Jane O'Shea articles

Modern connected cars can remember far more than a traditional seat position. Driver profiles can store settings for seats, mirrors, climate controls, navigation, media, displays, and driving preferences. That sounds perfect for a shared family vehicle until the wrong profile loads and the car confidently prepares itself for somebody else.

Retirement often brings a welcome change of pace. Daily commuting disappears, errands become more flexible, and many people find themselves driving far fewer miles each week. It is natural to assume that lower mileage will lead to dramatically lower ownership costs.

Explore baseball legend Reggie Jackson’s remarkable car collection, featuring rare muscle cars, classic Corvettes, Yenko models, a Hemi Plymouth, and a Ferrari Daytona worthy of Mr. October himself.

Downsizing a vehicle can reduce fuel use, maintenance expenses, and monthly payments, so it seems reasonable to expect a noticeably smaller insurance bill too. The surprise is that vehicle size is only one part of a much larger pricing calculation. Insurers primarily want to estimate how likely you are to make a claim and how expensive that claim could be.

Some cars look perfectly ordinary when they arrive, while others seem to have escaped from a design studio several decades too early. The vehicles on this list confused buyers with unconventional shapes, unusual engineering, or features that had rarely appeared on production cars. Years later, many of those strange decisions feel surprisingly relevant as automakers embrace electric power, crossovers, flexible interiors, and daring retro styling.

You expect occasional guests to park on your street, but it becomes a very different problem when your neighbor's visitors leave so little room that getting in or out of your driveway feels like a risky challenge every time. After countless close calls, it is easy to feel frustrated and wonder whether an accident is almost inevitable. The good news is that you do not have to choose between staying silent and losing your temper. There are practical, legal, and effective steps you can take to protect your safety while encouraging a lasting solution.

Buying a car with a heated windshield can feel like a smart upgrade, especially in cold climates. The glass clears frost quickly and improves visibility without waiting for the cabin to warm up. Many drivers only discover the downside after a rock chip or crack leads to a replacement estimate that is far higher than expected.

When I bought my car, I focused on the engine, features, and price. I barely thought about the black leather interior because it looked stylish in the showroom. After my first summer, I realized that cabin color can have a much bigger impact on daily comfort than many buyers expect.

My family only owns one vehicle, so everyone occasionally takes a turn behind the wheel. I assumed that meant our insurance would automatically cover whoever happened to be driving. Then I started hearing terms like "principal driver," "occasional driver," and "permissive use," and I realized there was much more to understand.