So, rather than feeling guilty about the cost of your vehicle’s upkeep, how about you start making the four wheels work for you and your bank balance. Here are seven of the best credit cards for drivers which do just that!

1. Chase PerfectCard: The Chase PerfectCard offers 6% rebates on all gas purchases from any gas station for the first 90 days of use, after that holders receive 3% rebates on all gas purchases. There are also 1% rebates on all other purchases, with the rebates automatically applied to monthly statements. Although there is a cap on how much you can earn from gas - rebates will only be applied on the first $500 spent on gas - there is no limit on rebates earned from other purchases. There is no annual fee on this card, and an introductory APR of 0% for six months. After that APR stands at 10.49%.

2. Discover Open Road Card: Holders earn up to 5% rebates when they purchase gas or pay for vehicle maintenance on this card. All other purchases earn 1% cashback bonuses. Rebates can either be received as straight cash or can be exchanged for gift cards or certificates which can be used at over 70 stores. If the cashback is switched to gift cards the reward are doubled. The card offers 9% APR on balance transfers and new purchases for the first 12 months, with the normal APR standing at 10.9%. There is no annual fee for this card.

3. BP-CitiBank MasterCard: Australian drivers can avail themselves of saving 5% off petrol with the BP-Citibank MasterCard, but there is a limit to how much cashback you get. The BP-CitiBank MasterCard also gives cardholders 1% cashback on everyday purchases such as groceries. Any money saved is simply credited to the card account. It’s not all good though: there’s an annual fee of AUS$79 and the interest rate on purchases isn’t great either. But if you are a fiscally responsible commuter who spends a lot of time filling up at the pump, then the pros will probably outweigh any drawbacks.

4. Citi Driver’s Edge Options Platinum Select Card: This card lets holders earn rebates which can then be used towards any make or model of new or used car they wish to purchase. The rebates can also be used towards maintenance of any vehicle the holder already owns or towards the hiring of a car. This means anyone who is thinking of buying a new car in the next few years can save towards it now, even if they are yet to decide which make of vehicle they wish to buy. This card offers 6% rebates on purchases from gas stations, supermarkets and drug stores for the first 12 months, and 3% thereafter. All other purchases offer 1% rebates, with the option to be redeem points in the card’s ThankYou Network, which offers the choice of cash incentives, airline tickets and brand name merchandise. There is 0% APR on balance transfers for 12 months, with a typical APR of 9.49%. The card comes with travel insurance, travel and emergency assistance and purchase protection and there is no annual fee.

5. Capital One No Hassle Points Rewards: This card offers five points for each dollar spent at gas stations, supermarkets and drug stores. Holders also earn one point for every dollar spent on other purchases, and there is no limit to the amount of points which can be accrued or time limit in which they must be spent. Points can be exchanged for merchandise - including the latest electronic gadgets - brand name gift cards, travel certificates or for cash. Purchases are interest free until February 2009, with the APR then standing at 16.9% for both purchases and balance transfers. The card has an annual fee of $29. Extra benefits include fraud protection, 24-hour roadside assistance and auto rental insurance.

6. Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Credit Card: This credit card allows holders to collect five reward points for every $1 spent at gas stations (as well as at supermarkets and drug stores) for the first 12 months of use. As well as that, spenders collect points every time the use the card to fund a car rental and other purchases. Points can be redeemed in the card’s ThankYou Network, which offers the choice of cash incentives, airline tickets and brand name merchandise. As well as this, the card offers 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 12 months, with no annual fee. Card holders also gain access to a host of special perks, including the 24/7Diamond Preferred concierge service and the Private Pass. The Private Pass scheme gives holders the opportunity to book event tickets before they go on sale to the general public, as well as the chance to book preferred seating and VIP events. This Citi card comes with travel insurance, identity theft protection and price protection solutions, with a typical APR of 9.9%.

7. Capital One No Hassle Miles Rewards For Travel & Gas: This Capital One card offers the chance to earn airmiles as you top up on fuel. Holders receive three airmiles per dollar spent on travel and gas and one mile on all other purchases. Redemption of the airmiles is totally unrestricted - holders can fly any airline, anytime, anywhere with no restricted dates or seats. There is no limit on the amount of miles which can be earned and no expiration on rewards. Holders have the option of swapping airmiles for travel, cash, merchandise, charitable donations or gift card rewards. There is an offer of 0% on purchases until October 2009, with the typical APR 9.9%. The card doesn’t have an annual fee. Extra benefits include fraud protection, 24-hour roadside assistance, travel accident insurance and auto rental insurance.

8. Citi PremierPass Credit Card-Elite Level: This Citi card gives two points for each dollar spent at gas stations, supermarkets and drugstores, and one point for each dollar spent everywhere else. The card also gives one point for every mile the holder, or anyone else whose tickets are purchased on the card, flies with any airline. As well as this, spend $600 within the first three months of opening the card and holders receive an extra 20,000 points. Rewards can be redeemed against flights on any airline with no blackout dates, discounts on hotels, gift cards and electronics. There is an annual fee on $75, and APR stands at 13.49%.

Here’s an interesting thought. Vito over at RideLust asks whether we could improve the environment and cut our dependence on foreign oil by using old tires to make roads.

Now that’s an interesting concept. According to RideLust, here are some of the benefits of using Rubberized Asphalt Concrete:

1. Using RAC clearly reduces road noise by as much as 85%
2. Applying a two-inch layer overlay of RAC can save $50,000 per lane mile compared to using four inches of conventional asphalt in the same application
3. An overlay of RAC can prevent cracks in underlying pavements from reflecting through to the surface of the new paving
4. RAC retains its original color better than conventional asphalt and markings remain more visible
5. Using RAC saves on maintenance costs, a properly designed application can last 50% longer than use of standard asphalt
6. RAC provides better traction and can reduce traffic accidents in poor weather

Ok, you don’t have to be a great student to drive one of these, just wealthy enough.  College Crunch offers their picks for the 15 hottest cars to drive to school. Not sure why the entire article is italicized, but there’s a nice list of lust-worthy cars complete with a pic and video for each.

A few of the notable picks include:

1. Audi RS4
2. For Mustang
3. Mazda RX-8
4. Nissan GT-R
5. Pontiac Solstice Solstice
6. Saturn SKY
7. BMW Z4 (pictured above)

Your professors will be so jealous. Me, I’ve got my eye on the SKY. It actually costs not much more than my last two cars, both Subarus and nowhere nearly as sexy.

They’re gorgeous, sleek, sexy, expensive, and high-performance. They’re supercars with curves and colors that scream performance. My friend Ryan over at RideLust has put together a drool-inducing gallery of over a dozen top high-performance supercars. They include the following cars:

1. SSC Ultimate Aero TT
2. Bugatti Veyron
3. McLaren F1
4. Jaguar XJ220
5. Hennessey Viper Venom 1000
6. Koenigsegg CCR
7. Dauer 962 LM
8. Melling Hellcat
9. Lotec Sirius
10. Saleen S7 Turbo
11. TVR Cerbera Speed 12
12. Ruf CTR-3
13. Ultima GTR
14. Bristol Fighter T
15. Porsche 997 Turbo
16. Nissan GT-R

For those lucky few of you who will one day own one of these, I salute you now. For the rest of us, have a look at this great collection. Keep a napkin handy, to wipe the drool.

Upon seeing Bombardier’s 2008 Can-Am Spyder, I realized that I can finally pursue a motorcycle license and not feel that I’ll be endangering myself - at least for city driving. The Spyder, pictured above, is neither car nor motorcycle, but depending on the country you live in, you’ll need a driver’s license for one or the other. Up here in Canada, where Bombardier was founded, we need a motorcycle license. In the U.S., most states where it’s being offered require just a regular car driver’s license.

The vehicle, whose first production model was delivered to Jay Leno, is relatively affordable (US$15-16.5K). It might look odd with its two front wheels and a single back wheel - sort of a reverse trike - but to me it looks like a thing of beauty. And safety. I’m thinking of the streetcar tracks in Toronto and how less likely the Spyder is to get trapped in them than a motorcycle, thanks to very wide tires.

Details:

• 5-speed manual transmission, or add a clutchless thumb-shift.
• Approx. 700 pounds.
• Uses a BRP-Rotax 990 engine, 106 hp @ 8500 rpm.
• 0-60 in 4.5s
• Top speed: 110 mph
• Power steering with computer-controlled hydraulic power.
• Space for two helmets.
• Bosch stabilization system, antilock brakes.

The only problem is, the Spyder is sold out through this spring. Oh, that and the fact that I need to get a motorcycle license, and the only two schools nearby have often had a waiting list of a year or two. Now excuse me while I work my ass off to save money for my shiny charcoal Spyder.

1. The salesperson suggested.
2. A family member suggested it.
3. It was on sale.
4. It was there in the lot and the salesperson offered some extras at no cost.
5. It was functional.
6. They had a car of the same model before. (See all of the above.)
7. Insert custom reason here.

On the other hand, if you have money, you’ll buy the car you want. And then and only then will nonsensical, shallow articles like Mitchell’s have any relevance. Personally, I prefer Bardiac’s humorous explanation of what your car says about you.

Originally, I was going to just blog about how, now that I have a car - similar to the Dodge Caliber SXT that you see above - after over five years without, I feel incredibly free. (Prior to this car-free period, I had access to a car for most of my life since become a legal driver.) But Alison at Drawing Out the Color, wrote a post about living car-free, pointing out the good and the bad that she’s experienced. I’ve taken her six points and rephrased them to suit my list, then added my own. So I suggest you read her article first. My general premise is that while there are many cars to lust after, you can go for affordable and functional and not feel guilty.

1. Biking is not always a healthy way to commute. In the small city I currently live in, cycling is extremely dangerous. It’s considered one of the more dangerous places in N. America because working commuters returning from Toronto traffic jams everyday don’t shift mental gears and still drive aggressively upon entering city limits. I’ve even seen police officers in their cruisers cut off children at crosswalks, and other drivers intentionally splash pedestrians. Sometimes, biking or being a pedestrian is not healthy.

2. Getting groceries can be a problem. You can say that again. For me, I either accept a ride with a family member once a week or I have to walk to a grocery store and return by bus. But transit in this city stinks and it’s actually faster to walk, provided you’re not weighed down by a lot of groceries. Except since it’s a university town with a special “ride free” pass to all students (as of a few years back), don’t expect anyone to give up their seat.

You’re then limited as to how many bags of groceries you should safely buy, since you might have to stand. A backpack sometimes helps, but you’d need a hardshell case, which annoys other riders. Now that’s just groceries. I’m lucky to have had close access to laundry facilities in that time.

3. Options: zipcar. Zipcar is one option if it’s available, but not here that I’m aware of. However, there are car sharing programs, though they require a $300-600 deposit, which I didn’t have available until more recently.

4. Options: Internet-sourced deliveries. There are a limited number of options here for ordering groceries on the Internet to be delivered. But the cost is actually prohibitive - at least for the options I have. Because of my limitations, I fell into this cycle of ordering regular delivery 2-3 times a week and not only overspent but gained significant weight. (I suffer from a thyroid problem that causes my weight to fluctuate, and when it’s up, it triggers diabetic symptoms.)

5. Options: campus transport. This doesn’t apply to me. When I returned to college as an alumni auditing student in 2005, I was allowed to buy a city bus pass that let me ride free. Though once I finished, I was not eligible.

6. Being car-free is character building. Maybe. I know people with cars that have great character as well - though there really are a lot more assh*les driving these days than five years ago. And it’s not just oblivious soccer moms but all the drivers who can’t pay attention to the traffic because they’re on their cell phones. You know, the ones who’ll suddenly inject themselves into your path, even though you have the right of way?

On the flipside, I remember the bicycle couriers in Toronto in the mid-90s. They’re just as prone to road rage as the driver who hurled racial epithets at me in Italian and threatened me and my car with a tire iron. Why? Because I refused to run over pedestrians crossing at the traffic light-less intersection.

But in general, I’d have to say that the people I’ve met that cycle regularly or solely tend to be of calmer demeanor than pretty much every driver I’ve ever met or interacted with. That includes the cyclists that carry rolls of pennies to defend themselves from those American (and possibly Canadian) truckers who think all guys who cycle are gay. (I had a friend whose brother used to cycle competitively, but when he was on the road practicing, he swears that American truck drivers often tried to run him over.)

7. Car owners have more choice in career. While I love walking in big cities, it’s not a pleasant prospect in small cities with crappy transit systems. What’s more, your career choices are severely limited without a car. That’s not as true in a big city - especially one with a reasonable transit system.

8. Car owners earn more. Most of my early career in Toronto was spent without a car. However, my last working years there required me to be mobile - especially when I was a contract consultant. I would have earned far less without a car.

9. Having a car is really expensive. I know this is obvious, but I want to emphasize it. My final two years as a computer consultant were my most expensive because of the amount of driving. I also had jumped from one expensive Subaru to another, with no money down on either.

Add in the Hwy 407 toll road north of Toronto - which I had to take to get to one contract in a reasonable time each day - and my minimum monthly cost for transportation was about Cdn$1400. The toll rates on the 407 are criminal, but my options were nil, thanks to the insane traffic jams in Toronto. (Which really are worse than the ones in Atlanta. I’ve worked and driven in both cities.)

Now, I’m not even adding the cost of my meals, I had to drive so far that taking my lunch with me wasn’t a good idea - especially with no fridge available. And when I worked late, I had to eat nearby. Everything in Markham (north of Toronto) was expensive.

Since last having a car, both gasoline and insurance costs have increased immensely. I just don’t know how some people are coping.

10. Having a car is a necessity to some. Shortly after getting my first car in five years just less than two weeks ago, my personality seemed to transform. My brother made the interesting comment that I’ve tied up my identity in being mobile. (It’s true. I called myself “The Wanderer” as far back as my first year in college.) I feel like a bird without wings if I don’t have a car. And despite spending over five years trying to be green and live without a car, in some cities it’s nearly impossible for a young person to have a healthy life without one.

After 9/11, I went through a serious downturn in my career that was so bad I couldn’t afford to eat sometimes, let alone renew my driver’s license and insurance, or afford car payments and gas. But now, even though I work at home, my latest job requires that I have a car or that I move to a city where I can easily get to a movie theatre with minimum commuting.

My planned move to Toronto, Canada, has been running into snags, though I’ll have to move before the Toronto Film Festival, which starts Sep 1st, if I’m not mistaken. But I now earn less than half what I did when I lasted worked in Toronto.

So I still have to figure out how I’m going to make this move work financially, and still save to get into film school in January 2009. In the meantime, I’m enjoying having a car again, visiting friends I haven’t seen in 3-4 years, being able to get the groceries from where and when I want (instead of ordering delivery), actually being able to get to a movie theater in less than 45-60 minutes, and being free.

As The Who once sang, I’m going mobile, and I’ll stay this way until the day I retire in some Spanish villa.

The rest of the cars vary widely in price, but many of them seem near dead ringers of classic sports cars of the past. When I look at the gallery, I see the E-type roadster, various porsche models, and hybrids of yet more sports cars gone by.

Speaking of supercars, Warner Bros’ Mach 5 (from the upcoming movie Speed Racer) is on display at the Detroit Auto Show starting today (Jan 13) through Thursday (Jan 17).

It’s planning to price the car at Rs 1-Lakh (100,000 Indian Rupees, or just about US$3,000, give or take a bit.) It’ll be tough competition, but they hope to displace purchases in India of the more expensive “budget” Maruti 800 (made by a Japanese-owned branch of Suzuki).

While there are no doubt many families in India that would appreciate the availability of an affordable car, gasoline has been expensive for decades, and traffic is already insane in many urban centers, where cars, trucks, rickshaws, scooters all vie for position, often having to dodge clusters of lounging cows. An even cheaper car might not actually be a good idea. On the other hand, having lost several close relatives due to motorcycle and scooter accidents, I’m of two minds about this.