It's amazing to me how many Americans are embracing the concept of Green living. We're not only recycling, but it seems more and more people are starting to make regular decisions based on their impact on the environment. I think it's great! Well, unless it means I can't drive my vintage cars anymore, I'll jump teams for that. But in the spirit of a more Green lifestyle, I think it's always a good idea to consider Mother Earth when we have the chance. Repairing your car after it suffers body or paint damage is a good opportunity to make a Green decision. Auto painting is traditionally an environmentally unfriendly process. Chemicals in the paint are very hard on the atmosphere. With no alternative, body shops are forced to make the sacrifice and minimize the harm done by incorporating expensive filtration systems and efficient use of materials. Even then auto painting is an environmental disaster. Thankfully, we now have a Green alternative for painting your car. Newly adopted water-based paints are making a huge difference in the environmental impact of auto painting. Brands like PPG's Envirobase auto paint provide the same paint quality your car came with without the headache. If you're having body work or paint repair done on your car, make it a Green repair and find a shop who uses a water-based paint exclusively.

Got a car guy or gal on your list that still needs a great gift? Don't despair, there's still time to order online and have something amazing and original at your door in time for the big day. Check out my two hot gift lists, Great Car Gifts Under $20 and Great Car Gifts Under $100 and you're bound to find something. Get clickin'!

After a conversation with a fellow shop owner recently about auto warranties, I decided to add a quick note to tell all of you to beware of 99% of the warranties out there. If you buy an extended warranty from your dealer as your manufacturer's warranty is running out (which I don't recommend, by the way), it's most likely legitimate. They may do a little fast talking, but you won't be scammed. What are bogus are the type of warranty that is sold to you over the phone, with no inspection of your vehicle. A huge percentage of the time these warranties will take your premiums and leave you high and dry when it comes time to do a major repair on your car. If you are considering adding warranty protection, read all of the fine print and do a LOT of research online to see what other people think about the warranty. Be safe!

The debate over correct tire pressure never seems to cool. There are actually a few debates. Two favorites are the"tire pressure vs. gas mileage" debate and the "sidewall vs. door jamb" debate. A recent letter from Diana got me interested yet again in the latter argument:

Diana writes: I'm researching this and it seems there is a 50/50 agreement between the tire "experts". 50 percent say look on side wall of tire and 50 percent say use car rating on inside door panel. I've used the inside of door panel rating and my tires wear on the outsides, which proves underinflation and this is evident on all 4 tires.

Aha! Now we have some evidence against the door jambers. If you think of the issue logically, it only makes sense that every tire is different, some vastly, and the tire manufacturer is going to know better what pressure is optimum. I think the info on the door jamb is only reliable if you use the exact tire your car came with every time you buy replacements. I know others of you see things differently -- let the debate rage on!