Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

Mercedes-Benz dubious honor: most stolen luxury car

The Mercedes-Benz brand has an enduring appeal among high-end car buyers. But the German automaker’s status also now has a dubious component. It’s the most stolen luxury car in the United States. According to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Mercedes-Benz had three of the top 10 most-stolen luxury models. The C-Class is the most-often stolen with 485 thefts from Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2012. The NICB divided the luxury-vehicle segment into three subclasses — compact, midsize and premium. There were 4,384 thefts total in the three segments. By state, California has the most thefts (1,063), while South Dakota and Wyoming had the fewest with one each. According to the NICB report, luxury vehicles “.

Read more

2014 Chevrolet Impala (video): Sedan icon honored

What a difference a model year makes. Chastised as not worthy of a rental agency upgrade in 2013, the 10th generation 2014 Chevrolet Impala has been universally praised. In late July, the new Impala made national headlines when it was named Sedan of the Year by Consumer Reports. It was the first time in 20 years an American car received the honor from the national magazine. Dominated by models from Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and the German cars, editors of the publication rated the Impala at 95 out of 100. The magazine called the iconic Chevy “excellent.” With its 10th edition, the Chevy Impala, introduced in 1958, has a starting MSRP of  $26,725, nearly exactly 10 times more than its original

Read more

BMW debuts all-electric vehicle with 100-mile range

The BMW i3, the BMW Group’s initial model running on electric power alone, has debuted as the first premium car with an all-electric drive system. The BMW i3 is the result of an integrated development approach aimed at cutting fuel consumption and emissions in urban traffic. The substructure of the passenger compartment is made from carbon fiber and the chassis is aluminum. The carmaker says it will offer fast charging capability as an option, allowing i3 owners to regain up to 80 percent of charge in as little as 20 minutes, delivering 80 to 100 miles of driving between charges. Charging can be accomplished from a conventional domestic power socket, BMW i Wallbox or public charging station. The vehicle concept

Read more

Chevrolet Impala gets rare best sedan Consumer Reports honor

The newly designed 2014 Chevrolet Impala has received an automotive honor no other American-made car has achieved in at least 20 years. It’s been named best sedan by Consumer Reports. Dominated by models from Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and the German cars, editors of the publication rated the Impala at 95 out of 100. The magazine called the iconic Chevy “excellent,” the reverse of the magazine’s assessment of the car’s 2013 model. Last year, Consumer Reports said the 2013 Chevy model was “woefully uncompetitive and not worthy of driving even as a free upgrade at a rental company.” The Chevy Impala, introduced in 1958, debuted its 10th generation with 2014 models. The starting MSRP is $26,725, and the Impala TLZ model

Read more
,

Consumer beware: Car theft rampant, often from driver error

A motor vehicle theft occurs every 44 seconds in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And the largest percentage of cars are stolen for a surprising reason — driver error. Between 40-50 percent of cars are stolen for the following reasons: keys left in the ignition in or on another location of a car; open or unlocked window; parking in a secluded area; valuables left in the car. July and August are the top-two months for vehicle thefts in the United States and only about 52 percent of all stolen cars are recovered. The top-10 cars stolen in the United States: 1. Dodge Charger 2. Pontiac G6 3. Chevrolet Impala 4. Chrysler 300 5. Infiniti

Read more
,

Automotive catastrophe: Five worst-selling cars in history

The worst-selling car in history was such a catastrophe the brand’s name has become synonymous with failure. By most accounts, the Edsel was ugly, it was more expensive than its top competitors and in three years it was no more after fewer than 3,000 units of the car sold. The 1960 Edsel, as detailed on the website investopedia.com, has earned the specific dubious honor as the worst-selling car in history. Here’s what the website noted about the 1960 Edsel: “Ford created the Edsel brand in the late 1950s to compete with GM’s line of affordable midsized cards. Unfortunately, Edsels never lived up to the hype that Ford created for them.” “Edsel’s signature over-stylized bodies were panned as ugly, their “new”

Read more
,

Toyota Corolla 2014 unveiled: sleeker, better mpg

The Toyota Corolla 2014, the 11th generation of the biggest-selling car in history, has been been unveiled as expected with the automaker’s theme of “Iconic Dynamism.” With mechanical and aerodynamic upgrades and a target of more than 40 mph, the new Toyota Corolla will showcase a sleeker, more modern design with a longer wheelbase. The new 2014 Toyota Corolla will also feature shorter overhangs, more pronounced wheel arches and cleanly sculpted surfaces. The faster sloping roofline blends into a shorter rear deck to lend the sedan a sportier image.   The new Corolla’s athletic character is complemented by a broad range of styled alloy wheel and wheel cover options. They range  from covered 15-inch steel wheels to 17-inch alloy wheels.

Read more
,

Toyota Prius recall worries continue with braking issues

The ever-lingering recall of Toyota vehicles has continued with a voluntary safety recall of  Toyota Prius and Lexus HS 250h vehicles from 2010 because of potential braking issues. The total of 87,000 vehicles from 2010 models in the two brands being recalled are equipped with a brake pressure accumulator that may develop a fatigue crack on an internal part due to vibration. There have been no report of accidents of injuries via the Toyota Prius recall, but it occurs about two month after one of the largest recalls in the carmaker’s history. Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi combined will recall more than three million vehicles dating to 2000 and for an often-repeated, recent-year auto industry woe — defected safety equipment.

Read more
, ,

2014 Toyota Corolla: New look, better gas mileage

Since it’s the best-selling car in history, look for continued keen marketing when  2014 Toyota Corolla is soon completely unveiled. In the meantime, the carmaker is steadily leaking details of the Corolla. And it takes the entry level vehicle at least as seriously as the debut of any of its cars — the Camry to the Prius to the Tacoma pick-up. The next generation of the Corolla, the 12th since the car’s debut in 1966, has slowly and steadily been leaked onto the Internet in stages. The front end was recently teased with a few images. And now images of the rear end have also surfaced. 2014 Toyota Corolla Has Aggressive Styling According to various media reports, the 2014 Toyota

Read more

Bugatti honor: World’s fastest, most rare, most expensive car

The 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic recently won the Best of Show at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy, and there’s plenty of reason. Only four production Atlantics were made and they were made with plain aluminum, featured flowing coupes lines and a pronounced dorsal seam running front to back. The body panels were riveted, creating the signature seam, and were retained for style based on the concept of the vehicle made three years early and built from magnesium alloy. The car that claimed the recent Best of Show is one of two Type 57S cars remaining and is from the collection of Ralph Lauren. The second Type 57S, when owned by Dr. Peter Williamson, won best of show at

Read more
, ,

Ford F-150, country’s best-seller, facing NHTSA scrutiny for power failure

The Ford F-150 pickup truck, the best-selling vehicle in the United States, is under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration scrutiny. The NHTSA has opened preliminary investigation into 400,000 of the perennially popular trunks from 2011-2013 for acceleration problems. The NHTSA has received 95 reports of incidents of reduced engine power during hard accelerations in 2011-2013 Ford F-150 trucks equipped with 3.5-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection engines. Some complaints allege unexpected sharp reductions in engine power during hard accelerations at highway speeds, such as attempted merging or passing maneuvers. NHTSA said Ford has issued three technical service bulletins related to intermittent stumble/misfire on acceleration from highway cruise in humid or damp conditions in some 2011 and 2012 F-150 vehicles equipped with

Read more

Drivers feign poor vision to police officers most often to escape tickets

Car websites compile creative lists — best used car buys to most expensive sports cars and most family friendly cars to best cars for pets. Arguably the most creative list compiled in recent memory is the list compiled about driving habits, specifically the excuses given when drivers get tickets. The website Insurance.com earlier this year polled 500 licensed drivers age 18 older and older and their approach to negotiating with a police officer after being stopped for a violation. The most common excuse given by motorists was the inability to see the sign that  prohibited their just committed infraction. In fact, more than 100 respondents claimed poor vision. According to the survey results, more than two-thirds of the respondents who

Read more
,

Top art deco cars from The Great Gatsby era, Buick to Corsair

GearPatrol.com is a compelling website with a compelling motto: “Spirt of Adventure, Passion For Gear.” One recent post, Ten Great Art Deco Cars, features stunning images and succinct, informative descriptions of cars long gone and some that only existed as concepts. Two of the cars featured in post, a 1948 Timbs Buick Streamliner and the Phantom Corsair, a concept, were particularly stunning were included in a timely connection with the current movie The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Describing the Buick Streamliner, the site writes in part: A mechanical engineer named Norman E. Timbs designed and built this sleek number with mostly aluminum on top of a steel chassis. At a cost of $10,000, the Streamliner took more than two

Read more
,

Car loans offer used car financing alternative

A car loan is normally a personal loan that incorporates fixed monthly payments over a fixed term and with a fixed interest rate. They are widely available from finance companies, direct lenders, banks and building societies. If you’re wondering how to finance a second-hand car purchase, let carshop.co.uk/car-finance talk you through one method – a car loan. How do they differ from Higher-Purchase agreements? Unlike hire purchase agreements, car loans are generally “unsecured” which means the finance is not secured against the car you have bought.  As such, you and not the finance company are the legal owner of the car from the day you buy it rather than having to wait until you have finished paying for it. Pros

Read more
, , ,

John Lennon’s rare Ferrari and his first ticket to ride set for Bonhams auction

Nearly five decades since John Lennon received his first driver’s license and purchased his first car, a 1965 Ferrari 330GT, the former Beatle’s classic sports car will be featured at Bonhams auction July 12 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. Lennon, who owned the classic Ferrari for about three years, paid slightly more than $10,000 for the new right-hand driver Ferrari and drove it for about 20,000 miles. Now restored to its original status, the Ferrari is expected to sell for between $275,000-$340,00 as one of only 500 330GT of its type built. According to Bohhams, the car comes with its original DUL 4C registration, vast documentation of its history, including a correspondence with Lennon. Lennon bought the

Read more
,

Ford pick-ups from 2008 investigated for faulty steering

Ford is perennially the top-selling pick-up truck in the United States, but two models of the 2008 lineup are being investigated for faulty steering gear boxes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is opening a preliminary investigation into 340,000 Ford F250 and F350 Super Duty trucks from 2008 after several reported crashes. According to the NHTSA, five complaints alleging an internal failure of the steering gear box resulting in a complete loss of steering control and resulted in the the driver crashing the truck into a parked car at 20 miles per hour. A second report said failure of the steering gear box resulted in a roadway departure at 35 miles per hour. Another complaint said a 2008 F250

Read more
Previous Next