Crown Victoria in 2011.
The new Police Interceptor will be offered in 2011, when the Crown Victoria is finally discontinued.
"We have heard the repeated requests from the law enforcement community to continue uninterrupted support of the law enforcement community," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "Ford is answering the call with the new Police Interceptor - engineered and built in America."
Ford currently holds 75 percent of the police pursuit vehicle business in the U.S. This announcement also follows GM's announcement to release a new Chevy Caprice sedan for police duty.
Each year Ford sells about 45,000 police vehicles.
Read more...2010 Lotus Evora to Start at $73,500
Lotus has announced the pricing for the 2010 Lotus Evora that will arrive in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2010. The 2010 Evora will start at $73,500.
The Evora features a 2+2 setup with a mid engine. The 3.5L V6 puts out 276 horsepower and 256 lb-ft. of torque. Thanks to its light weight It reaches 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and has a top speed over 162 mph. It also manages to get over 30 mpg on the highway.
Lotus has announced a 44 dealer Open House Tour of the US of the Evora for people that haven't seen the car in person.
Read more...2010 Lexus GX 460 to Debut at Guangzhou Auto Show
Lexus has confirmed that the 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV will debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show on November 23.
Lexus did not provide any details about the redesigned SUV other than the fact that the name changes from GX 470 to GX 460, which means that it is expected to get the same 4.6L V8 that powers the Toyota Tundra and Sequoia. It puts out 310 horsepower in the Tundra. The Lexus GX 460 is based on the same body-on-frame platform as the new 2010 Toyota 4Runner.
The 2010 Lexus GX 460 is expected in showrooms this December.
Read more...Next Chevy Impala to Stay Front-Wheel-Drive, but a Hybrid is in the Works
Now that the Pontiac G8 is officially dead there had been rumors of it living on as a Chevy. Many of us were hoping that GM would release a consumer version of its upcoming 2011 Chevy Caprice police patrol vehicle. Well those rumors were put to rest and now Bob Lutz has confirmed that the next generation Chevy Impala will keep its front-wheel-drive layout.
Lutz didn't provide much detail about the next Impala, only saying that it will be slightly larger. The next Impala will also be compatible with GM's hybrid technology, so an Impala hybrid is expected at some point.
Read more...Lutz States that 335-HP Buick Regal GS and Sport Wagon Could Happen
Last week GM officially unveiled the 2011 Buick Regal, which many of you may easily recognize as the Opel Insignia with a Buick grille. Well it looks like GM has more in the works than just the front-wheel-drive four-cyl powered Regals that were unveiled.
Bob Lutz confirmed that GM is discussing the possibility of 335-hp all-wheel-drive model, which makes sense, since Opel offers the Insignia OPC with a 325-hp turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive. In addition to a more powerful Regal, Lutz also stated that GM is considering a Regal Sport Wagon.
Read more...BMW Delays the Launch of the Next X3 in the U.S. to Mid-2011
BMW is going to delay the introduction of the next X3 by six months to launch a new system that will make it easier for buyers to custom order the X3.
This means that the next X3 will not arrive in US showrooms until mid-2011, a full six months after it launches in Europe. The delay will also allow BMW the ability to offer up to four different engines, which will lower the base price of the X3. According to Jim O'Donnell, president of BMW of North America, the X3 could be offered with a four-cylinder and a diesel in addition to the six-cylinder engines. BMW is going to decide by the end of the year if a four-cyl or six-cyl diesel will be offered. Production of the X3 is also going to X3 will shift from Magna Steyr in Austria to BMW's Spartanburg, S.C., factory.
Of course this delay is going to hurt sales of the X3. Its sales are off 67 percent this year.
Read more...Lutz Confirms the Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is on the Way
In addition to news about future of the Regal and Impala, GM's Bob Lutz has also confirmed that the Cadillac Sport Wagon is also going to be offered as a CTS-V Sport Wagon. This means that buyers will be able to get the CTS-V any way they want it, since the CTS-V will also be offered as a coupe.
Car and Driver recently got some alone time with Lutz, in which he stated, "You know what's really going to get you guys [on board with wagons] is the CTS-V wagon."
Read more...Smart and Daimler Launch cars2go in Austin, Texas
Daimler has announced the start of a new pilot program in Austin, Texas, in which 200 Smart ForTwos will be available through its cars2go car sharing service.
The program will allow city employees to rent the cars for a few hours and then return them to a designated location. It's similar to Zipcar. Daimler also tested the program earlier this year in Ulm, Germany. If it's successful it will be expanded to other areas.
Read more...Hyundai's First Direct-Injection 4-Cyl Engine Unveiled, Replaces V6 in Next Sonata
Hyundai has officially unveiled its new direct-injected four-cylinder, which Hyundai claims delivers more power and a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy.
The 2.4L Theta II GDI four-cylinder took four years to develop and will debut in the 2011 Sonata. The engine officially puts out 198 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque. The Theta II engine delivers 7-12 percent more torque across its rev range compared to a conventional engine. The engine is expected to see a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy, although final numbers have not been released. In addition to the direct-injection technology, the engine also gets variable valve timing on both camshafts.
When the 2011 Sonata debuts next year a V6 will not be offered.
Read more...2010 Ford Fusion Captures Motor Trend's Car of the Year Award
Ford is definitely on a roll right now and the good news keeps coming in. Today Motor Trend announced that the 2010 Ford Fusion is the recipient of its Car of the Year award.
The 2010 Ford Fusion managed to beat out 23 other models for the award, which included the Toyota Prius, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Ford also had three models this year that were in the running for the award. The Taurus, Fusion and Mustang.
"The MOTOR TREND Car of the Year award is another testament of our commitment to delivering a world-class car lineup," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development, who accepted the golden calipers on behalf of the Ford team. "Whether it is the best-in-class fuel economy or quality unsurpassed by Toyota or Honda, the Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are clear evidence that Ford is serious about our car lineup."
This announcement comes on the heels of Ford announcing that the Fusion is now the best-selling midsize domestic sedan in the US and that the model is now in the list of top ten selling vehicles.
Read more...LA 2009 Preview: 2011 Mazda2 US-Spec. Set to Debut
Mazda has finally made it official that the small Mazda2 is going to be sold in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2010. The 2011 Mazda2 will officially be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month.
The Mazda2 shares its platform with the Ford Fiesta, which is also set to have its US debut at the show. Mazda has released one teaser of the subcompact, but didn't release any details about the engine lineup and what body styles we will receive. The preview shows the rear of the five-door hatchback model, so we can at least expect that model.
Read more...Two-Thirds of All Camaros Sold Have Been V8 Powered
What is surprising to at least GM is that 2 out of 3 Chevy Camaros that drive off dealer lots do so with a V8 under the hood. GM had originally hoped that most of the Camaros sold would be the V6 model so that it would boost the automaker's Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE). But according to Edmunds, approximately two-thirds of the 47,233 Camaros sold from April 2009 to October 2009 have been SS models.
The Camaro SS is powered by a 420-hp 6.2L V8 and is the most expensive Camaro in the lineup with a starting price of $31,595. In contrast the lowest priced V6 Camaro starts at $23,530. According to Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman, the V6 Camaros cost almost as much to build as the V8 models.
Read more...Toyota Launches European 2010 Land Cruiser
Toyota has unveiled the European version of the Toyota Land Cruiser that is very different and smaller than the version that we have here in the US.
The European Land Cruiser is powered by a 3.0L diesel with 171 horsepower and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The body on frame design yields 8.5 inches of ground clearance and gives the SUV the ability to wade through 27.6 inches of water.
Toyota will offer the European Land Cruiser in three trim levels with prices ranging from £29,795 to £44,795. Of course we won't get this model in the US badged as a Toyota, but it could be a clue to what to expect from the Lexus GX 460.
Continue reading "Toyota Launches Eu Read more...2010 BMW 550i Gran Turismo Starts at $64,725
BMW has announced the pricing for the 2010 550i Gran Turismo that will be available in US showrooms on December 5th. The V8 powered Gran Turismo starts at $64,725.
The 550i Gran Turismo is powered by a 400-hp 4.4L twin-turbo that is mated to BMW's first ever 8-speed transmission. It is capable of reaching 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The twin-turbo 535i GT will also be available, but BMW has yet to release pricing on that model.
Read more...Chrysler Seeks to be Quality Leader by 2012
For decades Chrysler has had problems with the quality of its vehicles. Chrysler is now seeking to become a quality leader by 2012 and it is doing so with a revamped and much larger quality team and tougher standards.
"It's different now," said Doug Betts, senior vice president in charge of quality at Chrysler. "People are talking openly about problems now and how to fix (them.)"
Betts was recruited from Nissan two years ago under Chrysler's former owner, Cerberus Capital Management LP. At that time Cerberus also pledged to improve Chrysler's quality issues, but then the Chrysler ran out of money.
Chrysler sales are down 38.9 percent this year, so there isn't a better time than now to fix Chrysler's issues. Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles continue to perform poorly in quality surveys, which has hurt the automaker's sales.
Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has made quality a priority and Betts is hiring more than 200 quality engineers bringing the total to 1,700 from 200 when he started 2 years ago. Read more...All-New 2010 Audi A8 to be Unveiled in Miami on Dec 1st
Rather than unveil the all-new Audi A8 at the LA Auto Show next month, Audi has announced that its new flagship sedan will have its official debut at t the world's most important art and design fairs, Design Miami/ and Art Basel Miami Beach.
Audi will showcase the new Audi A8 at a Design Miami/ site-specific installation: a full-size car will turn into a miniature collectible on a coffee-table and be surrounded by supersized furniture.
Audi did not release any details about the new A8. Stay tuned...
Continue reading "All-New 2010 Audi A8 to be Unveiled in Miami on Dec 1st" »
Read more...2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 Starts at $89,725
BMW has announced the pricing for the 2010 ActiveHybrid X6 that will be available starting on December 5th at a starting price of $89,725.
The ActiveHybrid X6 features BMW's dual-mode hybrid technology mated to a twin-turbo V8 and a seven-speed automatic transmission.
The $90k gets a list of things that aren't standard on the X6 xDrive50i including Nappa leather seats, 20-inch wheels, rear view camera, soft close doors, power tailgate, 4-zone climate control, etc. If you want even more, there are extras like the active ventilating seat package, cold weather package, Rear seat entertainment system, etc. All of which would push the price even closer to $100k.
For this price you could also get the 555-hp X6 M, but I guess it's not quite as "green."
Continue reading "2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 Starts at $89,725" »
2011 Buick Regal to Offer 6-Speed Manual Mated to a 2.0L Turbo
A Buick with a manual transmission? It's true. At a press event today in Michigan, GM's Jim Federico confirmed that the 2011 Buick Regal will have an available six-speed manual transmission.
The 2.0L turbocharged Regal, which will arrive shortly after the car's launch early next year, will indeed be offered with a six-speed manual.
Many of us have always thought of Buick as the old man's car. It looks like GM is trying to change that...
Continue reading "2011 Buick Regal to Offer 6-Speed Manual Mated to a 2.0L Turbo" »
Read more...2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid
Three generations go by so fast. The new 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid is the third generation Prius and it is better than ever. The annoying commercials don’t do the car justice – even I want to turn it off.
My opinion is that the 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid is the car of 2010! Toyota has magnificently combined science fiction technology with modern functionality.
2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid
I know that allot of people are hesitant on getting the first electric car on the market. New technology, something unforeseeable is bound to go wrong.
Well knowing the consumers hesitancy Toyota has developed the Prius Hybrid that uses the electric and gas engines in tandem most of the time. The electric engine is more of an assist to help maximize the efficiency of the engine. The engine can then return the favour by recharging the battery through regenerative braking.
The Prius Hybrid will come with three power options Electric, Eco & Power. In electric mode only the electric motor functions. This mode is only good for 1/2 a mile. Where can you go in just half a mile? Well the mode is more practical for use when in the thick of traffic, waiting for a train to pass, or inching your way through the drive-through (I like the idea of that, no more wasting gas for 10 minutes waiting for a burger). In eco mode the gas pedal is not very responsive. in this way the car avoids quick accelerations and thus reduces fuel. In power mode as you can imagine, the gas pedal is very responsive and will give you all the power available from the 1.8L engine.
The switch between the electric and gas motors are simple. When cruising the gas and electric motors work in tandem. When going uphill the gas engine takes the brunt of the work while the electric motor works alone when going down-hill. In this way the Prius Hybrid gets an impressive 51 mpg on the highway and 48 mpg in the city.
Another cool feature that they have been showcasing is the solar powered fan. The fan is powered independently from a panel integrated into the sun roof. The fan simply circulates the outside air into the cabin to avoid an oven effect inside the car (no matter what it’s still not a great idea to leave your pets in the car). What they don’t tell you in the commercial is that the Prius Hybrid can come with a remote AC activator integrated on the remote car key. The Prius Hybrid also has UV protected windshield and windows to help block out harmful UV rays that would otherwise raise the temperature in the cabin or fade the interior.
The 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid comes available in five different models. The price of the models range from $22,000 to $27,270. Check out the 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid website for more information.
From by Jule Dupuis /everyjoe Read more...The future cars of 2010
So how will cars look in 2010 well here we have some photos. Lets just call them future cars of 2010 but to be honest i dont like their design.
That’s How Audi’s Electric Vehicle May Look Like
It’s not a surprise anymore that the world economy is facing recession, and the market evolutions all over the world are not favorable to those that buy. That’s the same idea with oil. For the last 8 to 12 months oil managed to reach up to $145 (and more) which brought higher prices for the fuel we put in our cars.
Therefore, car manufacturers are trying to keep up with the trend and come up with modern hybrid technologies that will increase the mpg, or with electric vehicles that became fashionable lately. Knowing that Audi already tried the market with their A2 (back in the days), that makes me thing they will probably be into this electric vehicle thing with a strong position.
Our friends at WCF managed to come up with a rendered design of what it may look like. With an elevated floor, some chrome and lacquer finishes, LEDs and fiber optics in the lights and some fancy wheels, the new to come Audi EV could be a real success. View source Read more...Renault Vitesse aims for safe future roads
With rapidly increasing speed of modern vehicles, resulting in soaring mishaps on jam packed roads, a need for automated highways and suitably equipped vehicles have become an essential traffic requirement, so that needless causalities, owing to high speed, can be prevented. Responding to the alarming traffic situation, James Logan has designed a compact city car, the Renault Vitesse, which will run on Intelligent Highways. Equipped with the latest technology, the futuristic vehicle will be fitted with unique bike mountings, cutting the need for roof racks or carriers. The vehicle is specially designed for automated highways that will keep the vehicle in control and ensure the safety of the driver as well as the passengers, along with other road users.
Pebble Beach 2009 concept cars
The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is a great place to see a flawlessly restored 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II, but the event also features plenty of the latest cars too.
Attendees en route to the classic car show's awards ceremony on Sunday were funnelled past a stable of concept cars from many manufacturers at the prestigious golf course near Monterey in California. The 60th red Ferrari in a single day can seem a bit ho-hum as it rolls past, but there's still plenty to catch a car enthusiast's eye among the concept cars. The models range from thought experiments to forthcoming products.
Infiniti Essence
The Essence is one of those show cars that's rolled out by manufacturers every now and then to establish, in the public's eye, that company's style for the next few years — the recently revealed Infiniti M (a BMW 5-Series sized car) cribs many of Essence's cues, for instance. The Essence's hybrid powertrain consists of a turbocharged 3.6-litre V6 and an electric motor that together deliver about 440kW of power to the rear wheels. Underlining the car's opulence, it features custom-fitted Louis Vuitton luggage.
Read more...VW Releases More Photos of the 2009 Passat CC...VW's New Four-Door Coupe
VW has released more photos and details on its upcoming 2009 Passat CC four-door coupe.
The "coupe" was unveiled this January in Detroit. There are rumors that VW may be dropping the "Passat" name for the coupe and just going with "CC". On the VW U.S. website it is only titled as the "CC".
Either way the new VW four-door coupe will hit showrooms this fall.
