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".
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- 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.
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- 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.
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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.
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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.
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November 6th, 2006 by admin
Could be related to cooling of housing market, analysts say.
An article in Reuter’s today says the luxury car and SUV markets are facing a decline, reflected by a dip in sales.
Driven by aging baby boomers at the peak of their earnings power and dominated by European and Asian brands, the luxury segment of the U.S. auto market has grown by 20 percent since the start of the decade.
That growth, which came despite a pullback in the pace of less-pricey auto sales over the same period, brought the luxury segment to about 12 percent of 16.9 million vehicles Americans bought in 2005.
But luxury car sales are down about 4 percent this year, and some analysts are seeing a potentially worrying connection with another venue for conspicuous consumption: real estate.
Overall car sales had been on a downturn, but premium vehicles have been insulated from this trend until now. The possible link to the housing market has largely been based on the parallel decline of luxury car purchases and the housing market observed in California.
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November 3rd, 2006 by admin
What if the warranty on the used car you bought does not transfer?
When you’ve purchased a previously owned vehicle, you may find out that the warranty that was on the new car has expired. Or you may find that the warranty transfers some benefits, but not all of them. Is there anything you can do to have warranty coverage when you assume ownership?
Yes. You can actually purchase your warranty separately, and get coverage via an extended warranty that will make up the difference or overlap slightly.
When you shop, don’t just pick up the cheapest warranty you can find. Compare pricing, but also compare what coverage you’re getting for your money. Weigh this against how reliable your car will be overall or the likelihood of an unexpected major repair expense.
Lack of warranty coverage doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.
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November 3rd, 2006 by admin
“IRS Increases Vehicle Reimbursement Rate”
The IRS has increased the vehicle reimbursement rate.
The Internal Revenue Service today issued a 2007 allowable vehicle reimbursement rate of 48.5 cents per mile, despite a moderation in gas prices compared with the volatile post-Hurricane Katrina prices of a year ago.
The 2007 rate is an increase from the 2006 rate of 44.5 cents per mile.
Many businesses use this rate as a guideline for their compensation of business travelers who use private vehicles to do company business.
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November 1st, 2006 by admin
“Government wants to keep confidential some vehicle safety data” – Detroit Free Press
According to a recent article in the Detroit Free Press, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to keep certain vehicle safety data private.
From the article:
The proposal, similar to past versions, came in response to a ruling by a federal judge earlier this year that the agency had failed to provide enough notice to comment on an early warning system plan. In the March ruling, District Judge Richard J. Leon sent the proposal back to the agency.
The early warning system was part of legislation approved by Congress following the massive recall of Firestone tires in 2000. It required automakers and other manufacturers to submit data on deaths, injuries, consumer complaints, property damage and warranty claims.
NHTSA said its proposal would consider certain early warning information as confidential, including production numbers not involving light vehicles, consumer complaints, paid warranty claims and field reports.
Apparently the requested disclosures violate a public records law that prohibits sharing information that could result in privacy intrusion.
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October 27th, 2006 by admin
Green vehicle guide available for download from their site.
The Environmental Protection Agency posts a guide online called the Green Vehicle Guide that gives data on the environmental impact of vehicles.
They have recently updated their website with information on the 2007 models of popular cars. You can also go to their site to look up specific vehicles, or find the "greener" ones in their database.
The updated version with the cars listed alphabetically or by air pollution score is available in text, Adobe Acrobat or Excel format for downloading by consumers.
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