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Many people don't know the difference between four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. They mostly think that these two terms are describing the same thing. That is partially true, because they both describe the process of providing power to all four wheels of a vehicle in order to increase traction.

Four-wheel-drive configurations use a lower gear ratio and a split differential to get to get the power to the four wheels. It is found in pickup trucks and larger off-road SUV vehicles. These vehicles are used for off-road and rugged terrain use.

The all-wheel-drive setup delivers...

If there is one thing Vermonters love, it's their dogs -- or as many cheekily dub them, "fur-children." And, if there's another thing Vermonters love more, it's taking their four-legged kids on outdoor adventures through the Green Mountains.

That means a lot of dog-hours on the road.

When you travel with your pet in the car, make sure you are doing it safely and with less stress by following these handy tips from Ford:

• Keep a water bowl in the car for on-the-go hydration. Most pet stores in the Burlington and Williston area sell collapsible bowls made of…

Whether you are keeping the kids occupied on the way to school, or your friends are doing a Zen-inspired adult coloring book in the passenger seat, one thing is certain -- crayon is a mess to get out of fabric car seats.

The reason, as true science-nerds will appreciate, is that crayons are made with wax, which an extremely hydrophobic non-polar substance. In layman's terms -- it will not dissolve in water no matter how hard you try. Most cleaning products are designed for things that can dissolve in water. That's why crayon stains defy fabric cleaner.

What can you…

If you recently started school at UVM or Champlain, you may be looking for an affordable used car to get you around the greater Burlington area.

Chances are, before you lay down money on a vehicle, you're going to want to test drive it first -- especially a used vehicle. On a test drive, you can make sure a pre-owned car or SUV is in good condition, and that it is equipped with the features you want.

However, many drivers, particularly younger drivers, often skip the test-drive step of the buying process because they don't know what to do…

As one of the experienced hybrid models on the market, the Toyota Prius is dedicated to achieving the next level of fuel efficiency with up to an EPA-estimated 51 city mpg in its 2013 iteration. While commonly not respected for its powertrain, where the Prius refuses to falter is the versatility of its shape and storage capabilities. It may not be a force to reckon with based on performance alone, but the Prius continues to achieve greatness as an excellent hybrid option.

Take a look at the past few years of Toyota Prius models, courtesy of Autotrader, to learn more…

Here at Earthy Cars, we strive to provide the Chittenden County area with the best in reliable and efficient pre-owned vehicles to suit their varied needs. And of course, you can't mention reliability and efficiency without talking about Toyota vehicles. With plenty of warm weather ahead, we've got an extensive selection of quality pre-owned Toyota vehicles to help drivers in the Burlington area make the most their summer.

 

Since it's International Women's Day today, we thought we'd share with you the story of one of the most important women in automotive history. She took the first long-distance car trip in the world. She was the unstoppable Bertha Benz.

Before Bertha Benz ever married her husband, Karl Benz, she acted as his investor.

She was from a wealthy family, and he was raised in poverty by a single mother. Despite his financial disadvantage, Karl was brilliant, well-educated, and an idealist. She fell in love with him, and used her own dowry money to support his failing…

Many Vermonters avoid the dreaded manual transmission altogether. "Who has time to learn?" we hear people say. More importantly, who will sacrifice their car to teach you?

There are hazards to teaching someone to drive any car, like the chance they will confuse reverse for drive and back into your garage door before lesson one. When newbies forget to press the clutch before shifting in a manual, however, that really grinds our gears.

A few innocent mistakes, like forgetting to shift, or forgetting the clutch, and you'll be looking for auto repairs near Burlington, or a new car altogether…

Advertisers love Super Bowl Sunday. The advertising time during the big game is so valuable, 30 seconds can cost $5 million.

The investment is worth it, however, because for once audiences aren't just going to change the channel or tune out when the commercials start rolling.

The zany, bizarre, high production value ads that often debut during the Super Bowl have become such a phenomenon of their own, many viewers will be tuning in just to watch them.

While some brands, like Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, choose to keep their commercials under wraps until game day, many, like Kia, post…

As a proud purveyor of affordable, environmentally responsible used vehicles, many of our customers are local college students. Well, this week we found a new auto detailing video that had us wringing our brains to remember long-forgotten chemistry lessons.

Our professors would not be proud. We had to Google it.

Without further ado, here is how to get persistent salt-stains out of your vehicle's carpet... and more importantly, why it works!

Here's a breakdown of the science:

Road salt is mostly NaCl, the same stuff you put on French fries. Even in land-locked Vermont, you'll know salt…