Monthly Archives: August 2010

Honda, Mercedes recalling models

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Posted in Honda - DO NOT USE, Mercedes-Benz

Honda and Mercedes-Benz have separately announced that they will recall units of some popular models. The announcements affect some new and used Mercedes and Honda vehicles.

Honda Accords, Civics and Elements made between 2003 and 2004 may have a problem with the ignition. The automaker says that a pin within the keyslot can become deformed, which could possibly allow the key to be taken out while the car is not in park, which would cause the vehicle to roll away until the driver was able to reinsert the key and get the car under control. The problem is expected to affect nearly 385,000 vehicles.

New versions of the Honda Element, made in 2010, may have a problem with the automatic shift lever, which may become disconnected from the transmission and not allow the driver to shift gears.

Mercedes, meanwhile, has realized that a protective grille placed over turn signals in 2002-2010 models of its G-Class may not comply with federal standards, making the lights difficult to see.

Those driving a used Honda or Mercedes should make sure that their vehicle is not listed in the recall.

Toyota’s unintended acceleration problems help driver escape prison

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Posted in General Auto News, Toyota

Toyota has come under fire for its unintended acceleration problems, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates may have contributed to more than 80 fatalities on the road. The new findings about the issues have helped exonerate one man who was sentenced to jail for vehicular manslaughter.

MotorTrend reports that Koua Fong Lee was behind the wheel of a 1996 Toyota Camry when it struck an Oldmosbile Ciera from behind, killing the three occupants inside. Lee repeatedly testified during his trial that although he stepped on the brakes, the vehicle would not slow or stop. Lee was eventually convicted and sentenced to an eight year prison term

In light of the problems with Toyota vehicles, District Judge Joanne Smith recently ruled that Lee should be allowed to go free. The district attorney has announced she will not challenge the ruling, and at least one member of the victims’ family said they were happy that Lee was being released. The family has also filed a suit against Toyota.

Those in the market for a used car shouldn’t necessarily shy away from used Toyotas. With a little research, drivers can find which models are unaffected and possibly get a great deal, since the value of Toyota cars has dipped because of quality concerns.

AP: Scion xD is overlooked

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Posted in General Auto News, Toyota

When buyers are looking at a used Toyota, they often go for a Corolla or Camry. Yet many drivers forget about Toyota‘s youth-oriented Scion brand, which features a few vehicles that drivers might want to give a second look.

Scion is usually identified with the boxy-looking xB, one of the first modern cars on the road that embraced a squared-off look. But drivers who aren’t fans of that aesthetic and are in the market for a used car might want to consider the xD.

According to the Associated Press, buyers have continually overlooked the car, and it’s not clear why. The small five-door hatchback boasts more horsepower than its competitors in the segment and Consumer Reports recommended the car as eminently reliable. Still, despite acclaim that would make it a hit under other brands, the xD is Toyota’s slowest selling non-luxury car.

The news source reports that the car is great for city driving, gets 30 mpg, and has a number of seat configurations that its major rivals do not.

Drivers who are buying a used car might want to consider trying out a Scion xD and seeing how it compares to other cars in its class, like the Honda Fit or Nissan Versa.

Mustang helps Ford post sales increase

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford

Strong sales of Ford‘s mustang and other models have helped the automaker post a rise in July sales as compared to 2009.

Ford is reporting a 3.1 percent rise in auto sales for the month of July. Ford’s main brand was up 8.1 percent while its luxury Lincoln line bounced back 16.3 percent. The company’s Volvo brand, which it recently sold to China’s Geely, was down 33 percent. The soon-to-be phased out Mercury brand dragged the numbers down with a 31 percent loss. Overall, Ford has proven to be one of the brands heading in the right direction as the recession recedes, with an increase of 24 percent total as compared to the first seven months of 2009.

Though the automaker struggled through 2009, July’s numbers were slightly inflated by the government’s Cash for Clunkers program.

Ford’s new Mustang, introduced this year, posted a 12 percent increase in sales. In addition, its redesigned Taurus doubled sales over the model’s previous iteration.

One of the reasons to buy a used Ford Mustang is that the car may end up appreciating if drivers keep it in good condition. There are a slew of auto enthusiasts who specifically value Mustangs, so investing in one is never a bad purchase.

Year-end clearouts driving auto sales

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Posted in Auto Industry News

As dealers begin to ship out the 2010 models in order to make way for the redesigned 2011 ones, many buyers are taking advantage of the cheap cars for sale and driving up auto deliveries, according to a new report.

Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg believe that July will be the best month for auto sales since August of 2009, when the Cash For Clunkers program heavily contributed to a spike in new and used car sales. On average, those polled predicted 11.9 million deliveries for the month of July, a 5.3 increase over the previous year. Full results are expected to be announced this week.

And according to TrueCar.com, the industry is helping by offering its largest discounts in years. This year’s closeout prices are 3.8 percent cheaper than 2009, meaning it’s a great time to buy a car.

Cars like the new 2011 Ford Explorer are expected to make the 2010 models fly off the lots. Many of these models then make their way into the hands of used car dealers, where they can be found for even cheaper than the new car prices, even at a discount.

Used Ford owners get engine boost

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Posted in Ford, General Auto News

Many drivers opt to increase their car’s power through aftermarket parts and accessories. But few get an offer from the dealer to come back and get their car upgraded for free.

That’s exactly what Ford is offering owners who bought the Ford Super Duty pickup truck this year. The current engine in the Super Duty is a 6.7-liter Powerstroke V-8 turbocharged diesel, but its numbers were just below the best in its class.

However, Ford engineers have figured out a way to upgrade the engine in order to give it class-leading numbers. Now, Ford is thanking customers that bought the vehicle by offering that upgrade free of charge, according to USA Today.

By dropping the car off at the dealer, drivers will get 65 more foot-pounds of torque and 10 extra horsepower, pushing the car up over 400. The upgrade offers will start this month and continue into the next year.

The upgrade also affects any unsold Ford Super Duty cars for sale that dealers have on the lots, as well as trucks currently in production.

Drivers who buy a late-model used Ford Super Duty without the upgrade can know that they’ll have a bit more power once they take it by a dealer.