Buy or Sell A Car BLOG

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Jul 24, 2007, The Hybrid Dilemma

Toyota’s Hybrid Prius is a big success. In June, the company sold 17,756 of these cars, bringing sales to 94,503 units for the first half of the year.

The Prius is a huge seller, but that's not the case for Toyota's other hybrids. Prius accounts for two-thirds of Toyota's sales volume in hybrids, even though the company makes five other hybrid vehicles, three of which it sells under its Lexus brand.

It seems that all the hybrids that look like their “normal” gas powered sisters aren’t selling well. In fact, Honda is dropping their hybrid Accord and none of the American made hybrids are selling very well compared to the Prius.

Besides fuel economy, people buy hybrids to make a social statement about energy and the environment. I think the Prius is selling well (compared to the “normal” looking hybrids) because it looks so different. The car appeals to the ego of the greenies. It seems that consumer preferences have changed because Honda stopped carrying the Insight here and of course GM’s early electric car never sold well either. Back then people didn’t like them because they looked weird, but weird looking is happening now.

Stay tuned for the hybrid that is expected to get about 100 miles per gallon and the introduction of diesel cars and trucks from both American and Japanese car manufacturers.

Jun 28, 2007, The Test Drive...

Okay, you have inspected the car thoroughly, and with confidence, because you have learned to know the difference between "expensive noises" and "inexpensive noises" haven't you?

Well goody for you and now its time to take that car for a really good test drive to make sure the thing is worth buying.

I won't go into everything here because you can read more about inspecting a car in the link below, but there are 3 things you should know that are really important when test driving any used car...

1) Allow yourself plenty of time so you are not being rushed during the test drive. 2) Its okay to see if the stereo works, but then shut if off so you can listen for noises. 3) If the seller is with you, then make sure they keep quiet.

Jun 19, 2007, Inspecting A Used Car...

You called on an ad for a used car and based on the questions you asked, it seems like it would definetely be worth checking out.

If you questioned the seller throroughly, and you are still interested, then there is a pretty good chance that you won't be in for any big surprises.

You arrive at their house and now its really time to see if the seller was telling you the truth.

This is confirmation time and now its up to you to use your used car inspection skills.

You don't need to be a mechanic to know how to do a thorough inspection on a used car but you absolutely and positively MUST know the difference between "expensive noises" and "inexpensive noises."

And once you learn and develop that skill, you still may not know exactly what the problem is...or exactly how much the repairs will cost...but you will know whether this used car is worth buying or walking away from.

Jun 13, 2007, Top 10 Most Stolen Cars!

Here are the top 10 most stolen cars. See if your car is included in the list of top 10 most stolen cars.

Jun 5, 2007, Top 11 Green Cars - 1 to 5

Here are the top 11 "green" cars based on the pollutants they emit and miles per gallon...

1) Honda Civic Hybrid sedan Base price: $22,600 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 10/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 49/51

2) Toyota Prius sedan Base price: $22,175 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 10/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 60/51

3) Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan Base price: $26,200 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 9/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 40/38

4) Ford Focus Base price: $13,995 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 8/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 27/37

5) Honda Accord Hybrid sedan Base price: $31,090 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 8/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 28/35

May 30, 2007, Top Green Cars - 6 to 11

6) Hyundai Elantra sedan Base price: $13,395 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 8/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 28/36

7) Kia Spectra Base price: $13,495 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 8/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 27/35

8) Mazda3 Base price: $14,490 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 8/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 28/35

9) Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV Base price: $26,430 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 8/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 32/29

10) Nissan Altima sedan Base price: $19,800 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 8/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 26/35

11) Saturn Ion Base price: $12,890 Air pollution score: 9.5/10 Greenhouse gas score: 8/10 City/highway miles per gallon: 26/35

May 18, 2007, Forbes - Safest Cars For 2007

According to Forbes Magazine, the following cars get the highest-possible marks for safety from three of the four most respected sources of such data: Consumer Reports, the Department of Transportation, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).

For me, the surprising thing about this list is how many small cars are on it, but the cars ability for "accident avoidance" was taken into consideration when compiling this list.

1) Acura RDX SUV Base price: $32,995

2) Acura RL sedan Base price: $45,780

3) Audi A4 family Base price: $28,240

4) Audi A6 sedan and wagon Base price: $41,950

5) BMW Z4 convertible and coupe Base price: $36,400

6) Chevrolet Corvette convertible and coupe Base price: $44,995

7) Ford Freestyle SUV Base price: $26,670

8) Honda Civic coupe and sedan Base price: $14,810

9) Jaguar XJ sedan Base price: $64,250

10) Lexus SC Convertible Base price: $65,455

11) Lincoln Town Car sedan Base price: $43,045

12) Mazda MX-5 Miata convertible Base price: $21,180

13) Mercedes-Benz SL-Class convertible Base price: $95,575

14) Mercury Grand Marquis sedan Base price: $25,735

15) Porsche 911 convertible and coupe Base price: $72,400

16) Porsche Boxster convertible Base price: $45,600

17) Saab 9-3 convertible, sedan and wagon Base price: $26,995

18) Saab 9-5 sedan and wagon Base price: $35,440

19) Subaru Forester SUV Base price: $21,195

20) Volkswagen Passat sedan and wagon Base price: $23,180

21) Volvo XC90 SUV Base price: $36,135

May 14, 2007, Interrogating The Seller...

To understand, learn and use the fine art of interrogation (or questioning) of the seller of a car you are calling about is something that will save you LOADS of time, money and energy.

I can not stress this enough! See, if you don't know what questions to ask...and when to ask those questions...and when to NOT ask those questions...then you are handing over the control of the car deal to the seller.

Operating from that position of weakness will cost you MORE for the car, or waste an awful lot of your time because they sold it to someone else before you arrived.

May 4, 2007, Top Fuel Pump Busting Vehicles!

Compact Cars Honda Civic Hybrid sedan Base price: $22,600 City/Highway mpg: 49/51 Annual fueling cost: $864

Larger Cars Hyundai Sonata sedan Base price: $17,345 City/Highway mpg: 24/34 Annual fueling cost: $1,542

Hybrids Toyota Prius sedan Base price: $22,175 City/Highway mpg: 60/51 Annual fueling cost: $786

Compact Cars Ford Focus Base price: $13,995 * City/Highway mpg: 27/37 Annual fueling cost: $1,395

Mini Compact Cars Mini Cooper Base price: $18,050 City/Highway mpg: 32/40 Annual fueling cost: $1,321

Minivans Dodge Caravan and Toyota Sienna (tie) Base price: $19,770 (Caravan); $24,155 (Sienna) City/Highway mpg: 20/26 (Caravan); 19/26 (Sienna) Annual fueling cost: $1,966

Small Station Wagons Honda Fit Base price: $13,850 City/Highway mpg: 33/38 Annual fueling cost: $1,236

Sport-Utility Vehicles Ford Escape Hybrid Base price: $25,740 City/Highway mpg: 36/31 Annual fueling cost: $1,270

Standard Pickup Trucks Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series (tie) Base price: $15,440 (Ranger); $16,170 (B-Series) City/Highway mpg: 24/29 Annual fueling cost: $1,663

Subcompact Cars Honda Civic sedan, powered by natural gas Base price: $24,590 City/Highway mpg: 28/39 Annual fueling cost: $681

Two Seaters Lotus Elise / Exige Base price: $46,270 City/Highway mpg: 24/29 Annual fueling cost: $1,663

May 1, 2007, Most Stolen Luxury Cars

1) Cadillac Escalade EXT pickup Base price: $55,045

Theft loss results: 1,728

Hot amenities: Optional rear-seat DVD player. Optional 22-inch aluminum alloy wheels (Cadillac calls them "the crown jewels" on its Web site).

2) BMW 7 Series long-wheelbase sedan Base price: $78,900

Theft loss results: 431

Hot amenities: 10-way, power-adjustable, ventilated rear seats. Self-leveling rear suspension with air springs.

3) Land Rover Range Rover SUV (tie) Base price: $77,250

Theft loss results: 351

Hot amenities: Personal telephone integration system with Bluetooth technology. Ventilated front seats.

4) Lincoln Navigator four-wheel-drive SUV (tie) Base price: $46,575*

Theft loss results: 351

Hot amenities: Heated and cooled front seats. THX II Certified audio system with 14 speakers.

*Base price is for all Navigator models, not necessarily four-wheel-drive models.

5) Lexus GS sedan Base price: $44,150

Theft loss results: 243

Hot amenities: Optional gas/electric hybrid version. Voice-activated navigation system.

6) Mercedes-Benz S-Class long-wheelbase sedan Base price: $86,525*

Theft loss results: 227

Hot amenities: Massage chairs. Autopilot function.

*Base price is for entire S-Class range.

7) Mercedes-Benz SL-Class convertible Base price: $95,575

Theft loss results: 209

Hot amenities: Powerful xenon headlights. Electronic trunk closer.

Apr 24, 2007, Beware Of Buying A Used Car That Hasn't Been Started In a Long Time!

In your quest to find that great car deal of the century...you know, the kind of used car you can buy for hundreds less than what it could sell for....it is really reeeeeally important that you be especially careful with cars that haven't been started in a long time.

Why? Because gas goes bad and can ruin a cars carburetor or fuel injection in minutes. Always ask if the car hasn't been started in a long time and if it smells like kerosene then don't start the car without emptying the gas tank first!

Apr 18, 2007, When Selling A Used Car -- Don't Advertise It Until You're Ready To Sell It!

As you are preparing your car to sell, you should also be coming up with a pretty good idea for what it should sell for.

Try to avoid jumping the gun by starting your advertising before its ready to sell. The reason is if you follow what I say in my "Sell A Car" section of this site then your old car might command a much higher selling price than you originally thought.

So avoid jumping the gun on pricing and advertising your car until its totally ready to sell.

Click the link below to see more tips for how to put $300.00 to $1000.00 MORE cash in your pocket when selling your old car....

Apr 12, 2007, The Ethanol Myth

An interesting article from www.consumerreports.org about FFV's (flexible fuel vehicles) and how they get about 30% less MPG (YES, 30%!!!)than gas vehicles.

A recent Harris Interactive study of vehicle owners found that more than half were interested in purchasing an FFV, mostly for reduced dependency on petroleum and improved fuel economy.

But after putting a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe FFV through an array of fuel economy, acceleration, and emissions tests, and interviewing more than 50 experts on ethanol fuel, CR determined that E85 will cost consumers more money than gasoline and that there are concerns about whether the government’s support of FFVs is really helping the U.S. achieve energy independence.

Among our findings: The fuel economy of the Tahoe dropped 27 percent when running on E85 compared with gasoline, from an already low 14 mpg overall to 10 mpg (rounded to the nearest mpg). This is the lowest fuel mileage we’ve gotten from any vehicle in recent years.

With the retail pump price of E85 averaging $2.91 per gallon in August, according to the Oil Price Information Service, which tracks petroleum and other fuel prices, a 27 percent fuel-economy penalty means drivers would have paid an average of $3.99 for the energy equivalent of a gallon of gasoline.

When we calculated the Tahoe’s driving range, we found that it decreased to about 300 miles on a full tank of E85 compared with about 440 on gasoline.

The FFV surge is being motivated by generous fuel-economy credits that auto-makers get for every FFV they build, even if it never runs on E85. This allows them to pump out more gas-guzzling large SUVs and pickups, which is resulting in the consumption of many times more gallons of gasoline than E85 now replaces.

You could expect a similar decrease in gas mileage in any current FFV. That’s because ethanol has a lower energy content than gasoline: 75,670 British thermal units per gallon instead of 115,400, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

When we took our Tahoe to a state-certified emissions-test facility in Connecticut and had a standard emissions test performed, we found a significant decrease in smog-forming oxides of nitrogen when using E85. Ethanol, however, emits acetaldehyde, a probable carcinogen and something that standard emissions-testing equipment is not designed to measure. But that might be a relatively minor evil. “Acetaldehyde is bad,” says James Cannon, president of Energy Futures, an alternative-transportation publication, “but not nearly as bad as some of the emissions from gasoline.”

Apr 9, 2007, Financing a New Car with a Home Equity Loan

Car dealerships are always talking about their 0% interest finance deals. These deals are sometimes too good to be true and will still open you up to a whole lot of tricky stuff that happens in the car lots finance department.

Those in the market for a new car might want to consider a different form of financing for their purchase: a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC).

Tax savings. The interest you pay on a home equity loan may be tax-deductible and that’s not the case with a car loan. Of course, you should talk to your tax adviser first to see if you qualify before you count on these savings.

Closing costs. Processing a home equity loan may involve higher upfront fees than a car loan so you will need to consider the fact that closing costs will be associated with this financial transaction.

Apr 3, 2007, Top 10 Cars That Hold Their Value

Here are the top 10 cars that depreciate the least and hold their re-sale value better than other cars...

1. Toyota Prius Ongoing demand for this thrifty gas/electric hybrid and excellent reliability give the Prius the best depreciation rating among all currently sold models. In addition, many owners are hanging onto them, so good luck trying to find a used Prius. $22,000.

2. Mini Cooper This trendy, fun-to-drive retro-hatch/convertible has generated a cult following reminiscent of Volkswagen's Beetle. While the reliability of early models was below average, it has improved to average in recent years, according to CR's Annual Car Reliability Survey. $17,500 to $25,500.

3. Scion xB This boxy wagon has love-it-or-hate-it styling, but it provides a spacious interior, stingy fuel consumption, good reliability, and a low price. Scion is Toyota's youth-oriented brand. $14,000 to $15,000.

4. BMW M3 The limited-edition, tuner-developed M3 is the perennially popular high-performance model in BMW's 3-Series line. A fanatical following and legendary performance mean that used M3s command premium prices. About $49,000 to $56,500.

5. Lexus RX Among the top SUVs in Consumer Reports Ratings, the RX is plush, quiet, and comfortable while providing better-than-average reliability and good crash-test results. The RX400h hybrid is among the most fuel-efficient SUVs we've tested. $36,000 to $46,000.

6. BMW 6-Series Available as a coupe or convertible, the 6-Series is based on the 5-Series platform. But its more limited production helps keep its resale value high. $72,000 to $79,000.

7. Lexus GX A different SUV from the Lexus RX, the GX is a traditional truck-based, off-road-ready vehicle. It has above-average reliability, a well-appointed interior, and good frontal offset crash-test results. But resale values might not continue to hold up as well for the GX as demand softens for body-on-frame, V8-powered SUVs. $46,500.

8. Acura TSX Providing a nice balance of sportiness and comfort, the well-rounded TSX provides above-average reliability, good crash-test results, and a long list of standard safety equipment. $28,000 to $30,000.

9. Scion xA The small xA hatchback looks much different from the larger xB but shares its low price, good reliability, and excellent 30-mpg fuel economy. $13,000 to $13,500.

10. Honda Civic & Civic Hybrid A longtime Consumer Reports recommended model, the Civic offers outstanding reliability, good fuel economy, and good crash-test results. While the Hybrid version returned an excellent 36 mpg overall in our tests, even regular Civics do well in our fuel-economy tests, with 29 mpg for the automatic. $14,500 to $24,500.

Mar 28, 2007, Car Lot Takes Advantage Of Mental Disorder!

"A woman in Michigan is suing a car dealership for taking advantage of her bipolar disorder by leasing her a $32,000 Mazda CX-9 when she went in for an oil change (confirming that old adage that only the clinically depressed lease cars). According to the woman, a side effect of her disorder is "impulsivity and difficulty in decision-making," which makes us feel better about her driving the biggest Mazda you can buy. It almost seemed like things were going to work out as the dealership said they'd take the car back if they got a doctor's letter detailing the woman's condition... but then the dealership delivered the car anyway and left the keys in the mailbox. If the suit is successful look to see this excuse used frequently."

Like I say all over this site... You better do your homework BEFORE you show up on a car lot!

Mar 26, 2007, 10 Cars That Depreciate The Most!

Here are the top 10 cars who's values are guaranteed to drop like a freaking rock the moment you drive off the lot and will continue to lose value faster than other cars.

1. Ford Freestar

2. Ford Crown Victoria. Loses value due to the large numbers bought for fleets. Like police cars, rentals, etc.

3. Buick Rainier

4. Lincoln Town Car

5. Dodge Caravan / Grand Caravan

6. Mercury Grand Marquis: This is a twin of the Ford Crown Victoria.

7. GMC Envoy: Basically the same vehicle as the Buick Rainier and the Chevrolet TrailBlazer.

8. Ford Explorer

9. Buick Rendezvous

10. Chrysler Town & Country: A twin of the Dodge Caravan.

Stay tuned because I'll be showing you the top 10 cars that depreciate the least next.

Mar 20, 2007, Houses Cheaper Than Cars In Detroit!

DETROIT (Reuters) - With bidding stalled on some of the least desirable residences in Detroit's collapsing housing market, even the fast-talking auctioneer was feeling the stress. "Folks, the ground underneath the house goes with it. You do know that, right?" he offered.

After selling house after house in the Motor City for less than the $29,000 it costs to buy the average new car, the auctioneer tried a new line: "The lumber in the house is worth more than that!"

As Detroit reels from job losses in the U.S. auto industry, the depressed city has emerged as a boomtown in one area: foreclosed property.

It also stands as a case study in the economic pain from a housing bust as analysts consider whether a developing crisis in mortgages to high-risk borrowers will trigger a slowdown in the broader U.S. economy.

The rising cost of mortgage financing for Detroit borrowers with weak credit has added to the downdraft from a slumping local economy to send home values plunging faster than many investors anticipated a few months ago.

At a weekend sale of about 300 Detroit-area houses by Texas-based auction firm Hudson & Marshall, the mood was marked more by fear than greed.

"These people are investors and they know the difficulty of finding financing. They know the difficulty of finding good tenants. They're cautious," said realtor Stanley Wegrzynowicz, who attended the auction.

Oct 12, 2006, Car Dealer Declares Jihad On Car Prices

Some jackass car dealer in Columbus Ohio declared "holy jihad on the U.S. auto market" at his car lot. His plan was to have his sales people walk around in burqas and hand out play swords to children that came in with their parents. He abandoned the idea and apoligized profusely when lots of people lacking a warped irreverent sense of humor (like myself) complained about it.

Oct 12, 2006, Poll Says Majority Of Car Buyers Want Option To Return Cars

A poll was sent to almost 28,000 humans asking them if they would like to be able to return the car they bought back to the dealer. 78% said they would.

What?! Only 78 percent?!

Oct 12, 2006, Instant Online Car Repair Estimates

I haven't checked these guys out yet but it seems like a pretty cool thing. At www.GetVendors.com you can get online referrals for auto repairs from 5 local car mechanics.

Aug 21, 2006, Confused Auto Consumers

According to a Maritz(R) Poll conducted earlier this year by the Maritz Automotive Research Group, one of the world's leading automotive consumer research firms, 75 percent of consumers say they prefer a low retail price without incentives to a higher price with incentives. However, recent consumer buying behavior doesn't necessarily concur. Automakers who offered employee pricing incentives last summer are seeing lower sales this summer as they attempt to stick to a strategy of offering vehicles at a low retail price without customer incentives. "It's clear from the poll that consumers say they don't want to play the incentives game, but their buying patterns are inconsistent with what they say," said David Ensing, director of research and development, the Maritz Automotive Research Group. "They say they want everyday low prices; however, their behavior indicates that they have been conditioned to wait for the 'big sale. ' There's little urgency to buy a vehicle unless there's a large discount."

Well no kidding!

Aug 21, 2006, Hybrid Owners Unite!

A new and 100 percent independent group the Hybrid Owners of America (www.hybridownersofamerica.org) is being launched today to organize and advocate for the interests of the roughly 500,000 Americans who are saving money on gas, reducing America's dependence on foreign oil, and reducing global warming pollution by driving hybrid cars and other gas/electric vehicles. In addition to tracking federal, state, local and private sector incentives to keep hybrid car owners armed with the latest information, HOA is encouraging hybrid vehicle drivers to get involved by urging Congress and the White House to embrace a five-point "hybrid friendly" agenda: lifting the current cap on the federal tax break for hybrid purchases; creating a new federal tax incentive for those who undertake a plug-in hybrid conversion; promoting a new federal tax break for corporations that provide direct incentives to employees who buy hybrids; rewarding U.S. automakers that undertake more hybrid research and production with assistance in dealing with health care and other high-cost issues; and conversion of 30 percent of the federal car and truck fleet over three years to hybrids.

Aug 21, 2006, Is There a Market for a $100,000+ Electric Car?

Apparently so because the first 100 Lotus produced Tesla electic cars have already been spoken for.

The carbon fiber body sports car goes 0-60 in 4 seconds and 0-100 in 11 seconds. The Tesla has a top speed of 130 mph and claims 200 to 250 mpg! It looks great too!

Aug 17, 2006, Ways To Save Gas and Increase Your Cars MPG!

15 ways to save gas immediately. Save money on gas starting today. Yes you can save on gas prices!

Aug 17, 2006, Hypermiling To Save Gas and How They Get 90 MPG

Hypermiling could help increase your gas mileage by as much as 15 mpg tomorrow, but how safe and practical are hypermiling ways to save gas?

Aug 17, 2006, Doctor Gets New Volvo For Life

The 4th annual Volvo For Life Award was just given to Dr. Ingida Asfaw an Ethiopian-born heart surgeon who kept a half-century promise to himself by creating an international coalition called the Ethiopian North American Health Professionals Association (ENAHPA) to address his homeland's medical crises.

Launched in 2002, the Volvo for life Awards calls for people nationwide to nominate a local hero they know doing the extraordinary in the areas of safety, quality of life or environment.

Dr. Asfaw will get a new Volvo every 3 years for life. For his first car choice, he selected the 2007 Volvo XC90 V8.

Aug 17, 2006, Market For Diesel Cars & Trucks To Increase

The market for diesel powered cars and light trucks is expected to increase by 26% by the year 2015 and will change the development of the glow plug market.

Aug 17, 2006, Around The World Race For Alternative Fuel Powered Cars

Alternative fuel and hybrid powered automobiles will be competing in a first ever around-the-world race to prove the viability of the latest sustainable automotive technology. This race of the 21st century, "Great Race World 35,000km, New York to Paris 2008," will showcase new "green" automotive technologies and promote renewable energy usage worldwide by offering a $1 million Innovation Prize to the Innovation Technology division winner.

To commemorate the Centennial of the "Greatest Auto Race" of 1908, the "Great Race World 35,000km" will start in New York City on February 12, 2008, and 80 days later, finish at the famous Eiffel Tower landmark on May 1, 2008. This authentic automotive competition will feature both futuristic alternative fuel automobiles and classic cars in one race.

Cars from 1969 or earlier, including muscle cars, will compete in the Classic division. In addition, the Classic division will offer a purse of $500,000. Private teams, manufacturers, and educational institutions are all welcome to apply to compete in the Innovation Technology or Classic divisions. The deadline to submit applications to enter "Great Race World 35,000km" is December 31, 2006. Information regarding entry fees and eligibility may be found at www.greatrace.com.

Aug 17, 2006, Vacation Plans Change Due To High Gas Prices

63% of Americans are staying closer to home because of high gas prices. About 26% say they are postponing shortening their vacation plans.

The survey covered 5000 households.

Aug 10, 2006, Ford To Unveil Shelby GT

Ford plans to begin production of the Shelby GT Mustang later this year. Only 4000 to 10,000 will be built. The cars will begin as production Mustang GT's built in the Flat Rock assembly plant then shipped to the Shelby Automobiles facility in Las Vegas for modification. The 5.4 litre supercharged 450 horsepower Mustang will be the most powerful production Mustang ever. It will have an estimated base price of $39,000.00.

Aug 4, 2006, Recent Auto Recall Notices

A summary of recent auto recall notices for the auto manufacturer car recalls.

Aug 4, 2006, China To Be Worlds Largest Car Manufacturer Within 2 Years

With almost everything found in a retail store now coming from China, is it any surprise that they are projected to be the largest auto maker in the world within two years? Nope. Why? Because their cars are cheap! Why are they cheap? Slave labor babe-eee!

Aug 4, 2006, Top 10 Most Gay Cars!

Yesiree folks....gaywheels.com has just announced that the Saturn Sky 2 seater convertible is the most popular car for gays and lesbians....and how gay is that?!

Okay, before I get flamed (no pun intended har har!) with nasty emails, let me state loud and clear: I don't give a rats ass what people do with their weiners!

Gaywheels.com Top 10 Most Researched Vehicles Are:

1) Saturn Sky, 2) Toyota Yaris, 3) Dodge Caliber, 4) Volkswagen Jetta, 5) Toyota Camry, 6) Audi A3, 7) Toyota Prius, 8) Saab 9-3 (sedan and convertible), 9) Pontiac G6, 10) Mazda MX-5

Jul 25, 2006, Fuel Cells

In the near future, fuel cells will work as efficient petroleum alternatives. The use of FCVs will reduce the global dependency on petroleum. For example, if just 20 percent of cars used fuel cells, U.S. can reduce oil imports by 1.5 million barrels everyday.

Jul 25, 2006, Toyota To Build Electric Hybrid

Toyota has a vehicle on its drawing board that will be a hybrid, but it will travel much farther on battery power alone. How? Because it will have a larger battery pack and you will re-charge it by plugging it into any 120 volt wall outlet.

Jul 21, 2006, The Nigerian Car Scam.......AKA: The 419 Scam or The Advanced Fee Scam!

How to avoid the Nigerian Car Scam - AKA: The 419 scam and the Advanced Fee Scam. How to protect yourself from the multi billion dollar Nigerian Car Scam or any advanced fee scam!

Jul 18, 2006, Rolls Royce The Car Of Choice For Ultra-Rich

Illustrating the fickle nature of the ultra wealthy, a new survey of 500 bona fide rich people conducted by the Luxury Institute reveals that Rolls Royce is the most luxurious brand of 2006, a position that was held by Maybach last year.

"Too many luxury firms are looking to 'Wow' the client with extraordinary, but fleeting, gimmicks," says Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, who performed the survey. "First and foremost, the wealthy want these firms to simply execute the fundamentals of each customer experience extraordinarily well. Consumers have spoken and Rolls Royce is the ultra-luxury brand they recommend to their peers most often."

Brands in the survey included Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Rolls Royce. The participants, who were required to have a gross annual income of at least $200,000 and a net worth of $5,000,000, said only Rolls consistently provided superior quality, reputation, and service. Only in social status did Maybach beat Rolls Royce.

Jul 18, 2006, FREE Parking For Hybrid Cars

Renaissance Hotels & Resorts is making it easier for travelers to be "green" and save some green, by offering complimentary parking to all guests who drive hybrid cars. Current hybrid cars can get up to 60 miles to the gallon and have lower greenhouse gas emissions. Effective now through December 31, 2006, guests staying, attending a meeting or dining in the restaurant at a participating Renaissance can park their hybrid for free.

Jul 18, 2006, Dean Martin's Sex Wagon Uncovered

After 39 years of hibernation, the 1966 Mercury Station Wagon that served as a love nest for Dean Martin and Stella Stevens in the 1966 movie "The Silencers" is now on permanent display at the Volo Auto Museum.

George Barris, builder of the original Batmobile and other famous Hollywood cars, created the perfect mode of transportation for a spy living the swinging lifestyle made popular by Martin and his Rat Pack friends. The Sex Wagon, as it's referred to in the movie, features two separate bedrooms clad in leather upholstery, a fully-stocked martini bar, a tailgate modified to lower as a step, and a working TV, which was a big deal in 1966.

Jul 17, 2006, How To Trade In Cars and NOT Get Ripped Off!

Do NOT trade in cars! Learn the scams the dealers may try to pull on you when you trade in your old car. Learn how to get as much money as you can when you trade in cars.

Jul 14, 2006, Toyota To Spend Millions On Tundra Recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ruled that Toyota must recall nearly 160,000 Tundra pickups built between 2003 and 2005 in order to deactivate the front-seat passenger air bag cut-off switch in each truck. The Tundras fail to meet an NHTSA regulation that requires vehicles equipped with air bag cut-off switches to also have LATCH (lower anchorages and tethers for children) systems. Deactivating the cut-off switches was deemed less expensive than retrofitting the Tundras with the LATCH system.

Toyota had petitioned the NHTSA to waive the regulation in this case, but on June 28th the administration denied its request. The voluntary recall will begin in September after Toyota engineers the parts necessary to deactivate the cut-off switch. With the switch deactivated, the Tundra's front-seat passenger air bag will always deploy and it will not be safe to place a child seat there from now on. 2006 model year Tundras come with their air bag cut-off switches deactivated from the factory.

While we don't know what the cost of the parts used in the recall will be, there will be two hours of labor per vehicle involved. At $100 per hour, a figure quoted by The Detroit News, the recall will cost Toyota at least $16 million.

Jul 14, 2006, Nude Dude Mechanic Cools Off!

How's this for a headline: “BA man arrested for working on cars naked.” “BA” of course stands for Broken Arrow, the locale in which James Barnett was practicing his nude wrenching. “Police say Barnett’s only explanation is that he was very hot so he took his clothes off to cool down.”

Jul 14, 2006, Ford Adds 2 Extra Years To Powertrain Warranties

Ford Motor Company is sweetening its warranty with an extra two years of powertrain coverage for its 2007 vehicles, Automotive News reports. The deal that covers all Ford and Mercury brand vehicles supplements the three-year, 36,000 bumper-to-bumper with a five-year, 60,000 mile powertrain warranty, while the powertrain warranty on Lincoln vehicles ups the coverage to six years and 70,000 miles. Free roadside assistance extends along with the new powertrain warranties.

The move is Ford's effort to provide customers with more value and fend off quality issues.

Jul 7, 2006, California Car Buyers Bill of Rights

Starting 7-1-2006, California just signed into law the Car Buyers Bill of Rights. This law substantially impacts the purchase of new and used vehicles.

Just click below to read all about this new law...

Jun 21, 2006, Irv's Volvo Rolls for 40 Years!

Irv Gordon, Driver of His Record-Breaking, 2.5 Million Mile Volvo P1800, Marks the 40 Year Anniversary of His Purchase

Forty years ago this June 30, the Beatles were completing their "Revolver" album. Mike Tyson was born in Brooklyn. Los Angeles Dodger Sandy Koufax was halfway through pitching his final and finest season.

And Irv Gordon was in a neighborhood Volvo dealership purchasing a cherry red Volvo P1800 for $4,150, replacing a new car he had recently purchased from another manufacturer that broke down on his drive home from the dealership.

"It was far and away the best $4,150 I've ever spent," said Gordon, a Long Island native and resident who has since driven the car almost 2.5 million miles, a world record.

Gordon, who today is a 64-year-old retired science teacher, began racking up the miles almost immediately. He drove the car for the same reasons most people do: to drive back and forth to work (a 125-mile daily round-trip to his job), for fun and for everyday activities. His long commute and his passion for driving caused him to log his first 250,000 miles in less than five years. The engine never failed and the car never required extensive repairs. Gordon lived two blocks from the ocean and drove through salt and snow each winter, but the body never rusted. So he kept driving his car.

In the mid '90s, The Guinness Book of World Records certified his Volvo for most miles driven by a single owner in a non-commercial vehicle. In March 2002 at a star-studded celebration fitting for New York, he turned his 2 millionth mile driving through Times Square.

And, 40 years, the car has the same engine, same radio, same axles, same transmission and of course, the same driver. He is the only person who has ever driven his P1800.

And, as for what he'll do next? "I'll keep on driving," Gordon said, "but whether I drive three million miles is more up to me than it is the car. The car's parts may be able to take it, but I'm not so sure about my own."

Jun 20, 2006, How To Buy A New Car!

Here is how to buy a new car without getting screwed by shifty car salespeople.

Jun 19, 2006, How To Find The Lowest New Car Price Quotes!

Here's how to find low new car price quotes and a couple ways to help you avoid hassles with car dealers.

Jun 18, 2006, Car Scams & Car Dealer Scams -- How To Avoid Getting Screwed!

Here are some typical car scams and car dealer scams and how to avoid getting ripped off!

Jun 18, 2006, How To Avoid The Swoop And Squat Staged Car Accident Scam.

Here is what the Swoop and Squat staged car accident scam is and how you can avoid this car scam.