December 30, 2005
Using the Internet to Buy a Vehicle -- Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #128
This is really cool -- a Car Buyer's Notebook reader called last night and asked for some help using the Internet to get price quotes to buy a new vehicle. "Barb" is like a lot of new vehicle buyers -- they want a car, they're ready to buy yet don't want to walk into a dealership cold. Click here to listen to this great podcast.
So we spent about an hour on the phone with her, walking her through filling out the Free Vehicle Price Quote form here at CBN, as well as building a vehicle, in this case a Subaru Outback, for her at the manufacturer's site, and then doing the same thing at a dealer's site.
This way, we feel she's going to get a bunch of responses, and the number one thing for consumers using the Internet to remember is that the balance of power has dramatically shifted in the new vehicle market.
Barb is also like a lot of buyers in that she is looking for a "good deal' but also wants to be treated professionally and get good service -- and often, consumers will opt to spend a few bucks more to go with a retailer where they feel their business is appreciated, so it's not 100% about price.
We were surprised some actually took us up on our offer to call and/or write for help on this, and we'd like to repeat the offer here. If you have any questions about using the Price Quote tool here at Car Buyer's Notebook, give us a call at 703-236-1846, or email us here.
To listen to today's show, click here to play it directly on your computer.
Or you can subscribe to the daily Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast feed by putting this URL in your podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebook.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)
December 27, 2005
The Shape of Scions to Come?
This is the 2nd-generation Toyota bB, to be sold in Japan,and darn if it doesn't look like a sheet metal makeover of a Scion xB.
Actually, since the first bB was introduced in 2000, it's the other way around.
Anyway, Toyota is touting the new bB as "a car-shaped music player," due to its nine speakers, including a subwoofer in the center console.
But Toyota may think they have more of a love wagon on their hands, thanks to this benny:
"The newly developed "Mattari-mode seats" ("laid-back" mode seats) in the front not only recline, they sink about 80mm to create a couch-like feeling. This delivers an unprecedented feeling of relaxation and privacy."
As far as the Stateside xB is concerned, Toyota is going to have to do something with the refrigerator box on wheels design.
We like them, and they have a certain sort of funky flair, but they are so way out as to be on the bleeding edge of fickle faddishness, which can doom sales in a hurry. Rest assured that Toyota/Scion folks are working on a reimagining of the xB.
Posted by Frank at 08:01 PM | Comments (0)
Win a Lincoln Zephyr and/or Fantasy Vacations
Lincoln is running a giveaway for the new Zephyr, which we reviewed in this videocast, and all you have to do is go through nine screens before you get a chance to enter your info.
The good news is you can enter every day, but the bad news is the contest ends December 31st -- but that gives you time to enter five times!
The grand prize is a 2006 Zephyr and a dream vacation, with three other winners getting the vacation of their choice.
It's derived from the aforementioned menu screens, check it out at www.WhereWillZephyrTakeYou.com.
Posted by Frank at 07:18 PM | Comments (0)
Get a VW Visa, Get $50 in Free VW Stuff
On the heels of a recent stroy about a Lexus Visa card, we have another opportunity for you -- this VW Visa comes with the chance to get $50 in free parts or dealer service, but read the fine print.
First, you have to apply online, here, then you have to spend $50 within 60 days of activating the card to qualify for the $50 incentive.
There is of course a corresponding reward points scheme, and you can check out the 15-page PDF catalog here.
Posted by Frank at 07:05 PM | Comments (0)
Plagiarism is no Respecter of Language
A story from the Korean Chosunibo online site about the Hyundai Sonata breaking the top 10 best selling cars in the U.S. last month looks suspiciously like the story we wrote back on December 13.
Why do we think we got plagiarized? Because of this link in a Korean news forum, from Dec. 20, where they reproduced our chart. According to William, our Korean friend, the post on the forum says something along the lines of "this is the first time the Sonata is in the top 10." Seeing as how the Chosun quoted our numbers, and our revelation, they could have provided a link.
Since most auto news is generated from press releases and opinion, when someone adds an original piece of analysis, it should be treated as sourceable news.
This is the sixth time we've had our stuff ripped off by a bigger news org in the last several months -- the thing that really chaps our goodwill is that because they are bigger, their stuff [which is ours] gets listed on Google News where we then have to watch it come over the e-mail -- TWO WEEKS after we wrote it. That's breaking news for you.
As for another recent incident, from a writer and a mag that should know better, we're keeping our mouths shut to see if they'll do the right thing, as Spike Lee would say.
Posted by Frank at 06:06 PM | Comments (0)
BMW Lease Offers Through January 3, 2006
Judging from the keyword searches that have been flooding the site the last couple days, Santa did not bring a lot of boys and girls new cars.
Since everyone is looking for current year-end offers, let us first say that most current manufacturer programs are good through HJanuary 3rd, including this deal from BMW.
The Bavarians are offering decent lease prices on some of their vehicles but the real opportunity is to drive one of five different models for only two years. To our thinking, a two-year lease is just right -- you've had time to have fun in the vehicle, and it's not so old or used that you just are simply sick and tired of it.
You have a choice of two different 325 sedans, the 525i sedan, or the X3 or X5 SUV. Amount due at signing is in the low three-thousand dollar range. Plus, what's not pictured here is the chance to get a 2005 Z4 2.5i for $299 a month for 27 months with $3,099 due at signing.
The rest of the vehicles pictured have 36 month leases available. For more information, check out BMW's lease page here, for a free, no-obligation price quote, click here.
Posted by Frank at 05:28 PM | Comments (0)
Test Driving the 2006 Jaguar X-Type Sportwagon -- Car Buyer's Podcast #127
In this podcast we talk about the Jaguar wagon -- in racing green and with a dramatic nose it's definitely a wagon for the Town & Country set.
To listen to today's show, click here to play it directly on your computer.
Or you can subscribe to the daily Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast feed by putting this URL in your podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebook.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 02:12 PM | Comments (0)
Test Driving the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr -- Car Buyer's Notebook Videocast
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| To watch the video, right-click on this link and choose 'Save As.' |
To watch the episode, you can right click on this link and choose "Save As," or, even better, you can get on the Apple iTunes bandwagon and subscribe to Zero to 120.
That way, your computer will automatically download a new episode when we publish!
To add Zero to 120 to your daily iTunes fix, add this RSS string to your iTunes or other podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebookvideo.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 11:40 AM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2005
Lexus Visa Card -- Everywhere You Want to Drive Your Lexus
The Lexus Pursuits Visa card makes sense for high rollers, and/or business owners who pump a lot of cash through a credit card.
Designed for Lexus owners, the Visa earns points per dollar spent, that you can apply to the purchase of a new Lexus. The amount is capped to 50,000 points, however, that will get you $500 off a new vehicle.
To get to 50,000 points, you need to flow $33,333.33 through the Visa, which is actually pretty easy for business owners. Card holders earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent outside of Lexus dealerships; they get 5 points for every dollar at dealerships,and that goes up to 10 points per dollar between November 23 and January 3.
Plus, if you get the Signature or Travel options, card holders can also get other bennies like plane tickets and hotel upgrades. For more information, click here.
Posted by Frank at 06:25 PM | Comments (0)
New York Auto Show -- Getcher Advance Tickets!
Everyone's working the Christmas angle. Here it is, December 22, 2005, and we got an e-mail saying you can buy advance tickets to the New York Auto Show. Which is open to the public from April 14 -23, 2006.
But the missive states, you can save one dollar off the $14 adult ticket price. Sorry, no discount for kids under 12 YOA, who pay $4 at all times.
But you know the old joke -- A guy gets on a NYC bus with his kid, who looks way older than 12, and puts enough for one adult and one kid fare in the collection box.
Bus driver says, "Hey, when's zat kid gonna be 12?"
To which the dad replies, "As soon as he gets off this bus!"
Fortunately, the transit strike will be a bad memory by then. Click here to getcher advance tickets.
Posted by Frank at 05:26 PM | Comments (0)
This Mercedes Sprinter is a Marathon Van
Klaus Schade has driven this 1995 Sprinter van over half a million miles [900,000 kilometers, actually] in the last ten years without breaking down. We're told this is the equivalent of circling the earth 22 times.
Schade is so happy with his Mercedes that one of the messages on the back of his Sprinter reads: “Over 900,000 km on the clock. You know where you are with Mercedes.”
The Sprinter is sold under the Dodge and Freightliner brands in the States; worldwide DaimlerChrysler has sold over a million units and a new version is being launched next year.
Posted by Frank at 05:08 PM | Comments (0)
Toyotathon Details
When Toyota first put the link on their site for the 27th annual Toyotathon, they didn't include any actual details -- you had to contact a dealer to get the goods.
Now, though, with time running down to the January 3rd end point, there are some particulars:
-- Get a Sienna minivan on a lease for $239 a month for 36 months with $1,999 due at signing, OR, get $500 cash back, OR 3.9% APR.
-- Lease a Toyota Tundra for only $249 a month for 36 months with $1,999 due at signing, OR, get $1,500 cash back, OR 3.9% APR.
-- Get $750 cash back on a 2006 Camry, OR lease for $239 a month for 36 months with $1,999 due at signing, OR, get $1,500 cash back, OR 3.9% APR.
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on any Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicle, click here.
Posted by Frank at 04:58 PM | Comments (0)
Explore Milan World
The new Mercury Milan is proving to be one of the vehicles that's putting Ford back on the map with cars, and of course, they have the requisite minisite, Milan World. As web features go, we give it a solid "B." It has a goofy little flash game that's good for wasting about 15 minutes of your boss' time and some truly surreal movie clips.
What caught our attention, though, was the content under the "Milan Style" tab. There's been some stories and scuttlebutt that Mercury is positioning itself as a Chick Brand, and judging from the content, it looks like there's some truth to the vibe.
Check it out for yourself, or, if you want to just jump in and get a price quote on a new Mercury Milan, click here.
Posted by Frank at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)
Martha's Apprentice Wins a Buick Lucerne
How did we miss the drama? Dawna, the magazine publisher, beat out Bethenny, the natural foods chef, to become Martha Stewart's Apprentice.
Along with the "win," Dawna got the keys to a new Buick Lucerne. Which she can keep parked in a convenient location to escape the loony-tunes work environment at MSLO. Check out the show's website here, and Yahoo's version here.
Buick tells us the Lucerne tie-in to Stewart's show got a lot of attention -- Buick.com has gotten 736,000 hits during the three-week promotion. Another event, the Buick Lucerne Premiere Night, attracted 50,000 visitors to 600 Buick dealers nationwide.
Check out our report on the Lucerne night here; to get a price quote on any model Buick, click here.
Posted by Frank at 03:01 PM | Comments (0)
Hyundai Sonata Deal
From the way we're reading the fine print -- and there's asterisks, double asterisks and crosses -- it looks like you can get a 2006 Hyundai Sonata, with the V6, for the same price as the base V4.
Essentially, that's $3,000 off the V6 sticker of $20,895, so you get it for the V4's MSRP of $17,895.
But, only $1,000 of that is guaranteed, in factory cash back. You have to finance through Hyundai's credit arm for another $1,000, and you have to be a current Hyundai owner to get the third grand off the price.
For most people, since Hyundai is capturing lots of new customers, this means you can get at least $2,000 off the V6 Sonata. For $18,895, it's a buy.
However, part of the fine print in the deal says, "Dealer Price May Vary," so we suggest getting a free price quote from a Hyundai dealer, by clicking here.
Posted by Frank at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)
Turbocharge your tC
You can pump up your Scion tC's horsepower by as much as 25% with this warranty-OK turbocharger from Toyota Racing Development.
The retail MSRP is $3200, though the folks at TRD tell us you can get it cheaper from a Toyota/Scion dealer. And that's a smart thing to do, because if you don't have it installed by authorized personnel the warranty on both the car and the turbocharger ees no good, senor.
The PDF brochure for the turbocharger is vague on actual horsepower numbers, but the TRD site says you can get up to 200 hp out of your tC, which comes standard with 160 hp, as you can read in this spec sheet. The turbocharger can only be installed in a manual transmission tC, BTW.
Posted by Frank at 01:25 PM | Comments (0)
MINI Desktop "Decoy" Screensaver
This idea's been around awhile -- when you're goofing off, or want to step out of the office, having a "decoy" screensaver that makes it look like you have work on your screen is a handy tool for the chronically scamming.
The MINI screensaver takes two additional steps, though, that make it a worthwhile entry in the slacker's hall of fame. First, it has sound effects -- typing, pencil sharpening, paper shuffling, as well as coughing and throat clearing effects, in either male or female variants.
Then there's the fake head attachment, akin to the pillows under the covers, that make it look like your nose to the keyboard, grinding it out [see below]. To get to the screensaver download, you have to go to MINI's main site, then click on Motor On, and you'll see the link for the Desktop Decoy.
Posted by Frank at 12:40 PM | Comments (0)
Scion Swag on Sale
Scion accessories, aka "Scionware" are being offered at prices 40% off the regular retail price -- but only through December 31, 2005. After that, full price.
How can you go wrong with a $3 pen or key chain? The $12 backpack doesn't look too bad, either. The clothes don't move us that greatly, but if you're in the market for a hooded sweatshirt, $18 ain't bad. Here's the link.
Posted by Frank at 12:23 PM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2005
Car Audio Science -- Car Buyer's Notebook Videocast
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| To watch the video, right-click on this link and choose 'Save As.' |
To watch the episode, you can right click on this link and choose "Save As," or, even better, you can get on the Apple iTunes bandwagon and subscribe to Zero to 120.
That way, your computer will automatically download a new episode when we publish!
To add Zero to 120 to your daily iTunes fix, add this RSS string to your iTunes or other podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebookvideo.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)
Workers of the World Wake Up -- Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #126
In this podcast we compare the NYC Transit Strike to the United Auto Worker situation, as the latter faces massive job and wage cuts.
Unfortunately, not only is public sentiment at odds with the historic rhetoric of unions, the global wage and price structure has changed so drastically as to make the situation a final turning point for unionized labor.
To listen to today's show, click here to play it directly on your computer.
Or you can subscribe to the daily Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast feed by putting this URL in your podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebook.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 11:08 PM | Comments (0)
Send a Porsche Holiday Card
Waited too long to get your Holiday cards in the mail? You can send this animated Porsche Holiday card to your nearest and dearest on your electronic good boys and girls list. Here's the link.
Posted by Frank at 10:27 PM | Comments (0)
CrankyFrank Says: Shut That D*MN Music Off!
We spend a lot of time on automotive websites. Consequently, what may be a good idea for the casual web surfer, drives us batty.
We're talking about sound, music, noise -- that is supposed to create a mood, or ambience. for the visitor.
It doesn't.
It makes our fingers twitch so that we can't shut down the offending tab on our Firefox browser fast enough.
We are singling out the current websites that have music we can no longer stand to hear:
-- www.audiusa.com -- that uses a techo-housebeat that makes us want to wave flashing lights in the air and LOVE everybody who drives an Audi.
-- www.findyourstyle.com -- a GM site currently playing a Muzakified 80s power ballad that's about as stylish as men with long permed hair and ripped t-shirts.
-- www.lexus.com -- that's playing a tinkly holiday theme so maudlin it only makes us want to drive one of their cars off a cliff while thinking about Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life.
-- www.scion.com -- a double offender in that accidentally mousing over the chump in the ski hat produces some DJ mash and a light show that makes us think their marketing is exactly that.
-- www.vw.com -- for using a chink and whoosh sound effect that makes the site look like it was designed in a college graphics arts lab.
-- www.lincolnlounge.com -- for using a langorous hip-hop beat that sounds a littletooclose to online booty sites.
Posted by Frank at 04:11 PM | Comments (0)
Detroit Auto Show Newsletter Online
The December issue of Showtalk, the official newsletter of the Detroit Auto Show in online, here, and includes roundups of what the different companies are showinng in just a few weeks time.
Included in this issue is the story of Geely, the first Chinese automaker to exhibit in Detroit. Geely will have their 7151 CK on hand during press week, “to introduce itself to the North American media.”
Founded in 1986 to make refrigerators and then motorcycle parts, Geely got in the auto business by buying a minivan maker. Geely, the first private Chinese enterprise to produce cars, has a sports car, the Beauty Leopard, that has a built-in karaoke machine.
Posted by Frank at 10:47 AM | Comments (0)
NYC Transit Strike and the UAW
Leaders and rank and file members of the United Auto Workers should take a cold, hard look at the NYC transit strike. There's no better snapshot for the public's current disposition toward striking workers.
The fact is, times have changed. Unions aren't fighting for protection against slave or child labor or unsafe work environments. There are differences between NY and Detroit though. In NY, the strike is paralyzing the city, and the public is outraged.
In Detroit, the union will only paralyze itself with a strike and let me tell you -- the public will only yawn. Public opinion is against the UAW, the common belief is that they've held up the auomakers for too long and prevented the companies from modernizing and from adjusting to the global economy.
If the UAW strikes, everyone will lose, to paraphrase NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
But the union members will lose the most, because those jobs will simply disappear, either offshore or because of permanent closures. A strike is simply counterhistorical in the auto industry at this point -- it will solve nothing, and will simply accelerate the loss of whatever jobs might still be saved.
For strike coverage, check out this Google news page of nearly 7,000 stories; Gawker is also doing a great job, including this story about the police bus, pictured above.
Posted by Frank at 10:27 AM | Comments (0)
Corvette Z06 Podcast -- From GM and MPH Mag
MPH magazine has named the Corvette Z06 their Top Spin of the Year, against some pretty tough competition. The mag's editor, Eddie Alterman, did a podcast for GM's Fast Lane blog, and you can listen to it by downloading this file.
It's a good listen, Alterman has a good rationale for putting it ahead of more expensive rides – in a nutshell, at $65,800, the Z06 is an attainable fantasy ride.
The rest of the Top Spins list follows below, and you can check out the Z06 story at MPH's website, here.
#2 Ferrari F430
#3 BMW M5
#4 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG
#5 Porsche Cayman S
#6 Lexus IS350
#7 Mazda MX-5
#8. Honda Civic Si
#9. Range Rover Sport
#10. Dodge Ram SRT-10 Quad-Cab
Posted by Frank at 07:38 AM | Comments (0)
Jaguar Produces First XK Model -- in Time for Detroit!
The first unit of Jaguar's new XK line rolled off the line at their Castle Bromwich Manufacturing Centre. XK #1 is a Liquid Silver 4.2 V8 XK Coupe with Charcoal interior and burr walnut veneer facia, and was promptly remanded to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, where it will be kept as part of the museum's collection.
Available to the public in early 2006, Jaguar will be showing the XK at the Detroit Auto Show. Jaguar dealers are now officially taking orders on the car.
For a free price quote on any Jaguar model, click here. Here's another pic:
Posted by Frank at 07:21 AM | Comments (0)
Saab's Two-Day Driving School Give-Away
The Bottom Line: Buy a '05-'06 Saab Aero, get free tuition to a two day performance driving school, held at Road Atlanta racetrack.
The Details: Saab hasn't given a cutoff date for the program, so it looks open ended for now. Vehicles that qualify are 9-3 and 9-5 models that come equipped with the 2.8L V6 Turbo “Aero” engine.
The driving course consists of 20% classroom time, 80% on the track with professional instructors. Saab owners will receive a certificate of their eligibility within 4-6 weeks of purchasing a new vehicle and have a year to attend the course. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation and lodging for the event and will drive Saab-provided cars.
Click here to check out detailed information on the program, including a track video, from which we grabbed the above-right screenshot. For a free price quote on any Saab, click here.
More details from Saab:
Aero Academy enrollees experience a skid pad where they learn how to control a car with proper steering, throttle and brake responses; “threshold” braking, which teaches how to apply brakes, improve reaction time and avoid brake lockup; a lane change exercise which is designed to improve reflexes and car control skills; a slalom course which tests timing, throttle and steering skills – all while avoiding the orange cones; and an autocross, a scaled down race track that tests cornering, braking, acceleration and skid control while using 100 percent of the cars’ potential.
Saab Aero Academy instructors are active in open wheel formula racing, sports car racing, endurance racing and oval track racing. Instructor to student ratio is 1:4. Over 1,400 Saab owners have participated in the Aero Academy since it was founded in 1999 under the name “ Viggen Flight Academy.”
Posted by Frank at 06:58 AM | Comments (0)
Mercedes Giving Away $1.5 Million in College Scholarships
For the third consecutive year, Mercedes is running a scholarship program, Drive Your Future, for students who are the first generation in their family to attend college. One hundred high school seniors from across the country will receive $10,000 in total grants, in $2,5000 per year amounts.
In addition, Mercedes has a second program expressly for students pursuing a degree in the performance arts. Fifty of these scholarships, also $2,500 per year for four years, will be awarded.
Applications can be submitted between Jan. 4, 2006 through the Feb. 10, 2006 deadline. Scholarship recipients will be announced in May 2006. Visit the Drive your Future website more details and the application form.
Mercedes will choose an average of two students from each state for the primary scholarship program, and one student from each state for the performing arts scholarship. in addition students from the following youth organizations will also be considered: Automotive High School, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, FIRST Robotics, Girls Inc., The Mal Washington Foundation, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, Teach For America, Virtual Enterprises and Young Women’s Leadership School.
Scholarship winners will be requested to serve as “ambassadors of Mercedes-Benz USA philanthropy” by giving back to their communities through activities such as mentoring/tutoring younger students.
Mercedes will also donate an additional $1 million to the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s National Arts and Music Education Initiative [NAMEI], pegged to sales of the Special Edition GL-Class.
Posted by Frank at 05:34 AM | Comments (0)
Toyota FJ Cruiser -- Special Report
After letting the public gawk for awhile, Toyota is bringing the FJ Cruiser to showrooms in 2006, so folks can actually buy the vehicle with a storied history. They've just put out a heap of information about the vehicle, design concepts, its origins and a timeline -- and quite frankly, it's too much to present in a single story.
So we took the time to compile all the material into a tasty, 13-page PDF file, complete with photos of the FJ. There's a lot of good stuff here -- did you know the vehicle got its start as a 4x4 for the Japanese National Police?
Here's the link to download the PDF -- enjoy!
Posted by Frank at 05:18 AM | Comments (0)
December 20, 2005
Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #125: Let the Salesman Speak!
Now this is a brainstorm -- Car Buyer's Notebook is now accepting video and audio clip entries from car sales professionals, in which they describe a vehicle they sell -- and try to convince our audience that it is a "must buy."
Clips MUST be between 30 and 45 seconds long, and in the case of video, should show the salesperson either in front of or sitting inside the vehicle.
In order to enter, clips must be e-mailed to us at editor@carbuyersnotebook.com, and they MUST come from a recognizable dealership address and also include the dealer's phone number.
That's it. We're specifically are excluding dealer principals and/or managers. We want to hear from the sales people. Our goal is to give our audience a different, fun kind of content, to get the retail side of the industry involved and also, to show new vehicle salespeople in a light they don't often get to present themselves in. We're excited about this!
To listen to today's show, click here to play it directly on your computer.
Or you can subscribe to the daily Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast feed by putting this URL in your podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebook.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 08:42 PM | Comments (0)
Volvo Lease Deals Through Jan. 3
As you can see from the picture above, Volvo is running lease deals on their entire line of vehicles and the promo runs through January 3, 2006. Unfortunately the click-throughs won't work for you, as it's a screen shot, but you can check out the master incentive page here. Or, if you'd like to just go ahead and get a price quote, click here.
One cool thing we did spot is that there's a "Ski Pass" promotion, where if you buy a Volvo now you get a pass to the following resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly.
Posted by Frank at 06:19 PM | Comments (0)
Honda Ridgeline Wins Truck of the Year -- Car Buyer's Notebook Video Cast
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| To watch the video, right-click on this link and choose 'Save As.' |
To watch the episode, you can right click on this link and choose "Save As," or, even better, you can get on the Apple iTunes bandwagon and subscribe to Zero to 120.
That way, your computer will automatically download a new episode when we publish!
To add Zero to 120 to your daily iTunes fix, add this RSS string to your iTunes or other podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebookvideo.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 05:19 PM | Comments (0)
Chevy Aveo Coming to the LA Auto Show
GM is bringing the redesigned 2007 Chevy Aveo sedan to the LA Auto Show, and as they say in the press release, they're continuing their “assault” on the small car market.
It makes sense for Chevy to concentrate on a winner – the Aveo is the best-selling car in the subcompact segment, and with Toyota, Honda and Nissan all bringing their own new entries, it's going to be a fight at the lower end of the market.
Chevy says they're bringing a new sedan – no word yet if the five-door is also redesigned, and no word on new prices yet. 2006 Aveos start at $9,995 for the base model, the LS starts at $11,910 and the LT starts at $13,330. Chevy says the 2007 Aveo will only come in LS and LT versions.
The powerplant remains the same – a 4-cylinder, 103-horsepower engine, mated to a standard 5-speed transmission, a 4-speed automatic is available as an option. Power-assisted, variable-rate rack-and-pinion steering is standard.
The Aveo's standard radio comes with an input jack for iPods, and you can also upgrade audio options to include a six-CD changer and steering-wheel mounted audio and cruise controls. A tilt-adjustable steering wheel and six-way adjustable front seats are also standard.
The 2007 Aveo sedan comes standard with advanced dual-stage frontal air bags and standard seat-mounted side-impact air bags that provide added head and thorax protection. The dual-stage frontal air bags deploy at different levels, depending on the severity of the crash.
To get a free price quote on a Chevy Aveo, click here.
Posted by Frank at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)
2006 Kia Rio Voted Most Improved New Car
The 2006 Kia Rio has been dubbed the “Most Improved New Car,” by the board of editors at Autobytel. The Kia comes in three trim levels – Base, LX and the Rio5 SX five-door. The Base model has a starting price of $11,110, the LX starts at $12,985 and the Rio5 begins at $14,040. All prices include destination charges.
The Rio was chosen by Autobytel based on a set of criteria that include fuel-efficiency and family driving, to affordability, style, and just plain fun.
"Rio is a magnificent subcompact class-leading car with attractive styling and performance wrapped in a smart yet extremely affordable package," said Len Hunt, executive vice president and COO of Kia Motors America. "We're pleased that Autobytel, the press and the entire automotive community are recognizing the Kia Rio for all it offers consumers."
To get a price quote on a new Kia Rio, click here.
Posted by Frank at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)
A Very MINI Christmas
Workers at the Oxford, England MINI plant gave themselves a nice Xmas present before going on holiday -- this pepper white MINI is the 200,000th vehicle to come off the line this calendar year.
MINI tells us the plant -- the only one that build the Cooper -- has built 766,290 vehicles since production began in April, 2001.
Having reached the milestone, workers are getting an extended Christmas break so the company can install improvements to the plant.
To get a price quote on a new MINI Cooper [we love the convertible] click here.
Posted by Frank at 12:13 PM | Comments (0)
Lincoln Lounge Open for Business
Lincoln has a new destination site for the urban audience -- Lincoln Lounge features music, a DUB edition Mark LT pickup that you can win, and oh yeah, a celebrity spokesman in Magic Johnson.
The site also has the R&B group New Edition as featured musical ambassadors, plus, a feature we really like, "Old School," a gallery of older Lincolns.
Cruising around the site yields several cool assets, such as Magic Johnson doing a virtual walkaround of the Zephyr and Mark LT pickup, plus you can enter to win a DUB edititon Mark LT that Magic had a hand in drawing up the list of customized features.
There's also a rather racy [for an auto company] video with the five guys from New Edition getting into a squadron of Mark LTs. Certainly not on the level of BET-style rap videos, but there are some fly girls on hand.
You can also view Lincoln advertising, including video and print, which is the first time we saw the ad featuring Melvin and Mario Van Peebles. Which makes sense because Lincoln is also a sponsor of the American Black Film Festival.
Finally, there's the Sounds of Lincoln feature that includes a pop-up player and songs from 11 artists.
We recently interviewed Albert Thomspon, project manager for Lincoln Lounge in this podcast, where he told us some of the ideas that drove the design behind the site, as well as some of the features. Check it out!
Posted by Frank at 09:37 AM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2005
Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #124: Self-Concept and Vehicle Choice
Do you choose the kind of vehicle you drive based on who you think you are, or how you want the world to see you? Aren't both part of your self-concept?
Over the past year, I've had the opportunity to "try on" different automotive personae and I've come to a startling conclusion -- you can change your self-concept, and thus how you and the world see you, just as easily as getting into a new car.
To listen to today's show, click here to play it directly on your computer.
Or you can subscribe to the daily Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast feed by putting this URL in your podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebook.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 06:35 PM | Comments (0)
Eliot "The E is for Enforcer" Spitzer Fines Price-Gouging Gas Stations
Remember all the harrumphing about gas price gouging after Hurrican Katrina? All those blowhards talking about how they were going to look into it?
At least one top cop actually followed through, New York State's feared Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer. Sure, we think he makes Javert look like Andy Griffith, but when you need vengeance he's more reliable than a freak in tights. But then again, maybe he's still wearing those Superman briefs ...
Anyway, Spitzer's crew of justice seekers investigated 80 gas stations in the Empire State, and found 15 of them had indeed engaged in price gouging, all by inflating the price by at least 25%. The station operators have agreed to pay, [PAY! PAY, I TELL YOU!] $63,500, according to Newsday.
Posted by Frank at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)
Free Vehicle Price Quote -- Car Buyer's Notebook Video Cast
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To watch the episode, you can right click on this link and choose "Save As," or, even better, you can get on the Apple iTunes bandwagon and subscribe to Zero to 120.
That way, your computer will automatically download a new episode when we publish!
To add Zero to 120 to your daily iTunes fix, add this RSS string to your iTunes or other podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebookvideo.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 04:15 PM | Comments (0)
December Sales Down 14% Early in Month
While overall sales are down 14% in the first 11 days of December, Toyota and Honda gained market share because their sales are down less than the domestics, according to J. D. Power's Information Network [PIN].
PIN is reporting that Ford's market share dropped to 15.8%, versus 17.9% a year ago, GM was down to 21.7% compared to last November and DaimlerChrysler posted a 12.6% market share compared to 13.3% last year.
Though Honda's and Toyota's sales are down, 3% and 6% respectively, the domestics, and most of the multi-brand companies are down double-digits, according to PIN. Only BMW has posted a sales increase so far this month, up 3%. Nissan’s market share is flat at 7.4%
Bob Schnorbus, chief economist of global forecasting at J.D. Power and Associates said that because sales were strong in December 2004 due to year-end incentives, comparisons may be difficult to draw, “especially with regard to the Big 3."
Posted by Frank at 12:13 PM | Comments (0)
Audi Brings Q7 SUV to the LA Auto Show
You'll be able to get a close look at Audi's new Q7 SUV at the LA Auto Show, but the vehicle won't make it into dealerships until late Spring 2006. Audi plans to offer two engines in the Q7, starting with a 4.2 liter V8 FSI engine that produces 350 horsepower. FSI is direct gas injection that helps the engine develop more power while also using fuel more economically.
The V8 will be joined by a 3.6 FSI V6 version in September that churns out 280 hp. Both models will be equipped with Quattro, Audi's permanent all-wheel drive system. Audi will also showcase a hybrid fitted with the V8 during the LA Show.
Fortunately, Audi does have a minisite already set up for the Q7, including a video of the unveil at the Frankfurt Auto Show, plus wallpapers and an interactive section with rollover hotspots. You can also sign up for e-mail updates. Click on this link, then follow Experience the Q7.
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on any of Audi's vehicles, click here.
Posted by Frank at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)
Check out the "Dodge Legacy" History Site
If you're interested in automotive history, Dodge has an interactive feature, accessible through their consumer site, that guides you on a walk [click?] through the last 100-plus years of the brand.
Who knew that the Dodge brothers, Horace and John, got their start by producing bicycles? Or that they tasted their first real success by making parts for the young Henry Ford? Or that the first Hemi engine made its appearance in 1953 with a puny 140-horsepower?
You can access the Dodge Legacy timeline here, then click on the Take the Tour icon to initiate the pop-up.
Posted by Frank at 09:43 AM | Comments (0)
UAW Splinter Group to Picket Detroit Auto Show
Soliders of Solidarity, a grass-roots UAW group, is putting out the word to rank and file members that they are organizing a picket of the Detroit Auto Show, January 8, from Noon to 4 pm.
The choice of date is no coincidence -- the 8th is a media day, meaning only five or six thousand journalists will be there from around the world. The UAW members will need tall signs so they can be distinguished from the hordes of journos surrounding them. Chances are reporters will outnumber picketers.
Information on the picket can be found at Futureoftheunion.com, where the reason for the March in Detroit is given as:
It is time for working men and women to stand up and demand the respect we deserve. We ask that you join with the Soldiers of Solidarity on the sidewalks surrounding the auto show. Bring your own signs and show support for working families whose very livelihoods are under attack by GM-Delphi.
Now about those ballet dancers ...
Posted by Frank at 09:20 AM | Comments (0)
December 18, 2005
Pick Up Your Mercedes -- in Germany
According to Mercedes, over 100,000 customers have picked up their Benz at the German factory since 1965, through the European Delivery Program [EDP]. Essentially, you're combining a vacaction with picking up a new car.
And if you go way upscale, the trip just might wind up costing you too much more than if you bought the vehicle Stateside. The Mercedes EDP comes with a 7% discount on C, E, S, and CLK models. You can get an SLK350, but without the discount.
It's recommended you place your order 3-4 months in advance. Once you're there, you either stay one night in a hotel, or if you get the "Black Forest-Alps Rally Package," you stay an additional four nights. Along the way you take a self-guided trip from the factory into the Black Forest and then into the Austrian Alps, over the Arlberg Pass and then close to Innsbruck. From there go to Munich. The package price is $1,300.00 per couple.
Check out EDP here; to get a price quote on a new Mercedes, click here.
Posted by Frank at 11:56 PM | Comments (0)
1,976 Used Porsches to Choose From
In a recent story, we revealed that 17.2% of ALL vehicles sold by Porsche dealers in the United States are CPO -- Certified Pre-Owned, the fancy term for used.
Porsche CPO vehicles are essentially used cars bought by dealers, that are subjected to 100-point inspections and are covered by a warranty up to 100,000 miles. To learn more about the warranty, read this PDF brochure.
To search through either the US and/or Canadian Porsche CPO database, click on this link.
To get a dealer price quote on a new Porsche, click here.
Posted by Frank at 11:39 PM | Comments (0)
MINI Launches Accessory Line for Eurotrash
MINI has a new clothing and accessory line, which you can view at Mini_motion to make your own conclusion.
Look at this watch. Seriously, who would wear it? How about Euro-hipster drug dealers with greasy hair and tight, vintage blue jeans? Or guys from New Jersey with metrosexually-waxed eyebrows?
The jackets are less objectionable, but they veer dangerously close to Members Only fashion. You know, the jackets with the zippered breast pocket. We're waiting for the designer to unveil a silver lame jumpsuit.
You can tell this line is a dog by the retail stores carrying it -- NYC's Museum of Modern Art, which we have long referred to as a glorified poster shop, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. When you can't get buzz or build a customer base on the merits of the product, work out a deal with these kind of museums and slap some phony chic cachet on it.
Posted by Frank at 09:45 PM | Comments (0)
Howard Stern's Last Show
The King is Dead! Long Live the King!
As a traditional radio personality, Howard Stern is no more. He performed his last show Friday, December 16, 2005, an event which is chronicled on this page at his website. Look for the picture gallery link, there's a ton of freaks, geeks and nearly barenakedladies.
Stern will reappear on Sirius radio's subscription-only airwaves on January 9, 2006. When he does, his audience will have dropped by about 70% -- from approximately 10 million to 3 million Sirius subscribers, not all of whom can be expected to listen every day. Now that Stern is officially off regular radio, he has to rebuild his audience in order to justify the $500 million Sirius is spending on five years of the program.
If Stern does manage to make a success out of the Sirius experiment, he will indeed be the King Of All Media.
Posted by Frank at 09:14 PM | Comments (0)
You Can Win a Slot in the 30th Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race
To secure your position behind the wheel of a "race-ready Scion tC" on April 8, 2006, you have to be the winning bidder of an eBay auction that runs from January 16 to 26.
Toyota is granting the right for a non-pro, non-famous person to join in the fun so they can donate the winning bid amount to the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach.
What do you think the winning bid will be Over a 100K? A million? Let's hope some celebrity-obsessed gavone doesn't win.
What the winning bidder receives sounds like a trip to fast car heaven:
-- Chance to drive the Scion tC more than 100 mph in the 10-lap sprint over the 1.97-mile, 11-turn Long Beach street circuit.
-- Four days of professional driver's training at Fast Lane Driving School.
-- Pre-event Press Day prior to race weekend and other media activities.
-- Custom-made driving gear, including suit, shoes, gloves and helmet.
-- First-class air fare and hotel accommodations for training, press day and race weekend, with ground transportation for race related events only.
-- $5,000 donation from Toyota in the high bidder's name to "Racing for Kids," a national non-profit program benefiting two children's hospitals in Southern California.
-- A VIP pass for two for a private celebrity event immediately following the Saturday, April 8.
Posted by Frank at 08:18 PM | Comments (0)
Ford Switches Teams on Gay Advertising
Following a meeting with national gay leaders, Ford has flopped on its "no gay" advertising stance, and will now advertise all eight of their brands in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender media outlets.
Originally, Ford said that Land Rover and Jaguar would stop advertising in gay-themed publications, but that Volvo would continue. While Ford denies the connection, in general the conclusion drawn in the media was that the company made the announcement as a direct result of pressure from a Christian group that had threatened a boycott against Ford vehicles.
In response to Ford's new position on gay advertising, The American Family Association, wihch has led the boycott movement, has issued a release threatening, "the option of a boycott is now very much alive." Ford's statement on their revised position can be found here.
Editor's note: After seeing the destructive effect of religious extremism in the Middle East, we think that Americans are ready to turn their back on so-called Christian groups advocating intolerance.
Posted by Frank at 07:05 PM | Comments (0)
2006 Mitsubishi Galant Prices
There are five different ways to buy a 2006 Mitsubishi Galant; the main distinction is between a four-cylinder or six-cylinder power plant.
The 2.4 liter, four-cylinder engine comes in three trim options, the Galant DE 4-door starts at $19,399.00 with a 4-Speed automatic, the ES starts at $20,299.00, also with an automatic. The Galant SE starts at $21,999.00, also with a 4-Speed automatic.
The 3.8 liter, six-cylinder Galant comes as either an LS model, starting at $22,999, the Galant GTS starts at $26,999.00, both have Sportonic transmissions.
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on any Mitsubishi vehicle, click here.
Posted by Frank at 06:06 PM | Comments (0)
Kia Brings Soul to Detroit Auto Show
Kia will unveil their "Soul" concept car at the Detroit Auto Show, January 9. The Soul is a crossover utility vehicle with a wrap-around windshield and suicide doors. The vehicle features a reconfigurable cargo space, the rear lift gate includes a unique "drawer" for wet or muddy items such as a wetsuit or hiking shoes.
Posted by Frank at 05:44 PM | Comments (0)
Nissan Auctions Race Driver's Suit for Charity
Nissan is auctioning off the driving suit worn by Boris Said, one of their sponsored race drivers, to benefit military families.
You can check out the eBay auction for Boris Said's suit here, as we write this the top bid is $625; the retail value for a similar suit is about $1,000.
Said wore the suit when he was behind the wheel of a 715-horsepower Nissan Titan this October, winning 2005 Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR) Nissan Off-Road National in Chula Vista, California.
The auction ends Christmas Eve and the proceeds benefit Operation Homefront, created in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 to channel volunteer support to help the families of deployed military personnel.
Posted by Frank at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)
Striking Ballet Dancers to Choreograph UAW Picket Lines?
In a stunning development the Washington Ballot has cancelled the final week of performances of the perennial Nutcracker, in a labor dispute over working conditions with the company's dancers.
It's not that the dancers wanted to be able to drink and smoke on the job -- or take bathroom breaks whenever they damn well please -- it was about rising injury rates and grueling practices imposed by the Ballet Master.
Since the Nutcracker generates most of the company's annual revenue, dancers fear the Washington Ballet may actually fold operations. As a ploy, no doubt, to hire cheap, less-uppity Chinese artists.
With the prospect of being thrown out of work, it is possible the striking dancers could take their tutus and slippers on the road to ensure that UAW pickets are graceful and on pointe.
Posted by Frank at 04:44 PM | Comments (0)
December 17, 2005
Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #123: Magic Johnson Welcomes You to the Lincoln Lounge
In this podcast we spoke to Albert Thompson, project manager for a new Lincoln destination site, "Lincoln Lounge."
Aimed at the urban audience, Lincoln Lounge is a rich multimedia site that while centered around Lincoln, definitely has urban appeal. Check out the podcast to hear Thompson talk about the idea behind the site, and how Magic Johnson, New Edition and DUB magazine all got involved.
To listen to today's show, click here to play it directly on your computer.
Or you can subscribe to the daily Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast feed by putting this URL in your podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebook.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 01:24 PM | Comments (0)
December 14, 2005
Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #122: Good News From a GM Showroom
In this podcast we report to you about our experience at the Buick Lucerne Premiere night at a local dealership. We came away impressed with the vehicles and the staff, and are convinced that GM's future lies more in the showroom than in the boardroom.
To listen to today's show, click here to play it directly on your computer.
Or you can subscribe to the daily Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast feed by putting this URL in your podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebook.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 11:55 PM | Comments (0)
Car Buyer's Notebook Video Cast: Electronic Stability Control
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Electronic Stability control, or ESC, is one of those features that is mostly invisible, and perhaps not as exciting as "fun" stuff like GPS navigation systems, but like seat belts, it can save lives when crashes occur.
To watch the episode, you can right click on this link and choose "Save As," or, even better, you can get on the Apple iTunes bandwagon and subscribe to Zero to 120.
That way, your computer will automatically download a new episode when we publish!
To add Zero to 120 to your daily iTunes fix, add this RSS string to your iTunes or other podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebookvideo.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)
Aggressive Driving is Bad Karma
Coming home from the Buick Lucerne event last night, a pickup driver roared up behind our Suzuki Aerio until he could read the newspaper on the front seat.
We pulled to the right lane – and we were doing the 45 mph speed limit; he was doing at least 20 over.
The road in question is the two-lane George Washington Parkway, where speeds routinely exceed 70 mph. The particular section is not lit. The pickup annoyed us, but not overmuch. Yesterday was a good day, so we let him go on his merry.
When the pickup was a hundred yards ahead, we passed a side street, from which a police cruiser made a right turn behind us. We smiled. Because we happen to know there is a new U.S Park Police officer on patrol who's eager to slow traffic down on this stretch. We often see him introducing himself to new customers.
The panoramic view told us the cop saw the pickup. The cop slid into the left lane and hit the gas, stealthily cruising into the pickup's slipstream.
Instead of making a turnaround, we stayed on the road. At the speed limit. The pickup and his new friend lengthened their lead to about a mile. But still, no lights.
The road curves.
Around a bend, we see our anticipated payoff. Red and blue Christmas lights, twinkling merrily.
We continued on, smiling with holiday cheer. Made a U-turn up a ways. On the way back, the police officer and the pickup driver were getting acquainted.
Aggressive driving is bad karma.
Posted by Frank at 10:03 AM | Comments (0)
Nissan Develops Urge to Show Off in Detroit
Nissan is developing the Urge concept to show off to Detroit Auto Show visitors on January 9.
The Urge is a rear-wheel drive sports car that Nissan says is inspired by motorcycle styling, and features a quick, high-revving, small-displacement engine, with 6-speed manual transmission.
The car was created by Nissan's La Jolla, California Design Center and also features brushed aluminum-alloy wheels, color-infused aluminum body panels and a driver-oriented cockpit with an integrated Xbox 360 gaming system.
Posted by Frank at 09:57 AM | Comments (0)
GM Unveiling "Lucky 7" at LA Auto Show
General Motors is letting loose with seven new vehicles at the LA Auto Show, including the the newly redesigned 2007 Aveo sedan, the all-new 2007 Suburban flagship SUV and the Corvette Z06 Daytona Pace Car.
GMC is featuring the 2007 Yukon XL, Pontiac will unveil the 2007 Solstice GXP performance variant and Saab will present an ethanol-fueled concept vehicle and a 20th Anniversary Edition 9-3 Convertible.
Here’s the full list from GM:
2007 Chevy Aveo Sedan: The newly redesigned 2007 Aveo sedan is the spirited successor to the best-selling vehicle in the entry-level segment, and the global face of Chevrolet. The newly redesigned Aveo sedan is the newest member of Chevy’s passenger car family.
2007 Chevy Suburban: The all-new 2007 Suburban is Chevy’s flagship SUV and is built on GM’s brand-new full-size SUV architecture, combining advanced fuel-saving technologies and changes in design aerodynamics for best-in-class fuel economy. The 2007 Suburban will go on sale in the second quarter of 2006.
Corvette Z06 Daytona Pace Car: A specially prepared Corvette Z06 will serve as the Official Pace Car of the 48 th annual Daytona 500, on Feb. 19. It wears a unique paint scheme, including Daytona 500 logos, as well as mandated safety equipment and strobe lights. No mechanical modifications or enhancements were needed to prepare the Corvette Z06 for its on-track duty.
2007 GMC Yukon XL: This all-new, full-size SUV goes on sale in the second quarter of 2006, and is distinguished with sleek, expressive styling that announces a new look for GMC. It offers more power and better fuel economy than the vehicle it replaces.
2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP: Pontiac ’s product resurgence zooms forward with the introduction of the 2007 Solstice GXP, the performance version of its in-demand Solstice roadster. Solstice GXP features GM’s all-new Ecotec 2.0-liter turbo with direct injection technology, the most powerful production engine in the Ecotec family.
2006 Saab 9-3 20 Years Edition Aero Convertible : California was made for convertibles, and Saab is celebrating two decades and 240,000 vehicles’ worth of convertible sales success by announcing an anniversary model, the Saab 9-3 20 Years Edition Aero Convertible, powered by the all-new 250-horsepower, 2.8L V-6 turbo engine and distinguished by its unique Electric Blue metallic paint finish.
Saab 9-5 Aero BioPower Concept: The 2.3-liter turbocharged Saab 9-5 Aero BioPower Concept is powered by bio-ethanol (E85), a renewable and sustainable fuel. The concept delivers almost 20 percent more maximum power – 310 hp vs. 260 hp and 25 percent more torque – 325 lb.-ft. vs. 258 lb.-ft. than its gasoline equivalent.
GMC PAD: Now in its second year, the Design Los Angeles conference and its accompanying Design Challenge are evolving into an integral element of the L.A. Auto Show. GM’s entry, the GMC PAD, is a futuristic, diesel-electric powered urban loft with mobility, a creature comfort-filled concept for living in the ever-changing cultural landscape of Southern California or a modern alternative for those financially locked out of Southern California ’s escalating housing market.
Posted by Frank at 09:53 AM | Comments (0)
Mazda's Kabura Concept to Bow in Detroit
In addition to the CX-7 crossover, Mazda will also show the Kabura sports coupe concept vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show, plus a Mazda5 Hydrogen RE Hybrid concept - powered by a Renesis hydrogen rotary dual-fuel-engine that can use hydrogen or gasoline.
The Kabura was designed at Mazda’s design center in California, and is the third recent concept, following the Sassou [designed at Mazda’s European Design Center] and the Senku [designed at Mazda’s Yokohama R&D Center near Tokyo].
The Kabura sports coupe has a rear-drive powertrain and was designed for first new car buyers. “Kabura” is a Japanese term taken from “Kabura-ya”, an arrow that makes a sound when fired and was used to signal the start of a battle. Mazda says the “first arrow into battle” depicts the company's spirit of pursuing unique and exciting ventures.
Mazda will hold a press briefing at the Mazda stand from 5:00 to 5:30 pm on Sunday, January 8, 2006
Posted by Frank at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)
Best Selling Crossover SUVs for November 2005
The crossover contingent of the overall SUV market was down, 5%, in November, but remains the biggest gainer of the five categories of utility vehicles with a 12% year to date gain. Only small SUVs are also up this year, with a 5.5% sales gain in 2005.
Besides these two categories, the SUV market also includes Middle, Large and Luxury categories.
For the year to date, crossover, or sport wagon vehicles, comprise 43.6% of all SUVs sold, up from a market share of 38.1% through the first 11 months of 2004.
In November, the PT Cruiser and Saturn Vue turned in strong sales performances, up 28.7% and 22.7% respectively. And while the Chevy Equinox and Nissan Murano were down for the month, both vehicles are selling well ahead of last year's numbers.
November was a down month for the industry as a whole, off 2.8%, and SUVs in general were hit hardest with a 12.3% drop. However, the numbers for crossover and small SUVs proves the point that people are not getting out of SUVs entirely, but are switching into smaller versions of utility vehicles that look like SUVs, though smaller, and that get better gas mileage. And are often easier to park.
Posted by Frank at 08:33 AM | Comments (0)
First Look: 2006 Suzuki Aerio SX
This is the second time we've driven an Aerio and our affection for it grows. For $16,999, you get a sporty subcompact wagon with all-wheel drive, cruise control, remote keyless entry, air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, AND a 155-horsepower four-cylinder engine.
The car is fun to drive -- this time we've got an automatic, last time it was a manual. And while we prefer manual transmissions, the automatic still gets a lot out of the peppy engine.
If you're looking at this segment, including the new cars such as the Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa coming to town, we suggest driving the Aerio. After you fit those cars out with similar equipment, you're looking at equivalent price, and again, the 155-hp engine, to us, is the right sized plant for a vehicle this size.
The Aerio feels roomy inside, the steering and drive are responsive -- even we were surprised when we shot past a lumberinng bus in the nick of time during an unexpected lane choke that put us in a tough spot. Particularly nice are the steering wheel mounted controls, including cruise, that we know now how to operate by feel, because it's a good design.
If you want to get a free, no-obligation price quote on a 2006 Suzuki Aerio, click here.
Posted by Frank at 07:56 AM | Comments (0)
Acura to Set Up Shop in Japan
Honda will begin selling its Acura line in Japan starting in 2008, following Toyota's lead, which started selling the Lexus in its home country this summer.
Acura will have about 100 dealerships, Lexus' plans included 180 points throughout the country. In a reverse of the luxury market in the States, foreign brands are viewed as more desirable and having more cachet in Japan, prompting both brands to emphasize their high quality and superior service as a means to gaining customers who might otherwise prefer to exhibit foreign makes as a sign of their success.
Nissan had once signaled they would sell the Infiniti make in Japan, but cancelled those plans, citing an unfavorable market.
Posted by Frank at 07:31 AM | Comments (0)
Fusion, Civic and Solstice Are Finalists for Car of the Year
Forty nine journalists have voted on the 2006 North American Car and Truck of the Year, and while the winners will be announced January 8 at the Detroit Auto Show, we do know the finalists:
-- The Ford Fusion, Honda Civic and Pontiac Solstice as the finalists for the 2006 North American Car of the Year.
-- The Ford Explorer, Honda Ridgeline and Nissan Xterra were selected as finalists for the 2006 North American Truck of the Year.
To be eligible, vehicles have to be completely new or significantly redesigned, and before voting the board of journalists narrowed the field in each category from dozens to 14 cars and 14 trucks before balloting.
Steve Laughman, a partner at Deloitte & Touche, was responsible for counting the ballots, which jurors sent directly to the accounting firm in Detroit. Laughman is the only person who knows the final winners.
Last year the North American Car of the Year was the Chrysler 300/300C, while the North American Truck of the Year was the Ford Escape Hybrid.
The jurors represent outlets such as the Toronto Star, Car and Driver magazine, AutoWeek, The Chicago Tribune, MotorWeek, USA Today, Autoline Detroit, Edmunds, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, Road & Track magazine, the San Jose Mercury News, Consumer Guide, the Boston Globe, Automotive News, Popular Mechanics and Fortune.
Posted by Frank at 07:06 AM | Comments (0)
Report From the Buick Lucerne VIP Night
We attended the Buick Lucerne event last night at the Alexandria Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealership, and ran into a fella named Jim who was shopping the sedan to get out of his Lexus ES330. Jim said he liked the styling of the Buick, particularly the elegant roof line and rear end.
He said one of his complaints about the Lexus was getting in and out of the car, and as a previous Cadillac owner, liked the 4.6-liter V8 Northstar engine that's available in the Lucerne, as well as what he perceived to be the more generous door and cabin opening.
He also said he was looking forward to getting back into an American sedan; we discussed how GM vehicles have a more "four-square" ride as opposed to a sedan that pushes a more sports car-oriented performance.
The Lucernes on display included a V6 CXL model with a starting price of $28,265, and a V8 CXL with an MSRP of $30,265.
A pair of Pontiac G6s also caught our eye -- the styling, especially on the red coupe, was sharper in person than in photos, and the dealership only has 2006 models left in stock.
By the way, there were no Pontiac Solstices on the floor. They've sold what they got and have several on order.
With the Red Tag Event still in force through January 3, the prices on the G6s are appealing -- the 200-horsepower GT coupe goes for about $24,000, the four-door GTP sedan has a tag price of $25,332.38. The Buick Lucerne is not included in the Red Tag promotion.
Also leaving a favorable impression was the Buick Terrazza minivan, one model had a Red Tag price of $29,196.47. For those of you who might be thinking, "what kind of minivan does Buick have?" the answer is simple: the interior is just like a well-appointed, middle to upper-middle class sedan that Buick established its reputation with.
The event was low-pressure, the staff was genuinely upbeat and proud of their products. This may not sound like a big deal, but we identifed ourselves as journalists from the minute we were approached. Quite frankly, we considered it an even money bet that we might get treated poorly or even asked to leave, but we don't believe in skulking around.
Larry, the store manager, went so far as to show us around the floor and gave us a rundown on some vehicles we hadn't seen in person, including the Terrazza. While the doom stories about GM are hard to escape, if anyone's looking for a clue as to how the company will get sales booming again, we saw it last night -- in dealerships, with professional salespeople who are proud of the products they represent.
Posted by Frank at 06:12 AM | Comments (0)
Happy Holidays From Car Buyer's Notebook
We want to wish everyone a happy, safe and prosperous holiday season. Are we smiling because we got a great tree, or because we had the Nissan Xterra for a week?
Posted by Frank at 05:49 AM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2005
Car Buyer's Notebook Videocast: Right to Repair?
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Right now there's a battle going on over the fate of the information in your automobile. This video explains it for you.
To watch the episode, you can right click on this link and choose "Save As," or, even better, you can get on the Apple iTunes bandwagon and subscribe to Zero to 120.
That way, your computer will automatically download a new episode when we publish!
To add Zero to 120 to your daily iTunes fix, add this RSS string to your iTunes or other podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebookvideo.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 04:04 PM | Comments (0)
Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #121: Is the 'Timberland Problem' No Longer a Problem?
Here's an edgy, perhsaps controversial podcast -- are car companies willing to use African American spokespersons to sell vehicles? Or is Snoop Dogg just a one-off?
Personally, we think the car companies are color blind -- except when it comes to green!
To listen to today's show, click here to play it directly on your computer.
Or you can subscribe to the daily Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast feed by putting this URL in your podcatching software: http://carbuyersnotebook.libsyn.com/rss
Posted by Frank at 02:46 PM | Comments (0)
Watch Audi Introduce Their R10 Diesel Le Mans Race Car in Paris
Audi introduced their revolutionary, diesel-powered R10 Le Mans race car in Paris today, and they were kind enough to provide a video link of the event in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
The R10 is a first for Audi and Le Mans. The first diesel to enter the 24-hour race, the R10 is powered by a 5.5-liter V12 diesel that produces 650 horsepower and 1,100 Newton metres of torque.
When you watch this video, you'll agree it doesn't sound like a diesel at all. It sounds like a rocket. [Warning -- the entertaining and informative video is about an hour long!]
And Audi doesn't want to be just the first to compete at Le Mans with a diesel -- they also intend to be the first to win.
The Le Mans Prototype replaces Audi's previous car, the R8, which used gas injection technology. The R8 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times, and in 77 races celebrated 61 wins. Audi says the R10 driver will have to change gears less often than in the R8 because of the new engine's “favourable torque curve.”
The new Audi R10 was successfully tested in November, and will also run at Sebring's 12-hour race on March 18, and expects to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, June 17-18 2006. You may want to check out Audi's motorsport site which has voluminous detail about the R10 and its diesel powerplant.
Posted by Frank at 11:11 AM | Comments (0)
Toyota Factoid: From AA to xA
While reading The Lexus Story, we came across a neat Toyota factoid -- their first production model was the AA, pictured above.
Which led us to muse, "Coincidence? We don' think so."
We are, of course, referring to the nomenclature of the Scion brand models -- the xA, xB and tC. The collusion runs deeper when you understand that Toyota also made a convertible version, known as the model AB.
In other words, someone at Toyota decided to dig deep into their own history and celebrate the birth of a new brand while honoring the birth of their first. Symmetry.
We also came across another mini-mystery -- in the Lexus book, the date given for Toyota's maiden year was 1938. However, at this Toyota Museum site, they claim the model was actually built in 1936.
Confusinng, yes, but comforting in a way. It shows car companies have been playing with model year vs. calendar year for nearly seven decades!
By the way, we produced a really fine audio review of The Lexus Story in this podcast.
Posted by Frank at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
Infiniti's Winter Event
Infiniti, not to be left out of the year-end deals, is offering a mix of lease and low-interest deals on their product line.
For example, you can get 1.9% A.P.R. on the 2005 FX35 SUV and G sedan. Lease deals include $419 a month on the G coupe for 36 months, $559 a month for 39 months on the 2005 QX, and $485 a month for 36 months on the 2006 M 35.
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on any Infiniti model, click here.
Posted by Frank at 09:56 AM | Comments (0)
Honda Civic Minisite
Honda's got a pretty nifty minisite for the redesigned 2006 Honda Civic, that includes six short movies commissioned by Honda, photo and screensaver downloads and an e-mail sign-up for company communiques.
While the snarky out there might say they're trying to Scion-ify the Civic, let's not forget that the tuner and customization crowd made the car their own, practically inventing the movement. It's the Civic's mojo, they're just giving us a place to call home.
Check out the site here; for a free, no-obligation price quote on a Honda Civic, click here.
Posted by Frank at 09:40 AM | Comments (0)
Get an Isuzu Pickup for Only $14,239
That's right, the Isuzu i280 extended cab can be yours for a little more than fourteen grand. Considering that its very close cousin the Chevy Colorado [let's put it this way, they can't get married] that goes for $16,180, why not?
From what we can tell, the equipment levels are the same, 4-cylinder engines with manual transmission -- basic, yes, which is another way of saying you want to save money.
Isuzu trucks come with a 7-year, 75,000-mile powertrain warrantly, and the same time period ofr roadside assistance.
Click here to get a free dealer quote -- who knows, you might even do better than the price they're quoting online!
Posted by Frank at 09:15 AM | Comments (0)
Win a 2006 Ford Fusion
You've got until December 31, 2005 to enter to win a 2006 Ford Fusion SEL -- go to this site, and fill out the entry form.
And make sure to enter in the secret code, or your entry won't count.
If we understand the rules correctly, you can enter one time, every day. So if you've got happy fingers, or Google's Autofill, have at it, if you start today you can enter 20 times.
Now if you're thinking about buying a Ford Fusion, you may want to get a dealer price quote before you walk into the dealer -- and you can do that by clicking here.
Posted by Frank at 09:05 AM | Comments (0)
Updated: Mazda CX-7 Photo
Mazda has just released this photo of their new CX-7 crossover, that will be "unveiled" at the LA Auto Show.
And we thought they were going to make us wait, which is why we posted the concept photo in this original post.
Posted by Frank at 08:53 AM | Comments (0)
Best Selling Big Pickups for November 2005
The Ford F-series remains the best-selling pickup – as well as the #1 selling vehicle overall – in the land, despite a 3.8% drop for the year to date. We can pretty much write off our speculation that Ford could sell a million pickups this year – though with the Keep it Simple plan in place for December, they may still break 900K units.
While the Chevy Silverado was down for the month, it is up 3.6% for the year, and the GMC Sierra is up 9.4% in the first eleven months. The Dodge Ram was down for the month [11.1%] and is down 5.8% for the year.
The big news in big pickups this month is clearly the Toyota Tundra, with a 25.4% increase for November, giving it a 10.1% bump for the year. While the Nissan Titian was down 27.2% for the month, the new entry remains 5.3% up for 2005.
And what about that Lincoln Mark LT? Ford will wind up finding up 10,000 buyers this year who want to ride around in this “Texas Tuxedo” of a pickup.
Posted by Frank at 08:2