Auto News: Week of May 17, 2012

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Alee Bluff

It’s time again to celebrate the getting over the hump with a little Auto News Wrap-Up!

1.) BMW has recently announced their new 2013 135is, a 1 Series performance model reminiscent of the short lived 1 Series M Coupe. The 135is is available in both coupe and convertible body styles. It uses a more powerful version of the engine that the 135i has, enhanced to 320 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. It is available with both a six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It is available to order right now, with deliveries starting in the fall. Pricing starts at $44,195 for the coupe and $44,895 for the convertible.

2.) It was recently reported in the Wall Street Journal that GM has decided to cut their advertising on Facebook almost completely. The automaker will still utilize the free Facebook pages for marketing, but will end their paid advertising on the social media site. GM currently spends approximately $40 million to maintain their Facebook marketing with $10 million of that number going towards paid ads. And despite a recent meeting with Facebook reps to discuss their concerns, GM is still set to pull the plug.

3.) Good news for fans of Nissan Altima: today the company’s Smyrna, Tennessee plant began production on the fifth generation, 2013 model. The base model starts at $21,500, V6 models coming in at $25,360 and the Altima 3.5 SL beginning at $30, 080. The new models come with a few changes, like the “NASA inspired space seats”, said to improve circulation and to be more comfortable for people of any size. It also has turn-by-turn directions and a four-inch display mounted between the speedometers. Increased fuel mileage – 27 mpg for city driving and 38 mpg for highway driving.

Tips For Driving In Spring Showers

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Brian M Payne

It’s spring season here, and it looks to be a dreary day in Utica. Yuck. But this downcast weather is a good reminder to think about some important things like the best ways to drive in rainy or wet conditions.

Now, if it’s pouring so hard that you can’t see, you probably shouldn’t be driving in the first place. One time some friends and I were driving from Utica to Saratoga for a concert, and the rain was coming down so hard I couldn’t even see. Like, literally could not see more than five feet in front of the car. So I pulled over to the side of the road (a safe distance onto the shoulder, with my flashers on) and waited for the rain to subside, which it did. The thing about giant, gushing rainstorms is that they tend to wear themselves out quickly. And if not, well, being late is better than never getting there at all.

For the time when it’s not too too bad, here are some tips for driving in the rain.

The Obvious Ones

Put on your seatbelt, even if you think it’s a terrible case of government intrusion into your life. Of course you’re going to need your lights on. Even if it’s broad daylight, turn your lights on. It’s not to help you see, but rather to help others see you.

Drive slow! Not too slow, maybe, but at or below the speed limit. And keep your follow distance long. Leave at least three to five car lengths in between you and the next driver. That may sound extreme, but you should have at least one to two car lengths between you and the driver in front in good conditions. When it’s rainy, maintain a longer following distance.

Related to speed: slow down when you’re cornering. You may turn the wheel, and your tires may turn, but the entire mass of your car wants to continue in a straight line. Normally, friction helps you turn, but all physics-based bets are off when it’s wet out. Have you ever hydroplaned? Hydroplaning is when your tires travel on the surface of the water on the road, and it is not fun. If you find your car is hydroplaning, well, you were driving too fast, but that’s neither here or there. You should treat it like sliding on ice (which I’m sure everyone has experience with). Don’t slam on the brakes, and steer very subtly. You will have little to no control over your car when hydroplaning.

More Subtle Rain Driving Tips

Consider a different route. It seems obvious, but I’ve seen so many accidents and mishaps occur when someone drives on an obviously flooded road or when someone fails to re-route their trip because of the weather. If it’s not time-sensitive, you could even wait out a storm. Work a little late, and then you’ll have less to do tomorrow.

After it rains, your brakes could still be slick. Lightly press the brakes when you don’t need to stop suddenly so you can get the water off. Drum brakes are prone to poor performance when wet, so you’ll want to dry them off before you need them.

Replace your windshield wipers. Again — me and my friends and family have all done it: you’re driving in the pouring rain cursing out your old, cruddy windshield wipers. It’s a $15 fix at most, yet we always put it off. The next time you bring your car in for service or an oil change, have them replace the wipers. Your service station will know the proper size, and then you won’t forget.

Don’t drive through moving water. Again, you’d think people would know this, but I’ve seen cars stall out or worse driving in deeper-than-it-seems water. The road has a crown. That is, it slopes downward toward the side. So water in the right lane is going to be deeper than it seems. Avoid driving in deep water because it could damage your car or even sweep you away.

Don’t use cruise control. You might think that not having to constantly work the gas and brakes would help keep things steady in poor conditions, but it doesn’t. You want maximum control at all times, and cruise control gives you less control and lulls you into complacency.

Turn off the radio. This is just a personal tip. Sometimes you’ll need to have the radio on in order to hear weather or emergency updates. But it helps to have it quiet to pay maximum attention. So maybe keep the radio on, but turn it down until you need to hear what it’s saying.

Get an emergency kit for your car. This is always good auto safety advice. Your emergency kit should have flares, blankets, water, jumper cables, reflective triangles or tape, and a first aid kit. As in my story above, you might have to pull over. Or you may have an accident. It’s best to be prepared.

Jeep Jamboree – The Ultimate Off-Roading Experience!

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Mike Betro

It was my first time taking part in the Jeep Jamboree last July, and all I have to say is that I’m definitely going again this year!

I remember before I got there I was really nervous because I love my Jeep and I was worried about damaging it. The event I attended was in the Green Mountains at the Killington Resort in Vermont, which happens to be the largest ski resort in the northeast.

When I arrived, my nervousness immediately turned into excitement as I seen all of the trails we had to choose from. My dad and I arrived the night before the event started and slept at the resort. We woke up the next morning and hit the trails immediately.

There were several different trails to choose from and they were ranked based on their difficulty. For example, they ranged from Levels 1-9, 1 being the easiest and 9 being the most difficult. I thought to myself “Level 1 will be too easy” so I decided to start at Level 2 on my first day. It was mostly mud and dirt with very little difficulty so I took an even bigger leap to Level 5 on my second day.

Needless to say, this was my limit.

At level 5, you are driving on logs and very narrow paths, which make for a bumpy, yet extremely fun and exciting ride. You are only allowed to go 5-10 mph but trust me that is fast enough for you to be holding on to your seat!

My dad and I made our way up the Green Mountains until we reached the summit at 3,967 feet, where you can get a view of five different U.S. states and even Canada. You don’t even realize how high you’re going. I was shocked when I found out (only after the event was over) just how high we had gone.

On day three, I decided to stay at Level 5 as the higher levels are for more experienced riders and this was my first year.

The jamboree tours all over the United States and is coming back to Killington Vermont on June 19-21^st. I will most definitely be attending! I highly recommend this event to Jeep advocates and all car enthusiasts. It is truly a great time! If you can’t make the Killington Vermont Jamboree in June, the 15th Annual Catskill Mountains Jeep Jamboree in Sullivan County will be happening September 20 through 22 this fall.

Car Safety Numbers Going Way Up!

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Brian M Payne

Good news, everybody! I just came across an article on MSN touting an amazing statistic: Traffic deaths are down to the same level they were in 1949. That’s amazing given that there were only about 50 million drivers in 1950 according to the US Federal Highway Administration. According to that US FHA data, there are more than 200 million drivers today!

The MSN article says that driver safety is doing especially well even when you account for the rise in drivers. At its most dangerous, driving resulted in 7 deaths per 100 million miles driven. Now, there are only 1.09 deaths per 100 million miles driven.

There’s not all good news, though. Driver safety varies on a region by region basis in the United States:

The decline varied by region, and New England experienced the biggest drop, fatalities down by 7.2% last year. In the American heartland, including Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, the death toll dipped 5.3%. But the three-state region including Hawaii, California and Arizona bucked the trend, with fatalities actually increasing by 3.3% last year.

The 32,310 people who died driving last year are still too many, though. Luckily, the government has some remedies in mind to further boost driver safety. There’s an idea for a brake-throttle override system, which would automatically cut the engine if the brake and accelerator were simultaneously pressed. That driver error has accounted for many instances of uncontrollable acceleration.

What other ideas do you have to increase driver safety? Do you have any tips or advice to make our roads safer? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, or via Twitter.

The Cars Of The Avengers

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Brian M Payne

Like seemingly everyone else in the world, I went to see The Avengers this weekend. Overall, the film grossed about $650 million worldwide — quite deservedly so. It was a rockling good time, full of snappy dialog, full-tilt fight scenes, and, surprisingly, well-realized characters. But one thing that really jumped out at me was the cars of the Avengers. Sure, an invisible flying fortress and armored alien invaders are incredible, but I thought that the real world vehicles were interesting, too.

Acura had a big hand in sponsoring the film, with its RDX, NSX Roadster, and TL featured in the film.

Acura is actually the luxury brand of Honda (like how Lexus is made by Toyota), so it makes sense for the brand to be featured in one of the summer’s biggest blockbusters. And it was quite the feature! If you’re unfamiliar with the plot of The Avengers, it’s pretty similar to just about every other super hero movie: the bad guy (named Loki) wants to take over the world, and the good guys (the Avengers, made up of Thor, the Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, and two minor characters played by Scarlet Johansson and Jeremy Renner) need to stop him. Right at the beginning of the film, Loki gets away in an Acura RDX. During the climcatic fight scene that destroys most of midtown Manhattan, several Acuras are also variously blown up and smashed. And then, once the good guys win (not much of a spoiler), Robert Downey, Jr.’s character drives off in victory in a sporty Acura NSX Roadster.

It might not be much of an issue for most people, but it was almost distracting to me that so many of the vehicles featured were all made by the same brand. Do ‘regular’ folks notice the same thing? Or do they absorb it unconsciously (which is maybe the whole point of these paid placements in films)?

Either way though, it was an epic, awesome movie that I’m hoping to take in again once it gets hot outside and the need to escape the heat becomes an issue. There’s no better way to cool off than a hot summer blockbuster.

Do the Right Thing: The Life and Mind of a TRUE Salesperson

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Brad Velardi

Two thousand seven hundred and four hours.

That’s roughly the amount of hours a car salesperson works in a year. Early mornings and long days are just some of the components that make up a career salesperson. Too often you hear the stereotypes.

“Car salespeople are shysters.”

“Car salespeople are only trying to rob you.”

These stereotypes, like pretty much all stereotypes, are not true. They’re hurtful, and counterproductive. In actuality, car sellers are hard working individuals just like you and me.

My father was in sales for close to 30 years, and he always explained to me that the customer trusts you with one of their most important life decisions.Therefore, it is a salesperson’s duty to take care of the customer and treat them as you want to be treated: in a trustworthy and truthful manner.

You will know a true sales team when you speak to them. They will be focused on what YOU need because nothing else matters to them. A true sales team will accommodate or facilitate to your needs. They will not use you as a stepping stone to making money.

The ability to deal with the constant grind that comes with the job, while at the same time maintaining a strong ethical viewpoint, is what separates a good salesperson from the rest. You have to live by the “Golden Rule” of business, which is to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

So the next time you visit a show room, remember those two thousand seven hundred and four hours as a reminder how hard these men and women work to provide for their families and to satisfy you, the customer.

Auto News: May 2, 2012

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Alee Bluff

Okay folks, let’s get right down to business. As usual I’ve spent the first half of this week searching and scouring for some of the most interesting auto industry news, so you don’t have to. Here are some of the top stories I’ve found:

1.) Good news for auto plant workers in Detroit! Usually the Jefferson North plant, along with two other big plants, shut down for two weeks in July for their model-year changeover. But thanks to skyrocketing Grand Cherokee sales, which are up 37% through April, the changeover process will be done while the plant is still in full swing. Chrysler has already sold almost 50,000 Grand Cherokees in 2012, making it the top selling Jeep model save the Ram Pickup.

2.) Chrysler sales are up in other areas too! Mid-sized sedans, minivans and SUV sales are up too, bringing the automaker to a 20% sales increase in April. This was the 25^th consecutive month of year-over-year gains! Chrysler has said that US sales alone account for 141,165 units, causing this to be their best April since 2008! Things are looking good for this automaker!

3.) For those of you looking for a sports car, you’re in luck. The pricing for Ford’s Focus ST global hot hatch has been leaked. The model will start at $23,700 with a $795 destination fee. This model is perfect for driving buffs. It is filled with awesome specs like an EcoBoost 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, 247-horse power, and 265lb-ft of torque. It comes with an option of a 6-speed manual transmission and can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds. With plenty of different trim levels and combos, a Focus ST with all the bells and whistles is estimated to come in right around $29,000.

Are You One Of The Diesel 10 Percenters?

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Brian M Payne

Right now about 1 in 100 automobiles run on diesel, but a Carnegie Mellon University study thinks that number may jump up to 10% by 2015. Why would there be a ten times increase in diesel automobiles in just a handful of years? Well, the study (funded by diesel parts manufacturer Bosch) found that there are a variety of factors that increase diesel’s attractiveness for buyers, even if the other alternative fuel costs consistently more than gasoline (according to the US Energy Information Administration).

To start, the study found that diesel vehicles get up to 30% better fuel economy than their gasoline counterparts, which means you could have a driving range of up to 700 miles. That means you could drive from Utica to Indianapolis without refueling. Driving a diesel automobile is also supposed to be better for the environment than driving a gasoline auto.

But these facts haven’t changed over time, even as hybrid vehicles went from 0% to a 3% share of vehicles. Diesel should be increasing, not dropping, if consumers only cared about mileage and the environment. What else gives?

Well, historically there haven’t been many options for a diesel-interested buying public: some German cars are just about all that’s left of the once mighty fuel. But starting soon, some American automakers are jumping onto the diesel bandwagon. Namely, Chevrolet and Jeep, who both expect to introduce a diesel power vehicle to the market by 2014. The former is introducing a 2.0-liter diesel Chevy Cruze, and the latter will build a diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Still, it seems unlikely that millions of people will boost diesel’s numbers from 1% of the driving public to 10%. But if, say, your favorite vehicle happened to be a Cruze or Grand Cherokee, would you be interested in dipping your toe in the diesel well? Let us know in the comments, or talk to us on Facebook and Twitter.

(Source: Green Car Reports)

Friday Auto News Roundup

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Alee Bluff

As usual, I have been spending my time combing the Internet for some interesting auto news stories (so you don’t have to!). Here are some of the most intriguing stories I came across in my search!

1.) Have any of you heard of a little social outlet called Pinterest? Well so has Honda. As a part of their premier campaign on the site, Honda is giving out checks for $500 to active users of Pinterest, telling these lucky users to take a “Pintermission” and visit the places they’ve expressed pinterest in, or to get some of the items they’ve pinned on their pages. In their fist Pinterest campaign, Honda has chosen to focus on their CR-V, which has a lot of appeal for women. Good choice Honda, the vast majority of active Pinterest users are female. I’m willing to bet though, that after this news spreads Pinterest will get an influx of male users trying to get in on that Pintermission action!

2.) Many automakers have invested in hybrids, EVs and other eco-friendly car models (like Toyota and Honda for example). Well these green car companies can take a breath of relief: while it may have seemed like their investment was for not, the numbers are in and in the first 3 months of 2012, the sales of hybrids, plug-ins and EVs are up 44% from this time last year. And march sales of these eco-cars have doubled the sales numbers from January. It is likely that soaring gas prices have spurred this sudden desire to “go-green” in consumers – prices are up a whopping 19% since the beginning of the year, with the average price of gas in the U.S. at $3.87 per gallon! With gas prices like these, it’s looking like a great time to start going green!

3.) Usually when you hear about automakers giving incentives to buy a specific car model, they mean when you buy a new car. Well it’s time to rethink that assumption according to Hyundai. Hyundai has shaken things up by announcing their plan to offer buyers of certified pre-owned Hyundais a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM Satellite Radio. With an awesome deal like this, how can customers refuse? I’m thinking that Hyundai just might be onto something.

Auto News of the Week: April 25, 2012

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Alee Bluff

The auto industry is constantly evolving and coming out with new makes and models to become the next best thing on the market. And in that respect, this past week has been no different. Here are some of the top auto news stories from this week:

1.) The 2013 Dodge Dart’s pricing information has been released for each of the five available trims. The lowest priced model – the Dodge Dart SE – is starting at $15,995. The next step up is the Dodge Dart SXT begins at $17,995. Coming in at $1,000 more than the SXT is the Dodge Dart Rallye, followed by the Dodge Dart Limited at $1,000 more than that. Finally the top-spec Dodge Dart R/T comes in at $22,495, this model comes with the Tigershark 184-horsepower engine – definitely worth the bigger price tag!

2.) Ford is among car manufacturers who are responding to high oil prices by using recycled interior material components. Ford has been using all sorts of recycled materials for their interiors. The carmaker is using soybeans in their seat covered, wheat straw for plastic bins and even recycled denim jeans for sound deadening. Another way Ford is getting creative with recycled materials is by using retired dollar bills for some parts like interior bins and trays. Everyday between 8,000 and 10,000 pounds worth of old dollar bills are shredded and put into landfills or burned. Ford is jumping on this “money waste” as well as other sustainable material sources to help them reduce their reliance on oil-based resins and plastics in their auto manufacturing. Among Ford models using sustainable, recycled materials are the 2013 Escape, the 2013 Fusion, and the new Flex.

3.) Consumer Reports recently named the 2012 Subaru Impreza the top small sedal, and moved the Subaru bran to the top of their 2012 CR ratings. And now they’ve added the new BRZ to their growing list of reasons to love all things Subaru. Not only can the BRZ comfortably seat a person over 6 feet tall, but the BRZ’s stability control can be switched off entirely, making it great for autocross events and allowing the car to preform a great deal of power slides, which they have deemed extremely fun.

4.) Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally has expressed the companys dedication to electric vehicles. Saying that the electric Focus, worth $39,200 and averaging 76 miles per charge, will be considered a success if they sell less than 5,000 Focus EVs in the first year. The Ford CEO believes that electric vehicles are on the rise and will continue to become more popular as battery costs decrease, calling the electric car ‘s success a “long-term journey”. Ford has said that they expect hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars to make up as much as 25% of their new vehicle sales by the year 2020.

All-in-all it’s been a pretty good week for auto makers as they continually strive to bring their consumers the best products possible.