Edmunds Daily

Edmunds Roundup: November 20, 2009

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0800

The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.

IL News: G.M Holding "Exit Interviews" with Disgruntled Customers
Fewer than two hundred consumers have returned vehicles under GM's 60-day Money Back Guarantee program, including one who wanted something "roomier" than a Chevy Silverado. GM plans to contact these buyers to find out why they aren't satisfied.

Auto Observer: As Inventories Deplete, Who Will Blink First -- Carmakers or Customers?
Edmunds.com data researchers say the coming months may be a tug of war between still-cautious buyers and right-sized-but-cash-strapped automakers anxious to hold the line on pricing.

Greencar: U.S., China Agree to Cooperate on Electric Vehicle Education, R&D
President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao have agreed to develop common technology standards as well as a shared road map for electric vehicle developers. Select U.S. and Chinese cities will share joint demonstrations and data. The two countries will also alternate hosting annual U.S.-China Electric Vehicle Forum, the next one being in the U.S.

The Savvy Shopper: Car-Buying Articles en Espanol

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:30:00 -0800

Shopping for a car is difficult enough without trying to overcome a language barrier. Many dealerships have salespeople who speak Spanish so they can serve the Latino community, but this can create a false sense of security for car buyers.

When a salesperson speaks your language, you tend to let our guard down. Be careful. Just because they can communicate with you doesn't mean that they'll be on your side. Salespeople are there to make the most money they can in order to improve dealership profit and boost their commissions.

]]>

FAQ Friday: What Vehicle Should I Buy?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0800

Our friends, families and readers ask us what's the "best car" all the time. But the answer's not quite so simple as, "Well, I recommend X car or Y truck." It's better to ask, "What's the right car for my needs?"

You've come to the exactly the right place to find the answer.

]]>

Chrysler Christmas: Presents Arrive in the Form of Incentives and Free Features

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:45:00 -0800

Chrysler announced that its "Year-end Wrap-up" will kick off today and run until January 4, 2010. The program will be offered on various Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep vehicles. The details on the various incentives and freebies (which vary according to model) that buyers may choose from are as follows:

]]>

Weekly Top 3: Manual Shifters Everyone Would Drive

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

Look, I'll be the first to admit it: sometimes automatics are just better. Take my friend's late-'60s Saab in high school, for instance, which had a cranky three-speed manual shifter mounted on the steering column. Any automatic would constitute progress there. But some modern manual transmissions are just so danged user-friendly and rewarding that they leave me muttering to myself, "If all sticks were this good, everyone would drive one." I figure it's about time I turned that sentiment into a column. Here are my three current favorites.

]]>

Used Car Corner: Must-Have Features for Shoppers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:05:00 -0800

Back in the early '90s I worked for a couple of months during the summer at an Acura dealership selling new and used cars. Being a somewhat naive car nut and needing a job, I figured my automotive expertise and honest demeanor would work with a respected, high-line brand.

Yes, I was wrong; I distinctly remember the sales manager telling me "You gotta hammer these people!" because I would try to arrive at a mutually-agreeable price rather than go for the jugular. I nicknamed him "Gino" because he looked and talked (in a low, husky voice) like he was in the mafia. But I digress. I did learn a few things there, such as what pushed buyers' hot buttons...

]]>

2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6: Whole Lotta Green

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0800

BMW's first foray into the hybrid vehicle market, the 2010 ActiveHybrid X6, will go on sale starting December 5 for $89,725. That's quite a bit of green to go green, and, as our associates at Inside Line pointed out, the new X6's fuel economy falls short of groundbreaking. EPA estimates the ActiveHybrid X6 at 17 mpg city/19 mpg highway, compared to 13/18 mpg for the gas-only powered V8 and 15/21 mpg for the V6 models. Considering the price increase on top of the X6 V8 model ($67,050) and meager fuel savings, we're curious to see how well ActiveHybrid X6 sales will fare.

Deal of the Week: Dodge Journey

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

The Dodge Journey drives on the same compact and mid-sized three-row competitive highway as the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Rondo and a bevy of two-row cross-overs from nearly every other manufacturer. New for 2009, the Journey has been upgraded for 2010 with more standard safety and convenience features.

Our Edmunds editors were not too satisfied with the way the Journey drives and its less than class-leading interior materials. However, they did laud its top safety scores, abundance of comfort and convenience features and a flexible interior. Dodge hopes you will consider its Journey when you are shopping for your mid-sized CUV. To help offset some of the criticism it has garnered, Dodge has placed some attractive incentives on the Journey.

]]>

Tom's Corner Garage: Is GM's Oil Life Monitor (OLM) Reliable?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0800

This 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.

Dear Tom,
I own a 2007 Chevrolet Trail Blazer. The dealer that I bought it from says I should change the oil every six months or 7,500 miles. The owner's manual says once a year or until the oil life monitor tells me to change the oil. Which one is correct?
Jack from Madison, WI

Jack should follow the oil life monitor. He brings up a question that many people ask: "Should I trust the Oil Life Monitor?" It's an often-controversial subject, so it's worthy of a closer look.

]]>

IIHS Releases 2010 Top Safety Picks

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:05:02 -0800

The big news for 2010 at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) -- an auto-insurer-funded organization that administers crash tests -- is the addition of a roof strength test that all of its annual "Top Safety Picks" must pass with flying colors. Armed with this new criterion, the IIHS has just released its Picks for 2010, and the results may surprise you. All Subaru models, for example, made the cut; perennial Top Pick star Toyota, however, was shut out.

]]>

Edmunds Roundup: November 17, 2009

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:00 -0800

The latest highlights from Edmunds.com and its blogosphere.

IL News: Priced: 2010 Lotus Evora
Lotus' new mid-engine four-seat sports car will range in price from $74,675 to $89,000 for a fully loaded model. According to a Lotus spokesman, dealers are taking a $5,000 refundable deposit to get their customer's name on the waiting list. The 2010 Lotus Evora is expected to hit showrooms early next year.

Auto Observer: For GM, It's North America - Or Bust
Despite making an effort to repay the government, General Motors is still struggling to keep their head above water. In the coming year, it will be crucial for GM to regain its foothold in the North American market.

Green Car Advisor: Daimler to Begin Smart Sharing Test Program in Austin
Daimler has sponsored a pay as you go, car sharing program, with the hopes of reigniting interest in their Smart car. The cars can be found at numerous points throughout the city, and are activated and paid for with special radio frequency cards.

Mercedes-Benz Brings European Full Hybrid to U.S.

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:15:39 -0800

For the first time, Mercedes-Benz is offering a European full hybrid vehicle in U.S. The ML450 Hybrid's two electric motors and 3.5-liter, V6 gasoline engine together provide 335 hp and 381 lb.-ft. of torque. Fuel economy weighs in at 21 city/24 highway, 46 percent better than a the comparable V8 ML550.

The ML450 Hybrid runs on electric drive only up to a maximum speed of 34 mph. The hybrid system also turns off the gasoline engine when it's not needed (like when coasting) and re-starts it during acceleration. The vehicle retains generous cabin and trunk capacity because the nickel-metal-hydride battery is located under the rear cargo floor.

The ML450 HYBRID will be offered for lease only (no purchase option) for $659 per month for 36 months or $549 per month for 60 months.

10 Vehicle Features We're Most Thankful For

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0800

With Turkey/Tofurkey Day just around the corner, it's as good a time as any to give some thought to the things in our lives that inspire a sense of thankfulness and appreciation. In this warm-and-fuzzy, Thanksgiving sort of mood, our editors call out those automotive features for which they're most grateful.

Tech Tuesdays: Road-Testing Seven iPhone Navigation Apps

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:00:00 -0800

If portable navigation pushed aside in-dash systems by being less expensive and able to move from car to car, then iPhone nav apps are using the same advantages to replace portables. And iPhone nav apps are also more convenient since a car owner only has to carry one device instead of two, and many offer features such as Internet-connected POI search and automatic mapping software updates.

But iPhone apps have their disadvantages: The screens are even smaller than those of portables and they take up lots of memory and drain an iPhone's battery much faster.

We found these and other individual quirks as well as many good qualities in a recent road test of seven iPhone navigation apps.

]]>

Mercedes Launches New Phone-App Friendly Telematics System

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:00:00 -0800

Mercedes-Benz today launched a new telematics system, called mbrace. The system is supplied by Hughes Telematics and replaces Tele Aid, which the automaker has offered for the last decade. It allows owners to keep track of their cars via apps for an iPhone, BlackBerry or other smart phone, as well as offers other app-friendly features.

The system is available on all new Mercedes vehicles and is free for the first six months after purchase. After this initial teaser time period it will cost $280 a year for the basic mbrace service and an extra $20 a month for an mbrace PLUS package that adds a live concierge service that can provide restaurant reservations and locate of other services, Point of Interest download and location-based weather and traffic reports.

But the breakthrough feature of mbrace is what Mercedes calls "connected services." Using a smart phone, owners can remotely lock and unlock their cars (as long as they don't leave the phone inside, of course), locate a vehicle on a map on the phone's screen or even take advantage of concierge services while away from the car.

]]>