Auto Warranty

Is there a Saturn diesel coming our way? The thought of cruising down the highway at 100 m.p.h. burning only 37 m.p.g. does have it’s appeal. Alas, GM’s latest turbo diesel in the European Opel Astra 1.9 CDTI will not be coming America’s way this year, but Saturn has an eye on diesel.

“Saturn executives have their eye on GM’s European diesel lineup. The brand could offer the latest generation of low-emissions diesels alongside its growing lineup of hybrid-electric models as it works to polish its earth-friendly credentials.

The main questions are how much could Saturn charge for the diesel and how many customers would pay for it.

Diesels are more expensive than most gasoline engines because of costly additional components like turbochargers, intercoolers, high-pressure fuel pumps and extra emission-control systems.”
(Source)

In the past,because of the diesels durability, auto makers like Chrysler extended its warranty to five years or 100,000 miles on all diesel engines in the Dodge Ram, Sprinter and Jeep Liberty lineup. Even with a better extended warranty, experts predict that buyers are going to balk at paying an additional 1000 dollars for a diesel.

“It’s not a bad thing that if you’re stranded by the side of the freeway with a catastrophic engine failure and the odometer reads 98,600 miles, you know you’re not going to have to shell out thousands…”

And that is what will be the Rondo’s greatest kicker;the auto warranty.

“The fit and finish on the Rondo were fine — nothing extraordinary, but then I found no glaring gaps or odd-sized seams — and whoever designed this thing must have been really thirsty. Our seven-passenger car had 10 cupholders sprinkled about the cabin.

If you’re curious about this car, you should also look at the Mazda 5 and the Toyota Matrix, which fit in the same mold of squarish car-like SUVs … more car than truck.

What tips things toward the Kia, however, is its 10-year/100,000-mile power train warranty, a gift from its equally warranty-generous corporate parent, Hyundai Motor Group.”

But to hear this reviewer tell it, the Rondo does have some unexpected surprises.

“What is really stunning, however, given that the Rondo is only 179 inches long, is the amount of cargo room this thing has. With both rear-seat rows folded, you get about 74 cubic feet in the Rondo, a capacity that’s competitive with bigger SUVs.”
(Source)

2007 Kia Rondo EX Specs

• 2007 KIA RONDO EX
• Type: Front engine, front-wheel-drive SUV
• Base price: $20,195
• Price as tested: $23,495
• Power train: 2.7-liter, V6 182-horsepower engine; five-speed automatic transmission
• Curb weight: 3,511 pounds
• Seating capacity: Five to seven, depending on seat configuration
• Mileage: 20 city; 27 highway
• Fuel tank capacity: 15.8 gallons
• Dimensions: Length 179 inches; width 71.7 inches; height 65 inches; wheelbase 106.3 inches
• Warranty: Bumper-to-bumper, five years/60,000 miles; power train, 10 years/100,000 miles
• Source: Kia Motors America, Inc. (www.kia.com); U.S. EPA (www.fuel economy.gov)

The first Hoosier grown Toyota Camry should be rolling out of Subaru of Indiana’s Lafayette factory on April 20th.

Under an agreement made with Fuji Heavy Industries Toyota was able to start production in one year instead of the normal three years it would have taken to build a plant from scratch.

“Subaru will make the Camrys at its only U.S. factory under a contract from Toyota and expects to hire 650 full-time and 450 part-time workers.

The deal allowed Toyota to start making cars about a year after its announcement, instead of the three years it normally takes to build a factory from scratch, said Toyota spokesman Mike Goss.

“We share a lot of the same manufacturing philosophies with Subaru, so it’s really been a good match,” he said.

Subaru expects to reach full production for its first shift on the new Camry line by July, and then complete the second shift by November, spokeswoman Ann McConnell said.”

Hoping to reach full production by July, Subaru has fielded over 18,00 applications for an approximate 650 full-time and 450 part-time jobs.

“The Lafayette Redevelopment Department provided 10-year tax abatements on the investment because of the new jobs, director Dennis Carson said.

“This is one of the biggest economic development deals for 2006 anywhere,” he said. “When you get Toyota in town, that’s a good thing.”
(source)

Toyota Camry’s offer the following new car warranty.

Basic
3 yr. / 36,000 mi.

Free Maintenance
N/A

Drivetrain
5 yr. / 60,000 mi.

Roadside
3 yr. / 36,000 mi.

Rust
5 yr. / Unlimited mi

.

A bit off the beaten path for auto warranties but an interesting development with a warranty written for a computer hard drive. It requires that you take an anti-terrorists oath.

The hard drive buyer explains:

“I essentially had to promise that I would not use the replacement Seagate hard drive to build or disseminate information on building a nuclear bomb, or participate in any other ‘terrorists activity.’ I was laughing so hard that I had to calm myself down in order to give the ‘proper’ answer to this ludicrous question. By the time I finished assuring the Seagate representative on the phone that I would NOT use the replacement hard drive to build a bomb, even he was laughing.”
(Source)

Well, you do have to laugh, even though it is quite true that a computer, and a car as far as that goes, can both easily be used in an act of terrorism. I rather think an oath would not serve as much of a deterrent to a terrorist.

When they start serving up auto warranties with the same request, we’re in trouble.

Yes, we know you know all about seat belts. Does your teenager know? Have you met a parent who has been told that a seat belt would have saved their teen’s life? Just makes it a worth repeating.

Plus, we had to have an excuse to post this great picture (click to enlarge), found via All Auto World.com. Their comment is to the point.

“Here is quite a hard-hitting image to remind people to buckle up, even in the back seat. We should all know the benefits of seat belt usage by now, but some people still seem to think they might be immune in an accident, should they choose the rear seat rather than the front, for some reason. This powerful visual reminder might help to convince them they’re wrong.”

Safety Belt Statistics

• One out of every five drivers will be involved in a traffic crash this year.
• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among people age 44 and younger and the number one cause of head and spinal cord injury.
• Approximately 35,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes each year. About 50 percent (17,000) of these people could be saved if they wore their safety belts.
• More than 90 percent of all motorists believe safety belts are good idea, but less than 14 percent actually use them.
• For every one percent increase in safety belt use, 172 lives and close to $100 million in annual injury and death costs could be saved.
• For maximum protection safety belts should be fastened before traveling any distance or speed. Seventy-five percent of crash deaths and injuries occur within 25 miles of home. More than half of all injury-producing motor vehicle crashes involve low speeds under 40 m.p.h.
• Motorists are 25 times are more likely to be killed or seriously injured when they are “thrown clear” than when remain inside their vehicle.
• In a 30 m.p.h. collision an unbelted 160 lb. Person can strike another passenger, crash through a windshield and/or slam into the vehicle’s interior with a 4,800 lb. force.
• A common cause of death and injury to children in motor vehicles is being crushed by adults who are not wearing safety belts. On out of four serious injuries to passengers is caused by occupants being thrown into each other.
• About 80 percent of all injuries to children in car crashes are injuries to the head, causing brain damage, permanent disfigurement, epilepsy or death.
• Of every 100 children who die in motor vehicle crashes at least 80 would survive if they were properly secured in an approved child safety seat or safety belts.
• Three out of four families with child safety seats fail to use them correctly. Adults need to follow manufacturer’s instructions and secure seats properly before every trip.
• An estimated 80 percent of American children area immunized against contagious diseases, but less than 10 percent are properly restrained when riding in a motor vehicle.

(source)

If you’ve always wanted to just lift your car out of a traffic jam, or just like the feel of no rubber on the road, the Gyro-coptr will be the hybrid of your dreams, employing your aerial fantasies above the earth at a height of 4000 feet while deploying like a luxury car that handles like a motorcycle back on the earth.

What’s not to love?

The Pal-V is expected to be in production by 2009, it runs on gas, biodiesel and bioethanol.

It, understandably, has some pilots looking askance.

“I’m all for the flying car concept, but as a practicing pilot, I have to say that I’m a little leery of it in practice. There are a bunch of very good reasons why getting a pilot’s license is a lot harder than getting a driver’s license, and despite the inherently stable characteristics of an autogyro, takeoff, landing, and navigation is always tricky. And unlike regular cars, which drive on roads, with a flying car, nobody is safe anywhere. Let’s hope these things get regulated effectively, or I’m building myself an underground nuke/tornado/flying tricycle shelter.”
from RemovetheLabels.com

If you thought slow drivers made you mad before, wait until you get behind one of these. You’ll have to provide rear end propulsion yourself if you want to get this thing out of your way. This thing is, by the way , a Flybo-EV, another manifestation of green think.

“…the euphonically christened XFD-6000ZK, is one of three Flybo-EV models headed for the U.S. market. All are classed as LSVs/NEVs (Low Speed / Neighborhood Electric Vehicles), which means they’re limited to 25 mph (40 mph without the mechanical limiter) and needn’t be especially crashworthy. However, Flybo-EV North America assures us that they’re “100% legal for on-road use.”

I wonder if their auto warranty covers being zapped in a fly trap.

“Ford Motor Co.’s planned sale of its auto service contract unit received antitrust approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.Ford, seeking to raise cash after a $12.7-billion loss last year, agreed earlier this month to sell Atlanta-based Automobile Protection Corp. to Trident IV LP, a fund managed by Stone Point Capital LLC.The U.S. agency granted approval this week, according to the commission’s Web site. Ford said March 2 it expected the sale to be completed in the second quarter.

Automobile Protection sells extended warranties and service contracts to vehicle buyers.

Ford hasn’t disclosed the terms of the Automobile Protection sale. Spokeswoman Becky Sanch declined to comment beyond confirming the U.S. agency action.”
(Source)

In other Ford news, Mazda renewed it’s partnership with Ford, announcing a target goal of 1.6 million units sold globally by 2010 and, a judge tossed a 15 million judgenment against Ford in a roll-over trial, because “Ford showed in post-trial motions the jury had been prejudiced by the conduct of Clark Brewster, the attorney for the Moodys. Eagan said that considering the size of the verdict, the proper thing to do is to order a new trial.”

If you suspect that your battery is on it’s last legs there are a few basics to cover when deciding on a replacement. First, determine which size battery is appropriate for your car. You’ll also want to check the warranty dates printed on the battery, aiming for one that offers the longest free replacement time.
Consumer Reports goes into more detail:

Fresh is best. Batteries lose strength just sitting on a store shelf. Most are labeled with a shipping-date code. When shopping, look for a month code indicated by a letter (“A” for January, for example) and year (“6” for 2006). It’s best to choose a battery no more than six months old.

Insist on real-world performance. Cold-cranking amps (CCAs) are important, especially for those living in cold regions. CCAs are a measure of how much power a battery has at zero degrees Fahrenheit, when thickened engine oil makes an engine hardest to start and available battery power drops significantly. Generally, the higher the CCA rating, the greater the starting power of the battery regardless of temperature. In our tests, where batteries are charged at lower, more realistic voltage, we’ve found that few meet their cold-cranking claims. Only one new model provided the full 30 seconds of cranking power required by our CCA test this year, a decline from last year, when six passed.

Consider manufacturers’ CCA claims only as a rough guide, then choose a battery that performed well in our CCA tests.

Also look for a score of good or better in our life and reserve-capacity tests. A battery’s reserve capacity indicates how long it will power your car if the charging system fails or if the lights are left on when the engine is off. The models we tested with the best reserve capacity provided power for 120 to 150 minutes, but even models with the shortest reserve, 60 to 90 minutes, should provide sufficient power to get you to safety or start your car.

Pick the best warranty. Other numbers printed on the battery indicate warranty information. A code such as 24/84, for example, indicates a free-replacement period of 24 months and a prorated warranty of 84 months. It’s best to pick one with the longest free-replacement period available because the amount of reimbursement in the prorated period usually drops off quickly as the battery ages.

Choose the right battery for your climate. Chilling cold isn’t the hardest environment for batteries; hot temperatures actually cause more damage. While starting in frigid climates can be tough on a battery, heat saps more life over time. And the extra drain from air conditioning and increased under-hood temperatures in hot weather is especially taxing. Many batteries are specifically designed for Northern and Southern climates and are sold only in those regions.

Dispose of your old battery safely. Batteries contain lead that is highly toxic, but they are easily recycled. Most states require retailers to collect old batteries to keep the harmful lead inside them outside of the waste stream. If you do your own installation, you may pay a “core charge” of a few dollars if you don’t have an old battery to trade when you make your purchase. This is normally credited when you bring in the old battery.

The auto business in Jamaica is thriving under the banner of New Line Prestige Motors Company.

“Under the New Line Prestige Motors Company marquee, the car dealership has the exclusive franchise to sell motor vehicles from four Chinese automobile manufacturers: Yutong – which carries the flagship buses which are now being used extensively by JUTC and a number of tour operators on the north coast; Zheng Xhiang (ZX) Auto – featuring four and two-wheel drive pickups as well as the Landman SUV; Cherry – carrying a range of sedans, minivans and SUVs; and Foton – the largest truck manufacturer in Asia.”

New Line Managing Director, Dr, Harry Benjamin, has praise for his Chinese line up, citing the use of the Cummins engine as a big plus.

“The engine is Cummings, one of the best in the world,” said Benjamin, referring in this case to the Yutong buses.

“They have been using a lot of German technology and the engines come with a two-year unlimited warranty.”

New Line evidently plans to cater to all sensibilities with their new dealership by also providing a spa, beauty parlour and internet connections for their car buying customers. The scope of the entire operation ensures market domination for a time to come.

“The new dealership, which opened last weekend, was developed on almost three acres of land in about six months. The pre-engineered steel facility has three structures, with the main building occupying about 15,000 square feet. It houses the showroom, the administrative and executive offices and a showroom, which accounts for 4,000 square feet of the space. There is also a warehouse, with some 28,000 square feet of racked storage space, a bonded warehouse capable of holding 80 vehicles, and a display lot with space for 70 vehicles.”
excerpted from the Jamaica Gleaner