Upcoming corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards mandate that new vehicles sold in 2025 and beyond will need to get an average 54.5 mpg, a standard that aims to save the U.S. 2.2-million barrels of oil per day.
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AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
To Frugality and Beyond!
Fuel economy is a major purchase consideration for new-vehicle shoppers; in fact it’s the No. 1 thing they look for in a car or truck. Consumers continue to demand ever greater mileage, and so does the federal government. Washington keeps turning up the wick on its Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations. In response to these stimuli automakers are working day and night to improve the efficiency of their products.
You’ve finally found your perfect car online: low mileage, perfect price and it looks great. But there’s a catch, it’s sold with a salvage title. Should you still go for it?
When the need for transportation far outstrips your bank account, you end up looking at the dark-side of the classifieds: the super-cheap, almost 200,000 mile used cars. Is it ever worth it to buy one of these clunkers?
The “redneck” comedian Jeff Foxworthy used to joke about how safe of a driver his grandmother was, but as soon as she got behind the wheel of a rental car, all bets were off. It’s a commonly held belief that motorists abuse borrowed vehicles, taking out pent-up aggression on hired Impalas from Hertz. When it comes to buying a used car are second-hand rentals a smart choice, or something to be avoided like a holiday in North Korea?
Take notice, used Italian luxury buyers, Maserati just launched a site to offer global listings for pre-owned cars available for purchase.
Results from a new survey from Kelly Blue Book is suggesting that 53 percent of consumers are considering buying a new car over a used model despite conventional wisdom advising otherwise.
Used vehicles prices are set to drop over the next 12 months by between 4 and 5 percent according to industry analyst group ALG.
Trading up for the newest model used to be the norm, but a faltering economy and widely improved reliability are both stretching how long consumers keep their cars.
It’s been a strange year for the used car market so far. Prices were skewed higher than they normally would be after fewer used cars came in off lease than past years and demand for fuel efficient cars also rose with heightened gas prices.
Taking your time and researching can reap big rewards when it comes to purchasing pre-owned vehicles.
To some, the very notion of purchasing a used car can send them running for the hills, but as with anything else, provided you do your homework, the vehicle you choose can save you thousands of dollars over that new one in the showroom, without proving to be a money pit.
If you are the sort of person who subscribes to the mantra, “more is better,” then you will certainly be interested in this car that we found on sale.
Dead on from the front or the back, it looks like just any other new Mercedes-Benz E-class, but take a look at its profile shot and you will no doubt rub your eyes and have a double-take.
It’s an E-class alright, but it doesn’t have two-doors, or even four. No, this one has six-doors and that is what will give you a leg up on all your friends who have E-class Merc’s.
This steel blue limo, which is a 2011 model and has covered just 3105-miles, is based on the E350 model, and retains the factory spec 3.5-liter, V6 engine and its seven-speed automatic gearbox. According to the advert, it can do 149-mph flat-out, so this might just be among the fastest limousines on the planet.
And where will you find this rather special E-class? Dubai of course.
GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz Six Door E-Class
[Source: Alain Class]
Car recalls are no fun for anybody. For the consumer it takes time, for the automaker it wastes money and resources.
A study undertaken by Carfax, a service devoted to providing background information on used cars, found that ignoring safety recalls puts consumer safety and the public’s safety in jeopardy. This may seem a bit obvious; don’t fix the problem, and the problem will get bigger. But the real issue begins when the car changes hands without the new owners knowledge that a recall is out on their new purchase.
In 2011 alone, there were 2.7 million vehicles listed for sale online which had unresolved recalls placed on them. California, Texas and Florida lead the country with the most open recall cars for sale, well over 100,000 in each state in 2011.
There have been cases where a used car was purchased, and within weeks a major defect presented itself. Delaware plumber Bob Knotts tells of his case,”My van caught fire from an electrical recall under the driver’s seat that was never fixed,” said Mr. Knotts.
While the responsibility should fall on the seller of the car to inform the buyer, we all know that not everyone will be honest if there is money to be lost. So before you buy a used car, check for open recalls, because no one wants to spend money just to watch it go up in flames a week later.
All Lamborghini‘s are rare and exotic machines, but some are just extra special.
Take the Murcielago LP670-4 Super Veloce (SV) for instance. This car was the last hurrah for the aging Murcielago model, which had been in production for about 8-years.
So to give it a proper send-off, Lamborghini decided to produce 350 examples of a lighter, more powerful Murcielago and labeled it the SV.
This car, thanks to its 6.5-liter, V12 motor, which produced 670-hp and 487-lb/ft of torque, is capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in just 3.2 seconds and tops out at an insane 212 mph.
So it is a mental supercar, and that is exactly how we like our Lamborghini’s. At this point, we are sure you’re tempted to buy one. To assist you with that, we have found the only ‘Red’ Murcielago SV ever produced (at least in this exact shade of red). According to the seller, Lamborghini Miami, this car is number 240/350 and has covered just 1400-miles.
As for the price, hope you’re sitting down for this; it’s $378,950. Carbon-ceramic brakes with yellow brake calipers and the optional large rear wing are included in that price, but it’s still a little steep.
So if you’ve got the money and are wondering what could cure your boredom, this 2010 model year SV might just be the antidote you’re looking for.
[Source: duPont Registry]
Since the 2007-2009 economic recession, the automotive retail market displayed a drop in new car-sales and the increased demand for used vehicles. For 2012, data indicates that it will be more of the same.
Jonathan Banks, Executive Auto Analyst for the NADA Used Car Guide, explained, “The average trade-in value of a 3-year-old used car is 8 percent higher in January 2012 compared to last January. We expect this trend of higher trade-in values to continue throughout the year.”
Essentially, Banks noted there were two reasons for the ongoing trend in used car value. First, NADA analysts predict a 7 percent decline in used vehicle supply for 2012. The off-lease supply, which accounts for a large number of pre-owned vehicles, is estimated to have fallen by 22 percent for 2012.
“Banks says, “The depreciation rate of used vehicles this year will be slower than it has been at any other time in recent history because of reduced inventory, which will keep prices on used models in demand at a premium.”
The second factor attributing to the value of used vehicles is the continuing demand for them. The average age of vehicles currently on the road are at nearly 11 years old. However, Jonathan Banks believes the demand for both new and used cars will increase for 2012.
“Strong consumer demand for late-model used vehicles and a continued reduction in supply will drive up prices this year. For many car buyers who are concerned about cost and economic uncertainty, the used-vehicle market will remain a viable option.”
The British would rather buy a used car from Barack Obama than David Cameron, according to a poll that measures the public’s trust in political leaders.
The YouGov poll, conducted on behalf of Craigslist, asked over 2,000 Britons who they would trust if they were buying a used car from a global leader, and Obama ranked first, with twice as many respondents preferring to buy from him than anyone else. Barack Obama captured 28 percent of the vote, followed by Angela Merkel at 14 percent. Not fairing so well is Silvio Berlusconi – 35 percent of the respondents said he was the world leader they would be least likely to buy a used car from. Other politicians on the list include Vladimir Putin and Nicholas Sarkozy.
“If Obama fails to win reelection next year, he could always launch a used car business in the UK”, says Jim Buckmaster, CEO of craigslist. “But he should clearly avoid partnering with Silvio Berlusconi, or even David Cameron.”
The $1.6-million Aston Martin One-77 is the fastest and the most powerful production car ever made by the luxury sportscar brand. With just 77 units planned to be produced (hence the name, One-77), it is also quite rare.
So imagine our surprise when we stumbled upon the website for Alain Class Motors, an exotic car dealership in Dubai, U.A.E., who has not one, but two brand new examples of the One-77.
The ad is not a hoax either. This is not some dealer using file photos from the manufacturer to lure people and collect deposits for the possibility of ordering the car. No, this dealer has both of these cars (and plenty of other exotic machinery) sitting in the showroom.
Have your pick from either the white example with the red interior, or the more James Bond-esque gun metal grey with a white interior. Both examples have just delivery miles on them.
The One-77 uses a 7.3-liter, V12 motor that produces 750-hp. Power is sent to the rear-wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shifters. It can cover the sprint from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and will keep going all the way to 225 mph.
So if you haven’t been hurt by the world’s financial meltdown and you don’t want to order and wait for your car to get built, these two can be had right away. We surely would, if only we could.
[Source: Alain Class Motors]
If you have been contemplating moving to Canada, this news might just be enough to push you across the border.
According to a report by Canada’s Minister of Transport, Chuck Strahl, under the NAFTA agreement, used vehicles from Mexico that can be modified to meet Canadian safety and emission requirements, would be allowed to be brought in.
That means, you could possibly bring in a used Fiat or Renault from Mexico into Canada, vehicles that weren’t previously available to our northern neighbor. So if the department for Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA) and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) are on your side, you could be driving around in a Fiat Barchetta or a Renault Avantime. That is a sweet thought.
Plus, Canada also has a law that allows its citizens to import any car into the country that is 15 years old, or older. So if you are visiting Canada, don’t be too surprised to see a Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R driving around, with a fully legal title. Might be worth the move for that reason alone.
[Source: Auto123]
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld made a fortune from a show that was about nothing, and he spent a portion of that fortune buying and collecting cars.
He is widely known for having one of the largest privately owned Porsche collection in the world, but it seems the collection is about to shrink by one.
Seinfeld’s black Carrera GT is now up for sale by Canepa Design in Scott Valley, CA. This 2004 model is showing just 3,176-miles on its odometer and was originally purchased from a dealer in New York, NY. back in March, 2005.
No pricing is quoted by the dealer, but given the celebrity ownership, it will probably demand a premium price. So if you want to own a car with Hollywood connections, this might just do the trick.
[Source: LeftLane]
If you’re looking to buy a car this year, chances are it’s going to be a used one… at least, that’s what a new survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center says.
According to the 2011 Car Brand Perception survey, 65 percent of people who responded said that they were more likely to consider buying a late-model used car, while 30 percent stated that they would be less likely to consider a used car. Other numbers show that 71 percent were likely to consider a late-model used car instead of a new car, and almost half of that number was very likely to head in the used car direction. In terms of the gender divide, 75 percent of men are likely to buy a used vehicle, while about 67 percent of women were considering buying used. On the flip side, 28 percent of respondents said they were unlikely to consider a used car.
Are you buying a car this year? Will you be going with used or new? Tell us in the comment section below.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
We’ve all seen those commercials where a lucky recipient is surprised by a new car complete with a festive bow waiting for them in the driveway on Christmas Day. But do you know anyone that has actually received one as a holiday gift? You’ll be surprised to know that it happens a lot more than you think.
According to CNW Marketing Research, this holiday season a total of 14,994 new car purchases will be vehicles that will be given as gifts (out of an estimated 980,000 new car sales this holiday season).
That number grows considerably when you take into account used cars being given as gifts. Of an estimated 2,950,000 used vehicle sales this holiday season, 41,890 of them will be earmarked as gifts. That’s a total of 56,884 big expensive presents, or a 1.45 percent share of all car sales during the holidays).
Possibly a sign of the improving economy, that’s roughly 4,000 more cars given as gifts compared to last year. Still, it’s roughly half the all-time record for vehicular gift giving, with a total of 138,269 cars and trucks being bought as presents in 2005.
Who says the best presents come in small packages?
[Source: ConsumerSearch.com]
When the recession was upon us, it seemed like everyone was making the shopping shift from new to used cars. But now that things are starting to ease up, the prices on used cars have gone up as well.
According to Edmunds.com, used-car prices have increased, especially with larger vehicles such as Cadillac Escalades or Dodge Grand Caravans rising more than 30 percent. Sure, that’s a lot, but it’s still better that the used-car prices we were seeing last spring.
Last month, the average price in the U.S. for a used three-year-old vehicle was $19,248, up $1,800, or 10.3 percent, from the same month last year.
“Consumers are generally paying considerably more for used cars this year compared to 2009,” stated Joe Spina, a senior analyst for Edmunds.com. “A lack of confidence in the economy is driving more people to used cars, putting upward pricing pressure on a limited supply of vehicles.”
In a single year, a used Cadillac Escalade averaged $34,715 last month – that’s a 35.6 percent increase. As well, the Chevrolet Suburban, Dodge Grand Caravan and BMW X5 price rose past 30 percent.
[Source: USA Today]