March 28, 2006
San Francisco To Study “Congestion Charging”
Taking note of the success London has had with “congestion charging,” the pay-to-drive policy, San Francisco will spend $1.3 million to see how it can be implemented in the city's financial district.
The London plan has cut traffic by 30% and generated about $350 million for the government, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, and is monitored by a system of 203 cameras. Drivers pay a fixed fee to enter the city's congestion zones certain hours of the week.
San Francisco's system could use a combination of the cameras and the state's FasTrak transponder system, that would automatically pay the charge.
SF Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, the man behind getting the money for the study, said he thinks “it's inevitable that there will be some kind of congestion charging in San Francisco and the top 20 cities in the country."
The study is expected to take 18 to 24 months.
Posted by Frank at 08:17 AM | Comments (0)
Your Car Deserves a European Spa Treatment
What good is having wealth if you can't flaunt it in a Romanesque orgy of conspicuous consumption?
The Engine Room, located in Antwerp, lets clients do that with their high-end cars, while giving them a private club to look down on their indicators of success.
The Engine Room is essentially a high-end garage and detailing salon for automobiles, costing about $300 US a month. The garage is a climate controlled, secured warehouse; cars can be checked out and returned 24/7, and get a thorough cleaning every time they're brought back to the crib.
The Engine Room's other bennie is a private club, complete with rooms that look down on the stored masterpieces, old-fashioned club rooms, a bar and a terrace overlooking Antwerp's harbor.
Antwerp is located in Belgium, Belgium or Kansas City. [Long live John Belushi!]
Check it out, via Springwise.
Posted by Frank at 06:43 AM | Comments (0)
Honda Breaks Ground On California R&D Center
Honda has broken ground on a $15 million Acura Design Center, scheduled to open in summer 2007, located next to Honda's existing Los Angeles Center.
The company is also opening a design studio in Pasadena that will work on future concepts, giving Honda four R&D facilities in California.
The ceremony was held on the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Acura brand in America.
Posted by Frank at 06:29 AM | Comments (0)
Another Negative New Vehicle Sales Forecast
Edmunds is predicting that new vehicle sales will be down 3% in March, compared to the same month last year. Domestics should capture about 57.2% of total sales, though Edmunds predicts GM and Ford will be down, with Chrysler showing a small increase.
Posted by Frank at 06:26 AM | Comments (0)
No Escaping Karma For Maryland Drivers
Why fight stereotypes when they're grounded in truth? In this case we're talking about the drivers we love to hate, people with Maryland license plates who have no manners, use their horns too much, block the box, speed and otherwise drive like shit.
Do you get the idea we would rather Maryland drivers keep to their side of the Potomac?
Well, the District of Columbia loves Maryland drivers. According to this Washington Times article, 64% of tickets issued by impartial robo-cameras were to folks from Maryland, thereby proving that they speed and ignore traffic signals when they turn red. Only 20% of the tickets went to DC residents, with a scant 9% going to sons and daughters of Virginia. Tourists got hit for the rest.
D.C. collected $2.8 million in fines in February, which sounds like a lot but it appears the faceless enforcement plan is working as speeding tickets are going down since the cameras were installed in 2001.
Now that we've had some fun, though, it is only fair to note that it appears about two-thirds of the District's cameras guard the border between them and Maryland like mute sentinels against the invading hordes. And we only know this because we actually touched the real, physical newspaper, which included a mapical graphic of the camera's locations.
Above photo is from a UK site that has a gallery of vandalized speed cameras, collected with such obsession that we're sure the cops have asked them a question of two. It appears that in some cases a tire is hoisted atop the camera and lit on fire, probably with something flammable to juice the process.
Posted by Frank at 05:50 AM | Comments (0)
Another Hybrid Car Taxi Service
This hybrid car taxi service operates out of London with a cute name, greentomatocars. The enviro-livery company started with five Toyota Priuses and a dream -- charge customers a little less than the standard cab ride, and let the glory of consumer-driven environmental change sweep the planet.
Posted by Frank at 05:39 AM | Comments (0)
GM to Begin Cutting White Collar Staff
General Motors is expected to start cutting thousands of salaried workers today as part of their massive restructuring plan. The cuts are expected to come from the engineering division with sales and marketing staff reductions coming in April.
The job cuts were announced in November, GM said it would let layoff 7% of its 36,000 white-collar U.S. employees this year.
The world’s largest automaker lost $10.6 billion in 2005 and has already reached a deal with the United Auto Workers union (UAW) that would slash its health care costs by $1 billion a year.
GM last week reached a deal with the UAW to offer more than 100,000 early retirement packages to hourly workers as part of a plan to lop off 30,000 jobs and close 12 plants through 2008.
Posted by Frank at 05:23 AM | Comments (0)
Toyota Announces Camry Hybrid Pricing
Toyota's 2007 Camry Hybrid sedan will retail for $26,480, including shipping, when it goes on sale in May.
The Toyota Camry Hybrid is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. The powertrain produces a combined output of 187 hp from the 147 hp gas engine and the 40 hp-rated motor.
The Camry Hybrid also has an "ECO" button that limits energy consumption by the Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC) system and under certain conditions can help improve fuel economy. The car is rated at 40 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Toyota expects the Camry Hybrid to be certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV).
Posted by Frank at 05:01 AM | Comments (0)
VW's Robot Touareg Featured on NOVA
“Stanley” the modified Volkswagen Touareg SUV that won a $2 million military challenge in October, will be featured on NOVA’s “The Great Robot Race,” airing on PBS March 28 at 8 p.m. ET.
Stanley competed against 200 other vehicles in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Grand Challenge, a 132-mile race over varied outdoor terrain intended to test the ability of driverless vehicles to traverse ground.
The NOVA program will provide an in-depth look at the DARPA Grand Challenge and the technological innovations of Stanley, and the other contenders.
A team from Stanford University, along with the Volkswagen Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL), transformed a stock, diesel-powered Touareg modified with full-body skid plates and a reinforced front bumper. It is operated by a drive-by-wire system developed by the ERL.
Posted by Frank at 02:30 AM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2006
Alabama Mercedes Workers Trying to Unionize
A union organizing drive is afoot at Mercedes' Tuscaloosa, Alabama manufacturing plant, according to the Washington Times.
Opened ten years ago, the plant that makes the M-Class, R-Class and GL-Class SUVs has 3,000 workers who are not organizing for better wages than the up to $30 they're making, but to have a voice, according to the article.
The effort is not coming from the United Auto Workers [UAW] but from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers [IAM].
Posted by Frank at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)
Sign of the End Times: Earth Swallows SUV
Up in NYC, a woman driving a Ford Explorer had the asphalt pulled out from under her when a water main break caused the street to collapse. The yawning gap swallowed her Ute to the cheers of smelly, dred wearing environmentalists everywhere.
Click here for a video.
Posted by Frank at 12:16 PM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2006
Flexcar Service Gets Rave Reviews From User
Coming out of Trader Joe's one day we saw a young woman waving a card over the rear windshield of a vehicle that had a Flexcar logo. Now we knew what it was – Flexcar is a membership-based car sharing service where you pay as you go for the use of brand new vehicles in their fleet.
So we ventured to say hello and introduce ourselves [hey, even if we know we're upstanding auto journalists it still doesn't make talking to a woman in an underground garage any less weird]. But it turns out Sara was totally cool with it, and she took us up on our offer to call the office and talk about her Flexcar experience.
Sara is 25, a Washington, D.C. resident who's been a Flexcar customer for two years. And get this – she's never owned a car! Yes, there are plenty of folks like that, especially in cities, where some have never even driven a car.
Anyway, Sara says she loves Flexcar. Living in D.C. she never has to worry about parking [each of the fleet's vehicles has a permanent parking spot], or gas [included in the rental price], or insurance [also included].
On the day we ran into Sara, she happened to be sharing the ride with another Flexcar member, Carrie, so they were splitting the cost between them. “The cost of an average trip is probably $20, I'll use it if I'm going to make a big trip to the grocery store,” Sara said. “The day I saw you I used it a whole day, under the Freedom Five car plan, where you pay for five hours and use it as long as you want.”
Normally Flexcar costs $9 per hour of vehicle use, and $35 for an annual membership. But going to the company's web page for the DC area and there's a special going on through the end of April where you get a credit for your application fee that you can put toward rental time.
Sara says she uses Flexcar once or twice a month and that she really doesn't plan ahead. She spends between $200 and $400 annually renting the cars by the hour.
To reserve a Flexcar, she said, “I would jump on the Internet, go to Flexcar, type in my membership code, tell them what I want, block off the hours I wanted and then pick it up.” Though Flexcar has an office, between the Internet reservation system and the car's permanent parking spots, you never have to interact with someone behind a counter as with a rental car company.
To enter any Flexcar, Sara uses her Flexcar card [Flexcard?]. “It's like a credit card, there's a patch on the back window you tap the card over, and the patch unlocks the car, once you're inside most of the cars, in the panel where the CD panel would be there's a typepad, you have to type in your code, from there you unlock the glove compartment, and that's where the keys are,” Sara said.
In terms of paying for gas, there's a company credit card above the visor, she said, and it's every member's duty to keep it topped off.
Besides keeping her from having to buy a car or worry about parking, Sara said Flexcar “is so convenient, it's so easy -- if anything goes wrong I can call an 800 number -- one time I was lost and couldn't find the car and they helped me get to it.”
She thinks Flexcar will continue to do well in places like D.C., because, “there's such a market for it, there's so many people like me who move to D.C. who don't own a car, but sometimes we live in neighborhoods where it's not easy to get to things.”
“My goal in life is to never have to own a car, if I can keep biking and walking to work every day that's what I want,” she said, though she does like having her Flexcar membership for the occasional trip, and especially for the annual ritual of moving, when she uses a small pickup truck the company has in the D.C. fleet.
“I've never heard a negative about Flexcar."
Posted by Frank at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)
Audi's Q7 Expected to Move 70,000 Units in 2006
Audi's new Q7 has proved to be a big hit with consumers, generating 16,000 orders by early March and prompting the company to increase production, according to Reuters.
At least 50,000 and up to 70,000 units of the SUV will be sold this year, according to Audi. The Q7 comes in either a 4.2 liter 8-cylinder version that produces 350 horsepower, or a V6 that gets 280 hp. However, the Audi website only lists the 8-cylinder model as being available, starting at $49,900.
The brochure and DVD you see pictured here are available to consumers via the Audi USA site – and if you're either interested in getting the car or just a super-car buff, we highly recommend it – the 4:23 mini-movie is one of the finest car porn videos we've ever seen and makes a compelling case for you to be one of the 70,000 first-time owners of Audi's first-ever SUV.
Posted by Frank at 10:57 PM | Comments (0)
March Sales Projected to Be Down 2%
Merrill Lynch auto analysts are projecting that overall new vehicle sales will be down 2% in March, with all three of the domestic automakers showing losses, versus an overall gain of 3.5% from the International nameplates.
GM is expected to be off about 6%; Ford, 7%; and Chrysler, 2%. GM's new Chevy Tahoes are reportedly moving off the lots quickly, and the Yukon is selling well also. Ford's cars should bring good news thanks to the ongoing success of the Fusion, Milan and Zephyr.
Toyota's sales are projected to be up 3-5%, Honda should post a double-digit increase and Nissan will show a small loss.
Posted by Frank at 09:58 PM | Comments (0)
Tillie the Carpool Dummy Fetches $15,000 on eBay
Gary Pringle, the Denver driver who got busted in an HOV lane with a dummy, has sold “Tillie” for $15,000, with the proceeds going to a driver safety program.
Pringle paid a $110 fine for his infraction and was forced to hold a sign on the highway that read, “HOV lanes are not for dummies.” He was also sentenced to donate any proceeds from the Free Tillie website to the education program.
A company called Video Professor bought Tillie, according to the Associated Press.
Posted by Frank at 09:27 PM | Comments (0)
Pricing For Scion tC Release Series 2.0
Scion will produce 2,600 units of a special edition tC in Blue Blitz Mica that will sell for $18,260. The company will show the car at the NY Auto Show in April, the same month the vehicle will be available at dealers.
The “Release Series 2.0” tC is priced $1,960 over the regular MSRP of the vehicle, which is $16,300.
According to Toyota, the special edition vehicle includes the following:
The 2006 tC Release Series 2.0 will come in a brilliant Blue Blitz Mica. This limited edition tC features a stainless steel mesh upper and lower front grille and 17-inch alloy wheels that come with a satin metallic finish. The tC's only factory option, front seat-mounted side airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags, is standard equipment on the R.S. 2.0.
Inside, the tC's front and rear seats are trimmed with black Alcantara®, a suede-like material that provides passengers better friction grip and is more commonly found in luxury or performance vehicles and on aftermarket racing seats. The tC R.S. 2.0 comes standard with a Pioneer Premium AM/FM/CD audio system with iPod connectivity and color-changing LED display.
A Pioneer six-inch subwoofer with 35-watt maximum power complements the upgraded head unit and is tuned specifically for the tC. This compact subwoofer is mounted in the under-floor storage area, keeping it out of sight and leaving the cargo floor clear. This tC also is equipped with XM Satellite Radio and comes with a paid three-month subscription, wherever XM service is available. An individually numbered brushed stainless steel badge completes the uniqueness of this vehicle.
Posted by Frank at 09:06 PM | Comments (0)
Ask the Salesman: Trading in Your Car
When you are looking to buy a new car, chances are you are replacing your current vehicle. You typically have 2 options as to what to do with your current vehicle: You can trade it in or you can sell it yourself.
If you are trading it in there are several things you need to know.
How does the dealer get that magic value for your car? Simple. The used car manager will look at the auction sales for the past few weeks and see what your car sold for. They amount they will offer you is what they could buy that car from auction at that time.
The first thing you will want to know before you go to a dealership is what the value of your car should be, so when the dealer gives you a number for your trade, you know they are being fair.
This can be accomplished several ways with the easiest being going online to one of those research websites. Kelly Blue Book giving the closest true value and NADA being the most far off.
When you do this you need to be honest when rating your car. Honestly, no trade in is in excellent condition. Most fall somewhere between good and fair. Then you need to understand how miles, options and condition will affect your car.
Miles will affect the value more than anything else. A car should have between 12-15 thousand miles a year. If you have over 100,000 miles on your vehicle the value will be reduced a little more than what a website will tell you -- reason being that it is very difficult for a dealership to buy a warranty or get a vehicle financed that has over 100,000 miles.
Options are important, but more so regionally than nationally. If you have a SUV that had a factory option of four wheel drive and you got the two wheel drive option, you will get less on trade in the northern states. A two wheel drive Lincoln Navigator will bring more money in Florida than in Ohio as it rarely snows in Florida.
Aftermarket accessories have very little effect on the value as well. It really does not matter that you installed an aftermarket radio with a TV built in, a bass tube, Boston Acoustic speakers and tinted the windows.
Those type of aftermarket item do not add any value when trading in the vehicle. The dealer actually wants it as close to stock as possible. [Try selling a purple house! -- Ed.]
Condition is the last factor. If you have ever been in an accident or had any type of paint work, there is a very good chance the person appraising your vehicle will spot it no matter how good the repair work was. That will detract from the value. If you have any dings or scratches, the dealer will have to pay to get those fixed as well.
Getting your vehicle detailed prior to trading it in really does not matter. The person appraising it is looking to see how the transmission shifts and how the brakes and tires are. Not how spotless the dashboard is. They will have it detailed again anyway before they sell it.
Lastly, if you want a second opinion go to a dealer that sells that type of vehicle and ask them if they would like to buy it. If you have a Honda and are trading it in on a GM, go back to a Honda and ask the Used Car Manager what he would buy your car for. This is one of the best ways to know you are getting the best dollar for your trade.
Publisher's note: "Ask the Salesman," is a weekly feature where Dave Lewis, a working auto sales professional, shares his ideas and suggestions for vehicle buyers. Dave has been in the automotive profession for seven years and currently sells BMWs at The BMW Store in Cincinnati, Ohio. You can find his website at www.BMWlivery.com.
Posted by Frank at 08:51 PM | Comments (0)
Mazda Deploys Rotary Hydrogen Cars to Test Fleet
Mazda has delivered one RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicle to two corporate customers that are participating in the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project (JHFC).
The vehicles use the RX-8 body but are equipped with a rotary engine and a dual-fuel system that can switch between allows hydrogen or gasoline. Mazda says these vehicles are the first to be put into fleet use that have an internal combustion engine that can use both hydrogen and gasoline as fuel.
Posted by Frank at 07:45 PM | Comments (0)
Toyota Announces New Highlander Sport SUV Prices
Toyota is rolling out a new edition of their Highlander SUV in April, a “sport” model that starts at $27,765 for a 2WD with 215 horsepower V6 engine.
The Highlander Sport has a bunch of upgrade goodies, such as color-keyed grille with chrome insert, chrome door handles, fog lamps, chrome exhaust tip, and 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels. Standard interior features include chrome door handles, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, leather-trimmed shift knob with chrome stalk, and eight-way power driver's seat and 3-in-1 AM/FM/Cassette/CD with six speakers and in-glass antenna.
Highlander sports with 2WD models and third-row seating will start at $28,615. The 4WD models will start at $29,235 and begin at $30,085 for third-row models.
Toyota is also adding a new base V6 4WD two-row model, that starts at $26,990, or $850 cheaper, than their base V6 4WD third-row model.
Posted by Frank at 07:37 PM | Comments (0)
Smart Cuts Small Car Line in Half
DaimlerChrysler [DCX] has announced plans to discontinue half of their Smart car line, by eliminating the ForFour vehicle and introducing a new Smart ForTwo with the 2007 model year.
DCX claims the company will be profitable with this move, and that they also plan to integrate the vehicle into the Mercedes organization, presumably including the retail outlets.
The cancellation of the ForFour is subject to negotiations with Mitsubishi, which makes the model.
Posted by Frank at 07:30 PM | Comments (0)
Ford F-150 Named Pickup Truck of the Year
Car and Driver magazine has named the Ford F-150 the best pickup truck in America, for the third year running.
The best selling pickup for 29 years running, the F-150 was compared against the the Dodge Ram, GMC Sierra and Honda Ridgeline.
Posted by Frank at 07:17 PM | Comments (0)
Gas Prices Hit the Magic Number, $2.50
Gas prices have hit an average of $2.50 per gallon, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, and we've found this is the magic number where people start thinking more about fuel efficient vehicles, especially hybrid cars.
When gas prices were in this range and up to $3 a gallon last year, cars took a greater percentage of the market than usual, as high as 49% compared to light trucks, where the split is usually 54% trucks to 46% cars. Three points doesn't sound like a lot, but figure that's on over 1.3 million units sold per month.
Current gas prices are 17.3% higher than a year ago.
Posted by Frank at 07:10 PM | Comments (0)
IRL Driver Killed in Two-Car Crash During Practice
Paul Dana, a 30-year-old rookie driver on the IRL circuit, dies today after crashing into Ed Carpenter's spun-out vehicle. Dana died as a result of the nearly 200 mph crash, Carpenter is in the hospital but alert, according to the Associated Press.
The Toyota Indy 300 race, the opening race of the IRL IndyCar series, was expected to be run as scheduled. Dana's team has withdrawn from today's race.
Posted by Frank at 05:32 PM | Comments (0)
Local Dealer Mocked For Nepotism & Grating Ads
A local blog, titled appropriately enough, Why I Hate DC, posted a scathing "review" of a local car dealer's commercials, and the comments that got posted fleshed out the premise more than a little.
The dealer in question is Koons, which owns multiple points, and what we're interested in knowing is if these commercials are the most effective way of reaching, and snagging, new car buyers. To view the commercials, several starring Krystal Koons, go to this page.
They must of course be effective to some degree or else they wouldn't run them at all -- but are they the most effective way to get business, as in return on the dollar for advertising? In other words, is carpet bombing local media with old-school style, "come-on-down" advertising really the best local dealers can do?
Posted by Frank at 05:21 PM | Comments (0)
Subaru Wants AWD Diesels by 2007
Subaru is developing a diesel engine that it wants to put into a European Legacy by the end of 2007, according to Reuters. The company's CEO said that thanks to its recent alliance with Toyota, they can borrow the larger automakers hybrid technology, while spending their R&D cash on diesel.
The company also expects diesel to account for half of their sales by the end of 2010, coming into alignment with the market split, which is half diesel. In Japan and the U.S. Subaru expects 10% of their volume will come from diesel-powered vehicles.
Posted by Frank at 12:32 PM | Comments (0)
EPA Lightens Up On Diesels
The Environmental Protection Agency will relax particulate emission standards for diesel cars in an effort to increase the number of diesel-powered vehicles on the road.
According to The Wall Street Journal, "The EPA said that over time, the new standards will be better for the environment because automakers that opt for the exemption will be required to engineer their cars to stay clean longer."
Diesel manufacturers said this narrow exemption is a big step in the right direction in order for diesel technology to advance in the U.S. The standards will be effective through the 2009 model year.
Posted by Frank at 12:16 PM | Comments (0)
March 25, 2006
BMW's Free Audiobook Program
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BMW
Audiobooks presents these four audiobooks free to Internet listeners. |
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The third installment of the series premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to international acclaim and the films received more than 100 million page views during their run that was ended in 2005.
What was revolutionary five years ago – melding branding and the arts into a new form – has become almost commonplace for automakers today, with a wide palette of web films, animation, games and contests being offered by nearly every major company.
Rather than cede the high mark established by The Hire, BMW has continued to sponsor unique “art marketing” projects on the Internet in ways that combine their brand and vehicles with authentic artistic creations.
One such project is the recent Z4 by JD endeavor, where the company invited New York graphic artist Joshua Davis to create a series of his computer drawings based on his interaction with the automobile. Besides bringing this avant-garde art to masses via an intricate website and such extras as online print galleries and wallpapers, they’re also making the complex prints available for $280.
In a similar vein to The Hire is the company’s limited run production, BMW Audiobooks, where four authors were commissioned to write noirish stories that have been made available for free download. BMW collaborated with Random House on the project, offering only one caveat to each of the writers – they had to incorporate a BMW vehicle into the fabric of the tale.
Following the initial announcement, the stories were released every two weeks. If you signed on early, e-mail notifications were sent to trumpet the latest story. With all four stories now published, they’re all available as MP3 audio downloads in a single visit.
Each story, less than an hour long, offered a compelling tale with a BMW vehicle featured as one of the supporting cast:
-- In Beautiful Ride, by Don Winslow, a Z4 convertible is the only thing separating former high flyer Ted from living in the streets, and the vehicle figures prominently in getting his money, and some satisfaction, back from his double-crossing boss and former wife.
-- Master of the Storm is a well-crafted ghost story by James Flint where the main character, gets to redeem his mistake of injuring a woman in a hit-and-run accident with his BMW 1 Series.
-- In The Debt, by Simon Kernick, a former boxer is made to make good on his cousin’s debt by relinquishing the keys to his beloved 7 Series, which doesn’t sit well with him at all – and this tale ends with a nice twist of justice in the very last words.
-- Cold Cold Heart by Karin Slaughter is a story of revenge by a spurned ex-wife who executes the unkindest cut of all on her dying ex-husband – and delivers the relish at the end in a BMW X3 SUV.
Originally published at AIADA.
Posted by Frank at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)
Equal Time for Chicks: Road Rage Edition
Hey, if General Motors can pander cater to the female audience, so can we. And to show that women can drive just like the guys, we want to point out these two stories.
The NY Daily News has this tale of a woman who stole a flatbed truck and went on a driving, smash-'em-up derby rampage one fine morning, ramming three cop cars and a fire hydrant before being subdued, Hannibal Lecter style, with straps and a gurney.
Then there's this story of a woman in California who led cops on a 40 mile chase reaching speeds of 100 miles per hour before she was cornered and shot dead. Cops say she backed into their cruisers before they fired, an eyewitness claims they just shot her for the hell of it.
Posted by Frank at 09:07 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2006
Git-r-Done! Buy Larry the Cable Guy's Chevy Half-Ton
Larry, the Git-r-Done Cable Guy, has a new movie out and they're auctioning off the 1977 Chevy Half-Ton he drives in Health Inspector to benefit diabetes research.
It's a brilliant piece of marketing in our mind, because the thing is such a pile it'll probably get more action than the fancy rides that get auctioned for charity. And the auction was timed to coincide with the movie.
But before you get excited, take another look at the pictures.
And then consider the info at eBay that says the Chevy Stepside is not street legal, and is the proud bearer of a salvage title.
Also, the color is listed as "blue," though blue and grey [primer] would be more accurate.
Check out the eBay auction here. The site for the movie, Health Inspector, is here.
Posted by Frank at 03:01 PM | Comments (0)
March 22, 2006
Go 1 On 1 with Carmelo Anthony, Marc Ecko or Jermaine Dupri, Courtesy of Toyota
Toyota's “One On One” contest is simple to play and is going to get one grand prize winner a chance to go one-on-one with icons in the sports, fashion or music world by placing a vote for the best NBA play of the week.
The Grand Prize Winner will be able to choose from “Get Game” with Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony, “Get Style” with fashion and media icon Marc Ecko, or “Get Beats” with music mogul Jermaine Dupri.
To participate in the contest fans log on to Toyota1on1.com to vote for one of three video clips showing the best plays of the week from NBA action. Votes can be cast every day via the website or by text messaging PLAY to t1on1 on a mobile phone. Each vote enters that person into a sweepstakes with a weekly prize featuring an IPod Shuffle, NBA merchandise or Ecko clothing.
Also courtesy of Toyota, here's a brief bio of each icon:
Carmelo Anthony
NBA rising star, Carmelo Anthony, was drafted No. 3 in 2003 by the Denver Nuggets and started in all 82 games that year. Anthony was selected as the 2005 Rookie Challenge MVP, a member of the 2004 U.S. Senior Men's National team and was the third-youngest player in the NBA to reach the 2,000 point mark.
Marc Ecko
From fashion to footwear, gaming to publishing, Marc Ecko is an artist, designer and entrepreneur who stands out for his ability to fuse the many parts of today's multicultural society into seamless, relevant styles and trends. Ecko heads the full-scale global fashion and lifestyle company, which last year alone billed more than $1 billion.
Jermaine Dupri
Grammy Award winning music mogul, Jermaine Dupri, has 20 years of experience in the music industry and is the founder and CEO of So So Def Recordings and president of Black Music at Virgin Records. Dupri has helmed the release of platinum albums for Janet Jackson, Usher, Mariah Carey and Bow Wow, to name a few.
Posted by Frank at 09:08 PM | Comments (0)
GM Extends Sweepstakes on Women Buyer's Site
Maybe we should have known about the General Motor's site for women, but hey, you can forgive us since we're not women.
GM.com/women offers vehicle shopping, safety and buying information specifically for women, and since last year's sweepstakes was so successful they're doing it again.
By registering you get to play an instant game, and, if you don't get a little prize through the eDecoder, you're still entered to win a grand prize of either $10,000 toward a new GM vehicle, or a spa getaway.
And just because we didn't know about the site, and aren't women, that doesn't mean we didn't enter the contest -- we enter all the contests from the automakers. Just to see that the websites are operational for our readers of course.
Posted by Frank at 05:03 PM | Comments (0)
Free Bluetooth From Volvo
Volvo is offering a free Bluetooth hands-free system on new XC70 wagons and XC90 SUVs, through March 31.
They're also running a sweet $299 sign and drive lease program on the S40 sedan right now, that means you're getting around the usual two or three grand down payment, folks.
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on any Volvo vehicle, click here.
Posted by Frank at 04:53 PM | Comments (0)
Oh, To Be a Bartender in Detroit – The Top Ten Best Jobs for the GM Buyout Era
By now, everyone's heard that General Motors and Delphi have offered their hourly workers a staggering buyout package worth as much as $140,000 per worker. The two companies have a combined hourly force of nearly 150,000 workers.
Many are expected to take the generous deal because GM and Delphi plan to permanently cut nearly 50,000 jobs – it's a case of take it while it's offered because there won't be a better deal, between the Delphi bankruptcy and the GM-UAW negotiation in 2007.
Merrill Lynch estimates that as much as $1 billion will flow into the hands of the buyout takers. In other words, there's going to be a lot of jack floating around Detroit and the other cities where plants are located.
Which means there's money to be made! Especially if you choose the occupations most likely to benefit from this massive unbundling of the largest social contract ever made in America. Next to Social Security, but that's coming.
Here then is our list of the Top Ten Best Jobs for the GM Buyout Era:
1. Bartender
2. Drug dealer
3. Police officer
4. Domestic abuse counselor [see #3]
5. Blackjack dealer
6. Prostitute
7. Hot tub salesman
8. Large screen TV salesman
9. eBay consultant
10. Resume writer
Posted by Frank at 03:30 PM | Comments (0)
March 21, 2006
Make a Winning Chevy Tahoe Commercial & Win One
Here's the drill: make a 30-second video commercial for the 2007 Chevy Tahoe by going to this site.
You have to use vid clips from each category, plus music, plus whatever else the rules say.
Enter by April 10, 2006.
Best commercial as determined by a panel of impartial PR and Marketing Dweebs, wins a Tahoe.
Simple.
Do it.
Posted by Frank at 11:28 PM | Comments (0)
General Motors $500 Military Discounts
General Motors offers a $500 discount to active military and reserves throughout their brand lineup. Fact is, most of the automakers have a similar program, so if you are military and don't know about these, be sure to check out the manufacturer's sites for details, or ask at the dealership.
Military ID is usually required, but we've never met anyone who didn't carry it with them.
Posted by Frank at 11:21 PM | Comments (0)
Subaru is All Wheel Dealing
Through March 31, Subaru is offering zero percent financing on all models, or $1,000 and up rebates, or sweet leasing options.
It's the early months of the year that the automakers need to sell vehicles in order to make their annual sales projections, so this may be one of the best times to go in and get the vehicle that had all-wheel drive before AWD was cool.
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on any Subaru vehicle, click here.
Posted by Frank at 10:57 PM | Comments (0)
Dodge Is Dealing Zero Percent Deals
Basically, Dodge is giving away the store right now. They are either offering $2,000 to $3,500 off on most vehicles, or zero percent financing.
Excluded from the zero deal are the Charger and Magnum, but even on them you can get a $1,000 rebate. This is a serious sale.
To get a free, no-obligation price quote on any Dodge vehicle, click here.
Posted by Frank at 10:48 PM | Comments (0)
Win a Honda Civic Customized by the Black Eyed Peas
Yes, YOU can win a Honda Civic, customized by the Black Eyed Peas, by going to this special promo site.
Car is pictured below. It looks pretty much like what you'd expect.
Posted by Frank at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
VW GTI MkV: "Put Your Hand on the Stick and Let's Go Shlalom"
You have got to check out the "take a joyride" feature at the Volkswagen site! by clicking on the link you go to a GTI MkV page, where you have a chance to spec out the new car, and then take a virtual joyride with the bizarre, surreal German model pictured here.
The great thing about the feature is that your joyride movie is personalized according to the specs you chose for the car. If you choose cloth, she'll talk about it being like the original, if leather was your choice, she'll riff on laaahving leather.
She even insults you with a line, "Are you a man or a woman ... because you drive like a little girl."
This is a good piece of infotainment.
Posted by Frank at 10:16 PM | Comments (0)
BMW Sponsors an Art Project: The Z4 By Joshua Davis
BMW gave cutting-edge graphic artist Joshua Davis the opportunity to scope out the Z4 coupe and create large format color prints for BMW, inspired by the car. You can buy prints for $280.
Here is the website. The intro slide show is cool; above is a small version of available wallpaper of one of JD's designs.
To be quite honest, I don't understand what's going on here, or why it's a big deal, but I've walked out of several avant-garde venues shaking my head.
Posted by Frank at 10:02 PM | Comments (0)
Range Rover Sport: The Tokyo Experience
Land Rover contracted a Japanese artist, Kenshi Daito, to shoot a documentary of the Range Rover Sport in Tokyo, with the theme, Extraordinary Perspective.
You can view the final doc, as well as an interview with the artist, by going to the main Land Rover site.
Posted by Frank at 09:54 PM | Comments (0)
Nissan Tennessee Headquarters Moving Forward, Without Spellcheck
Nissan has awarded the contract for the design of its new American headquarters to a Tennessee firm; the company expects the building to be ready for occupancy in mid-2008.
Gresham, Smith and Partners (GS&P) are the winning designers, a general contractor is expected to be announced in May.
Nissan announced it would relocate its headquarters from California to Franklin, Tennessee last November, much to the dismay of the 1,300 Southern California loving employees.
Various informal guessers estimate that as many as half of Nissan corporate employees will leave rather than move – as a matter of fact, they are so not-excited about it that they misspelled Tennessee in the press release [see above].
Posted by Frank at 09:36 PM | Comments (0)
Mercedes Camper Van: Like the Vanagon, But Not
One of the drawbacks of the Internet is that we get to see the cool stuff other people have, but which we can't get our hands on.
Take this Mercedes camper van, for example. The "Marco Polo" has been built since 1996 but I've never seen one at a campground. And wouldn't expect to see someone in Grateful Dead drawstring pants getting out to find water to rinse the sprout bag, either.
Mercedes says it's their best-selling camper van to date, and the new models include the option to get a TDI diesel engine and 4Matic all-wheel drive.
Posted by Frank at 08:52 PM | Comments (0)
Toyota Awards 2006 Literacy Teacher Award
Mark Faloni, a Washington, D.C. teacher, received the 10th annual Family Literacy Teacher of the Year award from Toyota, for his work in improving his students' English as a Second Language (ESL) test scores.
As Teacher of the Year, Faloni's program at Bancroft Elementary School will receive a $5,000 grant, while he was awarded a free trip to the National Center for Family Literacy's annual conference.
Faloni was chosen by a panel of family literacy specialists at NCFL, who reviewed nominations for high-performing teachers from across the United States.
An educator in the District of Columbia's Public School System for more than 20 years, Faloni stood out because of his success in designing curricula that not only motivate disadvantaged students to learn, but also encourage them to work together.
Posted by Frank at 08:49 PM | Comments (0)
Chrysler Acts to Get Texas Lawyer Disbarred
Man, this is juicy. Chrysler is aggressively trying to get a Texas lawyer who tampered with evidence in a personal injury lawsuit, and also bribed witnesses, disbarred.
Andrew Toscano, the lawyer they're going after, has yet to pay up to $1 million in fines he and the other two lawyers on the case incurred after teh suit was judged to be without merit. One of the lawyers, Robert Kugle, fled the country, while another was slapped on the wrist.
According to Chrysler, the attorneys:
-- Toscano or someone acting with his approval had tampered with the steering system in the Dodge Neon to create the false appearance that it was defective.
-- Toscano and his colleagues repeatedly refused to abide by court orders to turn over photographs of the vehicle's steering system taken before it had been intentionally damaged — photographs that they knew would expose the case as a fraud.
-- An investigator working for The Kugle Law Firm attempted to bribe and intimidate witnesses into "forgetting" that the driver had fallen asleep behind the wheel and caused the accident.
Chrysler is serious, they filed papers in Texas to have Toscano disbarred. Look for more of this aggressive, anti-scumbag attorney stuff from big companies.
Posted by Frank at 08:22 PM | Comments (0)
Ford Earns EPA Award for Conserving Energy
The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded its ENERGY STAR 2006 Partner of the Year Energy Management Award to Ford, partly for improving energy efficiency in U.S. facilities by 18 percent in the past five years. Since 2000, Ford's U.S. facilities have improved have also reduced CO2 emissions by more than 15 percent.
"Ford Motor Company believes a sustainable, profitable business requires responsible use of environmental and social resources," said Sue Cischke, vice president, environmental and safety engineering. "Our partnership with ENERGY STAR has been instrumental in driving energy efficiency improvements."
The most significant energy efficiency actions included installation of large-scale networked heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, air compressor controls and energy-efficient production tooling. Data-driven processes and automated systems further drove efficiency improvements at manufacturing, corporate, and research and engineering facilities.
Posted by Frank at 08:16 PM | Comments (0)
Audi Sales Manager Leaves Hospital
Bryan Pacelli, the Audi sales manager who survived a truly horrifying accident when his Audi was crushed by a tractor-trailer and a bus, left the hospital today, according to Newsday.
The bus that hit the Audi after the trailer pinned it, had a drivecam mounted in the front windshiled, and you can watch actual footage of the impact by going to this newsite. It won't load instantly, look for the video that says, "Amazing Video: LIE Crash Caught on Tape." We listened several times just to hear that woman scream, over and over.
Pacelli suffered contusions, sprains and a concussion from the crash, and praises the Audi [we think it was a TT Coupe] for saving his life: "That car saved my life," he said. "It was absolutely disfigured. Audi should be very proud."
Posted by Frank at 06:28 PM | Comments (0)
Gene Simmons Infects Indy With Theme Song
Gene Simmons, the tongue behind the glam-metal assault band known as KISS, now heads a marketing firm that has the Indy Racing League as a client.
The multi-talented egomaniac not only has opinions about how to do things, he even wrote a theme song for the sport, I Am Indy, as part of the league's rebranding effort. Click here to listen to the song, which makes no sense, unless you deign to watch the video, by going to this page.
If you want to see how off the wall, rock star crazy the guy is, once you get that popup page, make sure to click on this video title: Gene Simmons discusses his plans for the Indy Racing League.
Posted by Frank at 04:57 PM | Comments (0)
March 20, 2006
Honda Hopes Entry Level Prices Are a Good Fit
The all-new 2006 Honda Fit will be on sale at dealerships on April 20 with a starting price of $13,850. The Fit comes with a 109 horsepower, 1.5-liter, 4-cylinderengine with a 5-speed manual transmission; the automatic starts at $14,650.
The Fit comes standard with dual-stage front airbags, dual front side airbags, side-curtain airbags and anti-lock brakes.
Priced at $15,170, the Fit Sport model [pictured] with manual transmission adds a rear roofline spoiler, aero body kit, fog lights, security system with keyless remote entry, cruise control, a 200-watt, six-speaker audio system and 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with P195/55R15 tires. Fit Sport models with an automatic transmission come with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and start at $15,970.
The Fit can be customized with 16-inch alloy wheels, sport exhaust, chrome exhaust tip finisher, rear bumper accents and a sport mesh grille.
The Fit has an estimated city/highway fuel economy rating of 33/38 miles per gallon with the manual tranny, and 31/38 for the automatic.
Posted by Frank at 11:39 PM | Comments (0)
Dodge Hornet Concept: B-Class Compact With a Sting
Chrysler said they wanted to blend a European approach to cars -- small and sporty -- with an American design flair, and they have succeeded with the Dodge Hornet.
The comparison to MINI is obvious, and Americanized, but we would replace the busy headlight cluster that dominates the grill with single bug-eye, rally-style bulbs, and keep the lower fascia fog lamps, perhaps augmented by amber turners.
Otherwise, the proposed 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 170 horsepower is an eyebrow raiser, as are the 19-inch aluminum wheels designed to show off the gold-colored brake calipers.
Posted by Frank at 11:22 PM | Comments (0)
Subaru Gets Solomonic, Offers Both XM and Sirius in 2007
Subaru of America will offer XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio on certain models beginning with the 2007 model year. Customers will be able to order satellite radio as either a port install item or as a dealer-installed option. Both XM and Sirius will offer three months of complimentary service and waive activation fees for Subaru customers.
Beginning with 2007 models, Subaru will pre-wire all B9 Tribeca and most Legacy and Outback models with XM Satellite Radio. XM Satellite Radio will be offered as standard equipment on the 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca Special Edition. The Special Edition package features chrome wheels, chrome wire mesh grille and the XM Satellite radio as standard all for $1,295. XM offers more than 160 digital channels of music, news, traffic and weather programming.
Also beginning with 2007 models, Subaru will pre-wire most of its Forester and Impreza line-up with Sirius Satellite Radio. Subaru will also offer Sirius Satellite Radio as standard equipment on 2007 Subaru Outback Sport Special Edition models. Sirius offers more than 120 digital channels of music, news, traffic and weather programming.
Posted by Frank at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)
Mercedes-Benz, Dealers Sponsor Fashion Scholarship
Mercedes-Benz USA is sponsoring the Drive Your Future Design Awards LA scholarship, sponsored in part by Southern California Mercedes-Benz dealers together with the corporate parent.
One student will be awarded a $20,000 one-year scholarship to attend FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising this fall, as well as a mentoring opportunity with award-winning designer Kevan Hall who is the “Mercedes-Benz Presents” designer for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios Fall 2006 Collections.
Beginning March 27, 2006 interested students can log on to www.fidm.edu/designawardsla to learn more about the program and apply online.
The new scholarship will also be partially funded by the auction of one-of-a-kind Fender guitars personally decorated by rocker Slash, model Carolyn Murphy, pop star Mya and world champion skater Tony Hawk. The guitars, which will be on display during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios at the main tent entrance, will be auctioned this spring.
Posted by Frank at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)
US Rider Wins BMW Z4 M Roadster For Fastest Qualifier
American rider Colin Edwards was presented with a brand new BMW Z4 M Roadster, after having achieved the fastest lap time during the one-hour qualifying round of the official MotoGP test. At the end of the 2006 season the MotoGP rider achieving fastest overall time in all qualifying rounds will receive a BMW Z4 M Coupe during the last heat on October 29.
Edwards, who had completed the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona in the fastest time of 1:57.102 minutes on wet tarmac, was pleased with the attractive prize, which was presented to him by Ulrich Mehring, head of sales and marketing at BMW M. “I believe that this is exactly the kind of motivation I need for this season”.
BMW M, the Munich-based high-performance car builder is also supplying the Safety Cars, a BMW M5 and a BMW M6 each sporting a 507 bhp power unit during the 2006 MotoGP season. In addition, BMW is also providing all organisational vehicles required for the MotoGP.
Posted by Frank at 10:54 PM | Comments (0)
Mitsubishis Posts 2007 Galant Sedan Pricing
Mitsubishi has relased pricing for their Galant 4-door sedan, with 5 basic trim levels available. The three entry-level models are equipped with a 4-cylinder engine that develops 160 horsepower. A pair of 6-cylinder entries feature a 3.8-liter engine that produces 258 hp.
Prices are as follows:
Galant DE (2.4L/4A) $19,399.00 4-Speed Automatic
Galant ES (2.4L/4A) $20,299.00 4-Speed Automatic
Galant SE (2.4L/4A) $21,999.00 4-Speed Automatic
Galant LS-V6 (3.8L/4S) $22,999.00 4-Speed Sportronic
Galant GTS-V6 (3.8L/4S) $26,999.00 4-Speed Sportronic
Posted by Frank at 10:16 PM | Comments (0)
Hyundai Sonata and Tucson Win 5-Star Crash Test Rating
Both the 2006 Hyundai Sonata and Tucson have received the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) top five-star crash test rating for front and side impacts.
The Tucson was the first vehicle under $20,000 with standard Electronic Stability Control and six airbags while Sonata is the only mid-size sedan with standard Electronic Stability Control and six airbags. Both have received numerous accolades, including Tucson's "Best Value Car Award Winner" from SmartMoney magazine, and Sonata's "Automotive Excellence in Safety Award" from Popular Mechanics.
The Sonata features six airbags-including dual front, front seat-mounted side-impact, and front and rear side curtain airbags-along with active front-seat head restraints. Other passive safety features include shingle-style rear seat head restraints for improved visibility, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, front-seat seatbelt pretensioners and force limiters, and a rear-seat LATCH system for child seats. Hyundai devoted 300 new Sonatas to internal crash testing to make sure the Sonata attained NHTSA's five star rating in both front and side collisions.
The Tucson is engineered to provide its passengers with multiple defensive layers. The steel unibody has designed-in crumple zones and a high-tensile front sub-frame that are designed to work together to reduce the forces that reach the passenger compartment. To help resist intrusion, four structural rings encircle the body. All four doors also have internal guard beams to protect passengers in a side-impact collision.
The Tucson's passenger restraint systems help minimize injury. Three-point belts are provided at all five seating positions, and the front seatbelts have pretensioners and load limiters. There are two outboard rear LATCH child-seat anchors.
A total of six airbags are positioned in the Tucson's interior. Dual advanced frontal airbags are complemented by front seat-mounted side-impact airbags and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags that cover both the front and rear rows of seating.
Posted by Frank at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)
VW, Audi Sign Exclusive Agreement with Sirius Satellite Radio
VW of America has signed an five-year exclusive deal to provide Sirius satellite radio in VW and Audi vehicles, from 2007 through 2012.
VW expects to equip 80% of its vehicles with Sirius receivers starting with the next model year. Audi currently puts satellite in about 50% of its cars.
Posted by Frank at 10:06 PM | Comments (0)
Kia has Georgia On its Mind for First U.S. Plant
Kia will spend $1.2 billion to build its first ever manufacturing plant in the U.S., to be located in West Point, Georgia. The plant will build 300,000 vehicles at full capacity and employ about 2,500 workers.
Scheduled to begin production in 2009, the plant will be built on 2,200 acres. Kia sold 275,871 vehicles in 2005, so the investment obviously signal the company's confidence they will continue to grow sales in America.
Construction is currently underway on a Kia corporate campus in Irvine, Calif. that is expected to open in December 2006, and will include a 65,000 square-foot design center. In total, Kia Motors has invested more than $300 million in the United States over the last four years, including a state-of-the-art research and development center in Ann Arbor, Mich. and a custom-built vehicle proving grounds in Mojave, Calif.
Posted by Frank at 09:59 PM | Comments (0)
Carvertising
Throughout Europe and down under in Australia, several start-ups are offering either free or extremely low-cost vehicle rentals if you're willing to drive around in a four-wheeled rolling billboard.
In Austria, there's CoolCar, in France a company called Liberty is doing it, in Australia it's KahDo and in Hamburg and Berlin, it's Maxhopp.
Cost to drivers ranges from about $40 to $240 a month in U.S. dollars.
Via Springwise.
Posted by Frank at 02:51 PM | Comments (0)
VW to Hispanics: "Okay, We'll Take the Turbocharger Off Your Testicles"
Volkswagen has pulled Spanish language billboards in Miami, NY and LA, because they feature the phrase "Turbo-Cojones," according to the Associated Press.
Even in a culture pervaded by a machismo complex, some Hispanics complained about having a turbine attached to their nuts.
We have not heard, however, if there have been any complaints about the television ads featuring the Spanish-speaking mouse Speedy Gonzalez. In this spot, Speedy is indeed mooning a herd of cats. The other two spots are here and here.
Hate to get all Freudian here, but does the new VW ad campaign rely a little too heavily on flashing testicles and ass at the Hispanic audience?
Sourced via Autoblog and AdRants.
Posted by Frank at 02:27 PM | Comments (0)
Scion to Show Coupe Concept at New York Auto Show
Scion will hold a press conference-slash-unveil on Wednesday, April 12 at 2:00 PM EST in the Special Events Hall at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in NYC. A video clip of the press conference will be available for viewing following the event on the Scion.com website. That's all we got.
Posted by Frank at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)
British Ladies Ride Home in Lordly Pink Liveries
Pink Ladies is a London-based livery service that is the UK's first women-only private car for hire franchise. The service only picks up women who call to prearrange and pre-pay for the ride, and the cars are bright pink for visibility [and branding].
The drivers are also all-female, and have been trained in self-defense. No cash is carried or accepted and the drivers will wait to make sure you get in the house safely.
Posted by Frank at 01:12 PM | Comments (0)
The Good, The Bad and the GM Ads
Ad Age does a fun weekly roundup of notable video commericals and this week they highlight a pair of General Motors advertisements.
I agree with their editor's "good" pick, an uptempo spot that uses a montage of past and present cars, set to the tune AM Radio by Everclear. It's fun to watch and makes you feel good about the brand.
The second spot, a Hummer H3 piece is also entertaining, though Ad Age didn't like it.
Decide for yourself by going to this page and viewing the 30-second spots. Registration is required but if you want to see another spot featuring the Japanese skiing ostriches, then it'll be worth the effort.
Posted by Frank at 12:55 PM | Comments (0)
2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder On Sale Now
Mitsubishi dropped the top on their hot-selling Eclipse with a new Spyder convertible edition that's in dealerships now. Starting price for the 4-cylinder is $25,389 with a 5-speed manual, $26,289 for the four-speed automatic.
The V6 starts at $28,269 with a 6-speed manual; $29,169 gets you the 5-speed automatic.
Posted by Frank at 11:53 AM | Comments (0)
MPG Data on Lexus Hybrid Sedan Released
The new Lexus GS 450h, the world's first luxury performance hybrid sedan, gets an EPA-estimated combined fuel-economy rating of 26 miles-per-gallon, or 25 mpg city/28 mpg highway.
The GS450h, with an MSRP of $54,900, produces 80% than the average new car, according to toyota, by using system that combines a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a new compact, high-output, permanent magnet electric motor that drives the rear wheels.
With a combined system output of 339 horsepower, the new 3.5-liter V6 hybrid is said to delivers the same performance of a 4.5-liter V8; the GS 450h accelerates from zero-to-60 miles per hour in approximately 5.2 seconds.
Posted by Frank at 11:44 AM | Comments (0)
Audi Diesel Racer Triumphs at Sebring
The new Audi R10 TDI has become the first diesel powered car ever to win the 12-hour race at Sebring. Audi has dominated the Le Mans circuit for years with the previous incarnation of the vehicle, but they've recently stunned the motoring world by going with a diesel engine that produces 650-horsepower from its V12 configuration.
The R10 won the race despite having to withdraw one of the two vehicle entries due to a malfunctioing telemetry system. The three driver team of Dindo Capello (Italy), Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Allan McNish (Scotland) won the race for Audi. Tom Kristensen became the first driver to win America’s most famous endurance race for a fourth time, achieving another record after his record seventh Le Mans victory from last year.
Posted by Frank at 11:28 AM | Comments (0)
'Stang Pony Package is a Winner
You gotta' love this special edition V6 Ford Mustang. Dubbed the Pony Package, we love the halogen spots in the grill that replace teh big beams and the simple frame around the pony badge -- the designers effectively made the car even more classic looking.
So does that make it classier? Classified? Not likely, the folks who buy these are going to hold on to them.
Tho Pony Package also comes with a rear spoiler, 17-inch wheel w/tri-bar Pony center cap, a unique lower door tape stripe available in black, white or pearl gold, carpeted front floor mats in 2006 interior colors with unique brushed chrome "MUSTANG" badge and Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Traction Control.
Posted by Frank at 06:25 AM | Comments (0)
Cold Cold Heart Audiobook From BMW
The last in the series of four audiobooks from BMW is now available for download. Cold Cold Heart, by Karin Slaughter is the story of a wife abandoned by her husband for a more lucrative life after the family sufffers a tragedy.
"For three years John becomes richer while Pam becomes poorer," the description goes, followed by "a reversal of fortune" where the wife "gets the chance for a revenge" her husband could never imagine.
I don't know what's more chilling, the synopsis or the author's name.
To download the story, go to BMW audiobooks and register if you haven't done so already. If it's your first time to the site, you can get all four audio stories all at one time -- and they're totally free.
Originally published at Book 'n' Flick Reviews.
Posted by Frank at 05:52 AM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2006
Hello 911? There's a Moose in My Car
It happens every day. Friday night a woman hit a moose with her car, north of Boston, and the animal wound up on her front seat.
The woman survived. The moose did not.
Click here to watch an unedited, amateur video of the moose thinking to himself, "I hate cars." Click here to go to the CNN search page where you'll find a link to a story featuring the driver, as well as the moose.
Posted by Frank at 10:04 PM | Comments (0)
Updated: Audi Design Saved Audi Sales Manager's Life
Remember the story about the Long Island Expressway wreck where a completely crushed Audi saved the driver's life? Well it turns out the driver, Bryan Pacelli, actually works as an Audi sales manager.
He's in rough condition, but considering the totality of the wreck, he's fine simply because he lived. The Newsday update doesn't specifically say what model he was driving, but it sounds like a TT coupe.
When Pacelli is back on his feet he's going to be selling him some Audis.
Posted by Frank at 09:37 PM | Comments (0)
CrankyFrank Says: Take That Horn and Shove It Up Your Ass
Since when has the automobile horn become a general use appliance? Why do people use it all the time, if you're paused at a light, stopped at a signal or sign waiting to make a turn on red, or most often, for no good reason at all?
Automobile horns are emergency devices. They are not communication tools. If you are stuck in traffic and someone decides to stop at a light rather than block the box, what good does it do to use the horn? Has it occurred to you that everyone else is stuck in traffic as well?
I understand that many people use their horn out of frustration. However, have you considered that one day, someone may get out of the car to discuss your prolific honking, in a manner not sanctioned by AAA?
Posted by Frank at 08:35 PM | Comments (0)
Meet the Conquistador of Car Sales
This Washington Post article about one of the top 10 Honda salesman in the country is a great read because it shows you how the business should be done, and with the immirgrant component, it makes you think this is the America I want to live in.
It's the story of German Vidal, a Maryland car salesman who has built a loyal following among Hispanics for the way he melds the imperative of selling cars with the actual concern about his customers that most of us only dream about.
Look for the book in the business section soon!
Posted by Frank at 01:33 PM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2006
Chrysler Builds 1 Millionth PT Cruiser in Mexico
Since production began in 2000, the Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico has built one million units of the popular PT Cruiser. The only party not happy about this is the UAW. And perhaps the Mexican workers who have not been allowed to pee for the last six years.
Updated for 2006, the Chrysler PT Cruiser features an all-new interior and a boost of horsepower for the turbo engine to 230 horsepower up from 220 hp. PT Cruiser sales increased 16% in the United Sates for the 2005; the PT is sold in 60 countries worldwide.
Posted by Frank at 11:20 PM | Comments (0)
Mercedes, Rolling Stones Auction Custom R-Class
Mercedes will auction off an exclusive Rolling Stones Edition R-Class SUV and Fender Telecaster guitar, both signed by each member of the Rolling Stones, on eBay from April 10-20, with the proceeds benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The R-Class features an airbrushed Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang paint scheme; interested bidders may visit: www.rockther.com to pre-register. Pre-registration will continue through the conclusion of the auction on April 20.
Customized by Unique Autosports, the Rolling Stones Edition R-Class features Rolling Stones embroidered headrests, Rolling Stones floor mats and a paint scheme with DuPont™ Hot Hues™ paint. The sports tourer is powered by a 302-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8 engine, and features 22” wheel rims by Löwenhart mounted with Pirelli tires.
Inside the cabin, the Rolling Stones Edition R-Class is an audiophile’s dream with Unique Edition Custom Fiberglass amp rack, JBL amplifier and subwoofers, Stinger Expert Series wiring and Alpine headrest touch screen TVs with DVD player. The airbrushed artwork was completed by Cycle-Delics and the original artwork concept was developed by Primer Inc.
Posted by Frank at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)
Honda Increases Civic Pricing
Honda has increased the price of the Civic by 1.13%, or $210.43.
Posted by Frank at 11:10 PM | Comments (0)
Ford Sport Trac, Explorer Earn 5-Star Crash Test Ratings
The all-new 2007 Ford Sport Trac, along with the Ford Explorer, has earned the government's highest five star crash test ratings for frontal and side impacts for drivers and passengers.
“We're pleased that NHTSA has recognized the new Sport Trac with its highest possible crash test ratings,” said Sue Cischke, vice president, Environmental and Safety Engineering. “In addition to more refinement and increased capability, the all-new model offers a new package of advanced safety features.”
With 10 advanced safety innovations as standard equipment, the Sport Trac offers the most active and passive safety features in its class. Four of these are new adaptive technologies specifically designed for Ford’s stringent internal safety targets.
“The 2007 Sport Trac offers the same impressive suite of safety features as the 2006 Explorer,” says Cischke. “It offers active safety technology – including confidence-inspiring handling and braking combined with AdvanceTrac with industry-exclusive Roll Stability Control – to help prevent accidents. In the case of an accident, the new Sport Trac offers enhanced rollover side-impact protection, and four new adaptive safety technologies that help tailor frontal-impact protection based on crash severity, occupant size and safety belt usage.”
To help prevent accidents, the new Sport Trac features Ford Motor Company’s AdvanceTrac with class-exclusive Roll Stability Control as standard equipment. Roll Stability Control features roll-rate sensing, offering assistance to the driver in maintaining vehicle control during extreme maneuvers. The system automatically engages countermeasures to help the driver maintain maximum control and further reduce the risk of rollover.
In the case of a frontal collision, Ford's occupant classification system helps tailor air-bag deployment for increased protection. A horizontal stroking adaptive steering column and Tire Pressure Monitoring System add to the safety package to further help protect customers.
In the event of a side impact, the 2007 Sport Trac features standard side-impact air bags for the driver and front passenger and available Safety Canopy side air curtains that deploy in certain side-impact collisions or if an impending rollover is detected.
The 2007 Sport Trac carries over the 2005 starting price of $24,940, despite the increased standard safety equipment, increased refinement, and increased capability.
Posted by Frank at 10:44 PM | Comments (0)
GM Donates More Hummers to Red Cross
In recognition of March as American Red Cross Month GM has donated 10 more HUMMERs to Red Cross chapters across the U.S. The new H1, H2 and HS models are part of a commitment of 72 vehicles GM made to the Red Cross following Hurricane Katrina.
In addition to the vehicles, the GM Foundation is making cash contributions to the Red Cross of $100,000 annually for six years.
Red Cross chapters in the following areas are sharing the 10 new vehicles: Atlanta; Detroit; Los Angeles; New York; Norfolk; Philadelphia; San Diego; San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Posted by Frank at 10:38 PM | Comments (0)
March 16, 2006
Saab's Take Flight Event
Saab is running a "Take Flight" event through April 4, 2006 that has two distinct components. First, you have to go into the dealer to learn about specific deals on in-stock vehicles.
Second, you could win a new 2006 Saab 9-5 sedan, but there's some fine print involved. In order to get your official game number, you have to have received, or eventualy get, a mailer with the digits affixed. Since there's only two weeks to go, if you're a sweepstakes junkie, I say you may be able to get one if you sign up for information at the Saab site, maybe.
Posted by Frank at 04:39 PM | Comments (0)
Classic Car History: 1963-67 Corvette Sting Ray
The second generation Corvette was the 1963-1967 Sting Ray, not to be confused with the third generation 1968-82 Stingray (1 word). The styling was the expression of many of the styling ideas of new GM styling chief Bill Mitchell. The interior implemented a dual cockpit similar to earlier Corvettes, but updated for the Sting Ray.
Starting in 1963 the first hard top coupe was offered, featuring the a two piece rear window design. Bill Mitchell intended for it to form a visual connection with the central raised sections on the hood. The feature was dropped in 1964 because it limited rear visibility. However the 1963 Sting Ray coupe is now the most sought after model of second generation Corvettes.
Like all Corvettes, the Sting Ray's body is constructed of fiberglass panels mounted on a steel ladder frame. Another new feature was the hidden twin pop-up headlights, which not only added style they aided in aerodynamic efficiency. Other styling cues of the Sting Ray include optional side mounted exhaust, a power bulge on the hood (this was wider for the Corvettes that had the big block engine), and absence of a trunk lid (access is from behind the seats).
Additionally the Corvette's convertible top folds away completely when not in use and is stored beneath a flush fitting fiberglass panel behind the driver. There was also an optional hard top. The different year model Sting Ray's can often be differentiated by their side vent designs , for instance the 1967 had 5 side vents (see the red photo above), the 1965 and 1966 models had triple side vents, the 1963-64 had horizontal double vents (see gold and white one above).
Sting Rays came in three engine sizes, the 327 cid, the 396 cid and the 427 cid. Horsepower varied between 250 and 435 hp. The 396 engine was only offered in 1965, and dropped in 1966 in favor of the 427. The 1967 L88 427 cid V8 marked the pinnacle of performance for the second generation Corvette.
The V8 engines drive the rear wheels through a four-speed manual or a three speed automatic transmission. The Sting Ray also had an alloy clutch housing and alloy-cased gearbox to help with weight reduction and weight distribution. The 1963 Sting Ray was the first Corvette to have an independent suspension. The 1965 was the first to have 4 wheel disc brakes.
The 63 Corvette also had a racing option, the Z-06. The Z-06 was created by Zora Arkus-Duntoz as a purpose built racer. The Z-06 option consisted of a fuel-injected 327 cid V8, 36.5 gallon fuel tank, heavy-duty brakes, heavy-duty suspension, and knock-off wheels. The heavy-duty brakes consisted of drums with sintered metallic linings, power assisted and backed by a dual circuit master cylinder. "Elephant ear" scoops rammed fresh air to the drums and cooling fans spun with the hub.
For 1967, there were four versions of the 427 available. The first version, the L36, cost just $200 more and featured a single four barrel carb, 10.25:1 compression and hydraulic lifters. It was rated at a stout 390 bhp. Next up was the L68 for $305 which featured triple two-barrel Holley carbs (a first for Corvette) and was good for 400 bhp.
At the top was the L71 with triple two-barrel Holley carbs, solid lifters, special performance cams, and 11:1 compression which was conservatively rated at 435 bhp. Extremely rare (only 20 were built) was the top of the line L88 for $948 more. The L88 featured new aluminum heads, 12.5:1 compression, and a single Holley four barrel carb rated at 850 cfm that sat on an aluminum intake manifold with a special raised plenum chamber.
Dallas Dream Cars, a classic car rental service in the DFW area.
Posted by Frank at 04:28 PM | Comments (0)
Ask the Salesman: How Can I Buy a Car With Bad Credit?
If you have questionable credit or you know you have what some would consider bad credit, you are not necessarily forced to go to a "Buy Here Pay Here" type of dealership.
When I say dealership I am referring to those that do not advertise "Bankruptcy, Repo, Divorce, No Problem!" Those are for the most part honest dealerships but as a rule the cars that are sold there are bought from auctions. They got to auction because they are what most dealerships did not want to sell for one reason or another.
If you are one of the people that thinks they have substandard credit, do not feel like you cannot buy a car from a reliable new car dealership. If you are not 100% sure of your credit situation, the first thing to do is to put your cards on the table when going in. Tell the salesman upfront and ask to have them run your credit. It might be a situation of what can they get you approved for or that you actually have better than average credit.
If you are in a situation where you actually are credit challenged, let the finance manager work for you to get you in that car. You need to have some options if you do not want to be taken advantage of.
Rest assured, those with bad credit are the easiest to do that to. Ask them what you can get approved for. You may have your heart set on a silver V6 Accord but, the dealership may have a blue 4 cylinder Accord with some rebates that can be used as money down or the dealership may be willing to take a loss on a car to get it out of inventory. You also may be do better with a 1 or 2 year old used vehicle.
Most banks go by NADA retail value when deciding what dollar amount to loan on a car purchase. The dealership may have a 1 year old car that they have very little money in and with a high NADA value. If it is the end of the month they may be very motivated to make a deal on it. You need to keep your options open. You never know, a lending institution may be buying more deals this month and will let questionable things slide on a credit report.
Most importantly of all, take your time. Rome was not built overnight and if you have bad credit, you will not get approved in 15 minutes.
Publisher's note: "Ask the Salesman," is a weekly feature where Dave Lewis, a working auto sales professional, shares his ideas and suggestions for vehicle buyers. Dave has been in the automotive profession for seven years and currently sells BMWs at The BMW Store in Cincinnati, Ohio. You can find his website at www.BMWlivery.com.
Posted by Frank at 04:24 PM | Comments (0)
Roadside Assistance Programs on Foreign Cars
It’s the kind of feature that comes equipped with most new International vehicles that owners never want to use – and ironically, one the vast majority of consumers don’t even know comes standard with their purchase.
Just like an umbrella, roadside assistance is something you don’t need until the situation calls for it – and then you find you really need it. And life can be pretty miserable without it.
Luckily, many International nameplate brands provide some level of free roadside assistance during the initial warranty period of the vehicle, with some offering it as an upgrade to the basic plan.
Once the exclusive province of fee-for-membership clubs such as AAA, roadside assistance programs usually provide services such as free towing in case of a breakdown, flat tire changing and even a few gallons of gas in case you tried to push the needle past empty a little too far.
The specifics of each automakers programs differ; current owners should check their owner’s manual for details, prospective buyers can find information at the res