Where Do Americans Spend The Least On Cars? You’ll Be Surprised
Where do people spend the least on their cars, gasoline, and getting around?
Surprisingly, among major cities, it's Detroit. Those in the Motor City know how to keep automotive costs down; Detroit residents spent a total of $2,124 on average in vehicle-related costs, including gas, topping even mass-transit-frequenting New Yorkers.
Locally, those in Scottsdale, Arizona spent the most on auto-related expenses ($6,682), while considering gasoline Austin topped the list ($10,128). Both Scottsdale and the state of Connecticut are known for having a rather high number of high-end import, classic and collector cars.
Those in Manhattan spent just $940 on gasoline and $1,542 on auto expenses annually.
But no matter where we are, we spend a very large chunk of what we make on cars and getting around. The social money-comparison site Bundle.com just released some very interesting findings that crunch the data locally as part of a series called "How America Spends."
The average U.S. household in 2009 spent $5,477 on combined auto expenses—that's $3,269 on maintenance and other expenses plus $2,208 on gasoline. According to Bundle, that's 14.5 percent of daily spending, and more than the average person spends on groceries or utilities, and well more than things like travel, hobbies, and even clothes.
Oklahoma residents spend the most on gas—indicating that commute distances are long, or vehicles aren't as fuel-efficient—while those in Connecticut spend the most on automotive maintenance.
Driving alone is pricey
Bundle finds a few answers, and it doesn't simply come down to what type of vehicles we drive, by region, or how far we commute. Hawaiians, it says, are second only to New Yorkers in having the lowest percentage of commuters who drive alone—a very effective method of reducing expenses.
Applying that observation on a national level, the more people drive to work alone, the more automotive-related spending. In Alabama, 83 percent commute alone in their vehicles, and residents of that state shed 16.3 percent of their household budget for auto expenses. As long as commute distances can be in California, 27 percent don't drive to work alone, and that's one of the main reasons why the state isn't among the top states in auto spending.
Confused About All The Recalls? You’re Not The Only One
It's nearly impossible to have missed all the big headlines—of millions of vehicles affected by multiple Toyota recalls in recent months, then Congressional hearings investigating them and, in the aftermath, a movement toward stricter rules and greater openness from a new auto-safety bill.
But the reality is that despite all the media buzz surrounding the biggest recalls—as well as several stop-sales this year for smaller recalls, and a heightened awareness of recalls in general—consumers are still confused about how they can tell which recalls affect their vehicles and how they can ascertain what's serious and what's not.
And, it appears, the public thinks that recalls are a lot less frequent than they really are.
In a new survey, Consumer Reports asked respondents how many recalls were conducted each year. The largest group thought that there had been fewer than ten automotive recalls in the past ten months. Actually, over the past three years there's been an average of 175 recalls annually, including some from nearly every major automaker, CR says.
Just over the past several weeks there have been several more high-profile recalls. First, there was the recall of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 for a faulty stability control calibration and then, this past week, a recall of the Lexus LS 460 and LS 600h for a potentially dangerous issue with the steering. Meanwhile, more than 134,000 Infiniti G35 models were recently recalled for an issue that could cause faulty airbag deployment, and just this past week Nissan issued another recall covering many of its trucks for an issue with welding that could potentially affect steering.
CR also asked how consumers prefer to receive recall notification, and the overwhelming preference, at 71 percent, was toward postal mail, while less than ten percent were interested in e-mail or TV/radio broadcasts as a primary method of informing owners.
Despite the lack of awareness regarding about how many recalls there are, when asked where an owner should go to find out whether their vehicle is one affected by a particular recall, consumers gave the best responses, pointing to their car dealer, the automaker itself, or the official NHTSA recall site—which, hopefully, should become a little friendlier to use and more frequently updated with the passage of an auto-safety bill.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Toyota Recalls Another 1.1 Million Vehicles, Brings Tally To 5.4 Million
The number of vehicles Toyota has to recall over the faulty floor mat and stuck accelerator debacle continues to mount, with news breaking overnight that an additional 1.1 million vehicles in the U.S. need to be recalled in order to have their floor mats fixed.
This is in addition to the 4.3 million vehicles already recalled since last fall, bringing the total tally of vehicles now to approximately 5.4 million and making it one of the largest U.S. transport safety actions in history.
The latest list of recalled vehicles include 2008-10 Highlanders and 2009-2010 Corollas, Venzas, and Matrixes. Additionally, the recall also covers 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibes manufactured by Toyota for GM.
Only a couple of days ago Toyota was forced to stop stales of eight models (RAV4, Corolla, Matrix, Avalon, Camry, Highlander, Tundra, and Sequoia) and temporarily suspend production of 2.3 million vehicles for stuck accelerator pedals--a separate issue to the floor mat problem though both may result in vehicles unintentionally accelerating.
To solve the problem Toyota is modifying or replacing accelerator pedals and floor mats as well as changing the surface around the pedals to help prevent them from getting stuck.
To add insult to injury, GM is taking advantage of the situation by offering incentives of $1,000 and low financing rates to existing Toyota customers.
[Automotive News, sub req'd]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Experian One-Ups Carfax With Free Vehicle Checks On eBay
Buying or selling a vehicle on eBay Motors? You no longer need to worry about paying separately for an outside vehicle history check. It's now automatic and free, covering all vehicles for sale on the site, for model years back through 1981, thanks to a new exclusive agreement between the auctioning company and AutoCheck.
According to Automotive News, the new reports will be automatic, with no opportunity to opt out.
From Experian Automotive, the AutoCheck service provides vehicle history reports that highlight accidents, flood damage, or issues with odometer rollback, assigning a numerical score from one to 100.
"Now buyers have a much deeper level of confidence in their purchase, at no additional out-of-pocket costs," said Nicolas Franchet, eBay Motors' senior director of U.S. vehicles, in a release today. CarFax reports will still be available from the eBay Motors site at an additional charge.
Used vehicles represent 81 percent of U.S. vehicle sales, according to Experian Automotive, and the company says that AutoCheck picks up on twice the number of reported accidents as the competition—almost surely Carfax. Although Carfax is still the best-known vehicle history report, Experian has been inching into the market and the eBay deal could be a game-changer.
[Automotive News, Experian Automotive]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Sub-Versa In The Works: Nissan Micra Mini Coming The U.S.
If you've looked at the Versa and lamented that it's actually a bit bigger and thirstier than what you'd hoped for, you're apparently not alone.
Nissan thinks that there's a reasonably strong market for an even smaller model, so the automaker's high-mpg replacement for its Micra minicar will be sold in the U.S.—beginning as soon as 2011. That's according to Automotive News, citing company officials in Japan.
Nissan has sold the MINI Coopersized Micra minicompact in other markets for decades. While Nissan has before sold U.S. cars smaller than the Versa (20 years ago, its own Sentra hatchback was smaller than the current Versa), this new vehicle would be the smallest yet, with an overall length possibly as much as two feet shorter than the Versa sedan. Even though many of the Versa's main rivals, like the 2010 Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and Chevrolet Aveo are smaller than the Versa, they would all slightly outsize the Micra.
The automaker plans to sell a four-door sedan, five-door hatchback, and MPV versions of the vehicle globally, but it's not yet clear which ones would be brought to these shores. Automotive News reports than Nissan has made a significant effort to reduce the number of parts in the car, and fuel-efficiency should be up to 50 percent better.
Last year, Nissan brought out a Base $9,990 version of its Versa. TheCarConnection.com chased one down at the dealership to get some seat time, and found it quite delightful, provided you expect a simple, no-frills vehicle that delivers on the basics. That said, they're not for everyone; the cheapest small cars like this will likely appeal to shoppers who might have otherwise gone with a used car but are lured in by the new-car warranty and promise of trouble-free driving.
If it's any indication of demand, a friend of this editor had no trouble finding a Versa Base 1.6 model even in the final throes of the Cash for Clunkers frenzy.
We've heard a lot of conflicting information recently from shoppers and experts about whether U.S. car shoppers are willing to step down a size. Just last month we reported on an AutoPacific study that concluded that Americans might not be willing to downsize very much. Among other findings in that AutoPacific study were that owners of the smallest models (including Aveo, Fit, and Yaris) weren't typically willing to go smaller than what they currently drove.
Do you think that Nissan can succeed with an even smaller vehicle for the U.S., or is the MINI Cooper an exception to the rule that Americans aren't willing to downsize?
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Ford Hybrids Lead Sales, Dodge Rams Aren’t Sheep: Today’s Car News
Cheap is the new black, or so we're told--luxury-car buyers are opting for less features and lower prices as we begin to pull out of phase one of the Great Recession. [Automotive News, sub. req'd.]
There's no MultiAir V-8 in the works for the Alfa Romeo brand, despite its new kinship with the Dodge boys. However, if you see a "General Lee" Milano, all bets are off. [Autoblog]
Audi's shown its electric "e-tron" roadster, in all its non-Disney glory. What's it going to call it, when it rolls silently on the streets of Ingolstadt? "R4," or so they say. [eGMCarTech]
Ford swears it's true: the huge 4.5-million vehicle recall for fire hazards will be the last. Buy now and get Toyota floor mats for free? Where's Billy Mays when you need him? [AutoWeek]
Chrysler says buyers of the Dodge Ram HD aren't "sheep." Which begs the question, what do ewe think? [PickupTrucks.com]
So, Atlanta wants to become the most mapped city on the planet. If any of you show up at our East Coast HQ as a result, we're totally suing Google. [Fast Company]
You want this: the 2010 Porsche calendar's coming to newsstands soon, and it's chock-full of Panamera goodness. It's also told from the driver's perspective, so expect lots of 175-mph boasts and lots of pegged needles filling the frame. [ZerCustoms]
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG cannot fly, despite the gullwing doors. So, how did one land on the Benz museum roof in Stuttgart? The Beeb knows. [BBC]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
More Audi A1 Details, Subaru SVX Redux: Today’s Car News
While Subaru preps for a Tokyo Motor Show intro of its new coupe, there's word that its Hybrid Tourer concept is a thinly veiled future car along the lines of the old Subaru SVX. A car that needed replacing? We're not so sure. [AutoExpress]
The Audi A1 won't simply be a hatchback when it's unveiled next year--there's word of more variants, including a possible crossover and a potential wagon version, too. [WCF]
Before you get all excited about the prospect, there's no such thing as a coupe version of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. [Autoblog]
Ford's struck a deal with the United Auto Workers that gives it a new deal closer to the one held by General Motors and Chrysler. It's as good as it gets unless Ford takes a trip through Chapter 11, which isn't expected to happen anytime soon. [Automotive News, sub. req'd.]
General Motors will close the deal and hand over Opel to Magna this week, giving it even more leeway to apply for electric-car loans and to file an IPO sometime next year. [Autocar]
Energy titans are trying to wed the country's three largest electricity grids, which could give a major boost to plug-in hybrids nationwide. [Wall Street Journal, sub. req'd.]
Former Tesla exec Michael van der Sande is headed to Aston Martin to head up commercial efforts. Not those commercials--the other kind. [Automotive News, sub. req'd.]
Lamborghini's connected with VW Credit and can now write loans for buyers of its Murcielago Coupe and Roadster. Because what everyone wants right now is a $5,000 monthly note. [PRNewswire]
Ford's studying its colors--and Cincinnati buyers want red, while Philadelphia shoppers like blue. Detroits, what say you? White, to match the coming winter? Done. [MSNBC]
Your iPhone can now control just about everything: the weather, your love life, and now, the ignition to your car. Viper's SmartStart is either very cool, or a further sign of the electronic apocalypse. [PRNewswire]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Hyundai Wants To Be World’s Greenest Automaker By 2015
Hyundai has just released its 2009 Sustainability Report, which outlines the strategies the automaker will be partaking in over the next couple of years as part of its efforts to become the world’s greenest automotive company by 2015.
Hyundai has a stated goal of environmental leadership in the auto industry and plans to redefine its own brand as a technological innovator. Key goals include the reduction of harmful emissions and the production of produce environmentally-friendly technology.
As an example, the automaker aims to lead the way in fuel efficiency by achieving a fleet average of 35 mpg by 2015--five years ahead of the U.S. and the expected Canadian governments' 2020 deadlines.
Another important initiative is Hyundai’s Blue Drive strategy, which represents the automaker’s commitment to develop and supply environmentally-friendly vehicles. Blue Drive will guide Hyundai’s efforts to create vehicles with enhanced basic features such as driving performance, safety and convenience, while at the same time consuming less fuel and emitting less CO2.
Hyundai is already selling super-efficient “Blue” versions of its Accent and Elantra and next year we’ll see a new hybrid based on the Sonata. Further down the track the automaker is planning a series of plug-in hybrid cars, which it has already previewed with the ix-Metro and Blue-Will (pictured) plug-in hybrid concepts.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
WTF Friday Marathon: 2009 Frankfurt Show Gets…Trabant?
Of all the dead car brands interred in the automotive history books, what's the one you'd least expect to be revived?
Not so fast, Mr. Auto Union. Our first pick above all is Trabant, the unloved East German fabricators of the awful sedans that hailed from the GDR until liberation from tyranny in 1989. Remember when the Wall came down? And how moments later, Trabbis littered used-car lots as Ossies realized what they were missing (mostly BMWs and Benzes, along with first-run episodes of Cheers)?
Now, a German company with the rather itchy name of Herpa says it will reconstitute the Trabant brand at the 2009 Frankfurt auto show. They'll show a "New Trabi" prototype to lure investors in their scheme to restart the brand in its hometown of Zwickau, which rolls off the tongue with the usual German lyricism, no?
The concept will "sport" an electric drivetrain, a solar panel for battery recharges (perfect for powering up during those long, sunny winter days in Rostock), and a driving range of--well, they're claiming 156 miles. Our guess: less usable range than Patricia Arquette in Medium, with nearly as much aggravation.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Rumor: Another Clean Car Start Up Coming To The American South
It's good news/bad news day for T. Boone Pickens. On the one hand, his push for natural gas vehicles seems to be gaining traction in D.C. On the other, his new V-Vehicle Company in Monroe, Louisiana is about to get a little competition from two doors down. Chinese exile Yang Rong--former head of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. and formerly one of China's three richest men--is setting up shop in Alabama to produce clean-tech vehicles. No word on where the factory will be located or even what form these vehicles will take, but they'll supposedly be for sale across the U.S. Your move, Pickens. [Reuters via BusinessInsider]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
