Proper research, right questions may ensure a good used car purchase

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Posted in General Auto News

If now is the time for a used car according to federal figures that say used car prices are the lowest in months, it may be beneficial to make the right choices before making the purchase.

First, knowing what one can afford is important in establishing a budget, but may also provide some talking points in ensuring that a dealer can’t persuade one to go after a more expensive model that could be unaffordable.

Going online to do research on cars can help because used cars generally have more reviews than their newer brethren, giving potential buyers a leg-up in understanding the positives and potential pitfalls of their model.

It may also offer insight into similar cars within a class whose features or price points may offer a better fit for the used car buyer, and also provide average nationwide values that can help a buyer figure out if a price is fair or not.

Once a model has been picked out, having a friend who is a mechanic or a trusted repair shop take a final look at the vehicle may enable an automotive newbie to make sure that their future ride is not a lemon.

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Memorial Day weekend travels may be easier with a Hyundai Elantra

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Posted in Hyundai

There are three holiday weekends coming up, including Memorial Day Weekend May 23 -25, and while traffic may make vacation travel slow, riding in the right vehicle may lower the stress of both driver and whatever passengers he or she decides to bring along.

It may seem somewhat strange for a compact car to be a good choice, but U.S. News wrote that while it’s in the news provider’s affordable small car class, it’s actually classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offering more space for a small family.

They also ranked the Hyundai Elantra as one of the most cost effective to own because of its reliability and costs of repair and maintenance.

If you don’t need the space of the new Elantra Touring edition, which comes as a wagon, previous models may offer a similar quality for used car buyers.

According to Edmunds.com editors, the 2005 Elantra offered an affordable price to go along with a laundry list of standard features. Users on the site agreed, citing its mileage and the quality interior of GLS trim Elantras.

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A legal way to outrace cops may reduce accidents

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Posted in General Auto News

A driver pulls up alongside a police cruiser, revs his engine to do a little burnout to raise the wheel temperature and anxiously waits for the red light to go green so he or she can outrun the cop.

It may sound like a recipe for a ticket and a stern talking to from local law enforcement, but in Florida there is a program called Beat the Heat that allows aspiring drag enthusiasts to battle it out with police from Miami suburbs at County Line Drag Way, according to a WPLG report.

Davie police officer Ron Bradley said that since the program began, street races in his town’s warehouse district have screeched to a halt, acknowledging to the news provider that some competitors tell him “We used to race in Davie. You probably used to chase us around, and now we’re here on the track and we want to race your car.”

In more than 20 states including Connecticut, police officers have outfitted cars to compete in drag races at legal drag strips, according to the Beat the Heat program website, in a bid to educate kids and adults about the dangers of street racing.

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Toyota Sienna, Ford Flex break into U.S. News rankings for great family cars

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Posted in Toyota

Something old or something new, priced where used car buyers can afford to borrow, and both are available in blue.

That’s the story of the Toyota Sienna and the Ford Flex, two vehicles that were recently named as two of U.S. News’ top seven family cars.

The Toyota Sienna, a minivan that has been available in the U.S. since 1998, was cited by the news provider for its low cost, smooth handling and its ability comfortably seat eight passengers.

Something old may mean good quality for prospective car buyers, as Edmunds.com editors lauded the 2002 Sienna for its safety features, optional and standard, as well as a smooth engine.

Something new, or newer is the Ford Flex, which first appeared here in 2009. U.S. News lauded its styling, the ability to fit seven adults and accessories that make it the “ultimate road trip vehicle.”

Those looking to save a little money may find people have traded in or sold their 2009 model year Ford Flex, which Edmunds editors gave an 8 out of 10 rating

However used car buyers would choose to finance their options, both cars come in blue, as well as white, black, beige and a host of other colors, too.

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Tires, ‘seat time’ the difference as NASCAR star falls to soap box derby driver

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Posted in General Auto News

NASCAR drivers know how important tires are when it comes to winning races: team strategists try to guess on whether to change two or four tires at nearly every pit stop.

But that didn’t stop a teenage girl from using tires to her advantage when she took down Busch champion Greg Biffle in a soapbox derby race.

To be fair to Biffle, Tyler Shoff is a champion in her own right, but in a quarter-mile race at Derby Downs Raceway, it was the tires that helped to make the difference.

In a competition that lasted just 90 seconds, Shoff used specially designed tires that increase fuel efficiency by reducing rolling resistance.

“As a NASCAR driver, I understand the critical role tires play in my ability to perform on the racetrack, and today, Goodyear really proved how big a difference its new fuel-efficient tires can make… even over a distance as short as a quarter mile,” said Biffle, jokingly adding that Shoff did have more “seat time” in the racers than he did.

The fuel economy that some tires can offer may allow used car owners to maximize their cost effectiveness.

Another option is to make sure that all tires are properly inflated, which can improve mileage by up to 3 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

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Fusion Hybrid gets 1,000 miles on single tank, goes for more

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Posted in Ford

A challenge to see how long the Ford Fusion Hybrid could travel on a single tank of gas provided dividends for both “hypermilers” and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The goal for a team of engineers, one racecar driver and a man known for milking mileage, was to make it 1,000 miles using tactics to conserve fuel like coasting, keeping windows closed at high speeds and turning off electronics.

But they reached that goal with about a third of a tank remaining, and ended up traveling 1,445 miles and raising over $8,000 for JDRF.

NASCAR driver Carl Edwards was a member of the team, and even he was impressed by the Fusion Hybrid’s economy, though he’s no stranger to sipping fuel: in 2008, he won at Texas by traveling well below the average race speed and conserving fuel while other racers had to make pit stops.

The tactics that they used can benefit drivers of any vehicle, including used cars, because the tactics were developed by drivers using standard cars. Just don’t expect to make it almost 1,500 miles before the next fill-up.

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Alleged text messager crashes into building in Chicago

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Posted in General Auto News

Police in Chicago said that a 2001 Jeep wagon collided with a small car as a result of alleged texting, and the mangled cars then went into a building, according to a police statement.

Jessica Flanagan, 25, was allegedly driving the Jeep when it collided with a parked Toyota Yaris, Shakespeare District Captain Marc Buslik told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Police told the news provider that the two cars then traveled into construction in progress, reportedly mangling a parking meter in the process.

Flanagan was cited for failing to maintain her lane and using a cell phone, the news provider reported, after she allegedly told officers she had been texting and reportedly not watching the road.

She may not be the only driver who underestimates the effects of distractions on driving ability, according to a study in the Journal of Safety Research.

Researchers found that drivers didn’t distinguish between activities with or without distractions, although they performed markedly worse.

The National Safety Council estimates that cell phone use leads to up to 636,000 car crashes annually, causing more than $40 billion in damage.

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Saturn is up for grabs, but its future is unknown

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Posted in Saturn - DO NOT USE

With Saturn‘s future up in the air, fans of the company’s cars may find it easier to find used Saturn cars than some of their newer brethren.

Saturn’s corporate parent General Motors is in the midst of trying to find a business plan that will allow it to avoid bankruptcy, and it has suggested that it is willing to sell or phase out Saturn, according to an Associated Press report.

Bids on the company will continue until June 1, general manager Jill Lajdziak told the news provider, and GM hopes the sale can be completed this year

The company built its reputation in the 1990s as a unique part of General Motors that initially did product development in-house and used parts not found in other GM vehicles.

Used versions of Saturn models are available, and have received some positive reviews from Edmunds.com

The 2007 Aura sedan, for example, was described as “handsome and athletic” by the site, and it received praise by the editors for the interior fit and finish.

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New legislation may force automakers to provide repair information

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Posted in Auto Industry News

A bill called the Right to Repair Act was recently introduced in the House of Representatives in a bid to increase the distribution of information needed to properly repair vehicles.

It would require that automakers make tools and service information, especially those that relate to the computers that increasingly control the inner works of automobiles, available to independent service centers at the same time it is provided to new car dealerships.

“Without the Right to Repair Act, millions of motorists would be forced back to fewer dealers for service” said Ray Pohlman, Coalition for Auto Repair Equality president. “Consumers spend thousands of dollars to purchase their vehicle and should not be told where they should obtain those repairs by the manufacturer.”

Those in the market for a used car may benefit from this service as well, since the information would lead to better quality care at local auto body shops even after a car warranty is up.

Car makers may appreciate language in the bill that protects proprietary information and trade secrets, although that information would be publicly available once it is distributed to the dealers.

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Pontiac gone, car enthusiasts mourn end of the make

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Posted in Pontiac - DO NOT USE

Now that Pontiac enthusiasts’ worst fears have been confirmed, the used car market may be the last place to find the make that some fans loved.

General Motors released a plan to avoid bankruptcy that included heavy government influence, but also included a plan to discontinue Pontiacs after 2010.

That means that the maker of such popular performance cars as the GTO, Firebird and the Grand Prix will now only live on in the remaining examples that haven’t been junked or scrapped like their namesake was this week.

Collector Ron Schultz told the Chicago Sun-Times, “It hurts American heritage to see Pontiac go away,” even though he owns three classic Pontiac models himself.

Reviews of used Pontiac models on Edmunds.com by internet users consistently beat the editor’s rating, with the minimum being an 8 on a 10 point scale, suggesting the appreciation that Pontiac owners have for their vehicles.

One example is the 2008 Solstice roadster, a sporty little car that Edmunds editors called too small, noisy and underpowered. Users, on the other hand, gave it a 9/10 rating.

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