*By the year 2020 expect to see safety monitoring systems become standard on upscale models and optional on all but the least expensive vehicles. Rearview cameras are likely to become standard equipment (NHTSA proposal) and will be requirled in all light passenger vehicles by 2014. The additional cost by the dealine could be $50 or less for vehicles equipped with displays and $150 for those without one. More technologically advancec cameras will be widely standard or inexpensive options. Cross-path cameras, like those from Ford, Chrysler, BMW, show a 180-degree view from the back or front and alert you if another car is approaching as you back up or pull out. Infiniti vehicles have the Around View monitoring system which provides a 360-degree view, using a computer to pull together four camera feeds (available in a $2500 option package). Night vision systems (BMW, Mercedes-Benz) are now available and detect infrared light or amplify light to help the driver spot a pedestrian who may wander into the car’s path.
*Traffic congestion continues to worsen. In American cities, 3.9 billion gallons of fuel is wasted, costing the average Chicago commuter an additional $1,738 a year and 70 hours of idle car time-ranking first among urban areas. (Texas Transportation Insitute 2010 Urban Mobility Report). A 2010 NHTSA report on potential safety benefits of vehicle-to-vehicle communications estimates intelligent vehicles could help in as many as 4.3 million police-reported light-vehicle crashes annually, or approximately 81 percent.
*The Yellow Dot Program. Helping drivers in auto accidents is the latest trend that is growing. Started in CT in 2002, the Yellow Dot Program shares a person’s health information with rescuers and hospital personnel. A yellow sticker is placed on the car’s back window of a member’s car alerting fire and rescue that a folder is in the car’s glove box complete with the driver’s info: photo, medications, allergiees, contacts, etc. Now available in several states, Yellow Dot is being put to use in Alabama, Illinois and New York, among other states. The program is now being offered to nursing home resident, says Betty Hottenstein, Bluff Park United Methodist Church director of senior adult ministries, in Hoover, Alabama. (Susan Kreimer, aarp.org/bulletin, July-August 2011).
*Beware of 0 percent financing! When financing a new vehicle, don’t fall for the deal that “seems” like the best one. It isn’t always the best one for you. Depending on your personal circumstances, be sure you examine the fine print in that 0 percent financing deal: For one, you might forfeit the factory rebate to get the 0 percent rate; 0 percent financing usually applies to certain makes/models only; Many 0 percent offers are limited to short-term loans, resulting in higher monthly payments; and usually 0 percent financing offers are limited to only those customers with the highest credit ratings. Buyer Beware.
*If you’re thinking about texting while driving, don’t. Many states are moving toward legislation to outlaw texting while driving. Just recently, Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana said he will sign it into law if passed by the legislature. The proposal calls for fines of up to $500 for violators. Consider these statistics:
*28 percent of car accidents are cayou’re one of those drivers who just must text and drive, you could end up paying for it. More states are used by talking or texting while driving.
*Those who text and drive are 23 percent more likely to have an accident.
*Texting while driving is about 6 times more likely to result in an accident than driving while intoxicated.
*Cell phones are involved in 1.6 million accidents/year, causing 500,000 million injuries and 6,000 deaths.
*Studies have found that texting while driving causes a 400 percent increase in time with eyes off the road.
*26 percent of cell phone users admit to having been texting while driving.
(Indianapolis Woman Magazine, April 2011)
*According to Mark Porter, a British professor leading a project called “Reducing Back Pain in High Mileage Drivers,” the pain in your back could be telling you a lot about your relationship with your car:
-One-third of male drivers tend to sit with their legs fully extended. A better way: Bend your knees to reduce the strain on back muscles.
_Many women sit too close to the steering wheel. A better way: Slide back so your arms are only slightly bent.
-On long trips, stop and stretch every couple of hours and adjust the seat to change driving posture.
Indianapolis Star (May 29, 2011)
*There has been a sharp rise in the value of used cars of late, due to sustained lack of supply over the past several years. The average age of a car today is 10 years old, indicating people are holding on to their vehicles longer. This sharp rise primarily stems from reduced new-car sales through the same period.The average change in the value of a 3-yr. old car is reflected in the chart below:
Toyota 4Runner: $13,000 (4/07); $20,500 (4/11); $7,500 change
Toyota Prius: $13,800 (4/07); $17,300 (4/11); $5,700 change
Honda Civic: $5,100 (4/07); $12,200 (4/11); $3,500 change
Ford Explorer: $8,500 (4/07); $14,200 (4/11); $7,100 change
Due to fuel prices, consumers are flocking to subcompact, compact and hybrid vehicles.
*In may instances, consumers may be better off NOT opting for the 0 percent financing at a dealership. The reasons:
*You might forfeit the factory rebate to get the 0% rate;
*0% financing usually applies to certain makes/models;
*Many 0% offers are limited to short-term loans, resulting in higher monthly payments;
*Usually 0% financing offers are limited to only those consumers with the highest credit ratings.
*Ten Most Dangerous Drivers by Profession:
1.Attorney/Judge 2. Financial professionals 3. Government workers 4. Bartender/waiter 5. Business professionals 6. Dog groomer 7. Marketing/advertising professionals 8. Barber/stylist 9. Coach 10. Nurse.
According to a study by Insurance.com, the above are ranked as the 10 most dangerous drivers by profession.Attorneys were found at the top of the list, with 44 percent claiming a prior accident when comparison shopping for car insurance on Insurance.com. The least dangerous drivers were athletes (17 percent), and homemakers (24 percent). The reason for the ratings, speculates Insurance.com, is that people with stressful careers and heavy workloads are likely to spend more time taking part in distracted-driving practices such as talking on cell phones.
*July 8, 2011 has been named Car Collector Appreciation Day by the U.S. Senate. Thanks to the efforts of SEMA, the Automotive Restoration Market and Hot Rod Industry Alliance, Car Collector Appreciation Day will celebrate the nation’s automotive heritage. The sponsoring organizations will partner with individuals, businesses and organizations to sponsor car collectors, club gatherings or other related activities.
*A http://www.truecar.com/ study determined that women car buyers are more cost-conscious. Based on 8 million retail purchases last year, the study revealed that women purchased more fuel efficient vehicles while male buyers were the complete opposite. Male car buyers purchased vehicles that are big and brawny, such as a large truck, or chose a higher priced, high-performance vehicle. The brands with nearly 50 percent women buyers were Mini, Kia and Honda. Men buyers were more inclined to go to Ferrari, Lotus, Lamborghini, Maybach and Rolls Royce; while only 10 percent of women purchased a vehicle in these brands.
*Consumers can download (www.fueleconomy.gov/feg) a fuel economy sticker for their used car. The National Transport Research Lab (http://www.ornl.gov/) advises that the government is now offering this sticker to paste on the windshield. The fuel economy of a properly maintained vehicle changes very little over a typical 15 years of use. The EPA rate estimated can be reliable.
*Bloomberg reports that Zipcar, a car sharing company, vastly exceeded expectations for its IPO, raising some $175 million. Zipcar offers car-sharing by the hour in 50 cities in the U.S., Canada, and the UK, as well as on 150 college campuses. They own and operate 8,000 vehicles, representing 30 makes and models, including hybrids and pickups.
*Kelly Blue Book’s Top 10 Green Cars, in order:
1. Nissan Leaf (99 mpg)
2. Chevrolet Volt (93 equivalent, avg. 34
3. Toyota Prius 50 mpg (51/48)
4. Lexus CT 200h
5. Honda Insight
6. Ford Fusion Hybrid
7. Volkswagen Golf TDI (30/42)
8. Hyundai Elantra (29/49)
9. Fiat 500 (30/38; avg. 33)
10. Ford Focus 28/38 (31 avg.)
*World Premiere: To be announced at the New York Auto Show, the Lexus LF-Gh concept car. Lexus will also provide a fleet of cars for guests at the luxury hotel Elysian in Chicago. The Elysian, located on Chicago’s Gold Coast with 188 rooms, elegant furnishings, fireplaces and marble bathrooms will provide for its guests the LS 460L, LS 600h hybrid sedan and LX 570 SUV.
*NADA reports that Honda has dominated the 2011 NADAGuides Best Car Buys Report with five models, while Kia, Toyota and Chevrolet each had three models on the report. Kia and Toyoa were also the only manufacturers to have the top vehicle in more than one category. New to the report this year is Mitsubishi with its 2011 Outlander Sport leading the sports segment. Of the import models named to the 2011 report, roughly 55 percent were Japanese models while Korean models made up 25 percent and European manufacturers the reamining 20 percent. This demonstrates that Korean models took roughly 10 percent of the share from Japanese manufacturers as compared to the 2011 NADAGuides Best Buys Report where Japanese models accounted for nearly 65 percent and Korean models nearly 15 percent. Import models saw a large increase in the number of vehicles to make the 2011 NADAguides Best Buy Car Buys Report, compared to 2010, when import models accounted for some 62 percent of vehicles on the Report, while in 2011, the percentage increased to 74 percent.
*The 2011 Honda Civic gets a new facelift, and the next generation VW Beetle will debut for 2012. The VW Jetta was debuted in Chicago this week (Feb 9) at the Chicago Auto Show, and a sneak peak of the 2012 Mazda MX-5 Miata was also offered. During Detroit’s International Auto Show in January, the Chevrolet Electric Volt received Car of the Year Award.
*In 2010, Toyota was the largest seller of certified used vehicles in the auto industry. They sold a record-breaking 315,418 certified used vehicles; an increase of nearly 19 percent from 2009. Toyota has now achieved the 3 million sales mark for a company program that began in 1996.
*The average age of vehicles being traded in these days is headed downward. According to Edmunds.com, the average age of trade-in vehicles has fallen steadily to a little more than 5 years, from nearly 5.8 years. This may be a sign that consumers are beginning to part with their money again when it comes to new car purchases. This is good for the market Through the first 11 months of 2010, automakers sold 10.4 milion vehicles in the U.S., an 11 percent gain from 2009. (Chicago Tribune, 2010).
*Ford will add automatic start/stop technology to 2012 U.S. lineup.
*The newest cars for 2011 include the Audi A2, Chevy Volt, Scion iQ, Ford Fiesta, Honda CR-Z, Hyundai Equus, Lexus CT 200h, Mini Countryman, Nissan Juke, Nissan Leaf.
*Due to customer demand, AutoNation, Penske, Litheas Asbury and Sonic are among some of the retailers trying to boost sales of old used vehicles, carving out a separate space on lots for cars that could be basic transportation in a weak economy.
*Allstate Corp. has launched a voluntary program that uses a device installed in a car to reward safe and low-mileage Illinois drivers. Savings can be as much as 30 percent. The program, called Drive Wise is expected to expand into other states as early as the second quarter of 2011. The gadget is small and wireless, about the size of a pack of cigarettes, and it plugs into the vehicle’s onboard computer through the diagnostic port, usually located under the dashboard. The device tracks only factors used to calculate driving scores, including mileage, hard or extreme braking and maximum speed. Allstate policyholders get an immediate 10 percent discount when enrolling. There remain questions about the new device Drive Wise, such as, is it tracking more than it says it is? Will policyholders find their insurance cancelled due to poor driving habits?Will the discount on insurance outweight theother potential uses of the data? For more information, go to Allstate’s web site. (Chicago Tribune, 12/28/2010).
*K bb.com Announces Winners of 2011 Best Resale Value Awards. Kbb.com has decided on their best value awardwinners for 2011:
Best Resale Value Brand: Subaru
Best Resale Value Brand by Category: Subcompact car: Honda Fit; Compact Utility Vehicle: Honda CR-V; Compact Car: MINI Cooper; Mid-size Utility Vehicle: Toyota FJ Cruiser; Full-size Car: Ford Taurus; Luxury Utility Vehicle: BMW X5; Van: Toyota Sienna; High-Performance Car: Ford Mustang GT; Mid-size Car: Honda Accord; Full-size Utility Vehicle: GMC Acadia; Hybrid/Alt. Energy Car: VW Golf TDI; Wagon: Subaru Outback; Luxury Car: Audi A5; Near Luxury Car: Lexus IS: Hybrid/Alt EnergyUtility Vehicle: BMW X5-XDrive 35d: Midsize pickup: Toyota Tacoma; Full-size pickup: Ford F-Series Super Duty; Sports Car: 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX;
2011 Best Resale Value Top 10 Models: Audi A5, Lexus GX, BMW X5, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Jeep Wranger, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota FJ Cruiser, BMW X6, Lexus RX, Honda CR-V.
According to kbb.com, much of resale value is based on supply/demand, as well as current and projected future marketing conditions. Vehicles that maintain their best value are never heavily discounted and tend to generate consumer enthusiasm. Rather than considering a car’s sticker price when buying a new car, notes kbb.com, consider its resale value. Depreciation is often the greatest expense incurred by drivers during the first 5 years of ownership. An average vehicle will only retain about 34 percent of its original value after a 5-year ownership period, meaning that a $50,000 new car today will only be worth somewhere close to $17,000 after 5 years.
*Used-car prices redefine sticker shock when compared to lease deals out there today. Go to websiteLeaseTrader.com and compare the overall price of popular used cars with the same vehicles as a lease takeover. According to the experts at LeaseTrader.com, in order to equal the same monthly value in taking over a lease, you would have to drive that used car for 93 months in some cases. When you factor in age, interest payments and extra maintenance, you rarely come out ahead, says Sergio Stiberman, CEP and founder of LeaseTrader.com. For example: The suggested used-vehicle price for a used 2009 Toyota Camry LE is $18,639. The same car listed onLeaseTrader.com for $199/mth with 17 months remaining ($3,383. In order to equal the same value, you must drive the used vehicle for 93 months which would make the car ten years old by then. Check out the site and make your own comparisons. You might be surprised!
*Exxon and Mobil retailers and Citi are giving cardholders the opportunity to earn a $50 dining certifcate when they use their Exxon Mobil Personal Card for fuel purchases through November 30. Registering at dining-exxonmobilcard.com will earn you a $50 Restaurant.com dining certificate redemable at over 15,000 restaurants and online merchants if you purchase 100 gallons of gas within 90 days. Non-cardholders can also register to win by opening a new account.
*TIRERACK.COM (March 2010). TireRack.com, America’s largest independent tire tester and consumer-direct source for tires, wheels and performance accessories, announces a new online enhancement designed to make the tire buying experience faster, easier and more efficient. The new feature allows consumers to access TireRack.com’s tire research pages, surveys, reviews and tests, and eliminating the confusion. Consumers can run through the unbiased reviews of tires, surveys and results, all at one time, to help them make that all important decision about what tires to purchase. With more than 150 different consumer tire brands sold in the U.S. aftermarket in 2009, one can imagine how hard that purchase can be. For more information, go towww.TireRack.com.
*Women-Drivers.com (April 2010). What women experience buying cars has been studied yet again by consumer rating company Women-Drivers.com. Comparing women under, and over 40, “the consumer company provides insights and trends regarding the purchase experience at car dealerships,” says President Anne Flemming. For more information and interesting data re: women and car buying, go to www.
*How to Keep your Brakes from Letting you Down: If you’re hearing strange sounds when you apply the brakes, the braking system may be crying for help, says the Car Care Council. There are all kinds of indicators that let you know what might be wrong. For instance, squeaks: tell you there is friction from the brake lining causing heat. Under extreme driving conditions, this can damage the pads, lining and/or brak drums, rotors. Grinding: A metallic grinding sound says your brake pads are worn; metal-to-metal contact will damage the drums and rotors. A low or fading pedal may indicate a leak in the brake system. If the pedal sinks to the floor when you try and stop, or the brakes require more pumping, you may need to have them adjusted. Air in the brake lines or the need for a brake adjustment may be on your car’s horizon. Also, pulling and/or dragging may be due to a damaged brake line. This can cause your car to pull to one side. Brakes that are out of adjustment or have contaminated fluid can cause brakes to drag. The important and essential brake parts include master cylinder, brake lines, bearings and seals, calipers and wheel cylinders, brake hoses and linings and pads! Pay attention!!
*Besides helping the environment, a properly maintained and operated vehicle will run more efficiently, safer and will last longer. Here are a few things to remember: Keep your engine tuned up, Check your tires on a monthly basis (including that spare!), Keep your air conditioner in top condition, observe speed limits to help conserve gasoline, avoid excessive idling, drive gently, remove excess items to save on weight, and plan trips accordingly.
*Remember those fluids! Checking and maintaining the fluid levels in your car is extremely important. Once a week or every time you refuel, check your car’s oil. Have it changed according to the manufacturer’s specs. Check your vehicle’s antifreeze/coolant and have it flushed every two years. Check your car’s brake fluid on a regular basis and consult your car’s maintenance schedule about when to have the system flushed. Power-steering fluid and automatic transmission fluid all need to be checked every three months. Locate the dip stick, remove it, wipe it and reinsert it. Where does the level fall? “Add,” or “Full” ? And don’t forget the battery fluid. Unless your car has a maintenance-free battery, you need to keep track of the fluid levels. Read your car’s manual; The most important book there is, yet the least read!
*So you think driving while According to the NHTSA in 2008, almost 20 percent of all crashes involved some type of distraction. Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involved a distracted driver. The under-20-age group had the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes. Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes. Being a distracted driver also makes you more stupid! Just listening to a cell phone, show research studies, reduces by 37 percent the amount of brain activity associated with driving.
*Corvette Mike is back! If you’ve got a Corvette for sale, for restoration or want to find that special collector Corvette, contact Mike Vietro. He is the Corvette guy who gets it done…from selling a collection to matching sellers and buyers needs, Corvette Mike can assist you. You can reach him at 714-342-2570, or at MV@CorvetteMike.com.
*8 Tips to Getting More out of your Car’s Gas Tank: Reduce drag; Keep it capped: Close the cap tightly after filling up; Look ahead: Accelerate before you reach a hill; Utilize your garage: In cold and warm months, garaging your car will reduce the need to use the car’s A/C or heater; Change the car’s air filter regularly; Lighten the load: Don’t keep lots of junk inside the car; and Avoid rough roads: Riding over rough road surfaces consumes up to 30 percenet of your vehicle’s gas mileage.
*Hertz Local Edition rental car has opened two new facilities in the Chicagoland area: Wrighlyville, right across from Wrigley Field at 3650 N. Clark, and inside Grossinger City Autoplex, at 1561 Fremont. Offering a full range of rental vehicles, Hertz is there to make renting a vehicle more convenient.
