Monthly Archives: June 2010

Ford sees an electric future

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford

While the first electric vehicles are starting to come to market, Ford is predicting a bright future for the vehicles.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Ford has stated that it predicts between 10 and 25 percent of its global volume will be electric by 2020. Electric vehicles, which includes hybrids running with advanced battery technology, currently make up about 2 percent of the fleet.

Ford further broke down its predictions by type. Of the group, 70 percent will be hybrids, 20 to 25 percent plug-in hybrids, and the remaining all-electric vehicles. Although Ford believes that electric vehicles will catch on, concerns about infrastructure and affordability and infrastructure may delay widespread adoption.

"The customer will decide who the winners and losers are and ultimately the pace of adoption of greener vehicles," Ford’s director of global electrification Nancy Gioia told the news source.

While electric vehicles may be expensive at the moment, drivers who want to help the environment and save money on gas can find deals on hybrids, like the Ford Fusion, on the used car market.

Charlie Sheen’s Mercedes-Benz driven off cliff… again

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News, Mercedes-Benz

In a bizarre incident, Charlie Sheen’s silver 2010 Mercedes-Benz was found crashed into a ravine off Mulholland Drive, nearby the actor’s home.

Police found the car around 3 AM after a civilian tip. The police contacted Sheen, who didn’t realize the car was missing.

What makes the event extra strange is that it echoes what happened to Sheen just four months earlier. In February, his 2009 Mercedes was stolen and driven off of Mulholland Drive. Sheen had left the keys in the ignition both times.

Those who can’t afford to replace their Mercedes every year might want to shop for used Mercedes-Benz on the used market. Although these cars are expensive when bought new, drivers can ride like the Hollywood stars without a Hollywood bank account.

Of course, if they live near a cliff, drivers who purchase a used Mercedes might want to consider keeping the keys in a safe place.

Los Angeles police currently have no leads on the suspect.

Buying a used performance car on a budget

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Posted in How To

Many drivers don’t care about all the bells and whistles that carmakers throw at them when selling new cars. Instead, they care about one thing: horsepower. Well, they care about horsepower along with torque and a variety of other important factors in determining a car’s performance. What’s underneath the hood are the key factors in driving up a car’s price, but potential buyers don’t need to drain their bank account in order to have a high-powered ride. By shopping on the used car market, they can find deals on some classic cars.

Edmunds Inside Line recently listed some models that performance junkies should keep an eye out for when looking for deals on the used car market. According to the website, all of these cars can be found for less than $10,000, though most of them retailed for much more than that.

BMWs are world-renowned for their engineering standards, as well as their price tag. Fortunately, there are a host of used BMW‘s that can be had at a steep discount. The news provider recommends the 740i and 740iL E38 models from 1995-2001. Drivers who want to turn heads will be happy to know that this car was selected as James Bond’s ride of choice in “Tomorrow Never Dies.” Looking under the hood, its easy to see why the superspy preferred the 740i.

This machine boasts a V8 with 282 horsepower. If that’s not enough, drivers should keep their eyes peeled for the rarer V12-powered 750 models, which ups the ante to 322 horses. Of course, the 7 series is just one used BMW that drivers can find among pre-owned vehicles. They can also find deals on 5 series or the 635i.

If you want a great car but don’t need all those horses, take a look at the 1999-2000 Honda Civic Si. Its 160-horsepower 1.6 liter inline four engine might not turn heads as much as the BMW, but it makes up for that in handling. For years, Honda used a wishbone front suspension that some say gave their cars a unique feel. These Honda Civic Si models were the last Hondas to use the suspension, and are highly sought after by those who feel the new Hondas don’t handle as well as they used to.

Delving even further back into last decade are the 1990-1996 Nissan 300ZXs. These precursors to the famous Nissan 350z models offer comparable performance at a decent price. They might be difficult to find without a ton of mileage on them, but they are worth it if one pops up.

The ideal version of these cars are the twin turbo ones, although those can be even rarer. However, the used market has downgraded the value of features like the convertible roof. If drivers are lucky enough to find a used Nissan 300ZX twin turbo 2-seater convertible with decent mileage, they could have a world-class car (the model won numerous top 10 car in the world awards at the time) for a fraction of the cost.

Diddy gives son a $360,000 Maybach

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News, Mercedes-Benz

It was a sweet sixteen for Justin Dior Combs.

Combs, son of rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs (formerly known as P. Diddy), was recently presented with a brand-new Maybach on his sixteenth birthday, according to USA Today. Maybach is the ultra-luxury brand of Mercedes-Benz.

Diddy recently defended the decision on an edition of ABC Nightline, saying “I think it’s appropriate to give my kids whatever I want to give my kids,” before adding “I could do whatever I want to do and you can’t question me about it.”

The car was presented to Justin at a party that Diddy threw for the youngster in New York. The bash will be featured on an upcoming episode of MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16.”

“I’m just ecstatic right now,” the teenager told US Magazine.

Those who want to give their kids a sweet sixteen probably don’t have Diddy’s bankroll, but big deals can be found on the pre-owned market, including on used Mercedes cars. Used car dealers are a great place to look for teenager’s first cars.

Pickup sales pick up

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Posted in Ford, General Auto News, Honda - DO NOT USE, Toyota

Dealers across the country are reporting an increase in pickup sales, a sign that the economy is recovering because Americans aren’t as worried about gas prices and small business are buying the vehicles to transport goods.

Sales of pickup trucks hit 151,000 last month, a whopping 19 percent increase over last year, according to the Associated Press. Many of those sales were full-size models, popular vehicles among contractors and builders.

John Blevins of Kentucky recently bought a Ford F-150 XL for his heating and air company. It was a purchase he had been putting off for awhile.

“In the last two to three years, we downsized quite a bit,” he told the news source. “We were holding off on buying anything new because we didn’t know what was going to happen.”

Pickups are useful vehicles for their safety, towing capacity, and large storage space. Small business owners who are interested in purchasing a pickup for their company would do well to look at used models such as the Ford F-150, Honda Ridgeline, and Toyota Tundra. Buying used can save the company money while also providing it with a reliable vehicle.

SUVs at a crossroads

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Posted in Ford, General Auto News, Nissan, Toyota

With sales dwindling and crossovers becoming increasingly popular, the traditional sports utility vehicle is facing an uncertain future, but fans of the vehicles can find deals on older models by shopping on the used car market.

According to MSN Auto, the traditional SUV has struggled amid worries about fuel economy and a shrinking customer base. In addition, crossover vehicles – smaller models based on passenger car platforms, are usurping SUV’s spot as the most popular seller.

That doesn’t mean automakers are abandoning the SUV, however. Ford recently redesigned its flagship SUV, the Explorer, to address concerns about fuel economy. The new Explorer gets 25 mpg and runs on a modified car body, but its exterior is all-truck.

Traditional SUV fans may also want to look at models like the Toyota 4Runner and Nissan Pathfinder.

Utility sales (crossovers and SUVS) currently account for 28 percent of the total car market, but crossovers make up 77 percent of that.

However, there was a time when SUVs dominated the landscape, and for memories of that, drivers should look no further than the used car market.

Drivers who want the traditional off-roading capabilities along with the extra space should shop the used car dealers for the classic models of just a few years ago. While these cars once fetched a high price, their dwindling popularity has caused many used car dealers to offer significant savings.

Mercedes redesigns R-Class

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Posted in Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes is redesigning its R-Class full-size crossover for the 2011 model year, in an attempt to broaden its range beyond the typical passenger car offerings.

The 2011 R-Class’ hood was refined to become more “arrow shaped,” according to USA Today. Mercedes also redesigned the bumper to achieve a sleeker design. Head and tailights now feature LEDs and fiber optic technology.

Inside, Mercedes is selling the car with six and seven-seat configurations, and the rear seat is wide enough to fit three child safety seats.

Mercedes is also offering consumers options under the hood: the R-Class can come with the normal gas engine, or Mercedes’ new R350 BlueTEC 4MATIC diesel engine. The diesel engine trades some horsepower for increased fuel efficiency.

As with any redesign, the company will be looking to sell its older models. Unsold 2010 R-Class vehicles will find their way to the used market, where they can be bought for a heavy discount off the dealer’s price.

Mercedes loans out SLS AMG

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Posted in Mercedes-Benz

Most of us can only stare and drool at the latest supercars that luxury brands put out. One lucky auto writer got to live the dream for a few days, as Mercedes handed him the keys to the brand-new 2011 SLS AMG.

Clifford Atiyeh of the Boston Globe chronicled his interactions with the vehicle, which features an extended hood and gullwing doors (think the DeLorean from “Back to the Future”) along with a 6.3-liter V8 with 563 horsepower, according to Edmunds.

The car is the definition of a head-turner, and the news source reveals that seeing the car caused the neighbors to come out of their houses, a man to chase the writer on the highway with a camera phone and even caused an on-duty cop to let out a string of expletives.

The SLS AMG is an update of the gullwing 300SL car from the mid-50s, and the first car to be completely designed by Mercedes’ racing group, AMG.

At $200,000, the SLS AMG is probably out of most car buyer’s price range, but drivers can get the same engineering standards for a lot less by buying a used Mercedes from a dealer or auto auction

Mercedes-Benz makes big plans

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Posted in Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is one of the most recognized luxury brands on the planet, but the company isn’t content to simply rest on its laurels.

The famed German automaker is planning to launch a new advertising campaign, as well as a redesign of its traditional logo. The company’s new slogan will be “the best or nothing,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

“Our claim has to reflect that we want to be the best in all disciplines,” sales chief Joachim Schmidt told the news source.

Mercedes hopes to hit 1.5 million car sales annually by 2015. They moved 974,700 cars in 2009, but executives are optimistic that the recovering economy coupled with their overhauls will propel the brand to success in the future. The company’s May sales were a 14% increase over the previous year’s totals.

Buying a Mercedes-Benz new can be a costly venture, but that doesn’t mean that drivers who want a Benz have to break the bank. The cars are known for their longevity, so savvy consumers can buy a used Mercedes at a fraction of the new car price.

Ford to bet on “Dub” Mustang

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Posted in Ford

Ford is in the process of launching the 2011 edition of its classic Mustang model, and early reports indicate that its advertising will be aimed at introducing a younger generation to the historic model.

According to USA Today, the television ads will center around the “Dub” edition. Dub is an auto magazine featuring tricked-out versions of various cars. Ford invited the magazine’s editors to work their magic on the new Mustang.

The result is a Mustang with sleek black paint, off-black racing stripes and 22-inch Pirelli tires in the front with 24-inchers in the back.

Its no slouch under the hood either, with a 5-liter V8 engine and 412 horsepower, according to Edmunds.

It already has one fan: rapper Nelly, who got an early edition of the automobile.

In the meantime, those looking at used Fords should consider keeping their eyes peeled for lightly used 2010 Mustangs. As Ford pushes the 2010 Mustang out of showrooms, many will find their way onto the used car market, where they can be snagged for a fraction of the price.