October Consumer Reports Covers 25 Ways to Save On Car Expenses and Advises Investors On Their Pensions
Consumer Reports (CR) offers an easy-to-follow roadmap for resolving hassles with auto-repair shops in its special report, "When things go wrong," in the October 2002 issue. The report is part of a special automotive section in the issue that also includes a report on auto insurance and tests of popular sizes of car batteries. The battery report includes CR's first-ever battery-life test.
Car Insurance for Less
As part of its cover package, CR shows consumers that when it comes to buying auto insurance the old adage still holds true, "You have to shop around." With insurance premiums soaring at twice the rate of inflation, CR took a closer investigative look at the industry by getting some 550 insurance quotes on 45 cars and light trucks as well as evaluating six of the most popular insurance Web sites. The Web site evaluation was conducted by two reporters and Consumer WebWatch (www.consumerwebwatch.org), a project of Consumers Union supported by grants from The Pew Charitable Trusts, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the Open Society Institute.
The article also includes consumer tips on how to get the best premiums and a chart outlining the different types of coverage, what you have to buy, and how much you need.
CR on Finance: Pensions, Parents, and Year-end Tax Savings
Consumer Reports brings you expert tips from our finance editors to help you keep tabs on your pension. Other financial stories in CR's October 2002 issue: how to reduce the financial strain when a parent moves in with you; and whether exchange-traded mutual funds called spiders, vipers, and diamonds can help with year-end tax savings.
Tests of 28 Low-flush Toilets
After many flushes with a mix of balls, various sizes and shapes of sponges, and water-filled latex cylinders--to simulate how well the toilets removed solid waste--CR found that consumers can save more and flush less. CR tested the three toilet flushing technologies--vacuum, gravity-flush, and pressure-assisted--not only for their abilities to remove waste but also for how well they clean the sides of the bowl with each flush and move solid waste through the drainline. CR's test engineers also factored in how loudly the toilets flush with the lid up.
Also in this issue:
| - | Autos: Sporty Hatchbacks |
| - | New all-day lipsticks |
| - | Tests of 26 cordless phones |
| - | Tests of walking shoes |
