Intellichoice.com and AutoPacific.com announced the winners of the 2007 Second Motorist Choice Awards. Toyota and General Motor won the awards. Almost all the cars are coming from Toyota and GMC. The Lexus LS was the overall winner while the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 won the Trucks category. Other Japanese car makers on the list were Honda, Mazda and Nissan.
There are 25 winners on the awards as identified by Intellichoice.com and AutoPacific.com. These cars were evaluated with the combination of cost of ownership data from Intellichoice.com and the customer satisfaction survey data from AutoPacific.com.
James Bell of IntelliChoice.com said, “This year’s roster of winners earned their place by challenging vehicles often recognized for their quality and value. While Japanese manufacturers garnered a majority of the 25 vehicle segments, the 2007 Cadillac DTS checked in as the top overall large luxury car. GM also showed well by scoring top honors in both the large light-duty and heavy-duty truck segments with the Chevrolet Silverado.”
Anyway, I found this list on theautochannel.com. Check it out:
IntelliChoice.com and AutoPacific.com Present the Motorist Choice Awards Segment Winners
Cars: Lexus LS (Top Overall Winner)
Trucks: Chevrolet Silverado 1500
SUV/Crossover: GMC Yukon XL
Minivans: Honda Odyssey
Aspirational Luxury Car: Lexus IS
Compact Car: Mazda3 Sedan
Compact Crossover SUV: Chevrolet HHR
Compact Pickup: Toyota Tacoma
Compact Sport Utility/ORV: Toyota FJ Cruiser
Economy Car: Honda Fit
Image Compact Car: Volkswagen GTI
Large Car: Toyota Avalon
Large HD Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado HD
Large LD Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Large Luxury Car: Cadillac DTS
Large Sport Utility: GMC Yukon XL
Luxury Crossover SUV: Acura MDX
Luxury Mid-Size Car: Nissan Maxima
Luxury Sport Utility: Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Mid-Size Car: Volkswagen Jetta
Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Honda CR-V
Mid-Size Sport Utility: Toyota 4Runner
Minivan: Honda Odyssey
Premium Luxury Car: Lexus LS
Premium Mid-Size Car: Nissan Altima
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV: Nissan Murano
Premium Sports Car: Lexus SC
Sports Car: Porsche Boxster
Sporty Car: Scion tC
A loud statement was clearly said, “Radically reimagined to change your expectations!” The 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer is all set to impress the crowd with all the latest and the most radical features rolled in one hot package! The 2008 Lancer is the epitome of international rallying for over 30 years. This sports sedan is a certified winner, carrying a DNA of a true champion! Styling? Aggressive! Power: Unlimited… Safety: A-okay… Convenience: Sweet! Packed with the best body parts and the top-performing Lancer cold air induction, you can’t go wrong with this ride. What else could you ask for in an everyday race car? It redefines the word “power” and “class” in a very sweeping manner! This ride will definitely change your expectation in a car. Not just an ordinary car but a top quality universal vehicle!
Talk about convenience, the 2008 Lancer won’t let you feel like a stranger in another house. It accommodates you and your passenger just like the sweet old feeling of home sweet home! The convenience features provides an extension of your very own living room! Soothe yourself with a manual air-condition climate control or automatic air-condition climate control, micron air filtration, 140-watt CD/MP3 head unit with 6 speakers, digital signal processor and speed compensated volume and equalization control rear heater floor ducts, 650-Watt (max) Rockford Fosgate Punch® premium sound system with 9 speaker including 10-inch dual-voice coil subwoofer, digital signal processor, speed compensated volume and equalization Urethane-wrapped steering wheel, dark silver painted I/P and front door accents, door trim cloth inserts, rear center armrest with cup holders, driver and passenger sun visor, and retractable assist grips. You would also find a power glass sunroof w/ shade and tilt feature, trunk entrapment release handle, 6CD/MP3 in-dash head unit (Combine with Rockford audio), SIRIUS® Satellite Radio “ready” pre-wire, and a lot more!
Power comes with great responsibility! The 2008 Lancer won’t compromise your security. That’s why this vehicle is geared with the most reliable safety system with the latest technology present! Safety features include (specs courtesy of www.mitsubishicars.com):
v Advanced dual-stage front airbags with occupant seat position sensors
v Side-impact head protection curtain airbags (for front and rear occupants)
v Front seat–mounted side airbags
v Driver’s side knee airbag
v Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with EBD
v 5mph front bumper
v Active front seat structure to reduce whiplash injury
v Interior head impact protection
v Tire pressure monitoring system
v Three-point seatbelts and head restraints for all occupants
v Height-adjustable front shoulder belts with pretensioner (Single pretensioner for Dr. side)
v Day time running lamps
v Anti-theft engine immobilizer
v Anti-theft security alarm system
v Child safety locks (rear doors)
v RISE body construction (64km/h OBD)
v LATCH system (Lower Anchor and Tethers) for CRS
v Front pedestrian impact crumple zones
If you plan to have your car repaired or have it checked by your dealer, would you prefer calling your dealer first and set an appointment or you go directly without following any schedule? If you’re going to ask J.D Power and Associates, they have the answers for you!
According to the J.D Power and Associates' 2007 Customer Service Index (CSI) StudySM which was released yesterday, walk-in customers without a given schedule or appointment are more satisfied than vehicle owners who set an appointment with their dealers.
The study which was featured in autochannel.com (which I read yesterday) evaluates the satisfaction of the customers who visit the dealer service for car repairs or for maintenance purposes during their first three years of ownership of their vehicles. Generally, a customer’s satisfaction with their dealer is evaluated through this six areas: service advisor, service initiation, in-dealership experience, service quality, service delivery, and user-friendly service. The study revealed that owners, who crashes in for service without making an appointment provides satisfaction scores averaging 882 on a 1,000-point scale as compared with 874 among those who set an appointment.
Here are some quotes from the article provided by the Autochannel.com:
“Customers who plan ahead and make appointments to have their vehicles serviced expect that the dealership will prioritize their vehicles, however, when customers with appointments see that drop-in customers are receiving the same attention and priority, their satisfaction drops. Conversely, drop-in customers are usually quite happy when a dealership accepts their vehicle for repair, since they expect that they could be turned away. Dealerships can seize this opportunity for improvement by continuing to delight drop-in customers, but also by paying special attention to customers with appointments, and greeting them promptly so that those customers know that their appointment time has been reserved especially for their vehicles.” [Tom Gauer, senior director of automotive retail research at J.D. Power and Associates]
“While fixing a vehicle right the first time is important, personal interaction and communication from service staff can also be critical in keeping customers satisfied with their service experience,” said Gauer. “Simple steps such as greeting service customers quickly upon arrival, fully explaining charges and repairs and performing visual inspections of the vehicle with the customer can go a long way toward promoting satisfaction and loyalty.”
“Customers whose repairs or maintenance were not completed correctly the first time understandably would report lower levels of satisfaction. However, if the service staff takes the time to effectively explain the
reasons for the work that was done, what the customer is being charged,
and to answer any questions the customer might have, the dealership can
still keep customers satisfied,” Gauer concluded.
Volvo cars! One my favorite car brands… talk about safety, it’s the name of their game - but how about performance? Nice question! The engine range from the Volvo Car Corporation has been extended in the range of the C70s. It is packed with a 2-litre turbodiesel engine, the very first convertible from Volvo’s range to have a four-cylinder engine. "The four-cylinder turbodiesel will be a very popular choice, especially in Europe where it will account for 20 percent of total C70 sales. The engine offers a very attractive combination of fuel economy and driving pleasure," says Fredrik Arp, the President and CEO of the Volvo Car Corporation.
2,000 units of Volvo C70 2.0D is the expected sales of Volvo Cars annually which basically means that for every one out of ten C70s sold, it will have the 2.0 turbodiesel engine packed on its body! The first cars will be delivered in showrooms this coming 2007 autumn.
The four-cylinder turbodiesel can produce an output of 136 hp (100kW) and 320 Nm of torque. It brings out a rapid throttle reaction and proportionate sensitivity to the accelerator. It gives the driver a good control with a kind driving satisfaction. The C70 2.0D has a fuel consumption of 6.1 l/100 km (EU combined). It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in only 11.0 seconds and has a top speed of 205 km/h.
The turbodiesel engine features second-generation regular rail technology with moving rails which is same as in Volvo's larger diesel models. Aluminum was used to make the cylinder head with a Diesel Particulate Filter as one of its standards. The Diesel Particulate Filter considerably lessens unburned dirt particles located at the exhaust gases. In that way, it trims down the negative environmental impact. The filter is so much like K&N filters wherein the system is clean and regenerated automatically as the fillings of the filter are burned off at regular periods.
You may have been a driver for so many years yet you don’t know how to handle emergency cases like engines overheating, malfunctioning tires, car break downs or, worst, car crashes. It is just but right for you to create your own emergency road kit rather than waiting on the highway hoping for a hitch every time your car breaks down.
Creating your very own kit for emergency cases on the road is so simple. Follow these simple steps and avoid the hassle when your old car malfunctions. Here, take a few minutes to read these instructions:
1. Provide yourself with a car board or a plastic box so you can put all the tools inside it. It will prevent them from rolling down and rolling around your cabin or your trunk and it will be easier for you to find the right tools when you need one.
2. You can actually buy a complete set of a car kit but it will be less expensive if you create it yourself.
3. The AAA or a road side emergency card must be always be with you anywhere you go.
4. You need to include all the necessary equipments that fix your tires. Most of these tools are already available on the over the counter emergency kit. You should place this kit on your truck or on the hatch of your car. These equipments include:
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a working jack,
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spare tire (with air in it!)
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lug nut wrench or tire iron
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pipe for leverage.
5. Never forget to bring a flashlight or torch light with you. Fresh reserve batteries must also be included in your kit.
6. Rags and a funnel must also be included.
7. You need to have a reserve of all kinds of fluid needed in your car to propel. These fluids are a gallon of water and antifreeze, brake fluid, 2 qts. of oil (10W-40) and automatic transmission fluid as well as power-steering fluid.
8. Philips and flat head screw drivers must also be included in the kit. Bring all the sizes so you will be sure that the screws on your car are matched with the sizes of it.
9. Purchase jumper cables that are at least 8 feet long
10. Working gloves, duct tapes, a blanket, fuses and a can of a Fix-a-Flat must also be included on the kit.
Pep Boys offer vehicle patch up and upholding capabilities. At the same time, they serve the profitable auto parts delivery market and is considered to be one of the leading sellers of replacement tires in the United States.
Actually, I plan to get the newest (and discounted!) Saturn fuel injector and Saturn fuel saver for I think I have found the best dealer on the net.
Anyway, aside from offering services to car owners, they are also offering the best tips to follow to better on save fuel. Since July 4 is fast approaching and it will be a very busy summer travel season, the Pep Boys popped in guidelines to be considered. The following tips will guarantee you a wonderful trip all day long.
Five trouble-free steps to make best use of gas mileage this summer from the Pep Boys:
Step 1: Test Tire Pressure
Under- or over-inflation of tires can direct to decline of fuel mileage, at the same time, it can cut down the life of the tires. Remember that those appropriately inflated tires can perk up gas mileage by 3.3 percent and that allows you to save up to 10 cents per gallon.
It is better for consumers to confer with their owner's manuals for the suggested tire pressure and test their tires per month with a high-quality tire pressure gauge. Then better test out the tread for bumps or cuts, irregular wear and bruises alongside the sidewalls.
Step 2: Change Air Filter
Dirty air filters are grounds for engines to sprint or run at not as much of as peak competence. Better to have habitual visual checks of your air filter so you can know if you need to replace them. The owner's manual will recommend suitable substitute intervals - typically every 12,000 miles. Replacing a clogged air filter can perk up gas mileage by as much as 10 percent - with that, you can even save up to 32 cents per gallon.
Step 3: Change the Oil
Change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles or three months or better see the owner's manual. Make sure to use the accurate oil viscosity to avoid using too much gas. Changing the oil can augment fuel efficiency by up to 2 percent, and you can save almost 2 cents per gallon, but only if you use appropriate grade of motor oil.
Step 4: Clean the Fuel System
The greatest contributor for wasting gas is an incompetent engine. Better check all engine parts and components like oxygen sensors, mass airflow sensors, and other components to restore fuel efficiency.
A well operating emissions system and ignition can also perk up gas mileage by jumping to 40 percent - you can save 80 cents per gallon by using this trick.
Step 5: Get a Tune Up
This one can boost fuel efficiency starting from 4 percent jumping to 20 percent - you can save here 26 cents per gallon.
The following systems should be considered to perk up the performance and uphold the dependability of a vehicle:
- powertrain control
- engine mechanical
- ignition
- fuel
- battery, charging and starting
- emissions
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