Tweeters Meet mOblu-ers? The Latest in Social Networking for Gas Guzzlers

As fuel prices average at least $2.50 per gallon in every state except South Carolina, a new Web site combines a fuel tracker with a social networking tool by allowing motorists to track how much they spend at the pump and how much bang they get for their buck. Oh, and they can then tell the whole world about it on Twitter.

I recall the good old days when motorists would keep a fuel and maintenance log in their glove compartments and enter in their odometer reading at each fill-up as well as monitoring their car’s service needs. Today, meet mOblu.com. The free site, originating from a husband and wife team joined by a computer programmer and a software engineer from Canada, has been featured in recently in the New York Times, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal as the latest fad for the technorati to chart their vehicle’s gas mileage.

But it does more than just log your trips. Enter a starting point and destination and it will tell you the amount of carbon monoxide produced, in addition to the amount of fuel used and the fuel cost based upon the price you most recently paid at the pump. Sounds similar to fleet software. But in your garage can you also calculate the carbon cost of your vehicle?

Right to Repair Act Designed to Help Chrysler, GM Customers

More and more automotive shops, obviously, are supporting the Right to Repair Act, which was introduced in the U.S. House in April to protect the ability of consumers to choose their own preferred mechanic to perform warranty work. This has never been more important than for owners of Chrysler and GM models.

Amid bankruptcy, both automakers have announced wide-scale closings of dealerships nationwide that perform the vast majority of warranty work. While Chrysler and GM have also said owners' warranties will remain valid through their expiration date regardless of where the vehicles were purchased -- and any necessary work can be performed at any certified mechanic's shop -- there is anxiety about having to drive many miles in rural areas to reach the next closest dealership certified to perform the work.

The Right to Repair Act would put it in writing that independent repair shops could compete for business previously guaranteed only to dealerships or dealer-contracted garages.

Are you worried about where you can take either your fleet or personal vehicle amid these dealership closings? Are you in a rural area where the closest dealership may be many miles away? Let us know what you think.