Toyota makes comeback on reliability report

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Posted in How To, Toyota

Toyota, once known for making quality vehicles, has struggled with its image this year following a rash of recalls. In fact, the issues surrounding numerous vehicles' troubles with unintended acceleration were so damaging that the non-profit Consumer Reports removed its recommendation for nearly all Toyota vehicles.

The automaker got a double dose of good news today when Consumer Reports announced two movements on the automotive front. First, the organization decided to reissue its recommended status for eight Toyota vehicles, including the Camry, Corolla, Avalon, RAV4, Sequoia, Tundra, Highlander and Matrix.

The non-profit wrote on its website: "We believe that Toyota has adequately addressed the problem of unintended acceleration and that its new vehicles on sale now are fundamentally safe." It went on to state that the problem had been fixed in all new vehicles and the vast majority of used Toyotas. However, it still recommended that a driver interested in shopping for a used car check with the dealer to ensure that the recall-related maintenance has been performed.

The other good news was that the issues didn't appear to affect their standing among consumers in terms of reliability. The company released its annual Car Reliability Survey, which polls drivers on issues with their cars, and Toyota, along with Japanese rival Honda, remained on top.

The survey is a good resource for those considering buying a used car, as they detail the real-life experience with a car over time rather than a simple review that details performance characteristics.

The overall top brand was Scion, Toyota's youth-oriented brand. The nameplate obviously benefited by having a small sample size of just a few vehicles, but the main Toyota brand's sixth-place finish showed that the Japanese automaker is still ahead of most rivals. In fact, Toyota cars took home the top honors in several categories, including the Yaris for small cars, Tundra for full-sized pickup and Lexus LX for luxury SUV.

Honda posted a strong showing as well, with both the main brand and luxury Acura nameplate among the top four models. The Honda CR-V and Acura RDX were singled out as especially reliable compact crossovers.

Domestically, Ford and GM both made significant improvements to their vehicle lines. GM was able to successfully rid itself of poorly performing brands like Pontiac and Hummer, increasing its overall score, while Ford now has 90 percent of its entire lineup with scores of average reliability or better.

"There's a difference between actually having problems and having your car recalled," Jake Fisher, senior automotive engineer at Consumer Reports' vehicle test center, told Bloomberg. "While the recalls were widespread, the actual problems people were having associated with those recalls were much smaller."

Toyotas have long been a favorite among those shopping used cars, as the models are known for their longevity. Although the recalls were surely a stumbling block, drivers who buy a used Toyota now may be able to get a great deal because of the recent damage to the company's reputation.

Shortlist determined for Car and Truck of the Year

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Posted in Ford, How To

One of the advantages of waiting to buy a used car rather than immediately buying a new car as soon as it hits the market is the benefit of time and hindsight. If everybody knew how cars would be received and perform over time, it's unlikely that many of the weaker models would sell very well when stacked up against cars at a similar price point.

Drivers who are shopping for a used car may want to look at the models typically considered to be among the best in any given year, for example. Every year, automotive writers across the country vote on what they believe to be the North American Car and Truck of the year. Looking at these lists can give buyers a sense of which vehicles are generally accepted to be a cut above the rest.

This year looks to be as contentious as ever as multiple brands compete for the top awards. The Detroit Free Press recently looked at some of the top vehicles that made the shortlist this year. These 27 cars and trucks will eventually be narrowed down to 3 in each class on December 16th, with the overall winner revealed on January 10th at the North American International Auto Show.

Two vehicles that were unsurprisingly included on the list were the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf. Though both models have yet to be fully released, they each have a strong chance to win based on their heavily-hyped game-changer status alone. General Motors has been heavily pushing the Chevy Volt as a fuel-efficient compromise for many Americans, while Nissan took a risk by going fully electric straight out of the gate. It remains to be seen how these cars will do when they hit the market, but either makes a strong case for Car of the Year.

Hyundai pulled no punches with its redesigned Sonata, taking aim at the typically-dominant mid-size sedans like the Toyota Camry and Honda Civic. By all accounts, the South Korean automaker pulled it off, delivering a stylish yet affordable sedan that is helping Hyundai shed its "budget" image.

Small cars have gotten a big boost thanks to the flailing economy, and the Ford Fiesta, Nissan Juke and Chevy Cruze all made waves this year, earning places on the short list. The Fiesta changed the auto industry's approaching marketing, as the vehicle's brisk sales proved that Ford's social media strategy was a winner. The Juke has turned heads as a compact crossover with some aggressive styling. The news source said that the Cruze could possibly be "Chevy's best small car ever and GM's best-selling car," no small feat for a brand with such a long history.

In the truck segment, there was a bit of a surprise as no pickups made the list. New looks for old favorites like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer and Honda Odyssey may be tough to beat, but it might be the innovators, like the Infiniti QX56 and Ford Edge, that end up taking home top honors.

The cars that helped redefine their brands

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Posted in How To, Hyundai

Over the years, car brands become known for certain traits. Volvos have a reputation for safety, BMWs and Mercedes are refined, while Ford has always had powerful trucks and muscle cars. Yet as the auto industry changes, brands are looking to shake up consumer's perceptions as well.

Car and Driver recently examined some of the top cars set to debut in the next few years that may alter drivers' perceptions of a brand's reputation. At the same time, the news source also mentioned a few of the older vehicles, which can now be found on the used market, that were similar game-changers for their company.

One of the cars chosen was the new Hyundai Equus, as the South Korean automaker typically known for more affordable automobiles is looking to jump into the luxury market. With a $58,000 price tag, Apple iPad owners manual and valet maintenance service included, the brand just might have hit on the small details that many luxury drivers are willing to pay extra for.

The news source says that Hyundai is looking to avoid the pitfalls of the Volkswagen Phaeton, the automaker's attempt at a luxury model. This $70,000 extra-roomy car was a catastrophe in the U.S., although Volkswagen successfully sold the car in Europe, where its still popular. Instead, Hyundai is hoping that the new Equus will go the way of the Lexus LS400. This classic car was Toyota's first attempt at a luxury vehicle and it succeeded beyond the company's wildest expectations, eventually launching an entire brand that is still the most popular luxury nameplate in the U.S. today.

Speaking of Lexus, the luxury brand is looking to go even more upscale with the introduction of its $375,000 supercar, the Lexus LFA. Lexus' cars are typically known for their smooth ride rather than their race-day chops, but the LFA is looking to change that. The car is a substantial upgrade for anything the automaker has offered before, including the IS F, which was previously the fastest Lexus.

Mercedes took a similar strategy with the SLR McClaren, but the news source says the car was too conservative and not enough of an upgrade over the existing vehicles in the lineup. One car that Lexus might be hoping to emulate is the Ford GT. Ford had never made a supercar, but the GT sold like hotcakes and Ford still produces plenty of them today.

Buick is looking to change its reputation as an "old-man car" with the new Regal GS. The new offering from GM features a turbocharged engine, manual transmission and all-wheel drive, making it a performance-focused machine that Buick is not typically known for. GM could be hoping to duplicate the recent success it has had with the second-generation Cadillac CTS, which continues to be a bonafide smash hit for the company.

Innovation is great, but ultimately a good car is a good car. That's why so many of these classic vehicles succeeded. Drivers in the market for a vehicle may want to wait and try out one of these "game-changers" when they hit showrooms, but they should keep in mind that they can likely find the critically-acclaimed cars of yesteryear on the used car market for a substantially lower price.

Auto parts industry soars as more drivers sticking with used cars

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Posted in How To

Buying a used car offers several advantages over buying new, most of which have to do with price. In fact, many drivers are finding that hanging onto an older car and fixing it up is a more affordable option than purchasing a brand new one.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the auto parts industry is booming as drivers looking to cut costs are opting to repair their used vehicles rather than head over to the dealership and put down the money for a new car. Stock shares for the major auto companies, including Advance Auto Parts, Auto Zone and O'Reilly Automotive are all at or near 52-week highs.

"People who are not buying new cars are hanging on to their old cars and repairing them," Michael Odell, CEO of the Pep Boys chain, told the news source. Pep Boys has over 600 shops nationwide, but is taking advantage of the good business by adding 35 additional stores.

The surge in people hanging on to older vehicles is due to a number of factors, one of which is simply sheer numbers. Colin McGranahan of Bernstein Research speculated that in the early part of the decade, the industry was selling more than 16 million cars per year. In the recession-crippled era, that number is down to about 10 million cars per year. Simply put, there are more used cars available than new ones.

The current economic situation is contributing to other factors affecting the surge in business. Drivers still aren't keen on making a new vehicle purchase, and they may have even seen the dealership where they originally bought the vehicle close down. That means they're most likely taking the car to an independent mechanic, who relies on an auto part supply chain. McGranahan also said that others might be performing maintenance and repairs themselves in order to save money, which is also driving parts sales.

In addition, technology has advanced to the point that cars are lasting longer than they ever have before.

"People have realized their cars will last longer than five years," Judd Nystrom, senior vice president of Advance Auto Parts, told the news source.

Drivers might want to take advantage of longer-lasting vehicles by making their next purchase at a used car dealership. If a potential buyer is worried about maintenance, they may want to look into the certified pre-owned programs that most major brands maintain. These plans allow drivers to purchase a used car with a limited warranty backed by the manufacturer. 

Toyota recalling over 1 million vehicles

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Toyota

The maintenance issues continue for Toyota, which announced today that it will recall 1.53 million vehicles worldwide. Although the company claims to be employing new safety checks and focusing on restoring the brand's reputation for reliability, the automaker has continued to issue massive recalls this year for multiple vehicles.

The latest recall includes 740,000 used cars in the U.S., and doesn't affect any of the brand's new vehicles. The models in question include Avalons made between 2005 and 2006, Toyota Highlanders and Lexus RX330s from 2004 to 2006 and Lexus GS 300s, IS 250s and IS 350s from 2006.

Toyota says that the brake fluid used during maintenance can cause a small crack in the vehicle's master cylinder, leading to a "gradual decline" in stopping power. The issue will cause the brake warning light to come on. The automaker called the recall "voluntary," but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has pressured automakers to issue recalls for even minor problems in recent months.

The recall also includes nearly 600,000 vehicles overseas, mainly in Europe and Japan. Those vehicles have an additional problem with the electrical wiring related to the fuel pumps, which could potentially cause an engine stall.

Toyota has recalled over 10 million vehicles in the past year. 

Automakers use new oils to boost performance

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Posted in Auto Industry News

With the worldwide push to go green, automakers across the globe have been wracking their brains trying to discover a new way to bolster vehicle performance while also improving fuel efficiency. To this end, a number of automakers have begun utilizing new engine oil in their automobile both to add more MPG to the cars and provide better protection from engine wear.

General Motors has introduced a new oil graded as Dexos 1 that it claims will help protect an engine from damages that could potentially void a powertrain warranty, while their Detroit rivals Chrysler and Ford Motors have enacted similar plots by utilizing SN and GF-5 graded oils respectively.

"GF-5 and Dexos1 oils have a more robust formulation that should give you better contributions to fuel economy, cleanliness and fuel emissions," Mark Ferner, the manager of the lubricants technology group at Shell, told AutoWeek.

Of course, switching to new oils can also help improve the performance of used cars as well, and can be an important part of maintenance for vehicles that have spent more time on the road.

New Hyundai Equus priced at $58,000

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Hyundai

Hyundai is typically known as a manufacturer specializing in low-priced vehicles, but it appears that the company is taking a new direction as of late as it expands into the luxury market and leaves the more affordable options to its Kia sub-brand.

A prime example of that new strategy is the recently-announced price for the company's next luxury vehicle, the 2011 Equus. The new Equus will start at $58,000, with an "Ultimate" edition priced at $64,500. That's a full $25,000 more than the company's previous luxury offering, the $33,000 Genesis.

"We're confident that smart luxury buyers will discover that Equus competes well with similar flagship products from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Lexus," said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO.

Hyundai is offering a number of bells and whistles with the car, including an Apple iPad pre-loaded with the full owners manual for all buyers. The company is also offering valet service for vehicle maintenance, meaning the dealership will send a representative to pick up the car and provide drivers with a replacement Equus or Genesis while it is being serviced. In addition, the car is backed by a 5-year, 60,000-mile warranty.

Buyers looking at luxury vehicles may want to consider the Equus, but might want to wait until the model hits the used car market and can be found at a discount.

Study reveals which cars attract tickets

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Posted in How To, Mercedes-Benz

There's no doubt that driving a high-end luxury car like a Mercedes attracts attention, but drivers should determine if they attract the right kind of attention before they purchase a new or used car.

According to a recent study by Verisk Analytics, a San Francisco-based firm that assists insurance companies in policy decisions, drivers in some types of vehicles are far more likely to receive a ticket than others.

The "winner" was the Mercedes SL-Class Convertible, a sleek two-seater coupe that retails for more than $100,000. It was no surprise to find a flashy sports car at the top of the list, with the study revealing that the car was four times more likely to attract a ticket. The type of driver buying an SL-Class isn't likely to worry about a minor traffic violation, but what was more surprising was some of the other entries on the list.

In second place, at 3.5 times more likely to be cited than the average vehicle, was the Toyota Camry Solara, a decidedly less stylish and eye-catching vehicle. That raised the question of whether it was the car or the driver who determines the number of violations. The average age for the SL-Class driver was listed as 53, while the Camry Solara's was 50. At third on the list, the Scion tC, part of Toyota's youth-oriented brand, skewed much younger with an average age of 30. The Scion xB, an aggressively-styled box-like vehicle, also made the list as the fifth most likely.

"These findings and the corresponding trends they reveal are very interesting," said Bob U'Ren, senior vice president of Quality Planning. "Besides the sociological aspect of 'who drives what,' the manner in which private passenger cars and trucks are driven has a meaningful bearing on how much individuals and families pay for auto insurance."

The study also looked at which cars were least likely to attract a ticket. The car with the oldest average driver, the Buick Rainier SUV, was also the least likely to be pulled over, at 23 percent of the average of vehicle. GM had several other cars on the list, like the Chevy 3500 pickup, Uplander minivan and Buick Lacrosse. There were also several models that can now only be found on the used car market, like the Pontiac Vibe and Oldsmobile Silhouette. In general, larger cars attracted less tickets, with eight out of the top ten spots filled by an SUV, pickup truck or minivan.

Drivers in the market for a new or used vehicle may want to keep these statistics in mind in order to determine exactly what type of attention they'll be drawing with their purchase.

F-150 to offer fuel-efficient V6 engines

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Posted in Ford, General Auto News

The F-150 has been a top seller for Ford over its lifetime, at times even being the most popular vehicle in the country. And while the truck is currently the best-selling pickup truck in the U.S., that doesn't mean that the automaker thinks there aren't improvements that could be made.

Ford has announced that the 2011 F-150 will come with two new engine option for drivers who don't need all the power that a V-8 provides. The 3.7-liter V6 will be the new base engine for the truck, and Ford says that preliminary tests have revealed the truck gets 23 mpg on the highway and 16 in the city. The automaker also plans to introduce a slightly more expensive 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which will increase fuel efficiency even further.

The new V6 engines are somewhat risky for Ford, as those who buy full-size trucks typically opt for high powered V8s. While Ford will still offer those engines on the F-150, it will offer one less V8 and heavily market the V6.

"Fuel economy is the number one unmet need in the segment," Doug Scott, Ford's truck marketing manager, told the Detroit Free Press. "You are talking about a 20 percent fuel economy improvement, and at the same time we are giving them better performance."

Buyers looking for a used Ford F-150 will have no shortage of options, as the truck is consistently popular among drivers.
 

BMW Z4 boasts high performance – and price tag

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Posted in BMW, General Auto News

The 2011 BMW Z4 coupe/convertible recently hit dealerships, and those looking for a performance-oriented model that also boasts some luxury features may find it to be a nice choice.

According to the Associated Press, the 335 horsepower contained in the Z4 sDrive35is' V6 engine is the most of any non-V8 convertibles on the market. Boasting a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds, drivers with a need for speed will likely fall in love with the Z4 sDrive35is. The car is also available with a 255-horsepower six-cylinder for a slightly reduced price.

With a retractable hardtop and eye-catching styling, the Z4 is a luxurious vehicle. The news source points out that it's not a very fuel-efficient one, however, getting 24 miles per gallon on the highway and 17 in the city, putting it below some SUVs. Most drivers likely won't care when they're tearing up the open road with the top down.

All those horses under the hood are nice, but economic drivers may want to wait for the new Z4 to hit the used car market, as buying pre-owned will likely shave off a substantial portion of the $52,000 automobile.