Archives for July 2012

2014 Ford F-150 Will Feature An Aluminum Body

July 27, 2012 by admin 1 Comment

Popular pickup truck to replace steel with lightweight aluminum.

The next generation Ford F-150 pickup truck will debut next year, but if Ford has its way it’ll come in as much as 700 pounds lighter than the current truck. That’s because Ford plans to make user of lighter weight materials such as aluminum to save weight and to raise fuel efficiency.

Weight Loss

The pound shedding will yield a truck that is 15 percent lighter according to the The Wall Street Journal. Ford’s switch to an aluminum body is part of the automaker’s effort to achieve much higher EPA fuel requirements. By 2025, manufacturers must have a fleet average of 54.5 miles per gallon, about double what they must get now.

Ford Perhaps the chief obstacle Ford will have to overcome are perceptions that aluminum is not as durable as steel. It also costs more than steel and will trim profits for one of its most profitable vehicles. Ford will also have to invest in new manufacturing equipment and assembly techniques, additional costs that go beyond the materials used.

Aluminum v. Steel

The Journal article also pointed out a detail that truck owners won’t easily dismiss: the Ford’s strongest competitors, General Motors and Chrysler, will continue to use steel. Ford, Chevy/GMC and Ram make a big deal about truck toughness as do Toyota and Nissan. Ford will have to make a case that its trucks can handle the most punishing assignments or risk losing customers. And perhaps its 35-year lock hold on the best-selling truck model in the U.S.

Ford’s approach to trimming the F-150′s weight is in contrast to what it was considering earlier: developing a lighter weight version of the F-Series or an F-100 truck that would have come in slightly smaller than the big F-150. But, that talk took place before the federal government announced new fuel mileage requirements, forcing Ford to look at reducing weight in its heaviest trucks.

GM may build a lighter version of its trucks after the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra debuts next year. Chrysler will employ an 8-speed transmission and grille shutters in a bid to make its trucks more efficient. Nissan’s new truck will roll out next year too and Toyota will likely follow with the next generation Tundra by 2014.

More Diesels?

With the F-Series shedding pounds and other manufacturers looking for other ways to save, we’ll likely see smaller engines powering these vehicles. Heavy duty versions of Ford, Ram, Chevy and GMC trucks offer optional diesel engines. Might we see smaller diesels offered with the standard models?

See Also — Aluminum Tough: 2015 Ford F-150

Essential Tools to Keep in Your Car

July 22, 2012 by Jay Preston 1 Comment

You understand the importance of assembling a tool kit for your home, but do you have a tool kit for your car? With a brand new car, it is easy to overlook the need for such tools, but if you’re in an accident something as simple as duct tape or a charger for your cell phone can come in handy.

Assembling a tool kit for you car includes those items that will enable you to make repairs to your automobile as well as those things that can ease your wait while help is on the way. Lets take a look at the essential tools you can keep in your car.

1. Duct tape — Useful for mending just about anything, duct tape can seal a leaking hose or reattach a light or bumper that comes dislodged from your car. Not the prettiest tool in the tool box, but perhaps one of the most essential and cost effective items your emergency kit can include.

2. Scissors — You may be able to rip the duct tape to get the pieces you need off, but a pair of long nose scissors can do the trick quickly and effectively. Scissors can be put to other uses to including cutting gauze if you are injured.

3. Multi-head screwdriver — You don’t have room to carry a set of screwdrivers in your car, but a quality multi-head screwdriver can do the trick. Look for a 10-in-1screwdriver/nut driver set that feature both Phillips and flathead screwdrivers of varying sizes along with nut drivers and torx head drivers.

4. Pliers — Both needle nose and wire cutting pliers can come in handy if your car breaks down. The needle nose plier can slip into tight spaces where your hands cant reach. The wire cutter pliers can be useful for fixing wiring that works loose such as the connection to your personally-installed audio system.

5. Hammer — An indispensable tool to handle most any repair project, a ball-peen hammer or mallet can be useful in tapping a part that has worked its way loose in your car. That old hub cap on your classic car can stay in place with some careful tapping of this hammer.

6. Work gloves — Any type of emergency project with your car requires the use of a good pair of work gloves to protect your hands. Not the cheap cotton kind that simply cover your hands, but the padded leather or synthetic leather pair that gives you a better grip of your hand tools.

7. Adjustable wrench — Look for a three-piece wrench set for your adjustable wrench. A wrench comes in handy when you need to adjust bolts that have worked loose. Gain access to that nut you otherwise wouldn’t be able to reach with a pair of pliers or a regular wrench.

8. Fire extinguisher — A car can go in flames within seconds if an oil leak is undetected and suddenly ignites. A compact extinguisher is suitable for your car, one that issues dry powder to handle a variety of fires including electrical. Your car contains a number of combustible materials including upholstery, wood products, cloth and paper. A fire blanket can come in handy too, representing a sheet of fire retardant that can cover small flame ups.

9. Bungee cords — What on earth would you use a bungee cord for? Lots of things including keeping everything secure on your roof rack and act as a map holder when affixed to your car door. Use a bungee cord to hold something in place where duct tape just won’t do.

10. Flashlight with batteries — Invest in a high-quality flashlight, one that is water-resistant, discharges a bright light and is easy to grip. Consider a light that can be fixed from the inside of your open car hood or one that has a twistable base and can rest on your radiator or car battery. A rechargeable light can work wonders or a battery flashlight can do the trick, but bring along several backup batteries for your standard flashlight.

11. Car charger — You bring your cell phone with you wherever you go. To keep it charged, you need a quality recharger that can be hooked into your car’s cigarette lighter. Look for one with a 20 amp to handle all of your recharges including your cell phone, laptop, iPhone, iPad, you name it.

12. Jumper cables — Never skimp when it comes to jumper cables. Choose heavy-duty, 4-gauge cables to provide the durability you need. Short cables won’t do, choose 25-foot cables ideal for times when you don’t want to push the car out for a jump.

Additional Tools

If you drive long distances and your trip takes you through remote places, a car emergency kit is ideal too. Such kits should include drinkable water, nonperishable food, an emergency thermal blanket, beacon flares, and a first aid kit. You can buy these items separately or purchase a kit containing everything that you need.

Can the Weather Really Affect Old and New Car Discounts?

July 16, 2012 by Will Vernon Leave a Comment

Climate conditions and your car purchase.

Can the weather affect car discounts? Yes it can, according to Chris Crow, Chief Editor at car pricing experts CAP. He’s recently conducted a study to try and find a correlation between weather patterns and car prices. His findings, which are published in industry journal AM Magazine, seem to suggest that warmer weather adds a few more zeros to the end of a price of a used auto.

Sunshine Sales

Crow says, Both 2002 and 2006 began with similar hours of sunshine through to the month of May. However, in June 2006 there were an additional 60 hours of sunshine compared to 2002, while July enjoyed 115 additional hours over the same period in 2002.

Marlin It was also a cracking year for strong used car values, which supports what dealers often tell us that the better the weather, the stronger the demand for used cars.

Market Conditions

His study focused on years 2002 and 2006, which both had similar economies, but markedly different weather patterns. It may sound a bit flimsy, but Chris Crow’s findings are intriguing – certainly worthy of more research from either himself or another party. Crow’s research, by the way, shows that the whole market benefits, and not just sun-stealing autos like convertibles.

Is a bright, sunny day more likely to urge people to head outdoors to their local used car dealership and investigate the new car discounts available? If Chris Crow is right, then exactly how harsh does the weather need to be for a consistent period before a dealership goes out of business? Could a used car dealership theoretically invest in meteorology technology to predict the weather, and adjust their prices according to what Mr. Blue Sky fancies doing on any particular day?

Buying Habits

Of course, such a strategy would be folly. But, if accurate, it’s interesting to know that weather does play a part in people’s used car buying habits. Does that relate to other industries, we wonder – will people invest in a new washing machine if heavy fog descends one afternoon?

The only logical reason that we can think of is that people simply want to enjoy the weather, if the findings are accurate. They must want to invest in a used car and go on a road trip with friends, and be as sociable as possible whilst the sun’s out.

Good luck to them, we say!

What Gap Insurance Is and Why You May Need It

July 12, 2012 by admin 1 Comment

Consumer advice for new car shoppers.

totalled car — Gap insurance can be useful if your car is ever totaled.

There are various types of car insurance coverage available including collision and comprehensive coverage. Automotive liability typically comes under two categories bodily injury liability and property damage liability, both providing much of the coverage required by state law and what consumers usually seek and need.

Gap Insurance

Yet, there are other forms of auto insurance coverage including gap insurance. As the name suggests, this type of insurance closes the gap between what you owe on a car and what it is worth following total loss or a theft. You may think that you don’t need gap insurance, but without such coverage you could be left holding a hefty bill.

Gap insurance is particularly useful for consumers who own a new car. For instance, that BMW 328i Coupe has cost you $41,100 and you’re financing it with a $39,000 auto loan. You’ve made six payments of $380.44 per month (taking out a 5-year loan at 4 percent) and have reduced your outstanding balance to $36,717.

Insurance Example

One day, you find yourself driving down the road and you hit a patch of ice. Your car suddenly veers out of control, heads down an embankment and t-bones a tree on the passenger side. You’ve got some scrapes and bruises, but fortunately, you were able to leave your car relatively unscathed. Unfortunately, your car has sustained heavy damage and it won’t be drivable again.

Your insurance company has evaluated your car and has determined that repair costs will exceed what the car is worth. That worth is its actual cash value or what your car would fetch if you were to sell it. Your insurance company has pegged its value at $34,100 based on 20,500 miles driven. With its $1,000 deductible, you’ll be given a check for $33,100 and soon find yourself owing your financing company $3,617, representing the difference between the cars ACV and your remaining loan payments.

Financial Obligation

That difference is a gap and that is where gap insurance comes in. If you opted for gap insurance, the $3,617 difference would be covered by an insurance company and payment would be made by your insurer to your lender, freeing you of any further financial obligation.

Not every auto insurer offers gap insurance. Some companies, such as Progressive Insurance, do not offer gap insurance. Instead, you may be covered by a loan/lease payoff arrangement that limits the insurer’s payout maximum to 25 percent of your vehicles ACV. You may be covered, but your deductible would still be your responsibility. Check with your insurance carrier to see how you would fare if your car was totaled or stolen.

Upside Down Consumers

Gap coverage is especially desirable for upside down car buyers or people who owe more on their cars than what they are worth. And if your auto insurer doesn’t offer gap insurance, your lender may advises Monica Steinish writing for the Credit Union National Association.

Of course, one way to avoid a gap is to put down more money on your new car. When you put down at least 20 percent on your new vehicle, you are essentially assured that gap isn’t an issue with no worries that you’ll be socked with an outstanding payment from your lender.

5 Ways to Celebrate the 4th With Your Car

July 4, 2012 by admin Leave a Comment

Friends, family, food and fireworks. There is something special about the 4th of July, a date marking America’s independence from Britain.

I have fond memories of the holiday dating back to the 1960s as a boy growing up in New Jersey. Our town kicked off the celebration with a parade and followed up in the evening with band shell music and fireworks.

fireworks and classic cars that were part of the parade, beautiful American-made works of art from the Model T to fin-tailed Cadillacs.

The day has certainly changed for our family. We now reside in North Carolina and live in a community where a parade is not held. That makes sense, though, as the hot temperatures make standing streetside with limited shade an undesirable prospect. But, that means there won’t be a series of cars to take in for my viewing pleasure.

Instead of a parade, I think I’ll get with some neighbors and have some fun with our own cars. That will happen BEFORE the festivities begin and the heat sets in.

1. Wash and wax — Yes, my car is due for its semi-annual wax. This time, I’m going to follow a suggestion made by Popular Mechanics and will work on taking the haze out of the plastic headlights. My neighbor owns a Mothers Powerball and I’m going to borrow it.

2. Clean and replace Inside, my car has some gum that someone dropped on the floor in the back. That gum is now part of the carpet and I plan to remove it. I have no idea if this ice cube method really works, but I think it is worth a try. I’ll reward my hard work by installing new rubber mats front and back.

3. Tidy the trunk I’m certainly not a person that throws stuff in the trunk and forgets it. Indeed, besides the spare and the lift, there is little else left in it. Still, I have a small emergency kit I’ll be placing in it and I’ll recheck the spare to make sure it is ready for duty when I need it.

4. Rubber or not Speaking of tires, I have it on my calendar to rotate same, but I’ll let my tire retailer do it as part of its lifelong Michelin warranty. The wheels, however, continue to accumulate brake dust and need special attention. I have a wheel cleaner that does the trick and will use a soft brush to get into those areas I might miss with my cloth.

5. Take it for a ride Following a morning work out with my car, I think I’ll convince my neighbors to go for a ride. It may not be in parade condition, but it will most certainly look much better than it did the day before. I’ll also ask my buddy, Tim, to bring out his 67 Skylark GS and see if we can head out to the local fishing hole before our wives and kids beg us to come back home.

Happy 4th to you and yours!

Why Your Used Car Is Worth Less (And What You Can Do About It)

July 1, 2012 by admin Leave a Comment

Sell your car and still come out ahead.

2014 Toyota Corolla

If you’re planning to sell your car either to a private party or to trade it in to a dealer for a new car, then you may have discovered that its value has slipped in recent months. Besides being a few months older and with more miles on the odometer, there are some good reasons why your cars valuable has been slipping. Well tackle those issues here and help you get more for your car when you’re ready to make a sale.

1. Lower gas rates equals falling prices for economical cars. In recent years as gas prices have risen so has the value of fuel efficient small cars. Earlier this year, gas prices topped $4 per gallon across much of the nation, pulling up used car prices with it. As gas prices fall as they are doing in summer 2012, used car values are also falling. This is one area of car pricing you have little control over, but take heart if you own a luxury car as scant supplies of these vehicles has been driving up prices according to the National Automobile Dealers Association and its Used Car Guides.

2. Make mention of a warranty. Later model used cars often come with a new vehicle warranty, one that may not have expired yet. Check your warranty and if it is fully transferrable to a new owner, make note of that when you advertise your car for sale. Even older models from Kia and Hyundai may still be covered, given that both companies offer a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. An available warranty adds values to a car.

3. Get it ready to show. You can make up for the dropping value of used cars, by ensuring that your vehicle is in tip-top shape and looks great. Any maintenance issues should be resolved before you put your vehicle on the market. You’ll also want to wash and wax it, detailing it by using an old toothbrush to lift crud from cracks, a soft brush on the wheels to remove brake dust and pay particular attention to hazed-out headlamps. Providing similar attention to the interior can make your car look great and fetch you more when you’re ready to sell it.

4. Sell it privately. It takes more work and preparation to sell a used car privately, but you stand to make much more money on a private sale than through a trade-in. Your car dealer may be willing to take your old car off of your hands, but that comes with a price reduced profits fro you. Dealers will sometimes inflate the price of your trade-in to make it look as if youre getting a good deal, but youll pay in some other way such as receiving less of a discount for your new car.

5 Advertise it effectively. These days, you don’t have to take out an expensive newspaper advertisement to market your car. Indeed, word of mouth advertising can help you sell your car, perhaps to someone you know. Start with the people nearest and dearest to you and tell them that your car is for sale. Ask them to help spread the word, providing contact information and car details on a flyer or through an email message to help your market your car. Beyond the people you know, online ads through services such as MSN Autos, AOL and Edmunds.com can also attract buyers according to Consumer Reports.

Private Sale

Ultimately, the value of your used car doesn’t always coincide with what a buyer may be willing to pay for it. A few percentage point drop in car values can be made up if your car is in good running condition, looks great and is a model that is in high demand. Negotiate wisely and you’ll come out ahead in a private party car sale.