autoMedia Auto News Blog : Buying & leasing

Quick Look: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi

Editor — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:11:00 GMT

Aggressively styled and pleasingly proportioned, Suzuki’s first two Kizashi concepts shared a powerful, aero-slick design theme characterized as “a dynamic athlete in motion.” They showed that its coming flagship sedan would be aimed at the emotional end of the scale. But Concept Kizashi 3 was tamer and more production realistic, looking much like the production version and demonstrating that Suzuki is serious about taking on the well-established entries in the U.S. market’s most competitive car class. Its stated mission: move the brand upscale “without abandoning Suzuki’s traditional emphasis on content and value.” The only engine for now is a willing 2.4-liter aluminum four good for 185 horses with a standard 6-speed manual transaxle, or five ponies fewer with the available continuously variable transmission (CVT). Rare in this size and price class, the option of Suzuki’s latest “intelligent” all-wheel-drive (i-AWD) improves both bad-weather traction and cornering capability. Suspension is reinforced MacPherson struts front and multi-link rear, developed, Suzuki says, on European surfaces ranging from urban cobblestones to twisty two-lanes to high-speed German Autobahns and even the...(read more)

GM Reports Only One Return Against 60-Day Promise

Editor — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:48:00 GMT

General Motors happily reports that since launching their 60-day love-it-or-return-it guarantee, only one buyer from 150,000 new-vehicle purchases has returned their new GM car, and actually he exchanged it for the same car but with a different transmission. “Out of hundreds of thousands, the people who've selected the 60-day guarantee were in the hundreds,” GM's marketing chief Bob Lutz said during a press conference Wednesday. “We have had one substantiated return of a vehicle.” Actually, of the 150,000 vehicles sold since the sales campaign debuted, only 100 people have opted for the 60-day return offer. The rest of the buyers each chose to take $500 cash. That's $74,900 in sales incentive "costs" the the automaker ... about the value of one nice Vette or a CTS-V ... and an indicator that a lot of people love cash and/or have faith they'll be happy with their new GM purchase decision 60 days down the road. ~ Deborah Neal, Editorial Director, autoMedia.com...(read more)

GM To Close Saturn In Four Months

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:01:00 GMT

General Motors declared that it would swiftly wind down the Saturn brand and dealer network by the end of January 2010, in reponse to Penske Automotive Group walking away from a purchase arrangement. (Read: “Penske Ends Bid to Buy Saturn, GM to Discontinue Brand.”) Without a buyer, GM felt is had no choice but to quickly dismantle the “Different Kind of Company,” swiftly rendering it another footnote in automotive history alongside Pontiac.

Saturn will build no more vehicles. It currently has a standing inventory of 12,000 units.

Other GM franchises are authorized to service Saturn vehicles and honor warranties.

It may be a great time to get a deal on a Saturn, though their value will be negatively impacted by the wind down and long-term parts availability may create risks, particularly for unique models like the Sky or Astra that are not shared with other GM brands. Some current Saturn dealers may continue to offer service, should they remain in business.

If you visit your local dealership, wish them well and buy a souvenir.

Read our Astra, Aura, Sky, and Vue reviews.

GM Joins Ford with Fall Truck Sale Campaign

Editor — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:49:00 GMT

Maybe it was a marketing ploy, or maybe GM's marketing chief Bob Lutz had a change of heart. After announcing that GM would not be holding the fall season truck sale in order to focus on their new "May the Best Car Win" campaign, Lutz has decided to hold a fall truck sale after all, starting tomorrow, September 25th. So what is GM said to be offering you on Chevrolet and GMC trucks? According to a report today in Automotive News:

$1000 cash on many GMC 2010 trucks, crossovers and SUVs, including Buick Enclave
$500 cash on 2009 and 2010 GMC Canyon pickup trucks
Zero percent financing for 60 months on all Chevrolet Silverado and Colorado trucks, plus the 2010 Chevrolet Malibu sedan
$1500 cash on 2010 Chevrolet Malibu models
$1000 on 2010 Chevrolet Impala sedans, Traverse crossovers, Tahoe and Suburban SUVs, and Silverado and Avalanche trucks

The caveat right now, according to some Chevrolet and GMC dealers, is that they currently do not have a lot of 2010 models in stock. The fall sale ends November 2, 2009. Ford's fall truck sale opened September 10 and ends October 5, 2009, with incentives as much as $4500 on F-150 model line trucks and $5000 on F-Series Super Duty haulers.

Research 2009 Chevrolet, GMC, and Ford models in our 2009 New Car Buyer's Guide.

~ Deborah Neal, Editorial Director, autoMedia.com

GM Bets on Consumer Confidence with Money-Back Guarantee

Brandy Schaffels — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:43:00 GMT

As another step towards boosting consumer confidence in the brands, General Motors will now offer a Satisfaction Guarantee to eligible buyers of new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles which allows customers to return their vehicle between 31 and 60 days of purchase and receive a refund of the purchase price for the vehicle.

The new Satisfaction Guarantee is in addition to GM's existing warranty coverage, which includes a transferable 100,000-mile/five-year (whichever comes first) limited powertrain warranty, roadside assistance, and courtesy transportation.

The warranty is part of GM's larger "May the Best Car Win" marketing campaign that demonstrates the manufacturer's confidence in its vehicles when compared head-to-head with the most competitive vehicles in each vehicle segment. The moneyback guarantee will be offered between September 14 and November 30, 2009.

"We're putting our money down that if people buy one of our vehicles and don't absolutely love it, we'll take it back. We will stand behind them both in the short-term and over the long haul," said Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman, Marketing and Communications.

It's clear here that the biggest goal is to get buyers into dealerships to take a look at the improved quality of the entire product lineup, instead of dismissing them in favor of import competitors, believing them to be better. "The Cadillac SRX and CTS Wagon, the Buick LaCrosse, the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, for instance, are all outstanding new products," said Lutz. "We think if consumers give us a fair chance and look at the facts on the things that matter most to them, like design, fuel economy, warranty and safety, our vehicles are the best choices - that's what makes an offer like this possible," said Lutz.

The Satisfaction Guarantee covers the vehicle purchase price and sales tax on 2009 and 2010 Model Year Chevys, Buicks, GMCs and Cadillacs (except medium duty trucks). It excludes other add-ons like accessories, negative equity on a trade-in, or other fees; other restrictions apply, and leased vehicles are not included. If they're not happy with their purchase, customers (only one per household) can return their vehicle between 31 and 60 days as long as their payments are current and the vehicles have been driven less than 4000 miles.

"We know that we'll need to work very hard to get people's attention and encourage them to give Chevy, Buick, Cadillac and GMC a try," said Lutz. "We think the 'May the Best Car Win' campaign and the Satisfaction Guarantee offer should help re-instill confidence in the excellence of our products."

GM is betting big on that goal, but has taken out insurance against losses, which could equal thousands of dollars on each returned car. "I think we can now say our current lineup can bear comparison with any other volume automakers' products anywhere in the world," Lutz said, in an article at CNN Money.

Additional information will be available beginning Monday, September 14, when the following informative websites -- www.Chevy.com/guarantee, www.Buick.com/guarantee, www.Cadillac.com/guarantee, and GMC.com/guarantee -- come online.

Interested in finding out more about these brands before you go shopping? Then browse our Chevy, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC vehicle reviews here at the autoMedia.com Buyer's Guide.

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com contributing editor

autoMedia CARnival 9-4-09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:44:00 GMT

It's the week ending September 4, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. Cash for Clunkers and Papa John's Camaro remain in the headlines for another week, and David E. Davis says he wishes Jean Jennings was dead, but besides all that, we've also got plenty of other unusual news sure to delight the automotive fan.

Cash for Clunkers rebates undoubtedly fueled robust August car sales, with manufacturers showing increased sales over the same time period a year ago, and even better increases over their sales just one or two months ago. Motor Trend's Todd Lassa shares an astute analysis of these figures, with detailed insights into the best-selling models and manufacturers.

Classic Car Examiner Jim Cherry knows cars have had a long and colorful history on TV from the 1966 Batmobile, to Entourage's Maserati Quatroporte, to Starsky & Hutch's Grand Torino. Knight Rider's Kitt car was so popular that Hasselhoff's series was revived years later in the vain hope of selling more lunchboxes. The right car makes the right statement on TV. They hop things up, express characters' characters, provide dramatic action and provide plenty of merchandising oppoutunities. Check out his slideshow of the top nine classic TV cars at examiner.com

AutoBlog files this under "No Cool, Wacky Deed Shall Go Unlitigated." John Schnatter, Papa John of Papa John's Pizza, put out a $250,000 A.P.B. to find his long lost 1971 1/2 Camaro Z28. Papa John Schnatter says the money was for the person whose name was on the title of the car as a reward for selling the car back to him. When the Sloanes of Indiana helped point Schnatter to Jeff Robinson, the current owner, Schnatter offered them $25,000 for the assist. Now the Sloanes aren't happy about "only" getting $25,000 and want a bigger piece of the pie. More details can be found at this local Kentucky news website. Naughty, greedy people get no sympathy from me. Take your finder's fee and quitchurbitchin...

The Detroit Bureau asks if U.S. buyers are ready to return to Motown and buy American for their transportation needs? According to Paul Eisenstein, that's the rather surprising indication of a new survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. This first-ever survey of motorist intentions found that about 80% of new-car buyers said they would be likely or very likely consider a Detroit product, compared with just 47% who said the same thing about an Asian model, and 46% who'd similarly consider a European offering. The CR survey results show good news for the American automakers, as most respondents said the most important consideration in deciding which vehicle to buy is price, followed by fuel economy, safety, and quality.

It's difficult to find the words to describe the highlight of this segment of "Autoline After Hours" being served at TheTruthAboutCars. Let the headline be your guide: "David E. Davis: Fired for Truth Telling, Wants Jean Jennings Dead." Fast forward 15 minutes in, when David-E wishes a piano would land on her head. Yeah: He says that.

In one article, AutoBlogGreen says Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen, says the Chevy Volt is "a car for idiots," and says pure electric vehicles are "for the intellectual elite who want to show what enlightened souls they are." In another article he denies using those words. Well, of course, he has to, especially now that Audi is revealing an all-electric R8 concept car at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. Harrumph.

Honda fans across the internet unleashed "Haterade" on first official Crosstour photos released at Facebook: Honda responds by blaming it on insufficient photography and promises additional photos will come soon. Jalopnik says "We're sorry, but if your vehicle is ugly from 3/4 front and 3/4 back it's just ugly and we doubt more detail is going to change that."

If you've heard the accusations that the rare metals required for production of hybrid car motors and batteries are in short supply and that the mining of such metals is disastrous for the environment, then you'll want to read this report at HybridCars.com which declares such concerns are overblown. In fact, the article states that if domestic and other Canada-based mining concerns go back into production at currently dormant mines, hybrid and electric car production will "not only be on track, it could be done in the United States," within three to four years.

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

August Auto Sales Show Shopping Success

Brandy Schaffels — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:40:00 GMT

By all the reports we've seen from the Department of Transportation and other automotive blogs, the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program was "wildly successful" at driving consumers towards dealerships. With nearly 700,000 vehicle transactions utilizing "Cash for Clunkers" trade-ins, not to mention standard purchases that didn't include the government-subsidized rebates, it's clear that manufacturers benefited from a giant sales infusion during the month of August.

When comparing sales figures for August 2009 against August 2008, Ford was the most successful American manufacturer with an increase of 16.99 percent (182,149 units sold) for all of Ford Motor Company and a 21.25-percent jump for just the Ford brand itself. Toyota Motor Company and American Honda were up 6.41 (225,088) and 9.93 (161,439) percent respectively. Unfortunately, even with the incentives, some manufacturers still sold fewer cars than they did a year ago, notably Nissan North America was down 2.93 percent (105,312 units sold), Chrysler was down 15.43 percent (93,222), and General Motors was down 20.19 percent (246,479) from a year ago. (Many thanks to John Neff at AutoBlog for his monthly sales report, from which these figures are derived.)

However, if you compare these figures to the sales reports from last month or even the month before, the impact of the CARS program becomes much more apparent (see chart below). Even though the percentages of sales only look good for a few of the manufacturers when comparing July 2008 to July 2009, watch what happens when you compare August 2009 to July 2009 and June 2009: Everybody wins with sales increases ranging from 17.37 percent for Ford, 36.50 percent for Chrysler, and 39.59 percent for General Motors all the way up to an increase of 60.76 percent for Honda, 70.97 percent for Toyota, and a whopping 80.64 percent for Nissan from over two months ago.

Ironically, while DOT Cash for Clunker reports make it look as if the imports were the biggest winners in the C4C transactions, a report at AutoBlog says that "Ford came out as the clear winner in the Top Ten list," based on additional analysis by Edmunds.com. According to their story, "Ford captured three of the top four positions. The Toyota Corolla, which is at the top of the government's list, falls to number five on Edmunds' list behind the F-150, which didn't even make the government's Top Ten. The Chevy Silverado didn't make the government's Top Ten either, but it's number eight with Edmunds."

As far as getting a clear cut answer from all of this, Mark Twain summed it up well when he said: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." A skilled analyst can make a list of numbers demonstrate anything he wants it to show, but one thing is certainly clear: auto sales for all manufacturers have shown a definite trend upwards in the past few months, and as a result of the additional demand, many manufacturers have increased their production schedules and have brought back some employees who had been laid off in recent months.

It will be interesting to see what the next few months show!

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Brand	August 2008	August 2009	Increased Volume % over one year ago	July 2009	Increased Volume % over one month ago	June 2009	Increased Volume % over two months ago
American Honda	146,855	161,439	9.93	114,690	40.76	100,420	60.76
Chrysler Group LLC	110,235	93,222	-15.43	88,900	4.86	68,297	36.50
Ford Motor Company	155,690	182,149	16.99	165,279	10.21	155,195	17.37
General Motors	308,817	246,479	-20.19	189,443	30.11	176,571	39.59
Hyundai	41,130	60,467	47.01	45,553	32.74	37,943	59.36
Kia	25,065	40,198	60.38	29,345	36.98	26,845	49.74
Nissan North America	108,493	105,312	-2.93	71,847	46.58	58,298	80.64
Subaru	18,932	28,683	51.51	21,839	31.34	18,620	54.04
Toyota Mo Co	211,533	225,088	6.41	174,872	28.72	131,654	70.97

CARS Program Declared 'Wildly Successful'

Brandy Schaffels — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Barely a month after The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program was first enacted, the second leg of the pivotal program also known as "cash for clunkers," wrapped up boasting nearly 700,000 car sales and improved fuel efficiency.

In a statement released by U.S. Department of Transportation, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood declared the program "wildly successful" citing not just the number of vehicles sold, but also good news for the environment. The average fuel economy of the vehicles traded in was 15.8 miles per gallon and the average fuel economy of vehicles purchased was 24.9 mpg - a 58 percent improvement helped by the fact that 84 percent of consumers traded in trucks and 59 percent purchased passenger cars.

According to the report released today, cars purchased under the program were, on average, 19% above the average fuel economy of all new cars currently available, and 59% above the average fuel economy of cars that were traded in. This means the program raised the average fuel economy of the fleet, while getting the dirtiest and most polluting vehicles off the road.

All in all, it appears the program has served its purpose, as according to a preliminary analysis by the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the CARS program will:

Boost economic growth in the third quarter of 2009 by 0.3-0.4 percentage points at an annual rate thanks to increased auto sales in July and August.
Will sustain the increase in GDP in the fourth quarter because of increased auto production to replace depleted inventories.
Will create or save 42,000 jobs in the second half of 2009. Those jobs are expected to remain well after the program's close.

"This is a win for the economy, a win for the environment and a win for American consumers," said Secretary LaHood. The dollar value of the 690,114 vehicle transactions presents a total dollar value of $2,877.9 million! Broken down, the ten states to benefit the most from these purchases are (based on dealer voucher requests):

California..............$326,822,000
Texas....................$183,776,500
New York .............$156,292,000
Florida..................$146,565,000
Illinois...................$143,613,000
Pennsylvania........$138,651,500
Ohio .....................$136,267,000
Michigan...............$132,407,500
New Jersey...........$103,375,500
Virginia.................$98,523,500

After the stampede of sales ends, the Department of Transportation is now augmenting a 2000-person team to process dealer rebate applications.

See our previous reports on "Top 10 Trade-Ins and Purchases" and "What Automaker Sold the Most Cars?"

Learn even more from "Cashing in on Clunkers."

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com contributing editor

Cash for Clunkers – What Automaker Sold the Most Cars?

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:41:00 GMT

The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program, known as “cash for clunkers,” has ended. Both government and industry are struggling to emerge from the paper trail left behind by the sales frenzy that saw $3 billion in federal incentives vaporize in just a few weeks. Preliminary figures released this week show that 84 percent of trade-ins under the program are trucks, and 59 percent of new vehicle purchases are cars.

Consumers were drawn to fuel-efficient models, averaging a 9.2 mpg improvement from the clunker to the new vehicle. Looking at the top 10 most popular purchases, the list is dominated by thrifty, compact sedans such as the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Ford Focus. Further, hybrid vehicles accounted for 4.5 percent of new vehicles purchased under the program compared to 3 percent of all new vehicle sales in June 2009. Interestingly, more than ¾ of those buying a hybrid were replacing an SUV or truck.

But the key question is, what automakers most benefited from the sales? While the Department of Transportation points out that 54 percent of the top 10 vehicles sold were manufactured in the United States, the sales breakdown shows that that import companies Toyota and Honda captured a significant portion of clunkers business, with General Motors leading the domestic brands.

Cash for clunkers new-vehicle sales share

19.2% Toyota
17.7% General Motors
15.0% Ford
13.2% Honda
8.3% Chrysler
7.8% Nissan
6.8% Hyundai
3.8% Kia
2.4% Subaru
2.3% Mazda
1.9% Volkswagen
0.5% Suzuki
0.4% Mitsubishi
0.4% Mini
0.2% Smart
0.1% Volvo
<0.1% All other

See our previous report on the Top 10 Trade-Ins and Purchases.

Learn even more from “Cashing in on Clunkers.”

Cash for Clunkers Ends - Top 10 Trade ins, Purchases

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:27:00 GMT

As of 8 p.m, EST tonight, the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program ended. Considered a success by the auto industry, politicians, and more than 600,000 car buyers, the so-called cash for clunkers program burned through $3 billion in federal funding quicker than anyone predicted. Remember when the original $1 billion had a rundown deadline of November 1st? Hard to believe.

The final figures may still be a days away, but the Department of Transportation has shared tabulations made as of this morning, showing 635,186 dealer transactions submitted for credit, worth $2.65 billion. Over half (54%) of the top 10 new vehicles purchased under the program were manufactured in the United States.

On average, the new vehicles showed a 9.2 mpg, or 58 percent, fuel economy improvement. Needless to say, the program worked far better than anyone anticipated at moving consumers out of old, “dirty” trucks and SUVs and into new more fuel-efficient cars. The massive mileage improvement makes more sense when looking at the three most popular purchases, all very miserly models.

Top 10 New Vehicles Purchased*

Toyota Corolla
Honda Civic
Ford Focus
Toyota Camry
Hyundai Elantra
Toyota Prius
Nissan Versa
Ford Escape FWD
Honda Fit
Honda CR-V 4WD

*as of last Friday

Notably, the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Toyota Camry, Ford Escape FWD, and the Honda CR-V 4WD are all manufactured in the U.S.

Top 10 Trade-in Vehicles

Ford Explorer 4WD
Ford F-150 Pickup 2WD
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD
Jeep Cherokee 4WD
Ford Explorer 2WD
Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan
Chevrolet Blazer 4WD
Ford F150 Pickup 4WD
Chevrolet C1500 Pickup 2WD
Ford Windstar

See our previous report on the Top 10 Trade-Ins and Purchases from the initial $1 billion cash for clunkers phase.

Learn even more from “Cashing in on Clunkers.”

Attn Shoppers: Cash for Clunkers Ends Monday

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:53:00 GMT

All good things must end. The first phase for Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) saw $1 billion in federal car-sales stimulus drained in less than two weeks. Congress quickly approved $2 billion to keep the momentum going, with Obama signing into law on August 9th. Now, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the cash for clunkers program will come to a close on Monday, August 24th at 8 p.m. EDT.

“This program has been a lifeline to the automobile industry, jump starting a major sector of the economy and putting people back to work,” Secretary LaHood said. “At the same time, we’ve been able to take old, polluting cars off the road and help consumers purchase fuel efficient vehicles.”

As of today, the CARS program has recorded more than 457,000 dealer transactions worth $1.9 billion in rebates.

John McEleney, chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), issued the following statement:

“Today, the Administration announced the submission deadline for all ‘cash for clunkers’ applications. Regardless of when the transaction is consummated, the application must be submitted before the deadline to be considered for funding.

“However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has advised NADA that any applications submitted prior to the deadline and then rejected may still be funded if the applications are subsequently corrected (even if the corrections are submitted after the deadline). This opportunity to cure the application is an essential element of the wind-down of the program.”

Dealership inventory is quick thinning many towns, even as factories ramp up overtime to deliver small, fuel-efficient vehicles in before the funds run out. There is a definite race against the clock for all involved to take full advantage of this unique program, and car shoppers shouldn’t delay.

Learn about the so-called “cash for clunkers” program from our guide. And research year-end clearance models in our new car buyer’s guide and reviews.

Use the free autoMedia dealer quote tool to have dealers compete for your business.

Cash for Clunkers: Obama Formalizes $2 Billion Extension

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:24:00 GMT

President Obama has signed into law H.R. 3435, a bill that extends the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) with $2 billion more in funding. This bill doubles the original $1 billion in funding that sparked a new car sales wave. Late Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that 245,384 CARS credits had been requested, totaling $1.03 billion. The extension came just in time to continue the offer through the weekend. (See: “Cash for Clunkers: Senate Approves $2 Billion Extension.”)

Obama said, “Now, more American consumers will have the chance to purchase newer, more fuel-efficient cars and the American economy will continue to get a much-needed boost. ‘Cash for clunkers’ has been a proven success: the initial transactions are generating a more than 50 percent increase in fuel economy; they are generating $700 to $1000 in annual savings for consumers in reduced gas costs alone; and they are getting the oldest, dirtiest and most air-polluting trucks and SUVs off the road for good. Businesses across the country – from small auto dealerships and suppliers to large auto manufacturers – are putting people back to work as a result of this program.”

From the initial sales rush, dealer lots have seen the inventory of their most fuel-efficent cars sold down. For those late-comers to the program, there will be fewer choices of year-end models. (Read: "Cash for Clunkers – Top 10 Trade Ins, Purchases.") It is important for shoppers to not only research their selections, but work to get their first-choice model, rather than compromise. After all, it somewhat defeats the purpose if you don’t buy the four-cylinder you wanted and go with the V-6, instead. Remember, dealers can search regional inventory and have a car transported to their shop. Consider using either a car-locator feature on the manufacturer site or cast a wide net in seeking dealer quotes online to ensure you find the car you want.

Still can’t find what you want? In some cases, the 2010 models are coming later this month, such as several Toyota models.

Research new vehicles in the 2009 new car buyer’s guide. Use the free autoMedia dealer quote tool to have dealers compete for your business.

Cash for Clunkers: Senate Approves $2 Billion Extension

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:49:00 GMT

In a last-minute vote before August recess, the U.S. Senate approved H.R. 3435, a bill that extends the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) with $2 billion more in funding. The bill was passed with 60 yeas and 37 nays. It now goes to President Obama for signing into law.

Obama has been a strong proponent of the cash for clunkers extension, and it is expected that he will swiftly put pen to paper. Government officials had forecasted that the initial CARS funds would have run dry this Friday. It is estimated that upwards of 500,000 clunkers could be traded in and replaced with more fuel-efficient, and likely safer, vehicles as a result of this continuation.

The original program has exceeded expectations, fueling a massive sales rush over the past few days. Buyers have been exchanging older, worn-out SUVs and pickup trucks for fuel-efficient small and midsized cars. Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors have claimed 45 percent of the CARS sales during this period. (See “Cash for Clunkers – Top 10 Trade Ins, Purchases.”)

"Our customers and dealers appreciate Congress' help in keeping the program's momentum going and providing the stimulus to put more clean, fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. CARS is one program that has given consumers, the economy and a vital industry a much needed boost," said GM Sales Vice President Mark LaNeve.

Car shoppers may find dealerships have a dwindling supply of the choicest models, as the auto industry transitions to the 2010 model year. Many new models will be shipped to dealers this month for those who can wait, or are willing to reserve a vehicle in advance. It is important for consumers to research their purchase. History shows these buyers tend to hold on to a vehicle for a long time – best to make sure it is one that will serve their needs for many years to come.

Research new vehicles in the 2009 new car buyer’s guide.

IIHS Tests Midsized Sedan Bumpers, Finds None Good

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:19:00 GMT

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has tested bumpers on several midsized family sedans for repair costs, finding not one of the six models earned a top rating of Good. This is the second group of vehicles the Institute has evaluated under a new bumper ratings protocol based on repair costs averaged and weighted to reflect real-world damage and insurance claims frequency. (See “Small Cars Can Be Costly to Repair.”)

A series of four tests were conducted: front and rear full-width impacts at 6 mph and front and rear corner impacts at 3 mph. These tests are designed to drive bumper improvements, though they also highlight the potentially significant costs of a minor bump.

Bumpers on 2009 models of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, and Nissan Maxima performed better than their 2007 predecessors in low-speed crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Bumpers on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and 2010 Ford Fusion did worse than earlier models. None of the six popular midsize sedans earns the top rating of Good in a recent series of tests designed to assess and compare how well bumpers resist damage in everyday fender-benders.

Bumpers on 2009 models of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, and Nissan Maxima performed better than their 2007 predecessors in low-speed crash tests. However, bumpers on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and 2010 Ford Fusion did worse than earlier models.

Weighted average repair costs / ratings
Mazda 6 - $871 / Acceptable
Honda Accord - $1,133 / Marginal
Hyundai Sonata - $1,265 / Marginal
Nissan Maxima - $1,687 / Poor
Ford Fusion - $2,207 / Poor
Chevrolet Malibu - $2,329 / Poor

The designs of 10 other midsize cars haven’t changed since their bumpers last were tested in the 2007 model year. Performance in those tests earns the Mitsubishi Galant and Toyota Camry Marginal ratings. The Chrysler Sebring, Nissan Altima, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat, and Volvo S40 earn Poor ratings.

“Consumers buy midsize cars for practical reasons. There’s nothing practical about a $1,000-plus repair bill after a minor bump in commuter traffic,” says Joe Nolan, Institute senior vice president.

The results indicate how repair costs could influence insurance premiums, though there are many other factors that guide prices and should influence a purchase decision. Long-term, the IIHS tests of this nature will pressure the industry to be mindful of ownership costs when engineering product. For now, drivers should take this as a reminder to be careful. Even a small bump can be expensive.

Learn what you need to know about car insurance before you buy.

Build and Modify Your Own 2010 Ford Mustang

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:10:00 GMT

Automaker Web sites often showcase the latest Flash-based bells and whistles, but Ford really out did itself with the “2010 Experience Customizer.”

In just a quick minute, or two if you’re detail oriented, a user can customize a Mustang with color, decals, body kit, wheels, spoilers, and all the usual trim bits. Where it truly stands out is with a gritty background that can be modified to show burnout marks, graffiti, and distant landscape. The finishing touch: just the right tire smoke.

The image can be sent to friends, or downloaded as a wallpaper. Should you be in the market for a Mustang, you can download a pdf detailing the modifications you made to the virtual pony car.

Very cool, and well worth the visit. Check out the car we made.

Could this be part of the reason Mustang has been selling strong against the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger? (Read "Muscle Car Sales Shootout – Which is the Most Popular?")

If this gets you interested in buying a pony car, read our 2010 Ford Mustang review.