Tips and Advice
Small Cars Suffer Thousands in Damage from Minor Bumps
Posted: Sep. 05, 2008 11:09:53 a.m.
There's nothing economical about economy cars these days.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety -- an auto safety testing lab funded by a consortium of insurance companies -- has released a report on the cost of repairing small cars after minor, low speed collisions. The results are simply depressing.
Kicking Tires explains, "The organization used a barrier to replicate the full bumper of another car in full frontal and rear collisions, as well as frontal and rear corner collisions at 6 ...
Auto Insurance Rates Rising Even Though We're Driving Less
Posted: Aug. 28, 2008 10:08:43 a.m.
The total number of miles Americans drive is at its lowest point in decades, with many of us driving as little as possible in order to save gas, but auto insurance rates continue to rise.
Fewer cars on the road mean fewer crashes, but according to the New York Times, "Many insurers are raising their rates, sometimes by large amounts." Nationwide, the increase amounts to "an annualized rate of 1.7 percent so far this year," according to the Insurance ...
Best Cars for Back to School
Posted: Aug. 19, 2008 11:08:36 a.m.
Whether you spent your summer interning at a law firm, backpacking across Europe, or playing Guitar Hero until your fingers bled, one things for certain -- it's time to go back to school. And what better way to do so than in a brand new car? Just be sure to pick the one that best represents you.
Suppose you go to ASU and are considering a Chevy Silverado. If you read The Best Car for Your School you'd know ...
Cars More Affordable Now Than Any Time Since 1980
Posted: Aug. 13, 2008 11:08:07 a.m.
Cars are more affordable now than at any other point in more than a quarter century.
Kicking Tires explains, "Economists at Comerica Bank have found that cars are more affordable now than they have been in 28 years." Comerica's annual Auto Affordability Index study finds that the average sale price of a new car has declined when compared to the average American income this year.
According to the San Diego Source, that means "the purchase of an average-priced new ...
Buy a Diesel, Get a Tax Credit
Posted: Aug. 12, 2008 10:08:35 a.m.
Diesel engines are on their way to becoming mainstream in America. Today's diesels offer better fuel economy than their gasoline cousins, and pollution-reducing technologies that are helping diesel shed its dirty image. But they are typically more expensive than gasoline-powered equivalents. The IRS, however, is starting to close that price gap.
Currently, all diesel-powered Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold in the U.S. are eligible for some from of tax credit.
Autoblog explains, "The diesels have been designated as ...
Customers Rush to Sign Auto Leases While They Still Can
Posted: Aug. 04, 2008 10:08:54 a.m.
Automakers are running from lease deals as fast as they can, but customers are snapping up the last available leases. On July 27, Chrysler announced that it would stop offering leases in the United States on August 1. In the last four days in which customers could qualify for a Chrysler lease, an almost unprecedented number of car shoppers signed a new lease deal.
Crain's Detroit Business reports, "Dealers wrote leases last week in record numbers in an effort ...
Used Priuses More Expensive Than New
Posted: Aug. 01, 2008 11:08:37 a.m.
Looking for a used Toyota Prius to ease the pressure on your wallet? Perhaps you should consider getting in line for a new one. It would be cheaper.
USA Today reports, "Buyers are so eager to start saving gas with the nation's best-selling hybrid that they're paying more for a used Prius than they'd pay for a new one if they were willing to wait." Data from J.D. Power and Associates show that, with long waiting ...
Progressive Insurance Wants to Monitor Your Driving to...um...Offer You a Discount
Posted: Jul. 31, 2008 10:07:51 a.m.
Progressive Insurance has a plan that could save you up to 60% on your auto insurance premiums. There's only one catch -- they want to ride in the car with you.
The Detroit News reports, "Auto insurer Progressive Corp. has begun offering its drivers the chance to cut their costs based on how they actually drive, not only on their age, credit score and number of tickets or accidents on their record." The insurer wants to accomplish this with the ...
Automakers Make Buying Easier, Leasing Harder
Posted: Jul. 31, 2008 10:07:32 a.m.
Automakers don't want you to lease a new car anymore. Once the source of most of the Big Three's profits, leases have become a drag on financial recovery plans for Ford, GM and Chrysler this year. All three have made plans to get out of the leasing business or scale back their leased offerings.
The Wall Street Journal, however, reports an upside to the end of leasing. "The upshot is that loyal lease customers looking to stay in ...
Chrysler Stops Offering Leases
Posted: Jul. 28, 2008 10:07:06 a.m.
Don't walk into a Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealership expecting the dealer to help you lease a new vehicle any time soon. The AP reports, "Chrysler LLC said Friday its financial arm will get out of the auto leasing business by the end of the month because economic conditions have made leasing more expensive than buying, for both consumers and the company."
The Wall Street Journal explains, "A critical deadline is approaching for Chrysler LLC, which must refinance $30 ...
