Archive for August, 2009
Recall Alert: Audi A3, TT, TT Roadster
Posted on 21. Aug, 2009 by admin.
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Roadside Assistance? Mini Has an App for That
Posted on 21. Aug, 2009 by admin.
Peace of mind has officially been taken to the next level. Mini owners now have the ability to download an application to their iPhone or Blackberry that will provide quick and easy roadside assistance. At the touch of an icon, Mini owners will be able to instantly make a service call that will automatically transfer user information, vehicle location and service information.
Once the service is confirmed, the app will report the service provider’s name and estimated time of arrival to the scene. The service comes free to Mini owners while their vehicle is still under warranty. Allstate provides all roadside services for Mini.
While Mini is the first manufacturer to bring an app to market for roadside assistance, AAA also has apps for its customers. These include the ability to both find local AAA discounts and request roadside assistance. We expect these apps and services to expand outside these few companies, making mobile technology a key asset to roadside assistance in the future.
Watch a video of the app in action below.
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Ready to Roll: Dodge Ram Red Xpress Truck
Posted on 21. Aug, 2009 by admin.
Remember the sketch of a modern-day 1978-79 Dodge Li’l Red Express Truck that we showed you back in March? It was called the Dodge Ram Red Xpress Truck and we promised we’d keep you updated on its progress. Well, Performance West Group has completed all the design, engineering and production work and the Red Xpress is ready to roll as either a turn-key pickup or in kit form, for Dodge dealers that want to upfit 2009-10 Dodge Ram 1500s on site.
Here’s the first photo of a finished Red Xpress. We’re going to see how many heads we can turn with it and will bring you the full story soon. For now, enjoy this sneak peak.
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Video: Switzer R850 Nissan GT-R Tuned For Race Fuel
Posted on 21. Aug, 2009 by admin.
Tuning a twin-turbo, 480-horsepower V-6-powered AWD sports car might seem like an exercise in futility – after all, where are you going to open it up – but when you look beyond the street and to the race track, it becomes a bit more reasonable. And for those that like to spend their weekends pushing their skill and equipment to the limits, …
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Some Dealers Already Done With Cash for Clunkers
Posted on 21. Aug, 2009 by admin.
I clunked my car last night.
Yes, my husband and I managed to buy a new car using the Cash for Clunkers program. I say “managed” because within 30 minutes of the news that Cash for Clunkers would end Monday night, one dealership we’d talked to earlier in the day decided to no longer honor the program.
Two out of the three dealerships we talked to Thursday night had already decided not to take any more clunkers after the program’s end was announced late that afternoon. The dealership we did end up buying from was planning on doing Cash for Clunker deals through Friday night, not Monday.
Here’s what I learned during my Cash for Clunkers deal:
Call the dealership: Make sure they’re still doing Cash for Clunkers deals and find out when they plan to stop. It could be earlier than the Monday end date.
Make sure your clunker qualifies: Just because you think it’s a clunker doesn’t mean it is. For more information on the program, see our Cash for Clunkers guide.
Get your paperwork in order: You’ll need your title, registration and proof of insurance for the past year.
Be prepared to wait: Our dealership had people walking in at 8 p.m. to trade in their clunker. Getting a car takes time, and Cash for Clunkers adds yet another layer of paperwork for the dealers. Be patient.
We traded in our 2000 Nissan Xterra, which got a combined 15 mpg, for a 2009 Nissan Versa, which gets 29 mpg combined. We received the $4,500 credit, a $1,250 incentive and negotiated the price down a little further. All told, we got a new car for less than $12,000.
Editor's Note: We've received notices from other dealers saying they are not accepting any more deals after today and erroneously reporting they need the extra time to file paperwork. The government says it will accept paperwork for all deals well after the 8 p.m. Monday cutoff date.
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Suburban Dad Vacation: Mileage
Posted on 21. Aug, 2009 by admin.
Perhaps the best aspect of the Sprinter is its mileage. It’s a big, hulking van that seats 12, yet I averaged nearly 20 mpg over more than 1,600 miles over the course of nine days. While it’s not Prius-like, there are millions of Americans out there who need to haul around that close to a dozen people at a time, and this is far better than driving in a gas-powered van that gets only 10-12 mpg. Here’s how each leg broke down in driving:
Leg 1: 405 miles, 8 hours on road, 20.6 mpg; Aurora, Ill., to outside Akron, Ohio.
I think we benefited from heading east; while winds were largely calm, they were blowing behind us. We got bogged down in heavy traffic leaving Chicago, which I’m sure cost us, and ran into some road work in Indiana. Still, it wasn’t too bad, although our youngest riders weren’t very happy at how long it took.
Leg 2: 310 miles, 5:40 driving time, 21.2 mpg; outside Akron, Ohio, to Honeoye, N.Y. Because this was a Saturday afternoon, traffic was much lighter and I made a lot more use of cruise control. Also, with temps in the low 70s, I was able to conserve fuel by turning off the A/C every so often, until my wife noticed and complained about how humid she was feeling.
Leg 3: 677 miles, 11:29 driving time, 18.5 mpg. From Honeoye, N.Y., to Aurora, Ill.
It’s interesting the difference weather can make on your mileage. Two things were very different from our trip east: The temperature had risen from 75 to 98, and winds were now blowing in 30-40 mph gusts. The combo effect of having to blast the A/C continuously and drive into strong headwinds took a toll on our mileage.
Overall mileage: 1,670 miles, 9 days, 19.7 mpg
All told, I was very impressed with the Sprinter’s mileage. I didn’t find the diesel engine as distracting or loud as I feared it might be, finding diesel fuel was no trouble, and all in all my mileage this summer wasn’t far from last year’s trip. Thankfully, though, both gas and diesel were only around $2.75 a gallon, down from last year’s $3.75 a gallon, saving plenty of money on fuel.
Related Posts:
Part 1: Suburban Dad Vacation: Packing Up a Dodge Sprinter
Part 2: Suburban Dad Vacation: Is It Like Driving a Bus?
Part 3: Suburban Dad Vacation: The Family Vote
Part4: Hidden Gems, Nasty Surprises
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2009 Chrysler 300C SRT8 Video
Posted on 21. Aug, 2009 by admin.
An under-the-radar performance car, the Chrysler 300C SRT8 doesn’t get all the attention some of its competition does. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth a look, according to Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder. The 2009 model comes with a few notable changes and tweaks, so find out how they hold up under Wiesenfelder’s scrutiny in this video.
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Tesla Founder Drops Libel, Slander And Breach Of Contract Lawsuit
Posted on 20. Aug, 2009 by admin.
The executive reshuffling at fledgling electric sports car company Tesla has been rather prominent in the recent past, with the company claiming three CEOs in the last three years alone. However, the original founder and designer of the famed Tesla Roadster recently caused a ruffle when he filed a lawsuit against current Tesla CEO, Elon …
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Lamborghini Reventon Roadster Rumored To Debut Next Month
Posted on 20. Aug, 2009 by admin.
Rumors are abounding that Lamborghini will unveil an open-top Roadster version of its ultra-exclusive Reventon supercar at next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show . All across the Internet, Lamborghini fans are salivating at the thought of a Reventon Roadster, with speculation rife that only nine or ten of the supercars will be built, each …
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Mini Launches Roadside Assistance App For iPhone, Blackberry
Posted on 20. Aug, 2009 by admin.
Sometimes an idea comes along and it’s so simple it makes you wonder why no one thought of it before. Other times the idea is so obvious you wonder why anyone would need to think it. We’re not sure which category the Mini Roadside Assistance App falls into, but it’s the first of its kind. If it seems like it’d be at least as easy to store …
