Automotive News

When buying a used vehicle don’t forget the inspection

Purchasing a new vehicle always represents a significant financial commitment, even when your new vehicle isn’t new at all. Even pre-owned vehicles, significantly marked down from the original sticker price, will cost a few bucks, and it’s important to ensure they represent a decent value. This means doing your homework—reading reviews and consumer reports before you sign on the dotted line. It means taking the vehicle for a test drive, ensuring you like how it runs and how it sounds. And yes, it means inspecting the vehicle thoroughly. As you inspect a used vehicle, you can and should be meticulous. Again, it’s your money you’re going to spend, so you have a right to know what you’re getting into. All

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Worst driving city in the United States? Washington, D.C.

Like all major metropolitan areas, Washington, D.C., has its strengths and weaknesses. One dubious distinction is its designation as the worst city in the United States for driving. That’s the assessment of the personal-finance website WalletHub.com In its new study, which tabulates 21 metrics — average gas prices to delayed traffic time to auto shop repairs per capita — Washington, D.C., is the worst city among the country’s top -100 most populated cities for driving. Conversely, Scottsdale, Ariz., is the country’s best metropolitan area for driving. Arizona has five of top-10 best driving cities. Scottsdale is followed by Tuscon (2), Gilbert (4), Mesa (5) and Chandler (6). Corpus Christi, Texas, ranks third in the study, followed by Loredo, Texas, (8),

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Car air conditioning repairs best left to experts

Like windshield wipers that suddenly don’t work properly in a rainstorm or a flat tire when you’re late for an appointment, there’s no good time for your car’s air conditioning to fail. In summer months, of course, the process that cools and removes humidity from the air in a car is often used to its capacity. To run efficiently, it’s imperative an air conditioner has the proper level of refrigerant, the cooling agent. But if the air conditioning isn’t working or if it’s not blowing cold air of there’s a clicking noise coming from the engine, it’s likely the unit needs to be recharged. And that’s not as simple as just adding refrigerant. With new legislation on the horizon that

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2016 Honda Civic: sales jump for new sporty icon

It’s no surprise when pickup trucks sell well, but joining the perennially top-selling vehicle for honors in the first half of the year is the 2016 Honda Civic. The 10th generation of the compact is well on its way to 200,000 units sold this year and has achieved a 10.7 percent increase in sales from one year ago in June. So far this year, the Civic has improved monthly sales of 43 percent in January, 32 percent in February, 22 percent in March, 23 percent in April and 2.7 percent in May. The 2016 Honda Civic, which The Weekly Driver reviews HERE, has sold at a nearly 20 percent rate increase in the first six months of this year compared

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Leonardo DiCaprio: green car, issue advocate chided

Leonardo DiCaprio is a well-known proponent of global warming issues. But the Academy Award winner is being criticized for his approach to hosting his Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Annual Gala To Fund Climate and Biodiversity Projects. The occasion will be held July 20 at the Bertaud Belieu Vineyards on the French Riviera. The actor is flying is top celebrity guests from around the world. Critics of DiCaprio, including the Daily Mirror newspaper in England, report guests’ travel will result in substantial overload of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions. The reception list includes: actors Kate Hudson, Charlize Theron, Cate Blanchett, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Robert De Niro, Scarlett Johansson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kevin Spacey. A host of international rock and pop stars,

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Tesla woes continue with production shortfall

Tesla has had its second disappointment in a week. The luxury electric carmaker has fallen short of shipment targets for the second straight quarter, raising further questions of the manufacturer’s ability to meet production demands of its pending Model 3. The carmaker said it shipped 14,370 cars in the second quarter. It missed its target of 17,000. The shortcoming also put Tesla’s claim of delivering 80,000-90,000 cars this year in jeopardy. Further, the announced delivery date of late November 2016 for the affordable Model 3 has now also been questioned. About 400,000 wannabe be buyers of the new vehicle have paid a $1,000 deposit. Tesla blamed in driver death Production woes aside, Tesla has faced scrutiny since the death of

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Elio debuts test vehicle, but no production car date set

The long and circuitous journey Elio Motors has taken to introduce a high-mileage, three-wheel vehicle, has reached another level with the announced completion of its first E-Series test vehicle. The company, which has touted the $6,800 vehicle for several years and collected deposits from thousands of wannabe buyers, said test vehicle debut is a big step for the launch of the vehicle. The first E-Series vehicle, according to Elio, continues to development of final vehicle. The test vehicle will be “put through a battery of tests that will help refine and finalize the overall design prior to final production.” Elio Motors is planning to build 23 E-Series testing and validation vehicles to test for safety, aerodynamics and durability. Once the

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Stop driving older Honda, Acura models

If you own an older Honda or Acura, the government is urging you to stop driving it because its Takata airbags have a 50 percent chance of exploding in a crash. The warning applies to about 313,000 models of the Honda Accord (2001-2002), Honda Civic (2001-2002) Honda CR-V (2002-2003), Honda Odyssey (2003), Honda Pilot (2003), Acura TL (2002-2003) and Acura CL (2003). Takata inflators that can explode in a crash have been linked to 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries in the United States. Auto safety regulators said eight of those deaths occurred in Honda and Acura vehicles subject to the warning. “With as high as a 50 percent chance of a dangerous air bag inflator rupture in a

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VW scam settled, entitled owners can find the money

With the announcement of the VW settlement in its diesel scandal that emerged in September 2015, owners of the affected vehicles now can focus on their choices of compensation and one key question: Where do the owners of the nearly 500,000 vehicles in the United States eligible for a settlement start? According to details of the settlement announced June 28, here’s a list of what vehicles are included and what owners should do: Eligible vehicles: Volkswagen, Beetle, Beetle Convertible 2013-2015, Golf 2-Door 2010-2013, Golf 4-Door 2010-2015, Golf SportWagen 2015, Jetta 2009-2015, Jetta SportWagen 2009-2014, Passat 2012-2015; Audi – A3 2010-2013, 2015. A settlement to address some 80,000 affected 3.0-liter vehicles sold by Volkswagen in the United States is still pending.

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VW diesel scam $10 billion settlement pending

After months of negotiating and legal maneuvering, owners of overtly polluting VW diesel cars will receive as much as  $7,000 in a settlement levied upon Volkswagen AG. It’s more than 10 times the amount the manufacturer originally offered owners of its vehicles that emit up to 40 times the amounts smog-forming nitrogen oxides. The embattled carmaker has also agreed to to fund a grant program to offset air pollution. It’ part of a $10 billion settlement being negotiated for submission to a federal judge next week. Volkswagen will provide cash payments worth between $1,000 and $7,000, depending on the vehicle’s age and other factors, to compensate nearly 500,000 affected cars. The automaker isn’t expected to be able to repair all

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Pick-up trucks honored with postage stamps

The U.S. Postal Service is honoring a U.S. automotive icon — the pick-up truck. The stamps will celebrate four models: the 1938 International Harvester D-2, the 1948 Ford F-1, the 1953 Chevrolet and the 1965 Ford F-100. The stamps were crated by artist Chris Lyons of Pittsford, NY, used Adobe Illustrator Art director Antonio Alcalá of Alexandria, Virginia, designed the stamps. Pickup trucks date to the early 1900s, when automobiles first became popular in the United States. They made personally hauling cargo, which once was the job of horse-drawn wagons, easier than ever. By the early 1900s, several manufacturers first began producing light-duty trucks in limited numbers. International Harvester supplied and maintained trucks on stateside military bases during World War

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2016 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T: efficient family sedan defined

Redesigned last year, the 2016 Hyundai Sonata has only a few minor changes from 2015, and it remains an increasingly popular family sedan in one of the most competitive segments in the automotive industry. New standard items for 2016, include: A seven-inch touchscreen except on the top-line range-Limited 2.0T (which continues to have an 8-inch screen). Both systems feature smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A rearview camera and automatic headlights are now also standard on all trims. An automatic emergency braking system debuts on the Limited 2.0T and the full lineup has had its suspension tweaked for improved handling. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2016 Hyundai Sonata is marketed as a five-passenger sedan, but it’s better

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Safe multi-tasking is a myth; texting while driving unsafe

Despite more severe fines and increased gruesome accidents, some drivers still believe they can safely text while driving. The reality however, as most insurance and towing service companies will attest, is that safe multi-tasking is a myth. Your eyes and attention are either on the road, or they aren’t. And when they aren’t, people get hurt. Despite evidence supporting the dangers of texting and driving, the Washington Post reports 49 percent of adults admit to texting and driving. Reasons are common refrains: “Only look away for a second,” “Years of experience behind a wheel and skill in knowing what to do” or “Only look if they are waiting for an important message.” But the  justification does not outweigh the danger.

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Jaguar enticing younger buyers with 2017 F-Pace SUV

The automotive industry’s sport utility vehicle segment continues to contradict the move toward more efficient vehicles, particularly with new legislation on the horizon requiring better gas mileage. Jaguar has never manufactured a compact SUV, but it’s now joining the movement as more buyers are opting for the versatility of the style. Like other high-end manufacturers, Jaguar, and its new F-Pace are now part of a recent sub-set, which not too many years ago, was an automotive oxymoron — luxury SUV. The F-Pace, combined with its second updated vehicle, the Jaguar XE, defines the British carmaker’s objective toward a younger audience. In its marketing and promotion of the two new vehicles, including a recent presentation at Mather Aviation in Mather, Ca.,

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Car title loans an option for auto consumers

When banks and credit car companies aren’t a viable choice for financing the purchase of a vehicle, there’s another lending option — Car title loans. Simply defined, a car title loan is a short-term loan in which the borrower’s car title is used as collateral. The borrower must be the lien holder (i.e. own the car outright). Loans are usually for less than 30 days. If the loan is not repaid, the lender can take ownership of the car and sell it to recoup the loan amount. A good-quality short-term loan comes with an affordable monthly payment and shows a light at the end of the tunnel: a reasonable repayment period that allows the borrower to get out of the

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Takata airbag recall explodes, 70 million cars now at risk

The seemingly never-ending safety concerns of the automotive industry have been further complicated by the vastly expanded airbag recall involving parts made by Takata. At risk, according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, are now as many as nearly 70 million vehicles from nearly every major and some niche manufacturers. The expansion primarily affects passenger-side inflators not covered by previous recalls. It will also cover inflators in vehicles made by Jaguar-Land Rover, Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive for the first time. Fourteen other auto companies, including American Honda, Ford, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, General Motors, Nissan and Fiat-Chrysler already are affected by the original recall. Takata is already is responsible for replacing 29 million faulty inflators already involved with the largest

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