Last Cars Reviews Blog: traffic

Officially recognizing their brief foray into the compact car market as a major blunder, for 2009, Ford has reintroduced one of their most massive feats of engineering: the EarthRoamer XV-LT Ford 550. An all-terrain recreational vehicle that will make your pop-up camper wet its pants, the EarthRoamer XV-LT prides itself on being powerful enough to endure a rugged terrain while still providing [most] of the comforts of home. Contrary to what it suggests at first glance though, the EarthRoamer XV-LT is not another monstrous, testosterone-saturated gas guzzler.

Sitting on a Ford 550 Super Duty chassis with a turbo-diesel engine under the hood, the EarthRoamer XV-LT is extremely energy efficient as it relies largely on huge solar panels to generate energy for its massive marine batteries. Unlike most campers, the EarthRoamer XV-LT doesn’t rely on propane or an auxiliary generator to power the camper’s heat, hot water, or stove, relying instead on its 350-hp, 6.4L PowerStroke diesel engine. Equipped with a 5-speed Torqueshift automatic transmission, extended gear ratios ensure optimum performance, even when your towing a load [sounds dirty, but probably isn't] at maximum 10,000 capacity.

Entirely self-contained, the EarthRoamer doesn’t have to rely on external hook-ups usually provided at RV sites either, freeing it up to camp pretty much anywhere. Surprisingly, the EarthRoamer XV-LT doesn’t sacrifice comfort for durability and features a luxurious California King size bed, perfect for using to join that mile high club after you scale the Lusten [snicker] Mountains.

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The National Insurance Crime Bureau has released reports suggesting the recent surge in fraudulent vehicle theft claims is directly related to the rising cost of fuel. Although no one has specifically linked the two trends, researchers are implying that a large number of truck and SUV owners are staging the theft and/or vandalism of their vehicles, ultimately using the insurance payout to buy smaller, more economical vehicles. Sound a little far-fetched? Keep reading.

According to the report run in the Miami Herald, in December of 2004, when gas priced at about $1.65 a gallon, the monthly total of “suspicious claims” number about 40. By the time the cost of gas-per-gallon hit $3.85 in December of 2007, that figure had more than doubled to equal 96. Further supporting the argument; according to current data, six of the top 10 most-stolen vehicles are trucks and SUVs. In addition to long time favorites like the Cadillac Escalade, new favorites on the list this year include both the Dodge Ram 1500 and the Ford F-150, pick-up trucks that average 13 mpg city/18 mpg hwy and 14mpg city/19mpg hwy, respectively.

Despite the fact that insurance fraud is a felony and arguably more difficult to realistically simulate than a routine traffic accident, barring any obvious discrepancies, an owner isn’t assessed for fault when their vehicle is stolen. Since a theft isn’t a “pointable” offense, it doesn’t typically carry any penalty with most insurance carriers. Thus, unlike an accident, a claimant can collect the comprehensive insurance check without seeing their premiums skyrocket.

Last Cars Reviews Blog

The EarthRoamer XV-LT Ford 550: A Classic Tale Of The HUMMER And The Winnebago Who Loved Him

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National Insurance Crime Bureau Reports Trucks/SUVs New “Most Stolen” Vehicles

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