There's so much happening in the automotive world, whether it's exciting reports about automotive safety, green car news, or information about our Certified Female Friendly dealers and retailers, we've got something here for everyone. Have you got female friendly news or interesting automotive tidbits to share? Email Ask Patty at info@askpatty.com or use the online form to include your own blog bits in our next carnival!


These siblings took a road trip together and got a little more than they bargained for, when they hit a coyote along the way. More than 600 miles later, they discovered the animal was still wedged inside the bumper of their Honda Fit! Find out more in this report at CNN.com

Here’s a fun website we found that allows people who love to drive a chance to share and connect with other like-minded enthusiasts. At NationofGo, you sign up to discover maps of great drives, connect with other drivers, or share your photos and videos of your own favorite road trip routes! A forum section encourages discussions on cars, tires, maintenance and performance, and much more! Sponsored by BFGoodrich, the site features a calendar of local events, and shares maps for all types of driving, from tracks and trails to highway, so no matter what kind of road you like to ride, you’ll find it here!

 Long ago before the Internet and digital cameras, it was a hassle to get a dent repaired! You had to drive around to several competing local shops to get repair estimates, and often they cost mucho dinero. Well, thanks to the magic of high technology, all you need to do today is upload a couple of photos of your car damage at DentBetty.com, enter your email address, and within a few days you'll receive competing repair estimates from body shops all over town ... free! How much easier can it get?

Do you use the carpool lanes? According to this report at SignOnSanDiego,  even though highway officials and transportation planners spent many years and hundreds of millions of public dollars to encourage San Diego County commuters to carpool, the percentage of motorists who carpool or vanpool in the county has dipped to 13 percent from 15 percent in 2000 — a trend mirrored across the state and nation.


Certified Female Friendly Dealers and Retailers in the News:

Our Certified Female Friendly retailers are working overtime to offering special holiday special programs during November and December! Please support our Certified Female Friendly business and their efforts to share thanksgiving and joy with all their customers and communities!

John's Place - Personalized Auto Care of Glenview, Illinois, is making the most of the season of giving thanks. Between now and November 25th, John's Place is sponsoring a food drive, and customers will receive $10 off their total bill if they bring in a nonperishable item! Jon’s Place is also raffling off free Thanksgiving Turkeys every Saturday of the month! The drawing is held on each of the first three Saturdays in November and includes all customers that came in for any service during the week prior to the drawing. They’ve got a great informational blog  that recently featured a yummy homemade Thanksgiving applesauce recipe, and lots of great information and car care tips!

Guaranteed Transmission Service and Auto Care of Lafayette, Indiana,  will celebrate the new year with black-tie optional dinner and dancing to benefit
the American Red Cross. 

Tickets are $50 per person; doors Open at 7:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m.
Stay for dancing, a silent auction and a special midnight champagne toast! RSVP for the special black-tie optional New Year’s Eve event by December 28, and get additional info at 765-742-6975 or by emailing liz@tippearc.org


Lucas Tire and Auto Care in Chicago, Illinois,   has taken their commitment to the AskPatty.com Certified Female Friendly® Program one step further, with an awesome Female Friendly Bathroom makeover! Ladies, check out these gorgeous amenities! They also use non-toxic, lead-free wheel weights on their tire balancing work!

Island Honda, of Kahului Maui, Hawaii,   has joined with the Honda Dealers of Hawaii to support their local high school sports programs.  To help out with the shortage in funding for high school sports programs across the state, Island Honda is donating $100 from every Honda vehicle sold to "Save Our Sports." Honda Dealers in Hawaii are promoting this cause and accepting donations in their showrooms, as well as online. 

Autohaus Import Service of Raleigh, North Carolina,  is celebrating Thanksgiving by offering a 20% discount on all services performed from Monday November 23, through Wednesday November 25. Be sure to schedule an appointment in advance and tell them you have coupon code “Thanks!” Be sure to sign up for their awesome e-newsletter that shares great information and money-saving coupons for services at their one-stop auto import service and repair shop!

Community Tire of Phoenix, Arizona,  is celebrating the Thanksgiving season by giving a $25 gift certificate to Basha’s Market to any customers who purchase four new tires, or spend $200 on any service or repair until November 25th!

Lone Star Chevrolet of Houston, Texas,  has earned the prestigious General Motors dealer of the year for seven years in a row! As part of their excellent service, they now offer all new car buyers an exclusive online new car clinic that provides all the information they need to ensure they get maximum owner experience from their new car! 

Did you know there are two service schedules for the proper maintenance of your car? The one that most people are aware of is the "normal” service interval. This is the one that usually says to change your oil but every 7500 miles, or coolant at every 100,000. Many owners don’t know that if they drive off road, in heavy traffic, at prolonged low speeds, make frequent short trips, tow, have a camper top or roof rack, or drive in dusty conditions, they fall into the "Severe Service" category which requires more frequent maintenance! You can find out more useful tips like this by subscribing to the Freedom Automotive of Stafford, Texas, l e-newsletter  which contains useful car care tips, interesting and money-saving ideas on automotive maintenance and repair, as well as special limited-time coupons for a service special at Freedom Automotive.

Midlands Honda of Columbia, South Carolina,  is launching a very special holiday promotion intended to help their shoppers save money and time! During the month of November, Midlands Honda will fill the trunk of every vehicle purchased full of toys (about $100 in value), so that buyers will take home a trunk full of smiles along with their new car! Midlands Honda is also a participating dealer drop-off site for 2009 Toys For Tots, and anyone who does not want all or some of the give-away toys are also encouraged to donate them to the Toys For Tots collection. Also, be sure to come back on Thursday, December 3rd, when Santa Claus will make a special appearance between 4 and 7 P.M! Bring your little ones and come out for a complementary picture with jolly old St. Nick!

Jon Lancaster Toyota of Madison, Wisconsin, also supports the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, so do your part by donating a new, unwrapped toy from November 1st through December 15th. Toys for Tots has been putting smiles on children’s faces since 1947. The goal of the annual campaign is that the message of hope that inherently comes with the gift motivates the children to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders. Please help John Lancaster Toyota to support our troops, and less fortunate children in their community! Donate today!

Schierl Tire and Service Centers of central Wisconsin is holding a sweepstakes to give away two tickets to see the Green Bay Packers play on December 27th! Schierl Tire and Service can perform a quick oil change, perform major repairs, or set you up with new tires!

And that's it for this edition of AskPatty's Certified Female Friendly Blog Carnival! Make sure to submit your article for our next "Automotive Advice for Women Blog Carnival" using the online form  or by emailing Ask Patty at info@askpatty.com.