Ford Motorcraft 2100-2150 2-bbl Carburator. [for Parts Or Rebuild.] on 2040-parts.com

Survey: Toyota, Honda, Ford are top brands for consumers

Toyota, Honda and Ford rank as the best brands in consumers' minds, an annual Consumer Reports survey found. Toyota finished first for the third consecutive year of the study, which involved randomly questioning more than 1,700 U.S. adults in early December.

Ford recalls minivans, SUV

Ford is recalling nearly half a million vehicles to fix defects that can cause fires or loss of power. About 205,800 copies of the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivan from the 2004 and 2005 model years are being recalled, because torque-converter output shafts in the transaxle might fail and cause power loss. Ford is also recalling 244,530 Escape SUVs from the 2001 and 2002 model years, which might have brake-fluid leaks that can cause corrosion and fire.

Everything is bigger in Texas, even speed limits

Texas is preparing to open a stretch of toll road this November with the highest speed limit in America: 85 mph. The road between Austin and San Antonio will stretch for 41 miles, in an attempt to alleviate traffic congestion on nearby Interstate 35. There are already roads in Texas and Utah where the posted speed limit is 80 mph.