General Motors to recall 292,879 Chevrolet Cruze cars due to defect in brake assist system - @Reuters
Aug 16 (Reuters) - General Motors Co will recall 292,879 Chevrolet Cruze cars in the United States due to a defect that can cause loss of the brake assist function in models with the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and six-speed automatic transmission. The largest U.S. automaker said on Friday that the problem occurred in model year 2011 and 2012 Cruze cars. GM said it was aware of 27 low-speed crashes, but no injuries, tied to the problem.
Tests Show Ford Fusion, C-Max Hybrid Are Not Getting Close To 47 MPG
Watch ads for the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid sedan or its C-Max Hybrid wagon and you'll hear that the vehicles get 47 miles per gallon (highway and city combined), which sounds awfully nice considering the cost of gasoline. But real-road tests of these cars don't seem to back those numbers up. In fact, tests by our car-loving cousins at Consumer Reports found that C-Max only got around 37 mpg (city/highway combined). While that is a very good number — second in its class to the Prius V's 41 mpg — it's only 79% of the mpg touted by Ford.
The Fusion fared slightly better, with a combined 39 mpg, around 83% of what Ford claims. On the highway, the Fusion did get as efficient as 41 mpg in the CR tests, though its city number was down at 35 mpg. The C-Max came in with more consistent numbers — 35 mpg city, 38 mpg highway.
According to CR, more than 80% of the vehicles it has tested for gas mileage are within 2 mpg of the EPA-estimated numbers given by the manufacturers. See the chart below showing the real-world fuel economy numbers for a range of vehicles.
Before the tests on the new Fusion and C-Max, the largest discrepancy between the EPA numbers and real-world tests had been 7 mpg for the Toyota Prius C and 6 mpg for the Prius hatchback.
"Most buyers won't get anything near 47 mpg in the real world," says Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports' director of auto testing. "Even though these two Ford hybrids are very efficient, this big discrepancy may leave customers disappointed."
In response to our results, a Ford representative said in an email, "Early C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid customers praise the vehicles and report a range of fuel economy figures, including some reports above 47 mpg. This reinforces the fact that driving styles, driving conditions, and other factors can cause mileage to vary."
Meanwhile, most EPA fuel-economy estimates certified by testers for the actual manufacturer. The EPA does later spot-check about 15% of cars with its own tests.
These are very preliminary but Mazda says this is the direction the car is going...
Mazda is aiming for the new Mazda3 to tip the scales at a scant 2,650 lbs and is also shooting for a 40-mpg highway rating.
An updated version of the current SkyActiv 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that pushes out 155 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque will likely power the car. There will also be a 189-hp 2.5-liter SkyActiv offering and possibly the same 2.2-liter diesel that will be making its way to the U.S. in the new Mazda6.
So hatches are getting a bit more common now days but M/T offerings are dwindling. Engine technologies have vastly improved in the last few yrs making the iron block BETA feel really antiquated. I'm always looking to see whats out there, and figured I'd see what others thought/feel. Some of you obviously made your decision already with getting the 13' EGT
This debate will cover the under 25k (MSRP) Compact hatch market. Lets try and put Hyundai bias aside and simply align your list with possible reasons as to why if you had 25k in your pocket to be spent on a hatch.
My first criteria is: Does it have a manual option? Then: Power, MPG, handling, sound, tech (lots of space pretty much comes with hatches unless its a Prius)
Kia Forte left out for this yr due to no manual option. 2014 may be different due to the possible Turbo'd SX model with 6spd M/T. Mini Cooper is borderline but I consider it more sub-compact than compact. Honda Fit same as the Mini.
My hot hatches would rank: Ford Focus ST = premium fuel not required, second best MPGs, most reviews ranking it better handling dynamics than Speed 3, Prefer the looks of the ST over the Speed 3 Mazdaspeed 3 = More power than ST but premium fuel required, more tq steer than ST, lowest MPGs in segment Hyundai Veloster Turbo = Premium fuel not required, lowest overal power, best MPGs, handling not up to segment standards, price barely under the above 2 VW GTI = Not much more overall power vs Veloster T, third best MPGs, VW gremlins, bland looks
If shopping in the hot hatch area, I'm not going for subtlety. It needs power, handling, and look at me looks. Focus ST looks the most well blended of all those criteria while also returning decent fuel economy.
For the Std hatches: Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium = AWD, new FB 2.0 engine improving MPGS and power, AWD, std roof rails, sporty upscale looks, 5spd m/t Mazda 3 i = Skyactive engine giving good power and exceptional real world MPGs, 6spd m/t, mazda heritage handling, std projector headlights Ford Focus SE w/ SE2 pack = new 2.0 GDI engines giving great power with MPGs similar to 13' EGT, enticing white n black leather interior, 5spd m/t Hyundai Elantra GT w/ style pack = Lower power than Focus and 3 along with lower real world MPGs, More tech std, 6spd m/t Hyundai Veloster w/style pack = Lacking power vs Elantra with similar MPGs, unique looks, nice red n black interior, more std tech, 6spd m/t VW Golf = TDI option pricey, 2.5 gives good power but substandard MPGs vs segment leaders, bland looks, no tan interior option, VW gremlins, 5spd m/t Suzuki SX4 w/ tech pack = Good power for segement, Horrid MPGs, cartoony looks, no tan interior option, 6spd m/t Toyota Matrix S = old engine tech giving power similar to Focus but MPGs worse than SX4, No tan interior option, soso looks, 5spd m/t
In Std hatches, i look for a balance of power and MPGs with smooth sporty looks as well as competitive pricing. Tan or two-tone interiors are a must. Good sound system with bluetooth is a must but navi tech not necessary. The top 4 were really hard for me to place due to price point being within a couple hundred tho some offered a bit more of the extras (leather, nav, ect) that arent as critical to me.
The Impreza took top spot for me due to the improved 2.0 FB engine returning balanced power @ 148hp n 145tq with fuelly avg showing 27.5. That is right around what the XD era Elantra averaged for MPGs but FB engine makes more power than Beta engine. All that factored into the AWD setup, tho it lacks a modern 6spd m/t. In addition, it has a nice upscale sporty look with a nice tan interior. Sound system can be upgraded at factory/dealer with all kicker components (sub, amp, tweeters, main 4 speakers) for under 1k.
The Mazda 3 has the exceptional 2.0 Skyactive engine with 6spd manual returning 155hp and 148tq and avg 32mpgs on fuelly. It is a bit pricier if optioned out like the Impreza sound system, or leather interiors of Focus and Elantra. Coupled with too many nanny devices (rain sensing wipers, auto headlights, etc) if you go with the 3 iGT model. Smiley face doesnt go as well with non-speed model) 2.5 skyactive possibly coming for 2014.
Focus SE new 2.0 GDI engine returns 5more hp than the 3 and only 2 less tq, and avgs 31mpgs on fuelly. Lacks a modern 6spd m/t like Impreza. Focus has unique interior options with White n black leather or red n black for not much money when added to the SE2 pack and still under 23k like the Impreza.
Elantra GT we are all fairly familiar with. Compared to the others tho, it lacks power and real world economy numbers fair much lower than rated at 29mpg avg on fuelly. It does come with the most tech standard, a 6spd m/t, and lightest of the bunch about 200lbs under the Impreza (the heaviest at 3k)
It would ultimately come down to test driving the 4 (impreza, 3, focus, and elantra) for me to really make a purchasing decision. Since Accel, Handling, and Feel can't be read. If Power and MPG w/ price were the only factors, than the Focus would be the winner.
So I would love to own a convertible, and hope that one is in my future so when I saw a video for the fastest convertible, I of course had to watch it. Not quite what I expected, but it certainly made me chuckle a bit!
There are certain things I'm not necessarily afraid to dive in and work on, automotively speaking. I know my limitations, and if something falls within them I'll give it a try. It led me to do the timing belt on my XD myself (that, and not being able to think about paying someone else to do it) and several other things that have needed attention.
A friend of mine drives a 2001 Dodge Durango which has been presenting him with all manner of problems (sound familiar, Vinnie?). He's had to replace a brake line *and* caliper recently; I would've done the work on that for him if I hadn't been saddled with the kid and he hadn't been some 40 miles away. Tonight it was a very different tune: cooling issues.
Water pumps? Not so bad. Serpentine belts? Bring 'em on. No, tonight's new challenge: the fan clutch. Having never had a vehicle with one, I've never conquered that but I figured what the hell? Turns out, they're not really so bad. The worst part was probably pulling the coolant/washer fluid reservoir, which sits over the top of the cooling fans. Pull that and you can do anything. It took us probably 2 hours, plus some time going to Auto Zone to get a loaner spanner wrench, but even getting the fan clutch off the old water pump just wasn't that bad.
Got everything out, cleaned off the block where the pump goes on, a little RTV and a rubber gasket, bolt it all back up and we're off. No leaks yet (knock wood) and it warmed up without warming up too much. Even drove it around the block and it seems to be in good shape. He'll keep an eye on it over the next couple of days but I think it'll be just fine.
I can only imagine what the next challenge will be... I know he needs a new CV boot on the right front, but I have to draw the line somewhere...
Grain of salt taken being faux news and all but political affiliation aside...
I know all my lawn equipment says nothing more than E85......
QUOTE
Detroit says it will ruin your engine. The EPA says it's safe.
Farmers say it's better than foreign oil. Oil companies say it's more expensive than gasoline.
But as Washington looks to compel refiners to blend more and more ethanol into gasoline, consumers are still left with the basic and critical question -- how much ethanol is safe to put in their cars?
Automakers warn the government's ethanol mandate could damage vehicles if it continues to grow.
"We just feel that it is not safe for the consumer. It's not safe for their engines," said Charles Drevna, executive president of American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers.
The questions about ethanol arise after Congress first mandated it in 2007. Ninety-six percent of gasoline sold in the U.S. is now 10 percent ethanol, a high-octane fuel derived from corn. But under that bill and rules favored by the Environmental Protection Agency, refiners are now being forced to blend up to 15 percent ethanol into gasoline sold at stations around the U.S.
The auto industry, though, says E-15 -- as the blend is known -- corrodes pumps, fuel lines and injectors. And manufacturers say they won't cover damages caused by the higher blend.
The American Automobile Association agrees.
"Ninety-five percent of today's cars are not suited for E-15 based on what people who make those cars say," said AAA CEO Robert Darbelnet.
The ethanol lobby claims automakers and refiners are overreacting.
"E-15 has been sold in this country for the past nine months with no issues whatsoever. This is a lot of hysteria that's being driven by the oil companies," said Bob Dinneen, head of the Renewable Fuels Association.
While there have been no issues reported so far, the new blend has only been sold in a handful of stations in the Midwest. But refiners are mandated to use 13.8 billion gallons ethanol this year requiring the 15 percent blend. The EPA says it is safe for cars built after 2001, but acknowledges it is inappropriate for boats and small motors, including lawnmowers and chainsaws.
Automakers advise new owners not to fill up on E-15 and say doing so may violate warranty terms, leaving customers to pay costly repair bills. Toyota and Lexus even placed warning labels on gas caps and owner's manual instructions caution not to use E-15.
"We think ethanol is a pretty good product, up to a point," said Drevna. "But when Congress mandates such massive quantities that we can't put into the fuel system, that the autos and the lawnmowers people and the marine manufacturers are saying 'We won't warranty, we won't put this in our engines, there is a problem'."
Ethanol supporters dispute that and claim studies back them up. Ethanol blends of 25 percent have been used for years in Brazil with no ill effects on the same cars sold in the U.S.
"We support what the EPA did because we know that E-15 is safe for the vehicles for which they have approved," said Dinneen."Let the marketplace decide. Let consumers that have a newer vehicle, that want to use E-15, give them the choice. If they want to use E-15 because it is lower cost, because it's domestically produced, because it's the only thing we have that's going to reduce greenhouse gases, then they ought to have that choice."
After a lengthy comment period, the EPA is expected to decide soon whether or not to relax the blend mandate. Some lawmakers are considering similar legislation should the EPA fail to do so. Right now, it is a lobbying war pitting farmers against oil refiners and automakers.
"Look, this is pretty simple," said Dinneen. "It's about a battle for the barrel. Ethanol, renewable fuels, have been phenomenally successful over the last several years, and we are now 10 percent of the U.S. motor fuel market. And the refiners are saying, 'no more'. They don't want to see E-15 succeed. I think the American public still understands the value in reducing our dependence on imported oil and seeing more domestic renewable fuels used."
I guess the writers at Motor Trend should be sending this guy a Christmas card this year. But seriously, how many dumbass drivers are going to use the excuse "throttle stuck" when they crash after speeding. Obviously this guy shouldn't be driving a car as nice as this. I hate to see that repair bill
QUOTE
On Wednesday, April 17 at approximately 6:30 p.m., a blue 2005 Ford GT was involved in a single-vehicle crash in front of the Motor Trend headquarters in El Segundo, Calif. The vehicle was heading southbound on S. Douglas Street toward the intersection of Rosecrans Ave. when it apparently exited its lane, climbed the curb directly in front of the Source Interlink Media building (the parent company of Motor Trend, Hot Rod and numerous other titles). It then clipped two trees and a street sign before coming to rest on the lawn next to the company driveway. As you can see from the images, the damage to the vehicle was significant.
Although the occupants were not injured in the crash, the GT was traveling at a high enough speed to pull the street sign out of the earth and drag it several feet after contact with a large and small tree. This caved the front of the car and caused both airbags to deploy.
Officers from the El Segundo police department were on the scene in minutes and said the Ford belonged to an employee of Metalore – a company only a few hundred feet north of Motor Trend, on the opposite side of the street. When asked immediately after the crash what happened, the driver said, “Throttle stuck.”
That $25k is in your pocket again.... How much fun can you have with 2 doors for under $25,000?? (MSRP w/destination + possible packages up to $25k)
Lets examine the options: RWD* 2014 Ford Mustang V6 2013 Chevrolet Camaro 1LS
FWD 2013 Honda Accord Coupe LX-S 2013 Honda Civic Si Coupe w/Sum Tires 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe SE 2013 Kia Forte Koup SX 2013 Scion TC
Now, arguably one would probably have the most fun with the two RWD V6 options from Ford and Chevy The base Mustang V6 with a 3.7v6, 6spd M/T, V6 performance package and fees** comes in at $24,990. The base Camaro 1LS with no pack options and fees comes in at $24,245. Both of these have rather spartan interiors but give you 300+ hp to the rear wheels thru a 6spd manual.The Mustang ups the ante with that performance package mostly for suspension and handling but also upping the 2.75 rear diff to a 3.31 LSD. This also enables the live-axled, lower powered, and lighter weight Mustang to edge out the Camaro. (Man I remember when .9+ Gs on the skidpad belonged soley to Porsches, Ferraris and the like) The main thing that suffers for these two RWD titans is their mpgs with both getting in the 22mpg average range.
The FWD coupes have a bit less under the hood and put their power to the front wheels, but they are much lighter, much more interior options while often being easier on the pocket book. The Accord with 2.4i4, 6spd M/T, spoiler, wheel locks, fog lights and fees comes in at $24,969. The Civic Si coupe with 2.4i4, 6spd M/T, summer tires, wheel locks, interior illumination, Sat radio, and fees is $24,067 The Elantra SE Coupe with 1.8i4, 6spd M/T, wheel locks, Carpet floor mats, mud guards, and fees is $20,950 The Forte Koup SX with 2.4i4, 6spd M/T, Leather package**, moonroof, rear spoiler, wheel locks, and fees is $21,770 The Scion TC with 2.5i4, 6spd M/T, BeSpoke and Sat radio upgrade, Fog lights, floor mats, tint and fees is $21,667.
The Accord is only on the listings cause it can be delivered for under $25k otherwise it is the lamest of the bunch with excess weight for I4 power, severly limited base options and price of the RWD V6s. The Civic would be my second FWD option due to the now larger more powerful 2.4l engine and is fairly well stocked inside and out, but is in the RWD V6 price category. The Elantra is really underpowered in this category. Even tho it is the cheapest and lightest, it sacrifices the most the fun equation which is heavily dependent on power. The Forte Koup really is the best option in this sector. Though both Hyundai and Kia pull the lame trick of restricting the tech package to the automatics only. The Kia still gives you lighter weight than the Si with similar torque numbers and better looks. Lastly, we have the Scion TC which isn't bad but its heavy weight puts it middle of the road. Its lighter than the Accord, more power than the Elantra and Forte, but heavier than the Forte and Si and the TCs looks are just so so. Now in the next few months Kia will be releasing the redesigned Forte and the SX version gets the 1.6t w/ 6spd M/T or 6spd paddle shift A/T. If its price and weight remain the same, it will have more power than the Si (mainly in TQ), less weight, less purchase cost, and much better warranty.
Accord does it really matter...... Civic Si 201hp 170tq 6.9s.....0.87g....67.1mph Elantra 148hp 131tq 8.0s.....0.78g....60.8mph Forte 173hp 168tq 7.3s.....0.89g....67.3mph TC 180hp 173tq 7.3s.....0.82g....65.3mph
So would you sacrifce more for the RWD V6 titans or save with some of the sporty FWD coupes? If it was my only car, I'd have to go with the Kia Forte Koup SX and spend the 3grand saved on a nice vacation while driving there in the new car. BUT if it is to be a spare/weekend car, I must say Mustang V6 all the way.
*Hyundai Genesis and Scion FR-S delivered prices start above $25k and so have been left out (even if only a hundred or so above)
**Add-on packages Mustang V6 Performance Pack: Strut Tower Brace Larger front sway bar and SVT rear sway bar Unique front springs Unique front and rear calipers with performance pads 19" black machined aluminum wheels w/ 255/40R19 Summer tires Unique stability control calibration Gloss Black side mirrors 3.31 limited slip rear axle
Forte Koup SX Leather Pack: Leather seat trim Heated front seats Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
Sub 2 liter turbo engines used to be relegated to mostly other than US duty, but 1.4t and 1.6t engines are popping up all over the place now.
In the 1.4t class we have: Buick Encore w/ 138hp and 148tq up to 33mpg hwy Chevy Cruze w/ 138hp and 148tq up to 38mpg hwy Chevy Sonic w/ 138hp and 148tq up to 34mpg hwy Dodge Dart w/ 160hp and 184tq up to 41mpg hwy* (*in Areo model, rest are 39mpg) Fiat 500 Abarth w/ 160hp and 170tq up to 34mpg hwy Fiat 500 t w/ 135hp and 150tq up to 34mpg hwy
In the 1.6t class we have: Ford Escape w/ 173hp and 184tq up to 33mpg hwy Ford Fiesta ST w/ 197hp and 214tq up to 34mpg hwy* (*rumored/unknown) H Veloster T w/ 201hp and 195tq up to 35mpg hwy Kia Forte5 SX w/ 201hp and 195tq up to 35mpg hwy* (*rumored/unknown) Mini Cooper S w/ 181hp and 177tq up to 35mpg hwy Mini Cooper JCW w/ 208hp and 192tq up to 35mpg hwy Nissan Juke w/ 188hp and 177tq up to 32mpg hwy
I must admit that the 1.4t engines are a bit underwhelming in terms of performance and MPG potentials. With many, you could do better with larger N/A GDI engines in both overall power and MPGs. Only one that really delivers is the Dodge Dart with the 1.4t Multiair Tiger engine getting great torque while also delivering exceptional MPGs.
To me its the 1.6t engines that deliver more for less. Many are in the 35mpg range which beats many of the 1.4ts and deliver more power than the 1.4ts.
The true advantage to these small turbo engines is that they deliver more tq down low than many larger 4 bangers. The Veloster T/Forte 5 SX deliver 195tq @ 1750rpms or Fiesta ST w/ 214tq @ 2500rpms. Even the 1.4t shine in low tq with the Sonic RS putting out 148tq @ 2500rpms or Dart Areo putting out 184tq @ 2500rpms. None of the N/A i4s can achieve that even with GDI. Sonata 2.4 i4 with 184tq @ 4250rpms or Malibu 2.5 i4 with 191tq @ 4400rpms or the closest N/A i4 being the Mazda 6 2.5 i4 with 185tq @ 3250rpm. The Skyactive 2.5 i4 has the same tq as the DOdge Multiair 1.4t but 750rpms later. In city or twisty driving, tq does matter. Economy has become a lot more interesting, esp with the Fiesta ST and Forte5 SX due out this summer. Does this now officially fit the proverb, "Having your cake and eating it too!" ??
Another market category, another debate area 2013 mid-size sedans under $25k
In light of my recent experience in the Sonata, figured I'd look thru the competition. There are a few more cars to select here than in the hatches, but much less M/T availability. Family sedans are designed to be people movers, but can they still be "fun"?
So again, if you had 25k in your pocket, what would be your choices?
Chevy Malibu 1LT 197hp 191tq 22/34mpg Chrysler 200 Tour 173hp 166tq 20/31 Dodge Avenger SXT " " " Ford Fusion SE 175hp 175tq 22/34 Honda Accord 189hp 182tq 24/34 Hyundai Sonata GLS 198hp 186tq 24/35 Kia Optima EX 200hp " " Mazda 6 sport 184hp 185tq 22/34 Mitsu Galant SE 160hp 157tq 21/30 Nissan Altima S 182hp 180tq 27/38 Subaru Legacy i pr 173hp 174tq 24/32 Toyota Camry SE 178hp 170tq 25/35 VW Passat SE 170hp 177tq 22/32
My Top picks: Mazda 6 Sport: 6spd M/T, Best tq rpm unique styling w/fogs @ $22,300 Chevy Malibu 1LT: Most overall power, best looking interior, large trunk, 5yr/100k warranty no fogs @ $24,325 Hyundai Sonta GLS: Best warranty, good 6spd manu-mode, Nice tech, large trunk, w/fogs @ $22,750 Kia Optima EX: Like Sonata, Tan lthr interior, fogs std @24,625
Runner-ups: Accord EX: M/T selection severly limits options w/ CVT only other choice Legacy i premium: legendary AWD but must have CVT in order to get decent MPGs that still fall below most the others Fusion SE: Best looking mid-size hands down but pricey with options like fogs and engine falls short of top picks Altima S: Lightest midsize with best MPGs but CVT only choice
Forget ums: 200/Avenger: Somehow the Avenger is nearly 200lbs heavier than sibling, aging engines Galant: Aging engines, only 4spd A/T but does have Hyundai style warranty Camry: blend in looks, decent engine specs, shortest front leg room Passat: 5spd M/T opt but 6spd auto, subpar MPGs, best rear seat leg room and large trunk, VW gremlins
Driving the Sonata for the week was nice. Steering leaves a bit to be desired, sound system lack bass, and car feels bigger than it is due to driver viewpoints. However, the power was nice, 6spd manu-mode was crisp on shifts tho conservative on RPM limits (wouldnt rev past 5600 despite 6500 redline), MPGs were marginally better than Elantra despite me "enjoying" the 198hp(but only had one tank to go off of). One thing I personally found that i somewhat crave is the roominess esp the leg room up front with telescoping steering wheel.
If it came down to me skipping the hatch and minimizing my modding on the DD, I'd seriously have to consider the Mazda 6 sport or Sonata GLS. The 6 still allows rowing your own gears and the torque comes in low 185tq @ 3250rpm. Just need to feel the Mazda's handling.
So I leave work tonight expecting another uninteresting trip home late at night (technically early in the morning). So I pull up to a light as I'm leaving the city and there two lanes over was a Mitsubishi Eclipse. There was a car in between us, but I can see he has HID's, and pulling up from behind I saw his trunk was wrapped in carbon fiber. Ok, nothing too crazy here. So as we start pulling away from the light I hear this god awful sound. Every bump I hear it coming from this car. So as he pulls ahead of the car in the middle I can see he's riding around on 20's slammed to the ground. There was also some body damage near his rear wheel (gee I wonder how that happened). In any case EVERY bump its obvious his wheels are hitting his wheel well. So what the hell were they thinking? Why would anyone want to do that and make the car so damn unsafe to drive. I get the whole slammed look, but when you can't even go over a small bump without rubbing you get into some major safety issues. Suspension mods are supposed to increase performance and handling, not the other way around. Needless to say I made sure to get ahead of him because I had no desire to drive anywhere close to someone as stupid as that!
Sorry, couldn't snap a pic in the dark on a highway.
My soon to be 21 year old son is a smart straight "A" university student but doesn't know a lot about cars. He doesn't have much money (like most of us) but works to buy his books and to take care of his car. His 1998 Escort had 110K without any belts being changed. He started pricing out the service. The dealer wanted $450 without the water pump to change all belts and tensioners. A local shop where he gets his oil changed said they could conduct the job with a water pump change for around $500; so he went there. They found a hydraulic line bad and the entire job ended up costing just under $700. Now less than 4 months later his main serpentine belt is slipping. He took it back and they said it needs a new belt and tensioner. He asked them about warrantee and they asked for his receipt (like they didn't have a computer system sitting right on the desk to look it up). He brought them a receipt the next day and they said it wasn't done. They only put on the receipt the timing belt/water pump/component kit/hydraulic hose. My son used to have a voice mail they originally left him with everything he was quoted, but he deleted it after a month. So if they really didn't do his other belts, doesn't the price sound high? I heard him on the phone talking to them and the voice mail. I know the original plan was to include the serpentine belt. I know he needs to learn his own lessons and fight his own battles but I feel they are taking advantage of his youth and lack of car knowledge. So what do you think? Was the price right for what they claim was done?
Consumer Reports finds small turbo engines don’t deliver on fuel economy claims
Small turbocharged engines are marketed as delivering the power of a large engine, with the fuel economy of a smaller one. That's a tempting proposition, but our testing shows these small-displacement turbos are not delivering on the promises.
By now, we've tested many cars with these engines, and lots of competitors with traditional, naturally-aspirated powerplants, big and small. Generally, the turbocharged cars have slower acceleration and no better fuel economy than the models with bigger, conventional engines. Looking at EPA fuel-economy estimates (calculated based on laboratory tests), some of these cars' turbocharged engines seem to have an advantage. But we found those results don't match the findings from our own fuel-economy tests.
The latest example is the collection of EcoBoost Ford Fusions we tested, which come with small, direct-injection, turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The smallest one—a 1.6-liter producing 173 hp—is a $795 option over the basic conventional 2.5-liter four cylinder on Fusion SE models. But that car's 0-60 mph acceleration time trails most competitors, and its 25 mpg overall places it among the worst of the crop of recently-redesigned family sedans. The Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Nissan Altima, all with conventional 2.4- or 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines, get an additional 2, 5, and 6 mpg, respectively. And all accelerate more quickly.
The larger among Ford's EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, the turbocharged 231-hp, 2.0-liter, is billed as having the power of a V6 but delivering the fuel economy of a four-cylinder. However, our so-equipped Fusion Titanium returned 22 mpg (which pales against the 25 and 26 mpg we recorded for the best V6 family sedans), slower acceleration and reduced refinement compared to its V6-powered peers.
Another example is our tests of the Chevrolet Cruze. Our base Cruze had the 1.8-liter four-cylinder; our higher-end 1LT version came with the 1.4-liter turbo four cylinder. While the 1.4-liter feels marginally more powerful in daily driving, it was barely faster to 60 mph, and it got the same fuel economy as the larger engine—26 mpg overall.
Turbochargers pump extra air into the engine to deliver more power. But all engines have to be operated at a very specific air-to-fuel ratio. So this extra air has to be augmented with extra fuel, which may offset any savings from shrinking engine sizes.
One benefit to the turbocharged engines is an abundance of torque at low to mid rpm. In daily driving, this means a more effortless feeling of thrust with reduced need to downshift while climbing hills or when delivering the kind of moderate acceleration most drivers demand. That can make a car feel more responsive, even if its actual acceleration times from a standstill are slower. However, not all of these turbocharged models deliver that benefit. Many, especially those smaller 1.4- and 1.6-liter engines, still downshift frequently to keep up with traffic. And all but one of the tested cars have slower mid-range acceleration from 45-65 mph.
In contrast, BMW's turbocharged four-cylinder engines seem to deliver both good fuel economy and acceleration: The 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder contributes to 28 mpg overall in our last tested 328i sedan. It improved mileage only marginally in the 2013 X3 SUV compared to the six-cylinder 2011 X3 we tested, with essentially identical power and acceleration but somewhat comprised refinement. The 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder engine we've tested in Audis and Volkswagens usually return impressive mileage, though we haven't tested any identical model powered by two different engines for such a direct comparison.
Everything You Need To Know About The Black Boxes Coming To Your Next Car Jason Torchinsky It's looking very likely that a bill in Congress that will make mandatory the use of "black boxes"— more formally, Event Data Recorders (EDR) — will become law soon. These are little computers clad in rugged casings that record data from your car's various sensors and computers to use for accident investigation and, very likely, other uses.
There's lots of privacy concerns around this new bill, and lots of questions as to exactly what that little boxy black snitch is snooping on. Plus, what about the voluntary black boxes some insurance carriers are offering? Let's see what we can clear up.
1. It's pretty likely your car already has an EDR. GM was the pioneer here, starting to install them in the late '90s, and by 2005 a number of marques (GM, Ford, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Suzuki) were putting them on everything. According to the NHTSA, about 91.6% of cars currently have them. Here's a list. Notable exceptions are Audi and Mercedes-Benz, but this new law will change that.
If you're like many of us Jalops, myself included, you may be driving a car that predates OBD-anything, so, unless you have a very technologically adventurous stalker, you likely don't have one. The law does not appear to require retrofitting the devices to, say, your King Midget.
2. It's not a tracking device. These black boxes are not GPS devices, and do not track where you're going. So your drug-prostitute-deep fried food secret habits are still safe, as long as you don't get in a wreck with your hookers and crack and mouthful of fried cheese.
3. Okay, what do these things record? Great question, disembodied voice. And a surprisingly tricky answer to find. Most articles just mentioned the bill requires 15 separate data points to be recorded, without listing what they are. While more data can be recorded based on manufacturers' own desires, these are the 15 data points that would be required by the new law— well, this list has 17, so maybe there's a couple others:
Change in forward crash speed
Maximum change in forward crash speed
Time from beginning of crash at which the maximum change in forward crash speed occurs
Speed vehicle was traveling
Percentage of engine throttle, percentage full (how far the accelerator pedal was pressed)
Whether or not brake was applied
Ignition cycle (number of power cycles applied to the EDR) at the time of the crash
Ignition cycle (number of power cycles applied to the EDR) when the EDR data were downloaded
Whether or not driver was using safety belt
Whether or not frontal airbag warning lamp was on
Driver frontal airbag deployment: time to deploy for a single stage airbag, or time to first stage deployment for a multistage airbag
Right front passenger frontal airbag deployment: time to deploy for a single stage airbag, or time to first stage deployment for a multistage airbag
Number of crash events
Time between first two crash events, if applicable
Whether or not EDR completed recording
As you can tell, most of this data is designed to aid in accident investigations, to help determine who was at fault, if any laws were broken, and to determine driver input compared to car performance to aid in investigations like the Toyota unintended acceleration incidents.
4. Who owns this data? This is actually the best part about this new law, because it clearly states that you, the car's owner, owns the data. I don't think any of us are thrilled about having these things in our cars, but if it's going to happen anyway, a law like this is needed to protect car owners. I'm a firm believer that any and all data your car generates should be the easily-accessible property of the owner. As the IIHS says on their site about this:
EDRs and the data they store belong to vehicle owners. Police, insurers, researchers, automakers and others may gain access to the data with owner consent. Without consent, access may be obtained through a court order. For example, in a Florida criminal case involving a vehicular manslaughter charge, the police obtained a warrant to access the EDR data.
For crashes that don't involve litigation, especially when police or insurers are interested in assessing fault, insurers may be able to access the EDRs in their policyholders' vehicles based on provisions in the insurance contract requiring policyholders to cooperate with the insurer. However, some states prohibit insurance contracts from requiring policyholders to consent to access.
I'd be more concerned about what private insurance companies would do with this data than I am what the police would do with it, so if you're in a state that allows your insurance company to require you to let them access the data, make sure you carefully read your contract.
The fact that the data is your property will also prevent it from being used by advertisers and/or dealerships (whew) and law enforcement agencies will normally need a warrant to get the data. This point about requiring a warrant has already been tested in court, with the appeals court reversing an original manslaughter conviction of a California driver, stating of the police's access to the driver's Yukon's EDR data:
"We conclude that a motorist's subjective and reasonable expectation of privacy with regard to her or his own vehicle encompasses the digital data held in the vehicle's SDM."
That means the cops can't bully your car into testifying against you, its loving owner.
5. How is the data retrieved from the EDR? The data is retrieved via either a connection to your ODB port in your car, or, if you had a really dramatic wreck that left your car strewn over a quarter mile of highway, the EDR itself may be removed from the mess and the data retrieved directly.
In order to help enforce the idea that the data is the owner's property, there have been proposals (and this patent) for lockable OBD port access panels.
6. So if it's my data, can it be used against me in court? Oh hell yes. You own it, but warrants can be gotten, data can be downloaded, and, potentially, you could be screwed. Or vindicated. It's just data.
More alarming is the potential for unauthorized access, or even inadvertent access to the data. It's happened before, such as in the case of Nissan Leafs sending GPS and speed data in unencrypted text to websites for voluntary crowdsourcing and tracking of fuel economy data.
7. What should I be most concerned about? This new law itself isn't too bad, in that if we accept that these recorders were already appearing on cars, it's good to have some legal protection of the data. What's more alarming are third-party tracking systems from companies like Progressive, which promise lower rates, but at the cost of making the consumer far more vulnerable. Plus, these private systems are not necessarily subject to the same laws that protect owners for the federally-mandated black boxes.
I sure as hell wouldn't want my insurance company tracking everything I do— their primary goal is to make money, and I don't trust my data would be used for any goals other than that.
8. So how should I feel about all this, in general? Wary, but not paranoid. This new bill will give a reasonable level of protection, but never forget that while this will likely help greatly for traffic safety and accident investigation, there is a huge privacy hole being opened, and if we're not constantly vigilant and careful, abuses will happen.
As it stands now, with cable-based retrieval, you can have a reasonable degree of assurance that your data is safe. Some companies, like BMW, are experimenting with wireless transmission of this sort of data, to schedule maintenance and alert dealerships of service needs. If this becomes more common, safeguarding data integrity will become a much more difficult issue.
9. Are there any fun upsides? Maybe, if these things are hackable. I'm picturing some interesting art possibilities using your car's data to produce interesting visualizations. Plus, wouldn't you like to hack this so your car can Tweet it's throttle position every minute? No? Me neither. But I bet there'll be some fun hacks to be found in these things.
I just read something today that pissed me off more than anything I've read in a long time. I guess the EPA approved the sale of E15 back in June to basically replace E10. The problem is 95% of cars on the road weren't designed to run on this crap. Engines can be damaged. Today AAA has asked the EPA to stop the sale of this. Here's the full article. Oh btw, if you use it in your Hyundai or Kia you've probably just voided your warranty. Ah... you assholes of the EPA... thanks.
QUOTE
AAA urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to halt sales of gasoline with higher ethanol concentrations Friday, contending the fuel blend causes engine damage not covered under most auto warranties.
EPA says that cars made in the model year 2001 and later can handle E15, the fuel blend made up of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent petroleum.
But automakers say EPA is only considering the fuel's impact on emissions control systems while disregarding the impact on the rest of the vehicle.
“It is clear that millions of Americans are unfamiliar with E15, which means there is a strong possibility that many motorists may improperly fill up using this gasoline and damage their vehicle. Bringing E15 to the market without adequate safeguards does not responsibly meet the needs of consumers,” AAA President and CEO Robert Darbelnet said in a Friday statement.
AAA conducted a survey and found that 95 percent of people had not heard of E15. The group said that is worrisome because many automakers refuse to honor warranties for wear and tear from the higher ethanol fuel blend.
EPA told The Hill that it "shares AAA's concern over consumer awareness of the use of E15."
The agency noted it has worked with AAA and other stakeholders to heighten the fuel's profile. It also recently required filling stations to use a "prominent" orange and black label to designate pumps that use E15.
"While EPA does not require retailers to sell E15, the label will help ensure consumers are aware about which vehicles are approved for its use," EPA said.
The Renewable Fuels Association accused AAA of acting as a conduit for oil firms. Bob Dinneen, the association’s CEO, said petroleum groups want to defeat E15 because it cuts into oil’s market share.
“If AAA weren’t so deep in the 'Big Oil' politics, they would stop manufacturing concern about the efficacy of ethanol blend use and report enthusiastically about ethanol’s consumer gasoline price savings,” Dinneen said in a Friday statement.
Getting E15 widely available on the market is a chief concern for biofuels groups — the industry must hit accelerating ethanol blending targets established by the renewable fuel standard, and doing so with 10 percent ethanol blends will likely be untenable after 2013.
Dinneen argued that E15 is “the most aggressively and comprehensively tested fuel in the history of” the EPA.
Dinneen also said automakers are now starting to manufacture cars to handle E15.
General Motors vehicles model years 2012 and newer, as well as 2013 model-year Ford vehicles, permit use of E15.
Still, GM spokeswoman Sharon Basel said the automaker agrees with AAA that public awareness is lacking. She said EPA was being "irresponsible" by permitting the use of E15 without evaluating the fuel's effects on the entire car.
"We have the same opinion, the same view as what AAA has so eloquently put in their release," Basel told The Hill on Friday.
AAA noted BMW, Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen do not cover damage from E15 under their warranties. Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo have said E15 damage might void warranties, according to AAA.
Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) said that leaves a majority of motorists vulnerable, and like AAA, called for the National Academy of Sciences to study E15.
“Concerns about E15 are not diminishing, they are increasing. That is telling. When an organization like AAA, a nationally trusted source for motorists, calls out the EPA, you would think the Administration would listen,” he said in a Friday statement.
Figured I would post up some pics of my former car, project BlackFire.
this is what I had started with.
Ugly right? It stayed that way for far too long until I got this,
Even uglier being 3 different colors.
so a friend and I felt like having some fun at my dad's old shop, this was the outcome.
next up came a set of 17" rims.
When i purchased the car, it was having some exhaust issues, mainly, the flex pipe had broke in half. The same guy I got the front bumper, hood and that had helped with the paint, had this he gave me after I lowered his S10.
after putting on a full 2.5" exhaust system from the newly painted header back, I had a good sound going. now to make it look "fast"
Body kit was later removed, Lowering springs, short shifter, front and rear sway bars, and upgraded engine mounts all went in afterwards.
I later moved from Ontario to Alberta and purchased this for a whopping $50.
Only problem was it didn't come with an engine or transmission. so, goodbye black car, hello heart transplant.
Transferred some other parts from the black car, mainly hood and front bumper, over to the red beast, and got a cavalier trunk and called it quits with the car until one day it got stolen.
So the company I'm supporting has signed up for some test programs for vehicles. Starting off they got a hold of the new Prius C model with Technology package ... and I got to take it for a quick little trip.
[attachment=4486:IMG_20121106_00139.jpg]
Outside impressions: looks aggressive, but is a small hatchback, similar to the new Accent. Didn't pay attention too much.
Inside impressions: cheap! They didn't even attempt to make any of the dash squishy, but yet has the texture like it should be. All hard plastic dash. The seats were comfy though, and you could easily have two 6' people in the front and back comfortably - for a small car. It does mention seating for 5, but the one in the middle at the back needs to be rather small, width and height. Road noise was little, but hard to judge while only running from our plaza over to get lunch in the drive-thru and back. While running on the electric only things were nice and quite, like a sewing machine. When accelerating, the 1.5L kicked in with a fury..wait.. it started and made some noise, moving the car a bit faster than before. It was a bit noisy, but not worse than my 2L with SRI.
Electronics: Had the standard Prius type digital display up near the base of the windshield, showing car stats, speed and indicators. Was also a nice 6" display which could do nav, BT phone and radio. Didn't play too much with it, but looked good. A little dull out today so couldn't tell if it would give much glare or not, but based on the angle guessing not much. While turning up the stereo it was a nice full sound, crisp top end and a full bottom... nice for a 6speaker system.
Storage: If you were to remove the spare tire from the 'trunk' and lower the floor, you'd gain sooo much more space. The wheel is on an angle, and thus the Styrofoam floor needed to eat up alot of usable space. Get a can of goo and a CAA/AAA card and you'd be better off...and would be even better for fuel economy. Prius C: 481 litres Prius: 612 litres Accent 5: 600 litres Elantra GT: 651 litres
Drive-ability: If you were to stick to simple in-town roads, you'd love this car; and could get 3.9L/100km(60mpg). On the short 5km trip a co-worker and I took, we ended up at 5.2L/100km... and we were trying to see how fast it could accelerate. Was nothing compared to my '03 Elantra, or even his '13 Gen Coupe. After a little bit of driving we then realized that things were in Miles and not Kms - still didn't help any with the seat feel of acceleration. I wouldn't want to take this onto the highway too often, for fear of not getting up to speed in time... though I'm sure it would be fine, there has to be a standard for acceleration out there.
Hybrid tech: Being the first hybrid car I've drive, I'm impressed by the colours with the display telling me what I'm doing.. I'm sure it's actually doing that. There were options for Eco mode as well as EV mode. The EV mode turned off at 25mph, or if you accelerated "hard". I say "hard" because I touched my foot on the pedal while doing 13mph and the EV mode turned off. Annoying to have to push the EV button again to activate it, since it's under the ebrake handle.
Price: Now I'll give you the Canadian numbers; you'd have to check the American equivalent... cheaper. I'd compare it more to the Accent than the Elantra, but based on price it's an Elantra competitor. Prius C: $20950+ Prius C w/Technology: $23160+ (believe we had this at $25340) Prius: $25995+ Prius w/Technology: $34080+ Accent L 5 Auto: $13699+ Accent GLS 5 Auto: $18649+ Elantra GT GL Auto: 20349+ Elantra GT SE Tech Auto: $26349+
Overall: A nice little in-town car that will give you some great fuel economy; especially in the stop and go where you're not wasting anything just sitting still. Would I personally get one, not likely. Why? Because from time to time I need to have the space that my GT hatchback currently gives. I like the feeling knowing that I could fix things on my car. I also could not justify the price of one, it's just too much for a car... would I make a bit of it back in fuel savings? Possibly, but I just wouldn't enjoy it. I'm a driver that enjoys the drive of a gas powered car. Though maybe having a more economical car as a daily would be better, and then have the Fiero as the fun car. I might be interested in the larger Prius models since that would have the larger capacity, but I doubt it cause they're even more money.
So there's my little review. Was nice to not have a sales person pestering and wanting to get driver information before letting you go. We just took the keys and took off for a few minutes. I think the next car coming up will be the new Fusion, once it's released. Apparently they could get any new car, like the convertible Jag, or C-class. Guess they're looking into future replacements for the company vehicles they have now (Matrix/Vibe/Fusion).
HONG KONG (CNNMoney) -- Japan-based Suzuki said Tuesday that it was closing its American auto distributor and exiting the U.S. car market.
The company's U.S. arm, American Suzuki Motor Corp., will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in California. The company said it would wind down auto sales, but did not provide a timetable.
American Suzuki said it would honor all warranties, and indicated that parts and service should continue uninterrupted.
The automaker was facing multiple challenges in the United States, including unfavorable exchange rates and a small lineup of models. The company, which managed to capture only a tiny sliver of the U.S. market, also cited slow sales as a reason for the exit.
"While the decision to discontinue new automobile sales in the U.S. was difficult to make, today's actions were inevitable under these circumstances," the company said.
The brand is perhaps best known for its Sidekick SUV, a pioneering design later followed by other automakers. American Suzuki is $346 million in debt, $173 million of which is owed to the parent company. The distributor has between 500 and 1,000 creditors, according to court documents.
American Suzuki said it plans to emerge from bankruptcy as a company focused on selling ATVs, motorcycles and outboard marine engines. The company said it remains "firmly committed" to those product lines.
"These divisions are competitively positioned in their respective markets, allowing for long-term growth as economic conditions improve," the company said.
-2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 HD 2WD V8 w/Towing -Recently went through a brake/suspension upgrade. -My roommate tows her horse to shows almost every other weekend. -She's had this issue that we recently have just "fixed". and by fixed, I mean we topped off her brake fluid.
See, she has a slow "leak," meaning that she's losing brake fluid but we haven't found a leak. Neither has her father, or her mechanic. Every few weeks to a month, she'll brake, and when she does the "Service Braking System" lights up red. We just top off the brake fluid and we're good to go for another few.
I know this information is very vague, but does anyone have any sort of idea as to why she's losing the fluid so fast? And with no "leak" to be found? We've let her truck sit and idle while pumping the brake every couple of seconds or so, then watch. Nothing.
It's a bit scary as she's always towing her horse, and if her brakes fail it would be disastrous.
Found this at a mall in Massachusetts. The interesting thing is it had no plates and the rectangle paper in the rear window said "registration is on hand at manufacturer plant". It went on to have other stuff on the paper but thats all I remember.
Yes, the system "uses drivers inputs to steer the front wheels via electronic controllers" instead of a mechanical connection.
"An added benefit of this system is that the steering wheel will be completely isolated from the rest of the steering system to reduce road vibrations felt by the driver."
The car will also employ cameras to detect lane markings and make necessary corrections to keep the car in a lane. In the even of an iminent collision, the car could swerve by itself.
When you own a sports car, you inevitably get a little paranoid about how it's treated when in the care of strangers. One South Carolina man was worried enough that when he took his 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS in for service at a Chevy dealer, he hid a voice recorder in the car. He was right to be worried: The recorder caught mechanics doing burnouts and discussing how to make the owner pay for a ruined clutch the car didn't have before coming in. Now the Internet Justice League has taken the wheel.William Clark says he took his Camaro to Best Chevrolet-Kia in Easley, S.C. for a clunking noise in the car's six-speed manual transmission. After a previous visit to a different dealer, his Camaro had died shortly after Clark retrieved it; while he suspected the staff at that dealership of joyriding, he had no proof at the time.
This time, the voice recorder hidden in the door pocket catches employees doing several burnouts and hard launches in the Camaro; Clark later says the techs drove it harder in 20 minutes than he had in three years. Once back in the shop, the mechanics realize the Camaro's clutch has been fried, and come up with a plan to blame the damage on Clark, saying to "write it up as him buying a (expletive) clutch," while saying another part failed under warranty so that General Motors would pay for its replacement.
Clark says he's taken his evidence to the dealer and Chevrolet customer service; the dealer offered to reassess the damage or take the Camaro as a trade-in on another car, but refused Clark's demand to buy the car back. Clark says Chevrolet customer service washed it hands of the problem, saying it was an issue between him and the dealer. As of the last update, the car's smoked clutch remains untouched.
Unfortunately for Clark, there's few other steps he can take that don't end in court. Dealers are regulated by states; Clark can file a complaint with South Carolina officials, but even with an audio recording the assessment of damage isn't so clear-cut as if the mechanics had wrecked it on a test drive. Instead, other Camaro owners have taken up the cause, posting Clark's video to the dealership's Facebook page and otherwise making noise about the problem.
You can hear the entire exchange, including the profanity, below.
A lawyer for Best Chevrolet, in a request to Yahoo Autos to take down this story, told us in an email that the audio was "misleadingly edited." Clark has said the dealership has threatened to sue him over the audio, but has also spoken with him about buying the Camaro back. The dealership may soon learn that in the Internet era, one burnt clutch can create quite the stink.
UPDATE: General Motors says in a statement that if the recording is valid it does not condone the behavior described, and that it is "actively working closely with the dealer to resolve this situation to the customer's satisfaction."
The Auto Industry
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