Archives for June 2012

2013 Toyota Venza: The Camry Wagon You Wanted

June 22, 2012 by admin 3 Comments

Beefy wagon offers utility and three trim levels.

Toyota hasn’t offered a Camry wagon since the 1990s, a small loss for most consumers as the Toyota Sienna minivan and a host of SUVs have made up for the lost utility. Still, Toyota knows that consumers may want something a bit different, therefore this automaker has sold the Camry-based Venza wagon since the 2009 model year. The Venza returns for 2013 and is offered in three trim levels. Priced from $27,700, this model is priced between the RAV4 and Highlander, a beefy five-passenger wagon that Toyota calls a crossover SUV.

Engines and Transmissions

Just as it does with its Sienna van, Toyota offers a standard 2.7-liter four cylinder engine and a 3.5-liter V-6 available with the Venza. If performance is important to you, then you’ll pass on the four and get the V-6 engine. With a curb weight approaching two tons, you’ll soon understand the need for the larger engine.

The four cylinder 16-valve engine offers 181 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 182 foot-pounds of torque at 4,200 rpm. This direct injection engine has a 10.0 to 1 compression ratio and is of aluminum construction and is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with shifting capabilities.

2013 Toyota Venza Toyota’s V-6 24-valve engine displaces at 3.5 liters and is also of aluminum construction. This engine and a 10.8 to 1 compression ratio and makes 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 246 foot-pounds of torque at 4,700 rpm. It is also paired with a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission.

Fuel Economy

Best fuel economy for the Venza is realized with its front-wheel-drive models. All-wheel-drive is also available. The FWD four gets 21 city, 27 mpg highway; with its 17.7 gallon fuel tank, this model offers a 478-mile driving range. Choose the AWD V-6 model and your gas mileage will come in at 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway.

Model Dimensions

The 2013 Toyota Venza sits on a 109.3-inch wheelbase and is 189.0 inches long, 75.0 inches wide and 63.4 inches tall. The Venza has an 8.1-inch ground clearance.

Offering 108.0 cubic feet of passenger volume, Venza has 36.2 cubic feet of standard storage capacity. Drop down the rear seat and its storage utility increases to 70.2 cubic feet. A Venza equipped with a four cylinder engine has a 1,000-pound towing capacity. Choose the V-6 and a properly equipped Venza can pull up to 3,500 pounds.

Front head room measures 39.3 inches and 39.0 inches in the rear. Front leg room comes in at 40.2 inches; rear leg room is 39.1 inches. Front shoulder room measures 60.0 inches; rear shoulder room comes in at 59.0 inches. Hip room measures 56.0 inches up front and 56.5 inches in the rear.

Model Highlights

The 2013 Toyota Venza is sold in LE, XLE and Limited trim levels. Standard equipment includes automatic projector-beam headlamps, automatic daytime running lights, fog lamps, color-keyed side mirrors with turn signal indicators, puddle lamps, all-season tires with 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels, a color-keyed rear spoiler with LED lights and a blind spot mirror. Upgrades include reverse tilt outer mirrors and a power liftgate with the Venza XLE and bi-xenon projector beam HID headlamps with LED daytime running lights, and a panoramic glass roof with a tilt/slide moonroof in the Limited edition.

Inside, the Toyota Venza comes equipped with dual zone climate control, fabric-trimmed seats, a tilt and telescoping steering column with steering wheel controls, keyless entry, power accessories, dual sun visors with vanity mirrors, three 12-volt power outlets, a cargo area tonneau cover, rear seat reading lights and a cargo area light.

Interior upgrades include leather trim heated front seats, smart key with push button start and Bluetooth connectivity in the XLE. Choose the Limited edition and an HDD navigation system with Entune is included. A 6-speaker audio system is standard; a JBL audio system is offered with the Limited and includes SiriusXM satellite radio, NavWeather, HD Radio and iPod connectivity.

The Venza’s closest competitor is the Honda Crosstour. Notably, Honda added a four-cylinder engine last year to compete with the base Venza.

Photo courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales, Inc.

Where Can I Find My Car Paint Code?

June 13, 2012 by admin 6 Comments

Fix that scratch yourself with the right paint code.

For the umpteenth time you’ve taken your car to the store and like several times before it has acquired a new ding or a scratch. This time some paint was removed, exposing your finish to the elements and making your car look less than desirable. You’re not about to pay a mint to have someone else do the work, deciding to touch up the paint yourself. One area of mystery remains: the paint code. Your car’s color is red, but without the right code you can easily apply the wrong shade, making matters worse not better.

Let’s take a look at how you can determine the correct color code for your car:

Open the driver’s door — Like other information placarded on your vehicle, paint code information is typically found inside the driver’s door on the door jamb or the inside of the door. Two types of paint codes are listed — one is for the exterior paint, the other is for the cabin or interior color. One code may say “paint” the other “trim.” Jot down the paint code and call your dealer’s service department to have them decode this for you.

Check the owner’s manual — If you can’t find the paint code, check your car owner’s manual as that book may identify where the paint code placards have been placed. Other places to look include each door jamb and under the top of your car’s hood.

Jot down your VIN — Every passenger vehicle has a vehicle identification number, a unique to your car 17-digit serial number. With pen and paper in hand locate your VIN, something that can typically found on the left side of the dashboard and viewed through the windshield. Write down that number, contact your dealer’s service department and ask them for the color code based on your vehicle. Then, ask your dealer to supply you with the precise name for that paint so that you can purchase it. Car dealers, collision repair shops and automotive parts stores are among the retailers selling car paints.

Cautions

Be careful when using the Internet to decode your car number. There are a handful of websites that match paint color codes with paint names, but that information may not be correct. I had to check my color code number twice when I realized that PV1 was actually PW1 representing stone white, not the light pearlstone metallic found on some Jeep models.

Steps to Find Your Paint Code

With pen and pad in hand, do the following (yes, your smartphone will do):

2001 Dodge Neon — First step: Go to the driver’s side of your car.

2001 Dodge Neon paint code — Step four: Note exterior paint color code. Copy this information.

See Also — Where is my VIN Number Located?

You Can Put Together a Car Emergency Kit

June 12, 2012 by admin 3 Comments

How to assembly a do-it-yourself kit for you car.

Every emergency car kit should include a set of road flares.

Retail stores including auto parts retailers sell car emergency kits that contain many of the essentials you need in the event of a breakdown. Some new cars come equipped with these kits or they can be ordered as a special, but expensive option. Putting together your own emergency kit is simple to do and can save you a bundle compared to the ready-made store variety.

Buy a duffle bag — First things first! You’ll want to purchase a container to hold your kit and a small duffle bag can do the trick. That bag should come with handles and straps for ease of holding, and may include pockets and compartments to separate your items. A strong bag can be had for $20 or less and is available from most any general merchandiser. This bag can be placed in your trunk or behind the last row seat in your SUV or van.

Let there be light — Keep a working flashlight in your glove box or in the front console storage compartment. You can also place a backup light in your emergency kit with an extra set of batteries. Use the same battery grade for both flashlights and keep unused batteries in a sealed container within the bag to prevent leakage.

Jumper or booster cables — No car should be without jumper cables and an 8-gauge 10-foot or longer heavy duty booster cable is ideal. Don’t scrimp here as low-quality cables can fail you when most needed.

Flares and triangles — Imagine that your car has broken down on a desolate, foggy road with the occasional vehicle sweeping by at high speeds. A pack of three road flares, especially those designed to stay lit under extreme weather condition, is essential. You can line these up behind your vehicle at 100- or 200-foot intervals and alternate them with reflective red and orange emergency triangles.

Tools of the trade — The problem with most store-bought emergency kits is that the quality of tools are cheap, typically the $1 “made in China” variety sold at flea markets. Likely, you have extra screwdrivers, hammers and pliers you can put in your kit. If not, invest in quality Craftsman, Stanley, Husky, Klein Tools and DeWalt products to have dependable tools on hand.

Miscellaneous, but still important — Other items you can include in your car’s emergency kit include work gloves, electrical tape, scissors, an air compressor, air gauge and maps. A backup battery or recharger for your cell phone might be best left in the glove box or center console.

Other items — What about a first aid kit or essentials such as bottled water or long-life food? Those items can be packed separately — your emergency kit is something you want to have by your side as you work under the hood or change a flat tire, with first-aid kits and the essentials brought out to replenish the body.

Considerations

Place each item in your duffle bag with flares and other vulnerable items kept in dedicated, padded compartments. Check your kick regularly, at least once annually and alway before a major trip, to verify that everything is in place and in working condition. Replace aged batteries and old flares as needed. A written or printed list of kit items can make taking inventory a quick process.

See Also — Essential Tools to Keep in Your Car

Photo: Dvortygirl

How to Get a Bad Credit Car Loan

June 6, 2012 by admin 3 Comments

If you want something badly enough, such as a bad credit car loan, you can usually get it. That can be a good thing. Then again, it can also be a bad thing. It depends on what you want as well as what you need.

Let’s face it: many of us need a car. With more than 250 million registered passenger vehicles in the U.S., car ownership for people of driving age goes beyond being a mere privilege. It becomes a conveyance of survival for many of us.

Bad Credit Car Loan

Buying a car means taking out a loan unless you’re blessed with thousands of dollars of spare money to pay for a new or used vehicle. Very few people can pay cash for a new car and with used car prices costing a mint, even most late model used cars are financed too. If your credit is good, then you should be able to get a loan. If your credit is bad, don’t fret: there is usually a lender willing to extend to you a bad credit car loan, but for a price. Read on to learn how you can avoid getting ripped off.

1. Check your credit score.

Your credit is bad, but just how bad is it? How do you know for certain? Well, the main thing you’ll want to know is that lenders will be looking at a three-digit number representing your credit score. If that score is low, say at 598 or below, then you’re in sub-prime territory or what is known as a “bad credit” score. You can obtain your credit score through MyFico.com. If your score is below 700, then repairs may be in order. If it is below 600, then you’ll need to pay careful attention to the next several steps as you shop for a bad credit car loan.

2. Obtain your credit reports.

Three credit reporting companies have dossiers on you. Specifically, credit information on who you are, where you work, how much money you owe lenders, whether you make your payments on time or not, and other information. Those credit reports are produced by three credit reporting bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Each company, by law, is required to give you one free copy annually of your credit reports. The FTC mandates this, but you can only obtain your free copies by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com for that information; otherwise you’ll pay for them. Head over to that site, put in your information and obtain your free reports.

3. Review your credit reports.

You’ve done so well following what I’ve said so far, but don’t lose focus now. That’s because you’re going to need to *very carefully* read all three credit reports and look at the information the credit bureaus have on file about you. Guess what? There is a good chance that some of that information is not correct. Guess what again? Incorrect information can lower your credit score. What to look for: wrong addresses, outdated job information, paid off debt that shows balances outstanding, accounts supposedly belonging to you that don’t, and more. You’ll need to contact each bureau individually to point out their mistakes, a move that will trigger an audit on their part. With 30 days to respond, the credit bureau can fix your mistake or contest your findings. If they choose to do neither then that information must be removed from your report automatically.

4. Apply for a car loan.

Wait 60 days after notifying the credit bureaus of possible mistakes or disputes before applying for credit. This will allow your updated information to be processed and should raise your credit score accordingly. Good places to apply for a car loan include your bank or credit union. Fill out your car loan application and give it to a lending officer.

5. Consider alternative financing sources.

If your bank or credit union turns down your car loan because of bad credit or the double-digit interest rate seems too high, then you’ll need to look for alternative places to apply for a car loan. If you make multiple loan applications within a month, it will only count as one inquiry by the credit bureaus. Still, you don’t want to waste your time with too many lenders so seek out companies that specialize in bad credit car loans. We don’t endorse any particular lender, but Drive Time, BlueSky Auto Finance, Federal Auto Loan and Fidelity Auto Loan are among the lenders that provide bad credit car loans and other financing. Choose one, make application, and if approved, make sure you understand the terms of the loan before signing your contract.

Lending Cautions

Bad credit means a few things: you’ll have a more difficult time obtaining a car loan and the interest rate you’ll be charged will be higher than what someone with good credit receives. You can reduce your monthly payments by putting down a larger down payment. Also, if someone is willing to cosign you loan, you may be able to avoid a high interest rate loan completely. With a co-signer on your loan, that person assumes risk if you default and your car is repossessed.

See Also — How To Obtain a Bad Credit Car Loan

IIHS Outlines 5 Components For Safer Teen Driving

June 6, 2012 by admin 2 Comments

Teens and cars can be a recipe for disaster. Or at least teenagers that are not subject to various graduated driving licensing laws in their respective states. GDL is a trend that is spreading, one where states put restrictions on novice drivers in a bid to reduce accidents and lower death rates. An analysis conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss Data Institute has found that if every state adopted all five components of the toughest driving laws in the nation, then more than 9,500 collisions could be averted, saving at least 500 teen lives annually.

Online GDL Calculator

The IIHS and HLDI have developed an online calculator to demonstrate the effects of the young driver licensing systems in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia. Tab to your state or district and you can find the five components of safer teen driving and how those laws stack up with other jurisdictions. You can move the bar to the left or to the right to see change estimates outlining the percentage of collision claims and fatal crashes. Move the bar to the left and you’ll see an increase. Move the bar to the right and you’ll see a decrease.

The institute identifies the five components as permit age, practice hours, license age, night driving and passengers. All five can have an effect on teen driving safety with the higher thresholds estimated to lower collisions and fatalities. The institute used the best graduated driver licensing provisions in each state as the threshold for other states to attain, thereby reducing accidents.

The best GDL provisions as of May 2012 are:

1. Permit age of 16 — Eight states and the District of Columbia have a minimum permit age of 16. In some states, such as Alaska, that age is as low as 14.

2. Practice hours — Most states require a minimum number of practice hours before a teen can get his license. Pennsylvania at 65 hours has the most rigorous requirements of any state. Several states including South Dakota, New Jersey and Arkansas have no minimum amount of supervised driving.

3. License age — New Jersey teens cannot get their license until they are 17. Teens in Idaho and Montana can begin driving when they are 15; and in South Dakota drivers can be as young as 14 years and 3 months with driver education. Population density, however, is a factor as N.J. has the most people per square mile of any state. The states on the other end of the spectrum are mostly rural.

minimum driving age

4. Night driving — Most states restrict night driving for novice drivers with Idaho allowing such driving only from sunrise to sunset. In South Carolina, teens may drive to 6 p.m. Several states including Connecticut and Arkansas restrict nighttime driving for teens until their 18th birthday.

5. Passengers — Teens and driving is one issue, but teens driving with other teens in the car has often proven deadly. Some 15 states and D.C. do not allow teen riders at all. States such as Florida, Iowa, Mississippi and the Dakotas put no such restrictions on young drivers. Many states allow one teen and that person may have to be at least 21 as is required in New Mexico and in New York.

Tougher GDL Laws

The institute notes that certain states can achieve big gains in accident avoidance by adopting tougher GDL laws. For example, the institute estimates that collision claims for young drivers would drop by 37 percent in South Dakota. That state would also see the biggest drop in fatalities among teens, estimated at 63 percent. Other states that could see a big drop in claims include Iowa and Mississippi with each coming in at 29 percent. Several states including Iowa, Montana and North Dakota could reduce teen fatalities by at least 50 percent.

Will states adopt tougher driving rules to reduce accidents and teen deaths? They might as the trend toward tougher GDL laws continues to grow. Said Anne McCartt, Institute senior vice president for research, “Even the best states can do better. There’s room for improvement across the board, and states could see immediate reductions in fatal crashes and collision claims as soon as the beefed-up provisions are in force.”

Strengthening driver education programs is another approach states might mandate as most such programs fail to equip teens to handle all driving conditions including inclement weather.

Hockey Stick Graphics Package Delivers Boss 302 Eye Candy

June 5, 2012 by admin 2 Comments

Specifications of a 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302.

If you like tribute cars or vehicles that take its styling cues from another era, then the Ford Mustang is right up your alley. The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 edition takes paying tribute one step further by embodying the spirit of the 1970 Boss 302 edition with its new, reflective hockey stick graphics package. Ford chose School Bus Yellow as its paint scheme, ideal for parents who chase down the school bus to bring Johnny his forgotten lunch. Not really! Instead, the color scheme is a heritage color outfitted on a truly modern road-ripping masterpiece.

Engine and Transmission

Performance is what you want and the 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 delivers it in spades. This model is outfitted with a 5.0-liter (302 cubic foot) V-8 engine that bangs out 444 horsepower at 7,400 rpm and 380 foot-pounds of stroke at 4,500 rpm. This double overhead cam engine is paired with a short-throw, close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission for optimum shifting capabilities.

Other features that enhance the Boss 302’s driving characteristics include a limited slip 3.73 rear axle that makes use of carbon fiber clutch plates, with optional Torsen differential available. This model features firmer coil springs and suspension bushings at all four corners, a larger diameter rear stabilizer bar, manually adjustable shocks and struts, 19-inch racing wheels set within Pirelli P Zero summer tires, and 14-inch vented font rotors with Brembo 4-piston calipers. A front splitter and a rear spoiler are standard.

Model Dimensions

Like all current Mustang models, the Boss sits on a 107.1-inch wheelbase and is 188.5 inches long, 73.9 inches wide and 55.8 inches tall. You get 81.0 cubic feet of passenger volume and enjoy a 13.4 cubic foot trunk.

Unlike most other Mustangs, the Boss 302 seats two adults as Ford removed its rear seat. That’s good because all other ‘Stangs make the rear seat a torture test for everyone except your small children.

Model Highlights

Along with its bright yellow paint scheme you can choose a Boss Laguna Seca model that offers sterling gray accents. Its reflective graphics package is a first for a modern production car. When an oncoming car’s headlights hit the stripes they come to life.

Inside, the Boss features heated Recaro seats with gray logos built right in. Hands-free connectivity is a must and Ford SYNC offers voice-activated calling via any Bluetooth-connected mobile phone. You can control the USB-connected digital music player by voice too, enabling you to keep your hands on the wheel and stick at all times.

The cabin offers a soft, one-piece instrument panel with two oversized analog dials that flank a digital driver’s information center. An available Shaker audio system with HD radio features six speakers and two subwoofers. Manual air-conditioning is standard.

Convenience features include a pair of covered upholders, map pockets, two power points, a locking console with full armrest and storage, illuminated sun visors with storage, scuff plates, and bright clutch, brake and accelerator pedals.

Photos courtesy of the Ford Motor Company.

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Archives for June 2012

Engines and Transmissions

Fuel Economy

Model Dimensions

Model Highlights

Cautions

Steps to Find Your Paint Code

Considerations

Bad Credit Car Loan

Lending Cautions

Online GDL Calculator

Tougher GDL Laws

Further Reading

Engine and Transmission

Model Dimensions

Model Highlights