Okay, so depending upon which magazines and or ezines you read, there are always lists posted of the top 50, or 20 or 10 apps for this, that, or the other. WHEW!

Just saying that is exhausting, let alone trying to read through all of it, and THEN taking the time to download each app and try them out.  I mean, do we really need a simple way to quickly and easily share our “Angry Birds” scores, or a way to tell everyone about the flavor of the day at Baskin Robins?

So in this series, we are going to keep it simple:  Two rules.

1. Only car, or travel related apps.
2. Only one app at a time.

That’s right!  We will do all of the analysis for you and share with you the best apps to enhance your summer driving season.  If you like the app, it might even become a part of your digital driving repertoire for good.  As always, we welcome reader/user comments on apps, especially if you have tried them yourself.

For our first installment…

“Where is My Car Parked?” aGupieWare

We figure that before you can make use of any of the apps we will be talking about in the future, you first have to be able to find your car.

This app allows you to map your cars current location once you find a spot, and then route to it from your location once it’s time to leave.  You can even time stamp location if you are parking/re-parking your car throughout the day.

Here’s where you can find it, and learn more:

$.99 at the Apple App. Store.

http://www.agupieware.com/Apps/WhereIsMyCar/WhereIsMyCar.html

Do I need to use premium gas in my car?

As an auto dealer, this is a question we get a lot, and this blog post is intended to help clear up some of the myths and misconceptions about whether you need premium gas or not. By using the right kind of gas in your car, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars a year!

Generally speaking, the only difference between different grades of fuel is the octane rating, despite what oil companies' marketing would like you to believe. In order to ensure compatibilitiy with carmakers' requirements, even regular gas contains more than the mimimum levels of additives and detergents required by all automakers.

Octane ratings are defined by the ability of gasoline to resist preignition of the fuel/air mixture in the engine's cylinders. Some sports cars or cars with high-performance engines operate under a high compression ratio. If such engines require premium fuel and you put in regular fuel, the preignition can cause a pinging noise, called knock. Knocking can damage engines and is to be avoided at all costs.

The best way to find out what kind of fuel you should use in your car is by consulting your owner's manual or filler flap. Here, you'll find what grade of gas you should be using.

You're likely to find three phrases that indicate what kind of fuel to use:

1. Premium fuel REQUIRED - Your car's engine was designed to use premium gas, and if you don't, the engine could knock and cause damage.

2. Premium fuel RECOMMENDED - For maximum performance and MPGs, you should use premium gas. Today's cars have sophisticated electronics onboard, and combined with a device called a knock sensor, they have the ability to detect knock and make automatic adjustments to prevent damage. You can use regular fuel, but there might be a small hit in performance or economy.

3. No recommendation or requirement for premium fuel - Your car wasn't designed for it, so it doesn't need it. Save…