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May 21, 2007

Small Concept

consumer reports volt gm concept car This consumer reports on three small concept cars recently displayed by GM.
General Motors showed off 3 Minicar concepts at the recent New York International Auto Show. The Cars were designed in its South Korea design studio in Inchon. GM were asking potential customers to go to www.vote4chevrolet.com to cast a vote on their favorite of the 3. I believe GM was testing the waters to see if any of the 3 would float.
 

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Car Buying Tips To Save You Money: GM Chevy Minicar Concept; Big Things Come In Small Packages

Posted on May 21, 2007 09:30 PM by Automo9.
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March 13, 2007

Mass Transit

consumer report mass transit More expensive cars translates into more mass transit riders, according to this consumer's report.

Mass Transit ridership is at a 50 year high. This is no surprise, as the costs of owning an automobile are getting very high. The costs of buying a car are getting higher; cars come with more standard features, which increases price. Insurance isn’t getting any cheaper despite the flood of new entrants in the field. Finally, gas is getting more expensive. Not only is the price per gallon going up, but average commute times are getting longer. We are filling up with more expensive gas and filling up more often, on cars that aren’t getting better mileage but cost more to purchase and insure.

 

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A Sign of the Times

Posted on March 13, 2007 11:43 PM by Automo9.
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February 18, 2007

Convertible Car Seat

consumer reports convertible car seat This consumer reports on a a trip to buy car seat for the convertible.
Today we finally resolved the car seat issue. We went to le Carrousel du Parc which is a great store specializing in car seats and strollers. After speaking with the very friendly and knowledgeable lady, we ended up choosing a Britax Marathon, which is the best convertible car seat available in North America. So no more worrying about that - Kicky has a safe way to get home from the hospital now and we can travel without worrying about trying to borrow or rent a seat.
 

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operonscript.com � the resolverator

Posted on February 18, 2007 07:30 PM by Automo9.
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February 12, 2007

What IS That Smell?

consumer reports car air freshener This consumer reports on funny smells in the car.

I have a very keen and sensitive sense of smell. It is genetic. As a child when my sister said something smelled like earwax, I knew exactly what she meant. We could describe people from church by saying. “You know who I am talking about. She smells like tissues and her husband smells like old cars and and mothballs.” “Oh, them!” Her daughter is carrying on the family nose, declaring the other day that she could not give her art project to the teacher because it smells like “old dust”.

 

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Posted on February 12, 2007 10:44 PM by Automo9.
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January 13, 2007

Driving Luxury Cars

consumer reports lexus car engine This consumer reports on the high cost of car repairs for an unhappy Lexus owner.

Speaking of cars, I brought the Lexus in for its 5,000 mile first service today. It was complimentary and the invoice didn’t state how much things would have cost had they charged me, but the people in front of me in the checkout line had this conversation with a young-looking, rather air-headish receptionist/desk worker:

 

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Wolverines Driving Luxury Cars

Posted on January 13, 2007 10:40 PM by Automo9.
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October 09, 2006

Review: 2006 Volkswagen Passat

consumer reports 2006 volkswagen passat This consumer reports on the 2006 Volkswagen Passat.
My weekly test drive on a recent visit to the Monterey Peninsula was the 2006 Volkswagen Passat. It's available in three versions, the 4-cylinder Value Edition and 2.0T (turbocharged) models and the higher performance V6 marketed as the sports model.
 

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Car Buying Tips To Save You Money

Posted on October 9, 2006 01:07 AM by Automo9.
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September 26, 2006

New Car Season

consumer reports 2006 saab Consumers can find deals on 2006 model cars, according to this report.
Its that time of year again! It is new car buying season. I get this question daily. When is the best time to buy a car? Well, I can tell you when it gets to the end of the year and there are still models from the previous year, it is a great time to buy.
 

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Car Buying Tips To Save You Money

Posted on September 26, 2006 03:44 PM by Automo9.
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August 04, 2006

Cash Back Or Low Interest?

consumer reports car incentives Some important negotiating tips for consumers considering their next car purchase.
As Summer is heating up, so are incentives to drive car sales. The question always is, do I take the low interest incentive or the rebate? It is an either or situation and usually the dealership will figure which way will be most benificial to the customer, but take a proactive approach and decide for yourself to make sure you are getting the best deal possible.
 

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Posted on August 4, 2006 07:03 PM by Automo9.
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July 16, 2006

Car Buying Links

consumer reports buying a car This consumer provides links to helpful car buying tips.

Buying a car? Make sure to do some research and to check on any consumer issues. And remember, don’t buy the extended warranty from the dealer: they mark it up. Do some research and deal directly with a warranty administrator! (That’s the word from Officer Byrd—well, never mind.)

 

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Links N’ Junk Again

Posted on July 16, 2006 12:40 AM by Automo9.
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June 28, 2006

Skin Deep

consumer reports car mechanic A helpful tip to consumers when evaluating cars.
Just remember, beauty is only skin deep. When buying a car, take it to your mechanic to have him check it out and make sure there are no problems with the car.
 

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Posted on June 28, 2006 06:03 PM by Automo9.
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June 22, 2006

Negotiating The Trade-In

consumer reports car trade in Consumers who want to understand the lingo of the car sales rep should check out this report.
One of the keys to negotiation is understanding the language. Most car dealers use the trade difference method and this is very confusing to some customers. For instance, the salesperson will say "We will trade for $7000 difference, plus payoff, plus TTF-Tax, Title, Fees".
 

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Car Buying Tips To Save You Money

Posted on June 22, 2006 01:00 AM by Automo9.
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June 14, 2006

Tread Wear

consumer reports tread wear This consumer reports on how to check your tires for tread wear.
Check the tread by turning a penny with Lincoln head down and placing upright inside tread. The head should be covered to some degree. If you can see the entire head of Lincoln, it is time for new tires.
 

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Posted on June 14, 2006 01:27 AM by Automo9.
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June 11, 2006

Putting Women In The Driver's Seat

consumer reports woman car buyer Car makers are marketing to consumers of the female persuasion. Check out this report.
THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE WOMAN, meaning that auto manufactures have discovered that 50% of the decision makers of auto purchasing are women. Manufactures have even implemented programs to train dealerships in how to work with women so they are at ease when walking in a showroom floor.
 

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Ask Patty - Automotive Advice for Women: The Power of Taking Charge!

Posted on June 11, 2006 06:15 PM by Automo9.
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Car Leasing Tips

consumer reports car lot Consumers trying to decide whether to lease or purchase their next car might want to check out this report.
Oh me, I said the L word! Why is everyone so scared of a lease. Ask anyone who has money and they will tell you to lease anything that depreciates (ie Car) and buy those things that appreciate (ie house). The reason behind this makes sense. If you ever pay a car off before you are through paying for it, you will most likely owe more than it is worth and if you do keep it long term and pay it off, what do you have? An old car that is worth very little!
 

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Posted on June 11, 2006 06:07 PM by Automo9.
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June 02, 2006

Trade In Value

consumer reports used car lot This consumer reports on how to get the most when you sell your car.
Cars depreciate at an alarming rate! There are a few things that you can do to minimize the hit you take at trade in time. Be sure to keep all service records and make sure that the oil is changed at regular intrevals, preferably every 3000 miles. Keep the car clean, inside and out. When you go to trade the car, give it a good detail inside and out to give it the appearance of a car well taken care of. If you take care of your car, chances are you will sell it to an individual rather than trade it.
 

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Posted on June 2, 2006 08:45 AM by Automo9.
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May 18, 2006

Inspecting A Used Car

consumer reports car headliner These tips will help consumers find any obvious problems in a used car. Read the full report.
The #1 thing to look at when buying a used car is the headliner. Why, because you will see how this car was treated inside and be able to tell if it was a smokers vehicle or not. Also around the top of the door window where people throw their cigarettes out, and without saying the ashtray.
 

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Posted on May 18, 2006 11:31 PM by Automo9.
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May 16, 2006

Buy Used!

consumer reports used car lot This consumer reports on buying a used car and saving money.
One of the best car buying tips that I could give anyone is to check into certified used cars. When you buy a new car, it loses approx. 25% of its value when you drive it off the lot. Now, check the prices of certified used which are nearly half the price of new cars. I am familiar with the GM certified used car plan because this is what I sold.
 

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Posted on May 16, 2006 12:04 AM by Automo9.
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May 12, 2006

Honda Civic In 8 Flavors

consumer reports 2006 honda civic dashboard This consumer reports on Japanese cars in the U.S., including the new Honda Civic.
Honda Civic with its sleek design, spacious room, and loads of features makes this automobile stand out in the crowd. Fuel economy wise the Honda Civic is up there with the best cars in its class. With a fuel economy of 30 to 40 miles a gallon and the hybrid getting 49/51 mpg the Honda Civic seems to be unbeatable.
 

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JAMINUSA � 8 Flavors of the 2006 Honda Civic

Posted on May 12, 2006 10:10 AM by Automo9.
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May 08, 2006

Siddhu 2025

consumer reports future suv The upside and downside of a future consumer:

By the age of forty, I realized that I would desire to be saddled with a home with a two-car garage, a beautiful (and hence, vacuous*) wife, one or two snotty nosed little kids, a nice little SUV, a sports bike, and a credit card that would allow me to buy something more than second-hand underwear without overrunning the limit. Maybe a Play Station XVI that I wouldn't let my children touch for good measure.

 

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Siddhu 2025

Posted on May 8, 2006 12:42 AM by Automo9.
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May 07, 2006

Google Transit

consumer reports google transit This consumer reports that Google Transit works better for cars than for bicycles.

So Google released Google Transit that allows commuters to calculate traveling time and direction within the metro area via public transit, and that’s totally cool - but doesn’t apply to me. What’s really cool is Portland Metro made a Google Earth map for cyclists.

 

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Posted on May 7, 2006 10:44 PM by Automo9.
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April 25, 2006

Pain In The Gas

consumer reports small car Consumers may look to conservation for quicker relief from high gas prices rather than renewable enery. Check this report:

Renewable resources are a help, but only a stopgap measure in the mid-term. We cannot jump to renewable resources to power cars right away because there simply isn't enough of it to make it happen. That's where the conservation comes in. Having a sensible conservation effort includes improving gas mileage on cars.

 

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Posted on April 25, 2006 10:41 PM by Automo9.
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April 15, 2006

Japanese Sweep Top 10 Best Cars

consumer reports 2006 honda civic The Consumer Reports April automobile edition is out!

In the April 2006 issue of Consumer Reports magazine, they reproted for the first time in the magazines history the top 10 automobiles were all made by japanese companies.

 

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Japanese Automakers Sweep Top 10 Best Cars By Consumer Reports

Posted on April 15, 2006 12:41 AM by Automo9.
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December 19, 2005

Ride Your Bike

consumer reports biker in snow Against all odds, this consumer bikes to school!

I ride my bike to college everyday. I live in Thunder Bay Ontario Canada. It’s usually one of the best parts of my day. It’s now Monday December, 19 2005. On Friday I was biking to school in a snow storm and everyone driving their cars looked at me and shook their head and I couldn’t help but shake back.

 

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Posted on December 19, 2005 09:40 PM by Automo9.
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December 10, 2005

Stoopid, Stoopid, Stoopid

consumer reports car tires This consumer reports on buying tires ... the right way and the wrong way.

Wal-Mart - No. I return and order the tires. Grand total, with coupons and membership discount - just under $900. Consider this a lesson learned. I bought the old tires just over 2 years ago. I bought them at a disount tire place and they are a no-name tire. All four tires, completely shot. This time, I buying Michelens and getting a significant warranty. We knew we had to replace the tires soon and to be honest it was on my list of things to do around Thanksgiving - so it isn’t a total blow. But still, $900 - ouch.

 

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Posted on December 10, 2005 08:40 PM by Automo9.
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October 30, 2005

Watch Out For That iPod

consumer reports ipod pedestrian With more hearing impaired pedestrians, keep your eyes open!

So I’m driving to campus to drop off my girlfriend at her astronomy class. I’m trying to deal with the fact that there are a million students walking around, who like me, don’t really take notice to cars driving around campus and haphazardly walk into the streets while, unlike me, listening to the new Ashley Simpson cd on their iPod.

 

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Posted on October 30, 2005 08:44 PM by Automo9.
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October 22, 2005

How To Be Happy

consumer reports traffic jam Good report on consumer spending habits and happiness.

Considerable evidence suggests that if we use an increase in our incomes, as many of us do, simply to buy bigger houses and more expensive cars, then we do not end up any happier than before. But if we use an increase in our incomes to buy more of certain inconspicuous goods–such as freedom from a long commute or a stressful job–then the evidence paints a very different picture. The less we spend on conspicuous consumption goods, the better we can afford to alleviate congestion; and the more time we can devote to family and friends, to exercise, sleep, travel, and other restorative activities. On the best available evidence, reallocating our time and money in these and similar ways would result in healthier, longer– and happier–lives.

 

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Posted on October 22, 2005 10:41 PM by Automo9.
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August 30, 2005

Supply And Demand

consumer reports gas price humor Hurricane Katrina is bring the U.S. an unwelcome lesson in the impact of decreased supply. This consumer reports:

The Law of Supply and Demand simply states that when Supply is higher than Demand that prices fall. When Demand is higher than Supply, the price increases. Gas prices are a perfect example of this. There is far more demand currently for gas than the supposed supply, therefore prices go up. If millions of folks began driving cars that ran on an alternative source of energy and the demand for gasoline dropped, the price would fall as well.

 

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Posted on August 30, 2005 10:43 PM by Automo9.
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August 11, 2005

Gas Prices

consumer reports traffic jam I've seen arguments on both sides of the new transportation bill. This consumer argues that more capacity will decrease fuel usage. Other consumers argue that more mass transit is needed.

A related issue, the Highway Bill is going to add much needed transportation capacity to our freeways. Leave us not forget, cars idling on inadequate freeways produce 7 times the pollution of cars running at 55mph.

 

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Gas Prices (Flame-Thrower Reload) and Infastructure

Posted on August 11, 2005 10:39 PM by Automo9.
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July 30, 2005

Dodge Charger

consumer reports cars dodge charger Consumers have more design choice than ever in automobiles. Check out this report:

Today, it seems obvious that this is what American auto manufacturers should’ve been doing all along: meaty rear-wheel-drive sedans with attitude, not the immitation, me-too FWD appliances that Japan Inc. executes with robotic efficiency. No, American cars have always meant attitude. And now that Chrysler has shown everybody how to do them right, it all makes sense.

 

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Posted on July 30, 2005 10:41 PM by Automo9.
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July 06, 2005

In The Market For A New Luxury Car

consumer reports luxury car Here's a chance to help your fellow consumer make the right purchase choice:

So we have been debating on what our next uber-luxury car is going to be. We’ve search high and low and here are some of the cars on the list. All the cars come with a navigation system and XM or Sirius radio as options (if not standard equipment). All the prices below reflect cars that are loaded with every option. Please feel free to shoot me an email if you have any recommendations.

 

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In the market for a new luxury cruiser

Posted on July 6, 2005 11:46 PM by Automo9.
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June 22, 2005

Cars + Tech == Goodness

consumer reports prius with tailgate open This consumer reports on upcoming car electronics:

Just go check out this CNet article. I think the marriage or cars & technology is a great idea, and I’m in love with the idea of keyless entry & starting. It looks like the 2006 Beamer and the Prius are pretty amazing cars; if only I weren’t trying to sink my money into a house at the moment :)

 

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Cars + Tech == Goodness

Posted on June 22, 2005 11:33 PM by Automo9.
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June 06, 2005

Air Bag Study

consumer reports air bag study This consumer questions whether air bags are worth the cost:

The new analysis directly contradicts earlier studies about the effectiveness of airbags, which have been required for drivers and front-seat passengers in all cars since the 1998 model year in the United States.

 

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Posted on June 6, 2005 10:25 PM by Automo9.
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May 21, 2005

International Vehicle Theft

consumer reports car crossing border This consumer reports on an elaborate cross-border stolen car scheme.

This story from the USA Today caught my attention. Apparently theives have taken to doctoring the VINs on high priced sport utility and luxury vehicles and pass them back and forth across the Canadian and US border. They create duplicates of foreign vehicles with valid VINs and sell the cars at auctions, to individuals, and to dealerships in the US. This story details one persons experience with a phony H2 that came to Detroit via Canada and turned out to be stolen from Florida.

 

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Posted on May 21, 2005 11:26 PM by Automo9.
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May 16, 2005

Prius Software Problems

consumer reports prius display Time to re-boot the Prius. This consumer reports on software problems in the Prius and the implications for other models.

A software problem is causing some Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid cars to stall or shut down while driving at highway speeds, according to a published report.

Toyota spokesman Sam Butto told the newspaper the auto manufacturer identified a "programming error" in the computer systems of 23,900 Prius cars last year and sent owners a service notice advising them to bring the cars into dealers for an hour-long software upgrade.

 

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Posted on May 16, 2005 10:27 PM by Automo9.
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May 15, 2005

Tax By The Mile

consumer reports hummer stretch Tax by the mile schemes are harder to enforce than simple gas tax. Plus gas tax incents consumers to buy more efficient cars.

From Monty comes an article about some states’ plans to turn the gas-tax into a per-mile-driven tax. The reasoning is that hybrid cars drive the same amount, but pay less in gas-tax so the states lose money for road maintenance. I counter-argue that all those gas-guzzling H2’s and such on the road will counter that.

 

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Posted on May 15, 2005 11:24 PM by Automo9.
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May 03, 2005

President Speaks on Energy Policy

consumer reports escalade suv This consumer reports on President Bush's recent talk on energy.

Conservation can certainly reduce consumption, or at least throttle the growth of consumption. However, the gains from conservation that he cites did not come from conserving petroleum. He goes on to cite increased efficiency in refrigerators and light bulbs — neither of which have a major impact on energy imports — before mentioning hybrid cars and high-efficiency diesel engines (he also mentions windows, which in some areas can conserve fuel oil). However, he conspicuously omits calling for increases in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE)...

Click through for more.
 

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Posted on May 3, 2005 01:25 PM by Automo9.
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May 02, 2005

High Tech Rickshaws

consumer reports high tech rickshaw This consumer reports on the latest in German transport:

Forget hydrogen power or hybrid cars - Germany has a new fleet of high-tech rickshaws:

 

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Posted on May 2, 2005 11:27 PM by Automo9.
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April 28, 2005

Harnessing Customer Innovation

This consumer gives some great examples of consumers helping companies innovate.

“…in the past firms have mostly resisted customer innovation or not known what to do with it. American farmers were lobbying manufacturers to make cars with detachable back seats as early as 1909. It took Detroit more than a decade to “invent” the pick-up truck. Even now, carmakers respond to customer modifications such as performance-exhaust systems by voiding the warranty. Within three weeks of launching “Mindstorms”, a build-it-yourself robot development system, in 1997, Lego was facing around 1,000 hackers who had downloaded its operating system, vastly improved it, and posted their work freely online. After a long stunned silence, Lego appears to have accepted the merits of this community's work: programs written in hacker language may now be uploaded to the Mindstorms website, for example.”

 

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Posted on April 28, 2005 12:21 AM by Automo9.
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No One Wants A Lemon

consumer reports cars lemon law Great tips for consumers on what to do if you end up with a lemon. Read the full report:

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261."

 

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Posted on April 28, 2005 12:21 AM by Automo9.
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April 26, 2005

Diminished Value Payments Less Likely

This consumer reports that in spite of the initial court ruling, diminished value payments are unlikely.

In November 2001 the Georgia Supreme Court ruled in favor of two State Farm customers who asserted that wrecked cars are worth less simply because they have been wrecked — no matter how expertly they're repaired — and that insurers are liable to pay the difference. Because of that ruling, all auto insurers in Georgia must now pay diminished value claims. In January 2002, Allstate settled a similar class action case in Georgia, agreeing to pay Georgia policyholders a total of $59 million for the diminished value of their cars repaired...

Albright says that in several flood-damaged cars his group has seen, a vehicle's entire electrical system was damaged and the insurance company did not total the vehicle. Instead, insurers paid for repairs to "substantial portions" of the electrical systems. "The problem is that this type of work is almost always done at a dealership, which identifies the vehicle in a nationwide computer network as a flood-damaged vehicle. The resale value of that vehicle immediately plummets to pennies on the dollar," he says.

Click through for the entire story.
 

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Posted on April 26, 2005 11:28 PM by Automo9.
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April 25, 2005

Car Radios

consumer reports car radio It's increasingly complicated for consumers to figure out how to use their new handheld music equipment with the "old fashioned" equipment in their cars. Check this report:

Including a CD player in every car was probably a pretty good idea seven years ago, but that was before portable music playing devices became fashionable again. Remember those tape deck adapters you had to use just so you could enjoy your favorite CDs instead of hastily creating a bunch of mix tapes? Now in most cars you don't have access to a tape deck, and so the FM transmitter becomes the solution.

 

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the I of the radio

Posted on April 25, 2005 11:47 PM by Automo9.
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April 20, 2005

How to Drive a Manual Transmission

consumer reports manual transmission This consumer reports on the advantages of the manual transmissions. Does anyone remember what that is?

Manual transmissions are usually more fun to drive, cheaper to buy and maintain, and offer improved performance and fuel economy versus automatic transmissions. Yet many cars are only offered with an automatic, and their numbers are growing. This site has been created to entertain and educate dedicated standard shifters and the curious alike.

Interested in learning how to drive a car with a manual transmission? See the F.A.Q.. The buying guide lists all of the new cars and trucks that come with a manual transmission in the American market. In the press links you to a forum section on stories and articles about automobiles.

 

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Posted on April 20, 2005 11:23 PM by Automo9.
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April 19, 2005

Chinese Counterfeit Cars

consumer reports chinese cars This consumer reports on Chinese knock offs of Mercedes Benz.

Upstart automakers in China are making blatant copies of vehicles like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Frontier - and one company, Geely, is building small economy cars that look like three-quarters-scale Mercedes-Benzes.

Which is probably the most encouraging thing for western economies competing with the Chinese juggernaut. China is still a component producer rather than a finished product supplier. The Chinese don't have so much as a toehold in western consumer markets for any big ticket items. When we start seeing American showrooms being flooded with Chinese TVs and cars (because they're good stuff), then we should all commence serious worrying.

 

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They're not just counterfeiting Rolexes anymore

Posted on April 19, 2005 11:27 PM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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Premium For Used Prius

cars prius used Consumer Reports magazine reports that Prius owners aren't likely to part ways with their Prius. Expect to pay a premium for a used Prius!

With the highest owner satisfaction of any 2005 model, according to an owner survey by Consumer Reports magazine, few Prius owners will part with their cars. But some will -- for a price.

 

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Gotta-have-it-now buyers pay premium for used Prius

Posted on April 19, 2005 11:54 AM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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April 13, 2005

Plugging In The Hybrid

consumer reports plugging in car This consumer reports on a new twist on the Hybrid: plug it in.

Giving Hybrids A Real Jolt. Suggests that future hybrids will be mostly electric cars, for most day to day, in-city travel, and switch to gas power only on longer trips.

 

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Recharging the hybrid

Posted on April 13, 2005 10:23 PM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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April 12, 2005

The Kia Sportage Ad Campaign

consumer reports kia sportage ads Ad campaigns are designed to differentiate cars in consumers' minds. I'm not sure I like this one.

This commercial is hip & has a great message. It makes Kia look like a real player in the auto industry (which they are proving themselves to be with great cars) and they will sell a lot of cars from it. Check it out here.

Read the whole thing.
 

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Ad Campaign Of The Week - KIA SPORTAGE

Posted on April 12, 2005 10:21 PM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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April 07, 2005

SUV Hazards

consumer reports suv accidents Consumers have a tough call on safety:

Drivers have been running an “arms race” on American roads by buying increasingly large vehicles such as sport utility vehicles and light trucks. But large vehicles pose an increased danger to occupants of smaller vehicles and to pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. This paper measures both the internal effect of large vehicles on their own occupants’ safety and their external effect on others. The results show that light trucks are extremely deadly. For each 1 million light trucks that replace cars, between 34 and 93 additional...

Yes, they’re appalling figures. Sadly it’s not a new issue. The road safety community has been concerned about this for as long as I’ve been aware. Even more sadly, the response from aggressive road users in the US has been that drivers of small cars are contributing to their own fatalities. They also extend this criticism to include government measures aimed at reducing fuel use by making vehicles lighter.

 

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The quantifiable hazard of SUVs

Posted on April 7, 2005 10:16 PM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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April 05, 2005

House Panel Revives US Energy Bill

consumer reports fuel efficient cars gas pump The U.S. House of Representatives probably won't pass an energy bill that addresses fuel efficiency with the Republican party in control. Not great news for consumers.

Panel Democrats criticized the bill for failing to improve the fuel-efficiency of US cars and trucks, and doing little to promote energy conservation.

 

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House Panel Revives US Energy Bill

Posted on April 5, 2005 10:30 PM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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April 04, 2005

Save Money: Do It Yourself

consumer reports windshield wipers Sometimes "rainy day specials" aren't that special. This consumer reports on saving a bundle by replacing windshield wipers himself.
The other day I took my car to Tires Plus to get an oil change and have the tires rotated. I usually change the oil myself, but the prospect of writhing around on the dirty, wet and cold concrete in sub-zero temperatures wasn't too appealing (of course this week the temps are in the 30s so it wouldn't have been so bad). While in the shop I noticed a "rainy day" special they had to change your oil and your wiper blades--which reminded me that I needed to change my wiper blades. Their "rainy day" service cost $50--more than twice the price of an oil change. I decided to stop at AutoZone on the way home and do it myself. The wipers cost $12 (but only because my wipers come in two different sizes--wha?!--and I had to buy two sets. Though next time I won't have to buy them, so they really did cost only $6.) and trying to install them in the parking lot took maybe 15 minutes.
 

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Monkey Outta Nowhere: thoughts: Transportation

Posted on April 4, 2005 05:09 PM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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Consumer Buys Ford Focus

consumer reports ford focus This consumer reports on the decision to buy a Ford Focus. Sounds like it was a good decision.
Last week I bought the first brand new car I've ever purchased, a 2005 Ford Focus. I picked it partly because I found it on Edmund's list of good small cars for tall people. Then when I turned to Consumer Reports, and found it (the '04) to be the recommended small car, it was just about a done deal. I rented one just to make sure. If you look at it you can clearly see why it has some extra headroom. I got the ZX4 SES, which is a 4-door sedan. I've had it a week, about 400 miles, and so far so good. Really is a treat to have a brand spanking-new car. The kids admonished me not to eat in it, not even my customary apples. Having driven ponderous vehicles for so long, having a nimble little car is pleasant. Especially with the tight, parking garage spaces around here.
 

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Mondegreen

Posted on April 4, 2005 05:06 PM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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March 24, 2005

Car Insurance Premiums Increase Slowly

consumer report car insurance premiums Car insurance premiums will increase in 2005, but at a rate lower than inflation.

Nationwide, the cost of auto insurance is expected to rise by just 1.5 percent in 2005, the smallest increase in five years, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

The average cost for auto insurance nationwide for 2005 is estimated at $870, an increase of $13 per vehicle from last year, reports the I.I.I. The projected increase represents a continued slowdown from 2004, when auto insurance costs rose by just 2.8 percent, said Robert Hartwig, senior vice president and chief economist of the I.I.I.

“The price of auto insurance is increasing by little more than one-half the rate of inflation,” Hartwig said. “Many people who, for example, drive safe cars, have excellent safety records and good credit-based insurance scores may see their rates go down.”

Hartwig cited the declining number of auto accidents, safer cars, new auto theft technology and fraud-fighting efforts as key factors behind the trend.

 

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autoinsurancepage.com � Car insurance inflation slows

Posted on March 24, 2005 12:02 AM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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March 23, 2005

A Portable Blender

consumer reports portable blender This consumer reports on a cool portable blender. Bottoms up!
Every time we come up with something we think is *so* cool, our trusty tipsters trump us. Today’s tip: the Vortex hand-crank blender, which some believe is a better product than the Lehman’s one we featured yesterday. We’ll leave that up to you to decide, but here are the Vortex’s vitals: compact add lightweight (it’s base stores in the pitcher for convenience), made of Lexan, two-speed gear system works as an ice crusher or a food processor, and an ergonomic hand-crank. Hee haw. Thanks for the tip Brian B! At $69.95, it’s cheaper, too.
 

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Treehugger: Hand-Crank Travel Blender

Posted on March 23, 2005 09:15 PM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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Buying a Used Car

consumer report used car lot Consumers can save money by buying used cars. This Brit reports on how consumers can protect themselves when buying used.
By purchasing a used car you can save a lot of money. You could buy a model that you may not be able to afford brand new. However, buying a used car is still a bit of a gamble as there is no guarantee that the car has not been in an accident, has real mileage, and was properly maintained. There may be some hidden problems like a worn out automatic transmission, or engine problems that may not have been obvious when you test-drove the car. Here are some essential facts you should consider before buying a second-hand car so you won't regret your decision after your purchase.
 

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MotorMad: Used Car Buying Advice

Posted on March 23, 2005 10:30 AM by Automo9.
Filed in Reports by Consumers under cars.
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