Mas Industries Bj81475 Lower Ball Joint on 2040-parts.com

Ownership costs of traditional versus alternative fuel vehicles

As gas prices remain high, and an increasing number of automakers roll out plug-in hybrid cars and full-electric vehicles, it's becoming easier to be tantalized with the idea of driving right past the gas station and simply "plugging in." The debate ensues when it comes to cost: These alternative fuel vehicles mean a larger outlay of cash at the onset, but the long-term fuel savings could make the purchase worthwhile. To help straighten out this numbers game, we use the Department of Energy's Vehicle Cost Calculator to compare alternative fuel vehicles with their gasoline-only counterparts. For each scenario, we assumed that our hypothetical owner was able to get the full $7,500 federal tax credit and a $2,500 state tax credit, such as is available in California.

Classic car commercial: 1984 Ford Tempo

We picked on Chevrolet for its super-1980's vintage Astro TV commercial on Wednesday. So in the spirit of fair play, we'll turn our attention toward Dearborn today. What could our friends at Ford offer that Chevy didn't deliver with its space oddity?

New photos bring 2011 Chrysler 200 into clear view

We now have a better look at the 2011 Chrysler 200 sedan, courtesy of new photos from Chrysler. The updates to the Chrysler Sebring to convert it to the 200 include new front and rear fascia. The Chrysler badge will adorn the front, while a new rear decklid, LED taillights and brake lights round out the rear.