Archive for January, 2010
Recall Alert: 2007-2008 Honda Fit
Posted on 29. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Honda is recalling 141,100 Fit subcompact cars in the U.S. over a faulty window switch that can overheat if exposed to liquid. It can smoke, melt and even catch fire. Unfortunately, a fatal accident involving a child led to the recall.
Honda explained: “Under some severe operating conditions, water, rain, or other liquid may enter the driver's window and reach the master power window switch, resulting in impaired function of the switch. If the master power window switch is damaged as a result of the liquid intrusion, it may result in failure of the switch and overheating.”
The recall has not yet been announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Owners should expect notification by Honda of the recall in the coming weeks. Or they can call Honda's customer service line at 800-999-1009.
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Review: Alfa Romeo MiTo
Posted on 29. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Today’s tester is a Red Alfa Romeo. So I really shouldn’t be telling you how its name is derived from the cities of Milano and Torino. I shouldn’t be revealing that it’s based on the Fiat Punto and I really needn’t elaborate about its underhood gadgetry, because in days of yore, “Red” was all you [...]
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Toyota Says It Has Gas Pedal Fix
Posted on 29. Jan, 2010 by admin.
In an email to dealers sent last night, Toyota says it has developed the fix – or series of fixes – for the faulty accelerator pedals that can be become stuck. This is in response to last week’s recall of 2.3 million vehicles.
We will have more details later today on what the fix is, when owners can expect to be notified and what the next steps are for customers.
Toyota finds fix for gas pedals; update due today (Detroit News)
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2010 Volkswagen GTI Video
Posted on 29. Jan, 2010 by admin.
It’s cold in Chicago this time of year, which is why Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek was happy to get out of the office and down south to Georgia, where he found time to get behind the wheel of a 2010 Volkswagen GTI. He was also happy with the power of the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and some of the interior touches that made it a pleasure to drive. Check out this video to see Bruzek and the GTI in action.
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Toyota Recall Update: Congressional Hearing Set
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
While we wait to hear more information about a fix for the millions of Toyotas on the road, there have been new developments involving the issue.
- The U.S. House of Representatives' Energy & Commerce Committee will hold a hearing about the most recent recall of 2.3 million vehicles on Feb. 25.
- GM is offering $1,000 in cash-back incentives to any current Toyota owner if they buy a new GM vehicle by the end of the month. Other automakers also are offering lucrative incentives, but they're not directly targeted at Toyota owners.
- Rental car companies Hertz, Avis and Enterprise have pulled all the recalled Toyotas from their fleets. The three are assuring their customers that safety is their main concern and there still will be plenty of cars to rent. Toyotas make up 4% — a small amount — of Enterprise’s fleet.
- In China, fewer than 2,000 Ford vans in China are being recalled for using a similar pedal to the one used in the Toyota recall. The same supplier is involved. Ford has halted all production and sales.
- United Auto Workers and Teamsters protested outside the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., with signs that read, “Toyota Killing American Jobs.” The protest didn’t originally have anything to do with the recalls; instead it was a protest over the closing of a single California factory where Toyota employed union labor.
- The company that makes the faulty parts — CTS — is blaming Toyota for the recall. According to the company, the part was designed by Toyota and CTS just builds it. CTS’ CEO said, “This is their recall.” They're building new pedals using a new design from Toyota. However, those parts are heading to assembly plants. No fix for current owners has been developed yet.
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Spied Again! Next-Gen Ford Global Ranger
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Photos by Brian Williams for Brenda Priddy & Company
Until now, we've only seen photos of Ford's next-generation global Ford Ranger undergoing testing wearing the cobbled-together sheetmetal of the current Mazda BT-50, which is sold outside the U.S. Now, we've received new pictures of the upcoming Ranger in final form but disguised in heavy camouflage.
Ford sells two versions of the Ranger: the U.S.-built Ranger sold domestically and in Canada, and a Thai-built Ranger that shares only its name with the North American Ranger. Production of the U.S. Ranger is scheduled to end in 2011.
The future overseas Ranger — code named T6 — will be built on a single, globally shared platform that's being designed in Australia. It's expected to be sold only in Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe and South America.
The truck in these pictures is right-hand drive with camouflage that's similar to that used on Ford's Falcon brand test cars Down Under. The six lug wheels are the same lug count we've seen in earlier T6 Ranger spy shots.
U.S. and Canadian buyers interested in a successor to the Ranger will likely have to make do with only a more fuel-efficient Ford F-150.
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2010 Ford Focus Gets $3,000 in Incentives
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
If you’re in the market for compact sedan, Ford is offering two good incentives packages on the 2010 Focus.
First off, you can get up to $3,000 cash back on a new Focus, which brings the total price down from $16,290 to $13,290 — a pretty sizable discount, given the low starting price. Also, you can get $500 cash back and 0% APR financing for 36 months. The deal runs through March 31.
Buyers can likely expect incentives on the Focus to continue for a good while — at least until the debut of the 2012 Focus early next year. Ford’s first truly global car, the 2012 Focus received a lot of attention at the recent Detroit auto show, which means Ford has to clear the way for its arrival. Still, a year is a long time to offer such heavy incentives on a car still being produced.
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Become a Cars.com Facebook Fan
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
Are you addicted to Facebook? Do you update your status more often than you talk to your significant other? It’s OK. There are a lot of people like you out there and now Cars.com has a fan page all its own.
On the Cars.com fan page you can check out our latest news stories, videos and photos, and there’s even a stream to keep track of our various Twitter accounts.
Check it out and let us know what you think.
Cars.com on Facebook
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2010 Subaru Impreza Video
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
In this video, Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays hops into the 2010 Subaru Impreza on a bitterly cold Chicago afternoon. Lucky for Mays, the Impreza has seat warmers. And lucky for consumers, the Impreza is a relatively affordable, commuter-friendly ride. However, bigger car buyers take note: You may want to listen when Mays talks about cabin room.
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Nissan Receives $1.4 Billion U.S. Loan
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin.
The federal government just announced that it has closed a loan agreement with Nissan to build its new Leaf electric car. The total of the loan is $1.4 billion, which is a staggering number. The company says this loan will lead to 1,300 new jobs at its Smryna, Tenn., facility, where the vehicle will be built along with the battery packs needed to power it.
The seven-figure sum is large, but the government has been granting other large loans to smaller, unproven companies like Tesla, which recently received $465 million in loans.
Because of the large investment, Nissan says production of the Leaf could reach as high as 150,000 cars per year. In 2009 the Altima was Nissan’s best-selling vehicle at 203,568 units. Its small Versa was next at 82,906.
