Autoblog

Carfax slapped with $50M antitrust suit by 120 dealers

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal

In December 2012 Automotive News published a piece on dealers unhappy with Carfax, alleging that the most well known used vehicle history reporting company had maneuvered itself into a monopolistic position. Dealers were paying the price for it by being charged more for Carfax reports than they'd have to pay for those from similar agencies, and there was nothing they could do about it. Now it will be for a judge to figure out: Automotive News reports that 120 dealers have joined a class-action lawsuit against Carfax over anti-competitive practices and violations of anti-trust law, and more are signing up to join the suit.

As to that alleged monopolistic position, Carfax is the provider of record for the certified pre-owned programs of 37 out of 40 manufacturers, so if a dealer wants to be part of the program he has to buy Carfax reports. Carfax also has exclusive deals with Cars.com and AutoTrader.com, so when a dealer lists a car on either site he can only use reports from Carfax. That's how, even though there are ten companies accredited by the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System to provide used vehicle reports, some that are less expensive than Carfax, it isn't in a dealer's best financial interest to consider them.

Leo Bellavia out of Mineola, NY, who also handled cases for Saab dealers trying to compel the Swedish firm to enter bankruptcy and Chrysler dealers fighting their involuntary franchise terminations, is the attorney of record for the plaintiffs. The dealers want more than $50 million in damages. Carfax has said it can't comment on the suit.

Carfax slapped with $50M antitrust suit by 120 dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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West coast cities dominate Greenest Car Shoppers list

Zach Bowman — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Electric

Cars.com has released a list of the ten US cities with the most environmentally conscious car shoppers. Not surprisingly, west coast spots made up the bulk of the locations. The site found its results by compiling data pulled from visitors who shopped for hybrids or other green cars. While locations like San Francisco, San Diego, Portland, Sacramento and even Honolulu make sense, the list did serve up one solid oddball. Lima, Ohio made the cut. Why? Hard telling. The city sits smack between Dayton and Toledo on Interstate 75 and boasts a population of a little under 38,800 people. It's also the only place in the world that produces the M1 Abrams tank.

Meanwhile, Washington, D.C. was the only East coast location to make the list. You can read the full press release below for a closer look at which areas made the cut.

Continue reading West coast cities dominate Greenest Car Shoppers list

West coast cities dominate Greenest Car Shoppers list originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Carfax has cornered the market on car history reports

George Kennedy — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Technology

Ever wonder why Carfax seems to be the only company you ever hear about that offers vehicle history reports?

According to an Automotive News report, Carfax has created undeniable brand cachet, and it has also arranged some deals that make it difficult for the competition to gain footing. Marketing agreements, inked with sites like AutoTrader.com and Cars.com, mean that dealers who would like to advertise on these sites are forced to use Carfax instead of less expensive competitors. AutoCheck, from Experian Automotive Inc, provides a similar service, and Cars.com allows for the use of AutoCheck, causing a battle between it and Carfax. At the moment, Carfax has roughly 32,000 dealers, compared to AutoCheck's 12,000.

Those dealers using Carfax are paying much more than those using AutoCheck. Pressure from clever ad campaigns and slogans like "Show me the Carfax," lead customers to think that Carfax offers the only legitimate vehicle history report available. That said, other dealers contend that Carfax has far more comprehensive reports, and favorable in-dealership support.

According to Automotive News, there are ten vehicle history report providers, including Carfax and AutoCheck, but in a market where the only competition is a near-unknown, Carfax can afford to do business like it is the only show in town.

How Carfax has cornered the market on car history reports originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com calls out Consumer Reports over Toyota Prius C verdict

Scott Burgess — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Videos, Hatchback, Toyota

Cars.com has evidently taken issue with a Consumer Reports video review featured on Autoblog advising consumers that they would be better off buying a used "regular" Prius instead of a 2012 Prius C.

Consumer Reports shouldn't have passed on recommending the Prius C, Cars.com argues: "CR's low testing scores for the Prius C stand in stark contrast to our impressions of the hybrid."

Indeed. Cars.com gushes over the tiny hybrid, saying it might even pick the C over the regular Prius. Furthermore, in attempt to poke CR just a little more, Cars.com notes that used Prius prices are the highest they've been in six months, so looking for a deal there might not make for smart consumer advice.

In a final twist, Cars.com says it didn't name the Yaris-based C as one of its Best Bets, in part, because it relies on Consumer Reports reliability surveys as one metric to qualify any vehicle as a Best Bet. The 2013 C doesn't have enough data to say how reliable it will ultimately be.

Cars.com calls out Consumer Reports over Toyota Prius C verdict originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This year's Cars.com Super Bowl commercial weirds us out

Chris Shunk — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising

Remember when the dot-com ads started to flood the airwaves during the Super Bowl? The ads were almost always wacky, and half the time, we didn't even know what was being sold. Well, it's been a long time since the 1990s, and very few Internet-based companies are still hocking services during The Big Game.

Cars.com is one of the WiFi warriors that is still swinging for the fences, and some of their past work has been reasonably funny. Their 2012 ad is all about using Cars.com to gain confidence at the dealership, but we're not sure what to think about it. There is something about a man with a freaky second head that doesn't sit well with us, and we like it even less when noggin part deux is intentionally obnoxious. Seriously, we could do without the gyrating, it's creeping us out. Hit the jump to preview the 30-second ad for yourself.

Continue reading This year's Cars.com Super Bowl commercial weirds us out

This year's Cars.com Super Bowl commercial weirds us out originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com $37,000 SUV shootout yields unexpected results [w/poll]

Zach Bowman — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Crossover, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Kia, Mazda, Toyota

Cars.com recently lined up seven new vehicles for a $37,000 SUV shootout. The 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, 2012 Dodge Durango, 2012 Ford Explorer, 2012 Honda Pilot, 2012 Kia Sorento, 2011 Mazda CX-9 and 2011 Toyota Highlander all squared off against one another in a range of evaluations, including a one-day highway drive and family testing.

If you happen to be the deductive type, you may have noticed that the list above includes a fair number of genuine crossovers. Vehicles like the Chevrolet Traverse and Mazda CX-9 bear little resemblance to the body-on-frame bruisers of old, and even models like the 2012 Explorer and 2012 Durango have evolved out of their traditional shells.

But when the dust settled, it was Honda's 2012 Pilot that took top honors thanks to its high level of amenities, spacious interior and clever storage solutions, despite the fact that reviewers found issue with road noise and exterior styling. Perhaps most surprising is the fact that the 2012 Explorer tied for sixth place with the 2012 Sorento. Ouch. Head over to Cars.com to see the full evaluation, and vote for your favorite in our poll.

View Poll

Cars.com $37,000 SUV shootout yields unexpected results [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com still recommending Honda Civic, doesn't care what CR says

Chris Shunk — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Honda

There have been few remodels in the compact car segment that have been more eagerly anticipated than the 2012 Honda Civic. And why not? The Civic has been the standard-bearer in the segment for decades, and hopes were high for the new model.

We tested the Civic last month and discovered that while it still offered good fuel economy numbers and the promise of robust reliability and resale value, the 2012 evolution is something of a step back compared to the outgoing model. The interior isn't quite as good, it certainly isn't as much fun to drive as it used to be, and this Honda probably won't turn as many heads as it once did. All while the competition has evolved at a rapid pace.

Consumer Reports was even less kind in expressing its feelings about the 2012 Civic. The consumer advocacy institute removed the Civic from its list of Recommended rides, and Senior Director David Champion went on to say that the refreshed Honda "now ranks near the bottom of its category."

Losing the Recommended tag will likely sting Honda quite a bit, but just because CR is hating on the Civic doesn't mean that everyone feels compelled to follow suit. For instance, Cars.com continues to stand by the Civic, citing "its terrific mileage, comfortable cabin, top safety scores, high resale value and a long track record of reliability." Further, Cars.com adds that the Civic beat out entries like the Ford Focus and Kia Forte in one of its recent comparison tests, and at the same time, the Honda earned a "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

So is the 2012 Civic the star performer Cars.com seems to think it is, or is it closer to the disappointment described by Consumer Reports? The answer to that question will come down to personal choice. That said, for our money, we'd be happier if Honda stuck to the recipe that made the Civic great while leaving more mundane choices to its other competitors.

Cars.com still recommending Honda Civic, doesn't care what CR says originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com performs ultimate minivan shootout. Guess who won...

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen

Cars.com rounded up the year's crop of new minivans for a comparison, the rare thrill being that minivans from every major maker are completely fresh for 2011. The entrants were the Nissan Quest (pictured), Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town & Country, Volkswagen Routan and Dodge Grand Caravan.

The testing format was also novel, in that Cars.com paired its own editors with reviewers from USA Today and the MotorWeek television show, plus the Weatherby family, an 'average' family of five - husband, wife and three kids.

After three days of testing and the tallying of numerous criteria, there was, of course, one 7-seater to rule them all. We won't tell you which one it is, but its reviews included both "It doesn't look like such a mommy car" and "Distressingly ugly in profile." The Cars.com video review is after the jump, or head over to the link for the long-form skinny.

View Poll

Continue reading Cars.com performs ultimate minivan shootout. Guess who won...

Cars.com performs ultimate minivan shootout. Guess who won... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 May 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battle of the Commuters: EVs take on gasoline and the rails

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 10 May 2011 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Electric

2011 Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery

What is the best tool for commuting: a Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius, Ford Focus or a commuter train? The team at Cars.com decided to put all five to the test in a recent comparison. Starting out at the Cars.com Chicago headquarters, the team embarked on a 64.5-mile loop to see what mode of transportation could be crowned Abe Froman.

The results are not that surprising, but they do demonstrate the power of a pure electric vehicle driven in an urban setting. We won't give away all of the results, but the picture above should tell you which automobile was the cheapest to operate. The Cars.com crew makes a few interesting points, and provides great analysis into their commuting competition. Head on over and give their story a read.

Battle of the Commuters: EVs take on gasoline and the rails originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com $29K SUV Shootout - now with more Joey Lawrence [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Celebrities

Joey and Chandie Lawrence help you pick out a new car - Click above to watch the video after the break

Shopping for a new car (or truck, for that matter) in a crowded segment can be a bewildering task, especially when you're talking about mid-size SUVs and crossovers. There's a plethora positioned under the 30-grand mark, and most of them have comparable features and specs. So which one to choose?

Our friends over at Cars.com recently assembled a selection of nine such vehicles - the Chevrolet Equinox, Dodge Journey, Kia Sportage, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape, and Toyota RAV4 - and pitted them against each other. Now you may be thinking, Really? A Journey against a Sportage? What gives?

True, they're vastly different vehicles, but Cars.com arrived at its selections through a different kind of methodology. They checked with J.D. Power & Associates to find a median price - $29k - and then let the automakers choose which of their products to field in the test. Then they assembled a panel of testers, including members of their own editorial staff, plus Chris Woodyard of USA Today, Brian Robinson from MotorWeek and - wait for it - Joey Lawrence. Yes, he of Blossom and Melissa & Joey fame. Whoa!

So what did the B-list celeb (along with his wife Chandie and two daughters) and his auto-journo fellow jurists select? Hit the source link to find out, but we'll give you a hint: we listed them above by score from 1st to 9th. Bonus: Follow the jump for a video featuring Joey and Chandie.

[Source: Cars.com]

Continue reading Cars.com $29K SUV Shootout - now with more Joey Lawrence [w/video]

Cars.com $29K SUV Shootout - now with more Joey Lawrence [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia Optima wins Cars.com 'Best of 2011' award

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Kia

2011 Kia Optima - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're big fans of the swoopy new 2011 Kia Optima - in fact, some of us here at Autoblog even prefer the Kia sedan to its Hyundai Sonata cousin. Apparently we aren't the only ones who think highly of this fiercely competitive mid-sizer, as Cars.com has just honored the Optima with its 'Best of 2011' award.

The editors of Cars.com cited the Optima's outstanding fuel economy and excellent driving experience. Specifically:

"With its value, sharp packaging, outstanding fuel efficiency and lofty features, the Optima gives all family-car shoppers a shot at something far more compelling than the segment represents."

Runners-up include the BMW 5 Series, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Volt (which was recently named North American Car of the Year), Honda Odyssey and Nissan Leaf. All good vehicles, yes, but the Optima's strong presence within the mid-size sedan segment - the most-shopped segment in the auto industry - is a huge achievement for Kia. Head over to Cars.com to read the full story.

Gallery: 2011 Kia Optima 2.0T: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Cars.com]

Kia Optima wins Cars.com 'Best of 2011' award originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Toyota

2010 Toyota Camry - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's that time once again for Cars.com to release its annual American Made Index. What constitutes an American-made car, however, is just as debatable now as it ever has been. That being the case, there are a number of notable changes since the last time the crew released its list.

First and foremost, the Toyota Camry is (somewhat ironically) still at the top of the American Made Index. But second place is a bit of a surprise, with the Honda Accord making a debut appearance in the runner-up position. Notably, it takes the place of the Ford F-150, which falls off the list entirely.

Why the sudden change? It seems the Accord now boasts a 75-percent American parts percentage (which is the minimum allowable to make this list) as it is now being assembled in two separate plants based in the United States. Ford's F-150, however, saw its American parts percentage fall from 80 percent down to just 55 percent - a scenario Ford calls "pretty common."

Ford does make a good presence on the AMI list, though, with both the Escape (third place) and Focus (fourth place) making a comeback after a brief disappearance the last time around. General Motors earns fifth place with the Chevrolet Malibu, which is GM's only vehicle on the latest AMI edition. Chrysler nabs number seven with the Dodge Ram 1500 and nine with the Jeep Wrangler.

See the complete American Made Index after the break, and check out additional commentary from Cars.com here.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Camry

[Source: Cars.com]

Continue reading Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again

Cars.com American Made Index ranks Toyota Camry #1 again originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com hosts eight-car family sedan shootout with surprising results

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 03 May 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan, Suzuki, Toyota

Midsize sedans don't have it easy anymore. In addition to packing tons of features (technology, safety, comfort) into a relatively affordable package, these vehicles have to be relatively good to drive, functional and not too bad on the eyes. We've seen all sorts of family sedan comparisons, and now Cars.com dishes up its own eight-car test, featuring the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Suzuki Kizashi, Mazda6 and new Hyundai Sonata.

The eight sedans were not only tested by members of the Cars.com team, but by an actual family of four in an attempt to see what real-world drivers look for the most. The "real family" is comprised of Ben and Jill Tiernan of Los Angeles, as well as their two children, an infant and a toddler. The family drove the cars on highways and city roads, and took their time poking and prodding through the cabins of each tester. Ben and Jill's notes were also compiled and included in the end result data, with father Ben liking the Kizashi the best, while wife Jill raised her hand for the Camry.

What's more, the overall question of fuel economy was put into greater focus. Efficiency is one of the strongest selling points in this segment, and it's no secret that automakers tout the highway mileage numbers of these cars in an effort to attract buyers. Cars.com went a step above - not only noting the EPA estimated fuel economy, but recording what the cars' trip computers displayed, as well as calculating the actual at-the-pump fuel economy. The Hyundai Sonata's 35 mpg might be the highest number on monroney labels, but in the actual calculations, the Ford Fusion's 32.1 observed mpg trumps the recorded 27.8 mpg in the Sonata.

What's most interesting, though, are the end results. We won't spoil the final findings, but it's important to note that the Ford Fusion - a car which has garnered a ton of praise (Motor Trend Car of the Year, etc.) - came in dead last amongst the group, with the Chevrolet Malibu not falling very far behind. On top of that, Toyota's Camry is usually the top pick in these tests (Motor Trend would agree), but it doesn't take first place honors here. How does the well-received Honda Accord fare in all of this? What about newcomers Sonata and Kizashi? Read the full results for yourself at Cars.com.

[Source: Cars.com]

Cars.com hosts eight-car family sedan shootout with surprising results originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 May 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Camry tops this year's Cars.com American-Made Index

John Neff — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

Cars.com has once again published its annual American-Made Index that rates vehicles built within the United States based on their sales and percentage of domestic parts content. This year's list has a number of movers and shakers based mainly on the fact that a troubled economy has torpedoed sales of some models and others are now ineligible because their parent brands are being canceled.

The Ford F-150 has lost its top ranking in the American-Made Index for the first time since Cars.com began producing the list back in 2006. The new No. 1 is - gasp - the Toyota Camry. Assembled in Georgetown, KY and Lafayette, IN, the Camry's upswing in domestic parts content helped it barely edge out the F-150, which has seen both its sales and domestic parts content fall year-over-year. Toyota, in fact, had four models make the American-Made Index this year including the Sienna, Tundra and first-timer Venza.

General Motors placed the Chevrolet Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra, while Ford had the aforementioned F-150, and list newcomer Ford Taurus, which enjoys the highest domestic parts content of 90 percent. No Chrysler vehicles made the top ten, although one Honda did: the Lincoln, AL Odyssey has an 80 percent domestic parts content rating and thus sewed up the #10 spot. You can view the full list after the jump and visit Cars.com to read more about how the index was produced.

[Source: Cars.com]

Continue reading Toyota Camry tops this year's Cars.com American-Made Index

Toyota Camry tops this year's Cars.com American-Made Index originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com creates True Mileage Index to debunk CAFE

Michael Harley — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Green

In an effort to expose the underreported truth behind the government's corporate average fuel economy ratings (CAFE) and to define more accurate fuel economy estimates, the team over at Cars.com has created their own True Mileage Index. The consumer website points out the flaw behind CAFE is that the adjusted calculations misrepresent the numbers posted on new car windows, and the actual fuel economy consumers will realize on the road (e.g., although Honda earned a 2007 CAFE rating of 33.5 mpg, no Honda has a combined mileage of better than 31 mpg). Like the CAFE calculation, the True Mileage Index analyzes a number of factors. However, Cars.com places more weight on actual sales volume, and less on alternative fuels (like E85). Their math places Honda's True Mileage Index at a more realistic 24.9 mpg. In a nutshell, don't get overly excited when you hear that the 2020 CAFE number is going to be 35 mpg -- it's likely to only increase your future vehicle's actual fuel economy by a few mpg.

[Source: Cars.com]

Cars.com creates True Mileage Index to debunk CAFE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com releases revised American-made index

Dan Roth — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing

Cars.com has updated its American Made Index, and the list has flip-flopped some models right off, while others have hopped onto the top ten. Cars.com uses the parts origin information from the window sticker, along with the location the vehicle is manufacture at and sales numbers to determine which vehicles have the most US-based content. Ford's F150 and Explorer are the chocolate wafer to the rest of the list's cream filling, sandwiching everyone else between their respective #1 and #10 rankings. General Motors has the most vehicles in the top ten list, with the quartet of Cobalt, Malibu, G6, and Silverado 1500. Not surprisingly, Toyota's Tundra, built in Indiana and Texas, makes the grade at #5. Chrysler's Sebring is that company's only placing on the list, though even the same generation of a particular model can place high one year and fall off the next as automakers juggle OEMs and running changes. If sales of light trucks continue their precipitous fall, the AMI may look radically different the next time around. Four of the ten are body-on-frame trucks, and there's also a pair of minivans, all set to suffer in sales as buyers start to move en masse to more efficient vehicles.

[Source: Cars.com]

Cars.com releases revised American-made index originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pickuptruck.com bought by Cars.com, gets pluralized

John Neff — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:32:00 EST

Pickuptruck.com, our favorite website about anything with a bed on four wheels that's been owned and operated by Mike Levine since 1995, was just bought out by automotive mega-site Cars.com in a move that we hope made our good friend a gajillion dollars. Levine now joins Autoblog alumnus Dave Thomas, who runs the Kicking Tires blog under the Cars.com umbrella of sites.

The first change that came down from Levine's new corporate overlords was to pluralize the name of his website to Pickuptrucks.com because, well, we don't know why really. We imagine Cars.com already owned the URL, but why it decided to rebrand its new property over one letter rather than just redirecting Pickuptrucks.com visitors to Pickuptruck.com is beyond our feeble minds. Those are corporate overloads for ya. Being owned by AOL, we know all about corporate overlords. Welcome to the club, Mike!

[Source: Pickuptrucks.com]

Pickuptruck.com bought by Cars.com, gets pluralized originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 May 2008 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com releases new American-Made Index: Camry and Focus fall off

John Neff — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:04:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Ford, Toyota

The definition of what makes a car "Made in America" is always up for debate. Nevertheless, Cars.com takes a stab at determining the Top 10 vehicles made in America every six months with its American-Made Index. Vehicles that make the list are judged on three criteria: sales numbers, domestic parts content (DPC) and the location of their assembly. Only vehicles built inside our borders with a domestic parts content above 75% are eligible, and the more domestic parts the better.

You would expect vehicles like the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado to rank high on the list, and they do grabbing the No. 1 and 3 spots, respectively. The Dodge Ram, however, was not eligible because its domestic parts content is less than 75%. The Toyota Tundra, meanwhile, improved from 10th place to 4th place thanks to higher sales and a DPC that increased to 80% for the 2008 model.

What's more interesting, however, are the models that fell off the list, which include the Toyota Camry and Ford Focus. In the past, the Camry often occupied the No. 2 position on the AMI. The two-door Camry Solara, however, sales for which are grouped together with the sedan, saw its DPC drop to 65% for the 2008 model, thus making the Camry itself ineligible. The new 2008 Focus, meanwhile, carries a DPC rating now of 65%, again below the threshold of eligibility.

When representatives from both Toyota and Ford were asked by Cars.com about the parts content of these vehicles and why it changed, neither could give a definitive answer, but we can say what they can't. The fact is that automakers have to buy components from suppliers that meet their needs, which includes a good price. They're free to shop around the world for those components, not just in the Stars and Stripes section of the store. So while interesting, this list shouldn't be regarded as casting judgment on any particular vehicle for its DPC unless you believe that every vehicle sold in the U.S. should be built in the U.S. using components from the U.S. Now that's not very realistic, is it?

[Source: Cars.com, Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty]

Cars.com releases new American-Made Index: Camry and Focus fall off originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM's entire certified used vehicle inventory to be sold on Cars.com

John Neff — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, GM

Starting Wednesday, February 21st, the entirety of GM's certified used vehicle inventory will be promoted for sale on Cars.com, which is one of those online classified sites for selling cars. In all, there's about 60,000 GM certified used vehicles in the U.S. To be one, a GM vehicle has to be 6 model years old or newer, have less than 60,000 miles and go through a reconditioning process. Cadillac, HUMMER and Saab have their own programs for certified used vehicles, so this will only affect Chevy, Buick, Oldsmobile, GMC and Pontiacs.

Cars.com hosts about 2 million vehicles for sale at any one time from both private parties and dealers, so the site will be making separate pages for dealers who subscribe to Cars.com that set their inventory apart from the crowd, while those dealers that don't subscribe to the site will still get a GM Certified Logo on their listings. This isn't the first time Cars.com has buddied up with an OEM to sell certified vehicles, as it has similar partnerships with Toyota, Honda and Chrysler, among others.

[Source: Automotive News]

GM's entire certified used vehicle inventory to be sold on Cars.com originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Magic 8-Ball, what will cars be like in the future?

Joel Arellano — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Gadgets, Trends, Technology

Automotive consumer site Cars.com has peered into its crystal ball and been analyzing exhaust smoke patters in order to claim what the latest and greatest technologies will be down the road (or down the air if we ever get the flying cars we've been promised). Its predictions include:

Flexible Fuel Systems (...one car that could run on gas, diesel, hydrogen, E85 and electric power.)
Active Tires (...change to handle different road conditions with the push of a button.)
True Autopilot
Lane Changer Warning
Camless Engines
Self-Repairing, Self-Cleaning Paint
Navigation Systems With Real-Time Traffic Information
Self-Parking Cars
Electric Window Tinting (...clear to tinted to even opaque with the push of a button.)
Keyless Entry and Ignition
Adaptive Brake Lights
Computer Center (...in-dash computer that can manage navigation, phones, email, CDs, a PDA and every other new techno-gadget...)
Collision Mitigation Systems
Automotive Black Box
Economy Mode (...car turns off non-essential systems, turns down the A/C and even engages cruise control to conserve fuel.)

A full explanation of each technology and when they will be commonplace can be found at the link. Is Cars.com the next Nostradamus or should we be shaking our own Magic 8 Ball instead?

[Source: PR Newswire via finanzen]

Magic 8-Ball, what will cars be like in the future? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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