2008 was not a good car year and 2009 might prove to be just as bad. 881 car dealerships have been closed last year in the USA alone. Vehicle sales have dropped 18% last year for a total of 13.2 million vehicles. Analysts predict that 2009 will be just as bad if not worse. The sales could go down to 10 million units which means more people will loose their businesses and/or jobs. If you have just closed your business, drop us a line and give us your perspective on the matter.

via Reuters

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According the retail auto auction giant Manheim, auto repossessions reached an all-time high in 2008, and are expected to go even higher in 2009. A record 1.67 millions cars and trucks were repossessed in 2008, 12% more than in 2007. Looking toward the year ahead, Tom Webb, chief economist for Manheim predicted, “We won’t have a 12 percent increase, but I would expect something in terms of less than a 5 percent increase.” Webb also expects wholesale prices of used vehicles to begin to rise again late in 2009 as the credit freeze begins to show signs of thawing. Over the past two years, bloated new vehicle inventories have driven down the price of used vehicles.

The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index in December stood at 98.0, down from 98.3 in November and 110.2 in December 2007, and is currently sitting at a historical low. New vehicle sales to rental companies are down, and new vehicles sold through lease fell below two millions for the first time in over ten years.

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I don’t know who declared today to be diesel engine day but after seeing Nissan’s and Renault’s new 3.0L V6 diesel engine we get to take a look at the new diesel engine Volvo has prepared for the S80

The new 5-cylinder diesel engine will replace the current D5 diesel. The engine in the picture is a 2.4L engine which has twin sequential turbochargers to supplement it, ceramic glow-plugs and piezoelectric fuel injectors. It will get you 205 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That’s what you were going to ask weren’t you. The engine meets the Euro 5 emissions rules with 164g of CO2 per kilometer and it will go 45.6 per gallon. The engine will arrive in a few months in the UK so don’t buy any new S80 yet.

via Press

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Has the world just gone crazy? Is the economical crisis going to deepen? Wendy’s has decided to auction off a few products for the next two weeks. The food chain, yes it’s that Wendy’s, wants to show you a thing or two about value. Bidding for each product will start at the full retail price and it will go all the way down to $0.99. That’s right folks, the person that drop the price to $0.99 will win the prize but the trick is that each bid will drop the price by one cent. Besides, Xboxex, laptops and HDTVs you will be able to win a Hyundai 2008 Santa Fe SE, No Options Package. I mean buy it of course since it’s going to cost just $0.99.

Before you start bidding make sure you check the auction schedule from the press release:

Introducing the first-of-its kind online value auction where the
lowest bidder wins

What: Wendy’s 99¢ Bid for Value – It’s an auction but waaaay better. Wendy’s is auctioning off XBoxes, Snowboards, laptops, HDTVs and even a brand new car…all for 99¢!

Bidding starts at the prizes’ retail value. Each bid lowers the price by 1¢, so the more you bid, the lower the price goes. The lucky bidder who lowers the price to 99¢ wins!

When: The Wendy’s 99¢ Bid for Value auction kicks off at 1pm EST on January 7th and runs through January 14th. Register to play today!

Where: www.99centbidforvalue.com

Why: Wendy’s is helping consumers make better choices with great value items — not only great tasting food on the Value Menu, but fantastic prizes that will be auctioned off at 99¢.

Schedule of prizes:

January 7, 2009
1:00 PM EST – 1:29 PM EST Xbox 360 Elite Console
1:30 PM EST – 1:59 PM EST Xbox 360 Elite Console
2:00 PM EST – 2:29 PM EST Xbox 360 Elite Console
2:30 PM EST – 2:59 PM EST Xbox 360 Elite Console
3:00 PM EST – 3:29 PM EST Xbox 360 Elite Console
3:30 PM EST – 3:59 PM EST Xbox 360 Elite Console
5:00 PM EST – 5:29 PM EST Kawasaki KDX126FS 26? mountain bike
5:30 PM EST – 5:59 PM EST Kawasaki KDX126FS 26? mountain bike
6:00 PM EST – 6:29 PM EST Kawasaki KDX126FS 26? mountain bike
6:30 PM EST – 6:59 PM EST Kawasaki KDX126FS 26? mountain bike
7:00 PM EST – 7:29 PM EST Kawasaki KDX126FS 26? mountain bike
7:30 PM EST – 7:59 PM EST Kawasaki KDX126FS 26? mountain bike

January 8, 2009
1:00 PM EST – 1:29 AM EST Lenovo ThinkPad T400
1:30 PM EST – 1:59 PM EST Lenovo ThinkPad T400
2:00 PM EST – 2:29 PM EST Lenovo ThinkPad T400
2:30 PM EST – 2:59 PM EST Lenovo ThinkPad T400
5:00 PM EST – 5:29 PM EST HEAD TRANSIT i. Snowboard/HEAD P4 Bindings
5:30 PM EST – 5:59 PM EST HEAD TRANSIT i. Snowboard/HEAD P4 Bindings
6:00 PM EST – 6:29 PM EST HEAD TRANSIT i. Snowboard/HEAD P4 Bindings
6:30 PM EST – 6:59 PM EST HEAD TRANSIT i. Snowboard/HEAD P4 Bindings

January 9, 2009
2:00 PM EST – 2:29 PM EST Panasonic – 50? 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV
2:30 PM EST – 2:59 PM EST Panasonic – 50? 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV
3:00 PM EST – 3:29 PM EST Panasonic – 50? 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV
3:30 PM EST – 3:59 PM EST Panasonic – 50? 720p Flat-Panel Plasma HDTV

January 13, 2009
2:00 PM EST Bill Payoff ($10,000)

January 14, 2009
2:00 PM EST Hyundai 2008 Santa Fe SE, No Options Package

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Wait what? How many Rams are being recalled? Chrysler has decided to recall no less than 108,429 Dodge Ram pickup trucks. 2007-8 models 2500 and 3500 will be recalled after 14 models have caught fire. The reason? Apparently noise insulation touching the engine’s exhaust-gas recirculation cooler.

You don’t want your Ram to catch fire do you? Better take it to a Chrysler representative to have that insulation fixed.

via Kicking Tires

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Another day at the LA Auto Show and a brand new car. A brand new coupe model release! I’m talking about the phenomenal Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4! Although it has been initially released in Geneva this year, this is its US launch.

It’s a coupe with a 5.2L V10 engine that will get you from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds. It has a lighter transmission than its predecessor and an increased shift time by 40%. It’s also a greener car, its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions having dropped by 18%.

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini said:

The LP 560-4 is the best example of the Gallardo to date and will be a great contribution to Lamborghini’s future success. The entirely new LP 560-4 Spyder adds another dimension to the Gallardo’s lineage with extreme design language and class-leading performance.

Curious on that price tag? You’ll need to wait a couple of days for that, but if you stay tuned, you’ll be the first to hear after we’ve heard first. If you know what I mean!

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Here’s a surprise for you. If you happened to look for a new Chrysler Pacifica in Chicago recently you might have bumped into one of the strangest promotions yet. A dealership is offering a two for one kind of deal. Buyers choosing one of the five remaining 2008 Chrysler Pacificas will get you a $1 PT Cruiser. So you will end up with two family cars for the price of one. Look for Frank Mancari at his Oak Lawn dealership to get more info about the two cars.

via ChicagoBreakingNews

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Besides the Ecto 1 we have the old Knight Rider present at SEMA 2008. KITT arrive to help our Mio sell its Knight Rider GPS system. The hottest thing about this, otherwise regular GPS, is the voice that guides you around the city. You are probably suspecting this already but the voice of KITT is giving you turn by turn directions. The GPS unit will sell for just $270, but tell us, would you get the Mio Knight Rider GPS just to talk to KITT?

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Apparently ghosts causing unparalleled phenomenon at the SEMA 2008. Who else was going to appear to save the day? Well non other than the Ghostbusters in their Ecto-1 car. Well actually I have no idea if any ghostbusters were present but the car was certainly there. Check out the picture if you didn’t make it to this year’s SEMA.

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If you happen to be in Las Vegas you have to check out SEMA 2008. Besides the regular and concept cars, make sure you get a look at the Knight XV armored SUV. It’s based on the Gurkha military vehicle, the Ford F-350 Super Duty-based Knight XV will offer you some protection. The 10,000 pounds of armor and everything else is powered by a 6.8 liter V10 which will get you 400 hp and 500 lb.-ft. 40-inch tires wrapped around 20-inch aircraft grade wheels, ABS, E85 eco-friendly gas are just some other features you might be interested in.

In case you want one, make sure you are one of the first 100 buyers. The car will cost $295,000 so go check your credit line if you want one.

via Press

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