*”Alive at 25″ sponsored by Continental Tire is a young driver intervention program that zeroes in on drivers between ages 15-24, the group most vulnerable to be involved in fatal carshes. “Alive by 25″ is a survival course developed by the National Safety Council and is designed to prevent the number one killer of teens, automobile crashes. Taught by off-duty Deputy Sheriffs and Municipal Police Officers, the program is delivered in one 4 1/2 hour program which focuses on the behaviors and decision-making paradigms that young drivers and passengers display behind the wheel. The “Alive by 25″ program will be held at Lancaster High School on February 11, 2012 and Saturday March 3. By invitation only, these events are not open to the public. Following six deaths last year, Lancaster schools will be the first to participate in the program.
*Mazda will stop making cars with it signature rotary engines, first introduced in 1967. After 45 years, the automaker will kill the engine that powered the fist and only Japanese car to win the 24-hour Le Mans endurance race. Poor sales and high costs of meeting emissions standards are blamed. Going the same way is the Mazda RX-8 model. The latest edition went on sale November 24, 2011, targeting sales of 1,000 vehicles, ending production in June 2012. Mazda sold only 2,896 RX-8′s in 2010; 1,245 of them in North America and 963 in Japan.
*Chrysler Group will be offering only one minivan in its future-Chrysler Town & Country. Part of their plan to end duplication in dealer showrooms, the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan and Dodge Avenger mid-sized sedan will be replaced by a single crossover in 2013. When Chrysler replaces the 200 sedan and Dodge Avenger,, both the Chrysler sedan and crossover will be built on Fiat platforms. Not replacing any subcompacts either, Chrysler CEO Marchionne states the Fiat 500 will remain the group’s only subcompact in the U.S. for the next few years.
*As diesel engines become more and more sophisticated, quiet and fuel efficient. more auto manufacturers are trying them out in some of their models. For instance, diesel versions of the Chevrolet Cruze compact and the Jeep Grand Cherokee for 2013. The Cruze is on sale overseas now and will be the first diesel passenger car GM has offered in the U.S. since the 1980s. Other vehicle models trying out the diesel option include BMW, the VW Passsat. Recently introduced diesels in Europe are coming from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW and Audi. According to CNW Research, about 30 percent of shoppers say they would consider a diesel model.
*There are three essential parts to a vehicle collision: vehicle vs. object; body vs. vehicle and organ vs. body. Every collision begins with an initial impact. The most important factors in a crash are the weight of the vehicle and the speed it was traveling. Experts calculate the destructive power of a crash with an equation: kinetic energy=1/2x mass x speed 2. The element of speed is squared, meaning if you are driving faster in a crash, the power of the crash will be greater.
During a crash, the faster your body stops, the worse you’ll be hurt.Hitting an immovable object will of course, result in a lot of damage. For instance, striking a tree at 30 mph is a force equivalent to jumping off a three-story building and landing on the sidewalk. Safety belts and airbags do protect the driver and passenger, however, damage can still be done. Leg and foot injuries are the most common, then upper extremities, thorax, abdomen and head.
Next is possible damage to your body’s organs. Once your body has stopped, your organs continue to move until making contact with another part of your body. The brain is an unattached organ, therefore, it keeps moving until it makes contact with the skull. (AAA Living).
The statistics surrounding vehicle crashes are staggering: In 2009, 34,000 people died in traffic crashes on U.S. roads; 3.6 million people who suffered crash-related injuries (annually) requre hospitalization or ER treatment, and $99 billion dollars is the total annual cost of crash-related deaths and injuries, including medical care, rehab, lost wages and worker productivity.
*Kelley Blue Book (KBB) Announces their 2012 Best Resale Value vehicles:
2012 Jeep Wrangler-an upgrade with a more fuel efficient V-6
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser-impressive off-road ability
2012 Toyota Tacoma-best-selling pickup truck with a 4-cylinder (25 mpg)
2012 Hyundai Tucson-stylish
2012 Audi Q7-available in Audi’s super-charged V-6 engine
2012 Infiniti FX SUV-Offers value, looks, performance
2012 Honda CR-V CUV-continues to be popular
2012 Lexus RX-reliable, popular in both new and pre-owned market.
*The trend for holding prices on newer vehicle models continues into 2012. For instance, Mercedes-Benz M-Class crossover, Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza are all new for 2012, from the ground up, but have the same starting prices as last year. Also, look for discounts on the following models: Volkswagen Passat (back after a 1-year hiatus) and sells for $6,930 less than the 2010 model. Redesigned for 2010, the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s price was dropped in 2010 and offers more value for 2012: the entry-level Laredo falls in price $3,220 for rear-and-all-wheel-drive models, and is a IIHS Top Safety Pick winner. The Toyota Camry is redone for 2012, and most models cost less for the 2012 year. The Lincoln MKT, with EcoBoost falls $3,005 from last year’s model, and is also a IIHS Top Safety Pick. Chicago Tribune.
*Want to be a highly efficient driver? Keep the following in mind: Lose those add-ons: flags, bike carriers, luggage racks undermine a car’s aerodynamics-ditch them when not in use. Slow down-driving over the speed limit, even five miles per hour, can up your car’s gasoline consumption by an extra 29 cents for every gallon burned. Drive smoothly-don’t pounce on that accelerator. Don’t carry around extra junk in your vehicle trunk, and finally, new cars do not need to idle to warm-up. When you get in, start her up and go. No need to run the car for several minutes before taking off.
Kelley Blue Book (KBB) offers 10 Top Tips for First-time Car Buyers
A celebratory moment for almost all consumers, buying a new car is right up there with buying a house. Kelley Blue Books (wwww.kbb.com) offers their “best kept secrets” to ease the trip to the dealer with some easy-to-remember pointers:
10. Establish a realistic budget. This is based on what you can afford per month. Calculate your cost of living, and figure that the remainder can be spent on a car payment, insurance and expenses.
9. Know what you can spend monthly. Your level of indebtedness is different than your monthly commitments. If you finance your purchase, figure $25/month for every thousand dollars you borrow for 48 months, and $20/month for 60-month financing.
8. Establish your transportation needs. Choose a car that best fits your needs. Don’t buy what you don’t need.
7. Identify and prioritize your wants. A first-time purchase doesn’t need to be the highest end acquisition, however, you still want to pay attention to your “want” list. Stretch a bit for some extra features, especially if you plan to drive this vehicle for a while.
6. Do your research. There is a plethora of information available today for first-time car buyers that in the past was “privileged” information; i.e., the infamous “invoice” price.
5. Locate a convenient dealer. Compare different dealer locations and showroom environments and your level of comfort with the salesperson……
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): The VIN number, located in the lower lefthand side of the windshield on the driver side identifies vehicle attributes such as engine size, body style, model year, transmission type and color. The VIN can also be found in the owner’s manual, stamped on the frame under the front hood, on a sticker on the driver’s side door pillar, on the state vehicle-registration certificate, on the title of ownership, on the price sticker, or on a label in the luggage/spare tire area. The VIN number must be located somewhere on the vehicle; if it is missing, there is a chance the vehicle has been damaged, repaired or stolen.
