Report: Economy improving, unemployment numbers falling

The economy took another step in the right direction on Thursday, with the U.S. Labor Department reporting that the number of people applying for unemployment benefits fell by 5,000, to a seasonally adjusted 457,000 in the week ending March 13, according to Market Watch. The news coming out of Washington marks the third consecutive week that unemployment claims have dropped.

Additionally, the report said that labor market and consumer pricing indicate that the U.S. economy is experiencing moderate growth, and that inflation has been successfully contained. In fact, core inflation has only risen 1.3 percent – the lowest figure since 2004, Reuters reports.

Meanwhile, after months of anticipation, President Obama signed into law a $17.6 billion dollar jobs bill earlier this week, giving hope to those who have yet to find employment after last year’s recession.

“A consensus is forming that, partly because of the necessary – and often unpopular – measures we took over the past year, our economy is growing again and we may soon be adding jobs instead of losing them,” said Obama.

“The jobs bill I’m signing today is intended to help accelerate this process,” he added.

2007 Pontiac Solstice: Style, affordability and performance

The unseasonably warm weather this month might have some car enthusiasts clamoring for weekend drives through the country in their favorite sports car. Consumers who are in the market for a weekend cruiser may want to take a look at the 2007 Pontiac Solstice, one of the most stylish and nimble two-seat convertibles on the road today.

Equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine capable of creating 177 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque, the ’07 Solstice is certainly not a beast, but with its small stature and front-mounted engine, it has plenty of pep to make any drive enjoyable.

For those interested in a bit more power, the high-performance GXP model comes with a turbo-charged V4 that generates 260 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which can move from 0-60 miles per hour in six seconds flat, according to Edmunds. All models can be purchased with five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic.

While the 2007 Solstice is not as well equipped as its closest competitor, the Mazda Miata, it more moderately priced and is available with a host of optional features.

American automakers score well in new reliability survery

On the heels of a few troubling months, the U.S. automotive industry received some terrific news this week. On Thursday, J.D. Power and Associates unveiled their 2010 Vehicle Dependability Survey, which found that Ford, Buick and Cadillac all decreased the number of problems with their vehicles.

The annual survey, which rates 3-year old cars based on how many problems they average per 100 vehicles, found that 25 of 36 vehicle brands manufactured in 2007 showed improved long-term durability compared to the previous year, the Daily Finance reports.

Among the top 10 most reliable 2007 brands are Ford, Mercury, Honda, Toyota and Lincoln. In fact, all three Ford divisions finished in the top eight in the survey.

“These results, along with other consumer-driven indicators, show that we are making solid progress on our promise to deliver high initial quality, long-term durability and overall customer satisfaction,” said Bennie Fowler, group vice president for global quality at Ford.

Toyota also had an extremely strong showing, with the Prius and Corolla finishing first and second in the compact car segment. The Sequoia and the Tundra also earned high marks in the multi-activity and large pickup categories.

Local Montana musician rescued after harrowing ordeal

On Sunday, a 67-year-old country musician was rescued after spending four days trapped in his 1996 Cadillac STS.

Louis Rogers, who has played guitar alongside a number of country music legends, including Merle Haggard and George Jones, was writing a goodbye letter and preparing himself for death when a couple stumbled across the his immobilized vehicle on a back road in Montana, according to the Associated Press.

Four days previous, Rogers was on his way to Calder, Idaho, when he decided to take a shortcut across the Bitterroot Mountains. After driving for about nine miles on the remote mountain road, the Lakeside, Montana, resident got his Cadillac stuck in a snow bank and was unable to remove it.

With no cell phone service, and being in admitted poor health, Rogers was forced to wait and see if he would ever be found. At one point, a low flying airplane passed right by the 67-year-old’s vehicle, but the repeated flashing of his headlights was unable to attract the pilot’s attention.

After several frustrating days and intolerably cold nights, Rogers had given up.

“I thought before I lose my bearings or start hallucinating, I’m going to write my last letter and tell my last goodbyes to my friends and relations,” said Rogers, soon after being rescued. “I told them to have faith in the Lord and don’t go cracking up because we are going to see each other again.”

Unfortunately for the country musician, more than 200 friends and relatives spent the weekend searching for him in a totally different location, as they were unaware of his decision to take a shortcut.

Luckily for Rogers, after several days with no food and only melted snow to drink, he was found by Scott and Penny Kalis, a local couple out for a drive in their four-wheel drive vehicle.

“She said, ‘Well, what are you doing way up here?'” Rogers said. “I said, ‘Dying, and if you don’t believe it, here’s the proof, and I showed her the letter.'”

Surprisingly, Rogers did not need to be hospitalized after the ordeal, and was up and running after just a few days of rest.

2007 Saturn Outlook: Size, versatility and safety

Officials with General Motors have recently announced that the automaker is currently manufacturing its last line of Saturn and Hummer vehicles.

After not producing any cars since October, GM will assemble 1,037 Saturn models over the next few weeks to utilize existing material, General Motors spokeswoman Kim Carpenter said on Tuesday, according to Auto Week.

When participating dealerships begin to close their doors in the next few months, the market for used Saturn models may start to pick up. One of the most impressive and popular Saturn lines produced over the last decade is the 2007 Saturn Outlook.

The ’07 Outlook is an oversized crossover wagon that is capable of seating eight passengers, making it one of the more popular family vehicles in its class. It is available with two second-row seating options – a 60/40 split bench seat that accommodates three passengers or two individual captain’s chairs, according to Edmunds.com. Outlook models equipped with the split bench seat can be folded down, creating a class-leading 117 cubic feet of cargo room.

Meanwhile, Saturn’s bellwether SUV is stacked with standard safety features, including OnStar, rollover-sensing stability control, antilock disc brakes, front seat side impact airbags and full-length side-curtain airbags capable of protecting all three rows.

Under the hood, the 2007 Outlook is powered by a 3.6-liter six-cylinder gas engine, which creates 270 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque. The V6 is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that comes with either front- or all-wheel drive.

The ’07 Outlook “handles with more confidence than you’d expect from a vehicle weighing more than 4,700 pounds,” says the news source. Its ride is “smooth at almost every rev range and delivers enough power to handle most performance demands with ease.”

Saturn’s base model wagon comes with a variety of standard features, including full power accessories, cruise control and an MP3 player. The luxury model Outlook is available with a navigation system, xenon headlights, a premium audio system, leather upholstery and a rear-seat DVD player.

The 2007 Saturn Outlook is not the most powerful or luxurious SUV ever produced, but it is one of the more versatile, complete and moderately priced crossovers on the road today.

Top used cars for female drivers

A few years ago, the automobile experts from About.com put together a list of the top 10 cars for female drivers. While admittedly taking into account several stereotypes along with their market research, the site found that the majority of women heavily consider cargo space, safety, reasonable prices and low operating costs when they are shopping around for a new or used car.

After taking into consideration all the factors involved, the website found that the 2006 Ford Focus and the 2007 Honda Civic best met the female-specific criteria that their researchers assembled.

The 2006 Ford Focus, which is available as a sedan, hatchback or wagon, is fun to drive, moderately priced and has a rather unique style compared to the rest of the compact car segment.

Equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine capable of 136 horsepower or an optional 2.3-liter V4 good for 151 hp, the ’06 Focus has plenty of pep, but also superior handling for either highway or city driving, Edmunds.com reports. Its fuel economy is above average for its class, with both engines offering EPA mileage ratings in the high-20s for city driving and the mid-30s for highway driving.

“The 2006 Ford Focus is a wonderful small car that’s fun to drive, fuel efficient, and offered in such a wide variety of configurations,” concludes the news source. “It would be hard not to find one that suits your needs.”

Meanwhile, female car buyers who are looking for a strictly sensible and rational sedan may want to take a look at the 2007 Honda Civic.

While it doesn’t come with all the optional bells and whistles that complement the Focus, the ’07 Civic is exceptionally safe, comfortable and fuel-efficient.

Each model year Civic comes standard with front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. They are also equipped with antilock brakes and optional stability control.

The 2007 Civic sedan earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Transportation Safety Institute for its ability to protect all occupants from frontal impacts. Honda’s hallmark compact sedan also boasts one of the lowest costs of ownership ratings in any car segment.

“The 2007 Honda Civic continues to set the bar for the small car segment,” says Edmunds.” Strong on comfort, safety and customization, this is one car that every shopper needs to consider.”

With the economy improving, GM to begin paying back government bailout loan

As the nation continues to slowly recover from the economic recession, it seems that the auto industry is beginning to show signs of life. Late last week, General Motors CEO Ed Whitacre announced that the automaker should be in a position to repay roughly $8 billion in debt to the U.S. government by June 2010.

Furthermore, Whitacre indicated that the government would be able to sell all of its equity in GM for a profit, according to Automotive News. Currently, U.S. taxpayers own 61 percent of General Motors stock.

“For the first time in over a decade, General Motors has a healthy, clean balance sheet,” said Whitacre. “We are not being crushed under mountains of debt. We have a cost structure that works.”

Meanwhile, GM’s new CEO has completely reorganized the company’s sales and marketing teams, a decision that he believes has contributed to the U.S. car manufacturer’s 20 percent market share.

With the economy improving and unemployment rates stabilizing, new and used car sales are expected to significantly trump last year’s numbers.

Nissan’s design chief to retire after 30 years of service

Officials with Nissan recently announced that the automaker’s U.S. design chief, Bruce Campbell, will retire at the end of March and will be replaced by Alfonso Albaisa, who is currently the vice president of Nissan Design Europe.

Campbell, who has worked for the carmaker since 1980, is credited with designing some of the Nissan’s most influential models, including the Pulsar NX, the Gobi small truck as well as the Maxima and Xterra production vehicles, according to Auto Week. He also played a prominent role in the design of Nissan’s new North American headquarters, located in Nashville, Tennessee.

“The era of designing cars just for North America is coming to a close,” said Campbell, quoted by Automotive News. “The job today is to make global cars work. That makes good business sense, but it can be a challenge for a designer.”

The Japanese auto manufacturer has said that Campbell will continue to work as a part-time consultant over the next few years.

Meanwhile, Albaisa will soon begin his second stint with Nissan America. The first time around, he was credited with heavily contributing to the redesign of the Altima and the Rogue.

2006 Buick Rendezvous: A well-rounded family vehicle

Prospective car buyers interested in purchasing a used family vehicle may want to take a look at the 2006 Buick Rendezvous, which has the look and feel of a sport utility vehicle and the interior space and safety features of minivan.

For 2006, Buick equipped its crossover SUV with a more powerful engine and numerous additional standard features. The base model comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of producing 201 horsepower and 216 pound-feet of torque. An upgraded 3.6-liter V6 is also available.

The ’06 Rendezvous comes standard with OnStar, an innovative alarm system, rear parking assist and sound-reducing QuietTuning technology, according to Edmunds.com.

Possibly the most acclaimed aspect of Buick’s hallmark SUV is the expansive cabin space and extensive cargo capacity. It delivers 109 cubic feet of cargo volume, while maintaining the elegant upscale look that Buick is known for.

Sharing a basic platform with Buick’s Terraza minivan, the Rendezvous seats up to seven passengers and has split-bench seats that can fold away.

While the 2006 Rendezvous is an excellent family car, it is, however, not a capable off-road SUV. Buick’s fuel-efficient crossover was bred for the highway.

Report: Woods to return to the PGA in two weeks

Nearly four months after crashing his Cadillac Escalade outside of his home in Windermere, Florida, Tiger Woods has begun planning his return to the golf course.

On Thursday, the New York Post reported that the world’s number one golfer will begin his comeback in two weeks at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando.

The paper quoted two unnamed sources that said Woods has hired former presidential press secretary Ari Fleischer, who worked for George W. Bush, and most recently helped Mark McGuire orchestrate his return to professional baseball.

“[Woods and Fleischer] were in his living room this week going over a strategy for how to handle Bay Hill in two weeks,” said one source. “I would be shocked if he didn’t play the Arnold Palmer.”

Woods, who publicly admitted his multiple infidelities last month, has spent the last few weeks at a sexual rehabilitation clinic, and has only been seen on the golf course a handful of times since Thanksgiving.

Many commentators have speculated that Woods would return to the PGA at Bay Hill, as he has won the tournament six times since 2000.