Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VW announces Carefree Maintenance Program for 2009 models]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/vw-announces-carefree-maintenance-program-for-2009-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/vw-announces-carefree-maintenance-program-for-2009-models/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/vw-announces-carefree-maintenance-program-for-2009-models/#commentsFiled under: ,

Volkswagen announced today that its entire 2009 lineup will come with a new Carefree Maintenance Program standard. What this means is that all scheduled maintenance for your 2009 Vee-Dub will be done and paid for by Volkswagen for the length of your limited warranty, which is 3 years or 36,000 miles. The program will debut with the new Tiguan crossover and Routan minivan, and should come in handy considering the former requires at least three scheduled service stops for maintenance before it hits 36,000 miles and the latter requires six. Other automakers like BMW and VW's own sister brand Audi offer free scheduled maintenance programs as well, but this is the first time we've seen it offered to folks who aren't buying a luxury car. Would free scheduled maintenance lure you into a VW dealership when shopping for a new car or is this program required by the German automaker to improve its perception of quality in the U.S.? Check out VW's official press release on the new program after the jump for more details.

[Source: VW]

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]]>carefree maintenance programCarefreeMaintenanceProgramfree scheduled maintenance vwFreeScheduledMaintenanceVwvolkswagenvw2008-04-23T12:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[Toyota extends rust warranty on older Tacoma pickups to 15 years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/07/toyota-extends-rust-warranty-on-older-tacoma-pickups-to-15-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/07/toyota-extends-rust-warranty-on-older-tacoma-pickups-to-15-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/07/toyota-extends-rust-warranty-on-older-tacoma-pickups-to-15-years/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Toyota had begun receiving a few reports from customers that excessive corrosion was occurring on the frames of some older Tacoma pickups, specifically 1995 to 2000 models. The Japanese automaker determined that during this half decade of production, some Taco frames may not have received the kind of corrosion protection from the factory that's needed to withstand harsh climes, especially ones where salt is used to deice roadways. While there is no recall and Toyota says that the number of instances where it has found rust go beyond the surface of the frame to penetrate the metal is small, the automaker is pulling an unorthodox move and doing something about anyway.

Toyota is extending the rust perforation warranty on all 1995-2000 Tacoma pickups, some 813,000 units, to 15 years from the original date of purchase, AND you don't have to be the original owner, or the second or the third even. Anyone who owns a Tacoma from this era and finds rust perforation on the frame can have his or her truck officially inspected for rust damage, in which case Toyota will either repair or buy back the truck regardless of its condition. Owners will start receiving letters by mid-March, and those who don't can visit a dealership for a free inspection.

Now if you'd excuse us, we need to start shopping for a used 1995-2000 Toyota Tacoma in Syracuse, NY.

[Source: Toyota Open Road Blog]

 

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]]>rust maintenance toyotaRustMaintenanceToyotatacoma rusttacoma rust dealershiptacoma rust warrantyTacomaRustTacomaRustDealershipTacomaRustWarrantytoyota rusttoyota tacomaToyotaRustToyotaTacoma2008-03-07T15:26:00+00:00<![CDATA[New self-inflating tire constantly under pressure]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/27/new-self-inflating-tire-constantly-under-pressure/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We all know that keeping your tires properly inflated will prolong their tread life, help you burn less fuel and increase your safety. But finding a working air hose when you're away from your garage is like trying to find a working clock in an early-80's Buick.

This is probably what led Coda Development, a Czech Republic company, to invent a new self-inflating tire. Sure, self-inflating tires aren't new, they've been around for years on commercial vehicles and even a few passenger vehicles . But most of those systems use compressed air to keep the tires inflated.

Coda's new system uses a peristaltic pump built into the tire to constantly maintain air pressure. You may have seen a peristaltic pump used in hospitals to deliver intravenous drugs to patients. It's basically a spinning wheel pressed against a liquid-filled tube. As the wheel turns, it pushes the tube's contents through one end and pulls more in the other. In our case, your car's wheel is the wheel and your air-filled tire the tube. A valve ensures that your tire's pressure is always constant. Theoretically, the peristaltic pump is much simpler and therefore more reliable than a compressor-based system. It's also potentially lighter, cheaper and doesn't require a power source. Sounds like a darn smart idea to us. Coda plans to display its system at the 2008 SAE World Congress in Detroit on April 14th through the 17th, so we'll see if it makes a splash there with auto industry engineers.

[Source: Coda]

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]]>Codacoda self-inflating tireCodaSelf-inflatingTireself-inflating tireSelf-inflatingTiretire air pressuretire inflationtire inflation systemtire maintenancetire pressuretire safetyTireAirPressureTireInflationTireInflationSystemTireMaintenanceTirePressuretiresTireSafety2008-02-27T16:27:00+00:00<![CDATA[Catalytic Converters: Thieves target the pod of precious metal]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/catalytic-converters-thieves-target-the-pod-of-precious-metal/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/catalytic-converters-thieves-target-the-pod-of-precious-metal/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/16/catalytic-converters-thieves-target-the-pod-of-precious-metal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bulging in the exhaust system like a rabbit deep in the belly of a boa, the catalytic converter cleans engine fumes before they are released into the air. To the inexperienced, the oversized metal cylinder looks rather uninteresting. To a thief, it is a pod of precious metal worth nearly $200 on the black market.

Catalytic converters are loaded with small amounts of precious metals including platinum, palladium and rhodium. When combined with hot exhaust gasses, a chemical reaction detoxifies the pollutants (this all happens without any trip to a Malibu clinic). All the average Joe really needs to know is that every car and truck is supposed to have one.

This low-lying fruit for the criminals hangs within easy reach under many sport-utility vehicles. Sitting taller than your average passenger car, their cats are easy to steal, and often don't even require the vehicle to be lifted for access. According to police, the Toyota 4Runner and Kia Sportage are the running favorites.

Unless it is your normal dwelling, there is no need to sleep underneath your vehicle with a shotgun; innovative consumers have found that spot-welding the catalytic converter to the rest of the exhaust system has proven to be an effective deterrent.

[Source: MSNBC via Winding Road]

 

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]]>catalytic converterCatalyticConverterKia SportageKiaSportagestolenthiefToyota 4RunnerToyota4runnerweld2008-02-16T09:01:00+00:00<![CDATA[HiQ garage goes for Coolest Auto Repair Shop honors]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/11/hiq-garage-goes-for-coolest-auto-repair-shop-honors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/11/hiq-garage-goes-for-coolest-auto-repair-shop-honors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/11/hiq-garage-goes-for-coolest-auto-repair-shop-honors/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click above for more images of the HiQ service center

As some of us are pretty sharp with a wrench, we loathe taking our cars elsewhere for repairs. Most of the time, we want to watch the guy doing the work, and that's usually not possible so we end up chain-drinking burnt coffee in the waiting room. HiQ, a new automotive service chain in the UK, is revamping its brand and has decided to allow customers to get in on the action. To prove their new concept, cooked up by branding wizards Fitch, HiQ has opened a new facility in Nottingham. The design is clean and more retail chic than a greasy-fingernailed muffler shop. Our favorite feature, by far, is the glass wall that allows you to stare down the monkey lad as he applies several hundred pound-feet of torque to your wheel lugs with an impact wrench.

Thanks for the tip, Larry!

[Source and photos: the Cool Hunter]

Gallery: HiQ

 

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]]>britainchaincustomerenglandhiqrepairretailshopuk2008-02-11T18:01:00+00:00<![CDATA[Wisconsin man's '91 Silverado set to hit 1 million miles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/wisconsin-mans-91-silverado-set-to-hit-1-million-miles/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/wisconsin-mans-91-silverado-set-to-hit-1-million-miles/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/01/wisconsin-mans-91-silverado-set-to-hit-1-million-miles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Talk about finding a good used car. Frank Orsenick bought his '91 Silverado in 1996. At the time, it had 41,000 miles on the clock. After 11 years of service (and a lot of driving), the old pickup is about to reach a milestone. Frank had the oil changed last week, just as he has every 3,000 miles since acquiring the Chevy, and it's sure to be the last one it receives as an everyday-use vehicle. You see, it's just 1,200 miles away from spinning past the 1,000,000-mark on the odometer. When it hits the big number, Frank is going to put his faithful ride into retirement. As for how he got this far, Orsenik credits regular maintenance and "a little luck." We should all be so lucky.

When informed of Mr. Orsenik's impending milestone, Chvrolet General Manager Ed Peper said, "Most Dependable, Longest Lasting isn't just a slogan, and it applies not only to Chevy pickups but to the people who drive them. We get lots of mail from customers with hundreds of thousands of miles on their Chevy trucks - so much, in fact, we formed the Silverado 200,000 mile club in 2006 - but a million miles is certainly remarkable. We're glad to have Mr. Oresnik on the Chevy team."

Congrats to Mr. Orsenik. May your next truck be as dependable as this one.

UPDATE: Video of the truck after the jump!

[Source: AP via Forecast Earth]

Gallery: 1991 Chevrolet Silverado trucks

1991 Chevy C2500 Silverado1991 Chevy C1500 Silverado Sportside1991 Chevy C1500 Silverado 454 SS1991 Chevy K1500 Silverado Sportside

Continue reading Wisconsin man's '91 Silverado set to hit 1 million miles

 

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]]>1,000,000 mile silverado1,000,000MileSilveradofrank orsenikFrankOrsenikmillion mile silveradoMillionMileSilverado2008-02-01T11:01:00+00:00<![CDATA[U.S. recalls climb 25 percent in 2007]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/u-s-recallsclimb-25-percent-in-2007/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/u-s-recallsclimb-25-percent-in-2007/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/27/u-s-recallsclimb-25-percent-in-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Problems with older vehicles have helped recalls jump 25% from 2006 to 2007, with over 14 million owners receiving the dreaded notice this year. Topping this year's list with 5.5 million recalls is Ford Motor Company, due mostly to a cruise control problem. Volkswagen also saw a rise in recalls, with over 1.5 million notices. That number looks much larger when considering the relatively small U.S. sales numbers for the German automaker.

The silver lining in the up-tick in recalls is that most of the vehicles effected were older models, meaning newer vehicles are for now staying somewhat out of the headlines. Ford spokesman Dan Jarvis pointed out to the Detroit News that most of its 3.6 million cruise control switch recalls were for vehicles over 10 years old. GM, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Chrysler all saw a drop in recalls in 2007, though the Pentastar still had a hefty 2.1 million notices spanning 21 campaigns.

[Source: Detroit News]

 

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]]>ChryslerFord cruise control switchFordCruiseControlSwitchGMNissanRecallsToyotaTSB2007-12-27T12:31:00+00:00<![CDATA[7,500-mile oil change becoming new standard]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/03/7-500-mile-oil-change-becoming-new-standard/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/03/7-500-mile-oil-change-becoming-new-standard/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/03/7-500-mile-oil-change-becoming-new-standard/#commentsFiled under:



As more vehicles come with synthetic motor oils from the factory, oil change interval recommendations have begun to increase. It looks like 7,500 miles is the new adapted standard. The synthetic oils experience less thermal breakdown and evaporative loss over time compared with conventional oil, which allows for less frequent oil services. Some vehicles have even forgone the traditional dipstick in favor of sensors that determine oil level and adjust the service interval in real time based on your driving habits. However, the decrease in oil changes also means a decrease in service business for dealerships. Dealers rightfully fear a reduction in customer retention and are unsure of the long run effect. Many have found solutions in prepaid maintenance contracts and complete service package deals such as combining tire rotation with your oil service. Also, despite their fears, dealerships won't completely lose out on regular customers as there will always be those reluctant to change their 5,000-mile oil change habit. Plus, there are many people who know the abuse they put their engine through, or don't trust electronic sensors and like to ride on the safe side with frequent oil changes.

[Source: Automotive News]

 

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]]>7500 mile oil change7500MileOilChangeAutomotive MaintenanceAutomotiveMaintenanceEngine Oil ServiceEngineOilServiceOil ChangeOilChange2007-12-03T15:29:00+00:00<![CDATA[A shotgun does not a lug wrench make - Darwin contestant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/16/a-lug-wrench-does-not-a-shotgun-make-darwin-contestant/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/16/a-lug-wrench-does-not-a-shotgun-make-darwin-contestant/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/16/a-lug-wrench-does-not-a-shotgun-make-darwin-contestant/#commentsFiled under: , ,



What do you do when you've got a lug nut that just won't budge? While you might want to blast it to smithereens, lots of dirty words, some mechanical finesse, a breaker bar, and heat usually get the job done. Of course, swearing like a truck driver is wholly unsatisfying when you compare it to the joy of firearms. A 66-year-old Washington resident had been dealing with a recalcitrant Lincoln Continental for two weeks when he decided he'd had enough.

A 12-gauge shotgun is not exactly effective at delivering a shock to a wheel nut, even with all that powder behind it. What did ensue, though, was a potentially deadly and certainly injurious shower of buckshot. Shooting a car wheel from an arm's length is a guaranteed way to create plenty of ricochet. The shot found purchase in the much softer organic material that comprises a human being, and the man sustained injuries from his feet to the middle of his abdomen. Next time, whack it with the BFH.

Thanks for the tip, James!

[Source: BBC]

 

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]]>darwinguninjurylug nutLugNutshotgunwrench2007-11-16T11:02:00+00:00<![CDATA[SEMA 2007 Spotlight: Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax 2.0]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/03/sema-2007-spotlight-meguiars-nxt-tech-wax-2-0/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/03/sema-2007-spotlight-meguiars-nxt-tech-wax-2-0/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/03/sema-2007-spotlight-meguiars-nxt-tech-wax-2-0/#commentsFiled under: ,



Some of us here at Autoblog actually care about how our cars look and take extraordinary measures to keep their finishes looking like a mirror. Meguiar's has unveiled its new line of car cleansing products for 2008, and they've developed an entirely new wax formula that caught our eye here at SEMA. It's debuting in Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax 2.0 and is coined Hydrophobic Polymer Technology. Hydrophobic is a term meaning water fearing, which chemists use to describe chemical compositions that actually repel H2O molecules. That's right, this stuff is actually scared of water, so much so that when water drops onto a hydrophobic surface, the polar structure of the wet stuff that creates surface tension causes the H2O molecules to bond to each other. This not only creates beads of water like normal waxes, but also encourages those beads to get the heck off your paint job, post haste. This advanced water repellent force makes Tech Wax 2.0 more advanced than your everyday wax, and we're eager to give it a try on our collection of cars.

[Source: Meguiar's]

 

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]]>HydrophobicMeguiar'sTech WaxTech Wax 2.0TechWaxTechWax2.0Wax2007-11-03T09:56:00+00:00<![CDATA[Man with 2.6 million-mile Volvo P1800 aims for 3 million]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/man-with-2-6-million-mile-volvo-p1800-aims-for-3-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/man-with-2-6-million-mile-volvo-p1800-aims-for-3-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/man-with-2-6-million-mile-volvo-p1800-aims-for-3-million/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click above image for more pics of the 2.6 million-mile Volvo P1800

We've reported on high-mileage cars here before. There was the Jetta diesel that Volkswagen found in Ohio with 562,000 miles on its odometer. Then there was the Saab 900 that had traveled 1,001,385 miles in its lifetime. Finally, there was also a 1995 Dodge Ram that passed the million-mile mark. We know of these cars because Volkswagen, Saab and Dodge sought them out and have been using their mere existence as marketing tools. At least the driver of the Volkswagen was given a 1-year lease on a new Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI. The Dodge Ram owner got a call from Tom LaSorda and a book about DaimlerChrysler's history, while the Saab owner actually had to buy himself a new set of Swedish wheels.

All high-mileage vehicles still traveling our nation's roads, however, must tip their rusty hats to this one, Irv Gordon's 1966 Volvo P1800 with 2.6 million miles under its belt-line. Gordon has been the only owner of this P1800 since it was purchased new in 1966. A 125-mile round trip daily commute and a penchant for regular maintenance got the car this far, and in 1998 it made the Guinness Book of World Records at just 1.69 million miles.

Since retired from teaching science, Gordon now plans on hitting the 3 million-mile mark sometime in the next five years. Keep in mind, he's slowed down to 80,000 miles/year from his record pace of over 100,000 miles/year in 2002. While not promising to retire the car once it hits 3 million miles, Gordon says he might break down before the car does. We hope if that if he does reach that milestone, Volvo will pony up a free replacement for his Energizer Bunny-esqe P1800. How about a C30?

[Source: Volvo]

Gallery: Irv Gordon's 2 million-mile Volvo P1800

Continue reading Man with 2.6 million-mile Volvo P1800 aims for 3 million

 

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]]>2007-10-26T14:11:00+00:00<![CDATA[Think you're sharp? Take the Ford Doctors mechanical aptitude test]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/25/think-youre-sharp-take-the-ford-doctors-mechanical-aptitude-te/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/25/think-youre-sharp-take-the-ford-doctors-mechanical-aptitude-te/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/25/think-youre-sharp-take-the-ford-doctors-mechanical-aptitude-te/#commentsFiled under: , ,

UPDATE: I took the quiz again and scored a 92 - guess I do better when paying attention.

This came my way from one of the listservs I subscribe to. A passing grade is considered 80%, and I'm disappointed to say that if you take it while trying to watch ER and finish producing a podcast, like I did, you won't likely pass. I came close, with a 76, which is about the grades I'd pull in those classes I didn't take seriously enough to work in. I'm going to chalk the non-passing score up to distraction, because I definitely care about this stuff. The Ford Doctors Diesel Technicians Society have set up a 50-question battery that quizzes your grasp of systems like gears, pulleys, levers, basic circuits, and other core concepts that are universally applicable to fixing stuff. It's not full of trick questions, but some of the solutions aren't self evident unless you think a bit. What was your score?

Thanks for sharing, Aaron!

[Source: Swedishbricks.net]

 

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]]>aptitude testAptitudeTestford doctorsFordDoctorsmechanical aptitudeMechanicalAptitudequiz2007-10-25T10:29:00+00:00<![CDATA[Mercedes service history goes all digital]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/19/mercedes-service-history-goes-all-digital/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/19/mercedes-service-history-goes-all-digital/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/19/mercedes-service-history-goes-all-digital/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This will be excellent when you go to buy that used Mercedes. Rather than searching high and low for that needle-in-a-haystack owner who kept meticulous records and the car serviced to a T, Mercedes is rolling out a Digital Service Booklet. Mercedes says it will be more convenient and efficient to build a digital record of a vehicle's service history than trying to track it on dead trees.

The DSB rollout will spread gradually throughout the entire Mercedes range, and owners will be supplied with a folder to house DSB printouts. With service data centralized, you no longer have to rely on your dealer to keep records of your car, which means you can pretty much get the car serviced at any MBZ dealer and they'll know just what's been done to your car. We wish our doctors and specialists could get it together the same way.

[Source: Pistonheads]

 

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]]>digitaldigital service bookletdigital service recordDigitalServiceBookletDigitalServiceRecordmercedesmercedes-benzrecordserviceservice recordServiceRecord2007-10-19T14:58:00+00:00<![CDATA[Why lift a car when you can tilt it?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/16/who-needs-to-lift-a-car-when-you-can-tilt-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/16/who-needs-to-lift-a-car-when-you-can-tilt-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/16/who-needs-to-lift-a-car-when-you-can-tilt-it/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



I need this. My back isn't what it used to be, so when it's time to fiddle with the undercarriage, I start thinking wistfully about lifts or pits. It'd also make it easier to hang off the end of the breaker bar for those monster-torque suspension fasteners. Exhaust work? No more lying on your back, rust crispies falling into your mouth, embers from that bolt you're torching out ending up who knows where. Of course, it's always a plus to make sure there are no fluids in the car, or they'll remind you of their presence once you get the car on its side.

Eastwood's catalog is chock-full of tools that look awesome, and yet, I have no idea how to use them. Their Tilt-A-Car unit is pretty self-evident. It attaches with the lugs and one side has a radius. You pop your 3/8" driver drill on the lift screw, and it's bottoms up. This unit would have made repairing the rust-tastic rockers and rear quarters on my Volvo 245 a cinch. It's about half the price of a lift - not counting the installation cost, and it seems more useful on a fully assembled car than a rotisserie is.

Thanks for the tip, Keith!

[Source: bbgadgets]

 

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]]>car tiltCarTilteastwoodeastwood corporationEastwoodCorporationgaragerestorationtools2007-09-16T09:27:00+00:00<![CDATA[VIDEO: Maxiumum Bob Lutz answers questions about GM's reliability]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/28/video-maxiumum-bob-lutz-answers-questions-about-gms-reliabilit/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/28/video-maxiumum-bob-lutz-answers-questions-about-gms-reliabilit/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/28/video-maxiumum-bob-lutz-answers-questions-about-gms-reliabilit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The General's chief product guru, Bob Lutz, responded to questions regarding GM's reliability in the company's FastLane Blog's most recent video Q&A chapter. According to Lutz, who cites comparisons to company "H" and company "T" as being perpetual reliability yardsticks, GM has aimed at making every component throughout the automaker's brands "bulletproof," including the engines, transmissions and every mechanical part imaginable.

The move began about four or five years ago, and despite high ratings in J.D. Power and Associates initial quality reports, Lutz explains that all the money spent was in an effort to "shoot for infinite life," as opposed to what Lutz calls, "100,000-mile bogies."

Lutz goes on to recount his aim of making Buick the American equivalent of Lexus, which was just confirmed with the recent release of J.D. Power and Associates long-term reliability ratings. Buick sat pretty, right next to Lexus. Mission accomplished Bob. Congrats.

[Source: GM FastLane Blog]

Continue reading VIDEO: Maxiumum Bob Lutz answers questions about GM's reliability

 

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]]>bob lutzBobLutzgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgminitial qualityInitialQualityj.d. power and associatesJ.d.PowerAndAssociatesreliability2007-08-28T16:33:00+00:00<![CDATA[For the OCD in you: Ownersite lets you track vehicle history to a tee]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/14/for-the-ocd-in-you-ownersite-lets-you-track-vehicle-history-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/14/for-the-ocd-in-you-ownersite-lets-you-track-vehicle-history-to/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/14/for-the-ocd-in-you-ownersite-lets-you-track-vehicle-history-to/#commentsFiled under:

Before I owned the '99 Alero, there was the '94 Protege. I had a habit of keeping the receipt for every drop of gas I put in that car. They were all stuffed in the glove box with the intent that I would plot a nice graph showing the Protege's gas mileage over time when it came to sell. Well, the Protege died a sudden death, so the car was never sold and the receipts went in the trash, but I've always liked the idea of tracking my vehicle's history for the benefit of the next owner and, ultimately, my own wallet.

We found a site that lets you do just that called Ownersite. Its founder and CEO is Steven Eppinger who used to own and run F150Online.com before it was sold to Internet Brands back in April. Truck owners have been known to keep very detailed records of their beasts, which was a fact that led Eppinger to start Ownersite as his next venture. It does what you'd expect it to - allows for tracking your vehicle's mileage, maintenance, mpg, repairs, etc., but we've found it goes many levels deeper than other vehicle history tracking software and sites. For instance, it also monitors recalls and TSBs issued by the NHTSA and immediately alerts you if any affect the vehicle your driving.

[Source: Ownersite.com]

Continue reading For the OCD in you: Ownersite lets you track vehicle history to a tee

 

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]]>maintenanceownersiteremindersservice historyServiceHistoryvehicle trackingVehicleTracking2007-08-14T19:56:00+00:00<![CDATA[Keep track of your fuel use with My Milemarker]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/01/keep-track-of-your-fuel-use-with-my-milemarker/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/01/keep-track-of-your-fuel-use-with-my-milemarker/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/01/keep-track-of-your-fuel-use-with-my-milemarker/#commentsFiled under: ,



With gasoline prices sometimes spiking above $3, it's good to know just how much of the stuff you're burning. And as a good car owner, you know the best way to do that is to habitually keep track of how many miles you've driven, how many gallons you've pumped and how often you change your car's oil.

The easiest way, of course, is to just keep a small notebook and pen in your glovebox. But if you've abandoned such ancient technology for more modern record-keeping, maybe you should give My Milemarker a try. It's a new website that helps you keep track of things like how much fuel you're burning, how much money you're spending on that fuel and how often you're changing your oil.

It's simple, ad-free interface even lets you text message your information from your mobile phone. Or, if you have a laptop (or an iPhone), you can input the info directly. It will even keep track of multiple cars.

It's a sweet melding of geek and automotive. Oh, and it's free.

[Source: Lifehacker]

 

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]]>fuel mileageFuelMileageMPGMPG calculatingMPG computingMPG trackingMpgCalculatingMpgComputingMpgTracking2007-08-01T21:53:00+00:00<![CDATA[Crumple zones save lives ... and hide damage]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/31/crumple-zones-save-lives-and-hide-damage/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/31/crumple-zones-save-lives-and-hide-damage/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/31/crumple-zones-save-lives-and-hide-damage/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A study by AutoBild reveals that modern crumple zones can actually hide serious damage to a car's structural integrity because of the way they're designed. There are two issues: the first is that crumple zones don't just deform in the case of an accident, they are now constructed to bounce back into shape after the collision; the second is that crumple zones are now so large, by government mandate, that crumple zone deformation might extend to points quite distant from the actual impact. By returning, even partially, to a pre-accident state, it is claimed that inspectors and mechanics might not realize how much damage has actually been done, nor exactly where.

AutoBild used a laser to assess the integrity of a car that had been in an accident. Hidden underneath bodywork that was only mildly scuffed they discovered a buckled frame. According to the magazine, a visual inspection even by an experienced mechanic wouldn't discern the damage. In fact, unless a mechanic was using a specialized and expensive machine to ascertain the extent of the damage, it probably wouldn't be caught. It is akin to the issue with helmets, wherein an accident that only scratches the helmet can render it useless. However, it's much easier to replace a Shoei for a few hundred than an entire car because of a fender bender. .

[Source: Auto Express]

 

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]]>accidentscrumple zonesCrumpleZonesdamagerepairs2007-07-31T11:36:00+00:00<![CDATA[Coming soon to a TV near you: Click and Clack]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/coming-soon-to-a-tv-near-you-click-and-clack/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/coming-soon-to-a-tv-near-you-click-and-clack/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/12/coming-soon-to-a-tv-near-you-click-and-clack/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Tom and Ray Magliozzi might be the first to admit that most people on the radio have faces that suit the medium, to put it delicately. There's no place to hide when you make the jump to television, but the Tappet brothers have avoided that with their new animated sitcom PBS will be rolling out next summer. The show is not yet named; a contest soliciting names from fans of the pair's radio show will be announced soon. Plots will center around the oft-discussed hijinks that the brothers snort and chortle over between calls. The fictional Car Talk Plaza, located in Cambridge Massachusetts' Harvard Square, will be coming to life, and the cast is fleshed out with a variety of supporting characters, most of which seem to be based on real individuals, or composites of several people.

For all their self-deprecating humor, Car Talk is one of the most popular shows on NPR, and their producer, Doug Berman, is on board for the TV series as well. The Magliozzi's animated series will be the first primetime animated show aimed at a general audience for PBS. There's a talented team behind the show, and it may even bring new eyeballs to sometimes fusty PBS. In addition to the show, there's a partnership with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators in which the animated stars deliver safe driving messages to drivers while they suffer in line at DMVs, as well as on educational materials and on the web. We wonder if that effort will be called "Don't Drive Like My Brother."

 

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]]>animationcar talkCarTalkclackclicknprpbsradiorayseriessitcomtappettelevisiontomtv2007-07-12T09:36:00+00:00<![CDATA[FTC cracking down on 'gas aid gadgets']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/04/ftc-cracking-down-on-gas-aid-gadgets/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/04/ftc-cracking-down-on-gas-aid-gadgets/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/04/ftc-cracking-down-on-gas-aid-gadgets/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A recent test of 93 so-called 'gas gadgets' - devices or fuel additives that allegedly improve fuel economy - has found that almost all of them simply don't work. The results of the test, which were conducted by the EPA's Ann Arbor laboratory, have led to the Federal Trade Commission issuing a consumer warning not to waste money on the dodgy devices.

A spokesman from the FTC explained that the "products often are found to have little or no savings in terms of fuel economy and can damage your engine or increase emissions."

With gas prices continuously sitting above the $3 per gallon mark many consumers seek out ways to save fuel and there are always companies or marketers ready to take advantage by selling products that either haven't been properly tested or come with false claims.

According to the experts, one way that you can actually save fuel is to properly maintain your vehicle. That means monitoring tire pressure, changing filters and keeping up to date with regular servicing intervals. One measure, however, that works better than any other is to keep control of your right foot. Check out this post over at Autoblog Green for more tips.

[Source: The Detroit News]

 

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]]>gas aid gadgetsgas gadgetGasAidGadgetsGasGadgetreduce gasReduceGas2007-07-04T14:28:00+00:00