Frugal Shopper: 2010 Chevy Silverado Most-Discounted In August
If you're shopping for a large pickup like the Chevrolet Silverado, the time is still right to get a very sweet deal.
According to the pricing-intelligence firm TrueCar, which tracks transaction prices and can show you what kind of discount to expect locally, large pickups are the type of vehicle that remains most discounted. As a class they're discounted an average of 11 percent, and for the 2010 Silverado in particular shoppers are getting an average 23 percent below MSRP.
The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu was the most-discounted mid-size sedan, at about 20 percent off sticker. Other deeply discounted vehicles include the 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee (19 percent), Hyundai Sonata (17%), Ford Ranger (17%), and Mercury Grand Marquis (17%). The Grand Cherokee, as well as the Ford Mustang and Lincoln MKX—all vehicles being replaced by redesigned 2011 models—are also on the list.
Several vehicles—either due to incentives or deeper dealer discounts—are selling at considerably lower bottom-line prices than a month ago (calculated between July 9 and August 5). Among them: the 2010 Mercedes-Benz R-Class ($1,480 below last month), the 2011 Ford Flex (-$1,171), and the 2010 Land Rover Range Rover Sport (-$1,150).
After full-size trucks, luxury cars, vans, and mid-size cars were also among the most discounted, at an average seven percent. But not all types of vehicles are looking like strong deals right now; subcompact cars (such as the Scion xB) were reduced by just two percent from MSRP, on average, while sports cars, mid-size SUVs, and small pickups were sold for just an average five percent below sticker.
And among brands, after hearing about some of the markdowns it probably doesn't come as much of a surprise that Chevrolet was the most-discounted brand in July, with its models selling at an average 16-percent off MSRP. Overall, Chevy had four of the most-discounted vehicles listed by vehicle category.
The 2010 BMW M6 remained the vehicle with the largest incentives—a whopping $12,500—while the Infiniti QX56 trailed with $7,000 of dealer cash. Also notably, GM is offering $5,000 off the Chevrolet Impala, and there's a $5,000 discount on the Chrysler-made Volkswagen Routan.
Look below for TrueCar's list of the most-discounted vehicles by class.
[TrueCar]
| Top 2010 Models by Vehicle Categories for August | ||
| Vehicle Categories | 2010 Models | % Below MSRP |
| Large Truck | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 23% |
| Midsize Car | Chevrolet Malibu | 20% |
| Midsize SUV | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 19% |
| Small Truck | Ford Ranger | 17% |
| Large Car | Mercury Grand Marquis | 17% |
| Small Car | Ford Focus | 16% |
| Large SUV | Chevrolet Tahoe | 15% |
| Van | Chevrolet Express Cargo | 14% |
| Luxury SUV | Lincoln MKX | 14% |
| Minivan | Kia Sedona | 14% |
| Luxury Sport Car | Chevrolet Corvette | 14% |
| Sport Car | Ford Mustang | 13% |
| Small SUV | Jeep Patriot | 13% |
| Luxury Car | Lincoln MKZ | 12% |
| Subcompact Car | Toyota Yaris | 11% |
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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2010 Kia Sportage: An IIHS Top Safety Pick
The 2011 Kia Sportage has been recognized as one of the safest new vehicles on the market; it's earned Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
In order to be named a Top Safety Pick, a model must earn top 'good' ratings in frontal, side, and rear crash tests, as well as the agency's new rollover (roof crush) test—and have electronic stability control.
While the Sportage wasn't actually tested, the IIHS applied results from the 2010 and 2011 Hyundai Tucson, which is nearly identical structurally. And as interior trim and door pieces can often make the difference between a 'good' and 'acceptable' score, there's apparently more in common between these two vehicles than Kia or Hyundai would like us to believe. Though Kia and Hyundai are run as separate companies in the U.S., and their respective models are typically built at separate plants, the two brands come from the same South Korean automaker.
The Sportage (and Tucson) can take 4.43 times its body weight in a designated area of the roof before it deforms a specified amount. That easily surpasses ratio of four the IIHS requires to earn a 'good' rating, and is much better than the federal government's current requirement of just 1.5 (a requirement of about three times body weight will be phased in).
The new 2011 Sportage is hardly Kia's only safety bright spot. The model joins the 2010 Forte sedan, 2010 Soul hatchback, and 2011 Sorento crossover in earning that top recognition from the Institute.
In the same Small SUV category, the 2010 Honda Element, Jeep Patriot, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan also carry the Top Safety Pick designation.
[IIHS, via Kicking Tires]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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Ford Boasts Improved Resale Value For 2010 Ford Taurus
After a year on the market, Ford notes that its redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus is getting far more money at auction—a full 39 percent more—compared to the 2009 model of the same age.
According to Ford, the 2009 Ford Taurus was selling at a discount compared to the 2009 Toyota Avalon, but now they've switched, with the 2010 Ford Taurus, comparably equipped, selling at about $2,500 more than the 2010 Avalon.
Of course, in all fairness, Ford neglects to say that Toyota redesigned the Avalon for 2011, and Ford had redesigned the Taurus for 2010, so Ford is at a bit of a natural advantages comparing apples to oranges.
The 2010 Ford Taurus redesign is undeniably better-looking, but it hasn't been received well on all counts. The model ends up sacrificing rear-seat headroom for its stylish new lower roofline, and it isn't as roomy overall as the model it replaces—although The Car Connection, in addition to the look, appreciates the higher-quality feel of the interior, advanced tech features such as Sync, and available all-wheel drive and high-performance Taurus SHO model.
Ford's observation might ring true for a vehicle that still looks very new, but the real test will come after the vehicles are two to three years old or more. Residual value experts ALG still rate the 2010 Ford Taurus at just two stars out of five, indicating that they predict it will depreciate at a higher than average rate.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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2007-2009 Mazda3, Mazda5 Recalled For Power-Steering Issue
Mazda is recalling 2007 through 2009 model-year Mazda3 and Mazda5 models for an issue with the power-steering system.
The recall follows an investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), looking into power-steering system failures in the 2007-2009 Mazda3. Altogether, 33 complaints were received and three crashes were attributed to the issue.
The recall affects about 300,000 North American vehicles altogether, including some 2007 models, all 2008 models, and most 2009 models of the Mazda3 and Mazda5. A Mazda source told the publication that rust contamination in the vehicles' hydraulic steering system can cause the pump to overheat and shut down, sometimes temporarily. A service bulletin has already been out for more than a year.
"Should an issue occur with the power steering assist, the power steering malfunction warning light will illuminate, and the car will require more physical effort to steer," Mazda explained in a video available at its U.S. website. "But at no time is the vehicle undrivable."
Mazda emphasizes that if the power-steering fails, the vehicle will still track straight as normal, so the driver should proceed very carefully to a safe emergency pullout. Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes reiterated to TheCarConnection.com that if drivers experience the failure, "It just becomes much harder to steer the vehicle."
After a time, upon restart, the power steering might return and the vehicle might, at the customer's discretion, be driven cautiously directly to the dealership. However, Barnes says, if the issue has already occurred it's likely to again and drivers shouldn't assume that it was a one-time issue.
Through its dealerships, Mazda will be replacing the hydraulic lines and pumps of the affected steering systems.
Should owners have additional questions or concerns, they should call Mazda customer assistance at 800-222-5500.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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Crash-Test Dummies Go To The Smithsonian
The crash-test dummies have taken up residence at the Smithsonian. No, not those Crash Test Dummies. You know—Vince and Larry, the guys who have been features in public service announcements going back to 1985.
It's become one of the most successful safety campaigns in U.S. history, so they rightly deserve a spot at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, in Washington, D.C.
From the mid-1980s through 1998, TV and radio spots as well as magazine ads featured a more slaptick approach, as well as a little comedy—with lines like "it's a great job...they may have to pry me away from it"--to help us understand the importance of buckling up and saving lives.
Altogether, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 84 percent of Americans now buckle up, and NHTSA administrator David Strickland, at a presentation, pointed to the Vince and Larry characters as "tremendously helpful in building public awareness of seat belt use."
Check out one of the classics below, and remember to buckle up this weekend.
[NHTSA]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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2011 Cadillac CTS, 2011 Infiniti M Earn ‘Top Safety Pick’ Status
If you're limiting your luxury sedan search only to the safest models on the market, you have two new options. The 2011 Cadillac CTS and the 2011 Infiniti M37 and M56 have joined the ranks of the safest vehicles on the market, garnering the much-vaunted Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The Cadillac CTS sedan, one of our High Gear Media editorial staff favorites, has gone several years without major changes and has top 'good' results in frontal, side, and rear impact scores applying all the way back to 2008 models. And now it's passed the roof test with flying colors—with a strength-to-weight ratio of 4.12.
For these new roof tests, which the IIHS phased in this past year, the Institute measures protection in the event of a rollover by measuring how much constant pressure the roof will take in a designated area. To earn a 'good' rating, a vehicle's roof must be able to withstand four times its body weight.
The Infiniti M37 and M56 are completely redesigned for 2011. In the roof test, the new model achieved a comparable strength-to-weight ratio of 4.21. The predecessor to the M37 and M56, the 2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, hadn't done as well; it had achieved top 'good' ratings in frontal and side impact but earned a 'poor' rating in the IIHS seat-based rear-impact test.
In our full review of the 2011 Infiniti M, editorial director Marty Padgett points to the optional blind-spot and lane-departure systems, as well as the adaptive headlamps, that altogether help keep the driver from trouble. Otherwise, we like the new M's "super-sedan handling," rear-seat room, and gorgeous look inside and out, though we find the V-6 in the M37 a little coarse.
[IIHS]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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2011 Nissan Juke Pricing Starts At $18,960
Today we have pricing details for one of the most exciting vehicles on the horizon, the all-new 2011 Nissan Juke. The compact five-door crossover with muscular styling and a small turbocharged four-cylinder engine will go on sale across the country this October priced from a very reasonable $18,960.
This gets you behind the wheel of the base Juke S model, which still comes with a handy CVT and economical front-wheel drive layout. In addition to the CVT, a conventional six-speed manual is also offered. The most fuel efficient model, however, is the front-wheel drive Juke equipped with the CVT; it registers a fuel economy of 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.
In total, the 2011 Juke is available in eight models, each powered by a standard 1.6-liter four-cylinder mill with direct injection and turbocharging technologies and rated at 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque.
If you opt for an all-wheel drive model, you get a powerful torque vectoring system that splits torque up to 50:50 between the front and rear wheels and can also split torque from side to side across the rear axle. When cornering, the system helps reduce understeer and enhance the vehicle's cornering feel.
Another new-to-Nissan technology debuting on Juke is the innovative Integrated Control (I-CON) system. It features a three-mode drive selector--Normal for everyday driving, Sport for a more intense performance feel and Eco for maximum efficiency, adjusting the throttle response, transmission and steering feel depending on which model is selected.
Other features include body-colored side mirrors, 17 inch wheels, 60/40-split fold seating (rear bench), six airbags, and a host of optional luxury amenities.
[Nissan]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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Insurance Fraud Up Again: Inflated Bills, Staged Accidents Rampant
Smashed windshields, staged accidents, and suspicious fender-benders and vehicle fires might remain relatively common tactics for deceiving insurance companies—and might be more rampant in a down economy—but insurers are definitely catching on.
Last week, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released a questionable claims analysis for the first half of 2010 and found that overall, referrals of claims to law enforcement were up 18 percent from 2009 to 2010; and from 2008 to 2009 they'd already risen by 31 percent.
The only types of law enforcement referrals that were down in 2010 so far have been agent and adjuster fraud, as well as informant tips.
Criminals are clearly seeking creative ways to pad their coffers, at the expense of those who pay their premiums and use insurance only for honest accidents. Some crime rings involve deliberately damaging vehicle windshields and file a damage claim, then don't fully fix the windshield. Inflating towing or storage bills is another tactic.
Faked damage, questionable vehicle theft, and suspicious vehicle fires remained among the most frequently referred to law enforcement officials, while other reasons included agent or adjuster fraud, unperformed repairs, and inflated repairs.
Instances of inflated towing or storage bills went up a remarkable 92 percent. Questionable auto repair or auto-body claims were up 29 percent, and VIN manipulation was found up 22 percent.
So if faking a receipt for towing, or setting that vehicle you regret buying ablaze sounds like a good idea um it's not.
[National Insurance Crime Bureau]
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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Will Currency Issues Mean More Small Cars Made In America?
In the midst of an economy that isn't recovering as quickly as we'd like, there might be some good news: more vehicles that are made in America.
Now, a strong Euro has made it hard for Toyota to produce vehicles in Japan for export, and according to Automotive News the company is again considering whether the company could profit from building its Yaris small car here in the U.S. The strategy has worked in Europe; Toyota makes the Yaris in France, as well as several other small cars in the Czech Republic and Turkey.
Since there's already less of a profit margin on small cars, and the yen has been so strong, it might make sense to build more small cars, like the Yaris (or potentially the Scion xB or xD) in the U.S., the reasoning goes.
According to Just-Auto.com, Toyota is already the biggest exporter of vehicles to the U.S. What's more, Toyota has had to rely on more exports from Japan after shuttering the Fremont, California, NUMMI facility earlier this year. Assembly is expected to start in Mississippi next fall, but now if small-car sales grow the company might look for a spot to assemble the Yaris as well.
The 2010 Toyota Yaris starts at just $12,605—significantly lower than other markets—so the model poses a profitability challenge for the automaker.
Toyota isn't the only company looking to move small-car assembly to a Stateside location. General Motors will move assembly for the next generation of its Aveo to Michigan, while Ford is planning to build all U.S.-bound versions of its upcoming, all-new 2012 Ford Focus in Michigan.
Mexico remains another option. Nissan assembles its Versa in Mexico, and Chrysler late this year will begin selling Mexican-built Fiat 500 models.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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Satellite Radio Turning Profits–But Is It Living On Borrowed Time?
Satellite radio is just one of many entertainment options in our cars, but it's one that's proven surprisingly popular. And somehow, during a recession, and at a time when all sorts of alternatives are hitting the market, satellite radio is flourishing.
For the third quarter in a row—and after years of losses and a merger of necessity—Sirius XM turned a profit. In fact, there's now a record-high number of satellite-radio subscribers, with Sirius XM now citing 19.5 million subscribers.
Free trials could be paying off
Admittedly, the company's numbers might be a little bit misleading, as a big chunk of subscribers might not be paying monthly fees. So many vehicles are now coming with free trials (most often three months) of Sirius or XM. Even some used vehicles, such as those sold through GM and Ford certified pre-owned programs, come with a trial subscription.
Perhaps one of the reasons for its continued success is that the idea remains simple: Pay a monthly fee, as with cable TV, and you have access to hundreds of channels—including many niches that aren't touched by ordinary FM radio or streaming apps.
With hundreds of channels of programming, and more flexible subscription plans that now range from as little as $6.99, up to about $20, per month ($12.95 is still the standard subscription), Sirius and XM has succeeded in capturing people who want specialized programming (kid-friendly, for instance, or financial news) in their cars.
Obsolete or just finding its way?
And yet, it's a little surprising that satellite radio is doing so well, and in some respects, it's living on borrowed time. For years—even before XM and Sirius came to life, in fact—we've been hearing from infotainment and auto-tech experts that in-vehicle entertainment will become focused around mobile data connections, either through the vehicle or more likely through smartphones.
Ford has, in fact, begun to offer in-car wi-fi compatibility, through USB mobile internet transceivers. And Ford, with its new MyFord Touch interface that's making its debut in the new Ford Edge, you'll be able to have fully integrated, in-vehicle touch-screen apps, like Pandora and Stitcher, that borrow your own cell-network data connection.
Free music-streaming services like Pandora, no doubt, bear a threat for satellite radio as they also break programming down into niche appeal.
Consistency remains a satellite radio strength
But with data caps, overloaded networks, and clunky interfaces for some apps, the threat of data networks making satellite radio obsolete might not be so great yet. Satellite radio remains quite consistent no matter where you are; although it can be dodgy near tree cover and in mountainous areas, reception is especially good in wide-open rural spaces that aren't served by conventional radio.
However now there's also HD Radio, which just the past two model years has become a serious contender. HD Radio, in short, allows a second (or third, in some cases) channel to be added to a given frequency. Unlike satellite radio, it doesn't require additional subscription fees, but just as with Sirius XM the sound quality is heavily digitally compressed and in most cases leaves much to be desired.
Will in-vehicle connectivity options eventually make satellite radio obsolete? Probably by the end of your new vehicle's lifetime, it will indeed be a relic. But don't let that stop you from activating a subscription and being entertained and informed.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
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