November 29th, 2006 by admin
Touted as “full” hybrid.
The Ford Escape Hybrid made its debut at the Los Angeles Automobile Show this afternoon.
From the press release:
Ford Escape Hybrid continues to be a "full" hybrid. This means that, unlike other "mild" hybrid vehicles, Escape Hybrid can run on 100 percent electric power up to about 30 mph, maximizing in-city fuel economy….
For 2008, Escape Hybrid engineers made revisions to software in the control system to improve transparency, or the transition between gasoline and electric operation. The transition from all-electric to gasoline power to a combination of the two is now even more seamless and virtually imperceptible to the driver.
See Also
November 28th, 2006 by admin
Money-saving tips for your car, from the federal government. Gotta love Pueblo.
The Federal Government is out to lower the cost of owning a car. They’re spreading the word through one of their most useful websites, the online version of Pueblo. You may remember this resource from the offline version, advertised widely on television during the last three decades. You used to have to get their free federal publications by fax on demand or sending through the mail. Now many of them are available online, and the ones that aren’t you can order them right online.
Here’s a quote from one of their tips – you can get the full article at their site.
Ask for Higher Deductibles
Deductibles are what you pay before your insurance policy kicks in. By requesting higher deductibles, you can lower your costs substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive coverage cost by 15 to 30 percent. Going to a $1,000 deductible can save you 40 percent or more. Before choosing a higher deductible, be sure you have enough money set aside to pay it if you have a claim.
See Also
- Extended Warranty for Any Vehicle
Get an extended warranty for any car, truck, motorcycle or RV on any make, year or model, with any mileage whether your vehicle is new or used.
November 24th, 2006 by admin
Honor “goes to the entire Camry range, including the Camry Hybrid.”
Motor Trend Magazine recently announced the Toyota Camry as its 2007 Car of the Year. The January 2007 issue of the magazine will feature the Car of the Year and will be on news stands on December the 5th.
The Toyota Camry bested a field of 27 competitors, comprising six models from the U.S., 10 from Japan, five from Korea, four from Germany, one from the U.K., and one from Sweden.
To be eligible for Car of the Year, a vehicle must be totally new or redesigned, and released in the 12 months prior to January 1, 2007 (cars with modifications such as new engines or that are variants of existing models are not eligible).
This year’s field of contenders for Car of the Year included:
Chevrolet Aveo, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Caliber, Honda Fit, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Entourage, Infiniti G35, Jaguar XK, Jeep Compass, Kia Optima, Kia Rondo, Kia Sedona, Lexus ES 350, Lexus LS 460, Mercedes Benz S-Class, Nissan Altima, Nissan Sentra, Nissan Versa, Porsche Cayman, Saturn Aura, Saturn Sky Redline, Suzuki SX4, Toyota Camry, Toyota Yaris, Volvo C70 T5, Volkswagen EOS, and Volkswagen Rabbit.
See Also
- Extended Warranty for Any Vehicle
Get an extended warranty for any car, truck, motorcycle or RV on any make, year or model, with any mileage whether your vehicle is new or used.
November 23rd, 2006 by admin
California gas prices high, but are still among lowest in the West
The Central Valley Business Times reports that California gas prices, while still on the rise, are still lower than most other Western states.
California’s average price on Friday is $2.512 per gallon for self-serve regular grade (87 octane.)
That is less than motorists are paying in Oregon ($2.575) and Washington, also an average of $2.575…
No explanation is given for why California’s prices are lower, but the rise in crude oil futures is cited as linked to the nationwide rise.
See Also
- Extended Warranty for Any Vehicle
Get an extended warranty for any car, truck, motorcycle or RV on any make, year or model, with any mileage whether your vehicle is new or used.
November 20th, 2006 by admin
“From November 20, Ford Motor Company will sell their luxury Lincoln models from pages on Amazon.com.”
Some thought that there wouldn’t be a demand for online ordering of groceries, and a few years ago, the legal downloading of videos from the Internet didn’t seem like a viable alternative to getting DVDs delivered. Amazon has been a part of that change, and according to a recent article in BizReport, they will be partnering with Ford to make Lincolns available for purchase online.
Each model will have its own webpage and prospective purchasers can customize and price different options. Live online help is also available, bridging the gap between dealership and customer. The sale will be finalized offline at the users’ local Lincoln dealership, located by their zip code.
Scott Kelly, digital marketing manager for the Lincoln and Mercury brands, said the online purchasing system should appeal to Lincoln’s target demographic, which he described as busy and used to shopping online. And he said the program could be expanded to other Ford products if it proves successful.
On the one hand, of course, it seems like a strange idea. Who would buy a car without sitting in it, driving in it, even negotiating the best possible deal? Therein may be the answer – if a person previously owned a Lincoln, or had been in one, and already knew what they’d be getting, it could be a welcome convenience to them.
It seems that we’ll have to wait and see if the idea is ahead of its time, completely off base, or one whose time has come.
See Also
- Extended Warranty for Any Vehicle
Get an extended warranty for any car, truck, motorcycle or RV on any make, year or model, with any mileage whether your vehicle is new or used.
November 18th, 2006 by admin
Launch of first luxury hydrogen hybrid with limited leasing starting in March.
Powered by liquid hydrogen that is stored in a vacuum-sealed tank, the engine delivers a whopping 300bhp, yet the emission escaping through the exhaust pipe is mainly pure water vapour.
Unlike rival hydrogen models in the making, which use fuel cells, the BMW Hydrogen 7 is kitted out with a conventional combustion engine that can also run on petrol.
This makes it possible to use it as an everyday car, which is why BMW has announced plans to put hydrogen powered cars into production, months or years ahead of its competitors.
BMW’s upcoming Hydrogen 7 can run on either gasoline or liquid hydrogen, a feature that makes it convenient for use in the typical motorist’s life – at least those who can afford its price tag. Available for lease to a select few this coming March, this vehicle has already had its share of mixed reviews for its apparent list of shortcomings.
However, it is still being hailed as an innovation, months or even years ahead of its competition as a viable, green-conscious alternative to cars that run only on gas, and a welcome addition to the hybrids available on the market, particularly as a luxury vehicle. Much of the coverage that has appeared about the new offering from BMW, as in the quote from the same article above, aren’t shy about pointing out the pitfalls, yet, at the same time, it’s being called a car that has the potential to "save the world".
See Also
- Extended Warranty for Any Vehicle
Get an extended warranty for any car, truck, motorcycle or RV on any make, year or model, with any mileage whether your vehicle is new or used.
November 15th, 2006 by admin
You can cover your new car completely, from bumper to bumper.
A basic warranty may say that it covers your car from bumper to bumper – that is from the front end of your car to the back, and everything in-between. But does it really? And if not, will an extended auto warranty complete your coverage?
Even if your coverage is extensive, read the fine print to see what incidentals are not covered. Of course, there are many indicental items that aren’t covered by any warranty, but many warranties do not have these items clearly listed, which can result in you paying for service that you should be covered for. These items may not be plainly stated on the contract, so be sure to go over the entire document.
In Auto Advantage’s service agreement booklet for bumper to bumper warranties on new cars, we have a section clearly marked "What is Not Covered" to make it much easier on you. We tell you on the same page, up front, what your coverage includes:
This program covers all the major components on your vehicle… Bumper to Bumper Coverage provides Mechanical Break-down coverage for repairs/replacements of ALL original equipment, manufacturers factory installed mechanical an electrical operating parts and assemblies on the covered vehicle…
Once you know what is covered, you also want to make sure you’re covered for a sufficient amount of time. Your coverage with us can last as long as fourteen years or as little as three months, we say so right on our home page. Your mileage is flexible too.
Get an extended warranty that has as many options as you need and you’ll have much more peace of mind about your auto purchase.
See Also
- Extended Warranty for Any Vehicle
Get an extended warranty for any car, truck, motorcycle or RV on any make, year or model, with any mileage whether your vehicle is new or used.
November 13th, 2006 by admin
Several local markets have covered the report both on and offline.
Even when the price of gas was falling recently, the interest in cars with better mileage was not. A recent study by the Good Housing Institute tested 11 models of cars head to head. Part of the minimum criteria was that the cars claimed mileage greater than 30 miles per gallon and be able to seat four people comfortably.
Hybrid cars were excluded from the study, which just became available online through the Good Housekeeping Institute. You may also hear about the study on the news tonight, and several local markets are summarizing the report on their site, though few are linking back to the original online copy.
The top four cars within the scope of their test were:
- Toyota’s Yaris
- Toyota’s Corolla
- Kia’s Rio, and,
- The Nissan Versa.
Some of the details printed online are not available in the version on newstands, according to the Good Housekeeping Institute’s article.
See Also
November 10th, 2006 by admin
“Gas prices up after 11 weeks of drops”
For the second week in a row, gas prices are continuing to climb after an 11 week trend of lowered pricing, at an average drop of just over a penny a day.
In the Inland Empire, the average price is $2.415, up 2.8 cents from last week, 17 cents below last month, and 28 cents lower than last year.
This is the second straight week that the national gas price average has risen, and oil industry analysts expected the increase sometime in November because of OPEC’s decision to cut back on crude oil production, the Auto Club said.
This excerpt was quoted from a California source, however the decline in gas prices has been reported nationwide.
See Also
November 8th, 2006 by admin
Knowing what you’re getting beforehand will prevent you from buying a cheap but useless warranty.
When you’re shopping for an extended auto warranty, particularly on a used car, buying based on price or mileage alone may seem like it saves you money in the short run.
The truth is, all the factors of purchasing warranty coverage for your vehicle must be balanced according to your personal needs.
You should take the following things into consideration before you buy.
- Is the mileage limit close to the number of miles on my car?
- What is the reputation of the company from which I’m purchasing this warranty? How long have they been around?
- What is the time limit on my extended warranty?
- Exactly what is covered in this warranty? Is it Powertrain, Component, and Bumper to Bumper?
- What is the deductible?
It’s important to know not just what your costs are, but how they will keep your future costs low, how well can they help you keep your car in great shape. and for how long.
See Also
