consumer issues

SAN FRANCISCO -- Men are from Mars, and women are from Venus -- even online, it seems.

A new crop of women's Web sites have been launched in recent months, purporting to give modern women what they want and need to navigate their lives.

For anyone who's felt intimidated, taken advantage of or simply clueless when it comes to getting your car fixed, Doug Turner understands. A corporate attorney for 15 years, he never fully trusted mechanics and wondered why they weren't more courteous, especially toward women who may be less familiar with cars.

On Sunday, the Patterson family saga draws to a close in the comic strip "For Better or For Worse." But this isn't the end. According to creator Lynn Johnston, it's a new beginning.

Students who must fly to college are finding it harder than ever to transport their stuff.

Most airlines have added or raised fees on checked baggage, and shipping companies have added fuel surcharges to package deliveries.

At his death, in 1851, J.M.W. Turner left behind more than 19,000 watercolors and drawings, along with dozens of finished and unfinished paintings. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, not known for doing things by halves, has included some 140 of the artist's works in the retrospective on display in New York through Sept.

The first time Jeff and Dana Prottas applied for a mortgage they weren't surprised that they might have to jump through a few hoops to get an OK from the bank, so they worked hard to improve their credit score.

"MDX" might sound like something you fill at the pharmacy, but it's actually more likely to be filled at the sporting-goods store.

The midsized crossover sport utility from Acura is designed to be all things to all people -- or at least all things to seven people, which is its official seating capacity.

2009 ACURA MDX

TYPE: All-wheel-drive, five-door, seven-passenger, midsize SUV.

PRICE: $40,790 base, ($37,830 invoice), $46,590 as tested.

WHERE BUILT: Alliston, Ontario.

KEY RIVALS: Mercedes-Benz ML-Class; BMW X5; Lexus GX 470; Infiniti FX.

Specifications for the: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen SE four-door station wagon.

Engine: 2.5-liter five-cylinder, 170 horsepower.

Transmission: Five-speed manual.

Overall length: 14 feet 11 inches.

EPA passenger/cargo volume: 92/33 cubic feet.

Weight: 3,285 pounds.

EPA city/highway fuel consumption: 21/29 miles per gallon.

Before minivans, sport utility vehicles, crossovers and four-door passenger-oriented pickup trucks, there was only one real choice for families: the station wagon.