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Showing posts tagged Cars
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Buying a Used Car
Depending on your personal or economic conditions a new car may not be the best solution to your transportation dilemma. A used car could be perfect for you as the used car market presents countless options, detailed vehicle history, model year comparisons, and the potential for significant savings.
Before embarking on your search for a new vehicle stop and consider buying used. Many dealers now offer certified pre-owned vehicles on their lots and put said vehicles through a vigorous testing and screening process before offering them for sale. If you’re less concerned with status and style and more concerned with substance a used car may be for you. Customers who buy used have the benefit of combing over historical data for the models and model years that most interest them. The Internet offers scores of websites that offer prospective used car buyers the chance to research and compare vehicles to their hearts’ content.
If you decide to pursue a used car or truck please consider taking some of these steps:
- · Contact your local motor vehicle department to determine what paperwork you’ll need to register a vehicle and transfer title.
- · Beware of title washing and curb stoning, two tricks of the used car industry that could land you a lemon.
- · Research the models you’re most interested in and perform a comprehensive cost/benefit analysis of each.
- · Obtain the vehicle identification number of any car you’d like to purchase and research the vehicle’s history for flood, accident, and prior sale information.
- · Research the car’s title history and beware of terms like “salvage” and “rebuilt”.
- · Check out the website for the Center for Auto Safety to obtain information on safety defects, recalls, and service bulletins.
- · Always buy from a reputable dealer with a stellar reputation.
If you’re ready to move forward with your search for a used car, or certified pre-owned, contact the sales team at Annville Auto Center near Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
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Chrysler Town & Country Still Best in Category
The minivan has been praised, jeered, altered, and praised again over its nearly 30 years of existence. Chrysler is generally credited with having created the first line of minivans in the 1980s and is still cranking out top of the line minivans today. Chrysler has experience turbulent times in the past few years but the performance and quality of its Town & Country minivan has never wavered.
The 2013 Chrysler Town & Country remains one of the best options in the minivan market. While some automakers have shifted focus to a myriad of crossover vehicles the Town & Country stands alongside the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey and Nissan Quest as the preeminent minivans available to buyers.
Chrysler is offering the Town & Country in the “S” model for 2013. The “S” trim package is considered to be a more corporate option and features enhanced interior and exterior appearance upgrades over stock models. The “S” trim package is offered in all Chrysler vehicles and features a black interior and an embroidered “S” on the seat backs. The “S” models are equipped with upgraded sound systems, Blu-Ray DVD players, and HDMI inputs. Chrysler is marketing the “S” trim with the slogan Performance Tuned, Detroit Swagger. The Town & Country S is expected to hit showrooms this summer.
If swagger isn’t your thing and you’re more concerned with traditional minivan functionality Chrysler has you covered there as well. The Town & Country has three models to choose from: Touring, Touring-L, and Limited. The Touring has a MSRP of $30,530 and comes equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 283-horsepower Pentastar engine. The Touring-L starts at $33,530 and includes Chrysler’s SafetyTec package. The package includes intelligent headlamps, rear park assist, blind spot monitoring and other safety features. The starting MSRP for the Limited is $40,745 and includes an upgraded sound system and interior trim as well as dual DVD players and heated seats.
If you are in the market for a minivan and think the Town & Country may be right for you contact the sales professionals at Sheboygan Chrysler of WI.
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Chevy Plans Replacement for Colorado Pickup
Chevrolet initially introduced the Colorado pickup truck to replace the S-10 in 2004. The Colorado, and its GMC counterpart Canyon, will be replaced in the 2014 model year. Chevy and GM have not revealed the new names for the models but Chevy will be marketed towards young buyers with an active lifestyle. The GMC Canyon replacement will be more of a functional work truck.
Chevy hopes to target a new generation of buyers and will play up the available options and custom features offered on the new pickup. Sales of small pickups took a downturn when the economy went south and have struggled to return to pre-recession levels. Ford took the drastic step of eliminating the Ranger, its small pickup offering, in late 2011 to focus attention on the full-sized F-150. Chevy hopes that its reformulated small pickup with a new look and possible new name will net an increase in sales. GM is said to be evaluating whether or not to keep the Colorado and Canyon names.
There has been no confirmation of the types of engines available in the new pickups. The Colorado is sold exclusively with a diesel engine in foreign markets. Chevy also recently unveiled a diesel version of its Cruze subcompact in the U.S. which has led some to speculate that a diesel version of the new pickup will be offered in 2014. Chevy has neither confirmed nor denied such rumors.
The new pickups will be manufactured in General Motor’s Wentzville, Missouri plant which currently builds full-size vans. The introduction of the new pickup line will reportedly create more than 1000 new jobs in Wenztville.
If you’d like to learn more about the Chevy Colorado, or its 2014 replacement, head over see the professionals at Lynch’s Horton Chevrolet in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. You can read Lynch Chevy’s review of the Traverse here.
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Jeeps Announces Exciting Changes for 2014 Grand Cherokee
The Grand Cherokee, a stable of Jeep’s vehicle line for years, has undergone some major changes for the 2014 model year. In reshaping the Grand Cherokee Jeep has gone well beyond the customary mid-life cycle changes. The manufacturer didn’t stop at new color offerings and rebranded equipment packages for the 2014 Grand Cherokee.
Jeep will offer nine versions of the Grand Cherokee beginning with the 2014 model year. Jeep will offer rear drive and all-wheel drive versions of each of its four model primary models: Laredo, Limited, Summit, and Overland. Customers will have the ability to choose between three engines: a 3.6-liter V6, 5.7-liter V8, and a 3.0-liter V6 diesel. The diesel option ranges in price from $2300 - $4500 depending on the model. Any model with the diesel engine has a towing capability of 7400 pounds. The diesel engine has an EPA city/highway rating of 21/28 on an all-wheel drive Grand Cherokee.
Jeep is also unveiling the high-performance SRT model. The Grand Cherokee SRT features a 470-horsepower, 6.4-liter V8 engine. The SRT has all-wheel drive and an eight-speed transmission. It is the most expensive Grand Cherokee with a MSRP of $63,990.
Jeeps offers an array of safety features on the 2014 Grand Cherokee including: a hill ascent feature, Selec-Terrain, rear backup camera, cross-traffic detection, and rain-sensitive windshield wipers. Selec-Terrain allows the driver to choose among five selections for maneuvering on different surfaces.
Jeep has also partnered with the Wireless Power Consortium to offer in-vehicle Qi wireless charging as a feature on the 2014 Cherokee. The Cherokee will come equipped with a factory installed Qi wireless charging pad in the center console. Qi is a global standard for wireless power and is backed by the leading companies in wireless and mobile development.
If you would like additional information on the 2014 Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee please read this Cherokee review by Colosso Chrysler Jeep Dodge & Ram of Appleton, Wisconsin.
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Safety Sets the 2013 Kia Sportage Apart
The Kia Sportage has undergone a metamorphosis over the last decade. After being introduced to the U.S. market as a bit of a novelty item the crossover import has emerged as a category leader. Kia has done its best to hold off the competition like the Ford Escape, Toyota Rav4, and Honda CR-V.
The 2013 Sportage once again represents an excellent value. The new Sportage has received high praise for its safety features and crash test results. The Sportage comes standard with front seat-belt pretensioners and active headrests. In addition to the dual front airbags, side curtain airbags, and front seat-mounted side airbags the Sportage features an advanced sensor system than can respond in rollover situations. The Sportage was recently named a 2013 IIHS Top Safety Pick.
Kia has used the advanced safety features of the Sportage to stay ahead of Ford, Honda, Toyota, and the hard-charging Subaru Forrester in the crossover utility vehicle market. Kia has enabled the Sportage to predict wheel spin in slippery conditions by employing an advanced computer-controlled all-wheel drive system. When slippage is detected the AWD system can transfer up to 50% of the power normally supplied to the front wheels to the rear axle.
The base model Sportage starts as low as $19,000. The LX model allows buyers to add on the Convenience Package and Navigation Package. The convenience package features a rear camera display to assist with backing up as well as a back-up warning system that can detect objects behind the vehicle.
The base model comes equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and is rated at 20 city/27 highway mpg. The front wheel drive EX model boasts the best fuel efficiency of any Sportage offering with an EPA rating of 21 city/ 30 highway mpg. The Sportage comes equipped with USB/auxiliary input jacks as well as Bluetooth wireless technology and steering wheel-mounted Bluetooth control buttons. Voice Command Navigation with Sirius XM Traffic is offered as an add-on to the EX, LX and SX models.
If you’d like to learn more about the Kia Sportage check out Team Kia’s Sportage review and pay a visit to the friendly Team Kia staff in Concord, NH to schedule a test drive.
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Porsche Sets U.S. Sales Record
Porsche reported its best ever month in terms of U.S. sales in April. The automaker sold over 4000 vehicles last month which represents a 17% increase over April 2012. The April news continues an upward trend for Porsche in 2013. Sales of the Cayenne SUV are up 27% over last year and the Boxster/Cayman sports car line has seen a staggering increase of over 350% this year. Porsche sold nearly 900 Boxsters in April alone. April marked the first time ever that Porsche sold more than 4000 cars in the United States in a single month.
Porsche offers the convertible Boxster in two models: Boxster and Boxstser S. The Boxster starts at $50,400 and comes equipped with a 265 hp engine and can hit 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The Boxster S is slightly more expensive (starting MSRP of $62,100) but features 50 additional horsepower and an improved 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds. The Cayenne SUV is offered in seven different models ranging in MSRP from the standard Cayenne at $49,600 all the way up to the Cayenne Turbo S which starts at $146,000. Porsche offers the Cayenne in diesel and hybrid options in addition to the standard gasoline powered engine. Approximately 30% of the Cayennes sold in 2013 have been of the diesel variety.
In addition to its positive sales figures Porsche has also been turning heads with the new supercharged 911 Turbo. The new Porsche 911 Turbo can reportedly go 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. The 911 Turbo has a starting MSRP of $148,300 and a litany of available options and personalization accessories. The 911 Turbo is powered by a 6-speed automatic transmission with 520 hp and boasts a top track speed of 195 mph. The Turbo S has a top recorded track speed of 197 mph and reportedly goes from 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds. The Turbo S has a starting MSRP if $181,100 and features 560 hp under the hood.
If the 911 Turbo has gotten your attention and you’re in the market for a top flight automobile contact Porsche of Towson just outside of Baltimore.
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Subaru Unveils 2014 XV Crosstrek Hybrid
Subaru unveiled the new 2014 XV Crosstrek Hybrid earlier this month at the New York International Auto Show. The Crosstrek hybrid will be the first alternative fuel vehicle debuted by Subaru, a company specializing in all-wheel drive vehicles focused on appealing to the outdoorsy, camping set.
The Crosstrek is a modified version of Subaru’s popular Impreza. The hybrid model will reportedly offer modestly improved gas mileage over the standard model. The hybrid will be equipped with stop-start technology which will shut down the engine at red lights. The electric engine will start the car before the gas engine kicks in once the car gets moving. The Crosstrek hybrid will feature a 2-liter engine with 148 horsepower and all-wheel drive. The hybrid version will weigh about 300 pounds more than the gas version.
The hybrid version will reportedly get 34 mpg on the highway, which is only one mpg better than the gas-powered Crosstrek. Subaru has managed to take hybrid technology off-road, but the benefits are limited as mpg improvements are minimal. The technology advancement should lead to additional Subaru models offered as hybrids, which increasing improvements in fuel efficiency. Subaru has not announced pricing for the 2014 Crosstrek hybrid but the car should be available at dealerships this fall.
Subaru also debuted a new high-powered WRX concept car in New York. The WRX concept featured a turbo-charged engine and air cooler, but is sleeker and wider than the original version. The Impreza WRX is currently offered in five models starting with the base model (MSRP $25,795) and going up to the WRZ STI Limited (MSRP $37,645).
If you are interested in learning more about new offerings from Subaru contact the sales team at Tindol Subaru near Charlotte to have all of your questions addressed.
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Lincoln Banks on Revamped MKZ
Lincoln attempted to shake off decades of association with over-sized luxury vehicles like the Continental and Town Car when it rolled out the MKZ last fall. The MKZ marked Lincoln’s first foray into the compact car segment. Lincoln hoped that the MKZ would help remake a historically stodgy image. The first incarnation unfortunately fell short of expectations due to production issues. Lincoln, and its corporate owner Ford, hope that those problems are forever in the rear view mirror.
Production delays left thousands of MKZs unfinished and undeliverable. Customers felt the brunt of the problems as some had to wait months for their new vehicles. Ford has resolved the production issues and happily reports that approximately 10,000 2013 MKZs are now in showrooms.
The automaker, and dealers, have spent millions on rebranding Lincoln with the MKZ as the signature piece. Ford hopes to position Lincoln as a premium luxury brand alongside the likes of Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. Ford is hoping that the MKZ will help Lincoln attract image conscious buyers. The sleek and stylish MKZ could also give Ford and Lincoln a foothold in the rapidly expanding Chinese auto market.
The MKZ is offered in a hybrid model in an attempt to draw in environmentally conscious consumers. The MKZ hybrid scored an impressive 45 MPG rating from the EPA. The standard combustible engine MKZ is rated 22 MPG City and 33 MPG for highway driving. The hybrid version has been widely popular in New York, Detroit, and Los Angeles with dealers having trouble keeping them in stock. The base model MKZ and hybrid both have a MSRP of $35,925.
If you’re interested in test driving the MKZ or MKZ hybrid, or one of Lincoln’s more traditional models, head over to Reedman Toll Lincoln of East Penn near Philadelphia.
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EPA Rates Chevy Spark EV at 119 MPG
The 2014 Chevy Spark EV received a much deserved boost from the Environmental Protection Agency when it was rated at the equivalent of 119 miles per gallon. Chevrolet will roll out the electric powered Spark in California and Oregon over the summer. The 119 MPG, combined between city and highway driving, makes the Spark the most efficient car available for public purchase according to GM.
The Spark EV will come equipped with 10 airbags and an eight year/100,000 mile warranty on the battery. Sales of the Spark EV could be hampered by the relatively low gasoline prices. If pump prices creep upward as summer approaches the Spark EV could represent a viable alternative to cost conscious buyers. At this point Chevy has not revealed any plans to make the Spark EV available in states other than Oregon and California. Chevy has not announced a MSRP for the Spark but FoxNews.com recently speculated that it will be listed for less than $32,500. As an alternative fuel vehicle the Spark EV will be eligible for a $7500 federal tax credit.
The Spark EV can travel up to 82 miles on a single charge of its battery which compares favorably to the Fiat 500e range of 87 miles per charge. The Chevy Volt can only travel 38 miles per charge due to its smaller battery and gas-powered generator. The hybrid Volt has an MSRP of $31,645.
The gas-powered version of the Spark mini-car has an MSRP of $12,245 which is a lower price point than its competitors in the ultra-compact market. The Fiat 500 Pop has a starting price of $15,500 and the Scion iQ starts at $15,265. The Spark is rated for 38 MPG on the highway. The Spark is equipped with 10 airbags just like the Spark EV.
If you’re in the market for a more fuel efficient vehicle, or simply interest in a Chevy, check out the specials at JBA Chevy outside of Baltimore.
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