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 08:26 AM | Comments (0)
See Asimo Run, See Asimo Hold Hands, See Asimo Scare the Hell Out of an Old Man
Honda's robot, Asimo, the ultimate outsourcing solution, can now run twice as fast as before, about 3.6 miles an hour, as well as perform receptionist-like office tasks such as greeting people and transporting supplies.
Honda has posted a ton of stories, photos and videos at their site, but you may want to check out Asimo running, greeting a visitor and delivering beverages and office supplies, and walking hand in hand with a fellow employee.
Hands down, though, our favorite is this corporate image ad, that features Asimo racing an old man through an airport. Are we the only ones who see the look of terror on the poor gent's face?
Honda started working with humanoid robots in 1987 and has birthed 40 Asimos to date. The company plans to start making Asimo earn its keep as a receptionist at Honda offices next year. Honda also plans to begin incorporating more of Asimo's advanced sensor technology in automobiles to increase the capacity of safety functions, such as in collision-avoidance radar.
Asimo will appear at the 2006 consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 5-8, according to this Honda website. Here is an Asimo portal.
Posted by Frank at 07:39 AM | Comments (0)
iPod your Volvo
Volvo's new iPod adapter will work in S80 models from 1999 and onward, and in the S60, V70 and XC70 vehicles from 2001 to the present.
Developed with third party providers PhatNoise Inc and Apple, the kits will be available at Volvo dealers this month.
Hopefully, installation will be included, as the connection cable has to be routed to the storage compartment in the front middle armrest, where the iPod player can be placed when it is connected. The kits work for all iPods except the Shuffle.
When your iPod is connected , the text “Volvo for life” appears in the display, and you can operate the player through the car’s audio controls, such as volume adjustment, playlist selection, switching tracks, fast-forward and random track selection. The choices are shown in the car’s audio display. With the car running, the iPod is powered and charged by the car battery.
Posted by Frank at 07:24 AM | Comments (0)
Best Selling Cars for November 2005
As the end of the year approaches, the top four best sellers have taken their seats – it's Camry, Accord, Corolla, Civic. All four vehicles, however, have relatively spongy numbers for the year, the Hondas were down a bit, the Toyotas, up a little.
However, the new Civic had a grand month, up 22.9%, bringing it just about even for the year. If you look at the monthly numbers, it came in just under the Corolla by about a thousand units – is it mad to say the Civic and the Corolla might have a horse race in 2006?
This is the first time the Hyundai Sonata has been on the list – and now with the Alabama plant up to capacity, will the American-built Sonata stay in the over-10,000 unit a month mark?
The Pontiac G6 also made an appearance this month, probably due to the Red Tag Sale, but still, 14,175 units is nothing to sneeze at.
Both the Chevy Cobalt and Chrysler 300 have flirted with the list several times this year, and with nearly 200,000 units sold, it is the seventh best-selling car in America. Not bad.
While the Nissan Altima did have a down month, off 7.3%, it is still in fifth place for the year to date, up 9.6% over 2004.
Posted by Frank at 06:34 AM | Comments (0)
Mazda CX-7 Debuts at the LA Auto Show
Mazda is going to show off their 2007 Mazda CX-7 crossover at the LA Auto Show – and keep an eye on this vehicle for a hint as to what the Ford Edge/Lincoln Aviator are going to be – they're built on the same architecture.
The CX-7 will be in showrooms in the spring of 2006, and will be based on the MX-Crossport concept vehicle pictured above. The CX-7 will have a 2.3-liter four-cylinder direct-injection engine producing 244-horsepower with 258 lb-ft of torque. With a six-speed auto transmission, the CX-7 can get about 23 mpg in combined driving.
It's a five seater, and will come with 18-inch wheels and tires, fully independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock system, Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control System.
Posted by Frank at 06:24 AM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2005
Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #120: Howard Stern -- Still KOAM?
Will Howard Stern still be the King of All Media when he makes the jumpt to satellite? While dozens of insulted media personalities and executives may be rooting against him, millions want him to succeed.
n this podcast, we update you on the Howard Stern situation -- what they're doing at Sirius, when he's signing off Infinity, what new radios cost, how to get a trial subscriptoin, etc., so on and on, etc.
To check out Sirius radio's new channel card featuring Howard on Channel 100, click here. To check out the Howard 100 pagelet, click here, and finally, to sign up for a free, three-day subscription to Sirius, click 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 05:42 PM | Comments (0)
Updated: Defy the Survivor Curse, Win a Pontiac Torrent
UPDATE: Pontiac has changed the website address for the Survivor scroll. This is the new link: http://survivor.securepromotion.com/Main.asp.
The bottom line: For the next 4 days, December 9-12, walk into a Pontiac dealer and receive a special Survivor "scroll" with a unique ID number. Enter that number here, to see if you've won a new Torrent. One Torrent will be awarded on each of the four days of the promotion.
The background: On Thursday night's episode of Survivor, Cindy Hall was awarded a 2006 Pontiac Torrent, but it came with a choice – keep the car or forfeit it and give the four other contestants a Torrent of their own. Hall declined, kept the car, and was voted off the show.
That leaves four Torrents available, and Pontiac and Survivor have turned around and are offering fans the chance to win one of the four vehicles.
Find out more about the contest at here. To get a free, no-obligation price quote on a Torrent or any Pontiac vehicle, click here.
Posted by Frank at 03:21 PM | Comments (0)
Car Buyer's Notebook Video Cast: Ward's 10 Best Engines
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| To watch the video, right-click on this link and choose 'Save As.' |
Check out the clip to see running footage of a Hemi-powered Dodge Charger!
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!
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Posted by Frank at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)
First Look: 2006 Ford Fusion
Walking up to – and around, and behind, and around again – the new Ford Fusion is a delight. It is indeed a Ford like you've never seen before, it's just a shame that slogan is already in use.
The exterior of the Fusion is successful at something that would probably sound stupid in a meeting – it combines soft, sweeping lines with geometric shapes – in a package that is so pleasing to the eye it makes you just want to look at it some more.
And it does so in a mid-size sedan package, so the accomplishment of making the lines look “sweeping” is all the more impressive. From a non-designer's point of view, it seems the combination of the longish hood, muscular front wheel wells and rear-quarter panel gives the Fusion its coherent proportion.
The geometry, of course, comes into play with the quad halogen headlamps. [Get up close and there's a building block effect inside the cowling.] The three-bar chrome grill is another geometric shape that fits into the overall design package, and on models so equipped, the rectangular fog lamp housing also adds to this effect.
There are five trim levels for the new Fusion, and by all accounts, the only complaint dealers have is that Ford can't build and deliver them fast enough since their September introduction.
The Fusion line starts at just $17,796 for a 4-cylinder I4 S model, and the next version up, the I4 SE goes for $18,500, the I4 SEL starts at $19,635. All 4-cylinder models develop 160 horsepower and 156 lb-ft. of torque. The 4-cylinder gets 23 mpg city, 31, highway.
We've got the 6-cylinder V6 SEL, which is the top of the line with not so over the top pricing at $22,360. The V6 SE starts at $21,275. The six-cylinder gets 21 mpg in the city, 29 highway.
We'll talk about the interior in the full review!
To get a free, no-obligation price quote from a Ford dealer so you can get your Fusion purchase started, click here.
Posted by Frank at 10:19 AM | Comments (0)
Subaru Building its Own Texas Dealership
Subaru of America has broken ground on a new dealership in Plano, that the corporate parent will own, yet lease out to the owner of a Dallas location. The new dealership is part of a planned series of “antenna stores” that the automaker will use to more closely monitor consumer preferences and also to gain retail experience feedback.
The Plano dealership will incorporate design features of Subaru's new blueprint, the Subaru Signature Facility Program that other dealers will adopt across the country. Subaru chose Plano because it already has a large vehicle base, and the population is expected to grow by 24% by 2009.
The Signature Facility design features modernistic use of metallic and slate surfaces with an all-glass view into the showroom. The service and vehicle care areas will be visible through windows in the waiting area.
Posted by Frank at 10:03 AM | Comments (0)
The Subservient Donald Pitches Products!
You have got to check out this website, Product Invasion, put together by TV writers who are sick and tired of shoehorning product placement pitches into their scripts.
Matter of fact, "They mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!"
By going to the site, you can click a command undeneath the screenshot of the "Subservient Donald," and he'll go off on a rant, but at the same time, will manage to sneak in some incongruous product mentions. Try putting in these words one at a time: "laugh," "cry," and "drink."
In other product placement news, Toyota has just signed a deal to integrate their products into the Fox TV show, 24. To kick off the relationship, Toyota produced a movie about the Avalon that is included on the 4th season DVD of the show, and they even made a "making of" the infomercial flick, that is being aired on the Fox Movie Channel. Which, by the way, we've never heard of.
Posted by Frank at 08:41 AM | Comments (0)
Watch Jeep TV on Your Phone
Starting today, you can watch all four episodes of the Mudds' adventures on any video-equipped cellphone.
In an arrangement with MobiTV, Jeep is launching their own mobile media TV channel, which has about 500,000 subscribers on various phone networks, according to Ad Age.
The Mudds content are the only videos that have been announced for the channel, and will play in continuous loops. The videos come from the website, We Are the Mudds, a multimedia promotion for the company's new Commander SUV.
To check out out previous coverage, we've covered all their adventures, check this out: Chasing Summer, "Squishily", and "Geocache", and we also did a videocast of one of the Mudds' adventures here.
Posted by Frank at 08:29 AM | Comments (0)
UAW Splinter Group to Picket Detroit Auto Show
The Soldiers of Solidarity, a group of UAW workers unhappy with union leadership, is planning to picket the first day of the Detroit Auto Show, according to the Free Press. The move is to protest actions by Delphi Corp to eliminate jobs and cut wages.
The group has picketed the show before, as captured in the photo above from the group's website. The group's purpose is "dedicated to those who are the Warriors in the struggle for justice on the shop floor," according to the site.
As suppliers like Delphi and automakers such as GM, Ford and Chrysler engage in job cuts and plant closings, the UAW is facing threats from within and without -- another group, Future of the Union, was formed in 2004 to address rank-and-file concerns they claim the union is not answering.
The auto show picket is intended to be informational -- to get the news out to the media, and is also considered an advance storm warning of a possible general strike against Delphi, which makes parts for General Motors. If a general strike against Delphi goes into action, analysts predict the supply shutdown could force GM into bankruptcy within three months.
Posted by Frank at 07:33 AM | Comments (0)
2006 Hyundai Accent Pricing
Hyundai's redesigned Accent starts at only $12,995 for 2006. That's for the five-speed manual, the four-speed automatic transmission is $13,845. [We always recommend a manual transmission for vehicles in this class – at 106 horsepower, the Accent and others in this category benefit from taking acceleration into your own hand and foot.]
The big story with the Accent, besides it being a better-than-competent entry in the subcompact segment, are the six standard airbags. Rather than give folks free air conditioning [it's an option], Hyundai opts instead to give you something that can protect your sweaty life.
A/C costs $800 as a stand alone option, or can be had as part of the $1,500 premium sport package that also includes power windows with illuminated switches, driver's window auto-down feature, power door locks, remote keyless entry with alarm and panic alert, heated power-adjustable exterior mirrors and 15-inch alloy wheels with 195/55VR15 tires.
The 2006 Hyundai Accent is protected by the Hyundai Advantage warranty that includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection, 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance and seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage.
The 24-hour roadside assistance coverage includes emergency towing, lockout service and limited coverage for trip-interruption expenses. There is no deductible on any of these coverages.
To get a free price quote on the 2006 Accent from a Hyundai dealer, click here.
Posted by Frank at 07:01 AM | Comments (0)
First Look: 2006 Mercury Mountaineer
We had the 2006 Mercury Mountaineer durinng two snow dumps and are glad to say it performed its precipitation crunching duties admirably well.
We had the top o' the line Premier AWD edition, with the 4.6-liter V8, so power [292 horsepower] and traction were never a concern. The Premier AWD starts at $35,500, but you can get in a six cylinder Mountaineer for as little as $29,795.
The Mountaineer has all the things you want in a better class of SUV, including dual zone air controls, which avoid petty thermostat arguments, and power third row seating, which avoids heavy breathing, frustration and pinched fingers.
But the extra that drew oohs and aahs was the power running boards, a $695 option, that lowers and raises the step-up with an electric whir. We hada a couple passengers yip in delight -- then open and close the door a couple times just to see the luxury in action.
Inside, the Mountaineer boasted a straight stick shifter for either the six-speed automatic transmission in up-models, or a five-speed in the standard. Two-tone seating makes the ride pretty, and the optional GPS navigation and rear DVD entertainment center keeps everyone focused.
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on the Mercury Mountaineer, click here.
Posted by Frank at 06:33 AM | Comments (0)
Top Ten Best Redesigned Vehicles of 2006
Kelley Blue Book editors, with the help of online survey respondents, have chosen the Honda Civic as the best redesigned vehicle of 2006.
This is the fourth year KBB has produced the best redesign list, and the first time they invited members of the studio audience to participate. They started by choosing the top ten vehicles, them gave 919 respondents the chance to weigh in, judging by exterior photos and significant upgrades.
Despite having two consecutive wins by Ford the last two years – with the F-150 and Mustang – no domestic vehicles made the list this year. The full list of winners follows, with a percentage ranking indicating how many voted each vehilce received:
2006 Honda Civic 20%
2006 Lexus GS 300 18%
2006 BMW 3 Series 13%
2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse 11%
2005 Hyundai Sonata 9%
2006 Volkswagen Passat 7%
2006 Infiniti M45 7%
2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata 7%
2006 Mercedes ML-Class 5%
2006 Kia Rio 2%
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on any of the top redesigned vehicles of 2006, click here.
Posted by Frank at 06:12 AM | Comments (0)
The eGo Electric Scooter
We saw an ad for this eGo electric scooter right here on our very own site, proving that Goodle Ads are content as well as commerce.
The company makes two basic models, the Cycle 2 Classic and Cycle 2 LX, selling for $1,199 and $1,499 respectively. The scooters have two drive modes -- Go Fast and Go Far, that deliver top speeds of 24 or 18 mph.
The bikes can go 25 miles on charge, and if the battery is fully discharged it'll take 3 hours to get it up to 80% capacity, 6 hours for full juice. Charging can be done off a standard outlet.
Both bikes are road-ready, but the higher-priced LX model includes front and rear turn signals and a backlit odometer. Both models come with front and rear lights, as well as hand brakes for both wheels. eGo cycles also have an automatic braking feature that slows the bike down when you let go of the throttle; at the same time, there is a regenerative braking feature that helps to recharge the battery when you do let go of the "gas."
To see the eGo in action, check out this video. Check out the company's site here.
Posted by Frank at 05:38 AM | Comments (0)
A Tale of Two Highway Systems
After years of refusing to raise taxes to pay for deteriorating highways, municipalities are now faced with the "option" of creating an intricate system of high-tech toll roads where you can actually drive the speed limit unimpeded, for a price.
Steven Ginsburg, a transportation reporter for the Washington Post, has been following this trend for months, and in today's edition, he provides a through overview of what's happening here in the Metro D.C. area. The article is here, the full-size area map thumbnailed above is here.
The problem for Americans who drive -- essentially all adult citizens -- is a lack of leadership by politicians. The solution that would have made this option never appear like a good idea would have been a sizable national gas tax.
But that would have thrown the oil and auto industry lobbyists into a fit, as well as the right-wingers, and now we have a system that is going to further widen the cleave between the economic winners and losers in our society.
In our view, roads are a vital part of our economy and the way we actually live, and should be the responsibility of government. With private industry getting involved, we will see ever higher tolls that will make driving increasingly only for those who are in the upper end of the socety.
Posted by Frank at 04:55 AM | Comments (0)
Range Rover Sport Takes British SUV of the Year Award
The 2006 Range Rover Sport has been crowned 'SUV of the Year' by BBC's Top Gear, and the editors were effusive in their praise Land Rover's first new vehicle since 1997.
Top Gear editor, Michael Harvey, said: "The Supercharged 390bhp Range Rover Sport is the only choice for Top Gear magazine's SUV of 2005. BMW and Porsche make world-beatingly-great sports cars, one or two of which look a bit like SUVs. Land Rover has only ever made great SUVs, one of which now goes a lot like a BMW or a Porsche."
Remarkable, even though the Ranger Rover Sport has only been on sale since May, it is the brand's best-selling vehicle on a monthly basis – outdoing even the new LR3! Personally, we think it's the new bling.
To get a free-no obligation price quote on a Range Rover Sport, LR3 or any Land Rover, click here.
Posted by Frank at 03:57 AM | Comments (0)
First Look: 2006 Nissan Armada
The Nissan Armada belongs to that class of SUV that could easily list its interior space in sqaure footage rather than cubic feet. It's a big 'un, a full-size dwelling on wheels, as opposed to a studio apartment or mass-built townhouse.
And the interior takes advantage of the volume, with a third-row seat that is for real – bringing seating up to eight, not a dinky seven, according to Nissan. So the optional DVD entertainment center [$1,600] can be viewed by a true audience, not just a couple of theater-goers.
The Armada is so robust, that in this special test-drive bulletin, Nissan emphasizes that it's “surprisingly quick on its feet,” and indeed the 305-horsepower engine gets this battleship moving in such a way that sometimes you don't realize you're the pilot, not merely a driver.
And the Armada is also surprisingly nimble, in both steering and stopping, though due to its size, we do recommend you actually use two hands to navigate, the way the driver's ed guy taught you.
The Armada comes in three trim levels, SE, LE and SE Off-Road, with prices from 34,500 to $40,800. All come with the 5.6-liter V8 and three rows of seating, as well as the automatic four wheel drive, that will start you off in 4, then switch to 2 and back up to 4 without you having to stop and do it manually.
Our vehicle, an SE in Majestic Blue, came with an optional Bose stereo, tow package, DVD system and upgraded floor mats, bringing the MSRP to $41,800. The Armada is rated 13 miles per gallon in the city, 18 highway.
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on a Nissan Armada, click here.
Posted by Frank at 03:29 AM | Comments (0)
December 11, 2005
Buy a Saturn, Get a $500 Target Gift Card
Take delivery of a new Saturn automobile by January 3, 2006, and you'll get gifted with a $500 Target cash card.
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on a new Saturn, click here.
Posted by Frank at 07:03 PM | Comments (0)
Mazda's Walk to Work Program
Mazda is offering their Japanese employees a $12 a month “sneaker allowance” [our term] if they walk to work, according to AP. The program is aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles and improving the environment.
Mazda's Japanese workforce of 20,000 are all eligible, if they live more than 1.24 miles from work and walk about 2.5 miles in round trips at least 15 days per month. Employees can combine mass transit in their commute, by getting off a bus or train and completing the foot distance requirement.
Posted by Frank at 06:41 PM | Comments (0)
Green Limousine Services in LA, Boston and NY
If you're looking to get around Los Angeles, Boston or New York in eco-chic style, check out these car services:
-- Ozocar offers rides in Toyota Priuses, Toyota Highlander and the Lexus RX400h hybrid vehicles in NY. Airport service from Manhattan costs $60 to Newark Airport or JFK, and $45 to LaGuardia.
-- Ecolimo has the Toyota Prius and CNG [compressed natural gas] Chevy Suburbans in LA. This company went the extra mile by ordering all-black vehicles with blacked-out windows. Rates are $37 an hour.
-- PlanetTran was the first on the green limo scene, using Priuses to transport people around the Boston area. Rates are $50 an hour.
Posted by Frank at 06:00 PM | Comments (0)
Win an Ultimate Tailgating F-150 Pickup
The bottom line: You can win a $55,000 Ultimate Tailgating F-150 by watching four college football games. One of the lucky winners will also win a trip to a Toby Keith concert.
What you have to do: Register for the sweepstakes here, then watch each of these games --
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl 1/2/06 4:30 PM
Nokia Sugar Bowl 1/2/06 8:30 PM
FedEx Orange Bowl 1/3/06 8:00 PM
Rose Bowl 1/4/06 8:00 PM.
During each game the announcers will declare one quarter of the contest, the “Ford Quarter.” For each touchdown scored during that quarter, one of the Tailgating pickups will be awarded. If neither team scores, one truck will still be given away.
At the end of the game, contest organizers will call randomly selected entrants and ask the question, “Who scored the first touchdown in the game?” Everyone who gets it right wins a truck.
The Ultimate Tailgating F-150 is a 2006 XLT model, equipped with a Satellite Dish, 37" Plasma TV, Full Surround Sound, Playstation 2, Stainless steel propane BBQ, Sink with running water, two functional taps, large cooler and power inverter. Winners can choose to take an FX4 similarly equipped, or a plain-old production model 2006 XLT or FX4 in instead.
Of the F-150 truck winners, one will be chosen to attend a Toby Keith concert, including travel, hotel and a $2,500 tailgate party. You will also get a chance to meet Mr. Keith, and maybe even taste his now perfected recipe for “Ho' Dogs.”
Posted by Frank at 05:51 PM | Comments (0)
Two Days Till Buick Lucerne VIP Night
Buick dealers are hosting a VIP Premiere Night for the 2006 Lucerne, and all you have to do is go to this site to enter your zip code, and get a choice of dealers in your area.
For those generally interested in GM's new offerings, or if you're interested in a Lucerne, I recommend these sort of events because they are generally lower pressure as compared to walking on off the street into the showroom.
To get a price quote on the new Lucerne or other GM products, click here.
Posted by Frank at 04:57 PM | Comments (0)
December 10, 2005
Ford to Meet With Gay Leaders Over Ad Issue
Representative of the Ford Motor Company will meet with gay leaders next week, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report.
At issue is Ford's recent decision to stop running ads for its Jaguar and Land Rover brands in gay-oriented publications. Gay leaders have expressed concern that Ford caved in to a threatened boycott from a Christian organization, but Ford said the matter was a business decision.
We've covered this issue at length in this article, you decide.
Posted by Frank at 10:08 PM | Comments (0)
Toyota Increases Scion xB Prices
The Scion xB is getting a seat fabric upgrade and a steering wheel with audio controls, to go along with a modest price increase of $150.
Two exterior colors -- Camouflage Green and Black Cherry Pear -- are being retired, and will be replaced with Salsa Red Pearl and Shadow Mica.
MSRP for the Scion xB with a manual transmission will be $14,030, the automatic costs $14,830.
The price increase applies to mid-2006 xBs that will start arriving at Scion dealerships on the West Coast at the end of the month.
Posted by Frank at 10:00 PM | Comments (0)
Chrysler Really, Really Serious About Killing Term, "Big 3"
In this picture, Jason Vines, Chrysler Groups' VP of Communications, takes one for the team.
And we're not necessarily talking about his outfit, but the Gallagher sledge he wielded at the watermelon emblazoned with the logo, "Big 3."
Chrysler is trying mightily to separate themselves from the traditional Detroit Club, as we originally covered in this November 23 podcast, featuring our favorite Flak in the Box.
Vines opines on the topic on Chrysler's media blog, The Firehouse, but what really interested us was this meme making its appearance in two Newsweek articles by writer Keith Naughton.
Dated December 5, both articles carried this new PR sub-message of Chrysler, repeated by outgoing CEO Dieter Zetsche and new boss Tom LaSorda.
Obviously, comparing the dates, this new thread is the work of the devious man in the jester suit.
However, Zetsche is no wallflower, and here's what he said in his interview: "If the Big Three is synonymous with a pack of losers, it is not good for us."
The LaSorda article mentions the concept only in passing, but the message is clear -- you don't want to say it around Vines, or you may be wearing watermelon meat.
Posted by Frank at 09:36 PM | Comments (0)
And the Survey Says: People Getting Used to High Gas Prices
A new survey of consumers by VehicleVoice illustrates that there is a threshold of gas price pain that makes people think of getting out of big SUVs. When prices were $3 a gallon in September, 27% of respondents said they would switch from SUVs to smaller vehicles.
That number declined in October, to 22%, and only 15% of the surveys respondents said they were thinking of switching in November, when they reported paying $2.50 a gallon.
The survey, conducted for the industry analyst firm AutoPacific, queried 1,153 respondents between November 15 and November 21, 2005. What makes this new low switch rate even more interesting, is that those surveyed also indicated they expect to pay $2.50 per gallon of gas on an ongoing basis.
The interest in small cars also waned in the same time period, according to VehicleVoice, with 28% of folks saying they were interested in small cars in November, compared to 33% in October and 41% in September.
Hybrids are seen as a possible choice of 11% of those surveyed in November, down slightly from 14% in the October survey.
If you'd like to participate in future VehicleVoice surveys, check out their site, they give away prizes on a monthly and semi-annual basis to respondents, ranging from $100 to an iPod shuffle to $1,000 and $6,000 prizes.
Posted by Frank at 09:15 PM | Comments (0)
Gas Prices Up Four Cents This Week
In a squiggle that is sure to produce absurd news stories, gas prices are up four cents since we last reported on December 5.
A gallon of go-juice now costs an average $2.165 per gallon nationwide -- and no states are reportinng average prices under two bucks.
Compared to a year ago, gas is 15.1% more expensive than when it cost $1.88 per gallon.
Posted by Frank at 09:01 PM | Comments (0)
Checked Your Auto Insurance Rates Lately?
For many, writing the check to the auto insurance company becomes a habit, like the cell phone bill. But if you’ve stayed with the same carrier for years, you may be spending more than you should. So it makes sense to check into other companies, or even to ask your current firm for a better rate, particularly if you’ve been with them incident free for years.
When shopping for a new vehicle, it makes sense to find out what the insurance costs will be - and this is especially important if you are cross-shopping different brands or types of vehicles. Getting a rate quote on the Internet is simple. Check out Insurance.com, Esurance.com or even individual sites such as Progressive or Geico.
To get a quote, you’ll need to provide information on the car or cars that you intend to insure: the year, brand and model and the vehicle identification number [VIN]. You’ll also need driver information, and may have to answer such questions as how many miles you drive, if you use the vehicle for business, and whether you have anti-theft devices installed. Insurers also want to know what kind of safety features the vehicle has, including airbags, anti-lock brakes or electronic stability control.
Individual states set their own standards for minimum coverage, and it might be wise to check an official government site that details the exact amounts.
Still, there are certain universal categories every driver must carry, such as:
Bodily injury liability
The liability part of insurance coverage pays medical, rehabilitation, and, if necessary, funeral bills of your passengers, the other driver, his or her passengers, and any pedestrians involved. It also covers pain and suffering awards as well as legal costs.
Industry recommendations suggest buying coverage that pays at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. You may want to consider increasing these limits if you have considerable assets to protect.
Property damage
The amount that pays to repair or replace another person’s vehicle or other property damaged by your car. States typically require between $10,000 and $25,000. Coverage of $100,000 may shield you from paying larger amounts out of pocket.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
This covers medical bills, rehabilitation, and funeral costs, as well as losses for pain and suffering for you or the passengers in your car when an accident is caused by a hit-and-run driver or someone who has little or no insurance.
Additional categories of auto insurance include:
Collision and comprehensive
Collision pays to repair or replace your car regardless of the accident’s causes, while comprehensive pays to repair or replace a vehicle if it’s stolen or damaged as a result of a storm or natural event. The deductible, often between $500 and $1,000 is determined by how robust you want your policy [and premiums] to be.
Medical and Personal-injury protection
Medical coverage pays for you and/or your passengers’ medical bills, regardless of fault. Personal injury protection covers lost wages and in-home. Personal injury protection reimburses you for lost wages and in-home care needed as a result of an accident. If you have separate health and disability policies, you can buy just the state-required minimum for PIP. The other policies should cover the balance of your needs.
Roadside assistance and rental reimbursement
Often overlooked, these policies often save huge headaches when a collision occurs. If your car needs to be towed, your insurance company will often send an approved contractor to the scene, and you will not have to pay out of pocket. The same for rental reimbursement – if your vehicle needs to be in the shop, you will need a replacement for the time being, and many policies cover as much as 30 days.
Originally published at AIADA.org.
Posted by Frank at 08:52 PM | Comments (0)
Winding Road Issue #7 Now Online
Winding Road magazine is a different kind of online car mag -- it's actually a downloadable PDF, that can be printed and read whenever you're away from the computer.
Or quite frankly, tired of consuming bits and bytes onscreen.
Issue #7 just came out [and I know that because as a subscriber I got an e-mail reminder] and it's 76 pages of good car fun.
Included in this issue are reviews of the Caddy XLR, the Audi A3, as well as comparisons between the Mazda MX-5 and Pontiac Solstice, and a heads-off between the Jetta GLI and the Mazdaspeed6 -- plus more.
Check them out at WindingRoad.com.
Posted by Frank at 05:32 PM | Comments (0)
December 09, 2005
Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #119: The Lexus Story -- A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
In this podcast, we discuss how the results of the latest customer retention story proves the premise of the Lexus experiment -- they set a goal to make the best selling luxury car in the world, and 16 years later, they are sitting on top.
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 07:02 PM | Comments (0)
Ward's Top Ten Engines for 2006: Audi, GM Land Two Apiece
Ward's Auto magazine has compiled their 12th consecutive Best Engines list, and the verdict from their editors is that direct fuel injection is "the most important development the powertrain sector has seen in this decade."
Technically known as DIG, for direct-injection gasoline [DIG], the technology allows engineers to get more power out of smaller plants that can also get better fuel economy.
Audi, Mazda and Toyota all have engines using DIG, and another technology employed by Chrysler also made the list. Known as Displacement-on-Demand [DOD], the engine also known as Hemi shuts down four of its eight cylinders when peak power is not needed.
Ford's Mustang V-8 made the list, as did Nissan's 3.5L DOHC V-6, which has now made the list every one of the 12 years Ward's has been putting engines through the paces. To read more from Ward's, click here, the list of winners follows.
Ward's Top Ten Engines
[in alphabetical order]
Audi AG: 2L FSI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)
Audi AG: 4.2L DOHC V-8 (Audi S4)
BMW AG: 3L DOHC I-6 (330i)
DaimlerChrysler AG: 5.7L Hemi Magnum OHV V-8 (Charger R/T)
Ford Motor Co: 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang GT)
General Motors Corp: 2L supercharged DOHC I-4 (Chevrolet Cobalt SS)
General Motors Corp: 2.8L turbocharged DOHC V-6 (Saab 9-3 Aero)
Mazda Motor Corp: 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed 6)
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G35 6MT)
Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
Posted by Frank at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)
Even Santa Don't Mess With Texas
The Texas Department of Transportation is spending cash to paste notices like this all over gas pumps and in stores around the Lone Star State to remind folks not to drink and drive during the holidays.
Yes, it's annoying to be reminded about this all the time.
Getting killed or maimed by a drunk driver is even more annoying.
Posted by Frank at 02:21 PM | Comments (0)
Toyota's Recalls 2.4 Million Vehicles in Drive for Number One
Toyota may unseat General Motors as the largest automaker in the world, based on preliminary production estimates first reported in the Asahi Shimbun, but that drive to the top is making a dent in the automaker's vaunted quality.
Toyota reports they have recalled 2.4 million vehicles in the United States in 2005, compared to 210,000 in 2003. At the same time, GM has recorded 4 million in '05, though all parties say that recalls have become less dramatic in recent years, due to broader criteria for bringing vehicles into dealerships to repair often minor flaws.
The Japanese newspaper reports that Toyota plans to produce at least 8.9 million vehicles in 2006, while GM's production for 2005 is approximately 9.089 million.
The claim that Toyota may overtake GM in '06 is based on an assumption that GM's plant closings and lower sales will prompt the automaker to produce even less vehicles next year. Thus, Toyota could possibly pass GM on its way up as GM drifts downward in terms of global manufacturing.
Posted by Frank at 09:04 AM | Comments (0)
The Couchbike
Do we really have to write anything?
Filed under "alt_transport," the Couchbike is an all-human powered contraption that combines the sedentary with the revolutionary.
You can find an extended travelogue of a Couchbike adventure here. Click through the link at the bottom of the photo and you'll find a 14-page story, with additional pics. There's also a 4-minute video, here.
Posted by Frank at 09:03 AM | Comments (0)
Lexus Leads Industry in Customer Retention
Nearly two-thirds of people who own Lexus and Toyota vehicles stick with the same brand when they replace their cars, according to a new survey from J.D. Power.
Lexus has the highest rate in the industry – 63%, followed closely by Toyota at 62.6%. The industry average is 49.6%. The measurement, known as customer retention, is important to manufacturers because it costs more money to capture new customers than it does to continue selling vehicles to those already within the brand family.
The survey is great news for Hyundai, which scored an impressive 56.3% rate of retention and is fifth on the list of best performers. To see the complete ranking for all automakers, click here to download a PDF.
The study shows that people make their decision whether or not to stay in brand based on vehicle quality and the level of service they feel they get from dealers. The survey is based on responses from 177,941 new-vehicle buyers and lessees, of which 106,275 replaced a previous vehicle that was originally acquired new.
The Top Ten
Lexus -- 63.0%
Toyota -- 62.6%
Honda -- 59.9%
Chevrolet -- 57.3%
Hyundai -- 56.3%
Ford -- 54.0%
Cadillac -- 53.0%
Mercedes-Benz -- 52.6%
Subaru -- 51.4%
BMW -- 50.0%
Posted by Frank at 08:08 AM | Comments (0)
GEM Electric Car[t]s Good for the Ozone
Global Electric Motorcars, a Chrysler subsidiary, claims their vehicles cut dangerous emissions by one-third compared to gas-powered vehicles, according to a new survey.
The electric vehicles, that plug into ordinary 110-volt outlets, run for about a half-hour on a charge, and go up to 25 miles per hour.
GEM surveyed use of their vehicles in California, where the company has about 12,000 of the street-legal vehicles, out of approximately 15,000 total electric vehicles statewide. By taking about six short trips a day, GEM drivers eliminate ozone-forming emissions that ordinarly come with cold starting a gas engine. GEM has about 30,000 vehicles, which come in two and four passenger models, in use nationwide.
The company estimates that 8.5 tons of ozone-forming emissions are eliminated every year by GEM cars in California. You can find out more about GEM by going to this site, where you can see a pretty cool news video from the show, Fox & Friends.
Posted by Frank at 07:46 AM | Comments (0)
Toyota's Hiring Heroes
Toyota dealers nationwide have kept open a promise they made months ago -- offering a special job application site for men and women recently separated or about to leave the armed forces.
The "Hire A Hero" program can be accessed through this link, and it will help you search available jobs by city and state. Available jobs include sales, service, administration and other functions.
Posted by Frank at 06:15 AM | Comments (0)
Mercedes to Introduce Large GL-SUV in Detroit
Mercedes is building its third vehicle in the United States, a seven-seat large SUV called the GL-Class, that will make its debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January.
The GL will come equipped with a 4.6-liter 32 valve V8 producing 335-horsepower, mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission and 4MATIC full-time four-wheel drive. The almost 17-foot long vehicle with have four-wheel independent suspension and 18-inch 265/60 tires.
For those of you worried about the future of the G-Class, or Gelaendewagen! as we like to call it, fear not, the original German Hummer is still being built, though it has been slated for a redesign.
The GL will come with two-stage front air bags for the driver and front passenger, side air bags in the front and 2nd-row seats, and curtain air bags that span all three rows of seats.
One of the coolest features appears to be the electrically powered third-row seats that can be stowed at the push of a button, either separately or together, to provide a totally flat cargo floor. As a five-seater, the GL can carry 43.8 cubic feet of cargo, and with the second row seats stowed as well, there’s more than 83 cubic feet of cargo room.
To get a free, no -obligation price quote on Mercedes vehicles, including their all-new M-Class and R-Class SUVs, click here.
Posted by Frank at 05:32 AM | Comments (0)
Winter Driving Tips from the 2.4 Million Mile Man
If experience is the greatest teacher, then taking winter driving tips from the only person in history to drive over 2 million miles in the same car might be a good idea.
Irv Gordon, a retired Long Island science teacher, has logged 2.4 million miles in his 1966 Volvo P1800, and Volvo's gotten him to share his winter driving tips with the world.
Gordon's car, which will break the 2.5 million mile barrier in 2006, has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the vehicle with the “highest certified miles driven by the original car owner in non-commercial service.”
Gordon, who paid $4,150 for the vehicle in June 1966, said “winter driving is as inevitable as that crazy, belligerent uncle visiting for the holidays. Sooner or later, you’re just going to have to deal with it.”
Here are his driving tips:
Professionally winterize your car
“I like to have a qualified mechanic give my car a full winter physical – checking tire inflation, treads, battery, brake wear, fluids, etc. Get the cooling system flushed. Have him check all hoses and belts for cracks, bulges, soft areas and leaks. Inspect the brakes, rotors and the action of the emergency brake. The last thing you need on a cold morning is a frozen emergency brake because you failed to make sure all the linkages where free of road dirt and salt. And, for the love of Pete, put winter blades on your wipers!”
Warm it up and fill it up
“Is it a myth that you need to warm up your car or keep your tank full in the winter? Who cares? Don’t gamble. On cold days, warm your car a few minutes to get its heart ticking. And, always try to keep the gas tank at least half full ––– lest water, condensation, dirt and debris find their way in there. And remember, don’t warm up your car and fill it up at the same time, okay?”
Get proper grades on your oil
“You really are supposed to use different grades of oil over winter months. Check your owners’ manual and make the adjustments.”
Do all four snow tires
“Instead of all season tires, try four genuine snow tires. And, buy the best snow tires you can afford. It’s still cheaper than paying for what happens after you skid into your friendly neighborhood light pole.”
Bring great tunes for the ride
“Before heading out on a snowy day, grab your favorite records to play in your car; you’ll have plenty of time to listen while sitting on the highway. My preference for the winter drives is Johnny Cash. Listening to Cash and driving in snow go together like a cup of hot, black coffee and a shot of fine, rich cream.
AWD is great, but an AKD (All-Knowing Driver) is better
“Some drivers swear by front-wheel drive for winter driving. Others attest to all-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. None of these will help anyone who will not help himself. Being patient, driving at proper speeds and being completely aware of your surroundings is the most critical drive system you can have.”
Pretend there are six invisible cars in front of you
“On icy roads, you can’t control a tailgater, but you usually can control the distance of the car in front of you. I allow at least six car lengths in front of me on snowy days. That sometimes makes the guy behind me insane, but it gives me nothing but peace of mind.”
Know the ABC’s of ABS
“Anti-lock braking systems are blessings for winter driving, and these traction control systems on newer cars are miracles. But what good are they if you don’t know how they function? Ask your service technician to review the systems with you. And, no matter how high-tech your brake systems, always keep a safe distance back, as they are not intended to shorten your stopping distance; their purpose is to help you maintain control.”
Pull over a block from home to wind down
“Did a snowy evening commute turn your otherwise 15 minute drive into a two hour nightmare? The last thing you want to do is carry that stress into your home to your family. If possible, pull over a block from your house and spend a couple of minutes taking deep breaths and unwinding. It’ll make your abbreviated evening a lot more enjoyable.”
Buckle up
“It’s the most important thing you can do on the road in the winter, or all year round for that matter. Plus, a Volvo employee named Nils Bohlin created the modern three-point safety belt, so I’m partial to this one.”
Posted by Frank at 05:05 AM | Comments (0)
Rolls-Royce Commemorates 2000th Phantom
Rolls-Royce celebrated the production of the 2000th Phantom motorcar by trotting everyone out into the courtyard for a team-building/PR exercise.
Number 2000 is being shipped to China, where it is likely to be torn apart in preparation for a new Chinese-built luxury vehicle, the "Rose Juice."
To be built by the same pirates that brought you "Hongda."
The first Phantom was built in January of 2003 and a convertible edition is expected in the next 12 to 18 months.
Posted by Frank at 04:54 AM | Comments (0)
December 08, 2005
Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #118: Ford's Way Forward Through Design
In this podcast we talk about Ford's new designs that will be revealed at the Detroit Auto Show, and criticize the media speculation about plant closings that are nothing more than smoke, trying to shake real information loose from the company.
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 09:18 PM | Comments (0)
Holiday Predator: The Parking Spot Stalker
A new survey tells us that once again, we're not paranoid after all.
The number of people who actually admit to “stalking” people walking to their cars to grab their parking spots has risen to over 15%, according to a survey of 1,000 adults.
We have experienced this creepy phenomenon ourselves and have a couple ways of handling it.
First, we wave to the stalkers. And smile. Then, if we suddenly remember there's something else we need to get, we will turn around and walk back into a store.
But only after walking all the way up to our vehicle, snapping our fingers in an elaborate pantomime of “Oh, I almost forgot,” then walking back.
If we have packages with us, we'll put them in the vehicle – act like we're going to drive away – and only then pull the double back.
Or, since we always have a book and a bottle of water with us, we may choose that precise moment to create a little quality time with one of our favorite authors.
And if our stalker honks, we smile – and wave again!
The survey, conducted by Response Insurance, has found stalking has increased from 9% of self-identified cretins in 2000, to over 15% today. Also as we suspected, women used to be the majority of stalkers, but now men do it in almost equal numbers as well.
The survey identified a four different categories of parking lot anthropology, including: “'Search & Destroy' drivers who cruise the aisles for a space; 'Lie & Wait' who position themselves at the end of an aisle waiting for an opening; the 'See It & Take It' driver who simply takes the first space they see; and the 'Stalker.'"
The previous survey had 12% of women and 5% of men stalking, but this year those numbers were almost even with nearly 16% of women and nearly 15% of men following shoppers in their cars as a strategy to get a good spot. Drivers age 25-34 are again the most likely to stalk [23%], as are residents of urban areas [16%].
Posted by Frank at 04:45 PM | Comments (0)
Subaru's All Wheel Deals
Subaru's special finance offers are good through Jasnuary 3, 2006, and include deals on the Outback, Tribeca SUV, Forrester and Legacy.
As you can see above, you can get a $1,000 off an Outback, or 1.9% interest on a loan. [And as car loan rates increase, these low interest deals may start pulling more takers.]
You can lease a Tribeca SUV for $239 a month for 36 months, with $2,893 down, or get the same choice of a $1,000 off or the low APR on the Forrester and Legacy.
You may want to check prices before you even go into the dealer though, and you can do that in less than two minutes with our free, no-obligation price quote tool.
Posted by Frank at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)
Toyota to Introduce New Camry, Lexus LS in Detroit
On January 8, Toyota will unveil the fourth-generation Lexus LS at 12:25 pm. At 1:20 pm on the 9th, Toyota will let the world see its 2007 Camry – as well as the new Camry Hybrid.
The Camry's been the bests-selling car in America for seven of the past eight years, and with a lot of new competition in showrooms, they're not about to loosen their grip on the lead.
Toyota will make a video of the unveil on their website, the same way they did with the Yaris.
To get a free, no-obligation dealer price quote on any Toyota vehicle, click here.
Posted by Frank at 03:53 PM | Comments (0)
Check out the New Grand Cherokee SRT8 Commercial
Jeep has just started advertising its brand new 40,000 hot rod Grand Cherokee, the SRT8 that can do 0-60 in under 5 seconds.
You can read our original entry here, and by clicking here, you can watch the new, 30-second TV commercial.
The print ads were debut in January in the following publications, to coincide when the vehicle is available for sale in dealerships: MotorTrend, Automobile, Road & Track and Car & Driver.
Posted by Frank at 03:26 PM | Comments (0)
Mitsubishi Releases Sketches of '07 Spyder, Concept Vehicle
Pictured above is the sketch of the 2007 Mitsubishi Spyder, to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. Below is the Concept-CT MIEV vehicle, a hybrid B-class vehicle that will also be at the show. Check out the original post here.
Posted by Frank at 01:32 PM | Comments (0)
Who Ya Gonna Call for Winter "Tyres"? How About Nokia[n]
Fellow automotive journalist John Gilbert gave us a tip about winter tires -- as a Minnesota resident, Gilbert's been test driving cars in tough winter conditions for over 25 years, and he says that for the money, Nokian tires are superior for icy and snowy driving conditions.
Yes, from the same company that makes cell phones, we get these "tyres" as they refer to them on their website, with different products for summer and winter driving. Because of the severity of winter driving in Central Europe, Nokian offers standard, or friction, tires, as well as studded models.
We're willing to take Gilbert's word for it -- when it was 18 degress in Detroit this week, he said that it was warmer than Minnesota, where temps havee already dropped lower than that!
Posted by Frank at 10:48 AM | Comments (0)
Hybrid, Diesel Tax Credits Undecided for 2006
The tax credits promised for hybrid and diesel vehicles in the Energy Act have yet to be formalized by the IRS, though there are estimates available online that can provide guidance for consumers and tax counselors alike.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy [PDF] estimates the Toyota Prius will be the winner in the tax credit sweepstakes, with an estimated tax credit of $3,140 available to buyers.
According to James Dupree, an IRS spokesman, the tax credits for hybrids are calculated along two criteria -- “a fuel economy amount that varies with the rated fuel economy of the vehicle compared to a comparable 2002 model year standard; and a conservation credit based on the estimated lifetime fuel savings of a qualifying vehicle compared to a comparable 2002 model year vehicle.”
According to the ACEEE estimate, the Honda Civic Hybrid will qualify for a $2,100 credit for the automatic transmission vehicle, and a $1,700 credit for the manual. The Honda Accord Hybrid will only receive a $650 credit according to the estimate, though a Civic powered by compressed natural gas [CNG] car earns approximately $3,600.
The Energy Act provides tax credits for 60,000 qualifying vehicles from each automaker, which means that though the bill is authorized through 2010, Toyota buyers will only have approximately the first six months of 2006 to buy a vehicle that earns a credit, as the company should easily sell over 120,000 hybrids next year. For the year to date, Toyota has already sold 98,870 Prius hybrids alone.
Toyota's other hybrids – the Highlander SUV and Lexus RX400h – also qualify for credits between $2,200 to $2,600, according to ACEEE.
Diesels are another matter entirely. Though the possibility of diesel vehicle buyers was widely broadcast after the energy bill was passed, the reality is that diesel passenger vehicles will most likely not qualify for tax credits in 2006.
This is due to additional language in the Energy Act stipulating that diesels must pass tighter emissions requirements in order to qualify for a tax credit. According to both ACEEE and the Diesel Technology Forum, [PDF] current diesel vehicles will not qualify, as they do not pass the Bin 5 Tier II emissions standard.
It is possible, however, that diesels could qualify for the credit in 2007, with the expected emissions improvements that will accompany the introduction of lower sulfur fuel, and particulate filters automakers plan to install in their diesel vehicles.
Posted by Frank at 09:50 AM | Comments (0)
Ford Edge Crossover to Debut in Detroit
This sketch only conveys part of the excitement of the new Ford Edge crossover that's going to hit dealers in late 2006. In our view, this vehicle builds on the success of the new Fusion platform [including the Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr], and is integral to Ford getting past the doom and gloom of business news, so the public can focus on the company's products.
The Edge will be powered by Ford's new 3.5-liter V-6 engine and new 6-speed automatic transmission combo, which is going to give it both the power and the fuel economy that crossover buyers want. The real deal is going to be unveiled January 8, 2006, at the Detroit Auto Show.
Posted by Frank at 09:15 AM | Comments (0)
High-Tech Repo Man Has No Soul
This little keypad can be hotwired to any vehicle you buy at a pay-as-you-go used car lot, and makes sure you make your payments, on time, all the time.
Because if you don't pay, the system disables the ignition! No payee, no drivee.
Marketed by PayTeck, the system promises to help used car lots cut down on defaults, and eliminates the need for phone collectors and professional "interventionists."
It also, in its own soulless way, enforces fiscal discipline on those who live paycheck to paycheck, most of which goes to keeping a set of wheels on the road.
If you know your car won't start if you don't make the payment, chances are you will go to that minimum wage job you hate, and that you will forego wasting your hard earned money on the typical waste items of the poor -- rent, medicine and food.
Posted by Frank at 08:58 AM | Comments (0)
December 07, 2005
I Went to Detroit and All I Can Show You is this Lousy Picture ...
... of Bill Ford's parking spot.
The event for journalists was to give us a sneak peek of the vehicles Ford will be introducing at the Detroit Auto Show January 8 and 9, and we are under strict instructions to honor the embargo regarding details and images of the five new vehicles we were shown.
The images part is easy, since no cameras were allowed inside the Design Center. The details part is a little harder for us, because we saw some things that were truly exciting, especially for Lincoln.
They are throwing us a bone, however, and we'll be able to publish a sketch of the new Ford Edge CUV, after midnight tonight. As has already been published, both the new Ford Edge and Lincoln Aviator will be the first Ford vehicles to house their new V6 powerplant, which should make both vehicles fun and capable rides.
[To see a photo of the Lincoln Aviator, as well as Carroll Shelby with the new GT500 convertible, click here to see a PDF from the Detroit Show.]
Ford President Mark Fields gave the introduction to the program, which was centered around design, and he promised their focus would be emphasizing "much stronger identities for the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands bassed on emotional appeal."
While Fields got a laugh from the crowd of journos by saying "the answer to the question is no," that he would not discuss Ford's Way Forward restructuring plan, he did say that all three brands are part of the immediate and long-term future for the company.
Ford's new designs are built around "two key words," Fields said, "bold, and American."
This, of course, has some irony to it, as most of Ford's design heads are foreigners, including Peter Horbury, head of design for North America. But as has been pointed out in articles written elsewhere, these "foreigners" have a love for all things American, particularly classic auto design, and Horbury seems intent on bringing a refreshed sense of openness and optimism to Ford's cars.
He did not, however, seem to think our suggestion that they use hemp for seat materials, would make it into his portfolio.
While we can't give you details of the actual vehicles we saw, we think Ford's emphasis on design -- particularly bold concepts that aim to capture a distinctive American flavor, may wind up being the most important part of their Way Forward plan.
Posted by Frank at 07:32 PM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2005
HD Radio: The Empire Strikes Back
A group of seven of the country's major holders of radio stations have banded together to roll out “HD Digital Radio,” a broadcast service that requires new receivers but also promises to deliver higher quality sound. The new service also enables stations to split their signals into “multicasts” to provide additional stream of content to HD-equipped receivers.
This effort is an obvious response to the threat posed by the two satellite radio companies, XM and Sirius, and hopes to stem the tide of millions of people who are fed up with the poor quality, excessive commercials and general inanity of old-school radio.
The companies who have banded together for this initiative include: Bonneville International, Citadel Broadcasting, Clear Channel Radio, Cumulus, Emmis Communications, Entercom, Greater Media, and Infinity Broadcasting.
At Car Buyer's Notebook, we are tireless evangelists for satellite radio.
We feel we are uniquely positioned to offer an opinion on the difference between broadcast and satellite radio, because every week we drive cars, some of which have satellite, and some that don't.
Whenever we get a car that doesn't have satellite, we generally drive around in silence. Or at least muttering to ourselves that every new car should come with satellite.
As a matter of fact, we have made a point of requesting from our transportation providers that they activate the satellite receivers in their vehicles if they come so equipped. We have talked up the benefits of satellite to other auto journalists, to friends, on in this publication.
To give equal space to traditional radio, however, here is a portion of the press release from the HD Digital Radio consortium:
HD radio eliminates the static, hiss, pop and fades associated with analog signals, so for listeners, AM-band broadcasts sound like FM and FM-band broadcasts have digital CD-like quality. The wireless data feature enables text information on songs to be broadcast directly to receiver display screens. HD Radio also enables radio broadcasters to segment a single, existing radio frequency so that it can carry multiple, simultaneous, higher-quality AM and FM broadcast streams as well as wireless data.
Member companies have agreed to coordinate the use of all multicast HD2 channels to create the greatest diversity of formats. The goal: create new, unique and compelling content within a high-quality listening experience across a broad spectrum of music, news and entertainment programming.
HD2 channels will be locally programmed in each market. And HD2 programming will initially be commercial-free. No subscription is required to hear HD digital radio broadcasts.
HD digital radio technology is enjoying strong momentum:
-- Nearly 600 radio stations in the U.S. are already broadcasting their primary programming signal in HD digital quality.
--More than 15 manufacturers are creating digital receivers, including ADA, Alpine, Boston Acoustics, Day Sequerra, Delphi, DICE, Eclipse, JVC, Kenwood, Panasonic, Polk, Radiosophy, Rotel, Sanyo, Visteon and Yamaha.
-- Receivers are available now from the following in-store and online retailers: ABC Warehouse, Audio Adviser, Bjorn's, Boston Acoustics, Car Toys, Great Indoors (a unit of Sears Roebuck & Co.), Harvey's, eBay, J & R Music, Listen Up, Magnolia Audio Video, One Call, Ovation AV,Radiosophy, Tweeter and Ultimate.
Posted by Frank at 05:52 PM | Comments (0)
Jaguar, Land Rover to Stop Being "Too" Gay Friendly
Two Ford brands, Jaguar and Land Rover, will stop advertising in gay-oriented publications, though the company denies the decision has anything to do with a threatened boycott from a Christian group. Volvo willl continue to run advertising in gay publications.
Ford is calling the move a business decision, and not a response to a boycott by the American Family Association, that was supposed to resume last week.
The AFA had announced the boycott in March, but called it off in June to open a dialogue with Ford, whose primary brands, Lincoln, Mercury and Ford, do not advertise in gay pubs in the United States.
Donald E. Wildmon, Chairman of AFA, said in a statement, “we are ending the boycott of Ford. While we still have a few differences with Ford, we feel that our concerns are being addressed in good faith and will continue to be addressed in the future.”
The Human Rights Campaign, a non-profit that works for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, is one of 19 orgnanizations that signed a statement that read in part, "we are deeply dismayed by reports in the media and otherwise that the Ford Motor Company has entered into a confidential agreement with the extremist American Family Association (AFA) that requires Ford to stop advertising in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media." The statement went on to ask Ford to disavow the alleged agreement and to reiterate its support for the LGBT community.
The problem for Ford, in our opinion, is that they are stuck between two powerful economic lobbies. Let's forget about right, wrong and/or cultural values for a minute. This is business.
While LGBT consumers are a proven economic power that are inclined to spend their money with companies that contribute to their community [see previous story], let's also remember that Ford is strong in so-called "red states" where groups such as the AFA hold considerable influence.
If this is indeed just a busines decision, it came down to -- who's more likely to buy our cars?
Posted by Frank at 05:06 PM | Comments (0)
You Know You're in Detroit When ...
... The Henry Ford Museum Store and another outlet, The GM Collection, stand next to each other in the airport.
We certainly must have looked as funny as those tourists from the Midwest we used to make fun of in Manhattan, looking at ALL those big buildings, but like them, we just grinned and snapped away. Pretty sure no drool was hanging off our chin, though.
Inside the GM store, they had a full size Pontaic Solstice on display, and it was one of those things it was cool to stare at, as you can see from the following photos -- enjoy!
Posted by Frank at 04:39 PM | Comments (0)
Good Morning, I Must Be Going
Greeting, Car Buyer's Notebook readers! There's ten new stories posted this morning, and I am now flying to Detroit for a Ford event. More stories, including the podcast, later today. And keep an eye out for whatever news we get out of the Design Center tomorrow,
Cordially,
Frank Giovinazzi
Posted by Frank at 08:22 AM | Comments (0)
CrankyFrank Says: "Clean the Snow Off Your Cars"
This has bugged us for years. Whenever it snows, people usually clean their windshields and windows, but leave snow on the top of their cars and bumpers undisturbed.
This is a safety hazard.
Not usually on the first day, when the snows flies and flitters off in nice fluffy bunches. It usually dissipates and hits the ground before smacking into our windshield at 40 miles an hour.
The way it does after you've left it on your car overnight to harden into a deadly sheet, that lifts off like a projectile as dangerous as a plate glass window falling off a building.
Most municipalities have traffic laws that dictate you must clean off your vehicle to avoid creating a hazard for other drivers. Cops generally don't like giving out these kinds of citations while they're cruising, but they will give you one if a witness claims it caused a collision.
We've all seen these sheets of icy glass fly off vehicles at high speed. We all know it's dangerous. We all know we should clean off our vehicles -- completely -- of snow. It's the right thing.
Thank you for your support.
Posted by Frank at 07:53 AM | Comments (0)
Telemarketers Edge Out Car Salesmen as Least Ethical Profession
A new Gallup poll rating the ethical standards of various professions should make car salesmen grateful for unwanted phone calls.
The poll, which asked Americans to rate the honesty and ethics of different professions on a scale of 1 to 5, put telemarketers last, with 7% of respondents saying they were trustworthy.
Car salesmen garnered an 8% score.
Can you imagine what's going to happen the next time a car salesman picks up the phone to find a telemarketer on the end of the line? "Hey, thanks for calling, dude! No, I'm not buying Christmas cards from you -- just want to thank you for being you."
Nurses topped the list with an 82% favorable score in the poll, Congressional representatives scored a 14% favorable, but Senators did better, with a 16% score.
Posted by Frank at 07:31 AM | Comments (0)
Nissan's A-Z Year-End Event
Nissan is holding a big sales event, what they call "A-Z," and while it's not getting as much press as the domestic automakers' plans, there are a lot of steep, deep deals in the mix.
And it is a mix -- most of the vehicles on the lot have two or three different offers -- either a big chunk of cash back, low-APR financing, or a special lease deal. The full list of deal for each vehicle is posted after the jump, but before you go to the dealer and start working with the rebates, make sure to get a free price quote first. This way, you have a starting point to work the incentives against their initial offers.
Nissan's A-Z Year-End Sales Event -- save on every vehicle from A to Z.
2006 Z® Coupe
STARTING AT $27,450*
SEE YOUR DEALER FOR THE LATEST DETAILS
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 Z® Coupe
STARTING AT $34,850*
SEE YOUR DEALER FOR THE LATEST DETAILS
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 MAXIMA
$1,250 Cash Back*
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 MAXIMA
3.0% APR financing for up to 36 months**
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 MAXIMA
SE Auto w/ spoiler, mats & splash guards
$319/mo. for 36 months. $2,329 initial payment.***
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 ALTIMA
2.5S w/ Special Edition Pkg
$1000 Cash Back and $1,200 Package Savings* for a total of $2,200 Savings
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 ALTIMA
3.0% APR financing for up to 36 months with $250 cash back**
Excludes taxes, title, license.
Lease a 2006 ALTIMA
SE 2.5S Auto w/ Special Edition Pkg.
$199/mo. for 39 months. $2,499 initial payment.***
Excludes taxes, title, license, and options.
2006 ALTIMA
$1,500 cash back**
Excludes 2.5 Base, 2.5S Base and 2.5S with Special Edition Pkg.
Excludes taxes, title, license
2006 SENTRA
$2,000 Cash Back*
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 SENTRA
1.0% APR financing for up to 36 months with $750 cash back**
Excludes taxes, title, license.
Lease a 2006 SENTRA
1.8S Auto w/ Special Edition Pkg
$209/mo. for 36 months. $999 initial payment.***
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 QUEST
$1,000 Cash Back*
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 QUEST
3.0% APR financing for up to 36 months**
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 ARMADA
$1,500 Cash Back*
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 ARMADA
3.0% APR financing for up to 36 months**
Excludes taxes, title, license.
Lease a 2006 PATHFINDER
SE 4x4 Auto w/ Comfort & Premium Pkg, mldg,
splash guards, micro, & mats.
$359/mo. for 39 months. $1,999 initial payment.*
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2005 XTERRA
$2,000 Cash Back*
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2005 XTERRA
3.0% APR financing for up to 36 months with $1,000 cash back**
Excludes taxes, title, license.
Lease a 2006 MURANO
SL AWD w/ Touring Pkg, mats, splash guards, cargo, & sunroof wind protector. $359/mo. for 42 months. $2,399 initial payment.*
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 TITAN KING CAB
$2,000 Cash Back*
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 TITAN KING CAB
3.0% APR financing for up to 36 months with $500 cash back**
Excludes taxes, title, license.
Lease a 2006 TITAN KING CAB
SE 4x2 w/ Popular Pkg, Bucket Seats and Utility Bed. $439/mo. for 36 months. $999 initial payment.***
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 TITAN CREW CAB
$1,500 Cash Back*
2006 TITAN CREW CAB
3.0% APR financing for up to 36 months with $250 cash back**
2006 FRONTIER KING CAB
$500 Cash Back*
Excludes taxes, title, license.
2006 FRONTIER CREW CAB
$500 Cash Back*
Excludes taxes, title, license.
Posted by Frank at 07:01 AM | Comments (0)
After Rough November, GM & Chrysler Boost Incentives
In addition to the Red Tag Sale Event already under way General Motors has added a $500 rebate onto the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Buick Rainier and Rendezvous, and GMC Envoy. This increases the bonuses to $4,000 for 2005 models and $3,000 for 2006 models.
Chrysler has added up to $1,000 in spiffs on most 2005 vehicles and as much as $500 on most 2006 models, in addition to the Miles of Freedom plan.
If you're thinking about getting into a GM SUV or Chrysler vehicle, make an informed decision by getting a free price quote from our network of new car dealers.
Posted by Frank at 06:58 AM | Comments (0)
Nissan Develops Flubber! Scratch-Proof Paint Can Repair Blemishes
Nissan claims to have invented a new super paint that is able to repair itself, essentially “healing” scratches from abrasive surfaces such as drive-thru car washes, off-road driving, and they say, fingernails.
“Scratch Guard Coat” is a formula that includes an elastic resin that keeps scratches from getting underneath the topcoat. The rubber-base will help the paint return to its original state, anywhere from a day to a week after the scratch occurs.
Essentially folks, Nissan has invented flubber.
The company also says the new paint has a higher resistance to keep scratches from even occurring.
For example, “a vehicle painted with “Scratch Guard Coat” will have only one-fifth the abrasions caused by a car-washing machine compared with a car covered with conventional clear paint."
“Scratch Guard Coat” will be tested on a new SUV in the near future, and Nissan says it will retain its scratch-proof abilities for up to three years.
Posted by Frank at 06:37 AM | Comments (0)
Report: GT-R Proto Coming to Town -- as an Infiniti
Shown as a concept at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Show, Nissan's GT-R Proto is likely to be sold in the United States as an Infiniti, according to Automotive News. The production model is expected to be unveiled at the 2007 Tokyo Show, with it hitting the ground as an '08 or '09 model and is going to have a sticker price in the $65,000 range.
We've got a video clip of the GT-R in action, which you can view here.
The story reports there was a bit of an internal battle over whether to badge the car as a Nissan or Infiniti, but doesn't it make sense this vehicle would look and feel more at home in an Infiniti dealership?
No hard specs have been released for a production model, but one source said the car will have all-wheel drive and boost about 400 horsepower.
Posted by Frank at 04:53 AM | Comments (0)
Mitsy Bitsy Spyder at Detroit Auto Show
Mitsubishi will unveil the 2007 version of its Spyder roadster at the Detroit Auto Show, along with a B-class subcompact vehicle, the Concept-CT MIEV. No announcement on pricing or availability for the Spyder yet.
The new Spyder is based on the 2006 Eclipse coupe, which is helping Mitsubishi turn around their sales performance in the States. There will be two trim lines, GS and GT, each with a MIVEC engine and 650-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system.
The Concept-CT MIEV, designed at the Mitsubishi Motors design center in Cypress, Calif., the Concept-CT features a hybrid powertrain -- a gas engine combined with Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electronic Vehicle (MIEV) technology, recently shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, whereby the wheels are driven by four outer-rotor, in-wheel electric motors. The "in-wheel motor" component systems, with accompanying graphics and video, will be displayed at the Detroit Show.
Posted by Frank at 04:38 AM | Comments (0)
Subaru Confirms U.S. Toyota Production
Fuji Heavy Industries, owner of Subaru, has confirmed they will use their Indiana plant to manufacture Toyota vehicles, according to Reuters. As previously reported here, the move is made possible by the recent acquistion of 8.7% of Fuji stock that Toyota bought after General Motors unloaded its 20% share.
The news will allow Toyota to expand production of vehicles for the U.S. market, adding capacity to its existinng 5 plants. Toyota is currently building new factories in Texas and Canada as well.
Posted by Frank at 04:18 AM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Land Rover's Utes Stay on Top
Land Rover also scored an 18% monthly increase, on the strength of its two new SUVS, the LR3 and Range Rover Sport. The LR3 was up 13.8% for the month and has sold 16,842 units to date this year. The Ranger Rover Sport sold 1,841 units in November. For the year to date, Range Rover is up 30.8%.
Posted by Frank at 04:09 AM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Suzuki Surges
Suzuki’s sales 18.2% in November, leading the company to a year to date improvement of 9.8%. The all-new Grand Vitara SUV scored an impressive 255.5% gain, and Suzuki did well in cars, with its Aerio posting a 38.8% increase, and the Reno/Forenza platform bringing home a 42% boost.
For the year to date, the Grand Vitara is up 53.2%, and the Reno/Forenza is up 68.9%
Posted by Frank at 04:08 AM | Comments (0)
December 05, 2005
Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #117: Ford Only Domestic to Take Gold Honors in New Safety Picks
In this podcast we interview Susan Cischke, Vice President of Environmental and Safety Engineering at Ford Motor Company, to discuss the latest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety [IIHS].
Ford was the only domestic automaker to place two vehicles on the list, and be awarded gold medals, for its Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego large sedans. Cischke described the awards, as well as what Ford did to engineer the vehicles to pass the IIHS's tough standards.
For more on this story, you want to read this post, that includes a list of all the winners. 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 04:16 PM | Comments (0)
Howard Stern Talks Sirius on 60 Minutes
His Sternness gave Ed Bradley an extensice interview on last night's 60 Minutes, and a good portion of the interview, plus other materials, are all available at the CBS news website.
Of course, it was really Bradley who gave Stern the interview, in the sense that it is part of the vigorous marketing effort by the shock jock and his new partner, Sirius satellite radio, to publicize the switch as part of the campaign to entice people to sign up for the $12.95 a month service.
As we've written before, we are extreme satellite radio evangelists. We listen to both XM and Sirius, and feel they both have their strong points. The biggest distinction up to now has been the different sports programs, but with Stern, Sirius has a legitimate chance to improve their capture rate of potential saltellite listeners.
Our view has always been that if you are in a car more than 2-3 hours a week, due to your commute, not having satellite radio is akin to being in an unlocked jail cell and neglecting to puch the door open.
Posted by Frank at 11:15 AM | Comments (0)
Crazy Kia Lease Deals
Whoa, you can get a lease on a 2006 Kia Rio for $179 a month for 36 months, with only $179 down at acquisition. That's a total of $6,623, but Kia doesn't give the final purchase price at turn-in. The Kia Spectra lease goes for $199/36 months, with $199 due at signing, and the Optima can be had for $219 a month for the 36 month deal, with $219 due at signing.
There's also good deals to be had on 2005 models, such as $3,500 cash back on a Sedona minivan. Check out this page for more details, or, to get a price quote, click here.
Posted by Frank at 08:42 AM | Comments (0)
Read The Lexus Story
If you're looking for a gift for that car lover in your family, and don't have the scatoosh to buy him/her a new ride, why not get them books about the auto world?
This is a link to the Amazon page for The Lexus Story, a boxed set commissioned by the company to document their creation of the best-selling luxury brand in America.
Other good choices that spring to mind include, Shift : Inside Nissan's Historic Revival by Carlos Ghosn, not exaclty a critical document, but hey, auto-hagiography is not necessarily a bad thing.
There's also Taken for a Ride : How Daimler-Benz Drove Off With Chrysler, by Bill Vlasic and Bradley A. Stertz.
Posted by Frank at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)
Register to Win a Saturn Sky
By going to this page, you can click to enter the Saturn Sky minisite, where you can enter to win one of their new roadsters, signup for e-mail updates, check out galleries and specs and download one of two different screensavers that have built in RSS feeds for Sky news updates.
To get a free, no-obligation dealer price quote on any Saturn vehicle currently on the market, click here.
Posted by Frank at 08:09 AM | Comments (0)
View OnStar Demo Online
If you want to experience what GM's OnStar can do for you in a variety of situations, this interactive demo is a good place to start.
Of course, you can also read this detailed story we wrote on the topic -- essentially OnStar is a real-time safety, communications and diagnostic service offered by GM in more than 50 of their vehicle models. New GM vehicles equipped with OnStar come with a free, 12-month subscription. After that, it's 16.95 a month.
Posted by Frank at 07:45 AM | Comments (0)
Interactive Buick Lucerne Showroom Online
The 2006 Buick Lucerne, the premise of a recent Martha Stewart Apprentice episode, now has its own interactive online showroom, based on the winning display from the TV show. And don't forget you can sign up for the VIP Premiere Night while you're there.
The minisite features two new TV commercials, galleries and nifty flash "hotspots" on which you can click to call up more information. Pretty slick, all in all.
And remember, you can get a free price quote from a Buick dealer by clicking here.
Posted by Frank at 07:31 AM | Comments (0)
Toyotathon Now in its 27th Year
Toyota's year-end clearance event, the Toyotathon, has been going on for nearly three decades now, and it's the time of year when you can get deals on vehicles they want off the floor.
Unfortunately, the site for the Toyotathon isn't listing prices.
However, if you want a price quote without having to walk into a dealer to get it, you can click here to get a free, no-obligation price quote on any Toyota, Scion or Lexus vehicle, from the convenience of your own computer.
Posted by Frank at 07:08 AM | Comments (0)
Gas Prices Under $2 a Gallon in Five States
The average price for a gallon of gas has dropped to $2.124 per gallon, 10.2% higher than a year ago.
In what looks like an encouraging sign, the average price has dropped under two buck in these five states -- Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma and South Carolina. Tennessee just missed the mark at $2.001 a gallon.
Posted by Frank at 06:49 AM | Comments (0)
Original Mustang Pedal Car Back in Action, on the Shelves in Time for Xmas
The original 1965 Mustang pedal car sold 93,000 units its first year in production -- most carmakers would take that result for a new model in any year!
Now the original metal edition is back in production, brought out of retirement by a California company that salvaged the tooling from a company in Mexico that had bought the rights.
Warehouse 36 has the new old toy for sale to dealers, and the owner, Mark Luzaich, said they retail for about $250.
Posted by Frank at 06:32 AM | Comments (0)
Volvo's Safe Winter Driving Tips
With two to six inches of snow forecast for the East Coast today and tonight, we thought it would be a good time to post the list of Volvo's safe winter driving tips.
[You can also watch the Zero to 120 video set in Volvo's secret Arctic testing facility.]
Volvo breaks their recommendations into two categories, for the vehicle and the driver:
For the vehicle
1. Fill the windshield washer tank with appropriate antifreeze-based fluid -- not water.
2. Avoid de-icing sprays on locks, they can gum up the works in extreme cold. Use teflon-based spray.
3. Make sure the antifreeze is full, fresh and rated at -35 degrees.
4. Keep the fuel tank full to prevent condensation and give you maximum range in case of getting stuck.
5. Use lower visocisty oil, such as 5W-30, it makes cold starts easier.
6. Check the battery strength. Extreme cold saps batteries quicker.
For the driver
1. Avoid bulky clothes, they inhibit movement and reaction time.
2. You should, howver, keep warm clothes and a shovel in the car in case you get stuck.
3. Don't follow previous snow tracks -- they can be slippery. Fresh snow offers greater traction.
4. Brake gently on snowy and iced roads. If you skid, steer into, rather away from the skid.
5. Air conditoning works as a dehumidifier in the cold to clear the windows, and works tto purify the air, as cold weather causes emissions to linger around the vehicle.
6. Don't run the heat full blast -- it can make you drowsy and impede reaction time.
7. Use any winter traction, electronic stability control or all-wheel drive settings in your vehicle if so equipped.
Posted by Frank at 05:52 AM | Comments (0)
Subaru Re-signs Travis Pastrana to Lead American Rally Team
Subaru has re-signed Travis Pastrana, X-games gold medalist to drive one of their two rally cars on the national Rally America championship circuit. Also being re-signed is Ken Block, who won 2005 Rookie of the Year.
We covered Subaru's involvement in Rally is this article, and if you want to know more about the sport, there's also this piece, What is Rally?
Both Pastrana and Block will drive in nine Rally America events in 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX vehicles prepared by Subaru Motorsports partner, Vermont SportsCar.
Posted by Frank at 05:21 AM | Comments (0)
New York Times Confuses Grease with Biodiesel and Vice-Versa
In the Sunday Times,this article on biodiesel confuses two different ways of making fuel out of recycled fryer oil. There are two different ways to use oil to fuel diesel engine cars -- one is to use it as straight grease, the other is to convert it into biodiesel using a chemical process.
In the first, straight grease is also known as SVO, for straight vegetable oil. This is what is used in Greasecar converted vehicles, which we have covered before. Running a car on SVO requires the installation of a second fuel tank, fuel lines and a heater to keep the oil liquid.
With the second option, converting oil into biodiesel requires methane and lye to turn it into fuel that does not require a second tank.
The article's author, Jim Motavalli, uses the two terms interchangeably, which is wrong. Both fuels are made from recycled oil but they are not both biodiesel. Period.
Posted by Frank at 05:08 AM | Comments (0)
December 04, 2005
Volkswagen, Audi Dominate Top Safety Picks; Ford only Domestic to Win Gold Designation
Of ten vehicles on sale in the United States chosen as "Top Safety Picks" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety [IIHS], VW and Audi landed an astonishing five vehicles on the list. IIHS is renowned, and in some ways feared, in the auto industry for running much more strenuous test than the federal government, so this honor should be all the more respected by new vehicle shoppers.
For example, for side impact tests, the IIHS uses a barrier of their own design that more accurately represents the front end of an SUV or pickup, and their front impact crash tests are done at 40 mph. The National Highway Safety Transportation Agency [NHTSA] conducts their front impact tests at 35 mph. IIHS also does rear crash tests that rate both the construction of head rests and the result of a 20 mph rear impact.
Of the ten vehicles, IIHS awarded 4 gold awards, and 6 silver. Gold awards went to vehicles with good performance in front, side and rear tests. Silver honors went to vehicles with good performance in front and side tests and acceptable performance in rear tests.
Of the 4 golds, only the Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego, both with optional side airbags, took home the honor among domestic automakers. The Chevy Malibu, also with optional side airbags, was awarded a silver in the midsize category, and was the only other domestic vehicle to make the list. Other gold award winners included the Saab 9-3 and Subaru Legacy in midsize cars. The Honda Civic was the only small car to win any award, and it took a gold.
IIHS did not include pickups or SUVs in this round of awards because side impact tests haven't been performed on most of these vehicles. Though minivans were included in this round, the IIHS did not award any vehicle with a top pick. To read the full IIHS release, click here.
IIHS Top Safety Picks for 2006
Large cars
Gold -- Ford Five Hundred and twin Mercury Montego with optional side airbags
Silver -- Audi A6
Midsize cars
Gold -- Saab 9-3, Subaru Legacy
Silver -- Audi A3, Audi A4, Chevrolet Malibu with optional side airbags, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat
Small cars
Gold -- Honda Civic
Posted by Frank at 10:35 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Toyota Gains 10%
Toyota's three brands were up 10% in November, over the same month last year, putting the powerhouse up 9.9% for the year. As we've previously reported, Toyota broke 2 million in sales a full month earlier than they did last year, and actually beat the Chrysler Group in November.
Though the overall picture for Toyota is good, their two most popular models, the Camry and Corolla, both had sales declines, 3.4% and 4.% respectively. The newly redesigned Avalon is still kicking tail, however, up 262.5%, and the Prius remains the best-selling hybrid vehicle on the market, with 7,889 sold in November. With 98,870 units sold, the Prius will become the first hybrid to sell over 100,000 units in a calendar year.
All three Scion models scored sales increases, and with 144,028 sold, this sub-brand will easily break the 150,000 unit mark in 2005.
In trucks, the Toyota Tacoma steamed ahead with a 24.4% increase, and has cemented its spot as the best selling small pickup in the U.S. The full-size Tundra also scored an impressive 25.4% gain in November, and is up 10.1% for the year with 110,897 units sold.
Lexus was up 12.1%, and it all came from cars -- their SUVs were down 7.9%, with all three models suffering drops. The new Lexus IS platform sold 4,447 units, for a 664.1% increase, the GS 330 was up 446.2% and the GS 430 was up 335.2%. For the year to date, Lexus is up 4.8%
Posted by Frank at 09:47 PM | Comments (0)
Victoria Mudd is Our Pen Pal
As many of our regular readers know, we have been following the adeventures of the Mudds family, that band of crusty aventurers glopping forth in their Jeep Commander.
We've covered all their adventures, included the latest, Chasing Summer. Previous coverage is here, and here, and we also did a videocast of one of the Mudds' adventures here.
Well, what we haven't revealed to you is that over the last few weeks, Victoria Mudd has been secretly emailing us with advance tips, letting us know when the next online adventure is going to be posted.
Yes, we know she's 14 -- and that she's probably a federal agent.
Anyway, in her latest missive Victoria writes:
Hi again Mr. Giovinazzi!
We are releasing our last adventure tomorrow sometime.
I'll give you a hint...we finally know what it means to "feel at home"!
Hope you enjoy it!
In Mud,
Victoria
P.S.
My best home movies so far are hidden in the cache.
Posted by Frank at 08:41 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Chrysler Group Down 3%
Chrysler's three brands -- Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler -- were down 3% in November, though the company is along among the domestics in recording a surplus for the year to date, up a combined 5%.
There was plenty of good news mixed within the drop, however, with the Chrysler 300 up 9.3%, and the Sebring pllatform, including the convertible, coupe and sedan, up a combined 25.9%. These performances led Chrylser's cars to an overall 12.9% increase for the month.
While Chrylser light trucks did poorly, down 8.7%, this was caused mostly by a 55.3% dropoff by the Pacifica. The PT Cruiser and Town & Country minivan were both up, 28.7% and 10.3% respectively. As a standalone brand, Chrysler is up 12.9% for the year.
Dodge was down 3.6%, and again there was good news in the Stratus coupe, up 15.4%. For the year to date, Dodge is up 0.6%.
Jeep was down 2.8%, but saw encouraging sales from the new Commander, with 3,825 units sold, and a 9.9% increase in Wrangler sales. This was offset by a 41.2% drop in Jeep Liberty sales, however. For the year to date, Jeep is up 8.7%
Posted by Frank at 04:00 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Subaru Up 5.1%
Led by sales of the Trbeca SUV and the Impreza, Subaru's November sales were up 5.1% compared to the same month last year; for the year to date, Subaru is up 4.8%.
The new Tribeca sold 2,129 units, improving its performance to 12,067 for the year to date. The Impreza sold 2,692 units, for a monthly improvement of 7.5%. For the year to date, Impreza is up 3.4%.
Posted by Frank at 03:52 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Kia Drops 13.8%
All four of Kia's cars dropped in sales compared to last November, the worst being the Amanti [-68.1%] and the Rio [-504%]. Kia was down 13.8% for the month, but remains up, 2.9%, over last year's record-breaking pace, when it became the sixth best-selling import brand in America.
Better news for Kia came in light trucks, up 41.8%, led by 2,714 unit sales of the new Sportage SUV. The Kia Sedona minivan was up, 5.9%, as was the Kia Sorento SUV, up 3.8%.
Posted by Frank at 03:47 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Honda's Best Ever
Honda's combined sales of 105,860 Acura and Honda vehicles in November "shattered" the company's previous Novenber high of 98,075 vehicles sold, according to their press release. As a whole, Honda's sales were up 10.8% for the month; for the year to date, Honda is up 5.8%.
Honda division enjoyed its sixth consecutive month of breaking company records, with both car and light truck models gaining sales. The Honda Civic is proving popular once again, with a 22.9% increase for the month, though year to date sales are still down 0.3%.
In light trucks, Honda had three winners, the funky Element was up 11.4%, the Pilot SUV, up 14.4% and the Ridgeline pickup had its best sales month ever with 5,243 units sold.
While Acura sales were down, 10.6% for the month, Honda's luxury marque is still up 6.8% for the year, and the RSX had a good month with a sales increase of 13.7%
Posted by Frank at 03:26 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: BMW Group Up 11.3%
The BMW Group, which include the BMW brand and MINI cars, bucked the ups in November with an 11.3% increase compared to the same month last year. For the year to date, BMW Group is up 4.2%.
The BMW 5 and 7 series were top performers for BMW brand, with the 5 up 34.7% and the 7, up 42.7%. The Z4 also sold well, 599 units for a 89% increase.
BMW SUVs took a hit, down 33.8%, due to the 64.4% sales dip of the X3. For the year to date, BMW SUVs are down 1.1%, while cars are up 3.4%. As a whole, the BMW brand is up 2.2%
MINI had an unusual down month, selling only 3,171 Coopers compared to 3,363 last November. For the year to date, MINI is up 19.1%
Posted by Frank at 03:14 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Mercedes Losing Ground
Mercedes-Benz sold 18,299 vehicles emblazoned with the three-pointed star in November, down 2.9% compared to last November. For the year to date, Mercedes sales are down 0.9%.
The big winners for MB are the M Class and R Class SUVs -- the M was up 65.2% for the month with 2,980 units sold, and is up 27.5% for the year. The brand new R-Class, considered a crossover, sold 1,213 units and has moved 2,529 vehicles to date.
All of Mercedes cars suffered sales losses in November and for the year to date as well, with the exception of the SLK Class whose sales are up 82% for the year.
Posted by Frank at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)
Get a Free Vehicle Price Quote, Courtesy of Car Buyer's Notebook
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Here's the way it works: by clicking on the icon above right, then filling out the form with your vehicle interest and contact info, the details are sent to new car dealers in your area. Nowadays, all car dealers have "Internet departments" whose job it is to respond to these "leads" and earn your business.
Long gone are the days where you wander into a dealership, just to look, and drive away an hour or so later with a vehicle you never knew you just had to have!
We strongly recommed new vehicle buyers utilize all the tools at their disposal, and we are proud to be working with the biggest and most trusted provider of vehicle price quotes in the industry. If you have any questions about how this tool works -- or even any hesitation -- please feel free to contact us via e-mail.
We feel so strongly about both the tool and the service, that for the first time we're publishing our direct telephone number: 703-236-1846. If we can help you in any way, feel free to call [during reasonable hours, of course!]
Cordially,
Frank Giovinazzi,
Publisher, Car Buyer's Notebook
Posted by Frank at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)
Advertise on Car Buyer's Notebook!
If you are interested in any of our advertising opportunities -- including our daily podcast, videocast, newsletter or traditional web placement, please e-mail us directly.
Cordially,
Frank Giovinazzi,
Publisher, Car Buyer's Notebook
Posted by Frank at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)
Contact Frank Giovinazzi, Publisher of Car Buyer's Notebook
If you would like to contact us, please feel free to use this address: editor@carbuyersnotebook.com. We gladly take questions, corrections and story ideas -- most of the good ones come from our readers and podcast listeners.
You can also use this e-mail to contact us for advertising and business partnership offers.
If you would like to comment on a story, we encourage you to use the comment function under each entry, for two reasons.
First, comments create an enviroment where readers feel they are part of the site, which is part of the fun of publishing. It also allows other readers to weigh in, and as most web surfers know, the conversation that emerges is often as good [and sometimes better!] than the orginal story.
Second, with the demands of the site and e-mail volume growing every day, it is simply more efficient for us to communicate with our readers via this public tool.
The final word on commenting is this: don't write anything you wouldn't say to someone's face, in public. Civil behavior is the ironclad rule at Car Buyer's Notebook.
Posted by Frank at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)
Welcome to Car Buyer's Notebook!
Welcome to Car Buyer’s Notebook, a news site for car lovers, vehicle buyers and anyone with an interest in things automotive.
Published by Frank Giovinazzi, this site brings you daily auto news and car reviews, as well as informed journalism about what’s going on in the industry. Some of our features include a daily audio podcast, video reports, and fun and/or funny news from the world of automobiles in a section we call 5th Wheel.
You can also use Car Buyer's Notebook to obtain free, no-obligation price quotes directly from new car dealers. We're also dedicated to reporting on safety issues, as the vast majority of tragic injuries and property losses remain largely preventable.
Car Buyer's Notebook aims to be a resource for information on getting the best deal for new vehicle purchases, so you may also want to keep track of our finance section. And since we have a bit of treehugger DNA on board, also look at our environment, alternative fuel, hybrid and diesel sections. There's a lot here!
If you like what you're reading on this site, please tell your friends, or use the e-mail function to send stories around. And please feel free to contact us directly and/or post comments to individual articles.
This site exists because we love automotive journalism. But writing is only half the equation. It's not complete until people like you take the time to read these articles. We know you’re busy and have lots of choices, so we’ll do our best to earn a bookmark in your browser and give you a reason to come back every day.
Cordially,
Frank Giovinazzi
Publisher, Car Buyer's Notebook
Posted by Frank at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)
December 03, 2005
November Sales: Porsche Boxster Leads the Way
Porsche's sales were up 10% in November, thanks to a 306.8% increase in Boxster sales, putting the company just 1% ahead of last year's sales. For the year to date, Boxster sales have more than doubled, to 7,402 units.
Sales of the 911 were also up, 34.8%, but the Cayenne SUV was down again, 15.5%, making it down a total of 25.5% for the year.
But check out the market Porsche is making in Certified Pre-Owned [CPO] hotrods -- they sold 420 CPO Porsches in November, a 19.7% increase over the same month last year. For the year to date, Porsche CPO is up 34.2% -- but the most startling statistic here is this -- comparing the 4,999 CPO units sold to their overall sales total of 29,072, this means that 17.2% of all Porsche's sold by dealers is a used car! That's one out of six, folks.
Posted by Frank at 09:35 AM | Comments (0)
Buy a $1,00 Raffle Ticket, Win a Lamborghini Gallardo
Here's your chance to start the New Year off right. The Columbus Citizens Foundation of New York City is raffling off a 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo, and it'll only cost you a grand to get your chance.
Only 300 tickets are being sold so you've got a not bad chance to win a vehicle with an MSRP of $175,000. The drawing will be held at the Columbus Citizens Foundation NYC townhouse at midnight January 1, 2006.
The Gallardo will be on display Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Fortunoff store in White Plains, NY, as part of a one-day only exhibit, "Five Decades of Lamborghini." The event runs from 6-9 pm.
Pictured above is Angelo Mozilo of California, who won his yellow Gallardo in a raffle during the foundation's Columbus Week event on Oct. 7. Steve Katz, of New York, also won a black 2005 Gallardo during the same drawing. To buy a ticket for the New Year's Eve raffle, check out this site, or go to the Fortunoff event.
Posted by Frank at 08:49 AM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Mitsubishi Up 7.2%!
For two months running, Mitsubishi has increased sales, and it appears asa if they have now achieved a foothold on the way to mounting a comback. The really great news for Mitsi, is that after December they will start with a clean slate, and if the trend continues they will be posting month over month increases -- because next year's sales will be compared to 2005, which should be easy for them to beat.
The Eclipse continued to work its magic as Mitsi's halo car, selling 1,930 units for a 242.8% increase over November 2004. For the year to date Eclipse sales are up 68.7%. And Mitsubishi also got good news from its Endeavor SUV, which had a 27.1% increase. The Galant was the company's best selling vehicle, with 2,100 units sold.
Plus, the company's new Raider pickup sold 404 units in its second month on the market. Mitsubishi is still down 24% in sales for the year to date, but things are definitely looking up!
Posted by Frank at 08:33 AM | Comments (0)
Getting Your Car Ready for Resale
If you’re thinking about selling your used vehicle – either as a trade-in, through private party sale or to an independent used car lot – obviously you’ve got to make sure it looks and drives as good as it can.
But beyond the tangible look, sound and smell issues, an equally important factor is information. Ted Craig, managing editor of Used Car News, summed it up this way: “Stories sell used cars.”
“The more information you can give somebody the better,” Craig said. “A big issue in the used car market is that the buyers feel as if the seller knows more than they do and that makes them uneasy.”
That’s why it might be a good idea to purchase a vehicle history report, such as the service provided by Carfax, for the vehicle you’re going to sell. Carfax vehicle reports will include vital information such as if the car has been in an accident, or been totaled due to hurricane or flood damage. Used vehicle buyers want to ensure they aren’t inheriting hidden problems. The rule is, the more information you can provide about your vehicle to a potential buyer, the better.
“A Carfax report is a good thing, plus if you have any history of repairs you’ve done to the car or even oil changes that a good thing,” Craig said. “All these things make people more comfortable with buying the car.”
“If you can make them feel like you’re on more of an equal level as far as knowledge of the car goes the better. That’s the whole basis of the franchise dealer’s certification program -- to make an individual more comfortable with the purchase,” Craig said. “As an individual the closer you can get to that sort of certification process the better.”
And while it may seem like getting an oil change is a small thing when you’re doing it, Craig said holding on to those receipts will go a long way toward keeping potential buyers interested in your vehicle. “People want to know the oil was changed,” he said.
As far as prepping the vehicle for resale, Craig said that sellers shouldn’t skimp. “One of the best statements I heard from a dealer recently is that you don’t spend money reconditioning a car for sale,you invest money reconditioning a car for sale -- meaning that every little thing you do is going to being you that much more money when you go to sell your car.”
In terms of cleaning, sellers will want to take care of the obvious – getting it nice and sparkly inside and out. But Craig said “the one thing people forget about is the engine make sure you clean out the engine so that it looks relatively new. Other items that may initially pass notice but need to be checked include the driver’s floormat and the condition of the tires.
“Dealers always look for the condition of the tires. If you’re coming ion on bald tires you’re probably going to get less money,” Craig said. “You might want to invest in used tires as long as they’re not completely bald, the more rubber on the tire the more value it has to the dealer.”
And what about smell? Craig said its common for folks to overlook this element because they’ve gotten used to driving around in their vehicle. “It’s not enough to spray that new car smell, you want to actually get an ozone based spray that will take away some of the smell out of the car especially if you’ve been smoking or had pets in the car.”
Higher end or newer vehicle sellers should pay closer attention to scratches and dents, Craig said, but older and less expensive vehicle sellers can concentrate mainly that the vehicle is in good operating fashion.
While sellers should also pay attention to the heat and air conditioning systems if they intend to move a vehicle during the appropriate seasons, Craig also had some insider tips about selling vehicles at certain times of the year.
For example, franchise dealers have a ready supply of vehicles at the end of the calendar year, because that’s when rental companies and fleet operators offload inventory at auction, putting an individual at a less advantageous position.
At the same time, independent used car lots are looking for older vehicles in November and December, to have stock on hand for when people get their early tax return checks after January 1. “A lot of people who buy lower end used cars use their tax return as a down payment, and with electronic refunds people are getting their checks back in January,” Craig said.
This article originally published at AIADA.
Posted by Frank at 08:23 AM | Comments (0)
Danger: Avoid Death -- Best Warning Label Ever
Check out this warning label affixed to a Bobcat skid loader.
What's more beautiful here, the title, "Danger: Avoid Death," or the graphic of Universal Human getting crunched in the works?
Posted by Frank at 08:16 AM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Hyundai Rides to 12.5% Hike, Thanks to Sonata
Hyundai's new Sonata -- built at their $1.1 billion Montgomery, Alabama, plant -- sold 14,216 units in November, for a whopping117% increase over last November. As a whole, Hyundai was up 12.5% for the month, and is up 8% for the year to date.
What's interesting here is that Hyundai appears to be in striking distance of selling 500,000 units in 2006.
It would take a push: so far, Hyundai has sold 411,991 units in 11 months. Let's assume they sell about 30,000 vehicles in December, taking them to about 440,000 units to year end. These are rough numbers to illustrate a point.
That would mean, with a 13.6% increase in '06, Hyundai can break the 500k mark.
That's a big jump, BUT, Hyundai is bringing out the new Accent and Azera in '06, and they are a company on the move.
Posted by Frank at 07:27 AM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2005
First Look: 2006 Mazda3
Another great sub-$20,000 car from Mazda. How do they do it?
We knew the Mazda3 starts at under-20, but when we saw this car, a Mazda3 s Touring model, we were almost afraid to look at the sticker price. But even though this vehicle has the bigger [160-hp] engine, 17-inch wheels, halogen fog lights and cloth seat with red inserts, it still comes in at only $17,615. And that's with the extra cost of the front side aibags and front and rear air curtains figured in.
Officially, there are two trim levels for the Mazda3, the "i" and "s," but with additional option packages, the total comes to five distinct versions. To view a 16-page PDF of Mazda3 specifications, click here.
After a few quick spins, we can report the standard 5-speed transmission works the engine up to zoom speed capably. BTW, the basic Mazda3 comes with a 150-hp plant. The power steering is right where it needs to be, not too hard nor too soft to maneuver the car around turns, not only comfortably, but with a nice punch of agility.
The interior feels spacious, especially for the driver, and the back seat looks roomy enough for at least two full-size buddies to hang out without rubbing their knees together. Unless they want to. We like the Mazda's perforated leather steering wheel with thumb controls.
Check back for a full review, but if you'd like to get a free, no obligation price quote from a Mazda dealer, click here.
Posted by Frank at 05:20 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Mazda Edges Up
Mazda's sales were up 1.1% in November, thanks to robust sales of the Mazda 3 [up 64%], as well as the Miata, which sold 1,629 units for a 200% increase.
For the year to date, Mazda's sales are down 1.6%. Mazda's Tribute SUV took a down swing, off 32%, while the MPV minivan was up 6%.The Mazda6 was down 39%, but the new Mazda5 wagon sold 709 units, for a total of 3,730 for the year so far.
Posted by Frank at 04:32 PM | Comments (0)
Gas Prices Trickling Down
Gas prices are still going down, though at a slower rate, so that the average price of a gallon of the amber liquid is now $2.129, accordinng to AAA's Fuel Gauge Report.
A year ago, the price was $1.936, which makes gas only 9.9% more expensive today than it was a year ago.
And I'm running out of picture ideas for all these gas stories.
Posted by Frank at 12:16 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Ford Drops 14.7%, May Close 5 Plants
Ford Motor Company's sales dropped 14.7% in November compared to the same month last year, led by a 19.2% drop in light trucks that leaves the company with a 4.3% deficit for the year to date.
The Explorer SUV dropped 51.8% for the month and the Lincoln Navigator was down 54.7%. There were some bright spots, however, as the Ford Fusion-Mercury Milan-Lincoln Zephyr platform sold a combined 8,862 units, for a 34% increase over October, when they were first introduced.
Ford's other new platform, based on the Five Hundred sedan, also saw increases in the 40-60% range. The Five Hundred was up 41.4% and the Mercury Montego, up 58.5%. The Ford Freestyle crossover vehicle, which has been overlooked [and which we refer to as the Ford Outback], also posted a 46.1% gain.
While Ford is expected to announce the final details of a restructuring plan in late January, the Wall St. Journal has a report today that part of the proposal on the table is closing five U.S. manufacturing plants and eliminating 7,500 related jobs. This is in addition to a previous announcement that 4,000 white collar employees will be let go, also after the first of the year.
Posted by Frank at 11:47 AM | Comments (0)
Hertz Rolls Out Line of Fun Rentals
The Hertz rental car chain is introducing a “Fun Collection” of sporty cars, convertibles and SUVs in 18 cities, where, presumably, people go to have fun.
The “sun and ski” destinations include Miami, LA, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Denver, and Hertz says you can avoid that hideous, sinking feeling of getting screwed out of your desired ride through a guaranteed reservation plan.
The vehicles include the above pictured Mustang, but I won't be your driver. Other convertibles in the line include the Mazda Miata, Toyota Solara, PT Cruiser and Chrysler Sebring. Sporty coupes and roadsters include the hard-top Mustang, PT Cruiser, Chevy HHR and Nissan 350Z.
Plus, there's SUVs such as the Ford Escape XLT Sport, Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Murano and Hummer H3.All the vehicle in the fun line come with SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
Hertz has two other programs for finicky renters, the “Prestige Collection” and the “Brand and Model Reservability Program." Every brand and model in the Hertz Fun Collection is specifically reserved and guaranteed.
The Prestige Collection includes such vehicles as the Audi A6, Cadillac Escalade, Hummer H2, Infiniti QX56, Jaguar S type, Land Rover L3, Volvo S80. The Reservability program has 35 vehicles in the lineup, including the Mazda6, Ford Taurus, Toyota Camry, and Ford Explorer.
While you can register your reservations for the Fun Collection now [and we hope that's not unintentionally prophetic], you can't get the keys until the program officially begins January 5, 2006. Hertz is buying 8,000 vehicles for the new program, and they will be available in the following cities:
Orlando
Los Angeles
Las Vegas
Miami
San Diego
Ft. Lauderdale
Orange County
Tampa
Burbank
West Palm Beach
San Francisco
Ft. Myers
Oakland
San Jose
Honolulu [Oahu Airport]
Phoenix
Denver
Maui
Posted by Frank at 11:17 AM | Comments (0)
Car Buyer's Notebook Podcast #116: Talking 'Bout the Big Six
In this podcast we take a look at November sales and advance the concept that we should all be talking about the Big Six in terms of automakers, because together, they own 85% of the market.
There are plenty of insights in this piece that you simply won't find anywhere else -- because we do our own analysis. Listen in for a fresh perspective.
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 10:19 AM | Comments (0)
December 01, 2005
Fifth Wheel: What's That Smell? Soon, Not Cow Gas
UK scientists have developed a bovine diet that has proven to reduce methane gas emissions by 70%. When fed to cows.
The diet is based on a food additive, according to Reuters, and if successful in larger studies, could prove to help reduce the "ruminant flatulence" that is estimated to produce as much as 14% of global methane.
This will come as welcome news to dairy farmers in California's San Joaquin Valley, who may be subjected to smog regulations by the local air quality gestapo.
As reported in this August LA Times story, the valley has one of the worst air quality problems in the country. Officials of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District contend that cows, not cars, are the region's biggest source of smog-forming pollutants.
Chew on that.
Posted by Frank at 11:11 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Nissan Takes a Dip
Only 4 of Nissan's 18 models posted a sales increase in November, leading to an overall 3.9% drop compared to the same month last year. Nissan's leading lights were the Sentra, up 13.8%, and the Infinit M45, which sold 1,982 units versus only 123 last year. That's a 1511% sales increase.
The Nissan Xterra, which just won Motor Trend's SUV of the Year, posted a 41.9% gain. The Frontier pickup posted a 1.9% gain for the month.
Nissan is still up 10.3% in 2005, with 985,417 units sold. This means Nissan will achieve their first ever 1 million unit sales in a calendar year, cementing their position in the "Big 6."
Posted by Frank at 07:10 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Audi and VW Up Handsomely
Audi posted a 15% sales increase in November, led by the A4 platform, while Volkswagen also scored a much needed sales improvement of 4.8% for the month over the same period last year.
Audi A4 sales were up 42% for the month, and with the help of the new A3's sales of 624 units, Audi is now sitting with a 5.6% gain for the year to date.
The TT coupe sales have fallen off precipitously, however, down 68.8%, and surprisingly, sales of the A6 sedan were also down 15.8%.
Volkswagen's sales of 18,046 vehicles for the month helped improve its yearly sales deficit to 15.5%, and the biggest gainer is the Jetta sedan, with a whopping 72.7% increase over last November. The Passat sedan also came on, with a 27% sales increase after selling 4,526 units.
Both Jetta and Passat wagon sales, however, fell off a cliff, with the Jetta wagon down 97% and the Passat wagon, 73.3%. These numbers are so drastic it may imply a supply problem rather than a total abandoment of the product.
Posted by Frank at 07:01 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Volvo Down 25.5%
All of Volvo's models suffered a drop in sales in November comparared to the same month last year, led by a 38.7% drop by the S40. The vehicle, however, remains the sole bright spot for the company -- year to date sales are up 34.2%, while again, every other Volvo is down.
As a whole, Volvo was down 25.5% for the month, and is 9.5% down for the year to date.
The company's best seller, the XC90 SUV, fared better than other utes this month, with a 7.2% drop to 2,880 units sold. The company has been having a hard time selling its XC70 wagon, thanks in part to the success of the XC90, and sales for the wagon fell 20.7% to only 740 unitsds nationwide.
Posted by Frank at 06:54 PM | Comments (0)
November Sales: Toyota Outsells Chrysler Group
As the November sales results roll in, we're not just looking at raw numbers, we are looking for meaning in the Excel-based tea leaves. And this one just jumped right out at us -- Toyota's three brands outsold Chrysler's three, 169,665 to 159,898.
That puts Toyota ahead of Chrysler by 6.1% [9,767] for the month. There's no danger of Toyota taking the number three spot in the U.S. by year-end, though, as Chrysler is still ahead by 58,367 units.
However, Toyota's sales are up 9.8% for the year to date, and Chrysler's are up 5% -- is it possible that Toyota could become the third best selling automaker in the U.S. In 2006? It will be a close race, that's for sure, but Chrysler is banking on 10 new vehicle introductions next year, and hopes to build on its forward momentum.
Also of note – Toyota passed the 2 million unit mark a full month earlier this year – 2004 was the first full year Toyota ever sold 2 million in the U.S., whereas they now stand at 2,057,017 for the year to date.
Posted by Frank at 02:24 PM | Comments (0)
2006 SRT8 Jeep Grand Cherokee Pricing
For only $39,995, you can own a Grand Cherokee that does 0-60 in under 5 seconds, and is the first Jeep to be badged “SRT.” The Street and Racing Technology tuner division of Chrysler, founded in 2002, has created 11 SRT badged rides and the Jeep is the second fastest, bested only by the 510-horsepower Dodge Viper SRT10.
Available in January, the SRT8 Grand Cherokee gets a 6.1-liter HEMI engine that puts out 420 horsepower and 420 lb.- ft. of torque. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is quicker than Porsche Cayenne Turbo and BMW X5, and has 90 more hp and 27% more power than the 5.7-liter HEMI-equipped Jeep Grand Cherokee.
To be able to stop the beast, Jeep uptuned the brakes to includes Brembo four-piston calipers clamping 360 x 32 mm vented rotors in front, and 350 x 26 mm rotors in the rear.
And to help with lift and drag, there's a new front fascia that incorporates ducts to direct air to cool the brakes. Side sill extensions create downforce, while a new rear fascia features a center cutout for 4-inch dual exhaust tips.
There are three exterior colors, Bright Silver, Brilliant Black and Inferno Red, and one interior choice, Medium Slate.
It's not all about power, though, you can add optional heated, power-adjustable front seats, a power sunroof, rain-sensing automatic wipers, a rear-seat video system with overhead screen, DVD-based navigation system and SIRIUS satellite radio.
Posted by Frank at 09:17 AM | Comments (0)
November Sales: A 15% Drop?
The last round of the analysts' projections are in for November, and the J.D. Power Information Network [PIN] estimates that retail sales are down 15% through November 27, compared to the same month last year.
PIN's tally is closer to Merrill Lynch's call of a 7% drop, as opposed to Edmunds saying there will be a 3% increase.
We'll see throughout today whether the last three days of the month did anything to alleviate this grim news.
Surprisingly the pain is shared equally among the Big Six automakers, with only Honda keeping pace. PIN reports that Ford, Chrysler and GM all took big hits, and that Toyota is down 3%.
The domestic automakers all introduced year-end clearance sales mid-month, and despite November results, December is expected to help end the year on a plus note.
Most interesting among PIN's findings is that Toyota beat Ford in market share, 17.4% to 15.1%.
Besides the continuing negative effect of summer incentives on sales, interest rates may also be playing a hand – the average interest rate on a new car loan jumped 1.5% over the last year, from 6.4% in November 2004 to 7.9% this month.
Posted by Frank at 08:39 AM | Comments (0)
Martha Stewart Drives a Buick
The Buick Lucerne was featured as the challenge of last night's Marth Stewart Apprentice TV program, with the two teams competing to design the most effective showroom display for the brand's new flagship sedan.
The winning entry, pictured above, is based on the theme, "Driven by Elegance." The display wil lbe installed at 2,700 Buick dealerships nationwide.
More photos are featured at the Yahoo website for the show, and both the Yahoo site and the NBC home site also feature advertising and click-through for the Lucerne VIP Premiere Night, which we told you about yesterday.
Posted by Frank at 08:30 AM | Comments (0)
Fifth Wheel: Muscovite Thief Boosts Car with No Brakes
A convicted Russian car thief came up with a plan -- steal another vehicle, sell it and use the proceeds to pay off the $3,100 fine from his previous transgression.
It looked easy enough. The thief cased out a car lot where cars were brought for paint jobs. Finding a Nissan Primera -- with the keys in the ignition! -- it looked as if his luck was about to turn.
It did. For the worse.
The Nissan was in the yard, not for cosmetics, but for a brake job. Which our unlucky thug discovered at the very first intersection. Where he slammed into the rear of an SUV. He ran, but the cops caught him, and now he has two stolen car crimes to pay for.
Posted by Frank at 07:44 AM | Comments (0)
Wake Up Sleepyhead: Volvo's Driver Alert Warns Drowsy Drivers Before a Crash
Using a camera mounted in front of the rear-view mirror, Volvo has developed a “sleepy driver” safety alert system that monitors a vehicle's position relative to road markings, and which can alert the driver if he or she is in danger of losing control.
Volvo's system also includes a sensor, which measures vehicle movements, and a processor which ties all the information together to keep track of overall driving behavior. If the system perceives a high potential for loss of control, the driver is alerted [or woken up] by an audible signal. Volvo's Driver Alert is activated at about 40 miles per hour.
In addition, the system also relays information via the vehicle's trip computer, based on a five-star rating, that monitors consistency. Less consistent driving is indicated through an incremental loss of star ratings.
The company says their system, which is subject to a patent application, is different from Lane Departure Warning, which alerts drivers if they cross road markings. Volvo's system will step in to alert drivers of inconsistent driving before such blatant problems arise.
Volvo is still testing the system, and claims it has never failed to alert a driver that was falling asleep at the wheel. The company expects to offer Driver Alert in production vehicles within two years. Driver fatigue is estimated to be the cause of approximately 100,000 accidents annually, resulting in 1,500 fatalities and injuries in 71% of the incidents.
Posted by Frank at 07:40 AM | Comments (0)