I do my best to take excellent care of my cars. Pride of ownership is one reason, but resale value is just as important to me. One way I do this is by being obsessive about where I park. It can be a real pain, but I feel in this case the end justifies the means. I have taken parking to the extreme and would like to state my thoughts on this important subject. If you share my aversion to door dings and scratches, chances are you may already practice many of these steps and even have a few of your own that you'd like to contribute.

1. A premium space for me is one all the way at the end of the row and far away from where I'm going. It's even better if there isn't a car within 10 or 20 spaces! I use this method as much as possible!

2. I will always park next to small cars rather than large cars whose doors are longer.

3. Avoid parking next to beaters and wrecks, if they don't care about their own vehicle, they won't care about mine either.

4. Never park next to a cart corral, too many opportunities for trouble.

5. Park next to four door cars. Two door cars have longer doors, which must swing wider for the occupant to enter and exit. Some (especially GM products like the Trans AM and the Camaro) have very heavy doors that are easy to lose control of.

6. I avoid mini vans as these may be transporting children who may not understand the consequence of hitting the car next to them. I keep my distance from sport utilities and station wagons for this same reason.

7. Never park diagonally across 2 spaces, this is asking for trouble.

8. Spaces with no neighbor on the passenger side get preference over spaces with no neighbor on the driver side. All vehicles have drivers, many don't have passengers.

9. When parallel parking, I always search out spaces with plenty of room, or better yet, one on an end. There are many drivers who haven't learned this skill and use the park by Braille method instead.

10. When I am fortunate enough to get an end spot, I take advantage of it by hugging the curb. Just be careful - you don't want to do any curb surfing!

For those of you who know me, you will appreciate the Website that I am going to tell you about. It is called Shiftyworld.com - no, it's not a site about unseemly characters. It is a new community website for people who love to shift. Basically it amounts to a grass roots attempt by founder Greg Bruder to save the manual transmission in new production vehicles. I'd really like to see him succeed and only wish I'd thought of the idea instead of just whining about the problem.

The manual really is becoming rare - almost to the point of extinction with very few models being offered with one. Case in point would be the release of the V10 powered 2006 BMW M5 which was ONLY available with a SMG transmission. This system allows the driver to manually shift gears but doesn't have a clutch pedal. Thanks to the outcry of enthusiasts everywhere - BMW shifted gears and are about to release a true 6-speed manual as an option. But just the idea that BMW's "Ultimate Driving Machine" would be offered without the option of a 6-speed manual transmission should be scary news to those of us who prefer to shift for ourselves.

I recently joined and support Bruder's organization whose overriding goal is to "save the shifter from extinction". For a limited time they are offering a free one year Premium Membership (a $19.95 value). At the site you can find driving tips, news, member stories and a link to sign up for their newsletter. A cool feature on the industry trends page is a searchable database showing the manufacturers and models still being offered with a manual transmission.

This is a noble cause for those of us who currently drive, or have fond memories of driving a manual transmission. Fifteen of my last sixteen cars have been sticks - so you know where I stand on this issue. To me, clutching is such an integral and enjoyable part of the driving experience. I am truly blessed that my wife now feels the same about shifting as I do, and I intend for my daughter to learn this valuable skill as well. I say the family who shifts together stays together!

(chanting)
Save the Shifter!
Save the Shifter!
Save the Shifter!

Welcome to my new blog, something that I've wanted to do for sometime now. My name is Tony Langenderfer aka the Cardude; I have owned and operated Expert Auto Consultants, Inc. since 1998. I am just a car nut who has been fortunate enough to turn my passion for automobiles into my career. I love looking at, discussing, dreaming about and of course driving cars. Now that I am in this business - people actually want to know what I think about certain models and ask my opinions about happenings in the automotive industry, how cool is that?

I learned all I know about purchasing cars in order to feed my habit, which is getting a new car as often as I can. I have a system that financially allows me to change vehicles regularly without taking a major hit in my wallet. Depreciation is one of the biggest costs associated with automobile ownership, especially in the first few years. As most know, cars depreciate at different rates. I always buy the right car in the right color, at the right price and equip it correctly for the best resale value. I recently acquired my 16th car since 1987. My mantra is: so many cars, so little time. As an enthusiast I obviously have my favorites but find redeeming qualities in almost every vehicle out there.

If you have visited my home page it's obvious that Audis are my car of choice - three of the six I have owned are proudly displayed there. Of all the cars I have owned, my favorite so far has been my 2004 Audi S4 Avant in a gorgeous nogaro blue. It has a V-8 that produces 340 HP and is equipped with a 6 speed manual transmission and Audi's famous Quattro AWD system. When was the last time you've seen a station wagon with a stick shift and the ability to keep up with sports cars? This unique machine just pushes all of my automotive buttons, and I've really enjoyed driving it more than any before her.

But I digress. In this blog I will pass along interesting tidbits, useful tips, and practical information from the wonderful world of automobiles. I will also present ways to get the most enjoyment from your special vehicle. This is a great time to be a car enthusiast and I am excited to be involved with the automotive industry. I welcome your feedback and comments. Let's get this party started.