Guest Post: 3 Days and Nights - 2013 Dodge Charger SE

This is our first, of what we hope will be many, guest post and comes to us from a friend, Christine T., in Richmond, VA. If you are interested in contributing a post, please submit your idea through the Contact Us page and we will reach out to you to discuss.

From the southern garage of Richmond, VA, comes a review of the 2013 Dodge Charger SE. During the drive, weather ranged from freezing and downpours to sunny and clement. Driving consisted of stop and putter along the inner city, speeding down the highway late for a conference, and cruising around town with a friend. Overall? I really enjoyed it, and the few complaints that I had are relatively minor.

The captain’s seat is easily adjustable and comfortable, which is important when you’re a compact 5’ pilot. Seats are firm and held me comfortably in place on aggressive turns, but some may find more lumbar support desirable. The thicker multi-function steering wheel is comfortable and easy to use, even with my small paws. Driver visibility and rear passenger headroom are marginalized by the sporty body style.

Test Drive: 2014 Infiniti Q50 AWD

The Infiniti line-up has always been sporty and is oft considered the Japanese equivalent of BMW, offering performance oriented cars with a touch of luxury. It's volume seller of the last decade, the G sedans and coupes, were among some of the best driving cars among the Japanese luxury brands. In fact, I nearly bought a G35 and a G37 when each car came out, the only thing holding me back being the slightly sub-standard interior materials and the poorly executed manual transmission shifter and clutch. However, if you were looking at the cars with automatic transmissions, they really were fantastic cars to drive. However, to replace the G37, Infiniti has developed not only a whole new car, but has also adopted a whole new naming scheme. What was once the G37 is now the much more non-sensical Q50. However, a lot more than the name was lost in this transition. The new Q50 may be a step up from the G37 in terms interior quality, but seems to have sacrificed some of its sporting character at the altar of luxury.

News: Cell phone carriers unite against texting while driving

Image courtesy of USAToday.com

Distracted driving is becoming ever increasingly problematic as cars get more complex and filled with technology and as our real lives become ever more intertwined with our digital ones. Most people now have some form of touchscreen mobile device that they use on a regular basis, mainly in the form of a smartphone that is with them at all times, including in the car. Many individual cities and counties have taken measures to combat distracted driving by instituting handsfree cellphone laws prohibiting handling of the phones while operating a vehicle. Automakers are also doing their part by offering technologies that allow users to access the most frequently used functions of their phones through voice commands and integration with the car's infotainment system. And now, the big 4 cellphone carriers, have united behind an anti-texting ad campaign to discourage people from texting behind the wheel.

Having been the victim just earlier this week of a distracted driver's inattention, I am encouraged that the cellphone service providers are taking part in this kind of campaign and taking a stand against a habit that is growing into a major problem out on America's highways, especially around urban centers where people's busy lives often force them to need to be connected as often as possible. Distracted driving is a serious matter and is often a contributor to accidents and road rage incidents, so any steps to combat it are steps in the right direction.

Tell us your thoughts on distracted driving or share with us the story of how distracted driving has impacted you in the comments section.