Online Car Buy

Diesels dominate in France

2011-02-09T21:15:00.000-08:00

Aside from some clean diesel models offered by German automaker Audi and parent company Volkswagen, oil-burning vehicles, in general, have not fared well in the U.S. However, over in France, diesels dominate the market. In January, diesel-fueled models accounted for 70.7 percent of vehicle registrations, while gasoline-burning autos represented a mere 26.3 percent.

Looking at alternative fuel models, registrations of vehicles capable of running liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) hit 4,282 units in January, representing 2.3 percent of the total market. Meanwhile, hybrid registrations fell 3.3 percent to 889 units, with the Toyota Auris HSD capturing the top spot among gas-electric vehicles with 463 units sold.

On the electric front, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and its re-badged twins, the Peugeot iOn the Citroën C-Zero, tallied a combined 93 sales in January. All told, sales of hybrids and electrics accounted for a meager 0.5 percent of France's vehicle registrations in January, a far cry from the nearly three percent of the total market that gas-electrics have captured in the U.S.

Fancy a free car? Drive away

2010-05-24T01:52:00.000-07:00

Drivers of ad-wrapped cars will be rewarded for parking in prominent places.
Photo: Rebecca Hallas

A new advertising concept gaining mileage in the US, Europe and Britain is about to hit Melbourne streets: cars wrapped in advertising and driven by mum and dad motorists.

Professional drivers and paid students have been used to drive cars with promotional livery, but the company behind the venture, Melbourne-based Advelocity, is trying a different model that gives people a new car to drive for a couple of years or longer.

In just three months the company has recruited more than 700 people willing to drive an advertising vehicle. Drivers must have a full driver's licence, "appropriate driving history" and live in a capital city.

What makes the proposition attractive is its long-term nature, which gives people the option of selling the family car, says Advelocity spokeswoman Jackie Stanley.

All running costs - petrol, servicing, cleaning and maintenance are paid for. Drivers only have to cover the cost of their comprehensive insurance.

But the trick to the success of the scheme, says Ms Stanley, is in matching long-term-lease vehicles and drivers - based on where and when they drive - to advertisers' requirements.

"We don't expect drivers to change their normal driving patterns," Ms Stanley says. "It's about fitting people in their everyday routine to a client. For most advertisers, it's the quality of the coverage rather than the hours drivers are on the road. What we're finding is that companies aren't so interested in the people who do lots of kilometres. Companies are more interested in drivers being exactly where they want their brand to be seen."

Ms Stanley equates the deal with buying media space in bulk: the long-term basis is most cost-effective for the brand, and clients can run several campaigns over the life of the lease. She says the company is talking to a leading home builder keen to have drivers in peak-hour traffic along the arterials that link the city with its housing developments.

The car is equally crucial. "A quality brand like American Express wouldn't use Smart cars," Ms Stanley says. "They'd have a BMW or some other prestige car."

Cameron Traum, an entrepreneur with a background in property and aeronautical engineering, and his brother-in-law, Peter Eddey, a software engineer, are behind the venture.

It began 12 months ago with an idea by Mr Traum that cars were one of the last public areas open to advertising, Ms Stanley says. He imagined companies offsetting the cost of their vehicle fleets by selling ad space. After a little digging, Mr Traum discovered the concept of luring motorists to drive a "free" car wrapped in advertising was already happening overseas.

Mr Traum, who handles the leasing side of the business, brought Mr Eddey on board, who was responsible for building the database of drivers and electronic processes that feed driver data back to clients.

Global positioning satellite technology is available to help clients to track cars; otherwise data is gathered through logbooks, fuel consumption and kilometres travelled.

Monitoring drivers and co-ordinating incentive and loyalty programs are some of Ms Stanley's key responsibilities.

"We plan to do spot checks and reward drivers for parking in prominent positions," she says. "Our aim is to get them to be good drivers and good advocates for the brand."

Ms Stanley's job is to build relationships with advertising agencies, which are important to determining where their clients spend their advertising budgets. "The reason it has not been done here is that media is so stitched up, there's no incentive for anyone to introduce it," she says.

Overseas experience shows the kind of clients suited to this form of advertising include film distributors with a need to promote blockbuster titles, electronics retail chains and mobile phone resellers. Advelocity has just signed its first client, a large retail chain, and is negotiating with other companies.

The typical cost to advertisers is about $20,000 for a car for two years, which includes leasing costs; wrapping (which can be changed up to 10 times); and running expenses. Costs will vary, depending on the type of vehicle and the frequency a car needs to be re-wrapped, a process that only takes a few hours.

The critical factor, Ms Stanley explains, was the deal had to be cheaper than other outdoor advertising, such as billboards, which can cost up to $50,000 for an eight-week campaign.

"It needed to be better value than a billboard just to get an ad agency to think about it." That and giving agencies a 10 per cent commission, she says.

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Toyota may be readying fix for Lexus GX 460

2010-04-16T06:03:00.000-07:00

2010 Lexus GX460 – Click above for high-res image gallery

That was fast. Just two days after Consumer Reports issued a "Do Not Buy rating "on the new Lexus GX 460 upon finding that it was possible to trip up the standard electronic stability control and initiate a potentially dangerous mid-corner tail-out drift of the big SUV, Toyota reportedly has a fix for the issue.

According to Japan's Nikkei daily, Toyota's solution to the GX's handling woes involves a reflash of the vehicle's electronic brain along with unspecified changes to "other aspects of the vehicle." Not particularly descriptive, but perhaps that shouldn't come as a surprise considering how complicated of an issue such handling foibles can be.

In related news, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is just now beginning its own investigation into the 2010 Lexus GX 460. NHTSA has procured the GX that Consumer Reports had been testing and is working to determine if the machine meets its own federal safety standards. No determination has yet been made as to whether the 5,400 or so GX 460s sold so far in the States will be recalled.

2010 Lexus GX460

Avail lowest interest rate car loans

2010-03-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

Low Interest rate car loans and auto loans
Availing you a low interest rate car loan might seems to be an impossible task. We have worked out a streamlined process that will match your financial state of affairs and help you search for the best lenders across the nation. You can avail lowest interest rate vehicle loans by our online car loan application.

Get new and used car loans for bad credit with lower interest rates

Shop without checking the car history

2010-03-18T23:01:00.000-07:00

Shop without checking car history - Feature Picture
Save money with a brief background check

A study of the history of the car is the smartest investment you can when buying a car - you know, if it is stolen, written off or has outstanding finance.

We will show you ten reasons to the history of the car to gain control.

Get an audit history of the car with test vehicle

1. Subject to funding outstanding

If an outstanding auto financing is still legally part of the financial institution. But they are new is not necessarily bad - you can always agree with the finance, and finally the owner of the car.

2. Reported Stolen

Car taken without the consent of the owner listed on the computer of the National Police. Get a history test (also known as "vehicle control" or "verification of) the vehicle is known or reported as stolen - and potentially save thousands of pounds.

3. Depreciation

There are five different categories, such as a car is collected by an insurer in the United Kingdom. Revision of the story you tell whether the car was written off, and in which category it is.

4. Accepted as scrap

An audit the data, or a vehicle is scrapped as a "by the DVLA, which somehow re-admitted to the market. Another advantage is.

Take a look at other ways to stay safe when buying and selling:

Vehicle Control promise

Be set at a control, a car is canceled (under category A or B) discarded, or stolen, you are testing a different vehicle free.

5. Altered driven

When the car mileage changed, the car had to survey in May shows the difference. If this information is available, a vehicle control, if the odometer has been wound back.

6. Green credentials

Control vehicle, the CO2 emissions of the vehicle. You know how much it costs and taxes, as the emissions that harm the environment.

7. WINE

The vehicle identification number of the vehicle (VIN) - also known as the chassis number - should match those found on the V5C registration document and observe the vehicle (usually on the windshield or on the floor) next to the drivers seat.

A vehicle inspection will confirm correct VIN of the car, you can check and stamped with the car.

8. Vehicle Data

You can see the specifications of the vehicle you buy from, including the make, model, date of first registration, engine number and transmission. If there are major differences between the specifications and what was announced - on foot.

9. Previous owner

The audit will tell you how many previous owner had the car. If the seller is one of the previous owner and background checks is the advertising tells you it was more, the alarm sounds.

10. A free insurance, if the validation fails

If the data in the report is incorrect, the vehicle shall afford to € 30,000 insurance coverage for certain financial losses. It also offers a free inspection, if the report shows that the vehicle has been stolen, written off) (as Category A or B or demolition.

2011 Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder Model Comparison

2010-03-08T18:41:00.000-08:00

2011 Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder Model Comparison
Buyers Guide Comparison
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Data No Vehicle Data
Year 2011
Make Mitsubishi
Model Eclipes Spyder
Trim
General Pricing
View: Expand All
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
MSRP $27,799.00 $18,999.00 N/A N/A
Destination $745.00 $745.00 N/A N/A
Internet Price Get My Price Get My Price Get My Price Get My Price
Engines & Power
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Standard Engine 2.4L 162hp I4 2.4L 162hp I4 N/A N/A
Horsepower 162 @ 6000 RPM 162 @ 6000 RPM N/A N/A
Torque 162 @ 4000 RPM 162 @ 4000 RPM N/A N/A
Valves 4 4 N/A N/A
Displacement (cc) 2378 2378 N/A N/A
Bore X Stroke (in.) 3.4 X 3.9 3.4 X 3.9 N/A N/A
Compression Ratio 9.5:1 9.5:1 N/A N/A
Fuel Economy
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
City (mpg) 19 20 N/A N/A
Highway (mpg) 26 28 N/A N/A
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Curb Weight - Automatic (lb.) 3516.4 3269.5 N/A N/A
Wheelbase (in.) 101.4 101.4 N/A N/A
Length (in.) 180.4 180.4 N/A N/A
Width (in.) 72.2 72.2 N/A N/A
Height (in.) N/A N/A N/A N/A
Track Front (in.) 61.8 61.8 N/A N/A
Track Rear (in.) 61.8 61.8 N/A N/A
Ground Clearance (in.) N/A N/A N/A N/A
Interior Dimensions
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Standard Seating 4 4 N/A N/A
Front Headroom (in.) 39.6 38.5 N/A N/A
Rear Headroom (in.) 35.7 34.6 N/A N/A
Front Legroom (in.) 42.8 42.8 N/A N/A
Rear Legroom (in.) 27.7 29.2 N/A N/A
Front Shoulder Room (in.) 54.2 54.2 N/A N/A
Rear Shoulder Room (in.) 40 51.2 N/A N/A
Front Hip Room (in.) 53.7 53.7 N/A N/A
Rear Hip Room (in.) 40.3 44.4 N/A N/A
Payload & Towing
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Passenger Volumn (cu. ft.) 81.3 97.3 N/A N/A
Steering, Suspension & Brakes
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Front Suspension strut strut N/A N/A
Rear Suspension multi-link multi-link N/A N/A
Tires 225/50R18 225/50R18 N/A N/A
Anti-Theft & Locks
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Power Door Locks Std. Std. N/A N/A
Braking & Traction
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
4 Wheel Drive / All Wheel Drive front wheel drive front wheel drive N/A N/A
ABS Brakes (2 or 4 Wheel) Std. Std. N/A N/A
Limited Slip Differential or Axle N/A N/A N/A N/A
Vehicle Stability Control System Std. Std. N/A N/A
Entertainment, Communication & Navigation
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Radio N/A AM/FM N/A N/A
Cassette Player N/A N/A N/A N/A
CD Player N/A Yes N/A N/A
CD Changer Yes N/A N/A N/A
DVD Player N/A N/A N/A N/A
Navigation Aid N/A N/A N/A N/A
Interior
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Cruise Control Std. Std. N/A N/A
Tilt Steering Yes Yes N/A N/A
Telescopic Steering Column N/A N/A N/A N/A
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Air Conditioning Std. Std. N/A N/A
Safety
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Driver Airbag Std. Std. N/A N/A
Front Side Airbag Std. Std. N/A N/A
Passenger Side Airbag Std. Std. N/A N/A
Rear Side Airbag N/A N/A N/A N/A
Seats
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Driver Multi-Adjustable Power Seat Yes N/A N/A N/A
Roof
Mitsubishi Eclipes Spyder GS-Sport Mitsubishi Eclipse GS No Vehicle Selected No Vehicle Selected
Sunroof / Moonroof N/A N/A N/A N/A
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers

10 Steps To Buying a New Car

2010-02-25T23:39:00.000-08:00

The following steps will tell you how to locate, price and negotiate to buy the car you want. If you follow our suggestions the car buying process can be fast and enjoyable. But more importantly, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you got the right car for you at an excellent price.

Furthermore, there are other key advantages to following our 10 Steps:

You'll be able to decipher the complicated pricing system used by dealerships.
The True Market Value of a car will be revealed.
You will find available incentives and rebates to reduce the price of the car.
A non-negotiating system will be presented to eliminate conflict.
Extra charges in the Finance and Insurance (F&I) office will be eliminated.

In other words, the 10 Steps covers what you need to know and in the order you will encounter it. This quick guide can help you save thousands of dollars. It will also give you a great feeling of empowerment, putting you in charge of the deal-making process.

But first things first: You need to decide what car you want to buy. If you haven't done that yet, please check out our 10 Steps To Finding the Right Car for You, then head back here once you have chosen the car you want to buy.