Low Gasoline Prices Help U.S. Auto Makers
Plunging oil prices in the U.S. have received a warm welcome from airlines, auto makers and farmers, but what are the risks to corporate America if the decline persists? Crude oil prices have dropped about 25% in just over four months, hitting a three-year low of $77.19 a barrel on…
Chrysler ‘Ready to Take on the World’ with New TV Ads for 2015 Chrysler 200
Chrysler has put a new spin on its TV Commercials. They’re the next evolution of the brand’s “Imported from Detroit.” Each of the spots, called “Ready to Take on the World,” features a sleek, silver 2015 Chrysler 200 sedan driving on roads in what appears to be Germany, Japan or…
GM Helps Recalled Vehicle Owners Using Their Website
GM has had a rough year with many recalls. General Motors Co.’s website for owners of its vehicles recalled for faulty ignition switches has been expanded to include all 20 models involved, the automaker said. The site, www.gmignitionupdate.com, launched in April. It initially informed owners of the 2.59 million mostly…
The Nissan Cube Fades Away
If you are one of the few that bought the Nissan Cube, you were might be the last. A famous U.S. general, once said, “Old soldiers don’t die; they just fade away.” The same can be said of cars. Old, failed cars like the Nissan Cube just fade away without…
Pickup Trucks are Best for Retaining Value
Pickup trucks generally fair best when it comes to depreciation and luxury cars fare worst. The study looked at the prices of used cars from the 2008 to 2012 model years from March 2013, to March 2014. Some 577 models were studied, with the median model losing 9.8% over the…
Gas Guzzlers Yielding to Better Fuel Economy
More efficient than ever, the percentage of vehicles getting at least 23 mpg hit a record 50.5 percent for the 2014 model-year, good news for drivers of gas guzzling SUVs and pickups. Over half of the vehicles sold this year deliver over 23 mpg, with one in nine topping 30…
Toyota Chooses Humans Over Robots for Efficiency
In a surprising move for the industry that practically invented the assembly line, multiple Toyota factories in Japan are replacing robots with human beings. It’s happening at Toyota’s plants across Japan, reports Bloomberg News, and the idea behind it is as innovative as the move 30 years ago to replace humans…
Auto vs. Stick – Consumer Reports Checks In
My first car was a stick-shift and my wife still drive a stick but I have to admit, auto makes life a little easier!! In your quest for better fuel economy and more value, don’t overlook the benefits of a manual transmission. In our tests, we’ve found that a stick…
Small Turbo Engines Fail to Deliver
We love small turbo engines but it seems there is a ways to go till the technology catches up with the claims, Consumer Reports investigates. Small turbocharged engines are marketed as delivering the power of a large engine, with the fuel economy of a smaller one. That’s a tempting proposition,…