5 Audiobooks Use Should Listen To On A Roadtrip

The Invention of Wings: A Novel 

 

Written by: Sue Monk Kidd

Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins
Summary: From the celebrated author of The Secret Life of Bees comes a magnificent novel about two unforgettable American women. Sue Monk Kidd presents a masterpiece of hope, daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world. Hetty “Handful” Grimke, an urban slave in early nineteenth century Charleston, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. The Grimke’s daughter, Sarah, has known from an early age she is meant to do something large in the world, but she is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women.

Imperial Life in the Emerald City 

 
Written by: Rajiv Chandrasekaran 
Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
Summary: The Washington Post's former Baghdad bureau chief, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, takes us into the Green Zone, headquarters for the American occupation in Iraq. In this bubble separated from wartime realities, the task of reconstructing Iraq is in the hands of 20-somethings chosen for their Republican Party loyalty. They pursue irrelevant neoconservative solutions and pie-in-the-sky policies instead of rebuilding looted buildings and restoring electricity, angering the locals and fueling the insurgency.

Divergent, Book 1 

 

Written by: Veronica Roth

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

   

Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War 

 

Written by: Robert M. Gates

Length: 25 hrs and 42 mins
Summary: From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vivid account of serving Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When Robert M. Gates received a call from the White House, he thought he'd long left Washington politics behind: After working for six presidents in both the CIA and the National Security Council, he was happily serving as president of Texas A&M University. But when he was asked to help a nation mired in two wars and to aid the troops doing the fighting, he answered what he felt was the call of duty.

Sycamore Row

 

Written by: John Grisham  

Length: 20 hrs and 50 mins  
Summary: Seth Hubbard is a wealthy man dying of lung cancer. He trusts no one. Before he hangs himself from a sycamore tree, Hubbard leaves a new, handwritten, will. It is an act that drags his adult children, his black maid, and Jake into a conflict as riveting and dramatic as the murder trial that made Brigance one of Ford County's most notorious citizens, just three years earlier. The second will raises far more questions than it answers. Why would Hubbard leave nearly all of his fortune to his maid? Had chemotherapy and painkillers affected his ability to think clearly?

Did You Know: Infographic On Texting and Driving

Texting and driving have become a very serious issue over the years. The amount of fatalities and injuries continue to rise. This infographic presents some interesting facts we bet you didn't know about texting and driving.

For parents, always talk to your kids about driving safety and how every text can wait to be responded to if they're driving. Share this infographic with your friends and family to help get the message across to them and most importantly, be a good role model and don't text and drive while you're driving either.

Check Out These Tips To Save Gas Money

 We all try our best to save on gas each month and we all have certain things we do to get the most out of each tank when we fill up. But, did you know there also other not as well known tips to help maximize each tank for a long period of time. Check out these eight steps below:

Step 1. It's ok, enjoy your air conditioner on the highway. Consumer Reports says that AC's gas-guzzling reputation is undeserved. And, at higher speeds, opening the windows or sunroof can hurt on gas miles by increasing drag.

Step 2. Don't fill up your tank until you're practically on empty; the less fuel you're toting, the lighter your car, and the more you will save on gas.

Step 3. After filling up your car, turn the nozzle upside down before you remove it from your tank. You'll get another half a cup of gas that's stuck in the hose that will save on gas.

Step 4. Tighten your gas cap after filling up so you don't let any precious fuel evaporate. Try to park in the shade. This will also help save on gas by preventing evaporation.

Step 5. Put your car in overdrive for highway driving. It lowers your RPM, or revolutions per minute, which saves you gas money. Check your owner's manual for the recommended speed at which you may use overdrive. If you're due for new tires, get radials; they improve gas miles by two or three percent saving you gas money.

Step 6. Stay in one lane as much as possible; weaving uses up more gas miles.

Step 7. Use cruise control when you're on a flat highway, where it can increase gas miles by 7%. But don't use it on uneven roads, where it's not efficient.

Step 8. Turn off all electronics and climate controls before you cut the engine. With the extras off, your engine won't have to strain so hard to restart, leading to better gas miles.

Subaru Forester Scores Second Motor Trend Sport/Utility Of The Year Win

Motor Trend announced today that the Subaru Forester won Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year for 2014.
Subaru is the only manufacturer to win this title three times, the most wins in the Sport/Utility category. In the past six years of competition, Subaru has had three winners – the 2014 Forester, 2010 Outback, and the 2009 Forester. The 2013 XV Crosstrek also ranked as a finalist in 2012.
MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief Ed Loh, said, “The 2014 Subaru Forester beat a highly competitive field of SUVs because it best met our award’s six key criteria. Smart design, thoughtful engineering, and a compelling performance on road and off were the keys to the Forester’s win. Our editors were particularly impressed by the powerful yet efficient turbocharged engines, the intelligent and sporty CVT transmission, and the excellent visibility and interior package found within the Forester. Practical, affordable, efficient and fun-to-drive - Forester truly ticked every box”.
In addition to the Subaru Forester, the 2014 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year competition included twelve other all-new or significantly updated SUVs:

Acura MDX
Audi Q5
BMW X1
Buick Encore
Dodge Durango
Hyundai Santa Fe
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento
Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Mini Paceman S ALL4
Mitsubishi Outlander
Toyota RAV4

“We are honored to receive the MOTOR TREND Sport/Utility of the Year award for the third time,“ said Thomas J. Doll, president, and chief operating officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “Our product, engineering, sales and marketing teams all work hard to provide the best products and experiences we can for our owners. Receiving this distinction from MOTOR TREND truly adds credence to our mission.”

MOTOR TREND's Sport/Utility of the Year is not a comparison test, and is only open to all-new or substantially upgraded vehicles that have gone on sale in the 12 months from November 1 of the previous year.

To judge contenders for the award, MOTOR TREND's editorial staff conducted an exhaustive three-phase testing process. Phase one includes a full tech check and weigh-in, then full track testing to establish baseline data for acceleration, braking, and handling. Phase two involves three days of road loops offering a range of road surfaces and traffic conditions to evaluate ride and handling, engine and transmission smoothness and responsiveness, wind and road noise, and ergonomics. A dirt-track section tests traction, stability, and braking control systems. In the third phase the judges debate and deliberate. The judging criteria include the following categories:

Design Advancement - well-executed exterior and interior styling; innovative vehicle packaging; good selection and use of materials.

Engineering Excellence - total vehicle concept and execution; clever solutions to packaging, manufacturing and dynamics issues; cost-effective tech that benefits the consumer.

Performance of Intended Function - how well the vehicle does the job its planners, designers, and engineers intended it to do.

Efficiency - low fuel consumption and carbon footprint, relative to the vehicle's competitive set.

Safety - a vehicle's ability to help the driver avoid a crash, as well as the secondary safety measures that protect its occupants from harm during a crash.

Value - competitive price and equipment levels, measured against those of vehicles in the same market segment.
Priced from $21,995, the Forester is offered with a new 250-horsepower 2.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged BOXER engine or a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder BOXER engine. A Lineartronic® CVT (continuously variable transmission) is standard in the 2.0XT models and available for the 2.5-liter models, which features a standard 6-speed manual transmission. The Forester jumps to the head of its segment in all-wheel drive fuel economy, with the 2.5i model achieving EPA estimates of 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway/ 27 mpg combined (with CVT).

The 2014 Forester has received a Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Forester is the first vehicle to ace every aspect of the challenging small overlap front crash test conducted by the IIHS. The Forester is the only one of 13 small SUVs to earn an overall rating of good in the test.

The recognition from MOTOR TREND validates the sales success of the 2014 Forester, which is up 46% year-to-date over 2012. Forester’s strong sales performance mirrors the growth of the Subaru brand overall, which is on track to achieve its fifth-consecutive year of sales increases and top 400,000 vehicle sales in the US market in 2013.

Come test drive the Forester at St. Cloud Subaru, and be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter for further news and updates.

Subaru Reveals 2014 Forester with World's First Innovative Wing Seat

Subaru recently revealed an innovative, new driver assist system for handicapped drivers on the all-new 2014 Forester.

One of the world’s most progressive automakers, has just revealed a world’s-first for handicapped drivers. Subaru revealed a 2014 Forester with the first-ever innovative “Wing Seat” for handicap drivers.

Subaru Japan has only released an image and a little information on the new driver assist system, but we know it will be used for drivers with disabilities who need assistance getting into the seat and behind the wheel. The new Forester will be the first car with such a feature.

They will officially unveil the Driver Assistance System from Sept 18-20 at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibit.

Check out our lineup at the St. Cloud Subaru website, and be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more news and specials.

Subaru Celebrates 4 Millionth Vehicle Built in Indiana

Subaru's Lafayette, Indiana factory has produced its 4 millionth Subaru. The deep indigo blue 2014 Outback is pictured below, beside the first ever Subaru to leave the facility, a first-generation Legacy.

The plant, which was originally a joint venture between Isuzu and Subaru, has produced nine different models for four different manufacturers over the years. The Indiana factory is getting ready to add a tenth as Impreza production arrives.

Check out the St. Cloud Subaru website for our lineup of new and used cars, and make sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to stay up to date with news and promotions.

Subaru's Performance WRX/STI

Subaru will launch redesigned performance versions of its WRX/STI next year. The photo above is a WRX sedan concept that Subaru unveiled in March.

The Impreza-derived redesign is expected to finally debut in November at the Los Angeles Auto Show and go on sale in early 2014. The engine will likely be a high-performance version of the 2.5 liter four-cylinder that will produce at least 265 horsepower.

Stay up to date on Subaru's new and redesigned lineup on our Facebook and Twitter.

USA Today calls 2014 Subaru Forester Top-Notch

Here at St. Cloud Subaru, we’re already big fans of the 2014 Forester, and the rest of the world is starting to catch up. USA Today just gave it an excellent test drive review, calling the Forester top-notch, and praising its roomy backseats, the 250-horsepower turbo engine and many of its other great features.

Closing out the review, they called the Forester practical, pleasant and fun. But, don’t take USA Today’s word for it, come in to St. Cloud Subaru and test drive one for yourself! Experience the many great things that make the 2014 Forester such an acclaimed entry to the Subaru line.