Roof Ratings

Q: My cousin was involved in a terrible rollover accident, the roof caved in and she was badly injured. Now after months of rehab, she’s ready to get on with life, but she’s obsessed with finding the strongest roof in a car before she buys a new one. How can we find out whether roof strength for various cars is comparatively better or worse? A: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does roof-strength ratings. Go to iihs.org, type in the make and model you’re interested in and you’ll get the Institute’s assessment of various aspects of crash tests, including roof test. Readers speak out about “puffing.” My recent column mentioning “puffing” prompted several emails. Puffing is the practice - outlawed in some places - of leaving your unattended car running in the winter to warm it up. Reader #1: “Me thinks you missed the point of the ‘puffing’ law. Pollution is the problem and most likely the reason it was banned.” Me to Reader #1: If only that were true! But the original question came from a reader in Colorado. I spoke with an author of the legislation before I wrote about puffing, and the law was intended to reduce the number of “grab and drive” car thefts that occur every winter when people start up their cars then go back inside the house to wait it out until the vehicle is warmed up (and the defroster has removed the frost from the windows). It’s truly wonderful, however, that reduced pollution is a side effect of the prohibition. Reader #2: “The puffing item reminded me of this: my neighbor suggested I wasn’t warming up my car enough in this weather for the well-being of the car, so I tripled the time I ran it before driving off. Then I read a “Hints from Heloise” article, which said NO! You don’t have to let the car sit forever wasting gas and polluting the air. Just let it run for a few seconds and then, as long as you just actually drive the speed limit for a little while (hard for most to fathom) your car will warm up quickly and safely. Gas saved! Me to Reader #2: Heloise and me: two chicks singing the same tune. What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email Sharon@ctwfeatures.com.