Boat Swim Platform on 2040-parts.com

May sales slide 4 percent on rising fuel prices, tight vehicle supplies

U.S. light vehicle sales dropped 4 percent in May--the first decline since August--as rising gas prices, inventory shortages, higher stickers and economic jitters curbed demand. The pace of sales last month--11.78 million units on an annualized basis--was the year's lowest and marked the first seasonally adjusted total below 12 million units in seven months.

You're an NFL Draft pick. What's your new car?

The 2012 NFL Draft begins on Thursday night. All of the players selected in the early rounds have at least one thing in common--their personal financial situations are about to change drastically. With all of the workouts, interviews and travel that keeps potential draft picks occupied in the weeks leading up to the draft, it's not hard to imagine that some genuinely important life decisions are being pushed aside.

Redesigned Opel Astra revealed ahead of Frankfurt rollout

Opel, General Motors' financially embattled European subsidiary, has ripped the covers from its sixth-generation Astra ahead of the car's planned debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September. The five-door hatchback traditionally is one of Europe's best-selling models and originally was expected to play an important role in the Saturn lineup in the United States. Under GM's pared-down lineup, the Astra's Delta 2 chassis is likely provide the underpinnings for a small Buick, initially in China, and then in the United States, depending on market conditions.