GM is recalling some 2006-'07 Chevrolet Cobalts, Saturn Ions and Pontiac G5s because a couple crack-prone parts could lead to a fuel leak -- and the wrong kind of ignition when you turn the key.
Here's what NHTSA has to say: "The plastic supply or return port on the modular reservoir assembly may crack. If either of these ports develops a crack, fuel will leak from the area. If the crack becomes large enough, fuel may be observed dripping onto the ground." So what? "Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition, could result in a fire." Yikes.
General Motors' bold marketing strategy that allows customers to drive its cars for up to 60 days with a money back guarantee has been extended. The "May the Best Car Win" program, whose advertisements show a given GM model going up against a rival, has gotten folks who may not have considered a GM car into the showrooms, and more importantly, into the cars.
The program has been such a success for the company -- with very few cars returned -- that it has earned an extension. Originally slated to end on November 30th, the program has been extended to January 4th, 2010. All the details on the program are provided on the 60-day Guarantee site, though note that they haven't yet updated the extension date on the bottom of the page.
Autonet Mobile and General Motors last week announced a deal to bring on-the-road Internet to the rest of the domestic automaker's brands: Chevrolet, Buick and GMC. The pair previously made the service available on Cadillac vehicles last spring.
Positioned as a tool for business people on the go who need to stay connected, the service also makes a great backseat babysitter for the connected-tech generation. If rear-seat entertainment system with a built-in DVD player kept kids quiet a decade ago, as teens they probably now prefer texting friends on their iPhones.
Think most car names are boring? Here's your chance to show your stuff: Chevrolet will launch its extended-range electric Volt in silver with an emerald hue, and is asking the public pick a color name that captures the Volt's "innovation and spirit." Contestants can submit multiple color names at chevroletvoltage.com starting today, National Color Day, through November 4th. Chevy will choose the finalists, and then the public gets to vote for their favorite between November 16th and December 1st.
The contest will award three finalists and a guest roundtrip airfare to Los Angeles, two nights hotel stay, a $400 gift card and admission to the LA Auto Show on December 2nd. The winner will be announced December 1st and will test-drive the pre-production Volt. Expandable pic after the jump.
As this country slogs through this "Great Recession," almost everyone has been, or knows someone who has been, adversely effected by the current downturn in the economy. As a result, we are all looking to maximize our value for the dollar. Car buyers are no different and the Chevrolet Cobalt is often overlooked by consumers blinded by the popular headlights of Civics, Elantras, Corollas, Foci (yes, that is the plural of Focus) and Mazda3's. But with some enticing incentives, and a money back guarantee, perhaps the Cobalt should be reconsidered?
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
IL News: Chrysler Annoyed at Grand Cherokee Recall Chatter The Center for Auto Safety is requesting an immediate government recall of 2.3 million 1993 -'04 Jeep Grand Cherokees, claiming that faulty fuel tank design puts occupants at high risk of dying in fire after a crash. On its ironically named corporate blog, thefirehouse.biz, Chrysler called the Center's research findings "unsubstantiated" and "flawed."
Auto Observer: Chevy is General Motors In an exclusive interview, Chevy's global vice president Brent Dewar told AutoObserver.com how he plans to take his brand from 52.3 to 70 percent of GM's global sales: Hit 'em young, hit 'em green, and make 'em swoon.
Green Car Advisor: Electric Smart on Schedule for 2012 Launch Large-scale production of the Smart Fortwo EV will begin in 2012, with a limited production series of 1,000 test cars beginning next month. The two-seater model will be sold in the U.S. and Europe, has a 62 mph top speed, a 70-mile range, and can be recharged from a standard 220-volt outlet.
General Motors today issued a technical service bulletin asking all owners of the brand-spankin' new Chevy Camaro to have their vehicles inspected and repaired during their next regular visit to a Chevy service bay. Though not a recall, the technical service bulletin says that Camaros should undergo the following: - HVAC system reprogram - to prevent HVAC evaporator freeze-up after extended highway drives- Rear spoiler fastening - for VINS 9126194 or lower, to tighten possible loose nuts used to attach the rear spoiler- Engine harness inspection/repair - to ensure that heater hose clamps are not touching the harness bracket GM stressed that this is not a DIY project. Any Camaro still a Chevy dealer's lot will be repaired prior to sale.
Auto Observer: Less is More? Smaller Pickups Benefit from C4C Auto Observer reports sales of more fuel-efficient midsize pickups have fared much better than their larger, thirstier stablemates - thank in no small part to the Cash for Clunkers program. In August, the Toyota Tacoma outsold the massive Tundra, the Ford Ranger saw a dramatic increase compared to the F-Series and the Chevy Colorado made modest gains while sales of the full-size Silverado plummeted. With the end of the Cash for Clunkers program, sales are expected to return to previous levels, but it remains to be seen if the shift to smaller trucks will continue.
Green Car Advisor: Dodge Caliber Heads to Frankfurt with Much-Needed Improvements Chrysler will be unveiling an improved Dodge Caliber at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month, according to Green Car Advisor. The big news is the addition of a 2.2-liter turbo diesel, but there are no plans to bring that engine stateside. What we will get, however, are an all-new interior plus improvements to the gasoline-powered engines, in the way of increased power, better fuel economy along with smoother and quieter operation.
IL News: Lexus Rolls-Out Refreshed LS and GS Models in Frankfurt Inside Line reports that Lexus will be unveiling the 2010 LS and GS models at the Frankfurt Motor Show. These are not complete redesigns, however, just a few styling tweaks and improvements like new seats, updated hardware and better driving dynamics.
Not content to wait for the Federal government to begin phasing in stricter roof-crush requirements in 2012, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) already conducted its version of the test for micro and minicars.
The results? The tiny Smart ForTwo has the strongest roof, the Chevy Aveo, the weakest. Full results are at right. (G = Good, A = Acceptable, M = Marginal.) None of the cars tested ranked "Poor."
Stronger roofs are expected to cut down on the deaths and injuries suffered in vehicle rollovers. Although rollovers aren't the most common form of crash, they are the most lethal, killing some 10,000 people each year.
So the IIHS is getting tough. Starting with the 2010 model year, a vehicle must earn a "Good" rating in the roof crush test in order to qualify to be an IIHS Top Safety Pick -- an important award that automakers use to tout their safety chops. The new requirement will drive some automakers to improve their roof strength ahead of the federal requirement, which won't be fully phased in until 2016.
For details on the minicars test results, click here. To learn how roof crush tests are conducted, click here.
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
IL News: General Motors Offers Zero-Percent Financing on Top of Cash for Clunkers
The demand for the cash for clunkers
(C4C) program has been outstripping the supply, and now General Motors hopes to stoke the fires even further by offering zero percent financing on eligible C4C models. The special rate runs from now until August 31, 2009. Buyers not interested in the zero percent financing can instead get $1,000 in customer cash.
Auto Observer: California GM Dealers List Cars on eBay General Motors is beginning a trial run of its "virtual showroom" in conjunction with the online auction house eBay. So far, 90 percent of California Dealers have signed on, and are expected to list about 200,000 vehicles. These will be posted as "buy it now" listings, rather than traditional auctions. Buyers can also choose to submit a lower offer than the listed price.
Green Car Advisor: GM Unveils Volt Charging System Since a public infrastructure for charging the upcoming Chevrolet Volt is not yet in place, GM is equipping its plug-in hybrid to be charged at the owner's home. The charging system was debuted at a plug-in conference in Long Beach, Calif. GM is still debating between the 100 or 240-volt setup.
As Edmunds Auto Observer reported, GM recently stated that its upcoming Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car will score an eye-opening EPA city fuel economy estimate of 230 mpg. That figure is based on the assumption that the car will be driven entirely in electric mode in the city, and thus is the energy equivalent of driving 230 miles on a gallon of gasoline. Though both highway and the more telling "combined" figures have yet to be worked out, GM Chief Executive Fritz Henderson claims that the Volt will get in excess of 100 mpg for the combined estimate: "I'm confident that we will be in triple digits."
The Volt can travel up to 40 miles on a charge and unlike conventional pure electric cars has a back-up -- a small gasoline engine that will kick in if the battery pack's charge runs out. The engine powers the Volt's electric motor until the driver can find another outlet to recharge its battery pack.
As nearly 80 percent of Americans commute less than 40 miles a day, GM and the EPA see the gas engine's usage, and hence gasoline consumption, as being extremely rare, hence the high fuel economy estimates. Charging the Volt at home overnight (during off-peak hours) would cost only about 40 cents for a full charge, according to Fritz. For a more in-depth look at the Volt's inner workings, check out this Green Car Advisor article.
The Chevrolet Volt is expected to debut for 2011 with pricing rumored to be around $40,000.
The 3 and 6 mph tests were designed to see how the cars' bumpers protect fenders, headlights, trunks, grilles and other parts from costly damage. The lowest estimated repair cost from the test was $742 on the front of the Mazda 6; the highest was $3,494 on the rear of the Chevy Malibu. Repair costs are influenced by both the price of replacement parts and the complexity of repairs.
"Consumers buy midsize cars for practical reasons. There's nothing practical about a $1,000-plus repair bill after a minor bump in commuter traffic," says Joe Nolan, Institute senior vice president.
General Motors Co., which suspended leasing last year during the credit crunch, has today reinstated leasing on eight models in five states, though the 2010 Cadillac SRX will be available to lease nationally.
The leases are offered by U.S. Bank on the models sold in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Michigan and Ohio.
Leasing allows many consumers to drive a more expensive vehicle than they could afford to buy, so GM's pull-back from leasing hit sales of GM's high-end vehicles particularly hard. GM is waiting to see the response to its pilot program before deciding how extensively to approach leasing on a nationwide basis.
Consumers have long been lukewarm in their acceptance of run-flat tires. While many people like how a run-flat tire eliminates the hassle (and potential danger) of road-side tire changes, they've also found them to be more expensive, harder to replace, less supple in terms of ride quality and lacking in overall tire grip and performance as compared to an otherwise equivalent regular tire.
In the past 12 months, however, a couple of tire manufacturers have introduced next-generation run-flat tires. The companies say that these new tires deliver improvements in both ride quality and tire performance, thereby addressing at least a couple of people's concerns.
Last week we had the opportunity to test out these claims at a Michelin-sponsored event featuring Michelin's latest run-flat summer tire, the Pilot Sport PS2 ZP.
Smeared greasepaint reveals how curtain airbags can protect a driver's head from hitting hard surfaces.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) usually tests 4-door family cars, but recently responded to public demand by conducting front, side, and rear tests of 2009 coupes, including the Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Scion tC, all small models, plus the midsize Volvo C30. The 2009 Ford Focus and 2009 Volvo C30 took top honors.
In the side-impact test, which simulates being struck by a pickup or SUV, all five cars were judged "Good" or "Acceptable. Notably, while the other four coupes were rated "Good" in the frontal offset sets, the Scion tC was rated only acceptable.
For buyers looking to spend less than the average new car price, but who also want some style, hatchback flexibility, better-than-average fuel economy and performance that won't leave you sucking Prius fumes (huh?), Chevrolet offers the HHR.
While some may call it the Chevy PT Cruiser, the HHR (Heritage High Roof) actually takes its exterior styling cues from the '49 Suburban. Edmunds' editors like the HHR's interior appointments that belie the outdated stereotypical notion of "cheap" looking GM interiors. Those who crave higher performance, albeit at a higher price, the HHR SS offers the turbo-charged goodness of 260 hp.
But if you are reading this, you are looking for some great incentives and rebates. Well, considering its price, there are some pretty good offers on the HHR. Read about them after the jump.
Holidays mean specials on new cars. And what could be more patriotic during Independence Day weekend than buying an American car? From today through July 6, GM is offering 0 percent financing for up to 72 months for qualified buyers on select 2009 and 2010 vehicles in dealer stock, including Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups; Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL; Chevrolet Impala; and the Pontiac models: Vibe, G3, G5, G6 and G8, Solstice and more.
Most other vehicles, such as the Chevy Malibu Hybrid, will have reduced rate financing of 0 percent for up to 60 months, instead. Note that you have to take delivery by July 6 according to the current offer. For details on all GM offers and models, see here.
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
Green Car Advisor: Chrysler to Build Four Versions of Fiat 500 in U.S. Automotive News is reporting that the Italian automaker Fiat will bring its Fiat 500 subcompact vehicle to the United States under the Chrysler nameplate. Fiat, now a 20 percent owner of Chrysler, expects to have the car stateside in about 18 months. It will be offered in four styles plus a possible SUV configuration for the U.S. market.
Auto Observer: "Good" GM May Not Be All That Good As General Motors hurries through its bankruptcy proceedings, analysts have questioned the viability of the core brands that are left in the wake of their restructuring. The fate of GM will be largely dependent on the success of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. But are these remaining brands ready to provide a solid foundation on which to build a better company? Regardless of the where the company stands in its restructuring process, GM has pledged to honor any product-liability claims made prior to the bankruptcy filing.
Inside Line: 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged Makes Debut, Priced at $68,000 Jaguar XF buyers who are looking for more power, but feel that the XFR is a bit much, now have another option. The 2010 XF supercharged debuted Monday, and commands an $18,000 premium over the base XF. Follow the link for more details on the XF Supercharged and the XFR.
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
Green Car Advisor: Plug-In Locator Provides Broad Look at Upcoming Vehicles A few electrical vehicles have begun to make their way into the market, with many more still in development. Plug in America knows how difficult it can be to keep up with the news of all the upcoming vehicles, so it created a site to track the progress of over 40 plug-in vehicles from the various automakers.
Auto Observer: In Trucks, Bare-Knuckles Marketing Continues There was a time when people would buy trucks not because they needed them, but because they were "cool". According to a recent article by Auto Observer, this is no longer the case. In fact, the opposite has happened. The pickup truck market is seeing a decline in sales and the "lifestyle" buyers have moved on to other vehicles. As a result, automakers are now focusing their efforts on the core consumer, and highlighting the features and durability of their trucks.
Inside Line: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox First Drive The second generation Chevrolet Equinox has been redesigned for 2010. It receives updated styling, a more competitive price, and will be available with a 4-cylinder engine capable of 32 mpg on the highway. Follow the link for more details and our early impressions.
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
Auto Observer: Chevy's Malibu Hybrid Bites the Dust Chevy has pulled the plug on the struggling Malibu Hybrid, citing slow sales and high inventory levels. The Malibu Hybrid is what's called a "mild" hybrid -- its electric motor isn't used for much, other than to provide instant start-up for the gas engine in stop-and-go traffic, which helps cut smog-causing emissions, but doesn't do much for fuel economy. General Motors will continue to make the Malibu Hybrid for the government and fleet markets, but not for consumers. The car's demise won't affect the warranty coverage on existing models.
Green Car Advisor: Clunkers Vote Could Come Next Week It appears House and Senate negotiators have agreed to slip the House's version of the Cash for Clunkers bill into the $106 billion war spending measure expected to be voted on next week. Get the latest news on the this bill by visiting our recently updated Cash for Clunkers FAQ page, and check out our Editor in Chief's take on the heavily criticized program.
In a series of press conferences today, President Obama and GM's CEO Fritz Henderson released details on GM's earlier filing for Chapter 11
bankruptcy protection.
Saying, "give us another chance," Henderson promised that the bankruptcy filing would be "the start of a new and better GM." He predicted that the restructuring process would take from 60 to 90 days. GM has launched its own site to help keep the public informed of its latest efforts and promotions.
Henderson was preceded by President Barack Obama who essentially said that Chrysler's apparent reemergence from bankruptcy bodes well for GM's long term success. He noted that after entering Chapter 11, Chrysler sold more cars in May than in April. However, he didn't mention that most of those sales were at fire sale prices.
Faced with imminent bankruptcy and revamped federal fuel economy standards, General Motors will likely be forced to nix many of its niche vehicles in favor of volume-selling, fuel-efficient small and midsize cars. Some won't be missed, but I say the following three deserve a new lease on life, even while the fallen Detroit giant struggles for air.
You may need the utility offered by a pickup, but that doesn't mean you have to completely forsake fuel-efficiency. These days, there are more compact and hybrid trucks available than ever before -- a development that spells good things for those seeking trucks that will help them mind their finances at the pump.
These 10 choices are the most fuel-efficient pickups on the market.
Back in early March, months of planning and logistics that could put NASA to shame came together in an incredibly in-depth comparison test of four popular full-sized trucks. The smackdown consisted of four tow-equipped, crew cab models: the Chevrolet Silverado LTZ 4WD Crew Cab, Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie 4WD Crew, Ford F-150 Lariat 4WD SuperCrew and Toyota Tundra SR5 4WD CrewMax.
The full story on Inside Line gave the overall win to the Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie, but as the story notes, the margin of victory to last place was incredibly slim. Some of the competitors excelled in certain areas but lagged in others, and we'd like to take the time to point out these traits for consumers that have a narrower focus on what they need from a truck. Keep in mind too, that some trucks offer options that may even-things up or possibly change the final rankings. For this exercise, we're comparing the models as they were delivered to us.
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogsphere.
Edmunds Inside Line: GM Recalls V8-Powered 2010 Camaro SS The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro just debuted, and already there's a recall. A potential short in the engine compartment could cause the vehicle to stall without the ability to restart, and it could even result in an engine compartment fire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall affects 1,243 SS-model Camaros. Chevrolet will start calling owners on May 6, and it anticipates mailing letters on May 18. Curious Camaro drivers can call Chevy at (800) 630-2438.
Edmunds Inside Line: Volvo Recalls 2007-08 S80 and 2008 XC70 and V70 Not to be outdone, Volvo has issued recalls of its own, and they're more sweeping, affecting two model years of the S80 luxury sedan ('07 and '08) as well as the '08 XC70 and V70 wagons. The issue is a software problem may cause the windshield wipers to malfunction, according to NHTSA. Volvo dealers will inspect the central electronic module and upgrade the software for free. The recall is expected to begin in May. Owners can contact Volvo at (800) 458-1552.
Edmunds.com: 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid Test Drive The new Silverado Hybrid is the first truck to employ the same "dual-mode" kind of hybrid technology popularized by the Toyota Prius. Unfortunately, the Silverado's hybrid powertrain is a little too complex for its own good in normal operation. Our comprehensive Silverado Hybrid Test Drive has all the details.
Edmunds AutoObserver: Moment Of Truth For "Cash For Clunkers" Program As the federal government's Cash for Clunkers bill makes its way through Congress, AutoObserver reports that any delay in passage may hurt short-term demand as buyers wait for the bill to pass before trading in their old gas-guzzlers. "Congress needs to pull the trigger," according to Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl. "The more the publicity on cash for clunkers, the more likely sales will drop off as people wait." Read Michelle Krebs' full article here.
One of the most popular questions we get is, "What is the definition of a hybrid?" Recently, Edmunds' Director of Testing, Dan Edmunds, broke it all down and demystified the technical jargon in a new article.
Briefly, the most basic definition of a hybrid is a vehicle that uses more than one form of onboard energy to achieve propulsion. In practice, that means a hybrid will have a traditional internal combustion engine and a fuel tank, as well as one or more electric motors and a battery pack. Some of the terms associated with hybrids are motor-generator, start-stop, regenerative braking, and electric drive.
Those terms are defined in his article, along with the three "hybrid layouts":
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogsphere.
Auto Observer Saturn Blazed Ahead of its Time, Then Faded Into Oblivion It may come as a surprise to many that Saturn is on the verge of being sold off- as a part of General Motors restructuring process. But a closer look reveals that Saturn may have been doomed before the first car rolled off the assembly line. Auto Observer takes a True Hollywood Story-like retrospective on the rise and fall of the "no hassle, no haggle" car brand with the plastic body panels.
Green Car Advisor GM Says 2010 Equinox Crossover Will Win 32 MPG EPA Rating for Highway Driving Hoping to quiet critics that accuse domestic automakers of not building fuel efficient vehicles, the redesigned Chevrolet Equinox will get 22mpg city and 32 mpg highway. This mid-sized crossover SUV will get better combined fuel economy its closest competitors- the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4, and even a few mid-size sedans.
Straightline Volkswagen Launches Blog To Tell You Why Diesel is Our Savior Europeans love diesels. But in the U.S., many people have a hard time forgetting the image of those old- noisy, smelly, dirty, engines. Volkswagen has launched a blog to redeem the diesel's image and show you how far clean diesel engines have come.
Hyundai cars, such as the Genesis pictured above, outsold Nissan during April while Ford outsold Honda. Go figure.
When oh when will the "pent-up demand" for cars kick in and flood the lots with qualified and, yes, confident buyers?
That happy day is bound to come eventually since four million Americans postponed car buying last year. And as April sales indicated, we are on track to see only about 9.3 million Americans buy a new car.
But will the bubble burst in time to save Chrysler/Fiat? And what about GM?
More important for you, if you are part of that pent-up demand, is this the time to pull the trigger on that new car?
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere
Straightline Ford Fiesta Outsells Volkswagen Golf in Europe Europe's having a Fiesta and it doesn't involve a mariachi band. Ford's completely redesigned Fiesta compact hatchback was the No. 1-selling car in Europe for March, with 52,805 units sold. It bumped off perennial favorite Volkswagen Golf. This means that the new Fiesta is not only a runaway critical success, but also a runaway sales success. You'd think this would be incentive for Ford to bring it over here as quickly as possible, but you'd be wrong. Don't expect our Fiesta until next year at the earliest. You'd better put away that sombrero.
Green Car Advisor Pack Up the Kids, Low Summer Gas Prices Predicted Domestic gasoline prices are forecast to stay relatively low during the summer months that typically are a high-demand season. The Energy Information Administration calls for regular-grade gasoline to peak $2.30 per gallon, with the summer average falling to $2.23. Last summer's per-gallon average of $3.81. Therefore, expect an increase in family road trips to the Grand Canyon and Mt. Rushmore this summer in newly purchased Suburbans.
Edmunds Auto Observer Take My Pickup, Please Maybe those lower gas prices will help pickup sales, because as of today, they are plunging faster than a grand piano dumped off the Sears Tower. Full-size pickup sales for the Detroit Three in the first quarter plunged 45.2 percent for GM's Silverado/Sierra, 44.9 percent for Ford's F-Series and 32 percent for Chrysler's Dodge Ram. If this trend were to continue, Ford would sell only 326,000 units this year, compared to 888,818 in 2004 (its best year). Chevy would go to 269,132 from 705,951. The only commentary needed is "wow."
Look up the word "dowdy" in the dictionary, and you'll probably see a picture of a Honda Odyssey (or any one of its segment-mates). Happily, minivans aren't the only choice these days for drivers seeking safe family transportation that seats up to eight.
This new weekly feature for Edmunds Daily about car repair and maintenance is written by Tom Torbjornsen, the popular host of America's Car Show on satellite radio. April is National Car Care Month!
Dear Tom, Please help my sister and I settle a disagreement. Which of the following is the proper procedure for using the emergency brake? (A) Stop the vehicle. With a foot on the car brake, put the emergency brake on, and then put the car in park. (B) Stop the vehicle, put the car in park, and then put the emergency brake on. Many thanks. --Tammy and Cher from LA
Tammy and Cher, (A) Stop the car, apply the e-brake first, and then put the car in park. By following this procedure, when the car is put into park there will be no excessive stress placed on the parking pawl (a spring-loaded pin that locks into a slotted plate inside the transmission). On a side note, use the emergency brake frequently, even when parking on a flat surface, to keep it working properly. Best to you both.
General Motors is recalling 1,497,516 vehicles equipped with its 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6. The problem involves drops of engine oil that may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into a small flame and may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire. This recall effects the following vehicles equipped with the aforementioned engine.
Buick Regal (1997-2003) Chevrolet Impala (2000-2003) Chevrolet Lumina (1998-1999) Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1998-2003) Oldsmobile Intrigue (1998-1999) Pontiac Grand Prix (1997-2003)
The fix involves dealers removing the spark plug wire retention channel at the front of the engine and install two new spark plug wire retainers. If you happen to own the Intrigue, call 1-800-630-6537 or visit www.gmownercenter.com.
If I can borrow the immortal words of departed Don LaFontaine, "in a world" where automotive sales have hit rock bottom, consumers are demanding low prices and GM is on the brink of bankruptcy, I have some good news for the General, my brother wants one of your vehicles. Why is that good news? Because my brother wants a GM product not as a result of high incentives, not because of their "Total Confidence" package and not because GM dealers are begging for business. Learn his reason for wanting a GM product after the jump.
This new weekly feature for Edmunds Daily about car repair and maintenance is written by Tom Torbjornsen, the popular host of America's Car Show on satellite radio.April is National Car Care Month!
Dear Tom, I have heard both pros and cons concerning the need for Motorvac service. Please set the record straight. I have a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer with 35,000 miles. It runs fine. Do I really need this expensive service? -- Joe from Anchorage, Alaska
Joe, Carbon buildup (varnish and carbon are byproducts of gasoline combustion) in the upper regions of the engine is a fact of life. This carbon must be cleaned out because it affects burn efficiency, and the varnish inhibits fuel flow through the injectors. When buildups occur, the performance system senses a problem and tries to adjust various parameters to correct the conditions it "sees." The attempt to correct the conditions results in drivability problems. Regular Motorvac service (every 35-40,000 miles) will prevent this from happening. The engine will start crisply on cold mornings, acceleration will be snappy, and performance and fuel economy will be optimum. Yes Joe, I highly recommend this service.
The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.
Straightline
2010 Chevrolet Equinox Priced at $23,185 General Motors has announced pricing for the four-cylinder version of its 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. A base front-wheel-drive, four-cylinder LS model will go for $23,185. That is a $1,825 drop from the outgoing model which featured a small V6, which basically put out the same amount of power as the new direct-injection inline-4.
Steve Saleen's New Company To Honor Warranties of Steve Saleen's Old Company Auto tuning master Steve Saleen has a new company called SMS Supercars. He started it after he was more or less booted out of his old company. Soon after his departure, the new owners issued a statement saying they were not responsible for honoring the warranty on Saleen vehicles. Thankfully, and quite shockingly, Steve Saleen has stepped into the fray to resolve the situation.
2010 Ford Transit Connect Full Pricing and Options Urban-bound plumbers rejoiced this week when Ford announced pricing for its 2010 Transit Connect work van. Imagine a miniature version of the Dodge Sprinter. It starts at $20,780.
For photos and more information, see this Straightline entry from the Chicago Auto Show
We have all had the weekend to digest the first drive impressions of the all-new Chevrolet Camaro. While the current economic conditions may not be the most conducive environment to introduce such a "toy," the Camaro is the type of indulgent vehicle that can help get people excited about cars again. I thought I would post a pretty cool video of a virtual Camaro being assembled and highlighting some of its features.
It just so happens that a Camaro was my first car. After the jump, I tell you about it, and you can tell me about your first car. Fond memories or something you would prefer to forget?
Plans to use clean-running diesel engines for U.S. passenger cars are being shredded almost daily as troubles in the auto industry deepen, with the latest backtracking said to be coming from Nissan. The Japanese company confirmed in early 2008 it would launch a sophisticated 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 for the Maxima later this year, but those plans appear to be cancelled, or at least on hold.
The Aptera 2e is a three-wheel electric vehicle that looks like the spawn of an unholy union between a Cessna and an Indy car. If it were any more futuristic, it would have warp nacelles and be driven by Chewbacca. The Aptera costs $25,000 and can travel 100 miles before needing a recharge. Our Green Car Advisor, John O'Dell, took it for a spin.
The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is now in production. According the GM, 14,000 have already rolled off the line in Oshawa, Ontario -- most of them SS models. GM also announced the official EPA mileage estimates. The base 304-hp V6 will return 18 mpg city and 29 mpg highway when paired with a six-speed automatic. By comparison, the 210-hp Mustang V6 with five-speed automatic returns 16/24. I don't know, do you think that's worth the extra $2,000 a base Camaro will cost?
