Autoblog

University study shows recalls have hardly hurt Toyota

Zach Bowman — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Recalls, Safety, Toyota

If you think Toyota is still reeling from negative opinions stirred up by the company's rash of recalls in 2009, North Carolina State University has some news for you. According to a new study conducted by researchers at the institution, the recalls had "little to no impact" on how buyers see the Japanese automaker. Robert Hammond, an assistant professor of economics at NCSU, says the research specifically looked at the used car market to negate the impact of outside factors like incentives, marketing campaigns and models not associated with the recall to begin with.

The idea was that examining average prices of models affected by recalls associated with sudden acceleration would give researchers an idea of how willing buyers were to pay for the vehicles. Overall, used cars covered by the recall campaigns saw their price decline by a mere two percent. The figure is within the statistical margin of error for the study.

So, what's behind the slow in Toyota sales? Despite an abundance of fleet sales last month that saw the company's figures swell by 7.5 percent over January 2011, Toyota still fell well behind the industry average. With production back on track after last year's earthquake tragedy, the company may have some explaining to do. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading University study shows recalls have hardly hurt Toyota

University study shows recalls have hardly hurt Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MI woman sues car dealer over "dead-body odor"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Most funky odors are pretty easily traced back to their origins... the french fries that spilled out of the bag and have found permanent residence under the driver's seat, or the forgotten grocery bag in the trunk from last week. Other, more serious smells, require the assistance of a biohazard company.

Such is the case with a 2006 Ford Expedition purchased by a Michigan woman named Margarita Salais, who purchased the vehicle from Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights. It seems that the dealership acquired the SUV in December of 2010, a cold month in Michigan. Salais purchased the car in March, near the end of the much-too-long winter season.

The cold temperatures apparently masked the smell of rotting flesh. Salais took the car back to the dealership and was told the smell must be coming from a dead animal. Unhappy with that report, Salais called her insurance company, which contracted Elite Trauma Clean-Up in Clinton Township to investigate.

This is where things get a little murky. According to State Farm, the insurance provider, the smell was determined to be of human origin... dead body, anyone? The Detroit News, however, dug deeper and spoke to the Elite Trauma employee who inspected the vehicle, who said that the smell could be traced back only to "rotten meat" of unknown origin.

In any case, Salais still has her rotten-smelling Expedition, which she later found had been used as a rental car and had been reported stolen three times. At the very least, Salais' lawyer believes the dealership should take the car back and pay his client for damages - an amount that would likely vary depending on the real cause of the dead-body odor.

MI woman sues car dealer over "dead-body odor" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CA dealers must affix new warning sticker to salvaged vehicles

Chris Shunk — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

California has passed new a new law that further regulates the car-buying process, and the changes appear to be mostly positive. Automotive News reports that, beginning next July, dealers will need to slap a red warning sticker on any vehicle with a salvage title. That means any vehicle that has been legally deemed flood-damaged, junked or salvaged will receive the ominous label.

The new law will also mandate the use of electronic vehicle registration for new and used vehicle sales. This system will reportedly result in faster registrations, and a license plate will arrive in six weeks, which sounds good compared to the six months under the current system.

The dealers of California will need to pony up as a result of the new law, but in the end, the customer always foots the bill. The new legislation allows dealers to up documentation charges from $45 for leases and $55 for sales to $80 for both. That sounds like a lot, but AN points out that California car buyers will still pay less for documentation than all but one other state in the Union.

CA dealers must affix new warning sticker to salvaged vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Polk: People continuing to keep vehicles longer

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying

Consumers are keeping their automobiles for longer periods than ever before, according to a study performed by the survey gurus at R. L. Polk & Co. For anyone keeping track of such things, this news comes as little surprise - average length of ownership has been steadily increasing at an average rate of 3.7 percent annually.

Since the global economic meltdown and the devastating effect it had on the world's automakers in 2008, that average length of ownership has increased dramatically at a clip of more than 14 percent. The hard data shows that consumers are keeping their machines for 63.9 months on average, up 4.5 months from the same time last year.

Polk comes to a couple of conclusions from this data. First, the automotive aftermarket stands to benefit from older vehicles remaining on the road. Second, automakers have a big opportunity to get people buying more new cars to replace the rapidly aging vehicles currently in their driveways. Want more? Click past the break for the official press release.

[Source: R. L. Polk & Co. | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Continue reading Polk: People continuing to keep vehicles longer

Polk: People continuing to keep vehicles longer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's On Like Donkey Kong: Jilted Hyundai Genesis Coupe buyer jilted again, lawyers up

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:38:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Hyundai, South Korea

This ended about how we predicted. You all no doubt remember McFly, the guy that won a legit eBay auction for a slightly used Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T for $16,125. Problem was that the seller - Glenn Hyundai of Lexington, KY - felt the car was worth more ($19,700) and refused to sell it to McFly. They claim they set a reserve price (even though they didn't) and wouldn't budge. End of story, kind of.

See, the internet got a hold of the McFly's tale of woe, and few things excite people (us included) more than tales of bald-faced greed mixed with dishonest car dealers. Not surprisingly, the story took off like wildfire and Glenn Hyundai soon found itself inundated with phone calls, emails, faxes - you name it. The onslaught became so bad that Glenn Hyundai got in touch with McFly and told him that if he would call off his dogs (remove his forum posts, plead with Gencoupe.com forum members to stop harassing the dealership, somehow get Digg.com to do... exactly what we're not sure, etc.) they would presumably sell him a Genesis Coupe for $16,125.

Why do we say presumably? Because we never knew the details of the agreement McFly worked out with Glenn Hyundai. Or, as McFly puts it an updated post, "For the record I have not shared any part of the verbal agreement." Despite this agreement never being finalized, some felt that McFly's saga was over (while some nearly broke their hands patting themselves on the back). We ourselves were reluctant to think or declare anything until McFly had the Genesis Coupe in hand. Guess what?

No Genesis Coupe 2.0T for McFly. He's claiming that Glenn Hyundai has breached the "verbal agreement" he reached with them. He's refusing to give any details of said verbal agreement, but maintains that Glenn Hyundai owes him a Gen Coupe for $16,125. Also, McFly's retained a lawyer. Also-also, he's contacted Hyundai USA but received no response. We'll keep you updated. Thanks to Bora for the heads up!

[Source: Gencoupe.com]

It's On Like Donkey Kong: Jilted Hyundai Genesis Coupe buyer jilted again, lawyers up originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Used car prices reached all-time high in September

Chris Shunk — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Earnings/Financials

New car sales have been in a downward spiral for over a year now, and the big beneficiaries appear to be used cars (and repair shops). A study by Manheim Consulting shows that the company's Used Vehicle Value Index has risen to a record high of 118.5 in the month of September, up 1.8% versus August. That's the ninth straight increase this year, as Manheim's index has steamrolled northward by 6.9% over the past 12 months.

New car sales have risen in part because many car buyers have decided to save money by buying used vehicles instead of new models, shrinking the supply of used vehicles on the market. And since fewer customers are buying new cars, dealers are left with fewer trade-ins. The month of September was especially impactful because many of the car-buyers who did buy new cars and trucks used Cash for Clunkers, and all of those vehicles ended up at the neighborhood crusher, not the used car lot.

Manheim's report also shows that both new and used vehicle inventories are down, which explains why new car incentives have been sliding as well. And with fewer incentives on new vehicles, used vehicles become a more attractive option, except there aren't many pre-owned units on the market. Used vehicles are going to auction with higher overall miles as well, a trend that is to be expected with the lack of vehicles coming off leases. According to Manheim, in January, the average auction car had about 51,000 miles on the odometer. That number has steadily increased over the past nine months to the point where an average auction vehicle now has closer to 63,000 miles on it.

With few used cars on the market and those models that are left tending to be of the higher mileage variety, it makes some sense that some automakers are becoming bolded in their volume projections for next year. Head over to Manheim Consulting for more info on its used vehicle index.

[Source: Manheim Consulting | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

STUDY: Used car prices reached all-time high in September originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some used cars going for more than new ones

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying

The lagging sales of new vehicles has been well documented, forcing retailers and manufacturers to offer some pretty amazing deals just to move their metal. Sometimes, the price of a brand new car is so good that it doesn't make sense to purchase a used vehicle.

In fact, some new cars are actually priced lower than their previously-loved siblings. One specific example is the 2009 Honda Accord, which, according to Edmunds, is selling for about $80 less than the average asking price for a certified 2008 model. Of course, Hondas are known for holding their value, so better used vehicle deals may be found elsewhere.

Further, interest rates on loans for new cars are generally lower than for used cars, which means the monthly payments may actually be lower for a zero-mile vehicle that costs the same as one that's been around the block a few times. Automakers hope these facts help spur a recovery in new car sales, and for their sake, so do we.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Photo: David Gallagher]

Some used cars going for more than new ones originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As new vehicles sales fall, used car prices go up

Dan Roth — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:05:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Etc.

The cynic in you might think that a rise in the price of used vehicles, just as new car sales are cratering worse than anyone can remember, is a not-so-transparent ploy to overcharge buyers. It turns out to be more a case of supply versus demand. Wholesale used car prices are bumping up as a result of sagging new car sales, according to auto auction company Manheim. Two-thirds of new car sales have a trade-in attached, which creates a supply stream of pre-owned vehicles to recycle onto dealer lots. With sales so far down, trades are harder to come by, so those cars that are available are fought over more fiercely. The wholesale price rise indicates that dealers are duking it out harder at auctions, more than saying anything about prices consumers are paying. It's our suspicion, looking at how long everyone's inventory is sitting around, that anyone able to buy right now can virtually write their own deal.

[Source: Auto News - Sub Req.]

As new vehicles sales fall, used car prices go up originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Used Prius prices higher than new model's

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Toyota

If vehicles could be sainted, stained-glass artists all over the U.S. would be busy figuring out the best colors for the Toyota Prius to shine in. Brand new examples of the motorized mollusk that everyone can't wait to buy spend just five days on dealer lots. Last year's model lasts just fifteen days more.

The real coup, however, is in the prices. An unused Prius requires about $26,672 to take home. The used version, with fewer than 10,000 miles, goes for around $27,945. That's right, nearly $1,300 more. More incredible: a 2007 model with more than 22,000 miles will only save you $276 compared to the price of a shiny new 2008. We're not sure you can even call that depreciation.

Toyota is increasing Prius production, but that'll take a moment to be felt on dealer lots. In the mean time, if you absolutely have to have a hybrid, we see a Malibu in your future...

[Source: Next Autos]

Used Prius prices higher than new model's originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Craigslist Find of the Day: "Boss" Audi A4 Avant

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Wagon, Etc., Audi

Click above for high-res gallery of Ben's Boss A4

If you act now, you can purchase the 2001 Audi A4 Avant in the picture above. If you want the whole car, as is, it will cost you $2,500. If -- for reasons we can't fathom -- you want the car without the front bumper, it will cost you $2,350. If you want that same car, but don't want the wheels, well, that paperweight will cost you $2,000. Strike all three important components and the aftermarket stereo, and this fine piece of German engineering is yours for the bargain basement price of $1,300.

The caption in the photo above is due to the fact that its owner, Ben, believes the car is "boss" and intimidates other basic transportation, like a Ford F-350. But don't make a play for it until you've seen the rear. Specifically, the plank of old growth timber that's posing as a bumper. According to that bumper, Ben's treasure is in heaven. Yours, according to Ben, is in Cincinnati. If you put $5 bucks in the tank, he'll let you test drive it, and if you swing by you can shake his hand. Now that's boss. Thanks for the tip, Carlos!

Gallery: craigslist audi a4 avant 01

[Source: craigslist]

Craigslist Find of the Day: "Boss" Audi A4 Avant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dealership offers free gas or gun with new car: 80% choose gun

Michael Harley — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

In a move certain to generate both controversy and publicity, a new and used car dealer in Butler, Missouri, is offering his customers a choice between two sales incentives with their vehicle purchase: $250 in gasoline or a free semi-automatic handgun.

"We got high gas prices, theft, carjackings, innocent people getting hurt," Walter Moore, from Max Motors, told KMBC-TV. It seems the resourceful dealer is offering car buyers a solution for it all -- and the gun is proving to be the popular choice with 80 percent of his customers choosing the firearm over free fuel. As expected, not everyone is happy. Considering most of his customers already own guns, Moore doesn't understand why people's feathers are getting all ruffled. Customers who choose the semi-auto pistol over the gas are handed a certificate that must be redeemed, after the requisite forms and background check are complete, at a local gun shop. This, of course, keeps the local police much happier. Thanks for the tip, mccreery!

[Source: KMBC-TV]

Dealership offers free gas or gun with new car: 80% choose gun originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 May 2008 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The funniest ad for a 1996 Volvo 850R you'll ever read

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:05:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Volvo

A guy in Washington had a 1996 Volvo 850R he wanted to sell on Craigslist. To make sure that he got noticed, he invoked the aid of Benjamin Franklin, a video game, a large Montana ranch and the Blue Angels -- just for starters -- to do it.

Anyone who's sold a high-mileage car that's been taken well care of and will run until the Apocalypse should appreciate the ad. You'll also appreciate his efforts to keep people from calling and saying, "Hmm. The miles seem high." Not only does he mention the fact that it has 218,000 miles nine times in the ad, but just to make sure, he writes, "If you don't know that Volvos go to like half a million miles without maintenance than your personal savior must be modern medicine and your ignorance would have been the death of you in the middle ages. DO not call if this is you."

But the car is still so fast it will "smoke the doors off of e30 m3's in econ mode." On top of all that, it's a bit of a chick magnet. This isn't cited as the reason for sale, but the seller got "sick and tired of getting hit on by milfs in their sexual prime because they think I'm some suave interwebs mogul as I am rearranging my golf clubs to fit more groceries in the massive trunk." Click the link to get the rest of the story on the Volvo born from space shuttles. Really.

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: Culture Garage]

The funniest ad for a 1996 Volvo 850R you'll ever read originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler calling 2006 models "used" to unload them

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:08:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Chrysler

When even deep discounts aren't getting the job done, sometimes you've got to bend the rules. Normally, a Chrysler dealer must use a car as a loaner for three months before designating it a used car. Still wondering what to do with a "glut" of 2006 vehicles in June of 2007, Chrysler has told dealers if they use a car as a loaner for just one day, they can consider it a used car and move it off the new car lot. Dealers also get an additional $2,000 discount as an incentive to use the program.

Instead of making fewer cars in 2006, Chrysler built more than dealers wanted and simply parked them around Detroit. Incentives helped move some, but the incentive program was to end May 31 of this year and dealers still had more 2006 cars sitting on lots than they wanted. Chrysler decided it wanted to finish strongly, so it eased the loaner requirements, a move dealers had been asking for. Chrysler still counts the cars as retail sales (even though they're just being moved to the used car lot), but the cars won't distract buyers who are looking at Chrysler's 2007 product. At one dealer in New Mexico, a 2006 Dodge Ram went from $33,000 to $26,000 in one day. An '06 Durango could be reduced by $11,500 after one day. Could be time to run a daily patrol around your local Chrysler dealership...

[Source: Detroit News]

Chrysler calling 2006 models "used" to unload them originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CarFax begins offering airbag deployment info for free

John Neff — Mon, 07 May 2007 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Safety

Many used car buyers are completely unaware that their airbags might not deploy in the event of an accident. There are a few reasons for this, but the most prevalent is a scam in which a car that's experienced a previous collision has had its deployed airbag improperly replaced, sometimes with stolen airbag units from other cars and sometimes with nothing more than stuff like packing peanuts or whatever else was lying around the shop.

Being that Carfax offers a service attempting to expose every little detail about a car's history that's available, the company has decided to release information about a car's airbag deployment history for free. The new service doesn't appear to be available from the home page by entering a candidate car's VIN number, but rather from this separate page. We tested it out with a few VINs culled from Autotrader and have yet to find one with an active deployment history. On the other hand, Carfax admits it doesn't have complete records for every airbag deployment that's ever happened. Nevertheless, the database, while perhaps incomplete, contains useful info for those considering the purchase of a used car that's seen some crunch time.

[Source: Carfax]

Continue reading CarFax begins offering airbag deployment info for free

CarFax begins offering airbag deployment info for free originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 May 2007 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Official Autoblog 'First Car' Readership Survey

Chris Paukert — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Etc.

Alright, here it is, boys and girls... 'The Official Autoblog First Car Readership Survey.' Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Come clean with your fellow readers about your very first car or truck, embarassing ride or no (we know you 1976 Dodge Aspen Woody Wagon owners are out there somewhere). In fact, the more dreadful, the more entertaining this is likely to be... but please be honest. If someone claims a Bugatti Veyron or Yugo GVX Cabrio as their first whip, rest assured our readers will call 'shenanigans.'

So... on to the questions:

With what four-wheeled conveyance did you first declare your freedom?
How did you come to acquire it?
Why did you decide that it was the car/truck for you?
How long did you own it?
Any particularly powerful memories (good or bad) tied to the vehicle in question? (Keep it PG-13, kiddies)
What ever happened to it?
Any pangs of loss at parting with it, or just sheer relief?

Let's hear it! Fess up in 'comments.'

[Sources: Pentamarketing.com, Highwayone.com, Adclassix.com]

The Official Autoblog 'First Car' Readership Survey originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Apr 2006 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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