Readers of our Long-Term Blog will have noted that I'm rather infatuated with our 2002 BMW e46 M3. That car is an enthusiast's fantasy -- it's like BMW scanned the brain of a car nut, figured out exactly what made it tick, and then made the e46 M3 the embodiment of those qualities. Too bad the same development team wasn't in charge of the current M5 sedan. The M5's principal virtue and vices are the subject of this week's Top 3.
The Good
The engine folks at BMW's M Division are still on top of their game. The M5's 500-horsepower V10 is scintillating. Put it in third gear at about 65 mph, wood the throttle, and...wow. It's not just the ridiculous power it makes -- it's the fire-breathing F1-style wail it emits while doing so. This engine fully deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the e46 M3's 3.2-liter inline-6. It's the highlight of this car.
The Bad
Surprise! The M5's steering stinks. Oh, it's not that bad compared with the mere mortals of the automotive world, but we're talking about the M-freakin'-five here. This is a variable-assist, variable-ratio setup, and it's invariably uncommunicative. There's so little feel that it reminded me of the rack in the new Acura TL SH-AWD, which is pretty good...for electric power steering! The M5's rack isn't electrically-assisted, so BMW can't use that as an excuse. What they should do is ditch this nonsense and replace it with, say, the telepathic steering available in even the lowliest 3 Series model.
The "What In Das Vaterland Were They Thinking?!"
SMG. Sequential Manual Gearbox. It was widely panned when it debuted years ago, and guess what -- it's still really bad. Frankly, I can't believe BMW's product people ever agreed that SMG was ready for prime time. The delays between upshifts are unacceptably long, even when the sportiest setting is selected, and each upshift lurches you forward in your seat while you wait for the single clutch to engage. It's uncomfortably reminiscent of the Smart's painfully crude transmission, except the M5 costs an additional $70 grand.
The Moral
Give me typically communicative BMW steering and a six-speed manual transmission, or at least BMW's new dual-clutch M-DCT transmission, and we'll talk. Until then, I'll take an M3 sedan with either of those transmissions, thank you...or a C63 AMG...or a CTS-V....
We all know that the price of crude has dropped big-time lately. From a high of nearly $150 a barrel earlier this summer it now stands at less than half that, around $66 a barrel.
Great, so prices at the pump have dropped too. Regular gas is down to around $2.96 a gallon here in everything-is-overpriced L.A. and diesel is priced, umm even lower...or drastically higher as I discovered at two Shell stations located relatively close to each other...
Honda released details, photos and pricing on the redesigned 2009 Element yesterday. While the bummer is the slightly tweaked version gets a big bump in price, the good news is the boxy vehicle borrows some of its tech treats from its siblings.
These include Honda's voice-activated Satellite-Linked Navigation System on EX and SC models with an auto tranny. The option also comes with a backup camera and USB audio interface, and behind the motorized 6.5-inch nav screen is a slot for a single-CD player as well as for an adapter that holds a CompactFlash memory card that can be loaded with MP3 and WMA music files.
If you look really closely at the photo above you can see an aux input in the "three-bin tray" dash storage compartment on the passenger side. But that's not the only -- or even the best -- way to plug in an iPod, since the USB port allows directly patching in the player using the cable supplied by Apple. We've seen (and liked) similar setups in the '09 Honda CRV and '09 Honda Fit.
According to our sister site Inside Line, the top-of-the-line 2009 Honda Element 4WD EX with navigation and a five-speed automatic transmission starts at $25,855, including the destination charge, while the '08 version started at $23,860, representing a $1,995 price difference. The 2009 Honda Element is available now.
Starting next year, 500 lucky customers in California, New York and New Jersey can lease an electric MINI. With a range of 150 miles and a top speed of 95 mph, the MINI E eschews a gas engine (and the two rear seats) for a series of over 5,000 small lithium-ion batteries and an electric motor. These batteries offer up a capacity of 35 kilowatt hours and are used to power the 204 hp electric motor. This powertrain is saddled with an extra 400lbs over that of a gas MINI Cooper, resulting in a 0-60 performance of 8.5 seconds. Faster than a gas Cooper, but slower than the turbocharged Cooper S.
Before you decide to camp out for your place in line, be aware that the monthly lease payment will be a not-so-mini $850 and the lease term is for only 12 months. Included in the payment is maintenance, a charging station (in your secure garage) and any electricity you use charging the batteries. The question of insurance coverage could not be answered, but it may also be included in the monthly payment. However, even if it doesn't include insurance, the high payment is partially mitigated by the fact that you won't have to be paying for any gas.
My take? I like it! I believe the future power source for automobiles is electricity. From both an economic and environmental standpoint, the world can no longer afford to power our vehicles by internal combustion engines. It will still take years, if not decades, for electric vehicles to become mainstream. However, we have to start somewhere. As they say, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. The MINI E will be one such bite.
Perhaps feeling the heat from Toyota on its recent announcement that it would offer 0% financing on the Corolla, Honda this weekannounced new incentives on the majority of its Civic models. But are promises of low financing all they're cracked up to be?
According to the terms, "qualified buyers" can get the Civic for 1.9% financing for 24 or 36 months. The Corolla's 0% incentive is for a 36-month loan. But as we've seen, it's become increasingly difficult for those with average or good credit to be approved for a low-rate loan. And while most lenders aren't forthcoming about just how good a customer's credit needs to be in order to qualify for the best rate, analysts generally agree that a buyer's credit score must be somewhere above 700 to be considered. Combine that with the fact that many people these days can't afford to pay off a car in merely two or three years, and you soon realize that these offers are moot to all but a select few.
Attention hypermilers: Ford's new SmartGauge with EcoGuide instrument cluster for the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids is the latest way to ensure you get the most out of every drop of fuel. Color LCD screens on either side of an analog speedometer in the SmartGauge can be configured to show info such as fuel and battery-power levels and average and instant mpg.
And to let you know just how green you're driving, "growing leaves and vines track and reward the driver's efficiency."
We''ve been hearing a lot about the frozen tundra of credit availability and how folks under 700 FICO need not apply. Well, Phil and I did a little research and got the low down on what's really happening to consumers in search of new wheels.
Why Are Car Buyers Staying Away from the Dealership?
Can I Get a Car Loan?
How Have Credit Requirements Changed?
Is It a Good Time To Buy a Car?
Car-Buying Tips in Troubled Times
Because automakers are hurting so badly, it might be one of the best times ever to buy car -- just be sure to check our Rebates and Incentives information to make sure you get every manufacturer and dealer incentive coming to you. Yes, it's true: Both auto financing and leasing standards are tougher, but nowhere near impossible to overcome. If your credit's not great, you'll have to pony up more cash up front to make it happen. But the people who are shut out of vehicle financing are likely to be those who truly should be -- because they're bad risks. Call it a market correction.
But what about you personally? Have you found it tougher to buy a car, or do you know people who have? Are you polishing up your credit score? Are you shopping the used car market instead? Or have you taken advantage of the chaos to score a great deal? Let us know!
The torrent of bad news in the auto industry seems endless these days. But one bright spot on the horizon -- and currently in dealers' showrooms -- is technology innovations. Both in terms of R&D dollars being invested by automakers and dollars being spent by car buyers, tech is a silver lining in the dark cloud currently hovering over almost every carmaker.
A recent column in AutoWeek points out that spending in R&D by automakers grew globally to $79 billion in 2007, an 8 percent increase over the previous year. And during a panel at last week's SAE Convergence 2008 in Detroit titled Car Makers Speak, engineers from beleaguered domestic automakers Ford, GM and Chrysler indicated that their companies are not pulling back on investing in technology.
Though acknowledging the tough tasks and times ahead, Chris Thibodeau, GM's director of global technology engineering for electrical/electronic products, said, "We cannot turn away from developing technology in this downturn." While fellow panelists from Ford, Chrysler, BMW and Honda cagily answered questions while trying not to tip their hands at what's coming down the road from their respective companies tech-wise, all concurred that electronic content in cars will continue to rise.
And that software will play an increasingly important role in car design.
Over on my own blog yesterday, I pointed out how many excellent sedans and coupes one can purchase for between $28,000 and $43,000. I then pondered why anyone would want or needed anything else beyond these mostly fantastic cars. So amongst the following, what would you buy? The car with the most votes wins a coupon to Denny's.
(In no particular order)
BMW 3 Series Infiniti G37 Pontiac G8 GT Mercedes-Benz C-Class BMW 1 Series Audi A4 Volkswagen CC Nissan Maxima SV Hyundai Genesis Acura TL Cadillac CTS Lexus IS Dodge Challenger Chrysler 300C Lincoln MKS
Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Report, has released the results of its annual reliability survey. The report shows that Ford is the most reliable domestic brand, and it continues to distance itself from GM and Chrysler. According to the results, Ford's overall reliability is on par with many Japanese brands. However, the Japanese brands still rank highest in overall reliability, leading in 15 of 16 categories. European brands are a mixed bag with some 2/3rds of models showing average or better reliability, while others still struggle. The Korean duo ranked in the top ten. The Scion xD was ranked as the most reliable model, overall.
The top five brands (in descending order) were: Scion, Acura, Honda, Toyota and Lexus. The bottom five brands were: Dodge, Cadillac, Chrysler, Saturn and Land Rover. The complete listings can be viewed by clicking on the thumbnail below.
Reliability is certainly something to be considered when shopping for a vehicle, but I personally wouldn't let it stand in the way of my getting a vehicle I really like. In the last 10 years, I have had three VW's and two Audi's. Neither brand scores highly in the rankings. At the same time, I have had two Honda's, a Mazda and a Nissan, None of these vehicles ever left me stranded, while all required some sort of warranty work, though none being chronic. Reliability, issues or rankings, have never been a huge deciding factor for me. I would likely rank reliability below such factors as safety, fuel economy, value, performance and comfort/features.
How reliable have your vehicles been? Have any ever left you stranded, or have issues been mostly minor?
(The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI,Vail Pass, Colorado, at sunset. Photo by Andrew Reed.)
The newly redesigned 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI is improved in nearly all categories and is as different from its predecessor as a Prius is to a BMW. I discovered this recently while giving the VW a rigorous cross-country workout driving it from Los Angeles to Denver.
As I mentioned in an earlier blog, my father, a huge VW diesel fan, turned down the chance to buy the new Jetta for nearly $7,000 over-sticker from a Denver-area dealer. Instead, I arranged for him to buy the car from a Los Angeles dealer for $500 below sticker. All that remained was to deliver the car to him some 1,000 miles away. Since we were due for a visit, my son Andrew and I headed out on the open road to mix business and pleasure.
When I was in India last week on a business trip I saw this headline in the Mumbai Mirror; "Two days after Tata project comes to Gujarat, Ajanta Group quietly launches its new electric car, Oreva."
Apparently, after Indian automaker Tata moved to Gujarat to produce their "dream car project" the Ajanta Group, which manufactures clocks and electronic gadgets, demo'd its Oreva e-car. Talk about competition. Welcome to India.
The Ajanta Group was known for the Oreva electric bike, which it introduced last year to great applause. They were planning on creating an electric car, but when Tata announced Nano, the company shifted into fast forward.
Jaysukh Patel, Ajanta Group director said, 'We're already into manufacturing e-bikes. With almost similar technology, it's not difficult for us to produce an e-car. As we can produce 70 percent of its parts in house, we surely have an edge over other vehicles as far as pricing is concerned."
Sources say that the company bought about half a dozen different e-cars from different manufacturers to study the competition.
The Mirror suggested a price between 90,000 --100,000 Rs. Translated into U.S. dollars that's $1,829 -- $2,032.
Some stats on the electric Oreva:
Seating size: 2 adults and 2 children Motor power: 3000 Watt, 48V AC Charging Time: 8-10 hours Range per charge: 68 miles Dimensions: approximately 9.8 feet long by 4.9 feet wide by 5.1 feet high Max speed: 34 mph Drive type: Rear wheel
Ajanta is not saying when its Oreva will enter the playing field or what it will cost. They do note that it will be affordable and pollution free.
You find the most interesting things in our Forums.Here are three things that will get you browsing. Who knows what else you'll find?
One member described some bad information he'd been given by a car salesman and how he had responded by giving the salesman a bad response on a survey. He finshed by saying, "On a side note, I am currently serving in Iraq and time spent on Edmunds takes me away from this God forsaken place. Thanks to all of you... " Read the exchange.
The Chevy Cobalt isn't typically held in high esteem around these parts. Many of my colleagues lambaste Chevy's compact chiefly for its sub-par interior quality and bland styling. While the Cobalt's cabin pales in comparison to the class-leading Mazda 3's or Subaru Impreza's, its fit and finish aren't much different from a Civic's or Corolla's. That said, if I were buying a compact economy car, I'd still probably consider the Mazda 3, the Civic or the Suzuki SX4 ahead of the Cobalt.
But enough about the mainstream Cobalt, I'm here to tell you about a different animal that deserves my Dark Horse promo -- the Cobalt SS.
A look at this month's incentive landscape reveals a trend towards convincing people who have been leasing to buy their next vehicle by sweetening the deal with generous cash rebates. General Motors, which was hard hit by the leasing downturn two months ago, is leading the charge in this new incentives strategy.
In an effort to make room at dealerships for the 2009 models, GM has increased the purchase bonus cash on most of their 2008 large SUVs by up to $1,500, and an additional $2,000 if you are coming off of an expiring GM lease. The lessee bonus cash is available for anyone with a lease end date through June 30, 2009.
When combined with their other incentives, this can add up to a savings of $9,000 on a Cadillac Escalade, $8,000 on a GMC Yukon, and $5,500 on a Saturn Outlook.
I remember my first job in the car business. It was the summer of 1988 and I was working at an independent used car lot ripping people off...I mean selling cars (used cars was and still is a dirty business). Among the many pieces of knowledge I walked away with was how important vehicle color can be when it comes to resale value and desirability. At the time, blue cars were considered the least desirable color. We didn't want them as a trade, and they were valued as such. Twenty years later, blue appears to be poised for a comeback.
Sure, the Prius still tops the rankings that the EPA and the Department of Energy issued last week. But there are some notable new additions to the Top 10 list. In particular, the 2009 Volkwagen Jetta diesel and the 2009 Smart Fortwo. The Jetta, which comes in no less than 32 different flavors, will benefit from a $1,300 federal tax credit. The Smart? Well, you couldn't get me to buy that car even with a tax credit. Not with that transmission, anyway.
Happily, I'm the owner (or lessee) of the #3 car on the list, although I have to admit I'm getting less than the EPA estimated mileage of 35/33. I can't complain too much about getting 30/31, but the VW diesel's numbers (30/41 or 29/40) sure are tempting. The fact that VW sells every diesel it makes, means that if you want one, get in line now.
Jay Kavanagh and I have a huge lead going into day three, but we're not letting up. The coasting non-trick we employed in our Audi Q7 TDI diesel during day 1 and day 2 won't help on today's mostly flat route from Monterey to rally's end in Santa Monica, so we're going to employ a tactic so basic that we think everyone else will overlook it.
We're not going to drive the suggested route down the beautiful but sinuous Route 1 at all, because frequent turns, rolling clogs behind tourists and the lack of passing lanes on the narrow two-lane will make it hard to drive economically. Oh sure, speeds might be low and seemingly thrifty, but frequent on-again off-again throttle applications will drink more diesel than a steady cruise.
Dealerships all over the country are getting hit particularly hard by our country's current economic woes. Many consumers are deciding to hold back on buying that new car until they feel more financially secure (or are being forced to do so because of credit issues). In September, new car sales across the industry were down about 23% from what they were in August. It's predicted that many, many dealerships will be forced to close their doors permanently by the end of the year. What does all this have to do with oil changes and tire rotations, you ask? Read on.
Sirius XM Radio Inc. CEO Mel Karmazin delivered the keynote address
at SAE's Convergence 2008 here in Detroit yesterday, in what was
billed as his first public appearance in Motown since the XM and Sirius merger in
July. We never even realized he's been away for so long, and he told
the audience that it could be much longer before we see receivers that allow
the two services to be unified in new cars.
In a Q&A session Karmazin revealed that installing receivers in new vehicles that can tune in both services could take as long as 15 years due to chip requirements and the lead-time needs of automakers.
We're betting that the car audio aftermarket will shorten that by at least 14 years, if not less. And you can now buy aftermarket radios that tune in both services, although you still have to buy separate receivers.
I spent the weekend in a 2009 Acura TL, a car that's been widely derided for its elephant-seal-like face and Saturn-Aura-from-the-future butt. I'm not wild about it, but I don't think it's enough for me not to buy it. The allure of similarly priced competitors might, but the TL doesn't nudge the Aztekometer enough to repel me. I'd say being dull is a bigger turn off -- at least Acura is trying to make some statement, however potentially misguided.
So how important is styling for you?
Is it everything? (The Thunderbird buyer). Does it have to have a particular aesthetic? (Jeep or Volvo boxy only!) Is it just a tie-breaker for evenly matched cars? (C-Class vs A4) Is it only important if it's really pretty or really ugly? (Aston Martin vs Sebring) Is it completely inconsequential? (Any Subaru)
Finally, do you care to read about styling interpretations in car reviews, or would you prefer to leave the analysis to yourself given that everyone has different opinions?
Team Edmunds, as the driving combo of Jay Kavanagh and me has come to be called, pulled out a big lead in the first day of leg 4 of Audi's diesel-powered fuel economy competition, the Audi Mileage Marathon. We managed to coax 28.6 mpg out of a laden TDI diesel V6-powered Audi Q7 7-passenger SUV on a day that consisted of a lot of climbing, descending and re-climbing on our way to a 7,500 ft high perch at Mammoth Lakes, California.
At the end of today's route we'll end up at sea level in Monterey, California. Jay and I are confident that the fact that we're destined to lose well over a mile of elevation should help us smash the 30 mpg barrier. Before the real downhill starts, however, we must first burn a bit of fuel climbing up and over the 9,945 ft summit at Tioga pass, the eastern gateway into Yosemite National Park.
The roads in this remote section of the park are narrow and sinuous. Long lines of cars can get bottled-up for miles behind tourist rent-a-cars that are crawling along at a bicycle's pace while they ogle the view all around them. We're not going hyper-fast, but we do want to avoid the brakes and preserve as much momentum through the turns as possible so we can avoid unnecessary dabs of throttle. Getting around such rolling roadblocks cleanly yet promptly is advantageous.
What makes this all the more critical is the fact that today's long downhill stretches are ideal for our secret tactic--a tactic that also happens to be today's strategy for smart car drivers: coast downhill in "D" instead of "N".
"Huh?" You say.
Contrary to popular belief, coasting a modern vehicle in Neutral consumes more fuel than coasting in Drive. In Neutral, the engine is decoupled from the road, so fuel must be burned to keep the engine running at idle speed and allow it to power accessories such as the power steering, air-conditioning and alternator. In contrast, coasting downhill in Drive consumes no fuel because the engine computer shuts off the fuel injectors in an attempt to limit descent speed via engine braking. The road itself is driving the crankshaft via the still-engaged transmission, so the power steering, air-conditioning and alternator get a free ride. Yes, you can coast down the long grades into places like Death Valley with the A/C on and still not burn any fuel.
Everybody else has failed to understand this fact and has been coasting in "N" throughout the competition. But we're not about to point out their mistake. They probably wouldn't believe us, anyway; everyone turns into big fat liars around the dinner table at competitive events like this.
The end-of-day score sheet demonstrates the validity of our strategy with a double whammy. Team Edmunds not only posts a best day 2 fuel economy result of 31.5 mpg, we manage to achieve this at 47 mph, the day's fastest average speed. Out of a Q7 field of 7 competitors, here are the top three results from day 2:
1st: Q7 #3 31.5 mpg @ 47 mph, 191 points
2nd: Q7 #4 30.6 mpg @ 45 mph, 174 points
3rd: Q7 #2 30.2 mpg @ 45 mph, 167 points
With a virtually insurmountable lead in the points so far, the final day of the competition promises to be little more than a formality. Day 3's roads are mostly flat and level as we travel along the coast back to Santa Monica to a finish at the same elevation, so our downhill coasting tactic won't be of much help. But we have something else up our sleeve--something so basic we think everyone else will overlook it.
At SAE's Convergence 2008 in Detroit today, QNX introduced a digital instrument cluster that can be reconfigured depending on the demands of the car and the driver. Advantages of the technology include layering of information as cars become more complex and more info has to fit within the same space in the dash. It also allows information that's important to a particular driver to be more prominent.
Dual-function dash displays are not new. Many cars feature small multifunction instrument-panel displays, and the large LCD screen used in the IP of Mercedes S-Class vehicles doubles as a monitor for a night-vision system. But QNX claims that its digital cluster can be reconfigured "on the fly" to include displays for safety features such as lane-departure warning as well as provide info for mobile phones, iPods and other portable devices connected to a car.
The technology could also make it easier on older drivers by enlarging gauges such as the speedometer, and performance-oriented drivers could make the tach larger if they choose.
Click here to check out a video demonstration of the QNX digital instrument panel in action.
Last week I told you how GMAC would now only offer credit to customers with a credit score of 700 or above. Other lending institutions have also tightened up their lending requirements by demanding higher credit scores and/or more money down. Some consumers are surprised when they are notified by a car dealer that their credit score is going to result in a higher than expected interest rate or down payment requirement. However, most customers are clueless when it comes to their own credit score and how it is calculated. Luckily there are websites out there that can offer consumers some insight into how credit scores are calculated and what factors influence their score.
myFICO.com is a website run by the credit agencies. For a fee, you can pay to get your credit report and your actual credit score. They also offer tools, articles and advice pertaining to your credit and finances.
whatsmyscore.org is a free site that also offers lots of tools and advice on maintaining and improving your credit score. The site has an excellent tool that can help you estimate your credit score. They also offer money advice on things like saving for college and renting an apartment.
Last, and certainly not least, Edmunds offers several articles on financing and credit, along with some tips and advice in our forums.
Using the tools and advice offered on these various websites will enable you to have a better understanding of how credit works, how your FICO score can impact the interest rate you pay on loans and credit cards and to help take better control of your finances.
(The newly redesigned 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. Photo by Andrew Reed)
My father called me recently and said he had found a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI (diesel) he wanted to buy from a local dealership in Denver, Colorado. I told him to ask the dealer for a breakdown of all the fees and call me back. Here's what he came back with:
It's funny because, when he read me off the "market adjustment" fee, he added, "Whatever that is."
My father is a smart guy but he didn't know what the "market adjustment" charge really is. It is essentially a dealer markup for an in-demand car. I told him if he wanted to wait six months it might cool off and he could buy it at sticker. Or I could shop for it around Los Angeles. He asked me to shop for the car.
I hired Authority Car Buying Specialists (www.authoritycbs.com) and they located the car in Los Angeles for $500 below sticker. Yesterday the car was delivered to my house.
So, my dad saved $7,298 (the dealer markup and $500 discount off sticker) not to mention the fact that California's doc fee is only $55 (a $345 savings). And who knows what those "other fees" were for that justified $496.
If you're shopping for an in demand car, and you find that there is a hefty markup at local dealers, try another city or another region of the country. Often, you can save enough to pay for the shipping cost -- and then some.
iPhone 3G and latest-generation iPod owners with dead batteries caused by incompatibility with car accessories can rejoice: Scosche has introduced a pass-through connector that solves the problem and gets juice to the iPhone 3G, fourth-gen nano and second-gen touch.
The Scosche PassPORT fits between an iPod or iPhone and the female connector of an iPod-compatible car stereo and provides charging in applications that otherwise don't support it.
The charging problem surfaced with the introduction of the iPhone 3G and the latest iPods, and is due to Apple's decision to switch from a FireWire to USB charging protocol in 2005. Up until the latest-gen products, Apple supported both FireWire 12-volt charging and USB 5-volt charging on its 30-pin connector. But the company's decision to support only USB charging moving forward means that many car accessories won't charge the latest iPod products.
Apple's response to consumers has been to buy new accessories. But with Scosche's PassPORT now available at Apple Stores for $29.99, it's a much less expensive prospect than, say, buying a new car stereo. Or a new car.
Well, technically this is Day 12 of Audi's cross-country diesel-powered adventure. New York, New York was the starting place fo a convoy of over twenty diesel-powered Audi products, ranging from the TT sports coupe to the A3 and A4 sedan, some Q5 SUVs and our designated mount for the final 4-day push from Las Vegas to Santa Monica, California, the soon-to-be-released US-spec Audi Q7 3.0-liter TDI SUV--a 50-state clean diesel.
Yes, you're right; Vegas to LA should only require 4 hours. But they don't want this fuel economy competition to be easy, so they're sending us the long way.
It's no big secret that the 2009 Toyota Prius is the most fuel-efficient car on the market, thanks to its thrifty gas/electric hybrid powerplant. And therein lies much of its appeal, though the Prius' green credentials have not gone unchallenged in these parts. But with all the hubbub about fuel economy, it's easy to lose sight of the Prius' other virtues. The Weekly Top 3 is here to set the record straight.
3. It's a pleasant car to drive.
Plenty of folks these days would probably be happy with the Prius no matter how harshly it rode, or how loud it was inside. But the Prius' refined nature is nonetheless a welcome surprise. It's reasonably quiet at 80-85 mph over a variety of surfaces, and its suspension conjures up images of hovercrafts as the Prius calmly floats over bumps and ruts.
I've often wondered why even the high-tech Prius can only match the combined fuel economy of an '86 Civic CRX HF -- and that's using the EPA's revised estimates, as opposed to the 54 mpg on said Civic's window sticker. But say this for the Toyota: it's not at all the rolling penalty box that economy cars used to be.
2. There's plenty of backseat space.
Econocars of yore weren't exactly known for their accommodating rear quarters, either, so the Prius' spacious backseat is more icing on the cake. Would Prius owners have rioted if there weren't so much room in the rear? Of course not. But it's pretty cool that the Prius gives you midsize-sedan backseat space and, well, '86 CRX HF fuel economy.
1. It can haul a whole lot of stuff.
Thanks to some ingenious battery-pack placement, the Prius has a flat load floor, and its rear seatbacks fold flat as well. Throw in the hatchback bodystyle, and the result is a very useful cargo bay. I once wedged a kitchen table, four chairs, a set of golf clubs and a few boxes back there, and last weekend I took a friend to Ikea and managed to squeeze in just about everything he needed to furnish his one-bedroom apartment. One doesn't often think of the Prius as a practical vehicle, but name a car other than the new Jetta diesel wagon that can hold this much cargo with remotely comparable fuel economy.
The Moral
The Prius' calling card will always be its miserly fuel consumption, but it also offers an appealing combination of refinement and practicality.
A Florida dealer decided to stop tacking on a $495 "doc fee" (document fee) and, although it reduced his profit on each car, he sold twice as many vehicles.
Earl Stewart, of West Palm Beach, Florida, decided the doc fee was a dealer's "dirty little secret" and he didn't want to be associated with it. The decision raised his son's opinion of the business so much he joined him on the staff at Earl Stewart Toyota in North Palm Beach. But now other dealers in the area are hacked off about Stewart's position. They feel they need the extra profit even if it is a "gotcha" for the customer when they discover the charge as they sign the contract.
Read more about the controversy on Stewart's blog. You can find out what fees you'll be facing before you sign by checking out our 50-state chart called "What Fees Should You Pay?"
On Monday I told you how Toyota was now offering 0% financing while GMAC was limiting some long-term loans and had virtually ceased leasing. Now it seems that GMAC has gone one step further by now requiring applicants to have a credit score of at least 700 in order to get approved for a loan. GMAC blamed "lack of stability in the global capital and credit markets" as the reason for the new policy.
This has the potential to have a major impact on GM sales. According to information from Experian Automotive, 43.5% people who financed new or used vehicles during the second quarter of 2008 had credit scores under 680. While third-party lenders, banks and credit unions will still make loans available, consumers will almost certainly not see anything close to the 0% financing that is being offered by other manufacturers' captive lenders. GM buyers will likely look elsewhere if GM dealers can't offer competitive finance rates.
It is important to remember that Cerberus owns a controlling 51% of GMAC. Cerberus also owns Chrysler. Cerberus has virtually eliminated leasing through GMAC and has now cut off lending to potentially half of GM's buying public. While it is likely that Cerberus is simply trying to improve its ability to sell asset-backed securities in order to maintain liquidity, the cynic in me thinks there is something a bit nefarious going on here. Is Cerberus trying to squeeze GM sales for its own benefit? hmmm...
Recently I was assigned to attend a press event in Utah. Fall was in full swing and I hadn't spent much time in that part of the country, so I decided to come in a couple of days early, rent a car and drive around.
It was pouring rain when I arrived in Salt Lake. I had reserved a compact car, but I was planning to drive through some canyons at higher elevations and I heard it might snow. So I asked to upgrade to a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. My choices were a 2008 Toyota Rav4 and a 2008 Kia Sportage. I was pretty familiar with the Toyota, but I hadn't driven the Kia much, so I opted for that.
The model I got was an LX V6 4WD. And although Kia offers an extensive options list, my rental was pretty bare bones. The car had power locks and windows, but it didn't have keyless entry, which slowed me down quite a bit when trying to get in and out of the rain. Consequently, I ended up a lot wetter than I might have been if I could have just hit a button instead of fumbling with the key.
Edmunds True Market Value has empowered consumers by giving them an idea of what other people are paying for each car on the market. But even if you're confident you paid the same everyone else did, there's always been that sneaking suspicion that you could have saved even more money if you waited another month. Buying a car remained a bit of a crap shoot.
Well, your odds are about to improve as Edmunds introduces Predicted TMV, which forecasts likely price changes for all car, truck and SUV models. It'll be updated during the second and last week of each month and calculated at the model level, although we'll highlight a particular model style if it significantly shifts.
There far 5 different levels and subsequent arrow icons that'll go along with each model's TMV. A 2-percent-plus increase or decrease will have a big arrow, 1-2-percent change is a little arrow, while a horizontal bar is a less than 1-percent movement in either direction.
We're able to predict TMV trends by taking into account inventory level history, days-to-turn history, prior incentives, past retail unit sales, historical TMV prices, current actual transaction prices, brand pricing patterns, incentive patterns, scheduled new or revised model launches, overall market macroeconomic factors, and current and historical consideration intent among Edmunds users.
It's complicated stuff, but hopefully it'll help folks not only pay what they should, but when they should as well.
Even in this crazy economic climate, most people can get still auto financing. Preparation and knowing what to expect at the dealership can make the difference between getting a car loan (yes, a good one) and not getting one at all. Below are the most common auto financing pitfalls that consumers experience:
#1: Not knowing their credit rating when they apply for an auto loan.
#2: Overspending once they get to the dealership.
#3: Not knowing the current interest rates being offered in the marketplace
#4: Not having approved financing in hand before entering a dealership
#5: Assuming a zero-percent loan will save more money than a cash-back rebate
#6: Falling victim to the F&I officer, who may try to confuse you by "intertwining" different elements of your deal. ("We'll give you an extra-low price on the vehicle, but this interest rate is the best we can do.")
#7: Not reviewing the contract for "extras" that have been thrown in before signing.
#8: Succumbing to pressure and exhaustion by signing the contract, despite confusion, second thoughts, or misgivings.
Most people forget that the price of the car is important, but the financing deal is often moreso. Paying a slightly higher interest rate or extending your payments for a few more months adds up to hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars more. If you take time to do a little homework, you'll leave the dealership confident that even in these strange economic times, you got a good deal.
Everyone knows that talking on a mobile phone or text messaging behind the wheel is a dangerous distraction. But when the phone rings or a text arrives, it's tempting to reach for the phone. Now Nationwide Insurance has teamed with Aegis Mobility to give drivers incentive not to reach for the phone while driving by offering policyholders a discount when they sign up to use a technology that manages their mobile communications.
Aegis Mobility's DriveAssist software blocks incoming and outgoing calls, text messages and Internet access from a phone while the user is driving and will be offered next year through wireless carriers, according to Aegis. DriveAssist works like a normal voice mailbox, informing callers that the person they're trying to reach is driving and can't answer the phone or receive text messages, and it allows callers to leave a message, send an audible alert or request a callback. It also allows 911 calls and has an override feature for passengers.
Click here for a video demonstration of how DriveAssist works.
Have you read car reviews for years and thought, "I could do that"? Well, here's your chance to try out for your dream job.
Starting today, you can apply for our next "Consumer Comparison Test." Click here to read all about it and fill out your application to be part of a car reviewing panel of consumers.
What will you be driving? Three great fuel efficient cars: the 2009 Honda Fit, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI and the Toyota Prius.
As Phil reported yesterday, the credit crunch that is currently paralyzing short term loans from bank-to-bank and loans to businesses and municipalities has not done the same to consumer lending. Loans can still be had, especially to those with good credit. However, credit availability is not equal among the manufacturers' captive finance companies.
We keep getting the same questions from nervous car buyers who spend too much time looking at the little numbers from Wall Street crawling across their screens. They're assuming that what's happening on the stock market is happening on the car lot. There are some similarities, but they are not completely the same.
Last Friday I spend the day on the phone asking auto experts for a status report. I'll be writing a full blown article about it soon. But here briefly, are my questions and their answers:
The all-new 2009 Mazda6 has retained most of its zoom-zoom from its predecessor while adding more room and muscle to compete with the big boys in the market segment: Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. And the mid-size sedan has gained a bit of a tech advantage with some of its new gadgets.
While Ford's game-changing Sync technology (unfortunately) hasn't migrated over to Mazda, the automaker did decide to be an early adopter by adding cutting-edge features such as Bluetooth wireless music streaming and blind-spot monitoring on higher trim levels. And most models come with a "smart key" that can be programmed in a variety of ways depending on the bells and whistles that are added to the car.
But the big question is whether it's enough to win over those thousands of Accord, Altima and Camry buyers.
I know, I know -- GM's got bigger fish to fry at the moment. But folks, the Saturn Astra (née Opel Astra) needs help. It's a cool little car with a fatal flaw or two. That's where this week's Top 3 comes in.
(3) Keep the good stuff.
So don't change the aggressively contoured front seats...the upscale soft-touch material atop the dash...the nicely weighted steering...the satisfactory body control...the vault-like *thunk* of the doors...the standout exterior styling...the useful hatchback design...
In other words, there's a lot to like about this car. Which is why GM's failure to address (2) and (1), below, is such a bummer.
(2) Give it a decent shifter.
How can a sporty European runabout be saddled with an unpleasant shifter? I dunno, but this runabout certainly is. Europeans, you'll note, are big stickshift fans. So you'd think they wouldn't stand for the Astra's sloppy five-speed. There's a weird reverse-lockout button underneath the front part of the knob, like a trigger on a joystick. Moving the long-throw lever through the gears is like trying to stir a bowl of frozen yogurt. I drove the manual-only Cobalt XFE shortly after the Astra, and that econo-'Balt's five-speed blew the Astra's away. There's no joy in this shifter -- and for any vehicle that trades on its "Euroness," that's a faux pas.
(1) And for Lutzsakes, give it a motor.
The Astra's mandatory 1.8-liter, 140-horsepower four-banger is seriously retro. In fact, it reminds me of the identically-sized four in my parents' old '95 Corolla DX wagon. That car had a five-speed manual, and if you revved it above about 3,200 rpm, it boomed and droned like an industrial-grade vacuum cleaner. So it is with the Astra -- any time you need a little extra power or just want to cruise at 75 mph on the highway, an incessant old-school Toyota-esque boom/drone is inescapable.
Moreover, this lump is as slow as the waiting line at your local DMV. To recap: it booms, it drones, and it's gutless. Can't we have the 2.0-liter turbocharged Cobalt SS engine instead? Or at least a sprightly naturally aspirated four that audibly likes to rev?
The Moral: Good car with a putrid powertrain. Here's hoping GM gets itself to a place where some of its time and money can be spent on rectifying such obvious flaws in otherwise wholly competitive vehicles.
As my colleague Lee pointed out earlier today, unlike the so-recent past, car loans are no longer as easy to get as a Happy Meal. In the economic paradox of our times, car makers are offering big incentives in an effort to move metal, but car loans are tougher to get.
That said, if you are credit worthy and are in the market for new wheels, you still need to do your homework. There are a lot of tempting incentives out there, and they're not just on vehicles you wouldn't typically be considering. Toyota, for example is offering 0 percent financing on Corolla, Camry and RAV4, in addition to its larger SUVs and trucks. GM is offering low (though not 0 percent) financing as well on most of its vehicles.
Don't know whether to take the low financing or cash incentive? You can compare the two using Edmunds Low Financing versus Cash Back calculator. That and many other useful tips can be found in this article on buying a new car in a slow economy.
If you own an iPod -- and who doesn't these days -- chances are your next new vehicle will offer some way to integrate the popular portable media player (PMP) into the factory audio system. A recent study by iSuppli predicts that 58 percent of new vehicles sold in 2009 will have some form of iPod connectivity, and it's the first time that more than half of new cars will have the capability. This compares to 39 percent of cars with iPod integration in 2008.
Of course, iPod integration can mean anything from a simple aux-in jack to Ford's Sync system with voice control -- and everything in between. But more automakers are finally catching on that people increasingly want to bring their PMPs along for the ride, and almost 75 percent of those are iPods.
After all, no automakers offer Zune-specific integration.
In addition to the virtual stand-still of the nation's credit markets, another obstacle may be making it harder for you to get an auto loan. According to a recent study by Experian Automotive, consumer auto loan delinquencies are on the rise.
Finance companies saw the percentage of loans that were more than 30-days past due rise 9% over the same period last year. Loans that were more than 60-days past due were up 11%. In dollars, that adds up to more than $25 billion in past due notes.
With many lending institutions already hesitant to make new loans along with their desire to keep their funds liquid, consumers will likely encounter further difficulties in obtaining auto loans in the coming months.
Banks have also been tightening up their lending requirements at the very time when consumers have seen their credit-worthiness head south. Experian is reporting that the percentage of auto loans made to consumers with a credit score higher than 680 is down nearly 6% from two years ago. In the past, a credit score of 720 was usually required in order to qualify for the most favorable finance rates. Today, many finance companies are flat out turning down consumers with a credit score below that mark.
This drop in consumer credit-worthiness has helped to contribute to a sharp downturn in auto sales this year. Of course, the upside for consumers is that the manufacturers are even more desperate for sales, and have opened up the incentives spigot in an effort to spur sales. If you have the credit, or the cash, good deals are aplenty.
Recently, I overheard a conversation in the office that revolved around the soul-sucking, brain-shriveling task of going to the DMV. It went something close to this:
Her: Yeah, I have to go in to get it renewed because my address changed.
Him: Agh, that's a drag.
Her: Yeah, I'm bringing my hardbound copy of "War and Peace" with me to pass the time.
Him: Good idea.
Members of the American Automobile Association might already know that they don't necessarily have to withstand the endless wait at the DMV anymore for registration renewals and the like; you can take care of such things at your friendly neighborhood Auto Club office. Sure beats burning sick time on a DMV trip only to realize you've been standing in the wrong line for four hours.
But did you know that there are a whole host of additional services that the Auto Club can help you with, some of which have nothing to do with cars? Things like personal loans, bail bonds and prescription discounts. It's true! Check out the entire list in our recent article, Top 10 Other Benefits of Your AAA Membership. Who knew that the AAA card sleeping in your wallet, waiting for you to blow a tire or need a jumpstart, had so much potential?
If you see a fleet of Audi Q7 TDI's covered with signage running through your town, it's probably part of the Audi Mileage Marathon, a two week cross-country drive that started in NYC and will end up in LA 4,800 miles later on October 20.
The 23 car rally (showcasing the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI SUV) was staged to illustrate how Audi's clean diesel technology is addressing concerns about fuel prices, energy dependence and global warming.
This rally is not a race. Vehicles are monitored during each leg of the journey and evaluated by speed, distance and fuel economy. In other words, winning isn't how fast you go, it's how fuel efficient you are.
I called in to my friend Kate McLeod, a NY-based automotive writer and playwright, who would be driving the Audi A3 TDI in the rally. She and driving partner Denise McCluggage were on the leg from New York to Chicago, two of the 184 drivers representing countries in North America, Europe and Asia, who will drive the fuel-efficient vehicles in 13 daily stages. FYI -- Automotive legend and journalist Denise McCluggage raced cars before it was hip and has been described as the "fastest woman on four wheels."
The duo had just arrived in DC, their first overnight stop.
Holly: How fast did you go?
Kate: 80-85 the whole way to D.C. We did no hypermiling, no riding the white line, no over inflating of the tires, we just drove.
A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute indicates that some of the booster seats designed to protect children in a car crash don't perform effectively -- and could actually injure their occupants.
In fact, 13 of the 41 booster seats tested did so poorly on the test that the IIHS says it can't recommend them, including models from Cosco, Safety 1st, Evenflo and Graco. Click here for the details on "Best Bets," "Good Bets" and "Not Recommended" models.
Volvo is now happily touting the fact that its own height-adjustable integrated booster cushion (a world first) made the "Best Bets" list. It comes standard on the XC70 and V70 models. You go, Volvo.
U.S. Congressman Ed Markey (D-Mass) has introduced the Radio All Digital Receiver Act to require radios designed to receive both satellite radio and analog AM/FM signals to also receive digital HD Radio broadcasts.
"Millions of Americans today rely on local broadcast radio for news,
public safety bulletins, sports, weather, traffic, and other
information," Markey said in a press release.
"As the broadcast radio industry migrates to digital broadcasting
technology, this legislation will ensure that consumers are able to
readily receive free service through consumer electronics systems that
are otherwise receiving satellite digital audio radio and traditional
AM or FM stations."
Plus, the slow adoption of HD Radio compared to satellite by automakers has terrestrial radio broadcasters looking for any type of
leverage they can get.
Folks seem to be digging our new consumer-oriented Edmunds Test Drives, but try as we might, not every car that passes through our garage can get such in-depth treatment. High-performance, low-volume cars have a tendency to fit into this category since we're more focused on vehicles more people are likely to actually buy. We'll leave the hooliganism in the good hands of our Inside Line comrades.
So although such cars won't always be given the full Edmunds Test Drive treatment, that doesn't mean our editors don't take time out of our busy (hah!) days to take them around the block for a spin. And with our office ostensibly perched at the base of the Santa Monica mountains, our "block" involves some pretty awesome roads. This and future blogs in this series will be our thoughts, stories and experiences from these drives Around the Block.
Parents can rest a little easier when handing the car keys to their teenagers thanks to Ford's new MyKey feature, which allows programming a key to limit top speed and control the volume of the stereo system, as well as remind the driver to fasten the seatbelt. The technology will debut next year as standard equipment on the 2010 Ford Focus coupe and is set to become standard on other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.
The MyKey system allows parents to program a car's keys to set a top speed of 80 mph, activate speed-alert chimes at 45, 55 and 65 mph and limit the audio system's volume to 44 percent of its maximum.
In other words, it takes much of the joy out of teen joy-riding. But it may also save lives and gas.
If the idea a Chevrolet Volt that can wean you off buying gas during your 40 mile round-trip commute has piqued your interest, but the thought of it costing your $40,000 has left you with some sticker shock, there is some good news. Buried in the recently passed $700 Billion bailout/stimulus (depending on your point of view) package was $1 Billion (over 10 years) in funding for a consumer tax credit of up to $7,500 for plug-in and fully electric vehicles.
The tax credit will vary from $2,500 to a maximum $7,500. In order to qualify, a plug-in hybrid would be required to have a battery capacity of at least 4kWh. For each additional kWh of battery capacity, the credit goes up $200. The Chevrolet Volt, with a battery capacity of 16kWh, would quality for the maximum credit of $7,500.
With a $7,500 tax credit, along with other state and local tax incentives, the price of a Volt, and other future plug-in hybrids, could become a lot more palatable to more potential buyers.
"The new Porsche 911 Targa doesn't have a spare ounce of fat on its body," noted one of the designers at the recent preview in Garda Lake, Italy.
Ahh.... I thought. I want the body of a Porsche 911 Targa. Lean, fast and well.... you can guess the rest.
Yes, yes and yes. It is all that. Just to mention: a glass roof that slides quietly into the trunk for open air driving; an LED band of lights that flank the rear; polished aluminum trim bars that skim the roofline and side windows that sail to the rear in a crisp angle. Yes, the 2009 Porsche 911 Targa is all about slim. And a slim yet powerful body is usually quick. The 0-60 for the top-performing PDK Porsche 911 Targa is 4.3 seconds.
But with all that lean muscle, there's also room for shopping. The tailgate opens (by key fob) to 8.1 cubic feet of space behind the front seat. Of course, I managed to fill the back with a load of Italian purchases (groceries, jeans and tops). The 911 Targa, true to form, also has a front boot.
Coined an open air sports car when it debuted for 1967, the early 911 Targa featured a removable roof panel. Its name Targa came from from the Sicilian Targa Florio racing event. The Targa even passed the "hair test for ladies of the 60's" because it was a convertible with a protective shield.
(The Rhodes family from Camas, Wash. From Left, Hilary, Ryan, Mary and Randy.)
While bickering about the economy dominates the news from Washington, two typical American families are doing their best to make a difference by saving money on gas. The "Frugal Family Challenge," sponsored by "Good Morning America" and USA Today concluded its first week and the results are impressive. The answer so far is, yes you can cut your gas costs and still get to work, school and the places you need to go.
The Rhodes family, with three cars and four fulltime drivers (the Acura pictured above was damaged in an accident) saved so much gas in one week they are on track to cut their monthly fuel bill by $280! They had been spending $790 a month on gas and Randy Rhodes said they are currently on track to spend only $510 for the month. Their 2004 Subaru Forester got 24 mpg and their Camry got 25 mpg.
Like clockwork, the rain that the Pacific Northwest in known for kicked in just in time for Mudfest 2008. The event, organized since 1994 by the Northwest Automotive Press Association, gathers many of the SUVs and crossovers currently on the market and tests them on the track, on the street and on the trail to see how they stack up in the wet stuff.
The weekend before the event temperatures were in the '80s and sunshine persisted through the beginning of the week. But on the first morning of Mudfest on Thursday, October 2, the skies began to gray and then sprinkle, and by the end of the two-day event the makeshift off-road trail set up at Pacific Raceways near Seattle was good and gooey.
While the winners in categories including Best Value SUV, Best Family SUV, Best Green SUV, Best Off-Road SUV and the overall SUV of the Year won't be announced until later this week (and awards will be presented at the LA Auto Show in November), after the jump are a few of my impressions of some of the most impressive vehicles that competed at the event.
It's hard to find anyone willing to put in a good word for the Mercedes-Benz R-Class, and understandably so. It looks weird, it's exorbitantly priced, and its extra-long second-row doors can't hold a candle to a minivan's sliding doors in terms of convenience.
That's why I wasn't expecting much when I spent this past weekend driving up and down the California coast in a diesel-powered 2009 R320 BlueTec. Turns out I sorely underestimated the R's charms. In at least three ways, this is an excellent vehicle -- and I've got the list to prove it.
(3) Best Hood-Closing Sound Ever.
Imagine a humorless German prison guard slamming a cell door shut with all his might. That's what the R320's hood sounds like when you close it. It's genuinely spine-tingling. On the R320 photo shoot, Mr. Niebuhr and I must have opened and closed the hood five times, just for kicks. Now that's a Germanic thunk!
(2) Steers And Handles Better Than The ML320.
Well, of course it handles better -- it's got a lower center of gravity. But that doesn't explain why the R320's steering is notably tighter and less gooey-feeling than the similarly-priced ML320's. It also doesn't explain why the R320 feels smaller than it is in corners, while the ML320 feels every bit its size. The R320 was actually kind of fun to drive on the twisty Big Sur Highway. The ML320 was not fun to drive anywhere.
(1) Eats Highway Miles For Frühstuck.
I love the futuristic rake of the R-Class' windshield, and the panoramic view it affords of the road ahead. The front seats are über-supportive, and the driving position was just right for my lanky 6'1" frame. Some unseemly road noise filtered in over a couple coarse surfaces, but for the most part, the R320's ride remained hushed and utterly composed at all velocities. It was kind of like piloting a personal high-speed train.
The Moral:
Hey, I wouldn't buy one either -- just look at the thing. But from behind the wheel, the R-Class is an unexpected treat.
For most compact SUV intenders, the 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara is going to be somewhat overqualified for their needs. Getting to work, hauling purchases back from Ikea and getting the Lab to the dog groomer's are tasks more typical facing these consumers than going off-road or towing a small boat.
Chevy revealed its new Cruze compact sedan at a preview to the Paris Auto Show yesterday. The"global" small car is a replacement for the Cobalt and will be the first vehicle to use GM's revamped Delta 2 platform.
While the exterior features a swooping roof line and two-tier grille, the center stack has an innovative flying-V design that houses infotainment and HVAC display and controls and sets the interior apart. According to Chevy, the setup "eliminates traditional framing of these interfaces, resulting in a contemporary, flush and harmonious relationship between control heads and outlying surfaces."
In case you haven't heard enough bad financial news, yesterday's car sales figures elicited comparisons to the dark days just after 9/11.
It was also the first time in 15 years that monthly sales fell below a million units. Only 965,671 vehicles were sold in September, compared with 1.3 million vehicles sold in September a year ago.
A comprehensive sales analysis story in Auto Observer stated, "Last month's sales disaster was indiscriminate: It affected luxury and economy models, big and small, fuel sippers and gas guzzlers, foreign-made and domestic. The U.S. Big three and Toyota suffered mightily as they have for months, but in September even Honda - whose fuel efficient fleet had helped it largely achieve positive sales comparisons this year - saw its sales decline by 20 percent."
Clearly, Americans are in a wait-and-see mode. They are waiting for Wall Street to stop predicting the end of the world, waiting to see if the next president has any answers for us.
In the mean time, if you really need a car, this is a buyer's market -- big time. While credit is tight, there are still avenues for car financing and even some leases that will get you in a new car without breaking the bank.
Kia's tagline for their new Borrego SUV is "A New Kind Of Luxury SUV." Their new commercial (see above) seems to mock traditional luxury vehicle advertising while at the same time suggesting that the Borrego is a luxury vehicle. That really got me thinking, what exactly is considered a "luxury vehicle?"
Recent economic turmoil is causing many people to rethink big purchases. For those who aren't ready (or willing) to plunk down the money for a new car right now, take heart. There are plenty of ways to eek some extra life out of your older car -- and it doesn't have to cost as much as you might think. Here are some resources on our site that can help:
That's why Toyota has announced the world's first rear curtain airbag to help protect backseat passengers in the tiny iQ, which is set to debut at the Paris Auto Show.
Typically, automakers build crumple zones into the structure of a car to help absorb and alleviate the force of impact from entering the passenger cabin. But that's not always possible with small cars like the iQ. According to Toyota, the rear curtain airbag system will double the rear head protection of passengers in the backseat of iQ.
And it'll probably make the driver feel a bit more comfortable when a Hummer is seen bearing down on the iQ through the back window.
Why are they so mad? Because I told the truth. And my boss, understanding the way of the world, knew that anger often accompanies revelations of this kind.
The "What In Das Vaterland Were They Thinking?!"
Included in the payment is maintenance, a charging station (in your secure garage) and any electricity you use charging the batteries. The question of insurance coverage could not be answered, but it may also be included in the monthly payment. However, even if it doesn't include insurance, the high payment is partially mitigated by the fact that you won't have to be paying for any gas. 
I remember my first job in the car business. It was the summer of 1988 and I was working at an independent used car lot ripping people off...I mean selling cars (used cars was and still is a dirty business). Among the many pieces of knowledge I walked away with was how important vehicle color can be when it comes to resale value and desirability. At the time, blue cars were considered the least desirable color. We didn't want them as a trade, and they were valued as such. Twenty years later, blue appears to be poised for a comeback.
In case you haven't heard enough bad financial news, yesterday's car sales figures elicited comparisons to the dark days just after 9/11. 
